Author: NYS Music Staff

Nada Surf to Close Tour with Live Stream from Music Hall of Williamsburg on November 20

Nada Surf on Friday, October 22nd released their new EP Cycle Through via Barsuk Records. The EP is a companion piece to their 2020 album Never Not Together, which is now available as a digital release after its initial vinyl run exclusively for Record Store Day. Cycle Through features three songs left off Never Not Together, as well as an orchestral/choir version of “Looking For You,” the extended short-film version of “Just Wait,” and Spanish, French and acoustic takes on “So Much Love.”

Nada Surf follows the release of Cycle Through with a run of headline North American tour dates throughout the month of November, with support from Pom Pom Squad, arriving at long last after their initial postponement in the spring of 2020.

Founded in 1992, Nada Surf — Matthew Caws, Daniel Lorca, Ira Elliot, and their longtime friend and collaborator, Louie Lino — has only grown more creative and resourceful as time has marched on, each consecutive release notable for the quality of its craft as well as Caws’ ongoing growth as both songwriter and human being.

The band’s latest LP, Never Not Together, was met with praise from all corners — The Current called it “one of the best albums of their career,” noting that it “shows off their prowess as experts of their craft while sharing their playful side. Never Not Together has all the hallmarks of the genre Nada Surf helped define but with a refined touch that comes from life experience and humility.”

Nada Surf 2021 Tour Dates

11/3 – World Cafe Live – Philadelphia, PA
11/4 – Mr Small’s – Millvale, PA
11/5 – Iron Horse – Northampton, MA
11/6 – Cafe Campus – Montreal, QC
11/7 – Horseshoe Tavern – Toronto, ON
11/8 – Magic Bag – Ferndale, MI
11/9 – Pyramid Scheme – Grand Rapids, MI
11/11 – Old Rock House – St Louis, MO
11/12 – Racoon Motel – Davenport, IA
11/13 – Cedar Cultural Ctr. – Minneapolis, MN
11/14 – Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL
11/15 – Grog Shop – Cleveland, OH
11/16 – Otto Bar – Baltimore, MD
11/17 – The Sinclair – Cambridge, MA
11/18 – Higher Ground – Burlington, VT
11/19 – White Eagle Hall – Jersey City, NJ
11/20 – Music Hall of Williamsburg – Brooklyn, NY (early show)

Join Nada Surf on Saturday, November 20 as they live-stream their tour-closing show at Brooklyn’s Music Hall Of Williamsburg via Twitch. The band will go live at 7:20pm ET after an opening set from Pom Pom Squad – access the live stream here.

October 25, 2021
The Late Shift announce, “The Last Shift,” a farewell concert celebrating the band’s 15th anniversary

Albany’s The Late Shift have announced “The Last Shift,” a farewell concert celebrating the band’s 15th anniversary, to be held at The Hollow Bar + Kitchen on Saturday, November 27.

The celebration will occur in place of the bands annual Thanksgiving Eve performance at the same venue. 2020 excluded, this year’s concert will mark the group’s seventh consecutive Thanksgiving show at The Hollow Bar + Kitchen. The Late Shift will be performing two sets of music, with the first set a celebration of the group’s 15-year catalog, a greatest hits set, including songs like “Sweetness,” “Drink and Stone” and “Through It All.” This will be followed by a power packed second set, loaded with everyone’s favorite LateShift style covers to usher patrons into the evening. Both sets are sure to be full of surprises and special guests.

In addition to celebrating 15 years of The LateShift, this event will also serve as the official launch of Wooden Duck Entertainment, a brand-new Capital Region based music and events company owned by members of The Late Shift.

Tickets are on-sale now. Presale tickets are available for $12.50 until November 1. After that General Admission tickets will be available for $15. A limited number of VIP Packages are currently available for $30. For updates and additional information RSVP on Facebook.

