Category: Pop

Travis Kelce hosts Saturday Night Live with Musical Guest Kelsea Ballerini

Athletes have a long history of being great hosts on Saturday Night Live, and two-time Super Bowl champion Travis Kelce added his name to the list when he hosted this week’s episode, with musical guest Kelsea Ballerini.

Following a Fox News Morning Show spoof as the cold open, Kelce presented himself on stage, fitting in naturally from the start. With his mom, dad and brother Jason (a Center for the Philadelphia Eagles) sitting in the front row, he poked fun at himself and his reality show Catching Kelce, as well as the awkwardness in beating your brother in the Super Bowl.

After Travis Kelce showed his range in “American Girl Diner” and “Mama’s Funeral,” Kelce played it straight (literally) to Bowen Yang in “Straight Male Friend,” an instant classic of commercial parodies, this one doubling as a medication ad.

For Kelsea Ballerini’s first performance, the pop singer performed “Blindsided,” from Rolling Up the Welcome Mat, released on Valentines Day 2023. With a six-piece band backing Ballerini with three off to each side of her, the singer, clad in a skin tight black outfit with a silhouetted dancer mirroring her performance behind a changing blue and white screen.

During the song, the recent divorcee added in a jab at ex Morgan Evans, adding in a new line that referenced Evans’ new breakup single “Over for You.” As “Blindsided” ended, Ballerini sang, “Now you’re singin’ it loud on the radio like you’re the only heart that breaks / You would’ve searched the whole world over? Yeah, sure, OK.” Overall, an assertive and impressive performance by Ballerini.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHcPOULdO-s&list=PLS_gQd8UB-hKvb96LwUXHBeIlHyxIeY1N&index=8

For Ballerini’s second song of the night, she performed in a white floor-length gown with only a pianist on stage for a rendition of “Penthouse,” also off Rolling Up the Welcome Mat. Ballerini sang, “Kissed someone new last night / But now I don’t know where you’re sleeping, baby / We got along real nice, until I wanted out, now I know you hate me.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2u7P5M9dbU&list=PLS_gQd8UB-hKvb96LwUXHBeIlHyxIeY1N&index=15

Saturday Night Live is all new on March 11 with host Jenna Ortega (Wednesday Addams) and musical guest The 1975.

March 6, 2023
BTS’ SUGA Announces Global Tour Stopping in New York

SUGA, a South Korean rapper, songwriter, producer and member of 21st century pop icons, BTS announced his first-ever solo international tour. The tour begins with two nights at the UBS Arena in Belmont Park, NY, on April 26th & 27th. There will also be a show at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, on April 29.

SUGA, also known as Yunki Min, is globally known for his record producing abilities. What makes this pop star special is his personal sense of musical philosophy, constantly pushing the boundaries through his works on BTS albums, solo projects and collaborations with other artists. The young Korean rapper has made music with Juice WRLD, Max, and So-ra Lee. SUGA has also contributed with the production the remix version of Coldplay x BTS’ “My Universe,” an Original Soundtrack for HYBE’s original story 7FATES

BTS is an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Beyond the Scene”. They are a GRAMMY-nominated South Korean boy band that has been capturing the hearts of millions of fans globally since their debut in June 2013. Members consist of RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook The band has established themselves as 21st century pop icons breaking countless world records through their self-produced music, elite performances, and interactions with their fans. After BTS’ 2014 Skool Luv Affair, various BTS’s songs were produced by SUGA.

Produced by HYBE, BIGHIT MUSIC and Live Nation, the tour will begin in April and finish in June Tickets can be purchased here.

SUGA | AGUST D TOUR DATES:

Wed Apr 26 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena

Thu Apr 27 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena

Sat Apr 29 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center

Wed May 03 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena

Fri May 05 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena

Sat May 06 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena

Wed May 10 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum

Thu May 11 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum

Sun May 14 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum

Tue May 16 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena

Wed May 17 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena

Fri May 26 – Jakarta, ID – Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE BSD) Hall 5-6

Sat May 27 – Jakarta, ID – Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE BSD) Hall 5-6

Sun May 28 – Jakarta, ID – Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE BSD) Hall 5-6

Sat June 10 – Bangkok, TH – Impact Arena

Sun June 10 – Bangkok, TH – Impact Arena

Sat June 17 – Singapore, SG – Singapore Indoor Stadium

Sun June 18 – Singapore, SG – Singapore Indoor Stadium

Sat June 24 – Seoul, KR – Jamsil Indoor Stadium

Sun June 25 – Seoul, KR – Jamsil Indoor Stadium

Japan dates to be announced soon

March 4, 2023
Olivia Reid Releases Indie-Pop Single “Runner’s High”

NYC-based indie-pop artist Olivia Reid has just released her newest single “Runner’s High,” on March 3rd. This new eclectic single serves as a self-reflection of Olivia’s dedication to her path to success, above all of the challenges.

Olivia grabs the attention of her listeners with potent lyrics and a pumping beat. “Runners High” carries you through a musical journey perfect for a windows-down drive or an outdoor festival. She states, “’Runner’s High’ describes the way I’ve conditioned myself to be a workhorse. A product of growing up in America, I guess.”

https://soundcloud.com/oliviareidmusic/01-runners-high/s-YYqgd8587s7

Based in NYC, Reid’s production style blends indie acoustics with exploratory electronic pop soundscapes, landing listeners in a visceral sonic world. Reid’s interests are diversified, exploring areas such as screenwriting, neuroscience, digesting current events, advocating for nature.

Currently, Olivia is involved with Brian Eno’s charity EarthPercent, she also formerly hosted Spotify For Artists and Notable’s Song Start podcast. Thus, where she interviewed artists like Sam Smith, Victoria Monet, Hayley Williams of Paramore.

As a self-proclaimed “chronic collaborator,” Olivia Reid has connected with audiences around the world via collaborations such as “Time is Mine” with Kidswaste, “What You Came Here For” with Jae Luna, and “Above the Clouds” with SŸDE. Her music has been featured in Flaunt Magazine, Brooklyn Vegan, The New Yorker, and American Songwriter and has been added to several official Spotify playlists like Happy Pop, Metropolis, Chill Tracks, Sunday Session, Dance Hits, and Golden Hour, garnering her over 40 million streams.

Olivia Reid’s debut EP Earth Water hit streaming platforms in 2021, with new songs on the way in 2023. Fueled by deeply personal lyrics and boundary-pushing production, the new project conceptually details an artist’s slow descent into madness.

To listen to “Runner’s High,” click the Spotify link here.

For more about Olivia Reid, click the link to her website here.

March 3, 2023
In Focus: Regina Spektor Captivates Sold-Out Ithaca Crowd

Regina Spektor made her long awaited return to Ithaca on Wednesday, March 1, playing to a sold-out crowd at the State Theater. The much-anticipated performance was Spektor’s first in Ithaca since 2016 and was the first stop on her spring solo tour. The show, originally scheduled for October 2022, had been postponed after Spektor contracted Covid-19.

As the clock approached 8:30, excitement in the theater became palpable, with the sold-out crowd eagerly awaiting Spektor’s arrival. Moments later, the house lights dimmed, and Spektor strutted to the front of the stage. She greeted the crowd with an excited wave and a curtsy before launching into the a-cappella track “Ain’t No Cover.” Spektor immediately had a captive hold of her audience.

Following the opening number, Spektor took her familiar seat in front of her piano and continued her diverse musical journey. A classically trained pianist at heart, Spektor has been performing on the piano since the age of six. Tracks like “Folding Chair” and “Better” took new life while being stripped to their piano-laden foundation. She delighted the audience with the quirky “Reginasaurus” (while her guitar was being tuned for “That Time,”), sang in three languages on “Apres Moi”, and showed off her storytelling abilities with the cryptic and political “Ballad of a Politician”. Despite the emotional nature of her music, Spektor kept the mood light between songs, telling comical stories of failed rehearsal attempts prior to the evening’s show.

With the evening winding to a close, Spektor delighted the crowd with “Fidelity,” a standout track from her 2006 album Begin To Hope. The audience joined in, singing along on the catchy chorus. Following the song, Spektor left the stage briefly, to a standing ovation. She returned moments later, and obliged the audience with a previous request; by performing the emotional ballad “Samson”. The audience, in complete silence, hung on her every word until the end.

It is a rare feat in this day and age to see an audience so fully immersed in a live performance, but Regina Spektor clearly held a captive spell over the theater. A glance around the room was not met with the glow of cellphones, but rather audience members hanging on Spektor’s every note. It is a true testament to her talents as a songwriter and performer.

March 3, 2023
Brazilian Pop Star, Gabby B releases New R&B/Pop Single titled “Violins”

Brazilian songstress Gabby Bueno, commonly recognized as Gabby B, has released her new single titled “Violins,” from her latest project, The Essentials. Emphasizing women empowerment, the uptempo R&B/pop song urges women to reclaim their rightful position after a relational woe.

Gabby was born in Goiania, Brazil to a performer mother and a father who was a professional master of martial arts. Due to her parent’s professions, Gabby was synchronized with two worlds that ignited her passion to entertain. In 2020, Gabby accumulated over 3 million followers on Tik Tok through her captivating personality and viral videos and continues to advance her career as an international pop singer with stellar music.

On February 4, Gabby B performed the National Anthem at the It’s Me Brands’ Celebrity Basketball Classic, in Las Vegas. The charity game also features Trevon Diggs, and a host of other top athletes in the league.

As a novice in the industry, Gabby made seven music videos, with six of those songs appearing on her first EP, Therapy. Following this, Gabby took to the stage at the Brazilian Festival, opening for the Brazilian sensation Iza. Not long after, Gabby toured with High School Nation during their South Florida run and performed live at Rolling Loud.

Fans can stream Violins on all streaming platforms. For more information on Gabby B please visit here.

March 2, 2023
The Action House: Long Island’s Forgotten Music Venue

New York City is home to dozens of iconic music venues, from the Apollo Theater to Radio City Music Hall. But while these glamorous theaters continue to stand the test of time, others live on in memory rather than physical form.

Take CBGB, which closed in 2006. The dark and dingy space nurtured the emerging NY punk scene throughout the 70s, hosting the Ramones and Blondie among others. Now, the punks might be saddened to find, it is home to a high-end Italian art gallery.

But there is one venue, located in Island Park, NY that is even less talked about –The Action House – perhaps Long Island’s premier music venue in the 60’s and 70’s. It was the epitome of cool and a nurturing force for the local music scene, yet it was often overshadowed by New York City’s powerful glow.

The Action House, located in Island Park, NY – Photo from mindsmokemusic.com

But the Action House had its own unique vibe. It had grit, grime and a rebellious streak all its own. Part dance hall, part club (a common configuration of the time), the venue was also capable of pulling in big name acts like the Doors and Canned Heat.

In perhaps one of the Action House’s most infamous shows, the Doors took the stage for a two night performance on June 16 and 17th, 1967. Legend has it that on the first night, Jim Morrison slugged 15 shots of Jack Daniels whiskey back to back before taking the stage. He would attempt it again once more mid-set. While the first night was certainly one for the ages, the second night was perhaps the Door’s shortest and most lackluster performance ever. The hungover Morrison didn’t sing much, instead moaning into the microphone until his bandmates decided to drag him off the stage.

Jim Morrison Performs at the Action House in Island Park, NY – Photo from Mild Equator

Adding to the intrigue, the Action House was also owned by Phil Basile, a known associate of the Lucchese crime family mob. This wasn’t necessarily out of the ordinary for the era, but it did invite a world of chaos and an interesting crowd into the fold of the Action House.

Mike Ricciardella, drummer for The Illusion, described it like this:

“The Action House was a wild place back then. The bouncers were nuts and very wild! The drug scene was wild! The chick scene was wild! The parking lot scene was the wildest, though. Really nuts. The parking lot was the place where the crowd hung out and got high. Inside was rock’n’roll, outside was Fantasyland.”
– Mike Ricciardella

Frequent performers included the Vagrants, featuring guitarist Leslie West who would eventually co-found the band, Mountain. The Hassles featured a young Billy Joel. And then there was the Vanilla Fudge. The band was actually managed by Basile, who in addition to owning the club and his various other escapades also served as an artist and tour manager.

An Action House flyer with the Vagrants and the Vanilla Fudge on the lineup – Photo from mindsmokemusic.com

But this relationship led to some “interesting scenarios,” to put it mildly, as reported by the Long Island Press:

“The mob-connected Action House was paying The Vagrants an exorbitant $1,500-a-night fee for a grueling 28-day-a-month schedule. This led the garage rockers to get creative with their performances. They incorporated pyrotechnics into their act, having fireworks explode as one of their songs reached its peak. One night after a performance, however, a leftover explosive wound up torching the stage along with all of the band’s instruments. This somehow did not throw them off schedule; the booking agency had them equipped with new instruments and ready to play the very next day.”

A playbill for the Grateful Dead and The New Riders of The Purple Sage at the Action House on Nov 9-10, 1970 – Photo via concertarchives.org

Other notable performers included the Yardbirds in ‘68 and the Grateful Dead alongside The New Riders of the Purple Sage in November of 1970. (You can listen to parts of the set here)

Shortly after the Dead’s performance in 1970, the Action House featured a series of name changes. It was briefly known as the Rock Pile, as documented on this short feature piece by the New York Times back in 1971.

A New York Times article from 1971 about the Action House, when it was known as the Rock Pile.

The club declined further in the 80’s as DJs and dance clubs began to grow in popularity

It is unclear when the Action House officially closed its doors. As for the present, according to the blog Mind Smoke Music, The Action House was torn down over a decade ago. Back in 2018, the author of the blog found it had since been rezoned for condo development. The parking lot across the street was at the time a self-storage facility.

Now, the Action House, a relic of a bygone area, lives on only in memory of the lucky and the damned that got to experience it in its heyday. Further tales and legends of the venue can be found in the comment sections on blog sites like Streets You Crossed, where patrons of the Action House fondly recall their own memories of the club.

Based on these accounts, the venue lives up it name – a place where a lot of action went down.

March 1, 2023
The 502s’ New York City Happiness Resurgence: At Bowery Ballroom

On the journey of their “Fresh Squeezed Happiness Tour,” The 502s and Oliver Hazard made a stop at Manhattan’s Bowery Ballroom for a double-header. Wednesday February 22nd was night one’s send off, and it was sweet and citrusy. With a sold out crowd and a New York City induced adrenaline, the two folk bands performed a summer-esque show to remember and cherish amidst the frigid February winds.

Photograph by Emma Dowd

The trio Oliver Hazard opened the show for the 502s. They introduced themselves with a warning and a premeditated apology when they said their songs are rather sad, and they’re ironically opening for “the happiest tour on Earth.” One of the three vocalists, Mike Belazis, explained that none of the band members are named Oliver Hazard. The name has historical ties to their hometown Waterville, Ohio.

Photograph by Emma Dowd

As their short but endearing set progressed, they played songs allotting for an immersive sing-along experience with the audience. They redeemed themselves and their melancholic reputation when they performed their joyful hit “Dandelion.” The crowd sang back to Belazis and the other two Hazards, Devin East and Griffin McCulloch, with lyrical ease. New York City was even lucky enough to hear their new single “Ballerina.” Their performance was the perfect warm up for the 502s convivial stage presence.

The audience attending the “Fresh Squeezed Happiness Tour” matched the tour name’s feel. Strangers turned into friends as fans underneath the notorious Bowery disco ball. Bodies filled the stairs leading up to the balcony and huddled around the bar. The 502s produce a very kind and inviting sound to develop a fondness to, and their fans emulate the same energy.

Photograph by Emma Dowd

It wasn’t long before the 502s set rolled into the night. The stage was a display for a multitude of instruments that fortify the sound of experimental folk. The instruments that paint the scene for road trips with pals, breezy beach days, or long summer days that turn into long summer nights. The six-man band made their way onto the stage with the widest smiles spread across their faces. Lead vocalist, Ed Isola, came strapped with a banjo slung around his shoulders. Joe Capati, the saxophone and trumpet playing vocalist, followed with his sax. Sean Froehilch, the percussionist and drummer, made his way to his throne behind his customized 502s drum set. Their keys player, Matt Tonner, who doubles as an electric guitar player got comfortable behind the keyboard. Lastly the two guitar playing harmony vocalists, Jake Isola and Nick Malashenko, followed suit.

As soon as the first strum of the banjo rang through the rows of fans, the stage erupted into a flow of movement. The bandmates jumped around, did high-knees, skipped in circles, and danced all while impressively maintaining the breath to sing their fast paced songs. The audience reciprocated their energy, jumping in a playful folk-version of a mosh pit, locking arms to do a makeshift linedance, and extending their hands in way of a physical sort of praise. To witness such a physical surrender to sound was a beautiful thing. A few songs in, the 502s spoke to this innocent chaos when they commended New York City for being “easily the best crowd.”

Photograph by Emma Dowd

After a few songs, Ed Isola reminisced on past shows in New York. Their first ever show in the city hosted a whopping twelve people. “Now we have two sold out nights at Bowery Ballroom,” Isola said with heavy gratitude in his affirmation to the crowd. They continued their sprightly show in a fluid harmony of a wide collection of instruments: a banjo, acoustic guitars, an electric guitar, a bass guitar, the tambourine, the saxophone, a trumpet, the keys, the drums, a harmonica, and even a kazoo. The intentional layering of particular sounds was admirably tasteful. Within the working collaboration of the songs, it felt as if two instruments would be duetting within the skeletal structure of the song. This allowed for intimate conversations between specific instruments. The mechanics of their sound were unmatched.

Photograph by Emma Dowd

As the show progressed towards its end, the band decided to spice things up. Everyone but Joe Capati, the horn player, vacated the stage. The lights dimmed as he took the center-spot, and began to play his saxophone. Unfamiliar freestyles wowed the crowd as he blew away expectations. Familiar covers of Marley’s “Don’t Worry Be Happy,” and George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” were easily fan-favorites.The band joined Capati’s introduction to their own tune and resumed their show. The audience continued their reciprocation to the band as they seemed to exist as a sole entity, pulsing in unison.

Photograph by Emma Dowd

What the band thought was going to be the 502s’s encore, turned into an electric drum solo from Froehilch. He whipped his drumsticks at rapid speed, which only fed into the addictive energy feeding the show. His band members joined him once again to finish a song before actually leaving for an encore.

When the six-man band returned to the stage, their audience of friends roared with excitement from the tangible passion of their performance all night and for what was to come. The 502s immediately kicked back into gear, bouncing and ricocheting off of each other’s physical bodies and each other’s instrumental sound. Their two song encore turned into a mic-sharing party where each of the members took turns coming to the front microphone to do their own personal riff with their own instruments. A wide spectrum of voices were presented, which elicited an aggressively pleased applause.

Photograph by Emma Dowd

All six members finally concluded their show by gathering at centerstage and clasping their hands into a bow. Sweat-soaked from dancing, playing, and belting songs, the group looked like they could’ve kept going all night long. They said their goodbyes, and the ballroom bid farewell in a sweet ovation. The 502s left the room, the city, happier than they found it.

February 27, 2023
Jonas Brothers Announce 5 Night Broadway Residency

Pop icons the Jonas Brothers have announced a five-show, limited engagement at the Marquis Theatre in New York City from March 14 through March 18.

On each night of these very special performances, the band will focus on one of their albums in order of release, beginning with their 2007 self-titled album JONAS BROTHERS, in addition to other chart-topping hits from their discography and the first single, “Wings” off their forthcoming project, The Album. The fifth and final show, the Jonas Brothers will treat fans to the first-ever live performance of The Album.

The Jonas Brothers new single “Wings,” out now via Republic Records launches a new era for the band and is the first single off their sixth full-length record The Album, executive produced by Jon Bellion. The Album is set for release on May 12.

The Jonas Brothers took the world by storm in 2019 with the surprise release of their critically acclaimed and widely successful single “Sucker” following a six-year hiatus. The 5x-platinum single debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, becoming the first #1 for the band and the first #1 debut from a group this century. The band went on to release Chasing Happiness, an Amazon Original film documenting the brothers’ rise and return to music, before going on to deliver their third #1 album with the arrival of their platinum-selling Happiness Begins. The trio continued to soar with their sold-out “Happiness Begins Tour,” selling over 1.2 million tickets.

For tickets and more information, please visit the Jonas Brothers website.

February 27, 2023
Pentatonix Announce 2023 North American Tour leg, Stops at SPAC and Syracuse

A cappella group Pentatonix announced a North American Tour with special guest Lauren Alaina, stopping at SPAC on Aug. 23 and St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview in Syracuse on Aug. 24.

Pentatonix is one of the most innovative and inventive vocal groups of all time, redefining a cappella. Emerging in 2011, the vocal quintet -Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, and Matt Sallee, has won three Grammys, the first to win ‘Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella’ in 2015 and 2016. They have been nominated for a Daytime EMMY Award and became the first a capella group to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The group recently finished their most successful Christmas tour ever, playing to 200,000+ people across 22 cities and the globe.

They have also played The Kennedy Center Honors for Tom Hanks, covering “That Thing You Do” as President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama watched. Plus, they have collaborated with Kelly Clarkson, Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Lindsey Stirling, and more. Their most recent album Holidays Around the World marked the group’s ninth Top 10 entry on Billboard’s Top Holiday Albums Chart.

The general on sale for Pentatonix: The World Tour will start on Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. with presales starting on Feb. 23. The group will be at SPAC on Aug. 23 and St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview in Syracuse on Aug. 24. For more information, visit here.

TOUR DATES:

Wed Aug 09 — Jacksonville, FL — Daily’s Place

Thu Aug 10 — Tampa, FL — MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

Sat Aug 12 — Bristow, VA — Jiffy Lube Live

Sun Aug 13 — Charlotte, NC — PNC Music Pavilion

Tue Aug 15 — Alpharetta, GA — Ameris Bank Amphitheatre

Thu Aug 17 — Cuyahoga Falls, OH — Blossom Music Center

Sat Aug 19 — Raleigh, NC — Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek Park

Sun Aug 20 — Holmdel, NJ — PNC Bank Arts Center

Tue Aug 22 — Toronto, ON — Budweiser Stage

Wed Aug 23 — Saratoga Springs, NY — Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Thu Aug 24 — Syracuse, NY — St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview

Sat Aug 26 — Noblesville, IN — Ruoff Music Center

Mon Aug 28 — Maryland Heights, MO — Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

Tue Aug 29 — Cincinnati, OH — Riverbend Music Center

Thu Aug 31 — Milwaukee, WI — American Family Insurance Amphitheater

Sat Sep 02 — Tinley Park, IL — Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

Sun Sep 03 — Clarkston, MI — Pine Knob MusicTheatre

Wed Sep 06 — Dallas, TX — Dos Equis Pavilion

Thu Sep 07 — The Woodlands, TX — The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Presented by Huntsman

Sat Sep 09 — Phoenix, AZ — Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

Sun Sep 11 — Irvine, CA — FivePoint Amphitheatre

Tue Sep 12 — Mountain View, CA — Shoreline Amphitheatre

Thu Sep 14 — Ridgefield, WA — RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater

Sat Sep 16 — Puyallup, WA — Washington State Fair *

*Not a Live Nation date – On sale info coming soon

February 22, 2023
In Focus: Stephen Sanchez, Live at Irving Plaza

Stephen Sanchez, with opener Kings Elliot, made a stop at Irving Plaza on Thursday, February 16th for his show in New York during his Fall Tour. Sanchez, with his snazzy suit and southern charm, fully entranced the audience with his stellar vocals and rock star performance.

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Stephen Sanchez is a 20-year-old Tennessee-based musician who’s been constantly on the rise. In June 2020, Sanchez posted a cover of Cage the Elephant’s “Cigarette Daydreams” on TikTok and he built an audience through a steady stream of content. After sharing a snippet of his song “Lady by the Sea”, singer-songwriter Jeremy Zucker reached out and offered to produce the official version, which was released in July 2020 and resulted in Sanchez signing a deal with Republic Records.

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Kings Elliot is a blue-haired Swiss rockstar now based in London. Musically, the singer draws inspiration from the wistfully melancholic melodies of the ’40s and ’50s, blending these soothing harmonies with her own tumultuous lyrics. She has a knack for creating hauntingly beautiful and devastating songs that sound uniquely current, yet timeless with her out-of-this-world vocals.

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Kings opened the show with a bang by launching into her hits “I’m Getting Tired of Me” and “Ashes by the Morning”, belting out these bangers to all her adoring fans. With support from Garrett Schwenk on keys, the entire performance was one to remember.

Kings Elliot Setlist: I’m Getting Tired of Me, Cry Baby Cry, ‘Till I Die, The Outsider, Ashes by the Morning, Lost Again, Call Me A Dreamer

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

When Stephen finally graced the stage, the crowd was warmed up and immediately went wild as Stephen started singing “Hey Girl”. Throughout the show, his enthusiasm and good vibes infected the crowd as he jumped around with his guitar, put on a birthday hat from a fan, and gave his “single bassist” Jesse Houle a shoutout. There was a moment near the end of the show when he sang his, arguably most famous song, “Until I Found You” when Stephen became emotional. The crowd shared in these feelings from the solid 3-minute ovation he received. As a stop on his first headline tour, Stephen brought the house down on the iconic venue.

Stephen Sanchez Setlist: Hey Girl, Hold Her While You Can, Kayla, Lady by the Sea, Please Don’t Go Home Yet, Mountain Peaks, See the Light, I Want You, The Pool, Evangeline, Only Girl (unreleased), To Stay (unreleased), Unchained Melody, Until I Found You, Amy & Mary [The Righteous Brothers cover]

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

In terms of upcoming shows, Kings Elliot will be performing with Stephen on this tour until Feb 26th in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Stephen will continue on the winter/spring leg of the tour all the way until March 17th, ending up in Vancouver, Canada. He’ll be returning to NYC during the fall portion of tour, hitting up Terminal 5 on December 2nd.

For more information or announcements for upcoming performances from either of these artists, check out their social media accounts.

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

February 22, 2023