Category: Media

The Hip Hop Museum Tour: A Sneak Peek into Hip Hop’s Glorious Past

As the world eagerly awaits the grand opening of The Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx in 2025, a nationwide tour is offering fans and enthusiasts a tantalizing preview of what’s to come. In partnership with Mass Appeal and proudly sponsored by CÃROC Ultra-Premium Vodka, this tour is bringing hip hop history to life.

In celebration of hip hop’s 50th anniversary, The Hip Hop Museum Tour is traversing the United States to narrate the story of the pioneers who birthed a genre that would eventually sweep the world. This mobile exhibit offers visitors a chance to take a walk down memory lane, shedding light on the essential milestones that transformed hip hop from a Bronx block party pastime into a global phenomenon.

The Hip Hop Museum Tour offers a diverse collection of remarkable artifacts that provide fans with a glimpse of what’s to come in the forthcoming museum.

Among the standout items are:

Jam Master Jay’s Gold Chain: This iconic piece of music history belonged to the legendary DJ Jam Master Jay, a pivotal figure in elevating hip hop’s status and influencing future generations during his time with Run-DMC.

Kool Herc’s Record Trunk: DJ Kool Herc’s record trunk played a vital role in the early development of hip hop music, symbolizing the birth of turntablism and the influence of DJing in the genre’s early years.

Tupac’s Handwritten Letter: A personal letter from the late Tupac Shakur to Cosima provides an intimate insight into one of hip hop’s most influential and controversial figures.

Coolio’s Low Rider Bicycle: Coolio’s low rider bicycle from his initial tour represents the diverse and eclectic styles embraced by hip hop artists, highlighting how fashion has become an integral part of the culture.

Biz Markie’s Rhyme Book, BIZ Chain, and Gucci Sneakers: These possessions, once belonging to the “Clown Prince of Hip Hop,” Biz Markie, including his rhyme book, chain, and sneakers, offer a glimpse into his quirky and unforgettable persona.

The Hip Hop Museum Tour is making stops across the country, bringing these treasures to fans and enthusiasts in various cities. Upcoming tour dates include:

Atlanta on October 21st
Houston on November 4th
Los Angeles on November 11th
Charlotte on November 18th
Miami from December 5th to December 9th

October 17, 2023
In Focus: The Tea Party Brings The Heat to Buffalo

The Tea Party, a Canadian rock band formed in 1996 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada started their fall 2023 tour in Buffalo on Oct 13, to a sold-out crowd at the famous Town Ballroom.

The evening began with an intimate VIP acoustic set from the band to a crowd of steadfast fans on the Oxford Pennant stage of the Town Ballroom. This smaller stage worked well for this intimate VIP crowd of around seventy people. A handful of stories from the road along with the songs played made the moment quite special.

The opening act, Human Kebab, a Canadian DJ from Stouffville, Ontario, Canada began the night in the main ballroom in support of The Tea Party by spinning and mixing many genres of high-energy music, including, but not limited to Hip-Hop, Rock, Alternative, Electronic and more.

For the main event, fans of The Tea Party lined up early for night one of this two-night run at the Ballroom as to make sure to get a great spot as close to the stage as possible for what would be an evening they would not soon forget.

As the house lights went down and the walk-on music started, the sold-out crowd erupted with cheers and applause. The energy was high from the beginning all the way to the end of the show with everyone in attendance hanging on to every word sung, and every note played throughout the night.

Setlist: The River, the Bazaar, Psychopomp, Fire in the Head, The Messenger, Black River, Heaven, Save Me, Release, Temptation
Encore: Sister Awake

October 16, 2023
In Focus: Biscoland brings Disco Biscuits Music Festivals back to New York

Disco Biscuits have a long history of music festivals in New York State, their own Camp Bisco, as well as numerous performances at festivals of all sizes around the state. For the first time since 2013, a new, intentionally more intimate festival, BISCOLand, was conceived and held in Lafayette at Wonderland Forest over October 6-7.

photo by Tara Gracer

Joining Disco Biscuits were a pair of bands that appeared on earlier Camp Bisco lineups – Lotus and Emancipator, and newcomers to the Bisco fold – Opiou, The Floozies, Eggy and Space Bacon. With classic Camp Bisco lineups featuring up and coming artists as well as staples of the EDM/jamtronica community, the vibe of a stripped down but still well dressed music festival, perfect for an autumn weekend in Central New York.

As for the Disco Biscuits, the jamtronica pioneers took the opportunity to break new ground with some unique musical pairings over the weekend. Biscuits fan Shimmy noted this was the first time the band segued “Confrontation” into “Orch Theme” and followed that up with “And The Ladies Were the Rest of the Night,” the other being December 29, 2014.

Even more notably, the band took the encore on Saturday, October 7 to perform the first ever inverted “Kitchen Mitts,” playing the ending of song first, then the first part. Add to that this inverted “Mitts” appeared inside of a fitting encore appearance of “Home Again” made for an apt coda on the weekend.

Setlists via Biscuits Internet Project

Disco Biscuits – BISCOLAND at Wonderland Forest – LaFayette, New York – October 6, 2023

Set 1: Wet, Munchkin Invasion > The Wormhole > Space Train > Cyclone > Nughuffer1
Set 2: Nughuffer 1 > Shocked > To Be Continued > Reactor 2 > M1 > To Be Continued

1 dyslexic
2 inverted

Disco Biscuits – BISCOLAND at Wonderland Forest – LaFayette, New York – October 7, 2023

Set 1: Jam 1 > Bombs > The Deal > Voices Insane 2 > I-Man
Set 2: Mindless Dribble 3 > Confrontation 4 > Orch Theme 5 > And the Ladies Were the Rest of the Night 4 > Spacebirdmatingcall
Encore: Home Again > Kitchen Mitts 6 7 4 > Home Again

1 w/ ‘Could U Be Loved’ (Bob Marley) teases
2 unfinished
3 w/ Wormhole quotes
4 inverted
5 w/ Crickets tease
6 LTP 2/4/2023 (53 shows)
7 first time inverted

Photos from BISCOLand by Tara Gracer

October 15, 2023
Ice Spice and Pete Davidson Welcome Back Saturday Night Live

The first episode of Saturday Night Live‘s 49th season aired on October 14, with former cast member Pete Davidson hosting, joined by musical guest and Bronx native, Ice Spice. The show had been on hold due to the recently ended Writers Guild of America strike.

Opening the show with an uncharacteristically serious message, Davidson discussed the events in Israel and Gaza, comparing the recent terrorist attacks to those of 9/11, when Davidson’s father Scott, a firefighter, was killed in the tragic events of that day. It was comedy – Eddie Murphy’s Delirious – that helped Pete deal with the childhood trauma he endured, and with saying that, Davidson shared he would try to be funny this evening.

And try he did, with a few fresh sketches – Wired Autocomplete Interview, Beach Day and Secretary – plus topical sketches including FOX NFL Sunday pregame coverage, where the hosts cannot stop talking about Taylor Swift, regardless of her lack of connection to football.

Davidson didn’t appear as Chad or at the Weekend Update desk as he would while a cast member, instead dialing all his energy into “I’m Just Pete,” a parody of “I’m Just Ken” from this summer’s Barbie movie. Self-deprecating to the core, Pete makes light of himself and criticisms of his character in a poignant and hilarious digital short.

Ice Spice served as musical guest for the first time on Saturday Night Live, having gained a following for her unique voice and style of rapping. This past week, the Bronx-native rapper won big at the 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards for Best Breakthrough hip-hop artist, and coming up in November, she will open select dates for Doja Cat.

Standing stiffly on the Studio 8H stage, an LED box was created around Ice, with two dancers flanking her with a low LED ceiling and dancefloor, while she sang her hit “In Ha Mood.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4t2SKGjkTE

Ice Spice’s second song this evening was introduced surprisingly by Taylor Swift, with her new song “Pretty Girl” on, with Nigerian singer Rema joining her for a duet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3FzkxeEACE

SNL returns on October 21 with host and musical guest, Bad Bunny.

