Runaway New York, a fashion and lifestyle brand based out of the Big Apple, is presenting an exclusive event titled Open ‘Til Midnight at Brooklyn’s Public Records on December 11. Featuring performances by Balu Brigada and Carlo Redl, the night will celebrate Runaway New York’s 5-year anniversary in their hometown.
Based in major cities such as Paris, Miami, London, Tokyo, and originally New York, Runaway New York is a fashion and lifestyle brand created by Jagger Walk. Committed to making an impact on their community, Runaway New York has worked alongside NYC’s City Meals On Wheels, delivering meals to elderly residents, and El Paso, TX’s Annunciation House, providing support to refugees and immigrants. Known for their statement loungewear, the brand is returning home for their 5-year anniversary this December.
Balu Brigada will make an appearance at the event, performing to support their upcoming EP Find A Way. The New Zealand-born alt-pop duo relocated to New York in 2022 after signing with Atlantic Records, and recently was crowned Best New Artist by People Magazine.
Carlo Redl will also perform, showcasing his talents likened to that of John Mayer, with a R&B twist. Earning the #1 song in Japan at age 21, he splits time between Miami and Tokyo as an upcoming singer-songwriter.
Runaway New York will celebrate their 5-year anniversary at Public Records in Brooklyn on December 11 at 7PM. With drinks, music, and opportunities to browse exclusive Runaway New York clothing, the night will bring together music, fashion, and community.
In a groundbreaking announcement, producers Mara Isaacs, Dale Franzen, Hunter Arnold, and Tom Kirdahy revealed that Grammy Award®-winning music icon Ani DiFranco will embark on her Broadway debut as ‘Persephone’ in the Tony® and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical, Hadestown, at the Walter Kerr Theatre starting February 9, 2024.
DiFranco’s association with Hadestown dates back to 2010 when she extended an invitation to Anaïs Mitchell to release the original studio album on DiFranco’s label, Righteous Babe Records. Having originated the role of ‘Persephone’ on the album, DiFranco’s return to the character marks a significant moment in the evolution of the show.
Expressing her excitement, Ani DiFranco stated, “I could not be more thrilled to be joining the cast of Hadestown. It’s like I get to rewind to my New York youth and follow the road not taken.”
Mitchell added, “I can’t really overstate the influence of Ani’s music and example on me as a young songwriter. Poetic, bold, radically emotive and FUN, she simply has been a mythic figure in my life, and I can’t think of anything more beautifully full circle than Ani playing the role of ‘Persephone’ on Broadway. Grateful and awestruck.”
Widely acknowledged as a feminist icon, Ani DiFranco pioneered the DIY movement, establishing her own record label in 1990. Beyond her reputation as the “Little Folksinger,” her music spans genres from punk and funk to hip hop and jazz. Her recent works include the 2021 album Revolutionary Love and the 25th-anniversary reissue of Little Plastic Castle in June 2023, both released on her label Righteous Babe Records. In addition to her musical endeavors, her memoir No Walls and the Recurring Dream became a New York Times Top 10 best seller in May 2019, and she recently released her debut children’s book, The Knowing.
Hadestown’s current cast features Betty Who as Persephone (through February 4), Jordan Fisher as Orpheus, Tony Award winner Lillias White as Hermes, Phillip Boykin as Hades, and Solea Pfeiffer as Eurydice. The production, with its unique blend of modern American folk music and New Orleans-inspired jazz, has earned critical acclaim for reimagining the ancient tale and providing audiences with a captivating theatrical experience.
In addition to her musical achievements, Ani DiFranco has left an indelible mark in her hometown of Buffalo. Renaming the 19th-century Gothic church she bought and renovated, the venue, originally dubbed The Church, is now known as Babeville. This multifaceted space houses her music label, Righteous Babe Records, and the Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center. A proud Buffalo native, DiFranco continues to contribute to the cultural vibrancy of her hometown.
