Category: NYC Metro

  • In Focus: Amayo Debuts New Band at BAMcafé in Brooklyn

    On Saturday, November 19, Duke Amayo, former lead singer of Antibalas, returned to New York City after taking time at home in Nigeria. It was there that he performed at Felebration Festival over October 10-16, launching his career as “Amayo,” a name which means “If you don’t go, you never know.”

    amayo

    The free show at BAMcafé in Brooklyn featured Amayo’s new band, featuring some of the original Antibalas members, of which he was frontman for 23 years. In the course of bringing Afrobeat to a global audience, channeling Fela Kuti as he celebrates the genre of Afrobeat.

    It was true when I first came to America at age 17, when I first joined Antibalas, when I departed the band, and now for my pilgrimage back home with some of the original Antibalas members and friends performing in Nigeria for the first time.

    Amayo

    Amayo is dedicated to his rich Nigerian heritage and martial arts teachings, merging Chinese and African rhythms. Amayo sings traditional Yoruba and Edo lyrics and is joined by a band featuring chekere, flute, violin, percussion, horn, and more, while also playing piano, electric keyboard, organ, and the gbedu spirit drum.

    photos by Ken Spielman – follow on Instagram

  • Homeward Bound: The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame to hold Grand Opening on November 25

    long island hall of fame
    Ernie Canadeo

    Thanksgiving is a time for homecomings, reminiscing, laughter and song. After 18 years, The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame will have their homecoming on November 25th in Stony Brook.

    I had the opportunity to interview Chairman Ernie Canadeo on the latest episode of The Long Island Sound Podcast. You can join the conversation right here

    The organization was formed in 2004, by educators and musicians who really, really have a passion for music. And they created it to preserve and celebrate Long Island’s musical heritage

    Ernie Canadeo

    Grand Opening

    Joan Jett

    The Hall of Fame will feature world-class displays and unique memorabilia that showcases Long Island’s rich and diverse musical and entertainment history. This past week Joan Jett’s classic Jaguar will be on display along with other donated memorabilia from Billy Joel, Twisted Sister, The Good Rats, Debbie Gibson, Blue Oyster Cult, and from the families and estates of Harry Chapin, Guy Lombardo, John Coltrand and so many more. 

    The Hall of Fame and Museum is open Wednesdays-Sundays from noon to 5pm. The first exhibit, created by world-renowned designer Kevin O’Callaghan, is titled “Long Island’s Legendary Club Scene – 1960’s-1980’s and is designed to be “a club crawl” through  Long Island’s legendary 60’s, 70’s and 80’s club scene. 

    The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) is dedicated to preserve Long Island’s musical heritage for future generations. To date the organization has inducted more than 100 musicians and music industry executives and also offers educational programs, scholarships, and awards to Long Island Students and educators. 

    Besides supporting future musicians, Chairman Canadeo spoke to the healing power of music and how LIMEHOF will be partnering with one of their sponsors, Catholic Health Services:

    We will be partnering on a program called Health and harmony next year, where we will be sending musicians and comedians and bold types of entertainers into senior centers into hospitals.  

    Ernie Canadeo

    During the interview on The Long Island Sound podcast Erne and I both recognized the pent up need to reconnect with the community after the quarantine and Covid. There is great pride in being a Long Islander, and recognizing the wellspring of talent in the region. I invite you to review the List of over one hundred LIMEHOF Inductees over the past years, it’s quite remarkable. 

    Grand Opening in Stony Brook

    Simon and Garfunkel (inducted 2008) and their song Homeward bound is so appropriate for the emotions surrounding this Grand Opening:

    Home, where my thought’s escaping. Home, where my music’s playing. Home, where my love’s lie waiting, silently for me, silently for me.

    Simon & Garfunkel

    Everyone needs a place to call home. Now the musician and entertainment community with roots on Long Island have a place to call home in Stony Brook. With the rotation of new exhibits, the Hall of Fame is sure to attract musicians, students, educators and those headed homeward bound. 

    During this holiday season, let’s be generous with our joy, and let the music take us on a journey.

  • Goose Announce Five Shows in March at Capitol Theatre

    Amid their current tour with Trey Anastasio Band, Goose has announced their first shows in six years at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, and they’re going big for it. Over March 8-12, Goose will play 5 consecutive nights, adding to the band’s historic rise, and the extensive history of The Cap.

    Goose Capitol Theatre

    The only other time Goose played The Capitol Theatre was a single set on October 1, 2016. Here’s the setlist, via elgoose.net: Arcadia, Madhuvan, Jive I, Indian River, Creatures, Turned Clouds, So Ready, One More Saturday Night.

    Presale tickets will be available starting Thursday, November 17 at 10am through 10pm using the password TUMBLE with general on-sale beginning Friday, November 18 at 10am. $1 of each ticket sale will support Backline, a mental health and wellness resource for the music industry.

    Check out coverage of Goose with Trey Anastasio Band at Mohegan Sun and at Glens Falls this past week.

  • In Focus: Black Star at Sony Hall

    On Tuesday, November 15, Black Star took the stage at Sony Hall in Times Square for a once in a lifetime performance, presented by Blue Note Entertainment Group and co-presented by podcast platform Luminary.

    Black Star Sony Hall
    Photo by Dervon S. Dixon

    Black Star is Talib Kweli and Yasiin Bey, the internationally recognized icons of rap, activism, and entertainment. This night, they performed songs from their iconic debut Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, as well as their new album No Fear Of Time, which was released after an extended hiatus of nearly 25 years. In addition to the Black Star originals, they both performed hits from their individual catalogs.

    The Sony Hall show followed their SNL debut on Saturday, November 12th, where Black Star performed “So be it.”

    Photos by Dervon S. Dixon

  • Disco Biscuits Winter Tour Includes Buffalo and Albany Stops, plus 3 Nights at The Cap

    The Disco Biscuits have announced even more dates for the 2023 Winter Tour, adding 12 more shows to their previously announced shows for the new year. Included in the tour dispatch is a show at Town Ballroom in Buffalo on Thursday, January 19 and The Palace Theatre in Albany on February 3. This follows word that they will make their annual return to the Capitol Theatre over March 23-25, 2023.

    The Philly group have played the Port Chester venue 11 times previously, most recently March 31 through April 2, 2022.

    The spring shows are the first U.S. dates for The Disco Biscuits in 2023, with a TranceAtlantic music event held in Reykjavík, Iceland, over May 20 through 22. They’ll wrap up the year in Chicago with three nights at the Riviera Theatre.

    Disco Biscuits Winter Tour 2023

    1/18 – House of Blues Cleveland – Cleveland OH
    1/19 – Town Ballroom – Buffalo NY
    1/20 – Penn’s Peak – Jim Thorpe PA
    1/21 – Penn’s Peak – Jim Thorpe PA
    2/1 – Higher Ground – Burlington VT
    2/2 – Higher Ground – Burlington VT
    2/3 – Palace Theatre – Albany NY
    2/4 – The Anthem – Washington DC
    3/10 – The Caverns – Pelham TN
    3/11 – The Caverns – Pelham TN
    3/12 – The Caverns – Pelham TN
    3/23 – Capitol Theatre – Port Chester NY
    3/24 – Capitol Theatre – Port Chester NY
    3/25 – Capitol Theatre – Port Chester NY
    3/29 – Belly Up, Aspen – Aspen CO
    3/30 – Belly Up, Aspen – Aspen CO
    3/31 – Mission Ballroom – Denver CO
    4/1 – Mission Ballroom – Denver CO

    Read more on the Disco Biscuits history at The Cap here. Tickets for the Capitol Theatre shows are on sale here. Tickets for all the band’s newly added shows will be available on Friday, Nov. 18 at noon E.T. via discobiscuits.com

  • Maná Announes México Lindo Y Querido Tour to Continue in the U.S. With Stop at Belmont Park

    Following their record-breaking Los Angeles arena residency and their Latin America stadium run, Maná has announced the 2023 leg of their México Lindo Y Querido tour featuring 19 shows across the United States.

    The U.S. leg of the tour kicks off with two more dates of Mana’s current L.A. residency at the Kia Forum on February 10 and 11 and continues with stops in Phoenix, Houston, Miami, Chicago, including a stop at UBS Arena at Belmont Park, in Elmont, NY, on Saturday, April 22, before wrapping in Sacramento, CA, at Golden 1 Center on September 23. Tickets go on sale starting on Friday, November 18 at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster.

    Maná’s Mexico Lindo Y Querido complete tour dates

    Mexico Lindo Y Querido

    México Lindo y Querido kicked-off on June 10 in Tijuana, México. With Maná performing multiple nights in Medellin, Bogota, Puerto Rico and México. The tour is a timeless celebration of their love and admiration for Mexico and the multigenerational Latino community. The five-city México run brought the band to sold-out stadiums with over 150,000 fans. Moreover, that total includes 60,000 ecstatic fans at the prestigious Foro Sol stadium in Mexico City. In order to kick-off the announcement of their U.S. leg, MANÁ will host a launch party at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Beach, featuring a special live performance from the band. Moreover, Mexico Lindo Y Querido is a part of a three-decade run that has seen Maná amass a diverse audience of fans of all ages that continue to celebrate their music around the globe.

    The México Lindo y Querido U.S. run comes on the heels of Maná’s record-breaking residency with 12 sold-out shows and 165,000 tickets sold to date.

    Get ready, we’re coming with a brand new production and all our hits. We’re excited to be back on the road and see all our fans in the US. This isn’t just a concert tour, it’s a celebration of life.

    – Maná

    Considered one of the most influential Latin rock band in the world, Maná has transcended generations with their music. Maná — meaning positive energy in Polynesian — began in 1986 when four friends from Guadalajara came together and fused rock sounds with Latin and Caribbean rhythms. The group includes Fher Olvera as vocalist, guitarist and main composer, Alex González on drums, Sergio Vallín on lead guitar, and Juan Diego Calleros on bass.

    Maná is one of the most decorated latin groups ever

    Furthermore, the group has amassed 133 Certified Gold Albums, 256 Certified Platinum albums, 4 Grammy Awards, 9 Latin Grammys, 26 Billboard Latin Music Awards, 15 Premio Lo Nuestro Awards, and honors such as the 2018 Latin Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award & 2018 Latin Grammy Person of the Year Award and more recently the 2021 ICONO LATIN BILLBOARD Award.

    Their current collaboration project, which began in 2019, revisits some of their greatest songs, accompanied by renowned and diverse artists.

  • In Focus: State Champs at Brooklyn Steel

    Pop punk is alive and well these days. The fanbase now spans multiple generations who are selling out festivals and reunion tours all while spawning a thriving scene of up and coming bands with a new found energy and creativity. This was all on display on Sunday, November 13th at Brooklyn Steel for State Champs third show of the ‘Kings Of The New Age’ tour. The Albany-based pop punks led a deep quadruple bill also featuring California natives Hunny along with relative newcomers Young Culture and Between You & Me on support.

    state champs brooklyn steel
    State Champs, Brooklyn Steel, 11/13/22. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

    Fresh off their appearance at When We Were Young Festival (the Las Vegas pop punk festival featuring almost every band you ever heard of) State Champs were in fine form as they celebrated Kings Of The New Age, their fourth LP released back in May. Frontman Derek DiScanio and bassist Ryan Graham bounced from one side of the stage to the other, greeting a relentless stream of crowd surfers rushing the stage. The band breezed through a career-spanning, 18-song setlist with many of the new songs already becoming crowd favorite sing alongs.

    state champs brooklyn steel
    State Champs, Brooklyn Steel, 11/13/22. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

    Brooklyn Steel was only the third stop on the tour, with North American dates running until mid December. State Champs close out the stretch with a hometown show at Albany’s Empire Live on December 10th. Tickets for that show are still on sale. Check out the full photo gallery from Brooklyn below and from their last performance at Empire Live in 2021 here. Also make sure to listen to the band’s recently released acoustic singles “Act Like That” and “Outta My Head”.

  • moe. announces Winter 2023 Dates, Shows at The Paramount, Palace Theatre

    On the heels of the announcement that guitarist Chuck Garvey will be sitting-in as a “special guest” for their NYE performance, moe. has announced a short run of tour dates for Winter 2023, which will include select performances up and down the east coast.

    Beginning with three nights in NY, NJ, and DC in late January, the tour will resume with a 2-night run at the State Theatre in Portland, ME over President’s Day weekend, and an additional 2-night run at the Palace Theatre in Albany on February 24-25, coinciding with “moe.day” in Albany on 2/24. The band has yet to announce plans for Chuck to return to the band on a full-time basis following his sit-in on NYE.

    moe winter 2023
    moe. – Chuck Garvey (guitar, vocals), Rob Derhak (bass, vocals), Al Schnier (guitar, vocals), Jim Loughlin (percussion, vibes), Vinnie Amico (drums)

    The band made its long-awaited return to Colorado this month, where they played their first three-night run in nearly a year at the Fox Theater in Boulder. On the final night of the run, the band announced that Garvey, who suffered a stroke last November, would sit-in as a “special guest” for a portion of the band’s NYE performance at the Fillmore Philadelphia for the first time in over a year. The announcement came exactly one year to the day since Garvey suffered his stroke, and his return appearance is also especially significant, since the Fillmore Philadelphia was the last venue he performed at on Halloween 2022.

    Today marks the one-year anniversary of my worst day ever. I scared my wife, my family, my friends, and many of you who heard of my stroke. Thank you for your well-wishes and your donations, without which my recovery would not have happened. This year has been a really long, difficult one for me, but a rewarding one, in that I learned what a person needs to do to achieve goals. Some are basic, everyday things like speech, and some are more about universal things that I noticed about family, friends, and community that keep us all afloat. So, thank you for your help and your community. I can’t wait to see all of you where the water falls, and the music calls. I will be joining my brothers on stage in Philly, the city of brotherly love.

    Chuck Garvey’s note to fans

    The band is gearing up for the holidays with a selection of limited-edition merch, currently on-sale via the moe. online store. Offerings include “ugly” t-shirt and crewnecks sold alongside a moe. holiday ornament. For more information, click here.

    A special artist pre-sale will begin Wednesday, November 16th at 10am local time – for details click here. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, November 18th at 10am local time. For ticketing and show info, please visit moe.org/tour.

    moe 2023 Winter Tour Dates

    Thursday, January 19 – The Paramount – Huntington, NY
    Friday, January 20th – 9:30 Club – Washington, D.C.
    Saturday, January 21st – Wellmont Theater – Montclair, NJ
    Friday, February 17th – State Theatre – Portland, ME
    Saturday, February 18th – State Theatre – Portland, ME
    Friday, February 24th – Palace Theater – Albany, NY
    Saturday, February 25th – Palace Theater – Albany, NY

    Thursday, March 9th – Brooklyn Bowl – Nashville, TN
    Friday, March 10th – Mars Music Hall – Huntsville, AL
    Saturday, March 11th – Minglewood Hall – Memphis, TN
    Sunday, March 12th – Vinyl Music Hall – Pensacola, FL
    Wednesday, March 15th – Music Hall – Charleston, SC
    Thursday, March 16th – The Plaza Live – Orlando, FL
    Friday, March 17th – Culture Room – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
    Saturday, March 18th – Jannus Live – St. Petersburg, FL
    Sunday, March 19th – PV Concert Hall – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
    Tuesday, March 21st – Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC
    Wednesday, March 22nd – Jefferson Theatre – Charlottesville, VA
    Thursday, March 23rd – The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC
    Friday, March 24th – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA
    Saturday, March 25th – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA

  • Circles Around the Sun Announce “Language” Album, Tour Stops at Lark Hall and Brooklyn Bowl in January 

    Circles Around The Sun have announced their new album, Language, will release Spring 2023. The psychedelic jam band will continue their US tour by the same name, adding more dates to close out this year and into 2023, including two stops in New York — at Lark Hall in Albany and the Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn — in January of next year. 

    Circles Around The Sun

    Circles Around The Sun was founded by the late guitarist Neal Casal, when Casal was called on to record interludes for the Grateful Dead’s 2015 “Fare Thee Well” concert series. The interludes, inspired by Dead songs, were then recognized at the concerts on their own merit, prompting Circles Around The Sun’s first release: Interludes for the Dead. The band went on to record two more albums of their own sound, before Casal’s passing. On this upcoming album, Language, Adam Macdougall on keyboard and synth, Dan Horne on bass, Mark Levy on drums and John Lee Shannon on guitar have set out to oscillate through genres of disco-funk, soul jazz and psychedelic rock to create new sounds and ongoing dance jams.

    When the four reconvened in the recording studio to record their newest, it meant working through the tragedy of their founding members death, and setting out to use the framework he left them to create something beautiful and new of their own. 

    Tickets to the new legs of this tour went on sale November 11, and can be purchased here. See complete tour dates below.

    TOUR DATES

    Dec 29, 2022 – Roanoke, VA – 5 Points Music Sanctuary

    Dec 30, 2022 – Winston Salem, NC – The Ramkat

    Dec 31, 2022 – Richmond, VA – The National *

    Jan 20, 2023 – Albany, NY – Lark Hall

    Jan 21, 2023 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl

    Jan 22, 2023 – Ardmore, PA – Ardmore Music Hall

    Jan 25, 2023 – Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird Music Hall

    Jan 26, 2023 – Harrisburg, PA – XL Live

    Jan 27, 2023 – Asbury Park, NJ – Wonder Bar

    Jan 28, 2023 – Fairfield, CT – StageOne

    Jan 29, 2023 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair

    * with The Infamous Stringdusters

  • Foreigner Announce Historic Farewell Tour, Four NY Stops

    Foreigner has announced its Historic Farewell Tour, with stops at Darien Center, Saratoga Springs, Wantagh, and Syracuse.

    foreigner

    Foreigner is hailed as one of the most famous rock acts in the world, with sold-out tours and album sales now exceeding 80 million. They are responsible for some of rock and roll’s most enduring anthems including “Juke Box Hero,” “Cold As Ice,” “Hot Blooded,” “Waiting For A Girl Like You,” “Feels Like The First Time,” and worldwide #1 hit, “I Want To Know What Love Is.”

    The time has come. We have more or less lived our lives on the road for almost eighteen years.  We have always strived to give you our best and we intend to finish this the same way. Foreigner has a brilliant and increasingly demanding catalogue of songs to sing and I refuse to give them less than they deserve. So, we’re going to finish strong. I want to make it very clear how grateful and appreciative we are to our audiences all over the world who have supported this band.  I’m sure there may be occasions when we’ll do some special appearances, but I think the time is coming for us to live off the road. Thank you all so much!

    Lead singer, Kelly Hansen

    Leader and founder Mick Jones also wrote in a statement “We will be presenting a show that I know will have the same enthusiasm as our very first appearances.  The tour will start this summer in America and we hope to get to every place that we have played over the last several years.”

    Foreigner will continue its long-term initiative with the GRAMMY Museum Foundation to invite choirs to open the show with a live a cappella “Pitch Perfect” performance of Classic Rock songs. For more information about how to enter, go here

    Loverboy will be opening for the band. The group has sold more than ten million albums, earning four multi-platinum plaques, including the four-million-selling “Get Lucky,” and a trio of double-platinum releases in their self-titled 1980 debut, 1983’s Keep It Up and 1985’s Lovin’ Every Minute of It.

    The group still features the original line-up of vocalist Mike Reno, guitarist Paul Dean, drummer Matt Frenette and keyboardist Doug Johnson with bassist Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve replacing the late Scott Smith.

    Tickets to Foreigner’s Historic Farewell Tour are on sale Nov. 18 here.

    Foreigner Tour Dates

    Thu July 6               Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre

    Sat July 8                West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

    Sun July 9               Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

    Tue July 11            Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheatre

    Fri July 14              Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP

    Tue July 18            Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre

    Wed July 19           St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

    Fri July 21              Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center

    Sat July 22             Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

    Mon July 24            Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center

    Tue July 25             Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage   

    Fri July 28               Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater

    Sat July 29              Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake

    Tue August 1          Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center

    Wed August 2       Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach

    Fri August 4           Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion

    Sat August 5           Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center

    Tue August 8         Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

    Wed August 9        Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion

    Fri August 11          Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion

    Sat August 12         Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

    Mon August 14       Austin, TX – Moody Center

    Wed August 16      Denver, CO – Ball Arena

    Fri August 18         Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheater

    Sun August 20       Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion

    Mon August 21       Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheater

    Wed August 23     Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheater

    Thu August 24        Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

    Weds August 30    Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Theater

    Fri September 1     Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena

    Sat September 2   Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview

    Sun September 3   Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center