With each new year comes the promise of new music, and this year is also the start of a new decade. To usher in the new era, musician Jake Bellissimo has collaborated with legendary composer Gerald Busby on a new song, “The Budding of The Rose.” The song is from Bellissimo’s new album The Motion That We Make, which is set to release later this month.
Formerly of Rochester, NY, Bellissimo has been living in Berlin, Germany. The song is a cross-Atlantic effort with Bellissimo providing lyrics, and Busby setting them to melody and composing music for viola from his home at the Chelsea Hotel in New York City. The resulting song is sublime. The ardent love song traipses through a sonic garden of delight. It’s contemporary, yet timeless and classic.
Busby has resided at the Chelsea since 1977, when his mentor Virgil Thompson procured him a room. A child prodigy, he was playing with the symphony by the age of 15. He started composing later in life, and debuted professionally when he wrote the score of Runes for choreographer Paul Taylor’s dance company. He’s best known for writing the music for Robert Altman’s acclaimed movie 3 Women.
Bellissimo, in addition to being a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, runs the label Drunk With Love Records. The Motion That We Make is a contemplation on motion, mortality, and coincidences. It is a reflection on the places they’ve been and the people they’ve loved, and those they’ve lost. Watch for the release on January 24 on Drunk With Love Records.
Instrumental trio, Consider the Source, announced plans for an Acoustic/Electric Hybrid Album which is due to be released sometime in 2020. The trio also announced tour dates for the new year which includes a stop in Brooklyn.
Consider the Source originated in New York City and is a Sci-Fi Middle Eastern Fusion band who has been performing for over ten years in the United States and overseas in Turkey, Israel, Germany and more. This album would be their first studio recording exclusively featuring their acoustic/electric “Hybrid” setup. The band is attempting to raise $25,000 for the album for recording, mixing and mastering, printing CDs and Vinyl. The financial backing available ranges from an advanced digital download for $15 to a private hybrid performance for $2000.
The 2020 Meta tour dates start in Portland Maine on Feb. 28 at the Portland House of Music and wrap up on April 4 in Roanoke, VA at the 5 Point Music Sanctuary. There is a stop in Brooklyn at the Knitting Factory on March 7. The tour will focus on performing their entire album You Are Literally A Metaphor.
For more information on the acoustic/electric hybrid album visit the band’s indiegogo. For more purchasing tickets or more information on the band visit their website. Complete dates below the video.
Eight decades ago, Woody Guthrie wrote the iconic folk song “This Land Is Your Land.” The Woody Guthrie Center is commemorating the occasion by hosting an event at NYC’s Town Hall. The location is significant because it’s just around the corner from where Guthrie wrote the song on February 23, 1940. The show will be held February 23, with doors opening at 7:30. Tickets are on sale now.
“For 80 years, ‘This Land is Your Land’ has been for many of us an alternate national anthem. Woody’s lyrics are timeless as they praise the beauty and bountiful resources of our country, but they also question the way we share and care for those rich blessings. The Woody Guthrie Center is proud to be gathering friends from along that ribbon of highway to join us in the same neighborhood where Woody wrote these important words to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the song—and we will be singing ALL of the verses Woody wrote on that day.”
Deana McCloud, Executive Director of the Woody Guthrie Center
A proponent of social justice, Guthrie’s original version contained verses about private property and poverty, which were as relevant in the post-Depression era as they are today. These political verses, contained in the original manuscript, were later dropped.
The evening will feature special guests, including Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy. John Fullbright, Branjae Gangstagrass, and Haley Heynderickx will also make appearances.
All proceeds from the show will help the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, OK, as they further their mission of sharing Guthrie’s message of diversity, equality and social justice. For more information, visit woodyguthriecenter.org.
Jam rockers Phish executed their annual New Years Eve show and gag, albeit with unexpected turns and clones. The show took place at Madison Square Garden to a sold-out crowd. The gag is an annual tradition where the band attempts to fool the audience during the third set. Over the years, the gags have become more theatrical, but this one included an unplanned element of surprise.
The first set included a notably-funky jam “Halley’s Comet,” and the setlist delight, “Fluffhead.” Additionally, after “Axilla,” the band continued a story that was started on 12/30, and eventually referenced a pan flute player named Zamfir. Fishman was able to conjure up Zamfir, played by Richard Glasgow their tour manager, by saying his name.
The second set was a non-stop jam that prepared the fans for the gag to come. Notable songs included “Punch You In the Eye” and “Mercury.” As the set ended, the crew removed all instruments from the stage, and left eight large covered cubes.
Set three began with the band talking behind stage without realizing the audience was listening. Guitarist Trey Anastasio mentions that the band will finally give the people what they want, and play an entire set of jazz ballads, a cappella, for new years eve. That is of course, until Zamfir made another appearance, unleashed his pan on the band, and effectively started the annual gag.
The band appeared wearing wacky colorful jumpsuits during a piano solo for “Send in the Clowns.” Fishman wore a pink inverted version of his usual donut muumuu. The band then changed the lyrics from “Clowns” to “Clones,” and by the end of the song, Anastasio proclaimed “Send in the clones,” and with that, an entire dance troupe dressed in the same outfits as the band, complete with wigs, paraded onto the stage. The band members blended in and were soon cast into the air above the stage, with color-coded platforms suspended above the stage with their respective instruments.
To end 2019, Phish launched into a rocking “First Tube” from the air, with their clones performing choreographed dance sequences on the ground and on color coordinated risers. At midnight, the band played the traditional “Auld Lang Syne,” followed by “Sand,” reminiscent of the incredible “Sand” played twenty years ago at Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation in Florida. The band members were toggled up and down in the air on their platforms, as the clones dance beneath them.
At the end of “Sand,” Anastasio was noticeably still suspended in the air, while the other three band members were on the stage. Anastasio tried to ease the audience with quipps like “Well, I guess if I’m about to fall to my death, I might as well tell you guys all how much I love you.” A long pause followed, where he found out that the crew was unable to move his broken platform to the ground. The show must go on, and Anastasio played from his hobbled platform for the rest of the set. The audience stood in near silence watching Anastasio’s platform swaying ever so slightly, as the pops of thousands of balloons echoed in Madison Square Garden, with the clones laying down on the platforms, waiting patiently for the next song to begin.
Trey Anastasio is lowered to safety via the Rescue Squad
Despite being stuck, the show continued with Page, Jon and Mike moving up and down on their platforms, with Anastasio’s static, 30 feet above the stage. During the quintessential “You Enjoy Myself,” the clones participated in an exceptional vocal jam. At the end, Anastasio awkwardly declared that the encore was starting, because there was no way for him to exit his platform, and asked the audience to pretend that they had gone off stage and come back on. The band gave the fans one final song of the night, “Tweezer Reprise,” and all left the stage, except Anastasio, who remained on his hobbled platform, and sang an impromptu ode to the “Rescue Squad” of crew who safely brought the Bad Lieutenant down. Using Fishman’s platform to safely bridge Anastasio to safety, Anastasio continued the “Rescue Squad” jam on his way down, utilizing Fishman’s drumkit for a final thank you to the Rescue Squad.
Trey Anastasio
Was it all part of the gag? Was this part of the plan? Fans continue to debate this days later, all the while reveling in one of Phish’s most impressive New Year’s Eve stunts to date.
The Nashville-based sister duo, Larkin Poe, announced their 2020 world tour including a stop in Webster Hall in New York City. The tour officially starts in March at North Little Rock, AR’s University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College and wraps up in April with stops across the globe. Dates also exist in February through July on this tour.
Larkin Poe. Photo credit: Aloysius Lim
Larkin Poe has a GRAMMY® Award-nominated album Venom & Faith in the Best Contemporary Blues category. The tour announcement follows on the coattails of their video for “MISSISSIPPI” released on December 17. Larkin Poe is currently working on their next album which is due to drop sometime in 2020.
Larkin Poe will be stopping at Webster Hall in New York City on April 2. The tour includes stops all across the United States. There are also dates in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
For more information on Larkin Poe or their tour visit their website. See the complete list of dates below.
Larkin Poe 2020 Tour Dates:
Feb. 8 – Mahindra Blues Festival – Mumbai, India
Feb. 27 through March 2 – Rock Legends Cruise – Port Everglades, FL
March 13 – Minglewood Hall – Memphis, TN
March 14 – University of Arkansas: Pulaski Technical College – North Little Rock, AR
March 18 – Center for the Arts – Jackson, WY
March 25 – 29 – Treefort Music Fest – Boise, ID
March 27 – The Independent – San Francisco, CA
March 28 – Fonda Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
April 1 – Royale – Boston, MA
April 2 – Webster Hall – New York, NY
April 3 – The Foundry – Philadelphia, PA
April 5 – Tampa Bay Blues Festival – Tampa, FL
April 11 – Byron Bay Bluesfest – Tyagarah, Australia
April 13 – Byron Bay Bluesfest – Tyagarah, Australia
April 15 – Factory Theatre – Sydney, Australia
April 16 – The Corner Hotel – Richmond, Australia
April 18 – Powerstation – Auckland, New Zealand
April 19 – James Hay Theatre – Christchurch, New Zealand
April 21 – duo Music Exchange – Tokyo, Japan
April 24 – Sweetwater 420 Festival – Atlanta, GA
April 25 – Brooklyn Bowl – Nashville, TN
May 1 – O2 Institute – Birmingham, United Kingdom
May 2 – Button Factory – Dublin, Ireland
May 3 – SWG3 Studio Warehouse – Glasgow, United Kingdom
May 5 – O2 Ritz Manchester – Manchester, United Kingdom
May 6 – SWX – Bristol, United Kingdom
May 7 – O2 Empire Shepherds Bush – London, United Kingdom
May 9 – Paradiso – Amsterdam, Netherlands
May 10 – Live Music Hall – Cologne, Germany
May 12 – Ancienne Belgique – Brussels, Belgium
May 13 – Le Trianon – Paris, France
May 15 – Sala Apolo – Barcelona, Spain
May 16 – Sala But – Madrid, Spain
May 19 – Santeria Toscana 31 – Milano, Italy
May 20 – Dynamo – Zurich, Switzerland
May 22 – Technikum München – München, Germany
May 23 – WUK – Wien, Austria
May 25 – Lucerna Music Bar – Prague, Czech Republic
May 26 – Huxley’s Neue Welt – Berlin, Germany
May 27 – Markthalle – Hamburg, Germany
May 29 – VEGA – København V, Denmark
May 30 – Restaurang Trädgårn – Göteborg, Sweden
May 31 – Rockefeller Music Hall – Oslo, Norway
June 2 – Berns – Stockholm, Sweden
July 12 – Bospop Festival – Weert, Netherlands
July 17 – 19 – Blues Peer Festival – Peer, Belgium
