NYS Music 202​1

Category: Regions

  • AC/DC tribute Bonfire Rock the Dock in Ithaca

    The fall concert series at The Dock in Ithaca is in full “Rocktober” mode. Kevin Black presented the AC/DC tribute band Bonfire on Friday, October 15, with a very fitting “Back In Black” vibe had by the all-ages crowd. What’s more fun than a band dressing up as a musical costume during a month of Halloween celebrations? Bonfire’s ensemble is a full attraction to casinos and festivals that fit nicely on The Dock’s stage.

    AC DC Bonfire
    Photo by Out Loud Pictures

    Lead guitarist Donnie “Angus” Bottacio felt at home on the Cayuga Lake inlet venue. He is an audio-video specialist at Cornell University. This would explain the high quality production and sound levels the band put out at the Dock on Friday. Donnie made his way through the crowd while simultaneously shredding the red signature Gibson axe to make sure everyone could hear the Marshall amps like AC/DC did. Bottacio told Kat Walters on the I 100 radio station, “I do the riffs as close as humanly possible to Angus, I can’t be Angus but I try my best to celebrate his music with all the love the crowd has to come out and enjoy it.”

    AC DC Bonfire
    Photo by Out Loud Pictures

    The infamous “Hell’s Bells” opened the show in a chilling fashion. They covered all eras of AC/DC’s catalog. The five-piece band crushed 30 songs in full character. The same bagpipes from AC/DC’s studio sound were brought to life on the Dock stage by Mexico, NY’s Kevin Dano. It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll.

    AC DC Bonfire
    Photo by Out Loud Pictures

    The group’s name is attributed to the variety in AC/DC’s 1997 five CD bag set release “Bonfire”. Lead singer Steve Seniuk helped cover the Bon Scott and Brian Johnson era of AC/DC with the same bravado. Bassist Mike Del Olio and Drummer Tom Reeder were locked in like TNT Dynamite for the set. Guitarist Kenny Romer rocked an inferno-like tempo on the Dock stage for the entire performance. The audience and band came to full speed during the October classic “Highway to Hell.” Goin Down, Party time, my friends are gonna be there too, yeah, hey mama look at me…I’m on my way to the promised land… I’m on a highway to hell!

    AC DC Bonfire
    Photo by Out Loud Pictures

    On October 5, 1980 AC/DC came to Central New York’s Onondaga County War Memorial as part of their Back In Black Tour. The same spirit made its way through the Dock on Friday as part of “Rocktober” 2021. Kevin Black presents similar musical costumes the rest of this month with tributes to Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, and naturally, Black Sabbath. For all other upcoming events at The Dock click here.

    “Bonfire” AC/DC Tribute – The Dock, Ithaca, NY – October 15 2021
    Setlist: Hell’s Bells, Shoot to Thrill, Dog a Bone, Dirty Deeds, Girls got Rhythm, Get it Hot, If You Want Blood, Money Talks, Sin City, Jailbreak, Demon Fire, Pollution, Long Way (with bag pipes), Thunderstruck, Back in Black, Shook Me, Have a Drink, Money Honey, Shake a Leg, TNT, Rosie, Bad Boy Boogie, The Jack, Big Balls, Highway to Hell, For Those About to Rock, Let There be Rock
    Encore: Night Prowler, Walk All Over You, High Voltage

    Photos by Out Loud Pictures


  • Artist spotlight: X.ILE from Queens

    Eccentricity can be an unsettling space to operate in. But, like most frantic states , when harnessed it can bring about thought-provoking, abstract art. Such is the case with Queens-based rapper, DJ, and producer, X.ILE (born, Xavier Maymi).

    Having shared the stage with artists such as The Chainsmokers, Meek Mill, French Montana and more, the jack-of-all-trades emcee has begun his ascension into the world of recording artists. His own solo work has garnered attention from established tastemakers. His records, “Buffalo” and “Carnota” were both featured on Eminem’s Sirius XM station Shade 45 and its flagship program Sway in The Morning, while “JAM” featured on SiriusXM HipHop Nation’s Discovery Channel.

