Blog

  • The Lemonheads Announce Tour Dates With NY Stop at LPR

    Alternative rock band, The Lemonheads, have announced North American tour dates to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their acclaimed album, It’s a Shame About Ray. The tour’s lone stop in NY at the Le Poisson Rouge will occur on Dec. 15.

    The anniversary tour kicks off in Lititz, PA, in mid-November and includes stops in cities such as Cleveland, Omaha, Seattle, San Francisco, before ending in Boston, Massachusetts, in December. The Lemonheads will perform the entire album during the nights in concert, and multiple special guests will join them on specific nights on the road.

    The Lemonheads’ album It’s a Shame About Ray was released in 1992 and is the group’s fifth studio album. Produced by The Robb Brothers, the album was a breakthrough for the band and its reissue and addition of the band’s cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson” brought much attention.

    For the NY show at LPR in December, former band member Juliana Hatfield will return as support. Hatfield as the bassist and backing vocalist contributed to the band’s album, It’s a Shame About Ray, before starting her own band and solo career. Other guests expected on the tour include Rusty, The Nils, Bass Drum of Death, and On Being An Angel.

    Tickets are on sale Aug. 12 via Ticketmaster. Before their North American run, The Lemonheads will play shows across Ireland and the UK. For the full list of North American tour dates, see below.

    It’s a Shame About Ray Anniversary Tour Dates:

    11.17 Lititz, PA Mickey’s Black Box

    11.18 – Toronto, ON – Phoenix Theatre

    11.19 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop

    11.20 – Bloomington, IN – The Castle Theater

    11.21 – Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room

    11.23 – Billings, MT – Pub Station

    11.25 – Seattle, WA – Showbox 

    11.26 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall 

    11.28 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall 

    11.29 – Sacramento,- CA Harlow’s 

    12.1 – San Diego, CA – House Of Blues 

    12.2 – Santa Ana, CA – Observatory

    12.3 – Las Vegas, NV – House Of Blues 

    12.4 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex 

    12.5 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theatre 

    12.7 – Kansas City, MO – Madrid Theatre

    12.9 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue 

    12.10 – Chicago, IL – Metro 

    12.11 – Detroit, MI – Saint Andrew’s Hall 

    12.12 – Washington, D.C. – 9.30 Club 

    12.14 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer 

    12.15 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge 

    12.16 – New Jersey, NJ – White Eagle Hall

    12.17 – Boston, MA – Paradise 

    11.18 w/ Rusty, The Nils

     11.25 – 12.9 w/ Bass Drum Of Death

    11.25 – 12.17 w/ On Being An Angel

    12.9 – 12.17 w/ Juliana Hatfield

  • Glass Animals Brings The Euphoric Dreamland To Brooklyn Mirage

    The evening of August 9 will certainly be one for the books as hundreds of fans wait eagerly to enter Glass Animals’ Dreamland. The Brooklyn Mirage is known for hosting big events but nothing compared to what the Glass Animals put on.

    glass animals

    Glass Animals have come a long way since forming in Oxford in 2010 by childhood friends Dave Bayley, Joe Seaward, Ed Irwin-Singer, and Drew MacFarlane. In their live shows, they play re-worked, dance-heavy versions of their songs. Their song “Heat Waves” reached number one in Australia in February 2021 and was voted number one on the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2020. The song surpassed one billion streams on Spotify and eventually reached number one in the US Billboard Hot 100 and five on the UK Singles Chart. Recently, they received their first Grammy nomination in the Best New Artist category at the 2022 Grammy Awards.

    To celebrate the 2nd anniversary of their album, Dreamland.IRL, the band brought a one-of-a-kind celebration to Brooklyn Mirage. Dreamland is the album that brought us the global smash hit “Heat Waves.” The band now has over 5 billion global streams and 38 million monthly listeners, but it’s live events where Glass Animals come alive.

    As soon as guests entered the venue one can immediately tell this show would be like none other. Decorations, electronic displays, and a Pac-man game room were all part of the band’s numerous activations. As the band’s set time approached all patience was lost when the stage brought out pineapples. Fans have started bringing them to gigs and even dressing as them at shows – due to the lyric, “pineapples in my head” from the song “Pork Soda”. The detail and precision that went into the show’s visual displays were nothing short of astonishing.

    The band performed most of their set off their album Dreamland.IRL but also included fan favorites including “Life Itself” & “Youth”. As the sun set and night approached, fans refused to lower their energy level. Demanding 1 more song after the band wrapped up, Glass Animals couldn’t resist performing the staple song “Heat Waves”. Unfortunately, the band mentioned they won’t be in America for a while but the good news is they do not plan to slow down with live shows. Heading overseas, the band looks forward to several festivals including Mad Cool Sunset headlined by Rage Against The Machine.

