NYC’s hidden gem Joshua Thew released his newest melancholic single and video, “Where Do Feelings Go?” on Friday, October 28th. Being a New York-based singer, songwriter, and former dancer at the New York City Ballet, ‘Where Do Feelings Go?’ navigates the cognitive dissonance that sets in after a relationship ends. Thew’s voice soars effortlessly as he reaches into the aftermath of a breakup, building up to an infectious chorus.
London-born and NY-based, Joshua Thew gathered attention in 2019 with his debut single, “Think You’re Getting Through.” The single gained over 450,000 streams on Spotify alone and picked up notable press support. Now he returns with his soulful offering, ‘Where Do Feelings Go,’ which is out now on all platforms.
Processed with VSCO with kp9 preset
On the inspiration behind the song’s themes, Thew explains:
There is something so strange and absurd about the abruptness of a breakup; like air suddenly deflating from a balloon. I tried to capture as close to the moment of separation as possible. It felt cathartic making this song, and I leaned on the music when I needed it. Sometimes it was more personal than I intended. I see it like a nighttime dream that’s sensual and sad.
About five years ago, Thew was dancing and performing for the New York City Ballet alongside top-tier talent for audiences from around the globe. Even though he worked his entire life for this, Thew couldn’t shake the feeling that he was missing something. In 2017, after nearly a decade at NYC Ballet, Thew left the professional dancing space behind to pursue another dream, and alongside producer Cale Hawkings, his new single, ‘Where Do Feelings Go,’ further demonstrates his ability to craft emotionally powerful songs.
‘Where Do Feelings Go?’ is out now across platforms. To watch the video, click the link here.
To listen to more Joshua Thew, click the link here.
The Kodak Center in Rochester on Friday, November 4th hosted the legendary Steve Vai. Playing this small city for the first time since he played at the same venue on the “Generation Axe” tour in 2018, this show was in support of his 2022 Inviolate album.
Steve Vai- Photo credit- Mike Miller
The band behind the sixty two year old Steve Vai hasn’t changed at all within the last nine years or so. Jeremy Colson on drums, Dave Weiner on guitar/sitar/acoustic has now added keys to his arsenal on the side of the stage, and rounded up by Philip Bynoe on six string bass guitar.
The beautiful venue had some tickets for sale at the door many fans were seen purchasing last minute. The lights dimmed down at the scheduled start time of 8pm, with a little call and response part while Steve was standing off to the side of the stage. He was getting the crowd to howl and sing along to the noises he was making with his trusty Ibanez Jem guitar, much like the start of the David Lee Roth classic “Yankee Rose” with the talking guitar or like his mentor Joe Satriani’s crowd chant.
Jeremy Colson
Steve finally walks onto the stage and after a little improv jam with the band then they immediately launch into a track called “Avalancha” from his new album. This is an upbeat number to kick off the show, lots of double bass drumming in this one with Jeremy attacking his Tama Starclassic drum set on this very melody driven song despite the rhythm shifts.
During the show Steve explained to the crowd he had to reschedule his tour due to an accident. He told the crowd he was making pizza in his pizza oven and injured his shoulder in the process. He thanked the crowd many times for attending as this venue was different than the originally scheduled one.
Dave Weiner
In total Steve played twenty songs for about a two hour set time. Each band member was given a solo spot thought the show. Drummer Jeremy started his drum solo with a didgeridoo which the crowd did not expect, but welcomed.
During the song, “Teeth of the Hydra”, Vai played a three-necked Ibanez guitar. Which is a twelve string neck, a seven string neck, and a bass neck. During “For the Love of God” Vai brought out his audio monitor engineer Danny G who sang opera for the first verse and chorus. Vai is currently on tour for another month.
Setlist: Avalanche, Giant Balls of Gold, Little Pretty, Tender Surrender, Lights Are On, Candlepower, Bass solo, Building the Church, Guitar solo, Greenish Blues, Bad Horsie, I’m Becoming, Whisper a Prayer, Dyin’ Day, Drum solo, Teeth of the Hydra, Zeus in Chains, Liberty, For the Love of God Encore: Fire Garden Suite I- Bull Whip
The temps are cooling but the jams are just heating up and the longer nights just give us more time to rock out. Time to finish the first full “post-pandemic” year of live music strong. November is already well under way, but we still have some surefire live music picks and shows for you in Rochester.
