Category: Genres

New Fall 1989 Box Set of Jerry Garcia Band, Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman Highlights the Long Island Sound

A new archival release from the estate of Jerry Garcia highlights a series of Fall 1989 shows taking place in Hartford, CT and Uniondale, NY. Dubbed “The Long Island Sound,” the two shows recorded by John Cutler feature one set each night from Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman, along with two-set performances each night from Jerry Garcia Band.

cover art by Stanley Mouse

Released on Round Records, Fall 1989: The Long Island Sound features two complete performances with over five and a half hours of previously unreleased music from September 5th, 1989 at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, CT and September 6th, 1989 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY.

Fall 1989: The Long Island Sound celebrates the storied East Coast 1989 run which featured acoustic duo Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman setting the stage for two nightly sets from the Jerry Garcia Band.

Recorded on a 2-track DAT and mastered by Joe Gastwirt, this collection contains audio with apparent, irremediable sonic imperfections (most notably the distortion on Jerry’s vocal during “Cats Under The Stars”) heard by all who experienced these performances in person or on tape. Despite the limitations in fidelity, the performances presented showcase timeless, transcendent and often blistering moments of pure magic.

The release features an album package including a liner note essay by Blair Jackson and archival memorabilia from the collection of Steve Parish. Pre-order the box set here.

September 5th, 1989 – Hartford Civic Center – Hartford, CT

Bob Weir & Rob Wasserman: Festival, Fever, K.C. Moan, Desolation Row, Looks Like Rain, The Winners, Victim or the Crime -> Wasserman Bass Improvisation no. 1 -> Throwing Stones

Jerry Garcia Band
Set 1: Cats Under the Stars, They Love Each Other, Waiting for a Miracle, Run for the Roses, Like a Road, My Sisters and Brothers, Deal

Set 2: The Harder They Come, Mission in the Rain, Forever Young, Evangeline, Gomorrah, Don’t Let Go -> Lonesome and a Long Way From Home

September 6th, 1989 – Nassau Coliseum – Uniondale, NY

Bob Weir & Rob Wasserman: Walking Blues, City Girls -> Fever, Blackbird -> When I Paint My Masterpiece, Shade of Grey -> The Winners -> Easy to Slip -> Wasserman Bass Improvisation no. 2, Heaven Help The Fool

Jerry Garcia Band
Set 1: How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), Stop That Train, That’s What Love Will Make You Do, Mississippi Moon, I Second That Emotion, And It Stoned Me, Deal

Set 2: The Harder They Come, Dear Prudence, I Shall Be Released, Let It Rock, Evangeline, That Lucky Old Sun, Tangled Up in Blue

October 12, 2021
ShwizZ, You Bred Raptors? and Bonus Level deliver a fun filled night at Comic Con
Video game covers and dark medieval Prog-Rock were on hand for Friday, October 8 as Comic Con came to a close, ShwizZ, You Bred Raptors?, and Bonus Level treated New York City to a night of technically sound musicians, nostalgic video game inspired covers, and a lot of booty shaking at The Loft at City Winery.

Tetracube, aka Chris Gironda, played DJ sets between the bands throughout the night. The night kicked off with ShwizZ; any combination of musicians including Andy Boxer on drums and Ryan Liatsis on guitar is an all-time great lineup to witness. With the new additions of Scott Hogan on bass and Will Burgaleta on keys, ShwizZ continues to deliver that powerhouse flavor with a couple of new spices to give it zest.

Following ShwizZ was a band that was well worth the wait. From the first second You Bred Raptors? started playing, you felt as if you had been teleported into an orchestra conducted by Tim Burton, as if Jack Skeleton was the inspiration behind their twists and turns of their demonic symphony.

