NYS Music 202​2

Author: Haylee Farrell

  • Laurel Canyon release debut EP “Victim”

    Laurel Canyon released their debut EP, Victim, on January 14, featuring two brand new singles “Shove” and “Sade.” The album was produced by Bryce Goggin (Pavement, Hello Mary) at Trout Recording in Brooklyn. Along with this, the artist Savage Pencil, who has worked with Big Black and Sonic Youth, created the artwork for the EP. 

    Laurel Canyon EP “Victim”
    Cover artwork by Savage Pencil (Big Black, Sonic Youth).

    Laurel Canyon is a grunge band originally from Pennsylvania, however, they record their music and perform in Brooklyn. Nicholas Gillespie and Serg Cereja are the creators of this iconic band. To sum up, they met two years ago through a mutual friend in their hometown of Allentown. After that, through shared interests and collaboration, the two began writing and recording songs. Above all, creating the punk-rock band known today as Laurel Canyon.

    Photo of Laurel Canyon by @pielmelosa on Instagram
    Photo by @pielmelosa on Instagram

    Victim embodies the sounds of original 90s grunge/pun music. Likewise, along with its melodic vocals, the album creates a unique tone. In songs like “Daddy’s Honey,” the two yell repeatedly “off her broken plates” together. Similarly, the song’s lyrics are said to be inspired by the band’s “real-life experiences in a troubled home” (Thomas Gallo).

    Photo of Laurel Canyon by Alex Hall
    Photo by Alex Hall

    There’s no denying that this album has gained popularity online for its 90s-sound, with “Eczema” and “Daddy’s Honey” are featured in the Spotify playlists “All New Rock” and “Smells Like Stream Spirit.” 

    In October of 2020, Nick and Serg shared the song, “Two Times Emptiness,” released on May 1st, 2021. Both artists said they contributed equally to the music and the lyrics, thus creating a song neither could have written alone. 

    Photo by Nikola Burnett
    Photo by Nikola Burnett

    The band quickly found themselves with a lot of material to work with and established a relationship with producer, Bryce Goggin (Pavement, Hello Mary). With the help of bassist Dylan Loccarini and Chip Williams, in July and November of 2021 the group recorded the 5-track EP Victim. 

     Victim can be found on Spotify and Bandcamp.

    https://open.spotify.com/track/6ciEiH4RBAUYDRQkPS4GBR?si=f0048ac2d65f4345 https://linktr.ee/Laurel_Canyon

  • Alan Braufman Announces New Album “Live in New York City” from 1975

    Alan Braufman announces a new live album due on April 8, tilted Live In New York City featuring the recording of Braufman with his five-piece band, Cooper-Moore (piano, ashimba, recitation), William Parker (bass), John Clark (French horn), Jim Schapperow (drums) and Ralph Williams (percussion) in an early 1975 live radio session.

    Alan Braufman Album, Live From New York City
    Alan Braufman Album, Live From New York City

    Alan Braufman was born in 1951 in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island. After some time, he moved to Boston to attend Berklee in 1968 to pursue music. Doing so made him become an instrumental figure in New York City culture. He currently lives and performs in Salt Lake City, UT, and became a teacher along with learning to play the saxophone.

    Alan Brafman by Gabriela Bhaskar
    Photo by Gabriela Bhaskar 

    Braufman is an experienced saxophonist, flutist, and composer within the Jazz community and preforms with many acts such as Alan Michael Band, Cooper-Moore, Cecil McBee and many others. In 2016, the Alan Michael Band became nominated for Best Jazz Artist by the Salt Lake City Weekly. 

    Photo by P Squared
    Photo by P Squared

    Braufman would go on to work with drummer William Hooker and his own groups before relocating to Salt Lake City. His album “Valley of Search” has gained popularity and captures a unique historical slice of New York’s creative underground Jazz.

    The vinyl of the album is a 94-minute performance that is spread over 5 album sides on 3 LPs and 2 CDs. Along with this, the album will feature a live version of his song “Chant.” The album will be available on vinyl, CD and to stream on April 8th via Valley of Search and is available for pre-order/ pre-save at Bandcamp. 

