Category: NYC Metro

Lincoln Center Announces Schedule for Annual ‘American Songbook’ Events

Lincoln Center has announced the schedule for its annual American Songbook: A Place You Belong performances, giving today’s brightest vocal talents the chance to shine in styles ranging from country to rock, from bluegrass to jazz, and more.

Lincoln Center at The Allen Room.

New York City isn’t just one place, it has five boroughs, thousands of distinctive communities with unique cultures, and hundreds of neighborhoods. Within these areas are dance clubs and music halls where we can sing, laugh, and dream about the future of life together. American Songbook: A Place You Belong presents American singers, songwriters, and composers in intimate concerts at The Allen Room and others in Lincoln Center, resurrecting old NYC long-lost performance spaces and dance clubs. Co-conceived by George C. Wolfe, this year’s theme explores themes of belonging and discovery, embodying the spirit of iconic New York City venues which paved the way for legendary artists.

Venues like the Palladium Ballroom, Paradise Garage, the Savoy Ballroom, and Café Society all have historical significance to the city and are showcased during these performances. The Palladium Ballroom was home to the mambo craze in the 1940s and ’50s and created a welcoming oasis where New Yorkers of all races, ethnicities and social classes could dance the night away. Paradise Garage was Soho’s gay underground dance haven in the 1970s and ‘80s, creating a safe space for the queer community. It was the place to connect with others through dance, to lose yourself in the music, and to find yourself along the way.

Portrait of Dizzy Gillespie, New York, N.Y., between 1946 and 1948, from Lincoln Center.

The Savoy Ballroom was one of the first integrated ballrooms in the country, operating from the 1920s to the ‘50s in Harlem. It was home to the Lindy Hop, and those who went danced to the best swinging big bands of the era and swayed to the vocals of Ella Fitzgerald, Chick Webb, Dizzy Gillespie, and more. Café Society was one of the first racially integrated nightclubs in North America, tucked away in Greenwich Village. It was where Billie Holiday first sang the protest song “Strange Fruit,” and many soon-to-be stars sang there, including Lena Horne, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and more.

Events

American Songbook: A Place You Belong kicks off April 1 in David Geffen Hall, NYC’s newest cultural hub, with singer-songwriter Nathaniel Rateliff, performing along with his orchestra Harry Nilsson’s 1973 LP A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night from start to finish on its 50th anniversary. Next in David Geffen Hall on April 8, Academy Award winner and Tony-nominated actress, singer, and dancer Ariana DeBose debuts an original solo concert, Authenticity. It will showcase her musical influences, including Judy Garland, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ray Charles, and ABBA, and her dynamic voice.

In honor of Café Society’s impact, The Appel Room plays host to three nights of cabaret from April 5-7 led by house band the Matt Ray Trio, featuring performances from Rizo and comedian Ikechukwu Ufomadu, Grammy-nominated R&B artist and Broadway star Mykal Kilgore and comedian Aminah Imani, and singer-songwriter Raye Zaragoza and comedian Jordan Carlos, each night ending with a special guest performing Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit.” You can choose what you pay for the evening.

In honor of the Paradise Garage, on April 14, queer-owned Brooklyn venue C’mon Everybody reimagines the venue in a free one-night dance party blowout at the David Rubenstein Atrium with a set from DJ Samuella, hip hop drag provocateurs The Dragon Sisters and disco, funk duo The Illustrious Blacks. On April 20, the spirit of the Savoy Ballroom comes to the Atrium with jazz vocalist Charles Turner & Uptown Swing and The Eyal Vilner Swing Band. The audience is welcomed to the dance floor by professional Savoy swing Lindy Hoppers from choreographer Caleb Teicher’s SW!NG OUT, all for free.

Closing out the American Songbook series is a free event on April 21, a tribute to The Palladium Ballroom and the mambo craze that started there with Tito Rodríguez, Jr., one of the leading timbaleros and bandleaders of salsa and Latin Jazz.

The events on April 1 and April 8 at the American Songbook: A Place You Belong require tickets to view the performances, for more information and to purchase tickets, go here.

