NYS Music 202​1

Category: Media

  • New Music from Luminous Crush featured on EQXposure

    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 Luminous Crush, Allyson Smith and many more!

    Luminous Crush

    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 EQXPosure puts a spotlight on a variety of local artists from across the 518 and Western New England.

    The latest from Luminous Crush, “Radio Kills Zombies” has a haunting refrain with a smooth underlying groove, with imagery of the Cuba Gooding, Jr. film Radio attached. The Vermont band is fronted by Laura Molinelli and Ben Campbell. With Christian Heins (bass), Brad Waugaman (keyboard) and Paul Carroccio (drums), they form a quintet that focuses on original dreamlike pop and rock vignettes. Their music has been hailed as “fearless and original” by Dan Bolles, music editor at Seven Days.

    https://soundcloud.com/luminous-crush/radio-kills-zombies

    Allyson Smith a singer-songwriter from Albany has recently released “The Waves.” Her songs weave together inner and outer worlds by juxtaposing emotional and spiritual experiences with keen environmental observations. The Collaborative Magazine boasts of Smith having “powerful songwriting, full of goose-bump raising lines and beautifully dark imagery.”

    You’ll also catch brand new songs from Jade Relics’ freshly released collaboration between Elder Orange, Iame, and Rico James “With You,” United Crates/The Vinylcologist, Older Zealous AKA OJ, “Vodka and Polar,” and a new release from the Bathrobe Robots, “Alt-War.”

    EQXposure will start the evening with two songs in a row for an hour from Ferriday, Dryer, Postage, Fine Grain, Laveda, Bear Grass , Victory Soul Orchestra and TIP the Band.

  • String Cheese Incident Pay Homage to Tony Rice with “Old Train” Cover

    On January 14th, 2021, The String Cheese Incident released a heartwarming cover of the Tony Rice classic “Old Train,” paying homage to the bluegrass legend and his untimely death. The tribute begins with a short and sweet message thanking Tony Rice for his “incredible gift of music,” and acts as a promise to carry Rice’s legacy onwards.

    tony rice old train
    The String Cheese Incident performing

    David Anthony Rice was born in Danville, Virginia, on June 8th, 1951, before moving across the country to Los Angelos, first introducing Rice to the concept of bluegrass. Through this move, he discovered his first big influences, guitarists Clarence White and the Kentucky Colonels, and his immense passion for music only grew stronger throughout his upbringing.

    Tony Rice’s guitar playing shaped a generation of musicians. His impeccable tone, taste and timing were unmatched and highly regarded by players and listeners alike. We are very fortunate to have so many great recordings of his life’s work. If you haven’t had the pleasure of hearing him perform, check out the Tony Rice Unit and David Grisman Quintet albums. I recommend you start with the album “Manzanita.” We’ll never forget you, Tony!

    Bill Nershi

    He experienced his first big break when he moved back East to pursue playing professionally, joining iconic banjo player J.D. Crowe’s band, the New South, and releasing an album together in 1975; J.D. Crowe and the New South. This album was endlessly praised for its progressive sound in the bluegrass era, becoming so well-known among fans to where it was lovingly referred to as Rounder 0044, its record label catalogue number.

    The young guitarist seemed to only get bigger and better, breaking boundaries in the music business. Joining Grisman’s Quintet in San Francisco allowed him to embrace experimentalism within his music, and establish himself as an iconic household name and a legendary guitarist.

    New opportunities of collaborating with John Carlini, Ricky Skaggs, Norman Blake, and Bela Fleck ensured his growing success and recognition, tackling all sorts of musical boundaries before he was unfortunately required to stop singing in the mid-1990s due to muscle tension dysphonia, a condition which constricted the muscles around his voice box. Rice continued to play the guitar with unbridled passion and energy until 2013, when he developed lateral epicondylitis and played his iconic Martin D-28 for the last time to a public audience at the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.

