NYS Music 202​2

Category: News

  • New Notorious B.I.G. Interactive Statue in Brooklyn Pays Tribute to the Hip Hop Great

    The Notorious B.I.G.’s larger than life aura is being commemorated with an alluring statue of the hip hop legend. A nine-foot tall interactive build of the fabled rapper aptly tittled, “Sky’s the Limit in the County of Kings,” has been erected in Clumber Corner Park in DUMBO. The statue features Biggie in his trademark Coogi sweater and crown as he gazes down at the city.

    Notorious B.I.G.’s presence lives on through this new interactive sculpture

    The rock hall of fame inductee was born in BedStuy and is synonymous with the borough of Brooklyn. In turn, some of his lyrics have since taken life on their own and now serve as the borough’s mantra. The bronze, stainless steel sculpture includes speakers that play some of The Notorious B.I.G’s greatest hits. 

    The Notorious B.I.G. Sculpture up Close

    The sustainable and interactive statue is carefully curated with Bronze, Resin, Stainless Steel, Winterstone, and Wood with a a built in audio system powered by a solar energy. statue plays music on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Funded by the Downtown Brooklyn and DUMBO Public Art Fund, the statue was designed by NYC artist Sherwin Banfield — who cites Biggie as one of his early inspirations — for hip hop’s 50th anniversary in 2023. Henceforth, the statue will remain in place until October of 2023.

    One of his most famous positive lyrics is ‘Stay far from timid, only make moves when your heart’s in it, and live the phrase ‘the sky’s the limit’… he’s offering you his microphone, which is his throne, which is what helped him become the king of New York.I wanted to show that yes, you can be tough, but you can also show love, or spread love as he would say.

    – Designer, Sherwin Banfield
    NYC based artist, Sherwin Banfield, stands next to his 9-foot incarnation of the Notorious B.I.G.

    Moreover, a celebration of the Notorious B.I.G. life in the form of “Sky’s the Limit in the County of Kings” is a fitting way to commemorate one of hip hop’s greatest stars. A diverse individual, the sculpture challenges the traditions of western public sculptures. The larger than life figure represents Biggie’s African American artistry, lineage, and evolution as the “King of New York.” The crowned bust is traditionally sculpted, sitting atop an angular steel frame and supported by panels that highlight Wallace’s achievements. This reflective sculpture invites the viewer to experience the larger-than-life artistry of B.I.G.’s contributions to Brooklyn and Hip-Hop culture.

    Photo gallery by Chris De Cotis

  • Gov’t Mule Postpones New Year’s Eve run due to Medical Emergency

    Gov’t Mule announced that the group will postpone their Black ‘n’ Blue New Year’s Eve run of shows due to a medical emergency. The show was set to hit Philadelphia and New York City.

    Gov't Mule

    Gov’t Mule was supposed to stop at The Met in Philly on Dec. 29, with two stops then at The Beacon Theatre on Dec. 30-31. Warren Haynes, a former member of The Allman Brothers Band, leads the band and in a statement said “After waiting for so long, we were excited to be together and finally make these shows happen, the last thing we expected was to have to postpone again. Please hold on to those tix.”

    This isn’t the first time the jam band has had to postpone shows due to medical injuries (though in this case, the medical emergency hasn’t been released). At the beginning of the year, they announced their spring tour was postponed due to an injury Haynes sustained while in Costa Rica.

    In 2021, Gov’t Mule released their record Heavy Load Blues, which is nominated for a Grammy in the Best Traditional Blues Album category this year. The group is made up of Haynes, as well as New York native Danny Louis, a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, and keyboard, and does backing vocals for the group. Matt Abts is the drummer, drumming with the soul of jam-rock legends that came before him. Finally, Jorgen Carlsson’s bass guitar matches beautifully with the rest of the group.

    For more information about the postponement, and to check when new dates are announced, go here.

  • Cohoes Music Hall Receives State Grants for Building Upgrades

    Cohoes Music Hall will soon receive a major upgrade, thanks to funding awards recently received from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation.

    cohoes music hall

    As reported by WAMC, the city of Cohoes received the funding for an upgrade to Cohoes Music Hall and visitors center. A total of $1.88 million in funding through grants will help to restore and preserve the historic hall, the fourth oldest in the state still in use, having opened in 1874. The building will be transformed into one that is energy efficient, as well as carbon neutral, just in time for the sesquicentennial of the venue.