February 24, 2023
Underground System Announce New EP & Share Indie-Dance Video for “Sleazy”

Brooklyn‘s indie-dance band Underground System have just announced their new EP Looking In, out on April 17^th. Along with this, they have also released an iconic music video for their song “Sleazy” which embodies NYC in a psychedelic nutshell.

The band’s EP Looking In is the second in a series of two. Of the song inspiration, Domenica explains to Northern Transmissions, “This song is about having a spontaneous night with strangers. Doesn’t necessarily mean in the romantic sense. Just a night where you’re out on the town feeling alone (not lonely just alone) in a big ass city, but then meeting one or two people, instantly hitting it off, and next thing you know, you’re having a nocturnal adventure until sunrise.”

“The music video we made for ‘Sleazy’ with our friend Chris Egan is the cherry on top,” says the group’s co-leader Peter Matson. “…We ran around the city for many nights in a row filming at golden hour, and the crown jewel of the whole shoot… when we finally got a hold of a very elusive party limo that once returned me and several passed out friends from a DJ gig at the nightclub LeBain to our homes in BK… It just all made sense for “Sleazy.”

Underground System is one of the most dynamic bands to emerge from New York City in recent years, continuously innovating a brand of global dance music that is uniquely their own. Domenica Fossati, headman of the group, cites “A true New York eclecticism” running through the band’s core. If you’ve crossed paths with Underground System, then you’ve witnessed the group’s larger than life presence.

The band had described “a natural synthesis of styles” being born out of their journey from humble beginnings performing rare grooves and DJing bars around Brooklyn, to the development of an authentically original, internationally touring indie-dance band.

Whether political philosopher Emma Goldman actually said, “If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution,” or not is still up for debate, there’s no doubt that New York City’s Underground System wholly embodies that vibe”
– Remezcla

To watch the video for “Sleazy,” click the link here. For more of Underground System, click the link here.

February 23, 2023
A Boogie Releases Video Performance for ‘Secrets’

On the heels of his latest studio album, Me Vs Myself, A Boogie wit da Hoodie has teamed up wit Vevo for a performance video of his song “Secrets” as part of the music video network’s Ctrl series. Vevo’s Ctrl series highlights the work of hard-hitting, cutting-edge musicians making an impact in today’s music scene – both emerging and established. A Boogie’s performances follow sessions from Rick Ross, Common, Push T, Fat Joe, Jeezy, Jadakiss, Fabolous, A$AP Ferg and more. The Bronx native also previously worked with Vevo in 2015 for two “Live at Vevo” sessions featuring “Drowning” and “The Bigger Artist.”

As for this latest video performance, A boogie maintains his melodic fervor as he expounds on dealing with fame and status. The maturity in tone, subject matter and music choice is evident in-between his Vevo live performances. However, his nonchalant flows, memorable hooks, trap beats that make plenty of room for melody, and the occasional hint of R&B smoothness are all still part of the A Boogie package that have kept him as a major label star for nearly a decade.

In 2022, Boogie continued his commercial hot streak as many hit-records spawned from 2020’s Artist 2.0 and Me vs. Myself. In addition, Boogie handled some of the production on Me vs. Myself. Consequently, the album debuted in the Top Ten of the Billboard charts.

February 23, 2023
Hearing Aide: Tomer Cohen Showcases Original Approach to Jazz Guitar with Debut “Not the Same River”

A recent import to New York’s forever evolving jazz scene, 25-year-old guitarist-composer Tomer Cohen notches a notable debut with his album, Not the Same River (Hypnote Records). It’s a collection that showcases not only an originality of compositional approach, but a distinctive, fingerstyle and folk shaded playing technique that could one day launch him into the upper reaches of the jazz guitar strata.

The album title, Cohen explains in the press release, relates to an expression by the Greek philosopher Heraclitus: No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man. “That’s the sentence that encompasses all the compositions on the album,” Cohen said. “We are constantly in motion, we’re always changing, and we just need to accept that.”

