NYS Music 202​2

Category: News Desk

  • Goose Rolls Out More 2023 Spring Tour Dates

    Fresh off the heels of a successful co-headlining tour with Trey Anastasio and his band, Goose has announced new dates for their 2023 Spring Tour. It’s one that will see the band tour 14 cities over a five-week span that literally crosses the country. After a five-night run at the legendary Capitol Theatre in NY in early March that’s already sold out, the tour is scheduled to begin in Boston on March 23 at Roadrunner.

    The spring tour also features two-night stands at such iconic venues as Philadelphia, PA’s The Met (March 24-25), Nashville, TN’s Ryman Auditorium (March 31-April 1), Seattle, WA’s Paramount Theatre (April 22-23), and San Francisco, CA’s The Warfield (April 27-28).

    A ticket request lottery for all these newly announced Goose Spring Tour 2023 shows is currently underway at the band’s website and will continue through Wednesday, December 7, at 5 pm (ET). Lottery winners will be notified via email before the start of venue presales, set to run Thursday, December 8 from 10 am-10 pm (local). All remaining tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, December 9 at 10 am (local). A variety of VIP packages and accommodation discounts will also be available. 

    This week also sees Goose marking yet another milestone in what has proven a momentous 2022 with their first-ever live performance on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, set for Wednesday, December 7 at 11:35 pm (ET)/10:35 pm (CT) (check local listings).

    Goose Spring Tour 2023

    MARCH

    8-12 – Port Chester, NY – Capitol Theatre

    23 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner

    24 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met

    25 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met

    26 – Cleveland, OH – Agora

    31 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium

    APRIL 2023

    1 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium

    2 – Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewing Co.

    13 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee

    14 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed

    15 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed

    16 – St. Paul, MN – Palace Theatre

    18 – Bozeman, MT – The Elm

    19 – Bozeman, MT – The Elm

    21 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory

    22 – Seattle, WA – The Paramount Theatre

    23 – Seattle, WA – The Paramount Theatre

    25 – Eugene, OR – The McDonald Theatre

    27 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield

    28 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield

    29 – San Diego, CA – CalCoast Credit Union Open Air Theatre

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Nl47xU5mg

  • Peach Music Festival Announces 2023 Dates

    The Peach Music Festival 2023 has announced the dates for the season, running from June 29 through July 2 at Montage Mountain in Scranton, PA.

    peach music festival 2023

    The Peach Music Festival was created in 2012 as the first-ever Allman Brothers Band-inspired festival in the Northeast and has quickly evolved into one of the most highly-anticipated summer musical events loved by music enthusiasts from across the nation. It is a one-of-a-kind festival, as it features food and craft vendors on the grounds and access to the scenic Montage Mountain Ski Resort’s large water park.

    Last year’s lineup included Billy Strings, Trey Anastasio Band, Goose, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, and many more. The lineup has not been announced yet, but the Peach Music Festival 2023 weekend will run from June 29 to July 2. A limited number of Early Bird passes will go on sale beginning on Friday, Dec. 9 at 12 p.m. including VIP passes, reserved seating, glamping, travel packages, as well as a special four-day, general admission $99 lawn ticket.

    New this year will be a GA+ ticket allowing fans with a General Admission ticket access under the pavilion for headliner sets (in the 200-level seating area) for $149. To purchase tickets for the 2023 festival, go here.

  • Goo Goo Dolls 2023 “Big Night Out Tour” with O.A.R. to make 4 Stops Across New York

    Multi-platinum, four-time GRAMMY-nominated rock band Goo Goo Dolls have revealed the details for their The Big Night Out Tour with O.A.R. The massive summer 2023 tour will kick off on July 24th, 2023 and roll through major outdoor venues in New York including Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, SPAC and St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater.

    Goo Goo Dolls Reveal Details for The Big Night Out Tour Summer 2023

    On the upcoming tour, John Rzeznik shares, “I’m so proud to finally be able to announce our summer tour with a great band and our friends O.A.R. It’s going to be an amazing night of great music for everyone so BE THERE!!!”  

    O.A.R.’s Marc Roberge also added, “After working on separate albums in the same studio all last year, John and I realized pretty quickly how much fun we’d have on tour together.  We’re all band guys, love being musicians, and started planning a special night that all our fans would enjoy.” 

    The first album of their career to be produced by frontman John Rzeznik, Chaos in Bloom finds the band continuing to evolve just as they have for nearly four decades together. Consisting of 10 tracks including singles “Yeah, I Like You” and “You Are The Answer”, Chaos in Bloom is an album of biting sarcasm, stadium-ready choruses, and the type of spear-sharp songwriting that’s led them to becoming one of the most influential alternative rock groups of all time.  

    Formed in Buffalo during 1986 by John Rzeznik and Robby Takac, their newer album Chaos in Bloom finds the band continuing to evolve just as they have for nearly four decades together. Currently, front-man John Rzeznik is gearing up to take the iHeartRadio Theater stage in Los Angeles on December 13th for a special acoustic performance. The show will stream at 7pm PT/10pm ET on YouTube.com/iHeartRadio and broadcasted on iHeartMedia’s Hot AC stations. 

    Along with this, lead vocalist and guitar to the Goo Goo Dolls, John Rzneik’s birthday was just this week on December 5th. Happy Birthday John!

    The Big Night Out Summer 2023 Tour Dates

    Jul 24 – Tampa, FL – Coachman Park 

    Jul 26 – Boca Raton, FL – Mizner Park Amphitheater 

    Jul 27 – Saint Augustine, FL – The Saint Augustine Amphitheatre 

    Jul 29 – Albertville, AL – Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater 

    Jul 30 – Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park 

    Aug 01 – Simpsonville, SC – CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park 

    Aug 02 – Greensboro, NC – White Oak Amphitheatre 

    Aug 04 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion 

    Aug 05 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater 

    Aug 06 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts – The Pavilion 

    Aug 08 – Saratoga Springs, NY – SPAC 

    Aug 09 – Bethlehem, PA – Musikfest 

    Aug 11 – Atlantic City, NJ – The Borgata 

    Aug 12 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center 

    Aug 13 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater 

    Aug 15 – Boston, MA – Leader Bank Pavilion 

    Aug 16 – Syracuse, NY –  St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater 

    Aug 18 – Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion 

    Aug 19 – Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill 

    Aug 20 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center 

    Aug 22 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island 

    Aug 23 – Indianapolis, IN – TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park 

    Aug 25 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater 

    Aug 26 – Maryland Heights, MO – Saint Louis Music Park 

    Aug 27 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre 

    Aug 30 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre 

    Aug 31 – Sandy, UT – Sandy Amphitheater 

    Sep 02 – Seattle, WA – TBD 

    Sep 03 – Seattle, WA – TBD  

    Sep 04 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater 

    Sep 06 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre 

    Sep 07 – Highland, CA – Yaamava’ Theater *without O.A.R. 

    Tickets go on-sale Friday, December 9th at 10am local time. To purchase tickets, click the link HERE.  

  • Empire Live to Host Pigeons Playing Ping Pong & Dogs in a Pile on Dec. 9

    On Friday, December 9, Albany’s Empire Live will showcase a concert featuring jam funk group Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and psychedelic jam band Dogs in a Pile. Doors for the 16+ show open at 7 p.m. with music beginning at 8.

    empire live pigeons playing ping pong
    Pigeons Playing Ping Pong members from left to right: Jeremy Schon (guitar, vocals), Ben (bass, vocals), Alex Petropulos (drums, vocals), Greg Ormont (vocals, guitar)

    This Empire Live stop marks a return to upstate NY for Pigeons Playing Ping Pong after headlining at the Adirondack Independence Music Festival in September. The Maryland four-piece has played halftime during a New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden, they’ve appeared on Adult Swim’s FishCenter Live, and annually headlined their self-produced music and camping festival Domefest. They dropped their sixth studio album Perspective in March, the group’s first studio release since lockdown.

    Dogs in a Pile members from left to right: Brian Murray (guitarist), Jeremy Kaplan (keyboardist), Jimmy Law (guitarist), Sam Lucid (bassist)

    Dogs in a Pile, a five-piece of Asbury Park, NJ origin, was assembled in 2019 and released their debut studio album Not Your Average Beagle in 2021. Their musical approach is inspired by the improvisation of bands such as the Grateful Dead and Phish.

    Information regarding tickets for Friday’s show can be found here.

  • Red Hot Chili Peppers to Play JMA Dome in Syracuse

    The Red Hot Chili Peppers announced their 2023 tour will be stopping in New York, at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse. After releasing two studio albums this year, Return of the Dream Canteen and Unlimited Love, the California rock band will embark on the 23-date tour across North America and Europe. 

    The Red Hot Chili Peppers will be joined on the 2023 tour by a host of openers, both indie artists and rock icons: The Strokes, Iggy Pop, The Roots, The Mars Volta, St. Vincent, City and Colour, Thundercat and King Princess. At the Syracuse show, the Red Hot Chili Peppers will be joined by King Princess and the Strokes.

    The JMA Dome has hosted many of the biggest names in music, from the Grateful Dead, who played renowned shows at the Dome in 1982, ’83 and ’84, to Elton John who played two times over the years, including his final performance this year. 

    Tickets go on sale starting Friday, December 9 at 10 a.m., they can be found at the Red Hot Chili Peppers site. See the full tour dates below.

    RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS 2023 NORTH AMERICA TOUR DATES: 

    March 29 2023 – Vancouver, BC – BC Place – with City and Colour and King Princess 

    April 1 2023  – Las Vegas, NV – Allegiant Stadium – with King Princess and St. Vincent

    April 6 2023 – Fargo, ND – FARGODOME – with King Princess and The Strokes

    April 8 2023 – Minneapolis, MN – US Bank Stadium – with King Princess and The Strokes

    April 14 2023 – Syracuse, NY– JMA Wireless Dome – with King Princess and The Strokes

    May 12 2023 – San Diego, CA – Snap Dragon Stadium – with The Mars Volta and Thundercat

    May 14 2023 – Phoenix, AZ – State Farm Stadium – with The Strokes and Thundercat

    May 17 2023 – San Antonio, TX – Alamodome –  with The Strokes and Thundercat

    May 19 2023 – Gulf Shores, AL – Hangout Music Festival 

    May 25 2023 – Houston, TX – Minute Maid Park – with The Strokes and Thundercat

    RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS 2023 EUROPE TOUR DATES: 

    June 18 2023 – Landgraaf, NL – Pinkpop 

    June 21 2023 – Warsaw, Poland – PGE Narodowy – with Iggy Pop

    June 24 2023 – Odense, DK – Tinderbox 

    June 26 2023 – Mannheim, DE – Maimarktgelände – with Iggy Pop

    June 30 2023 – Leuven, BE – Rock Wercther 

    July 2 2023 – Milan, IT – I-Days 

    July 6 2023 – Lisbon, PT – NOS Live 

    July 8 2023 – Madrid, ES – Mad Cool 

    July 11 2023 – Lyon, FR – Groupama Stadium – with King Princess and Iggy Pop

    July 14 2023 – Vienna, AT – Ernst-Happel Stadion – with King Princess and Iggy Pop

    July 17 2023 – Carhaix, FR – Les Vieilles Charrues 

    July 21 2023 – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – with King Princess and The Roots

    July 23 2023 – Glasgow, UK – Hampden Park  – with King Princess and The Roots

  • Rock The Bells Announces First-Ever Timeless Hip Hop Cruise

    LL Cool J founded media platform, Rock The Bells, have announced their latest venture, “Rock The Bells Cruise: A Hip-Hop Experience” in partnership with Sixthman. The hip hop culture platform will team with the industry leading theme cruise charter company to offer fans of hip hop a new way to experience their favorite era of hip hop and immerse themselves in the mystique of the genre’s golden era.

    Rock The Bells began as music festival in Queens and will now be going abroad

    What is Rock The Bells?

    With this intention, the brand is bringing its annual Rock The Bells Festival – a day-long celebration of hip hop curated by founder LL Cool J in his hometown of Queens, NY. Setting sail from Miami to the Bahamas from November 13 – November 17, 2023, the cruise will feature live performances by iconic artists. Not to mention, “Rock The Bells Cruise: A Hip-Hop Experience” is the first of its kind, offering an all-inclusive four-day, four-night Hip-Hop experience aboard the Norwegian Pearl. The cruise is one of many announcements the company has planned to honor and celebrate Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary and salute its icons. 

    The Norwegian Pearl will play host to “Rock The Bells Cruise: A Hip-Hop Experience.”

    Events

    Thus, the expedition kicks-off with a special “Welcome to Miami” performance by Miami hip hop legends Trick Daddy and Trina on the ship’s pool deck. Attendees that purchase their cabin before January 18, 2023, will be able to hang out with Trick Daddy and Trina at a private cocktail happy hour prior to setting sail. Moreover, guests that purchase before January 18, 2023 can also start a free 3-month subscription to SiriusXM and tune into into LL Cool J’s Rock The Bells Radio on Channel 43 and on the SXM App.

    At Rock The Bells, we believe classic and timeless Hip-Hop deserves to be served on a silver platter and we can’t wait for Hip-Hop lovers across the globe to be immersed in the culture for five days, on five stages. We’re excited to partner with Sixthman, who bridges the gap between artists and fans, creating unforgettable guest experiences.

    – Rock The Bell’s President James Cuthbert

    The full cruise lineup will be announced at the top of the new year, but attendees can expect dozens of performances and intimate experiences from some of Hip-Hop’s classic MCs, DJs and producers. In effect, Rock The Bells will be taking over every corner of the ship with pool deck parties presented by world renowned DJ Kid Capri. Other fun endeavors will include MC and DJ battles, rap karaoke, interactive graffiti, live podcasts, roller skating, open mic nights, movie screenings, masterclasses, art galleries, custom grillz, tattoos, basketball and The Trill Mealz Food Court. 

    More Information

    Pricing ranges from $1,099 to $5,199. Attendees can book now for themselves or as a gift to others. More detailed information can be found on the Rock The Bells cruise website.

  • Morgan Wallen Announces One Night at a Time Tour, Stops Twice at MetLife Stadium

    Country star Morgan Wallen announces One Night at a Time 2023 World Tour along with the release of three singles, “One Thing At A Time,” “Tennessee Fan,” and “Days That End In Why.”

    Morgan Wallen
    Morgan Wallen performs onstage at Madison Square Garden on February 10, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images)

    Wallen wrote in an Instagram statement that “2023 is gonna be a special year… I got a lot in store for y’all and thought we’d start with this,” alluding to the tour drop. This tour comes off the heels of his wildly successful 55-city Dangerous Tour, that wrapped up on Oct. 8.

    Morgan Wallen has over 12.3 billion on-demand streams, multi-platinum certifications and seven chart-toppers at Country radio. His critically-acclaimed, 4x platinum ACM Album of the Year Dangerous: The Double Album topped 2021’s all-genre Billboard 200 Albums year-end chart with 4.1 million units sold earning him 2022 Billboard Awards Country Male Artist top honor.

    Man, what a year 2022 has been with the Dangerous Tour. I had the time of my life, and I cannot begin to express how grateful I am that my fans connected with the Dangerous album the way they did. I’ve had so many people ask me if I wanted to take some time off; but the truth is – I have been writing and making so much music in my off-time because I feel as inspired as I ever have. It feels like new songs are pouring out of me, and I love that feeling. We are going to run it back next year with the One Night At A Time World Tour. Bigger venues. New countries. Bigger memories. See y’all there.

    Morgan Wallen

    The tour kicks off in New Zealand before returning to the US. Morgan Wallen will be performing at MetLife Stadium on May 20 with special guests Parker McCollum, ERNEST, and Bailey Zimmerman. Tickets are being sold through a verified fan sale, and for more information on that and to sign up, go here.

    Morgan Wallen Tour 2023

    March 15 — Auckland, N.Z. @ Spark Arena
    March 19 — Ipswich, Australia @ CMC Rocks
    March 21 — Sydney, Australia @ Judos Bank Arena
    March 24 — Melbourne, Australia. @ Rod Laver Arena
    April 14 — Milwaukee, Wisc. @ American Family Field — NEW
    April 15 — Milwaukee, Wisc. @ American Family Field
    April 20 — Louisville, Ky. @ KFC Yum! Center
    April 22 — Oxford, Miss. @ Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
    April 27 — Grand Rapids, Mich. @ Van Andel Arena
    April 28 — Moline, Ill. @ Vibrant Arena
    April 29 — Lincoln, Neb. @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
    May 4 — Jacksonville, Fla. @ VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
    May 5 — West Palm Beach, Fla. @ iThink Financial Amphitheatre
    May 6 — Tampa, Fla. @ MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre
    May 18 — Hershey, Pa. @ Hersheypark Stadium
    May 19 — East Rutherford, N.J. @ MetLife Stadium — NEW
    May 20 — East Rutherford, N.J. @ MetLife Stadium
    May 24 — Austin, Texas @ Moody Center
    May 26 — Houston, Texas @ Minute Maid Park
    June 1 — Atlanta, Ga. @ Truist Park — NEW
    June 2 — Atlanta, Ga. @ Truist Park
    June 3 — Panama City Beach, Fla. @ Gulf Cost Jam
    June 8 — Virginia Beach, Va. @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach — NEW
    June 9 — Virginia Beach, Va. @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
    June 10 — Myrtle Beach, S.C. @ Carolina Country Music Fest
    June 14 — Pittsburgh, Pa. @ PNC Park — NEW
    June 15 — Pittsburgh, Pa. @ PNC Park
    June 17 — Philadelphia, Pa. @ Citizens Bank Park
    June 22 — Chicago, Il. @ Wrigley Field — NEW
    June 23 — Chicago, Il. @ Wrigley Field
    June 29 — Detroit, Mich. @ Ford Field — NEW
    June 30 — Detroit, Mich. @ Ford Field
    July 6 — St. Louis, Mo. @ Busch Stadium — NEW
    July 7 — St. Louis, Mo. @ Busch Stadium
    July 14 — San Diego, Calif. @ Petco Park  — NEW
    July 15 — San Diego, Calif. @ Petco Park
    July 19 — Phoenix, Ariz. @ Chase Field — NEW
    July 20 — Phoenix, Ariz. @ Chase Field
    July 22 — Los Angeles, Calif. @ SoFi Stadium
    Aug. 3 — Detroit Lakes, Minn. @ WE Fest
    Aug. 5 — Camrose, Alb. Canada @ Big Valley Jamboree
    Aug. 12 — Columbus, Ohio @ Ohio Stadium
    Aug. 17 — Boston, Mass. @ Fenway Park — NEW
    Aug. 18 — Boston, Mass. @ Fenway Park
    Aug. 26 — Washington, D.C. @ Nationals Park
    Sept. 14 — Toronto, Ont. Canada @ Budweiser Stage — NEW
    Sept. 15 — Toronto, Ont. Canada @ Budweiser Stage — NEW
    Sept. 16 — Toronto, Ont. Canada @ Budweiser Stage
    Sept. 18 — London, Ont. Canada @ Budweiser Gardens
    Sept. 21 — Ottawa, Ont. Canada @ Canadian Tire Centre
    Sept. 22 — Quebec City, Quebec, Canada @ Videotron Centre
    Sept. 23 — Montreal, Quebec, Canada @ Bell Centre
    Sept. 28 — Winnipeg, Mant. Canada @ Canada Lie Centre
    Sept. 29 — Saskatoon, Sask. Canada @ SaksTel Centre
    Sept. 30 — Calgary, Alb. Canada @ Scotiabank Saddledome
    Oct. 3 — Vancouver, B.C. Canada @ Rogers Arena — NEW
    Oct. 4 — Vancouver, B.C. Canada @ Rogers Arena
    Oct. 7 — Tacoma Wash. @ Tacoma Dome

  • ‘Phantom of the Opera’ Delays Closing due to Spike in Sales

    Broadway’s beloved Phantom of the Opera is delaying its closing show date after seeing a spike in sales, seeing capacities jumping to over 100 percent. The final performance date will now be April 16, 2023.

    phantom of the opera
    Ben Crawford as The Phantom on Jan. 26 in New York City.

    The show is the longest-running show in Broadway history and will commemorate its 35 anniversary in January. Phantom has become a staple in Broadway history, however, due to the pandemic it has grossed a lot less money since the reopening of the theatre.

    Producer Cameron Mackintosh said the show is delaying its closure due to a spike in sales sparked after the closing announcement. The Phantom of the Opera has grossed $1.78 million in the week ended Nov. 20, the most recent week of public grosses.

    We are all thrilled that not only the show’s wonderful fans have been snapping up the remaining tickets, but also that a new, younger audience is equally eager to see this legendary production before it disappears.  Such is the demand for tickets that we are delighted to announce that The Shubert Organization has been able to arrange a final eight-week extension of the run at The Majestic Theatre.

    Cameron Mackintosh

    Phantom is a symbol of 1980s Broadway, created by three of the most legendary figures in musical theater history: composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, director Hal Prince and producer Cameron Mackintosh. The show is about a mask-wearing opera singer who frequents the Paris Opera House and falls for a young soprano, famous for the phantom’s mask as well as the chandelier that crashes on stage every night. On Broadway, the show has been seen by 19.8 million people and has grossed $1.3 billion since opening.

    The Phantom of the Opera‘s new final performance date will be on April 16, 2023. There will still be production in London, as well as a brand new one in Australia. The first Mandarin language production is set to open in China next year, and a Spanish-language version is in the works. Tickets to see the final United States showings are on sale here.

  • Birdsong Project to Present Lee Ranaldo at Rough Trade NYC

    On Friday, December 9, Rough Trade NYC will host revered indie rock guitarist Lee Ranaldo. The free night presented as part of The Birdsong Project will feature Ranaldo in concert and in conversation with project founder Randall Poster.

    Birdsong Project to Present Lee Ranaldo at Rough Trade NYC
    Lee Ranaldo, (pictured) best known for his work as lead guitarist of NYC indie rock act Sonic Youth.

    Friday night will also mark the release and celebration of the project’s culmination. “The Birdsong Project Box Set” is a birdsong-inspired collection of music consisting of over 242 tracks with appearances from musicians, actors, Pulitzer Prize winners and more such as Olivia Wilde, Sean Penn, Robert Pattinson, Greta Gerwig, Mark Ronson, Nick Cave, Elvis Costello, Ad-Rock, Bette Midler, Danielle Haim, Florence Welch, as well as hundreds of other contributors.

    All proceeds from the collection go towards The National Audubon Society, a non-profit dedicated to bird conservation.

    Recent projects of Randall Poster (pictured) include music curation on the French Dispatch (2021) and the Queen’s Gambit. (2020)

    Poster, a film soundtrack supervisor who has worked with Martin Scorcese and Wes Anderson, spawned the idea for The Birdsong Project after quarantining during the first year of the pandemic. Having been inspired by the “stillness of nature,” he gained a curiosity for birdsong and bird life.

    Ranaldo’s Birdsong Project concert is set to begin at 8:30 p.m. while his conversation with Poster as well as David Ringer, the Chief Network Officer of the Audobon Society, is marked for 9. Doors open at 8 p.m.

  • Westside Gunn Premieres Music Video for “Peppas”

    Westside Gunn the self-pronounced FlyGod continues to impress with his curation of albums and music videos.

    “Peppas” is the latest video off of Westside Gunn’s new album, 10 and features legendary hip hop duo, Black Star. Getting the seldom featured duo of Yaiin Bey and Talib Kweli on a track is a major coup for Westside. The legendary Brooklyn rhymers have made sure to not oversaturate their sound, going over two decades in-between albums. For the “Peppas” video, Westside bridges the gap between the “hood” and the glamors of the hip hop world. The visual of legendary hip hop figures returning to where it all began, just kicking it on the block adds a down-to-earth feel to the abstract sounding record. A juxtaposition that leans on the fact that most rappers earn their stripes in these communities, thus it’s all one big cycle.

    Visual Breakdown

    The record’s title itself is the name of a popular Jamaican restaurant in Bedford-Stuyvesant, one of Brooklyn’s more renowned neighborhoods. The Conducter Williams produced track features the typical ear catching soul samples that fans have come to expect from a Westside project. Additionally, Kweli, Bey, and their abstract and philosophical rhymes serve as the perfect foil to Westside Gunn’s in your face style.

    Furthermore, each rapper’s verse conveys a similar message in their own way: their view of the world while subsequently letting you know how great they are. Concurrently, they gather with their homies on the block, enjoying the food and mingling with the restaurant staff. The entire record and video plays on the theme of the varying personalities and minds in the hood. Although a group of black males hanging around the block may be stylized as one, there are various personalities, ideologies and general life ethos at play within that group dynamic.

    Best Lyrics

    Matte-black dynamite, blast radials, black radio
    Core capability, flaco facility
    Fly guy, do or die, Bed-Stuy energy

    – Yasiin Bey
    Embed from Getty Images

    Claimin’ La Costra Nostra, we in love with the coca
    They hit niggas with the R.I.C.O., white people put it in cola
    For generational wealth, they standin’ on they ancestor’s shoulders
    After burnin’ down Tulsa, Oklahoma

    – Talib Kweli
    Embed from Getty Images

    My favorite fiend went to rehab
    Two weeks later, he was back a addict again
    He was three dollars short, had to drag him from the Benz wagon again

    – Westside Gunn

    Lastly, FlyGod.

    Embed from Getty Images