NYS Music 202​1

Category: Regions

  • Jazz On the Plaz! Comes To Seneca One Tower

    The plaz is alive, with sounds of jazz. Jazz On the Plaz! has arrived at the West Plaza of Seneca One Tower in Buffalo between Pearl Street and Main Street. A partnership between Seneca One and JazzBuffalo, the weekly series will play outdoors from 5:00 to 8:00 PM on Fridays through September 24,  The surrounding trees offer plenty of shade, and snacks and beverages are available thanks to food trucks.

    Jazz on the Plaz

    While the series kicked off in late August with Terry Buchwald’s Elvis tribute and Tech Night, the fun continues throughout September. The remaining lineup is as follows:

    • September 3: Summer Wind: The Music of Frank Sinatra
    • September 10: Patti Parks Band
    • September 17: Saranaide
    • September 24: Hot Club of Buffalo

    All Jazz On the Plaz! shows are free, but JazzBuffalo is accepting free-will donations for the Keep Jazz Alive Fund, which supports the musicians as well as sound and equipment. Each event has a bucket for cash donations, and attendees can also donate via Venmo at @jazzbuffalo716 and PayPal at @jazzbuffalo.

    In addition to Seneca One Tower and JazzBuffalo, other sponsors include Douglas Development Corporation, Buffalo Construction Consultants and the Northwest Jazz Festival in Lewiston, NY.

    For information on parking and transportation, see Seneca One’s website.

  • Preservation Hall Jazz Band Set to Bring Traditional New orleans Jazz To Ridgefield Playhouse This Friday

    Legendary ambassadors of traditional New Orleans jazz and music, Preservation Hall Jazz Band is celebrating their 60th anniversary in 2021 and are making their way to The Ridgefield Playhouse on Friday, September 3. The band is led by Ben Jaffe (bass/sousaphone) whose father founded the band in 1961, and is the touring group of the larger Preservation Hall collective of New Orleans musicians and Preservation Hall Foundation. Over the years the band has infused its repertoire with collaborations extending beyond jazz. A recent project of theirs, original documentary ‘A Tuba to Cuba,’ brings to life compositions created out of the band’s trips to Cuba.

    Ticket holders for Friday’s show can participate in a silent auction to raise money for the Kitty Rosa Preservation Fund, which goes toward preserving The Ridgefield Playhouse in honor of Rosa’s efforts in launching the theater. There will also be a complimentary wine tasting in the lobby at 6:30pm for ticketholders. A special VIP Party Pass is available, which includes priority parking and free house wine and beer from 6:00 to 6:30pm.

    A limited number of tickets remain and can be purchased from the Ridgefield Playhouse event page or by calling the box office at (203)-438-5795. Don’t miss out on an exciting opportunity to explore the genuine sounds of the French Quarter right here in the Northeast!

    Preservation Hall Jazz Band Tour Dates:

    Sep 2, 2021: The McKittrick Hotel, New York, NY
    Sep 3, 2021: Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield, CT
    Sep 5, 2021: Greenwich Town Party, Greenwich, CT
    Sep 11, 2021 – Sep 12, 2021: Park City Song Summit, Park City, UT
    Oct 1, 2021 – Oct 3, 2021: Gasparilla Music Festival, Tampa, FL
    Nov 18, 2021 – Nov 21, 2021: SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco, CA
    Mar 2, 2022 – Mar 5, 2022: One Big Holiday, Cancún, Mexico (with My Morning Jacket)
    May 6, 2022: Orpheum Theater New Orleans, LA (featuring special guests TBA + Preservation Hall Legacy Band)
    Jun 10, 2022: Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO (with The Revivalists)

  • Experimental Duo Vapor Vespers Drop Double-Sided Single, You Changed and Sex

    Experimental music & spoken word collaboration Vapor Vespers have returned with a new double-sided single. The two tracks, “Sex” and “You Changed,” each come with an accompanying video. 

    Vapor Vespers is the transcontinental brainchild of New York multi-instrumentalist Sal Cataldi (also known as Spaghetti Eastern Music) and Alaskan playwright, actor and slam poet Marc Muro. The pair, whose musical and personal relationship dates back to their teen years in Queens, New York, first bonded over boundary-pushing musicians like Sun Ra and Frank Zappa. The pair have also cited artists like Miles Davis as inspiration, alongside spoken-word icons like John Cooper Clarke and poet Charles Bukowski. 

