Today, New York-based singer-songwriter sautereau, previously known under the name Cee, releases the music video for her single, “Conversation Hearts.” With a glass-half-full perspective even after global struggles this past year, “Conversation Hearts” offers a lighthearted undertone of emotions reminiscent of 90s singers Lisa Loeb and Jewel.
Born and raised in Geneva, Switzerland, Chloé Sautereau picked up her first guitar at the age of 8 and quickly began writing songs. Starting her career under the name Cee, she released her debut EP As I Keep on Dreaming in 2019 at age 18. Swiss radio featured this early project focusing on human relationships and the small perplexities of life.
Now based in New York, the singer-songwriter now goes by her surname “sautereau,” creating a truer world for herself. With a bare-face pop sound that blurs the line between reality and what goes on in our heads, she writes intimate songs about her experiences with an authentic sound, showcasing her storytelling forte. With influences such as Finneas, Julia Michaels, and Jessie Reyez, sautereau’s unapologetically honest voice is accompanied by production that is modern and crisp.
“Conversation Hearts” brings up nostalgic feelings experienced while isolated during the pandemic. The elegant and emotional video shows vignettes of sautereau playing guitar and trying to focus on everyday tasks while falling into the repetition of her daily routine.
This song is about the bittersweet realization of how fast time slipped by, while also feeling like it suddenly stopped, It’s about the frustration of not being able to do what we should have been able to do, but hopefully still acknowledge the good memories made with the few special people we were lucky to have around.
sautereau
Listeners will connect with sautereau’s longing for interaction and wanting to spend time with the world, while dealing with the loneliness we have all experienced this past year. While time seems to blend together, sautereau reminds us that there’s beauty in the little everyday tasks, and spending time with yourself while listening to what your heart wants can be therapeutic. Written by sautereau, the song has elements of bass, synth, and drums, all performed by Toby May, while she plays the guitar.
I always had a passion for writing from poems to prose. Storytelling was always there, and I think that’s around the time I put those together and fell in love with it.
sautereau
The nostalgia and honest emotion conveyed through her songwriting allows sautereau to stand out as an artist. Follow sautereau on Instagram to keep up with her exciting journey ahead.
Eddie Vedder and bandmates the Earthlings will hit the road in a series of U.S. concert dates in February 2022. The shows kick off on February 3 in New York and wrap up on February 22 in Vedder’s hometown of Seattle. Special guest Glen Hansard will open the shows.
Vedder and the Earthlings will appear at the Beacon Theatre in New York City for two nights on February 3 and February 4, and at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ, on February 6.
The Earthlings are drummer Chad Smith, keyboardist/guitarist/vocalist Josh Klinghoffer, bassist Chris Chaney, guitarist/vocalist Glen Hansard, and guitarist Andrew Watt. The newly formed group gave their live debut at Vedder’s own Ohana Festival this September.
Hansard is a singer-songwriter born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. Over the course of his career, he has released records as a member of The Frames, The Swell Season and as a solo artist under his own name. He continues to perform in all three of these outlets as time, opportunity and demand arise.
Vedder’s highly anticipated new album Earthling will be available on February 11, 2022 via Seattle Surf/Republic Records. Earthling, was produced by Grammy Award® winning producer Andrew Watt, is the first album since Vedder’s 2011 Ukulele Songs.
A presale for Ten Club members active as of November 30 will be held through Ticketmaster’s Eddie Vedder Request page. The Ten Club presale registration is open now through Sunday December 5 at 5pm PT. To learn more, please go HERE.
All public tickets will be available through Ticketmaster Verified Fan Registration. Verified Fan ticket registration is open now through Sunday December 5 at 5pm PT. To register, please visit: HERE. . There will be no general public sale.
