NYS Music 202​1

Tag: ithaca

  • Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Kicks off 45th Season

    The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra in Ithaca are welcoming a 45th season. This year, the orchestra promises a diverse lineup, acclaimed soloists, and above all, “uplifting, thought-provoking, and inspirational” programming. 

    The season kicked off on Sunday, September 26th with a Chamber Music Series program of string classics. The intimate performance at First Unitarian Church in Ithaca featured three diverse pieces. The first two selections highlighted Taileferre, a trailblazing French female composer, and George Walker, the first Black composer to win a Pulitzer prize. The program closed with a performance of Brahms’ “String Sextet No. 2 in G Major.” The composers’ youthful vision connects them: all three composers were in their mid-20s when writing these symphonies.

    cayuga chamber orchestra

    Standout performers this season include violinist and concertmaster Christina Bouey. Bouey will perform a Beethoven solo at CCO’s next offering, a rendition of “Beethoven’s Fifth” scheduled for October 23rd. Ithaca College will host the event. This season will also feature a performance of Rodrigo from Jordan Dodson, who has been called “one of the top young guitarists of his generation.” Dodson will play at Ithaca College as well, on Saturday, November 20th.  

    cayuga chamber orchestra

    Beyond professional performances, the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra also boasts a vibrant youth orchestra. The CCYO just began rehearsals in step with the new season. The program offers kids exposure to a new level of play, as former member Connor Furman detailed in the orchestra’s latest newsletter. Furman, who now sits principal his college orchestra, explained the joy of having access to symphony music in a small community. 

    I came from a very small high school…we didn’t have a marching band, and there was no orchestra, so going from an extremely small band, to a full symphonic orchestra was really a completely new experience. And I loved it! I got to play things I knew I would never play at my high school.

    Connor Furman

    The Youth Orchestra will have their first performance of the season in a winter showcase on January 8th, 2022. But those with young children who may not be ready for their own sheet music need not fear. The CCO offers an immersive Family Concert Series as well, kicking off on November 18th. The program combines live music, narrated children’s books, and opportunities for tots to try new instruments with the help of CCO musicians. Moreover, the event is free of admission. 

    For further details on CCO’s upcoming calendar, and to purchase tickets to any and all events, visit the CCO website.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnnGiBl9V8c

  • X Ambassadors Release New Single, Announce Tour Dates

    Ithaca-natives X Ambassadors have shared a new song called “Okay” in preparation for their third album, The Beautiful Liar, which is set for release on September 24. X Ambassadors have also announced their upcoming U.S./European Tour, including a stop at Webster Hall in October.

    x ambassadors

    X Ambassadors made their full-length debut in 2015 with VHS, that transitioned the band from Ithaca alt-rockers and Brooklyn-indie-scene outsiders to Billboard chart-toppers. Now certified platinum, VHS delivered X Ambassadors’ popular hits “Unsteady” and “Renegades,” which launched them into mainstream success. Most recently, the band released EP Belong, inspired by ’60s and ’70s soul and R&B, in March 2020 as well as three-song project (Eg) in January 2021.

    “Okay” follows the June release of their darkly cinematic track “My Own Monster” whose black-and-white visual finds lead vocalist Sam Harris performing a choreographed routine with his own shadow. Both songs will be featured on the band’s third studio album The Beautiful Liar. 

    x ambassadors

    “Okay” marks the start of a compelling new lyrical direction for X Ambassadors. With the same emotional intensity as 2015’s “Unsteady,” “Okay” adds deeper poeticism with verses like “We’ll make no mistake, whatever may come… We’ll rise up, it’s true and we go down this road…”

    Written during a period of such uncertainty, “Okay” has the ability to connect with and validate the worries of today while sending the reassuring message that things will work out eventually.

    Life is unpredictable… things happen that are out of control all the time. We all are living in a constant state of uncertainty. And yet… I say it all the time. ‘Everything’s gonna be okay.’

    Sam Harris, lead vocalist

    “Okay” is now available for streaming on all major platforms. Preorder The Beautiful Liar album here. 

    Tickets are on sale now for X Ambassadors’ “The Beautiful Liar” tour, which will hit New York’s Webster Hall on October 27. Scarypoolparty and Taylor Janzen will open the show on all North American dates. For ticket information, visit xambassadors.com/tour.

