NYS Music 202​1

Category: Western NY

  • Madison VanDenburg kicks off Music in Motion Season 2 this Friday

    On Friday, March 12, Madison VanDenburg will kick off NYS Music in Motion Season 2, when she sits down with our host, rocker Frank Palangi.

    Sponsored by Helping Friendly Salve, the series brings together seasoned musicians who hail from the Empire State or have made New York their home, alongside Palangi, a Warren County native.

    music in motion

    Guests for Season 2 of NYS Music in Motion include American Idol’s Madison VanDenburg, Scott Hannay, The Voice’s Moriah Formica, Donny Frauenhofer, Sirsy and Lowell Wurster.

    Tune in starting on Friday, March 12 and every other Friday for each installment of Music in Motion on the NYS Music YouTube, IGTV and Facebook page. New for Season 2, you can catch all episodes on the JamCast Network.

    Palangi will have a sit down conversation with each artist, with a first season lineup that includes the following musicians from across New York. A homegrown indie rock recording artist, singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Palangi fuels his positive ambition naturally by serving up a feeding frenzy of edge heavy guitars, with a side of deep, gritty vocals. With a no-quit mentality, Palangi draws on influences from 80s & 90s rock, including post-grunge and heavy metal.

    NYS Music in Motion Season 2 Schedule

    March 12 – Madison VanDenburg
    March 26 – Scott Hannay
    April 9 – Moriah Formica
    April 23 – Donny Frauenhofer
    May 7 – Sirsy
    May 21 – Lowell Wurster

  • Diving into Rochester’s Underground Music Scene with Ben Rossi of Friday In America

    In episode 113, Ben chats with Ben Rossi from Friday In America, a Rochester band mixing rock, Americana, folk and hip-hop. As the band says, “If Abraham Lincoln was a band he’d be Friday In America.”

    Friday in America has a range of influences spanning from The Band to The Roots, with the result a menagerie of music styles – from the heavy rock and funk arrangements of songs like “Hitman” to the stripped-down folk of “Water.”

    Friday In America ben rossi

    In 2011, the band released their first full length album Cut the Brakes, and had the track “Water” featured in the closing scene of the AFI-Fest award-winning film The Hammer, which told the true story of deaf UFC fighter Matt Hamill.

    The album’s rock and folk arrangements have garnered comparisons to artists like Jack Johnson and Bruce Springsteen, and have received regular rotation on shows like Scott Regan’s “Open Tunings” (NPR). The band’s love of all music and their ability to write and play across numerous mediums makes for a unique concert experience. They have opened for acts like Max Creek, Ekoostik Hookah, and the Ryan Montbleau Band, and are constantly fusing their disparate influences in a groove-oriented framework.

    Timestamp:

    00:31: “Hitman” by Friday In America

    06:04: Conversation with Ben Albert and Ben Rossi

    37:00: ” Renaissance” by Friday In America

    41:29: Conversation Continued

    1:00:19: “Six And Counting” by Friday In America

    1:06:22: Conversation Conclusion

    1:37:44: “Driftin” by Friday In America featuring Amanda Lee Peers

    At Rochester Groovecast, the mantra “We’re Fans First!” harnesses the belief that the best businesses are built by fans. The podcast is deeply dedicated to playing an active role in the culture of its local scene.

    The brainchild of Rochester native, Ben Albert, was created in 2016 to serve as a portfolio of the city, and nowadays, the entire region.

    The podcast believes in the artistic brilliance abundant in Rochester, NY, and the surrounding regions. Ben seeks to play a pivotal role in our community by helping give Rochester a well-earned voice. He has seen first hand the abundance of talent, character, creativity, innovation, and beauty the Flower City has continuously offered.

    Keep In Touch with Friday In America.

    Download their albums FOR FREE!