    Beginning his career at the age of 14, he has placed himself in a position to grow as an artist with many years invested into his craft. But, in an era where all it takes is a large social media following to get a record contract, he hasn’t stagnated, taking the old-school route of self-improvement and variation to achieving his goals. His resourcefulness when it comes to his music videos (which aren’t high budget but remain action packed), is a testament to his dedication to the craft of being an entertainer. Many artists drop a record and hope for the best, X.ILE is looking to tell a story through his music and visuals are a big part of that process.

    Unafraid to foster an environment where all genres can coexist throughout his music, X.ILE does not rely on flashiness, nor tall tales of grand living. Much like his diversified sound, X.ILE’s appeal comes from the many ways he can impact a listener. Even if you’re not a fan of his rapping, you’re sure to enjoy his well-thought out, over-the-top visuals, which tend to look like controlled chaos. If not, then his production might get you.  

    His latest record, “BLEACH,” perfectly encapsulates his artistry. The record itself feels oxymoronic, beginning with a simple acoustic guitar before all hell breaking loose. Featuring different voice inflections, various flows, drum patterns and instrumentation. It can feel like a lot is going on, until realizing the anarchy throughout the production reflects the record itself, as he ties it all in with a music video equally full of pandemonium. 

    The serenity at the beginning of the record can be interpreted as the calm before the storm that is life. Filmed in the woods, X.ILE is seen in a serene environment holding just an acoustic guitar and a bottle of bleach. He then goes into a solemn spiel about how his need to be liked consumes him, more so than money, fame and even his rent. After taking a swig of the bleach, utter musical and visual chaos ensues, before returning to the same woods bloodied with his guitar broken. X.ILE takes another chug of the germicide, insinuating that after all the heartache and chaos, all we want is for our troubles to evaporate, which is what the bleach seems to represent. Now, bleach can’t get rid of anyone’s troubles, but as a fatal chemical, to some, it may be one-in-the-same. 

  • IDLES Make Themselves At Home for Two-Night Run at Terminal 5

    British punk outfit IDLES made an explosive return to Manhattan’s Terminal 5 this past weekend for two shows in support of their yet to be released fourth LP, Crawler. The band last played the venue two years ago in October as part of an extended touring cycle under their breakthrough record Joy As An Act Of Resistance. On night two of the run, front man Joe Talbot told the audience that playing at Terminal 5 “felt like playing at home” and they could not wait to make their return once the pandemic receded.

    IDLES terminal 5
    IDLES at Terminal 5, 10/16/21. Photo by BuscarPhoto

    Everything about an IDLES show is all about the fans and the appreciation the band has for them. Talbot explained during the show that the energy they feel from the crowd allows them to truly express themselves on stage, and they return that favor in full. Fans are brought onstage to sing and drum, and constant crowd surfing and singing from the barrier railing make the connection physical. A fan was invited onstage to sing along to “I’m Scum” during night two and “Love Song” was performed with a New York medley comprised of snippets of “Empire State of Mind” and Patti Smith’s “Because The Night.”

    IDLES terminal 5
    IDLES at Terminal 5, 10/16/21. Photo by BuscarPhoto

    The setlist from each night contained three new songs, including lead single “The Beachland Ballroom” along with live debut’s of “The Wheel” and “Car Crash.” The new record, Crawler, is out on November 12, 2021 via Partisan Records. You can pre order the new record on the band’s website, and you can also see their full tour itinerary which runs across the US through November with a second UK/European leg from January – March 2022. More photos from night 2 at Terminal 5 below.

  • The 2021 Eddies Music Awards Announces Nominees and Ceremony

    The Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards or more commonly known as the Eddies Music Awards announced their 2021 nominees and ceremony date. The awards ceremony will be held at 7PM on Sunday, November 14, 2021 at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs.

    This is the second installment of the Eddies Music Awards in 2021. This group of nominees represents works done by musicians in 2020. The first installment represented works done by musicians done in 2019 and were recognized during a live broadcast from UPH this May after two postponements due to the pandemic made them unable to host the awards ceremony in 2020 as planned.  

