On that night Little Feat opened the show and “Dark Star” was teased a few times and jammed out of “Drums,” a first since 1974. Read an in depth review of the 1991 Grateful Dead show at Giants Stadium here.
Setlist: Eyes Of The World, Walkin’ Blues, Brown Eyed Women, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Loose Lucy, Cassidy, Might As Well Saint Of Circumstance-> Ship of Fools-> Truckin’-> New Speedway Boogie-> Uncle John’s Band-> Drums-> Jam-> China Doll-> Playin’ In The Band Reprise-> Sugar Magnolia
Encore: The Weight
Additionally, the Dead’s series “All The Years Live” has released footage of the show opener from June 14, 1991, at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in D.C., “Cold Rain and Snow.” Lemieux has been sharing videos from previous releases will be shared, with unreleased videos coming soon as well.
When New York hit PAUSE, that included all live performances on Broadway. Initially planned to shut down until April 12, then until June 7, the goalposts have shifted to Labor Day, September 6 as the earliest Broadway doors will reopen. However, an official return date has not yet been announced.
“While all Broadway shows would love to resume performances as soon as possible, we need to ensure the health and well-being of everyone who comes to the theatre—behind the curtain and in front of it—before shows can return,” said Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League. “Throughout this challenging time, we have been in close communication with Governor Cuomo’s office and are grateful for his support and leadership as we work together to bring back this vital part of New York City’s economy—and spirit.”
Last year, Broadway attracted a record 15 million people. Producers and labor unions are discussing ways theaters can reopen safely.
Actors’ Equity Association, which represents 51,000 actors and stage managers, called the postponment “difficult but necessary.”
“Before our members can safely return to work, we will need new protocols that protect audiences and workers alike,” said Mary McColl, executive director of the association.
Hours after the latest postponement came word that producers of the upcoming revival of Neil Simon’s “Plaza Suite” have pushed the production to next year. Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker will now star in the revival starting in March 2021.
Other shows scheduled to open this spring have abandoned their plans, including “Hangmen” and a revival of Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
Additionally, the postponedTony Awards, initially planned for June 7, have not yet been rescheduled.
Nearly two years after the release of their last studio effort, Teddy Midnight has announced an all-new EP with Airdnb, due out May 29. The first single, “My Eyes,” was released this past week and is group’s first collection to be produced, recorded, and mixed entirely in their new Brooklyn studio.
The forthcoming EP is a departure from the disco/house sound of their last release, French Press from 2018, and explores producers Sean Silva and Adam Magnan’s influence from the rhythms of drum n bass, jungle, and hip-hop. The trio spent the past year and a half writing and recording using vintage synths and live instrumentation as the basis for the record. Over the course of the EP’s 5 tracks, the group navigates new sonic territory to bring break-neck tempos and fresh atmosphere to their already diverse repertoire. Guest vocalists Lars Viola and David Schnurman are featured on two separate tracks with instrumentals filling the three remaining spots.
Additionally, the band has debuted a music video for “My Eyes,” in which each member performs via a digital video conference call. The video was recorded during the eighth week of COVID-19 quarantine in New York City.
The single “My Eyes” features New York City rapper Lars Viola in his first collaboration with the group. As the name Airdnb would suggest, the hip-hop track showcases the Teddy Midnight take on drum n bass grooves while leaving plenty of space for MC Lars to paint a picture of a stressful world in need of sweet release from everyday anxieties. His thoughtful discourse is driven by live drums and capped off with impassioned synth work by keyboard player Danny Caridi.
Amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, Teddy Midnight is working to reschedule their postponed spring tour dates with more fresh music to come. After successful winter dates with jamtronica leaders The New Deal and others, newly scheduled shows will highlight material from Airdnb and continue to feature their ever expanding live-production sound.
Staten Island’s own, and at one point a member of the FBI’s most wanted list, Denis Coles aka Ghostface Killah was born in 1970 in one of New York City’s most often overlooked borough, Staten Island. Thus, May 9th marks the birthday of the one and only, Ghostface Killah
He began his solo career in 1996 with the release of Ironman following Wu Tang’s breakout release, Enter The Wu Tang (36 Chambers). Renowned for his booming voice and fast-paced flow, Ghostface has remained to be one of the Clan’s most notorious members. As the roommate of Wu Tang founder RZA, Ghostface is credited with playing a role in bringing the original seven members of the group together.
Ghostface was featured extensively on fellow Wu Tang member Raekwon’s, early mixtapes, making a name for himself before Wu Tang Clan essentially took over the world of hip-hop.
What separates Ghostface from the rest of the gangsta rap group MCs is his often colorful and imaginative storytelling which has remained the highlight of his performances throughout the years.
