Oliver Wood released a single of the cover, “The Battle Is Over (But The War Goes On)” on September 4. This classic protest anthem cover is only his second solo single, the first being “Soul Of This Town.” Both are found across all streaming outlets. To donate to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), you can purchase the song now at Bandcamp.
Oliver Wood (Photo by Come To Life)
Recently branching out on his own as a solo artist, Oliver Wood has been a part of an American folk band, The Wood Brothers, since 2004 and has released seven studio albums with them since. The Wood Brothers have played in high profile shows such as Red Rocks and Bonnaroo and even earned a Grammy Award-nomination. Check out more about The Wood Brothers on thewoodbros.com. He has also been a part of Medeski, Martin & Wood where he opened for them and sat in on their show.
Now, stepping into his solo career, the release of the cover “The Battle Is Over (But The War Goes On)” follows his original genre of American folk/Rock to get the message out about standing together. In his recent interview about the single, Oliver Wood stated, “With all that’s going on today, it felt inspiring to put this song out in the world again and help keep the momentum of a movement that really needs everyone’s help.” This song has a great rhythm and powerful lyrics that make you think about the message he is trying to convey as well as the emotions that go with it.
“If talk was money, you’d be a millionaire If thoughts could kill, there’d be no one here So many thinking’ evil and talkin’ jive But its in only true love, this old world cans stay alive”
This verse is moving, and you hear the truth through Oliver Wood’s voice. Keeping the song fun and upbeat, listeners get tied into this single and only makes one want more from the new solo artist.
Billy Joel has decided to push his shows to late 2021 and 2022 at Madison Square Garden in the light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. He was originally supposed to take the stage in March of 2020 but like many shows he had to postpone to later dates.
Billy Joel’s Madison Square Garden shows were originally supposed to take place between March 19, 2020 and Monday, August 3, 2020. It was then initially rescheduled to take place between September 26, 2020 and February 3, 2021. They have now been pushed back and are taking place between November 5, 2021 and February 12, 2022. Pretty much all 2020 shows have been pushed but few have been pushed back as far as Billy Joel has pushed his shows. The longer the world deals with the coronavirus it seems less and less likely that we will be back to normal in 2021 particularly in the live entertainment industry.
In a message posted on Billy Joel’s website it asks fans to, “Please be advised that the six Billy Joel concerts which were originally scheduled to take place at Madison Square Garden between March and August 2020, and were subsequently postponed to September 2020 through February 2021, have been rescheduled to take place between November 2021 and April 2022. All original dates, along with their corresponding initial rescheduled dates and the new rescheduled dates are outlined below. Tickets for the original show dates and initial rescheduled show dates will be valid for the corresponding new rescheduled dates in 2021 and 2022.” Those outlined dates can be found here.
Ticket holders who aren’t able to attend the new dates can request a refund before October 5, 2020. If a refund is not requested during the allotted time, tickets will automatically be transferred to the new rescheduled show date and no action is needed by the ticket holder. People interested in a refund for tickets purchased through Ticketmaster, visit my.ticketmaster.com/account. For refunds on tickets purchased through the Madison Square Garden Box Office, call the MSG Guest Relations department at 212-465-6225.
The New Rescheduled Show Dates are the following: Friday, November 5, 2021 Monday, December 20, 2021 Friday, January 14, 2022 Saturday, February 12, 2022 Thursday, March 24, 2022 Friday, and April 8, 2022.
For more information please visit Billy Joel’s Website.
Over the last few years, Queen tribute band, Almost Queen has been on a roll. Selling out across the US, with 2020 starting out the same way. Then Covid-19. No shows, no touring, nothing. So, what’s a band to do? Some started doing social media performances, while others put out new music to cover the void. Neither route quite fit the mold of Almost Queen.
Plan B? What was old is new again. Drive-ins. Yup, drive-ins. Dating back to the 1910’s, hitting its popularity in the ‘50s’ and ‘60’s, drive-ins are experiencing a rebirth as the arena for live music. If you park it, they will play.
