After twenty-five years of anticipation, NYC indie-cult fan favorites the Van Pelt return with a new album titled “Artisans & Merchants” in 2023. The Van Pelt has returned to explore what was left behind with a new collection of hit songs, including the latest track, “Grid.”
For lovers of The Van Pelt, listening to “Artisans & Merchants” is like hearing the voice of a dear friend you haven’t seen in years. This is a stand-alone album, incredible vital songwriting regardless of the long history this band has. Pitchfork even stated that, “The lines between post-hardcore, indie rock, and emo blurred on the two mid-’90s full-lengths from the Van Pelt.”
The Van Pelt is an American indie rock band from New York City that were active from 1993 to 1997, but have reformed briefly several times since then including now. The band formed around 1993 at New York University, with Chris Leo on vocals and guitar, David Baum on guitar, Barry London on bass, and Neil O’Brien on drums. In a reunion show, soundchecks revealed that the band has a voice that was prematurely muted by their inability to see clearly in the thick of their rise.
“New York City’s The Van Pelt are an influential, but too often overlooked indie rock band — cult favorites for many an emo-inclined crate digger.”
– Consequence
The Van Pelt’s newer album can be viewed as “a friend you used to share countless beers with over banter that went nowhere other than delivering a solid night. Your friend is older, they’ve changed. In some ways you’re worried for them, looks like they might be teetering on the brink of something. In other ways it’s the same old them, a nugget of a soul too unique to ever be altered.”
The chores of the single “Image of Health” describes the beautiful desperation of the album best, “And you never felt more alive / Than when the priest came to read you your rites!”
Stream The Van Pelt and their newest album coming in Spring 2023 by clicking the link here.
Listen to the latest track from The Van Pelt, “Grid,” below.
On Thursday, Live Nation announced the return of Lawn Pass, a service which guarantees customers special access to concerts at select venues across the country.
Services of the Lawn Pass include guaranteed general admission lawn seating all summer long for 30+ shows at specific venues such as the SPAC for $199 in addition to a fee. General sale will begin online this Wednesday at 1 p.m., while previous Lawn Pass holders have had the chance to purchase again since Thursday.
Citi cardmembers will also have presale access from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesday through the Citi Entertainment program.
After purchase, Lawn Pass holders will receive a custom personalized credential that will serve as their ticket on each show day. These credentials will be shipped directly to customers this upcoming Spring.
Full list of venues participating in the Live Nation Lawn Pass program:
· Ak-Chin Pavilion (Phoenix, AZ)
· Blossom Music Center (Cuyahoga Falls, OH)
· Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek (Raleigh, NC)
· Concord Pavilion (Concord, CA)
· Darien Lake Amphitheater (Darien Center, NY)
· Dos Equis Pavilion (Dallas, TX)
· Freedom Mortgage Pavilion (Camden, NJ)
· Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Tinley Park (Tinley Park, IL)
· Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)
· Isleta Amphitheater (Albuquerque, NM)
· iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre (West Palm Beach, FL)
· Jiffy Lube Live (Bristow, VA)
· Lakewood Amphitheatre (Atlanta, GA)
· MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre (Tampa, FL)
· North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre (Chula Vista, CA)
· PNC Bank Arts Center (Holmdel, NJ)
· PNC Music Pavilion (Charlotte, NC)
· Ruoff Music Center (Noblesville, IN)
· RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater (Ridgefield, WA)
· Saratoga Performing Arts Center (Saratoga Springs, NY)
· Shoreline Amphitheatre (Mountain View, CA)
· St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview (Syracuse, NY)
· The Pavilion at Star Lake (Burgettstown, PA)
· Toyota Amphitheatre (Wheatland, CA)
· USANA Amphitheatre (West Valley City, UT)
· Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach (Virginia Beach, VA)
Crane School of Music graduate Josh Barkley will host a unique tour of North Country churches, performing organ and piano music at each stop this December. The tour is free to the public, and even with stops at these historic churches, the performances will not include a religious service.
A multi-instrumentalist, Josh Barkley has played the accordion for his high school production of “Fiddler on the Roof,” the saxophone in his high school marching band, electric bass in a local country music group, and the organ at church on Sunday. This man of many talents is best known as a jazz pianist who plays the piano on the fly, improvising music more than sticking strictly to sheet music.
Barkley, an SLC Arts musician, will begin the holiday music tour featuring organ and piano on December 11, with each performance beginning at 6:00PM and taking place at a different church in St. Lawrence County, with the final concert on December 22nd at SUNY Potsdam’s Hosmer Hall.
The 21-date tour is in promotion of their upcoming album Live At Levon’s!, slated for February release. The 12-track record was recorded in entirety at the Woodstock venue with audience presence.
Teresa Williams and Larry Campbell.
Their tour announcement on the Second of December was coupled with the release of the album’s second single, a cover of “Darling Be Home Soon” by The Lovin’ Spoonful. The funky orchestra-laden 1967 track is subdued by Campbell & Williams, who slow down the tempo and turn the song into a simple piano and acoustic guitar tune, making for a more melancholic delivery.
Cover art for Live at Levons!
Live At Levon’s! features a selection of new, previously unreleased songs from the Woodstock duo and “old favorites” such as the album’s lead single “Angel of Darkness.” It’s a biting blues rock track, with fuzzy guitar licks and soulful keyboards complementing Williams’ shaking vocals. It’s highlighted by a slippery guitar solo around the three-minute mark.
Information on pre-orders for Live At Levon’s! can be found here, and details regarding tickets and more for Campbell & Williams’ Levon Helms Studio show can be found on TIXR.
Established country group Drive-By Truckers has newly announced their full set of tour dates for the Spring 2023. The tour makes its way to the Northeast in May, with Drive-By Truckers performing at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, two nights at the Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan, and a show at The Egg in Albany.
Drive-By Truckers
The band with its roots stemming from Athens, Georgia starts the tour with an appearance in Indianapolis, Indiana on March 9 at The Vogue, followed by traveling from the end of March to the beginning of April for their annual four-day “Heathens Homecoming” celebration at their hometown’s own beloved 40 Watt Night Club.
Welcome 2 Club XIII
Following the four-day celebration, a four-part two-night stands series by the band opens at Saxapahaw, NC’s Haw River Ballroom from April 25-26, leading up to premiering at Washington DC’s 9:30 Club from April 29-30, then New York City’s Bowery Ballroom from May 4-5, and lastly The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC. The recently-made announcement of the schedule of the Drive-By Trucker’s full tour is after the the release of the band’s 14th studio album, Welcome 2 Club XIII, which includes new singles like “The Driver”, “Every Single Storied Flameout”, along with the debut’s anthem, “Welcome 2 Club XIII”.
Drive-By Truckers Spring 2023 Tour
MARCH
9 – Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue #
10 – Detroit, MI – Saint Andrew’s Hall #
11 – Milwaukee, WI – The Pabst Theater #
12 – Madison, WI – Barrymore Theatre #
14 – Iowa City, IA – Englert Theatre #
15 – Urbana, IL – The Canopy Club #
17 – Louisville, KY – Old Forester’s Paristown Hall #
18 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant #
19 – Fayetteville, AR – JJ’s Live #
21 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Jones Assembly #
23 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater #
24 – Austin, TX – Paramount Theatre #
25 – New Orleans, LA – Joy Theater #
26 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City #
29 – Athens, GA – 40 Watt †
30 – Athens, GA – 40 Watt %
31 – Athens, GA – 40 Watt ^
APRIL
1 – Athens, GA – 40 Watt @
20 – St. Petersburg, FL – Floridian Social Club $
21 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room $
22 –Orlando, FL – Ace Café (Outdoors) $
23 – Columbia, SC – The Senate $
25 – Saxapahaw, NC – Haw River Ballroom $
26 – Saxapahaw, NC – Haw River Ballroom $
28 – Richmond, VA – Brown’s Island $
29 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club $
30 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club $
MAY
2 – Woodstock, NY – Levon Helm Studios $
4 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom $
5– New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom $
8 – Albany, NY – The Egg Performing Arts Center
9 – Munhall, PA – Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall $
A Boogie wit da Hoodie is back with his fourth studio album, Me vs. Myself. The Bronx native’s newest project comes almost two-years after his last studio album, the platinum selling Artist 2.0, and nearly a year to the day of his 2021 EP, B4 AVA.
Correspondingly, Me vs. Myself arrives after being pushed back from its original November 4 release date to avoid competing for sales with Drake and 21 Savages, Her Loss.
In an instagram story post, A Boogie announced the album’s delay. Posting, “Sorry but Album dropping in December now, Drake was dropping same day and I’m not with that #HOODIESZN,” he wrote with a series of laughing emojis.
The 21-track project features heavy hitters from the hip hop and r&b world. Having recruited the likes of Lil Durk, Tory Lanez, G-Herbo, Roddy Ricch and Don Q. Additionally, the previously released single “Playa” with H.E.R. is included as a bonus track. In the same fashion, his Kodak Black collab “Water (Drowning Pt.2)” was released as a single. A sequel to his 2017 smash hit “Drowning,” A Boogie will look to replicate the success of the record which spent nearly 30 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and went 7X platinum.
Me vs. Myself is an important project for A Boogie’s current status in the game. While he remains one of the most streamed artists in the world, his reputation for delivering good albums has waned. With the emergence of the drill scene, A Boogie must remind fans that he remains a heavy hitter.
In an interview with Hip Hop Dx, the “Still Think About You” rapper revealed his goals for his upcoming drops.
“I’m definitely one of those top guys now,” A Boogie assured.
I’m not where I want to be yet, but you already know what I’m going for. Number one, and we’re not settling for anything less. I used to settle for less because I never had that goal to look all the way up there, but now that we looking up there, it’s looking scary for a lot of people.
The Binghamton Philharmonic is Broome County’s only professional symphony orchestra. It was founded by Fritz and Marianne Wallenberg in 1955 at the Binghamton Symphony and Choral Society and later merged with the B.C. Pops, an orchestra founded by David Agard and Russell Hawkes. The Philharmonic Orchestra presents an annual series of classical, pops, and chamber music concerts in Downtown Binghamton and throughout the county.
The Binghamton Philharmonic will kick off its “Winter Wonderland” celebration, including music from The Polar Express, Home Alone II, and The Nightmare Before Christmas. The program will feature a visit from Santa, a holiday sing-along with a quartet from the Tri-Cities Opera, and the viewing of the classic British animated film, The Snowman, with music performed by a live orchestra and treble soloist Luca Thomas.
Thomas is an 11-year-old from NYC, who started singing before he could even speak. At the age of 4, he was a featured singer on two Laurie Berkner tracks and is now a member of a professional children’s choir. He recently toured Ireland over the summer and is excited to have a solo at the “Winter Wonderland” show.
Luca Thomas
All children 17 and under get in for free to the “Winter Wonderland” show on Dec. 10, held at the Broome County Forum Theatre. To purchase tickets for the event, go here.
The world’s most iconic rock legends Def Leppard and Motley Crue are going global in 2023 with their co-headline “The World Tour.” Making a surprise appearing along some of the tour dates, special guest Alice Cooper will also be along for the ride. The U.S. leg of the world tour kicks off on August 5th in Syracuse.
With more than 110 million albums sold worldwide, the infamous Def Leppard continue to be one of the most important forces in all rock music. Over the course of their career, the band has produced a series of classic groundbreaking albums that set the bar for generations of music fans and artists alike. The group has some of the most legendary tracks such as “Rock of Ages,” “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Foolin.”
“After finally getting back on the road this past summer, we’re beyond thrilled to bring this massive tour to a global audience including some special dates in America!”
Joe Elliott of Def Leppard
Likewise, the infamous Mötley Crüe are known for their iconic crazy live performances. The band has sold-out countless tours across the globe in front of millions of fans with groundbreaking production highlights such as Tommy Lee’s drum-rollercoaster and Nikki Sixx’s flame-throwing-bass.
Mötley Crüe’s hit songs such as “Kickstart My Heart” and “Home Sweet Home” are frequently known throughout rock history. The band’s biography “The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band” became a New York Times best-seller in 2001 and has an amazing Netflix adaptation from 2019.
“We had an incredible time playing The Stadium Tour in North America this summer and we truly can’t wait to take the show around the globe with The WORLD Tour in 2023. Crüeheads get ready because we have a few amazing U.S. dates set for you!”
Mötley Crüe, in a joint statement
Lastly, Alice Cooper has also pioneered a brand of hard rock that was designed to shock audiences of all ages. Drawing his inspiration from horror movies, vaudeville, and garage rock, he created a stage show that featured electric chairs, guillotines, fake blood and boa constrictors. He continues to tour regularly, performing shows worldwide with the dark and horror-themed theatrics that he’s best known for.
You won’t want to miss the thrilling craziness of this tour, packed full of amazing rock music from Def Leppard and Motley Crue. These bands have consciousness rattled the cages and undermined the authority of generations of guardians of the status quo. They continue to surprise fans and exude danger at every turn, especially with this tour.
