Category: Genres

Ireland’s We Banjo 3 Announce Spring Tour Dates, Holiday Album

Irish acoustic band We Banjo 3 have announced the upcoming release of their first ever holiday album, along with their first American tour dates in nearly two years. A Winter Wonderful, an album featuring holiday tunes from their native country as well as the United States, will be available on all digital music platforms beginning December 3.

In support of this, We Banjo 3 toured the US for the first time in nearly two years throughout the first two weeks of December, and has announced Spring 2022 tour dates, including shows at City Winery in Manhattan, and Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs.

WB3 will host their 2nd annual “A Winter Wonderful” livestream performance on Saturday, December 18 at 8 pm ET. Tickets, including ticket/merch bundles with new seasonal/limited-run offerings, are available at www.webanjo3.com. Each ticket purchase includes on-demand streaming access until New Year’s Day.

The friendships and kinships we’ve experienced on the road all over the world were interwoven into an incredible celebration last year during the pandemic with our livestreamed concerts. The holiday edition, ‘A Winter Wonderful,’ was a particular highlight, so we want to make it an annual tradition. We are so thrilled to return to the U.S. after close to 21 months off the road for our Winter Wonderful tour, which will include very special livestream on December 18^th direct from the Rocky Mountains. Our fans can celebrate the holiday season with our banjo family in venues and in their living rooms.
WB3’s Martin Howley

Since 2012, We Banjo 3 has toured the U.S. several times a year, building a passionate and loyal following. The Galway, Ireland quartet––comprised of two sets of brothers, Enda & Fergal Scahill and Martin & David Howley––have fine-tuned their knack for seamlessly converging the shared and varied traditions of Americana, Bluegrass, and Celtic music with pop-sensible songcraft to create a truly unique signature sound.

With a brilliant command of their instruments––banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and percussion––combined with a pop sensibility and an undeniable energy, their seamless blend of Americana/bluegrass/Celtic music has made them fan favorites at a diverse range of festivals including BottleRock, Summer Camp, ROMP, Wintergrass, Merlefest, Milwaukee Irish Fest and more.

Their most recent full-length album releases––Haven (2018) and Roots To Rise Live (2019)––each reached the #1 position on Billboard’s Bluegrass chart. See below for the track listing to A Winter Wonderful as well as tour date information.

Track listing for A Winter Wonderful:

1. Christmas in Prison (John Prine)
2. Sunrise at Solstice (We Banjo 3)
3. Driving Home for Christmas (Chris Rea)
4. We Three Kings (John Hopkins)
5. Joy to the World (Handel)
6. Silver Bells (Jay Livingston & Ray Evans)
7. Little Drummer Boy (Katherine Kennicott Davis)
8. The Wexford Carol (Traditional)

We Banjo 3 Spring 2022 ”Awaking Tour”

Sat, Jan 15—Weinberg Center for The Arts, Frederick, MD
Sun, Jan 16—Musikfest Café, Bethlehem, PA
Tues, Jan 18—City Winery, New York, NY
Wed, Jan 19—Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY
Thurs, Jan 20—The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA
Fri, Jan 21—Colonial Theatre, Keene, NH
Sat, Jan 22—Barre Opera House, Barre, VT
Sun, Jan 23—Stone Mountain Center, Brownfield, ME
Wed, Jan 26—Firehouse Arst Center, Pleasanton, CA
Thurs, Jan 27—Crystal Bay Club and Casino Crown Room, Crystal Bay, NV
Fri, Jan 28—The Sofia, Sacramento, CA
Sun, Jan 30—Freight & Salvage, Berkeley, CA
Wed, Feb 2—Orpheum Theater, Flagstaff, AZ
Thurs, Feb 3—Yavapai College Performing Arts, Prescott, AZ
Fri, Feb 4—Webb Center For the Performing Arts, Wickenburg, AZ
Sat, Feb 5—Chandler Center for The Arts, Chandler, AZ
Sun, Feb 6—Rialto Theatre, Tucson, AZ
Thurs, Feb 24—Tin Pan Listening Room, Richmond, VA
Fri, Feb 25—The Hamilton, Washington D.C.
Sat, Feb 26—Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD
Sun, Feb 27—Mr. Small’s Theater, Millvale, PA
Tues, Mar 1– Memorial Hall, Cincinnati, OH
Wed, Mar 2—Memorial Hall, Cincinnati, OH
Thurs, Mar 3—Kent State University, New Philadelphia, OH
Fri, Mar 4—Newport Music Hall, Columbus, OH
Sat, Mar 5 & Sun, Mar 6—The Ark, Ann Arbor, MI
Tues, Mar 8—The Playhouse at White Lake, Whitehall, WI
Wed, Mar 9—Thalia Hall, Chicago, IL
Thurs, Mar 10—Meyer Theatre, Green Bay, WI
Fri, Mar 11—Historic Temple Theatre, Viroqua, WI
Sat, Mar 12—Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee, WI
Sun, Mar 13—The Cedar, Minneapolis, MN
Fri, Mar 18—Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, Owensboro, KY

