Lifestyle and fashion brand Runaway New York celebrated their five year anniversary at Public Records on December 11 with Balu Brigada and Carlo Redl.
Runaway New York is a fashion and lifestyle brand owned by Jagger Walk, an American entrepreneur and designer. December 11 was a one of a kind celebration, marking the fifth anniversary and there was no better place to revel in the significant milestone. The evening was filled with remarkable live performances, drinks, and the opportunity to purchase exclusive merchandise. This exclusive night included music, style and a community that converged to create seamless enduring memories.
Opening artist Carlo Redl is a singer and songwriter based in Miami and Tokyo and regarded as the new “John Mayer” with a pop/R&B twist. Redl incorporates electric guitar and is influenced by 70s rock and classic jazz and heard within his riffs. As a songwriter, one of his many successes was the debut song “Gifted” which charted number one on Billboard Hot Trending.
Closing artist Balu Brigada is an alternative pop duo from New Zealand compromised of two brothers Henry and Pierre Beasley signed with Atlantic Records in 2022. They are now on their first homecoming tour which supports upcoming EP Find A Way with hit single “Designer” reaching over a million streams. Sibling duo began making music at an early age and officially formed Balu Brigada at the ripe age of 18. The multi-talented brothers have since gained huge recognition and honed their craft with inspired experimentation.
Carlo Redl and Balu Brigada interacted with the crowd to highlight the celebrated milestone for Jagger Walk and the Runaway New York fashion brand. Putting on quite the show for both fans of fashion, music, art and clearly a night to remember.
New York artist Chris Garneau has released his new EP Out Of Love on December 8, preceding a pair of new singles titled “Millions” and “First Man”.
Photo by Michael George
Chris Garneau is an American alternative indie singer and songwriter who entered the music scene in 2006 after releasing debut album Music for Tourists. Garneau explores themes of excitement, heartbreak, surprise with the sound of electric guitar, upright bass and drums to round out powerful narrative anthems.
“’First Man’ isn’t just about a first crush but more importantly an initial recognition of a person’s queerness. My boyfriend wrote the lyrics, basing it on his memories of falling in love with the macho action movie characters from his youth. The concept led to a laid back, folk rock country vibe, and that informed the other songs on the EP. I wanted the production to be mostly acoustic, back porch summer nights with a smoky saloon atmosphere. And thanks to JOFF art direction and styling, and photographer Michael George, the shots look like movie stills. Throughout the shoot, it felt like I was acting and inhabiting these characters’ spaces — that was the point of this whole EP, that’s exactly what we set out to do.”
– Chris Garneau
The EP is made up of four songs that are character driven and capture the feeling of being transformed by the way of love. This is Garneau’s first collaboration with his boyfriend Marc Briz, a lyricist and fiction writer. Garneau and Briz acknowledge their first recognition of being queer and veer towards the Americana; the lovesick cowboy, the celebrity actor who pines for the spiritual, the addict who leaves this earth with love for the life he lived.
The EP sparks a lush and soulful ballad which emerges emotive songwriting and displays a layered sonic landscape, speaking truth towards owning your identity and casting off shame. The songs are powerful, poignant, and mesmerize the intensity of the story despite its dark subject matter. Chris continues to pursue a diverse array of sound that influence an otherworldly and sensible talent.
Lap steel band Velocihamster have released a tribute to 80s band Mr. Mister with a cover of their #1 hit, “Broken Wings.”
Cover artwork by Steven Bossler
Velocihamster has been dubbed the worlds only lap steel metal band showcasing the external limits of steel guitar landscape and inspires the limits of the instrument. This single marks the first entirely solo effort in instrumentation with the exception of fretless bass played by longtime collaborator and friend Matt Turner (Static Chicken, Greg Koch). The tribute track honors Mr. Mister’s biggest hit “Broken Wings” released in 1985.
Mr. Mister was an American pop rock band from Phoenix, consisting of Richard Page on lead vocals and bass guitar, Steve George on keyboards/backing vocals, Pat Mastelotto on acoustic and electronic drums/percussion and Steve Farris on guitars/backing vocals.
“I’m hell-bent on extending steel guitar to musical eras, styles and genres you probably wouldn’t expect to hear the instrument, I’m proud to add this ’80s classic to an already diverse catalog of metal inspired lap steel mania. With this track, I’ve also earned my first credit as a drummer.”
– Sean Williamson
“Broken Wings” was the leading single on Mr. Mister’s second album release Welcome to The Real World, the song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is a mix of synth, digitally delayed guitar, bass and drums. Velocihamster took a lap steel spin creating a unique version and an electric adaptation.
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall returns with the free Music at Noon series, beginning with singer and song writer Alan Goldberg on December 12.
Since 1988, on the second Tuesday of each month from October to May, the free Music at Noon concert series has presented exceptional musicians with a diverse mix of musical styles. Program sponsors include FAM Funds, Troy Redevelopment Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, Fagan Associates, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, MVP Healthcare, and the Saratoga National Bank. This show will feature the MVP Health Care Coffee Hour.
Join the fun early for a FREE cup of Stacks coffee 11am -12pm before the show begins. Shows are free to attend and be sure to bring your lunch.
Singer-songwriter Hank Williams Jr. has announced his upcoming tour, including stops at Broadview Stage at SPAC on August 23 and EFCU Amphitheater at Lakeview on August 24.
Hank Jr. has continued to redefine the boundaries of rock and country music with the genre crossing and top charting release of his new album Rich White Honky Blues, debuting at number one on the current Country, Americana/Folk and Blues album charts. The album delivers reinvigorated classic blues sounds infused with William’s signature rock and country twist. As a touring artist Hank Jr. was a pioneer in bringing arena rock production values to country music and remains one of the most consistent ticket sellers in music, turning into one of the most dynamic live performers ever to take the stage.
In addition to Williams Jr. the upcoming tour will involve support from many other artists including Whiskey Myers, Neal McCoy, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Charley Crockett, Marty Stuart His Fabulous Superlatives, and Old Crow Medicine Show.
Marking the official 45th anniversary of the release to hit single and album Family Tradition back in 1979. The 13 city tour kicks off on Friday, April 5 at Legacy Arena at The BJCC in Birmingham, AL, making stops across the US highlighting pit stops in New York on August 23 and 24 at the Broadview Stage in Saratoga Springs and EFCU Amphitheater in Syracuse.
Tickets are on sale Friday, December 8 at 10am local, please visit here.
HANK WILLIAMS JR. 2024 TOUR DATES: April 5 – Birmingham, AL – The Legacy Arena at The BJCC April 20 – Bossier City, LA – Brookshire Grocery Arena May 17 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek May 18 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live June 7 – Hartford, CT – The XFINITY Theatre June 8 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center June 21 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center June 22 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre August 9 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion August 10 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach August 23 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC August 24 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview September 14 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
New York folk-pop artist Mackenzie Shivers released her newest single “Pedestal” on November 30, the second track from upcoming album Primrose was in Season.
Shivers boldly gives us a glimpse into her healing process after loss during her first pregnancy, capturing a depth of feeling that illuminates both her resilience, strength and vulnerability. A mix of electric guitar, organic drums, dance beats and Shiver’s trademark piano bolster highlighting her most adventurous work to date.
“Pedestal”, at it’s core is a love song, overcoming hardship with the one you love and enduring the face we show to the world and to ourselves. Shiver’s illustrates a powerful portrait of feminine inner fragility and strength, intertwining magic with grief. “Pedestal” follows the release of album opener’s, “A cautionary tale”, that stands as an ethereal pop track capturing internal struggles confessing that Shivers is not always as put together as she seems, while pulling the listener into a stunning musical terrain.
“The creation of ‘a cautionary tale’ and the subsequent nine tracks that would make up my upcoming album was creative and buoyant, bringing joy to a very difficult time in my life. I was struggling to get pregnant and stay pregnant. I felt like the odds were against me, like I couldn’t gain control of my own life. But in the studio, I felt like I had some control over what I was making, and I was also having a blast.”
– Mackenzie Shivers
For more information visit here. Listen to Mackenzie Shivers “Pedestal” below.
Dances With Films have announced this year’s indie focused film festival lineup, highlighting 135 films in four days including 64 world premieres beginning on Thursday, November 30.
Advanced Chemistry by Etana Jacobson
On their 26th year, Dances With Films celebrates the unflinching spirit at the very core of the independent film scene. They rely on innovation, talent, creativity, and sweat equity that revolutionizes the entertainment industry, that reliance continues to prove successful with alumni moving on to write, direct (etc). Among DWF NYC’s lineup of 136 films, including 20 narrative features, 9 documentary features, 19 television and streaming pilots, and 88 short films, are an impressive number of world premieres, all screenings will take place at Regal Union Square.
After becoming the leading beacon for true indie films and filmmakers in Los Angeles over the past 26 years, this will mark Dances With Films’ return to New York City for the second year.
“This year’s theme is “the color of imagination”, and that imagination, by its various definitions, exemplifies what Dances With Films will be highlighting this December. We could not be more excited to return to NYC and debut so many wonderful films and help provide a platform for all our indie filmmakers and their projects under the spotlight of this great city.”
– DWF Founder and Director Leslee Scallon and Michael Trent
On Thursday, November 30 will feature the opening night presentation of DWF alumni Dylan K. Narang’s Tapawingo. Tapawingo is a light-hearted coming of age comedy starring Jon Heder as an eccentric young man who lives with his mother and works in a mailroom. The film also stars Gina Gershon, Billy Zane, John Ratzenberger, and Amanda Bearse.
Tapawingo by Dylan K. Narang
Additional feature films making their world premieres are Etana Jacobson’s Advanced Chemistry about a scientist who attempts to help his lesbian best friend stop cheating on her wife suddenly backfires. Kevin Interdonato’s The Bastard Sons a story of revenge by a group of men, Michael Groom’s British romantic drama Between The Lights, Isaac Hirotsu Woofter’s Bound. The North American Premiere is Vardan Tozija’s M, a multi-national production centering a young boy who lives in the forest under the watchful eye of his overprotective and mysterious father, their sheltered existence is all he knows.
The Zombie Wedding by Micah Khan
Also making their world premieres are Sara Katarina Burke and Aaron Andrew Keene’s Can’t Seem to Make You Mine about a recent parolee who tries to make amends with his ex. Ryan Moore’s Influencefocuses on a struggling female filmmaker, Michelle Bossy’s Nobody’s Home follows the mind-bending journey of a young man after he is released from the psychiatric hospital. Brendan Boogie’s buddy comedyTallywacker, Micah Khan’s outlandish comedy The Zombie Wedding and finally, Justin Best’s Sherylabout a woman who goes on a bloody quest to create the perfect face after dumped by her serial killer boyfriend. As part of DWF NYC’s dedicated programming of horror, thrillers, and genre films, the Closing Night selection also comes from the film festival’s Midnight section. On Sunday, December 3 the closing night will feature Nicholas Gyeney’s The Activated Man making its first world premiere to officially close off the film festival. In the film, a man, struggling with the grief from losing his best friend and beloved dog to cancer, begins to have strange visions only he can see, questioning whether his mind has been fractured.
The Activated Man by Nicholas Gyeney
For more information about the Dances With Films NYC film lineup, events, passes, and tickets, please visit here.
The 2023 Dances With Films NYC official selections:
OPENING NIGHT SELECTION Tapawingo Director: Dylan K. Narang Country: USA; Running Time: 109 min An oddball becomes the bodyguard for a misfit teenager and finds himself in the crosshairs of the town’s family of bullies.
CLOSING NIGHT SELECTION The Activated Man World Premiere Director: Nicholas Gyeney Country: USA; Running Time: 115 min As Ors Gabriel struggles with the grief from losing his best friend and beloved dog to cancer, the trauma brings on strange visions only Ors can see. While he questions whether his mind has fractured or if it’s real, a mysterious rise in murder-suicides takes hold of the city, and Ors becomes haunted by images of a shadowy figure known as ‘The Fedora Man’. Through torments and terror, Ors must face his fears and confront ‘The Fedora Man’ as he uncovers dark secrets from his past, while finally embracing who he really is, and what he is meant to do.
ADDITIONAL NARRATIVE FEATURES Advanced Chemistry World Premiere Director: Etana Jacobson Country: USA; Running Time: 96 min A scientist injects his lesbian best friend with a compound he’s created to make her stop cheating on her wife (who is bi), but when the wife finds her new monogamous fixation suffocating, he injects the wife too, which backfires when she falls for him.
The Bastard Sons World Premiere Director: Kevin Interdonato Country: USA; Running Time: 90 min Life for a crew of organized criminals is disrupted when Vincent Damiano’s father, the family’s boss, is murdered. Vincent’s ‘bastard’ brothers (UFC legend Frank Edgar, Chicago Med star Malik Whitfield), a group of orphaned souls he raised together, have an idea of who killed their father…his partner Rome (TV/Film veteran Al Sapienza). In a valiant and calculated attempt to regain the business and enact vengeance on Rome over the course of one day, the Bastards wage an all-out war to get their pound of flesh.
Between The Lights World Premiere Director: Michael Groom Country: UK; Running Time: 104 min When skeptical scientist Alice falls for reluctant medium Jay, she’s taken on an odyssey of love, loss and discovery that will turn her world upside down. Between the Lights is a romantic drama with a liberal dose of the supernatural, in which we visit our characters over three consecutive Christmases. It is set within the ancient walls of York and the stunning natural beauty of the Lake District.
Bound World Premiere Director: Isaac Hirotsu Woofter Country: USA; Running Time: 101 min To escape her drug-dealing controlling stepfather, a young introvert flees to NYC with only her pet pocket squirrel. After successfully reinventing herself, she realizes she must confront her dark past, to truly be free.
Can’t Seem to Make You Mine World Premiere Directors: Sara Katarina Burke, Aaron Andrew Keene Country: USA; Running Time: 102 min A man who was just released from prison tries to make amends with his ex and become a father to his 6-year-old son while staying with a stripper he met on a pen-pal website.
Daruma Director: Alexander Yellen Country: USA; Running Time: 104 min Patrick (bitter wheelchair user) must enlist the help of his cantankerous neighbor (double amputee veteran) to transport the daughter he never knew he had to live with her maternal grandparents on the other side of the country.
Grounded Director: Justin Chan Country: USA; Running Time: 84 min William Lee, a 30-something Chinese-Filipino American, introduces his Caucasian girlfriend to his overbearing, immigrant parents when a mysterious cosmic force takes hold of their day.
Home Free Director: Aaron Brown Country: USA; Running Time: 98 min In 1997, a group of college misfits invite an unhoused professor to crash on their porch. Home Free is a Trojan horse, a bold coming-of-age comedy aimed at reaching a mass audience, but also intended to be a catalyst for serious social change sharply focused on one of the most pervasive problems across America—the homelessness epidemic. Humor is our spoonful of sugar.
Influence World Premiere Director: Ryan Moore Country: USA; Running Time: 83 min A female filmmaker struggling with her career and her mental health reaches a breaking point and decides to kidnap a famous social media influencer in an attempt to coerce them into playing the lead role in her latest project.
Katie’s Mom Director: Tyrrell Shaffner Country: USA; Running Time: 111 min A heartfelt comedy influenced by The Graduate but told from the perspective of a protagonist inspired by Mrs. Robinson. Set in modern-day Pasadena, California. Nancy Rosenfeld (Dina Meyer), a nurturing mom and recent divorcée, whose beloved Jewish/Christmas mashup holiday celebration with her adult children is derailed when she falls for Alex Rojas (Aaron Dominguez (Only Murders in the Building), her daughter’s charming new boyfriend. Their electrifying affair upends her status quo and sets her on a path to becoming who she was meant to be.
M North American Premiere Director: Vardan Tozija Countries: Macedonia/Croatia/Kosovo/France/Luxembourg, Running Time: 99 min In a secluded forest, young Marko lives under the watchful eye of his overprotective and mysterious father. Their sheltered existence is all he knows. Marko seeks solace in his cherished picture book, finding comfort and answers within its pages. One day, an encounter with a kind-hearted, helpless boy named Miko, brings a glimmer of warmth and connection into Marko’s isolated world. As his curiosity grows, Marko yearns to uncover the secrets that lie beyond the confines of the wilderness. But, a cruel turn of events grants him his wish sooner than he expects…
Nobody’s Home World Premiere Director: Michelle Bossy Country: USA; Running Time: 83 min When Luca is released from the psychiatric hospital where he and his girlfriend Theodora live, she escapes with him. To remain in control, she takes him to his childhood home, the root of his trauma. Time lapses. Consciousness is distorted. A dead body is discovered. Theodora insists Luca committed the murder in his sleep. Is she telling the truth? A knock on the door suddenly diverts them. Angelica and Jeremy show up, high on acid. Theodora invites them in to test Luca’s loyalty. Her jealousy increases to the point of danger. In the end, nothing is what it seems. Everyone has darkness inside.
Palimpsest North American Premiere Director: Hanna Vastinsalo Country: Finland; Running Time: 109 min Two elderly roommates are selected for a medical trial that makes them younger. Given a second chance at life, with the memories of their past life intact, they realize that growing young is not just fun.
Space Baby Director: Rex Dean Country: USA; Running Time: 99 min Three friends fight fascist Nurse Nancy to rebuild the holy grail and get a new soul for the earth. Each friend is different. 8-year-old Sam (“Mental Man”) is a mad scientist and inventor; 6-year-old Sophia (“Nature Girl”) is a caretaker of the earth; 300-year-old Blue (a great ballplayer like Satchel Paige) was the keeper of the holy grail in Africa before he and his siblings were captured as slaves. With help from a squadron of ladybugs, they fight the “greed, intolerance, and just plain cruelty” that Nurse Nancy and her demonic crow inhabit. A story of courage, friendship, and love.
Tallywacker World Premiere Director: Brendan Boogie Country: USA; Running Time: 90 min A rock and roll buddy comedy about 2 bandmates whose relationship gets tested when one of them gets a gig touring with a major rock star.
The Zombie Wedding World Premiere Director: Micah Khan Country: USA; Running Time: 99 min A young Cumberland County, NJ couple decides to go through with their wedding – during the Zombie Apocalypse. Unfortunately, he’s a zombie and she’s not. Both families are fearful, but the humans’ behavior is brutish. When the Zombies begin feeling brain-deprived, the ceremony takes a turn for the weird. Weekly World News reporters are there to cover this wild wedding – while trying to get out alive!
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES 44 Lights: Music from Ground Zero Director: Barbara Blackburn Tuttle Country: USA; Running Time: 68 min A musical journey to healing in the aftermath of 9/11. A story of pain, loss, and ultimately rebirth through music.
American Pot Story: Oaksterdam Directors: Dan Katzir and Ravit Markus Country: USA; Running Time: 97 min This award-winning documentary is a decade-long follow-up of the underdogs who put their blood, sweat, and tears to overturn a 100-year-old policy, proving in the process that “a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world,” to quote Margaret Mead).
Brothers Broken Directors: Geoff Levin, Lily Richards Country: USA; Running Time: 86 min This is the story of brothers Geoff and Robbie Levin, who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area as part of the 60’s music scene including Jerry Garcia, the Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin. The brother’s band PEOPLE! had the hit record “I Love You” in 1968 and toured with The Who; then Scientology entered their lives destroyed their band and split up the brothers. After 46 years Geoff despite losing his children and friends to the cult, left the church and reunited with his brother and band. It’s a tale of breaking free from a modern-day prison of belief.
Denim Hunter U.S. Premiere Director: Emilio Di Stefano Country: Sweden; Running Time: 87 min In the road movie documentary Denim Hunter, we meet Viktor – a regular guy from Sweden but with a burning passion for really old jeans. The film follows Viktor on his wild journey through the deserts of California, Arizona, and Nevada as well as up the snowclad Rocky Mountains of Colorado, where he hunts for denim treasures in hazardous run-down gold mines from the 1880s. On his journey, Viktor comes across an array of unlikely desert characters, like Indiana Jeans, Dynamite Dan, and Redneck-Mike. In various ways, they all lead Viktor from one failure to the next.
The Depths of My Despair Director: Elizabeth Lawrence Country: USA; Running Time: 68 min The Depths of My Despair is a visceral rabbit hole toward the authentic self. Filmmaker Elizabeth Lawrence takes an emotional, first-person detour inward. Oscillating through saneness and psychosis; debris and lucidity, the film stares at depression dead-on.
District Of Second Chances World Premiere Director: Wynette Yao Country: USA; Running Time: 76 min District of Second Chances follows the journeys of three men from Washington, D.C., all sentenced to life in prison during the 1990s. Now, because of sentencing reform, they have a rare chance at release and new lives.
Meet Me Where I Am Director: Grant Garry Country: USA; Running Time: 86 min Meet Me Where I Am explores the topic of grief through individual stories of loss, love, and hope. The film aims to normalize grief in our culture and explores how we can actively participate in helping others through grief. By accepting grief and its impact, we hope to help individuals find new meaning as they move forward with their grief.
Studio One Forever Director: Marc Saltarelli Country: USA; Running Time: 86 min The untold story of America’s iconic gay disco, a kaleidoscopic excursion into LGBTQ+ history through the lens of this groundbreaking club. From 1974-1994, Studio One and its adjoining live music venue, The Backlot, became symbols of hope and community for gay men during tumultuous times. Amidst the rise of gay rights, disco’s heyday, and the devastating AIDS crisis, the club offered sanctuary from rampant homophobia and police oppression.
Torched – The Story of Austin Torch Director: Hoag Kepner Country: USA; Running Time: 66 min Torched tells the story of the Austin Torch, a wild and fiery group of women/non-binary athletes in Austin who are trying to legitimize and professionalize their fringe sport of Ultimate Frisbee in a historically male-dominated sports industry. As we follow the Torch on the road and at home during their 2022 season, we realize that though the Torch might not always win, they never really lose, because it’s more than a team: it’s a movement.
MIDNIGHT FEATURES Sheryl World Premiere Director: Justin Best Country: USA; Running Time: 72 min After she’s dumped by her serial killer boyfriend for not being “hot enough”, a beauty-obsessed woman goes on a bloody quest to create the perfect face, all while navigating her new relationship with the cop investigating the murders.
Wild Eyed and Wicked Director: G.S. Foxwood Country: USA; Running Time: 99 min Lily Pierce is sick of being haunted. She decides to reconnect with her estranged father, a disgraced history professor, and learn how to draw upon a time of steel and blade when armor-clad knights rode out and dueled their monsters to the death.
TELEVISION AND WEB SERIES PILOTS
A Killer Service Director: Gio Randazzo Country: USA; Running Time: 25 min The hapless daughter of an incarcerated con-artist finds she has inherited a substantial debt to a dangerous crime boss. Forced into a corner, Elliott discovers how to take control of her life while helping empower other women.
Awesome Director: Paul Munger Country: USA; Running Time: 16 min Every night, 20-year-old Joy gets a glimpse of the future. But with a dad on parole, a pill-popping boyfriend, and a recent lay-off, that doesn’t mean she can stop it from being shitty. That is until she foresees an event that will ruin the lives of her loved ones forever. She’ll have to figure out how to change her future–or live with the consequences.
The Blind ZoneWorld Premiere Directors: Federica Marchese, Vinushu Sundaresan Country: China; Running Time: 32 min Battle of wits and violence ensues when the separate worlds of two teenage sociopaths collide after they set their eyes on the same target.
East Director: Dana Marisa Schoenfeld Country: USA; Running Time: 32 min When Ella Goldman, a New York City Corporate attorney, gets engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Josh, she is ecstatic to embark on the next stage of her life. With a wedding to plan and a blossoming career, Ella thinks she has it all. But when she suddenly loses her job and catches her boyfriend cheating, her world comes crashing down. This devastating turn of events forces her to confront the truth about her life – and what it is she really wants. Convinced that this is a “wake-up call,” Ella pursues her childhood dream of being an actress.
Events At Hemlock Manor Director: Katie North Country: USA; Running Time: 15 min At its core, this is a series about underdogs: a ragtag group of spooky weirdos with nowhere else to go. Hemlock Manor is not only a year-round haunted house with a terrible business model; it’s also a home. But what do you do when the thing you love is in trouble? You fight for it. Even when that means throwing a baby shower for a group of rich ladies who thought “the historic Hemlock Manor” was a charming country villa, not a haunted house open in July.
For Years to Come Director: Micah Stuart Country: USA; Running Time: 27 min An irreverent and heartfelt romantic dramedy about a gay man who falls in love with his dead mother’s hospice nurse, while struggling to reconnect with his elderly father…who’s secretly a porn director.
Hit Man: Secrets Of Lies Director: Elias Plagianos Country: UK; Running Time: 19 min A reflective hitman from New York City travels to small towns around the country trying to find meaning in his seemingly inconsequential life as he fulfills his contracts and eliminates his targets.
Hot Angry Mom Director: Clarissa De Los Reyes Country: USA; Running Time: 34 min A people-pleasing mom must face her rage, as a video of her epic meltdown goes viral.
I Could Eat Director: Rick Bedrosian Country: USA; Running Time: 28 min A new TV/Web Series showcasing the cuisine & music that unites diverse cultures. Host, Rick Bedrosian (“George” in a Beatlemania stage show for 7 years, leader of Celtic music powerhouse, Hair Of The Dog, since 1993 and an international tour guide) spans the globe seeking out the finest food and the most interesting music makers.
L.I.F.E.: It’s Wonderful Director: Dathan Smith Country: USA; Running Time: 22 min L.I.F.E. is an anthology series set in the near future where citizens receive a hand-delivered card notifying them the day they will die. Rose feels trapped in her new “home”. Emilia feels trapped by her daughter’s recent news. Bob is forced to deliver a card he has been dreading since joining L.I.F.E. Corp. as Diane adjusts to her new job.
MomentsNorth American Premiere Director: Aaron Lewis Country: USA; Running Time: 23 min Moments is a gripping 9-episode digital series, each under 13 minutes, offering intimate glimpses into characters on the brink. Driven by black trauma and mysticism, it unravels mind-reading and hidden truths through therapist Dr. Winston. An enigmatic narrator, Rutina Wesley, introduces time travel, adding layers of self-discovery. Momentshints at an expanded episodic journey, diving deeper into characters’ histories and relationships, while authentically addressing themes of healing and transformation within the mystical. Boasting a stellar ensemble cast and profound storytelling.
Morse Code Director: Travis Nicholson Country: USA; Running Time: 37 min In the eccentric community of modern-day East Nashville, Simon, a talented but flawed thirty-something indie folk singer finds himself at a crossroads as he struggles to strike a balance between family and career.
Off The Menu Director: Daniele Sestito Country: USA; Running Time: 37 min “Chef” is a perfectionist, Italian cook who works for an unordinary institution. Typically stern and grandiose, a new side of Chef is revealed when he is forced to make a meal that’s beyond his grasp.
Q Train Directors: Dionne Van Den Berg, Samantha Tran Country: USA; Running Time: 10 min A Brooklyn based DJ explores the queer dating scene.
Roboto Directors: Mari Madrid, Keone Madrid Country: USA; Running Time: 18 min Ky loses his entire career as a highly successful choreographer when AI takes over the dance industry and the world by storm. This throws Ky into suicidal ideations until Mikah, a bright and optimistic 12-year-old boy, decides to disregard the latest craze of dancing with Roboto and instead asks Ky to choreograph for his school performance. While at first Ky reluctantly decides to help the kid, he begins to find a bit of light in his life again. And when it’s revealed that Mikah had a battle with cancer Ky’s perspective is completely shifted.
The SelectmanWorld Premiere Director: David Antonio Martin Country: USA; Running Time: 26 min In the wake of Selectman Joseph Allenby’s untimely death, this absurd comedy begins amid a memorial service in the small town of Picasquiddy, Maine. Subverting the idyllic nature of small-town New England, our protagonists are trapped in a picturesque world where the forces of learned behavior, arrested adolescence, and the quest for power forever collide. As two unlikely successors emerge as candidates for the Board of Selectmen, the town’s fate hangs in the balance. Does anybody have what it takes?
Travel Fox World Premiere Director: Henk Pretorius Country: UK; Running Time: 5 min Get ready for a wild adventure in Travel Fox, the pilot episode of an animated series tailor-made for curious kids. Follow the inquisitive Travel Fox and Bogie the Tortoise as they race across the world, chasing rainbows in search of a legendary pot of gold. But here’s the twist – instead of gold, our friends discover something even more precious: a treasure trove of unique characters and unforgettable experiences.
Ülom: The Primary Experiment World Premiere Director: Jon Da Country: USA; Running Time: 25 min In Ülom, one can find anything, even meaning. A desperate scientist undertakes a labyrinthian experiment he believes will locate his missing daughter. Journeying ever deeper into the labyrinth, he must confront an invasive, fictional reality. Remember: what feels real, is real. Ülom is here.
XanderWorld Premiere Director: Jonathan Chao Country: USA; Running Time: 11 min When lonely high school student Luke befriends Xander the Genie, he’s forced to consider if making his one wish is worth losing his new genie best friend.
NARRATIVE SHORTS (In)Convenience Director: Alexandra Greenspan Country: USA; Running Time: 12 min
#Pizzagate World Premiere Director: Danny Piñeros Country: USA; Running Time: 8 min
The 1971 Kitchen Grand Brie Director: Ian Beckman Country: USA; Running Time: 11 min
Bisected World Premiere Director: Danny Piñeros Country: USA; Running Time: 8 min
Black Silk World Premiere Director: Patrick Michael Country: USA; Running Time: 16 min
Blight World Premiere Director: Markus Hoeckner Country: USA; Running Time: 15 min
Bloodworm World Premiere Director: Kai Wen Country: USA; Running Time: 13 min
Bounce House Directors: Callie Bloem, Christopher Ewing Country: USA; Running Time: 16 min
Burraco World Premiere Director: Isabella Tagliati Country: Italy; Running Time: 14 min
Candice Director: Tyler Martin Country: USA; Running Time: 15 min
Career Day Directors: Jason Robinson, Chris Hooper Country: USA; Running Time: 10 min
Chauncey World Premiere Director: Reilly Anspaugh & Daniel Rashid Country: USA; Running Time: 11 min
Cheol World Premiere Director: Yeajoon Cho Country: USA; Running Time: 19 min
Church Camp Director: Andrew Bourne Country: USA; Running Time: 14 min
The Chat World Premiere Writer/Dir/Prod: Artie Brennan Country: USA; Running Time: 6 min
Clownfish Director: Clayton Henderson Country: USA; Running Time: 11 min
Dear Owner Director: Jing Ai Ng Country: USA; Running Time: 17 min
Delta World Premiere Director: Jonathan Coleman Country: USA; Running Time: 9 min
Detox Director: Alex Hanno Country: USA; Running Time: 19 min
Dropping Director: Rj Collins Country: USA; Running Time: 10 min
Echoes Of My Father World Premiere Directors: Junko Kajino, Ed M Koziarski Country: USA, Japan; Running Time: 18 min
The Electro-Rocker Director: Chris Edgar Country: USA; Running Time: 17 min
Entrainment Director: Bill Prokopow Country: USA; Running Time: 12 min
Esperance To Fremantle World Premiere Director: William Sebastian Turner Country: Australia; Running Time: 18 min
Everything Goes Dark International Premiere Director: Alex Casimir Country: USA; Running Time: 15 min
Fate Vs. Elena World Premiere Director: Laura Sedlak Country: USA; Running Time: 23 min
From The Dark North American Premiere Director: Erika Sanz Country: USA; Running Time: 7 min
Hot Soda Director: Nello Digiandomenico Country: USA; Running Time: 15 min
How To Disappear World Premiere Director: Milton Woods Country: USA; Running Time: 20 min
I Keep Bumping into Candy Maldonado World Premiere Director: Luke Black Country: USA; Running Time: 11 min
In The Quiet World Premiere Director: Merle Dandridge Country: USA; Running Time: 5 min
Interracial Couple In A Cheerios Ad Director: Christine Lakin Country: USA; Running Time: 4 min
The Invaders Director: Erin Doyle Cooper Country: USA; Running Time: 4 min
Itch World Premiere Director: Mohammad Anwerzada Countries: Pakistan/Canada; Running Time: 9 min
Letters To the Wind World Premiere Director: Terrence Shu Country: USA; Running Time: 13 min
Gogol Bordello and Bernard Summer have released their cover of “Solidarity” by Angelic Upstarts.
Ukrainian frontman Eugene Hütz of international punk rock band Gogol Bordello, have announced the re-launch of his label Casa Gogol Records and set to showcase the sound of the New York scene and collaborate with legends of the punk rock community. Casa Gogol first started as a touring series curated by Hütz, focusing on bringing like-minded artists on the road with Gogol Bordello.
Casa Gogol released a cover collaboration on November 27, with Gogol Bordello and Bernard Summer of Angelic Upstarts’, “Solidarity”, to honor tribute to the anti-soviet movement to benefit Ukraine and stand in solidarity with oppressed groups worldwide. Aiming to provide proceeds to Ukrainian soldiers recovery, aid children affected, support needed medical supplies and provide other resources.
“This is a particularly meaningful collaboration for us. To do this tribute with one of the most masterful and brilliant pioneers, Bernard Sumner, is truly epic and timely.”
– Eugene Hütz
“Solidarity” uses powerful lyrics that is upbeat, influential and highlights the importance of Ukraine while they sing, “As the people of Ukraine take their stance, and behind them, every honest living man.” They chant, “Give them hope, give them strength and give them light,” to tribute and bring peace to the people of Ukraine. A strong backbeat sews the song together with violin, guitar, and synthesized sounds on the keyboard that pulls punk and rock into a moving tune.
Poolside has announced their 2024 headlining North American Tour with a pit stop at Brooklyn Steel on February 17, and new single “Lonely Night (French version)” released on November 14.
Poolside is the recording project of producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jeffrey Paradise. In 2011, Poolside has set out to produce chill music for summer soirees, a light and danceable kind of music with liquid rhythm that was named “Daytime Disco”.
“When Poolside sent me the demo for Lonely Night, I was immediately inspired by the song. I first wrote the lyrics in French and sent it to Jeff and he proposed the idea of having a version in English as well”
– MUNYA
Jeffrey Paradise revealed the French version of “Lonely Nights” with MUNYA on November 14, from his latest album Blame It All On Love and is pleased to announce upcoming tour dates for 2024 starting in Santa Barbara at the Soho Music Club on January 19.
While this is Poolside’s fourth studio album, Paradise leaves the shallows and enters the depths of his own creative voice. The eleven tracks are funky, playful, laidback and full of hooks that elevate Poolside’s sound to poignant pop heights. The lo-fi ballad “Lonely Night” co-written with MUNYA incorporates all the sweet things that make an easy to love song and blends it with romantic melancholy that adds a softness of verses in French.
All general ticket sales begin Friday, November 27, for more information please visit here.
The Grooving Classic Rock Legends Tribute band provided an intimate performance at The Egg’s Swyer Theater on Saturday, November 25, 2023.
The show featured tribute bands playing classic rock and pop hits from the 60s and 70s from artists such as The Beach Boys, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Grooving Classic Rock Legends plays at major theaters and festivals throughout the Northeast, recreating those sights and sounds.
This group of veteran musicians have been playing classic rock for decades, specializing in songs from the era. They perform their songs with authentic instruments, costumes, and stage presence, and even recreate some of their legendary live performances. Proceeds from the show went to local non-profit organizations in the community.
The show was a blast for fans of classic rock, who enjoyed singing along, dancing, and reminiscing about the good old days when they played at Yezzi’s. The bands delivered high-quality performances that captured the spirit and sound of the original artists. The band also honored veterans and first responders who attended, by dedicating some songs to them and thanking them for their service. The three hour show was a success, despite the low attendance due to Thanksgiving weekend. The venue was cozy and comfortable, and the staff was friendly and helpful.
Jim Anderson and Gary Weinlein served as promoters, with Weinlein also performing in the show, which had ‘appearances’ from Jim Morrison, Grace Slick. The Doors, Santana and Linda Ronstadt, who brought back memories of Governor Moonbeam, and all the craziness of that time. The night closed with Eric Clapton, a standing ovation and the crowd getting a chance to meet the performers in the lobby.
Over the past 8 years Groovin’ Legends has performed at Proctors, The Palace Theatre and The Egg, donating over $30,000 to local Veteran groups through ticket sales. The Veteran groups include The Gold Star Mothers, Blue Star Mothers, Gold Star Families Memorial at Lafayette Park in Albany, NY, Tri County Council Vietnam Era Veterans, and the Veterans Miracle Center.
