Gregory McLoughlin, a bassist and songwriter living in Jersey City, has recently released his latest single, “Woody Guthrie,” a song reflecting on struggles and the healing power of music.
Gregory writes and records as a solo artist, in addition to writing for artists including Beeman & Bannon, BuzzUniverse, Julia Kirk, Ross Sandler, Anthony Tamburro, Abbe Rivers, Johnny Bullitt, Anna Oh and others. He also performs in the tri-state area with his band, Gregory McLoughlin & the Lemonade Band.
McLoughlin didn’t set out to write about Woody Guthrie, and the song isn’t about the famous folk legend, he is just the destination where the songwriting took him. McLoughlin wrote the song in his head on a day in February 2021 during solitary gondola rides up and down Bellayre Mountain mid-pandemic.
“I feel like a lot of it started with Woody Guthrie, after all, he was Bob Dylan’s number one and Dylan‘s music certainly has healed many lost souls,” shared McLoughlin, adding “It’s a song I wrote reflecting on personal struggles I’ve been through and struggles of loved ones who I empathize with. It’s about how music can heal.”
Recorded a few months after, McLoughlin recently released the single on all platforms in July.
Listen to “Woody Guthrie” from Gregory McLoughlin
Next up for McLoughlin is a on December 30th before Dark Star Orchestra with The Lemonade Band. Get tickets here.
You can catch Gregory perform an online virtual concert, every Monday night at 8 PM EST on his YouTube Live Page.
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.
Souls filled the pews and chairs inside Asbury Hall, a cavernous old church in Buffalo, on Tuesday. Dim light from an overcast nighttime sky peaked through stories-tall stained glass windows. A group, called Spiritualized, was in town to bless the enlightened with sounds from the beyond. A three-woman choir, decked out in flowing white blouses, joined in with joyous singing. The attendees clapped, cheered, sang along and raised their arms in praise. But this was no religious gathering. Rather it was a rock concert, and a devilishly good one at that.
Spiritualized, a 30-plus year-old band out of England, was on the second night of a short week-long stint in the US. There was no opener, no stage banter, almost no dead air at all, just over two hours of glorious music. Bandleader Jason Pierce situated himself on the right side of the stage, seated sideways facing his bandmates. And they were fully engaged from the start.
A spacey noise drifted gently into weightlessness, building repetitively to a crescendo and fizzling back down again in a near ten-minute “Hey Jane” that set the scene for the rest of the evening. Against a starfield backdrop, and with a mirrorball continually sending dots of light orbiting across the stone walls, we were set to explore, not the heavens, but the cosmos. And what more appropriate guide then Pierce, who is also known as J. Spaceman.
“She Kissed Me (It Felt Like a Hit)” blasted into high gear with frantic drumming, manic bass and wailing guitars. That slammed head first into the gorgeous slide guitar and organ swells of “Shine a Light,” which built up to an exultant chorus from the backup singers. Praise be! “I’m Coming Home Again” immediately followed, peeling back layers of rock exposing a quiet and gorgeous interplay of guitar, piano and bass.
With little to no pause between songs, the journey continued on through the night. The band would push, pull and stretch the tempo, between songs and within, creating time vortexes. Strobing lights hitting the mirrorball appeared to slow down time altogether as a hyper synth drone sizzled to silence to close out an intense wall of noise in “The A Song.” “Let It Bleed” was another highlight, as it traveled a slow build to ultimate exaltation, choir and all.
The journey, which made stops along their full catalog, closed out as it began, “Sail On Through” slowly drifting off into space. Spiritualized slowly disengaged from their stations, faced the audience for the first time, and clapped and cheered for us as we for them. Maybe it was a religious experience after all.
Setlist: Hey Jane, She Kissed Me (It Felt Like a Hit), Shine a Light, I’m Coming Home Again, A Perfect Miracle, Always Together With You, I’m Your Man, The Morning After, Here It Comes (The Road) Let’s Go, Best Thing You Never Had (The D Song), Let It Bleed (For Iggy), The A Song (Laid In Your Arms), Damaged, Soul On Fire, Sail On Through E: So Long You Pretty Thing, Come Together
Auburn-based singer/songwriter Luke Mock has released his newest single “Love Of My Life,” a haunting look at the end of a happy relationship.
In 2017, Luke Mock initially wrote “Love of My Life,” inspired by his then-girlfriend celebrating their love. Originally with a different title and a duet, the pandemic brought unexpected changes, like the end of said relationship. While dealing with the hardships of quarantine, Mock realized he was feeling intense emotions he couldn’t ignore, entirely transforming the sound of the track, infused with the powerful emotions affecting him.
Luke Mock is an indie-pop artist hailing from Auburn. His music immerses you in a captivating whirlwind of emotions, driven by catchy hooks, and delivered with genuine charm. He’s captivated many audiences, sharing stages with artists like The Driver Era, Kesha, AJR, Ryan Quinn (The Voice), and Neyla Pekarek (The Lumineers), among others. With honesty and diving into his personal side at the core of Mock’s music, he forges connections and resonates with others. Compared to Shawn Mendes, Charlie Puth, and Julia Michaels, his captivating vocals and infectious pop music elements captivate audiences.
“Love Of My Life” is a hauntingly beautiful track, encompassing the harsh emotions Mock felt when writing it. With a daring and melodic acoustic guitar flowing in the background, picking up with added percussion and beautiful strings, Mock paints a picture of a couple in love. Singing, “I want you to kiss me and make time go still/Yeah you are the one that makes my heart laugh/And you make me happy even when I’m sad,” he expertly describes the sometimes hard-to-put words to the feeling of being in love.
The added strings and piano add more of a melancholic and nostalgic touch to the track, and make you fall deeper into the words. Mock’s vocals bring you in and hold you there, with his perfectly crafted overdubbing harmonies. “Love Of My Life” is yet another strong addition to Luke Mock’s discography, showcasing his evolving and diverse range.
“Love Of My Life” is available to stream on all platforms you listen to music. For more information about Luke Mock, visit here.
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.
Ian McCuen’s sixth album and the longest by far, What It Means To Be Young, Sad, and Alone is a melancholy, transcendent record. It opens with the repeated line, “Funny how it feels like an art, the way things always fall apart. But eventually, so it goes, we all die alone.” With this air of self-aware critique, McCuen crafts a soothing, yet gut-wrenching depiction of truly what it means to be young, sad, and alone.
Based in Buffalo, Ian McCuen’s first album came in 2017, with three volumes of Songs of Fleeting Permanence over the next few years. They operate relatively solo, writing, composing, and arranging all their own tracks across a wide range of instruments. What It Means To Be Young, Sad, and Alone includes over nine unique instruments, including a harmonica, saxophone, mandolin, banjo, and the ever-present electric guitar.
The full record, boasting an impressive 20 tracks and amassing 80 minutes, follows a distinct style both musically and lyrically. McCuen creates an ethereal soundscape, with delicate vocals that are whispering and soothing.
The first track on the record, “A Reprise For The Lonely,” acts as an introductory point, both sonically and lyrically, for the rest of the record. However, it creates a strong introduction. The organ-like keyboard commands attention, and the backing vocals and whisper-like spoken word are sad, yet hypnotising.
Another song to pay attention to, “Checkerboard Purgatory,” comes as the 11th track on the record. Halfway through the massive tracklist, it easily gets lost among the masses, but it distinguishes itself with a catchy guitar track.
The 19th track on the record, “Vicissitude (So It Goes),” is an impressive 8 and a half minutes. Its vocals are subtle, whispering, and generally mellow, but the melody takes a minor shift halfway through.
Overall, What It Means To Be Young, Sad, and Alone is truly overwhelmingly sad. However, as a self-described “purveyor of sorrow,” this is exactly what McCuen aims to produce. For those that can indulge in the intense emotional experience of their monumental album, it’s a soothing display of poetry and ambient musicianship.
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
Brooklyn pop-rock sensation Razor Braids has released their latest single, “She,” a femme-focused, upbeat pop track that captures the excitement and spontaneity of Sapphic love. Accompanied by a carefree music video portraying a lively party scene, Razor Braids invites us into the vibrant world of queer hookup culture.
“She” isn’t just a song; it’s an anthem for being unapologetically yourself and seizing the opportunity for love. With vocal timbres reminiscent of Carly Rae Jepsen and The Cranberries, “She” offers a fresh take on pop. However, production-wise, the track introduces a rougher edge, echoing the spirit of punk-rock legends such as The Clash and Bikini Kill.
In discussing the themes of “She,” Razor Braids shared, “Letting yourself be present during moments of change or uncertainty is a common thread across our upcoming releases. ‘She’ is such a fun encapsulation of that theme: embracing the unknown and jumping into something that feels good and joyful, and allowing yourself to accept that joy even when fear is also present in that moment.”
Regarding their distinctive sound, Razor Braids explained, “We all grew up in different places and with different musical influences. We’ve learned how to embrace and utilize that within our songwriting. We all bring so many different inspirations to the table: country, folk rock, garage, indie rock, and punk. By tapping into the elements of these genres that we each connect with most, we’ve shaped our music. Connection—connecting with each other and with our audience—is an integral part of our live performance.
“We want everyone to feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves when they see us live. That really shines through in the music and lyrics and also with how wild and fun we get on stage.”
Resilient and powerful are just two words one could use to describe the Cortland-based artist Cloey Tierno. For the past few years she has been battling a rare cancer, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, spending the summer in treatment facilities. Despite these setbacks, she is powering through, holding that same fiery passion for music.
Recently, she has asked for support, launching a Kickstarter to create her sophomore album.
At just 18 years of age, Cloey Tierno has been singing and creating music for as long as she can remember, singing and coming up with lyrics inside countless notebooks. Recording professionally for the first time at the age of 15 with the talented Chris Merkley and Gabe Cummins, her first record i fell in love with the rain brings 14 pop-oriented songs to the table, all written in her bedroom on an acoustic guitar. About the album, Cloey Tierno says “Those songs quickly developed into a fuller potential, musically, than I could’ve given them on my own, and yet simultaneously preserved the organic elements that they possessed when I first wrote them.”
She was nominated for a SAMMY (Syracuse Area Music Award) the following year for Best Pop Recording of 2023, winning at the end of the night. “It gave me such validation for what I’d created and encouragement to continue finding success in what I loved doing more than anything else,” she said. Finding inspiration in arts like Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams, and Maisie Peters, Cloey Tierno says that these artists integrate writing, the foundations of it, production, and vocal delivery in a beautiful manner, a manner that she finds herself repeatedly connecting with.
The music I write is just a poetically honest reflection of where my head or my heart is at as I’m writing it, or sometimes it’s just me trying to more deeply understand an experience that, at the time, I couldn’t fully grasp. It’s also important to me to create a final product that exudes relatability and something raw and authentic. Ultimately, I strive to share lyrics and storytelling that I put a piece of myself into and am truly proud of, and that somebody listening to those results also happens to find a piece of themselves in it, too.
Cloey Tierno.
Dealing with chemotherapy treatments hasn’t been easy, but she has concluded the majority of the treatments. About the diagnosis, she said, “What I can tell you is that when I chose to navigate it with intention and openness, it grew to be one of the loudest voices in my songwriting and a guiding factor to both my attitude and my creativity. That integration between the world of art and the world of spirituality is something that I believe has strengthened all the music I have created since and will continue to create, for the better.”
Looking to the future, she is running a Kickstarter campaign to be able to financially support the making of her second studio album. It’s an all-or-nothing approach, meaning she must make the full amount she is pledging or else she won’t be able to produce the album. She wants to demonstrate how she has grown as both a human and as an artist since her first album release and has more important things to say.
You can support Cloey by donating to her Kickstarter, and streaming her music on Spotify or Apple Music.
Indie punk band The Vigilance Committee has released their newest LP Coming Home– the band’s first LP since their historical concept record, Exit a Hero, released way back in April 2015.
The Vigilance Committee is what it is because of Peter J. Scoma (guitar/vox), Phil Corso (drums), Christian Cepeda (guitar), and Adam James Tomlinson (bass). Their latest releases since their other album, Exit a Hero, include their single “Reflections III” and the activism-driven EP “Join Us.”
Their newest release, Coming Home, features 10 emotionally charged songs that the band crafted during quarantine at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While all songs are impactful, with specially crafted lyrics and perfected blends of electrifying punk and indie, there are some songs that particularly stand out: “It Was Dawn,” “Beacon,” “Hive Mind,” “Oakfield,” “Unanchored,” and “My Body (Moved But My Mind Stayed There).”
Most of the album consists of upbeat punk, but some slow back down, letting The Vigilance Committee’s indie side shine through. One such example is “Hive Mind” which is slower than the other songs, and slightly more relaxed. This song in particular shows The Vigilance Committee’s versatility– but they hit you with a perfectly crafted electric guitar solo in the middle. The lyrics themselves are equally as powerful, and stay true to the title. The song is about questioning our everyday lives– the “hive mind” mentality. This song begs the question: are we making our life choices with intent, or are we just going through the motions?
Some of the most powerful, emotional lyrics are toward the end, showcasing the rage that many people in society face today due the decisions of those in control, such as government officials. “This is not the world that they sold us // Empty promises // A fire burns. // All we want is to be heard.”
Another powerful song is “My Body (Moved But My Mind Stayed There).” This song is more somber and relies on the instrumentals due to the few (but impactful) lyrics and angelic vocals.