    Setlist: Dreamland, Life Itself, Tangerine, Black Mambo/ Hot Sugar, The Other Side of Paradise, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Waterfalls Coming Out Your Mouth, It’s All So Incredibly Loud, Your Love (Deja Vu), I Don’t Wanna Talk (I Just Wanna Dance), Youth, Helium, Gooey, Pork Soda

    Encore: Tokyo Drifting, Heat Waves

  • PearlPalooza 2022 Lineup Announced for Sept. 17

    The 2022 PearlPalooza lineup for Sept. 17 has been announced, taking place on North Pearl Street in downtown Albany, and featuring a variety of artists.

    pearlpalooza
    Photo by Pete Mason.

    WEQX Director Jeff Morad is excited to bring in a lot of new and old talent to the stage.

    We are thrilled to be able to partner with the Downtown Albany BID and all of the incredible sponsors once again this year to bring some free live music to Pearl Street in downtown Albany!  There is so much talent in this area, it’s tough to decide who to put on the stage, but we think our local picks for this year will blow you away, plus the national acts and the return of Phantogram to the PearlPalooza stage will be something very special.

    The day starts out will YogaPalooza, the Capital Region’s only street-wide mass yoga gathering, at 11 A.M. After that, the music begins with BattleaXXX [battle ax], a hard-working trio of all-female rockers from Albany, starting at 12 P.M. At 1:30 P.M. comes Precious Metals, a solo project by Troy singer-songwriter J Lee White. The band’s sound pulls from the early 2000s emo explosion and 2010s indie rock revival.

    At 3 P.M. Arizona newcomer The Kaleidoscope Kid is playing. He blends counter-culture music with his broad musical and personal appeal. At 4:30 P.M., Los Angeles band Whole Damn Mess is playing. Made up of Don Miggs, C. Todd Nielsen, Lawrence Katz, and Greg Hansen, they bring a new perspective on reality and an understanding of the challenges to maintain a piece of yourself in the face of mounting responsibilities. 

    The featured artist this year is Phantogram at 6 P.M. Comprised of lifelong friends Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel, they amassed over a billion streams, achieved one platinum-certified single, two gold-certified singles, and have played at top festivals with artists like Arcade Fire and Miley Cyrus.

    The 2022 PearlPalooza will be happening on Sept. 17 from 11 A.M. to 7:30 P.M. on North Pearl Street in Albany. This free event will feature lots of local and national acts, as well as great food and beverage vendors.

  • Brooklyn-based zannie Releases Hopeful ‘get that star’ Ahead of Debut Album

    Zannie Owens, a Brooklyn-based artist, has released their title track “get that star” ahead of their upcoming debut album, out Aug. 19 via Kill Rock Stars. Under the moniker, zannie, the artist has crafted a space-inspired single with a captivating music video to accompany it. 

    zannie crafted their new single based on the inspiration from the Voyager One Golden Record which Carl Sagan and Lynn Margulis sent into outer space in 1977. The Brooklyn singer-songwriter lyrically explores an alien who is trying to return home, and intertwines that story with a message of hope about human connection.

    With warm guitars, layered vocals, and whimsical instrumentation, “get that star” carries over hard-hitting but hopeful truths and lyrics of the human experience. zannie’s beginning vocals and dictation slowly draw you in before the melody takes off as the song builds. Despite being recorded in zannie’s bedroom, the video’s unique lighting effects, and focus on zannie, transform listeners into another space as they ponder over the song’s message.

    The single is just a glimpse at what may be to come off of zannie’s upcoming album, How Do I Get That Star. Written over the course of four years, zannie explores the unknown, the mystical, and more. During the process, they listened to artists such as Judee Still and Prince, and the album reflects some of those inspirations.

    If the single is any hint for what is to come on How Do I Get That Star, then listeners are in for some great new music to add to playlists on Aug. 19. To keep up with zannie as an artist, follow them on social media here. Listen to another single, “for a while,” off of the artist’s upcoming album, available below.

  • Beach Bunny Plays Two Nights at Brooklyn Steel w/ Sidney Gish and Ky Voss

    Chicago indie rock band, Beach Bunny, played two spectacular shows at Brooklyn Steel the weekend of August 7, 2022. The dates had originally been scheduled for May, but were postponed due to Covid. Initially a solo project by Lili Trifilio, Beach Bunny came into popularity when the song “Prom Queen” went viral on TikTok in 2019. The song has since gained more than a quarter billion streams, and Lili now tours with her four-person band. Ky Voss and Sidney Gish opened for Beach Bunny both nights.