    Vapor Vespers

    Their mesmerizing blend of hazy electro-funk and searing, lyrical poetry garnered critical acclaim on their 2020 debut album, One Act Sonix. On the new singles they maintain the momentum of that unique fusion, offering a sneak preview to their sophomore album, set for release in winter 2021. 

    Vapor Vespers

    On “Sex,” set over a menacing slow-jam of drums and electro funk, Muro’s echoing voice builds a string of metaphors for sex; a “time bomb under your seat and a dog sleeping at your feet,” “the tip love leaves after good service,” a “really good episode of Gilligan’s island.” The mixture of humor and great existential depth in the lyrics is hypnotic, especially over Cataldi’s instrumental, which sounds as if Predator had a penchant for Frank Zappa. The video for the song compiles black-and-white clips of sensual moments– kisses, embraces, flirtatious laughs and states of undress–which slowly come into neon color.

    “You Changed,” ups the tempo from the start. The galloping beat is supplemented by competing yet harmonious lead electric guitars and a perfectly placed clavinet. The angsty, manic lyrics are a rant against a friend who has not only changed, but seems to have become too good for Muro. “You used to be nice, you used to be normal, you used to be my friend, then you suddenly changed…” Muro anxiously laments. However, the song is far from sorry for itself. Muro’s lyrics comically recognize the way that an urge for notoriety and identity can breed ridiculousness. In frustration, Muro calls out: “You wanted to be interesting, so you rented a wolf, had your elbows pierced, bought a stuffed owl, and went to the opera dressed as a music!” The accompanying music video, which uses black-and-white footage transitioning into neon as well, puts that personal hedonism on sly display.

    Both tracks were mixed and mastered by Cataldi out of studios in Long Island and West Saugerties, New York. To listen to more, visit vaporvespers.bandcamp.com or Vapor Vesper’s Spotify page.

  • Beau Fleuve Music and Arts Celebration Makes History in Buffalo

    After long anticipation, Buffalo came together for the Beau Fleuve Music and Arts celebration. This 5-year event brought crowds of people to the Buffalo Central Terminal on August 29. 

    Beau Fleuve Buffalo
    Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty

    The atmosphere was uplifting as performers took over three different stages and venders filled the walkway. In addition, silent disco sets continued throughout the day. There wasn’t a dull area in the festival as many embraced the numerous exhibits. 

    Musicians with an array of different genres established their unique presence on stage. From alternative to rap to rock and everything in between, nobody left room for disappointment. Mom Said No was instantly a crowd favorite from the moment they walked on stage in matching blue suits. Not to mention their infectious energy that felt reminiscent to those harmonic alt boy bands. 

    Beau Fleuve Buffalo
    Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty

    Just when you think the intensity can’t get any greater, it did just that. Other artists like Billie Essco, A.I. The Anomaly, and FREAK THE MIIGHTY got the crowd even more wired up. Their stage presence and crowd engagement kept many up on their feet.  

    Beau Fleuve Buffalo
    Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty

    Throughout the day many were highly anticipating an exciting performance from the headliner Jae Skeese. His accolades are nothing short of the clear skill and passion he places in his craft. Guests stayed alongside Jae Skeese throughout the set while dedicating the night to a friend who passed, Weeze.  

    Beau Fleuve Buffalo
    Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty

    Beau Fleuve Music and Arts celebration brought together a diverse group of local musicians, artists, fashion designers, and other contributors to support Buffalo. The community collectively united to uplift the talented artists that are located right in their backyards. Supporting the arts has become a priority and with that comes even greater potential in the future. This event is just the start of a more profound movement. 

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    • chango4 & way2wavybaby
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    • Mom Said No
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    • Deadwolf
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    • FREAK THE MIIGHTY
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    • Billie Essco
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  • Diggin Roots Festival Releases Inaugural Lineup and Schedule for October 8-9

    In a year light on music festivals, the season has been extended into October in Upstate NY. Over October 8-9, Magic Forest Farm in Coeymans Hollow – just 30 minutes south of Albany – will play host to the first annual Diggin Roots Festival.

    Diggin Roots features an amazing lineup of bands, kid friendly activities, food vendors, local craftsman and more. Magic Forest Farm also has multiple hiking and walking trails to explore and animals to meet.

    diggin roots

    The great minds behind the Festival, Koryn Shear and Sugar Productions, bring a fantastic lineup over two days, featuring Yam Yam, Wild Adriatic, Baked Shrimp, and many more.

    Diggin Roots came to fruition from Shear’s longtime family friend Joan Mahony and her partner Jason Ball. Mahony’s family has owned the 200 acre property since the 1970s, in an effort to have an escape from their home in Brooklyn. The idea for a music festival came together in the last few years, with Jason building the stage. Jason and Joan brought Koryn to the farm and she fell in love with the space and vision to bring music and people to the venue.

    diggin roots
    The Schedule for Diggin’ Roots Festival

    Shear used her connections in the Albany music scene to find those who would be able to bring her vision to life. Among those was Shane Spillinger of Sugar Productions, and once he saw the property and potential for a late fall event, he was on board. Kirk Lyons of Lyons Den Productions will handle lights and sound at Diggin Roots.

    In its first year, Shear hopes to connect the community to the location, have a successful event and make this the beginning of something that can grow over time, bringing music and people together. Over time, larger acts are on the horizon, making this an annual gathering with long term potential, especially given the location of the space in Coeymans Hollow, which has its own deep history.

    diggin roots

    The name for the festival came as Shear and Spillinger discussed names along with Joan, the property owner. Given the festival is slated for October, and there is a good deal of harvesting at that time, Diggin Roots was decided upon, especially as they aim to dig in and make this a regular community event.

    Over two fall nights in October, live music lovers will capture the last flicker of festival season with Diggin Roots, which also has camping and limited RV passes. Tickets are available here and are $90 for the weekend. Day passes will also be available. Check out exclusive photos of the grounds of the farm via Shear, and stay tuned for updates on this inaugural event.

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  • How Sweet It Is: Dead and Company at Hershey Park Stadium

    Jam band supergroup Dead & Company make their summer tour stop at the land of chocolate, Hershey Park, on August 28. With them as always, following is their eclectic, eccentric, and electric fanbase: the Deadheads, as colorful as their kaleidoscopic visions can take them. The fanbase is incredibly kind, tight knit, dedicated, and functions as a self sustaining community that follows the band.

    dead and company hershey

    The band started the night with “The Music Never Stopped,” a good way to get things going. “Touch of Grey” proved to be a most apropriate song, one whose message we can all relate to in the midst of a worldwide health pandemic. Mayer shines on “Tennessee Jed” with some fancy chicken picking and long time superstar vocals on “Mr.Charlie.” The band wrapped up the first set with an incredible “Cassidy,” featuring iconic Weir vocal parts and a fast, fun, everyone sing a long “Don’t Ease Me In” to end the set.

    Visit NYS Music’s interactive Grateful Dead in New York series, So MaNY Roads

    The second set blasted off with a psychedelic “Here Comes Sunshine”, featuring Mayer leading everyone into the sun, vocally and theoretically speaking ofcourse. Now Bobby gets to shine on vocals as the band goes into an epic “Estimated Prophet”. Dancing shoes are coming on and the band pulls of several extended, even for Grateful Dead standards, improvised sections on a massive “Eyes of The World”. Mayer gets to shine on vocals again with “Althea”. And now comes time for the rhythm devils as the rest of the band leaves.

    dead and company hershey

    After “Space” Dead & Co went into an unexpected Miles Davis cover of “Milestones,” a most psychedelic and sonically unexpected spectacle. They switch gears into “Going Down The Road Feeling Bad” and quickly again into “Death Don’t Have No Mercy.” This featured a somber Weir on vocals, really belting out about death and loss. And to close out the set, a most apropriate “One More Saturday Night” played with all the vigor and groove a Saturday night show should have.

    Bobby declares that there is a strict curfew in play so they’ll skip the formalities of getting off stage and get right to the encore which was a thumping sing along, “Quinn the Eskimo.”

    Dead and Company – Hershey Park Stadium, Hershey, PA – August 28, 2021

    Set 1: The Music Never Stopped -> Easy Answers -> The Music Never Stopped, Touch of Grey, Tennessee Jed, Mr. Charlie, Black Throated Wind, Cassidy, Don’t Ease Me In

    Set 2: Here Comes Sunshine > Estimated Prophet > Eyes of the World > Althea > Drums > Space > Milesstones > Going Down the Road Feeling Bad > Death Don’t Have No Mercy > One More Saturday Night

    Encore: Quinn the Eskimo

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    • dead and company hershey
    • dead and company hershey

  • Denise Parent Finds Joy In Jamming on First Solo Release “The Songs In My Heart”

    Denise Parent, the beloved Hudson Valley guitarist known for her work with Grateful Dead cover band The Deadbeats and Brown Eyed Women, has released her first album of original music, The Songs In My Heart. 

    Though Parent has been a songwriter and guitar player for the majority of her life, picking up a guitar for the first time at six years old, this is her first solo release. Parent wrote all songs herself.

    denise parent

    All of the tracks capture the warm, full quality of a live album. Parent’s historic career of jamming with The Deadbeats and Brown Eyed Woman is apparent in her light style. Every instrument is apparent in its own uniqueness; the boxiness of the drums, the strummed acoustic guitar in comparison to soaring electric riffs. All of these songs beg to be heard in a smokey venue, where one can experience what decades of practice and natural talent look like. 

    Deadbeats band members Mike Johnson and Dan Gerken contributed to the album as well; Gerken engineered the project. Gerken also contributed guitars, bass guitar and keyboards, while Johnson played guitar on “Morning Sun” and “Get Over It”, songs the band have been playing together live for years. 

    Much of Parent’s music reflects on her own emotions, and the ways in which music has helped her speak to them. These really do feel like songs that live in her heart, little reminders of how to stay hopeful and loving through life’s many seasons. On the poignant and bluesy “Morning Sun,” Parent sings: “It’s so hard to feel it all the time/To wait it out just for a little shine.” The jaunty tempo sets the perfect tone for the mournful lyrics. Ultimately, as hard as it gets, the tune encourages one to just keep trucking along. 

    The album sends the message that for Parent, that shine has been music, and shine is something she’s keen on sharing. On “Hey Darlin,” a chugging minor-key groove, Parent seeks to bring love and happiness to the titular character. As a song that seeks to make someone move, the insane electric guitar breakdowns throughout surely help. 

    On album opener “Shangri-La,” Denise Parent tells the story of a family growing together over time, finding their own version of happiness and paradise together. The song echoes a statement by Parent from her press release: “I thank my musical mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters for inspiring me to create and to sing and to play my heart out. I thank every artist and thinker who ever made me think twice about something, and who opened my mind and my heart.” These musical family members allowed her to make that journey, complicated and never quite complete, to her own musical Shangri-La.

    A musician who has made her career performing covers, Parent’s solo music reflects the way the simple art of music has allowed her expression for a wide range of deep emotions. From the joyful freedom and peace of “Shangri-La” to the jauntily mournful “Morning Sun,” to the it-gets-better anthem “Get Over It,” all the songs have a message of making it through. Things will get better, happiness will come again, and if you listen in, Parent’s music just may help guide you there. 

    Key Tracks: Shangri La, Morning Sun, Hey Darlin

  • Live Music Society Announces Third Round of Grants for Small Venues Nationwide

    Live Music Society, a nonprofit philanthropic organization has announced a third round of grants to be awarded this fall to live music venues across the United States. These grants benefit small venues with a maximum sellable capacity of 300, and has supported venues including Bowery Electric, Caffe Lena and Levon Helm’s Barn, among others.

    live music society

    Founded in 2020, Live Music Society is committed to awarding $1,000,000 dollars per year in grants to venues that promote and preserve the live music experience in intimate settings. These small venues allow artists of all levels and all genres to get their start, connect with their audiences and maintain their careers as performers. Individual grants range from $10,000-$50,000, and over the two initial rounds of grants, Live Music Society has awarded thirty-six venues in twenty-nine cities grants totaling over $1.2 million.

    Small, live music venues throughout the U.S. are owned and operated by music-lovers who are tirelessly devoted to their community, their staff, and their artists. Without small music clubs, so many of our most promising artists wouldn’t have a place to share their work, hone their craft, and build their audiences. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, many of these clubs have been fighting to keep their doors open. Live Music Society is focused on making sure these wonderful spaces stay solvent and independent. It is time to acknowledge and support the great efforts that these venues have made to keep our communities connected and vibrant through the gift of live music.

    Live Music Society founder Pete Muller

    Live Music Society encourages small venues with 50-300 sellable seats prior to COVID-19, established on or prior to July 1, 2017, to apply. Venues must be committed to live music as their primary activity to be eligible. Grant applications will be accepted from September 28 – October 20, 2021 via the organization’s website.

