NYS Music 202​1

Category: News

  • New Expansion Revealed for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

    The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland announced on December 18th a 100 million dollar expansion headed by New York-based company Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU). PAU was chosen after submitting a request for quotation to nearly 22 other companies. The expansion is set to grow the museums size by one third, including a new band shell that overlooks Lake Erie.

    Practice for Architecture and Urbanism / Crain’s Cleveland Business

    This expansion was motivated primarily by a desire to add more space for concerts and other events. In the past, the Hall of Fame had ambitions to host huge live shows along the lines of Brooklyn Museum’s David Bowie show but could not due to the lack of space. Greg Harris, CEO of the Hall of Fame, comments on the plans for the new space:

    We want to give our audiences the giant wow moment that you would expect from a place of our magnitude.

    Greg Harris, CEO

    Included in the expansion is the creation of a museum campus compounded with the nearing Great Lakes Science Center, classrooms designed for interactive learning, new workspace along the lakefront, and a number of other event spaces for indoor and outdoor performances. In a press release, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame described these ambitious plans as:

    A pivotal moment for the museum, the community and for individuals who champion education and the preservation of rock and roll history.

    Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

    The expansion is set to begin in 2022 with a final design being chosen sometime in 2021.

  • Annie in the Water Announced As Newest Edition to The Palace Sessions

    Genre fusing band Annie in the Water is set to be the next group taking part on The Palace Sessions. The Palace Sessions are a set of live music events that focus on acts regional to the Albany area. All concerts in this series are livestreamed on The Palace Theatre’s YouTube page.

    Annie in the Water
    Photograph by Frankie Cavone

    Annie in the Water’s music exists at the intersection of Rock, Reggae, Funk, Blues and Jam written with a conscious dose of positive vibes, unique melodies and down to earth lyrics. The band has an innate ability to fill an entire night with original music and also cover well known songs in their signature style, fans share extraordinary experiences that can’t be seen anywhere else.

    After over 12 years of touring and shows, founding members of Annie in the Water, Bradley Hester (lead vocals/rhythm) and Michael Lashomb (lead guitar/vocals) lead a full band composed of core members Ryan Trumbull (drums/vocals), Chris Meier (bass/vocals), Matt Richards (keys/vocals) and Brock Kuca (percussion/auxiliary/vocals). 

    Annie in the Water
    Photograph by Frankie Cavone

    The Palace has been one of Albany’s iconic downtown landmark for the past eight decades, bringing the biggest names in entertainment to the Capital Region. The Palace Theatre, built in 1931, originally presented vaudeville acts, feature films and became a civic auditorium before closing its doors in 1969. The theatre’s original design and beauty has remained largely untouched and is a historical landmark in the City of Albany.

    The Palace Performing Arts Center was established in 1984 and incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1989, created to operate the Palace Theatre. The mission of the Palace is to bring world-class arts and entertainment to New York’s Capital Region, greatly enhancing the area’s cultural and economic development. Our mission is carried out through core programming and community initiatives that include performing arts entertainment, free arts education, family-friendly performances, free summer movies and a classic movie program series.

  • Elsewhere in Brooklyn Expands Horizons with New Show

    On Jan. 28, Elsewhere, an independent music venue in Brooklyn is airing a new live comedic and musical variety show called Elsewhere Sound Space on Twitch.

    Elsewhere Brooklyn
    Elsewhere Sound Stage Press Photo

    Along with many other venues, Elsewhere closed due to COVID-19. As a place founded on innovation, Elsewhere Studios in Brooklyn was made to allow their community to keep creating. The series is among Elsewhere’s attempts to keep live performances alive during this time. In November, the East Williamsburg venue created a Twitch channel, ElsewhereTv, which streams performances on some Wednesdays along with music sessions on Fridays and Saturdays from their venue.

    The show is based on a musical deity’s journey back to Earth after being trapped in space. Live from the Astral Spa and Sound Bath the host, trans comedian Peter Smith, has a goal to bring live music to the isolated citizens on Earth.

    Elsewhere Brooklyn
    Elsewhere Sound Stage Host Peter Smith Press Photo

    Each episode filled with comedic skits, out of this world performances, raw interviews and holistic wellness treatments, will air monthly. Elsewhere co-founder, Jake Rosenthal, says the new series “combines the spirit of Space Ghost with the liveness of an SNL musical performance.” Twitch’s API is bringing the visions to life through original 2D and 3D animations and face-tracked video effects. The virtual production software, Aximmetry, makes the tracked-camera performances possible. Elsewhere Sound Space receives its art direction from Dark Igloo and creative direction from Hard Work Party.

    Princess Nokia’s Elsewhere Sound Stage Press Photo

    Princess Nokia is the musical guest for the debut episode launching on Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. Musical guests from New York City’s underground music world are set to do live performances in upcoming episodes. Alternative artist Starchild & The New Romantic and rapper Paperboy Prince are the next two performers appearing on the show. Announcements of future performers are being made soon. Elsewhere Sound Space is airing every fourth Tuesday after its premiere on Thursday. 

  • BOTS Act Enforces First Legal Suit Against New York Ticket Brokers

    For the first time ever, the Better Online Ticket Sales Act (BOTS Act) has been able to take legal action against violators of the bill. Three companies in New York allegedly violated rules set in place by the Federal Trade Commission under the BOTS Act by illegally purchasing over 150,000 concert and sporting event tickets, reselling them at an inflated price.

    bots act

    “These defendants are alleged to have cheated the system to the detriment of consumers,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.  “Today’s filing serves notice that the Department of Justice will enforce the Better Online Ticket Sales Act in appropriate cases.  We are pleased to work with our partners at the Federal Trade Commission on this and other matters important to consumers.”

    The three ticket brokers charged in the case are Simon Ebrani of Cartisim Corp., Evan Kohanian of Just In Time Tickets, Inc. and Steven Ebrani of Concert Specials, Inc. The defendants allegedly circumvented Ticketmaster’s limitations by creating accounts under the names of family members and friends of users who have multiple accounts. They were also said to use ticket “bots” in order to fool tests of nonhuman visitors.

    It doesn’t stop there, though. In addition to the act of cheating the system, the complaint also alleges that they used programs to conceal what they did. Because of the BOTS Act, the defendants will now have to pay a combined penalty of $3.7 million. the money they pay will go to the U.S. Treasury under the terms of the proposed order.

    Those who violate the BOTS Act cheat fans by forcing them to pay inflated prices to attend concerts, theater performances and sporting events. 

    Acting U.S. Attorney Seth D. DuCharme for the Eastern District of New York.

    President Barack Obama passed the BOTS Act in 2016 to allow the FTC to take legal action against companies or individuals that buy large quantities of event tickets and reselling them at a higher price.

    As of right now, this has been the first and only legal action the FTC has had to take against any company.

  • Fresh Layers Music Festival Taking Place on Jan. 29, Featuring Darryl McDaniels

    Fresh Layers Music Festival will take place on January 29, 2021 and will feature big names like Darryl McDaniels from Run DMC. The festival is teaming up with membership live-streaming service, Launch. Fresh Layers will serve as a benefit festival, providing its proceeds to the Felix Organization. 

    Fresh Layers Music Festival

    The Felix Organization provides opportunities and new experiences to enrich the lives of children who are growing up in the foster care system. It was founded in 2006 by Darryl “DMC” McDaniels himself, and Emmy Award-winning casting director, Sheila Jaffe. Both McDaniels and Jaffe were adopted. They were compelled to share their experience to help the lives of children growing up in the foster care system. The Felix Organization strives to enrich children by connecting them with nature with their different programs including: Team Felix, Camp Felix, Camp Felix West, Beyond Camp, Secret Santa, and Felix Friendship Circle. 

    Fresh Layers Music Festival is working with Darryl McDaniels, but will be featuring a lot of other artists. McDaniels will be performing with Charlie Chan and is headlining the festival. The rest of the lineup includes Young Devyn, Zachary Murdock, Spaceface, Mega Ran, Andre Merritt, Brad Oberhofer, Old Man Canyon, Revenge Wife, The Happy Fits, Big Yuki, Boshia, Eche Palante, Dylan Chambers, Alt Bloom, M.A.G.S, Ben Kessler, Vinyl Williams, Reptaliens, MIGS718, Pearl And The Oysters, Bosley, GRMLN, Masok, Chanteclaire, and Special Guest James Poyser from The Roots.

    The festival has three payment options, the first being a $10 monthly recurring contribution including access to the festival, partial proceeds will be donated to the Felix Organization monthly with the recurring contribution. The second option would be a $20, one time payment, that includes access to the festival and all the net proceeds will benefit The Felix Organization. The third option is a $15 charity monthly membership which will include access to the festival and everything on the Launch system. Half of this membership fee goes to the Felix Organization directly. People are able to cancel at anytime.

    The Fresh Layers Music Festival is taking place on January 29, 2021 from 9PM – 11:55PM EST and will be available on LaunchTV. 

    Launch is part of the ArtistShare family. They are known for being the internet’s first crowdfunding website and the most trusted name in artist funding and fan engagement services today. ArtistShare was founded back in 2003 and has been providing premium business services to artists for over 18 years. With Launch Music they have created a simple and effective platform for music creators to fund new works and projects. 

    For more information on the Fresh Layers Music Festival visit their website.

  • Maxtreme Inc. and Yang 21 Come Together for “Shuda”

    Nigerian Afro-Pop singer, Yang 21, has released his latest single, “Shuda,” in collaboration with Talent Management & Music Distribution Company, Maxtreme Inc. 

    Yang 21

    The upbeat, Afrocentric tune is Yang’s latest effort on the heels of two EP’s, 2019’s Goose Bumps and Fall 2020’s What Do Girls Want. 

    “Shuda,” is a mellow tempo love-centric tune and is Maxtreme Inc.’s attempt to enlarge its coast and collaborate with recording artistes to serve its niche and fan base, as well as make exceptional music. Backed by a looping and rhythmic drum, the feel-good record (running just over 3 minutes), sees Yang 21 begin the song by declaring his affections for his newfound flame, amid his past struggles with love. 

    Yang 21

    Each subsequent verse then goes in detail about the kind of woman he wants in life, as he forges ahead with a new personal interest and moves on from past affections. Each verse sees Yang 21 characterize his ideal woman, while the chorus echoes the theme of the song, “coulda’ woulda’ shoulda’,” signifying the past-tense status of a previous lover.

  • Venus Furs Share Video For Their Song “New Inspiration”

    Montreal band Venus Furs share visual for their song “New Inspiration,” a trippy video that taps into the core of the track. The track premiered on website Under the Radar to high praise from fans and critics alike. “New Inspiration” was directed by Justis Krar of IMMV Productions, who has previously worked with Zoon and Mundy’s Bay.

    venus furs

    Venus Furs is the brainchild of Paul Kasner, a multi-instrumentalist, writer, producer and self-described “perfectionist.” Kasner has gone under the banners of The Horrors and The Twilight Sad as he worked to discover exactly what Venus Furs was meant to be. After years meticulously crafting a standout product, Kasner is on the verge of releasing Venus Furs, a rigorously crafted set of songs that voyage heedlessly through sonic and mental terrain in a way that could only come from one singular vision. This speaks to his remarkable determination to create the album he long envisioned, and has now realized with the dazzling Venus Furs.

     I wanted to present the visuals as a relation to both the lyrical tone and musical tone of the song. Heavily affected visual effects layered onto night time footage created a lushness that I feel when listening to the song.

    Justis Krar, Director

    The record invites you to bare witness to a world of sound that sits at the nexus of psych rock and garage rock, shot through with grand melodic hooks that echo the British alternative scene that he’s always had an affinity for, all produced with a careful attention to detail.

    This album, for all intents and purposes, is just a huge experiment in dealing with minutia,

    Paul Kasner

    This collection of songs came to fruition after a year long process. At first, Kasner just sat with his guitar or piano and organically let the music form a rough outline, he then meticulously layered, carved and contoured them into songs, eventually reaching a harmonious balance between edge and polish. While Venus Furs is filled with furiously-pitched guitars, walls of sound and driving rhythms, the intricate instrumental aspects are not lost; each can be picked out wall of sound, but in unison they enhance each other, creating a polychromatic and passionate whole.

  • Rough Trade NYC Announces Store Relocation and Venue Closing

    On Jan. 19 Rough Trade NYC announced that they are closing and moving from their location in Williamsburg this spring to a different place in New York later this year.

    Rough Trade NYC

    Rough Trade is a mainstream vinyl store as well as a venue for concerts. They are the only location for the company outside of the UK. The store opened in Brooklyn in 2013 and the venue was in partnership with the Bowery Presents. This was an essential place for music lovers from all over to gather and enjoy the art. It was more than a record store, it was a place to enjoy performances from artists of different genres. Artists such as Sza, Halsey, Tinashe, and several others performed there. There weren’t just individual performances, many annual events took place as well.

    These gigs and events will no longer occur due to the relocation. Rough Trade’s concert venue will not be reopening due to this change. The COVID-19 pandemic is responsible for this decision since it has limited the ability of people to gather at live music shows. While the store reopened in June last year, the pandemic caused cancellations of scheduled and upcoming concerts at Rough Trade. Refunds will be made automatically to people who have purchased tickets online or by phone, and the box office will be open certain days for those who purchased them in person.

    The future of the store will be dependent on selling vinyl due to the increased demand for them during this time. The switch to a virtual world is also a factor in the decision as it is a new reality and is causing online sales to boost. When Rough Trade NYC closes its doors before relocating, all sales will be made on its website. The announcement for the new location is happening in the summer.

  • Governor Cuomo Announces ‘New York Arts Revival’ Program

    Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the launch of ‘New York Arts Revival’ program on January 12, 2021. After the devastating blow the live entertainment industry has taken from the Coronavirus Pandemic the ‘New York Arts Revival’ could be exactly the push New York needs to help save the live entertainment industry.

    The ‘New York Arts Revival’ will be a combination of a public and private partnership and will be one of the most ambitious programs to promote live entertainment on a statewide scale. The program will feature and promote indoor and outdoor shows over the coming months and will feature upward of 150 performers. 

    What is a city without social, cultural, and creative synergies?… We must bring culture and arts back to life… and almost one has been hurt more by COVID than our Artists. According to a study by the national endowment of the Arts 52% of actors, 55% of dancers, and 27% of musicians were out of work in September of 2020. In New York the arts and culture account for almost half a million jobs and generate $120 billion in economic output. But these aren’t just statistics. These are our friends and our neighbors. These artists are part of what makes New York, New York.

    New York Governor Andrew Cuomo

    Governor Cuomo’s plan to help save these artists and the industry is with the ‘New York Arts Revival’ program. The program will host multiple pop up performances starting on February 4, 2021 across the State of New York. The outdoor venues will be outdoor stages in prominent Cities across the state to State Parks. They will also use flexible venues adapted for social distancing. These pop up performances will include big names Amy Schumer, Chris Rock, Renée Fleming, Wynton Marsalis, and Hugh Jackman. Art organizations will also be involved with the ‘New York Arts Revival’ like the Ballet Hispanico, ARS NOVA, The Albany Symphony Orchestra,  The National Black Theatre, and the Pendragon Theater.  

    Jane Rosenthal who is known as the co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival and Broadway and film producer Scott Rudin will be leading the charge in the ‘New York Arts Revival’ along with the New York State Council on the Arts according to Governor Cuomo. The program will culminate with the opening with the Little Island at a new 2.7-acre public park on Pier 55 in the Hudson River, close to Greenwich Village and the 20th anniversary of the Tribeca Film Festival. 

    Not everyone is as thrilled about the ‘New York Arts Revival’ though due to the fact it didn’t seem to focus on the music industry as much as the other live entertainment industries. Lowell Wurster of Plattsburgh band Lucid spoke on Cuomo’s address saying, “He doesn’t mention anything about live music in there. If you can socially distance at Chris Rock show then you can do the same thing for live music. More than half my friends are out of work right now.  Most of them aren’t making ends meet by doing live streams. If they can find a safe and responsible way to have an audience for stand up comedian then they should be including live music in that mix also.” 

    Greg Bell of Guthrie/Bell Productions shared a similar sentiment, noting the lack of specifics and attention to Upstate New York from Cuomo.

    It appears that Gov. Cuomo is basically talking about the greater Metropolitan region when discussing his new Arts Revival. He does not appear to be considering the rest of the state at this time. I assume that he is planning to test the waters Downstate before making plans for the rest of New York. At best, we would be looking at outdoor venues, large theaters and large arenas that may be able to put on shows with social distancing. I do not see clubs and smaller venues benefiting from this at all. I do not know if the plan includes independent promoters doing Drive-In shows or small outdoor festivals returning or if it is geared towards large corporations like Live Nation and State or local municipality run events. While a step in the right direction, I think that it is unclear how much this new plan will affect live music overall.

    Greg Bell, Guthrie/Bell Productions

    Will the ‘New York Arts Revival’ help the music industry? It’s unclear if it will but hopefully musicians will be added to the docket and be included in the programing as much as performers from other entertainment industries.

  • Sylvain Sylvain of New York Dolls Dies at 69 from Cancer

    New York Dolls’ rhythm guitarists, Sylvain Sylvain died Wednesday after a two and a half year battle with cancer. On January 14, an official statement was released on his Facebook page.

    As we mourn his loss, the statement quickly leans to celebrate his vast accomplishments. “While we grieve his loss, we know that he is finally at peace and out of pain. Please crank up his music, light a candle, say a prayer and let’s send this beautiful doll on his way.”

    Sylvain Sylvain

    Egypt born Sylvain Mizrahi, was born on Valentine’s Day, 1951. He fled to New York with his family, living Buffalo and Queens. Syl went to high school in Queens, along with lead guitarist Johnny Thunders and drummer Billy Murcia.

    Sylvain Sylvain was so punk, he, along with the Dolls, paved the way before punk-rock was punk-rock. New York Dolls founded in 1971, 50 years ago. Syl and the Dolls heavily influenced the underground movement. They were labeled as “one of the most influential rock bands of the last 20 years,” by British writer Colin Larkin (Encyclopedia of Popular Music). The Dolls went on to influence punk and rock icons that are common place in our music library, including the Sex Pistols, the Ramones and Kiss.

    Patti Smith Group’s guitarist, Lenny Kaye, tipped his hat to Syl in the social media statement. “They [original Dolls] became a quasar in the rock firmament; embodying trash, glam, garage-to-punk, the ambisexual affirmation of music played louder.”

    Sylvain’s role in the band was as lynchpin, keeping the revolving satellites of his bandmates in precision. Though he tried valiantly to keep the band going, in the end the Dolls’ moral fable overwhelmed them, not before seeding an influence that would engender many rock generations yet to come.

    Lenny Kaye – American Guitarist, Composer

    Despite this feat the band lacked commercial success. One thing that remains true, Sylvain Sylvain was apart of New York history. He embodied punk, fashion and influenced New York style.

    The New York Dolls heralded the future, made it easy to dance to. From the time I first saw their poster appear on the wall of Village Oldies in 1972… the New York Dolls were the heated core of this music we hail, the band that makes you want to form a band. Syl never stopped. In his solo lifeline, he was welcomed all over the world, from England to Japan, but most of all the rock dens of New York City…

    Still Syl. His corkscrew curls, tireless bounce, exulting in living his dream, asking the crowd to sing along, and so we will. His twin names, mirrored, becomes us. Thank you Sylvain x 2, for your heart, belief, and the way you whacked that E chord. Sleep Baby Doll.

    https://youtu.be/wun5Cg-xr-s