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 The Bitter Stars, Modern Fools 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 artist on EQXposure is The Bitter Stars, from Charlton in Saratoga County. Their release Winters is a side project of the band doOojj, featuring Clarke Hingeford and Kyle Pemrick. The music is very clever, a unique take on what pop rock music can and perhaps should be. Excellent guitar tones, with powerful sonic treatments that rip across the aural spectrum providing a very cool repetitious base for the songs to be built on.
Greg Farley is a modern day renaissance man who also happens to write beautiful songs. While the phrase Alt-Country might be a little inappropriate to describe the music, these roots based songs are personal, suggestive, and enriching. The first cut off the record, “Hoosick Falls” has a hopeful sense while being deliberately truthful. The back up band on the session provides a subtle power to the tune that further leaves an impression on the listener, beckoning another spin or two.
Modern Fools from New Hampshire have some very cool music coming out of lockdown recording sessions. The forthcoming release of their work, Seer, is harmonically rich and steeped with heavy emotional content, aided by truly excellent performance of the songs by the band. While the lyrics and melody are haunting they soar right into the ear and stay awhile.
Dawes have announced a fall tour in support of their new album Good Luck with Whatever, beginning in early September 2021.
Good Luck with Whatever is Dawes’ seventh studio LP and was produced by 6x GRAMMY® Award-winner Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit) at Nashville’s famed RCA Studio A. The new album received critical acclaim as well as performances on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzc16xo6pho
Leg 1
SEPTEMBER 9 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall 10 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern 13 – Durham, NC – Carolina Theatre 14 – Richmond, VA – The National 15 – Washington, DC – Warner Theatre 17 – New York, NY – Central Park Summerstage 18 – Boston, MA – Orpheum 21 – Toronto, ON – Phoenix Theatre 23 – Pittsburgh, PA – TBD 24 – Harrisburg, PA – Harrisburg University 25 – Grand Rapids, MI – Calvin College 26 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre 28 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room 30 – Auburn, AL – Auburn University Amphitheatre
OCTOBER 2 – Nashville, TN – The Ryman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO802GtaBcw
Leg 2
NOVEMBER 17 – Vancouver, BC – The Vogue 18 – Seattle, WA – Showbox 19 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom 21 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Fremont Theater 22 & 23 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up 26 & 27 – Los Angels, CA – Fonda Theatre 28 – San Francisco, CA – Fillmore 30 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Commonwealth
DECEMBER 1 – Fort Collins, CO – TBD 3 – Minneapolis, MN – First Ave 4 – Chicago, IL – The Vic 5 – Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theatre 7 – Louisville, KY – Headliners 8 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant 10 – Dallas, TX – McFarlin Memorial Auditorium 11 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s 12 – Houston, TX – Heights Theater
Albany-based artist Gavin Preller excitedly announced his debut album: There is Wonder. The project is being mastered by Kramer and is set to be released on May 21st via Shimmy-Disc/Joyful Noise Recordings.
There Is Wonder was written and recorded between the months of October 2020 and February 2021 in Preller’s home town of Bethlehem, New York. Preller wrote, arranged, and performed every song from a basic basement setup in his parent’s home – except for drums on two tracks, which were recorded by Leor Manelis. Initially, Preller wrote and recorded the first six tracks before sending it to his iconic producer Kramer for mastering, Preller was them unexpectedly signed to the Shimmy-Disc label and encouraged to expand the six songs into a full record.
It’s hard not to hear flares of the likes of Sufjan Stevens and Jeff Buckley, proof of just how much Preller’s vocals are truly captivating.
Variance
Gavin Preller began studying classical piano at the age of 3, later picking up guitar at ten years old. In 2019 he attended Berklee College of Music before dropping out after one year to live in an agricultural community in Southern France. Back in the States in February, 2020, Preller took his backpack and acoustic guitar on a cross-country train to Portland, OR. He was living by himself in a used van, without a job, using a nearby Planet Fitness for showers, when Covid hit. That March, he sold the van and returned to his parent’s home in Upstate New York where he has been working on new music ever since.
Bandits on the Run, hailing from New York City, premiere their brand new music video today for their song “Hurricane” on NYS Music.
