This past Friday, December 29, punk-rock icon, singer-songwriter, poet, artist, and New York Times Bestselling author Patti Smith graced the stage at the Brooklyn Steel for two nights. Patti returned for her birthday show, this time commemorating turning 77. Fans from all generations came to see Patti’s incredible, lively performance at Brooklyn’s intimate, 1800-capacity venue.
Patti Smith, photographed by Sarah Hyun
Patti Smith, though raised in South Jersey, moved to NYC at the ripe age of 21 to study art and poetry. Her bestselling novel, Just Kids, which details her experience living in NYC, brought a new wave of people—especially younger ones—to Patti’s fanbase and show. Although Patti is not currently touring, she frequently returns to NYC to play with her band which consists of Lenny Kaye, Jay Dee Daugherty, Tony Shanahan, and Jackson Frederick Smith (her son!).
Patti Smith, photographed by Sarah Hyun
Patti opened the night with an extraordinary rendition of “So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star.” Scaling around the stage with incredible ease and her nimble dance moves, Patti made the crowd go wild with her performance. Her silver braids almost seemed to glow under the stage lights, drawing all eyes to her throughout the whole concert. One fan screamed, “I love you Patti! I’m your number one fan!”
After playing “Free Money,” Patti stopped and began conversing with the crowd about how confusing TV remotes are. “It’s unbelievable right? You need one to put the TV on, the other for volume, and the other to get the Netflix or whatever you want on. It’s taken me hours just to get the TV on.” A fan screamed “Happy Birthday!” where Patti responded with, “Not yet! Don’t age me any faster than I am.”
Ending the night on a powerful note, Patti played “Because the Night” and “People Have the Power,” where she brought out her daughter Jesse Paris Smith and her high school friend Laura to sing. Patti Smith is truly legendary, and her show was nothing short of that.
Western New York rock/jam band Tsavo Highway has released their latest single, “Find a Way,” the first with a solidified lineup.
Formed just over a year ago and led by the soulful vocals of Emily Scripps alongside guitarists Christian Dobosiewicz and Peter Kern and rhythm section of bassist Brian Calisto and drummer Dan Keegan.
“Find a Way” was recorded by Producer Zach Tilton at his home studio. The nearly 6 minute long track is at first poppy with a mid-90s indie rock feel. Grooves build and flow into the next, while vocals from Scripps weave fluidly alongside the tempo.
When we brought the tune to the band it clicked immediately. Everyone had an idea of how to make the song come to life. Christian with his twang in the way he plays the guitar’s lead lick in the chorus, Peter with his added trills and guitarmony in his solo, Brian with the most epic leading bass line, and Dan with his perfectly timed drum fills. Once everyone brought their individual takes and magic to the song, it came together as this wonderful, authentic, catchy tune.
Emily Scripps, Tsavo Highway
Written by Scipps and Dobosiewicz, Emily shares that she wanted the song to have a feel of being at a train station – which explains the child’s train whistle making an appearance at the right times. The station here is symbolic to the middle ground in the journey of life.
“You’re waiting at this middle ground for a sign, a feeling, a glimpse (a train) of something telling you you’re on the right track,” said Scripps. “You can feel it, hear it, you know it’s near, you hope it’s near, you’re calling out for it because it’s just within your grasp. So with this in mind I wanted the overall tone/sound of the song to reflect happiness but not in a sense of comfortability, but more a sense of happiness in being hopeful.”
From playing intimate venues to larger stages, Tsavo Highway has a genuine passion for music that shines through every note they play, leaving audiences captivated by their raw talent and heartfelt performances.
Learn more about Tsavo Highway and stay up to date with showing in 2024 here.
There’s no escaping The Police; they’re everywhere. Individually, members of The Police continued to tour this past fall and winter, and garnered quite a bit of social media and press coverage with their music and publishing projects. A new book is now out by Laura Shenton for Wymer Publishing, The Police; A Visual Biography.
Featuring photography, text and layout that is visually appealing, The Police; A Visual Biography is a historical treat for Police fans as it chronicles their humble beginnings up to achieving world wide recognition and creative fame.
This coffee table book includes some little known tidbits about the band and some of their song origins. It includes rare press clippings from their unknown days, encompasses their musical journey to becoming what we now know them to be, and includes a discography and member’s solo projects. During their ascension, their record sales, tour grosses and GRAMMYs surpassed even that of the Rolling Stones. The Police would make history becoming the best band of their day, with “Every Breath You Take” still being the most radio played song in American history.
The Police gained traction here in New York at CBGB’s and in the Hudson Valley as relatively unknowns in 1979, also appearing at The Chance in Poughkeepsie. The song “Roxanne” would make its debut on U.S. radio here in the Hudson Valley on WDST, Radio Woodstock, 100.1.
Within three months, The Police had two singles and an album in the U.S. Top Ten.
In a phone interview I had in October, Andy Summers spoke of The Chance fondly, recalling how grateful they all were to get the gig and to be touring America at the time. “What it signified was how we had to maintain our spirit and do a raging show despite a small audience possibly due to a snowstorm at the time.”
Although meeting and forming in the UK, New York has been lucky to have shared in The Police’s early days, because it was also here in New York City and the Hudson Valley that The Police started creating such excitement for their unique sound in America and subsequently the world.
Laura Shenton is widely known for her music profile non fiction books, including profiles on Emerson Lake and Palmer, Kate Bush and Supertramp among others.
Featuring Alan Perry Concert Photography and Bill O’Leary Timeless Concert Images, the author’s voice is evenly paced, respectful of her subject, and engaging. Her interest in writing this book comes through and a recommended book on The Police.
This particular book differs from others on The Police in how thorough and methodically dates, press clippings, memorabilia, concert posters, song origins, tours, and the creative process is described, as well as how solo projects are detailed, and music reviews, awards, nominations and the discography is presented. The author included many quotes from band members giving us a good idea of their musical journey and lets us know the favorite song they all share.
As James Adams stated in 1983 and his quote is included in this book, “The Police are a band. Long may they arrest us.”
As the crescent moon descended over the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, Bob Weir & Wolf Bros delivered a compelling evening of music, marking the third show of their extended December 2023 residency.
Emerging from the rear of center stage, Bob Weir opened the evening solo with his rendition of “Peggy O.” A solitary figure with his guitar, Weir exuded a contemplative aura. Every note plucked and every word sung captivated theaudience, drawing them into the profound depths of his soul.
The five-night series harmoniously coincided with the festive season, capturing the joyous spirit of the holidays. With a twinkle in Weir’s eye and his beard all aglow, this musical Kris Kringle bestowed a plethora of gifts upon all the good boys and girls attending the sold-out show.
Enhancing the magical ambiance was a cadre of Santa’s musical helpers, featuring Don Was, Jay Lane, and Jeff Chimenti, as well as The Wolfpack (Alex Kelly, Brian Switzer, Adam Theis, Mads Tolling, Sheldon Brown, Barry Sless), who graced the stage alongside Weir at different junctures throughout the evening, intensifying the magic.
The musical choices for the evening spanned a diverse range of origins, featuring both Weir’s original compositions and beloved Grateful Dead classics. Each song’s energy seamlessly flowed into the next, creating a dynamic musical journey.
Both sets featured compelling covers, including Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee” and Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” broadening the musical scope of the evening. The band’s portrayal of Eddie Cooley’s “The Fever” transcended into a profound and soulful masterpiece. Bringing the night to a memorable conclusion, the band encored with the timeless classic, “Going Down the Road Feeling Bad.”
As the band bid farewell, the capacity crowd journeyed out into the darkness of the night. If anyone among them cast their gaze skyward, they might have captured the sound of a celestial symphony. Voices from above exalting ‘On Dead, on Ratdog, on Kingfish, on Company; Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Rock’n Night!’
Bob Weir and Wolf Bros., – Capitol Theatre, Port Chester – December 15, 2023
Set 1: Peggy-O, The Winners, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Tennessee Jed, Odessa, Ramble On Rose, I Need a Miracle, Fever, U.S. Blues
Set 2: Me and Bobby McGee, Man Smart; Woman Smarter, Bertha, Cassidy, The Wheel, Eyes of the World, What’s Going On, Stella Blue, Not Fade Away
Lifestyle and fashion brand Runaway New York celebrated their five year anniversary at Public Records on December 11 with Balu Brigada and Carlo Redl.
Runaway New York is a fashion and lifestyle brand owned by Jagger Walk, an American entrepreneur and designer. December 11 was a one of a kind celebration, marking the fifth anniversary and there was no better place to revel in the significant milestone. The evening was filled with remarkable live performances, drinks, and the opportunity to purchase exclusive merchandise. This exclusive night included music, style and a community that converged to create seamless enduring memories.
Opening artist Carlo Redl is a singer and songwriter based in Miami and Tokyo and regarded as the new “John Mayer” with a pop/R&B twist. Redl incorporates electric guitar and is influenced by 70s rock and classic jazz and heard within his riffs. As a songwriter, one of his many successes was the debut song “Gifted” which charted number one on Billboard Hot Trending.
Closing artist Balu Brigada is an alternative pop duo from New Zealand compromised of two brothers Henry and Pierre Beasley signed with Atlantic Records in 2022. They are now on their first homecoming tour which supports upcoming EP Find A Way with hit single “Designer” reaching over a million streams. Sibling duo began making music at an early age and officially formed Balu Brigada at the ripe age of 18. The multi-talented brothers have since gained huge recognition and honed their craft with inspired experimentation.
Carlo Redl and Balu Brigada interacted with the crowd to highlight the celebrated milestone for Jagger Walk and the Runaway New York fashion brand. Putting on quite the show for both fans of fashion, music, art and clearly a night to remember.
For the 50th edition of Dave’s Picks, a special show has been chosen from one of the best Grateful Dead tours, with Palladium NYC from May 3, 1977 taking the honors.
Spring Tour 1977 had many incredible shows, not including this Palladium show, but also later that week in New Haven, CT, the historic Barton Hall show, and the arguably stronger night that followed in Buffalo.
5/3/77 was the penultimate show of a five-night run at the Palladium, just a few nights before the Cornell show, and features a seemingly endless run of the Grateful Dead at their best, including monumental renditions of “Eyes Of The World,” “Wharf Rat,” “Not Fade Away,” and “Uncle John’s Band.”
Additionally, there are some tracks from the final night of the Palladium run, 5/4/77, with tracks including “Scarlet>Fire,” “Terrapin Station,” “Playing In The Band,” and what has come to be widely considered one of the best versions of “Comes A Time” the Grateful Dead ever played.
This show is only available with a subscription to the Dave’s Picks series.
Grateful Dead – Palladium, Manhattan – May 3, 1977
Set 1: Promised Land, Bertha, Me and My Uncle, Peggy-O, Jack Straw, Row Jimmy, Lazy Lightnin’, Supplication, Deal, Good Lovin’, Ship of Fools, Music Never Stopped
Set 2: Might As Well, Estimated Prophet, Sugaree, Samson and Delilah, Friend of the Devil, Eyes of the World, Wharf Rat, Not Fade Away, Around and Around
In an unprecedented collaboration, two legendary Mexican bands, Caifanes and Cafe Tacvba, have announced they are embarking on their first-ever joint tour in the United States, coming to SummerStage on June 26, 2024.
The two groups are coming together to celebrate their legacies and showcase the power of Mexican rock on an international stage. Both bands originated in the late 80s in Mexico City. Despite their distinct musical styles, this tour is a testament to the enduring power of music, showcasing how these bands have evolved and continue to resonate with audiences across time.
Caifanes have lived their path intensely and passionately since 1986, evolving and changing throughout their career. One thing remains constant: the music shared by several generations, remains a powerful connection then and now. For young people, their music is new; for the older generation, those songs are already part of the soundtrack of their lives. Caifanes has always been the band that opens the doors to every band coming up behind them. The last two years and 108 concerts have seen the band getting better and bigger than ever, on stage, no one rivals their power and strength. Their commitment to social causes has been an essential part of who they are from the start of the band.
Caifanes.
Together since 1989 with the same founding members (Quique, Meme, Joselo, and Ruben) GRAMMY winners and Mexico City indie rockers Cafe Tacvba are credited as the preeminent band to emerge from the “Rock en Español” movement of the early ‘90s. The Mexican quartet has remained one of the biggest acts on the Latin music scene since, inspiring generations of rockers. Their music is broadly appealing not only because of its groundbreaking nature but also because of its fun, madcap, and ever-changing qualities.
Cafe Tacvba
Tickets will be available starting with a Citi presale beginning on Tuesday, December 12. Additional pre-sales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning on Friday, December 15 at 10 a.m.
TOUR DATES:
Wed May 29 Kennewick, WA Toyota Center
Thu May 30 Seattle, WA WAMU Theater @ Lumen Field
Sat Jun 1 Reno, NV Reno Events Center
Wed Jun 5 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
Thu Jun 6 Las Vegas, NV Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood
Fri Jun 7 Palm Desert, CA Acrisure Arena
Sat Jun 8 Chula Vista, CA North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Tue Jun 11 Phoenix, AZ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Thu Jun 13 Salt Lake City, UT Maverick Center
Fri Jun 14 Denver, CO Levitt Pavilion
Sat Jun 15 Albuquerque, NM Isleta Amphitheater
Sun Jun 16 El Paso, TX El Paso County Coliseum
Tue Jun 18 Laredo, TX Sames Auto Arena
Wed Jun 19 Edinburg, TX Bert Ogden Arena
Fri Jun 21 Houston, TX The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
Sat Jun 22 Dallas, TX Dos Equis Pavilion
Wed Jun 26 New York, NY SummerStage in Central Park
Fri Jun 28 Toronto, ON Budweiser Stage
Sat Jun 29 Chicago, IL Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Sun Jun 30 Indianapolis, IN Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park
A series of Phish After-Parties have been unveiled as part of the band’s upcoming Madison Square Garden shows this December. As a recurring staple of Phish’s frequent MSG shows, the afterparties are once again brought to fans by CEG (Creative Entertainment Group).
Here are the already announced shows, with more to come! Get tickets for the shows soon, as these shows are often a hot ticket following each night of Phish.
Hill Country Live hosts Loop Troupe’s LSD Soundsystem, a jamified LCD Soundsystem, on December 28 at 11:59 p.m.
Sony Hall will host Dogs in a Pile, a psychedelic jazz-rock group on December 28 following Phish’s performance at MSG.
The Cutting Room’s December 28 afterparty will feature a Prince/Bowie theme, featuring appearances from members of Twiddle, Pink Talking Fish, The Machine, Deep Banana Blackout, and more to come. The musicians will play the music of legends Prince and David Bowie throughout the night at Midtown Manhattan’s The Cutting Room.
Hill Country Live will host a pre-party on December 29, featuring a happy hour with Dude of Life Band. The five-piece genre benders will host the event beginning at 4PM, with doors opening at 3PM. More information available here.
The Cutting Room’s December 29’s afterparty will be headlined by the Pink Talking Fish, playing hit 90s tracks from Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, Phish, and more.
Hill Country BBQ Live will host Space Bacon, a progressive funk jam band, known for immersing audiences in audio-visual displays during shows. The afterparty will also take place on December 29.
The afterparty on December 30will feature John Medeski, Billy Martin, Scott Metzger, and Nels Cline. The group will play a night full of improvised music, following the Phish show at MSG that night. The party will be hosted at Sony Hall.
On New Year’s Day, Hill Country Live will host David Yates, performing his Wook Comedy Show. The event will take place at 1PM as a pre-party ahead of the NYE Phish show that night. Information available here.
In addition, Hill Country will host Marcus Rezak as yet another pre-party on New Year’s Eve. Performing his “Shred Is Dead” jam show, Rezak will perform at 4PM ahead of the NYE Phish show. More information here.
The night of New Year’s Eve, Hill Country Live will feature dj AF and Tad Cautious, two DJ acts performing to ring in the new year. Three tiers of tickets are available now for the NYE celebration afterparty.
Phish holidays runs are beloved events at Madison Square Garden, and afterparties around Manhattan are part of the adventure. Check back for updates on more after parties to be announced as the MSG shows approach. More information available at phishafterparties.nyc.
Rodrigo y Gabriela has announced a new run of dates in 2024, taking their thrilling live shows to cities in America that didn’t get a chance to see them on the first run. The tour will stop in Ithaca, Kingston, Tarrytown, and Buffalo.
Rodrigo y Gabriela recently kicked off the 49th season of the venerable television music series, Austin City Limits, as the premiere performers on episode one. The band was joined by an ensemble of over 30 musicians from the esteemed Austin Symphony Orchestra in an exhilarating hour; the unprecedented performance marked the first time ACL has collaborated with the world-class orchestra, one of Austin’s leading arts institutions.
In September, the duo shared their official music video for “In Between Thoughts…A New World,” featuring exclusive footage filmed earlier this summer on their North American tour. “In Between Thoughts…A New World” is the title track to Rodrigo y Gabriela’s latest album, In Between Thoughts…A New World, available now via ATO Records.
“The perfect demonstration of their abilities…Rodrigo y Gabriela create a surging sonic display of cinematic goodness, using their guitars to represent rising and falling action. Each song feels like a mini-movie, containing stirring riffs, mesmeric backing strumming, and glorious, soaring strings that add extra tension to every piece…The duo harness the impressive ability to tell intricate stories without saying a word, and these songs are sure to conjure up rich images in listeners’ minds.”
FarOut Magazine
Rodrigo y Gabriela’s eagerly awaited follow-up to 2019’s GRAMMY® Award-winning Mettavolution and first full-length collection in four years, In Between Thoughts…A New World was self-produced by Rodrigo y Gabriela at their studio in Ixtapa, Mexico, the album includes such singles as “The Eye That Catches The Dream,” “Egoland,” “True Nature,” and “Descending To Nowhere.”
A #1 Most Added hit at Non-Com Radio outlets nationwide, “Descending To Nowhere” had its world premiere with an in-depth and illuminating “Origins” feature via Consequence and was quickly named by Paste as one of “The 10 Best Songs of February 2023,” hailing it as “an irresistible groove that builds and ebbs as it showcases delicious electric licks and the promised orchestral swells.”
Rodrigo y Gabriela marked the arrival of In Between Thoughts…A New World with a very special live session for Seattle’s KEXP as well as electrifying live performances of “Descending To Nowhere” and “Egoland” on BBC Two’s venerable Later… with Jools Holland. In addition, “Descending To Nowhere | A Take Away Show,” a live performance video filmed earlier this year at an empty Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord in Paris, is streaming now exclusively via La Blogothèque.
RODRIGO Y GABRIELA’S IN BETWEEN THOUGHTS…A NEW WORLD 2024
APRIL
17- Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre
18 – Orlando, FL – The Plaza Live
19 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Parker Playhouse
21 – Charlotte, NC – Knight Theater
23 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall
25 – Tysons, VA – Capitol One Hall
26 – Charlottesville, VA – The Paramount Theater
27 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live!
28 – Princeton, NJ – McCarter Theatre Center
30 – Ithaca, NY – State Theater of Ithaca
MAY
1 – Kingston, NY – Ulster PAC
2 – Burlington, VT – Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
4 – Portland, ME – State Theatre
5 – Nashua, NH – Nashua Center for the Arts
7 – Beverly, MA – The Cabot
8 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall
9 – Tarrytown, NY – Tarrytown Music Hall
11 – Harrisburg, PA – Harrisburg University at XL Live
12 – Buffalo, NY – Asbury Hall at Babeville
14 – Cleveland, OH – TempleLive at Cleveland Masonic
15 – Columbus, OH – The Athenaeum Theatre
16 – Indianapolis, IN – The Egyptian Room
18 – Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe
For more information on Rodrigo y Gabriela, visit their website.
The 65th Street Session project took place at the newly renovated David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City (on 65th Street), the home of The New York Philharmonic, on November 28.
Launched back in October, the first four shows are curated by Mandolin virtuoso, composer, singer, and winner of Grammy Awards Chris Thile. The series is a true collaboration with the space that lends itself to epic acoustics, striking new decor, flawless lighting, and a true 360 view for the audience assembled all around the stage.
For the show, Thile assembled a pretty eclectic group of musicians that you might never get to see share the stage. Grammy-nominated guitarist Cory Wong (Vulfpeck, The Fearless Flyers), Louis Cato (bandleader of The Late Show Band), Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello.
The show started with Thile, solo with his mandolin, his true comfort zone, as one by one the other artists came out and weaved in and out of each other’s songs. Mid-set allowed for Cory Wong to bring out his full touring band for four songs, and the show ended with a collaboration of all the artists sharing the stage. A truly magical night for any music lover, with something for everyone.
The 65th Street Session – David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center – November 28, 2023
Setlist: Singularity, Dionysus, Keep On Pushing, Back & Forth, Bubbles, Airplane, Separado, Acceptance, Real Job, Reflections, Pop Life, Modern Time, Bluebird, 1/4 Chicken Dark, Virgo, Against Mastery, Little Lights
