Losers Club are making their label-debut on Substream Records with a new single called “Fux W/ Ur Head,” set for release on March 5th, 2021.
The duet’s emo-rock sound is crafted by frontman Nate Blasdell, known for his role as lead guitar and background vocals in the melodic hardcore band I Set My Friends on Fire, and backed by Andy Champion on guitar. Losers Club’s sound is poppier than Blasdell’s previous work, akin to The All-American Rejects. Their music is anthemic and tightly packed with melody.
On their instagram account, Losers Club recounted the past year, saying “This year was a rollercoaster to say the least. What started as four, turned to three, then three became two, and now here we are, stronger than ever with 2020 in the rearview and so much to look forward to in 2021. New sound. New look. New album. New era.”
With their new sound and formation, Losers Club is ready to take on the music world with their label-debut single, Fux W/ Ur Head. You can pre-order it here.
In episode 112, the community answers a simple question: “Favorite Moments At Flour City Station andddd Go!” Ben Albert, Host of Rochester Groovecast, posed this question on Facebook, reached to many people, and brought together a large collection of Flour City Station memories. Ben shares some of his insights, shares recordings of guest-submitted memories, and reads off the rest of the amazing collection.
Flour City Station is located at 170 East Avenue in Rochester, a town steeped in music tradition, from the Eastman School of Music just down the street, to the longstanding music festivals such as the Jazz Festival, East End Fest, Fringe Fest and Party in the Park.
Aqueous, April 4, 2018 at FCS – photo by Jake Silco
Flour City Station (FCS) provides patrons with a unique and friendly environment for enjoying the best live music Rochester has to offer. With a state-of-the-art sound system, FCS caters to a wide base of genres of music featuring both local performers and nationally touring acts. The safe environment and friendly staff keep customers coming back for the friendly social atmosphere where they can catch up with old friends, meet new ones, and enjoy premium live music. At FCS, they’re simply all about the bands, the fans and the experience.
At Rochester Groovecast, the mantra “We’re Fans First!” harnesses the belief that the best businesses are built by fans. The podcast is deeply dedicated to playing an active role in the culture of its local scene.
The brainchild of Rochester native, Ben Albert, was created in 2016 to serve as a portfolio of the city, and nowadays, the entire region.
The podcast believes in the artistic brilliance abundant in Rochester, NY, and the surrounding regions. Ben seeks to play a pivotal role in our community by helping give Rochester a well-earned voice. He has seen first hand the abundance of talent, character, creativity, innovation, and beauty the Flour City has continuously offered.
boys cruise has released “Room for Reason” as their first single off of their upcoming self-titled sophomore album.
Their new jangly, poppy, but also garage-rock song is the first taste of boys cruise’s music since their acclaimed 2019 debut record Jerry. Mastered by Felix Davis, who worked with artists such as Lana Del Rey, HMLTD, and Swim Deep, added extra flair to boys cruise’s unique, playful sound. Their musical style combines several genres, creating a colorful blend that could make anybody want to dance. Zach Bloomstein produced their upcoming album.
Drummer and bassist Jack Parker spoke about the newest single: “Johnny Clarke (lead vocals/guitar) and myself, Jack Parker (bass/drums), wrote the main ideas before linking up with Sammy Josh (guitar) to really flesh everything out. I wrote Room for Reason over the span of a few days this past summer when I fell terribly ill with 102 degree fever.”
He continues that “the song is about how I felt trapped in my mind palace and how I was longing for rest. This past summer was a generally manic and confusing time for all of us in boys cruise, and the lyrics are just sort of a reflection of that confusion and some of the weirdness that was simultaneously going on in my personal relationships.
Based in Burlington, VT, boys cruise had its genesis in 2018 in the Northeast DIY scene. Their wild stage presence and riveting shows made them a notorious and beloved name in the northeast underground circuit. From cutting the lead singer’s hair mid-set to boxing matches between members on stage, they began selling out Vermont venues.
Their sound has evolved on their upcoming record in a new artful and noisy direction, compared to the poppier 2019 LP Jerry. boys cruise is Johnny Clarke (lead vocals/guitar), Jack Parker (vocals/bass/drums), and Sammy Josh (vocals/guitar).
Where else can you get a steak and jazz performances all in one spot? Step back nearly 90 years and visit Hickory House.
A New York jazz club located on West 52nd Street, Hickory House was opened in 1933 by John Popkin and was a swinging venue and a great spot to grab cocktails and dinner before a show.
Located in a stretch of midtown that was crowded with jazz clubs in the 1940s and 1950s, Hickory House stood out because they also had a branch in Miami Beach, as seen on the menu cover.
With the 18th Amendment repealed in 1933, post-prohibition New York City hit the bars and drank without abandon, and the cheap prices for the time show it.
