Bob Dylan will hit the road for the “Rough and Rowdy Ways” tour in November, following his longest touring hiatus since the 1980s. The tour is billed as a worldwide tour running until 2024.
Rough and Rowdy Ways follows the release of the singles “Murder Most Foul” and “I Contain Multitudes,” with the former earning Dylan his first-ever #1 song under his own name on any Billboard chart. Dylan has also announced a 1980s-era bootleg series release, and streamed a concert called Shadow Kingdom.
Dylan’s fall dates will also mark the return of the road band, a slightly altered version of the group that hit the road in the fall of 2019, with two new members featured alongside regulars Charlie Sexton, Tony Garnier and Donnie Herron.
The tour makes stops in NYC on November 19-21 at The Beacon Theatre, and then Bob Dylan will hold a two-night run right after at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester. Tickets will go on sale Oct. 1 via BobDylan.com.
Bob Dylan Fall 2021 “Rough and Rowdy Ways” Tourdates
Nov. 2 – Milwaukee – Riverside Theatre
Nov. 3 – Chicago – Auditorium Theatre
Nov. 5 – Cleveland – Key Bank State Theatre
Nov. 6 – Columbus, Ohio – Palace Theatre
Nov. 7 – Bloomington, Ind. – U Auditorium
Nov. 9 – Cincinnati – Procter & Gamble Hall
Nov. 10 – Knoxville, Tenn. – Knoxville Auditorium
Nov. 12 – Louisville, Ky. – Palace Theatre
Nov. 13 – Charleston, WV – Municipal Auditorium
Nov. 15 – Moon Township, Penn. – Morris Univ. – UPMC Events Center
Nov. 16 – Hershey, Penn. – Hershey Theatre
Nov. 19 – New York City – Beacon Theatre
Nov. 20 – New York City – Beacon Theatre
Nov. 21 – New York City – Beacon Theatre
Nov. 23 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
Nov. 24 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
Nov. 26 – Providence, RI – Providence Performing Arts Center
Lou Barlow, founding member of Dinosaur Jr., will make a few stops in New York State this week, with performances in Ithaca, Rochester and Buffalo.
On Tuesday, September 28, Lou will be at Six Mile Creek Vineyard in Ithaca, and the next night head north to Rocheter for an intimate show at the Bug Jar on Wednesday, September 29. He’ll then play a unique backyard show in Buffalo on Thursday, September 30.
Lou shared this message with his fans in announcing the shows:
Hi everyone, I’ve got even more time before I head out on tour with Dinosaur Jr. so I want to do even more acoustic shows, again in the eastern US and a little further south. If you haven’t seen me before it’s always pretty fun and loose. I take requests and ramble on about things here and there. I really enjoy it, play for about 2 1/2 hours and haven’t had any complaints! I’ll play songs off my new LP too. Join me!
Lou Barlow began writing songs in 1981 inspired by bands like Minor Threat and the AM radio of his childhood, John Denver and Black Flag. The first official results of these pendulum swings were released as contributions to the 1984 Deep Wound 7”. By 1986 he was home recording his first acoustic LP Weed Forestin’ and touring his post-hardcore collaboration, Dinosaur Jr,, leaving in 1989 to join Sebadoh, and late in the ’90s, Folk Implosion, including the 1995 top 40 hit “Natural One.”
In 2005 Lou finally released a proper, under his own name, solo LP: EMOH,” an acoustic-based, singer-songwriter , studio-recorded effort that began a run of 4 similar collections culminating with 2016’s Apocalypse Fetish EP. Concurrently he rejoined Dinosaur Jr. and contributed songs to their successful 4 LP (and counting) reunion era.
For the Bug Jar show, proof of vaccination is required to attend this show, and seating is first come, first serve for this limited capacity event. Tickets for all shows are available here.
We have some big birthdays on the horizon and what better way to celebrate Tom Petty’s birthday, than with a documentary film on his life. Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers reminds us of the true humble being this rock star really was, bringing you a closer look over his incredible career. It’s hard to believe that we lost him only four years ago. The theatrical release will, of course, be on Petty’s birthday, October 20, featuring a one-night global celebration via Trafalgar Releasing with another encore screening in select cinemas on October 21.
Be sure to be there to get the full experience on the big screen with immersive surround-sound, that is before the YouTube Originals worldwide release. But that’ll be later this year for free in full 4K resolution.
This documentary has so much potential, already winning the Audience Award at SXSW 2021 and Best Documentary Film at the Boulder Film Festival.Director Mary Wharton aimed to please after releasing the critically acclaimed Jimmy Carter: Rock and Roll President, Sam Cooke: Legend, Elvis Lives!, and The Beatles Revolution. After the gold reissue of Wildflowers & All The Rest from Warner Records, we have been waiting for the second half of Tom’s autobiographical masterpiece.
Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers will almost make you feel like Tom is back and rocking right in the room with you. This documentary will focus on the period of 1993-1995, where, if you forgot, Tom was working with legendary producer Rick Rubin for the first time. You’ll see some never-before-seen footage of the boisterous life of a rock and roller and innate genius. Filled with new interviews from album co-producer and Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell along with Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench, the documentary is waiting to blow you away.
Warner Music Entertainment and Warner Records with Peter Afterman, Mary Wharton, Dan Braun and Adria Petty produced a documentary that will illuminate an insider look on Tom Petty in his height of iconicity.
If you want to hear a little more. Mary Wharton and Adria Petty spoke about the film with rock author/journalist David Fricke on SiriusXM’s Tom Petty Radio. Tickets can be found here
Legendary E Street guitarist and actor Stevie Van Zandt is launching the release of his new book Unrequited Infatuations with a 1-on-1 sit down interview with none other than the leader of the E Street Band and rock icon Bruce Springsteen on September 28. A Premiere Unison Event, it will be a virtual interview available for purchase online, along with signed or unsigned copies of the book. Fans will also have the opportunity to submit questions.
This one of a kind interview kicks off a week of publicity for Unrequited Infatuations, a memoir that promises to be an epic tale of self-discovery by a self-confessed disciple of rock and roll. Tickets can be purchased at the Unison Event website and the event will be available for on-demand viewing up to 90 days afterwards. Book copies are expected to ship within one week of purchase.
It chronicles the twists and turns of Van Zandt’s always surprising life. It is more than just the testimony of a globe-trotting nomad, more than the story of a groundbreaking activist, more than the odyssey of a spiritual seeker, and more than a master class in rock and roll (not to mention a dozen other crafts). The story story begins in a bedroom in suburban New Jersey in the early ’60s, unfolds on some of the country’s largest stages, and then ranges across the globe.
Van Zandt pulls material from a rich life marked by three distinct phases. While still a teenager, he met Bruce Springsteen, a like-minded outcast/true believer who became one of his most important friends and bandmates. As Miami Steve, Van Zandt anchored the E Street Band as they conquered New Jersey and, later, the world. And then, in the early ‘80s, he stepped away from E Street and refashioned himself as Little Steven, a political songwriter, and performer who fell in love with Maureen Santoro who greatly expanded his artistic palette, and visited the world’s hot spots as an artist/journalist to not just better understand them, but to help change them. And in the late ’90s, he was famously cast as Silvio Dante in The Sopranos – the unconditionally loyal consiglieri who sat at the right hand of Tony Soprano (a relationship that oddly mirrored his real-life relationship with Bruce Springsteen).
