NYS Music 202​1

Category: Regions

  • Duke Bootee, Pioneer, Musician and Co-Writer of ‘The Message,’ Passes Away

    Hip Hop Legend, Edward Fletcher, known professionally as, Duke Bootee, has passed away from what has been described as “congestive heart failure.” The New Jersey native is recognized for helping pioneer consciousness and social-political messages within hip hop music, with his most famous credit being the composer of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s groundbreaking record, “The Message.”

    Duke bootee

    The year was 1982 and Fletcher – a band member for Sugar Hill Records house band – had written and produced the track that would go on to revolutionize the hip hop genre. At the time, rap music was composed of mostly party tracks, mainly anthemic records. The record known as “The Message,” was original titled “The Jungle” by Duke Bootee and a demo presented to Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, who were not ecstatic about recording the song. They felt it was too serious, wanting to mimic the sound of Sugar Hill Gang’s party song, “Rapper’s Delight.” Melle Mel was eventually convinced to record the song by label executive, Sylvia Robinson. “The Message” went on to become a turning point in rap music.

    The 1980’s were a time of great turbulence within Black communities as this singular effort and its subsequent popularity was the gateway to other rappers exploring the struggles of their neighborhoods through their music. 

    “The neighborhood I was living in, the things I saw — it was like a jungle sometimes in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Even though we lived in a nice area, I’d sit in the living room and watch things happening across the street in the park. The lyrics were sort of cinematic: I tried to hold a message up to society,” Fletcher revealed to The Guardian in 2013.

    The record’s themes of poverty, social and economic problems and overall inner-city struggle was a turning point in rap music. It legitimized the genre when it was thought of as a fad by skeptics.

    Duke Bootee

    Rolling Stone ranked “The Message” #51 on its list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and in 2012 it was named the number one song in hip-hop history. 

    After recording a singular album and starting up a label, Fletcher spent his waning years away from the music industry. He spent time teaching and being with his family. He was 69 years old. 

  • Fyütch Celebrates Historical Black Women in His New Single

    Bronx rapper, Fyütch, released a new song, “Black Women in History,” highlighting the strengths of powerful Black women on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

    Fyütch
    photo from Fyütch.com

    Fyütch is a social justice musician who uses hip-hop and visual storytelling to educate upcoming generations. He directs music and poetry workshops for K-12 students, college students and corporations. He makes music with the intent of spreading positivity through messages about fatherhood, spirituality and love.

    His distant relative, Fannie Lou Hamer, and other overlooked Black women inspired the song. The lack of representation for Black women in history was apparent when he was growing up. He only recalled learning about Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks. Fyütch felt compelled to tell their stories and in order to honor their accomplishments; he made “Black Women in History”.

    It acknowledges Black women who have made history in the past and who are currently making history in the present. It began with Civil Rights Leader, Fannie Lou Hamer, who helped Black people register to vote despite voter suppression. He mentions more Black women who have fought against voter suppression such as J Frankie Pierce who also made a school for Black girls in the 1920s; and currently, Stacey Abrams and Felicia Davis. Shirley Chisolm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, and Kamala Harris, the first woman to be elected Vice President of the United States were noted for making history as political figures. 

    The song reveals Claudette Colvin, who was 15-years-old when she refused to give up her seat on the bus, and Ida B Wells who refused to give up her seat years before Rosa Parks. Fyütch also commemorates Black women who have made history in the medical field such as Rebecca Crumpler, who is the first Black woman to get a medical degree along with Jane Hinton and Alfreda Webb, who were the first Black veterinarians. The last impactful Black woman named in the song is Dr. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett who recently helped create the COVID-19 vaccine. 

    The song doesn’t only recognize Black women in history, it features two Black women musicians. Rissi Palmer and Cheri Moon, from the children’s music band Snooknuk, collaborated with Fyütch to bring the song to life. Palmer made history as the first Black woman in 20 years to reach the Billboard country charts. Her radio show on Apple Music called Color Me Country, honors the contributions of BIPOC country singers. Cheri Moon focuses on raising social awareness for children through family music and has collaborated with Missy Elliot and Timbaland.

    “Black Women in History” gives thanks and gratitude to Black women that have made an impact, by standing up for what they believe in and for being the firsts, despite the struggles they have gone through.

  • Misty Blues Join Universal Preservation Hall for Virtual Concert

    Universal Preservation Hall will present a live-streamed concert of Misty Blues on February 12 at 8 p.m. This serves as a celebration of their 10th album, None More Blue, and over two decades together.

