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  • Billy Strings Fall Tour 2023 to Close in Syracuse

    Billy Strings has announced a Fall Tour that takes him from Colorado to points west, a home-state Halloween show, a second trip to Europe in as many years, followed by a run of East Coast shows to round out the tour in Syracuse.

    photo by Zach Culver

    Billy Strings and his band get things started with two nights in Buena Vista, CO, then head to Idaho, before heading to Portland, OR., Seattle, WA, Sacramento, CA., Stanford, CA., Stateline, NV., and West Valley City, UT, Heading back east, the band makes a stop in Independence, MO. followed by a Halloween show in his home-state of Michigan, in Grand Rapids, with a venue yet to be announced.

    Following a successful string of European dates, Strings will then head to Europe to perform in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Cologne, Luxembourg, Munich, and Paris before heading to England with shows planned in London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Birmingham.

    In December, Strings will make a trip up the East Coast, starting on December 6 in Greensboro, N.C., then head north to Baltimore, MD, Pittsburgh, PA, Wilkes-Barre, PA, and finally closing out the tour with a performance in Syracuse, NY at a venue yet to be named.

    Learn more about Billy Strings’ upcoming tour and where and when to get tickets here.

    April 29-30—Los Angeles, CA—Hollywood Bowl – Willie Nelson’s 90th Birthday (SOLD OUT)

    May 11—Morrison, CO—Red Rocks Amphitheatre (SOLD OUT)

    May 12—Morrison, CO—Red Rocks Amphitheatre (SOLD OUT)

    May 13—Denver, CO—Mission Ballroom (SOLD OUT)

    May 17—Phoenix, AZ—Arizona Financial Theatre (SOLD OUT)

    May 19—Los Angeles, CA—Greek Theatre (SOLD OUT)

    May 20—San Diego, CA—Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre (SOLD OUT)

    May 21—San Diego, CA—Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre

    May 24—Las Vegas, NV—Brooklyn Bowl (SOLD OUT)

    May 26—Napa, CA—BottleRock Napa Valley 

    June 2—Austin, TX—Moody Center

    June 3—Austin, TX—Moody Center

    June 7—Tulsa, OK—BOK Center

    June 9—St. Louis, MO—Chaifetz Arena

    June 10—Indianapolis, IN—TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park (SOLD OUT)

    June 11—Indianapolis, IN—TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park (SOLD OUT)

    June 13—Cleveland, OH—Jacobs Pavilion (SOLD OUT)

    June 14—Cleveland, OH—Jacobs Pavilion (SOLD OUT)

    June 16—Clarkston, MI—Pine Knob Music Theatre (SOLD OUT)

    June 17—Chicago, IL—Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island (SOLD OUT)

    July 13—Cary, NC—Koka Booth Amphitheatre

    July 14—Cary, NC—Koka Booth Amphitheatre (SOLD OUT)

    July 15—Cary, NC—Koka Booth Amphitheatre (SOLD OUT)

    July 19—Norfolk, VA—Chartway Arena

    July 21—Bridgeport, CT—Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater

    July 22—Essex Junction, VT—Midway Lawn at Champlain Valley Expo (SOLD OUT)

    July 23—Essex Junction, VT—Midway Lawn at Champlain Valley Expo (SOLD OUT)

    July 25—Boston, MA—Leader Bank Pavilion

    July 26—Boston, MA—Leader Bank Pavilion

    July 28—Portland, ME—Thompson’s Point (SOLD OUT)

    July 29—Portland, ME—Thompson’s Point (SOLD OUT)

    July 30—Newport, RI—Newport Folk Festival (SOLD OUT)

    August 7—Frankfurt, Germany—Batschkapp

    August 8—Berlin, Germany—Huxleys

    August 9—Hamburg, Germany—Grobe Freiheit 36

    August 11—Gothenburg, Vastra Gotaland County—Way Out West

    August 12—Oslo, Norway—Oya Festival

    August 24—Knoxville, TN—Knoxville Civic Coliseum (SOLD OUT)

    August 25—Huntsville, AL—Orion Amphitheater

    August 26—Huntsville, AL—Orion Amphitheater

    September 14—Louisville, KY—Bourbon & Beyond Festival

    September 22—Buena Vista, CO—venue announcing soon

    September 23—Buena Vista, CO—venue announcing soon

    September 27—Nampa, ID—Ford Idaho Center Arena

    September 29—Portland, OR—Moda Center

    September 30—Portland, OR—Moda Center

    October 1—Seattle, WA—WAMU Theater

    October 4—Sacramento, CA—Golden 1 Center

    October 6—Stanford, CA—Frost Amphitheater

    October 7—Stanford, CA—Frost Amphitheater

    October 8—Stateline, NV—Tahoe Event Center

    October 10—West Valley City, UT—Maverik Center

    October 13—Independence, MO—Cable Dahmer Arena

    October 14—Independence, MO—Cable Dahmer Arena

    October 31—Grand Rapids, MI—Van Andel Arena

    November 6—Amsterdam, NL—Paradiso

    November 7—Amsterdam, NL—Paradiso

    November 8—Antwerp, BE—De Roma

    November 10—Cologne, DE—Carlswerk Victoria

    November 11—Luxembourg—den Atelier

    November 12—Munich, DE—Neue Theaterfabrik

    November 14—Paris, FR—La Cigale

    November 15—London, UK—Roundhouse

    November 17—Manchester, UK—Manchester Academy

    November 18—Glasgow, UK—O2 Academy Glasgow

    November 19—Birmingham, UK—O2 Academy

    December 6—Greensboro, NC—Greensboro Coliseum

    December 8—Baltimore, MD—CFG Bank Arena

    December 9—Baltimore, MD—CFG Bank Arena

    December 12—Pittsburgh, PA—Petersen Events Center

    December 13—Pittsburgh, PA—Petersen Events Center

    December 15—Wilkes-Barre, PA—Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

    December 16—Syracuse, NY— The Oncenter

    December 29—New Orleans, LA—Uno Lakefront Arena

    December 30—New Orleans, LA— Uno Lakefront Arena

    December 31—New Orleans, LA— Uno Lakefront Arena

  • CMAC Events Announces Roc The Lake Festival With Pop Trio AJR

    The Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC) in Canandaigua has announced the 2023 Roc The Lake Festival with the renowned trio AJR as a headliner. On July 17, fans can jam to their favorite songs by AJR, and a lineup including Chelsea Cutler, Lawrence Blake Rose and Almost Monday.

    AJR, is a renowned pop trio of brothers that has garnered an abundance of success since their formation in 2012. Over the past decade AJR has accumulated billions of streams, released a platinum album, double-platinum single, triple-platinum single, and four platinum singles. The band has also been ranked #1 on the Top Alternative Albums and Rock Albums Charts following their biggest first-week debut at the Neotheater in 2019. Apple Music and Spotify showed appreciation for the trio’s electric sound by placing AJR’s “Sober Up” & “Weak” among the Best Rock and Alt Songs of the 2010s. Fans can rock out to songs from the brother’s fourth full-length album, OK ORCHESTRA at the Roc The Lake Festival. 

    Chelsea Cutler is a singer, songwriter, and the producer of introspective EDM.  After signing to Ultra Records in 2017, the vocalist released mixtapes such as Sleeping with Roses I and II and a full-length debut, How to Be Human. Lawrence Blake Rose is an upcoming Australian singer and songwriter based in Los Angeles.  The gifted musician recently released a new single “Rest Of Us.”

    The San Diego based trio, Almost Monday quickly transformed from garage band to an upbeat pop sensation.  While only having a few songs released, the boys gained a tremendous amount of fame and millions of streams since the release of their disco-infused track “Broken People” in 2020. 

    The Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC) was founded by Marvin Sands. The arts center has been on a mission to unite communities through art and culture since 1983. 

    Tickets to the Roc The Lake Festival can be found here

  • Paul Simon Announces New Album, Seven Psalms, Out May 19th

    Paul Simon has announced the upcoming release of his highly anticipated musical work, Seven Psalms, which will be available on May 19th.

    paul simon seven psalms

    During his distinguished career spanning six decades, musician Paul Simon has produced timeless masterpieces, such as Bridge Over Troubled WaterSounds of Silence, and Graceland, has received 16 Grammy Awards and has been twice inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. As one half of Simon & Garfunkel, many remember Paul Simon for the incredible Central Park performance that raised $51,000, cleaning up the park with the money they raised from merchandising, CD sales and TV and video rights

    This new project is intended to be listened to as one continuous piece, a 33-minute, seven-movement composition. Recorded entirely on acoustic instruments, and predominantly performed by Paul, Seven Psalms showcases Simon’s craft at its finest and most captivating, simply with his voice and guitar. 

    A stunning, intricately layered work, it’s a record which establishes an engaging and meditative, almost hymnal soundscape, with Paul’s lyrics providing the gravitational center for constellations of sound woven from guitar strings and other acoustic instrumentation – including choral elements from the highly-regarded British vocal ensemble VOCES8, and a beautiful vocal appearance by Edie Brickell.

    True to the origin of psalms as hymns meant to be sung rather than spoken, Seven Psalms reaches back to the very genesis of folk music: King David’s Psalms. The result is a quietly moving musical experience which uncovers a wealth of subtle details with every repeated listen. A step apart from anything Paul Simon has released before, Seven Psalms defies categorization. 

    For more information, and to presave the album, please visit Paul Simon’s website.

  • EQXposure Features Reese Fulmer, Modern Fools, and Northern Faces

    Each Sunday evening from 7-9 p.m. you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up-and-coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music from Reese Fulmer, Modern Fools, and Northern Faces.

    Modern Fools on EQXposure.

    WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.

    Modern Fools– “Misery”

    Modern Fools don’t fall into just one genre, creating music that can be classified as country, folk, alternative, or even indie. Last year they released the track “Misery,” tune into EQXposure on Sunday to hear it.

    Reese Fulmer – “Leaving a Dream”

    Reese Fulmer and his Carriage House Band are quickly rising stars in the Capital Region. Fulmer is a bit of an old soul, and his music is reminiscent of Justin Townes Earle, Jeffrey Foucault, John Prine, and Iron & Wine. He will be performing at the Hollow in Albany on April 22, and tickets are on sale here.

    Northern Faces-“18”

    Northern Faces is a rock band formed in 2012 featuring Bryan Shortell and Marco Testa on vocals and guitars, and Matt Ippolito on bass. Their single “18” was released on March 17.

  • 24 HOUR DRONE Festival Returns To Basilica Hudson For Memorial Day Weekend

    Experimental music festival 24 HOUR DRONE has announced their full artist lineup plus art installation details and food vendors for this years festival taking place at Basilica Hudson Saturday May 27 – Sunday May 28 from noon to noon as part of Drone Day.

    Featuring 24 hours of unbroken, immersive sound, 24-HOUR DRONE blurs the line between artist and attendee to create transcendence through communal experience. Presented by Basilica Hudson and Le Guess Who? In collaboration with Sarah Van Buren, the festival activates the entire Basilica Hudson campus through audio/visual art installations and food pop-ups, with music centered in Basilica Hudson’s 6,000 sq. ft. Main Hall.

    A total of 18 acts will perform, including six new artists announced today include Legendary experimentalist eucademix (Yuka C. Honda), Wolf Eyes performing in its latest incarnation as a duo, and renowned US-Based Balinese percussion orchestra Gamelan Dharma Swara returning to 24-HOUR DRONE for the first time in nearly a decade.

    Further additions include pioneering queer saxophonist Michael Foster & DC-based jazz luminary Luke Stewart performing as a duo, a solo set from “transcendental black metal” artist Liturgy (Haela Ravenna Hunt-Hendrix) featuring looped guitar counterpoint, vocals, and electronic percussion, and internationally celebrated sitarist Veena Chandra returns to DRONE with her son, accomplished Tabla percussionist Devesh Chandra.

    These artists join previously announced 24-HOUR DRONE acts including: 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Music winner Raven Chacon, C. Lavender, Fuji|||||||||||ta, and Photay with Celia Hollander and special guests Laraaji + Arji OceAnanda, each performing a special three-hour endurance set.

    Lisa Bernard Kelley, a close collaborator of the late great music and Deep Listening® pioneer Pauline Oliveros, will facilitate The Heart Chant (© Pauline Oliveros, 2001) sonic meditation to close out the festival.

    This will be the first 24-HOUR DRONE held in-person at the venue in four years. It will once again be streamed live on Wave Farm Radio broadcast live on WGXC 90.7-FM: Radio for Open Ears.

    For more information, a full lineup, and to purchase tickets, please visit the festivals website.

  • Natalie Merchant To Host Radio Woodstock “Saturday Night Takeover” April 15th

    Radio Woodstock has announced that legendary singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant will be taking over the airwaves for a special Saturday Night Takeover on April 15th, at 10 pm.

    Natalie Merchant

    Listeners can tune in from 10 pm to midnight to hear Jamestown, NY native Natalie Merchant curate her own playlist, sharing the songs and artists that have influenced her throughout her career. The night will be a unique opportunity for fans to get an intimate look at Natalie Merchant’s personal musical tastes and the stories behind some of her most beloved songs.

    Natalie Merchant is a multi-platinum-selling American singer-songwriter and producer known for her distinctive voice and captivating literary-pop songs. She has released several critically acclaimed albums, including Tigerlily and Ophelia, and has received numerous awards and nominations for her work. Her music blends folk, rock, and world music influences, and she continues to be regarded as a pioneering figure in alternative music. Her newest record, Keep Your Courage, finds Merchant in peak form with songs about love and human connection in its many forms and a voice to keep you hanging on every word.

    I moved to the Hudson Valley in 1988, but I started making records at Bearsville Studios and Dreamland around the same time.I have a long relationship as a listener but also over the years performed at a lot of benefit concerts. This is our hometown radio station. I love WDST. It’s really fun to be here and take over.

    Natalie Merchant

    Natalie Merchant’s career spans over four decades, from her early days with the band 10,000 Maniacs to her successful solo career. She has sold over 20 million records worldwide and is known for hits like “Carnival,” “Wonder,” and “Kind and Generous.” 

    Her newest record, Keep Your Courage, finds Merchant in peak form with songs about love and human connection in its many forms and a voice to keep you hanging on every word.

    “We’re honored to have Natalie Merchant take over Radio Woodstock’s airwaves,” said Radio Woodstock principal owner & President, Gary Chetkof. “Natalie is not only a beloved musician, but she is also an activist and a champion for independent artists. Her takeover is a perfect fit for our station.”

    Tune in for “Saturday Night Takeover” as Natalie Merchant takes over the airwaves on Saturday, April 15th, from 10 pm to Midnight on-air at 100.1, or listen online at RadioWoodstock.com or via the iHeartRADIO app. 

  • Adirondack Bluegrass Festival To Debut In Lake George in July

    Coming this July to the Lake George region, The Adirondack Bluegrass Festival has announced the launching of its inaugural event, held over July 1-2.

    adirondack bluegrass festival lake george festival

    This new annual event will be held at the Barn at French Mountain, just 2 miles south of the village of Lake George. The Adirondack Bluegrass Festival will encompass 10 acres of expansive countryside fields and the beautiful skyline of French Mountain.

    Live entertainment will be inside a 9,000 square foot finished barn and the grounds will be home to over a 100 vendors, food trucks and other activities, like our Cornhole Tournament, and Bounce Houses in the Kids Zone.

    There will be fun for all ages, and kids under 12 are free with a parent. The festival has many lodging options nearby with a campground, and hotels within walking distance, and even more options within a short drive. Onsite parking will be no charge.

    The Adirondack Bluegrass Festival’s mission is to help highlight the bands and musicians of the greater Adirondack area. This two day event will be centered around many local bands that play both traditional music, as well as modern contemporary bluegrass. The festival has brought together a great lineup of upstate’s finest bluegrass players including The Bands Cedar Ridge, the Hilltown Ramblers, Washington County Line, High Peaks Bluegrass Band, Adirondack Song Dogs, The Meat Chickens and the Soggy Derby Boys Band.

