Syracuse’s Vaporeyes has released the video for “Donye Wump,” off their recently released album Cantrips. Having premiered on Friday, March 19th, the video was shot in the Salt City, as well as in and around band practice spaces.
With a goal of creating a video that their fans and others used to their shenanigans wouldn’t expect, band member Jonas Reddy-Nicholson, shared insight on the video:
We had an idea of a conflict happening in this video. The lyrics I wrote very much came from a place of inner conflict, wanting change, and “killing the past,” so Shannon (bass) wanted to play with the conflict idea as much as possible. But we kept the fight between ourselves and our “other” selves, or inner demons in the video so people didn’t think it was some statement or something. It’s not. We just had fun with it. The name of the song actually has nothing to do with anything. Sometimes we just really try to blur the line between goofy and serious/heartfelt.
Jonas Reddy-Nicholson
“Donye Wump” was directed by Thomas Calandra of Synthesis Films (also a member of metal band Bleak), with Director of Photography Mark Kelley, both of whom entertained the band’s wacky ideas and kept Vaporeyes on track to finish the shoot in four days.
When we came to them with the idea of a fight scene VS ourselves for the end of the song, we thought they would turn it down. But not only were they into it and knew how to make it work, they had some ideas of their own. Thomas asked how we felt about drawing inspiration from the goofy gang fight in Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange.”
We were into it, so we all sat on the couch and watched the fight together the day before the fight scene shoot. We are so glad they were into the fight, and they really did a great job. That’s even Thomas getting the glass broken on his head in the beginning, per his insistence. (Movie prop bottle, don’t worry).
Jonas Reddy-Nicholson
Vaporeyes recently made it to the Elite 8 of NYS Music’s March Madness. Check out more on them here and watch the video for “Donye Wump” below.
With venues and small businesses facing financial strain due to the COVID-19 pandemic, innovative ideas have been keeping the lights. One such idea comes from lighting designer and electrician Chris Stowell, who has announced plans for an East Coast bike tour to help raise money for Stage Notes theatre company in Watertown, NY.
An original member of Stage Notes, Stowell’s appreciation for theatre turned into a profession. Founded in 2009 and a staple of Watertown, Stage Notes has produced fourteen musicals and donated $50,000 to local organizations. Knowing what they have done for the community, it was an easy decision for Stowell to do the tour down the East Coast to ensure that Stage Notes can continue to harbor young thespians.
The bike tour was something Stowell had always wanted to do but Stage Notes gave him a reason and a purpose to do it. With so many theatres losing money due to the pandemic, he realized this would be a perfect opportunity to raise money. The local theatre company provides an enriching, non-competitive environment in which students can further develop an appreciation for musical theatre.
The fundraiser bike tour will run for 3,000 miles and kicks off on April 1, 2021. Stowell will be taking donations for the theatre company and is happy to accept any amount. For every $1 donated Stowell will let the person give him a song recommendation for him to add to his playlist. He’ll be listening to this playlist throughout the tour. People who donate $5 can send him 6 songs.
Chris Stowell
People can follow Chris Stowell’s tour and donate here on his website or follow his other socials on Instagram and Twitter at chrisonbiketour. People can also make donations directly to Stage Notes on their website and get more information on their past performances.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong announces a five show summer tour running through both June and July across multiple states. The tour will start on June 18, 2021 in New York and end on July 16, 2021 in New Hampshire.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong are a funk band from Baltimore, Maryland that started back in 2009. The lineup is currently made up of Greg Ormont on vocals and guitar, Jeremy Schon on guitar and vocals, Ben Carrey on bass and vocals and Alex Petropulos on drums. They released their first album back in 2010 titled Funk E P. They currently have five studio albums with their most recent album titled Presto was released in 2020.
The tour will start in Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards in Lafayette, New York and will host shows on both June 18 and 19. The band will make it’s next stop on June 26 for a show at Westville Music Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut. They will move on with the tour and on July 10th they will stop at Devils Backbone Brewing Company in Roseland, Virginia. The five show tour will wrap up on July 16 in Northlands in Swanzey, New Hampshire.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Livel (L-R): Jeremy Schon (Guitar), Alex Petropulos (Drums) “Scrambled Greg” Ormont (Vocals/Guitar), Ben Carrey (Bass). Photo: Kendall McCargo
All the events will require attendees to be seated in socially distant pods. All shows will adhere to all state and local guidelines regarding masks and social distancing. They will be one of the first few bands to perform at the recently constructed Westville Music Bowl which is the fourth stop on their tour which was formerly home of the Pilot Pen Tennis Tournament. Their last stop on the tour at Northlands (Formerly Drive-In Live) in Swanzey was originally a drive-in theatre. The owners transformed the scenic, mountainside location into a thriving, pod-style concert field. Northlands also expanded the operation, promising “food trucks, beer and wine, improved sound and lights, and much more…”.
An artist pre-sale will commence on Wednesday, March 17th at 12 PM ET, followed by a public on sale on Friday, March 19th at 12 PM ET here.
With live music being halted for so long due to COVID-19, the news of live summer tours taking place this summer is exciting and gives hope that soon regular live music can become a reality again. For more information on Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and their upcoming summer tour visit their website.
Upstate New York join forces in the latest single by burgeoning rapper, Baddnews. The Syracuse native has recruited Griselda and Buffalo’s own, Benny The Butcher for this catchy, up-tempo record about pushing through the treacheries of the street life, in pursuit of more prosperous times.
After all, adversity is nothing new to the rising rap star, after facing a barrage of drug trafficking charges, the former Rhythm + Flow contestant has made a triumphant return to music with this latest release. His recruit? One of the faces of the Upstate New York rap scene responsible for bringing the city of Buffalo to prominence, along with his fellow Griselda cohorts.
The duo shares similar backgrounds, growing up in rough, urban neighborhoods, mired in violence and drug use. Their attempts at financial prosperity landed them in trouble with the law, before deciding to hone their craft and use that as their golden ticket out. With Baddnews gaining traction as an artist, he can always look to his counterpart and know that there is a future beyond the streets.
Our visions weren’t equally aligned, to chase my dreams I had to leave the streets behind.
Baddnews
Baddnews
Known for his detailed recounts of his time in the streets, Benny The Butcher is the perfect opposite to Baddnews on this record. While the song sees the latter look towards a more promising future, the former spends his verse poignantly recounting the roads traveled that made him a successful rapper.
Drop elbows like Randy Savage to count up Andrew Jackson’s.
Benny The Butcher
Benny the Butcher
“This record with Benny holds a different level of importance, because not only is he one of the hardest lyricists in the game right now, but he’s also from upstate NY just like me” Baddnews commented. “This is just the beginning and I can’t wait to show the world what else I have in store this year.”
Guitarist Joe Bonamassa announces a one-night-only livestream concert at the iconic venue, Austin City Limits on April 1st, at 9PM EST.
The livestream, broadcasting worldwide, will raise money for musicians and artists in need. Bonamassa is returning to his blues-rock roots with a power trio performance and a setlist curated by his fans.
Joe Bonamassa is bringing his blues-signature sound to the homes of fans all across the world, even though he is known as “always being on the road.” His set will include members Anton Fig from Late Night David Letterman and Steve Mackey on bass. It will be a rare power trio!
Austin was one of the first cities in which Joe Bonamassa played as a three-piece, with Austin City Limits, a national landmark music venue, having been awarded “Best New Major Concert Venue” by Pollstar. Over the years, the venue has been home to legendary artists such as B.B. King, Santana, Peter Frampton, Paul McCartney, and Bonamassa himself, as well as many other artists. Bonamassa’s energy will take over the stage, making his own impact on musical history.
The setlist will be curated by his fans, selecting from his 24 #1 albums. The cuts chosen from his extensive catalog will delight his fans and charm new ones with his virtuosic guitar playing and incredible energy.
To enjoy this captivating event, you can purchase tickets here . Tickets start at $30 and increase for deluxe packages, including merchandise and passes to his other on-demand live performances. There will also be a VIP package where members will have their photos and names featured in the live stream credits as a virtual audience member.
Bonamassa is a two-time Grammy nominated artist and hailed as one of the greatest blues guitarists of all time. Joe recently received his 24th #1 album on the Billboard Blues Chart with the studio album Royal Tea, a nod to his British heroes, recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.
His musical programs Fueling Musicians and Keeping the Blues Alive foundation have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for struggling artists over the past year. To learn more about Joe Bonamassa, visit jbonamassa.com.
The Syracuse Area Music Awards or more commonly known as the SAMMYS announced the winners of their 2021 season on March 5, 2021 at the virtual awards ceremony.
The 2021 SAMMYS streamed for free LIVE from SubCat Music Studios at 7PM and hosted performances from Byron Cage, Cam Caruso, Sophistafunk, Stephen Phillips, and the Vaporeyes. The show was hosted by Dave Frisina from the RebelRocks.com and was free and open to the public with donations being accepted.
There were 60 nominees for the SAMMYS in 14 Categories this year. In addition, to winners of the Jack O Bocchino Award, Community Spirit Award, Brian Bourke Award for Best New Artist there was also the People’s Choice Winners in 4 Categories awarded for Best Artist/Band, Academic Organization, Venue and Live-stream Series or Event.
The winners are as listed. Best Alternative went to The Exploding Flowers for Strangers. Best Americana went to Harmonic Dirt for Live At The Ridge. Best Blues went to Tas Cru for DRIVE ON. Best Country went to Tink Bennett & Tailor Made for Hate The Game. Best Electronic went to Asael for We Believed. Best Hard Rock went to Junexa for Lifeless. Best Hip-Hop or Rap went to Big Nate MG for The Story of MG. Best Jam Band went to the Vaporeyes for Cantrips. Best Jazz went to London McDaniel for Anatural Aphrodisiaca. Best Other Style went to DiCosimo/Pagán for Con Moto. Best Pop went to Jess Novak Band for Standing Now. Best R&B went to Jaquiel for Summer Nights in the Southward. Best Rock went to Atkins Riot for Couch Potato. Best Singer-Songwriter went to Amanda Rogers for The Hallow. People’s Choice for Local Artist or Band went to Gary Johnson, Livestream Event or Series for Disruption Network Local Music Monday, Academic or Musical Organization for Baldwinsville Marching Band, and Local Venue for Rise N Shine Diner. Jack O Bocchino Spirit of the Sammys Award went to Bill Baldwin. Brian Burke Award for Best New Artist went to Trauma Cat. Community Spirit Award went to Corey Paige.
SAMMY awards were given out based on the judgement of submissions sent to the SAMMYS Board by musicians in Syracuse and the surrounding area. 166 artists submitted 194 recordings in total for this year’s season. An independent panel of music industry professionals and educators from around the country, led by James Abbott, reviewed the submissions and made their selections based on their merit within their genre.
For more information on the 2021 SAMMYS winners visit the SAMMAYS website.
It has been one year since the 2020 SAMMY Awards took place in Syracuse, at the Palace Theater in Eastwood. So much has changed since that night, with this annual event taking place just two weeks before the music industry, and seemingly the world, shut down.
2020 was certainly a challenging year, especially in the music industry with virtually no concerts taking place and the beginning of live streaming shows as a form of entertainment.
MBK Music Group
A year later, we are starting to see signs of life, with festivals popping up down south and venues getting the green light to let in limited capacity crowds.
The 2020 SAMMY Awards set records for the number of artists submitted, as well as the votes for the winners. The full list of nominees/winners can be seen here. In preparation for the new virtual SAMMY Awards for 2021, check out NYS Music’s photo gallery and revisit the good memories of that night, one that showcases why the Syracuse music scene is one of the best in the state.
Beloved live music venue The Haunt in Ithaca, NY has been recently sold and demolished, but relocation begins soon.
At 702 Willow Street, The Haunt will be replaced by a building under the City Harbor Residential Project, which is under way now in Ithaca. Several residential buildings are in the process of construction all across town.
Ithaca’s most prominent local promoter, Dan Smalls of DSP shows, said on the matter “It allows me to work with the people we’re working with to look for a new and bigger and better location, which continues to be our plan,” He added, “The question is just when we will be ready to announce it. That’ll be hopefully soon, but we’re working very diligently toward a new location. Our goal is to be the premier live entertainment venue in Central New York. It’ll be a gathering place for not just live music, like The Haunt, but a real downtown gathering spot.”
The Haunt, Fall 2020 – photo by Casey Martin
Small recognizes that the pandemic renders it impossible to know when live music can resume, but he hopes that in 2022 it will be possible to have a full-capacity venue.
“(COVID-19 guidance) will dictate how quickly we move with the next project, but there will be a next project,” Smalls said. “Something that’s a usable, hopefully downtown location, and there’s lots of areas downtown that are currently being developed, so hopefully that gives people an idea of where that could be.”
Originally opening in 1960, The Haunt relocated in the 1990s to the West End which attracted both national artists and up-and-coming acts, fostering a space in Ithaca for large crowds and great music. Smalls remarks on attending concerts at the earlier Green Street location before it was relocated in the 90s. To make the new Ithaca location a vital venue in the region, Smalls cities the Higher Ground venue in Burlington, Vermont as a place he wishes to emulate.
The potential new location is hypothesized to land on 15-117 North Cayuga Street, the current location of the Masonic Temple, but after speaking to the owners, Smalls responded that the offer is not “on the table” just yet.
The indie band of brothers, Council, has announced their upcoming EP It Runs In The Blood. On May 28, their third EP of will be released on all platforms.
Council consists of three brothers: Pat, Doug, and Andy Reeves. As the trio grew up just outside Syracuse in Baldwinsville, NY, they’ve committed to trading a life of farming for their true passion; music. From working in the fields during the day to perfecting their craft in their family barn at night.
The debut single off of the new EP, “Faded Purple White Trash Royal”, was recently released. The track is available on major platforms and provides listeners a sneak peek of the anthemic tone expected on It Runs In The Blood.
Listen to Council’s Debut Single Here
Council‘s new EP contains singles, “I See Sparks,” “Still We Rise,” “Faded Purple White Trash Royal,” and the title track, “It Runs In The Blood.” Apart from the title track, the entire EP was written and produced by Council. The track “It Runs In The Blood” was co-produced and co-written by Kevin Andreas. Andreas is known for engineering A$AP Rocky’s hit, “Peso.”
Cover Artwork for EP
Council has begun to build a name for themselves. They have worked with countless household names and appeared on popular programs. The brothers’ band has played shows at mainstays in NYC. Also, they have opened for bands such as The Strumbellas, The All American Rejects, and The Kooks. The musicians have even had their music played throughout the 2018 Winter Olympics, FIFA World Cup, American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, and the Premier League, to name a few.
As this band has begun to establish themselves in the music scene with their unique sound, they are definitely a group to watch out for. It Runs In The Blood will undoubtedly only add to Council’s growing success. Although this EP’s release isn’t for a few months, make sure to check out the band’s previous EP, Haunts Me.
Thursday, February 22, 2001 was a frigid night in Syracuse, yet Armory Square was alive and well. With no Phish for the foreseeable future, and no New Year’s Eve performance that past December, the energy this evening was unmistakably palpable as Trey Anastasio Band made their debut performance at Syracuse’s Landmark Theatre.
Only their second show of 2001’s Winter Tour, Trey Anastasio Band (TAB) offered fans a glimpse of what was to come from this new yet familiar cast of supporting musicians joining Trey, and how the void left by Phish’s hiatus would be filled by the band leader.
Trey had originally played with drummer Russ Lawton and bassist Tony Markellis in 8 Foot Fluorescent Tubes in 1998, making the trio the core of a band that continues to perform today, even through the pandemic. Trey added in a three-piece horn section alongside Russ and Tony, bringing in Andy Moroz (trombone), Giant Country Horns member Dave “The Truth” Grippo (saxophone) and Jennifer Hartswick (trumpet/tuba). The sextet was an early version of the TAB lineup Trey has modified over the years, and did not yet include soon-to-join members Ray Paczkowski, Natalie Cressman and Cyro Baptista.
The night began with the Chuck Berry number “In the Wee Wee Hours,” a perfect way to start an evening where the setlist was anyone’s guess. The first original of the night, “Push On ‘Til the Day” would follow, and when the horns stepped out into the light, the crowd roared with approval. “Push On” segued neatly into “Tube Top Flop” (later Tube Top Wobble), and then the emotion-heavy “Sunday Morning” (later “Ether Sunday”).
“Mozambique” was raucous, a funky tune with a big band-meets-Salsa sound; the prize in the early versions of these new compositions was how they allowed for room to improvise both individually and collectively. Althought not played this night, “Last Tube” would serve the same purpose in 2001 for TAB’s cohesiveness.
The first Phish cover of the night, “Gotta Jibboo” included Trey’s signature ‘whale call‘ making an appearance early in the song and continuing on a loop as the band found a groove to tuck into for nearly 12 minutes. In the final two minutes of “Jibboo,” listen closely and you can hear the band hinting at the song to follow, “Burlap Sack and Pumps,” soon to be a funky fan favorite.
To close the set, Trey dispatched the band and brought out his acoustic guitar for “Guyute.” With the audience whistling along, the attention focused on the Bad Lieutenant sitting center stage.
After a 43-minute set break, Set 2 began with a snare beat that perked ears up, signaling the start of Bob Dylan’s “Rainy Day Woman #12 & #35,” which the audience ate up and sang along to. An 18-minute “Sand” followed, with horns chiming in and Trey on keys, both soon to be staples of TAB shows.
The Band’s “It Makes No Difference” felt especially touching, as did Bob Marley’s “Mellow Mood,” a cover debuted by Phish just a few months prior in Albany, and which Trey admitted the band had only practiced once prior to the show. Dedicated to sound engineer Paul Languedoc, “Happy Coffee Song,” off Trey’s initial solo album One Man’s Trash, stayed true to the original recording and worked nicely for the larger band format.
Listen below, and if “Nothing But an E Thing” sounds familiar, that’s because it eventually came to be known as “Pebbles and Marbles,” debuted here as a fully instrumental piece, with horns taking turns on what amounts to the current “Pebbles and Marbles” intro section.
Rounding out Set 2 was another One Man’s Trash track, “At the Gazebo,” later outfitted for performance with orchestras and string quartets, and “Drifting,” which included band intros, notably for Tony “the Meaning of Life” Markellis. An encore of Billy Preston’s “Will It Go Round in Circles” would close the night, one that saw the start of Trey’s next musical venture, one that continues to evolve and grow, 20 years later.
Trey Anastasio Band, Landmark Theatre, Syracuse, NY – February 22, 2001
Set 1: In the Wee Wee Hours [1], Push On ‘Til the Day > Tube Top Flop, Ether Sunday, Mozambique, Gotta Jibboo, Burlap Sack and Pumps, Guyute [2]
Set 2: Rainy Day Women #12 & 35[1], Sand, It Makes No Difference, Mellow Mood[1], Happy Coffee Song [3], Nothing But an ‘E’ Thing[3], At the Gazebo [4], Drifting
Encore: Will It Go Round in Circles
[1] TAB debut. [2] Trey solo acoustic. [3] Debut. [4] Trey acoustic. This show at the Landmark Theatre features the debuts of Happy Coffee Song and Nothing But an ‘E’ Thing, and the Trey Anastasio Band debuts of In the Wee Wee Hours, Rainy Day Women #12 and 35, and Mellow Mood. Gotta Jibboo contained Burlap Sack and Pumps teases. Trey performed Guyute solo acoustic. The Happy Coffee Song was dedicated to sound engineer Paul Languedoc. At the Gazebo also featured Trey acoustic.
After the show, fans headed out into the cold night around Downtown Syracuse, with plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from. Over at Armory High (also known as Styleen’s Rhythm Palace) Strangefolk was playing a post-show to a packed crowd. Trey stopped by around 12:15-12:30am, and joined the band for a jam in the song “Neighbor” before taking off. Give a listen hereand read below for Strangefolk guitarist Jon Trafton as he recalls the night.
That was such a fun night. The story behind Trey’s sit in is that a good friend of ours was Trey’s daughters’ nanny for several years around that time, and she put the bug in his ear leading up to that night. TAB was playing in Syracuse and the timing worked out perfectly because he was in a theater, so his show ended around 11 pm. We were in a bar with a 1 or 2 am curfew so it just lined up. We knew he might come by, but it was one of those things where we weren’t expecting it to happen. It was cool to look up mid-song and see him standing by the side door. I think we were already into our song “Neighbor,” which has a nice open jam section, so I waved him on. (Guitarist Luke) Patchen graciously switched to acoustic so Trey could play his Fender Strat, and off we went. My recall of it was that we stayed in kind of a mellow groove. I was sort of hoping we would launch into the stratosphere but we had a nice little floaty thing going for a little while. Then, just like he appeared, he was off again into the night.
Jon Trafton, Strangefolk
Strangefolk guitarist Luke Patchen Montgomery performing at Armory High, February 22, 2001. Photo/clipping via The Daily Orange
Although Trey was only on stage with Strangefolk for a few minutes, the memory and record of that night is one fans and band members alike have not forgotten. After the jam in “Neighbor,” Strangefolk worked into a “Norwegian Wood” jam, as Trafton puts it, “a way of saying, ‘Wow, that happened, and now he’s gone, this bird has flown.’” That tip of the hat from Strangefolk saw Trey take off into the night and head downstate for the next night’s show at Roseland Ballroom in New York City.
