Phish’s 2021 summer tour has finally made its way to the East Coast with a return to the land of chocolate in Hershey, PA. Hersheypark Stadium once again played host, with the band playing their fourth and fifth shows at the venue, and the first ones here since 2010. Although plenty of rain and isolated thunderstorms joined the fray as well, there was no dampening of the spirits inside the stadium.
The inclement weather prevented fans from entering right away on Tuesday as the gates remained closed while rain pelted down on the parking lot, accentuated by streaks of lightening in the distance. Thankfully, this was the last of the storms for the day and the rest of the night stayed dry. Once given the green light, fans entered en masse and were treated to an exhilarating opening 1-2 punch of “First Tube” and “Axilla.” After such a scorching start, “Fuego” made more than sense to follow as the humidity eased and the grooves increased. Instead of rounding back into form, “Fuego” drifted for a while before turning into a “Runaway Jim.” Other Phish originals such as “Sample in a Jar” and “Llama” were peppered throughout the opening set, giving it an old school feel, while newer tunes like “Steam” and “Death Don’t Hurt Very Long” proved old dogs can indeed learn some new tricks.
While there may not have been any “monster” 20-minute jams that this summer tour has been blessed with repeatedly, Tuesday’s second set only contained one real pause as Phish weaved in and out of another set that featured a masterful blend of newer material and longtime favorites. “No Men In No Man’s Land” immediately set a course for “funky” and the band took it from there. “Soul Planet” later emerged from this before an impressive segue into the rare second set “NICU.” The last major jam sequence of the evening was spearheaded by “Golden Age” which had all of Hersheypark Stadium dancing in a collective rhythm. Longtime fan favorite “Lizards” got dropped late in the second set, the first one since Mexico 2020. The one and only cover song selection of the evening, The Velvet Underground’s “Rock and Roll” left everyone feeling alright and more than hopeful for the promise of tomorrow.
Phish – Hersheypark Stadium – Hershey, PA Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Set 1: First Tube, Axilla, Fuego ->Runaway Jim, Gumbo > Sample in Jar, Steam, Sugar Shack, Llama, Death Don’t Hurt Very Long > Run Like an Antelope
Set 2: No Men In No Man’s Land > Soul Planet -> NICU > Joy, Scent of a Mule, Golden Age > Prince Caspian > Backwards Down the Number Line > The Lizards > Character Zero
Encore: Rock and Roll
On Wednesday, Phish gave a few nods to Chocolate Town U.S.A., kicking off the night with “You Sexy Thing,” by 70s funk band Hot Chocolate. They would return to the familiar riff a few times during the night, with Trey serenading the crowd and referring to them as ‘You Sexy Things.’
Despite the rain earlier in the evening as fans were arriving and pregaming in the Hersheypark lots, no spirits were dampened from the performance this night. A ‘Halley’s Comet’ clocking in at nearly 16 minutes provided liftoff for a set, thanks to Page McConnell keeping the jam going with his synth work. “Gotta Jibboo,” “Meat” and “Maze” rounded out one of the tightest first sets of the tour.
Set 2 started with a standard “Theme From the Bottom” but the true highlight came in the form of a nearly 20-minute “Birds of a Feather,” with a rainbow of lights punctuating the jam that unfolded. The chocolate references continued late in the set with Ruby (chocolate) Waves and “‘Choc’-Dust Torture,” which was also performed at Chocolate Night of the Baker’s Dozen, along with “You Sexy Thing.” “Show of Life” and “S.A.N.T.O.S.” rounded out the show, with fans setting their sites east towards Atlantic City
For two nights in early August, moe. played to a faithful crowd, much as they always do this time of year in Central New York. Whether at Saranac Brewery in Utica, Snow Ridge Ski Resort in Turin, or Apple Valley in Lafayette, moe. is a summer staple, and a perfect time to shake off the dust and get down with fellow moe.rons.
Saturday night was highlighted by an always stellar “Recreational Chemistry” to start Set 2, and a trio of “Big World” > “Ricky Marten” > “Mar De Ma” to follow. A cover of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” stole the show, and worked its way into “Opium” and “Plane Crash” to close the night.
Marco Benevento opened Sunday night with a rousing set, accompanied by Karina Rykman on bass and Andy Borger on drums. moe. came out for their first set at 6:30pm for an ideal set to watch the sun set behind the stage. A unique take on “St. Augustine” featured “Tubing the River Styx” and “The Pit” being sandwiched in between sections of “St. Augustine.” A nod to Jerry Garcia, who passed away 26 years ago this day, came in the form of “West L.A. Fadeaway,” which was accompanied by a rainbow in the distance.
