Author: Lindsay Brown

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats bring The Future to Radio City Music Hall

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats supported their third studio album The Future with a few performances in New York City this month. The band performed a powerfully packed 24-song-set at Radio City Music Hall followed by a stop at Studio 6B for The Tonight Show a couple of days later.

Nathaniel Rateliff performing with the Night Sweats at Radio City Music Hall

As the Night Sweats ramped up for their opener “Look It Here” off the band’s self-titled debut album, Nathaniel greeted the crowd with “How’s everybody doing tonight?” pausing to take in the crowd’s roar from a sold out Radio City Music Hall. “It’s a pleasure to be here with you, my name is Nathaniel, we’re here with the Night Sweats, and we sold this place out, thank you!” The band went on to play a well-balanced set with songs across all three of their studio albums, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats (Self-titled), Tearing at the Seams, and The Future, along with a few covers.

Mark Shusterman performs with Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats at Radio City Music Hall

As the band wrapped their eighth song of the night, “So Put Out”, Megafun’s Phil Cook joined Shusterman’s side on stage while Rateliff addressed the theater. “We have an EP coming out to follow up the record.” Rateliff shared, “…and we did another variation of one of the songs off that record called “What If I“. It was mostly Phil’s arrangement and Phil is a good friend and a big part of our family.” In addition to the remixed “What If I”, Phil came back to support Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats with “Out on the Weekend” and their closing song, “I Need Never Get Old”. The audience’s enthusiasm shook Radio City the entire evening, especially for the group’s three-song-encore.

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats will complete their run supporting The Future at Austin City Limits Music Festival mid-October. To close out the year, the group will headline their “7th Annual, 10th Annual Holiday Show” at Denver’s Ball Arena on December 16 with special guests Marcus Mumford and Hermanos Gutiérrez.

Setlist: Look It Here, I’ve Been Failing, You Worry Me, I’m on Your Side, I’ll Be Damned, Survivor, Baby I Lost My Way, (But I’m Going Home), So Put Out, What If I (Remixed version with Phil Cook), Wasting Time, A Little Honey, Love Me Till I’m Gone, Danny Boy (Cover), Face Down in the Moment, And It’s Still Alright (Nathaniel Rateliff song), Redemption, Hey Mama, Out on the Weekend (with Phil Cook), Coolin’ Out, Intro, I Need Never Get Old (with Phil Cook)
Encore: The Future, S.O.B. (with Phil Cook), Love Don’t

September 28, 2022
Indie rock band Local Natives light up The Rooftop at Pier 17

It has been three long years since Local Natives have toured and the wait was worth it. The Inside An Hourglass Tour started late-July with Jordana and made it’s second to last stop at New York’s Pier 17 on a beautiful summer night.

Local Natives’ Kelcey Ayer on keyboard playing a sold out show at New York’s Pier 17.

Jordana opened the show with “Pressure Point”, the first song off their latest album, Face The Wall, which was released in May. The singer-songwriter had a comedic way of addressing the crowd throughout the set with her trusty Gumby on the mic stand. Before closing with “Why”, Jordana exclaimed “I love you dude!” to her new friend in the crowd, Kenny, who she briefly chatted with earlier in the set. Lastly she went on to say “This one…you know what’s funny is that we started the set with the first song on the album I just released in May…and now we’re ending it with the last song on the album, so it’s kind of artistic in that way…you know what I mean? Kind of meta, artsy, any way it’s about not giving a damn.”

Sing-songwriter Jordana and Gumby playing a sold out show at New York’s Pier 17.

Local Natives took the stage shortly after sunset, kicking off with “Statues in The Garden (Arras)” which has a dreamy, psychedelic music video to accompany it. After a few songs, vocalist and guitarist Taylor Rice remarked that it has been three years since they have toured and “we missed you very, very, very much!” Taylor continued to share that their tour bus caught fire two weeks prior and they weren’t sure they were going to make it to New York, proudly stating “…but we are here! We didn’t cancel anything!”

Overall the group’s mix of songs off their full discography along with newer tracks “Desert Snow” and “Hourglass”. During the encore, Kelcey commented “…this is such an amazing night, and I just think about the first time we ever played New York City was at Pianos…this little place somewhere over thereâ¦” as he gestured off into the distance. “It feels fucking great! And this song is dedicated to New York.”

