On Wednsday, December 28, and for the first time since 2019, Phish took the stage at Madison Square Garden for their annual New Year’s Run.
Performing their 69th ever show at Madison Square Garden, Phish opened the night with a high-energy “Buried Alive” followed by a funk-filled “Wolfman’s Brother.” Set 1 was highlighted by a 14-minute “Stash” that was followed by a 13-minute “Split Open and Melt” to close the set.
Set 2 started off strong with “Free” which gave way to a nearly 20-minute “A Wave of Hope” that segued smoothly into “It’s Ice.” “Leaves” came out swinging after that, with “Simple,” “Plasma,” “Twist” and “Harry Hood” rounding out the set.
For the encore, a surprise “Esther” was performed in the curtain call slot for the first time in its history, with “46 Days” following up to round out the show.
Phish return for Night two tonight. Tune in at Livephish.com to join Couch Tour.
Set 1: Buried Alive, Wolfman’s Brother, Maze, Sigma Oasis > NICU, Steam, Tela, Stash, Split Open and Melt Set 2: Free > A Wave of Hope -> It’s Ice > Leaves > Simple -> Plasma -> Twist* > Harry Hood Encore: Esther > 46 Days *Trey teased A Wave of Hope in Twist
On Friday, January 6, Annie in the Water released “Frozen Lake,” a song 369 days in the making, having been written on January 2nd, 2022.
The song’s genesis comes from keyboardist Matt Richards, who arrived home from a New Years Eve trip to Lake Placid with a few friends, and having been listening to indie artists like Snail Mail and Pinegrove, he was inspired to sit at his piano the moment he got home.
Richards explains the story behind the song:
This is about how over the summer of 2021 I went to Lake Placid with my then-girlfriend, and from the perspective of now being there again during the winter after we broke up, standing on the frozen lake, looking back at the docks where we were standing in the summer time, questioning the nature of our relationship and breakup.
Matt Richards, keys/vocals, Annie in the Water
Annie in the Water spent 2022 recording “Frozen Lake” mostly separately in their own creative spaces, rather than all together in the studio to try to give the tune a “bedroom” approach. When the recording was finished, the band had it mixed by recording engineer Corey Hayward in his self-made studio space.
The track released on January 6, 2023.
Annie in the Water recently also released Live at Artfarm, Vol. II, a collection of live versions of five songs recorded at Artfarm Recording in the Catskill Mountains. Most tracks on the live album were performed over the course of 2022, meant to highlight newer tracks that have yet to be featured on a studio release. Give a listen below.
Brooklyn jam/prog group PEAK have released two recent performances from the second half of 2022, giving a taste of their live sound in two unique settings – the Delaware Valley Opera House, and Nectar’s.
The first live release from PEAK is Live at Delaware Valley Opera Center, a full show video from the band’s October 28 show at the Delaware Valley Opera Center in Lake Huntington, located just west of Bethel. The band offers very special thanks to Eric Marczo who filled in on bass this fall.
https://youtu.be/D0WIviQFjFo
The second show released is the full audio from the band’s August 26, 2022 performance at Nectar’s in Burlington, VT. They’ll be heading back up that way in early 2023 for another show at the famed venue, now under new, yet familiar ownership.
The PEAK quartet features songwriter and guitarist Jeremy Hilliard (Turbine), Kito Bovenshulte (Particle) on drums, Josh T. Carter (Haley Jane and The Primates) on bass, and Johnny Young on keys (Mick Taylor Band). The self-described pychedelic indie funk band can be found jamming extensively during live shows, and allow the songs on the album to speak for themselves. Stay up to date with PEAK tour dates and news here.
Canadian transplant and Queen of Long Island Country Music, Mary Lamont took me on a roller coaster ride of an interview recently on The Long Island Sound Podcast. The twists and turns of her entry into the music business is quite a story to behold. A story I would have never imagined that would take us from Anne Murray to Alice Cooper!
Mary Lamont “Queen of Long Island Country” photo by Jim Marchese
Not only is Mary a fine country crooner and singer/songwriter, but she’s also a fierce advocate of original music as a DJ with her long-running show, Down Home Country, alternate Sundays at noon on WUSB 90.1 FM, the University of Stony Brook radio station.
That’s part of the fun of being part of WUSB, because there are so many different genres they cover. I mean, anybody can find a show on WUSB, who will be playing the type of music that they like. And you can’t really say that about the other stations and, as you say, the support of local talent.
Mary Lamont
Navigating the Music Industry
Mary found her way into the music industry by happenstance, cutting her teeth in the trenches as a receptionist for Alice Cooper and then progressing through an unofficial apprenticeship with a booking agent, and an industry magazine called Crawdaddy’s. Her early inspiration came from her father.
But my dad said you can sing. You’re going into the church choir. And my first reaction was No, no, I can’t do that. I can’t do that. And he says yes, you can.
Mary Lamont
Coincidence, inspiration, and encouragement collided to move Mary from her comfort zone to become a singer/songwriter. Mary credits her music career to two men in her life, her dad and her Husband, Jim Marchase. Jim is a well-respected photographer in the music business, having once landed a gig as Bruce Springsteen’s photographer on a European tour. He is also the guitarist in the band.
… my husband has been so for lack of a better pun instrumental in, in putting this band together, in encouraging me to, you know, to be the head of the band, you know, in the guitar work that he does, in the riffs that he plays around the house, that inspire me to write music.
Mary Lamont
Mary Lamont’s band has opened for Delbert McClinton, The Marshall Tucker Band and the Charlie Daniel’s Band. She continues to be an ambassador for country music from covers of classic songs to her own catalog of music.
Opportunities Abound Spreading the Goodwill
A fateful phone call came to Mary’s husband, in 2002 when a Chinese foundation was seeking the Mary Lamont Band for a goodwill tour of China.
Mary Lamont Band in China 2002 – Photo by Jim Marchese
I mean, we’ve gone through Alice Cooper and Bruce Springsteen, and now China wants us to bring the band over!
Mary Lamont
Over a two-week period Mary and her band would travel throughout China, covering 23,000 miles from Beijing to the Great Wall.
China was fantastic, the whole musical tour was like our one “Hard Day’s Night”! The schedule was hectic but exhilarating. Our shows were varied, from large outdoor concert events with thousands of people, as well as beautiful large concert halls such as Beijing’s Forbidden City Concert Hall.
Jim Marchese
They say music is the universal language that can heal the world. We sure need ambassadors like Mary Lamont spreading the good news and building bridges between people, cultures with kindness. Join me for the rest of the conversation with Mary Lamont on The Long Island Sound podcast.
During this holiday season, may your generosity of joy inspire everyone you meet, and as always, let the music take you on a journey!
New York City-based four-piece alternative pop/rock band Kids That Fly have released their newest five-track EP Tracks of the High Line, on December 9. With hopes of recreating their viral 2019 single “Kiss Her You Fool,” the group came up with this nostalgic, genre-blending EP. Along with this, the band has also released a VHS Music video for the song “Talk of the Town,” a catchy pop/alternative hit.
In October, Kids that Fly released the EP’s lead single, “High Line,” along with a vibrant music video to pair. “The synth-y beat and fast drums brought me back…it’s pop with enticing guitar chords and a synth that fits right in…conjures 80’s nostalgia. ‘High Line’ evokes a more technical The 1975, a less sad Backseat Lovers,” said NYS Music contributor Sydney Pollack in October.
Yet their newest “Talk of the Town” showcases the energy of Tracks of the High Line in its entirety, which can be described as a combination of sounds from the early 2000s alt-rock era, 80s synth pop, British alternative, and modern pop/rock.
Nick Smeriglio (vocals/guitar), Blake Henry (guitar/synth), Braden Frandino (bass/vocals) and Ryan Hendry (drums/vocals) make up Kids That Fly. Composed of college comrades, they formed in the fall of 2018 while attending the University of Connecticut. Having all grown up in Connecticut, the crew has had a lot of influence from other Connecticut musicians such as Rivers Cuomo of Weezer and indie/rock duo MGMT.
Tracks of the High Line is the “next logical step in the band’s evolution,” shares Nick. Composed of songs written throughout the heart and tail end of the pandemic. “It’s a reflection of lots of different romantic experiences that the four of us have had,” Nick confides. “On a deeper level though, it deals with the different struggles that came from the pandemic, how the isolation took a toll on people, and the recovery of it all.”
“Throughout the process we’ve been experimenting with different synthesizers and other interesting digital production techniques that give each song a bit of a retro futuristic style,” Braden reflects about the EP’s sounds.
Since the very beginning, the band has always put a focus on their fans, prioritizing the importance of live music. With their electrifying up close and personal performances, Kids That Fly will continue to prove their vast potential. You won’t want to miss out on their newest viral hits on Tracks of the High Line.
The network of original artists on Long Island have brought me from dive bars to aspiring stars. Sam Woolf is a young man with the courage of his convictions. When faced with the pressure to be reinvented to suit the market, Sam chose to stay true to his art.
Intrigued by two recent guests on The Long Island Sound podcast , brothers Como, Andrew and Matt, I was introduced to Sam Woolf. The Como Brothers collaborated with Sam Woolf, and I was impressed both with the original songs and vocal accompaniment. A particular jem is “Give a Little Love”
Sam Woolf & Como Brothers, Andrew and Matt
American Idol Competition
At the age of seventeen Sam Woolf, through the encouragement of his mother, took a chance at an audition for American Idol back in 2014. As an uneasy teen with little to no live performance experience, Sam Woolf got the golden ticket to Hollywood to perform on American Idol. He made all the way to the number five spot in the contest. When I asked Sam about the scrutiny on national television, he has this to say:
… I had really no experience performing live,… no real experience performing in front of an audience. So that that part was like, I just kind of had to muster up the courage and just be like, I gotta do this
Sam Woolf
2014 Sam Woolf on American Idol
American Idol judge Keith Urban was impressed with Sam’s perfect pitch as he performed Ed Sheeran’s Lego House during auditions. Woolf climbed to the number five spot before elimination. What intrigued me was his determination to retain his identity as an independent singer/songwriter. When the American Idol team wanted to transform Sam into some sort of a teen idol, this is how he responded:
Yeah, I certainly was going against it. Because that was the bubble they put me in. The heartthrob, which is how they labeled it… I don’t want to be the heartthrob. Come on, I’m just trying to be that indie singer songwriter
Sam Woolf
A Decade Later
It’s been a decade since Sam competed on National Television, and he has recently moved to New York City to continue with his music career. He’s opened for Jefferson Starship, War and the Doobie Brothers. He stays in touch with Alex Preston and Caleb Johnson who were contestants with him on American Idol. In January he’ll be releasing a new song called, “Worst Thing” and this is what he said about the new release:
It’s called “Worst Thing “, to me, it’s my favorite song, I think, the most honest song I’ve ever written. And I hope people can relate with it in some way, or they could connect with it.
Sam Woolf
Now that Sam has settled in New York, I’m excited to see where he pops up next. I’m sure there will be more collaborations and great music in this guy’s future. If you’d like to hear the rest of the conversation with Sam, check out his episode on The Long Island Sound Podcast.
The Christmas episode of Saturday Night Live brought together Elvis (Austin Butler) and Lizzo for a remarkable show that saw long-time cast member Cecily Strong bidding the late-night institution farewell. Lizzo filled in for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who were originally scheduled to perform, but had to back out due to illness.
The cold open was a send up of an NFT scam put forth by the 45th president this past week, played much more comically than Alec Baldwin by James Austin Johnson.
Butler’s monologue recalled that the 2021 Christmas episode was mostly cast-free due to surging COVID infection rates. Butler spoke about growing up in Anaheim, CA, being home schooled by his mom, alongside his sister (who he wished a happy birthday to in the balcony). Talking about how his mother helped him break out of his shell of shyness, and how they watched Saturday Night Live together, Butler teared up in paying tribute to her memory and credited his acting career to her. Austin Butler made his Broadway debut in the 2018 revival of The Iceman Cometh and received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Elvis.
Sketches including a rip-off of Wheel of Fortune “The Phrase That Pays” was a deeply weird SNL game show concept, as was the the It’s a Wonderful Life spoof “A Christmas Epiphany,” where the viewpoint of an ideal family inside a house being observed by a voyeur was a fresh twist on the holiday classic.
On the rise featured player Sarah Sherman made a stand out appearance as Jewish Elvis, with Austin Butler in the front row in drag as one of the old women who get overly-stimulated by the Semetic singer.
Lizzo, who hosted in April, performed her first song “Break Up Twice” with a setting paying homage to artist Annie Lee’s Blue Monday. Lizzo, in white negligee, is seen sitting on the edge of the bed, having just woken up, exhausted but ready to press ahead with the day. Then, belting out the seventh track on her 2022 release Special, Lizzo stepped forward to reveal the full band, singing about a man who left her in tears but whom she does not want to leave, referencing her relationship with Myke Wright.
“Break Up Twice” had Lizzo singing direct to the camera and lit in white while the band was lit in blue, with notable samples of “Doo Wop (That Thing)” by Lauryn Hill and Judy Clay and William Bell’s “Private Number” found throughout.
Weekend Update saw the final appearance for Cecily Strong’s desheveled Cathy Anne, who joked about having to go to prison. Making slightly-cringe conversation with Michael Che, Cathy Anne switched back to Cecily Strong, breaking character to say, “I had a lot of fun here and I feel really lucky that I got to have so many of the best moments of my life in this place with these people that I love so much.”
Lizzo’s second performance found her covering Stevie Wonder’s 1967 holiday classic “Someday at Christmas,” dressed in a half silver, half gold angel dress, wrapped up like a shiny gift. The track is among those featured on Amazon Music, with musicians offering classic covers of Christmas songs. Lizzo said of the song “I chose to cover ‘Someday At Christmas’ not just because it’s a classic, but because it’s a reminder to us that almost 60 years later, we are still fighting for peace, compassion, and equality, a friendly reminder to spread love and kindness this holiday season.”
For the finale, Kenan Thompson (as Frank Lasagna) introduced Cecily on her last day working at Radio Shack, noting her 11 year run and giving a heartfelt ode to her longevity on the show, fitting, coming from the show’s longest running cast member.
Butler then appeared as “Casual Elvis” to serenade Strong with Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas” as Strong smiled and choked up, with Thompson’s final lyrics altered to “You’ll be doing alright, every saturday night” for the finale, as the cast joined in on stage for the end of the tribute.
Tim Reynolds brought his rock trio TR3 to the historic Strand Theater in Hudson Falls in December. The merry crowd was treated to a blend of acoustic-rock and jazz-fusion instrumentals, with a couple of classic covers thrown in for good measure. TR3 really loves the Strand Theater and it is obvious both in their banter and in the way they play. You can see the pleasure in their faces as they showcase their talented chops. Peter Harris writes this about their visit in January 2022 at The Strand Theater: “[Tim] has a special knack for tailoring moods, creating ambience, and shredding tastefully.”
Tim Reynolds at The Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.
For those that don’t know, the Strand Theater has a historic past. It began as a movie theatre in the early 1920s. The transformations it had include being a warehouse and eventually a county court house. It was a “white, stale municipal building” as Director Jonathan Newell says to the Times Union. This theater is anything but that now. Gorgeous inside and out! A perfect place to jam for TR3 with Tim Reynolds leading the way.
TR3 at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.
TR3 featuring Tim Reynolds wraps up their December tour this weekend on Friday and Saturday in Concord, NH and Fall River, MA, respectively. Catch them if you can, and Tim’s trio will have your feet tapping along. Just the way Tim likes it! Be sure to check out the photos below to see this beautiful theater and the trio in action.
Tim Reynolds – Strand Theater, Hudson Falls, NY – December 13, 2022
Setlist: Dirty Feet, All By Design, Everything Could Be OK, So Am I, Watch It!, Radar Contact, On This Mountain, Sweet Spot, Mutant Swarm, Sun is Still There, U Can U Have U Will, Wanna Get With You, Going Places, Bone to Pick, Kabbalah, Riders on the Storm, Bowie Encore: Chicago
Tim Reynolds at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Dan Martier at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Mick Vaughn at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.TR3 at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Tim Reynolds at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Mick Vaughn at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Dan Martier at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Tim Reynolds’ guitars at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Mick Vaughn’s bass guitar at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Dan Martier’s drums at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Mick Vaughn at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.The Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Mick Vaughn at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Dan Martier at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.TR3 at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.
It was a splendid evening for mid-week melodies, hump-day harmonies and independent live music in Glens Falls Wednesday, December 7th as fans of all ages filled the Park Theater for a captivating performance by The Ballroom Thieves and Griffin Sherry of The Ghost of Paul Revere. A beautiful and underutilized venue that dates all way back to 1911, the intimate room was the perfect setting for these modern-day master songwriters to pour their hearts out.
The Ballroom Thieves performing at Park Theater in Glens Falls, NY 12/7/2022.
Playing his first run of shows since the demise of The Ghost of Paul Revere, Portland, Maine’s Griffin William Sherry surprised both fans and even the venue when he arrived in town with a full backing band of musicians that also included former GOPR drummer Chuck Gage. Sherry joked from the stage how this was more people and more gear than he ever took on the road with his former band while also reassuring the crowd that it is ok to get a little rowdy. “I’m particularly looking at you ladies” he said, while pointing out a table full of much older women. “It’s so good to see you again!” chimed an excited fan from the other side of the room.
Perhaps still grieving the loss of GOPR who played their final show in September, fans were delighted to hear new renditions of some old favorites with “One of These Days” being a clear highlight. Known primarily as an acoustic guitar player, the surprises from Sherry didn’t end there. Using his new solo platform to try new things, longtime fans gasped when he suddenly strapped on a beautiful hollow body guitar and launched into a cover of the classic Pink Floyd song “Fearless.” The ‘electric’ Sherry would also try out several new songs, including “Stephentown” and the hard rocking set closer “Ain’t It Amazing.”
Griffin William Sherry performing at Park Theater in Glens Falls, NY 12/7/2022.
Following a quick pause in the action the lights went dim as the Ballroom Thieves then took their places on stage. Back on the road for the first time in years, the acclaimed neo-americana folk act from Boston were in complete command from the very moment they played their first note. Building up the tension with the hypnotic intro of “Canary,” the Thieves wasted no time in living up to their reputation as one of the most dynamic, energetic and melodic live bands on the independent circuit. Consisting of husband-and-wife duo Martin Earley on guitar and vocals and Calin Peters on electric cello, bass and vocals, the current incarnation is rounded out by John Henry Nolan on guitar and keyboards and drummer Kevin O’Connell (from Rome, NY) who somehow was able to play the show despite suffering a torn meniscus.
The Ballroom Thieves performing at Park Theater in Glens Falls, NY 12/7/2022.
Fresh off the release of their latest studio album, 2022’s Clouds, the band has gone through some tough times these last few years and many of their new songs address that head on. A chronicle of desire and despair, trust and betrayal and the importance of mental health, The Thieves would play the albums opening track “Worldender” next, followed by “In the Morning. “ Trading stunning and lush vocal harmonies, the cozy atmosphere almost made you feel like you were getting your own private show.
Switching back and forth between electric cello and bass guitar, Peter’s voice was both beautiful and haunting. Songs like “Almost Love” and “Do Something” put her squarely in the spotlight and it was easy to see she was reveling in it. Smiling, dancing and leaping about the stage, you couldn’t help but be charmed by her performance. Contradicting upbeat melodies with some darker lyrical content provided a powerful juxtaposition that wasn’t lost on the audience. A great example of this was the Earley sung rendition of “Shadow” which would then go into the brilliantly bluesy number “Anybody Else” from the bands 2017 album Deadeye.
Despite serious lyrics, Calin Peters was all smiles on 12/7/2022.
“Most of the time, we’re usually all about love and understanding, but not on this next one, “Peters’ said. “Picture in your mind someone you hate and when we play this song, we want you to think about them. That is, of course, unless they are in this room right now. If they are, sorry, you can’t play this game with us.” And with that thought in mind, Peter’s then crooned out perhaps the most hauntingly beautiful song of the night called “Woman.”
I was your woman And you left me standing Alone in a world that had not heard me use my voice yet You’re just tired of my noise, I guess Hey, we all make our choices and break our own horses Are you hearing me say all this? This is the last one For you
– “Woman”
Following that up with two more older, tender songs “Pendulum and “Bees,” Martin Early would soak in the moment and candidly address the audience by saying “It’s been a tough couple of years, but we never stopped writing songs and you being here to hear them means more than you’ll ever know. This next one is about coming to terms with a crippling depression.” Providing perhaps the emotional highpoint of the evening, “I Lose” hit you like a ten ton hammer.
The Ballroom Thieves performing at Park Theater in Glens Falls, NY 12/7/2022.
Showcasing their flexibility, both musically and physically, the chemistry between the Ballroom Thieves was undeniable. Interacting like a tight-knit family, even during the “sad” songs each member of the band was clearly engaged, invested, enjoying themselves. At the peak of all Peters and Earley would lock eyes, meet each in the middle of the stage and get so lost in the music that they’d both end with their backs on the floor. Perhaps the loudest cheer of the evening came during their most rocking song, “Fistfight,” rocking duel-guitar attack of the bands hit single “Fistfight.” After wishing guitarist John Henry Nolan’s Aunt Emma a happy birthday, The Ballroom Thieves would close the set with a powerful rendition of “Wolf.”
The Ballroom Thieves laid it all on the line in Glens Falls on 12/7/2022.
These days you almost expect an encore at every show, but in perhaps the best fake out ever, you could hear the collective letdown when the house music came up. Just then as fans starting getting ready to leave, the music and lights suddenly went back down. Returning to the stage with huge smiles and to a huge ovation, The Ballroom Thieves then treated fans to one more surprise by closing the show with a cover of the Donna Lewis song “I Love You Always and Forever.”
A captivating performance from start to finish. From hushed whispers to cathartic screams to synchronized dance moves, the intimate and thought-provoking show felt truly special. Anyone who wasn’t sure about this band going into it walked out of the Park Theater a full fledged believer. Up next, the Ballroom Thieves will take a little time off for the holidays before Early and Peters return to the road for a brief duo tour this winter.
The Ballroom Thieves | December 7, 2022 | Park Theater | Glens Falls, NY Setlist: Canary, Worldender, In The Morning, Almost Love, Do Something, Shadow, Anybody Else, Woman, Pendulum, Bees, I Loose, Fistfight, Wolf Encore: I Love You Always Forever (Donna Lewis cover)
Griffin William Sherry | December 7, 2022 | Park Theater | Glens Falls, NY One of These Days, Stephentown, Me and My Shadow, Fearless (Pink Floyd cover), Ain’t it Amazing
On Saturday, December 10 at the Broome County Forum Theatre, Maestro Daniel Hege led the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra in “Winter Wonderland,” a holiday pops concert with a host of special guests.
Along with the big man himself (Santa Claus), the orchestra was joined by 11 year-old treble soloist Luca Thomas and a quartet of resident artists from Binghamton’s Tri-Cities Opera (Gina Moscato, soprano; Janine Dworin, mezzo-soprano; Felix Aguilar Tomlinson, tenor; Bernardo Medeiros, baritone). Nancy Wildoner’s charming pre-concert holiday bonbons, played on the Theatre’s 1922 Robert-Morton Pipe Organ, set the stage.
Winter Wonderland might have been a typical holiday pops concert, except that much of the program was focused on holiday film music. John Williams’ Home Alone II (with “Merry Christmas” sung by the opera guests), Alan Silvestri’s The Polar Express, and Danny Elfman’s Nightmare Before Christmas (a strange mashup of Klezmer music and Dies irae from the Requiem Mass) all led up to the afternoon’s highlight: Howard Blake’s The Snowman, complete with film screening and a stunning “Walking in the Air” by Luca Thomas.
The joyful concert concluded with some audience participation: a clapalong Radetzky March and a singalong set of Christmas carols.
The Binghamton Philharmonic’s season continues on January 28 with “Wallenberg Festival,” a concert celebrating Binghamton’s three orchestras: the Binghamton Youth Symphony, the Binghamton Community Orchestra, and the Binghamton Philharmonic. For more information, visit binghamtonphilharmonic.org.
