NYS Music 202​1

Category: News Desk

  • Premiere: Toshio Band Gets Led into Temptation with New Single

    Brooklyn-based rock group Toshio Band has released their new single “The Devil Is Chatting In My Ear,” leading their second EP Lock Your Doors.

    Photo Credit: Sivan Miller

    Consisting of frontman Tim Lavigne on the vocals and bass, Daniel Imana on drums, Nick Valle on guitar, Ben Deixler on keyboards and Brandon Garcia on percussion, all members of Toshio Band contribute vocally with a style reminiscent of alt-rock from the 90s and early 2000s. Their central themes come from ominous and dream-like films and literature. The band is influenced by legendary rock artists David Bowie, Tom Waits, Charles Mingus and Roy Orbison.

    The new track “The Devil Is Chatting In My Ear” is the lead single from their second and forthcoming EP, Lock Your Doors. The EP has a neo-noir concept exploring a hero’s journey through hysteria and gloom in an unforgiving world.  It presents themes of an anti-hero, prevalent in cinematic works from Quentin Tarantino, Jim Jarmusch and William Blake and with musical influences coming from The Pixies and Tom Waits. Lock Your Doors was mostly written and recorded during the pandemic and is a continuation of their debut EP A Splash of Blood that was released in 2019.  

    Toshio Band dives into temptation and dwells in devilish places in “The Devil Is Chatting In My Ear.” The song starts with distorted guitar sounds, immediately creating a feeling of chaos and getting into trouble. The line “The devil is chatting in my ear” is anaphoric and straight-forward, every time you hear it, you can imagine reaching a point of giving into doing something you shouldn’t. The guitars settle and the beat becomes whimsical as Lavigne sings the line “What hath the night to do with sleep?” from the poem Comus by John Milton, which he added in to get a quote from the devil himself and to keep consistent the theme of mixing literature into the music. Then returning to chaos, the track leads you further into disturbance until it ironically ends back on the whimsical sound.

    “The Devil Is Chatting In My Ear” will be self-released by the band on Friday, April 30. This is the first of many forthcoming releases for the band this year. Their second single “Cassandra” releases on June 4 by the label Spirit Charity. Lock Your Doors will be another self-release, coming out on June 25.

  • State Theatre of Ithaca Announces 10th Annual “Benefit My State” Free Virtual Concert

    The State Theatre of Ithaca announced its 10th annual “Benefit My State” free virtual concert which will take place on May 8, 2021. The benefit concert will feature tribute band Pink Talking Fish who will also be playing some Grateful Dead tunes in honor of the Cornell ’77 performance.

    The performance is dubbed “PINK TALKING FISH play DEAD”, and is being performed and streamed live from the historic State Theatre of Ithaca. The tribute jam band will perform the music of Pink Floyd, The Talking Head, Phish, and Grateful Dead tunes inspired by the treasured concert on Cornell’s campus, exactly 44 years to the day of the original show. 

    Pink Talking Fish formed back in 2013 and has performed over 500 shows including headlining numerous historic music venues throughout the country. Additionally, Pink Talking Fish has appeared at many prominent festivals including The Peach Music Festival, Jerry Jam, StrangeCreek Campout and The Buffalove Music Festival. They are known for creating a fusion of some of the most beloved and well known bands in the jamband scene. 

    On Mothers’ Day back in 1977, The Grateful Dead performed one of the most significant concerts of their extensive career at Barton Hall in Ithaca, New York. The Grateful Dead are known for playing more than 2,000 concerts in their time but the performance at Cornell University’s Barton Hall on May 8, 1977 has continued to spark interest and provoke discussion quite like any of the other of the bands performances. A lot of the Deadheads know it as simply “5/8/77” and this performance is one of the most collected, circulated, and debated concerts by any band ever, and has topped numerous fan polls through the years. 

    The annual “Benefit My State” concert is the State Theatre of Ithaca’s biggest fundraiser of the year. This event will also feature an online silent auction with over 25 unique, one-of-a-kind items offered to all viewers and is particularly needed this year in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

    Doug Levine, the Executive Director of The State Theatre, spoke on this benefit saying, “We are still in need of additional support to help us get through this very challenging year. The lack of shows due to COVID resulted in huge hurdles to overcome and we are not out of the clear yet. We hope that the folks that are able to tune in and enjoy this show will consider making a donation to help sustain us until we are allowed to safely reopen.”  

