North Carolina group Toubab Krewe are back and have announced their Spring 2022 tour. Over 18 dates, the band will showcase their full potential and bring fans more of the sound they love.
The Asheville natives have made a name for themselves by mixing traditional West African music with rock, jam and Appalachian elements, resulting in a unique sound that could capture anyone’s attention. Inspiration for their music is drawn from African greats like Ali Farka Toure, Orchestra Baobab and Salif Keita, while still maintaining their own identity.
Formed in 2005, they group has spent more than ten years together, perfecting their craft and going on trips to learn more about their main source of inspiration, Africa. They have journeyed to places like Guinea, the Ivory Coast and Mali.
The group has made appearances at a number of festivals including Bonnaroo, Rothbury and even Mali’s Festival In The Desert. They also continued to make music throughout the pandemic and have filmed a PBS ‘Echo Sessions’ special which is due to air later this year.
Tickets are available on their website. All shows require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test.
Hungarian Punk-Metal band The Hellfreaks are here to prove themselves with their cover of ‘Sabotage’ by NYC legends, the Beastie Boys.
Following their recent signing to Napalm Records and the release of their single ‘Old Tomorrow,’ the group have focused on finding ways to showcase their full potential. ‘Sabotage’ serves as the kickstart to their upcoming full-length album.
The four members of the group worked hard to find a sound that would work for all of them and they struck gold after agreeing to do a Beastie Boys cover. The song perfectly encapsulates each member’s musical prowess while allowing them to incorporate their own special twist.
We love to challenge ourselves and see this mindset as the oil for our engine, that is why we decided to do something we never did before – to cover a song that represents a legendary piece of rock music history.
The Hellfreaks
Instead of recording each part of the song instrument by instrument or section by section, it was recorded with all the members together. The method of live recording ensured that they would keep the essence of the Beastie Boys without making an exact replica of their hit song. As homage to the rap icons’ hometown pride, The Hellfreaks recorded the music video in their hometown of Budapest.
‘Sabotage’ is now available on youtube, all streaming platforms and at Napalm Records.
Denver-based guitar artist Marcus Rezak has set Winter 2022 tour dates to continue his latest EP ‘Truth in Sound.’ The tour kicks off in Colorado and will will wrap up in California. Shows will feature a variety of artist including Russ Lawton, Hayley Jane, Skull & Roses Festival, and many others.
In the middle of the tour Marcus Rezak will be performing at Nanola in Malta with Shred is Dead ft. Russ Lawton & Zdenek Gubb. Rezak’s 4-track sophomore EP features artist such as Russ Lawton who will be joining him on the Winter Tour.
Recording with Marcus for his new album Truth in Sound, felt like we had been playing together for years; cool songs with deep grooves, just the way I like it.
Russ Lawton, drums (Trey Anastasio Band)
Known as a master of jazz improvisation and for the ability to command the stage during his performances brings Marcus Rezak tour ready to hit the road.
1/14 – Old Town Pub – Steamboat Springs, CO * 1/15 – Old Town Pub – Steamboat Springs, CO # 1/16 – Your Mom’s House – Denver, CO * 1/21 – Kenny’s Westside Pub – Peoria, IL – 1/22 – Bourbon on Division – Chicago, IL % 2/4 – Whiteside Theater – Corvallis, OR ^ 2/5 – Stage 722 – Portland, OR ^ 2/6 – Gem and Jam Festival – Tucson, AZ % 2/11 – Broad Brook Theatre – Broad Brook, CT – 2/12 – TBA 2/16 – Zenbarn – Waterbury, VT * 2/17 – Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center – Greenfield, MA * 2/18 – Aeronaut Cannery – Everett, MA * 2/19 – Nanola – Malta, NY * 2/24 – The Windmill Bar – Saint John, USVI ! 2/26 – The Windmill Bar – Saint John, USVI ! 3/1 – The Windmill Bar – Saint John, USVI ! 3/2 – The Windmill Bar – Saint John, USVI ! 3/4 – Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom & 3/5 – TBD 3/6 – TBD 3/17 – 3/19 – SXSW % 3/25 – Sanctuary – Event and Live Music Venue – Maynard, MA * 3/31 – Flat Iron – Greensboro, NC $ 4/1 – TBD 4/2 – 5 Points Music Sanctuary – Roanoke, VA @ 4/9 – Skull & Roses – Ventura, VA *
– Shred is Dead *Shred is Dead ft. Russ Lawton & Zdenek Gubb # Truth in Sound ft. Russ Lawton & Zdenek Gubb % Artist at Large ^ Rezak plays Zappa & more w/ Ike Willis $ Truth in Sound Band & Truth in Sound & Kick the Cat ! Shred is Dead ft. Hayley Jane @ Rezak’s Freek is Shred (Shred is Dead + Freekbass & The Bump Assembly)
On Saturday, January 15, The Campbell Brothers played a high energy set for a small Caffe Lena crowd that braved the elements to make it out. The self-described church music group rocked Caffe Lena with their unique style that combined funk, soul, gospel, folk, and everything in between. The Campbell Brothers’ energy was contagious and the small cold crowd helped sing along to their entire hour and fifteen minute set.