February 3 New York, NY Beacon Theatre February 4 New York, NY Beacon Theatre February 6 Newark, NJ New Jersey Performing Arts Center February 9 Chicago, IL Auditorium Theatre February 15 El Cajon, CA The Magnolia February 17 Inglewood, CA YouTube Theater February 21 Seattle, WA Benaroya Hall February 22 Seattle, WA Benaroya Hall
On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Marco Benevento, Karina Rykman and David Butler took the Brooklyn Bowl stage for an upbeat celebration honoring induvidual self expression. The charistmatic smiles beaming from the stage reflected the jovial comradery happening down in the crowd. While the ever present bowling alley was running simultaneously to the performance, it became apparent that Marco’s gathering was happening in what some Lebowski fans might consider The Dude’s Temple.
Colorful crowd in the temple of The Dude. Photo by Em Walis
Many parallels between mindset masters Marco Benevento and The Dude existed that night. There was an overarching reminder to the revitalization that occurs whenever time has been carved to show up for something with the power to ignite minds and hearts alike. The social connection, dancing, individual expression and unexpected favorite cover all contributed towards an emotional elixer helpful in priming the system for the upcoming holiday season.
Karina Rykman, her bass, sparkle outfit, and hand made t shirt. Nothing else. Photo by Em Wals
The Dude Abides | Let It Slide
The opening tune of the night “Let It Slide” set tone for the night to be upbeat, full of personality and constantly shifting. The catchy tune and “rhythmic chordy bass” drew a lasting attention to the stage to the point where time seemed like it began to fly by. The metaphysical shift that happened with a song like this allowed for the outside world to fall away because senses were being flooded with every happy neurotransmitter imaginable. It was impactful enough to carry through the rest of the night. By letting it slide, fans were able to abide which resulted in the ability to be taken on a journey without having to think too deeply in the moment.
Photo by Em Walis
That Rug Really Tied The Room Together | The Royal Potato Family
That Rug Really Tied The Room Together | The Royal Potato Family From upstate to down south, the atmosphere was positively unified. Attendees, colorful and diverse, all shared a familial bond that clearly valued making a conscious effort in being attentive to one another. One woman from Knoxville made sure to ask everyone at the table if they would like a beverage or needed anything before she departed on her own beer run. A potato cannon firing distance away from the Fred Short Recording Studio, family and friends close to the artists stacked up to show support as if it were their kid at little leauge. Notably, Melt guitarist and vocalist Marlo and Veronica made time during the bands headlining national tour in order to show some love for their bud Karina. The collection of people both new and familiar with the music wove together in order to create a beautiful, robust rug that provided a sense of safety and joyful company. To add a little bit of adorable fringe to the experience, Marco’s wife screen printed custom t shirts in their basement specifically for the Brooklyn Bowl event. Each band member wore the shirt and Marco could be seen making funny faces at her throughout the night.
Photo By Em Walis
New Shit Has Come To Light | Heartbeats
Never once did the joy become irritating or overdone. The pure honestly in the fun being had by all in the room and gratitude felt had its roots deeply in the concept of “all things considered”. The music never commanded listeners to think or feel differently, rather, an offering of an alternative mindset to live in the moment was presented. The wildcard cover of “Heartbeats” by The Knife speaks of submission to moments of forbidden love and while beautiful, provided a nice balance of darkness to the mood. The reminder evoked inspiration to never ignore those precious moments when desire has sparked and opportunity has presenteditself.
Photo by Em Walis
The Dude Is Not In | Here To Percieve
Anyone that walked down the alley and into Brooklyn Bowl for Marco Benevento’s performance likely assumed that they would experience upbeat, genre-nomadic music. Not everyone knew the level of rejeuvination they were about to experience through music, community and an opportunity to look at the world differently. Attendees probably wore some of their most coveted and unique articles of clothing after very carefully taking into account how the material might look on the dancefloor. Little did some know, the fur vests, tie dye, geometric glasses and bold lipstick were symbollic to the loving embrace Marco’s music gives to individuality and self expression. During the recent tumultuoius times, it has become increasingly important to find out what The Dude was feeling when he laid on the rug with his headphones in.
Keeping the innter light bright. Photo By: Em Walis
You’re Out Of Your Element, Donny | At The End Or The Beginning?
For some, the start of holiday season in New York City could mean a dreamy illumination of the city, Rockefeller center and time with loved ones. For others, it could be the most difficult dark season they have experienced yet. Covid tests are flying off shelves so families can be reunited for traditions to resume. Conversely, many are faced with the tidal wave of grief pulsing with each gathering that might not include that favorite person no longer with us. Invitations have not been passed along to certain people because they have been rejected by their families opposing fiercly to welcoming LGBTQIA+ members into their household.
Social media feeds filled with family photos are a constant reminder of what we do not have or what we used to have but recently lost. The last two years on their own have contributed to an influx of loneliness and depression especially during the time of year when the sun shines least. Financial pressure to show love by spending non existant money contributes to levels of anxiety that only can be reached by a threatened sense of ability to meet societal expecations. The entire night felt like it provided family and support for anyone disheartened by the world. Hope sparked all thoughtout the night.
Photo by Em Walis
Let’s Go Bowling | Random Note
Marco Benevento’s Brooklyn Bowl performance provided a dream-like, restorative experience where the aforementioned conditions need not be the single identifier to one’s experience. It is not to encourage denial of such things but to instead focus on the things that emote joy. In Marco’s Interview over the summer, he mentioned often starting his creative process with drum machines or randomly generated notes. There was rarely an intention to use these starter tracks in the final project, but it got the ball rolling and his head in the creative space. The sounds were often silly and the instruments not particularly coveted. The lack in seriousness seemed to also help in the process and stay at minimum net netural, which for many of us could be a whole lot better compared to their current mindset. For music fans, it is important to buy the ticket and go to the show. Bringing along a friend that might have it rough this time of year would not be a bad idea. The point being, once in the environment alongside appealing sounds, sights and people, the emotional and mindful shift will automatically follow.
Photo By: Em Walis
This time of year, it is important that we take after Marco’s fans and check in with each other whether we are at a show or not. Think twice before making family brag posts and consider other ways to show your appreciation more privately in order to respect those experiencing a more fragile season. Most importantly, if you need help, not matter how embarrassing, please tell someone or call the New York Emotional Support Hotline CALL: 1-844-863-9314
Marco Benevento – Brooklyn Bowl, Williamsburg, NY – November 27, 2021
Setlist: Let It Slide, Dropkick, If I Get To See You At All, Coyote Hearing, Greenpoint, Heartbeats (The Knife), Bus Ride, The Story Of Fred Short, At The End Or The Beginning?
To learn more, check out our exclusive interview and a review of Let It Slide.
Newly inducted Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Foo Fighters will be giving the people a lot more of what they want in 2022 with an 18 show tour of amphitheaters, stadiums and festivals across North America. The tour kicks off in May in Burgettstown, PA, with Empire State shows at Citi Field in Queens on July 17 and two nights later at Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
The 2022 dates will mark Foo Fighters’ most extensive North American run since the February release of the band’s 10th album, Medicine at Midnight hailed as “brighter and more optimistic than anything they’ve ever done” (Rolling Stone)” and “one of Foo Fighters’ best albums of this century” (Wall Street Journal).
Foo Fighters 2022 North American Tour
5/14 – The Pavilion at Star Lake – Burgettstown, PA
5/20 – Coastal Credit Union Music Park – Raleigh, NC
5/24 – PNC Music Pavilion – Charlotte, NC
7/17– Citi Field – New York, NY
7/19 – Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs, NY
7/22 – Rogers Centre – Toronto, ON
7/24 – Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, PA
7/27 – Maine Savings Amphitheater – Bangor, ME
7/29 – Osheaga Festival – Montreal, QC
8/1 – Ruoff Music Center – Noblesville, IN
8/3 – Huntington Bank Stadium – Minneapolis, MN
8/6 – Empower Field at Mile High – Denver, CO
8/8 – USANA Amphitheater – Salt Lake City, UT
8/10 – Big Sky Events Arena – Big Sky, MT
8/13 – T-Mobile Park – Seattle, WA
8/18 – Banc of California Stadium – Los Angeles, CA
8/20 – Banc of California Stadium – Los Angeles, CA
Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets beginning Tuesday, November 30 at 12 p.m. ET until Thursday, December 2 at 10 p.m. local time through Citi Entertainment. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com.
