On the cusp of a winter storm, blanketing the Northeast, Ithaca was bustling with energy ahead of the start of Mike Gordon tour at State Theatre on Friday, January 17. Mike took time during the show to reference Phish’s February 1991 show at the State Theatre, recalling the show as “the night we gave the van away,” when the band gave away Fishman’s family minivan to an audience member. Nearly 30 years later, Mike suggested that this time he said he was giving away a Hummer limo. He did not and the show continued.
Throughout the night, Mike weaved Little Feat’s “Sailin’ Shoes” between songs, as well used “I Am Random,” “Pendulum” and “Victim” to sandwich additional songs in between, including a debut cover of Aimee Mann’s “Save Me,” inside “Pendulum.” Two Phish staples stood out as highlights in the second set – a percussion heavy “Cities” and a slow and groovy “Funky Bitch” for an encore. Mike Gordon heads into the Midwest this week as the tour heads to Seattle for the final show on February 1.
Set 1: Victim, Say Something > Victim > Victim 3D, Steps, Borrowing Rain [1], Sailin’ Shoes > Jumping, Sughn Never Sets.
Set 2: Pendulum > Save Me [2] > Pendulum, Acid Man, I Am Random > Sailin’ Shoes > I Am Random, Cities > Crazy Sometimes > Sailin’ Shoes > Crazy Sometimes
Encore: Funky Bitch[1] Debut. [2] Mike Gordon debut.
The NYC Winter Jazz Fest rolled on with the Jazz Fest Marathon, which included 6 venues in Brooklyn with a myriad of jazz verticals. One ticket was accepted at any location, allowing fans to customize their music experience. This review will focus on coverage from the legendary Brooklyn Bowl, located on the waterfront in Williamsburg.
Kendra Morris
Singer-songwriter Kendra Morris and her four-piece band kicked off the festivities with their “soul meets indie” jazz sound. Most of their material was originals written by Morris, and soul-fully executed by her adept band. Her beautiful voice electrified the crowd when she belted out the classic Pink Floyd tune “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.”
Felix Pastorius and Hipster Assassins
Felix Pastorius, son of jazz legend Jaco Pastorius, and Hipster Assassins, his experimental bass-driven jazz band, was up next. Their eclectic mix of a guitar, bass, drums and saxophone raised the bar of modern jazz. Their free flowing sound yielded a creative and fresh take on the classic jazz tune, “Butter Biscuit.”
Kung Fu
Following Pastorius was Kung Fu, the Connecticut-based jazz group led by guitarist Tim Palmieri, who delivered non-stop funk for the people. Their intense set included a nice groove and contagious stage energy between the band members. Palmieri’s performance was nothing short of legendary, diving on his knees and playing off the energy of the crowd. The band hit a high note during the cover of the jazz classic “Birdland.”
DJ Logic
The evening wrapped up with a late night performance by DJ Logic and friends, supported by Billy Martin and Shanir Blumenkranz. This set was filled with beats and scratching, care of DJ Logic. The organic percussion of Martin and the various string instruments played by Blumenkranz created a perfect harmony with the digital elements.
Tim Palmieri of Kung Fu
Overall, the NYC Winter Jazz Fest Marathon was a delightful way to enjoy a number of bands under one or more roofs, depending on the tastes of the listener. Head on over to their website for more information about future Jazz Fests.
The concert, organized by the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust and the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, will feature renowned violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman; The Klezmer Conservatory Band; klezmer icons Hankus Netsky, Andy Statman, Frank London, and Lorin Sklamberg; Tovah Feldshuh; Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot; Director Joel Grey and the cast and orchestra of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish, with musical director Zalmen Mlotek; and HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir, with musical director Matthew Lazar. Additionally, the concert will feature a keynote address by Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Executive Vice President of The New York Board of Rabbis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZoGz0EWPY0
On January 27, 1945, Allied troops entered the Auschwitz concentration camp complex, liberating the more than 7,000 prisoners. More than 1.1 million people had already died in Auschwitz – nearly one million of whom were Jews.
The concert will commemorate that anniversary – which is International Holocaust Remembrance Day – and underscore the commitment of the Jewish community to never forget and to continue the struggle against antisemitism and all forms of racial and ethnic hatred.
“The liberation of Auschwitz on January 27 represents the end of one the darkest chapters in our world’s history and a reckoning for humanity,” said Bruce Ratner, Chairman of the Board at the Museum of Jewish Heritage –A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. “On this day we commemorate the Holocaust—a genocide in which 6 million Jews were murdered and millions of other victims of Nazism. Their memories must never be forgotten. This event will celebrate spiritual resistance and heroism in the face of evil, and serve as a unifying moment to insist, ‘never again.’ As we reflect on the past, we must do everything within our power to ensure a future in which we resist all forms of antisemitism, hostility, and bigotry to prevent a recurrence of the horrors of the Holocaust. We must not allow history to repeat itself.”
