Recently, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Louis Cato performed “Winter Wonderland” on a special holiday edition of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Photo: Scott Kowalchyk/CBS.
GRAMMY-nominated and internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Louis Cato has been keeping audiences engaged on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert since its inception in 2015, and was promoted to the bandleader of the group last summer. Since the age of two, Cato started appreciating music with the purchase of his first drumset, citing artistic influence from southern gospel from his native North Carolina. He has an undeniable talent for crafting sonic landscapes into timeless masterpieces. Releasing his first record STARTING NOW in 2017, Louis Cato produced and mixed the entire record by himself.
His newest record Reflections is slow, spirited, and heavenly, showcasing his kind and empathetic essence. Cato is not just a solo artist though, he has worked with an array of other established musicians, like Snarky Puppy, Jon Batiste, Q-Tip, A Tribe Called Quest, and many more, mixing in his artistic capabilities and talents with theirs. With the voice of an angel, melodies that pull you in, and the funk of James Brown, Cato’s sound is unmistakable.
NPR Music just named “Unsightly Room” from the LP one of the Best Songs of 2023, raving “While other artists released big studio productions, Cato’s simple guitar and haunting voice reaffirm the power of back-to-basics songcraft and storytelling. It’s a deceptively sweet song with an earworm melody, but something truly horrifying is lurking in the shadows.”
For more information about Louis Cato, visit here.
Before signing off for the holidays, David Letterman would have on two regular guests for a Christmas show to end the season.
With Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra looking on, comedian Jay Thomas would regale the crowd with, as Letterman put it, “the best story I’ve ever heard,” about an encounter with Clayton Moore, the actor famous for playing The Lone Ranger. It became a holiday tradition for the 17 years until the Letterman retired in 2015.
After Thomas delivered the punchline, he and David Letterman would alternate throwing a football at the meatball on top of the Late Show Christmas tree. To wrap up the show, and the year for the Late Show, Darlene Love would put on a big production with her holiday show stopper, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).”
Jay Thomas passed away in 2017, but his humor lives on. Watch below to see the joke over the years.
After having a successful year in the movie Barbie as the “weird Barbie,” former SNL cast member Kate McKinnon hosts this year’s holiday episode, with pop icon Billie Eilish as the musical guest.
In true SNLfashion, the cold open focused on an award show called the Christmas Awards, just in time for the holiday season. No stranger to the cold open, Bowen Yang and Heidi Gardner take the role of the award hosts for the evening. The sketch brought the cast together poking fun at Christmas stereotypes, with the bad gift giver that is grandma, and the one relative who brings COVID to the party.
https://youtu.be/mjHV7uAq5fU
Kate McKinnon’s monologue saw her joking about being back at her “old job” at SNL, taking the seat as host tonight, and how uncomfortable she is being herself instead of the weird girl standing next to the hot person. She brought out the piano for a cheery tune, creating a parody of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” stating she was forced to sing. Iconic actors Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig made an appearance, singing the monologue away.
https://youtu.be/xZmFyCTNrPs?si=WFHCksdjqCieZKUS
The next sketch took place at the North Pole, with elves as news anchors, set on the scene of a killer whale attack. Featuring Kate McKinnon as a scared Scot, it showcases how people always take to social media to write thoughts and prayers during a crisis in a silly yet real manner. Making fun of the fact that kids always want dogs for Christmas, SNL created a satirical infomercial with Pongo!, the perfect pet that doesn’t do anything or dies.
No one will ever forget about the iconic group ABBA, and returning to the screen are Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig, with Kate McKinnon and Bowen Yang performing as the group, not missing a chance to do their best Swedish accent impression. Taking their greatest hits, the ABBA parody group remixed their hits, adding Christmas themes. The sketch was full of the cast breaking character, making it even more funny.
Kate McKinnon brings back her singing with Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig again, creating a country tune about Tampon Farm, a fictional place where women grow and harvest tampons. No one could have seen that twist coming, with the audience erupting into a fit of laughter.
Billie Eilish needs no introduction, the pop icon had a successful year with just one song officially announced, “What Was I Made For?” on the Barbie soundtrack. With severalGRAMMY nominations at this year’s award ceremony, and even a Golden Globe nomination for her small role in SWARM, Eilish is just getting started. Just the other night on The Tonight Show, she teased she is working on her next album, with more TBA soon.
Introducing her were McKinnon and in a surprising twist, Greta Gerwig, the director of Barbie. Billie Eilish sang her hit “What Was I Made For,” with her signature breathy vocals, singing on a stool with her brother Finneas playing piano. With a beautifully added string section and accompanying videos of “girlhood” in the background, the song could bring a tear to anybody’s eye and certainly did mine.
https://youtu.be/mkqTsLVHwuQ
The Weekend Update tradition of Michael Che and Colin Jost reading each other’s jokes did not disappoint this year. Each joke was raunchier than the last, leaving most with their jaws hanging wide open.
Billie Eilish ended her SNL appearance with a haunting cover of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” showcasing her soulful and powerful vocals. During the last sketch, she joined McKinnon cosplaying as crazy cat ladies, showing off several cats.
Just announced on Jan. 20 is Euphoria and Priscilla actor Jacob Elordi hosting, with musical guest Reneé Rapp.
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.
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 $
Foo Fighters played an emotional performance on Saturday Night Live (SNL), alongside host Nate Bergatze and surprise guests H.E.R. and Christopher Walken. The appearance was their first SNL showing since the tragic death of drummer Taylor Hawkins in March of 2022.
The group first played their track “Rescued,” introduced by actor Christopher Walken. Walken recreated his former pronunciation of the band’s name, as a reference to their 2003 pairing on Saturday Night Live where he recited, “Foo FIGHTERS.” The Fighters delivered an electric performance of “Rescued,” complete with vocalist Dave Grohl’s headbanging.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMHEBSnoX4A
Foo Fighters followed up with a performance of “The Glass,” accompanied by special guest H.E.R. The collaborative rendition began with an emotional Dave Grohl, reminding the audience of the band’s great loss of Taylor Hawkins last year. The emotion was not to the performance’s detriment, as H.E.R lended stunning vocals and guitar alongside Grohl.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oON5LswFU9A
Foo Fighters are set to embark on tour next month, with shows across Australia, the UK, and more. Their North American tour next summer includes two can’t-miss dates at NYC’s Citi Field on July 17 and 19. Tickets are still available for both July 17 and 19.
FOO FIGHTERS U.S. STADIUM DATES 2024
Wednesday, July 17 — New York NY — Citi Field *
Friday, July 19 – New York NY — Citi Field #
Sunday, July 21 – Boston MA — Fenway Park #
Tuesday, July 23 – Hershey PA — HERSHEYPARK Stadium #
Thursday, July 25 – Cincinnati OH — Great American Ball Park *
Sunday, July 28 – Minneapolis MN — Target Field **
Saturday, August 3 – Denver CO — Empower Field at Mile High *
Wednesday, August 7 – San Diego CA — Petco Park $
Friday, August 9 – Los Angeles CA — BMO Stadium #
Sunday, August 11 – Los Angeles CA — BMO Stadium %
Thursday, August 16 – Portland OR — Providence Park Soccer Stadium %
Saturday, August 18 – Seattle WA — T-Mobile Park %
New Paltz native Ryan Liberty Megan just released his chaotic video for his dreamy and melodic song “Sweep.”
The track hits your ears in all the right places with a groovy trumpet instrumental in the back as well as Ryan’s semi-raspy nostalgic voice. An alt-country track, “Sweep” is a song you can put on when you need a release, swaying back and forth to the guitars and harmonies dancing together in harmony.
Speaking of “Sweep,” Ryan Liberty Megan said “Imagine it like a phone call that’s being made to the most fragile part of you, giving you instructions on how to survive other humans, how to survive humanity. And in the end, the most important part of that advice or sage wisdom is to be able to just sweep it away. You need to be able to let things go.”
Ryan Liberty Megan is a New Paltz native, a doting father who gave up music to provide for his son, returning to music after about ten years, giving him that familiar relief. He started as a noise rock artist known for chaotic and rowdy shows, and turned the page into the simpler yet complex artist he is today. Reminiscent of acts such as Mr. Bungle, Ween, and Melvins, he transcends also into acts like Beck, Wilco, and The Flaming Lips.
Photo by Matthew Hersch.
The video accompanying “Sweep” is chaotic and brings the viewer on a journey. With a kaleidoscope of dark purples and lighter colors, the music video features Ryan singing the sweet tune, transitioning in and out of backgrounds that include things like dogs, horses, and the highway. The most intriguing part of the video is random trivia strewn throughout.
Some say things like “A snail can sleep for three years,” or “The eye makes movements 50 times every second.” About the video, Ryan said “I loaded this video with useless trivia, so no matter what, people will walk away with something they didn’t have before. My buddy owns a float spa, and he filmed me floating in a tank for some of this!”
The music video for “Sweep” by Ryan Liberty Megan is out now.
The Rolling Stones celebrated their first album release of original music in 18 years, Hackney Diamonds, at a small surprise show at Racket in NYC on Oct. 19.
Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards perform during the Rolling Stones’ surprise set at Racket. Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for RS.
The night started with a DJ set courtesy of Quest Love, and Samantha Urbani. Different VIP guests including Elvis Costello, Daniel Craig, Chris Rock, Jimmy Fallon, and more, were in attendance. With the death of drummer Charlie Watts in 2021, the Rolling Stones performed with the core trio of Mick Jagger and guitarists Keith Richards and Ron Wood, with other musicians supplementing.
This isn’t the first time the Stones have performed an album release show in the city. The band once rolled down Fifth Avenue on a flatbed truck and on another occasion rode on a caboose into Grand Central Terminal. Their newest record Hackney Diamonds has received rave reviews, with Variety describing it as their best work since 1981’s Tattoo You, and Telegraph seeing it as “the best rock’n’ roll album of the past four decades at least.”
They opened with “Shattered,” from 1978’s Some Girls, before playing their new songs “Angry,” “Whole Wide World,” and “Bite My Head Off.” The set also featured “Tumbling Dice” and “Jumping Jack Flash” before an encore for which the Stones were joined by Lady Gaga.
Dressed in a sequined maroon pantsuit, Gaga made an appearance to recreate her duet with Jagger on the new song “Sweet Sounds of Heaven” off HackneyDiamonds. The band’s Racket gig marked one of their smallest venue locations to date, particularly in the area, and was the perfect intimate setting to celebrate their newest album.
Frogs and freaks flew into the Palace Theatre in Albany on Friday, October 20, heralding the return of Les Claypool and his Frog Brigade. The first tour for the group in 20 years began earlier in the year, winding its way into the Northeast for a run of late-October shows.
With draped banners of stars and stripes giving a nod to Pink Floyd’s The Wall, the stage took on a blue dystopian hue, as the six piece band – Skerik (saxophone), Mike Dillon (percussion, vibraphone), Sean Lennon (guitar), Harry Waters (keyboards), Paulo Baldi (drums) and Claypool (bass) – arrived on stage to “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” (Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore), Claypool bringing up the rear. With Les dressed in all black and a bowler hat, a slow bass led intro to “Cosmic Highway” took the audience on a psychedelic ride, right into “Up on the Roof.”
Following Les offering praise to Skerik, Skerik spoke in French briefly before telling an Albany/All bunny/All moose joke that earned groans and chuckles from the audience.
A cover of The Beat’s “Mirror in the Bathroom” was an early highlight, taking the narcissistic 1980 song out for an extended spin. “David Makalaster,” the Purple Onion track, followed, with Claypool Lennon Delirium composition “Blood and Rockets: Movement I, Saga of Jack Parsons – Movement II Too the Moon” closing a ‘short but didn’t feel short’ 60-minute set.
With Harry Waters – son of Roger – helming the keys, set 2 began with a full rendition of Pink Floyd’s Animals, the five song suite never missed a mark, Claypool donning a pig mask while switching to stand up bass.
A pair of songs from Les Claypool and the Holy Mackerel – “Precipitation” and “Calling Kyle” would follow, with “D’s Diner” closing the second set with audience callbacks, whispered lyrics, and xylophone throughout.
King Crimson’s “Thela Hun Ginjeet,” a song that Claypool and his Frog Brigade kicked off the main stage at the first Bonnaroo (and the incredible DVD as well) would drive the energy of the audience to 11, peppering in “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” teases. As the band left the stage, walk out music of “Pure Imagination” played, calling back to Claypool’s memorable Primus and the Chocolate Factory tour.
A can’t miss tour, the Frog Brigade will be at The Wellmont Theatre in Montclair, NJ on October 24 before heading to Hulaween and ending the tour at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Halloween.
Les Claypool and his Frog Brigade – Palace Theatre, Albany – Friday, October 20, 2023
Set 1: When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Cosmic Highway, Up on the Roof, Mirror in the Bathroom, David Makalaster, Blood and Rockets: Movement I, Saga of Jack Parsons – Movement II Too the Moon
Set 2: Pigs on the Wing, Part 1, Dogs, Pigs (Three Different Ones), Sheep, Pigs on the Wing, Part 2, Precipitation, Calling Kyle, One Step Beyond, Buzzards of Green Hill, D’s Diner
