There are song covers, and then there’s what DM Stith did to R.E.M.’s “Man on the Moon.” Stith’s remake is transformative, turning the hazy guitar pop tune into an ethereal 13-minute drone piece.
Having dropped on October 14th, this remake is the upstate NY-based graphic artist and musician’s first release since his 2020 EP Waving 1-4. It’s also the first release on new NYC label Historical Fiction Records.
DM Stith.
In terms of soundscape, this cover is oriented around a fluttering piano melody and an ambient assembly of synths in the background with ghastly vocals which enter and exit throughout the track. Stith slows down the tempo to a crawl, allowing each lyric plenty of time to sink in. His whisper-like vocal performance doesn’t stray far from Michael Stipe’s original take, emphasizing the subtlety which Stith aims for.
Reinforcing this approach, he eschews R.E.M.’s upbeat chorus and zones in on its wistful verses. He adds lyrics of his own, complementing lines such as “Mr. Andy Kaufman’s gone wrestling” with other abstract musings such as “D’Angelo’s Voodoo over first person shooters” and “Mom is sinking deeper into CNN.”
Stith’s atmospheric take on the song also gives new power to lines from Stipe such as “Newton got beaned by the apple, good” and “Mr. Charles Darwin had the gall to ask” which admire two people who changed the boundaries of conventional thought.
While drawn out, this cover’s sound is powerful, getting louder and slowly adding layers as it progresses. Eight minutes of buildup is rewarded in the song’s instrumental outro, which for several minutes repeats the same idea found throughout the track but with waves of distorted, torrential noise.
Stith repeats the lyric “let’s play Twister, let’s play risk” numerous times in his cover, and fittingly so, because he most surely took risks. He abandoned a revered R.E.M. track’s song structure, instrumentation, and didn’t remotely adhere to its pacing, but still made a powerful and successful cover that earned the acclaim of Michael Stipe himself, who said “DM Stith whispers with hypnotic, bone-deep authenticity, somewhere between Nina Simone, Perfume Genius, PJ Harvey and Leonard Cohen.”
DM Stith’s remake of “Man on the Moon” is a shocking and moving rendition that masters the art of the cover track.
Branford Marsalis continues to thrill audiences around the world while racking up achievements across diverse musical platforms, even after four decades in the international spotlight. From his initial recognition as a young jazz lion, he has expanded his vision as an instrumentalist, composer, bandleader and educator, crossing stylistic boundaries while maintaining an unwavering creative integrity.
In the process, he has become an avatar of contemporary artistic excellence winning three Grammy Awards, a Tony nomination for his work as a composer on Broadway, a citation by the National Endowment for the Arts as Jazz Master, and a 2021 Primetime EMMY nomination for the score he composed for the Tulsa Burning documentary.
Wynton Marsalis preview 0115
Tickets for Music Hall Members are now on-sale, while single tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, October 28th, at 10am via phone, (518) 273-0038, in person, or online at www.troymusichall.org. Tickets for Branford Marsalis are available at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Box Office, 30 Second Street, Troy, Monday through Friday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. More information on the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and upcoming programs is available on the website at TroyMusicHall.org.
Ithaca’s Orchestra, the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, will open its 46th season on Saturday, October 29. The opening night for the orchestra’s 2022-2023 will feature acclaimed pianist Max Levinson.
The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1976, but has come a long way since. In the past decade alone, the CCO added a Youth Orchestra and a Diversity Career Fellowship program, which creates opportunities for college-aged musicians in underserved communities. Each CCO Season promises an orchestral series, chamber music series, holiday concert and free family concerts. This season will see five orchestral concerts and three chamber music concerts in the next months. In November, March and June, be on the lookout for the CCO’s family concert and storytime programs, as well as shows from the Youth Orchestra.
Max Levinson will play Mendelssohn’s “Fingal’s Cave,” Respighi’s “The Birds,” and finish with Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5: “Emperor.” Levinson is a highly awarded musician — he was the first American to win First Prize at the Guardian Dublin International Piano competition, he won the Avery Fisher Career Grant, and has been praised in such esteemed papers as the Boston Globe.
Levinson comes to the CCO under new Interim Music Director Grant Cooper. This is Cooper’s first season with the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, he is also a Visiting Professor and conductor at Ithaca College.
Opening night begins at 7:30 on October 29 in Ford Hall at Ithaca College. Tickets are $10-$30 and can be purchased here.
moequeous, the supergroup featuring members of two influential jam bands who got their starts in the Queen City of Buffalo, will reunite for the second time ever at Buffalo’s Town Ballroom on Saturday, October 29.
The musicians joining forces for this evening of music include moe. guitarist Al Schnier and drummer Vinnie Amico, alongside Aqueous’ guitarist Mike Gantzer, bassist Evan McPhaden and drummer Rob Houk.
It’s a cool full circle thing to intertwine the AQ and moe. worlds so directly-Both bands have history at Town Ballroom and share strong roots being from Buffalo, too. There’s something really connective about that, and I’ve always felt a unique kinship and chemistry when making music or even just hanging with those guys. Much of AQ’s early inspiration came from seeing moe. too, so that should tell you just how truly special this will be!
Mike Gantzer
The Halloween show marks the second performance of the group, the first time featuring Aqueous’ Dave Loss, all of whom joined forces for a set in 2017.
We love our boys in AQ almost as much as we love Buffalo! Last time we all got together for a moe.queous throw down, it was such an awesome amalgamation of our two bands, and we knew it was something we should definitely do more often. And this time it’s perfect – in Buffalo, Halloween weekend, Bills vs. Packers, Town Ballroom!! It doesn’t get much better than this (unless of course, Josh Allen is sitting in).
Al Schnier
Just added earlier in the day, a family friendly Soundcheck Costume Party with moe. and Aqueous will be held from 4:15-6pm, with entry to benefit the American Cancer Society while giving kids a chance to dance to your favorite music!
Entry passes will be first come, first served. Attendees must be from the same household. A majority of the entry passes will go to families able to donate $100 or more. The remaining entry passes will go to families able to donate below $100. The entry request link will go live on October 25 at 4:00 pm EST. Those awarded entry will have 60 minutes to make their donation using the provided link or their entry will be released to the next family, so watch your inbox!
Entry requests can be made here. Entry passes to the family friendly Soundcheck Costume Party does not include the moe.queous evening show. You do not need tickets to the moe.queous evening show to attend this event.
Tickets for moequeous are on sale now. Find tickets here.
The Adjacent Music Festival, a brand new festival, is going to Atlantic City Beach in Atlantic City, NJ to kick off the summer of 2023 over Memorial Day weekend on May 27 and 28.
Photo credit: Andrew Hutchins.
The event is for all ages and brings over 40 bands on three stages with craft food and beverage experiences and vendors. It will take place ocean-side on the Atlantic City Beach adjacent to the world-famous Atlantic City Boardwalk featuring many artists who started their careers in the Northeast.
The headliners for the festival are the newly reunited blink-182 and Paramore. blink-182 started rocking almost thirty years ago in a San Diego garage. They have sold over fifty-million albums worldwide, and according to the New York Times, “No punk band of the 1990s has been more influential than ‘blink-182’.” They are working on releasing their tenth studio album after reuniting the original members.
Paramore is a rock band that formed in 2004 out of Franklin, Tennessee. They have dominated the rock charts with their singles like “Misery Business” and “Ain’t It Fun.” Their heavily awaited return has caused them to be the most sought acts to see in the rock scene today.
The Adjacent Music Festival also has many other notable acts performing. Artists like Japanese Breakfast, who just performed on SNL last season, and Bleachers, led by six-time Grammy award winner Jack Antonoff, will be playing. Other acts include The Front Bottoms, Waterparks, Jimmy Eat World, and Turnstile.
Tickets for the Adjacent Music Festival go onsale Oct. 27 at 10 a.m.
The Late Sea has shared their latest video for the war protest track, “Cover Up.” Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Izzy Gliksberg, derived inspiration to make the debut single, “Cover Up”, after seeing conflict between Israeli and Palestinians in the news. Gliksberg grew up in Israel and the war in the Middle East affects him, as he said he was “used to seeing this kind of trauma on TV”.
(Photo credit: Bill Wadman)
The Brooklyn-based band has performed all over New York State and in festivals along the east coast. Late Sea is comprised of members, Izzy Gliksberg, drummer Graham Dobby, bassist Clinton Greene and keyboardist and vocalist, Kalen Lister. Their track list starts with their 2017 release of the debut EP The Writers Trilogy, as well as a cover release of the 1964 “The Sounds of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel.
(Single art credit: Alex Lorenzo)
The group’s most recent released work is is their EP, Rumor, having came out last year and was produced by Grammy Award-winning, John Davis. Prior, Late Sea shared a video for their track, “Swan Song”, and gained coverage by Audio Fuzz on their Simon and Garfunkel 1964 staple cover.
NNAMDÏ, the genre bending rapper, singer and producer from Chicago will be coming to the East coast on Friday, October 28 to play Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn. The rapper has been releasing music since 2013, but his latest record is some of his most technical yet.
“Dedication,” track nine on NNAMDÏ’s newest album Please Have A Seat, contains a myriad of influence and originality. The song starts out with squeaky sounds, like two balloons rubbing against each other, in a “Thug Tears” by JPEGMAFIA type of avant garde, deconstructed beat. Then it breaks down into a Tierra Whack-esque perky r&b beat, which NNAMDÏ sing-raps over in a simple monotonous sound. But not even a minute later the song explodes, with layered melodies that evoke Kanye’s gospel choirs. By the time the song ends, with sparkly electric ad-libs and harmonious voices chanting, “It’s dedication,” I can barely remember how it started.
These hops from genre to genre are performed absolutely seamlessly; you don’t even realize it has happened by the time it is over. It’s that consistent inconsistency that defines NNAMDÏ himself; in his songs, performances and personality.
NNAMDÏ came up in the Chicago DIY scene but he broke into the mainstream in 2020 with his eclectic album BRAT. His previous albums had a rep for being weird and inaccessible, so in this album NNAMDÏ set out to make a “hummable” album, hoping to reach a wider audience.
I consciously wanted to make more communal things, some things that bring people together rather than alienate them — even though I love music that is dissonant and jarring and sometimes off in different ways.
NNAMDÏ, as told to FADER.
In the next months, NNAMDÏ is heading on a tour across the US that will finish in London and Berlin. He’ll be at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn on October 29, click here for tickets. On October 30, he’ll be doing a Q&A and record signing at Rough Trade NYC.
NNAMDÏ Tour Dates
October 18 – Davenport, IA – The Raccoon Motel
October 19 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th St. Entry
October 20 – Milwaukee, WI – Cactus Club
October 22 – Chicago, IL – Metro
October 24 – Cleveland, OH – Mahall’s
October 25 – Toronto, ON – The Garrison
October 26 – Montreal, QC – Diving Bell Social Club
October 27 – Johnson, VT – Northern Vermont University
For many, GWAR has been one of the most consistent heavy metal bands in their lives. On October 22nd, they brought their bloodbath to the Rapids Theatre in Niagara Falls.
GWAR brings a bloody great time to the Rapids Theater in Niagara Falls. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
If you search the name GWAR, it’s easy to see just on the outside what this band brings when they put on a performance. Big costumes, heavy metal, blood and guts. When you go to see them, however, there is something so much more.
But before we go into the main event, let’s talk about the other groups that GWAR brought along.
The opener was a band from Pottsville, PA named Crobot. With a name like that, I wasn’t too sure what to expect. However, as soon as lead singer Brandon Yeagley popped out of a foam egg, the crowd was immediately enthralled with this group. With groove mixed with a lot of Rock ‘n Roll, you couldn’t help but dance/scream/head bang. The energy they brought was incredible and they are certainly a group to keep your eyes out for.
Brandon Yeagley of Crobot flies high while band mates Chris Bishop, on guitar, and Tim Peugh, on bass, rock out. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Immediately following Crobot, we have the melodic death-metal group Nekrogoblikon. They. Killed. It. The audience was absolutely in love with this group, and with John Goblikon. Their sound was totally unique and they definitely rocked the house down.
Nicky Calonne and John Goblikon jamming out together. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
And finally, we have GWAR. Formed in 1984, this group has been non-stop for more than three decades. Fans of GWAR at Rapids Theater were some of the most dedicated people to a group I’ve ever seen. Normally when you go to a rock show, there is a unspoken dress code of all black all the time. But for this one, fans were dressed in white, in hopes to be part of the carnage that this band brought. Of course there were crowd surfers and mosh pits. What else can you expect? Blothar the Berserker’s vocals are out of this world and the rest of the band are a recipe for success.
This being said, there was also plenty of the blood spewing that the band is known for. From the dismemberment of a ‘GWAR fan’ and a soldier, to the ‘pissing match’ between Blothar’s alter-ego from another universe (which he said was a manifestation of everything that he hates about himself). There was a certain political undertone that was hard to miss and the crowd ate up with the infamous presidential decapitation of Joe Biden, Putin’s demise and even the destruction of Amy Coney Barrett.
Blothar’s alter-ego from another dimension. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
The ‘so much more’ piece mentioned before about this group? The fans of the GWAR are die-hards, they are all connected in a way that is so much more than just the costumes, guts and gore.
If you ever have the chance to see this band perform, do not miss your opportunity. And if you’re too scared to get a little dirty, stay in the back or stay home. This is not for the lighthearted.
GWAR at Rapids Theater Setlist: The Cutter ft. Lzzy Hale, The Issue of Tissue (Spacecake), Bring Back the Bomb, New Dark Age, Mother Fucking Liar, Rise Again, Bored to Death, Saddam a Go-Go, Ratcatcher, Womb With a View, Black and Huge, Venom of the Platypus, Berserker Mode, U Ain’t Shit, None but the Brave Encore: Sick of You, Fuck This Place.
Gwar decapitates a “fan”. Photo by Samantha RychlickiPustulus Maximus of GWAR. Photo By Samantha RychlickiBlothar the Berserker enjoying a cup of a soldier’s blood. Photo by Samantha RychlickiPutin’s destruction. Photo by Samantha RychlickiBonesnapper surveys the area to make sure there’s no trouble (that they aren’t causing). Photo by Samantha RychlickiBeefcake the Mighty on Bass. Photo by Samantha RychlickiFans of all types enjoy the bloodbath that GWAR brings to their show. Photo by Samantha RychlickiBlothar the Berserker. Photo by Samantha RychlickiBalsac the Jaws O Death on lead guitar. Photo by Samantha RychlickiThe aftermath of the gore. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Blue Note New York has partnered with The Basie Presents for the Pat Metheny Side-Eye Show at the Beacon Theatre on Saturday, June 24.
The 20-time GRAMMY Award winning guitarist and composer will perform during the 2023 Blue Note Jazz Festival, marking the first time Metheny has played in New York since his Sony Hall run in 2019.
Side-Eye is Metheny’s trio project that features the guitarist performing alongside a rotating cast of young, envelope-pushing players. This edition of Side-Eye features Chris Fishman (keyboards, piano) and drummer Joe Dyson.
Pat Metheny’s Side Eye project embodies the very best in jazz, so it’s fitting that this show at the Beacon Theatre next June will be part of the storied Blue Note Jazz Festival. By virtue of its namesake, the Count Basie Center for the Arts and its off site promotion arm, The Basie Presents, is honored to be working with the Blue Note team and Mr. Metheny himself in bringing this concert to another one of our region’s storied performance venues.
Izzy Sackowitz, COO, Count Basie Center for the Arts
Pat Metheny’s versatility is almost without peer on any instrument. Over the years, he has performed with artists as diverse as Steve Reich to Ornette Coleman to Herbie Hancock to Jim Hall to Milton Nascimento to David Bowie. Metheny’s body of work includes compositions for solo guitar, small ensembles, electric and acoustic instruments, large orchestras, and ballet pieces, with settings ranging from modern jazz to rock to classical. As well as being an accomplished musician, Metheny has also participated in the academic arena as a music educator. He has also been a true musical pioneer in the realm of electronic music, and was one of the very first jazz musicians to treat the synthesizer as a serious musical instrument. It is one thing to attain popularity as a musician, but it is another to receive the kind of acclaim Metheny has garnered from critics and peers.
Blue Note New York will announce their annual New York City jazz festival in Spring 2023. Tickets for Pat Metheny at the Beacon Theatre are now on sale.
Nearing the end of the 2022 leg of their world tour that commenced six months ago in Croatia, East London heavy metal legends Iron Maiden landed at the Prudential Center (affectionately known as “The Rock,” a reference to the Rock of Gibraltar corporate logo) in Newark, NJ this past Friday night, October 21.
The Rock | Photo by Michael Dinger
Iron Maiden’s Legacy of the Beast Tour, inspired by the 2017 video game of the same name, is an all-encompassing retrospective of their history, complete with a visually stunning stage design featuring jaw-dropping, thematic backdrops and stage props. Dating to the first leg of the tour consisting of European dates in 2018, Iron Maiden have played nearly 150 shows to more than 3 million fans, their biggest world tour since their formation on Christmas Day 1975.
Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden | Photo by Michael Dinger
Taking over support duties from Trivium, who departed the tour at the end of September after opening eleven shows for the heavy metal icons, Within Temptation took the stage promptly at 7:30 pm. Formed in 1996 in the Netherlands, the symphonic metal band are led by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt. The Dutch sextet is rounded out by Ruud Jolie (lead guitar), Jeroen van Veen (bass), Mike Coolen (drums), Stefan Helleblad (rhythm guitar) and Martijn Spierenburg (keyboards).
Within Temptation performed three tracks (“Raise Your Banner,” “Supernova” and “The Reckoning”) from the latest of their seven studio albums, 2019’s Resist (Spinefarm Records), which found the band exploring new genres such as industrial and electronic dance music. The remainder of their 8-song set included single offerings from their discography, albeit their 1997 debut album (Enter) and their third studio album, 2004’s The Silent Force. Nearing the end of their set, Within Temptation presented “Don’t Pray for Me,” the fourth and most recent independently-released single in a series that is a precursor to their next studio album – expected for release in 2023.
Sharon den Adel of Within Temptation | Photo by Michael DingerRobert Westerholt of Within Temptation | Photo by Michael DingerRuud Jolie of Within Temptation | Photo by Michael DingerMike Coolen of Within Temptation | Photo by Michael DingerJeroen van Veen of Within Temptation | Photo by Michael DingerMartijn Spierenburg of Within Temptation | Photo by Michael Dinger
At approximately 8:45 pm, as “Doctor Doctor” by UFO played over the house PA, the lights went dark and it was game on! To thunderous applause from the 20,000 capacity crowd, the heavy metal icons appeared before us – the 64-year old Bruce Dickinson known for his legendary, operatic-style vocals, bassist Steve Harris, drummer Nicko McBrain and the trio of guitarists comprised of Adrian Smith, Janick Gers and Dave Murray.
Maiden’s 15-song, nearly two hour set kicked-off with the three lead tracks from their most recent studio album and 17th overall, Senjutsu, including the title track, “Stratego” and “The Writing on the Wall.” The opening trifecta of songs was accompanied by a magnificent stage production that matched the Japanese theme of the record’s visual graphics, including an early appearance by their mascot Eddie as a samurai warrior. Eddie would make another appearance later in the night as “The Trooper” to do battle with Dickinson.
Eddie | Photo by Michael Dinger
The setlist was a retrospective of their voluminous, four decade discography celebrating their biggest hits (“The Trooper,” “Hallowed Be Thy Name,” and “Fear Of The Dark”), while also including some deeper cuts such as “Revelations” (Piece of Mind, 1983), “Blood Brothers” (Brave New World, 2000) and “Sign of the Cross” (The X Factor, 1995). Maiden played two encores consisting of “The Trooper,” “The Clansman,” “Run To The Hills” and the closing number of the night, “Aces High,” as a life-size replica Spitfire plane swayed high overhead.
Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden | Photo by Michael DingerJanick Gers of Iron Maiden | Photo by Michael DingerSteve Harris of Iron Maiden | Photo by Michael DingerDave Murray of Iron Maiden | Photo by Michael DingerAdrian Smith of Iron Maiden | Photo by Michael Dinger
In the closing moments of the show, before Monty Python’s “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” Dickinson addressed his audience for the last time of the night:
We’d like to take you home with us, but you won’t fit through the front door. Have a great weekend, have a great week, have a great month, have a great year. In fact, have a great fucking life, because you only get one. Live every fucking day you can of it. We’ll see you again, thank you everybody.
Maiden’s 24-date journey across North America culminates at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida on October 27, followed by a much-needed rest for this band on the cusp of their golden years. Lord knows they sure haven’t wasted any, especially with 2023 dates already announced for The Future Past Tour that will launch at the Sweden Rock Festival in early-June. And hopefully, by then, these metal behemoths will finally be on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s list of new inductees.
Iron Maiden | Photo by Michael Dinger
Within Temptation Setlist: The Reckoning > Paradise (What About Us?) > In the Middle of the Night > What Have You Done > Supernova > Don’t Pray for Me > Raise Your Banner > Mother Earth
Iron Maiden Setlist: Senjutsu > Stratego > The Writing on the Wall > Revelations > Blood Brothers > Sign of the Cross > Flight of Icarus > Fear of the Dark > Hallowed Be Thy Name > The Number of the Beast > Iron Maiden > Encore: The Trooper > The Clansman > Run to the Hills > Encore 2: Aces High
