Tag: Bowery Presents

The Mars Volta Return to NYC for Two-Night Terminal 5 Run

Celebrating the release of their seventh studio album, The Mars Volta wrapped up two sold out shows at New York City’s Terminal 5 on Friday, September 30th. Their self-titled LP, The Mars Volta, was released by Clouds Hill Records on September 16th, marking a dramatic shift in the band’s sound who traded their frenzied, long-form prog rock styling for a more stripped back and deliberate art-rock. The result of a true collaborative effort, The Mars Volta focuses on Latin jazz fusion while giving Cedric Bixler-Zavala’s vocals plenty of space to ring out as clear as ever.

The Mars Volta, Terminal 5, 9/30/22. Photo by Lindsay Brown

The Mars Volta last played New York City over a decade ago, before their sixth LP Noctourniquet was even recorded. The announcement of the new record and tour was hailed by a fanbase that has not seen the band in 10 years, as well as new found fans who truly thought they would never get the experience of seeing The Mars Volta live. The crowd at Terminal 5 was a mix of both and the excitement was palpable long before doors even opened.

The Mars Volta, Terminal 5, 9/30/22. Photo by Lindsay Brown

Support on this tour comes from Teri Gender Bender; the latest moniker from the supremely talented and genre defying musician Teresa Suárez Cosío. Cosío has fronted many projects over the years, including the garage punk band Le Butcherettes and the psych rock group Bosnian Rainbows, also featuring Omar Rodríguez-López. Teri Gender Bender released a slew of EPs and singles on Clouds Hill Records back in August and the band’s sound and Cosío’s dynamic stage presence were a perfect fit to open the show. Featuring a cryptic and driving psychedelic performance, the music floated somewhere between Björk and classic NYC punk, leaving a clear impression on the Terminal 5 crowd.

Teri Gender Bender, Terminal 5, 9/30/22. Photo by Lindsay Brown

The band’s setlist has been quite consistent throughout the tour so far, including the two lead singles from The Mars Volta, “Blacklight Shine” and “Graveyard Love”. Both songs take on a whole different life on stage, primarily due to the incredible drumming from new band member Linda-Philomène Tsoungui. While the setlist used to feature Amputechture highlight “Viscera Eyes”, it has been dropped from the setlist the past couple of tour dates including New York City. The Mars Volta have been paying homage to their roots on this tour with 7 out of 10 songs from their 2003 classic debut, Deloused In The Comatorium. Find the full setlist below.

The Mars Volta, Terminal 5, 9/30/22. Photo by Lindsay Brown

The Mars Volta has always been the creative output of guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric, with a revolving band that tours behind them. This current iteration of the live show still feels like a collaboration amongst all the artists on stage even if they were not present during the recording of The Mars Volta. Linda-Philomène Tsoungui brings an enormous amount of energy and jazz complexity to the rhythms, while long-time collaborator Marcel Rodríguez-López (a.k.a. Eureka The Butcher) provides keys and Latin percussion. Leo Genovese is the other new multi-instrumentalist, performing lengthy and riveting piano and tenor saxophone solos.

The tour continues throughout October with several stops in the Midwest and the west coast, ending with a three-night run at Los Angeles’ The Hollywood Palladium. Shortly after the tour, The Mars Volta headlines Mexico City’s Hipnosis festival on November 5.

The Mars Volta, Terminal 5, 9/30/22. Photo by Lindsay Brown

This new era feels like a rebirth of the band, with just as much passion and creative energy as ever. While there are no plans after the show in Mexico, the passion on display from Omar, Cedric, and the touring band feels like they will not stop there. Check out more photos from night two at Terminal 5 by Lindsay Brown below.

The Mars Volta – Terminal 5 – September 30, 2022

Setlist: Vicarious Atonement, Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of), Eriatarka, Graveyard Love, L’Via L’Viaquez, Empty Vessels Make The Loudest Sounds, Cygnus…Vismund Cygnus, Blacklight Shine, Drunkship of Lanterns, The Widow, Cicatriz ESP, Televators, Son et Lumiere, Inertiatic ESP

October 6, 2022
Tune-Yards Celebrate New Life at Brooklyn Steel

Tune-Yards made their way to Bushwick’s Brooklyn Steel last Wednesday, June 15th, in support of their excellent fifth LP, Sketchy. The album was released back in March of 2021 and like most bands today, this is the first opportunity for Tune-Yards to tour behind the record.