A powerhouse trio, Bandits on the Run was formed in New York City. Adrian Blake Enscoe serves as both guitarist and percussion section, using a suitcase drum and foot tambourine. Sydney Shepherd is the cellist and writes string arrangements. Regina Strayhorn is the accordionist, melodica player, glockenspieler, and plays a mean shakey banana.
They have appeared at the ASCAP Cafe Stage at Sundance, shared the bill with artists like Aaron Lee Tasjan, Rain Phoenix, and Matt Berninger of The National. They’d been selected for SXSW 2020 and built a tour that included an appearance at The Kennedy Center and an opening slot for Larkin Poe at NYC’s famed Webster Hall, before the pandemic struck down the best-laid plans of every mouse and man ‘round the globe.
“Hurricane” is one of the singles off of their upcoming EP Now Is The Time which is dropping on May 21, 2021. This video has a much more conceptual approach than their other videos which is something the band was attempting to do. The video not only highlights the group’s musical ability but their artistic vision. Between the overlaid colors, fluid dance moves, harmonies, and the swoopy white dress, the video definitely gives off some early Florence + the Machine vibes.
For the video the band enlistment of choreographer and director Lane Halperin who helped create a clear and powerful and compelling story that resonates with the song’s message and meaning. The video also used images from filmmaker and visual artist Ian McClerin that were projected on the wall, their faces, and on the big white dress. They used these images in tandem with the dance and movement to enhance the dreamlike and subconscious atmosphere of the story.
The music video was produced by Bandits on the Run who also served as the production company. It was filmed, colored, and edited by Bart Cortright. It featured Lane Halperin and Landes Dixon as dancers. Grace Pendelton was the camera assistant and Chris Weihert the First Assistant director. The band also gives special thanks to Luke Slattery, Sophia Schrank, Rebecca Handler & Ruby Bird Studios for their help with the video.
For more information on Bandits on the Run visit their website.
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.
This is the first article in the series “Made in New York,” a historical examination of the music history of each of New York’s 62 counties. First up – Orange County.
Welcome to Orange County, New York! This stretch of land is the first county in the United States to be named Orange and it shares this name with seven others throughout the country. Located between the Hudson and Delaware Rivers, this area which was first named in 1683 is full of natural and historical wonders.
The county’s highest elevation is located at Schunemunk Mountain and its lowest point is at the mighty Hudson River. The Wallkill River National Refuge is home to the smallest turtle in New York and this is just up the road from the Black Dirt Region in Southern Orange County, which accounts for half of the onions grown in New York State. Additionally, the black dirt here has an uncanny ability to preserve the past and more mastodon bones have been uncovered in this area than anywhere else on Earth.
Some of the history in this area is well-known by all, but this county has a surprising amount of it, some of which many people may not be aware. West Point Military Academy, which opened in 1802, is the oldest such school in the U.S. and the first section of the Appalachian Trail was created at Bear Mountain and opened in 1923. But interestingly, Orange County is home to the oldest tree and the oldest carbon-dated human settlement in America.
Orange County has its share of “firsts” as well. It has been home to the first cattle ranch and the first butter factory in America and also the world’s first homeopathic mental hospital. And who can forget America’s first liquid propelled airmail rocket flight which occurred at Greenwood Lake in 1936.
This county has a few more facts that just need to be shared. Stewart International Airport has a runway long enough to designate it as an emergency landing site for the now-defunct space shuttle. Brotherhood Winery is the oldest continuously operating winery in the country and Storm King Art Center is the largest sculpture park in the country. And finally, cream cheese was first mass-produced in Chester, NY and despite being made in New York, they named their product ‘Philadelphia Cream Cheese’ and through clever marketing, got its name because the Pennsylvania city was known for quality dairy farming.
But you didn’t come to NYS Music to learn about cheese and turtles; you’re here to learn about what Orange County has to offer to the music community.
The Ritz Theater in Newburgh is one of the most famous musical venues in the county and has been graced by performances from Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Prima and a then unknown singer named Frank Sinatra. It also, famously, is the venue where Lucille Ball made her on-stage debut and it was also the first time she performed with Desi Arnaz. On the other side of the county, Port Jarvis used to be the home of the State Theater. In its last year of operation, the venue featured both Anthrax and Metallica.
