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, Girl Blue, 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 is Luminous Crush, celebrating the release of their new creative album Luminous Inc. The duo of Laura Molinelli and Ben Campbell create music defined by Ben as “original bluegrass outlaw country post-punk psychedelic fusion indie dream pop.” Each song is a sonic journey into electric glitch and layers upon layers of instrumental treatment making for some unbelievably interesting music.
Tonight, Pearson will be playing “Stagg,” “Radio Kills Zombies,” “One That Got Away” and “Dragons.” Listen below for a preview of the album.
As we shared yesterday, Girl Blue has released a brand new single called, “Heaven.” A bright acoustic foot tapper describing the dangers of cell-phone addiction. Here is what she says in her own words:
“Heaven” is a light, grooving, harmony-drenched pop track juxtaposed by dark, introspective and sometimes scathing lyrics about cellphone addiction. It makes a statement about how our relationship with technology has come to replace deep connection with spirituality, other people, the earth, and ourselves. The song does this while using very natural and organic instrumentation and production that make you want to bop your head and dance along in spite of yourself.
The Bardavon is excited to announce that they are holding the 48th Annual Hudson Valley Philharmonic String Competition virtually on March 14, 2021 at 3pm. The event will be lived streamed on the Bardavon Youtube channel.
The Hudson Valley Philharmonic String Competition is often credited for launching the careers of world-renowned orchestral and solo string musicians. Many previous winners have gone on to illustrious classical music careers. Previous notables include: violist Marcus Thompson ’67, Boston Chamber Players; violinist Ani Kavafian ’73, Lincoln Center Chamber Players soloist; violinist Adela Pena ’85, Eroica Trio; and violinist Judith Ingolfsson ’96, 1998 Indianapolis International Violin Competition winner.
The judges for this years competition are: Daniel Phillips, a violinist and resident at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center; Lucie Roberts, a violinist and a professor at the Manhattan School of Music and the Mannes College of Music; and Susan Seligman, a cellist and a professor at SUNY New Paltz. The 2021 first-prize winner will receive $4000, a solo performance with the HVP during its 2021-22 Season, and a solo performance at the “Musical Landscapes of Italy” festival in August.
The Bardavon is the oldest continually operating theatre is the state of New York, dating all the way back to 1986. The Bardavon offers affordable, world-class arts education programs, music, dance, theater, Live in HD broadcasts, and classic films for the diverse audiences of the Hudson Valley. The company also partners with others local venues such as the Mid-Hudson Civic Center and Kingston’s Ulster Performing Arts Center.
More information can be found on the Bardavon website.
On February 26th, Brooklyn-based pop artist Love Lola Love dropped a vibrant new single, “How I Do It,” hoping to capture the feeling of self-love in musical form. Described as “straddling the line between brat pop and swagger,” Love Lola Love carries an anti-pop sound that hopes to squash previous misconceptions about the pop genre.
Anyone who’s lived in NYC knows how tough it can be. I def have had a love/hate relationship with it. This song was inspired by Lizzo’s ‘Good As Hell’ which is one of my fav self-love anthems. Living loud with absolutely zero fucks.
Love Lola Love, on “How I Do It”
Alongside Lizzo, some of her musical influences include Charli XCX and Gwen Stefani. Music of hers has landed spots in an Old Navy commercial and a Chanel commercial, the newest addition being “How I Do It” in a Samsung commercial.
Artist Love Lola Love pictured above.
If you as well are in need of a funky pop song that focuses on self-love during the pandemic, this is a must-add to your playlist, and Love Lola Love could be a rising artist that you catch before she blows up. You can keep track of her work on Spotify, where you can listen to “How I do It,” “Bang!,” and “Bold.”
Today, Rochester indie-rockers Old Fame release their second EP Nowhere to Be, a collection of four songs written in response to the pandemic, the media, family disfunction, shame, and division amongst families over politics. Or, as the band puts it, “All the fun stuff!”