For further information on Foo Fighters’ 27th anniversary tour, including special guests to be announced soon, keep an eye on foofighters.com.
Tickets will go on sale to the public on Friday, December 3rd at 10 a.m.
Originally from Hauppauge, Melanie Chirignan is a flautist known for her musicality and versatility of repertoire. Her eclectic tastes have led Melanie to collaborate with many different performers and ensembles.
Melanie earned her Bachelor’s in Music Performance and Music Education graduating magna cum laude from SUNY Fredonia and her Master’s degree in Flute Performance at the Hartt School. She has taught general music, chorus, and orchestra, and has taught every level from elementary school to conservatory level students. Melanie has taught workshops on the “Origins of South American Folk Music” through Hartford Performs, with Alturas Duo. An adjunct faculty at the College of Saint Rose, she is also a member of Quintocracy, who are artists in residence at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.
RRX: Many people take classical instrument lessons when they grow up, few pursue it, and you have. And not only have you beat the odds, you’re pretty much one of the people boosting the odds for others. How do you think you were able to beat the odds and wind up with a classical career?
MC: Wow, thank you for the huge compliment. Well, everyone that sticks with music at all has some talent, so that’s not it. I treat it like a job because it is, and I persevered and practiced a lot for many, many years. Also, I really love chamber music. Concerts are the highlight of the month, so I make sure to keep scheduling things. When I find a piece I want to play, I find the players, and create an event. I keep finding pieces I must play, and so it goes on.
RRX: You are a flautist, which for the uninitiated, means you play the flute. You also play piccolo and alto flute. I think many people, including our readers, might be hard-pressed to tell the difference between these based on sound alone. How would you describe the differences in these three instruments?
MC: The piccolo is smaller and requires much more precision than the flute. It’s like it has a smaller bullseye, and the tiniest lip movement or change in air speed will be heard. It is an octave higher and can really sing out over an entire orchestra. It’s small but mighty. The alto flute is much bigger than the flute. It has a more hollow, mellow sound than the flute. Many people like the alto flute best because they find the more diffuse tone pleasant. I like the flute best because of the bigger dynamic range (it can play louder and softer than alto flute) and I like its richness, how it has more harmonics in the sound.
RRX: You’ve played in so many places, including, but certainly not limited to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Albany Pro Musica, Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, and Proctors. If all the places you’ve played were in a lifeboat, it would sink. Describe one that has a special meaning to you.
MC: The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall is so acoustically perfect; it is literally awe-inspiring. The sensation is that the hall supports your sound and helps you play your best. This is why the hall has such an internationally known reputation. For me, I’m so thrilled to have a residency there with my wind quintet Quintocracy, and Jon Elbaum and the staff are so great to work with-those things help make it stand out as outstanding to me too.
RRX: We are used to covering the more rock ‘n’ roll side of things. And we do so because it’s not just a music, it’s a story. Insane tours, bar fights, Egos left and right. But classical is different. It seems closed off, hermetically sealed from drama. Is it? Are there adventures that go beyond the movements? Is the community just organized differently?
MC: I think for me, I try to take life’s drama and use it to play as musically as possible. I remember after my first heartbreak, my teacher told me to use those feelings to play, and we came back to Debussy’s Syrinx. Unlike pop music, classical musicians strive to never play the same phrase exactly the same. We come up with variations constantly, and so I think being attuned to the nuances that are your human emotions helps your musical expression. That being said, there is of course drama. Look at Mozart in the Jungle! Luckily, I got to be an extra in, and never experienced anything like that. Although we as classical musicians may look like we have it all together, my duo partner once forgot his pants-well his concert pants, he had jeans on.
RRX: The flute and the piccolo are woodwinds. Their drivers are breath. And unlike singing, which is basically simple to do but impossible to master, some feel that woodwinds are just impossible to do. And you’re performing for an hour or more sometimes, which makes it harder. Is there a breathing technique that makes it easier?
MC: You’re correct that the flute is a tough instrument for air usage. It wastes the most air out of all the winds because there isn’t a mouthpiece to blow into that is sealed. Air gets blown across and there is wasted air, unlike the clarinet, oboe, bassoon, or any brass instrument. However, you learn to be efficient with your embouchure (the shape of your mouth), and with your air. I think if you’re used to practicing for a couple of hours a day, then you just get used to the breathing, you’re trained for it and have that endurance built up. I think practicing yoga has helped me with body awareness and breathing. Since I’m small, I make sure my cardio game is strong, which also helps my flute playing. I remember my undergrad teacher telling me she started running a few months before having to play the Neilson concerto to build up her lung capacity.
RRX: You teach as an adjunct professor at Saint Rose, and privately. And you teach all levels, from elementary school to conservatory level students. When I hear “conservatory” I think, are there named levels of learning? What does a conservatory student learn that’s different from a student just below that level? Is it just gradual?
MC: A conservatory is different from a liberal arts education in that you’re only learning music. My extraordinary high school flute teacher, Michelle LaPorte, convinced me that I should go for a liberal arts education so that I would be a more well-rounded person. The idea is that being well-rounded would be reflected in your artistry as a more engaged, fulfilled listening experience. I think she was right, but I did go to a conservatory for my master’s degree to fine-tune my playing.
RRX: This is where you answer the question I didn’t ask. Longest breath? Pied piper’s type of flute? Educate, enlighten, emote – the floor is yours.
MC: We keep hearing that classical music is dying, but it’s not. It’s just being re-birthed in different, more creative ways. Groupmuse for instance, is an organization that facilitates people to have BYOB chamber music house concerts. It has launched and is thriving in many cities as well as internationally. Also, I think with more awareness, women composers and black composers that weren’t previously published or brought into the classical canon are beginning to. I think there’s some great changes ahead.
For more info on Melanie Chirignan and to subscribe to her mailing list, visit MelanieChirignan.org
Grammy Award winning duo Twenty One Pilots have announced “The Icy Tour 2022,” which will find the band headlining arenas across North America next summer, including a stop at Madison Square Garden on August 23 andthe new UBS Arena in Belmont Park on August 24.
The coast-to-coast 23-city outing will kick off on August 18th in St. Paul, MN and make stops in New York City, Toronto, Nashville, Anaheim, and more before wrapping up with a performance at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena on September 24th.
Twenty One Pilots quietly emerged as one of the most successful bands of the 21st century and redefined the sound of a generation. After billions of streams and dozens of multi-Platinum certifications around the world, the history-making Columbus, OH duo—Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun—ascended to a creative and critical high watermark on their new full-length album, Scaled And Icy. The album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top “Rock Albums” and “Alternative Albums” charts, while landing at No. 3 on the “Billboard 200,” marking the biggest opening week for a rock album in 2021.
In celebration of the upcoming tour, Twenty One Pilots have also surprise released a digital deluxe version of their acclaimed new album, Scaled And Icy. Scaled And Icy (Livestream Version) includes never before released performances of fan favorite tracks from the group’s pioneering global streaming event, “Twenty One Pilots – Livestream Experience”.
Written and largely produced by Tyler Joseph in isolation over the course of the past year at his home studio, with Dun engineering the album’s drums from across the country, Scaled And Icy is the product of long-distance virtual sessions and finds the duo processing their upended routines along with the prevailing emotions of 2020 – anxiety, loneliness, boredom, and doubt. The duo had to forgo their normal studio sessions but reached a new of level of introspection in the process, adopting a more imaginative and bold approach to their songwriting. The result is a collection of songs that push forward through setbacks and focus on the possibilities worth remembering. Scaled And Icy is Twenty One Pilots’ first studio album in three years and follows their RIAA Platinum certified LP, Trench.
