On June 1st, Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp held a press conference in Chase Square at MSG to announce the end of Billy Joel‘s decade long residency. Joel has logged 136 shows at the Garden and holds the longest consecutive show streak in the venue’s history at 90 (as of 6/1/23). The residency will continue until July 2024, when Joel will reach 150 lifetime shows at The Garden.
Billy Joel speaking at his MSG Press Conference. Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil
To date, the residency has racked up more than 1.6 million tickets sales to fans from all 50 states and over 120 countries. The legendary musician and New Yorker was joined on stage by Mayor Eric Adams, Rangers Legend Henrik Lundqvist, Executive Chairman and CEO of MSG Entertainment James L. Dolan, Executive Vice President of Live at MSG Entertainment Josephine Vaccarello, and Q104.3 host Jim Kerr.
I’m kind of flabbergasted that it lasted as long as it did. My team tells me that we could continue to sell tickets, but ten years, 150 shows – all right already!
Billy Joel.
The 6-time Grammy winner and 23-time nominee’s first performance at MSG dates back to December of 1978, where he performed on three consecutive nights during the 52nd street tour and 45 years later the curtains are closing.
Billy Joel and Eric Adams at Billy Joel x MSG Press Conference. Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil
“There’s only one thing that’s more New York than Billy Joel – and that’s a Billy Joel concert at MSG,” said NYC Mayor Eric Adams. “For more than 50 years, Billy’s music has defined our city and brought us together. On behalf of 8.5 million New Yorkers, congratulations, Billy, on a historic run of sold-out shows at MSG, and thank you for a lifetime of bringing joy to us all.”
Henrik Lundqvist praised Joel’s icon status, “Throughout my career I remember so many moments being on the ice looking up to the rafters and seeing all of these legends names, Knicks Legends, Rangers Legends and of course Billy Joel.”
The first of the final ten shows in Billy Joel’s MSG franchise run will take place on October 20, 2023. Due to demand, a special date was added on Thanksgiving Eve – November 22, 2023, marking his 96 monthly and 142 lifetime show at The Garden. Tickets will be available for purchase by the general public beginning at 10:00AM (ET) on Friday, June 9 via ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available at the Madison Square Garden box office on Saturday, June 10.
Henrik Lundqvist speaking at Billy Joel x MSG Press Conference. Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil
Tatiana DeMaria played her first full band show since the pandmic on May 30th at the Mercury Lounge in New York City, celebrating the release of her new single “Open Wide.”
Tatiana DeMaria Live at The Mercury Lounge, NYC
A notorious live wire on stage, British-born Tatiana DeMaria started her career as a young teen founding and fronting rock band ‘TAT’, playing over 1000 shows and writing two charting singles by age 18 as well as producing underground UK hip hop. She quickly garnered a fan base on both sides of the Atlantic, US radio play and became a Warped Tour fan favorite playing over 1000 shows worldwide.
In mid-2018, Tatiana launched her solo career, going in a different direction sonically, channeling all of her influences from Alt Pop, R&B, and Hip Hop into her signature sound. She is a prolific songwriter and producer who has written and produced commercials and theme songs for brands such as 7UP and Pepsi, and soundtracks for movies and television shows such as American Pie Presents: Girls’ Rule, Blue Crush 2, and Pretty Little Liars.
In Rochester, there are nine days in June that are, for many, the richest nine days of live music on the calendar, named the Rochester International Jazz Fest. But we’ll get to that in a separate post. There’s plenty of other live music to go around this month, so let’s get right to it!
It’s summer, outdoor shows are king, and most of the outdoor venues are not in Rochester proper. So excuse us if we jump a little bit outside Monroe County here. Lincoln Hill Farms is a great little spot in Canandaigua, and with Dan Small Presents picking up the booking duties their calendar is filling out nicely. One show that has caught our particular attention is this little rock band that could from Providence, Deer Tick. They haven’t played these parts in a bit. Combining superb songwriting with reckless barroom energy, they’ll show you a great time. Rafay Rashid will open the show.
The music will start at 630pm and tickets are $30.
Australia is exporting some fantastic music these days, across most any genre you can think of. Surprise Chef, a quintet out of Melbourne, is churning out some seriously good instrumental soul-funk like you’d expect from deep in Brooklyn or deep in the South. Catch their twist on things in their Rochester debut. Alanna Royale will open the show.
Music gets started around 8pm and tickets are $15.
If you’ve seen live music at the Perinton Amphitheater before it was likely of the free community concert variety. But this year Rochester Events is trying it out as a big show venue, starting with Collective Soul on June 1. A week and a half later Rochester faves The Wood Brothers will grace the stage. Ever since a couple of raucous barn burners at the aforementioned Rochester International Jazz Fest some Junes ago, they’ve made Rochester a regular stop. Needless to say, many barns have been burned. They are returning again with another excellent new album in tow. Shovels and Rope open up this time around.
Jazz Fest is not the only time of year to catch world-class jazz in Rochester. And even during Jazz Fest, it isn’t the only place to catch world-class jazz. Case in point, Bop Shop Records, one of the best places to catch adventurous music all year round, is bringing back the great Kahlil El’Zabar, who has appeared there so many times, he must be dubbed the Rusted Root of the Bop Shop (iykyk). This time around he is joined by the legendary tenor saxophonist, and his friend of over 40 years, David Murray. Together they are called the Golden Seas Duo and this is a golden opportunity to have your mind blown.
Show will get started at 8pm and tickets are $25/$30 dos.
Tying this whole post up in a neat little bow, here is another instrumental soul band at Photo City Music Hall, another Jazz Fest alumnus, and another great jazz show butting up against Jazz Fest. Budos Band will probably start up late enough to come check it out after your Jazz Fest fun though, so we’d suggest partaking in both. Budos Band is on the supreme Daptone Records label and is one of the best things on the label. Heavy, funky, soulful, and as with everything else on this list, not to be missed! Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor get the show started.
For some fans, The Allman Brothers 1971 live double-disc, At Fillmore East, was the pinnacle of the band’s career and artistry. It was the culmination of years of relentless touring, a door-to-door musical missionary work that sold fans on bandleader Duane Allman’s unique fusion of blues, rock, big band styled melodic harmony and extended jazzy improvisation into a form that, more than any other, gave birth to the still-thriving jam band idiom. While At Fillmore East remains one of rock’s most revered live albums, it was another crafted after Duane’s death, 1973’s Brothers and Sisters, which was their commercial highpoint.
With over seven million copies sold, Brothers and Sisters was their best-selling album. It was also the one that generated a level of fame that would find them swaying a Presidential election, headlining the world’s largest rock festival, ushering in the commercial juggernaut of Southern Rock and, yes, even becoming the subject of a steady stream of Hollywood tabloid fodder.
In 2015, Paul penned the definitive title on the band, the New York Times best-selling oral history, One Way Out: The Inside History of The Allman Brothers Band. He is also co-author of another comprehensive biography of an American blues master, Texas Flood: The Inside Story of Stevie Ray Vaughan.
To set the scene for this latter chapter of the band, Paul begins with a compact, pre-fame history of each of the original Allman Brothers players. There is Duane and Gregg’s early days as the Allman Joys and the underrated Hourglass, Duane’s time as a session musician and in Derek and the Dominoes and guitarist Dickey Betts’s experience pioneering dual lead and melody in the Second Coming alongside Larry “Rhino” Reinhardt. His description of Betts as “Zen Charles Bronson” is worth the cover price of the book alone. The preamble takes us up to their breakthrough days after At Fillmore East, when all should have been well but really wasn’t. The entire band, minus drummer Butch Trucks, were addicted to heroin. Duane would die in a motorcycle crash a couple of months after its release; bassist Berry Oakley would be dead by the same cause a year later.
Paul’s book captures the Allmans at a time of uncertainty — of rebuilding a band and a shifting in their creative power balance. The addition of young Chuck Leavell on keys and Lamar Williams on bass would help usher in a new style, in studio and on the stage. Williams would bring more of a solid groove to the rhythm section, one propelled with a pick made from a Clorox bottle by the seasoned bassist (my favorite bit of weird trivia in the book). Twenty-one-year-old Leavell would add a depth of harmony, honky tonk swing and a new, virtuoso lead voice to complement the Allman’s new, one guitar lineup.
That one guitarist, Dickey Betts, would emerge from Duane’s shadow to be the leader of the band during Brothers and Sisters. He would pen four of the six originals on the disc, including “Ramblin’ Man,” the Allman Brothers’ first and only Top Ten hit. The tune would feature one of late bassist Berry Oakley’s final contributions and harmony guitar by Les Dudek. The author also shares how Betts, unhappy with the tempo, asked for the song to be speedup, then changed his mind. In a mix up, the speed up version was released, with Betts’s voice in a higher than wanted range, infuriating the mercurial guitarist. This tune ushered in an old school country feel to the Allmans’ sound and even spurred a mighty accolade from Bob Dylan who called it “one of the best songs ever written.” Guitarist Dudek would also be featured on another Betts’ standout from the album, “Jessica,” a tune the author adds was written as an exercise inspired by the work of two-fingered jazz great Django Reinhardt.
One reason Betts assumed leadership was Gregg Allman’s dividing his time between recording Brothers and Sisters and his first solo disc, Laid Back. Here, Paul delves into Gregg’s love of Laurel County folksingers, his own desire to be viewed a part of the creative community of his onetime roommate in L.A., Jackson Browne.
Paul’s book provides a balanced perspective on Phil Walden, the man who served as both manager and record company for the band through his Capricorn Records. Walden would have an up then way down history with the band and would, via their success, build an empire largely around Southern rockers like The Marshall Tucker Band, Charlie Daniels and others. There are some colorful descriptions of Walden’s annual Capricorn Picnic and Summer Games, which drew strange bedfellows like Andy Warhol and boxing promoter Don King to rub shoulder with the rowdy Southern rockers.
Author Alan Paul – photo by George Lange
One of the more interesting chapters is how the Allman Brothers help revive the Presidential campaign of Jimmy Carter, something covered in great detail in the wonderful 2020 documentary “Jimmy Carter: Rock and Roll President.” Paul also spends a great deal of time exploring the history of The Allman Brothers’ on-going touring partnership with the Grateful Dead, something culminating with Summer Jam at Watkins Glen, the 1973 festival which attracted a world record 650,000 attendees. For the gossip minded, there’s a detailed look at the star-crossed union of Gregg and Cher, a relationship which, like the band itself, was severely compromised by Allman’s addictions. Another factor compromising the band was guitarist Betts’ dependence of cocaine and alcohol, something which made his stage performances, and the bands, more unpredictable as time passed. By 2000, Betts would be out of the band for good and The Allman Brothers would never play “Ramblin’ Man” again.
Like his earlier book on the Allmans, Paul’s latest is an honest and very in-depth assessment of the most commercially vital era of the band. In creating it, Paul had access to hundreds of hours of never-before-heard interviews with the band and its confidants, including Dickey Betts and Gregg Allman, from ABB archivist Kirk West.
Paul will be supporting the launch of the book with a variety of events around the country featuring a reading, Q&A and performance by his band, Friend of the Brothers. Paul ensemble will feature former members of Dickey Betts’ Great Southern, Jaimoe’s Jassz Band and the Phil Lesh Band and special guests including Duane Betts. The lineup includes a July 30 events at New York’s City Winery and August 4 and 5 at Daryl’s House in Pawling, New York.
Johnny Depp has suffered a “painful ankle injury,” the Hollywood Vampires have announced, just a day before they were set to begin their summer tour. Dates set for this week are rescheduled for July, including the Bethel Woods date now moved to July 30.
Hollywood Vampires, photo by Ella DeGea.
The Hollywood Vampires is comprised of Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper, and Aerosmith member Joe Perry, as well as Tommy Henriksen. The band originally formed in 2012 and announced in 2022, just days after Depp won his defamation lawsuit against ew-wide Amber Heard, that they would be reuniting for a 2023 tour.
In June 2022, a jury found that Heard had defamed Depp on all three counts and awarded him $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. Since then, Depp has remained largely sidelined from Hollywood productions due to the abuse allegations against him. He was forced to exit his role in the Harry Potter spinoff series Fantastic Beasts in 2020 but continues to do well, playing shows with Jeff Beck and signing a $20 million-plus deal with fashion brand Dior.
Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp.
In a statement shared by the band, they said: “Johnny has sustained a painful injury to his ankle following his recent appearances and has been advised by his doctor not to travel.” They went on to say that “he is devastated by this turn of events but looks forward to resting up so all four Vampires can bring their absolute best to the tour in Europe.”
All tickets will be honored for the new dates, which include July 28 at the Wang Theatre Boch Center in Boston, July 29 at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, NH, and July 30 at the Bethel Woods Center For The Arts in Bethel. For more information about the Hollywood Vampires and to purchase tickets to their upcoming tour, visit here.
Maker Park Radio’s Punk Rock Mini-Golf is returning this June for its third year in Maker Park, Staten Island. In addition to the mini-golf will be the performances of 19 bands from June 2-4 and June 10-11.
The nine-hole golf course itself features artwork contributed by Staten Island bands, such as X-Ray Specks, The Cramps, Decendents, and The Ramones. On June 4, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., there will be a tournament for two-person teams, entry at $20 per person. The winners of the tournament will receive half the pot, with the remainder going to support Maker Park Radio.
Even if you don’t know the history of punk rock, this event is always a blast. There are so many great bands this year to check out!
Art Director Tom Ferrie
Maker Park Radio itself is a non-profit Radio Station that broadcasts from MakerSpace NYC on Staten Island. Kristin Wallace and Tom Ferrie founded the organization in 2017 to act as a hub for those who create or enjoy music. It is a volunteer-run organization that helps to amplify artistic spirit across mediums and genres.
Dates and Times of Performances
June 2
Golf will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., with bands from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.. Bands featured include: The Dracu-Las; Sean K. Preston; and Ratas En Zelo.
June 3
Golf will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., with bands from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.. Bands featured include: Nervous Triggers; The Revelatours; Early Riser; and Goddamn Wrecks.
June 4
Golf will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., with bands from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.. The mini-golf tournament is to be from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on June 4. Bands featured include: The Lookout Honeys; Ward Hill Boys; Kerbivore; and High Chiefs.
June 10
Golf will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., with bands from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.. Bands featured include: Cohort B; Mighty Joe Castro and the Gravamen; Lip Critic; and Boz Boorer and the Cocket Pox.
June 11
Golf will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., with bands from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.. Bands featured include: Our Own Yokos; The Flesh Junkies; Gamma Ghouls; and Enrage.
Punk Rock Mini-Golf is an all ages event, with children 10 and under receiving free admission. For all others, the $10 entry fee grants access to the performances and unlimited rounds of mini-golf. More information on Maker Park Radio can be found on their website.
Ballard Park in Westport will once again host a free, seven-week live music concert series. Performances will take place on Thursdays at 7PM, running from July 6 to August 17, 2023. This year’s lineup features everything from Beatles tribute bands to elite jazz musicians.
Ballard Park is perched atop a grassy hillside overlooking Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains of Vermont. This year, the park will also be home to the Westport-Wadhams Day concert on July 1.
Ballard Park was once the location of The Westport Inn, an illustrious grand hotel located in the heart of the Adirondacks. After the 1967 demolition of the building, Anne Ballard (“Petey”) Cerf, a long-time summer resident purchased the property. In 1989 she established Ballard Park in honor of her parents.
The park is open to the public and has both lake and beach access. In addition to the summer concert series, Ballard Park offers sledding and ice skating in the winter.
Organizers recommend that visitors bring blankets and low chairs. In the case of rain the concerts will switch over to the Whallonsburg Grange Hall. More information and updates can be found here.
Ballard Park Summer Concert Series lineup
July 1- STUDIO TWO, an early Beatles tribute band.
July 6- KAT WRIGHT, Vermont’s renowned blues and soul star.
July 13- MYRA FLYNN, part of the “Roar of the Queen! Tour”, Flynn arrives to Ballard Park after headlining Burlington’s Discover Jazz festival.
July 20- NICHOLAS EDWARD WILLIAMS, an American troubadour dedicated to preserving the songs and styles that shaped the United States .
July 27- RAY VEGA, Vermont’s master of Jazz and a University Scholar at UVM
August 3- MEADOWMOUNT SCHOOL OF MUSIC, Petey Cerf Memorial Concert— strings students from Westport’s renowned summer camp.
August 10- PLOUGHMAN’S LUNCH, North Country musicians known for bluegrass, swing and covers.
August 17- RYAN CLARK, from his hometown of Lake George to new home in Nashville, Ryan has received national acclaim for his talent and voice.
The Dawn Lipson Canalside outdoor Concert Series at the Rochester Jewish Community Center recently released its summer lineup. Acts include everything from legendary tribute shows to original music by local acts.
Originally born out of the Covid pandemic, the concert series is in its third season of music and events. The covered tent venue holds hundreds of visitors with the option to expand for larger performances.
Something new coming to the venue is the “Music Mondays” series which features two local Rochester musicians at every event. The series also begins with an open mic segment to start each evening.
More events are expected to be announced soon. The full concert series can be found here.
Summer Schedule
June 3- Chris Wilson & Bryan Ayers: A Tribute to Simon & Garfunkel
Upstate New York singers Chris Wilson and Brian Ayers celebrate the music of legendary duo Simon and Garfunkel.
June 10- Bad Sneakers: The Music of Steely Dan and Donald Fagen
Bad Sneakers is a Rochester based band that includes current and past members of Hard Logic, Prime Time Funk, Goodness, The Klick, The Bill Tiberio Band, and The Earthtones. The infectious groove they lay down, along with their precise and dedicated approach to the music will have diehard, as well as new, Steely Dan fans smiling from the first note.
June 15- Thank You For The Music: ABBA’s Greatest Hits
Packed with your favorite tunes and featuring a crew of amazing singers and musicians, this tribute to the internationally beloved Swedish supergroup was created exclusively for the JCC Concert Series by Jessica Ann Best.
June 17- Philadelphia Freedom: The Ultimate Elton John Tribute
Philadelphia Freedom prides itself on being the most realistic Elton John tribute currently touring. Doug Delescavage is Elton John as he was in his 20s, full of joy and unlimited energy, his top notch band through all the hits of Elton’s career.
July 9- The Eaglez: Western New York’s Eagles’ Tribute Band
The Eaglez are Western New York’s own Eagles’ tribute band. The group pays particular attention to the rich harmony vocals that the legendary Eagles are famous for. An Eaglez concert features not only the Eagles’ biggest hits, but also solo songs written and recorded by Joe Walsh, Glenn Frey, and Don Henley.
July 22- Public Water Supply
Public Water Supply is an Alt. Country/Indie Rock act out of Rochester. PWS consists of five university-trained musicians, blending distinctive songwriting, spectacular vocals, and incredible instrumentalists. The members include: Iggy Marino, frontman; Adrianna Noone, lead singer; Karis Gregory, Jr., lead guitar; Alex Brophy, team captain and bass; and Spencer Kornrich, bus driver and drums. PWS dropped their debut self-titled album earlier this year.
July 23- Ronstadt Revue
Linda Ronstadt, an 11-time Grammy winner who has sold over 100 million albums in country, rock, Latin, Motown, and even Broadway music, is no longer performing publicly. Fortunately, her musical legacy now lives on through Gesenia and her Ronstadt Revue. Every Ronstadt Revue show features performances in both English and Spanish, and covers every musical genre of Ms. Ronstadt’s 40+ year career. Two of Ronstadt’s own band members are currently co-producing and featured on the upcoming Ronstadt Revue album.
July 30- The Joint is Jumpin’: Songs of the Harlem Renaissance
Music historian Michael Lasser, singers Connie Fredericks Malone, and Reuben J. Tapp, and accompanist Scott Bradley celebrate the centennial of The Harlem Renaissance. Rediscover this historic time period by listening to the songs of Duke Ellington and Thomas “Fats” Waller.
August 17- Both Sides Now: The Music of Joni Mitchell
Singer and songwriter Kelly Shapiro is joined by musicians Mike Shapiro and Siena Facciolo for a deep dive into the songbook of the legendary Joni Mitchell.
Music Mondays
June 5- Marshay Dominique and Miriam Morelli
June 12- Sarah DeValliere and Emily Champion
July 10- Kelly Izzo Shapiro and Levi Gangi
July 24- Cami Enaharo and Chris Wilson
August 7- Kara Fink and Bret Levick
August 21- Brian McCormick, Jerry Falzone, and Lou Sweigman
Brooklyn might not be the place where you’d imagine the next great American folk band to come from, but Liam Robinson and Jean Rohe are looking to change that. The duo has been channeling the sounds of Appalachia and the soul of America since they met over 15 years ago. After exploring their musicality as individuals, Robinson and Rohe drop their next album Into the Night on Friday, May 26th.
In a musical landscape that is often ripe with generic lyrics and songs made to “trend” on social media, Into the Night is a breath of fresh air. Punctuated by rhythmic guitar strums, bright banjo beats, passionate vocals, and simple but powerful drums, Into theNight does enough to stay engaging without straying too far away from its traditional influences.
Although the project is undeniably folk-inspired, elements of rock, bluegrass, jazz, and even pop are found throughout the 11-song album. The real standout element of Into the Night however is Robinson & Rohe’s writing and lyricism, which often comes across more like well-crafted lines of poetry than the lyrics of a song.
The album begins with the feel-good title track “Into the Night” which acts as the perfect introduction to the overall tone and atmosphere of the project. Robinson & Rohe put together one of their best and most harmonious vocal performances of the entire album. The pair’s soulful singing gives way to the steady beat of drums and the intricate sounds of a fiddle as the track reaches its climax. The first half of the album also features the songs “Off track” and “Where I’m Coming From”, which both help to demonstrate the project’s strong instrumentation and production.
Another gem is “One Last Waltz”, which invites the listener to reflect on time, love, and the brevity of life. Its poetic lyrics and powerful cascade of horns, drums, and guitars act as a comforting “goodbye” as the album nears its end. While Into the Night doesn’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to contemporary folk music, Robinson & Rohe display their songwriting and arrangement skills on just about every track. Together, the duo crafts a project that is not only impressive in its musical value, but also approachable for anyone looking to hear something shaped by the heart.
Robinson & Roe will celebrate Into the Night in New York City at Rockwood Music Hall on June 4th. The full list of upcoming performances can be found below:
Waterparks, pop punk/modern rock icons, brought the house down at Philadelphia’s legendary Theatre of Living Arts (TLA). It was the 6th show of their East Coast leg on the Intellectual Property Tour, and boy, did they deliver an unforgettable performance.
With HUNNY and Elliot Lee warming up the crowd, the energy was off the charts. TLA was packed with their devoted fanbase, affectionately known as “parxies,” who created an electric atmosphere. Waterparks’ signature style and intense electric sound had the audience mesmerized and electrified throughout the night. It was an absolute blast, and a testament to their status as one of the leading bands in the pop punk scene.
A New York native, Elliot Lee is a visionary musician who has been rewriting the rules of pop music since bursting onto the scene. With her unmistakable blend of haunting melodies, poetic lyricism, and a voice that resonates with raw emotion, Elliot Lee has captivated audiences worldwide. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation as Elliot’s ethereal vocals filled the venue, intertwining seamlessly with the hypnotic melodies. The crowd was transported to a realm where emotions ran deep, where vulnerability and strength coexisted. It was a transcendent experience, as Elliot bared their soul through their music.
Standout moments included the hauntingly beautiful performance of “Easy To Be You,” where Elliot’s voice soared effortlessly, carrying a weight of raw emotion that left the audience breathless. The pulsating beats and shimmering synths of “Fun” had everyone moving to the rhythm, surrendering to the cathartic release of the music.
Elliot Lee Setlist: Upside Down, Sicko, Drama Queen, Pill for Happiness, Solo, Happy Face, Fun, 54321, Easy to Be You, Pink (Freak)
HUNNY is a dynamic indie rock band that emerged from the vibrant music scene of Southern California. Formed in 2014, this five-piece ensemble quickly garnered attention for their infectious energy and heartfelt lyrics. The band’s during the show consisted of lead vocalist and guitarist Jason Yarger and bassist Kevin Grimmett. With their unique blend of dreamy melodies, gritty guitars, and introspective storytelling, HUNNY swiftly captivated the audience. As the frontman, Yarger’s charismatic persona commanded attention, effortlessly navigating between vulnerable introspection and explosive bursts of passion.
The band’s seamless chemistry created an irresistible atmosphere, driving the crowd into a frenzy. The setlist was a carefully curated journey through their discography, combining fan favorites like “Vowels (And the Importance of Being Me)” and “Televised” with newer gems from their latest album. Each song resonated deeply, with the band’s infectious hooks and infectious melodies washing over the audience.
HUNNY Setlist: Natalie, Saturday Night, Vowels (And the Importance of Being Me), Halloween, JFK, Shy, Loser, Good Will Hunting Song, action –> reaction, Lula, I’m Not Mad, Televised, Sports With Strangers
Waterparks (not to be confused with an aquatic amusement park) is a pop punk band from Houston, Texas. Made up of frontman Awsten Knight, drummer Otto Wood, and guitarist Geoff Wigington, the trio quickly gained a reputation for their captivating live performances and clever songwriting since they formed in 2011. Blending elements of pop, rock, punk, and electronic music, they have carved a unique niche for themselves in the music industry. With their infectious melodies, high-energy performances, and fearless attitude, Waterparks has become a defining voice in modern pop-rock, inspiring a new generation of music lovers and proving that they are just getting started.
During the opening chords of ST*RFUCKER and Awsten’s debut in a giant red parka, the audience became a living, breathing entity, swaying and jumping in unison. The surge of adrenaline in the room was palpable, as fans eagerly embraced the band’s electrifying sound.
Awsten effortlessly commanded the stage with his charismatic presence. He engaged the crowd with his patented fan interaction strategies which included affectionately bullying the crowd and airdropping a photo from their photographer’s (Jawn Rocha) phone to random fans. The connection between the Waterparks and parxies was undeniable, as cheers and chants filled the venue.
As the energy reached its peak, the crowd erupted into a frenzy of excitement, with people crowd surfing their way towards the stage. Waterparks’ music created a sense of unity and exhilaration, as fans supported each other, riding the wave of excitement and joy.
Amidst the chaos, Waterparks skillfully navigated through their setlist, flawlessly transitioning from one hit to the next. Tracks like “Numb,” “Stupid for You,” and “Group Chat ” ignited the crowd. Parxies went absolutely wild when the band played “Crave”, the one song that called for Geoff to sing a verse.
As the set reached its crescendo, Waterparks returned for an encore that left the crowd in awe. “REAL SUPER DARK,” “Turbulent,” and “Funeral Grey” ignited a final surge of energy. The audience erupted, jumping and singing along with unbridled enthusiasm. The band poured their hearts into every note, reciprocating the crowd’s unwavering energy.
Their ability to connect with the audience through their music created an electric atmosphere, leaving everyone craving for more. The sight of people crowdsurfing and the collective euphoria of the concert will forever be etched in the memories of those lucky enough to experience the magic of Waterparks live in Philadelphia.
Waterparks Setlist: ST*RFUCKER, Numb, Rare, Stupid for You, Crave, Brainwashed, 2 Best Friends, Fuck About It, War Crimes, [Reboot], Royal, Telephone, Ritual, High Definition (Acoustic snippet), I Miss Having Sex but at Least I Don’t Wanna Die Anymore, Group Chat, Closer, A Night Out on Earth
Waterparks Encore: REAL SUPER DARK, Turbulent, Funeral Grey
The North America portion of the Intellectual PropertyTour will keep going all the way until June 14th when they finish in Los Angeles. If you find yourself abroad, you can catch Waterparks in Europe (with support from Stand Atlantic) and in Australia later on in the year. Stay tuned to their website and socials for more information on those dates.
HUNNY will be following Waterparks till the end of the line so be sure to follow Kevin and Jason’s adventures on tour (and for future endeavors).
Elliot Lee will be departing after the show in Georgia. Be sure to follow them on socials and check their website for any performances that they play when they get back home to NY.