October 24, 2021
A Stormy Monday Blues Sermon with Eric Gales Band at Homer Center for the Arts

Eric Gales brought his incredible five-piece touring band to the Homer Center for the Arts on Monday, October 18, 2021. Gales starts his shows in a similar manner on the microphone by himself discussing the hardships he and all of us have taken on over our lifetime. Eric told the crowd, “If you haven’t cried the blues the past 18 months then god forgot to pass you out a soul.”

Photo by Out Loud Pictures, LaDonna Gales, Eric Gales, Nick Hayes

From this angle, Eric began his performance on the acoustic guitar talking about the same blues that his grandfather had. His grandfather used to play with Howling Wolf and Muddy Waters. Gales said he wanted to spread the spirit and the inspiration his grandfather instilled in him. During the fitting titled “Grandaddy Blues,” the rest of the band appeared behind him on stage following suit to the groove. On percussion and backing vocals was his wife, LaDonna Gales, Nick Hayes on drums, and on bass from Brooklyn, Nil Jones.

Photo by Out Loud Pictures, Eric Gales band

Eric made sure the microphones and sound were on point chuckling at the familiarity of its resonance in an old church. Gales is no stranger to Jimi Hendrix’s electric church. Eric was part of the cast touring with Jimi’s bassist Billy Cox, the jellyfish Buddy Miles on drums, and Stevie Rays’ Chris Layton for the “Experience Hendrix Tour.” Robert Ranndolph was there too,

He even educated the crowd that Jimi played a right handed guitar but strung it left handed. For clarification, Gales and bassist Nil Jones were playing completely upside down and backwards.
So naturally as a salute they played Gales original “Southpaw Serenade.”

In between songs, Gales inner tales were serenading the crowd to a wide range of stories. From his funk playing days in Minnesota that caught the eye and ear of the legendary Prince to his overall approach on life. Eric told the crowd “I believe laughter and music are the best forms of communication and medication.” Gales took one four-minute break the whole night, while Jones helped rattle the brick inside Homer for a bass solo.

Gales returned to the stage fired up saying, “I’m getting tuned up I feel a sermon coming on, it’s been far too long.” At the end of a two and half hour performance, Eric treated the crowd to a bouncy funked up version of “Voodoo Child” that led to a blended jam of Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” and AC/DC’s “Back in Black” to remind the audience it is still Rocktober. Tony Hall told NYS Music after seeing Gales footage, “Hes a bad mother fucker”

Jimi Hendrix once said “When I get up on stage -well, that’s my whole life. That’s my religion. My music is electric church music.” Robert Cray looked to the ceiling at the Homer Center for the Arts last month during his performance and said “Jimi Can you hear me?” Eric Gales and his band channeled the same energy on a stormy Monday to start the week at the electric church in Homer.

Ana Popovic crushed the European leg of Experience Hendrix and The Center this year. Samantha Fish killed at the center Wednesday November 3rd. Mississippi’s Christone “Kingfish” Ingram took the Delta Roads from Mississippi to Homer, New York the night before Samantha. They are all blues disciples.

NYS Music loved that Eric started the week in Homer to only link up with Gary Clark Jr On “When my Train Pulls in” down the road in Greensboro. Flotations groovy I said a jelly fish will tell ya that. NYS Music agrees with Santana on Gales…its all a piece of the blues disciples history. Tony Hall and Arsenio Hall said it best “Yea he’s bad”

Photos by Out Loud Pictures:

October 23, 2021
Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes Bring the Boardwalk to Homer Center for the Arts

From the same Jersey Boardwalk scene as Bruce Springsteen the legendary Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes sound is currently touring this season.The group traveled from the Jersey shore to Upstate New York’s Homer Center for the Arts on Sunday October 17, 2021. Jon Bon Jovi has acknowledged Southside Johnny as his “reason for singing”.