Local Natives at Pier 17, Friday, August 26

Setlist: Statues in the Garden (Arras), Megaton Mile, I Saw You Close Your Eyes, Coins, Ceilings, Desert Snow, Past Lives, Wide Eyes, Sun Hands, Wooly Mammoth, Heavy Feet, Fountain of Youth, Colombia,
Lemon (with Jordana), Dark Days, Who Knows, Who Cares

Encore: Hourglass, Airplanes, When Am I Gonna Lose You

Jordana at New York’s Pier 17

Jordana at New York’s Pier 17

Jordana at New York’s Pier 17

Jordana at New York’s Pier 17

Jordana at New York’s Pier 17

Jordana at New York’s Pier 17

Jordana at New York’s Pier 17

Jordana at New York’s Pier 17

Jordana at New York’s Pier 17

Local Natives Taylor Rice at New York’s Pier 17

Local Natives Kelcey Ayer at New York’s Pier 17

Local Natives Ryan Hahn at New York’s Pier 17

Local Natives Nik Ewing at New York’s Pier 17

Local Natives Matt Frazier at New York’s Pier17

Local Natives’ Taylor Rice at New York’s Pier 17

Local Natives Nik Ewing at New York’s Pier 17

Local Natives’ Ryan Hahn at New York’s Pier 17

Local Natives’ Kelcey Ayer at New York’s Pier 17

Local Natives’ Taylor Rice at New York’s Pier 17

September 3, 2022
‘It’s A Little Bit Magic’: Indie Rock Band Big Thief At Kings Theatre

Brooklyn-based indie rock band Big Thief played an intimate performance to a sold out Kings Theatre on Friday night. This was the first night of two-night residency for the band which has been touring in support of their new double album, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You, since late-January.

Left to right: Buck Meek, James Krivchenia, Max Oleartchik, and Adrianne Lenker of Big Thief performing at Kings Theatre. Photo by Lindsay Brown

Canadian composer and musician, Kara-Lis Coverdale (K-LC), opened the night with a moody electronic set. K-LC will be on tour with Big Thief for the month of April while they make their way out west for a number of shows going through June.

Big Thief started their set with title track “Change” off of Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You, playing a mix of songs new and old throughout the evening including “Not” and “Certainty”. Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You is the indie rock band’s fifth studio album which was released February 11, 2022, featuring 20 tracks. In addition to celebrating the recent release of Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You on tour, guitarist and vocalist Adrianne Lenker announced that drummer and producer James Krivchenia dropped his second solo album Blood Karaoke this past week.

Buck Meek and James Krivchenia during Big Thief’s set at Kings Theatre. Photo by Lindsay Brown.

The indie rock band took several opportunities to address the crowd during the show, thanking everyone for their support and singing along. One of the most notable moments was guitarist and backing vocalist, Buck Meek, reminiscing about his days spent busking in New York City parks with Lenker a number of years ago to a now sold out King Theatre which seats over 3,000 people.

Another highlight of the evening was Lenker inviting her little brother, Noah, on stage for their last song, “Spud Infinity” where he lends his talents with a jaw harp to add a bit of twang to the track. Meek commented after the song, “I wish we could keep playing all night, but we’re actually out of time so goodnight!”

Find Big Thief’s Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You anywhere you stream music and watch them perform”Spud Infinity” with the joy of Noah’s jaw harp for The Tonight Show here.

Big Thief at Kings Theatre, Friday, April 15 – Setlist

Change, Dried Roses, Certainty, Cattails, Shoulders, Black Diamonds, Forgotten Eyes, Not, Dragon New Warm Mountain I, Believe in You, Sparrow, Simulation, Swarm, Flower of Blood, Secret Side of You (Buck Meek song), Like a Rose (Lucinda Williams cover), Rock and Sing, Happy With You, Shark Smile, Real Love, Spud Infinity (with Noah Lenker)

Thank you all for making it out here…and Kara-Lis Coverdale…take care of yourselves, take care of each other. Thanks for coming. Love you! Bye!”
Adrianne Lenker closing out the night with genuine thank you to all.

Adrianne Lenker of Big Thief at Kings Theatre. Photo by Lindsay Brown

Max Oleartchik of Big Thief at Kings Theatre. Photo by Lindsay Brown

Buck Meek of Big Thief at Kings Theatre. Photo by Lindsay Brown

James Krivchenia of Big Thief at Kings Theatre. Photo by Lindsay Brown

Buck Meek and James Krivchenia of Big Thief at Kings Theatre. Photo by Lindsay Brown

Left to right: Buck Meek, James Krivchenia, Max Oleartchik, and Adrianne Lenker of Big Thief performing at Kings Theatre. Photo by Lindsay Brown

April 19, 2022
Danielle Ponder wraps six shows in three nights at The McKittrick Hotel & Nubulu

Singer-songwriter Danielle Ponder closed out Wednesday night at The McKittrick Hotel with a stunning performance after Sleep No More.

Six shows in three nights ladies and gentlemen!” Danielle exclaimed, addressing the crowd in-between songs. “Amazing crowds, amazing people. This has just been really a great moment and it actually has been very surreal, but I’m going to get into these songs. Hope you enjoy them!

Danielle Ponder at the McKittrick Hotel’s Manderley Bar

The Rochester-based singer confidently radiated her powerful voice throughout The McKittrick Hotel’s moody Manderley Bar. This performance was the last of Ponder’s three-night run in New York City before joining St. Paul and the Broken Bones on tour later this month. Before exiting, Ponder concluded the set with an inspiring personal anecdote.

I quit my successful job as an attorney to be a broke musician because I absolutely love you, and I absolutely love this stage. I completely live for it. I truly believe in following your purpose, I think that when God gives you a gift, a way you can show gratitude is committing to that thing. Amen, amen, amen! You all feel me? So a lot has happened in the past year that has really changed my life, even to be here with this audience in New York City listening has been so affirming for me and lets me know I made the right decision. I really feel like I’m a living testimony of that and that’s the only reason I’m telling you I’m 40! Because I want you to know my knees hurt, I’m old, but I’m here! So this next song is called “So Long.”

“So Long” is Ponder’s latest single, released on March 11, an anthem about letting go of fear and being the best person you can possibly be.

You can learn more about singer-songwriter Danielle Ponder on her website and listen to her Tiny Desk Contest submission, a recording of her song Poor Man’s Pain, here.

St. Paul and the Broken Bones with Danielle Ponder Tour Dates

April 23 – Dallas, Texas – The Granada Theater
April 24 – Austin, Texas – Stubb’s
April 26 – Tulsa, Okla. – Cain’s Ballroom
April 28 – Denver, Colo. – Mission Ballroom
April 29 – Aspen, Colo. – Belly Up
April 30 – Salt Lake City, Utah – Commonwealth Room
May 3 – Seattle, Wash. – The Neptune
May 5 – Portland, Ore. – Crystal Ballroom
May 6 – San Francisco, Calif./Oakland, Calif. – Fox Theater
May 7 – San Diego, Calif. – Humphreys Concerts By The Bay
May 10 – Los Angeles, Calif. – The Theatre at Ace Hotel
May 11 – Pioneertown, Calif. – Pappy & Harriet’s
May 12 – Phoenix, Ariz. – The Van Buren

April 15, 2022
Heartbeat Opera’s QUANDO premieres at The McKittrick Hotel

Heartbeat Opera’s QUANDO brought a one-of-a-kind film and theatrical performance at The McKittrick Hotel, home of Sleep No More, April 7-9.

Presented by The McKittrick Hotel, QUANDO is Directed and Edited by Tee Vaden, produced and conceptualized by Associate Artistic Director, Derrell Acon, with Photography Direction by Kathryn Boyd-Batstone and Production Design by Yuki Izumihara.

Mx. Oww and Jessie Cox live performance alongside the film, QUANDO.

The film stars Lauren Michelle, Brian Vu, and Shelley Washington. Musical director Daniel Schlosberg arranged the film score for a mix of instruments and electronics. The live performance features Mx. Oww and Jessie Cox.

The 75-minute experience took place in the McKittrick’s upstairs theater, the Club Car. The evening kicked off with the short film, challenging viewers with “…issues of representation, inequity, and self-serving actions that plague so many industries and movements, not by simply calling out the problem but by showing what is possible, while asking viewers to interrogate themselves and their motivations, which is one of my favorite sorts of call to action,” said Director & Editor, Tee Vaden. After the screening, the film played once more with a theatrical performance by Mx. Oww and Jessie Cox actively disrupting the music throughout, creating a mesmerizing experience for the audience.

QUANDO team taking the stage after the performance concluded.

QUANDO is the latest production by Heartbeat Opera whose mission is to create “incisive adaptations and revelatory arrangements of classics, reimagining them for the here and now.” Previous productions by Heartbeat Opera include FIDELIO, which toured earlier this year including performances at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and The Broad Stage in California, and Messy Messiah, Heartbeat Opera’s 7th annual Drag Extravaganza, at Roulette in Brooklyn. Learn more about QUANDO by viewing the trailer and visiting Heartbeat Opera’s website. You can also visit The McKittrick Hotel to experience Sleep No More and Speakeasy Magick at 530 West 27th Street in Manhattan. Special thank you to Stephanie Geyer and the McKittrick Hotel staff for welcoming NYS Music to their beautiful venue.

April 14, 2022