    This year’s categories will be a little different than in previous years. Sal Prizio, Eddies co-founder and co-producer explained this saying, “About half of the categories we presented in previous years were scuttled when looking at 2020. We took a poll of judges and there was near unanimous agreement that the genre categories such as best folk artist and best hard rock artist didn’t make sense, as so much of the assessment in those categories was based on live performance.” 

    The categories this year are: Arts Publication of the Year, Arts Journalist of the Year, Radio DJ of the Year, Radio Station of the Year, Music Recording Studio of the Year, Label of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Best Presenter of Virtual Live Music Shows, and Best Live Virtual Performance(s) by an Artist – Show or Series – Covers.  

    Tickets for the Eddies Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on October 27, 2021 and the Eddies Music Awards on November 14, 2021  are now on sale here. 

    For more information the 2021 Eddies Music Awards visit their website. 

    Full list of nominations listed bellow: 

    Arts Publication of the Year 

    NYS Music 

    Preview /Times Union 

    Spot 518 

    The Xperience Monthly 

    Ticket/Daily Gazette 

    Arts Journalist of the Year 

    Steve Barnes  

    Jim Gilbert  

    Michael Hallisey  

    Indiana Nash 

    Jim Shahen Jr. 

    Liam Sweeney 

    Radio DJ of the Year 

    Wanda Fisher 

    Art Fredette 

    Andy Gregory 

    Bill McCann 

    Jeff Morad 

    Sonny Speed 

    Chris Wienk 

    Radio Station of the Year 

    RadioRadioX 

    WCDB 90.9 

    WEQX 102.7 

    WEXT 97.7, 106.1 

    WSPN 91.1 

    WVCR 88.3 

    Music Recording Studio of the Year 

    Albany Audio Associates (AAA Recording Studio C) 

    Blue Sky Recording/Mixing Studio 

    Millstone Recording Studio 

    NRS Studios Catskill 

    The Recording Company 

    Starling Studios 

    Label of the Year 

    Albany Records 

    Cacophone Records 

    Equal Vision Records 

    Flipped Out Records 

    Magnetic Eye Records 

    Upstate Records 

    Music Video of the Year 

    “Everyone’s Gone Home” – Joel Brown 

    “Moon” – Novus Cantus 

    “Skin Disease” – Craig Hamilton 

    “Ain’t Going Anywhere” – Buggy Jive 

    “Modernist” – El Modernist 

    “Sellout” – Joe Mansman and The Midnight Revival Band 

    “415” – Sydney Worthley 

    “Alone” – Zan & The Winter Folk 

    Record of the Year 

    “Hold Me” – Julia Alsarraf 

    “Everyone’s Gone Home” – Joel Brown 

    “Moz Disco” – Coupons   

    “Better off Alone” – Moriah Formica 

    “Quentin” – Gordon St. 

    “Roll Over You” – Sean Rowe 

    “Andy Warhol” – Annie Scherer 

    “A Thousand Years” – The Sea The Sea 

     “415” – Sydney Worthley 

    Album of the Year 

    “Somethin’ Comes Along” – Bright Dog Red 

    “Ain’t Going Anywhere” – Buggy Jive 

    “Back Pocket” – Dominick Campana 

    “Going Places” – Dylan Canterbury 

    “Rougher Stuff” – Dark Honey 

    “Flowers for You” – Sawyer Fredericks 

    “What Happens After” – Laveda 

    “Northeast” – Sara Milonovich & Daisycutter 

    “Stumbling Home” – The Sea The Sea 

    Songwriter of the Year 

    Julia Alsarraf 

    Dan Berggren 

    Buggy Jive 

    Jim Gaudet 

    Girl Blue 

    Michael Jerling 

    Kate McDonnell 

    Kim Cirillio Wickham 

    Best Presenter of Virtual Live Music Shows 

    Caffe Lena – “Stay Home Sessions” 