Out Loud Pictures: Southside Johnny, Tom Seguso, Glenn Alexander, Chris Anderson

Southside Johnny revived the 1950’s Summer vibe last July at a Drive in Concert at Monmouth Race Track. More than a 1,000 vehicles honked their car horns to show appreciation for the Asbury Jukes horns sound in New Jersey’s biggest concert last year. So to have them inside the sold out Center for the Arts Homer on Sunday was truly an intimate performance.

Out Loud Pictures: Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes

The Horn Section is made up of Chris Anderson on Trumpet, John Isley on Saxophone and Neal “The Dude” Pawley on trombone. The trio helped serenade the spirits of the 150 year old church turned music venue on Sunday.

Across on B3 Hammond and piano was the band’s musical director Jeff Kazee. He led the ensemble on vocals for Steve Winwood’s classic “Can’t Find My Way Home”. Glenn Alexander rocked the evening on lead guitar. John Conte’s bass lines bounced off Tom Seguso’s boardwalk beats. Seguo sported a pair of Carter Beauford style white gloves while playing the kit.

Southside Johnny sang to the crowd during the twenty one song set that “I want to hear people laughing and having a good time, I want to know why she told me she had to go, why did she leave me so lonely…it’s time to go but I don’t want to go home”

Out Loud Pictures: Jeff Kazee, John Conte

It should come to no surprise that Bruce Springsteen joined the band when they played in Asbury Park for “The Fever”. The Homer crowd was given the same medicine on Sunday night as they played this classic. Oh he’s got the fever. Left this little boy blue.

Out Loud Pictures: Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes

The eight piece ensemble closed the show with “Shake em Down.” Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes were howling in unison with the crowd… We’re Gonna Rock until the morning We’re gonna ride till we die. I gotta keep movin till I’m satisfied.

In June 2021, Bruce Springsteen was the first to play Broadway at The St. James Theater since its closing last year. He treated the crowd to stories of his Freehold, New Jersey childhood where he grew in to song. Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes brought the same small town magic back to the Center for the Arts during its Fall season. In similar fashion to when Bruce guested with the Jukes they closed the night with a nod to Sam Cook Sundays for his classic “Were having a party” Tell Em one more time, were havin a party, yeah. and everybody’s swinging, oh, were dancin to the music, on the radio, tell you, were havin a party.

Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes Homer Center for the Arts – October 17 2021

Setlist: Passion, Ain’t That Lonely, Angel Eyes->Forever, Lost, Wrong Side, Gin Soaked Boy, Woke up this AM, Good is Gone, Fool, Your My Girl, All I Can Do. Without Love, Fever, Talk to Me, Trapped Again, Shake Em Down
Encore: Not that Lonely, Were Having a Party

Photos by Out Loud Pictures

October 20, 2021
AC/DC tribute Bonfire Rock the Dock in Ithaca

The fall concert series at The Dock in Ithaca is in full “Rocktober” mode. Kevin Black presented the AC/DC tribute band Bonfire on Friday, October 15, with a very fitting “Back In Black” vibe had by the all-ages crowd. What’s more fun than a band dressing up as a musical costume during a month of Halloween celebrations? Bonfire’s ensemble is a full attraction to casinos and festivals that fit nicely on The Dock’s stage.

Photo by Out Loud Pictures

Lead guitarist Donnie “Angus” Bottacio felt at home on the Cayuga Lake inlet venue. He is an audio-video specialist at Cornell University. This would explain the high quality production and sound levels the band put out at the Dock on Friday. Donnie made his way through the crowd while simultaneously shredding the red signature Gibson axe to make sure everyone could hear the Marshall amps like AC/DC did. Bottacio told Kat Walters on the I 100 radio station, “I do the riffs as close as humanly possible to Angus, I can’t be Angus but I try my best to celebrate his music with all the love the crowd has to come out and enjoy it.”

Photo by Out Loud Pictures

The infamous “Hell’s Bells” opened the show in a chilling fashion. They covered all eras of AC/DC’s catalog. The five-piece band crushed 30 songs in full character. The same bagpipes from AC/DC’s studio sound were brought to life on the Dock stage by Mexico, NY’s Kevin Dano. It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll.

Photo by Out Loud Pictures

The group’s name is attributed to the variety in AC/DC’s 1997 five CD bag set release “Bonfire”. Lead singer Steve Seniuk helped cover the Bon Scott and Brian Johnson era of AC/DC with the same bravado. Bassist Mike Del Olio and Drummer Tom Reeder were locked in like TNT Dynamite for the set. Guitarist Kenny Romer rocked an inferno-like tempo on the Dock stage for the entire performance. The audience and band came to full speed during the October classic “Highway to Hell.” Goin Down, Party time, my friends are gonna be there too, yeah, hey mama look at me…I’m on my way to the promised land… I’m on a highway to hell!

Photo by Out Loud Pictures

On October 5, 1980 AC/DC came to Central New York’s Onondaga County War Memorial as part of their Back In Black Tour. The same spirit made its way through the Dock on Friday as part of “Rocktober” 2021. Kevin Black presents similar musical costumes the rest of this month with tributes to Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, and naturally, Black Sabbath. For all other upcoming events at The Dock click here.

“Bonfire” AC/DC Tribute – The Dock, Ithaca, NY – October 15 2021
Setlist: Hell’s Bells, Shoot to Thrill, Dog a Bone, Dirty Deeds, Girls got Rhythm, Get it Hot, If You Want Blood, Money Talks, Sin City, Jailbreak, Demon Fire, Pollution, Long Way (with bag pipes), Thunderstruck, Back in Black, Shook Me, Have a Drink, Money Honey, Shake a Leg, TNT, Rosie, Bad Boy Boogie, The Jack, Big Balls, Highway to Hell, For Those About to Rock, Let There be Rock
Encore: Night Prowler, Walk All Over You, High Voltage

Photos by Out Loud Pictures

October 19, 2021
Play it Leo! Leo Kottke Returns to Center for the Arts in Homer

Play it Leo! Kottke that is. Leo Kottke returned to Homer Center for the Arts on Saturday, October 16. This solo acoustic performance, his last Upstate New York show since April 2018 at The Clayton Opera House comes ahead of the three dates scheduled with Mike Gordon of Phish in the Empire State this December. During 2020 the duo released their first record Noon in over fifteen years. So it was fitting for Leo to open the show with “From Pizza Towers to Defeat” at Homer Center for the Arts, a song written by the duo from their 2002 album Clone.

John McConnell , Leo Kottke, Clayton Opera House April 2018

You wouldn’t have seen a tour bus outside the Homer Center for the Arts on Saturday night. Leo Kottke’s solo tour traveling rig is simple, and very reminiscent of Chuck Berry when he showed up at the venue driving himself with two guitars and a steel slide in tow. Leo deals with venue staff directly and settles up on his own with no tour manager. Mike Gordon of Phish told Rolling Stone “Hes like this American treasure living in his own bubble. He’ll travel the country listening to Lone Ranger series from the 1950’s in its entirety in the car.”

Leo Kottke, Center for the Arts Homer , October 2021

Leo’s stories from traveling this great country were weaved in to his ninety minute set on the intimate Homer stage. Outside the venue was a local haunted attraction in its 39th year that gave the performance a vibe of Phish’s interpretation of Disney’s Chilling, Thrilling, Sounds of the Haunted House.

Although Leo didn’t tell the crowd about his most recent studio release with Phish’s bassist, instead he told them about the first drummer he has ever collaborated with in 60 years:

I’m having a ball doing this with David King of the band Bad Plus. It’s a nice cocktail kit, he doesn’t come in with this Keith Moon suicide drowning thing. We go in the studio and start making shit up, the only thing Dave doesn’t like is when I stop. It’s a great attitude to be around, a little dangerous as I will demonstrate now.
Leo Kottke

He told the crowd of American modernist composer Charles Ives and his struggles to get his work out. Overtime he hired Burlesque dancers to enhance attention on his Concord Sinata 2. After becoming acknowledged for his work someone told Ives over time, “I can tell its good music but it doesn’t sound very good” to which Ives replied “What,s sound got to do with music?”

