Each Sunday evening from 7-9 p.m. 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 Starfish Death Squad and Canella.
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.
Starfish Deathsquad – “falling apart”
Starfish Deathsquad is an EDM artist from Lowell, with funky cover graphics and a unique sound. Their single “falling apart” is out now.
Canella is a rising indie-rock band from Albany and Bogotá, Colombia. They have established a presence in the Capital Region, winning WCDB Radio’s ‘Song of the Year’ award for their debut single “Quiet Love”. Inspired by early 2000’s alternative rock, the female-fronted group takes inspiration from former bandmate and best friend Kyle Robinson who tragically passed away in a car accident in 2020. Their new single “Why Can’t I” has an accompanying DIY-style documentary lyric video of one of the band’s adventures through the Capital Region.
Burlington‘s indie rock duo Fever Dolls have just released “Hate Myself (For Loving You)” on February 17th. The single is an infectious heartache anthem for fans of Kevin Morby and Lord Huron.
Active since 2018, Fever Dolls is comprised of songwriter Evan Allis and singer Renn Mulloy. Formed 2018, Fever Dolls was born out of a desire to forego the self-seriousness of modern rock in favor of big hooks, clever lyrics, and broad musical range. The duo have over 10 million streams on Spotify, over 150,000 views on YouTube, and have Best Music Video Award from Gorilla River Music Video Festival 2019 (Adeline).
“If you were to ask me to name the qualities that unite my favorite bands, I would say, “a great bar band that sounds like it would write an amazing Broadway musical.” Fever Dolls meets and far surpasses that standard”
– Vox
By blending indie rock and Americana influences, “Hate Myself” showcases the lyrical storytelling that Vox’s Emily St. James praised as sounding like “a great bar band that would write an amazing Broadway musical,” and features collaborators Willoughby Morse (Cavetown), Riley Geare (Caroline Rose), and Dan Rome (Noah Kahan).
Evan Allis says that, “Hate Myself” was one of those songs that I kept coming back to when I really struggled with questions about the “sound of the band,” because it seemed to capture what I thought was special about Fever Dolls: anthemic choruses, hypnotic guitar riffs, and close vocal harmonies that sound descended from both classic country and Motown.”
“Lyrically, “Hate Myself (for Loving You)” strikes a balance between self-deprecation and self-delusion. There’s plenty of confessional songwriting that captures the initial disorientation, but not much that speaks to the mixture of emotions that lingers after the hurt has worn off. The narrator of “Hate Myself” is saying “good riddance,” even while acknowledging their own contribution to a toxic relationship. There are a lot of “kiss-off” songs and “please take me back” songs, but “Hate Myself” lives in that murky middle-ground where most people I know reside after a split. It’s our anthem for the anger/acceptance stage of the break-up grief cycle.”
To listen to “Hate Myself (For Loving You),” click the link here.
For more information on Fever Dolls, click the link here.
Capital Region indie-rock quartet E.R.I.E. have announced their new full-length record, Suburban Mayhem, arriving April 7th. Alongside the announcement, the band has shared the evocative new single “World is On Fire.” featuring friend Sydney Worthley from their local scene.
Vocalist/guitarist TJ Foster says, “Having Sydney lend her talents to this track was simply incredible. The embellishments she added really took the song to the next level, and we’re so honored to call her a friend. The song itself is about watching ourselves slowly destroy our planet and ruminating on how much more we all could be doing just on a small scale. But at the end of the day, it’s sadly just so much easier to change nothing and assume someone else will swoop in and fix our problems instead.”
E.R.I.E. consists of guitarist Matt Delgado, drummer Chad Flewwelling and bassist Levi Jennes. The band spent most of 2022 self-recording their sophomore full-length, yielding 12 nostalgia-tinged songs in the distinct style that the band affectionately describes as Tom Petty cosplaying as blink-182. The band’s sound has a “crunching guitars, catchy choruses and a down-to-earth, working-class vibe that recalls modern heartland punk rock…” (Daily Gazette).
The lead single “Can’t Stop Runnin’’ showcases the band exploring these more Springsteen-esque elements perfectly, whereas album highlight ‘Bad Man’s World’ is a pop-rock anthem tailormade for dominating the airwaves.
All the while, the band has solidified themselves as one of the most reliable and entertaining live acts in the greater Albany music scene. Combined with the consistently strong Suburban Mayhem has E.R.I.E. poised to quickly become a suburban success story.
Sydney Worthley is a singer-songwriter at heart, pulling inspiration from Phoebe Bridgers and Taylor Swift. At the age of 17, she released “Rose Colored Glasses” amongst an unforeseen pandemic. Coming of age, long lost connections, and learning from past haunting mistakes are all themes of her 2020 project. Vito Ciccarelli, WVCR radio personality said she’s an “Amazing talent, wonderful songwriter, and an engaging young lady. Having worked with many young acts over the years, I see her achieving great things in the future.”
Each Sunday evening from 7-9 p.m. 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 Laveda and Modern Fools.
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.
Laveda is an American indie dream rock band from Albany. Toronto-based blog Ohestee says that founding members “Jacob Brooks and Ali Genevich explore the great yawning unknown. From the freedom and uncertainty that rests at your fingertips or the distant and possibly desolate future, they capture adolescent restlessness with big walls of sound and a dreamy melodious warble.” Their debut album What Happens After is out now, and they will be going on tour, coming to New York City on March 8.
Modern Fools don’t fall into just one genre, creating music that can be classified as country, folk, alternative, or even indie. “Gone” is the first single from their new album Strange Offering coming on May 5. The music video for the song was shot on a cold day in downtown Peterborough, NH and they aren’t done releasing new music, saying on their Facebook to “Stay tuned for part two of what we are calling “The Ballad of Sad-Sack” in the coming weeks.”
Long Island-based alternative acoustic “mom rock” group Phil Firetog Trio & Co. have just released their upcoming single “How A Heart Breaks.” The single is an uptempo pop-rock track about dealing with grief and memorializing loved ones.
“How A Heart Breaks” describes heartache whilst retaining the intensity of rock progressions, paired with emotionally charged lyrics. They have also recently released their fan-favorite single, “Fall,” the first track to include the “Company” performing alongside the trio and their latest holiday-themed single “Long Island Christmas Eve.” The band is set to perform five shows in Westhampton Beach in February and March.
Phil Firetog Trio & Co. was formed in 2015 and is composed of a Phil Firetog (lead vocalist/guitarist), Johnny “Pots” Potocnik (drummer), Liam Gordon (bassist), Tye Granger (saxophone) and Gabriel Nekrutman (flute/clarinet/alto sax). Each member of the band is diversely talented, they are musicians who blend their individual and distinct styles to craft a sound that is truly rare.
Singer/Songwriter Phil Firetog develops music that is rich and intricate and spans the spectrum from clean to grit and ambient to rocking by mastering acoustic guitars with pedals and distorted amps. Johnny “Pots” Potocnik & Liam Gordon fill the spaces with complex & rhythmic grooves, intriguing listeners while they connect on another level outside the lyrical storytelling.
The band will continue new single releases in 2022 starting in September with their release of “Fall”. It’s clear that Trio and Company will continue to reshape and reinvent itself in this ever-shifting industry while staying on the edge of new sounds and genres – never losing the essence of the core trio: ‘Rare and Transformative’
Upcoming Tour Dates:
FEB 04 – @ Westhampton Beach Brewing Co. Westhampton Beach, NY
FEB 18 – @ Connolly’s Pub & Restaurant 45th St. New York City, NY
MAR 03 – @ Westhampton Beach Brewing Co. Westhampton Beach, NY
APR 22 – @ Westhampton Beach Brewing Co. Westhampton Beach, NY
MAY 20 – @ Westhampton Beach Brewing Co. Westhampton Beach, NY
For more information on tour dates and to purchase tickets, click the link here.
The late Gord Downie & Canadian producer Bob Rock have just released their latest single “The Moment Is A Wild Place.” The epic rock duo has also just announced their upcoming album Lustre Parfait, the ninth album to bear Downie’s name outside of The Tragically Hip, and the first to bear Rock’s.
The single is a long-fabled collaboration between Gord Downie, late front man of legendary Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, and GRAMMY® Award-winning producer/musician Bob Rock. Their partnership began in 2006 when Rock produced The Tragically Hip’s acclaimed 10th studio album, World Container, followed in 2009 by the chart-topping We Are The Same.
Robert Jens Rock, record producer, engineer, guitarist, and songwriter has produced and engineer top-selling albums by such timeless artists as Metallica, Bon Jovi, The Tragically Hip, The Cult, Mötley Crüe, Aerosmith, Cher, Loverboy, Bryan Adams, Simple Plan, Michael Bublé and many others. He is known for his robust, radio-friendly production touch and the intuition to play to an artist’s character and strengths, Rock is perhaps best known for his long-standing role as producer for Metallica.
“I’ve always been a fan of long pieces of music,” says Bob Rock. “Setting a mood and going someplace, just taking you somewhere. The music was based on that journey, this rising tide of chords, crescendos in the chorus. Somehow, I stumbled on this magic chord, a simple minor to a major progression, and it moved me. And Gord reacted to it. It’s absolute perfection in terms of songwriting and in terms of what he did. It’s special because of what he talks about. The lyric was written before he was diagnosed with the sickness that he had. They say you gotta live in the moment. It causes you to look back, and I get choked up every time I hear it, still. I think most people will be moved by it. It’s one of his finest moments.”
More than a decade in the making, Lustre Parfait sees Downie’s peerless lyricism and incendiary heart given newfangled energy by his longtime friend and collaborator, famed producer/musician Bob Rock.
Gord Downie is the late lead singer and songwriter of The Tragically Hip, who, over more than 30 years and across fourteen studio albums, built an enduring legacy as perhaps the essential Canadian rock band. With seven solo albums to his name, Downie’s own music refutes definition, renowned for its adventurous poetry, collaboration, elastic composition, and singular vocal wail.
Unfortunately, Downie passed away on October 17th, 2017. Since his passing, The New York Times stated that Downie has “no parallel in the United States. Imagine Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Michael Stipe combined into one sensitive, oblique, poet-philosopher, and you’re getting close.”
“First and foremost Gord was my friend,” continues Rock, “and having the opportunity to work with him on these songs was one of the biggest highlights of my professional life. I am grateful that I got to witness his genius in such close proximity.”
To listen to “The Moment Is A Wild Place,” click the link here.
To preorder the upcoming album Lustre Parfait, click the link here.
Formed upon a chance encounter while busking in the subways of New York City, Bandits on the Run have released their newest single, “You Have Changed,” on February 2nd. Thus, marking a new phase of Banditry; this is the first release that they have self-produced, and offers a taste of what’s to come on the follow-up record to 2021’s acclaimed EP, Now Is The Time.
“‘You Have Changed’ is about being torn apart, begrudging acceptance, and lingering love. It’s about the uncontrollable wellspring of grief that comes swooping in when life smacks you in the face, and you’re just not ready for it,” the band reveals. Written at a moment of uncertainty, when their futures seemed tenuous, they say that the creation of the song was a mediation on accepting reality. “It felt like the world was caving in under us and all of a sudden everything we loved and held onto had changed.” It’s evident that those feelings resonate with listeners.
“When we perform this song, people tend to open their hearts to us and share their stories of change and loss. For some people, ‘You Have Changed’ is about a loved one that’s passed, or a lover that’s left, or a storm that’s finally clearing up. We love that it takes on a new meaning with every person who hears it, and is about whatever is changing in their life at the moment.”
“Bandits on the Run capture the urgency of the moment… harmony rich… [with] a rousing atmosphere.”
– Rolling Stone
Comprised of Adrian Blake Enscoe, Sydney Shepherd, and Regina Strayhorn, the Brooklyn-based indie-pop-Americana trio is anchored by three-part harmonies and eclectic instrumentation. This includes accordion, cello, melodica, and a suitcase-kick-drum.
Their most recent EP, Now Is The Time, was produced by Ryan Hadlock (Brandi Carlile, The Lumineers), and surrounding that release, the band produced a short musical film, Band At The End Of The World. They’ve also gone on to compose music for the Netflix children’s animated series, Storybots, score the newest Peter Hedges movie, The Same Storm, and tour the globe with appearances at the Cambridge Folk Festival, Floydfest, Milwaukee Summerfest, Americanafest, and the Singapore Grand Prix.
In addition, they stay in touch with their theatrical roots: Strayhorn is a freelance casting director currently working with The Telsey Office, Shepherd is a Broadway veteran who graced the stage in the world premiere of the musical August Rush, and Enscoe starred opposite Hailee Steinfeldin the AppleTV+ show, Dickinson, and on stage in Swept Away (by The Avett Brothers).
Their next release will be their most collaborative yet: a self-produced EP featuring various and sundry bandit friends that explores the tensions of a world that has been broken open but is putting itself back together.
Coinciding with the release of “You Have Changed,” Bandits on the Run kick off a midwestern tour with several performances at Folk Alliance. A video for the single is coming soon.
UPCOMING TOUR DATES: 2/2 – 2/4: Folk Alliance at Marriot Crown Center (Kansas City, MO) 2/3: Tiny Concert at Effing Candle Co. (Kansas City, MO) 2/6: Bishop Hill Community Commons (Bishop Hill, IL) 2/8: Rhythms & Brews @ Gibson Music Community Center (Appleton, WI) 2/9: Epiphany Center For The Arts (Chicago, IL) 2/10: Rose Bowl (Urbana, IL) 2/11: Bradley University (Peoria, IL)
To purchase tickets and for more details about Bandits on the Run, click the link here.
NYC‘s mmeadows have shared “When We Are Together We Are Really Free,” the final single from their debut album Light Moves Around You, which was released on Friday, February 3rd. The prog-pop duo will also be performing an album release show May 6th at Baby’s All Right.
Vocalist Kristin Slipp’s (Dirty Projectors) vocals weave seamlessly through Cole Kamen-Green’s production (walls of horns, synths, and piano) for a sound that’s mysterious, mercurial, and fearless. The track cements their trademark style, a permeable mix of sounds both fluid and rhythmic, organic and electronic.
The song is accompanied by a video filmed in an abandoned church, lending a visual atmosphere at once carefree and ominous, a perfect match for the track and the album as a whole.
“[“King of the Castle”] It’s a catchy, unpredictable dose of art pop…”
– BrooklynVegan
The track is accompanied by a bold video directed byHaoyan of America, in which the duo performs the song in an abandoned church. Complete with glow stick dance parties and colorful tarot cards, it creates an atmosphere at once carefree and ominous, a perfect match for the track and the album as a whole: mysterious, mercurial, and fearless.
Their singular alt-pop songcraft is ultimately the synthesis of complementary talents, mutual trust, and years of partnership. Light Moves Around You reflects this connection; a dynamic and deeply-honed collection of pop songs that silence chaos and celebrate the tender acts of making space.
“With community heavy on my mind during early days of the pandemic, but not within physical reach, I set out to write a song that I might play during one of a handful of virtual dance parties we hosted,” Slipp says. “The catharsis of sharing digital space with my friends during such a surreal time was powerful and lasting, and that energy motivated us to make this track super danceable, brimming with feeling, and short enough to demand an immediate repeat listen.”
Radio Woodstock 100.1 WDST has announced the next installment of the “Saturday Night Takeover” which will take place on Saturday, February 4th featuring multi-instrumentalist, producer, singer-songwriter, Cautious Clay.
Also recognized as Josh Karpeh, the Cleveland born musician has built a reputation for poetic and emotionally honest music. Clay draws from R&B, hip hop, and left field indie pop to produce sophisticated songwriting, soulful singing, and a cinematic sound. He’s experienced a tremendous amount of success following his three-year-old breakout debut single “Cold War”.
His songs have soundtracked key scenes in films like Olivia Wilde’s Booksmart and TV shows like Issa Rae’s Insecure. He’s written songs with John Legend and John Mayer, while also releasing music that’s been used by Taylor Swift. Clay’s single, “Cheesin” includes Remi Wolf, Still Woozy, Sophie Meiers, Claud, Melanie Faye, and HXNS. His latest album, Deadpan Love, is an album about balance. The balance between others and oneself, between intransigence and compromise, and between sarcasm and sincerity.
“Woodstock is one of my favorite places to visit, and I have been extremely grateful for Radio Woodstock’s support of my music. When they asked me to be a part of their Saturday Takeover Series, I was excited to share a broad spectrum of some of my favorite songs, new and old”!
– Cautious Clay
“Saturday Night Takeover” symbolizes Radio Woodstock’s independent music voice. Since 1980, Radio Woodstock has premiered new music and pioneered a unique music line-up with a combination of new artists, legendary musicians, and special music programming. Radio Woodstock’s curatorial programmers and DJs are recognized experts in their field.
Prepare yourself for “Saturday Night Takeover” as Cautious Clay takes over the airwaves. The show begins Saturday, February 4th, from 10 pm to 11 pm on-air at 100.1. You can also listen here or via the iHeartRADIO app.
Singer-songwriter Robin Eaton just released his newest single inspired by late 70s New York, “Drugs R 4 Kids.” This song is the first single for Eaton’s upcoming album, Memories of A Misspent Youth, due for release on May 1st.
As he reflects on his past foibles with “Drugs R 4 Kids”, Robin Eaton re-centers himself. The song manages to capture the playful, sardonic humor of darker Americana while retaining the glamour of retro rock.
Back in the 70s, Robin Eaton was performing with local favorites The Leisure Units in New York. The memories of their shared loft and their parties have stuck with him throughout the years. Eaton recalls these volatile drugs fueled these times.
When discussing the inspiration and back story behind “Drugs R 4 Kids”, Eaton writes: “All of the fights and the parties, it was all just regular Leisure Units stuff. Back in 1979, I had recently returned to NYC after making a songwriter album for Warner Brothers in Paris. When I came back to New York and joined the Leisure Units, there was lots of cocaine and heroin floating around the city. It was fun but didn’t bode well for the success of our project. Everybody was on edge all the time. Clive Davis was the first of many to pass on signing our band. Unfortunately, all the members of the Leisure Units have since passed, with me being the sole survivor of the group.”
As a prolific songwriter and producer, Robin Eaton is reintroducing himself as a performing artist. In the past, he was also in the original Broadway production of Hair. Aside from his personal music, Robin Eaton is also a respected composer.
Listen to “Drugs R 4 Kids” by clicking the link here.
For more information on Robin Eaton, click the link here for his website.
