NYS Music 202​0

Category: Regions

  • Queens Rapper Kyngjo Drops Music Video for ‘Calling Me’

    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.” 

  • Warren Haynes to join Virtual New York Guitar Festival’s Celebration of Reverend Gary Davis

    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. 

    reverend gary davis

    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

    May 6 – Fantastic Negrito

    May 7 – Bill Frisell 

    May 8 – Dom Flemons 

    May 9 – Sonia de los Santos 

    May 10 – Jorma Kaukonen

    May 11 – Kaia Kater 

    May 12 – Brandon Ross 

    May 13 – Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams 

    May 14 – Warren Haynes 

    May 15 – Larkin Poe

  • Hearing Aide: Levi Robin “Where Night Meets Day”

    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.

    Key Tracks: No Other, Days of our Youth, Alabama


  • Tumbledown cancels 2020 event

    In a statement on Facebook, organizers of the two-day event held within the Lake Champlain Maritime Festival, have announced that the 2020 Tumbledown edition is cancelled, due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

    It comes with great sadness that as a result of COVID-19, Tumble Down 2020 is cancelled. This was our Sweet Number 5 and we were so excited to drop an amazing lineup this year. We promise that we are working on something very special that we will be announcing very soon. There isn’t much that hurts us more than canceling our favorite event of the year, in our home town with all of you, but unfortunately we have no choice.

    Refunds will be issued automatically to everyone at point of purchase. However there may be some delays, so please be patient. Please contact box@highergroundmusic.com if you have questions or concerns.

    We love you, stay safe and healthy and we will get through this together – 
    .

    Tumbledown 2020 has been a staple of Burlington summers since 2016, with Vermont’s own Twiddle headlining both days of the festival. The event grew into the Lake Champlain Maritime Festival in 2017 with shows bookending Tumbledown for a four-day event that drew thousands to the Lake Champlain waterfront from around the Northeast. Check out our coverage from 2019 here.

  • Hearing Aide: Cycles ‘Summer Dress’

    In these uncertain times, we’re seeing an influx in live streams and album releases as bands try to find ways to entertain their fans and make the most of this strange situation. Cycles, a psychedelic-rock-fusion power-trio from Denver, released their new EP, Summer Dress, on March 27th and also joined the nugs.net family that week, a move that ensures they’ll find plenty of new fans despite having to postpone their Spring Tour for safety reasons. These five tracks are the bands first release in three years and were all produced by Josh Fairman of SunSquabi, who helped encapsulate the tremendous skill that all three band members share into a record with a great live sound.

    The opening track starts with a peek at Colin O’Brien’s incredible drum work before the lyrics offer a well-timed reminder that just because we may be stuck at home doesn’t mean we have to be stuck staring at the countless screens around us. Tucker McClung’s flittering bass plays wonderfully underneath Patrick Harvey’s guitar licks and jam at the end of “Robot’s Breath” put an instant smile on my face.

    Next up is “The Key,” an instrumental that really highlights what this band is capable of. The first half of this gem is a composed masterpiece that each member shines on before they all let loose in the funkier, psychedelic second half. Patrick’s soaring guitar is what grabs your attention during the first listen of this track, but the intricate bass playing and the intense drums will be all that you focus on when you relisten to it.

    The title track, “Summer Dress,” start with a twisting, airy introduction and after a stratospheric guitar solo, gets punched up in a blast of funk. After another jam that is sure to be incredible live, it ends in a flowing send off with Tucker’s bass powering through to the very end. This band has such a fresh sound and are able to bring new and unique takes to each of these tracks.

    “The Clock” starts off like a sports car and Colin’s drumming takes a front seat during this offering. This track has so many levels to it and it’s an exciting ride. The first jam has a psychedelic Deep Purple vibe which makes it way into a slower, blissful jam a third of the way though the song. This transitions into a grimey groove that morphs into a rocket ship of a guitar solo. Each member really shows what they’re made of before this one finishes up.

    Cycles‘ EP finishes with “Sunrise,” a beautiful piece that musically showcases that specific time each morning. Starting off with a dreamy first half, it boils up into a sendoff as joyful as the rising sun. Summer Dress can be found on all streaming services and you can also find more information about the band and their current streaming plans on their Facebook page.

    Key Tracks: The Key, The Clock

  • Wu-Tang: An American Saga – Season 1 Overview

    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. 

    Wu-Tang An American Saga

    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.  

    Wu-Tang An American Saga

    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

    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. 

  • Ja Rule’s “New York”: How the City Began a War Within from One Hit Record

    Hit records celebrating a city are supposed to bring people together. Take Ja Rule’s 2004 smash single “New York,” for instance. Featuring hip-hop heavyweights Fat Joe and Jadakiss, the song was released as the second single from his 2004 studio album R.U.L.E. and peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100. Having caught on with the masses as a major hit, it should have also served as reminder amongst New York emcees of the bond they share as the proprietors of hip hop. Here you have a global record with an infectious chorus – What native New Yorker doesn’t enjoy chanting “I’m from New York?” – Yet, it served as the fulcrum for the ensuing turmoil between the city’s rap juggernauts. 

    The year is 2004, 50 Cent – on the heels of his incredibly successful debut studio album Get Rich or Die Tryin’— is the biggest rapper in the world, oh and he happens to hate Ja Rule’s guts and subsequently, anyone who associates themselves with him. Their beef stems from 50 feeling slighted because their big homie Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff, chose to back Ja Rule’s music over him. That along with many other incidents – that have been covered in magazines and documentaries – have led to the two Queens rappers loathing each other for the better part of 20 years. They’ve gone back and forth with numerous diss records and even had an altercation at the world-famous Hit Factory studios in New York City, which resulted in a brawl between each other’s entourages and 50 Cent being stabbed. 

    While 50 Cent’s contempt for Ja Rule drove his actions, it’s also important to note that although the latter reached fame and notoriety a few years before his adversary, in 2004, 50 Cent had a ton of pull as the most in-demand and popular rap act of the time. Which means, he acted without any regards for what his contemporaries thought, and since he was backed by Dr. Dre and Eminem (the highest selling rapper of all-time), he didn’t need to maintain relationships with his New York counterparts. So, what began as a dispute between 50 Cent and Ja Rule quickly transformed and saw the “Many Men” rapper taking shots at Fat Joe and Jadakiss on his sophomore album The Massacre. On the diss-record “Piggy Bank” – which he also attacked Nas, Nas’ then-wife Kelis, The Game and Lil’ Kim on – he slams Fat Joe, “that fat n**** thought Lean Back was in the club/ my sh*t sold 11 mil, his sh*t was a dud. He then proceeds to go after Jadakiss on the very next line, “Jada’ don’t f**k with me, if you wanna eat/Cause I’ll do yo’ little ass like Jay did Mobb Deep/Yeah, homey, in New York n**** like your vocals, But that’s only New York dawg, yo’ ass is local​.” 

    With that began a division between 50 Cent and two more prominent New York rappers (add them to the list), and since 50 Cent had beef with Ja Rule, Fat Joe and Jadakiss, so did everyone associated with him; including his entire G-Unit crew (because that’s how 50 rolls and who wants to piss off the biggest rapper in the world?). 

    While New York consistently delivered rappers with hard-hitting lyrics along with plenty of big hits, the division amongst them wasn’t easy to overcome (It wasn’t all on 50 Cent as other rappers like Cam’ron also had the propensity to verbally assault their contemporaries).  Nonetheless, as the South grew stronger, major acts like Outkast, Ludacris, Lil Wayne, UGK, T.I. and Young Jeezy were all delivering a stellar product and it was much easier to find cohesion among their power players, eventually paving the way for the south to become the “it” region in hip hop.

    50 Cent and Fat Joe have since settled their differences in 2012 when their mutual friend and business associate Chris Lighty passed away, while Jadakiss and 50 have also found common ground. As for Ja Rule and 50 Cent? Well they still can’t stand each other. Yet, the two hip hop legends have given us plenty of hit songs and iconic moments to discuss for years to come and “New York” serves as just a small part of their long and complicated history. 

  • Lorelle Meets the Obsolete at Rough Trade NYC

    Lorelle Meets the Obsolete hail from Guadalajara, Mexico and have been releasing psychedelic post-punk since their debut, On Welfare, back in 2011. The band consists of primary members Lorena Quintanilla and Alberto González who come together to create walls of dystopian noise they dub “pattern music.”

    Lorelle Meets The Obsolete at Rough Trade NYC – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    The band came through Rough Trade NYC this past Monday for the first show of a tour supporting Berlin goth-rockers The Underground Youth. The tour was supposed to be centered around various appearances at the now cancelled SXSW festival in Austin, but will continue into April with stops all across North America.

    Lorelle Meets The Obsolete at Rough Trade NYC – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    The show started with the opening track “Ana” from LMTO’s fantastic 2019 release De Facto. The song starts from nothing and slowly builds into haunting vocal mantras and waves of heavily distorted guitars. It’s a dark, brooding track the set an ominous mood for the rest of the show. The band would play about half of the new record and also included other tracks such as “Waves Over Shadows” and “Eco Echo” from 2016s Balance. The band delivered a dense 9-track set filled with extended psych jams and lengthy outros that the showed the group feeding off each other’s energy.

    Lorelle Meets The Obsolete at Rough Trade NYC – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    Last October, LMTO released a remix of the De Facto track “Unificado” by Pye Corner Audio – check that out HERE. Catch them on tour throughout March and early April and be on the lookout for more remix singles.

  • Papadosio to Launch Microdosio Tour at Brooklyn Bowl on Wednesday

    North Carolina jam act Papadosio will be touring with their new Microdosio project this spring. The first night of tour is to be held at Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn, NY this Wednesday, March 11. They’ll head down the coast and then up through the Midwest, ending with doubleheaders in Grand Rapids, MI in April and Pittsburgh, PA in May.

    “Microdosio is a brand new show with a small stage plot and a huge sound. We are exploring new sonic territory by shrinking our gear to focus on synths, samplers, drum machines, and loopers, all played along with the live instruments you know and love. Expect new material and old favorites as we take this tiny universe on the road this spring! Thanks for letting us experiment.”

    – Papadosio

    The band tested the new material at a couple shows, and created a preview video which can be viewed HERE.  For more videos and tour news, connect with Papadosio on Facebook. Tickets are on sale now.

    microdosio

    Paradosio – The Microdosio Tour 2020

    March 11th, 2020 – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY

    March  13th, 2020 – XL Live – Harrisburg, PA 

    March 14th, 2020 – Ballhooter Festival

    March 15th, 2020 – The Broadberry – Richmond, VA 

    March 20th, 2020 – Pour House – Charleston, SC 

    March 21st, 2020 – Pour House – Charleston, SC 

    April 3rd, 2020 – Union Stage – Washington, DC

    April 4th, 2020 – Union Stage – Washington, DC 

    April 10th, 2020 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL

    April 11th, 2020 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL 

    April 17th, 2020 – Elevation Room – Grand Rapids, MI

    April 18th, 2020 – Elevation Room – Grand Rapids, MI

    May 1st, 2020 – The Rex Theater – Pittsburgh, PA

    May 2nd, 2020 – The Rex Theater – Pittsburgh, PA

  • Camp Bisco Releases 2020 Lineup

    Returning for its 17th year in a row, the 2020 lineup has been released for Camp Bisco. Held once again July 9-11 at Montage Mountain in Scranton, PA, it will feature hosts The Disco Biscuits performing a total of six times, including backing up the psychedelic Shpongle.

    Also on the lineup are favorites Bassnectar, GRiZ, Lotus, STS9, Subtronics, G Jones and Troy Boi. In addition, British sensational producer Tipper will perform two sets. Mysterious producer Deathpact is also slated to make his/her/its East Coast debut.

    The announcement also notes that the event will feature an “immersive projection mapping experience” by Datagramma and Imaginex.

    Check out the complete lineup below. Early Bird Pass 2 tickets are on sale now. For more information, head to campbisco.com.