Leo’s point on it was that its a privilege to be able to play and if you have a chance to play. You don’t get to pick where you play and if you want people to hear what your doing and can’t find a crowd hire a burlesque orchestra to get some clout. “I mean its a privilege all around that it ever even happens in any faint way for you…but if there are people that want to listen your stuck with a privilege beyond luck, it becomes a thing itself”

The audience chuckled as Kottke told them that he has played prisons, hospitals, schools and claimed they are all the same. For Kottke, The Center for the Arts in Homer counts as a 150 year old church gig. Leo admitted to playing a library opening in the past five years to a fellow musician friend due to his complaining that he has been subject to pizza parlor gigs. Defeat the pizza towers, “Play Anywhere,” Kottke told the crowd.

You also won’t find a setlist after Leo’s performance either. The same fashion in which he entered he chose to exit and play through the encore “So we could all leave at the same time.” He finished the show with the classic piece “Corrina,” walking off the stage with both guitars in hand. New York’s legendary Pete Seeger called Kottke “The Best 12 string player in the world.”

In December when Kottke returns to New York State with jamband giant Mike Gordon, expect the same kind of sharpness at the performance. Even though Leo has seen Phish on New Years Eve at Madison Square Garden, Mike Gordon recalled a tale from the road during their last tour when he put on a Grateful Dead jam to listen to in which Leo replied “OK, that’ll be enough of that.”

Leo Kottke and Mike Gordon December 2021 Tour Dates

December 8 – Munhall, PA – Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
December 9 – Washington, DC – Sixth & I
December 10 – Tarrytown, NY – Tarrytown Music Hall
December 12 – Beverly, MA – The Cabot
December 13 – Lebanon, NH – Lebanon Opera House *
December 15 – Troy, NY – Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
December 16 – Norwalk, CT – Wall Street Theater
December 17 – York, PA – Appell Center for the Performing Arts
December 19 – Plattsburgh, NY – Strand Center for the Arts

October 18, 2021
Experience Night of The Living Musical at The Hangar Theater in Ithaca

On Saturday, October 23, Ithaca’s Hangar Theater will host a fall day to remember. Broadway Jazz Star Julie Benko will headline the day’s festivities. She was awarded the Gold Metal and Johnny Mercer award at the 2017 American Tradition vocal Competition as well as the Wilde Award for best leading actress in a musical as Girl in Once. Julie Benko said “I think this is for everyone to enjoy ,it draws from the entertainment of the Broadway world, the vibrancy of the hot jazz tradition and the emotional vulnerability of theater.

The music will be handled by accompanist Jeff Theiss, with a very appropriate October vibe as Jeff was the musical director for the romantic story of “Ghost the Musical” at The Merry-go Round Playhouse on Owasco Lake. Julie’s voice, who has been part of the 85th Academy Awards and the 70th Academy Award ceremonies, will carry soft across Cayuga Lake next Saturday evening. She just welcomed a new cat into her family named Thelonius Monk. Musical chameleon Benko said “I want the listener to know exactly where they are and feel like they have been dropped in the middle of a scene”.

The scene at The Hangar Theater on October 23 will be fitting for you to win best costume by dressing as your favorite musical character. On July 11, 1975, the Hangar Theatre opened with Man of La Mancha, thanks to more than a decade’s effort by impassioned citizens in Ithaca. So this week put the same craft in planning your Saturday nights look. You will have chances to win many getaway evenings at Williams Henry Miller Inn, Firelight Camps, and Cayuga Lake Cottage. You can board the Cayuga Lake Boat Cruise. A pair of tickets to a show at The Hangar and State Theater will also be experienced in “Gorges” Ithaca and more.

