The Schenectady Symphony Orchestra (SSO) announced to be a member of Proctors Collaborative from August 1st, 2022. It will keep a separate board of directors and Glen Cortese remains its Artistic Director, while but Proctors Collaborative will provide administrative functions.
Schenectady Symphony Orchestra by Stan Hudy
The SSO was founded in 1934 and gave first concert on February 5, 1935, conducted by Kenneth G. Kelley, Supervisor of Music in Schenectady public schools. Their second concert was in a pioneering broadcast three months later, which beamed to South America on General Electric stations to be one of the first American orchestras to be heard overseas via short wave radio.
“Proctors and the Schenectady Symphony have a long history in the community and with one another. This management plan intends to turn that history into a long-term relationship for the health of the arts in our community!”
Philip Morris
The orchestra is comprised of both professional and non-professional musicians from the local community, including teachers, engineers, physicians, and local business people.
Glen Cortese will begin his fourth season for the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra with the 22-23 season, The Musical Time Machine. Meanwhile, the SSO will host concert, A Night at the Movies on August 13 at the Music Haven Concert Series in Schenectady Central Park.
“This season’s program is designed to transport you in time and focus on specific musical eras. We will present new works, traditional favorites, works rarely heard as well as new ways to listen to favorite familiar pieces.
On Sunday, September 4, Buffalo Jazz Festival brings four acts to the area for a full day of live music during Labor Day Weekend.
From noon until 6:30 pm, the West Plaza of the Seneca One Tower in Buffalo will bring audiences live music, food trucks, refreshments, and entertainment for all ages. In the second year of the festival using the venue space, people can enjoy a free community concert.
To open up the Buffalo Jazz Festival, NYC-based John Troy Quartet will perform from 12 noon until 1:15 pm. John Aaron Troy is a saxophonist, multiple woodwind musician, and educator. The artist picked up the saxophone at age 10 and his music is ever-evolving since then.
From 1:45 pm to 3:00 pm, Trigger & the Sermon will take the spotlight. Trigger & the Sermon Organ Jazz Quartet play classical soul-jazz while mixing in unique rhythm and groove. The group has played at multiple venues in the Buffalo area, including at the Four One Six and Duende at Silo City.
Trigger & The Sermon
The Dave Hill Group brings more entertainment to the Buffalo Jazz Festival, with a performance from 3:30 pm to 4:45 pm. Dave Hill Group consists of Jim Linsler (drums), Pat Georger (keys), Tim Sheldon (bass), Colin Brydalski (bass), and Matt Harris on saxophone.
To close out the festival Wendell Rivera Latin Jazz Ensemble will play from 5:15 pm to 6:30 pm. A Buffalo Music Hall of Fame Inductee who has played with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Arthuro Sandovar, and Ben Vereen, the performance is sure to be one to remember.
Wendell Rivera
JazzBuffalo promotes the genre of jazz in the Buffalo area with news, live performances, festivals, events, education, and more. The organization uses music and events to bring the community together and the Buffalo Jazz Festival is one such event. For more information about the organization and ways to get involved, visit the website available here.
Following the release of her latest full-length studio album, “Laurel Hell,” beloved indie musician Mitski returned to New York City the weekend of July 22, 2022 for two sold out nights at Radio City Music Hall. Originally scheduled for March, these and a few other tour dates were postponed due to COVID. Canadian indie folk band the Weather Station opened for Mitski both nights at Radio City.
Mitski performs at Radio City Music Hall, Photography by David Reichmann
The Weather Station mentioned “This show is by far the biggest venue we’ve ever played,” and thanked Mitski for bringing them along. Their signature soothing tones and melodies rang through the historic Manhattan hall. The crowd ate it up, anticipation for Mitski’s set rising as the energy in the room increased by the minute.
The Weather Station performs at Radio City Music Hall, opening for Mitski, Photography by David Reichmann
Mitski’s set began with her hit single, “Love Me More,” a pounding rhythmic anthem of desperation and desire. The crowd screamed as the first notes played, and screamed again when the track concluded.
Mitski at Radio City Music Hall, Photography by David Reichmann
Mitski’s hypnotic and intense dances were inspired by Butoh, a form of Japanese dance theater, and featured exaggerated motions and physical storytelling through dance. The stories of her songs came alive in her dances, especially with her second song of the night, “Working for the Knife.” The Butoh influence also made an appearance in the song’s music video.
Mitski performs “Working for the Knife” at Radio City Music Hall, Photography by David Reichmann
“Working for the Knife” was the first preceding single leading up to the release of “Laurel Hell.” This also marked her first major release since 2018, when she had taken a hiatus following the release of her last full-length album, “Be the Cowboy.” The album would go on to be a huge hit, but in interviews at the time Mitski had expressed discomfort with the massive mainstream attention the album had received, and she announced her hiatus from music at a concert at Central Park in 2019. “Working for the Knife” addresses these issues directly, illustrating the struggle between her artistic desire to create and the overwhelming demands of the music industry and capitalist work culture in general. The song is a hard-hitting and thoughtful meditation on the struggles of artists to stay creative and productive, and her vivid and evocative dance choreography captures just that.
Mitski waves hands with crowd at Radio City, Photography by David Reichmann
Despite saying very little to the audience throughout the evening, Mitski did open up about her experience as a New Yorker towards the end of the show. “I wrote a lot of these songs in New York,” she said. “I was unhappy here. It was so hard. And realized it didn’t have to be so hard, so I moved. But every time I come back, I realize, ‘God damn it, I miss it.’” She added, “You don’t have to be unhappy. You can change it.”
Her massive 23-track setlist included many hits and deep cuts from her six-album catalog. Fans sang along at every opportunity and danced through every moment. Standout tracks included “Washing Machine Heart,” “Nobody,” “Should’ve Been Me,” and “The Only Heartbreaker.” For her encore, she performed “A Pearl,” and left the stage with a bow. The crowd cheered wildly and screamed their love for her. Mitski’s Laurel Hell Tour continues, and you can buy tickets for remaining dates here. Her catalog is available to stream here. And you can listen to the Weather Station here.
Buffalo-based fusion rock quintet eberwine will celebrate the music of the Grateful Dead and Phish this weekend. The band will play two sets each night, including one set of original music featuring songs from the project’s forthcoming studio album One Vision. The weekend takes the band to the Riverboat Bar in Alexandria Bay on July 29, Putnam Place in Saratoga Springs on July 30, and Flour City Station in Rochester for a brunch set on July 31.
The three-show run will highlight the band’s collective passion for the music of the two jam giants. “Everyone in the band grew up on the Dead and Phish,” noted lead guitarist and frontman Todd Eberwine. “We’re looking forward to crafting sets that intermingle the two bands. So much of the bands’ respective histories are rooted in setlists that mixing their catalogs is exciting in an artistic and energetic way.”
eberwine will be joined in Saratoga Springs by Albany-based genre-bending improv quartet Hilltop, who will celebrate the music of the String Cheese Incident. Eberwine recently released Live at the Strand across all streaming platforms including Bandcamp and Spotify.
Known for innovative jams, soulful lyrics, and high-energy shows, eberwine is fronted by guitarist Todd Eberwine (Dive House Union, Todd Eberwine Band, Soul Roach). The five-piece pulls musicians from the Buffalo music scene into a Western New York supergroup featuring Aaron Ziolkowski (Little Mountain Band), Jay Race (Dead Alliance Buffalo), Scott Molloy (Lazlo Hollyfeld, BEU) and Paul Zabrycki (Dead Buffalo Alliance). For those who haven’t checked out the band, according to Eberwine, they can “expect plenty of hooks and plenty of jams that range from a dance party to psychedelia.” More information about show details and tickets can be found through the band’s website at www.eberwineband.com.
Acclaimed indie star Lucy Dacus played Central Park’s SummerStage in New York City as part of the final leg of her ongoing Home Video Tour on Thursday July 21, 2022. She played with support from indie rock band, Hop Along. Lucy last headlined New York in November of 2021 for three sold-out shows at Brooklyn Steel, following the release of her critically acclaimed third studio album, Home Video.