  • Capital Region Musicians to Pay Tribute to Folksinger Bill Staines at Caffe Lena on January 22

    At 74 years old, New Hampshire folk musician Bill Staines died on Sunday, December 5, 2021. For more than 45 years, Bill Staines has been the classic folk songwriter, singing his songs at the country’s top festivals, concerts, clubs and coffee houses. Above all, Staines performed at Saratoga Springs coffeehouse Caffe Lena twice a year from 1968 to 2021, once in the winter and once in the summer.

    Bill Staines

    Staines held a special role at Caffe Lena, having performed more than 100 times at the venue. In addition, Staines decided to play at Café Lena twice a year in 1968 and kept his promise. Across the world, many fans have been morning the loss of Staines.

    Bill Staines has passed away from cancer and our hearts are breaking. He played Caffe Lena summer and winter every year since 1968. He’s our nearest and dearest and it won’t be the same without him.

    Caffè Lena

    On January 22nd, Caffe Lena will host “Crossing the Water,” a tribute concert celebrating the life and legacy of the beloved songwriter, Bill Staines. The tribute will take place on the date that would have been Staines’ winter show for 2022. It will feature Staines’ songs, passages from his autobiography, and video clips from his final concert at the venue on September 17, 2021. Furthermore, there will be additional performances by Dan Berggren, Kate McDonnell, Vivian Nesbitt and John Dillon, Wanda Fischer, Kevin McKrell and Arlin Greene, Jonny and Annie Rosen, and John Kirk and Trish Miller.

    Staines had wonderful songs, charm and gentle humor, He was known for being an amazing musician and likable person. Along with his his kindness and gentle wisdom, he was said to have driven more than 65,000 miles every year to perform at music festivals, churches, concert halls and sometimes even in private homes.

    For many years I have referred to him as an anchor to our heritage. So much has changed over the years. But Bill has remained a constant.

    Executive Director Sarah Craig. 
    Bill Staines

    In-person attendees must present proof of vaccination and masks are required. For those unable to attend, a free live stream will be available on Caffe Lena’s YouTube channel. Tickets and streaming information are available at caffelena.org

  • The Warp The Weft Release “It May Not Always Be So” based on an e.e. cummings Poem

    The Warp/The Weft is a progressive folk/metamorphic rock band based in Hudson Valley, Poughkeepsie. They have been active since 2012 and have used poetry to influence their psychedelia-style music. Their third LP, Dead Reckoning, was released in August 2019 and a new album is forthcoming.

    the warp the weft
    A Sun-Filled Room, The Warp/The Weft

    Recently, they have presented a musicalization of “It May Not Always Be So,” an e. e. cummings sonnet that explores an intense love and, with it, the need to nurture the other’s future happiness. This song was recorded at the Artfarm (Accord, NY) in December of 2021 by Sean Boyd, this is the band’s first recording and release since pre-pandemic times.  

    The Warp The Weft
    It May Not Always Be So, The Warp/The Weft

    The Warp/The Weft does an amazing job at captivating its audience’s emotions by evoking intense feelings of love, painful loss and imaginative awareness through e.e cummings,’ “It May Not Always Be So.” Shane Murphy and Trevor Larcheveque do incredible vocals to further express the deep feelings within the song’s poetical meaning. Christian Lark (Drums) and Chris Pellnat (Lead Guitar) help further captivate how powerful the melody of a song could be while using rhythmic beat and heart-felt guitar chords. The lyrics can be interpreted as an experience of a kind of love/relationship that it is possible to let go because you love someone so much you just want them to be happy, with or without you.

    “It’s a fun challenge to add music to poetry without destroying the music of poetry.” 

    The Warp/The Weft

    It May Not Always Be So; And I Say, by e.e cummings

    it may not always be so; and i say 
    that if your lips, which i have loved, should touch 
    another’s, and your dear strong fingers clutch 
    his heart, as mine in time not far away; 
    if on another’s face your sweet hair lay 
    in such a silence as i know, or such 
    great writhing words as, uttering overmuch, 
    stand helplessly before the spirit at bay; 
     
    if this should be, i say if this should be — 
    you of my heart, send me a little word; 
    that i may go unto him, and take his hands, 
    saying, Accept all happiness from me. 
    Then shall i turn my face, and hear one bird 
    sing terribly afar in the lost lands.