NYS Music 202​1

Author: Hannah Fuchs

  • “Alive At Five” Returns to Live Audiences at Jennings Landing

    The City of Albany has announced that their original plans for the filming of Virtual Alive at Five performances in front of limited audiences have been amended.  With New York State essentially reopened following the fulfillment of Governor Cuomo’s vaccination goal, all of the remaining Alive at Five tapings will now be fully open to the public at Jennings Landing, at full capacity.

    alive at five
    Design by Anderw Sober

    Alive at Five will be held on the Albany Riverfront at Jennings Landing. The concert series is presented by many sponsors, including Key Bank, “a strong supporter of both the City of Albany and the greater Capital Region.” Tapings will run from 5-8PM on the dates listed on the poster above.

    alive at five
    Marco Benevento performs at Alive at Five, August 1, 2019

    Albany is dedicating Alive at Five to the front line workers in the Capital Region who experienced the stress and hardships of managing the COVID-19 pandemic firsthand. The city hopes to celebrate and honor these workers through this exciting shared experience of live music and art.

    All of us at the Albany Parking Authority are excited to hear about the return of the Alive at Five concert series to Albany’s Jennings Landing. The energy and vibrance [that] events like Alive at Five bring to our city cannot be understated. We are looking forward to being part of and supporting the return of even more events in the near future.

    Matt Peter, Executive Director of the Albany Parking Authority
    alive at five
    Jennings Landing, photo from Albany.org

    Alive at Five is still seeking vendors for the tapings. Those interested can contact vendor@albanyny.gov. Recorded performances will air the following Thursdays on YouTube and Facebook.

    The City of Albany has also partnered with local bars and restaurants for a program called Restart Albany.  This will take place starting on July 8th and will allow music fans to watch the performance from the previous week and catch some live music at participating venues.

    Parking for Jennings Landing is available at Riverfront Parking Garage. For more information visit ParkAlbany.com

    Schedule:

    June 30th -Reggae Night (Airs July 8th)
    The Meditations and Mixed Roots

    July 7th – WEQX Night (Airs July 15th)
    Soule Monde and Victory Soul Orchestra

    July 14th – Folk/Pop Night (Airs July 22nd)
    Amy Helm and The Sea The Sea

    July 21st – Funk Night (Airs July 29th)
    Yam Yam and Hartley’s Encore 

    July 28th- Classic Rock Night
    Warrant and Joe Mansman and The Midnight Revival Band
    (Warrant Performance will not be aired virtually.
    Joe Mansman only will air on August 5th)

  • Pip Reimagines Sinatra with Gen Z Flare

    Westchester bred singer songwriter Thomas Pipolo (Pip) has collaborated with Dr. Dre’s production partner Sam Sneed on his newest single, “Sinatra Swag”.

    Sinatra Swag

    With this release, Pip and Sneed set out to reimagine the sound of Frank Sinatra for a Gen Z audience. The summery single features trap beats while also showcasing old school influences.

    “Sinatra Swag” was inspired by the desire to feel and explore a little bit of that old school magic, persona and sound that I feel has been missing in our culture. This song infuses an old classic sound with a modern pop feel — plus it was pretty easy to write about Frank Sinatra as an Italian American musician who is from the shadows of New York City like myself.

    Pip

    Before he officially became Pip, 25 year old Pipolo played Division I baseball in college. He left the sport following injuries and mental health struggles and began playing guitar and piano at age 18 to relax and unwind.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbM9_yGnMoo

    “Sinatra Swag” is not Pip’s first single. Along with his other tracks “2:22”, “Human Interaction” and “Dancin’ in the Rain”, Pip often shares his music on TikTok. Along with playing samples or acoustic versions of his own songs to his nearly 80,000 followers, Pip posts TikToks covering some of his favorite artists. He recently covered “Peaches” by Justin Bieber (someone he cites as a musical influence), “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys and “Daughters” by John Mayer.

    Pip, photo accessed through @pipmusic_ Instagram

    In creating his original music, including “Sinatra Swag”, Pip wants to blend diverse genre influences with authentic lyrics. Adorned in his signature baseball cap and sometimes simply strumming his acoustic guitar, Pip aims to create a timeless sound enjoyable for all generations.

    “Sinatra Swag” is available to stream now. Connect with Pip on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube!

    While sipping on Loverboy in The Hamptons, Pip instantly thought the name would be a great title for a summer song.

    Being a songwriter, I am always looking for unique titles and ideas to write about. The song captures the vibe of what it’s like to be outside by the pool, sipping on something cool and celebrating life with your friends in The Hamptons.

    Pip

    Pip perfectly captures the essence of The Hamptons magic with his flirty lyrics, smooth beats, Gatsby references and can-pop sounds. “This song will make you want to pop open a cool drink on a hot day and celebrate summer.” ‘Loverboy’ is penned by Pip and the GOOOD MOOOD collective, including 2AM, Gramz, Jake Eckhaus, Ali Soomro & EMME.

  • Lark Hall Announces Management Team, Job Fair

    Historic Lark Hall venue in Albany has big things coming.

    Lark Hall owners Jennifer and Justin Miller have just announced a new management services agreement with Building Blocks Management, LLC, owned by Albany natives Danny and Stephen Taylor.

    Owners Jennifer and Justin Miller

    The Taylor brothers have strong experience in music venue operations. Danny currently serves as General Manager at the Palace Theatre in Albany, while Stephen is General Manager at Hi-Line Merchandising, based in Shoemakersville, PA.

    The Taylors are eager to collaborate with the Millers in ramping up Lark Hall’s operations, seeing as COVID-19 restrictions are now lifted in New York State. These steps will include bolstering front of house operations, hiring new staff and security personnel and improving room management and bar operations.

    This management partnership is exciting news for Albany-area music lovers as Lark Hall hopes to book even bigger talent and, of course, ensure that fans have an enjoyable and memorable live music experience.

    Lark hall job fair
    The Millers with Danny and Stephen Taylor

    We are excited to announce this partnership with Building Blocks Management, which will allow us to quickly achieve our mission to host and manage top level artists and events at Lark Hall and deliver a unique fan and guest experience like no other in the region.  Danny and Stephen have quietly become two of the most talented and respected leaders in the venue and live music event management industry – both locally and across the country. 

    From the day we met, we knew the Taylor brothers were a perfect fit for our management and planning needs and they instantly recognized our goals and the potential for Lark Hall to be a premier venue not only for Albany, but the entire Capital District and beyond.  We welcome them to the Lark Hall family and look forward to exciting times ahead.

    Jennifer and Justin Miller

    In addition to this big news, Lark Hall will also be hosting a job fair for prospective employees. Those interested in working with the Lark Hall team can attend the fair on July 17 from 10AM-2PM in the main event space at 351 Hudson Avenue in Albany (corner of Lark Street and Hudson Avenue).  

    NYS Music profiled Lark Hall back in March, outlining over 100 years of history. The venue has “a long history of being operated and owned by women” and has held suffrage conventions, wartime aid operations, school dances, fitness events and so much more.

    A post-pandemic Lark Hall is sure to bring great entertainment and promising new ventures. You can keep up with Lark Hall and explore upcoming events including job fair details on their website.

  • Michael Weintrob Announces New Book, Concert Series

    Renowned music photographer Michael Weintrob has announced his newest book, Instrumenthead: Revealed along with a free livestreamed concert series.

    Weintrob’s 2017 photo book, Instrumenthead, showcases portraits of famous musicians with their signature instruments covering their faces. It won the Independent Book Publisher’s Award for Most Outstanding Design.

    Instrumenthead: Revealed will feature “unmasked” portraits of the same 369 musicians, taken at the same photography session. Portraits include Bootsy Collins, Susan Tedeschi, Mickey Hart, Johnny Winter, Charlie Musselwhite and many more.

    Michael Weintrob, photo accessed through his website.

    I want to do my part to inspire people to learn about new music and the artists who create it. I love to connect and break down walls with my photography.  Everyone has the ability to be a kid again. This book is really special, because we’re unmasking the original photos. The book reflects the new energy this year.

    Michael Weintrob

    Instrumenthead: Revealed is available for preorder until July 22 through a crowdfunding campaign. $3 of every book will benefit the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic.  Founded by a coalition of music advocates in 1998, the New Orleans’ Musicians’ Clinic is the first medical clinic for musicians, performing artists and cultural workers in the US. 

    In addition to his new book release, Weintrob is also presenting a concert series featuring several of the “revealed” artists. The concerts will be livestreamed and free to enjoy.

    Instrumenthead: Live Revealed Concert Series 

    Streamed on Instrumentheadlive.com & Volume.com

    * means concert will be streamed on Nugs.net 

    8:00pm EST, Free  

    6/22 Steve Poltz *
    6/23 Kyle Tuttle Band featuring Lindsay Lou *
    6/24 Korby Lenker
    6/27 Ashley Campbell *
    6/29 Sally And George
    6/30 Richie Owen and the Farm Bureau 
    7/1 Boo Ray
    7/4 Muriel Anderson
    7/6 Moon Taxi Duo *
    7/7 Jeff Coffin, Victor Wooten, Future Man, Bob Lanzetti * 
    7/8 Vince Herman and Friends (Steve Poltz, Kyle Tuttle, Anthony DeCosta)  *
    7/11 Taylor Brashiers and Then the Killer Dee’s 
    7/13 Tim Easton
    7/14  Cody Brooks and Bee Taylor / Emory joseph 
    7/15  Lady Couch Acoustic
    7/18  Michael Webb Trio
    7/20 Ghost Note * 
    7/21 – Peter Levin and Friends (Marcus King, Lamar Williams, Jr, Chad Gamble, Jimbo Hart) * 

    You can learn more about Weintrob on his website and follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

  • Happy Birthday, Lana Del Rey!

    Today, June 21, marks the 37th birthday of Grammy-nominated singer Lana Del Rey.

    While she may often sing about the beaches of California and of stories inspired by Old Hollywood, Del Rey has many connections to the Empire State.

    lana del rey birthday
    Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images

    Born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant in Manhattan in 1985, Del Rey moved to Lake Placid at an early age where she remained until high school. After her graduation from boarding school in Connecticut, a young Lizzy Grant lived on Long Island for a year where she waitressed and began writing music after her uncle taught her basic guitar chords.

    Before the official birth of Lana Del Rey, Grant enrolled at Fordham University in the Bronx, graduating in 2008. During her college years, Grant recorded several EPs under the various aliases of May Jailer, Sparkle Jump Rope Queen and Lizzy Grant and the Phenomena and played small club shows around Brooklyn.

    In advance of her first full album, Grant settled on the stage name of Lana Del Rey. “Lana” came from film starlet Lana Turner while “Del Rey” drew inspiration from a vintage Ford sedan and her general fondness of the Spanish language (translating to “of the king”).

    “Lana Del Rey reminded us of the glamour of the seaside. It sounded gorgeous coming off the tip of the tongue.”

    Lana Del Rey

    Born To Die was released in 2012 and shot Del Rey to national stardom. She subsequently released the Paradise EP which featured even more Americana-driven tracks and songwriting discussing glamour, drugs, life on the road, fame and relationships. Her voice can travel from breathy falsetto to deep and rich, all in one verse.

    Next came Ultraviolence (2014), a darker, edgier and more rock-driven featuring psychedelic flares and collaboration with Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. Del Rey’s fourth studio album, Honeymoon (2015), reverted back to the orchestral, baroque pop sound of Born To Die and Paradise with a more polished finesse.

    Del Rey’s most recent projects, Lust For Life (2017), Norman Fucking Rockwell! (2019) and Chemtrails Over The Country Club (2021), cement her status as one of the strongest modern songwriters. Now a resident of California, the ’60s and ’70s Laurel Canyon folk-rock influences are obvious in Del Rey’s music, which often feels incredibly nostalgic.

    lana del rey birthday
    Lust For Life featured collaborations with The Weeknd (above), A$AP Rocky and more. Photo accessed from factmag.com

    Norman Fucking Rockwell! arguably stands out as Del Rey’s magnum opus. The album received multiple Grammy nominations, including one for Album of the Year, and featured her most seamless collaboration yet with acclaimed pop producer Jack Antonoff.

    Del Rey plans to release her newest album, Blue Banisters, on July 4. While she may now be on the “West Coast,” we will never forget her New York roots. Happy birthday, Lana Del Rey!

  • Chaka Khan To Headline BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Gala on June 18

    The Queen of Funk herself, Chaka Khan, will be headlining the 15-Year Anniversary Fundraising Gala for BLACK GIRLS ROCK! on Friday, June 18 in New York City.

    black girls rock

    BLACK GIRLS ROCK! is both a movement and a nonprofit organization centered around empowering women of color through positive media representation as well as leadership and career development.

    The annual BLACK GIRLS ROCK® Awards is the biggest celebration of the nexus of achievements of exemplary women of color who break boundaries, blaze trails, and set trends across sectors.

    This year’s exciting anniversary gala can be accessed virtually and is presented by Microsoft. The event will be streamed for the first time on the all new BGR!TV network and will also be available on BGR’s YouTube channel.

    The gala will be co-hosted by Tatyana Ali and MC Lyte. Along with Khan, there are planned musical performances by Alice Smith and Maimouna Youssef aka MuMu Fresh, DC’s all-woman go-go band Bela Dona, gospel sensation Tasha Cobbs Leonard, celebrity DJ Aktive and more. There will also be star-studded appearances by Tracee Ellis Ross, Common, Estelle, India Arie, Yara Shahidi, Ledisi, Wood Harris,  Misty Copeland, Jay Ellis, Rapsody, and even a virtual appearance by Michelle Obama.

    This special edition of the gala and concert “will highlight Black women in music while benefiting the advocacy and expansion of the organization.” The stream will start at 7PM. Tickets to the virtual gala can be purchased through the BGR website.

  • Space Bacon Releases Debut Album ‘CONE’

    Brooklyn-based four-piece band Space Bacon released their debut album, CONE, on June 11. CONE features 16 original instrumental tracks and blends rock and jam-band influences with an electronic flare.

    Space Bacon

    Space Bacon is made up of Sam Crespo on drums, Chris Gironda on keyboards, Kevin LeGall on bass and Jack Willard on guitar. The band previously came out with their Nodes EP in 2016. CONE‘s recording process was split between Sabella Recording Studio in Roslyn Heights, NY and also with the help of Alfred Rylands in Wilmington, VT.

    CONE features fan favorites such as “Ice Planet”, “Cloud Coast”, and “Heatseeker” as well as deeper cuts from their catalogue, reworked songs from their early years, and never before heard interludes.

    Space Bacon Press Team

    On CONE, tracks like “Cone” and “Throwing Shade” open with undeniable rock-n-roll guitar riffs. The riff on “Throwing Shade” even emulates a pop punk sound similar to 2000s-era hits like “The Middle” by Jimmy Eats World.

    Space Bacon

    The band’s electronica-inspired grooves stand out on tracks like “Satellite,” “Lodge” and “Triangulation” with airy synths and reverb-heavy background sounds. Though the electronic influences stand strong, there is simultaneously a fun and energetic jam-band energy woven throughout the album. Since CONE is entirely instrumental, Space Bacon’s strength as a band is able to shine and they certainly dive into a funky rhythm.

    Space Bacon recently celebrated the release of CONE with two sold out performances at the Safe and Soundz Music Festival in the Catskills. Be sure to look out for more shows and connect with Space Bacon on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and their website. CONE is available to stream on all platforms.

  • NIVA And Others Call on SBA To Release Grant Funds

    The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), along with several other leading arts organizations, has urged the Small Business Administration (SBA) and SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman to immediately fund all agencies and organizations eligible for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG). Furthermore, NIVA has called on the SBA to resolve any interagency issues or barriers to funding.

    According to a recent NIVA press release, “The $16.1 billion SVOG program, signed into law in December 2020, provides eligible movie theaters, live venue operators and promoters, talent representatives, and performing arts organizations with grants equal to 45% of their 2019 gross earned revenue, up to a maximum of $10 million.”

