NYS Music 202​1

Category: News Desk

  • Baked Shrimp and Glass Pony Prep For LonCon

    On a steamy Friday night, Lark Hall played host to two of the fastest rising jam bands in New York, Long Island’s Baked Shrimp, and Albany’s own Glass Pony, as a warm up to the former’s LonCon Fest.

    baked shrimp loncon

    For the opening set of the night, Glass Pony tore in with “Maximus” that segued incredibly into Oasis’ “Morning Glory,” but so smooth you wondered ‘is this a new song inspired by the 90s, or are they deep in a 90s cover?’ Sure enough, as guitarist/singer Eddie Hotaling belted out the lyrics, you knew the story. After the high energy and upbeat lyrics of “Something Good,” bassist Jeff Picarazzi sang lead on Leo Sayer’s “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing.” With a new album coming down the road, and a crowd that was getting down from start to finish, Glass Pony has a lot more music in store. 

    Setlist: Maximus > Morning Glory, North Bound (unfinished) -> Something Good, Check it Again, You Make Me Feel Like Dancing -> Daydream (unfinished) > House on the Hill, Doppler, Bottom of the Ocean 

    baked shrimp loncon

    Baked Shrimp, a jam power trio from Long Island put on a prog/funk clinic. For their entire 90 minute set the band moved seamlessly through complicated chord progressions and never lost a beat or the attention of the crowd. The young trio has great potential in their three members, bassist Scott Reill, guitarist/singer Jared Cowen, and drummer Jager Soss, a doppelganger for Andy Frasco. Their festival LonCon will be held in Parksville, NY over August 27-28. Find out more details on the festival here. 

    Setlist: The Manatee, Numpty, Synth, The Method -> Now’s Your Moment -> The Method, Four Corners to Every Side, Orpheus, Down the Drain

    • baked shrimp loncon
    • baked shrimp loncon
    • baked shrimp loncon
    • baked shrimp loncon

  • Sackets Harbor Announces Summer Concert Series

    The Sackets Harbor Historical Society has released their schedule for the 2021 summer concert series. Located near Lake Ontario, Sackets Harbor’s theme represents anticipation for live concerts to come back.

    Sackets Harbor

    The name of the concert series for 2021 is “Happy To Be Together Again.” This concert series is held every summer Sunday, 3:00 to 5:00 in the Grove at the Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site. There will be bands and musicians from musical genres of country, Latin, pop and dance, jazz, Broadway, blues and bluegrass.

    Sackets Harbor Summer concert series

    7/11 – Bryan Brundige and His Piggly Wigglies (Swing)
    7/18 – Atlas (80’s Party)
    7/25 – Jess Novak Band (Country Rock)
    8/1 Son BoriKua (Caribbean)
    8/8 – The Bad Husband’s Band (Vintage Rock)
    8/15 – The Gibson Brothers (Bluegrass)
    8/22 – Ruby Shooz (50’s – 60’s)
    8/29 – Double Barrel Blues Band (Rock)
    9/5 – Maria DeSantis Orchestra (Big Band)

  • Cassandra Jenkins Announces Headline Tour of UK, Europe and North America

    Cassandra Jenkins is gearing up for an eventful year. Last week she released a KEXP At Home session. In September she’ll play at Pitchfork Music Festival, The Warhol’s Soundseries Block Party, Woodsist Festival, and accompany Andy Shauf on his tour in the US. In February 2020, Cassandra Jenkins will hit the road for a tour with The Weather Station.

    1497-0139.jpg

    Now she has announced a headline tour of Europe and the UK all November long, in clubs and at festivals like Pitchfork Paris and London. Jenkins begins her tour in Brooklyn, and returns the to US in February to finish up her US dates. 

    An Overview on Phenomenal Nature, Jenkins latest album released on Feb. 19 from Ba Da Bing Records, she worked with Josh Kaufman on the album and finished it within a week. It comes after her last album, Play Till You Win, which came out in 2017. Her previous work showcased her talent but the forthcoming work shows her adaptability. It has a theme of being optimistic and being open to change.

    Cassandra Jenkins by Wyndham Boylan-Garnett

     Listen to An Overview on Phenomenal Nature

    Cassandra Jenkins United Kingdom & Europe tour dates 2021

    05/11/21 – The Hague, NL –  Crossing Border Festival – tickets
    09/11/21 – Brighton, UK – Green Door Store – tickets
    10/11/21 – Bristol, UK – Louisiana – tickets
    11/11/21 – London, UK – Pitchfork Festival
    13/11/21 – Glasgow, UK – Great Western Festival – tickets
    14/11/21 – Manchester, UK –  YES – tickets
    15/11/21 – Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club – tickets
    16/11/21 – Birmingham, UK – Hare & Hounds – tickets
    18/11/21 – Brussels, BE – Botanique Rotonde – tickets
    19/11/21 – Paris, FR – Pitchfork Festival – tickets
    25/11/21 – Copenhagen, DK – Hotel Cecil – tickets
    26/11/21 – Stockholm, SE – Kristallen at Södra Teatern
    27/11/21 – Oslo, NO – Ingensteds – tickets

    Cassandra Jenkins North American tour dates 2021

    9/9/21 – Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw *
    9/10/21 – Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw *
    9/12/21 – Chicago, IL – Pitchfork Music Festival
    9/14/21 – Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre *
    9/15/21 – Grand Rapids, MI – Fine Arts Center *
    9/16/21 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi *
    9/17/21 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop *
    9/18/21 – Pittsburgh, PA – Sound Series: Block Party
    9/25/21 – Accord, NY – Woodsist Festival
    2/4/22 – Nashville, TN – The Basement East ^
    2/5/22 – Oxford, MS – Proud Larry’s ^
    2/7/22 – Dallas, TX – Club Dada ^
    2/8/22 – Austin, TX – 3ten ACL Live ^
    2/12/22 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour ^
    2/13/22 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent ^
    2/15/22 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios ^
    2/17/22 – Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern ^

    *  – with Andy Shauf
    ^ – with The Weather Station

  • NBT Bank Summer Concert Series in Norwich Kicks Off

    It’s been almost two years since the last free Thursday concert of the NBT Bank Summer Concert Series was held at East Park in Norwich, but the long wait has come to an end. On Thursday, July 15th Asleep at the Wheel will throw the door open on what promises to be the best free summer concert series anywhere in upstate New York. With COVID-19, restrictions eased everyone can come to enjoy world-class musicians every Thursday until August 26th.

    Norwich Summer Concert Series

    All the shows start at 7:00 P.M. The shows are rain or shine, so come prepared to enjoy yourself no matter the weather. If conditions make it unsafe for the artists to perform we will post an announcement on social media by noon on the day of the show about an alternate location. 

    Every week will be a summer highlight with the likes of Texas swing legends Asleep at the Wheel, New Orleans jazz ensemble Tuba Skinny and Blues Music Award Artist of the Year winner Shemekia Copeland among those on the bill.

    The return of the popular concerts means the return of the equally popular vendors who sell food at the shows. Ray Brothers BBQ, Hubcaps Munchies, Nina’s Pizza, and Gilligan’s Ice Cream will all be on-site so come down early and make it a great summer’s evening. If you need a beverage or some table service food Park Place restaurant will have its popular beer garden open again this year also.

    Directions to the Norwich Summer Concert series can be found here. The lineup for events include the following for the summer series

    Thursday, July 15, 2021
    Asleep at the Wheel

    Thursday, July 22, 2021
    The Garcia Project

    Thursday, July 29, 2021
    Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience

    Thursday, August 5, 2021
    Shinyribs

    Thursday, August 12, 2021
    Tuba Skinny

    Thursday, August 19, 2021
    Shemekia Copeland

    Thursday, August 26, 2021
    National Reserve

  • Old Westbury Gardens “Music for a Sunday Afternoon” Concert Series Returns

    Old Westbury Gardens on Long Island has announced the return of the “Music for a Sunday Afternoon“ Summer Concert Series, starting this Sunday, July 11.