    Tony Rice passed away on Christmas morning at the age of 69, his death first being announced by the International Bluegrass Music Association. The String Cheese Incident shortly followed up with a cover of his song, “Old Train” as a heartfelt goodbye to an inspiring guitarist.

    It is with a heavy heart we say goodbye to one of the most iconic voices and musicians in bluegrass. David Anthony “Tony” Rice passed away, Dec. 25, at his home in Reidsville, NC. Few will ever match his skill and influence. Rest in Peace, Tony.

    @IntlBluegrass on Twitter, 12/26/20

  • Organ Fairchild Release Debut Single “Seepin’”

    January 15, 2021 marks the release of the single, “Seepin’,” from long-time Buffalo jam band veterans Organ Fairchild. While the members of the band have a history on the jam scene dating back 40 years, this is the first original music from the trio.

    Organ Fairchild formed last winter and their debut performance came just before COVID-19 hit the world. Undeterred, the band performed outdoor shows, creating a buzz in Buffalo that was palpable. I caught wind of the band from Buffalo-area friends that saw them perform from a house while fans sat across the road in a socially distanced way. Whatever it takes to get the music out there.

    organ fairchild

    Cited by The Buffalo News as “an incredibly hot new Buffalo band,” Organ Fairchild’s “Seepin’” precedes a full-length album tentatively scheduled for release in May of 2021. The single was mixed by Corey Kertzie (drums and percussion) and Dave Ruch (guitar) and mastered by Alan Evans of Soulive. 

    “Seepin’” features a groovy, funky feel that is right at home in the jam music genre. Joe Bellanti’s soaring organs and keyboard work are transportive. All three members of Organ Fairchild have such a great feel for each other, indicative of their many years experience that most new groups rarely find right away. 

    As the music industry recovers from the setbacks from Covid, keep your eyes out for Organ Fairchild. They’ll be jamming and you’ll be dancing and smiling.

    “Seepin’” is available on all major platforms – Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple, Amazon and YouTube.

  • Watch Selections from Jazz at Chautauqua

    Jazz at Chautauqua is held periodically and has served as host to numerous jazz legends, including Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center, among many others. Jazz lovers have flocked to the western-most county of New York State to watch jazz performances on the shores of Chautauqua Lake

    At the Chautauqua Institution, a blend of arts programming, educational and religious opportunities and recreational activities are available to those who visit the grounds during the year.

    jazz at Chautauqua watch

    The Institution, originally the Chautauqua Lake Sunday School Assembly, was founded in 1874 as an educational experiment in out-of-school, vacation learning. It was successful and broadened almost immediately beyond courses for Sunday school teachers to include academic subjects, music, art and physical education.

    Thanks to Jazz Lives, we feature a selection of performances from 2007, 2008 and 2009 at Chautauqua.

    From the informal Thursday-night sessions at Jazz at Chautauqua on September 14, 2007, featuring Duke Heitger (trumpet), Randy Reinhart (cornet), John Sheridan (piano), Pete Siers (drums) and Frank Tate (string bass), and featuring “the Emperor of Chautauqua,” Joe Boughton, who was involved and yet deplored the aimlessness sometimes prevalent at “jam sessions,” which would lead to his strongest aversion — musicians playing over-familiar repertoire. Featuring “Jazz me Blues,” “I’ve Got the World on a String,” “I Found a New Baby,” “A Brief Etude,” and “Just You Just Me.”

    On September 21, 2008, festival director Joe Boughton had the idea to recreate the Bechet-Spanier Big Four of Blessed Memory (1940, Hot Record Society: Sidney Bechet, Muggsy Spanier, Carmen Mastren, Wellman Braud) with living Masters Bob Wilber (clarinet and soprano), Jon-Erik Kellso (trumpet), Marty Grosz (guitar) and Vince Giordano (string bass).