To close the Comic Con night, Bonus Level, a new project consisting of Corey J. Feldman and Nate Searing of Brooklyn-based band Cousin Earth, along with Tom Tompkins on guitar and Darren Denman on keys took us through a journey of classic video game covers and improvisational Easter eggs. The crowd was extremely impressed with how well they created different paths of spontaneity, while also staying true to the original soundtracks. Their Type II video game jams made for a fun combination of musical prowess and nostalgia at its finest.

Words by Nick Codina, Photos by Amanda Siedner
- Tetracube aka Chris Gironda
October 11, 2021
The Darkness Has Given: Venues Welcome Back Crowds Across New York State
The phrase ‘this darkness has got to give’ originates in the Robert Hunter penned Grateful Dead song “New Speedway Boogie,” a line that speaks of hope and aspirations of a brighter future ahead.

In June 2020, NYS Music started the series “This Darkness Has Got to Give,” amid uncertain times where we did not know what the next few weeks or months would provide for the musicians, venues, music industry staff and employees, as well as patrons across New York State. We hoped for the best, and while the era of streaming sufficed for a time and is permanently ingrained with bands and venus, live music has returned.

Sort of, at least. We have had some false starts, with tours cancelled shortly after they are announced, tours scaled back, and artists opting to require patrons to show proof of vaccination, as well as wear a mask inside venues. All of these are not major asks for patrons who have been deprived of live music, just as musicians have been deprived of audiences in the last year and a half. Given the tight COVID-19 protocols in place for touring musicians and at music venues, especially here in New York State, the result has been the return of live music to many venues, the arrival of crowds to outdoor and indoor events alike, and a feeling of normalcy, even if things don’t seem all the way normal just yet.

We are still not out of the woods yet. So long as mask policies are abided by and those eligible to be vaccinated do so, the full live music experience – at venues, music festivals, on cruise ships or in basements of college houses – can return in all parts of the state and country.

This edition of “This Darkness Has Got to Give” has a different angle to it. While we are looking at the music venues that dot the landscape all across the Empire State, we take a look this time not just at the venues, but at the crowds of fans who have flocked back to support their favorite artist and venue, and recharge ourselves through the power of live music. We begin where we started the series in June 2020, in Western New York, courtesy of Contributing Photographer Samantha Rychlicki.

Buffalo – photos by Samantha Rychlicki
Hudson Valley – Photos by Mickey Deneher
Westchester and Manhattan – Steve Malinski
Albany – photos by Conor McMahon
Brooklyn and Manhattan – photos by Joe Buscarello
- Photo by: Buscar Photo (www.buscarphoto.com)
- Photo by: Buscar Photo (www.buscarphoto.com)
- Photo by: Buscar Photo (www.buscarphoto.com)
- Photo by: Buscar Photo (www.buscarphoto.com)
- Photo by: Buscar Photo (www.buscarphoto.com)
- Photo by: Buscar Photo (www.buscarphoto.com)
- Photo by: Buscar Photo (www.buscarphoto.com)
- Photo by: Buscar Photo (www.buscarphoto.com)
- Photo by: Buscar Photo (www.buscarphoto.com)
- Photo by: Buscar Photo (www.buscarphoto.com)
- Photo by: Buscar Photo (www.buscarphoto.com)
- Photo by: Buscar Photo (www.buscarphoto.com)
- Photo by: Buscar Photo (www.buscarphoto.com)
- Photo by: Buscar Photo (www.buscarphoto.com)
- Photo by: Buscar Photo (www.buscarphoto.com)
- Photo by: Buscar Photo (www.buscarphoto.com)
Lake George – photo by Zak Radick

ADK Fest – September 4-5, 2021 in Lake George

Hudson Valley – photos by Em Walis
Plattsburgh – photos by Jerry Cadiuex
Saratoga Springs and Albany – photos by Zach Culver
Utica – courtesy of Stanley Theatre
Long Island and Manhattan – photos by Rob Tellerman
October 11, 2021
Maggie Rose brings her ‘Have a Seat’ Tour to Mercury Lounge
An iconic venue located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, known for being a hotbed for indie talent since the early-1990s, the Mercury Lounge welcomed country singer-songwriter sensation Maggie Rose on Tuesday, October 5. An emerging star based in Nashville by way of Potomac, Maryland, Maggie Rose has created her own original recipe of the rock, pop, blues and soul genres.

No stranger to the road or to the stage, Maggie Rose is approaching the century mark for appearances at the legendary Grand Ole Opry, while also touring extensively over the past few years with the likes of Sheryl Crow, Kelly Clarkson, Heart, Joan Jett, Emmylou Harris and Jason Isbell, just to name a few. Having honed her power-packed vocal talent since getting her first start in 2009, Maggie Rose is currently in the midst of a headlining tour in support of her third album titled Have a Seat (Starstruck Records), released this past August and recorded at the legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. On this early autumn night, her frequent touring collaborator Them Vibes (a sextet formed in 2013 and also hailing from Music City) would once again be backing her.

The night’s proceedings were kicked-off by Dylan Hartigan, the “Jersey Boy” who calls home only a short distance away, when he casually walked onto the stage with the confidence of a seasoned veteran. Dylan Hartigan was officially introduced to the music industry in 2018, as a contestant on “The Voice,”where he impressed many. One of those who praised Dylan’s musical talents was Maggie Rose herself, who would go on to co-produce his brand new album out this week, titled The Way My Bones Creak.

In the short time that it took for Dylan Hartigan to remove his sneakers, adjust the height of his microphone and grab his acoustic guitar, the patrons I navigated around the bar entrance to the stage minutes earlier had seamlessly appeared around me, drinks in hand. I was now a witness to the exhilarating scene of Dylan’s friends, family and loyal fans of his Americana music, jam-packed from wall-to-wall, joyfully singing along to his lyrics. One highlight of Dylan’s 30-minute set was a song called “Tucson, Arizona,” introduced by him revealing to us that he wrote the lyrics based entirely on someone telling him that “it gets so hot there that you can fry an egg on the sidewalk.”

With the opening set nearing its completion, and while standing on the edge of the stage sans guitar, Hatigan acknowledged the crowd for their support. In near darkness behind him, the band members of Them Vibes were quietly taking to their instruments. Suddenly, the stage lights exploded back to life, fully revealing Them Vibes at their respective stage positions. Dylan Hartigan once again collected his guitar and closed out his thrilling and emotional set.

After a brief intermission, Them Vibes reappeared for the middle set of the night. Only a few moments after their frontman Larry “Brother Love” Florman lit an incense stick and its smoke began to bellow across the front of the stage, this rock and funk band pounced into their first song with an inspired and electric fervor. As he navigated around the intimate stage, Brother Love’s uniquely raw and intense energy was immediately apparent, with sweat quickly running down each side of his face as he twirled around the stage. Maggie Rose delighted her fans by appearing onstage for Them Vibes’ last song of their set, “Right On,” taken from their 2017 EP titled Electric Fever, which also featured Maggie’s passionate vocals.

With the moment we had all been waiting for now upon us, Maggie Rose took to the stage for her second turn, greeted warmly once again with applause and whistling. The first seven offerings from her 16-song set were taken from 2021’s Have a Seat, including the show opener and first single “Do It,” along with the gospel-powered “Saint.” After performing “Smooth” from her second album released in 2018 (Change the Whole Thing), the apex of the evening was capped by Maggie’s performance of “Crazy” with Dylan Harrington, who thrilled the “hometown” crowd with his reappearance and newest single. The final song of the night, “The Letter” (a 1967 cover by The Box Tops), left everyone in attendance still wanting more.

If you want to see more of Maggie Rose, you still have the chance as she continues her North American tour with several more shows over the next few months, commencing on December 18 in Chicago. Tickets are available here.

Setlist: Do It > Telephone > What Makes You Tick > For Your Consideration > Are We There Yet > Now and Then > Saint > Smooth > You Got Today > Best In Me > Crazy (with Dylan Hartigan) > Help Myself > Pull You Through > What Are We Fighting For > It’s You > The Letter (The Box Tops cover)
October 11, 2021
In Focus: Jake Miller, Fly By Midnight and Just Seconds Apart at Buffalo Iron Works
On October 8th, Jake Miller, Fly By Midnight and Just Seconds Apart packed a crowd at Buffalo Iron Works for the “hi, i missed you tour.”

Just Seconds Apart, a trio of triplets from Arizona, opened the show with an incredible performance. Followed by the duo Fly By Midnight, who brought the energy and kept it going through their entire set. Lastly was Jake Miller and the crowd was absolutely nuts over him.

Before he stepped on stage, I talked to a few people who were in the crowd because I had never really listened to his music before. I stood next to a young woman who told me this was her tenth time seeing him. She told me that his music saved her life. This felt fitting as soon as Jake came out singing his song “Saved Me.” This made me a little teary-eyed.

Just Seconds Apart. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki

This wasn’t Miller’s first performance in Buffalo as he performed at the Kissmas Bash at the Key Bank Arena “I remember that performance,” Jake said “It was my first real time singing in an arena and I was nervous that not a lot of people would know my music. Then I stopped singing and the whole arena kept it going. It’s a memory that I will never forget.”

Jake Miller, Fly By Midnight and Just Seconds Apart provided a fun, high energy concert. The talent of each performer made it hard for you not to become a fan of each group, if you weren’t already.
- Jake Miller. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
- Slavo of Fly By Midnight. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
- Ari of Just Seconds Apart. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
- Alex of Just Seconds Apart. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
- Justin of Fly By Midnight. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
- Justin (left) and Slavo (right) of Fly By Midnight. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki.
- Fly By Midnight. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
- Sela of Just Seconds Apart. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
- Jake Miller. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
October 11, 2021
Center For Italian Modern Art to Honor Mario Schifano with an Evening of Jazz

The San Gennaro festival may be over, but The Center For Italian Modern Art will continue to embrace Italian culture with “Schifano and Jazz,” a concert dedicated to Mario Schifano’s passion for American Jazz, on Wednesday, October 20th at 6:30 pm ET.

Since 2013, CIMA has dedicated themselves to showcasing contemporary Italian art to a global audience. The public non-profit has presented many critically acclaimed exhibitions in efforts to showcase even new art never before seen in the United States. Not only are they providing a variety of public programs, they also have partnered with their international fellowship program to support a new scholarship that situates Italian modern art in an expansive historic and cultural context in efforts to preserve Italian culture, providing a sort of incubator for larger cultural institutions. They invite those who also share the same passion for modern Italian art, open to fresh new perspectives. Your visit begins with complimentary espresso before an informal exhibition tour with a resident fellows.

To continue honoring Mario Schifano after CIMA’s current exhibition “Facing America: Mario Schifano, 1960-65,” they will host live acoustic performances from multi-instrumentalists Stefan Zeniuk (Vampire Weekend), Ari Folman-Cohen (Grammy Award-winning guitarist Stephane Wrembel), and violinist Cody Geil. These artists will feature music from those who inspired Mario Schifano the most like Miles Davis, Bud Powell, and Freddie Hubbard.

Before the music starts CIMA will raise a toast to another engaging season of modern Italian art in NYC. This special program will have discounted tickets for CIMA members and students. Registration, masking, and proof of vaccination are required. More info here

October 11, 2021
Black Crowes Wrap up “Shake Your Money Maker” Tour at Bethel Woods
Proclaiming the longevity of Shake Your Money Maker, The Black Crowes took to the road this year to celebrate its 31^st anniversary. The Black Crowes tour, originally scheduled for 2020, included 37 dates across the U.S., culminating at Bethel Wo o ds in Upstate NY.