STEVEN VAN ZANDT UPCOMING APPEARANCES:
Tuesday, September 28, 8pm ET: Premiere Unison Event (Virtual) Stevie Van Zandt in conversation with Bruce Springsteen
Wednesday, September 29, 7:30pm ET: 92Y(New York, NY) In-person event – Stevie in conversation with Jay Cocks
Thursday, September 30, 8pm ET: Commonwealth Club (Virtual) Stevie in conversation with TBA
Friday, October 1, Time 7pm PT: Book Soup at the Colburn Music School (Los Angeles, CA) In-person event – Stevie in conversation with Chris Columbus
Sunday, October 3, 5pm ET: Montclair Literary Festival (Montclair, NJ) In-person, event – Stevie in conversation with Budd Mishkin
Author, poet, songwriter, and Queen of New York Patti Smith graced the stage at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park with her bandfor a free Sunday evening show this past weekend as part of the Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage concert series.
Nearly one month ago Smith was set to perform as part of the mega NYC Homecoming Concert in the Great Lawn, which was cut short by the watery remnants of Hurricane Henri before she had her turn on stage. Confirmed in an interview she did that evening with Anderson Cooper, she we would have performed a duet with Bruce Springsteen on the song they penned together, “Because the Night.” While there was no surprise Bruce appearance, Smith made a full-hearted fancy of the tune in dedication to her late husband Fred Smith.
A NYC-cultivated setlist payed tribute and honor to Smith’s equals who’ve either passed or fortunate to still be contributing to the arts. Early in the show Smith dedicated the reggae-infused “Renando Beach” to the late Jamaican record producer Lee “Scratch” Perry and went on to pay tribute to Charlie Watts with “Beneath the Southern Cross.” In tribute to former Saturday Night Live star Norm Macdonald Smith introduced Stevie Wonder’s “Blame it on the Sun” with a quote from the late comedian. Her band paid homage to Hilly Kristal and his CBGB legacy with a cover of the Rolling Stones’ “I’m Free” with an interlude of Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side.” Lastly, Smith tipped her hat to Bob Dylan with her take on his song “One Too Many Mornings.”
As a poet Smith performed her spoken word poem “Perfect Moon” to welcome in the approaching Harvest Moon leading seamlessly into the lyrics and music of “Dancing Barefoot.”
After a short encore break, Smith’s show ended with a message of strength “People Have the Power.” With fists in the air, many sang along in solidarity with that message.
The Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage concert series continues into early October; for more information check out the schedule here.
Setlist: Grateful, Redondo Beach, Free Money, Ghost Dance, Perfect Moon (poem), Dancing Barefoot, Ain’t It Strange, Beneath the Southern Cross, Blame It on the Sun, I’m Free -> Walk on the Wild Side -> I’m Free, Because the Night, Pissing in a River, One Too Many Mornings, Land / Gloria
Saturday Night Live has revealed the first four hosts and musical guests of its upcoming season 47. Returning on October 2 on NBC, the lineup includes Kacey Musgraves, Halsey, Young Thug and Brandi Carlile. The premiere is the first episode of SNL since last May, when Anya Taylor-Joy hosted as Lil Nas X took the stage. Cast members Beck Bennett and Lauren Holt are exiting the show, while three new featured players are set to join: Aristotle Athari, James Austin Johnson and Sarah Sherman.
Fans of the show can likely anticipate a tribute to late alum Norm Macdonald, who passed away in September.
Today is a sad day. All of us here at SNL mourn the loss of Norm Macdonald, one of the most impactful comedic voices of his or any other generation. pic.twitter.com/KQYuuz5eM9
The season premiere kicks off on October 2, with Loki star Owen Wilson hosting and country-turned-pop singer Kacey Musgraves as the musical guest. Musgraves’ fourth studio album star-crossed was released on September 10, supported by a visual album that premiered on Paramount+. She previously performed on SNL in 2018:
On October 9th, Kim Kardashian West hosts as Halsey performs. Her August album If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power received the best reviews of her career to date, attracting new listeners thanks to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s production. Halsey has guested on SNL annually since 2018, doing double duty as a host and musical guest in 2019.
Rami Malek hosts on October 16, a change of pace from portraying the most recent Bond villain in No Time to Die. Young Thug joins Malek as the musical guest, his first time as the main performer despite assisting Megan Thee Stallion last season.