    Enjoy Fats Waller’s “The Boy in the Boat” and “Squeeze Me” as performed by Bob Wilber (soprano saxophone), Jon-Erik Kellso (trumpet), Marty Grosz (guitar), and Vince Giordano (string bass).

    From September 19, 2009, this performance was sparked by Jon-Erik Kellso’s idea of changing the key for every chorus (Jazz Lives believes between C and Eb). Trumpeter Jon is joined by Tom Pletcher (cornet), Bob Havens (trombone), Bob Reitmeier (clarinet), Dan Block (tenor saxophone), Ehud Asherie (piano), Howard Alden (guitar), Vince Giordano (string bass) and Pete Siers (drums).

    From the third weekend of Jazz at Chautauqua 2009, here is a segment featured ballad medleys. Performing “Memories of You,” “Stardust,” “Prelude to a Kiss,” “Old Folks,” and “If I Had You” are Duke Heitger (trumpet), Andy Schumm (cornet), Dan Barrett (trombone), Scott Robinson (tenor saxophone), Bob Reitmeier (clarinet), Ehud Asherie (piano), Marty Grosz (guitar), Frank Tate (string bass) and Pete Siers (drums).

    From September 17, 2009, a Thursday-night informal session at Jazz at Chautauqua, watch Jon-Erik Kellso (trumpet) Scott Robinson (tenor saxophone), Ehud Asherie (piano), Andy Brown (guitar) and Arnie Kinsella (drums) perform “Runnin’ Wild.”

  • Happy Birthday, Al Schnier

    NYS Music would like to wish a healthy and happy birthday to guitarist Al Schnier who turns 53 years old today. Al, a husband and father of two, first sat in with a band named moe. in 1991 and hasn’t looked back since.

    Al Schnier birthday

    A true New Yorker, Schnier was born in Utica, NY and attended New Hartford Central High School. One of his first musical endeavors was an eighth grade Rush/Neil Young tribute band called Cuttin’ Loose. High school and college at SUNY-Oneonta brought along with it various cover bands. In 1990, while playing in a band called Unclaimed Freight, Al came across a tape from some band from Buffalo called moe. and his life would be forever altered.

    I heard that tape and I thought, ‘This is the kind of band I want to play in.’ … Of course, I never thought I’d be playing with moe., but six months later I ended up moving to Buffalo, and my next introduction to the band was actually sitting in with them.

    Al Schnier
    AL Schnier birthday

    In 1991, Schnier first sat in with the band for a gig at Chicklets House in Buffalo, playing guitar and congas. The following year, after more sit ins and collaborations, Al became a fulltime member of moe. and has been a permanent fixture on his “side” of the stage ever since.

    What’s transpired since is a remarkable recording and touring career that’s still going strong and has seen the band travel the world and play some of the biggest stages and festivals out there. Like any musician, Schnier has also had his fair share of side projects over the years. In 1999, he formed the folk rock band Al and the Transamericans that featured the late Gordon Stone on pedal steel guitar and Strangefolk’s Erik Glockler on bass.

    Al has also self-produced and engineered a solo electronica album titled al.one that came out in 2001. A self-avowed Dead head, he’s also spent some time as one of bassist Phil Lesh’s “friends” for an incarnation of Phil & Friends in 2005. There’s been plenty of other collaborations since as well.

    Schnier was also an original member of the “newgrass” band Floodwood, but has since departed. And he’s also a founding member of the voter registration group Headcount.

    So let’s all raise a glass and cheers to Al Schnier, the birthday boy. Here’s to another trip around the sun and much more music to come.

  • This Week’s EQXposure features After the Fall, Postage and many more

    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 After the Fall, Postage and many more!

    after the fall

    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 EQXPosure puts a spotlight on Albany hardcore, featuring the new song by After the Fall, “I Don’t Want to be Around,” off their latest release Resignation.

    The Albany Hardcore scene is vast, with creative people successfully avoiding the bummer life while stabbing songs across the linear music stream with heart, message, and unabashed, pristine, rock and roll. All of the hallmarks of great bands like Fear, The Vandals, The Circle Jerks, and Bob Mould move the music forward, sustaining all the energy, and could really care less that their music is being played on the radio  – the music is about the moment, the spark, and the infinite aggressive passionate shout.

    EQXposure will also feature four songs by Postage. These quintessential punk blasts take some clever harmonic twists, and the performance of the tunes by the band’s playing is excellent. Enough to hook newcomers to a scene they’ve been missing out on. 

  • Watch Grateful Dead Perform “It’s All Over Now” from Orchard Park 1990

    The latest release in the Grateful Dead video series ‘All The Years Live’ features a performance from Orchard Park, home of the Buffalo Bills. From their July 16, 1990 show, the Dead share a rollicking first set cover of Bobby Womack’s “It’s All Over Now.”

    grateful dead Orchard park

    Grateful Dead historian David Lemieux speaks on the performance:

    When It’s All Over Now first appeared in Grateful Dead sets in 1976, it was the perfect addition to the Bob-sung part of first sets. It was quite a bit different than any other Bob song: not an original, not a blues song, not a cowboy song. When The Last Time arrived in 1990, it was the same feeling, another Bob rocker, although The Last Time bounced around the setlist quite a bit, whereas It’s All Over Now was a first set song.

    The video is directed by Len Dell’Amico and co-produced by Len Dell’Amico and GDP. Click here to read a detailed take on the Grateful Dead opening for Bob Dylan in Orchard Park on July 4, 1986 and here for The Who and The Clash at Rich Stadium in 1982.

    Grateful Dead July 16, 1990 – Orchard Park, NY

    Set 1: Hell in a Bucket, Mississippi Half-Step, Blow Away, Mama Tried, Mexicali Blues, Loose Lucy, It’s All Over Now, High Time, Let it Grow, Don’t Ease Me In

    Set 2: Sugar Magnolia, Scarlet Begonias, Man Smart/Woman Smarter
    Ship of Fools, Truckin’, drums -> The Wheel, Gimme Some Lovin’
    Wharf Rat, Around and Around, Sunshine Daydream

    Encore: Brokedown Palace

  • Goose to release 2019 Buffalo show to benefit Nietzsche’s

    Goose has announced the release of their latest live album, 2019.11.16 Buffalo, NY, from the Connecticut group’s show at Nietzsche’s, Buffalo’s longest-serving music venue. The release is a newly remastered soundboard recording that is now available on all streaming platforms.

    goose buffalo

    Buffalo was a sure highlight for us in 2019. Like a lot of our Fall 2019 shows, it was our first time headlining in town and the show sold out way in advance, so the energy was through the roof. One of my favorite things to do on that tour was survey the crowd, and that night we had people from all over the place, it was really humbling to see that people had traveled just to see us at this small bar in Buffalo, and it turned out to be an absolutely magical night. 

    Peter Anspach

    In addition to the streaming release, the band plans to press select tracks to vinyl, with a 2-LP, eight-track package available for sale through Bandcamp. Collectors will have an opportunity to purchase regular (vinyl only), deluxe (signed postcard + poster), or test pressings at varying price points.

    A portion of proceeds will be donated to Nietzsche’s, as the independent venue continues to weather the multitude of challenges presented by the current pandemic. 

    Without spots like Nietzsche’s, we wouldn’t have gotten our feet off the ground. You need small venues and local scenes to get started as a band. Even if you’re not making much money per gig (which you aren’t), playing shows keeps the momentum up, the enthusiasm high, and allows you to grow musically as a band so you’ll know what you’re doing when and if you make it to larger venues. Let’s go Buffalo!

    Peter Anspach

    The heavy improv of Set 1 features a 14-minute cover of The Wood Brothers‘ “Atlas,” followed by a 20-minute “Arcadia” anbd closed with a 30-minute “Drive.” Set 2 kicks off with “Creatures” and includes covers of Otis Day and the Knights’ “ShamaLamma Ding Dong” and a-ha’s “Take On Me.”