Putting stories of infighting between Chris and Rich Robinson in the rear-view mirror, the two could be seen grinning from ear to ear during this final night of the tour. The show opened with The Texas Gentleman. Dirty Honey had been supporting the Crowes during the run. A switch was made for the closing date. The Dallas based band proved satisfactory as a warmup. With a Jim Carrey styled lead singer/keyboard player at the helm. Paying homage to the Woodstock music scene, they closed out with The Band’s “The Shape I’m In.”

Chris and Rich Robinson

To begin their part of the evening at Bethel Woods, the Black Crowes assembled at a what appeared to be a dive bar situated in the back corner of the stage. Separately, Chris Robinson sat on a drum riser in the dark, hidden by a large umbrella with the Black Crowes logo on it. A woman stepped out from the shadows and headed to an old-fashioned juke box located mid stage. Dropping a coin in and selecting a song, Elmore James’s “Shake Your Money Maker” filled the house and the show was on.

On cue, the band stepped forward, plugged in, and started with “Twice as Hard,” the opening track from Shake Your Money Maker, following the sequence of the album (“Jealous Again”, “Sister Luck”, etc.). At the midway mark, Chris called out praise for “The Big O” (Otis Reading) before the opening beats of “Hard to Handle” was heard.

Chris Robinson had his dancing shoes kicking his heels up and twirling with every number…

You could feel the energy from the band exceeding its limits as if the governor had been ripped off this rock and roll engine. Chris Robinson had his dancing shoes kicking his heels up and twirling with every number leaving no part of the stage untouched. Rich Robinson, offering a somewhat a stoic stance through the night, let his powerful guitar chops show this was not a one-man band

Guitarist Isaiah Mitchell stood out with power solos confirming his supporting role. Backup singers Mackenzie Adams and Leslie Grant along with keyboard player Joel Robinow helped add that little extra something to acknowledge the Money Maker milestone. With the completion of side two of Shake Your Money Maker, the band continued on. Pulling out tunes from their long career including “Thorn In My Side” and “Remedy.”

To close the night out, the encore gave praise to The Velvet Underground with a cover of their song “Rock & Roll.” Was this night a fairy tale? A happy ending for the brothers Robinson? One thing is for sure, it was not grim.

The Black Crowes
The Texas Gentleman
October 10, 2021
Spirit Of The Beehive Help Break in the Brand New Brooklyn Made
Spirit Of The Beehive made their way to Brooklyn’s newest live music venue, Brooklyn Made, on Thursday night in support of their outrageously creative 2021 LP ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH. The five-piece Philadelphia based band drew a sold out crowd to the week-old venue, stretching out the legs of the new PA with their heavily distorted and layered backing tracks.

Spirit Of The Beehive at Brooklyn Made, 10/7/21. Photo by BuscarPhoto

One can always expect growing pains in a new space, and Brooklyn Made was no exception. The group was forced into a brief delay after running through the opening track of ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH as the backing distortion tracks were not coming through the main speakers. The sound techs resolved the issue, and the band fell right back into step much to the delight of an extremely patient and understanding audience.

Spirit Of The Beehive at Brooklyn Made, 10/7/21. Photo by BuscarPhoto

Brooklyn Made is a sprawling space with several different areas, but the performance space is quite intimate and very unique in presentation. A super-wide, crescent shaped stage lines the back wall (similar in style to The Sultan Room) with a very shallow, sunken dance floor that allows for even late-comers in the back row to be rather close to the stage. Off the back doors is a separated bar area equipped with a pool table and direct sound feed from the live show. There is a courtyard, with a staircase up to a large rooftop space overlooking the many Bushwick Collective street murals and offering views of the Manhattan skyline.

Spirit Of The Beehive at Brooklyn Made, 10/7/21. Photo by BuscarPhoto

ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH is a continuous, artistic expression of the themes suggested in the title. Different songs cyclically build into ferocious rhythms and fade into distorted ambience over and over again across the 37 minute runtime. Motifs and instrumental pieces do not repeat themselves, even with the confines of a single track, and the listener reaches the end of the record with a strong desire to play the album back. On first listen, the record seems more of an unfinished collection of demos, but the more you listen, the more you discover a meticulously crafted artistic experience the delivers a new perspective with each listen.

Spirit Of The Beehive at Brooklyn Made, 10/7/21. Photo by BuscarPhoto

Spirit Of The Beehive have one more scheduled show on this run, which takes place Friday, October 8th in Washington DC. The band will also open for a couple shows on the Japanese Breakfast residency at Union Transfer in Philly next August. Check out a full concert calendar for the new venue Brooklyn Made HERE. More photos from the Brooklyn Made show below.
October 10, 2021
Halsey Surprises SNL Audience With Lindsey Buckingham

Halsey performed two songs on last night’s episode of Saturday Night Live, with influencer and reality star Kim Kardashian West as host.

The episode’s cold open depicted the Facebook whistleblower hearing, with an appearance from Pete Davidson as Tom from Myspace. Last week, former Facebook employee Frances Haugen alleged that the company’s properties “harm children, stoke division and weaken our democracy.”

Kim Kardashian West’s opening monologue came next, and it exceeded everyone’s expectations. Fully conscious of the backlash to her hosting, she roasted her equally polarizing family to appeal to her critics. Between her sisters, Kanye West, and Kris and Caitlyn Jenner, no one was safe. Kardashian West appeared in many skits throughout the night, such as Princess Jasmine in a parody of Disney’s Aladdin, and a Freaky Friday-inspired sketch with Aidy Bryant.

Other celebrity guests included Chace Crawford, Tyler Cameron, Blake Griffin, SNL alum Chris Rock, Jesse Williams, John Cena and Amy Schumer, all as Kardashian’s potential suitors in a The-Bachelorette-meets-Squid-Game reality show sketch.

Around the episode’s halfway point, Halsey performed her first song. “I Am Not a Woman, I’m a God” is the lead single from her latest album, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power. While Halsey’s music has always had a dark bent, her latest effort is a major step up. It’s far more experimental and risky than her past work, with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross on production duty. “I Am Not a Woman, I’m a God” in particular is a dead ringer for Nine Inch Nails’ “Closer.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwiasA-IGCs

Weekend Update was less eventful than in last week’s premiere, but Michael Che managed to get in a good dig at the evening’s host.“This week Instagram was down for an entire day, forcing many Instagram addicts to fill their time with Twitter, TikTok or hosting SNL.”

Halsey concluded the episode with “Darling,” one of If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power’s warmer and quieter moments. Accompanying her was surprise guest Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, and she deliberately styled herself to resemble Stevie Nicks. “Darling” is dedicated to Halsey’s first child, born last July.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H099BjA6FKk

No Time To Die star Rami Malek is hosting next week, with rapper Young Thug joining him as the musical guest.

October 10, 2021
In Focus: Miles Francis at Baby’s All Right
Miles Francis captivated their late-night audience on Wednesday, October 6, at Baby’s All Right. Originally set to perform at 10 p.m., scheduling delays led to a slightly later start to the already late-night show. Despite the wait, the audience at Baby’s All Right was buzzing.

The New York City native lived up to their reputation as one of the best-kept secrets of the local music scene. The show began with Francis walking through the crowd and jumping on stage enveloped in a silver morph suit. An intrigued audience watched as Francis acted out hurriedly ending a phone call.
After quickly unzipping their morph suit, Francis and their supporting band jumped into an energetic opening number. Francis performed a carefully curated mix of their discography, making sure to perform their two latest releases, “Service” and “Popular.” With their effortless dancing and humorous stories rounding out the set, it’s clear that the stage is a second home for Francis.

Miles Francis is currently working on their debut album, set to release in late 2021. Listen to his latest single, “Popular” here.
October 9, 2021

Built in Breakdance