NYS Music 2023

Category: News

  • Bad Bunny Announces 3 Shows At Brooklyn’s Barclays Center On Most Wanted Tour

    Global sensation Bad Bunny announced a 47-date North American tour slated for this spring, titled the Most Wanted Tour. Kicking off on February 21 in Salt Lake City, the tour will make stops in Los Angeles, Detroit, Boston, Washington, DC, Houston, and Dallas, as well as three back-to-back shows at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on April 11, 12, and 13.

    Bad Bunny Most Wanted Tour

    The Most Wanted Tour will be curated as an experience for day-one fans, featuring a rollercoaster of explicit lyrics paying homage to the Bad Bunny’s “trap” style roots. Parental discretion is advised.

    Bad Bunny rose to global fame in recent years, and became the top touring artist in 2022. After winning 3 Grammy Awards, the rapper took a break from large-scale tours, and will make his comeback this spring on the Most Wanted Tour

    Bad Bunny released his newest album, nadie sabe lo que va a a pasar mañana, to massive success, as it became the most-streamed album in a single day so far in 2023 on Spotify. The Spanish title translates to “nobody knows what will happen tomorrow.” The record’s lead track, “MONACO,” hit #1 in 16 countries on Spotify, making a mark with over 900 million streams so far.

    nadie sabe lo que va a pasar mañana by Bad Bunny

    Fans can register for the Most Wanted Tour resale here until October 22 at 11:59PM. Once registered, fans will be randomly selected to receive a code that grants them access to the on-sale on October 25.

    In addition, the tour will offer a variety of VIP packages and experiences, including premium tickets, access to the pre-show VIP Lounge Experience, exclusive gift items, and more. Visit vipnation.com for more information.

    BAD BUNNY 2024 MOST WANTED TOUR DATES

    Feb. 21 – Salt Lake City, UT – Delta Center

    Feb. 23-24 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena

    Feb. 27-28 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center

    March 1-2 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center

    March 5 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center

    March 7 Portland, OR – Moda Center

    March 9 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena

    March 13-15 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.Com Arena

    March 20 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena

    March 23 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center

    March 26 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center

    March 28-30 – Chicago, IL – United Center

    April 4 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena

    April 6 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena

    April 9 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena

    April 11-13 – New York, NY – Barclays Center

    April 17 – Boston, MA – TD Garden

    April 19 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center

    April 20 – Hartford, CT – XL Center

    April 22 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center

    April 24 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center

    April 26-27 – Austin, TX – Moody Center

    April 30-May 1 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center

    May 3-4 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center

    May 7 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center

    May 10 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center

    May 11 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena

    May 14-15 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena

    May 17-18 – Orlando, FL – Amway Center

    May 21 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena

    May 24-26 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHedgot-DRY

  • Westside Gunn Drops Star-Studded LP ‘And Then You Pray For Me’

    Critically-acclaimed Buffalo native, Westside Gunn, continues to push the envelope on his “underground” status with the release of his latest LP, And Then You Pray For Me. Released this past Friday, the star-studded project features a host of hip hop heavy hitters along with a mesh of styles and sub-genres. All in all, showcasing the Griselda head honcho’s status within the game.

    Westside Gunn "And Then You Pray For Me" album cover
    ‘And Then Your Pray For Me” album cover

    The Making of “And Then You Pray For Me”

    Furthermore, the self proclaimed “FlyGod” took a unique approach to the creation of And Then You Pray For Me, recording most of the album overseas. Immersing himself in inspiring locals, he laid down tracks in Paris, Athens, London, and Denmark. Subsequently, as Westside Gunn cements his place in hiphop folklore, he has begun to experiment with different sounds. After years of maintaining an air of creativity and cultural fluidity with his keen fashion sense, expressive styles and interest in art, this has begun to manifest itself in his music — which has long fed the streets with a combination of boom bap and luxury drug raps. While the new experimental sounds have been well received, it has led to questions on whether Westside Gunn’s loyalty to the boom bap sound that gained him relevance has begun to waiver.

    After all, the 21-track project boasts contributions from legendary figures such as RZA, Rick Ross, Jeezy and DJ Drama. While contemporary stars the Iikes of Ty Dolla $ign, J.I.D., EST Gee and producer Tay Keith make appearances with the addition of British rapper, Giggs, for a bit of European flair. Meanwhile, And Then You Pray For Me maintains its gritty feel with appearances from Griselda cohorts and fellow underground stars. Particularly, Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine, Stove God Cooks, Rome Street and longtime producers Conductor Williams and Derringer grace the project. Ultimately culminating in an electric blend of trap, boom bap with remnants of R&B & soul samples.

    Virgil Abloh Tribute

    I have Virgil Abloh doing my artwork and who left on earth can say that. I cannot disrespect his legacy, he’s immortal and I feel this is his way of blessing me; even though he’s not here in the physical. 

    – Westside Gunn

    In a heartfelt tribute to the late Virgil Abloh, a close friend of Westside Gunn, the renowned Off-White creative designed the artwork for And Then You Pray For Me.  Abloh, known for his innovative and boundary-pushing designs, also created the iconic cover for Westside Gunn’s 2020 album, Pray For Paris. This latest collaboration between Abloh and Westside Gunn is a testament to their enduring friendship and creative synergy. 

  • 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.

  • The Museum of the City of New York Unveils Centennial Exhibition “This Is New York”

    The Museum of the City of New York opened a new exhibition, titled People, Place, and Influence: The Collection at 100. The exhibition celebrates 100 years of the Upper East Side museum, showing a selection of MCNY’s collection of over 750,000 objects. 

    The new exhibition opened on October 13, presented as part of the Museum’s Centennial celebrations. The selection includes rarely seen items such as a dress worn by opera star Marian Anderson, a golden Tiffany & Company tea and coffee set, a mouthguard used by boxer Joe Louis, and a 1985 street art painting by Sandra “Lady Pink” Fabara. Each object was selected from the museum’s collection of over 750,000 pieces, and reveals a unique perspective of the history of New York City.

    People, Place, and Influence: The Collection at 100
    Credit: Brad Farwell

    A proud highlight of the exhibition, titled Produced by New York, shows a diverse collection crafted and sourced from New York City. Relics from pre-1973 Yankee Stadium, original runs of Broadway productions, Vera Maxwell masterpieces, and more show the rich and expansive culture of New York through the years.

    For the last 100 years, MCNY has wrestled with the ambitious notion that a single institution can capture the history, physical transformation, and diversity of this complex metropolis. People, Place, and Influence is a testament to the enduring themes that have defined our museum over the last 100 years. We are not just showcasing objects; we’re weaving together the incredible narratives of a city that has shaped style, politics, and business on a global scale.

    Lilly Tuttle, Curator, Museum of the City of New York

    In addition to the selection of historical items, the exhibition also includes a look at the history and founding of the Museum of the City of New York. The museum stands as the first city museum in the United States, and is the only museum dedicated to telling the story of New York. People, Place, and Influence: The Collection at 100 is on display until April 21, 2024.

    People, Place, and Influence: The Collection at 100
    Credit: Brad Farwell

    The Museum continues another centennial exhibition, This Is New York: 100 Years of the City in Art and Pop Culture. It features an interactive exhibit showcasing artists, writers, and creatives who were both inspired by and influenced the culture and development of New York City. This exhibit is on view through June 21, 2024.

    The Museum is also hosting a monthly film and speaker series in celebration of the centennial, titled New York on Film: Decade by Decade. The events feature studio, independent, and documentary films that tell the story of New York City at the time they were made. A full schedule and lineup are available here.

  • UAlbany PAC to Host Silent Film Screening with The Area Wind Ensemble

    The UAlbany Performing Arts Center (PAC) will host a free film screening of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari composed by Brett L. Wery and performed by The Area Wind Ensemble on Sunday, November 12.

    This event is one of three this season that celebrates local artists as part of the UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s prime performance series. Composer Brett L. Wery is the Music Director/Conductor of the Capital Region Wind Ensemble in Schenectady and composer/editor for Sonata Grendel Publishing in Scotia. Wery’s compositions have been performed and recorded around the world while also named winner of the Classic Pure Vienna International Music Competition.

    The Area Wind Ensemble also by the name Quintocracy based in the Capitol Region featuring Melanie Chirignan on flute, Susan Loegering Daves on bassoon, Kelly Lockwood on oboe and Kathryn Svatek on horn. They will be joined for this performance by guest artist Allegra Smith on clarinet.

    Over the years, the ensemble has created a goal to break the dusty, classical ensemble mold in support of their belief that music is for all and the music around us should be as diverse as the culture in which we live. Supporting the opportunity to perform for the upcoming silent horror film and help enhance the mystique of the cinema experience.

    Admission to this event is free. No reservations or tickets are required.  For further information, visit here.

  • Rock & Oddities Con, Featuring Local Musicians and Activities, Comes to Saratoga

    Coming to Upstate soon is Saratoga’s biggest Halloween party of the year, Rock & Oddities Con. From Oct. 28-29 from 10 a.m.- 7 p.m., the event features local metal/rock musicians and a whole slew of enchanting activities.

    Rock & Oddities Con

    The energy of metal/rock musicians from the East Coast collides with spine-tingling tales of Paranormal Experiences, including encounters with celebrities at meet-and-greets. Audiences can step into the enchanting realm of the Witches’ Den, and brace themselves for a journey through the Haunted Maze. Also featured at Rock & Oddities Con are premier Tattoo Artists, 100+ vendors, paranormal experiences with investigators with the Travel and Discovery Channels, and costume contests, with cash prizes.

    Rock & Oddities Con 2023 Confirmed bands:

    *Saturday 10/28*

    Alloy Reign

    Psychomanteum

    The Tradition

    Kristen Capolino Band

    Bonded By Darkness

    Brick By Brick

    Suicide Puppets

    *Sunday 10/29*

    Bonded By Darkness

    Black Belt Jones

    Old North End

    The Hard Luck Souls

    Lock 9

    Alloy Reign

    Tickets are on sale now.

  • FilmColumbia Returns to Chatham for 23rd Annual Festival

    FilmColumbia will return for its 23rd year to the Crandell Theatre in Chatham, NY for a selection of this year’s top features, documentaries, and short films. The event will feature many Columbia County-based filmmakers, live Q+As, and the annual FilmColumbia Kick-Off Party. 

    The festival will feature widely anticipated films such as Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s animated masterpiece, The Boy and the Heron, as well as director Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers, a ghost story starring Claire Foy, Andrew Scott, and Paul Mescal.

    New York native Scott Cohen (Gilmore Girls, Billions) will star in the breakout comedy The Feeling That The Time For Doing Something Has Passed. The debut feature from writer, director, and star Joanna Arnow will be screened alongside a Q+A from Arnow and Cohen on Friday, October 27.

    We tried to show as much good local talent this year as possible. We recognize their strength in our community and celebrate the abundance of talent in our region—proving how essential it is to keep our historic single-screen cinema open and refreshed so they may continue to show their works in a place that is welcoming, and well, ideal.

    Co-Artistic Director Laurence Kardish

    Staten Island’s own Joan Baez will be the subject of I Am A Noise, a documentary showing a glimpse of Baez’s life and psyche during the 60s. Co-directed by Miri Navasky, Maeve O’Boyle, and Karen O’Connor, the film will screen at FilmColumbia on October 25, followed by a Q&A with fellow New Yorkers Navasky and O’Connor.

    I Am A Noise, a documentary on Joan Baez

    During FilmColumbia’s opening weekend, producers and founders of Killer Films, Christine Vachon and Pam Koffler, will be honored for their vast and pioneering bodies of work. As frequent collaborators with director Todd Haynes (May December, Carol), they have constituted a leading force in independent cinema for over 30 years. The festival will screen three Killer Films productions on October 21: Camp (2003) at 11 am, I Shot Andy Warhol (1996) at 1 pm, and May December, the latest from Haynes, at 3 pm. In addition, a Q+A with the producers will directly follow the last screening.

    Christine Vachon, Killer Films
    Christine Vachon, Killer Films

    The FilmColumbia Kick-Off Party will take place on October 21 from 6-8pm, hosted at the Spencertown, NY home of Jack Shear, a Crandell Theatre benefactor. Vachon and Koffler will also be recognized and celebrated at the Kick-Off.

  • Caffé Lena Announces Return of Free Healthcare Clinic For Musicians

    On Oct. 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Caffé Lena announced the return of its free healthcare clinic for creatives, including artists, musicians, designers, photographers, filmmakers, writers, and all others who work in a creative capacity.

    According to Caffé Lena, 43% of professional musicians in the U.S. have no health insurance; among full-time musicians, the numbers are even higher. This service aims to enable individuals in the creative community who are uninsured or underinsured to access healthcare in a trusted environment so they can enjoy the best possible quality of life.

    The Caffé Lena Healthcare clinic is brought to the community through a collaboration of Jill Burnham RN-BCEN of “Mark and Jill Sing the Blues,” Saratoga Hospital, Sight & Sound Vision Care for the Music Industry, Hudson Headwaters, 1of1 Custom earplugs, and Caffè Lena.

    Services include Vision Care Clinic Including Exams and Eyewear, Custom Molded Earplugs, Blood Pressure Screening, Dietician Consultation, HEPC/HIV Screening, Insurance Navigation, and Cancer Screening Services.

    For more information on Caffé Lena, visit here.

  • Spaghetti Eastern Music & Filmmaker Hanna Bass Showcase Collab in Kingston

    Kingston-based filmmaker Hanna Bass will join forces with Spaghetti Eastern Music, the solo project of guitarist Sal Cataldi, on “Fragments of Light,” her newest film, showcasing it at Avant-Garde-Arama Lands at Lace Mill in Kingston.

    Avant-Garde-Arama Lands at Lace Mill is the latest edition of the popular festival of short performance artworks co-founded by Charles Dennis and musician/visual artist Jeffrey Isaac at the legendary East Village venue Performance Space 122 (P.S. 122) in 1980. In 2019 Dennis moved to Hurley, NY, and has since curated and produced three Avant-Garde-Arama events at Woodstock’s Mountain View Studio and The Lace Mill in Kingston. The event, which will include short works by nine artists in total, will take place October 20 and 21 at 6 p.m. at Lace Mill, a popular artists’ residence and performance space in Kingston.

    “Fragments of Light” serves as a vivid chronicle of Bass’s cinematic journey, which took flight following her career as a professional ballerina, touring with the renowned American Ballet Theater. Her transition from the world of ballet to the realm of cinema has given birth to films that radiate a dreamlike quality, offering a contemporary reinterpretation of filmmakers such as Maya Deren, Barbara Hammer, and Shirley Clarke. Bass’s films are infused with the grace and artistry derived from her background as a dancer and choreographer. They dance between dimensions and radiate a captivating blend of authenticity and mysterious allure.

    Hanna Bass.

    Beyond her work as a filmmaker, Hanna Bass has cultivated a diverse portfolio as a cinematographer and creative director, crafting visual identities for a multitude of entities. Defined by herself as a multi-media creatrix, she explores the convergence of creative direction, choreography, film, and music.

    Spaghetti Eastern Music is the genre-leaping solo project of Hudson Valley and NYC-based guitarist/keyboardist Sal Cataldi. Spaghetti Eastern Music combines acid jazz-fueled guitar instrumentals with ambient soundscapes and acoustic ballads straight out of the Nick Drake school. He debuted the project with the critically acclaimed 2016 album Sketches of Spam which has been followed with a number of EPs and singles.

    The New York Times says Cataldi “has a beat unmistakably his own” while Time Out New York praises his “delicate guitar work and the hauntingly moody atmosphere he conjures.” He has been compared to Ravi Shankar and Sergio Leone, and his exploratory solo guitar score for the dance piece has been described as “cool, melodic, inspired and transcendent, a wave of sonic warmth and light” by Chronogram Magazine. Cataldi says this work is very much in line with what he is creating to accompany Bass’ film. “2x2x4” and his other music can be found on Spotify.

    The October 20 – 21 event will present nine pieces including Dennis’s solo dance-talk work “Dreaming Out Loud,”  Nancy Ostrovsky’s live painting with music by Meghan Gugliotta, a multimedia of dance, sound, and costumer by Lina Azalea Dahbour. Full details can be found at the Eventbrite link here.