    Rochester Groovecast is Powered By balbertmarketing.com

  • Rochester’s Old Fame Release “Nowhere to Be” EP

    Today, Rochester indie-rockers Old Fame release their second EP Nowhere to Be, a collection of four songs written in response to the pandemic, the media, family disfunction, shame, and division amongst families over politics. Or, as the band puts it, “All the fun stuff!”

    Old Fame EP
    Artwork by JJ Pelechaty

    On “Act II,” Old Fame demonstrates influences of psychedelic post-rock and emo. Previously, the band released singles “Short Cub” and “Cumberland” with the final track, “Slevin” debuting today with the release of the full EP.

    “Short Cub” and “Cumberland” were written in 2019, while “Act II” and “Slevin” were written during the pandemic, thus, neither of the latter two tracks have been performed live. Recorded at Wicked Squid Studios is located in Rochester, the alt-rock tones are impressive, leading to much build-up and flowing seamlessly together.

    Old Fame EP

    Old Fame is Ben Armes (vocals, guitar), Doug Kelley (drums), Evan Clark (guitar), Jay Asarese (bass). Members of the band have played in Rochester area projects including Like Vintage, Alberto Alaska, Emulet, and Heavy Lies the Crown.

    Listen to the latest EP from Old Fame below or on Bandcamp.

  • Emo-Rock Duo Losers Club from Rochester are Back with New Music

    Losers Club are making their label-debut on Substream Records with a new single called “Fux W/ Ur Head,” set for release on March 5th, 2021.

    The duet’s emo-rock sound is crafted by frontman Nate Blasdell, known for his role as lead guitar and background vocals in the melodic hardcore band I Set My Friends on Fire, and backed by Andy Champion on guitar. Losers Club’s sound is poppier than Blasdell’s previous work, akin to The All-American Rejects. Their music is anthemic and tightly packed with melody.

    On their instagram account, Losers Club recounted the past year, saying “This year was a rollercoaster to say the least. What started as four, turned to three, then three became two, and now here we are, stronger than ever with 2020 in the rearview and so much to look forward to in 2021. New sound. New look. New album. New era.”

    With their new sound and formation, Losers Club is ready to take on the music world with their label-debut single, Fux W/ Ur Head. You can pre-order it here.

    You can find them on Instagram and Facebook and the label’s website.

  • Sharing Memories of Flour City Station

    In episode 112, the community answers a simple question: “Favorite Moments At Flour City Station andddd Go!” Ben Albert, Host of Rochester Groovecast, posed this question on Facebook, reached to many people, and brought together a large collection of Flour City Station memories.  Ben shares some of his insights, shares recordings of guest-submitted memories, and reads off the rest of the amazing collection.

    Flour City Station is located at 170 East Avenue in Rochester, a town steeped in music tradition, from the Eastman School of Music just down the street, to the longstanding music festivals such as the Jazz Festival, East End Fest, Fringe Fest and Party in the Park.

    flour city station aqueous
    Aqueous, April 4, 2018 at FCS – photo by Jake Silco

    Flour City Station (FCS) provides patrons with a unique and friendly environment for enjoying the best live music Rochester has to offer.  With a state-of-the-art sound system, FCS caters to a wide base of genres of music featuring both local performers and nationally touring acts. The safe environment and friendly staff keep customers coming back for the friendly social atmosphere where they can catch up with old friends, meet new ones, and enjoy premium live music. At FCS, they’re simply all about the bands, the fans and the experience.

    rochester groovecast flour city

    Timestamp:

    00:31: “Honey” by The Honey Smugglers

    06:33: Episode Introduction

    11:28: Favorite Moments at Flour City Station

    33:29: Episode Conclusion

    At Rochester Groovecast, the mantra “We’re Fans First!” harnesses the belief that the best businesses are built by fans. The podcast is deeply dedicated to playing an active role in the culture of its local scene.

    The brainchild of Rochester native, Ben Albert, was created in 2016 to serve as a portfolio of the city, and nowadays, the entire region.

