moe. will head out on the road for Memorial Day 2021, with performances slated for North Carolina and Virginia. They’ve also announced their first Drive-In shows for mid-June in Maryland.
On May 27, moe. will perform in North Carolina at Maggie Valley Festival Grounds, roughly 40 minutes west of Asheville. For moe.morial Day, they’ll head north to Martinsville, VA for “A Rooster Walk Family Gathering” at Pop’s Farm, the site of Rooster Walk.
Normally the date of the Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival, social distancing guidelines have Pop’s Farm improvising with moe. and a few bands on hand for the Memorial Day weekend.
In addition to two nights of moe., the weekend at Pop’s Farm will see performances by Cris Jacobs Band and Isaac Hadden Project on May 28, and on May 29 will feature Kendall Street Company, Neal Francis, South Hill Banks and Disco Risque’.
moe.morial Day Weekend will have on-site camping, drink and food vendors, with no outside alcohol allowed. While not a POD show, there will be social distancing and mask wearing required for all in attendance. For a complete rundown of the COVID-19 Safety Plan, click here.
All ages are welcome, but all are required to have a ticket to attend the shows, so kids will not get in for free.
Finally, moe. will perform at Showtime at the Drive-In in Frederick, MD. Tickets for all shows are on sale Friday, April 9 at 10AM at moe.org. Memorial Day weekend tickets are also available here.
moe. Summer Tour 2021 dates
May 27 – Maggie Valley Festival Grounds – Maggie Valley, NC May 28 & 29 – moe.morial Day: A Rooster Walk Family Gathering – Pop’s Farm – Martinsville, VA June 18 & 19 – Showtime at the Drive-In – Frederick, MD
A year ago today, the Syracuse music scene lost a legend, the likes of which will not be seen again. Eli Harris, Jr., a fixture throughout Syracuse, especially University Hill and Downtown, was a street musician of renown well beyond the 315. You could find Harris performing across town, outside the Landmark and Westcott Theatres, bringing his positive spirit and wide range of musical stylings to crowds and passersby for decades.
Whether he was performing on Marshall Street – also known as Eli’s Alleyway – near Hendricks Chapel or Crouse College before Syracuse Football and Basketball games, downtown in Armory Square, showing up for late night fraternity pranks and performances, Eli Harris was always a welcome sight to see, always with a song and a smile ready for you. While you may not have known Eli, his music or his presence in Syracuse, he made his mark and leaves a legacy behind.
Eli Harris died as a result of a pair of hit and run accidents on April 8, 2020. He was 62 years old.
Eli Harris, Jr.
Eli was one of a kind. He had a wife and kids he loved and would talk about them the rare times he put his guitar down. From late nights at Chuck’s or Faegan’s when Eli would pop in for a nightcap, to summer evenings at NBT Bank Stadium or downtown in Armory Square, Eli had a significant place in the Salt City. Eli was a legend, a staple, a key ingredient to the city, and one of the most positive people you’d ever meet, always keeping his spirits lifted high so he could lift others even higher.
Elijah Harris, Jr. was born in Syracuse on August 19, 1957. A Marine veteran, serving proudly from 1974-1977 while stationed in South Carolina, Eli was father to 9 children and 35 grandchildren. No matter what life threw at him, Eli was resilient and turned struggles in life into music. In that regard, one could call him a blues musician, but Eli was much more than that. In a 2010 interview with the Post-Standard, Harris told the Post-Standard, “I do the ‘60s thing right up to hip-hop.”
Considered by folk/hip-hop/singer-songwriter Joe Driscoll to be ‘The Godfather of Syracuse music,” a title few would contest, Driscoll first saw Eli when he was 11 or 12 years old.
We would ride our bikes down to Marshall Street, and watch Eli play for hours. I used to watch his hands to cop new chords, and learn the covers he was doing.
My first memories were of him doing medleys, blending five or six songs into one groove. Blew my mind. I vividly remember ‘Sitting on The Dock of The Bay’ by Otis Redding and ‘Easy’ by the Commodores as some of the first I fell in love with. His original “Eli’s Alleyway” as well, where he would skat and chat about all the happening on M Street (Eli’s Alleyway).
Joe Driscoll
Syracuse musician Joe Altier also first met Eli early in life, seeing him at SU events at the Carrier Dome.
No matter the weather, he was there, you couldn’t help being drawn to this musician. He was soulful, upbeat, and had a positive vibe always. This guy is about as real as it gets.
Joe Altier
When Joe started playing Bull & Bear downtown around 2000, Eli would stop in and they’d play together. Whenever they saw each other, Joe got a huge shout out from Eli and always supported him, whether he was playing music or selling shirts downtown.
It was really nice to get to know him on that level. Sometimes we just sat and had beers together at Blue Tusk and shot the shit.
He had already lived a rough life, he went through a lot of shit – personal, family, professional – but he woke up every day to sing, to hustle and to bring joy to the world. To see him pass, it was a gut punch for the town. It was unfortunate how we went out, totally preventable.
Joe Altier
Eli also served as inspiration for the song “Moon,” written by Jamie Notarthomas. Jeff Tripoli, who played drums on the track, recalled the inception and recording of the song, with Eli being such a presence in the scene in the mid-90s.
Eli was the soul of Syracuse nightlife and culture. I can remember many winter nights below freezing when these city streets were warm with the sound of Eli’s contagious vibe. He could always keep a crowd with his off the cuff lyric improvisations about “that guys goofy hat” or maybe a humorous lyric about some attractive ladies swiftly strolling by his sidewalk performances. And thats what I loved most about Eli, how present and passionate he was as a human in our society. More than just a seriously talented street musician, Eli was capable of spreading joy to every face that saw him. A lot more of these stories are detailed in a song written by Jamie Notarthomas we recorded together long ago called “Moon.”
Jeff Tripoli
In 2012, Eli completed a inpatient rehab program at the Veterans Administration in Bath. In addition to battling drug and alcohol use, Harris fought hepatitis C and depression, after the death of his wife and son. He might share his struggles privately, but through his music, he let love and positivity reign.
More than a Street Musician
Eli’s presence around town served as an influence on the next generation of Syracuse musicians, Driscoll among them.
Eli was definitely my biggest influence. Before Eli, I thought about James Taylor, Peter, Paul and Mary when I thought of acoustic guitar.
Eli was ripping James Brown, Sugar Hill Gang, and Parliament Funkadelic on a 6 string. He revolutionized my view on music. My first sets were me doing Eli covers: James Brown, Otis Redding etc…
You can still feel loads of Eli in all I do. The funk chords, the mixing and medleying of funk, soul and hip-hop. The freestyle/chat with the audience, all of that evolved from my love of watching him everyday, studying his hands, and learning his craft of showmanship and engagement.
Joe Driscoll
In 2006, SU Recordings was founded, and brought the music of Eli to a wider audience, and now, posterity. A group founded specifically for music industry majors and minors, SU Recordings gave hands-on experience in running a label, including scouting artists, working with disc manufactures, developing artwork and organizing promotional events.
Eli was one of the first three musicians asked to be a part of the label. The first album released by SU Recordings was a biographical album from Eli and the album release party was held on April 18, 2006 at Chuck’s.
A second album, Eli’s Christmas Mission, featured three classic holiday songs – “Jingle Bells,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and “Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer” – as well as three originals – “Christmas Love,” “Angel” and “Glory.” The album was aptly released by Marshall Street Records.
Eli, man. Just that he was the nicest guy and I remember how excited he was when he gave me his album and I played it in Faegans.
Scott Isaacs, ’99
Eli performed the National Anthem at Syracuse Mets games, and would stick around to perform outside the stadium when fans headed for the exits. When Eli passed, the Syracuse Mets minor league team shared the following:
We’ve had the privilege of having Eli sing the national anthem for us occasionally over the years. If you didn’t hear him then, there’s a chance you’ve heard Eli playing while leaving the stadium. It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of a Syracuse legend, Elijah Harris Jr. brought smiles to many and was a radiant soul that we will certainly miss.