    Vinyl is now on sale as of Noon ET, Friday, January 8. For more information, visit goose.es/buffalo-vinyl.

  • Intrepid Travelers Release Double Single

    Intrepid Travelers are starting the New Year off strong with new music. The Buffalo 6-piece have released a double single, pairing “You Gotta Work” and “Up To You” as they look towards a brighter 2021.

    intrepid travelers double single
    Cover art designed Adam Bronstein

    A Buffalo-based improvisational rock band that has been around since 2013, Intrepid Travelers were revitalized in 2020 with some significant lineup changes. 

    Bassist Zak Beutel was the first new addition, joining founding members Donny Frauenhofer (keys), Brian Calisto (guitar), and Jon Fohl (drums). Shortly after, two more travelers joined the group: Ellen Pieroni, formerly of Folkfaces (saxophone), and former Universe Shark frontman Adam Bronstein (guitar). 

    This new incarnation of Intrepid Travelers has been hitting the pavement hard since the summer, as hard as they can mid-pandemic. The band has been live-streaming the first three Tuesdays of each month as well as select holidays, while working on plenty of new material. The band was able to play a few live shows in the late summer/early fall – including a sold out double header on Halloween at Sportsmens Tavern and a socially-distanced IT Fest – but with the recent shutdown, IT decided to shift their focus to recording. 

    The newly released double single features two tracks, “You Gotta Work” (Pieroni/Frauenhofer) and “Up To You” (Calisto/Beutel/Fohl). Both tracks were recorded entirely at home, with mixing and mastering by Donny Frauenhofer. 

    These two tracks are a great representation of where the band is heading, and the amount of fun we’ve been having together.

    Jon Fohl

    The first track, “You Gotta Work,” a driving, Motown-inspired Lettuce-esque funk tune, will make you dance and leave you feeling empowered, and features dazzling guitar licks by Adam, tasty organ playing by Donny, a percussive bassline by Zak, and Ellen on lead vocals.

    “Up To You” is more introspective, but just as catchy as the first track. You’ll be reeled in by Brian’s acoustic guitar playing, but be sure to stick around for him to shred later in the tune, and Jon displays his vocal abilities singing lead. The production value is especially great on “Up To You,” with congas from special guest Ryan Campbell, fun added background vocals over Brian’s guitar solo, catchy horn lines, and various sound and vocal effects. 

    This recording session was among the most rewarding and creatively fulfilling projects I’ve ever been a part of – self producing these tracks has the band energized and excited for more!

    Adam Bronstein

    The double single is available now on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, YouTube, and Amazon Music. 

  • Best of NYS Music 2020: Best Streams

    Best of 2020 finds The Beacon Jams on the headline for threefold: It took the podium for ‘Best Streaming Series’, ‘Best Charitable Effort,’ and outstanding audience interaction. While we didn’t expect much from such a painstaking year, one thing remains true: music always prevails. The Beacon Jams and Trey also came up countless times in other Best Of categories.

    Best of 2020: Overall Streaming Series

    The Beacon Jams earns the Best of 2020 Streaming series, an eight-week residency featuring acoustic and electric performances from Trey Anastasio, with bonus content and audience interaction. New York City’s historic Beacon Theatre took this on as its first ever virtual residency. Anastasio performed every Friday at 8:00 p.m. ET from October 9, and concluded November 27. The effort streamed exclusively on Twitch.

    With Trey’s name attached, it is hard to believe anything would fall short of ‘Best of.’ Trey is an all-in type of musician, despite being reluctant to create anything virtual. His leap of faith: The Beacon Jams.

    Trey calls The Beacon home. With countless performances at the theatre it was a natural choice. After a crazy two years of touring Anastasio didn’t think live-streaming was necessary. Times changed and he was still creating, with the July release of Lonely Trip, as well as prerecorded SummerStage Jubilee performance and a Jimmy Fallon appearance. While the mass of energy (people) in a live performance is hard to match, Trey was not disappointed with the reaction from The Beacon Jams. In fact, it was overwhelming and inspiring. “I don’t know if I want to play without our community with me,” but we we’re right Trey. We’re right here.

    So much of my work is about getting out of my own way, rather than fighting toward something. The work is to not mess up what already exists. There’s a tsunami of energy happening, and my mind is the impediment.” 

    Trey Anastasio – Homing Beacon, Relix interview
    Best of 2020: Charitable Effort From a Streaming Series

    In true Anastasio fashion, there is always a charity or greater good in mind. With The Beacon Jams, there were two: The WaterWheel Foundation and Divided Sky Fund (DSF). Since 1997 Phish and WaterWheel have been raising money for those in need via touring, while The Divided Sky Fund focuses more on delivering quality care and compassionate treatment for those suffering form alcoholism and addiction. Likewise, all net profit from The Beacon Jams merchandise sales went directly to DSF.

    The Divided Sky Fund crushed their initial goal of $150,000. As the organization inched towards its benchmark with mass fan-donations under $100, large sums (upwards of $15,000) and merchandise sales currently raised over $422,000 dollars. This is again feat in itself, especially during times where fans may have had little money to spend. Anastiaso set the bar high, gave back, and instigated this generous giving-tree lifecycle.

    You can still donate to DSF and aide The Beacon Jams’ efforts via Paypal HERE. Not only is your donation visible, but you can feature a public note or inspiration. A $20.00 donation is auto-populated, but amounts of any kind are more than generous, and can be marked anonymous. They are very close to their new $450,000 goal.

    My hope is that this fund can touch many lives with positive support for addiction recovery. Thank you so much for music each Friday. It became something my girlfriend and I looked forward to every week.

    Chris Strohm – Comments after Donating to DSF
    Best Of 2020: Stream For Audience Interaction

    Twenty-twenty was an odd-egg, but Anastasio opened a Beacon Jam set with “Corona,” interjecting a bit of comic-relief. Music lovers found happiness in all live stream series. It made light of a crude reality around us and social detachment. Livestreams sucked us back into how music should be: a constant, ever-changing dialogue between musicians, instruments and the fans.

    Other Streaming Series in 2020

    Other streaming series were hot on NYS Music’s Best of list from Umphrey’s Mcgee, Aqueous, Goose’s Bingo Tour, Dinner and a Movie, Lotus, Noon Chorus, The Talking Dead and multiple mentions of moe. Share your favorite streams of 2020 with NYS Music.

    Syracuse beat-driven psychedelic jam band, Vaporeyes, took their own flair to a livestream series via Facebook. With over a dozen episodes and a November album release, Cantrips, the band took advantage of live streams to the fullest.

    Catch up on Vaporeyes’ live streams via Facebook

    Heavy hitters moe. rolled with the punches after their drive-in series was shut down due to COVID-19 concerns. The band fired back with a live studio stream from Big Blue, and a saucy full length album stream from The Palace Theatre lobby. If you missed it, you missed out. Click play and get taken away with soaring vocals and unmistaken live-concert energy.

    Red Rocks is magical in its own regard. Add a trippy light-show and cosmic jam band, and well, you see where this is going. Lotus dominated a livestream in two sets and you didn’t have to leave your couch. The 4K livestream sucked us into production. Lotus released Free Swim, a 10-track album on 2xLP Vinyl in August, paired with this event at the Ampitheater as we closed out September.

    Make sure you check out all of your favorite bands and support them during these, still, turbulent times. Stay updated with NYS Music as your #1 source for all things music across New York State and beyond. The Best of 2020 is just beginning. And we promise, once we recap we’ll leave it where it belongs – dead in the past. Thank you to live stream series for keeping us alive.

    Check out photos from The Beacon Jams by Jake Silco
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