The furthest out host and musical guest announced for Season 47 of Saturday Night Live are Emmy-winning Ted Lasso star and former SNL alum Jason Sudeikis, and singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile, both for October 23.
The inaugural Long Island music festival Pine Barrens Jam took over Blue Point Brewery in Patchogue this past Saturday, September 18th. The festival was originally supposed to happen in Center Moriches at the Ringhoff family farm, but due to extenuating circumstances and difficulties maintaining the town’s conditions, the festival had to change venues last minute.
Thankfully, the Blue Point Brewpub ended up being an excellent back up plan; the venue already has a large indoor stage with the ability to set up vendors and secondary stages outside. With plenty of parking and picture perfect weather, the festival went on without a hitch.
Pine Barrens Jam at Blue Point Brewery – 9/18/21. Photo By Buscar Photo
Debuting this year, Pine Barrens Jam was created to exhibit the best of local Long Island bands, artists, poets and other creative talent. When you arrived at the brewery, you were greeted by a row of vendors selling and showcasing their art as well as reps from radio stations and other causes. Vendors were selling t-shirts, paintings, jewelry and other items along the side of the brewery.
A small pop-up stage dubbed the “Peanut Butter Poetry & Arts Stage” was offset in the corner and hosted a slew of poets and other spoken word artists throughout the day. Featured speakers included Justin Vegh, Catheryn Berry, Brian Geraghty, Bri Onishea, MC2, Barbara Joy & Justin Poetry, Rosa Todaro, Nox, Allone and Rorie Kelly.
Peanut Butter Poetry & Arts Stage at Pine Barrens Jam, 9/18/21 – Photo By Buscar Photo
Moving along the grounds to the main entrance of the brewery, the “Lantern Sound Recording Rig Stage” greeted festival and brewery goers alike with a quaint set-up right as you arrived at the entrance. While the festival may have been competing with the brewery’s normal operating business, everyone who came out that day was pleasantly surprised to be immersed in the festival.
Even though it was a one day affair across three small stages, the festival curated a rather large lineup of artists from all over the area. The “Lantern” stage featured bands such as Hank Stone, Bryan Gallo, Leland Sundries, Mick Hargreaves, Frankie Matos, Rorie Kelly, Christine Sweeney, Pete Mancini and a triple performance from The Belle Curves, Anne O-Rourke & Featherheart.
Lantern Sound Recording Rig Stage at Pine Barrens Jam, 9/18/21 – Photo By Buscar Photo
The main space of the brewery is a massive room with several bars throughout. The kitchen was cranking out jumbo pretzels and fresh shucked oysters at a feverish pace as people were coming and going making their way around the festival. At one end of the space, the “Jelly Jam Stage” hosted the featured bands of the day: headliner Drop The 4 as well as Zestrove, Kaido, A Band In Ship, Laurie Anne Creus and Dysfunktone.
Jelly Jam Stage at Pine Barrens Jam, 9/18/21 – Photo By Buscar Photo
Attendees at the festival would have never known the brewery was a last minute venue change. The organizers did an incredible job adapting to the new space, and one might have even thought it was the intent all along. Pine Barrens Jam promises to fight to be able to use the intended farm for next year, but the debut edition of the festival succeeded in highlighting the amazing artistry and musical talent from Long Island. More photos from the day below.
Looking out on the throngs of fans who flocked to North Pearl Street in downtown Albany for PearlPalooza, WEQX Program Director Jeff Morad remarked “This is a prime example of ‘If you build it, they will come.’” With three local artists and a day of prime weather, the first PearlPalooza since 2019 took place on Saturday, September 18, bringing Albany out in force.
photo by Pete Mason
Starting with Yogapalooza at Noon, PearPalooza kicked off with music at 1pm with prog-rockers Timbre Coup, a long-awaited return to the stage for many in the crowd. Glass Pony‘s upbeat pandemic anthem “Something Good” rang through the streets and businesses on Pearl Street.
photo by Pete Mason
Jocelyn and Chris were the third hometown band on the lineup for PearlPalooza, giving many an opportunity to see them play live, in person, as opposed to their near-daily live streams that have been a regular way to get to know the duo since mid-2020. Thus, they brought their yellow livestream couch for a brief respite during their set, and performed the unreleased “Runaways.” While Jocelyn opted for a costume change, Chris showed off his guitar chops, leading into “Witness.” The duo emotionally thanked the crowd for the opportunity to play live music once again, closing the set with radio hit “Sugar and Spice.”
For Slothrust, PearlPalooza marked their ‘first show in forever,’ as frontwoman Leah Wellbaum remarked. After the live debut of “The Next Curse,” they performed a heavy cover of Britney Spears “Hit me Baby One More Time.” The Violent Femmes influence was felt on the Boston group, who commanded the stage, leaving an indelible mark in the annals of PearlPalooza, encoring with “Birthday Cake” and greeting fans side stage after their set.
Dave Matthews Band arrived at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) on September 17, 2021, for the first of two shows at one of their most familiar stomping grounds. Matthews briefly grew up in the Hudson Valley of New York before heading to South Africa, then to Charlottesville, VA to form his eponymous band.
The first concert Dave ever saw was that of Pete Seeger. “My parents took my brother, my sisters and me. I will never forget it. I was little. Dancing in a field in Upstate New York while the grown-ups sat on the grass.” Dave was able to share the Saratoga stage with a 94 year-old Pete at the September 2013 Farmaid concert.
Dave Matthews Band opened their two night run at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) on Friday with a nod to Seeger by performing “Rye Whiskey,” the first time the full band has played it since Bethel Woods in 2009. A variation on the traditional Scottish folk song “Way Up on Clinch Mountain”, Seeger’s version includes the lyrics “If the ocean was whiskey and I was a duck, I’d swim to the bottom and never come up.”
Tim Reynolds warmed Saratoga up with a two night acoustic run on his own at Putnam Place back in June. He told NYS Music about playing smaller rooms before his sold out SPAC shows “Oh incredible man, I think this year is wide open.”
The band extended out “So Damn Lucky” from the 2003’s Some Devil, seguing into Sly and The Family Stone’s “Thank You Falletinme Be Mice Elf again.” Dave Matthews had reunited with Some Devil bassist Tony Hall for their Labor Day weekend shows at The Gorge Amphitheater in George, WA, where Hall sat in on low end for bassist Stefan Lessard. Hall told NYS Music about the recording of Some Devil “I had a lot of fun with that record. One of my favorite songs is “So Damn Lucky.”
A new song debuted by the band this tour, “Walk Around The Moon,” has a psychedelic sound based on a true story of being lost in the woods with unexpected consequences very fitting for Saratoga Spa State park with its forest lining. The band shone a moonlit glow on the crowd for “You Never Know” with it’s fitting lyrics, “Funny when you’re small, The moon follows the car there’s no one but you see Hey, the moon is chasing me”.
The seven piece took “Jimi Thing” for a walk down multiple SPAC trails mashing up covers by Huey Lewis’ “I Want a New Drug,” Prince’s “Sexy Motherfucker” and The Rolling Stones. Dave took on Mick Jagger’s front man energy while singing the Stones staple “Satisfaction” in honor of Charlie Watts, for whom Dave Matthews Band had opened up for in the past.
All the lovers in attendance got a “#41,” “Say Goodbye,” and “Lover Lay Down” to keep their flames lit. Tony Hall’s cajun influence is heard during the appropriate “Louisiana Bayou” jam. The band encored an upstate New York anthem “Don’t Drink The Water,” with the poignant “here’s the hitch your horse is leaving” lyric for the Saratoga race track heads.