To get a real sense of what The Campbell Brothers’ music is all about by listening, check out this clip of “Morning Train” from 2011.
The Campbell Brothers’ set included “Morning Train” and a number of other energetic tunes including “I’ve Got a Feeling,” “Hell No,” “Heaven Yes,” and “Jump for Joy”. This clip of “Morning Train,” though, is a perfect representation of the tone, mood, and level of musicianship present at the show on Saturday night.
Whether it was Phillip’s touch on guitar, Denise’s powerful vocals, or Chuck’s superb control on the pedal steel, The group hit notes that anyone can enjoy. Their simple hooks made it easy for the crowd to learn the lyrics and sing along with Denise throughout the night.
There is no substitute for witnessing their music performed live in person, and it is an experience that music lovers will crave again and again. So the next time The Campbell Brothers morning train rolls into your town, the only question you need to ask yourself is, “how many tickets am I buying?” Also, be sure to check them out on Facebook.
Folk and protest music legend Pete Seeger performed on The Late Show with David Letterman in 2008, performing “Take it From Dr. King,” a tribute to the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Seeger, who helped popularize the Civil Rights movement’s protest anthem “We Shall Overcome,” first met Dr. King in 1957 at Highlander Folk School, a social justice leadership training school and cultural center located in New Market, Tennessee. Seeger recalls the day:
I met her, I met all three of them that day. As a matter of fact there is a picture taken of us out standing out standing in front of a cinder block wall that they enlarged the barn which became their library and King, Abernathy, Rosa, Me and Miles and Zelphilia’s teenage daughter were there. Pete Seeger
Seeger would later write the song “Take It From Dr. King,” a tribute to the legacy of a man who led a non-violent movement that championed civil rights and equality.
Seeger connected with King in 1957, in this story from The Kennedy Center
On September 2, 1957, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., visited Highlander Folk School in Tennessee. Part of the school’s mission was to help prepare civil rights workers to challenge unjust laws and racist policies that discriminated against African Americans. The school also made a point of bringing blacks and whites together to share experiences and to learn from each other. It was a dangerous idea. At a time when southern laws kept blacks and whites segregated or separate, some white racists terrorized African Americans with deadly violence.
Dr. King delivered the main speech that day, honoring the school’s 25th anniversary. As part of the meeting, folk singer Pete Seeger got up with his banjo. He plucked out a song he had learned at Highlander, and led the audience in singing it.
Later that day, Dr. King found himself humming the tune in the car. “There’s something about that song that haunts you,” he said to his companions.
That song in question was the protest movement song “We Shall Overcome.”
“Take it from Dr. King” lyrics
Down in Alabama, 1955, Not many of us here tonight were then alive; A young Baptist preacher led a bus boycott, He led the way for a brand new day without firing a shot.
Don’t say it can’t be done The battle’s just begun Take it from Dr. King You too can learn to sing So drop the gun.
Oh those must have been an exciting 13 years. Young heroes, young heroines. There was laughter, there were tears, Students at lunch counters, Even dancing in the streets. To think it all started with sister Rosa Refusing to give up her seat.
Song, songs, kept them going and going; They didn’t realize the millions of seeds they were sowing. They were singing in marches, even singing in jail. Songs gave them the courage to believe they would not fail.
We sang about Alabama 1955, But since 9-11 we wonder will this world survive. The world learned a lesson from Dr. King: We can survive, we can, we will. And so we sing
Don’t say it can’t be done The battle’s just begun Take it from Dr. King You too can learn to sing So drop the gun
Restless World has released their new single called, “Bridges Are Collapsing.” The NYC band is no stranger to melodic beats and emotionally driven lyrics, assets that this new single include as well.
Described as “smartly crafted”, Restless World have been praised for their ability to mesh between genres, like with the drop of their singles “I No Go Play” and “Cyclone”
Restless World’s cover art.
The song is perfectly crafted as it conveys the emotion of previously stable things in your life as they fall down. The lyrics, “Bridges are collapsing/there goes everything” accurately explain the feeling when things are not working out, and you’ve given up.
Speaking of the song, Restless World summarized the song itself.
Bridges connect people, places, cultures…and sometimes hearts. So what happens when that connection starts breaking down? That’s the story “Bridges are Collapsing” tells.