The show will be held on the heated outdoor stage for one more Saturday night October 23rd 2021. Arrive by 3PM to begin with drinks and hors d’oeuvres. 3:30 will be the Hangar news welcome. Julie Benko will perform songs from beloved musicals, classic and contemporary performances from 4:00 to 4:40. By 5 PM the evening’s best musical costume winner shall be crowned and Summer 2022 special announcements.

Hangar artistic director Shirley Serotsky said “We hope to have your support in increasing access to arts education programming for all young people, allowing them the opportunity to express their most authentic and joyful selves through theatre, storytelling and movement. The funds we raise will help enhance the experiences of young artists and their ability to pursue their best paths”

Get tickets to the event on Saturday October 23rd at the Hangar Theater, starting at 3 PM, here

October 15, 2021
Hearing Aide: Exit Atlas “The Unknown”

The highly creative collaboration from Paul McArdle and Zack Brinn has welcomed a refreshing form of new alternative rock music to New York State. The duo operate as Exit Atlas just releasing their new record The Unknown. The writing, production, and instrumentation for the album were composed in the state and sent to Nashville for finishing touches. The two Canandaigua natives have been collaborating for twenty years. This project came to life in the past two years.

Paul McArdle has spent this time as a guitarist on the Nectars stage circuit scene of the Northeast and Austin, Texas. When Dopapod guitarist Rob Compa formed his solo project, he told NYS Music “Without exaggeration, Paul is one of my favorite guitar players ever, and a huge influence for me, so I’ve always wanted to put something together with him” Paul sat in with Dopapod for a killing cover of the Derek Trucks tune “Kickin Bach” at a special leap year show dated 2/29/20 at the sold out Anthology venue in Rochester, NY. Monroe County’s Steve Gadd told NYS Music the secret of any great gig: “If you can trust the audience is hearing it the way you are, it gets to a spiritual level. In Japan or wherever you are. That’s the goal.”

Dopapod, Paul McArdle, 2/29/20

Paul’s signature tone can be heard on acoustic and electric guitar for every track as part of Exit Atlas. It’s no wonder that Zack Brinn who wrote all the lyrics and handles vocals for The Unknown wanted to weave them with McArdle’s musical style. Zack also takes care of the bass lines, drums, keyboards, programming and synthesizers. Brinn sprinkled some Brian Eno-like ambient sound trails on certain numbers as well.

Zack’s vocal tones are reminiscent of Peter Gabriel from inside the studio. His lyrics on “Annual” also set a familiar vibe, “The autumn sun it falls behind hills and we can watch it go down from here, we are safe, we are home.”

The production on this album reflects the same quality credits as a Peter Gabriel record. Listen for the various textures placed inside “Rain Chant.” The ticking clock intro on “Your Job” immediately addresses the time sacrificing your real dreams for the often required conformity to the machine. The song’s music video has an animation concept that Roger Waters would appreciate.

The seize the day feeling is grasped by the duo from an “Old Park Bench”… “I don’t believe in luck we’re given a choice each new day… sitting here on this old park bench I sing it out like millions are with me. We’re gonna make it.“

The walk from the bench into the great wide open is captured on “Make Some Memories”. Zack’s words resonate, “Time to throw caution to the wind, we’re going on an adventure for the ages, don’t you have a worry about a thing, look around at all your friends waiting.” And very fitting for Halloween, “Did you think I couldn’t tell? Put that costume on the shelf.“

The title track to the The Unknown album starts the record full circle for you, “When the past is knocking on the door, the present comes collecting tolls. A bright future seems to come and go. It’s the only place to stake our hope.” Brinn’s vocals bounce off McArdle’s chilling riff like Chris Cornell on Soundgarden’s 1994 Superunknown album.

Paul McArdle and Zack Brinn told NYS Music the origin of the duo’s name came from the expression “To carry the weight of the world on one’s shoulders.” This comes from the Greek myth of Atlas as his sculpture represents. Exit Atlas new album is a way to help relieve the beast of burden for the unknown scenes that lie ahead for us all.

It’s clear during this record it’s a coming of season combination of the duo’s life and music from the past two decades. In similar style Peter Gabriel officially put out his Woodstock 94’ live set last year with Rochester’s Tony Levin on bass. He is releasing his first studio record since 2002 next year. Twenty years seems to be a good time frame to let great art come to its musical fruition.

Key Tracks: Your Job, The Unknown, Make Some Memories

October 14, 2021
The Struts Play to a Packed House at Irving Plaza

The Struts played Irving Plaza on Friday, October 8, part of a huge U.S. tour that started in August and takes them across the U.S. until mid-November. They were as tight as you’d expect from a band that’s been on tour for months, rocking thru a long set that included many new songs from their last record, Strange Days. It was written and recorded during the pandemic lockdown, and the title song’s chorus is an apt description of that time…

Oh these are strange days, In many strange ways, Science fiction I believe, Has become reality, Oh these are strange times, Lost in our minds, We don’t know, it’s unclear, Where we’ll be this time next year

the Struts

Thankfully the next year finds them onstage, where they belong. Their recorded music is made for packed shows with the crowd singing along, and Friday night was exactly that. From the second singer Luke Spiller swaggered onstage, the audience was singing and cheering at his command. Spiller is a natural performer, constantly moving and thriving on the audience’s feedback, never letting their set’s energy decrease.

the Struts

From the opening notes of “Primadonna Like Me” he controlled the entire show, engaging the crowd between every song by demanding more applause or encouraging them to do complicated sing alongs, reminiscent of Rob Halford of Judas Priest. He introduced every track with a description like ‘the next song is about my favorite thing’ before “Dirty Sexy Money” or ‘the last song was the foreplay and now we’re gonna turn down the lights, so get out your phones’ before the venue went dark and they played “Mary Go Round” by the light of the crowd’s phones.

the Struts

“Body Talks,” “One Night Only” and “Kiss This” are hit songs so it’s expected people joined in, but it was impressive how well the audience knew all the words to their new songs, including “I Hate How Much I Want You,” where they took over the part of the backing vocals sung on the album by Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott and Phil Collen. Other new songs played were “Wild Child,” (written with Tom Morello) that started with guitar player Adam Slack alone onstage in a spotlight for an extended introductory solo, and the sultry “Am I talking to the Champagne” that had Spiller singing at the piano.

the Struts

The last song was a long version of “I Do It So Well,” and Spiller introduced Slack, bass player Jed Elliott and drummer Gethin Davies, and then split the audience down the middle into Slack and Elliott’s sides, and pitted them against each other in a spirited cheering contest. After going back and forth for awhile Spiller said ‘fucking hell New York that was all right’ and then kept the song going, directing everyone to crouch down as they decreased the tempo and volume, and the place got hushed until Spiller told everyone to leap up and scream as loud as they could and the place went crazy. The song volumed soared and the crowd jumped up and down in unison, shaking the whole place. At the end they walked offstage leaving the audience chanting ‘one more song’ at the end of the set (which was selling the encore short because there were two songs left on the setlist.)

the Struts

Spiller came out alone and began “Strange Days” at the piano and the place went silent, appreciating his playing and impressive vocal range. They ended their show, unsurprisingly, with their smash hit “Could Have Been Me,” leading the crowd in one last sing along before taking a sweaty bow. It’s pretty common to find the Struts opening for the world’s biggest rock acts or playing festivals, so it was special to see them in a smaller venue like Irving Plaza.

the Struts

The Starbenders, from Atlanta, were the opening band. The crowd was mostly full and enjoyed their set, their moody stage lighting and sound were reminiscent of My Bloody Valentine or The Jesus and Mary Chain. They are playing several other dates on this Struts tour.

The Struts – Irving Plaza – October 8, 2021

Setlist: Primadonna Like Me, Body Talks, Kiss This, Hate How Much I Want You, Fire, One Night Only, Dirty Sexy Money, Low Key in Love, Mary Go Round (acoustic), Put Your Money on Me, Medley, Champagne, Wild Child, I Did it so Well
Encore: Strange Days, Could Have Been Me

the Starbenders

the Starbenders

the Struts

the Struts

the Starbenders

the Struts

the Struts

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October 13, 2021
Trombone Shorty celebrates Long Weekend at new Brooklyn Made Venue

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue put on two soul crushing shows at the brand new 500-person capacity Brooklyn Made stage to start this week. The club just opened on September 30 and this was the band’s third and most intimate New York show this year, having performed in Rochester at Manhattan Square Park in August and Brooklyn’s Prospect Park in September.

photo by Russell Mangicaro III

New Orleans legend Tony Hall told NYS Music in August about Troy Andrews. “We have known Shorty since he was young. Coming up he’s always been extremely bad ass. In the beginning he used to do some shows with us and then did his own shit. Then blew up. He’s the man and puts on a hell of a show. Phenomenal player on the trumpet and trombone. It’s like nobody can touch him. But he also plays everything else like drums, keyboards and sings.”

The Orleans Avenue Band – guitarists Pete Murano and Joshua Connelly, sax-men Dan Osteicher and BK Jackson, drummer Joey Peebles and bassist Mike Ballard, and vocalist Tracci Lee – all took center stage at Brooklyn Made on top of the speakers throughout the show. They made the new Bushwick club feel like the historic Tipitinas in New Orleans.

Shorty opened the show asking for assistance in getting his heart back on “Where it At?” “I tried to find you, baby, did my best, But love don’t come with any GPS.” They brought it from the East River to the Mississippi with a Meters cover of “It Ain’t No Use” and Allen Toussaint’s “On Your Way Down.” Trust me when I tell you their approach on these tunes was truly an explosive expression on funk classics. The Shorty original “The Craziest Thing” is another call out to the lovers in the crowd. “Ask me to bring you the moon, I’ll put the sky in your room, I’ll die trying.” The highlight of the night occurred during the Ernie K. Doe New Orleans classic “Here Come the Girls.”

photo by Russell Mangicaro III

Mid-groove on “Uncle Potato Chip,” sax player Dan O took the song to another galaxy and back on baritone before the closing verse. “Fire on the Bayou” helped keep the Cajun sounds sizzling.

Trombone Shorty first took the stage at four years old with Bo Diddley at the 1990 New Orleans Jazzfest. 31 years later he was bouncing his solos off all the other band members like a true front man. It also came as no surprise that sax player BK Jackson used to play with Prince. Joey Peebles took his only break of neo soul drum beats for the night, with Mike Ballard and Shorty sharing syncopated bass and trumpet solos on stage that took you back to Birdland.

Vocalist Tracci Lee’s backing soul helped bring every song full circle exchanging tambourines throughout. Guitarists Joshua Connelly and Pete Murano electricity was directly plugged into your head on the Brooklyn Made stage. Tuesday night’s show had a Red Hot Chili Peppers musical intro as a nod to his tour with the group in 2016 opening for them at Madison Square Garden and Buffalo’s KeyBank Center. He brought the crowd back to his first record Backatown with the track “Suburbia.”

Ray Charles’ classic “I Got A Woman” on Tuesday night was a standout as well. In true New Orleans fashion, they closed both nights with Shorty’s “Hurricane Season” mixed with “When the Saints Go Marching In” that sent the crowd strutting back into the Bushwick scene.

A Monday and Tuesday night with Trombone Shorty at Brooklyn Made like this really made his tune “Long Weekend” resonate – “Cause you never know what could happen on a long weekеnd…” Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue head back to New Orleans on Monday, October 11 for his first ever “Shorty Fest.”

Photos by Russell Mangicaro III

October 8, 2021