The Easter weekend episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL) featured longtime cast member Molly Shannon, alongside musical guests Jonas Brothers.
The cold open featured James Austin Johnson as indicted former President Trump, interrupting The Last Supper to compare himself to Jesus, and pointing out where he would have done better.
Molly Shannon, who has been on a roll with The White Lotus and I Love That for You, in addition to her biography Hello, Molly! available in paperback starting April 11, opened the show with a song alongside featured players.
If you were looking for references to classic Shannon characters, you were in luck. Jeannie ‘Don’t get me Started’ Darcy was featured in her own “Selective Startage” Netflix special, bringing back the super dry humor.
Please Don’t Destroy played Molly 2K23, a video game series based on Shannon’s life, and hidden within the only Mary Catherine Gallagher reference of the night.
Nick Jonas joined the 5-timers club this week, having hosted and performed sans brothers, both of whom have played Studio 8H three times. Nick would stop by during “The Play” and the trio would appear in the final skit of the night, featuring Sally O’Malley, who can kick, stretch and kick.
The latest single from Jonas Brothers, “Waffle House” – featured a dozen backup singers plus a five-piece band for the pure pop tune that is no doubt catchy.
The second song had a far more animated use of the performance space, with “Walls” had backup singers getting enthuasiastically down, a surprise banger to close the night.
Lower East Side legend and classic rock musician Robin Eaton is excited to announce the release of “Wishing Well.” The latest single from Eaton’s upcoming album, Memories of A Misspent Youth, due for release on May 1st.
The single “Wishing Well” combines cinematic Western music with classic rock instrumentals. Using sensibilities reminiscent of Eric Clapton, Robin Eaton evokes memories of days gone by with his haunting vocals.
On the single release, there are many layers of folk, Americana, and classic rock sounds infused with cosmic synths and reminiscent of the Lower East Side in the 1970s. Thus, where Eaton earned his stripes on the local music scene. The latest single, alongside “Drugs R 4 Kids” and “Tell Me Your Dream,” helps Robin Eaton continue to pave a sonic lane for himself.
As a prolific songwriter and producer, Robin Eaton is reintroducing himself as a performing artist in 2023. In addition to his background as a songwriter and artist, he was also in the original Broadway production of Hair.
In the 80s, Robin moved to Nashville and built the studios Alex The Great Recordings and Club Roar Recordings, where Memories of A Misspent Youth was recorded. Eaton is also a combination of a producer, recording engineer, and mixer with an instrumentalist able to fill in wherever there is a hole, be it a guitar gnat, bass bump, even a sitar squiggle.
There should be no shock in naming the latter instrument prior to mentioning Eaton’s status in Nashville, where he moved from his native Pennsylvania to follow the musical muse. The country & western capital, after all, is where the sitar was utilized on a whole series of hits at the height of pop music’s raga rage in the ’60s and ’70s.
Aside from his personal music, Robin Eaton is also a respected composer. Robin’s recent score credits include the film Mountain Rest and, written with collaborator Roger Moutenot, the Narcissa podcast (which was one of last year’s top dramatic podcasts). Both works were directed and written by Robin’s daughter, Alex O Eaton.
Listen to “Wishing Well” from Robin Eaton by clicking the link here.
Memories of A Misspent Youth is due for release on May 1st.
For more music by Robin Eaton, click the link here.
Playhouse Stage Company announced the regional premiere of the hit musical The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, featuring teens from the Playhouse Stage Academy training program, at the Cohoes Music Hall.
The Playhouse Stage Company has been producing free summer musicals at Albany’s Park Playhouse in Washington Park since 1989, producing musicals year-round at Cohoes Music Hall since 2016, and has since become manager of the historic Spindle City venue in 2020. They are celebrating their 35th anniversary with a great lineup of events for the season. The company makes theater an all-inclusive art form by providing free and affordable admission at each production, welcoming people from all walks of life and socio-economic backgrounds. The company also provides arts education programs to young people in the community with Playhouse Stage Academy.
The Cohoes Music Hall opened its door in 1874 in Cohoes. It was restored in 1974 to become what it is today, a historic music hall with a great lineup of events. In late December of last year, the venue was awarded $1.88 million in funding through New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation grants, transforming it into an energy-efficient building. The Lightning Thief production begins on April 13 and runs to the 23, reuniting Director Chuck Kraus, Choreographer Ashley Simone Kirchner, and Musical Director Brandon Jones, who has worked on more than a dozen teen productions at both Albany’s Park Playhouse and Cohoes Music Hall for Playhouse Stage Company.
The LightningThief is a rock musical adapted from the best-selling young adult novel by Rick Riordan of the same name. It was first produced by Theatreworks USA as a one-hour “theatre for young audiences” production in 2014, in 2017 an expanded two-act version premiered at the Lucille Lortel Theatre and was a critically acclaimed hit, and in 2019, there was a limited engagement on Broadway. The show features a thrilling rock score with music and lyrics by Rob Rikicki and a book by Joe Tracz.
The novel follows Percy Jackson, a troubled young man struggling with dyslexia and ADHD, who finds himself expelled from five schools in a few years. He comes to learn he is the half-blood son of a Greek God and finds himself at “Camp Half-Blood,” where he and his friends are sent on a quest by the Oracle of Delphi to uncover the truth behind the theft of Zeus’s lightning bolt. “The Lightning Thief is an epic story that is ideal to be performed by our gifted teen students,” said Owen Smith, Playhouse Stage Company’s Producing Artistic Director. “Fans of the book series will revel in the loyalty to the original book, while the average audience member will be enthralled not only by the cast of colorful characters and rock score but also how personal and relatable the story is.”
The cast is led by AJ Halsey (Percy Jackson) and Joshua Hoyt (Grover), who received strong reviews for their performances in last summer’s The Wedding Singer at Park Playhouse, as well as Molly Kantrowitz (Annabeth Chase) who is playing her first principal character for Playhouse Stage. The cast features eighteen of the area’s most talented teen performing artists, hailing from all corners of the Capital Region. Those who have graduated from the Playhouse Stage Academy have gone on to study in top collegiate theatre programs, and to appear on Broadway, film and television, or national tours.
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical plays April 13 through 23, 2023, at Cohoes Music Hall. Performers play Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are now on sale online, by phone, and in-person through the Playhouse Stage Box Office at Cohoes Music Hall.
Troy-based singer-songwriter and actor Jacob Shipley is set to release his second EP, Last Respects, on May 26. The five-track record details Shipley’s experience in the experience of a messy breakup, and his memories from that relationship. Shipley’s second EP will be available via Apple Music, Spotify, and Bandcamp.
Shipley, born and raised in Troy, is a man of many talents, so much so that he was able to have Broadway as a “backup plan.” As a theatre actor, Shipley had a featured role in the first actor/musician production of Godspell and a lead role in the first national tour of the Broadway musical Amazing Grace. In music, he began playing guitar on a nylon string when he was nine, and at 12, purchased a guitar of his own, a Breedlove, a concert-style guitar with a perfectly light and warm sound. While studying at Ithaca College of Musical Theatre, Shipley released Where Did You Come From, his first EP. The musician has performed for audiences at The Historic Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, The Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall, and more, and his voice has been compared to Jeff Buckley, his wry cynicism to Phoebe Bridgers, and his poetic storytelling to Hozier.
Last Respects opens with “Waiting” and what an opening track it is. The song describes the ways relationships can go “back and forth” and the conflicting emotions of “I don’t want to go, I don’t want to stay.” “Waiting” is certainly the highlight of the EP, but the rest of the tracks certainly match its level of quality. There couldn’t have been a better track to end the EP on than “Spain” in which Shipley takes audiences to what he likely considers his “happy place” whether it be figuratively or literally, reflecting on the positive memories of his relationship, before ultimately realizing he can’t cling to the happy memories forever. Last Respects is an EP you won’t want to miss and is sure to secure Shipley a long and successful music career.
The second EP by Jacob Shipley, Last Respects starts streaming on May 26. Until then, check out Shipley’s music here.
The Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra has announced that it will conclude its 67th Season with “May the Fourth Be With You” at the Anderson Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, May 4 at 7:30pm.
Live narration by Joshua Sedelmeyer will weave together the epic story of Star Wars while Maestro Daniel Hege leads the Philharmonic in performing the music of John Williams, including themes from The Force Awakens, Revenge of the Sith, A New Hope, and of course, the original Star Wars Suite.
Founded by Fritz and Marianne Wallenberg in 1955 at the Binghamton Symphony and Choral Society and later merging with the B.C. Pops, an orchestra founded by David Agard and Russell Hawkes, the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra presents an annual series of classical, pops, and chamber music concerts in Downtown Binghamton and throughout Broome County. The professional musicians of the Philharmonic, represented by Local 380 of the American Federation of Musicians, hail from the Southern Tier, New York City, and surrounding states.
Narrator Josh Sedelmeyer has developed an ease at creating rapport with audiences during interactive performances. Fans of the Philharmonic will recognize Josh from many lectures and events, including previous concerts with the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra such as The Magical Music of Harry Potter, A Night at the Ballet’s Romeo & Juliet, and now Star Wars, May the Fourth.
For tickets and more information, contact the Binghamton Philharmonic box office at 607-723-3931 or visit www.binghamtonphilharmonic.org.
Governors Ball 2023 is just over two months away, and the stacked lineup of artists is not the only thing to get excited about. Founders Entertainment has released the food lineup and the site map for this year’s festival. Governors Ball has found a new home at Flushing Meadows Corona Park and will feature a wide array of food to add on to the listening experience.
Governors Ball 2023 food lineup
The 2023 food lineup features cuisines from all over the world, fitting of the Queens, the world’s most diverse borough. Family-owned and NYC based Doughnuttery will be at this year’s festival serving their iconic mini doughnuts alongside more than 50 food vendors. The festival will have plenty of free water stations to keep fans hydrated, and Dunkin’ will be at the festival to satisfy your caffeine needs. Blue Point Brewing Company has brought in a custom Gov Ball Summer Ale, where you find a can at a retail location and scan the QR code for your chance to win 2 VIP tickets!
Doughnuttery at Governors Ball 2022, photograph by Joseph Buscarello
The new location will allow for the layout of the stages to be more spread out. Leaving the parking lot of Citi Field is a big improvement for the fan experience of the event as listening to music is much more pleasurable when you have soft grass underfoot rather than concrete. The green feel of the festival should bring back nostalgia from the festival’s days on Governors Island.
Governors Ball 2023 site map
In addition to the new scenery among the trees, the festival has added a “GA+” ticket to the selection. The new ticket gives fans access to air-conditioned restrooms, an exclusive centrally located lounge area with shade, seating, and its own exclusive bar, food vendors and water refill stations. It also has a dedicated concierge for GA+ ticket holders to assist with their festival needs. VIP and Platinum tickets are also available, holding their own lounges and viewing areas at each stage, food vendors, bars, concierge, storage lockers and mobile charging units, premium entrance and other amenities.
For full details on each ticket type visit GovBall.com/Tickets for more information.
The 4th annual Free Dead in the Park Benefit Concert, presented by the Capitol Theatre and Rythm Premium Cannabis, is scheduled for May 16 at 4:30 p.m. at Central Park. The concert series, which began in 2018, supports Riverkeeper, a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection of the Hudson River and its tributaries. Stella follows in the footsteps of the Grateful Dead, taking the same stage at the Naumberg Bandshell in Central Park.
Stella Blue’s Band has been performing for more than a decade, and is made up of Bill Bonacci (lead guitar, vocals,) Steve Liesman (rhythm guitar, vocals,) Greg Solomon (bass), Ken Aigen (keyboards), Ron Cohen (drums, vocals), and Amy Stahlin (vocals.) First formed in 2009 to recreate the experience of a Grateful Dead show, Stella was the first band chosen for residency at Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, which has become the band’s homebase. The band plays regularly at New York City venues such as the Brooklyn Bowl and The Cutting Room, among several other venues in the tri-state area.
Free Dead in the Park began in 2018, after a fan obtained a $25 permit for Stella Blue’s Band to play in the bandshell to honor the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead’s concert at the venue. In the years since it has evolved into a fundraising event for Riverkeeper. “Free Dead in the Park is such an exciting and significant event each year because it connects music fans with the environment and gives them the opportunity to make a difference in their community by helping protect the Hudson River,’’ said Tracy Brown, president of Riverkeeper.
Riverkeeper is a member-supported organization that preserves and restores the Hudson River from source to sea and safeguards drinking water supplies through advocacy rooted in community partnerships, science, and law. The non-profit originally began as the Hudson River Fisherman’s Association in 1966, when the Hudson River was dying from pollution and neglect. Today, Riverkeeper continues its fight, seeking out polluters and teaming with citizen scientists and activists to reclaim the Hudson River.
The show will be produced by G4D Productions with support from Best Instrument Rentals. The event would not be possible without support from the NYC Parks Department, which has helped to make the concert a success. The show also has support from a group of committed private contributors like the Morgan Le Fay Dreams Foundation and Friends of Free Dead in the Park.
To mark the 50th Anniversary milestone of The World is a Ghetto, American Funk band WAR have announced a brand new collection called WAR: The Remixes featuring Mix Master Mike.
Out May 12th, the EP expands the influence of WAR’s music on the worlds of contemporary hip-hop, as esteemed DJs, producers and musicians including Beastie Boys turntablist Mix Master Mike, and DJ Logic, reimagine eternal hits that spans several of the band’s years.
Named as “the world’s greatest DJ” by USA Today, Mix Master Mike’s status as a premier, award-winning DJ and producer has allowed him to maintain his rank as an influential musician, and become a household name. After being inducted into the Rock ’n Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 with the Beastie Boys, His skillful, hard-hitting scratch work has rightfully earned him the status of a pioneer in the hip-hop and DJ communities.
Recently, Mike has been found opening for the Vancouver Winter Olympics, joining the official Emmy’s orchestra with the legendary Michael Bearden , creating music that has been featured on major television networks, producing the theme music for the FIFA World Cup, and more. In 2016, he was invited to the White House by former President Barack Obama to perform at the Kennedy Center Honors 36th Gala honoring Herbie Hancock.
Across WAR’s six decades and counting, the band spread its messages of harmony and inclusion through songs that have soundtracked the anti-Vietnam movement, Watergate, and multiple Barack Obama summer playlists. Bolstered by the gold-selling success of the title track and the boundary-breaking power of “The Cisco Kid,” The World is a Ghetto topped Billboard’s pop and R&B charts, launching WAR’s legacy not only of creative and commercial triumph, but of timely and timeless relevance.
Led by Lonnie Jordan, WAR remains one of the busiest bands on the road today, and throughout 2023 they will headline dozens of shows, in addition to appearing at festivals like BottleRock Napa Valley and more to be announced soon.
Bill Orcutt, one of the most distinctive voices in experimental and alternative guitardom, brought his latest disc, Music for Four Guitars, to life before a sell-out crowd at downtown Brooklyn’s home to all things sonically avant-garde, Roulette, on March 27.
Orcutt is the former guitarist and founder of the notorious ‘90s group Harry Pussy. His sound is a stuttered reimagining of blues guitar, one weaving looping melodic lines and angular attack into a dense, fissured landscape of American primitivism, outsider jazz, and a stripped-down re-envisioning of the possibilities of the guitar.
Bill Orcutt’s Music for Four Guitars is comprised of 14 brief pieces built upon tiny minimalist phrases which evolve into dense tapestries of sound, texture and mood. On the disc, Orcutt plays all the parts. For the performance at Roulette, he was abetted by three of the most noteworthy players who are bending and mutating the borders of guitaring – Wendy Eisenberg, Ava Mendoza and Shane Parish.
The 12-tune set began with “A different view,” the album opener. This is a knotty Gamelan guitaring affair, one that brings to mind some of the work of ‘80s era King Crimson with the dirty guitar tones reminiscent of Trout Mask Replica Captain Beefheart. For this and many of the compositions, the players stayed close to the tight arrangements on the record.
On “Or from being,” Mendoza was a standout riding the higher melody guitar parts and taking a lengthy solo spot followed by Parish. For many of the compositions, Orcutt and Parish held down the bottom while Mendoza and Eisenberg took to the melodic rafters. Eisenberg takes the prize for the most melodically out soloing, for an extended run across the pulse-y tune, “Only at dusk.”
In the dense jungle of weaving guitars and harmonies, a listener gets many musical cross-currents – a bit of fractal boogie, Irish reels, the dense orchestral guitar minimalism of Glenn Branca and, as mentioned earlier, elements of Beefheart, Crimson and Fripp’s League of Crafty Guitarists and Gamelan.
About six songs in Orcutt spoke to audience in an entertaining and self-effacing manner. No naming of the tunes played, just an introduction of his collaborators then a jump into one of the most pleasant chapters of the evening – a traditionally melodic, very spacious unaccompanied solo reminiscent of his “Odds Against Tomorrow” from his 2019 disc of the same name. All the players would get their solo moments and demonstrate differences in approach – unique melodic and textural languages that are adding a fresh face to this very been-around-the-block instrument.
A guy who does with words what Orcutt does with the guitar, the edge-pushing alt.poet and writer William A. Lessard, accompanied me to the show. A lover of pretty much every boundary pushing genre of music, he had his own observations:
“The surprise for me was the moments when the music would drift into Stained Class-era Judas Priest, then give way to microtonal playing by Wendy Eisenberg. Eisenberg, for me, was the big surprise of the night, bringing that Pete Cosey groove into a new context. Anyone who has the chance should see this band; watching them weave together all these influences is a delight.”
The set will soon be available for a limited time at Roulette’s Live Stream Channel on YouTube.
Setlist: A different view, Seen from above, At a distance, In the rain, Out of the corner of the eye, Or from behind, Only at dusk, On the horizon, Barely driving, In profile, From below, Or head On
Musician and teaching artist Dave Ruch, along with Brant Lake singer Colleen Cleveland, will present a series of free and open-to-the-public workshopscelebrating traditional Adirondack Music the Capital Region in May.
The “New Audiences for Old Songs” project aims to expand awareness for and enjoyment of this rare and important collection of folk songs and traditional ballads from the Adirondack region of New York State; the kind of “self-made” music sung by everyday people and passed down through the generations in earlier days.
Traditional Adirondack music is typically anonymous, passed down orally and serves as an expression of the life of people in that given community.
These songs have been kept alive in one family – the Clevelands of Hudson Falls and Brant Lake, NY – and the music is little-known today outside a small circle of enthusiasts. The goal of the project is to introduce this material to musicians working in more mainstream genres so that they in turn can bring the music to their audiences.
These workshops will provide the opportunity to learn about the collection and hear Colleen sing some of her favorites as learned from her grandmother. Immediately after the session, a wide selection of the Cleveland family repertoire will be posted on the project’s webpage for all to access, and participating musicians are then free to work up one or more songs in their own style to be presented in their future performances.
The workshop is open to singers and musicians of all genres, and the general public is welcome to attend as well. Registration is not required though interested parties can RSVP to the Facebook events linked below.
Adirondack Music Workshops with Dave Ruch and Colleen Cleveland
Thursday May 4, 7-8:30pm View, Old Forge, NY event
Friday May 5, 7-8:30pm TAUNY Center, Canton, NY event
Saturday May 6, 10:30am-NoonBluSeed Studios, Saranac Lake, NY event
Saturday May 6, 3:30-5pmFolklife Center at Crandall Public Library, Glens Falls, NY event
