Despite recent troubling times, the city of Buffalo has continued to band together and are now working towards showcasing the best of their city. The Beer Keep, Jack Rabbit, and Breezy Burrito Bar have announced the inaugural Elmwood Summerfest, to be held on Sunday, June 26, 2022. The festival is meant to celebrate summertime in Buffalo including beer, food, community, togetherness and, of course, music.
Elmwood Summerfest will showcase over 15 bands and performers on a large outdoor stage located between 1000 & 1010 Elmwood Avenue. Besides musical performances, Buffalo Eats will host its first annual Hot Dog Eating Competition, followed by a Live Art installation, and a Genesee Brewing beer tent featuring your favorite beers, ciders and seltzers. The music lineup will spotlight acts from Buffalo as well as the Rochester area. It will feature bands like Sideways, Witty Tarbox, Farrow, Grosh, American Nosebleed, Folkfaces, Well Worn Boot, Johnny Hart and the Mess, Kevin Sampson and the Night Shift, plus more.
For a next-level festival experience, The Beer Keep, Jack Rabbit and Breezy Burrito Bar will be opening their doors exclusively to VIP pass-holders. At all three locations, VIP pass holders will be able to enjoy air conditioning, private bathrooms, fully stocked bars, patio access and lounging areas.
Why Elmwood Summerfest is Happening
Recently, the Bidwell Park area of Buffalo’s Elmwood Village has been rejuvenated and seen a rebirth as an entertainment and hospitality destination.
One of the many wonderful things about the Elmwood Village is its overwhelming sense of surprise. Surprise at what you see coming down the street or around a corner, something you missed on a previous visit. It’s that sense of endless possibility that we invite people to come experience at the first Elmwood Summerfest.
– Cory Muscato, owner of the Beer Keep
Elmwood Summerfest is a product of the new neighborhood bars, restaurants and venues (The Beer Keep, Jack Rabbit, Breezy Burrito Bar, among others) coming together to put on a neighborhood focused street festival. Because of the location and limited footprint of the festival this first year entry is limited to 21+
Music has been a cornerstone of Jack Rabbit since our initial idea phase. Expanding that outside of our walls has been top priority since day one, we’re super excited to be working with our best buds, and neighbors, to bring this amazing event directly to the street.
– Josh Mullin, Owner/Operator of Jack Rabbit.
How to Purchase Tickets
Festival gates will open at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 26 with music and performances continuing all-day. General admission festival passes will be $25 in advance with a limited number of VIP passes available for $50. Tickets are available immediately at elmwoodsummerfest.com
The Capitol Theatre was packed on Friday, May 13 with Deadheads young and old as Dark Star Orchestra paid homage to the Grateful Dead at the iconic Deadhead venue at The Capitol Theatre. On this night they recreated one of the Dead’s shows from their great Europe 1972 tour. More specifically the show from May 13, 1972 at Lille Fairgrounds in Lille, France. It was a hell of a set then and it was a hell of a show now.
The first set was played with precision and umph, never getting too noodley. The second set started off with a thunderous “Truckin’” into a jam filled “drums” > “The Other One.” Other highlights of the evening included “Beat It On Down The Line,” “Playing in the Band,” & “GDTRFB.”
Dark Star Orchestra – The Capitol Theatre – May 13, 2022 – recreating May 13, 1972 – Lille Fairgrounds of France
Set 1: Bertha, Black Throated Wind, Chinatown Shuffle, Loser, Beat It On Down The Line, Mister Charlie, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Me And My Uncle, Big Railroad Blues, Next Time You See Me, Playing In The Band, Sugaree, Mexicali Blues, Casey JonesÂ
Set 2: Truckin’ > drums > The Other One > He’s Gone, It Hurts Me Too, Sugar Magnolia, Not Fade Away > Going Down The Road Feeling Bad > Not Fade AwayÂ
Albany’s DIY music scene has been thriving in the wake of 2020’s lockdowns. Basement and house venues are popping up left and right, and bands have been eager to get back on stage and perform in front of live audiences. The Laundromat is one of the newest underground music venues in Albany and it just wrapped up a busy spring semester. The hidden basement spent the last five months promoting pop-up shows at Pauly’s Hotel, hosting their own basement shows, and contributing to Albany’s flourishing music and arts community.
The venue started back in September of 2021 and is run by two U Albany students Ari Spielman and Samantha Mehrkens. The duo runs their venue on Instagram (@the.laun.dro.mat) and have grown their page beyond 1,500 followers in the past few months and have put on over a dozen shows. Ari and Samantha have built, from the ground up, a popular space for musicians, painters, photographers, and artists of all kinds to work and enjoy each other’s art. The two can always be spotted up front at their shows, enjoying the music, addressing technical difficulties, and even keeping their fans cool and comfortable.
Glue Head @ The Laundromat – 3.11.22. Ari Spielman and Samantha Mehrkens (right)
The Laundromat was recently one of a handful of DIY venues in the Albany area that was part of Byrdhouse Records‘ Phoenix Fest. The week-long festival consisted of six consecutive shows all over Albany, Troy, and New Paltz. The Laundromat’s show took place on 4/20 and featured five local acts: Floral Arrangements, Ricky Bandana, Prom Sex, Rhakimali, and The E-Block. The packed lineup, along with the holiday festivities, brought out a big crowd for the Wednesday night show that ran late into the early hours of the morning.
The surprise highlight of the night was the third act of the night: Prom Sex. The newly formed band played their first show ever at The Laundromat and they received a warm welcome from Albany’s DIY community. The band played their own version of musical chairs, or rather musical instruments, as everyone rotated from guitar to bass to drums. The young band played on for a full 45-minute set with a crowd-demanded encore.
Prom Sex @ The Laundromat – 4.20.22
The Laundromat also features local bands time and time again, like Ladybyrd. The WCDB Rising Artist of the Year is a regular at The Laundromat, and performed at the last show of the semester on May 6. Ladybyrd had also performed at The Laundromat as recently as April 8th, along with Chaz Kiss, and Sam Legenbauer. This April 8th show was promoted as the Femme Fatale Feature Friday, as it featured acts fronted by women. The Laundromat doesn’t always host shows with an overarching theme, but when they do, they always tend to draw out their biggest and most energetic crowds.
Ladybyrd @ The Laundromat – 5.6.22
The Laundromat has often featured a broad range of music on any given night, one could hear everything from hip-hop to punk or shoegaze to funk. One of these genre bending shows was on February 18th, featured acts included: Free Spiritu, Cloud 18, Dork!, and Alliteration. Alliteration closed out the show and have been seen all over the 518 in the past few months. It feels like the Poughkeepsie-based punk band brings their unique sound to the area every other weekend and they have fans traveling regularly from as far as Long Island to catch every single one of their shows.
Alliteration’s success is well deserved and has been a direct result of the band’s collective work ethic, attitude, and fun music. Xayvier, Ryan, and Mike are loved throughout the music community and can be found in the crowd or the merch table at every show they play. They arrive early, enjoy the sets of other acts, and are eager to mingle with fans. It’s this type of approachability and friendliness from the band members though that has helped make them a true crowd favorite in New York’s DIY music scene. Basement show-goers may even find themselves challenged to a game of Super Smash by Xayvier for the chance to win a t-shirt discount. Good luck beating him though.
Alliteration’s Next show will be at The Bundy Museum on May 28th, for the Bing X Punk Festival . The day’s music starts at 3pm and is slated to run until 9:30. The show will feature three other bands who have been seen in the Albany area as of late: Stay Off The Fence , Senior Living, and DiRTYBANDAiD. All of these bands rock, hard, and will be accompanied by a number of other acts who won’t disappoint: The Droogz, Pons, The War Lovers, Pleasure Dome, and Tom Jolu.
Alliteration @ The Laundromat – 2.18.22
Like the Bing X Punk Festival shows, Albany’s DIY scene is not an island. It is, instead, a part of a much larger community of music lovers all around the state. There are vibrant underground scenes in cities like Oneonta, Binghamton, and Troy and bands are constantly playing together and traveling from city to city as often as they can. The Laundromat’s final show of the semester on May 6, 2022 featured Crash Test Auto from Oneonta. The upbeat rock band put the community’s connectedness on display by featuring Adam Henkel on bass. Adam is a SUNY Oneonta student who currently runs the 607 Music Scene Instagram page.
Adam has found himself playing for a number of bands and is now focused on building his Instagram following through 607 in order to aggregate event and artist news from around New York’s DIY music scene beyond. Adam’s efforts are all in the name of his love for music and for the members of the underground community. 607 Music Scene is the go-to page to follow if you are interested in keep up-to-date with upcoming shows, photography galleries from past shows, and new music from local acts.
Crash Test Auto @ The Laundromat 5.6.22
In addition to hosting shows in their basement, The Laundromat has also promoted a number of shows at Pauly’s Hotel in Albany. The Laundromat kicked off the 2022 spring semester with their Wild N’ Out rap show on February 5. The show featured nine of Albany’s up and coming rappers to allow the crowd to decide who their favorite rapper of the night was. The show’s winner and runner-up were awarded to Lil Baby Suplex, and Rhakimali. The grand prize was awarded to Suplex and earned him free studio time in New York City.
The Laundromat’s Pauly’s Hotel shows have also included lineups with some local regulars like Treasure Cove, The E-Block, and Safety Meeting. Those who frequent DIY shows in the area are more than likely quite familiar with all three of these acts, as they have all been regularly performing around the area and at other Laundromat shows. Safety Meeting also played shows at The Byrdhouse and WCDB this semester. In April they performed at WCDB Fest and were nominated for Best Alt Rock/Indie Artist for their fun style of rock that incorporates sounds from different genres spanning from punk to country. Safety Meeting has a show coming up on May 28 at Blueberry Field in New Paltz.
Safety Meeting @ Pauly’s Hotel – 2.17.22
As you can see, The Laundromat plays their own important role in a much larger community. Samantha and Ari have grown their own musical node in the network in a very short amount of time. The space they have created creates opportunities for so many artists to put their work on display. The nature of the community inspires crowd members, promotes new acts and venues alike, and makes the whole of New York’s DIY scene stronger.
So whether you are young or old, love hip-hop or punk, or just have $5 in your pocket, then you should consider following The Laundromat on Instagram and keeping your eyes out for the next show they have. It could be this summer, or it could be next summer, but either way you ought to be ready to send them a DM and get the address to what will likely be one of the best shows in Albany happening that night. Albany’s basements are dark and dirty, but the artists and fans are kind and welcoming to all. There is no doubt that a night spent at The Laundromat will be one filled with good music and good vibes.
The Field ServiceMidnight DriverMidnight DriverRicky Bandana & CirredCirredTreasure CoveTreasure CoveThe E-BlockThe E-BlockSafety MeetingDork!AlliterationMichael Rodriguez – AlliterationAlliterationSouly HadMoss TongueMoss TongueGlue HeadGlue Head, Ari & SamanthaGlueheadGlue HeadGlue HeadSam LegenbauerLadybyrdChaz KissDavid Stingle – Chaz KissEvan Randall – LadybyrdProm SexLadybyrdCrash Test AutoAdam Henkel Crash Test Auto / 607 Music Scene
Honest Folk, purveyors of, er, honest folk concerts in Rochester, brought The Dead Tongues to town from Asheville, North Carolina on Sunday, May 15. The Dead Tongues, the project of singer-songwriter Ryan Gustafson, is sometimes a solo act, as it was on his previous visit to the area last summer at the Point of the Bluff Vineyard on Keuka Lake. But tonight it was a full band show, and electric at that. Not unheard of for an Honest Folk show, but not the norm either.
To prepare for this, the crowd had the opportunity to stretch their listening muscles. The band’s drummer, Joe Westerlund, started the evening with about 30 minutes of drum and electronics improvisation. Subtly shifting rhythmic electronic loops created a bedrock for Westerlund to explore his well-equipped kit, which featured all the bells, but no whistles. Even the shakes, rattles and clanks emerging from the bar, which can distract from the usual folk fare, added an unintentional surround sound effect. Inner ears and minds stretched and loosened, the previous hours of the day washed away, the crowd was ready to settle in for The Dead Tongues.
After a short break, Westerlund was joined on stage by Gustafson on guitars, harmonicas and vocals, Maddie Schuler on guitar and lap steel and Jeff Ratner on bass. They opened with the title track off of their stellar 2022 release, Dust. The album was written and recorded in a short period, a burst of inspiration for Gustafson. Live, there was no urgency though. Songs could ooze into existence and drift out just as languidly.
Older songs worked seamlessly into the set, some retooled to take advantage of the current band. On “Peaceful Ambassador” Gustafson’s harmonica meshed beautifully with Schuler’s lap steel, creating an almost organ-like effect, a unique mix of sound that would show up throughout the set. Ratner picked up the pace with a popping bass line that opened the song up into a jam featuring a searing slow burn solo from Gustafson. He strapped on the 12-string acoustic as his band continued to fizzle the song into a spacey outro that led right into “Sweet Relief,” another mellow groove that got pulled and stretched by the band.
Each song expanded their sound universe in subtle ways. “Nothingness and Everything” added a bit of reggae, some beautiful 3-part harmonies and featured a crowd-wowing guitar solo from Schuler. Westerlund continued exploring his kit throughout the night, from a softer hand drummed beat for “Pale November Dew,” to a sharp electronic beat on “Little Lies” or just flat out wowing with unique fills on the twanging rocker “Pawnshop Dollar Bills.”
It all remained rooted in Gustafson’s heartfelt and evocative songcraft, which he let speak for itself, keeping the banter to a minimum throughout the night. And these are songs begging to be heard again and again. Time to give that record another spin.
Setlist: Dust, Ebb and Flow, Through the Glass, Strangers, Graveyard Fields, Peaceful Ambassador, Sweet Relief, Pale November Dew, Nothingness and Everything, Garden Song, Little Lies, Pawnshop Dollar Bills, Won’t Be Long
If you like the soft/loud approach of The Pixies and the noise pop perfectionism of Nirvana, there’s a new trio on the NYC scene that’s sure to delight – Creature & The Butterflies.
Guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Chris Seifert debuted the band as a solo project in 2019 with the release of two singles, “Sweet Tooth” and “Turnaround.” The latter is a delightfully noisy and demented reinvention of the DEVO classic, one also covered by Nirvana on their Incesticide compilation. In 2021, Seifert released his tenth and perhaps most commercially appealing song, “Murder Machine.” This is a suitably mad, mid-tempo Ramones/Nirvana stomp with a cutting, single-note guitar solo straight out of the Neil Young “Cinnamon Girl” school.
While the multi-instrumentalist Seifert comported himself well on guitars, keys, bass and drums on his slew of singles, the band is even tighter now with the recent addition of a new killer rhythm section. The band’s newbies are pigtailed drummer Timmy Emmerich and bassist Bettina C. Emmerich has a sledgehammer, four-on-floor approach and a never flagging energy that brings a new level of vitality to Seifert’s prior recordings. Like Talking Head Tina and Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, Bettina C is a cool presence on stage. She’s also the sonic glue that holds (or maybe herds?) together Chris and Timmy’s poppy cacophony, one that could easily go off the rails her rock steady riffage.