First up is Sarah Shook, returning to Abilene for the first time since 2018, and after their show there this summer was postponed due to none other than that damn Covid. Touring behind their excellent 2022 release, Nightroamer, this North Carolina-based quintet muscles up honky tonk with a little rock and punk energy, or do they twang out their punk rock with a little honky tonk? Either way, you’re in for a barn-burning badass night of music.
Last seen in Rochester mesmerizing the Rochester International Jazz Fest crowd at Harro East in 2013, Lee Fields finally returns this week. One of the best soul singers around, he recorded his first single back in 1969 and put out his latest album just last week, Sentimental Fool, his first for the vaunted Daptone Records label. He is anything but past his prime though, expect high energy on stage and off, grooves to get you moving and a voice that’ll hit you right in the sweet spot.
A night of too-new-to-be-known indie music awaits. Two bands touring behind their 2022 releases are coming hungry to win your love. Another Michael is a tight Philadelphia-based band delivering hooky songs trending toward the folksier spectrum with breezy guitars and dreamy vocals. String Machine, a seven piece from the other side of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, brings a fuller sound, what they call maximalist indie rock. They’ll be playing from their latest, Hallelujah Hell Yeah, which is an album of album of joy, vulnerability, and forgiveness. Catch them both at the Bug Jar, with local openers, *ahem* Bugcatcher.
Another Covid-postponed show, Amy Helm was supposed to grace the Canalside Stage outside the JCC this summer. Now we get to enjoy her inside the intimate and acoustically-sound Hart Theater. An incredible voice singing her incredible songs, prepare to be melted and moved. The Woodstock native and daughter to the late-great Levon, Helm is an extra special treat to see live, an Americana treasure. Locals Jon Itkin and the Receivers will open the show.
Bop Shop Records has been celebrating their 40th anniversary all year, with the intention of hosting 40 shows in 2022. To see any music in this intimate environment among the stacks is a treat, but owner Tom Kohn has impeccable taste and brings in ridiculously good talent, so every show is pretty much cant-miss. Their busy November closes out with a 40th Anniversary Jazz Festival, four straight nights of high quality jazz to burn off those extra Thanksgiving calories.
Getting things started on Black Friday is Three Shamans, featuring Phil Haynes, Ken Filiano & Herb Robertson.
On Saturday, Joe Fiedler’s Open Sesame returns to take your Sesame Street favorites to places you never imagined.
Sunday night is Joe Fonda & Bass of Operation. Fonda has graced the Bop Shop stage more than any other artist. The reason for that is, he’s really freaking good!
Closing out the little festival on Monday is Michael Musillami Trio.
All shows start at 8pm and are $20. There is also a special four-show pass for $55.
With just a few days before Election Day, Amy Schumer hosted Saturday Night Live with musical guest Steve Lacy making his SNL debut.
Opening with a satire of President Biden’s speech on democracy from earlier this week, James Austin Johnson as Biden brought up a cavalcade of ‘new’ Democratic candidates meant to appeal to younger voters, among them, Marianne Williamson, Guy Fieri, the guy from 6ix9ine, Azaliea Banks, and Tracy Morgan (Keenan Thompson).
Amy Schumer used her monologue for a few minutes of standup where she riffed about childbirth and her husband being diagnosed with autism as an adult.
Hitting home for many who have dealt with COVID and the week long isolation/quarantine that results, the COVID commercial featuring Sara Sherman was as timely as ever.
To perform on SNL, Steve Lacy had postponed shows in San Diego, San Francisco, Oakland, Vancouver, Seattle and Portland on his Give You the World Tour. For his first song, Lacy performed “Bad Habit” off his second album Gemini Rights, released in July. The R&B vocalist and multi-instrumentalist performed in black leather pants and Geordi La Forge wrap around shades, with the Gemini Rights logo suspended behind him. Lacy, as well as the drummer and bassist wore white shirts with a single black S on them, making a dollar sign with their black ties hanging, a nod to the Dead Kennedys.
On Weekend Update, Tammy the Trucker (Cecily Strong) showed up to talk about gas prices (and definitely not abortion), much like how in November 2021 she showed up as Goober the Clown to talk about abortion. WU anchor Colin Jost noted voters are being driven by economic issues and not abortion, and Tammy responded with commentary on women’s rights and health care. The same deep and urgent message from last November was conveyed through truck driving references that intertwined concerns about the right for women to control their own bodies was being eroded, and ended with a call to action to vote on Tuesday.
As Weekend Update ended, SNL gave a nod to Migos rapper Takeoff (Kirshnik Khari Ball), who had performed on SNL in 2018.
A preview of the Bills/Jets game in the Meadowlands showed Jets fans (Andrew Dismukes, Thompson, Schumer, Strong) ripping on the visiting Bills fans, regardless of age or mobility. The casual chatting among the four of them would quickly devolve into taunting and heckling, giving heavy ‘Get Off the Shed’ vibes.
Lacy’s second performance of the night found he and his band in the same outfit, same narrow room effect but with a heavier Stevie Wonder vibe in both voice and tone of the song.
Following a “Big Penis Therapy” sketch that is worth watching, Schumer sported a Jews shirt during the goodnights, following wearing a VOTE VOTE VOTE sweater.
Next week SNL returns for a post-election episode with host Dave Chappelle – appearing post-election for the third time since 2016 – and musical guest Black Star.
The newest album from Lucas Garrett, Reaching Through Dreams, is as vulnerable as it is empowered. He released it slowly, first with a single, “Together,” on April 1, then four months later he released “So Many Times.” Finally, in September, Lucas Garrett put out the full six song album, and he’s now announced a release show for December 1. And what better backdrop for the upstate NY artist’s strange, fantastic sound than the historic Caffe Lena?
Reaching Through Dreams, Garrett’s third EP, evokes layers that he peels back delicately, like an onion. On the surface, the song is filled with synthy bass and the melody runs a harmonic minor key. It sounds like fall, like an early sunset, kind of spooky and kind of fun. Garrett’s deep voice rumbles and warbles through poetic verse and each line is delivered with interest and depth. The lyrics merge relationships with people and music, blurring the lines dividing each intimate exchange, like in the EP’s opener, “So Many Times:”
“Picking up your tune / your words turn to mine / I have tried so many times / to let it run free / but I know I will hear / all your melodies”
In addition to the moving lyrics, the guitar on the album is explosive and adds to the layers of each song. In the inspiration for Reaching Through Dreams, Garrett cited Bowie’s “Heroes,” Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely,” and the Beatles’ “Two Of Us.” He also listed songs from David Byrne and St. Vincent. With inspiration as varied in both genre and time period, it makes sense that the album’s sound is eclectic and hard to place.
Caffe Lena has been hosting iconic musicians before they were icons since it opened in 1960. As one of the first on the east coast to welcome Bob Dylan, the venue is continuing its tradition of putting lesser known, talented artists on with Lucas Garrett. Tickets are starting at $10, and the event will be in person and live streamed. Garrett’s album release show will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on December 1; tickets are here.
The Binghamton Philharmonic will continue their 2022-23 season on Saturday, November 12 with “Green Places” a production focused on the musical themes of nature. Taking place at the Broome County Theatre, the show will begin at 7:30.
With direction from Maestro Daniel Hege, the night will feature one of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Novelettes, Gary Schocker’s eponymous Green Places featuring principal flutist Karen Bogardus, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending featuring German violinst and Binghamton Philharmonic concertmaster Uli Speth, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4.
Karen Bogardus.
Bogardus is also the principal flutist for the Binghamton Philharmonic, Berkshire Opera Festival, Martina Arroyo Foundation Opera and Phoenicia Voice Festival, and has performed with dozens of other NY and northeast-based orchestras.
November 12th’s nature-themed show is far from Uli Speth’s first gig with the Binghamton Philharmonic.
Speth, having been concertmaster with the Binghamton Philharmonic since 2005, also holds the same position with the Chappaqua Orchestra and Fenimore Chamber Orchestra. He’s also performed with New York City Opera, American Symphony Orchestra, and the Florida Orchestra, and has played under the direction of conductors such as James Levine, Kurt Masur, Gerard Schwarz, JoAnn Falletta, and Marin Alsop.
The Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra, founded in 1955 by Fritz and Marianne Wallenberg and later merging with the BC Pops Orchestra, presents an annual series of classical, pops, and chamber music across Downtown Binghamton and Broome County.
All children 17 and under can attend the concert for free, information regarding tickets and more can be found here.
The Cortland Repertory Theatre announced a weekend of memories with two tribute concerts scheduled- one for Barry Manilow and the other for Carole King.
The concerts are called “One Voice: The Music of Barry Manilow” and “Tapestry Unraveled: The Music of Carole King.” Manilow’s tribute concert will take place on Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m., and King’s will take place on Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cortland Repertory Theatre.
Barry Manilow had an astonishing 50 Top 40 hits and Billboard Magazine ranks him as the #1 Adult Contemporary Artist of all time. Broadway National Touring performer Mark Sanders performs a touching and brilliantly done tribute honoring Manilow. He will be performing Manilow’s biggest hits, like “Mandy, I Write Songs” and “Copacabana.”
Hailed as one of the most successful and talented female pop artists, Carole King has left a huge mark on the music industry. Singer Tina Naponelli captures the essence of King, with a powerful voice and soulful dedication. She will pay homage to King by performing some of her classic songs, including “I Feel the Earth Move,” “Chains,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” and many more.
Both singers will be accompanied by a five-piece live band. Tickets to see the Barry Manilow and Carole King tribute acts are available now at the Cortland Repertory Theatre’s box office or online here.
Unity Hall in Barneveld will host blues-rock Blueprints, roots and country-based The Dust Devil Band, and blues/psychedelic folk-rock Brian Mulkerne Band, plus special guests, at the CNY All-Star Benefit Concert on Sunday, November 20 from 3 to 6 p.m. The concert at the Oneida County venue is to support Nicole Deveny Gaines-Parker, who is battling cancer.
Full Auditorium at Dust Devil Band Show
Proceeds will be for the benefit of Nicole, Malcom and the rest of the Gaines-Parker family.
I am blessed to have made many great musical friends over the years, and many of them will be appearing at the show at historic Unity Hall. Most of the performers have known Nicole since she was a little girl. For them to come to play at this event is very special and meaningful to Nicole and Malcolm and to all our family. Unity Hall is my favorite concert venue – aesthetically beautiful, acoustically perfect, and thoroughly magical! This is going to be a very memorable show for all involved!
Having been formed in 1988, the Blueprints have debuted shows for prominent artists, such as the legendary blues and roots rock band, Nighthawks and the Red Hot Louisiana Band. The group is comprised of vocalist and guitarist George Deveny, vocalist and pianist Dave Liddy, drummer Oscar Crandall and bassist Ken McConnell Jr., who were all inducted in the NY Blues Hall of Fame. The other CNY-based bands also hold remarkable stances, as The Dust Devil Band emerged in popularity during the 1980s, while the Brian Mulkerne Band is known for bringing musical favorites in the Mohawk Valley music scene.
Blueprints Band
The Dust Devil Band consists of members, vocalist, guitarist and harmonicist Ed Rosenburg, pedal steel guitarist George Newton, drummer Darryl Mattison, bassist and vocalist Dane Porter and vocalist and guitarist George Deveny. Having been favored by music fans during the 1980’s, the band has re-established their presence in the Central New York music scene, bringing multiple sold-performances at Unity Hall.
The Dust Devil Band
Brian Mulkerne Band, a prominent band in the music scene of Mohawk Valley, is made up of leading member behind the vocals and guitar, Brian Mulkerne, other vocalist and guitarist Tim Baldwin, drummer Oscar Crandall, bassist Ken McConnell Jr., and slide guitarist Deveny. They have garnered a reputation for delivering what is considered to be musical favorites by fans.
Brian Mulkerne Band
Special guests in the performance include Mal P Entertainment drummer and producer Malcolm Gaines-Parker, harmonicist Skip Murphy from SAMMY Hall of Fame, Out of the Blue and Merry Pranksters, vocalists Rebecca Miner of Rebecca Miner Trio and Fabulous Mojos, Sydney Pinto of Walrus and Paul Case Band, Sharon Allen of Merry Pranksters and Better Than Bowling, drummer Bob Holz of Bob Holz and a Vision Forward, drummer Carl Marucci of Clean Street, vocalist and guitarist John Savage along with producer George Deveny, bassist John Handzel of Drivin’ Sideways and Rebecca Miner Trio and bassist Ari Marucci of Lower Tolpa. Included at the show will be a silent auction and baked goods for sale at the concert.
Tickets to the benefit at Unity Hall in Barneveld are $30 each and can be purchased here.
The Dust Devil Band Performance at Unity Hall in 2020
Covering a band from Belgium is a first for NYS Music, and not without good reason. The Haunted Youth have been indie darlings in Belgium and The Netherlands since the 2021 release of their first single “Teen Rebel,” and in attending Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, Germany this past September, The Haunted Youth were one of the finalists for the ANCHOR Award, given out on the final day of the festival.
While The Haunted Youth did not win the ANCHOR Award (congrats to Cassia), they performed later that night at Angie’s to an industry crowd that saw lightning in a bottle. Seeing a band of this caliber perform in a club, having just played a main stage, who brought more energy to the room at the former, showed the nascent nature and the great potential for this Belgian band, who released their debut album Dawn of the Freak on November 4.
