Category: Alternative/Indie

WCDB Fest 2022: A Celebration of Albany’s DIY Music Scene

Saturday April 9th, the University at Albany’s student run radio station, WCDB 90.9FM, hosted their 2022 WCDB Fest at the Albany Barn. The day’s events featured local artists, businesses and bands, while celebrating the efforts and accomplishments of all those involved. The student organized event lasted late into the night and included an art fair, eight live performances and an award show.

WCDB Fest 2022

Throughout the night, bands rotated on the stage, each playing 15-minute sets. The music for the evening kicked off with WCDB’s own DJ Riddick who played an electronic set before Jack Lynch took the stage for his own solo performance. The bassist played a seven string bass and had an arc of pedalboards and electronics before him while he looped some out of this world sounds.

The first band to take the stage was Grampfather. The Kingston based eclectic rock band’s album Gramppappies was nominated for WCDB Fest’s Best Album of the Year. Their set included ‘Poppies’ from the new album, which recently broke through 1,000 streams on Spotify. Canella followed Grampfather and were nominated for Rising Artist of the Year, as well Song of the Year with ‘Quiet Love.’ You can watch the music video for the single on Canella’s YouTube channel.

Canella

Canella were followed by Safety Meeting, who were nominated for Best Alt Rock/Indie Artist. The Saratoga band often play around Albany, and have an EP available to stream on Spotify. Following Safety Meeting, Mr. Every Day kicked off the first of two hip-hop performances. He opened his set with a passionate speech about his life, his family, and what music means to him. The intimate moment was followed by a high energy performance, priming the audience for a performance by Laveda.

The young shoe gaze band took the stage and immediately took control of the room. Their music had a beautiful blend of ethereal melodies over driving back beats, orchestrateed by familiar faces; Joe Taurone and Dan Carr of Canella. It was his second appearance on the night as he swapped between drums and bass (Dan would also appear on stage a third time, playing drums with Stella and the Reptilians). Laveda’s catalogue on Spotify includes a 6 track EP from their 2020 session with Audiotree. After Laveda, WCDB Fest’s Best Hip-Hop Artist, Scrambled performed a unique set. The Boston-based rapper began rhyming a-cappella while walking throughout the Albany Barn, projecting her voice throughout the room without any help from a microphone.

Ladybyrd

The evening ended on a high, with Stella and the Reptilians taking the stage right after taking home the Best Artist of the Year award. Everyone in the Barn was up on their feet for the final songs of the night, as bands and students alike were jumping and shouting along in celebration of not just Stella and the Reptilians, but in celebration of the WCDB community as a whole.

Stella and the Reptilians

Everyone present found themselves in the embrace of a tight-knit community of music lovers. WCDB Fest would not have been possible without the dedicated students who run the station, the musicians who are constantly creating and performing and the fans who create the demand for such an ecosystem to exist. Albany’s underground music scene is something to behold, and those who find themselves in a dirty, dusty basement will be glad they did. Every weekend you can catch a show whose music, energy, and excitement challenge those found at any mainstream venue in Albany. And with entry usually costing around $5, what’s the downside of checking out a basement show?

Rachel Freeman WCDB / Byrdhouse

If you are a music lover in Albany, or anywhere else for that matter, be sure to follow WCDB, the featured bands, and the music venues that are helping make Albany’s underground music scene flourish. You can find shows every weekend around the Capital District at The Byrdhouse, The Laundromat, Makeout Reef, Troy Speakeasy, Caesar’s Palace, and likely many more in the semesters and years to come. Also be sure to check out the gallery below for a full recap of WCDB Fest 2022.

WCDB Fest 2022 Award Winners

Best Punk/Hardcore Artist: Dirtybandaid

Best Country/Folk Artist: Beargrass

Best Electronic Artist: Soo Do Koo

Best Jazz Artist: Colleen Pratt

Best RnB/Funk Artist: The E-Block

Best Hip-Hop/Rap Artist: Scrambled

Best Alt Rock Artist: Senior Living

Rising Artist Award: Ladybyrd

Best Song: Quiet Love by Canella

Best Album/EP: Anniversaries by Senior Living

Best WCDB DJ: DJ Shmit

Music Scene MVP: Rachel Freeman

Best Artist of the Year: Stella and the Reptilians

April 26, 2022
The Great New York State Fair 2022 Concert Lineup Announced

The Great New York State Fair‘s 2022 lineup has been announced with a wide musical variety, taking place August 24 – September 5 at the Fairgrounds in Syracuse.

Founded in 1832 by a group of local farmers for agriculture and local fairs, it did not become a musical showcase until until the 1950’s and 1960’s, when the fair began gearing towards entertainment.

The Great New York State Fair Logo.

Artists performing at the Great New York State Fair 2022 are some fan favorites, but also some new faces making their State Fair debuts.

Chevy Court Stage- free with admission

Jimmie Allen – August 24 at 6 P.M.

Jimmie Allen is making his return to the State Fair after a 2019 performance that put him on the map. Now, Grammy-nominated for Best New Artist and nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist, this all after being named the Academy of Country Music’s New Male Artist of the Year and the Country Music Association’s New Artist of the Year in 2021. He takes the Chevy Court stage on opening day at 6 P.M.

Jimmie Allen.

Niko Moon – August 26 at 6 P.M.

Fast-rising country star Niko Moon will be making his Fair debut on August 26 at 6 P.M. His song “Good Time” hit number one on the Billboard country charts and spent nearly half of 2021 on the top 40 pop charts. He has written for artists like Zac Brown Band, Dierks Bentley, and Rascall Flatts.

Niko Moon

Tai Verdes – September 2 at 1 P.M.

Platinum-selling breakout singer-songwriter Tai Verdes will make his debut performance at the Fair on September 2 at 1 P.M. He is known for his chart-topping hits like “A-O-K,” and “Stuck In The Middle” and has performed on The TODAY Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Verdes has been hailed by the likes of TIME Magazine, Rolling Stone, New York Times, NPR, and more for his music.

Tai Verdes.

Also Returning

September 2 at 6 P.M.- Gin Blossoms

September 5 at 4 P.M.- Night Ranger

Chevy Park Stage- free with admission

Foreigner – August 28 at 8 P.M.

Rock band Foreigner will return to the Fair stage and close out the first weekend of the Fair’s concert season on August 28 at 8 P.M. Foreigner has 16 Top 30 hits over their decades-long career, with nine Top 10 hits. Their catalog has sold over 80 million albums, and they held the longest number 1 on the Billboard charts with their album “4.” They are also looking for a junior high, high school, or college chorus to perform a 10-minute acappella set before their show, and they can apply here.

Foreigner.

Boyz II Men – August 29 at 8 P.M.

Grammy-winning vocal soul powerhouse group Boyz II Men will return to the Fair for the first time since 2009 on August 29 at 8 P.M. They have a long catalog of top hits, which fans will be able to sing to all night long.

Boyz II Men.

24KGoldn – September 2 at 8 P.M.

Rapper 24KGoldn is making his debut at the Fair on September 2 at 8 P.M. He made music chart records with his song “Mood” with Iann Dior as it became the first song ever to top four Billboard music charts at the same time. His mix of genres from rap, rock, and alt-rock will bring a wide variety of fans to the show.

24KGoldn

COIN – September 3 at 2 P.M.

COIN will bring their bright indie-pop to their debut performance at the Fair on September 3 at 2 P.M. They are most known for their single “Talk Too Much” which hit high on the indie charts. They help diversify the lineup with their fresh sound, which will bring a lot of young fans to the Fair.

COIN.

City Girls – September 4 at 8 P.M.

Rap duo City Girls are coming to the Fair and are making their debut on September 4 at 8 P.M. Miami-based Yung Miami and JT are known for their single “Act Up” which went platinum, and for their contribution to Drake’s song “In My Feelings.”

City Girls.

Also Playing

August 24 at 8 P.M.- Chevelle

August 25 at 8 P.M.- The Art of Rap Featuring Ice-T

August 31 at 8 P.M.- Nelly

September 1 at 8 P.M.- Riley Green

September 3 at 8 P.M.- Dropkick Murphys

April 23, 2022
This Week’s EQXposure on WEQX Features Kendra McKinley, The Pine Boys and more

Each Sunday evening from 7-9 pm you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up and coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music from Kendra McKinley, The Pine Boys, Gozer, and many more.

WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.

Kendra McKinley – “Dirty Laundry”

Kendra McKinley is a Hudson Valley singer-songwriter who blends pop, jazz, and soul using vibrant sensuality and wit. Her new single “Dirty Laundry” will be on EQXposure, and the music video is out now.

The Pine Boys – “Lunatic”

The Pine Boys is a three-piece band that resides in Albany, NY, and consists of members Andrew Cerone, Brett Maney, and Sam Lasky. The group brews together genres like Alternative Rock, Hip-Hop and Funk. Their song “Lunatic” off of their album Vacationland will be shown on EQXposure. The song is very funky, with muffled vocals and cool synths and an almost wolf’s howl in the background.
<a href="https://thepineboys.bandcamp.com/album/vacationland-2">Vacationland by The Pine Boys</a>
Gozer – “Braindead”

Gozer are a band also from Albany, NY. The members include Mykah Dillenger, Sean Murphy, Nick Kossor, and Seth Maset. They are an original hard rock band and music contributors to various podcasts/movies. Their single “Braindead” will also be shown on EQXposure. The song has a lot of heavy guitars and is reminicisent of an early 2000s rock song, with stellar vocals and lyrics.
<a href="https://gozer4.bandcamp.com/album/gozer">Gozer by Gozer</a>

April 22, 2022
Ariel Arbisser Wants to See Red In New Single ‘Bloodshed’

Ithaca-based singer Ariel Arbisser embraces the darkness within with her new single ‘Bloodshed’. This is her first release since her 2021 album, Risk of Love.

The powerful songstress uses the new single as a vehicle to express her personal struggles. We’ve all had moments where we struggle not to become whatever we’re fighting against, whether those issues stem from trauma, frustration or injustice, but while listening to ‘Bloodshed’, listeners can take a moment to stop fighting and give in, if only for a few minutes.

“It feels valid and warranted, It’s the side we try to hide and keep tamed that comes out to fight when we’re at our limit. “
Ariel Arbisser

The multi-talented singer has delved into many sections of the art world including musicals like “Rent”, “Little Women” and “Candide”, as well as plays like “Museum” and “The Maid”. Arbisser also wrote, produced and starred in the original web series “Sex, Drugs, A Cappella”.

In addition to starring in theater productions, Arbisser has also traveled around the US teaching her “Sing It Like You Mean It” module, along with other workshops. The module employs tools from the Meisner Technique to help singers become more comfortable and connected during their performances.

PC : Drew Bordeaux

Since 2018, Arbisser has been working on her personal music while helping those around the country learn new performance techniques and ideologies. In 2021, she returned to Ithaca to finalize and release her debut album, Risk of Love, after previously singing with groups like The Funx and Frisky Business.

April 19, 2022
Adequate Phil Drops Psychedelic New Single

Adequate Phil doesn’t tether themselves to one genre, and their newest single, “Can’t Not,” showcases this. In it, elements of psychedelia, hip-hop, and folk infuse to make one cerebral concoction. This single is the third of many to come from the new “folk-freak” group coming out of Troy, which falls just north of Albany and lies alongside the Hudson River.

The band consists of three members. Sean McLaughlin provides vocals throughout the track. Moreover, Phil McGrath plays the guitar. Notably, Runey Ghosh provides beautiful bass instrumentation on this project. It is thick, it is beautiful, and it is funky. His instrumental abilities add an essential layer of personality to this song.

Their previous release, “Baby Leeches/Vessel” was previously covered by EQXposure on WEQX, an independent radio station in the Capital Region of New York.

The group will be performing at the Troy Speakeasy on April 23rd. For more on Adequate Phil, visit https://linktr.ee/adequatephil.

April 19, 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
State Champs Continues Pop-Punk Excellence On New EP

State Champs has dropped a new five-song EP, titled Eventually. This release from the Albany band continues to showcase their incredible talents.

The titular track on this project highlights all the staple pieces that make a pop-punk classic. The hook is insanely catchy and the drums are powerfully ambitious with just the right amount of trash. The guitar on this is bright. Closing your eyes while listening to this thing, one can picture themselves in a teenage skater movie, as exemplified by the cover art of this project.

Notably, the second track on this project features Ben Barlow of Neck Deep. “Everybody but You” timelines the adolescent feelings of anger after love loss in the best ways possible. Teenagers are irrational, and seeking revenge in the form of the throwdown of the century may not seem like the most reasonable course of action, but State Champs convinces you otherwise on this track.

This EP comes in anticipation of the fourth studio album from State Champs, Kings Of The New Age, where they hope to continue cementing themselves as pop-punk icons. So long as the tracks continue to sound like this, King Of The New Age will be excellent.

Pre-order for the album is available at https://lnk.to/StateChamps.

April 18, 2022
Lou Tides Announces EP “Infinite Loop,” Out May 20th

NYC musician Lou Tides has announced her newest EP, Infinite Loop, out on May 20^th. “Sense of Touching,” the first single on the album, was released earlier on April 1^st.

photo credit: Charles Billot

Bushwick local and formerly known as Nancy Feast, Lou Tides has made a name for herself throughout her musical career. As a former member of the bands Here We Go Magic and TEEN, Tides has chosen to go solo for her newest project. While she has collaborators, namely drummer Sarah Galdes, the laminated layers of synthesizers and vocals are all her own. Tides has developed multimedia performances incorporating movement, costume, film, and sound artistry by drummer Sarah Galdes.

I think of these songs as a map. A sequence in time. And the sequence of the songs follows that map, that loop.
Lou Tides

“Movement is not an art form in which I have any official practice, so there’s a lot of freedom in the lack of knowledge,” she says of her somatic performance elements.

Performing and producing by herself for the first time was only natural for an EP this personal and emotional. Tides made these songs while reckoning with the profound ways she’d been affected by her sexual trauma.

Emotionally this music would not fit into anything strictly shaped or precise, I wanted to embrace the moods of the emotions and how I felt they would naturally flow. Time then felt different, and lush arrangements with stretchy synthesizers felt appropriate. I wanted the music to emulate the natural peaks and valleys of our lives and relationships
Lou Tides

Tides talks to BrooklynVegan about the track and video, “Sense of Touching was shot pre-pandemic in January of 2020. I approached Suzi Murray Sadler (director and cinematographer) about capturing the live performance that Sarah Galdes and I had been developing for about a year. The song and video was almost lost in the noise of the pandemic – for me personally, it felt difficult to return to as it was written to process past sexual events.”

“But, about two years into the pandemic, I started feeling like I was ready to revisit the song, as it allowed for some time to reflect on the purpose of the music. Admitting to myself that shame was partially responsible for my fear to release the music, I didn’t wish to let the people who had harmed me hold that level of power. So this video, made with people I love and trust, feels both joyful and cathartic in its defiance.”

Infinite Loop will be available on Bandcamp, Tidal, and Apple Music on May 20th.

April 18, 2022
Rising Star from East Village, Breaker, Releases “People Change”

Rising Star from East Village, Breaker, releases an instant classic rock song and video titled “People Change.” From performing for strangers to charming his friends with his confidence and wit, Breaker has a magnetic personality that goes beyond his musical talents.

Growing up with six siblings in New York City, Breaker has been performing for his family and all around Manhattan since he was young. Nowadays, he plays shows across the country with his love of songwriting and creating music. Beyond his 21 years, Breaker has made a name for himself as an alternative/indie artist.

Though written entirely in New York City, “People Change” and the upcoming EP were recorded in Virginia. While only taking a mere two days of studio time to record, the energy was buzzing from the first moment the small team entered the magical space. Escaping the East Village, he fled to a scenic farm for the birth of this upcoming album. With the help of his best friends and collaborators, Breaker had brought the vision of his new album to life.

Despite being a natural lead singer, what shines through most on the new song and Breaker’s upcoming EP is his ability to work with other creative minds. Thus, inspiring the people around him to make the best music and have the most fun possible. This project has led to the formation of The Live Show, which is a team of solo artists consisting of Jacob Lourie, Chris Murphy, and Breaker. Breaker has the ability to get any room dancing.

A second single, followed by Breaker’s upcoming debut EP, We’re Not Lovers Anymore, is coming later this Spring. Lookout for Breaker and The Live Show in and around NYC performing live now through the Summer.

To watch or listen to “People Change,” click the link here.

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