Category: Alternative/Indie

  • Morningsiders Unveil New Album “I’ve Got a Song”, Premiere First Single “Hang the Cedar”

    NYC indie band Morningsiders have returned to unveil their newest album I’ve Got a Song, along with the release of their new single ‘Hang the Cedar’, a song detailing the struggles of finding identity within a friend group. 

    Morningsiders

    The folk-pop trio recorded the single with the help of well-known producer Peter Katis, who has also worked with The National, Interpol and Sharon Van Etten. The song came together after the group realized that they had a piano pattern that would work perfectly as a verse. Building outward from the verse resulted in a cohesive story and smooth melodies. 

    ‘Hang the Cedar’ captures the difficulty of developing a personality while navigating within a friend group. It can be an added challenge when you consider how those around you view you, but the Morningsiders are here to help you along.

    Morningsiders
    PC : Shervin Lainez

    “It’s like all of a sudden you have a chance to meet yourself, but also to reinvent and curate in a way that you couldn’t before.”

    Morningsiders

    Morningsiders is comprised of Magnus Ferguson (vocals/guitar), Reid Jenkins (fiddle/vocals) and Robert Frech (piano). After forming in 2012, the group has gone through a number of member rotations before landing on their current three man dynamic. They first gained national attention after their song ‘Empress’ was featured in a Starbucks commercial featuring Oprah Winfrey and have kept this momentum going with an ever changing musical sound and inventive approaches. 

    Fans can listen to ‘Hang the Cider’ on all streaming platforms.

  • Sasami Plays Music Hall of Williamsburg

    Fresh off the release of her second album Squeeze, Sasami played a packed show last Friday night, March 25th, with support from Zulu. The eclectic crowd comprised people of all stripes, with plenty of typical goth garb (leather, long coats, and tall boots) and plenty of LGBTQ+ representation in the mix. Fans were asked to keep masks on throughout the show to protect the band from tour disruptions, with signs posted on the walls and doors.

    Sasami
    Sasami at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Photograph by David Reichmann

    L.A. native “powerviolence” band Zulu opened up the show with loud, sustained heavy metal sounds. The audience gleefully moshed and thrashed throughout their brief but powerful set.

    Sasami
    Zulu at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Photograph by David Reichmann

    Sasami started her hard-hitting set with some fan favorite tracks including, “Skin a Rat,” “Say It,” and “Make It Right.” Her setlist covered her 2-album catalog, and even included a cover of System of a Down’s “Toxicity” with on-stage help from Zulu. Given Sasami’s experience as a trained classical composer, her setlist spanned several genres and included operatic interludes, head-banging choruses, and even a few balladic deep cuts such as “Call Me Home.”

    Sasami
    Sasami and Zulu at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Photograph by David Reichmann

    Sasami’s music has always contained difficult themes, and often expresses frustration with systemic violence or even her own interpersonal relationships. Earlier in the week, she had posted on social media about her decision to postpone an upcoming Boston tour date until they could “book it in a venue everyone feels safe in.” She also stated, “My [number one] priority as a touring musician is to create a safe space for my community to rage, emote, dance […] and have fun…” Throughout her set, Sasami repeated her mantra of wanting to use music to create a safe space for minority and disenfranchised peoples, leading to loud cheers each time she reaffirmed her intentions.

    Sasami
    Sasami at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Photograph by David Reichmann

    Sasami’s North American tour continues, and you can listen to Sasami’s 2022 album Squeeze here and view upcoming tour dates here. Listen to Zulu’s music here.

  • BUKU Music and Art Project Celebrates 10th Anniversary in New Orleans

    After a pandemic-induced two-year hiatus, the BUKU Music and Art Project made it’s triumphant return to New Orleans this past weekend. The 2-day music festival and art project took place at it’s usual location outside of Mardi Gras World on the banks of the Mississippi river. The project’s 10th anniversary featured a stacked lineup of EDM and bass music, rap, hip-hop, and indie rock. Back in March of 2020, as the stages and grounds were being built, project organizer Winter Circle Productions made the tough decision to cancel BUKU Project just over a week out. Being the first cancelled festival in 2020, it was only fitting that in 2022, a few weeks after Mardi Gras celebrations returned to New Orleans, that BUKU would be the first festival to kick off the season.

    buku project new orleans
    Photo by Buscar Photo

    The 2022 lineup featured several hold over names from the cancelled 2020 edition including headliner Tyler, the Creator, Glass Animals, Alison Wonderland, Taking Back Sunday, and 100 Gecs. Over the years BUKU has grown into a 20,000 attendees per day festival and the location has proven ideal. A 100 year old power plant with graffiti covered smoke stacks and a vintage riverboat anchored on the Mississippi overshadow the project, reflecting the rich history of New Orleans’ warehouse district.

    The Project

    BUKU Project attendees were treated to a perfect sunny 75 degrees in New Orleans, a city that was eager to welcome music lovers back into their arms. New Orleans’ famous culture center of Bourbon Street is once again buzzing with music and activity and this was mirrored into the design of BUKU. Organizers weaved the experience of discovering local music into the fabric of the project.

    As you walk around the grounds, you find pop-up musical performances, many which were not featured on the lineup. In the fields of the main stage area, there is a small vendor market with bands playing DIY style shows in the center of the market. A mobile rickshaw draped in hundreds of Mardi Gras beads was seen riding around the festival with massive speakers and a DJ playing music off the back. Outside of the ‘Ballroom’ stage, there was a boxing ring where rappers, bands, and interpretative performers played intensely experimental music.

    Aside from the music, BUKU is also an Art Project that celebrates New Orleans artists. Art installations were scattered around the festival grounds and vendors were selling art and custom clothing. Modern sculptures and lighting pieces were found around every corner of the grounds, provided interesting backdrops to the music and for photos. There were also “live art” areas where graffiti and mural artists spent the two days creating beautiful pieces in the shadows of the music stages. Some of these were sold or auctioned for charity, but many fans just spent time watching the art being created while listening to the music in the distance.

    buku project new orleans
    Live Art Gallery

    Bass Music and Underground Rap

    The backbone of the BUKU Project lineup are the dubstep and bass music artists, with the ‘Wharf’ stage dedicated entirely to the genre for both days. The stage production was top notch and all of the performers took full advantage of the system’s power. Lasers from the stage were projected onto the nearby warehouse and the Louis Armstrong riverboat anchored in the river, creating the feeling of an intimate outdoor club while still housing thousands of fans. Liquid Stranger and Lane 8 headlined the stage on Friday and Saturday respectively, with Svdden Death, Mersiv, Clozee, and Wreckno filling in the days.

    buku project new orleans
    The Wharf Stage at BUKU Music and Art Project

    “Multimedia aggregate” Lab Group also played the Wharf stage, only three months after the tragic death of member and producer Charlesthefirst. The 25 year old’s death shocked the community, but surviving members Potions and Supertask are keeping the aggregate alive and still performing the music that the group created together. At one point in their set Lab Group paid tribute by playing “Old Ways” which features rap verses from Charlesthefirst.

    lab group buku project new orleans
    Lab Group Performs on The Wharf Stage. Photo by Buscar Photo

    Underground rap and hip-hop played a large role in the 2022 edition of the BUKU Project in New Orleans. Odd Future founding member and now international superstar and fashion designer Tyler, the Creator headlined the project on Saturday. Ever since his solo debut Goblin back in 2011, Tyler, the Creator has been putting a fresh spin on his sound with each new release. 2019’s IGOR was an ambitious blend of rap and experimental R&B which debuted at No. 1 on the charts. Tyler, the Creator followed this up with Call Me If You Get Lost in 2021 which continued to propel his commercial success.

    tyler the creator buku project new orleans
    Tyler, the Creator at the BUKU Music and Art Project. Photo by Buscar Photo

    Aside from the big name headliner, the rap lineup for both days of BUKU was stacked with rising stars and veteran artists. Friday featured ShyGirl and Tierra Whack in the Ballroom with Trippie Redd delivering a fiery set mid-day on the main Skyline stage. On Saturday, fans were treated to a full day of Flo Milli, Vince Staples, Baby Keem, Maxo Kream, and Tyler, the Creator. Another major success of the BUKU Project was that these individual genre lineups had no conflicts and fans who were there for the rap did not have to make any hard decisions.

    flo milli buku project new orleans
    Flo Milli at the BUKU Music and Art Project. Photo by Buscar Photo

    Indie Rock and The Undefined

    What festival would be complete these days without the indie kids? The best thing about music today is that anyone can listen to anything at any time. This has cultivated a generation of music lovers with a very wide palate. This was on clear display when Taking Back Sunday took the Skyline stage for their mid-day set. The band is on tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of their seminal 2002 LP Tell All Your Friends and they split their set between newer material and classic songs “Cute Without the ‘E’” and “MakeDamnSure.” The band drew a large crowd for an early festival set and the injection of nostalgia was a beautiful way to kick off the weekend.

    taking back sunday buku project new orleans
    Taking Back Sunday at the BUKU Music and Art Project. Photo by Buscar Photo

    Friday headliners and Australian psych-rock titans Tame Impala were the highlight of the indie side of the festival. The band is on the second leg of The Slow Rush Tour which was partially postponed due to the pandemic but is back on the road in full force. Featuring a massive lighting rig suspended from the stage, the band’s live production overwhelms any audience they host. The lighting gives the unsettling yet beautiful feeling of coming face to face with a UFO.

    tame impala buku project new orleans
    Tame Impala at the BUKU Music and Art Project. Photo by Buscar Photo

    The band cruised through reworked live versions of The Slow Rush songs “Breath Deeper” and “Borderline” while playing a driving, laser fueled rendition of fan favorite “Elephant.” Two extended releases of confetti during the last two songs “Let It Happen” and “New Person, Same Old Mistakes” felt like a celebration not only of Tame Impala or BUKU, but more of the return to live music in one of the richest musical cities in the world.

    tame impala buku project new orleans
    Tame Impala at the BUKU Music and Art Project. Photo by Buscar Photo

    Given the seemingly endless creative outlets that exist today, there are so many artists out there that defy categorization and cannot fit within the typical genre classifications. 100 Gecs were an early highlight of the day on Friday. Described as “hyperpop,” the duo performs an aggressive and in your face punk-like pop music. Their chaotic style is a great show to see in a small club, but their gigantic sound reverberated across the main stage grounds as if that was their natural setting. Porter Robinson performed his Nurture live show and British indie rockers Glass Animals brought their iconic summer pool staging to same time slot on the main stage on Friday and Saturday respectively.

    glass animals buku project new orleans
    Glass Animals at the BUKU Music and Art Project. Photo by Buscar Photo

    Our Impression

    All in all, the return of the BUKU Music and Art Project to New Orleans was a major success. Organizers brought back some of the big names from the cancelled 2020 lineup and designed grounds that were well laid out and easy to navigate. Lines for food and drinks were never too long and there was plenty of free water and “BUKU Budz” throughout the festival supporting attendees. Most festivals with bass heavy electronic music suffer from sound bleed issues, but none of the stages interfered with each other at BUKU. The food lineup featured local mainstays and highlighted the signature creole cuisine of New Orleans.

    NYS Music had a great time at the festival and we caught sets from so any different artists and styles throughout the weekend. We enjoyed seeing big names like Tame Impala in their prime, but also discovering new music that will become part of our rotation. Nothing is better than discovering new music live, looking over at your head-banging friends and asking “what song is this?” Moments like this are what we missed most during the pandemic and we are so happy to have back again.

    Check out our artist galleries from the 10th edition of the BUKU Music and Art Project below, photographed by NYS Music photographer Buscar Photo.

    Artist Galleries

    100 Gecs

    Lab Group

    Tame Impala

    Kumarion b2b Reaper

    Rezz

    Alison Wonderland

    Baby Keem

    Vince Staples

    SFAM

    Glass Animals

    Lane 8

    Amelie Lens

    Porter Robinson

    Taking Back Sunday

  • Priya Ragu, Dan Croll, Anaiis, Obii and Great Calling show the UK’s Talent at Pop-up Shows across Manhattan

    In an effort to expose up-and-coming UK artists to American audiences, GREAT Campaign partnered with SoFar Sounds for the week of March 21, 2022 to put on numerous performances across New York City featuring some of the biggest names on the rise.

    In an interesting way to gain access to the show, one had to pick up a ringing telephone within a classic English-looking telephone booth (many of which were spread across Manhattan). The phone would relay a message detailing the shows for the week and their locations.

    Priya Ragu Dan Croll
    Priya Ragu at Great Jones Distillery Co.

    The purpose for this campaign was due to the UK still considered underrated, in terms of being a cultural musical hotspot. Massive current artists, like Harry Styles, Dua Lipa, and Ed Sheeran all hail from the UK, showing its constant relevance in the global music scene. There are many artists in the UK that are starting to rise and are nearly about to break into the mainstream American industry.

    become incredibly popular in the past year, with the prestigious BBC Sound of Music giving her a nomination in 2021 and Vogue India listing her as one of the 6 artists that are going to blow up in 2021. On the other hand, Dan Croll (hailing from Liverpool) graduated from the Paul McCartney-founded Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and has been on the scene since 2011. Both of them put on an intimate show for an adoring crowd, wowing them with Dan Croll’s indie-pop crooning and Priya Ragu’s energetic pop performance.

    Priya Ragu Dan Croll
    Dan Croll at Great Jones Distilling Co.

    Many of performances occurred that week, ranging from Penelope Isles to Rose Betts. All of which showcased these rising stars and their immense talents.

    Riya Ragu at Great Jones Distilling Co.

    Some of the UK’s most talented singers Anaiis and Obii showed their skills in a Red Hook ice cream factory on Friday, March 25. As you walk in the door behind the ice cream shop counter, you go into a room with views of the factory through the window. The room was full of music enthusiasts and people there for a good time. The artists held a captivating show and kept the audience involved throughout the duration of it. This showcase exemplified the powerful voices that come from the UK and gave an idea of the future of UK artists and their abilities.

    Great Calling – The National Arts Club – March 29 (review and photos by Michael Dinger)

    The last of four shows performed at iconic spaces in Manhattan and Brooklyn over the past week, the Great Campaign’s final act took place at The National Arts Club at Gramercy Park this past Tuesday night. A collaboration with SoFar Sounds, these intimate gatherings have showcased homegrown artists from Great Britain that are all on the verge of stardom. The featured musicians of tonight’s festivities included Rose Betts (singer/songwriter), Geo Jordan (multi-instrumentalist/producer/writer) and Hamzaa (R&B singer/songwriter). If witnessing the talent of these young musicians was not enough, guests were also immersed in the expressive, wondrous paintings of the contemporary Cuban artist Carlos Quintana, which hung from the walls throughout the performance space. His exhibition, PHySIKA, is on view until April 8th.

    Rose Betts, originally from London, was the evening’s first performer. After being introduced by Adam (the night’s emcee) as having “a voice that melts like butter,” Betts sat down before a Steinway for the first of five songs, while accompanied by Emmanuel Ventura-Cruess on an upright bass. Featuring songs from her newly released debut album, White Orchids (RAB Records), Betts introduced “Foolish” as “one of the few songs [she’s] written about love.” The songstress concluded her opening set with “Think Of You” and “Recovery,” a tune that Betts exclaimed to the audience was “the first song where [she] allowed [herself] to be vulnerable.”

    After a brief intermission, Geo Jordan was the second British artist of the night to entertain the intimate crowd of approximately 100 souls in attendance. While on guitar, Jordan opened the set with “Let Go,” taken from the 5-song EP Technicolour (August 2021). This EP was self-produced by Jordan, a Trans artist who uses his music to explore topics such as identity and acceptance. Moving over to the piano for “The Colour Of You” (the title track from his 2017 EP), Jordan revealed, “I never know quite what to do with applause, thank you.” With a guitar back in his hands, Jordan went on to perform what can best be described as progressive soul pop tracks such as “Forever,” taken from the EP titled The Colour Of You (2017) and “Irreplaceable,” from the album Remember Me Pt. 1 [MD1] (2019).

    The final act of the night was Hamzaa, a soul artist from Hackney (East London) who has been writing her own songs before she was even a teenager. Accompanied by Jeffandy AllTogether (guitar) and Chad Selph (keys), the first of her 6-song set was “Unlucky,” taken from Phases EP (2019). After bringing back Emmanuel Ventura-Crues for a guest appearance on bass, the highlight of the night was still to come. Hamzaa’s blissful closing number titled “Sunday Morning,” also from Phases EP, captured the cheerful mood of the event, with the audience singing the chorus in unison – “You make me feel like it’s a Sunday morning” . . . even on a Tuesday night.

    You can learn more about GREAT Campaign and SoFar Sounds here.

  • And the Winner of NYS Music’s March Madness 2022 is….

    HANZOLO! The indie group with an explosive, emotional sound mixing soul, jazz, rock and funk, hail from Cooperstown, and bested Albany’s Fine Grain en route to winning the finals of NYS Music’s March Madness 2022.

    March Madness 2022

    HANZOLO, hailing Cooperstown – where 5 of the 7 members attended Cooperstown High School – formed in 2016 after playing in a variety of groups from high school and into college. The group’s name derives from the name of a samurai, Hanzo, and a certain science-fiction cowboy.

    Band members include Carl Loewenguth (vocals, guitar), Nick Summers (keyboard, trumpet), Jack Loewenguth (bass), Nate Olmstead and Sebastian Green (drums), James Matson (trombone), and Joey Katz (keyboard, saxophone)

    Since forming, HANZOLO have opened for bands like Lawrence, Wild Belle, and *repeat repeat. They released their first album Table Butter in 2019, an apt title given they have been compared to Table Butter: soft enough to spread yet hard enough to keep its shape.

    hanzolo March Madness 2022

    As COVID-19 led to a music industry shutdown in 2020 and most of 2021, the band took the time to refine their second album, HANZOLO. In September 2021, the group won the EQX Battle of the Bands and opened Albany’s annual Pearlpalooza music festival.

    They have played regularly in NYC at The Delancy and Rockwood Music Hall, and look to expand their audience in coming months with festival appearances that are soon to be announced.

    Closer to home, HANZOLO play regularly in Albany at Lost and Found, as well as Ommegang Fire Pit Fridays in the summer, Black Oak Tavern and Foothills PAC in Oneonta.

    The self-titled second album was released on Christmas Day 2021, the result of a Kickstarter campaign that netted over $14,000. With COVID sidelining the band from touring, they used the time to put more focus on the quality control of the album and launch the band into their next phase in a well-timed manner.

    They’ve also got a selection of HANZOLO merch you can pick up here.

    HANZOLO 2022 Tour Dates

    April 8 – Arts Gala at The Madison Theater, Albany

    April 14 – Pauly’s Hotel, Albany (with JDolla)

    April 24 – The Range, Ithaca (with Q-Tip Bandits)

    April 27 – Lark Hall, Albany (with Q-Tip Bandits & E-Block)

    June 11 – Cooperstown Blues Express, Cooperstown

    Congratulations HANZOLO, NYS Music’s 2022 March Madness Winner!

    March Madness 2022

    Since 2015, NYS Music has crafted a friendly March Madness competition that spans all musical harbors of the Empire State. As fans and musicians, the NYS Music team aims to spotlight the great talent found across New York in a friendly contest, bringing broader attention to the next generation of artists and bands on the rise. March Madness 2022 highlighted 64 bands and artists you might not know, but should know, as these homegrown talents are making waves through the New York State. Review each round below.

    Round One

    Round Two

    Sweet 16

    Elite 8

    Final 4

    FinalsHANZOLO vs. Fine Grain

    HANZOLO joins previous NYS Music March Madness winners include Organ Fairchild (2021), Black Mountain Symphony (2018), Root SHOCK (2017), Sprocket (2016) and Lucid (2014).

    March Madness 2022

    Our sincere thanks to the sponsors of NYS Music March Madness 2022 – Bearsville Theater, Funk n Waffles, DSP Shows, The Helping Friendly Hemp Company, The XPerience Monthly and Mirth Films.

  • NYC-Based Indie-Pop Singer Aubrey Haddard Announces New Single and Album

    NYC-based indie-pop singer-songwriter Aubrey Haddard announced her second LP, Awake And Talking, out August 16. She also shared the first single from the project “Just A Wall” along with a music video.

    The album is about Haddard’s self-examination and how she navigates love and her relationship to art. Her biggest influences for the album came from the greatest songwriters of the 90s, like Oasis and Björk. With her writing partner and multi-instrumentalist Charley Ruddell and drummer Josh Strmic, they all wrote the songs in rehearsal spaces and Haddard’s childhood upstate home. She spoke about the album, and the deep meaning it has for her.

    Awake And Talking is about seeking a sense of purpose. It challenges perception – how many ways can you look at the world before you find your place in it? It is about destiny and the journey to self-acceptance. And, like anything I create, it is about my own personal experience over the past few years. This record makes me feel powerful and confident in the face of uncertainty and it brings me a lot of joy to know that it could offer a sliver of that to anyone listening.

    The new single “Just A Wall” is bold and emotional, with mesmerizing electric guitar riffs as she proudly sings the lyrics “Now that you’ve gone and shattered the glass…Whose arms do you run to?”

    Aubrey Haddard, photo by Emmysu.

    Aubrey Haddard’s new album Awake And Talking is out August 16, and her new electrifying single ”Just A Wall” is out now.

  • Sad Summer Fest 2022 Presented by Journeys

    Sad Summer Fest presented by Journeys features a variety of artists and local bands including Neck Deep, MayDay Parade, and more. This unforgettable event will make stops in New York City at Pier 17 on July 22nd, and at the Stone Pony Summer Stage July 29th

    When asked what message he has for fans ahead of the summer tour, vocalist of Waterparks Awsten Knight writes, “I am ready to step around in the mud and get huge. If you see me doing push-ups in the parking lot do not approach me Lucas will tackle you OUT! Saddie summer will be my baddie summer better watch out because I get MOODY in the summer!! See you soon.” 

    “We’re stoked to be on Sad Summer this year!” says Neck Deep lead singer Ben Barlow. “We really can’t wait for another American summer, ripping a few heavy gigs, making the most of the sunshine and closing your night out with a show you’ll never forget.”  

    Mayday Parade will co-headline Sad Summer Fest for the second time, coming back this time with their latest music in the setlist. The band released their most recent album “What It Means to Fall Apart” in November and has spent the start of 2022 taking those new songs on the road, as well as performing songs from their self-titled album in celebration of its eleventh anniversary. Speaking on the band’s return to the Sad Summer Fest stage, lead singer Derek Sanders says, “We’re happy to have the opportunity to play such a great tour with so many wonderful bands. We look forward to seeing so many of you out there, it’s gonna be a wild summer.”  

    Journeys is excited to partner with Sad Summer Fest again this year. Connecting with our consumers and employees through live music events has always been a huge part of our identity as a brand. The ongoing partnership between Sad Summer Fest and Journeys has allowed us to come together to create a memorable and safe experience for fans that were missing live music and the face to face connection with their favorite artists.

    Kari Irons, Journeys, Senior Vice President of Marketing 

    Tickets will officially go on sale March 24th at 10am local time, for purchase here.

    SAD SUMMER FEST 2022 PRESENTED BY JOURNEYS

    July 8 – Sacramento, CA – Heart Health Park @ Cal Expo 

    July 9 – Anaheim, CA – City National Grove Outdoors 

    July 12 – Dallas, TX – Gilley’s 

    July 13 – Houston, TX – Lawn @ White Oak Music Hall 

    July 15 – Orlando, FL – Orlando Amphitheater at the Central Florida Fair 

    July 16 – Atlanta, GA – Coca Cola Roxy 

    July 19 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE Outdoors 

    July 20 – Pontiac, MI – Crofoot Outdoors 

    July 22 – New York, NY – The Rooftop @ Pier 17 

    July 23 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium Outdoors 

    July 24 – Baltimore, MD – MECU Pavilion 

    July 26 – Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live Outdoors 

    July 27 – Newport, KY – Ovation 

    July 29 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage 

    July 30 – Philadelphia, PA – Skyline Stage @ the Mann 

    August 2 – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica 

    August 3 – Lewiston, NY – ArtPark Amphitheater 

    August 5 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave/Eagles Ballroom 

  • Marco Benevento Announces New Studio Album, Shares “Marco & Mimo”

    Marco Benevento has announced a brand new full-length studio album, Benevento, which drops June 10th via Royal Potato Family. Accompanying this exciting news, Benevento’s newest single, “Marco & Mimo,” is available for streaming now.

    Additionally, Benevento has announced that they will be touring this April and June with a stop at Abilene Bar and Lounge in Rochester.

    Marco Benevento

    “Marco & Mimo,” the first single from the album, contains three songs. On it, Benevento blends groovy funk bounce with psychedelia, creating a beautiful blend of these two formative 80s genres. The vocals on the tracks further transport you into this window of time Benevento creates, transporting the listener back forty years. The single reeks of personality only Benevento can create and his talent shines through. My personal favorite, Winter Rose, has snappy instrumentation, mind-bending keys, and entrancing vocals that make for a magnificent listen.

    The entire album was recorded in Woodstock at Fred Short Studios during the pandemic, and the sounds emitted from Marco & Mimo pay homage to Woodstock’s iconic psychedelic culture and history.

    In addition to his new album, Marco Benevento has also announced a list of upcoming shows:

    4/7 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair

    4/8 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground

    4/9 – Fairfield, CT – Stage One

    6/22 – Rochester, NY – Abilene

    6/23 – Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird

    6/24 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom

    6/26 – Rothbury, MI – Electric Forest Festival

    7/1 – Scranton, PA – Peach Music Festival

    7/3 – Quincy, CA – High Sierra Music Festival

    9/3 – Portland, ME – Ghostland Festival

    Tickets and limited edition bubblegum pink and classic black 180-gram vinyl are available at marcobenevento.com.

  • The Finals of NYS Music March Madness 2022

    We have arrived at the Finals of NYS Music’s March Madness 2022. 64 bands we brought together, to build their name and share their sound with a wide audience. And now we are down to the final two bands, with a unique New York sound.

    Finals March Madness 2022

    Since 2015, New York State Music has crafted a March Madness friendly competition that spans all the musical harbors of the Empire State. As fans and musicians, the NYS Music team aims to spotlight the great talent found across New York in a friendly contest, bringing broader attention to the next generation of artists and bands on the rise. March Madness 2022 highlights 64 bands and artists you might not know, but should know, as these homegrown talents are making waves through the New York State. Check out the Final 4 here.

    Enter your email address, get to know the bands, and vote for your favorites below!

    [forminator_form id=”404413″]

    Fine Grain – Albany

    Fine Grain floats in a purgatory between shoegaze haze and punk posturing. Their post-punk brilliance runs deep with exceptional songwriting and performances of every member of the band. With prog-inspired riffs, post-punk murk, and the occasional ripping sax solo, fine grain offers up rambunctious reverie fit for hardcore fans of all generations. Fine Grain’s maturation is a testament to the transformative possibility of punk, showing how pulled threads of the past can still stitch together a promising new future.

    finegrain

    Fine Grain is currently in the studio at Brunswick Recording, working on new music, and have been incorporating visual projections that sync up to their music, intensifying the experience for fans.


    HANZOLO – Upstate

    HANZOLO, hailing from Upstate NY, won the EQX Battle of the Bands and opened Albany’s annual Pearlpalooza music festival in 2021. They have opened for bands like Lawrence, Wild Belle, and *repeat repeat. The boys released their first album Table Butter in 2019 and followed it up with their second, HANZOLO, in the fall of 2021. Hanzolo’s music has been compared to Table Butter: soft enough to spread yet hard enough to keep its shape.

    hanzolo

    Upcoming HANZOLO shows include April 8 at Madison Theater in Albany, April 14 at Pauly’s Hotel, April 24 at The Range in Ithaca and April 27 at Lark Hall.

    The polls are now closed. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, March 29 at 10am.

    NYS Music has partnered with businesses across New York State to highlight these 64 up and coming bands. Regional sponsors include Funk n Waffles, a premiere music venue in Syracuse established in 2007 with a unique take on the culinary and entertainment industries, offering a wide variety of gourmet waffles and breakfast food, as well as offering live music every night! Bearsville Theater in Woodstock is where Americana was born – where Dylan took folk music and married it to Rock & Roll. where folk went electric, and where Janis took a breath and recuperated, before launching her hurricane energy and heart stopping songs out into the world. Renovated in 2019-2020, Bearsville Theater has an impressive calendar of shows for Hudson Valley music lovers.

    DSP Shows based in Ithaca, NY and Northampton, MA, is one of the leading independent concert promoters in America, with shows at venues including State Theatre of Ithaca, Hangar Theatre, The Haunt, Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, Brewery Ommegang, Asbury Hall, The 9th Ward at Babeville, and Daryl’s House among others. The Helping Friendly Hemp Company offers a wide variety of industry leading products including tinctures, soft chews, and hemp flower, using only USA grown hemp extract.

    Finals March Madness 2022

    The winners of each region will be rewarded with a collection of prizes worth $3000. Partners for NYS Music’s March Madness 2022 include Mirth Films from Albany, a music news/entertainment outlet that specializes in original video content and live streaming, with news coverage ranging across the whole country, who will provide a professional multi-camera recording session at The Palace Theatre in Albany for the winning band, premiering exclusively on Mirth Films.

    The XPerience Monthly is the greater Capital Region’s alt-monthly newspaper, bringing independent music and thought provoking articles to the area. The XPerience Monthly will feature the winning band in a newspaper profile and interview this summer.

    Check out Past Years’ NYS Music March Madness Here

  • This Week’s EQXposure Features Blur Beside You, New American Cuisine

    Each Sunday evening from 7-9pm 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, Blur Beside You, New American Cuisine, and many more!

    Blur Beside You

    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.

    Blur Beside You – “Nothing Feels Real” 

    Shoegaze indie rock trio from New York and Florida. Features 3 founding members of South Florida band, Mindlikewater, Jim Wells, Joseph Butera & Joseph Beaty. Check out “Nothing Feels Real” as well on EQXposure

    New American Cuisine – “Drop”

    Five-piece Saratoga Springs band New American Cuisine has two singles named after flowers: “Lily of the Aztecs” and “Daffodil.” The band met in high school, and while they’ve since graduated and gone to different colleges, they continue to collaborate on winter and summer breaks. Both singles have chill guitar riffs and catchy vocal hooks, perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon.