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In Focus: Mike Gordon kicks off Winter Tour at State Theatre of Ithaca
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.
January 22, 2020
NYC Winter Jazz Marathon Takes Over Brooklyn and the Bowl

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.

January 21, 2020
NYC Concert to Commemorate 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz

The Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center, the UJA-Federation of New York, and The New York Board of Rabbis will commemorate the 75^th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz with a concert celebrating the resilience of Jewish music and culture on Monday, January 27, 2020.

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 65^th and 66^th 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.

January 20, 2020
Umphrey’s Mcgee Kick Off 2020 With an Electric Show at The Beacon Theatre
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.

Photo by Zach Culver

Set 1: Unsung Hero > JaJunk > Ocean Billy, Speak Up, Wizard Burial Ground> Deeper > Den > Wizard Burial Ground, Anthem.

Set 2: Suxity > JaJunk, Breaker, Wappy Sprayberry> Mulche’s Odyssey, Half Delayed > It Doesn’t Matter.

Encore: The Weight Around > The Silent Type.

Photos by Zach Culver of Zatchmo Lives Media
January 19, 2020
Rammstein Tease NY Show and U.S. Upcoming Tour with ‘Rammerika,’ Music Video
Legendary German metal band, Rammstein, have teased a US tour over the past few days with social media posts featuring a map of the US with several states including NY being highlighted in the German colors. A Rammstein bannered Zeppelin flies high over major US cities, with he hashtag: #GETREADYAMERICA – all backed by a new music video “RAMMERIKA,” which explicitly credits the Apollo space program – as if foreshadowing a massive touchdown:

In the method ultimately employed, lunar orbit rendezvous, a powerful launch vehicle (Saturn V rocket) placed a 50-ton spacecraft in a lunar trajectory (Brittanica.com, as linked from the ).

The states teased in the image are as follows:
- New York
- Quebec
- Pennsylvania
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- Texas
- California
- Mexico City
Rammstein last performed in NY at Jones Beach on June 25, 2017. While no official locations have been named yet, it is likely they will return to Jones Beach.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7WDB6mgUHf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
January 19, 2020
Governors Ball Announces 10th Year Lineup

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”.

January 19, 2020
Brooklyn’s Antibalas release “Amenawon” off upcoming Daptone Records’ ‘Fu Chronicles’

Antibalas will celebrate its 20th Anniversary with a return to their Williamsburg roots on their latest Daptone Records studio album, Fu Chronicles, due out on February 7, 2020. Today, Antibalas releases the single “Amenawon.”

A pre-gentrified Williamsburg serves as the backdrop for Fu Chronicles, a voyage back to the early days of when Antibalas and revered soul label, Daptone Records, were spawned out of lead singer Duke Amayo’s kung fu dojo. A senior master of the Jow Ga Kung Fu School of martial arts, Duke Amayo along with Antibalas’ founder/baritone saxophonist, Martín Perna, guide listeners through an epic journey where kung fu ingeniously intersects with Afrobeat on Fu Chronicles.

WNWNYC’s New Sounds exclusively premiered Antibalas’ latest from The opening track and first single off Fu Chronicles, “Amenawon,” Tuesday. It honors Amayo’s late mother, whose middle name was Amenawon. She is also depicted on the cover of Fu Chronicles standing as tall as the Statue Of Liberty, carrying a baby.

With the literal meaning translating to “may the water you will drink, not pass you by,” the composition speaks to rain water washing away pollution and the unveiling of government lies. Amayo pays homage to the Yoruba River goddess, Yomoja, whose healing powers can be accessed by invoking her name. Water is further a symbol in kung fu reflecting one’s ability to adapt to any situation.

At age 12 in Lagos, Nigeria, Amayo began his kung fu practice while simultaneously witnessing the spiritual leader Fela Kuti perform at his famous nightclubs the Afro-Spot and Afrika Shrine in Lagos. Living in the same neighborhood of the Afro-Spot and sneaking into the clubs to experience the force of nature that was Fela Kuti, a young Amayo was enlightened on his path destined for greatness in America.

Attracted to the cosmopolitan lifestyle of fashion, dance, martial arts, and music, Amayo moved beyond the highlights of his football career to launch a singular clothing brand and open a kung fu dojo in Williamsburg, dubbed the Afro-Spot Temple. Upon opening the dojo, Daptone co-founder Gabe Roth and Martín Perna inquired about classes, and soon invited Amayo to join Antibalas. The dojo became the headquarters for the band and label with Antibalas’ classic sophomore album, Talkatif (2002), being recorded onsite at the dojo’s recording studio. Coming full circle, Fu Chronicles sees Gabe Roth in the producer’s chair with Antibalas laying down the tracks at Daptone’s House of Soul in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Fu Chronicles transports listeners to where universal equilibrium and indefinite possibilities unite within a dream world of a child’s limitless mind. The transcendent long-form Afrobeat compositions decolonize our psyches through movements traversing with melodies to realign us with a purpose of finding balance in our coexistence. The fiery Antibalas ensemble — widely renowned as one of America’s fiercest live bands — along with an additional five musicians transform Amayo’s opus into hypnotic and invigorating compositions with singular rhythms of resistance.

Pre-order the album HERE.

Over the course of its lauded 20-year career, Antibalas has toured across four continents and produced eight studio albums, establishing them as the premier Afrobeat band in the West. In addition to their integral role as the backing band for the Tony Award-Winning Broadway musical “Fela,” Antibalas has served as the house band for several star-studded tribute shows at Carnegie Hall and the Apollo Theater paying tribute to the music of Aretha Franklin, David Byrne, Paul Simon, and Billie Holiday.

ANTIBALAS – WINTER & SPRING 2020 TOUR DATES

Tuesday, February 11 — The Siren — San Luis Obispo, CA

Wednesday, February 12 — Moe’s Alley — Santa Cruz, CA

Thursday, February 13 — The Regent — Los Angeles, CA

Friday, February 14 — The Independent — San Francisco, CA

Saturday, February 15 — The New Parish — Oakland, CA

Sunday, February 16 — The Independent — San Francisco, CA

Thursday, February 20 — Neptune Theatre — Seattle, WA

Friday, February 21 — Rickshaw Theater — Vancouver, BC

Saturday, February 22 — PDX Jazz — Portland, OR

Sunday, February 23 — The Olympic — Boise, ID

Wednesday, February 26 — Knotty Pine — Victor ID

Thursday, February 27 — The Commonwealth Room — Salt Lake City, UT

Friday, February 28 — Washington’s — Fort Collins, CO

Thursday, March 19 — The Sinclair — Boston, MA

Friday, March 20 — Brooklyn Bowl — Brooklyn, NY

Saturday, March 21 — Brooklyn Bowl — Brooklyn, NY

Thursday, March 26 — Terminal West — Atlanta, GA

Friday, March 27 — The Grey Eagle — Asheville, NC

Saturday, March 28 — Cat’s Cradle — Carrboro, NC

Friday, April 3 — Sleeping Village — Chicago, IL

Saturday, April 4 — SPACE — Evanston, IL

Friday, April 10 — Lee’s Palace — Toronto, ON

Saturday, April 11 — Lee’s Palace — Toronto, ON

Friday, April 17 — Theatre of The Living Arts — Philadelphia, PA

January 18, 2020
Life of Ravi Shankar To Be Celebrated in Centennial Series

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.

January 18, 2020
Wale Proves Everything is Fine at Brooklyn Steel

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.

Wale at Brooklyn Steel – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

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.

January 18, 2020
Brooklyn Podcast Festival invades NYC Next Week Jan. 22-26.

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 Boys hosted by Thomas Meyers and Gregory Young; The Bechdel Cast with 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.

Visit City Farm Presents for tickets and more info.

January 18, 2020