NYS Music 202​2

Tag: Upcoming Album

  • Soulful Ali McGuirk Announces Tour with 5 NY Dates

    Blues and soul singer Ali McGuirk has announced upcoming shows in promotion of her new album, Til It’s Gone, which is set for release on September 16 via Signature Sounds. The songwriter shared her single, “All Back,” on July 20 ahead of the album.

    McGuirk grew up outside of Boston before calling Burlington, Vermont, home. The singer-songwriter always knew she wanted to become an artist and her inspirations include Lauryn Hill, Aretha Franklin, Sarah Vaughan, and Abbey Lincoln. McGuirk’s music has explored multiple genres, but the upcoming album leans into its blues foundation.

    Celebrated folk-blues songwriter Jonah Tolchin helped produce Til It’s Gone alongside McGuirk, allowing for emotional tracks, guitar interludes, and delicate moments in the album. “All Back,” the first single off of the record, is an easy groove. McGuirk wrote the track about the end of the pandemic, and the track combines a vintage sound and a recent event into one. 

    Surviving the pandemic as an artist required some faith and this song felt like a little prayer of hope and resilience … we are faced with pandemics, climate chaos, ever-deepening inequality, and so much ignorance, but we learned a lot in March 2020 about our ability to adapt and I need to believe that it’s going to be alright, but we’ve got to do something right now.

    – Ali McGuirk on “All Back”

    McGuirk recorded much of the upcoming record in Los Angeles and included collaborations with an impressive lineup of artists. Legendary guitarist Fred Tackett of Little Feat, organist Larry Goldings, singer Valerie Pinkston, percussionist Lenny Castro, and more helped finalize the complete sounds of the album.

    The nine-track album, with intimate introspections, and thoughts on oppression and justice, would not be the same without McGuirk’s signature, hypnotic vocals. Take a listen to the first track, “All Back,” and see the full list of tour dates for the upcoming record, below.

    Ali McGuirk On Tour:

    Sept. 16 – Nashville, TN – Five Spot (AMERICANAFEST)

    Sept. 17 – Easthampton, MA – Arcadia Music Festival

    Oct. 1 – Albany, NY – The Linda

    Oct. 2 – Portsmouth, NH – The Press Room

    Oct. 5 – Lancaster, PA – Tellus360

    Oct. 6 – Brooklyn, NY – The Bell House

    Oct. 7 – Somerville, MA – The Crystal Ballroom at the Somerville

    Oct. 8 – New Haven, CT – Cafe Nine

    Oct. 14 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground Lounge

    Oct. 19 – Syracuse, NY – 443 Listening Room

    Oct. 22 – Rochester, NY – The Abilene

    Oct. 23 – Buffalo, NY – Sportsmen’s Tavern

    Oct. 29 – Portland, ME – One Longfellow Square

  • Charlie Burg Releases “Ohh! Sumthin’ New” Ahead of Debut Album

    On Friday, July 29, indie and alternative R&B artist Charlie Burg released his newest single, “Ohh! Sumthin’ New” from his upcoming debut album, Infinitely Tall, out on August 19.

    Photo credit: Dannah Gottlieb

    The artist was born in Detroit, Michigan but previously studied at Syracuse University’s Setnor School of Music, and is now based out of Brooklyn. His upcoming album, Infinitely Tall, takes place across three spaces: Burg’s childhood home in Detroit, his beloved college house in Syracuse, and finally his experiences in NYC. 

    In the single, “Ohh! Sumthin’ New,” Burg explores the story of a character yearning for fresh and authentic experiences. With upbeat instrumentation and lyrics which critically examine the world around him, the track entices while simultaneously offering deeper meaning.

    Of the track, Burg shares that it “celebrates and laments the rootlessness of youth … the world of social media makes the protagonist feel like a poser and a fraud, mostly because of how much they subscribe to and partake in its evils. The protagonist desperately wants a change of pace, which is ironic in the face of their desire for solid ground to stand on.”

    Painting: Charlie Burg / Editing: Corinne Ferman

    With soft vocals and acoustic guitar suddenly transformed by the sounds of electric guitar,”Ohh! Sumthin’ New” takes listeners through a whirlwind. Burg incorporates unexpected backing vocals, sounds, and lyrics to keep you guessing and embodies the phrase “a change of pace.”

    Burg’s previous releases, including “Channel Orange in Your Living Room” and “I Don’t Wanna Be Okay Without You,” garnered him much attention, but his upcoming release marks a new shift in sound and ambition for the artist. The young 25-year-old expands on his previous works and leaves nothing behind in this new record.

    Burg will hit the road this fall across the EU, UK, and North America in support of the upcoming release from September through November. Get tickets now via charlieburg.world. To see the complete list of U.S. tour dates, see below.

    Charlie Burg Fall Tour 2022 (U.S. Leg)

    Oct. 12 – Washington DC – Union Stage

    Oct. 14 – Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry

    Oct. 15 – Syracuse, NY – Westcott Theater

    Oct. 18 – Nashville, TN – The Basement East

    Oct. 19 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade

    Oct. 21 – Dallas, TX – Club Dada

    Oct. 22 – Austin, TX – Empire Control Room & Garage

    Oct. 25 – Phoenix, AZ – Rebel Garage

    Oct. 26 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey

    Oct. 28 – Oakland, CA – The New Parish

    Nov. 1 – Portland, OR – Holocene

    Nov. 2 – Seattle, WA – Barboza

    Nov. 4 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court

    Nov. 5 – Denver, CO – Globe Hall

    Nov. 8 – Lawrence, KS – Bottleneck

    Nov. 10 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry

    Nov. 11 – Des Moines, IA – xBK Live

    Nov. 12 – Chicago, IL – Chop Shop

    Nov. 13 – Detroit, MI – El Club

    Nov. 15 – Toronto, ON – Velvet Lounge

    Nov. 17- New York, NY – Irving Plaza

    Nov. 21 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club

    https://youtu.be/Jl3tR4djMk4

  • Sweats Release Single “Whiskey Thursday” Ahead of Upcoming Album

    Hailing from the Finger Lakes region, rock & roll band the Sweats is set to release their upcoming single, “Whiskey Thursday,” out on streaming services on July 28. The single is the first off of their album, Summer Nights Begin, which will drop later this year.

    “Whiskey Thursday” is built on the foundation of dynamic drums, a great bass line, wonderful guitars, and synths, with a relatable storyline lyrically. Similar in sound to the Foo Fighters, Ted Leo, or Deer Tick, the track is the perfect hint at what to expect for the rest of the album.

    The song deals with the struggles of untruthful relationships and confronting dark times. Vocalist Travis Durfee sings passionately on the track, describing the confusion of a relationship as backing vocals and engaging beats carry you through the five-minute song. The rhythm, lyrics, and catchy beats keep you hooked and wanting more.

    Sweats, consisting of Travis Durfee (vocals, guitar), JM Sincock (drums), Rob Kurcoba (bass), Tony DeLuca (keys), and Nick D’Aloisio (guitar), released their first full-length album, Caught in Wave, in 2020. The album was well-received, but the band is looking forward to continuing to expand their live performances with this upcoming album, Summer Nights Begin.

    Audiences can find Sweats often playing at the wineries and breweries outside of Ithaca where they are committed to playing original music for fans to enjoy. Creating art and making their own tunes is how Sweats rolls, and “Whiskey Thursday,” is a prime example of this.

    It is like an underground network of sorts, this rural collective of DIY festivals and promoters. There are groups like Uncle Uku and the Guise and Technicolor Trailer Park and indie rockers like Jesse Bloodgood, punks like The Rooster, all supporting each other, playing shows together, and trying to make it work, pulling together festivals, such as Togetherness and Wonderland, bringing people out into the woods to hear the heartbeat of original music in rural Upstate New York. It takes a minute to find that heartbeat, but we’re on the pulse and the beat is pretty steady.

    -Travis Durfee on the Ithaca music scene

    Be sure to be on the lookout for when “Whiskey Thursday” drops on July 28. The single will not disappoint and stay tuned for the upcoming album, Summer Nights Begin, which was mixed by sound engineer Mike Capporizzo. Take a listen to more of Sweats’ music available below. 

  • Wilder Maker Release “Static” and “Against Numbers”

    Brooklyn‘s Wilder Maker have just released two of their latest singles, “Static” (ft. V.V. Lightbody) and “Against Numbers” (ft. Katie Von Schleicher). The band is also preparing to release their latest album Male Models on July 29, the album tells tales of unrequited love, drunkenness, and desperation, and more.  

    Following up on previous singles “A Professional” and “Letter of Apology,” “Static” is the third track from their upcoming album. Gabriel Birnbaum says, “it touches on how violence in our culture tends to simmer under the surface in subtle ways that we overlook until they explode into something really horrific. It’s loosely inspired by a friend I had who used to get drunk and bait people into fights that he meant to lose. It features my friend V.V. Lightbody on vocals, an amazing singer and multi-instrumentalist from Chicago whose solo work I’m a huge fan of.”

    Wilder Maker Releases "Static" and Upcoming Album July 29th
    Photo credit: Ebru Yildiz

    We all listen to playlists a lot, even us album diehards. I’ve been keeping an ever-expanding playlist of songs that I never want to skip, with all of these different voices back to back. I wanted to make a record that sounded like a playlist in this way; it became a kind of songwriting challenge for me.

    – Gabriel Birnbaum

    Male Models can be described as Birnbaum’s tales of unrequited love, drunkenness, and desperation. The album feels almost voyeuristic, as if you were sitting in a crowded cocktail bar, sneaking glances at nearby tables. 

    Wilder Maker features a dynamic roster of musicians that includes singer-songwriter Gabriel Birnbaum, Nick Jost and Sean Mullins as the core trio. Male Models also features guest lead vocal spots from Adam Duritz (of Counting Crows fame), Katie Von Schleicher, Felicia Douglass (Dirty Projectors, Ava Luna), Alex Schaaf (Yellow Ostrich), V.V. Lightbody, and Mutual Benefit. 

    Male Models succeeds in truly capturing the energy of a crowded party and its accompanying playlist. Musically, it also changes shape constantly. The album has an electrified soul, featuring heartfelt folk songs, indie rock, and searing barn burners, all of which are expertly tethered by Birnbaum’s sardonic and doom-laden storytelling.

    Wilder Maker Releases "Static" and Upcoming Album July 29th
    Male Models is due July 29th via Western Vinyl

  • Singer-Songwriter John Moreland Performs in Woodstock and Buffalo this Weekend

    Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter John Moreland will grace audiences with his mesmerizing country sound this July. On July 23, the Oklahoma singer will promote his upcoming album, Birds in the Ceiling, at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock before traveling to Buffalo Iron Works on the 24. The Dead Tongues will join Moreland for both performances.

    The singer’s upcoming album will be released on July 22, just a day before the show at Levon Helm Studios. Bird’s in the Ceiling is John Moreland’s sixth studio album, and some of his previous works, including LP5, and High on Tulsa Heat, garnered much positive attention from fans and critics alike. The pandemic prevented Moreland from touring for LP5, so his live performances are highly-anticipated and a long time coming.

    John Moreland album art

    The imminent Birds in the Ceiling album, via Old Omens/Thirty Tigers, combines folk, retro-pop, rock, and roots with the foundations of Moreland’s strong sense of lyrical story-telling. The nine-track album gives listeners a glimpse into Moreland’s most recent thoughts and experiences. Singles off of the upcoming album were released earlier this year, including “Ugly Faces,” “Claim Your Prize,” and “Cheap Idols Dressed in Expensive Garbage,” all of which you can listen to below.

    An artist known for his lyrics, much of Moreland’s music cuts deep. The reflective lyrics “does it even matter? does it ever last? / I didn’t want the answer to the question that I asked / Can I kill a monster? can I be a man? / I can’t afford to give a damn if you don’t understand” off of “Ugly Faces” lend a lonesome and introspective perspective.

    With Moreland’s talented and accomplished guitar playing, emotional vocals, and combination of instrumentation, the live performances in NY this summer are sure to be memorable and captivating. For the Levon Helm Studio performance, tickets cost $30 or $45, and gates open at 6:30. The Buffalo Iron Works show begins at 8:00 pm with doors open at 7:00 pm and tickets cost $25. 

    Tickets for the upcoming shows at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock and Iron Works in Buffalo can be found with the link available here. To listen to some more of John Moreland’s work, see below.

  • Career Day Release Two Singles From Upcoming Debut Album

    NYC-based trio Career Day returns with new music off of their upcoming debut album, Where We’ve Always Been, which is set to release on August 12.

    The first single called, “No Problem,” was released earlier this summer and is currently available on all streaming services via Old Press Records. The highly energetic metal track relies on powerful vocals, intense drumming, and electric guitar. The quick tempo and extreme sound bring the song to life.

    Career Day consists of members Desmond Zantua (vocals), Jacob Cutler (guitar), and Andrew Grossane on bass. Billy Mannino mixed and mastered the record, contributing to the band’s intense sound.  The sonic influences for the trio include Motion City Soundtrack, The Get Up Kids, and Braid, while the lyrics and messages behind the music rely heavily on Zantua’s life as an advocate and a Filipino-American.

    Much of this first track, “No Problem,” speaks to Zantua’s experiences and the importance of actual representation and social change. Via Instagram, the band shared, “this song goes out to everyone who has felt tokenized for their identity.” The hard-hitting lyrics, “the anthem of model minorities, Don’t want me heard; just seen” exemplifies this message.

    The newest single release after “No Problem,” called “A New Title,” dropped on Friday, July 8. The inspiration for the song came from the process of accepting and building a lasting love in an era where relationships are often fleeting. Many of the songs off the upcoming album, Where We’ve Always Been, discuss inequalities, injustices, and prejudices present in American society but this recent track brings another level of emotion to the EP. “A New Title” reminds listeners that no matter what is occurring in the world, there is something or someone to push us forward.

    The writing of both singles and the upcoming record began back at the start of the Coronavirus pandemic. The group spent a lot of time crafting the songs that eventually made up the anticipated 10-track album. Career Day’s previous 2021 work, Pride Was Somewhere Else, touched on some dark and intrusive thinking with strong lyrics and concepts. The band builds upon their strengths with this next release but returns with an even more explosive sound.

    Listen to the band’s new music, “No Problem,” below.