    Although the concert is free, donations will be accepted with all proceeds for the 10th Annual “Benefit My State” concert directly supporting The State Theatre of Ithaca. The Pink Talking Fish Play Dead benefit will be streamed LIVE from The State Theatre of Ithaca for free at The Relix Twich Channel on Saturday, May 8th at 7PM EST.

    For more information of the benefit concert visit the State Theatre Of Ithaca’s website.

  • The Second Eddies Awards Airs on May 2

    After being postponed twice, the second annual Eddies Awards is airing on Sunday May 2, highlighting the way members of the music industry adapted to the challenges the pandemic caused. 

    Founded in 2019, The Eddies Awards, empowers, honors and celebrates musicians from the Capital Region. Originally, it was supposed to air in April 2020 but was rescheduled to December 2020 because of the pandemic. It was rescheduled again because of a rise in infection rates. This third attempt at broadcasting the second annual show is finally coming to fruition. 

    The Eddies is going to air from the Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga with 45 cast and crew members. The agenda consists of four performances and four panels discussing local music and the transitions artists, technicians, venue owners and more faced during the pandemic. Each panel will discuss different topics to express various challenges that were experienced during this time. Approximately 100 local music professionals judged the nominees of 34 award categories and the winners will be announced between segments. NYS Music is proud to be nominated for Best Arts Publication.

    Jeff Morad from WEQX and Andy Gregory from WEXT are hosting. The lineup consists of performances from nominees of the 2019 and 2020 awards. First there is Marty Wendell, who was nominated for the 2020 Country/Bluegrass Artist of the Year. Blues/Rock artists Jocelyn and Chris are performing and lead with four 2020 nominations. Garland Nelson, instrumentalist and singer-songwriter,  won two Eddies Music Awards in 2019 is performing and will be the emcee. Finally, Hip Hop/Rap Artist of the Year nominee in 2019, Promise the Unbreakable™, is hitting the stage as well. 

    This year the Eddies is going to be filmed by Chromoscope Pictures based in Troy. Collaborative Studios’ will broadcast from their Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV apps, public access channels in Albany and Schenectady and Youtube and Facebook on May 2 at 7 p.m.  

  • Blackberry Smoke to Perform at Apple Valley Park in Lafayette this June

    Central New York’s Creative Concerts have announced that Blackberry Smoke will perform at Apple Valley Park in Lafayette, NY on Tuesday, June 29. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, April 30 at 10am at applevalleypark.com

    blackberry smoke

    Apple Valley Park is located in beautiful LaFayette, NY. With its rural atmosphere, rolling hills, and expansive fall foliage, it has proven to be a wonderful home to the annual LaFayette Apple Festival since 1973. More recently it has expanded to host other live entertainment events, including a few successful drive-in concerts in the fall of 2020. 

    Throughout their career, Blackberry Smoke— vocalist/lead guitarist Charlie Starr, guitarist/vocalist Paul Jackson, bassist/vocalist Richard Turner, drummer Brit Turner, and keyboardist Brandon Still—has embodied Georgia’s rich musical legacy, honoring the people, places and sounds of their home state. As the band celebrates their 20th anniversary this year, their reverence for Georgia has only deepened.

    On their latest album, You Hear Georgia, the follow-up to 2018’s critically acclaimed Find a Light, Blackberry Smoke is further celebrating these roots with 10 new songs that feel like Georgia, accented by the addition of Grammy-winning producer and fellow Georgia-native, Dave Cobb (Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile).

    Over the years, Blackberry Smoke has toured with ZZ Top, Zac Brown Band, and Eric Church, while the group’s last four full-lengths reached the top 10 of the Billboard country charts, with two of these albums (2015’s Holding All The Roses and 2016’s Like An Arrow) landing at No. 1. You Hear Georgia reinforces that the band members have come so far together because they also can rely on one another for support and creative direction, no matter what the circumstances.

    Having played music together for so long, it does become a sort of a telepathic thing, where we all are nodding our head at the same time, like, ‘A-ha, I know what this feels like,’ or what it should feel and sound like. That’s what makes it so enjoyable to be in a band: to play with the same dudes decade after decade. Because when you land on something that works to you, you don’t want to stop. You want to keep doing it.

    Charlie Starr, vocalist/lead guitarist for Blackberry Smoke

    Like previous events announced in this outdoor series, events will be socially distanced, with fans being able to purchase tickets in roped-off PODS (Personal Outdoor Dance Space) for parties of 2, 4 or 6. In an effort to create a safe experience for guests, a carefully throughout site plan has been developed allowing for temperature screenings and surveys to be conducted upon entering the event grounds.

    To adhere to social distancing guidelines, all PODS are spaced a minimum of six feet apart. A variety of food and beverage options will be available for purchase. Site map and FAQ for the venue can be found at applevalleypark.com/faq

  • “Tickets to My Downfall”: Machine Gun Kelly US Tour Announced for Fall 2021

    Kicking off on September 9th in Minneapolis, MN, Machine Gun Kelly will embark on a tour of the country. MGK will feature his latest hit album Tickets To My Downfall at venues for the first time since release, including fan favorites such as “Bloody Valentine” and “My Ex’s Best Friend.”

    machine gun kelly

    Starting Tuesday, April 27, tickets are available for pre-sale, then going on sale to the public by Friday, April 30. Everything regarding ticket sales can be found through MGK’s website, as well as the national tour dates and locations.

    On September 13, Machine Gun Kelly will perform live at Central Park SummerStage, the only show of the tour to take place in New York.

    The tour across the United States will come to a close on December 18, in the artist’s hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

    Machine Gun Kelly’s “Tickets to My Downfall” 2021 Tour will include performances from special guests such as carolesdaughter, jxdn, and KennyHoopla.

    Machine Gun Kelly

  • Nelson Odeon Permanently Closes After 10 Years

    Nelson Odeon, a rustic music venue in Cazenovia, is closing after a decade of serving Central New York with live music.

    Nelson Odeon
    Nelson Odeon

    Before it became Nelson Odeon, it was Nelson Grange, until the building was purchased by Linda and Jeff Schoenfeld in 2009. They lived right by the building for about 30 years at the time of the purchase. When they first bought the venue, they weren’t sure about what they would do with the space until 2011. Their friend Colin Nekritz along with their love for music convinced them to get into the live music scene. The building is almost 200 years old and the stage was built decades ago. 

    Ever since its opening in 2011, the venue became a staple in the community, especially for music lovers. Nelson Odeon was a center to exhibit local, national and international artists right in the Central New York area. Some of the many musicians who performed on the stage include Beaucoup Blue, Stephane Wrembel, The Wiyos, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen and more. They have hosted the Skunk Funk Festival annually since 2012. In the 10 years that the venue was active, shows were consistent and it allowed the community to come together.

    Since COVID-19 put a strain on social gatherings and put a pause on live music events, Nelson Odeon’s doors have been closed for a year. The Schoenfeld’s just released a statement on the venue’s website announcing that they have decided to discontinue operations there.

    The pandemic’s unpredictability has created financial damage that seems to be irreparable for them to control. The Schoenfeld’s hope that whoever buys the building will continue the venue’s legacy of live music performances. 

  • Small Business Administration Reopens Shuttered Venues Operators Grant Application

    The Small Business Administration has reopened its shuttered venues operators grant application to help allocated aid to affected venues from COVID-19. The application on the portals reopened on April 24, 2021.

    Small Business Administration

    This news comes from the National Independent Venue Association or more commonly known as NIVA has been one of the forerunners in trying to aid venues during these trying times. NIVA formed at the onset of the COVID-19 shutdown and it now represents more than 3,000 venues, promoters, and festivals in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The organization is, a 501(c)6 an it is known for creating and leading the #SaveOurStages campaign, resulting in landmark legislation establishing the “Shuttered Venue Operators” grant program which will be administered by the Small Business Administration. 