With hints of Australian indie rock band Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, recurring themes on Dawn of The Freak reflect the lives of a band who first connected during the COVID lockdowns in Europe and persevered through the loneliness and disruption to their lives. Frontman Joachim Liebens put his heart and soul into Dawn Of The Freak, writing all the songs and producing the album. The group’s sound ties together influences including The Cure, Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine, with shoegaze and dream pop laying the foundation of the album’s tone. Balancing out the highs the group has experienced in the past two years, the lows from Lieben are deftly channeled into the music.
It’s therapy, a way of dealing with my existence. And I hope this album will be universal and accessible enough for others to enjoy it in the same way.
Joachim Liebens
Whether live or studio, The Haunted Youth have a ‘sound of a generation’ quality about them, one that is heard clearly on the second and third tracks, “Teen Rebel” and “Stranger.” The former is an excellent post teen-angst song for the ’20s, with a dream pop beat that reflects on wanting more, creating a sweet dilemna. “Stranger” has hints of lonelieness that soldiers along thanks to The Cure and Culture Club, with tastes of new wave channeled through Gen Z.
A steady bass tone spreads into melanchoic synth rock on the longest track of the album, “Gone,” with “Broken” having the catchiest guitar riff and full band sound among the whole album, and that’s saying something. Lieben’s voice adds subtle emotion in his intonations, making “I Feel Like Shit and I Wanna Die” more upbeat than the title might suggest, offering a ray of light amid the burden of his life.
The airy and dreamy “House Arrest” repeats the lines “In the night I was falling down” and “take me away,” a stark view of what lockdowns must have felt like in Europe, as opposed to America where they varied in response and success. The properly upbeat penultimate track “Coming Home” gives a feeling of redemption and hope as the album draws to a close.
“Fist in my Pocket,” the final track and only acoustic number, channels the repressed anger of a generation, angry but unable to rise up against the gravity of the world left for them. Again, a melancholic glimmer of hope is shared, with Liebens singing, “It’ll all be over someday soon, I promise you.” As dark as the lyrics can be, the message gives the listener a fair reminder and feeling that it’s okay to feel like shit sometimes.
After performances at Reeperbahn, Rock Werchter, Best Kept Secret, Pukkelpop, and Tomavistas, the group not only has the ANCHOR Awards nomination under their belt, but also have been nominated for the Music Moves Europe Awards.
The Haunted Youth will be playing sold-out album release shows in The Netherlands and the Main Hall of legendary Brussels venue Ancienne Belgique, followed by an extensive string of release and festival shows all over Europe in 2023. Here’s to hoping they can make their way State-side for shows in the near future.
Dawn of the Freak is now available on all streaming services and Bandcamp
Central Park Dance will return to The Capitol Theatre with their annual production of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker on Sunday, December 11th at 12:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. With more than 100 students from the school, professional dancers and young dancers from the surrounding communities, audiences will have two chances to enjoy this timeless tale.
In celebrating a legacy that has spanned across more than four decades, Central Park Dance has made its mark on the Westchester dance community. As a producer of original ballets, they invite their all levels to participate. Dancers of all ages will make up their large ensemble of performers, spanning from the littlest mouse to the blizzard of snowflakes.
This year, the production will welcome back American Ballet Theatre soloist Luciana Paris to dance the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy, along with her Cavalier Jose Sebastian, who is currently a member of American Ballet Theatre’s corps de ballet as well as the director of ABT’s Incubator program.
“In our more than 40 years in Westchester, we have watched several generations of students dance through our doors,” explains Maria Bai and Mario La Strada, founder and directors of Central Park Dance Studio.
“We have made it our mission to offer students a well-rounded dance education that includes not only time in the studio, but opportunities to interact with and perform for our community. We are overwhelmed by the support we have received around our sold-out productions over the last 6 years, and we are so lucky to be able to expand the opportunity to more students and more families each year.”
One of the longest running and most respected dance studios in Westchester for 40 years, Central Park Dance offers classic and progressive styles of dance and fitness for both adults and children. Central Park Dance is also home to the Signature and Remixx performance companies as well as the Ballet Academy, which provides the aspiring dancer with pre-professional training, performance opportunities and mentorships.
The Nutcracker performances will take place on Sunday, December 11th at 12:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Ticket prices range from $45, $35 and $25 and are available by clicking the link here.
