NYS Music 202​1

Category: Genres

  • Memorial Day Meltdown in Lake George to feature Pink Talking Fish, Dogs in a Pile and Badfish

    Lake George’s Charles R. Wood Park will serve as the location for The Memorial Day Meltdown, a multi-day pod style concert series set to take place from May 27-30. The holiday weekend run of concerts will feature Pink Talking Fish, Badfish, Dogs In a Pile and others. Produced by the great minds behind Adirondack Independence Music Festival, the announcement follows yesterday’s news of Lake George Music Festival’s return in August.

    pink talking fish ADK fest memorial day meltdown
    Pink Talking Fish

    The weekend of music kicks off on Thursday, May 27 with a special celebration featuring two sets from Dogs in a Pile. Pink Talking Fish is set to headline Friday May 28, receiving support from Dogs in a Pile. Music continues into Saturday, May 29 with Badfish, a Tribute to Sublime, with an opener yet to be announced. Performances on Sunday, May 31 will be announced at a later date. The pod style concert will allow each pod to have up to 5 people in an 8×10 foot space.

    Upon entering Charles R. Wood Park, all attendees must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 antigen test and will have their temperature checked. With New York State’s new 33% percent capacity rule, the festival space is allowed to have up to 700 concert goers. The safety of the fans will be the most important focus for staff and crew Memorial Day weekend with social distancing guidelines put in place to ensure a complete experience.

    Charles R. Wood Park, via Lake George Chamber of Commerce

    For those who have never been to Charles R. Wood Park, the commons sit on the south end of Lake George, right in the heart of the Adirondacks. The site is also home to numerous events including the Adirondack Independence Music Festival. The ground has featured national touring acts since its incarnation including Charlie Daniels Band, Blue Oyster Cult, The Spin Doctors, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and many more.

    There will be a follow-up announcement about additional weekends of music that will be taking place at the Charles R. Wood Park over the summer. Tickets for Memorial Day Meltdown are on sale now. To purchase tickets and for more information, click here.

  • Shock G, co-founder of Digital Underground, dead at 57

    Shock G, founder of West-coast hip hop group, Digital Underground, has passed away. Best known for the group’s breakthrough hit “The Humpty Dance” and his entertainingly provocative alter ego “Humpty Hump,” Shock G — born, Gregory Jacobs — also achieved belated notoriety for mentoring a young Tupac Shakur and co-producing his debut album 2Pacalypse Now.

    According to his father, Edward Racker, Shock G was found dead in a Tampa, FL hotel room. The cause of death was unclear. He was 57 years old.

    shock G digital underground

    Born in Far Rockaway, Queens in 1963, Shock G would move to Tampa in 1980, back north to Queens, then return to Tampa where he worked as a radio DJ. From there, he headed west to Los Angeles and later Oakland, where he worked at a music store. It was there that he connected with Jimi “Chopmaster J” Dright from Berkeley, and Tampa hip-hop radio deejay Kenneth “Kenny-K” Waters to form Digital Underground in 1987. The hip-hop group made their mark with their hit single “The Humpty Dance,” which featured the prosthetic nose wearing Shock G rapping as his alter ego “Humpty Hump.”

    Playing a key role in the rise of West Coast hip hop, Digital Underground was influenced by funk bands of the 1970s, and frequently sampled in their music. A distinct contrast to gangster rap, the unique style of Shock G and jam-session vibe to albums made Digital Underground a stand out group of the era. George Clinton would go on to co-produce “The Humpty Dance.”

    In 1991, Tupac Shakur would link up with Digital Underground, going from dancer to roadie to band member. Tupac’s 1993 breakout single “I Get Around” was produced by Shock G, who also worked with Dr. Dre and Prince.

    Shock G, Tupac and Digital Underground would appear in the 1991 Dan Ackroyd comedy, Nothing But Trouble, in a memorable court room scene that included a performance of “Same Song.”

