The Empire State Youth Orchestra has appointed Etienne Abelin as new Music Director. Abelin is from Basel, Switzerland and was described as a “post-classical pioneer” by BBC Music Magazine.
Etienne Abelin was appointed the new Music Director of the ESYO on March 7, 2022.
“Etienne possesses that rare combination of brilliant vision and compassionate empathy,” said Rebecca Calos, Executive Director of the ESYO. “Our students were captivated from his first moment in rehearsal and since then they have been abuzz about his creative energy and passion.”
Prior to joining the ESYO, Abelin worked with renowned, Italian composer Claudio Abaddo. During his tenure with Abaddo he was selected as a founding member of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra.
Holding numerous degrees Abelin brings a breadth of experiences to his new role. He is a classically trained violinist, who studied at the Musik-Akademie Basel, Indiana University, and at Oberlin College. He also studied conducting at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Delaware. Finally, he also holds an Executive MBA from the University of St Gallen in Switzerland.
His latest venture was, Music-Eyes, a non-profit that created an educational tech platform that helped teach music animation. That same innovative spirit will serve him well as ESYO looks to open a new chapter after that difficulties it faced during the pandemic.
“There are many fascinating developments in music and music education today, and I’m especially looking towards integrating with other music genres and art forms, particularly through technology. I’m excited to help position ESYO as an incubator for new collaborations and for new ways of connecting our young musicians with local communities,” said Abelin.
Southern soul rockers St. Paul and The Broken Bones made their debut at NYC’s famed Beacon Theatre this past Friday, March 11th. The band is still fresh off the release the excellent new album The Alien Coast; their fourth LP and first on ATO Records.
St. Paul and The Broken Bones at The Beacon Theatre, 3/11/22. Photo by Buscar Photo
Their most experimental record to date, The Alien Coast features psychedelic transitions and textures backed by singer Paul Janeway’s signature, soulful voice. The Beacon Theatre is known for it’s beauty and near magical acoustics; features Paul took full advantage of by climbing to the balcony during “Sanctify” and belting out the lyrics into the packed sold-out room.
St. Paul and The Broken Bones played a career spanning set at The Beacon Theatre. The band opened the show with three straight tracks off The Alien Coast, including hit single “The Last Dance,” and the night ended with a loud sing-along to Half The City favorite “Call Me.” St. Paul relished in the appreciation received from the Beacon crowd and returned the favor with such an extensive set.
Paul Janeway of St. Paul and The Broken Bones. Photo by Buscar Photo
St. Paul and The Broken Bones have a lengthy tour schedule ahead. The solo headline dates continue into mid-May before beginning a co-headline run with Fitz & The Tantrums. Those shows take place in June and then St. Paul head over the Europe for a short run of shows. Head over to the band’s website to see the full itinerary and check out NYS Music’s full photo gallery from The Beacon Theatre below.
Connecticut jam band Goose came to Cleveland and played to a packed house at the Agora Theater on Thursday, March 9th. They wasted little time before venturing deep into improvisational territory as the opening “Tumble” stretched out to nearly 30 minutes. Three well placed covers kept the audience on their toes including Father John Misty’s “Writing a Novel.” While the second set featured “Use Me” by Bill Withers and finally they encored with Devo’s “Whip It,” which included Jon ‘Coach’ Lombardi on rainstick.
Electroacoustic duo Vessels to Motherland have recently released their debut album, Machine Lieder. The project transports listeners into the world of machines and engulfs them in a brand new environment.
Machine Lieder has an impressive, well thought out back story that allows listeners to truly sink into the project and visualize what they hear. Created by machines, this collection of songs combines human emotions with cold metal shells and expresses the complexity of the modern world.
Vessels to Motherland consists of composer, producer and pianist, Danica Borisavljevic and composer, producer and violinist Nikita Morozov. The experience gained from being classically trained has created the base from which their ideas blossom and evolve.
The NYC duo have recently collaborated with the NY Institute for the Humanities and Social Studies to found “NYC Keyboard Fest”, a one day festival focused on showcasing keyboard performances.
