Category: Alternative/Indie

Ani DiFranco Announces New Single “The Knowing”

Buffalo born singer/songwriter Ani DiFranco has announced the release of her new single “The Knowing,” to accompany her debut children’s book of the same name.

The new single is the musical version of DiFranco’s new book The Knowing, which is out March 7th. “The Knowing” is Difranco’s take on a lullaby, inviting young readers to ponder the distinction between outer forms of identity and the inner light of consciousness. The book encapsulates ideas that DiFranco feels strongly about sharing with her own children and all children: the authority to respect the world around you with love and compassion, and the strength of individual power and collective responsibility.

“I always relish a new challenge and creative adventure in life. Making a book for young readers was one such. I’m hoping that young people will connect with the message I am sending out in this book – that underneath all the labels and social and cultural signifiers, we are spirit, we are love incarnate, we are one”
Ani Difranco

Widely considered a feminist icon, Grammy winner Ani DiFranco is the mother of the DIY movement, being one of the first artists to create her own record label in 1990. While she has been known as the “Little Folksinger,” her music has embraced punk, funk, hip hop, jazz, soul, electronica and even more distant sounds. Her most recent albums include 2021’s Revolutionary Love and the July 2022 25th Anniversary Edition reissue of her iconic live album Living In Clip, both on her own label Righteous Babe Records. Her memoir No Walls and the Recurring Dream was released in May 2019 by Viking Books and was a New York Times Top 10 best seller.

DiFranco is also co-owner of Babeville, a Gothic Revival style church renovated by DiFranco and business partner Scot Fisher. The church now serves as a multi use facility dedicated to the arts in Buffalo, as well as a live event venue. For more information please visit Righteousbabe.com

February 4, 2023
The Wood Brothers Announce New Album, 5 Stops in NY on National Tour

Roots band The Wood Brothers have announced their eighth studio album, titled Heart Is The Hero, which is set to be released on April 14 through Honey Jar/Thirty Tigers. The album will be supported by a tour, with stops in Buffalo, Ithaca, New York City, Accord, and Fairpoint. Prior to embarking on their tour, the band will release the first single from Heart Is The Hero in February.

From left to right: Chris Wood, Jano Rix, and Oliver Wood

The Wood Brothers consist of brothers, Chris and Oliver Wood, who grew up in Boulder, Colorado. Their “honorary sibling,” Jano Rix is also in The band. They focused more on the importance of performing rather than studio perfection for this album, resulting in an album that emphasizes the themes of presence, grace, and faith.

“The chorus of the album’s title track says, ‘the heart is the hero of every song.’ By no means was it intentional, but much of the material we were writing for this record seemed to come full circle to the idea of trusting in your heart in matters that you can’t control,” says Oliver Wood.

I’m looking forward to going on the road with these new songs from Heart Is The Hero and seeing how they evolve from night to night when performed in front of audiences. The recording process for this album was completely different from our last one, Kingdom In My Mind, where we had all the time in the world to experiment, tinker, and shape performances. For those sessions, I was living in Nashville close to Oliver and Jano, but I’ve since relocated to Canada, so our time to record together this time around had to be extremely focused and intentional.
Chris Wood

The Wood Brothers tour has New York shows that start this March. Dates and venues are available below. As of Jan. 26, artist pre-sale has begun. General on-sale started Jan. 27. Tickets can be purchased at thewoodbros.com.

The Wood Brothers 2023 Tour

1/31 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern ^ (Sold Out)
2/1 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern ^ (Sold Out)
2/2 – Ventura, CA – Ventura Music Hall ^
2/3 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater ^
2/4 – Stateline, NV – Bally’s Lake Tahoe Casino Resort ^
2/6 – Santa Cruz, CA – Rio Theatre ^
2/8 – Bend, OR – Midtown Ballroom ^
2/9 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre ^ (Sold Out)
2/10 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall ^ (Sold Out)
2/11 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall ^
2/24 – North Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena ^^
3/1 – Lexington, KY – Lexington Opera House
3/2 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Theatre
3/3 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom
3/4 – Ithaca, NY – State Theatre
3/6 – Westerly, RI – The United Theatre
3/8 – Harrisburg, PA – XL Live
3/9 – Rocky Mount, VA – Harvester Performance Center (Sold Out)
3/10 – Winston-Salem, NC – The Ramkat
3/11 – Chattanooga, TN – Walker Theatre
4/11- Scottsdale, AZ – Virginia G. Piper Theater – Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
4/12 – Flagstaff, AZ – Orpheum Theater
4/14 – Beaver Creek, CO – Vilar Performing Arts Center
4/15 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom
4/17- Salina, KS – The Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts
4/18 – Fayetteville, AK – JJ’s Live
4/20 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
4/21- Tilmon, TX – Old Settler’s Music Festival
4/22 – Houston, TX – The Heights Theater
5/10 – Peoria, IL – Premier Event Center *
5/11 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed *
5/12 – Minneapolis, MN – Utepils Brewing Co. *
5/13 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater *
5/15 – Akron, OH – Goodyear Theater *
5/16 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre *
5/18 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern *
5/19 – Raleigh, NC – North Carolina Museum of Art *
5/20 – Washington, DC – The Anthem *
5/21 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre *
6/7 – Portland, ME – State Theatre *
6/8 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner *
6/9 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17 *
6/10 – Accord, NY – Arrowood Farms *
6/11 – Fairport, NY – Perinton Center Park Amphitheater *
6/13 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall *
6/15 – Charlottesville, VA – Ting Pavilion *
6/16 – Williamsburg, VA – Virginia Arts Festival’s Williamsburg Live *
6/17 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mountain View Amphitheatre *
6/18 – Grand Rapids, MI – venue TBA *
6/23 – Greenfield, MA – Green River Festival
8/18-20 – Wellston, MA – Hoxeyville Music Festival – Wellston, MI

^ w/ Taylor Ashton
^^ w/ The Avett Brothers & Turnpike Troubadours
* w/ Shovels & Rope

February 4, 2023
Jon Spencer & the Hitmakers Get It Lit at Lark Hall

Iconic underground punk-blues rocker Jon Spencer is back and with him is a whole new band of misfits, The HITmakers. Making a stop at Lark Hall in Albany on January 31st, the highly entertaining and outspoken group unleashed an explosive performance that was raucous and loud and hit the Capital Region crowd over the head like a 12-ounce hammer.

Jon Spencer and the HITmakers made their Lark Hall debut on 1/31/23

First bursting on the scene in the mid-‘80s with bands like Pussy Galore and Boss Hog, Spencer found his biggest commercial success in the 1990’s as front man for The Blues Explosion. A forefather to the bass-free, fuzz-heavy garage rock revival that would spawn acts like White Stipes and The Black Keys, after 2015’s Freedom Tower album, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion would quietly disband when guitarist Judah Bauer became too sick to go on tour.

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion took off in the 90’s with over-the-top performances like the one seen here

Now back on the road supporting his latest record, 2022’s Spencer Gets It Lit, his new band, The HITmakers, consists of Sam Coomes (Quasi, Heatmiser) on keyboards and Bob Bert (Pussy Galore, Sonic Youth) on percussion with Andy Zammit on drums. Fans hoping for a “best of the Blues Explosion” type set on this cold Tuesday night in January were shit out of luck. Taking the Lark Hall stage and promptly turning his back to the audience until the opening number “Junk Man” fully kicked in, Spencer and the HITmakers played the intimate venue as if it were an arena. Socking it to them with his signature reverbed-out grunts and growls and blistering blues guitar licks, you couldn’t help but snicker at some of the onstage antics. Even at Spencer’s age (he turns 58 on February 5th), he comes off as more believable than men half his age.

Jon Spencer rips into it at Lark Hall on 1/31/23

Working their way through songs like “Push Comes to Shove,” “Primary Baby,” and “Beatle Boots,” it was impossible not to take notice of the clanging and banging coming from percussionist Bob Bert. That’s because his unique kit was made entirely of scrap metal, trash cans and an old gas tank. Trading in drumsticks for a screwdriver and some 12-ounce hammers, “the noise, the noise, the noise” from Bert was particularly felt on “The Wilderness.”

Tools of the Trade: Bob Bert takes out the trash in Albany 1/31/23

Blasting out scuzzy rock anthems like “My Hit Parade,” “Strike 3,” and “Bruise,” keyboard player Sam Coones got way out there, shouting along and adding all kinds of otherworldly synth textures to songs like “Ghost” and “The Worst Facts,” going so far as to tell the crowd that the problem with Albany is that everyone here is too optimistic. “You think you can really do anything you want.”

Sam Coomes lights it up at Lark Hall 1/31/23

Tearing through the 75 minute set, “Love Handle” from 2018’s Spencer Sings the Hits got the crowd moving and grooving before one of the most raucous songs of the night, “Get It Right Now,” where in his charismatic preacher’s-like howl, Spencer proclaimed “Mick Jagger ain’t got nothing on me. Daryl Hall, John Oats, Billy Joel, no! Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Zuckerberg…NOTHING ON ME.” A darker theme then emerged with “Death Ray” followed up by “Just Wanna Die” before “Worm Town,” a song which ponders being in “a dirt nap, six feet under,” would bring the set to a close with Spencer simply putting down his guitar and walking off stage. It took a little convincing from the appreciative Lark Hall crowd, but eventually The HITmakers would return for an appropriate encore of “Trash Can.”

Time ain’t got nothing on Jon Spencer

One-man band and surf rock guitar playing virtuoso Bloodshot Bill opened the show and dazzled with his unique vocal delivery, catchy hooks and hilarious banter. At one point saying he “felt so good he could do about a million pushups,” but since he still had songs to play, he invited anyone from the audience to come up and do them for him. There was only one taker and he maxed out doing less than 10. For a crowd of less than a hundred on a cold Tuesday in Albany, it was yet another memorable night at Lark Hall. Artsy, offbeat and 100% rock n roll.

Bloodshot Bill opening up for The HITmakers on 1/31/23

Jon Spencer & the Hitmakers – January 31, 2023 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY
Setlist: Junk Man, Push Comes to Shove, Primary Baby, Beetle Boots, My Hit Parade, Strike 3, Wilderness, Ghost, Bruise, The Worst Facts, Love Handle, Get It Right Now, Death Ray, Just Wanna Die, Worm Town
Encore: Trash Can

February 3, 2023
Ben Cuomo Announces Solo Single “Changed The Way”

Multi-instrumentalist Ben Cuomo has announced his newest solo release “Changed The Way” in collaboration with fellow producer Ben Milstein, released on February 3rd.

While listners may recognize Cuomo from NYC duo MoonTree, this is Cuomo’s first solo release.The ambient single, written while Cuomo and Milstein were improvising in a Suny Purchase practice room, is the first collaboration between the friends.

Ben Cuomo and Ben Milstein are both producers, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists attending the Conservatory of Music at SUNY Purchase. Although they have the same name they have very different musical backgrounds.

Ben Cuomo is a composer, multi instrumentalist, producer, recording engineer, mixing engineer, and overall-creative from Brooklyn who experiments with the indescribable and unorthodox sides of music. He is currently producing for multiple artists, and scoring films at Purchase.

Ben Milstein is a multi-instrumentalist and singer who has been writing music for years. Ben has performed in musicals as roles such as Curly Mclain in Roger and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, and wrote and produced an EP titled Microchosm. His 9 song debut album will be coming out in March, featuring his first single “Hopelessly Cold” which is out now on all streaming platforms.

