Category: News Desk

Questlove and Billie Eilish win Oscars at 2022 Academy Awards

At an unforgettable Academy Awards ceremony, Billie Eilish won the Oscar for Best Song and the Questlove-directed Summer of Soul won the Oscar for Best Documentary feature.

Summer of Soul looks at The Harlem Cultural Festival, filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park), an event that celebrated African American music and culture, and promoted Black pride and unity. Over six weeks in the summer of 1969, and nearly 100 miles south of Woodstock (where another festival was taking place), the footage that makes up Summer of Soul was never seen and largely forgotten.

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson brought this ‘Black Woodstock’ to light for his debut documentary, Summer of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised). Part concert film and part historical record, the documentary is an important piece of history that stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of unrest, both past and present. The trailer debuted during the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, April 25, 2021 where Questlove was serving as music director and DJ for the evening.

Questlove was joined on stage by fellow documentary producers Joseph Patel, Robert Fyvolent and David Dinerstein and appeared choked up when he mentioned his late father, musician Lee Andrews, who died in 2016.

It’s not lost on me that the story of the Harlem Cultural Festival should have been something that my beautiful mother and my dad should have taken me to when I was five years old. This is such a stunning moment for me right now. But it’s not about me. It’s about marginalized people in Harlem that needed to heal from pain. Just know in 2022, this is not just a 1969 story about marginalized people in Harlem.

Questlove attempted to finish his speech but was overwhelmed, saying “I’m gonna get myself together and thank everyone proper when I get offstage.”

Moments before Questlove’s category was introduced, future-Best-Actor winner Will Smith walked on stage and hit presenter Chris Rock for a comment made about his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith. The moment left Questlove somewhat shaken as he accepted the award for Best Documentary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPbOF4wpEVw

A short while later, Billie Eilish, along with Finneas O’Connell, won the Oscar for Best Original Song for “No Time to Die” from the most recent James Bond film of the same name. The song was written by the brother-sister duo, and with Eilish only 18 when the song was recorded, makes the song and artist the youngest to record a James Bond theme, let alone win an Oscar for Best Original Song. “No Time to Die” previously won the Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.

Other nominees in the Best Original Song category this year included “Dos Oruguitas” from Encanto (music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda), “Be Alive” from King Richard (music and lyrics by Dixson and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter), “Somehow You Do,” from Four Good Days (music and lyrics by Diane Warren), and “Down to Joy,” from Belfast (music and lyrics by Van Morrison).

Since the 1960s, James Bond films have included memorable original songs, with two Best Original Song Oscars given to 007 films in recent years, including “Writing’s On the Wall” (Jimmy Nape, Sam Smith) from Spectre, and “Skyfall” (Adele, Paul Epworth) from Skyfall.

Other Bond film original songs that have been nominated in the past include “The Look of Love” (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) from Casino Royale (1968), “Live and Let Die” (Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney) from Live and Let Die (1974), “Nobody Does it Better” (Marvin Hamlisch, Carole Bayer Sager) from The Spy Who Loved Me (1978), and “For Your Eyes Only” (Bill Conti, Mick Leeson) from For Your Eyes Only (1982)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpADZIsfZc0

March 28, 2022
Boyz II Men Announce Tour Stop at Proctors in Schenectady

The award winning R&B Group Boyz II Men will be coming to Proctors in Schenectady at 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 27. Michael McCary, Nathan Morris, Wayna Morris and Shawn Stockman found fame during the 1990s with Motown Records. The group is currently the best-selling R&B group of all time, selling over 64 million albums.

Boyz II Men dropped their debut album in 1991 called Cooleyhighharmony. The album sold over nine million copies and won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The album included hits such as “Motownphilly” and “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday.”

Since then, the 4-time grammy award winning R&B group went on to release mega-hits like “I’ll Make Love to You,” “End of the Road,” “One Sweet Day,” and many more. In 2011, Boyz II Men celebrated their 20^th anniversary by releasing an album fittingly named Twenty. This album was the group’s first in nearly ten years.

On top of their Grammy awards, they’ve also won nine American Music Awards, nine Soul
Train Awards, three Billboard Awards, and a 2011 MOBO Award for Outstanding Contribution
to Music, and many more iconic achievements.

Outside of their musical achievements, the group also started their own charity called Boyz II Men House. The charity was established to support individuals and organizations that focus on improving quality of life while contributing to those who are less fortunate.

Pre-sales for the August 27th show will begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 15 with the official on-sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 18. Tickets are available through the Box Office at Proctors, in person or online at proctors.org.

March 27, 2022
Morris Day and The Time & Cameo at Kings Theatre

On July 23^rd, Flashback Funk Fest will take place at Kings Theatre, Brooklyn, featuring legendary artists like Morris Day & The Time and Cameo with SOS Band and The Dazz Band.

Morris Day and The Time & Cameo at Kings Theatre

Morris Day, legendary funkmaster and well known for playing the main role in the movie Purple Rain, returns with his energetic vocals and witty lyrics. Day is the lead singer of The Time, a musical group associated with Prince. Similarly, the two even attended the same high school in Minneapolis in 1974. Some of his biggest hits include “Jungle Love”, “Get It Up”, and “The Bird.”

Accompanying Morris Day & The Time, CAMEO celebrates 40 years & more than eighteen million albums. Larry Blackmon, the lead singer of CAMEO, composes such a unique funk sound thats played throughout time. Their hit songs are routinely placed in films, TV, video games, and commercials.

S.O.S Band, otherwise known as The Sounds of Success, is comprised of Jason Bryant, Billy Ellis, Willie “Sonny” Killebrew, Bruno Speight, John A. Simpson, James Earl Jones III, and Mary Davis.

Their greatest hits include, “Take Your Time (Do It Right) and “Just Be Good to Me.” After Davis’ retirement from touring in 2020, the band added two new vocalists, Marleen Thomas, and Chimere Scott, who have taken the torch in place of their former iconic original vocalist.

Led by Bobby Harris, The Dazz Band is comprised of Skip Martin (Lead Vocals & Trumpet), Marlon “The Magician McClain (Guitar), Donny Sykes (Vocals), Raymond Calhoun (Drums)Keith Harrison (Keyboards), and Alvin Frazier (Bass). Celebrating their 40th Anniversary, the band won a Grammy Award for Best Performance by an R&B Group or Duo for their smash hit “Let It Whip” in 1982.

The show will start at 7:30pm and doors open at 6:00pm. Tickets are on sale now here.

March 27, 2022
Happy Birthday to Mariah Carey, A One of a Kind Diva

Happy Birthday to Long Island’s own Mariah Carey! Born March 27, 1969, the “Queen of Christmas” has reigned with her all time classic holiday song for almost 30 years. One of modern music’s most distinguished singer-songwriters, Mariah Carey has broken numerous records with the help of her five octave vocal range.

Grammy photoshoot

Although Carey has always had aspirations of being a singer, her childhood growing up in Long Island presented some challenges. Raised by an Irish-American mother and an Afro-Venezuelan father, Carey and her siblings faced a wall of discrimination and bullying during their childhood. She also had to deal with violence coming from within her own home. Despite these difficulties, she was able to gain support from her mother, who enrolled her in private singing lessons.

Carey worked tirelessly to create demos that would show off her vocal prowess and she finally struck gold after meeting then Sony Music exec Tony Mottola at an industry party. She was signed to Sony Music in 1988 and released chart topper after chart topper during her time there, including “Emotions,” “Daydream” and her biggest hit, “All I Want for Christmas is You.”

Following her departure from Sony Music and a tumultuous relationship with Mottola, Carey was able to spread her wings and fully develop her musical persona. The release of Butterfly helped her to transition from her more youthful pop to R&B and Hip Hop. The popular Rainbow followed in 1999.

After being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder in 2001 and having to deal with the failure of her movie “Glitter”, Carey made her triumphant return with The Emancipation of Mimi. Released in 2005, her 10th studio album proved that she wasn’t going anywhere. E=MC2 and Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel continued this trend, with chart topping singles and memorable music videos.

By 2011, Carey was married and had two kids, but this didn’t stop her from continuing her craft. She has continued to release music throughout the years, with her latest effort being a return to her holiday roots. In 2020, Carey worked with Apple TV to create her own holiday special, “Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special”.

She has also collaborated with some of today’s brightest stars, including Khalid, Miguel and YG. Fans can also look forward to Carey’s feature on Latto’s upcoming remix for ‘Big Energy’, out March 28th. Happy Birthday to Mariah Carey!

March 27, 2022
Taylor Hawkins, Foo Fighters Drummer, Dies Suddenly at 50

Taylor Hawkins, the drummer for the Foo Fighters, died unexpectedly at 50 years old. A statement released on the band’s Twitter confirmed his death shortly before they were scheduled to perform in Bogotá, Colombia.

Photo by Michael Dinger, MSG June 20, 2021

Hawkins, known for his signature long blond hair and technically proficient drumming, joined the band in 1997. Foo Fighters founder Dave Grohl first met Hawkins backstage at a concert in the ‘90s. After playing drums himself on the band’s first two albums he decided to call Hawkins to see if he would be willing to step in. As soon as he, got the call Hawkins accepted.

At the time he was on tour with Alanis Morrissette with her record setting album, Jagged Little Pill. Once the tour was over, he joined the Foo Fighters for their third album There is Nothing Left to Lose.

Hawkins grew up in Southern California after moving there from Fort Worth with his family. He started playing drums at 10 years old. At home he cites his mother as his biggest supporter.

Taylor Hawkins at Madison Square Garden, June 20, 2021 – photo by Michael Dinger

“When I first got drums, she was the one who would watch me play,” Hawkins said in an interview with the New York Times last year. ”She was a big supporter and told me I’d make it.”

His most important influence musically was Queen. In particular, a show he attended as a 10 year, having recently started to play drums.

“It changed everything, and I was never the same because of it,” he said in the same New York Times interview. “It was the beginning of my obsession with rock ’n’ roll, and I knew that I wanted to be in a huge rock band.”

Taylor Hawkins at Sonic Temple Festival, May 2019 – photo by Joshua Davis

His career started in his native Southern California where he would end up playing in the band for the singer Sass Jordan. His big break came when he landed the tour gig on Alanis Morrissette’s drummer.

Ultimately, it was his personal relationship with Grohl that would convince him to leave her band and join the Foo Fighters. Hawkins would later contribute songwriting and, even, did some vocals on a few songs. As a member of the Foo Fighters he was nominated for 29 Grammy Awards, winning 12. The most recent a 2018 win for Best Rock Song for their song “Run”.

A cause of death has not been announced, although Variety has reported that various drugs were found in Hawkins’ system by Colombian authorities. He is survived by his wife Alison and their three children.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j0wVOcyd3g

March 26, 2022
Marco Benevento Announces New Studio Album, Shares “Marco & Mimo”

Marco Benevento has announced a brand new full-length studio album, Benevento, which drops June 10th via Royal Potato Family. Accompanying this exciting news, Benevento’s newest single, “Marco & Mimo,” is available for streaming now.

Additionally, Benevento has announced that they will be touring this April and June with a stop at Abilene Bar and Lounge in Rochester.

“Marco & Mimo,” the first single from the album, contains three songs. On it, Benevento blends groovy funk bounce with psychedelia, creating a beautiful blend of these two formative 80s genres. The vocals on the tracks further transport you into this window of time Benevento creates, transporting the listener back forty years. The single reeks of personality only Benevento can create and his talent shines through. My personal favorite, Winter Rose, has snappy instrumentation, mind-bending keys, and entrancing vocals that make for a magnificent listen.

The entire album was recorded in Woodstock at Fred Short Studios during the pandemic, and the sounds emitted from Marco & Mimo pay homage to Woodstock’s iconic psychedelic culture and history.

In addition to his new album, Marco Benevento has also announced a list of upcoming shows:

4/7 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair

4/8 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground

4/9 – Fairfield, CT – Stage One

6/22 – Rochester, NY – Abilene

6/23 – Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird

6/24 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom

6/26 – Rothbury, MI – Electric Forest Festival

7/1 – Scranton, PA – Peach Music Festival

7/3 – Quincy, CA – High Sierra Music Festival

9/3 – Portland, ME – Ghostland Festival

Tickets and limited edition bubblegum pink and classic black 180-gram vinyl are available at marcobenevento.com.

March 26, 2022
The Finals of NYS Music March Madness 2022

We have arrived at the Finals of NYS Music’s March Madness 2022. 64 bands we brought together, to build their name and share their sound with a wide audience. And now we are down to the final two bands, with a unique New York sound.

Since 2015, New York State Music has crafted a March Madness friendly competition that spans all the musical harbors of the Empire State. As fans and musicians, the NYS Music team aims to spotlight the great talent found across New York in a friendly contest, bringing broader attention to the next generation of artists and bands on the rise. March Madness 2022 highlights 64 bands and artists you might not know, but should know, as these homegrown talents are making waves through the New York State. Check out the Final 4 here.

Enter your email address, get to know the bands, and vote for your favorites below!

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Fine Grain – Albany

Fine Grain floats in a purgatory between shoegaze haze and punk posturing. Their post-punk brilliance runs deep with exceptional songwriting and performances of every member of the band. With prog-inspired riffs, post-punk murk, and the occasional ripping sax solo, fine grain offers up rambunctious reverie fit for hardcore fans of all generations. Fine Grain’s maturation is a testament to the transformative possibility of punk, showing how pulled threads of the past can still stitch together a promising new future.

Fine Grain is currently in the studio at Brunswick Recording, working on new music, and have been incorporating visual projections that sync up to their music, intensifying the experience for fans.

HANZOLO – Upstate

HANZOLO, hailing from Upstate NY, won the EQX Battle of the Bands and opened Albany’s annual Pearlpalooza music festival in 2021. They have opened for bands like Lawrence, Wild Belle, and *repeat repeat. The boys released their first album Table Butter in 2019 and followed it up with their second, HANZOLO, in the fall of 2021. Hanzolo’s music has been compared to Table Butter: soft enough to spread yet hard enough to keep its shape.

Upcoming HANZOLO shows include April 8 at Madison Theater in Albany, April 14 at Pauly’s Hotel, April 24 at The Range in Ithaca and April 27 at Lark Hall.

The polls are now closed. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, March 29 at 10am.

NYS Music has partnered with businesses across New York State to highlight these 64 up and coming bands. Regional sponsors include Funk n Waffles, a premiere music venue in Syracuse established in 2007 with a unique take on the culinary and entertainment industries, offering a wide variety of gourmet waffles and breakfast food, as well as offering live music every night! Bearsville Theater in Woodstock is where Americana was born – where Dylan took folk music and married it to Rock & Roll. where folk went electric, and where Janis took a breath and recuperated, before launching her hurricane energy and heart stopping songs out into the world. Renovated in 2019-2020, Bearsville Theater has an impressive calendar of shows for Hudson Valley music lovers.

DSP Shows based in Ithaca, NY and Northampton, MA, is one of the leading independent concert promoters in America, with shows at venues including State Theatre of Ithaca, Hangar Theatre, The Haunt, Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, Brewery Ommegang, Asbury Hall, The 9th Ward at Babeville, and Daryl’s House among others. The Helping Friendly Hemp Company offers a wide variety of industry leading products including tinctures, soft chews, and hemp flower, using only USA grown hemp extract.

The winners of each region will be rewarded with a collection of prizes worth $3000. Partners for NYS Music’s March Madness 2022 include Mirth Films from Albany, a music news/entertainment outlet that specializes in original video content and live streaming, with news coverage ranging across the whole country, who will provide a professional multi-camera recording session at The Palace Theatre in Albany for the winning band, premiering exclusively on Mirth Films.

The XPerience Monthly is the greater Capital Region’s alt-monthly newspaper, bringing independent music and thought provoking articles to the area. The XPerience Monthly will feature the winning band in a newspaper profile and interview this summer.

Check out Past Years’ NYS Music March Madness Here

March 26, 2022
Lara Downes to make Special Appearance at the Arthur Zankel Music Center on April 14

Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) will partnering with Skidmore College this upcoming April 14 at 7:30 p.m. for a night of music with Lara Downes at the Arthur Zankel Music Center. During this time Downes, will play homage to underrepresented American composers, including Florence Price, Scott Joplin, and Billie Holiday. She will also tap into the honorary George Gershwin and Morton Gould to bring to life their music from the 1900s.

Coming from a civil rights background, Downes is not only a high demand performer, but also hosts her own series on NPR called “Amplify”. On her show she discusses with BIPOC artist what it is like to be in the music industry, with focuses on shaping the identity of a new era with bold vision, powerful mission and the inspiring energy of a transformative time. However, her work does not end there. In fact, Downes is a Billboard Chart-topping recording artist, producer, curator, activist, and arts advocate.

Furthermore, her work with Skidmore College will begin on April 13 during her piano masterclass for music majors at 5:30 p.m.

What a thrill for our students to witness Lara’s great artistry and experience a one-of-kind program in our beautiful performance space. And, how lucky for them to also participate in a masterclass with her.
Evan Mack, professor of music at Skidmore College

Tickets for Downes’ performance at the Arthur Zankel Music Center will be $30 for general admission and $10 for all collegiate students and faculty with a valid school ID. However, Skidmore students enrolled in the music program will have free admission. Skidmore College plans to follow COVID-19 protocol and strongly encourages guests to be fully vaccinated and masked at the performance. For tickets or more information click here or visit Spac.

Downes’ following visit to Saratoga will be towards the end of the Summer on August 4. She will perform two premieres: The Strayhorn Concerto and Price’s Piano Concerto in One Movement, during her Saratoga Performing Arts Center debut. For more information visit SPAC.

March 25, 2022
More Music Less Violence Announces Their Third Artist Showcase At The S.E.A.T. Center

More Music Less Violence will partnering with C.R.E.A.T.E. Community Studios on Sunday March, 27 from 4 pm to 8 pm at the S.E.A.T. Center in Schenectady.

C.R.E.A.T.E. is known to assist in the pursuit of social change, personal growth and communication. Therefore, they are collaborating with More Music Less Violence which is an organization
focused on building up a new era of musicians through non violent expressions. To start the night off, Billy Floyd, host of “Who’s On The News” podcast will be in attendance to speak. Subsequently, there will be a night full of music from Sibie Lavoz, Dev Rosario, ‘92, Quav13, Shanyia Monaee, Aari, Mandella Eskia, Bez Aloha and Rell Dolo.

Photo Credit: Eddie Quinn Photography

Those in attendance will get the opportunity to create tie dye fabric squares, which will eventually be put together for a community quilt that supports the purpose of the event. To further advocate for human rights and equality, Rae Frasier, creator of the Art Mon3y brand, will construct a live painting session in accordance with the message of the event.

Jennifer Lawrence, S.E.A.T. CEO and founder, and Emmanuel McCall, S.E.A.T. recruitment coordinator, will share the mission of their organization, their efforts to provide hope for the youth and connect them to employment opportunities.

Mfalme (Don X) Sikivu, CEO and Founder of UFD (Ujamaa Fraternal Dynasty) will also be in attendance to discuss his own successes and failures throughout his life. Although Sikivu was once incarcerated, he managed to come back stronger and create his own organization for people aged 15 to 22 who wish to better themselves and the community.

To learn more about More Music Less Violence and this weekend’s upcoming event visit their instagram page.

March 25, 2022
The Bob Stump Band To Play At Caffe Lena March 31

The Bob Stump Band will perform at Caffe Lena on March 31st at 7 PM. Hailing from the Hudson Valley, the band plays a plethora of genres including blues-jazz, folk, bluegrass, country, and rock. The performance will be a euphonic mixture of sounds as the band traverses through genres. For this reason, the event will have a song for everyone.

Leading the band is a singer-songwriter and guitarist Bob Stump. He is joined by Ernie Sites, a former rodeo cowboy from Idaho. He has traveled the United States writing and performing songs, poems, and stories. Lastly, Roy Coates plays the bass, however, he also has experience playing the tuba on big stages such as Carnegie Hall and Yankee Stadium. The three share a love for bluegrass and folk, and their love shines through during their performances.

The Bob Stump Band

Caffe Lena, the venue at which the band is set to perform at, has an extensive history. Located in Saratoga Springs and founded in 1960, the venue has been hosting live music events for over sixty years. Most notably, Caffe Lena hosts a plethora of rising folk and indie performers. In fact, the venue hosted Bob Dylan for two historic nights in 1961, a year before the release of his debut album.

Tickets for the event start at $10 and are available on Eventbrite. For those unable to attend in person, a live stream will also be hosted. Tickets for the live stream start at $5 and give you access to the live stream’s VOD (video on demand) for a week.

For more information on the band, visit www.stumpsongs.com.

March 24, 2022