NYS Music 202​2

Category: NYC Metro

  • The Town Hall to Host “A Tribute To Bob Dylan” This September

    On Sep. 30 at 8 P.M., The Town Hall will present A Tribute to Bob Dylan, with performances from Sara Bareilles, Bill Frisell, Margaret Glaspy, Punch Brothers, and more.

    The Town Hall Tribute to Bob Dylan poster with lineup and image of performer singing.

    Curated by Grammy-winning producer and songwriter T Bone Burnett, the lineup features a diverse set of artists who will each perform songs from Bob Dylan’s long career. The concert also honors Dylan’s 1963 debut at The Town Hall and all proceeds will benefit the venue.

    Dylan’s debut at the Hall back in 1963 marked a turning point in the musician’s life. The show would be the largest hall he had ever performed in at the time and moved him from Greenwich Village to uptown. Dylan’s first concert at the Hall also marked a shift at the venue, which previously held mostly classical music events, towards the protest music of the 60s and 70s.

    Town Hall has been the location of many fateful moments, and I’m grateful for the invitation to celebrate one of those historic evenings on the 60th anniversary of Bob Dylan’s first concert there … He sang twenty-four songs that night, all of which have been woven into the fabric of our culture. We are going to play a few of those songs, and we are also going to celebrate the sixty years of songs that have followed that night.

    – T Bone Burnett

    The Town Hall opened in 1921 and has become world-renowned for its civic events and for its history of debuts and inclusivity. With the aim to provide accessible world-class entertainment and to inspire youth in the community to appreciate the arts, the Hall has been a staple in NYC.

    As The Town Hall reflects on its role in New York City and the world, we are turning to the great artists and movements that have shaped who we’ve become … there’s no one more befitting of celebration than Bob Dylan, whose lyrics have carried us through personal and social tragedies and transformation repeatedly over the last six decades. We can think of no one better to partner with than Dylan’s close collaborator and friend of our hall: the legendary artist T Bone Burnett.

    -The Town Hall’s Artistic Director Melay Araya.

    Tickets for the Bob Dylan Tribute show featuring various performers can be found here.

  • Marina Laurendi to Release Debut EP Stay Mine

    NYC-based singer-songwriter Marina Laurendi is set to release her full debut EP, Stay Mine, on Friday, Aug. 26.

    Marina Laurendi

    A native of Western NY, Laurendi blends two energies into her album: the pulse of NYC and the nostalgia of her quieter roots. The EP comes after three previous single releases, “Gramercy,” “Neighborhood Kids,” and “Upper East Side,” out earlier this year. 

    With a sound similar to early Lana Del Rey, Best Coast, and Phoebe Bridgers, and vivid lyricism intertwined, the four-track Stay Mine EP cuts deep. The title track describes a larger-than-life romance with an invitation for adventure. With a moody timpani beat, electric guitar, and ethereal three-part harmony, the song pulls you in and keeps you there throughout the journey.

    Marina Laurendi’s tales of idealism, dreaming, nostalgia, and wanderlust are beautifully written and captured within the tracks of Stay Mine. The poetic stories Laurendi shares are genuine as they are creative. While the instrumentation on the album varies from slow strums to upbeat pop percussion, Laurendi’s voice and clear tone stay consistent.

    With the debut EP Stay Mine, Marina Laurendi cements herself as someone to watch in the alternative music scene. The young artist is also currently a quarter-finalist in the competition to open at this year’s Hollywood Bowl with voting ending Sep. 1.

    Be sure to take a listen to the entire EP when it releases on Aug. 26. Until then, croon alongside Laurendi with her recent single releases and reminisce with her authentic lyricism.

  • Lenny White & Friends To Honor Chick Corea In Queens

    On Friday, September 23, Flushing Town Hall will present a unique jazz fusion with GRAMMY-winning American jazz drummer Lenny White and Friends at 8 PM EST.

    Lenny White

    The performance will feature White’s original compositions with Tom Guarna (guitar), Quinton Zoto (guitar), Richie Goods (bass), and Vince Evans (piano and synthesizers). It will be a daring tribute to the 23-time GRAMMY-winner and DownBeat Hall of Famer Chick Corea.

    “I first became aware of Lenny White when he played with my uncle, the great Bill Withers. So I am personally very honored and excited to finally be able to present an evening of music with Lenny White & Friends at Flushing Town Hall—the jazz capital of Queens! This is a one-of-a-kind musical event not to be missed.

    Clyde Bullard

    Leonard “Lenny” White III was born in Jamaica, Queens and taught himself drum during his early years. White began his career playing with groups in the New York jazz scene and recorded the album “Bitches Brew” with his hero Miles Davis at 19. He joined the group Return To Forever as one of the original members, where he had cherishful experiences with Chick Corea. In the late 1980s, White joined a Queens-based funk trio, the Jamaica Boys, with Marcus Miller on the bass and singer Dinky Bingham. Through out his current career, White has won three GRAMMY awards with five nominations and one Latin GRAMMY.

    Lenny White is often described as one of the founding fathers of the jazz-rock movement and has emerged as one of the premier drummers in jazz. White has played and collaborated with music artists such as Miles Davis, Joe Henderson, Gato Barbieri, Gil Evans, Stan Getz, Ron Carter, Woody Shaw, Freddie Hubbard, Jaco Pastorius, Herbie Hancock, Cedar Walton, Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan and many more. Today, he is sharing his music knowledge as part of the Music Adjunct Faculty at NYU Steinhard as Composer-in-Residence.

    The concert begins at 8:00 PM and live streamed performance is also available on YouTube for $5. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://flushingtownhall.org/event-detail.php?id=248

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

  • Happy Birthday to the Lead Singer of the Strokes, Julian Casablancas 

    Best known as lead vocalist and main songwriter for the infamous band The Strokes, Julian Casablancas turns 44 years old today, August 23. Julian has played a significant role in influencing the revival of 1960’s alternative garage music in the early 2000’s.  

    Born in New York City on this day in1978, Julian Casablancas cites The Doors as one of his earliest musical influences, though he specifies that he was influenced by their musical style rather than the public image of their vocalist and lead singer Jim Morrison. He has also cited Lou Reed of The Velvet Underground as a major influence on his lyrics and singing style. 

    As a solo artist, Casablancas set out with an intention to say what was on his mind, both musically and lyrically. Speaking of his experience as a solo artist versus releasing music with The Strokes, the singer has put it simply, “It’s like touring with me or with five of me,” meaning that each member has their own opinionated state of mind. 

     While such statements raised much concern for the relations between the band members, Casablancas claims that in pursuit of a solo career, he is protecting the integrity of the [Strokes] vibe. In having a musical project separate from The Strokes, he can “chase down any idea [he] wants”, which he would refrain from doing with the band. 

    Being the lead vocalist and songwriting in The Strokes sparked a major revival of 1960s alternative rock music, starting in New York City. With their unique alternative sound, the Strokes have inspired many known alternative artists today. 

    Overall, Casablancas has served as a major inspiration for musicians like Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys and the painter Elizabeth Peyton. Courtney Love‘s song “But Julian, I’m a Little Bit Older Than You” from her debut solo album America’s Sweetheart (2004) was written about Casablancas.

  • Brooklyn Artist Tyrin Released New Music Video

    Brooklyn artist Tyrin unveiled the new music video for his latest single “It’s All Alright”. With daydreaming hues and visuals, this cinematic music video is fulfilled with nostalgia.

    Tyrin

    Tyrin is an evolving creative artist born and raised in Brooklyn. He is never afraid to reflect on what keeps him up at night while he has a genreless approach to composition. Influenced by the pop-punk and hip-hop, Tyrin started making music in 2010 to explore the realm of rap. With years of progress, he has accumulated his influence and been continuously growing while working and performing alongside his band to produce a truly unique soundscape.

    Tyrin recently unveiled “Its All Alright”, a song explaining and concerning mental health. He hopes to give out his energy to reduce his listeners’ loneliness as he new music video offers a meditative visuals to enjoy.

    The blaring basslines and an ecstatic realm of sound in “Its All Alright” illustrated the comfort with dreamy hues and euphoric visuals. Tyrin hopes listeners will find a minute for themselves within his latest tune. Sitting atop echoing vocal energy, relentless melodies and a truly encapsulating rhythm, his latest release and accompanying visuals make for an idyllic pairing.

    “It started with heavy Hip-Hop roots, and through the few months of working on it with my engineer the song started to evolve and mimic my true musical influences. ‘Its All Alright’ uncovers my truly impressive musical persona, I wrote this song to affirm that even with my flaws, I have value.”

    Tyrin

    Tyrin is looking across the alternative genre and inject his passion for hip hop and euphoric rap into something truly extraordinary. With enriched performing experience in pervious performances at numerous larger venues like Webster Hall and The Gramercy, he is nurturing a blossoming community in the heart of New York City.

  • The Strokes Revival Changed Early 2000’s Alternative

    The Strokes are an alternative rock band from New York City, often credited with influencing the revival of 1960s-style rock in the early 21st century. The band was formed in 1998 and was arranged by singer Julian Casablancas, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr., bassist Nikolai Fraiture, and drummer Fabrizio Moretti. 

    How The Strokes became “The Strokes“

    Eventually, after playing in clubs throughout New York’s Lower East side, the Stokes revival began to make a name for themselves. For instance, The Strokes sold out shows such as The Capitol Theater. But why are the Strokes called The Strokes in the first place?

    The band’s bassist, Nikolai, revealed to NME, “We had a running joke that every time we met up, we had to have a certain number of names. Some were horrible. One day Julian said, ‘How about The Strokes?’ And it was the one name we all didn’t disagree on.” 

    Although The Strokes were becoming very popular in NYC, Albert Hammond Jr is the most business-like out of the band’s members. In the early days, he booked shows and harassed record executives claiming to be the band’s manager, and using the fictitious name, Paul Spencer. 

    While Tom Petty, The Ramones, Blondie, and Television have had a heavy influence on their early sound, The Stroke’s music has inspired numerous artists and created a distinct 2000s alternative sound.

    Bands such as The Killers, Artic Monkeys, The Kooks, MGMT, and more became inspired by their sound and broadened the alternative genre. Along with the White Stripes and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Strokes revival helped shape the sound and look of alternative rock in the 2000s. 

    “Is This It” and It’s Aesthetic

    In the 2000s, The Strokes’ unique sound sparked a revival of alternative rock within New York City. Primarily, their recording of “This Is It” has influenced younger teens to have a “late 90s grunge aesthetic.”

    Along with this, frontman Julian Casablancas embodied this look. The aesthetic consisted of using the social media staple Tumblr, worn leather jackets, tattered denim, and cigarettes.

    The Breakup of The Strokes

    The Strokes were big throughout the early 2000s, but over time began to lose their spotlight. The band members began to lose their harmony and took a break from performing together, some took their own ways and started other projects. 

    After some time apart, the band came back together and released their newest album “The New Abnormal” which has been a huge hit with all the millennials.  

    The era of “The New Abnormal” and its Fame

    The Strokes’ newest album, “The New Abnormal,” is a huge hit today. For instance, the song “The Adults Are Talking” is currently trending on social media like TikTok, inspiring kids across the new generation. The album was released on April 10th, 2020, and is their first album in seven years. It’s not every day that a band can come back strong, but using their signature sound and melodies, they have become popularized once again.  

  • Marco Benevento Announces New Tour Dates With Stop in Brooklyn This Fall

    Multi-instrumentalist Marco Benevento has announced additional tour dates to his upcoming fall tour including a stop at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn this November. The run is in support of the artist’s recent studio album released this June titled, Benevento.

    Based in Hudson Valley, Benevento begins his tour on Sept. 3 in Portland, Maine, at the Ghostland Festival before closing out in Holyoke, Massachusetts, at Race Street Live on Nov. 19. The newly added dates and Brooklyn stop will bring the artist back to the place where he was a resident for almost 20 years.

    Benevento recorded his recent album in the middle of the pandemic at his home studio in Hudson Valley. His solo jam sessions spurred inspiration as did the ability to experiment with instruments and equipment that had been unused for some time. While most of the record was solely Benevento, his wife and daughter contributed to the album as vocalists.

    Benevento looks out in the cover of his new album

    The album was released with rave reviews from listeners. The 11-track album includes elements of lo-fi dance jams, psychedelic, and West-African groove, and is a 40-minute record of creative experimentation.

    For the complete tour schedule of the upcoming shows, see below. Tickets are on sale now and available on the artist’s website, here.

    Marco Benevento Tour Dates

    9/3 – Portland, ME – Ghostland Festival

    10/7 – Pembroke, MA – Soundcheck Studios

    10/11 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriett’s

    10/12 – San Diego, CA – Casbah

    10/13 – Los Angeles, CA – Teragram Ballroom

    10/14 – Felton, CA – Felton Music Hall

    10/15 – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel

    10/16 – Sonoma, CA – Sebastiani Theatre

    10/19 – Eugene, OR – Sessions Music Hall

    10/20 – Bend, OR – Volcanic

    10/21 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir

    10/22 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir

    10/23 – Seattle, WA – Madame Lou’s

    11/17 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg

    11/18 – New Haven, CT – Space Ballroom

    11/19 – Holyoke, MA – Race Street Live

  • The Big Climate Thing in NYC Has Been Postponed

    The Big Climate Thing, scheduled for Sept. 16-18 at Forest Hills Stadium, NYC, has been postponed. The festival was supposed to feature artists like Haim, The Roots, Sheryl Crow, Princess Nokia, and more.

    the big climate thing

    The three-day festival focuses on raising awareness for climate change initiatives in association with Brian Eno’s EarthPercent organization. In a statement, the organization felt they couldn’t produce the event in a way that met the high standards for participation, impact and sustainability, which are the foundations for the festival.

    They take those fighting for survival on the front lines of ecological disaster and environmental justice incredibly seriously, therefore postponing the event until 2023 was the correct move. They acknowledged the amount of time and effort that went into the behind the scenes planning of the event, and they are looking forward to bringing a renewed platform “for those who truly inspire us with their commitment to creating a more just, equitable and habitable planet.”

    Refunds will be issued at the original point of purchase, and if you ordered through AXS, a refund will automatically be issued to the credit card you used to purchase within 30 business days.

  • MSG Entertainment mulls MSG and Radio City Split

    MSG (Madison Square Garden) Entertainment announced it is considering spinning off venues like Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall into two separate companies.

    MSG

    Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSG Entertainment) is a leader in live entertainment. The Company presents or hosts a broad array of events in its diverse collection of venues: New York’s Madison Square Garden, Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Beacon Theatre; and The Chicago Theatre. 

    Under the possible spinoff, the company would retain its “immersive” MSG Sphere venues and its majority interest in the dining and nightlife company TAO Group Hospitality. The potential transaction would provide shareholders with greater investment choice and visibility into each company’s businesses and growth prospects

    This potential transaction would create two companies, each with a distinct value proposition for investors.

    MSG Entertainment CEO James Dolan

    The entertainment venues will get spun off to the new firm, and would also get the sports and entertainment bookings including the Radio City Rockettes, the famous Christmas holiday production, and arena licensing agreements with the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers.

    MSG Networks would fall under the potential separate company as well. It consists of regional networks MSG Network and MSG+ and the streaming app MSG GO.

    The spin-off is still proposed and in the works, and investors are eagerly waiting for a final agreement.

  • Steve Aoki to Headline Marquee’s New York Fashion Week Kick Off

    On Sept. 8, DJ and music producer Steve Aoki will headline Marquee’s New York Fashion Week Kick-Off Party.

    Steve Aoki NYFW Party Poster

    Aoki has an impressive history of performances at festivals such as Coachella, Ultra Music Festival, Lollapalooza, and many more. The two-time Grammy nominee will be previewing new music from his forthcoming studio album HiROQUEST: Genesis which is set for release on Sept. 16. 

    HiROQUEST: Genesis features multiple collaborations with artists such as Taking Back Sunday, Kane Brown, MOD SUN, Santa Fe Klan, Snow Tha Product, John Martin, Lil Xan, and more. The 26-track LP blends elements of contemporary Latin, pop, pop-punk, and dance.

    Steve Aoki as a fashion designer, artist, entrepreneur, and Dim Mak Records founder is one of the most in-demand acts in the world. Previous collaborations with Aoki include BTS, Maluma, Snoop Dogg, Linkin Park, blink-182, One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, Machine Gun Kelly, and Lil Uzi Vert. The upcoming album is the artist’s highly-anticipated seventh studio album. 

    New York Fashion Week, held in February and September of each year, is a semi-annual series of events when international fashion collections are shown to buyers, the press, and the general public.

    The New York Fashion Week Kick-Off party will be located at the Marquee Nightclub at 289 10th Ave. Tickets and table reservations for the Steve Aoki event are currently available on the nightclub’s website.