    The series features “Artist-in-Residence” cellist Suzanne Mueller, who will present four concerts, accompanied by a roster of seasoned performers spanning the genres of classical, jazz, and folk music.

    music for a sunday afternoon
    Mueller (L) with pianist Elinor Abrams Zayas

    My collaborators and I are really thrilled to be returning to our musical summer home again this year. It doesn’t feel like summer without these concerts. It’s especially meaningful to me because I had to sit out the 2019 season and most of the 2018 season due to medical issues that kept me homebound and unable to play. I was really looking forward to returning last year and was crushed when we had to cancel.

    Suzanne Mueller

    Mueller will perform with pianist Elinor Abrams Zayas, The McCarron Bros. Jazz Quartet, classical guitarist Christopher Gotzen-Berg and folk duo Hungrytown over the course of the four Sunday shows. Each performance will bring a different flavor to Mueller’s expert cello playing and blend many genres.

    Each “Music for a Sunday Afternoon” performance will begin at 3PM on the lawn at the Orchard Hill Barn (or inside the Barn in case of inclement weather or extreme heat). Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and should also be aware that COVID-19 protocols are in effect and will be enforced on the dates of the concerts. The Old Westbury Gardens are a scenic and beloved venue for both audiences and performers alike.

    music for a sunday afternoon
    Old Westbury Gardens, photo via their website

    Whether outdoors in a bucolic setting, or indoors, in the event of inclement weather, it has been a special time playing in such a beautiful setting, with very appreciative audiences in attendance. There’s something transformative about playing in Nature, listening to birds singing along with the music, and being surrounded by beautiful gardens and plantings. It puts all involved, performers and audience, into a peaceful state of being.

    Elinor Abrams Zayas

    More information about “Music on a Sunday Afternoon” can be found on Old Westbury Garden’s website. The full schedule is listed below.

    Performance Schedule:
    1. July 11 (3PM): CROSS ISLAND—Suzanne Mueller, cellist; Elinor Abrams Zayas, pianist 
    2. July 18 (3PM): The McCarron Bros. Jazz Quartet with Suzanne Mueller, Cello—Paul Carlon, saxophone; Mark McCarron, guitar; Trifon Dimitrov, bass; Arei Sekiguchi, drums; and Suzanne Mueller, cellist 
    3. July 25 (3PM): Gotzen-Berg and Mueller—Christopher Gotzen-Berg, guitarist; Suzanne Mueller, cellist (debut performance as a duo)
    4. August 1 (3PM): Hungrytown with Suzanne Mueller, Cello—with husband and wife folk duo, Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson, accompanied by Suzanne Mueller, cellist

  • Woodstock ’99 Documentary Explores Infamous Festival

    If Woodstock ’69 was branded as “3 Days of Peace and Music”, Woodstock ’99 can only be thought of as “4 Days of Chaos.”

    The infamous ’99 festival took place in New York State, this time moving north to Rome. The event quickly turned stressful and uncontrollable as unannounced attendees brought the Griffiss Air Force Base far over capacity and late July temperatures climbed to unbearable heats. Audiences lamented over inflated food and water prices while crowds and mosh pits even turned violent.

    woodstock 99

    HBO’s new documentary, “Woodstock ’99: Peace, Love, and Rage”, explores the pitfalls of the festival through firsthand footage and interviews with artists and attendees. Director Garret Price also brings in commentary from the event’s organizers as they piece together the downward spiral of events.

    The documentary’s trailer, which was just released, reveals harsh clips of fires being lit in big crowds, guests rolling in mud, and a darker look at how many women experienced sexual harassment and abuse over the course of the festival.

    “Woodstock ’99” also centers the chaos around an overarching theme of male rage and unbridled energy channelled through the booming performances of headliners like Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit, Korn, and more.

    woodstock 99
    Photo by Joe Traver

    Singer Moby even addresses the strange feel of the festival upon his arrival, saying in the trailer, “We got off the bus, and I was like, something’s not right.” Others in the trailer continue to reiterate, “This was not your parent’s Woodstock.”

    “Woodstock ’99: Peace, Love, and Rage” premieres on HBO July 23. Check out the trailer below for what is sure to be an interesting and nuanced exploration of this notorious Central NY event.

  • Troy Summer Square Concert Series Begins July 9

    The Summer Square Concert Series takes place in the Music Hall Courtyard every Friday and Saturday night in July and August, starting at 6 pm, and is free and open to the public with no tickets required. All performances are weather dependent, there is no alternate rain location.

    Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Logo

    The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, a National Historic Landmark located at 30 Second Street, has been in perpetual use since its opening in 1875. World renowned for its near perfect acoustics, it has hosted performances by legions of world-renowned artists, from legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Isaac Stern, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Vladimir Horowitz, to the best on today’s contemporary music scene, including Joshua Bell, Andrew Bird, Steve Martin, Lyle Lovett, John Prine, and many others.  

    Jacob Shipley

    The Summer Square Concert Series will kick off Friday, July 9 with local Troy musician Jacob Shipley, an Alt/Folk artist whose influences run the gamut from Talking Heads to Phoebe Bridgers, Damien Rice to Lucius, and Halley’s Comet to the Decemberists.

    Carol Daggs - Summer Square Series

    On Saturday, July 10, Carol Daggs is welcomed back to the Music Hall Courtyard. She will be offering some tastefully arranged jazz standards and hip, groovy originals.

    To stay up to date with the series visit the Troy Music Hall’s website, or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

    2021 Summer Square Series Concerts

    Friday, July 9 – Jacob Shipley

    Saturday, July 10 – Carol Daggs

    Friday, July 16 – Bossamba Brazilian Jazz Trio

    Saturday, July 17 – Deb Cavanaugh

    Friday, July 23 – MC^2 

    Saturday, July 24 – Joe Gorman

    Friday, July 30 – Jon Leroy & Joe Finn Blues Duo

    Saturday, July 31 – Teresa Broadwell Jazz Trio

    Friday, Aug 6 – Heard

    Saturday, Aug 7 – Sophia Vastek

    Friday, Aug 13 – Triskele

    Saturday, Aug 14 – Mark & Jill

    Friday, Aug 20 – Lost Radio Rounders w/ Paul “Bowtie” Jossman

    Saturday, Aug 21 – Julia Alsarraf

    Friday, Aug 27 – Jordan Taylor Hill

    Saturday, Aug 28 – Ryder Cooley

  • Imperial Triumphant Announce Tour, Halloween at Saint Vitus Brooklyn

    New York avant-garde metal outfit Imperial Triumphant has just announced their Fall 2021 U.S. headline tour. The band will be joined by Pyrrhon starting October 15th in Boston and wrapping up on October 31st in Brooklyn. Imperial Triumphant will be touring in support of their most recent full-length album Alphaville, which came out Summer of 2020. 

    The album was produced and engineered at New York’s Menegroth Studio by Colin Marston and Trey Spruance (Mr. Bungle). The album also features a number of special guests such as Tomas Haake (Meshuggah) on taiko drums, Phlegeton (Wormed) on guest vocals, Yoshiko Ohara (ex-Bloody Panda) as part of the choirs, RK Halvorson as part of the Barbershop quartet, Sarai Chrzanowski as part of the choirs, Andromeda Anarchia (Folterkammer, Dark Matters) as part of the choirs, J Walter Hawkes on the trombone, and Colin Marston on guitars. 

    Imperial Triumphant officially began in 2012 with their debut release Abominamentvm. The line-up consisted of Zachary Ilya Ezrin on guitar/vocals and the rhythm section of their NYC contemporaries: Pyrrhon. Soon they met with drummer Kenny Grohowski and began to feature him on their next two releases Goliath (EP) and Abyssal Gods (LP). In 2015, they introduced bassist Steven Blanco to their lineup. In 2016, they released another EP Inceste, which saw them tour heavily that year with temporary second guitarist Max Gorelick. 2018 brought about their magnum statement, Vile Luxury. The full-length album, written collectively by the trio (Ezrin, Grohowski, Blanco), was a homage to their hometown New York City that brought jazz elements to the avant-garde black metal style in a way never achieved before. Imperial Triumphant is looking forward to performing their newest full-length album, Alphaville, which catapulted them to national recognition. 

     Tickets are available to purchase on their website.

    Imperial Triumphant tour dates:

    October 15 – Boston, MA – Middle East (Upstairs)

    October 16 – Pittsburg, PA – Preserving Underground

    October 17 – Lakewood, OH – The Foundry

    October 19 – Detroit, MI – Sanctuary

    October 20 – Chicago, IL – Reggie’s

    October 22 – Oklahoma City, OK – Kendell’s

    October 23 – Dallas, TX – Reno’s 

    October 24 – Austin, TX – Hotel Vegas

    October 25 – Houston, TX – White Oak (Upstairs)

    October 26 – New Orleans, LA – Santos Bar

    October 27 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade

    October 29 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506

    October 30 – Philadelphia, PA – Century Bar

    October 31 – Brooklyn, NY – Saint Vitus

  • National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene Presents “A Yiddish Renaissance”

    The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene will present A Yiddish Renaissance this summer. In recognition of this resurgence in interest, the 107-year-old will bring together more than 140 actors and musicians from here at home and across the globe. The two-hour event will showcase some of Folksbiene’s most memorable musical numbers, but also celebrate the life of its Artistic Director, Zalmen Mlotek.

    National Yiddish Theatre

    The benefit concert – debuting on July 26th at 2:00 PM (ET) and available to view through July 30th at 2:00 PM (ET) – will feature some of the most memorable hits from NYTF’s critically acclaimed and award-winning productions as well as sneak peeks of upcoming productions. Stars from across the United States, Israel, England, Germany, Scotland, and the Netherlands will share the screen together. 

    A Yiddish Renaissance: A Virtual Concert Celebration will pay tribute to Mlotek in celebration of his 70th birthday and 50-year career dedicated to Yiddish music and theatre. As he developed new productions and introduced young actors and singers to Yiddish theatre, Mlotek has brought NYTF to new heights as one of New York’s premiere off-Broadway theatre companies and to international recognition, including bringing Joel Grey-directed Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish to life at the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, and then moving it uptown to Stage 42 Off-Broadway.

    Among those directing and editing the special presentation are: Joanne Borts, Ben Liebert, Stephanie Lynne Mason, Elisha Mlotek, Merete Muenter, Tony Perry, Eleanor Reissa, Allen Lewis Rickman, and Adam B. Shapiro. And the event features musical arrangements by Frank London and D. Zisl Slepovitch. 

    The stellar cast to date includes: Bob Ader; Aaron Alexander; Glenn Seven Allen; Michael Alpert; Zoë Aqua; Jennifer Babiak; Nanci Belmont; Alan Bern; Joanne Borts; Alexandrina Boyanova; Stuart Breczinski; Lauren Brody; Mark Broschinsky; Rebecca Brudner; Mendy Cahan; Clyde Daley; Peter DelGrosso; Josh “Socalled” Dolgin; Charlie Dresdner; Johnny Dresdner; Sruli Dresdner; Michael Einav; Lisa Fishman; Cantor Magda Fishman; Audrey Flores; Elise Frawley; Alexandra Frohlinger; Kirk Geritano; John Giesige; Brian Glassman; Abby Goldfarb; Sarah Mina Gordon; Joel Grey; Samantha Hahn; Stephen Mo Hanan; Richard Harrell; Stacey Harris; Cantor Netanel Hershtik; Jordan Hirsch; Avi Hoffman; Jackie Hoffman; Dmitry Ishenko; Maya Jacobson; Cameron Johnson; Josh Johnson; Daniel Kahn; Andrew Keltz; Rebecca Keren; Ben Kiley; Sophie Knapp; Rebecca Levy; Ben Liebert; Daniel Linden; Shura Lipovsky; Frank London; Joseph Mace; Dani Marcus; Stephanie Lynne Mason; Lisa Mayer; Evan Mayer; Laura Melnicoff; Avram Mlotek; Elisha Mlotek; Ravi Mlotek; Sarah Mlotek; Zalmen Mlotek; Rosie Jo Neddy; Oren Neiman; Raquel Nobile; Tony Park; Tony Perry; Rachel Policar; Jonathan Quigley; Daniella Rabbani; Nick Raynor; Bruce Rebold; Eleanor Reissa; Grant Richards; Allen Lewis Rickman; Jenny Romaine; Bruce Sabath; Peter Saleh; Marissa Mlotek Schonbrun; Hannah Scott; Kayleen Seidl; Drew Seigla; Adam B. Shapiro; Merlin Shepherd; Polina Shepherd; Yelena Shmulenson; Valeriya Sholokhova; Jake Shulman-Ment; Lorin Sklamberg; Steven Skybell; D. Zisl Slepovitch; Dinah Slepovitch; Jodi Snyder; Steve Sterner; James Monroe Števko; Deborah Strauss; Ron Tal; Matt Temkin; Ira Khonen Temple; Lauren Jeanne Thomas; Una Tone, Bobby Underwood; Cantor Jeff Warschauer; Tatiana Wechsler; Michael Winograd; Mikhl Yashinsky; and, Rachel Zatcoff.

    Presenting hits from Award-Winning NYTF Productions, featuring casts from Fiddler Afn Dakh (Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish), Di Goldene Kale (The Golden Bride), On Second Avenue, Di Yam Gazlonim (Yiddish Pirates of Penzance), Amerike The Golden Land, Soul to Soul, Kids and Yiddish, and more.

    The event is produced by NYTF’s Associate Artistic Director Motl Didner, creator of the hit online show “15 Minute Yiddish.” The full cast of presenters and performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

    Registration is required at and you can visit the website for more information about all participants.

  • First River Festival Coming To Peekskill This October

    The inaugural First River Festival will bring big name indie talent to the Hudson Valley this October.

    First River Festival

    The two-day music festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday, October 9-10, 2021, in downtown Peekskill, NY at the Paramount Theater. Its aim is to build a new music experience in the Lower Hudson Valley.

    Headliners include Parquet Courts, Guided by Voices and Waxahatchee. The festival’s lineup blends these headlining indie rock stars alongside smaller acts and rising artists with flares of folk, pop, electronica, Americana and even post-punk.

    First River Festival

    Unlike a traditional festival, the headliners’ sets are long–90 minutes each–to ensure the audience gets their fill. For a taste of folksiness, audiences can enjoy a performance by New York alt-folk legends, The Felice Brothers, complete with plenty of accordion and gritty vocals. First River Festival will also bring some good old fashioned rock and roll with North Carolina-turned New York Catskills band The Nude Party, Chicago alt-rock trio Dehd and Nashville/Brooklyn’s Liz Cooper.

    Brooklyn favorites Small Black are set to play favorites from their new, critically acclaimed album Cheap Dreams, while California-based rising star Jelani Aryeh will share his dreamy, sunny blend of pop, rock, and indie. To round out the lineup, Nashville newcomer Katy Kirby will join the stage and showcase her light, airy vocals.

    First River Festival

    Live Goods Music and G4D Productions have joined forces to produce the festival, which they hope places Peekskill on the map as a premiere destination for live music and entertainment. First River’s audience numbers will be kept small to help the festival feel intimate.

    “We wanted to see what would happen if we brought a bunch of bigger-name, indie bands to Peekskill. We think the region is ready for it, and that this festival will be the ideal stepping-stone back into life as we knew it.”

    Liz Goodyear, First River’s Executive Producer

    Peekskill, located just one hour north of New York City in Westchester County, boasts a historic arts community which has continued to thrive. There is also plenty of great food and beer to be enjoyed at local restaurants near the Paramount throughout the festival.

    Presale tickets go on sale July 8 at 10AM with code “LITTLEPEEK”. Check out First River Festival’s website for more information.