Each Sunday evening from 7-9 p.m. you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up-and-coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music from Laveda and Modern Fools.
WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.
Laveda is an American indie dream rock band from Albany. Toronto-based blog Ohestee says that founding members “Jacob Brooks and Ali Genevich explore the great yawning unknown. From the freedom and uncertainty that rests at your fingertips or the distant and possibly desolate future, they capture adolescent restlessness with big walls of sound and a dreamy melodious warble.” Their debut album What Happens After is out now, and they will be going on tour, coming to New York City on March 8.
Modern Fools don’t fall into just one genre, creating music that can be classified as country, folk, alternative, or even indie. “Gone” is the first single from their new album Strange Offering coming on May 5. The music video for the song was shot on a cold day in downtown Peterborough, NH and they aren’t done releasing new music, saying on their Facebook to “Stay tuned for part two of what we are calling “The Ballad of Sad-Sack” in the coming weeks.”
Indie-Rock band Path has released “All I Wanna Do”, the first single from their upcoming third LP entitled You’re Gonna Be Alright. This release comes on the heels of the recent success of their 2018 single Eugene, which amassed more than a million streams on Spotify since 2020.
All I Wanna Do single artwork
“Music has always been my main outlet for bottled up emotions” says Path frontman Sam Keeler. “Writing and recording music is often a difficult experience. I tend to get stuck in dark places while I’m trying to put certain feelings into music. I don’t know what changed, but this time around everything came from a positive place and I found the entire process to be really constructive on a personal level. I guess you can say this is an album about personal growth and getting to know yourself better.”
“For this most recent project, I made a point to shift my focus from looking inward to looking outward and forward. “All I Wanna Do” was one of the first songs I wrote for the album and I remember just wanting to make a simple love song. I was pulling myself out of a difficult period in my life around that time and I think that this track reflects that transitional period pretty clearly.”
Path’s signature sound has been documented by WXPN Philadelphia, Indie Underground, and Divide and Conquer, among others. WXPN notes “The five-piece band has a pointedly emotional and dreamy soundscape, seen on their two self-produced LP’s. Their new release features warm looping guitars and airy vocals, creating a contrasting soundscape of dazzling clarity and fuzziness. Indie-rock, soft folk and the band’s self-described ‘love rock’ all feel like appropriate labels for the track, but an enchanting breath of fresh mountain air could also serve to describe the start of what listeners feel as they fill in the rest of the gaps.”
Crediting Path’s rich, heartfelt sound, their 2018 sophomore album Still was embraced by critics and music fans alike as a hidden treasure of northeastern indie rock and folk music. Although still personal and poetic, You’re Gonna Be Alright features a fuller and more developed sound than their previous two records while maintaining the core characteristics that make their sound so alluring.
Path will tour the Eastern US this summer in support of the new record.
Long Island-based alternative acoustic “mom rock” group Phil Firetog Trio & Co. have just released their upcoming single “How A Heart Breaks.” The single is an uptempo pop-rock track about dealing with grief and memorializing loved ones.
“How A Heart Breaks” describes heartache whilst retaining the intensity of rock progressions, paired with emotionally charged lyrics. They have also recently released their fan-favorite single, “Fall,” the first track to include the “Company” performing alongside the trio and their latest holiday-themed single “Long Island Christmas Eve.” The band is set to perform five shows in Westhampton Beach in February and March.
Phil Firetog Trio & Co. was formed in 2015 and is composed of a Phil Firetog (lead vocalist/guitarist), Johnny “Pots” Potocnik (drummer), Liam Gordon (bassist), Tye Granger (saxophone) and Gabriel Nekrutman (flute/clarinet/alto sax). Each member of the band is diversely talented, they are musicians who blend their individual and distinct styles to craft a sound that is truly rare.
Singer/Songwriter Phil Firetog develops music that is rich and intricate and spans the spectrum from clean to grit and ambient to rocking by mastering acoustic guitars with pedals and distorted amps. Johnny “Pots” Potocnik & Liam Gordon fill the spaces with complex & rhythmic grooves, intriguing listeners while they connect on another level outside the lyrical storytelling.
The band will continue new single releases in 2022 starting in September with their release of “Fall”. It’s clear that Trio and Company will continue to reshape and reinvent itself in this ever-shifting industry while staying on the edge of new sounds and genres – never losing the essence of the core trio: ‘Rare and Transformative’
Upcoming Tour Dates:
FEB 04 – @ Westhampton Beach Brewing Co. Westhampton Beach, NY
FEB 18 – @ Connolly’s Pub & Restaurant 45th St. New York City, NY
MAR 03 – @ Westhampton Beach Brewing Co. Westhampton Beach, NY
APR 22 – @ Westhampton Beach Brewing Co. Westhampton Beach, NY
MAY 20 – @ Westhampton Beach Brewing Co. Westhampton Beach, NY
For more information on tour dates and to purchase tickets, click the link here.
On Friday, February 3rd, The Q-Tip Bandits sold out the beloved Mercury Lounge on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. With support from openers Enrose and Seeing Double, there was an incredible and animated vibe as both the crowd and the performers fed each others energy over the course of the night.
Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
The Q-Tip Bandits are a Boston-based, five-piece, indie-rock pop ensemble with an epic stage presence and and even better tunes. Made up of Leo (frontman), Claire (bassist), Dakota (drums), Hoyt (trombone) and Maclin (trumpet), their stylish, colorful, and refreshing music is supported by the raw intensity of rock, R&B, and funk influences, as well as the use of brass horns.
Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
Within the first three weeks of its release, their lead track “Willow” received 50,000 Spotify streams, giving the band the motivation they needed to start recording their debut EP, Ain’t It Great. Despite its debut during a global pandemic, it was incredibly well received by the masses, and has propelled the band forward since.
Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
Enrose took the stage first and immediately started swinging with an incredible set filled with unreal saxophone solos by the talented saxophonist and singer-songwriter, Gabi Rose. Mixed with vibes of grunge rock and R&B, it was a unique performance that really got the crowd ready for the night ahead.
Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
When Seeing Double got on stage next, there the ambiance shifted as the crowd prepared for these legends with their funky outfits and equally funky beats. As a New York based rock band, they’re known across the scene for their high-energy shows and eccentric stage presence, which was incredibly clear through their performance. With their signature feel-good grooves and punchy instrumentals, Seeing Double did an absolutely incredible job warming and amping up the crowd for the rest of the night.
Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
When the Q-Tip Bandits took the stage, they immediately captivated the audience with velvety, warm and eccentric tones from the trombone and trumpet. With the crowd giddy with anticipation, the vibes escalated even more, complete with an open and excited atmosphere and daisy shaped balloons released during the song “Daisy”. As a cute little keepsake, the crowd jumped around in time with the balloons and the beat as the show closed out, warmth and excitement high on a cold winter’s day.
Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
These artists are booked and busy, so make sure to keep up with all these artists on socials, and all their shows.
The Q-Tip Bandits will be launching into The Tip Toe Tour down south during March, as well as playing at Boston Calling on May 27th if you find yourself in Boston this spring. Seeing Double will be playing in Ithaca opening for Melt on March 28th, and there are more show dates on the horizon to be announced. Enrose doesn’t currently have any performances scheduled, but be sure to check their Instagram for any show updates.
Setlists
Enrose: Feels Like Home, NoDoubt, Wait Create, MenU, Save Yourself Seeing Double: Don’t Wait, Lovefool [The Cardigans Cover], TIOLI [RONA Cover], Bygones, Ɛ + 13, Valerie [Amy Winehouse Cover], Leah The Q-Tip Bandits: Chasing Cars, Asking 4 A Friend, Wrong Address, As It Was [Harry Styles Cover], Better Place, July, Kids [MGMT Cover], Tip Toe, Happy, Daisy, Willow
Photograph by Chinaza AjuonumaPhotograph by Chinaza AjuonumaPhotograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
The 2023 Winter Hoot was held February 3-5, 2023, at the Ashokan Center in Olivebridge. N.Y. This year marks the Hoot’s 10th anniversary, started as a collaboration by Mike Merenda and Ruthy Ungar in conjunction with the Ashokan Center and those in the surrounding area.
Friday night started with a community dinner followed by the showing and discussion of the documentary film “Inhabit: A Permaculture Perspective.,” by filmmaker Costa Boutsikaris. A jam session followed to close out the evening. Sunday activities included yoga, guided hikes around the center and a community sing. Saturday proved to be the meat of this down-home, down-to-earth gathering.
The Hoot is set up as a family fun time. This was obvious from all those who brought their children with them. Saturday featured a kid’s zone of craft making, learning to blacksmith, and an ice sculping exhibition by Thomas Brown.
But music is the star of this semi-annual event. In the main lobby of the Esopus Lodge, you encountered a one-of-a-kind instrument petting zoo. An area encouraging people to pick up an instrument and join in with real musicians to make their own music. Farther into the Ashokan campus, the Pewter house offered small intimate musical performances. The ambiance of the room set the mood of entertainment in earlier times.
In the lodge’s performance hall, you got the feeling of attending a large family gathering on a cold winter day. Those in the Winter Hoot audience were treated to some of the Hudson Valley’s finest musicians. People were encouraged to sing along and when the song was right, dancing would break out in front of the stage. Featured performers included Jay Ungar & Molly Mason, Jude Roberts, Rachael Yamagata, and The Mammals.
This three-day gathering went off without a hitch. Whether you participated in activities or were just there for the music, you came away with the felling of what the Hoot is about. It is love. Love for community, nature, and music.
Captivating the audience with beautiful harmonies and songs of both heartbreak and hope, Hayley Jane and the Hold On Honeys put on a stellar performance at Lark Hall in Albany on February 2nd. Collaborating with each other for the first time and trading sit-ins, the immediate chemistry between these two respective acts could be felt by everyone in the room.
Haley Jane performs with Troy, NY’s Hold On Honeys at Lark Hall on 2/2/2023
Kicking off the show were Troy natives The Hold On Honeys, an indie folk minimalist vocal trio comprised of Emily Curro, Raya Malcolm and Shannon Rafferty. Trading leads and singing to their strengths, each member of the Honeys’ was given an equal chance to shine, but the true beauty came when this pitch-perfect trio sang together as one. After serenading the highly receptive audience with songs like “Case of You,” “Lullaby,” and “Maple Lane,” tender ballads about finding love and losing it, the gals then showed their more optimistic and fun-loving side with “Get High,” before sending us to intermission with “Down Home Girl.” A very enjoyable set, but it wouldn’t be the last time we’d see this promising up-and-coming act.
The Hold On Honeys opened the show at Lark Hall on 2/2/2023
After a quick break in the action, it was officially time for Hayley Jane to grace the Lark Hall stage. A familiar face to the Albany crowd, Jane has been playing the area for years, mostly with The Primates behind her, or as part of Yes Darling with Ryan Montbleau. For this run however, Hayley enlisted an equally talented group of Burlington, VT based players that featured Josh Dobbs on keyboards and the former Swimmer rhythm section of Jack Vignone handling bass and Cotter Ellis on drums.
Opening her set with “Look to the Moon,” the pace quickly picked up when Hayley went into a bit of medley of mashup cover songs. Touching on a Cowboy Junkies-esq rendition of “Blue Moon Revisited” that took a ‘tasty’ left turn into the Italian classic “That’s Amore,” before eventually paying homage to the Grateful Dead with a beautiful version of “Ramble on Rose.”
Haley Jane gives up her secrets at Lark Hall on 2/2/2023
Inviting you in with her undeniable charisma and vulnerability, Jayne’s storytelling between numbers left you feeling like you actually knew her. Looking around the room, you literally could see an entire audience falling in love. Working her way through a few songs from her most recent solo album, “Road Map” and “Soul Shaken,” from 2021’s Late Bloom, one of the most powerful and emotional highlights of the night came next when Hayley Jane performed “For Someone Who Needs It,” a song about depression, loneliness and reaching out for help. Fan shot footage of that can be seen below.
Taking her listeners on a humble journey, Hayley would tell the audience she was raised as a Baptist, and despite some groans, would give credit to her church choir for teaching her to sing. After belting out stellar versions of “Ignite” and “Madeline,” another of Jane’s favorite covers, Gregory Alan Isakov’s “Big Black Car” was next. Revealing a little more about herself, Jane would say the best thing she ever did was stop caring what other people think about her.
Essentially freeing her to be who she really is while also allowing a natural relationship to develop with the audience, Hayley confessed that “nerds rock” and are also “better in bed.” “Loose Screws” and “Madam Humphrey” would take a little walk on the wild side before Haley would play a new one called “Assembly of Words,” a song that was written while living in California and simultaneously going through the pandemic and a tough break-up. Some of her most vulnerable lyrics yet, afterwards she would admit to “feeling nervous” and “naked” during that one.
Hayley Jane and the Hold On Honeys captivate an intimate Lark Hall crowd on 2/2/2023
Picking the pace back up with another rocker from The Primates 2014 album Gasoline was “Hey Mister,” followed by an unreleased new song that was recently recorded with members of The Main Squeeze called “Girl.” Instead of leaving the stage and returning ala your typical encore however, Hayley would invite the members of the opening act, Hold On Honeys, to join her on stage for the remainder of the night. What then transpired was pure magic. Playing in Levon country and rambling together for the first time, Hayley and the Honeys’ uncorked an absolutely beautiful version of The Bands’ classic song “The Weight,” a rite of passage in this part of New York.
Feeling the combined energy of the women on stage, Hayley beamed with pleasantries for her new gal pals, even claiming she’d love to take them out on the road with her. As the curfew came and went, Jane would quickly check with Lark Hall staff if it was “Alright” to play one more. Once given the green light, Haley would quickly teach the Honey’s the chorus to the final song of the evening, “Make It Alright,” which was then jammed out to perfection, fusing multiple genres and stretching its legs all the way to the 15-minute mark and included “Wild Thing” teases for good measure.
Haley and the Honeys made a cold February night more than alright at Lark Hall 2/23/
After thanking everyone for coming out and wishing them well on their way home, the girls would convene near the center of the stage for a group hug and shared smiles. An exceptional performance all around and yet another reason to never miss a Thursday show at Lark Hall. An evening filled with genre bending, thought provoking, and at times heartbreaking music. Honest storytelling and songwriting, surprise collaborations, dancing, and beautiful down- home harmonies. Great medicine for these modern times indeed. While it remains to be seen how serious Jane is about taking her new friends out on the road, what we do know is that ‘Hayley and the Hold On Honeys’ sure has a nice ring to it.
Haley Jane | Albany, NY | 2/2/2023 | Lark Hall Setlist: Look to the Moon, Ramble on Rose, Roadmap, For Someone Who Needs It, Ignite, Madeline, Big Black Car, Loose Screws, Soul Shaken, Madam Humphrey, Assembly of Words, Hey Mister, Girl
Encore: The Weight, Make It Alright *Grateful Dead cover **Gregory Alan Isakov cover ***The Band cover featuring The Hold On Honeys **** Featuring The Hold On Honeys
Hold On Honeys | Albany, NY | 2/2/2023 | Lark Hall Setlist: Wisely, Calling All My Children, TN River, Chicago, Getting Home, Case of You, Lullaby, I’m On Fire, Maple Lane, Knowing, Get High, Down Home Girl
Formed upon a chance encounter while busking in the subways of New York City, Bandits on the Run have released their newest single, “You Have Changed,” on February 2nd. Thus, marking a new phase of Banditry; this is the first release that they have self-produced, and offers a taste of what’s to come on the follow-up record to 2021’s acclaimed EP, Now Is The Time.
“‘You Have Changed’ is about being torn apart, begrudging acceptance, and lingering love. It’s about the uncontrollable wellspring of grief that comes swooping in when life smacks you in the face, and you’re just not ready for it,” the band reveals. Written at a moment of uncertainty, when their futures seemed tenuous, they say that the creation of the song was a mediation on accepting reality. “It felt like the world was caving in under us and all of a sudden everything we loved and held onto had changed.” It’s evident that those feelings resonate with listeners.
“When we perform this song, people tend to open their hearts to us and share their stories of change and loss. For some people, ‘You Have Changed’ is about a loved one that’s passed, or a lover that’s left, or a storm that’s finally clearing up. We love that it takes on a new meaning with every person who hears it, and is about whatever is changing in their life at the moment.”
“Bandits on the Run capture the urgency of the moment… harmony rich… [with] a rousing atmosphere.”
– Rolling Stone
Comprised of Adrian Blake Enscoe, Sydney Shepherd, and Regina Strayhorn, the Brooklyn-based indie-pop-Americana trio is anchored by three-part harmonies and eclectic instrumentation. This includes accordion, cello, melodica, and a suitcase-kick-drum.
Their most recent EP, Now Is The Time, was produced by Ryan Hadlock (Brandi Carlile, The Lumineers), and surrounding that release, the band produced a short musical film, Band At The End Of The World. They’ve also gone on to compose music for the Netflix children’s animated series, Storybots, score the newest Peter Hedges movie, The Same Storm, and tour the globe with appearances at the Cambridge Folk Festival, Floydfest, Milwaukee Summerfest, Americanafest, and the Singapore Grand Prix.
In addition, they stay in touch with their theatrical roots: Strayhorn is a freelance casting director currently working with The Telsey Office, Shepherd is a Broadway veteran who graced the stage in the world premiere of the musical August Rush, and Enscoe starred opposite Hailee Steinfeldin the AppleTV+ show, Dickinson, and on stage in Swept Away (by The Avett Brothers).
Their next release will be their most collaborative yet: a self-produced EP featuring various and sundry bandit friends that explores the tensions of a world that has been broken open but is putting itself back together.
Coinciding with the release of “You Have Changed,” Bandits on the Run kick off a midwestern tour with several performances at Folk Alliance. A video for the single is coming soon.
UPCOMING TOUR DATES: 2/2 – 2/4: Folk Alliance at Marriot Crown Center (Kansas City, MO) 2/3: Tiny Concert at Effing Candle Co. (Kansas City, MO) 2/6: Bishop Hill Community Commons (Bishop Hill, IL) 2/8: Rhythms & Brews @ Gibson Music Community Center (Appleton, WI) 2/9: Epiphany Center For The Arts (Chicago, IL) 2/10: Rose Bowl (Urbana, IL) 2/11: Bradley University (Peoria, IL)
To purchase tickets and for more details about Bandits on the Run, click the link here.
On Sunday, February 5th, 2023, Mac Saturn gave the young teens of Empire Live Underground a show worth missing the Grammys. Opening with rising star, Billy Tibbals, the show kicked off to a roaring start.
Carson Macc of Mac Saturn at Empire Live Underground – Photo by Jarron Childs
Coming from England, then moving to L.A. in his teens, Billy Tibbals has been chasing his dreams of being the next rockstar. Drawing inspiration from The Beatles, David Bowie, and The Damned; Billy and his band has a very vintage style of rock-n-roll that really electrifies the stage. His hopes are to get the youth off their phones and back to enjoying each other in person. He has 3 singles available currently on streaming services and plans to release in first album in April.
The Billy Tibbals Band began the night strong and loud. With a style copied and pasted from a 70’s GQ magazine, Billy lead his sharply dressed band to an electric and energetic start. Things took a slow turn with a song titled “3am” about Tibbals’ younger sister. But it did not last for long as he really played his heart out for his potential new fan base. After the show, he was selling vinyls of his upcoming album, Stay Teenage, before it hits streaming services.
Billy Tibbals of The Billy Tibbals Band at Empire Live Underground – Photo by Jarron Childs
Mac Saturn, of Detroit, took the stage not soon after Billy’s 45 minute set. This was both their first national tour and their first time in Albany. They originally formed back in 2014 at a Christmas party and soon became a sextet of mixed instruments and vocals. They released a five song EP, Until the Money Runs Out, last August and plans to release a new single hopefully sometime later this year.
Keeping on the trend of vintage, Mac Saturn’s lead vocalist, Carson Macc, came out ice cold in a blazer his grandfather probably wore and rough 70s mullet. Though the crowd was small, they had the amplitude of a thousand screaming teens at Govball. Macc had them singing the lyric’s of “Ain’t Like You” back to them with ease.
Guitarist Mike Moody of Mac Saturn at Empire Live Underground – Photo by Jarron Childs
Though Macc took frequent breaks off stage, it gave more time for guitarist, Mike Moody, to really rock the crowd with gut wrenching solos. They performed a cover of Charles Brown Mint Julep shortly before ending with their number one song, “Plain Clothes Gentleman.” They really held a powerful presence for their last song, really sucking the crowd in with phenomenal instrumentals and partying with the fans.
They continue their tour with another New York stop at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo on February 9th. Their tour ends in their home state of Michigan with two shows in Ann Arbor on the weekend of April 1st.
Mac Saturn Setlist: Diamonds, Paradiso, Persian Rugs, Boxcutter, Get on the Phone, Ain’t Like You, Sleep, Mint Julep, 5 Long Minutes, Mr. Cadillac, That’s Business, Plain Clothes Gentleman
NYC‘s mmeadows have shared “When We Are Together We Are Really Free,” the final single from their debut album Light Moves Around You, which was released on Friday, February 3rd. The prog-pop duo will also be performing an album release show May 6th at Baby’s All Right.
Vocalist Kristin Slipp’s (Dirty Projectors) vocals weave seamlessly through Cole Kamen-Green’s production (walls of horns, synths, and piano) for a sound that’s mysterious, mercurial, and fearless. The track cements their trademark style, a permeable mix of sounds both fluid and rhythmic, organic and electronic.
The song is accompanied by a video filmed in an abandoned church, lending a visual atmosphere at once carefree and ominous, a perfect match for the track and the album as a whole.
“[“King of the Castle”] It’s a catchy, unpredictable dose of art pop…”
– BrooklynVegan
The track is accompanied by a bold video directed byHaoyan of America, in which the duo performs the song in an abandoned church. Complete with glow stick dance parties and colorful tarot cards, it creates an atmosphere at once carefree and ominous, a perfect match for the track and the album as a whole: mysterious, mercurial, and fearless.
Their singular alt-pop songcraft is ultimately the synthesis of complementary talents, mutual trust, and years of partnership. Light Moves Around You reflects this connection; a dynamic and deeply-honed collection of pop songs that silence chaos and celebrate the tender acts of making space.
“With community heavy on my mind during early days of the pandemic, but not within physical reach, I set out to write a song that I might play during one of a handful of virtual dance parties we hosted,” Slipp says. “The catharsis of sharing digital space with my friends during such a surreal time was powerful and lasting, and that energy motivated us to make this track super danceable, brimming with feeling, and short enough to demand an immediate repeat listen.”
On the February 4th episode of Saturday Night Live with Pedro Pascal, best known for his roles in Narcos, Game of Thrones, and The Mandalorian, hosts with 2023 Grammy nominated band Coldplay.
Pedro Pascal and Coldplay.
The cold open is a parody of the MSNBC talk show, with Chloe Fineman as the anchor. The cold open focuses on the China balloon that was seen going over the United States. Bowen Yang plays the balloon, and talks about his experiences of being the balloon, saying he flew over Montana because he likes the show Yellowstone. They talk more about politics and racism.
https://youtu.be/gG3kUa8uM4c
The monologue of Pedro Pascal features him talking about his experience with shooting with HBO and in Canada. He talks about his upbringing in Chile, and how he is very close with his large extended family. Pascal talked about his range as an actor, and how excited he is to be on SNL. The monologue was short however to the point, showcasing how being on the show is a big deal to him.
The first skit features a parody of Jeopardy, called Big Hollywood Show. The categories feature information about film and TV, with Pedro Pascal playing a contestant. The questions talk about new pop culture trends going on today, like the new 80 For Brady film, and other new shows. The next skit is a movie trailer featuring the characters of Mario, which recently came out in a new animated film.
Following that skit comes a new one, surrounding characters in a hospital, making fun of the L.A. accent, reminscnent of the Californians sketch on previous seasons. Pascal broke character a few times, which made it even funnier. After that skit, the Gen Z slang came out in a high school centered sketch, referencing the app TikTok and the edits made on them, and the SNL audio of previous host SZA singing. It is funny watching this as someone who is considered Gen Z and dealing with the Internet and the aftermath of COVID 19. Sarah Paulson, best known for her role in American Horror Story, makes a guest appearance.
Musical guest Coldplay has had 34 nominations and four wins for the GRAMMY awards, with nomination for Album of the Year in 2023 for their record Music of the Spheres. The first song they performed, “The Astronaut” sounded magical, with the four piece, including lead singer Chris Martin, providing energy. There was an appearance of a person dressed as a mysterious alien, which made the performance feel out of this world. As the song carried on, more and more people joined the stage with glow sticks, doing background vocals.
https://youtu.be/64W30CcJqjA
Weekend Update with Colin Jost and Michael Che was the upcoming sketch, always featuring satirical and comedic takes on what is happening in the country and beyond. They talk about the upcoming Superbowl, and Groundhog’s Day, and how the groundhog saw his shadow. Punxsutawney Phil (Michael Longfellow) made a guest appearance with British rappers (James Austin Johnson, Devon Walker).
Coldplay performs another track from their newest album, called “Human Heart/Fix You.” It featured a number of backing vocals and Martin singing. He shouted out Pascal for hosting the great show. The sound of the record is authentic to Coldplay, and their signature sound didn’t change up much.
https://youtu.be/wPKbuDFC1Rs
The last sketch features Pascal at a birthday celebration dinner with other SNL cast members. One of the characters was comically cutting her food shaking the whole table, causing Pescal and others to break character.
The next episode on February 25 features Woody Harrelson and musical guest Jack White.