Cohen demonstrates his unique fingerstyle-and-pick technique on eight thoughtful compositions reflecting his pastoral upbringing, from age 4 to 21, on a kibbutz in Israel. “The kibbutz is located in the countryside and has a strong sense of community,” he recalled. “I used to play outside with my guitar, watching the fields and the blue sky. I believe some of that vibe is reflected in some of the tunes on this record.” The guitarist is expertly accompanied on this varied collection by the fluid drumming of Obed Calvaire (a current member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis) and the rootsy grooves and frequent soloing of bassist Matt Penman (formerly with the SFJAZZ Collective).

Critics have made smart comparisons of Cohen to players like Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell, influences acknowledged by the guitarist, but I may hear even more of the late, great Mick Goodrick in his style.

For those not in the know, though Goodrick recorded with the likes of Gary Burton, Jim Hall, Charlie Haden and many more, he may be better known as the Berklee School of Music educator who nurtured Frisell, John Scofield, Mike Stern, Julian Lage and many more of today’s leading jazz guitarists. Goodrick also authored a key educational primer for practicing guitarists, jazz and otherwise, The Advancing Guitarist. Like Goodrick, young Cohen is quickly becoming a master of subtly weaving chords and melody, and in serving up expected harmonic turns in his solos and compositions. Collectively, his trio are musicians who are doing some serious listening as they play, err more appropriately interplay. There’s nothing rote or cliched to be found in these grooves, which are expertly recorded and mastered. It’s a music of the mind that never sacrifices the passion and soulfulness.

Cohen’s unique technique is apparent right from the album opener, the title track, “Not the Same River.” There’s a boatload of Metheny’s “As Wichita Falls” to be found in this pastoral composition and in the appropriately titled “Pastures.” The latter is a more energetic number fueled by some knotty single note soloing from the guitarist and one of bassist Penman’s many solos of the album. Penman also stands out on “First Lap.” He kicks this off with an unaccompanied solo before its moves into a chill melody and chordal workout from Cohen. Drummer Calvaire steals the show with a thundering solo on both the opening and the outro of “Connecting the Dots.” Calvaire again gets the chance to show his range and power, and Cohen his remarkable chops as a technician and composer, on my favorite track on the album, the time-shifting, melodically tricky “Probably More Than Two.”

With his fingerpicked chord and melody stylings, it would be interesting to hear Cohen record an unaccompanied solo disc. We get a taste of what that might sound like when his rhythm section drops out for a time in the middle of “Empty?”

February 23, 2023
Baked Shrimp Announce Spring East Coast Tour

Long Island Funk trio Baked Shrimp has announced their upcoming Spring Tour, taking place this March and April across the East Coast.

Since forming in 2017, the high-octane power funk trio Baked Shrimp has become a top up-and-coming artist in the festival circuit. The energetic and improvisational young talents of Jared Cowen (Guitar/Vocals), Scott Reill (Bass/Vocals), and Jager Soss (Drums/Vocals) from Long Island, NY have built a catalog of over 150 original songs which they cycle through night after night, making every performance unique from the last.

The band is coming off a groundbreaking 2022 in which they performed over 120 concerts covering nearly half the United States, as well as a debut performance in Canada. Baked Shrimp has provided direct support for artists such as the Disco Biscuits, Pink Talking Fish, Aqueous, Mihali , Kung Fu, Consider the Source, and more. Baked Shrimp is also quickly climbing higher on major festival lineups including Peach Music Festival, Summer Camp Music Festival, Great South Bay Music Festival, Adirondack Independence Music Festival, Catskill Mountain Jubilee, and even host their own festival in Upstate New York called LonCon.

Baked Shrimp founded LonCon in 2021 following the passing of their most loyal supporter and ambassador, Lon “Conscious” Gellman. The inaugural festival featuring live music, art, and two nights of camping took place in August of 2021 at legendary Arrowhead Ranch in Parksville, NY. After a year off in 2022, the band looks forward to the return of LonCon in 2023.

Despite Baked Shrimp’s very intense touring schedule, the trio has managed to find time to consistently release new music. The band’s 2021 release of Conscious received high praise by media outlets such as LiveForLiveMusic, Grateful Web, The Sound Podcast with Ira Haberman, and more. After a quick release of a three-disc live album The Prawno Tapes, Vol. 1, Baked Shrimp went back into the studio to finish their early-2022 release Pork Etiquette. The trio is scheduled to head into the studio once again in early 2023 to lay the groundwork for their fourth studio album.

Tickets are on sale now. For more information, please visit the bands website.

BAKED SHRIMP SPRING TOUR 2023:

03/17 – The Deep End – Frostburg, MD
03/18 – Clementine – Harrisonburg, VA
03/19 – The Southern Cafe and Music Hall – Charlottesville, VA
03/21 – 123 Pleasant Street – Morgantown, WV w/ Velvet Rutt
03/22 – Buffalo Iron Works – Buffalo, NY w/ Orange Corner
03/24 – Funk ‘n Waffles Syracuse – Syracuse, NY w/ RootsCollider
03/25 – Nectar’s – Burlington, VT w/ Squeaky Feet
03/26 – Pickle Barrel Nightclub – Killington, VT
03/31 – Stella Blues – New Haven, CT
04/01 – TheDrake – Amherst, MA w/ Shantyman
04/02 – Electric Haze – Worcester, MA w/ Zigmont
04/07 – Rockwood Music Hall – New York, NY
04/08 – Ardmore Music Hall – Ardmore, PA w/ Aqueous 04/19 – Putnam Place – Saratoga Springs, NY w/ Dopapod 04/21 – Park City Music Hall – Bridgeport, CT w/ Brandon “Taz” Niederauer

February 22, 2023
In Focus: Stephen Sanchez, Live at Irving Plaza

Stephen Sanchez, with opener Kings Elliot, made a stop at Irving Plaza on Thursday, February 16th for his show in New York during his Fall Tour. Sanchez, with his snazzy suit and southern charm, fully entranced the audience with his stellar vocals and rock star performance.

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Stephen Sanchez is a 20-year-old Tennessee-based musician who’s been constantly on the rise. In June 2020, Sanchez posted a cover of Cage the Elephant’s “Cigarette Daydreams” on TikTok and he built an audience through a steady stream of content. After sharing a snippet of his song “Lady by the Sea”, singer-songwriter Jeremy Zucker reached out and offered to produce the official version, which was released in July 2020 and resulted in Sanchez signing a deal with Republic Records.

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Kings Elliot is a blue-haired Swiss rockstar now based in London. Musically, the singer draws inspiration from the wistfully melancholic melodies of the ’40s and ’50s, blending these soothing harmonies with her own tumultuous lyrics. She has a knack for creating hauntingly beautiful and devastating songs that sound uniquely current, yet timeless with her out-of-this-world vocals.

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Kings opened the show with a bang by launching into her hits “I’m Getting Tired of Me” and “Ashes by the Morning”, belting out these bangers to all her adoring fans. With support from Garrett Schwenk on keys, the entire performance was one to remember.

Kings Elliot Setlist: I’m Getting Tired of Me, Cry Baby Cry, ‘Till I Die, The Outsider, Ashes by the Morning, Lost Again, Call Me A Dreamer

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

When Stephen finally graced the stage, the crowd was warmed up and immediately went wild as Stephen started singing “Hey Girl”. Throughout the show, his enthusiasm and good vibes infected the crowd as he jumped around with his guitar, put on a birthday hat from a fan, and gave his “single bassist” Jesse Houle a shoutout. There was a moment near the end of the show when he sang his, arguably most famous song, “Until I Found You” when Stephen became emotional. The crowd shared in these feelings from the solid 3-minute ovation he received. As a stop on his first headline tour, Stephen brought the house down on the iconic venue.

Stephen Sanchez Setlist: Hey Girl, Hold Her While You Can, Kayla, Lady by the Sea, Please Don’t Go Home Yet, Mountain Peaks, See the Light, I Want You, The Pool, Evangeline, Only Girl (unreleased), To Stay (unreleased), Unchained Melody, Until I Found You, Amy & Mary [The Righteous Brothers cover]

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

In terms of upcoming shows, Kings Elliot will be performing with Stephen on this tour until Feb 26th in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Stephen will continue on the winter/spring leg of the tour all the way until March 17th, ending up in Vancouver, Canada. He’ll be returning to NYC during the fall portion of tour, hitting up Terminal 5 on December 2nd.

For more information or announcements for upcoming performances from either of these artists, check out their social media accounts.

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

February 22, 2023
Rodrigo y Gabriela Announce New Album and International Tour with a Stop at Kings Theatre

Grammy-winning guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela have announced their latest album, In Between Thoughts…A New World, and an international tour in support. The duo’s first album since 2019 is due for release on April 21. Their international tour is scheduled for a performance at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn on June 27.

Rodrigo y Gabriela’s latest album, In Between Thoughts…A New World

Rodrigo y Gabriela self-produced the album in their recording studio in Ixtapa, Mexico. The album’s debut single, “Descending To Nowhere,” is available now and can be heard below. The new album sees Rodrigo y Gabriela explore electronic and orchestral elements, a departure from their previous releases.

Rodrigo y Gabriela’s career spans more than two decades with, including the forthcoming In Between Thoughts…A New World, six studio albums. The duo’s first widely released album, re-Foc, debuted in 2002. Their sixth studio album comes after a period of spiritual awakening for Rodrigo y Gabriela.

While recovering from Covid in the fall of 2020, Rodrigo discovered the concept of non-dualism. According to the study of non-dualism, there is a “single, infinite, and indivisible reality, whose nature is pure consciousness, from which all objects and selves derive their apparently independent existence,”, says author/teacher Rupert Spira. When Rodrigo shared his feelings with Gabriela, she felt a similar epiphany, and they began channeling these feelings in song form. The music just started flowing out, without any real intention. We didn’t change the foundation of the songs from that point, so what you hear on the album is the music as we were creating it.”

In a testament to Rodrigo y Gabriela’s musicality, In Between Thoughts leads the listener through a complex narrative with a plot, emotional arcs, and dramatic tension.

Available exclusively at www.rodgab.com, the band is offering a deluxe version of the album on vinyl. Pre-orders are available now. Tickets for the international tour go on sale this Friday, Feb 17, and can be purchased here.

ODRIGO Y GABRIELA

TOUR 2023

+A Special Performance with Antonio Sanchez

*With support from Krooked Kings

^With support from Bahamas

⁰With support from Ondara

APRIL

24 – London, UK – Roundhouse

25 – Paris, FR – Bouffes Du Nord

26 – Paris, FR – Bouffes Du Nord

30 – Cheltenham, UK – Cheltenham Jazz Festival

MAY

18 – Houston, TX – Smart Financial Centre*

19 – Austin, TX – ACL Live At Moody Theatre*

20 – San Antonio, TX – The Espee*

21 – Dallas, TX – AT&T Strauss Square*

25 – Scottsdale, AZ – Scottsdale Center for the Arts*

26 – San Diego, CA – Humphreys Concerts By The Bay*+

27 – San Diego, CA – Humphreys Concerts By The Bay*+

JUNE

1 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theatre^+

2 – San Bernardino, CA – Yaamava’ Theater

3 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater^

4 – Sacramento, CA – Mondavi Center UC Davis^

7 – Portland, OR – Grand Lodge^

10 – Salt Lake City, UT – Sandy Amphitheater^

11 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre^+

13 – Minneapolis, MN – Fitzgerald Theatre

14 – Madison, WI – Orpheum Theater⁰

16 – Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre⁰

17 – Detroit, MI – Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre⁰

19 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium⁰

20 – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Symphony Hall⁰

22 – Durham, NC – Carolina Theatre⁰

23 – Wilmington, NC – Greenfield Lake Amphitheater⁰

25 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club⁰

27 – Brooklyn, NY – Kings Theatre⁰

28 – Philadelphia, PA – Longwood Gardens⁰

29 – Boston, MA – Chevalier Theatre⁰

JULY

1 – Montreal, QC – Montreal Jazz Fest, Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier | Place des Arts

2 – Niagara Falls, ON – Fallsview Casino Avalon Theatre

SEPTEMBER

25 – Hamburg, DE Mojo

26 – Berlin, DE Passionskirche

29 – Milan, IT – Santeria

30 – Bologna, IT – Estragon

OCTOBER

2 – Rome, IT – Auditorium Parco della Musica/Sala Sinopoli

5 – Oslo, NO – Rockefeller

7 – Stockholm, SE – Sodra Teatern

9 – Copenhagen, DK – Amager Bio

11 – Warsaw, PL – Palladium

16 – Dublin, IE – Vicar Street

17 – Belfast, UK – Mandela Hall

19 – Manchester, UK – Albert Hall

20 – Leeds, UK – O2 Academy

21 – Birmingham, UK – Town Hall

23 – London, UK – Palladium

25 – Lille, France – L’Aeronef

27 – Lausanne, CH – Théâtre de Beaulieu

29 – Utrecht, NL – Tivoli Vredenburg, Grote Zaal

30 – Brussels, BE – Cirque Royal

31 – Antwerp, BE – De Roma

NOVEMBER

2 – Nantes, FR – Stereolux

3 – Bordeaux, FR – Le Rocher De Palmer

5 – Toulouse, FR – Le Bikini

7 – Madrid, ES – Sala La Paqui

9 – Barcelona, ES – Razzmatazz 2

10 – Nimes, FR – Paloma

11 – Lyon, FR – Le Radiant

February 21, 2023
Daisy The Great Share Indie Pop Video For “I Don’t Wanna Fall”

NY-based indie pop band Daisy the Great have just released the music video for “I Don’t Wanna Fall” from their new album All You Need Is Time. To celebrate the album release, the band will embark on another nationwide tour as headliners. Daisy the Great’s All You Need Is Time Tour begins April 12th at Brighton Music Hall in Allston, MA, making their final destination at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Daisy the Great is an American indie pop band from Brooklyn led by Kelley Nicole Dugan and Mina Walker. The song “Record Player” from their debut album was released in August 2021, with additional verses and production performed by AJR. It went to number 6 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart.

The band stated, “The “I Don’t Wanna Fall” music video is a compilation of footage from our most recent tour. It follows us on the road, backstage and on stage at the shows. We chose to pair “I Don’t Wanna Fall” with this very sweet docu-style footage because it felt really heartwarming and also heartbreaking to watch us so happy and in our element, tied up with this song about the temporary nature of good things. It feels important to remember to really live in the joyful moment when you’re in it, because everything comes and goes. The song was initially about a romantic relationship, but it brought new importance to the music to recontextualize it using our relationship with our audience and with live music in general. We love touring and we are very lucky to have our first headline tour EVER coming up this spring!!! We’re so excited to play all over the US. We hope you love the video and can’t wait to see you on the road.”

Both Kelley Nicole Dugan and Mina Walker make folk-inflected indie rock together that spans a multitude of moods, capable of being clever, devastating, simultaneous pop to powerhouse balladry. The pair first met as acting majors at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts where they began co-writing a musical about a fictional band before realizing they could make it happen in real life and set out as Daisy the Great.

“Our music is generally pretty introspective, and we are often interested in the complexities or ironies we see within ourselves,” Dugan says. “That’s something we love about writing—you can say something small and delicate and true that maybe feels scary to say, but once you put it out there, it can turn into a comfort for anyone that might also be feeling that way.”

ALL YOU NEED IS TIME Tour Dates:

April 12 – Allston, MA – Brighton Music Hall

April 14 – Columbus, OH – The Basement

April 15 – Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen

April 17 – Minneapolis, MN – 7^th St. Entry

April 18 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theater

April 19 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court

April 21 – Portland, OR – Holocene

April 22 – Seattle, WA – Barboza

April 25 – San Francisco, CA – Café Du Nord

April 28 – Los Angeles, CA – The Echo

April 29 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues San Diego

May 2 – Dallas, TX – Dada Dallas

May 3 – Austin, TX – Antone’s

May 5 – New Orleans, LA – Gasa Gasa

May 6 – Atlanta, GA – Shaky Knees Festival

May 7 – Nashville, TN – The End

May 10 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore Philadelphia

May 11 – Washington, DC – Songbyrd Music House

May 12 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg

For details about the Daisy the Great, the upcoming tour, and ticket availability, please visit the link here.

February 21, 2023
Brandi Carlile delivers tour de force solo performance at The Capitol Theatre

In the midst of intimate “Special Solo Performance” dates that kicked off in Portland, Maine the day before Valentine’s Day, Brandi Carlile performed back-to-back sold out shows this past week at The Capitol Theatre (affectionately known as “The Cap”) located in the center of downtown Port Chester. I was one of 1,800 lucky participants to attend Friday night’s show on February 17, to witness her multi-genre talents, including folk rock, alternative country and Americana, firsthand.

To say Carlile has been busy lately is an understatement. She played Madison Square Garden this past October, was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live in December and just won her eighth and ninth Grammy Awards (out of 25 total nominations and seven from 2022 alone) for “Broken Horses” (Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song) at the 65^th award ceremony in Los Angeles earlier this month, a night on which she also executed a fierce version of said song.

At 6:30 pm sharp, doors to the historic venue constructed in 1926 opened to adoring Carlile fans that had been patiently waiting in a short line, but that could not wait any longer. However, with the show still nearly two hours away, most fans who had arrived early to the village known as the “Gateway to New England” were seen congregating at nearby restaurants. Not only to pass the time, but to escape the frigid temperatures that had dropped by more than 30 degrees from earlier the same afternoon, my wife and I opted for authentic Mexican cuisine right next door to The Cap, enjoying margaritas as Brandi Carlile tunes played over El Tio’s speakers.

Suddenly, as show time neared, throngs of patrons hurriedly began to file through the maze of security fencing outside of the main entrance and into the warm confines of the theatre’s lobby. Many fans headed straight for the merch table to purchase a t-shirt, hoodie or poster commemorating Carlile’s brief two-night residency, while others grabbed a drink before heading to their seat in the orchestra or upper balcony.

Running slightly behind schedule, the moment finally arrived as Carlile took the stage at 8:25 pm, from which she would not depart until more than two hours later. With more than two decades of singer-songwriter experience under her belt, the rural girl from Ravensdale, Washington was about to give her fans a career-spanning glimpse at her discography, performing at least one song from each of her seven studio albums. Sharply dressed as always, tonight in an arctic blue blazer and matching turtleneck with lime green slacks, Carlile “took it all in” for several moments as the crowd erupted before her.

Excitedly, Carlile addressed her adoring fans, “Yes! I knew the crowd was going to be like this! I did this solo tour to recover my artist’s self after the Grammys, which I will never stop being grateful for, or terrified by. But I knew that I was going to need these concerts so that I could come back into myself and come face to face with my lyrics and do something that really scares me, which this does.” Then, as guitar tech Claire Murphy handed Carlile a well-worn, vintage Gibson acoustic (one of four she would play in addition to two custom Collings), the festivities were officially underway.

The first of 20 offerings that Carlile bestowed upon the packed house was her very first song (“Follow”) from her very first self-titled release in 2005. Although the audience would be seated for majority of the show, they rose to their feet triumphantly at the conclusion of each and every song, beginning with this one. On an evening filled with deep cut tracks, the next song (the aforementioned “Broken Horses”) from her most recent studio album (2021’s In These Silent Days) would not be one of them. During the introduction to “Mama Werewolf,” another song from her seventh album, Carlile playfully addressed her two young daughters seated stage left in VIP boxes above. After the third song had ended, and it was now time to head back up the aisle with my camera to a standing room only perch at the rear of the house, I glanced at the beaming faces of fans as I strolled by. The next two songs presented by Carlile were “The Things I Regret” (The Firewatcher’s Daughter, 2015), and speaking of deep cuts, “I Will,” the seventh track from her third studio album (Give Up the Ghost) released in 2009.

Taking a seat at the piano for the first time of the night, which she taught herself to play (along with guitar) after dropping out of high school to pursue her dream of a career in music, Carlile introduced her next song by revealing “I don’t know any other way to do [“The Eye”] without the twins (songwriting brothers Phil and Tim Hanseroth who also reside in the band’s family as bass and guitar players, respectively) and a three-part harmony. Without them, the only thing that I can think to do, is to do it different.” During the course of the next twenty minutes, Carlile beautifully delivered the title track from 2007’s The Story and “The Mother” (By the Way, I Forgive You, 2018), sandwiched by the first of the night’s four covers, Tears for Fears’ “Mad World.” “The Mother” followed, also taken from her sixth studio album released in 2018, before Carlile was joined by wife Catherine for a glorious coupling of fan favorites comprising “I Belong to You” and “You and Me on the Rock.”

Before commencing their final song together, Tracy Chapman’s “The Promise,” Carlile imparted a humorous tale about a recent time when she and Catherine performed the same song during a vow renewal at Ellen DeGeneres’ house (which really looks more like a castle): “Just when I thought the ceremony was at the lesbian tipping point, we were at a campfire a half an hour later with Melissa Etheridge playing to all of us. I was like what the hell, this is amazing! The sun was setting. We drank non-alcoholic beer. A perfect lesbian moment [Catherine adds]. And I was like, I know how we can top this. Right now, we can sing Tracy Chapman. So, we did. We’re going to repeat that moment for you right now.”

As the set rolled on, the crowd continued to display its deep appreciation for Brandy Carlile, vigorously clapping in unison during the chorus to “Raise Hell” (the lone tune performed from Bear Creek) and then cheering wildly for the night’s third cover, Robyn’s “Call Your Girlfriend.” What followed next was the ‘wipe the tears from your eyes’ moment of the show when Carlile moved to the edge of the stage apron to perform an off-microphone, six-minute version of “Cannonball” (The Story, 2007) – a song that was not played the night before – with every audience member remaining dead silent to ensure Carlile’s voice could be heard throughout the entire venue.

As if we had not already witnessed greatness, the final quintet of songs showcased Carlile’s unreal vocal chops as she took to the piano again for a string of recent hits consisting of “Letter to the Past,” “Right on Time,” “The Joke” (with Carlile back on guitar) and “Party of One.” And on a night where love filled the air, the final number (Joni Mitchell’s “A Case of You”) of the epic show was a fitting nod to Carlile’s close friend and folk icon.

The final stop on Carlile’s intimate solo tour will be at the Durham Performing Arts Center in North Carolina this upcoming Wednesday, February 22. For those of you who missed her Port Chester shows, you will get another chance when she returns this summer touring in support of P!NK at Citi Field in Queens on August 3.

Brandi Carlile Setlist: Follow > Broken Horses > Mama Werewolf > The Things I Regret > I Will > The Eye > The Story > Mad World (Tears for Fears cover) > The Mother > I Belong to You > You and Me on the Rock > The Promise (Tracy Chapman cover) > Raise Hell > Call Your Girlfriend (Robyn cover) > Cannonball > Letter to the Past > Right on Time > The Joke > Party of One > A Case of You (Joni Mitchell cover)

February 21, 2023
The Backfires Take Fans on a “Joyride”

NYC-based The Backfires are scheduled to headline a performance at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Prior to the show, they have released the single “Joyride”, out on Feb. 21. The track follows an alternative rock sound, in line much of the band’s other work.

The Backfires: Alex Gomez (frontman, bottom right) Harry Ruprecht (lead guitar, top left) Max Wanduragala (drums, top right), and Matt Walter (bass, bottom left) Credit: The Backfiress

If the rest of The Backfires’ performance is anything like “Joyride”, fans are in for a treat at their Baby’s All Right Show. The track is the perfect song to open a show and get fans in the concert mood. It’s upbeat, but not in a “bubble gum pop song” way. The title of “Joyride” can have multiple meanings, depending on the fan. A “joyride” can be literal, like a trip you take with close friends, or metaphorical to describe the high you feel around someone significant or important in your life.

Equally British and American, The Backfires formed in 2018 when Alex Gomez was studying in London and met Harry Ruprecht and Max Wanduragala. Matt Walter, a childhood friend of Gomez, joined the band in 2019 ahead of recording their debut EP, Consider the Backfires. They finished recording their debut EP in Jan. 2020, shortly before the world shut down due to COVID-19. Since then, they relocated to New York City at the beginning of 2022. Honoring both their British and American roots, they performed in London on Jan. 12, and are scheduled to perform in New York on Feb. 22.

“Joyride” is available to listen to here.

February 21, 2023