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.
Rhoseway – “Prey on The Rest of Us”
Rhoseway is the solo project of Albany-based songwriter Rob Fleming. All writing, arrangements, performances, and production are done by himself in a DIY fashion.
Ethan Crowley – “in my dreams”
Ethan Crowley is a budding new artist from Saratoga Springs. He has an eccentric pop sound with roots in old-school ballads, jazz, and soul. His recent debut album Drowning in a Glass of Water was produced entirely by himself, and his album release show at Caffe Lena had rave reviews.
Gracies Paris – “1 2 & 3”
Gracies Paris is a Troy-based power pop rock band formed in 2007 featuring Carl Ferritto (vocal and guitar), Eric Buechner (drums), and Randy Rose (bass). Something that the band does that makes listeners keep tuning in is by changing their sound after each song. One single may have a similar sound to the other, but no song is quite the same.
The historic Palace Theatre in Albany will host the premiere of an upcoming documentary that chronicles the story of a legendary promoter in the Capitol Region. ‘Grapplin’ Greg: The Story of Greg Bell’ will premiere on the big screen at the Palace Theatre on December 17 at 7:30pm, and will include a live performance from Eastbound Jesus.
The evening will also feature a performance by Eastern New York northern rock group Eastbound Jesus.
Tickets are $22, which includes the documentary screening and Eastbound Jesus performance. VIP tickets are $37 and include a ticket to the documentary screening, the Eastbound Jesus performance, exclusive event memorabilia, a pre-show reception from 6-7pm with complimentary hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar and drink specials.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased or at the Palace Theatre Box Office (located at 19 Clinton Ave). Box Office hours are Monday – Friday 12-5pm as well as select days and hours for events and on sales.
Local to Albany, State Champs have released their newest acoustic single “Act Like That,” an energetic, bouncing track, and “Outta My Head,” with its stripped back guitar licks, both bringing vocal harmonies and breathing new life into the songs. Earlier this year, State Champs planted their flag firmly in pop-punk history with their 4th studio album, Kings Of The New Age, out now via Pure Noise Records.
Kings Of The New Age includes hit singles “Eventually”, “Everybody But You” (ft. Ben Barlow), “Outta My Head”, and “Just Sound.” Alongside this, seven new tracks featuring additional guest vocalists Chrissy Costanza, Mitchell Tenpenny, and Four Year Strong.
“If any band were to be crowned royalty amongst the current generation of pop-punk acts, we have little doubt the honor would go to New York’s State Champs.”
– Beyond The Stage Magazine
Starting in bedrooms and basements in 2010, State Champs quickly ascended in the pop punk scene owing as much to early Fall Out Boy and Green Day as latter-day Warped Tour bands. In 2022, Kerrang! declared them “one of the most authentic and well-respected bands in pop-punk. Derek DiScanio, Tyler Szalkowski, Ryan Scott Graham, and Evan Ambrosio deliver a strong message throughout Kings Of The New Age.
State Champs delivered their music and heartfelt message on extensive tours with bands like Fall Out Boy, 5 Seconds Of Summer, A Day To Remember, and Simple Plan; three different Warped Tours; and a co-headliner with Neck Deep.
“With their pop-punk flag firmly planted, State Champs may have just provided us with the soundtrack to help remind us of the carefree days and the endless possibilities of a summer that could change our lives for the better.”
– Chorus.fm
On the highly anticipated release, the band shares, “Kings of The New Age is our fourth album, the one that we spent the most time on, and the one that makes the biggest statement. After writing over 30 songs, we narrowed it down to 11 that best represent our mission as a band, and sonically, match the energy level we wanted to captivate heading into this new chapter.”
“We had a short press week back in June where we did some in studio acoustic sessions,” explains guitarist Tyler Szalkowski. “We fell in love with the acoustic versions of Act Like That and Outta My Head. We knew we had to get these recorded and get them out to you all. Enjoy and see you all very soon on the Kings of the New Age tour.”
“[Kings Of The New Age] is full of engaging, high-velocity pop punk songs that are great for summertime listening.”