Almost Queen; Sunset Drive-In Concert Series
Now let’s be clear here. This is not The Capitol Theatre, The Strand Center, or Brooklyn Bowl. This is a drive-in. When the lights go down, it’s because the sun has set. So how do you prepare to play in this new realm? “With great difficulty” Randy Gregg, bass player for Almost Queen, cites. “Very different from the way we would prepare normally. What used to be this, is now this. It’s a whole different system of doing things now.“
Almost Queen; Sunset Drive-In Concert Series
“Our job as a band, is to break down this barrier between the band and the crowd, and get that crowd on your side before 90 minutes is up. That’s always the plan with any band. Now, that barrier is even thicker when they’re in their cars. “
Almost Queen faced this challenge head on in June when a band, booked to perform at a drive-in Hempstead, Long Island show, had to be quarantined, having just been in Florida. Almost Queen was called on a Wednesday to play that Friday.
Tailgating; Sunset Drive-In Concert Series
“What had us very nervous was jumping into a drive-in show with two days notice. With all the work it takes to put a show on, and now it’s minimalized to hours to do things.” Gregg recounts. Adding to that, because of Covid, the band hadn’t played together in four months. The pressure was mounting. After squeezing in a rehearsal the night before the show, “we came out with the gloves on, just raring to go,” Randy quips. “Four months will do that to you when you’re cooped up. Apparently four months does that to everybody who was in the crowd that night. Even though everyone was in their cars, it seemed a bit explosive, if you will. People leaning on their horns, flick’n their lights, and you could hear people screaming and clapping from inside their cars. Definitely a different situation then it has been in the past. It is what it is. If there is a will, there is a way.”
With their foray into parking lot rock a success, the band started thinking of ways to interact with their audience, while adhering to restrictions. The solution? A “goodie bag,” given to each car when they arrive. Think of it as somewhere between a program and swag. In the “bag” is a brochure that shares info and photos about the band, glow sticks, and assorted rock accouterments that can be used during the show.
Almost Queen; Sunset Drive-In Concert Series
Our job as a band, is to break down this barrier between the band and the crowd…that barrier is even thicker when they’re in their cars.
Randy Gregg. Almost Queen
NYS Music tagged along with the band as they played the Sunset Drive-In Concert Series presented by Bergen PAC, at Garden State Plaza, in Paramus N.J. The lot used was a in a remote location behind the mall and isolated enough that you didn’t notice that Route 4 and 17 were beyond the perimeter. When we pulled up to the gate, our temperatures were taken, goodie bag received, and we were guided to our parking spot by a member of the on-site logistics team. Tailgating was approved for the show with each car given an additional space next to it, specifically for those purposes. Pre-show festivities went from people pulling drinks from a cooler to spreads with tables and tablecloths, candelabras and complete dinnerware sets. The “house” was filled with cars as far as the eye could see and large video screens were set up on each side of the stage, to insure that all had a full view of the action. Those attending ran the gamut from early Queen fans (circa 1970), to those who won’t learn to drive for a few years.
Almost Queen; Sunset Drive-In Concert Series
With the sun preparing to sink below the horizon, Almost Queen took to the stage, greeting the crowd with “We Will Rock You,” letting all know what was to come. Joe Russo, who takes the role of Freddie Mercury, embodies the lead singer’s spirit with his vitality and charisma. Not to take away from the rest of this rock tested band: John Cappadona on drums, Steve Leonard on guitar, and Randy Greggs on bass; who amplified their rock personas, performing as if they are in a 100,000-seat stadium and not a drive in.
Almost Queen; Sunset Drive-In Concert Series
As the night progressed, more and more cars could be heard honking their horns in approval of the show. Midway through the night, the band dedicating the apropos “I’m in Love With My Car,” to all in attendance as a thank you for attending. Even though this was a wide-open, socially distanced drive-in show, singing was encouraged with Russo engaging the audience in a song round establishing a sense of solidarity between band and crowd.
Pulling songs from the vast catalog of Queen, the night’s set included, “Killer Queen,” “Radio Ga Ga,” and “Another One Bites The Dust,” with each song building on where the last one left off. The show closed with a multi-song encore, including “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We are the Champions.”
Joe Russo, Almost Queen; Sunset Drive-In Concert Series
It takes the right act to be able to connect with an audience that has restrictions placed on them. Almost Queen proved worthy of the challenge by piercing the veil of disconnect and pulling everyone, whether in a car, back of a truck, or standing in their socially designated spot, into being part of the band.
Almost Queen will be performing this fall at various Covid approved shows in the northeast including Saturday, September 12th at the Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester, NH. Check there website for future shows. Whether you’re a Queen fan or not, you own it to yourself to see Almost Queen. A band that goes beyond being just a tribute, to what a rock ‘n roll band should be.
In February of 1968, The Beatles pulled the ultimate disappearing act. The world’s most culture-bending and publicized foursome went radio silent, forsaking the comforts of Swingin’ London for a humble ashram in remote Northern India to study transcendental meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
For two months, the justifiably world-weary fabs were alone but very together, with just their romantic partners, trusted roadie Mal, and a few heavy friends like Beach Boy Mike Love, the singer Donovan, actress Mia Farrow and her soon-to-be immortalized sister, Prudence. And, oh yes, one very lucky 22-year-old Canadian, Paul Saltzman, who unknowingly stumbled into the world’s most exclusive mystical gathering, all in hopes of learning meditation as a way to mend his recently broken heart.
Now an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker with over 300 credits, Saltzman spent 10 days in close company with the Beatles at Rishikesh. The lush color photographs he casually snapped of them in blissful repose, often cradling their precious Martin guitars, would become vital artifacts of what is arguably their most creative period. It was one where they wrote up to 48 songs, classics like “Blackbird,” “Mother Nature’s Son,” “Goodnight,” “Julia,” “Mean Mr. Mustard,” “Revolution” and “Junk” that would appear not only on The White Album, but Abbey Road and their solo offerings.
Saltzman’s new documentary, Meeting the Beatles in India, is much more than gossip about what happened behind the ashram’s exclusive gates. It is a profound and personal study, through the prism of the Beatles, of how the enlightenment and peace produced by meditation can impact creativity, as well as our physical and emotional well-being.
Narrated by Morgan Freeman, Meeting the Beatles in India expertly weaves together a mountain of rarely seen archival film and some never-before-seen in film photos from Saltzman’s collection, along with interviews from a bevy of notables like Harrison’s ex-wife Pattie Boyd and her sister Jenny and long-time meditation champion and film director David Lynch. Together they captivatingly tell the story of the Beatles time in India, the impact it had on their creativity and the Western World’s lasting embrace of Maharishi’s TM. Beatles history buffs will, of course, delight in the new factoids unearthed. These include how the band’s falling out with the Maharishi came about (we’re looking at you, Magic Alex!). And, in a face-to-face meeting in Hawaii with the real-life Bungalow Bill, we hear how his hunting trip with his mom inspired the tune, and how the tune then inspired him to put down a gun and pick up a camera to capture wildlife more peaceably.
The film also takes Saltzman back to India, with legendary Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn in tow and suitably agog. Here, they visit the former site of EMI Studios in Bombay where George recorded The Inner Light, with master musicians like flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia who is interviewed in the documentary and, of course, to the ruins of the ashram and the bank of the holy Ganges River to trace the Beatles’ steps.
Saltzman’s chance meeting with the Beatles came about when he headed to the ashram to learn meditation in an effort to mend a heart crushed by a “Dear John” letter sent from his girlfriend in Canada. On arrival in Rishikesh, he was turned away, being told that the ashram was closed to host the Beatles, who he was unawares were even in India! A kindly staffer let him stay in a tent outside the gates, and after eight days, he was allowed to enter and take a one-on-one session to learn TM. It took less than five minutes, and his first 30-minute meditation was ‘a miracle’ that healed the agony of his heartbreak.
In a blissed-out state following the session, Saltzman was walking through the ashman and saw the Beatles and their party sitting at table. When he asked to join them, the always leader-like John warmly welcomed him with an, “Of course, mate!”
Over the course of the next week, Saltzman hung out with them often, and even had private discussions, such as the one where John, addressing the young man’s recent heartbreak, told him: “The really great thing about love is that you always get another chance.”
In the film, Saltzman revisits the spots where Paul and John first sang Dear Prudence to Prudence Farrow, the serious-minded sister of Mia Farrow, and the beginnings of the unfinished song that would become Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, with the partial set of scribbled lyrics set beneath McCartney’s shoe. In the convivial atmosphere, Saltzman used his low-end Pentax camera to casually capture some of the most intimate and relaxed photographic portraits ever taken of John, Paul, George and Ringo. These include the famous “Class Photo” of the group, their friends and 40 or so others who are at the ashman learning to become TM instructors.
Meeting the Beatles in India also takes viewers to The Beatles Story Museum in Liverpool. Here, Saltzman reunites with George Harrison’s ex-wife Pattie Boyd and her sister Jenny, who were both in Rishikesh with the Beatles, as they revisit their memories at an exhibit of Saltzman’s photos. This great documentary broadens the focus in an interview with famed filmmaker David Lynch, who also served as an Executive Producer of the film. In it, he discusses the impact TM has had on his own life and creative output and his foundation’s work to expose children around the world to the mental, physical and creative benefits of meditation.
When young Saltzman returned to Canada, his experiences with meditation and the Beatles were chronicled in a single story in a leading magazine, with a select few of his images. The pictures were then put away and forgotten for 32 years until his daughter, Devyani, suggested he do something with them. Several gallery shows and books followed a few years ago, setting the stage for what Saltzman’s believes is the most far-reaching and meaningful document of the experience, this new film.
With COVID-19 decimating traditional distribution means for film, the producers of Meeting the Beatles in India are plying an exciting new avenue for its premiere.
Gathr Films will host a World Event Cinema Premiere on Wednesday, September 9 at 7 PM (local times all around in the world) on its Gathr At Home™ platform. The film will be followed by a live Q&A with the filmmaker.
For another in-depth look at Saltzman and his experiences with the Beatles, check out episode 223 of the original all-talk Beatles’ podcast, Fab4Free4All, hosted by three New Yorkers, Tony Traguardo, Mitch Axelrod and Rob Leonard. Also recommended is Jenny Boyd’s 2013 book, It’s Not Only Rock ‘n’ Roll – Iconic Musicians Reveal the Source of their Creativity. In it, Boyd, now a psychologist, studies the sources of creativity of famous musicians in her orbit including Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Ravi Shankar, Joni Mitchell, Keith Richards, her former husband, Mick Fleetwood, and dozens more.
Alternative Ithaca musician Harry Nichols released a new solo EP, A Spoonful of Sugar, on September 4. Nichols has been influenced by various styles–beachy, punk-pop, folk, indie, and rock, to name a few–but this EP has its roots in electro-pop.
Harry Nichols started writing music at fourteen. He has been releasing music as an independent artist since 2010, and has several albums and EPs out on Bandcamp, which draw inspiration from Blink 182, The Beach Boys, and Bob Dylan. He has made a name for himself in Ithaca’s concert scene, and has been playing live for years. Many of his concert videos are on the Finger Lakes Music Press YouTube channel.
Since his last nerd-life inspired record This Isn’t the Album you’re Looking For…,Nichols focused on contributing to his bands Noon Fifteen and Julia Felice and the Whiskey Crisis. He released a few demos and solo EPs since, but this September, Nichols finally releases his latest solo EP. Nichols considers this easy listening track, A Spoonful of Sugar, his first major release in six years.
ASoS was written and recorded entirely during the COVID-19 quarantine. The track is much poppier than Nichols’ other work, and the razor sharp melodies match the emotions behind the lyrics. Nichols takes pop punk and soul and blends them into synth and digital drums, as those were the tools he could work with by himself during quarantine.
Although the lyrics are a reflection on the loneliness of social distancing, the music is upbeat and energetic. Nichols lets the listener momentarily escape from the current sadness and stress and live in this poppy world he makes with A Spoonful of Sugar. ASoS is available for purchase on Bandcamp now.
JUST VOTE Campaign was announced by HeadCount and Global Citizen on September 8, in hopes to mobilize young voters for the upcoming presidential election. The campaign will reward voters for checking their registration by entering them in for a chance to win exclusive experiences, performances, and memorabilia from big names like Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, DJ Khaled, and more.
The non-partisan campaign hopes to reach one million young voters and get 50,000 young people registered to vote ahead of the 2020 elections. It also offers the option for people who won’t be 18 by the 2020 elections can still enter the campaign for a chance to win prizes by pledging to become a voter when they turn 18. The cangain is focusing on young people because research shows that more than a third of eligible voters are Gen Z or Millennials. 83% of people between the ages of 18-29 believe they have the power to change the country and the world but dishearteningly only 60% of people in that age range are planning to vote. Unsurprisingly voter registration numbers are also down this year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The hope of this campaign is to close that gap and get more young people to register and vote in the upcoming presidential election.
Artists supporting the campaign include a Billie Eilish who is supplying a signed vinyl, hoodie, and t-shirt, Billy Porter who is supplying a replica ‘Kinky Boot’, DJ Khaled who is supplying a virtual meet & greet, FINNEAS who is supplying a signed vinyl, hoodie, and t-shirt, Julianne Hough who is supplying a private virtual dance class, Loren Gray who is supplying virtual front row seats, Nicky Jam who is supplying a private, virtual concert, Quavo who is supplying a private happy hour, Taylor Swift who is supplying a guitar signed by Taylor Swift, and Usher who is supplying a virtual dance lesson with Usher and his choreographer. Once people check their voter registration status they can choose which experience they want to be entered into. A winner will be chosen at random on October 7, 2020. Voter registration not required for entering drawing. Full contest rules can be found here.
Hugh Evans, co-founder and CEO of Global Citizen spoke on the campaign saying, “We are proud to launch the ‘Just Vote’ campaign to encourage more young people to check their status and register to vote. For years, we have been activating global citizens to be part of the solution to key issues like extreme poverty, climate change, and now pandemic relief. Voting is a vital way to exercise that power. We are excited about ‘Just Vote’s’ potential to drive young voter turnout in November and beyond.”
For information on the JUST VOTE Campaign and to enter in to win the exclusive experiences, performances, and memorabilia visit Global Citizen’s website.
On Sept. 8, 2018, Ozzy Osbourne played to a soaking wet crowd at Jones Beach Theater, but once The Prince of Darkness hit the stage, nobody seemed to mind. Ozzy himself came out first before the rest of band and told the crowd, “The crazier you get, the longer I’ll remain on stage.” That’s all it took to get the sold out crowd of 15,000 plus going f—–g crazy!
At this point it was freezing cold and had been pouring for the last few hours, especially during opening act Stone Sour’s set, and the floor was a foot deep with water seeping in from Zach’s Bay where the venue stands. Regardless, Ozzy sounded just as good as I have ever heard as he kicked off the show with “Bark at the Moon.”
Zakk Wylde was back in the lineup on guitar along with Blasko on bass, keyboardist Adam Wakeman and drummer Tommy Clufetos. The stage backdrop was highlighted by a giant cross made up of screens projecting extraordinary imagery and at times looking like a medieval sculpture.
Ozzy’s solo hits made up most of the setlist including “Mr Crowley,” “Suicide Solution” and “No More Tears,” but he also slipped in a little Sabbath like “Fairies Wear Boots” and the epic “War Pigs.”
Black Label Society frontman Wylde was giving his own 20 minute showcase during the show at which time he made his way into the audience playing a medley of songs. He was tearing it up as he played with the guitar behind his neck and even with his teeth at times. He is one of the best metal guitarists the genre has ever known so it was good to see him play alongside Ozzy again. He was even wearing a custom Ozzy denim vest.
Ozzy Osbourne closed the main part of the set with, in my opinion one of the greatest metal songs ever written, “Crazy Train”. The show concluded with an encore of “Mama I’m Coming Home” and Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid.”
Setlist: Bark at the Moon, Mr. Crowley, I Don’t Know, Fairies Wear Boots (Sabbath Cover), Suicide Solution, No More Tears, Road to Nowhere, War Pigs (Sabbath Cover), Guitar Medley: Miracle Man/Crazy Babies/Desire/Perry Mason, Drum Solo, I Don’t Want to Change the World, Shot in the Dark, Crazy Train
NYC singer-songwriter, Melanie Penn, has released an inspiring New-York centric pop anthem paired with a stunning music video for her new single, “Avenue of The Americas”.
As a native of the big city, Melanie celebrates her ties to New York in the cinematically beautiful “Avenue of The Americas” music video. Melanie’s love for the city becomes more apparent with each elapsing second of the video.
The song itself outlines Melanie’s climb to success, with lines referencing dreams of one day finding the spotlight in the Big Apple. Crescendoing synths pulsate in the background as “Avenue of The Americas” gives us an intimate understanding of Melanie’s hopes and aspirations.
Melanie believes now is the perfect time to debut a song that honors both beautiful and humble New York City. At a time where the country is under massive racial and political tension, the uplifting video released along with the single inspires hope and reminds us of our commonalities as New Yorkers.
The music video and single are a part of a promotional roll out in preparation for Melanie Penn’s upcoming, More Alive Vol. 1, full-length album which is set to release September 25. The album is centered around faith, modern upheaval and, overcoming common struggles. The album, which features 10 songs, has been described by Melanie as a tracklist full of “hopeful pop anthems” that will hopefully inspire a sense of community amongst listeners.
To stay up to date with future news regarding Melanie Penn and her music, visit her website.
Dopapod has released a collection of demos from over their decade-plus career, aptly titled Some Demos. The demos are mastered by Luke Stratton, and with a demo of “Turning Knobs” streaming now and the entire album available download at Bandcamp.
These are the tracks I sent to Rob, Chuck, and Neal before we started to learn and rehearse the songs. You can hear how much some of them changed once everyone gave their input and influence. Many of these were written in the van on my laptop as we traveled between shows.
Eli Winderman, keys, Dopapod
SOME DEMOS is now available for download on Bandcamp – name your own price. Tracklist below:
1. Trickery (Demo) 2. Bubblebrain (Demo) 3. Live in the Dream (Demo) 4. Turnin’ Knobs (Demo) 5. FABA (Demo) 6. Like a Ball (Demo) 7. My Elephant vs. Your Elephant (Demo) 8. Mucho (Demo) 9. Bluetooth (Demo) 10. Blast (Demo) 11. Piazole (Demo) 12. Psycho Nature (Demo) 13. Weedie (Demo) 14. Present Ghosts (Demo) 15. STADA (Demo)
Uptown Theatre photo from Uptown Theatre’s website.
The process of a building being added to the National Register of Historic Places is a lengthy one. To be added to the list, a building has to be submitted, reviewed, and approved by the state before the state makes a recommendation for said building to be added to the National Register. The New York State approval for Uptown Theatre took more than a year.
Uptown Theater has been showing films at its location on Genesee Street since December 29, 1927 when it opened but was unused for several years after shutting its doors in 2013. Then in May of 2017, Devin Mahoney, who was from South Utica decided to form a small team and formed UTCA to take ownership of the Uptown Theater in hopes of restoring and reintroducing the building as an entertainment destination for the Utica community. It’s now known for featuring live music performances, comedy acts like The Uptown Improv Company, classes, and much more.
According to the 315 Music, the venue being included in the National Register makes, “commercial properties or historic homes eligible for such funding as state and national grants, state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits, preservation programs, and civic charities that promote local history, culture and arts.” The Uptown Theatre will now be available theoretically for such funding.
There are currently extensive renovations already taking place at the Uptown Theatre. They hope as venues come back amidst the COVID-19 restrictions they plan to add live music and comedy to their schedule when it becomes safe to do so. They are also offering online events and classes while they remain closed in consideration of New York State COVID-19 prevention guidelines and occupancy restrictions.
People interested in learning more about Uptown Theatre can visit its website.