    A talented and versatile entertainer, Shock G was a jack-of-all-trades. He played drums and the keyboard, produced his own records, choreographed his own videos and was wildly entertaining on stage. Digital Underground’s rowdy live shows became a staple of the group’s appeal. The increased entertainment value that came with Shock G’s ingenuity allowed up-and-coming entertainers a chance to showcase their talent.

    Here we see a young Tupac Shakur performing live on the Arsenio Hall Show alongside Shock G during the height of the group’s popularity.

    Shock G’s genius wasn’t just in his production or his rapping abilities, He marketed the group and their debut album, Sex Packets, with several grandiose tales that added mystique and made fans wonder just what in the hell was going to be on this album. Claiming in an interview that the name of the album came from a sex pill that led to orgasms as soon as a capsule was placed on the tongue. Though fans and the media were left to decipher whether Shock G was pulling on over on them, it is clear in hindsight that he had a firm understanding of the entertainment industry and what would get the group over the hump.

    Tributes were shared on Twitter from Shock G’s peers and fans.

  • Thomas Rhett Announces 2021 Tour, Includes NY dates

    ACM Awards “Entertainer of the Year” Winner Thomas Rhett is kicking off his 2021 The Center Point Road Tour this summer, beginning August 13th in Orange Beach, AL.

    Thomas Rhett

    Thomas Rhett, the 17-time chart topper, will be hitting several New York venues, including the renowned Jones Beach Amphitheater in Wantagh on August 26th. The supporting acts will be Cole Swindell and Gabby Barrett, both critically acclaimed country artists making an indelible impact in the genre today.

    “I can’t even put into words what getting back out on the road means to me, my band and crew,” Thomas Rhett shared. “We’ve dreamt about this moment for a long time and I feel more rejuvenated and excited than ever to get back out there as safely as possible to connect in-person over live music again, especially with so much new material to share. There’s no feeling in the world like it. See y’all out there!”

    Tickets previously purchased will be honored accordingly for the rescheduled dates listed below, while tickets for newly announced dates go on sale on Friday, April 23 at 10AM local time at LiveNation.com. For any further previous ticket inquiries, fans are advised to reach out to point of purchase. For more information visit: https://www.thomasrhett.com/tour.

    Thomas Rhett 2021 Center Point Road Tour

    8/13/2021- Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater^

    8/14/2021- Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater^

    8/20/2021- Bangor, ME – Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion

    8/21/2021- Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre

    8/22/2021 – Canandaigua, NY – CMAC

    8/26/2021- Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

    8/27/2021- Philadelphia, PA – BB&T Pavilion

    8/28/2021- Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live

    8/29/2021- Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center*

    9/3/2021-  West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

    9/4/2021-  Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

    9/16/2021- Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview*

    9/17/2021- Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center*

    9/18/2021- Boston, MA – Xfinity Center

    9/23/2021 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center*

    9/24/2021- Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center*

    9/25/2021- Chicago, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater

    10/1/2021- Birmingham, AL – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre*

    10/2/2021- St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre*

    10/3/2021- Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP

    10/7/2021 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion

    10/8/2021- Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion*

    10/9/2021- Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek*

    * Indicates rescheduled tour date   

    ^ Indicates Openers Rhett Akins and Gabby Barrett

  • Memorial Services for DMX Announced: Where you can Watch

    The official plans for the memorial services for DMX have been announced. Arrangements for the event were revealed in an Instagram post from the deceased rapper’s official page, revealing plans for two separate ceremonies. 

    A “Celebration of Life Memorial” is scheduled for Saturday, April 24 at 4 pm, with a “Homegoing Celebration” planned for the following day at 2:30 pm. The former reportedly will be held at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. 

    https://youtu.be/N9i8Usa21o8

    The general public will be able to live stream both events with Saturday’s “Celebration of Life Memorial” set to stream live on Youtube with the “Homegoing Celebration” to air and stream on BET. 

    Attendance to both events will be restricted to only close friends and family. 

    DMX passed away on April 9, 2021 in New York after suffering from a heart attack. He was 50 years old.

    The rapper’s death was met with an overwhelming response from fans and peers of the Grammy-nominated emcee, with both groups testifying to the rapper’s overwhelming influence in the world of hip hop and beyond. From his raw, grimy, and heart-felt delivery, to his complicated yet authentic public persona, DMX lived his life publicly representing the struggles of those from inner-cities. This weekend, fans of the hip-hop legend will be able to pay their final respects. 

  • Tedeschi Trucks Fireside Live Tour Comes To Lafayette, NY for Three Nights

    Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi of the Tedeschi Trucks Band have announced Fireside LIVE, a special series of socially distanced, limited-capacity performances taking place this summer.

    Derek and Susan will be joined by varying members of the Tedeschi Trucks Band each night, with the total band configuration ranging between four and seven musicians depending on the show.

    The modified lineup will perform under the name ‘Tedeschi Trucks’ for the first time as a nod to their band members who are unable to join the tour because of the challenging conditions with the current pandemic.

    Fireside LIVE was inspired by their very successful at-home online performance series from earlier this year, the Fireside Sessions. The shows will be the first fully live public performances for the ensemble since February 2020, and come on the heels of the recent postponement of their annual summer Wheels of Soul Tour to next year (2022).

    Tedeschi Trucks Fireside Sessions

    Venues will include a mix of small or reduced-capacity outdoor amphitheaters, drive-ins, and pod set-ups, all of which are COVID-19 compliant and taking precautions to ensure the safety of fans, staff, band, and crew.

    Fireside LIVE will kick off in Jacksonville, FL with a two-night run on June 11 and 12 and then hit cities across the south before coming to Apple Valley Park in Lafayette, NY on July 9, 10, and 11 before continuing across the Northeast.

    Tickets for all shows, except Red Rocks, will go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 23 at 10am EST.

    We’re really looking forward to getting on the road and seeing everybody’s beautiful faces,” said Susan. “Getting together earlier this year to record the Fireside Sessions was really re-energizing, and we are excited to play live in front of fans again. As much as we love performing as the full Tedeschi Trucks Band, current conditions just don’t allow for us to do that.

    The decision as to which members will join for each show will be decided week to week, depending on local conditions at the time.

    Fireside LIVE brings to the stage the same intimate window into Tedeschi and Trucks’ creative chemistry that was on display during the Fireside Sessions, which streamed back in Feb-March on nugs.net.

    Tedeschi Trucks
    Stuart Levine, February 1, 2020, London

    Packed with deep cuts, reimagined songs, and several premieres of rare covers and new original songs that the band has been working on during the break, the six-episode streaming series was enthusiastically received for delivering something new and unique each week.

    For fans who missed the original broadcasts or want to watch it again, TTB and nugs.net will offer a re-broadcast of all six Fireside Sessions. Fans who originally purchased the 6-episode bundle will be able to view the shows for free.

    Details on the broadcasting schedule for the encore presentation of the Fireside Sessions will be announced shortly.

    Visit Tedeschi Trucks Band online at TedeschiTrucksBand.com and @DerekAndSusan.

    FIRESIDE LIVE 2021 ITINERARY
    June 11-12     Jacksonville, FL         Daily’s Place Amphitheater
    June 18           Huntsville, AL            Von Braun Center
    June 19-20      Murfreesboro, TN      Hop Springs Brew Park
    June 24-25      N. Charleston, SC     The Bend
    June 26           Cayce, SC                 Columbia Speedway Entertainment Center
    July 1, 2, 3       Frederick, MD           Showtime at the Drive-In
    July 9, 10, 11   Lafayette, NY            Apple Valley Park
    July 16             Gilford, NH                Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
    July 18             Elmer, NJ                   Appel Farm Arts & Music Center
    July 20-21        Eatontown, NJ         Concerts on the Green/Suneagles Golf Club
    July 30-31        Morrison, CO            Red Rocks  – on sale TBA *

    More dates to be announced

    * Red Rocks dates will now be ‘Fireside Live’ shows with a separate ticket sale and with priority access to people who bought tickets for the 2021 ‘Wheels of Soul’ shows at Red Rocks. We are working closely with Red Rocks to confirm ticketing details and will announce further information when finalized.  (The 2021 ‘Wheels of Soul’ shows have been postponed to July 29, 30, 2022 and tickets for the 2021 WOS shows will be honored for 2022).