    Misty Blues

    After the performance of their new album, the band will perform the “Queens of the Blues” soundtrack as a Black History Month celebration. The Queens of the Blues movie shows the lives of four African-American female blues artists: Bessie Smith, Big Mama Thornton, Ruth Brown, and Koko Taylor. All four of these women made an undeniable impact on blues, jazz, and popular music throughout the twentieth century and beyond.

    All compositions on None More Blue were written during the pandemic and show the connections the band was able to maintain despite a remote environment. The album release date is February 14.

    misty blues

    Misty Blues, led by lead singer/band founder Gina Coleman, was a 2019 International Blues Challenge finalist. The band has performed original and traditional blues with hints of jazz, soul, funk and tent revival gospel since 1999. They have recorded and shared the stage with Charles Neville and opened for contemporary blues artists like Tab Benoit, John Primer, Albert Cummings and Michael Powers. The band recently earned an Independent Blues Music Award nomination for the best contemporary blues song. The band’s original recordings have wide radio airplay in the U.S. and U.K. 

    Tickets for Misty Blues are $20 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday (1/15) at Universal Preservation Hall.

  • War Orphan Look Back At Hardcore Origins In “New Core”

    Thrash/hardcore band War Orphan, featuring guitarist Rich Cipriano formally of Sick Of it All and Reach fame, drummer Dante Renzi (Reach) and vocalist David Bason (Barfbag and Lords of the Drift), have released a new single titled “New Core,” which nostalgically looks back at the bands come up in the hardcore scene.

    War Orphan

    Guitarist Richie Cipriano elaborates further on the origins behind the song:

    New Core is a song about growing up in the hardcore scene and making the decision not to leave it behind as you get older

    Richie Cipriano, War Orphan

    This song follows their recent explosive statement of a song “F*ck the NRA“, a tribute to fellow hardcore band The Exploited.

    War Orphan released their debut in 2020, the politically charged trash punk EP Closer to Death Than Life. The EP delivers as a fearless protest record that doubles down on the angst which defines the hardcore scene with a particular focus on attacking rightwing extremists and the current presidential administration. Bason channels the seething dissatisfaction with the political establishment that has lead to unrest over the past few years, seeking to tackle systemic racism with “Autonomous Zone” and a deceitful president with “Prop up the Polls,” among other topics that have never been relevant and important.

    War Orphan began when longtime friends Dante, Richie and David graduated from recording songs just to make each other laugh to taking it seriously. Singer David Bason is based in LA. Missing his New York friends, he would leave guitar player Richie Cipriano voicemails making fun of heavy metal. Richie and Dante would track record metal songs to the voicemails and send them back. Thus, was born Bloodbath and Beyond, what started a just a funny inside joke to kill time.

    Afterwards, Richie called and said he had a song they should take seriously this time. Bason was on board and the EP was tracked, mixed and master in a matter of weeks. War Orphan came about organically and their music shows it.

  • New Music from Luminous Crush featured on EQXposure

    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 from Luminous Crush, Allyson Smith and many more!

    Luminous Crush

    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.

    This week EQXPosure puts a spotlight on a variety of local artists from across the 518 and Western New England.

    The latest from Luminous Crush, “Radio Kills Zombies” has a haunting refrain with a smooth underlying groove, with imagery of the Cuba Gooding, Jr. film Radio attached. The Vermont band is fronted by Laura Molinelli and Ben Campbell. With Christian Heins (bass), Brad Waugaman (keyboard) and Paul Carroccio (drums), they form a quintet that focuses on original dreamlike pop and rock vignettes. Their music has been hailed as “fearless and original” by Dan Bolles, music editor at Seven Days.

    https://soundcloud.com/luminous-crush/radio-kills-zombies

    Allyson Smith a singer-songwriter from Albany has recently released “The Waves.” Her songs weave together inner and outer worlds by juxtaposing emotional and spiritual experiences with keen environmental observations. The Collaborative Magazine boasts of Smith having “powerful songwriting, full of goose-bump raising lines and beautifully dark imagery.”

    You’ll also catch brand new songs from Jade Relics’ freshly released collaboration between Elder Orange, Iame, and Rico James “With You,” United Crates/The Vinylcologist, Older Zealous AKA OJ, “Vodka and Polar,” and a new release from the Bathrobe Robots, “Alt-War.”

    EQXposure will start the evening with two songs in a row for an hour from Ferriday, Dryer, Postage, Fine Grain, Laveda, Bear Grass , Victory Soul Orchestra and TIP the Band.

  • Disco Biscuits to Livestream from Ardmore Music Hall

    For their first live performances of 2021, the Disco Biscuits have announced a live, two-night run that will be livestreamed from Ardmore Music Hall.

    Friday, February 5 and Saturday, February 6 will be the first live performances from the Philadelphia jam titans in 2021, and the first time the Disco Biscuits play the independent venue in Ardmore, PA.

    Both live shows will be broadcast for free via ​Ardmore Music Hall’s YouTube channel​ & streaming partners ​nugs.tv. Tips for the band & venue staff are encouraged. Event merchandise and VIP ticketing are also available, which includes a signed custom foil poster, virtual soundcheck access, & both nights of audio recordings. 

    Ardmore Music Hall will welcome a very limited, socially-distanced & masked audience of 20 guests per night. Fans can enter ​the “Golden Ticket” Raffles & Silent Auctions for a chance to win tickets to each respective show. At the conclusion of each of the raffle drawings, a handful of winners will receive a pair of tickets per show, and an online silent auction for additional pairs of tickets will go live. 

    All guests will be required to produce negative COVID-19 test results before confirming their attendance. Additionally, the venue will uphold all safety guidelines and protocols mandated by local governance, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the CDC. More details can be found on the event page below.

    February 5 – The Disco Biscuits: Tickets for Friday Show

    February 6 – The Disco Biscuits: Tickets for Saturday Show

  • Organ Fairchild Release Debut Single “Seepin’”

    January 15, 2021 marks the release of the single, “Seepin’,” from long-time Buffalo jam band veterans Organ Fairchild. While the members of the band have a history on the jam scene dating back 40 years, this is the first original music from the trio.

    Organ Fairchild formed last winter and their debut performance came just before COVID-19 hit the world. Undeterred, the band performed outdoor shows, creating a buzz in Buffalo that was palpable. I caught wind of the band from Buffalo-area friends that saw them perform from a house while fans sat across the road in a socially distanced way. Whatever it takes to get the music out there.

    organ fairchild

    Cited by The Buffalo News as “an incredibly hot new Buffalo band,” Organ Fairchild’s “Seepin’” precedes a full-length album tentatively scheduled for release in May of 2021. The single was mixed by Corey Kertzie (drums and percussion) and Dave Ruch (guitar) and mastered by Alan Evans of Soulive. 

    “Seepin’” features a groovy, funky feel that is right at home in the jam music genre. Joe Bellanti’s soaring organs and keyboard work are transportive. All three members of Organ Fairchild have such a great feel for each other, indicative of their many years experience that most new groups rarely find right away. 

    As the music industry recovers from the setbacks from Covid, keep your eyes out for Organ Fairchild. They’ll be jamming and you’ll be dancing and smiling.

    “Seepin’” is available on all major platforms – Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple, Amazon and YouTube.

  • Governors Ball Music Festival Announces 2021 Dates

    Governors Ball Music Festival announced it’s 2021 dates tentatively scheduling its 2021 edition for September 24-26. The festival generally takes place in June but is optimistically hoping by September that COVID-19 will be under wraps enough for the festival to take place. 

    The Governors Ball is a widely known and loved festival that takes place in Randall’s Island in New York City. Usually it has an attendance of sound 150,000 people and takes across four stages and over 70 acts. There is also a food program that is part of the festivities and it features the City’s best eats and highlights its incredible culinary diversity. It also hosts visual art, beverages, art installations, statues, high flying inflatables, and pop up performances.

    Organizers of the festival released a statement saying that, “We’ve decided to move the 2021 show to a time of year that is both more realistic and safer for all and while there are still question marks and unknowns in the World, rest assured that we are working closely with City and State authorities to ensure that the next Gov Ball will be a safe and amazing experience. We’ll be back to our regular June dates starting in 2022.”

    There isn’t a lot of information on the 2021 version of Governors Ball but there is some on their website. The lineup will not be the same lineup as the cancelled 2020 festival lineup. They haven’t announced who is on the lineup yet but have dropped a hint saying, “The lineup will be brand new! (Note: this is not a hint).” They are also saying the festival will return to it;s normal June dates in 2022. People who I held onto their tickets from the 2020 festival, but I can no longer make the new 2021 dates. Can I get a refund by requesting a refund for their ticket purchase but they must do so by Wednesday, January 27th at 11:59:59pm EST. If the festival doesn’t end up being feasible because of COVID-19 all tickets will be available for a refund. 

    The hope is with vaccines rolling out and many experts predicting a return to live music events in the Fall the festival will be able to take place in September. For more information on the Governors Ball and it’s new dates visit their website.

  • The State Theatre of Ithaca Announces First Ever Virtual Concert

    Amidst the ongoing pandemic, ‘virtual concerts’ have come to be a familiar set of words. Fortunately, The State Theatre of Ithaca is joining in on the trend with its first virtual concert, “Boogie for the State – A Virtual Shakedown.”

    State Theatre Virtual Concert
    Poster art for “Boogie for the State – A Virtual Shakedown.”

    On Feb. 28, The State Theatre of Ithaca will live stream their show on both their Facebook page and YouTube channel. Over a dozen local artists will perform for the concert.

    “The Boogie Shakedown” is a backyard party that local musicians organize and perform for their friends and family. From 1998 all the way up until 2020, there’s been an annual “Shakedown” that attendees are always excited about.

    “I still vividly remember attending my first Boogie Shakedown back in the late 90’s. It was the first time that I ever saw the Sim Redmond Band perform!  We were all just a bunch of kids, getting together, having fun and making incredible music.  Twenty-plus years later, I think our children look forward to The Boogie even more than the adults,” said Executive Director Doug Levine.

    Levine also states that he intends to start this year off with something people “could look forward to” after an extremely tough year.

    Much like the past “Boogies,” this virtual show will consist of seasoned artists who have performed for it in the past as well as talented new-comers. Some of the artists confirmed are Plastic Nebraska, Sim Redmond Band, Johnny Dowd, Maddy & Suave (Maddy Walsh & The Blind Spots), Mary Lorson & Billy Cote (Madder Rose), Common Railers, The Small Kings, The Rungs, Janet Batch, The Sutras, Don Bazley and The Moles.

    The State Theatre of Ithaca is a nonprofit organization that owns and operates the last remaining historic theatre in Tompkin’s County. The community annually donates contributions to keep the site alive and well. Their purpose is to preserve history and promote live music, community and performances. Just last month, they reached their goal for “Save Our Seat,” a fundraiser to help with budget concerns during these unprecedented times.

    We are excited to partner with The State Theatre to bring the Boogie back to life in 2021. Not being able to hold the Boogie last year, for the first time in 21 years, was unfortunate, and I am really looking forward to helping organize this event, even if it’s being done virtually.  The Boogie Shakedown always signified the beginning of summer, of live music festivals, outdoor gatherings with friends and family.

    said Brian Fiorello, founding organizer and host of The Boogie Shakedown.

    The State Theatre Virtual Concert starts at 7:00 p.m. and is free to anyone wishing to experience a Virtual Shakedown. The theatre promotes the show to “stay home. Tune in and boogie down.”

  • Billy Strings channels Grateful Dead ESP shows with Deja Vu Experiment

    In 1971, the Grateful Dead performed at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester over six nights – February 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, and 24. Billy Strings will present The Deja Vu Experience on FANS and The Relix Channel on those same nights, 50 years later, with a six-night livestream.

    billy strings deja vu experiement

    With a nod to those historic shows, Billy Strings will perform on these same dates as the Grateful Dead did, adding an aire of deja vu to the run of streams, in hopes of tapping into the musicianship and fearlessness that the Dead did 50 years ago.

    Much like the Dead, Billy Strings has the potential to unlock the improvisational boundaries of music and psychedelia in a familiar yet unique way.

    During the 1971 shows, the Grateful Dead conducted ESP Experiments, prompting Deadheads in the audience to focus on imagery shown by the band and telepathically send the imagery to a test subject.

    The Deja Vu Experiment is aiming to similarly tap into a sense of clairvoyance and togetherness by asking the streaming audience to use their minds to collectively “see” and send imagery to special guest receivers.

    Concerts in the age of streaming beg fans to transport their mind; to feel connected to a live performance when we cannot physically be together. This experiment is not scientifically backed, rather, a hypothesis that the collective mind has the power to tap into extrasensory perception and manifest connection.

    Tickets to February 19, 20, 21, and 23 are on sale now. February 18 + 24 are FREE on The Relix Channel, exclusively on Twitch. A portion of proceeds will benefit The Rex Foundation and Backline.