NYS Music 202​1

Category: Pop

  • George Harrison’s iconic ‘My Sweet Lord’ receives official music video

    “My Sweet Lord,” the iconic song from George Harrison, was finally received an official music video, 51 years after it was first released. An all-star cast honors Harrison in a video directed by Lance Bangs and executive produced by George’s son Dhani Harrison, and David Zonshine.

    The video stars Saturday Night Live’s Fred Armisen and Vanessa Bayer as metaphysical special agents who are tasked by the head of a clandestine agency, played by Mark Hamill, to search for that which can’t be seen. Along the way dozens of agents team up to look high and low for what may have been right in front of their face all along, mirroring the seeking nature of the song.

    george harrison

    Over 40 musicians, actors, comedians, directors, artists and other creatives make appearances, ranging from Harrison’s friends and former band mates Ringo Starr and Jeff Lynne; to actors Darren Criss, Jon Hamm, Rosanna Arquette; musicians Joe Walsh, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Reggie Watts, comedians Moshe Kasher, Natasha Leggero, Patton Oswalt; comedy duos Tim and Eric (Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim) and Garfunkel and Oates (Kate Micucci and Riki Lindhome); and others like writer, actor, director Taika Waititi, and visual artist Shepard Fairey. The video also features Harrison’s wife Olivia Harrison and their son Dhani Harrison, who appear in scenes with actress Aimee Mullins and actor Rupert Friend.

    In addition to Harrison’s massive influence on popular music as a member of The Beatles and his successful solo career, the legendary songwriter, musician, film producer and peace activist also greatly influenced the comedy world through his groundbreaking British film studio, HandMade Films, which was responsible for such classic films as Monty Python’s “Life Of Brian,” “Time Bandits” and the cult favorite, “Withnail and I.” This music video pays tribute to the sense of humor that George Harrison possessed and his indelible impact on both music and comedy.

    Making this was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. The approach was to represent the song visually while these agents and inspectors kept missing the metaphysical wonder around them. Images are choreographed to the sounds of vocal melodies, guitar strums, drum patterns, chord changes. George threaded a sense of humor through all of his videos, so we kept that spirit and filled the cast with friends and admirers of his music, many coming from the current comedy landscape. I tracked down vintage prime lenses from some of the films George’s HandMade Films had produced, and I hope that viewers can feel a sense of wonder and searching while they watch it, and that the song continues to add to all of our lives.

    video director Lance Bangs

    The video for “My Sweet Lord” boasts the new 2020 mix of the song mixed by triple GRAMMY Award-winning engineer, Paul Hicks (The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, John Lennon), released August 6 via Capitol/UMe on a suite of 50th anniversary editions of Harrison’s monumental masterpiece, All Things Must Pass.

  • In Focus: Puddles Pity Party, Live From the Egg

    Puddles Pity Party performed this past Sunday, December 12 for a few hundred engaged fans at The Egg in Albany. You may be familiar with Puddles from his over 800,000 subscriber Youtube Channel, his appearance on America’s Got Talent, or his performances with Post Modern Jukebox. For the uninitiated, Puddles appears as a large and somber clown and sings reimagined covers with his bellowing voice of gold.

    puddles pity party

    Puddles may be a sad clown, but his performance was filled with humor, irony, and a positive outlook on life. The singing clown put his own spin on a number of hits including Billie Eilish’s “When the Party’s Over,” Lorde’s “Royals” and REM’s “Everybody Hurts.” These covers were often accompanied by videos and act outs that gave new meaning to the lyrics. Musician and comedian, Dave Hill, also joined Puddles on stage throughout the night after opening the show.

    puddles pity party

    Puddles and Co. were full of energy and made themselves at home in The Egg. The stage slowly became littered with tissues, glitter, picture frames, and clothes as the show progressed. Puddles Pity Party found themselves running from the mess and into the crowd throughout the night as they sang and soloed with the audience. At one point, Puddles moved from fan to fan while he took their phones, and recorded himself singing before handing the phones off to anyone but their rightful owners. The crowd jumped to their feet at the end of the show to applaud what was a fun and original night of covers.

    puddles pity party

    You can see Puddles Pity Party live at his final New York State show on Dec. 16 at the Tarrytown Music Hall,and you can view all of Puddles’ tour dates on his website.

  • Billie Eilish Is Happier Than Ever On SNL Double Duty

    Billie Eilish returned to Saturday Night Live, this time as both host and musical guest. She previously played the stage in September 2019, where she performed her breakout hit, “Bad Guy.” Last night’s hosting debut makes her the first SNL host to be born in the 21st century.

    The episode’s cold open featured a briefing about the Omicron variant from Anthony Fauci, played by Kate McKinnon. Cecily Strong and Chloe Fineman also appeared as Marjorie Taylor-Greene and Lauren Boebert, both armed with assault rifles. When Fauci tried to find common ground between the divided members of Congress, Taylor-Greene cocked her gun and said “We can all agree that the Fox News Christmas tree arsonist must be executed.”

    During her opening monologue, Billie Eilish revealed that her mother dissuaded her from pursuing acting while encouraging her brother FINNEAS. The singer-producer sibling duo’s mother then appeared onstage, wearing a shirt that said “Finneas’ Mom.” Eilish also poked fun at her past wardrobe of baggy clothes, saying it was to hide secretly being two children on each other’s shoulders in order to get into R-rated movies.

    Eilish appeared in the next sketch, where Miley Cyrus had a surprise cameo. She played herself posing for Punkie Johnson’s Christmas card, who insulted her music but threatened to call her racist if she declined a photo. As for Eilish, she played a grown-up high school bully who continued to taunt her victims through annual Christmas cards. Other sketches showed Eilish as a Christmas lounge singer, a TikToking nurse and a concierge at a lackluster hotel.

    Eilish’s first song of the night was “Happier Than Ever,” the hit single off her album of the same name. Beginning as a 50s traditional pop song not unlike Julie London’s “Cry Me a River,” it builds into a cathartic rock release. The song peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100, and saw nominations for both Song and Record of the Year at the 2022 Grammys.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdeJ8v0z64w

    While “Happier Than Ever” gleefully burns all bridges with its subject, the night’s second song, “Male Fantasy,” expresses some regrets. In the chorus, Eilish admits she still has feelings for him and can’t fully hate him. Both songs are back to back at the end of the album, ending it on a surprisingly hopeful note.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfDy6sdWRR4

  • Olivia Rodrigo Announces 2022 North American/European “Sour” Tour

    After her Grammy-nominated, record-breaking, RIAA Double Platinum Certified debut album, critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Olivia Rodrigo has announced her 2022 SOUR Tour. You might just say, good for us.

    Olivia Rodrigo Sour Tour

    The young pop star will begin her tour on April 2nd at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, CA.  This tour will expand over 40 major cities across North America and Europe so there’s no excuse to miss her. Gracie Abrams will help kick off the beginning of her tour until April 23rd.

    Olivia will scream her breakup anthems for a two-night run at Radio City Music Hall in New York, on April 26 & 27, 2022 alongside special guest Holly Humberstone. Holly will join her tour until May 7th and finally Baby Queen will hop in from June 11 to July 7.

    With the American Music Awards just announcing “New Artist of the Year” these tickets will be a hot commodity. Now with seven GRAMMY 2022 nominations under her belt including “Record Of The Year,” “Album Of The Year,” “Song Of The Year,” “Best New Artist,” “Best Pop Solo Performance,” “Best Pop Vocal Album,” and “Best Music Video,” she is the second youngest artist in Grammy history to score nods in each of the Big Four categories in the same year.

    The album practically catapulted her to a global pop star overnight and Rolling Stone deemed the 18-year old’s release the #1 Album of 2021. Just from approaching the new year, SOUR has now landed itself at the top of several Billboard year-end lists including the top Global 200 Artist, top Overall New Artist, top Hot 100 Artist, top Hot 100 Female Artist, and top Hot 100 Songwriter, among others. Wherever you may choose to follow Rodrigo, you can bet the whole stadium will know the words with over 1.1 billion streams of “driver’s license” becoming the top streamed song of 2021 on Spotify (both in the U.S. and worldwide) and “good 4 u” coming close becoming the top five most streamed songs list on Spotify. 

    Olivia Rodrigo Sour Tour

    If you’re quick, you can jump on the Verified Fan sale open now through December 7 at 11:59pm PT here. Public ticket on-sale begins on December 10, here.

    Olivia Rodrigo 2022 SOUR Tour Dates

    April 2, 2022 San Francisco, CA Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

    April 5, 2022 Portland, OR Theater of the Clouds 

    April 6, 2022 Seattle, WA WAMU Theater

    April 7, 2022 Vancouver, BC Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre

    April 9, 2022 Salt Lake City, UT UCCU Center

    April 11, 2022 Denver, CO Mission Ballroom

    April 12, 2022 Denver, CO Mission Ballroom

    April 14, 2022 Minneapolis, MN Armory

    April 15, 2022 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom

    April 16, 2022 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom

    April 19, 2022 Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom

    April 20, 2022 Chesterfield, MO The Factory 

    April 22, 2022 Cincinnati, OH The Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center

    April 23, 2022 Detroit, MI Masonic Temple Theatre

    April 26, 2022 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall

    April 27, 2022 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall

    April 29, 2022 Toronto, ON Massey Hall

    April 30, 2022 Toronto, ON Massey Hall

    May 3, 2022 Boston, MA Roadrunner

    May 4, 2022 Washington, DC Anthem

    May 6, 2022 Philadelphia, PA The Met Philadelphia

    May 7, 2022 Philadelphia, PA The Met Philadelphia

    May 9, 2022 Atlanta, GA Coca-Cola Roxy 

    May 10, 2022 Nashville, TN Grand Ole Opry House

    May 12, 2022 Houston, TX 713 Music Hall 

    May 13, 2022 Austin, TX Moody Amphitheater

    May 14, 2022 Irving, TX Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory 

    May 17, 2022 Phoenix, AZ Arizona Federal Theatre

    May 18, 2022 San Diego, CA The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

    May 20, 2022 Las Vegas, NV The Chelsea

    May 21, 2022 Santa Barbara, CA Santa Barbara Bowl

    May 24, 2022 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre

    May 25, 2022 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre

    June 11, 2022 Hamburg, Germany Stadtpark 

    June 13, 2022 Berlin, Germany Verti Music Hall

    June 15, 2022 Zurich, Switzerland Halle 622

    June 16, 2022 Milan, Italy Fabrique

    June 18, 2022 Cologne, Germany Palladium

    June 19, 2022 Brussels, Belgium Forest National 

    June 21, 2022 Paris, France Zénith

    June 22, 2022 Amsterdam, Holland AFAS Live

    June 29, 2022 Cork, Ireland Live At The Marquee 

    June 30, 2022 Dublin, Ireland Fairview Park

    July 2, 2022 Glasgow, UK O2 Academy Glasgow

    July 3, 2022 Manchester, UK O2 Apollo Manchester

    July 4, 2022 Birmingham, UK O2 Academy Birmingham

    July 6, 2022 London, UK Eventim Apollo 

    July 7, 2022 London, UK Eventim Apollo

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkTraI380Qs

  • Debbie Gibson is Back To Spread Holiday Cheer with “Christmas Star”

    With Christmas being only a few weeks away, we’ve been starting to hear more Christmas jingles wherever we go. Brooklyn-native Debbie Gibson has released a video to her infectious, sleigh bell-filled original Christmas song “Christmas Star,” a fresh holiday jingle that will keep us singing through the 25th.

    Debbie Gibson

    “Christmas Star” teaches us to let go of the past while being the change you wish to see in the world this holiday season and beyond. Debbie alongside her guest stars, her three dachshunds named Joey, Trouper, and Levi. Watch “The Christmas Star” below.

    Now, I know what you’re thinking, THE Debbie Gibson? Yes, we are talking about THE Debbie Gibson, one of the biggest teen pop stars on Earth since the late 80s. You remember sobbing in bed, screaming along to each innocent adolescent heartbreak like “Lost in Your Eye” and “Foolish Beat.” Debbie earned a Guinness World Record for being the youngest artist ever to have written, produced, and performed a Billboard number one single at 16 years old, a title she still holds to this day.

    Debbie Gibson’s 1992 Les Misérables Broadway debut, via Facebook

    Conquering the Broadway stage starring as Eponine in Les Misérables, Sandy in Grease, or Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Gibson is a timeless pop-star who reaches for her quintessential songwriting expertise to shed some holiday spirit this coming Christmas. She’s hard to missa, and she’s back for more, without losing any of her stardom.

    I think that celebrities should never underestimate their power. I mean just to draw attention, because then people get involved on a personal level.

    Debbie Gibson

    The Brooklyn born, Long Island-raised popstar has the big city to thank for shaping her into the into a pop-star. We all have to thank her mom too, bringing young Debbie to venues across the five boroughs that influenced her rise to fame at just 15 years old. With time, her songwriting has evolved with each hit released and television or Broadway appearance. Earning the ASCAP award for songwriting alongside Bruce Springsteen in 1989, Gibson continues to shine through each hit she writes.

    After all this time, Gibson released her 10th studio pop album, The Body Remembers, waiting 20 years to find the perfect moment, creating a milestone for her and her own label, Stargirl Records. Paying homage to her earlier music, we hear her authentic sound of modern pop hooks and upbeat club bangers.

    This time she puts a new refreshing spin on her newest album. The Body Remembers represents all things Debbie: empowerment, living your best life, and staying eternally electric. Listen to the full album below.

  • Ricky Montgomery Sells out Gramercy Theatre

    Ricky Montgomery performed to a sold-out crowd at Gramercy Theatre in NYC on Thursday, December 2. The rising indie-pop star put on an incredibly dynamic and entertaining performance for the passionate audience. 

    From the moment that Montgomery ran on stage up until the end of his three-song encore, the crowd at Gramercy Theatre matched his exuberant energy. The young crowd proudly held up homemade signs and loudly sang along to every song through their masks. When Montgomery instructed them to jump during a song, the floor shook under the force of the audience.

    • The artist at Gramercy Theatre

    Montgomery hasn’t always had such a positive experience with his music. Taking a year off of music in 2018, the artist nearly called it quits entirely in 2020 after struggling to gain traction with his 2016 debut album. Luckily, TikTok worked its magic for the artist! His 2016 tracks, “Mr Loverman” and “Line Without a Hook” went viral on the platform and catapulted his career overnight. He quickly signed to Warner Records and has been garnering over 10M streams per week across his catalog ever since. 

    It’s clear that Montgomery is thankful for his career and the opportunity to perform for a dedicated fanbase. The artist met every shout of “I love you” with an acknowledgment and a thanks, even smiling for an extended period of time when a fan asked him to pose for a photo while on stage. 

    Montgomery has begun releasing new music under Warner Records, with his latest single “Sorry For Me” going viral, yet again. We look forward to watching Montgomery grow his career and release more incredible music. 

    • Ricky Montgomery at Gramercy Theatre
    • Ricky Montgomery

  • Chvrches Return to New York For Two Sold Out Shows at Terminal 5

    Scottish synth-pop trio Chvrches returned to New York this weekend with two sold out shows at Manhattan’s Terminal 5. The band is in the midst of a North American tour in support of Screen Violence, their fourth LP and first on Glassnote records. NYS Music was there to catch the first night on Friday, November 26th.

    chvrches new york
    Lauren Mayberry of Chvrches at Terminal 5, 11/26/21 – Photo by Buscar Photo

    One week before Chvrches’ opening night at Terminal 5, the band announced that multi-instrumentalist Iain Cook tested positive for COVID-19. Instead of postponing any shows, the band was poised to have touring and studio tech Dave Simpson as well as Lo Moon guitarist Sam Stewart step in and fill Iain’s shoes for the shows in Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburg and Columbus. Iain was able to make his comeback to Chvrches for the New York shows, receiving copious “We Miss You Iain!” chants from the crowd throughout the night.

    Screen Violence single “How Not To Drown,” featured The Cure’s Robert Smith. Via YouTube

    Screen Violence was released back in August but the band recently issued the expanded Screen Violence: Director’s Cut last month featuring three bonus tracks. The tour continues with a handful of east coast dates before heading west, including a show at Las Vegas’ Brooklyn Bowl on December 11th. The tour concludes a week later with a final show at the Hollywood Palladium.

    • chvrches new york
    • chvrches new york
    • chvrches new york
    • chvrches new york
    • chvrches new york
    • chvrches new york
    • chvrches new york

  • 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. 

    Alexander holding a rose to the crowd

    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.

    • Alexander 23
    • Marquee sign reading "Alexander 23 Sold out November 19"
    • Alexander playing guitar
    • The crowd and Alexander 23
    • Alexander 23 at Webster Hall
    • Alexander 23 performing at Webster Hall
    • Alexander holding a rose to the crowd
    • Alexander 23

  • “GET BACK NYC” Benefit for Teen Cancer America Comes to Cutting Room December 6

    Given the massive interest in The Beatles’ forthcoming Get Back film, an army of notable downtown artists are heading uptown to the Cutting Room for GET BACK NYC, a local remake/remodel of tunes from the Fab’s classic 1970 swan song Let It Be – all to benefit Teen Cancer America’s Play It Back Music Program, a charity founded by The Who’s Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend.

    GET BACK NYC

    Produced and presented by David C. Gross and Tom Semioli, the hosts of the radio show/podcast NOTES FROM AN ARTIST, the reinventions are designed to showcase the many musical genres that New York City is renowned for – rock, jazz, experimental, funk, punk, folktronica and urban country.  In keeping with the format of Gross and Semioli’s show, the event will be a “PodFormance” – a hybrid of live concert and podcast (with interviews). The event will take place Monday, December 6 at 7 pm at the Cutting Room, at 44 East 32nd Street, New York City. 

    Artists confirmed for the event include Emily Duff, Joey Kelly Allstars, Arno Hecht (Uptown Horns, Rolling Stones, J. Geils Band), Chris Parker (Bob Dylan, Stuff, Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin, Jon Secada), Peter Baron, Spaghetti Eastern Music, Ben Neill, Lorraine Leckie, Anne Husick (Joey Ramone, Ronnie Spector), Puma Perl, Mark Bosch (Ian Hunter, Mott The Hoople ’74, Garland Jeffreys), Kathena Bryant, Chris Berardo and The DesBerados, along with bassists David C. Gross, Tom Semioli, and a few surprise guests.

    Publisher Nicholas Callaway will kick-off the evening of GET BACK NYC with a discussion of The Beatles: Get Back book (Callaway Arts & Entertainment).  This is the official account of the creation of their final album, Let It Be, told in The Beatles’ own words, illustrated with hundreds of previously unpublished images, including photos by Ethan A. Russell and Linda McCartney.

    Founded by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, Teen Cancer America (TCA) partners with hospitals throughout the United States to develop specialized facilities and services for teens and young adults with cancer. TCA builds teen friendly environments, enhancing the hospital experience. TCA develops standards for age-targeted care, improve collaboration between pediatric and adult specialists and enable dedicated research to improve outcomes and survival for our young people. The Play It Back Music program gives adolescent and young adult cancer survivors the opportunity to express themselves and heal through the power of making music. Play It Back connects cancer survivors with industry professionals to create songs, meet artists, and explore music. 

    GET BACK NYC

    David C. Gross and Tom Semioli’s NOTES FROM AN ARTIST is an insightful, intriguing and informative talk/music program airing Monday evenings on www.CygnusRadio.com. It is a unique program that brings you behind the scenes with individuals whose artistry had resonated with generations. The program has presented some of the biggest names in music of many genres, including jazz bass legend Ron Carter, Michael League (Snarky Puppy), Richard Thompson, photographer The Cutting Room is located at 44 East 32nd Street, New York City.  Admission for GET BACK NYC is $20.00 with all proceeds going to TEEN CANCER AMERICA. For tickets and info contact The Cutting Room.

  • The Hollies Announce 60th anniversary US 2022 tour

    The Hollies, one of the most iconic bands in British music and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees will celebrate their 60th anniversary with a return to the US in 2022.

    The dates mark the band’s first US tour in over two decades and take in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Jersey, and Washington DC.

    Famed for their soaring, distinctive melodies and brilliantly crafted songs, the 60th-anniversary tour will see The Hollies performing their best-known hits including ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’, ‘The Air That I Breathe’, ‘Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)’, ‘Bus Stop’, ‘Carrie-Anne’ and ‘Sorry Suzanne’.

    We felt like this is something no other band gets to do, celebrate six decades together, 60 years of this band and these songs means so much to us and so many others.

    Tony Hicks, guitarist

    The line-up includes powerhouse drummer Bobby Elliott, and singer, songwriter, and lead guitarist Tony Hicks, both of whom are original members of the band. They are joined by lead singer Peter Howarth, as well as bass player Ray Stiles, Keyboardist Ian Parker, and Steve Lauri on Rhythm Guitar.

    Celebrated as one of the most influential bands from the 1960s British Invasion era alongside the likes of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, the Hollies have had over 20 worldwide hits, including number one singles in both the US and UK. They have spent an astonishing 263 weeks in the UK’s top 40 official singles chart, and have been performing continuously since their formation in 1962.

    We’re incredibly excited performing for everyone on what will be some of the most special shows in the history of The Hollies.

    Bobby Elliott, drummer

    Their cultivated musicianship, coupled with the Hollies’ extensive back catalog of memorable rock ‘n’ roll tunes, has ensured the longevity of one of the greatest groups to emerge from the early 1960’s British Rock Revolution.

    In 1995, they have bestowed the coveted Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution To British Music, and in 2010 were inducted into the American Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame for their ‘impact on the evolution, development, and perpetuation of Rock and Roll’.

    The Hollies 60th Anniversary Tour Dates

    April 2 – Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown, NJ
    April 4 – The Kennedy Center, Washington DC 
    April 5 – Town Hall, New York, NY
    April 7 – The Athenaeum, Chicago, IL
    April 9 – The Saban, Los Angeles, CA

    Tickets are on sale now here.