NYS Music 2023

Category: Features

  • Rochester New Wave Duo The Heroic Enthusiasts Reimagine 80’s Classic ‘Tears Run Rings’

    In a thrilling collision of musical generations, New York’s own The Heroic Enthusiasts have teamed up with producer Stephen Hague to breathe new life into a timeless classic. Their latest single, ‘Tears Run Rings,’ is a reimagining of Marc Almond’s 1988 hit, and it’s nothing short of a musical revelation.

    The Heroic Enthusiasts, a dynamic New Wave duo, take us on a mesmerizing journey into the past with their rendition of ‘Tears Run Rings.’ Guitarist Thomas Ferrara reveals the profound impact that Marc Almond and Soft Cell had on their musical upbringing. “It was a magical awakening—a whole fresh and beautiful world opened up for us in lyrics, instrumentation, and production,” Ferrara explained.

    To bring their vision to life, The Heroic Enthusiasts enlisted the expertise of renowned producer Stephen Hague, known for his work with Pet Shop Boys, New Order, and Blur, among others. The result is a rich and textured soundscape featuring layered synth lines and pulsating drum beats.

    Hague previously produced the duo’s two EPs, and their collaboration reached new heights with the reimagining of ‘It’s A Sin,’ a chart-topping hit originally produced by Hague for Pet Shop Boys in 1987. Speaking about their collaboration, Hague notes, “So much of what I’m sent these days is basically beats with hooks, but the Heroic’s stuff was a breath of fresh air—I was taken by their songcraft and musicality.”

    With ‘Tears Run Rings,’ The Heroic Enthusiasts continue to deliver their emotionally charged brand of New Wave/synth-pop to a global audience. The song captures the essence of their unique musical identity while honoring the artists who inspired them.

    The Heroic Enthusiasts’ reimagining of ‘Tears Run Rings’ is a nostalgic journey infused with new energy, showcasing their commitment to preserving the essence of classic hits while infusing them with their distinctive style. As they continue to redefine the New Wave genre, The Heroic Enthusiasts remind us that great music is both timeless and ever-evolving.

    Facebook / Instagram / Spotify

    Download The Heroic Enthusiasts – EPK

  • Blue Öyster Cult Announces Upcoming Live Album, Single, and November Westbury Show

    Blue Öyster Cult released a new single this week, “I’m On the Lamb but I Ain’t No Sheep (Live),” alongside the announcement of their upcoming live album, 50th Anniversary Live – First Night, set to release on December 8. 

    Blue Öyster Cult 50th Anniversary Live – First Night

    The new single, “I’m On the Lamb but I Ain’t No Sheep (Live),” was released alongside an official live music video. The entire album was recorded live at NYC’s Sony Hall in September 2022. The group celebrated their 50th Anniversary with a set of 3 sold out shows at the Midtown Manhattan venue.

    For the historic career milestone, the group played each of their first three albums in their entirety at the three respective shows. The live album will include live recordings of each entire album.

    Blue Öyster Cult was formed in 1967 on Long Island, developing a cult following throughout the 70s and 80s. The group made their debut at Stony Brook University’s Pritchard Gymnasium. Eric Bloom, a Brooklyn native, joined the group in 1969, after original guitarist Allen Lanier accompanied him on a road trip through Upstate New York and heard his tapes as a talented vocalist.

    Blue Öyster Cult

    The group is set to play a show at The Space at Westbury Theatre, in Westbury, NY on November 22. Tickets are on sale now and available here.

    Blue Öyster Cult are Eric Bloom (guitar, keyboard, vocals), Donald “Buck Dharma ” Roeser (guitar, vocals), Richie Castellano (guitar, keyboard, vocals), Danny Miranda (bass, vocals), and Jules Radino (drums). The group is joined by special guest Albert Bouchard (drums, percussion, guitar, vocals). 

    Upcoming Tour Dates:

    10/14/23 – Sante Fe Springs, CA @ Sante Fe Springs Marketplace & Concert Venue

    11/10/23 – Carterville, IL @ Walker’s Bluff Casino

    11/11/23 – St. Charles, IL @ Arcada Theatre

    11/18/23 – Davenport, IA @ Rhythm City Casino Resort

    11/22/23 – Westbury, NY @ The Space at Westbury Theatre

    12/05/23 – Auburn, WA @ Muckleshoot Casino Events Center

    12/07/23 – Enoch, Alberta, Canada @ River Cree Resort

    12/28/23 – Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre

    12/29/23 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Golden Nugget

  • Watch Stevie Nicks Perform Her Signature Looks to a Buffalo Crowd

    Renowned icon Stevie Nicks came to the KeyBank Center on Wednesday, October 4 to a packed crowd. She brought a mixture of sound from her own solo album, covers with signature artists, and of course hits from her Fleetwood Mac days. 

    Special guest CIL opened up the night with her pop and R&B tunes. At just 20 years old she has taken her music career to new heights. CIL uses her unashamedly songwriting abilities to share her most raw and vulnerable experiences. Her soulful vocals lifted up the crowd for a magical night. 

    Stevie Nicks is nothing short of a singer-songwriter legend spanning over a decade. She performs with a full stage of band members and mystical lighting. She began the night with “Outside the Rain” showing off that the passage of time has had no effect on her outstanding vocal range. She followed up with Fleetwood Mac’s hit “Dreams” which brought the crowd immediately back to the hippy dippy days. 

    This tour paid much homage to nostalgia. Stevie brought out her old outfits from decades ago and told countless stories about tour life. She stated that Buffalo has always had a special place in her heart because it’s where she bought her first ever signature top hat. It’s a city she always feels called to return to. 

    Stevie then played “Gypsy,” which she said was a song that took her back to 1975 when she first felt fame and was no longer poor. Tour life back then meant traveling in a beat up car that couldn’t reverse. After, she brought out her iconic Bella Donna Cape for her performance of “Bella Donna.”   

    The visuals throughout the show flipped through photos over the years. One montage had both the crowd and Stevie in tears when she closed with “Landslide.” She dedicated the song to Christine McVie who passed almost a year ago. Stevie shared how she always struggled when singing this song after her best friend died. The legendary artist shared with Buffalo “something my Mother would share to me, she always said Stevie when you hurt you always go to the stage. So I’m going to the stage.” 

    This was a special night in Buffalo that was full of love and remembrance. As Stevie and the band members bowed, people could not stop cheering. The Keybank Center has an exciting up and coming fall schedule. Katt Williams is on stage October 7 and Shania Twain performs October 20. Get your tickets here. 

    Setlist: Outside the Rain, Dreams, If Anyone Falls, Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around, Fall From Grace, For What It’s Worth, Gypsy, Wild Heart, Bella Donna, Stand Back, Soldier’s Angel, Gold Dust Woman, I Sing for the Things, Edge of Seventeen

    Encore: Free Fallin’, Rhiannon, Landslide

  • West Falls Center for the Arts Has Announced This Year’s Fallsfest

    West Falls Center for the Arts will hold its second annual Fallsfest this October, in conjunction with The Blueberry Treehouse Farm in West Falls, NY, outside of Buffalo.

    west falls center for the arts fallsfest

    The West Falls Center for the Arts is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing visual, performing, music, and healing arts programming to a diverse rural population.

    Their ongoing programs include a weekly concert series with local youth performers opening for national talent, a free kids music jam series for young musicians (partnering with the Sportsman’s Foundation), the prestigious Southtowns Youth Jazz Orchestra led by Mark Filsinger, as well as the Buffalo Jazz Collective with young musicians performing alongside accomplished professionals.

    This year, they’re hosting FallsFest on October 14 from 10am-10pm, and October 15, from 10am-6pm. Come enjoy live music, the AKG Art Truck, craft vendors and artists, pumpkin smashing, animals, food trucks, the Super Hilarious Magic Show with Nick Mambretti, homemade WFCA pizza, a Prehistoric Reptile Show, a treehouse café, and beautiful nature trails.

    Purchase tickets online here for October 14 and/or October 15. Adults are $10, kids 3-12 are $5, and kids 2 and under are free.

    For more information, visit their website.

  • Samara Joy, Grammy Winner for Best New Artist, Announces ‘A Joyful Holiday’ EP

    Bronx native and two-time GRAMMY winner Samara Joy is set to release A Joyful Holiday, a 6-song EP of beloved seasonal favorites.

    Photo credit: Ambe J. Williams

    This extension of her latest album, Linger Awhile, features accomplished jazz musicians and includes singles like “O Holy Night,” “Warm in December,” and a new take on Stevie Wonder’s “Twinkle Twinkle Little Me.”

    A Joyful Holiday, produced by Matt Pierson, will drop on October 27 via Verve, with an exclusive emerald green color variant LP available.

    The holiday EP comes after an extraordinary year for Samara Joy, who clinched the prestigious Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album awards at this year’s Grammys.

    Samara Joy has shared a delightful rendition of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” which you can listen to here.

    “Singing alongside my family has always been a special time kept between us, but this December, I’m excited to share that special feeling with you all! This holiday season, it brings me great joy to present my first role models, the McLendon Family, on a month-long tour throughout the US. Join us for a show you’ll never forget!”

    Samara Joy

    Samara Joy has also announced the Verve Vinyl Collection, comprising her three Verve LPs, Linger Awhile, Linger Awhile Longer, and A Joyful Holiday. This collection will hit the shelves on November 17 and can be pre-ordered here.

    A Joyful Holiday Tracklist

    “Warm In December”
    “Twinkle Twinkle Little Me ft. Sullivan Fortner”
    “The Christmas Song”
    “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
    “O Holy Night”
    “The Christmas Song (Live)”

    Samara Joy 2023 Tour Dates

    9/28 – 10/1 – Seattle, WA @ Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley Jazz

    10/4 – Davis, CA @ Mondavi Center

    10/6 – 7 – New York, NY @ Rose Hall at The Lincoln Center

    10/14 – Kansas City @ Folly Theater

    10/15 – Denver, CO @ Newman Center

    10/18 – Easton, PA @ Williams Center for the Arts / Performance Series

    10/20 – Storrs, CT @ Jorgenson Center

    10/22 – Brookville, NY @ Tilles Center

    10/24 – Columbia, MO @ Missouri Theater

    10/25 – Iowa City @ Hancher Auditorium

    10/27 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Symphony Orchestra

    11/3 – Zurich, Switzerland @ TVD

    11/5 – Athens, Greece @ Megaron Athens

    11/7 – Hamburg, Germany @ Elb Philharmonic

    11/8 – Berlin, Germany @ TBD

    11/12 – Paris, FR @ Le Trianon

    11/17 – Bologna, Italy @ TBD

    11/18 – Milan, Italy @ TBD

    11/19 – London, UK @ Barbican Center, London Jazz Festival

    12/3 – Austin, TX @ Bass Concert Hall, UT Austin

    12/4 – Nashville, TN @ Nashville Symphony

    12/7 – Los Angeles, CA @ Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts

    12/8 – Santa Barbara, CA @ The Granada Theater

    12/12 – Chesterfield, MO @ The Factory

    12/14 – 12/15 – New York, NY @ Apollo Theater

    12/19 – Atlanta, GA @ Atlanta Symphony Hall

    12/22 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kimmel Center

    12/23 – North Bethesda, MD @ Strathmore

  • Nick Vanderwood Releases a Visionary New Single “Shimmy”

    Utica-born and Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Nick Vanderwood has released his latest single “Shimmy”, a song preceding the recent EP entitled ‘Reload‘ released on September 29th.

    Nick Vanderwood encapsulates alternative indie in new single “Shimmy” using a blend of guitar and bass creating a mysterious sci-fi world that is brought to life in the music video. The short film is fun and cinematic which cultivates an imaginative visual experience, showcasing Vanderwood’s artistic vision.

    While “Shimmy” excludes a vocal aspect, the song in itself does more than enough without relying on vocals to make it complete. The build up of bass and guitar offers a blend of funk, syrupy and track mixed with an upbeat attitude, and recorded at Big Blue North Studio in Utica.

    Following the release of his single and music video “Shimmy”, Nick’s EP Reload became the sum of many years as Nick labored to overcome a chronic neck injury that impeded his ability to sing. Nick was kept at a distance from the microphone, as the EP title suggests, he is more than ready to come back with a bang.

    Vanderwood is not just a vocalist but writes and performs all instruments included in his solo projects. Over the course of the year, he took this period of silence and healing seriously while creating a silent short film/music video for “Shimmy” included in the EP. His collaboration with monomaniac studios allowed Nick to lean back into acting and sound design.

    Follow Nick Vanderwood on Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram for more information on all-things such as future releases and music videos.

  • Sound On Sound 2023 Day 2 Spotlight

    For the second year in a row, Sound On Sound Music Festival returned to Bridgeport’s Seaside Park in Connecticut over September 30 – October 1, 2023.

    sound on sound 2023 john mayer

    The two-day festival’s lineup this year featured headlining performances from Red Hot Chili Peppers on Saturday and John Mayer on Sunday. Additional performers included Alanis Morissette, Hozier, Trey Anastasio Band, Mt. Joy, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff, Dispatch, Ben Harper, Gin Blossoms and the Night Sweats among others.

    Heavy rain in the area Thursday caused a three-hour delay in opening the Festival on time on Friday. I had the pleasure of attending the second day of the Festival. The schedule was pretty tight giving each act a full 45min set, with a 10min change over time and things ran on time like clock work.

    The three main acts on Sunady each got a full hour and by mid day the grounds were packed with over 30,000 people leading to the highlight of the evening to most, John Mayer, who is a Bridgeport native, born and raised.

    My personal highlight of the day was Alanis Morrissette (who did not allow photos from the pit so we could not feature her), Ben Harper was in top form (same as Alanis, no photos), and I was impressed by how fresh Dispatch sounded and enjoyed their set. Below are some highlights from the day.

    JOHN MAYER

    HOZIER

    DISPATCH

    MT. JOY

    MARGO PRICE

    CAUTIOUS CLAY

    GIN BLOSSOMS

  • In Focus: Joy Oladokun Headlines Irving Plaza on Living Proof Tour

    On Monday, October 2, I had the pleasure of seeing Joy Oladokun finally headline her own show at New York City’s Irving Plaza on her Living Proof Tour.

    Joy Oladokun

    I’ve followed her for a few years now, seeing a live performance of “I See America” that hooked me to her. Oddly enough, the crowd consists of both younger fans and quite a few older fans such as myself. The walk-on music, Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way,” had the entire crowd singing along to.

    Joy came out very humble and down to earth, stating “I look and dress like a truck driver.” Honest and true, Oladokun connected immediately with the crowd and went right into what she does and loves best, playing guitar; lucky for her, the crowd loves watching her do just that.

    Joy Oladokun

    A strong set featured a highlight, a song called “Sunday” that she dedicated to a gay friend who had passed away. She credited him with having the power to come out herself, the transition of the song’s ending moving into “One Of Us” creating a moment burned into memory.

    Joy Oladokun
    Joy Oladokun
    Joy Oladokun
    Joy Oladokun
    Joy Oladokun
    Joy Oladokun

  • NYC Designer and Musician Dylan Seeger Has Released Vulnerable Single “Writer/Pretender”

    Dylan Seeger, a designer and musician living in New York City, and has just released his latest single: “Writer/Pretender,” where he explores themes such as writer’s block and betrayal.

    With family roots in New York’s folk scene, Seeger’s interest in music was immediate and profound. After discovering The Beatles‘ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in his parents’ CD collection, he was inspired to write and record his own music, releasing his first album of original songs when he was just fourteen years old. A few years later, he started performing at clubs on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

    At nineteen, Seeger released his seminal album, Claye, and dropped out of art school in search of independence. He moved to Manhattan and founded Lovably, a graphic design firm which has since served hundreds of clients across a diverse range of industries including architecture, art, fashion, and interior design. He remains the firm’s director and spends his weekdays in the design studio and with clients.

    Dylan also runs Adequate Records, a label where he has released several original albums including Moon House, Metropolitan Hospital Center, and Claye.

    In his spare time, Seeger performs in Central Park, studies old records and prints, and bikes around the city taking pictures of bridges, buildings, and the minutia of daily life in the bustling city.

    Dylan’s single “Writer/Pretender” is 2 songs, one “Writer” and one “Pretender.” The song “Writer” is a little more laid back compared to “Pretender,” and seems to explore how it feels being an artist and not liking anything you create, stuck in a constant feeling of artistic block: “So you say // That you’re a musician // Got lost between the notes // To find that // They’ve all been played before.”

    “Pretender” takes on a rock vibe with much more movement, and it strikes me as someone talking about a past lover or friend who wasn’t their authentic self, potentially involved in cheating, and how the speaker wants them regardless.

    “Writer/Pretender” is available for streaming now. Listen to the single here.

  • Binghamton Philharmonic Kicks Off the 2023-2024 Season with “Beethoven’s Fifth”

    On Saturday, September 30 at the Broome County Forum Theatre, the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra opened its 2023-2024 season with “Beethoven’s Fifth,” a dynamic performance of some of the best-loved works of classical music.

    binghamton philharmonic Beethoven’s Fifth
    Ashley, Adam, Titus, Logan, and Deacon Bowman

    Maestro Daniel Hege conducted the orchestra and cellist Annie Jacobs-Perkins gave a mesmerizing performance as the soloist in Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor, causing the audience to leap to its feet and demand an encore. Jacobs-Perkins obliged with a virtuosic solo by the young American composer Andrew Norman, “Sabina,” a piece so haunting and delicate that the audience seemed to hold its breath. 

    Noel and Marion Harvey

    The concert started out with the jaunty and uplifting Variations on a Shaker Melody by Aaron Copland, and finished with a rousing performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor, which brought the audience to its feet a second time. It was wonderful to see many enthusiastic children in the audience, thanks not only to the free youth tickets provided by the Philharmonic’s sponsors, but also to the “Ties & Tutus” program that invites Binghamton City School students to a sit-down dinner, pre-concert chat, and free tickets to a symphonic performance. One elementary student told this reviewer: “I’m so excited to hear Beethoven! Classical music makes me feel alive.” It was clear that this young girl was speaking for the audience as a whole.

    Onyx Wilson, Nevae Woody, Lyric Colvin, Kendall Smith, Nolan Schreibr, Aliyah Simmons, Malaina Brenner, Addison Mars, Jenny Tigue

    The Binghamton Philharmonic’s season continues on October 15 with The Dolphins String Quartet in the Garufi Law P.C. Phelps Mansion Museum Series, and on October 28 at the Forum Theatre with Phantom of the Philharmonic. For more information, visit www.binghamtonphilharmonic.org.

Built in Breakdance