NYS Music 202​2

Tag: brooklyn

  • Big Daddy Kane, Greg Nice and Majah Hype to Perform at Antigua the Takeover

    There won’t be any half-stepping from legendary MC, Big Daddy Kane, as he is set to perform while aboard the Antiguan shores. Hosted by travel association, The Ultimate Soul Escape, the storied hip hop veteran will see himself, beatboxing pioneer Greg Nice of Nice & Smooth, as well as comedian Majah Hype — known as the King of Caribbean Comedy – in the ultimate mixture of business and pleasure.

    Set for July 21-25, The five-day cruise/excursion will see the performers and attendees alike enjoy live musical performances, comedy concerts, music jamborees, and beach parties that will be held throughout the tropical island of Antigua. The event is expected to bring revelers to Antigua and contribute an estimated $10 million to the local economy.

    Big Daddy Kane began his career as a member of the fabled Juice Crew and is considered to be one of the most influential and skilled MCs in hip hop. Known for his advancement of hip hop lyricism and multi-syllabic rhyming, Kane has been an inspiration for many historic rappers that have come behind him. His proteges include the likes of Jay – Z, whom Kane mentored and took on tour during the late 1980’s, exposing him to a much greater audience.

    The Ultimate Soul Escape is a travel association that brings together professionals, event planners, promoters, entrepreneurs, and friends. Up to 400 people from around the country travel to exotic destinations such as St. Lucia, Costa Rica, Aruba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, and St. Maarten, to expand their networks, socialize, and have fun.

    It is always an honor to work with Ultimate Soul Escape. The professionalism of their staff and the 5-star quality of services, visually energizes their guests. It is such a worthwhile travel experience!

    Big Daddy Kane

    Ticketing information and further announcements on Antigua Takeover 2022 can be found here.

    The ultimate soul escape is the ultimate escape for Grown folks to congregate. You can wine and dine maybe even meet a new playmate. The hospitality is straighter than straight so get your tickets now because you don’t want to miss this date July 21st-25th Greg Nice Approved!

    Greg Nice

  • Wet Leg Sell Out Brooklyn Steel, Their Largest North American Show to Date

    British indie rock sensation Wet Leg played to a sold out audience at Brooklyn Steel on Thursday (March 10, 2022) with support from Lowertown. Originally scheduled for Music Hall of Williamsburg, the band was forced to change to a larger venue when the show sold out almost immediately. Their meteoric rise in popularity came through their viral hit “Chaise Lounge” released in 2021, which garnered millions of views (and sparked endless memes).

    Wet Leg at Brooklyn Steel – Photograph by David Reichmann

    The Atlanta based alternative duo Lowertown opened the evening with an animated and hard hitting set. They whipped the crowd into a frenzy leading up to Wet Leg’s set, and despite this being Lowertown’s first time on tour, they were a highlight in an action packed evening.

    Lowertown at Brooklyn Steel – Photograph by David Reichmann

    With their debut album still on the way, Wet Leg played several unreleased tracks during their nonstop set, as well as crowd favorites “On No,” “Wet Dream,” “Angelica,” and their breakout hit “Chaise Longue.” Throughout the set frontwomen Rhian and Hester interacted with the crowd and each other with genuine charisma and charm. The band played straight through with no encore, ending on their viral hit, “Chaise Longue.” This sold out show of 1800 people marks their biggest North American show to date.

    Wet Leg at Brooklyn Steel – Photograph by David Reichmann

    Wet Leg’s hotly anticipated debut album releases April 8, and you can listen to their music here. You can also listen to Lowertown’s catalog here.

    Photography by David Reichmann

  • Phoebe Bridgers Reunion Tour 2022 to stop at BRIC in June

    The infamous Phoebe Bridgers has announced her Reunion Tour for 2022, making a stop at the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival at Prospect Park Bandshell. Known for her folk-adjacent and edgy music, her aesthetics, and her female strength, Bridgers is one of the most exciting new talents to have emerged within recent years.

    Phoebe Bridgers
    Photo by Mike Miller

    Bridgers has bad a busy 2021, with 4 GRAMMY nominations, multiple late night TV performances including a smashing debut on Saturday Night Live. Additionally, she had a sold out Fall tour, two songs for charity (“That Funny Feeling” and “Day After Tomorrow”) and collaborations with Taylor Swift, The Killers, Paul McCartney, Metallica and more.

