NYS Music 202​1

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  • Central Park Mega Concert to feature Paul Simon, Jennifer Hudson and Bruce Springsteen

    Update – 7:57pm, August 21, 2021 – Rolling Stone Magazine reports the ‘We Love NYC’ mega concert has been canceled due to inclement weather.

    https://twitter.com/RollingStone/status/1429230126890373122?s=19

    The Central Park mega concert announced on last month, in celebration of New York reopening and pulling back COVID-19 restrictions, now has a lineup. Paul Simon, Jennifer Hudson and Bruce Springsteen will headline the concert. The show is tentatively set for August 21, 2021 on the Great Lawn. 

    Central Park mega concert
    Photo by Rafael Puerto of the Great Lawn at Central Park.

    Mayor Bill de Blasio is planning this mega concert that will host multiple acts. Clive Davis has been chosen by the mayor to pull this mega concert together. Davis is a well known 89-year-old producer and music-industry eminence. Davis has quite a career that has spanned over five-decades. He has worked with big names like Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys and Whitney Houston. He has hosted the Grammy Gala annually since 1976.

    It’s going to be one of the greatest Central Park concerts in history. This is something you do not want to miss. This is something for the ages.

    Mayor Bill de Blasio

    The New York Times had said Davis “is aiming for eight ‘iconic’ stars to perform a three-hour show for 60,000 attendees and a worldwide television audience.” Some details on the event have been released though including it taking place at the Great Lawn, Live Nation will be involved with the production, and the majority of tickets will be free, although there will be some V.I.P. seating. 70% of all tickets will go to those who have received their COVID-19 vaccination.

    The Great Lawn at Central Park has hosted lots of famous concerts in it’s time. Some of the big names include Carole King who serenaded 70,000 people there in 1973. Elton John played back in 1980 and the following year Simon & Garfunkel reunited for an estimated 400,000 people. Diana Ross performed in 1983, Luciano Pavarotti in 1993 and the Dave Matthews Band in 2003.

    The show is supposed to feel like a homecoming to New York City after the pandemic that has been gripping the world for the last year and a half. In an interview, Mayor Bill de Blasio said that, “This concert is going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s going to be an amazing lineup. The whole week is going to be like nothing you’ve ever seen before in New York City.”

    https://youtu.be/mefvCRU22oY

    The concept for the Central Park mega concert came to fruition recently. Davis said that the mayor called him three weeks ago and asked him to present a show in partnership with the city that would celebrate New York’s reopening and emphasize the need to vaccinate more young people.

    It is going to be a great moment for the city, marking our rebirth, marking our comeback. We’re very excited, and it’s going to be a historic event, to say the least.

    Mayor Bill de Blasio

    More details will be shared in coming weeks for the August 21 mega-concert. Stay tuned to NYS Music!

    Update July 27, 2021: The full lineup was announced on July 27, 2021 by Mayor Bill de Blasio, Clive Davis, Live Nation/NYCEDC chair Danny Meyer. The free mega-concert will be taking place on the Great Lawn in Central Park on Saturday, August 21. Although Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson and Paul Simon were hinted as being the headliners previously now the expanded lineup has also been announced and includes big names like Jon Batiste, Andrea Bocelli, Kane Brown, LL COOL J, Elvis Costello, Lucky Daye, Earth, Wind & Fire, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Cynthia Erivo, Jimmy Fallon, Wyclef Jean, Journey, The Killers, Gayle King, Don Lemon, Barry Manilow, The New York Philharmonic, Polo G, Carlos Santana, Patti Smith, and Rob Thomas.

  • “MORNIGHT” Released By NYC Based Band ALMA

    NYC-based indie dream-pop trio ALMA has entered the stage, with their latest single “Mornight.” The single is a realistic twist on your classic top of the pops hit, it takes the perspective of a bartender working the night shift in NYC. Showcasing the trio’s impressive production chops, “Mornight” is full of catchy melodic hooks, dreamy harmonies, and has an overwhelming danceability sound.

    ALMA
    Photo Courtesy of Abbey Mackay

    The song is from their LP Mosaic (coming out this fall). Mosaic, is a personal letter to NYC. Each song delivers the story of a moment in time in the city they call home. Mosaic invites you to sit beside them on the subway, walk with them through Astoria Park, and ride the Wonder Wheel at night as you feel what it means to be a New Yorker. They have been releasing singles from the album since September of 2020.

    ALMA is comprised of Alba S. Torremocha (vocals, strings, bass, drums, guitar, uke) Lillie R. McDonough (vocals, piano, glock, violin, hammer dulcimer), and Melissa K. Carter (vocals, guitar). The trio formed in 2019 out of a shared delight in harmonizing and experimentation with quirky instrumentals and old-fangled synthesizers. They discovered certain alchemy in the combination of sensibilities as film composers and audio engineers that have made for a genre-bending offering to the wide world of indie-pop. Elements of Folk, Rock, Grunge, Pop, and even movie soundtracks are all at home in their songs. 

    ALMA was named an NYFA Fellow for their genre-pushing work in 2019, and later was an Awesome Foundation Grant recipient in 2020. They are currently in the process of producing a staged, theatrical musical of their freshman album in partnership with Savannah Repertory Theater. 

    Their newest single, “Sips of Oxygen” will be released on July 30th and is a marvelous stripped down track that guides listeners through the moments before you lose someone special to you. The track is admirably vulnerable and raw, and perfectly encompasses the vibe of ALMA.

    “Sips of Oxygen” is about the moment before you lose someone, when the vibrancy of a life collapses into the act of breathing in and out. The entire song is a cinematic journey that is gentle yet also extremely heavy. The lyrics perfectly grasp the horrific pain of grief and proves to listeners how fast life runs away from us.

    Their debut album, Mosaic, is to be released on September 7th. It is a personal letter to NYC that is a patchwork of personal experiences that the band members have endured while living in the city. What’s special about this album is it takes the listener on a citywide adventure through many of the five boroughs: on the subway, through Astoria park, and on the Wonder Wheel at night to feel what it’s like to be a New Yorker. More than that, the album transcends the limits of place and invites the listener to fully inhabit each song, no matter where they are. 

  • Radio Woodstock Showcases Women Artists

    Talk about some girl power. For the first time in station history, Radio Woodstock 100.1 WDST has announced that their top 10 slots in power rotation are all women artists.

    Radio Woodstock women

    The current Radio Woodstock top 10 rotation is comprised of female artists across several different genres: St. Vincent, Amy Helm, Allison Russell, Yola, Maia Sharp, Sofia Valdes, Shemekia Copeland, Joy Oladokun (with Maren Morris), Lake Street Dive, and Sean Della Croce. 

    Looks like it is a hot girl summer and a hot girl future.

    Aja Whitney (Music Director)

    Amy Helm, a Woodstock native herself, recently released her latest album “What the Flood Leaves Behind”. Other new releases from St. Vincent, Allison Russell and Yola have caught the attention of Radio Woodstock. The station stated, “Female artists have emerged as leading the sound on one of the most uniquely curated rock radio stations in the world today.”

    Amy Helm in Woodstock, photo by Peter Ross

    Radio Woodstock 100.1 WDST has emerged as one of the most influential radio stations in the Hudson Valley, winning regional and national awards for its eclectic programming. Their DJ staff focuses on discovering new and emerging artists while continuing to showcase musical legends and other established talent. Radio Woodstock also produces several concerts and festivals around the Hudson Valley, including the Mountain Jam Festival.

    Throughout the pandemic, Radio Woodstock posted “Sofa Session” performances to their YouTube channel, where some of the station’s favorite artists shared short and intimate sets.

    Visit the Radio Woodstock website to listen live and celebrate these powerful women in music!

  • Turning Stone Showroom Undergoes Renovation

    The Turning Stone Resort Casino Showroom in Verona is undergoing an electrifying renovation in anticipation of the return of live events. Turning Stone surveyed 30,000 guests and found that the majority of guests simply cannot wait to attend live music events post-COVID.

    The results are especially exciting for Turning Stone as it is an award-winning destination for live entertainment in the state of New York.

    Turning Stone

    After surveying more than 30,000 guests, Turning Stone found that 92% of respondents miss attending live entertainment and events, 76% are looking for live events in intimate venues (less than 1,000 people), 73% are eager to attend live events again, and 65% are willing to travel more than 120 miles to attend live events.

    Turning Point recently announced that it is unveiling a series of multi-million dollar renovations across the resort, focusing on a significant overhaul of The Showroom. The Showroom will become much more modernized and will create an all-new intimate environment for live events.

    Specific features of the new Showroom include: a state-of-the-art sound system that will provide perfect acoustics for every performance genre; new contemporary design, featuring dark mahogany woods and shades of deep purples and violets; more than 650 premium stadium-style seats; and an all-new bar in the newly added atrium.

    Turning Stone
    Benny Mardones at Turning Stone Showroom

    “These survey results are very encouraging as they indicate our guests are eager to attend live performances again, which we know is also a significant driver of tourism in our region,” said Oneida Indian Nation Representative and Oneida Nation Enterprises CEO Ray Halbritter. “This is also great news for the local music scene in Central New York. We take great pride in showcasing local talent in our venues and introducing our guests who come from all over the county to the best our region has to offer.”

    The Showroom construction will be completed before September, when live entertainment will resume at Turning Stone. Shows being hosted here will be announced shortly. Get ready for a music-filled fall at Turning Stone!

  • The Forms Release “Southern Ocean” – First Single After Ten Year Hiatus

    Queens-based band The Forms released their first new new song “Southern Ocean” on June 21. This single marks The Forms’ return to music after a ten year hiatus.

    The Forms

    The New York duo, made up of musicians Alex Tween and Matt Walsh, have two full-length albums to date, debuting Icarus in 2003 and critically acclaimed, self-titled, The Forms in 2007. 

    The last taste of new music from the group prior to ‘Southern Ocean’ was 2011 EP Derealization, that featured The National’s Matt Berninger and Shudder To Think’s Craig Wedren. Over the course of these releases, The Forms were invited to share the stage with a large collection of artists including St. Vincent, Nick Cave, The National, Dizzee Rascal, The Hold Steady, Kurt Vile, Jose Gonzales, Deerhunter and Bat For Lashes.

    It might have taken a decade for The Forms, but “Southern Ocean” is worth the wait. The song provides a first hint of what is to come from The Forms’ upcoming third album.

    The Forms Southern Ocean

    The Forms’ style is a great representation of early 2000’s alternative, reminiscent of bands like Modest Mouse and Arcade Fire. This idea is most prevalent in their cover of Billy Joel‘s “We Didn’t Start The Fire.” The grungy electronic pop is iconic for the decade, and their current sound seems to be a more “grown up” version of the same intensity.

    “Southern Ocean” is super upbeat and beachy, a similar vibe that electronic duo The Chainsmokers have. Fun-loving, yet reflective with lyrics like “Just another phase I’m in – Just another road I’m on – Doesn’t make a difference what I do.” This single definitely has potential to be on a pop-radio summer playlist.

    The single arrives with a visualizer made up of a series of stunning shots of the Southern Ocean, the waters that inspired the name of the new track. Previously considered a part of the Pacific Ocean, the swift current off the coast of Antarctica is now being considered “too distinct” by National Geographic cartographers and is worthy of its own name.

    “Southern Ocean” is available to stream on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, Deezer and will be pressed on vinyl. 

  • Long Island Fan tabs out entire Disco Biscuits Catalog

    In live music communities, you’ll find fans who put their talents to use for the benefit of all, thanks to their love of the music. One of those fans, Justin Treanor, has taken his love for the Disco Biscuits and playing guitar to a new level, with a website full of Biscuits’ guitar tabs, SickBarberLicks.net

    disco biscuits tabs

    Justin Treanor, a 32 year old from Babylon, NY has been a Disco Biscuits fan since 2007. He’s also been playing guitar for 20 years, and the two intertwined in 2016 when he started tabbing out the Disco Biscuits catalog. 

    disco biscuits tabs

    “Sick Barber Licks,” named for Jon “The Barber” Gutwillig’s ‘sick’ guitar compositions and improvisation, has been a passion project of Treanor’s, one with a worthy cause and goal – promoting the music of his favorite band so more may learn to play the music of the Biscuits. For the last 5 years, he’s tabbed out all 207 Disco Biscuits songs as well as a handful of covers (“The Safety Dance” and “Run Like Hell” among them). Included in each song are scans of his handwritten tabs, song lyrics and in most cases, a video showing how to play the song. 

    disco biscuits tabs
    Page 1 of the “Mr. Don” guitar tab

    A self-taught guitarist, Treanor has played in local bands over the years, playing for fun more than anything. He would watch guitar videos and later create his own videos, having tabbed out 207 songs. Treanor has had the benefit of band members supporting his endeavors, with Marc, Jon and Aron all giving him feedback.

    The response has been overwhelming from the fans. People tell me they use the site all the time, and the site sees about 250-300 unique visitors a week. It’s truly amazing.

    Treanor’s first Biscuits show was on May 25, 2007 at Highline Ballroom in Chelsea. He was hooked instantly, sharing that it was an “insane Mr. Don -> inverted Little Betty Boop they played to start the second set” that hooked him. For Treanor, “the mix of jam music and intense trance hooked me from the first few notes.”

    Treanor has also made the most of this past year, adding to his site’s cache of tabs, and expanded to bass tabs with Sick Brownie Bombs (9 songs so far) and friend Justin Highland starting Sick Magner Melodies (2 songs so far).

    SickBarberLicks.net is a fan created website featuring tabs for all 207 Disco Biscuits songs. Those looking to support Treanor’s work and help improve the fan-driven site’s continuing effort, can do so here, via Paypal here or Venmo (@treanorjustin88).

    Watch a few samples of Treanor’s guitar videos below, and subscribe to be sure to subscribe his YouTube channel.



  • Don’t miss Amythyst Kiah at Stone Ridge Orchards in July

    Breakout star, Amythyst Kiah, will perform at Stone Ridge Orchard on July 17 at 4 pm to 8 pm (door open at 3 pm). All ages are welcome at this socially conscious, safe, and COVID-19 compliant event. Proceeds for the evening show will benefit The Hudson Valley LGBTQ Center.  

    Amythyst Kiah

    As the only New York area appearance of Amythyst Kiah, the show will find Kiah performing songs from her new collection, Wary + Strange, out June 18 on Rounder Records. The album marks the glorious collision of two vastly different worlds: the iconoclastic alt-rock that first sparked her musical passion, and the roots/old-time-music scene where she’s found breakout success in recent years, including recognition from Rolling Stone as “one of Americana’s great up-and-coming secrets.” 

    The singles off this album have been Fancy Drones, Hangover Blues, Wild Turkey, and Black Myself. The last of which she performed during her late night debut on Jimmy Kimmel. When met with the transcendent quality of her newly elevated sound, what emerges is an extraordinary vessel for Kiah’s songwriting. These are exciting times for Kiah and her music. The sound of her first two albums Her Chest of Glass and Dig culminated into the success of Wary + Strange.

    https://youtu.be/yMx7bXA4_H4

    Produced by Tony Berg (Phoebe Bridgers, Amos Lee, Andrew Bird) and made with esteemed musicians like Blake Mills, Wary + Strange arrives as a deeply immersive body of work, endlessly redefining the limits of roots music in its inventive rhythms and textures. With an unforgettable voice that’s both unfettered and exquisitely controlled, Kiah gracefully interlaces political commentary and personal revelation, ultimately offering a raw yet nuanced examination of grief, alienation, and the hard-won triumph of total self-acceptance.

    She honed into vibrant musicality in part through her studies in East Tennessee State University’s Bluegrass, Old Time, Country Music program. The Chattanooga, Tennessee-bred singer/songwriter has expanded on the uncompromising artistry she’s displayed as a member of Our Native Daughters—an all-women-of-color supergroup. With whom Kiah first penned “Black Myself” that then earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best American Roots Song and won Song of the Year at the Folk Alliance International Awards. She’s been included in People Magazine’s “Talented Black Musical Artists on the Rise in 2021”. Kiah has also been nominated for three Americana Music Awards. 

    Spread out on a beautiful 115-acre farm, the performance can be enjoyed along with other family-friendly activities available at Stone Ridge Orchard. For more info contact Stone Ridge Orchard either by phone at 845-687-2587 or by email at SROrchardEvents@gmail.com.

    To stay up to date with Amythyst Kiah visit her website or follow her on social media, including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Tickets are available for purchase at StoneRidgeOrchard.com.

    In the newest episode of Salute The Songbird, host Maggie Rose is joined by Kiah to talk about her new album and the experiences that led to her success. Amythyst shares stories from growing up in Tennessee, how support and encouragement from her parents helped her overcome issues with identity and anxiety, and the impact music and writing have had on her personal journey.

  • Rising Star Ella Isaacson Keeps It Honest

    Born and raised in the New York City area, rising singer songwriter Ella Isaacson has been making waves with each new release.

    Photo accessed from Bong Mines Entertainment

    Isaacson was raised in the arts. As she started writing songs and discovering her passion for music around age 13, Isaacson made sure to infuse personal experiences and raw emotion into her lyrics. Isaacson does not shy away from addressing body image, mental health and other aspects of her inner monologue, making her music uniquely intimate.

    I’ve always been an over-thinker, it’s my curse and my blessing. I’m not sure if there’s a moment where my brain really rests, sometimes words and concepts just come to me as I go about my day. If one strikes a chord with what I’m currently going through in my life then the stream of consciousness starts to flow.

    Ella Isaacson

    Once Isaacson’s career began taking off, managers and industry figures tried getting her to change her image and appeal to the pop landscape. Isaacson instead took a trip to Sweden where she began centering her authentic self. She has continued to release songs with a personal flair and does not fit into a strict genre box.

    “Expectations”, one of Isaacson’s latest releases in collaboration with Gallant, saw viral success and has been featured in popular TikToks as well as Spotify and Apple editorial playlists like New Music Fridays, Young Wild & Free, Pop Edge, Pop Right Now, Mood Booster, and Fresh & Chill.

    Isaacson’s latest single “Maybelline” explores a love story with truthful transparency. In her own words, her artistic process generally focuses on showcasing relatability and emotional confidence.

    I can easily say falling in love for real for the first time, changed everything about my writing. It made me look at myself in a whole new way. I always need my music to say or question something real now. We all want to make the right choices, have the right job, the fairytale love, skyscraper high confidence, the right amount of success but reality exists in the grey and the nuance and I guess that’s something I hope people take away when they hear my music. That we all feel a little lost, a little behind, a little too rough around the edges when you get close.

    Ella Isaacson

    Isaacson now lives in Los Angeles but continues to take inspiration from her free spirited New York upbringing. You can learn more about her on her website and connect on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Her music is available on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music.

  • Village of Menands plans 2021 Concerts in the Park series

    The Village of Menands, just north of the City of Albany, has announced the schedule for the 2021 Concerts in the Park. Performances are held in Ganser-Smith Memorial Park, just off Broadway.

    village of menands

    The Village of Menands was incorporated in August 1924 and takes its name from Louis Menand, a prominent 19th century horticulturist who was born in France in 1807 and immigrated to America in 1837. In 1842 Menand and his wife Adelaide Jackson settled in what is now the Village that bears his name. Menand established one of the finest horticultural and garden establishments in the area, and as the “Albany Northern” railroad was built, a large railroad station was built and the stop was simply called “Menand’s” and the area soon associated itself with the name.

    village of menands

    Ganser-Smith Park plays host to a series of picnics and musical events throughout the summer. Located on Menand Road near the Village center, the 3-acre park is the epicenter of nearly all village-sponsored events. The park amenities include a large open pavilion and BBQ, a children’s playground, baseball field, basketball and volleyball courts as well as horseshoe pits. There are over two dozen picnic tables spread throughout the park. Village youth programs are run at this location from late June through August. Restrooms with handicap access and parking are present on site. Pavilion reservations may be made at the Village office for Village residents.

    The live music offerings are held weekly on Tuesday nights from 6pm-8:30pm at Ganser-Smith Memorial Park. Bring a chair, your family and get food and beverages sold by the Menands Fire Co.

    2021 Menands Concerts in the Park lineup

    July 6 – New York Players
    July 13 – Oldies Show
    July 20 – Hotshot Hillbilly’s
    July 27 – Mike Ruddy
    August 3 – Luster Kings
    August 10 – The All Paul Show

    For more information visit the Menands Village website.

  • Frank Palangi Drops New Track “Fire Of Love”

    Upstate NY-based indie rocker Frank Palangi is here to show that rock and roll never dies. Palangi released his newest song “Fire Of Love” on June 25, the first track shared by Frank ahead of his upcoming EP due out this fall.

    Frank Palangi Fire Of Love

    The track lives up to its flaming title, bringing heavy electric guitar with lively metal and grunge influences. Palangi explained that “Fire Of Love” explores how love is the driving force that fixes our mistakes, sets us free and, of course, brings us all together.

    Creating a hard rock love song complete with strong guitar flares, Palangi argues, adds a “bring it on baby” attitude and swagger to all of these emotions. Palangi’s gravelly, gritty and vibrato vocals also add an edge to his music, appealing to a wide scope of rock fans.

    Frank Palangi Fire Of Love

    Palangi began pursuing music at the young age of 13, teaching himself guitar, bass, drums and recording techniques. He aimed to blend different genre styles, specifically citing the influence of ’80s and ’90s rock as well as post grunge and heavy metal.

    I was a shy kid with health issues growing up so no sports, so I turned to creative outlets. Learning from those decades, I wasn’t going for the typical drinking, smashing hotel rooms as the rocker lifestyle is known for. It could be more about the music, the positive elements, that so many people get drawn into and yes, that rock n roll rebel yell to stand up for yourself.

    Frank Palangi

    Palangi most recently shared the music video for his song “Bring On The Fear” back in January, which addressed the turmoil and need for togetherness during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Fire Of Love” brings a new mood for the summer and is currently available to stream.

    You can connect with Frank Palangi on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Check out his website for updates on releases and performances.