*Tickets on sale now at www.webanjo3/tour

November 23, 2021
Alexander 23 Sells Out Webster Hall
Alexander 23 played a sold-out show at Webster Hall in New York City on Friday, November 19. Signing to Interscope records in 2019, the artist has quickly garnered a massive audience with his soft pop masterpieces. His debut single, “dirtyaf1s” instantly went viral and catapulted the artist to the top of streaming charts.

His knack for delicately layering airy vocals with unexpected instrumentals has not gone unnoticed. The artist has written and produced for fellow musicians, such as Role Model and mxmtoon. He also co-produced one of 2021’s biggest pop songs, “good 4 u”, performed by Olivia Rodrigo.

Despite the “Oh No, Not A Tour!” tour being his first-ever North American headline run, Alexander 23 commanded the stage with ease. Opening the show with “Cry Over Boys” off of his latest EP, Oh No, Not Again!, he instantly energized his young audience. As the night progressed, he played hits such as “girl”, “IDK You Yet”, and “Come Here and Leave Me Alone”.

Towards the end of his setlist, the artist took a moment to stray away from his releases and played a cover of Katy Perry’s hit single, “Teenage Dream”. The audience roared with approval and sang along so loudly that it became hard to hear Alexander 23’s vocals.

In between songs, the artist profusely expressed his gratitude for being able to make music and tour for a living. The crowd danced and sang along to each and every song, filling the room with the hallmark of a good concert — a light scent of sweat.
November 23, 2021
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss Announce 2022 Tour with stops in Canandaigua, Saratoga Springs and Queens

On the heels of their newly released album Raise The Roof, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss have announced a string of tour dates, their first shows together in over a decade.

The duo first released Raising Sand in 2007 and promptly won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. They’ll kick their tour off in June with three stops in the Empire State, starting with Cananadaigua’s CMAC, then head to Saratoga Performing Arts Center and Forest Hills in Queens before heading to the Midwest. The pair will play 8 shows in Europe starting later that month to round out their return to the road. Tickets are available here.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss Tour

June 1 – Canandaigua, NY – CMAC
June 3 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
June 4 – Forest Hills, NY – Forest Hills Stadium
June 6 – Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre
June 7 – Chicago, IL – Jay Pritzker Pavilion
June 9 – Indianapolis, IN – TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park
June 11 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
June 12 – Philadelphia, PA – TD Pavilion @ The Mann
June 14 – Cary, NC – Koka Booth Amphitheatre
June 16 – Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
June 26 – London, UK – BST Hyde Park
July 1 – Hamar, NO – Tjuvholmen Arena
July 2 – Bergen, NO – Bergenhus Fortress
July 5 – Rättvik, SE – Dalhalla
July 14 – Lucca, IT – Lucca Summer Festival – Piazza Napoleone
July 16 – Stuttgart, DE – JazzOpen Stuttgart 2022
July 18 – Sopot, PL – Opera Lesna
July 20 – Berlin, DE – Zitadelle

November 23, 2021
Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band Returns to Caffe Lena
Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band played two shows for the Caffe Lena crowd in Saratoga Springs on Thursday, November 19, 2021.