Recently, the works of Ghostface Killah and the rest of the Wu Tang Clan has been celebrated in the media with the short film For the Children: 25 Years of Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) which dives into the group’s early years on the come-up in the late ’80s and early ’90s hip-hop scene. Wu Tang and Ghostface Killah have transcended music and represented how their rough upbringing on the streets of New York has brought them to make incredibly moving art and music. The legacy of Wu Tang has been cemented into New York history with Staten Island declaring November 9th as Wu Tang Clan day, turning the classic phrase ” Wu Tang forever” into a reality.
Happy 72nd birthday to the piano man himself, Billy Joel! Born in 1949 in the Bronx, Billy Joel has risen the ranks in musical talent and cemented himself as one of New York’s proudest songwriters.
Growing up with his family in Hicksville, Long Island, Joel got his start playing piano in high school but didn’t seriously consider music as his life path until a lack of credits in his senior year led him to drop out of school, despite his good grades. Recalling his decision back in the early days to pursue music, Joel was quoted in Hank Bordowitz’s biography Billy Joel: The Life and Times of an Angry Young Man (2006) that rather than spending his summer in school trying to make up credits, he would instead begin a career in music saying, ‘To hell with it. If I’m not going to Columbia University, I’m going to Columbia Records, and you don’t need a high school diploma over there’. Although Joel did eventually graduate in 1992, his legacy in music far outreaches the dreams and aspirations of the average high school student.
Since then, Joel has become one of New York’s most recognizable musical prodigies. Despite his rise to global fame, Joel still has a sweet spot for where he grew up. In his song “New York State of Mind” from the 1976 album Turnstiles, which has become almost an anthem for New Yorkers, Joel reminisces about unique experiences only a true New Yorker would resonate with. Filled with lines about long greyhound bus trips, the Daily News and the Hudson River, the tune has become synonymous with both New York City and Joel himself.
New York has remained at the center of Joel’s life, currently still residing in the great Empire State, Joel has indeed become a staple of New York and remains at the center of many New Yorker’s hearts. The fate of Joel’s upcoming tour is still up in the air but, until then, crack open a beer and propose a toast to the Piano Man’s 71st.
New York City’s own Allison Leah released her new single, “We Can Still Sing” which summarizes how many are feeling during the COVID-19 pandemic that is gripping the world.
Allison Leah is a songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist who was born and raised just north of New York City and currently resides there. She writes everything from heartfelt originals like “We Can Still Sing” to familiar commercial jingles like “Hess Truck.” Leah released her debut EP Fly Home back in 2018.
“We Can Still Sing” revolves around the helplessness everyone is feeling during this pandemic but that we can stand together and ‘still sing’ and that we aren’t alone even though it feels like it currently. She focuses part way through the song on holding on to yourself and your loved ones and how when this is over eventually. How we will joke about this time of staying inside in the future.
When the song starts it has this sad restless undertones created by the lingering piano. Between the lingering tune and the songs lyrics and their inflections it mirrors these feelings or restless and hopelessness people have been feeling. The song then takes a turn though when hitting the chorus between the piano, acoustic guitar and snapping and shakers it turns into the hopeful song it is.
This EP is definitely worth checking out especially for anyone feeling the quarantine blues. For more information on Allison Leah check out her website.
On the heels of a run of successfully executed song releases, Lefrak City rapper Kyngjo has unveiled the official music video for his most popular record “Calling Me,” continuing to build buzz with the prospects of a debut project drawing ever closer. His journey as a rapper dates back to just over two years ago – as hopes for a future in basketball became bleak, thanks to an injured knee – now with his mind fully focused on being a successful rapper, he hopes to etch his name amongst a list of legendary Queens natives.
Produced by Multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated producer TheBeatPlug – who gained notoriety with producer credits on Joyner Lucas’ viral record I’m Not Racist – “Calling Me” follows the classic adage that as a rapper, women will follow, and so too will interminable and deceit-filled adventures bound to leave those involved with querulous significant others. The record sees Kyngjo divulge tales of his experiences playing the side piece to a spurned woman who has now fallen for him and… won’t stop calling. The Dream of Dre directed music video brings to life the tension between significant others when Kyngjo is involved with the women having to convince their man that he is indeed “just a friend.”
The New York Guitar Festival has added Grammy-winning guitarist Warren Haynes to the already packed line up for ‘Reverend Gary Davis: In Search of the Harlem Street Singer’. Slated to be a virtually accessible twelve song series, NYGF will release one video performance on their Youtube channel nightly at 4 PM EDT.
Listen to the full collection of audio recordings from Reverend Gary Davis: In Search of the Harlem Street Singer––as debuted yesterday on WNYC’s “New Sounds”––HERE.
While access is free, organizers are asking viewers that can, to make donations to MusiCares. Started by The Recording Academy’s MusicCares COVID-19 Relief Fund, their goal is to help the music communities affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. Listen below to Rosanne Cash & John Leventhal performing ‘Tryin To Get Home’
‘Reverend Gary Davis: In Search of the Harlem Street Singer’ Program Schedule
New York-based folk artist Levi Robin has released his brand new album When Night Meets Day, which takes us on a journey through a powerful collection of songs that Levi spent writing over the course of several years. Much of the album is influenced by Levi’s fascination and dedication to the kabbalistic and Chassidic teachings of Torah, though it may not be conveyed in a way the listener expects or recognizes.
For one, most everything is written in parable. Also one might expect spirituality to come with some sort of detached enlightenment, heavenly contentment and unbounded idealism, and that would be true if the soul was in a heavenly world right now, but in truth we are souls embodied in a material world, facing challenges and concealments, tests and tribulations. Our lives are of extreme paradox with dynamic highs and lows. And so, Where Night Meets Day is Levi’s invitation to you; to enter a purposeful and intentional embrace of life’s dichotomies, night and day, life and death, pain and pleasure, detachment and embrace, transience and eternity…
The album opens up with “No Other,” a carefully picked guitar track that smoothly transcends into an upbeat folk song. This song truly launches the album and sets the mood for the record. Throughout the album are songs like “Alabama” and “Hey Love” that have a pleasant atmospheric, airy tone accompanied with soft vocals, which serve as a blanket for all your potential fears and anxiety. Levi has been hard at work on new material with Grammy-nominated bassist, composer, and producer Stu Brooks and Grammy-nominated producer and engineer Joel Hamilton. Be sure to stay tuned this year for more music and content releases from Levi Robin.
The Wu-Tang Clan is one of the most celebrated and impactful musical groups in history. In our era of transparency, it is only fitting that a biopic of sorts would materialize itself. Telling the complete story of a group as large as the Clan isn’t feasible (not to mention any adjacent characters) in 90 minutes (the pre-requisite for big-screen biopics). Therefore, enter Wu-Tang: An American Saga.
In 2019, the Emmy-nominated Hulu original series rehashed the rise of the legendary hip-hop group. Written by Alex Tse and RZA and executive produced by Tse, RZA, Method Man, Brian Grazer, Michael Rosenberg and Francie Calfo, the series debuted on Wednesday, September 4 with three episodes and followed with an ensuing episode each week, in honor of #WuTang Wednesday.
https://youtu.be/kBy9umOnhZw
Inspired by RZA’s guide to the clan, The Wu-Tang Manual and its follow-up, Toa of Wu, the series is set in the early in 1990s Staten Island, New York during the peak of the crack epidemic. It follows the formation of the clan through the lens of RZA. Bobby Diggs’ (RZA) love for music and producing gives him hope for making it out of the inner-cities of Staten Island. His ambitions also include formulating a super-group highlighting the borough’s talent, hoping to harness their untapped potential. What stands in their way are the allures of the street life, the drug trade and vices that have ruined many a dream for young minorities.
The series format resembles that of The Get Down— a Netflix original series that gave a fictionalized chronology of hip hop’s birth — yet, Wu-Tang: An American Saga has intensity and realism (felt from the opening scene and onward) that outpaces the former. While the screenplay is captivating on its own (who doesn’t want to have some semblance of an idea of how the most unique rap group ever was formed?), the acting makes it that much more enjoyable. Rappers Dave East and Joey Badass each embody their respective roles. Dave East, who had the challenge of portraying the Clan’s most mainstream member in Method Man and in his first real acting gig, does an honorable job of representing the hip hop legend. Moonlight actor Ashton Sanders’ portrayal of RZA is award-worthy, from his speech to his mannerisms; the production value is very high.
Although based in the 1990s, issues tackled are those that are still prevalent in present-day black inner-cities. Obstacles such as poverty, crime, the inner workings of the drug trade as well as the corruption that follows, are all issues the main characters have to bypass on their way to success.
In that same vein of realism, characters are also seen hitting rock-bottom and having to reinvent themselves to ascend to greater heights. Young black males are forced to be the man of the house at young ages (seen with RZA’s brother Divine, who was the family’s main provider through his drug dealings). With illegal affairs such a big part of the series, the consequences of the street life and the dangers that it invites are also highlighted. The inevitable run-ins with the law, prison sentences, prison life, the pain of a mother losing a son and the gut-wrenching feeling of wanting to change your environment and the helplessness one feels in those moments are all captivating themes that the series explores. The destitution of the “hood” leads many of the Clan members to follow the five percent teachings and philosophies they’ve gone on to (along with many other notable hip hop acts) popularize in their music.
Even though many of the accounts have been dramatized/fictionalized, it is still really fun to get insight on the influences that made the Clan unique. For example, RZA’s creativity and genius comes from his quick thinking and ability to solve problems and applying those abilities into his production. We also get an idea as to how he became the group’s de facto leader, as he was playing peacemaker between members long before platinum records.
Wu-Tang: An American Saga is must-watch television. Not only is it informative, the cast – which ranges from Shameik Moore, Ashton Sanders, to Dave East and Joey Badass. do an exemplary job of portraying each respective pioneer of the Clan. With no big-screen release date to rush storylines, writers can take ample time to figure out the best cross between dramatic/entertaining television and re-counting the tales of some of the most important figures in rap history.