In 2014, NPR profiled Hickory House Trio, a 1950s group of Marian McPartland, Bill Crow and Joe Morello, the latter of whom was part of a reunion session in 1990. Morello fielded offers from both Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey, but ultimately went on to work with a small group taking a new direction in jazz led by Dave Brubeck, notably on his “Take Five.”
NPR notes that during the 1950s when McPartland and company were playing the Hickory House, jazz musicians including Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Oscar Pettiford and Thelonious Monk, would stop by the club for a meal and to watch the band. Some would even sit in with the trio, and after coaxing, Ellington might join them on the bandstand (it didn’t hurt that he shared a publicist with the club.)
Although all trace of Hickory House is gone, it continued to be in operation at least until 1964. See more images of the venue, and what 52nd Street looks like now, at JAZZ LIVES.
A similarly named venue, The Hickory Log, located on 47th St., and known simply as Lou Terrassi’s. also hosted jazz performances. While the two venues share a name, they do not seem to be related, and a connection between the two venues is unable to be discerned.
One recording from The Hickory Log, made available by JAZZ LIVES, provides a glance at a half-hour broadcast recorded at the lost venue. With host Aime Gauvin, a.k.a. “Dr. Jazz,” featuring musicians from the Jimmy McPartland Sextet: McPartland (cornet), Dicky Wells (trombone), Cecil Scott (clarinet), Joe Sullivan (piano), Walter Page (string bass), George Wettling (drums) and Marian McPartland (piano).
Hickory House, 1937
The band is introduced by Leonard Feather, who chats with both McPartlands, amid serene ambiance that is comparable to Central Plaza or Stuyvesant Casino at the time. Listen closely and you’ll hear the crash of dishes, as the stage and kitchen were located near each other.
Performances on Jazz Club U.S.A. from 1952 include “Love Is Just Around The Corner,” “Tin Roof Blues,” “Embraceable You,” “Baby Won’t You Please Come Home,” and “Sweet Georgia Brown.”
Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny took to the stage at Studio 8H for this week’s episode of Saturday Night Live. This marked Bad Bunny’s first time as SNL’s musical guest, although he did appear in a sketch last season when the show was shooting remotely. Hosting this evening was Regé-Jean Page, from Netflix’s Bridgerton.
Bad Bunny is nominated for multiple Grammy Awards this year, including Best Latin Pop Album for YHLQMDLG, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Un Dia (One Day)” with J Balvin, Dua Lipa, and Tainy. At the 2020 Latin Grammy Awards, Bad Bunny took home the award for Best Reggaeton performance and in 2019 won for Best Urban Music Album.
For the first performance of the night, Bad Bunny sang “La Noche de Anoche,” joined by nuevo flamenco singer Rosalía. The music video for the song off 2020’s El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo dropped last week, an album which made history for Bad Bunny as the first all-Spanish-language album to hit #1 on Billboard’s Top 200.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yb4HX5gwqI
Bad Bunny also made an appearance in the musical sketch “Loco,” serving as a hallucination for stir crazy cast member Ego Nwodim as she revisits how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected her life.
Bad Bunny’s second song of the night was “Te Deseo lo Mejor,” also off 2020’s El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo. Translated as “I Wish You the Best,” Bad Bunny performed the track on The Late Show with James Cordon this past December.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPEwYnAQQOg
Saturday Night Live returns on February 27 with host and musical guest, Nick Jonas.
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 to hear new music from Ferriday, Eion Noonan 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.
This week’s featured band is Albany’s Ferriday, where Pearson will be playing four in a row off of Everywhere You Go. Ferriday’s tunes are straight forward pure rock and roll indulgence with unique lyrical stories. They stand alone as individual singles yet also work cohesively flowing from one tune and vibe to the next. The playing from all the members is excellent, with note choices, song treatments, guitar tones, down to bass drum use, are very well put together for a well honed sound.
Also featured is Irish-born Vermont resident, Eoin Noonan, and his beautiful tune, “Lovin’.” Eoin continues to create original and inspiring music that alternates between indie rock, country and folk music.
Noonan has excellent song crafting and performance, with a great mood set forth in this piece of music. The march tempo and catchy lyrics, make “Lovin’” a creative single that inspires a desire to hear more from this Irish transplant now finding an artistic home in Vermont.
Vevo has revealed Brooklyn emcee Sheff G as the latest artist to get spotlighted in their Ctrl series, with performances of “Eeny Meany Miny Moe” and “Lights On” from his 2020 project, Proud Of Me Now.
Vevo’s Ctrl series highlights the work of hard-hitting, cutting-edge musicians making an impact in today’s music scene – both emerging and established. These artists demand attention, and Vevo’s Ctrl shines a deserving spotlight. Sheff G’s performance follows sessions from Rick Ross, Common, Rapsody, Fat Joe, Jeezy, Jadakiss, Fabolous, A$AP Ferg and more.