Lucy Dacus at Central Park with bubbles, Photograph by David Reichmann
Dacus also recently joined Phoebe Bridgers onstage at Forest Hills Stadium in June. Known for her lyrical depth and often heartbreaking narratives, Lucy Dacus has become a phenomenon in the indie scene. Her return to New York comes hot on the heels of her Spotify Singles release just a few days before, which included a cover of Cher’s “Believe.”
The day began with sweltering New York City heat and humidity, scattered thunderstorms, and heavy showers in the early afternoon. Fans who had lined up in the early morning endured some rain and heat, but were rewarded with spots near the front of the barricades. As the venue filled up, the crowd’s anticipation rose, frequently cheering at random intervals whenever they felt the need to express their excitement. Security and event staff worked hard to distribute bottled water and spray mist over the crowd to cool them down, which drew yet more cheers.
Event staff misting audience at SummerStage, Photograph by David Reichmann
Hop Along opened the evening, playing their energetic rock set as the sun lowered and the shadows of Central Park lengthened. The heat didn’t seem to slow their performance down, and the night gradually grew less hot as they played. The band played several tracks from their three-album catalog and a cover of Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.”
Hop Along walked off the stage to enthralled applause as golden hour approached. The crowd reveled in the cooling shade as the sun lowered and Lucy’s set approached.
With the last few moments of sunset at hand, Lucy Dacus took the stage to a booming chorus of cheers. In addition to her regular ensemble band, most of the set was accompanied by strings. Lucy mentioned that her older records included tracks with strings, and she was excited to bring them to the show.
Lucy Dacus with her full band and Strings Section playing at Central Park, Photograph by David Reichmann
Lucy’s set had a false start when a crowd member required brief medical attention. She stopped the song and patiently waited. She praised the crowd for giving space for staff to help out and playfully posed for the photographers. After getting a thumbs up from the crowd, she got right back into it, and restarted the opening song.
Lucy Dacus posing for the cameras at Central Park, Photograph by David Reichmann
Lucy Dacus with a burst of bubbles, Photograph by David Reichmann
Lucy’s massive 17-song set included many more fan favorites and charting tracks, such as “I Don’t Wanna Be Funny Anymore” and “Brando.” Several times throughout her set, the air filled with bubbles to punctuate a chorus or hook, which drew huge applause each time. The most diehard fans packed at the front of the audience were showered in bubbles and screaming with joy.
Before Lucy played “Kissing Lessons” she cheerfully asked the audience, “I’ve been surveying, and I was wondering – who here is gay?” The crowd responded with a huge cheer. She laughed and replied, “This is our newest and probably gayest track.”
“Yesterday we put out two songs,” Lucy told the crowd. She then played her Spotify Singles cover of Cher’s “Believe.” “What a bop,” she quipped, to laughter and applause.
String Section for Lucy Dacus on couches, Photograph by David Reichmann
Lucy introduced the last track of her set by saying “Don’t you realize what a big deal this is? It’s so cool.” She thanked each member of her band, including the strings section, and thanked the audience. She closed the set with fan favorite, “Night Shift,” from her acclaimed sophomore record. “Thank you New York City, y’all are the best.” She disappeared backstage for a few moments, and then reappeared to another great wave of cheers. Before beginning her encore, Lucy mentioned that her father was in the audience. “Whenever he’s at one of my shows, I have to play this song.” She then played her cover of Bruce Springstein’s “Dancing in the Dark.”
Lucy’s bandmates took their bows and walked off to cheers, but Lucy remained on stage unaccompanied, a singular spotlight illuminating her. “Last time I was here was in 2019, opening for Mitski,” she told the crowd, remarking on how special it felt to return to Central Park as a headliner. “I’m going to play an unreleased song I wrote yesterday,” she said. “This is just for me. Pretend the show is over.” She then asked the crowd not to record this song. “I like to play new music at my shows, so please don’t record this.” Lucy punctuated her emotional performance by playing this final song unaccompanied under a beam of light, to an absolutely silent audience. They listened intently. The song will surely become a fan favorite upon release, but until then we won’t spoil the surprise by revealing any details.
