NYS Music 202​1

Author: Hannah Fuchs

  • Harmonic Dirt Brings Strong Americana Sound on “Rhode Island Street”

    Central New York-based band Harmonic Dirt is back with their newest album, Rhode Island Street, released earlier this year.

    Harmonic Dirt

    Husband and wife team Mike Gridley and Susan Coleman first established Harmonic Dirt back in 2016. Both songwriters, Gridley created instrumental tracks while Coleman took to writing lyrics. Their debut album, Anthracite, was released in 2018. Live at the Ridge was released in 2020 and won the Syracuse Area Music Award (SAMMY) for best Americana Recording.

    Since Anthracite, Gridley (lead vocals, guitar, mandolin) and Coleman (bass) have joined forces with a fuller band, composed of close friend Taylor Bucci on banjo and vocal harmonies and James DaRin on percussion. Rhode Island Street contains 9 original tracks and marks Harmonic Dirt’s first release as an official quartet. 

    Photo from Harmonic Dirt’s website

    The album was recorded at Greywood Studio in Jamesville, NY and features some special musical guests (Bob Gaus, Joe Plessas, Tami Schutt, Scott Ebner and Ericka Longo). The bluesy, Americana sound that Harmonic Dirt has come to play so well stands strong on Rhode Island Street, but there is even more cohesion and jam-band-like qualities present in the instrumentation.

    Each track, while unique, showcases the steely guitar, banjo chirps and powerful vocal harmonies that have become signature for the band. The title track, “Rhode Island Street”, tells the imagery-laden story of a house burning down on–you guessed it–Rhode Island Street. This visual is even pictured on the album artwork, giving listeners a clear face to the lyrics as they enjoy this track’s laid-back instrumentation.

    It is undeniable that these tracks will be incredibly fun to hear as Harmonic Dirt continues to play live shows and tour the album. Though some tracks are softer and more emotional (“Rhode Island Street”, “Grief Is A Canyon”, “Ashes”), others bring a danceable energy (“Comfort Me”, “Catch Me”, “What Did You Take?”). There is something for everyone and for every mood on Rhode Island Street, especially for fans of 60s and 70s Americana with a bluesy punch.

    You can learn more about Harmonic Dirt on their website and connect with the band on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Rhode Island Street is available for purchase and streaming now and you can listen below!

  • Joe Bonamassa Announces Fall 2021 Tour

    Acclaimed Utica-based guitarist and songwriter Joe Bonamassa has announced an extensive 33 tour dates for fall 2021. Bonamassa’s latest project, a live album entitled Now Serving: Royal Tea Live From The Ryman, comes out Friday, June 11.

    Joe Bonamassa Fall 2021
    Photo by Robert Sutton

    Bonamassa will stop in New York twice on his fall tour. He is set to play the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester on November 22 and the Rochester Auditorium Theatre in Rochester on November 24. The full list of tour dates is listed below.

    Bonamassa is one of the biggest modern names in blues-rock and was even named “the world’s biggest blues guitarist” by Guitar World Magazine. He, like other live musicians, is marking his return to the stage in over a year. The fall tour kicks off October 8 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, where Bonamassa recorded his latest live album.

    Throughout the pandemic and during the pause of live music, Bonamassa focused on raising money for his non-profit Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation through the Fueling Musicians Program. The nonprofit centers on providing financial assistance to touring musicians who had their income streams cut off in this tumultuous time.

    Now Serving: Royal Tea Live From The Ryman comes out Friday and tickets for the fall tour will be available on the same day. Links for purchase can be found here.

    TOUR DATES

    October 8-9: Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium

    October 11: Little Rock, AR – Robinson Performance Hall

    October 13: Shreveport, LA – Shreveport Municipal Auditorium

    October 15: San Antonio, TX – Majestic Theatre

    October 16: Sugar Land, TX – Smart Financial Centre

    October 17: Grand Prairie, TX – Texas Trust CU Theatre

    October 19: Fayetteville, AR – Walton Arts Center

    October 21: Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Theater

    October 22: Memphis, TN – Cannon Center for the Performing Arts

    October 23: Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace

    October 25: Evansville, IN – Old National Events Center

    October 27: Fort Wayne, IN – Embassy Theatre

    October 29: Indianapolis, IN – Murat Theatre at Old National Centre

    October 30: St. Louis, MO – Stifel Theatre

    October 31: Cincinatti, OH – Taft Theatre

    November 19: Springfield, MA – Symphony Hall

    November 20: Providence, RI – Providence Performing Arts Center

    November 22: Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre

    November 24: Rochester, NY – Rochester Auditorium Theatre

    November 26: Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre

    November 27: Youngstown, OH – Covelli Centre

    November 28: Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre

    November 30: Easton, PA – State Theatre

    December 1: Reading, PA – Santander Performing Arts Center

    December 3: Roanoke, VA – Berglund Performing Arts Theatre

    December 4: Baltimore, MD – The Lyric

    December 5: Richmond, VA – Dominion Energy Center

    December 7: Savannah, GA – Johnny Mercer Theater

    December 8: Sarasota, FL – Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

    December 10: St. Augustine, FL – The St. Augustine Ampitheatre

    December 11: Estero, FL – Hertz Arena

    December 12: Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live

  • Foo Fighters To Kick Off The Return Of Live Music At MSG

    Live music will return at Madison Square Garden as Foo Fighters will play New York City’s first full capacity concert since March 2020 on June 20 at MSG and they are certainly ready to rock.

    Foo Fighters MSG
    Photo by Andreas Neumann

    The Garden will be at 100% capacity and will require all audience members to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination for admission.

    The Garden is ready to rock. We’ve been waiting for this moment for 15 months and are excited to finally welcome a packed house of roaring, fully-vaccinated Foo Fighters fans to Madison Square Garden.

    James Dolan, Executive Chairman and CEO of MSG Entertainment. 

    Foo Fighters–Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear and Rami Jaffee–are not new to headlining the Garden. They sold out the venue back in 2008 on their Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace tour, again in 2011 on their Wasting Light tour and most recently in 2018 for a two-night stint on their Concrete and Gold tour.

    We’ve been waiting for this day for over a year, and Madison Square Garden is going to feel that HARD. New York, get ready for a long ass night of screaming our heads off together to 26 years of Foos.

    Dave Grohl, frontman.

    The New York show will not only kick off performances at the Garden but will also kick off Foo Fighter’s new tour following the release of Medicine at Midnight earlier this year. All tour dates and links for ticket purchase are listed on their website.

    Tickets to the Foo Fighters at MSG on June 20 will go on sale to the general public on June 11 at 10 AM through Ticketmaster. Prices will range from $50 to $119.

  • Devo To Play Radio City Music Hall this Fall

    Pioneering new wave band Devo will mark their return to the stage on September 21 and headline Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan.

    Devo

    The Ohio-based band, founded by brothers Mark and Robert Mothersbaugh and Gerald and the late Robert Casale, catapulted to global stardom back in the 80s with their electronic rock sound, quirky live performances and iconic music videos, including MTV hit “Whip It”.

    Devo’s central concept of “devolution,” the premise that the human race has finished evolving and is now regressing into a less civilized state — was first developed by Casale and Lewis in the late 60s, while both were students at Kent State University. This concept expanded after the pair met the Mothersbaugh brothers, and took on a new level of seriousness in the wake of the Kent State shooting of four unarmed student protesters on May 4, 1970. This event would serve as a key moment in the band’s formation.

    Devo’s Radio City show will be the band’s first performance in many years and one of only two headlining North American concerts. The other show will take place at the Performance Venue at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles on September 25.

    We look forward to performing live again. It’s been quite a while since we’ve performed live and we’re excited to be able to bring our music to our fans in New York and Los Angeles this fall.

    Devo

    Tickets for the New York and Los Angeles shows go on sale June 11 on Ticketmaster.

  • Eagles Add New East Coast Dates To 2021 Tour

    The Eagles have added six new concert dates to their upcoming 2021 tour, produced by Live Nation. The tour will now kick off in New York on August 22 at Madison Square Garden. After two shows at the Garden, Eagles will travel to Boston’s TD Garden and Washington D.C.’s Capital One Arena.

    These new dates are especially exciting because the Eagles will be performing the entirety of their iconic Hotel California album–the third best selling U.S. album in history. Founding members Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmidt will be joined on tour by Deacon Frey (son of the late Glenn Frey) and Vince Gill.

    Eagles

    The album playthrough will feature accompaniment by an orchestra and choir. The rest of the show will finish out with a full set of greatest hits, a must-see considering the band’s album, Their Greatest Hits: (1971-1975), narrowly beats out Hotel California and stands as the number one best selling U.S. album in history.

    Eagles
    Photo by George Holz

    Tickets for the tour go on sale to the general public on Friday, June 18 at 10 AM local time. American Express cardholders have early access to tickets from June 14 at 10 AM to June 17 at 10 PM. All new dates are listed below and the full list of dates can be found here.

    Sunday, August 22: New York, NY, Madison Square Garden

    Tuesday, August 24: New York, NY, Madison Square Garden

    Friday, August 27: Boston, MA, TD Garden

    Saturday, August 28: Boston, MA, TD Garden

    Tuesday, August 31: Washington, D.C., Capital One Arena

    Wednesday, September 1: Washington, D.C., Capital One Arena

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY9uKUlo5G8

  • Kate McDonnell Returns With 5th Studio Album “Ballad of a Bad Girl”

    After a 15 year hiatus following her acclaimed album Where the Mangoes Are, Albany-area folk singer Kate McDonnell is back with her fifth studio album, Ballad of a Bad Girl.

    For this latest project, McDonnell collaborated with drummer Jerry Marotta, bassist Tony Levin and co-writer Anne Lindley. Recorded at Dreamland Studios in Hurley, NY last summer, Ballad of a Bad Girl features 11 tracks. McDonnell’s poignant songwriting is showcased, as well as her raw, acoustic instrumentals. It is easy to be reminded of classic Joni Mitchell or Joan Baez tracks when listening.

