Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) has named two winners plus a runner-up in its annual Lois Lyman Concerto Competition, who will be performing with the orchestra on April 2 at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.
The Lois Lyman Concerto Competition has been an ESYO tradition for decades, and encourages ESYO Symphony Orchestra members to perform a concerto of their choice. Each participant performs a ten-minute slice of their piece from memory in front of a panel of judges.
Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) challenges and inspires young people to achieve excellence through music in a progressive learning environment leading to high-level performance opportunities. More than 500 youth from New York’s Capital Region and western New England are selected by audition each year to perform in ESYO. With 13 performing ensembles and orchestras suiting a range of playing levels, members receive training from outstanding conductors and coaches, and tutelage from extraordinary guest artists.
The winners are Yu-Heng Wang, who performed the Bartok Viola Concerto, and William Lauricella, who performed Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2. The runner-up was Liam Sullivan, who performed Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1. Yu-Heng and William now have the honor of performing their concertos with the full ESYO Symphony Orchestra during the ensemble’s concerts in April and October, respectively.
Yu-Heng has been playing viola since he was in fourth grade and has been an ESYO member since seventh grade. “Ever since eighth grade, I told myself that I would win the Lois Lyman Concerto Competition. I was determined to one day play in front of an orchestra”.
“What was most difficult for me was the fact that I had to balance my auditions for various music schools, as well as auditions for various summer programs along with the concerto competition. As deadlines inch closer, I become more and more stressed about whether or not I am going to have it ready by the date of the competition. But thanks to my less busy schedule at school combined with help from my teacher, I was able to greatly increase my efficiency in learning and preparing the concerto. Luckily, I had already been playing the first movement of the concerto for around a year now, which helped a lot, as it is the most difficult portion of the piece. I learned that once you’ve gotten the notes of a piece down in the memory, all you have to do is relax and let the bow and fingers do the work, and everything will turn out fine.”
Yu-Heng will perform Bartok’s Viola Concerto in full on April 2, 2023 at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall along with the rest of the ESYO Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra will also perform Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring and Li Huanzhi’s Spring Festival Orchestra, as well as a movement of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, which will serve as a preview of the orchestra’s season-closing concert at Carnegie Hall on June 4.
Tickets to the Empire State Youth Orchestra concerto competition will take place on April 2 at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.
Saratoga Performing Arts Center has announced its new inaugural fundraiser to kick-off the summer season, “Summer SPACtacular.”
Featuring an expansive celebration across the SPAC grounds “Summer SPACtacular” will include live music, a multi-course “Summerscape Supper,” culinary tastings, cocktails, a whiskey and cigar lounge, fireworks and a dance party on SPAC’s historic stage. Slated for Friday, June 2 from 5:00-11:00 p.m., the event will benefit SPAC’s mission, residencies, and youth education initiatives.
“Our new Summer SPACtacular is both a summer season kick-off and a celebration of SPAC’s expanded mission and its new campus – from cocktails and a dance party on our historic stage, to exquisite tastings with live music throughout the grounds, and a cigar and whiskey lounge in our Pavilion,” said Elizabeth Sobol, President & CEO. “We are grateful to the SPAC Action Council and Friends of SPAC for their incredible efforts to make this event a reality – all in support of our resident companies and educational programming.”
Featuring two different ticketing options including a “Party Pass” and an “All-Access Pass,” attendees will have the opportunity to experience SPAC like never before with tastings, libations and entertainment throughout the SPAC campus. Guests who purchase a “Party Pass” will enjoy live music by Saratoga Springs native Jes Hudak, tastings from local eateries, distilleries and breweries, and a whiskey and cigar lounge – all culminating with a dazzling fireworks display and a DJ dance party on the stage.
In addition to the “Party Pass” offerings, the “All-Access Pass” also includes a reception with craft cocktails and live jazz on the amphitheater stage, followed by an intimate “Summerscape Supper” featuring three courses that celebrate spring’s culinary bounty with wine pairings produced by CulinaryArts@SPAC with renowned regional chefs Kim Klopstock, Michael Blake, and Kevin London. An exciting paddle raise hosted by emcee and News10ABC’s Lydia Kulbida will also highlight the supper. The “All-Access Pass” also features exclusive admission to post-dinner aperitifs and sweet treats on The Pines Terrace.
“The SPAC Action Council and Friends of SPAC are thrilled to present this inaugural event – one that screams FUN from the minute you enter the grounds. If you’ve never experienced SPAC outside of a performance, this is your chance to do so in a new, intimate way,” says Keeley DeSalvo, Saratoga Performing Arts Center Action Council President.
Ashley Budd, Friends of SPAC President adds, “You won’t want to miss this supercharged evening of food, drink, dancing and more as we celebrate the coming season and raise funds in support of SPAC’s mission. We anticipate this magical night will sell out quickly, and encourage everyone to purchase their tickets early!”
The Summer SPACtacular is the largest fundraiser to support SPAC’s mission, classical residencies and youth educational programming in the community, which has gone from serving 5,000 students to more than 50,000 students.
Tickets to the SPACtacular are available online at spac.org.
Capital Region indie-rock quartet E.R.I.E. have just released their second EP Suburban Mayhem on March 8th. The band previously released the single “World is On Fire” to tease the album in early February featuring local scene friend Sydney Worthley.
Suburban Mayhem arrives to the scene with grander scope and vision. The album turns its focus externally, commenting vividly on the outside forces burrowing into our brains on a daily basis. It’s a resplendent examination of the world around us, rife with equal parts cynicism, wit and hope.
The album features pitch-perfect collaborations with Brooklyn-based dream-pop trio ALMA, and fellow Albany songwriter Sydney Worthley. The record showcases a band not only finding their footing, but settling into a signature sound affectionately self-described as Tom Petty cosplaying as blink-182.
The first song on the album “Oh Well” gives listeners a peak into what Suburban Mayhem is truly about. Others songs like “Bad Mans World,” “Suburban Mayhem (Holy Fuck),” and “The Motions” truly show the dedication and ambitions that the band has. “Bad Mans World” is a favorite of mine, with its lyrics being meaningful yet a jam at the same time.
The four members of E.R.I.E. – guitarist Matt Delgado, drummer Chad Flewwelling, and bassist Levi Jennes spent most of 2022 self-recording their sophomore full-length, yielding 12 nostalgia-tinged songs. Suburban Mayhem further lends credence to the frequent comparisons to The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner and The Get Up Kids that the band has garnered, with its “crunching guitars, catchy choruses and a down-to-earth, working-class vibe that recalls modern heartland punk rock…” (Daily Gazette).
Upcoming Tour Dates:
Mar 18 – Albany, NY @ Lark Hall
To listen to Suburban Mayhem, click the link here.
The Musicians of Ma’alwyck announce their first live concert since 2020 with Celestial Melodies, celebrating the music of William & Catherine Herschel and their contemporaries, taking place March 11 and 12 in Schenectady and Albany.
The Musicians of Ma’alwyck are a flexible-size chamber ensemble in residence at the Schuyler Mansion New York State Historic Site and Schenectady County Community College. Founded in 1999 by violinist and director Ann-Marie Barker Schwartz, the group specializes in music performed in America during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. They were named the best chamber music ensemble of the Capital Region for both 2008 and 2009 by Metroland and were nominated for the Eddies Music Award.
The ensemble released its first commercial CD in 2016, Music in the Schuyler Mansion, which the Times Union called “elegant and charming,” and their second in 2021, Hyde Hall & the Silver Goddess: Operatic Brilliance of Auber, Bellini, Meyerbeer, and Rossini from the Drawing Room.
The Celestial Melodies program will feature the music of composers and astronomers William and Catherine Herschel, as well as others. The concert will include not only the music of the Herschels and their contemporaries but a visual component as well, a specially developed sky show, with dazzling images and unique looks at the constellations as they appeared in Herschel’s lifetime. The program also features the world premiere of a new work Invocation by Max Caplan, inspired by the NASA data sonification project.
William Herschel was born into a musical family, with his father being a professional oboist and himself a fine violinist, harpsichordist, and organist. He came to England in the 1750s as a member of the Hanover Band and worked as the Bath Church’s organist and director of the orchestra and concert series. He is known for his incredible astronomical discoveries, which include the discovery of infrared radiation, astronomical spectrophotometry, the planet Uranus and far-seeing telescopes. Herschel’s younger sister Caroline was also an outstanding musician and astronomer, she was the first female astronomer to receive a salary and in 1828 she was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Their first performance of Celestial Melodies will take place in Schenectady on March 11 at the Museum of Innovation and Science, and tickets are $35. The second performance will be at Schuyler Mansion New York State Historic Site in Albany, and tickets are $40 for general admission and $10 for students. Reservations are strongly suggested as seating is limited. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit here.
Oteil and Friends will headline this year’s Rye Bread Music and Arts Festival, taking place from July 27 through July 29 in Schaghticoke, NY. Also scheduled to appear are Cool Cool Cool, Lespecial, Dogs In A Pile, Couch, DJ Logic & Friends, and many more. Additionally, guests can expect various collaborations between artists throughout the festival, making for a truly memorable weekend of live music.
Oteil and Friends will headline the Rye Bread Music Festival with a two-set performance. The band is an ensemble led by Oteil Burbridge (Dead & Company, The Allman Brothers Band) on bass. He is joined by longtime Jerry Garcia Band organist Melvin Seals, guitarists Steve Kimock and Tom Guarna, multi-instrumentalist Jason Crosby, drummer Johnny Kimock and vocalist Lamar Williams, Jr.
Grammy-nominated rock band North Mississippi Allstars is also scheduled to perform at the festival this summer. On top of this year’s lineup of live music, the festival will feature food and craft vendors on site. Located at the spacious Schaghticoke Fairgrounds, guests will have plenty of space to stretch and walk around at the festival.
In its 47th year, the Rye Bread Music and Arts Festival originated as a block party and has become a staple in Upstate New York. In addition to providing audiences with live music, the festival brings people together in a spirit of community and charity. To purchase tickets, please visit www.ryebreadfest.com.
Watch Oteil and Friends perform live at the Capital Theatre on March 12, 2022.
Emotions ran high over the weekend as Buffalo jam band Aqueous made their final Albany appearance before setting off on indefinite hiatus. Braving snowy weather and treacherous travel conditions, there was no turning back for the plethora of die-hard AQ fans who made their way to The Hollow on Friday, March 3rd with Litz opening the night.
Selling out the venue one last time, Guthrie-Bell Productions has been bringing the acclaimed band to town for many years, however it was their first time back to this room since a memorable pre-Halloween show with Mungion back in 2018.
Aqueous performing for the final time in Albany before going on hiatus; 3/3/2023
Opening the show with about at much gear on stage as The Hollow could handle was high-octane funk rockers LITZ from Frederick, Maryland. Consisting of brothers Austin (vocals, keyboards, saxophone) and Logan Litz (bass) as well as guitarist Pat Shine and drummer Nick Thrasher, the hybrid party band has been around for almost a decade now.
Prior to their set, they expressed gratitude to the guys in Aqueous for the years of friendship and for having them out on this last run. Building momentum with long, trancey EDM-type grooves on songs like “Sunrise” and “New God”, the colorfully dressed Austin would spend the set going back and forth between his stack of keyboards, talk box and a large saxophone that remained anchored to the center of the stage. Trading off huge sax solos with guitarist Pat Shrine, it was bass player Logan Litz who would garner the biggest cheers of the set with his dynamic slap style bass playing and general sense of “cool.”
After working through a “Fifth Element”> “Straight to the Moon” sandwich, LITZ would play one of their most popular songs, “Morning Dew” off their 2016 album Illusion of Time before hitting us with a “Japanese Love Affair.” Perhaps pulling our fingers a bit, things would get a little weird before playing their final song of the set, announcing to the crowd that someone had spilled beer on Shine’s pedal board and that it had shorted out. As is the nature of improv music, LITZ rolled with the punches and somehow managed to bypass the problem and launch directly into their hip-shaking party anthem “Funkin’ Problem” to close out the fun filled opening set.
Brothers Austin and Logan of LITZ got the crowd fried up early at the Hollow on 3/3/2023.
Packed in like sardines, Aqueous’ most dedicated fans used the set break as an opportunity to push forward and claim a better spot for the main event. Many of these fans have been following the band since their infancy and have organically formed one of the most positive musical communities in the scene. Affectionately known as “AQuaintances,” the hugs were flowing all night long, as anyone “in the know” knew this could perhaps be one of the final shows they’d get to see of their beloved band from Buffalo. If you were an outsider trying to push closer to the stage, forget it. The territoriality here was fierce and it just wasn’t happening.
All tuned up and ready to rock, the band seemed to be in good spirits from the start. Consisting of Dave Loss and Mike Gantzer on guitars and vocals, Evan McPhaden on bass, and drummer Rob Houk, the guys joked they had each picked a song out and were all going to play it at the same time, hoping to be on the same page. They weren’t, at first, but they quickly settled in nicely on “Dave’s Song.” One of the founding members of the band, Dave Loss had taken much of the previous year off to focus on the birth of his first child. Too integral to simply replace, the band opted to recruit a revolving door of high-profile guests to help round out their sound while fulfilling remaining bookings in the beginning. Dubbing themselves AQ and Friends, it just simply wasn’t the same without Dave. Now back and with just the right touch, the contributions from Loss could be heard immediately.
Dave Loss performing with Aqueous in Albany on 3/3/2023
“Weight of the Word” would be played next before fan favorite and one of the biggest jam vehicles of the night, “Triangle,” landed in the three hole. The 2019 pop/punk singalong “Burn It Down” came next, complete with a heady “Shakedown Street” tease for good measure. Aqueous then segued into one of their most popular songs “Kitty Chaser (Explosions)” to bring the show to it’s halfway point.
As the snow continued falling outside, things were just starting to heat up inside. After a brief intermission, the guys returned to the stage as Chatty Cathy’s. Drummer Rob Houk was doing most of the talking as he lobbied his bandmates to cover the 1990’s smash hit “Hunger Strike” from the legendary grunge supergroup Temple of the Dog (Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder). While Houk even began singing it, the rest of the guys pulled a fast one on him going into a tease of Collective Soul’s “December.”
All joking now aside, things got straight up funky as Aqueous then launched into the fan favorite “Mosquito Valley pt 1” which after about 12 minutes, transitioned into the hard charging “Eon Don” in silky smooth segue. During this standout version of the song, one of the most memorable moments of the night came when the band worked in a well-placed Metallica “Enter Sandman” tease before segueing into another homage to one of their biggest influences in Steely Dan’s “Josi.” The uninterrupted frame of music continued on as the band then landed on “Second Sight” which received a huge pop from the Albany crowd. You can check out fan shot video of that below:
Fan shot footage of Aqueous performing at The Hollow on 3/3/2023
Cooling down for a bit of tuning and some priceless banter, an impromptu cover of “Sweet Home Alabama” emerged, before Gantzer finally pulled the rip cord. What we got next had some fans calling it an “all time” rendition of “They’re Calling For You,“ which went the full distance and would return us back to an “Eon Don” reprise.
Fan shot footage of Aqueous performing at The Hollow on 3/3/2023
Already approaching 2am and the heavy wet snow now 4 inches deep, the band opted to skip the usual encore theatrics of leaving the stage. Perhaps disagreeing with the song choice, Houk would break the fourth wall a bit, peering out from behind his kit to ask the crowd ‘what’s the most depressing song [they] could play?’ An intriguing question that immediately sparked a dozen different responses, it was here when the ‘beginning of the end’ feeling suddenly became too difficult to ignore.
You see, until this point in the evening, there was never really any acknowledgement by the band that we were closing in on an end of Era, at least not during the show. Instead, they let their music do the talking and chose to send us home with “Realize Your Light,” a song that features some of Dave Loss’ most heartfelt crooning and one of Mike Gantzer’s most emotive and expressive guitar solos.
And we can see where this can go
Around the corner still unknown
And we can see where this will go
In chilling snow, the thrill can still grow
And all the time that slips away
Will come back to you someday
Be anything. Not just anything. Realize your light like a spark in the night
Lyrics from ‘Realize Your Light’
As the pseudo-balled reached its epic conclusion, you could just feel the band digging into it with a different level of purpose. They were making a statement. They were going out on their terms and while still at the top of their game. No one ever called this ‘goodbye,’ but looking around the room, you could feel the emotion and see it in peoples eyes. Aqueous was their band. Real, hardworking, blue-collar nice guys with a propensity for dank, groovy improv music, who at one time seemed poised for major mainstream success.
Why it didn’t happen for them we may never know, but it certainly wasn’t for lack of talent. Maybe the masses just weren’t ready for this type of greatness? After all, the biggest whale in the sea got that way by never getting caught. Leaving behind a treasure trove of spectacular soundboards to tide us over until the 2.0 era door optimistically opens, we can only consider ourselves lucky to have been a small part of this amazing journey with Aqueous, one of New York’s best and most underappreciated bands.
Up next before hiatus officially begins, Aqueous will head to Erie, Pa for a gig at Kings Rook on March 11th. After a few weeks off, they’ll be in Baltimore on April 7th and Ardmore, PA on April 8th. The last scheduled Aqueous appearance is set to take place at the Summer Camp Music Festival in late May 2023.
Aqueous | March 3, 2023 | The Hollow | Albany, NY
Set 1: Dave’s Song¹, Weight of the Word > Triangle¹, Burn It Down² > Kitty Chaser (Explosions)
Set 2: Mosquito Valley pt 1 > Eon Don³⁴ > Josie⁵ > Second Sight, Sweet Home Alabama⁶, They’re Calling For You > Eon Don
Encore: Realize Your Light
1) with ending 2) Shakedown Street tease 3) Enter Sandman full band quote 4) Second Sight tease 5) Steely Dan 6) Lynyrd Skynyrd
LITZ | March 3, 2023 | The Hollow | Albany, NY
Setlist: Sunrise > New God, Fifth Element > Straight to the Moon > Fifth Element > Kali, Eye of the Pyramid, Morning Dew, Japanese Love Affair, Funkin’ Problem
Welcome to Round 2 of NYS Music’s March Madness 2023! Below you’ll find 16 matchups between 32 bands and artists from across New York State, from numerous genres, all on the rise and ready to make a name for themselves.
For the past 8 years, this annual competition has been shining a spotlight on the talented artists and musicians from across the Empire State. This year’s competition promises to be the biggest and best yet, with a lineup of diverse genres and highly skilled performers. March Madness 2023 highlights 64 bands and artists you might not know, but should know, as these homegrown talents are making waves through the New York State. Check out Round 1 here.
Enter your email address, meet the bands and artists below, and vote for your favorites!
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The Yard Amphitheater is an outdoor music venue nestled in the rolling hills of NY State with BBQ on site, an outdoor bar, space for lawn games, and room to dance! Watching a performance at The Yard is similar to watching a concert in your own backyard, with the exception that this backyard features a fully stocked outdoor bar, mouthwatering BBQ, and nationally touring performers.
Yard Amphitheater Region
Elephant Back vs Eberwine
Elephant Back was formed in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. Two musicians getting together to write some kick ass music together. Dave and Sarah proceeded to write, record, and mix an entire album in their home studios. Sent it out for mastering and then began creating stunning visuals in the form of music videos for each song they produced. Each video was released with each single over the course of a year until the release of the entire album in August 2022. Check out their song “Go To War” here.
Buffalo-based rock and blues quintet eberwine (sic) is known for innovative improvisation, soulful lyrics, and high-energy shows. The band’s music highlights the best of rock and blues with nods to 90s alt-rock and jam. eberwine is the brainchild of frontman and guitarist Todd Eberwine (Dive House Union, Soul Roach, Todd Eberwine Band). What started as a solo project in 2016, is now a touring five-piece pulling seasoned musicians from the Buffalo music scene into a Western New York supergroup featuring Ryan Nogle (Funktional Flow, Aqueous), Evan Laedke (Tim Britt Band), Aaron Ziolkowski (Little Mountain Band), and Jay Race (Dead Alliance Buffalo). Listen to “Worlds Away” here.
Honey Suckle Vine vs Sydney Irving and the Mojo
Honey Suckle Vine (HSV) is a high-energy 4-piece blues-rock band based out of the Capital District of New York State. The songwriting team of Joey Jaquez (vocals, harmonica) and Jeremy Silverman (guitar, vocals) have been creating original material for over 20 years across the USA. Joined in 2017 by long time friends Graham Espe (bass, vocals, recording and production) and David Snediker (drums, vocals), HSV is ready to entertain. Check out their most recent album Painted Nights.
New York native, Sydney Irving is in the early years of her music career, but she has already been named the 2020 young adult artist of the year by the International Singer Songwriters Association and the 2022 Best New Artist at the Syracuse Area Music Awards. At only 14, her debut album, “Hello Stranger” was released. She was also named the 2020 Female Artist of the Year by Music Mafia Radio. Check out “You Can’t Forget About Me” here.
Canella vs Mainline
Canella is a rising indie-rock band from Albany + Bogotá, Colombia. Inspired by the sounds of 2000’s alt rock, they have established an electric presence in NY’s Capital Region as winners of WCDB Radio’s ‘Song of the Year’ award for their debut single “Quiet Love”. Joining the Tulip Fest 2022 Lineup, Canella set a fire on stage that ignited female fronted rock nostalgia but with a refreshing DIY take. Their music is inspired and dedicated to former bandmate and best friend, Kyle Robinson who tragically passed away in a car accident in 2020. Listen to their most recent single “Why Can’t I” released last month!
MAINLINE officially hit the scene at the end of 2019 when Anthony Schettino (Bass), Johnny Iodice (Lead Singer & Guitar), Mason Servedio (Drums), and Devin Reck (Guitar) released their debut single “Open Fire” which eventually led to the self-titled EP that came out in February of 2020. Their album “The Unholy Idol” has garnered up over 80,000+ streams across platforms, and has gotten worldwide attention. The current lineup since 2022 now includes Ryan Hartell on guitar, replacing Devin Reck. As of November 2022, the band released their most recent single “In Nothing We Trust” everywhere on streaming.
An Easy Death vs Blue 22
An Easy Death is a 5-piece Post-Punkcore band based out of the Rochester area drawing influence from bands like Blink-182, Oceans Ate Alaska, Everytime I Die, MxPx, and It Dies Today. The band formed in 2020 and has since been making a name for themselves in the Rochester and Buffalo areas. Check out their most recent release from January, “The Debt That All Men Pay“.