    Most recently, Bridgers revealed plans for her own monthly radio show titled Saddest Factory Radio on Sirius XMU. Currently, she is getting ready to go back on the road taking her newest album, Punisher, to her fans across the United States and Canada, as well as to the UK and Europe.

    Additionally, the Phoebe Bridgers North American run of the Reunion Tour includes a slew of dates April to August – and makes stops in Atlanta, Washington D.C., Brooklyn, Seattle.

    phoebe bridgers tour
    photo by David Michael Reichmann

    Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan Registration is open now here and closes Tuesday, March 8 at 12 pm EST. Similarly, verified Fan Presale begins Thursday, March 10th at 12 pm. $1 of every headline show ticket sold will be donated to The Mariposa Fund, fiscally sponsored by The West Fund. 

    Tour dates:

    4/13: Arizona Federal Theatre – Phoenix, AZ 

    4/15: Coachella – Indio, CA 

    4/22: Coachella – Indio, CA 

    5/13: The Amp at Craig Ranch – Las Vegas, NV 

    5/14: Kilby Block Party – Salt Lake City, UT 

    5/17: Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO  

    5/19: The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory – Dallas, TX  

    5/20: Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park – Austin, TX 

    5/21: The Lawn at White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX 

    5/22: Hangout Fest – Gulf Shores, AL 

    5/24: The Cuban Club – Tampa, FL 

    5/25: St Augustine Amphitheatre – St Augustine, FL 

    5/27: Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park – Atlanta, GA 

    5/28: Forecastle Festival – Louisville, KY 

    5/31: Starlight Theatre – Kansas City, MO 

    6/1: The Waiting Room Outdoors – Omaha, NE 

    6/3: BMO Harris Pavilion – Milwaukee, WI 

    6/4: Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island – Chicago, IL 

    6/7: RBC Echo Beach – Toronto, ON 

    6/8: MTelus – Montreal, QC 

    6/9: Thompson’s Point – Portland, ME 

    6/11: The Anthem – Washington, DC  

    6/12: The Anthem – Washington, DC  

    6/13: Stone Pony Summer Stage – Asbury Park, NJ 

    6/14: BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival at Prospect Park Bandshell – Brooklyn, NY  

    6/15: BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival at Prospect Park Bandshell – Brooklyn, NY  

    6/20: Fairview Park – Dublin, Ireland 

    6/22: Barrowland – Glasgow, UK 

    6/24-25: Glastonbury – Somerset, UK 

    6/26: O2 Academy – Birmingham, UK  

    6/30: Roskilde Festival – Roskilde, Denmark 

    7/2: Rock Werchter Festival – Werchter, Belgium 

    7/3: Down The Rabbit Hole Festival – Ewijk, Netherlands 

    7/5: Carroponte – Milan, Italy 

    7/7: Bilbao BBK Festival – Bilbao, Spain 

    7/8: Mad Cool Festival – Madrid, Spain 

    7/9: NOS Alive Festival – Lisbon, Portugal 

    7/14: Colours of Ostrava – Ostrava, Czech Republic 

    7/17: Lollapalooza Paris – Paris, France 

    7/22: Latitude Festival – Suffolk, UK 

    7/23: O2 Apollo – Manchester, UK 

    7/26: O2 Academy Brixton – London, UK 

    8/7: Hinterland – Saint Charles,  IA 

    8/18: Spokane Pavilion – Spokane, WA 

    8/20: Orpheum Theatre – Vancouver, BC 

    8/23: Marymoor Park – Redmond, WA 

    8/25: Edgefield Amphitheater – Troudale, OR 

    8/27: Vina Robles Amphitheatre – Paso Robles, CA 

    8/28: This Ain’t No Picnic – Los Angeles, CA 

  • The Microphones Take Their Fans to Church

    Indie legends The Microphones played a late night set last Tuesday (March 8, 2022) at St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church. The venue is known for having hosted other indie favorites such as Nick Cave and Sonic Youth throughout the years.

    Emily Sprague at St. Ann’s and the Holy Trinity Church by David Reichmann

    Emily Sprague opened the show with a warm acoustic set consisting of five songs. Her songs’ themes of death and darkness contrasted with the bright personality that came through when she briefly thanked the audience in the middle and end of her set.