Syracuse Mets
Legacy
Along with the praise of musicians and Syracuse locals, Eli was given even greater accolades as the years passed. At the 2019 SAMMY Awards, Eli was the recipient of the first ever Founders Award, a testament to his years of performing in Syracuse.
Eli Harris presented by with the Founders Awards by SAMMYs Founder Frank Malfitano
A scholarship in Eli’s name was announced by Syracuse University in September 2020 and will begin supporting part-time music students this fall. Harris would regularly work the line “You stay in school, get some college knowledge” into his performances, and his family worked with SU to honor him with the Eli Harris Scholarship. Harris’ daughter, Lakisha, said to The Daily Orange last year,
He gave what he had inside of him, so he could teach everyone else how to love through music. He used music to communicate that. They embraced my dad with open arms from day one.
Lakisha Harris
A mural of Eli, via art collective 315Alive!, will bring his legacy to life, close to the corner of Marshall Street and University Ave, near Marshall Street Mall. Jacob Alan Roberts of 315Alive! announced the project in July 2020, saying, “We’re gonna use sort of an artistic approach to something that will be unmistakably Eli, using, say he always wore SU gear, so a baseball cap or, course, him playing his guitar.” See a sketch of Roberts’ mural here.
With Eli’s death at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, his funeral was private and tributes were limited to social media and online performances. One such tribute to Eli on Disruption Network brought Driscoll, Anthony “Zee” Donaldson, Jack Brown, former SU professor and Bandier program founder David Rezak and more together to honor him. Watch the tribute here.
In March 2021, the driver who hit Eli was brought to justice. During sentencing, Judge Stephen Dougherty said that while he “Can’t compare one victim to another victim, we all knew Mr. Harris, knew him for the performer he was. He was a beloved member of the community.” A GoFundMe continues to benefit Lakisha and Harris’ family that continues to cope with the loss.
He was a legendary part of this town. Everyone knew him. You walked by and whether you stopped or not or tipped him, you knew him. There will never be another Eli. He did leave his mark, not just on me but so many others.
Phish keyboardist Page McConnell today announced the release of his new solo album, Maybe We’re the Visitors, arriving Friday, April 9 via Keyed Records. Written and recorded in Reykjavik, Iceland and Burlington, VT, the album’s first song “Radio Silence,” was released today with a visualizer. Rolling Stone writer David Fricke called in his album notes “an overture of slowly dawning arpeggios that dot the void like hopeful transmissions.”
David Fricke’s liner notes include the following details on the album:
In January 2020, shortly before the coronavirus shut down modern life, including travel, McConnell took a road trip that had nothing to do with his normal touring itinerary as the keyboard player in Phish: a holiday in Iceland. Inevitably, music got made there. But it was unlike anything McConnell had recorded before as a solo artist, for side projects or within the collaborative energies of Phish: fully electronic pieces created on location, in response to the epic landscapes, dramatic weather, and geologic fury that he experienced in Iceland. He also came back energized and determined to keep going amid, indeed despite, lockdown.MAYBE WE’RE THE VISITORS is the result: an imaginary voyage charged with eyewitness awe and intense, solitary reflection; expressed without lyrics, vocals or any sign of piano, organ or clavinet, McConnell’s signature armory with Phish.
The album is his third solo outing – following 2007’s song-based Page McConnell and a 2013 instrumental release, Unsung Cities and Movies Never Made – and a genuine breakthrough: the first McConnell has conceived and performed entirely with synthesizers. Maybe We’re the Visitors is also the most personal record he has ever made because it is an album that has been on his mind for a long time.
The narrative flow of MAYBE WE’RE THE VISITORS – exploration, colony and, finally warning; that, as Icelanders already know, we are only stewards here and nature always has the last word – did not present itself “until I was close to the end,” McConnell confesses. “But I always knew there was something alien about these pieces…”
McConnell’s side-project Vida Blue released Analog Delay in late 2019. Read an interview with McConnell with Relix.
The State of New York has the richest music history in the nation. Go anywhere across the state and you’ll find a rich music scene, one that spans all genres, and birthed a few as well.
History has been made in New York for nearly four centuries, starting with the establishment of the colony of New Amsterdam in 1625. The recorded music history found in towns and counties around the state dates back to the early 19th century. Go beyond the five boroughs and you’ll discover a Who’s Who of musicians that were born and raised in New York, or moved here and made New York their home.
Graphic by Kelly Garrett
There are 62 counties in New York, each with their own history, with some dating back to the 17th century. With NYS Music’s upcoming series “Made in NY,” we will be taking a look at the most notable musicians from each of these counties. The series will offer a look at the history, geography and music venues of each county, then take a thorough examination of the notable musicians that called that county home. The history runs deep in this state, and some of the music history we have uncovered will surprise you.
Working with County Historians, Historical Societies, college professors, promoters and fans across the state, we have been able to learn how deep the music roots truly run in the state. There are classical and opera performers nearly forgotten to history, folk singers who bridge earlier generations to present day, and those who led to the advent of the rap and punk rock genres.
This series will be one that continually evolves, with each county article updated over time as notable musicians from the past come to light, as well as bands in the future who will stake their claim and add to the music history of New York State.
If we miss a notable musician in our research, by all means, let us know! We aim to for this to be a comprehensive series, from Albany to Yates, Erie to Warren, Tompkins to Suffolk and all counties in between.
“Made in NY” has so far featured Orange, Cortland, and Queens Counties, with 59 more to come!
Each Sunday evening from 7-9pm you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up and coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night for EQXposure to hear new music from Fine Grain, Sarah King, and many more!
WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.
Fine Grain is tonight’s featured band for EQXposure. Pearson will be playing a collection of songs from their latest release, Missing Adult, now streaming all over the world and available for purchase on Bandcamp. Tune in to hear the tunes and join the discussion of this awesome bands incredibly creative and unique full length release, that is a genre bending and deeply interesting work of art to listen to.
Other artists featured tonight include Sarah King, who celebrates the release of her latest EP The Hour. Read our review of her new album here.
And stayed tuned for Jade Relics, a Vermont-based production group made up of Rico James, Elder Orange, and IAME and their latest tunes “Start Over” and “With You.” Plus check out Laveda, a genre blending dream pop/rock outfit who set nostalgic and cinematic moods with a 90’s-esque sound reminiscent of The Sundays and My Bloody Valentine.
Memorial Day Weekend 2021 in Central New York will be much more music filled than last year. Creative Concerts has announced four nights of Twiddle, May 27-30, at the new Apple Valley Park in Lafayette, just 10 minutes south of Syracuse. And they’ll be bringing some Frends with them.
Dopapod will join Twiddle on May 27 and 28, while Buffalo’s Aqueous arrive for the shows on May 29 and 30. The four nights of Twiddle and Frends kick off a season of outdoor live music from Creative Concerts, providing a safe and enjoyable concert experience for music fans both local and beyond.
All events at Apple Valley Park will be socially distanced, with roped-off PODS (Personal Outdoor Dance Space) available for parties of 2, 4 or 6. A thorough site plan has been developed allowing for temperature screenings and surveys to be conducted upon entering the event grounds. PODS are spaced a minimum of six feet apart, and fans will have a variety of food and beverage options available for purchase. Site map and FAQ for Apple Valley Park venue can be found here.
Apple Valley Park is located in beautiful LaFayette, NY. With its rural atmosphere, rolling hills, and expansive fall foliage, it has proven to be a wonderful home to the annual LaFayette Apple Festival since 1973. More recently it has expanded to host other live entertainment events, including a few successful drive-in concerts in the fall of 2020.
Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, April 2 at 10 AM on the Apple Valley Park website.
It’s been over a year since music venues had to shut down, and signs of life are starting to be seen this spring. With the passage of the COVID relief bill, which provides $15 billion for music venues across the country, small businesses are able to breathe a sigh of relief. Warm weather allows outdoor venues, both new and old, to utilize space to accommodate socially distanced shows while we wait for the country to get vaccinated and infection rates to subside
photo by Joseph Buscarello
Looking back on the February installment of this photo series, we can see the seasons changing and venues coming to life, if not getting a facelift. By the time we bring you the next edition, we hope to see fans in the crowd and venues back to business, with a greener summer to come.
A list has been circulating on Facebook recently, one well worth sharing. As you check out the current state of venues across New York State, courtesy of NYS Music’s photography team, consider these rules moving forward for the post-pandemic live music scenes across New York and the country.
RULE #1: No guest list. Don’t ask. Not now. Not ever. Everyone in the live music industry has been out of work for 13 months and we all need your support now more than ever. Buy the damn ticket.
Rochester – photos by Corinne Cummings
RULE #2: Support local. Before you buy that high priced ticket to see that big name artist at that big corporate venue, consider putting that money back into your own community. This is the best way to ensure that a thriving arts & culture scene will return to cities across America.
RULE #3: Wear a damn mask. If you’re going to a show, tiny cloth go over mouth & nose. Period. Vaccinated? Don’t care. Already had it? Don’t care. Rona is a hoax? Also don’t care. We only get one shot at restarting this machine. Please don’t be the one that messes it up.
RULE #4: We are not babysitters. We get it. Social distancing sucks. Masks suck. You’re tired of washing your hands. After more than a year of isolation, all you wanna do is lean in close and spew your spittle on friends and strangers alike. But it’s been 13 months. You know the rules by now — please follow them.
RULE #7: Support the scene. Can’t make the show? No problem. It costs $0.00 to support us in other ways. Share the posts. Listen to the music. Invite your friends to the event page. In order for this to work, we need all hands on deck.
RULE #8: Be kind. Look — it’s been awhile. We’re gonna be a little rusty. Plus, so much of what needs to happen in order to bring back live music safely is new for all of us — fans, venues, promoters and artists alike. There will be hiccups. There will be lines. There will be unforeseen circumstances. Be nice anyway.
Plattsburgh – photos by Jerry Cadieux
RULE #9: Go to the merch table. Support the artists. Buy the t-shirt. Buy a sticker.
RULE #10: Have fun. You’ve been waiting for this moment for more than -fully. Come out early. Stay out late. Dance. Laugh. Make a new friend. Discover a new band.
Albany photographer Zach Culver went on a road trip this month and shares his photos of venues in Denver, CO and Las Vegas, NV.
Jerry Garcia, Artist, a new documentary project from Jerry Garcia Music Arts and Malcolm Leo Productions, has just been announced. The film centers around a 1987 interview with Garcia, and also includes “never-before-seen footage of the private thoughts and reflections of Jerry Garcia,” according to a statement.
The documentary captures the Grateful Dead frontman at a peak moment, where he eloquently reflects on the life he lived and the music he loved to make. Garcia goes so far as to offer “nothing off limits” in the interview, providing a journey into Garcia’s private world. Included in the documentary are his personal musings, drawings and insights, as well as unpublished diary entries, rare family photos, home movies and newly discovered performances.
The 1987 interview was directed by Leo and filmed by Oscar-winning cinematographer Russell Carpenter at Front Street Studios in San Rafael, CA
Garcia’s family serves as co-producing for the documentary and contributed visual art and music to the project. The documentary includes a charitable component that will benefit the Jerry Garcia Foundation as well as a charity of the co-producer’s choice.
We envision an uplifting, immersive experience focused on my father’s art and music. The story is authentic. My father narrates the film in his own words, directly to the audience.
Keelin Garcia, Jerry Garcia’s daughter, coproducer, and president of Jerry Garcia Music Arts
Malcolm Leo, a producer, director, and writer has overseen a wide range of projects from “This is Elvis,” “Heroes of Rock n Roll,” “Beach Boys: an American Band,” as well as the Emmy-nominated “LIFE Goes to the Movies.”
This project is a labor of love for all involved and it is the fulfillment of a promise I made to Jerry long ago to do something special with the footage. The film will honor one of the country’s most beloved musical heroes and cultural icons.
Malcolm Leo
There is no date set for the release of Jerry Garcia, Artist. For more information on the film, click here.
Trumansburg’s Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival has made the decision to postpone the planned 30th annual event until 2022.
Noting that we are not yet at the end of the pandemic tunnel, and factoring in increasing vaccine distribution and decreasing COVID-19 rates, the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance will postponing the planned 30th Annual festival until July 21-24, 2022. The preceding fifth Annual Culture Camp will also be postponed, with new dates of July 17-20, 2022.
Admission and camping tickets for 2021 will be honored and automatically transferred to 2022. If a ticket holder cannot attend the 2022 event, they may fill out a Ticket Transfer Request to transfer their tickets to any future GrassRoots Festival in either the Trumansburg, New York or Shakori Hills, North Carolina locations at GrassRootsFest.org.
As a 501(c) not-for-profit organization, this first ever year of no GrassRoots festivals has been a challenge, but the organization is poised to make it through. Donations are always welcome and may be made at GrassRootsFest.org/donate.
Tickets for the 30th Annual Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance are on-sale now at GrassRootsFest.org/tickets.
A GrassRoots Call to Action:
In the year 1990, as we headed into the last decade of the 20th century, the world faced a new crisis: AIDS. Mysterious, unheard of and deadly; people were scared and dying! Donna the Buffalo and friends, The Horse Flies and Neon Baptist, responded with a sold out benefit show at the State Theatre raising over $10,000 for AIDS Work of Tompkins County. I remember so clearly the feeling of peeking out from the door of the dressing rooms beneath the stage and seeing the packed house of heroic Ithacans, also responding to the call to be there and support a community that a Government was appearing blind to, a joyful mob!
To create joy in the midst of crisis is a powerful thing and brings magic to the table. The wonderful event and its success led to the creation of GrassRoots and 25 years of raising consciousness and funds for organizations that support Arts, Education and the fight against AIDs, both locally and globally.
The first Saturday Night Live of Spring featured the return of longtime cast member Maya Rudolph as host. She was joined by Kentucky rapper and songwriter Jack Harlow, who earned a GRAMMY nomination for “WHATS POPPIN’ in 2020 and recently released That’s What They All Say.
Harlow first appeared in the Digital Short “NFTs,” a take on Eminem’s “Without Me,” complete with Pete Davidson in a Robin costume similar to that of Eminem in the original video.
Midway through the show, cast member Bowen Yang stopped by the Weekend Update desk to talk about the recent spike in violence towards Asian-Americans and how you can help.
Harlow’s first performance featured a medley of “Tyler Herro” and “WHATS POPPIN.” Herro, a friend of Harlow’s and Miami Heat guard is mentioned in the first verse of the song: “My homeboy Tyler he play in South Beach / He told me this summer he gon’ fix my jumper.”
Giving a nod to the early influence of Saturday Night Live, Harlow said on Twitter, “I grew up watching SNL with my family every weekend. I vividly remember seeing Kanye perform Love Lockdown and Heartless in 2008. Thank you for making this happen. Another dream come true.”
https://youtu.be/tkSvFzC7GGo
For his second performance, Jack Harlow welcomed surprise guest, Maroon 5‘s Adam Levine, to duet on “Same Guy.” Levine is featured on the studio version of the track, an album that also features appearances by Lil Wayne, Lil Baby, and Static Major.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doi4H-BNkxQ
Harlow also recently donated $500,000 to two HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) – Kentucky State University in Frankfort and Simmons College of Kentucky in Louisville – after winning Bleacher Report’s Open Run 2-on-2 basketball competition earlier this month.
SNL returns next week with host Daniel Kaluuya and musical guest St. Vincent.
