Hip-Hop and rap artist Macklemore performed an unforgettable show at Pier 17 on Friday, September 22 welcoming all ages to take part in the long-awaited “Ben Tour.”
Macklemore began his music career building his fanbase on the West Coast in 2000 as an independent artist born and raised in Seattle, Washington. In the early stages of his success, he released his first album in 2005, The Language of My World which led to the collaboration with DJ/Record Producer Ryan Lewis. The duo jumpstarted Macklemore’s music success producing the Grammy Award Winning album The Heist including fan favorites, “Can’t Hold Us,” “ThriftShop,” “Same Love,” and “White Walls.”
Macklemore carved a huge name for himself in the rap community and is best known for his ability to storytell and create introspective lyrics that address social issues of consumerism, addiction, homophobia, and personal attributes that connect to his life growing up in Seattle.
DJ Nick Beeba opened the show by stating, “I grew up in Seattle going to Macklemore’s shows in middle school, to just be here as an opener is truly amazing.” Beeba played remixes including hit songs “Wanna Be a Baller,” “No Scrubs,” “Pony,” and plenty of others to get the crowd dancing and cheering awaiting Macklemore’s appearance.
The show itself was not only a concert to remember but a full-blown production with on-stage dancers, a full band crew including trombone, trumpet, drums, guitar, and keyboard plus several impressive outfit changes. With blue bedazzled capes, headbands, and sparkly vests, Macklemore does it all. During the show, Macklemore made time in between songs to thank the people for coming authentically as themselves to come have fun and spread love. “We’re here to dance, so let’s dance New York!” he stated.
To close the show, Macklemore gave a huge thanks to his band members for all the hard work that has paid off over the years. This encourages fans to come to their shows and experience something more than just a concert but a place to allow fans to be authentic, dance, and have a good time. The final song “Can’t Hold Us” encouraged the crowd to jump, dance, and shout, “We put our hands up, like the ceiling can’t hold us,” leaving the concertgoers in awe and ecstatic to see when Macklemore would visit New York next.
Bobby Darin, a multi-genre star and activist known for his talents in the ’60s and ’70s, has announced his first ever digital release of two landmark ’60s albums, including Born Walden Robert Cassotto and Commitment.
Born as Walden Robert Cassotto in East Harlem, Darin was raised by his grandmother Polly and fell in love with music in his teens. He could play piano, drums, and guitar, and later added harmonica and xylophone to his repertoire. He later moved to the Bronx, where he graduated from the prestigious Bronx High School of Science. Later, he went to Hunter College but quickly dropped out after two semesters to pursue an acting career. He coined his stage name from the actor Darren McGavin later in his career, but his legal name remains Cassotto.
Bobby Darin was, by any definition, a superstar – a chart-topping, multimillion-selling, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, a Golden Globe-winning actor, visionary entrepreneur, and committed political activist. By 1966 the 30-year-old was already more than a decade into his one-of-a-kind career, his diverse body of work characterized by frequent changes in musical direction, spanning pop and cabaret to show tunes and contemporary folk.
Restless and daring, Darin refused to be constrained by genre, instead placing his signature vocal style upon rock ‘n’ roll, pop, country and western, folk, big band, and jazz. The result was a seemingly endless string of top 10 hits, including “Splish Splash,” “Queen of the Hop,” “Dream Lover,” “Beyond the Sea,” and “If I Were a Carpenter,” the latter found on 1966’s If I Was A Carpenter (recently re-released by Direction Records and available everywhere now).
While he appeared to be “living the life,” the shifting cultural winds and strains of celebrity life affected his professional and personal successes, from his 1967 divorce from Sandra Dee and the traumatic uncovering of family revelations, on top of a heart condition sustained following childhood bouts with rheumatic fever.
“In terms of his career, the constant hits and the glory of his early days were long gone by this point,” says Dodd Darin, the only son of Bobby Darin and Hollywood sweetheart Sandra Dee. “Gone also was his relentless need to be at the top of the entertainment industry. The brashness and bravado that was so evident in his youth had been mellowed. The changing music scene and his perceived lesser place, combined with a serious medical condition, will humble a man.”
While his public persona was all bright lights and glamour, Darin was, like so many of his era, driven and inspired by the generational shifts and social upheaval of the 1960s. Despite his weakened health, Darin devoted nearly all his free time towards multiple causes: such as tirelessly campaigning for his friend Robert F. Kennedy until his assassination in June 1968. Shattered by Kennedy’s death and disheartened with the changing world around him, Darin withdrew from the spotlight and embarked on an unlikely personal journey to convey his truest self. He swapped his crooner’s tuxedo for folk singer denim, his toupee for an outlaw mustache, and a Beverly Hills mansion for a secluded trailer at Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur.
More importantly, Darin was determined to express himself through his own songwriting, penning two albums worth of original songs that in many ways pre-date the singer-songwriter movement that would bloom in the early 1970s. Though the voice heard on 1968’s Born Walden Robert Cassotto was familiar, the songs were something very different than Darin’s previous fare. Gone was the big band pop of his biggest hits, the brass, and glamour in favor of arrangements inspired by contemporary folk rock, country, and soul.
Lyrically, Born Walden Robert Cassotto began to explore a range of issues – the environment, loss of faith, capitalism, and police brutality. “Long Line Rider,” tells the timely tale of three skeletons found on an Arkansas prison farm, while “Change” sees Darin explicitly examining his own seismic personal and creative shifts, singing, “Get yourself up off your past, friend//There’s so much to rearrange//Tomorrow sits right next to never//Damned if what your feelin’ isn’t change.”
Fearless, compelling, and undoubtedly cathartic, Born Walden Robert Cassotto set the stage for an even braver work. Released under the name “Bob Darin”, Commitment is even grittier than its predecessor. From the counterculture anthem “Me and My Hohner” and the soul-searching “Sausalito” to the wryly autobiographical “Distractions (Part 1)” the album’s studio experimentation and songcraft affirms Darin’s generational talent of uniquely c crossing the borders of age and politics.
The evolution from Bobby Darin to Bob Darin was not without its headwinds, however. The music critics, fans, and industry folks didn’t know what to make of the albums as they were such a large departure from the Darin they knew. They did not really chart or achieve commercial success. His longtime friend Dick Clark told him he was ‘a latter-day hippie and to put his tuxedo back on.’ The Landmark was paying him $40,000 a week and people were walking out because he refused to do the old hits. He told them, ‘That was yesterday and the door is right over there.’ Elvis was a genuine friend and came to see his show and told him, ‘Bobby, do the hits.’ I believe he was brave and acted on his conscience by doing the material he was doing. If his career took a hit – and it did – so be it; at least he could sleep at night.
Dodd Darin
Sadly, in December 1973, Bobby Darin fell ill and died in a Los Angeles hospital at just 37 years old following emergency open heart surgery. Darin’s remarkable legacy has only grown in the years that followed, with honors including induction in both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, an award-winning stage musical, a Golden Globe-nominated film biography, and multiple top-selling career anthologies. Though at the time the Direction albums seemed a risky left turn for a star near the top of his game, time has shown both Born Walden Robert Cassotto and Commitment to be milestone works of the folk-rock renaissance, and in character for an artist whose forward-thinking, boundary-free approach in many ways predated the creative freedom today.
In commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of his tragic 1973 passing, the Bobby Darin Estate recently relaunched Direction Records: the groundbreaking label founded by Darin in 1968. Distributed by Secretly Distribution, the Direction Records collection kicked off with the release of five classic albums recorded between 1966 and 1967 and newly reverted to the Bobby Darin Estate, all available on digital platforms for the first time ever. The new releases include: Bobby Darin Sings The Shadow Of Your Smile (1966), In A Broadway Bag (1966), If I Were A Carpenter (1966), Inside Out (1967), and Bobby Darin Sings Doctor Dolittle (1967). A special trailer heralding the return of Direction Records is streaming now on the official Bobby Darin YouTube channel.
Now, with the relaunch of Direction Records and future archival releases to come, Bobby Darin’s groundbreaking life and career can remain timeless, and reach audiences like never before.
After his successful, sold-out 2022 and 2023 Stick Season Tour runs, Noah Kahan has announced his 2024 We’ll All Be Here Forever Tour North America dates. The 32-date leg kicks off in Vancouver, BC, and stops at Madison Square Garden in July.
Noah Kahan creates impactful music through vulnerable lyrics and an unfiltered yet reliable honesty, with songs straight from the heart– lightened by his self-deprecating sense of humor. Across his three albums and an EP, Kahan has generated global renown for his singular mix of Folk and Americana, landing more than two billion streams.
In July, Kahan teamed up with GRAMMY Award-nominated global superstar Post Malone for a new version of his latest single, “Dial Drunk,” which peaked at #1 on both the Alternative and AAA Radio Charts, and is featured on his new album Stick Season (We’ll Be Here Forever). Stick Season was just recently Certified Gold, and the breakout title track was Certified Platinum. It debuted at #3 on Billboard 200 Chart, and at #1 on Billboard Top Alternative Albumbs Chart, Top Americans/Folk Albums Chart, as well as Top Rock Albums Chart, and more. Especially impressive, Noah became the 5th artist in history with 18 songs on Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Charts in one week, alongside David Bowie and Taylor Swift.
Additionally, just last week Noah was featured on the cover of Pollstar’s September issue and spoke about his incredible rise in fame over this past year. He was also named on the 2023 TIME100 Next list.
Kahan has been on his sold-out Stick Season Tour across North America since the album’s release last year, selling half-a-million tickets to date and performing with large crowds ahead of him, and larger ones to come.
WE’LL ALL BE HERE FOREVER TOUR 2024 NORTH AMERICA DATES:
Tue Mar 26 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena
Thu Mar 28 Calgary, AB Scotiabank Saddledome
Fri Mar 29 Edmonton, AB Rogers Place
Sat Mar 30 Saskatoon, SK SaskTel Centre
Tue Apr 02 Winnipeg, MB Canada Life Centre
Sat Apr 06 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
Sun Apr 07 London, ON Budweiser Gardens
Tue Apr 09 Ottawa, ON Canadian Tire Centre
Wed Apr 10 Quebec City, QC Videotron Centre
Sat Apr 13 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
Wed May 22 Asheville, NC ExploreAsheville.com Arena
Sat May 25 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
Tue May 28 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center
Wed May 29 Burgettstown, PA The Pavilion at Star Lake
Tue Jun 04 St. Louis, MO Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
Wed Jun 05 Kansas City, MO Azura Amphitheatre
Fri Jun 07 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
Tue Jun 11 Dallas, TX Dos Equis Pavilion
Wed Jun 13 Houston, TX The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Fri Jun 14 Austin, TX Moody Center
Tue Jun 18 Chula Vista, CA North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Fri Jun 21 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
Tue Jun 25 Denver, CO Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
Sat Jun 29 George, WA The Gorge
Mon Jul 01 Ridgefield, WA RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
Wed Jul 03 Wheatland, CA Toyota Amphitheatre
Fri Jul 05 Berkeley, CA The Greek Theatre
Sat Jul 06 Berkeley, CA The Greek Theatre
Tue Jul 09 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre
Sat Jul 13 East Troy, WI Alpine Valley Music Theatre
Tue Jul 15 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Tue Jul 16 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Fri Jul 19 Boston, MA Fenway Park ^
^ With Mt. Joy
Because of his success, he’s asking fans planning to attend his North America tour dates to register ahead of tickets going on sale to help block bots, reduce resale, and get more tickets directly into the hands of fans who want to attend the show.
Fans can sign up now until Sunday, September 24 at 10PM PT for the Advance Registration Presale in North America. Once registration closes, fans will be randomly selected to receive a code that grants them access to the Registration Presale on Wednesday, September 27. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale.
General onsale starts Friday, September 29 at 10am at ticketmaster.com while supplies last.
For more information about Noah Kahan, as well as his other global tour dates, visit his website, Instagram, or Facebook. For tickets presale, click this link. For tickets general onsale, click this link.
Gone Stereo, the Long Island native pop-punk band has released their brand new single, “I’m So Sick,” promoting their upcoming sophomore album.
The new track, “I’m So Sick,” builds on the classic, early-2000s pop punk anthem. The song rides the band’s energy and hook-driven catchiness from previous tracks, and features artwork by punk rock legend Mark DeSalvo.
The group is signed to Negative Progression Records, a punk, emo, and indie label established in 1996. Gone Stereo worked on “I’m So Sick” alongside John Naclerio (Knuckle Puck, Real Friends, Bayside) and Chris Badami (The Starting Line, The Early November).
Videos for both “I’m So Sick” and the group’s new B-Side track “Cool Kids” are set to debut on BlankTV, where the band’s previous videos have garnered over 5,000 plays. Tune into SiriusXM’s Faction Punk to hear “I’m So Sick” and more from the group’s sophomore album debuting this fall.
“Cool Kids” is about coping with cliques, feeling left out, and how unpleasant it feels. You think that you want to be a part of it, but you refuse to be pressured to conform to their standards. In the end, those cliques will all fade away.
On Wednesday September 20 at Irving Plaza, English Band Ladytron returned to perform the first show of their Fall 2023 Tour. This was a highly anticipated tour for fans since their last appearance in NY back in 2019 at the Brooklyn Steel.
Ladytron has defined the electropop movement of the early 2000’s using synthesizing sounds to encompass a unique psychedelic, ethereal and electronic rock performance. Irving Plaza was the perfect venue to highlight the bands ambience with sparkling chandeliers, hanging disco ball, dim-lit standing room and balcony to illuminate the show goers atmospheric experience.
As the band walked on stage the crowd cheered and danced to express their enthusiasm for Ladytron and the performance of fan favorites and new album release Times Arrow. With Strobe lights, polka dots and dream-like psychedelic visuals enhancing the hard bass driven beats, contemporary melodies, synth tones and female vocals. Ladytron put on quite an invoking show to kickoff the Fall tour.
Alongside the exciting Time’s Arrow release their soundscapes and innovative music leaves fans in awe while they are able to create visual narratives within their songs, Ladytron attendees leave with an unforgettable experience. Following their Irving Plaza show, Ladytron plans to continue the long awaited tour with their next stop on Friday, September 22 in Los Angeles, California at The Belasco.
LADYTRON 2023 TOUR DATES
Fri Sep 22 – Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco
Sat Sep 23 – San Diego, CA – Crossroads at House of Blues
Thu Nov 16 – Austin, TX – The Mohawk
Fri Nov 17 – Dallas, TX – The Granada Theater
Sat Nov 18 – Houston TX – Numbers Night Club
Sun Nov 19 – Mexico City, MX – Corona Capital Festival
Ladytron – Irving Plaza, NYC – Wednesday, September 20
Setlist: City of Angels, Faces, Ghosts, Deadzone, True Mathematics, The Animals, Flight From Angkor, Soft Power, USA vs. White Noise, Misery Remember Me, International Dateline, Fighting in Built Up Areas, The Island, Paper Highways, Discotraxx, Ace of Hz Encore: California, Playgirl, Seventeen, Destroy Everything You Touch
Long Island Author Steve Matteo will take part in a discussion and book signing event at LIMEHOF, spotlighting his new book Act Naturally: The Beatles on Film, on Saturday, September 30th at 2pm.
The event is free with admission to the Hall of Fame, open to the public, and will be moderated by Tony Traguardo of the Fab4Free4All podcast.
I grew up on Long Island and have written for many Long Island music and entertainment publications. I’m thrilled to be interviewed at LIMEHOF about my new book on the Beatles. The hall is all about honoring and celebrating the legacy of great music. When I write my books, chronicling musical history that give music fans a deeper understanding of artists and their times is very important to me. Long Island has a rich history of popular music and music fans on Long Island are some of the most knowledgeable and passionate in the world.
Author Steve Matteo
Act Naturally: the Beatles on Film examines the five films the Beatles made during their time together: A Hard Day’s Night, Help!, Magical Mystery Tour, Yellow Submarine, and Let It Be. Some were successes, some were not, but thanks in part to reissues, bonus material, and Peter Jackson’s The Beatles: Get Back, the band’s filmography is a fascinating document of key phases in the group’s short career.
Act Naturally: The Beatles on Film is a comprehensive deep-dive into the band’s movies from longtime music journalist Steve Matteo, and follows the origins, filming, and often frenzied fan reception of projects including the 1964 premiere of A Hard Day’s Night, 1970’s Let It Be and 2022’s Get Back. Matteo explores all aspects of the band’s film history, including production process, original theatrical film releases, VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray releases, and bonus materials, along with the US and UK soundtracks. Full of anecdotes and behind-the-scenes details, Matteo places these films in their larger context as a period of unprecedented artistic and commercial innovation in British and world cinema, offering a definitive account of an underappreciated part of the Beatles’ creative output.
We are excited to have Steve come speak at The Hall of Fame about his book “Act Naturally” and share his insights on The Beatles on Film. Having Tony Traguedo from the Fab4Free4All podcast moderate and speak is also an added bonus to what is sure to be a fun event. We continue to welcome opportunities to introduce Long Islanders to local authors and podcasters on a regular basis at the museum.
Kelly Leung, LIMEHOF Board Member and Director of Community Outreach, event organizer
The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, located in Stony Brook Village, opened its building location in 2022, and has inducted more than 120 musicians and music industry executives since 2004. The organization also offers education programs and scholarships, and awards to Long Island students and educators.
Copies of the book will be available for purchase to be signed at the event and LIMEHOF has expressed plans to do more author themed events in the future.
Multi-faceted singer/songwriter A.J. Croce is hitting the road again– visiting New York City, Rochester and Troy — in celebration of two more of his father Jim Croce’s legendary albums, 1973’s Life and Times and his final release, I Got A Name, in addition to songs from You Don’t Mess Around With Jim.
The Croce Plays Croce 50th Anniversary show features a legendary band (including drummer Gary Mallaber, bassist David Barard, guitar/violin James Pennebaker) and a moving multi-media presentation accompanying Jim’s songs (which on the previous tour included memorable hits, “Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels)”, “Time in a Bottle,” and others).
Over the past three decades, A.J. Croce has established his reputation as a piano player and vocal stylist who pulls from a host of musical traditions and anti-heroes — part New Orleans, part juke joint, part soul. From his 10 studio albums, it’s clear that he holds a love for all types of musical genres: blues, soul, pop, jazz, and rock n’ roll. A.J. toured with B.B. King and Ray Charles before reaching the age of 21, and over his career, he has performed with a wide range of legendary musicians, from Willie Nelson to the Neville Brothers, to Béla Fleck and Ry Cooder. His albums have all charted on an impressive array of charts: Top 40, blues, Americana, jazz, college, and Radio 1.
A.J. felt a camaraderie with the audience at past shows and with the connection to his father’s timeless music, he was inspired to embark on a 50th anniversary tour. “The audience reaction has been so great,” says A.J. “The shows we did last year were not only met with a huge response, but I learned so much about what works and what resonates, we knew we had to keep going.”
The gifted multi-instrumentalist says, besides the two albums Life and Times and I Got A Name, tracks from the popular You Don’t Mess Around With Jim – which fueled last year’s run – will also be part of the new show.
“We’ll be playing songs representative from all three albums, and also some songs the audience might not know from more obscure artists that I realized connected me and my father. It was those songs that eventually led me to do this show in the first place.”
A.J. Croce
During last year’s performances, A.J. shared intimate aspects of his dad’s career. He also drew praise for his own style and musicianship (he’s known for one of the most unique keyboard styles in music) as well as his sensitive insight into Jim Croce’s enduring musical canon. While Jim Croce’s music catalog still resonates on classic radio, streaming platforms, and more recently on hit films and TV shows like Django Unchained and Stranger Things, it is A.J.’s unique showmanship that has helped enliven Jim’s amazing legacy. One reviewer aptly noted: ‘…A.J. Croce invites the sold-out crowds into his father’s worldview and work mindset, culminating in the playing of Jim Croce tunes…making for an intimate experience riddled with wryness and humor…’
Fans and critics who attended last year’s 50th Anniversary Celebration showsare thrilled that A.J. is readying another affectionate interpretation of his father’s enduring legacy. The shows have renewed interest in Jim Croce and garnered praise for A.J: “I think they come as a Jim Croce fan but also leave as fans of mine. That’s something that has also made this whole experience really amazing.”
CROCE PLAYS CROCE 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
Oct 27 / Aria Ballroom @MGM Springfield / Springfield, MA
Oct 28 /The Wilbur / Boston, MA
Oct 30 / Count Basie Center for the Arts / Red Bank, NJ
Nov 1 / Santander Performing Arts Center / Reading, PA
Nov 2 / Sandler Center for the Performing Arts / Virginia Beach, VA
Nov 4 / The Town Hall / New York City, NY
Nov 5 / Keswick Theatre / Glenside, PA (SOLD OUT)
Nov 7 / Kodak Center / Rochester, NY
Nov 8 / Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall / Munhall, PA
Nov 9 / Taft Theatre / Cincinnati, OH
Nov 11/ Goodyear Theatre / Akron, OH
Nov 12 / Royal Oak Music Theatre / Royal Oak, MI
Nov 15 / Hoyt Sherman Place / Des Moines, IA
Nov 16 / Grand Theater / Wausau, WI
Nov 17 / Pantages Theatre / Minneapolis, MN
Nov 25 / Florida Theatre / Jacksonville, FL
Nov 26 / Parker Playhouse / Fort Lauderdale, FL
Nov 28 / Capitol Theatre / Clearwater, FL
Nov 29 / King Center for the Performing Arts / Melbourne, FL
Nov 30 /The Savannah Center / The Villages, FL
Dec 2 / Mars Music Hall / Huntsville, AL
Dec 3 / The Factory / St. Louis, MO
Dec 5 / Rose State College Hudiburg Chevrolet Center / Oklahoma City, OK
Dec 6 / Cotillion / Wichita, KS
Dec 8 / The Paramount / Austin, TX
Dec 10/ Bayou Music Center / Houston, TX
Dec 11 / Majestic Theatre / Dallas, TX
Dec 12 / Tobin Center for the Performing Arts / San Antonio, TX
After a brief break this fall, moe. will return to the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, for a 2-night run December 9-10 to finish out their tour.
moe. is a one-of-a-kind band that has never been easily categorized. Their sonic adventurousness and tongue-in-cheek humor are distinctly and undeniably their own. Praised by American Songwriter for their “mind-bending musicality,” moe. is treasured for their mesmerizing musical synergy, unfettered showmanship, and smart, resonant songcraft.
The genre-blurring band, moe. is what it is today because of Al Schnier (guitar/vocals), Chuck Garvey (guitar/vocals), Rob Derhak (bass/vocals), Jim Loughlin (percussion/vibes), Vinnie Amico (drums), and Nate Wilson (keys).
This powerful group of musicians leads to positive reviews, especially after Chuck’s recovery from a stroke, and the addition of Nate Wilson on the keys, moe.’s resurgence has been remarkable for all fans to watch.
On top of their live performances, moe. also recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of Tin Cans and Car Tires with a special 2x Sky Blue vinyl reissue. On top of the original album tracks, the collector’s item also features live renditions of beloved songs including “Stranger Than Fiction,” “Nebraska,” and “Letter Home.”
Tickets for moe. at the Capitol Theatre are now on sale at moe.org
moe. tour dates
Wednesday, September 20th – Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH Thursday, September 21st – Madison Theater – Covington, KY Friday, September 22nd – Vic Theatre – Chicago, IL Saturday, September 23rd – Headliners Music Hall – Louisville, KY Tuesday, September 26th – Turner Hall Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI Thursday, September 28th – Peoria Riverfront – Peoria, IL Friday, September 29th – Barrymore Theatre – Madison, WI Saturday, September 30th – First Ave – Minneapolis, MN Sunday, October 1st – Wooly’s – Des Moines, IA Wednesday, October 4th – The Pageant – St. Louis, MO Thursday, October 5th – Bourbon Theatre – Lincoln, NE Friday, October 6th – Hillberry Fest – Eureka Springs, AR Saturday, October 7th – Liberty Hall – Lawrence, KS Friday, October 20th – Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO Saturday, October 21st – Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO Friday, December 8th – Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY Saturday, December 9th – Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY
In August’s blurry end of sweltering heat and constant music in New York City, NYS Music and the band HOKO found a summer second to have a chat. The day following their Bowery Ballroom show, on their debut tour with almost monday and Weathers, band members Nathaniel Hoho and Jesse Kotansky gathered to discuss a vast expanse of topics with myself, Kali Kugler.
From the band’s first tour experience, to the pandemic effect, to New York City recommendations and their upcoming residency, HOKO provided a rich dialogue on their transient spot in the music industry.
HOKO was formed in New York City, but the band pulls in flair from many places and faces. Jesse Kotansky, the vital melody of HOKO, is from New York. As lead singer Nathaniel put it, “he’s the go to guy for strings in New York.” Nathaniel himself was born in Pennsylvania but claims New York City as his homebase. The two of them met through mutual friends, and the rest of their connection unfolded naturally through the development of their sound.
“Freaky-pop!”
– Nathaniel Hoho
When asked how to describe themselves through the niche language of genre, there were many categorical dialects tossed around: experimental, alternative, rock, pop. Jesse spewed a vast yet accurate platter of descriptors – “Experimental is the key word to describe us, because experimenting is our process.” Nathaniel chimed in and stamped the label, “freaky-pop!” Having attended their show at the ballroom just the night before, I can back the freaky nature they brought to the familiar pop sound.
When posed the question about the evolution of HOKO since their first release “OK OK” back in 2020, every performing artist’s black cloud entered the conversation – the pandemic. Jesse spoke on their blooming process as a band and the halting choke COVID had on their initial exposure. Prior to the pandemic, HOKO had worked with EQT Studios and produced over forty songs they were ready to release. They put out an EP and their single “OK OK” that reached top 20 on the radio only a week before the universal shut down. Like everyone else HOKO remained indoors, but their time proved fruitful, for they spent two years writing and merging and learning about themselves and their tastefully ephemeral style.
“We find the more often we dive in, the deeper we go… as we grow as humans our sound is also growing. While things around us change we are influenced by it all.”
– Jesse Kotansky
HOKO’s creative process is an observant one. They are in a constant state of listening, sensing, reading, talking – living, really. Being human – the great collaboration. A lot of their inspiration comes from sharing a sound, having a conversation and “diving deep.” Jesse couldn’t pinpoint their inspiration on one person or place: “…what makes us wanna dance; everything we’ve ever listened to; every book we’ve ever read; every color we’ve ever seen all go into it.”
“I depend on the energy the crowd gives back – it’s a conversation.”
– Nathaniel Hoho
Coming back to the music community and getting to tour for the very first time, HOKO found the crowd’s energy to be an additional member in their band. Touring with almost monday and Weathers informed their style, for they were finally able to experiment and explore their sound with an audience. Jesse spoke on Nathaniel’s stage presence in relation to their fans: “I feed off of his energy.” He went on to state his pride in being an opening band and holding the responsibility to win a crowd.
“It has been lovely seeing our music interact with people.”
– Nathaniel Hoho
New York City is a lucky spot, because HOKO established their return date. On Thursday, September 21st, HOKO will be performing at Berlin Under A in East Village (tickets are still available, and are worth the purchase)! New York City is crawling with esteemed musicians, which is a positive factor according to Jesse as he reflected on their Bowery Ballroom performance: “There was a physical energy in New York, and there were a lot of musicians at the show that we look up to. That definitely added some nerves.”
Both Jesse and Nathaniel expressed gratitude for the hometown show crowd. It’s always sweet to see familiar faces and display growth in the place that raised you. Even though Jesse and Nathaniel still live in the city, they hold a heightened degree of excitement for their shows here. Both agreed the Bowery Ballroom show was their favorite of all their stops on tour. At the end of our conversation, HOKO even graced me with their sacred New York City recommendations: Bar Victoria, The York, Treasure Club, Cozy Royale for a burger, C&B Coffee, and Taco Ramirez.
HOKO was as kind as they were impressive, eager to speak on their artistry and to compliment their audience. Having witnessed their eclectic, colorful, and boundary breaking performance, I can confidently encourage anyone to get the chance to see them live. They are a group to keep your eye on – they are a blow up no one will want to miss.
Kyle Gordon, the multi-talented New York-based comedian, actor, writer, and improviser, is once again turning heads with the release of “Ugliest Girl on the Beach” featuring Antonio Frankfurt.
“Ugliest Girl On The Beach” is not only a hilarious parody but also a window into Gordon’s unique creative universe. His upcoming album, KyleGordonIsGreat, is a collection of musical genre parodies, each featuring different characters Gordon has created. The debut hit single, “Planet of the Bass” featuring DJ Crazy Times and Ms. Biljana Electronica, already went viral with over 5.5 million streams and 250 million views across social media platforms.
“Ugliest Girl On The Beach” is a delightful parody of early 1960s Bossa Nova, humorously poking fun at luminaries of the genre like Antonio Carlos Jobim and Frank Sinatra. The song also marks the introduction of Gordon’s new character, Antonio Frankfurt, an artist from Germany who relocated to Brazil in 1945. In the early 1960s, Antonio Frankfurt made a name for himself performing in nightclubs and bars in his hometown of Praia de Pipa, quickly gaining a reputation as one of the most passionate musicians in Brazil. Interestingly, this single, recorded in 1963 at the legendary Miami jazz club, The Sapphire Lounge, is actually an English-language rendition of his original Brazilian hit, A Mulher Nojenta.
The album itself is a cleverly constructed journey through various musical genres (not just bossa nova) with interstitial fake radio broadcasts tying it all together. Gordon explains,
“This album is the culmination of years of work – writing and testing these songs in front of hundreds of audiences. So in many ways, this first album is kind of like a collection of my greatest hits. I titled the album Kyle Gordon Is Great, and to me, great comedy is a) unique, b) accessible, and c) most importantly, really, really funny. My goal on this album was to make great comedy music!”
Kyle Gordon
Kyle Gordon’s debut album, Kyle GordonIs Great, will be available on November 10 via BMG. In the meantime, be sure to catch him live as he embarks on US and UK tour dates this fall.
Tour Dates and Ticket Information
UK Dates:
10/26 – London, England @ Leicester Square Theatre
Get ready to laugh, groove, and appreciate the art of parody when Kyle Gordon Is Great drops on November 10. Until then, enjoy the catchy hilarity of “Ugliest Girl on the Beach” and mark your calendars for his upcoming tour dates.
Kyle Gordon – Ugliest Girl On The Beach (feat. Antonio Frankfurt)
