NYS Music 202​2

Category: Central NY

  • Trauma Cat’s “The Truth Doesn’t Live Here” Album Release

    Local to Syracuse, the band Trauma Cat has recently just dropped their newest album The Truth Doesn’t Live Here, which we released on Friday, October 7th. Award-winning indie alternative band making a name for themselves by stating that they are “America’s sorriest power trio.” Along with this, they will be playing at The Range in Ithaca on October 22nd. 

    The Truth Doesn't Live Here" Album Release

    This LP marks the Syracuse-based band’s second full-length collaboration weighing in at a whopping 19 tracks. The unauthorized double album features six singles previously released in 2022: “Better Questions,” “Tsai Shen,” “Bunnyhole,” “Popcorn Machine,” “Get It All Out (Online),” and “The Reporter.” 

    Trauma Cat's "The Truth Doesn't Live Here" Album Release

    Songs like “The Truth Doesn’t Live Here” arrive also on the heels of a five-part online “dox-u-series” called “The Truth About Trauma Cat,” a cheeky satire of internet culture, deepfake technology, and simulation theory that teases a definitive identity reveal of the band’s members (known as Ralph Kojig, Roman Pando, and Rutger DiBoyere). 

    “When we say ‘the truth doesn’t live here,’ we mean that we are all inhabiting a post-truth world,” says guitarist Kojig, who shares primary songwriting and frontman duties with bassist Pando. “While it’s possible that the majority of our society once recognized an objective truth, it’s pretty clear now — in the face of so many false or dubious claims — that we never had a monopoly on reality anyway, I’m sorry to say.” 

    “And there’s something hilarious and freeing about that,” adds Pando. “That strange liberation is what provoked Ralph and I to write the songs that would end up on this record. The result is something deeply inquisitive, and yet, with apologies to our audience, we still have no answers — except, obnoxiously, that there are no answers. Sorry!” 

    The songs on the album that I recommend are “The Truth Doesn’t Live Here,” which doubles down on Trauma Cat’s signature blend of music taste. The song combines a progressive rock with shades of post-punk, shoegaze, and power-pop. Similarly, “Better Questions” and “Pray the Gay Away” are another two amazing blend of alternative genres that speak to the chaos of the record’s core theme. 

    “The Truth Doesn’t Live Here” is available now on all streaming platforms. To listen to their newest hits, click the link here.

  • The Beach Boys ‘Tis The Season Tour with The Holiday Vibrations Orchestra Making Numerous Stops Across New York This Holiday Season

    Highlighting both newly-made holiday songs and traditional Christmas tunes will be the ‘Tis the Season with the Beach Boys tour performance event on Wednesday, Dec. 7. The featured album, Reason for the Season, having been produced by established musicians such as Sam Hollander from Panic! at the Disco and Train, and Steve Greenberg of Hanson and AJR, features artists like Hanson and Beach Boys co-founder Love’s children.

    Beach Boys Tis the Season
    ‘Tis The Season with The Beach Boys 2022 Tour Advertisement

    The 16-date tour starts on November 26th and takes place in several cities across the country, including at Carnegie Hall in New York on December 5th. Their following performance in New York will be held at The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater in Syracuse on December 7th.

    Tickets will be on sale on Friday, October 7th and may be purchased online at Ticketmaster or at the Solvay Bank Box Office at The Oncenter Civic Center Theaters.

    Tis the Season with the Beach Boys featuring the Holidays Vibrations Orchestra Tour Dates:

    10/8 – Syracuse Crunch vs Rochester Americans

    10/8-10/9 – Syracuse, NY – The Oncenter Convention Center – RetroGameCon

    10/11 – Syracuse, NY – The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater – FOCL Presents Yusef Salaam

    10/14 – Syracuse, NY – The Oncenter Crouse Hinders Theater Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood: Scared Shitless

    10/16 – Syracuse, NY – The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater – The Princess Bride – An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes

    10/18 – Syracuse, NY – The Oncenter Convention Center – The Salvation Army’s 51st Annual Civic Celebration

    10/27 – Syracuse, NY – The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater – Whose Live Anyway?

    10/29 – Syracuse, NY – The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater – Zach Williams

    10/30 – Syracuse, NY – The Oncenter Crouse Hinders Theater – Kevin James

    11/2 – Syracuse, NY – The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater – Ray LaMontagne The MONOVISION Tour

    11/15 – Syracuse, NY – The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater – FOCL Presents Casey McQuinston

    11/18 – Syracuse, NY – The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater – Ancient Aliens Live

    11/18 – Syracuse, NY – Upstate Medical University Arena – Oncenter War Memorial – Trey Anastasio Band & Goose

    11/19 – Syracuse, NY – The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater – Daryl Hall and the Daryl’s House Band

    11/26 – Mashantucket, CT – Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino

    11/27 – Medford, MA – Chevalier Theatre

    11/30 – Bethlehem, PA – Wind Creek Event Center

    12/2 – Pittsburgh, PA – Benedum Center for the Performing Arts

    12/2-12/4 – Syracuse City Ballet Presents Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker”

    12/3 – Atlantic City, NJ – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena

    12/5 – New York, NY – Carnegie Hall – Isaac Stern Auditorium / Ronald O. Perelman

    12/7 – Syracuse, NY – The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater

    12/7 – ‘Tis the Season with The Beach Boys featuring The Holiday Vibrations Orchestra

    12/9 – Buffalo, NY – Shea’s Buffalo Theatre

    12/10 – Akron, OH – E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall

    12/11 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace

    12/11 – Syracuse, NY – The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater -Championships of Magic

    12/12 – Syracuse, NY – The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater -Nutcracker! Magic of Christmas Ballet

    12/13 – Indianapolis, IN – Murat Theatre

    12/14 – Saint Louis, MO – The Fabulous Fox Theatre

    12/15 – Des Moines, IA – Des Moines Civic Center

    12/16 – Welch, MN – Treasure Island Resort & Casino

    12/17 – Milwaukee, WI – The Riverside Theater

    12/18 – Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre

    1/13/23 – Syracuse, NY – The Oncenter Crouse Hinder Theater – Brian Regan

    3/21/23 – Syracuse, NY – The Oncenter Crouse Hinder Theater – FOCL Presents Kate Quinn

    4/18/23 – Syracuse, NY – The Oncenter Crouse Hinder Theater – FOCL Presents Garry Trideau

    5/9/23 – Syracuse, NY – The Oncenter Crouse Hinder Theater – FOCL Presents Jill Lepore

  • Catskill Symphony Orchestra Opening Season at Foothills PAC

    On Saturday October 15, the Catskill Symphony Orchestra starts their season at the Foothills Performing Arts Center in a 7 p.m. concert featuring Sara Daneshpour as a guest pianist.

    The night’s program includes four pieces; Beethoven’s “The Creatures of Prometheus Overture” and “Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major,” “The Unanswered Question” by Charles Ives, and Luigi Cherubini’s “Symphony in D Major.”

    catskill symphony orchestra

    Daneshpour is a world-renowned musician, having placed 3rd in the 2017 Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition, was 2014 prizewinner at the Seoul International Music Competition in Korea, and was 2013 Laureate of the ProLiance Energy Classical Fellowship Awards of the American Pianists Association.

    The Catskill Symphony Orchestra was founded as a community volunteer group in 1953, before being converted to tax-exempt professional status in 1974. From 1973 until 2017, the orchestra was conducted by Maestro Charles Schneider and in 2020 Polish conductor Maciej Żółtowski was appointed the new Music Director.

    The Foothills Performing Arts Center, located in Oneonta, is a not-for-profit entertainment and civic center that serves the cultural, educational, and community needs of the Otsego, Delaware, and Chenango region.

    Information regarding tickets, location, and more for “Concert I – The Revolutionaries” can be found here.

  • In Focus: Jocelyn and Chris Rock SGNL Launch Party At King Of Clubs

    Jocelyn and Chris returned to rock Syracuse with a show at the King of Clubs on Saturday, October 8.  The show, which served as a launch party for Syracuse’s new streaming radio station, SGNL, also featured All Poets & Heroes.  

    Jocelyn and chris
    Jocelyn Arndt at King of Clubs

    Born in nearby Fort Plain, NY, Jocelyn & Chris have become favorites across the Upstate New York music scene.   The band recently returned home from an extensive cross-country tour, which included notable stops at the NYS Blues Festival, as well as the Bourbon & Beyond Festival in Louisville, Kentucky.  The band features siblings Jocelyn (vocals) and Chris (guitar) Arndt, along with Dan Zavadil (bass guitar) and Dave Bourgeois (percussion).  

    The event served as the official launch party for Syracuse’s new web-based streaming radio station, SGNL. SGNL, which started broadcasting in late August, features a mixture of both national indie rock artists as well as local Central New York talent. Advertised as “radio without the radio,” the station can be found online or through the SGNL app.

    Jocelyn and chris
    All Poets & Heroes at King of Clubs

    Syracuse’s own All Poets & Heroes appropriately opened the evening.  The band, who recently released the Colorful Lungs, Pt. 2 EP, played a 45 minute set made of up tracks off their previous releases as well as a few unreleased songs.  The dark, blue lit stage was a perfect scene for the bands dreamy, psychedelic rock.  The band have already built a passionate following in the Syracuse music scene, and that following is sure to grow as more people see them play.

    Jocelyn and chris
    Jocelyn & Chris at King of Clubs

    Up next was Jocelyn & Chris.  The set opened with an instrumental jam before Jocelyn took to the stage and the band launched into Outta My Head.  The energetic, blues-rock track set the tone for the remainder of the first portion of the set.  Rocking tunes, dominated by Jocelyn’s fierce and passionate vocals,  which blended in synch with Chris’ powerful and dynamic guitar riffs.  The band’s set leaned heavily on tracks off their latest release, Favorite Ghosts, and they were visibly excited to share these tracks with the audience. With strong lyrics and catchy melodies, such as on songs like Popcorn and So Far To Fly, it is easy to see why.

    Jocelyn and chris
    Dan Zavadil at King of Clubs

    On an evening of many highlights, perhaps the pinnacle occurred about midway though the set, when the band took a seat on a bright orange couch to perform a mini, acoustic set.  Their weekly “Couch Concerts” where a tradition during the Covid pandemic, where the band would live stream acoustic concerts from their basement.  The acoustic set on this night featured covers of songs by Duran Duran, Captain & Tennille, and Jewel.  This collection of covers, paired with the bands stripped back acoustic accompaniments, allowed Jocelyn’s vocals to soar.  

    If you missed Jocelyn & Chris in Syracuse, don’t fret!  The band will perform at Lark Hall in Albany, NY on December 30.  

    Setlist: Outta My Head, Make a Move, Jagged, So Far To Fly, Kill in the Cure, Popcorn, Save a Prayer (Duran Duran), The Western, Love Will Keep Us Together (Captain & Tennille), Who Will Save Your Soul (Jewel), Witness, Run Away, Sugar & Spice, Skeleton Key

    Jocelyn and chris

  • Toubab Krewe is Making 4 Stops in NYS This Week

    Toubab Krewe is making four stops in NYS this week, with a fifth stop next month. They will be hitting Buffalo, Albany, and Ithaca, with an appearance in Port Washington in November.

    Toubab Krewe

    Toubab Krewe is an instrumental powerhouse from Asheville, NC that fuses west-African traditional music with elements of rock, jam, and Appalachian styles. Formed in 2005, the group is made up of Justin Perkins (Kora, Kamelngoni, guitar, percussion), Terrence Houston (drumset), Drew Heller (guitar, organ), Justin Kimmel (bass, keys), and Luke Quaranta (Djembe, Congas, Dundun, Sangban, Kinkini).

    The group takes inspiration from African greats like Ali Farka Toure, Orchestra Baobab, and Salif Keita but remains true to themselves. They have also gone on many trips to learn more about African music, traveling to places like Guinea, the Ivory Coast, and Mali.

    This short tour stops in numerous places in NYS. On October 4, they will stop at Buffalo Iron Works, a venue they have toured before. They will head to Albany on October 5, playing at Lark Hall. The next day they will go to Ithaca and play at Deep Dive. They’ll be in Brooklyn at Industry City on Saturday, October 8th. For tickets to the tour, go here.

    Tour Dates

    10/4 Buffalo NY – Buffalo Iron Works

    10/5 Albany NY – Lark Hall

    10/6 Ithaca NY – Deep Dive

    10/7 Bridgeport CT – Park City Music Hall

    10/8 Brooklyn NY – Industry City

    10/30 Live Oak FL – Hulaween 

    11/12 Port Washington NY – Landmark on Main

  • All-Women F.I.R.E. Festival in Oswego Announced

    On Oct. 16, the all-women F.I.R.E. festival will take place at the Oswego Music Hall from 1-5 P.M., featuring a wide variety of artists, musicians, and businesses.

    F.I.R.E. festival

    The F.I.R.E. festival was created by Jess Novak, who performs alongside the Jess Novak band. She has performed over all over the country, recorded multiple albums, and is an award-winning journalist. The festival was created because of the frustration caused by all-men lineups at festivals.

    As a musician, I’ve been on so many festivals where women are under-represented or when they are included, are only singers. While there’s nothing wrong with amazing female vocalists, I wanted to be sure we presented more than that. I want original music writers and players. I want female-run businesses and brilliant artists to decorate the walls. I want to transform the space in an effort to show that Central New York is bursting with female talent. I also want to provide young ladies with something I wish I had when I was a kid-proof that we can do and create whatever we dream.

    Jess Novak

    The event is part of the Oswego Music Hall guest curator series where people from the community pitch event ideas to utilize the space. Novak planned the event at a downtown location back in March 2020 but COVID stopped it from happening. She wasn’t sure she wanted to do it again, but women kept coming to her asking her if she was going to plan it, and that inspired her to make it happen.

    The lineup for the festival is all women, including the vendors and businesses. Musicians include local performers Ella Drotar, Ashley Cox and Novak along with many others, and world-renowned violinist, Lydia Violet.

    Novak, who is also seven months pregnant, will be celebrating a new book and the release of a new album. Copies of the book, “Dare to Begin” will be available for sale for the first time at a public show. All ages, and people, are welcome to the F.I.R.E. festival, and admittance is $8.

  • The American String Quartet Comes to Cooperstown

    The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival at Cooperstown’s Christ Episcopal Church will present the American String Quartet for this fall’s performance on Sunday, October 2. The quartet will be joined by cellist Phillippe Muller and flutist and founder of the festival, Linda Chesis. 

    To set off the evening, the quartet will perform works from Haydn and Aaron Jay Kernis. The quartet has performed across all 50 states in the US and in concert halls across the world. Known for their specialty in examinations of composer’s complete cycles, audiences can look forward to the second half of the show, where the American String Quartet will be joined by Phillippe Muller to play Schubert’s cello quintet. Violinist Daniel Avshalomov said that every time the American String Quartet performs the cello quintet piece in rehearsals, they uncover more nuances in its meaning. 

    American String Quartet

    “Those who have heard this piece need no introduction,” Avshalomov. “But those who hear it for the first time will look back on the absolute inability of language to express even a shadow of this majestic work.” 

    The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival was started in 1999 by Linda Chesis. The festival specializes in chamber music, and has brought in performances from Julliard and St. Lawrence, Stefon Harris, Bill Charlap and Simone Dinnerstein, to name just a few. 

    Tickets for the show are $30 for adults and $15 for students and children. Tickets must be purchased in advance and can be bought at the music festivals site. The show will go from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

  • Adam Sandler Comedy Tour to hit Turning Stone and UBS Arena

    Adam Sandler has range: he can play a hopeless romantic in “50 First Dates” then a hopeless addict in “Uncut Gems.” Adam Sandler’s upcoming US tour promises to expand that range even further with a blend of comedy and song. 

    Adam Sandler Tour

    The tour has 15 dates, two of which will be in New York, in Verona and Belmont Park. Sandler will then continue south to Florida, then through Georgia and North Carolina. Tickets went on sale September 16.

    This tour follows the success of Sandlers 2022 film “HUSTLE,” and his 2018 comedy special “100% Fresh,” both of which premiered on Netflix. 

    Adam Sandler Live Tour Dates

    October 21 – Allentown, PA – PPL Center

    October 22 – Manchester, NH – SNHU Arena

    October 23 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway

    October 25 – Verona, NY – Turning Stone Resort Casino Event Center

    October 27 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena

    October 28 – Atlantic City, NJ – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena

    October 29 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena

    November 6 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena

    November 7 – Estero, FL – Hertz Arena

    November 9 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live

    November 10 – St. Augustine, FL –  St. Augustine Amphitheatre

    November 11 – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena

    November 12 – Duluth, GA – Gas South Arena

    November 13 – Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena

    November 14 – Savannah, GA – Enmarket Arena Savannah

  • Elephant Back Does a Little Bit of Everything On Debut Record

    On Syracuse pop rock duo Elephant Back’s self-titled debut album, the group dabbles across genres in an impressive scale across a short period of time.

    The record, released on August 5, asserts its ever fluctuant musical identity from the start, with the quiet desert rock grooves and varied percussion of opener “Hier Kom Die Olifant” being directly followed by the loud drums and noisy guitars of the melodic “Kiss The Sky.” The album isn’t shy about its array of inspiration, with Jimi Hendrix’s famed “excuse me while I kiss the sky” line being interpolated at the center of the song.

    Cover art for Elephant Back’s debut album.

    “Shifting Gears” almost seems like a tribute to Sonic Youth, with abrasive guitar riffs complementing lustful, spoken word vocals that ring similar to Kim Gordon. “Come over here so I can annihilate you, violate you,” the song finishes with, adhering to the intimate aggression which characterized the indie rock legends. This is by far the most lyrically violent moment on the project however, with subject matter being quite optimistic and straightforward for the most part.

    The menacing guitar and frenetic drum playing of “Take My Stance” is underscored by optimistic lines such as “the truth will find what’s inside, one love to find” on its hook. The cheery, glittery piano rock of “Believe” complements claps of woodblock and cowbell with pristine imagery with its closing lyrics: “open your eyes, sunshine blue skies, no reason to hide, relax and unwind.”

    While Elephant Back displays strong musicianship across the record, the album’s percussion is a high mark in this department. The anxious blues rock of “Can’t Stop” is highlighted by its entertaining drum fills and hissing maracas. The infectious chorus of late album reggae track “Get It On Right” is enhanced by some impressively technical and subtly quick work on the drum set.

    With how diverse this album is, moments of intrigue are found all around. The delicate acoustic folk of “Amaranthine” doesn’t wait around for the subsequent contrast of the boisterous following track “Go To War” with its Led Zeppelin-adjacent vocals and arpeggiating guitar solo. The slow “I, Wonder” rings of Creedence Clearwater Revival in a romantic moment, with lines such as “you’re more than just a conversation, and I can see it in everything you do.”

    The record’s mixing has some rougher areas, with the vocals on certain tracks sounding either quiet or somewhat overpowered. It also ends on a bit of an odd note with “Holiday,” a strange 40-second hodge-podge of banjo and synth.

    In total though, the positives reign supreme. Elephant Back’s debut album is an incredibly wide-ranging project that showcases tight musicianship and plenty of experimentation.

    Upcoming Elephant Back Shows:

    October 1st – Green Jello Studios Los Angeles, CA

    October 6th – Funk N Waffles Syracuse, NY

    October 29th – The Downstairs Ithaca, NY

    December 11th – The Bowery Electric, NYC

    More info regarding the band can be found on the Elephant Back website.

  • Postmodern Jukebox “Life In The Past Lane” Tour makes 4 Stops in NY in 2023

    Postmodern Jukebox embarks on their “Life In The Past Lane” Concert Tour this fall, celebrating the greatest 20th century musical genres, fused with the recognizable hits of our own modern era, for the perfect patina of “vintage” and “modern.” The group brings the PMJ Universe to life with a cast full of exciting vocalists, instrumentalists, and tap dancers, leading to a top-shelf entertainment experience for which PMJ is known.

    Postmodern Jukebox

    When New York City pianist Scott Bradlee created Postmodern Jukebox out of a basement in Queens in 2011, his goal was simple: to remake the pop hits of today into the classic sounds of the legends of yesterday. Miley Cyrus became The Platters. Bruno Mars became Frank Sinatra. The Spice Girls became The Andrews Sisters. Guns ’n’ Roses became Bessie Smith.

    Nearly a decade later, Postmodern Jukebox has grown to become a pop culture mainstay in its own right, having played over a thousand shows on six continents worldwide — including acclaimed venues like Radio City Music Hall, Sydney Opera House, and Red Rocks Amphitheater. In the process, PMJ has introduced audience to many of the world’s greatest singers, dancers, and instrumentalist — many of whom have gone on to become stars in their own right.

    Postmodern Jukebox

    No matter your age, catch Postmodern Jukebox for a ride and an unforgettable trip through 100 years of timeless music.

    Postmodern Jukebox “Life In The Past Lane” Concert tourdates

    10-Mar-23 | Fri | Owensboro, KY | River Park Center
    | 15-Mar-23 | Wed | Troy, NY | Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
    | 16-Mar-23 | Thu | Keene, NH | Colonial Performing Arts Center
    | 17-Mar-23 | Fri | Great Barrington, MA | The Mahaiwe Theatre
    | 18-Mar-23 | Sat | Portland, ME | State Theater
    | 19-Mar-23 | Sun | Plymouth, NH | The Flying Monkey
    | 24-Mar-23 | Fri | New Haven, CT | College Street Music Hall
    | 25-Mar-23 | Sat | Bayside, NY | Queensborough Performing Arts Center
    | 28-Mar-23 | Tue | Akron, OH | EJ Thomas Hall
    | 30-Mar-23 | Thu | Poughkeepsie, NY | Bardavon
    | 31-Mar-23 | Fri | Verona, NY | Turning Stone
    | 4-Apr-23 | Tue | Charlotte, NC | Knight Theatre
    | 5-Apr-23 | Wed | Greensboro, NC | Piedmont Hall
    | 6-Apr-23 | Thu | Virginia Beach, VA | Sandler Center
    | 7-Apr-23 | Fri | Myrtle Beach, SC | House of Blues
    | 8-Apr-23 | Sat | Atlanta, GA | Woodruff Arts Center
    | 10-Apr-23 | Mon | Greenville, SC | Peace Center
    | 13-Apr-23 | Thu | West Palm Beach, FL | Kravis Center
    | 14-Apr-23 | Fri | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | Parker Playhouse
    | 15-Apr-23 | Sat | Clearwater, FL | Ruth Eckerd Hall
    | 18-Apr-23 | Tue | Melbourne, FL | King Center
    | 19-Apr-23 | Wed | Jacksonville, FL | Florida Theater
    | 23-Apr-23 | Sun | Sarasota, FL | Van Wezel
    | 24-Apr-23 | Mon | Orlando, FL | Disney Hall