Lucy Dacus playing an unreleased track solo, Photograph by David Reichmann
“I will remember this forever, thank you so so much. Until next time.” She walked off the stage to a crying, cheering, and screaming crowd in Central Park. The house lights came on and the crowd walked off, scattering through New York back into the warm summer night. Lucy’s catalog can be streamed here, and you can follow her ongoing North American tour here. Hop Along’s catalog can be streamed here as well. Check out our full show gallery by David Reichmann below.
Texas-based band ZZ Top announced additional tour dates for their current North American Raw Whiskey tour with 5 stops in NY.
The rock band will make appearances across multiple states and venues. The nearest upcoming NY stops include Bethel Woods Center for the Arts on August 13 and Darien Lake Amphitheater on August 14.
Tickets for the August NY shows are available now, with other venues such as the Palace Theatre and The Paramount available for presale on the band’s website, here. Tickets for the ZZ Top show at the Palace Theatre go on sale starting July 29 at 10:00 am via Ticketmaster.
The ZZ Top tour is in promotion of the band’s recent 2022 release, Raw. The 12-track album was recorded in conjunction with the critically acclaimed Netflix documentary, That Little Ol’ Band From Texas. The album relies on a blues skew with some upbeat tracks to keep audiences hooked. The band’s third album, 1973’s Tres Hombres, brought them national attention with the hit “La Grange” but their new music is sure to not disappoint.
As Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, the group tour will bring a fresh sound and a unique experience. To see the full list of tour dates, see below.
Raw Whiskey Tour Dates:
JUL 29 – Blossom Music Center – Cuyahoga Falls, OH
JUL 30 – Riverbend Music Center – Cincinnati, OH
JUL 31 – The Pavilion at Star Lake – Burgettstown, PA
AUG 2 – Atlantic Union Bank Pavillion – Portsmouth, VA
AUG 3 – Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville, NC
AUG 5 – White Oak Amphitheatre – Greensboro Coliseum Complex – Greensboro, NC
AUG 6 – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre – Chastain Park Atlanta, GA
AUG 7 – CCNB Amphitheatre Heritage Park – Simpsonville, SC
AUG 10 – Cape Cod Melody Tent – Hyannis, MA
AUG 12 – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion – Gilford, NH
AUG 13 – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts – Bethel, NY
AUG 14 – Darien Lake Amphitheater – Darien Center, NY
AUG 16 – Iowa State Fair – Des Moines, IA
AUG 17 – Missouri State Fairgrounds – Sedalia, MO
AUG 18 – Saint Louis Music Park – Maryland Heights, MO
AUG 20 – Mystic Lake Casino – Prior Lake, MN
AUG 21 – Pinewood Bowl Theater – Lincoln, NE
AUG 23 – Five Flags Center – Dubuque, IA
AUG 24 – The Sylvee – Madison, WI
AUG 26 – TCU Ampitheater – Indianapolis, IN
AUG 27 – Beaver Dam Amphitheater – Beaver Dam, KY
AUG 28 – Appalachian Wireless Arena – Pikeville, KY
SEP 17 – Hard Rock Live Tulsa – Catoosa, OK
SEP 21 – Murphy Arts District – El Dorado, AR
SEP 23 – Germania Insurance Amphitheater – Del Valle, TX
Phish continued their 2022 Summer Tour as they performed their first shows since 2013 at Northwell Health at Jones Beach in Wantagh. The pair of shows were heaters and displayed no lack of jamming prowess or song selection, as fans got a healthy dose of deep jams and surprises over the two days.
The parking lots and beaches were full of fans, with a Lot scene that brought our vendors of food, clothing, art, merchandise, fresh coconuts with rum, and everything else you’d expect to find at a Phish show under the Long Island summer sun.
Night one began with “The Curtain” and featured a deep “Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan” well worth seeking out on LivePhish.com. “Roggae” as the sun set behind the venue hit the spot and gave way to fan favorite “Pebbles and Marbles.” The fiery “Maze” led into a set closing “Squirming Coil,” in perfect time for the sun to completely set and envelop the crowd in darkness (save for Chris Kuroda’s ever-impressive light show).
