In an act of courage, Goose took the stage only 30 minutes after the last bolt of lightning struck at The Caverns in Pelham, TN. Rain was imminent. Fans marched deep into the woods, adjacent to a misty cave spitting dragon-like smoke. On the night of May 9, a life-time’s worth of campfire stories materialized.
Peter Anspach (multi-instrument, vocals) playing brand new gear while it becomes soaking wet. Photo by Em Walis
The Connecticut based jam band experienced meaningful growth over the last few years. Fans felt a calling and a reason to travel far and wide. Many were on quests to seek healing after such a painful year. Seekers flew or drove day in and day out in order to find what they were looking for. For many, Goose’s quality live streams provided one small pocket of joy during the COVID-19 shutdown. Those out of work had a reason to find out what day was; especially during the Bingo Tour.
Rick Mitarotonda (guitar/ vocals) channeling a darker feel. Photo by Em Walis
Goose delivered a reflective musical journey. Each song during the first set had a dark undertone. Lights were minimal and intimate. The atmospheric music complemented incoming thunder, lightning, and pouring rain. Upbeat songs like “Butter Rum” were not all fun and games after some lyrical digging.
Ben Atkind (drums) showing intensity during his favorite tune. Photo by Em Walis
During set break, fans were asked to descend into the cave where concerts are typically held in order to take shelter from the storm. There was uncertainty, but spirits remained high. This waiting period built up serious energy in the crowd. Everyone prayed for a collective bargain. If the band could only play a few more songs, they would pay back the energy ten-fold.
Second set precautions. Photo by Em Walis
Goose returned for a heavy hitting, yet positive second set. The power of the crowd pouring out of the cave could only be described as one with dragons. The band was armored with an easy up, and fresh clothes appropriate for the high seas; as well as plenty of towels.
Jeff Arevalo (drums) ready to set sail. Photo by Em Walis
What ensued next was where the deviation in future folktales unfurled. “Madhuvan” roared. The weather cleared. Catharsis achieved. Some reported questioning their state of awakening and considered the probability that they were dreaming. Others briefly contemplated retiring from Goose shows all together in order to end on a high note. The consensus was that the exorcism-like power of “Madhuvan” followed by the reincarnating comfort in “Spirit of the Dark Horse” released everyone from their beasts of burden.
Veteran fans Val Walis (right) and Tony Vasile (left) boogie down to “Don’t Do It” during their fourth of seven Goose shows planned this season. Photo by Em Walis
The rest of the night was light hearted. Pure bliss covered everyone’s face, while mud covered the rest of them.
Happy feet attending Goose in Pelham, TN. Photo by Em Walis
Quests complete and beasts slayed, Goose once again delivered an experience that will last a lifetime. Much appreciation was felt for the crew, band, and fellow attendees for making it an unforgettable night.
Rick Mitarotonda (guitar/ vocals) finding the light. Photo by Em Walis
There are a small handful of tickets left for Goose’s run in Perry, NY. Get them while you can!
Trevor Weekz Bass
Check out an earth-shattering “Madhuvan” below.
Setlist: Atlas (Wood Brothers), Indian River Alternate Ted Version, Butter Rum, Elmeg The Wise, Madhuvan, Spirit of the Dark Horse, Madhuvan Reprise, Doobie Song, Tumble, Don’t Do It (The Band)
Encore: Crosseyed & Painless (Talking Heads), Elmeg The Wise Reprise (Credit Jon Lombardi via El Goose Facebook Page)
After much anticipation, Phish has announced their rescheduled Summer Tour 2021 dates, plus some Fall dates as well.
Included are all the original dates, with venue changes in Georgia and Pennsylvania, some summer shows rescheduled to late August, and additional West Coast dates in October. Fans will have a chance to see them in nearly every part of the country, after a 19-month delay.
For most of the shows that are not newly announced, a limited quantity of tickets are available now as a real-time sale (while supplies last), as well as at public outlets such as Ticketmaster. A limited number of Travel Packages have been released for George, Lake Tahoe, and Commerce City show dates. In Atlantic City, Foundation Tickets as well as Travel Packages are now available here.
The Piedmont Park shows in Atlanta and the Giant Center shows in Hershey have been cancelled, and refunds will be automatic at the point of purchase. Ticketmaster and Phish Tickets will be contacting all buyers directly.
In their place, however, Phish has scheduled new shows in Alpharetta and at Hersheypark Stadium, plus a slew of new west coast dates that are part of a lead-up to a 4-day run in Las Vegas over Halloween. This Fall Tour marks Phish’s first return to Arizona since 2003, and the band’s first show in Sacramento since 1996.
A ticket request period (note: it’s shorter than usual) for all of these newly-announced shows is currently underway at here and will end on Monday, May 17 at 10AM ET. Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning Friday, May 21 at 10AM ET. Travel packages for Las Vegas go on sale Thursday, May 20, 1PM ET here.
Specific ticketing information for each show is available at phish.com/tours.
Phish Summer 2021 Tour dates
July 28 – Walmart AMP, Rogers, AR July 30 – Oak Mountain Amphitheater, Pelham, AL July 31, August 1 – Ameris Bank Amphitheater – Alpharetta, GA August 3-4 – Ascend Amphitheater – Nashville, TN August 6-8 – Ruoff Music Center – Noblesville, IN August 10-11 – Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, PA August 13-15 – Atlantic City Beach – Atlantic City, NJ August 27-29 – The Gorge Amphitheater – George, WA August 31, September 1 – Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harvey’s, Stateline, NV September 3-5 – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park – Commerce City, CO October 15 – Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA October 16-17 – Chase Center, San Francisco, CA October 19-20 – Matthew Knight Arena, Eugene, OR October 22 – Ak-Chin Pavilion, Phoenix, AZ October 23 – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, Chula Vista, CA October 24 – The Forum, Inglewood, CA October 26 – Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara, CA October 28-31 – MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV
CHECK YOUR HEAD: Mental Help for Musicians Podcast in partnership with MTV Entertainment Group announces first National ‘Mental Health Action Day’ to help drive people to take mental health action for themselves or others. Mental Health Action Day is taking place on May 20, 2021.
Mental Health Action Day is an open-source movement of brands, organizations and cultural leaders to drive culture from mental health awareness to mental health action. It’s mission is to encourage and empower people to take mental health action — whether for themselves, for their loved ones or to advocate for systemic changes, because mental health is health.
The CHECK YOUR HEAD: Mental Help for Musicians Podcast launched back in 2019 and Executive Produced and Hosted by Mari Fong who is a seasoned music journalist and certified Life Coach for Musicians. The podcast hosts open, honest, and intimate conversations about mental health, wellness and recovery. It has featured many different personalities like Gilby Clarke (Guns N’ Roses), Fred Armisen (Portlandia, SNL, Late Night with Seth Meyers), The Bloody Beetroots, Frank Zummo (SUM 41) Emilio Castillo (Tower Of Power), Yesod Williams (Pepper), Sammi Doll (IAMX, Kat Von D), Danny Griego and Shaun Morgan (Seether), Kevin Lyman (Vans Warped Tour) and most recently, the iconic Linda Ronstadt. In each episode top mental health experts are featured such as Dr. Dan Reidenberg (SAVE.org) on suicide prevention, Dr. Ish Major (Relationship expert, “Marriage Boot Camp”) on toxic relationship recovery, Johan Svanberg (Record Union, “The 73 Percent Report”) and Tim Ringgold, MT-BC (Music Therapist, Sonic Recovery) on mood disorder and addiction recovery using music therapy.
The ‘Mental Health Action Day’ is being put on in partnership with more than 500 leading brands, nonprofits, government agencies and cultural leaders. Partners will encourage people to take mental health action — whether for themselves, for their loved ones or to advocate for systemic changes. Resources and tools will be available for people to seek help in a myriad of ways from starting a meditation practice, learning how to support a friend, or advocating for change.
Mari Fong spoke on the podcast and the ‘Mental Health Action Day’ saying, “Talking openly about and sharing your stories on mental health is only part of the solution. The second part is taking action which can include taking action for yourself, for a loved one, or for your community.”
In the past two decades, suicide rates have risen, particularly among young adults. And the COVID pandemic has accelerated the already dire crisis, giving way to what many mental health professionals have called the “second pandemic.” The feelings of extreme isolation on top of the preexisting anxiety and fear caused by the pandemic has left people in more dire mental states than pre pandemic times.
For more information on CHECK YOUR HEAD: Mental Help for Musicians Podcast and the ‘Mental Health Action Day’ visit their website here.
French metal band, Gojira, announced their headline tour coming this fall with the New Zealand metal trio, Alien Weaponry, as the openers.
The tour comes after Gojira released their seventh album, Fortitude,their first album drop since 2016. Fortitude has 11 tracks with messages urging people to imagine a new world and advocating for the environment. Some singles from the album, including “Another World”, “Born For One Thing”, “Into the Storm”, “Amazonia” and “The Chant”, set the tone and highlighted the theme.
Fortitude was produced and recorded by the band’s frontman, Joe Duplantier, in Ridgewood, Queens at their headquarters. After their 2X Grammy-nominated album, Magma received much admiration from fans and the media for their self-reflection and transparency. Like their previous album, Fortitude has been getting good reception and shows their ability to continue to change heavy music.
Alien Weaponry
Joining Gorija on tour this fall is, Alien Weaponry and Knocked Loose as the opening acts. In their debut album Tū released in 2018, the band delivered emotional and political stories filled with conflict and grief with the passion of warriors, mostly sung in their native tongue, te rao Māori.
They maintained the number one slot on SiriusXM Liquid Metal’s Devil’s Dozen Countdown and were acclaimed by Revolver to be one of the bands most likely to break out this year. Before the tour kicks off later this year, Alien Weaponry is performing in their Stronger Together series with the New Zealand Orchestra on May 22 and May 29.
Gojira will be supportingDeftoneson their tour this summer from August 12 to September 22 before kicking off their fall tour. Their fall run in the U.S begins on October 11 in Salt Lake City, UT until October 29 in Cleveland, Ohio. They will be stopping in Albany at the Upstate Concert Hall on October 25 and in Rochester at Main Street Armory on October 28. Tickets go on sale on Gojira’s website on Friday, May 7 at 10 a.m.
Each Sunday evening from 7-9pm you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up and coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music fromThe Wufs, Red Light Rivals and many more!
WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.
The Wufs of Hollis, New Hampshire are debuting new music on Sunday, May 9. Their 2020 single, “Naked In Line,” is an earworm thanks to its simple yet arresting guitar riff. More recently, the Wufs released the groovy “Searchlight” last March.
With gravelly vocals and a gritty country feel, the verses to Red Light Rivals’ “There Ain’t Enough Time” sound like an updated Johnny Cash. The chorus and bridge are much poppier, closer to Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors, but Red Light Rivals is able to navigate both territories with ease. Rather than succumbing to whiplash, it showcases their versatility.
“Daycare Dropout” is the first song off the Pine Boys’ EP, Electric Minnow. A quirky rock ballad about a rebellious toddler, it evokes “Another Brick in the Wall” and Frenchy from Grease equally. Where Alice Cooper would protest pencils and books, this song’s protagonist is more concerned with Crayola and naptime. Deceptively simple, repeat listens show the song is more sonically interesting than it has any right to be. The Pine Boys are a trio from Albany, NY, consisting of Andrew Cerone, Brett Maney and Sam Laskey.
Some Kind of Jam 15 went down in Schuylkill Haven, PA from April 29th until May 2nd, 2021. While patrons started showing up Thursday, the main festivities began on Friday and despite unrelenting winds the festival went off in a well oiled fashion. Headlining Friday was Lespecial, eager to play tracks from their latest album, Ancient Homies, in front of a dance happy crowd. Saturday culminated with Colorado jam stalwarts the Magic Beans taking the main stage also with plenty of new material to play with their latest album, Slice of Life, dropping the day prior.
In between mainstage acts, the indoor stage kept revelers entertained and out of the wind. Lee Ross might have been the busiest man on site with no less than five sets throughout the weekend. Other sets of note were the psychedelic stylings of the Iceman Special and a latenight set by up and coming Neighbor that balanced catchy songs and deep jams to the delight of those in attendance.