‘Rusty’ serves as the album’s transition between its more minimal beginning and the intensity of its later tracks. An almost sullen mundanity settles in the listeners mind as they are exposed to the inner toil of the machines. It passes as quickly as it comes.
‘Terminal Circuit’ brings you deeper into this new universe as the otherworldly sound continues to craft the story around you. It almost feels as though tension is building inside you as you get further into the song. Pressure builds and then suddenly vanishes as the song ends with one final synthetic wail.
‘Tghtr’ is the last song on the album and serves as the perfect ending to the strange journey Vessels to Motherland has taken you on. Lowkey synths intertwine with the hypnotizing beat until heavy distortion pushes you out near the very end of the track.
Machine Lieder is available now on all streaming platforms, as well as Bandcamp.
The Rochester Lilac Festival has announced 11 headliners set to perform free shows at the 2022 festival. This marks the return of the live music concert series since 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, renowned musical acts will be performing to an estimated 500,000 visitors every day of the festival from May 6-8, May 12-15, and May 19-22. This year’s festival will highlight more than 85 musical sets over the course of the three weekends, and there will be many supporting acts throughout the day with performances from the music programs of local schools.
Festival Organizer Jeff Springut said he is very excited to bring the festival back.
Safely bringing back our beloved free live music concert series is something that we have looked forward to since the start of the pandemic. We have a great mix this year of national and local favorites, and we’re excited to see the lawn come alive once again in 2022 while guests enjoy the performances planned by our talented lineup.
Each Sunday evening from 7-9pm you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up and coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music from, Laveda, Architrave, We’re History, and many more!
WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.
Laveda – “bb”
On their 2020 debut album What Happens After, Laveda draw a post-apocolyptic landscape through layers of colorful sound and ethereal melodies. The band fuses polished pop song clarity with a 90’s guitar driven sound reminiscent of groups like The Sundays or my bloody valentine. Founding members “Jacob Brooks and Ali Genevich explore the great yawning unknown. From the freedom and uncertainty that rests at your fingertips or the distant and possibly desolate future, they capture adolescent restlessness with big walls of sound and a dreamy melodious warble” writes Toronto based blog Ohestee. NYC’s Look At My Records! calls Laveda “a young band with a fully realized voice and perspective, and What Happens After couldn’t feel timelier.”
Architrave – “Twitch of the Wing”
Architrave have shared “Twitch of the Wing” which is part of compliation of music to support the Ukrainian people. Order here and listen below.
We’re History -”Punk Rock Roots”
Remember when your favorite punk rock songs were always stuck in your head? It seemed like those days were about to fade into history. But we’ve got some news for ya. We’re History is here to save the day.We’re History is a pop punk band bringing you tight, fast-paced, rage-dance your problems away rock music, rounded out with infectious vocal melodies that force you to sing along. Listen on repeat and you will not be disappointed. Add a song to your punk rock playlist and your friends will be impressed. Take a deep dive into the lyrical inspiration of Tim’s soul and you will end up depressed, but that’s just part of the punk experience
And here we are at Round 3 of NYS Music’s March Madness 2022. Below you’ll find 8 matchups between 16 bands and artists from across New York State, from numerous genres, all on the rise and ready to make a name for themselves.
Since 2015, New York State Music has crafted a March Madness competition that spans all the musical harbors of the Empire State. As fans and musicians, the NYS Music team aims to spotlight the great talent found across New York in a friendly contest, bringing broader attention to the next generation of artists and bands on the rise. March Madness 2022 highlights 64 bands and artists you might not know, but should know, as these homegrown talents are making waves through the New York State. Check out Round 2 here.
Enter your email address, meet the bands and artists below, and vote for your favorites!
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Bearsville Theater Region
Ampevenevs Thanks!
Ampevene from Albany are a fresh, experimental fusion of original Progressive Rock, Psychedelic, and other genres. Ampevene’s music represents an amalgam of the mayhem of Mars Volta, the psychedelic sounds of Pink Floyd, the hypnotic trance-like quality of Tool, and the funk of a Frusciante-Chili Pepper jam. Watch them perform “Valencia” at Putnam Place in Saratoga Springs, below.
Thanks! is a six-piece rock outfit from Saratoga Springs, NY. Their style mixes influences of Blues, Alternative, Rock and Jazz together to create a unique and exciting sound. With melodic bass lines, jazz-infused drums, strong horn lines and roaring saxophone laced with deep, gritty vocals, Thanks! leaves audiences with a performance to remember each and every time they hit the stage. Check out their latest single, “I Choose You” and check out some of their other live performances on their website www.thebandthanks.com. You can also catch Thanks! live at Rockwood Music Hall on 3/24 and at Rare Form Brewing Co. in Troy on 3/26! Thanks! will also be hosting the Martin Family Benefit Concert on 4/3 at Putnam Place in Saratoga Springs!
Fine Grain vs Frank Palangi
Red pill or blue pill? Fine Grain took both with a Genny and got banned from Trader Joe’s. The girthy tones of this gritty, shoegazy punk band from Albany will remind you of late nights on a stoop in September, your first beer after work, weird questions about your parents cephalopods, and of course, the crushing weight of capitalism. Listen to their 2021 album Missing Adult below.
Frank Palangi is an indie rock artist from Queensbury, with a fuel and passion that makes his deep and gritty rock a must listen. Combine his vibrato voice and charismatic charm, and you’ve got a rock legend in the making. Palangi’s mission statement is “I have no plan B in backing down on my dreams.” FRANK PALANGI EP V is out now out all major platforms.
Voting for Round 3 has closed. Stay tuned for Round 4 starting on Wednesday, March 16 at 10am!
Funk n Waffles Region
Glass Pony vs Sydney Irving and the Mojo
Glass Pony, a jam band out of Albany have developed a unique sound in the past few years, with a wide array of originals with danceable grooves, unique setlists and compelling improv. Check out their most recent single “Daydream” below.
Sydney Irving and the Mojo, based in Syracuse, features 18 year old Sydney Irving, who has been named the 2020 young adult artist of the year by the International Singer Songwriters Assocation, where she will perform this summer in Atlanta, GA. Her band ‘The Mojo’ includes Evan Tennant on drums, Luke Hart on Lead Guitar and Randy Tennant on Bass. They’ll be performing across New York and three other states this summer. Sydney received the Brian Bourke Award for Best New Artist at the 2022 Syracuse Area Music Awards. Catch the band at Turning Stone Casino “The Gig” on March 26 and Turning Stone Casino “Turquoise Tiger” on April 1. Watch “Seasons Change” below.
Gooseberry vs Logan Whaley Band
Gooseberry is a 4-piece band from Brooklyn, born during the Fall of 2019. Their combination of blues, R&B, and indie rock is a recipe for a unique sound that Gooseberry delivers in each song. Listen to their recently released single “Sleep” below.
Logan Whaley Band from Long Island is a culmination of the best material & musicians Logan has written & met over the last 8 years since graduating from Music School. His music can be best described as having old-school sensibilities with a new-school vibe. He released his debut album “On The Cusp” in 2021. Watch the video for their latest single “Funky Tonight” below.
Voting for Round 3 has closed. Stay tuned for Round 4 starting on Wednesday, March 16 at 10am!
DSP Shows Region
Josh Casano vs. Seize Atlantis
Josh Casano is a local acoustic artist who has been performing in the Capital Region for almost 8 years. Along with covers, Josh incorporates his own writing into each performance. He holds a degree in Music Education from The College of Saint Rose focused on classical guitar, voice, and piano. Josh is currently fronting the group Josh Casano & the Fam. Catch him at The Strand Theatre in Hudson Falls on April 21 at 7pm. Listen to “You Said Hi” below.
Fueled by punchy bass, hard-driving percussion, melodic lead guitar, and pronounced moody vocals with meaningful lyrics, a truly dynamic range of soft to heavy Alternative Rock defines the unique, tight sound of Seize Atlantis. Formed in 2019 out of Glens Falls in upstate New York, Seize Atlantis is a four-piece band most closely influenced by bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam, providing their own spin on a variety of covers from classic rock to modern pop in addition to their own original music. Watch “The Unstoppable Groove” below.
