Category: Regions

In Focus: Bella’s Bartok and West End Blend at The Hollow

A packed Hollow Bar & Kitchen welcomed Bella’s Bartok and West End Blend back to the Capital Region for an intense night of dancing and revelry. The two bands, from western Mass and Connecticut, respectively, have built up sizable followings around the state and when converging together in Albany on Friday, a welcoming crowd got down with them from the first note to the last. West End Blend’s funk did more than warm up the crowd, and set the tone for the night with “Smile.” Bella’s Bartok followed shortly after with a set full of klezmer-infused, high energy numbers, with inflated eye balls bouncing around the crowd and a daring band member who crowd surfed to the bar (for a shot) and back to the stage with the support of their fans.

Following these two glorious sets of music to shake the week off, the bands spoke to NYS Music about why New York is such an important part of their careers and how they have grown as a result of touring across the state.

Drummer Sam Horan of West End Blend: “I feel like playing around the New York scene, that’s not New York City, it’s just been really good to us, and we’ve seen a lot of progress and steady progression which keeps us fueled to come back. This show, specifically, was a surprise because our last show was, it was good, but tonight really felt like a turning point for the market. We have a really great audience in Saranac Lake, and we throw our festival ‘The Blender’ in Saranac Lake, and that’s its own thing, but for Albany tonight it really felt like a turning point for us, with an early opening set, and it was a full room. It was a really good, reassuring thing for us to see a full room, starting pretty early, so that’s kind of the thing the New York scene has just been really good to us, and that’s what keeps us coming back.”

Likewise, Asher Putnam, lead singer of Bella’s Bartok shared: “We’ve been playing upstate New York and the Hudson River Valley since 2009-2010 when we were just a street band, and we’ve always enjoyed ourselves. We’re out of western Massachusetts, the Great Barrington area, so it’s a hop, skip, and a jump, and it’s really nice to see people coming up to the show who’ve been seeing us for 7-8 years, singing along to the old songs and hearing the new tunes. From Saranac Lake to Albany, and sometimes to NYC even, the Capital Region and Upstate is where we find our people.”

Catch West End Blend on Saturday February 8 at The Waterhole in Saranac Lake, and Bella’s Bartok the night before at The Waterhole on Friday, February 7. Bella’s then returns to the state on Saturday, March 7 at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, and then again on Thursday, March 19 at Funk ‘n Waffles in Syracuse.

Check out the photo gallery below!

January 27, 2020
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

January 26, 2020
LOCKN’ 2020 Lineup Revealed

The 8^thannual LOCKN’ Festival lineup has been announced. Taking place (as usual) at Infinity Downs & Oak Ridge Farm in Arrington, VA. This year’s festivities will be in honor of Grateful Dead bassist, Phil Lesh’s 80^th birthday, where he will perform alongside friends and legends alike, with plenty of special guests to boot.

The three-day event, camping festival, will kick off on June 19. Day one will feature performances from: Phil Lesh Quintet ft. Warren Haynes, Jimmy Herring, Rob Barraco, John Molo, Brandi Carlile, Gov’t Mule, Goose, Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers, The Chain Gang ft. Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Cody Dickinson, Luther Dickinson, Samantha Fish, John Ginty, & Berry Oakley, Jr. play Fleetwood Mac’s, Rumours, Yola, Boombox ft. BackBeat Brass, and Grateful Shred.

Saturday, June 20, will feature Phil Lesh Quintet ft. Warren Haynes, Jimmy Herring, Rob Barraco, John Molo with David Crosby, Oteil & Friends, David Crosby, Mike Gordon, Black Pumas, Garcia Peoples, Grateful Shred, and Kendall Street Company. In addition, an new headline act will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

Festivities conclude Sunday, June 21, with performances from Phil Lesh with John Mayer and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Leon Bridges, Electric Hot Tuna,Railroad Earth, MEUTE, The War and Treaty, Midnight North, and Keller Williams’ Grateful Gospel.

The first ever three-day LOCKN’ festival doesn’t end there. A special “Steal Your Thursday” add-on will be available for $30, allowing attendees to kick off their festival weekend on Thursday, June 18, while a Wednesday early-entry add-on will also be made available, giving guests a chance to enjoy the farm in preparation for the extravaganza that lies ahead.