Playing in support of their April release, Dance Songs for Hard Times, the show, and album, conveyed the hopes and fears of pandemic living, including the bleak financial challenges detailed on the songs “Ways and Means” and “Dirty Hustlin’.” Payton pines for in-person reunions with loved ones on “No Tellin’ When,” and he pleads for celestial relief on the album-closing “Come Down Angels.”

Far from a depressing listen, Dance Songs lives up to its name by delivering action-packed riffs and rhythms across 11 songs. The country blues trio that won over crowds on more than one Warped Tour knows how to make an audience move.

Reverend Payton found itself sidelined from a relentless touring schedule because of the coronavirus pandemic. Peyton says he was surprised when his mind and soul unleashed a batch of new songs in March and April of 2020. This also allowed Big Damn Band supporters around the world check in monthly for pay-what-you-can livestream performances that originate at the Peytons’ log cabin.

Back on tour and playing to an always supportive audience at Caffe Lena, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band put aside the hardships of this moment in history, to focus on music created so that it may help people through it, as it seems to help Peyton through it as well.

Setlist: You Can’t Steal My Shine, Ways and Means, Give me Back My Wig, Plainfield Blues, Poor Until Payday, Dirty Hustlin’, No Telling When, Nell, My Old Man Boogie, Too Cool to Dance, Train Song
November 22, 2021
Listen to Chvrches’ ‘Screen Violence: Director’s Cut’ Ahead Of Terminal 5 Run

Glasgow based synth-pop vets Chvrches are currently in the midst of a tour which takes them to NYC this weekend for two shows at Terminal 5. The tour is in support of the band’s fourth LP, Screen Violence, released back in August on Glassnote Records. Since the record was released, Chvrches have also released an expanded “director’s cut” version featuring three bonus tracks.

Screen Violence: Director’s Cut Album Art

Screen Violence was recorded almost entirely remote between Los Angeles and Glasgow, Scotland. The term “screen violence” itself was originally an early candidate for the band’s name, but was revived for the title of the new album as it was fitting given the transition of our normal lives into digital screens. The album touches on motifs of loneliness, disillusionment, and fear as a result of being isolated during the global pandemic. Vocalist Lauren Mayberry describes the recording process:

I think for me it was helpful to go into the process with the idea that I could write something escapist almost. That felt freeing initially, to have concepts and stories to weave your own feelings and experiences through but in the end, all the lyrics were definitely still personal.

Multi-instrumentalist Martin Doherty adds:

To me, the screen aspect was a bit more literal. When we were making the record, it was like half of our lives were lived through screens. What began as a concept was now a lifeline.

Chvrches have released four albums over the last decade, and have crafted a visually stunning live show over the years. Boasting a new stage production on this tour, Chvrches is poised to awe fans at Terminal 5 this weekend. A small number of tickets for night one this Friday, November 26th are still available, while the second night on Saturday is sold out. Stay tuned for our review of the show plus a full photo gallery.

Chvrches at Governor’s Ball, 2018. Photo by Steve Malinski

November 22, 2021
Fordham Student Anton Karabushin Releases Nu Jazz Single “Central Park Archive”

Anton Karabushin, a 19 year-old singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer, has released his latest Nu Jazz single, “Central Park Archives.” Currently a student at Fordham University and originally from Denver, CO, Karabushin began his composing career in May 2020, now having released five singles featuring genres from classical piano to Drum & Bass and incorporating multiple languages in the process.

Anton is a first-generation American who makes music he loves, and does not limit himself to one single genres. “Summer Days” fell in the range of synthpop, while “Look in the Closet” took on a more metal feel, while featuring his native Russian language intermittently.