The band has released all five of their albums on 4AD records dating back to 2009. Singer and multi-instrumentalist Merrill Garbus took time at the end of the show to personally thank the label for being the backbone of their career.

Tune-Yards, Brooklyn Steel, 6/15/22. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

Tune-Yards is the musical project of Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner and is an eclectic mix of art-pop, worldbeat, lo-fi, and vocal play. Garbus has a history as a puppeteer, and this method of visceral expression comes out in her performance style. Most of the songs have intricate vocal loops and patterns, all of which are recorded and performed live while Garbus bounces around the stage, engaging the fans. She also paraded various signs around stage, serving as introductions for her banter between songs.

Tune-Yards, Brooklyn Steel, 6/15/22. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

Tune-Yards made it a point early in the show at Brooklyn Steel to remind the audience that we are all living on Native American land and that fact must be constantly acknowledged. There was also a long interlude later in the show (noted on the setlist as “extinction memorial”) where Garbus instructed the audience on the plight of the Bramble Cay melomys. The rodent, native to islands off the coast of Australia, is confirmed to be the first mammal to go extinct due to climate change. The rising sea level surrounding the low-lying islands destroyed their habitat and led to the rodent’s extinction.

Tune-Yards, Brooklyn Steel, 6/15/22. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

The music of Tune-Yards is impossibly difficult to categorize. The band performs live as a trio, but with all the vocal and synth looping, once the songs are structured live they feel larger than life. Garbus’ vocal abilities are captivating and have always been a fundamental component of the music. Sketchy track “Hypnotized” is a prime example and has been a mainstay in this tour’s setlists. Garbus delivers a bit of vocal play over a sparse, but deliberate drum beat to open the track, before an array of art-pop synths and a chunky bass line fill in the groove. The band also featured the track “Gangsta” from their second LP, Whokill. The song has been one of Tune-Yards’ most succesful, appearing in TV shows Letterkenny, Orange Is The New Black, Weeds, and The Good Wife.

Tune-Yards, Brooklyn Steel, 6/15/22. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

Tune-Yards’ tour concluded over the weekend, with a final show on Saturday, June 18th, at Union Transfer in Philadelphia. The band spent a lot of time throughout the show thanking the people that have been supporting and enabling them to create their music. Garbus is also a new mother, and she relished in that as her baby was off-stage sharing in the moment. Garbus lamented that she felt that Tune-Yards would never be able to tour again after the pandemic, admitting that these shows were also a celebration of their miniature victory over COVID. Head over to the band’s website to see a handful of one-off shows they have scheduled, and see NYS Music’s full photo gallery from Brooklyn Steel below.

June 20, 2022
The Maine Celebrate 15th Anniversary at Webster Hall

Pop-punk mainstays The Maine celebrated their 15th anniversary as a band this past Monday, April 4th at Webster Hall. The band last played in NYC back in August 2021 as part of the Sad Summer Festival, but the show at Webster Hall was The Maine’s first NYC headline in over four years. Overjoyed to be playing a club in the city again, singer John O’Callaghan thanked the fans for their longstanding support and treated them to a career spanning setlist.

The Maine at Webster Hall, 4/4/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

As the house lights went down, archetypal party song “Sweet Caroline” played over the PA as The Maine filed onto the Webster Hall stage. The song provides a perfect segway into the opening track from their 2021 LP XOXO: From Love & Anxiety In Real Time, “Sticky,” which references the Neil Diamond anthem. Staying true to their Southwest roots, light-up cowboy hats were on sale at the merch table, and have been a crucial part of the band’s merch package for many years. Looking around Webster Hall you found dozens of these hats as well as fan-made versions lighting up the room. Going along with the passion of The Maine’s fan community known as “8123,” the crowd exploded with energy as the band played the first notes of “We All Roll Along” from their debut Can’t Stop Won’t Stop.

The Maine at Webster Hall, 4/4/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

The Maine’s latest record was released last summer, and the band spent the second half of 2021 on tour supporting All Time Low; a tour that stopped at NYC’s Pier 17 for the Sad Summer Fest back in August. The current headlining tour (which began in January) is the first time the band is able to fully flesh out the new songs and mix them into their classics. Mixing nostalgia and with the reality of today, John told an anecdote of losing his wallet at The Knitting Factory while asking the audience to pay tribute to his baby who was in attendance clad in earmuffs at the sound table.

The Maine at Webster Hall, 4/4/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

The band cruised through a 16-song setlist that touched on all of their albums and various singles. In the last leg of the show, The Maine introduced Taking Back Sunday frontman Adam Lazzara as well as opening artist Charlotte Sands onto stage to perform their latest collaborative single “Loved You A Little.” Released back in January the song is a classic emo/pop-punk anthem featuring vocals from the three singers. Adam, Charlotte, and John from The Maine are all individually powerful vocalists that command a room, but on “Loved You A Little” the three are mixed so well and create a unified sound as if they were all in the same band.

The Maine with Adam Lazzara and Charlotte Sands at Webster Hall, 4/4/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

“Loved You A Little” by The Maine, Taking Back Sunday, and Charlotte Sands. Via YouTube

The Maine maintain a busy tour schedule through the month of April and ending on a somewhat hometown show in Prescott, AZ on April 30th. The band also has two festival appearances at SO WHAT!? as well as the meme-famous When We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas. Head over to The Maine’s website for the full itinerary and check out NYS Music’s photo gallery from the Webster Hall show below.

April 7, 2022
Parquet Courts Walk A Downtown Pace at Brooklyn Steel

Parquet Courts, the New York City based post-punk band, finished up a two-night stand at Bushwick’s Brooklyn Steel on Saturday, April 2nd. The band is on tour supporting their seventh LP Sympathy for Life; released last October via Rough Trade Records. The album features the infectiously groovy lead single “Walking at a Downtown Pace” and the psychedelic jam “Plant Life.”

Parquet Courts at Brooklyn Steel, 4/2/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

NYS Music was at night two, which featured a rather unique intro to the show. After the stage crew finished the change over between sets, a woman lit a sage bundle and immersed the stage in the smoke. She stepped to the mic and announced onto the stage, “Clown.” After expecting Parquet Courts to walk onto the Brooklyn Steel stage, the crowd was indeed perplexed, but intrigued as to what was happening. Two people walked on stage, one apparently the Clown in full face paint and a clown suit accompanied by a saxophone player. The two then played a gorgeous cover of Parquet Courts song and Sympathy for Life closer “Pulcinella.” The ambient balled swelled into a mix of sax and guitar loops, coming to a climax as Clown then introduced Parquet Courts to the stage.

Clown at Brooklyn Steel, 4/2/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

Once Parquet Courts took the stage, the crowd burst into joyous energy and never let up until the end of the show. The band played a career spanning set, and embellished much of the songs into lengthy live versions with extended jams and improvised movements. The band transforms their energetic post-punk style into a multifaceted live show that keeps even the most devout listener on their toes. Highlights of the show included the aforementioned Sympathy of Life singles as well as “Freebird II” and “Mardi Gras Beads” off the excellent 2018 LP Wide Awake!.

Parquet Courts at Brooklyn Steel, 4/2/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

Parquet Courts continue on tour through April, ending the month on the west coast before heading to Europe for a run of dates in May and June. The band sprinkles in a couple of shows in Australia later in the summer. Check out the full tour schedule HERE and see our photo gallery from the show at Brooklyn Steel on April 2nd below.

April 5, 2022
Underoath Bring Voyeurist Tour To Brooklyn Steel

Tampa, Florida natives and metal-core innovators, Underoath, stopped at Brooklyn Steel on St. Patrick’s Day as part of their Voyeurist North America Tour. Voyeurist, Underoath’s ninth LP and second from Fearless Records, showed the band staying true to the hardcore/screamo sound they helped fashion in the early aughts, while also modernizing the production and adding electronic and futuristic elements. The band refers to this enhanced sound as “high-def violence” and are in peak form on this tour.

Underoath at Brooklyn Steel, 3/17/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

Underoath brought some new and long time favorite heavyweights to Brooklyn Steel to fill out an incredible hardcore quadruple bill. Long Island natives, Stray from the Path, opened the show, playing songs from a nearly 20-year catalog including their 2019 LP, Internal Atomics. Next up was Richmond, Virginia band, Bad Omens, who recently released their third LP, The Death Of Peace Of Mind, this past February on Sumerian Records. The penultimate performers were the incredibly exciting, Spiritbox, who released their debut LP, Eternal Blue, last September. Featuring vocalist Courtney LaPlante and her husband Mike Stringer on guitar, the band creates the perfect blend of etherial and melodic post-rock with crushing waves of heavy screaming hardcore. LaPlante stretches the vocal range with stunning beauty on the live stage.

Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox. Photo by Buscar Photo

Underoath were thought to be permanently retired after their farewell tour in 2013. Founding drummer and clean vocalist Aaron Gillespie had left the band in 2010 and the remaining members went on to release a record without him, 2010s â (Disambiguation). Gillespie ended up performing with the band on the last show of the farewell tour in Florida in January, 2013 but the band seemed finished at the time. A few years later, they returned with Gillespie in the lineup and have since released two records, including Voyeurist, which has instantly become a staple in the band’s catalog.

Underoath at Brooklyn Steel, 3/17/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

The show at Brooklyn Steel was Underoath’s first time playing in New York since August, 2019 when the band played in Saratoga and Wantagh with Korn and Alice In Chains. The Voyeurist Tour is nearly complete as they are set to close the run with two hometown shows in Florida on March 26th and 27th. Find the remaining show details on the band’s website. Spiritbox on the other hand have gained so much momentum with this new album that their tour schedule is just beginning. After these shows with Underoath, they have numerous festival appearances and a European tour stretching throughout the summer. Head over to their website for the full dates and see our photo galleries from Underoath and Spiritbox below.

Spiritbox

Underoath

March 22, 2022
Animal Collective Perform 20 Years Of Psychedelia at Brooklyn Steel

Psychedelic mainstays Animal Collective brought their mind-bending live show to Brooklyn Steel this past weekend in support of their eleventh studio album Time Skiffs. “A thousand wasted Brooklyners, all depressed” sold out the Bushwick venue to see a band that has been on the forefront of modern psychedelic music for more than 20 years. Fans lined up early as the merch booth was transformed into a pop-up record store, selling nearly every Animal Collective album on vinyl including the Merriweather Post Pavilion special edition.

Animal Collective at Brooklyn Steel, 3/12/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

Animal Collective play a different set every night, but like every show, Saturday night in Brooklyn featured new tracks and a host of favorites and deep cuts. Time Skiffs featured with tracks “Strung With Everything” and “Cherokee” while Strawberry Jam hit “For Reverend Green” closed out the encore. For this tour the band dusted off deep cuts “Chores” and “Applesauce,” both of which have not been played live in 10 years.

Animal Collective at Brooklyn Steel, 3/12/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

Animal Collective are just beginning a very bust tour schedule for the rest of 2022. The US tour is two legs, with March in the east and midwest and May on the west coast. Then the band heads to Europe for two legs in June and November. Head over to their website to see the full schedule and see NYS Music’s photo gallery from the Brooklyn Steel show below, and check out our coverage from their 2016 appearance in NYC.

March 15, 2022
Nation of Language Pave The Way Forward At Webster Hall

Brooklyn locals Nation of Language kicked off a six week North America tour earlier this week and on Thursday, March 3rd the band landed at Webster Hall for their fourth hometown show in the past 6 months. The trio has been rocketing in popularity ever since the release of their excellent sophomore album, A Way Forward, on PIAS Records.

The band played the 2021 edition of Governor’s Ball back in September and NYS Music’s Steve Malinski caught up with the group during the festival. Check out the full interview and photos from their Gov Ball performance HERE.

Nation of Language at Webster Hall, 3/3/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

Webster Hall is the largest headlining show Nation of Language has played in NYC since forming. The band played the significantly smaller Market Hotel for a one-off show in November but this tour has them playing larger clubs all across North America. Blending bright synth-pop beats with passionate vocals and an enormous stage presence from frontman Ian Richard Devaney the band captivates the audience with an extremely minimal backline. Leaning on recorded drum samples, the stage only contained Aidan Noell’s synth table on the far left, two microphones, and a handful of pedals. Ian used every square inch of open stage to dance and just keep moving while singing and playing guitar.

Nation of Language at Webster Hall, 3/3/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

Nation of language fittingly began the show at Webster with A Way Forward opening track “In Manhattan.” The set was roughly split with tracks from both of their albums including their self-released debut Introduction, Presence. Head over to their website to find details on the tour and check out our photo gallery from the show below.

March 6, 2022
Hippo Campus Stretch out ‘LP3’ at Brooklyn Steel

Indie rockers and St. Paul, Minnesota natives Hippo Campus stopped at Brooklyn Steel Tuesday, March 1st, for their first of two concerts in the city. The tour is fresh off the release of the band’s new album LP3, featuring the popular singles “Ride or Die” and “Semi Pro.” The band harnesses a classic indie rock base and adds embellished horns and a cheeky vocal and lyric style.

Hippo Campus at Brooklyn Steel, 3/1/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

Hippo Campus made the long trip across the East River for a second gig at Webster Hall on Wednesday night. Support is being provided by San Diego native and rising indie-pop sensation Jelani Aryeh. Providing a perfect complement to Hippo Campus, Jelani Aryeh mixes a breezy R&B vocal style with electro-pop instrumentals. Despite playing with a new band, they perform with the chemistry of a longstanding group. The band is gaining momentum so quickly that Jelani joked on stage that they are “trying out a different band name every night” until they find one that sticks. While unfamiliar with the group prior to the show, the hard hitting jams and outros left a stinging impression on us and the rest of the crowd. Many fans made sure to grab a shirt and record from the surging young artist.

Jelani Aryeh at Brooklyn Steel, 3/1/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

Hippo Campus released their first two LPs back in 2017 and 2018. After a short turned extended break due to the pandemic, the band returned in February with their third effort. LP3 is the band’s first album on Grand Jury Records and sees the group making strides in their production and album development. The 10-track album spans a concise 33 minutes but packs in indie rock bangers, soulful ballads, and crowd pleasing sing alongs. Fans filled out two sold-out NYC shows and most of the remaining tour is sold out.

Hippo Campus at Brooklyn Steel, 3/1/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

The Hippo Campus tour is in the final phase. Beginning in early February around the release of LP3, shows are scheduled through the middle of March. There is one more New York stop on the run, over at Buffalo’s Town Ballroom with support coming from Boyish. Tickets are still available for this show. Head over to the band’s website for the tour itinerary and see our full photo gallery from the Brooklyn Steel show below.

March 3, 2022
The Wombats Fix Themselves at Terminal 5 Before Stop In Albany
Liverpool born indie rock veterans The Wombats made their way to Terminal 5 on Tuesday, January 25th, in support of their fifth studio LP Fix Yourself, Not The World. The record, released just two weeks ago, is the band’s first effort on AWAL Records after four straight releases on 14th Floor Records. Check out the video for the single “If You Ever Leave, I’m Coming With You” and our photos from the show at Terminal 5 below.

The Wombats at Terminal 5, 1/25/22. Photo by Buscar Photo

Fix Yourself, Not The World as a sentiment could not be any more true today. The Wombats took several opportunities at Terminal 5 to talk about what it has meant to finally be on the road supporting the new record and to be engaging with fans again. We have no real control over existential events in the world, but those events give us the opportunity to better ourselves and make the most of the situation. This theme is omnipresent on the record and also in the atmosphere at concerts across New York.

The Wombats “If You Ever Lave, I’m Coming With You” via YouTube

The Wombats next show on the tour is this Friday, January 28th, at Empire Live in Albany. After that the band will travel across the Midwest and West Coast before a lengthy leg of shows in Europe. Find the full run of dates on the band’s website.
January 27, 2022
Wale Performs Under A Blue Moon At Webster Hall
Multi-platinum rap star Wale stopped at Webster Hall on Monday, January 24th for the second show of his ‘Under A Blue Moon Tour.’ The tour comes in support of his eponymous 2021 LP Folarin II released last October on Warner Records. Support for the night came from up and coming rappers Cam Wallace followed by Guapdad 4000. See our full photo gallery below.

Wale at Wesbter Hall, 1/24/2022. Photo by Buscar Photo

Coming as a sequel to Wale’s pivotal EP Folarin, Folarin II is soaked in nostalgia while looking ambitiously towards the future. Living through two years of a global pandemic has forced all of us to examine our past while forging new paths into the future. Such is the case for Wale and the lyrics on the new LP, mixing anecdotal stories with anthemic and hard hitting bars about our place in the world today. Wale played an extensive set late into Monday night, performing many tracks off the new records alongside a career spanning set of fan favorites.

Wale at Wesbter Hall, 1/24/2022. Photo by Buscar Photo

Wale’s show at Webster Hall was the first stop in NYC in two years since playing Brooklyn Steel back in January of 2019, prior to the pandemic. Wale followed up the Webster Hall date with a show in Boston on Tuesday, and the tour moves on to the Midwest starting this Friday. Find the full run of tour dates HERE and catch Wale on the big screen this April with an appearance in the new Michael Bay film Ambulance.

“Fluctuate” by Wale, via YouTube
January 27, 2022

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