Set 2 found moe. getting dark, starting out with “Meat” that moved into “Kyle’s Song” and smoothly into “Bearsong,” which gave birth to “Timmy Tucker.” A jazz bass breakdown from Rob Derhak was met with Chuck Garvey’s furious guitar work, leading to the jam of the night. Al Schnier took charge later in “Timmy”, leading the band unexpectedly into “Moth”, and again jumping back into “Meat” (on a dime) to lead to the end of a triumphant set. “Spine of a Dog” and a jam on “Franklin’s Tower” closed the night at Apple Valley.
moe. – Apple Valley Park, LaFayette, NY – Saturday, August 7, 2021
Set 1: Captain America > Bullet > Hector’s Pillow, Bring You Down, Where Does the Time Go?, LL3 Set 2: Recreational Chemistry, Bring it Back Home, Big World > Ricky Marten > Mar De Ma, Along for the Ride > Comfortably Numb > Opium, Plane Crash Encore: Wind It Up
moe. – Apple Valley Park, LaFayette, NY – Sunday, August 8, 2021
Set 1: Understand > St. Augustine > The Pit > St. Augustine, The Pines and the Apple Trees, Mexico* > West LA Fadeaway Set 2: Meat > Kyle’s Song > Bearsong > Timmy Tucker > Moth > Meat Encore: Spine of a Dog* Franklin’s Tower jam
Spencer Barnett, rising indie-pop genius from Brooklyn, has just released a new music video for his catchy single, “Dancing.” The video features groovy moves from Spencer and a unique color palette that makes it delightful to both the eyes and the ears.
“Dancing” is written and produced by Spencer Barnett alongside Jon Hill and Alessandro and Gianluca Buccellati [Arlo Parks, Tei Shi] and follows the release of Spencer’s dynamic Welcome To My Mind EP. Welcome To My Mind is the final part of Spencer’s three-part EP trilogy which came directly after debut EPs I’m Fine (“Waste My Time”) and Reckless (“17”). His first EPs gained him lots of attention from influential tastemakers such as Paper, V MAN, Ones to Watch, and Flaunt. They also led him to be included on the most coveted playlists on Spotify and Apple Music.
Welcome To My Mind blends soulful melodies, indie rock leads, and bedroom-inspired guitar riffs while keeping his youthful side through majestic lyrics. “Dancing” encapsulates the fun feeling of youth while incorporating mature musical and production skills. The video is a perfect next step for the up and coming indie artist that has an exciting future ahead of him.
The Seventh Annual Brooklyn Americana Music Festival takes place September 16th -19th, 2021. Fifty live music events at seven iconic locations including the DUMBO Archway Plaza under the Manhattan Bridge and Pier 6 Plaza in Brooklyn Bridge Park on September 17th, 18th, and 19th. Nightly concerts will be held at Jalopy Theatre and Sunny’s Bar in Red Hook; and Superfine and 68 Jay St Bar in Dumbo.
The annual festival is a beloved celebration of folk, roots, country blues, bluegrass, and jazz and attendees of all ages can enjoy banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and three part harmony renditions of original and traditional songs performed by a majority of women-identified artists. Ticketed concerts include the festival kickoff on September 16th at Jalopy Theatre, and September 17th in the Dumbo Archway Plaza, and are followed by thirty free live music events for all ages.
The 7th Annual Brooklyn Americana Music Festivalis made possible by public funds from the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and from the Decentralization Program of the New York State Council on the Arts, both administered in Kings County by Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC). The Festival is made possible in part by generous sponsors and the office of Councilman Stephen Levin.
In 1989, New Orleans had its own gold lit resilience of funk around town. Many helped add to the consonant grooves inside legendary buildings turned nighttime studios. Every great musician in town was collaborating and famous artists were there to help feed in the rhythm. Tony Hall was part of this golden era and is still a staple in the New Orleans sound.
Hall had been grooving with the renowned Neville Brothers on St. Charles Avenue. Tony played the chilling bass line on their album Yellow Moon. The track “Healing Chant” off the album won best pop instrumental performance at the 32nd Grammy Awards in 1989.
Tony has gone on to work with bayou locals like The Meters, Dr. John, Aaron Neville, Harry Connick Jr. Trombone Shorty, and Marc Broussard.
