NYS Music 202​0

Category: News Desk

  • Jazz Is PHSH perform in Rochester and New York City during brief February tour

    This February, Jazz is PHSH returns to New York with two stops in Rochester and NYC, bringing with them perform unique arrangements featuring the music of Phish and an all-star lineup. Alongside bandleader and drummer Adam Chase, musicians Felix Pastorious (Hipster Assassins), John Culbreth (Naughty Professor) and Yesseh Furaha-Ali join together for these coming shows, with Matthew Chase and Jonathan Huber joining for the first three shows, and Snarky Puppy’s Bob Lanzetti and Justin Stanton joining for the rest of the tour.

    jazz is phsh perform

    “Ultimately, it became my goal to create arrangements that would be fun for Phish fans to enjoy while presenting the music in a way that even the most pretentious jazz professor would be forced to respect,” says co-creator and music director Adam Chase, of the process. 

    To formulate their compositions, the Chase brothers do things like write original chord changes to support the existing melody or pull chord changes from jazz standards and add them to solo sections. The ensembles create their own unique interpretations and arrangements of songs by the beloved improvisational rock band and, at times, their unique interpretation of music from the Phish songbook are completely unrecognizable.

    Jazz is PHSH Tour Dates:

    1/30 – Baltimore, MD – Union Craft Brewing

    1/31 – Toronto, Ontario – Velvet Underground

    2/1 – Rochester, NY – Anthology

    2/4 – Boston, MA – City Winery

    2/5 – Philadelphia, PA – City Winery

    2/6 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl

    2/7 – Winchester, VA – Bright Box Theater

    2/8 – Harrisburg, PA – The Abbey Bar

    Watch a live version of “Stash” from City Winery in Atlanta

  • Barenaked Ladies Officially Postpone North American Tour

    Grammy-nominated rock quartet Barenaked Ladies, have postponed the sixth edition of their “Last Summer on Earth” tour. The two-month expedition would have seen the Juno award-winning outfit perform in some of the world’s most renowned locations, including Los Angeles’, Greek Theatre and New York City’s Central Park SummerStage. “Last Summer on Tour,” a named derived from the Mayans predictions of the world end in 2012, will still see Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket join them as opening acts, just a little later than originally planned.

    Vocalist/guitarist Ed Robertson shares, “We were really hoping we’d be able to pull it off this summer, but for the safety of our fans, all the venue staff, bands and crew, we need to listen to best advice and postpone until next summer. We’ll be back with the same lineup in almost all the same venues in 2021. We hope to see each and every one of you then. Be safe. Continue to Rock, and don’t forget to Roll.”

    Tickets purchased for 2020 will still valid for 2021 however, shows in  Houston, San Diego, St Louis and Pittsburgh were not able to be rescheduled. Refunds will be handled by original ticket providers. To thank fans for their support, an exclusive #SelfieCamJam along with a message from the band will be sent to ticket buyers via their ticket provider.

    All information on the “Last Summer on Earth” 2021 tour can be found at the Barenaked Ladies website, while dates can be found below.  

    https://youtu.be/y2xlsDjO77M

    2021 LAST SUMMER ON EARTH TOUR DATES
    June 4th – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park – Atlanta, GA
    June 5th – St. Augustine Amphitheatre – St Augustine, FL
    June 8th – Toyota Music Factory – Irving, TX
    June 10th – Arizona Federal Theatre – Phoenix, AZ
    June 11th – Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
    June 12th – Vina Robles Amphitheatre – Paso Robles, CA
    June 17th – Marymoor Park Amphitheatre – Redmond, WA
    June 18th – Edgefield  – Troutdale, OR
    June 19th – Northern Quest Resort & Casino – Airway Heights, WA
    June 22nd – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
    June 25th – Stir Cove at Hurrah’s Council Bluffs – Council Bluffs, IA
    June 26th – Mystic Lake Casino – Prior Lake, MN
    Jun 28th – Chicago Theatre – Chicago, IL
    Jun 30th – Starlight Theatre – Kansas City, MO
    July 2nd – Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park – Indianapolis, IN
    July 3rd – Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica – Cleveland, OH
    July 4th – DTE Energy Music Theatre – Clarkston, MI
    July 6th – Artpark – Lewiston, NY
    July 7th – New York, NY *Venue to be announced soon 
    July 9th – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion – Gilford, NH
    July 10th – Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT
    July 11th – Rockland Trust Bank Pavilion – Boston, MA
    July 13th – The Met – Philadelphia, PA
    July 14th – Wolf Trap – Vienna, VA
    July 16th – North Charleston Coliseum – Charleston, SC  *Venue change
    July 17th – Red Hat Amphitheatre – Raleigh, NC
    July 18th – MECU Pavilion – Baltimore, MD
    July 20th – PNC Music Pavilion  – Cincinnati, OH
    July 21st – Budweiser Stage – Toronto, ON  *Kim Mitchell will be joining this show

  • Sammy Miller and The Congregation Premiers New Video

    Sammy Miller and The Congregation has dropped a music video for “It Gets Better,” the latest single from their album Leaving Egypt. In celebration of this debut, they will be embarking on an 18-city, cross-country tour. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased HERE.

    The nine piece ensemble was formed in 2014 at The Juilliard School in New York City, where members were students at the time. Starting off they played at various venues around NYC that typically did not host jazz ensembles. Their fan base was built around the van touring life modeled after rock bands, while dazzling listeners with a reconceptualized type of jazz.

     “This is us, I’m proud of it, and I’m eager to embark on our mission to bring joy to people’s lives through music, ” Sammy Miller, founding member of the group, said of the debut album.

    Sammy Miller and The Congregation

    The band lineup includes Sammy Miller, drums and vocals; Sam Crittenden, trombone; Ben Flocks, tenor sax; Sammy’s sister Molly Miller on guitar; Alphonso Horne, trumpet; Corbin Jones, bass and tuba; and David Linard, piano.

    Tour Dates:

    Feb. 12 – California Center for the Arts – Escondido, CA

    Feb. 13 – Campbell Hall – Santa Barbara, CA

    Feb. 16 – Bootleg Theater – Los Angeles, CA

    Feb. 21 – Sweetwater – Mill Valley, CA

    Feb. 22 – Oshman Family JCC – Palo Alto, CA

    Feb. 23 – The Sofia Tsakopoulos Center for the Arts – Sacramento, CA

    Feb. 28 – Dubai Jazz Festival – Dubai, UAE

    March 24 – Vinyl – Atlanta, GA

    March 25 – Isis Music Hall – Asheville, NC

    March 26 – Neighborhood Theatre – Charlotte, NC

    March 27 – Tin Pan – Richmond, VA

    March 28 – Songbyrd – Washington, DC

    March 29 – Sellersville Theater – Sellersville, PA

    March 31 – The Red Room at Cafe 939 – Boston, MA

    May 1 – Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts – Fond du Lac, WI

    May 2 – Door County Brewing Co. Music Hall – Baileys Harbor, WI

    May 3 – Dakota – Minneapolis, MN

    June 27-28 – Jazz Aspen Snowmass – Aspen, CO

  • Dave Matthews Band Making Their way to New York

    Dave Matthews Band announced a new summer tour that will see the Grammy-winning rock group make several stops in the New York tri-state area. The tour – set to begin on June 16 and end on September 22 – will begin in the Northeast, and travel throughout the Southwest, Southeast, and the Midwest.

    Dave Matthews Band New York
    Photo by Steve Malinski @ Madison Square Garden.

    Additionally, DMB will be making a return to St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview, where they last performed in 2018 to a near full-house, and in 2016 to a sold-out venue. A performance from DMB will be one of many live shows at St. Joseph’s Amphitheater, which will see its fair share of concerts this year, with Live Nation announcing 20-25 slated performances to be held at the Syracuse arena.

    Tickets to see DMB live will be on sale through Live Nation and Ticketmaster on February 21. A list of Dave Matthews Band, as well as St. Joseph’s Amphitheater concert dates can be found below.

    Dave Matthews Band Summer Tour Dates

    June 16 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena

    June17 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena

    July 8 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center

    July 10 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center

    July 11 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center

    July 21 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

    July 22 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview

    St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview has a stout 2020 lineup starting May 31, with Zach Brown Band, and continuing with: Sugarland, Thomas Rhett, Steeley Dan, The Doobie Brothers, Matchbox Twenty, Nickelback with Stone Temple Pilots, Hall & Oates, Foreigner, Brad Paisley and Jason Aldean. To see a full schedule, please see their WEBSITE.

  • Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra to celebrate Susan B. Anthony 200th birthday with ‘Women’s Suffrage: Past + Present’ and ‘The Mother of Us All’

    Two centennial celebrations will be commemorated by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, tying music and history together in a unique and inspired way. On Thursday, January 30 and Saturday, February 1, Music Director Ward Stare and the orchestra will present “Women’s Suffrage: Past + Present” and on Thursday, February 6 and Saturday, February 8, Stare will lead a concert performance of Virgil Thomson and Gertrude Stein’s salute to Susan B. Anthony, “The Mother of Us All.” The events will be held at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre at the Eastman School of Music.

    The two performances celebrate historical events that are rooted in Rochester and Western New York. 2020 marks suffragist Susan B. Anthony’s 200th birthday, as well as the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment, which enshrined a women’s right to vote in the U.S. Constitution. 

    The first two concerts feature orchestral compositions by three women spanning three centuries: Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel, from the 19th century; Julia Perry, from the 20th century; and Gemma Peacocke, a New Zealand-born composer from the 21st century. 

    Peacocke’s work “All on Fire” is a commission from Stare and the RPO, and was inspired by a quote from Susan B. Anthony: “How can you not be all on fire?…I really believe I shall explode if some of you young women don’t wake up — and raise your voice in protest against the impending crime of this nation upon the new islands it has clutched from other folks. Do come into the living present and work to save us from any more barbaric male governments.”

    Stare has high hopes for the brand-new piece, as well as the first of two performance weekends. “I hope this first half demonstrates the huge variety of music by women composers,” Stare said. “Regardless of the composer’s gender, these are simply very good pieces.”

    The second weekend of performances includes the Virgil Thomson opera “The Mother of Us All,” from Librettist Gertrude Stein, which has been produced occasionally since premiering at Columbia University in 1947. The opera is about Susan B. Anthony but also includes a large cast including Daniel Webster, Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, Supreme Court Chief Justice Thaddeus Stevens, among other minor historical figures.

    Ward Stare notes that his preparation for these upcoming concerts included a private tour of the Susan B. Anthony House on Madison Street, which he found very moving. “To see the room where she met Frederick Douglass and other great figures — and the work room where she wrote so many amazing pamphlets — made me even more appreciative of everything Anthony went through in her life.”

    h/t Rochester City Newspaper

  • Take a first look at ‘Beastie Boys Story’ documentary from Spike Jonze

    The recently announced Beastie Boys Story documentary from director Spike Jonze has released its first official sneak peak, via AppleTV+. With a focus on the live shows Mike D. and AdRock did while promoting the Beastie Boys Book, the film airs in IMAX theaters before being streamed on AppleTV+ worldwide. 

    Beastie Boys Story, based on the 2019 two-man show of the same name, which was also directed by Jonze, was a limited-engagement event with saw surviving Beastie Boys members Ad-Rock and Michael “Mike D” Diamond discussing the history of the legendary Brooklyn group.

    The documentary premieres on April 3rd in IMAX, which is also the 26th anniversary of Beastie Boys’ 1994 album, Ill Communication, before moving exclusively to Apple TV+ on April 24th. The relationship with the band and director go back to the “Sabotage” music video, as well as an unreleased film We Can Do This based on MCA’s alter-ego, Nathanial Hornblower. 

    Ad-Rock and Mike D spoke of Jonze in a statement, saying, “There are some friends you have lunch with so many times over the years, you know their order. Spike is one of those friends. And even when you don’t recognize anything on the menu, he comes up with something good for the whole table. Like when we wondered what to do when our book comes out… then Spike placed his order: You will put on a show for the children.”

    “I owe Beastie Boys a lot,” Jonze returned. “One time, they pulled me out of a burning ship, and another time they helped me cheat on my college exam to get into Florida State. So, it was a real privilege to get to reunite with them and help them tell their story.”

  • New York Historical Society presents ‘Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution’ exhibit, opening February 14

    The New-York Historical Society presents the rock & roll world of Bill Graham (1931–1991),with an upcoming exhibit Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution, on view February 14 – August 23, 2020. Located at the Central Park West museum and library, the exhibit focuses on the legacy of one of the most influential concert promoters of all time. 

    Graham’s life and work as a legendary music impresario are on display alongside the biggest names in rock music whom he worked with, including the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Led Zeppelin, and the Rolling Stones. Graham launched the careers of countless music luminaries at his famed Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco and the Fillmore East in New York City. 

    Organized by the Skirball Cultural Center, which debuted the exhibition in Los Angeles, this comprehensive retrospective of Graham’s life and career explores some of the 20th century’s momentous cultural transformations through the lens of rock & roll. Showcasing more than 300 objects—including rock memorabilia, photographs, and concert posters—the New-York Historical presentation, coordinated by Associate Curator of Exhibitions Cristian Petru Panaite, highlights Graham’s personal connections to New York. 

    Bill Graham
    American guitarist and singer Jimi Hendrix performs at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, February 1968.

    Admission to the exhibition will be via timed-entry tickets and begins with a site-specific installation of “The Joshua Light Show,” the trailblazing liquid light show conceived in 1967 by multimedia artist Joshua White that served as a psychedelic backdrop to Graham’s concert productions in New York.  

    Unique to New-York Historical is a special, immersive audio experience, providing a musical tour through the exhibition with songs by rock & roll superstars the Allman Brothers, Chuck Berry, Blondie, David Bowie, Cream, the Doors, Aretha Franklin, the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, KISS, Led Zeppelin, Madonna, Tom Petty, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Carlos Santana, the Rolling Stones, the Sex Pistols, and Neil Young, among others. Included in the four-hour soundtrack available to visitors are also mambo hits by Tito Puente that Graham loved in his early years in New York. The audio experience is generously sponsored by luxury audio brand Master & Dynamic. A playlist of featured songs is available on Spotify. 

    “Even though Bill Graham and the Fillmore East transformed the city’s music scene in the late 1960s, few know about Graham’s immigrant background and New York roots,” said Dr. Louise Mirrer, president and CEO of New-York Historical. “We are proud to collaborate with our colleagues at the Skirball Cultural Center to present this exhibition in New York—Graham’s first American hometown—and to highlight his local experience. His rock & roll life was a pop-culture version of the American dream come true.”

    “Master & Dynamic is proud to sponsor Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution in our hometown of New York City,” said Nathaniel Teichman, head of strategy & business development at Master & Dynamic. “We are committed to supporting the New York-Historical Society and to helping bring to life the story of Bill Graham, who transcended incredible odds after escaping the Nazis to become one of the most influential figures in rock history.”

    Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution begins with family snapshots of Graham’s experience as a Jewish emigrant from Nazi Germany and his journey to America. Born in Berlin as Wolfgang Grajonca, he arrived in New York at the age of 11 as part of a Red Cross effort to help Jewish children fleeing the Nazis. He lived with a foster family in the Bronx and spent his teenage years in New York City before being drafted into the U.S. Army to fight in the Korean War. Graham relocated to San Francisco in the early 1960s as the hippie movement was growing and took over the lease on the Fillmore Auditorium, where he produced groundbreaking shows throughout the decade, including sold-out concerts by the Grateful Dead, Cream, Big Brother and the Holding Company, and the Doors, among many others. 

    Bill Graham
    American blues musician, singer, songwriter, and guitarist B.B King smokes a cigarette, San Francisco, CA, 1967.

    In 1968, Graham opened the Fillmore East on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, historically the heart of New York’s Jewish immigrant community, just as it was becoming a countercultural hub. During its three-year run, rock fans filled the 2,700-seat venue to hear the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and others. A highlight of the Fillmore East experience was “The Joshua Light Show,” a mesmerizing liquid light show, conceived by multimedia artist Joshua White, that played as the backdrop as bands performed; in this installation, specially created for the exhibition, a colorful explosion of choreographed artistic projections set to music greet visitors at the entrance of the exhibition.

    Timed-entry tickets for Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution went on sale on December 20. Visit nyhistory.org.

    A special family guide is available for young visitors to explore the exhibition, featuring activities like scavenger hunts, sketching prompts, and quizzes. During February School Vacation Week, kids create rock & roll-inspired crafts, and Sunday Story Time in the spring features music-themed books.

  • NYC Hardcore Vets Agnostic Front and Sick Of It All Announce Co-headlining Tour

    After a successful December tour of New York City venues, legendary New York hardcore acts Agnostic Front and Sick Of It All have announced they will embark on a 19-date tour.

    The tour kicks off in Boston on April 23 and has the co-headliners visiting two festivals — Epicenter in Charlotte and Rockville in Daytona — wrapping with a show at Syracuse’s venerable Lost Horizon on May 15.

    Tickets for all dates go on sale Friday, Jan. 31 at 10:00 a.m.

    Agnostic Front

    Agnostic Front / Sick Of It All — 2020 Tour Dates:
    April 23 – The Middle East – Boston, MA
    April 24 – Le D’Auteull – Quebec City, QUE
    April 25 – Foufounes Electrique – Montreal, QUE
    April 26 – Lee’s Place – Toronto, ONT
    April 27 – The Shelter – Detroit, MI
    April 28 – Crafthouse – Pittsburgh, PA
    April 29 – Elevation 27 – Virginia Beach, VA
    May 1 – Epicenter Festival – Charlotte, NC
    May 2 – Diamond Pub – Louisville, KY
    May 3 – Subterranean – Chicago, IL
    May 4 – Blueberry Hill – St. Louis, MO
    May 6 – Barracuda – Austin, TX
    May 7 – Trees – Dallas, TX
    May 8 – White Oak Upstairs – Houston, TX
    May 10 – Rockville Festival – Daytona, FL
    May 11 – The Loft – Atlanta, GA
    May 13 – Ottobar – Baltimore, MD
    May 14 – Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA
    May 15 – The Lost Horizon – Syracuse, NY

  • Capitol Theatre to host All-Star show “The Thrill Is Gone: A Tribute To B.B. King”

    The Capitol Theatre has announced a partnership with the B.B. King Estate, leading to two incredible nights of music that will celebrate the music of legendary blues guitarist B.B. King. The Thrill Is Gone: A Tribute To B.B. King will feature some of music’s greatest blues and rock legends, celebrating the King of Blues.

    King Blues the thrill is gone

    The Thrill Is Gone: A Tribute To B.B. King will feature two nights of music with performances by Anthony Hamilton, Bob Margolin, Bobby Rush, Buddy Guy, David Hidalgo, Derek Trucks, Ivan Neville, Jamey Johnson, Jimmie Vaughan, John Scofield, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Little Steven, Robert Cray, Robert Randolph, Shemekia Copeland, Southside Johnny, Steve Cropper, Susan Tedeschi, Tony TC Coleman, Warren Haynes, and William Bell. The lineups for each day will vary, and even more special guests will be announced in the coming weeks. Grammy® Award-winning producer and legendary drummer, Steve Jordan, will serve as musical director.

    A portion of proceeds from The Thrill Is Gone: A Tribute To B.B. King will benefit the Seva Foundation, a global nonprofit eye care organization that transforms lives and strengthens communities by restoring sight and preventing blindness. The SEVA Foundation was co-founded by Wavy Gravy, a close friend of B.B. King for over 40 years and whose moniker was given to him by King at the Texas International Pop Festival in 1969.

  • Empire State Youth Orchestra Announces Annual “Playathon” At Crossgates Mall

    Over 600 members of the Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) will converge at Crossgates Mall in Albany for their annual all-day “Playathon,” this Saturday, February 1.

    Lead by music director Carlos Agreda, this is the biggest fundraiser that the organization hosts every year. Even though music lovers in the community can enjoy the event for no cost, the goal is to raise a total of $65,000.

    ”Playathon represents a valuable opportunity to increase awareness about ESYO and to have a relaxed and direct connection with the community. Some members of the community might not realize how much they love classical music, and if they aren’t able to come to the concert hall then we will come to their space! At Playathon we want to provide exposure and show how fun symphonic music actually is. It’s a chance to see all our ensembles in action and for people to see how much the young musicians love playing music.”

    Carlos Ágreda.

    Setting up in the lounge area on the first floor near Burlington Coat Factory, the event will feature 13 musical ensembles that includes everything from classical and percussion to jazz. Sponsored by Albany Medical Center; University at Albany Foundation and; Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker LLP; it is the only time attendees will get to see all performing ensembles come together to share their love of music with the public.

    The all day music event ensures that ESYO can stay true to the driving force behind their organization: that no capable musician is left behind regardless of financial restrictions.

    Included in the day is John Keal Music Company’s “Instrument Petting Zoo” where aspiring musicians of all ages can try out brass, woodwinds, and strings. There will also be live auctions were a attendee will have the opportunity to conduct an ensemble during the event. Additional information about ESYO’s program and concerts can be found at esyo.org.  

    “Our Playathon raises critical funds to support scholarships and tuition assistance so that all youth may pursue musical excellence and have serious fun, too.”

    Rebecca Calos – ESYO’s Executive Director.

    PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE 

    10:30AM – 11:15AM – Percussion Ensembles

    11:30AM – 11:45AM – Concertino Strings (Dave Beck conducting)

    11:55AM – 12:20PM – String Orchestra – Auction**

    12:35PM – 1:15PM – Wind Orchestra + Choirs – Auction**

    1:25PM – 2:05PM –  CHIME  (Yates, VC, Proctors)

    2:20PM – 2:50PM – Symphony Orchestra – Auction**

    2:55PM – 3:25PM – Rep Orchestra – Auction**

    3:30PM– 4:05PM – Symphony Orchestra – Auction**

    4:20PM – 4:40PM – Rep Jazz Orchestra

    4:45PM – 5:05PM – Youth Jazz Orchestra

    5:20PM – 5:50PM – Rep Orchestra – Auction**

    5:55PM – 6:30PM – Symphony Orchestra – Auction**

    ** Auction to Conduct Ensembles