Rochester artist Tony Gallicchio just dropped his new single, “My Baby,” featuring vocals by Canada native Yanick Allwood. The track additionally features John Viviani on guitars, funk master Sean McLay on the bass, and Jimmy Grillo on drums and percussion.
“My Baby” was recorded at The Green Room in Rochester, where Matt Ramerman helped to engineer, mix, and master the song.
The soul-funk track is fun, upbeat, and energizing. It’s the perfect song to lift up your spirit after a long day of work, school, or if you’re simply coming out of a dark place and in need of inspiration. “My Baby” can be anyone in your life that inspires you and takes out of that dark place you’ve been in, whether it be a romantic partner or best friend.
Rochester artist Gallicchio has been the keyboardist for the band Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad for the last 10 years, providing the keyboards for his most recent track. According to Gallicchio, Allwood “exceeded all expectations we had for this song.” Guitarist Vivani has played for bands like Filthy Funk and The Able Bodies. McLay provided the bass, giving the song a smooth feel and natural flow, and Jimmy Grillo was “so good, so solid and so graceful” on drums and precussion, according to Gallicchio.
Guitarist Zach Nugent will bring his Dead Set on a ‘Spring Thaw’ tour with all six stops taking place in New York, from April 19th to April 29th. The tour will kick off at Garcia’s in Port Chester on April 19th and will conclude with a show at Cohoes Music Hall on April 29th, with stops in Syracuse, Rochester, Ithaca and Woodstock in between.
Zach Nugent, lead guitarist of the nationally acclaimed Grateful Dead tribute act will be joined by a talented ensemble of musicians to bring the magic of the Grateful Dead to audiences across New York. The band’s blend of faithful renditions of Grateful Dead classics, soulful improvisations, and authentic jams are guaranteed to captivate fans old and new.
The ‘Spring Thaw’ looks to be a highlight of the year for NY fans of the Grateful Dead and live music enthusiasts alike. Zach Nugent’s Dead Set has been praised for their electrifying live shows and their ability to transport audiences to the height of the Dead’s legendary performances.
If you’re a fan of the Grateful Dead, or just love live music played to the highest caliber, you won’t want to miss Zach Nugent’s Dead Set. Seeing Nugent in concert is an exhilarating and unforgettable experience that leaves fans feeling energized, inspired, and uplifted. From the moment he takes the stage, Nugent’s virtuosic guitar playing and deep connection to the music of the Grateful Dead captivates the audience and transports them to another realm.
During the concert, fans are fully immersed in the music, swept away by Nugent’s expert improvisations, soaring solos, and dynamic interplay with his bandmates. Whether he’s performing classic Dead tunes or original compositions, Nugent’s passion and mastery of the guitar shine through, creating a sense of communal joy and celebration among the crowd.
Tickets for all six shows are available now and can be purchased through the band’s website or at the venues.
Zach Nugent’s Dead Set Tour Dates
April 19th – Garcia’s, Port Chester, NY – Tickets:
To celebrate their 45th anniversary, Water Street Music Hall has announced their newest initiative, “No Fee Friday”.
The Initiative will waive all service fees on general admission tickets purchased on Fridays going forward. Water Street Music Hall says this is just the first of many surprises coming in the future to celebrate their anniversary, and to thank the Rochester music community that has supported them for four and a half decades.
Located alongside the Genesee River, Water Street Music Hall has been Rochester’s premier music venue since 1976. Water Street has hosted iconic concerts for 40+ years of shows with artists such as David Byrne, Iggy Pop, DMX, Pusha T, Ashanti, and St. Vincent to name a few.
The mission of Water Street Music Hall is to provide a welcoming and intimate space for music lovers to experience live performances from local and national touring artists. They are committed to supporting the music community in Rochester and beyond. The Hall creates a space where people of all ages can come together to enjoy the transformative power of music. For the past 45 years, they have been at the heart of the Rochester music scene, and are dedicated to continuing this tradition for many years to come. Their overall goal is to continue to be a destination for music enthusiasts, a place where people can discover new artists and rediscover their love of live music. They believe that music has the power to bring people together and to enrich our lives, and are proud to be a part of that tradition.
Tickets, and a schedule of events is availible at Water Street Music Hall’s website.
Alter Bridge made their long-awaited return to Central New York on Friday, February 10, playing to a near-capacity crowd at Del Lago Casino in Waterloo. The band is touring in support of its 2022 release, Pawns & Kings, and brought along Mammoth WVH in support.
Formed in 2004 in Orlando, Florida, Alter Bridge has released seven studio albums as well as several live albums. The band consists of Myles Kennedy (vocals, guitar), Mark Tremonti (guitar, vocals), Brian Marshall (bass guitar), and Scott Phillips (drums).
The evening kicked off promptly at 8 o’clock with Mammoth WVH playing to an already full house. The band, fronted by Wolfgang Van Halen (son of Eddie Van Halen), tore through a set of classic rock tracks off their 2021 self-titled release. Wolfgang delighted the crowd with his pristine vocals and his indisputable guitar talent, tearing through several guitar solos reminiscent of his father. After a forty-minute set, the band left the stage triumphantly, to a sea of metal horns from the crowd.
Excitement in the venue quickly became palpable as the Alter Bridge backdrop rose from behind the stage. Shortly after the band entered and launched into “Silver Tongue.” With a howl from Myles Kennedy, the set was underway. The band tore through a mixture of tracks from throughout their nineteen years together. Kennedy’s vocals, powerful enough to fill a stadium, soared through the venue.
After a short acoustic set which saw Kennedy play a solo rendition of “Watch Over You,” followed by a Kennedy and Tremonti duet of “In Loving Memory,” the band returned to the stage. With their return, the opening notes of “Blackbird” by The Beatles were strummed. The crowd rose in anticipation as the band segued into their song of the same name. Perhaps the pinnacle of the Alter Bridge catalog, “Blackbird” is a hauntingly beautiful track about the loss of a close friend. The slow-building track soon erupted into another memorable solo from Tremonti.
Like all great things, this evening had to come to a close. Alter Bridge ended the night where they began nineteen years ago: with their first single, “Open Your Eyes.” The crowd joined, erupting into a full-fledged singalong before the band was through.
To commemorate and celebrate civil rights leader and icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., music scholar and artist Dr. Scot Brown has released his new single “King of Love: MLK.”
This uplifting fusion of R&B and classic soul conveys the spirit of the civil rights movement and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s message of love and community.
A Rochester native, artist, and author, Dr. Brown is also an African American Studies professor and music historian at UCLA. Currently, a visiting scholar at Colgate University, Dr. Brown has cultivated a distinct sound using the knowledge he’s gained analyzing the nuances of Black popular music–especially Funk and R&B history. On the heels of national news highlighting where change is still needed to continue Dr. King’s mission of social justice, togetherness, and change, Dr. Brown hopes to give listeners an inspirational MLK anthem.
“For this particular song, I drew inspiration from the awe I felt after hearing Dr. King’s words as a child,” explained Dr. Brown. “I felt an uplifting power in his words through his melodic preaching style – even before I could fully understand the messages and meaning.”
King of Love features a broad list of talented artists, including vocalists Kijana Crues, Alex Parris, and Funk pioneer Fred Wesley, former leader and trombonist of James Brown’s band. In addition, Dr. Brown brings his own unique sound to honor Dr. King. Wanting to capture the sensation felt when he first heard the “I Have a Dream” and “Drum Major Instinct” speeches, Dr. Brown brought in actor and MLK performer/voice-over artist Stephon Ferguson. On the track, it is Ferguson’s voice that is heard reciting passages, written by Dr. Brown, in a preaching style, reminiscent of Dr. King’s sermonizing voice. This version of “King of Love: MLK” was produced by artist and rapper O’hene Savant, who lent his multi-instrumental virtuosity to the song. Dr. Scot Brown is the executive producer, bassist, additional keyboardist [vibraphone], and songwriter (with Kalamu ya Salaam and Jerry Rescue).
“Over the years, I’ve gained an appreciation for the symmetry between Dr. King’s voice and his messages about the transformational power of love and his philosophy of social change.”
Dr. Brown believes the Civil Rights and Black Power movements were successful, in part, because they both emphasized the power of everyday people to make major changes in society.
“‘Freedom Now’, ‘We Shall Overcome,’ and ‘Power to the People,’ are all chants that express this idea,” said Dr. Brown. “As far as my own music goes, I believe that people are responding favorably to positive and empowering messages in music. With this song, I hope that listeners feel and activate their own expressions of Dr. King’s call for agape love – love for humanity.”
King of Love: MLK can be found now on digital platforms YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music.
Regional favorites NYS Dead Coalition have announced two intimate acoustic shows for February 3rd and 4th in Clarence, NY and Rochester.
NYS Dead Coalition offers a special musical collaboration featuring the music of the Grateful Dead, Grisman-Garcia, Old and In The Way, and more.
These shows will also featuring Vinnie Amico (moe.), Dave Ruch and Joe Bellanti (Organ Fairchild, Wild Knights), Aaron Ziolkowski (Eberwine, Dead Alliance Buffalo, Little Mountain Band), Ron Permoda (Into The Now), Rolf Witt and special guest Ben Proctor.
Friday’s show will be held at the Lion & Eagle Pub in Clarence on February 3rd at 8pm, while Saturdays show will take place at the Lovin’ Cup in Rochester on February 4th. Space is limited at these intimate events, so be sure to grab your tickets.
Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 day of. Tickets can be found now at Ticketweb
Dionne Warwick is taking her show “HITS! The Musical” on tour, with three stops in NY. Warwick and her son, Damon Elliot, have joined the production team as co-producers to bring the show to over 50 cities across North America, starting in February. The show will be stopping at The Egg in Albany, Kodak Theater in Rochester and Town Hall in Manhattan.
As an institution in pop music, Dionne Warwick’s partnership with this musical is a made match. Warwick’s collection of iconic songs — “Walk on By,” “Alfie” — are matched in legend by the hits in “HITS!” which include “Hero,” “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” “I Will Always Love You,” and “Singing in the Rain.”
Warwick is still touring herself; she will perform this February 3 at the MusiCares Dinner to honor Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson. CNN is releasing a documentary feature on Warwick’s life called “Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over” —airing on February 4 on CNN and streaming on HBO thereafter.
Today, Warwick is still going strong. She will be performing at select locations in North America during 2023, including the star-studded MusiCares dinner on February 3 honoring Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson. She will also attend the 65th GRAMMY Awards which will be held February 5. Fans can expect a new recording from Dionne Warwick later in February: “Peace Like A River,” a duet with Dolly Parton.
Warwick said she was drawn to produce “HITS!” because of the exciting cast of young creatives. Her son Damon Elliot agreed, saying that the musical’s well known score will bring together families. Elliot, manager and music producer in his own right, most recently he produced the title track for “80 For Brady,” an upcoming sports comedy film.
The tour will stop in Albany, Rochester and NYC. Tickets can be purchased here. See the full list of tour dates below.
HITS! The Musical 2023 SCHEDULE
February 25 Asheville, NC The Wortham Center for the Performing Arts
March 1 Concord, NH Chubb Theater at Capital Center for The Arts
March 2 Albany, NY The Egg
March 3 Rochester, NY Kodak Theater
March 4 Boston, MA Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre
March 7 New Haven, CT Shubert Theater
March 8 Englewood, NJ Bergen Performing Arts Center
March 9 New York City, NY Town Hall
March 10 Glenside, PA Keswick Theatre
March 11 Harrisburg, PA The Whitaker Center
March 12 Pittsburgh, PA Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
March 15 Cleveland, OH Mimi Ohio Theater
March 16 Columbus, OH Southern Theater
March 17 Dayton, OH Victoria Theater
March 18 Easton, PA State Theater
March 19 Baltimore, MD Lyric Theater
March 22 Washington, DC Warner Theater
March 23 Durham, NC Carolina Theater
March 24 Charlotte, NC Knight Theater
March 25 Norfolk, VA Harrison Opera House
March 26 Charleston, SC Charleston Music Hall
March 28 Atlanta, GA Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
March 29 Orlando, FL Dr. Philips Center for Performing Arts
March 30 Jacksonville, FL Times Union Performing Arts Center
April 1 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Parker Playhouse
April 2 Tampa, FL Straz Center for Performing Arts
April 5 Birmingham, AL Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex
April 6 Huntsville, AL Von Braun Center
April 7 Nashville, TN Tennessee Performing Arts Center
April 8 Louisville, KY Brown Theater
April 12 Lexington, KY Lexington Opera House
April 13 St. Louis, MO Touhill Performing Arts Center
April 14 Chicago, IL Harris Theater for Music and Dance
April 15 Detroit, MI Royal Oak Music Theatre
April 16 South Bend, IN Morris Center
April 19 Appleton, WI Fox Cities Performing Arts Center
We can’t predict if there is ever going to be any significant snow in Rochester this winter, but we can predict you’ll have a blast if you follow our recommendations for live music in February. As much as we’d like to have at least some of the white stuff to enjoy, hopefully not enough to impede your access to any of these shows or to cause any weather-related cancellations. Get out there and support your local bands and venues.
Moving Mountains is a quartet from right here in Rochester. If you like your rock progressive, then these guys will scratch that itch with aplomb. The path from point a to point b is rarely a straight line, and the journey is a wild ride. They’ll be joined by Extended Family and The Ribbon Project. /each band has members with February birthdays, so maybe there will be cake?
Drummer Kahil El’Zabar returns to Bop Shop Records with his Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, including Cory Wilkes on trumpet and Alex Harding on saxophone. You will be transported, inspired, moved and touched spiritually, and that will just be the first song. Adventurous mind-expanding jazz doesn’t just come to Rochester for one week in June. Come explore some new sounds.
Indie-folk rock stalwarts The Mountain Goats come to Water Street Music Hall as a semi-annual reminder to the music lovers of Rochester that not every big show passes us over for Buffalo, Syracuse, and Ithaca. Touring behind their 2022 release, Bleed Out, they’ll bring those and others from their decades-long career for you to sing along, rhythmically bob your head, and perhaps shuffle your feet. Don’t make the mistake of arriving too late to hear opener Lily Hiatt.
This one is a short drive out of town down in Lima, but totally worth it. Fanatics is a small bar that hosts good blues bands from near and far. On this night, Nashville guitarist JD Simo comes through on his duo tour with drummer Adam Abrashoff. Simo isn’t a straight blues man, mixing in rock, jazz and soul to concoct a unique sound that eventually lead to face-melting jams. He’s got a new album just out this month, Songs from the House of Grease, that’ll do good to warm you up for the show.
Rochester’s The Moho Collective, Kurt Johnson on guitar and pedal steel, Justin Rister on bass, and Ryan Barclay on drums and percussion, “collect” musical styles from across the globe, combining them in new and mystifying ways. On this night they will be joined by The Mighty High and Dry’s Alan Murphy on keys which is an addition with exciting possibilities, fleshing out their material in new and interesting ways.
On the brink of a new album, Rochester native, Mikeala Davis and her band, Southern Star, will complete their residency as one of the hottest live music acts in upstate New York. The Catskil transplant returned home for a set of performances at Abilene in Rochester and Tubby’s in Kingston.
The “Dead of Winter” residency began during a notoriously quiet period live music-wise. A run of sold-out performances have re-affirmed belief that fresh sets, familiar places and homegrown talent would bring people out to enjoy live music.
Mikeala Davis and Southern Star complete their residency at Tubby’s and Abilene.
Mickeala Davis and Southern Star on the Rise
In effect, “Dead of Winter” began with a performance at Tubby’s on Wednesday, January 18, with Davis and Southern Star performing weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays at Tubby’s and Abilene. However, the final two nights of Southern Star’s residency will be on February 1 and 2. To boot, the band will perform two sets nightly, starting with their own tunes and a later Grateful Dead themed set. As a result, the Dead set themes have been varying by week; Mik’s Picks Vol. 1: ‘67-‘72 for week 1, Garcia in its entirety for week 2, and Mik’s Picks Vol. 2: ‘73-‘87 for the upcoming February shows. While, the Abilene show is sold-out but tickets for Mikeala Davis at Tubby’s on Wednesday night can be found here.
Mikeala Davis and Southern Star have seen all of their Kingston shows sold out.
We’re planning two sets every night. First set is original songs and second is a dead set. This is a chance for us to revisit some old songs and experiment with new ones while continuing to explore the music of the Grateful Dead. Hope to see you there!
– Mikaela Davis
A classically trained harpist, Mikeala Davis’ style brings together elements of classic rock, ’60s and ’70s pop, roots Americana, and contemporary modern singer-songwriter croons. Davis and Southern Star have shared bills with such names as Bob Weir, Bon Iver, Lake Street Dive. Moreover, Davis joined Phil Lesh & Friends during the first weekend of their Phil-o-Ween residency at The Capitol Theatre. Her newest release is 2022’s The Relix Sessions, which focuses on live versions of tracks from 2018’s Delivery. At the present time, the group is planning a new studio album that will mark the first official studio recordings by Davis and Southern Star.
Jon Spencer and the Hitmakers will unite for a 2023 winter tour across New York. The tour features the incendiary talents of Bob Bert, Sam Coomes, last but not least the original jet-scream, Jon Spencer. The musicians will visit Albany, Rochester, and Ridgewood (Queens) and more. Fans can enjoy this exuberant starting from late January to early February.
The rockstars will be performing Spencer’s latest album, Spencer Gets It Lit and will feature songs like Junk Man, Death Ray, WormT own and more. The album is a classic Jon Spencer taken to the extreme, it emphasizes a sound of electro-boogie, constructivist art pop, a psychedelic swamp of industrial sleaze and futurist elegance. The album is recognized as an epic master work of freak beat from the world’s weirdest garage.
Spencer Gets It Lit features mind-boggling layers of fury, fuzz guitar a crash-bang battery of phaser blasts and photon torpedoes. Jon Spencer is the ultimate performer; he frantically spits, croons, rhapsodizes, and seduces. The album is his most complex and sensational album in years. It is a dark, danceable odyssey, and a celebration of the place where electricity meets the mind.
Jon Spencer and the Hitmakers are here to crank it up and blow our pants off, … Anyone who has the chance to see this current ensemble, must do so immediately. Peppered with rarities, Blues Explosion songs, even Pussy Galore cuts, Spencer was a bewitching figure on stage, ripping through all the tracks with raw grit and fury
-Gun Control Magazine
Come watch the true heroes of the underground perform hits that will rock your world. Spencer’s says “We are back – primed and loaded – ready to bring the HITS to all the rockers!” Spencer Gets It Lit can be streamed here.