THE WORLD TOUR DATES:
Saturday, August 5 Syracuse, NY JMA Wireless Dome
Tuesday, August 8 Columbus, OH Ohio Stadium
Friday, August 11 Fargo, ND Fargodome
Sunday, August 13 Omaha, NE Charles Schwab Field Omaha
Wednesday, August 16 Tulsa, OK H.A. Chapman Stadium
Friday, August 18 El Paso, TX Sun Bowl
CURRENTLY ON-SALE DATES:
Fri, Feb 10, 2023 Atlantic City, NJ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena^
Sat, Feb 11, 2023 Atlantic City, NJ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena^
Sat, Feb 18, 2023 Mexico City, Mexico Foro Sol
Tue, Feb 21, 2023 Monterrey, Mexico Estadio Banorte
Sat, Feb 25, 2023 Bogota, Colombia Parque Simon Bolivar
Tue, Feb 28, 2023 Lima, Peru Estadio Nacional
Fri, Mar 3, 2023 Santiago, Chile Estadio Bicentenario de La Florida
Tue, Mar 7, 2023 Sao Paulo, Brazil Allianz Parque
Mon, May 22, 2023 Sheffield, UK Bramall Lane
Thu, May 25, 2023 Mönchengladbach, Germany SparkassenPark
Sat, May 27, 2023 Munich, Germany Koenigsplatz
Mon, May 29, 2023 Budapest, Hungary MVM Dome
Wed, May 31, 2023 Krakow, Poland TAURON Arena Kraków
Fri, Jun 2, 2023 Prague, Czech Republic Prague Rocks *
Sat, Jun 3, 2023 Hannover, Germany Expo Plaza
Wed, Jun 7, 2023 Solvesborg, Sweden Sweden Rock Festival *
Fri, Jun 9, 2023 Hyvinkää, Finland RockFest *
Sun, Jun 11, 2023 Trondheim, Norway Trondheim Rocks *
Wed, Jun 14, 2023 Copenhagen, Denmark COPENHELL *
Sun, Jun 18, 2023 Dessel, Belgium Graspop Metal Meeting *
Tue, Jun 20, 2023 Milan, Italy Ippodromo SNAI San Siro
Fri, Jun 23, 2023 Lisbon, Portugal Passeio Maritimo de Alges
Sat, Jun 24, 2023 Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Spain Auditorio Miguel Ríos
Tue, Jun 27, 2023 Thun, Switzerland Stockhorn Arena
Sat, Jul 1, 2023 London, UK Wembley Stadium
Sun, Jul 2, 2023 Lytham, UK Lytham Festival *
Tue, Jul 4, 2023 Dublin, Ireland Marlay Park
Thu, Jul 6, 2023 Glasgow, UK Hampden Park
^ no Alice Cooper
* Festival Date
Tickets go on sale Friday, December 16th at 10am. For more information, click the link here.
Magic of Lights, a 2.5 mile-long holiday-themed light display with locations at Long Island’s Jones Beach State Park and Holmdel NJ’s PNC Bank Arts Center, is offering nightly drive-throughs by car until December 30th as part of its 2022 edition.
A family enjoys a previous year’s Magic of Lights display.
This 2022 rendition for Magic of Lights, which includes over two million lights total, will feature several brand new displays, including a 32-foot-tall animated Christmas Barbie, the life-size dinosaur-highlighted Prehistoric Christmas, and a BIGFOOT Monster Trucks display.
2022 Magic of Lights first timer, Prehistoric Christmas.
Both locations will feature Toyota Holiday Village, which allows guests to walk through an out-of-car area featuring Santa Photos, skating, refreshments, and other holiday activities.
These are 2 of 21 Magic of Lights locations from NY to California. Its technology is handcrafted at and shipped from the company’s factory in Medina, OH. The NY and NJ displays combine for over 10 miles of LED lighting across all presentations, in the trees, and on the buildings.
The display is open from 5 p.m. to 10 on Sunday through Thursday, while Friday and Saturday feature availability from 5 to 11.
Information regarding tickets and more can be found on the Magic of Lights website.
Infamous alt-J has just announced a tour celebrating the 10th anniversary of their Mercury Prize-winning debut album, An Awesome Wave. The tour will be starting in March 2023 at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, and each show on the tour will feature a full performance of the album for the first time ever in the US.
“It’s been such a great year promoting both The Dream and An Awesome Wave’s 10th anniversary that we have decided to extend the party into 2023. We are delighted to announce a run of AAW anniversary shows in the US in March where we will play the album in full for the first time in America. We hope you can join us,” the band said in a statement.
The award-winning debut was followed two years later by their GRAMMY and BRIT Award-nominated number one album, This Is All Yours. Then in 2017, “RELAXER” flew straight into the top 10 of the UK album charts and garnered the band their second Mercury Prize nomination.
Alt-J also celebrated the 10th anniversary of An Awesome Wave with a new podcast series presented by music journalist and radio host Jenny Eliscu. Things Will Get Better – An alt-J Podcast. The podcast sees the critically acclaimed, chart-topping British band discussing their early days as university students, delving into how they came together and more.
“We were asked so often how we felt about the ten year anniversary of An Awesome Wave,” say alt-J, “and how we planned to celebrate it, that we realized we didn’t exactly know. So we made a podcast to find out. ‘Things Will Get Better’ is a journey from the formation of the band to the release of our debut album, and features us exploring our old haunts in Leeds, listening to long-lost demos and chatting to Gwil Sainsbury and our producer Charlie Andrew. We loved reminiscing about those days, sharing our individual memories and taking some time to reflect with gratitude on the album that changed our lives more than any other.”
Presale for tickets begins next Wednesday, December 7th at 10am and is concluding on Thursday, December 8th with general on-sale beginning Friday. December 9th at 10am local time.
To sign up for early access to tickets, click the link here.