    The opening title track “Ballad of a Bad Girl” begins with plucky, yet rich guitar. Through the context of a sisterly relationship, McDonnell sings about femininity and being misunderstood : Folks call us those bad, bad girls/We’re just misunderstood. Complex family dynamics are a major theme of the record. On the track “Father and Son”, McDonnell addresses masculinity and rage: Father and son, father and son/Two angry hearts beating as one.

    McDonnell also explores topics of travel, imagination and romance. She sings about faraway places in “Berlin” and “Malibu” and tells dreamlike stories of meeting and losing loved ones and the harsh realities of broken promises.

    McDonnell in the studio.

    Along with 9 original tracks, Ballad of a Bad Girl features 2 covers: “Dimming of the Day” by Richard Thompson and “Long As I Can See The Light” by John Fogerty. McDonnell’s vocal and instrumental interpretations of these 70s tracks are unique and pleasant. Her voice conveys strong emotion and her fingerstyle guitar playing feels artful and personal.

    Ballad of a Bad Girl is set for official release on July 1. In the meantime, tracks are currently available for listening on YouTube. You can find more about Kate McDonnell on her website.

    Key Tracks: Ballad of a Bad Girl, Malibu, Sweet Virginia

  • Speak, Memory Releases “Adirondack” EP

    Oklahoma City based band Speak, Memory released their latest EP, Adirondack, on May 21. Adirondack features 3 original tracks evocative of the Upstate NY mountains, fittingly titled “Trails,” “Lakes” and “Cabin.” 

    Speak, Memory is a three-piece act comprised of Timothy Miller on guitar and vocals, Cody Fowler on bass and Jonathan Thomas on drums. Adirondack was recorded back in December 2019 at Breathing Rhythm Studio in Norman, OK. Throughout the recording process, the band collaborated with iconic OKC musician, producer and sound engineer Bartees Strange. Strange mixed the EP, creating a rich and percussive sound profile.

    Speak, Memory

    While Adirondack is almost entirely instrumental, aside from some brief vocals by Miller on “Lakes,” there is a deeply emotional feel to each track. The instrumentation, especially on “Trails,” feels wistful and breezy yet contains strong punches of drums and a catchy guitar riff. The band has previously talked about how the complex idea of unrequited love often inspires their work. This sensation of romance entangled with tinges of sadness or chaos feels strongly present on their new EP.

    We try to invoke a feeling of hope into our music, which is something I personally feel the world needs more of right now. Adirondack specifically focuses on varying elements of nature, and how the volatility of it all often reflects our current economic and political climate.

    Timothy Miller

    Speak, Memory’s conceptual choices of both unrequited love and an exploration of nature and volatility are also made clear in their music video for “Trails.” The video, which premiered on April 2, shows scenes of crashing waves and neon-lit bedrooms as the two protagonists seem to figure out their emotions. The band themselves are even shown playing music in the woods.

    The quirky calmness and the math rock influences of Adirondack make for an incredibly enjoyable and laid-back listening experience. The EP is currently available to stream and purchase. You can find more about Speak, Memory on their website and stay updated on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Check out the official video for “Trails” below.

  • Arts for Art Announces Free Outdoor Concert Series

    New York City based arts organization Arts for Art is celebrating the return of live music by presenting free outdoor concerts on June 12 and 13. The concerts will take place from 3-5 PM at the First Street Green Cultural Park located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

    Arts for Art
    Photo from the First Street Green Park website

    The event will be in compliance with CDC and New York City Covid-19 guidelines. Notable performers include William Parker, Sam Newsome, Darius Jones, Steve Swell and many more. You can see the full schedule for the weekend below.

    Arts for Art
    William Parker, photo by Jimmy Katz

    Arts for Art was founded in 1996 and its “work is rooted in a commitment to social justice as equity and the promotion and advancement of FreeJazz, an African American indigenous art form in which improvisation is principle.” This upcoming outdoor concert series is supported by the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and City Council Member Carlina Rivera. You can learn more about Arts for Art on their website.

    SCHEDULE:

    Saturday, June 12

    3:00 Sam Newsome Trio: Sam Newsome – soprano sax / Hilliard Greene – bass / Reggie Nicholson – drums

    3:40 Darius Jones/ Francisco Mela: Darius Jones – alto saxophone / Francisco Mela – drums

    4:20 Behroozi / Parker / Thompson: Daro Behroozi – tenor saxophone / William Parker – bass / Michael T.A. Thompson – drums

    Sunday, June 13

    3:00 Trombone Insurgency: Steve Swell – trombone / Joe McPhee – trombone / William Parker – bass / Gerald Cleaver – drums

    3:40 Marcelo & Carter x 2: Alexis Marcelo – keyboard / Rashaan Carter – bass / Russell Carter – drums

    4:20 Knuffke / Parker / Wollesen: Kirk Knuffke – cornet / William Parker – bass / Kenny Wollesen – drums