    Frank Cavone / Mirth Films 

    Freedom Park Quarantune Series 

    Mark Gamsjager / The Lustre Kings weekly Saturday night virtual shows  

    High Peaks Event Productions 

    The Linda: Open for Take-Out Virtual Concert Series 

    Best Live Virtual Performance(s) by an Artist – Show or Series – Covers 

    Rick Bedrosian 

    Mark Gamsjager 

    DJ Trumastr 

  • Watch Phil Lesh join Midnight North at The Hollow and Nectars

    Its not every day an 80 year old bassist stops in Albany to play a club show. Its not every 80 year old bassist who happens to be Phil Lesh, who, while in between shows at The Capitol Theatre, made some stops with his son Grahame’s band, Midnight North as they played in Burlington and Albany this past weekend.

    phil lesh midnight north
    photo by Frankie Cavone

    Phil has been no stranger to Midnight North shows recently, having sat in for shows in Washington, D.C., Fairfield, CT and Woodstock, as noted by Jambands.com. Phil joined Midnight North at Nectar’s on Friday night for “I Know You Rider” and “Ripple,” with Twiddle members Mihali and Ryan Dempsey joining in.

    On Saturday, as Midnight North made their way to Albany, Phil Lesh was along for the ride, and sat in with Midnight North for their original “Wine and Roses,” followed by the Grateful Dead classic, “New Speedway Boogie” with Elliot Peck taking lead on vocals. Watch the two songs below, with Video courtesy of Mirth Films

    Phil Lesh returns to the Capitol Theatre this week, October 18 – 20 with Stuart Bogie and Amy Helm join Phil on the first and last night of the run, with Eric D. Johnson, Josh Kaufman, Elliot Peck and Phil’s son Grahame set to play on the 19th. This run will also feature Joe Russo on drums and Benmont Tench on keys.

  • The Nth Power announce Fall Back in Love Tour, Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Albany

    Acclaimed soul-rock trio, The Nth Power has made some exciting additions to their already announced “Fall Back In Love Tour,” further exploring the Midwest with nine additional dates in November. The Nth Power will also be hitting the Northeast for four nights to ring in the New Year, including two night’s in Albany. The tour will be featuring the newly released studio album Reverence. 

    nth power lark hall

    The full band is filled with musicians you may already know from elsewhere, guitarist and vocalist Nick Cassarino (Jennifer Hartswick Band), bassist Nate Edgar (John Brown’s Body) and drummer and vocalist Nikki Glaspie (Beyonce).

    Their origin story started as an impromptu late-night jam during the 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The energy that Nth Power taps into is something almost sensual, spiritual, and sexy. They prove that music can be a higher power which might just be relentlessly funky and soulful. While Nth Power does transcend genre audiences hear influences from American rock, soul, funk, rhythm and blues. The latest album, Reverence offers the utmost maturity of the trio’s sound conveying messages of hope, empathy, gratitude, self-forgiveness and, above all, the universal power of love. They tap into an energy that is simultaneously sexy and spiritual, with songs that will inspire audiences to dance, groove, make love or just stand there with goosebumps.

    We’re going as far as you can go on planet Earth as musicians. We want to change the world through music – that’s the goal

    Nikki Glaspie

    Distributed by The Orchard, Reverence features guests like Kofi Burbridgeis who plays on keys and flute throughoutlike, the album itself has been dedicated to the memory of this Grammy-winning keyboardist. You may also hear renowned saxophonist Maceo Parker, vocalists Ivan Neville and Nick Daniels III of Dumpstaphunk, vocalist Cheryl Pepsii Riley and keyboardist Amy Bellamy.

    The Nth Power return to the Northeast to ring in 2022 with a trio of shows in Waterbury, VT,; Albany, and Bridgeport, CT. 

    10.22 – Placerville, CA – Hangtown Festival

    10.23 – Placerville, CA – Hangtown Festival

    10.30 – Live Oak, FL – Suwannee Hulaween

    11.4 – Ferndale, MI – Otus Supply

    11.5 – Berwyn, IL – FitzGerald’s

    11.6 – Cincinnati, OH – Fretboard Brewing Company

    11.7 – Bloomington, IN – Stable Music Hall & Lounge

    11.9 – Dayton, OH – The Brightside

    11.10 – Columbus, OH – Woodlands Tavern

    11.11 – Peoria, IL – Kenny’s Westside Pub

    11.12 – Indianapolis, IN – Mousetrap

    11.13 – Memphis, TN – Railgarten

    12.29 – Waterbury Center, VT – Zenbarn

    12.30 – Albany, NY – Lark Hall

    12.31 – Albany, NY – Lark Hall

    1.1 – Bridgeport, CT – Park City Music Hall

  • In Focus: The Struts At The Main Street Armory in Rochester

    Show-stopping, astounding, and phenomenal are just a handful of words you can use to describe The Struts, whose ‘Strange Days Are Over’ tour hit Rochester at the Main Street Armory on October 15th and the glam rock band brought the house down.