The second set provided an enormous opening segment with pandemic tune “I Never Needed You Like This Before” leading the way and giving space for “Leaves,” which to some may look like the energy was sapped out of the room but instead developed into the jam of the run, with a beautiful, ethereal mediation ensuing. The segue from “Everything’s Right” into “The Mango Song” was as smooth as they come, and a trio of high energy songs closed the set with “Most Events Aren’t Planned” > “Chalk Dust Torture” > “Julius.” An encore of “Harry Hood” was as fitting as it gets, the band extending the third section of Hood as Fishman hit his ‘Moo’ samples to drive the peak of the jam home.
Night two brought a show-encompassing “Mike’s Groove” that featured an set 1 opener of “Mike’s Song” and a show closing “Weekapaug Groove.” A hefty “Wolfman’s Brother” stood out as the highlight of the first set, along with the second ever performance of the Sci-Fi Soldiers tune “Something Living Here.”
Set 2 never seemed to let up as the energy flowed from “No Men In No Man’s Land” into “Down with Disease” for 25 minutes of fist-pumping, head-nodding grooves. Another Sci-Fi Soldiers tune, “Don’t Doubt Me” was performed for two fans in the front row wearing ‘Genuine Asshole,’ a reference to the song’s lyrics. After “Golden Age” jumped into the mix, the softest landing possible came in the form of the ever rare “Lifeboy”. Before getting back into the “Weekapaug Groove,” “Fluff(head)” came to New York, and an encore of “Slave to the Traffic Light” paid fans safe travels as they headed to the next stops in Raleigh, NC and Columbia, MD.
For those heading to Atlantic City for Phish, Anchor Rock Club has added two free, interactive daytime events to its weekend programming during Phish’s three-night Atlantic City run on Sat. Aug. 6 and Sun. Aug. 7 from 2-4 p.m. The Helping Friendly Podcast (HFPod) is hosting The Disco Biscuits’ Jon Barber on Saturday and Phish lyricist Tom Marshall on Sunday. Fans can catch it streaming live, or register for free with the venue to attend in-person.
Phish – Northwell Health Jones Beach – Tuesday, July 26, 2022
Soundcheck: All of These Dreams, Don’t Doubt Me -> Billie Jean, My Soul
Set 1: The Curtain > Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S. > Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan -> NICU, Roggae, Pebbles and Marbles, Bathtub Gin > Maze, The Squirming Coil
Set 2: I Never Needed You Like This Before > Leaves > Everything’s Right -> The Mango Song, Most Events Aren’t Planned > Chalk Dust Torture > Julius
Encore: Harry Hood
Phish – Northwell Health at Jones Beach – Wednesday, July 27, 2022
Soundcheck: My Soul (incomplete)
Set 1: Mike’s Song > Wolfman’s Brother > Ya Mar, 46 Days > It’s Ice > All of These Dreams, Something Living Here > Axilla (Part II) > When the Circus Comes > Run Like an Antelope
Set 2: No Men In No Man’s Land > Down with Disease > Don’t Doubt Me -> Golden Age > Lifeboy > Fluffhead > Weekapaug Groove
‘New NYC supergroup, Fantastic Cat, are a new instrument-swapping rock/alt-country/folk band made of singer/songwriters Anthony D’Amato, Brian Dunne, Don DiLego, and Mike Montali. Their debut album The Very Best Of Fantastic Cat just came out on July 29. Likewise, they’ll also be celebrating at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom with an album release show the same day.
So far, their newest record has been praised by Atwood Magazine, No Depression,The Boot, Bluegrass Situationand more; the singles have been added to multiple 1M+ Spotify playlists including Fresh Finds and All New Indie. The band also have a CBS Saturday session confirmed for the end of July which will air in early/mid-August.
The first single, “C’mon Armageddon”, is an incredible A24-style music video featuring Marc Geller who plays Kier Egan on the hit AppleTV show Severance. Along with this, the music video for the single “The Gig” shows the band playing a gig on The Staten Island Ferry after being told by their sleazebag manager he booked the band on “one of those concert cruises that are all the rage.”
Captured in the wilds of the Pocono Mountains, the album shifts between genres and different decades of music. By mixing electrified 60’s folk and 70’s AM radio gold with 80’s heartland rock and 90’s alt-country, it encompasses a raw feel of longtime friends making music for the sheer joy of it.
“Their music is at once fun, freewheeling, achingly intimate, and beautifully honest. They can joke about themselves and the state of things while tapping into deeply meaningful and relatable emotions… Fantastic Cat’s songs are a reminder that, even in our darkest moments, we can find a little light and love to hold onto.”
Along with the great music the band produces, they have a very fun and humorous vibe in all their videos and photos. Particularly, the photos and videos where they wear the giant cut out cat heads. Fantastic Cat has impressively made its way into the spotlight collectively. Through the four transcend their respective roots, they have emerged as an instrument-swapping, harmony-trading, tear-jerking, wise-cracking rock and roll cooperative far greater than the sum of its parts.
On July 23, Chautauqua Institution began its fifth week of the nine-week 2022 Summer Assembly season. With weekday lectures and popular entertainment, the entire season examines various themes and invites an impressive lineup over the course of the summer.
Chautauqua Institution Ampitheater
Each week of the Chautauqua Institution’s Summer Assembly has a specific theme, and Week Five is “The Vote and Democracy.” The week includes famed musician Lyle Lovett whose 14-album career spans elements of genres such as folk, country, jazz, swing, gospel, blues, and more. The Grammy award winner is a legendary performer and artist beloved in popular music today and will play on July 29 at 8:15 pm.
Other special guests joining the institution’s week five program include New Yorker staff writer Jelani Cobb, president of the Campaign Legal Center Trevor Potter, former CEO of the Partnership for American Democracy Diana Aviv, acclaimed author Wajahat Ali, and the family of comedy legend Carl Reiner.
Other upcoming popular acts to look forward to coming to Chautauqua include NYO Jazz on August 1, country music star Brett Eldredge on August 5, British vocal ensemble VOCES8 on August 9, and many more.
Week Four of the Summer Assembly included singer-songwriter Gina Chavez and a combined performance of the professional Chautauqua Symphony and pre-professional Music School Festival orchestras. The week’s theme, “The Future of History,” also included other entertainment such as historians Jon Meacham and Annette Gordon-Reed, and comedian Jay Leno.
Chautauqua Institution was founded in 1874 and was originally known as the Chautauqua Lake Sunday School Assembly. The not-for-profit has expanded its community reach immensely, hosting 7,500 people in residence daily during a nine-week season, and hosting many public events.
For the full list of Popular Artists coming to the Chautauqua Summer Assembly for the summer, see below. For ticket information, visit the Chautauqua Institution website, here.
July 29 – Lyle Lovett
August 1 – NYO Jazz
August 5 – Brett Eldredge
August 9 – VOCES8
August 17 – Matthew Whitaker
August 19 – Girl Named Tom
August 20 – Hiss Golden Messenger & Aoife O’Donovan
August 21 – Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas
August 22 – Deeper Than The Skin
August 22 – Punch Brothers
August 23 – Rhiannon Giddens
August 24 – The Avett Brothers
August 25 – Emmylou Harris and Mary Chapin Carpenter
Throughout Schenectady County this summer, you’ll find free music series in towns big and small. Whether at Schenectady’s Central Park, Scotia’s Freedom Park or Glenville’s Park at Indian Meadows, the county offers multiple chances to see some great live music throughout the rest of the season.
Schenectady’s Central Park also continues their summer concert series until August 27. After an impressive lineup of Steel Pulse, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, and Sammy Miller & The Congregation, the Lemon Bucket Orkestra will perform on July 31. Other performances, such as the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, and Steep Canyon Rangers, are set to perform later in August.
Steep Canyon Rangers
Residents and visitors to the county can also stop by Scotia’s Freedom Park for more fantastic performances. The Refrigerators, a popular party-rock band, are set to perform on July 27. Other great talents contributing to the summer lineup include Quintocracy, SIRSY, Heard, and many more.
Come out to any of these concert series above and enjoy some great summer events!