Ben Cuomo and Ben Milstein met at SUNY Purchase college. Both are in the music conservatory and are friends, song writers, multi instrumentalists and producers, who wanted to produce songs for each other. “Changed the Way” is their first collaboration.

February 3, 2023
Radio Woodstock announces Cautious Clay for “Saturday Night Takeover” on Feb. 4

Radio Woodstock 100.1 WDST has announced the next installment of the “Saturday Night Takeover” which will take place on Saturday, February 4th featuring multi-instrumentalist, producer, singer-songwriter, Cautious Clay.

Also recognized as Josh Karpeh, the Cleveland born musician has built a reputation for poetic and emotionally honest music. Clay draws from R&B, hip hop, and left field indie pop to produce sophisticated songwriting, soulful singing, and a cinematic sound. He’s experienced a tremendous amount of success following his three-year-old breakout debut single “Cold War”.

His songs have soundtracked key scenes in films like Olivia Wilde’s Booksmart and TV shows like Issa Rae’s Insecure. He’s written songs with John Legend and John Mayer, while also releasing music that’s been used by Taylor Swift. Clay’s single, “Cheesin” includes Remi Wolf, Still Woozy, Sophie Meiers, Claud, Melanie Faye, and HXNS. His latest album, Deadpan Love, is an album about balance. The balance between others and oneself, between intransigence and compromise, and between sarcasm and sincerity.

“Woodstock is one of my favorite places to visit, and I have been extremely grateful for Radio Woodstock’s support of my music. When they asked me to be a part of their Saturday Takeover Series, I was excited to share a broad spectrum of some of my favorite songs, new and old”!
– Cautious Clay

“Saturday Night Takeover” symbolizes Radio Woodstock’s independent music voice. Since 1980, Radio Woodstock has premiered new music and pioneered a unique music line-up with a combination of new artists, legendary musicians, and special music programming. Radio Woodstock’s curatorial programmers and DJs are recognized experts in their field.

Prepare yourself for “Saturday Night Takeover” as Cautious Clay takes over the airwaves. The show begins Saturday, February 4th, from 10 pm to 11 pm on-air at 100.1. You can also listen here or via the iHeartRADIO app.

February 2, 2023
Michael Franti And Spearhead To Play ArtPark, Central Park, Catskills This Summer
Reggae-rock group Michael Franti and Spearhead have announced their newest tour will be making multiple New York stops this summer.

Michael Franti has spent decades peeling back the layers on what it means to be human, how to be the best version of ourselves and how to follow our hearts. Now, he aims to magnify those concepts enabling us all to apply them to the world around us with the coast-to-coast Big Big Love Tour 2023.

“Big big love represents being able to hold space for the micro and the macro of love,” Franti explains. “Everyone has someone they love, whether it’s their child, spouse, pet or friend. But then there’s holding space to love people of difference – people who are in the midst of war, people where there is pain and suffering. You show up as love, determination and spirit in those places where people really need a caring soul connection to help them heal. That’s what big big love is: holding space for the personal and the worldly.”

Creating A New Live Experience

Known all over the world for their energizing live shows that foster an invigorating sense of community, Michael Franti & Spearhead embody that attitude as they embark on the Big Big Love Tour 2023, featuring over 50 shows from May to August, including stops at California Roots Music & Arts Festival, Reggae Rise Up and Central Park Summer Stage, along with a highly anticipated return to the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, Feb. 3 at 10 a.m. local time. Franti & Spearhead will be joined on this leg by SOJA, Tank & The Bangas, Fortunate Youth, Lawrence, The Dip, Phillip Phillips and more.

As Franti reconnects with Soulrockers around the country, exclusive VIP opportunities will be available on select dates, including an intimate VIP Meet & Greet at headline shows and special VIP Experiences with Franti ahead of his performance.

Ahead of the U.S. tour, the band will head to Australia for a much anticipated return to Byron Bay Bluesfest as well as additional stops in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Cairns. They have partnered with Wanderlust to host yoga and wellness events in select markets as well as VIP Meet & Greets.

For all 2023 tour dates and ticket information, including VIP opportunities, visit MichaelFranti.com.

Michael Franti & Spearhead Big Big Love Tour 2023
- May 13 Mill Valley Music Fest Mill Valley, CA
- May 25 California Roots Music & Arts Festival Monterey, CA
- May 27 Pepsi Amphitheater = Flagstaff, AZ
- May 28 Amphitheater at Las Colonias Park = Grand Junction, CO
- June 2 Red Rocks Amphitheatre = * Morrison, CO
- June 7 Fargo Brewing Company = ~ Fargo, ND
- June 9 Utepils Brewing = ~ Minneapolis, MN
- June 10 Bonfire Music & Arts Festival ~ Yuba, WI
- June 11 Big Top Chautauqua = ~ Bayfield, WI
- June 15 Venue TBA = ~ Grand Rapids, MI
- June 16 The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre = + Detroit, MI
- June 20 Mountain View Amphitheater = + Pittsburgh, PA
- June 21 ArtPark Amphitheater = % Lewiston, NY
- June 22 The Pines Theater = % Northampton, MA
- June 24 Levitt Pavilion = + Westport, CT
- June 25 Reggae Rise Up Maryland Baltimore, MD
- June 28 Summerstage in Central Park = % New York, NY
- June 29 Leader Bank Pavilion = % Boston, MA
- June 30 Hampton Beach Casino = % Hampton Beach, NH
- July 1 Arrowood Farms = % Accord, NY
- July 2 Snow Pond Center for the Arts = % Sidney, ME
- July 7 The Coves Amphitheater = ^ Union Hall, VA
- July 8 Salvage Station = ^ Asheville, NC
- July 9 The Caverns = ^ Pelham, TN
- July 11 Hilton Oceanfront Concert Series = Virginia Beach, VA
- July 15 Greenfield Lake Amphitheater = ^ Wilmington, NC
- July 16 Greenfield Lake Amphitheater = ^ Wilmington, NC
- July 19 Tabernacle = ^ Atlanta, GA
- July 20 Apopka Amphitheater = Apopka, FL
- July 21 Coachman Park Pavilion = Clearwater, FL
- July 22 Pompano Beach Amphitheater = ^ Pompano Beach, FL
- July 23 St. Augustine Amphitheatre = ^ St. Augustine, FL
- July 25 The Civic Theatre = ^ New Orleans, LA
- July 27 ACL Live at the Moody Theater = # Austin, TX
- July 28 The Factory in Deep Ellum = # Dallas, TX
- July 29 KC Live! = # Kansas City, MO
- August 1 ZooMontana = # Billings, MT
- August 3 Festival at Sandpoint # Sandpoint, ID
- August 4 VENUE TBA = # Seattle, WA
- August 5 Hayden Homes Amphitheater = # Bend, OR
- August 6 VENUE TBA = # Spokane, WA
- August 8 McMenamins Grand Lodge = # Forest Grove, OR
- August 11 Deer Valley = # Park City, UT
- August 12 Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater = Nampa, ID
- August 13 Bally’s Lake Tahoe = Stateline, NV
- August 17 The Rady Shell = # San Diego, CA
- August 18 Vina Robles Amphitheatre = # Paso Robles, CA
- August 19 VENUE TBA = # Saratoga, CA
- August 20 The Greek Theatre = # Los Angeles, CA
= VIP Experience Offered
# SOJA
* Lawrence
+ Phillip Phillips
% Tank & The Bangas
^ Fortunate Youth
~ The Dip
February 1, 2023
Goose to Play SPAC and Stone Pony in July

Adding to their quite packed 2023 tour schedule, Goose will perform two nights at The Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park, NJ over July 4th weekend, on the heels of their headlining performance at Peach Festival a few days prior. Goose then head north to Saratoga Springs for a debut at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) on Friday, July 7.

A Seated ticket request lottery for Goose at SPAC and The Stone Pony begins today, January 31, at 12 noon (ET) at www.goosetheband.com/tour and will continue through Wednesday, February 1, at 5 pm (ET). Lottery winners will be notified via email before the start of venue presales, set to run Thursday, February 2 from 10 am-10 pm (ET) – Password: TUMBLE. All remaining tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, February 3 at 10 am (ET).

GOOSE TOUR 2023

MARCH

2-5 – Okeechobee, FL – Okeechobee Music x Arts Festival †

8 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre (SOLD OUT)

9 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre (SOLD OUT)

10 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre (SOLD OUT)

11 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre (SOLD OUT)

12- Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre (SOLD OUT)

23 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner (SOLD OUT)

24 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met (SOLD OUT)

25 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met (SOLD OUT)

26 – Cleveland, OH – Agora (SOLD OUT)

31 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium (SOLD OUT)

APRIL

1 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium (SOLD OUT)

2 – Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewing Co. (SOLD OUT)

13 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee (SOLD OUT)

14 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed (SOLD OUT)

15 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed (SOLD OUT)

16 – St. Paul, MN – Palace Theatre (SOLD OUT)

18 – Bozeman, MT – The Elm (SOLD OUT)

19 – Bozeman, MT – The Elm (SOLD OUT)

21 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory (SOLD OUT)

22 – Seattle, WA – The Paramount Theatre (SOLD OUT)

23 – Seattle, WA – The Paramount Theatre (SOLD OUT)

25 – Eugene, OR – The McDonald Theatre (SOLD OUT)

27 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield (SOLD OUT)

28 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield (SOLD OUT)

29 – San Diego, CA – CalCoast Credit Union Open Air Theatre

MAY

2 – New Orleans, LA – Daze Between New Orleans †

3 – New Orleans, LA – Daze Between New Orleans †

26-28 – Chillicothe, IL – Summer Camp Music Festival †

JUNE

4 – Lexington, KY – Railbird Music Festival † (SOLD OUT)

22-25 – Rothbury, MI – Electric Forest † (SOLD OUT)

23 – Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live!

29-7/2 – Scranton, PA – Peach Music Festival †

29-7/1 – Garrettsville, OH – Resonance Music and Arts Festival †

JULY

3 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage

4 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage

7 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center

26-30 – Floyd, VA – FloydFest † (SOLD OUT)

† Festival Appearance

February 1, 2023
Five Can’t Miss Shows in Rochester This February

We can’t predict if there is ever going to be any significant snow in Rochester this winter, but we can predict you’ll have a blast if you follow our recommendations for live music in February. As much as we’d like to have at least some of the white stuff to enjoy, hopefully not enough to impede your access to any of these shows or to cause any weather-related cancellations. Get out there and support your local bands and venues.

February 11: Moving Mountains at Flour City Station

Moving Mountains is a quartet from right here in Rochester. If you like your rock progressive, then these guys will scratch that itch with aplomb. The path from point a to point b is rarely a straight line, and the journey is a wild ride. They’ll be joined by Extended Family and The Ribbon Project. /each band has members with February birthdays, so maybe there will be cake?

Doors are at 7:45p and tickets are $10.

February 13: Ethnic Heritage Ensemble at Bop Shop Records

Drummer Kahil El’Zabar returns to Bop Shop Records with his Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, including Cory Wilkes on trumpet and Alex Harding on saxophone. You will be transported, inspired, moved and touched spiritually, and that will just be the first song. Adventurous mind-expanding jazz doesn’t just come to Rochester for one week in June. Come explore some new sounds.

Show starts at 8pm and tickets are $25/$30 dos.

February 16: The Mountain Goats, Lily Hiatt at Water Street Music Hall

Indie-folk rock stalwarts The Mountain Goats come to Water Street Music Hall as a semi-annual reminder to the music lovers of Rochester that not every big show passes us over for Buffalo, Syracuse, and Ithaca. Touring behind their 2022 release, Bleed Out, they’ll bring those and others from their decades-long career for you to sing along, rhythmically bob your head, and perhaps shuffle your feet. Don’t make the mistake of arriving too late to hear opener Lily Hiatt.

Show starts at 8pm and tickets are $40.

February 18: JD Simo at Fanatics Pub

This one is a short drive out of town down in Lima, but totally worth it. Fanatics is a small bar that hosts good blues bands from near and far. On this night, Nashville guitarist JD Simo comes through on his duo tour with drummer Adam Abrashoff. Simo isn’t a straight blues man, mixing in rock, jazz and soul to concoct a unique sound that eventually lead to face-melting jams. He’s got a new album just out this month, Songs from the House of Grease, that’ll do good to warm you up for the show.

Show starts at 7pm and tickets are $25.

February 25 – The Moho Collective at Three Heads Brewing

Rochester’s The Moho Collective, Kurt Johnson on guitar and pedal steel, Justin Rister on bass, and Ryan Barclay on drums and percussion, “collect” musical styles from across the globe, combining them in new and mystifying ways. On this night they will be joined by The Mighty High and Dry’s Alan Murphy on keys which is an addition with exciting possibilities, fleshing out their material in new and interesting ways.

Doors open at 8pm and tickets are $10.

January 31, 2023
In Focus: Juice at Lark Hall

On Friday, January 27th, indie-pop band Juice delivered a heartfelt and lively performance to their adoring fans at Lark Hall in Albany. This was their last show from their rescheduled Fall Tour.

Ben Stevens, Lead Vocalist of Juice – Photo by Jarron Childs

The sextet band from Brooklyn found each other while attending Boston College. Their unique sound comes from a combination of rock, pop, r&b, and hip-hop. Lead on the vocals by Ben Stevens, he is backed up on vocals by singer/guitarist Kamau Burton and rapper/violinist Christian Rose. Other sounds come from guitarist Daniel Moss, drummer Miles Clyatt, and bassist Rami El-Abidin. Currently, Juice has one album, Boy Story, 4 EPs, and a few singles to their discography. There are plans for more singles to come soon, hopefully before the start of their next tour.

Juice was originally supposed to play in Lark Hall in November of 2022, but had to reschedule due to personal reasons. Nonetheless, they did not disappoint their young fans. Their show opened up with rising indie r&b band, The E-Block.

Luje Pascarella, Lead Vocalist of the E-Block – Photo by Jarron Childs

The band from Albany has been progressing from basement shows at The Laundromat, to bigger stages such as Albany’s Alive at 5 last summer. If you’ve been following them, you can hear that they are really starting to find their sound as a band. From being a jam rock funk band, to really creating a R&B, soul, and funk that they can call their own. The E-Block is really laying down a foundation that could be the start of a good career.

The E-Block opened with their newly released single “Stay.” Their performance was very r&b/soul heavy as lead vocalist/guitarist Luke Pascarella really pushed the limits of his vocals. They really played their hearts out and could’ve even brought the audience to tears at one point. They earned their cheers from the audience. Their set ended on a familiar note of a jam funk session that really had to crowd bouncing. They hosted an after party for their new single at Washington Tavern after the show.

Christian Rose, Violinist/Vocalist of Juice – Photo by Jarron Childs

Juice opened with a single, “DiCaprio,” from 2020. Their performance really went a lot of places because of how many music genres they have been able to incorporate in their style. Christian Rose played a violin solo so hard that it looked as if one of his strings broke, but he did not stop for one beat. The chemistry displayed on stage was undeniable, as their were many laugh shared amongst each other. There was also many moments when the band sat back and watched guitarist Daniel Moss serenade the crowd with powerful guitar solos.

Members of Juice watch a guitar solo performed by Daniel Moss – Photo by Jarron Childs

Vocalist Ben Stevens jumped into the crowd a danced with them which kept the good vibes going. The crowd was jumping, the music was bumping, and you could probably hear hearts thumping as Juice really pulled every ounce of energy from the crowd. There were begs for an encore at the end of their set, and Juice did not ignore them. They came back for a 1 song encore which brought many smiles to those in the crowd.

They will start “The Dip Stick on You” national tour on February 16th. In case you missed them this time, they will return to Lark Hall on February 23rd for another show.

Juice Setlist: DiCaprio, Shoot my Dreams, Peace of Mind, Audrey Tell Me, Stranger, Heartbreak in a Box, River, Workin’ On Loving, Stupidfreak, Make Pretend

Luje Pascarella, Lead Vocalist of the E-Block – Photo by Jarron Childs

The E-Block at Lark Hall – Photo by Jarron Childs

Luje Pascarella, Lead Vocalist of the E-Block – Photo by Jarron Childs

Christian Rose, Violinist/Vocalist of Juice – Photo by Jarron Childs

Christian Rose, Violinist/Vocalist of Juice – Photo by Jarron Childs

Vocalist Kamau Burton of Juice – Photo by Jarron Childs

Ben Stevens, Lead Vocalist of Juice – Photo by Jarron Childs

Juice – Photo by Jarron Childs

Ben Stevens, Lead Vocalist of Juice – Photo by Jarron Childs

Ben Stevens, Lead Vocalist of Juice – Photo by Jarron Childs

Guitarist Daniel Moss of Juice – Photo by Jarron Childs

Violinist/Vocalist Christian Rose of Juice – Photo by Jarron Childs

Ben Stevens, Lead Vocalist of Juice – Photo by Jarron Childs

Ben Stevens, Lead Vocalist of Juice – Photo by Jarron Childs

Ben Stevens, Lead Vocalist of Juice – Photo by Jarron Childs

January 31, 2023
Lou Tides Releases Mini-Movie For “Infinite Loop Visual Mixtape”

Brooklyn‘s Lou Tides (TEEN, Here We Go Magic) has just released a mini-movie for her Infinite Loop Visual Mixtape following her first track, “Sense of Touching.” Her debut solo EP Infinite Loop EP was released Jan 20th.

The 10-minute film includes 5 chapters and a visual ode to each of the EP’s songs. Throughout the film, there are many striking visual elements that bring the viewer through a variety of worlds. This includes a bizarrely drab yet hectic beach dance, to an apartment that feels straight out of a Wong Kar Wai film, followed by a dark void where Lou Tides shines in PVC and mystical movement, then finally in a womb-like creature concert.

Nearing the end, we journey deep under the peaceful, blue sea where the transformation is complete. Lou Tides transcends her form, reborn as a radiant human-cetacean hybrid.

“I think of these songs as a map. A sequence in time. And the sequence of the songs follows that map, that loop,” says Tides. A veteran of Here We Go Magic and TEEN, she has chosen a solo moniker for her newest project.

Performing and producing solo for the first time were natural choices for an EP this personal. Tides made these songs while reckoning with the profound ways she’d been disrupted by her past. “Emotionally this music would not fit into anything strictly shaped or precise, I wanted to embrace the moods of the emotions and how I felt they would naturally flow. Time then felt different, and lush arrangements with stretchy synthesizers felt appropriate. I wanted the music to emulate the natural peaks and valleys of our lives and relationships,” Tides says.

Of her former band TEEN, NPR wrote, “What makes these wrenching themes resonate is the way TEEN’s music balances darkness with buoyancy and immediacy.” On Infinite Loop, Tides maintains that balance while moving away from previous pop inflections. Opening track “The Rake” uses jagged synths and nets of altered vocal tracks atop a constantly evolving beat. The song becomes a ghostly chorus and a doom-electronica crescendo to mimic dissociation and its effect on intimacy–and it feels totally organic.

To listen to Infinite Loop, click the link here. For more information on Lou Tides, visit her website by clicking the link here.

January 30, 2023