The John Scofield Trio, featuring Vicente Archer & Bill Stewart, began their residency at The Blue Note in NYC on Tuesday, November 21.
A three-time Grammy winner, Scofield has recently released Uncle John’s Band (ECM), featuring Vicente Archer and Bill Stewart tackling material from Dylan’s “Mr Tambourine Man” to Neil Young’s “Old Man”, Leonard Bernstein’s “Somewhere” and Miles Davis classic “Budo.”
While there has been a John Scofield Trio at play since the late 70’s, remaining his undisputed favorite format for live performance, this newest incarnation has Scofield on guitar, bassist Vicente Archer, and drummer Bill Stewart, sailing through tightly knit sets that typify the musical diversity that has colored Scofield’s long career.
There are two shows a night during this current John Scofield Trio residency at The Blue Note NYC, through November 26. Tickets and more info can be found here.
On Saturday, November 18, the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra continued its 2023-2024 Symphonic Series with “Faces of Joy,” an exhilarating program of music spanning two centuries. The evening began with a short piece for strings and celesta, “Five Faces of Joy,” by the living Chinese-American composer Wang Jie.
The composer calls her work a portrait of “five comic ways of smiling,” including “the smile of a dancing Godzilla,” and Maestro Daniel Hege and the ensemble brought out the wit and whimsy of Wang’s music, providing a fitting introduction to a concert whose theme was joy.
Pianist Andrew Russo performing at Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra’s “Faces of Joy”
Also on the program was Sergei Prokofiev’s delightful Symphony No. 1, known as the “Classical” Symphony. Writing in 1917, the young Prokofiev sought to imitate the musical style of Mozart and Haydn, and this piece is full of delicacy, dynamic contrasts, and devilish speed. The principal woodwinds of the Philharmonic gave a collective star turn in the dizzying fourth movement.
The highlight of the concert, though, was the second half of the program, with guest soloist Andrew Russo playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, the “Emperor.” Russo, Maestro Hege, and the orchestra seemed to become an organic whole, breathing together as Russo pushed the piano to the utmost extremes of emotional expression. Russo’s virtuosic playing and Hege’s sensitive conducting created a spellbinding atmosphere of joy, which the audience acknowledged by leaping to its feet with loud cheers at the conclusion.
As always, it was uplifting to see many children and teens in the concert hall. One young boy told this reviewer that he particularly loved Andrew Russo’s performance, saying, “He reminds me of Beethoven!” It was pure joy to hear Beethoven and his colleagues brought to life so skillfully by the Binghamton Philharmonic.
Don’t miss the next event from the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra, Soprano Robin Johannsen & Pianist Tomoko Kanamaru on December 3. Both internationally acclaimed artists, the duo will perform a program of art songs by women composers from the nineteenth through the twenty-first centuries, including works by Clara Schumann, Florence Price, and Yui Kitamura.
Tickets are $25. For more information, contact the Binghamton Philharmonic Box Office at 607-723-3931 or visit www.binghamtonphilharmonic.org.
On a Friday evening in Albany, The Egg was cooking with bacon inside. Not your typical menu item, but when Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael came to The Egg, things definitely got cooked up during an all-too-brief concert.
photo by Karen Squires
The duo – one, an actor (Kevin), the other an Associate Professor at CUNY Lehman College (Michael) – share a deep love for American roots music, as well as DNA. For a quarter-century the pair have performed around the country playing what they call “Forosoco,” or a blend of folk, rock, soul, and country influences.
The show was short – 80 minutes including the encore – but worth it. Fans seemed content settling in for the show, which didn’t feel scripted, but definitely felt like the same show you’d catch anywhere else this tour. Kevin couldn’t resist making a comment about “a couple of Bacons in The Egg,” joining years of Egg jokes on stage that have even led to live album releases.
Michael and Kevin Bacon
Kevin took turns playing on a conga drum, tambourine and guitar, while Michael played guitar, cello, and autoharp at different points of the evening.
Highlights from the set include the moving “Tom Petty T-shirt,” the countrified rock of “Erato,” an angsty “Take off this Tattoo,” a cover of The Lovin Spoonful‘s “Do You Believe in Magic?,” “Ukulele Lady” with all on ukulele, making this stripped down song was the most soulful of the evening, and “She-Zee-Zee (Easy On My Eyes)”
For the encore, a cheesy “Hands Up” audience interaction song started things off. (Bands, take note: always get the audience involving songs going earlier in the set so they’re engaged early!) And just when you thought it was over, and maybe thought they weren’t gonna play it, the opening notes to “Footloose” began, and the front rows of the audience were up out of their seats grooving along, feet from the actor who made the song famous (apologies to Kenny Loggins). The fans and the band were dancing around, footloose as could be, transported back to 1984, for a moment, if not the evening.
And while the venue staff was a bit overzealous this evening with limiting any video recording (a first at The Egg), here’s a video from The Bacon Brothers at Daryl’s House a few years back.
Brooklyn-based rock band ‘The Sees’ performed at The Bowery Electric on Wednesday, November 15,to celebrate their latest album release entitled ConversationsWithMyFutureSelf.
‘The Sees’ have established themselves to capture the essence of life and humanity within their songs. The band includes frontman Jamie DiTringo, bassist Alex Daly, drummer Tim O’Brien and keyboardist Yoni Wilkenfeld. Their music has become a reminder to make the most of the time we do have and not be afraid to confront the harsh realities of it running out.
The Bowery Electric was the perfect venue for a night of rock and roll, with a bar in the back and an intimate standing room allowing show goers to get personal with the band and enjoy their hypnotic pulse of synth sounds, strong drum beat accentuated with electric and bass guitar. The show on this Wednesday night, included three bands, Smoke Break, Newborn Kings and finished off strong with The Sees album release performance.
The album explores a connective sense of global reflection, the nuances of time and the effects it has on us by always slipping away, the concept record tells its story through captivating rhythms and styles that push the boundaries of genre while exploring fresh perspectives. Stitched together by standout guitar riffs and a whirlwind of sonic textures, the group makes a noteworthy entrance onto the scene with this genre blend, encouraging listeners to not only connect deeper with the world, but ourselves.
“We hope that everyone who listens to the record can sit back, take it in, and recognize that while we are here on this mortal coil, we must take a moment to find space for positivity and love. Even with the world in chaos, we can always choose love.“
– Jamie DiTringo
In its entirety, the album crafts a thought-provoking musical experience, taking listeners on a profound ride through various facets of the human experience. The group of four interacted with the crowd and created a truly accomplished sound that left friends, family and fans excited for the future of their music ahead of them.
Frog, a band made up of musically-talented brothers Daniel and Steve Bateman, have released their folksy single “New Ro”– a bittersweet love letter to their hometown New Rochelle.
Frog’s upcoming album, Grog, is an eclectic and creative LP showcasing both of the brothers’ musical talents, and how they’re even stronger together. Preceding their album is a series of singles, including their newest, “New Ro.”
This single is another wild left turn from the unpredictable duo, following “Black on Black on Black” (sounding like a Jonathan Richman attempt at a Hall & Oates banger) and “Maybelline” (a song which was formed in a dream, as screamed by Bruce Springsteen), which was featured by Pitchfork, Stereogum and has reached #2 in the Hype Machine Popular Nowchart. “New Ro” is a bittersweet love letter to the brothers’ hometown, New Rochelle, New York.
I don’t know if there’s relevant subtext for ‘New Ro,’ besides the obvious–Steve and I both grew up in New Rochelle, we went to New Rochelle High School, we recorded the entire album at our mom’s house in New Rochelle, we’re New Ro boys. The town’s got a lot of charm, if you know where to look. Some years ago they changed the tagline of the city from ‘Queen City of the Sound’, which ruled, to ‘Ideally Yours’, which…I’m not even sure what that is. There’s signs everywhere saying: ‘New Rochelle, Ideally Yours.’
Daniel Bateman, Frog
“New Ro” is a funky tune that is the embodiment of the good vibes of Kermit The Frog, which certainly works in their favor. It also has elements of “I Will Wait” by Mumford & Sons because of the fast, upbeat rhythm and acoustic backup.
The vocals are particularly striking, as a couple minutes into the track, they go into a very high register– and pull it off.
While a nostalgic song, the lyrics don’t hide anything: they delve into the good and bad of Frog’s home town, and that makes it all the more realistic and vivid. “…Take me home, north on the Anne Hutchinson // Through the Bronx, back to the place where we’re from // Where the girls they put out in a car // And the waitresses all got a scar // New Rochelle New York…”
New Rochelle should really consider changing their tagline from “Ideally Yours” to one lyric of Frog’s: “Take me home,” as it doesn’t sound like an ‘ideal’ home (does one really exist?), but it’s certainly their home nonetheless– and they love it regardless of whatever unideal aspects come with it.
Frog’s album launch of Grog will take place on the record’s release date (November 17) with a performance at YoFi Fest 11 in Yonkers, New York. This live show will be accompanied by a screening of their “Kings of Blah” UK tour documentary.
On Saturday, November 19, Eggy delivered an electric performance to a euphoric, sold out crowd at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg. Before the show started, fans lined up braving the cold in anticipation as attendee hopefuls threw the classic sole finger in the air aiming for a miracle.Â
Hailing from Woodbridge, CT, Eggy have previously played the infamous venue opening for The Kitchen Dwellers in April early this year. They now return as headliners, accompanied by the indispensable Stolen Gin as the opening act. Currently in the middle of their fall east coast leg of the tour, Eggy has risen to prominence in the last few years, playing all around the country in over 40 states since 2019.
The night commenced to an ominous atmospheric ambience, a prelude to the energy that would soon surge through the venue. The band consists of Jake Brownstein on guitar and vocals, Dani Battat on keys and vocals, Mike Goodman on Bass and vocals, and Alex Bailey on drums and vocals. If live music is akin to flying and landing an airplane, this quartet of close knit friends from high school proves worthy pilots. The chemistry between the group resonated resoundingly through the capped out venue, as they guided the audience through an extraordinary musical experience.
Eggy’s sound, a fusion of catchy hooks, melodic interludes and psychedelic jams showcased their ability to carve out a distinct niche in a crowded field of emerging artists. A true highlight of the night was when guitarist Jake Brownstein was concluding a high energy jam, turned his instrument horizontal and pointed it at his bandmate on the keys. As the momentum came to a conclusion, and the final note hit, his guitar turned imaginary gun fired at Dani knocking him to the ground. After a long pause, crawling back up, he grabbed the mic and said, “Missed me” to which the audience roared in laughter.
For New York fans who missed this show and want to catch the next one, they are returning to Brooklyn Bowl early next year on April 24th, 2024! Tickets are on sale now.
Eggy – Brooklyn Bowl, Williamsburg – Saturday, November 17. 2023
Setlist: 12 Pounds of Pain > Come Up Slow, One Stop Shop, A Moments Notice, Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me) > All Wheels Turnin’, Sweat Equity, Turn That Heartbeat Over Again, Time Escaping, Smile Encore: Wayless
Singer-songwriter Deb Cavanaugh and her band, Dandelion Wine, released a new single on Friday, November 17, titled “Come On Over,” as a preview of their record slotted to come out next year. Recorded at Jive Hive Live, the accompanying music video offers a fun rendition of the brand new track.
Deb Cavanaugh, a singer-songwriter and longtime musician based in Upstate New York, has been focusing on folk music since the 90s. She now plays shows with Dandelion Wine, a rotating cast of musicians featuring Deb Cavanaugh, Anders Johansson, Jared Carrozza, and Andy DeBell, all of whom contributed to the new single and upcoming record.
Inspiration for this song, like many others, came to me while driving down the road. I started thinking about relationships and how important it is to me to have a balance between partnership and independence.
Deb Cavanaugh
“Come On Over” was recorded at Jive Hive Live, a private Albany venue built for live recordings and livestream productions. Backup vocals, as well as the mixing, mastering, and producing were done at Mountaintop Studios in Petersburgh, NY. Backup vocals feature family with Tabitha Cavanaugh, as well as Brenda Fisher and Laura Johnson
Deb Cavanaugh and Dandelion Wine’s new record, Come On Over, will be released in 2024. The new single, of the same name, is available now with the brand new music video below.
Dave Matthews Band recently closed their summer tour, and for a group that’s pretty much been on tour nonstop for the last 20-plus years, they immediately announced their Fall Tour. A very short one that is, with only eight East Coast dates, kicking it off earlier this month on November 7 in Savannah, GA.
As they made their way up the East Coast, the run of shows would come to a close at Madison Square Garden for two sold-out shows.
Highlights from Friday night included guest appearances by Susan Tedeschi on “The Weight”, being joined by Derek Trucks on “All Along The Watchtower” and “Lie In Our Graves”, plus bass from James Genus on “#41”, and trombone and vocals from Trombone Shorty on “Come Together” and trumpet from Jon Faddis on “Jimi Thing” and “Brick House”.
Dave Matthews Band – Madison Square Garden – Friday, November 17
Setlist: Virginia In The Rain, Old Dirt Hill (Bring That Beat Back), Straight Shot, Madman’s Eyes, The Best Of Whats Around, She, Walk Around The Moon, The Weight*, All Along The Watchtower*+, Lie In Our Graves+, Spaceman, #41~, Come Together^, Jimi Thing^$, Brick House^$, Warehouse$, Cry Freedom, Pig, So Damn Lucky Encore: Just Breathe#, Pantala Naga Pampa, Rapunzel
* Susan Tedeschi + Derek Trucks ~ James Genus ^ Trombone Shorty $ Jon Faddis # Dave Solo
Saturday night featured a return appearance from Trombone Shorty on “Smooth Rider” and “Crush”, as well as Cory Wong joining for the last five songs of the set – “Tripping Billies,” “So Much To Say,” “Anyone Seen The Bridge,” “Too Much,” and “Ants Marching”
Dave Matthews Band – Madison Square Garden – Friday, November 18
Setlist: Spoon, You Never Know, Monsters, Hunger For The Great Light, Grey Street, American Baby Intro, Break Free, You Might Die Trying, Captain*, Sledgehammer, Smooth Rider+, Crush+, Rooftop, Fool In The Rain, Tripping Billies~, So Much To Say~, Anyone Seen The Bridge~ , Too Much~, Ants Marching~ +
Encore: Baby Blue#, The Last Stop
* Mark Whitfield + Trombone Shorty ~ Cory Wong # Dave Solo
It’s been five months since Half Moon Run were in New York for their album release show on the Rooftop of the Live Nation headquarters. On Friday, November 17, they returned with the purpose of conquering Brooklyn, headlining The Music Hall of Williamsburg, along with support by Le Ren.
Fresh off a Tour of Europe that ended in October, this current tour started in the US in late October and will be running into their home country of Canada until the end of the year.
Half Moon Run hit the stage around 9pm to a very packed and crowded room. Music Hall of Williamsburg is a very small and intimate room, it allows for a great concert experience both in sound and lighting and overall atmosphere. The band got a massive Brooklyn cheer as they hit the stage and wasted no time by starting off the night with their hit song “You Can Let Go”. the Power Trio of Devon Portielje, Conner Molander, and Dylan Phillips captivated the audience with their skill of rotating instrument changes between them, all pretty much-playing everything on stage at one point or another in the show.
The energy at the show was great, the band leaned heavily on songs from the new release Salt as well as the debut album Dark Eyes. The highlight other than the very strong opening was the Encore which consisted of unforgettable performances of “Favourite Boy,” “Fire Escape,” and the finale “Full Circle” which is always amazing to see live.
Here’s hoping they come back to our area in 2024 and play a much bigger venue next time.
Half Moon Run – The Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn – November 17, 2023
Setlist: You Can Let Go, Hotel in Memphis, Everyone’s Moving Out East, Narrow Margins, 9beat, Razorblade, Heartbeat, Gigafire / New Truth, Call Me in the Afternoon, Grow into Love, Alco, Devil May Care, Goodbye Cali,Drug You, Can’t Figure Out What’s Going On, She Wants to Know, Favourite Boy, Fire Escape, Full Circle
Rochester native Mikaela Davis recently released a brand new EP, titled Our Creepy Eep Hour on October 31st. The three track EP, clocking in at just over 10 minutes, features her band Southern Star, with whom she’s been working and collaborating with for over a decade.
Our Creepy Eep Hour follows the release of her LP, And Southern Star, which debuted to the public less than three months ago in August. This was her first full length LP featuring Southern Star. The band consists of Davis on harp, Cian McCarthy on guitar, Shane McCarthy on bass, Kurt Johnson on steel guitar, and Alex Coté on drums.
Photo by John Lee Shannon & Cassidy Rose; Dollhouse Venue by Alison Coté
This past May, Davis and Southern Star embarked on a three night residency at Parish Public House in Albany. Each night the band performed her originals alongside the Grateful Dead’s. On the last night, Davis performed Jerry Garcia’s 1972 solo album Garcia in full. The 4th track off the album, “Late for Supper/Spidergawd/Eep Hour” would later become the EP.
Our Creepy Eep Hour breaks up the suite of songs into its three distinct sections; “Late for Supper,” the avant garde, abrupt opening leads into “Spidergawd”, which contains eerie soundscapes and audio of Garcia talking. This transitions into “Eep Hour”, a serene, slow building section that crescendos to a beautiful peak. The band’s patience, ability to communicate musically and talent is on full display. Their unique instrumentation allows for them to pay tribute to the original in a truly special way. This is the first time covers of these songs have ever officially been released.
Photo courtesy of archive.org (Phil & Friends live at The Capitol Theatre, October 16th, 2022)
Mikaela also has a direct link to the Dead themselves. She has shared the stage with both Bob Weir and Phil Lesh; in 2018 with Wolf Bros at the Landmark Theater in Syracuse and Phil & Friends at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester for a 3 night run in late October of last year. She has also toured with Circles Around The Sun, the band responsible for curating the setbreak music at Fare Thee Well, a series of concerts celebrating 50 years of the Grateful Dead and their legacy. The Mikaela Davis/Dead link is apparent, and the respect and admiration she has for their musicianship is exemplified in both the covers and originals she performs.