Along with all the great entertainment, attendees will get the chance to try-out various local food vendors and their always enticing cuisine, in addition to craft brewery, and other delectables.

Three-day LOCKN’ passes are available for $259, with a payment plan that allows fans to pay a deposit of $19.99 (with fees) and make four payments over four months. There will also be VIP passes that offer fans perks such as, enhanced seating/ambience, intimate view of performances, exclusive merchandise and much more. Accommodations will also include; glamping tents, RVs, tour buses, and more and are available as an add-on to festival passes.

For more information on LOCKN’ 2020 tickets, on-site lodging or special add-ons, click HERE.

January 25, 2020
Pink Floyd Co-Founder Roger Waters Announces “This is Not a Drill” Tour

Pink Floyd co-founder, Roger Waters, announced via Twitter that he will be embarking on an extensive 2020 North American “This is Not a Drill” Tour. This is the first time Waters will be performing at the Times Union Center in Albany. Updated dates can be found for 2022 below.

THIS IS NOT A DRILL
The new tour
Tour dates at https://t.co/1f2rcamerC pic.twitter.com/JDVYqekqvi
— Roger Waters ✊ (@rogerwaters) January 23, 2020

“This Is Not A Drill” will play in 31 cities across the U.S. and Canada including two stops in New York. First along the way will be a performance at the Times Union Center on July 25 in Albany. Waters will then return August 5 to what will most likely be a sold out show at Madison Square Garden.

Waters was the bass player, co-lead vocalist and songwriter in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. He originally revealed news of the tour during an interview with Rolling Stone in September where he also discussed his upcoming film ‘Us + Them.’

“It’ll be a new show. It will be no-holds-barred,” Roger told Rolling Stone. “My work is to think, ‘Well, how can I make rock & roll more interesting or theatrical or exciting or visual or musical or whatever?’ That’s what I’ve spent the last 50 years doing, expressing myself.”
Roger Waters – Rolling Stone

Roger Waters: This Is Not A Drill – 2022 North American Tour Dates

July 6, 2022 – Pittsburgh, PA, PPG Paints Arena
July 8, 2022 – Toronto, ON, Scotiabank Arena
July 9, 2022 – Toronto, ON, Scotiabank Arena
July 12, 2022 – Boston, MA, TD Garden
July 15, 2022 – Montreal, QC, Bell Centre
July 17, 2022 – Quebec, QC, Videotron Centre
July 20, 2022 – Albany, NY, MVP Arena
July 23, 2022 – Detroit, MI, Little Caesars Arena
July 26, 2022 – Chicago, IL, United Center
July 28, 2022 – Milwaukee, WI, Fiserv Forum
July 30, 2022 – Minneapolis, MN, Target Center
August 2, 2022 – Cincinnati, OH, Heritage Bank Center
August 5, 2022 – Philadelphia, PA, Wells Fargo Center
August 6, 2022 – Philadelphia, PA, Wells Fargo Center
August 10, 2022* – Columbus, OH, Nationwide Arena
August 13, 2022 – Elmont, NY, UBS Arena at Belmont Park
August 16, 2022 – Washington, D.C., Capital One Arena
August 18, 2022 – Raleigh, NC, PNC Arena
August 20, 2022 – Atlanta, GA, State Farm Arena
August 23, 2022 – Miami, FL, FTX Arena
August 25, 2022 – Orlando, FL, Amway Center
August 27, 2022 – Nashville, TN, Bridgestone Arena
August 30, 2022 – New York, NY, Madison Square Garden
August 31, 2022 – New York, NY, Madison Square Garden
September 3, 2022 – Kansas City, MO, T-Mobile Center
September 6, 2022 – Denver, CO, Ball Arena
September 8, 2022 – Salt Lake City, UT, Vivint Arena
September 10, 2022 – Portland, OR, Moda Center
September 13, 2022 – Edmonton, AB, Rogers Place
September 15, 2022 – Vancouver, BC, Rogers Arena
September 17, 2022 – Tacoma, WA, Tacoma Dome
September 20, 2022 – Sacramento, CA, Golden 1 Center
September 23, 2022 – San Francisco, CA, Chase Center
September 24, 2022 – San Francisco, CA, Chase Center
September 27, 2022 – Los Angeles, CA, Crypto.com Arena
September 28, 2022 – Los Angeles, CA, Crypto.com Arena
October 1, 2022 – Las Vegas, NV, T-Mobile Arena
October 3, 2022* – Glendale, AZ, Gila River Arena
October 6, 2022* – Austin, TX, Moody Center
October 8, 2022 – Dallas, TX, American Airlines Center

January 25, 2020
Temples Deliver Career Spanning Set at Webster Hall

UK psych rockers, Temples, released their third LP, Hot Motion, back in September 2019, and the tour hit Webster Hall this past Tuesday, January 21. This was technically a make-up date from November, since the band previously expanded and reorganized the tour.

Temples at Webster Hall – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

Support came from Canadian based singer Art d’Ecco. The glam-punk rocker commanded the stage with a dominating presence and delivered upbeat, Bowie-tinged punk rock grooves.

Art d’Ecco at Webster Hall – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

Temples’ new LP sees them refining their distinctive indie psych-rock sound, culminating in a very consistent addition to their catalog. This consistency was put on full display with the first three songs of the night: “The Howl” from Hot Motion, followed by hit “Certainty” from 2017’s Volcano, then a deep cut from their debut Sun Structures, “A Question Isn’t Answered.” This career-spanning intro highlighted the band’s ability to stay true to their sound while still making three very distinct songs.

Art d’Ecco at Webster Hall – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

Temples are another one of those bands that attracts a dedicated following. Webster Hall was packed with fans singing and dancing along to every song, and the band was more than happy to feed off that energy. They effortlessly breezed through their songs, ending the main set with fan favorite, and hit “Shelter Song” from Sun Structures.

Art d’Ecco at Webster Hall – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

Temples at Webster Hall – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

Temples continue their tour of North America into February, followed by dates in France and Australia from March to April. Art d’Ecco will continue to open for Temples on the North America trek.

Setlist: The Howl, Certainty, A Question Isn’t Answered, You’re Either On Something, Colours to Life, Holy Horses, The Golden Throne, On the Saviour, Hot Motion, The Beam, Context, Keep in the Dark, Atomise, Shelter Song.

Encore: Sun Structures, Mesmerise.

January 24, 2020
Sony Hall Becomes Doomed

Last Friday, at midnight, Umphrey’s McGee fans raced over from Hell’s Kitchen after the band’s first night at the Beacon theater ended. As they descended into the underground club-room of Sony Hall, they waited for the bassist, Ryan Stasik, to make his way down to Times Square and bring out his late night masterpiece of a band, Doom Flamingo

This band has really been making a splash in the last year, charging headfirst into late night rallying fans’ hearts with a heavy 80’s-synth powerhouse of fury that keeps everyone coming back for more. They began the night with an original fan favorite “F-16” and quickly went into one of their incredible covers, David Bowie’s “Afraid of Americans.” This group really creates their own versions of the covers they choose, always picking an unexpected song.

Singer, and general badass, Kanika Moore sported what can only be described as a Doom Ballerina outfit. She also carries an incredible set of pipes and was really belting out her lyrics into the crowd. Their single set ran on deep into the morning until their triumphant finish, another single>cover showdown of their own “Runaway” and their amazing cover of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game.”

You can catch Doom Flamingo a few times this winter down in their home area of the Carolinas before they head to Sweetwater 420 fest, and to New Orleans for a post-Jazz Fest late night set. You’ll also be able to see them at a few festivals this summer like Summer Camp and Floydfest. And don’t be surprised to find that a few other festivals are “Doomed” before long. If you have any chance to see them this year, or ever, you are strongly suggested to do so.

Set: Replicant, F-16, Afraid of Americans, Somebody, Telepathy w/ Jam, Delorean, Blade Theme, Harvest Moon, Need To Feed, Love on Hold,

Encore: Wicked Game, Runaway

Photos by Zatchmo Lives Media, Follow on Facebook and Instagram

January 24, 2020
In Focus: Greensky Bluegrass at The State Theatre of Ithaca
Greensky Bluegrass played the first of three shows in the Empire State on their 2020 Winter Tour this week at The State Theatre of Ithaca. Opening with Flatt and Scruggs classic “Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down” and closing with their take on Prince’s “Little Red Corvette,” Greensky continues to demonstrate to audiences across the country that they are a rock-and-roll band that plays bluegrass instruments. Catch Greensky Bluegrass on Friday at The Beacon Theatre in NYC and The Egg in Albany on Wednesday, January 30. For full tour dates visit Greenskybluegrass.com

Setlist

Set 1: Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down, Lose My Way, Windshield, Just to Lie> Wings for Wheels, Reverend, Old Home Place, Broke Mountain Breakdown> Walk Away> Broke Mountain Breakdown Reprise

Set 2: Middle Mountain Towns> Freeborn Man, Bone Digger, Cold Feet, Casual Wednesday, New Rize Hill, Less than Supper, Don’t Lie

Encore: Little Red Corvette
January 24, 2020
Video Premiere: Julia Felice and the Whiskey Crisis drop dance-funk cover of “Bullet with Butterfly Wings”

Fresh off their serial project, Rule of Three, Ithaca’s Julia Felice and the Whiskey Crisis have released the video for their indie dance-funk cover of The Smashing Pumpkins’ 90s classic “Bullet with Butterfly Wings.”

The upcoming Rule of Three is a collaborative music and art project, with mini-releases featuring two new songs, including a twisted cover, and a brand new original, that are accompanied by a unique piece of artwork by an independent artist inspired by the music. The original featured in this initial drop is the indie rock original “The Arms Dealer,” which alongside “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” deals with the dark underpinnings of things that seem, at first glance, very attractive.

The band will celebrate the release with a show downtown at The Range on Friday, January 24, with doors at 9pm and the show at 10, with a $5 cover.

The Whiskey Crisis grew out of what was supposed to be a one-time passion project. After dropping their alternative soul debut, Diving for Falls, co-conspirators Julia Felice and Harry Nichols were spurred on to continue working together with bassist, Sam Lupowitz, and guitarist, Joe Massa. Their second album, Devil On Your Back, takes all the catchy darkness of the first album, and transports it to places not altogether expected, alongside drummer Julian Dalton. Throughout 2020, Whiskey Crisis will feature a series of mini-releases, each showcasing their latest originals, re-imagined covers, and a collaborative piece of visual art as part of Rule of Three. All tracks were recorded and mixed by Christopher Ploss at Sunwood Recording, Trumansburg, NY and mastered by Matt Saccuccimorano for Scaramanga Industries, Ithaca NY.

January 24, 2020
In Focus: Umphrey’s Closes out Three Nights in NYC

On Sunday, Umphrey’s McGee closed out a three-night NYC weekend on their winter tour with an intimate show at Brooklyn Bowl. The jam veterans treated loyal fans to two sets filled with covers, rare originals and new music. The Sunday closer was a change of venue, but the intimate atmosphere of Brooklyn Bowl proved to be the key ingredient in a night where the entire band felt comfortable and dialed in to the show and their fans.

The first set began with “Looks” and continued with “The Fussy Dutchman” which included a “YYZ” tease that continued the themed tribute to Rush and the late Neil Peart for the entire weekend run. The first set concluded with a “Miss Tinkle’s Overture” that segued into the band’s original take on LCD Soundsystem’s “Tribulations,” debuted for the first time during the recent New Year’s run, before returning back to “Miss Tinkle’s Overture,” closing out a fantastic first set.

After a short set break, the band came back with the rare opener “Front Porch,” rewarding a die-hard fan who has been chasing that track for a few tours. The 30+ minute opening track was the highlight of the night, showing off the prowess of the veteran rockers. The set continued with fan favorites “40’s Theme,” “Gulf Stream,” and “The Floor.” But it was the debut performance of “Suxity,” a brand-new song, that closed out an amazing show and was proof that 2020 will be a good one for Umphrey’s Mcgee.

Set 1: Looks, The Fussy Dutchman, Maybe Someday > Got Your Milk (Right Here) > Walletsworth, Domino Theory, Miss Tinkle’s Overture -> Tribulations > Miss Tinkle’s Overture

Set 2: Front Porch > Resolution > Front Porch, 40’s Theme, Miami Virtue -> Out Of Order > Gulf Stream, The Floor

Encore: Phil’s Farm > Suxity > Phil’s Farm

January 23, 2020
Daryl Hall & John Oates Announce 2020 Tour

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Daryl Hall and John Oates have just announced that they will be on the road once again this spring and summer for a North American Tour. British rockers Squeeze and Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall along for the ride.

A series of random warm-up dates in will span February, March and May before the proper tour begins. Those stops will include a performance at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Feb. 28.

The official tour for the best selling duo begins on May 29 and will make 32 stops along the way. Three stops in New York will include St.Joseph’s Amphitheater in Syracuse on July 30, Northwell Health at Jones Beach on Aug. 25 and finally SPAC on Aug. 31.

Fans will be delighted to know that Hall & Oates will focus the set on their huge pop hits like “Private Eyes,” “Rich Girl,” “Maneater,” and “You Make My Dreams.” Hall & Oates expressed how excited they were to revisit their timeless hits in a recent interview with Rolling Stone.

“I feel a professional responsibility to play the songs that people want to hear,” Oates says. “They are the songs that have made us who we are. We have a lot of them. The only problem is we have too many of them, but that’s a problem that many artists would love to have.”

“A few years back we had a big show where we didn’t play ‘Private Eyes’ for some reason,” says Hall. People got pissed off. They got angry at us. You can’t do that. You have to play these songs.”

Tickets go on sale Friday for all tour dates and can be purchased by clicking here.

Hall & Oates 2020 Tour Dates

* w/ Squeeze
^ w/ KT Tunstall

Feb. 26– Giant Center – Hershey, PA *
Feb. 28 – Madison Square Garden – New York City, NY *^
Mar. 21 – Fantasy Springs Resort – Indio, CA
Mar. 27 – Neal S. Blaisdell Center – Honolulu, HI
Mar. 29 – Maui Arts & Cultural Center – Kahului, HI
May 15 – Foxwoods – Mashantucket, CT
May 16 – Foxwoods – Mashantucket, CT
May 23 – HoagieNation – Philadelphia, PA * (Presale starts Wednesday 1/22)
May 29 – Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, CA *^
May 31 – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre – Chula Vista, CA *^
June 3 – Theater of the Clouds at Moda Center – Portland, OR *^
June 5 – White River Amphitheatre – Auburn, WA *^
June 7 – Toyota Amphitheatre – Wheatland, CA *^
June 10 – Shoreline Amphitheatre – Mountain View, CA *^
June 12 – Ak-Chin Pavilion – Phoenix, AZ *^
June 14 – Pepsi Center – Denver, CO *^
June 17 – Dickies Arena – Fort Worth, TX *^
June 19 – Germania Insurance Amphitheatre – Austin, TX *^
June 21 – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – Houston, TX *^
July 10 – Budweiser Stage – Toronto, ON *^
July 12 – Riverbend Music Center – Cincinnati, OH *^
July 14 – Blossom Music Center – Cleveland, OH *^
July 16 – Xcel Energy Center – St. Paul, MN *^
July 18 – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater – Chicago, IL *^
July 20 – DTE Energy Music Theatre – Detroit, MI *^
July 22 – Ruoff Music Center – Noblesville, IN *^
July 24 – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater – St. Louis, MO *^
July 26 – American Family Insurance Amphitheater – Milwaukee, WI *^
July 28 – S&T Bank Music Park – Pittsburgh, PA *^
July 30 – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview – Syracuse, NY *^
Aug.13 – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre – Atlanta, GA *^
Aug.15 – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre – Tampa, FL *^
Aug.18 – PNC Music Pavilion – Charlotte, NC *^
Aug. 20 – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater – Virginia Beach, VA *^
Aug. 22 – Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, MD *^
Aug. 25 – Northwell Health at Jones Beach – Wantagh, NY *^
Aug. 27 – PNC Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ *^
Aug. 29 – Xfinity Center – Mansfield, MA *^
Aug. 31 – Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs, NY *^
Sept. 2 – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion – Gilford, NH *^

January 23, 2020