NYS Music 202​1

Category: NYC Metro

  • Space Bacon Releases Debut Album ‘CONE’

    Brooklyn-based four-piece band Space Bacon released their debut album, CONE, on June 11. CONE features 16 original instrumental tracks and blends rock and jam-band influences with an electronic flare.

    Space Bacon

    Space Bacon is made up of Sam Crespo on drums, Chris Gironda on keyboards, Kevin LeGall on bass and Jack Willard on guitar. The band previously came out with their Nodes EP in 2016. CONE‘s recording process was split between Sabella Recording Studio in Roslyn Heights, NY and also with the help of Alfred Rylands in Wilmington, VT.

    CONE features fan favorites such as “Ice Planet”, “Cloud Coast”, and “Heatseeker” as well as deeper cuts from their catalogue, reworked songs from their early years, and never before heard interludes.

    Space Bacon Press Team

    On CONE, tracks like “Cone” and “Throwing Shade” open with undeniable rock-n-roll guitar riffs. The riff on “Throwing Shade” even emulates a pop punk sound similar to 2000s-era hits like “The Middle” by Jimmy Eats World.

    Space Bacon

    The band’s electronica-inspired grooves stand out on tracks like “Satellite,” “Lodge” and “Triangulation” with airy synths and reverb-heavy background sounds. Though the electronic influences stand strong, there is simultaneously a fun and energetic jam-band energy woven throughout the album. Since CONE is entirely instrumental, Space Bacon’s strength as a band is able to shine and they certainly dive into a funky rhythm.

    Space Bacon recently celebrated the release of CONE with two sold out performances at the Safe and Soundz Music Festival in the Catskills. Be sure to look out for more shows and connect with Space Bacon on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and their website. CONE is available to stream on all platforms.

  • Museum of Jewish Heritage presents ‘Music Of The Jewish Diaspora’ Concert Series this Summer

    The Summer Concert Series ‘Music of the Jewish Diaspora’ at the Museum of Jewish Heritage will move from Wagner Park to the museum’s indoor Edmond J. Safra Hall.

    Music Of The Jewish Diaspora
    Museum of Jewish Heritage

    The event, which starts at 6:30 PM ET has already sold out (due to limited capacity in the theatre) but will be presented via livestream on the Museum’s website and Facebook page for audiences unable to attend. You can stream it here.

    The series continues outdoors on Thursday, June 24, at 6:30 PM (ET) in Wagner Park with The Beary Brothers Featuring Psoy Korolenko, Zisl Slepovitch, And Ilya Shneyveys. The eclectic trio explore a diverse background of cultures, musical styles, and languages, from Russia to the Maghreb, as well as Renaissance music to modern.

    The next installment of the Music of the Jewish Diaspora takes place on Sunday, July 11, at 3:30 PM (ET) with The Noga Band Featuring Avram Pengas. New York musician Avram Pengas is a virtuoso guitarist and singer whose music is rooted in the Mediterranean tavernas of Athens. His career began in Athens performing in clubs, leading to his arrival in New York City in 1970. A popular performer in the local Greek, Sephardic, and Mizrachi communities, Pengas and his Noga Band bring a mixture of rhythms and modes spanning Greece, Turkey, Armenia, and more.

    Tickets to the Music of the Jewish Diaspora series are free with a suggested donation. Limited tickets for in-person attendance to Sarah Aroeste with Shai Bachar: Ladino Music from Yesterday to Today will be available for $20 for the public and $10 for museum members. Tickets to attend any event virtually are $10 for the public and free for museum members.

    To find out more information about the summer concert series, visit mjhnyc.org/current-events.

  • Celebrating the Life of Tupac Shakur: What to Know about the Rap Legend

    Today marks what would have been Tupac Shakur’s 50th birthday. 25 years after his tragic death, Shakur is still relevant within pop culture as his influence has paved the waved for the generations that followed. Born, Lesane Parish Crooks, in the East Harlem Section of Manhattan, Tupac is widely recognized as one of the most influential rap artists of all time and was even named on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of 100 Greatest Artists.

    Every rapper who grew up in the Nineties owes something to Tupac. People either try to emulate him in some way, or they go in a different direction because they didn’t like what he did. But whatever you think of him, he definitely developed his own style: He didn’t sound like anyone who came before him.

    — 50 Cent

    Despite hailing from New York, Shakur’s ambitions were never rooted to the City, attending performing arts school in Baltimore, alongside Jada Pinkett, later moving out West in pursuit of his dreams as a rapper. Shakur would link up with hip hop group Digital Underground in 1991, going from dancer to roadie to band member. Much of his early solo work was produced by Shock G, Digital underground’s frontman.

    Here we can see a young Tupac Shakur performing live on the Arsenio Hall Show alongside Shock G during the height of the group’s popularity, serving on backup dancer duty.

    Shakur was placed in the center of the East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry in the mid-1990’s. On November 30, 1994, after arriving at the world-renowned Quad Studios for a recording session, Tupac was ambushed by a group of stick up kids looking to relieve the rapper of his jewelry. Shakur shot himself in the groin while reaching for a gun to protect himself. The Notorious B.I.G. and Puff Daddy were at Quad Studios at the time of the attack. Tupac subsequently blamed them for setting him up, and thus began the rivalry that would eventually prove fatal to both sides.

    Shakur’s parents had been active Black Panther Party members in New York in the late 1960s and early 1970s. A month before Tupac’s birth, his mother Afeni was tried in New York City as part of the Panther 21 criminal trial.

    Watch How Tupac Influenced the popular book, The Hate You Give

    Tupac’s first stage name was MC New York, in 1989. Shakur’s discography includes eleven albums, seven of which were posthumously released. Greatest Hits, a collection of Tupac’s most popular songs is currently the best selling rap-compilation album of all time

    Watch Tupac And Biggie Preform in Brooklyn

    Tupac is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, selling over 75 million records worldwide. In 2002, he was inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame. In 2017, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the first year he was eligible.

    Watch Tupac Roam the Streets of NYC

    During Shakur’s film career, he starred in the movie Juice, which was written and shot in NYC.

    25 years after his death, Tupac and his music is still a significant impact in our society. Tupac’s birthday is celebrated by hip hop and music lovers worldwide.

    On September 7, 1996, Tupac Shakur was fatally shot after leaving a boxing match at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. At approximately 11:15 pm, a white Cadillac pulled up next to the BMW sedan that was escorting Tupac and fired several shots. Shakur was hit four times and the driver — Death Row head honcho, Suge Knight — had a bullet lodged in his head. Shakur remained on life support for six days after his shooting. Eventually passing on September 13, 1996.

    Whats your favorite Tupac Song? Let us know in the comments below.

    Fans can celebrate Tupac’s career by listening to his music here on Spotify.

  • The Strokes reopen Irving Plaza with Benefit for Maya Wiley

    Irving Plaza reopened on Saturday, June 12 with a performance by The Strokes in front of a fully vaccinated crowd, in support of Maya Wiley’s campaign for Mayor of New York City.

    John Mulaney started the night with a stand-up, not far from his run of sold-out City Winery show. Wiley and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez both spoke from the stage prior to The Strokes set.

    the strokes irving plaza
    photo via The Strokes Twitter

    Guitarist Nick Valensi was unable to make the show, and had Longwave’s Steve Schlitz fill in for the night. Dev Hynes from Blood Orange joined The Strokes for “One Way Trigger” amid a 16-song setlist that spanned the group’s discography. Check out videos from the night below.

    the strokes irving plaza
    photo via The Strokes Twitter
    photo via Maya Wiley Twitter

    The Strokes – Irving Plaza, NYC – June 12, 2021

    Setlist: Juicebox Someday, The Adults Are Talking, One Way Trigger (w/ Blood Orange), You Only Live Once, Hard to Explain, Ize of the World, The Modern Age, 12:51, Is This It, Bad Decisions, Take It or Leave It

    Encore: Automatic Stop, Last Nite, Ode to the Mets, Reptilia

  • Flushing Town Hall Announces First in Person Event Since COVID-19

    Flushing Town Hall announced their first in person event since the onset of COVID-19 in March of 2020 that will have a 42 person capacity. The event will host the Queens Jazz Orchestra Ensemble on Friday, June 18 at 7PM EST for a live tribute to the late NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath.

    NEA Jazz Master and former Music Director of Flushing Town Hall’s Queens Jazz Orchestra Jimmy Heath passed away on January 19, 2020 at the age of 93, he passed the baton to his protégé Antonio Hart. This event is in honor of Jimmy Heath and his legacy. The Queens Jazz Orchestra Ensemble performing at Flushing Town Hall for this event and is comprised of six amazing musicians who all had a personal connection to Master Heath and are celebrating his legacy:  Antonio Hart who is the Leader and Saxophonist, Freddie Hendrix on Trumpet, Steve Davis on Trombone, Jeb Patton on Piano, David Wong on Acoustic Bass, Vince Ector on Drums. 

    This will be the first small live audience at Flushing Town Hall since March of 2020 with the onset of Covid-19. The event will observe Covid-19 safety measures that include mask requirements and social distancing. The concert will be simultaneously live streamed for a virtual audience at home for those who can’t make it in person. 

    Antonio Hart spoke about the event saying, “Due to Covid, the Queens Jazz Orchestra has not been able to perform together, but I am delighted to bring a smaller unit of members of the ensemble to Flushing Town Hall to celebrate Master Heath.”

    The event is also in honor of Flushing Town Hall’s 42nd anniversary, 42 in-person tickets are available ($15/$12 members), and unlimited virtual tickets ($10/$7 members) for audiences at home. All tickets can be purchased online here: flushingtownhall.org. Details about the logistics and safety requirements, including mask wearing and social distancing, to attend the event in-person are posted on the here.

    For more information on the event visit Flushing Town Hall’s website. 

  • New York City Opera to Perform in Bryant Park for Pride Month

    Bryant Park Picnic Performances season of free, ticketed live performances continues on June 18 at 7 pm with New York City Opera and Pride in the Park, a celebration of LGBTQ culture and excellence on the occasion of Pride Month in NYC. The evening of performances will be sung by a quartet of stars from City Opera’s Pride Series.

    New york city opera
    Photo Credit: Angelito Jusay

    New York City Opera’s annual LGBTQ Pride concert will feature a diverse program of selections from opera and musical theater. They will close this performance with a special new arrangement of the finale from Stonewall, Iain Bell, and Mark Campbell’s opera which was commissioned by NYCO and given its world premiere in 2019.

    For anyone unable to attend in person, a free live stream broadcast of this selection of classic opera and contemporary theater will be available nationwide via Bryant Park’s website and social media platforms.

    Vaccinated or negative-tested audience members will be able to attend the performance live. Vaccinated audience members will be offered open seating on the world-famous Bryant Park Lawn with ample space to distance themselves. In line with current CDC and New York State guidelines, attendees may remove masks at their own discretion once within the fully vaccinated areas of the lawn. Once it is the perfect place to bring a blanket to sit on to enjoy the performance or one of the many park chairs.

    Attendees presenting a negative COVID-19 test will be seated in a separate, socially distanced section with masks required. Although there will be food purchases from vendors there you can also bring your own food.

    Although this is a free event tickets are still needed and can be acquired at bryantpark.org/picnics.

  • Augmented Reality Concert Experience Announced by New York Philharmonic’s Very Young Composer’s Program and Chromic Duo

    Augmented reality concert experience was announced by New York Philharmonic’s Very Young Composer’s Program and Chromic Duo. The project is titled  “Emerald Futures” and is starting on July 2, 2021. 

    New York Philharmonic Very Young Composers Program is a afterschool program through the School Partnership Program for grades 7-10, the Very Young Composer’s Program exposes students to the instruments of the orchestra, nurtures their inherent creativity, and culminates with original works performed by members of the Philharmonic.

    Chromic Duo are an award-winning electronic toy piano duo that brings new audiences together by creating new connections between classical music, electronics, and multimedia. They are “Tackling large issues with toy pianos.” They push the possibilities of genres and performance by recontextualizing classical music in multimedia work inspired by the multitudes as third-culture-kids discovering their voice within the vast Asian American diaspora. 

    The Chromic Duo curtsy of their website.

    How this “Emerald Futures” project will work is the performance of the original compositions from young composers ages 12-16 from the New York Philharmonic’s Very Young Composer’s Program will be mixed with a sound walk through New York City which will create this augmented experience. The augmented reality experience will be available to anyone who would like to participate via the app Gesso which will be available on iOS and Android.

    This “Emerald Futures” project will create music and storytelling experience using the walk to give listeners a multi-sensory experience while they explore the city immersing themselves in the sounds of original compositions. The scripted audio sound walk will lead listeners on a path through the city from New York’s Central Park to the Lincoln Center using a GPS trigger to create site-specific concert experiences. The experience come to a close with Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya’s “We Belong Here” mural as a moment of reflection and response to ending AAPI hate. This augmented reality concert experience will be accessible to the public at any time after it’s release on July 2, 2021. 

    “We Belong Here” mural

    The Chromic Duo is made up of Lucy Yao and Dorothy Chan. They both are first and second-generation Asian Americans themselves care greatly about reflecting and responding to ending AAPI hate that has been growing during the COVID-19 pandemic which is the reasoning behind ending the experience at the “We Belong Here” mural. 

    The duo hopes that this reflective music and narration will allow people to immerse themselves in an experience that brings to light the stories and perspectives of people and communities around them so that they can be inspired to respond based on empathy instead of biased judgment. Lucy Yao spoke about the project saying, “We also hope to inspire the young composers of this program to lean into their curiosities, and always be questioning and challenging the norms of how things came to be. We often ask ourselves, ‘how can we use music as a positive force and tool to bring people together?’ Music has the power to take your perceived biases and understanding of the world and challenge them.” 

    For more information on the “Emerald Futures” project visit the New York Philharmonic Very Young Composers website.

  • Brooklyn Duo Corbu Release “Lost & Found” EP

    Brooklyn-based electronic dream-pop duo Corbu has released their Lost & Found EP. The EP reimagines the title track with five new remixes, along with the original version.

    corbu

    Corbu, comprised of Amanda Corbu and Jonathan Graves, focuses on bringing an ethereal, even other-worldly sound to their psychedelic and ambient pop tracks. They have previously toured with Bloc Party, performed with Goldfrapp and played both Austin City Limits and Electric Forest festivals. Last year, Corfu released their debut album Crayon Soul, featuring mixing by Tame Impala and MGMT collaborator Dave Friedman.

    [Corbu is] trying to lure their audience deeper into their own subconscious while giving them something to sing along to.

    Corbu

    On the original single version of “Lost & Found”, Corbu collaborated with Doves frontman Jimi Goodwin. Goodwin produced the track and added reggae and electronic flares, creating a laid-back yet energized soundscape.

    The EP features “Lost & Found” redone five times over and explores new genres and sounds. On the “Seaside Version”, the track goes vintage and utilizes upbeat 80s synth to create a sound that could easily fit into an episode of Stranger Things. On the “JKriv Remix”, Brooklyn DJ JKriv remixed the track to fit a more booming club sound evocative of traditional house music and drum loops. The EP as a whole is perfect for the summertime.

    Check out all six tracks below and keep up with Corbu on their website, Instagram and Youtube channel!

  • Mac Sabbath Brings 2021 Pop-Up-Drive-Thru Tour to Ravenous Fans with Two Stops in New York

    Mac Sabbath is returning to the road in late August to bring America another heaping helping of unhealthy – but irresistible – Drive Thru Metal. Their 2021 Pop-Up-Drive-Thru Tour will feature The Outlaw Mariachi, Speedealer and Lung on select dates, and will make stops in Rochester and New York City.

    Mac Sabbath

    Mixing raucous comedy with borderline-horrific theatrics, Mac Sabbath is the love child of heavy metal band Black Sabbath and hamburgers. Warning about the dangers of fast food, Mac Sabbath puts on a theatrical, multimedia stage show – complete with parody lyrics, a smoking grill, laser-eyed clowns, bouncing burgers and many more surprises.

    Mac Sabbath has also recently revealed their first book, Drive Thru Metal, a pop-up book that takes fans on a journey through a dystopian fast-food world polluted by its own waste. There are two editions of the book, one being the Special Edition version, a limited version complete with a foil stamped cover, a Gris Grimly art print and “ketchup and mustard splattered” yellow and red vinyl.

    Mac Sabbath

    Both editions of Drive Thru Metal include pop-up scenes highlighting “The Factory,” “The Ascension” and “Utopia” and include a vinyl with seven Mac Sabbath musical stories, including songs “Organic Funeral,” Sweet Beef” and “N.I.B.B.L.E.” Both editions are available in limited quantities and pre-orders are available on Mac Sabbath’s merch site.

    Mac Sabbath’s “Pair-a-Buns” music video, a spoof on Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid”

    Check out the complete Mac Sabbath tour schedule below:

    8/25 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall

    8/26 – Sacramento, CA – Holy Diver

    8/28 -Portland, OR – Dante’s

    8/29 – Seattle, WA – El Corazón

    9/1 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge

    9/2 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theater

    9/3 – Wichita, KS – WAVE

    9/4 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads 

    9/7 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line

    9/8 – Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall

    9/9 – Lombard, IL – Afterlife Music Hall

    9/10 – Grand Rapids, MI – Elevation

    9/11- St. Louis, MO – Fubar

    9/12 – Louisville, KY – Zanzabar

    9/15 – Rochester, NY – The Montage Music Hall

    9/16 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge

    9/17 – New Bedford, MA – The Vault Music Hall & Pub

    9/18 – Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry

    9/19 – Washington, DC – Black Cat

    9/22 – Harrisburg, PA – Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center

    9/23 – Belle Vernon, PA – Vinoski Winery

    9/24 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom

    9/25 – Ferndale, MI – Magic Bag

    9/28 – Indianapolis, IN – HI-FI Indy & HI-FI Annex

    9/29 – Nashville, TN – EXIT/IN

    9/30 – Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle

    10/1 – Durham, NC – Motorco Music Hall

    10/2 – Wilmington, NC – 42nd Street Tavern

    10/3 – Charleston, SC – The Charleston Pour House

    10/6 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West

    10/7 – Memphis, TN – Lafayette’s Music Room

    10/8 – New Orleans, LA – Zony Mash Beer Project

    10/9 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar

    10/10 – Austin, TX – Meanwhile Brewing

    10/12 – San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger

    10/14 – Santa Fe, NM – Meow Wolf Santa Fe

    10/15 – El Paso, TX – RockHouse Bar & Grill

    11/5 – Los Angeles, CA – Teragram Ballroom

    11/6 – Las Vegas, NV – The Space

    with The Outlaw Mariachi

    with Speedealer

    with Lung

  • Deadmau5 Announces Summer Tour, Brooklyn Mirage shows

    Electronic music star Deadmau5 will be playing across the country this July on an exciting summer tour.

    Deadmau5, also known as Joel Zimmerman, has been an iconic figure in the electronic music and production song for over fifteen years. He has seven critically acclaimed albums as well as multiple Juno awards and Grammy nominations.

    Deadmau5 will be making 12 stops on this tour, including two nights at the Brooklyn Mirage on July 10 and 11. He will be showcasing his latest popular track releases at each show, including “Hypnocurrency” with REZZ, “Channel 43” with Wolfgang Gartner, “Bridged By A Lightwave” with Kiesza and “Pomegranate” with The Neptunes. He will, of course, also perform more fan favorites from his extensive catalogue.

    All tour dates are listed on the poster above. Tickets are currently on sale and can be accessed here.

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