Eastbound Jesus has recently released its new single, “Fly Away.” Recorded in Salem, NY, the piece retains a classic indie feel with masterfully combined instrumentals, particularly through its many guitarists (and one banjoist). The single’s release coincides with the announcement of this year’s Eastbound Throwdown in September.
The band is made up of bassist Dave Wright, electric guitarist Zack Infante, electric guitarist Andrew Lynch, acoustic guitarist, and vocalist Adam Brockway, drummer and vocalist Carl Anderson, as well as banjoist and vocalist Luke Anderson. The song was produced and mixed by Jimi Woodul.
“Fly Away” starts with a bit of banter and the tuning of various instruments before the drums bring the full force of the song. It’s a classic move with a bit of a cliffside opening, a twist on something like the beginning of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama.” It adds a bit of indie charm to the introduction and brings the song to earth.
The switch between the verse and the chorus is often signaled by a switch between the focus on banjo and bass in the verse and the rise of electric guitar in the chorus. The drums are, beyond the bombastic beginning, relegated to the background of the piece, providing a good steady beat for the rest of the song to rely on.
The chorus in particular is very easy to sing along to, with its rise in everything that had made the verse great in combination with clear and simple lyrics. Wanting to “Fly Away” is something that everyone can get behind, and it’s clear why Eastbound Jesus decided to record it after playing it live for a year.
Eastbound Throwdown on Sept. 8 and 9, 2023 at the Irwin Family Farm in Salem, NY. Friday, Sept. 8 will feature The A.M.s, The National Reserve, Dirty Blanket, Eastbound Jesus, The Mallett Brothers Band, and Turf n’ Turf. Saturday, Sept. 9 will feature Dan Johnson, Black Mountain Symphony, Brule County Bad Boys, Beg, Steal or Borrow, Kat Wright, Fireside Collective, Eastbound Jesus, as well as Saints & Liars.
For more information and tickets for Eastbound Throwdown, check out their page on eventbrite.com. For more on Eastbound Jesus, take a look at their website. The “Fly Away” single is available on Spotify.
The Tedeschi Trucks band, featuring Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, brought their gutsy, blues-oriented rock-n-roll to Saratoga Performing Arts Center. The crowd was eager to gobble up the throaty singing of Susan Tedeschi and the equally soulful guitar licks of Derek Trucks. It was a good crowd, and the band fully entertained their audience. TTB can be caught on tour this summer and even in Japan this fall!
Photo by Derek Java
Setlist: Woman to Woman (Joe Cocker), It Hurt So Bad (Susan Tedeschi), Fall In, Yes We Will, Take Me as I Am, Circles ‘Round the Sun, Pasaquan, Just Won’t Burn (Susan Tedeschi), Gin House Blues (Bessie Smith), Part of Me, Looking for Answers (Susan Tedeschi), I Wish I Knew (Billy Taylor), Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker) (The Rolling Stones), I Want More >, Beck’s Bolero (Jeff Beck)
Encore: Keep On Smilin’ (Wet Willie), Stand Back (The Allman Brothers Band)
Shooter Jennings just announced he will celebrate the late, great Warren Zevon with the first-ever East Coast performance of SHOOTER JENNINGS AND THE WEREWOLVES OF LOS ANGELES DO ZEVON, a very special evening of wall-to-wall Zevon songs set for Nov. 1 at Brooklyn Made.
Shooter Jennings and the Werewolves of Los Angeles – which includes multi-instrumentalist Brian Whelan (Dwight Yoakum, Jim Lauderdale) alongside longtime Jennings collaborators drummer Jamie Douglass, bassist Ted Russell Kamp, and guitarist John Schreffler, will celebrate the iconic Warren Zevon on this special night.
This last year we had a blast doing two separate shows paying tribute to one of my favorite artists of all time, Los Angeles legend Warren Zevon. When Zevon was picked to be potentially inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year we, along with millions of Zevon fans, were hoping that he would finally get his due in the halls of Rock & Roll History. Unfortunately, Zevon didn’t make it in this year and won’t be honored on November 4, 2023, in New York City at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony. Upon hearing this news, the Werewolves of Los Angeles gathered in our Wolfcave to discuss what we could do about it. We decided that even though Warren wasn’t going into the Hall of Fame, we could take a special trip up to New York City that weekend and do our own celebration of Warren’s bad-ass music.
Shooter Jennings
Jennings, a three-time Grammy award winner, has defied expectations while constantly expanding the parameters of country, rock ‘n’ roll, and beyond. He is a truly limitless artist whose ambitious experimentation spans myriad genres and creative platforms, from releasing eight solo LPs, and countless EPs, and founding his label and multimedia outlet, Black Country Rock, as well as much more. Named “Hot New Producer” in Rolling Stone‘s 2020 “Hot List” issue, Jennings honed his production skills by helming sessions from such iconic artists as Jamey Johnson, Wanda Jackson, Billy Ray Cyrus, and his mom, Jessi Colter, and has kept up the pace with several acclaimed productions.
Shooter Jennings and the Werewolves of Los Angeles will make their first ever East Coast performance on Nov. 1 at Brooklyn Made. Tickets are on sale now.
Weezer delivered an electrifying performance on their Indie Rock Roadtrip tour at CMAC on July 3, catering to audiences new and old with their expansive and iconic discography. For almost thirty years Weezer has been churning out hit after hit, including the notable “Buddy Holly” to “Island In The Sun,” as well as their infamous cover of “Africa” by Toto.
Photo by Jamie Mohr for NYS Music.
With storms earlier in the day, the clouds lightened up and the beautiful hot sun pounded down on those ready to see a night full of great indie music. Punk rock band Joyce Manor was the first opener of the night, with their grunge-esque sounds and aesthetic, the group kept the audience engaged and in the mood for the night ahead.
The second opener, Future Islands, was a whole different vibe and experience than the band before it. With their futuristic-sounding instrumentals, unique and intimidating vocals, and a stage presence like no other, the almost 20-year-old band pulled from their extensive and creative discography for a set like no other. Lead singer Samuel T. Herring put on quite the show with his immersive and passionate performance, moving all around the stage and even falling to the floor a few times.
Future Islands, photo by Jamie Mohr for NYS Music.
Finally came the moment everyone was waiting for, Weezer taking the stage. Founded in 1992, the band features Rivers Cuomo (lead), Patrick Wilson (drums), Scott Shriner (guitar), and Brian Bell (bass). Since its inception, Weezer has sold more than 35 million albums worldwide, finding fame with their 1994 record Weezer, dubbed “the Blue Album.” When the curtain fell to start the show, the stage emerged into a car, with the radio and wheel, and graphics showing different roads throughout the whole night, very fitting to the Indie Rock Roadtrip name.
Photo by Brian Ferguson for NYS Music.
Weezer opened with “My Name Is Jonas” an iconic and nostalgia-infused track from their first record. The crowd immediately started jumping and moving back and forth as the music started, with the band just as hyped. Quickly moving through tracks, the band performed one of their most famous tracks “Beverly Hills,” featuring the audience screaming the lyrics, “Beverly Hills/That’s where I want to be.”
Photo by Jamie Mohr for NYS Music.
Keeping up with the pace, the band grooved to their instrumental track “Return to Ithaka,” and brought out some oldies including “The Good Life,” “Pork and Beans,” “Pink Triangle,” and “El Scorcho.” During “You Gave Your Love to Me Softly,” Weezer brought out the lead singer of Joyce Manor, Barry Johnson, to sing, adding more vocals to the already perfected harmonies the band has. At this point, I was already spent from dancing and singing, but I carried on because the show was so energetic and infectious.
Things got softer in the middle of the show to give the audience the much-needed break, with Rivers Cuomo performing solo acoustic tracks like “I’m Just Being Honest,” the live debut of the track, and the infamous “Only in Dreams,” bringing out the rest of the members for the songs long instrumental break.
Photo by Brian Ferguson for NYS Music.
The rest of the concert was exciting and fun with more popular tracks like “Island in the Sun” bringing out new stage effects like a giant sun, and other tracks like “Say It Ain’t So,” seeing the crowd at their loudest. My favorite part of the night was the encore because the crowd was the most hype they had been so far, with songs like “Surf Wax America,” and “Buddy Holly,” ending the most perfect evening. Overall, Weezer’s Indie Rock Roadtrip was exciting, fun, and very tame, leading to a great experience full of amazing music.
Set: My Name Is Jonas, Beverly Hills, Return to Ithaka, The Good Life, Pork and Beans, Pink Triangle, El Scorcho, You Gave Your Love to Me Softly, Blast Off!, Undone – The Sweater Song, I’m Just Being Honest, Susanne, Only in Dreams, The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn), Island in the Sun, Perfect Situation, All My Favorite Songs, Say It Ain’t So, Run, Raven, Run (instrumental only), Hash Pipe, and Thank You and Good Night.
Encore: The Waste Land, Surf Wax America, Buddy Holly.
The Sphere in Las Vegas has officially lit its exterior for the first time, the world’s largest LED screen, transforming the Vegas skyline.
Credit: Sphere Entertainment.
Dubbed the Exosphere, the outside portion of the Sphere was lit on July 4, introducing a new global landmark where artists, partners, and brands can showcase impactful content to audiences from around the world. The Exosphere consists of approximately 1.2 million LED pucks, spaced eight inches apart. Each puck contains 48 individual LED diodes, with each diode capable of displaying 256 million different colors. The Fourth of July production was just the beginning for the Exosphere, as it will continue to display creative activations in coordination with major events in Las Vegas, with more content planned throughout the month.
David Hopkinson, President, and Chief Operating Officer of MSG Sports, who oversees global marketing and brand partnerships across Sphere Entertainment and the MSG family of companies, said: “Sphere’s Exosphere is a 360-degree canvas for brand storytelling that will be seen around the world, offering our partners an unparalleled opportunity to become part of the greatest show on Earth. There’s nothing comparable to the impact from displaying innovative brand and immersive content on the world’s largest video screen. The extraordinary experiences we can create are only limited by imagination, and we’re thrilled to finally share with the world the spectacular potential of the Exosphere.”
The Sphere is becoming the next-generation entertainment medium, bringing wonder to the world and redefining the future of live entertainment, where artists, creators, and technologies will create extraordinary experiences, taking storytelling to a new level. The venue will transform the concert-going experience with innovative technologies that include a 16K x 16K LED display inside the main venue bowl that wraps up, over, and around the audience, creating a fully immersive visual environment. The Sphere also has the world’s most advanced concert audio system, featuring crystal-clear audio and 10,000 immersive seats including a system that utilizes deep vibrations so guests can feel the rumble of thunder or a roaring motorcycle.
Sphere at The Venetian (courtesy MSGE).
Later this year, the Exosphere will be prominently featured as part of Sphere’s opening in September with U2: UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, as well as during the first Sphere Experience, Postcard from Earth directed by Darren Aronofsky, in October. For more information about the upcoming shows and to purchase tickets, visit here.
Saratoga Springs welcomes dozens of bands each summer, with the biggest names making it to the stage of Saratoga Performing Arts Center. In 1990, one of the biggest names in rock n roll history, David Bowie, performed his one and only show at SPAC, with a Saturday night performance on July 7.
Wow, remember Record Town?
For the “Sound+Vision” Tour, Bowie opted for a smaller band and suggested he was looking for a smaller sound, saying in an interview with Q Magazine, “It’s a much smaller sound. It’s not quite as orchestrated as any of the other tours. The plus of that is that there is a certain kind of drive and tightness that you get with that embryonic line-up, where everybody is totally reliant on the other two or three guys, so everybody gives a lot more.” Read the full interview with Paul Du Noyer here.
Q magazine from April 1990
This tour was not in support of a new album, as the latest release from Bowie was 1987’s Never Let Me Down which launched the “Glass Spider” tour. This was instead billed as a greatest hits tour, with Bowie planning to retire his catalogue of hit songs from live performance, a move that would draw millions of fans worldwide to see him on the “Sound+Vision” tour. With two albums having flopped in the mid-80s (hello 1984’s Tonight), he was looking to give himself a creative and artistic boost, and shedding his old hits became the drive behind “Sound+Vision.”
Bowie was also playing with Tin Machine at this time, and told the band he was contractually obligated to embark on this greatest hits tour, inviting guitarist Reeves Gabrels to join him on the road. The Tin Machine guitarist declined, but suggested Adrian Belew, giving him a phone call and putting Bowie on the phone.
It’s time to put about 30 or 40 songs to bed and it’s my intention that this will be the last time I’ll ever do those songs completely, because if I want to make a break from what I’ve done up until now, I’ve got to make it concise and not have it as a habit to drop back into. It’s so easy to kind of keep going on and saying, well, you can rely on those songs, you can rely on that to have a career or something, and I’m not sure I want that.