    Beach Bunny plays Brooklyn Steel, photograph by David Reichmann

    Multi-instrumentalist Ky Voss opened the shows with synth-pop beats, moody lyrics, and a textured industrial sound. Her third full-length record, “The After,” released earlier this year. During her set, Ky mentioned she had lived in New York for a year or so, but this was her first time performing in New York. The crowd basked in her performance, the pristine lighting, and the crisp sound Brooklyn Steel is most known for. She thanked Beach Bunny for having her, and left after an excellent set to wild applause.

    Ky Voss opens for Beach Bunny, photograph by David Reichmann

    Sidney Gish took the stage next, quipping with the crowd as she tuned her guitar and got settled on stage. Her performance was unaccompanied, but she used layers of looping pedals to fill the room with acoustic guitar riffs and drum loops. Sidney’s trademark charm and wit were present at all times. She joked between tracks, thanked Beach Bunny, and praised Ky Voss’s set. She played a number of hits from her catalog, including some tracks off her breakout record, “No Dogs Allowed.” After closing her set, she thanked the audience and left the stage to a burst of applause.

    Sidney Gish opens for Beach Bunny, photograph by David Reichmann

    Anticipation rose among the crowd as they waited for the headlining set. The venue was abuzz with energy as the house lights dimmed. Suddenly the stage was backlit by shining beams of blue and white light. After a brief pause, Beach Bunny walked onstage to massive applause. They opened their intense 90-minute set with “Oxygen,” the first single off their latest record, “Emotional Creature,” which was released in July 2022.

    Sidney Gish plays Brooklyn Steel, photograph by David Reichmann

    After the second track, Lili told the crowd to crouch down and spring up when they started the next track, “Six Weeks.” By the time Beach Bunny finished the third track, the crowd had been worked into a frenzy by drummer Jon Alvarado’s driving beats, guitarist Matt Henkels’s energetic riffs, bassist Anthony Vaccaro’s pumping bass lines, and frontwoman Lili Trifilio’s catchy fan-favorite lyrics. Several times throughout the show, Lili encouraged fans to open up mosh pits, crowdsurf, jump, and dance. At one point, Lili even drew a tattoo on a fan’s homemade sign. She joked, “This is too much pressure!” to laughter and applause.

    Beach Bunny’s setlist included a number of hit tracks like “Good Girls (Don’t Get Used),” “Sports,” and their breakout viral singles, “Prom Queen” and “Cloud 9.” Towards the end of the band’s set, Lili told the audience, “I wrote this song about New York,” before playing “Fire Escape.”

    Beach Bunny jumps onstage at Brooklyn Steel, photograph by David Reichmann

    They closed out the show by instructing the crowd to separate down the middle, and rush together at the start of their final track, “Painkiller.” The crowd gleefully obliged, and sang along every word as they moshed and jumped until the last notes played. Beach Bunny took their bows, thanked the audience, and walked offstage to one final swell of cheers.

    Beach Bunny is slated to play several more shows in the US before heading overseas for their tour. You can listen to their catalog here. Listen to Ky Voss here and Sidney Gish here.

    Crowd surfing during Beach Bunny’s set at Brooklyn Steel, photograph by David Reichmann
    Beach Bunny parts Brooklyn Steel crowd for final song, photograph by David Reichmann
  • In Focus: Lotus Brings the Groove to The Bourbon Room

    After the first night of Phish’s three-night run in Atlantic City concluded, the line outside of The Bourbon Room (a former House of Blues) started forming, with fans eagerly waiting for Lotus. The show proved to be energetic and full of ridiculous jams, heavy bass lines, and non stop dancing. The band debuted a new song “Tar Pits” and encored with “Gilded Age.”

    Set: Wax, Spaghetti, Sunrain, Greet The Mind, Wooly Mammoth, Tar Pits, Spiritualize, Automatic, Neon Tubes, Flower Sermon, Sunrain

    Encore: Gilded Age

  • In Focus: The Big Takeover Band at Levitt AMP Utica

    Dynamic septet, The Big Takeover Band, headlined at Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute in Utica on Monday, August 8. The show was a Levitt Amp Utica Music Series segment funded by the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation.

    The Big Takeover Band is rooted in the Hudson Valley. The group is led by charismatic Jamaican-born singer-songwriter Nee Nee Rushie. They play an extraordinary blend of Jamaican pop and reggae, with a touch of retro soul and Motown. The band is touring throughout August to the middle of September.

    The Big Takeover Tour Dates

    Aug. 11 – Ithaca, NY @ Downtown Ithaca

    Aug. 12 – West Stockbridge, MA @ The Foundry West Stockbridge

    Aug. 13 – Killington, VT @ Cooler in the Mountains Concert Series

    Aug. 15 – Tupper Lake, NY @ Monday Summer Sunset Stage Series

    Aug. 20 – Weston, CT @ Music in The Meadow

    Aug. 26 – New York, NY @ Sunset on The Hudson

    Sept. 04 – Saranac Lake, NY – Northern Current Music Festival 2022

    Sept. 10 – Bozrah, CT – Camp Creek 2022

    The Big Takeover Band conducted an upbeat performance compelling the audience to dance and clap along throughout the show. They commenced with an original instrumental piece. At the beginning of the second set, stage lights followed as Rushie walked out with a captivating smile and she began to sing. Her powerful voice matched with the spectacular sound of the band promoted excitement for most in the crowd.

    Closing the show, The Big Takeover Band played a Jamaican pop original song. The crowd appeared joyful and cheered as if they didn’t want the show to end.

  • The Stadium Tour 2022 Brings 80’s Rock to Buffalo

    On Wednesday, August 10th, The Stadium Tour 2022 made a stop at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo. This tour was delayed for two years due to Covid. It features Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard as the headliners, who rotate as the main acts each night, and Def Leppard was the headliner for this show. Poison, with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts were direct support, and Classless Act was the opening band.

    Classless Act

    Classless act singer. Photo credit- Mike Miller

    The show kicked off right on time at 3:55 P.M. with Classless Act jumping onto the stage filled with lots of energy. The band members were all over the stage trying to warm the crowd up. Formed in 2019 and consisting of five former strangers who met via TikTok and Instagram, they are a straight up rock and roll band. Many fans in the crowd enjoyed their short but memorable set. Some fans thought they played better than some of the other bands on the bill. Usually after their set, they will play in a small venue in the same city they are in, really showing dedication to their craft.

    Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

    Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Photo credit- Mike Miller

    Joan Jett and the Blackhearts went on at about 4:30 P.M. Their set length was about 60 minutes. Joan has been described as the “Queen of Rock ’n Roll,” and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. She has three albums that have been certified platinum or gold. 

    Poison

    Drummer Rikki Rocket. Photo credit- Mike Miller

    Next was Poison, who is a famous glam metal band formed in 1983 in Mechanicsburg, PA. The band consists of lead singer Bret Michaels, drummer Rikki Rocket, bassist Bobby Dall and lead guitarist C.C. Deville. The band achieved huge commercial success in the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s and has sold 16 million records in the United States and over 50 million albums worldwide. From the start of their set, the band was filled with energy, running up and down the catwalk ramp. The fans in attendance loved that the band was wearing Buffalo Bills items (shirts, hats, and jerseys) for their hour-long set.

    Mötley Crüe

    Photo credit- Mike Miller

    Next was Mötley Crüe, who had many stage props and visual effects, with multiple metal pieces hung around the stage. The drum riser was encompassed in a metal circle, with inflatable women robots, unique mic stands, and multiple lyric teleprompters around the edge of the stage for the lead singer. These teleprompters made it very difficult for the photographers to get photos. They also blocked the view of some fans in the front rows at the end of the catwalk. A video screen was then lowered.

    They started their set at 7:30 P.M. sharp, with the whole floor filling with thick white fog/smoke. An intro video played to get the crowd’s adrenaline pumping (dubbed as a breaking news report). During their first song “Wild Side” many women dancers joined them on stage to sing and dance. “Shout at the Devil” used lyrics on the large screen behind them to have the crowd join along in chanting the lines. Every song they played seemed to be a fan favorite as it appeared every fan knew all the words. Mötley Crüe’s set ended 90 minutes later at 9 P.M., with a set full of classic hits and a cover medley of songs.

    Def Leppard

    Singer Joe Elliot. Photo credit- Mike Miller

    To close out the show was Def Leppard with an insane lighting display. The stage had huge vertical video screens, massive light bars, and a long walkway connected to the stage. The fans in the crowd sang along to each and every word of their classic hits. They used the stage walkway into the crowd to give the fans up close, the best view money can buy. 

    Setlists:

    Classless Act

    “This is for You,” “Give it to Me,” “Time to Bleed,” “All That We Are,” “Classless Act.”

    Joan Jet and the Blackhearts

    “Victim of Circumstance,” “Cherry Bomb,” “Light of Day,” “Do You Wanna Touch Me,” “You Dry Me Wild,” “Everyday People,” “Fake Friends,” “Crimson & Clover,” “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll,” “I’m Gonna Run Away,” “I hate Myself for Loving You,” “Bad Reputation.”

    Posion

    “Look What the Cat Dragged In”, “Ride the Wind”, “Talk Dirty to Me”, “Your Mama Don’t Dance”, Guitar solo, “Fallen Angel”, Drum solo, “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn”, “Nothin’ but a Good Time”.

    Mötley Crüe

    “Wild Side,” “Shout at the Devil,” “Too Fast for Love,” “Dont Go Away Mad,” “Saints of Los Angeles,” “Live Wire,” “Looks That Kill,” “The Dirt,” “Rock and Roll, part 2/ Smokin’ in the Boys Room/ White Punks on Dope/ Helter Skelter/ Anarchy in the U.K,” “Home Sweet Home,” “Dr. Feelgood,” “Same Ol’ Situation,” “Girls, Girls, Girls,” “Primal Scream,” “Kickstart my Heart.”

    Def Leppard

    “Take What You Want,” “Let It Go,” “Animal,” “Foolin,” “Armageddon It,” “Kick,” “Love Bites,” “Promises,” “This Guitar,” “Two Steps Behind,” “Rocket,” “Bringin’ on the Heatbreak,” “Switch 625,” “Hysteria,” “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” “Rock of Ages,” “Photograph.”

  • Baby Got Back Talk Release “Season Premiere” Single and Video

    New York city-based punk band, Baby Got Back Talk, has released a single and music video, “Season Premiere,” off of their upcoming full-album, Existential Shred, out on Sept. 9.

    Photo: Kate Hoos

    The band’s previously released single, “Model Minority,” debuted back in June, and paid homage to the My Chemical Romance hit “I’m Not Okay (I Promise).” Baby Got Back Talk consists of four members: vocalist/bassist G’Ra Asim, synth op/vocalist Rhiana Hernandez, lead guitarist/vocalist Jake Lazaroff, and drummer Wes Ruiz and has been bringing listeners great music since 2017.

    Vocalist and bassist G’Ra Asim began working on the new single, “Season Premiere,”  during his office hours as an English professor. Some of the lyrics, “I was searching for a guide/in the pages of poets/But I’m still not bonafide/as a sage or a stoic” describe the idea that we must accept we cannot always find the answers. One must feel free to pursue them on their own.

    Baby Got Back Talk album cover

    I’d spent so much time studying literature in the hopes that the bards of old held the wisdom I could use to orient my own journey. Students were looking to me to share that wisdom, yet I was keenly aware that I had so much left to figure out myself. The eureka moment we sometimes think we’re pursuing doesn’t necessarily deliver. The closest you can actually get is accepting that there’s no grand design to uncover, which means you’re free to make your own. ‘Season Premiere’ is the sound of four weary but still wide-eyed weirdos doing exactly that, and inviting the listener to do so in their own right.

    – Vocalist and bassist G’Ra Asim

    “Season Premiere” highlights Baby Got Back Talk’s pop-punk sound, similar to the rhythms and electric guitars of the early 2000s. In the music video, catch the band jamming out with a full set of drums, electric guitar, and more, in addition to them exploring the streets and landmarks of the city. Fans of the band can keep up with them across all platforms with the username @babygotbacktalk.

  • August Burns Red Brings Their Latest Tour To Anthology

    On July 19th, August Burns Red graced Rochester with their presence at Anthology during the Through The Thorns tour. On this tour, they were accompanied by Void of Vision, HollowFront, and We Came As Romans. Void of Vision kicked things off with their very enthusiastic front man Jack Bergin. Following them was Hollow Front who formed only a few short years ago. 

    August Burns Red
    Hollow Front

    And to step up to the stage after them was We Came As Romans, a band that has been around since 2005 and has been through many member changes. As their set went on, the front man, Dave Stephens was definitely not one to stay still as he went from one side of the stage to other and at one point, stepped off the stage to the barrier in front of the crowd. 

    August Burns Red
    August Burns Red

    Then finally we have the heavy hitter, August Burns Red. As everyone was waiting for them to take the stage, a very popular song was playing, “Chop Suey” by System Of A Down, which isn’t uncommon since they play a variety of songs in between bands but this was in fact, August Burns Red intro song as not long ago they released it as a cover. From the first song, to the last, their performance seemed flawless and on top of that, everyone was treated to a light show. To close out the night, one song they typically save for last is “White Washed,” which is one heck of a banger and is a perfect one to end the show. 

    Void of Vision

    Hollow Front

    We Came as Romans

    August Burns Red

Built in Breakdance