On a hot steamy Hudson Valley night, the Dave Matthews Band summer tour 2022 made a stop at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. The pavilion and its extended grass area were filled to the max on July 20 with excited fans who were treated to three glorious hours of DMB.
The band behind Dave included: Tim Reynolds on guitar, drummer Carter Beauford, Jeff Coffin on the saxophone, Rashawn Ross was the trumpet play, Stefan Lessard on the bass and Buddy Strong on keyboards. Beauford demonstrated incredible dexterity with his arm movement while on the cymbals while simultaneously keeping a heavy beat with his double drum pedals. Tim Reynolds demonstrated why he has been part of Dave’s crew for years with his guitar prowess. The horn section of Ross and Collins sprinkled jazz grooves taking previously released records in new directions.
If having a talented band was not enough, Dave Matthews Band audio tech Joe Lawlor joined the band on stage for “Cornbread”. As soon as Lawlor plugged in, he cranked out the opening notes of “The Star Spangled Banner”, ala Jimi Hendrix, to pay homage to the hallowed grounds of the Woodstock festival.
With little to no banter from the stage, Matthews would occasionally speak directly to the crowd offering his humble thanks to everyone for spending the evening with them. The set of 21 songs was filled with DMB staples “Crush,” “Funny the Way it is” and “Stay or Leave.” Throwing in a wild card, Dave pulled out Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer,” which proved to be a crowd pleaser.
For the encore, Matthews came out solo to play “Some Devil.” The band then joined him to close out the night with “Ants Marching.”
After a two-year COVID hiatus, the 16th Pleasantville Music Festival returned on July 9. The all-day event featured a cornucopia of musical performances with 18 acts between three stages.
We try to check off as many boxes as we can so there is something on our stages that everybody will appreciate.
Festival Director, Bruce Figler
Under a bright blue sky, attendees moved freely between the Chill Tent, Pamnation Party, and main stages. With each location offered its own style of music. Superbcoordination of stage starttimes allowed most fans to catch most if not all of the performances.
Platinum Moon
Pleasantville music festival has prided itself on the promotion of local musicians. Staying true to their mission statement, the opening acts on each of the three stages were winners in the Lagond Music School ‘s 2022 “Battle of the Band” competition, where first place winners, Platinum Moon, were rewarded with opening the main stage. Rounding out the triumvirateof winners was Westchester based Noshows — who appeared on the Pamnation stage — along with Carter Quinn Tanis (hailing from Cromwell-on-Hudson) who performed in the Chill Tent.
The Pamnation stage, set up between the Chill Tent and the main stage, offered a separate dance area. The Narrowbacks from Pearl River took full advantage by getting the crowd up and moving with their Irish rock. Pamnation stage closers, Illiterate Light, raised the bar with a guitar and drum duet from the Virginia natives. The audience roared along with enough liveliness to mimic an arena.
The Narrowbacks
Resembling a circus big top, the Chill Tent offered an oasis for acoustic performers. Located at the back of the festival grounds, the Chill Tent lived up to its name: benefiting from a constant breeze flowing through the performance area. Throughout the day solo, duo, and trios graced the stage. Paula Cole closed out this space backed by a three-piece band. Under a subdued purple glow, Cole and band shared an intimate performance filled with songs and insights from her lengthy career.
Glenn Tilbrook
The main stage was not to be outdone. Highlights included Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze performing solo. Tilbrook played a host of Squeeze songs including “Take Me I’m Yours” and “Black Coffee in Bed,” to the crowd’s enjoyment. Standing tall with his custom-made red Squire Telecaster, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears followed, sharing a powerful blues set. Festival headliners, X Ambassadors, closed out the evening with lead singer Sam Harris singing and dancing from one end of the stage to another. Teenage girls lined the front of the stage giving their approval after every song. The Ithaca band presented a dynamic performance of their music, capping a stellar day.
X Ambassadors
With its 16th event in the books, the Pleasantville Music festival has proven itssustainability, offering top-notch performers in a suburban setting while mixing in crafts, food and family-oriented activities.
Main Stage
Platinum MoonClare Maloney & The Great AdventureGlenn TilbrookBlack Joe Lewis & The HoneybearsCrash Test DummiesX Ambassadors
France Rocks Summer fest, the largest festival of French music in the United States, have announced their 5th anniversary lineup. Beginning on Saturday, June 4, this month-long festival will feature 15 concerts across Brooklyn and Manhattan, and will culminate with a celebration at Central Park’s SummerStage.
Gracing the France Rocks stage will be legendary French hip hop artist MC Solaar, the Nice-based electro-pop artist Hyphen Hyphen and electro-pop trio Bon Entendeur. Co-presented with FiAF (French Institute Alliance Francaise), the performances on June, 21 will also mark the 40th Anniversary of “La Fête de la Musique”, an International day of music that derived from France.
We are thrilled to celebrate the 5th edition of France Rocks Summer Fest and the return of live music to New York City, which is once again thriving.
I am proud to present this diverse group of edgy, up-and-coming artists and can’t wait to witness the beautiful energy of audiences enjoying this tremendous music.
France Rocks founder, Michele Amar
France Rocks highlights the most exciting music coming out of France today, as well as international artists who draw their inspiration from French culture. Attracting more than 50,000 music lovers across all backgrounds, free and ticketed shows will be held across eight venues throughout the month, including Brooklyn Steel and Blue Note Jazz Club.
This year’s France Rocks festival is supported in part by the city’s programming initiative, NY Music Month, the official celebration of New York City’s vibrant and dynamic music ecosystem. In turn, France Rocks hopes to present its most eclectic roster of music to-date, ranging from gypsy jazz, electro-pop, Latin inspired French music and more.
France Rocks SummerFest is also supported through partnerships with France Rocks, French Institute Alliance Francaise, the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, Make Music New York, French Morning, A2IM Indie Week, SummerStage in Central Park, and the Lincoln Center.
Fore more on France Rocks Music Festival, visit their official website. While the entire festival lineup can be found below.
FRANCE ROCKS SUMMER FEST 2022 LINEUP: Sat, June 4 – Las Rubias del Norte @ Barbes – 8PM
Sun, June 5 – La Femme @ Brooklyn Steel – 8PM
Fri, June 10 – Clovis Nicolas @ Blue Note Jazz Club – 12:30PM & 2PM
Eli Young Band kicked up some dust bringing their Love Talking Tour to Sharkey’s in Syracuse. The multi-platinum country four man band sang their number one hits from the past two decades and fans also got to enjoy their brand new single, “Break Up In a Bar.” In addition the song will be featured on the bands sixth upcoming studio album, LoveTalking, set to release on June 3, 2022.
Eli Young Band at Sharkey’s Bar + Grill in Liverpool. Photo by Allison Marie.
The Denton, Texas band was formed while members attended college together and is composed by Mike Eli (lead singer, guitar), Jon Jones (bass guitar), James Young (guitar) and Chris Thompson (drummer).
Whether you’re a crazy girl or you got a little drunk that night, the Eli Young Band always delivers all the love songs. Energy radiated from the stage and was felt by the crowd as they sang and danced the night away. One of the most notable performances of the evening was their cover of “Come Together” by the Beatles. After two hours of relentless hits the band closed the show out with a personal favorite of mine, Guinevere.
Setlist: Drunk Last Night, Break Up In a Bar, Where Were You, Always The Love Songs, Love Talking, Skeletons, Skin & Bones, When It Rains, Medley, Lucky For Me, Dust, Even If It Breaks Your Heart, Come Together (the Beatles), Saltwater Gospel, Love Ain’t, Crazy Girl, Guinevere.
Love Talking Tour 2022 Tour Dates
May 13 – Fayetteville, AK – Georgies Majestic Lounge May 14 – Meridian, MS – Meridian City Hall May 19 – Denton, TX – The Dive May 20 – Helotes, TX – John Floore Country Store May 21 – Amarillo, TX – Starlight Ranch May 27 – Caney, KS – Fourth & Live May 28 – Austin, TX – Lonestar Jam June 2 – Dewey Beach, DE – Bottle & Cork June 3 – Washington, D.C. – The Bullpen June 4 – Angola, IN – Eclectic Room June 9 – Fort Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre June 10 – Kamas, UT – Dejoria Center June 11 – Burley, ID – King Fine Arts Center June 17 – New Braunfels, TX – Whitewater Amp June 18 – El Campo, TX – Greek Bros June 22 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up June 25 – Sante Fe, NM – Hilton Buffalo Thunder
Hip Hop Legends Wu-Tang Clan and Nas have released the dates for their upcoming 25 city summer tour. Beginning in August, the five-week trek will see Nas and the Clan make their way to the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on Tuesday, September 13.
Wu-Tang Clan are recognized as one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time since their breakout debut,36 Chambers, in 1993. They have set numerous trends and have had a significant impact on the rap game and have provided us with some of the rap game’s greatest personalities.
Despite having nine distinct characters, the group seamlessly merges under the musical guidance of RZA. While all skilled rappers, his vision for the group both sonically and stylistically has created an everlasting movement. The group became famous for sampling martial arts films, RZA kept a heavy Motown and oldies influence throughout the Clan’s music, and sampling the likes of Syl Johnson, Aretha Franklin, among others.
Unlike many groups that have phased out of the limelight, the Clan remain relevant, regardless of time. While the group has always taken regular breaks, they have still managed to churn out three platinum albums and more than 85 full-length releases. They were also one of the first acts to diversify their brand, with Wu Wear becoming a popular hip hop brand.
Never the slouch, Nas had his big break after the release of his 1992 song “Halftime“, from the Zebrahead movie soundtrack. He released his classic debut, Illamatic, in 1994 with Colombia Records. With gritty and thought provoking rhymes alike, Nas is certified as one of the best rappers of all-time.
After winning his first Grammy-award for his 2020 album, King’s Disease, Nas was again nominated for “King’s Disease II,” a testament to his longevity.
With the substantial amount of influence both parties have had over decades within the hip hop community and worldwide, the tour is sure to be highly successful.
For all fans, tickets will be available for purchase on Tuesday, April 26 at 10 A.M.
NY STATE OF MIND TOUR DATES:
Tue Aug 30 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre*
Thu Sep 01 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center*
Fri Sep 02 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre*
Sat Sep 03 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre^
Sun Sep 04 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage^
Wed Sep 07 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center*
Thu Sep 08 – Camden, NJ – Waterfront Music Pavilion*
Fri Sep 09 – Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre*
Sat Sep 10 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center*
Tue Sep 13 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center^
Wed Sep 14 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach*
Fri Sep 16 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live*
Sat Sep 17 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek*
Sun Sep 18 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion*
Tue Sep 20 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre*
On March 30th, Attack Attack! brought the East Coast Scuttle to Montage Music Hall in Rochester and what a performance it was. It had everything from mosh pits, to crowd surfers and crab fingers. Although the venue wasn’t sold-out, it was hard to tell on this Wednesday evening as a sea of fans could be seen while entering the venue’s main entrance.
The night began with local act, Armor Alive. While the lightest out of all the bands with their rock sound, they were still was able to pump-up the crowd.
Next up was Across The White Water Tower, who are another local but are part of the tour. They brought a mix of rap and metalcore on top of their high energy stage performance.
Until I Wake followed, who also hail from the state. The Buffalo natives performed with a heavy metalcore influence
Conquer Divide were the penultimate performers. The group, which is made up of 5 very talented women” were the reason for many of the fans in attendance.
With the first 4 performers, the crowd was delivered wild night of raging and uproar and that was before the headliners made their way to the stage. Attack Attack!, who are known for their crab stance as they perform and their unique song titles, rocked the stage. Bringing full-circle a night for the ages at Montage Music Hall.
If you didn’t catch them on this tour, don’t worry, a little birdie said that they may be back in the fall with a new lineup.
Six shows in three nights ladies and gentlemen!” Danielle exclaimed, addressing the crowd in-between songs. “Amazing crowds, amazing people. This has just been really a great moment and it actually has been very surreal, but I’m going to get into these songs. Hope you enjoy them!
Danielle Ponder at the McKittrick Hotel’s Manderley Bar
The Rochester-based singer confidently radiated her powerful voice throughout The McKittrick Hotel’s moody Manderley Bar. This performance was the last of Ponder’s three-night run in New York City before joining St. Paul and the Broken Bones on tour later this month. Before exiting, Ponder concluded the set with an inspiring personal anecdote.
I quit my successful job as an attorney to be a broke musician because I absolutely love you, and I absolutely love this stage. I completely live for it. I truly believe in following your purpose, I think that when God gives you a gift, a way you can show gratitude is committing to that thing. Amen, amen, amen! You all feel me? So a lot has happened in the past year that has really changed my life, even to be here with this audience in New York City listening has been so affirming for me and lets me know I made the right decision. I really feel like I’m a living testimony of that and that’s the only reason I’m telling you I’m 40! Because I want you to know my knees hurt, I’m old, but I’m here! So this next song is called “So Long.”
“So Long” is Ponder’s latest single, released on March 11, an anthem about letting go of fear and being the best person you can possibly be.
You can learn more about singer-songwriter Danielle Ponder on her website and listen to her Tiny Desk Contest submission, a recording of her song Poor Man’s Pain,here.
St. Paul and the Broken Bones with Danielle Ponder Tour Dates
April 23 – Dallas, Texas – The Granada Theater April 24 – Austin, Texas – Stubb’s April 26 – Tulsa, Okla. – Cain’s Ballroom April 28 – Denver, Colo. – Mission Ballroom April 29 – Aspen, Colo. – Belly Up April 30 – Salt Lake City, Utah – Commonwealth Room May 3 – Seattle, Wash. – The Neptune May 5 – Portland, Ore. – Crystal Ballroom May 6 – San Francisco, Calif./Oakland, Calif. – Fox Theater May 7 – San Diego, Calif. – Humphreys Concerts By The Bay May 10 – Los Angeles, Calif. – The Theatre at Ace Hotel May 11 – Pioneertown, Calif. – Pappy & Harriet’s May 12 – Phoenix, Ariz. – The Van Buren
Tate McRae has the feel of a natural born star. The 18-year-old Canadian born singer/dancer mesmerized on stage last Thursday, March 31st, at Irving Plaza, being backed by Mimi Webb and Gayle. Before her rise as a singer, McRae gained popularity for her performance on Canada’s, So You Think You Can Dance, at just 13-years-old so it later came as no surprise to find out she was multi-talented. She brought her myriad of talents to Irving Plaza, opening her show with her song, “stupid,” serving as the front-woman with two backup dancers on stage.
Photo by Ambika VermaPhoto by Ambika VermaPhoto by Ambika Verma
Tate McRae not only has a strong stage presence, but a strong connection with fans, knowing when to switch gears to keep the concert flowing. She sat and slowed things down as she performed “One Day,” — the song that launched Tate’s singing career after putting out the song on Youtube a few years ago, going went viral almost overnight. At the show, McRae also announced her debut album, I used to think I could fly, set to release on May 27. The aesthetic was as vibrant as McRae’s voice itself, with strobing lights, dancing fans and flawless choreography. As her first headline tour, it’s apparent that McRae’s potential is limitless.
Apart from her recent stretch of performances, McRae recently released a the single, “chaotic,” from her upcoming album. She will soon be heading to Europe later this month for two months before joining Shawn Mendes for his US tour in September.
Photo by Ambika VermaPhoto by Ambika VermaPhoto by Ambika VermaPhoto by Ambika VermaPhoto by Ambika VermaPhoto by Ambika VermaPhoto by Ambika VermaPhoto by Ambika VermaPhoto by Ambika Verma
Setlist: stupid, r u ok, happy face, all my friends are fake, Bad Ones, One Day, that way, You (Regard, Troye Sivan & Tate McRae cover), Breakeven (The Script cover), wish I loved you in 90’s, feel like shit, I’m so gone, Rubberband, she’s all i wanna be, you broke me first
German rock band, Scorpions, are set to perform a historic concert fit for the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden, on Friday, May 6. The rock outfit will take the stage in celebration of Bangladesh’s 50th year of independence. Joining them on the special occasion will be Bangladeshi fusion/rock band, Chirkutt.
The charitable event will be organized by The Bangladesh Information and Communication Technology (ICT) division, with the support of the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority, the United Nations Development Programme, the U.S. Embassy in Bangladesh and local sponsors. The large-scale performance will be held in hopes of gaining a global audience and celebrating Bangladesh’s half-century anniversary through this live, one-night-only musical performance. Keeping the philanthropic tone of the event, proceeds from the concert will benefit the United Nations Development Programme’s global awareness campaign on cyber security programs for the youth and children, with a focus on under-developed countries.
With over 110 million records sold around the world and over 2.2 billion views on YouTube, Scorpion will more than likely play fan favorites from their impressive catalogue, which includes hits like “Wind of Change,” “Still Loving You,” “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” “Send Me an Angel,” and many more. Founded in Hannover, West Germany in 1965, they were part of the first wave of metal in the 1970’s with their debut album, Lonesome Crow, released in 1972. The band was ranked #46 on VH1’s Greatest Artists of Hard Rock, while their hit “Rock You Like a Hurricane” came in at #18 on VH1’s list of the 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs.
The long-standing rock band has received multiple honors including World Music Award winners and a Star on the Hollywood Rock Walk. Most recently, they were honored with the Lower Saxon State Award.
Chirkutt is one of the most popular fusion band music troupes in Bangladesh. Founded in 2002, the band has also worked on several local film music scores in their home country. After releasing their debut full-length album “Chirkuttnama” in 2010, and through live performances, they had a rapid upsurge in growth.
Tickets will go on sale on Monday, April 4 at 10 a.m. (EST) through Ticketmaster. Scorpions Rock Zone fan club members will have an exclusive, first access to tickets available starting Thursday March 31 at 10 a.m. (EST). For more information and to join the community visit The-Scorpions.com/RockZone
Arcade Fire wrapped up an invigorating four-night residency at NYC’s, Bowery Ballroom, on Monday night. The shows come as the band is gearing up to release WE, their sixth studio LP and second from Columbia Records. After a one-off show at Toulouse Theatre in New Orleans on March 14th, Arcade Fire released the first single from the new album, Lightning I, II. The two-part song first features an anthemic ballad with singer Win Butler’s signature voice over soothing guitar and piano chords before picking up the pace into a classic Arcade Fire rock song.
Arcade Fire, Bowery Ballroom 3/20/22. Photo by David Reichmann
On Friday, March 18th, Arcade Fire began the day by announcing a surprise show that night at Bowery Ballroom. Wristbands would be given out at the door on a first come, first served basis after making a “pay-what-you-can” donation to the Plus1 Ukraine Relief Fund. Fans flocked over to Delancey Street and within a couple of hours the show was sold-out. On Saturday morning the pattern was repeated for a second show at Bowery Ballroom; again selling out within a couple hours.
On Sunday, in anticipation of a third night (given the empty day on Bowery Ballroom’s calendar) well over 100 people wrapped around the corner waiting for wristbands. However, a mysterious sign appeared on the venue door and Arcade Fire posted an Instagram message saying that “No wristbands will be available at the door tonight. Keep an eye here for pickup locations.” With many fans having driven and flown into Manhattan, there was sudden confusion and furious speculation about potential pickup locations. The drama was fueled even further when the band posted an even more cryptic message on Twitter claiming “It’s a nice day to go to the park.” Suddenly, the geography of lower Manhattan and the path of least resistance to every park within several miles of Bowery Ballroom were being scouted.
Photo on the entrance to Bowery Ballroom, Sunday March 20th.
Fans had begun to scatter around the Lower East Side once it became apparent that waiting at Bowery Ballroom was useless. A few hours later, five locations throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn were revealed on social media: Washington Square Park, Central Park Northwest, McCarren Park, Maria Hernandez Park, and Ft. Greene Park. Hundreds of Arcade Fire fans suddenly hopped in cars, on bikes, the subway, or flat-out sprinted down the streets to get their wristbands. NYS Music contributor David Reichmann and two of his friends drove to Bushwick and ran full speed through Maria Hernandez Park, managing to get the very last three wristbands in that location, also the last location to sell out. All that after 3 hours of scouring Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit trying to find clues and positioning themselves in the best spot for the location announcements.
For fans who made it inside on Sunday night, there was a collective sense of relief and excitement. They had arrived against all odds and were going to see their favorite band play one of the most unique shows of their career in a very intimate room. On every night of the run, Arcade Fire played a career spanning set, including new songs and cult favorites. At one point on Sunday, Win jumped down into the audience with his guitar, expertly catching his microphone tossed from the stage by his bandmates and handed it to a fan to act as his mobile mic stand while he played and sang amongst the crowd.
Later in the evening, Win dedicated “The Suburbs” to his brother and now former band mate Will: “This is for my beautiful brother Will.” After not appearing with the band for the New Orleans show or the first two nights at Bowery Ballroom, Will officially announced his departure from Arcade Fire via his Twitter. For these shows, and presumably the upcoming tour, Will is being replaced by Wolf Parade’s Dan Boeckner.
Win Butler of Arcade Fire, Bowery Ballroom 3/20/22. Photo by David Reichmann
On night one of the residency, fans heard classic Arcade Fire songs “Haiti,” “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains),” and “Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels).” During the encore, the band played the new singles “Lightning I, II” followed by hit songs “Rebellion (Lies)” and “Wake Up.” Night two featured many of the same classics in a different order with the addition of the title track from their previous LP, “Everything Now.” Night three highlight was the first performance on this cycle of the raging Funeral rager “Neighborhood #3 (Power Out).
On the final night, NYS Music contributor Joseph Buscarello managed to get inside. That night, already spoiled fans were treated to a special setlist. The main set contained the same mix of classics from the previous nights. After a short break, Mike Meyers made a surprise appearance onstage for a speech. After some comedic banter with the audience, the message took on a more serious tone as Meyers addressed the war in Ukraine. Reminiscing about his parents who “fought the fascists in WWII,” Meyers implored the audience to embrace democratic governments that strive for the common good and fight against evil and oppression in the world. Doing so, he explained, is the first step towards repelling the evil the Russian government has brought into Europe today.
Arcade Fire, Bowery Ballroom, 3/21/22 – Photos by Buscar Photo
After a thunderous applause, the encore continued with a monstrous “Wake Up” sing-along followed by the live debut of upcoming WE single “Unconditional I (Lookout Kid).” Before playing the new song for the first time, Win asked the crowd not to record the performance to “preserve the surprise for everyone else.” The crowd obliged and we have not yet seen any clips of the performance online.
To close the show, Win introduced David Byrne onto the stage for the last song of the night. Byrne has performed with the band many times throughout their career, but the buzz in the room skyrocketed when he walked to center stage. Win surrendered the stage to the Talking Heads frontman and joined the marching band on the main floor while Bowery staff began tossing dozens of small tambourines and maracas into the crowd. Armed with voices and instruments of peace, 500 sweaty people turned into a single band for a grand rendition of The Plastic Ono Band anthem “Give Peace A Chance.” Byrne did the scatting and we all sang the chorus over and over for a seemingly endless amount of time. Finally, just as the band did on the first night, the show ended with a musical procession out to the sidewalk and down into the Bowery subway station platform. Photos of the subway performance from night one are below from friend of NYS Music Will Oliver.
As of now, the band is idle with nothing officially on the radar. These four shows were a truly unique experience and NYS Music was so fortunate to be able to attend two of the nights. Arcade Fire will sell out dozens of arenas later this year, and while those shows will be spectacles, the intimate energy and passion on display inside Bowery Ballroom will not be matched. Fans who scoured Manhattan and Brooklyn for wristbands saw once-in-a-lifetime performances from one of the most successful indie rock bands of the last 20 years. Keep your eyes focused on the band’s social media as they gear up for this new album cycle. Check out the gallery below for more photos from night three from David Reichmann.