    Prior grantees include:

    Ivy Room (Albany, CA)

    Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center (Berkeley, CA)

    The Hotel Cafe (Los Angeles, CA)

    The Mint (Los Angeles, CA)

    The Casbah (San Diego, CA)

    Kuumbwa Jazz (Santa Cruz, CA)

    Dazzle (Denver, CO)

    Hi-Dive (Denver, CO)

    Cafe Nine (New Haven, CT)

    The Hideout (Chicago, IL)

    Subterranean (Chicago, IL)

    The Jazz Showcase (Chicago, IL)

    SPACE (Evanston, IL)

    Maple Leaf Bar (New Orleans, LA)

    Club Passim (Cambridge, MA)

    The Parlor Room (Northampton, MA)

    Jonathan’s Ogunquit (Ogunquit, ME)

    Seven Steps Up (Spring Lake, MI)

    Jazz St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)

    The Word Barn (Exeter, NH)

    The Bowery Electric (New York, NY)

    Caffé Lena (Saratoga Springs, NY)

    Levon Helm Studios (Woodstock, NY)

    BOP STOP @ The Music Settlement (Cleveland, OH)

    Mercury Lounge (Tulsa, OK)

    The Kennett Flash (Kennett Square, PA)

    Club Café (Pittsburgh, PA)

    McGonigel’s Mucky Duck (Houston, TX)

    Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe (Galveston, TX)

    Jammin’ Java (Vienna, VA)

    Zenbarn (Waterbury Center, VT)

    Barboza (Seattle, WA)

    Fremont Abbey Arts Center (Seattle, WA)

    The Royal Room (Seattle, WA)

    The Sunset Tavern (Seattle, WA)

    Cactus Club (Milwaukee, WI)

  • Trailer for new Velvet Underground Documentary Arrives

    As late September and the New York Film Festival nears, the trailer for the upcoming Velvet Underground documentary that is set to premiere has arrived. It is directed by Directed by Todd Haynes (Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story, I’m Not There) it traces the roots and formation of a band synonymous with New York City, whose legacy only seems to grow over time.

    Velvet Underground documentary

    Through archival footage and contemporary interviews, the film charts the intersection of the Andy Warhol Factory scene with the formation of the group, and explores how the band became a cultural touchstone “representing a range of contradictions: the band is both of their time, yet timeless; literary yet realistic; rooted in high art and street culture.”

    The documentary is clearly full of video and music from the band’s formative years and includes interviews with founding members Maureen Tucker and John Cale. The New York Film Festival is set to run September 24 through October 10 with this Velvet Underground documentary and other features to be screened.

  • Caffe Lena School of Music to offer New Classes for Kids starting in September

    After a year of online music teaching, Caffe Lena is bringing youngsters into its historic performance space for an after-school program that mixes music education along with socialization.

    Caffe Lena School Of Music

    “Music is a gift best shared with friends,” says guitar and ukulele instructor James Gascoyne. Fall classes are set to Begin this September with in-person and virtual options.

    Caffe Lena School of Music group lessons show off authentic folk teaching methods. “No sheet music. No big stars. We gather in a circle and learn to sound good by watching and listening carefully,” says program coordinator Vivian Nesbitt. Students who spent the year being taught on Zoom came to the venue over the summer and experienced the change and enjoyment of face to face music.

    Caffe Lena School Of Music

    Proctor’s Collaborative and Troy Savings Bank Music Hall have well-established theater and music training programs with generous scholarship opportunities. Caffe Lena’s Matt McCabe Scholarship provides tuition assistance and loaner instruments for families in need.

    Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

    Nesbitt goes on to say, “While we are hopeful about meeting in person this fall, the safety of the students, their families and our staff comes first. Anyone in the teaching space must be masked. In the event that the classes need to move back online, Zoom will be ready to continue the program.”

    Caffe Lena’s online lesson program will continue into the fall with a slate of new classes for more advanced players just announced. Lena Jonsson, an Award-winning Swedish fiddler will be joining the roster along with singer-songwriter Cosy Sheridan. Sheridan, a Caffe Lena performer, will be teaching a four-week songwriting class. These classes, geared toward adults, have attracted students from all over the US and Canada as well as Spain, the UK and Australia.

    Founded in 1960, Caffè Lena is a premiere concert venue located in Saratoga Springs. Known around the world for fostering the preservation and growth of independent music rooted in tradition. In person or virtually, Caffe Lena provides an unparalleled listening experience for renowned artists and breakout bands nearly every night of the week. for more info about their schedule, please visit www.caffelena.org