    the struts rochester
    Luke Spiller of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki

    Lead singer, Luke Spiller, is an electrifying showman. Luke nailed every single note of every single song as the energy kept up. He ran back and forth and eventually had to remove his shirt, which naturally sent the fans into a frenzy. Accompanying Spiller was Adam Slack on the Jed Elliott on the bass, and Gethin Davies on the drums.

    the struts rochester
    Fans of The Struts packed the Main Street Armory. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki

    Each musician brought their own personality. This mixed with a killer performance and the die-hard fans that knew every word created an atmosphere that was intoxicating in the best way possible.

    If you ever have the chance to see this band, don’t walk, strut.

    Setlist: Primadonna Like Me, Body Talks, Kiss This, I Hate How Much I Love You, Fire, One Night Only, Dirty Sexy Money, Low Key In Love, Mary Go Round, Medley, Am I Talking To The Champagne (Or Am I Talking To You), Wild Child, I Do It So Well.

    Encore: Strange Days, It Could’ve Been Me

    • Luke Spiller of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
    • Adam Slack of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
    • Jed Elliott of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
    • Gethin Davies of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
    • Luke Spiller of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
    • Adam Slack of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
    • Jed Elliott of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
    • Luke Spiller of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
    • Adam Slack of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
    • Luke Spiller of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki

  • Play it Leo! Leo Kottke Returns to Center for the Arts in Homer

    Play it Leo! Kottke that is. Leo Kottke returned to Homer Center for the Arts on Saturday, October 16. This solo acoustic performance, his last Upstate New York show since April 2018 at The Clayton Opera House comes ahead of the three dates scheduled with Mike Gordon of Phish in the Empire State this December. During 2020 the duo released their first record Noon in over fifteen years. So it was fitting for Leo to open the show with “From Pizza Towers to Defeat” at Homer Center for the Arts, a song written by the duo from their 2002 album Clone.

    John McConnell , Leo Kottke, Clayton Opera House April 2018

    You wouldn’t have seen a tour bus outside the Homer Center for the Arts on Saturday night. Leo Kottke’s solo tour traveling rig is simple, and very reminiscent of Chuck Berry when he showed up at the venue driving himself with two guitars and a steel slide in tow. Leo deals with venue staff directly and settles up on his own with no tour manager. Mike Gordon of Phish told Rolling Stone “Hes like this American treasure living in his own bubble. He’ll travel the country listening to Lone Ranger series from the 1950’s in its entirety in the car.”

    Leo Kottke, Center for the Arts Homer , October 2021

    Leo’s stories from traveling this great country were weaved in to his ninety minute set on the intimate Homer stage. Outside the venue was a local haunted attraction in its 39th year that gave the performance a vibe of Phish’s interpretation of Disney’s Chilling, Thrilling, Sounds of the Haunted House.

    Although Leo didn’t tell the crowd about his most recent studio release with Phish’s bassist, instead he told them about the first drummer he has ever collaborated with in 60 years:

    I’m having a ball doing this with David King of the band Bad Plus. It’s a nice cocktail kit, he doesn’t come in with this Keith Moon suicide drowning thing. We go in the studio and start making shit up, the only thing Dave doesn’t like is when I stop. It’s a great attitude to be around, a little dangerous as I will demonstrate now.

    Leo Kottke

    He told the crowd of American modernist composer Charles Ives and his struggles to get his work out. Overtime he hired Burlesque dancers to enhance attention on his Concord Sinata 2. After becoming acknowledged for his work someone told Ives over time, “I can tell its good music but it doesn’t sound very good” to which Ives replied “What,s sound got to do with music?”