Night two at SPAC and the weather was perfect for more Dave Matthews Band. “Big Eyed Fish” opened the show, as the crowd was treated to “#27,” “The Stone,” and “Sugar Will,” all three being golden tunes to catch a vibe. Up next Buddy Strong kicked that B3 Hammond up for a howling cover of The Zombies “Time of the Season.” “Pantala Naga Pampa ” -> “Rapunzel” musical ride hit hard mid set, with “Granny” reminding the crowd why they were in attendance (Love!!!…Baby!!!)
The ensemble closed with Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower,” while midway through the chilling cover, Dave came in with the final verses of “Stairway to Heaven.” The house lights went up and a fresh fall air set on the crowd. The encore jumped seasons with “Christmas Song,” a simple song about the message of love through baby Jesus.
They finish with “Shake me like a Monkey” to make sure the crowd is on the same page before exiting into our lives: “Do you know what it is to feel the light of love inside you? And all the darkness falls away. If you feel the way I feel then I believe we have the answer. That I’ve been searching for tonight”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eei2lTAiP6Q
Dave Matthews Band – September 17, 2021 – Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), Saratoga Springs, NY
Setlist: Rye Whiskey, One Sweet World, That Girl Is You, Pig, So Damn Lucky, Can’t Stop, Walk Around the Moon, You Never Know, Minarets, Jimi Thing, I Want a New Drug, Sexy M.F., Brown Sugar, Bitch, (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, #41, Say Goodbye, Kill the Preacher, Why I Am, What You Are, Lover Lay Down, Louisiana Bayou, Stay (Wasting Time),
Encore: Sister, Don’t Drink the Water
Dave Matthews Band – September 18, 2021 – Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), Saratoga Springs, NY
Setlist: Big Eyed Fish, Bartender, Grace Is Gone, Grey Street, #27, The Stone, So Much to Say, Anyone Seen the Bridge, Too Much, Sugar Will, Crush, Squirm, Lying in the Hands of God, Time of the Season, Pantala Naga Pampa, Rapunzel, Drive In, Drive Out, Granny, Warehouse, All Along the Watchtower
The veteran guitarist and songwriter John Burdick is known in the mid-Hudson Valley as the leader of long-running stumble pop quintet, The Sweet Clementines, as well as for his work as an always tasteful sideman for Old 97’s front man Rhett Miller and his All-Stars, indie singer-songwriter Laura Stevenson and others. The name may also be familiar to music-lovers in NYS from his years as a music critic for outlets like Almanac Weekly (now Hudson Valley One) and Chronogram.
Birds and Birds is the name of Burdick’s latest, a four-track EP which is actually the first title released under his own name. It’s a maddening slim selection (at a little over 14-minutes, I wish there was more) of lush down-tempo art pop, the ideal chill-out listening experience for these troubled COVID times.
With the intro to “Unison Waltz,” we can hear that Burdick has spent a good deal of time listening to the electric guitar filagree of Richard Thompson. Like all the songs here, there’s a delight swirl of textures stitched by the electric and acoustic guitars, keys and background voices. Ten bonus points for working the word “gestalt” into the lyrics without having the tune grind to a halt! The slacker-rock socio-economic critique “Complikate” came out of SubFamily Records’ casual quarantine experiment Seed Project (reviewed here). But it was re-mixed for this collection by the Grammy-winning producer Danny Blume. This features more distinctive organ vibes and some melodic McCartneyisms on the bass.
The closer, “Birds of Heaven,” is a true standout, a perfect endpiece that reminds me a bit of John Cale’s placement of “Antarctica Starts Here” on his masterwork. Paris 1919. It dawns as the most minimal and poetic offering in the collection, before the thump kicks in two minutes in. Burdick’s ambient guitars, lush keys from Sarah Perrotta, the potent percussion and sound design by this track’s co-producer C.I.T.E and Dean Brown’s trombone solo on the make this another fine example of this artist’s eclectic art pop sensibilities.