This song is important in the new life with the pandemic, as everything around us is collapsing, but we do have one thing to keep us grounded, the art of music.
Featuring JOSEPH on vocals, “Bridges Are Collapsing” is hauntingly beautiful, and makes it no surprise that Restless Music has won several songwriting awards, notably from The Great American Song Contest five years in a row.
Folk-rock veterans Midlake are back with their new single ‘Bethel Woods’ from their upcoming album For The Sake of Bethel Woods. The official music video stars actor Michael Pena and is directed by filmmaker Brantley Gutierrez, who has also worked with the likes of Paul McCartney and Diplo.
Inspiration for “Bethel Woods” came after the discovery of a documentary still of Midlake keyboardist Jesse Chandler’s father, Dave, at Woodstock 1969. Combining this photo with the idea of an eternal paradise, the song was written from Dave’s point of view with a hopeful message that we might all one day return to our special places to be with the ones we love.
Director Gutierrez plays with these ideas in the music video by incorporating a ghost story concept, allowing for Michael Pena to showcase the emotions people experience when running through old memories.
Midlake will also be embarking on an extensive world tour, including NA, UK and European tour dates. Tickets and more information are available here.
Midlake 2022 Tour Dates
5/8 – Nashville, TN – 3rd & Lindsley
5/10 – Washington, DC – Union Stage
5/11 – Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live (Downstairs)
Jess Novak and The Jess Novak Band are gearing up for a big year with the release of their new music video, “The Key.” Written and recorded by The Jess Novak Band at Hobin Studios, the second track off of their 2021 album release, “A Thousand Lives,” seeks to inspire listeners everywhere.
In its lyricism and upbeat instrumentation, “The Key” tackles themes such as baggage, trauma, and moving on. Lyrics like “If the ground keeps crumbling, then get some wings/You gotta rise to survive this thing” metaphorically express how the world may be a cruel and unfair place, however, we have the power to let go of the things weighing us down and reach our goals.
This song is all about choosing to let go of the things holding you back and to embrace your own power. It’s a declaration that “you can do it” – and you can. Whatever IT is, I hope 2022 is your year to make it happen.
Jess Novak
The video itself, recorded and produced by Lights on Fayette, features brilliant color in up to 4k resolution. Novak has previously worked with the studio while filming her music video for “The Joke.”
“The Joke” – The Jess Novak Band
Alongside this release, Jess Novak has announced February show dates throughout upstate New York, where you can catch her solo or duo performances live.
Thursday, February 3 – Twitch – twitch.tv/jessnovakmusic – 9:30 a.m. – SOLO Thursday, February 3 – The Village Tavern – Marcellus, NY – 8 p.m. – DUO Friday, February 4 – Bellevue Country Club – Syracuse, NY – 7 p.m. – SOLO Saturday, February 5 – Stinger’s – Manlius, NY – 6 p.m. – SOLO Sunday, February 6 – Hops Spot – Syracuse, NY – 11 a.m. – DUO Thursday, February 10 – Twitch – twitch.tv/jessnovakmusic – 9:30 a.m. – SOLO Thursday, February 10 – Steamers – Oswego, NY – 6 p.m. – DUO Friday, February 11 – TK Tavern – Camillus, NY – 7 p.m. – DUO Saturday, February 12 – Battle Island – Fulton, NY – 11 a.m. – DUO Saturday, February 12 – DiPrinzio’s – Clayton, NY – 7 p.m. – SOLO Sunday, February 13 – Brian’s Landing – Jamesville, NY – 11:30 a.m. – DUO Monday, February 14 – Hops Spot – Clayton, NY – 6 p.m. – SOLO Thursday, February 17 – Twitch – twitch.tv/jessnovakmusic – 9:30 a.m. – SOLO Thursday, February 17 – Al’s Wine and Whiskey – Syracuse, NY – 10 p.m. – JNB Friday, February 18 – Piggy Pat’s – New Hartford, NY – 7 p.m. – DUO Saturday, February 19 – The Sting – Oswego, NY – 9 p.m. – SOLO Sunday, February 20 – Brian’s Landing – Jamesville, NY – 11:30 a.m. – DUO Thursday, February 24 – Twitch – twitch.tv/jessnovakmusic – 9:30 a.m. – SOLO Thursday, February 24 – Bluewater Grill – Skaneateles – 7 p.m. – SOLO Friday, February 25 – Gibby’s – Oswego, NY – 8 p.m. – DUO Saturday, February 26 – Lukin’s – Utica, NY – 10 p.m. – JNB Sunday, February 27 – Skaneateles Brewery – Skaneateles, NY – 2 p.m. – SOLO Tuesday, March 1 – The Finish Line – Brewerton, NY – 6 p.m. – SOLO
For more information on music and shows click here.
You can also catch Jess Novak live every Thursday at 9:30 AM EST on her Twitch channel.
For the first episode of 2022, SNL welcomed Ariana Debose to host, along with Jack Antonoff’s Bleachers as musical guest. Debose won a Golden Globe earlier this week for her performance as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” and gained additional honors as the 200th woman since 1975 to host the NBC variety show.
During her monologue, Debose was joined by veteran cast member Kate McKinnon for a medley of “West Side Story” numbers, including “Tonight,” “Something’s Coming” and “America;” during “I Feel Pretty” the pair fist bumped following the famous line “I feel pretty and witty and gay!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLOEKEwjGKk
The show began with “Message from the President” and featured new cast member James Austin Johnson as President Joe Biden blaming the spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19 on too many people seeing “Spiderman: No Way Home.” Biden at one point wondered if there were other President Biden’s in the multiverse, leading Pete Davidson to arrive as a Biden variant from another universe.
Local business commercials in the New York Metro area were spoofed by Davidson and Chloe Fineman, who advertised their shop for prom and formal wear in “Formal Emporium,” with featured player Andrew Dismukes as their nerdy son.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QoH_oYaN6M
Chris Redd made his debut as new New York City Mayor Eric Adams, in a NY1 press conference sketch where Adams made his arrival to the podium with Mase’s “Feel So Good”as walk on music. Adams bragged about the swag he brings to the office and gave stark comparison to the predecessor, who was never parodied on SNL in his eight prior years in office.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7igRfDC1YQ
Jack Antonoff’s NYC-based indie-pop group Bleachers performed an energetic “How Dare You Want More,” off 2021’s Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night, and was performed on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon last year.Mark ‘Rat’ Ratner Antonoff was joined by singer-songwriter Blu DeTiger on bass, Claud on keys and Rick Antonoff, Jack’s dad, on guitar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gnn-pBhmUX4
The Sound of Music has been a regular musical sketch number on SNL, appearing in sketches twice in the last four years. Debose’s Broadway chops were on display in “Governess” where a widower, Kenan Thompson, hired DeBose to teach his children, who sang a take on “Do-Re-Mi.”
For Bleachers’ second song, Antonoff’s 2020 collaboration with Bruce Springsteen, “Chinatown,” was featured, with Claud shifting to guitar. Antonoff recently confirmed that he will release a new Bleachers album, the group’s fourth, by the end of the year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3hEhMMfUJo
Rapper Roddy Ricch was originally scheduled as musical guest this evening but had to withdraw due to members of his team being exposed to COVID-19. SNL returns on January 22 with host Will Forte and musical guest Måneskin.
One sketch that was cut for time, “All On Me,” features a rapper (Chris Redd) performs a song with his entourage (Ariana DeBose, rapper Freddie Gibbs, Kenan Thompson) after signing a major deal.
Zac Brown Band has announced their “Out in the Middle Tour” for summer 2022, including stops at Saratoga Springs Performing Arts Center (SPAC), Citi Field in Queens and En-Joie Golf Course in Endicott.
The “Out in the Middle Tour” will showcase the band’s old-school country roots and southern-rock style, serving as an ode to their country pride and life’s simple pleasures. Joining the band once again will be Caroline Jones, who performed as a special guest during “The Comeback Tour.” Zac Brown Band also welcomes Robert Randolph Band as the opening act on select dates throughout the tour.
Performing in front of millions of fans around the world is one of the most electrifying and humbling feelings. We’re so excited to go back out on the road and keep the unbelievable momentum going from ‘The Comeback Tour.’ It’s been such an incredible year for the band, debuting some of the best music we’ve ever made, and we are thrilled to continue playing live for our amazing fans.
Zac Brown
ZBB will make three stops in the Empire State this summer, starting at SPAC in Saratoga Springs on Thursday, June 2, Citi Field in Queens on August 18, and at En-Joie Golf Course in Endicott, just west of Binghamton on the Susquehanna River.
Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, January 21 at 10 AM at ZacBrownBand.com. Zac Brown Band will offer VIP packages for each show that include premium tickets, access to the Uncaged Lounge with complimentary wine, beer & appetizers, an exclusive VIP gift item & more. Package contents vary based on offer selected. Fans can visit VIPNation.com for more information. The “Zamily” Fan Club pre-sale will begin on Tuesday, January 18 at 10AM, followed by the simultaneous Spotify and Live Nation Pre-Sales on Wednesday, January 19 at 10 AM. For tickets or more information please visit ZacBrownBand.com.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iNTErjy1Xk
Zac Brown Band “Out in the Middle Tour” 2022 Dates