    The money is part of the Restore Historic Cohoes Initiative that began three years ago under Democratic Mayor Bill Keeler. The initiative is centered around the preservation and restoration of City Hall, the Public Library and Cohoes Music Hall.

    And about the same time, we began discussing what we dubbed our cleaner, greener Cohoes initiative, which described our efforts to use 21st century technology to create energy efficiencies and reduce carbon emissions. So we are very excited to learn to Cohoes will receive about 1.9 million in New York state grants to use towards the restoration of our musical building.

    The state funding will help us honor and preserve the architecture the beautiful 19th century Cohoes Music Hall building that was left was by our forebears while at the same time allow us to transform into an energy efficient, carbon neutral building that will be powered by European floating solar project and enjoyed by future generations for centuries to come.

    Cohoes Mayor Bill Keeler

    The grants and work on historic Cohoes are occuring in conjunction with the Albany County city’s Municipal Floating Solar installation on its water reservoir, as noted by City Director of Operations Theresa Bourgeois.

    The Cohoes Music Hall was first opened in 1874, and then in 1906, it was closed again for a long time, but it reopened 100 years later in 1974, after the community came together to restore it. So 2024 marked the 150th anniversary of its initial opening and 50th anniversary of its rebirth. So we have been focused on bringing it back to life again, when it’s an active theater, but it needs a lot of work.

    We call it a gem in need of a polish. So now with these two amazing grants, the NYSERDA grant and the Parks Preservation grant, we’re on track to ensure that it continues as a vital community and regional gathering space, another 50, 100, maybe 150 more years, which is very, very exciting. And it’s not just restoring its historic features, but it’s doing it in a way that makes it more energy efficient and clean energy. So it’s contributing not only to the past but to its future.

    City Director of Operations Theresa Bourgeois.

    State Assemblymember John McDonald, a Democrat from the 108th district and former Cohoes mayor, shared his excitement about the upcoming upgrade to Cohoes Music Hall.

    As a former mayor I know the building very well, And actually is really not only in the best interest of historic preservation, in the best interest of continuing to allow music quality to be a very strong contributor to the arts here in the Capital Region, but also saves the taxpayers on the city of halls, significant funding, so a true win win win. We thank the governor and the team at NYSERDA for their support. And I can’t wait for the improvements to come to bear.

    State Assemblymember John McDonald

    The grants were awarded to Cohoes as part of the 2022 Regional Economic Development Council Annual Consolidated Funding Application Process. Stay tuned for more info on the upgrades coming to Cohoes Music Hall.

  • Metropolitan Opera Taps Into Endowment due to Pandemic, Reduces Number of Performances

    The Metropolitan Opera has announced it will withdraw $30 million from its endowment due to a cash shortfall and lackluster ticket sales as they try to bring audiences back after the pandemic.

    Metropolitan Opera

    The Metropolitan Opera did what is considered a last resort for nonprofit organizations, dipping into their endowment funds. The Met’s endowment, valued at $306 million, was already regarded as small for an institution of its size and was meant to grow over time while producing a steady source of investment income. They are turning to this endowment to help with operating expenses due to weak ticket sales and a lack of donors. Peter Gelb, the Met’s general manager said that “The challenges are greater than ever. The only path forward is reinvention.”

    This reinvention will be cutting the number of performances. The company is giving 215 performances this season but plans to reduce this amount by ten percent next season. Instead of putting on classic works, the Met will seek to put on more contemporary performances as they sell better, works such as Terence Blanchard’s “Fire Shut Up in My Bones” last season and Kevin Puts’s “The Hours” this season drew sellout crowds, while Verdi’s “Don Carlo,” had only 40 percent attendance after this month’s run.

    Gelb went on to say that the Met will open each season with a new production of contemporary work. It will begin next year with the company premiere of Jake Heggie’s “Dead Man Walking” and the season will feature its first performances of Anthony Davis’s “X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X”; Daniel Catán’s “Florencia en el Amazonas” and a staged production of John Adams’s “El Niño.” He said there is a big shift with opera singers “embracing new work and understanding that this is the future.”

    Peter Gelb, left.

    The Met is not the only company suffering from this new emergence after the pandemic. According to the New York Times, Portland Opera in Oregon, which is struggling with a decline in ticket sales, has reduced its staff and cut in half the number of operas it has each season to three from six before the pandemic. The Philadelphia Orchestra has seen paid attendance hovering at around 47 percent this fall, down from about 66 percent before the pandemic. Dayton Contemporary Dance Company in Ohio canceled its holiday shows this month because of tepid demand and rising production costs.

    Arts groups like the Metropolitan Opera worry that weak attendance could extend into next season and beyond, as federal assistance which helped many companies survive through the pandemic has dried up. At the Met, subscriptions are expected to fall to 19 percent of total box office revenues this season, compared with 45 percent two decades ago. The company will try to appeal to old and new audiences and get the amount of their endowment back.

    The Met is the premier opera company in the United States, and even so still faces issues from the pandemic, which made a lot of businesses decline or shut down completely. Although the pandemic’s grasp is behind many people now, its effects will remain affecting the visual arts sector for years to come. For more information about events coming up at the Met, go here.

  • Kings Theatre Announces Premiere of ‘Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse’ Live in Concert

    Kings Theatre has announced the venue will be hosting the world premiere of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse Live in Concert on Friday, March 17, 2023, at 8 p.m.

    into the spiderverse kings theatre

    The screening of the Academy Award-winning animated film from Sony Pictures Animation will be accompanied by a live orchestra, band, and turntables playing music from the score and soundtrack. The film follows Brooklyn teen Miles Morales, who after being bitten by a radioactive spider gains Spider-Man-like powers. The film was directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman, written by Phil Lord and Rothman, and produced by Lord, Chris Miller, Avi Arad, Amy Pascal, and Christina Steinberg.

    Original music was composed by multiple Golden Globe nominee Daniel Pemberton, who will be on hand for the world premiere concert in Brooklyn. In a statement, he said “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is one of my favorite score scores I’ve ever written. I always had a dream the first place this would ever be heard would be Miles’ home – Brooklyn. So, I am ridiculously excited we get to perform the world’s very first Spider-Verse concert in the iconic borough where the story begins, bringing together on stage a full orchestra with a band, synths, AND a set of turntables for the world premiere performance this March.” 

    The film received widespread praise and attention for its visual style, characters, story, voice acting, and soundtrack. The highly anticipated sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is scheduled for a theatrical debut in June 2023. The Kings Theatre is a live performance theatre in Brooklyn with a seating capacity of 3,200. In 1929 it was opened by Loew’s Theatres as a movie palace. The venue then closed in 1977, sitting empty until a complete renovation began in 2010.

    Tickets for the world premiere of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse on March 17, 2023, are on sale now.

  • SILO, Brooklyn’s Newest Go-To Nightclub Opens to Public February 10

    SILO, a brand new 500-cap nightclub in Brooklyn, is opening on Feb. 10, with an exciting lineup of DJ’s gracing the stage.

    SILO

    NYC promoter duo Alex Neuhausen and Lilly Wolfson created SILO. They are known for making their ‘Secret Loft’ series, an underground party that began in a refurbished Brooklyn auto garage, which has been praised by the New York Times and Timeout. They have been planning and fundraising for the new club for the past three years. According to them, the name SILO “captures the industrial feel of the space and the neighborhood, like a military missile silo. It also feels like a grain silo (big vertical cylinder) turned on its side.”

    The venue will host DJs and producers who represent the spectrum of dance music and the cultures and communities that have grown up around them. There will be special events, and even “vinyl only” nights, where people can take time and appreciate the classic long-play records. They have teased an exciting lineup of DJs, including the sounds of Josh Wink, the grooves of acid techno artist Hiroko Yamamura, and a special all-nighter with Eli Escobar. 

    For the production of SILO, the venue is equipped with high-tech sound and light fixtures, as well as a protein-packed menu and classic drinks. Gender equality is a core principle of the venue, specifically empowering women to become more involved in the nightlife and the music industry.

    SILO

    The venue will open on Feb. 10, with tickets on sale to the shows announced here.

