Category: NYC Metro

  • Kraftwerk Announces 2022 3-D Tour, Stopping At Radio City Music Hall

    Electronic pioneers of the last 50 plus years, Kraftwerk, are set for their 2022 North American Tour beginning this May. Not only is the group stopping at Radio City Music Hall on June 17, but they recently added three dates, including June 14 at State Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ.

    Kraftwerk

    Considering Kraftwerk has been around since 1970 and they have had to put their shows on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the group is excited to share their next best thing. With a combination of electronic music, 3-D visuals and performance art, Kraftwerk is certain they will wow their fans on tour.

    Kraftwerk is known for their influence on music culture in regards to clubs and DJs, techno, as well as all forms of electronic dance music. Therefore, there’s no surprise their Remixes compilation album showcases what the group represents. This album will be available on vinyl and CD on April 8 in the U.S. Furthermore, the album consists of Kraftwerk’s original remixes from 1991-2021, as well as contributions from some of the world’s biggest DJs and producers. These prominent voices in the music industry include François Kervorkian, William Orbit, Étienne de Crécy, Orbital, Underground Resistance, DJ Rolando and Hot Chip.

    Since the 1970s, Kraftwerk has set the tone for innovative techniques, synthetic voices, and computerized rhythms in regards to electronic music. The group who first began as a duo with Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider, influenced other genres of music, one being synth-pop. By the mid-1970s, the group had international recognition for their accomplishments and efforts to produce new sounds to the world of music from their experimentation with robotics and other technological innovations.

    In recent years beginning in 2012, Kraftwerk changed their 3-D visuals to resemble the art scene of Düsseldorf, Germany from the late 1960s. In fact, this theme switch was first showcased at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Following the MOMA’s exhibition, this series continued in London, Tokyo, Los Angelos, Berlin and more.

    Due to Kraftwerk’s impact, they have been honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.

    Tickets are currently available, but to learn more information visit the Kraftwerk website.  

  • Blue Note NY Announces 11th Annual Jazz Festival

    Blue Note New York has announced the 11th Annual Blue Note Jazz Festival, presented by Sony. Kicking off June 1, there will be a free show in Washington Square Park headlined by Robert Glasper in association with Washington Square Park Conservancy.

    blue note festival lineup
    The Blue Note Jazz Festival Lineup.

    Since 1981, the Blue Note Jazz Club has been a cultural institution in NYC and one of the premiere jazz clubs in the world. Blue Note strives to preserve the history of jazz, and the club practices the foundations of jazz on a nightly basis.

    This year’s festival will be taking place at major venues across NYC, including Blue Note New York, Sony Hall, The Town Hall, and SummerStage in Central Park. There will be featured performances by George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic, Chris Botti, Charles Lloyd, Macy Gray, Kenny G, Al Di Meola, Madeleine Peyroux, Dave Holland & Kenny Barron, Robert Cray, Kenny Garrett, and many more.

    Alex Kurland, Director of Programming at the festival had a lot to say about this year’s festival.

    This year’s Blue Note Jazz Festival in New York presents an exceptional range and depth of artistry. We’re excited and proud to present a diverse lineup within different settings and at venues featuring the most established, iconic and influential artists as well as the next generation of cutting edge progressive artists at venues ranging from Washington Square Park, Central Park to the Blue Note Jazz Club in Greenwich Village and more. We are grateful again to bring a tasteful city-wide music festival to the culture of New York City.

    The European Sounds Series returns to the Blue Note Jazz Festival this summer with weekend brunch shows at the club. It features international acts from places like Switzerland, Estonia, Romania, Spain, France, Poland, Austria, and Slovakia. Tickets for the festival can be bought here.

    Sony presents Blue Note Jazz Festival 2022
    5/31 – 6/1 – DOMi & JD Beck – Blue Note New York
    6/1 – Robert Glasper – Washington Square Park (FREE)
    6/2-3 – Madeleine Peyroux – Sony Hall
    6/2-5 – Kenny Garrett – Blue Note New York
    6/3 – An Evening with Kenny G – The Town Hall
    6/6 – Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Latin Experience – Blue Note New York
    6/7 – The Robert Cray Band – Sony Hall
    6/7-12 – Al Di Meola – Blue Note New York
    6/8 – The Legendary RAKIM with Special Guest Ravi Coltrane – Sony Hall
    6/10 – Fabrizio Sotti w/ Ice T & M1 of Dead Prez – Sony Hall
    6/11 – Herbie Hancock w/ Special Guest Opener: Keyon Harrold – SummerStage (FREE)
    6/13 – Raul Midón – Blue Note New York
    6/13 – Bilal – Sony Hall
    6/14 – Los Pericos – Sony Hall
    6/14-19 – José James – Blue Note New York
    6/15 – George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic – Summerstage
    6/16 – The Zappa Band – Sony Hall
    6/18-19 – Chris Botti – Sony Hall
    6/21-26 – Dave Holland and Kenny Barron Trio with Johnathan Blake – Blue Note New York
    6/22 – Big Bad VooDoo Daddy – Sony Hall
    6/23 – Con Tumbao ft. Robert Ameen, Issac Delgado, Oscar Hernandez, Conrad Herwig, Pedrito Martinez – Sony Hall
    6/26 – An Evening with Charles Lloyd w/ The Chapel Trio featuring Bill Frisell & Thomas Morgan + Kindred Spirits featuring Bill Frisell, Jason Moran, Reuben Rogers & Kendrick Scott – Sony Hall
    6/27-29 – Theo Croker – Blue Note New York
    6/29 – Harlem Gospel Choir Sings Nina Simone – Sony Hall
    6/30 – Dizzy Gillespie Big Band – Sony Hall
    6/30 – 7/3 – Macy Gray – Blue Note New York

  • NY Punk Band Shakeout Release Inspiring Single “Build Your Building”

    NY Punk Band Shakeout has just released their new inspiring single “Build Your Building.” This is the second single from the band this year, who just got off an east coast tour.

    Shakeout is a two-piece alt/punk band from Yonkers that formed at the end of 2016. The band’s songwriting is filled with experimentation as they take influence from a multitude of genres including punk, pop, and hip-hop. They have also built their sound on the heavy use of looping, which creates the idea that there are more than two people in the band. They are unique as well because both of the band’s members are named A.J.

    The band has already self-released three EPs, has played throughout the east coast and midwest. They have played at multiple festivals, including the Launch Music Conference in Lancaster, PA, NYC’s Punk Island, and NY Riverfest.

    The new single “Build Your Building” is inspiring with lyrics about “feeding a machine that dictates the lives we lead” and “building yourself up and don’t tear them down.” The song has a steady drum beat and layers of guitars. The overarching message of the song is inspiring, as they urge you to build yourself up and don’t tear others down, as they shout it in the bridge.

    The single is availible to listen to now on any streaming service.

  • Ruel Grows Up with Hit Show at Brooklyn Steel

    Ruel, born in London and raised is Sydney, has already become an international superstar with over 1.5 million followers on Instagram and with three sold-out world tours already complete. His most recent “GROWING UP IS _” tour, ahead of his newest debut album arriving soon, brought him to Brooklyn on Sunday, March 27th after kicking off his tour in Los Angeles.

    Ruel kicked off the show with his back facing the audience, and then after finishing his introduction of “Real Thing,” turned around to face the screaming audience.

    Photo by Ambika Verma

    Ruel ran across the stage during the set, from one side of the audience towards the other, often reaching down to greet fans. The crowd was no doubt composed of eager fans, as they were screaming each song loudly back towards the stage. He performed a range of songs, from his upbeat hits to slower and newer songs, eventually closing his set with his newest hit, “GROWING UP IS _” before returning for a 2-song encore. Ruel’s newest song “GROWING UP IS_,” similar to one of his other hit songs, “Younger,” resonated with a lot of the audience; this coming-of-age song highlights how feelings of growing up can bring up moments of self-reflection and nostalgia.

    Ruel will continue his tour in Europe for a few dates; you can listen to his newest hit single here.

    Setlist: Real Thing, Dazed & Confused, Face to Face, as long as you care, distance, Hard Sometimes, Don’t Tell Me, LET THE GRASS GROW, too many feelings, Free Time, Flames (SG Lewis), Younger, GROWING UP IS _
    Encore: Painkiller and Japanese Whiskey

  • Dead and Company Summer Tour 2022 to Make Stops at Citi Field, SPAC, Bethel Woods

    This summer, Dead and Company will embark on a 20 show cross-country tour, including shows at SPAC and Bethel Woods, plus a two-night tour-closing run at Citi Field.

    dead and company summer tour

    Summer 2022 marks the seventh tour for Dead and Company – Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, John Mayer, and Bob Weir, with Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti – since forming in 2015.

    During the Dead and Company 2022 Summer Tour, the band will make stops at Bay Area at Shoreline Amphitheater, two nights at University of Colorado Boulder’s Folsom Field, two nights at Wrigley Field in Chicago, a night at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA, and a night at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, before wrapping up with epic shows at Citi Field in New York. 

    Dead and Company are no strangers to New York, having kicked off their first ever tour in Albany at the Times Union Center in October 2015, along with annual stops in Saratoga Springs, New York City, and all points in between.

    In summer 2021, Dead and Company made stops at SPAC, Bethel Woods (where they recreated the Grateful Dead’s less than memorable Woodstock set) Darien Lake and Citi Field.

    Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, April 8 @ 10 AM at deadandcompany.com

    To ensure fans get tickets directly in their hands, Fan Registration is now available HERE until Sunday, April 3 at 12 Noon PDT, through Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program.

    Dead & Company 2022 Summer Tour

    Sat Jun 11 Los Angeles, CA Dodger Stadium

    Mon Jun 13 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre

    Tue Jun 14 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre

    Fri Jun 17 Boulder, CO Folsom Field

    Sat Jun 18 Boulder, CO Folsom Field

    Tue Jun 21 Maryland Heights, MO Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

    Wed Jun 22 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center

    Fri Jun 24 Chicago, IL Wrigley Field

    Sat Jun 25 Chicago, IL Wrigley Field

    Tue Jun 28 Noblesville, IN Ruoff Music Center

    Wed Jun 29 Clarkston, MI Pine Knob Music Theatre

    Fri Jul 01 Bethel, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

    Sat Jul 02 Foxborough, MA Gillette Stadium

    Tue Jul 05 Hartford, CT The XFINITY Theatre

    Wed Jul 06 Saratoga Springs, NY SPAC

    Fri Jul 08 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live

    Sun Jul 10 Philadelphia, PA Citizens Bank Park

    Tue Jul 12 Burgettstown, PA The Pavilion at Star Lake

    Fri Jul 15 New York, NY Citi Field

    Sat Jul 16 New York, NY Citi Field

    Check deadandcompany.com for complete tour information. 

  • Jake Huffman EP “Adderall & Whiskey” Out April 29th

    Producer and multi-instrumentalist Jake Huffman has announced his newest EP Adderall & Whisky, dropping on April 29th. This EP is inspired by his early 20’s, and lyrically he writes about the story of the rise and fall of love along with experiencing life in a rock band. “Giving it a Try” and “Just a Little More” only preview the intensity of Huffman’s newest project.

    Jake Huffman EP "Adderall & Whiskey" out April 29th
    photo credit: Coley Stevens 

    Since he was young, Jake Huffman began his musical journey traveling up and down the east coast with his rock and roll band, McLovins. With influence from early 2000’s alt-rock, Huffman’s writing flows into an Indie rock/Indie pop mindset combined with deep personal lyrics. In 2010, Rolling Stone described his band as “having the ability to harness the musical ferocity of Trey Anastasio, Les Claypool and Stewart Copeland before being able to legally drive a car.”

    "Adderall & Whiskey" EP
    “Adderall & Whiskey” EP

    Stated in a previous article from NYS Music, Huffman went back to college when COVID-19 hit, getting a Certificate in Music Production from Berkelee School of Music in Boston. During his time being locked down, Huffman dove into his studio work writing about 50 tunes over 2020-21 along with teaching music lessons remotely four days a week.

    Jake told Relix Magazine “Over the last few years, mostly in isolation, I was forced to look inward and found creative inspiration in the process.  I always tell aspiring songwriters that the best songs are honest, simple and specific. “Giving it a Try” is my way of practicing what I preach.”

    Jake releases his first solo song “Giving It A Try,” a preview of his full EP

    I took my own emotional arc of living with so much uncertainty in the world and produced and engineered the song myself from my home studio. The music video is a loose concept of writing, practicing and performing the song.  It’s a crowd favorite when the band and I play it live so I wanted to capture the love and energy for the song. I co-directed and edited the piece with my partner Coley Stevens who shot and colored the video.

    Jake Huffman

    As mentioned in a profile in Relix, Huffman said ““Over the last few years, mostly in isolation, I was forced to look inward and found creative inspiration in the process.  I always tell aspiring songwriters that the best songs are honest, simple and specific. “Giving it a Try” is my way of practicing what I preach.  I took my own emotional arc of living with so much uncertainty in the world and produced and engineered the song myself from my home studio.”

    Get tickets for the Mercury Lounge show on May 20th here, located on the Lower East Side of NYC

  • Sooner Releases Debut LP “Days and Nights”

    Dream-pop group Sooner has just released their debut LP, Days and Nights. The Brooklyn based group kicked off album promotions by premiering their first single ‘Boscobel’ with FLOOD magazine. 

    Days and Nights cover

    Formed in 2016, Sooner blends elements of alternative rock, dream pop and shoegaze to create their melodic sound. Members Federica Tassano (vocals), John Farris (guitar), Andrew Possehl (bass), and Tom Wolfson (drums) have come together after a series of fits and starts to finally release the amalgamation of their hard work.

    ‘Persona’ coaxes you in with Tassano’s youthful, airy voice as your feet subconsciously start to tap along to Wolfson’s drums. Lyrics questioning a man’s sobriety and the efforts one goes through for individuals that don’t care add to the depth Sooner displays within their work.

    ‘Kingdom’ draws unique inspiration from Mary Oliver’s poem “Small Kingdoms”. The strong instrumental start does its job in grabbing your focus and keeping it locked in. Bass and guitar are front and center in this track.

    ‘Dusk’ closes the LP with a calming, submerged presence. Tassano’s ethereal chants float around you and as the final song concludes, it feels like you’ve just left a close friend’s recording session. Your muscles are relaxed and your mind is clear. 

    Days and Nights is now available on all streaming platforms, as well as the group’s Bandcamp

    Key Tracks : Persona, Kingdom, Oh, Dusk

  • Morningsiders Unveil New Album “I’ve Got a Song”, Premiere First Single “Hang the Cedar”

    NYC indie band Morningsiders have returned to unveil their newest album I’ve Got a Song, along with the release of their new single ‘Hang the Cedar’, a song detailing the struggles of finding identity within a friend group. 

    Morningsiders

    The folk-pop trio recorded the single with the help of well-known producer Peter Katis, who has also worked with The National, Interpol and Sharon Van Etten. The song came together after the group realized that they had a piano pattern that would work perfectly as a verse. Building outward from the verse resulted in a cohesive story and smooth melodies. 

    ‘Hang the Cedar’ captures the difficulty of developing a personality while navigating within a friend group. It can be an added challenge when you consider how those around you view you, but the Morningsiders are here to help you along.

    Morningsiders
    PC : Shervin Lainez

    “It’s like all of a sudden you have a chance to meet yourself, but also to reinvent and curate in a way that you couldn’t before.”

    Morningsiders

    Morningsiders is comprised of Magnus Ferguson (vocals/guitar), Reid Jenkins (fiddle/vocals) and Robert Frech (piano). After forming in 2012, the group has gone through a number of member rotations before landing on their current three man dynamic. They first gained national attention after their song ‘Empress’ was featured in a Starbucks commercial featuring Oprah Winfrey and have kept this momentum going with an ever changing musical sound and inventive approaches. 

    Fans can listen to ‘Hang the Cider’ on all streaming platforms.

  • Scorpions to perform benefit show at MSG in Support of Bangladesh

    German rock band, Scorpions, are set to perform a historic concert fit for the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden, on Friday, May 6. The rock outfit will take the stage in celebration of Bangladesh’s 50th year of independence. Joining them on the special occasion will be Bangladeshi fusion/rock band, Chirkutt.

    The charitable event will be organized by The Bangladesh Information and Communication Technology (ICT) division, with the support of the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority, the United Nations Development Programme, the U.S. Embassy in Bangladesh and local sponsors. The large-scale performance will be held in hopes of gaining a global audience and celebrating Bangladesh’s half-century anniversary through this live, one-night-only musical performance. Keeping the philanthropic tone of the event, proceeds from the concert will benefit the United Nations Development Programme’s global awareness campaign on cyber security programs for the youth and children, with a focus on under-developed countries.

    With over 110 million records sold around the world and over 2.2 billion views on YouTube, Scorpion will more than likely play fan favorites from their impressive catalogue, which includes hits like “Wind of Change,” “Still Loving You,” “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” “Send Me an Angel,” and many more. Founded in Hannover, West Germany in 1965, they were part of the first wave of metal in the 1970’s with their debut album, Lonesome Crow, released in 1972. The band was ranked #46 on VH1’s Greatest Artists of Hard Rock, while their hit “Rock You Like a Hurricane” came in at #18 on VH1’s list of the 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs. 

    The long-standing rock band has received multiple honors including World Music Award winners and a Star on the Hollywood Rock Walk. Most recently, they were honored with the Lower Saxon State Award. 

    Chirkutt is one of the most popular fusion band music troupes in Bangladesh. Founded in 2002, the band has also worked on several local film music scores in their home country. After releasing their debut full-length album “Chirkuttnama” in 2010, and through live performances, they had a rapid upsurge in growth.

    Tickets will go on sale on Monday, April 4 at 10 a.m. (EST) through Ticketmaster. Scorpions Rock Zone fan club members will have an exclusive, first access to tickets available starting Thursday March 31 at 10 a.m. (EST). For more information and to join the community visit The-Scorpions.com/RockZone

  • Sasami Plays Music Hall of Williamsburg

    Fresh off the release of her second album Squeeze, Sasami played a packed show last Friday night, March 25th, with support from Zulu. The eclectic crowd comprised people of all stripes, with plenty of typical goth garb (leather, long coats, and tall boots) and plenty of LGBTQ+ representation in the mix. Fans were asked to keep masks on throughout the show to protect the band from tour disruptions, with signs posted on the walls and doors.

    Sasami
    Sasami at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Photograph by David Reichmann

    L.A. native “powerviolence” band Zulu opened up the show with loud, sustained heavy metal sounds. The audience gleefully moshed and thrashed throughout their brief but powerful set.

    Sasami
    Zulu at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Photograph by David Reichmann

    Sasami started her hard-hitting set with some fan favorite tracks including, “Skin a Rat,” “Say It,” and “Make It Right.” Her setlist covered her 2-album catalog, and even included a cover of System of a Down’s “Toxicity” with on-stage help from Zulu. Given Sasami’s experience as a trained classical composer, her setlist spanned several genres and included operatic interludes, head-banging choruses, and even a few balladic deep cuts such as “Call Me Home.”

    Sasami
    Sasami and Zulu at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Photograph by David Reichmann

    Sasami’s music has always contained difficult themes, and often expresses frustration with systemic violence or even her own interpersonal relationships. Earlier in the week, she had posted on social media about her decision to postpone an upcoming Boston tour date until they could “book it in a venue everyone feels safe in.” She also stated, “My [number one] priority as a touring musician is to create a safe space for my community to rage, emote, dance […] and have fun…” Throughout her set, Sasami repeated her mantra of wanting to use music to create a safe space for minority and disenfranchised peoples, leading to loud cheers each time she reaffirmed her intentions.

    Sasami
    Sasami at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Photograph by David Reichmann

    Sasami’s North American tour continues, and you can listen to Sasami’s 2022 album Squeeze here and view upcoming tour dates here. Listen to Zulu’s music here.