    The podcast believes in the artistic brilliance abundant in Rochester, NY, and the surrounding regions. Ben seeks to play a pivotal role in our community by helping give Rochester a well-earned voice. He has seen first hand the abundance of talent, character, creativity, innovation, and beauty the Flour City has continuously offered.

    Keep In Touch with Flour City Station.

    Rochester Groovecast is Powered By balbertmarketing.com

  • Mt. Joy To Play Silver Lake Drive-In On May 8

    On Saturday, May 8, indie rock band Mt. Joy is coming to Silver Lake Drive-In in Perry, NY. Presented by Twenty6 Productions, the show begins at 4:00 p.m. EST with special guests to be announced.

    Mt. Joy

    Tickets are available in seven tiers, ranging from front-of-stage VIP pods ($275) to car seating (starting at $125). Each ticket purchase includes admission for five people, with VIP ticket holders receiving show posters. Individual tickets are also available for concertgoers in cars occupying more than five. The snack bar and restrooms are open at limited capacity, and guests must wear a face mask to use them.

    Mt. Joy formed in 2016, when former high school classmates Matt Quinn (vocals, guitar) and Sam Cooper (guitar) met again on the opposite side of the country in Los Angeles. They linked up with bassist Michael Byrnes through a Craigslist ad, and named the band after Mount Joy, a mountain in Valley Forge National Historical Park near their hometown of Philadelphia, PA. The band’s first song, “Astrovan” was an instant success, receiving over two million Spotify streams in its first month of release and over 36 million to date. Other hits soon followed, such as “Sheep” and “Silver Lining.” Mt. Joy is rounded out by drummer Sotiris Eliopoulos and keyboardist Jackie Miclau.

    Mt. Joy’s second album, Rearrange Us, was released on June 5, 2020, coinciding with the murder of George Floyd. The band was unable to delay the album, so they instead donated 100% of profits to the police reform nonprofit Campaign Zero. Rearrange Us marked the band’s debut on the Billboard 200, with the single “Strangers” also reaching #5 on the Adult Alternative chart. While their dates were cut short due to the pandemic, Mt. Joy toured with the Lumineers throughout early 2020. Most recently, they released “New President” in October, ahead of Joe Biden’s victory:

    For more information on Mt. Joy’s Silver Lake Drive-In show, view the event details here.

  • RIT set to host Rochester International Jazz Festival in July

    Just as we were losing hope in live music and festivals, it looks like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The Rochester International Jazz Festival is in the planning stages for their nineteenth edition which will be hosted on the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) campus.

    Planning is a challenge when we don’t know what the future will bring. We do know that this year’s Festival cannot go on as usual. The way we work and how we live has changed. We are very encouraged that vaccines are becoming more available. And if public health guidelines allow us to proceed this summer, we must adapt to this new environment, which will require a more flexible and spacious festival footprint. The RIT campus meets that criteria.

    Marc Iacona, Festival Producer and Executive Director

    The original date for the festival was June 19, 2020. Unfortunately COVID-19 brought upon a nationwide shutdown of crowded concerts. Because of this, Iacona and his partner John Nugent had to postpone the festival a few times until their latest decision, July 30 through Aug. 7. Over 200,000 people attend the annual nine day festival, but this year Lacona and Nugent are orchestrating a safe way to go about the event.

    Nat King Cole at 100 with Paul Mariano.

    “With Covid-19 and health consequences squarely on the minds of all event-goers around the world, we again find ourselves at a crossroads,” said Iacona and Nugent. “We are deeply grateful to our loyal patrons and sponsors and for countless messages of support as uncertainty prevails. Early February now brings us to a critical junction as we explore how to potentially present a festival, secure programming, and put together the plethora of logistics.”

    Throughout the course of the global pandemic, musicians have resorted to a different method of live performances. Live-streaming took to the internet in 2020 to provide a safe haven for those yearning to attend a live show. The Jazz Festival is the beginning to a new chapter for live music.