October 15, 2023
Watch North Mississippi Allstars Revel at Cohoes Music Hall

On a fall Saturday night in Cohoes, the blues were alive and well at Cohoes Music Hall, with North Mississippi Allstars bringing their patented Hill Country sound to a lively, packed audience that hung on every note.

The power trio of brothers Luther (guitar) and Cody (drums) Dickinson were joined by bassist Berry Oakley Jr. this evening. Dickinson’s hypnotic guitar sound was on display this evening, particularly on “Outside,” off Set Sail, and featuring Lamar Williams Jr. on the studio version. A pair of songs with Cody Dickinson on vocals – “Let Me In” and “KC Jones” peppered the first set, ending with the 1969 R.L. Burnside classic “Po Black Maddie” that the Allstars have brought to a new generation with their amped up version.

Set 2 began with a double dose of southern rock, as the Hernando, Mississippi trio performed a 17 minute version of Allman Brothers Band‘s “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.” You’ll want to watch this one:

The rest of the set featured classic NMAS songs “Goin Down South” and “All Night Long,” the latter sung by Cody Dickinson who took over guitar duties while Luther switched to bass and Berry hopped on the kit, followed by Cody taking an extended drum solo under a purple hue.

There was nary a flaw in the show this evening, the band members dialed in and playing songs from across their extensive catalog. They’ll be back next year, if not sooner, with an audience that continues to fill in to hear this wonderful Mississippi Hill Country sound.

Listen to a recording of the show via Live Music Archive and be sure to support the Internet Archive!

North Mississippi Allstars – Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, NY – Saturday, October 14

Set 1: Up and Rolling, Shake (Yo Mama), Mean Ol’ Wind Died Down, Let Me In, Outside, Ship, Meet Me in the City, K.C. Jones, Po Black Maddie
Set 2: In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, Goin Down South, Rabbit Foot, Mississippi Bollweevil, Otha’s Bye Bye Baby, Bumpin’, All Night Long > drum solo, Shame Em on Down, Mean Old World
Encore: Didn’t We Have a Time (Luther solo)

October 15, 2023
Ken Carson Introduces ‘A Great Chaos’ With Action Packed Concert at Silo in Brooklyn

At midnight on Thursday, October 12, Ken Carson released his highly anticipated album A Great Chaos. At the same time of the release, Ken performed the new album at Silo in Brooklyn, sponsored by Spotify.

The show was announced just the day before but that did not stop it from being filled to capacity. The rage started with a DJ set around 11pm and continued until Ken got in his car and rolled away from the venue at around 1:30am.

Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil.

Just a couple of songs into the new album, Ken Carson brought out Destroy Lonely to perform “Singapore” and “Paranoid” off of Ken’s new project as well as some of their old hits like “MDMA” and “money & sex.” Ken and Lonely then left the stage for a couple of minutes, and then Ken came back and hopped on the DJ set. Shortly after, Ken brought out Opium founder Playboi Carti. Carti performed hit after hit, including: “Stop Breathing,” “Rockstar Made,” and “FE!N.”

(Left to Right) Destroy Lonely, Ken Carson, Playboi Carti at Silo, Brooklyn. Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil.

Ken Carson will join Playboi Carti on his Antagonist tour early next year. Until then, you can listen to Ken’s new album A Great Chaos on all platforms.

Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil.

Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil.

Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil.

Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil.

Playboi Carti at Silo, Brooklyn. Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil.

Stream A Great Chaos from Ken Carson below.

October 14, 2023
Black Rose Burning Drops Video For Title Track “Ad Astra”

NYC-based alt-rock group Black Rose Burning released “Ad Astra,” the title track from their brand new album alongside a sci-fi inspired official music video. Following singles, “Fight!”, “Night Terrors,” and “Sing to Me,” the group’s new album released in September, inspired by the Latin phrase “Ad Astra Per Aspera.”