SONY DSC
In between these two cities, Middletown is home to the Paramount Theater which was added to the State & National Register of Historic Places in 2002. This venue has seen Johnny Cash, Joan Jett, Jefferson Starship and Blue Oyster Cult play for sold out audiences. And while we can’t touch on every venue in the county, one final notable haunt is the BSP Lounge in Kingston. This place was a featured location during King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s second U.S. Tour in 2014.
There are plenty of musicians who have called Orange County their home. Let’s take a look at the many bands and artists from the area.
Willie “The Lion” Smith
17th February 1939: American jazz musician Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith playing the piano and singing at a ‘Friday Club’ jam session, organized by Eddie Condon and ad-men P. Smith and E. Anderson, at the Park Lane Hotel, New York City. (Photo by Charles Peterson/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Jazz music wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for one particular resident of Orange County. Willie “The Lion” Smith was born in Goshen, NY in 1893. In his younger years, he discovered his mothers broken down organ in the basement and she taught him all of the melodies she knew, despite the instrument missing most of its keys. He started playing music at local clubs as he got older and one day he discovered a newspaper advertisement for Marshall & Wendell’s piano store in Albany with a contest to guess how many dots were printed in their ad. After winning the contest, an upright piano was delivered to his house and he continued to play various rags that he learned in those clubs.
In his late teens, he was finally playing in NYC and Atlantic City before serving in World War 1 where his reported bravery as a gunner earned him the nickname “The Lion.” He was back playing clubs in NYC by 1919 and not only made his first record a year later but helped develop a new piano style that is now known as “stride.” That record in 1920, called Crazy Blues, recorded with a singer named Mamie Smith, is generally regarded as the first recording of the blues.
During this time, Smith became a mentor for many up-and-coming musicians, most notably Duke Ellington. Duke was once quoted saying, “Willie The Lion was the greatest influence of all the great jazz piano players who have come along. He has a beat that stays in the mind.”
Orange County celebrates Willie “The Lion” Smith Day on September 18.
The Kalin Twins
Hal and Herbie Kalin were born in Port Jervis on February 16, 1934. Although they wouldn’t become stars until their late 20’s, their first “performance” together was at the town’s Christmas party when they were both five years old. At the age of 18, Hal was drafted into the U.S. Army and he and his brother kept in contact during his service, sharing songs they had written and writing about future plans to make it big in the music industry.
The twins were signed to the Decca Records label after Hal’s return and although their first songs failed to chart, they did appear on the Milt Grant Show and performed live. It wasn’t until searching through a bunch of demo tapes from writers that they discovered the song “When,” which they thought would be a hit. Released as a B-side on their single “Three O’Clock Thrill,” “When” eventually peaked at #5 on the Hot 100 charts and made it to #1 on the UK Singles chart and also #1 on the US R&B chart. They weren’t one-hit-wonders though as they had a number of other charting tracks including “Forget Me Not,” which reached #12 on the Hot 100.
Pardison Fontaine
Jorden Thorpe, better known as Pardison Fontaine, was born in Newburgh, NY in 1989. At an early age, he started rapping on his Talkboy and decided during his college years to drop out and commit fully to his hip-hop aspirations. He first gained acclaim with his 2013 song, “Oyyy” from his debut mixtape titled ‘Not Supposed to Be Here’ and filmed the music video for the track in his hometown. This song caught the attention of Cardi B and Pardison has since contributed as a songwriter to her for numerous songs, most famously her single “Bodak Yellow.”
Cardi was also featured on Pardison’s breakout hit “Backin It Up,” which hit #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and has garnered over 166 million views on YouTube. Pardi has co-wrote with Kanye West on more than half of the songs on Kanye’s 2018 album, Ye, including “Violent Crimes” and “Ghost Town.” In addition to these, Pardison co-wrote the track “South of the Border” on Ed Sheeran’s No.6 Collaborations Project.
Pardison still represents his roots in Newburgh and loves giving back to the community. He has donated jerseys to the local Newburgh Steelers football team, participated in a turkey drive and also a bookbag giveaway to help local school children. His new album, Under8ed, was released in November of 2019 which he has described as “the story of my city.”
pErFect ThYroID
Throughout the 90s, one band in particular made waves throughout the Hudson Valley with its new brand of musical fusion, fun live shows and of course, it’s infamous Skunk logo. Hailing from Orange and Ulster County, Perfect Thyroid was formed in 1991 and while its lineup changed throughout the years, the band originally consisted of brothers Chris and Bill Hanson, Chris Snykus, Jaf Farkas, Shawn Rice and Jen Polcari. Combining the ska, funk and punk, reggae and jazz genres into their musical stylings, Thyroid became well known for calling this new sound “Skunk”.
PT toured full-time for over 20 years and put out 5 albums during that time, including “Musical Barnacles,” which Alternative Press selected as a “Ska-Punk Essential Album.” They were also featured on the soundtrack for the 1998 Disney movie, Meet The Deedles. Throughout the tenure over the last 2 decades, they’ve had a plethora of incredible musicians join them in studio and on stage, including Dean Jones, Joe Cuchelo, Jason Foster, Mike Bove, Jon Stern, Sam Lapidus, Sean McLaughlin, Ben Acrish and Goshen’s own Shane Kirsch.
While the band has still played occasional shows throughout the last decade, most of the current lineup can also been seen in another area band called The Big Shoe. The members of Perfect Thyroid continue to call the Hudson Valley their home and will always be a shining example of what bands from New York State bring to live music scene.
William Fullerton Jr
William was born in Newburgh in 1854 and was the only son of William Fullerton, a famous New York lawyer. At age 17, he published‘Silver Strains’ which is now located in the Library of Congress. He left for Europe to study music in Germany and ended up living in London where he published a number of popular compositions that were dedicated to members of the Royal family. During his time in London, he lived with a famous painter and stage designer named Percy Anderson and these two would go on to have success with the opera named ‘Lady of the Locket.’ Following this, he set to work with Anderson on another light opera titled ‘Waldemar: Robber of the Rhine’ before succumbing to tuberculosis in 1888. While many of his works have been lost to history, ‘Spanish Serenade’ still exists online and can be heard below.
Dubois Alsdorf
Newburgh has a rich history of music and dance over the last century and a half, and that is thanks to the Alsdorf Dance Academy. Dubois Alsdorf was born in Wallkill, NY in 1827 to parents George and Catherine. At an early age, he showed a talent for music which he received from his father George and his parents sent him to New York City to begin an apprenticeship. Studying under famed orchestra leader and composer William Alpo, Dubois learned from Alpo’s musical experiences playing with Francis Johnson. Johnson was the first American musician to tour Europe and introduced the U.S. to the idea of open-air concerts, which had a lasting impression on Dubois. After his apprenticeship, Dubois formed one of the first regional brass bands, the Alsdorf Band, which according to the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands, made their debut on the Courthouse steps of Newburgh in 1849.
Alsdorf also began his own orchestra which played in prominent vacation spots like Lake George and Saratoga Springs and locally for dance classes, which gave him the opportunity to learn dance instruction. This set the stage for him to open the Alsdorf Dance Academy, whose first location was in Newburgh’s own United States Hotel. The school was soon teaching dance to the people of Newburgh and Orange County alike and this history of dance education continued as his three sons followed in his footsteps. Charles, Simon and Ulysses Alsdorf taught at the Dance Academy at 93 Liberty Street in Newburgh, which featured a grand ballroom and rooftop garden for public performances. The first soiree at the Alsdorf Academy took place in 1849, but the Dubois family continued this tradition for nearly a century, teaching Newburghers dance and music for generations.
The Heavy Pets
The Heavy Pets are considered a Florida-based band through and through, but their roots run deep in Orange County. Guitarists Jeff Lloyd and Mike Garulli as well as Bassist Joe Dupell became friends while going to high school in Goshen, NY and formed a band named Anthem before starting the first iteration of The Heavy Pets. College sadly got in the way of music, but once that was done, Dupell invited Lloyd down to visit him in Florida. Shortly after his arrival, Garulli came down as well, setting the stage for The Heavy Pets to reform.
Their first show in South Florida occurred in 2005 and the next few years were nothing short of exceptional for the band. In a 2006 contest to select a local band to play the Langerado Music Festival in Florida, The Heavy Pets beat out 350 other bands and were on the same lineup as The Flaming Lips, The Disco Biscuits and Robert Randolph. Two months later they were selected as the “Unsigned Band of the Week” by High Times Magazine. The following year, they put out their first album, Whale, and have released seven additional albums since then.
While the band’s lineup has changed slightly over the years, their love for playing live shows and especially music festivals has not. The Heavy Pets have played more than a dozen different festivals and over 1,000 live shows since 2005 and have even held their own fest, Pet Zoo, three times in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Corey Glover
Corey Glover, best known for his work with Living Colour and also for touring with Galactic wasn’t born in Orange County, but he re-located there in the last decade. While you may recognize his face from the movie Platoon, Glover’s voice is known the world over from Living Colour’s hit 1988 song “Cult of Personality.” Glover has also been in such bands as SKAndalous All-Stars and Vice and has even toured as a vocalist with the “A Bowie Celebration” Alumni Tour.
During the beginning of the last decade, Glover started playing with a number of jam bands. He sang with Robert Randolph as well as Soulive for a number of shows and also toured as a vocalist with Galactic from 2011-2014 after seeing them at Irving Plaza in NYC and joining them on stage at that show. He is still touring with Living Colour and most recently started two new bands. He started Ultraphonix with Dokken guitarist George Lynch and a metal project called Disciples of Verity with former members from Negative Sky and God Forbid.
So there you have it. Orange County has, without a doubt, a rich heritage of musicians and venues and an impressive amount of history surrounding it. From rock to hip-hop, the Hudson River to the Delaware River and the Philadelphia Cream Cheese company to the country’s first rocket-propelled airmail test. The contributions from the residents in this county can’t be glossed over and it’ll be a standard that you’ll find throughout our series on the Counties within New York State. Next up, CortlandCounty!
St. Vincent took to the Studio 8H stage this week as Saturday Night Live‘s musical guest, with Judas and the Black Messiah star Daniel Kaluuya serving as SNL host. St. Vincent, (real name Annie Clark) will release her seventh studio album Daddy’s Home on May 14.
TONIGHT I’ll be playing songs from my upcoming album #DaddysHome which hits the streets May 14th! #SNL
The episode opened with Chloe Fineman’s take on Britney Spears, who tackled Lil Nas X’s Satan shoes, Pepé Le Pew’s removal from Space Jam 2 and Rep. Matt Gaetz’ sex scandals. While Britney was sympathetic to Lil Nas X, she deemed Le Pew and Gaetz “not that innocent.”
St. Vincent’s first song of the night was her lead single, “Pay Your Way in Pain.” The funk track is a love letter to the 1970s, channeling Prince, David Bowie and the sounds of Studio 54. At the end of the performance Clark revealed the word “Daddy” on the back of her jacket, in reference to her upcoming album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeHnPfIEyss
“Pay Your Way in Pain” was co-written by Jack Antonoff, who previously worked with Clark on her last album Masseduction. The two also shared writing credits on Taylor Swift’s 2019 song “Cruel Summer.”
Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, St Vincent, Lorde, and Carly Rae Jepsen passing Jack Antonoff around for their next albums pic.twitter.com/Tm1ATdMf6Y
This isn’t the first time St. Vincent has played SNL; back in 2014, she played the gig to extremely mixed reception. It’s not surprising: like Fiona Apple or Björk, Clark’s sound is an acquired taste that cares little for accessibility. All are undeniably talented, but easily jarring to unfamiliar listeners.
St. Vincent closed out the night with her new single, “The Melting of the Sun,” whose lyrics reference Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos, and Nina Simone. Clark’s backup singers nearly stole the show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baklAZ2Rrt4
SNL returns next week, April 10, hosted by Promising Young Woman star Carey Mulligan with Kid Cudi as the musical guest.
