NYS Music 202​1

Author: Chuck DeFilippo

  • And the Winner of NYS Music’s 2021 March Madness is…

    Buffalo’s Organ Fairchild is NYS Music’s March Madness 2021 Winner – a musical party that won’t quit. Take your old-school organ trio (organ, guitar and drums), add dance-heavy grooves and adventurous jamming, and shake vigorously. Enjoy all night long as this well-crafted jam-band cocktail has perked our musical taste buds.

    Organ Fairchild March Madness

    When they spoke on their new single “Seepin,” the band said It’s been a LONG time coming… way back in January, having no idea it would lead to a March Madness crown.

    We truly enjoyed being part of this series and are grateful to NYS Music for reaching out to us about it. We’re now hip to a whole bunch of new-to-us bands from around the state, which is kind of the whole point. As for being in the finals against Baked Shrimp, they had a whole lot of support and we definitely got a chance to check out their music, too. In fact, the two bands are now talking about collaborating on a few concert dates this summer/fall!

    So kudos to NYS Music for all the good things you do to support the region’s musicians. You guys are true advocates for the music scene and we appreciate you.

    Dave Ruch – Guitar

    Congratulations Organ Fairchild – NYS’ March Madness Winner

    Since 2015, New York State Music has crafted a March Madness bracket delving into the musical harbors of our great state. As fans and musicians ourselves, we spotlight the great talent across New York in friendly competition and discovery. Its fury never loses sight of the underdog, a headliner’s humble beginnings, new musical discovery and rolling with the punches in our ever-changing industry.

    March Madness Lark hall
    March Madness 2021 Lark Hall Region: Albany’s mid-size music venue.

    Organ Fairchild – Buffalo, New York.

    Organ Fairchild – NYS Music’s March Madness Winner is:

    Joe Bellanti – organ, keys – Corey Kertzie – drums – Dave Ruch – guitar 

    “Jan. 2021 marks the release of single, “Seepin’,” from long-time Buffalo jam band veterans Organ Fairchild. Members have a history on the jam scene dating back 40 years.”

    LISTEN to Organ Fairchild’s debut single below, from the forthcoming May 2021 album release! Mastered by Alan Evans of Soulive.

    Chuck DeFilippo: How did Organ Fairchild come to be? What is the name origin?

    Joe Bellanti: Dave called me and pitched the idea of an organ trio – I thought it was dumb – which – since we have known each other for so long – means it was a really good idea since I am always wrong about that stuff and Dave has a really good sense for projects that will work. It would be hard to characterize the amount of fun we have been having – just fantastic to be a part of this 

    Dave Ruch: I really wanted to name the band Organ Freeman (after Morgan Freeman), but it turns out that name was already taken! So Organ Fairchild was the next best choice….I think many of us had let’s say an affinity for Morgan F when we were young.

    March Madness Jamcast
    Check out more Jamcast on NYS Music

    JamCast is a streaming platform that provides a unique experience using live, pre-recorded, archived audio & video performances, podcasting, vlogs, blogs, and more. JamCast has been centered around creating a digital network for musicians, promoters, and venues. It was designed to serve as a resource for all facets of the music industry. By offering weekly series, digital events, festivals, podcasts, archives, and more. An online resource and database for all music industry professionals.

    CD: What was your first crossroads with music; how did it seep into your life?

    JB: My dad was really into music and there were always records and cassettes playing. I was told I would start taking piano lessons when I was 8 – loved it for the first month until I figured out how hard it was going to be and promptly lost interest – until I was 13 – My mom would not let me quit and my 8th grade music teacher found out I could play the piano and made me play in front of the class – I was not happy about it – but – when I stopped, everyone started clapping and cheering – and here I am in the NYS finals. Thanks mom!

    DR: I guess my first crossroads was the trombone in 4th grade – I was too little to carry it home from school so that didn’t last long. Second crossroads was guitar at age 12 – I was learning the wrong music and it didn’t stick. Luckily I tried it again at age 15 and I haven’t put it down since! At age 27, I quit my white collar job and made music my full-time living, so definitely a happy ending!

    March Madness Creative Concerts
    Central New York promoters Creative Concerts bring fans together in the final four

    CD: What does New York State Music mean to you? (Not our site, but rather the music community in the state or your specific regions )

    JB: NYS Music – the Buffalo scene in particular – means the world to me – some of my greatest moments have come from being a part of it – certainly my very best friends. Too many incredible moments to even try to pick out one or 2 of the best.

    DR: Interesting question, as one of the other “hats” I wear as a full-time musician and performer is researching and performing old 19th-century traditional music from New York State! So NYS Music means a lot of different things to me, but in terms of the current music community, we are very fortunate here in Buffalo to have a rabid fan base of live music lovers who always come out to support our shows. The level of musicianship here if off the charts as well, and pretty much everyone involved in the local music scene is really supportive of each other. It’s a great place to be.

    CD: What are the short and long term goals for the band?

    JB: Short term – finish out first CD and get back to playing live shows as soon as we can. Long term – see if we can make it work long term – there is nothing I would rather do than play our own music with Corey and Dave.

    High Peaks March Madness

    CD: Any bands or new listening discovered from NYS Music’s March Madness series?

    JB: Absolutely – bands and artists I never would have been exposed to without the competition – Girl Blue in particular – I listened to a bunch of her recordings during our first round match up and really thought we had no chance – really original songs and arrangements and a great voice

    DR: I really enjoyed watching a bunch of these bands’ videos on the NYS Music website.

    518 Prints

    CD: Do you have a favorite COVID activity, since you have all this free time not gigging?

    JB: I have practiced more in the last year than ever and started teaching online via zoom and also building a teaching web site. Also we have been writing new material, rehearsing when practical and recording our first CD

    DR: Yes, practicing a lot, writing tunes, cooking, and recording.

    CD: Anything in the works for the band?

    JB: Two CDs in 2021 and hopefully a summer and fall of outdoor shows. Also – we will probably hit Denny’s at some point – I’m pretty sure we are the only band in the competition where all the members would qualify for the senior discount

    DR: Is Denny’s still even a thing?! 

    Balbert Marketing
    March Madness 2021 Balbert Marketing Region:

    March Madness would not be possible without our sponsors:

    Central New York promoters Creative Concerts bring together fans at venues, stretching from Albany to Rochester and Syracuse to Utica. Lark Hall is the soon to open mid-sized venue in Albany that will host bands of all sizes, events and more. If you need to market your show, event, band or brand, Rochester’s Balbert Marketing has you covered. Need merchandise?

    Homegrown Eastern New York’s 518 Prints makes quality goods for local, regional and national bands or tours. High Peaks Event Production is a team with years of experience, aiding in all your stage, lighting and sound demands. JamCast proves high quality streams for bands, podcasts and much more. Between these companies, bands will find a great deal of what they need, and support businesses from across New York and the Northeast.

    NYS Music’s March Madness Round One

    March Madness Round Two

    Round Three: The Sweet 16

    Round 4: The Elite 8

    Round 5: The Final Four

    Round 6: The Finals – Baked Shrimp Vs. Organ Fairchild

    Organ Fairchild March Madness

    Congratulations Organ Fairchild, NYS Music’s 2021 March Madness Winner!

    THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING NYS MUSIC AS YOUR #1 MUSIC SOURCE.

    march madness finals organ fairchild

  • NYS Music’s March Madness 2021: The Finals

    What the f*ck is up Denny’s? The Finals are here. NYS Music’s March Madness is about to get rowdy. One on one with Baked Shrimp, Long Island against Organ Fairchild, Buffalo – These bands are ready, and hungry, for the NYS March Madness crown.

    the finals

    Since 2015, New York State Music has crafted a March Madness bracket delving into the musical harbors of our great state. As fans and musicians ourselves, we spotlight the great talent across New York in friendly competition and discovery. Its fury never loses sight of the underdog, a headliner’s humble beginnings, new musical discovery and rolling with the punches in our ever-changing industry.

    VOTE IN THE FINALS

    BAKED SHRIMP vs. ORGAN FAIRCHILD

    March Madness Jamcast
    Check out more Jamcast on NYS Music after the final four

    JamCast is a streaming platform that provides a unique experience using live, pre-recorded, archived audio & video performances, podcasting, vlogs, blogs, and more. JamCast has been centered around creating a digital network for musicians, promoters, and venues. It was designed to serve as a resource for all facets of the music industry. By offering weekly series, digital events, festivals, podcasts, archives, and more. An online resource and database for all music industry professionals.

    Elite 8 Balbert
    March Madness 2021 Balbert Marketing Region:

    Baked Shrimp – Long Island, New York.

    Welcome to the Finals.

    Jared Cowen – Guitar/Vox – Scott Reill – Bass/Vox  – Jager Soss – Drums/Vox

    “An impressive musical and technical feat from start to finish. The opening track, “The Vision That I Can See,” is a jaw-dropping epic that really showcases the prowess of this band” – Baked Shrimp ‘Bubble Suit’

    “Pig Hearts and Mechanical Parts” was released March 12, and is the single off of Baked Shrimp‘s second studio album Conscious, set for release on March 26th, 2021. The new single features Nick Rufolo on saxophone, trumpet, and keyboards. The track also features Jager Soss on percussion. 

    Chuck DeFilippo: What does New York State Music mean to you?

    Baked Shrimp:

    New York is home to us, always has been and always will be.

    When we’re not playing  Long Island we’re in Albany or Syracuse or New Paltz, and all around the state. We’ve  met so many amazing musicians and people from all over this state that have a real  passion for what they’re doing. Anytime we revisit a city in New York we always know  we can count on seeing a bunch of familiar faces who we’ve met on the road and have  become friends with over time. We’re lucky enough to be able to host our first multi night, multi-band outdoor music event in our home state this Summer (LonCon), and we  just can’t wait to see so many of our close friends come from their individual parts of the  state and meet in one central location. It’s going to be two incredible nights for the New  York Music community. 

    CD: Any bands or new listening discovered from NYS Music March Madness series?

    Oh man well we have to give a shout out to all of our friends in Glass Pony, Specialists,  Hilltop, and Ampevene, all who we’ve played with and wish all of them could have won  the competition. Check each one of these out if you haven’t yet. 

    CD: Favorite COVID activity, hobby. Since you have all this free time not gigging?

    Baked Shrimp actually had a busy COVID year. When things were really bad and  locked down from March through June of last year, we recorded and released “Bubble Suit,” which was all done from our own individual bedrooms and cars. Self-recorded,  produced, everything, so that was a huge undertaking. Then when were able to get  back in the studio we finished up the Conscious sessions from Summer through Fall.

    And mid-December through mid-January we did some intense practices 20+ hours per week just working on listening exercises, new material, vocal warmups, and also  preparing for the Live for Lon stream, which was probably the biggest task as a band we ever took on by ourselves. So we found ways through all the mayhem going on to still  play music together whether if it’s in the same room with masks on or sending files back  and forth to one another over Google Drive. 

    March Madness Lark hall
    March Madness 2021 Lark Hall Region: Albany’s mid-size music venue.

    Organ Fairchild – Buffalo, New York.

    Welcome to the Finals.

    Joe Bellanti – organ, keys – Corey Kertzie – drums – Dave Ruch – guitar 

    Organ Fairchild is a musical party that won’t quit. Take your old-school organ trio (organ, guitar and drums), add dance-heavy grooves and adventurous jamming, and shake vigorously. Enjoy all night long. 

    “Jan. 2021 marks the release of single, “Seepin’,” from long-time Buffalo jam band veterans Organ Fairchild. Members have a history on the jam scene dating back 40 years.”

    Chuck DeFilippo: What does New York State Music mean to you?

    Joe Bellanti: NYS Music – the Buffalo scene in particular – means the world to me – some of my greatest moments have come from being a part of it – certainly my very best friends. Too many incredible moments to even try to pick out one or 2 of the best.

    Interesting question, as one of the other “hats” I wear as a full-time musician and performer is researching and performing old 19th-century traditional music from New York State! So NYS Music means a lot of different things to me, but in terms of the current music community, we are very fortunate here in Buffalo to have a rabid fan base of live music lovers who always come out to support our shows. The level of musicianship here if off the charts as well, and pretty much everyone involved in the local music scene is really supportive of each other. It’s a great place to be.

    Dave Ruch – Guitar

    LISTEN to Organ Fairchild’s debut single below, from the forthcoming May 2021 album release! Mastered by Alan Evans of Soulive.

    CD: Anything in the works for the band?

    Two CDs in 2021 and hopefully a summer and fall of outdoor shows

    Also – we will probably hit Denny’s at some point – I’m pretty sure we are the only band in the competition where all the members would qualify for the senior discount

    Joe Bellanti

    DR: Is Denny’s still even a thing?!

    Creative Concerts
    Central New York promoters Creative Concerts bring fans together in the final four

    March Madness would not be possible without our sponsors:

    Central New York promoters Creative Concerts bring together fans at venues, stretching from Albany to Rochester and Syracuse to Utica. Lark Hall is the soon to open mid-sized venue in Albany that will host bands of all sizes, events and more. If you need to market your show, event, band or brand, Rochester’s Balbert Marketing has you covered. Need merchandise?

    Homegrown Eastern New York’s 518 Prints makes quality goods for local, regional and national bands or tours. High Peaks Event Production is a team with years of experience, aiding in all your stage, lighting and sound demands. JamCast proves high quality streams for bands, podcasts and much more. Between these companies, bands will find a great deal of what they need, and support businesses from across New York and the Northeast.

    518 Prints
    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is High-Peaks-Event-Production-768x219.jpg
    the finals
    Polls are now closed! Check back on Tuesday, March 30 to find out the winner of NYS Music’s 2021 March Madness!

    NYS Music’s March Madness Round One

    March Madness Round Two

    Round Three: The Sweet 16

    Round 4: The Elite 8

    Round 5: The Final Four

    THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING NYS MUSIC AS YOUR #1 MUSIC SOURCE.

    final four nys music

  • NYS Music’s March Madness 2021: The Final Four

    New York State’s Final Four all sit on the free-throw line in dead silence. All eyes are on them. As the bead of sweat rolls down their faces, before the first notes strike, there is pure silence.

    A wise man, and musician, once told me about the space between the notes; good music should start and end in silence. When there is silence, there are people listening. One breath before it all begins. I would like to take this time to highlight the spaces in-between, where all of our NYS Music March Madness bands deserve a tip of the hat. And, for the Final Four, the pressure is on. Go Vote. Enjoy the upcoming special Jamcast BOTB between the Final Four.

    final four

    Check out NYS Music’s March Madness Elite 8

    Since 2015, New York State Music has crafted a March Madness bracket delving into the musical harbors of our great state. As fans and musicians ourselves, we spotlight the great talent across New York in friendly competition and discovery. Its fury never loses sight of the underdog, a headliner’s humble beginnings, new musical discovery and rolling with the punches in our ever-changing industry.

    VOTE FOR THE FINAL FOUR BELOW

    final four
    Final four voting is now closed. Stay tuned for the Finals, starting Friday, March 26!
    March Madness Jamcast
    Check out more Jamcast on NYS Music after the final four

    Stay tuned with Jamcast for a virtual Battle Of The Bands between our March Madness Final Four musicians: Albany’s Glass Pony, Buffalo’s Organ Fairchild, Rochester’s The Dirty Pennies and Long Island’s Baked Shrimp.

    JamCast is a streaming platform that provides a unique experience using live, pre-recorded, archived audio & video performances, podcasting, vlogs, blogs, and more. JamCast has been centered around creating a digital network for musicians, promoters, and venues. It was designed to serve as a resource for all facets of the music industry. By offering weekly series, digital events, festivals, podcasts, archives, and more. An online resource and database for all music industry professionals.

    Creative Concerts
    Central New York promoters Creative Concerts bring fans together in the final four

    Glass Pony  – Albany, New York.

    Chanda Dewey – drums* – Eddie Hotaling – Guitar* – Jeff Picarazzi – bass* – Greg Pittz – lead guitar* (*vocals)

    Hearing Aide: Glass Pony ‘Glass Pony’

    If you aren’t into long songs, Glass Pony might not be the band for you; about half of their songs hit in the 8-10 minute mark and take their time to get in the groove with long intros and outros. Their second song on the album, “Swing That Maximus,” has a full two-minute instrumental intro.

    With tempo changes up the wazoo throwing the listener from dance beats that make you want to get up and boogie, to slow sections you would barely move your body, they are definitely the type of band you can let loose to live or shamelessly-groove-to on your daily commute. Glass Pony brings you out of the mundane with some chaotic, yet systematic rhythms and beats that make Glass Pony one of a kind. 

    518 Prints

    The Dirty Pennies – Rochester, NY.

    One of Rochester NY’s hottest bands blending the Blues with Garage Rock

    “The gritty song features staple driving guitar riffs that the Pennies are known and loved for. It’s a more aggressive song…fueled by the times in which we are living. The video gives fans an opportunity to follow along to the lyrics. Learn those words, because when live music resumes and The Dirty Pennies can play live, this is an anthem we’ll want to sing along to.” Video Premiere: ‘I’m Your Man’

    Interview: The Dirty Pennies On Developing Their Own Style Of Blues

    You’ve been a live band for so long, what was it like when you finally got into the studio?

    RK: It’s strange because people think of us as a live band, but we did an EP that took the course of three years. I was up at school, living in the Adirondacks, and I would come back and just play a show every once in a while, not really knowing where all of this was going. But what I will say is Kick Out The Rocks was the first time I’ve felt like going into the studio and hammering something out.

    JM: For me it was return-to-my-roots. When I lived in Geneva, my hometown, I was in another band, my friend and I, and we were setting up a studio. It was a very grassroots thing in a basement. I think we played four shows total, so all the time we were playing it was in the studio setting. So it was nice to go back to that. But it was a completely different experience because Blue Brick Recordings is a legitimate studio with different rooms and things set up. It was really fun to have the professional setting.

    Elite 8 Balbert
    March Madness 2021 Balbert Marketing Region:

    Baked Shrimp – Long Island, New York.

    Jared Cowen – Guitar/Vox – Scott Reill – Bass/Vox  – Jager Soss – Drums/Vox

    “An impressive musical and technical feat from start to finish. The opening track, “The Vision That I Can See,” is a jaw-dropping epic that really showcases the prowess of this band” – Baked Shrimp ‘Bubble Suit’

    “Pig Hearts and Mechanical Parts” was released March 12, and is the single off of Baked Shrimp‘s second studio album Conscious, set for release on March 26th, 2021. The new single features Nick Rufolo on saxophone, trumpet, and keyboards. The track also features Jager Soss on percussion. 

    March Madness Lark hall
    March Madness 2021 Lark Hall Region: Albany’s mid-size music venue.

    Organ Fairchild – Buffalo, New York.


    Joe Bellanti – organ, keys – Corey Kertzie – drums – Dave Ruch – guitar 

    Organ Fairchild is a musical party that won’t quit. Take your old-school organ trio (organ, guitar and drums), add dance-heavy grooves and adventurous jamming, and shake vigorously. Enjoy all night long. 

    “Jan. 2021 marks the release of single, “Seepin’,” from long-time Buffalo jam band veterans Organ Fairchild. Members have a history on the jam scene dating back 40 years.”

    LISTEN to Organ Fairchild’s debut single below, from the forthcoming May 2021 album release! Mastered by Alan Evans of Soulive.

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is High-Peaks-Event-Production-768x219.jpg

    Don’t forget about our amazing sponsors:

    Central New York promoters Creative Concerts bring together fans at venues, stretching from Albany to Rochester and Syracuse to Utica. Lark Hall is the soon to open mid-sized venue in Albany that will host bands of all sizes, events and more. If you need to market your show, event, band or brand, Rochester’s Balbert Marketing has you covered. Need merchandise? Homegrown Eastern New York’s 518 Prints makes quality goods for local, regional and national bands or tours. High Peaks Event Production is a team with years of experience, aiding in all your stage, lighting and sound demands. JamCast proves high quality streams for bands, podcasts and much more. Between these companies, bands will find a great deal of what they need, and support businesses from across New York and the Northeast.

    NYS Music’s March Madness 2021

    Round One

    Round Two

    Round Three

    final four nys music

  • NYS Music’s March Madness 2021: The Elite 8

    Welcome to the Elite 8.

    Our last installment hooked your ears. This one will sink its teeth. New York State bands are in bloom, and you are (still) here to discover. While halftime has come and gone, the tunes are still raging from last week’s round three, where we exposed each bands sound.

    Now its time for NYS Music to lay it out for you, see what our Sweet 16 winners have been up to, and play a game of old school, heads-up, one-on-one.

    Yet music discovery – the deeply subjective process of sifting through everything out there to find new audio candy – has never been harder. Quite frankly… the process of music discovery really sucks. Since 2015, New York State Music has crafted a March Madness bracket to showcase some of the hardworking, up-and-coming musical talent in the Empire State.

    Brandon Wenerd – BroBible Publisher Co-Founder
    elite 8

    Check out NYS Music’s March Madness on BroBible

    NYS Music’s March Madness 2021 Sweet 16 will be your one-stop-shop for audio playlists.

    March Madness Jamcast
    Check out more Jamcast on NYS Music

    Don’t forget about our amazing sponsors:

    Central New York promoters Creative Concerts bring together fans at venues, stretching from Albany to Rochester and Syracuse to Utica. Lark Hall is the soon to open mid-sized venue in Albany that will host bands of all sizes, events and more. If you need to market your show, event, band or brand, Rochester’s Balbert Marketing has you covered. Need merchandise? Homegrown Eastern New York’s 518 Prints makes quality goods for local, regional and national bands or tours. High Peaks Event Production is a team with years of experience, aiding in all your stage, lighting and sound demands. JamCast proves high quality streams for bands, podcasts and much more. Between these companies, bands will find a great deal of what they need, and support businesses from across New York and the Northeast.

    NOTE: Make sure you vote in ALL matchups for each region. And Vote once per device, duplicate votes will not be counted.

    March Madness 2021 518 Prints Region:

    Elite 8 518 Prints

    The Dirty Pennies – Rochester – Vs. – Blind Owl Band -Saranac Lake

    The Dirty Pennies:

    One of Rochester NY’s hottest bands blending the Blues with Garage Rock

    “The gritty song features staple driving guitar riffs that the Pennies are known and loved for. It’s a more aggressive song…fueled by the times in which we are living. The video gives fans an opportunity to follow along to the lyrics. Learn those words, because when live music resumes and The Dirty Pennies can play live, this is an anthem we’ll want to sing along to.” Video Premiere: ‘I’m Your Man’

    (A. you get to discover new music the old fashion way, using your brain and (B. there are all sorts of gems, like this badass music video from Rochester’s own The Dirty Pennies – a little bit of surf rock, a little bit of gritty Americana.

    Go check it out. And happy digging!

    BroBible – NYS’ Sweet 16
    March 13, 2021

    Interview: The Dirty Pennies On Developing Their Own Style Of Blues

    Blind Owl Band:

    Collectively, we’re a musical representation of the sounds floating around in our heads. We use the instruments of our ancestors, but play music of our time” – Co-founder Eric Munley (mandolin, vocals).

    “After harnessing the rawness of traditional bluegrass instrumentation, the band has taken the genre into an entire new dimension. The fast-fingered, high energy, cohesive group explores their live performance with an element of improvisation, gaining energy from their audience.” Blind Owl Band Host a Halloween Bash

    https://youtu.be/zijC6QdIomY

    Elite 8 Polls are now CLOSED. Final 4 voting will BEGIN on Sunday, March 21 at 8:00am!

    March Madness 2021 Creative Concerts Region:

    Elite 8 Creative Concerts
    Central New York promoters Creative Concerts bring fans together

    Sarah King – Brooklyn — Vs. — Glass Pony  – Albany

    Sarah King

    THE HOUR – EP out Friday, March 19.

    “On this classic Black Sabbath tune. Sarah King adds to the field of great artists who have brought a twist on this brilliant anti-war song.Sarah King’s acoustic rendition is chilling, and cuts to core of the song, a treatment so honest and pure that it is as powerful as the original.” Pete Mason on Sarah King

    And now you're greeted by a day you knew would come
Staring down everything we both know you done
And I can only be good for so long
You done me so wrong
You're not worth the whisky
    THE HOUR – EP out Friday, March 19.

    Glass Pony:

    Chanda Dewey – drums* – Eddie Hotaling – Guitar* – Jeff Picarazzi – bass* – Greg Pittz – lead guitar* (*vocals)

    If you aren’t into songs long songs, Glass Pony might not be the band for you; about half of their songs hit in the 8-10 minute mark and take their time to get in the groove with long intros and outros. Their second song on the album, “Swing That Maximus” has a full two-minute instrumental intro.

    With tempo changes up the wazoo throwing the listener from dance beats that make you want to get up and boogie, to slow sections you would barely move your body, they are definitely the type of band you can let loose to live or shamelessly-groove-to on your daily commute. Glass Pony brings you out of the mundane with some chaotic, yet systematic rhythms and beats that make Glass Pony one of a kind. 

    Hearing Aide: Glass Pony ‘Glass Pony’

    Elite 8 Polls are now CLOSED. Final 4 voting will BEGIN on Sunday, March 21 at 8:00am!

    March Madness 2021 Lark Hall Region:

    March Madness Lark hall
    Lark Hall -A soon to open mid-sized Albany venue.

    Remsen Social Club – Utica – Vs. – Organ Fairchild -Buffalo

    Remsen Social Club:

    These four young men, Bryan Davies on tenor banjo, guitar, wash tub, bass, and vocals; Tim Slusarcyzk on upright bass, harp, and vocals; Ben carrier on guitar, mandolin, harp, 5 string banjo, and vocals; and Chris Taylor on Gatling harps, mouth harp, harmonica in a beer can (yes you read that correctly) and vocals bring something unique with their bluegrass, Americana sound.  

    Playing a mix of original music, such as “Over You Darlin” and “Am I Best” along with some all time favorite covers such as “Stuck In the Middle With You” by Stellars Wheel, they had the crowd wound up and ready for their day long of music and fun. – RSC at Oak Mountain Bluegrass

    Organ Fairchild:


    Joe Bellanti – organ, keys – Corey Kertzie – drums – Dave Ruch – guitar 

    Organ Fairchild is a musical party that won’t quit. Take your old-school organ trio (organ, guitar and drums), add dance-heavy grooves and adventurous jamming, and shake vigorously. Enjoy all night long. 

    “Jan. 2021 marks the release of single, “Seepin’,” from long-time Buffalo jam band veterans Organ Fairchild. Members have a history on the jam scene dating back 40 years.”
    Debut Single”Seepin”

    LISTEN to Organ Fairchild’s debut single, from the forthcoming May 2021 album release! Mastered by Alan Evans of Soulive.

    Elite 8 Polls are now CLOSED. Final 4 voting will BEGIN on Sunday, March 21 at 8:00am!

    March Madness 2021 Balbert Marketing Region:

    Elite 8 Balbert

    Vaporeyes – Syracuse – Vs. – Baked Shrimp – Long Island

    Baked Shrimp:

    Jared Cowen – Guitar/Vox – Scott Reill – Bass/Vox  – Jager Soss – Drums/Vox

    “An impressive musical and technical feat from start to finish. The opening track, “The Vision That I Can See,” is a jaw-dropping epic that really showcases the prowess of this band” – Baked Shrimp ‘Bubble Suit’

    “Pig Hearts and Mechanical Parts” was released March 12, and is the single off of Baked Shrimp’s second studio album Conscious, set for release on March 26th, 2021. The new single features Nick Rufolo on saxophone, trumpet, and keyboards. The track also features Jager Soss on percussion. 

    Vaporeyes:

    “But before you close your eyes and float away, the band changes things up, shaking the listener from the dream state. On “Donye Wump,” Cadley (drums) turns the tempo up and brings everyone along.”

    “Cantrips is an old Scot word that basically means a magical spell of any kind” says Jonas Reddy-Nicholson (keyboards, vocals) when asked about the meaning of the name. He goes on to say, “Cantrips is also what they call the type of spells one can cast at any time in the game Dungeons & Dragons.” The band ended up tying the new album thematically to a D&D campaign that they played together.

    And play together, they do. Stylistically they fit snugly into the jam genre.

    Vaporeyes ‘Cantrips’

    Vaporeyes’ new album, CANTRIPS, out now!

    Elite 8 Polls are now CLOSED. Final 4 voting will BEGIN on Sunday, March 21 at 8:00am!

    Since 2015, New York State Music has crafted a March Madness bracket delving into the musical harbors of our great state. As fans and musicians ourselves, we spotlight the great talent across New York in friendly competition and discovery. Its furry never looses sight of the underdog, a headliner’s humble beginnings, new musical discovery and rolling with the punches in our ever-changing industry.

    elite 8

    March Madness 2021 Round One

    March Madness 2021 Round Two

    March Madness 2021 Round Three

    Elite 8

    Check out Past Years’ NYS Music March Madness Here

  • NYS Music’s March Madness 2021: The Sweet 16

    Did you know: H. V. Porter was actually a musician himself?

    “When the March madness is on him…midnight jaunts of a hundred miles on successive nights make him even more alert the next day.

    H.V. Porter, 1932 to 1936 IHSA ‘Reels’

    Put on your rock n’ roll tiaras as we begin to crack these bands open at the seams. NYS Music’s March Madness 2021 Sweet 16 will be your one-stop-shop for audio playlists. Not only will the series feature snippets from NYS’ Hearing Aide’s and reviews, but also spotlight each artists music. Turn on, tune in, go vote, and let records spin.

    Sweet 16

    Since 2015, New York State Music has crafted a March Madness bracket delving into the musical harbors of our great state. As fans and musicians ourselves, we spotlight the great talent across New York in friendly competition and discovery. Its furry never looses sight of the underdog, a headliner’s humble beginnings, new musical discovery and rolling with the punches in our ever-changing industry.

    March Madness 2021 Round One

    March Madness 2021 Round Two

    March Madness Jamcast
    Check out more Jamcast on NYS Music

    March Madness 2021 Lark Hall Region:

    March Madness 2021 Lark hall
    Lark Hall -A soon to open mid-sized Albany venue.
    Remsen Social Club – Utica — Vs. — Intrepid Travelers – Buffalo

    “Vocals bring something unique with their bluegrass, Americana sound.  Playing a mix of original music, “Stuck In the Middle With You” by Stellars Wheel, they had the crowd wound up.” – RSC at Oak Mountain Bluegrass

    “This recording session was among the most rewarding and creatively fulfilling projects I’ve ever been a part of – self producing these tracks has the band energized and excited for more!” Adam Bronstein, Intrepid Travelers

    Organ Fairchild – Buffalo — Vs. — The Brass Machine – Buffalo

    “Jan. 2021 marks the release of single, “Seepin’,” from long-time Buffalo jam band veterans Organ Fairchild. Members have a history on the jam scene dating back 40 years.”
    Debut Single”Seepin”

    “Laying down funky New Orleans-style street beats across the United States and Canada. Formed in 2014 at the University at Buffalo, The Brass Machine provides a unique blend of hip hop, funk, and R&B, all in an infectious and energetic package.”

    Sweet 16 Polls are now CLOSED. Round 4 voting will BEGIN on Tuesday, March 16 at 8:00am !

    March Madness 2021 Creative Concerts Region:

    Sweet 16
    Central New York promoters Creative Concerts bring fans together
    Sarah King – Brooklyn — Vs. — Harmonic Dirt – Syracuse

    “On this classic Black Sabbath tune. Sarah King adds to the field of great artists who have brought a twist on this brilliant anti-war song.Sarah King’s acoustic rendition is chilling, and cuts to core of the song, a treatment so honest and pure that it is as powerful as the original.” Pete Mason on Sarah King

    THE HOUR – EP out Friday, March 19.

    “They pull inspiration from Son Volt, Wilco, Neil Young and other heavy hitters of the sixties folk-rock genre. Not many aspiring musicians make music like this anymore. Harmonic Dirt delivers that.” – Hearing Aide: ‘Anthracite’

    This was just released Feb. 5, 2021, but their last album, Live At The Ridge, was named Best Americana Album of 2020 by Syracuse Area Music Awards.

    Glass Pony  – Albany — Vs. — Mikaela Davis – Rochester

    “Swing That Maximus” has a full two-minute instrumental intro. With tempo changes up the wazoo throwing the listener from dance-y beats that make you want to get up and boogie, to slow sections you would barely move.” Hearing Aide: Glass Pony ‘Glass Pony’

    “The harp has been known since antiquity in Asia, Africa and Europe, early as 3000 BCE. ‘Learning Live Dead was really fun and difficult, we rehearsed like twice a week for a month because we really wanted to play through like the record with no stops,’” Mikaela Davis.

    Sweet 16 Polls are now CLOSED. Round 4 voting will BEGIN on Tuesday, March 16 at 8:00am !

    March Madness 2021 518 Prints Region:

    Sweet 16
    King Buffalo – Rochester — Vs. — The Dirty Pennies – Rochester

    “The psychedelic rock band with a heavy blues bent delivers heady grooves laden with symbolic imagery. It’s the kind of music that is best heard live – but if not live, then on a turntable in a room with curtains drawn and incense burning.”

    King Buffalo is Releasing three albums for 2021. Repeat: Three. And, it needs to be said, to take the place, momentum-wise, of touring.

    “The gritty song features staple driving guitar riffs that the Pennies are known and loved for. It’s a more aggressive song…fueled by the times in which we are living. The video gives fans an opportunity to follow along to the lyrics. Learn those words, because when live music resumes and The Dirty Pennies can play live, this is an anthem we’ll want to sing along to.” Video Premiere: ‘I’m Your Man’

    Blind Owl Band – Saranac Lake — Vs. — Annie in the Water – Albany

    “After harnessing the rawness of traditional bluegrass instrumentation, the band has taken the genre into an entire new dimension. The fast-fingered, high energy, cohesive group explores their live performance with an element of improvisation, gaining energy from their audience.” Blind Owl Band Host a Halloween Bash

    “At the intersection of Rock, Reggae, Funk, Blues and Jam written with a conscious dose of positive vibes, unique melodies and down to earth lyrics. The innate ability to fill an entire night with original music or cover in their signature style, fans share extraordinary experiences that can’t be seen anywhere else.” The Palace Sessions

    HEY, How cool is this… Download Annie in the Water’s latest album – Free.

    Sweet 16 Polls are now CLOSED. Round 4 voting will BEGIN on Tuesday, March 16 at 8:00am !

    March Madness 2021 Balbert Marketing Region:

    The Goodnight Darlings – New York — Vs. — Baked Shrimp – Long Island

    “An impressive musical and technical feat from start to finish. The opening track, “The Vision That I Can See,” is a jaw-dropping epic that really showcases the prowess of this band” – Baked Shrimp ‘Bubble Suit’

    Stay tuned for an update of Baked Shrimp’s new single release this Friday, off their upcoming album, Conscious.

    “New York City’s post-punk, pop outfit, The Goodnight Darlings, are cutting edge. Bred from the William Faulkner quote ‘murder your darlings,’ nothing stands on safe ground. At any moment an explosion of creative energy, or sound, propels the band into an epic dance-rock performance on stage. “

    “With the glam of a fairytale princess, frontwoman, Kat Auster, commands the stage instantaneously while her counterpart, Wilson Jaramillo stretches the soundscapes of rock guitar. Bonded by The Goodnight Darlings, and marriage, Auster and Jaramillo are one anothers’ creative spark.” – The Goodnight Darlings

    Vaporeyes – Syracuse Vs. — Gerald Slevin – New York/Ithaca

    “But before you close your eyes and float away, the band changes things up, shaking the listener from the dream state. On “Donye Wump,” Cadley (drums) turns the tempo up and brings everyone along.” Vaporeyes ‘Cantrips’

    Vaporeyes’ new album, CANTRIPS, out now!

    “His inspiration came from his 4-year-old daughter during a hike when he saw her look to the sky and blow a kiss. She was blowing a kiss to the future. That accidental yet wholesome moment resulted in the song’s creation in 15 minutes… The song is the first step towards Slevin’s solo career after fronting Brooklyn’s artpop group, The Color Bars. Slevin aims to do different and new things with every creation resulting in the band exploring vocals, art and instruments.” Gerald Slevin Begins Solo Journey

    Sweet 16 Polls are now CLOSED. Round 4 voting will BEGIN on Tuesday, March 16 at 8:00am !

    Don’t forget about our amazing sponsors:

    Central New York promoters Creative Concerts bring together fans at venues, stretching from Albany to Rochester and Syracuse to Utica. Lark Hall is the soon to open mid-sized venue in Albany that will host bands of all sizes, events and more. If you need to market your show, event, band or brand, Rochester’s Balbert Marketing has you covered. Need merchandise? Homegrown Eastern New York’s 518 Prints makes quality goods for local, regional and national bands or tours. High Peaks Event Production is a team with years of experience, aiding in all your stage, lighting and sound demands. JamCast proves high quality streams for bands, podcasts and much more. Between these companies, bands will find a great deal of what they need, and support businesses from across New York and the Northeast.

    We’re also proud to present a bracket designed by the good folks at Wook+ Media, who have been keeping brackets going strong throughout the year, with unique topics and incredibly artistic designs. Check out the Round 2 graphic below:

  • NYS Music’s March Madness 2021: Round 2

    First, we would like to congratulate our round two winners, as well as all of the bands who participated. March Madness has a stout lineup and you will not be disappointed. Make sure you give all the bands a listen below. Get sucked in to NYS and see what we’ve said about bands in round two.

    march madness

    March Madness 2021 Round One

    Since 2015, New York State Music has crafted a March Madness bracket delving into the musical harbors of our great state. As fans and musicians ourselves, we spotlight the great talent across New York in friendly competition and discovery. Its furry never looses sight of the underdog, a headliner’s humble beginnings, new musical discovery and rolling with the punches in our ever-changing industry.

    March Madness 2021 Balbert Marketing Region:

    Tortoise Forest – Buffalo — Vs. — Baked Shrimp – Long Island

    “A mixture of prog with aspects of jam, dub, and jazz give the group an eclectic sound that departs just enough from its classical music roots to create something exciting and new sounding.” Tortoise Forest

    “An impressive musical and technical feat from start to finish. The opening track, “The Vision That I Can See,” is a jaw-dropping epic that really showcases the prowess of this band” – Baked Shrimp ‘Bubble Suit’

    Kate Usher & Sturdy Souls – Montauk – Vs. – The Goodnight Darlings – New York

    “oceanside, cozied up in warm vibes with a breeze in your hair. Manifesting in two forms, duo and full band.” –Cait Elizabeth

    “Bred from Faulkner’s ‘murder your darlings,’ nothing stands on safe ground. At any moment an explosion of creative energy, or sound, propels the band into an epic dance-rock performance.” The Goodnight Darlings

    Frank Palangi – Queensbury — Vs. — Vaporeyes – Syracuse

    “A personality that doesn’t give up; no matter what it takes. He fuels a refreshing positive outlook serving up a feeding frenzy of edgy heavy guitars, deep n gritty vocals.” Frank Palangi ‘Bring On The Fear’

    “But before you close your eyes and float away, the band changes things up, shaking the listener from the dream state. On “Donye Wump,” Cadley (drums) turns the tempo up and brings everyone along.” Vaporeyes ‘Cantrips’

    Runitup Sho – Queens — Vs. — Gerald Slevin – New York/Ithaca

    “It isn’t just the distinctive guitar riffs nor the infectious chorus, but the duo’s effervescence throughout the song that will likely coax listeners into joining them in sing-a-longs.” – Runitup Sho “Pressure”

    “His inspiration came from his 4-year-old daughter during a hike when he saw her look to the sky and blow a kiss. She was blowing a kiss to the future. That accidental yet wholesome moment resulted in the song’s creation in 15 minutes.” – Gerald Slevin Begins Solo Journey

    Polls are now closed. Stay tuned for Round 3 voting, beginning Thursday, March 11 at 8am!

    March Madness 2021 518 Prints Region:

    King Buffalo – Rochester — Vs. — Periodic Table of Elephants – Rochester

    “The psychedelic rock band with a heavy blues bent delivers heady grooves laden with symbolic imagery. It’s the kind of music that is best heard live – but if not live, then on a turntable in a room with curtains drawn and incense burning.”

    “If there ever was a formula behind the iconic music of the 90s, many would say it would be “Guys with instruments & vocals” + “Guttural feelings” + “Garage.” While rock is not as dominant on today’s airwaves, Periodic Table of Elephants keep this classic formula alive and well.”

    Grosh – Buffalo — Vs. — The Dirty Pennies – Rochester

    “A classic thou hard rock, with influences from band like Led Zeppelin to Rival Sons. Guitar riffing, a present bass and superb drumming, not to mention the powerful voice of Megan Brown” – ‘Whether or Not you Know’

    “The gritty song features staple driving guitar riffs that the Pennies are known and loved for. It’s a more aggressive song…fueled by the times in which we are living.” Video Premiere: ‘I’m Your Man’

    Purple Stuff  – Albany — Vs. — Blind Owl Band – Saranac Lake

    “Prepare yourself for an explosion of improvisational funk that will evoke dance moves you didn’t even know you had inside ya.” – Prepare for the Purple Stuff

    “After harnessing the rawness of traditional bluegrass instrumentation, the band has taken the genre into an entire new dimension. The fast-fingered, high energy, cohesive group explores their live performance with an element of improvisation, gaining energy from their audience.” BOB Host a Halloween Bash

    Annie in the Water – Albany — Vs. — Hartley’s Encore – Albany

    “At the intersection of Rock, Reggae, Funk, Blues and Jam written with a conscious dose of positive vibes, unique melodies and down to earth lyrics. The innate ability to fill an entire night with original music or cover in their signature style, fans share extraordinary experiences that can’t be seen anywhere else.” The Palace Sessions

    “One goal in mind: create funky, dance-leaning tracks that leave the live crowd choice but to groove in their immediate proximity. “Take ‘Em Down” and “Can’t Fake the Funk” are full embodiments of dance anthems, an impressive horn section splashed throughout.” ‘Hartley’s Encore’

    Polls are now closed. Stay tuned for Round 3 voting, beginning Thursday, March 11 at 8am!

    March Madness 2021 Creative Concerts Region:

    Central New York promoters Creative Concerts bring fans together
    ShwizZ – Nyack — Vs. — Sarah King – Brooklyn

    “ShwizZ slams you against the blackboard in awe that all your basic math skills have fleeted. Not only does ShwizZ explore a multi-level, mixed-meter halfway house of genres, but also bulldoze your ear to the other end of the record collection.” Chuck DeFilippo on ‘Big Things

    “On this classic Black Sabbath tune. Sarah King adds to the field of great artists who have brought a twist on this brilliant anti-war song.Sarah King’s acoustic rendition is chilling, and cuts to core of the song, a treatment so honest and pure that it is as powerful as the original.” Pete Mason on NXNES

    Harmonic Dirt – Syracuse — Vs. — Sháquan – New York

    “They pull inspiration from Son Volt, Wilco, Neil Young and other heavy hitters of the sixties folk-rock genre. Not many aspiring musicians make music like this anymore. Harmonic Dirt delivers that.” – Hearing Aide: ‘Anthracite’

    Lo-Fi Hip Hop Rap. Sháquan on Soundcloud with “Long Time Coming (Prod. By Krs.)”

    Glass Pony  – Albany — Vs. — Our Common Roots – Utica

    “Swing That Maximus” has a full two-minute instrumental intro. With tempo changes up the wazoo throwing the listener from dance-y beats that make you want to get up and boogie, to slow sections you would barely move.” Hearing Aide: Glass Pony ‘Glass Pony’

    Since 2015, Our Common Roots is an alternative rock band bringing a blend of nostalgic blues vibes with a modern rock feel; OCR is committed to providing a fun atmosphere that will keep you dancing through the night.

    Mikaela Davis – Rochester — Vs. — Antwon Levee – Plattsburgh

    “The harp has been known since antiquity in Asia, Africa and Europe, early as 3000 BCE. ‘Learning Live Dead was really fun and difficult, we rehearsed like twice a week for a month because we really wanted to play through like the record with no stops,’” Mikaela Davis.

    “Levee’s production is rooted in thumping bass, drum-machine-style loops and carefully developed songs. His compositions only seem simple: Every note, every drum hit, is calculated for maximal impact. He’s profane, clever and full of tight flow patterns.” Justin Boland, Seven Days, on Antwon Levee

    Polls are now closed. Stay tuned for Round 3 voting, beginning Thursday, March 11 at 8am!

    March Madness 2021 Lark Hall Region:

    March Madness 2021 Lark hall
    Lark Hall -A soon to open mid-sized Albany venue.
    Kelly and Kat – Long Island — Vs. — Remsen Social Club – Utica

    “Elements of rock, pop, and jazz are accompanied by their soft vocals and smooth harmonies. Music has allowed the sisters to form a strong bond.” – Kelly and Kat on NYS Music

    “Vocals bring something unique with their bluegrass, Americana sound.  Playing a mix of original music, “Stuck In the Middle With You” by Stellars Wheel, they had the crowd wound up.” – RSC at Oak Mountain Bluegrass

    Jess Novak – Syracuse — Vs. — Intrepid Travelers – Buffalo

    “Complemented by drums and guitar, the upbeat tempo of “Match” creates an eccentric mood. The beat leaves listeners toe-tapping and wanting to get up and dance. Violins match fast-paced tempo and create a new level of fire through Novak’s singing.” “Standing Now”

    “This recording session was among the most rewarding and creatively fulfilling projects I’ve ever been a part of – self producing these tracks has the band energized and excited for more!” Adam Bronstein Intrepid Travelers

    Organ Fairchild – Buffalo — Vs. — Dodongo – Ithaca

    “Jan. 2021 marks the release of single, “Seepin’,” from long-time Buffalo jam band veterans Organ Fairchild. Members have a history on the jam scene dating back 40 years.”
    Debut Single”Seepin”

    Hey! Listen! Dodongo is more than a jam collective. It’s a way of life. It’s also a lizard-like creature in Zelda. Jams from Brooklyn .

    See NYS Music’s March Madness shoutout on Dodongo’s Linktree.

    The Brass Machine – Buffalo — Vs. — Funktional Flow – Buffalo

    “Laying down funky New Orleans-style street beats across the United States and Canada. Formed in 2014 at the University at Buffalo, The Brass Machine provides a unique blend of hip hop, funk, and R&B, all in an infectious and energetic package.”

    “Over a heady Three Heads beer at theirBrewery, we discussed* Flowfest, Night Lights Music Festival, The Great Blue Heron Music Festival and Cobblestone live. Also, birth of the band, their long-term growth and a few influences.”

    *A “Rochester Groovecast” podcast with tracks, “Back Door” and “Time Will Tell.”  – Functional Flow

    Polls are now closed. Stay tuned for Round 3 voting, beginning Thursday, March 11 at 8am!

    March Madness Jamcast
    Check out more Jamcast on NYS Music

    Don’t forget about our amazing sponsors:

    Central New York promoters Creative Concerts bring together fans at venues, stretching from Albany to Rochester and Syracuse to Utica. Lark Hall is the soon to open mid-sized venue in Albany that will host bands of all sizes, events and more. If you need to market your show, event, band or brand, Rochester’s Balbert Marketing has you covered. Need merchandise? Homegrown Eastern New York’s 518 Prints makes quality goods for local, regional and national bands or tours. High Peaks Event Production is a team with years of experience, aiding in all your stage, lighting and sound demands. JamCast proves high quality streams for bands, podcasts and much more. Between these companies, bands will find a great deal of what they need, and support businesses from across New York and the Northeast.

    We’re also proud to present a bracket designed by the good folks at Wook+ Media, who have been keeping brackets going strong throughout the year, with unique topics and incredibly artistic designs. Check out the Round 2 graphic below:

    march madness round 2

  • NYS Music’s March Madness 2021: Round 1

    A little March madness may complement and contribute to sanity and help keep society on an even keel

    Henry V. Porter, 1939

    Since 2015, New York State Music has crafted a March Madness bracket delving into the musical harbors of our great state. As fans and musicians ourselves, we spotlight the great talent across New York in friendly competition and discovery.

    Porter coined the term that went dark for four decades. March Madness, as you know it today, is commonplace in sport and bracketing. NYS Music is here to put a musical namesake on March Madness 2021. Its furry never looses sight of the underdog, a headliner’s humble beginnings, new musical discovery and rolling with the punches in our ever-changing industry.

    march madness 2021

    These are 64 bands you might not know about, but should. Artists big and small, but all homegrown in New York. With the aide of our sponsors, NYS Music March Madness is a medium for these artists to be heard, grow and discovered. Go Listen. Go Vote. And let the Madness begin.

    For any band starting out, there are things that need to be addressed. Among them, what venue you’ll play, who the promoter is, who handles the sound and lights, how you’ll market yourself, where you get merch from, and more recently, how you’ll stream your show. Fortunately, NYS Music has partnered with businesses across New York State to help bands meet these needs.


    Central New York promoters Creative Concerts bring together fans at venues, stretching from Albany to Rochester and Syracuse to Ithaca. Lark Hall is the soon to open mid-sized venue in Albany that will host bands of all sizes, events and more. If you need to market your show, event, band or brand, Rochester’s Balbert Marketing has you covered. Need merchandise? Homegrown Eastern New York’s 518 Prints makes quality goods for local, regional and national bands or tours. High Peaks Event Production is a team with years of experience, aiding in all your stage, lighting and sound demands. JamCast proves high quality streams for bands, podcasts and much more. Between these companies, bands will find a great deal of what they need, and support businesses from across New York and the Northeast.

    Vote now for your favorites and discover some of the great up and coming music that New York State has to offer!

    NOTE: Make sure you vote in ALL matchups for each region.

    March Madness 2021 Lark hall
    Lark Hall -A soon to open mid-sized Albany venue.

    March Madness 2021 Lark Hall Region:

    The Mountain Carol – Saranac — Vs. — Kelly and Kat – Long Island

    Cold Lazarus – Jamestown — Vs. — Remsen Social Club – Utica

    Jess Novak – Syracuse — Vs. — Specialists – Upstate/NYC

    Intrepid Travelers – Buffalo — Vs. — Nik Moody– Long Island

    Girl Blue – Troy — Vs. — Organ Fairchild Buffalo

    Samsara– New York — Vs. — Dodongo – Ithaca

    Trampoline Jetstream – Utica — Vs. — The Brass Machine – Buffalo

    The Demos– Rochester — Vs. — Funktional Flow – Buffalo

    Polls are now closed. Stay tuned for Round 2 voting, beginning Saturday, March 6 at 8am!

    creative concerts march madness
    Central New York promoters Creative Concerts bring fans together

    March Madness 2021 Creative Concerts Region:

    ShwizZ – Nyack — Vs. — Dirty Blanket – Finger Lakes

    HillTop – Amsterdam — Vs. — Sarah King – Brooklyn

    Cait Devin – Utica — Vs. — Harmonic Dirt – Syracuse

    Noon Fifteen –Ithaca — Vs. — Shaquan – New York

    Glass Pony – Albany — Vs. — Son of a Gun – Albany

    Escaper – Brooklyn — Vs. — Our Common Roots – Utica

    All Poets & Heroes – Syracuse — Vs. — Mikaela Davis – Rochester

    Folkfaces – Buffalo — Vs. — Antwon Levee   Plattsburgh

    Polls are now closed. Stay tuned for Round 2 voting, beginning Saturday, March 6 at 8am!

    March Madness 2021 518 Prints Region:

    King Buffalo – Rochester — Vs. — Jellz Brooklyn

    Ampevene – Albany — Vs. — Periodic Table of Elephants Rochester

    Grosh –Buffalo — Vs. — Chris Eves and the New Normal Syracuse

    Let’s be Leonard– Saratoga Springs — Vs. — The Dirty Pennies – Rochester

    Purple Stuff – Albany — Vs. — PEAK – Brooklyn

    The Kalahari Merman Experience – Buffalo — Vs. — Blind Owl Band – Saranac Lake

    Kyngjo – New York — Vs. —Annie in the Water Albany

    Kyle Stockman – Upstate — Vs. — Hartley’s Encore   Albany

    Polls are now closed. Stay tuned for Round 2 voting, beginning Saturday, March 6 at 8am!

    March Madness 2021 Balbert Marketing Region:

    Tortoise Forest– Buffalo — Vs. —Senior Living – Albany

    Jeremy Beck/ Heavy Duty Horns -NYC — Vs. — Baked Shrimp – Long Island

    Kate Usher and the Sturdy Souls – Montauk — Vs. — The Jones Title NYC

    Carpool– Rochester — Vs. — The Goodnight Darlings NYC

    Frank Palangi – Queensbury — Vs. — Pickle Mafia – Rochester

    Matthew Pryce– NYC — Vs. — Vaporeyes Syracuse

    Sydney Irving – Syracuse — Vs. — Runitup Sho – Queens

    Lucky33 – Syracuse — Vs. — Gerald Slevin  NYC/Ithaca

    Polls are now closed. Stay tuned for Round 2 voting, beginning Saturday, March 6 at 8am!

    March Madness Jamcast

    JamCast is a streaming platform that provides a unique experience using live, pre-recorded, archived audio & video performances, podcasting, vlogs, blogs, and more. It’s an online resource and database for all music industry professionals.

    Check out more Jamcast on NYS Music

    We’re also proud to present a bracket designed by the good folks at Wook+ Media, who have been keeping brackets going strong throughout the year, with unique topics and incredibly artistic designs. Check out the Round 1 graphic below:

    Check out Past Years’ NYS Music March Madness Here

  • Albany’s Rock-Outlaws Son Of A Gun Turn To Dust Friday

    New York capital region Rock-trio, Son Of A Gun, is on the run with the release of their second EP, Turn To Dust, to be released Friday, Feb. 12.

    While the band probably isn’t smuggling shine in their petina post-war Buick Roadmaster down the Hudson Valley, their stone-cold rock jams will take you on a wild ride. The proof: Turn To Dust corrodes Son Of A Gun and their Rock and Roll sheen with a wild-side, proving more raw than their former effort.

    Son Of A Gun Turn to Dust

    The title track to this EP, “Turn To Dust,” kicks up a washy hi-hat drum intro, instantaneously energising the band. The pages turn, like a storyline from their lyrics to musical motifs. The textured drum beat tightens up for the band’s versus and solo, but remains the driving constant. Son Of A Gun, leaves us trailing behind, right on their coattails. They throw you into a groove immediately, fronting as that under-assuming opener you never saw coming.

    Their concise burst of talent, in the forum of yearly releases keeps us intrigued. Their familiar tones reminisce of The Black Keys “Tighten Up” on tracks like “Watch and Wait,” yet keep you dancing with the song’s moving bass-lines. The solos scream, each and every time.

    Turn To Dust will feature their hip lick “Find the Seam,” as featured live at Albany’s Low Beat in Dec. 2019. These guys have claimed their spot in New York’s Rock arena. They are fuelled to roll through energising live performances as their fanbase multiplies, and venues re-open. As the band burst at the seams, hang on for the ride.

    “Find the Seam,” live at Albany’s Low Beat in Dec. 2019.

    Son Of A Gun formed late 2018 “bringing a jam sensibility to straight-ahead Rock & Roll.” Their 2020 self-titled debut aids to classic rock fans with a stout major chord mentality. Gritty guitars and loose-mix drums keep a humble garage-rock edge and live feel. The trio has a hearty sound that could fit the bill on any headline stage. Their tracks soar like a hand in the wind as you cruise down the HRE – a floating momentum that kicks off with momentum solos on “Down The Highway.”

    “…the band’s musicality and their compositions were tight and developed. They were songs that you could certainly rock out to. What was interesting was that their sound didn’t specifically fit into any musical genre. Sometimes it would sound more like Pearl Jam (heard through the vocals of “Winds of Change”), or you could hear the country-rock vibe of “Hope & Heartache.” Listening to both “Down the Highway” and “Call of Days Past,” you can tell that it centered around blues-rock, even including little hints of “Call Me the Breeze” in the guitar & bass riffs and hearing the vocals one could listen from Sly Fox and The Hustlers.”

    – Amy Modesti on Radioradiox

    Check out Son Of A Gun on their Website and Facebook.

  • Sylvain Sylvain of New York Dolls Dies at 69 from Cancer

    New York Dolls’ rhythm guitarists, Sylvain Sylvain died Wednesday after a two and a half year battle with cancer. On January 14, an official statement was released on his Facebook page.

    As we mourn his loss, the statement quickly leans to celebrate his vast accomplishments. “While we grieve his loss, we know that he is finally at peace and out of pain. Please crank up his music, light a candle, say a prayer and let’s send this beautiful doll on his way.”

    Sylvain Sylvain

    Egypt born Sylvain Mizrahi, was born on Valentine’s Day, 1951. He fled to New York with his family, living Buffalo and Queens. Syl went to high school in Queens, along with lead guitarist Johnny Thunders and drummer Billy Murcia.

    Sylvain Sylvain was so punk, he, along with the Dolls, paved the way before punk-rock was punk-rock. New York Dolls founded in 1971, 50 years ago. Syl and the Dolls heavily influenced the underground movement. They were labeled as “one of the most influential rock bands of the last 20 years,” by British writer Colin Larkin (Encyclopedia of Popular Music). The Dolls went on to influence punk and rock icons that are common place in our music library, including the Sex Pistols, the Ramones and Kiss.

    Patti Smith Group’s guitarist, Lenny Kaye, tipped his hat to Syl in the social media statement. “They [original Dolls] became a quasar in the rock firmament; embodying trash, glam, garage-to-punk, the ambisexual affirmation of music played louder.”

    Sylvain’s role in the band was as lynchpin, keeping the revolving satellites of his bandmates in precision. Though he tried valiantly to keep the band going, in the end the Dolls’ moral fable overwhelmed them, not before seeding an influence that would engender many rock generations yet to come.

    Lenny Kaye – American Guitarist, Composer

    Despite this feat the band lacked commercial success. One thing that remains true, Sylvain Sylvain was apart of New York history. He embodied punk, fashion and influenced New York style.

    The New York Dolls heralded the future, made it easy to dance to. From the time I first saw their poster appear on the wall of Village Oldies in 1972… the New York Dolls were the heated core of this music we hail, the band that makes you want to form a band. Syl never stopped. In his solo lifeline, he was welcomed all over the world, from England to Japan, but most of all the rock dens of New York City…

    Still Syl. His corkscrew curls, tireless bounce, exulting in living his dream, asking the crowd to sing along, and so we will. His twin names, mirrored, becomes us. Thank you Sylvain x 2, for your heart, belief, and the way you whacked that E chord. Sleep Baby Doll.

    https://youtu.be/wun5Cg-xr-s

  • Julianne Mason sways organically with ‘Songs for the Bull’ to be Released Friday

    Julianne Mason is a Queens singer/songwriter on the brink of her forth album to be released Friday, January 15 on all streaming platforms. Songs for the Bull is and eight-track spearhead effort by Mason who acted as the albums sole writer, vocalist, and pianist, while also co-producing the release. The organic tenure of her keys passes you by like a spring breeze. It’s a heartfelt effort to harden.

    Songs for the Bull album art by Zoe Wickham.

    The pandemic only highlights a constant struggle for artist alike. Mason was nostalgic, with a mind full of a wanderlust that was not satisfied. As a result, Julianne found herself depressed, isolated and unemployed during quarantine. Musicians speak outwardly to avoid getting lost in these feelings. Simply put, she wrote songs to stay sane. Isn’t that what we all do. Firstly, Songs for the Bull acts as the antiseptic, washing our wounds.

    Songs for the Bull is a collection of songs about the regret and loneliness that result from living a series of relationships in your mind instead of having the courage to experience intimacy in real life.

    Julianne Mason took retreat in a safe haven to begin recording piano for this album, back home in Iowa. As things came together, she returned to NYC and over and intense couple of rehearsals and a ten hour recording session, Songs for the Bull bloomed. A throw back to 8-track exposes a warmth from the band, and home-like somber, recorded in her living room.

    Stream the full album HERE Friday, January 15

    The title track “Paradise Weather” rises in like a winter sun. An underlying hum makes way for a swaying-triplet percussion as the 8-track reels. Julianne piano is soft and syncopated. Constant dissonance in her voice and piano pair with he song’s dis-harmonious lyrics: “So you take me forward, much to my displeasure. So you take me forward, to paradise weather.”

    The album sways in its gloom and hopefulness. It is not a jaunting hunt for rebellion against sorrow, but rather a tip of your hat towards it. The album cast glimmer of light on a rather somber reality and forced isolation. With this intense recording session and 8-track ode, it will be even more wholesome to walk alongside this album from start to finish.

    Followup track, “I Wait For You,” is a melodic tip-toe with the utmost sentiment. Drummer Shannon Minor take to the brushes, while Colin Leads delicately companies alongside each key stroke. Sutble creeks of Mason’s piano bench creep in. The sounds are intoxicating and contrast the once busy streets of the City.

    Like a garden every time. This organism that invades my mind. Reminds my worry reminds my stubbornness. That the quiet night can caress.

    Taxi, building, rain and breeze. City sidewalk, city symphony Ocean of people, waves of activity. Speak right now consciously And I’m lucky, lucky yet To hear these sounds of gentleness. Lucky that I still have this sensitivity Sensitivity to infinity.

    The record was produced by Julianne Mason, Brendan Picone,
    and Daniel Crane. Songs for the Bull was mixed by Brendan Picone, mastered by Phil Petrie.

    Yesterday Julianne Mason performed a live pre-release highlighting Songs for the Bull‘s debut.