On “Act II,” Old Fame demonstrates influences of psychedelic post-rock and emo. Previously, the band released singles “Short Cub” and “Cumberland” with the final track, “Slevin” debuting today with the release of the full EP.
“Short Cub” and “Cumberland” were written in 2019, while “Act II” and “Slevin” were written during the pandemic, thus, neither of the latter two tracks have been performed live. Recorded at Wicked Squid Studios is located in Rochester, the alt-rock tones are impressive, leading to much build-up and flowing seamlessly together.
Old Fame is Ben Armes (vocals, guitar), Doug Kelley (drums), Evan Clark (guitar), Jay Asarese (bass). Members of the band have played in Rochester area projects including Like Vintage, Alberto Alaska, Emulet, and Heavy Lies the Crown.
Listen to the latest EP from Old Fame below or on Bandcamp.
The latest single from the Capital Region songstress Girl Blue, “Heaven” was released today, the second single off her uupcoming full length album, slated for release in Fall 2021. The warm, uplifting single is well timed for spring, with a late 80’s indie-pop feel, and follows “Just a Dream,” the first single, released in February.
“Heaven” was written and produced by Girl Blue and recorded at White Lake Studios in Albany. Girl Blue is joined on the track by Albany’s Dark Honey – Jimi Woodul (electric guitar), Dan Dekalb (piano), Ben Woodul (bass) and Josh Morris (acoustic drums).
The light, grooving, harmony-drenched pop track is juxtaposed by lyrics that are dark, introspective and sometimes scathing about cellphone addiction. Making a statement about how our relationship with technology has come to replace our deep connection with spirituality, other people, the earth, and ourselves, the song will have you singing along and bobbing your head with ease.
Arielle O’Keefe (Girl Blue) satirically celebrates the fact that “No one can stop me from hating myself, nothing can make me forget it,” and deems herself “the queen of my cellphone” in an angelic, serene tone of voice that only hints ever so slightly at the loneliness inherent in those statements.
It has been one year since the 2020 SAMMY Awards took place in Syracuse, at the Palace Theater in Eastwood. So much has changed since that night, with this annual event taking place just two weeks before the music industry, and seemingly the world, shut down.
2020 was certainly a challenging year, especially in the music industry with virtually no concerts taking place and the beginning of live streaming shows as a form of entertainment.
MBK Music Group
A year later, we are starting to see signs of life, with festivals popping up down south and venues getting the green light to let in limited capacity crowds.
The 2020 SAMMY Awards set records for the number of artists submitted, as well as the votes for the winners. The full list of nominees/winners can be seen here. In preparation for the new virtual SAMMY Awards for 2021, check out NYS Music’s photo gallery and revisit the good memories of that night, one that showcases why the Syracuse music scene is one of the best in the state.
On March 12, 2021, alto saxophone icon Miguel Zenón will commemorate Ornette Coleman’s 91st birthday (March 9) with the release of Law Years: The Music of Ornette Coleman.
Recorded in May 2019 after a residency at Bird’s Eye Jazz Club in Basel, Switzerland, the album features Zenón with an international quartet: tenor saxophonist Ariel Bringuez, bassist Demian Cabaud, and drummer Jordi Rossy.
Though the musicians have previous connections with Zenón, they never played together in this particular configuration, the performances display remarkable synergy and intensity.
Playing a concert of exclusively Ornette Coleman music proved to be magical, exciting, and more bittersweet than the quartet knew. Each member of the quartet is a jazz master in their own right, and their expertise is clear to see in these live performances.
Coleman has long been one of Zenón’s musical heroes. The first time he heard Ornette’s music, Zenón was a teenager still living in Puerto Rico.
“I just kind of stood there, mesmerized and in shock, trying to figure it out,” he says. “It was entirely different than anything I had heard before. There is freedom there, and lots of it. But there’s also a deep sense of cohesiveness and structure. And, above all, melody: beautiful and inspired melodic lines that serve as springboards for everyone involved.”
Later, Zenón was fortunate enough to meet Ornette. He remembers their interactions fondly. “He was always nice and supportive,” says Zenón.
“Our interactions went pretty much the same way every time. Me: ‘Mr. Coleman, I’m not sure if you remember me – my name is Miguel, and I’m an alto saxophonist and one of your biggest fans.’ Ornette: ‘Nice to see you, Miguel. Have you ever thought about what would happen if you played A and Eb at the same time?’.”
“As I listen to the music,” says Zenón, “it almost feels like a different time. A time when we weren’t afraid to be close to each other. A time when we could still play in a packed room, with the audience right in front of us, and just feed off their energy. A time that will come back soon enough. And when it does, we’ll be ready to do it all over again.”
A special aspect of the quartet is that each member hails from a different part of the world. “I’m Puerto Rican, Ariel is Cuban, Demian is Argentinian, and Jordi is Catalan,” says Zenón.
“The fact that we are all from different parts of the globe and all Spanish speakers raises another important point: Jazz music knows no boundaries or labels; it is as inclusive now as it has ever been.”
The release will be available digitally on March 12, 2021.
In February of 2014, Paul Simon and Sting began their ‘On Stage Together’ Tour in Houston, TX. The tour traveled across North America, Oceania, and Europe before concluding in Amsterdam in 2015. I was lucky enough to catch one of the shows on my birthday, March 4, 2014, at Madison Square Garden. That made this night even more special than it was already set out to be. The accompanying band was comprised of members of both Simon and Sting’s bands respectively.
“Welcome to our little experiment” Simon said to the crowd early on. After performing the first few songs together, the duo took turns alternating throughout the night, but still sprinkled in a few more songs together before they both took the stage once again for the encore. After the opening duets, Simon left the stage and Sting began his Police heavy solo block with “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic”, Englishman In New York”, “I Hung My Head and “Driven To Tears”. He ended his first set with “Walking on the Moon” which transitioned nicely into Simon’s “Mother and Child Reunion”. After that, Sting left the stage and Simon began his first solo set with “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”. The rest of his set were all hits from his solo career like “Graceland”, “Still Crazy After All These Years” and “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard.”
Before Paul left the stage again, they both did a magnificent cover of Sting’s “Fragile” from his Nothing Like the Sun album. Sting started his next set with a stripped down cover of Simon’s “America”. “Paul has been my mentor and teacher for many, many years” Sting told the audience. He then explained that the song reminded him of when he first came to America. Him, Stewart and Andy rented a station wagon in New York and drove across the country playing in dives and staying in shitty hotels. He said “Even though this song was written a decade before, it still reminds me of that time”. He then continued his set with some more Police classics like “Message in a Bottle” and “Roxanne” along with more solo hits like “They Dance Alone” and “Desert Rose.”
Another highlight of the night is when Simon appeared back on stage and helped end Sting’s set with another duet cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Boxer”. The two sounded amazing as they harmonized on the song that was recorded over 40 years earlier.
For his next set, Paul dusted off the title track to his 1983 album Hearts and Bones as well as his 1991’s percussion driven “The Obvious Child”. I love this song but for some reason it is not a crowd favorite. But, needless to say he quickly reengaged the sold out crowd at The Garden with what is probably his most popular solo song “You Can Call Me Al” to end his final solo set.
The encore began with “Bridge Over Troubled Water” with Sting nailing the high notes on the first verse. Paul sang the second verse before transitioning right into “Every Breath You Take” as well as a vibrant version of “Late in the Evening”.
At this time the band walked off the stage and it appeared the show was about to end, but Simon and Sting then both picked up acoustic guitars and harmonized once again on the Everly Brothers “When Will I Be Loved” that they dedicated to the late Phil Everly.
The show was over three hours long and it was so good that I could have watched the entire performance again. This was one of the best collaborations I have ever seen between two iconic performers coming from different backgrounds and styles.
Paul Simon and Sting, Madison Square Garden, NYC – March 4, 2014
Setlist: Brand New Day@, The Boy in the Bubble@, Fields of Gold@, Every Little Thing She Does is Magic#, Englishman in New York#, I Hung My Head#, Driven to Tears#, Walking on the Moon#, Mother and Child Reunion@, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover*, Dazzling Blue*, Graceland*, Still Crazy After All These Years*, Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard*, Fragile@, America#, Message in a Bottle#, The Hounds of Winter#, They Dance Alone#, Roxanne#, Desert Rose#, The Boxer@, That Was Your Mother*, Hearts and Bones*, Mystery Train*, Wheels*, The Obvious Child*, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes*, You Can Call Me Al*
Encore: Bridge Over Troubled Water@, Every Breath You Take@, Late in the Evening@, When Will I Be Loved?@
On February 26th, singer-songwriter, producer, and guitarist Marc Ribler released “Shattered,” a single from his upcoming solo album The Whole World Awaits You, set to release in June of this year.
Ribler’s unique ability to balance emotion and logic enables him to infuse his music with raw passion laced with a clear-headed understanding of the complexities of life.
“Shattered,” channels the heartbreak rock sound of Tom Petty, but has its own unique twist. Ribler’s guitar playing is outstanding on this track, as well as his vocals. The lyrics are catchy and will have you singing along by the end of the song.
Ribler, music director for Stevie Van Zandt, has written and produced over 40 songs for major label recording artists throughout the world and his songs have charted in Billboard’s Hot 100, with Top 10 hits in Canada and abroad.
He has played with many of the great over the years, including Bruce Springsteen, Carole King, Paul McCartney, Darlene Love, and Elvis Costello to name just a few.
Additionally, he’s written popular jingles for brands like Trojan Condoms, Office Dept, V8 Juices, Bell South, Activia Yogurt and Green Mountain Coffee.
Reflecting on the beginning of his love of music, Ribler recalls, “One of my first memories was at age 5 waking up to the radio alarm clock with WABC pouring out tunes like Donovan’s “Mellow Yellow,” Tommy James’ “Crimson and Clover,” The Beatles’ haunting “She’s Leaving Home” and The Byrds’ rendition of “Mr. Tambourine Man.”
“Those pop ditties melded deep into the fabric of my very being, with great hooks that the artists seemed to be singing straight to my soul.”
“Shattered” and The Whole World Awaits You is co-produced and arranged by Marc Ribler and Stevie Van Zandt and mixed by Ribler.
NYC-based trio Consider the Source released the video for their in-studio performance covering “Exit Music (For A Film)” by Radiohead.
Consider the Source “Exit Music (For A Film) performance
Consider the Source is an instrumental band that formed in 2004. Over time the band members changed but the current members are the guitarist Gabriel Marin, the bassist John Ferrera and drummer Jeff Mann. Over the course of their career, they’ve released several studio albums. Their music style ranges as they receive inspiration from various bands and have studied genres from all over the world.
The band covered Radiohead for the first time years ago. They took on the challenge of performing instrumental arrangements of their songs on sets of shows and festivals, and even a tour with Papadosio. Consider The Source first did a studio performance of Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android” and received a positive reaction. With the mixture of the feedback and feeling like the song matched their sound, the trio decided to go further into covering the notorious rock band.
On March 2 they released their video covering the song “Exit Music (For a Film)” that was originally made for the 1996 rendition of Romeo and Juliet and also appeared on the album OK Computer. They all used their instrumental skills to resemble the compositions within the single. Marin was on the double-neck guitar to imitate the vocals, Ferrera played the bass and the organ and Mann was on the drums and acoustic guitar.
This isn’t the only project the trio has in store for this week. Consider the Source announced that they’re having a free live-streamed concert on March 6. They are performing music from their own catalog on Saturday from the Ardmore Music Hall and giving away a Nate Mclennen poster. The performance consists of two sets and airs at 8 p.m. from Ardmore Music Hall’s website.