    Check out their U.S. tour schedule below:

    X Ambassadors 2021 “Beautiful Liar” Tour

    Scarypoolparty direct support, Taylor Janzen will open.

    October 15 – House of Blues / San Diego, CA 

    October 16 – Phoenix AZ / Marquee

    October 18 – Tulsa, OK / Cain’s

    October 19 – Austin, TX / Emo’s

    October 22 – Nashville, TN / Brooklyn Bowl

    October 23 – Louisville, KY / Mercury Ballroom

    October 25 – Asheville, NC / Orange Peel

    October 27 – New York, NY / Webster Hall

    October 28 – Boston, MA / Big Night Live

    October 29 – Philadelphia, PA / Theatre of the Living Arts

    October 30  – Washington, DC / Lincoln Theater

    November 1 – Toronto, ONT / Danforth

    November 2 – Detroit, MI / St. Andrew’s

    November 4 – Chicago, IL / Vic

    November 5 – Indianapolis, IN / Deluxe

    November 6 – Milwaukee, WI / Rave

    November 8 – Kansas City, MO / Truman

    November 9 – Minneapolis, MN / Varsity

    November 11 – Denver, CO / Ogden

    November 12 – Salt Lake City, UT / The Depot

    November 13 – Boise, ID / Revolution Concert House

    November 15 – Seattle, WA / Showbox

    November 16 – Spokane, WA / Knitting Factory

    November 17 – Portland, OR / Roseland

    November 19 – Sacramento, CA / Ace of Spades

    November 20 – Los Angeles, CA / Belasco

  • The FMs Release Two New Singles Highlighting Stigmas and Ignorance in Gender Experience

    The FMs have released two new singles highlighting the stigmas and ignorance in society’s gender experience. The double feature of “Song X” and “Bad Girl” dropped on April 30, 2021. 

    The FMs

    The FMs are an up and coming duo hailing originally from Brooklyn and are now Ithaca based. The duo is made up of Matte Namer (they/them) and Frankie Rex (they/them, he/him) and started officially making music together back in 2017. The two have been friends since high school and their music tackles topics such as sexuality, gender, and politics. 

    The FMs are not making music just for entertainment’s sake, but to call on society to change its historical ignorance. Music can be used as a foghorn for their unwavering support of anyone who remains steadfast in their truth and identity. They embrace androgyny and amplify the voices of “the other” through their music and their very existence is a statement and they are not backing down.

    The single “Song X” dropped with an accompanying video that featured both Namer and Rex. The song speaks to the confines of gender in society between it’s lyrics and visuals the release pulls the stereotypes and expectations of gender apart. The song stresses that gender should not be a box, but an act of self-expression. 

     “Bad Girl” was also released at the same time as “Song X” as a double-feature project. The track is funk-inspired with a sample beat from “It’s Raining Men” accompanied by the FMS signature brand of rock flare and covers similar topics about gender and gender expression that “Song X” does. 

    The duo also released merchandise that is available in conjunction with the release with all profits being donated to the Black Trans Travel Fund. For more information on The FMs visit their website.

  • State Theatre of Ithaca Announces 10th Annual “Benefit My State” Free Virtual Concert

    The State Theatre of Ithaca announced its 10th annual “Benefit My State” free virtual concert which will take place on May 8, 2021. The benefit concert will feature tribute band Pink Talking Fish who will also be playing some Grateful Dead tunes in honor of the Cornell ’77 performance.

    The performance is dubbed “PINK TALKING FISH play DEAD”, and is being performed and streamed live from the historic State Theatre of Ithaca. The tribute jam band will perform the music of Pink Floyd, The Talking Head, Phish, and Grateful Dead tunes inspired by the treasured concert on Cornell’s campus, exactly 44 years to the day of the original show. 

    Pink Talking Fish formed back in 2013 and has performed over 500 shows including headlining numerous historic music venues throughout the country. Additionally, Pink Talking Fish has appeared at many prominent festivals including The Peach Music Festival, Jerry Jam, StrangeCreek Campout and The Buffalove Music Festival. They are known for creating a fusion of some of the most beloved and well known bands in the jamband scene. 

    On Mothers’ Day back in 1977, The Grateful Dead performed one of the most significant concerts of their extensive career at Barton Hall in Ithaca, New York. The Grateful Dead are known for playing more than 2,000 concerts in their time but the performance at Cornell University’s Barton Hall on May 8, 1977 has continued to spark interest and provoke discussion quite like any of the other of the bands performances. A lot of the Deadheads know it as simply “5/8/77” and this performance is one of the most collected, circulated, and debated concerts by any band ever, and has topped numerous fan polls through the years. 

    The annual “Benefit My State” concert is the State Theatre of Ithaca’s biggest fundraiser of the year. This event will also feature an online silent auction with over 25 unique, one-of-a-kind items offered to all viewers and is particularly needed this year in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

    Doug Levine, the Executive Director of The State Theatre, spoke on this benefit saying, “We are still in need of additional support to help us get through this very challenging year. The lack of shows due to COVID resulted in huge hurdles to overcome and we are not out of the clear yet. We hope that the folks that are able to tune in and enjoy this show will consider making a donation to help sustain us until we are allowed to safely reopen.”  

    Although the concert is free, donations will be accepted with all proceeds for the 10th Annual “Benefit My State” concert directly supporting The State Theatre of Ithaca. The Pink Talking Fish Play Dead benefit will be streamed LIVE from The State Theatre of Ithaca for free at The Relix Twich Channel on Saturday, May 8th at 7PM EST.

    For more information of the benefit concert visit the State Theatre Of Ithaca’s website.

  • The State Theatre of Ithaca to Repair Almost 300 Seats this Spring

    The State Theatre of Ithaca has announced they are repairing 293 of their 1,600 seats in poor condition this Spring.

    The State Theatre of Ithaca
    Photo from State Theatre of Ithaca Website

    The State Theatre of Ithaca officially opened in 1928 and became a staple in the community as an entertainment venue. The theatre evolved with each era, in the 30s it was more of a cinema house and a second screen was installed in 1976. In the 90s, the balcony was removed and theatrical programs made a return by the Ithaca Performing Arts Center. In 1998, Historic Ithaca took over the building and came with a new roof and updates in lighting and electrical systems along with expertise in running a theatre. The current owners, a non-for-profit organization named The State Theatre of Ithaca Inc. purchased the building in 2009 and has invested over $1 million in improving the theatre over time. Restroom renovations made in 2015 allowed the building’s capacity to increase.

    The theatre’s mission is to enhance Ithaca’s cultural life by preserving, operating and promoting the State Theatre as an active venue locally, nationally and internationally. Over 85 shows happen each year and community support allows it to take place. Past events have included performances from Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, classical composers, comedians, local performers and films.

    COVID-19 has impacted many venues, and The State Theatre of Ithaca is one of them. In March 2020 the theatre was forced to close its doors which resulted in revenue loss from cancellations and rescheduling. In efforts to keep the theatre going through these times, the Save Your Seat campaign was announced in November 2020. The campaign allowed people to pay $100 per seat in total and it didn’t stop until every seat was saved. In less than eight weeks, the theatre reached their goal and raised $160,000. 

    While they were in the process of the campaign they realized that about 20 percent of their seats needed improvement. There were seats with tears and holes or there were some that were held together by duct tape. The donations are going to repair and reupholster the seats. Along with the repairs there are two new plaques that will be attached to the seats. The first plaque includes personal messages submitted by Save Your Seat supporters and the second plaque includes the official seat designation. The State Theatre of Ithaca plans to reinstall the repaired seats in May and to reopen with these new seats. 

  • The Haunt in Ithaca is Demolished, but New Location Coming Soon

    Beloved live music venue The Haunt in Ithaca, NY has been recently sold and demolished, but relocation begins soon.

    The Haunt Ithaca

    At 702 Willow Street, The Haunt will be replaced by a building under the City Harbor Residential Project, which is under way now in Ithaca. Several residential buildings are in the process of construction all across town.

    Ithaca’s most prominent local promoter, Dan Smalls of DSP shows, said on the matter “It allows me to work with the people we’re working with to look for a new and bigger and better location, which continues to be our plan,” He added, “The question is just when we will be ready to announce it. That’ll be hopefully soon, but we’re working very diligently toward a new location. Our goal is to be the premier live entertainment venue in Central New York. It’ll be a gathering place for not just live music, like The Haunt, but a real downtown gathering spot.”

    The Haunt, Fall 2020 – photo by Casey Martin

    Small recognizes that the pandemic renders it impossible to know when live music can resume, but he hopes that in 2022 it will be possible to have a full-capacity venue.

    “(COVID-19 guidance) will dictate how quickly we move with the next project, but there will be a next project,” Smalls said. “Something that’s a usable, hopefully downtown location, and there’s lots of areas downtown that are currently being developed, so hopefully that gives people an idea of where that could be.”

    Originally opening in 1960, The Haunt relocated in the 1990s to the West End which attracted both national artists and up-and-coming acts, fostering a space in Ithaca for large crowds and great music. Smalls remarks on attending concerts at the earlier Green Street location before it was relocated in the 90s. To make the new Ithaca location a vital venue in the region, Smalls cities the Higher Ground venue in Burlington, Vermont as a place he wishes to emulate.

    The potential new location is hypothesized to land on 15-117 North Cayuga Street, the current location of the Masonic Temple, but after speaking to the owners, Smalls responded that the offer is not “on the table” just yet.

  • Flashback: Phish performs at The Haunt in Ithaca, January 29, 1990

    It was January 29, 1990 in Central New York and, yes, it was snowing. Fans who attended the Phish show that night at The (original) Haunt in Ithaca did so battling a blizzard and poor roads, which caused the band to arrive late, quickly set up and, after a live soundcheck, got the show on the road.

    Phish has played sporadically in the Fingerlakes Region of New York throughout their career, most notably and recently, Superball IX, Magnaball and shows in Canandaigua at CMAC. Their early years in the college town of Ithaca proved to be formative, bringing the band to town multiple times between 1988-1992 before graduating to larger venues like Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center (now CMAC).

    phish ithaca
    The Haunt in Ithaca c.1990 (photo is not from the 1/29/90 Phish show)

    From Phish’s bar years, this is an early era show that captures the band when they played to their early fans, many seeing the Burlington group for the first time. After a three-night run in May 1988, Phish would return to The Haunt in Ithaca for a show on January 29, 1990, with a loud and rowdy 18-and-over audience.

    The partial tape of the show starts in the middle of “The Lizards” and continues through a “Harpua” and “Fire” encore, a setlist that is culled together thanks to David Schanker’s and Todd Ahrens’ audience recording. Thus, there is no known first set for this show.

    You can hear the audience from this show quite distinctly, elated when each song ends, and fans screaming out requests despite the band being barely six years old. You may even catch drunks screaming into the mic, which was set up on the bar. One patron this night can be heard saying “Nothing like this has ever been done at The Haunt, unbelieveable man!” Quite the frozen-in-time seal of approval.

    Recording aside, this is a smoking show musically, particularly for the “Weekapaug Groove” and a “Harpua” that has a tough to discern narration but full of “Purple Haze” teases. That said, you’ll get a fair idea of what it was like to see Phish at the original Haunt in Ithaca.

    Dan Smalls, Ithaca-area promoter and head of DSP Shows was at the January 29, 1990 show and shared his recollections with NYS Music:

    It was about as classic a Phish set as you get from the very early days. I always loved how they chose popular and also odd songs to cover, teases in jams and the like. That was a part of who they are today and was a huge bit of fun at the festivals we produced where they would learn a song backstage between sets.

    My recollection is also vague but the room was solidly crowded in this era (unlike 1988 when we had a handful for those first few shows) and the band was on the cusp of the next step at this point. I remember that the band was playing The Haunt at least once a semester and often 3-4 times a year in these days.  It’s where I got to know them and these shows were always fun because Fish’s parents would come down from where they lived outside Syracuse.

    Phish would go on to play The Haunt another four times in 1990, then move up to the State Theatre of Ithaca for two shows in 1991. They returned the next year to perform at Cornell University campus in November 1992, the last shows for the band in the city.

    Download the show here, or stream it here and here.

    Phish The Haunt Ithaca

    Phish – The Haunt, Ithaca, NY – January 29, 1990

    Setlist via Phish.net

    Set 2: The Lizards, If I Only Had a Brain, Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Jesus Just Left Chicago > Possum, Highway to Hell

    Encore: Harpua, Fire

    This setlist is incomplete. Harpua included a Purple Haze jam.