NYS Music 2023

Category: Genres

  • Albany Indie-Rock Group Canella Share Video for New Single “Why Can’t I?”

    Albany based indie-rock band Canella has dropped their newest single “Why Can’t I?” off their upcoming full length album Can’t Make You Smile.

    Inspired by the sounds of 2000’s alt rock, Canella have established an electric presence in NY’s Capital Region as winners of WCDB Radio’s ‘Song of the Year’ award for their debut single “Quiet Love”.

    Written on a fall afternoon, Canella lead singer Juliana sat in her bedroom and wrote a song that would haunt her forever. The sad acoustic guitar echoed the fears she was harboring regarding her relationship. Fears that came to pass months later, when all she had written to that indie rock tune came true and the relationship ended. Writing, and later performing the single helped Juliana to process the relationship ending and coming to term with her feelings. “I feel like I was performing the song even before the relationship ended but once it finally did end and I sang the lyrics again it really all clicked” says Juliana. “This person wasn’t the right one for me since I was full of doubt and fears, and I didn’t really realize that until after I heard it back once I was single and going through the grief of it all. Now I’m very happy with where I’m at”.

    Coming to all streaming platforms on February 17th, Canella’s third single off of their upcoming record Can’t Make You Smile, tells a story of disappointment, which smoothly fits the album’s overall theme of a revenge journal. This 2000’s inspired rock single starts with an unexpected bang representing the shocking realization of the ‘red flags’ in a relationship, and ends with a heavy breakdown perfect for releasing anger and frustration.

    Canella why can't I

    The chorus-y guitar-driven single will be released along with a DIY-style documentary lyric video of one of the band’s adventures through their home-base of the Capital Region. Speaking of the inspiration behind the video, Juliana speaks of wanting to permanently capture a wonderful day with friends. “At the time my friends in the band and I had very limited time together since I was only visiting them for a couple of days. I knew we were going to spend a whole day together in the city and since I had started to live far away from them, I wanted to capture candid footage of us hanging out and having a good time”.

    Juliana continues, “when I went back home and was missing them I put the videos together as a cute highlight reel of that day with “Why Can’t I” in the background, and since it made us smile we decided to add the lyrics to it and post the video on our YouTube”. The fun, carefree video of a group of friends, enjoying a night out perfectly juxtaposes the concepts of uncertainty in the future of a relationship where the parties involved can’t seem to be on the same page.

    You can follow the band’s social media for updates on their upcoming releases along with the full-length album coming out Spring 2023.

  • The Kinks Celebrate 60th Anniversary as a Group with ‘The Journey’ Anthology Release

    One of the greatest British rock bands, The Kinks, announced that in celebration of 60 years as a group, they will be releasing The Journey, a two-part special anniversary anthology.

    The Kinks

    The Kinks was formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies, adding their friend Pete Quaife, and joined by Mick Avory in early 1964. They quickly established themselves as a dominant group in the 60s, selling over 50 million records worldwide and have been streamed over a billion times. They have achieved five US Top 10 singles, nine US Top 40 albums, seventeen UK Top 20 singles, and five UK Top 10 albums, with four albums certified Gold. On top of that, multi-award-winning, legendary frontman Sir Ray Davies is widely recognized as one of the greatest British songwriters of all time.

    A host of global events and activities will be launching throughout 2023 & 2024 to mark the band’s 60th anniversary. Included in these celebrations is the two-part career-defining anthology, The Journey. The part one release, coming out March 24, will feature songs handpicked by the brothers (1964-1975), including hits like “You Really Got Me,” “Waterloo Sunset,” “All Day And All Of The Night,” “Celluloid Heroes,” “Supersonic Rocket Ship,” “Dead End Street,” and “Death Of A Clown.” Ray Davies muses to “Ask yourself the question, is this journey really necessary?…….Yes!” Dave Davies continues “I’m delighted with what I think is an inspiring selection of timeless and magical Kinks music.”

    The Journey – Part 1 will be released on 2CD, 2LP, Digital and HD Digital albums. The physical formats contain a booklet with band photos and personal track-by-track notes. Details of the The Journey – Part 2 will follow later this year. To preorder The Journey – Part 1, visit here.

    RELEASE FORMATS:

    2LP

    Side 1

    Songs about becoming a man, the search for adventure, finding an identity and a girl:

    1.        You Really Got Me (UK#1, 1964)

    2.        All Day And All Of The Night (UK#2, 1964)

    3.        It’s All Right (1964)

    4.        Who’ll Be The Next In Line (1965)

    5.        Tired Of Waiting For You (UK#1, 1965)

    6.        She’s Got Everything (1968)

    7.        Just Can’t Go To Sleep (1964)

    8.        Stop Your Sobbing (1964)

    9.        Wait Till The Summer Comes Along (1965)

    10.      So Long (1965)

    Side 2

    Songs of ambition achieved, bitter taste of success, loss of friends, the past comes back and bites you in the backside:

    1.        Dead End Street (UK#5, 1966)

    2.        Schooldays (1975)

    3.        The Hard Way (1975)

    4.        Mindless Child Of Motherhood (1969)

    5.        Supersonic Rocket Ship (UK#2, 1972)

    6.        I’m In Disgrace (1975)

    7.        Do You Remember Walter? (1968)

    Side 3

    Days and nights of a lost soul, songs of regret and reflection of happier times:

    1.        Too Much On My Mind (1966)

    2.        Nothin’ In The World Can Stop Me Worryin’ ‘Bout That Girl (1965)

    3.        Days (UK#2, 1968)

    4.        Where Have All The Good Times Gone (1965)

    5.        Strangers (1970)

    6.        It’s Too Late (1965)

    7.        Sitting In The Midday Sun (1973)

    Side 4

    A new start, a new love, but have you really changed? Still haunted by the quest and the girl:

    1.        Waterloo Sunset (UK#2, 1967)

    2.        No More Looking Back (1975)

    3.        Death Of A Clown (UK#3, 1967)

    4.        Celluloid Heroes (1972)

    5.        Act Nice And Gentle (1967)

    6.        This Is Where I Belong (1967)

    2CD

    CD1

    Songs about becoming a man, the search for adventure, finding an identity and a girl:

    

    1.        You Really Got Me (UK#1, 1964)

    2.        All Day And All Of The Night (UK#2, 1964)

    3.        It’s All Right (1964)

    4.        Who’ll Be The Next In Line (1965)

    5.        Tired Of Waiting For You (UK#1, 1965)

    6.        Dandy (Germany#1, 1966)

    7.        She’s Got Everything (1968)

    8.        Just Can’t Go To Sleep (1964)

    9.        Stop Your Sobbing (1964)

    10.      Wait Till The Summer Comes Along (1965)

    11.      So Long (1965)

    12.      I’m Not Like Everybody Else (1966)

    Songs of ambition achieved, bitter taste of success, loss of friends, the past comes back and bites you in the backside:

    13.      Dead End Street (UK#5, 1966)

    14.      Wonderboy (1968)

    15.      Schooldays (1975)

    16.      The Hard Way (1975)

    17.      Mindless Child Of Motherhood (1969)

    18.      Supersonic Rocket Ship (UK#2, 1972)

    19.      I’m In Disgrace (1975)

    20.      Do You Remember Walter? (1968)

    CD2

    Days and nights of a lost soul, songs of regret and reflection of happier times:

    1.        Too Much On My Mind (1966)

    2.        Nothin’ In The World Can Stop Me Worryin’ ‘Bout That Girl (1965)

    3.        Days (UK#2, 1968)

    4.        Last Of The Steam-Powered Trains (1968)

    5.        Where Have All The Good Times Gone (1965)

    6.        Strangers (1970)

    7.        It’s Too Late (1965)

    8.        Sitting In The Midday Sun (1973)

    A new start, a new love, but have you really changed? Still haunted by the quest and the girl:

    9.        Waterloo Sunset (UK#2, 1967)

    10.      Australia (1969)

    11.      No More Looking Back (1975)

    12.      Death Of A Clown (UK#3, 1967)

    13.      Celluloid Heroes (1972)

    14.      Act Nice And Gentle (1967)

    15.      This Is Where I Belong (1967)

    16.      Shangri-La (1969)

  • In Focus: Viagra Boys at Elsewhere

    Viagra Boys made a triumphant return to New York City on February 15 with the first of three straight sold-out shows at Elsewhere. Sebastian Murphy, irreverent as always, led the six-piece band through a pulsating set that included eight songs from 2022 release Cave World.

    The six-piece Viagra Boys hail from Sweden, with Murphy having grown up in California before making the move to Europe and forming the band. And after the set of three shows in Brooklyn, the band is taking this particular leg of their tour to Boston, Montréal, and making a quick rip across the continent to finish the tour in Seattle on March 4.

    Having just played a show at Brooklyn Steel in October, Murphy immediately embraced the feel of the significantly smaller venue that is the Hall at Elsewhere. Between the band’s tight musical performance and Murphy’s self-aware and often hilarious stage banter, the crowd was fully engaged with the performance from the outset.

    While Murphy is certainly the center of attention in the universe that is the Viagra Boys, saxophone Oscar Carls is a very close second, mixing it up with both the crowd and the rest of the band throughout the set, rocking very short shorts and making outstanding contributions to the performance with his instrument along the way.

    By the time the set was over, the crowd was thoroughly satisfied, and Murphy assured everyone that this show would be the best of the three in Brooklyn, predicting a massive hangover ahead of the rest of the stint in the city.

    The Steens, a band from Orange County, California, opened the show with a quick burst set of fast garage rock tunes—one of which was a cover of the Brian Jonestown Massacre’s “Oh Lord”—and plenty of energy.

    Setlist: Ain’t No Thief, Ain’t Nice, Punk Rock Loser, Baby Criminal, Slow Learner, Big Boy, It Ain’t Enough, Cold Play, Creepy Crawlers, Liquids, Troglodyte, Sports, Shrimp Shack
    Encore: Worms, Research Chemicals

    Viagra Boys

    The Steens

  • Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band to play JMA Dome this September

    Though The Boss is on tour right now hitting venues in the south, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have promised a return up North. The band announced additional shows in 18 cities to round out their International tour, including at the JMA Dome in Syracuse and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. 

    When their 2023 tour opened in Tampa this February, it had been seven years since Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band last toured in North America. The band has returned with a bang, playing 28-song sets to stadiums across the country. This extended tour means Springsteen will be on the road all year, but as fans know, he was “Born to Run.” 

    Bruce Springsteen

    Springsteen’s newest album, Only the Strong Survive, was released last year. This latest record maintains Springsteen’s storytelling prowess with that twinge of soul that denotes his classic sound. That twinge is amplified with two features from R&B artist Sam Moore. Reports on his tour so far from Rolling Stone and SPIN promise emotional and energetic stage presence.

    Fans can look forward to hearing Springsteen favorites, most known for “I’m on Fire,” “The River,” “Born in the U.S.A,” and dozens of other songs that have since entered the canon of all-American rock n’ roll. Register here before February 19 to buy tickets starting Friday, February 24 at 10 a.m.

    August 9 — Chicago, IL — Wrigley Field

    August 16 — Philadelphia, PA — Citizens Bank park

    August 18 — Philadelphia, PA — Citizens Bank park

    August 24 — Foxborough, MA — Gillette Stadium

    August 28 — Washington, DC — Nationals Park

    August 30 — East Rutherford, NJ — MetLife Stadium

    September 1 — East Rutherford, NJ — MetLife Stadium

    September 7 — Syracuse, NY — JMA Dome

    September 9 — Baltimore, MD — Oriole Park at Camden Yards

    September 12 — Pittsburgh, PA — PPG Paints Arena

    November 3 — Vancouver, BC — Rogers Arena

    November 6 — Edmonton, AB — Rogers Place

    November 8 — Calgary, AB — Scotiabank Saddledome

    November 10 — Winnipeg, MB — Canada Life Centre

    November 14 — Toronto, ON — Scotiabank Arena

    November 16 — Toronto, ON — Scotiabank Arena

    November 18 — Ottawa, ON — Canadian Tire Centre

    November 20 — Montreal, QC — Centre Bell

    November 30 — Phoenix, AZ — Footprint Center

    December 4 — Inglewood, CA — Kia Forum

    December 6 — Inglewood, CA — Kia Forum

    December 8 — San Francisco, CA — Chase Center

  • Reuben Vincent Releases “February 13th” To Commemorate Black Love Day

    Young elite lyricist and producer Reuben Vincent announced the release of a new video for his soundtrack, “February 13th”. The soundtrack is from his recently released Jamla/Roc Nation debut album Love Is War.

    “February 13th” entails Reuben and fellow Jamla/Roc Nation star Rapsody diving into the Love Is War theology and dissecting the complexities of relationships/situationships. The soundtrack highlights “Black Love Day”, a day designed to demonstrate love, forgiveness and acceptance among black people.  

    Conceptually, Love Is War is an acknowledgement that as young black men I feel like we aren’t taught, and given the tools of how to love properly. We don’t know how to love our people, our women, our brothers; and most importantly ourselves. 

    Reuben Vincent

    Love Is War addresses the importance of self-love so that it can be possible to love others correctly. Vincent reveals that his goal is to establish a proper sense of self love for himself. The soundtrack is titled “February 13th” because of his realization that love is a constant battle to get to that center in your life. People battle themselves daily, to reach a place where they can both love and be loved.”

    There is no doubt that Reuben Vincent was born to win. Recently named one of HipHopDX’s Rising Stars Of 2023, Vincent has spent the last few years honing his artistry. He was guided by Hip-Hop greats 9th Wonder and Young Guru.  

    Before the creation of “February 13th” Vincent and Rasposdy were living with Young Guru in LA during the pandemic. The three woke up together, shared experiences with one another, and learned from each other. According to Rapsody, the soundtrack and music video highlights their encounters with love. Vincent also says, “It was the day before Valentine’s Day so we wanted to make this the break up song. Everyone who is a part of this record experienced real emotions to get to this point.” The artist’s transparency allows you to feel genuine emotion as you listen to the soundtrack.

    Reuben’s Jamla/Roc Nation debut album, Love Is War, is an emotional project that will place him at the forefront of debates about the new rap greats. Vincent uses warm soulful beats from 9th Wonder, Young Guru, The Soul Council and his own production, to unpack relationships and romantic entanglements. “February 13th” also features guest appearances from Reason (TDE), Domani and Stacey Barthe. 

    Reuben Vincent’s Love Is War is now available at all DSP’s via Jamla/Roc Nation Records. You can also purchase, stream, add and favorite Reuben Vincent’s Love Is War here.

  • Chest Fever Pays Tribute To The Band With Freeze in the North Tour, Buffalo and Rochester shows

    San Diego’s Chest Fever have announced their Freeze in the North Tour, with stops in New York on March 7th and 8th. The tour is a tribute to the legendary rock group The Band. 

    With the blessing of Robbie Robertson and The Band, Chest Fever will perform classics from The Band’s oeuvre. Expect to hear songs from the group’s classic 1968 debut album Music from Big Pink, The Last Waltz, and Rock of Ages. Chest Fever will also recreate The Band’s celebrated 1969 performance at the Woodstock Music & Art Fair.

    chest fever band

    The five-member band, Chest Fever is led by the guitarist Dan Cervantes. The band also features keyboard player Jody Bagley, bass player Blake Dean, and drummers Chad Lee and Allan Ritter.  The group was ignited by a consciousness-changing West Coast tour in 2015. 

    After a series of successful tours tributing iconic performances from The Band, Chest Fever are turning back the clock to the group’s celebrated debut album. In 1967 The Band perfected their sound through various recording sessions with Bob Dylan in West Saugerties, New York. They composed in a house known as “Big Pink” and shared with members Rick Dano, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson. In this house, albums that would later be recorded in studios in Los Angeles and New York were created. Music from Big Pink laid the foundation for The Band’s signature blend of rock, soul, country, R&B, blues and more. To accurately acclaim the success of The Band, Chest Fever religiously revisits material from Music from Big Pink. They also review staples from the rest of The Band’s celebrated catalog, with classics like “The Shape I’m In,” “Makes No Difference,” “Up On Cripple Creek,” and more.  

    The Freeze In The North Tour will recreate two timeless live performances such as “Rock of Ages” and “The Last Waltz”. For the reenactment of “The Last Waltz”, Chest Fever recruited an all-star cast featuring Scarlet Rivera, Albert Lee, Tom “Bones” Malone, Marc Ford, Jack Tempchin, and others. 

    In previous tours Chest Fever performed with an evolving cast of local horn and brass players. They’ve played with members from TV on the Radio’s horn section to recreate the contributions from Howard Johnson, Snooky Young, Joe Farrell and more. 

    Chest Fever have additionally released new music under their Mrs. Henry moniker. The second part of the band’s three-part album and rock opera series, “Keep On Rising – Act II: Faith, Fate and Hope in The Land of Nothing Matters”, follows the hero’s journey by amplifying the twists and turns in the band’s expansive narrative scope. Act II highlights the group’s knack for heady studio wizardry, compelling sonic dynamics, and an all-encompassing narrative vision. 

    TOUR DATES

    3/1 Columbus, OH @ The Summit Music Hall

    *3/2 Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird Music Hall

    3/3 Cleveland, OH @ Winchester Music Tavern

    3/4 Detroit, MI @ Token Lounge

    3/7 Buffalo, NY @ Buffalo Iron Works 

    3/8 Rochester, NY @ Photo City Music Hall

    3/9 Ottawa, ON, CA @ Mavericks

    3/10 Kingston, ON, CA @ The Mansion

    3/11 Toronto, ON, CA @ Horseshoe Tavern

    3/12 St Catherines, ON, CA @ Warehouse Niagara 

    *w/ Butler Street Revival

  • De La Soul is From the Soul: Remembering Trugoy

    When TMZ first reported on February 12 that De La Soul’s Dave “Trugoy the Dove” Jolicoeur had passed away, there was an outpouring of respect and support throughout social media. And for good reason, the 54-year-old Long Island native was not only one of hip hop’s most innovative rhymers, he had the catalogue and accolades to back it up. However, Plug 2’s value to the hip hop community isn’t based on his achievements on a commercial scale. For many, De La Soul represents the happiest times of their formative years, the boom era where hip hop wasn’t this high-functioning corporate machine, but when the art was still based around thoughts, feelings and the power to dare to be different, the organic way.

    Embed from Getty Images

    Hailing from the same Long Island outskirts that produced the likes of Chuck D, Rakim and Biz Markie, De La Soul’s contributions to hip hop and the black experience overall was one of normalcy. In an ever-changing rap landscape that had adopted an in-your-face brashness amid Public Enemy, NWA and Rakim’s rise, De La Soul served as the buoyant middle ground between the brazen and squeaky clean rappers of the day. While the group’s success is the product of four like minded creative vanguards (Posdnous, Trugoy, Maseo and Prince Paul) there’s no doubting that Trugoy embodied their very essence. Even as their music matured in between 3 Feet High and Rising and Stakes is High, Dave’s laidback effervescence remained a constant.

    https://youtu.be/tD_crXNhzKs

    Trugoy and De La Soul’s Impact

    In an era where black extremism seemed to be the new norm in hip hop, De La Soul brought a fresh point-of-view to life as a black young adult. With their quirky melodies, lighthearted approach, and genre-bending use of samples and rapping styles, the Amityville Memorial High products helped bring the other black experience to prominence. The one where you had fun, nobody got hurt, police was not involved and everything was okay. As a result, their music offered an alternative to contemporaries as their experiences as suburban black youth afforded them a broadened, colorblind view to artistry.

    Embed from Getty Images

    Consequently, their idiosyncratic point of view saddled them with a “hippie” gimmick from their record label. After all, black plight had long been one of America’s main soundtracks. For their part, De La Soul refused to portray themselves as victims to anything but wacky outfits. With their D.A.I.S.Y. (Da Inner Sound Ya’ll) mantra, De La Soul epitomizes hip hop’s ethos of “keeping it real.” Along with other members of the Natives Tongues, De LA Soul brought about a musical and social balance to the hip hop landscape. However, they remained true to themselves, refusing to be boxed into the alternative hip hop mold that was building around them.

    De La Soul is Dead was a backlash of feeling that way about the industry. About how our art was being compromised. I think people’s point of view of what we were trying to do — it seemed as if they were pointing their hands at us like, these guys are basically here to represent something that we believe that they are, and they’re going to act the way we think they’re supposed to. It was like, no, that’s not who we are. It’s not what we’re doing, and it’s not what we feel. You feel emotional when things happen inside, and we just gotta let it out through music.

    -Trugoy the Dove in an interview with Kickstarter Magazine

    At the heart of it all was Dave, whose creatively juxtaposing role as Trugoy resonated with many around the world, with De La Soul serving as an inspiration and pushing the budding careers of several acts, including Yasiin Bey and Common. With iconic group’s back catalogue set to hit streaming services on March 3, we can be assured that De La Soul will never be dead.

  • Bush performs to Sold-out crowd at Del Lago

    Multi-platinum rock legend Bush performed at The Vine at Del Lago Resort & Casino with support from DEVORA for a sold-out concert. This was just one of the heavy-hitting concerts the venue has drawn in since the post-covid era, and it continues to be a powerhouse for events in the area.

    Kicking off the night was DEVORA, a fresh face in the music scene hailing from Arizona in which front-woman Ariel Devora Levitan describes the genre as “Outlaw Pop.” This is a suitable description as each song performed blended between different genres. Taking the stage dressed in cowboy boots and a hat with a large scorpion necklace, you immediately sense the outlaw country vibes.

    Opening up with the band’s hit “Not Dead Yet,” DEVORA set the show’s pace with an easy listening introduction. Fans were well receptive to the performance as the band transitioned between their songs such as “God Is Dead,” “Fist Fight,” and “Wild West.” Overall, the three-piece band was a tight group that sounded good together and was a fine opener for Bush. With the amount of popularity in the Outlaw genre, I fully expect DEVORA to rise and be included on more tours and festivals quickly.

    It was time for Bush to take the stage and the crowd was getting roudy in anticipation. The lights go out, and the crowd erupts as the band takes the stage with their new song “Identity” from their most recent album “The Art of Survival.” With a glowing orange light show, singer Gavin Rossdale runs across the stage not missing a beat.

    It’s almost like Rossdale is in a musical trance when performing, his body seems to flow freely to the music in sync and the power of his vocals carry through the venue. Bush always puts on a great live show, and this was no exception. Many bands tend to sound overly produced compared to when they perform live, however Bush always delievers a performance that, in my opinion, sounds better than their studio work.

    Bush performed a respectable 16 song set that included many of their hits, such as “Machine Head” right away as the second song. The band didn’t take any breaks and flowed through each song flawlessly. During “Bullet Holes,” Rossdale jumped down from the stage and ran into the crowd to give his performance which was obviously very well recieved.

    Hearing Bush perform their newer music as well as the classics was fun and a grea experience. It’s exciting to see how bands that have been around as long as Bush have continue to make music and deviate from their older sounds. Bush showcased their talent and why they can still sell-out venues with this performance, delievering a fantastic encore which included “The Kingdom,” “Glycerine,” and “Comedown.”

    Bush doesn’t seem to be slowing down at all, especially with the recent announcement they will be touring with Breaking Benjamin this spring. If you have the chance to see Bush, go see them, it’s a really fun show that sounds as good as they do in the studio.

    Setlist: Indentity > Machine Head > Blood River > The Chemicals Between Us > Bullet Holes > The Sound of Winter > Flowers on a Grave > Everything Zen > 1000 Years > Quicksand > Heavy Is the Ocean > More Than Machines > Little Things > The Kingdom > Glycerine > Comedown

    Bush

    DEVORA

  • Cohoes Music Hall Announces Four New Events

    The historic Cohoes Music Hall has announced the addition of four new events to their events calendar. Comedians, magicians and musicians will add to Cohoes Music Hall’s already diverse schedule, with something for audiences of all ages.

    Cohoes Music Hall originally opened in 1874 where it served as the regions premier music and entertainment hall. Acts like Buffalo Bill Cody, John Philip Sousa, P.T. Barnum, and General Tom Thumb passed through the hall until its closure in 1905. After a million dollar restoration, the Hall reopened in 1975, 100 years after its original opening. Since the reopening, it has been the home to various theater groups, comedy shows, and live concerts and it remains the 4th oldest operational music hall in the United States.

    New Events

    The Great Van Alden ft. Eric Mead – Friday March 3rd

    A one-of-a-kind experience takes the stage, promising its audience a peek behind the curtain at the magic of filmmaking (literally). When world-class magician Eric Mead offered to play the titular role of the famous illusionist in their new film “Anomaly”, local filmmakers Spencer Sherry (Stephen King’s The Monkey) and Rahn Jenkins immediately thought of The Cohoes Music Hall as the perfect theatre location to shoot in. The filmmakers then saw an opportunity to forgo the traditional crowdfunding structure in favor of a unique and singular event that helps to fund the film, while also inviting the community to portray much-needed audience extras.

    Ticket holders will be directed from stage as the Emmy-winning members of the production team will film Eric Mead in character engaging with the audience in character. Other entertainers will weave seamlessly between the takes, performing mentalism, illusions, and comedy. All the while, local artist Lexi Hannah will be creating a live painting of the event, which will be auctioned off upon its completion. Overall, the experience has been designed as a non-stop variety show of different art forms, all in support of a truly magical opportunity for the local arts scene. All proceeds will go towards completing the film and paying the local cast and crew for their work on the production.

    Melvin Seals & JGB – Saturday April 8th

    Melvin Seals has been a powerful presence in the music industry for over 30 years with a long-established reputation as a performer, recording artist and producer. Melvin is most revered for his powerful, high-spirited, Hammond B-3 organ, and keyboards in the Jerry Garcia Band. Melvin spun his B-3 magic with the Jerry Garcia Band for 18 years and in doing so helped pioneer and define what has now become “Jam Band Music”. From blues to funk to rock to jazz, Melvin Seals serves up a tasty mix with a little R&B and gospel thrown in to spice things up.

    Jimmy Dore – Saturday June 10th

    The Jimmy Dore Show is a comedy lifeline for people on the left and right (but definitely NOT the center) who are sick of bought politicians and gaslighting corporate journalists manufacturing consent for wars. A certified YouTube sensation, The Jimmy Dore Show boasts over 530 million views and over 1 million subscribers.

    Don’t Iron While The Strike Is Hot – Saturday June 17th

    The musical Don’t Iron While the Strike is Hot! tells the fascinating story of how a group of courageous and mostly Irish young women won the strike by their determination and the support of the local Iron Molders Union.  Through storytelling enhanced with traditional Irish music and dance, the show demonstrates how they set the example for thousands of women workers who would form unions in the following years across America in order to improve their wages and working conditions.

    For a full schedule of events, and to purchase tickets, visit Cohoes Music Hall’s website.

  • In Focus: Fitz and the Tantrums On Their “Let Yourself Free Tour” Swing by Webster Hall

    On Friday, February 8th, Fitz and the Tantrums stopped by the beloved Webster Hall during their “Let Yourself Free” tour. From the moment Fitz and his talented band took the stage, the crowd was swept away by their electrifying performance. Supported by 20-year-old Sammy Rash all tour, the show had a mix of upbeat pop and rock, animating and electrifying the crowd. 

    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

    Originally only supposed to support Fitz and the Tantrums on their California dates (San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sacramento), Sammy Rash is a chill pop artist who makes music in his garage. While relatively new to the music sector, he’s already garnered an extremely loyal fanbase of over 1.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify over the past 2 years. He plans on dropping more indie beach pop singles every month and has already released 2 songs this year. 

    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

    Fitz and the Tantrums are an American indie pop and neo soul band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2008. With the soulful and powerful vocals of Michael “Fitz” Fitzpatrick and Noelle Scaggs had everyone on their feet, dancing along with the rest of the crowd.

    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

    With a mix of upbeat pop, rock, and soul, the bands energy kept everyone moving and enthusiastic all night long. The colorful lights and dynamic stage presence of the band created an atmosphere that felt like a high-energy carnival. With each song, the crowd grew more and more animated, clapping, singing, and jumping along to the beat. Playing some of their most notable songs like “Out of My Leauge” and “Livin’ for the Weekend”, the concert was the perfect place to let loose, dance, and revel in the joy of music.

    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

    Sammy is still touring with Fitz and the Tantrums, and the tour ends on February 16th in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Keep an eye on their social media for any new show announcements.

    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

    Sammy Rash Setlist: bad day, best friends, Replay [Iyaz cover], smile more, winter

    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

    Fitz and The Tantrums Webster Hall Setlist: Sway, Heaven, OCD, Good Intentions, 123456, Complicated, Out of My League, Livin’ for the Weekend, Fool, MoneyMaker, 6AM, Silver Platter, Let Yourself Free, I Just Wanna Shine, All the Feels, The Walker

    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma