In an ode to hip hop, DJ Premier has released the third edition of his “Beats That Collected Dust” series via his self-founded To The Top (TTT) record label imprint. “I wanted to have a label that would keep the street, gutter stuff in its own lane, one where I could release anything I wanted, how I wanted and where I wanted,” Premier revealed to HipHopDX.
Beats That Collected Dust Vol. 3 is the first edition in 10 years, completing the trilogy of classic hip hop beats amid hip hop’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
The legendary scratch DJ remains continues to evolve and reinvent himself. He was just nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for his collaboration on “Le Pido A Dios” with Feid. Later, he starred in a time-traveling, five-decade spanning commercial with Don Toliver which MTV used to segue-way into the recent VMA’s 50th Hip Hop Anniversary tribute performance.
However, despite his contemporary success, it’s apparent that ‘Preme remains dedicated to hip hop in its purest form. After all, the Grammy-winning producer has been behind the boards for some of the rap music’s historic records. And ultimately, Beats That Collected Dust became a fan favorite due to the series’ personal nature. After all, these are records that DJ Premier produced specifically for other artists that did not make album cuts.
Acclaimed singer, songwriter, and producer James Blake played two sold out nights at Knockdown Center this weekend, October 5, as part of his Playing Robots Into Heaven Tour. Blake’s longtime bandmate Rob McAndrews opened the show under the stage name Airhead.
James Blake at Knockdown Center, Photograph by David Reichmann (@davidpresspass)
James Blake’s tour concludes October 20th in Los Angeles. Check out his upcoming dates here, and listen to Blake’s latest album here.
James Blake at Knockdown Center, Photograph by David Reichmann (@davidpresspass)
Our full photo gallery by David Reichmann is below.
On October 8th, music fans gathered at the LIMEHOF to celebrate “A Celebration of the Long Island Club Scene” from the 1980s. The evening’s centerpiece was a book signing by Jay Jay French, the iconic guitarist of Twisted Sister, who had recently authored his memoir, Twisted Business: Lessons from My Life in Rock and Roll. However, this evening was much more than just a book signing.
Jay Jay French initiated the event, greeting fans, signing his book, and sharing captivating rock ‘n’ roll anecdotes. Fans had the opportunity to connect with the legendary musician, acquiring signed memorabilia that would serve as treasured mementos.
After the book signing, Joe Rock from WBAB moderated an enlightening Q&A session for the crowd. The panel consisted of luminaries from the Long Island music scene, including Ken Neil and Mark “The Animal” Mendoza, the original and current bassists of Twisted Sister, Joe Franco, one of the original members of The Good Rats, Randy Jackson and Felix Hanneman of Zebra, and Mark Fowler of the Stanton Anderson Band. These musicians, each with their unique stories and experiences, painted a vivid picture of the vibrant Long Island club scene in the 1980s.
An eye-opening revelation of the evening linked Goodfellas mobsters to Speaks, a popular club in Island Park. Panelists shared stories of the mob’s role in the local music scene, illuminating Long Island’s club circuit history rarely discussed.
Jay Jay French recounted a remarkable tale of Twisted Sister’s last show at Hammer Heads, where fans were given the freedom to destroy the venue. Instead of harming their career, it propelled them to fame, with other Long Island clubs eager to host them for more wild performances. The Long Island club scene had a reputation for wild audiences, and Twisted Sister embraced it.
Following the enlightening Q&A, the audience enjoyed a musical extravaganza with all the panelists taking part. Jay Jay French, the charismatic frontman of Twisted Sister, took the lead in performing several hits. The exception was when Randy Jackson of Zebra stepped up to the microphone to deliver a powerful rendition of Zebra’s classic “Tell Me What You Want,” much to the delight of the crowd. The setlist was a dynamic mix of rock classics, including “All the Young Dudes,” “Crosscut Saw,” and captivating covers of Lou Reed‘s “Vicious” and “Walk on the Wild Side.”
The night ended with an exciting performance of Lou Reed’s “Sweet Jane,” making it a fantastic conclusion. The audience at the LIMEHOF marveled at the incredible talent and the captivating history they had just experienced.
Update: Dee Snider, the frontman of Twisted Sister, has just revealed that he will host a book signing for his debut novel, “Frats,” at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame located at 97 Main Street in Stony Brook. The event is scheduled for October 14th, commencing at 6pm. While the book signing is open to the public without charge, please note that entry to the museum will necessitate the purchase of a general admission ticket
22-year-old music prodigy Matthew Whitaker is giving back to the school that shaped his future. Hailing from Hackensack, New Jersey the jazz-pianist, whose been blind since birth, has been performing around the world for nearly a decade. However, the Emmy-nominated composer has overcome the challenge of being blind with the help of The Filomen M. D’ Agostino Greenberg Music School.
This Manhattan based non-profit stands as one of the only community music schools in the country dedicated to helping people with vision loss or blindness. In turn, Matthew Whitaker is giving back to the school where under director of music studies, Dalia Sakas, his talent blossomed at 5-years-old and later performing around the world by his pre-teens.
Over the years Whitaker has made appearances on numerous network television programs showcasing his talents, including CBS’s 60 Minutes, NBC’s Ellen and FOX TV’s Showtime at the Apollo. Nevertheless, Whitaker his prodigy status has been carved out with performance at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, the Apollo Theater.
Benefit Concert
Set for 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17th at Peter Norton Symphony Space in Manhattan, Matthew Whitaker’s FMDG Benefit Concert will help raise funds and awareness to support the school and its students. He will be performing along with his quartet and a select group of teen students from “The Fil.”
Since its inception, FMDG has helped more than 25,000 students, including notable talents such as jazz piano prodigy Matthew Whitaker and Grammy Award-winning musician and singer-songwriter Jose Feliciano. In light, the show will also feature the premiere of a new short film highlighting the FMDG Music School. Tickets are on sale on the Symphony Space website
Electronic synth-pop band from Brooklyn, telly, has shared their latest track, “Broken Heart Baby.” The nostalgic synth track is a breakup ballad perfect for screaming at the top of your lungs with your friends in your car, and predates their future EP, EPISODE 1.
telly is a duo made up of Ashley Claude (vocals, production) and Max Solomon (guitar, synths, sfx, production).
telly will be releasing their debut EP EPISODE 1 on October 11. The EP will feature previous singles “BLINK” and “Arena Gates” – as well as newly released single “Broken Heart Baby.” In the duo’s own words, “EPISODE 1 is an escapist reflection of the relentless digital landscape.”
To celebrate the release of EPISODE 1, telly will be performing live on release day. Join the band at Gold Sounds in Brooklyn, New York on October 11 at 7:30pm ET to hear songs from the new EP live, with support from Couch Prints, Chroma, & Jand.
“’Broken Heart Baby’ is a crushing breakup ballad told through the lens of a road trip. The nostalgic synth lead, propelling live drums, and reverberating vocals evoke the overwhelming emptiness that hits you when you realize you’re alone in a relationship. It’s the perfect song to scream cry to in the car with your friends!”
telly
“Broken Heart Baby” is a great addition to any playlist for those who prefer an electronic-pop vibe, one that complements Ashley’s vocals well. Her voice is deep and guttural, but portrays a lot of emotion and matches the carefree vibe of the song. It seems to have a good deal of indie influence, and feels like a song to blast in the car with friends while going for a late night drive to and from McDonald’s (if you’re an Upstate New Yorker past midnight).
Pre-save EPISODE 1 HERE, Stream “Broken Heart Baby” HERE, and follow telly on Instagram and TikTok.
Nearing the half-way point of a 21-date North American tour that kicked off in mid-September, Nick Cave made a rare solo appearance this past Saturday night, October 7, on the first of two back-to-back shows at the legendary Beacon Theatre on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
Having released Ghosteen with the Bad Seeds in 2019, and the acclaimed album Carnage in 2021 – as well as last year’s Seven Psalms EP comprised of short spoken-word pieces – with fellow Bad Seeds collaborator Warren Ellis, the 66-year old crooner from “the Land Down Under” has confirmed that new material with the Bad Seeds is on its way . . . soon!
The Beacon Theatre | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
With Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood providing accompaniment on bass, the 130-minute, 25-song gargantuan set (including a seven song encore) commenced at 8:25 pm. Per usual, with a magnificent slick of hair, Cave was dressed ‘to the nines’ in a stunning blue suit and loose tie as he appeared onstage shortly behind Greenwood. Slowly making his way around the perimeter of the stage apron, Cave greeted his adoring followers with several waves and a blown kiss.
Nick Cave & Colin Greenwood | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
Taking his perch at the ivories, the nearly five decade career-spanning set kicked off with “Girl in Amber” (Skeleton Tree, 2016) and concluded with “People Ain’t No Good” (The Boatman’s Call, 1997). Sandwiched in between, . . .
there was introspection:
“We are going to try and get inside these songs in some kind of way, or go on an adventure. When I perform a song, sitting at the piano, I start to work out what the song is really about in some kind of way. It’s been quite special to do [this tour] for me.”
there was humor:
“This next one (referring to the song “Galleon Ship” from Ghosteen) has got some [good] words in it. There is a bit that says ‘For we are not alone it seems. So many riders in the sky. The winds of longing in their sails. Searching for the other side.’ I thought that was pretty good. The rest [of the song] is okay. You don’t always get a full song. Sometimes four lines is enough.”
and there was reminiscence:
“When I lived in Brazil for a few years, I wrote a lot of very beautiful, lovely songs, and this is not one of them (referring to “Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry” from 1992’s Henry’s Dream). I used to sing this song to [my son] Luke when I was trying to put him to sleep. I noticed that he fell asleep [to] a faster rocking rhythm, so [this song] has that sort of thing going on. It may be the first Nick Cave song of this kind, which was that I’d go out walking and a cascade of terrible things happen to me, that start generally with the personal and end with apocalyptic. And in the center of this is [my] attempt to rock my child to sleep and the general anxiety of a parent trying to protect their child from this cascade of events.”
Nick Cave & Colin Greenwood | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
Special treats abounded too! Topping the list (for me at least) was the intimately rendered “To Be Found,” the Bad Seed’s newest single and only the fourth time it has been performed live. Not far behind was a cover of the post-punk ballad “Shivers” (Door, Door, 1979) by The Birthday Party, of which Cave was a band member from 1977-1983 and which also led to the birth of the Bad Seeds. If that weren’t enough for the die-hard fan, Cave gifted the 2,600-capacity audience “Palaces of Montezuma” (Grinderman 2, 2010) from his garage rock side project known as Grinderman.
Watch Cave and Greenwood perform fan favorite “Into My Arms,” from the aforementioned The Boatman’s Call, below:
In support of last year’s memoir Faith, Hope and Carnage, Cave has scheduled a book tour that is taking place concurrently with his shows. Joined by Irish journalist Seán O’Hagan, the series of in-store signings focuses on his life following the tragic death of his son, Arthur, in 2015.
Setlist: Girl in Amber > Higgs Boson Blues > Jesus of the Moon > Galleon Ship > To Be Found > O Children > I Need You > Waiting for You > Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry > Balcony Man > Carnage > The Mercy Seat > Black Hair > (Are You) The One That I’ve Been Waiting For? > The Weeping Song > Into My Arms > Jubilee Street > Push the Sky Away > Encore: Idiot Prayer > Love Letter > Shivers > Palaces of Montezuma > Brompton Oratory > The Ship Song > People Ain’t No Good
UPCOMING TOUR & BOOK SIGNING DATES
10/10 – Boston, MA @ Bosh Center – Wang Theatre 10/11 – Cambridge, MA @ Harvard Book Store* 10/12 – Montreal, QC @ Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier 10/14 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall 10/15 – Detroit, MI @ Masonic Cathedral Theatre 10/17 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium 10/18 – Nashville, TN @ Parnassus Books* 10/20 – Atlanta, GA @ Atlanta Symphony Hall 10/22 – Dallas, TX @ Majestic Theatre 10/23 – Austin, TX @ ACL Live at The Moody Theater 10/24 – Austin, TX @ BookPeople* 10/27 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre 10/28 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre 10/29 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre 10/30 – West Hollywood, CA @ Book Soup*
A-Zal, a New York City-based acoustic pop artist has released his newest track, “Lonely Town,” a ballad to the quiet side of the city of New York. The release comes as a follow up to his most recent release, “Movie Script,” from August 2023.
Migrating to the US in 2018, A-Zal found a quiet, intimate side of the city through integrating with a new city and country.
When I first came to New York, the glamour and energy of Midtown NYC pulled me like a magnet. But, I eventually got refuge in the unexplored streets of the city which had an altogether different story. When I performed in the subway stations next to Times Square or Bryant Park, I had a large set of audience members who would listen to my music while they passed me. However, as I went to the quieter side of uptown, I had very few listeners. And, the magic happened when these handful of listeners grew in number and turned into my real fans.
A-Zal
“Lonely Town” is a heartfelt, acoustic ballad that follows A-Zal’s search for company in such a vast city environment. As he navigates the “lonely town,” an ironic title considering the gradiosity of the city, the crowds and skyscrapers escape his perspective, and the city becomes his true companion.
A-Zal’s latest track, “Movie Script,” released in August to great success, climbing to the Mediabase TOP 40 Activator Charts within just two weeks of its release. After working with Marvel Studios on the popular TV series, Loki and Ms. Marvel, A-Zal is expecting an upcoming album, 17 & 11 Nights, soon after his newest singles.
“Lonely Town” is now available alongside an official music video, capturing A-Zal’s journey from India to the United States in pursuit of the famed “american dream.” The video follows him as he reminisces on performances in New York City subway stations, before his most recent big break with Marvel Studios.
The Orchestra Now is set to begin their 2023-24 season at Carnegie Hall on November 7th with a program titled Exodus: Jewish Composers in Exile, directed by Leon Botstein. The performance marks TON’s first show in New York City this seasons, and features four works.
The night’s composers will be Alexandre Tansman, Josef Tal, Walter Kaufmann and Marcel Rubin, all of whom wrote their pieces while in exile from their homelands during World War II.
Tansman, a multi-genre composers as well as pianist, fled Europe for the United States in 1941. His piece to be performed, Polish Rhapsody, was inspired by the invasion of Poland and dedicated “to the defenders of Warsaw.”
Josef Tal’s Exodus is based on the Passover Haggadah, and debuted with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra after Tal’s emigration to Jerusalem in 1942. The Orchestra Now’s performance will be the NYC debut of Exodus.
Walter Kaufmann’s An Indian Symphony was inspired by his emigration to India, where he lived for 14 years in Bombay after exile. This performance will also be the NYC debut of An Indian Symphony.
Finally, Marcel Rubin’s Symphony No. 4, Dies irae, is a reflection of his experiences during World War II. As a winner of the Grand Austrian State Prize for Music and the Gold Medal of Vienna, Rubin spent time in France and Mexico after leaving Vienna.
Director Leon Botstein will lead The Orchestra Now in the performance of these four pieces. The show will take place on November 7 at 7PM at Carnegie Hall, New York City. Tickets are available now online at carnegiehall.org, by phone at 212.247.7800, or at the Carnegie Hall box office at 57th & Seventh Avenue in Manhattan.
Texas based post-rockers Explosions In The Sky just released End, their eighth studio LP and first in more than seven years. The band is currently on the road, making their way to Brooklyn’sKings Theatre on Thursday, October 5th to showcase the new record in a truly perfect setting. The historic theatre is just as cinematic as the band’s signature sprawling instrumentals, which effortlessly reverberated around the spacious theater.
Explosions In The Sky at Kings Theatre, 10/5/2023. Photo by Joseph Buscarello
Explosions In The Sky have mastered the art of the cinematic soundtrack over their career, with End being no exception. Aside from eight studio records, the band soundtracked several films including the enormously successful Friday Night Lights. The quartet’s instrumentals are uniquely suitable for the big screen as well as a focused LP. Their three-guitar approach allows them to layer lush and complex loops that suck the listener into a meditative experience. The music swells to climactic crescendos surrounded by moments of minimal beauty that keep you engaged for the entire album.
Thursday night was an exciting draw for any fan of Explosions In The Sky. The band does not tour all that often to begin with, and Kings Theatre is the type of venue that would perfectly amplify the band’s instrumentals. The show started off with an opening set from the Jim White (drums) and Marisa Anderson (guitar). For thirty minutes, the duo bounced back and forth between complex drum passages and swirling guitar arpeggios, integrating with each other at times but also playing solo here and there. The entire set felt like a singular, continuous piece that was flushed out in the moment on stage. Kings was filled in early and the crowd cheered the duo on as the set continued to evolve.
Explosions In The Sky at Kings Theatre, 10/5/2023. Photo by Joseph Buscarello
The opening duo set the tone for the night, hinting at the atmosphere that was about to take over the theater. Explosions In The Sky took to the stage to a thunderous ovation as they picked up their guitars and got ready for the show. As the first notes of “First Breath After Coma” rang out, from easily the crowd favorite 2003 LP The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place, the audience erupted into a joyous fervor. The band would play a couple more tracks from this album at Kings Theatre, but also added a last minute show at Bowery Ballroom on Sunday, October 8th where they would play the record in full.
The show rolled on, treating fans to a mix of songs from all over Explosions In The Sky’s catalog, blending the art of cinematic soundscapes with the live show setting to maximum effect. There is only one more stop in the U.S. on this tour, taking place on October 20th in Miami at the III Points Music Festival. After that, the band heads over to Europe for a run of shows throughout November. Head over to their website for the full itinerary and check out our photo gallery from Kings Theatre below.
MVW and Valee continue their dynamic association with the release of their new single, “Tailor Swift.” A play on the name of pop superstar Taylor Swift, this latest record arrives as MVW and Valee gear up for the release of their debut joint-album, Valeedation. Set for release on October 20, the slowed-down, classically inspired tune follows a similar formula as the pair’s prior collaborations on MVW’s last two albums, CLASSIC$ and Connections.
In similar fashion, MVW juxtaposes Valee’s nonchalant delivery with refined instrumentation blending into a sound coined as “museum rap.” On “Tailor Swift” Valee rides MVW’s choppy, slowed-down production while expounding on his luxury-filled wardrobe. In usual fashion, Valee song title are often a precursor to a witty metaphor. Rapping, “white Gucci pants same color Taylor Swift. Yeah, getting measured in Gucci b*tch my tailor swift.”
While Valee’s quick-witted one liners feel improvised, his meticulous approach to music and fashion has led to a cult-following, as he’s always provided a alternative sound and delivery to his contemporaries.
Throughout my career I’ve been known to tailor my own clothes because I like them to fit a certain way. They have to be precise. I approached making this song the same way. When MVW sent it to me I knew it was the one.
Valee on “Tailor Swift”
Meanwhile, with each record, MVW aims to transport the listener into a world of musical radicalism. In effect, the two idiosyncratic artists serve a similar musical purpose, albeit with different approaches.
The underlying sound and flow in Tailor Swift is essentially avant-garde, compounded by the depth of the entendres and visual metaphors, this track transports the listener into a world of radicalism.
MVW on “Tailor Swift”
The release of “Tailor Swift” arrives following the summer drops of “Could Be” and “Pistachio.” These two releases preluded the eventual collab-album from the frequent collaborators. While Valee remains a season vet of the hip hop world, Staten Island native MVW continues to build on a repertoire that has seen him work with other innovative rappers such as TiaCorine, Xavier Wulf, Lil Gotit, Matt Ox, Zelooperz and Anycia.