The Central New York Jazz Orchestra, a Syracuse area non-profit big band, will join up with NEA Jazzmaster David Liebman later this month to perform and record together.
This comes 11 years after the orchestra accompanied the saxophonist/flautist’s world premiere solo performance of “If a White Horse from Jerusalem,” a four-movement work for soprano saxophone, wooden flute, and jazz orchestra. After the concert, Liebman had offered to record an album with the orchestra, and is soon coming through with this offer.
David Liebman.
On the 20th, he’ll again perform the composition at Syracuse’s Temple Adath Yesurun, before recording with the orchestra the following day. The CNYJO who will be conducted by Music Director Bret Zvacek, is also debuting its 27th season. Additional numbers of the concert include Quincy Jones’ arrangement of the theme from Exodus, as well as orchestra originals to be found on their 2023 album with David Liebman. The doors open at 4 p.m. while music begins at 5.
“If a White Horse from Jerusalem” was originally commissioned by the S.U. Humanities Center on their 2011 theme of “Conflict: Peace and War” and performed that year in the Carrier Theater, with additional support by the Jewish Federation of Central New York and Hillel. Both the Jewish Federation and the Jewish Community Foundation of Central New York will lend their support for the reprise production in November.
Information regarding tickets and more can be found here.
After interviewing dozens of music industry up-and-comers to bonafide professionals, there is certainly much to learn from Gregory Dwane who is a music industry veteran worth emulating. I was captivated by his song, “When You Say California”, which has a Tom Petty feel to it and was a great introductory track exposing me to want to dive deeper into his catalog. You can find Gregory Dwane on Spotify.
I had the pleasure to interview Mr. Dwane on The Long Island Sound podcast. This minstrel hails from a small town in North Carolina and ultimately settled into the New York City music scene in the 90’s.
He’s a sort of a utility man in the music industry where the road to success is littered with its own detours and off ramps, Gregory Dwane is a survivor whose skill was to not only be good at his craft, but through an honest demeanor, made the best of the opportunities set before him.
A Road Well Chosen
Touring the world with Alanis Morrisette, Gregory Dwane worked with David Navarro, Macy Gray, Jane’s Addiction and Joan Osborne. The serendipitous twists and turns, set him on a trajectory from alcohol abuse to sobriety.
“I went from thinking my world was over to touring the world”
Gregory Dwane
Dwane’s resume would detail skills in record engineering, producing, fine art, singer/songwriting, jingle writing, and Country music entertainment. Sojourning from New York to Nashville, and from L.A. to Connecticut, provided this multi-talented music industry professional with a multi-dimensional group of experiences. HIs keen ear manages to guide an artist through the wormhole of production frustration to a fully produced album ready to launch on the market.
Alternative Country, a place worth the visit
With a firm footing in the Alt-Country genre, Gregory Dwayne’s songwriting presents an artist weathered by life’s experiences moving from rebellion to redemption. After a short hiatus from the music business, it was his reinvention as a fine-art painter that would eventually lead him back to songwriting.
I want my MTV
When I read Gregory Dwane’s EPK, I thought I spied a misprint. How could this rural North Carolinian be inspired by a combination of MTV, and the movie Beat Street and then move to New York City in the 90’s, finally settling in as an Americana and Alt-Country Singer/Songwriter?
I believe what separates the creatives in our world from the rest of us, is that an artist acts on the muse and opportunities they find within reach. Gregory Dwane’s humility and good-nature seemed to open doors, as his cohorts recognized his honed craft, ultimately opening doors to further expose his art.
Gregory Dwane is unstoppable. While continuing to produce his own music, he has also applied his expertise as a producer for Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls as well as other artists.
During the interview, I found a skilled artist whose creativity could not be contained. Dwane mirrors the desire we have to find understanding and equilibrium in our lives. Enrich your playlists with his music, and you will not be disappointed.
Stella Rose, a NYC musician and the daughter of Depeche Mode singer Dave Gahan has made her debut with “Muddled Man,” a menacing track with a palpable atmosphere of darkness.
Released shortly before Halloween, the song evokes the energy of gothic acts such as Bauhaus with its urgent opening and Rose’s deep, shaky vocals.
Produced by Yves Rothman, every bit of the track’s meticulous composition shines through. From its sludgy synths to its pounding snare to its mystical string notes to the echo of Rose’s singing and beyond, “Muddled Man” oozes ounces of haunting energy.
This is equally reflected in its lyrical content, which seems to describe some sort of sinister love affair. Lines like “I’ll have you once again, until then I’m well fed,” and “a muddled man who loves me the way I am” reflection narration of someone looking for romance through personal chaos.
While this song is split into two parts, the loud and brooding first section transitions perfectly into the spacy, gloomy second. Backdropped by muddied drums, arpeggiating strings, and echoing piano, Rose’s delivery calms down drastically and her lyrical content sacrifices its aggression. “How does it feel, when the feeling isn’t enough?” Rose wistfully asks.
While “Muddled Man” is a debut effort from Stella Rose, nothing about it speaks inexperience. This collaboration with Yves Rothman is a gripping and chilling track that espouses some of gothic music’s best qualities.
After 12 years in the incubator, Bob Dylan’s long-awaited book on songwriting, The Philosophy of Modern Song (Simon & Schuster), has finally landed with a very big splash. This, of course, is as it should be as he is, with little doubt, the most revered songwriter of the latter part of the 20th Century, the first and still only rocker to earn a Pulitzer Prize.
As with everything Dylan, The Philosophy of Modern Song, is not really what you think it will. It is not a literal analysis or anatomical study of these tunes as told by their makers. It is something grander, more ambitious and maybe more revealing about Dylan himself – his life’s experiences, observations and opinions.
The book employs 66 widely varied songs as jumping off points for some dazzlingly impressionistic essays. These are his philosophical jams on the subject matter at the heart of each song – from romantic betrayal/divorce to the faith of the Vegas gambler to career crashes, war, alienation and so much more. It’s a Monet, J.W. Turner or other great Impressionist painters take on a book. It’s super misty and foggy but the soft focus of it may impart greater emotional resonance than something photo realistic. In most cases, these elegant prose forwards are followed by a second essay, one that more literally relates to the songwriters and performers, the historical backdrop for the songs and the like.
Per the promotional press release: “While they are ostensibly about music, these are really meditations and reflections on the human condition… a series of dream-like riffs that resemble an epic poem.” Along the way, readers will get plenty of Dylan’s dry and devastating humor, served up with some oddball trivia about the artists and his beliefs on what makes a song great. Want to know how a single extra syllable can ruin a song or how bluegrass is the father of heavy metal? If so, this is the book for you.
The selections in the book demonstrate Dylan’s reverence for many genres of song. There’s old-timey Americana, classic country and Delta and Chicago blues, the crooners of the Great American songbook, Laurel Canyon rock, Motown and Philly Soul, the R&B and rockabilly influenced rock-n-roll pioneers of ‘50s, some classic rock radio staples and even Top 40 kitsch.
Elvis Costello’s “Pump It Up” is the perfect “boiling point song, the anthem of an alienated hellcat” per Dylan. He calls the artist a fusion of silent screen icon Harold Lloyd and Buddy Holly, two masters of minimalist precision in their work. Likewise, this song is a “streamlined classic,” one better than others by Costello which Dylan sometimes finds “too wordy” and full of “too many thoughts.” Dylan’s views on the blues classics “Key to the Highway” and “Big Boss Man” are testaments to the power of their architects – Little Walter and Jimmy Reid, whom Dylan dubs “the essence of electric simplicity.” On Elvis Presley’s “Money Honey,” Dylan waxes poetic and a little leftist provides on the value of money. It’s all about power, the difference between rich and power and how we are all equal in the end when we shed the bone suit. His riff on Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again” may serve to explain why he is still on his so-called “Endless Tour.” Willie’s version is an update on Kerouac’s hipster/beatnik classic On the Road, in luxury bus vs. Neil Cassady’s ramshackle ‘49 Hudson . Why the road? Because you will never be bogged down by any of life’s trivial responsibilities like doing the laundry per Dylan. It’s all about to the road that leads to the next performance.
Dylan’s offering on Ricky Nelson’s “Poor Little Fool” sets out to secure Nelson his rightful place on the pantheon of early rockers. Per Dylan, Nelson was the person who really brought this new music to a nation through his weekly performances on his family’s hit TV show, “The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet” in the mid-‘50s . According to Dylan, Nelson was “more than Elvis the ambassador of Rock-n-Roll.” This section also charts the starring role “the fool” has had in many eras and genres of popular music, in hits from Hank Snow, Aretha Franklin, Bobby Bland, The Beatles, The Main Ingredient, Elvis Presley, The Grateful Dead and Anthony Newley. Dylan’s book also riffs on a duo of Little Richard standards, “Tutti Fruitti” and “Long Tall Sally.” The former is really Richard “speaking in tongues” about the undercover gay subculture, while the latter provides the platform for a head scratching fantasy about 12-foot-tall ancient Egyptians!
Dylan on The Who’s “My Generation” is a rumination on the “cockiness of youth” and how each new generation will always somehow take from the one before it … and resent the fact! The Eagles “Witchy Woman” is the runway for a rant on the kinds of women you should avoid, “a hallucinogenic amalgamation of succubus and thaumaturge.” It’s also a deep dive into the life and end of the legendary New Orleans voodoo queen, Marie Laveau. With his study of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” Dylan addresses how being misunderstood and getting lost in translation “ruins your enjoyment of life.” There’s cool trivia here about how the label that put out Nina Simone’s classic version, ESP, was first founded to help spread the new universal language, Esperanto, before it became the home to avant-garde jazz greats like Albert Ayler.
In the chapter on “It’s All in the Game,” we learn how a melody created by a man who would become Vice President to Calvin Coolidge made the hit parade. Here, Dylan spouts on the history of American politicians as musicians, referencing Nixon’s piano chops and Bill Clinton’s yakety sax to name a few. This chapters contains what I think are the most unfortunate collection of words in the book, when he calls former Arkansas governor and Fox News staple Mike Huckabee “an accomplished bass player.”
The ‘70s Stax Records classic, “Cheaper to Keep Her” by Johnnie Taylor, is a song reflection what Dylan calls “the school of street wisdom.” Perhaps a reflection of his own experience, Dylan uses it to rail against “the $10 Billion a year divorce industry” and lawyers in “the business of family destruction.” His solution? Embracing polygamy and having only as many children as you can afford! And speaking of questionable occupations, Dylan’s take on Cher’s quasi-novelty hit, “Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves,” concludes with him saying that these are “the three types of people” a person might have the most fun having dinner with.
For me, Dylan’s most eye-opening take came with Hank Williams’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart.” To Dylan, it’s a song of nuance, one that can be viewed from two perspectives. First, and most obvious, is the person who has been cheated on. But for Dylan, maybe the song is really or also about the cheater, the person who is questioning his own compulsion to be unfaithful again and again?
Credit must go to whoever art directed this long-awaited book. The text is complemented with over 150 curated photos which serve to set the time and emotional tone for Dylan’s subjective, profound and sometimes humorous investigations of some our most beloved and underappreciated popular songs.
The 20th annual Native American Music awards will be held on November 19 at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls. The event is back after the pandemic’s devastating impact on Indigenous communities across America.
Robert Mesa
The Native American Music Awards will be commemorating National Native American Heritage month. The host this year will be actor Robert Mesa (Navajo/ Soboba) who most recently played the character James Chee, the first Indigenous doctor on Grey’s Anatomy.
Rodney Grant will be the host emcee, for the fourth time in his career. He has had an outstanding career in film, motion pictures, and television. He is best known for his memorable role as ”Wind In His Hair” in the 1990 film Dances With Wolves. Rodney Grant will also be inducting artist Micki Free into the Native American Music Awards Hall of Fame.
The awards were originally formed in 1998 as a national organization committed to traditional and contemporary Native American music. This year’s nominees have embraced many issues facing tribal communities today including; Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, land back, climate crisis, and the devastating pandemic.
The awards will proudly recognize and honor Oren Lyons as a Living Legend. He is an artist, speaker, author and environmental activist for Indigenous peoples worldwide and holds the title of Wisdom Keeper. He has advocated at the United Nations to recognize Indigenous rights, and is the Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan, Onondaga Nation.
Oren Lyons
This year’s Hall of Fame inductee is Micki Free, a Grammy Award winner and multiple Native American Music Award winner of Comanche and Cherokee descent. He is currently on tour supporting his latest album, Turquoise Blue, which features members of The Santana Band, Steve Stevens of Billy Idol and Gary Clark Jr..
The Lifetime Achievement Award recipients are Paul LaRoche and Robert Tree Cody. LaRoche is the founding member of Brulé, the epic Native American rock show. Brule’ has won eight Native American Music Awards, released 20 CDs, and sold over one million CDs worldwide. Robert Tree Cody is a five-time award winner, and a multi-talented flutist, singer, dancer, actor, and educator.
Featured performers this year include Antoine Edwards Jr, Cody Blackbird, Earl Slick and the Fabulous Ripcords, Fawn Wood, Gunner Jules, Spur Pourier, Sten Joddi, and The Halluci Nation.
The Native American Music Awards has teamed up with SiriusXM for a special curated music mix celebrating the musical contributions of Native American artists. “Native American Voices,” an exclusive mix highlighting artists from the awards Hall of Fame, is hosted by the organization’s president, Ellen Bello. The content will be available on SiriusXM beginning Oct. 31, on the SXM App for the month of Nov.
Tickets for the awards show are on sale now here, and voting for the award ceremony remains open until Nov. 18.
Water Street Music Hall hosted a living legend when they brought in Rakim on Saturday, October 29.
Dating back to the late 1980s, there have been countless MCs making music and trying to earn their 15 seconds of fame. Among the best, according to people like Marley Marl, Dr. Dre, and Kool Moe Dee, was Rakim.
Rakim center stage in Rochester NY
Rakim burst onto the scene in 1985 as half of the duo Eric B. and Rakim and immediately gained praise and recognition as a skilled MC and lyricist. Working together until 1992, the duo released 4 studio albums, including the debut Paid in Full and their final album in 1992 Don’t Sweat the Technique, both of which were big sellers and remain highly regarded to this day.
Moving on to a solo career, Rakim released The 18th Letter in 1997 and is now touring as he celebrates the 25th anniversary of this lyrical masterpiece.
Setting up the crowd for Rakim was Rochester, NY based The Frank White Experience (Notorious B.I.G. tribute band) and Styles P., both of which were welcomed by the crowd. If you are a fan of Biggie, The Frank White Experience needs to be on your radar as they cover the late rapper with their own unique twist. Styles P played the crowd for about 45 minutes with some street style raps and eventually did a little freestyle set in the crowd.
Saxophonist and vocalist James Casey is set to make his solo recording debut with the release of a special holiday album, A Little Something For Everyone, that is scheduled to be released on December 5 via 12/23 Records.
Pressed on limited edition blue vinyl, the 7” EP offers a heartfelt Christmas collection from Casey that features two holiday staples, one funky original song and a beloved gospel hymn. Created in partnership with Nancy Langhorne Foundation, proceeds will benefit the Colorectal Cancer Alliance and Eastern Virginia Medical School’s HOPES Clinic to help provide free colon cancer screenings for the uninsured.
James Casey was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2021, which made this holiday EP project an extremely personal undertaking.
Although we had a lot of setbacks while recording due to chemotherapy, being able to make a fun, holiday record with my friends to help people get access to screening for something that I am currently battling was a no-brainer. The fact that it’s the first music released under my own name is definitely an added bonus!
~ James Casey
Vinyl production will be limited to 300 copies, with silk screened and numbered album jackets designed by Brooklyn-based artist Nate Cepis. The album will be available for pre-order on November 7 at 1223Records.com, with vinyl shipping in mid-December. The single “Christmafunk” will roll out on streaming services on November 14.