This new lineup showcased their stuff at their second-ever gig together Wednesday night at Berlin Under 2A in Manhattan.
Like his idol Cobain, the eight Seifert originals played were grungy, noisy, feedback-laced pop perfection. They each boast killer riffs, crunchy chord sequences and smart, hook-leaden middle-eights – a compositional maturity that shows the band could be real contenders in the altrock marketplace.
On stage, Seifert has the dry sardonic presence of another of his idols, Lou Reed. At the performance, he cast off self-depreciating introductions to songs that amused the packed house.
The band ran through several of the singles you can find on their Spotify page like “THEM,” “Boy with Guns” and “Murder Machine.” But perhaps my favorites were two new tunes. “Viper Dog Fish” is a dropped-D tuned smasher driven by a riff Black Sabbath would love to have penned while “Friends” is, again, Seattle grunge more than a pinch of Lower East Side punk nihilism. It’s lyrical hook, one repeated again and again in the chorus – “I Don’t Have No Friends.” That certainly wasn’t the case at this performance.
Creature & The Butterflies have several area gigs upcoming, and will be at The Delancey June 4 at 10 pm. Visit them on Instagram.
Opera Saratoga’s Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson has announced that he will step down from Opera Saratoga after the 2022 Summer Season. A member of the company since 2014, Edleson will be taking his talents to The University of Houston as Professor of Practice and Artistic Director of The Moores Opera Center.
Lawrence Edelson
The Moores Opera Center is considered one of the most prestigious programs for opera training in the country. The institution regularly brings home National Opera Association awards. Lawrence Edelson will also continue in his role as Artistic and General Director of American Lyric Theater in New York City. Here, he mentors emerging opera composers and oversees the development of new works.
As expected, Opera Saratoga is sad to see Edelson go. That being said, the company wishes him the best of luck in his future endeavors. Edelson’s final remarks are as follows:
When I first came to Saratoga Springs as a guest director in 2013, I fell in love with this community and when I had the opportunity to join Opera Saratoga as Artistic and General Director the following year, I knew that I was about to embark on a very exciting journey. I truly could not have imagined how rewarding my time at Opera Saratoga would be. I have had some of the most meaningful experiences of my life during my time with the company, and I am deeply grateful to the artists, our entire staff, and our committed and generous supporters who make it possible for Opera Saratoga to contribute so vibrantly to the region year-round.
On May 11th and 12th, Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum played 2 sold out shows at New York City’s LPR. PGTTBM is an avant-indie supergroup that features actor Michael C. Hall on lead vocals, Peter Yanowitz on drums and Matt Katz-Bohen on keyboard. The trio formed the group in New York City after years of mutual friendship and group jam sessions. They released their debut album, Thanks For Coming, in February of 2021. Their sound mixes styles of New Wave with heavy synth and has been self described as “kaleidoscopic sound weather” and “danceable apocalypse.”
Their first post pandemic gig was at Mercury Lounge in January 2021. Because of covid restrictions at the time, there was no live audience and the gig was live streamed. Finally, the band can now play to a live audience and has gained much momentum with these 2 sold out shows at LPR. You can see all their upcoming dates here. They have also recently released a remix of their song “Ketamine” and a new video for their song “Sideways.”
Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum – le poisson rouge – NYC
Setlist: Intro/Vicious, Love American Style, Ketamine, Nevertheless, The Deeper Dow, Eat An Eraser, Let It Go, Into the Void, Sideways, Airhead, Angela Peacock, Jetpack, Cruel World, Tomorrow’s Screams, Thanks for Coming, Escape Route, Land of Make Pretend, Armageddon Suite, Come Talk To Me
Hip hop legends Onyx have added two new albums to their lengthy discography. First came, 1993, released on March, 4. The 13-track project is produced entirely by Ukrainian producer, Stasevich and is an ode to a rough and grimy era of mid-1990’s hip hop, hence the tittle. It samples some of the most iconic records from the 90’s including Public Enemy’s “Fight The Power” and Onyx’s own “Slam.”
This past weekend saw the release of, Onyx Versus Everybody, which is more concise with only 10-tracks and 19-minutes of play-time. For this effort, Fredro Starr took control behind the keyboard, producing the entirety of the project. While 1993 is more of a concentrated effort to capture the aura of a certain time period, both albums contain the same rugged energy that have made Onyx such a distinguished hip hop act. Fredro’s production does vary slightly more than Stasevich’s, but without any major rollout for either project, it seems as though the duo is focused on making records for their core fans, as these two ominous/dark themed albums illustrate.
