The San Gennaro festival may be over, but The Center For Italian Modern Art will continue to embrace Italian culture with “Schifano and Jazz,” a concert dedicated to Mario Schifano’s passion for American Jazz, on Wednesday, October 20th at 6:30 pm ET.
Since 2013, CIMA has dedicated themselves to showcasing contemporary Italian art to a global audience. The public non-profit has presented many critically acclaimed exhibitions in efforts to showcase even new art never before seen in the United States. Not only are they providing a variety of public programs, they also have partnered with their international fellowship program to support a new scholarship that situates Italian modern art in an expansive historic and cultural context in efforts to preserve Italian culture, providing a sort of incubator for larger cultural institutions. They invite those who also share the same passion for modern Italian art, open to fresh new perspectives. Your visit begins with complimentary espresso before an informal exhibition tour with a resident fellows.
To continue honoring Mario Schifano after CIMA’s current exhibition “Facing America: Mario Schifano, 1960-65,” they will host live acoustic performances from multi-instrumentalists Stefan Zeniuk (Vampire Weekend), Ari Folman-Cohen (Grammy Award-winning guitarist Stephane Wrembel), and violinist Cody Geil. These artists will feature music from those who inspired Mario Schifano the most like Miles Davis, Bud Powell, and Freddie Hubbard.
Before the music starts CIMA will raise a toast to another engaging season of modern Italian art in NYC. This special program will have discounted tickets for CIMA members and students. Registration, masking, and proof of vaccination are required. More info here
Keep your calendars open for the new album from Brooklyn’s Surfbort, Keep On Truckin’, due out October 11. This release will be a little different from their others seeing as though now they have launched a partnership between legendary producer, composer and philanthropist, Linda Perry and SoundCloud/Repost. The band will be will be hosting a pre-save give away contest where three lucky fans who pre-save the album will be sent a care package.
If you have been following them, you’ll know that the band just released the music video for their latest single “FML” with someone you might know from Saturday Night Live. Aside form Fred Armisen’s glowing review he is also featured in their music video — just as how Fred Armisen in real life walks around doing good deeds, in the music video he then transforms into each member of the band, saving them from their extreme depression. Isn’t that what all comedians do?
Although Surfbort is a Brooklyn based punk band, their fan base rocks from coast to coast. Surfbort is accepting to all while radiating love and friendship. Their live concerts are incomparable, a punk environment with visceral guitar-shredding.
They are everything I want a band to be. I love their music, both on record and performed live. Just the right amount of chaos. And their sense of aesthetics is amazing to see. I am excited that they even exist. I love SURFBORT!
Fred Armisen
After speaking with lead singer Dani Miller, he comes to explain the “FML” single as an inside look on crippling depression. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in this country and often goes unnoticed. That is, suicide ideation is extremely common, even amongst the band members of Surfbort. This pandemic has severed many’s mental health leaving people suffering and feeling alone. Miller encourages people to hold on and preaches the importance of reaching out to loved ones. He opened up on being an artist and drug addict/alcoholic while being bipolar, his past was filled with suicidal ideation. Even his aunt fell victim of suicide and not a day passes where he wishes that he could go back in time.
Fred Armisen poses as a hero in the music video, changing band mates perspective on life which he wishes Fred could be for his aunt. Fred radiates electric positive healing energy that he even missed a premier, rather transforming into each band member and even becoming Miller’s twin, complete with classic makeup while learning all the lyrics and instruments acting as an understudy. We all need a super hero or a strong support system to get us through tough times like these and countless other obstacles we may face and Surfbort only hopes that they can provide the support or encouragement to lean on our loved ones in our times of need.
Surfbort will be playing new music from their forthcoming album at the below upcoming tour dates, as the band tours across the US in Fall 2021.
Upcoming Tour Dates w/ Starcrawler Oct 17th Eugene, OR Sessions Music Hall Oct 19th Sacramento, CA Harlow’s Oct 20th Berkeley, CA The UC Theatre Oct 21st Los Angeles, CA The Regent Theater Oct 22nd San Diego, CA Brick By Brick Oct 23rd Tucson, AZ 191 Toole Oct 25th Dallas, TX Granada Theater
Special Events Oct 27th San Diego, CA Casbah event for DC Shoes
Upcoming Tour Date w/ The Garden Nov 4th Santa Ana, CA Observatory Nov 5th San Luis Obispo, CA Fremont Theater Nov 6th Felton, CA Felton Music Hall Nov 7th San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall Nov 9th Portland, Oregon Hawthorne Theater Nov 10th Seattle, WA The Crocodile Nov 11th Boise, ID The Shredder Nov 12th Salt Lake City, UT The Loading Dock Nov 14th Denver, CO Marquis Theater
Upcoming Solo Shows Nov 15th Fort Collins, CO The Coast
The world premiere at the New York City Ballet Fall Fashion Gala has broken records and barriers. Lido Pimienta, one of the few female composers in the Company as well as the first-ever composer of color and made her world debut on stage on September 30th.
Contemporary choreographer Andrea Miller (GALLIM) had Pimienta perform the piece live on stage with the company complete with five additional presentations run through October 12 at Lincoln Center in Manhattan. Thanks to this year’s Gala co-chairs like Sarah Jessica Parker, Georgina Bloomberg, Laverne Cox, Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy, Diane Kruger, Mazdack and Zanna Rassi, Deborah Roberts and Al Roker, and Jordan Roth we can expect to break more barriers as time passes.
Pimienta’s rise to fame with Miller was featured in the NY Times this week for their historic partnership with New York City Ballet. Want to see more of her? Her fall tour will take place at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on October 15 with performances with Sylvan Esso including two nights at Terminal 5 in NYC on November 15 and 16. If you won’t be in the city you can find her making her debut at Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN this February.
Limienta earned her first GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY nomination with her 2020 release of Miss Colombia (ANTI-). This multi talented star has heads turning from the NY Times, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, NPR and far beyond. Her debut album, La Papessa, also won Canada’s prestigious Polaris Prize and performed at the 2021 GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony. Pimienta talent is limitless dipping from a composer, prolific visual artist, and electrifying live performer earning her collabs with Bomba Estereo and Ricky Reed.
You can expect a pop-up concert at Kemble Park near Utica College this Sunday, October 3, 2021. Nomadic Voices latest pop-up placemaking event fills the park with young singers, rappers, poets, musicians, dancers and more.
Utica College’s DEI Collaborative wants this Cultural Showcase to bring the community together, by introducing students to diverse experiences to show off Utica’s best. You’ll be able to watch rapper Leeky XIV and R&B singer Nazzy Deloach along with many others, free of charge. You can never go hungry where there will also be a diverse amount of cultural foods from your favorite vendors.
This will be one of our largest events to date and we will be showcasing some amazing local talent. I’m excited to connect the college community with the Cornhill community and give young performers a platform to shine.
Tabo Bo
Utica College’s very own Mr. Tabo Bo inspired the idea, finally having the time now after COVID-19 to execute a realistic in person event. The goal is to have students immerse themselves in new environments for community engagement and more importantly to think of others while giving of themselves. The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team came together for this event to help build the culture of Utica College as well as the greater Utica Community. under the leadership of a Utica Alum, Utica College is proud to provide an event from their very own students at Utica College, that is for the people by the people, ,
Kemble Park is located between Oneida, James and Kemble Streets. Street parking will be available between James and Kemble street. This event is free and open to the public.
National Hispanic Heritage month is now and Celebrate Mexico Now (CMN) longstanding 18 years tradition remains unbreakable so their festival pushes on. CMN remains to be the first and only independent festival in New York City devoted to spotlighting contemporary Mexican artistry. Throughout October and November there will be a season of six free live and streaming events to celebrate.
CMN continues to celebrate the diversity of Mexican culture, this festival will explore contemporary dance, music, film, visual art, feminist history and arts business. Dance films will be featured in this program, created by prominent choreographers before this lockdown. Leaders of Mexican performance venues will discuss the struggles of persevering throughout the pandemic, we will hear from singer-songwriter Renee Goust with an in depth conversation involving the role of the Indigenous woman in Mexican history. While more events are still being announced, you can count on the screening of two short documentaries on elders within the community and a conversation with their directors.
We must thank Claudia Norman who founded CN Management in 2004 and for her award-winning curation and production. Over hundreds of native Mexican artists, sculptors, musicians, poets, chefs, filmmakers, actors, painters, and directors have been welcomed to perform at venues like The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, New York University, Columbia University from her hard work. Ms. Norman aims to present and preserve Mexican traditions which is why celebrating this year is vital while continuing to keep viewers safe. Due to COVID there will only be one in-person event which will still showcase ancient traditions and vibrant new ideas in Mexico’s vital arts including works from Mexican and Mexican-American creators with US artists who appreciate and embrace Mexican traditions. While this event will take place in New York thousand avid streams come from Canada, Europe, Central and South America.
While we all very much miss the live experience, the silver lining of an online festival is the opportunity to expand our audience beyond New York City. It was important to us to continue presenting this festival even under extreme duress and a closed border. First and foremost, we must make sure that this vital cultural interchange continues in a way that prioritizes the safety of our participants and audiences.
Claudia Norman
Come help bring CMN to life, celebrating and supporting NYC and Mexican families during Hispanic Heritage month.
All 2021 Celebrate Mexico Now events will be streamed free via the festival’s website at MexicoNowFestival.org and Facebook Live. The films Yolik (Despacio) and Tote/Abuelo will be available to view through October 31; all other programming will be fully available after the premiere date.
The complete Celebrate Mexico Now schedule follows below.
We have some big birthdays on the horizon and what better way to celebrate Tom Petty’s birthday, than with a documentary film on his life. Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers reminds us of the true humble being this rock star really was, bringing you a closer look over his incredible career. It’s hard to believe that we lost him only four years ago. The theatrical release will, of course, be on Petty’s birthday, October 20, featuring a one-night global celebration via Trafalgar Releasing with another encore screening in select cinemas on October 21.
Be sure to be there to get the full experience on the big screen with immersive surround-sound, that is before the YouTube Originals worldwide release. But that’ll be later this year for free in full 4K resolution.
This documentary has so much potential, already winning the Audience Award at SXSW 2021 and Best Documentary Film at the Boulder Film Festival.Director Mary Wharton aimed to please after releasing the critically acclaimed Jimmy Carter: Rock and Roll President, Sam Cooke: Legend, Elvis Lives!, and The Beatles Revolution. After the gold reissue of Wildflowers & All The Rest from Warner Records, we have been waiting for the second half of Tom’s autobiographical masterpiece.
Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers will almost make you feel like Tom is back and rocking right in the room with you. This documentary will focus on the period of 1993-1995, where, if you forgot, Tom was working with legendary producer Rick Rubin for the first time. You’ll see some never-before-seen footage of the boisterous life of a rock and roller and innate genius. Filled with new interviews from album co-producer and Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell along with Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench, the documentary is waiting to blow you away.
Warner Music Entertainment and Warner Records with Peter Afterman, Mary Wharton, Dan Braun and Adria Petty produced a documentary that will illuminate an insider look on Tom Petty in his height of iconicity.
If you want to hear a little more. Mary Wharton and Adria Petty spoke about the film with rock author/journalist David Fricke on SiriusXM’s Tom Petty Radio. Tickets can be found here
On February 10, 2022, The Stanley Theatre in Utica will welcome Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake,” with the Russian Ballet Theatre production making this their only stop in New York State. .
Complete with an entirely new prologue. Without giving away too many spoilers choreographer Nadezhda Kalinina has renewed the oldest St. Petersburg version of the ballet telling a new tale about sorcerer Rothbart. Swan Lake will always honor Russian traditions and you can expect hand-painted sets, radiant costumes, and brilliant choreography. These designs were originally envisioned by the great theater designs made to accentuate the production.
The theater is lucky to have a young and upcoming designer by the name of Sergei Novikov, who oversees the beautiful new sets along with 150 brand new costumes. She aims to bring a more modern twist to the timeless ballet. Novikov also works alongside award-winning Irina Strukova who is known for her work with Netflix, HBO, and on Crazy Rich Asians. Extravagant hair designs and special effects makeup with dazzling costumes, these two women make this revamped timeless classic unforgettable.
Of course, below is the Swan Lake you already know and love. Funny enough it seems the dancers seem to be in sync to almost any other song you play. You won’t know until you try.
Tickets can be purchased now on Ticketmaster, or by calling The Stanley Theatre Box Office at (315) 724-4000
Soul Blind is out to impress us once again. The Hudson Valley based alternative rock band has released their new EP Third Chain on Other People Records. Drawing from The Smashing Pumpkins, Alice in Chains, and Deftones, Soul Blind releases a nostalgic track that mimics something out of the 90s.
The newly released music video captures the band performing in a kaleidoscope of swirling colors through a fisheye lens. If that doesn’t give you 90s nostalgia then maybe Justin Sarica and Finn Lovell’s entwined guitar riffs will remind you of The Smashing Pumpkin’s sheer rock groove.
This track also reminds us the endless range of what the rock genre truly encaptures. Steve Hurley on drums is the foundation urging the beat forward urging nothing but a head-banging session leaving the listener engaged, asking where the melody will head to next. Third Chain gives us the original hard rock we have come to know and love while still having an original sound. Soul Blind’s other tracks including “Misplaced” and “Phantom Pool” continue delving into the lessons crucial relationships teach us about ourselves. Jon Markson and Adam Cichocki recorded each track ensuring a lush wall of guitars mixed with divine vocals.
The EP serves a lot of self reflection lyrically, as well as the emotional turbulence within personal relationships. ALl three songs reflect different feelings, but come together in the same world. Sonically we think these songs show some diversity in our sound and a clear example of our range of what can be expected from future releases, especially going into our first full length.
Soul Blind
Soul Blind is working toward becoming a household name and are on their merry way. In 2018, the group made their debut with the Willpower EP, followed by Untitled later that year with a handful of promo singles in 2019. Don’t just take our word for it. No Echo, Stereogum, and New Noise Magazine have released praising reviews gloating about the band. Opening for the likes of Vein, All Out War, Death Threat, Fiddlehead, Praise, Anxious, Modern Color and One Step Closer solidify their hardcore stardom.
Be sure to check out Soul Blind’s East Coast tour with Koyo. Tour dates can be found below.
9/17/2021 – Poughkeepsie, NY @ APEX Studios w/ Restraining Order 9/18/2021 – North Haven, CT @ The Cockeyed Crow w/ Restraining Order + Rule Them All + End It 9/19/2021 – Oakdale, NY @ Shakers Pub 9/20/2021 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fire w/ Webbed Wing 9/21/2021 – Greensboro, NC @ Gate City Garage 9/22/2021 – Columbia, SC @ New Brooklyn Tavern 9/23/2021 – Jacksonville, FL @ Archetype w/ Magnitude + Point Of Contact + Kharma 9/24/2021 – Brandon, FL @ Noisebox w/ Magnitude + Point Of Contact + Kharma 9/25/2021 – Tallahassee, FL @ The Bark w/ Magnitude + One Step Closer 9/26/2021 – Pensacola, FL @ American Legion w/ Magnitude + One Step Closer 9/27/2021 – Atlanta, GA @ The Dog House 9/28/2021 – Richmond, VA @ The Camel w/ One Step Closer 10/09/2021 – Brooklyn, NY @ Gold Sounds w/ No Pressure, Koyo, Victory Garden, Charity 10/30/2021 – New Haven, CT @ State House w/ Narrow Head + Waveform
Seems the air is getting cooler which means our summer is coming to an end, but to kick it off you might as well go out with a bang at Riverboat’s seasonal closing party. The second annual Alex Bay Summer Send Off Party will be the weekend of Friday October 1 and Saturday October 2. There will be two full nights of live music that’ll feature headlining performances by Wild Adriatic and LITZ on Saturday night.
This summer’s send off will be rooted in the spirit of rock & roll. Wild Adriatic is a third time returning guest at the stage, with roots in the Capital District and a smooth sound filled with groove heavy guitars and enough grit to get you moving.
The power house psychedelic funk band LITZ will close the night right on Saturday, or close out the year essentially. This Maryland based band will have something for everyone, from funk, jam, go-go, soul, to even electronica. Their late night set has tons of built up anticipation where this will be their debut at Alex Bay and they know how to make a good first impression.
If you can’t make it on Saturday, Friday has a lot in store. The Reflexions are performing at the Pre-Party as an 8 piece in alt-funk band project put together by none other than Joshua West (Annie in the Water and Lucid). The reggae/roots Americana band will debuting at The Riverboat along with HANZOLO fusing soul, jazz, rock, and funk. The Upstate alt-funk band will continue to fill the air and stage with another 7 piece band.
On Saturday for happy hour, loop master Cozmic Theo will perform a solo set to set off the night, followed by Nash Robb of The Old Main.
Get your tickets for Summer Send Off now. Just $20 for 2 days of music with a weekend pass ticket purchased at the link below. Single show tickets will be available at the door for $10 on Friday and $20 on Saturday.
Tour dates have been announced for Sean Chambers, following the release of his most recent album, Thats What I’m Talkin About on Quarto Valley Records. The album is packed with nine tracks, most that long term fans will remember from the 90s. He honors his former guitarist as well as producer on his new label. You can find him in Lima, Seneca Falls, and Buffalo at the end of September starting the 21st, and in New York City at Terra Blues on September 29.
This album went out with a heavy heart, where it is a tribute to former Howlin’ Wolf guitarist Hubert Sumlin. Lucky for the band, this album was recorded in March 2020 just before the pandemic hit. Ben Elliot passed away shortly after engineering and producing the album. In tribute to Sumlin, the album includes 10 songs Sean regularly performed on the road as a member of Hubert Sumlin’s touring band, as well as “Hubert’s Song,” an original piece saluting Sumlin. Sean Chambers and his band also join lauded keyboardists Bruce Katz and John Ginty on a few tracks as well.
It all began when Sean received a call asking if they’d be interested in backing up Hubert at ‘Blues Stock’ in Memphis. After relentless practice, the performance with Hubert in October of 1998 was nothing short of extraordinary There was no denying the immediate chemistry between Hubert and Sean, he soon asked the group to become members of the full-time band and they went on to tour for over four years. Hubert was a mentor to Sean, giving him a ‘college education in the blues’. ‘That’s What I’m Talkin About’ was used as a title where it was a phrase commonly used by Hubert.
I will always be grateful to both Hubert Sumlin and Ben Elliott and will never forget all the work we did together, as well as all the lessons that I learned from them both. The music will always live on, and I hope that you enjoy this album as much as we enjoyed making it
Sean Chambers
This album being Ben Elliott’s last project pushed the band to put a picture of the two behind the mixing board for his last song. Ben of course also produced the band’s previous two albums, Trouble & Whiskey and Welcome To My Blues.
Sean Chambers will performing at Sportsmen’s Tavern in Buffalo on Wednesday September 22. Tickets are available here.
