NYS Music 2023

Category: Rock

  • Karina Rykman Delivers Compelling Debut Album ‘JOYRIDE’

    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

    December 15th – Philadelphia, PA – MilkBoy

    December 16th – Boston, MA – Sonia

    * Festival Appearance

    † w/ Special Guests Guerilla Toss

  • Stony Creek Band Celebrate 50th Anniversary in Lake George

    An unforgettable evening of music, dancing, and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic Stony Creek Band awaits at Lake George’s Shepard Park on Thursday, Aug. 24, at 6:30 PM, presented by The Lake George Arts Project and the Village of Lake George, featuring a special performance by The Switch. The 50th Anniversary Concert is free and will feature the Village’s spectacular fireworks after the show.

    For 50 years, The Stony Creek Band has thrilled generations of fans with its high-energy blend of rock, folk, country, and bluegrass; a sound that has consistently defied description but is “a product of the landscape as authentically upstate as any Hudson River School painting or sculpture by David Smith,” and performed in a manner described by one reviewer as “a ferocious ensemble attack; like a runaway train.”

    The Stony Creek Band began with the 1973 meeting of John Strong, a folksinger/guitarist from the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, and Hank Soto, a guitarist and songwriter from the Bavarian Alps of Germany. Along with a bass player the Stony Creek Band began life as a folk trio, touring coffee houses in New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. After moving to the Adirondack mountain hamlet of Stony Creek, NY the band quickly developed into a seven-piece musical powerhouse featuring drums, a rock guitarist, pedal steel guitar, and banjo that, for a time, was the little town’s largest year-round employer.

    In the 1980’s the band evolved into its current five-piece configuration which now includes producer/ singer /songwriter Dave Maswick on bass, blues Hall of Fame member Mike Lomaestro on drums, and noted bluegrass mandolin virtuoso Fred Lantz. Over the years, the Stony Creek Band has made hundreds (if not thousands) of concert appearances including a live performance on international TV for the closing ceremonies of the Goodwill Winter Games, an appearance at a New York State gubernatorial inauguration, a February outdoor appearance at the 25th-anniversary celebration of the “Miracle on Ice” (brrrr) and a live performance on NBC’s TODAY show with Meredith Viera and Ann Curry.

    Hank Soto, the co-founder of the Stony Creek Band, says “50 years!  Never did I think, where the band was concerned, I’d be referencing time in decades let alone five. In that time, we’ve met so many great folks who have encouraged and supported us. Nothing succeeds without that love and that is the real reason for our longevity. Thinking of all of the venues we’ve played, Shepard Park in Lake George is just a stand-out treasure. We are so grateful to LGAP and the Village of Lake George for their continuous support and the opportunity to celebrate our 50th on that great stage. Another 50 years? If we could only fool the flesh – the spirit is willing.”

    This golden anniversary marks a milestone not only for the band but also for the fans who have supported them throughout their incredible journey. “The Stony Creek Band is really looking forward to this gig and looking forward to seeing all of our friends – we even have a few special guests who have played with us over the years. Shepard Park is a very special venue and one of our favorite places to play, you can’t beat the crowd or the backdrop,” says John Strong, co-founder of the Stony Creek Band.

    Admission is free, so grab a blanket, some chairs, and your family and friends, and come early to secure your favorite spot. For more information visit here. 

  • Nick Vanderwood Returns To Utica For New Single “Shimmy”

    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 Black Rose Burning Releases New Single “Night Terrors”

    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.

  • Shakey Graves “Movie Of The Week Tour” Shakes Pier 17

    On the summer evening of Tuesday, Aug. 15, Shakey Graves pulled a crowd of friends, strangers, and lovers to the rooftop of New York City’s Pier 17. On their “Movie Of The Week Tour,” Shakey Graves is celebrating the release of their newest EP, Big In The World. New York City was lucky enough to be a stop on Shakey Graves’s map, for the performance was unlike anything else the rooftop has seen before. As the unique sunset of pearly pink tufts and layers of soft yellow fortified, the perfect evening settled and waited for the show to begin.

    Photograph by Emma Dowd.

    Lucius, the opener, put on a riveting show of their own. The Brooklyn-born indie-pop band successfully combined the subgenre of alt-pop with disco tech, which called for a dancey audience. The crowd sang along with the instruction of lead singers, Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig. Their matching hot pink blazers couldn’t be missed, neither could their impressive lyricism and captivating stage presence.

    The duo left the stage, while the band held the set with an instrumental serenade. After a brief interlude, Wolfe and Laessig returned in disco-tile mini dresses. They made their way to the center of the audience, and the entire venue took a seat to listen and admire. At the center of gracious applause, Lucius closed out their performance.

    Photograph by Emma Dowd.

    In between Lucius’s and Shakey Graves’s set, the rooftop filled up with fans. A vital cooling August breeze rolled off the East River and sewed its way between the bodies of the crowd. With the wind came a threatening sheet of gray clouds holding in their bellies of rain, but the crowd stood unwavering, true to Pier 17’s rain-or-shine nature. Thankfully the weather prevailed, and the night remained nothing short of perfect.

    As the sun finally set vocalist of Shakey Graves, Alejandro Rose-Garcia, made his way onto stage dressed in all black, from his cowboy hat down to his boots. It was just him on the stage for the first two songs. During that time he introduced himself with his guitar and established his tuneful and guttural vocals. He spoke about the theme of his show before singing his song “Late July,” saying “The running theme of tonight’s music is that time flies by.” In New York City fashion, time whirred around and above the audience, across the Brooklyn Bridge, and in the flickering seconds of the downtown skyline. Though, time moved slowly on the rooftop, for the audience swallowed every guitar strum and studied the lyrics like a hymn.

    Photograph by Emma Dowd.

    The rest of his six man-band joined him for the third song of the set. Cameron Neal, Patrick O’Connor, and Taylor Craft owned the strings. Matt Pence conducted the versatile percussion, and Dancey Jenkins commanded the keys. The sound was immediately elevated, and the smokey influences of blues, folk, country, and psychedelic rock could be heard clearly and with intent. 

    Photograph by Emma Dowd.

    The music became something tangible through the physical effect it had on the audience. It became elusive as it settled as personal emotion in everyone’s gut. Pockets of people danced barefoot on the concrete, piling up their shoes, tossing their bags, and stomping on the rooftop. There was something about Shakey Graves’ music that was so raw, so human, that it elicited movement. Music can do that, it makes the body want to feel the ground connect with its soles, meet skin with every beat, and allow the passage of the body to really feel the relationship between sound and soul. 

    Photograph by Emma Dowd.
    Photograph by Emma Dowd.

    The band paused their performance for Rose-Garcia to make a toast. “I want to congratulate all of you on making it through some crazy shit… I have a lot of things I love that I need to be more grateful for, family and friends… to you and yours, may you live forever. Cheers.” A roar of gratitude washed from the crowd onto Shakey Graves. Audience members embraced each other and smiled endearingly at their best friends and lovers, daughters and sons, mothers and fathers. Bodies held each other a bit tighter, and stood a bit closer, as the rest of the show unfolded. 

    Photograph by Emma Dowd.

    Shakey Graves’s music spotlights the romance, the pain, the peace, that comes with falling in and out of love with people, places, and moments in time. It’s the moments of transition, realization, and reckoning that live in their lyrics. People sang their songs like they would solidify a promise, so faithful and sure. The rest of the evening consisted of songs of old and new. Rose-Garcia spoke on his relationship with New York City, one he created when he was young and “flat broke,” which landed relatable to the crowd of New Yorkers. He told the birth story of his hit single, “Tomorrow” (released in 2016), and how he wrote it during his time in the city.

    The band left the stage, but the crowd remained in hungry anticipation of an encore. Sure enough, the band met the audience’s needs and returned to the stage for a branding final performance. People towards the spacious back end of the crowd let loose, dancing with their entire bodies and singing with their hands clasped to their chests. The band expressed their gratitude once more, and Rose-Garcia introduced his band members. When it came time for Shakey Graves to leave and the lights to turn on, everyone remembered it was a Tuesday night. Time sure had flown by, just as the band promised it would.

  • Ghost of Vroom Announces Headling Tour, Coming to Rochester, NYC, Albany

    Ahead of their new album, Ghost of Vroom 3 releasing on Sept. 1, 2023, critically-acclaimed band Ghost of Vroom has announced its dates for the group’s North American Tour. From Nov. 3 to Nov.19, including three stops in New York, the band will play past hits and new singles from the forthcoming project.

    Comprised of singer-songwriter Mike Doughty, bassist Andrew “Scrap” Livingston, and drummer Madden Klass, Ghost of Vroom’s newest album will additionally include producer Mark Caldato Jr.

    Having previously worked with acts such as the Beastie Boys and Jack Johnson, Caldato’s talent brings a wide variety of positive expectations heading into the project’s release.

    First known for his solo work and as the lead singer for Soul Coughing, Doughty’s experience with the band did not start until 2020, making their official debut with 2020’s GHOST OF VROOM 2 EP.

    Highlighted by the hit single, “Rona Pollona,” the group’s debut piece attracted the attention of the industry, including Rolling Stone, who applauds the “laid back groove of shuffling drums, twisting guitar and lazy cello strokes” on the song.

    Ghost of Vroom 2 album cover

    Known to deliver a unique, funky sound, much of this can be heard through their most recent track “Pay The Man,” the lead single ahead of September’s release. Arriving via Mod y Vi Records on Friday, Sept. 1, pre-orders are available now for the second album in Ghost of Vroom’s catalog.

    Tour Dates & Ticket Information

    The North American tour dates begin Nov. 3 and travels through mid-November, making three stops in New York (New York City, Rochester, and Albany).

    All general on-sale tickets for the announced dates will be available Friday, August 18 at 12:00 pm est. For full details and ticket information, you can also visit www.ghostofvroom.com.

    November –

    3 – Iowa City, IA – Gabe’s

    4 – Minneapolis, MN– Fine Line Music Cafe

    5 – Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre

    7 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall

    8 – Detroit, MI – El Club

    10 – Toronto, ON – Longboat Hall at Great Hall

    11 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom

    12 – Rochester, NY – Flour City Station

    14 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall

    15 – Amherst, MA – The Drake

    17 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom

    18 – Albany, NY – Lark Hall

    19 – Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry at the Fillmore

  • Troy Savings Bank Music Hall To Debut New Event ‘Kaleidescape’

    The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall will unveil a brand new event, Kaleidescape: A Sonic Journey, on October 14. The event will feature over 15 artists and is set to be a musical experience unlike anything the venue has ever hosted before. The venue has commissioned seven artists to create an original piece of work that will debut at Kaleidescape.

    Originally part of a historic bank, the Music Hall has become an artistic staple in Troy and the surrounding area. The Music Hall will serve as the central artistic inspiration for the new pieces of music . The mission of Kaleidescape is to celebrate the local musicians and fans who have helped to support Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. 

    Curated by Organ Colossal, Kaleidoscope will feature performances from Buggy Jive, Sara Ayers, Ohzhe, Zan and the Winter Folk, Sam Torres, and composer Patrick Burke. The event will also include multiple special guests like Julia Alsarraf and Girl Blue. 

    Kaleidescape will continue the venue’s mission of keeping music open and accessible. To ensure that cost is not a barrier, the organization has announced that there will be a limited number of free tickets. The Troy Redevelopment Foundation is sponsoring the Community Ticket Bank. To inquire or reserve these tickets contact Troy Savings Bank Music Hall by email, by phone at (518) 273-0038, or by visiting the box office.

    Click here for a full list of performers, and visit here for paid tickets and more information.

  • The Dirty Pennies Release Rocking New Single “Head Open”

    The Dirty Pennies have just released their newest single titled “Head Open” for all to hear and enjoy. Alongside the fresh release comes exciting news of the Rochester band’s upcoming performances on New York stages including multiple appearances at the Bug Jar!

    The rock band, originally formed back in 2012 by Ryan Klem and Lucas Howe, has evolved exponentially from a blues-rock duo into a garage rock band with the help of former bassist Joe Mungo. Today, especially taking into consideration their new release, The Dirty Pennies continue to take a step closer to exploring the realm of psychedelia with the help of recent additions: bassist Sean Doohan and keyboardist Doug Kelley.

    From the beginning of “Head Open,” with its looping guitar melody and the heavy use of a synth, it is evident that the band has not simply crossed the line into the open space of psychedelia but has jumped right into a new sound. The voices layered throughout the single support this energy as the echoed vocals seem far away yet everywhere all at once as they repeat, “Head open wide, empty space.” After the lead stanzas of introspection, the voices are cut out, giving way to an epic concoction of complicated instrumentals.

    To support their new single, The Dirty Pennies are set to perform at Rochester’s infamous Bug Jar on Aug. 25, a venue that is special to their hearts as it won’t be their first time rocking the stage. “Head Open” is now available to rock out to on Spotify, YouTube, and various other streaming services.

    Upcoming Performances

    August 25 – Bug Jar w/ Ace of Wands & Bad Bloom

    September 9 – Cafe Nine w/ Pinkhouse / The Problem with Kids today / VVBES 

    September 16 – West Almond Stomp Festival

    Upcoming Tour Dates

    October 19 – The Song and Dance w/ Trauma Cat & Dead Wolf

    October 20 – headlining at The Bug Jar

    October 21 – Mohawk place

  • Joe Marcinek Band Set To Appear At Iridium Jazz Club

    The Joe Marcinek Band will take the state at Iridium Jazz Club in NYC on Aug. 26. The evening will also feature multiple guest musicians who look to compliment the vibrant and engaging sounds of the band. 

    Uniquely, the Joe Marcinek band is a carousel of different musicians and set lists. Each performance is made to be its own individual experience. The music varies from the psychedelic tones of the Grateful Dead to the brassy sound of Chicago Blues. 

    Joe Marcinek Band Facebook.

    Baltimore’s renowned Dennis Chambers will be on drums during the evening. A longtime fixture in the East Coast jazz scene, Chambers began performing at just six years old. Despite lacking formal training, he has gone on to share the stage with the likes of John Scofield, Santan, Mike Stern, and Parliament/Funkadelic. As a teenager the drummer was recruited to be a part of the storied Sugar Hill Label. Chambers will be joined by legendary harmonica figure Howard Levy. Backing them all up is percussionist Jason Hann, who cut his teeth with The String Cheese Incident.

    Lending his keys to the night is jazz pianist Jesus Molina. The Columbian-born artist has made a name for himself in the world of jazz. Originally a saxophonist, Molina transitioned from saxophone to piano as a teen. Cincinnati vocalist Reilly Comisar and bassist Ola Timothy will also be performing during the evening. 

    Click here for more information on the event and ticket details.

  • Brooklyn Group salamander Shares Hypnotic Single “xylem” With News of Debut LP

    The Brooklyn-based group salamander has made galant strides forward in their musical journey as they have recently released a new single, “xylem,” on top of announcing their debut LP. The LP titled, [container], is an eleven track project set to be released later this Fall on Oct. 18.

    salamander is dynamic trio, originally formed by songwriters PJ Hunter and Leo Frampton in 2019, adding in drummer Ben Verde two years later. The band takes improvisation and raw emotion to form an interesting-sonic sound that struggles to be placed in the confines of any genre. In a similar style, their songwriting process is fluid and highly collaborative, with many arrangements, structured ideas, and lyrics coming from multiple members of the band. While some songs, such as “wildfire” and “xylem,” have lyrics and chords written mostly by one of the band members, other songs such as “ride” and “wave” were written in full collaboration.

    “xylem” is the second track the band has released from [container] following their previously dropped track “ride.” The new song has a hypnotic and distilled pop beat and melody that blends into the moody vocals of the group. The lyrics themselves, coming mostly from band member Frampton, express haunting ideas surrounding the inevitability of death and trying to grapple and make peace with them saying, “I love this place, I want to be somewhere else/I love this place/We are going somewhere else.”

    “This song sprouted from the way I have made peace with this fear, trying to see my own life and generation as part of a cycle bigger and smaller than myself,” Frampton explains. “I wrote the lyrics during springtime, which is the essence of the chords as well. I like the idea that people can interpret ‘place’ differently, zoomed in or out as far as they like.”

    The writing process of “xylem” was completely unique with melodies being created by Frampton and Hunter, guitar tones and a resonating mood being brought by Cody Zusman, and production being put together by Carlos Hernandez, among various other hands and voices in the mix. The new song comes with an artistic video visualizer created by Linnea Nugent.

    The single is now available on Spotify, YouTube, and all DSP’s.

    [container] Track List

    01. boomerang
    02. xylem
    03. unnamed thing 23
    04. wildfire
    05. unnamed thing 23.1
    06. the label
    07. instrumental believers
    08. ride
    09. images
    10. wave
    11. the 100th meridian