The Southside, Jamaica natives made their break-though during the golden era of 1990’s hip hop. Known for singes like “Slam,” “Walk in New York,” “Throw Ya Gunz” and “Last Dayz,” Onyx has maintained their relevance for over two decades. Their raucous delivery along with the duo’s talent and business acumen have kept them in the game far longer than many of their contemporaries. Fredro Starr and Sticky Fingaz are also accomplished actors. Fredro is best-known for his role on the hit sitcom, Moesha, while Sticky has appeared in numerous film and television roles.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong [PPPP] has experienced a momentous April and May in 2022 including the release of their latest album, Perspective. At the album release party at Brooklyn Steel, friends both on stage and off celebrated. This upcoming weekend marks the commencement of Domefest for the 12th year in production.
Rainbows Outside, Rainbows Inside by Em Walis
PPPP bassist Ben kept contact with Em Walis over the first two weeks in April about the creative process, rituals for wellness, farming, rainbows, Perspective, and their festival Domefest which is happening this weekend, May 19-21 at Legend Valley. Special commentary is provided by members of the PPPP fanbase affectionately nicknamed “The Flock” as well as Funky Dawgz saxophoinist Tommy Weeks and the gal changing the bass game, Karina Rykman.
Framework
Three conversations with bassist Ben Carrey coincided with three events. The first conversation occurred the week before the Perspective release. The second conversation happened two days after PPPP performed at Brooklyn Steel. The final chat happened the following week after PPPP played Brooklyn Bowl Nashville.
Each interaction with both Ben and the PPPP community at large illuminated more and more understanding as to why so many people choose PPPP for priority declaration and lifestyle identity. Commentary and elaboration follows each conversation.
At The Front Of The Flock. Perched on the rail. By Em Walis
Commentary On The Quest For Perspective:
Why this band? What is it about PPPP that compels someone to declare themselves a part of “The Flock”? How did this epiphany happen anecdotally for members of The Flock? These questions have no bias and could be asked to any dedicated fan in regards to any artist they plan their sacred and few vacation days around.
The current landscape for music provides what feels like infinite options available for dedicating a lifestyle to. New flavors of musical genre fusions, coinciding side orders of artist side projects and mini super-band collaborations form on what feels like a daily occurrence. Smaller festivals catered specifically to citizens of that community have been popping up everywhere. Streams and communities allow some to participate without traveling outside of their county, let alone outside of the United States.
PPPP Bassist Ben Carrey speaks by Em Walis
Conversation 1: March 26 2022 Before The Shift | Pre Perspective Release
Em Walis[EW]: Thank you for taking the time! Where are you right now?
Ben [B]: No problem! I am on a walk to get coffee now at home in Maryland.
EW: How do your routines differ from home versus being on the road?
B: At home, my main focus is this small farm where my wife and I live.. There might be metaphorical cultivating to do on the road, but there is not much room for physical crops. Finding routine for being at home and while on the road are equally important. Not finding touring hacks for prosperity and longevity in what could be a detrimental hamster wheel lifestyle.
EW: What are you growing?
B: Right now we have kale, other wintered greens, potatoes , as well as both white and red clovers. Clover isn’t a harvest crop, just ground coner between rows. We are also working on composting. I love it.
EW: What kind of advice do you have for someone that is either new to touring, or seasoned and seeking a better sense of existence?
B It is extremely important to have healthy routines. I recommend that anyone on the road carve out 5 minutes of quiet breathing before a show and 10 minutes of stretching after. It is not a big commitment but can make all of the difference. Greg is known for his post show routine. He is always full of smiles after a show, takes a shower, cleans up his guitar, does office work then goes to bed. The most he will differ from this would be getting a slice of pizza.
I recommend that anyone on the road carve out 5 minutes of quiet breathing before a show and 10 minutes of stretching after. It is not a big commitment but can make all of the difference.
Ben
EW: I can imagine that it can be easy to let certain aspects of your wellbeing go to the wayside amongst the constant motion that is being on tour.
B: It is all about finding what you need. Each person has different needs and to find attainable ways to feed that. Things like yoga and meditation can be great for dealing with issues like addiction which runs rampant in music. We discuss many of these topics on the podcast I have with Luke Bemand from Lespecial called Back2Bassics.
EW: Very cool. I hope you get to soak in your time at home before the upcoming excitement begins. Would you like tell me a little about what you have coming up?
B: Our new album is about to come out, we have a really exciting release party planned for Brooklyn Steel. Our friends TAUK are opening. It should be a great time. After that, we go back on the road. May 19-21 willl be Domefest which has some of my favorite artist like Lotus and Spafford.
EW: Excellent! Tim Palmieri has been doing such a great job with Lotus. I saw Karina Rykman is on the lineup. She is fabulous. How was touring with her?
B: Karina was a complete pleasure to have on our last tour. She really brings that positive energy similar to Marco [Benevento’s]. You can listen to some of my conversation with her on the podcast.
B: There are no overlaps in sets which means if you miss something, that’s on you. We aim to minimize the heartache here.
EW: Speaking of heartache, the day is March 26 and it would feel dishonorable to not mention the untimely passing of Taylor Hawkins. I know the news is still very fresh, but would you like to comment on this?
B: Taylor’s passing hit hard. The band actually comes pretty close to home for us. Jeremy’s dad was the was Dave Grohl’s orthopedic doctor while on tour. The Foo Fighters have had Jeremy’s dad up on stage to sit in for a song on multiple occasions. I’m sure you can find a video on youtube somehwere.
EW: Wow. That is wild. I will look this up as soon as we get off the phone. Thank you for speaking on this and sharing that extremely fun fact. It seems it has hit hard for a lot of people and that there is something to be said about doing everything possible to have a positive impact on those around us.
BI like to think that when great energy is released into the world, it becomes a better place.
EW: Thank you. That is a really refreshing way to look at loss.
Like father like son by Em Walis
EW: Not to try to crack jokes in order to break up a sad moment, but what a beautiful Perspective you have. Not getting back on track, what does the recording process look like for PPPP? Was this one different in any way?
B: Ha! I see what you did there. It is in fact, all about perspective. [Perspective] was tracked pretty quickly, though putting it all together definitely took some time. We put the drums down first and use the best take from that. We build off of those tracks and add layers. We could only get into the studio here and there. I am psyched on the song “Water.” It has a cool vibe with different sonic textures imbued throughout. “Elephante” features this Nashville brass band called Here Come The Mummies. We have a music video from that track.
EW: Super cool! Well I know we did not have a whole lot of time today, but I wanted to thank you for the introduction and I look forward to talking to you after the album release party?
B: Looking forward to it all!
Commentary 1: Contemplating Cultivating Wintered Greens and Home Routines
Greg shows up by Em Walis
It appears that PPPP do a lot of work individually to help improve their chances for showing up for the band in their best possible form. Having mindful routines and practices cultivate creativity, open-mindedness and good communication.
In dark times, it is all too easy to tend towards automatic negative reactions to any input. The desire to tune out or numb out. Letting the wind beneath our wings fall away can be normal, especially in the wake of such isolating times. It does not have to be this way.
Perspective is readily available and we have the power to choose. How we think about a situation, the behaviors associated. Narratives we tell ourselves and others reinforce similar feedback loops. It might be difficult to molt old beliefs, but over time, new instinctual responses occur, and a better example can be set for others.
PPPP Perspective Album Cover
PPPP have taken the endless void of shutdown and created a space for practice, looking at the feelings that would have been directed towards despair as an opportunity in order to improve their own sense of self-care and wellbeing. The finite resource of mental bandwidth and physical energy typically poured into touring provided a magnified fountain for energetic resource in the studio. Ben provided a great reminder of how small practices, repeated over time can improve the way we show up creatively and for those that we care about.
Karina Rykman flies with the flock by Em Walis
Guest Commentary: Karina Rykman Weighs In
When asked about her experience with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, bass sorceress Karina Rykman had this to say:
I will never forget how kind and welcoming PPPP was to my band and crew, and the lengths they went to to make our daily lives better while we spent a month on the road together.
Karina Rykman
“I will never forget how kind and welcoming PPPP was to my band and crew, and the lengths they went to to make our daily lives better while we spent a month on the road together. They truly went above and beyond at every turn – sharing greenrooms, having us sit in, giving us their hotel rooms in Crystal Bay when their bus was leaving for the night, etc etc. They are truly one of the nicest touring operations, with everyone on their crew being spectacular at their jobs and hilarious to hang out with, respectively. I had no idea what to expect, and I’ve walked away with huge admiration for those guys. They take their craft wildly seriously – rehearsing new material every soundcheck until the minute they have to be done, and then rehearsing more in their practice room. I’m thrilled to be a part of Domefest and I can’t wait for our crews to be reunited!”
April 10 2022: Experiencing The Shift | Double Rainbow Album Release Party
Dramatization: This double rainbow was not taken at Brooklyn Steel by Em Walis
EW: How was your experience surriounding the album release party?
B: It was a really good time. Good vibes. There was like a double rainbow over the venue before the show. I remember there have been a few rainbow shows summer camp when we played the secondary sIt was a really good time. Good vibes. There was like a double rainbow over the venue before the show. I remember there have been a few rainbow shows… for example, at summer camp when we played the secondary stage. Ten minutes before we were about to go on… It’s been super hot all day to the point where like, I’ve tried having a breakfast of some gravy egg hodgepodge or other and I was laying in the back of one of our rental cars since we’d flown in and we were staying at a hotel which was like 45 minutes away. We had gotten there for soundcheck at like noon after not much sleep and didn’t play till like six or seven or something and I’m just like laying in the back of my rental car with AC on while the sun is beating down just like nauseous as fuck. This. Fucking. Sucks. I started to feel better in the hour or two before our set and then right before we go on…
Dramatization of Ben’s first rainbow show
I looked up and thought this is totally rainbow weather. I pointed to a security guard and told him to keep an eye out in that direction (opposite the sun) and let me know when you see a rainbow.. it’s gonna happen. We are literally about to walk on stage after we are announced and he goes there it is! There’s the rainbow! We walked on stage and behind this giant crowd of like 5000 people, the biggest we’d played in front to that point, there was a gorgeous, multi-hued arc of some facet of the universe saying…. We Good.
EW: That’s amazing. It was pretty magical. I was struck by the easygoing, fun atmosphere in the crowd. I had a blast that night and 3,000 frames were made without realizing. What is it about the The Flock that sets them apart from other music communities out there?
B: Inclusivity: the idea that we’re all in it together. The idea that we are all a part of the experience, its just different. We have different roles. I’m the bass player. Jeremy’s the guitarist. The audience is the audience. We’re all part of it. No one’s just observing or spectating in the flock. You’re co-creating essentially.
Moon Taxis’s Wes Bailey sitting in at Nashville show by Em Walis
I think people get that vibe and feel fulfilled. You know, creation is one of our Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The creativity aspect. I think attending our show scratches that itch for a lot of people. It allows them to just be like, genuinely nice and genuinely want to share it.
We’ve worked hard and constantly over the years to help instill this mentality in the flock, from way back when we started the Facebook group ‘The Flock’ with the idea that our fans/friends are more than just a collection of people. We are an entity
Big leaf energy by Em Walis
EW: The negativity didn’t seem present at all.
B: The idea is, we’re all worshipping music together… it’s about proselytizing the power of Love & Music & togetherness.
Be kind Funky Dawgz by Em Walis
EW: Would you say that PPPP has a defined set of core values with which it conducts itself and its community at large and do you think it has had an impact on the ways in which folks conduct themselves?
B: The values of the band are obvious so those that are that are with you know why they’re with you. Two things we are certainly all about are valuing kindness and spreading positivity. Greg wore “be kind” on his [flocking] shirt on Saturday because… it’s not hard. We’re humans; we make mistakes. So just be kind to others, as well as to yourself. I think that shows through.
EW: This is all great stuff. Thank you and I will be in touch!
B: Anytime.
Commentary 2: The Brave Little Roll of Toilet Paper
Find a place safe to expose weaknesses by Em Walis
At the album release party, there was a ritual performed that at its surface might seem pretty silly. With an open mind to a fresh perspective, unraveling an entire roll of toilet paper could represent much more than a tool for bathroom emergencies. The delicate paper with tiny ribbed areas for easy tearing was held up for quite some time by many fans. The way the white paper glowed with such vibrancy was striking. The vulnerability and willingness to expose our areas of weakness, allows for more joyous color to enter the room. The decision to remain all coiled up with hundreds of protective layers might mean a little more resistance to spilled beer, but it lacks the ability for personal growth, or in this case, length.
Being at a PPPP show is all about mindset and how you show up. The experience is about showing up ready to have a good time, let loose and ecape from outside roles and responsibilities. What you wear, how you dance and who you are is accepted immediately. The crowd is welcoming and full of more smiles and fewer phones.
Guest Commentary 2: Tommy of Funky Dawgz and Sophistafunk
Taking care of each other with loving kindness is a practice that could help improve the overall landscape of live music. After sitting in with PPPP at the album release party, Funky Dawgz and Sophistafunk saxophonist Tommy Weeks shared his thoughts about how artists can help support each other better.
“Artists supporting artists is a great way to make for a kinder music community. There is so much room for different styles of music and so many people consume music on such a wide spectrum. There should be no competition. Promote each other’s releases, videos, and successes. Musicians are in a spot now where everyone wants to go out and see shows. Promote each other. Also more importantly, educate younger musicians. We all had music teachers; I see it as a duty of professional musicians. Inspire young musicians like you were inspired, we all have stories of great music teachers that we remember from when we were younger. Give the kids some stories to tell about you.”
Don’t know the Dargz? Now you do.
Conversation 3: Many Hats and Many Wraps
“These guys always put me in my happy place” – Uncle Kendall
EW: Your touring photographer Kendall McCargo has been a real pleasure to shoot with. What is it like having someone like him on your team?
B: Kendall is a hard worker and fantastic photographer. Everyone on the team works hard, but he works the hardest. Always going. Always helping us look and feel great.
Many Hats by Em Walis
EW: I have noticed that you are often wearing different hats throughout the show. This feels significant. Can you describe your relationship with “many hats” both physically and transcendently?
B: I suppose the hat is a representation of the ego/of a hat that we take on as we are born into this world and by changing it so often I remind myself that I am simply the wearer a hat or of an experience of a body… I’m not the hatbody experience itself!
Guest Commentary 3: Let’s Ask The Flock
Flock dedication by Em Walis
Gavin And His Fresh PPPP Tattoo Might Have Something To Say
Flock member Gavin was happy to share his story about how PPPP took center stage in his life during a tough time. “So in 2019 I went to Peach Fest, and they played one set and I was like, Okay, this is it. This is cool. I kept going and go and go and go into shows and about 25 shows. I was like, this is everything. This is it. this is everything.
I paid it back with my energy on the rail the best I could. I got right up front. You know, we needed it. They needed it.
Gavin of “The Flock”
Then COVID hit. I turned the streams on. They were my heavy jams. You know, the world’s still gonna be good one day just not today. We went for a drive-in show and I paid it back with my energy on the rail the best I could. I got right up front. You know, we needed it. They needed it. Crazy. So then I went to another drive in and then another so then I went to Domefest and got my poster signed. The Security guard went back and I was able to meet Ben and Jeremy and it meant the world to me“
Coop shares his chair by Em Walis
Coop
One moment observed at the Perspective release party encompassed everything important to the world of PPPP. When an entire beer rained upon the crowd beneath the balcony at the Brooklyn Steel, a young man with a very broken leg put this belief into practice. Temporarily injured and grounded Flock member Coop was asked to recount what happened.
“I forgot about that! I felt so bad for her! half a beer was spilled on this poor woman and just kept dripping on her from above and no one was doing anything about it. No one should have to put up with that especially if you are handicapped. I couldn’t just sit and watch that happen. It doesn’t matter that my leg was broken. I’m a young kid and my other leg works just fine! I offered up my seat and then went to make sure they cleaned it up. It was the least I could do. It took a while and I had to bug security a few times but they eventually got someone up there to mop it up.”– Coop of “The Flock”
I couldn’t just sit and watch that happen. It doesn’t matter that my leg was broken.
Coop of “The Flock”
Vibrancy derrived from kindness by Em Walis
After hearing the story of the raining beer, the obvious next thing to do was ask Coop about himself, his experience at the show and what his relationship with PPPP looked like.
“I’m just a dude with an afro and a broken leg who is a fan of PPPP. my name is Coop and I am a marijuana extractor out in Colorado. The show was spectacular and the new album is awesome! My favorite song on it is probably water. The community as a whole is much like the deadhead crowd. Weird and wonderful and kind. I feel at home within the trippy scene. I can show a more authentic side of myself and have the freedom to be me. Good vibes all around. Loved yours! You can use whatever you want in your article. I would love to read it when its done!“– Coop
I can show a more authentic side of myself and have the freedom to be me. Good vibes all around.
Coop of “The Flock”
Taking the TP metaphor to the limit by Em Walis
Commentary 3: Wrapping It All Up… Wait, What?
Without fully knowing about Here Come The Mummies,, or that they were based in Nashville, the idea about the toilet paper ritual had already formed. It was thus with complete shock and utter disbelief when, there it was, a group of people collaborating creatively while quite literally wearing what many use, toilet paper, for making mummy costumes!
Repetition of words like “kindness’ and themes about improving the lives of those surrounding came up with every participant. The sampling of PPPP community members speaking of their values in similar terms provide evidence to infer the true strength and shared belief system among a larger population of fans and associated artists. While this may seem like a no-brainer, not all music communities have maintained synchronicity with this level of cohesion.
Gavin’s story was striking because the proclamation story of shutdown and streams helped so many find their community in music. Livestreams truly helped know what day it way. Playing pretend festival during couch tour evoked a sense of normalcy and hope. Many friendships were formed on forums and online platforms. The story was not one that could only be applied to PPPP which indicates that despite difference in musical preference, common ground can be found among music fans that transcends genre.
Some takeaways from this experience: Show up. Breathe for 5 minutes before you do something important. Don’t take life to seriously, at least for the few hours during the show. Trust that you will be welcomed with open arms. Take care of yourself, take care of others. Make it to Domefest if you can. Give Perspective a try by all meanings of the definition.
The penultimate episode in Season 47 of Saturday Night Live featured two SNL first timers – Selena Gomez as host, and Syracuse native Post Malone as musical guest.
Gomez did serve as musical guest on January 23, 2016, and used her monologue to discuss her TV show past, including her time on Barney & Friends, and discussed her current show, Only Murders in the Building, featuring SNL-vetaran Steve Martin and SNL-alum Martin Short.
Steve Martin would appear in a pre-taped “Unventor Documentary” sketch as Archie Gizmo, the inventor of the whoopie cushion. He tells the origin story of the gag gift, with Dina Beans (Aidy Bryant) as the muse he fell in love with.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOKAWhFdYNM
For Post Malone’s first song, the dark stage was backlit by white spotlights, the singer on stage alone dressed head to toe in leather to perform “Cooped Up.” Partway through he was joined by Roddy Ricch, who featured on the remix of “Wow” in 2019. The new song dropped this past week, with lyrics that note how Malone gave Ricch a big opportunity: “And Posty took me on my first damn tour date/ He had me rockin’ every night, sold out arenas/ I’m project n—a, I never thought I would see s–t/ I tried to tell you, you prolly wouldn’t believe us.” “Cooped Up” appears on Twelve CaratToothache, set to be released on June 3.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSdHZale2cA
Post Malone would show up twice in sketches – first as the conscience/shoulder-angel of Chris Redd in showed up in the sketch “Intuition,” and later in the final sketch of the night “Baby Monitor” as a baby in a crib.
Post Malone’s second song, “A Love Hate Letter To Alcohol,” also appears on the upcoming album. Fleet Foxes along with LA-based singer-songwriter Adam Melchor served as backup to Malone, all clad in black. Malone was revealed on one knee and wearing a calf-length dress along with white button down and black suspenders.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNzvsXsQaMU
Saturday Night Live returns for the Season 47 finale on Saturday, May 21 with host Natasha Lyonne and musical guest Japanese Breakfast.
