Essex, a new music venue, is coming to Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts in the fall, already booking two acclaimed Rochester-based acts Joywave and Danielle Ponder.
Photo credit Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
Essex, a music hall and multi-events space, will open at 1048 University Ave. The venue said on its website that it aims to add vibrancy, culture, and life to the Rochester community.
The owners of Essex are Josh Miles, Zach Mikida, Mack Hartman, and Dave Drago. The first three deal with the hospitality side of the venue, while Drago handles the music. The venue features two bars and an industrial-looking outside, changing soon to be a little warmer and accommodating.
In an area that has very few venues, the music hall will be a nice addition to the area, and allow more bands to travel Upstate without going to such major cities as Buffalo or Niagara Falls. The main focus of the venue is to showcase various artists that come to the area, allowing people to enjoy good music and vibes.
Danielle Ponder announced shows for Friday, Oct. 6, and Saturday, Oct. 7. Both shows will begin at 11 p.m. and tickets cost $30. Indie rock band Joywave announced shows for Thursday, Nov. 16, and Friday, Nov. 17. Both shows will begin at 7 p.m. and tickets cost $35. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit here.
Brooklyn-based singer, songwriter, and producer Tim Atlas drops his new EP Le Soir, part one of a larger body of work. Tim Atlas floods a nocturnal hybrid of R&B, neo-soul, alternative, and pop with unrestrained emotion on this latest project. Gathering hundreds of millions of streams and inciting the applause of Complex, Earmilk, The Line of Best Fit, Spin, and many more, he opens up like never before on his 2023 EP, Le Soir.
“This E.P. is the first chapter of three. It’s a collection of songs that I wrote as a result of moving to NYC, a place that has always allowed you to fully be yourself. I never defined myself as one thing, so this record is a testament to that,” says Tim Atlas. He introduced Le Soir with the entrancing and electrifying “Knockin.” The EPalso features recent releases “Attractive” and “See Thru.”
Standout release day track “Sushi in Wyoming” is fueled by a slick drum pattern and glitchy synths. Tim states, “Driving cross country from LA to NY, we literally stopped in Wyoming for a night. At that point of the road trip, I couldn’t stomach another burger or gas station staple, so I opted for sushi. Sometimes the worst version of something you crave is better than the alternative. I wrote the title in my notes app so I wouldn’t forget that moment. It actually wasn’t bad.”
Tim is slated for a headline US tour that kicks off in September, with Bay Area band Pink Skies. For ticket information, visit here.
Brooklyn Celebrates! is one of New York City’s most beloved musical experiences. At the outdoor setting of the Bandshell stage, free admission and delicious locally sourced foods made city goers flock to the park for one last summer hoorah. The Head And The Heart’s long-standing luminary folk sound pulled in one of the largest crowds to ever attend the festival.
Photograph by Erin Reid Coker
One of August’s faltering days where rain overtakes the forecast to hint at autumn’s approach took place. The grass turned to mud, people huddled under trees dense with leaves for shelter, and umbrellas sprouted and flowered above heads in the crowd like colorful flower buds. Despite the wet chill in the air, people spent their entire days in the park in a slow burn of anticipation. A Brooklyn crowd cannot be beaten, for the kindest people mingled and introduced themselves over the common ground of an affinity for music.
Photograph by Erin Reid Coker
Between the spouts of drizzling rain the opener, Izzy Heltai, took the stage. The alternative folk singer provided a great introduction, for his sound was unique and the crowd received him warmly. Izzy’s lyrics were humanly raw with an unwavering braveness to them, braveness through vulnerability. The queer singer sang passionately about the cruciality of mental health and its interconnection with the queer community. He sang of relationships, places, and seasons from a very personal perspective. Though, it’s wondrous how the most personal ideas can be so universal, for each song was lifted up and represented by the audience. Heltai expressed his gratitude for the platform he commanded that evening, and for the opportunity to share the same stage as The Head And The Heart.
Photograph by Erin Reid Coker
After a brief intermission between sets and another rain shower, The Head And The Heart finally made their way onto the Bandshell stage. The murmurs of conversations abruptly shifted into eager cheers, and the tungsten lights turned blue in solidarity with The Head And The Heart’s most recent record Every Shade Of Blue. The sextet took their places behind their instruments and mics to begin the show.
Photograph by Erin Reid Coker
The Head And The Heart is an esteemed band in the music industry, having released their first record in 2011. They moved into a particular corner of folk music and consistently paid rent, delivering five total records of great esteem. Lead singer, Josiah Johnson, reminisced on the last time the band was at Celebrate Brooklyn! back in 2012. He spoke lightly about the band’s origin and journey since then and thanked everyone in the audience for supporting them all these years. Johnson introduced the rest of his band members; the impressive multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Charity Rose Thielen, guitarist Johnathan Russel, bassist Chris Zasche, drummer Tyler Williams, and pianist Kenny Hensely.
Photograph by Erin Reid Coker
Each of the members’ contributions to The Head And The Heart’s sound proved vital and intentional. They have a raw sound cultivated in production that isn’t lost but tastefully added to during their live sets. Dominant, messy, tuneful piano notes mixed with crisp and punctual percussion, all led by the melody of Rose’s violin strings, made for a distinct foundation for their collective musicality. If the emotional sensation of longing could be a sound, it would be The Head And The Heart song.
Photograph by Erin Reid Coker
Their song “Lost In My Mind” from their first self-titled album made a lasting impression on the show. Each band member’s stage presence was electrified, and the high-energy crowd fed off of it. Pockets of fans linked arms to spin and skip. Arms flung up towards the sky in praise. One audience member even lifted their head-phoned baby above the crowd, gently bouncing him to the beat of the music. Johnson shouted out the young fan between choruses to acknowledge, “baby’s first concert!” Even the trees that swallowed the stage seemed to dance.
As the sun set behind the gray sheet of rain, nature’s lights dimmed. The stage glowed through the light fog settling over the audience. Russel smiled up at the darkening clouds, “I swear it always rains when we come to New York.” The audience laughed at their state, soaked and content. For their last song on stage, Josiah made his way into the pit and through the audience. The Head And The Heart’s fans are very gracious. They made way for him and respected his space while he roamed.
Photograph by Erin Reid Coker
The band abruptly left the stage, but the audience would not accept a goodbye. There were too many songs people desperately needed to hear. Voices called out pleading for an encore. Shortly after their departure, the band returned.
They put on a three-song encore, the first of three being “The Orchid.” Lyrically, the song was a meditation on isolation and glimmers of hope that can only be spotted during dark stillness. It was so quiet in the audience that for the first time all evening, one could hear the wind brushing the trees. The last two songs were “Living Mirage,” and their most iconic song, “Rivers And Roads.” In a collective voice, the audience sang the song back to The Head And The Heart. The slow and drawn-out pounds of the drum counted out the remainder of the night. True to their sound, The Head And The Heart left Brooklyn longing for more.
Downtown Albany will host Pearlpalooza on Saturday, September 16, 2023 on North Pearl Street, with a day full of music, yoga, vending from local businesses and much more in store.
The free, all-ages music festival, returns for its 14th year, presented by Remarkable Liquids, and co-hosted by WEQX, The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District, and Sugar Productions, running from 11am to 7pm.
photo by Steve Malinski
Starting off the day will be MVP Health Care Presents YogaPalooza 2023, a street-wide mass yoga gathering event, beginning at 11am. A team of instructors from The Hot Yoga Spot will instruct and assist this free 60-minute yoga class that is perfect for all levels.
Music begins at 12pm with Sly Fox & The Hustlers, followed by The Rob Beaulieu Band at 130pm, B Chaps at 3pm, ALEXSUCKS at 4pm, and headliner Fishbone at 6pm.
Surrounding the music will be the shops and businesses of North Pearl Street, as well as high-quality local vendors, fine dining, retail, and entertainment establishments.
Parking is available at ParkAlbany’s Riverfront, Quackenbush, and Green-Hudson Garages for $8
Basic ground rules to keep in mind: no outside alcoholic beverages or glass containers; no dogs or pets, with the exception of service animals; no recording performances, and security has the right to inspect any bags brought into the event.
PearlPalooza 2023 is also presented by Nine Pin, Rare Form Brewing, Zero Gravity, Silver Therapeutics, MVP Health Care, New Scotland Spirits, ParkAlbany, O’Connell & Aronowitz, Global Partners, Putnam Place, CDTA, Homestead Funding Corp., Hampton Inn & Suites, the City of Albany, The Hollow Bar + Kitchen, and The Hot Yoga Spot.
Pearlpalooza Schedule
11:00 AM | Yogapalooza Noon | Sly Fox & The Hustlers 1:30 PM | The Rob Beaulieu Band 3:00 PM | B Chaps 4:15 PM | ALEXSUCKS 6:00 PM | Fishbone
On the heels of 2022’s Brightside album, the The Lumineers have hit the road again. August 22, with James Bay joining the fray, they made their way to Darien Lake Amphitheatre for an evening of Americana music.
After playing small gigs, open mic nights, and struggling to make ends meet under various monikers, The Lumineers were “formed” when an emcee misspoke during an introduction. Although Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites had been playing together since 2002, a working name never really happened until this mishap.
12 years after their first single, “Ho Hey” was released, The Lumineers now have 4 studio albums, 4 headliner tours, and millions of fans worldwide, in addition to a couple Grammy nominations. Of those millions of fans, a plethora of them showed up for the show at Darien Lake and sang their hearts out.
Before they were able to sing along with Jeremiah and Wesley, fans were treated to 40-minute set from English songwriter, James Bay. Very subdued in his own right, Bay had the attention of the fans who were filing into their seats in anticipation of the nights headliner.
With 3 albums and a couple EPs to his name, Bay has been nominated for a montage of music awards and has won a 7 British music awards since 2015, including Best New Act, Breakthrough Solo Artist, and Best British Solo Artist. Around 7:30pm, he let the crowd know why he has won those awards.
Classic Americana style, Bay rocked his guitar as he opened his set with “Best Fake Smile”. A song seemingly about standing up for yourself and having a voice, topics very prevalent in society.
No, you don’t have to wear your best fake smile Don’t have to stand there and burn inside Oh, oh, oh If you don’t like it
Although an opening act, the fans reactions and ability to follow along make it clear that he is a respected musician and very much a headlining act on his own.
After a 45-minute break to reset the stage and get things in order, the stage goes dark. Intermittently, we get some loud drums from the loudspeakers, timed up with stage lights to welcome The Lumineers. This goes on for about a minute or so as anticipation builds for the band make an entrance. Cell phones up high hoping to catch a glimpse or record a video clip, fans were eager.
Finally, a few minutes later, you can see an entourage of silhouettes making their way into position. The time has come to go nuts. Lights go on across the stage set and Wesley Schultz and crew announce their arrival with 2016s “Cleopatra,” “Flowers in Your Hair,” and the big “Ho Hey.”
With a stage full of musicians, there was never a shortage of entertainment to keep an eye on, or at least try to. Jeremiah Fraites ( drums/percussion, piano, mandolin, vocals), Stelth Ulvang (piano, keys, accordion, mandolin, guitar, percussion, vocals), Byron Isaacs (bass, guitar, vocals), Brandon Miller (guitar, mandolin, percussion), and Lauren Jacobsen (strings, piano, vocals). This line up screams excitement, and The Lumineers brought it all night long, with each musician displaying their talents. There wasn’t a single person here that didn’t bring the energy, and they all had a blast on stage.
Covering a good set of shows at Darien Lake this summer, I have heard some loud fans singing along with the acts. But, let me tell you this. The fans for this show blew everyone else away. There was no competition. During at least three songs, the crowd was so loud, it nearly drowned out the act on stage. Songs like “Gloria” and “Ophelia” were echoed right back to Wesley and Jeremiah as they belted out the lyrics.
Combining pop with classic Americana and a little bluegrass may not seem the norm. However, this group of amazing artists have been making it work for several years now, and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. Wesley as gathered a strong support group around him and Jeremiah and the cohesive chemistry you see on the stage is flawless. While I have heard the music before, I would have never called myself a fan. After seeing the performance with nearly 20 thousand other fans, I am hooked. Stage presence, subtle sounds, and high energy are keys to a good show, and The Lumineers put all of that and then some on display.
Set list: Cleopatra, Flowers in Your Hair, Ho Hey, Angela, WHERE ARE WE, Dead Sea, A.M. Radio, My Cell, Slow it Down, Charlie Boy, BRIGHTSIDE, Gloria, Sleep on The Floor, Ophelia, Leader of the Landslide/You Can’t Always Get What You Want, Salt and Sea, Birthday, Big Parade, Donna, Submarines, Remington, Reprise, Stubborn Love
54 years ago, Max Yasger leased out a farm field he owned for what would turn out to be one of, if not, the most noted music festivals in history. The Catbird Music Festival took to these hollowed grounds over August 19-20, in search of the spirit that is Woodstock.
The Lumineers
The name of the festival was inspired by the Catbird used in the original 1969 festival artwork. This being 2023 tie die, long hair, and bare footing could be seen co-joined with cell phones, microchipped wrist bands, and VIP and Platinum packages. No matter your status, the vibe from those attending made it impossible to distinguish 2023 from 1969.
Glamping
Camping was allowed at Bethel Woods, the first time since Mountain Jam 2019. You had your options of car camping, RV camping, or glamping in canvas tents offering either a twin or a queen bed. Throughout the grounds young and old, couples, groups and families intermingled as one.
Gala Music stage crowd
Over the course of two the days (August 19 – 20, 2023) at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 23 musical acts performed on two stages. The scheduling of sets enabled people to stroll from stage to stage and not have to choose which performers to listen to.
Women took a prominent role in the festival with Adia Vicoria and Allison Russell closing out the Gala Music stage on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Eggy played a funky and fun set to start off this full day of music. The Soul Rebels brought their authentic New Orleans, horns rich sound to Bethel. Dispatch played a reggae filled, groovy set which included a nod to the good ol Grateful Dead with a “Friend of the Devil” cover.
Trey Anastasio Band played a set filled with TAB and Phish classics including Moma Dance, About to Run, Wolfman’s Brother, and a guitar raising, feedback chasing First Tube to close out their set.
Previous attempts to emulate the original Woodstock Music and Arts Festival have not measured up. The Catbird Music Festival seems to have found the sweet spot. Let’s hope this bird will migrate back to the Hudson Valley in 2024 and build another nest of peace, love and music.
Day 1
Photos by Mickey DeneherJohn R. MillerJames BayBriscoeMargo Price49 WinchesterTrampled by Turtles Adia VictoriaBamd of HorsesThe War on DrugsThe Lumineers
Rock outfit Dogstar have announced that they will be stopping in Brooklyn as part of the tour for their upcoming album Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees, the group’s first project in over 20 years. Dogstar is made up of Bret Domrose (guitar/vocals), Robert Mailhouse (drums), and notably, Keanu Reeves (bass). The band is set to perform at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on December 11.
Founded in Los Angeles during the 90s, the group started to formulate their alt-rock sound with garage jam sessions. In 1994 Dogstar would depart on an extensive tour and a year later the collective opened for David Bowie. The band released just two albums together, Our Little Visionary in 1996 and Happy Ending in 2000. Due to the members’ other professional and artistic commitments, the group grew apart, last performing in 2002. However, Dogstar returned this year with the single “Everything Turns Around” off their upcoming album.
We are so excited to re-introduce Dogstar with our new single ‘Everything Turns Around.’ It feels like a fun summer song to us.
In addition to “Everything Turns Around” the group recently released “Breach” off of Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees. Made for the summer, both of the albums’ singles channel the Southern California energy that the band has become synonymous with. Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees is slated to drop on October 6.
Dogstar’s upcoming tour includes over 25 dates and stretches from each coast of the United States. The tour started on August 10 and runs until December 21. In addition to their American performances, the group also has three shows scheduled in Japan. Click here for tickets and more information.
Dogstar Tour Dates
8-22 Napa, CA – Uptown Theatre
8-23 Menlo Park, CA – The Guild Theatre
8-24 San Luis Obispo, CA – Fremont Theater
8-26 Ventura, CA – Ventura Music Hall
8-27 Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up
8-28 Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory
9-05 Osaka, Japan – Zepp Namba
9-06 Yokohama, Japan – KT Zepp
9-07 Yokohama, Japan – KT Zepp
11-30 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
12-03 San Francisco, CA – The Great American Music Hall
Karina Rykman has just released her debut album JOYRIDE for all to stream and enjoy. The nine-track project comes just ahead of her 2023 tour, beginning September 20 with multiple festival appearances before hand.
In light, Rykman’s debut album has been highly anticipated since its announcement, due to the singer’s uniqueness and ability to captivate an audience. Moreover, she brings an original style to fans as the album thoroughly captures Rykman’s jubilant brand of sonic exploration. Additionally bridging an array of genres to arrive at her own take on psychedelic indie rock. With this intention, the album includes the artist’s newest single “All That You Wanted” which features vocal accompaniment from Veronica Stewart-Frommer of Melt, as well as guitars from Melt guitarist Marlo Shankweiler and Phish’s Trey Anastasio.
About the Album
Equally important is that JOYRIDE features Trey Anastasio as co-producer and featured musician, contributing guitar on five of the album’s nine tracks. In turn, Anastasio has taken a profound interest in being a part of Rykman’s debut album, since encountering each other at 2021’s Peach Music Festival in Scranton, PA. As well as the Phish frontman offering the use of his storied Vermont studio, The Barn, along with the suggestion to work with renowned mixer Bryce Goggin, the collaboration was set right from the start.
Moreover, in celebration of the release, Rykman will finish up her summer schedule and head out on her largest headlined tour yet, visiting New York nooks with a sold out show in Brooklyn and a performance in Lake George.
Although her headline tour truly begins September 20th, the artist will perform in select music festivals all over the states including Thornville, OH’s Secret Dreams Music & Arts Festival, Cockeysville, MD’s Hot August Music Festival, Lake George, NY’s Adirondack Independence Music Festival, and many more. Meanwhile fans can catch the artist at the shows shown below or can simply meander to any streaming service to listen to JOYRIDE.
JOYRIDE TOUR 2023
August 18th – Thornville, OH – Secret Dreams Music & Arts Festival *
August 19th – Cockeysville, MD – Hot August Music Festival *
September 1st -3rd – Lake George, NY – Adirondack Independence Music Festival *
September 9th – Indianapolis, IN – All In Music & Arts Festival *
September 10th – Mundelein, IL – The Miracle In Mundelein *
September 15th – Fredericton, NB – Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival *
September 16th – Greenfield, MA – Wormtown Music Festival
September 17th – East Aurora, NY – Borderland Music Festival *
September 20th – Brooklyn, NY – Baby’s All Right (SOLD OUT)
September 21st – Asbury Park, NJ – Wonder Bar †
September 22nd – Baltimore, MD – The 8×10 †
September 23rd – Richmond, VA – The Camel †
September 25th – Raleigh, NC – The Pour House Music Hall †
September 26th – Asheville, NC – Asheville Music Hall †
September 28th – Charleston, SC – The Charleston Pour House †
September 29th – Atlanta, GA – Aisle 5 †
September 30th – Nashville, TN – The Blue Room at Third Man Records †
October 27th – San Diego, CA – Winstons Beach Club †
October 28th – Los Angeles, CA – Venice West †
October 29th – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel †
November 1st – Cave Junction, OR – Bruno’s Cavern †
November 2nd – Bend, OR – Volcanic Theatre Pub †
November 3rd – Portland, OR – Polaris Hall †
November 4th – Seattle, WA – High Dive †
December 1st – Burlington, VT – Nectar’s
December 2nd – Burlington, VT – Nectar’s
December 3rd – Portland, ME – Portland House of Music and Events
Utica artist Nick Vanderwood dropped his latest single “Shimmy” accompanied by a music video on August 19. “Shimmy” ushers in the next phase of Vanderwood’s artistic journey, as the track signals the incoming release of his September EP Reload. The music video premiere and subsequent live performance headlined the opening ceremonies for the first annual Dreamland Theatre Music and Arts Festival.
The release of “Shimmy” marks the second audio-visual collaboration between Nick and Utica-born filmmaker, Lukas Sunderlin. The two friends joined forces years ago for Nick’s project “Little Vacation.” Since then, the duo have moved to Los Angeles and have been consolidating their creative visions under their new media production label known as “Monomaniac.”
Reload has been in the works for many years, as Vanderwood has struggled with a chronic neck injury that has hindered his performance behind a microphone. “Shimmy” started as a product of Vanderwood’s efforts at putting together a debut album. Recorded at the artists’ home in New York Mills, the track escalated from a brief demo to a full seven-minute cinematic short film.
The project not only attests to the creativity of Sunderlin but also the strength of “Shimmy” as a song. Funky, syrupy, and full of attitude, the track is a masterful blend of guitar and bass. The song perfectly fits the mysterious sci-fi world that comes alive in the video. Directed by Sunderlin with cinematography from Scott Sweitzer, the short film is fun and genuine. The duo cultivates an intriguing and imaginative visual experience that helps to showcase Vanderwood’s unique artistic vision.
We didn’t want to just throw something together and do something cute. The new work Nick is creating has an amazing amount of energy behind it, so we wanted to make this a truly cinematic experience that could represent it appropriately.
Lukas Sunderlin
Click here for more on Nick Vanderwood, and visit here to listen to “Shimmy.”
NYC-based band Black Rose Burning released their latest single, “Night Terrors.” The new song precedes the release of their upcoming album Ad Astra on September 15.
Formed in 2018 by instrumentalist, producer and engineer George Grant, Black Rose Burning also involves guitarist Frank Morin (World Inferno Friendship Society) and drummer Luis Infantas (Monster Zero).
“Night Terrors is pretty much straight forward – if you have them, then you know,” Grant said. “If you don’t, imagine being in the middle of sleep but feeling wide awake and in a nightmare. There can even be ‘monsters’ that sometime remain in your consciousness even after you’ve woken up. Nasty business this. I tried to encapsulate the feeling in a song, but I’m not sure you could ever REALLY explain the experience. I haven’t had this happen to me in years, and I hope it never happens again honestly.”
Ad Astra is Black Rose Burning’s third studio album. In 2021, the post-punk band released their second album The Wheel, one year after debuting with The Year of the Scorpion.
Black Rose Burning is a very unique combination of Goth, Postpunk, Synthwave, Rock and Shoegaze. The project comes bearing multi-generational influences accepting no boundaries, but still maintaining an overall succinct flow and feel. Grant’s soulful vocal delivery, instantly recognizable voice, and solid instrumentation crossing several genres are standout features of this music. Roughly 40 years of songwriting across various styles helped Grant embellish on clever hooks, drive, and the gothic-pop sensibilities of The Cult’s early years.
‘Night Terrors’ is out now exclusively via Bandcamp. The Ad Astra album will be released on September 15 and available digitally on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp. That same night, Black Rose Burning will be playing their album release show at NYC’s Mercury Lounge for The Red Party.