    Financial support from the government has been crucial to venue operators in the age of COVID-19 as live performances and showings halted to a stop. However, those in the industry have called out the SBA’s shortcomings and broken promises to struggling businesses.

    The SBA failed to meet the June 9 deadline to “grant funds to those businesses suffering 90% or more losses and to begin making grants to the second tier of businesses suffering 70% or more losses.” Out of over 14,000 possible grants to first and second priority businesses, the SBA has fulfilled only 90.

    SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman

    With the delay of SVOG funds, many businesses are failing to keep their doors open and book talent as live shows are finally starting to return. Fortunately, Congressional advocates and the White House itself have started to prioritize holding the SBA accountable for their promises and addressing bureaucratic delays.

    The nationwide recovery of the live arts and entertainment ecosystem depends on the successful delivery of this vital federal relief. As the performing arts venues and organizations that are the fabric of communities across America, we are proud of collective efforts to fight for our survival, and we are rallying to cross the finish line.

    Lisa Richards Toney, President and CEO, Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP)

    Regardless of the increasingly positive outlook, leaders and business owners remain displeased over how long it has taken to receive federal economic support.

    Over 95% of the revenue of artists, gig workers and talent agencies have been annihilated for 15 months and this is unsustainable…over 1 million jobs in the arts have been lost, countless businesses have shut down, and we are on the verge of more devastating losses. We can go no longer as we have exhausted the funds from our savings, PPP Loans, EIDL loans and whatever assistance we have. We need money now.

    Charlotte Lee, Founder of Performing Arts Managers and Agents Coalition (PAMAC)

    NIVA’s demands have been called on a unified front with the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP), the League of Historic American Theatres, the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), National Independent Talent Organization (NITO), Performing Arts Managers and Agents Coalition (PAMAC), and the Performing Arts Alliance.

    While the exact next steps are unclear, shuttered venues undeniably need this relief sooner rather than later.

  • Brooklyn Duo Corbu Release “Lost & Found” EP

    Brooklyn-based electronic dream-pop duo Corbu has released their Lost & Found EP. The EP reimagines the title track with five new remixes, along with the original version.

    corbu

    Corbu, comprised of Amanda Corbu and Jonathan Graves, focuses on bringing an ethereal, even other-worldly sound to their psychedelic and ambient pop tracks. They have previously toured with Bloc Party, performed with Goldfrapp and played both Austin City Limits and Electric Forest festivals. Last year, Corfu released their debut album Crayon Soul, featuring mixing by Tame Impala and MGMT collaborator Dave Friedman.

    [Corbu is] trying to lure their audience deeper into their own subconscious while giving them something to sing along to.

    Corbu

    On the original single version of “Lost & Found”, Corbu collaborated with Doves frontman Jimi Goodwin. Goodwin produced the track and added reggae and electronic flares, creating a laid-back yet energized soundscape.

    The EP features “Lost & Found” redone five times over and explores new genres and sounds. On the “Seaside Version”, the track goes vintage and utilizes upbeat 80s synth to create a sound that could easily fit into an episode of Stranger Things. On the “JKriv Remix”, Brooklyn DJ JKriv remixed the track to fit a more booming club sound evocative of traditional house music and drum loops. The EP as a whole is perfect for the summertime.

    Check out all six tracks below and keep up with Corbu on their website, Instagram and Youtube channel!

  • Deadmau5 Announces Summer Tour, Brooklyn Mirage shows

    Electronic music star Deadmau5 will be playing across the country this July on an exciting summer tour.

    Deadmau5, also known as Joel Zimmerman, has been an iconic figure in the electronic music and production song for over fifteen years. He has seven critically acclaimed albums as well as multiple Juno awards and Grammy nominations.

    Deadmau5 will be making 12 stops on this tour, including two nights at the Brooklyn Mirage on July 10 and 11. He will be showcasing his latest popular track releases at each show, including “Hypnocurrency” with REZZ, “Channel 43” with Wolfgang Gartner, “Bridged By A Lightwave” with Kiesza and “Pomegranate” with The Neptunes. He will, of course, also perform more fan favorites from his extensive catalogue.

    All tour dates are listed on the poster above. Tickets are currently on sale and can be accessed here.