Twenty One Pilots “The Icy Tour 2022”
Aug 18 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
Aug 20 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
Aug 21 – Cincinnati, OH – Heritage Bank Center
Aug 23 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Aug 24 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena
Aug 26 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
Aug 27 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Aug 30 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Canadian multi-instrumentalist and producer Caribou (a.k.a. Dan Snaith) made his way to New York this past weekend for three shows over two days at Brooklyn Steel. Sandwiched in the middle of a 20-night run of another electro-rock band at the venue, these Caribou concerts were two years in the making. Originally scheduled for March of 2020, the Caribou shows were some of the first to be postponed in the city due to the incoming pandemic. Snaith attested to that after the opening song, admitting to the crowd how weird it felt finally being able to play a gig planned so long ago.
Caribou at Brooklyn Steel, 11/27/21. Photo by Buscar Photo
The concert calendar right now is a very strange mix. The entire live music industry came to a halt for a year and a half; postponing or cancelling shows throughout 2020 and 2021, many of which have been rescheduled and are now in progress. On top of that, there is a backlog of tours that were being planned at the time of the pandemic, and are just now trying to be scheduled for the first time. Tickets are being sold for shows more than a year in advance. Some of these artists have released albums two years ago and are now getting their first opportunity to perform the music live. This is the case with Caribou and his fifth LP under the moniker, Suddenly. The record was released back in February 2020 on Merge Records.
“Never Come Back” off Caribou’s LP Suddenly. Via YouTube.
Caribou’s music is a bright blend of electro-house elements and indie rock. The songs are stretched out on the live stage into deep jams with distinct movements and very high energy, techno-style percussions. A heavy strobe style lighting arrangement gives off a club type atmosphere ripe for the dance floor. The concerts took place this past Saturday and Sunday, with a matinee performance Sunday afternoon before a second show later that night.
Dan Snaith (a.k.a. Caribou) at Brooklyn Steel, 11/27/21. Photo by Buscar Photo
This leg of the tour is nearing its end; Caribou plays three more shows in the Northeast leading up to a set at Mexico’s Trópical Festival the first weekend of December. A lengthy second leg of the tour kicks off in February and takes Caribou across the UK and Europe with some west coast and Canadian dates mixed in. Find the full tour schedule HERE. Check out NYS Music’s photos from the first show on Saturday night below.
As we find ourselves inching towards the light at the end of this pandemic, of course still hurdling over omicron, many shows have returned to in-person performances. Yet, Consider the Source will return back to a live stream performance for the debut of their album to cater to their worldwide fanbase on December 15 at 8pm EST.
Choosing a single city to debut the album would be selfish to Sourcerors from all over the world, we should consider ourselves lucky to hear the entirety of Hybrid Vol. 1 | Such As A Mule two full days before its official release. The stream will involve a unique collection of acoustic and electric instruments used on the album in a beautiful church converted venue, 5 Points Music Sanctuary in Roanoke, VA. A new single from the album will also be available this Friday December 5th.
What started as just one tour has led to a total of 15 years of traveling the globe sharing their unique style in hard to reach places evolving with a multitude of new diverse sounds gathered from each country visited. Today, CTS’ music is defined as soaked in Indian and Middle Eastern styles, but this December 17th we may hear styles from beyond where their tour has taken them to Germany, Israel, Turkey, and India. Because CTS may never subject themselves to the status-quo, this makes the band that much more intriguing where each record serves us something different every time.
Their true roots grew from the underbelly of NYC performing improvisational heavy sets. Judging from the sixth studio release You Are Literally a Metaphor or even considering the first two singles on the album “There Was Time Now” and “Rock, Flag, Eagle” their unbelievable releases are only a faint whisper of what this album can amount to. The album brings the full CTS exploration, with an additional host of instruments – Uyghur Dutar, Banjo Bass, Dabuka, Dombra, Ukulele Bass, Djembe and more. Cultural fusion might be a good descriptor for CTS, but in the end falls short in describing the power and creativity at play here.