David Bowie, interview with Music Express Magazine, March 1990
Bowie went on discussing his clean break from his past catalog, adding, “I’ve never done a show where I’ve just done songs that over the years have proved to be popular with the audience in that way. It’s always been about 50/50. I’ve done enough that they know to keep their attention on the show and the rest of the of it – I can do the stuff that I want to do in between – but I’ve never actually almost allowed them to choose the show for me, which is in fact, what we’re going to do.”
Music Express Magazine, March 1990
Thus, the personnel for Bowie’s 1990 tour were the Thin White Duke himself (guitar, saxophone, vocals) Adrian Belew (guitar, backing vocals and also serving as music director), Erdal Kızılçay (bass guitar, backing vocals), Rick Fox (keyboards, backing vocals) and Michael Hodges (drums.) Canadian dance choreographer Édouard Lock of the Québécois contemporary dance group La La La Human Steps co-conceived the tour with Bowie, and served as artistic director for this tour.
It had been reported there was tension among the band during the tour, as Kızılçay, who recalled that Bowie “wasn’t very happy“ and when they were in South America by the end of the tour, Bowie was not coming to soundchecks.
As noted in Chris O’Leary’s Ashes to Ashes The Songs of David Bowie 1976-2016, keyboardist Rick Fox was not invested in the Sound+Vision tour, going so far as to eat dinner on stage, and at least once turned off his own keyboards and played his own songs while sampled parts of Bowie’s songs were playing.
In total, Bowie spent seven months on the road at five continents, performing 108 times in 27 countries. Discover more about the Sound+Vision tour here.
So with a greatest hits tour and only so much drive in the tank after a pair of commercial failures, David Bowie gave it a go on a global tour, and his performance at SPAC was full of the hits he promised and a notable moment following “Young Americans” where he spoke out in defense of free speech and expression.
Fans recalled the venue was packed, as this sold out show had the SPAC lawn filled, even with KISS performing 30 minutes south in Albany at the Knickerbocker Arena that same night. One fan who was not a fan of Belew’s noted the difference, saying “Belew, while a great instrumentalist, did not have the style and flash or sound of Spiders from Mars guitarist Mick Ronson. Sure enough, after a few songs I knew I’d made the wrong choice! The comparatively subdued band to the Spiders couldn’t give any authentic glitter and sleeze to those songs and they fell flat for me. I stayed but wished I was at the KISS show seeing their over the top excess.”
Bootleg album cover art
A Times Union review of David Bowie at SPAC, written by Michael Eck, referred to the concert as “the most breathlessly awaited show of the summer” and called the show “one of the best things in life – the kind of performance that could breathe life into a tired soul.”
During the performance, Bowie utilized multiple screens and the best video effects of the early 90s to capture his movement, performance and engagement on stage. Watch below and you’ll be able to see Bowie singing duets with a 20-foot projection of himself, dancing with an androgynous look-alike, and thin screens housing projections of Bowie over the stage. Providing fans these visuals in conjunction with his greatest hits showed the tour name “Sound+Vision” was more than a song or box set, and allowed Bowie to find balance in this extensive tour. Bowie was, after all, going through the motions of playing these songs live for the final time, relieved for sure, and as the tour wore on, surely experiencing wistfulness of the occasion.
The show is a greatest hits show from one of the greatest musicians, and having listened to this show numerous times, its a crowd pleaser for any Bowie fan. Of note, and tied to the politics of the era, is Bowie’s aside during “Young Americans,” where Bowie took a moment to offer supportive commentary towards 2 Live Crew – whose album As Nasty As They Wanna Be was declared obscene by a judge and was the focus of ire against lyrics, particularly rap and hip-hop.
While stretching out “Young Americans” with a blues riff that Belew and Bowie smoked, Bowie said, “This is the unnecessary portion of the show,” and began to talk about growing up in London, listneing to American music, especially the blues. He mentioned listening to Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and James Brown, and then shifted gears to authors he read: Kerouc and Ginsberg, who wrote about what they felt and were going through. And with a captive audience in a seemingly ‘off script’ moment, Bowie said:
“Do you know that they’re banning Hemingway in libraries these days? You don’t know do you? Does anybody here hear that they’re banning Hemingway? Fahrenheit 451 is now on the restricted borrowing at some libraries. You don’t care do you?”
David Bowie, to the SPAC audience, during “Young Americans”
Sensing the crowd was drifting away, Bowie reeled them back in, saying “That’s why I went out and bought my 2 Live Crew album” which was followed by enthusiastic applause from the audience. Bowie continued on, saying that “You don’t have to like the stuff but my god I support any right for anybody to write a song without going to jail for it, motherfuckers.”
Despite the injection of what some would call ‘politics’ in a rock concert (gasp!), David Bowie brought the SPAC audience full circle, revisiting the roots of one of his greatest hits, tying it to his youth and that of the crowd, then to present day, with a supportive pro-free speech statement.
As Michael Eck noted in his review, the reunion tours that took place in 1989-90 – the Rolling Stones “Steel Wheels” tour, The Who 25th anniversary tour, and Paul McCartney embarking on his first solo tour – it was Bowie who stood alone among them. “Saturday night Bowie took his past in his hands and gloriously threw it all away while we watched. Those other tours were history shaking with age, Saturday’s was history shaking with life. It was simply one of the greatest spectacles I have ever witnessed.”
David Bowie – Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) – Sound+Vision Tour – July 7, 1990
Setlist: Space Oddity, Rebel Rebel, Changes, Ashes to Ashes, Life on Mars?, Pretty Pink Rose (Adrian Belew cover), Stay, Blue Jean, Let’s Dance, Sound and Vision, Ziggy Stardust, China Girl, Station to Station, Young Americans, Suffragette City, Fame, Heroes Encore: White Light/White Heat, Baby What You Want Me to Do, The Jean Genie, I’m Waiting for the Man, Gloria
JazzBuffalo announced the lineup for this summer’s Jazz on the Plaz! concert series. The event takes place in downtown Buffalo every Friday at 5 PM from July 7 to Aug. 25 at the West Plaza of Seneca One Tower. The concerts feature some of the best jazz artists from around Western New York.
The Seneca One Tower is one of the mainstays of the Buffalo skyline. Originally built between 1969-1974, the building has long served as headquarters for banking institutions. Now, the tower has become a multi-use space, housing start-up companies and apartments. Thanks to recent updates, the building now aims to be a collaboration hub within the city.
Courtesy of JazzBuffalo.com
Jazz on the Plaz! is part of JazzBuffalo’s extensive programming of shows, educational opportunities, and events. Created to build appreciation for the genre, JazzBuffalo is committed to impacting and encouraging the arts scene in the city. There will also be food trucks and beverages available as part of the performances. All concerts are free and open to the public. Donations are encouraged and will go toward the Keep Jazz Alive Fund. Click here for parking information and here for more details about the performances.
Summer Lineup
July 7: My Cousin Toné
July 14: Wendell Rivera Latin Jazz Ensemble
July 21: Jay Sharp-tet
July 28: Donny Frauenhofer Trio: Jazz Fusion Exprience
The Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC) has recently announced shows for their inaugural season, with “Refuge: A Concert Series to Welcome the World” kicking off the season in Sept. 2023. PAC is located in the World Trade Center and was the final public piece of the reconstruction.
Perelman Performing Arts Center Aerial View. Credit: Bill Saltzstein
The facility was named after Ronald O. Perelman, a businessman, philanthropist, and benefactor, the building was designed by the architecture firm REX, with many interior spaces being designed by Rockwell Group. Leading the opening of PAC is the Chair of the PAC Board of Directors Mike Bloomberg, Executive Director Khady Kamara, and Artistic Director Bill Rauch.
The opening of Perelman Performing Arts Center is going to add light and hope to the World Trade Center site in a manner that respects its role as a place for reflection. PAC NYC’s impact will extend far beyond downtown, as we know the impact of the power of the arts – bringing energy and excitement to bolster neighborhoods, spur investment and build a stronger city.
Mike Bloomberg, Chair of PAC Board of Directors
Inaugural Season Showings
Refuge: A Concert Series to Welcome the World
The opening five-night series with over 30 internationally acclaimed artists, Refuge is a pay-what-you-wish event focused on the theme of refuge. A wide range of music will be played, from Afro-Latin rhythms to futuristic electronic beats, from traditional Klezmer melodies to soulful Rock and Funk.
Sept. 22 is “Relatively Speaking: Family as Refuge” and will feature Fanoos Ensemble, The HawtPlates, Martha Redbone, The Villalobos Brothers, as well as Amal Murkus & Firas Zreik.
