NYS Music 202​2

Author: Haylee Farrell

  • Max Doud Releases New Single “Spin In Place”

    From Rochester, Max Doud is making major strides in his career by releasing his first single of the year titled “Spin In Place” at just 17 years old. The professionalism and polish that went into this new release is just the beginning of hearing and seeing Doud’s truest capabilities.

    Max Doud Releases New Single "Spin In Place"

    Max Doud is a 17 year old musician (singer/songwriter/guitarist) and a student of Elvio Fernandes’ Roc Academy in Rochester, NY. Max performs all over the city as a solo act, as a duo with drummer Brennan Dornberger (5 Second Rule), and with his Roc Academy band Own the Night. 

    “Spin In Place” is a contemporary rock song, driven by commanding instrumentals and showcases Doud’s vocal ability. The track is the first to be co-written with Steve Sopcheck, helping compliment and fine tune Doud’s musical prowess as a young, evolving musician.  

    Not only is this new release Doud’s first on record musical entry for the year, but it’s also his first single to be released in conjunction with Sin Eater Entertainment. On his new endeavor with Sin Eater Entertainment, he comments: “I am also super exited for my journey to begin with Sin Eater and getting to see the more technical side of creating music and I can’t wait to see where it goes!” 

    Max Doud Releases New Single "Spin In Place"

    Max Doud describes the meaning of his newest single by saying, “The song is about the journey that one would take to reach a goal in life that they have, while everything is still happening all around them whether it’s troubles or triumphs. You still want to reach that goal no matter what and that’s how life is for me right now. I want people to keep chasing their dreams no matter what and continue down their paths in life. This song helps me feel motivated in that sense.”  

    “Yes, he likes to sleep until noon. Yes, he has to be reminded to clean his room. But this kid has been playing solo gigs in bars since he was 12 years old. And did you know he co-wrote his first original song at only 13 years old? He puts 110% into everything he’s passionate about…further proven by the fact he earned a black belt in karate at the young age of 10! Every weekend you can bet you’ll find Max playing somewhere in Rochester, NY…whether it is a solo gig, or with his duo 5 Second Rule with drummer Brennan Dornberger, or his Roc Academy band, Own the Night you can be certain you’ll be entertained!”

    Max Doud

  • Accessible Festivals launch Dan Grover Memorial Ticket Grant Program

    Accessible Festivals officially launched its Dan Grover Memorial Ticket Grant Program this week, providing a limited number of free access tickets to recreational experiences like concerts, festivals, and conventions for disabled music fans and their loved ones. This marks a huge step forward towards accessibility for all throughout major events across the U.S.  

    Accessible Festivals launch Dan Grover Memorial Ticket Grant Program
    Pictured: Past recipient Cindy Navarro at Escape Festival 

    Accessible Festivals is partnering with the largest festivals in the country, such as Austin City Limits Music Festival, BottleRock Napa Valley, Electric Daisy Carnival, Lollapalooza, Rolling Loud NY, Stagecoach and more. The idea was born out of the organization’s founder, Austin Whitney’s own personal experience. In 2007, Whitney was injured in a car accident that severed his spinal cord and paralyzed him from the waist down. He became consumed with depression and anxiety about his new life living with a disability. 

    Accessible Festivals launch Dan Grover Memorial Ticket Grant Program
    Photo credit: Abbey Madrid Stagecoach

    After some time, Whitney attended his first music festival, Coachella. For the first time since his injury, he was able to simply enjoy life. With the realization of the importance of festival accessibility, he decided to devote his life to ensuring people of all abilities can have an equal opportunity to experience live music and recreational activities to the fullest extent possible.  

    Photo credit: TJ Hayes Lollapalooza

    Dan Grover was born on December 6, 1962, in rural New Jersey. At an early age, he was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic condition that deteriorates muscular strength over time, and began using a wheelchair for mobility at the age of 21. 

    Dan was responsible for implementing and improving ADA operations at some of the nation’s largest music festivals including Electric Forest, Outside Lands, Life is Beautiful, and many more. He helped ensure thousands of disabled guests were able to see the show safely and comfortably and was a fierce advocate for greater inclusion and accessibility for all.

    In an unfortunate turn of events, Dan passed away on July 27, 2022. This program is intended to keep Dan’s legacy alive and honor him by sharing his passion for music and continuing to help other people with disabilities see the show. 

