Category: NYC Metro

Heart’s Lead Singer Ann Wilson Announces Solo Tour

After touring with rock band Heart for the better part of 2019 for the first time in three years, front woman Ann Wilson has released the dates for the first part of a soul tour, the Ann Wilson of Heart 2020 Tour. The three-week stint is set to have 16 stops, two of which will be in New York. First, on May 4 at The Paramount in Huntington and a show on May 6 at The Egg in Albany.

Fans will get a chance to hear many songs from the extensive Heart catalog along with Wilson’s own solo projects over the years like Hope & Glory (2007) The Ann Wilson Thing (2015) and, most recently, a special covers album, Immortal (2018) .

Ann Wilson on Jimmy Kimmel Live 2017

With Wilson taking lead as singer and lyricist, over the past 40 years Heart has sold 35 million records worldwide. In 2013, she was inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

Tickets are on sale now on her website.

Ann Wilson of Heart 2020 Tour

Apr. 30 – Bergen PAC – Englewood, NJ
May 1 – Foxwoods Casino – Mashantucket, CN
May 3 – Tupelo Music Hall – Derry, NJ
May 4 – Paramount Theater – Huntington, NY
May 6 – Egg Performing Arts – Albany, N.Y.
May 7 – Chevalier Theater – Medford, MA
May 9 – Hard Rock – Atlantic City, NJ
May 10 – Maryland Hall For Creative Arts – Annapolis, MD
May 12 – The Birchmere – Alexandria, VA
May 13 – F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts – Wilkes Barre, PA
May 15 – Stage AE, Benefit – Pittsburgh, PA
May 16 – Caesars – Elizabeth, IN
May 18 – Arcadia Theatre – St. Charles, IL
May 20 – Pabst Theater – Milwaukee, WI
May 21 – MGM Northfield – Northfield, OH
July 31 – California Mid-State Fair * – Paso Robles, CA
*festival appearance

February 24, 2020
James Taylor postpones dates with Jackson Browne to Summer 2021

Folk singer James Taylor today postpones his co-headlining tour with Jackson Browne from summer 2020 to summer 2021 due to the current COVID-19 crisis. Taylor said regarding the news:

“Disappointing as it is to have to reschedule these shows, our first tour together, James/Jackson and I look forward with intense excitement to next spring when, hopefully, we’ll finally get to set this thing in motion,” the musicians said in a joint statement. “We were hoping to reschedule the tour a bit sooner but the experts we consulted have advised waiting for a full year. We thank you all for your patience and understanding and are really encouraged by the majority of you who are holding onto your tickets. We WILL honor them.”

While tickets for 2020 will be honored at all shows, if you cannot attend you are eligible for a refund from the point of purchase.

(Rescheduled) James Taylor and Jackson Browne Summer 2021 tourdates

May 14, 2021 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center

May 15, 2021 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center

May 17, 2021 – Ft. Worth, TX – Dickies Arena

May 20, 2021 – Salt Lake City, UT – Maverik Center

May 21, 2021 – Boise, ID – ExtraMile Arena

May 23, 2021 – Tacoma, WA – Tacoma Dome

May 24, 2021 – Portland, OR – Moda Center

May 26, 2021 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center

May 28, 2021 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center

May 29, 2021 – San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena

June 9, 2021 – Chicago, IL – United Center

June 11, 2021 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center

June 12, 2021 – Clarkston, MI – DTE Entergy Center

June 14, 2021 – Dayton, OH – Nutter Center

June 15, 2021 – Charleston, WV – Charleston Coliseum

June 17, 2021 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena

June 23, 2021 – Roanoke, VA – Berglund Center Coliseum

June 25, 2021 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center

June 26, 2021 – Memphis, TN – FedExForum

June 28, 2021 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena

June 29, 2021 – Atlanta, GA – Infinite Energy Center

July 1, 2021 – Hershey, PA – Giant Center

July 2, 2021 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

July 4, 2021 – Lenox, MA – Tanglewood (James Taylor and his all-star band)

July 7, 2021 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center

July 9, 2021 – Camden, NJ – BB&T Center

July 10, 2021 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health @ Jones Beach

James Taylor released American Standard on February 28, his first release since 2015’s Before This World. On the new album, Taylor infuses new sounds and fresh meaning into timeless works of art, reimagining some of the most beloved songs of the 20th century and making them completely his own.

Taylor says of American Standard, “I’ve always had songs I grew up with that I remember really well, that were part of the family record collection – and I had a sense of how to approach, so it was a natural to put American Standard together,” explained Taylor. “In terms of how [the songs] were performed and recorded before, we paid attention to the chords and melody, but we were interested in doing something new, and in bringing something new to it, we’ve reinterpreted the songs, that’s what makes it worth doing.”

The lead single “Teach Me Tonight” was released alongside the album announcement.

February 23, 2020
The Decemberists announce 20th Anniversary tour

The Decemberists have announced dates for their 20th anniversary summer tour, including a performance at Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards in Lafayette on August 15 and Central Park Summer Stage on August 20.

The group, who first formed in 2000 in Portland, Oregon, will embark on a summer tour headed from the Pacific Northwest to the Northeast, with a final stop at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on August 22.

“Twenty years ago, in a basement practice space in Portland, Oregon, a bunch of musicians threw together under the name The December Brides, a name that lasted only a few hours before it was marginally improved to The Decemberists,” says the band’s frontman Colin Meloy. “On such occasions, it seems fitting to throw some kind of party. And so we’re heading out on the road, we Decemberists, to celebrate the work we’ve made over the last two decades.” For more information and tickets visit decemberists.com.

The Decemberists 20th Anniversary National Tour Dates

Jul. 28 – KettleHouse Amphitheater – Missoula, MT

Jul. 29 – Paramount Theater – Seattle, WA

Jul. 31 – Edgefield – Troutdale, OR

Aug. 1 – Edgefield – Troutdale, OR

Aug. 3 – The Mountain Winery – Saratoga, CA

Aug. 4 – The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA

Aug. 6 – Gallivan Center -Twilight Concert Series – Salt Lake City, UT

Aug. 7 – The Mission Ballroom – Denver, CO

Aug. 8 – CrossroadsKC – Kansas City, MO

Aug. 10 – Surly Brewing Co – Minneapolis, MN

Aug. 11 – Auditorium Theatre – Chicago, IL

Aug. 14 – Roy Thompson Hall – Toronto, ON

Aug. 15 – Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards – La Fayette, NY

Aug. 16 – Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts – Vienna, VA

Aug. 18 – The Met Philadelphia – Philadelphia, PA

Aug. 19 – The Boch Center-Shubert Theatre – Boston, MA

Aug. 20 – Central Park SummerStage – New York, NY

Aug. 22 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN

*All shows are with Fruit Bats, except August 8

February 23, 2020
In Focus: JRAD At The Cap 2/21/20
Grateful Dead cover band heavyweight champions Joe Russoâs Almost Dead (JRAD) continue their reign at a legendary venue with three nights at the historic Capitol Theatre, starting on Friday, February 21, 2020 (2/21/20)
February 22, 2020
Man Forever aka Kid Millions presents ‘The Accident’ at Roulette on February 28

On February 28, 2018, at 4:00 am, drummer John Colpitts was nearly killed. Colpitts, a founding member of Oneida and a prolific Brooklyn percussionist also known as Kid Millions and Man Forever, was in Los Angeles traveling to the airport when he was involved in an accident. His car was struck at high speed and the accident was so serious that it took him out of commission for five months before he eventually picked up his drumsticks and returned to his instrumental passion.

Two years later to the day, Roulette will present the US premiere of a narrative performance by Colpitts that explores pain, recovery, transcendence and a return to life and art. Known for his intense playing style and fervent live performances, Colpitts will perform solo with drums, adopting the modes of Laurie Anderson and Spalding Gray to evoke the question: How does one truly recover from an accident when your body is changed forever?

With drums and narration from John Colpitts and directed by Mark Armstrong, the performance at Roulette starts at 8pm on Friday, February 28, 2020. Marking the US premiere of this narrative performance, Colpitts explores the car accident that nearly ended his life and its aftermath. Tickets are available .

A composer, drummer, writer, and educator based in Brooklyn, John Colpitts performs under the moniker Man Forever and Kid Millions. Named one of the 100 Greatest Drummers in Alternative Music by Spin Magazine in 2001, he founded and plays drums in Oneida, People of the North, and Man Forever.

Founded in 1978 at the height of the NYC downtown experimental arts revolution, Roulette Intermedium is now a state-of-the-art performing arts venue, presenter, and producer of new and experimental music, dance, and intermedia. In 2011, Roulette moved into its current 400-seat, renovated 1927 art deco theater in Downtown Brooklyn. In 2019-20, Roulette will present 120 performances and special events and will also host 125 organizations through our Community Services Program, featuring partnerships with over 70 diverse Brooklyn institutions.

February 22, 2020
Kamasi Washington Delivers Jazz Master Class at Kings Theatre
Kamasi Washington and his band came through Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre this week as part of his latest round of winter tour dates. Although there has not been new music since 2018s critically acclaimed double LP, Heaven and Earth, Kamasi just released a film, Kamasi Washington Live at the Apollo Theater, on Amazon Prime Video. The live film was recorded at Kamasi’s show at the Harlem theater on February 23, 2019.

Watch the excerpt for “Street Fighter Mas” HERE.

Kamasi Washington at Kings Theatre – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

The show opened with a short R&B and Soul DJ set from Natasha Diggs. Natasha paid homage to many late artists with her set; music filled the room as fans filed into their seats. The setting was a perfect fit for Kamasi’s music, and the first thing he said when the band took the stage was in admiration the beautiful theater.

Kamasi Washington at Kings Theatre – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

Flanked by two drum sets, Kamasi stood center stage and dove straight into “Street Fighter Mas” from Heaven and Earth. When the band plays live, they tend to only play five or six songs, but extend them with solos and improvs to fill a nearly two-hour set. Both drummers took their turn during the show, delivering very different drum solos, accompanied by two separate solos on upright bass.

After the first song, Kamasi introduced his father, Rickey Washington, on stage who continued to play flute and soprano saxophone for the rest of the night. The father and son stood side by side. The chemistry between them could be felt across the theater.

Kamasi Washington at Kings Theatre – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

The main set ended with a lengthy rendition of “Fists of Fury,” which featured soaring vocals from singer Patrice Quinn. There were several movements during the performance of this track, but the final solo of the night was reserved for Kamasi on tenor. The man is a master on the saxophone and his solo ended with a standing ovation from the audience, followed by a reprise of the epic conclusion. It was the most powerful moment, ending the show with a thunderous finish.

Kamasi Washington at Kings Theatre – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

In addition to the live film, Kamasi released the stand alone track “The Bombshell’s Waltz,” earlier this month also on Amazon Music. The band is just beginning this stretch of live dates, which continue across North America until a final show on March 12 in San Antonio – see the full itinerary HERE.
February 22, 2020
Mount Sharp share new single and video ‘Ordinary’, perform in Brooklyn Feb 22

Mount Sharp is back with their first release in five years, That Shadow, due out on February 21 via Dadstache Records. They’ve just released the single and video for “Ordinary” ahead of the album’s release and their record release show at Gutter in Brooklyn on Saturday, February 22.

The first taste of the new record came with their first single, “Apostate.” Post-Trash, who premiered the video, said,”Our first taste of the band’s long-awaited new music comes in the form of ‘Apostate,’ a song that pulls from the band’s more serene end, a dreamy song to melt away to during this heat wave. Built on a resonant twang and a pulsating rhythm, the song breathes at a natural clip, drawing between a soft intimacy and a thick fuzzy build up by the bridge. There’s a syrupy quality to the vocals that stick with you after the song has ended, and while you may not instantly remember the lyrics, the melody is now part of consciousness, like a distant memory that repeats in your mind.”

Mount Sharp began on a rooftop in Brooklyn, or on a boat in Maine, or perhaps somewhere in between. The band grew around the bittersweet, poetic songwriting of Swood (Sarah Wood) paired with Bryan Bruchman’s noisy, chaotic tendencies around 2012. On 2014’s WEIRD FEARS EP (with the rhythm section of Ryan Zumsen and Maia Macdonald), the band exhibited a blast of unbridled energy, excitement, and confusion – a fitting soundtrack to a brief, blissful, carefree time before so much changed. The band – now with Sal Garro and Jonathan Pilkington Kahnt firmly holding down the drums and bass – has matured, and the songs are maybe a little more serious, maybe a little more reflective, but no less cutting and catchy. Taking inspiration from the cosmos, sci-fi TV, and the messed up state of the world, Mount Sharp puts all the feels into song.

That Shadow follows, too. It’s full of sticky melodies, lyrics that cut, and surging waves of noise. It’s designed to get under the skin. Inspired by years of watching all the assholes they know win, figuring out how to be kinder to themselves, and all the beautiful and tragic machines in space, the band says the record is everything that pulls them to look behind themselves. They believe we should be looking up and dreaming.

All tracks were produced by Brian Sendrowitz (Beat Radio) at Miracle Flag in Bellmore, NY, mastered by Sarah Register (Talk Normal, Protomartyr, Caroline Rose, Chastity Belt, Big Thief, Lower Dens, and Big Ups), and with artwork using images of textile artist Jenna Breiter’s work, including an original illustration for the LP cover.

February 20, 2020
David Byrne’s ‘American Utopia’ will return to Broadway later this year

David Byrne’s American Utopia will return to Broadway for a second engagement, beginning September 18, 2020 and lasting for a 17-week run, ending in January 2021. The most recent run, which was held at Hudson Theatre in Manhattan, saw the curtain close on Sunday, February 16.

Based on Byrne’s 2018 album, American Utopia opened in October 2019, with Byrne joined by an 11-piece ensemble playing songs from the album, his solo material and Talking Heads works alike.

“It’s become obvious to us in the band, the crew and the producer team that audiences want, dare I say need, to see this show,” said Byrne. “They’re not ready to have it disappear just yet. We feel the same way, we love doing this show. So, it’s thrilling to us that we can announce that we’ll be back in September.”

The producers of the show shared Byrne’s sentiments. “It has been a joy to bring American Utopia to Broadway. David Byrne is one of our greatest living artists and it’s cause for celebration that he has made his Broadway debut with this brilliant production. We have been blown away by the range of audiences of all ages and backgrounds who have come to see American Utopia.”

For those unable to make the shows later this year, Spike Lee has announced that he will direct a filmed version of American Utopia. And later this month, Byrne is set to appear as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on February 29, alongside host John Mulaney.

For more information on the return to Broadway of American Utopia, visit americanutopiabroadway.com

February 20, 2020
In Focus: Anna of the North celebrates Valentine’s Day at the Bowery
Valentine’s Day is a day for celebrating someone special in your life. For the sell-out crowd at The Bowery Ballroom in New York City, that someone was Anna of the North.

Performing on a stage lined with dozens of roses and adorned with two white teddy bears, the Norwegian artist left no question as to why the room chose to spend their night with her.

Despite fighting off a sore throat on only the second night of her tour, Anna of the North maintained high spirits by encouraging the crowd to sing to her, making the occasional quip in between songs, and of course, drinking her medicine—whiskey. Her infectious smile and energetic dancing reflected back onto the audience, which was full of couples whipping out their best moves.
February 20, 2020
Brooklyn Rapper Pop Smoke Murdered In Home Invasion Robbery

Brooklyn native Pop Smoke, was killed in Los Angeles early Wednesday morning according to a report from Rolling Stone. A representative from the Los Angeles Police department confirmed that they responded to a 911 call around 4:30 this morning to find Pop Smoke shot. Pop Smoke was rushed to an area hospital were upon arrival he was pronounced dead, he was only 20.

Even though several people were questioned at the scene, no arrests have been made as of early Wednesday morning. Up to six people are sought in connection with his death, police said. The nearly 3,000-square-foot home on which the alleged home robbery took place is a rental property reportedly owned by Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave, daughter of John Mellencamp and star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Pop Smoke’s death comes after his new mixtape, Meet the Woo 2, made its debut at number eight in the Rolling Stone albums charts. Meet the Woo 2 was released earlier this month and was a accumulation of collaborations from this past summer with other trending rappers such as Travis Scott, Lil Tjay and Calboy. The mixtape was received well by fans, with already 37 million streams.

Born as Bashar Jackson in Brooklyn, New York, Pop Smoke was living the dream as he went from a unknown artists to the next-up in a span of months. Last year in April he released a hypnotic song titled “Welcome to the Party”. He quickly earned a major label deal with Victor Victor Worldwide and Republic Records. The hit has since had 80 million streams and an official remix with superstar Nicki Minaj. Minaj took to Instagram earlier to give her condolences on Pop Smoke’s early demise.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8wKzSGnCP0/

The rapper’s rise to fame has been scattered with hardships since last October. Rolling Stone had reported that Pop Smoke and a slew of other local rappers were scheduled perform at the New York festival Rolling Loud but were demanded by police to be removed from the lineup in a letter that “if these individuals are allowed to perform, there will be a higher risk of violence.” He was also arrested in January after allegedly transporting a Rolls Royce, worth $375,000, from California to New York.

We will continue to update as the story develops.

Pop Smoke performs “Welcome to the Party” in LIC Queens

February 19, 2020