NYS Music 202​2

Category: Regions

  • 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

    Photo by Ambika Verma
    Photo by Ambika Verma
    Photo by Ambika Verma
    Photo by Ambika Verma
    Photo by Ambika Verma
    Photo by Ambika Verma

  • Cobblestone Live Music & Arts Festival Announces Daily Lineup and Schedule For 4th Annual Event

    The Cobblestone Live Music & Arts Festival is preparing for its 4th annual event with over 16 artists in Buffalo’s Historic Cobblestone District on July 15 and 16.

    For this event there will be four stages: the main outdoor stage will be located on the corner of South Park Ave & Illinois Street, the second will be on Columbia Street, the third is located inside of Buffalo Iron Works, and the fourth stage is inside Lockhouse Distillery & Bar.

    For the past 10 years the Historic Cobblestone District has been a neighborhood full of live music, entertainment and has paved the foundation of Cobblestone Live bars, restaurants and venues; with the goal being to grow each year until this festival is national-sized.

    Following the events of the last two years, we are thrilled to announce that we are coming back bigger and better than ever this year. With the birth of Twenty6 Productions in 2020, we have resources that we haven’t had in previous years – which shows in the lineup and will certainly be evident at the festival itself for years to come.

    Festival Director and Twenty6 Productions CEO Josh Holtzman

    Advanced tickets are discounted: the two-day general access is $40, while the single-day general access is $25. There are also VIP tickets: the two-day access is $175 and the single-day access is $100. However, the day of the festival tickets are $50 for both days and $30 for one. Additionally, the VIP ticket for both days is $200 while the single-day ticket is $125. VIP passes consist of extra amenities such as private areas, front-of-stage viewing, a premium bar with craft beverages, lounge area and more.

    For more information and to acquire tickets visit the Cobblestone Live website.

    THE COBBLESTONE LIVE 2022 LINEUP

    Misterwives
    Pigeons Playing Ping Pong
    Andy Frasco & The UN
    The Hip Abduction
    Doom Flamingo
    Mihali of Twiddle
    Alanis Morissette Tribute ft. former members of Turkuaz
    Dirty Work [Steely Dan Tribute] ft. members of Aqueous & The Sideways
    Funktional Flow
    SE2 Silent Disco [Alt, Hip Hop, 2K Pop]
    Workingman’s Dead
    Grub
    Canetis
    Mom Said No
    The Sideways
    Grace Greenan

  • 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.

    dead and company summer tour
    Dead and Company – November 11, 2015 – Buffalo, NY. Photo by Tom Sgroi

    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.

    dead and company summer tour
    Dead and Company – August 20, 2021, Citi Field, Queens – Photo by Steve Malinski

    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

  • Country-Roots musician Jim Miller Passes Away Unexpectedly

    Guitarist, songwriter, and singer Jim Miller of the band Western Centuries passed away unexpectedly from cardiac arrest while on tour in Boston last week. Miller was 69 years old and his passing has been felt hard on the Americana and acoustic roots musical communities. Outside of his songwriting in Western Centuries, known for its biting social commentary and insightful phrasing, Jim Miller was a founding member of Americana pioneers Donna the Buffalo and also collaborated with musicians like Dirk Powell, Rosie and Richie Stearns, Jim Lauderdale, Ginny Hawker, and Tim O’Brien. 

    Western Centuries was formed around three very different, but complimentary, songwriters: Jim with Cahalen Morrison and Ethan Lawton from Seattle. At live shows, the three would trade instruments, swap leads, and share the stage in a manner unusual for most Americana and country bands. Part of this stemmed from Miller, who loved to perform, but was always humble and soft-spoken about his own contributions to the music and the community. 

    Jim Miller was born in Boston in 1953 and lived for a time in Colorado. As a child, he spent much of his boyhood on the Canadian prairies around Saskatchewan, singing in the Saskatoon Boys Choir and getting introduced to roots music through his parents. An early experience at a Jimi Hendrix concert and exposure to the folk music concert series at Yale University brought Miller deeper into the fold. He later formed Donna the Buffalo with Tara Nevins in graduate school and was a key member of the band for fifteen years, touring heavily throughout the country. Miller cut five albums with Donna the Buffalo and was a key part of their early sound.

    He was also a respected lepidopterist (scientist who studies moths and butterflies), earning a PhD from Cornell University. Though he toured all across the United States and over to the United Kingdom and Europe with Western Centuries, his lifelong quest for understanding moths took him to even further corners of the globe; he was especially an expert on moths in South America. In addition to all the music fans left mourning by Miller’s passing, there are also many in academia who are speaking now in remembrance of how he influenced them directly and encouraged their careers.

    Miller ended up meeting Cahalen Morrison and Ethan Lawton at jam sessions around the town after moving to Seattle. The three formed Western Centuries as a way to explore an urban nexus of country that drew from their own roving influences, like Morrison’s Southwest origins, Lawton’s interest in early soul and reggae, and Miller’s groove-laden history of song building. The band recorded four albums with Free Dirt Records with their most recent album, Call the Captain, released in 2020 and called “truly diverse” by Rolling Stone Magazine. The band had just finished recording a new album when Miller tragically passed away.

    Jim Miller

  • 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.

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

  • 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.