“Watch Night” from Nov. 3-18 2023 is an all-new premiere for the production that explores justice and forgiveness. It was co-conceived, directed, and choreographed by Tony Award-winning Bill T. Jones, with Marc Bamuthi Joseph also co-conceiving the production and responsible for the libretto.
“Number Our Days” will be held from April 12-14, 2024, and is a multi-media oratorio based on Jamie Livingston’s “Photo of the Day” series. This series was made by Jamie Livingston, who documented his life by taking a Polaroid every day until he died at age 41.
From May 12-19, 2024, “An American Soldier,” a new opera based on the true story of U.S. Private Danny Chen, will be held. This will be the production’s New York premiere.
“Cats” will be held sometime between June and July of 2024, reimagining Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beloved musical. The original musical itself was based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.
Theater and Comedy
“The Following Evening,” held from Feb. 1 to 18, 2024, will be an intimate portrait of two theater-making couples: Ellen Maddow and Paul Zimet of Talking Band and Abigail Browde and Michael Silverstone of 600 Highwaymen. This may be the final performance for the two couples.
“Between Two Knees” is a comedy by Indigenous sketch comedy group The 1491s, taking place Feb. 3 through 24, 2024. Spanning 90 years in the life of a fictional Native American family, “Between Two Knees” is an “outrageously funny ride through American history.” “Good Medicine” is an all-Native stand-up evening event on Feb. 9, 2024. It features Indigenous comedians from all across the country and will be curated and hosted by Jackie Keliiaa.
“Like They Do in The Movies,” which will be at PAC from March 10 to 31, 2024, is the world premiere of the “tour-de-force” written and performed by Tony and Emmy-winning Laurence Fishburne. Fishburne is known for his work as Ike Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do with It?,” Sterling Johnson in August Wilson’s “Two Trains Running,” and as Morpheus in the blockbuster film series The Matrix.
Laurence Fishburne.
Dance
“Is It Thursday Yet?” held from Dec. 8-23, 2023, is a commissioned display of Jenn Freeman’s neurodivergent journey through a mix of dance, live music, and home video footage.
“March” by Big Dance Theater will be held Dec. 10 to 16, 2023. It is an evening of contemporary dance split into three parts, featuring Tendayi Kuumba, Annie-B Parson, and Donna Uchizono.
“Motion/Matter: Street Dance Festival,” held from Jan. 5 to 14, 2024, is a celebration of street dance movements, both those that have originated in NYC and those from around the world.
Nov. 13, 2023 – Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush
Cover for Kerry Washington’s new memoir, “Thicker than Water.”
Perelman Performing Arts Center memberships are now available for $10 for the inaugural season. Members receive early access to tickets and other perks. Tickets for inaugural season events are starting at $39. More information on memberships, tickets, and shows can be found on PAC’s website.
In the Hudson Valley, you will find no shortage of recording studios spread throughout the region, including a number in New Paltz, Woodstock and around Ulster County.
photo by Steve Malinski
Welterweight Sound Studio in New Paltz, owned by producer/engineer Ryan Dieringer, is an ideal spot for recording, mixing, and mastering music with a 32’x17’ live room and “in the round” control room with 16’ wood-slat, gabled ceilings as well as two isolation booths. Welterweight is also an ideal place for audiobook/podcast/ADR recording or mixing, with a strong Wi-Fi connection.
A piano set in Welterweight Sound Studio in New Paltz.
The independent JT Beats LLC Studios in New Paltz is owned by Jake Totilo and offers several recording, mixing, and mastering services. Totilo grew up in Brooklyn and learned how to play piano from his Grandpa at the age of 7 and uses music as an outlet for self-expression, whether it be the piano, singing, production, or DJing. He is now 20 and studied music at the State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz and even released his album.
Dreamland Recording Studios in Hurley, a town in Ulster County and west of Kingston, was opened in the ’80s by Joel Bluestein, due to the recording studio climate at the time, which he found to be a mostly hostile working environment. His goal was to create a socially-responsible business that treated its employees like family and was an overall better place to work and record, as well as close the gender gap in the male-dominated recording business, hiring women and bringing in new ideas and ways of working. In 2005, Dreamland closed down due to the economic climate at the time, as many studios were forced to do. In 2008, however, Jerry Marotta came on board and re-opened the studio with Joel. They continued their mission of maintaining the family-oriented, comfortable, creative vibe of Dreamland.
The best thing about Dreamland is that it offers remote recording services, so artists can achieve their recording needs from the comfort of their own homes. Artists can record tracks at home and send them to Dreamland for re-amping, analog processing, remote mixing, and more. Inside the studio, Dreamland is a residential recording space for artists to nurture their craft, with a fire pit inside surrounded by the upstate mountain breeze.
The lodge inside of Dreamland Recording Studio.
Gimme That Sound is a recording studio, occupying a refurbished Hudson Valley barn In Upstate New York’s historical hamlet of Stone Ridge in Ulster County. The studio is just a half hour south of Woodstock, and a little less than two hours from Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Owned and operated by Grammy-winning mixer/producer Stephen George, Gimme That Sound offers online Mixing, music production, in-house mixing, mastering, and recording services. The studio has produced music of all genres, from indie, hard-core, pop, rock, r&b, hip-hop, and gospel.
Before opening Gimme That Sound, George was a local Chicago musician, playing the drums for the band Ministry, and worked as Chief Engineer at Zomba / Jive Record’s “Battery Studios Chicago.” In 1998, George moved to New York City to expand his career. Recently, George relocated from Manhattan to the Hudson Valley, between the Catskill Mountains to the north and Shawangunk Mountains to the east.
The inside of Gimme That Sound Recording Studio.
Woodstock’s Levon Helm Studios has been producing music since 1975, and is named after the late Levon Helm, who gained fame as one of the three vocalists of The Band and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Home of Levon’s legendary Midnight Rambles, and situated on 18 acres in historic Woodstock, the barn-style Levon Helm Studios welcomes artists for intimate concerts, recording sessions, rehearsals, writing retreats, and private events. Other artists and bands who have recorded there include Elvis Costello, My Morning Jacket, and many more.
The outside of Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock.
New York’s Hudson Valley is home to Long Pond Recording Studios, where Taylor Swift has worked several times. The singer-songwriter has recorded her eighth studio album, Folklore, as well as her re-recorded version of her second studio album Fearless and fourth studio album Red. Long Pond’s incarnation began with musician Aaron Dessner having hope in his heart to move out of New York City with his family and find an oasis for the band The National. The main goal was to create a space that would encourage and inspire creativity for the creation of music. This process culminated with the band creating and recording their Grammy award-winning album Sleep Well Beast, using the Studio as the album cover and becoming the theme focal point of the marketing campaign created by Pentagram.
Platinum Productions in the Orange County Town of Monroe is a full-service recording studio and video production company serving clients throughout the Greater New York Metropolitan area and nationwide. The studio is located just one hour from New York City and has many musicians from all genres of music, including 2012 The Voice winner Jermaine Paul. Phil Bula, President of Platinum Productions, began as a young boy playing in brass bands with the Salvation Army and was featured on the game show I’ve Got a Secret a the age of nine. Bula grew and progressed into a professional musician before moving from the stage to the studio in 1978 and began working for popular artists including Billy Joel, Michael Bolton, and Whitney Houston. His work may be seen and heard on television shows produced by HBO, ABC, ESPN, USA Network, and Disney.
The mics set up in the studio at Platinum Productions.
These are among the several recording studios throughout the Hudson Valley of New York where aspiring musicians can produce music to make their musical dreams come true. If you know of another we missed, reach out to editors@nysmusic.com!
Glenville’s summer music concert series ‘Thursdays in the Park’ is returning this August for a five week run of incredible live performances. Thursdays In The Park is set to begin on August 3rd and continue every Thursday in August at 7:00 PM at Indian Meadows Park.
Thursdays In The Park has been a free annual summer event for the community of Glenville for years, and this summer is bringing a diverse and highly talented lineup to the park. The duo Double Barrel will kick off the series on August 3rd by delivering a country set list for audience members to enjoy while later in the month Nymbus will make an appearance with some classic rock!
Various other genres will be featured throughout the month, but music isn’t the only attraction. The series also offers free Stewart’s Ice Cream for every performance as well as an additional movie night on August 26th at Maalwyck Park where members of the community can sit back and relax while watching the cinematic hit Top Gun 2.
Thursdays In The Park Lineup
August 3rd – Double Barrel (Country Duo)
August 10th – Little Bit of Everything (Folk Music)
August 17th – West Side Drive (Dance Music)
August 24th – Nymbus (Classic Rock Music)
August 26th – Special Family Night Movie @Maalwyck Park (Top Gun 2)
