Category: Media

The Orchestra Now Presents “Haydn, Brahms & The Manufactured Classical Ideal” at Met Museum Feb 19

Conductor and music director Leon Botstein leads The Orchestra Now (TŌN) for their upcoming presentation of Haydn, Brahms & The Manufactured Classical Ideal on Sunday, February 19^th at 2 PM. This will be the second installment of the Orchestra’s popular Sight & Sound series performed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The program compares theories of classical music structure and 18^th-century sculpture, featuring Brahms’ Variations on a Theme of Haydn and Haydn’s Symphony No. 38. Alongside the performance, there will be projected images from the Museum’s concurrent Chroma: Ancient Sculpture in Color exhibition.

The Orchestra Now (TŌN) currently comprises 58 vibrant young musicians from 12 different countries across the globe: Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States. All share a mission to make orchestral music relevant to 21st-century audiences by sharing their unique personal insights in a welcoming environment.

Conductor, educator, and music historian Leon Botstein, whom The New York Times said “draws rich, expressive playing from the orchestra,” founded TŌN in 2015 as a graduate program at Bard College, where he is also president. HuffPost, who has called TŌN’s performances “dramatic and intense,” praises these concerts as “an opportunity to see talented musicians early in their careers.”

Photo by Matt Dine

Leon Botstein is founder Leon Botstein and music director of The Orchestra Now (TŌN), music director and principal conductor of the American Symphony Orchestra (ASO), artistic codirector of Bard SummerScape and the Bard Music Festival. He has been guest conductor with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Aspen Music Festival, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Mariinsky Theatre, Russian National Orchestra in Moscow, Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden, Taipei Symphony, Simón Bolivar Symphony Orchestra, and Sinfónica Juvenil de Caracas in Venezuela, among others.

Tickets are priced at $30, $40, and $50; all tickets include same-day museum admission. Tickets may be purchased online by clicking the link here.

For upcoming activities and more detailed information about the musicians, click the link here.

January 23, 2023
Nick Hakim Returns to Brooklyn with Third Album “Cometa”

Coming off the October release of his third full-length album, Cometa, Brooklyn-based artist, Nick Hakim, performed at Brooklyn Steel this past Saturday, Jan. 21.

Nick Hakim, 2023 Photo by Parker Alexander

Nick, joined by his incredibly smooth, regular musician accompaniment consisting of bassist Kyle Myles, guitarist Joe Harrison, and drummer Vishal Nayak, brought fresh sounds and layers to his already sonically rich vocal and backing melodies.

The night’s performance began with a few songs off the new record, blending in occasional songs from his second and debut album, also including, “I Don’t Know”, from his E.P. Where Will We Go, Pt. 2.

Nick Hakim, 2023 Photo by Parker Alexander

Midway through the gracefully blended set, show opener June McDoom joined the band on stage, providing harmonies fit for Nick’s soulfully gritty vocal style throughout the remainder of the show (not including the encore).

Nick Hakim & June McDoom, 2023 Photo by Parker Alexander

Later in the night, Nick’s brother Danny supplied guitar accompaniment to “Perfume”, which he wrote the chords for.

Nick and Danny Hakim & June McDoom, 2023 Photo by Parker Alexander

Some highlights of the night were a rousing performance of “Qadir”, named after his late friend, Qadir Imhotep West. Through repeated choruses, the band fully enveloped the audience, reaching out in the quiet and intimate moments, making the once industrial steel manufacturing plant feel like a personal performance in his living room, all whilst not forgetting to shy away from the crunchy, distorted guitar riffs and driving bass line.

Tomorrow night, the group heads to Philadelphia, continuing the tour through mid-February, before flying overseas in March.

January 23, 2023
The Sound Of Animals Fighting Go Apeshit At Webster Hall

Post-hardcore collective The Sound of Animals Fighting rolled through Webster Hall this past Saturday, January 21st, for the penultimate show on their 2023 winter tour. The tour comes fresh off the release of their new EP, and first new music in 15 years, Apeshit. These shows mark the band’s only fourth ever tour, but the hardcore supergroup were in fine form Saturday night as the eight-piece collective constantly shifted roles and personnel throughout the night.

The Sound of Animals Fighting at Webster Hall, 1/21/23. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

The Sound of Animals Fighting have always existed behind shroud and mystery, famously doing their original press photos wearing animal masks and only identifying the band members via their animal monikers. While the core lineup has not been a mystery in a long time, the band has a new permutation of their rotating personnel for this era. Vocalist Anthony Green (Circa Survive, Saosin, L.S. Dunes) anchors the band with his soaring, melodic vocal style backed by RX Bandits members Rich Balling, Matt Embree, Steve Choi, and Chris Tsagakis. Rounding out the Apeshit lineup is Keith Goodwin (Days Away, Good Old War), Matthew Kelly (The Autumns), and Jonathan Hischke.

Anthony Green, The Sound of Animals Fighting at Webster Hall, 1/21/23. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

On Apeshit, The Sound of Animals Fighting dial back the atmosphere and cinematic elements of their style in favor of more straight forward and in-your-face post hardcore. Standout track “Sharon Tate, Despite Everything” comes in waves; Rich Balling drones over a dark and melodic instrumental with sporadic drumming then Anthony Green barges in screaming out a long “Sharon Tate…” as the song takes on a more formal post-hardcore progression. The two sections blend together as the song progresses, creating one of the most interesting songs in the genre in some time. The title track kicks off the EP with a relentless hardcore presentation and technical, near math rock guitar and rhythm sections. Things slow down a bit on “Wolf”, with swirling and distorted synths backed by electronic drum kicks before the EP closes with “Duche Das”, most reminiscent of the interludes on 2007’s Tiger and The Duke.

Rich Balling of The Sound of Animals Fighting, Webster Hall, 1/21/23. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

With the tour over, and the EP released, the future is uncertain for The Sound of Animals Fighting. The band has only toured four times since their debut in 2005 and all of their members are active in many other projects. Anthony Green himself has seen a resurgence in recent years, forming new band L.S. Dunes (who are fresh off a debut LP and tour) and remaining active in Saosin. While Circa Survive is currently on hiatus, you never know what Green will embark on next.

The passion and cohesiveness of The Sound of Animals Fighting was top tier at Webster Hall this past weekend. The band performs as if they have been on regular tour for 15 years and the energy and engagement with the crowd was palpable. While we wait and see what the future holds, we can rest assured that we just witnessed one of the best post-hardcore tours in recent memory. Check out the full photo gallery from Webster Hall below.

The Sound of Animals Fighting, Webster Hall 1/21/2023

Setlist: Wolf, Apeshit, I, The Swan, Act I: Chasing Suns, Act II: All Is Ash or the Light Shining Through It, This Heat, My Horse Must Lose, Another Leather Lung, Blessings Be Yours Mister V, On The Occasion of Wet Snow, The Heretic, Act III: Modulate Back To The Tonic, Act IV: You Don’t Need A Witness

Encore: The Heraldic Beak Of The Manufacturer’s Medallion, Skullflower, Stockhausen, es ist Ihr Gehrin das ich suche, Sharon Tate, Despite Everything

January 23, 2023
The Ed Sullivan Show Archives Share Rare Louis Armstrong Performance

The Ed Sullivan Show archives have shared previously unreleased Louis Armstrong performances, with the first premiering tonight, January 22.

It is believed that Ed Sullivan himself lent these clips to Louis Armstrong and Universal Music Enterprises, because the two were friends, having been born in the same year in 1901. These new clips of Armstrong are able to be brought up now after decades of being lost. The first clip, premiering Jan. 22, shows Armstrong at his best, with him and opera star Robert Merrill performing a Medley (“Vesti la giubba” and “Honeysuckle Rose”) on the episode that aired on April 17, 1955.

Armstrong spent a lot of his life living in Queens, permanently settling there in 1943, despite being from New Orleans. By the 1950s, Armstrong, commonly known as “Satchmo” was widely known, and was entered into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame in 1952. He starred as himself in the 1954 Biopic The Glenn Miller Story and that same year also released his second autobiography, Satchmo: My Life in New Orleans. 1964 proved to be an important year for Armstrong as his record Hello, Dolly! remained on the Hot 100 for 22 weeks, dislodging a few Beatles songs. He died in 1971 of a heart attack.

Armstrong went on the Ed Sullivan Show a few times in his life, and some new clips are being released now that have never been seen before. The Ed Sullivan show is the most popular primetime variety show in American history, hosting a number of talent including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley and Motown artists. The first clip being released shows Armstrong and opera star Robert Merrill perfmroign “Vesti la giubba” and “Honeysuckle Rose” on the episode that aired on April 17, 1955.

Another new clip that was originally broadcast on CBS Network on May 15, 1955, features Armstrong alongside Gary Crosby delivering a performance of “Struttin With Some Barbecue,” will be released soon. The rare clip is available now to watch on YouTube.

January 23, 2023
Sam Smith Slays as SNL Sends up Santos

The first episode of the new year for Saturday Night Live found host Aubrey Plaza welcoming back an old friend to the Update desk, while Sam Smith played tracks from his upcoming Gloria album with two mesmerizing musical performances.

With a timely opening sending up Fox NFL post-game coverage of Giants/Eagles – which ended less than a half hour before, SNL wasted no time using the Congressman and life story fabricator George Santos (Bowen Yang) reporting from the Super Bowl, delusions of grandeur on full display. Yang’s Santos would make an appearance on Weekend Update, driving the bit even further, as the jokes write themselves with the continually unraveling fictional backstory of Santos front and center this past week.

Aubrey Plaza (The White Lotus, Parks and Recreation) took the stage of Studio 8H and recounted her longtime desire to host SNL, including her time as a page. This led to the SNL monologue trope of a tour behind the scenes, meeting cast members, the set design team and special guests – like former cast member and Parks and Recreation co-star Amy Poehler – popping up along the way.

A take on the recent TikTok clip-worthy Miss Universe pageant featured cameos from both Property Brothers, and skateboarding legend Tony Hawk.

Digital short “The Black Lotus” reimagined The White Lotus as a no-nonsense black-owned and staffed hotel, while “Game Night” brought together new neighbors in a revealing game of Taboo, and despite obvious cue card reading from Plaza, the rapid fire humor was refreshing and aligned perfectly with the host.

Sam Smith’s first song “Unholy” found the London singer in a fluffy pink ball gown under pink curtains and lighting, with Kim Petras appearing out from under the dress to join in the song. By the end, this performance turned into a devilish hallucination, with Smith donning a horned helmet. This marked Smith’s third time performing on SNL, having made their debut in 2014 and performing again in 2017.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5fUCOgAJgk

Weekend Update showed that the Santos well of comedy will not run dry, with Yang showing longterm potential for his satiral take. Plaza joined the Update team as April Ludgate, revisiting her character from Parks and Recreation, and then bringing on Leslie Nope (Poehler) who made herself at home at the update desk, once again. Poehler shared Weekend Update duties with Seth Myers from 2006-2008.

The second performance from Sam Smith found him clad in gold, standing behind a choir who sang much of the track “Gloria.” Actress Sharon Stone – who starred in a remake of the movie Gloria in the late 90s – laid on a golden bed, moving to a new pose once Smith began to sing under the golden hued stage, a piece of performance art that was Smith’s idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFq8sojJNDo

Saturday Night Live returns on Saturday, January 28 with host Michael B. Jordan and musical guest Lil Baby.

January 22, 2023
Harriman State Park Featured in Sheridan Rúitín Music Video

Catskills unique Irish folk band Sheridan Rúitín has just released a video filmed on a mountain top for their original song “Rebels of the Night” on January 1^st.

Along with this, the band has also just posted their upcoming tour where you can find all the details for coming shows and events, including 6 shows in NY around February and March. The band is currently busy working on a new song that will come with a music video most likely the first or second week of February as well.

As for the video, “Rebels of the Night” was filmed in the desolate wilderness of Harriman State Park, Rockland County. There are many unique trails and hikes around this part of Upstate NY, the video shows some of the unique views between Bear Mountain and Anthony’s Nose in the Hudson Highlands. To film the video, the crew carried a whole drum set up along with all of the other instruments and hiked up the mountain the weekend before Thanksgiving. Producing amazing footage to match the catchy Irish tune of their new song “Rebels of the Night.”

Sheridan Rúitín at Harriman State Park

In the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, as more pubs and restaurants were shutting their doors, Billy Houlihan became more and more of a regular at his next-door neighbor’s (Sheridan’s) pub. One evening in May of 2020, Billy brought his guitar over to the pub and he and Sheridan sat at the bar, singing rebel songs and drinking beer. Sheridan got quite into the moment while singing “The Kerry Recruit,” leading him to tumble off his barstool ultimately breaking his ankle (Irish: Rúitín) in 2 places. In the words of Sheridan: “Me feckin leg is in bits.”

Sheridan Rúitín now had an official band name and began recording songs and videos to release on YouTube. As pubs and restaurants were slowly opening back up, the family band began playing many gigs and were joined by old musician friends, John Damiano and Michael Zayas. Towards the end of 2021, the group began creating their own arrangements of traditional songs and writing a few originals to eventually become their debut album, “Rebels in the Night.” The album saw much success in pre-orders from all over the world. “Rebels in the Night” was released on March 6, 2022, and Sheridan Rúitín went on tour the whole month in support of their debut album.

The band has since been added to the bills of major Irish festivals in the USA, and is currently working on new music and another album. Sheridan Rúitín takes over the New York suburbia Irish music scene by filling the gap between Celtic rock and traditional Irish folk ballads.

To find more information on Sheridan Rúitín, click the link here to access their home page.

Sheridan Rúitín 2023 Tour Dates

2/25/2023 – Nyack, NY
3/2/2023 – Warwick, NY
3/3/2023 – Dingman’s Ferry, PA
3/4/2023 – Stamford, CT
3/5/2023 – Stony Point, NY
3/10/2023 – Paramus, NJ
3/11/2023 – Stamford, CT
3/12/2023 – New York, NY
3/14/2023 – Portland, ME
3/15/2023 – Boston, MA
3/16/2023 – Providence, RI
3/17/2023 – Nanuet, NY
3/18/2023 – Philadelphia, PA
3/19/2023 – Pearl River, NY

January 22, 2023
First Show: The Disco Biscuits and Karina Rykman at Town Ballroom in Buffalo

On Thursday, January 19, The Disco Biscuits and Karina Rykman took over the Town Ballroom in Buffalo for nearly five hours of incredible and energetic music.

I have been eagerly awaiting my first opportunity to see both acts and was incredibly excited when Karina was added to the bill at the Buffalo Biscuits show.

photo by Brian Ferguson

Taking the stage at 7:30 and performing an unrelenting 45-minute set, Rykman filled the room with her deep and punchy bass tone as drummer Chris Corsico and guitarist Adam November backed her up with tight beats and screaming leads. November in particular has a pedalboard capable of making crazy sounds as he tweaked knobs like a mad scientist throughout their set.

Rykman also demonstrated her contagious and joyous energy as she bounced around the stage while shredding. Standout tracks included the unreleased “Joyride” and the upbeat and driving “City Kids.” Do NOT miss her shows if she plays in your area!

When the lights dropped in Buffalo for the first set of the Disco Biscuits and the band jumped into “Bazaar Escape,” I was immediately struck by how cleanly they executed the wild and proggy twists and turns of the song. Very much a newcomer to the band’s material, I had naturally assumed that there were many simpler song structures to act as launchpads for long and dance-y jams, so “Bazaar” was a pleasant surprise as its arpeggios bounced around the packed venue.

photo by Brian Ferguson

Moving into “The Bridge” next, the music became incredibly euphoric as guitarist Jon “Barber” Gutwillig’s leads reached for the sky. The fabled “untz” began to set in as the Biscuits smashed through an inverted “Home Again” into “The Wormhole.”

As a keyboardist, I am naturally very curious and dialed in to Aron Magner on his side of the stage as he bounced from one board to another, looping on the fly and generally having a ball.

“Spacebirdmatingcall” continued the strong untz jamming and seemed to be closing the set, but bassist Marc Brownstein called for another tune as Gutwillig was in the process of removing his guitar. The funky “Morph Dusseldorf” closed out the set with lots of wah guitar and an anchoring beat from drummer Allen Aucoin.

The energy in the Town Ballroom did not abate in the slightest during setbreak, and the band was met with raucous cheers as they took the stage for the second set. “Jigsaw Earth” was a huge Magner moment as he continued to loop sounds and show off his dexterity on the keys. Aucoin began laying into a propulsive four-on-the-floor dance beat that would dominate the unrelenting and nonstop second set as the Biscuits drove into “Anthem.”

While Brownstein had been sticking out to me all night, this was the moment where he truly blew my mind. While I had previously had a difficult time zeroing in on his playing in the videos I had watched of the Biscuits online, his tone carried through loud and clear last night, locking in with Aucoin to form an incredible rhythm section and groove throughout the second set.

photo by Brian Ferguson

“Times Square” was tapped next and continued to amp up the crowd even more as smiles on band and audience alike grew wider. Moving into “I-Man,” a clear crowd favourite that elicited loud and energetic singing from those in attendance, Gutwillig shredded the song to pieces as the catchy chorus came around again.

Dipping into an inverted “Naeba” before finishing the set with “I-Man,” the Biscuits left a thoroughly torched Buffalo venue with a concise “Helicopters” encore, once again bringing energy to new heights.

My first Disco Biscuits experience was an absolutely incredible night – two sets of nonstop dance party and energy from a very talented band. I look forward to seeing them again soon!

Biscuits tour continues tonight with a two-night stand at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, PA. Webcasts are available via Couchtour.TV. Karina Rykman joins them again next week for a two nights at Higher Ground in Burlington. Don’t miss it!

This review was initially featured on Storm Sound

Setlist via Discobiscuits.net

Disco Biscuits – The Town Ballroom, Buffalo – Thursday, January 19, 2023

Set 1: Bazaar Escape, The Bridge > Home Again^ > The Wormhole > Spacebirdmatingcall, Morph Dusseldorf
Set 2: Jigsaw Earth > Anthem > Times Square > I-Man > Naeba* > I-Man
Encore: Helicopters

^ first time inverted
* inverted

Photos by Brian Ferguson

January 21, 2023
moe. Kicks Off Winter Tour With The Return Of Chuck Garvey

moe. kicked off their Winter 2023 tour on Thursday, January 19th at The Paramount in Huntington. Fresh off guitarist Chuck Garvey’s triumphant, yet limited return to the stage on New Year’s Eve in Philadelphia, the tour marks the first time Chuck will be back in the lineup full-time since suffering a stroke in November 2021.

The band made the announcement at the end of their three night run in Colorado to the amazement of the fans that Chuck would indeed be a “special guest” on New Year’s. Fan’s welcomed Chuck to the stage in Huntington chanting “Chuck! Chuck! Chuck…” as he casually took his place on stage as if it was business as usual.

Chuck Garvey, moe., The Paramount. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

Ever since Chuck left the band after his stroke, moe. kept the wheels turning with additional personnel Nate Wilson (keyboards) and Michael ‘Suke’ Cerulo (guitar). Nate and Michael filled the void left by Chuck and allowed the band to keep playing shows. On Thursday at the Paramount, Nate Wilson was still playing keys for the entire show and the band sounded as if they never missed a step. moe. cruised through their 10-song opening set in about an hour, with chants and cheers for Chuck between every song break.

moe. at The Paramount, 1/19/23. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

Chuck was stoic throughout the show, seemingly trying not to bring the focus on his return, but rather celebrate his virility and founding place in the band without fanfare. Fans were well aware of the gravity of the show they were a part of, squeezing out a few smirks and waves from Chuck between song to audible delight.

moe. at The Paramount, 1/19/23. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

moe.’s short winter tour is focused in the Northeast and rolls through February with two legs. This first stretch wraps up at The Wellmont Theater in Montclair, NJ on Saturday, January 21st. The band has two shows in Maine in mid-February before closing the tour with two shows in Albany beginning on “moe. Day” February 24th. Tickets for the Albany shows at Palace Theater HERE.

moe. at The Paramount – Huntington, Long Island – January 19th 2023

Set 1: Stranger Than Fiction, The Road, Z0Z, Not Coming Down, Wormwood, Can’t Find My Way Home (Blind Faith cover), Okayalright, Tailspin, Moth

Set 2: Timmy Tucker, Puebla, Sensory Deprivation Bank, Captain America, She’s A Woman, Recreational Chemistry

Encore: New York City

January 21, 2023
Tune Into EQXposure This Sunday to Hear Rhoseway and More

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 Rhoseway.

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.

There is only one cut this week because Pearson is featuring two songs in a row from a lot of artists to showcase their changes of sound throughout their music. The next two weeks of shows are prerecorded, with the 1/29 the show being from 1/8 and the 2/5 the show is from 1/15.

Rhoseway – “Cloak and Dagger”

Rhoseway is the solo project of Albany-based songwriter Rob Fleming. All writing, arrangements, performances, and production are done by himself in a DIY fashion.
<a href=”https://rhoseway.bandcamp.com/track/cloak-dagger”>Cloak &amp; Dagger by RHOSEWAY</a>

January 21, 2023
Conomor Duo Releases First EP: “One Step (At A Time)”

Rochester’s Conomor duo has just released their first ever EP One Step (At A Time) on January 6^th. The album is heavily influenced by sounds like Daft Punk, Outkast, Damon Albarn, Kendrick Lamar, and many others.

Overall, the songs on the album are solid, have defined identity, and are led by a creative and unique perspective that the duo provides. Songs like “One Step (At A Time)” sound so familiar to Gorillaz/Damon Albarn’s vocals.

Conomor is a duo based in USA and France, made up of Kevin (Vocals/music) and Paul (Music). While going to the same high school, they in the neighborhood hip-hop studio named TCA. Through producing beats and creating their first band Drozophyl, the duo forged a friendship as well as an artistic collaboration that still lasts today.

https://soundcloud.com/conomor/sets/conomor-one-step-at-a-time/s-rbB14nHsMC4?si=79f237d1f99e442cb18589060139448d&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Conomor is a boundless project made by both Kevin and Paul, venturing between electronic music, trip hop, pop with hints of hip-hop and rock. Both have collaborated on different projects in the past, and have been active in multiple musical experiences in both countries.

“I had thought of a wrecked life

Rifles screaming into darkness

A bunch of dope and a blunt knife

It’s as weak as I am

I could go lifeless”

As life separates the duo geographically, Paul works on many different projects, and so does Kévin after having moved to Rochester.

The duo stated, “With this first EP, we demonstrate that, from the complexity of our musical world results a truly universal sensitivity. One Step (at a Time) seeks to be resolutely modern and contemporary without abandoning its traditional musical heritage. Kévin’s instrumental melodies often rely on Paul’s electronic rhythms. The use of machines enriches and sublimates each musical phrase: early, the minimalist One Step (at a Time), alternates between hot and cold, and ends up delivering a rhythmic groove. With Arms, guitars mix with Trap beats, before a harmonica strikes a heady blow. Materialize resonates as a dark electro/club anthem, with its captivating vocal layering. Flower City Groove holds a lively rhythm, evolving into a chanted chorus, an ode to the city of Rochester, NY. Finally, lyrical piano chords accompany elements of a cold ambiance, with synthetic Notes.”

To listen to the album “One Step (At A Time),” click the link here.

January 20, 2023