Tag: Hanzolo

Hanzolo to Headline Lark Hall on January 15 with Canella and Jak Lizard

On Sunday, January 15, Lark Hall will host Hanzolo, Canella and Jak Lizard, for a night of rising bands from across Upstate New York.

Hanzolo, who won the 2022 NYS Music March Madness, is a 7-piece band from Cooperstown, toting an explosive and emotional sound that mixes soul, jazz, rock, and funk. Their songs are dance-ably fun with thoughtful lyrics, backed up by a bright horn section. Not only have Hanzolo won NYS Music’s March Madness, but they also won the WEQX Battle of the Bands and opened Albany’s annual Pearlpalooza music festival in 2019. The first release from Hanzolo, Table Butter, was followed up with a self-title release in the fall of 2021.

Hanzolo’s music has been compared to table butter; Soft enough to spread, yet hard enough to keep its shape. Watch the video for “Not Easy” below.

Joining Hanzolo on January 15 is Canella, who have established an electric alt rock presence in the Capital Region and recently won WCDB’s ‘Song of the Year’ award for their debut single “Quiet Love”. Joining the Tulip Fest 2022 Lineup, Canella set a fire on stage that ignited female fronted rock nostalgia but with a refreshing DIY take. Their upcoming album is a revenge journal of songs pulled out of the classic ‘Burn Book’ of their personal lives. Their music is dedicated to former bandmate and best friend, Kyle Robinson who tragically passed away in a car accident in 2020.

Rounding out the lineup of artists on the rise is Jak Lizard, a New York crooner and self-declared “poptimist”. His orange, pink, and yellow melodies with a penchant for two stepping with your best friend.

Tickets for Hanzolo, Canella and Jak Lizard at Lark Hall can be purchased here. Learn more about Lark Hall here.

December 27, 2022
A Phone Free Festival: What’s in Store at Over Yondr Festival, June 24-26

Cell phones have changed the dynamic of concerts and festivals in the past 20 years. Whereas in the early part of the 21st century, holding up your cell phone so your friend at home can (sort of) hear a song was fairly common, now in 2022 you can stream the concert direct to them with clear sound and visual quality.

It doesn’t have to be like this. When you’re at a show, naturally you want to take a photo or post to social media, but that can distract from your enjoyment of a show, as well as the enjoyment of those around you.

Enter Yondr. Since 2014, the company has partnered with comedians, musicians and even schools to provide pouches that seal phones inside so they cannot be used during performances or instructional time.

If you haven’t heard of Over Yondr Festival via social media, there’s a reason for that – the company does not have any social media accounts and does little advertising. “People are bombarded with so many notifications and advertisements, it’s not something we need,” said Yondr founder and CEO Graham Dugoni. “People don’t need to be hit up for new things. We practice less is more. Social media isn’t going away but its presence in daily life is going to change.”

The lack of social media hasn’t prevented Yondr from partnering with big names like Dave Chappelle, Alicia Keys, John Mulaney and more to keep events completely phone-free using Yondr’s patented sealable pouch.

The use of these pouches at shows is so that patrons are not distracted by their phones and unable to use them, all while holding onto them during the performance in a sealed pouch. Returning to the intimacy of a distraction-free environment is one thing that drove Dugoni to build the brand in the past 8 years.

At a show when someone photo or text, their attention leaves the space for a moment, making it harder to re-engage. You miss what a great show can be. Spaces need to be carved out for things, like music festivals and live entertainment, that are negatively affected by the presence of phones and digital media.
Yondr founder and CEO Graham Dugoni

Considering the impact phones have on young people, and the next generation of festival attendees, live music and performance patrons will need to keep the phone at bay so they can enjoy the full scope of the event, not what is limited to glances at screens.

Dugoni notes the factors that go into the artist’s decision to insist on a no-phone policy. “When there is privacy, perhaps an artist wants to try out new material and not have the music show up the next day. You need a degree of privacy to make that happen. If you pull a phone out often it can have a negative impact.”

By entering the venue, locking your phone in a pouch and carrying it with you, possession is maintained if access is not. There is of course a smokers-section style area to check your phone just in case, while creating a simple gorund rule for all to get along with.

“After 5-10 min people will forget about their phones. You get out of the rhythm of responding to texts and pings,” noted Dugoni.

Dugoni and his team first came up with the plan for a phone-free festival when the company was founded, he notes how “there is big community of people paying attention to their phones and social media who want to get together without that. Society is looking for spaces where they can unplug.”

aerial view of the festival grounds

Scheduled to take place from June 24-26 on private farmland at 5143 Route 81 in the town of Greenville, the Over Yondr Festival will bring more than a dozen eclectic musical acts and hundreds of music fans to Greenville.

map of the Over Yondr Festival grounds

Greenville was chosen for the location of the festival after the Yondr team took a trip to the area several years ago. They stopped in Rensselaerville and also looked for sites in California but they felt built up. Given how Yondr sees the world now, it seemed like a natural fit. “The locals have been great and it just seemed right. You still have the feel of counterculture and with this generation we are ready for one, pushing back on technology and aiming for simplicity in life. And I think it’s already beginning. Coming out of college, grads don’t want to stare at a screen all day, and a lot of political and social division can arise from that.”

We are trying to put the technology in its right place. The next generation has to learn to treat the physical world as real and their interactions online as different. If you don’t disaggregate those two, a lot of negative things tend to happen. Phone free spaces are helpful and unique places to see 20-30,000 interacting and talking in concession line. It takes only a little to remove this social impediment.
Yondr founder and CEO Graham Dugoni

As for that eclectic lineup? Dugani and his team assembled the artists, looking for a diversity of sounds among the more than 15 performers, a lineup that felt right for the atmosphere, per Dugani.

Tickets are on sale now for Over Yondr Festival. and get 15% off by entering code NYSMUSIC.

Over Yondr Festival Daily Lineup

Friday, June 24

Topaz Jones
Kaleta & The Super Yamba Band
Black Mountain Symphony
Anna Fox Rochinski
Nas Leber
SVB

Saturday, June 25

!!! (chk chk chk)
Sheer Mag
Bones of JR Jones
Kississippi
Jadeisdxpe
Artz

Sunday, June 26

Hanzolo
Jak Lizard
Rhys Tivey
Andrew Richards

June 11, 2022
Rockin’ On The River Lineup Features Hanzolo, Super 400, and More

Rockin’ On The River in Troy, NY, announces the lineup for this summer, happening on July 20, Aug. 3, Aug. 17, and Aug. 31 at The Waterfront featuring Hanzolo, Super 400, and more.

Rockin’ On The River is one of the Capital Region’s best and longest-running outdoor music series. It is a free event, happening from 5:30- 8 P.M. with local artists and familiar favorites taking the stage. Geoff Brault, Executive Director, Downtown Troy Business Improvement District, spoke about the concert series.

We’re tremendously excited for Rockin’ On The River to return with four shows in 2022 at a new location at The Waterfront. Since the event was last held, there’s been so much investment in The Waterfront district, and we can’t wait to show off all the improvements and amenities that this area has to offer. And since it’s such a short walk from one end of the downtown district to the other, it’s easy to enjoy great shopping before the show, and fine food and drink after.

Rockin’ On The River Lineup

July 20- Super 400 with Blue Machine

Super 400 is a Troy-based rock trio that is known far and wide for telekinetic jams and big love. They have played at Rockin’ On The River multiple times since its creation. Opening for them is Blue Machine.

Super 400

Aug. 3- Skeeter Creek with Luggnuts.

Skeeter Creek is a country band who have won the Times Union Reader’s Poll winner for Best Local Band six times. Opening for them is Luggnuts, who play cosmic American music.

Skeeter Creek

Aug. 17- Saints & Liars with Wild Leek River

Saints & Liars is a five-piece Americana band blending their own variants of country, folk, bluegrass, and rock, and is ranked among the best of the new and upcoming alternative artists. Wild Leek River is a five-piece country band that has strong steel vocals and music you can dance to.

Aug. 31- Hanzolo with IAMDYNAMITE

NYS Music March Madness winners Hanzolo are a 7-piece band from Upstate New York, with an explosive and emotional sound that mixes soul, jazz, rock, and funk. IAMDYNAMITE is a fast-paced, anthemic, catchy, chanting rock group.

Hanzolo

Rockin’ On The River’s free concert series will be held at The Waterfront in Troy, NY, throughout July and August.

June 7, 2022
And the Winner of NYS Music’s March Madness 2022 is….

HANZOLO! The indie group with an explosive, emotional sound mixing soul, jazz, rock and funk, hail from Cooperstown, and bested Albany’s Fine Grain en route to winning the finals of NYS Music’s March Madness 2022.

HANZOLO, hailing Cooperstown – where 5 of the 7 members attended Cooperstown High School – formed in 2016 after playing in a variety of groups from high school and into college. The group’s name derives from the name of a samurai, Hanzo, and a certain science-fiction cowboy.

Band members include Carl Loewenguth (vocals, guitar), Nick Summers (keyboard, trumpet), Jack Loewenguth (bass), Nate Olmstead and Sebastian Green (drums), James Matson (trombone), and Joey Katz (keyboard, saxophone)

Since forming, HANZOLO have opened for bands like Lawrence, Wild Belle, and *repeat repeat. They released their first album Table Butter in 2019, an apt title given they have been compared to Table Butter: soft enough to spread yet hard enough to keep its shape.

As COVID-19 led to a music industry shutdown in 2020 and most of 2021, the band took the time to refine their second album, HANZOLO. In September 2021, the group won the EQX Battle of the Bands and opened Albanyâs annual Pearlpalooza music festival.

They have played regularly in NYC at The Delancy and Rockwood Music Hall, and look to expand their audience in coming months with festival appearances that are soon to be announced.

Closer to home, HANZOLO play regularly in Albany at Lost and Found, as well as Ommegang Fire Pit Fridays in the summer, Black Oak Tavern and Foothills PAC in Oneonta.

The self-titled second album was released on Christmas Day 2021, the result of a Kickstarter campaign that netted over $14,000. With COVID sidelining the band from touring, they used the time to put more focus on the quality control of the album and launch the band into their next phase in a well-timed manner.

They’ve also got a selection of HANZOLO merch you can pick up here.

HANZOLO 2022 Tour Dates

April 8 – Arts Gala at The Madison Theater, Albany

April 14 – Pauly’s Hotel, Albany (with JDolla)

April 24 – The Range, Ithaca (with Q-Tip Bandits)

April 27 – Lark Hall, Albany (with Q-Tip Bandits & E-Block)

June 11 – Cooperstown Blues Express, Cooperstown

Congratulations HANZOLO, NYS Music’s 2022 March Madness Winner!

Since 2015, NYS Music has crafted a friendly March Madness competition that spans all musical harbors of the Empire State. As fans and musicians, the NYS Music team aims to spotlight the great talent found across New York in a friendly contest, bringing broader attention to the next generation of artists and bands on the rise. March Madness 2022 highlighted 64 bands and artists you might not know, but should know, as these homegrown talents are making waves through the New York State. Review each round below.

Round One

Round Two

Sweet 16

Elite 8

Final 4

Finals – HANZOLO vs. Fine Grain

HANZOLO joins previous NYS Music March Madness winners include Organ Fairchild (2021), Black Mountain Symphony (2018), Root SHOCK (2017), Sprocket (2016) and Lucid (2014).

Our sincere thanks to the sponsors of NYS Music March Madness 2022 – Bearsville Theater, Funk n Waffles, DSP Shows, The Helping Friendly Hemp Company, The XPerience Monthly and Mirth Films.

March 29, 2022
The Finals of NYS Music March Madness 2022

We have arrived at the Finals of NYS Music’s March Madness 2022. 64 bands we brought together, to build their name and share their sound with a wide audience. And now we are down to the final two bands, with a unique New York sound.

Since 2015, New York State Music has crafted a March Madness friendly competition that spans all the musical harbors of the Empire State. As fans and musicians, the NYS Music team aims to spotlight the great talent found across New York in a friendly contest, bringing broader attention to the next generation of artists and bands on the rise. March Madness 2022 highlights 64 bands and artists you might not know, but should know, as these homegrown talents are making waves through the New York State. Check out the Final 4 here.

Enter your email address, get to know the bands, and vote for your favorites below!

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Fine Grain – Albany

Fine Grain floats in a purgatory between shoegaze haze and punk posturing. Their post-punk brilliance runs deep with exceptional songwriting and performances of every member of the band. With prog-inspired riffs, post-punk murk, and the occasional ripping sax solo, fine grain offers up rambunctious reverie fit for hardcore fans of all generations. Fine Grain’s maturation is a testament to the transformative possibility of punk, showing how pulled threads of the past can still stitch together a promising new future.

Fine Grain is currently in the studio at Brunswick Recording, working on new music, and have been incorporating visual projections that sync up to their music, intensifying the experience for fans.

HANZOLO – Upstate

HANZOLO, hailing from Upstate NY, won the EQX Battle of the Bands and opened Albany’s annual Pearlpalooza music festival in 2021. They have opened for bands like Lawrence, Wild Belle, and *repeat repeat. The boys released their first album Table Butter in 2019 and followed it up with their second, HANZOLO, in the fall of 2021. Hanzolo’s music has been compared to Table Butter: soft enough to spread yet hard enough to keep its shape.

Upcoming HANZOLO shows include April 8 at Madison Theater in Albany, April 14 at Pauly’s Hotel, April 24 at The Range in Ithaca and April 27 at Lark Hall.

The polls are now closed. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, March 29 at 10am.

NYS Music has partnered with businesses across New York State to highlight these 64 up and coming bands. Regional sponsors include Funk n Waffles, a premiere music venue in Syracuse established in 2007 with a unique take on the culinary and entertainment industries, offering a wide variety of gourmet waffles and breakfast food, as well as offering live music every night! Bearsville Theater in Woodstock is where Americana was born – where Dylan took folk music and married it to Rock & Roll. where folk went electric, and where Janis took a breath and recuperated, before launching her hurricane energy and heart stopping songs out into the world. Renovated in 2019-2020, Bearsville Theater has an impressive calendar of shows for Hudson Valley music lovers.

DSP Shows based in Ithaca, NY and Northampton, MA, is one of the leading independent concert promoters in America, with shows at venues including State Theatre of Ithaca, Hangar Theatre, The Haunt, Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, Brewery Ommegang, Asbury Hall, The 9th Ward at Babeville, and Daryl’s House among others. The Helping Friendly Hemp Company offers a wide variety of industry leading products including tinctures, soft chews, and hemp flower, using only USA grown hemp extract.

The winners of each region will be rewarded with a collection of prizes worth $3000. Partners for NYS Music’s March Madness 2022 include Mirth Films from Albany, a music news/entertainment outlet that specializes in original video content and live streaming, with news coverage ranging across the whole country, who will provide a professional multi-camera recording session at The Palace Theatre in Albany for the winning band, premiering exclusively on Mirth Films.

The XPerience Monthly is the greater Capital Region’s alt-monthly newspaper, bringing independent music and thought provoking articles to the area. The XPerience Monthly will feature the winning band in a newspaper profile and interview this summer.

Check out Past Years’ NYS Music March Madness Here

March 26, 2022
The Final Four of NYS Music March Madness 2022

And then there were four…. Welcome to the Final Four of NYS Music’s March Madness 2022, featuring up and coming bands from around New York State, all coming to a local music venue near you.

Since 2015, New York State Music has crafted a March Madness friendly competition that spans all the musical harbors of the Empire State. As fans and musicians, the NYS Music team aims to spotlight the great talent found across New York in a friendly contest, bringing broader attention to the next generation of artists and bands on the rise. March Madness 2022 highlights 64 bands and artists you might not know, but should know, as these homegrown talents are making waves through the New York State. Check out Round 4 here.

Enter your email address, get to know the bands, and vote for your favorites below!

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Bearsville Theater Region Winner
Fine Grain

Fine Grain, a shoegazy punk band from Albany took both the red and blue pills with a Genny and got banned from Trader Joe’s. The girthy tones of this gritty group will remind you of late nights on a stoop in September, your first beer after work, weird questions about your parents cephalopods, and of course, the crushing weight of capitalism.

Fine Grain is currently in the studio at Brunswick Recording, working on new music, and have been incorporating visual projections that sync up to their music, intensifying the experience for fans.

Funk n Waffles Region Winner
Gooseberry

Gooseberry is a 4-piece band from Brooklyn, born during the Fall of 2019. Their combination of indie rock and soul is a recipe for a unique sound that Gooseberry delivers in each song. The band consists of Asa Daniels (formerly of Baked Goods) on guitar/vocals, Evin Rossington (drums), Sam Rappaport (keys, vocals), and Will Hammond (bass). The band is a genre-bending alchemy of many disparate elements. They are often referred to as having “two bands in one.” This phenomenon can be attributed to the distinctly different approaches of their two chief songwriters—Asa and Sam.

New on the block, Gooseberry has already begun developing a devoted following in and around New York City, running the full gamut of venues from The Bowery Electric to DROM to house shows across the boroughs, quickly staking their claim in the ever-lively Brooklyn music scene. Fans know they’ll be kept on their toes, as the band moves in and out of genres and styles, always keeping the crowd engaged. Upcoming shows include Thursday, March 24 with Grady Spencer & The Work at Hill Country in NYC, then at Bowery Electric on April 14 and at The Knitting Factory on May 21.

DSP Shows Region Winner
Seize Atlantis

Seize Atlantis has a unique, tight sound fueled by punchy bass, hard-driving percussion, melodic lead guitar, and pronounced moody vocals with meaningful lyrics, a truly dynamic range of soft to heavy Alternative Rock. Formed in 2019 out of Glens Falls, Seize Atlantis is a four-piece band most closely influenced by bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam, providing their own spin on a variety of covers from classic rock to modern pop in addition to their own original music.

Catch them on Friday, March 18 at Mean Max Brew Works in Glens Falls, April 10 at Fitzgerald’s in Fort Edward, and on April 22 at Empire Underground with Under the Den, Bad Mothers, and Sydney Worthley. Watch “The Unstoppable Groove” below.

The Helping Friendly Hemp Company Region Winner
HANZOLO

HANZOLO won the EQX Battle of the Bands and opened Albany’s annual Pearlpalooza music festival in 2021. They have opened for bands like Lawrence, Wild Belle, and *repeat repeat. The boys released their first album Table Butter in 2019 and followed it up with their second, HANZOLO, in the fall of 2021. Hanzolo’s music has been compared to Table Butter: soft enough to spread yet hard enough to keep its shape.

Upcoming HANZOLO shows include April 8 at Madison Theater in Albany, April 14 at Pauly’s Hotel, April 24 at The Range in Ithaca and April 27 at Lark Hall.

Voting for the Final 4 has closed. Stay tuned for Championship Round starting on Saturday March 26 at 10am, ending Sunday, March 27 at 11:59pm!

NYS Music has partnered with businesses across New York State to highlight these 64 up and coming bands. Regional sponsors include Funk n Waffles, a premiere music venue in Syracuse established in 2007 with a unique take on the culinary and entertainment industries, offering a wide variety of gourmet waffles and breakfast food, as well as offering live music every night! Bearsville Theater in Woodstock is where Americana was born – where Dylan took folk music and married it to Rock & Roll. where folk went electric, and where Janis took a breath and recuperated, before launching her hurricane energy and heart stopping songs out into the world. Renovated in 2019-2020, Bearsville Theater has an impressive calendar of shows for Hudson Valley music lovers.

DSP Shows based in Ithaca, NY and Northampton, MA, is one of the leading independent concert promoters in America, with shows at venues including State Theatre of Ithaca, Hangar Theatre, The Haunt, Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, Brewery Ommegang, Asbury Hall, The 9th Ward at Babeville, and Daryl’s House among others. The Helping Friendly Hemp Company offers a wide variety of industry leading products including tinctures, soft chews, and hemp flower, using only USA grown hemp extract.

The winners of each region will be rewarded with a collection of prizes worth $3000. Partners for NYS Music’s March Madness 2022 include Mirth Films from Albany, a music news/entertainment outlet that specializes in original video content and live streaming, with news coverage ranging across the whole country, who will provide a professional multi-camera recording session at The Palace Theatre in Albany for the winning band, premiering exclusively on Mirth Films.

The XPerience Monthly is the greater Capital Region’s alt-monthly newspaper, bringing independent music and thought provoking articles to the area. The XPerience Monthly will feature the winning band in a newspaper profile and interview this summer.

Check out Past Years’ NYS Music March Madness Here

March 21, 2022
NYS Music March Madness 2022 – Round 4

Welcome to Round 4 – the Elite 8 – of NYS Music’s March Madness 2022. Eight up and coming bands from across New York State have made it this far, as we highlight the next generation of bands on the rise.

Since 2015, New York State Music has crafted a March Madness competition that spans all the musical harbors of the Empire State. As fans and musicians, the NYS Music team aims to spotlight the great talent found across New York in a friendly contest, bringing broader attention to the next generation of artists and bands on the rise. March Madness 2022 highlights 64 bands and artists you might not know, but should know, as these homegrown talents are making waves through the New York State. Check out Round 3 here.

Enter your email address, get to know the bands, and vote for your favorites below!

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Bearsville Theater Region
Thanks! vs Fine Grain

Meet Thanks! – Saratoga Springs

Thanks! is a six-piece rock outfit from Saratoga Springs, NY. Their style mixes influences of Blues, Alternative, Rock and Jazz together to create a unique and exciting sound. With melodic bass lines, jazz-infused drums, strong horn lines and roaring saxophone laced with deep, gritty vocals, Thanks! leaves audiences with a performance to remember each and every time they hit the stage. Check out their latest single, “I Choose You” and check out some of their other live performances on their website www.thebandthanks.com. You can also catch Thanks! live at Rockwood Music Hall on 3/24 and at Rare Form Brewing Co. in Troy on 3/26! Thanks! will also be hosting the Martin Family Benefit Concert on 4/3 at Putnam Place in Saratoga Springs!

Meet Fine Grain – Troy

Fine Grain, a shoegazy punk band from Albany took both the red and blue pills with a Genny and got banned from Trader Joe’s. The girthy tones of this gritty group will remind you of late nights on a stoop in September, your first beer after work, weird questions about your parents cephalopods, and of course, the crushing weight of capitalism. Fine Grain is currently in the studio at Brunswick Recording, working on new music, and have been incorporating visual projections that sync up to their music, intensifying the experience for fans.

Funk n Waffles Region
Sydney Irving and the Mojo vs Gooseberry

Meet Sydney Irving and the Mojo – Syracuse

Sydney Irving and the Mojo, based in Syracuse, features 18 year old Sydney Irving, who has been named the 2020 young adult artist of the year by the International Singer Songwriters Assocation, where she will perform this summer in Atlanta, GA. Her band ‘The Mojo’ includes Evan Tennant on drums, Luke Hart on Lead Guitar and Randy Tennant on Bass. They’ll be performing across New York and three other states this summer. Sydney received the Brian Bourke Award for Best New Artist at the 2022 Syracuse Area Music Awards. Catch the band at Turning Stone Casino “The Gig” on March 26 and Turning Stone Casino “Turquoise Tiger” on April 1. Watch “Seasons Change” below.

Meet Gooseberry – Brooklyn

Gooseberry is a 4-piece band from Brooklyn, born during the Fall of 2019. Their combination of blues, R&B, and indie rock is a recipe for a unique sound that Gooseberry delivers in each song. Listen to their recently released single “Sleep” below.

DSP Shows Region
Seize Atlantis vs All Poets & Heroes

Meet Seize Atlantis – Glens Falls

Seize Atlantis has a unique, tight sound fueled by punchy bass, hard-driving percussion, melodic lead guitar, and pronounced moody vocals with meaningful lyrics, a truly dynamic range of soft to heavy Alternative Rock. Formed in 2019 out of Glens Falls, Seize Atlantis is a four-piece band most closely influenced by bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam, providing their own spin on a variety of covers from classic rock to modern pop in addition to their own original music. Catch them on Friday, March 18 at Mean Max Brew Works in Glens Falls and on April 22 at Empire Underground with Under the Den, Bad Mothers, and Sydney Worthley. Watch “The Unstoppable Groove” below.

Meet All Poets and Heroes – Syracuse

photo by Nicole Morelli

In the summer of 2015, Rob McCall & Corey Jordan met and founded All Poets & Heroes out of their hometown of Syracuse. That summer, the duo began crafting a sound that explored resonating folk melodies with that of the sensible nostalgia that filled the 90s alternative music scene. Since then, the duo has grown into a full-fledged band developing towards an introspective project that aims to challenge listeners to feel, and to feel deeply. They’ll be at Funk n Waffles on April 15, and you can pre-save their next single, “21,” here, out on March 25. Listen to Occhiolism below.

The Helping Friendly Hemp Company Region
HANZOLO vs Big Time Kitty

Meet HANZOLO – Upstate

HANZOLO is a 7-piece band from Upstate New York, toting an explosive and emotional sound that mixes soul, jazz, rock, and funk. Their songs are dance-ably fun with thoughtful lyrics, backed up by a bright horn section. The band’s website contains videos and upcoming tour dates with shows in Albany, Ithaca and the Cooperstown Blues Express. Watch the video for “Not Easy” below.

Meet Big Time Kitty – the Adirondacks

Big Time Kitty (B.T.K.). Is a funky ass two man band based out of the Adirondacks. Catch them this summer at The Hub in Brant Lake NY on May 7, Paradox Brewery in North Hudson on July 16th and in Lake George on July 22. Their SoundCloud page gives you a taste of both their original hits and cover selections like “2001” and “Tubthumping.”

Voting for Round 4 has closed. Stay tuned for The Final 4 starting on Monday, March 21 at 10am!

NYS Music has partnered with businesses across New York State to highlight these 64 up and coming bands. Regional sponsors include Funk n Waffles, a premiere music venue in Syracuse established in 2007 with a unique take on the culinary and entertainment industries, offering a wide variety of gourmet waffles and breakfast food, as well as offering live music every night! Bearsville Theater in Woodstock is where Americana was born – where Dylan took folk music and married it to Rock & Roll. where folk went electric, and where Janis took a breath and recuperated, before launching her hurricane energy and heart stopping songs out into the world. Renovated in 2019-2020, Bearsville Theater has an impressive calendar of shows for Hudson Valley music lovers.

DSP Shows based in Ithaca, NY and Northampton, MA, is one of the leading independent concert promoters in America, with shows at venues including State Theatre of Ithaca, Hangar Theatre, The Haunt, Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, Brewery Ommegang, Asbury Hall, The 9th Ward at Babeville, and Daryl’s House among others. The Helping Friendly Hemp Company offers a wide variety of industry leading products including tinctures, soft chews, and hemp flower, using only USA grown hemp extract.

The winners of each region will be rewarded with a collection of prizes worth $3000. Partners for NYS Music’s March Madness 2022 include Mirth Films from Albany, a music news/entertainment outlet that specializes in original video content and live streaming, with news coverage ranging across the whole country, who will provide a professional multi-camera recording session at a prestigious venue in Albany for the winning band, premiering exclusively on Mirth Films.

The XPerience Monthly is the greater Capital Region’s alt-monthly newspaper, bringing independent music and thought provoking articles to the area. The XPerience Monthly will feature the winning band in a newspaper profile and interview this summer.

Check out Past Years’ NYS Music March Madness Here

March 16, 2022
NYS Music March Madness 2022 Round 2

We have arrived at Round 2 of NYS Music’s March Madness 2022. Below you’ll find 16 matchups between 32 bands and artists from across New York State, from numerous genres, all on the rise and ready to make a name for themselves.

Since 2015, New York State Music has crafted a March Madness competition that spans all the musical harbors of the Empire State. As fans and musicians, the NYS Music team aims to spotlight the great talent found across New York in a friendly contest, bringing broader attention to the next generation of artists and bands on the rise. March Madness 2022 highlights 64 bands and artists you might not know, but should know, as these homegrown talents are making waves through the New York State. Check out Round 1 here.

Enter your email address, meet the bands and artists below, and vote for your favorites!

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Bearsville Theater Region

Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys vs Ampevene

Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys from Albany perform hard-driving, up-tempo acoustic Americana Roots music from the traditions of country, folk, and bluegrass with creative original story songs from Jim the main focus. Listen to their recent EP Hillbilly Rock n Roll here

Ampevene from Albany are a fresh, experimental fusion of original Progressive Rock, Psychedelic, and other genres. Ampevene’s music represents an amalgam of the mayhem of Mars Volta, the psychedelic sounds of Pink Floyd, the hypnotic trance-like quality of Tool, and the funk of a Frusciante-Chili Pepper jam. Listen to their David Bowie live set from November 2019 here.

Caity Gallagher vs Thanks!

Caity Gallagher is a folk singer songwriter based in Albany, with rootsy compositions and lilting vocal lines serve to showcase intimate lyrics that tell universally relatable stories. Caity has been likened to a modern combination of The Cranberries and Jackson Browne. Listen to her newest single, “Give It All,” here.

Thanks! From Saratoga Springs leave audiences with a show to remember whenever they hit the stage. What started out as three guys in a basement, has continuously built into a theatrical, reflective and dramatic performance that moves fans of all ages. Listen to their new single “I Choose You” here.

GRUB vs Fine Grain

GRUB is an Experimental Rock group based out of Buffalo/Niagara Falls. Their original catalogue can be described as uniquely inventive, adventurous, and welcoming to new listeners. Each song showcases a seamless blend of genres such as funk, psychedelic rock, electronic, hip-hop, metal, and reggae amidst a pop-esque composition, so there are elements on the table for all. Their website has videos and more.

Red pill or blue pill? Fine Grain took both with a Genny and got banned from Trader Joe’s. The girthy tones of this gritty, shoegazy punk band from Albany will remind you of late nights on a stoop in September, your first beer after work, weird questions about your parents cephalopods, and of course, the crushing weight of capitalism. Visit here for a link to all their different streaming options.

Cait Devin vs Frank Palangi

Cait Devin is a 20 year old alt-pop artist from Utica with a diverse range of audiences and experience in many genres of music. Cait is also a lead guitarist alongside being a singer songwriter, and has put together various shred collabs. No stranger to playing live, Cait has been booking frequent shows in Central New York since she was 15, and expanded to NYC and Nashville by age 16. Listen to her song “K9” here.

Frank Palangi is an indie rock artist from Queensbury, with a fuel and passion that makes his deep and gritty rock a must listen. Combine his vibrato voice and charismatic charm, and you’ve got a rock legend in the making. Palangi’s mission statement is “I have no plan B in backing down on my dreams.” Listen to his latest single “Dead Man” here.

Voting for Round 2 has closed. Stay tuned for Round 3 starting on Friday, March 11 at 10am!

Funk n Waffles Region

Glass Pony vs Rich Ortiz

Glass Pony, a jam band out of Albany have developed a unique sound in the past few years, with a wide array of originals with danceable grooves, unique setlists and compelling improv. Check out their most recent single “Daydream”

Rich Ortiz from Lake George has a style that is truly his own and music that is his soul. A product his family’s cultural diversity and strengths, Rich has focused all of his talents and time on his acoustic solo act since age 17. Watch a profile of Rich here.

Samsara vs Sydney Irving and the Mojo

Samsara hail from Long Island, with band members Charlie, Ben and John playing music together at any early age, drawing influence from several styles, including grunge, funk, metal and alternative. They are working on new releases with GRAMMY Award winning Producer Steve Adobbo and have upcoming spring and summer shows, including Rock Stock and Barrels Festival in Rockaway Beach (home of the Ramones) and the Great South Bay Music Festival. Samsara’s alt sound can be heard on their 2021 release Paralyzed in Paradise.

Sydney Irving and the Mojo, based in Syracuse, features 18 year old Sydney Irving, who has been named the 2020 young adult artist of the year by the International Singer Songwriters Assocation, where she will perform this summer in Atlanta, GA. They’ll be performing across New York and three other states this summer. Sydney received the Brian Bourke Award for Best New Artist at the 2022 Syracuse Area Music Awards. Watch “Seasons Change” here.

Gooseberry vs Anthropic

Gooseberry is a 4-piece band from Brooklyn, born during the Fall of 2019. Their combination of blues, R&B, and indie rock is a recipe for a unique sound that Gooseberry delivers in each song. Listen to their recently released single “Sleep” here

Anthropic from Buffalo perform grinding death metal, inspired by1980’s grindcore, crust punk and death metal. They’ll play Doused in Death Fest in Buffalo in March. Listen to their 2020 release Architects of Aggression here.

Logan Whaley Band vs Alliteration

Logan Whaley Band from Long Island is a culmination of the best material & musicians Logan has written & met over the last 8 years since graduating from Music School. His music can be best described as having old-school sensibilities with a new-school vibe. He releases his debut album “On The Cusp” on March 4, 2022.

Alliteration from Poughkeepsie perform self-described weird boi punk rock and have recently released their LP Reject. Formed in February 2015, Alliteration combines the driving riffs of alternative and indie punk, elements of a diverse array of genres, and a fun stage presence that shows the passion they hold for their art. Listen here.

Voting for Round 2 has closed. Stay tuned for Round 3 starting on Friday, March 11 at 10am!

DSP Shows Region

Josh Casano vs E.R.I.E.

Josh Casano is a local acoustic artist who has been performing in the Capital Region for almost 8 years. Along with covers, Josh incorporates his own writing into each performance. He holds a degree in Music Education from The College of Saint Rose focused on classical guitar, voice, and piano. Josh is currently fronting the group Josh Casano & the Fam. Catch him at The Strand Theatre in Hudson Falls on April 21 at 7pm. Listen to “You Said Hi” here.

A band called E.R.I.E. describe themselves as “Four dads from Upstate NY making indie rock” The Albany quartet released their debut project “Don’t Wanna Live, Don’t Wanna Die” just over a year ago on Mint 400 records. Listen to “The Dirt Inside Your Soul” here.

Dodongo vs Seize Atlantis

Dodongo is a funk/fusion band based out of Brooklyn. The group describes themselves as “six friends making it up as we go along.” Listen to their November 2021 performance from Brooklyn Bowl here.

Fueled by punchy bass, hard-driving percussion, melodic lead guitar, and pronounced moody vocals with meaningful lyrics, a truly dynamic range of soft to heavy Alternative Rock defines the unique, tight sound of Seize Atlantis. Formed in 2019 out of Glens Falls in upstate New York, Seize Atlantis is a four-piece band most closely influenced by bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam, providing their own spin on a variety of covers from classic rock to modern pop in addition to their own original music. Listen to “The Unstoppable Groove” here.

Jess Novak vs DF3

Jess Novak takes no prisoners, performing with a fiddle on fire, powerful vocals and a fierce band behind her. The leader of a pop, rock, soul-pumped group from Syracuse brings passion to every performance, with energy, superb musicianship, engaging songwriting and ability to win any crowd. Listen to “The Joke” here.

Donny Frauenhofer Trio, also known as DF3, have been coined as “The Weirdest Music You’ve Never Heard.” Donny’s trio is creatively driven by spontaneity. The group travels through time signatures, styles, and key signatures with ease, making Frauenhofer’s complicated compositions sound like a walk in the park. The group plays a daring brand of original music with unique arrangements of popular tunes tastefully sprinkled in. Listen to “Daylight” here.

All Poets and Heroes vs The Sea The Sea

In the summer of 2015, Rob McCall & Corey Jordan met and founded All Poets & Heroes out of their hometown of Syracuse. That summer, the duo began crafting a sound that explored resonating folk melodies with that of the sensible nostalgia that filled the 90s alternative music scene. Since then, the duo has grown into a full-fledged band developing towards an introspective project that aims to challenge listeners to feel, and to feel deeply. Listen to Occhiolism here.

The Sea The Sea (Chuck E. Costa and Mira Costa) is an Upstate New York based indie folk-pop duo featuring what Bob Boilen (NPR’s All Songs Considered) calls “excellent harmonies” & Huffington Post calls, “Two of the loveliest male-female voices you might ever hear this or any other year.” The group’s 2020 release, Stumbling Home, dubbed “otherworldly” by RollingStone marks the duo’s third full-length album, and the duo’s first primary recording / engineering credits on one of their albums, as well as that of co-producers—teaming up with recent Grammy and Tony award winner Todd Sickafoose (Hadestown, Anais Mitchell, Ani DiFranco, Andrew Bird).

Voting for Round 2 has closed. Stay tuned for Round 3 starting on Friday, March 11 at 10am!

The Helping Friendly Hemp Company Region

Jennie Angel vs The Pine Boys

Jennie Angel is an actress in the Hudson Valley who recently rediscovered her love for music. Started playing the guitar when she was 16 and has been singing she was born, now performing popular country hits! Jennie has most recently been added as a member of the Academy of Country Music and will be attending the awards show in March. She’ll perform on April 9 at Karl Hall in Wilkes-Barre, PA and on June 3 at The Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie. Discover more on her website.

The Pine Boys reside in Albany and consist of three members: Andrew Cerone, Brett Maney and Sam Lasky. Musically, the group is an eclectic brew of Alternative Rock, Hip-Hop and Funk. They blend character driven story telling with memorable riffs and grooves resulting in something truly their own. They recently released their new album Vacationland and will perform at Pauly’s Hotel on St. Patrick’s Day.

Kyngjo vs HANZOLO

Kyngjo is not only about his melodies but he’s about his business and making his family proud. When he’s not working in Albany he’s networking in Atlanta or in the studio making music. As an independent artist, he is funding his dreams and making the sacrifice to reach his goals. Soon to be the go-to artist for hooks. Check out YouTube for an official video for “Calling Me.”

HANZOLO is a 7-piece band from Upstate New York, toting an explosive and emotional sound that mixes soul, jazz, rock, and funk. Their songs are dance-ably fun with thoughtful lyrics, backed up by a bright horn section. The band’s website contains videos and upcoming tour dates.

The Dirty Doves vs METASEQUOIA

You’d be hard pressed to find a more fitting description of Syracuse’s The Dirty Doves than what you’d find as Urban Dictionary’s top definition of a “Dirty Dove”: “Cute and cuddly as a dove, but down and dirty like a city pigeon.” The Dirty Doves – Jamie Cunningham and Anthony Saturno – have created Pure & Simple, an album that’s somehow sweet, sultry, and serene. Hear for yourself on their Spotify page.

METASEQUOIA sprouted in 2007, taking root in Ithaca and is getting set to release their new album In The Redwoods in April and partnered with their label, New Vine Records. Following the release, they will be trekking on an album tour, with dates set from April – August in CNY, Massachusetts, Connecticut and surrounding areas. Tour dates and cities to be announced soon! Check them out at metasequoia-music.com

Annie in the Water vs Big Time Kitty

Annie in the Water’s music is a groovy combination of Reggae, Funk, Rock, Blues and Jamstyle written with a conscious dose of positive vibes, unique melodies and intelligent lyrics. Their Upstate-centric music evokes the feeling of driving down mountain roads with longtime friends. As the sun rises in the rearview, an unwritten story awaits on the road ahead. Their new album Sun At Dawn is available for pre-order now and an upcoming gig is scheduled at The Hollow on March 4th, 2022.

Big Time Kitty (B.T.K.). Is a funky ass two man band based out of the Adirondacks. Their SoundCloud page gives you a taste of both their original hits and cover selections like “2001” and “Tubthumping.”

Voting for Round 2 has closed. Stay tuned for Round 3 starting on Friday, March 11 at 10am!

NYS Music has partnered with businesses across New York State to highlight these 64 up and coming bands. Regional sponsors include Funk n Waffles, a premiere music venue in Syracuse established in 2007 with a unique take on the culinary and entertainment industries, offering a wide variety of gourmet waffles and breakfast food, as well as offering live music every night! Bearsville Theater in Woodstock is where Americana was born – where Dylan took folk music and married it to Rock & Roll. where folk went electric, and where Janis took a breath and recuperated, before launching her hurricane energy and heart stopping songs out into the world. Renovated in 2019-2020, Bearsville Theater has an impressive calendar of shows for Hudson Valley music lovers.

DSP Shows based in Ithaca, NY and Northampton, MA, is one of the leading independent concert promoters in America, with shows at venues including State Theatre of Ithaca, Hangar Theatre, The Haunt, Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, Brewery Ommegang, Asbury Hall, The 9th Ward at Babeville, and Daryl’s House among others. The Helping Friendly Hemp Company offers a wide variety of industry leading products including tinctures, soft chews, and hemp flower, using only USA grown hemp extract.

The winners of each region will be rewarded with a collection of prizes worth $3000. Partners for NYS Music’s March Madness 2022 include Mirth Films from Albany, a music news/entertainment outlet that specializes in original video content and live streaming, with news coverage ranging across the whole country, who will provide a professional multi-camera recording session at a prestigious venue in Albany for the winning band, premiering exclusively on Mirth Films.

The XPerience Monthly is the greater Capital Region’s alt-monthly newspaper, bringing independent music and thought provoking articles to the area. The XPerience Monthly will feature the winning band in a newspaper profile and interview this summer.

Check out Past Years’ NYS Music March Madness Here

March 6, 2022
This Week’s EQXposure Features ShortWave RadioBand, Paul Moody And Many More

Each Sunday evening from 7-9pm you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up and coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music from Shortwave RadioBand, Paul Moody, Hanzolo, and many more!

WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.

ShortWave RadioBand

Last week, ShortWave RadioBand released their newest single, “SomeDay.” An upbeat rock song about looking ahead to brighter days, the accompanying music video is on its way. “SomeDay” follows the Schuylerville trio’s debut single, “Don’t Care,” which previously featured on EQXposure in November 2021. Listeners can expect the band to release their first EP later this year.

Paul Moody

Continuing this week’s theme of positivity, singer-songwriter Paul Moody has released “Letting Light In.” The calming folk song is about being receptive to new connections and relationships, particularly with one special person: “I was king of the lonesome, but I gave up the throne / For what good is a kingdom, when you rule all alone?”. While its melody is simple, the song crescendos into a sweeping instrumental halfway, almost mimicking the blooming of sunflowers.

Hanzolo

“Goldmine,” the opening song on Hanzolo’s self-titled album, expertly blends soul, funk and pop. There’s rarely a dull moment on the four-minute track, which smoothly glides along and promises plenty of replay value. Hanzolo, a seven-piece alt-funk band, sounds current and clean while still drawing upon retro influences like Motown.

January 15, 2022

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