    Photo credit: Kimy Churchhill HARD Summer

    Accessible Festival’s Ticket Grant Program currently has two dozen events this Fall which are currently accepting applications for complimentary admission. Upcoming events include Electric Daisy Carnival Orlando, Firefly Festival, Made in America Festival, Rolling Loud NY, and many others.  

    Find more information and apply for admission at the link here.

  • Happy Birthday to the Lead Singer of the Strokes, Julian Casablancas 

    Best known as lead vocalist and main songwriter for the infamous band The Strokes, Julian Casablancas turns 44 years old today, August 23. Julian has played a significant role in influencing the revival of 1960’s alternative garage music in the early 2000’s.  

    Born in New York City on this day in1978, Julian Casablancas cites The Doors as one of his earliest musical influences, though he specifies that he was influenced by their musical style rather than the public image of their vocalist and lead singer Jim Morrison. He has also cited Lou Reed of The Velvet Underground as a major influence on his lyrics and singing style. 

    As a solo artist, Casablancas set out with an intention to say what was on his mind, both musically and lyrically. Speaking of his experience as a solo artist versus releasing music with The Strokes, the singer has put it simply, “It’s like touring with me or with five of me,” meaning that each member has their own opinionated state of mind. 

     While such statements raised much concern for the relations between the band members, Casablancas claims that in pursuit of a solo career, he is protecting the integrity of the [Strokes] vibe. In having a musical project separate from The Strokes, he can “chase down any idea [he] wants”, which he would refrain from doing with the band. 

    Being the lead vocalist and songwriting in The Strokes sparked a major revival of 1960s alternative rock music, starting in New York City. With their unique alternative sound, the Strokes have inspired many known alternative artists today. 

    Overall, Casablancas has served as a major inspiration for musicians like Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys and the painter Elizabeth Peyton. Courtney Love‘s song “But Julian, I’m a Little Bit Older Than You” from her debut solo album America’s Sweetheart (2004) was written about Casablancas.

  • The Strokes Revival Changed Early 2000’s Alternative

    The Strokes are an alternative rock band from New York City, often credited with influencing the revival of 1960s-style rock in the early 21st century. The band was formed in 1998 and was arranged by singer Julian Casablancas, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr., bassist Nikolai Fraiture, and drummer Fabrizio Moretti. 

    How The Strokes became “The Strokes“

    Eventually, after playing in clubs throughout New York’s Lower East side, the Stokes revival began to make a name for themselves. For instance, The Strokes sold out shows such as The Capitol Theater. But why are the Strokes called The Strokes in the first place?

    The band’s bassist, Nikolai, revealed to NME, “We had a running joke that every time we met up, we had to have a certain number of names. Some were horrible. One day Julian said, ‘How about The Strokes?’ And it was the one name we all didn’t disagree on.” 

    Although The Strokes were becoming very popular in NYC, Albert Hammond Jr is the most business-like out of the band’s members. In the early days, he booked shows and harassed record executives claiming to be the band’s manager, and using the fictitious name, Paul Spencer. 

    While Tom Petty, The Ramones, Blondie, and Television have had a heavy influence on their early sound, The Stroke’s music has inspired numerous artists and created a distinct 2000s alternative sound.

    Bands such as The Killers, Artic Monkeys, The Kooks, MGMT, and more became inspired by their sound and broadened the alternative genre. Along with the White Stripes and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Strokes revival helped shape the sound and look of alternative rock in the 2000s. 

    “Is This It” and It’s Aesthetic

    In the 2000s, The Strokes’ unique sound sparked a revival of alternative rock within New York City. Primarily, their recording of “This Is It” has influenced younger teens to have a “late 90s grunge aesthetic.”

    Along with this, frontman Julian Casablancas embodied this look. The aesthetic consisted of using the social media staple Tumblr, worn leather jackets, tattered denim, and cigarettes.

    The Breakup of The Strokes

    The Strokes were big throughout the early 2000s, but over time began to lose their spotlight. The band members began to lose their harmony and took a break from performing together, some took their own ways and started other projects. 

    After some time apart, the band came back together and released their newest album “The New Abnormal” which has been a huge hit with all the millennials.  

    The era of “The New Abnormal” and its Fame

    The Strokes’ newest album, “The New Abnormal,” is a huge hit today. For instance, the song “The Adults Are Talking” is currently trending on social media like TikTok, inspiring kids across the new generation. The album was released on April 10th, 2020, and is their first album in seven years. It’s not every day that a band can come back strong, but using their signature sound and melodies, they have become popularized once again.  

  • Bill Scorzari Releases ‘The Crosswinds of Kansas’

    New York-based singer-songwriter Bill Scorzari has just independently released his upcoming album, The Crosswinds of Kansas, this Friday, Aug. 19. With his rich raspy voice and a stellar ear for lyrics and composition, Bill transcends titles like songwriter or poet. Later in his career, he transformed his life as a New York Trial Lawyer in Huntington to a full-time musician in 2014.  

    Scorzari spent the early days of the Covid lockdown finishing songs for the album and gathering the right instruments to fit the mood. He even began to learn Navajo from new friends that he met when commissioning a Native American flute to be able to recite his lyrics in the language for the closing track—a song with an intriguing backstory. 

    For me, the journey that had begun in 2019 (and in many respects, much earlier), became a journey into the depths of my soul, not just in a nebulous aspirational or conceptual sense, but in its fruition, and this album is a record of many of the ways in which it has all unfolded for me so far. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have occupied my time with this effort and for the opportunity to continue to participate in the dance that is life, through this pandemic and beyond.

    —Bill Scorzari 
    Bill Scorzari Releases 'The Crosswinds of Kansas'

    Scorzari, a prolific songwriter, has taken his craft to new heights and deeper depths with his 4th studio album, The Crosswinds of Kansas. He became inspired by his three-month-long Now I’m Free Tour in 2019, which had become a journey of self-discovery. Thus, he ultimately arrived at a new awareness and desire to adapt and continue to create. 

    New York-based singer-songwriter Bill Scorzari transcends titles like songwriter or poet. He catapults past categories into a dark, ruminative, and ultimately life-affirming realm where family folklore, memories, pain, prayer, and incantation meet.

    says Acoustic Guita

    In early 2022, he recorded some backing vocal and harmony vocal tracks for the song, “Tryin’, Tryin’, Tryin’, Tryin.’” For the final piece to complete the record, he asked his friend to send him a short cell phone recording of himself singing a Navajo chant, which he edited to make it sound like a historically older recording before adding it in at the end of the song. Talking about the song, he said, “When I was done and listened back to it, the song (and the album) felt complete, and the history it has gathered is abundant and beautiful.” 

    To pre-order and listen to Bill Scorzari’s new album The Crosswinds of Kansas, click the link here.

  • Brooklyn’s Industry City Concert Series Heats Up

    Brooklyn’s Industry City has just outlined its Hometown Bar-B-Que 2022 Concert Series at the Industry City Bandshell, in South Brooklyn. The diverse mix of culture and local businesses within Industry City is as authentic of a New York experience as it gets. “No visit to Industry City is ever the same” is a popular saying about the venue.

    Industry City Concert Series

    The concert series began on July 21, with a performance by rock n’ roll group Lizzie and the Makers during the venue’s Sunset Happy Hour. The series continued on July 29, when the signature sound of Club d’Elf took the stage.

    On August 13, Industry City welcomed a collective of New York City’s top musicians including Murderers’ Row. The band performed a tribute to some of the world’s best artists and albums.  

    The fun continued the next night on August 14, at 6 P.M. ET, when DJ Logic and Friends ascended upon the Brooklyn venue to deliver a one-of-a-kind super jam. Friends like Billy Martin (Medeski, Martin and Wood), James Casey, Natalie Cressman and Jennifer Hartwick (Trey Anastasio Band’s horn section), Jamie Shields, Dan Kurtz (The New Deal) and Ross Bellenoit (Muscle Tough) were all featured. 

    The penultimate event will take place on Sunday, August, 18 at 7 p.m. ET, with a performance from Levon Helm Studios’ Midnight Ramble Band, as Helm’s legendary songbook graces the Industry City stage. The final show will happen on September, 24 when Flight 467 and Summerfeet each deliver a 90-minute set of ’70s-infused jazz-rock and jammed-out yacht rock.  

    Although it will come to an end, Industry City is planning to add more events through Halloween. You won’t want to miss any upcoming events at this intimate yet wide-open outdoor South Brooklyn space.

    For additional information and to purchase tickets for Industry City’s summer concert series, visit the link here.

  • NYC’s Electric Zoo Announces 12 Afterparties Featuring Martin Garrix, Tchami, and More

    NYC’s Electric Zoo has just announced its star-studded lineup for official afterparties you don’t want to miss. There will be 12 Afterparties over the course of four days including Tchami, Camelphat, Martin Garrix, CloZee, Loco Dice, and more to come. 