    The Microphones at St. Ann’s and the Holy Trinity Church by David Reichmann

    Microphones’ Phil Elverum and Jay Blackinton took the stage to applause from the crowded pews, the dim lighting and quiet atmosphere lulling the audience into a quiet state. You could hear shifting seats and the creak of the historic church flooring before they began their set. They laughed and thanked the crowd before beginning their set, commenting on the awkwardness of standing on stage before the songs begin playing.

    The Microphones at St. Ann’s and the Holy Trinity Church by David Reichmann

    They played just one song, their 45 minute track “Microphones in 2020,” a semi-biographical two-chord meditation on their career which released in 2020 after a near 17 year absence for the band. By the time their set finished, the crowd almost looked dazed. It took a minute for the audience to realize the show had ended, and they gave a standing ovation and hearty cheers as Phil and Jay exited the stage.

    You can listen to The Microphone’s catalog here. And you can find Emily Sprague’s music here.

  • Savak, A Brooklyn Post-Punk Quartet, Release “Empathy”

    SAVAK have shared their newest track “Empathy” from their upcoming fifth album, Human Error / Human Delight, which releases on April 15, 2022. “Empathy” debuted via New Noise Magazine, who contemplated “SAVAK’s fascination with the balanced, and sometimes polarizing, nature of being alive.” 

    Human Error / Human Delight By Savak Empathy
    Human Error / Human Delight

    The Brooklyn Post-Punk Quartet have also added to their upcoming run of U.S. 2022 tour dates, visiting places in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC and more. In addition, performing with the band Jawbox, see below for the full list of currently announced dates. The band wrote and recorded Human Error / Human Delight completely over Zoom, having crafted an honest album on living in our present moment.

    Savak
    Photo credit: Taylor Sesselman

    SAVAK consists of Sohrab Habibion and Michael Jaworski, with Matt Schulz on drums. Additionally, Habibion and Jaworrski both share singing and songwriting duties since the band’s creation in 2015. Though SAVAK’s members have done time in bands like Obits, Edsel, Holy Fuck and more, their current position is the best in which they have been. 

    Upcoming Tour Dates:

    Fri. Mar. 4 – Providence, RI – Union Station Brewery – with Jets Can’t Land & DJ Ted Leo 

    Sat. Mar. 5 – Northampton, MA – Bishop’s Lounge – with Zwei Null Zwei 

    Wed. Mar. 16 – SXSW – The Side Bar – 1:55PM (Outdoor Stage) 

    Thu. Mar. 17 – SXSW – Breakaway Records – 3:15PM 

    Thu. Mar. 17 – SXSW – Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company – 6PM 

    Thu. Mar. 17 – SXSW – The Green Jay – 10PM 

    Fri. Mar. 18 – SXSW – The Side Bar – 2:30PM 

    Fri. Mar. 18 – SXSW – Soundspace at Captain Quack’s – 9:15PM 

    Thu. Apr. 7 – Brooklyn, NY – Littlefield – with Chris Brokaw & Upper Wilds 

    Fri. Apr. 8 – Kingston, NY – Tubby’s – with Chris Brokaw & Cathedral Ceilings 

    Sat. Apr. 9 (early show) – Lowell, MA – The Town and the City Festival – The Worthen House – with Colleen Green 

    Sat. Apr. 9 (late show) – Boston, MA – Midway Cafe – with Chris Brokaw & Lupa Citta 

    Fri. May 13 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Government Center – with Upper Wilds & Gotobeds 

    Sat. May 14 – Washington, DC – Quarry House Tavern – with Upper Wilds & Bed Maker 

    Wed. Jul. 20 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge – with Jawbox 

    Fri. Oct. 21 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge – with June of 44 

  • NYC-Based Artist Rachel Bard Releases New Song “Brooklyn”

    New York-based singer-songwriter Rachel Bard released her new single titled “Brooklyn.” Bard’s voice has been compared to the likes of Nico and Björk, and her solo performances were compared to those of Regina Spektor. She has played in various gigs around NYC.

    Rachel Bard

    The song “Brooklyn” encompasses the New York experience, with rapid changes and unexpected turnarounds. The song is written about her two close friends who had to leave Brooklyn during the winter of 2021. The recording was inspired by the power ballads of the 1970s and 1990s, and more specifically the album Double Fantasy (Stripped Down) by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and artists like The Pixies and Beck.

    Speaking of the song, Bard says she is excited to share it.

    I am thrilled to share the song ‘Brooklyn’ with the world. It is a love song to
    music, friendships and to New York City. To me it is a racehorse of a song.

    Rachel Bard

    Rachel Bard’s new single “Brooklyn” is out now.

  • The Mommyheads Give 1991 Fan-favorite Bootleg a Proper Release

    The Mommyheads’ Swiss Army Knife has never had a proper release. Trapped in obscurity, the long-awaited album will be out February 11th, 2022, for fans to enjoy. 

    Photo of The Mommyheads’ band members.

    The Mommyheads (Adam Elk, Michael Holt, Dan Fisherman, Jason McNair) are an indie pop band from Brooklyn, who played from around 1987 through 1998. They disbanded for a decade, and then reformed in 2008. After the death of original drummer, Jan Kotik, The Mommyheads re-united for a tribute show in New York City. Shortly after, they decided to reform and record a new album, “You’re Not A Dream.” In 2021, Big Takeover Magazine dubbed Adam Elk and Michael Holt, “two of the best songwriters currently active.” 

    “Four decades later and the Mommyheads are still undisputed godfathers of Baroque Prog Pop.”

    Relix

    Swiss Army Knife displays vocals from the wild creativity of Mommyheads songwriter, Adam Elk, who independently recorded these tunes on four-track during his teen years in Brooklyn. The album is striking in it’s eccentricity: schizophrenic wordplay, mind-bending chord structures, acoustic mayhem, and DIY experimentalism all meld together within these colorful song fragments.

    The Mommyheads’ new album Swiss Army Knife is coming out February 11th, 2022.
    Swiss Army Knife, The Mommyheads

    When listening to the album, the manic creative energy is infectious throughout. There is an unrelenting playfulness to this set that makes it so enjoyable to listen to. Tracks such as “They Call it Accident,” have a playful, plucking bassline paired with sublime vocals that overall make the track a fun one to listen to.  

    “If you wanna do music, you have to have a really thick skin. You have to really wanna take the abuse of not making money for years and years.”

    says Adam Elk

    That most unique aspects of this album are its use of unusual use of instruments and vocals that make the album feel so raw featured in songs like “Freak Out Jam,” “I Won’t Eat Anymore,” and “They’ve Finally Landed.” Other tracks like “Lemon Merengue People” have fun melodies of guitar and vocals that pair with each other. 

    Photo of The Mommyheads’ band members.

    Another song, “We Are Intertwined,” can be described as having a waltz, up-beat and psychedelic sound. “Canoe Driver” is also another gorgeous piece of baroque pop with glorious melody. The Mommyheads Swiss Army Knife is a masterpiece of 90s-sounding baroque progressive pop.  

    Photo of The Mommyheads’ band members.

    Swiss Army Knife is available to listen to on Soundcloud.  

  • Brooklyn Band Endearments Share Video For Coldplay-Inspired “Delicate”

    Brooklyn synth-pop project Endearments have released a Coldplay-inspired music video for their original song “Delicate,” off their debut EP Father of Wands.

    Endearments and the video for “Delicate.”

    The video for “Delicate” is directly influenced by Coldplay’s video for their song “Yellow.” Speaking of the video, singer Kevin Marksson spoke about the influence.

    When we decided to make a music video for ‘Delicate’ I knew immediately that I wanted it to be an homage to Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’ video. It’s one of my all-time favorite music videos: beautiful, earnest, simple. Thematically ‘Delicate’ is really the opposite of ‘Yellow’ though. It’s a song about walking away from a bad relationship, so setting the video on an idyllic beach didn’t feel right. Filming on the street in Bushwick felt like the perfect way to pay tribute to the original while still being true to this song.

    Kevin Marksson, Endearments.

    Marksson recently began writing and composing for himself for the first time in over a decade, after his previous band ended. He chose the name for this project because he wanted to convey a sense of affection, though the music he makes is sad.

    Father of Wands uses brilliant basslines and dream-pop aesthetics to tell the story of Marksson’s own heartbreak and healing. The title of the EP comes from tarot cards, as the Father (or King) is the ultimate card in the suit of Wands, which lets Marksson be guided to a place of healing.

    endearments delicate
    Endearments.

    Endearment’s Coldplay-inspired video for the new song “Delicate” is out now. Descrived as “irresistible and gratifyingly groovy” by Bands Do Brooklyn, your ears will transcend to a place of wonder.

  • Brooklyn Band Le big Zero announces April release of new album, “A Proper Mess”

    Brooklyn based rock band Le Big Zero announced the release of their second album, A Proper Mess, on April 8. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7ozo1vt8zg

    As part of the announcement, Le Big Zero released their first single and music video from the album, “Horror Movie Pie Fight.” According to a press release from the band’s label, Know Hope Records, the upcoming album, and newly released single, are “exploration[s] of monotony and anxiety in the modern age.”

    The Brooklyn based rock band Le Big Zero
    Le Big Zero’s band members include guitarist and vocalist, Michael Pasuit (center),vocalist Carolina Aguilar (far right), bassist Ben Ross (right) and drummer Lukas Hirsch (left).

    To put together their new single,”Horror Movie Pie Fight”, lead vocalists Michael Pasuit and Carolina Aguilar took on a novel approach to recording this particular song: they never harmonized. Meaning they don’t sing in the same octave and instead let their voices exist side by side to one another on the track. 

    Unique to the song is that Carolina and I don’t harmonize. It’s the only song that’s sung in parallel octaves instead…When we didn’t come upon a decent harmony for HMPF, (Horror Movie Pie Fight) we decided to go that route as an experiment, and we really liked the result.

    Michael Pasuit, vocalist and guitarist

    The song tells the story of an individual that writes a horror movie only to lose creative control over the project after a studio buys the movie rights. Despite addressing concerns that may be widespread and frighteningly possible for artists, “Horror Movie Pie Fight” has an absurdist tone that makes the song palatable while still being thought provoking. 

    Le Big Zero released their first studio album, Ollie Oxen Free, in 2019. A Proper Mess will be available on all streaming platforms.

  • Laurel Canyon release debut EP “Victim”

    Laurel Canyon released their debut EP, Victim, on January 14, featuring two brand new singles “Shove” and “Sade.” The album was produced by Bryce Goggin (Pavement, Hello Mary) at Trout Recording in Brooklyn. Along with this, the artist Savage Pencil, who has worked with Big Black and Sonic Youth, created the artwork for the EP. 

    Laurel Canyon EP “Victim”
    Cover artwork by Savage Pencil (Big Black, Sonic Youth).

    Laurel Canyon is a grunge band originally from Pennsylvania, however, they record their music and perform in Brooklyn. Nicholas Gillespie and Serg Cereja are the creators of this iconic band. To sum up, they met two years ago through a mutual friend in their hometown of Allentown. After that, through shared interests and collaboration, the two began writing and recording songs. Above all, creating the punk-rock band known today as Laurel Canyon.

    Photo of Laurel Canyon by @pielmelosa on Instagram
    Photo by @pielmelosa on Instagram

    Victim embodies the sounds of original 90s grunge/pun music. Likewise, along with its melodic vocals, the album creates a unique tone. In songs like “Daddy’s Honey,” the two yell repeatedly “off her broken plates” together. Similarly, the song’s lyrics are said to be inspired by the band’s “real-life experiences in a troubled home” (Thomas Gallo).

    Photo of Laurel Canyon by Alex Hall
    Photo by Alex Hall

    There’s no denying that this album has gained popularity online for its 90s-sound, with “Eczema” and “Daddy’s Honey” are featured in the Spotify playlists “All New Rock” and “Smells Like Stream Spirit.” 

    In October of 2020, Nick and Serg shared the song, “Two Times Emptiness,” released on May 1st, 2021. Both artists said they contributed equally to the music and the lyrics, thus creating a song neither could have written alone. 

    Photo by Nikola Burnett
    Photo by Nikola Burnett

    The band quickly found themselves with a lot of material to work with and established a relationship with producer, Bryce Goggin (Pavement, Hello Mary). With the help of bassist Dylan Loccarini and Chip Williams, in July and November of 2021 the group recorded the 5-track EP Victim. 

     Victim can be found on Spotify and Bandcamp.

    https://open.spotify.com/track/6ciEiH4RBAUYDRQkPS4GBR?si=f0048ac2d65f4345 https://linktr.ee/Laurel_Canyon