“Ad Astra,” the new record’s title track, sports a sci-fi inspired video, featuring stylized digital graphics showing space travel and all things outer space. The song’s high energy matches well with the graphics, and showcases the group’s growing synergy. Inspired by the Latin phrase “Ad Astra Per Aspera,” meaning “through hardships to the stars,” the song carries themes of reaching beyond Earth towards the stars.

Sonically it’s a major leap forward in the ever-growing sound of Black Rose Burning in every way. Letting experts do what they do has resulted in – a lush soundscape that’s better than I could have ever hoped for. And even though I again wrote all the material, having partners who understand my vision is both invaluable and awe inspiring.
George Grant

Formed in 2018, Black Rose Burning began with instrumentalist, producer, and engineer George Grant, joined by guitarist Frank Morin and drummer Luis Infantas. Ad Astra was recorded in Grant’s own studio, PV Recording Company, where the full band recorded the album alongside Grant’s production skills.

Black Rose Burning released their previous album, The Wheel, in December 2021. Since then, the group released three new singles, “Fight!”, “Night Terrors,” and “Sing to Me,” leading up to their third full length album, Ad Astra. The new album is available on streaming platforms, and available for purchase on BandCamp.

October 13, 2023
In Focus: Metric’s Old World Underground 20th Anniversary Show at Bowery Ballroom

Metric is one of those bands I had heard so much about over the last 20 years, yet never got to see live, that is until Tuesday, October 10 at New York’s intimate Bowery Ballroom.

Fresh off the Gargage/Noel Gallagher tour this summer, the band has often been comfortable as an opening act, even opening up for Paramore at Madison Square Garden. To Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of their first album Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? they set out on a short run of small intimate clubs.

The Canadian synthpop four-piece (though this night they were nothing short of high energy rock show) really held nothing back last night as they strolled out in style onto the stage at the Bowery. No fluff, not even an opening act booked, just doors at 8pm, Metric at 9pm, as the sign at the door stated. Front woman Emily Haines came out with nothing to prove as the room erupted and the band plowed through a few songs before she addressed the crowd.

It’s hard to keep your eyes off her on stage, the band was really tight and energetic, a crammed stage full of keyboards facing pretty much every direction, rotating between rock, pop and some acoustic numbers. Half the set was of course songs off Old World, followed by 5 off Formentera, a few covers and one song off the new Album out Today, Formentera II.

Metric – Bowery Ballroom, NYC – Tuesday, October 10

Setlist: IOU, The List, False Dichotomy, What Feels Like Eternity, Succexy, Dead Disco, Who Would You Be for Me, Love Is a Place, Formentera, Just the Once, All Comes Crashing, Calculation Theme, On a Slow Night, Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl, Doomscroller, Hustle Rose, Combat Baby, Nothing Is Perfect

October 13, 2023
In Focus: Rocking Nostalgia, A Celebration of the Long Island Club Scene, at LIMEHOF

On October 8th, music fans gathered at the LIMEHOF to celebrate “A Celebration of the Long Island Club Scene” from the 1980s. The evening’s centerpiece was a book signing by Jay Jay French, the iconic guitarist of Twisted Sister, who had recently authored his memoir, Twisted Business: Lessons from My Life in Rock and Roll. However, this evening was much more than just a book signing.

Jay Jay French initiated the event, greeting fans, signing his book, and sharing captivating rock ‘n’ roll anecdotes. Fans had the opportunity to connect with the legendary musician, acquiring signed memorabilia that would serve as treasured mementos.

After the book signing, Joe Rock from WBAB moderated an enlightening Q&A session for the crowd. The panel consisted of luminaries from the Long Island music scene, including Ken Neil and Mark “The Animal” Mendoza, the original and current bassists of Twisted Sister, Joe Franco, one of the original members of The Good Rats, Randy Jackson and Felix Hanneman of Zebra, and Mark Fowler of the Stanton Anderson Band. These musicians, each with their unique stories and experiences, painted a vivid picture of the vibrant Long Island club scene in the 1980s.

An eye-opening revelation of the evening linked Goodfellas mobsters to Speaks, a popular club in Island Park. Panelists shared stories of the mob’s role in the local music scene, illuminating Long Island’s club circuit history rarely discussed.

Jay Jay French recounted a remarkable tale of Twisted Sister’s last show at Hammer Heads, where fans were given the freedom to destroy the venue. Instead of harming their career, it propelled them to fame, with other Long Island clubs eager to host them for more wild performances. The Long Island club scene had a reputation for wild audiences, and Twisted Sister embraced it.

Following the enlightening Q&A, the audience enjoyed a musical extravaganza with all the panelists taking part. Jay Jay French, the charismatic frontman of Twisted Sister, took the lead in performing several hits. The exception was when Randy Jackson of Zebra stepped up to the microphone to deliver a powerful rendition of Zebra’s classic “Tell Me What You Want,” much to the delight of the crowd. The setlist was a dynamic mix of rock classics, including “All the Young Dudes,” “Crosscut Saw,” and captivating covers of Lou Reed‘s “Vicious” and “Walk on the Wild Side.”

The night ended with an exciting performance of Lou Reed’s “Sweet Jane,” making it a fantastic conclusion. The audience at the LIMEHOF marveled at the incredible talent and the captivating history they had just experienced.

Update: Dee Snider, the frontman of Twisted Sister, has just revealed that he will host a book signing for his debut novel, “Frats,” at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame located at 97 Main Street in Stony Brook. The event is scheduled for October 14th, commencing at 6pm. While the book signing is open to the public without charge, please note that entry to the museum will necessitate the purchase of a general admission ticket

October 11, 2023
Explosions In The Sky Showcase ‘End’ At Kings Theatre

Texas based post-rockers Explosions In The Sky just released End, their eighth studio LP and first in more than seven years. The band is currently on the road, making their way to Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre on Thursday, October 5^th to showcase the new record in a truly perfect setting. The historic theatre is just as cinematic as the band’s signature sprawling instrumentals, which effortlessly reverberated around the spacious theater.

Explosions In The Sky at Kings Theatre, 10/5/2023. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

Explosions In The Sky have mastered the art of the cinematic soundtrack over their career, with End being no exception. Aside from eight studio records, the band soundtracked several films including the enormously successful Friday Night Lights. The quartet’s instrumentals are uniquely suitable for the big screen as well as a focused LP. Their three-guitar approach allows them to layer lush and complex loops that suck the listener into a meditative experience. The music swells to climactic crescendos surrounded by moments of minimal beauty that keep you engaged for the entire album.

Thursday night was an exciting draw for any fan of Explosions In The Sky. The band does not tour all that often to begin with, and Kings Theatre is the type of venue that would perfectly amplify the band’s instrumentals. The show started off with an opening set from the Jim White (drums) and Marisa Anderson (guitar). For thirty minutes, the duo bounced back and forth between complex drum passages and swirling guitar arpeggios, integrating with each other at times but also playing solo here and there. The entire set felt like a singular, continuous piece that was flushed out in the moment on stage. Kings was filled in early and the crowd cheered the duo on as the set continued to evolve.

Explosions In The Sky at Kings Theatre, 10/5/2023. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

The opening duo set the tone for the night, hinting at the atmosphere that was about to take over the theater. Explosions In The Sky took to the stage to a thunderous ovation as they picked up their guitars and got ready for the show. As the first notes of “First Breath After Coma” rang out, from easily the crowd favorite 2003 LP The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place, the audience erupted into a joyous fervor. The band would play a couple more tracks from this album at Kings Theatre, but also added a last minute show at Bowery Ballroom on Sunday, October 8^th where they would play the record in full.

The show rolled on, treating fans to a mix of songs from all over Explosions In The Sky’s catalog, blending the art of cinematic soundscapes with the live show setting to maximum effect. There is only one more stop in the U.S. on this tour, taking place on October 20^th in Miami at the III Points Music Festival. After that, the band heads over to Europe for a run of shows throughout November. Head over to their website for the full itinerary and check out our photo gallery from Kings Theatre below.

October 9, 2023