NYS Music 2023

Category: Rock

  • An Enchanting Evening with Andy Summers at the Patchogue Theatre

    On Saturday night, October 14, the Patchogue Theatre in New York came alive with the spellbinding music and visual artistry of the legendary guitarist, Andy Summers. The crowd gathered in anticipation of a performance that promised to be much more than just a concert. As part of his tour entitled “The Cracked Lens + A Missing String,” Andy Summers combined his exceptional guitar skills with a unique multimedia presentation.

    The show kicked off with the hauntingly beautiful “Tru Nature,” setting the tone for what was to come. With his distinctive guitar style and unparalleled skill, Summers effortlessly transported the audience into a world of musical wonder. The setlist was an eclectic mix of his solo works and iconic songs from his time with The Police, making it an experience that catered to fans both old and new.

    What truly set this evening apart were the interludes between songs, during which Summers shared captivating anecdotes. These stories offered a glimpse into the inspirations and experiences that shaped his music and life. One unforgettable tale involved an accidental overdose of Ambien, which left him with no memory of how he made it from the plane to his hotel. This candid storytelling offered a humorous yet humanizing perspective on the legendary artist.

    The evening continued with songs like “The Last Dance of Mr. X” and “Tea in the Sahara,” which not only showcased Summers’ musical virtuosity but also his storytelling ability. Each song became more than just a composition; it transformed into a vivid narrative that resonated deeply with the audience.

    Another remarkable story recounted Summers’ adventures with the late John Belushi, where they embarked on a journey involving magic mushroom omelets. The audience was transported into this wild and unexpected adventure through Summers’ vivid storytelling, making them feel like they were right there with him.

    The visual component of the show was equally mesmerizing. Behind Summers, a large screen displayed a collage of photographs he had taken throughout his storied career. These visuals served as a stunning backdrop, creating a visual narrative that harmonized with the music. The result was an immersive experience that combined sound and sight, forging a profound connection between the artist and the audience.

    The show culminated with the iconic “Message in a Bottle,” leaving the audience with a lasting memory of an extraordinary evening that transcended the boundaries of a typical concert.

    Setlist: True Nature, Metal Dog, The Bones of Twang Zu, The Last Dance of Mr X, Tea in the Sahara, Round Midnight, Spain, Roxanne, Manha de carnaval, A Felicidade, Triboluminescence, Spirits in the Material World, Bring on the Night, Message in a Bottle

  • Indie Rock Power Trio “ON” Unveil their latest video release ‘Gator’

    Toronto-NYC indie rock power trio ON has unveiled the music video for their latest single release ‘Gator’, an infectious groove and rock waltz, released via Toronto’s Indiestructable Records on October 10.

    The band ON is a power trio including lead vocalist Lucy Di Santo, drummer Dan Cornelius and guitarist Steve Fall, they continue to carry out the legacy of previously formed 90’s Sire Records band ACID TEST. The newest single ‘Gator’ encompasses infectious guitar riffs with a dash of groove that honors their post-punk, grunge, old-school funk and 90s college roots. The song is a clever blend of pop melody and raw rock, with a tight weave of classic and alternative coated with grunge. ‘Gator’ follows up the bands latest single ‘Make Me’, a song of frustration and wanted to recapture that euphoria in the new video.

    “The song has a strong guitar hook and melody – and the drums are
    tailored to support and enhance those elements. So I thought the drums should be a drum pattern that anyone could tap along to ON their steering wheel while waiting in traffic. Simple drum groove. Simple drum fills.”

    – Drummer Dan Cornelius

    Upcoming Tour Dates

    Sun 10/15 Toronto – Bovine Sex Club (with Snailmate, Second Wife)

    Tues 10 /17 Ithaca, NY – Deep Dive (with Snailmate)

    Wed 10/18 Buffalo, NY – The Lounge at Revolution Gallery (with Snailmate & Daisy Chain)

    Thurs 10/19 Kingston, ON – The Toucan (with Snailmate)

    Sat 10/21 NYC, NY – Bar Frida (with Snailmate)

    ‘Gator’ is out now and available from fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.

  • Long Island Band The Illusion Inducted Into Long Island Music Hall Of Fame

    The Illusion, a Long Island based psychedelic rock band from the 1960s and 70s was recently inducted into the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHoF). At the induction ceremony, the group performed onstage for the first time in 51 years.

    The Illusion

    The Illusion made a name for themselves touring with the likes of The Who, The Allman Brothers Band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and more. The group’s first single was released in 1968, with their debut album, The Illusion, released on Steed Records the following year. The band continued with two more albums and ultimately dissolved in the early 1970s. The group notably worked alongside Jeff Barry (Tina Turner, The Crystals), who served as the band’s producer for all three of their albums.

    The Illusion

    The group was inducted into the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame on October 7, celebrating original members John Vinci, Rich Cerniglia, Chuck Alder, Mike Ricciardella, and the late Mike Maniscalco. Cerniglia, Alder, and Ricciardella took the stage alongside friends to play a selection of hit songs from their original discography.

    The Illusion has had such a major impact and influence on so many of the performers who later themselves became inductees into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, it is high time they themselves became inductees. Congratulations to the Illusion on being inducted into the LIMEHoF.

    Barry Fisch, General Manager of LIMEHoF

    The Illusion is credited with being an influential figure in the Long Island rock scene, as well as a key influential figure for their friend and collaborator Jimi Hendrix. The group met Hendrix by chance at a recording studio early in their careers and went on to become close friends, frequently playing together across the country.

  • In Focus: The Tea Party Brings The Heat to Buffalo

    The Tea Party, a Canadian rock band formed in 1996 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada started their fall 2023 tour in Buffalo on Oct 13, to a sold-out crowd at the famous Town Ballroom.

    The evening began with an intimate VIP acoustic set from the band to a crowd of steadfast fans on the Oxford Pennant stage of the Town Ballroom. This smaller stage worked well for this intimate VIP crowd of around seventy people. A handful of stories from the road along with the songs played made the moment quite special.

    The opening act, Human Kebab, a Canadian DJ from Stouffville, Ontario, Canada began the night in the main ballroom in support of The Tea Party by spinning and mixing many genres of high-energy music, including, but not limited to Hip-Hop, Rock, Alternative, Electronic and more.

    For the main event, fans of The Tea Party lined up early for night one of this two-night run at the Ballroom as to make sure to get a great spot as close to the stage as possible for what would be an evening they would not soon forget.

    As the house lights went down and the walk-on music started, the sold-out crowd erupted with cheers and applause. The energy was high from the beginning all the way to the end of the show with everyone in attendance hanging on to every word sung, and every note played throughout the night.

    Setlist: The River, the Bazaar, Psychopomp, Fire in the Head, The Messenger, Black River, Heaven, Save Me, Release, Temptation
    Encore: Sister Awake

  • Watch North Mississippi Allstars Revel at Cohoes Music Hall

    On a fall Saturday night in Cohoes, the blues were alive and well at Cohoes Music Hall, with North Mississippi Allstars bringing their patented Hill Country sound to a lively, packed audience that hung on every note.

    The power trio of brothers Luther (guitar) and Cody (drums) Dickinson were joined by bassist Berry Oakley Jr. this evening. Dickinson’s hypnotic guitar sound was on display this evening, particularly on “Outside,” off Set Sail, and featuring Lamar Williams Jr. on the studio version. A pair of songs with Cody Dickinson on vocals – “Let Me In” and “KC Jones” peppered the first set, ending with the 1969 R.L. Burnside classic “Po Black Maddie” that the Allstars have brought to a new generation with their amped up version.

    Set 2 began with a double dose of southern rock, as the Hernando, Mississippi trio performed a 17 minute version of Allman Brothers Band‘s “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.” You’ll want to watch this one:

    The rest of the set featured classic NMAS songs “Goin Down South” and “All Night Long,” the latter sung by Cody Dickinson who took over guitar duties while Luther switched to bass and Berry hopped on the kit, followed by Cody taking an extended drum solo under a purple hue.

    There was nary a flaw in the show this evening, the band members dialed in and playing songs from across their extensive catalog. They’ll be back next year, if not sooner, with an audience that continues to fill in to hear this wonderful Mississippi Hill Country sound.

    Listen to a recording of the show via Live Music Archive and be sure to support the Internet Archive!

    North Mississippi Allstars – Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, NY – Saturday, October 14

    Set 1: Up and Rolling, Shake (Yo Mama), Mean Ol’ Wind Died Down, Let Me In, Outside, Ship, Meet Me in the City, K.C. Jones, Po Black Maddie
    Set 2: In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, Goin Down South, Rabbit Foot, Mississippi Bollweevil, Otha’s Bye Bye Baby, Bumpin’, All Night Long > drum solo, Shame Em on Down, Mean Old World
    Encore: Didn’t We Have a Time (Luther solo)

  • Warren Haynes to play Love Rocks NYC On 3-Date Solo Tour

    Gov’t Mule frontman Warren Haynes is hitting the road for three intimate solo shows in April, ahead of Gov’t Mule’s full spring tour, celebrating 30 years. Warren Haynes will play Love Rocks NYC at the Beacon Theatre in Manhattan on March 10. 

    Gov't Mule performs for a sold-out crowd at the Salvage Station in Asheville, North Carolina on June 3, 2022.
    Gov’t Mule performs for a sold-out crowd at the Salvage Station in Asheville, North Carolina on June 3, 2022. Photo by David Simchock

    Love Rocks NYC is an annual charity event benefitting God’s Love We Deliver, a secular non-profit that prepares and delivers meals to sick New York City residents. The event takes place at The Beacon Theatre on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, and this year will feature performers including Mavis Staples, Hozier, Melissa Etheridge, Allison Russell, Larkin Poe, Tyler Bryant, David Shaw, and more. This year will mark Warren Haynes’ fourth appearance at the charity event on March 10.

    After the past 2 years, I’m excited, like everyone else, to get back to doing what I love. With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to do a handful of intimate, solo shows before the Mule gets rolling.

    Warren Haynes

    Haynes will also make stops in South Deerfield, MA, and Ridgefield, CT along his solo run. In addition to Love Rocks NYC, Haynes will join his band Gov’t Mule at the Beacon Theatre on December 30 and 31. The group will tour in support of their most recent album, Heavy Load Blues, released in November 2021 to chart-topping success.

    Gov't Mule Thirty Years Strong Tour

    Pre-sale tickets for Love Rocks NYC go on sale Thursday, February 17th with the public on-sale starting Friday, February 18th at 10am ET. More information available here.

    Tickets for the South Deerfield dates go on sale Tuesday, February 15th, at 6pm ET. Tickets for the Ridgefield show go on sale Wednesday, February 16th at 10am ET. For more details or to purchase, visit www.warrenhaynes.net. 

    For information on Gov’t Mule’s upcoming Spring 2024 tour, visit mule.net.

  • Black Rose Burning Drops Video For Title Track “Ad Astra”

    NYC-based alt-rock group Black Rose Burning released “Ad Astra,” the title track from their brand new album alongside a sci-fi inspired official music video. Following singles, “Fight!”, “Night Terrors,” and “Sing to Me,” the group’s new album released in September, inspired by the Latin phrase “Ad Astra Per Aspera.”

    Ad Astra by Black Rose Burning

    “Ad Astra,” the new record’s title track, sports a sci-fi inspired video, featuring stylized digital graphics showing space travel and all things outer space. The song’s high energy matches well with the graphics, and showcases the group’s growing synergy. Inspired by the Latin phrase “Ad Astra Per Aspera,” meaning “through hardships to the stars,” the song carries themes of reaching beyond Earth towards the stars.

    Sonically it’s a major leap forward in the ever-growing sound of Black Rose Burning in every way. Letting experts do what they do has resulted in – a lush soundscape that’s better than I could have ever hoped for. And even though I again wrote all the material, having partners who understand my vision is both invaluable and awe inspiring.

    George Grant

    Formed in 2018, Black Rose Burning began with instrumentalist, producer, and engineer George Grant, joined by guitarist Frank Morin and drummer Luis Infantas. Ad Astra was recorded in Grant’s own studio, PV Recording Company, where the full band recorded the album alongside Grant’s production skills.

    Black Rose Burning

    Black Rose Burning released their previous album, The Wheel, in December 2021. Since then, the group released three new singles, “Fight!”, “Night Terrors,” and “Sing to Me,” leading up to their third full length album, Ad Astra. The new album is available on streaming platforms, and available for purchase on BandCamp.

  • In Focus: Metric’s Old World Underground 20th Anniversary Show at Bowery Ballroom

    Metric is one of those bands I had heard so much about over the last 20 years, yet never got to see live, that is until Tuesday, October 10 at New York’s intimate Bowery Ballroom.

    Fresh off the Gargage/Noel Gallagher tour this summer, the band has often been comfortable as an opening act, even opening up for Paramore at Madison Square Garden. To Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of their first album Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? they set out on a short run of small intimate clubs.

    The Canadian synthpop four-piece (though this night they were nothing short of high energy rock show) really held nothing back last night as they strolled out in style onto the stage at the Bowery. No fluff, not even an opening act booked, just doors at 8pm, Metric at 9pm, as the sign at the door stated. Front woman Emily Haines came out with nothing to prove as the room erupted and the band plowed through a few songs before she addressed the crowd.

    It’s hard to keep your eyes off her on stage, the band was really tight and energetic, a crammed stage full of keyboards facing pretty much every direction, rotating between rock, pop and some acoustic numbers. Half the set was of course songs off Old World, followed by 5 off Formentera, a few covers and one song off the new Album out Today, Formentera II.

    Metric – Bowery Ballroom, NYC – Tuesday, October 10

    Setlist: IOU, The List, False Dichotomy, What Feels Like Eternity, Succexy, Dead Disco, Who Would You Be for Me, Love Is a Place, Formentera, Just the Once, All Comes Crashing, Calculation Theme, On a Slow Night, Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl, Doomscroller, Hustle Rose, Combat Baby, Nothing Is Perfect

  • Andy Summers: Cracked Lens + Missing String Tour Arrives in Patchogue on October 14

    In performances incorporating not only his musicianship, but also his photography, writing and storytelling, Andy Summers performed at the Hart Theatre at the Egg in Albany on Wednesday, October 11. He will also be performing Saturday night, October 14, at the Patchogue Theatre in Patchogue, Long Island, with these marking the only two New York shows during his current Cracked Lens + Missing String Tour. 

    the police andy summers the cracked lens and a missing string tour

    The tour’s title is a metaphor for vulnerability and life’s imperfections, Summers has explained.

    Andy Summers with his band mates in The Police, would make history becoming the best band of their day, with “Every Breath You Take” still being the most played song on radio in history, making Andy Summers the most listened to guitarist of his time.

    This tour is a long way from his first time on the East Coast playing with The Police at The Chance in Poughkeepsie with only four people in attendance, their first tour of the U.S. before becoming a phenomenon. 

    In a phone interview we did last week, he spoke of it 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.”

    With his photography show looming large behind him on stage, the performance is a multi-sensory emotional experience for audience members, taking them along on his creative journey with The Police and as a solo musician having toured the world.

    The audience will be treated to a set list that includes both his Police and solo work as one of music’s most prolific artists and the most listened to guitarist.

    “I’m matching my ideas – my music and assembled images; you get a broader view of my guitar work, a fuller show than when I started out,” Summers said in the interview. He mentioned some of the songs he incorporates into the shows. “Bring On The Night” will take some back to decades ago upon first hearing the classically inspired guitar arpeggio.

    “Roxanne” may not be putting on the red light, refined now in the instrumental way Andy Summers has chosen to portray her: still sprightly, still sultry. His recent flamenco flavored instrumental version of “Roxanne” portrays this classic which fans describe as masterful musical visual storytelling.

    “Tea in the Sahara” is a song, he stated in the interview, that he enjoys putting in this show as “it sits very well on the guitar to be played beautifully and I add to it. And I went to the Sahara, took a lot of pictures there and feel very lucky to have done that.”

    Andy Summers has stayed with his fans for decades since his history-making time with The Police.

    His photography is still being exhibited in galleries world wide; he is still writing fiction and non fiction best selling books. His plans to write The Trouble with Guitars is already in the works, as is a plan to make a film of this tour.

    You can see him next here in New York on Saturday night, October 14 at the Patchogue Theatre. 

  • The Dust Devil Band Returns to Rock at Unity Hall

    Barneveld will be ready to rock when the Dust Devil Band makes their return to Unity Hall on Saturday, Oct. 28. A longtime local favorite of Central NY music fans, the DDB always delivers an upbeat evening packed with great tunes, musicianship, and foot-stomping fun.

    The Dust Devil Band’s unique sound is a culmination of blues, southern rock, Americana, and alternative country, with 45 years of friendship and hard work. They were a huge part of the musical scene in the 70s and 80s. The band originated from the Waylon and Willie genre and later adopted their style of rock in later years.

    Featured on October 28 will be DDB’s talented veteran musicians including George Deveny (NYS Blues Hall of Fame member) on lead guitar, slide guitar, and vocals; Darryl Mattison on drums; George Newton on pedal steel guitar, lap steel, and vocals; Dan Porter on bass guitar and vocals; and Ed Rosenburgh on lead vocals, rhythm guitar, and harmonica.

    This event is presented by the Unity Hall Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that maintains the 1896 Hall as a center for the arts and community activities. The Music Series is also made possible by the Statewide Community Regrants Program through the New York State Council on the Arts, with support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.

    For more information please visit here.