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.
On March 26th, Voorheesville-local Annie Scherer dropped her debut indie-pop album, an introspective collection of songs titled Garden Bed.
Photo credit: Sherry Kocienski
In the album, Scherer dives deep into her emotions, with each song tackling a different point in Annie’s life where she had to overcome hardship and ultimately grow as a person.
On each track, Annie takes the listener on an emotional journey, inviting them along on sonically exhilarating ride that expands as the album progresses.
We spoke with Annie and asked her a few questions about Garden Bed:
Aaron Ginsburg: The themes of your album have a lot to do with being introspective. Has COVID-19 given you time to be more introspective, and in what ways has it affected your creative process?
Annie Scherer: I’ve had a lot of time with my thoughts, which was mostly a good thing. I was finally able to relax and take a step back, which I never allow myself to do. At the beginning of quarantine, I had a hard time finding inspiration and seeking out creativity. But I also used the time I was given to find my sound and record my album. AG: What artists have had the biggest influence on you, and can we hear any of their influence in your album Garden Bed?
AS: Artists who use a lot of visuals in their songs are always among my favorites, as are those who write tangible lyrics and catchy melodies. I really enjoy alternative artists, such as Lana Del Rey and Lorde, whose influence can be heard in my instrumentation. I also love the memorable melodies of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.
AG: As a musician during the pandemic, it must be difficult to get the same quality of outside feedback on your work due to the fact that you can’t play live and can’t gather in large groups. Has that been a problem for you?
AS: The pandemic has forced us to rely on social media, which is not a great way to get feedback. I never know if people are sick of seeing my promotional posts, but I don’t really have a choice nor do I let that stop me. Live music is nice because you’re surrounded by people who support you. It becomes a symbiotic experience.
AG: What do you want your listeners to feel when listening to your album Garden Bed?
AS: I want listeners to feel a mix of emotions when they hear my music. “Skyline” should arouse feelings of sentimentality, while I hope they feel inspired when they hear “Phases Grow.” All my songs were written to create an emotional response.
AG: What do you have in store for us next? Do you have a musical direction you are aiming to go to?
AS: I already have a vision for my next album. Garden Bed mostly consists of a brighter tonality, and lots of it is acoustic and light. The next one is likely to have darker and more minor elements. The contrast and change in theme will enrich the musical experience for my listeners.
“Andy Warhol,” a single from Garden Bed.
The tracks on Garden Bed were primarily written and produced by Annie in collaboration with David Finch, Aidan Sloppy, Kyle Robinson, Ryan Davis, Maggie Roberts, Ben Grant, Tom Evans, Brenden Beaver, Ali Genevich, Rosemary Michaud and Elizabeth Miller.
Over a period of three months, Annie recorded her vocals and digital instruments in her mother’s home. She hopes the music will resonate with listeners and inspire them to persevere through their own hardships.
You can listen to Garden Bed, as well as other work by Annie Scherer, on all streaming platforms and on her website.
Acid Dad have shared their new track “BBQ” off their sophomore album Take It From The Dead, due out on June 11, 2021
“BBQ” Single Artwork
The rock band hails from Bushwick and is composed of singer-guitarists Vaughn Hunt and Sean Fahey, and drummer Trevor Mustoe. Vaughn first started recording the band in his Bushwick apartment. Playing live in the New York City rock scene in 2016, Acid Dad quickly moved to a world stage with their self-titled debut album, released by Greenway Records in 2018.
Over 2020, Acid Dad rented studio time in Queens as well as built their own guitars. They also independently produce their music. This creativity and innovation led to their second LP Take It From The Dead. The record features a variety of influences ranging from 90’s neo-psych, modern post-punk, and 70’s rock. Their sound meanders the perfect musical boundary of brand-new and nostalgic.
The new album is accompanied by psychedelic and glitchy art videos in a collaboration with video artist Webb Hunt, adding an otherworldly visual counterpart to their dreamy music.
Artwork in collaboration with artist Webb Hunt
Listen to Acid Dad and their new track “BBQ” here. Watch the visualizer for the single here. Find out more information about Acid Dad at their website.
