Category: Needs Category

Karina Rykman To Play Brooklyn Bowl: Excitement Stirs

Karina Rykman has announced with great excitement that her band will be headlining Brooklyn Bowl on February 24, 2022. Part of a greater movement with other of powerhouse women in live music not only making their presence known, but respected. This New York City-based artist bends the genres and feeds the soul. Karina called this “a proper hometown show” which could be interpreted as her way of saying “not to be missed.”

Who Is Karina?

Karina Rykman has been the powerhouse thread weaving its way through seemingly opposing forms of musical expression. Chatter of Karina’s name, talent and on stage acrobatic feats of stunt work have been the topic of conversation at festivals, pre-show hangs, after parties and set breaks. Some know Karina as Marco Benevento’s bass player but her solo project has made itself known as a force to be reckoned with. Sparkly boots, deep grooves and occasional stunts make for an entrancing experience with no choice but to allocate all attention in the moment.

Photo: Em Walis

But What Kind of Music Is This?

The funkier side of jam with a heavy lead bass of songs like “Dirty South” blend smoothly into a lo-fi ambient moods with songs like “Plants” and “Arbitrary”. “Elevator” and “City Kids” live within a pleat synching indie with the grit only a New York City Riot Grrrl could harness. All of the masterful genre stitching and blending encompass the beauty in what music is becoming.

Magic camptured at Catskill Mountain Jubilee by Em Walis

Evidence Points To Magic

Where might have Karina gained her momentum and defined her style? Perhaps all the time society was forced to look at the same four walls heightened other sense and stronger recognitions for new and exciting sound profiles. Maybe Karina experienced some form training similar to Uma T’s Black Mamba character in the Kill Bill films. In this case it would have been bass, not katana. The training with Marco Benevento likely involved many more smiles, a few less stairs and absolutely a large collection of cheap keyboards. Crystal masters claim that when the “greatest sound guy of all time” is at the helm and the sunlight hits Karina’s bass at just the right angle, the golden light that exists in this musicians soul becomes visible for only a moment.

Stocks

Day or night, it would be in one’s best interest to see Karina now and catch glimpses of the golden light now, because it will be a lot more difficult as her career continues to grow. Karina’s shows are fun. Banter could include existential questions followed by a quick video game cheat code. Encouragement to bandmates might involve empowering words like “slay” and “queen” which are unfortunately not in the usual vocabulary of “dude bands at dude shows”. Karina’s shows are known to feel uplifting, creatively complimentary and spirit lifting.

Women supporting women in music by Em Walis

Slay Queen

Women like Karina, friends Marlo and Veronica from Melt, Kanika Moore of Doom Flamingo, Laura Lee of Krunghabin and fellow New Yorker Alexis Krauss of Sleigh Bells are all making waves on tour and helping to create a safer space for future generations of women that are interested in music. These women convey a message that grant permission for women to present authentically, dress in what feels the best and behave in a way that stands by ethical codes unapologetically. The future looks bright thanks to Karina and the other magical warriors queens out there slaying.

For more on Rykman, check out our folktale style review from Catskill Mountain Jubilee and our recent review of Marco Benevento’s latest show at the Brooklyn Bowl. Tickets for Karina Rykman at Brooklyn Bowl are on sale here.

December 20, 2021
In Focus: State Champs Headline Frozen Fest 2021 at Empire Live
Saturday, December 18, was the return of Frozen Fest in Albany, New York, at Empire Live. The show was headlined by Albany’s own State Champs, with Origami Angel, Young Culture, and Pollyanna. Pollyanna, and Albany-based Young Culture opened up Frozen Fest 2021 and primed the crowd for Origami Angel. The Washington D.C. duo took the stage and rocked harder than any duo should be able to. By the end of their set, the Frozen Fest audience was feeling loose and ready to party with State Champs.

