Category: Alternative/Indie

False Pockets Are Ready to Experiment With Their Future

Rochester trio False Pockets have returned with their new single ‘Quarter Life Crisis Diapers’, off their upcoming album, Selfish Prophecies. The album, out February 18th, features more of the math rock sound their fans love, along with some new elements.

After celebrating the release, Ben Chesnes and Erik Happ are here to share some behind the scenes of how it all came together.

Kamra Wint : So, the new single just came out, congrats! How do you guys feel about it?

Ben Chesnes : We’ve been listening to these for a while, so it’s nice that others can hear it, for sure.

Erik Happ : It’s nice that it’s finally out, we don’t have to be in the processing stage anymore.

KW: When did the band start writing and coming up with the idea for ‘Quarter Life Crisis Diapers’?

EH : Almost two years ago. During quarantine, we all got together and started making music.

BC : I think one of the riffs in this song was one of the first things [Erik] sent me for the new album.

KW : What made you guys want to release ‘Quarter Life Crisis Diapers’ as your first single?

EH : I think, as a band, we all mutually agreed that it was the best one.

BC : There’s a bunch of catchy parts in it, and some of the other songs on the album are a little more long winded.

KW : How did you guys get together? How did you all find each other?

BC : Erik and I originally met at FLCC because we were both studying audio technology, but we didn’t start playing music until years after.

EH : I think it was Fall 2018, I was wearing a Caddywhompus shirt and Ben was like “yo, nice shirt!”. I was like “we should really play some music together sometime.” I had just moved out here, and had nobody to play with so I was down.

KW : Zach is your third member right? How did you guys meet him?

EH : We were looking for a bassist, so I asked my friend, who was an Eastman Kid [Eastman School of Music], if he knew anyone and he suggested Zach. I just got lucky finding the right people.

KW : So what do you guys have in mind for the future? What are you thinking of?

BC : Well, I feel like our writing process is generally more like Erik coming up with the starting points and then we get together and kind of work it out. We honestly don’t have much written for our next leap, I feel like we wanted to sit with this one for a little bit.

EH : We have a bunch of stuff actually. We have like three songs in form and then a bunch of little ideas. I’m hoping to stray away from writing every single thing, and have us just like get into a room and just come up with ideas collectively.

BC : I think this album definitely has a lot more of that though. Our first EP that we came out with in 2019 was more older stuff that Erik had written and this album that we’re coming out with soon is more collective.

The math rock group has even more in store for their fans, with an upcoming New Paltz show in March and another show in Brooklyn. The future is very bright for False Pockets.

‘Quarter Life Crisis Diapers’ is available on all streaming platforms and more information can be found on the band’s website.

February 3, 2022
Postponed – Gov’t Mule Spring Tour Stops in Syracuse, Albany, and NYC

March 30 Update: Gov’t Mule has postponed their tour following an injury to Warren Haynes. Read the full band statement below.

Gov’t Mule Tour Postponed

Following the release of their 2021 album, Heavy Load Blues, Gov’t Mule will be touring this spring. Several dates, which were originally set for last December, have been moved forward to accompany this tour.

The band will commence its tour in three New York cities over four nights. In their tour, they will hit the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse, the Palace Theatre at Albany, and the Beacon Theatre in NYC. All dates can be found below.

Gov’t Mule

Warren Haynes, a former member of The Allman Brothers Band, leads the band. Moreover, the renowned musician also toured with The Dead and Phil Lesh and Friends, as well as the frontman for Gov’t Mule.

As impressive as Haynes’ accolades are, the band would also be nothing without New York native Danny Louis. Born right outside Woodstock, the cultural epicenter of jam rock, Louis’ calling was always one for musical brilliance. An alumnus of The Berklee School of Music in Boston, Louis dances around his keyboard with energy, confidence, and grace. You can also find the multi-instrumentalist playing guitar and providing backing vocals throughout the band’s discography.