From the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, Sheff G — born, Michael Williams — gained recognition for his 2017 drill record “No Suburban.” The song’s popularity — along with a slew of other popular drill songs — helped usher in a new era of rappers from the borough and spotlighted the gang activity that often served as the pre-cursor to the music.
Following the success of “No Suburban,” Sheff G released his much-heralded debut mixtape, The Unluccy Luccy Kid. The project contained popular records like “We Getting Money,” “Flows” and “Designer,” with the latter two featuring friend and frequent collaborator, Sleepy Hallow.
Williams released his next project One and Only in May 2020, and Proud Of Me Now, which includes “Eeny Meany Miny Moe,” in December. He rounded out the year with singles “Light On” and “No Negotiations.” Donning a blue bandana themed shirt and pants, Sheff G’s live performances is a continuation of the rapper’s progression from homegrown talent to bonafide star. In usual Sheff G fashion, both records are thumping and assertive, displaying his fearlessness and bravado on the streets through his music.
In episode 111, Ben of Rochester Groovecast shares nostalgic memories with Matt Green, Entertainment Director and Co-Owner of Flour City Station.
“Flour City Station is located at 170 East Avenue, in Rochester, NY. Rochester is steeped in music tradition; from the Eastman School of Music just down the street, to the longstanding music festivals such as the Jazz Festival, East End Fest, Fringe Fest and Party in the Park. Flour City Station (FCS) provides its customers with a unique and friendly environment for enjoying the best live music Rochester has to offer. We are set up to accommodate musicians with a state-of-the-art sound system. We cater to a wide base of genres of music featuring both local performers and nationally touring acts. With our friendly, accommodating staff, the Station offers an experience to patrons that is unrivaled by any other establishment in Rochester. We offer customers a safe, friendly social atmosphere where they can catch up with old friends, meet new ones, and enjoy premium live music. Simply put…we are all about the bands, the fans and the experience!”
Timestamp:
00:31: “Nasty Old Man” by The Honey Smugglers
04:27: Episode Introduction
05:30: Conversation with Ben and Matt
33:24: “September Doves” by Lost Dog Street Band, live at Flour City Station
At Rochester Groovecast, the mantra “We’re Fans First!” harnesses the belief that the best businesses are built by fans. The podcast is deeply dedicated to playing an active role in the culture of its local scene.
The brainchild of Rochester native, Ben Albert, was created in 2016 to serve as a portfolio of the city, and nowadays, the entire region.
The podcast believes in the artistic brilliance abundant in Rochester, NY, and the surrounding regions. Ben seeks to play a pivotal role in our community by helping give Rochester a well-earned voice. He has seen first hand the abundance of talent, character, creativity, innovation, and beauty the Flower City has continuously offered.
On February 3rd, Brooklyn-based electronic rock artist White Cliffs (Rafe Cohan) released an endearing claymation music video accompanying his newest single, “Just Like You.” Garnering a lot of attention from fans to art enjoyers alike, the video is impressively mesmerizing and perfectly captures the feeling of imposter syndrome. The single kicks off the beginning of his upcoming EP, Stockholm, to be released February 19th.
The music video is directed, produced and edited by Rafe Cohan himself and features two clay creatures, identical except for color, that are constantly molding themselves into vibrant animations and dancing around each other. Previously having expressed his struggle with accepting his true self, Cohan created a perfect visual aid to his music and the message he wants to send.
I wrote the song about our playful and hypocritical struggle with accepting our true selves. And that struggle is just a part of pursuing a career as a musician… You’re constantly drawing this attention to your project, and in the process, you end up learning quite a bit about yourself, both good and bad. Usually, you experience some denial or imposter syndrome, but after time passes, you are left with acceptance.
Rafe Cohen, on the meaning behind “Just Like You”
With this track, the artist set out to challenge conformity and use unconventional means, such as a Roland organ/strings synthesizer that allowed him to experiment at the base level, the underlying chords. This idea alongside an unorthodox topic and video meshes together beautifully to create a sense of ease and nostalgia.
This week’s Saturday Night Live featured Oscar winning Actress Regina King, now nominated for Best Director for One Night in Miami, and musical guest Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats.
Nathaniel Rateliff performed “Redemption” for his first song of the night, which was recorded for the upcoming Justin Timberlake movie Palmer. Timberlake, along with director Fisher Stevens, asked Rateliff to record the song for the film. Rateliff started the song solo, then was joined by a trio of backup singers and a full band who joined in.
For the second song of the night, Rateliff sang the solo track “A Little Honey” from his band’s 2018 album Tearing at the Seams. With the line “I need you, baby / More than you’ll ever, ever know,” Rateliff gave a nod to Valentine’s Day.
Rateliff earned an Album of the Year nomination at the 2020 Americana Honors & Awards for And It’s Still Alright.