State Champs

State Champs walked on stage before a rowdy crowd that had no idea there was a 24-song set in store for them. The long setlist bounced around State Champs’ discography and the audience loved every minute of it. The hometown band opened with ‘Criminal’ and crowd surfers immediately began pouring over the guardrail. The show’s energy slowly increased over the course of the next hour, until fans received good news.

Origami Angel

After what felt like an entire show, Derek announced to the crowd that their set was only halfway over. A few hundred sweaty and out-of-breath fans gained a second wind and the night’s energy continued on its upward trajectory. Not too long after this midpoint though, the show hit a tipping point. Fans who were too scared to crowd surf earlier had gained the confidence to try, and one person after another began giving the “up” signal to the nearest strongman they could find.
The evolution of a crowd surfer.
Eventually though, the good times would have to end. As State Champs played their final songs, the party in the crowd continued with pushing and shoving blurring with hugging and singing. The only thing that could take the night higher was a 5-minute break before a three song encore. State Champs’ set peaked during this encore as the Albany fans sent up as many crowd surfers as was physically possible. Frozen Fest 2021 would go on to end in a shower of hundreds of balloons as the crowd sang along with their hometown band.

State Champs are heading to Europe next, but you can keep track of future dates on their website.

Setlist: Criminal, Mine Is Gold, Outta My Head, Shape Up, Frozen, Xmas, Tonsil Hockey (Intro), Critical, Something About You, Shades Of Gray, Hurry Up and Wait, Our Time to Go, Breaking Ground, Hard to Please, Just Sound, Simple Existence, Slow Burn, Losing Myself, All You Are is History, Dead and Gone
Encore: Time Machine, Elevated, Secrets
December 20, 2021
Gregg Allman eats an Orange

Happy Birthday Gregg Allman! The road for the Allman Brothers Band certainly does go on forever. Some of its trails were carved by two of their managers who graduated from Syracuse University. They made residency history at the Fillmore East and The Beacon Theater in Manhattan during their time.

The band evolved with a changing cast at Syracuse University’s Manley Field House over the years as well. The Allman Brothers Band even took on a summer-like residency at the New York State Fairgrounds & ballparks every August.

The musical concept Gregg Allman and his brother Duane ‘Skydog’ Allman founded in Florida has had Syracuse ties since 1970. During an Allman Brothers Band gig that year on Collins Avenue in Miami, while noticing Eric Clapton in the crowd, Duane told his brother Gregg, “Bay brah, dig who the fuck is sitting over there” to which Gregg replied “Man, I saw him two songs ago.”

Duane Allman & Eric Clapton Syracuse 1970

Clapton recruited Duane Allman to play in the studio on Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. Duane only performed the legendary work live in Tampa, Florida on December 1, 1970 and the last time at The Onondaga County War Memorial in Syracuse on December 2, 1970. Elton John got to see it as he opened the show that night last minute when the dates changed. Less than a year later, Duane gave up his ghost in the band and Gregg took his brother’s angel spirit on the road with him forever.

In March of 1987, many moons before their infamous residencies at the Beacon Theatre, Gregg Allman brought his solo band to Syracuse. The I’m No Angel tour had a stop at North Syracuse’s USA Sams Rock club. My father, Mark Romano was running the infamous Ground Round chain restaurants that year. As he was ready to close shop one night, much to his surprise, Gregg Allman was posted up at his bar. Gregg’s crew was in transit at the hotel next door on 7th North Street with only their tour bus as means of transportation.

After some spirits and laughter, Allman asked Romano if he would be able to drive them in his Buick to other establishments that were open. They went to the legendary Crossroads bar on 7th north street to shoot pool & enjoy some conversation. They certainly talked good music as Romano’s father Frank Romano’s cousin played piano with Frank Sinatra in the seventies. As the closing hour approached, Gregg insisted they go to the club where he was performing the next evening.

Romano backtracked from the North Syracuse club to their hotel on 7th North in the early morning hours to drop them for the night. After all, he had to open the restaurant the next day. While feeling a little bedraggled, he saw Gregg return in true southern gentleman fashion. He brought Romano various records and tapes of music they discussed the night before on the town and passes to his show that evening.