Rounding out the band’s membership, Matt Abts drums with the soul of jam-rock legends before him, and Jorgen Carlsson’s bass guitar synthesizes perfectly. The jazzy atmosphere the band delivers would be nothing without the two of them.

April 6 – Syracuse, NY @ Landmark Theatre

April 7 – Albany, NY @ Palace Theatre

April 8 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre (originally 12/30/21)

April 9 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre (originally 12/31/21)

April 11 – McKee Rocks, PA @ Roxian Theatre

April 13 – Wilkes-Barre, PA @ F.M. Kirby Center

April 14 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met (originally 12/29/21)

April 15 – Erie, PA @ Warner Theatre

April 16 – Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre

April 17 – Grand Rapids, MI @ 20 Monroe Live

April 19 – Fort Wayne, IN @ Clyde Theatre

April 21 – Memphis, TN @ Soundstage at Graceland

April 22 – Little Rock, AR @ The Hall

April 23 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant

April 25 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Jones Assembly

April 27 – Mobile, AL @ Saenger Theatre

April 28 – Atlanta, GA @ SweetWater 420 Festival

April 29 – New Orleans, LA @ TBA

April 30 – Tuscaloosa, AL @ Druid City Music Hall

June 3-5 – Chattanooga, TN @ Riverbend Festival

Artist presale tickets will be available on Wednesday, February 2nd at 10 AM EST. General sale tickets will be available Friday, February 4th at 10 AM local time. For more ticket information, as well as public health guidelines, visit mule.net.

February 1, 2022
Brooklyn Band Endearments Share Video For Coldplay-Inspired “Delicate”

Brooklyn synth-pop project Endearments have released a Coldplay-inspired music video for their original song “Delicate,” off their debut EP Father of Wands.

Endearments and the video for “Delicate.”

The video for “Delicate” is directly influenced by Coldplay’s video for their song “Yellow.” Speaking of the video, singer Kevin Marksson spoke about the influence.

When we decided to make a music video for ‘Delicate’ I knew immediately that I wanted it to be an homage to Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’ video. It’s one of my all-time favorite music videos: beautiful, earnest, simple. Thematically ‘Delicate’ is really the opposite of ‘Yellow’ though. It’s a song about walking away from a bad relationship, so setting the video on an idyllic beach didn’t feel right. Filming on the street in Bushwick felt like the perfect way to pay tribute to the original while still being true to this song.
Kevin Marksson, Endearments.

Marksson recently began writing and composing for himself for the first time in over a decade, after his previous band ended. He chose the name for this project because he wanted to convey a sense of affection, though the music he makes is sad.

Father of Wands uses brilliant basslines and dream-pop aesthetics to tell the story of Marksson’s own heartbreak and healing. The title of the EP comes from tarot cards, as the Father (or King) is the ultimate card in the suit of Wands, which lets Marksson be guided to a place of healing.

Endearments.

Endearment’s Coldplay-inspired video for the new song “Delicate” is out now. Descrived as “irresistible and gratifyingly groovy” by Bands Do Brooklyn, your ears will transcend to a place of wonder.

February 1, 2022
Bleachers Tour to Make Stops in NYC, Cooperstown, Lewiston this Summer

Following both the release of their 2021 album and their performance debut on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, Bleachers have announced that they will be going on tour. Accompanying the tour announcement is the release of the music video for “How Dare You Want More,” a fan favorite off of their last project Take The Sadness Out Of Saturday Night.

Bleachers, Saturday Night Live

The indie-pop act first came to fruition in 2013. While on the road with Fun, Jack Antonoff worked on his own solo project. The first single, “I Wanna Get Better,” was released a year later in 2014 and received extraordinarily positive critical reception. Since then, the act has released three studio albums and Antonoff has continued to grow in notoriety, working with the likes of Charli XCX, Carli Rae Jepsen, and more. Their latest album features both Bruce Springsteen and Lana Del Rey.

Rising indie star Beabadoobee will also be joining the band on tour in their three New York stops. She is a Filipino-British songwriter reminiscent of Phoebe Bridgers or Clairo. Her soft vocals which lullaby over acoustic guitar progressions create a cozy and nostalgic atmosphere for the listener. You may know her for her viral hit remix with Powfu, “death bed (coffee for your head),” which has since racked up over a billion streams on Spotify alone since its release in 2020. At only 21 years old, the young talent has since built a cult following and shows a promising future in the indie scene and her newest song, “Cologne,” shows both versatility and promise.

Beabadoobee

The band will pass through three New York venues in July, including the designated New York City landmark Radio City Music Hall. Other venues include ARTPARK Amphitheater, located alongside the Niagra River, and Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Mar 24 – Roadrunner, Boston, MA (SOLD OUT)

Mar 25 – Roadrunner, Boston, MA (SOLD OUT)

May 17 – House of Blues, Orlando, FL

May 18 – Jannus Live, St. Petersburg, FL

May 20 – The Fillmore, New Orleans, LA

May 21 – Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater, Austin, TX

May 24 – House of Blues, Houston, TX

May 25 – South Side Ballroom, Dallas, TX

May 29 – BottleRock, Napa Valley, CA

Jun 10 – Primavera Sound, Barcelona, Spain

Jun 15 – Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA

Jun 17 – Bonnaroo, Nashville, TN

Jun 18 – Bonnaroo SuperJam, Nashville, TN

Jun 20 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO (SOLD OUT)

Jun 23 – Orpheum, Vancouver, BC

Jun 25 – Marymoor Park, Seattle, WA

Jun 26 – Grand Lodge, Forest Grove, WA

Jun 28 – San Jose Civic Center, San Jose, CA

Jun 29 – The Forum, Los Angeles, CA

Jul 22 – Thompson’s Point, Portland, ME

Jul 26 – Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY

Jul 27 – ARTPARK Amphitheater, Lewiston, NY

Jul 29 – Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY

The artist pre-sale for the tour begins at 12 PM EST on Monday, January 31st. Spotify pre-sale starts on Thursday, February 3rd at 10 AM EST. Moreover, Citi cardmembers will have access to pre-sale tickets for three select days: Monday, January 31st at 2 PM EST until Thursday, February 3rd at 10 PM EST.

Access for everyone starts Friday, February 4th at 10 PM EST.

For more details visit www.citientertainment.com or https://www.bleachersmusic.com.

January 31, 2022
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Announce New Album ‘Perspective’, Show At Terminal 5 this Spring

Jam/funk quartet Pigeons Playing Ping Pong announced the release of their new album, Perspective, and winter/spring tour dates, with a stop at Terminal 5 in NYC on April 9.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Tour Dates.

The group —Greg Ormont [vocals, guitar], Jeremy Schon [guitar, vocals], Ben Carrey [bass, vocals], and Alex “Gator” Petropulos [drums, vocals]- will celebrate their sixth LP with a big tour and a few festival appearances.

The album is another milestone in the band’s impressive history, having played countless sold-out shows, acquired millions of streams, and developed a loyal fan base known as “The Flock.”

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong at Westville Bowl. Photo by Vic Brazen

Ormont spoke about the album and spoke of how the pandemic sparked it.

The album title speaks to the perspective of the pandemic as well as our growth over the years. During this turbulent time, everyone in the world has been forced to look in the mirror and ask what’s truly important. If there’s anything we’ve all gained from this, it’s perspective, and a recurring theme from our band is to not waste time. Now more than ever, we recognize that you only get one life, so you might as well live it to the fullest and lift people up in the process.

PPPP will be going on tour in the spring, and have a stop at Terminal 5 in NYC. Their new album Perspective will be released on April 8, and tickets for their tour can be found here.

The group has also debuted a never-before-heard single from their forthcoming studio project, Perspective with “Elephante,” an infectious dance groove ad the first single off of the album. Combining PPPP’s signature catchy songwriting and flair for jocularity, the hard-hitting groove features a jumbo horn line from Nashville funk collective Here Come The Mummies, who previously appeared on PPPP’s 2020 single “King Kong.”

Accompanying the release is a zany, fairy tale themed video, captured at Clark’s Elioak Farm in Ellicott City, MD, current home of the once revered local attraction, The Enchanted Forest. Directed by Don Cherel, the video is a charming snippet of enchanting lore, featuring the band dressed as kings and swashbuckling heroes on a quest to save a princess.

“As soon as I heard the first demo of Elephante, I was overwhelmed with excitement and just let it rip vocally,” smiles singer “Scrambled Greg” Ormont. “Musically, it knocks you off your chair. Lyrically, it’s about living life to the fullest. As for the music video, we just let our imaginations run wild on this one.”

January 30, 2022
Emo Conquers COVID: Thursday and Cursive At Irving Plaza
In light of the fact that COVID-19 and its variants are going to be with us for the foreseeable future, bands and concert venues are trying to adapt in order to keep the curtains raised. One particular challenge was on clear display Wednesday night for the Thursday and Cursive show at Irving Plaza, when positive COVID tests amongst three of the four bands on the bill threatened to cancel the show. Instead of making the easier (yet painful) decision to cancel dates on the tour for a second time, the bands came together to put on a truly memorable night at Irving Plaza for the veteran emo bands.

Thursday at Irving Plaza, 1/26/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

The tour was originally announced back in November 2021 and was set to feature Thursday as the headliner with Cursive, Jeremy Enigk and The Appleseed Cast providing the support. Cursive have toured with Thursday on and off since the 00’s; the two bands’ stage presence complement each other quite well and one could find an equal number of Cursive and Thursday T-ees throughout Irving. The first show was scheduled for 1/6 in Virginia but the Omicron surge late in 2021 forced the postponement of the first couple weeks of shows, leading to an opening night on 1/19 in Detroit. As a result, Jeremy Enigk was forced to drop off the bill but was replaced by Nate Bergman (solo) from Lionize.

Tim Kasher of Cursive. Irving Plaza, 1/26/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

Cursive was the only band to be spared from any positive COVID tests and were thus the only band to play a full set with all their members. Bergman performed solo and The Appleseed cast was whittled down to mostly a solo set from frontman Chris Crisci. Chris admitted on one song that he roughly recorded a backing drum track right before the show and was later joined by Bergman on guitar and Cursive frontman Tim Kasher on drums for a noisy jam to end the set. At this point in the show, even though it was clear all aspects were being put together on the fly, the two opening acts had done it so successfully that had you been unfamiliar with the music you would have never known.

Cursive took the stage to an enormously warm welcome from the Irving Plaza crowd. Not many bands from the emo/hardcore heyday of the 2000s are still touring (let’s call the upcoming When We Were Young festival an outlier for the time being) but Cursive have released two solid LPs in recent years and still garner support from fans all over the world. Their blend of horns and strings with emo and hardcore was unique back in the 2000s and remains to be so today. Featuring an electric cello, brass horns, keys, and Tim Kasher’s eclectic vocal delivery all blend together to create an infectious “baroque-emo-core.” Cursive played a career-spanning set featuring Ugly Organ tracks “Art is Hard” and “Gentleman Caller” as well as personal favorite “The Martyr” from 2003’s Domestica.
Cursive at Irving Plaza, 1/26/22. Photos by Buscar Photo
Right before Thursday kicked off their set, frontman Geoff Rickly came out on stage to let the crowd know what was going on. He explained that guitarist Norman Brannon had tested positive and that instead of cancelling the show they decided to “play a basement hardcore show at Irving Plaza.” Several of the touring guitar techs were tasked with learning as many of the guitar tracks as they could and they filled in throughout the show, including on the opener with War All The Time’s “For The Workforce, Drowning.” Thursday made their name in the NJ/NYC DIY hardcore scene so the band was channeling their roots to come through for the fans who came out.

Thursday at Irving Plaza, 1/26/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

Thursday closed the main set at Irving Plaza with their emo anthem “Understanding In A Car Crash” and while a very recognizable guitar track was missing, the void was filled by a guest vocal appearance from Wax Idols singer, Heather Fortune. This show had every reason and excuse to be cancelled, but the will to make it work created one of the more memorable shows NYSM has seen in quite some time. Nate Bergman showed off his vocal prowess, Chris Crisci stripped down The Appleseed cast to its bare songwriting genius and jammed out with Tim Kasher, Cursive held down the fort with a perfect dose of nostalgia, and Thursday sounded as heavy and emotional as ever even if our ears were tingling with missing guitar notes. The crowd provided all the energy needed to overcome COVID in a very typical 2000’s way.

Thursday at Irving Plaza, 1/26/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

The tour is continuing on as planned with a couple shows in New England before the bands return to New York for a show at The Paramount in Huntington. A big hometown show for Thursday is planned at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ for 2/27. Nate Bergman will continue to open the shows until Jeremy Enigk rejoins the bill in February. Find the full itinerary HERE and check out our full photo gallery below.
Cursive at Irving Plaza, 1/26/22. Photos by Buscar Photo
Thursday at Irving Plaza, 1/26/22. Photos by Buscar Photo
January 29, 2022
This Week’s EQXposure Features Adequate Phil, Joe DeFelice, grape juice! And More

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 EQX this Sunday night to hear new music from Adequate Phil, Joe DeFelice, grape juice! 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.

Adequate Phil

Psychedelic folk band Adequate Phil has released a double single, “Baby Leeches/Vessel,” featured on EQX this week. Both sides are experimental pieces, especially “Vessel,” which is more of an audio atmosphere than a traditional song. “Baby Leeches” almost follows in its footsteps, until vocals and a recurring melody jump in at the halfway part. With its background whispers about spirit guides and crystal caves, “Vessel” feels like a window to another world. The Troy freak-folk group’s Spotify bio cites Animal Collective, The Beatles, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Radiohead as major influences.
<a href="https://adequatephil.bandcamp.com/album/baby-leeches-vessel">Baby Leeches/Vessel by Adequate Phil</a>
Joe DeFelice

Singer-songwriter Joe DeFelice has released his debut EP, Outside Looking In. Originally from New Hampshire, DeFelice has been a live music fixture ever since relocating to the upstate New York area. The penultimate song on Outside Looking In, “We Fell Apart,” is upbeat and anthemic despite its bittersweet lyrics:

grape juice!

Albany alt-rock band grape juice! is back with another song, “Goodbyes Suck.” Like their previous single, “Sad Songs,” its title is deceptive: the narrator sounds more than happy to be moving on with his life after a breakup.

January 29, 2022
North Side Sound set to release Debut EP “Take My Time”

Are you a fan of rock, indie, reggae, or even funk? North Side Sound, a band out of Albany who formed a year and a half ago, does it all. The tandem create genre bending music and are set to release them on their EP Take My Time, on January 28th on all streaming platforms.

The four songs represent the concept of relationships in their own unique way, and how they can be inconsistent . They also represent all the good memories that are shared within relationships. Pauly Graves (lead vox, guitar) Kasey Hogan (guitar), AJ Farina (bass) and Todd “Toddy” Friedman (drums) recorded all four songs during the pandemic.

Tracks “Take My Time” and “Five” really put the project together well. “Take My Time” is up tempo and has a mix of reggae and rock melodies. The bridge and the hook are catchy with a guitar riff bringing energy to the track to where you’ll find yourself bobbing your head. “Five” has a more reggae feel from the drum patterns to the guitar melodies. The bridge in “I Let It Roll, Roll, Roll” is very catchy as well.

North Side Sound’s Take My Time EP is a debut project with great artistry, melodies and overall song composition. Go listen to “Take My Time” on all streaming services on Friday, January 28th.

January 28, 2022
Brooklynite Nathan Leigh’s Life Experiences Shape Genre Blending Album “All Myths Are Remixes”

An album full of alternative, rock, punk, indie and jazz vibes are what constitute Brooklyn musician, Nathan Leigh’s latest work of art. As of today, Leigh’s All Myths Are Remixes, is added to his never ending music portfolio. He released his lead single No Poetry (feat. Noie) [Timelapse Mix] [Timelapse Mix] – Single — Nathan Leigh, this past January 14th, providing listeners an idea of what to expect from his latest album.

Nathan Leigh portrays powerful messages throughout the duration of All Myths Are Remixes. It relays a creative vision on how to overcome the anxieties of our deepest thoughts, whereas other songs provide a more easy going and relaxing tone that listeners can vibe to.

“Pirkei Avot,” shares a message of perseverance, especially when all hope is lost. Meanwhile, “Thx::Spkr” opens with a woman discussing the protests taking place in today’s society, as well as the impact of revolutions that are necessary to establish change. Subsequently, “For When You Feel Like Giving Up” eases the mind with a slow jam without words, but is full of jazz melodies featuring saxophonist Anthony Cekay.

I started working on the album in the first days of the pandemic as a project to keep my mind off the existential dread. I thought of each song as a miniature world I could construct to escape into. The recording sessions for ‘Myths, Conspiracy Theories & Other Stuff I Made Up To Sound Interesting’ yielded so much great material that landed on the cutting room floor, and part of my goal with it was to highlight the contributions of my collaborators that didn’t make the album. So each song is constructed around showcasing one collaborator’s work. Working with their tracks has been my way of playing with them and existing in a room together at a time when it’s still not safe to gather such a large group to rehearse.
Nathan Leigh

As a composer, writer, animator, and activist , Leigh is well versed in the artistry of America’s society as we know it. His previous EP dropped on November 19, 2021, House On Stilts, which was accompanied by a stop-motion film.

Additionally, he has worked in the theater industry, sharing his talents for over 300 plays across the U.S. Specifically, he has designed sound and composed music for plays located at the American Repertory Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, New York Theatre Workshop and more. Leigh was presented with his most recent award “Broadway World Berkshires” in 2020 for Sound Design of the Decade for Godspell. Therefore, there is no doubt that All Myths Are Remixes will significantly impact his music career.

To discover more of Leigh’s work visit nathanleigh.net.

January 28, 2022
The Wombats Fix Themselves at Terminal 5 Before Stop In Albany
Liverpool born indie rock veterans The Wombats made their way to Terminal 5 on Tuesday, January 25th, in support of their fifth studio LP Fix Yourself, Not The World. The record, released just two weeks ago, is the band’s first effort on AWAL Records after four straight releases on 14th Floor Records. Check out the video for the single “If You Ever Leave, I’m Coming With You” and our photos from the show at Terminal 5 below.

The Wombats at Terminal 5, 1/25/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

Fix Yourself, Not The World as a sentiment could not be any more true today. The Wombats took several opportunities at Terminal 5 to talk about what it has meant to finally be on the road supporting the new record and to be engaging with fans again. We have no real control over existential events in the world, but those events give us the opportunity to better ourselves and make the most of the situation. This theme is omnipresent on the record and also in the atmosphere at concerts across New York.

The Wombats “If You Ever Lave, I’m Coming With You” via YouTube

The Wombats next show on the tour is this Friday, January 28th, at Empire Live in Albany. After that the band will travel across the Midwest and West Coast before a lengthy leg of shows in Europe. Find the full run of dates on the band’s website.
January 27, 2022