  • Marcus Rezak Announces Sophomore Solo Album “Truth In Sound”

    Marcus Rezak has announced his second solo album, Truth In Sound, to be released on April 29th via Color Red Music, along with a series of shows performing the album.

    marcus Rezak

    To celebrate the release of Truth in Sound, Rezak will perform a pair of East Coast shows with Nate Edgar of The Nth Power, Cotter Ellis of Swimmer, and Scott Hannay of Mister F at Nectar’s in Burlington on Friday, April 23, and Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke MA on Saturday, April 24. Rezak will be accompanied by three members of the Trey Anastasio Band for the recording including Russ Lawton on Drums, Tony Markellis on Bass, and Ray Paczkowski on Keyboard.

    The lead single of the album is “Light of The Moon,” a true story about people of the night connecting through the love of music and celebrating cathartically in the light of the moon with dance, joy, and memories at the core. The lyrics speak to carefree feelings, letting go of worries, and sending all of your vulnerabilities into space. The story is inspired by the times we find ourselves in the light of the moon, who we are with, where we are, and what we remember in those special moments

    The story is inspired by the times we find ourselves in the light of the moon, who we are with, where we are, and what we remember in those special moments.

    Marcus Rezak, Musician

    In addition to “Light of the Moon” release, Rezak has launched a Kickstarter campaign to support the record. Perks range from downloads and pre-orders of vinyl and CDs and even curated experiences, guitar lessons, regional listening parties, private concerts and more. More information about the project and the Kickstarter can be found here.

  • Grey Fox and Ziontific Music Festivals Move to 2022

    Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival and the Ziontific Music Festival are postponing their events until 2022.

    Grey Fox Ziontific
    Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Oak Hill, NY. Photo Credit: Alan Hamilton

    Both Grey Fox and Ziontific seek to prioritize the safety and well-being of everyone attending. Moving the festivals to next summer allows more time to counteract the negative consequences of the pandemic.

    Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival will take place July 14-17, 2022. The Grey Fox Staff is hoping to get beyond COVID-19 with extended vaccinations, social distancing, and standard health regulations. Updates for Grey Fox 2022 will be on their website as well as other social media pages.

    Last year, the team and artists joined together to create a virtual Spirit of Grey Fox 2020. Fans and musicians were able to come together to raise $25,000 for the IBMA Trust Fun for COVID-19 Relief. With this generosity and spirit of the community, the momentum pushes forward as live shows become a reality again.

    Similarly, the Ziontific 10th-year celebration is postponed to June 2022. All 2020 tickets and glamping packages automatically roll over to 2022. However, anyone looking for a refund can do so by contacting Ziontific by May 19, 2021.

    While fans eagerly wait for the festivities, a ZTFamily Facebook Group is open to help bring everyone together. Feel free to share Ziontific throwback photos, videos, or even write about memories there.

  • Hip Hop and Marijuana – a Complicated and Evolving Relationship

    In our current social-political climate, marijuana use and the much celebrated 4/20 are no longer stigmatized. For what has always been recognized as a happy-go-lucky psychedelic, possession of marijuana had always carried serious implications, with consequences ranging from a felony to even serious jail time, even for something as small as a dime bag. However, with hip hop being an outlet for the disenfranchised to voice their frustrations, rap and marijuana have always maintained a symbiotic relationship. 

    4/20 marijuana hip hop

    As a matter of fact, the parallels between the two are obvious, with the merits of both being lauded by the public, despite higher forces turning their nose up and refusing to give each its proper due. Take for instance that despite its popularity within pop culture and beyond, marijuana didn’t begin its march towards legalization until 1996, when California voters passed Proposition 215, legalizing medical marijuana in the state. Notably, hip hop shares a similar story of adversity. In fact, The genre’s official birth date has been accepted as August 11, 1973, and in ensuing years, proceeded to spread.

    Hip Hop’s Plight

    Especially with artists like Kurtis Blow, the Beastie Boys, and Run-DMC pioneering the genre and selling millions of records along the way, it was clear that hip hop — even in its infantry — resonated with the consumers and yet, continued to be shunned at major award shows. In fact, the first Grammy wasn’t awarded to a hip hop artist until 1989 (to Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff) in a non-televised portion of the ceremony. The category for “Best Rap Album” wasn’t awarded until 1995 and even then, only rappers that maintained a pristine image were recognized for their efforts (This eventually led to Jay-Z boycotting the 1999 Grammy Awards for not having DMX among the nominations, despite releasing two platinum albums the prior year). 

    4/20 marijuana hip hop

    And so, the two chugged along on their way to widespread acceptance. Hip hop artists continued to sing (or rap) the praises of weed in all its forms, while marijuana returned the favor by acting as anesthesia towards the hardships that rappers (most of whom hailed from impoverished and violence-stricken communities) faced. In the ensuing years, each respective entity has made headway in the search for acceptance. Hip hop is now the world’s most popular genre and marijuana is legally accessible in 17 states and decriminalized in another 13. 

    Best of Hip Hop and Marijuana

    While the concurrent rise in popularity and general acknowledgment is no coincidence. Safe to say, hip hop’s influence within pop culture is rampant, and surely played a role in the legality of marijuana throughout the country. As marijuana sales are now legally profitable, hip-hop artists have continued the association. Moreover, rap stars the likes of Xzibit, Snoop Dogg, Master P have all invested in or started their own marijuana dispensaries.

    So, on 4/20, honoring the prolonged, fruitful and complicated history between hip hop and marijuana, here are 20 rap songs that celebrate the drug and its usage. Even if those in positions of power have been quick to assert it’s flaws and slow to acknowledge its benefits. 

    Luniz – I Got 5 On It

    Styles P – Good Times

    Devin The Dude – Doobie Asthray

    Snoop Dogg & Whiz Khalifa – Young, Wild and Free

    D’Angelo – Brown Sugar

    Jhene Aiko – Sativa

    Method Man & Redman – How High

    DRAM – Broccoli

    Young Thug – Stoner

    50 Cent – High All The Time

    Snoop Dogg – Gin And Juice

    Wiz Khalifa – The Bluff

    Wiz Khalifa – On My Level

    Kid Cudi – Day ‘N Nite

    Chance The Rapper – Smoke Break

    Wiz Khalifa – Bake Sale

    Rick Ross – Super High

    Lil Wayne – Cali Dro

    4/20

  • On April 20, 1991, Phish played Douglass Dining Hall at University of Rochester

    On Saturday April 20, 1991, when 4/20 was not the national holiday it has since morphed into, Phish performed at the University of Rochester, at Douglass Dining Hall. Presented by the UR Student Union, tickets were $6 for students and $10 for the public.

    Show poster, via Amy Baerenklau

    Phish’s third ever show on 4/20, the unique venue was named for abolitionist Frederick Douglass, and went through a complete makeover in 2015. UR alumnus Justin Miller described the show as “stale Froot Loops in the morning, then fresh Phish that night,” an apt take on an era when Phish was certainly nascent and making their footprint on college campuses, and would move on to playing sheds with Santana a year later.

    The all ages show hosted a reported two hundred people, who would be treated to Jesus Jones right there the following year on 4/20.

    phish 4/20 rochester
    photo by J. Adam Fenster

    The first set provides standard early 90s Phish fare, ending with the lost acapella song, “Setting Sail,” formally debuted at this show, borne from a “You Enjoy Myself” vocal jam.

    Trey welcomed Jon Fishman‘s parents and sister to the show prior to the start of Set 2, noting their recent show at Ithaca State Theater on February 14, 1991, where Dr. Fishman’s car was given away to a fan with fun pre-“Sloth” banter. The wide-ranging second set is chock full of songs, with a short and heavy “Tweezer” moving seamlessly into “The Oh Kee Pah Ceremony.”

    With graduation a few weeks away, Phish feted the seniors in the crowd with an encore of “Alumni Blues,” including “Letter to Jimmy Page” sandwiched inside, closing out one of their final dining hall performances.

    stub via Jay Bianchi

    Tune in on Relisten or PhishTracks. Check out Douglass Dining Hall food offerings here.

    Setlist via Phish.net

    Phish – 4/20/91 – Douglass Dining Hall, University of Rochester

    Set 1: Runaway Jim, Reba, Llama, Fluffhead > My Sweet One, The Landlady, Esther > Chalk Dust Torture, Bouncing Around the Room, You Enjoy Myself -> Setting Sail[1]

    Set 2: The Sloth, Ya Mar, Split Open and Melt, The Squirming Coil > Paul and Silas, Cavern > The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday > Avenu Malkenu > The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday > Tweezer > The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony > Suzy Greenberg, Sweet Adeline

    Encore: Horn > Alumni Blues > Letter to Jimmy Page > Alumni Blues

    [1] Debut.

    Trey teased Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas in Reba. Fish led the band in the debut of Setting Sail, which arose out of the vocal jam of YEM. Tweezer contained In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida teases from Page.

  • Broadway will Return to Proctors in 2021

    Proctors Theatre in Schenectady has announced upcoming dates for Broadway to return to their MainStage, later this year.

    Proctors Broadway

    Proctors Theatre recently released dates for eight postponed shows from the two past Key Bank Broadway Series. Although the shows don’t start until December 2021, this is still exciting news for the return of live theatre.

    This Key Bank series lineup will start late for a usual fall-to-spring theatre cycle, but this is “a good thing” according to Proctors Collaborative CEO Philip Morris. Due to COVID-19 regulations, we can’t have theaters seat audiences at full capacity. “The touring industry can’t come back until we can seat audiences near or at capacity. The economics won’t work otherwise,” explains Morris. “All projections suggest we should be able to return to full capacity by December, and it goes without saying we will be fully compliant with all state and federal safety guidelines to assure patron safety.”

    Proctors Broadway

    Key Private Bank Broadway Series at Proctors schedule:
    SUMMER – The Donna Summer Musical Dec. 7-12, 2021
    Come From Away Jan. 25-30, 2022
    The Prom – March 1-6, 2022
    Dear Evan Hansen – March 22-27, 2022
    CATS – May 3-8, 2022
    My Fair Lady – May 17-22, 2022
    Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird – June 14-19, 2022
    Mean Girls – June 28-July 3, 2022
    Hadestown – New dates to be announced soon
    Disney’s The Lion King New dates to be announced soon
    Pretty Woman: The Musical New dates to be announced soon

    Dates for Hadestown, The Lion King, and Pretty Woman: The Musical are not available yet, but are coming. “The collective effort of Broadway producers and local markets working together to reconfigure routes across the country is complicated beyond belief,” Morris notes. “It takes a while for plans to settle out for every show and every market.” Information about when tickets will be available is coming this spring.

    Live shows aren’t just coming back to Schenectady. Other Proctors Collaborative venues are getting ready to welcome back in person audiences soon. Capital Repertory Theatre will open ticket sales this spring for their upcoming shows in Albany. The Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs will likely sell tickets this summer for concerts and events in their third and forth quarter.

    Proctors Broadway the rep


    While we still can’t meet in person, online theatre gives more people access to performances than ever before. theREP is currently showing its April Play Reading series online. The suggested donation to watch is $15, but virtual audience members can give any amount.

    “Our prolonged intermission is nearly over. We can’t wait to welcome audiences back!” Morris says. “And from all reports we are hearing they can’t wait to come back.”

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