The concert will take place at 7:00 PM at Temple Emanu-El, 1 East 65th Street (entrance on Fifth Avenue between East 65th and 66th Streets) in New York CIty. General admission tickets are $54, and reserved seating is $180. Due to limited seating, tickets will be provided on a first come, first served basis. Tickets and additional information can be found here..
Produced by Moishe Rosenfeld, founder of Golden Land Concerts, the concert features Bonnie Stein of GOH Productions as production manager, and Zalmen Mlotek as artistic director.
It was cold in the Beacon and the lights were low. Spirits were high, as masses of Umphrey’s McGee fans piled into the Beacon Theatre, shaking off those winter blues with some good ol’ fashioned rock n roll.
Photo by Zach Culver
Umphrey’s started off their tour, playing their first show of 2020 in NYC at The Beacon Theatre. They returned Friday night, then played Saturday at Brooklyn Bowl. Friday night featured an afterparty with Doom Flamingo at Sony Hall. Saturday’s after Party was also held at Sony Hall and featured Supernatural Beings with Jake as a special guest.
They wasted no time and played a first first set starting with Unsung Hero > Jajunk > Ocean Billy. The first set escalated quickly and stayed at an eclectic high with a triumphant finish with special guest Kanika Moore of Doom Flamingo sitting in on vocals on Anthem by Rush!
Photo by Zach Culver
Second set opened up with an intro by Stasik of a champion of Jam On fantasy football quickly followed by Suxity> Jajunk, Breaker, Wappy Sprayberry (featuring a Jumping Jack Flash jam)! The second set was of to a hell of a start and seemed to escalate through the end, ending the second set with It Doesn’t Matter.
The encore proved to be well worth the wait, The Weight Around actually followed by The Silent Type which featured a Crazy Train jam. What a way to start the year for Umphrey’s Mcgee.
Governors Ball Music Festival has released its 2020 lineup, returning for the 10th year to Randall’s Island Park in New York City, the festival will take place Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 7.
To celebrate the milestone, over 65 acts are slated to take the stage including: Tame Impala, Flume, Vampire Weekend, Stevie Nicks, Solange and Miley Cyrus. Joining the all-star lineup is Missy Elliott in her first NYC headlining performance in over ten years. There will also be surprise pop-up performances from local subway and street performers, as in years past.
Governors Ball 10th year lineup
Tickets are on sale now, including a festival pass to the entire event. The three day GA and VIP tickets, including payment plan options, HERE.
Check out Missy Elliott’s newest single “Why I Still Love You”.
The life of classical music composer and sitar virtuoso, Ravi Shankar, will be commemorated throughout the month of May, in celebration of 100 years since his birth on April 7, 1920. Shankar – who passed away in 2012 – is widely recognized as a pioneer in Indian and Hindustani classical music who popularized the use of Indian music in pop culture.
A five-time Grammy-winner, Shankar is also known for his humanitarian work, being awarded with India’s highest civilian honor – the Bharat Ratna – in 1999. His daughters, Norah Jones and Anoushka Shankar, are both accomplished musicians in their own right, with the former being a nine-time Grammy-winning Jazz composer, and the latter, a respected sitar player.
The Ravi Shankar Centennial Concerts will feature guest-stars, Philip Glass, Dhani Harrison (son of Beatles lead-guitarist George Harrison), an orchestra composed of Shankar’s disciples, as well as his daughters. United States concert tour dates and ticket information can be found below. A centenary concert is also scheduled in New Delhi, India, for November.
May 16 – San Diego Civic Center – San Diego, CA (fundraiser for Shanktar Foundation)
May 19 – Walt Disney Concert Hall – Los Angeles, CA (w/ Norah Jones and Anoushka Shankar)
May 22 – Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Chicago, IL
May 29 – Carnegie Hall – New York, NY. (w/ Philip Glass)
For detailed information regarding Ravi Shankar Centennial Concerts, CLICK HERE.
Ever since Washington D.C. based rapper Wale released his debut album Attention Deficit in 2009, he’s had a steady output of biennial records. In October of 2019, Wale out put his latest release, Wow… That’s Crazy, on Warner Records and has been touring behind it ever since. The ‘Wow… That’s Crazy‘ tour made its way to Brooklyn Steel on January 15, with support from Yowda and DJ Money.
Wale opened the show with one of his biggest hits – “Lotus Flower Bomb,” off his sophomore release Ambition. Miguel’s opening verse on the track served as Wale’s introduction on stage, and the capacity crowd burst out with energy. They were in full-throat the entire show, singing along to every track without missing a single beat. The fans that showed up Wednesday night spared no moment to express their admiration for Wale and his music.
Wale was in firm command of the stage and kept the energy at a high level the entire show. Emphatically bouncing back and forth across the stage, he frequently allowed the fans to sing over his beats, creating a very engaging and intimate performance. Wale’s music attracts people of all ages and backgrounds and that was confirmed just by looking around. In the security pit alone there were young teens, boomer-aged adults and even a group of uniformed NYPD who came inside to catch a bit of the show themselves.
The show concluded with the track “On Chill” off Wow… That’s Crazy, allowing Wale to display his rap talents one more time before saying good night. This is the second leg of the tour behind the new record and shows continue through the end of February with the last stop at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, MI.
The third ever Brooklyn Podcast Festival, produced by City Farm Presents, will be held next week, January 22-26, 2020 in Brooklyn. Featuring more than 15 podcasts over five days, the festival will be hosted between three venues – The Bell House, Union Hall, and BRIC House.
The 2020 Brooklyn Podcast Festival features established, as well as up-and-coming shows, including: An Evening With Osiris, Featuring Goose with hosts Phish songwriter, Tom Marshall and RJ Bee; The Bowery Boyshosted by Thomas Meyers and Gregory Young; The Bechdel Castwith Jamie Loftus & Caitlin Durante; Secret Keepers Club hosted by Girl Code’s Carly Aquilino and Netflix’s Emma Willmann; as well as NPR’s Ask Me Another with hosts Ophira Eisenberg and “in-house musician” Jonathan Coulton with their special guest, HBO’s Ben Sinclair.
The Brothers, also known as the surviving members of The Allman Brothers Band, are set to perform a tribute at Madison Square Garden(MSG) for the bands 50th anniversary, to take place on March 10.
The Brothers are made up of Jaimoe, Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, Oteil Burbridge, and Marc Quinones, with Duane Trucks, Reese Wynans, and Chuck Leavell. Although there are no Allman’s attached to the end of any names, this tribute is about honoring the band, Duane, Gregg, Berry and Butch, and the great music they created.
Jaimoe Johanson is the drummer, Warren Haynesis and Derek Trucks are on guitarist, Oteil Burbridge backs the bass, and Marc Quinones on percussion. All support the last Allman lineup and are the surviving members of the band, minus Betts who “had prior commitments that prevented him from attending,” said his manager, David Spero, according to Rolling Stone’s article.
Duane Trucks, Derek’s brother and the nephew of late Allman founding drummer Butch, will be filling in on drums. Reese Wynans will be playing organ, known for being in the pre-Allman band, Second Coming. Chuck Leavell will be joining as a pianist, a former member of the band back in the Seventies.
It’s undecided who will handle Allman’s vocals yet, but it is sure to be one hell of an anniversary show. The show will take place at 7:30pm and tickets are available directly from Madison Square Garden, or via Ticketmaster.
For more information on The Brothers and their anniversary show for The Allman Brothers Band visit their website.
Prince, William. That’s one of the hardest working commas you will see, and this isn’t a post about drama with the British Royals. Juno-winning singer-songwriter, William Prince, sprinkled plenty more punctuation throughout his two-set show for Honest Folk at Restaurant Good Luck in Rochester, on Monday night.
It started with a question mark. “Does anyone know who I am?” he asked in singsong banter before opening the night with “Young,” a song he wrote only two days prior. “Yours are the first human ears to hear that song,” he remarked. It was an unusual start for a musician who is touring ahead of his sophomore album release, due out February 8. But Prince would prove to be someone who plays by his own rules. He opened the second set with another new one written within the last two months.
After an album is created he just continues to write new music, he explained. It isn’t surprising. The man is oozing music. Songs drifted in and out of each other with ellipses. His banter was sung, spoken over a picked guitar, or both, and was as engaging as the very personal, emotionally attached music. It served to enhance the songs meaning, bring the crowd into his life and turned an already intimate show into virtually one-on-one conversations with each audience member.
Many incredible words were bracketed by quotation marks throughout the night, both in song and out: from the funny, “if you have marijuana, meet me outside at the break,” to the wise, “You can sit in a garage all you want, but you’ll never turn into a car.” Or the insightful, “Flesh and blood needs flesh and blood, and where there’s blood there’s pain.”
Prince’s rich voice, fluid guitar picking, and the tenor of his songs, combined for a sound that sat squarely in the most traditional folk music. Unlike much from the genre, his lyrics found optimism, hope and love in even the darkest times. So much of his writing centered on the love of family, his parents, partners, and his son.
Songs of his parents became songs about his parenthood, songs of his childhood became songs about his child. Passed down like his heritage as descendant of First Nations people in Canada. Songs about his departed father weren’t steeped in sadness, but concentrated more in loving memory. Even songs about his ex were happy and loving. He preferred not to dwell in the negative, putting positive spins on some of the lower points in life and simple misunderstandings alike.
The show-opening question mark was answered with a resounding exclamation point by show’s end, with multiple standing ovations and a mutual admiration from musician and audience.
Honest Folk might be batting 1.000 when it comes to eliciting an expression of amazement from the artist upon announcing the next show. And so it was with the announcement that Joe Pug would be playing Good Luck February 17. Early bird tickets are on sale now.