    2023 Dates Announced, More TBA:

    2/10: STUNTSZ Presents: Mike Servito, Kia, + Special Guest
    2/11: CIRCE: Cassy, Tara Brooks
    2/18: Francois K, Toribio
    2/24: Nervous Records Birthday Party: Josh Wink, Sasha Carassi
    2/25: Eli Escobar All Night

    3/3: TNL VZN: Hiroko Yamamura, Justin Cudmore, Wtchcrft

    3/10 Bespoke Musik: Kollektiv Turmstrasse

  • The Paramount Named Number 1 Worldwide Club by Pollstar Magazine

    The Paramount, a club located in Huntington, Long Island, has been named the number-one club venue worldwide by Pollstar Magazine.

    The Paramount
    The Paramount, photo by Amy Vivinetto.

    Pollstar Magazine is one of the leading concert and live music industry magazines, and announced that The Paramount raked in the majority of ticket sales compared to other clubs worldwide in 2022, making over $10.5 million this year in tickets. The venue has been steadily climbing the charts at Pollstar, cracking the Top 15 in 2014, and the Top 5 in 2017.

    The Paramount opened in late 2011, led by the vision of owners Dominick Catoggio, Jim Condron, Brian Doyle, and Stephen Ubertini. They designed the building from a restored 1927 vaudeville theater and transformed it into what it is today, a brick and steel space that fits comfortably in downtown NYC. In a joint statement, the owners said they were “humbled… and proud,” and that “our success is all in part to our amazing fans who continue to support our vision.”

    There have been many iconic artists who have graced the stage at The Paramount, with its initial success coming from a performance by Billy Joel followed by a surprise show with Ed Sheeran, who said that The Paramount was his favorite venue. Over the decade since its opening, artists like Twenty One Pilots, Blondie, Camila Cabello, Halsey, BB King, Jane’s Addiction, Pitbull, Judas Priest, Limp Bizkit, and Mac Miller have performed there.

    The Paramount hosts over 200 events each year, from comedy to music to even family shows. There is a little bit of something for everyone at the venue, which is why it fits with the title of the number one club in the world. To see what shows are coming up, and to keep up to date with new shows in 2023, go here.

  • Billy Joel Postpones Dec. 19 Show at MSG

    The Billy Joel concert at Madison Square Garden, originally scheduled for Monday, December 19, has been postponed until June 2, 2023.

    Billy Joel MSG

    In a statement from Billy Joel’s spokesperson, a viral infection that affected his vocals was the cause of the postponement.

    Billy Joel is under strict doctor’s orders for vocal rest due to a viral infection and as a result, his concert scheduled for Monday, December 19th at Madison Square Garden is postponed to Friday, June 2nd. We understand the inconvenience this causes everyone who purchased tickets, and we apologize for this unexpected circumstance.

    On Facebook, Billy said to fans, “I’m disappointed to share that I’m under doctor’s orders for vocal rest due to a viral infection so unfortunately, I must postpone my Monday, December 19th concert at Madison Square Garden to June. I’m so sorry to let you know so close to show day, but I was hoping to be closer to a full recovery by now. Sadly, that hasn’t happened. I look forward to seeing you in the New Year.”

    All tickets purchased for the December 19, 2022 concert will be honored on Friday, June 2, 2023 and will not need to be exchanged. However, the June 2nd performance is subject to change if it conflicts with a Knicks playoff game. For more information, please visit msg.com.

    Billy Joel will next perform at Madison Square Garden on January 13, 2023, making this Friday the 13th Joel’s 86th consecutive monthly show, and 132nd lifetime at The World’s Most Famous Arena.

    In December 2013, Billy Joel was named Madison Square Garden’s first-ever music franchise, joining the ranks of the storied venue’s other original franchises – the New York Knicks and New York Rangers. The record-breaking residency began in January 2014 with Joel playing one show every month at The Garden, “as long as the demand continues,” says Joel.

    Billy Joel is one of the biggest concert draws in the world, selling out arenas and stadiums across the globe. Having sold 150 million records over the past quarter century and scoring 33 consecutive Top 40 hits, Joel ranks as one of the most popular recording artists and respected entertainers in history. The singer/songwriter/composer is the sixth best-selling recording artist of all time and the third best-selling solo artist. In 2016, the Library of Congress selected “Piano Man” for preservation in the National Recording Registry for its “cultural, historic, and artistic significance.”

    Joel received The Kennedy Center Honors, one of the United States’ top cultural awards, in December 2013. He is also the recipient of six GRAMMY® Awards, including the prestigious Grammy Legend Award. Joel has been inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has received numerous industry awards including a TONY AWARD for “Movin’ Out,” a Broadway musical based on Joel’s music. For his accomplishments as a musician and as a humanitarian, Joel was honored as the 2002 MusiCares Person Of The Year by the MusiCares Foundation and the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences.

  • Bonnie Raitt Headlines Rochester International Jazz Festival June 27th

    The CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival will feature the great Bonnie Raitt on June 27th at the Festival’s 20th-anniversary edition. More than just a best-selling artist, expressive singer, and accomplished songwriter, Bonnie Raitt will bring her “Just Like That…Tour” on Tuesday, June 27th, 2023. The festival will be held from June 23rd to July 1st, 2023, in downtown Rochester. 

    Bonnie Raitt Headlines 20th Anniversary Festival June 27th 2023

    The infamous Raitt has become an institution in American music. Born to a musical family, the ten-time Grammy winner is the daughter of celebrated Broadway singer John Raitt and accomplished pianist/singer Marge Goddard. Raitt was raised in Los Angeles where she grew up to have a respect for the arts and a commitment to social activism. 

    Bonnie Raitt Headlines 20th Anniversary Festival June 27th 2023

    Bonnie is as known for her lifelong commitment to social activism as she is for her music. She has long been involved with the environmental movement, doing concerts around oil, nuclear power, mining, water and forest protection since the mid 70’s.

    She even stated, “I’ve always wanted to make a record here, and once vaccinations made traveling safe again, we were thrilled to get everyone back together.” The mix of sounds and approaches on Just Like That…reveals how, 50 years after the release of her debut album, Bonnie Raitt continues to personify what it means to stay creative, adventurous, and daring over the course of a life’s work. “I think the absolute joy and relief of reuniting to play live music is really palpable on this record.”

    With Just Like That…, this is her twenty-first album and first new release in more than six years. Rolling Stone even named her as both one of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time” and one of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bonnie Raitt continues to draw on the range of influences that have shaped her legendary career.

    Tickets for Bonnie Raitt at CGI Rochester International Jazz Fest range in price from: Boxes $140, Orchestra $125, Loge/Mezzanine $105, Balcony $85. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 16th at 10am. To purchase, click the link here or call (585) 454-2060. 

  • Latin Band Bacilos Announces ‘Back In The USA ’23’ Tour, Irving Plaza Date Set for May

    The hit Latin band, Bacilos, featuring Jorge Villamizar and André Lopes, have announced their first tour in the United States since 2004. Produced by Live Nation, the nine-city — Back in the USA ‘23 — tour kicks-off on April 27, 2023 at North Beach Bandshell in Miami, FL, and will make stops in Orlando, Atlanta, Houston, Boston and New York‘s own Irving Plaza on May 12, before wrapping up in Chicago, IL at House of Blues on May 14.

    Bacilos’ first tour in the U.S. in 19 years will make a stop at Irving Plaza in New York City on Friday, May 12, 2023.

    When curating their set the duo decided to give an exciting spin to their classic records while bringing sensational new material into their performance. In addition to Villamizar and Lopes, Bacilos will be accompanied by their high-caliber band. Moreover, having performed across Latin America to huge crowds with immense success, Bacilos’ show is representative of their vibrancy and impact-fulness as critical trendsetters in modern Latin Pop music. 

    This past year, Bacilos released new classic songs and collaborations with Latin America’s most outstanding young artists. Their music has reached around 22 million people around the globe, reaching up to 180 countries. In addition, with more than 1 million creations, Caraluna — the tittle of their Latin Grammy winning album and single — became a Worldwide trend when the community accomplished a very successful TikTok movement with new choreography.

    BACILOS BACK IN THE USA ‘23 TOUR DATES: 

    Thursday, April 27, 2023 – Miami – Miami Beach Bandshell

    Friday, April 28, 2023 – Orlando — House of Blues

    Sunday, April 30, 2023 – Atlanta – Buckhead Theatre

    Thursday, May 4, 2023 – Houston – House of Blues

    Saturday, May 6, 2023 – Austin – Emo’s

    Sunday, May 7, 2023 – Dallas – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall

    Wednesday, May 10, 2023 – Boston – Paradise Rock Club

    Friday, May 12, 2023 – New York – Irving Plaza

    Sunday, May 14, 2023 – Chicago – House of Blues

    Tickets for Bacilos go on sale starting on Friday, December 9 at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster.