A brisk fall night on Lark Street was warm and inviting at The Eleven, celebrating its grand opening with a fitting artist upstairs at Lark Hall, pianist Holly Bowling.
photo by Zak Radick
Much has changed in the past decade since Bowling began playing solo shows, having transcribed and performed Phish jams (not just songs, the improv sections too) and gave fresh takes on the catalog of the Grateful Dead, even having appearances with Phil Lesh as one of his friends.
Bowling now enters her second decade of live performances with an evolving solo career in the jam scene, having branched out into Ghost Light with Tom Hamilton and company, played regularly with Greensky Bluegrass, taken part in the immersive Musical Sojourns in Portugal this past October, and brought to life the ever unique Wilderness Series – performing at beautiful vistas within and around our National Park System.
The past decade has been a whirlwind of growth and opportunities, including giving birth to her and husband Jeffery’s first child. Holly Bowling has been about as busy as one can, and shares how she has worked towards finding balance with it all:
One thing I took away from the pandemic was a new acceptance of how to be creative in touring and that there’s a lot of different ways to play music for people. You have to do what makes sense for the situation you find yourself in at that particular time, whether it’s finding ways to create and play music when all the venues are shut down or finding ways to tour that make sense as a parent of a young child. I’m not sure I’d say I’ve figured out how to balance it all. I think finding balance of any kind is a challenge for most touring musicians. It’s a constantly evolving process, and I have to keep reminding myself to find ways to make it work for what my life is today and that what works today isn’t necessarily going to be what worked before or what’s going to work five years from now. And that’s fine – maybe even good.
Holly Bowling
On this evening, Bowling took the stage and performed as she always has, with focus and attention to detail, showing no signs of slowing down a well-paced musical career. Bowling last played Lark Hall with Ghost Light in October 2022, and sought out owner Jennifer Miller to plan a show in the future, with November 11th – 11/11 – being the best date for a show, adding in a nod to the Grateful Dead in the process.
With tube lighting on either side of the stage, a mirror ball above and four colored spots shining down and moving slowly along with the tempo, the stage was set, a grand piano and bench awaiting Bowling.
The first set featured the entire “Terrapin Station” suite, broken up into two sections, opening up with the first half of the song, “Lady with a Fan” and “Terrapin Station,” deep and layered, neatly falling into Phish’s “Fast Enough For You,” with the addition of looping to give the Rift track a new twist. 30 minutes later, the audience offered rousing applause.
With the use of effects pedals processing the piano sound, Bowling illuminated the improvisation jam that led from “About to Run”, and found its way into the rest of the “Terrapin Station” suite, “At a Siding” and “Terrapin Flyer,” finally ending the set with an ever-gorgeous “Divided Sky.” The emergence of a greater scope of sounds from the piano – whether it be with mallets, e-bows, fishing line or pedals – adds depth to the music. Said Bowling, “The piano has always been the instrument that can be closest to a full orchestra and I just want to play with as many sounds as possible.”
The second set opened with a heavy “St. Stephen” where Bowling explored the most familiar parts of the song using a tribal synth sound via manipulation of the inner piano strings, creating a hypnotic trance (accentuated briefly by a police siren wailing down the street.) “William Tell Bridge” developed out of this trance, Bowling playing the inner strings again, the pair of songs harkening the call of “The Eleven,” which would show up promptly at 10:11 (that’s 11:11 without DST). A song very rarely played by Bowling, “The Eleven” gave way to Phish’s “If I Could,” an emotional composition in its own right, and with light internal plucking and looping, Bowling summoned the intro of “Theme From the Bottom,” which took deep turns and twists, eventually fading into “Morning Dew” to close the set.
“Waste” would fall into the encore slot, with Bowling greeting and talking to fans after the show, everyone filing downstairs through The Eleven where Quantum Cosmic Trio continued on with the celebration of a grand opening, a grand performance and a grand pianist.
Set 1: Terrapin Station Suite -> Fast Enough For You, About to Run -> Terrapin Station Suite -> Divided Sky Set 2: St. Stephen -> William Tell Bridge -> The Eleven -> If I Could, Theme from the Bottom -> Morning Dew Encore: Waste
This past Sunday, November 12, City Winery New York and American Friends of NATAL held a special afternoon of music featuring a rare combination of Omer Avital’s Wilson Live Experience, a group of all-Israeli Jazz musicians who put on live shows mostly from their space on Wilson Avenue in Brooklyn and Israeli Superstar singer David Broza. Concert proceeds went to go to those suffering from PTSD in Israel.
The pair have collaborated before on David Broza’s previous release called TEFILA, where Broza took the traditional Jewish Friday Night Prayers and recomposed them along with the help of Omer Avital, who wrote the orchestration parts. The pair performed the entire piece along with a full choir, string, and horn section at Temple Emanu-El earlier this year.
David Broza & Omer Avital’s Wilson Live Experience at City Winery New York
The last time I saw LP – Laura Pergolizzi – was in 2014, at Carnegie Hall, part of City Winery’s The Music Of Paul Simon. I happened to do a video session with her and was treated to a version of “Slip Slidin’ Away.”
Pergolizzi left quite a mark at the time and every time she came back through it seemed there was always a conflict and I never crossed paths again. That all finally changed last week at New York’s Terminal 5.
Love Lines was released earlier this year by BMG with the first single and video off it being “Golden”. A North American tour was announced starting late October running into November, followed by a few Mexico dates, playing to her sizeable Central and South American followings, then a few dates in Europe that go well into 2024.
LP’s live show is quite mesmerizing, especially for a club show, with a great deal of production, walking out to Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” quite fitting as from the moment she hits the stage, she commands your attention and comes off as a powerhouse of sound. LP packs some pretty impressive whistling skills, big sing-along moments, and a crowd that seems to adore her every move. For this photographer, the highlight of LP at Terminal 5 was “Lost On You.”
Termial 5, NYC November 9th, 2023 SETLIST:
Golden, Love Song, Burn It Down, Girls Go Wild, One Like You, The One That You Love, Big Time, Dayglow, Wild, Love Lines, Too Much, Hold The Light, Lost on You, Everybody’s Falling in Love, Blow, No Witness, Special, Long Goodbye, Hola, When We’re High, One Last Time
Timothée Chalamethosted Saturday Night Live for the second time, his first in 2020. Soon he is starring as Willy Wonka in Wonka, a role he can finally promote now that the Writer’s Strike has ended. Rock band boygenius was the musical guest for the night, rocking the Studio 8H stage, celebrating their six GRAMMY nominations.
The cold open featured a spoof on the 2024 Republican Presidential Debate, with Kenan Thompson as Lester Holt. James Austin Johnson reprised his iconic role of Donald Trump, making comments on the former President’s recent arrests and breaking the fourth wall, introducing the actors playing the different politicians.
Timothée Chalamet’s monologue referenced the Writer’s Strike, set to the tone of the Willy Wonka song, his new film coming out December 15. Singing along to the tune, Chalamet pokes fun at long films and AI, bringing out SNL actor Marcello Hernandez to rap about having a “baby face,” but still being attractive. Kenan Thompson also made an appearance rapping about his baby face not changing since he was in his popular Kenan & Kel sitcom.
Hip Hop just celebrated 50 years, and what better way to celebrate it than a SNL sketch? Bringing in Rick Rubin (James Austin Jones), (Kenan Thompson), and Chalamet as $mokecheddadthaassgetta, a white Soundcloud-type rapper that should definitely not be there. Poking fun at the modern rappers of the day, the sketch Chalamet busting out his best rapping skills, to the distaste of the legends sharing the stage.
Britney Spear’s new memoir has been shaking the earth lately, calling out those around her including Justin Timberlake. SNL adds some humor to this tense situation, bringing in some influential people to read parts of her memoir, including parody versions of John Mulaney, Bill Hader, and even a parody of Chalamet himself.
In a sequel to Chalamet’s old sketch “Tiny Horse,” he brings out his singing abilities in “Giant Horse,” a sound sure to go viral again on TikTok. By the end of the sketch, the horse goes back to its tiny size, bringing everything full circle.
boygenius is comprised of established musicians Phoebe Bridgers, who achieved well-known status with her song “Motion Sickness,” Lucy Dacus, who went viral for her song “Night Shift,” and Julien Baker, an established guitarist and singer with a couple of well-known albums under her belt. Their music has achieved cult status in the indie rock world, releasing their debut album the record only this year. With melodic and infectious tones, boygenius captivates audiences with its depressing and nostalgic vibes and energetic and rowdy live shows.
For their first song, boygenius, dressed in all suits, sang one of their most popular songs “Not Strong Enough,” off of the record. With their intense and melodic harmonies, the group lit up the SNL stage with their high energy and beautiful vocals. Each member took a turn singing, a staple in their music.
https://youtu.be/5TtD9U2f1gs?si=Y-UWn05QtgoXJACj
Weekend Update with Michael Che and Colin Jost focused on the Presidential election, happening this time next year, and the usual satirical news stories they share. Heidi Gardner made an appearance as the overworked by not working at all coworker, someone all of us have definitely witnessed. The next sketch featured Timothée Chalamet as a humorous vision of Troye Sivan, the Grammy-nominated Internet personality turned popstar, with a shocking and funny twist of boygenius joining him.
boygenius returned with their second song “Satanist,” also off their debut record. Heavier than their last one, with red hues to match the satanic subject matter and Bridgers screaming like she always does, the group left a chaotic impression on the stage. I mean, only they could write a lyric like “Solomon had a point when he wrote Ecclesiastes.”
https://youtu.be/hniH8I8c-m0?si=JhOPmeMfNarfEndS
Saturday Night Live returns on Nov. 18 with host Jason Momoa and musical guest Tate McRae.
The Bushwick Film Festival celebrates it’s 16th edition this year screening over 125 films from Brooklyn and around the world from October 25th through 29th.
Over the past 16 years,BFF has showcased the works of nearly 1000 independent filmmakers from Brooklyn and more than 50 different countries. The BFF has evolved into one of Brooklyn’s most highly anticipated cinematic events and is celebrated for its significant contributions to the borough’s artistic, cultural, and economic development.
The festival culminated with an award ceremony on Sunday, October 29th where over 10 films and filmmakers received awards featuring categories including Best Feature Narrative, Best Short Narrative, Feature Documentary, and Short Series. The award winners told bold stories that embody an independent spirit and featured extraordinary characters revealing tales of change, self-discovery, transitions and new phases of life.
This year’s jurors included Theo Rigby, Danelle Eliav, Melody C Roscher, Amenya Makuku, Courtney Andrialis-Vincent, Niki Williams, and BFF Founder Kweighbaye Kotee. During opening night, Oviation TV awarded The Bushwick Film Festival with a $10,000 check through the Stand For The Arts Awards a partnership with Spectrum that recognizes local arts, cultural, and educational organizations and programs. These contributions support artists that are community driven, advocating for equality with the access of arts and providing accessible spaces for creative expression.
Friends & fans filled the Brooklyn Bowl on Monday, November 6, to celebrate James Casey‘s rich musical legacy by playing songs he loved. His dear friends Louis Cato, Nikki Glaspie, and Trey Anastasio Band led performances, joined by dozens of his musical cohorts to honor his memory and life of music.
Casey wanted a party, not a funeral, so Peter Shapiro obliged his last wishes by hosting his memorial celebration at his Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg. Proceeds from the event benefit the two organizations which helped Casey after he was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2021, the CCAand the ABGH. The 3 hour concert was livestreamed on Fans.Live, and will stay up until Sunday night.
Music Director and multi-instrumentalist Louis Cato led The Late Show Band, showcasing songs from Casey’s favorites from Sly and the Family Stone, along with songs from Casey & Cato’s bands, Animus Rexx, and Six Figures. The Trey Anastasio Band spearheaded a 4-song set which included some of James’ favorite songs. Nikki Glaspie led an all-star lineup that included members of Lettuce, Snarky Puppy, Animus Rexx, TAB, John Brown’s Body, Six Figures, and many others to play songs from Earth Wind & Fire, Sly and the Family Stone, Parliament Funkadelic. At the end of her band’s set, Nikki pulled nearly everyone on stage for a Go-Go medley, setting a new record for the most people on stage at any Brooklyn Bowl. Raydar Ellis DJed during band downtimes, curating selections from James’ favorite songs and artists.
Brooklyn Bowl owner Peter Shapiro introduced the night’s festivities with how important James was to him and his friends & family whose lives James graced. Shapiro smiled as he shared somber words while holding back tears, “Do you guys feel this in the air right now? Because that’s James Casey. And we were fortunate to have James play on this stage many times. And when I think of James here, I look over … it’s right about there (points to bowling lanes), ‘cuz James would come off the stage, maybe sitting in with Soulive at Bowlive, and I’d be right over there. And the feeling of hugging it out with James Casey … right by the stage was probably one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my life: that strength…that smile. And I’m so glad that tonight James Casey is selling out the Brooklyn Bowl.” as fans applauded, with few dry eyes in the room.
Shapiro continued, “I love that guy and we miss him, but he wanted to party, and the energy in here feels like a party, but a special one. So we want to thank you guys and everyone that’s here, particularly Ayla (his wife)and James’ family to trust us for hosting this night.” Shapiro then introduced the host of the evening, Sirius XM‘s Phish Radio host, Ari Fink, who warmed up the crowd with a resounding, “Let’s GOOOOO!!!” Fink quipped, “I …want to thank Bill Graham…I mean, Pete Shapiro (fans chuckle) for the wonderful introduction, for having us, and to Ayla, PJ, Margaret, Richard, Britten … and the entire crew…” (cheers) Fink told the fans to wave to their friends watching from home. Fink shared philosophy about how we process grief:
“There’s a common misconception about grief. Most people think it’s about letting go, but it’s actually quite the opposite. It’s really more about holding on. And James made that so easy for us. Every note he played had just the right amount of power & precision, placed perfectly into the flow of that moment. And it would enhance it, like noone else. Same thing when you spoke to him. So now, with us here in this moment, we’re holding on to his fierce spirit, wry sense of humor, unmatched musical empathy, and enough swagger to fill an entire venue”
Ari Fink
Fink continued to tell the fans that both he and Casey grew up in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and that he first met Casey back in 2013 when he was launching his new band, Animus Rexx, which was so good (“the greatest ish I’ve ever heard in my entire life”) that Fink was inspired to help them get started. And after that, Fink had Casey as a frequent guest on Sirius XM, where he shared another story with the audience:
“Now over the next decade, James was a frequent guest on Sirius XM, he would come up and kick it, and we would call each other to talk about our latest projects, share guidance, and talk about trials & tribulations of the music industry (by the way, which, there are a lot of). For both of us, you know, we easily were able to get through all of the surface stuff and cut right to the core. He always asked about my family. But the most amazing part about James on Sirius XM… the craziest thing would happen. Every time we sat down, my voice would relax, and..it would naturally start to drop, like almost a full octave at a time, because it was just like (points down)… he was that amazing to talk to. And normally it’s my job to make people feel comfortable on the air, but James had an unmatched ability to do just that for me. And when I listen back to those moments, it’s clear. We were locked in, the flow state was all the way to 100, and it was just real talk, real hangs and lots and lots of laughs. You guys ever heard James laugh? (fans: yeah!) Best laugh of all time!”
Fink’s speech went on for a solid 10 minutes or so, and with fans itching for music, Fink held back a couple of jeers to get to his introduction of the Music Director of the show, and Casey’s dear friend, Louis Cato. (on the livestream, skip ahead to 1:29:36 to jump to when the music starts).
Louis Cato began the music of the evening, saying, “Let’s give it up one time for the man of the hour, James Casey. For all of us that have been, have had had the pleasure of knowing this incredible human being, you know that he’s always been the life of the party, and … as he transitioned into the next phase of his journey, he made it very clear: “I don’t want a funeral, I wanted a party!” I don’t know if I can curse on the stream. (to his keyboard player) can I curse on the stream? (smiles) Jenna …wherever you are, earmuffs! That’s my daughter. Who is also James’ niece. Earmuffs! So, you wanted a party? That’s what the fuck we’re gonna do! C’mon, let’s get it on y’all!!!
The Late Show Band kicked off the music with Sly & the Family Stone’s “Family Affair”, with Cato on guitar & vocals, Reuben Caineron bass, Dave “DJ” Ginyard on bass, Nêgah Santos on percussion & vocals, Randy Runyon on guitar, James Williams on drums, Corey Bernhard on keys, with other friends sitting in and switching various instruments. Cato’s band launched into the night on guitar, calling out solos around the stage, first to his trombonist, followed by a scorching alto sax solo by Louis Fouché, a tasty Hammond B3 solo by Bernhard, then a smoking solo by Runyon, with others soloing in turn until the end of “Family Affair”. Afterwards, Cato then put his guitar down and said:
“So everybody up here on the stage has been.. a friend, and a brother, and a sister, and a bandmate of James, so we had to make sure it goes all the way around (points to sides) so you all get to see the outreach, because we’ve all been changed… by our interactions, our musical relationships, as well as the personal, with this monumental musician. We’re going to do another one, with another iteration .. of a band we used to have together back in the day, called Six Figures. With James is the agreed-upon front man,” as he walked back to sit on the drum kit.
More great solos continued on bass, clavinet, and then the horns left stage, as a film clip from Casey’s band, Animus Rexx was shown (Live from Rockwood Music Hall – Apr. 23, 2014) on the big screen for the audience. In that clip, Casey used his sampler, manipulating & replaying his altered vocal samples, while his bandmates added synth, drums, and bass.
As the side film ended, Cato got back up on the drums and asked the crowd “Are you still with us?” and then Cato’s band with most of Animus Rexx ended the set with their song, “Pleasure” a trippy synth swirl, intriguing, groovy and ethereal. The fans showed their appreciation, though most were hearing it for their first time. Cato’s band ended their set with “The Payback“, with Reuben on sampler, Runyon on guitar, and BigYuki on synth, and Cato filling in on drums for Justin Tyson (who is now with Robert Glasper’s Electric Trio).
After Cato’s set, Ari Fink came back out to give accolades to Animus Rexx, then introduced Casey’s wife, Ayla, who slowly took to the stage, smiling but holding back tears. She said, “Every single person in this room lifted James up in some way, …even right now. And it meant the world to James to live his dream performing and releasing music”. Ayla shared how James kept touring while they fought “the hardest battle of their lives”, and that she was “so grateful for the love that he received.” She said we should know our family history, be our own advocates, arm ourselves with knowledge, and re-emphasize symptoms, get a second opinion if we feel we’re not being heard. Ayla then introduced the President and Co-Founder of the ABGH, Dr. Sophie Balzora, who shared stats on how black people are 20% more likely to get colon cancer and 40% more likely to die from it. She contacted James to ask if he’d help ABGH, which he humbly agreed to. Balzora said that ABGH created a medical education scholarship in his name, to big applause.
Michael Sapienza (CEO of the Colon Cancer Alliance) reminded us that colon cancer is the second-most common cancer in the US, and listed the many ways James Casey helped their cause, and that his own mother died of colon cancer. He said we have to change this, but that (Casey’s devotion) was inspiring.
The next band was either the most anticipated or a complete surprise, depending on who you asked before the show. It was a bit of a mystery, since so few artists were announced before showtime. Fink bantered around who might be on next, but soon enough, fans realized their wishes would come true, as he introduced the Trey Anastasio Band, to huge applause. As the band plugged in, Trey simply said “Thanks, everybody!” as TAB tore into a snappy version of “Mozambique“, ended by tight horns, with Zoidis playing in Casey’s spot.
TAB hopped into “Everything’s Right”, as more horn players slinked onstage, with Alecia Chakour and Jo Lampert adding vocals to Jenn and Natalie. “This world, this world, this crazy world I know / it turns, it turns, long night’s over, and the sun’s coming up.” As Trey repeated this, he raised his arms and the fans erupted into a bubbling soup of dancing heads with hands raised into the air. The lights darkened as the song cooled to make space for a warm Zoidis solo, with Trey popping fills between Zoidis’ riffs, building to the end.
Trey shared his thanks for James playing in TAB for 11 years: “We love James, we love you (holding back tears). It’s incomprehensible how much we love James and how grateful we are for every single second we got to be with him. Our friendship with Ayla and James’ amazing family, mom & dad, everyone. Today/tonight has been really… (makes a heart gesture) heart-filling. All the friends from Boston that James met when he was in college who are here tonight, all the friends and family: thank you for being here and celebrating this incredible human being. And now we will play… James’ used to really like singing this song. So we’re going to do a cover here of a song that…I wish that he was here to sing it for you, so you have to use your imagination. We’ll all try to… fill in the blanks a little bit, but he loves singing this song”.
Trey nodded to Russ to start “Express Yourself”, Alecia added her soulful voice to lift the song up where James could see it. Jenn crafted a trumpet solo, as the band loosened up and dance along with the fans. He introduced their friend, Jo Lambert, they hug, play Rise/Come Together, with TAB’s choral family expanding as Erin Boyd and Elenna Canlas hopped up on vocals, and Snarky Puppy’s Mike Maher added his trumpet, ending TAB’s brief set with hugs as they waved away.
Nikki Glaspie brought her super-band onstage with 25-30 or more musicians playing, setting a new Brooklyn Bowl record. 8-10 percussionists were stacked 4 to 5 rows deep on the right, with 7 or 8 horn players on the left, with Nth Power’s and another Wally’s OG, Nate Edgar on bass, Sean Erick on trumpet, Rene del Fierro on guitar (has a band w/ Carlos Santana’s son), three keyboardists (Nigel Hall, Basil Wajdowicz, Elenna Canlas), Angie Swan on guitar, Chris St. Hilaire on drums (London Souls, Black Keys), Lyric Jones, Matty O and Mike Maher on trumpets, also Andrew Marsh on kit, Khris Royal and Chris Ward on saxes, Natalie on trombone, and other horns, percussionists & vocalists.
Nikki tore into the Gospel classic, singing “I Don’t Know What You Come to Do“, with Jenn responding, “I came to celebrate James!” in traditional call-and-response fashion, with backup singers echoing replies. Strangely, after a ripping solo, Angie Swan hoisted her guitar and its neck abruptly folded. We learned it was a Ciari travel guitar, but still aren’t sure if it was a planned stunt or an accident. She re-attached the next and somehow the guitar was still in tune, and finished the song.
Nigel sang lead on “Remember the Children”, by Earth Wind & Fire, after which, Nikki warned “we’re about to get dirty right now!” and “so James being from DC… the greatest music in the world came from Washington, DC, we call it Go-Go music. And we’re gonna play some!” Nigel replied, “Yeah, DC is in the house right now. Southeast is in the house! to which Nikki said “PG county – the greatest county in the world, goddammit!”
Nikki then slid over to kit. After the song got going, Nigel rose from his keys to sing harder. Total chaos ensued for the Go-Go medley, with little room to fit more musicians on stage. Go-Go morphed into funk as they transitioned into “Bop Gun” by P Funk, then a Parliament’s “Flash Light”, with Josh Dion (Paris Monster) up again on lead vocals, a killer Zoidis sax solo, more Go-Go, then “Give Up the Funk” into “Do That Stuff (reprise)” to end their incredible, wild set.
Louis Cato returned for the last set of the evening, reminding us again about James’ journey & battle, sharing somber words about how he felt about James and all they experienced and did together, the fullness of their relationship, while struggling to speak as he got emotional. Cato warned us not to lose our humanity as we strive with our ambition as artists: “James has always been… and I say to me, but know that I’m aware that it’s for all of us, most of us, it has always been both: he consummate musician dedicated to his craft, committed to putting love into the music, always, always, always. (fans clap) And he always put that same love into his friends and gave it to his family. And the two…it’s a rare thing… it’s the biggest thing … about James Casey. He’s always been that rare breed that can engage in music, and spirit, and craft and vocabulary at the highest level, but also meet you where you are, at the highest level. And, it’s changed the path of my life… eternally. And that is why we’re here.”
At this point, Cato called The Finale Band to the stage, with Nikki on drums, as Cato slaps his P-Bass to kick off “I Want To Take You Higher” with Jenn and Alecia and others on vocals, and mostly The Tonight Show band with a few guests who appeared in other sets throughout the evening, with impeccable horn solos and powerful vocals to end the night on a high note of optimism and warm memories of James Casey’s life and contributions to music, friendships, and family.
On Sunday, November 5 at The L in Horseheads, social media sensation and country singer Alexandra Kay took the stage and just like her song ‘She Stayed,’ she left a lasting impression. The atmosphere was energetic as fans from New York, Pennsylvania and surrounding areas gathered to witness a rising star in the world of country music.
Hailing from Illinois, Alexandra’s journey to stardom is nothing short of inspiring. Her passion for music was evident when she auditioned for American Idol back in 2011, showcasing her remarkable talent and captivating voice to a nationwide audience. Since then, she has continued to chase her dreams, captivating audiences with her heartfelt songwriting.
Alexandra Kay’s soulful vocals and compelling stage presence took the audience on a journey through the heart of country. Her songs and collabs have been streamed millions of times on social media. From heartfelt ballads that tugged at heartstrings to lively, boot-stomping anthems, her versatility as an artist was on full display. Each note held raw emotion, and her storytelling ability was nothing short of remarkable.
Kay’s new album, All I’ve Ever Known was just released in October while she is in the middle of her massive headlining tour across the states. All I’ve Ever Known debuted at #1 on both ITunes Country Album and All Genre Charts.
The L provided the perfect backdrop for this memorable evening, with its intimate setting and top-notch sound quality. As the music filled the venue, it was impossible not to get lost in the magic of the moment. Kay shared personal stories, interacted with the crowd, and made everyone feel like they were apart of something bigger while witnessing her performance.
For those who were fortunate enough to be in the crowd, it was a night they won’t soon forget, and for those who missed it, Alexandra Kay’s star is one to watch in the world of country music.
Alexandra Kay – The L, Horseheads, NY – Sunday, November 5, 2023
Setlist: Painted Him Perfect, Backroad Therapy, Tall Boiz, All I’ve Ever Known, She Stayed, I Hate Airplanes, Happy Once, I Kinda Don’t, More Than You, Everleave, How Do We Go, I Can Do Anything Encore: Best Worst Ex, That’s What Love Is, Skip This Part
Consider The Source, a NYC-based progressive jazz-rock trio, dropped their newest track alongside a music video for “Kashyyyk.” The video explores the band’s Eastern influences, with psychedelic graphics to accompany the new song.
Consider The Source made a name for themselves in the NYC scene with their unique, genre-bending sound. During the pandemic, the group found themselves stranded apart from each other, forcing them to learn new techniques to record and collaborate. Their newest album, a re-issued version of their Are You Watching Closely, comes nearing the 15-year anniversary of its original release.
The group’s newest single, “Kashyyyk” is a reference to a Star Wars fictional planet, where Chewbacca calls home. The psych-rock track demanded over 30 hours of work by producer Jacob Nadeau and editor Francesca Belcastro.
Consider The Source will embark on a US tour this fall, with four dates in Woodstock, Saratoga Springs, Rochester, and New York City. The group will support numerous acts, including SkyDaddy, Bella’s Bartok, The Mushroom Cloud, and more. More information and tickets are available here.
Consider the Source Tour Dates
11.02 The Colony – Woodstock, NY + 11.03 Bayside Bowl – Portland, ME % 11.09 Putnam Place – Saratoga Springs, NY ^ 11.10 Nectar’s – Burlington, VT !! 11.11 The Stone Church – Newmarket, NH & 11.17 Flour City Station – Rochester, NY * 11.18 Thunderbird Music Hall – Pittsburgh, PA ! 12.07 The Fox Theatre – Boulder, CO = 12.08 830 North – Fort Collins, CO == 12.09 Globe Hall – Denver, CO 12.29 Sultan Room – New York, NY # 12.30 Electric Haze – Worcester, MA $ 12.31 Arch Street Tavern – Hartford, CT $
On Thursday, October 26, Blues Traveler descended upon The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester.
The band opened with a raucous crowd favorite “Run Around” and from there they had the crowd eating out of their hands with a show filled with sing-alongs and extended jams.
Blues Traveler, no strangers to The Cap, seemed to feel right at home and the crowd that came for a good time were rewarded on this night.
Blues Traveler – The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY – Thursday, October 26
Setlist: Run-Around, The Wolf is Bumpin, Dropping Some NYC, Groove Me, But Anyway, The Wayward Rambler w/ Jono Manson, Stand, Funky Bitch, The Devil Went Down to Georgia*, Ode to the Aspect, Carolina Blues, Hook, The Mountains Win Again
As the doors of Brooklyn Steel swung open on a crisp, autumn evening, fans of San Holo streamed into the venue, eager to immerse themselves in an evening of music and visuals that would take them on an existential journey. San Holo, the Dutch DJ and producer known for his distinctive blend of emotional, existential music, was about to captivate the audience with an electrifying performance.
Images captured by @adrian_hernandezz on instagram
The concert began with a sense of anticipation, which only intensified as the venue plunged into darkness. The crowd’s murmurs turned into roars of excitement as the moment we had all been waiting for arrived. A massive curtain, suspended above the stage, dropped dramatically to the ground. It was a jaw-dropping moment that marked the beginning of this sonic and visual odyssey.
Colorful lasers pierced through the blackness. These lasers danced and swirled above the crowd, setting the stage for an otherworldly experience. The visuals were nothing short of breathtaking, and they would play a pivotal role throughout the night.
As the audience was spellbound by the mesmerizing light show, San Holo opened with the classic track “Lift me from the Ground,” immediately sending waves of nostalgia through the crowd. The existential soundscapes that define San Holo’s music began to envelop the room, and the audience was entranced. The ethereal, guitar-driven melodies intertwined with his signature glitchy beats, creating an emotional resonance that was tangible.
San Holo’s connection with the audience was palpable as he swayed to the music, pouring his heart into every chord and beat. His energy was infectious, and it didn’t take long for the crowd to become a unified, pulsating mass of fans, all lost in the music and the moment.
But this was not merely a trip down memory lane. San Holo was on a mission to showcase his latest album, “EXISTENTIAL DANCE MUSIC,” and the audience was more than ready. Tracks like “DON’T LOOK DOWN” and “ENERGY” pushed the boundaries of his signature sound. The bass was deeper, the drops more intense, and the audience responded with an electrifying surge of energy.
The visuals accompanying these tracks were a sight to behold. Colors and shapes exploded on the screens, perfectly synced with the music, creating an immersive experience that left the crowd in awe. The existential themes of the album were brought to life through the interplay of light and sound, making us question the very essence of our existence in this dance music universe.
As the night drew to a close, San Holo returned to some classic tracks, including “Light” which had the crowd swaying and singing along with heartfelt emotion. It was the perfect ending to a night filled with introspection, energy, and incredible music.
San Holo’s concert at Brooklyn Steel was more than a show; it was an existential experience. The fusion of his timeless tracks and the visually stunning performance left an indelible mark on everyone in attendance. As the crowd spilled out into the Brooklyn night, the shared experience of San Holo’s music and visuals created a sense of connection, reminding us all that, in the midst of life’s complexities, there’s always room to dance and lose ourselves in the beauty of existence.