While many aspects of the live music and festival landscape are still up in the air for 2021, the smiles and revelry of those in attendance at Some Kind of Jam 15 showed that a return to something close to normal is possible in these uncertain times.
Toronto pop artist Dani Doucette today brings forth the captivating, neon-hued single “Craved,” fusing elements of R&B, disco, and pop setting the scene for Doucette’s velvety vocals.
The narrative of “Crave” describes an entrancing feeling in a club when you lock eyes with someone across the room who may not be suitable for you, yet you gravitate towards them overwhelmed with mystery. With confidence, power, and sensuality, Dani Doucette displays how being craved is a superpower. The lyrics describe losing yourself to love but only enough to leave a craving for more, pairing with a vibrant backing track accompanying Doucette’s voice.
Doucette fell in love with music at the young age of four when her father brought to their Toronto home a baby grand piano spending days practicing in her family’s sun-soaked music room. Aside from being an artist, she is an accomplished model, adding the glamour and excitement of her world-traveling experiences to her music. An aspiring humanitarian, Doucette also uses her platform to work with young people on their journey of self-discovery.
Applying her own struggles with confidence and feeling unfulfilled in the modeling world as her inspiration, she hosts self-esteem and confidence-boosting workshops for young women. Consistent with her goal of bringing about positive change in the world, Doucette strives to help people overcome adversity by sharing her own life experiences openly.
Charged with an ethereal vision, Dani has developed an individual pop sound, with captivating songs that feature a strong autobiographical and rebellious quality. Doucette arrived on the scene in August 2020 with “GO,” and the R&B pop song “Selfish” in January 2021.
Co-written with Thomas McKay, Dani channeled some of her favorite pop idols and a sci-fi energy, bringing the ambiance of an interstellar party.
While writing this song and working on harmonies we had MJ and Britney vibes that we were feeling. I remember Thomas and I just knew we had made something special.
Tickets are currently on sale for both one day and two day passes. The event has limited capacity due to the pandemic with only 200 tickets available for each day. While camping and lodging is available through Blackthorne Resort, it is not included with the ticket. Spring Jubilee will be following protocols such as mask wearing to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
South of Eden rolled into a steaming hot Jacksonville, FL aboard their school bus, “Bluebird,” only minutes before storms hit the town. The band has ventured far south from their Columbus, OH residence to share new music with a growing fan base before an album release. Their EP, The Talk, was released August 2020 (Lava Records) and received positive reviews in the press, including a videoreview in Rolling Stone. They plan to tour the entire country as soon as possible.
Reminding of rock and roll cowboys, the band stepped on stage and was immediately welcomed at the 1904 Music Hall, where they played on May 2. The small but supportive Sunday-night audience cheered them on from their first song to their last. One person remarked: “Now, that is rock and roll!” The venue felt welcoming, unfancy, beloved by locals, and had excellent lights and sound.
The band’s performance rose true to their declared dream: “We aren’t looking to bring anything back, but instead to remind people what rock n roll means.” They transmitted exactly this impression as they blasted off with “The Talk” and maintained a fast pace throughout their set. The very first catchy guitar riffs, along with Tom McCullough’s drums, pulled the audience into a world that was equally nostalgic and current.
The band, in their present line-up, formed only in 2018, but their sound gives the feeling that they had played all the larger stages for a decade. Their remarkable stage presence, confident sound, and Ehab Omran’s soaring voice, are reminding of early Sabbath, blousy southern vibes, and gritty garage rock.
South of Eden also put on a party! They interacted with the audience, taunting them to guess how many guitar solos Justin Young would insert into any one of the songs, or if Nick Frantianne (bass) would play the correct intro to “Hurricane.” The melodies were catchy and the rhythms fast paced, perfect for dancing and signing along. Their setlist was much longer than the music already released. Seeing this band live is by far a more entertaining experience than just listening online.
Setlist: The Talk, Monica, Hurricane, Mr. Brownstone (Guns N’Roses), Solo, Touch the Ground, Thunder, Lone Riders, Stranglehold, Loaded Bong, Pindrop, Sister, Dancing With Fire
Live music is making its way back into our weekend plans. The Oteil Burbridge band featuring Pete Lavezzoli on drums, Tom Guarna on Guitar, and special guest Jason Crosby on keyboards performed for two nights at the North Beach Bandshell in Miami Beach, FL on April 24 and 25. Over two days the quartet had a Grateful Dead heavy setlist, nicely blended with Oteil’s originals and covers of his favorite artists.
The breeze kicked in to start the two night run. They open with a cover by The Weather Report that brought all of the “Elegant People” from the beach. It got the whole crowd immediately grooving. A first set dead classic “Sugaree” start the psychedelic blues for the sun soaked masses. A cover of Jerry Garcia Band “Cats Down Under the Stars” keeps it flowing with Melvin Seals drummer Lavezolli and Oteil locked in ” Cats on the bandstand, give em each a big hand, Anyone who sweats like that must be all right.”
Believe it or not the band follows with another Grateful Dead classic that was played under the Miami Beach haze during soundcheck for “Here Comes Sunshine.” “Hard to find” an end of a first set, the quartet close with “King Solomon’s Marbles” to send everyone looking for their own after they cleared the stage.
The second set started with a beautiful Jerry solo classic “Rubin and Cherise.” The words on the Florida shore singing “the breeze would pause to listen in before going on its way again, Masquerade began when the nightfall finally woke.” Another Jerry tune up next for “Gomorrah” helped “Blow the City off the Map, left nothing there but fire”
Oteil brings you back to Brooklyn Bowl for a “Butter Biscuit” next, then a transition to a Grateful Dead S.O.S. on the beach. “Help on the Way” into “Slipknot” gets another Oteil original weaved in with “Too Many Times” before crescendoing into “Franklins Tower.” It was a funky roll in the dew to close the first set.
Keeping the crowd in a Grateful Dead like glow the band starts the encore so quiet you can hear the ocean. Oteil’s voice on “Stella Blue” reminds you the wave is crashing “In the end there’s still a song, comes crying like the wind, down every lonely street, that’s ever been.” As expected after a Dead heavy show like this you would assume this was the end.
Nope, during the encore the band paid tribute to Sugarloaf with their cover of “Green Eyed Lady.” Its lyrics perhaps another nod to a day on the beach. “Green Eyed Lady windswept lady , moves the night the waves the sand, Green eyed lady…ocean lady.” Out of nowhere, Oteil’s ensemble threw everyone for a loop on their way back to the Miami scene.
After an hour long soundcheck in Miami Beach, Oteil Burbridge took some time to talk with NYS Music
Matthew Romano: I am so glad I got to see the show last night before speaking today. Do you remember the Buddy Miles record that had a cover of Allman Brothers Band tunes “Dont’ Keep Me Wondering” and “Midnight Rider”? I can’t help but hear your same soulful interpretation of these Dead songs.
Oteil Burbridge: Yes I do! I kind of just do it. You can’t do anything to suppress your roots. Not really trying, it just comes out like that. But there was something that really gave me confidence to lean in more on my approach. I don’t know if you’ve heard George Porter sing “Eyes of World”? It’s my favorite “Eyes of the World.” The way he sings it, holy crap, just blew me away seeing that. So I was like yea man do it like you feel it. You know just let it come, let it be what it is.
MR: Well being here in Miami where you just recorded with Page McConnell and Vida Blue for a record we didn’t know what to expect out of your catalog this weekend for a set.
OB: I don’t with Vida Blue material because they are still on the road and we still play. Allman’s aren’t playing, I mean Dead and Company is playing, ya know as slow as we are doing everything. If you notice we do a lot of different versions with this band. We do the the old funkier, sluttier “Loose Lucy” and the faster funky kind of “They Love Each Other,” the long “Eyes” the “Terrapin.” What else? The funky “Bertha.”
OB: So we can just lean in the funk.
MR: I was able to speak with John Mayer on Tales From the Golden Road on Sirius XM and got his angle on bringing his own texture to the Dead and Co. sound. You are in the same boat bringing a whole new edge and vibe to this music that gives it a new form of life.
OB: I mean it just comes out that way. It’s really about being given permission by yourself, the original members, the crowd, and especially the old crew.
OB: Ya know it mattered to me, what AJ thinks, what Jarukie thought. It matters what Derek Featherstone thinks. Ya know all the original crew that’s been here much longer than me. So even to have them and friends approval means the world.
MR: Well how about big Steve Parish who has come Upstate New York to go on his own tour speaking about all his years behind the amps of the Dead for every show?
OB: When you get Parish’s seal of approval, wow. All those guys, Dennis McNally, Bill Walton. When Bill Walton says you’re good, you quit worrying. But John and I have been very lucky to be graced by all those people, the crowd, the original members. I count them as family.
MR: Well being at the first Dead and Company show on October 29, 2015 at Times Union Center (The Old Knickerbocker Arena), it was only appropriate for you and John to open with “Playing in the Band.”
OB: (Laughter) For sure. That was a harrowing night. That was a trip, that beginning time.
MR: Well, I love that 6 years later your able to lead the pack with some funk on this repertoire for two nights on the beach in Spring 2021.
OB: Well i mean there is so much funk in the Grateful Dead’s music. The Jerry Bands’ music. Its just like there for the picking. So i just lean in to it
OB: Thats where I come from, ya know? I come from James Brown and Parliament Funkadelic. Earth Wind and Fire, Stevie, Larry Graham, J.V Collier and James Jamerson.
MR: How about Larry Graham creating the slap bass technique to fill for the drummers spot that was absent
OB: Yeah the drummer didn’t come so he had to bass the drum with his thumb and the snare and hi hat with his slap and the plucking part yeah. Tonight we’re gonna do a tribute to Paul Jackson in Head Hunters that just passed. It was the last tune we did during soundcheck today was “God made me Funky.”
MR: That had me dancing outside and threw me for a loop before I came in to talk to ya. I walked in the room feeling like Cleo McDowell in Coming to America…”I’m not sure what to do…I feel like break dancing.”
OB: (Laughter) For Sure. I’ve seen it at Dead shows, people start popping and locking! This weekend has been the biggest amount of people this band has played for. It was great to see that many bodies in motion again.
Later that night Oteil and Friends played one more Saturday night for an audience on Miami Beach.
The crowd immediately responded to the Oteil instrumental “The Happy Dance” to start the evening. Another highlight of Oteil’s solo catalog came next with “Rooster.” His words nailed it over the old Peacemakers groove, “There’s not much time to get your house in order, you can watch as the darkness grows, keep on trying to disguise yourself, but the ugliness still shows, you better clean it up before the rooster crows…”
Then a Dead heavy first set that included the funked up “Bertha” and “Loose Lucy.” The Dead vibes unfolded at the end of the first set with “China Cat Sunflower” > “China Doll” > “I Know Your Rider.” A set ending fake out with “No More Doubt,” another Oteil and the Peacemakers original. With even deeper lyrics “Call out to the grave, I am a mirror to the clouds, you can rest assure there will be no more worry,” to officially end the set.
After a short break the band opened with two covers, Jaco Pastorius’ “Opus Pocus‘ and Donny Hathaway’s “Magnificent Sanctuary.” These tunes are certainly hand picked by Oteil as they are a major influence on his sound.
Oteil Burbridge in Jaco Pastorius Park, FL
The band then closes the rest of the set with The Grateful Dead catalog where ocean breezes flow. After a funky “They Love Each Other” they launched into “Estimated Prophet” > “Terrapin” > “Morning Dew.” Oteil was quoted on his first vocal take on Dew, “I feel like I’ve been through enough in life to do it justice, I hope you enjoyed it.”
Oteil Burbridge Band Setlist April 24 25
The encore for the two night beach run was a tribute to Paul Jackson of the Head Hunters for “God Made me Funky.” Let’s be glad he is out touring this kind of music in 2021. Oteil helps carry the torch for new comers to the scene. It was Miami Beach resident Chris Collins first show who celebrated his father Bobs birthday Friday night. Bob toured for four years with the Dead.
In between shows you can listen to Oteil’s podcast with great artists. The crew heads to B Chord brewing Company in Virginia on June 4 and 5 for their next two night run. Dead and Company 2021 tour will be kicking off August 16th in Raleigh, North Carolina, and running through Halloween, with a three-night stand at the iconic Hollywood Bowl on October 29th, 30th, & 31st.