    Leo’s point on it was that its a privilege to be able to play and if you have a chance to play. You don’t get to pick where you play and if you want people to hear what your doing and can’t find a crowd hire a burlesque orchestra to get some clout. “I mean its a privilege all around that it ever even happens in any faint way for you…but if there are people that want to listen your stuck with a privilege beyond luck, it becomes a thing itself”

    The audience chuckled as Kottke told them that he has played prisons, hospitals, schools and claimed they are all the same. For Kottke, The Center for the Arts in Homer counts as a 150 year old church gig. Leo admitted to playing a library opening in the past five years to a fellow musician friend due to his complaining that he has been subject to pizza parlor gigs. Defeat the pizza towers, “Play Anywhere,” Kottke told the crowd.

    You also won’t find a setlist after Leo’s performance either. The same fashion in which he entered he chose to exit and play through the encore “So we could all leave at the same time.” He finished the show with the classic piece “Corrina,” walking off the stage with both guitars in hand. New York’s legendary Pete Seeger called Kottke “The Best 12 string player in the world.”

    In December when Kottke returns to New York State with jamband giant Mike Gordon, expect the same kind of sharpness at the performance. Even though Leo has seen Phish on New Years Eve at Madison Square Garden, Mike Gordon recalled a tale from the road during their last tour when he put on a Grateful Dead jam to listen to in which Leo replied “OK, that’ll be enough of that.”

    Leo Kottke and Mike Gordon December 2021 Tour Dates

    December 8 – Munhall, PA – Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
    December 9 – Washington, DC – Sixth & I
    December 10 – Tarrytown, NY – Tarrytown Music Hall
    December 12 – Beverly, MA – The Cabot
    December 13 – Lebanon, NH – Lebanon Opera House *
    December 15 – Troy, NY – Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
    December 16 – Norwalk, CT – Wall Street Theater
    December 17 – York, PA – Appell Center for the Performing Arts
    December 19 – Plattsburgh, NY – Strand Center for the Arts

  • Todd Rundgren Returns to Woodstock For Rehearsals

    Todd Rundgren has quietly returned to Woodstock’s Utopia Studios Soundstage to begin rehearsals for his “The Individual, the Star” U.S. tour. The legendary multi-instrumentalist received a reported “quiet hero’s welcome” as he returned to the area ahead of his induction into the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame at the end of October. 

    Rundgren’s Woodstock Roots

    todd rundgren
    Todd Rundgren with Bearsville Theater owner Lizzie Vann

    Rundgren, also known for his work with the band Utopia, created the soundstage at Bearsville Theater Complex himself. He commissioned the project for an “innovative video studio” back in 1979, and filmed the video for his single “Time Heals” there. The video would go on to be the second video ever broadcast on MTV. Over the years, the studio has served as a home for many music-related businesses, including Radio Woodstock. 

    Rundgren made sure to take breaks from rehearsal during his week-long visit. While in town, Rundgren also attended the Woodstock Film Festival for a screening of the documentary Fanny: The Right To Rock. Rundgren himself appears in the documentary, which was screened at the Bearsville Theater. 

    A Wizard, A True Star

    Rundgren’s current tour celebrates his monumental 1973 album, A Wizard, A True Star. Rundgren found inspiration for the project, and a changing point of view, in experimentation with psychedelic drugs in his mid-20s. “I became more aware,” Rundgren once said of making the album, “Of what music and sounds were like in my internal environment, and how different that was from the music I had been making.” Rundgren described the 19-track LP as a hallucinogenic “flight plan.” 

    Though at the time A Wizard, A True Star isolated much of Rundgren’s audience, it received widespread critical acclaim, and has been recognized in later years for its influence on lo-fi bedroom musicians. Even Frank Ocean sampled synths from the project on his own historic contribution to lo-fi, 2016s Blonde. 

    Rundgren kicked off his The Individual, The Star Tour on October 1st in Boston. He played three dates at the beginning of October in New York, all at the Gramercy Theater in NYC. The tour will continue through the beginning of November, heading West and closing out November 7th in San Francisco. 

    Todd Rundgren, The Individualist, a True Star 2021 Tour

    Oct. 01 – Boston, MA @ Big Night Live

    Oct. 02 – Boston, MA @ Big Night Live

    Oct. 04 – Ridgefield, CT @ Ridgefield Playhouse

    Oct. 05 – Ridgefield, CT @ Ridgefield Playhouse 

    Oct. 07 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre 

    Oct. 08 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre 

    Oct. 09 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre 

    Oct. 11 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore 

    Oct. 12 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore 

    Oct. 14 – Huntington, NY @ The Paramount 

    Oct. 17 – Washington DC @ Capital Turnaround 

    Oct. 18 – Washington DC @ Capital Turnaround 

    Oct. 20 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle 

    Oct. 23 – Miami, FL @ The Fillmore 

    Oct. 24 – Clearwater, FL @ Capitol Theatre 

    Oct. 25 – Clearwater, FL @ Capitol Theatre 

    Oct. 29 – Canton, OH @ Canton Palace 

    Oct. 30 – Cincinnati, OH @ The Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center 

    Nov. 01 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues 

    Nov. 02 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues 

    Nov. 05 – Grand Rapids, MI @ 20 Monroe Live 

    Nov. 06 – Cleveland, OH @ MGM Northfield Park 

    Nov. 07 – Cleveland, OH @ MGM Northfield Park 

    Nov. 10 – Denver, CO @ Paramount 

    Nov. 12 – Los Angeles, CA @ Belasco 

    Nov. 13 – Los Angeles, CA @ Belasco 

    Nov. 14 – Los Angeles, CA @ Belasco

    Nov. 16 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore 

    Nov. 17 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore

  • In Focus: Lil Tjay ‘Destined to Win Tour’ Stops at the Westcott Theater

    Lil Tjay, born in the Bronx, has become at just 18 years old one of his generation’s fastest breakout rappers, having performed since 2019, put on a thrilling show on Saturday, October 9 at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse. The Westcott inhabits a cinema style venue with a capacity of 700 people; it was a complete night and day difference before and after the crowd came through. Giving off a festival pit vibe upfront with a bar in the back, this is a perfect venue for the youth. The stage is easy to see from all angles which is very inviting.

    lil tjay
    perrisage.com

    One of many stops on the “Destined to Win Tour” Tjay performed a series of his latest hits such as “Headshot”(featuring. Polo G), and one of his top hits with almost 400 Million plays, “Calling my Phone.” A variety of performers preceded Lil Tday’s set, including Jacosse, The Real Raw Breed, Syndacit, Kyy Stacks, Kaash Paige and Rassandra, also known as RazyBaby, who recently dropped a song with Tjay called “In too Deep.”

    Host for the night, Concert Crave, played various top rap hits throughout the concert which entertained the crowd in the pit, VIP section and throughout the known ‘sidelines.’

    During “Calling My Phone,” Tjay and crew asked the crowd to put up the flashlights on their phones. This immediately lit up the venue and created an amazing atmosphere for the crowd, fans and all performers. 

    lil tjay

    Tjay appealed to the audience with phones lit up in the sky and performed “What You Wanna Do,” followed by “Mood Swings.” Shortly after, Rasandra came on stage not once but twice after Lil Tjay brought her out on stage to perform their new single “In too Deep.”

    Throughout the show, various artists were throwing water into the crowd, taking selfies with front row fans, encouraging mosh pits, and even throwing merch to various crowd members. 

    At a prime point, Tjay ripped off his shirt and threw it into the audience, which brought the crowd to an uproar, captivating his audience and making the best of that night.

    With millions of views and millions of fans, Tjay’s career has only shortly begun. Relating to the younger crowd, he speaks to his generation, relating to teen and young adult struggles, and also his own. Lil Tjay has come a long way and will continue on the path ahead of him. 

    Lil Tjay next performs in New York at Citi Field on October 30, part of Rolling Loud. More info here.

    • Lil Tjay
    • lil tjay
    • Lil Tjay
    • Lil Tjay
    • Lil Tjay
      Kyy Stacks
    • Lil Tjay
      Jacosse
    • Rasandra