    The CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival was founded in 2002, with performances by over 1500 artists from all over the world. Through the years, those artists have performed more than 350 shows at 20 venues. Lacona is a community and business leader, while Nugent is an experienced tenor sax player and the artistic brains of RIJF, but their goals for the festival are the same.

    Rochester International Jazz Festival

    “The essence of our Festival has always been to bring our community together, drawn by the majesty of creative improvised music and celebrating as one entity,” said Nugent. “While this new location will be a change for us all, and the first time we are not downtown, we will still shine the musical spotlight on greater Rochester. We are committed to making every effort to include the City of Rochester and many of our downtown-based partners at this new location. We will create a festive atmosphere including a Jazz Street, assure the ability to walk between venues, and offer a shuttle service.”

    Anyone can buy tickets from the RIJF website and club members can use their passes.

  • LonCon to be held at Arrowhead Ranch, feat. Mihali, Aqueous, Baked Shrimp and more

    The music is starting to return… LonCon, a two-day music event to be held in the Southern Tier of New York’s scenic Catskills will feature national touring acts at the legendary Arrowhead Ranch over August 27-28, 2021.

    loncon

    Arrowhead Ranch and ElmThree Productions, in association with hosts, Baked Shrimp, will bring artists including Mihali and Aqueous, as well as two Baked Shrimp sets and other rising regional acts to LonCon.

    In 1991, music producer Bill Graham brought a vision to Arrowhead Ranch, making the summer of 199 legendary, with acts including Phish, The Band, Richie Havens, Billy Preston, Hot Tuna, Blues Traveler, Widespread Panic, and many more. 30 years later, LonCon will hold its inaugural weekend at the historic venue over Friday August 27 and Saturday August 28, 2021.

    “The event is going to be so humbling to all three of us in Baked Shrimp. Being younger and going to outdoor music concerts in the mountains has been something we’ve all been doing for much of our lives, and we’ve always dreamed that one day Baked Shrimp would do something similar and keep it going for years to come. Now that we can finally announce that we’re helping put together what will be a beautiful two-day event at such a historic venue, it’s really a dream come true. The lineup is also filled with artists who we have looked up to over the years, so we are unbelievably excited to share the stage with them.”

    Jared Cowen, Baked Shrimp

    Cowen also shared his thoughts on putting the event together in honor of Lon Conscious.

    “The Live for Lon stream was so humbling in it’s own way. Where we’re at in the world is something no one could really prepare for. When Lon left us, we had to think of a way despite these hectic times to honor his incredible legacy and spirit. The stream was the best way we could have thought to do this. The night had a true sense of community, like we were all together, Baked Shrimp, our fans, family, friends, and so many of Lon’s hundreds of friends who he meant so much to. The performers were incredible, and we were able to raise over $2,700 for a really great cause, the White Light Foundation. The stream was our way to honor Lon, to reminisce, to laugh, to cry, and everything in-between. LonCon is our way to continue the Lon Gellman legacy. LonCon is how we will make sure Lon is always remembered, and we’re brainstorming things to include over the course of the two days and hopefully make traditions.”

    Jared Cowen, Baked Shrimp

    Health and safety are the number one priority for attendees at LonCon. Promoters are dedicated to ensuring all proper COVID-19 restrictions in New York State that are in place at the time of the event are followed.

  • Woodstock 50 Wins Damages from Main Investor who Pulled Funding After Safety Concerns in Lawsuit

    Woodstock 50 organizers won damages in a settlement from their main investor who pulled funding for the festival due to safety concerns in a lawsuit. The festival was officially cancelled back in July of 2019 after months of turmoil in its feasibility, especially after the main investor withdrew. 

    Woodstock 50

    Dentsu, a Japanese-owned advertising firm, was the main investor in the festival. They breached their contract in April of 2019 when they pulled their investment. Dentsu ended up settling their lawsuit with the Woodstock 50 organizers according to court documents obtained by Billboard on January 31, 2021. The documents showed the damages that were awarded to Woodstock 50 in October were “significantly less than what [Woodstock 50] purported to spend on attorneys’ fees.” It’s unclear exactly how much was won in the settlement. The lawsuit also accused Dentsu of tortious interference, defamation, business disparagement and conspiracy on top of breaching the contract they signed when pulling out of the investment. 

    The original dates for the festival were scheduled for August 16-18, 2019 in Watkins Glen, New York. The organizers of the festival had originally hoped for 150,000 people to attend but Watkins Glen’s capacity was reduced to 75,000 people. Dentsu withdrew $18 million of the $49 million they had already agreed to pay and pulled out over concerns with Woodstock 50’s issues behind the scenes, health/safety concerns and disputes about the capacity of the festivities. The headliners included big names like Jay-Z, Miley Cyrus, Santana, The Lumineers, Dead & Company, John Fogerty, Chance the Rapper, The Raconteurs, Janelle Monae, Halsey and Imagine Dragons. All of the performers were paid in advance a sum of $30 million according to Syracuse.com.

    Woodstock 50 festival ended up entirely losing it’s site at Watkins Glen after they missed their final payment of $150,000. They then attempted a pile of different things to save the festival. They tried to move the festival to Vernon Downs, but the Town of Vernon denied the festival’s requests multiple times due to safety concerns and incomplete permit applications. The organizers then tried one last attempt to have the festival in Maryland but that also ended up falling through.

    One of the main concerns with Woodstock 50 across the board seemed to be with it’s lack of realistic safety guidelines and plans. Co-founder of Woodstock 50 Michael Lang accused Dentsu of sabotaging the Woodstock anniversary event and spreading misinformation to prevent them from holding it at a different site. It’s unclear how much of the events’ misfortunate cancellation was due to Dentsu sabotaging it and how much might be due to poor organizational skills from it’s organizers. Hopefully it will serve as a warning to future event organizers to vet their investors and to address safety concerns early on in the process of putting together a festival. 

  • Old Fame Releases Long-Awaited “Act II”

    Old Fame, an indie rock band from Rochester today release their long-awaited single “Act II.” With strong influences of psychedelic post-rock and emo, the band follows up previous singles “Short Cub” and “Cumberland” with “Act II,” all part of their EP Nowhere to Be, to be released in the next few months.

    Old Fame is Ben Armes (vocals, guitar), Doug Kelley (drums), Evan Clark (guitar), Jay Asarese (bass) and they’ve been a part of projects including Like Vintage, Alberto Alaska, Emulet, and Heavy Lies the Crown.

    Due to the chaos of 2020 and the COVID-19 restrictions that shut down the band’s studio, the second half of Old Fame’s EP that was originally meant to be released in 2020, was pushed back to February 2021. With fans eager for the long-awaited conclusion to Nowhere to Be, Old Fame today share their latest, “Act II.”

    old fame

    Given the challenge to describe the track in one word, nostalgic comes to mind first. “Act II” brings the listener back to the days of owning a myspace profile or listening to 92.7. It’s a song full of emotion and passion one can only suppose was strengthened by the hardships of 2020.

    Writing new songs gave us time to refocus on the world around us and incorporate our feelings in response to current events into the songs. We spent many weeks file sharing home-recorded demos back and forth until covid restrictions were temporarily lifted allowing us to safely rehearse and head into Wicked Squid Studios to record with Ian Fait & Josh Pettinger.

    Doug Kelley

    The build-up and flow of the song are impressive given the band’s smaller presence in the alt-rock community. The EP in its entirety showcases the band’s journey, as well as shows what they’re capable of, paving the way for future works to crush the scene.

    Below, you can find the link to their newest song as well as explore their music in its entirety. If you’re a fan of alternative rock, they might be right up your alley.