He has been part of infamous studio sessions with Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Trey Anastasio, Dave Matthews, Willie Nelson, Joan Baez, Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Jewel, Edie Brickell, Linda Ronstadt, Pretty Lights, Herbie Hancock and Maceo Parker.
Producer and musician Daniel Lanois felt these sounds in his soul. He assisted in some of these collaborations and on his own work. Tony covers bass for Lanois’ famous original composition “The Maker.” It has been honored with covers by Willie Nelson, Jerry Garcia Band and Dave Matthews Band with Victor Wooten.
Tim Reynolds said this summer of his old band mate Tony, “You know those guys when you’re playing a gig, he’ll look right at you? That’s him. He’s a bad ass.” This past spring Tony just released a new studio record with his band Dumpstaphunk for the first time in seven years. He took some time to talk about the timeline on these projects with NYS Music.
MR: Daniel Lanois claimed Oh Mercy was a record you listen to at night because it was, “designed at night. Bob Dylan had a rule, we only recorded at night.” What did that session look like behind the scenes in a house turned studio in New Orleans?
TH: We would go in at about 4 in the evening and Dan had a lot of ideas of the songs so we went through a bunch of them. Then… when Bob came… It would all go out the window. He’d start a groove and we would follow him. Let’s just match whatever he was doing.
TH: It was all of us in a circle in a room, facing each other. Very long hours on this record. So many different versions of songs.
MR: Well how about the funkiest collaboration on the track Everything is Broken?
TH: It started with Bob playing his line and we just came in. Willie (Green) grooves and I jumped in on the spot (bass line humming).
Ivan Neville, Keith Richards, Tony Hall, Don Was
MR: Was Dylan just playing harp on that track for his solo?
TH: No, he’s on guitar for that as well. He played guitar on a lot of songs and piano too. Brian Stoltz played with all of us as well on guitar.
MR: Was that just a studio experience? Did you get to bring that on the road?
TH: Just a studio record. Never got to play it live.
TH: My experience working with Daniel Lanois came from him producing the Yellow Moon Recording, Bob Dylan’s Oh Mercy, and Emmylou Harris’ Wrecking Ball. I recorded on his solo album Arcadia. He had a completely different approach.
TH: He pulls everything you got in you…out. On “The Maker,” was me noodling and I kept adding parts. He even wanted to add a harmony part to one line. It has five different bass parts on that track
TH: I met Dave Matthews in the early 90s. The Neville Brothers and DMB did a show together. I saw him in 2001 at a Emmylou Harris show and he knew as me the guy from “The Maker” that his band went on to cover
TH: When we did the Dave Matthews solo record Some Devil in 2003 it felt so good. Brady and Trey all suggested we should be a band. “Hey let’s take this on tour.”
MR: How was it behind the scenes during that legendary studio collaboration with Brady Blade, Trey Anastasio, Ray Paczkowski, Dave and Tim Reynolds?
TH: Dave had all the songs written and we just came in and added our own parts to it. When you hire people to do a record, you have them bring what they do to the table, you know? So you can give them a lot of options. You play some stuff… like this? Sometimes the first thing is the one. “How about that?” No you did it already… (laughter)
TH: I had a lot of fun with that record. One of my favorite songs is “So Damn Lucky.” And the song “Too High.” I love the end. The groove on the end is killing. We even overdubbed The Seattle Symphony to it. The big line everyone is playing together is led by Dave on the guitar. It’s killing. Its a great record!
MR: Where does he come up with those unique sweet up and down chord progressions? Are they easy to jump on?
TH: That would be a question for him (laughter). Some of the chords are open tuning with a lot of different fingerings for it. But it’s cool as shit. It works well together.
MR: Then there was the Some Devil live tour that went to every major arena in America. Headlining sets at Bonnaroo and Vegoose Music Festivals. Even a Caribbean Cruise with Bob Weir special guesting on the boat. Who chose all those great covers ranging from Sly and the Family Stone, Chaka Kahn, Little Feat, Joe Walsh, The Band, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Wonder, Hendrix, Zeppelin and Stones?
TH: That was Dave and Trey’s call any given night. Ya know during the break sometimes (laughter). Let’s go do this…
MR: After meeting Trey Anastasio and Ray Paczkowski at this project you ended up in the studio with him for his Album Bar 17.
TH: The Trey thing, musically, was very talented. I didn’t know him before Some Devil. He had me come to Atlanta to do a session and sent me the songs to learn. But it wasn’t a session. It was an audition. Which is a cool way to audition somebody. Make them think it’s a session so if it doesn’t work you pay them and they just go. You don’t have to tell them they suck (laughter). But afterwards they said hey you got the gig. I’m like cool… what gig? (laughter)
Brady Blade, Tony Hall
TH: But the composition “Goodbye Head,” that song I listened to and it was a very long jam. I thought, “Oh, I got this,” and during rehearsals Trey’s like, “You have it down?” (of course). But I didn’t check the end of the tape where there was a whole ‘nother section. It got to the jam part and I just stopped. This tune gave me a run for my money. That song kicked my ass, I got to tell you that right now.
MR: Then you went on a US tour with Trey Anastasio as part of an ever changing cast on stage in 2005 and 2006. It had special guests like Stewart Copeland, Bill Kreutzmann, Jon Fishman, Skeeto Valdez and Jeff Sipe along the way on Drums. Yet It always had you on bass and Ray Paczkoswki on keys as a constant. There was even Raymond Weber from New Orleans with you holding the bottom end down on drums at one point.
Trey Anastasio, Stewart Copeland, Tony Hall
TH: Yea Raymond ended up in the band after Trey came to sit in with us for the Dumpstaphunk show at B.B. King’s in New York City. So we call some stuff I got him to do, “46 Days” and um, “Cayman Review?” Raymond killed it on “Cayman.” He was like, “Damn you hear that on the bell? That reminds me of New Orleans.”
TH: But our official live band release came from Original Boardwalk Hall Style in Atlantic City on New Year’s Eve 2006. That was the most cast with an 11-piece band. Yea, but I had a lot of fun playing with Trey. He would kick into a groove and then I’d pick up. He’s like, “OK this is your job, when it mellows out you take the way.” I think it was good for him to have someone who’s like, “Come on. Come on.”
TH: He was always adding songs though. Like that Frank Zappa “Peaches En Regalia.” By it being new at soundcheck, I would learn it that night. So afterwards in Albany, between eating, I’m making notes before the start of the set figuring it out (laughter).
MR: Heading Back to The New Orleans studios in 2017 you were a part of Trombone Shorty’s record that has the ultimate cover of Ernie K Does “Here Come the Girls.” Shorty is also on your new record this year.
TH: Yeah that’s nice. I think George (Porter) is on the original version. I’ll have to look it up.
TH: We have known Shorty since he was young. Coming up he’s always been extremely bad ass. In the beginning he used to do some shows with us and then did his own shit. Then blew up. He’s the man and puts on a hell of a show. Phenomenal player on the trumpet and trombone. It’s like nobody can touch him. But he also plays everything else like drums, keyboards and sings.
Joseph “Ziggy” Modeliste, George Porter Jr, John Mayer, Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, Tony Hall
MR: Speaking of horns you were on legendary sax player Maceo Parker’s album released last year recorded at an old New Orleans hotel turned studio.
TH: Yea at Goat’s studio down in the ward, who’s Maceo’s soundman. It was fun and great to be on a record with his original track MACEO. Then great covers by Dr. John on “Right Place Wrong Time” that Dumstaphunk started doing.
MR: The new Dumpstaphunk record you just released this year has some just straight funk instrumental tracks. Where did the “Dumpstamentals” come from?
TH : Some of those came up at soundcheck. Me and the drummer Deven Truscleir started jamming on some stuff and other people came in. Ian (Neville) always records those on his phone and so do I so we can revisit them. Ian came up with Backwash when checking his rig during warm up and things like that.
TH: We recorded a bunch of these songs and didn’t finish them lyric-wise. Vocal-wise we can always change. It goes kind of like vice versa. We’re all a band that can sing and play too, ya know? We did two of our favorite covers by Sly and the Family Stone for “In Time” and Buddy Miles’ “United Nations Stomp.”
MR: How about Buddy with Band of Gypsies? He also covered “Don’t Keep Me Wondering” into “Midnight Rider” by The Allman Brothers for his own record.
Tony Hall Beacon Theatre
TH: He also covered their song “Dreams.” I know those from Buddy and I found out later they were Allman Brothers songs. Just like “Down By the River,” I learned that from Buddy and then found out after it was a Neil Young song
TH: Yea Buddy’s the man. He’s one of my favorites. One of my mom’s favorites. She used to play it all the time. His live release is one of the best records. One of my top favorites.
MR: Last time Dumstaphunk played New York State was headlining the 2019 Blues Fest in downtown Syracuse. After hours you and Deven Trescleir on drums came for a special sit-in with the band at Funk n Waffles for a bass-leading cover of The Temptations “Standing on Shaky Ground.” Less than a month later Dumstaphunk was opening for The Rolling Stones at the Louisiana Superdome in front of 60K. Are you ready to get at it like that again in 2021?
TH:That was a great show, Most of the time when you’re an opening act people are just walking in doing your set or the place doesn’t fill up until your last song, but that show the crowd was there and it was a lot of our fans, the energy was high and we felt the love. It was our home town, it felt great!
MR: The Woodstock 99 documentary just released features your performance with Brady Blade and Jewell. Any memories of that infamous Sunday gig in Rome NY?
TH: We drove over night to the festival, I woke up on the bus at the site. I didn’t do much. I watched a few bands from the side stage. We had a good set. We stayed to watch the Red Hot Chilli Peppers show and left right before everything went down. The people from the documentary reached out about my experience there. I was only able to tell them what I’m telling you (laughter).
The Stanley Theatre in Utica is looking for additional volunteers to help out with their 2021-22 show season. The season begins in mid-August and is an amazing opportunity for anyone above the age of 16 to gain experience in the live music industry.
The Stanley Theatre operates as a not-for-profit organization run by the Central New York Community Arts Council. For nearly a century, the theatre has brought great live concerts, Broadway shows, and musicals to central New York. The 2021-22 season features shows put on by The Stanley Theatre, Broadway Theatre League, and independent promoters as well. Due to the theatre being closed for a year, the 2021-22 season is anticipated to be the busiest Utica has seen to date. Packed seats are expected, and the energy will be more contagious than ever. That being said, the theatre is hoping to take on more volunteers than years previous to make the shows run as smoothly as possible.
Volunteers for the Stanley Theatre are like family. This is a chance to learn about responsibility, the importance of working with a team, and will improve your communication skills. Volunteering is an important requirement for both high school and college-aged individuals, and this is a fun and welcoming environment to get in your volunteer hours. The best part of volunteering is, of course, being able to listen to and watch spectacular performances at the theatre.
If you are interested in taking part in this opportunity, please contact The Stanley Theatre by either calling at (315)-724-4000, or by emailing them at thestanleytheatre@gmail.com. Spread the word and join in on the amazing community at The Stanley Theatre!
The Soul Rebels have announced Part 1 of their Epic Vibes Tour, spanning Fall 2021 through Winter 2022. Touring will include concerts all across the US and a robust schedule of performances in New Orleans. Notable NY stops include Woodstock and Brooklyn.
Brass sensation The Soul Rebels are riding high in 2021 after receiving national attention following the release of their new album, Poetry In Motion. The eight-member collective appeared on Def Jam artist Dave East and Nas’ “Godfather 4” single, Big Freedia and Icona Pop’s “Pipe That”, and reached fans with original singles “Greatness” featured as ESPN’s official College Hoops theme anthem, and “Good Time” featured on Netflix’s #BlackAF and Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!
The Soul Rebels have impressed viewers with two recent appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk series with Wu Tang Clan frontman GZA, headlined the global TED Conference, and appeared on the official soundtrack for Universal Pictures’ hit comedy Girls Trip.
The Epic Vibes Tour features select concerts with The Soul Rebels in live performance collaboration with star artists including Tarriona ‘Tank’ Ball of Tank And The Bangas, famed jazz trumpeter Keyon Harroldand hip hop icon GZAof Wu Tang Clan. Along with the Part 1 tour The Soul Rebels are excited to release new music this Fall in support of the tour and announce Part 2 in Spring 2022.
The Soul Rebels’ recent collaboration and partnership with Sony 360 Reality Audio showcases their latest album “Poetry In Motion” in the 360 format. Providing listeners an entirely new and immersive way to experience the album. The 360 Reality Audio version of the album is available to stream on Amazon Music HD, Tidal HiFi, and Deezer HiFi. The Soul Rebels can also be viewed in Sony produced and released advertisements and digital commercials.
**New Orleans Jazz Fest has been postponed until 2022.
Badflower have always spoken unapologetically through their lyrics about feelings, mental health, and relationship issues. Their latest single and video release “Don’t Hate Me” is no different.
“It’s a lot of self-awareness” Josh Katz (vocals) explains. “On the bridge, there’s a meta dialogue where I explain how I’ve changed my entire life and appearance to make somebody else like me more. I think I have experienced versions of trying to be something else for someone else throughout my life, I think everybody has.”
Badflower never drift into sappy territory, however. They address serious issues either with startling directness, or with a dose of lightness, mockery, and humor, which makes their music relatable to a broad audience. The music video for “Don’t Hate Me” is a spoof about morphing into others in order to belong. It is funny, creating caricatures of our weaknesses, and as all Badflower videos, entertaining and very well made. The band produce most of their videos “in house,” with cameo appearances from friends and family members. They forgo large manufactured productions, in favor of genuine hands-on creativity from everyone involved.
Catch Badflower at one of the major festivals, or on their headlining tour starting in September. They will play at Webster Hall in New York City on September 23.
Beginning in September 2021, the Park Theater Foundation will begin its flagship series, “The Park Presents,” featuring a diverse lineup of national and international musicians from genres including folk, Americana, zydeco, jazz, classical and more.
The Park Theater, located in Glens Falls, is known as the “newest premier venue” in the area and has a passion for sharing quality and affordable musical entertainment and educational opportunities. The building was established as a movie theatre in 1911, subsequently closing in 1935. Revived in the mid-2000s, The Park Theater reopened its doors with a new vitality for providing a stage for music and arts performance in 2018.
The Park was shut down for eight months following the COVID-19 pandemic and returned in a small scale to present “Dinner & A Movie: ‘A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood‘” in November 2020. “The Park Presents” introduces the full-force comeback of the theater!
We have been hard at work on this schedule and are beyond excited to welcome live music back to our stage and guests to our seats.
Chris Ristau, Excecutive Director
On September 10, guitarist Ariel Posen will be the first to take the stage for “The Park Presents” season. This season will also feature The Gibson Brothers, the Villalobos Brothers, The Small Glories, The Jason Anick Acoustic Trio, and many more.
In addition to music concerts, the 2021/22 season will feature a variety of other programs including “Tribute Band Rewind,” “Live & Local,” “Comedy After Dark” and “Third Thursday Jazz.”
Tickets for the 2021/22 season will be on sale beginning August 6th, 2021. For the full performance listing or to purchase tickets, visit www.parktheatergf.com.
The launch of a summer concert series in the Hamptons will kick off at legendary venue Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett on August 31st. A portion of the proceeds from the shows will go to benefit USA Warrior Stories, a not-for-profit organization designed to record, archive, and share videos of veteran stories online to help veterans make a connection with one another and to help us all better understand their sacrifices for our freedom.
The first installment in the series will feature Grammy-nominated guitarist and innovative songwriter Marcus King. New Orleans multi-instrumentalist Ivan Neville, “badass and beautiful” vocalist and songwriter Lisa Fischer, and Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist Louis Cato will join King as special guests.
Known for his soulful vocals and the wisdom of his lyrics, King has earned rave reviews for his kinetic musicianship. His debut solo album, El Dorado, topped the Americana radio charts and has received critical acclaim. Son of the great soul singer Aaron Neville, Ivan Neville is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and singer. He has released four solo albums and had a Top 30 Billboard hit with the first single “Not Just Another Girl” from his debut solo album If My Ancestors Could See Me Now.
Portuguese-born, Carolina-bred, and current Brooklyn, NY resident Louis Cato is a Grammy-nominated and internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter. He has recorded with Beyonce, Q-tip, John Legend, and Mariah Carey, among other household names. He has toured with some of the most influential acts in music. And is currently featured nightly on CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as a member of Jon Batiste and Stay Human.
Along with their frequent collaborator and partner John Varvatos, Williamson and Rechter ( The show’s organizers) were the first to bring music with a live audience back to New York City after the coronavirus pandemic shut down live entertainment around the world. The show, which featured an array of world-class artists including Jon Bon Jovi, Sara Bareilles, Gary Clark Jr., Yola, and many more, truly brought the city full-circle, as the team’s Love Rocks NYC show in 2020 was the last concert in NYC before the shutdown. In December 2020, the two also worked with Varvatos, rapper and Rock the Bells founder/CEO LL Cool J, actor Kevin Bacon and CBS This Morning anchor Anthony Mason to produce Play On, an extraordinary benefit concert that raised millions of dollars for transformational racial, social, and food justice.