    The decision to reopen the grant application comes from the fact that thousands of small businesses that have had no revenue for 13 months and cannot wait any longer for emergency relief. The grant application is able to be completed by this application is to be completed by Live Venue Operators or Promoters, Theatrical Producers and Live Performing Arts Organization Operators, Museum Operators, Motion Picture Theatre Operators (including owners), and Talent Representatives, who are applying for a Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG).

    People who are eligible can receive up to $10,000,000 who meet certain qualifications. Entities that receive a grant will not be required to repay grant funds unless the funds were used for purposes other than for authorized purposes or unless the grantee did not use all funds within 1 year of the disbursement of the grant (18 months after disbursement if received supplemental). 

    Small Business Administration

    Audrey Fix Schaefer who is a NIVA board member and the communications director spoke on this saying, “Simply put, this is emergency relief that can’t come too soon. Every single day that passes small businesses are receiving eviction notices, all the while $16 billion has been waiting for them. This is a lifeline for thousands of independent venues and promoters in big towns and in small communities across the nation. When you’ve had revenue losses of more than 90 percent and are in fear of going under, having the opportunity to apply for the grant is a relief, no matter what day of the week it is. We’re thankful our members won’t have to wait much longer.”

    For more information on the application process for the Shuttered Venues Operators Grant and eligibility view the SVOG Application Form and SVOG User’s Guide.

  • Lovelytheband and Sir Sly Announce North American Tour

    Alt-pop trio Lovelytheband alongside fellow alt-rockers Sir Sly announce their 24-date tour across North America coming this fall: Conversations with Loverboy.

    lovelytheband

    Lovelytheband is riding high from the release of their 2020 sophomore album, Conversations with myself about you, that earned the group their third Top 10 radio hit “loneliness for love” as well as Top 20 hit “buzz cut” which received a remix featuring indie pop band Misterwives. Most recently, the trio joined singer-songwriter Tessa Violet for the collaborative single “Games,” a standout from Violet’s debut album.

    We are in tears still from announcing a tour! we can’t wait to share a space with fans and friends and get back to doing what we all love to do.

    Lovelytheband

    Lovelytheband consists of vocalist Mitchy Collins, guitarist Jordan Greenwald, and drummer Sam Price. Hailing from Los Angeles, the trio solidified their place in alt music history when they broke Billboard’s Alternative Songs Longevity Record with a total of 76 weeks on the chart, 9 weeks at #1, and over 300 million streams worldwide with their debut hit single, “broken.” Tickets for the nationwide trek — which includes stops in major cities including Los Angeles (The Fonda Theatre, 11/16), New York City (TBA, 12/1), Nashville (Cannery, 12/6), and Austin (Emo’s, 12/13) are available here, other dates include:

    TOUR DATES

    11/12/21 – Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades
    11/14/21 – San Francisco, CA – The Regency Ballroom
    11/16/21 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre
    11/17/21 – San Diego, CA – Observatory Northpark
    11/19/21 – Denver, CO – Summit Music Hall
    11/21/21 – Kansas City, MO – Truman
    11/22/21 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
    11/24/21 – St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall
    11/26/21 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
    11/27/21 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrews
    11/29/21 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
    12/1/21 – New York, NY – To Be Announced
    12/4/21 – Washington, D.C. – 9:30 Club
    12/6/21 – Nashville, TN – Cannery
    12/7/21 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade (Heaven)
    12/9/21 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues
    12/10/21 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room
    12/13/21 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
    12/14/21 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
    12/17/21 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theatre
    12/18/21 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
    12/19/21 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
    12/29/21 – Seattle, WA – Showbox
    12/30/21 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater

  • Keeping Arts Education in Schools: TeachRock and CT Gov. Announce Partnership

    Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the State of Connecticut, through the State Department of Education, is partnering with TeachRock to launch an innovative, standards-aligned arts curriculum in schools statewide that empowers teachers to engage with students using the history of popular music and culture.

    little steven Arts education

    TeachRock works with participating school districts at no cost, fostering a classroom environment where lesson plans incorporate culture and music into history in a way that resonates with students. Presented by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Steve Van Zandt’s Rock and Roll Forever Foundation, TeachRock has worked directly with districts and schools in California, New Mexico, New Jersey, and New York over the past several years. This spring, Van Zandt has created “Little Steven’s Virtual Classroom Tour” that utilizes Zoom to provide classrooms with a visit, as well as fundraise for the foundation.

    Research has shown that knowledge of and participation in an arts education, especially during the formative years, can aid in the development of students as culturally responsive, compassionate, creative, and contributing members of society. TeachRock’s development was facilitated by experienced educators to weave arts and music history through core subjects such as English and Social Studies. The lesson plans go through the intersection of social, political, and economic forces within popular culture and how music has shaped and reflected those forces across the centuries.

    “When I was a teenager, school wasn’t reaching me,” TeachRock founder Steven Van Zandt said. “It didn’t speak to my needs or interests, and I saw no future in a society I was supposed to be a part of. Then the Beatles saved my life. Rock and roll and soul. The arts gave me the confidence to forge a path in the world… We need to reach the part of their brain that responds emotionally and instinctively, that uses imagination rather than facts and specifics. Something that makes them relax and feel more comfortable about the very process of education. And right now is when kids need us the most.” 

    “Especially during this time of a pandemic, we must give educators the tools they need to innovate from the inside out to engage students in creative ways,” Connecticut Education Deputy Commissioner of Education Desi Nesmith said. “TeachRock’s unique curriculum does that by connecting students to history, culture, and human experiences while positively impacting their social-emotional development.”

    Each year, districts can apply to participate in the TeachRock program. The number of TeachRock schools will expand annually across Connecticut, implementing the curricula into classes and online libraries.

    TeachRock was launched by Little Steven and the Founders Board of Bono, Jackson Browne, Martin Scorsese, and Bruce Springsteen, TeachRock.org has provided free, standards-aligned resources to help teachers, students, and families succeed for more than a decade. 

  • 24th Annual Brooklyn Film Festival Returns in June

    The Brooklyn Film Festival (BFF) has announced its 24th annual installment, running from June 4 to June 13. 2021’s lineup includes the online premiere of 140 films, available to stream any time throughout the 10-day period. It also sees the return of in-person screenings, at Windmill Studios in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, from June 5 to June 13.

    brooklyn film festival

    This year’s theme is ‘The Clearing.’ Cinemas are slowly reopening after spending the last year shuttered, signaling the end of a lost year. While the 23rd Brooklyn Film Festival was fully virtual, the 24th will be a hybrid, featuring distanced in-person selections.

    For this year’s festival alone, BFF received 2,615 submissions from 91 countries. The 140 chosen films will air as 33 program blocks, with feature-length films playing alone and shorts grouped together by category and direction. There are six categories overall (Feature Narrative, Documentary Feature, Short Narrative, Short Documentary, Experimental and Animation), but all films are eligible to win the festival’s top award: the Grand Chameleon. There are also 29 minor awards, with each winner receiving a prize totalling $50,000 in cash, film services and products. While judging panels determine some of the winners, the BFF Audience gets to vote online for their favorites.

    New York residents are getting vaccinated in large numbers and are diligently observing the city rules regarding safe distancing and mask wearing. Cinemas are re-opening with new, safer policies and criteria. Because of this, we feel a sweet sense of optimism, as if we were experiencing a slow awakening from a one-year hibernation. That is why BFF is ready to show indie films to live audiences. Considering the amazing success of last year’s virtual festival, BFF will offer the full lineup online, again this year. ‘The Clearing’ is about safe distancing also from all the accumulated pain and anger of the past year, and is about getting re-acquainted with life’s important values. Fundamentally, ‘The Clearing’ is a message of hope that we want to spread, while trying to leave the ‘Covid tunnel’ behind us.

    BFF Executive Director, Marco Ursino

    The 17th Annual KidsFilmFest will also stream online from June 4 to June 13. There are two programs: one for ages 3 to 7, and another for ages 8 to 15. All children’s films are rated G.

    For more information about the Brooklyn Film Festival, visit brooklynfilmfestival.org.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaQVBCtcnu0
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