Los Angeles based rockers Illuminati Hotties made their way to Manhattan’s Bowery Ballroom on Thursday, February 24th as part of their co-headline tour with Fenne Lily. The band is touring behind their excellent sophomore LP, Let Me Do One More, released last October on Hopeless Records. The show on Thursday was opened by Texas native Katy Kirby, with Illuminati Hotties in the middle spot followed by Fenne Lily. Check out our full photo gallery below.
Illuminati Hotties is the brainchild of singer, producer, and guitarist Sarah Tudzin. Getting her start as a recording and mixing engineer, the music of became an extension of her work into more creative areas. Presenting a fun, upbeat, and incredibly catchy pop-punk, the band has made a huge splash with this latest record. Let Me Do One More highlight “Pool Hopping” is an essential jam for any summer playlist, reminiscing about hot summer days spent floating in the pool.
The co-headline tour with Fenne Lily began at the beginning of February and continues through mid-March with stops to be made in Chicago, Canada, and Portland. After this run of shows, Illuminati Hotties head over to Europe for a lengthy headlining tour into May. Head over to the band’s Bandcamp page for the full tour schedule.
The album for James Lapine’s Broadway musical “Flying Over Sunset” is now available on all streaming platforms. The recording features the original cast performing all 22 tracks from the Lincoln Center musical which ran from Dec. 13, 2021 to Jan. 16 of this year.
“Flying Over Sunset” is a fictional story about the lives of Aldous Huxley (Harry Hadden-Paton), Clare Boothe Luce (Carmen Cusack), and Cary Grant (Tony Yazbeck) who decide to take LSD together and confront the mysteries of their lives and their world.
It features a critically acclaimed production crew. Lapine, who also wrote the book, is a Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner. The album is scored by Tony, GRAMMY, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Tom Kitt.
“Flying Over Sunset” was produced by GRAMMY-nominee Scott M. Riesett (Schmigadoon!, Ain’t Too Proud, The Prom). Recorded in New York, the album was co-produced by Tony Award nominee Michael Korie and Lapine and was executive produced by Scott Farthing and Adam Siegel.
Terry Teachout of The Wall Street Journal says of “Flying Over Sunset”: “An irresistible trip worth taking, brought off with supreme flair, I’d gladly see it again right away!”
As of today, only the digital version of the album is available. A hard copy is scheduled to be released on April 8.
Celebrating the release of his third studio album, Colombian singer-songwriter Sebastián Yatra announced that he will tour the United States and Puerto Rico this fall. The international sensation will pass through New York City on October 8th playing at The United Palace in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan.
Photo by Guillermo Legaria/Getty Images for Disney
Yatra first came into the public spotlight in 2013. Since then, his subsequent releases have pushed him further and further towards superstardom. His debut album, Mantra, peaked at number one on the Billboard Latin Pop Albums Chart. Fantasía was released a year later and highlights his sustainable growth as an artist receiving international attention. Dharma, his newest studio album, continues to show his prestige and talent.
Yatra’s discography meshes all the parts of love that are intimately beautiful, boldly passionate, and occasionally difficult. His songs speak to “el corazón y la alma,” and his tantalizing voice traverses through even the strongest of language barriers. Yatra also tells stories in his songs, and “Un Año” showcases this ability magnificently. The artist is in his most successful days and one can only root for these days to be infinitely extended.
Sebastián Yatra ‘Dharma World Tour’ North American Tour Dates:
Thursday, Aug 25 – Houston, TX @ Smart Financial Centre
Friday, Aug 26 – Irving, TX @ Toyota Music Factory
Saturday, Aug 27 – Hidalgo, TX @ Payne Arena
Sunday, Aug 28 – San Antonio, TX @ Freeman Coliseum
Wednesday, Aug 31 – Laredo, TX @ Sales Auto Arena
Friday, Sep 2 – Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Federal Theatre
Saturday Sep 3 – San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena
Sunday, Sep 4 – Inglewood, CA @ YouTube Theatre
Wednesday, Sep 7 – Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre
Thursday, Sep 8 – Portland, OR @ Keller Auditorium
Saturday, Sep 10 – Las Vegas, NV @ Chelsea Theatre at Cosmopolitan
Sunday, Sep 11 – San Jose, CA @ San Jose Civic
Thursday, Sep 15 – Rosemont, IL @ Rosemont Theatre
Saturday, Sep 17 – Laval, QC @ Place Bell
Sunday, Sep 18 – Toronto, ON @ History
Thursday, Sep 29 – Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre
Friday, Sep 30 – Orlando, FL @ Dr. Philips
Saturday Oct 1 – Miami, FL @ FTX Arena
Friday, Oct 7 – Washington, DC @ The Theater at MGM National Harbor
Saturday, Oct 8 – New York, NY @ United Palace
Sunday, Oct 9 – Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
Saturday, Nov 12 – San Juan, PR @ Coca Cola Music Hall
Tickets for the general public go on sale on February 25th at 10 am on Ticketmaster. For more information, visit Ticketmaster or sebastianyatra.com
Beginning February, Thursday the 24th and through February, Sunday the 27th, Shomyo Buddhist Ritual Chant: Spiral Mandala Ceremony will take place at Japan Society.
Japan Society was initially formed in 1907 to promote relations between the US and Japan. Since then, it has transformed into a metropolitan epicenter for the promotion of Japanese arts and culture throughout NYC. Due to social distancing guidelines, the event will take place over 12 different shows, with a maximum of 30 seats per show.
The event will be a deeply immersive theatrical experience. Audience members will sit on cushions placed on the stage floor and listen to shomyo, a ritual form of a Buddhist chant that is believed to have originated in India. After traveling through the Silk Road the ancient form made its way to Japan, where it has been practiced ever since.
Shomyo no Kai—Voices of a Thousand Years, a group of two dozen priests, will be performing Yu Kuwabara’s shomyo piece “Spiral Mandala Ceremony”. Alongside Shomyo no Kai, Brooklyn-based media designer Tei Blow will deliver stunningly hypnotizing visuals. The three parties in synthesis will create a sensory experience not worth missing.
Performance dates
Thursday, Thursday, February 24 – Shows at 6 pm and 8 pm
Friday, February 25 – Shows at 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm
Saturday, February 26 – Shows at 2 pm, 4 pm, 6:30 pm, and 8:30 pm
Sunday, February 27 – Shows at 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm, and 7 pm
Tickets are priced at $15. For more information, visit here.
During a break from Dead & Company tour in June of 2018 John Mayer started to build “Sob Rock” on your Instagram in portrait mode from Electric Lady studios in New York City. The IGTV episode compartmentalizes the ideas behind the albums first single “New Light”. Mayer said on a Tales from the Golden Road broadcast that Dead & Company is a little “Hendrixy.” Well Sob Rock is a little “Princey.” Mayer takes you on the ride from the songs original sample to one of Prince’s guitars making it’s way on the album. It was unplanned that it showed up during the recording.
He even put a compressor on the studio sound like the Purple one used to do. Mayer tells IGTV during the making of “New Light”… There’s this moment at the end of the solo going in to the last chorus…that’s cool. When you got a guy like Pino Palladino for a turn around like that, you set the dude free and go let him just feel it out.
Bassist Pino Palladino joins guitarist Isaiah Sharkey, drummer Steve Farrone, percussionist Lenny Castro, keyboardists Gregg Phillinganes & Jamie Muhoberac, guitarist and vocalist David Ryan Harris, Carlos Ricketts, Tiffany Palmer, and John Mayer for the “Sob Rock” 2022 tour. It hits 20 cities this year. Mayer debuted “New Light” in the encore live with a Phish like confetti curation during his last solo world tour opener in Albany in July of 2019.
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Mayer welcomed everyone at Albany’s old Knickerbocker Arena to “The Sob Rock Era” on the February 17 2022 debut show. The former “Dozin at the Knick” room holds the same stage Mayer birthed his Dead & Company role for transportation in October of 2015. Oteil Burbridge told NYS music about his perception in Dead & Co. “When Bill Walton says you’re good you stop worrying.” In fact the next venue the new group played that tour was MSG.
Let me tell you something this blows my mind. I’m up here playing these songs and I look out to see you & the dream is complete. Thank you.
John Mayer
The Albany audience responded with the same pieces of 80’s flair as Mayer on stage. The crowd sported radio walkmans with dead tape in deck, vintage commercials, faded sport jackets, tie dyes, scrunchies, wayfarers, Sob Rock newspapers, Stealie fleeces and Fast Times at Ridgemont High piano scarfs in motion. John Mayer thanked Lee Chris Art mid show for her vibe in the crowd.
The last train home carried the act down the Hudson River to Manhattan’s Madison Square Garden for two sold out evenings of John Mayer on February 20 and 21. Mayer’s last two night run at the Garden was with the Dead & Company for Halloween 2019.
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It should come as no surprise that the only artists work weaved in the tour’s set list so far is “The Beautiful Ones” by Prince sung by “Sob Rock” guitarist David Ryan Harris. John saw David Ryan Harris from the crowd during his sit in with the Leroi Moore era Dave Matthews Band at Jones Beach in 1995. Mayer and his new band also played material off “Room for Squares”, “Heavier Things”, “Continuum”, “Battle Studies”, “Born and Raised”, “Paradise Valley”, and “The Search for Everything”.
Mayer encouraged everyone in Albany to dance in unison to “Moving on and Getting Over”. John sings to “Rosie” at the Garden… Don’t Leave me here under the January rain, come let me in, take my heart by the hand. “I Don’t Trust Myself (With Loving You)” was played in Albany and New York City for those suspicious minds in each town.
I will beg my way in to your garden and then I’ll break my way out when it rains. Monday night at Madison Square Garden had the show turn split screen for a special presentation. For the first time ever the “Sob Rock” catalog was performed live stripped down acoustic along side many other classics on the fourth night of the tour. It felt vert reminiscent of The Grateful Dead’s 1980 Radio City Halloween shows that split the bill acoustic & electric.
Mayer started the night solo to light the room with “Neon”. He led the pack from his seated chair on the psychedelic piece “If I Ever Get Around To Living” that explored the Garden’s room. Tom Petty’s Drummer Steve Farrone is also a part of Sob Rock University. David Ryan Harris and John Mayer did an acoustic duo cover of “Free Falling” for extra credit.
The only other artist work besides Mayer to be featured on the acoustic set was Paul Simon. Mayer sang Simon’s “Homeward Bound” as the outro to his original track “Stop this Train” at Penn Station. The set closed with a “Sob Rock” & “Graceland” album hybrid debut. Mayer and the entire Garden sang “You Can Call Me Al” in between his new original “Til the Right One Comes”.
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Monday nights special guest in place of Steve Farrone was Philadelphia’s Questlove fresh off his January birthday. Sob Rock guitarist Isaiah Sharkey is a fan of the Philadelphonic sound in Manhattan. Sharkey told NYS music in July that his most influential show from a NY crowd was Pennsylvania’s Joey DeFrancesco at the legendary Blue Note in the village. Philli’ born Saxophonist Vanessa Collier told NYS Music about Questlove’s knowledge and love of music.
It’s not a surface level thing with Questlove. It’s all life. He knows every groove from every single song he’s heard. From a DJ perspective and drummer angle is great.
Vanessa Collier
Questlove was on his way to attend “Sob Rock” at the Garden when he found out he would be sitting in for one of his favorite drummers. Quest’s stop at Penn Station from Rockefeller was immediately felt during “Vultures” to open the second set. He sat on the throne for the six song electric change up & encore. Quest, who laid studio drums to Mayer’s 2004 cut ”Clarity”, loved playing it live to a sold out Garden. The Sob Rock cast saved Prince’s “The Beautiful Ones” snippet for Quest’s set as well. “Something like Olivia” hit like “Lay Down Sally” at MSG.
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All the Sallys swaying next to the wrong Harrys in the audience at the Garden caught a vibe during “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” to end the show. John Mayer & Isaiah Sharkey pick’s light the same fire Eric Clapton & Robert Cray’s “Old Love” burned in 1989 when he debuted “Journeyman”. In similar fashion Keith Richards & Ivan Neville are headlining the Love Rocks NYC benefit at the Beacon Theater in March to recast his 1989 X-Pensive Winos to the stage with Steve Jordan.
Truth be told I coulda played the whole show. I texted Jimmy (Fallon) earlier I felt like Don Henley in 1988 when last minute he played drums for Guns N’ Roses at the AMA’s. It was hella fun tonight.
Questlove
Pino Palladino certainly saw a dead head sticker on a Cadillac on the way to the Garden. He plays bass on Don Henley’s big apple island ballad “New York Minute.” Jimmy Fallon had a head full of roses and calavera art on his face in the crowd during Dead & Company’s Halloween show at MSG in 2019. John Mayer took a solo during “Standing on the Moon” that night which permeated through the worlds most famous arena in to “Gravity” for his own band’s 2022 encores. In a New York minute everything can change.
Mayer is truly channeling the same solo paths that Petty & Garcia once trailed. Sob Rock’s vibe is very Traveling Wilburys though. Drummer Steve Farrone has backed George Harrison, Tom Petty, and Eric Clapton. George Harrison once reflected about Eric Clapton’s stage presence from the crowd during his legendary Rainbow Theatre Concert from London in January of 1973.
While dressed in an all white suit with his foot tapping on the stage Harrison said he took on the glow of an angel playing a long to the music. At 44, Mayer keeps his gravity where the same light Leroi shines on him. Except the New Light is Purple.
John Mayer, Madison Square Garden – February 20, 2022
Setlist: Last Train Home, Shot in the Dark, Belief, Something like Olivia, I Guess I Just Feel Like, Who Says, Rosie, Shouldn’t Matter but it Does, Helpless, Your Body is a Wonderland, I Don’t Trust Myself (With Loving You), Wild Blue, Edge of Desire, Til’ The Right One Comes, The Beautiful Ones*, Slow Dancing in a Burning Room, New Light, Waiting on the World to Change, All I Want Is To Be With You Encore: Gravity *Prince Piece sang by David Ryan Harris
John Mayer, Madison Square Garden – February 21, 2022
Acoustic Set: Neon, Last Train Home, Shot in the Dark, Belief, In the Blood, If I Ever Get Around to Living, New Light, Wild Blue, Your Body is a Wonderland, In Your Atmosphere, Somethings Missing, Daughters, Free Fallin’. Carry Me Away, Who Says, Stop This Train*(Homeward Bound), Til’ The Right One Comes *(You Can Call Me Al)
Encore: Gravity
*Paul Simon verse
Questlove Set: Vultures, Clarity, Something Like Olivia, The Beautiful Ones**, Slow Dancing in a Burning Room
It may not be common knowledge that Dexter star, Michael C. Hall is in a band, but those in the know will be glad to hear that his band, Princess Goes To The Butterfly Museum has announced their spring North American tour. The tour will run from March 20 to May 12.
The eventful tour will kick off in California before making its way through the US and ending in Manhattan. It will showcase the trio’s critically acclaimed album Thanks for Coming as well as their experimental, 70’s inspired vibe. 80’s inspiration also makes an appearance as they incorporate new wave and electronic dance into their concepts.
Princess Goes To The Butterfly Museum is made up of three members : Michael C. Hall, Peter Yanowitz and Matt Katz-Bohen. The three met during the Broadway production of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and started making music after discovering how well they worked together.
Tickets, as well as more information can be found here.
The biggest stars of underground hip-hop today, Earl Sweatshirt, Action Bronson, Boldy James, and The Alchemist brought their “NBA Leather” tour to New York City’s Terminal 5 venue on Thursday, February 17th, for their second of back-to-back shows. With a rapidly eager crowd hungry for concerts to continue post-Omicron surge, this quartet certainly did not disappoint.
The Alchemist at Terminal 5, 02/17/22. Photo by Kunal Khunger
They all performed a variety of tracks, ranging from recently released albums like Earl Sweatshirt’s “Sick!” (released this year) to Action Bronson’s classic “Blue Chips 7000” (released 2017). Some guests were brought out as well, most notably Benny the Butcher of Griselda fame. The New York hip-hop scene was well represented.
Boldy James at Terminal 5, 02/17/22. Photo by Kunal Khunger
All the artists engaged the crowd in their own unique ways, from Action Bronson asking his DJ to play old instrumentals to see if he remembered the words to some of his more niche songs, to Alchemist playing his well-known role as a great hype man. Earl Sweatshirt, as he is known to be, was a very low-key stage presence, solely focused on his raps. The variety of sounds and styles was on full display Thursday night, giving an enthusiastic crowd a little bit of everything.
Action Bronson at Terminal 5, 02/17/22. Photo by Kunal Khunger
The “NBA Leather” tour with Earl Sweatshirt, Action Bronson and The Alchemist has a few more stops left, mainly on the East Coast of the US. You can see more tour dates here. Be sure to check out the photo gallery below!
Comedic legend, Chris Rock makes his long awaited return with his new stand up tour ‘Ego Death’. The tour kicks off April 2nd in Atlantic City before stopping at Radio City Music Hall and finishing in Los Angeles.
For the first time in over five years, Rock will travel across the country in a 38-date tour to bring his iconic humor to the masses. Produced by Live Nation, this North American venture will be followed by shows in Toronto and Vancouver.
Rock will also be joining forces with fellow comedian Kevin Hart for their limited “Only Headliners Allowed” tour. The five show run will kick off on 7/21 in Wantagh, NY before making stops at MSG and Barclays Center.
Although a household name, many may not be aware of Rock’s full list of achievements. The multi-talented performer has gone from being a Saturday Night Live cast member to starring in Emmy winning series “Fargo” and the newest Saw installment. He’s even appeared on Broadway in Stephen Adly Guirgis’s “The Motherfucker With the Hat”.
Earl Sweatshirt, Action Bronson, and Boldly James headlined at Terminal 5 on Wednesday, February 16. This was the ninth stop on their tour together, but a special one, being their first in New York City and bringing a number of local acts to the stage.
The show opened with the Alchemist, who then brought Boldly James out to perform an entire set.
Next, Earl Sweatshirt came out to preform songs from his new album SICK! as well as a number of classics. Sweatshirt individually brought out the likes of Navy Blue, Wiki, MIKE, and Zelooperz.
Action Bronson graced the stage with his iconic machismo. His stage presence is unrivaled, as is his posing as a greek statue in interludes.
If my ancestors could see me now. Ivan Neville’s February 1988 solo record vibe is alive in the island of Manhattan this year. He is on the 2022 bill at Love Rocks NYC to play with Keith Richards and the X-pensive Winos.
Steve Farrone is playing drums with Pino Palladino on John Mayer’s Sob Rock tour which opened the door for Steve Jordan to regroup with the Winos. Keith Richards and Steve Jordan spent time on the road last year for The Rolling Stones 2021 North American Tour.
Ivan Neville at Brooklyn Bowl
Ivan Neville and his band Dumpstaphunk played to a sold out Madison Square Garden audience for two nights with the Dave Matthews Band in 2021. Friday February 18 Dumpstaphunk split the bill with the Nth power to a sold out Brooklyn Bowl.
Ivan took some time before soundcheck to talk about the past, present, and future of his music
Matthew Romano: Let’s talk about the 80s and the X-Pensive Winos.
Ivan Neville: That first Winos tour in general was like monumental for me. I got to double dip. My own band opened up the show. That was super cool to do our thing then go to a different dressing room which was the Winos. Then go play with Keith and the fellas.
Ivan Neville & Keith Richards Blue Note photo by DIno Perrucci
Matthew Romano: It’s exciting to see a New York musical seed like this so early in the year. Hope the vibe can grow into more cities.
Ivan Neville: Ya, doing a little one off thing is pretty cool. Hopefully some stuff can springboard from that. You never know. I’m sure Keith’s other band is not done yet. I’m sure they will be playing this year.
Matthew Romano: Dumpstaphunk and The Rolling Stones co-billed at The Superdome in New Orleans in 2019. The Beacon Theater’s smaller venue vibe will really hit this March.
Matthew Romano: I was inside the Beacon Theater for Love Rocks NYC in March of 2020. You closed the evening as a special guest on piano with the Black Crowes. It was the actual first night of many events to limit capacity and go straight to a live stream. How does it feel being back on the road in 2022?
Ivan Neville: I think we’re finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. My road chops are a little weak not being ready for the grind of the travel and the “the hurry up and wait” scenarios. But it’s actually been pretty fun. I have hope that this year is gonna be crushing.
The Nth Power and Dumpstaphunk crushed their set at Brooklyn Bowl on February 18. Drummer Nikki Glaspie stepped out front solo like Jagger to sing on “Dancing to the Truth” during Dumpstaphunks set.
Ivan Neville gave the Brooklyn Bowl crowd a funk lesson on Miles Davis former wife Betty Davis.I’m going to do it till the cows come home. And when my goose gets loose. She gonna know. I still be getting it on.
Her records in the 70’s were some funky stuff. Original members of Sly and the Family Stone played on them. Larry Graham and Chad Kennedy station did too. What amazing ground breaking funk she did.
Ivan Neville
Nikki Glaspie stayed out front on vocals for “Dirty Work” Nikki had a Neville like vibe to the Winos as she used to be the drummer in Dumpstaphunk who serendipitously opened the show in Brooklyn on Friday with her own band the Nth Power. Backstage at the Brooklyn Bowl there was talk about saxophonists Maceo Parker and Sam Kininger.
Nikki’s vocals blended nicely with all of the other great voices coming from the bands hearts and instruments. Dumpstaphunk played material from all of their records. Tony Hall told NYS Music after their latest release “Where Do we go from Here” 2021 Album.
We recorded a bunch of these songs and didn’t finish them lyric wise. Vocal wise we can always change. It goes kind of like vice versa. We’re all a band that can sing and play too ya know?