Tickets for Hadestown are available at www.seatgeek.com/hadestown-tickets or by visiting the Walter Kerr Theatre box office. Don’t miss the chance to witness Ani DiFranco’s Broadway debut in this transformative and resonant production.
Big Something, the North Carolina-based rock group, have unveiled their seventh studio album, Headspace, along with a nationwide tour spanning from December through May 2024 with stops in Buffalo and NYC along its extensive run. The album is a radiant 12-track exploration of alternative, jazz, funk, and metal influences.
Highlights on the album include tracks such as “The Mountain” and “Amanda Lynn”, which show the full, skilled arrangement of the band’s work, and their confidence as a unit. Many of the songs boast 6+ minute run times, and Big Something makes statements with their creative use of sound effects and rhythms.
A standout track, “Kings of the Wild Frontier,” remembers Johnny Cash-like rhythms and spoken word, and takes a stance as a self-aware, fantastical story about the band itself. They even throw in a Bowie cover with “Moonage Daydream,” paying a punchy, energetic tribute to one of rock’s biggest idols. All in all, the album is a powerful, confident collection.
Photo Credit: Rob Roane
Celebrating the release of the band’s new album, they will embark on a nationwide tour beginning in December. The tour spans over 40 cities, through the next six months. New York dates include April 12 at Iron Works in Buffalo, and May 10 at Brooklyn Made in NYC.
There are so many special things about this album for us. It’s both a requiem and a rebirth for us as a band. Honoring old friends, welcoming new ones and growing even closer together as musicians and brothers in the process.”
Nick MacDaniels
Big Something released their debut album in 2010, and have since crafted a personal blend of alternative rock, electronica, jazz, and metal. After the tragic passing of collaborator Paul Interdonato in 2017, Big Something finished Headspace in honor of him. The majority of the lyrics on Headspace were penned by Interdonato.
Big Something will play shows at Iron Works in Buffalo, NY on April 12, and at Brooklyn Made in NYC on May 10. Tickets for the band’s upcoming tour are available here.
New York indie pop punk label, Manic Kat Records is bringing the gift of pop punk, rock, emo and alternative to NYC with it’s annual holiday celebration A Very Merry Punxmas at The Bowery Electric on Saturday, December 16.
A Very Merry Punxmas will feature sets from Todd Morse, The Lucky, Just Happy To Be Here, Triple Word Score, A New Violet and Cult Classic, with more special guests and surprise announcements to follow in the coming weeks. The artists include a versatile roster from alternative, rock, punk, and metal producing a unique curated lineup, highlighting bands known for their dynamic performances, raw talent and unapologetic realness.
Manic Kat Records encourages a thriving hub for emerging talent fueling the underground scene, pushing artists to new heights and authenticity in music, keeping the punk spirit ignited.
This years event is presented by NYC staple, 7 Crown, along with Glass Fun, the first platform that helps you earn exclusive rewards and experiences from your favorite brands and Boston America, manufacturer/distributor of creative and fun products to the gift and novelty market. The doors for the long awaited holiday performance open at 5:30pm with the final act wrapping up at 11pm, followed by the exclusive after party for VIP guests.
“We love our local scene, but we felt this year to better accommodate the talent coming in from all over the country, it would be easier to hold the event at the crossroads of the world, New York City.”
– Founder/CEO of Manic Kat Records, Peter James
The annual holiday festivities tradition will be breaking down traditional expectations for holiday music at The Bowery Electric. This December, come feel the energy of mean, green punk-rock revival for yourself and don’t miss out on this unforgettable show. For more information please visit here.
Just days before Thanksgiving on November 21, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening touched down at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, to fill the 97-year-old theater with the sweet sounds of the mighty Led Zeppelin. Bonham has a string of dates left for the rest of the year with the next show being Wednesday, November 22, in Syracuse and the final show being December 3, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Bonham is the son of the original drummer for Led Zeppelin, John Bonham who drummed for the Led Zeppelin until his passing in 1980. In addition to Jason Bonham, the JBLZE consists of “Mr. Jimmy” Sakurai on guitar, Dorian Heartsong on bass, Alex Howland on keyboards and guitar with James Dylan on lead vocals.
A little past 8pm, the house lights dimmed and the band, under the cover of darkness jumped on stage and blasted into “Immigrant Song” from Led Zeppelin’s 1970 album, Led Zeppelin III. With a thunderous cheer, the fans jumped to their feet with the help of Sakurai’s Les Paul guitar and took in the closet version of the original Led Zeppelin.
With only a backdrop of the Houses of the Holy album cover and a few stage lights, the band didn’t need anything fancy as the music did all the talking. Sakurai imitated Jimmy Page the best he could while the band was on par and played Zeppelin’s recordings and live songs note for note. Whether it was a song or an extended solo, the band was tight as they jammed away for the two hours they graced the stage.
Fans who closed their eyes during the show might have originally thought that they were listening to Zeppelin’s The Song Remains the Same or How the West Was Won live albums, or better than that, listening to Led Zeppelin at one of their famous Madison Square Garden shows. From the sound of their instruments to Dylan’s vocals was spot on. The sheer energy from Bonham’s drums that matched Dylan’s shrieking voice put big smiles on the audience’s faces. In addition, some fans were left in awe as Sakurai looks somewhat similar to an older version of Page which adds to the overall experience.
Bonham during the show went on to explain that this project started 14 years ago as a one-off tour and now has since grown into yearly touring due to the fan’s love for Led Zeppelin’s music. This is true due to all the generations of fans that attended. As the clock began to tick towards show time, the hall was somewhat empty until with a few minutes left, all the fans rushed to their seats to bear witness to the band that belted out some of their favorite tunes.
During the set, JBLZE delivered tons of fan-favorite songs like “Ramble On,” “The Ocean,” and “Kashmir.” As fans were still finding their seats, they couldn’t contain themselves as they were fist-pumping, singing along, and conducting their best version of Page on their air guitars as they were walking down the aisles.
Throughout the night, Bonham took time in between songs to talk to the audience and tell stories about his childhood and growing up as the son of the famous “Bonzo.” At one point towards the end of the show, Bonham led the audience in a rendition of the classic John Denver song, “Take Me Home, Country Roads” which had the entire audience on their feet, singing along.
As fans exited the Capitol Theatre to the rain that waited for them outside, some might have initially thought of Zeppelin’s “Rain Song,” as they shared smiles with the people that they came with knowing that even though it isn’t the original version of the band they once loved, they went home knowing that a close version of the mighty Zeppelin has taken off once again.
Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening – The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester – Tuesday, November 21
Setlist: Immigrant Song, Good Times Bad Times, The Wanton Song, Over the Hills and Far Away, Ramble on, What Is and What Should Never Be, When the Levee Breaks, Thank You, Since I’ve Been Loving You, How Many More Times, The Ocean, Misty Mountain Hop, Kashmir, Stairway to Heaven, Whole Lotta Love, Rock and Roll
Hip hop purists can rejoice as Czarface, one the genre’s most creative outfits, returns with Czartifical Intelligence. This hip hop supergroup, consisting of Wu Tang Clan’s Inspectah Deck and Boston underground hip hop acts Esoteric and 7L, bring fans along on an abstract journey where cosmic hip hop, boom bap and comic book culture all intersect. Since their debut in 2013, the like-minded outfit has seen their “Czarface” centered music-verse expand beyond their wildest dreams.
Czarface. From left to right (Esoteric, 7L, Inpectah Deck). Photo by Billy X.
In fact, collaborations with other colorful and imaginative MC’s the likes of MF Doom, Ghostface Killah, Roc Marciano, Conway the Machine, Mayhem Lauren, Method Man, Action Bronson, Vinnie Paz, Frankie Pulitzer and GZA have earned the group and series a cult-following. Chiefly, through intricate verses and captivating production, Czar and their guests — who accompany Czarface on missions and side-quests — have created a fruitful series of tapes with hundreds of merch drops including limited edition comics, apparel, action figures, art, shoes, and more featuring artwork illustrated by Lamour Supreme. Additionally, the group contributed the songs “Good Guys, Bad Guys” and “Today’s Special” to the soundtrack for the Marvel movie, Venom: Let There Be Carnage.
The album cover for Czarface’s latest project “Czartificial Intelligence”
Czartificial Intelligence
The new album comes equipped with chaos, order and everything in between. It’s like a swirling vortex of cosmic carnage, but we bring it down to earth in places. We are, after all, in a new era. I hope what we made resonates with the people.
– Esoteric
The new album consists of 10- track and continues Czarface’s exploration of various themes along with similarly cutting-edge and technically proficient bars. Czartificial Intelligence features Logic, Kool Keith, Nems, Frankie Pulitzer and is set for release on December 1.
The John Scofield Trio, featuring Vicente Archer & Bill Stewart, began their residency at The Blue Note in NYC on Tuesday, November 21.
A three-time Grammy winner, Scofield has recently released Uncle John’s Band (ECM), featuring Vicente Archer and Bill Stewart tackling material from Dylan’s “Mr Tambourine Man” to Neil Young’s “Old Man”, Leonard Bernstein’s “Somewhere” and Miles Davis classic “Budo.”
While there has been a John Scofield Trio at play since the late 70’s, remaining his undisputed favorite format for live performance, this newest incarnation has Scofield on guitar, bassist Vicente Archer, and drummer Bill Stewart, sailing through tightly knit sets that typify the musical diversity that has colored Scofield’s long career.
There are two shows a night during this current John Scofield Trio residency at The Blue Note NYC, through November 26. Tickets and more info can be found here.
Brooklyn-based rock band ‘The Sees’ performed at The Bowery Electric on Wednesday, November 15,to celebrate their latest album release entitled ConversationsWithMyFutureSelf.
‘The Sees’ have established themselves to capture the essence of life and humanity within their songs. The band includes frontman Jamie DiTringo, bassist Alex Daly, drummer Tim O’Brien and keyboardist Yoni Wilkenfeld. Their music has become a reminder to make the most of the time we do have and not be afraid to confront the harsh realities of it running out.
The Bowery Electric was the perfect venue for a night of rock and roll, with a bar in the back and an intimate standing room allowing show goers to get personal with the band and enjoy their hypnotic pulse of synth sounds, strong drum beat accentuated with electric and bass guitar. The show on this Wednesday night, included three bands, Smoke Break, Newborn Kings and finished off strong with The Sees album release performance.
The album explores a connective sense of global reflection, the nuances of time and the effects it has on us by always slipping away, the concept record tells its story through captivating rhythms and styles that push the boundaries of genre while exploring fresh perspectives. Stitched together by standout guitar riffs and a whirlwind of sonic textures, the group makes a noteworthy entrance onto the scene with this genre blend, encouraging listeners to not only connect deeper with the world, but ourselves.
“We hope that everyone who listens to the record can sit back, take it in, and recognize that while we are here on this mortal coil, we must take a moment to find space for positivity and love. Even with the world in chaos, we can always choose love.“
– Jamie DiTringo
In its entirety, the album crafts a thought-provoking musical experience, taking listeners on a profound ride through various facets of the human experience. The group of four interacted with the crowd and created a truly accomplished sound that left friends, family and fans excited for the future of their music ahead of them.
Frog, a band made up of musically-talented brothers Daniel and Steve Bateman, have released their folksy single “New Ro”– a bittersweet love letter to their hometown New Rochelle.
Frog’s upcoming album, Grog, is an eclectic and creative LP showcasing both of the brothers’ musical talents, and how they’re even stronger together. Preceding their album is a series of singles, including their newest, “New Ro.”
This single is another wild left turn from the unpredictable duo, following “Black on Black on Black” (sounding like a Jonathan Richman attempt at a Hall & Oates banger) and “Maybelline” (a song which was formed in a dream, as screamed by Bruce Springsteen), which was featured by Pitchfork, Stereogum and has reached #2 in the Hype Machine Popular Nowchart. “New Ro” is a bittersweet love letter to the brothers’ hometown, New Rochelle, New York.
I don’t know if there’s relevant subtext for ‘New Ro,’ besides the obvious–Steve and I both grew up in New Rochelle, we went to New Rochelle High School, we recorded the entire album at our mom’s house in New Rochelle, we’re New Ro boys. The town’s got a lot of charm, if you know where to look. Some years ago they changed the tagline of the city from ‘Queen City of the Sound’, which ruled, to ‘Ideally Yours’, which…I’m not even sure what that is. There’s signs everywhere saying: ‘New Rochelle, Ideally Yours.’
Daniel Bateman, Frog
“New Ro” is a funky tune that is the embodiment of the good vibes of Kermit The Frog, which certainly works in their favor. It also has elements of “I Will Wait” by Mumford & Sons because of the fast, upbeat rhythm and acoustic backup.
The vocals are particularly striking, as a couple minutes into the track, they go into a very high register– and pull it off.
While a nostalgic song, the lyrics don’t hide anything: they delve into the good and bad of Frog’s home town, and that makes it all the more realistic and vivid. “…Take me home, north on the Anne Hutchinson // Through the Bronx, back to the place where we’re from // Where the girls they put out in a car // And the waitresses all got a scar // New Rochelle New York…”
New Rochelle should really consider changing their tagline from “Ideally Yours” to one lyric of Frog’s: “Take me home,” as it doesn’t sound like an ‘ideal’ home (does one really exist?), but it’s certainly their home nonetheless– and they love it regardless of whatever unideal aspects come with it.
Frog’s album launch of Grog will take place on the record’s release date (November 17) with a performance at YoFi Fest 11 in Yonkers, New York. This live show will be accompanied by a screening of their “Kings of Blah” UK tour documentary.
On Saturday, November 19, Eggy delivered an electric performance to a euphoric, sold out crowd at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg. Before the show started, fans lined up braving the cold in anticipation as attendee hopefuls threw the classic sole finger in the air aiming for a miracle.Â
Hailing from Woodbridge, CT, Eggy have previously played the infamous venue opening for The Kitchen Dwellers in April early this year. They now return as headliners, accompanied by the indispensable Stolen Gin as the opening act. Currently in the middle of their fall east coast leg of the tour, Eggy has risen to prominence in the last few years, playing all around the country in over 40 states since 2019.
The night commenced to an ominous atmospheric ambience, a prelude to the energy that would soon surge through the venue. The band consists of Jake Brownstein on guitar and vocals, Dani Battat on keys and vocals, Mike Goodman on Bass and vocals, and Alex Bailey on drums and vocals. If live music is akin to flying and landing an airplane, this quartet of close knit friends from high school proves worthy pilots. The chemistry between the group resonated resoundingly through the capped out venue, as they guided the audience through an extraordinary musical experience.
Eggy’s sound, a fusion of catchy hooks, melodic interludes and psychedelic jams showcased their ability to carve out a distinct niche in a crowded field of emerging artists. A true highlight of the night was when guitarist Jake Brownstein was concluding a high energy jam, turned his instrument horizontal and pointed it at his bandmate on the keys. As the momentum came to a conclusion, and the final note hit, his guitar turned imaginary gun fired at Dani knocking him to the ground. After a long pause, crawling back up, he grabbed the mic and said, “Missed me” to which the audience roared in laughter.
For New York fans who missed this show and want to catch the next one, they are returning to Brooklyn Bowl early next year on April 24th, 2024! Tickets are on sale now.
Eggy – Brooklyn Bowl, Williamsburg – Saturday, November 17. 2023
Setlist: 12 Pounds of Pain > Come Up Slow, One Stop Shop, A Moments Notice, Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me) > All Wheels Turnin’, Sweat Equity, Turn That Heartbeat Over Again, Time Escaping, Smile Encore: Wayless