    NYC's Electric Zoo Announces 12 Afterparties

    On September 2 through the 4, NYC’s premiere EDM festival Electric Zoo will upgrade Randall’s Island Park into a futuristic, tech-driven paradise. The festival features some highly anticipated sets from headliners like Porter Robinson, CloZee, and Armin Van Buuren across four stages. Thus, highlighting both rare performances from legacy acts and the biggest breakthrough artists.  

    Electric Zoo will take music fans on a cosmic musical journey beyond their wildest imaginations with 3.0, a gathering that embraces unexplainable phenomena and will open music fans’ minds to new sounds and experiences. 

    EZoo is excited to announce its official parties that will take place each night after the festival ends at many of the city’s most magnificent venues including Webster Hall, Brooklyn Mirage, Quantum, Marquee, Superior Ingredients, Lavo, and Avant Gardner from September 2-5.

    Dice is returning to EZoo after 11 years for a highly anticipated return on the Carl Cox Invites stage.  “Dice is always evolving with his sound of music that you cannot put in a musical box at all. He really does push the boundaries, which makes me excited to hear what he will pull out of the bag next.”

    – Carl Cox 

    Since its inception, the founders have taken Electric Zoo around the globe, creating satellite soirées in Mexico, Brazil, and China. Still, its hometown in NYC continues to be the most popular, selling out year after year. A crowd of nearly 100,000 gather in Randall’s Island Park annually, according to organizers, with a record-breaking 107,500 attending in 2019. 

    The vibes are immaculate, and 2022 will be another ambitious undertaking destined to transport its fans beyond musical boundaries.  

    Tickets are available to Festival Pass Holders Wednesday, August 10th. If you do not have a pass, you will have 24 hours to purchase one in order to get ticket access to the after-parties. To purchase tickets for Electric Zoo and to learn more about the festival, click the link here.

  • J-LINE Drops End-Of-Summer Hit ‘If I Don’t Have You’

    NYC-based LGBTQ dance-pop artist J-LINE is dropping his instantly catchy new dance pop hit “If I Don’t Have You” on August 19. The song is an upbeat yet lyrically haunting track about letting go of an ex, right before the end of the summer. Thus, allowing listeners to dance out their own feelings of loss and loneliness

    J-LINE Drops End-Of-Summer Hit "If I Don't Have You"

    Using elements of 80’s synth-pop and modern dance music, the track “If I Don’t Have You” brilliantly captures that post-breakup feeling without falling into despair. Because of it’s upbeat tempo and memorable lines like, “I sit and wait for you at a table set for two” and “I know I sound desperate but I’m crazy and I can’t forget about you.”

    J-LINE has described his newest hit as “seeing your ex as an ethereal being/ghost that haunts you every minute of your life. As you walk downtown, as you sleep, when you feel the summer breeze on your face. Every second brings back a memory until you get to such a fragile emotional space you’re someone who’s ‘haunted’. It’s about that desperate attempt to reconcile, ignore all the issues in the relationship and plead with your ex to ‘come back’ to you.”  

    – J-LINE

    J-LINE has gathered over 1 million streams, 2 million youtube views and fans all over the globe with his unique sound. Using a synth electro-pop sound that mirrors the brightness of the late 80’s/early 90s, J-LINE makes the underground music scene feel alive again with an electrifying-80’s twist. “If I Don’t Have You” captures the best of what J-LINE offers, emotionally complex dance music from a queer perspective mixed with a retro yet modern twist.  

    J-LINE will continue to release more music throughout 2022, as well as dazzle crowds with his live show. More recently, including a recent breakout performance to a crowd of well-over 5000 people at the first-ever Montclair Pride.  

    Currently, J-LINE is touring with his “Dirty pop party” concert, where he performs alongside LGBTQ artists (including Myylo, Peppermint, and Dillon Burnside) in major US cities, highlighting what the diverse future of music looks and sounds like. His live set is an energetic blend of choreography, vocals and music that leave audiences electrified.

    To listen to “If I Don’t Have You,” click the link here.

  • Brooklyn Comes Alive at The Brooklyn Mirage on September 17

    On September 17th, Brooklyn Comes Alive will return to The Brooklyn Mirage for its sixth installment. This one-day festival brings together the best genres of live music ranging from jazz, jam and funk. Likewise, this event features some unforgettable collaborations, unique one-off performances and one-of-a-kind music experiences. 

    Brooklyn Comes Alive September 17th

    Inspired by New Orleans and its famed Jazz & Heritage Festival, Brooklyn Comes Alive has been breaking the mold of traditional festivals with unprecedented music experiences since 2015. This year, Brooklyn Comes Alive will feature STS9, Medeski Martin & Wood, Lettuce, and the debut of Cool Cool Cool, an unforgettable project from former members of Turkuaz.

    It is so rewarding to work with some of our favorite artists to deliver special performances, debut new projects, and create memorable experiences for fans and bands alike at Brooklyn Comes Alive. That we get to do this in one of the country’s best live music venues, in the best city in the world, is a dream come true. Brooklyn, we’re back, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you at the incredible and unique venue, The Brooklyn Mirage.

    – Festival director Gideon Plotnicki (GMP Live)

    Brooklyn Comes Alive was built from the fabric of the vibrant live music community of Brooklyn. Much like past “Comes Alive” events, Brooklyn Comes Alive 2022 will be full of exciting firsts and never-before-seen surprises. This event will mark STS9’s first show in NYC since 2019 when they last took over the Brooklyn Mirage. Similarly, Medeski Martin & Wood, who have not played on their home turf in NYC since 2019, will use the special appearance to celebrate their 30th anniversary as a band, which took place last year. 

    Lettuce will be notching both their Brooklyn Comes Alive debut and their Brooklyn Mirage debut as they celebrate the release of their latest album, Unify, but the band’s individual members are all Brooklyn Comes Alive veterans.

    Brooklyn Comes Alive 2022 Lineup: 

    STS9 
    Medeski Martin & Wood 
    Lettuce 
    Cool Cool Cool (former members of Turkuaz: Craig Brodhead, Chris Brouwers, Michelangelo Carubba, Shira Elias, Sammi Garett, Greg Sanderson and Josh Schwartz*) 

    General admission tickets are available in three tiers, starting at $65 and increasing as tiers sell out. The elevated VIP experiences, VIP and Super VIP, include expedited entry, access to the VIP Mezzanine with perfect sightlines to the stage and more. With the Super VIP package including exclusive limited edition merch item.  

    All tickets, including VIP packages, can be purchased at the link here.

  • Fantastic Cat Release Debut Album “The Very Best Of Fantastic Cat”

    ‘New NYC supergroup, Fantastic Cat, are a new instrument-swapping rock/alt-country/folk band made of singer/songwriters Anthony D’Amato, Brian Dunne, Don DiLego, and Mike Montali. Their debut album The Very Best Of Fantastic Cat just came out on July 29. Likewise, they’ll also be celebrating at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom with an album release show the same day. 

    So far, their newest record has been praised by Atwood Magazine, No Depression, The Boot, Bluegrass Situation and more; the singles have been added to multiple 1M+ Spotify playlists including Fresh Finds and All New Indie. The band also have a CBS Saturday session confirmed for the end of July which will air in early/mid-August. 

    The first single, “C’mon Armageddon”, is an incredible A24-style music video featuring Marc Geller who plays Kier Egan on the hit AppleTV show Severance. Along with this, the music video for the single “The Gig” shows the band playing a gig on The Staten Island Ferry after being told by their sleazebag manager he booked the band on “one of those concert cruises that are all the rage.”  

    Fantastic Cat Supergroup Release Newest Album "The Very Best Of Fantastic Cat"

    Captured in the wilds of the Pocono Mountains, the album shifts between genres and different decades of music. By mixing electrified 60’s folk and 70’s AM radio gold with 80’s heartland rock and 90’s alt-country, it encompasses a raw feel of longtime friends making music for the sheer joy of it.

    “Their music is at once fun, freewheeling, achingly intimate, and beautifully honest. They can joke about themselves and the state of things while tapping into deeply meaningful and relatable emotions… Fantastic Cat’s songs are a reminder that, even in our darkest moments, we can find a little light and love to hold onto.” 

    – Atwood Magazine

    Along with the great music the band produces, they have a very fun and humorous vibe in all their videos and photos. Particularly, the photos and videos where they wear the giant cut out cat heads. Fantastic Cat has impressively made its way into the spotlight collectively. Through the four transcend their respective roots, they have emerged as an instrument-swapping, harmony-trading, tear-jerking, wise-cracking rock and roll cooperative far greater than the sum of its parts. 

    Key Tracks: