Category: NYC Metro

  • Flushing Town Hall Celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month With Stellar Lineup

    Considering April is Jazz Appreciation Month, Flushing Town Hall has announced their celebration of this monumental genre with performances from Bill Charlap Trio, Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jam, Alicia Lieu, and last but not least, Mark Wade.

    Bill Charlap Trio: Flushing Town Hall

    Flushing Town Hall is a cultural nonprofit that is known for being a sanctuary for jazz music. In fact for over 40 years, the organization has held numerous jazz music programs, in addition to events with jazz legends like Jimmy Owens, Barry Harris, Sheila Jordan, Akua Allrich, and many more. Considering Queens has been home to a variety of legendary jazz musicians, Flushing Town Hall is a creative space to keep jazz alive and discover more musical talent.

    The Bill Charlap Trio, consisting of pianist Bill Charlap, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Kenny Washington, was formed in 1997 and have been a notoriety group ever since. In fact the group has been Grammy nominated numerous times for Uptown Downtown (Impulse!/Verve), Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein, and The Bill Charlap Trio: Live at the Village Vanguard.

    The Grammy Award-nominated Bill Charlap Trio is set to perform on April 8 at 8:00 P.M. During this performance the group will play some of the songs from their latest jazz album Street of Dreams. In person general tickets are $25 and $20 for members; while virtual viewing is free.

    The next event at Flushing Town Hall will be held on April 13 at 7 P.M., with the Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jam. This organization invites jazz students, musicians, and music educators to Flushing Town Hall to join together as one with the sole purpose of creating new music in a comfortable setting. Furthermore, the house band led by saxophonist Carol Sudhalter always begins a performance with the work of Louis Armstrong, a true pioneer of jazz. For this event, in person tickets are $10, while it is free for members, students, and jamming musicians. However, virtual viewing is free.

    New Music Horizons will make an appearance at Flushing Town Hall to present classical composer Alicia Lieu and jazz composer Mark Wade on April 24 at 2 P.M. Alicia Lieu is not only a composer, but is also the founder of the Composers Collective, Pitches Brew, and New York Con-ducting Institute. At the Flushing Town Hall, she will perform new material from her opera in progress, “Unwrapping Fortune”. This work of art demonstrates the culture behind Chinese food, in addition to love.

    Mark Wade is known to be one of the best bassists of this era and has played with other noteworthy jazz artists, like James Spaulding and Jimmy Heath. In fact, Downbeat Magazine Readers Poll voted him as one of the top bassists five of the last six years. The Flushing Town Hall is inviting the Mark Wade Trio, known for their improvisation to perform next month. In-person tickets are $10, while for seniors, students, and members the event is free; as well as virtual viewing.

    To watch these events virtually tune in to Flushing Town Hall’s YouTube page. Donations are of course appreciated to support the performers and Flushing Town Hall. To learn more information on how to do so visit Flushing Town Hall Circle of Friends.

  • Roxy Music’s 50th Anniversary Tour Coming to MSG

    For the first time in over a decade, Roxy music will return to the stage, this time for their 50th anniversary tour. The tour will journey from Canada and through the US, eventually ending in London. They will be joined by special guest, St. Vincent

    Roxy Music will be touring the U.S for the first time since their critically acclaimed 2011 “For Your Pleasure” tour. Featuring stops across the U.S, including landmark venues like MSG and The Forum, their 50th Anniversary tour is sure to be the celebration of a lifetime. 

    Formed in 1972, Roxy Music has been regarded as one of the most influential bands of all time. They have inspired a number of big names including Depeche Mode, Nile Rodgers and Kate Bush. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

    PC : Brian Cooke

    Special guest St.Vincent will be joining Roxy Music for all North American dates, except Boston. After originally making her debut in 2007, St.Vincent has been described as one of the most interesting artists in modern music. Her work has been justly recognized, with her 2021 album, Daddy’s Home, garnering universal acclaim. 

    Artist presale is available from now until 4/1. General tickets go on sale 4/4 at 10 AM. Eight special anniversary editions of Roxy Music’s albums will be reissued throughout the year, with the first two LPs, Roxy Music and For Your Pleasure being released on 4/1. 

    NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES

    09/07 – Scotiabank Arena – Toronto, ON

    09/09 – Capital One Arena – Washington, DC

    09/12 – Madison Square Garden – New York City, NY

    09/15 – Wells Fargo Center – Philadelphia, PA

    09/17 – TD Garden – Boston, MA*

    09/19 – United Center – Chicago, IL

    09/21 – Moody Center – Austin, TX

    09/23 – American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX

    09/26 – Chase Center – San Francisco, CA

    09/28 – The Forum – Los Angeles, CA

    U.K TOUR DATES

    10/10 – OVO Hydro – Glasgow, UK

    10/12 – AO Arena – Manchester, UK

    10/14 – The O2 – London, UK

  • Priya Ragu, Dan Croll, Anaiis, Obii and Great Calling show the UK’s Talent at Pop-up Shows across Manhattan

    In an effort to expose up-and-coming UK artists to American audiences, GREAT Campaign partnered with SoFar Sounds for the week of March 21, 2022 to put on numerous performances across New York City featuring some of the biggest names on the rise.

    In an interesting way to gain access to the show, one had to pick up a ringing telephone within a classic English-looking telephone booth (many of which were spread across Manhattan). The phone would relay a message detailing the shows for the week and their locations.

    Priya Ragu Dan Croll
    Priya Ragu at Great Jones Distillery Co.

    The purpose for this campaign was due to the UK still considered underrated, in terms of being a cultural musical hotspot. Massive current artists, like Harry Styles, Dua Lipa, and Ed Sheeran all hail from the UK, showing its constant relevance in the global music scene. There are many artists in the UK that are starting to rise and are nearly about to break into the mainstream American industry.

    become incredibly popular in the past year, with the prestigious BBC Sound of Music giving her a nomination in 2021 and Vogue India listing her as one of the 6 artists that are going to blow up in 2021. On the other hand, Dan Croll (hailing from Liverpool) graduated from the Paul McCartney-founded Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and has been on the scene since 2011. Both of them put on an intimate show for an adoring crowd, wowing them with Dan Croll’s indie-pop crooning and Priya Ragu’s energetic pop performance.

    Priya Ragu Dan Croll
    Dan Croll at Great Jones Distilling Co.

    Many of performances occurred that week, ranging from Penelope Isles to Rose Betts. All of which showcased these rising stars and their immense talents.

    Riya Ragu at Great Jones Distilling Co.

    Some of the UK’s most talented singers Anaiis and Obii showed their skills in a Red Hook ice cream factory on Friday, March 25. As you walk in the door behind the ice cream shop counter, you go into a room with views of the factory through the window. The room was full of music enthusiasts and people there for a good time. The artists held a captivating show and kept the audience involved throughout the duration of it. This showcase exemplified the powerful voices that come from the UK and gave an idea of the future of UK artists and their abilities.

    Great Calling – The National Arts Club – March 29 (review and photos by Michael Dinger)

    The last of four shows performed at iconic spaces in Manhattan and Brooklyn over the past week, the Great Campaign’s final act took place at The National Arts Club at Gramercy Park this past Tuesday night. A collaboration with SoFar Sounds, these intimate gatherings have showcased homegrown artists from Great Britain that are all on the verge of stardom. The featured musicians of tonight’s festivities included Rose Betts (singer/songwriter), Geo Jordan (multi-instrumentalist/producer/writer) and Hamzaa (R&B singer/songwriter). If witnessing the talent of these young musicians was not enough, guests were also immersed in the expressive, wondrous paintings of the contemporary Cuban artist Carlos Quintana, which hung from the walls throughout the performance space. His exhibition, PHySIKA, is on view until April 8th.

    Rose Betts, originally from London, was the evening’s first performer. After being introduced by Adam (the night’s emcee) as having “a voice that melts like butter,” Betts sat down before a Steinway for the first of five songs, while accompanied by Emmanuel Ventura-Cruess on an upright bass. Featuring songs from her newly released debut album, White Orchids (RAB Records), Betts introduced “Foolish” as “one of the few songs [she’s] written about love.” The songstress concluded her opening set with “Think Of You” and “Recovery,” a tune that Betts exclaimed to the audience was “the first song where [she] allowed [herself] to be vulnerable.”

    After a brief intermission, Geo Jordan was the second British artist of the night to entertain the intimate crowd of approximately 100 souls in attendance. While on guitar, Jordan opened the set with “Let Go,” taken from the 5-song EP Technicolour (August 2021). This EP was self-produced by Jordan, a Trans artist who uses his music to explore topics such as identity and acceptance. Moving over to the piano for “The Colour Of You” (the title track from his 2017 EP), Jordan revealed, “I never know quite what to do with applause, thank you.” With a guitar back in his hands, Jordan went on to perform what can best be described as progressive soul pop tracks such as “Forever,” taken from the EP titled The Colour Of You (2017) and “Irreplaceable,” from the album Remember Me Pt. 1 [MD1] (2019).

    The final act of the night was Hamzaa, a soul artist from Hackney (East London) who has been writing her own songs before she was even a teenager. Accompanied by Jeffandy AllTogether (guitar) and Chad Selph (keys), the first of her 6-song set was “Unlucky,” taken from Phases EP (2019). After bringing back Emmanuel Ventura-Crues for a guest appearance on bass, the highlight of the night was still to come. Hamzaa’s blissful closing number titled “Sunday Morning,” also from Phases EP, captured the cheerful mood of the event, with the audience singing the chorus in unison – “You make me feel like it’s a Sunday morning” . . . even on a Tuesday night.

    You can learn more about GREAT Campaign and SoFar Sounds here.

  • Watch Sy Ari Da Kid and Jadakiss Team Up For “Unbreakable Promises”

    The Bronx-bred rapper/singer Sy Ari Da Kid released his newest debut album, The Shadow In The Shade which features multiple artist throughout the album. Sy Ari Da Kid features Yonkers hip-hop icon Jadakiss on the album with track, “Unbreakable Promises” along with recently released music video.

    Sy Ari Da Kid and Jadakiss met up in Virginia to shoot the music video for “Unbreakable Promises” that would celebrate their success while also shedding light onto the hurdles they faced with the soulful track produced by Vtng Jag.

    The new album, “The Shadow In The Shade” appeared on New Music Friday select playlists by XXL, Brooklyn Vegan, and Essence. A variety of artists are showcased on the debut album that helped Sy Ari Da Kid bring his project to life, artists like Jadakiss, T.I.. Benny The Butcher, Big K.R.I.T., Trouble, Lloyd Banks, Ransom, Mickey Factz, Cyhi The Prynce, Shawn Ellery, JR Writer, Raekwon and Bumpy Knuckles are featured on the tracklist.

     “Some rappers sprint to the tape but Sy is running a marathon with no finish line in sight. He just keeps going.”

    -RapReviews

    Growing up between the Bronx and Atlanta, he quickly started his career right after high school and became a battle rapper. Working on numerous of other projects throughout his career such as Alone but Not Lonely, S.O.O.N, Better Safe Than Sy Ari and others, which led to him releasing his own that he had in the works for long time for his rap fans.

    The album consists of 21 tracks with brazen but vulnerable lyrics that allows for fans to connect and relate with. Sy Ari Da Kid’s sound is versatile which ultimately makes his fans equally crave his deep hip hop cuts and his continue uphill climb will keep his fan wondering what will be next for him.

  • Nick Cave & Warren Ellis bring their Carnage tour to Kings Theatre

    Nearing the end of a 17-date tour, Nick Cave and his longtime collaborator Warren Ellis perfectly executed a second straight sold-out show in Brooklyn this past Friday evening. Following the culmination of a successful United Kingdom and European tour last fall, the duo kicked off the current leg of their North American excursion on March 1 in North Carolina, in support of Carnage, a hauntingly-poignant album they recorded together during the COVID-19 lockdown last year. The pair of Aussie friends have been working together since 1993, when Ellis (also known as a founding member of the instrumental rock trio the Dirty Three) played violin on Let Love In, the eighth studio album from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.

    Nick Cave

    With approximately one hour to go before showtime, excited concertgoers were spotted congregating on nearby sidewalks or hastily exiting their Uber ride near the grand marquee in lights. After patrons filed past the security check points and into the inviting confines of the theater, many grabbed a drink, joined a waiting friend or checked out the merch table. Others snapped a cellphone picture of the historic venue’s centerpiece, the console of a “Wonder Morton” pipe organ, one of four other magnificent organs installed in the original Loew’s New York City movie theaters.

    Warren Ellis

    At 8:20 pm sharp, Warren Ellis, a trio of backup singers (Janet Ramus, Wendi Rose and T. Jae Cole) and a touring musician who would play keyboards, bass and drums throughout the night, took to the stage. The eternally-suave Nick Cave followed closely behind, dressed in a sharp blue suit with a white shirt and a marvelous slick of black hair. With Ellis seated, his signature gray beard resembling that of a medieval knight and wearing a shirt unbuttoned nearly to his navel, he began to play the small synthesizer perched on his lap. After a long wave to the packed house, Cave grabbed the microphone from its stand and immediately got down to business.

    Kings Theatre

    For nearly the next two and half hours, Cave and Ellis would thrill the audience with offerings from the aforementioned Carnage, 2019’s Ghosteen and plenty of classic tracks spanning the entire Bad Seeds catalog. With nearly every soul now on their feet, the first offering of the night was “Spinning Song,” a song about Elvis Presley and his iconic status in popular culture.

    Nick Cave

    Halfway through the 16-song opening set, one of several comedic moments from the night occurred during Cave’s introduction of “Cosmic Dancer,” a cover by T. Rex, legendary British musicians who formed in 1967. With Ellis now changing his keyboards for a violin, Cave alerted his fans. “Alright, fucking strap into your seats. Warren is going to do a violin solo. You think that things are going to be the same afterwards, but they will not be. Your lives will be different. You will tell your children that you were there when Warren performed [his] solo.”

    Warren Ellis

    Once the laughter subsided, “Hand Of God” (Carnage, 2021) was delivered by Cave with the emotional intensity you can always expect to witness during one of his shows. Furiously pacing the stage to the driving beat, Cave did halt on a few occasions to reach out and clutch the hands of adoring fans, all the while repeating the high-pitch title line . . . “Hand of God! Hand of God! Hand of God.” Closing out the masterfully-crafted set was “Balcony Man,” another brilliant track from last year’s Carnage. Seated at his piano once again, Cave instructed the upper balcony to cheer every time the word ‘balcony’ was spoken, and emphatically cheer they did.

    The first encore was comprised of two songs, “Hollywood” from Ghosteen, followed by “Henry Lee,” released on the Bad Seeds ninth studio album (Murder Ballads, 1996). It was during the early refrain of the second song when Janet Ramus, a British soul singer, innocently mixed up the lyrics. During the tune’s restart, Cave playfully exclaimed, “You can’t fuck this one up [again].” After the song’s conclusion, Cave graciously re-introduced his bandmates before they all exited the stage for a second time. The exultant crowd cheered non-stop for several minutes until Cave, Ellis and company finally reappeared.

    Nick Cave

    The exquisite hymn about loss and sorrow, “Into Your Arms,” opened the second encore. Following this fan favorite from The Boatman’s Call (1997) was a song requested by an audience member that had not been played by the Bad Seeds, according to Cave, “in a very long time.” Before launching into the melody, “Jubilee Street” from 2013’s Push The Sky Away, Cave remarked, “If we fuck it up, it’s on you dude.” The night’s penultimate offering was “Girl In Amber” (Skeleton Tree, 2016), a moving song written by Cave for Anita Lane, a founding member of the Bad Seeds. The night’s last offering, “Ghosteen Speaks” (Ghosteen), a song about the spirit of love and its existence, fittingly captured the overall theme of the night.

    The Carnage tour wraps in Montreal, Canada with a pair of early April dates at the Place des Arts. If you were unable to catch a live show on their current tour, or just cannot get enough of Cave and Ellis, the global release event of This Much I Know To Be True is set for May 11, 2022. This feature film captures the exceptional creative partnership of both Australian natives as they brought to life the songs that would appear on the albums Ghosteen and Carnage. Additional details can be found here: https://www.thismuchiknowtobetrue.com.

    Kings Theatre

    Setlist: Spinning Song > Bright Horses > Night Raid > Carnage > White Elephant > Ghosteen > Lavender Fields > Waiting for You > I Need You > Cosmic Dancer > God Is In The House > Hand of God > Shattered Ground > Galleon Ship > Leviathan > Balcony Man >
    Encore 1: Hollywood > Henry Lee >
    Encore 2: Into My Arms > Jubilee Street > Girl In Amber > Ghosteen Speaks

  • NYC-Based Indie-Pop Singer Aubrey Haddard Announces New Single and Album

    NYC-based indie-pop singer-songwriter Aubrey Haddard announced her second LP, Awake And Talking, out August 16. She also shared the first single from the project “Just A Wall” along with a music video.

    The album is about Haddard’s self-examination and how she navigates love and her relationship to art. Her biggest influences for the album came from the greatest songwriters of the 90s, like Oasis and Björk. With her writing partner and multi-instrumentalist Charley Ruddell and drummer Josh Strmic, they all wrote the songs in rehearsal spaces and Haddard’s childhood upstate home. She spoke about the album, and the deep meaning it has for her.

    Awake And Talking is about seeking a sense of purpose. It challenges perception – how many ways can you look at the world before you find your place in it? It is about destiny and the journey to self-acceptance. And, like anything I create, it is about my own personal experience over the past few years. This record makes me feel powerful and confident in the face of uncertainty and it brings me a lot of joy to know that it could offer a sliver of that to anyone listening.

    The new single “Just A Wall” is bold and emotional, with mesmerizing electric guitar riffs as she proudly sings the lyrics “Now that you’ve gone and shattered the glass…Whose arms do you run to?”

    Aubrey Haddard, photo by Emmysu.

    Aubrey Haddard’s new album Awake And Talking is out August 16, and her new electrifying single ”Just A Wall” is out now.

  • Disco Biscuits Set To Continue Spring Tour With Three Nights At The Capitol Theatre

    This weekend, The Disco Biscuits return to Port Chester and The Capitol Theatre with a trifecta of performances that will also feature pre-shows each evening at the adjacent Garcia’s. With signs of spring finally starting to emerge in the Northeast, one of the more iconic jam bands of the region will help turn the calendar from March to April with three nights of electronica-infused music.

    This weekend will see The Disco Biscuits reach the “Double Digit” Club for shows at The Capitol Theatre with the last one on Saturday, April 2 being their eleventh show overall at this fabled venue. The band first played here in March of 2016 on a two-night run, with a rendition of “Helicopters” started on the first night and finished the next evening. The first show also featured the lone (to date) cover of Carl Carlton’s “She’s A Bad Mama Jama.”

    The Disco Biscuits followed this up the next year with a three-night run at the Capitol Theatre from April 27 to 29. This time, it was “Shem-Rah-Boo” that was spread across the first two nights, with the first night also featuring a monstrous “House Dog Party Favor” to close out the second set. The following night sees one of the earlier versions of “The Champions” played and the last night’s first set gets capped off in grand fashion with a particularly spirited “Confrontation” > “Rock Candy (unfinished)” > “Confrontation” sequence of events.

    The last time the Disco Biscuits graced the stage of The Capitol Theatre was in 2019 with yet another three-night run spanning January 31 – February 2. This run is probably best known for the last night as the Biscuits paid homage to their jam fore fathers The Grateful Dead who played plenty a memorable show here and started the show with a completely unexpected bust out of “Help On The Way” > “Slipknot!” > “Franklin’s Tower.” The last night also featured an inverted “Shelby Rose” and a sublime jam emerging from a first set “Shem” that seamlessly flowed into the beginning of “Cyclone.”

    The band is surely guaranteed to only add to their own legacy at The Cap and it all starts each night with thee free pre-shows that start as soon as doors open. PEAK kicks off the weekend on Thursday, March 31, Microcave jams on Friday, April 1, and Sweeping Views spins some far out dance tracks on Saturday, April 2.

    Attendees need a ticket to The Disco Biscuits shows to attend the pre-shows! Tickets are still available for purchase here.

  • Sad Summer Fest 2022 Presented by Journeys

    Sad Summer Fest presented by Journeys features a variety of artists and local bands including Neck Deep, MayDay Parade, and more. This unforgettable event will make stops in New York City at Pier 17 on July 22nd, and at the Stone Pony Summer Stage July 29th

    When asked what message he has for fans ahead of the summer tour, vocalist of Waterparks Awsten Knight writes, “I am ready to step around in the mud and get huge. If you see me doing push-ups in the parking lot do not approach me Lucas will tackle you OUT! Saddie summer will be my baddie summer better watch out because I get MOODY in the summer!! See you soon.” 

    “We’re stoked to be on Sad Summer this year!” says Neck Deep lead singer Ben Barlow. “We really can’t wait for another American summer, ripping a few heavy gigs, making the most of the sunshine and closing your night out with a show you’ll never forget.”  

    Mayday Parade will co-headline Sad Summer Fest for the second time, coming back this time with their latest music in the setlist. The band released their most recent album “What It Means to Fall Apart” in November and has spent the start of 2022 taking those new songs on the road, as well as performing songs from their self-titled album in celebration of its eleventh anniversary. Speaking on the band’s return to the Sad Summer Fest stage, lead singer Derek Sanders says, “We’re happy to have the opportunity to play such a great tour with so many wonderful bands. We look forward to seeing so many of you out there, it’s gonna be a wild summer.”  

    Journeys is excited to partner with Sad Summer Fest again this year. Connecting with our consumers and employees through live music events has always been a huge part of our identity as a brand. The ongoing partnership between Sad Summer Fest and Journeys has allowed us to come together to create a memorable and safe experience for fans that were missing live music and the face to face connection with their favorite artists.

    Kari Irons, Journeys, Senior Vice President of Marketing 

    Tickets will officially go on sale March 24th at 10am local time, for purchase here.

    SAD SUMMER FEST 2022 PRESENTED BY JOURNEYS

    July 8 – Sacramento, CA – Heart Health Park @ Cal Expo 

    July 9 – Anaheim, CA – City National Grove Outdoors 

    July 12 – Dallas, TX – Gilley’s 

    July 13 – Houston, TX – Lawn @ White Oak Music Hall 

    July 15 – Orlando, FL – Orlando Amphitheater at the Central Florida Fair 

    July 16 – Atlanta, GA – Coca Cola Roxy 

    July 19 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE Outdoors 

    July 20 – Pontiac, MI – Crofoot Outdoors 

    July 22 – New York, NY – The Rooftop @ Pier 17 

    July 23 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium Outdoors 

    July 24 – Baltimore, MD – MECU Pavilion 

    July 26 – Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live Outdoors 

    July 27 – Newport, KY – Ovation 

    July 29 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage 

    July 30 – Philadelphia, PA – Skyline Stage @ the Mann 

    August 2 – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica 

    August 3 – Lewiston, NY – ArtPark Amphitheater 

    August 5 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave/Eagles Ballroom 

  • Happy Birthday, Lady Gaga!

    Happy Birthday, Lady Gaga! Born on March 28, 1986, in Yonkers, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta aka Lady Gaga is one of the most successful pop stars in the world. She grew up in the city with her parents Cynthia and Joseph Germanotta, with her younger sister Natali. Taking her name from the song Radio Ga-Ga by Queen, Gaga has shown her versatility from being in the film and music industries, with multiple number one hits and nominations to show for it.

    lady gaga
    Lady Gaga at the SAG Awards for film House of Gucci.

    Gaga learned how to play the piano at the age of four, and At the age of 11, she was accepted to the Juilliard School in Manhattan but she instead attended a private Catholic school in the city. She wrote her first piano ballad at 13, and at age 14 she had her first performance at a New York nightclub.

    Her debut album The Fame and single “Just Dance” received both popular and commercial acclaim, and “Just Dance” was nominated for a Grammy Award. Although it didn’t win, it reached number one on the charts. The second single off of the album “Poker Face” went to the top of the charts in every category and country in 2009.

    In 2010, she released her album Fame Monster, then in 2011 released yet another critically acclaimed album Born This Way. In 2013, she released another album titled Artpop. One of the highlights of her career thus far was working with Tony Bennett on the jazz album Cheek To Cheek. The album won a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. She performed at Super Bowl 50 in 2016. Also in 2016, Gaga released her fifth studio album, Joanne, her fourth number one album in the United States.

    In 2017, she announced she had signed for a Las Vegas residency. She performed two separate shows over 27 dates: Lady Gaga Enigma, a collection of her most popular songs, and Lady Gaga Jazz & Piano, which had stripped-down versions of her greatest hits. In 2020, she released her sixth studio album Chromatica, which hit high on the charts, and had the number one single “Rain On Me” with Ariana Grande.

    lady gaga
    Lady Gaga at her residency, photo by Getty Images.

    For films and TV shows, she has done a lot. In 2016, she earned a Golden Globe for her portrayal of The Countess in American Horror Story: Hotel. Also in 2016, she was cast to play Ally in A Star Is Born, which grossed an impressive $400 million globally. She and her co-star Bradley Cooper received Golden Globe, Grammy and Oscar win for their duet song “Shallow.” In 2021, she played Patrizia Reggiani in House of Gucci and has won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress.

    Lady Gaga proves she is not done yet in her outstanding career, and she continues to deliver number one hits and be who she truly is, a star.

  • Dee Snider Releases Video in Support of Ukraine

    Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider releases new video for his song “Stand” in support of Ukraine.

    Dee Snider
    Photo Credit: Randy Frieder

    The video is retitled “Stand (with Ukraine)”. The new version includes live footage from the conflict currently going on in Ukraine.

    About a week ago, it hit me that the song “Stand” from my last Napalm Records album, ‘Leave a Scar’, fit the crisis in Ukraine perfectly. I just couldn’t get around how well the lyrics resonated. So, I had a couple of incredibly talented people, Scott Pitek and Steve Sage Goldberg, cut together a new video using some live concert footage and news clips. The result is devastating.

    Dee Snider

    The idea for the new music video came after someone reached out to Snider to tell him that Ukrainians were using Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” as a battle cry.

    “About a month ago, someone on social media told me people in Ukraine were using Twisted Sister’s ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ as a battle cry and asked if I was cool with it,” said Snider. “Of course I was.”

    Snider gained significant media attention after a tweet endorsing the use of “We’re Not Gonna Take It” as a pro Ukraine anthem went viral. Since then, Dee Snider contributed to relief fund World United Live to raise awareness and money for the victims of the conflict in Ukraine.

    “At [World United Live] we have been beating the drum for the free world to come together not only in support of Ukraine and condemnation of Putin, but in sending a message to the Russian people that they are misinformed and not being told the truth,” explained Snider.

    The organization is planning a benefit concert in support of Ukraine that it hopes will be the world’s largest.