TOUR DATES: 12.02 Putnam Place – Saratoga Springs, NY * 12.03 State Theater – Portland, ME 12.04 Higher Ground – Burlington, VT 12.05 Space Ballroom – Hamden, CT 12.09 Buffalo Iron Works – Buffalo, NY * 12.10 Brooklyn Made – Brooklyn, NY * 12.11 Sinclair – Boston, MA 12.12 Gateway City Arts – Holyoke, MA 12.15 Special Hybrid Album Release Live Stream * Supporting Moon Hooch
Buy tickets Here, $12 in advance and $15 day of show.
Scottish synth-pop trio Chvrches returned to New York this weekend with two sold out shows at Manhattan’s Terminal 5. The band is in the midst of a North American tour in support of Screen Violence, their fourth LP and first on Glassnote records. NYS Music was there to catch the first night on Friday, November 26th.
Lauren Mayberry of Chvrches at Terminal 5, 11/26/21 – Photo by Buscar Photo
One week before Chvrches’ opening night at Terminal 5, the band announced that multi-instrumentalist Iain Cook tested positive for COVID-19. Instead of postponing any shows, the band was poised to have touring and studio tech Dave Simpson as well as Lo Moon guitarist Sam Stewart step in and fill Iain’s shoes for the shows in Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburg and Columbus. Iain was able to make his comeback to Chvrches for the New York shows, receiving copious “We Miss You Iain!” chants from the crowd throughout the night.
Screen Violence single “How Not To Drown,” featured The Cure’s Robert Smith. Via YouTube
Screen Violence was released back in August but the band recently issued the expanded Screen Violence: Director’s Cut last month featuring three bonus tracks. The tour continues with a handful of east coast dates before heading west, including a show at Las Vegas’ Brooklyn Bowl on December 11th. The tour concludes a week later with a final show at the Hollywood Palladium.
On Friday, November 26th, 2021, Vermont jam act Twiddle celebrated “Frendsgiving” (the day after Thanksgiving) with a rich and impressive display of their patented hi-def shredding for a nearly sold-out Capitol Theatre venue in Port Chester, New York.
photo by Filip Zalewski
Formed in 2005, the quartet of Brook Jordan (drums), Zdenek Gubb (bass), Ryan Dempsey (Norb) (keys) and Mihali Savoulidis (guitar/vocals) have quickly ascending the ranks as one of the most buzzed about bands in the jam scene with the most popularity this side of Phish and Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. With an infusion of jazz, classical, bluegrass, funk and a heavy dose of reggae-tinged jams, Twiddle is a unique experience. It may seem an impossibility that one state would be the home of two of the greatest jam bands in the country, but Vermont can currently boast just that. Twiddle fans are very active on the “iTwiddle” Facebook Group page, which serves as a gateway for information, tickets, discussion and show details. Twiddle is seemingly always touring and pleasing their fans with a massive summer festival circuit.
photo by Filip Zalewski
Since 2004, Mihali Savoulidis has consistently elevated Twiddle to unparalleled heights on the winds of his articulately nimble six-string sorcery, genre-bending essence, and soulful vocal eloquence. The Vermont band has headlined hallowed stages in front of sold-out audiences at Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Capitol Theatre in addition to making show-stopping performances at Bonnaroo and Electric Forest and hosting their own annual Tumble Down Festival. Twiddle treats their fans with gratis live show recordings on archive.org. The band has released eight records thus far and specific critical acclaim was directed towards 2017’s Plump. The boys are also well-respected for their involvement in raising funds for their philanthropic White Lights Foundation. One can find info and merch at www.twiddlemusic.com including the most recent musical releases 10/28/21 Eugene and 10/24/21 Santa Clara!
The band has embarked on an ambitious tour this fall season with two stops at The Cap. A virtuoso, constantly showing off his songwriting prowess, Mihali has a refreshing and inspirational outlook on life and coined the phrase “relax and dream.” Having often been labeled by many as “the next Phish” for years, the band delivers a vastly different experience. The Vermont-based quartet held the last three Frendsgiving runs at the Port Chester, New York venue from 2017-2019, and each year has been chock full of surprises and epic sit-ins.
photo by Filip Zalewski
The show Friday night contained many highlights including at 8:08pm when noted troubadour and looping master, Keller Williams, took the stage for a subtle yet electrifying set which culminated with a spicy “Scarlet Begonias.’ Twiddle faced an eager and enthusiastic crowd at 9:34 and delved right into a racous “Zazu’s Flight.” The New Jersey-raised Mihali, dressed in a red tie-dyed outfit complete with tie-dyed sneakers, led the way with long and complex improvisational jams. He was like a knight in shining armor wearing a white hat. The fifteen minute high energy opener showcased each of the band member’s talents with numerous solos.
The music was buoyed by Dempsey’s intense fills and Jordan’s heavy hitting behind the kit. The crowd responded with adulation at the line “Damn I smoke a lot of weed!” The song segued into a tight “Doinkinbonk” and it was danceable until the music turned heavier with the offering of the fun, “Too Many Puppies” where Gubb took over the lead in a rare show of vocal force. There was an intense light show with lasers shooting out into the crowd at various angles and speeds. The crowd plowed through the old ditty “Amydst the Mydst” with authority playing like grizzled veterans as a cohesive unit. At times, Mihali proves to be the master of the axe and he explores new worlds using crescendo to create an effective musical peak. Keller walked out with his acoutisic, creating a fine mix with the band, for an intricate set closer of “Best Feeling.”
photo by Filip Zalewski
The classic song “Apples” opened the second set and delivered just the right tone as an impetus to get the crowd involved for another set of music. It was a lengthy inspired take on the band staple complete with a riff that was reminiscent of Phish’s “Contact.” One of the best songs on Plump is “Every Soul” and this crowd-pleasing version shared here didn’t disappoint. With Norb, adorning a hockey jersey, pounding hard on his five keyboards to lead the intense underlying groove of the tune. The crowd was in a frenzy at this point with the danceable interludes in full effect. Fan favorite and regarded by casual fans as their best song, “Lost in the Cold” ended the second set in a special way. One time child-prodigy, Brandon “Taz” Neiderauer, joined the fray on stage, trading guitar licks with Mihali as only he can adding an adrenaline rush to the proceedings. The reggae-soaked song hit a bouncing level of ecstasy for those in attendance and the band meshed well with Taz. He rejoined the boys for an electric “All Along the Watchtower” encore that would have made Hendrix proud. It was an apropos choice considering Dylan had just played the Cap 2 days before.
When asked about playing someday at the Cap in in 2014, Mihali told me, “The ultimate goal is to get the band to the next level and headline the Capitol Theatre. To get a chance to play at the Cap at some point is insane. It’s a legendary club.” Mihali had dreams and now he can relax knowing he has reached such a lofty goal. They have come a long way since 2004 when Mihali and Ryan were collaborating in their freshmen dorms at Castleton State College and then playing bars and people coming out to hear “Jamflowman” over a decade ago. Now they are bonafide superstars. Don’t forget to catch their New Years show in Worcester!
Twiddle ‘Frendsgiving’ – The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY – November 26, 2021
Set 1: Zazu’s Flight, Doinkinbonk!>Too Many Puppies>Keep Going, Amydst the Myst, Best Feeling1
Set 2: Apples > Every Soul > Apples, River Drift, The Box, Slippin’ In The Kitchen, Lost In The Cold2
Encore: All Along The Watchtower2
1 w/ Keller Williams 2 w/ Brandon “Taz” Niederauer
Twiddle ‘Frendsgiving’ – The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY – November 27, 2021 Set 1: Blueberry Tumble, GooBerry Jelly, Blueberry Tumble, Hattie’s Jam, When It Rains It Pours, Daydream Farmer1, Earned To Keep, Mildew Man, Stroganoff
Set 2: Complacent Race, Collective Pulse, The FRENDS Theme, Latin Tang, Tiny Dancer2, Brown Chicken Brown Cow3
Encore: Beethoven and Greene
1 Find Your Cloud tease 2 w/ Scott Hannay & Jake Brownstein (Eggy) 3 w/ Zazu’s Flight Reprise