Jess Novak vs All poets and heroes
Jess Novak takes no prisoners, performing with a fiddle on fire, powerful vocals and a fierce band behind her. The leader of a pop, rock, soul-pumped group from Syracuse brings passion to every performance, with energy, superb musicianship, engaging songwriting and ability to win any crowd. Coming up Jess Novak will be opening for The Aardvarks in Bethlehem, PA on Saturday, March 12 at the Steel Stacks and on Saturday, March 19 at ONCO Fermentations in Tully, NY. Watch her latest video “Shade” below.
In the summer of 2015, Rob McCall & Corey Jordan met and founded All Poets & Heroes out of their hometown of Syracuse. That summer, the duo began crafting a sound that explored resonating folk melodies with that of the sensible nostalgia that filled the 90s alternative music scene. Since then, the duo has grown into a full-fledged band developing towards an introspective project that aims to challenge listeners to feel, and to feel deeply. Listen to Occhiolism below.
Voting for Round 3 has closed. Stay tuned for Round 4 starting on Wednesday, March 16 at 10am!
The Helping Friendly Hemp Company Region
Jennie Angel vs HANZOLO
Jennie Angel is an actress in the Hudson Valley who recently rediscovered her love for music. Started playing the guitar when she was 16 and has been singing she was born, now performing popular country hits! Jennie has most recently been added as a member of the Academy of Country Music and will be attending the awards show in March. She’ll perform on April 9 at Karl Hall in Wilkes-Barre, PA, on May 14 at a benefit for St. Jude’s in Montgomery, NY, and on June 3 at The Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie. She also goes live in TikTok quite often. Listen to her new single “Move On” below.
HANZOLO is a 7-piece band from Upstate New York, toting an explosive and emotional sound that mixes soul, jazz, rock, and funk. Their songs are dance-ably fun with thoughtful lyrics, backed up by a bright horn section. The band’s website contains videos and upcoming tour dates. Watch the video for “Not Easy” below.
METASEQUOIA vsBig Time Kitty
METASEQUOIA sprouted in 2007, taking root in Ithaca and is getting set to release their new album In The Redwoods in April and partnered with their label, New Vine Records. Following the release, they will be trekking on an album tour, with dates set from April – August in CNY, Massachusetts, Connecticut and surrounding areas. Tour dates and cities to be announced soon! Listen to Trilling below.
Big Time Kitty (B.T.K.). Is a funky ass two man band based out of the Adirondacks. Their SoundCloud page gives you a taste of both their original hits and cover selections like “2001” and “Tubthumping.”
Voting for Round 3 has closed. Stay tuned for Round 4 starting on Wednesday, March 16 at 10am!
NYS Music has partnered with businesses across New York State to highlight these 64 up and coming bands. Regional sponsors include Funk n Waffles, a premiere music venue in Syracuse established in 2007 with a unique take on the culinary and entertainment industries, offering a wide variety of gourmet waffles and breakfast food, as well as offering live music every night! Bearsville Theater in Woodstock is where Americana was born – where Dylan took folk music and married it to Rock & Roll. where folk went electric, and where Janis took a breath and recuperated, before launching her hurricane energy and heart stopping songs out into the world. Renovated in 2019-2020, Bearsville Theater has an impressive calendar of shows for Hudson Valley music lovers.
DSP Showsbased in Ithaca, NY and Northampton, MA, is one of the leading independent concert promoters in America, with shows at venues including State Theatre of Ithaca, Hangar Theatre, The Haunt, Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, Brewery Ommegang, Asbury Hall, The 9th Ward at Babeville, and Daryl’s House among others. The Helping Friendly Hemp Companyoffers a wide variety of industry leading products including tinctures, soft chews, and hemp flower, using only USA grown hemp extract.
The winners of each region will be rewarded with a collection of prizes worth $3000. Partners for NYS Music’s March Madness 2022 include Mirth Filmsfrom Albany, a music news/entertainment outlet that specializes in original video content and live streaming, with news coverage ranging across the whole country, who will provide a professional multi-camera recording session at a prestigious venue in Albany for the winning band, premiering exclusively on Mirth Films.
The XPerience Monthly is the greater Capital Region’s alt-monthly newspaper, bringing independent music and thought provoking articles to the area. The XPerience Monthly will feature the winning band in a newspaper profile and interview this summer.
The American Symphony Orchestra will be lead by music director Leon Botstein on March 24 in a tribute to the great Duke Ellington. The Duke Ellington tribute will be an all-Ellington symphonic concert at Carnegie Hall. The event will also feature American jazz pianist, Marcus Roberts and Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist Catherine Russell.
The performance was originally scheduled for March of 2020 but had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. In response to the pandemic, Marcus Roberts collaborated with the ASO on the short filmtitled United We Play which released in December of 2020. The film features three world premieres commissioned by the ASO and composed by Roberts.
Duke Ellington employs a unique blend of classical and jazz compositional techniques that also combine improvisation with written works. As a result, this makes him one of the most influential jazz composers of all time.
Featured acts for the March 24th tribute concert include Leon Botstein, conductor Marcus Roberts Trio Marcus Roberts, Pianist, Rodney Jordan, Bassist, Jason Marsalis, Drummer, Catherine Russell, singer All-Ellington program Black, Brown, and Beige Suite (Arr. Maurice Peress) Satin Doll (Arr. Chuck Israels) Harlem (Arr. Luther Henderson & Maurice Peress) Sophisticated Lady (Arr. Morton Gould) Night Creature for Jazz Band and Orchestra (Arr. Luther Henderson, Ed. Gunther Schuller) New World A Comin’ (Arr. Maurice Peress) Three Black Kings (Completed by Mercer Ellington, Arr. Luther Henderson)
Tickets are available at carnegiehall.org. You can also visit the box office at 57th St & 7th Ave.
See Plus, an indie-pop band from Rutherford, NJ, shines through on their new release, “The Sun.” For some people, despite the warm days, sunny skies, and perfect beach days, summer can be a depressing time filled with heartache and desolation.
See Plus highlights this feeling with immaculate precision. Containing sunny vibrant chords, intimate lyrics on heartbreak, and charming percussion, the four-piece band shows that they can create indie bangers on the level of their contemporaries. “The Sun” is a must-have for any indie beach playlist this summer.
The band is no stranger to the New York scene. Before the pandemic, the band played in city venues like Arlene’s Grocery, The Bitter End, and The Knitting Factory. With live music returning, they will be playing two shows in New Jersey. The first of these shows will be Debonair Music Hall on March 13th and the second of which will be at Ramapo College of New Jersey on March 22nd.
With over 150,000 streams on Spotify, 2500 followers on Instagram, and a growing discography, See Plus is an indie quartet to keep an eye on. “The Sun” is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube. For more information on the band, visit the band’s website.
Sound Mind Live have announced their fourth annual Sound Mind Music Festival for Mental Health. The event will take place outside on May 21st at 4 PM in New York City’s Central Park. Performances include Cold War Kids, Big Boi, American Authors, KAMAUU, Wrabel, and Allison Russell. The event will be hosted by Bronx-raised comedian Gina Brillon.
Cold War Kids
As brought into the public eye, the coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on a lot of people’s wellbeing and mental health. This year, the Sound Mind Music Festival for Mental Health will focus on the mental impact that this virus has imprinted on us. Artists will have the opportunity to share their own pandemic experiences and information will be readily available including mental health resources, suicide prevention resources, and self-care practices.
Leading up to the event, Sound Mind Live will also host an open panel about mental health at Prime Produce Social Impact Cooperative on West 54th Street. Wrabel, ELSZ, and Pronoun will also perform stripped-down performances of their sets. The event will go deep into mental health struggles in the LGBTQ+ community, communities of color, and the music industry. The event is free and will begin at 5:30 PM. Those who are interested must register on the Sound Mind Live website beforehand.
Two items will also be raffled off, a microphone signed by Big Boi and a drumhead signed by Cold War Kids. By signing a petition for improved crisis services, you will be granted three entries. Moreover, every dollar donated to Sound Mind Live grants you ten entries.
For the first time, those unable to catch the event live can watch a live stream on TikTok. Tickets for the event go on sale Friday, March 11th at 10 AM ET. General admission tickets will cost $40 and VIP tickets will cost $149.50. For more information, go to www.soundmindlive.org.