Blue 22 is a local Rochester band specializing in performing classic rock covers and original tunes for private and public events. Blue 22’s lineup consists of twins Dom Spinelli and Nick Spinelli, Eli Burgard, and Will Hyman. Blue 22 is currently working on recording their first album, Where the Music is Loud, but in the meantime, listen to their song “Tantalize”.
Voting for Round 2 has ended. Please check back for Round 3, starting Saturday, March 11 and 8am!
Regional sponsors include Funk n Waffles, a premiere music venue in Syracuse established in 2007 with a unique take on the culinary and entertainment industries, offering a wide variety of gourmet waffles and breakfast food, as well as offering live music every night!
Funk n Waffles Region
Blue Envy vs Farrow
Blue Envy is an alternative rock band based in Rochester, NY. Known for their unique style inspired by the rock, blues, and progressive rock artists of the past, the group has worked to concoct an original sound that consistently pushes their musical limits. Since their formation in 2018, the band has been honing their craft by gigging heavily throughout NYS, all while continually creating new music that strives to expand their compositional abilities.
With thought provoking lyrics, strong melodies, and deep grooves, Farrow brings to life a vibe reminiscent of decades past whilst grounded in a modern sonic landscape. Based in Buffalo and led by producer/bass player Andre Pilette and singer/lyricist Michael Farrow, the band features Tim Webb on drums, Michael Ruopoli on percussion, Cory Clancy on guitar, Rufus “Breexy” Cole Jr. on keps, and Danielle Johnson on backing vocals. Check out the band’s website for videos and music updates, like their most recent single “The Creek“.
Fine Grain vs Black Tongue Reverend
Fine Grain floats in between shoegaze haze and punk posturing. With prog-inspired riffs, post-punk murk, and the occasional ripping sax solo, fine grain offers up rambunctious reverie fit for hardcore fans of all generations. Fine Grain’s maturation is a testament to the transformative possibility of punk, showing how pulled threads of the past can still stitch together a promising new future. Visit here to listen to their latest release, their album “Missing Adult“.
Formed in 2021, Black Tongue Reverend plays a unique style of heavy psychedelic Stoner-Blues that draws influence from every decade from the 60s and 70s psychedelic rock movement through today’s flourishing Stoner Rock/Doom scene. With a punk-like DIY spirit they have self-recorded and released two records to date, the EP “Northern Burden” in February 2022, and most recently, the LP “All Of Them Have Fangs” in October 2022. Committed to keeping things fresh and interesting, their loud and energetic live performances feature touches of improvisation that ensure no two performances are ever the same.
Maggie’s Clan vs Jennie Angel
Maggie’s Clan is American Celtic Rock, fusing traditional Celtic instrumentation and folklore with the contagious energy of rock and roll. Created in 2016, this 7 piece, one of a kind powerhouse have been performing at local and regional pubs, music venues and festivals in NY from Rockaway, Queens to the Adirondacks. Maggie will hit you with a wall of sound from driving rhythms, hard rock vocals, bagpipes, fiddle and mandolin. Their self-titled album “Maggie’s Clan” can be found on all streaming services .
Jennie Angel is an actress who recently rediscovered her love for music. Started playing the guitar when she was 16 and has been singing she was born, now performing popular country hits! Jennie has most recently been added as a member of the Academy of Country Music and will be attending the awards show in March. Music and merch are both available on her website. Check out her most recent single, released on Valentines Day, “You Proof“.
Seeing Double vs The Forest Dwellers
Seeing Double, an Oneonta based rock band, is electrifying the college music scene in their tiny Upstate town with a growing fanbase and reputation among the community with their high-energy shows. Combining their signature twin harmonies, feel-good grooves, and punchy instrumentals, “The Doub” creates a unique sound reminiscent of 70s pop-rock and modern indie with their growing category of songs. Listen to their most recent single “Bygones” here.
The Forest Dwellers are a reggae-infused folk/ indie group based out of Rochester, NY that plays universal medicine music. The band blends melodic music with incredible vocal harmonies. Stemming from different styles and genres, The Forest Dwellers fuse them into a new take on a familiar sound all its own. Listen to their song “Open Road” here.
Voting for Round 2 has ended. Please check back for Round 3, starting Saturday, March 11 and 8am!
Jane Dough help cannabis entrepreneurs win business licenses, optimize facility design, standardize operation, increase revenue and design their future.
Jane Dough Region
PEAK vs Pencildive
PEAK’s music, described as Psychedelic Indie Funk, is a mix of poetic, melodic songwriting, moody electrofunk, riffed-out blues-rock, and exploratory danceable improvisations. Some of their many influences include artists such as The Band, The Talking Heads, Phish, The Grateful Dead, Radiohead, James Brown, and Miles Davis, as well as modern songwriters such as Conor Oberst, Mac Demarco, Kurt Vile, and Jack White to name a few. The band’s website has links to their music, including their most recent album, “Choppy Water“.
Pencildive is a rock band based in Saratoga Springs and Brooklyn, led by songwriter Gina De Nardo. Their sound is both tender and explosive with punchy drums and gritty guitar interwoven with brooding melodies and live noise experiments, described as indie gloom, punk, and alternative. Listen to their debut album “Grown Ups” here.
Murder In Rue Morgue vs Kids in the Basement
Murder in Rue Morgue is CJ Carr, John Wolff, Matt Biss, and Dan Ouimette, hailing from the hometown of Manowar, and Level 7 in Auburn. The band is highly influenced by melodic death metal, such as In Flames, Killswitch Engage, and Times of Grace. The band is a group of hardworking musicians who leave it all up on the stage giving the best show every time. Listen to their 2019 album “Endless Cycles” here.
Kids In The Basement is a high energy four piece Jam/Dance rock band that formed in 2015 in Rochester. Starting off from humble beginnings, KITB frequently found themselves as staples at Park Ave House parties. As time went on and their following grew, they eventually moved their act to larger venues and stages across the state. As a result of playing hundreds of shows across NY over the years, they have gained a loyal following of all ages that are keen to their upbeat music and dance party-like vibe. Kids In The Basement truly brings the party to every show they play! Listen to their most recent song “Tijuana” here.
Side-B vs Whaley
Born out of Albany, Side-B is an energetic 4-piece alternative rock band that blends influences ranging from classic rock acts like Led Zeppelin and The Police to funk, blues, jazz, punk, folk, and modern alternative. Their home-recorded single, “The Mountain Song,” perfectly showcases this creative fusion of styles. After making waves in the Capital Region and beyond, the quartet is now on the verge of a release for their debut full-length album.
Whaley comes from Long Island, and they are a culmination of the best material & musicians Logan has written & met over the last 8 years since graduating from music school. His music can be best described as having old-school sensibilities with a new-school vibe. He released his debut album “Funky Tonight” this past February.
Mall Goth vs Sarah King
Mall Goth is the musical project of Ella Kasper, Peter Lukach, Sam Meyer, James Hatari and Kensho Ueda, based in Binghamton, NY. The friends met through the local music scene while attending Binghamton University, and formed Mall Goth in October 2022. Since then they’ve been performing together all over the state of New York. Listen to their self titled debut album “Mall Goth” here.
Known for her powerhouse voice and “fiery, vulnerable songs,” Sarah King creates thought-provoking, versatile Americana music. Her genuine stories about real-life emotions and situations also draw on classic folk-blues themes, balancing songs about the devil and booze with hard-won moments of reflection and acceptance. Her acclaimed 2021 EP The Hour, produced by Simone Felice and David Baron, earned her recognition as the New England Music Awards Songwriter of the Year and performances at the 2022 Folk Alliance International and Philadelphia Folk festivals, as well as supporting slots for acts including Blues Traveler and The Steel Woods. Listen to her most recent single “Blame It On the Booze” here.
Voting for Round 2 has ended. Please check back for Round 3, starting Saturday, March 11 and 8am!
Having a huge calendar each month with a wide variety of genres, shows and experiences, the Strand Theatre holds the distinction as the only major music venue in Washington and Warren Counties that is open year-round. The Strand creates community through music and the related arts in Hudson Falls.
Strand Theatre Hudson Falls Region
The Brass Machine vs The E-Block
The Brass Machine is one of the premiere touring acts on the live music circuit today, laying down funky New Orleans-style street beats across the United States and Canada. Formed in 2014 at the University at Buffalo, The Brass Machine provides a unique blend of hip hop, funk, and R&B, all in an infectious and energetic brass-y package. Having performed alongside national acts such as Earth, Wind, and Fire, Starship, The Soul Rebels, Rebirth Brass Band, Bonerama, John Papa Gros, CJ Chenier and more – The Brass Machine is hittin’ the streets HARD.
The E-Block is a 5-piece indie R&B band based in Upstate New York, blending the acoustic warmth of singer-songwriter music with an ice-cold rhythm section informed by modern R&B. Led by guitarist Luke Pascarella, with the line up of saxophonist James Soren keyboardist Devin Tetlak, bassist Daniel Folds, and drummer Leroy “Rudy” Dalton, the band’s deep bag of influences and free-flowing style have earned them a reputation as a unique live act in the Capital Region scene. Follow their instagram for all the current action, including their new project “Waterfall” releasing this spring. In the meantime, listen to their most recent track “Stay” here.
Sly Fox and the Hustlers vs Hilltop
A Saratoga Springs based band, Sly Fox and the Hustlers was formed in 2010 when Sly Fox’s longtime friend and musical partner, the Anti- Records recording artist Sean Rowe took a leave from rock and roll to focus on performing solo. At the same time, Sly had been writing songs to help work through a difficult time in his life, and was becoming an engaging singer. Listen to “Find Someone” here.
Hilltop is a four piece jam band from Albany, NY. Over the past four years they’ve made a name for themselves with carefully crafted originals, mind bending improvisation & fun, diverse covers. Each member offers a proficient, unique approach to their instrument that defines the musical experience. This band of young musicians is eager to spread their music and will continue to engage crowds wherever they go. Listen to their newest release, a collection of live performances, titled “Live Rips” here.
Xavier Sharp vs Deb Cavanaugh & Dandelion Wine
Xavier Sharp is a New York based alternative rapper, singer and producer. He enjoys long walks on the beach and romantic candlelit dinners. Xavier is 21, single, has no kids and is just looking to get back out there after the divorce. He currently attends school at SUNY Oneonta but he enjoys attending alternative hip hop shows on weekends. He says if you swipe right “you’ve swiped right.” Listen to his most recent single “On God” below.
Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and roots singer Deb Cavanaugh lives in the foothills of the Taconic Mountains, in Upstate New York. In the mid-nineties, Deb focused on traditional folk music such as Old Time, traditional ballads, and Irish dance tunes. She now formed Deb Cavanaugh & Dandelion Wine, playing a variety of styles including blues, rock and traditional folk as well as a variety of instruments. Dandelion Wine’s line-up may vary depending on the venue and availability of musicians. Dandelion Wine is Jared Carrozza on bass and Ben Hart on drums, who also provides vocals and occasional lead guitar. The unique blend of blues, rock & roll, and folk is what gives Dandelion Wine a genre best defined as “psychedelic folk.” Find out more about her incredible story and listen to songs at her website, including their most recent release “Electric Avenue“.
Lil Josiey vs Seize Atlantis
David Gomula-Mosso, popularly known as Lil Josiey is a young Alternative Pop singer/songwriter from Amsterdam, NY. He also plays the piano and guitar where he self-taught himself off of YouTube. His latest single is, “Dreaming About You” that was released this year on Valentines Day. When asked about the band, MJ Savino of PMV Magazine said “It’s quite refreshing to come across young talent well-crafted in multiple genres of music and instruments from Pop to Emo to Alternative.”
Formed in 2019, Seize Atlantis, is an Alternative Rock Band located in Upstate NY that play a variety of genres, including originals and covers. The band consists of James Mullen (Lead Vocals/Guitar), Mike Dardas (Bass/Vocals), Luc Bourgault (Lead Guitar) and Cody Platt (Drums). Listen to “The Unstoppable Groove” here.
Voting for Round 2 has ended. Please check back for Round 3, starting Saturday, March 11 and 8am!
Voting ends at 11:59pm on Wednesday, March 8th. Winners will be announced on March 9th, with voting in Round 3 running March 11-13. Good luck to all the bands!
NYS Music has partnered with these great businesses across New York State to highlight the 64 up and coming bands and artists of NYS Music March Madness, Round 1 and 2.
The finalists of of each region will be rewarded with a collection of prizes worth $3000. Partners for NYS Music’s March Madness 2023 include Mirth Films from Albany, a music news/entertainment outlet that specializes in original video content and live streaming, with news coverage ranging across the whole country, who will provide a professional multi-camera recording session at a prestigious venue in Albany for the winning band, premiering exclusively on Mirth Films.
Additionally, one finalist will earn a spot on the lineup for the Scarsdale Music Festival, held on June 3, 2023
WEQX is a radio station in Manchester, VT. They’re are completely independently owned and operated, always have been, since 1984. This station exists out of a love for music, a love for radio, and the commitment to always giving their listeners the best of the best.
Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Zakir Hussain, along with Rakesh Chaurasia, have announced a US tour supporting their upcoming album, As We Speak. The group will tour throughout April and May, with a performance at The Town Hall in New York City on May 4, and the Troy Saving Bank Music Hall on May 5. Their upcoming album is scheduled for release on May 12, through Thirty Tigers.
From left to right: Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer, and Rakesh Chaurasia. Credit: Jeremy Cowart
As We Speak showcases the quartet’s various abilities and the wide range of influences at their command. Consisting of 12 songs, the album combines the complexity of Indian rhythm with the groove of a funky bass line. The show is sure to be one you’re not going to want to miss.
The album’s first piece, “Owl’s Misfortune” was written by Fleck. The song is intended to “echo the different worlds we all come from,” according to Fleck. “I imagined creating a world where classical language could live alongside Indian musical rhythmic ideas—and since I wrote it, bluegrass lives there too,” Fleck added.
The core trio was formed while Fleck and Meyer were searching for a third member for their triple concerto, to mark the opening of Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Zakir came to mind, who was eager to write for an orchestra. The three then collaborated on Fleck’s 2009 album The Melody of the Rhythm, recorded with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra under Leonard Slatkin.
The trio then met Chaurasia while in India on tour for The Melody of the Rhythm. Hussain already knew Chaurasia through his uncle, Indian flute legend Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, and invited him to sit in on their tour, and their chemistry shined. “I think we wanted to see if we could do something a little more organic with just a small group,” says Meyer. “What I think is good about this quartet is that everybody has to stretch in the direction of the other people,” added Fleck.
Pre-order / pre-save As We Speak here. Tickets for the group’s tour areon sale now. In addition to the quartet’s performance at The Town Hall in New York City and the Troy Saving Bank Music Hall on May 5, a November US tour is to follow.
As We Speak Tour Dates
April 19 Nashville, TN Schermerhorn Symphony Center
April 20 Atlanta, GA Emory University
April 21 Germantown, TN Duncan-Williams PAC
April 22 Boone, NC Appalachian State University
April 23 North Bethesda, MD The Music Center at Strathmore
April 25 Charleston, SC Charleston Gaillard Center
April 27 Danville, KY Norton Center for the Arts
April 29 Cutler Bay, FL The Moss Center at South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center
April 30 Charlotte, NC Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
May 2 Munhall, PA Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
May 3 Norfolk, VA Virginia Arts Festival
May 4 New York, NY The Town Hall
May 5 Troy, NY Troy Saving Bank Music Hall
May 6 Boston, MA Celebrity Series of Boston at Berklee Performance Center
The Ryan Matter Band, a Texas-blues power trio originating in Texas and now rocking New York State, got its start when Ryan Matter was working at 290 West Bar in Austin, TX. Working alongside several musicians, performing on the red dirt music scene, Ryan’s passion for music was noticed and he was encouraged to release his recordings and hit the road.
Now, this band born out of Texas calls New York home, with Dennis Knight (drummer & visual time keeper, vocals), Jon Monaghan (bass guitar, quantum physics) and Ryan Matter (guitar, vocals) are a power trio with a sound of Southern Rock and Dirty Blues – think ZZ Top meets Social Distortion.
Rob Smittix of RadioRadioX spoke with Ryan to get to know this unique act gracing the stages of Upstate New York,
Ryan Matter: What’s up brother?
Rob Smittix: What’s going on?
RM: Choking down a beer before I start playing.
RS: Excellent! So, what’s new and exciting with The Ryan Matter Band?
RM: I literally just booked this about 20 minutes ago. We’re goin to North Carolina in March, the week before that we’re in Florida for three days. Coming home we’re trying to pick up something in South Carolina then North Carolina and come home.
RS: That’s amazing man.
photo by Stephanie Bartik
RM: I mean it blows my mind how sh*t’s working out right now. But just trying to stay busy that’s been the big key. Trying to get re-established as a busy band.
RS: Right, well it looks like you’re on track for that. Up here you kind of fall into the category of southern rock but you’re going down south, what do they call bands from up north that play this kind of music?
RM: (Laughs) Southern rock.
RS: It’s still southern rock, alright.
RM: It’s southern rock with a touch of blues. When people think of ZZ Top, it’s dirty Texas blues. With me living in Texas for as long as I did, that’s kind of where we found our comfort zone. As a writer, that’s where the writing came out. It’s kind of like, hey, here we go, this is what we are, this is what we do.
RS: I remember you telling me that you were in Texas for a while. Are you from Texas?
RM: I’m from California. I’m from Los Angeles.
RS: The first time I was in LA was before the time of GPS and I found my way around easily just by remembering how it looked on TV.
RM: Mmm Hmm, it’s not hard to figure out. All of the roads are pretty squared.
RS: I don’t know how I did it. I drove from San Francisco. When I hit LA, I just came down Mulholland Drive. I’m staying on the Sunset Strip and it’s right there.
RM: It’s crazy because I used to be able to drive all of those f**king roads with my eyes closed.
RS: Hollywood was like Schenectady in the 80’s, but with stars on the sidewalk.
photo by Stephanie Bartik
RM: It’s gotten worse over time, it used to not be too bad. I mean it was always kind of dumpy but…
RS: Last time I was there was definitely worse than the first.
RM: My last time there was three and a half to four years ago and it was terrible. I don’t think I ever really want to go back.
RS: And you’re from there.
RM: And I’m from there. My dad still lives out there and he’s like do you want to come visit? I’m like not really.
RS: You’d love to see him though I’m sure. So, I’m really glad you are on board to be our first BANDwith segment. Stephanie J Bartik’s photography and my conversations with bands and artists seem to be a great combo. So, I guess I should ask, do you have any new recordings or anything in process?
RM: We’re actually working on a new live album right now. We recorded it several months ago, we’re in the mixing process right now, getting all of the tracks finalized. We actually just released a live track of “All Over Now,” one of the better songs that will be on the album. We dropped it as a single release leading up to the 2023 of the bootleg live album. That’s what we’re working on right now and from there when we take our mini tour we’re going to start working on pre-production and writing some new stuff and figuring out some of the other songs that I still have that we haven’t done.
RS: I’m glad it’s a live album. You’re a great live band to see and I think that’s definitely the way to go. I don’t know if you’re planning on doing CD, vinyl or MP3’s. What’s the deal going to be?
photo by Stephanie Bartik
RM: We’re going to start with digital but we’re probably going to end up doing CDs just because I feel strongly enough about the album that we can invest more money into the promo of it.
RS: It sounds like you’re getting the momentum that you need.
RM: We’re really starting to pick it up. It’s been a nice change of pace. 2022 ended the way it has. Obviously opening for Mountain. It’s the stepping stones right now that are falling into place. I’m very thankful. It’s all starting to pick up and go in a direction that it hasn’t for a very long time. It’s nice to see all of the hard work starting to pay off. If that makes sense?
RS: Definitely. Last time I saw you and I got to talk with you was at Pauly’s Hotel for the Mountain show. First of all, I think that they picked the best opening act, secondly you guys f**king crushed it so much, with a great stage presence. Your drummer is sick and I love the way that he talks to the audience to bring the crowd into it. But…I would say you guys did not sound like a local band opening up for Mountain, you sounded like the band that should’ve been on tour with Mountain.
RM: Well, I appreciate it.
photo by Stephanie Bartik
RS: Oh man, you guys f**king ripped it, man. I’ve only seen you perform a couple of times but I’ve always been impressed. I’m sure it’ll only get better and for people that haven’t seen you before I highly recommend it.
RM: It’s been a nice feeling, the reactions that we get when we come out that way and play. The bass player and I live in the Utica area and Dennis is the local guy. We love coming out there. It’s always a fun show, no matter where it’s at in Albany, in the Capital District. It’s a great time, everybody’s very open to the original music, which is a nice change of pace. I feel like we’re building a strong following out that way, it continues to open up new doors.
RS: I had to ask this silly question because I always kind of wondered. For a band that puts you front and center as The Ryan Matter Band. How does a band decide we’re going to go ahead and use your name as the band?
RM: It started out about 13 years ago and the band actually started out as 2 Lane Blacktop. Between solo shows and band shows, it started to lose name recognition. So, I started to build a following as a solo artist in Texas. When I’d go out with the band, nobody would know who 2 Lane Blacktop was. As things progressed, the two became one because of name recognition so it morphed into The Ryan Matter Band. It wasn’t for any other reason.
Schenectady has hosted the Van Gogh Experience for nearly a year now, and while the exhibit itself is worth a visit, the art of the master painter was brought to new levels with the music of the Grateful Dead. Thanks to Sugar Productions and Exhibition Hub Entertainment, Gratefully Yours performed on Saturday, March 4th at the Schenectady Armory in a room lit up with the art of Vincent Van Gogh.
A packed house of fans experienced a surreal audio/visual delight, as the main room of the Van Gogh Experience – where for over an hour, attendees see a career retrospective of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings, brought to life with 3D animation of his work. Add in a full two hours of Gratefully Yours performing Grateful Dead songs, and the pairing was as perfect as could be.
Hearing the “Sunshine Daydream” portion of “Sugar Magnolia” hitting just as the walls were lit up with images of “View of Arles with Irises” and an added sun rising over the sky made for quite the pairing. While “Dark Star” and “Starry Night” did not sync up, there were moment of pure bliss that could not be anticipated as the walls continued to change and the songs progressed.
Gratefully Yours – Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience – Schenectady Armory – March 4, 2023
Setlist: One More Saturday Night, Casey Jones, China Cat Sunflower> I Know You Rider > The Music Never Stopped>Bird Song> Truckin’> Eyes of the World> Scarlet Begonias> St. Stephen> The Other One> Space> Franklin’s Tower> The End, Sugar Magnolia> St. Stephen> The Wheel> Sunshine Daydream, Shining Star> Not Fade Away