A self described Renaissance Man, arrived at Fordham at Lincoln Center to pursue music, theater, and a higher education all at the same time. Trained in classical piano from age 5 to 16, Anton sang in many school and city choirs from a young age, these two musical foundations made him “nitpicky” about harmonies and vocal tone

“Central Park Archive” was the result of a spontaneous decision to carry my Alesis MIDI Keyboard to Sheep Meadow at around 11am on a Thursday. The cool yet sunny atmosphere of the park and the people there really sparked my creativity, and as 4pm rolled around, the song was nearly complete. The title arrived from my feeling that the sounds encapsulated what it is to walk through Central Park. It is an “archive” because this song embodies that sensation in any time, past, future or present.
Anton Karabushin

Anton cites Aphex Twin, Mid-Air Thief and the Strawberry Guy, as well as newew influences including artists Nujabes and The Avalanches. Utilizing a MIDI to recreate sampling sounds, he notes Nujabes’ song “Horizon” having a direct influence on “Central Park Archive,” and synthpop band Homeshake helping to form his synth x vocals vibe.

Karabushin released “Central Park Archive” on November 19, using his newly developed electronic music production skills. A true self-taught artist in music production and vocal/instrument recording, Anton’s plan is to finish his bachelor’s degree at Fordham University at Lincoln Center and simultaneously create music he truly loves.

November 22, 2021
The Ritualists Announce Album Release Party for Baroque & Bleeding in NYC

The Ritualists announced their album release party for their sophomore album Baroque & Bleeding taking place in NYC. The release party will take place on December 3, 2021 at 6:30PM at the Berlin venue in NYC.

The Ritualist are a NYC based band that had their debut album drop back in 2019 titled, Painted People. The band is lead by Lead vocalist/songwriter Christian Dryden who is massively influenced by the scene of the Lower East Side of Manhattan in the 80’s. The band has an alt-rock and post-punk sound that plays off of 19th Century Romance poetry and musical arrangements.

https://youtu.be/MJ5kH4BJy0E

The band’s sophomore album Baroque & Bleeding dropped it’s title track “Baroque & Bleeding” on July 10, 2021 and it takes the best elements of Acid Rock, Brit-Pop and Electronica and serves it with a dash of ‘90s cynicism. The album was produced by Ed Buller who is known for his work on Pulp, White Lies, Suede.

The album release show took place on Friday, December 3, 2021at Berlin located at 25 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009. The show is a 21+ event and is being promoted as, “A night of rock-n-roll in the heart of the East Village.” The show is being supported by NY based Deep Sea Peach Tree and Chicago Based North by North. Ticket can be purchased for $11 here.

For more information on The Ritualists and their upcoming album Baroque & Bleeding visit their website.

November 22, 2021
Blue Star Radiation Play First Show in Syracuse at Westcott Theater

The debut show of Blue Star Radiation on November 18th at the newly renovated Westcott Theater in Syracuse New York, followed by Putnam Place in Saratoga Springs, Nectar’s in Burlington and Oxbow Brewing and Bend in Portland, Maine. The four night tour before the holidays makes it a fantastic voyage through New England.

photo by Jim Houle

Composition versus improvisation. moe., Kung Fu, The Breakfast, Lotus, Percy Hill, Ghosts of Jupiter, and Assembly of Dust all come from a heavy catalog of music that can be played differently any given night. Blue Star Radiation is a new band that glows off these concepts that includes Vinnie Amico on drums, Rob Derhak on bass, Tim Palmieri on guitar and Nate Wilson on B3 Hammond keys and flute.

photo by Jim Houle

It is appropriate that moe.’s ryhthm section of Rob and Vinnie started this mini run on a Thursday in Upstate, New York. After all, they have played in front a rowdier 220,000 down the thruway in Rome during Woodstock 99. There is a Danko/ Helm quality of the two when they are on a New York stage that radiates. The freshly renovated Westcott filled the old cinema to the back of the house with new premium seating alongside the left stage. moe.’s “The Pit” opened the inaugural performance and helped welcome everyone to a comfortable spot in the room to groove. Nate Wilson then plays his original “Eye of the Yellow Tiger.”

The new four piece also filled the first set with some back in black covers. The Black Crowes‘ “Wiser Time” and Santana’s “Black Magic Woman” created a sandstorm of surprises. The band also claimed they were playing ‘Set List Yahtzee’ with a malleable list of songs to pull from. Again, it was a Thursday night for the first of four shows, why stick to the plan?

The second set unfolded with some some chilling viking rock. Nate Wilson’s keys and vocals took Led Zeppelin’s “No Quarter” to warn the frosty November crowd that snow falls hard and don’t you know, the winds of Thor are blowing cold. (Led Zeppelin did play in Syracuse at the War Memorial in November of 1969.) What a song to cover ahead of the partial lunar eclipse that night for the blood moon that hasn’t been seen since the 1440’s. One of the first snows of the year did arrive just as the eclipse unfolded at 4 AM giving way to Thor.

The band did give a lighter nod to the Syracuse, New York suburb of Liverpool by covering “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window” by the Beatles. Tim Palmieri took lead on this as he has on many Sunday Beatles acoustic sets he’s been known to do in New Haven, CT. The band encored with the moe. classic “Opium,” no quarter notes in these lyrics, It’s eight AM not a quarter past three, flowers and fog won’t you rescue me.

poster by Matt Leunig

Rob Derhark simply thanked the crowd for letting them do their thing and have a week of music to just simply cut loose to. Tim Palmieri helped raise a glass and get the Westcott crowd to cheers to moe. guitarist Chuck Garvey. The simplicity of appreciation to play music that is essentially improvisational and unplanned transcends after the show is over.

Blue Star Radiation – The Westcott Theater, Syracuse, NY – November 18, 2021

Set 1: The Pit, Eye of the Yellow Tiger, Wiser Time, Blue Jeans Pizza, Dance Hall Days, Black Magic Woman

Set 2: Locomotive Breath, Mar De Ma, All in Stride, She Came in Through the Bathroom Window, Sign, No Quarter, Bloody Well Right

Encore: Toast to Chuck, Opium

photos by Jim Houle

November 22, 2021
Toubab Krewe Embarks on ‘What is Tour 2021’ – Perform at NuBlu on December 2

Toubab Krewe, the genre-defying quintet that fuses west-African traditional music with elements of rock, jam, and Appalachian styles, will continue it’s ‘What is Tour 2021’ on December 1 with a show in Wayne, PA at 118 North. The group will then head to Nublu 151 in NYC on December 2.

Many of the dates are re-scheduled from a COVID postponed tour in April of 2020. The band will film the PBS special ‘Echo Sessions’ in Asheville, NC in December, and then finish the year at the No Resolutions Festival in Branford, FL on December 30, headlined by Big Gigantic, Girl Talk, and others.

Formed in 2005, Toubab Krewe has tenaciously honed their craft through relentless touring and a fierce dedication to carving out something they can truly call their own. The fruits of this hard work can be heard on their latest release, STYLO, (March 2nd, 2018). What Justin Perkins (Kora, Kamelngoni, guitar, percussion), Terrence Houston (drumset), Drew Heller (guitar, organ), Justin Kimmel (bass, keys), and Luke Quaranta (Djembe, Congas, Dundun, Sangban, Kinkini) have wrought on STYLO reflects the many miles and musical journeys that have transpired since their last studio album, TK2.

All shows will require a COVID vaccination or negative PCR test to enter.

Toubab Krewe ‘What is Tour 2021’ Dates

11.17 Buffalo NY • Buffalo Iron Works
11.18 Ferndale MI • Otus Supply
11.19 Columbus OH • Woodlands Tavern
11.20 Chicago IL • Martyrs’
11.21 Bloomington IL • Stable Music Hall
12.1 Wayne PA • 118 North
12.2 New York, NY • Nublu 151
12.3 Bridgeport CT • Park City Music Hall
12.4 Newmarket NH • Stone Church
12.5 Waterbury VT • Zen Barn
12.16 Asheville NC • Echo Sessions
12.30 Branford FL • No Resolutions Festival

November 22, 2021
Watch Saweetie ‘Tap In’ to SNL while Pete Davidson pays Tribute to Staten Island

SNL returned last night with first-time host Simu Liu accompanied by musical guest Saweetie. The juggernaut rapper, fresh off her own McDonald’s Meal and a newly inked deal for a Netflix series, performed favorite hits and a brand new single for the crowd.

The episode opened with Cecily Strong parodying Judge Jeanine Pirro of Fox News discussing the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict. Chloe Fineman played a white female analyst discussing the shocking nature of the exoneration, while Chris Redd’s Howard University professor notes the American justice system has behaved this way before. When Fineman mourned “This is not who we are!” a sarcastic Redd responded, “I kind of feel like it is though…” James Austin Johnson returned with his pitch-perfect Trump impression. Above all, the sketch was a strong, hilarious opening.

Simu Liu, star of Marvel’s Shang Chi And The Legend of the Ten Rings, brought energy and ease to his monologue. He joked at his status as the first “openly Chinese superhero,” and a strong later sketch between Liu and Bowen Yang expanded the joke. In his opener, he mainly skewered his Canadian heritage and the uniquely polite way he obtained his breakout role. Spoiler alert: he tagged them on Twitter, and got about ten likes.

Firstly, Saweetie hit the stage with a montage of “Tap In” and “Best Friend.” Dressed in old Hollywood glam and flanked by dancers in tutu’s, she introduce a jazzy rendition of “Tap In.” In a floor-length gown, she performed a gracefully choreographed routine. As the whistle-heavy beat faded in, her backup dancers removed the train on her dress.

With her blood-red curls serving Jessica Rabbit, Saweetie cemented her status as a classic R&B girl with a diverse catalog. Dance, fashion, rapping, singing; all of it is in a day’s work for Saweetie. Above all, the montage was a celebration of Saweetie at her peak, highlighting her greatest hits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOItdP6ZjU8&list=PLS_gQd8UB-hJ_skvlwzfzWQSdOpi13UJM&index=5&ab_channel=SaturdayNightLive

Throughout the night, standout skits included a “karaoke recap” from a dive bar, aptly parodying many types of karaoke singer. From “Guy Who Was Doing Great Until The High Notes Came In” to “Girl Who Claimed Her Friend Signed Her Up But We All Know The Truth,” each was spot on. Later on, Simu Liu perfectly embodied a crotchety professor in a skit of a 420-friendly Friendsgiving celebration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyKnQPpLR2I&list=PLS_gQd8UB-hJ_skvlwzfzWQSdOpi13UJM&index=3&ab_channel=SaturdayNightLive

Later, Saweetie returned to the stage to perform a brand new single, “Icy Chain.” On the track, she bodies an opportunity to flex her harder flows. She impressed with her breathless flows, never missing a beat even in the midst of a high kick or twerk. Clearly, Saweetie takes her craft seriously. However, the rapper wasn’t afraid to have fun during “Icy Chain,” laughing and smiling through the number.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx0Ag3fEeDE&list=PLS_gQd8UB-hJ_skvlwzfzWQSdOpi13UJM&index=10&ab_channel=SaturdayNightLive

Pete Davidson recruited fellow Staten Islander Method Man and rapper Big Wet for “Walkin in Staten,” a parody of Marc Cohn’s “Walking in Memphis.” Cohn was at first reluctant to join the video, but then appeared with the trio, adding to the hilarious take on the outer borough. Davidson and company sang about the unique attractions found in Staten Island – pizza places on every corner, bagel shops, and pizza places within bagel shops, among others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W62Vmju18Vw

SNL will return on December 11th with Billie Eilish serving double duty as host and musical guest. Later next month, Charli XCX will perform alongside host Paul Rudd on December 18th.

November 21, 2021

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