I started 2009 in NYC at Gramercy Theater seeing Gregg’s solo band perform there New Years Day and during Daytona Beach Bike Week that Spring. I was able to share the tale with Allman at the Turning Stone Casino after a solo band performance in 2009 as well. The same southern hospitality he showed my father was reciprocated as Gregg and I played some blackjack and talked blues music.

Allman joined Dave Matthews Band on stage at Madison Square Garden in April of 2009 for the Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King tour opening show. When Gregg headlined the 2011 New York State Blues fest in Syracuse, he spoke with Syracuse New Times writer and musician Jess Novak.

Jess’s question “What is it about blues music and these older songs that draws you to them? Gregg replied, “It’s kind of an outlet, ya know? If you got a little taste of the blues or something hanging on from way back, it’s like a release. It damn sure works too.” Novak found herself performing at Jones Beach with Devon Allman where Jason Isbell played prior and Gregg closed the show, an experience Novak described as “completely insane”

Devon Allman & Oteil Burbridge , Peach Festival 2021

Gregg’s sax player Jay Collins performs regularly at Syracuse’s Salt City Waltz every year. In 2012 Gregg released his New York Times best selling book My Cross to Bear from a loungey first person account. Don’t forget a 16-year old Cameron Crowe joined Gregg and the band on the road in the summer of 1973 to write a Rolling Stone cover story on the group.

Devon Allman is currently on tour with the young blood of his dad, ABB original bassist Berry Oakley and Dickey Betts kin. The Allman-Betts band is currently on their Allman Family Revival tour with a special birthday show for his father at New York City’s legendary Beacon Theatre on December 8 with guests like Eric Gales, Robert Randolph. and G Love.

The Allman Brothers Band started The Peach Music Festival at Montage Mountain Ski resort in Scranton, PA in 2012. Allman-Betts band returned to the Peach stage this year collaborating with longtime ABB bassist Oteil Burbridge. Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes performed “Why Does Love Got to be so Sad?” at the 2020 Love Rocks NYC benefit at The Beacon Theatre on the infamous March 12th start date of the pandemic.

Soul Survivor of the original ABB, Jamoie Jameson, grooved on his drum kit at the Peach Festival’s Mushroom Stage this year as well. When I spoke with Devon Allman briefly at the Peach and told him the tale of our pops he replied with a smile “Ah man, that sounds just like him.”

The life and legacy of Gregg Allman can best be summed up in his autobiography, My Cross to Bear: Music is my life’s blood. I love music, I love to play good music, and I love to play music for people who appreciate it. And when its all said and done, I’ll go to my grave and my brother will greet me saying, “Nice work, little brother—you did right”

December 8, 2021
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram Takes The Delta Back Roads to Homer

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram brought his 662: Juke Joint Live (XXIX) tour to the Homer Center for the Arts on Tuesday, November 2. The 62nd annual Grammy awards just nominated the 662 from Alligator Records for Best Traditional Blues Album. Kingfish was in the Southern Tier over the summer with Robert Randolph who spoke with NYS Music at Jus Sum Jazz Lounge in Syracuse. Robert Randolph, who played the New York State Blues fest and Chenango Blues Fest with Kingfish, called the lounge a “Modern Day Juke Joint.”

Kingfish, Niagara Falls

The 22 year old natural blues man from Mississippi reminded everyone in the Empire State what his name is with “She Calls me Kingfish.” He then played his cut that has been dominating the B.B King’s blues satellite radio channel with “Fresh Out.” The studio track features Buddy Guy who has played The Experience Hendrix Tour at the Landmark Theater and the New York State Blues Fest. Kingfish has been interviewed by Sir Elton John during his Rocket Hour podcast. His music even got caught creeping with legendary funkadelic artist Bootsy Collins.

The highlight of the evening’s live performance occurred when Kingfish took his solo during “Too Young to Remember” from the stage into the center’s aisles up through the 2nd floor balcony and back to the bandstand for a 20-minute spectacle. He also quieted the room down with his acoustic play. “I don’t know where I came from or how i got this way, Well I can still hear Grandma saying child you’ve been here…here before.“

The songs off 662 are an homage to where Kingfish grew up. The area code in Northern Mississippi is 662 and Kingfish tells you that there is a church on every corner. Let’s prey that 662 makes its way into the 62nd Grammy awards. The 150 year old Baptist church turned music venue really was a perfect fit for his ensemble to play in rural Homer, New York.

He honored the room’s Jimi Hendrix “Electric Church” energy during the encore with an extended version of “Hey Joe.” Kingfish fell in line with blues disciples Robert Cray, Eric Gales. Ana Popovic , and Samantha Fish who have all rocked the electric church this season.

The Hendrix tune appeared out of thin air during the encore of “Long Distance Woman” from the Grammy-nominated 662 album. Fish sang about life’s distance on the road from the lady that’s always too far apart. “My job keeps me rolling. I never stay in one city too long, being apart and missing your touch, it’s hard to keep a good thing strong.” Kingfish crosses the pond to Europe in 2022.

November 28, 2021
Davy Knowles Serves Up Stand-Out Performance to Sit-down Crowd in Pawling, NY
On the eve of his latest studio release “What Happens Next,” Davy Knowles served up a special sneak preview of the album to ‘hungry’ music fans in Pawling, NY on Thursday, October 21^st. Daryl’s House, the nostalgic “dinner and a show” type venue, owned by Daryl Hall (of Hall & Oates fame), played host to the event.

Part cabin-in-the-woods, part rock history wax museum, part steakhouse, Daryl’s House is anything but a typical concert venue. Then again, Davy Knowles, the Isle of Man-born guitarist/singer/songwriter isn’t your typical musician. First making waves with his band ‘Back Door Slam’ in 2007, then releasing two subsequent solo albums, 2014’s ‘The Outsider’ and 2016’s ‘Three Miles From Avalon,’ Knowles made history by becoming the first musician to play live in space, beaming directly from Mission Control in Houston to the International Space Station.

Back on Earth, Davy has earned a reputation in recent years as one of the top blues guitar players to keep an eye on; honing his craft while on the road with music titans like of Jeff Beck, The Who, Buddy Guy, Warren Haynes and The Rhythm Devils to name just a few.

Taking the stage at Daryl’s House around 8pm with the smell of pork ribs, sauerkraut and calamari still permeating the air, most of the audience was still finishing their dinners when Davy Knowles gave them something to really sink their teeth into. Opening the show with the punchy rock riff of “Solid Ground” followed up by “Heavy On My Mind,” it was as if the mostly mature, well behaved crowd didn’t know what hit them. Nevertheless, Knowles, bass player Tod Bowers and drummer Jeremy Cunningham continued on with another new track, “One & the Same” before Davy uncorked his biggest guitar solo of the night thus far on the anthemic “Stand Your Ground.”

I’m so tired of pretending, second guessing myself. All this time I’ve been spending, pleasing somebody else.

Knowles then candidly addressed the room, saying how nice it’s been to play music to a live audience again, yet also nerve-wracking trying to remember how to play some of the older material. He then asked if everyone could say “hello” in unison to his family at home watching via Facebook live.

From there, the trio brought the energy level down to a true blues vibe with ones of the stand out tracks off the latest Knowles album, “Devil and the Deep Blue Sea” before ratcheting it back up with the title track off 2015’s The Outsider.

Standing in the shadow of a massive Jimi Hendrix print on the wall, you couldn’t help but draw the obvious comparisons between the two. Sure, there’s only one Jimi, but make no mistake about it: Davy Knowles is one hell of a talented guitar player. With tone for days and an effortless ability to work his fingers around the frets with blistering speed and confidence, bringing each solo to a jaw-dropping climax before returning to more familiar structure, never were his chops more on display than on the tune “Every Man For Himself.”

The well-balanced flow of the set all but dictated it was time for another blues number, and “Roll Me” hit the sweet spot just right. We then got the evenings only song off 2016’s Three Miles From Avalon, the foot stomping, hand clapping sing along “Oxford, MS,” which finally had the audience fully engaged in something other than finishing their food.

Now eating out of the palm of his hand, Knowles would then cook up something extra saucy with the riff-centric rocker, “Outside Woman Blues” before segueing nicely into the motivational “Work a Little Harder.” Finally, Davy would bring the entrée portion of the set to a close with a new song written during the height of the pandemic, “Wake Me Up When The Nightmare’s Over. ”

After walking off stage for a brief moment, Knowles returned to with only an acoustic guitar in hand.   With that, he began sharing some personal reflections about what the last two years have been like for him.   From getting married, to losing his beloved father, to the birth of his first child and wishing his dad was there to see it, there was a lot of real-life heaviness in a relatively short period of time for Knowles. The big reprieve for him, he says, was getting to spend so much quality time with his family and learning how to be a dad.

It was during that time he wrote the encore song “If I ever Meet My Maker,” the closing track of his latest album and easily the most introspective and emotional song of the evening. Never one to send the audience home on a downer, both Tod Bowers and drummer Jeremy Cunningham rejoined Knowles for one last song. Paying homage to one of his personal guitar heroes, Knowles closed the show with a cover of the Rory Gallagher classic “Take What I Want,” bringing the powerhouse performance to an end and for the first time all night, the seated audience to their feet in a standing ovation.

Afterwards, the hard-working and approachable Knowles and his bandmates could be seen talking with fans and posing for selfies with them before packing it up and getting on to the next town.    After a brief run the mid-west, east coast fans will get several more chances to catch Davy Knowles before the end of the year, including November dates in Buffalo, Lima and New York City.

Davy Knowles – Daryl’s House – Pawling, NY – 10/21/2021

Setlist: Solid Ground, Heavy on My Mind, One & The Same, Stand Your Ground, Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, The Outsider, Light of the Moon, Every Man, Roll Me, Oxford MS, Outside Woman Blues, Work a Little Harder, Wake Me Up, When the Nightmare’s Over, If I Ever Meet My Maker, Take What I Want (Rory Gallagher cover)
October 26, 2021
Talib Kweli Returns to Brooklyn Bowl

Brooklyn native and rap legend, Talib Kweli performed at Brooklyn Bowl on October 15th for the second consecutive night. Backed by a live band, Kweli performed a number of songs off his newest album Gotham, which was made in collaboration with Diamond D. He also performed classics like Raw Shit, Get By, and payed tribute to the late, great MF DOOM and Biz Markie.

The night was opened by the incredibly talented Dudley Music, who alternated between keys, guitar, saxophone, drum machine, and flute while rapping and singing through his set. Proceeding was a DJ set by Niara Sterling, including hits, remixes, and deep cuts alike, that kept the vibe in the room until it was time for Kweli. DJ Spinelect fired the crowd up with Simon Says to finally bring out Talib Kweli to the Brooklyn Bowl stage.

The live band cannot get enough credit for this amazing show. With Brady Watts on bass, Camau Bernstine on drums, Chris Rob on keys, and Matthias Loescher on guitar, their incredible passion was apparent well beyond just their playing ability. Every artist got their time to shine with consecutive solos, with Watts and Rob even getting a chance to flex their freestyling abilities.

October 20, 2021
Ian Lockwood creates satirical yet skilled pop with “Not Like Other Girls”

Comedian and singer-songwriter Ian Lockwood will release his second EP, Not Like Other Girls, on October 22. The title track, also the lead single, pokes fun at the “I’m not like other girls” phenomenon, which depicts young women acting excessively quirky or unique in order to set themselves apart from the rest of their gender, often for male attention or due to internalized misogyny. Famous examples include P!nk and Avril Lavigne’s mid-2000s output, as well as the majority of love interests in John Green novels. The meme has entire Reddit subs dedicated to it, and now a pop anthem:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaiRqv3jD7s

Lockwood follows a long tradition of comedians crossing over into musical territory, including “Weird” Al Yankovic, Flight of the Conchords, and most recently, Bo Burnham. However, he has bigger aspirations than novelty fodder. In September, he told PASTE Magazine of his goal to challenge the notion of comedy songs as dance floor clearers.

I want people to be able to throw [my music] on at a party and not everybody goes, ‘What the hell is this? Turn this off, next.’ I think if you’re a fan of comedy music, and you’ve ever hosted a party and tried to sneak a comedy song onto a playlist, you know the pain of people getting upset and asking to change the song. So the philosophy is good comedy and good music at the same time.
Ian Lockwood to PASTE Magazine, September 2021

Lockwood released the EP’s second single, “No Homo,” on October 1. Lyrically, the song is about two straight “bros” who accidentally-on-purpose keep finding themselves in steamy predicaments. To add insult to injury, it’s backed by a flamboyant nu-disco beat that makes it hard to believe the narrator’s insistence that everything is straight and narrow. The second half of the song goes on an entertaining tangent, where the narrator and his subject time-travel to the 1800s as star-crossed besties.

On October 22, Ian Lockwood is having a release show for Not Like Other Girls at Union Hall in Brooklyn. Listeners can also expect third single “Your Dad” to drop on the same day.

October 1, 2021
My Morning Jacket Share Video for “Love Love Love” off upcoming studio album

My Morning Jacket have shared the first single from their upcoming self-titled ninth studio album, “Love Love Love,” along with an entrancing music video. The song found its debut at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens on Friday, September 10, and has entered the band’s rotation on their first U.S. headline tour in six years.

Ahead of the October 22 release of the band’s first new music since the GRAMMY Award-nominated The Waterfall, My Morning Jacket reaffirms the rarefied magic that’s made My Morning Jacket so beloved, embedding every groove with moments of discovery, revelation, and ecstatic catharsis.

Produced and engineered by James over two multi-week sessions at Los Angeles, CA’s 64 Sound, the album came to life after what looked like a permanent hiatus for the band. After performing four shows in summer 2019 – beginning with two mind-blowing nights at Red Rocks Amphitheatre – My Morning Jacket was overcome with the urge to carry on. That sense of purpose can be heard throughout the thrillingly expansive My Morning Jacket, with songs like “Regularly Scheduled Programming” and album-closing “I Never Could Get Enough” revealing My Morning Jacket’s hunger for exploring the most nuanced and layered existential questions in song form while simultaneously harnessing the hypnotic intensity of their legendary live show more fully than ever before.

‘Love Love Love’ is trying to steer the ship away from everything I’m talking about in ‘Regularly Scheduled Programming,’ and speak toward positivity and pure love, finding truth within yourself and in the world around you
Jim James, MMJ

The video, directed by George Mays and produced by Dead Eye Films finds the band in a liquid light show with a chorus singing “Love Love Love” behind James and My Morning Jacket.

My Morning Jacket 2021-2022 Tour Dates

SEPTEMBER

23 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl *

24 – Dana Point, CA – Ohana Festival

25 – Berkeley, CA – Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley *

28 – Troutdale, OR – McMenamins Edgefield Concerts *

29 – Spokane, WA – Riverfront Park Pavilion *

OCTOBER

1 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre *

2– Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre *

3 – Bend, OR – Les Schwab Amphitheater *

29 – Birmingham, AL – Alabama Theatre # SOLD OUT

30 – Live Oak, FL – Suwannee Hulaween SOLD OUT

31 – New Orleans, LA – Orpheum Theatre # SOLD OUT

NOVEMBER

2 – St. Louis, MO – Stifel Theater #

4 – Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theatre #

5 – Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theatre # SOLD OUT

6 – Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theatre # SOLD OUT

DECEMBER

29 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom

30 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom SOLD OUT

31 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom SOLD OUT

MARCH 2022

2-5 – Riviera Cancún, Mexico – One Big Holiday

* Special Guests Durand Jones & The Indications

# Special Guest Bedouine

September 15, 2021
“More Music Less Violence” Event Kicks Off the School Year on September 12 in Albany

More Than Music LLC has announced the kickoff of a new series of artist showcases, dubbed as “More Music Less Violence,” taking place on September 12 at The Ground Up Café in Albany.

“More Music Less Violence” came into being as a pop-up event during Summer 2020, in the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on bringing people together to heal the community through arts. A year later, COVID-19 restrictions are scaled back, and the Capital Region is still seeing an influx of gun violence peppering the area. The need for “More Music Less Violence” is ever-present, and returns ready to stay.

In keeping with the spirit of a positive energetic message, the first showcase is filled with a Capital Region roster of 11 young, bright talents. Included among the lineup are Freedom Stratton, Triya Love, Alexys Rae, Jaccpot, Ricky Bandana, Tony Twix, Rell Dolo, Chaz Money, Astrx Boomin, B Lyriq and Iveilah Dutton.

Photo Credit: Eddie Quinn Photography. Performers Pictured Here: Top Left to Right: Astrx Boomin, DJ Hollyw8d, Alexys Rae & Chaz MoneyBottom Left to Right: Jaccpot & Rell Dolo

More Than Music LLC CEO Mario Johnson – aka DJ HollyW8D – will be debuting a special surprise set as well. Originally from Brooklyn, DJ HollyW8D energizes crowds throughout Upstate New York and has always gravitated to music throughout his life and hopes to bring versatility in his music mixing wherever he goes. Drawing inspiration from many including his mother, Sean P. Diddy Combs and DJ Puffy, HollyW8D aims to inspire others with his daily grind and optimistic energy.

Due to the COVID pandemic there was no events going down, so I made an event. Music is a common factor that always brings people together and growing up in Brooklyn you saw violence every day. I don’t want to see it where I am living now.
Mario Johnson, CEO of More Than Music LLC, on his inspiration behind the event.

Intermittently throughout the evening, various representatives will be presenting on the issue of violence in the Capital Region. Guests can expect to hear from Councilman Owusu Anane of the Albany County 10^th Ward, Albany Mayoral candidate Greg Aidala, representatives from the Boys and Girls Club of the Capital Area and Jerry Ford from TEAM H.E.R.O.

There will be an assortment of other activities for those in attendance, including live painting with artist Heartless Harlot, and kid-friendly interactive Chalk Talk with Carrie Love, who teaches kids how to silently protest. All attendees will have access to the photobooth and will receive a raffle ticket upon admission that can be used later for merchandise.

The event will be held from 4pm – 8 pm at Ground Up Cafe at 227 Quail Street in Albany.

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September 10, 2021
El Modernist Release Electric New Single “Lines”

El Modernist is a fresh take on indie rock that has an entrancing energy and stage presence. Hailing from Albany with a focus on modernizing catchy garage-rock by incorporating unique, groovy sounds, their latest single “Lines” is an upbeat, feel-good rock song that the band is incredibly excited to be releasing.

“A modern take on New Wave, “Lines” by El Modernist encapsulates raw, angular rock riffs with upbeat percussive grooves. The simple yet universal lyrics about the fabricated life around us are captured within delightfully frenetic verses, and a laid back yet hard hitting hook. “Lines” lends itself to having an instantaneously classic sound, updated for today’s listeners.”

El Modernist has gained tremendous support from the Albany community as they venture through the music industry. Every show they put on is a party, and fans of all ages come from all over New York to hear them rip up the stage. This past year, they have worked on more music than ever before. They are slowly transitioning out of their rap-rock party days and pulling inspiration from more classical alternative rock acts such as Talking Heads, The Clash, and Blondie. They cannot wait to continue pursuing their rock careers and are looking forward to booking shows all over the country.

August 3, 2021