    Also, there will be many an impromptu jam to brighten your day as a picker or a spectator. The eclectic mix of vendors and activities will certainly provide a weekend of fun and enjoyment. Tickets start at $30 per day and are available now on the festivals website.

    For more information on the Adirondack Bluegrass Festival in Lake George, or to purchase tickets, please visit the festivals website.

  • Olivia Reid Drops Introspective Single “Wounds (Healing)”  

    NYC indie-pop artist Olivia Reid is getting ready to release her newest single “Wounds (Healing)” on Friday, April 14th. The track is an introspective, ethereal reflection that sees the budding singer-songwriter questioning the layered, complex healing process. 

    Olivia Reid Drops Introspective Single "Wounds (Healing)"  

    Olivia Reid stated about the single, “I recognized how much I had to heal from, but simultaneously feared that truly healing it would leave an absence or a blankness in me. When I’m in fight or flight mode long enough, wounds in the form of anxiety or sadness can mistakenly feel like a crucial part of who I am. The wounds feel familiar, so starting the healing process made me feel so much weaker at first.”  

    Based in NYC, Olivia Reid’s production style blends indie acoustics with exploratory electronic pop soundscapes, landing listeners in a visceral sonic world. Reid’s interests are diversified, exploring areas such as screenwriting, neuroscience, digesting current events, advocating for nature. 

    Currently, Olivia is involved with Brian Eno’s charity EarthPercent, and listening to podcasts, she formerly hosted Spotify For Artists and Notable’s Song Start podcast where she interviewed artists like Sam Smith, Victoria Monet, Hayley Williams of Paramore.  

    As a self-proclaimed “chronic collaborator,” Reid has connected with audiences around the world via collaborations such as “Time is Mine” with Kidswaste, “What You Came Here For” with Jae Luna, and “Above the Clouds” with SŸDE.

    Olivia Reid Drops Introspective Single "Wounds (Healing)"  

    As stated in a previous article by NYS Music, Reid’s music serves as a self-reflection and dedication to her path to success, above all of the challenges. Olivia Reid’s debut EP Earth Water hit streaming platforms in 2021, with new songs on the way in 2023.  Fueled by deeply personal lyrics and boundary-pushing production, the new project conceptually details an artist’s slow descent into madness.  

    https://soundcloud.com/oliviareidmusic/02-wounds-healing/s-uLiqVENWlEY

    To listen to “Wounds (Healing)” click the link here and for more by Olivia Reid, click the link here

  • Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Kick off Weekend at Brooklyn Bowl

    The most prolific and exciting band in the jam scene, this side of Phish, is Pigeons Playing Ping Pong (PPPP), and they brought their rabid flock of fans and patented bevy of groovy tunes to the famous Brooklyn Bowl for the opening night of a 3 night run on April 13th. The 3 hour show showcased the band’s vast talents and was buoyed by a fervent fan base happy to see their favorite band return to New York City. The show was brought to us by Dog Fish Head and Record Store Day.

    photo courtesy of Lee Melnikoff

    Baltimore-based, Pigeons has been around longer than one might suspect.  The members have been performing as a unit for over 15 years.  The band formed at University of Maryland when Greg and Jeremy were in the dorms together in 2007 –  the boys inform me that Wikipedia has this wrong.  Drummer Gator was hired in 2015 to complete the current lineup of Scrambled Greg Ormont (Vocals, rhythm guitar), Jeremy Schon (lead guitar) and Ben Carrey (bass.)  Some acts PPPP has opened for include Umphrey’s Mcgee, Moe.,  Disco Biscuits, String Cheese Incident, and Lotus. Some acts that have opened for PPPP include Goose, Kitchen Dwellers, Tauk, Karina Rykman and Magic Beans. PPPP present their own festival, Domefest, which is highly respected and regarded in the scene.. The band serves up a lively chat of all things PPPP in their FB group appropriately titled, “The Flock.”  There is another FB group for merchandise and tickets. The band has released an initial EP and then 5 full length albums that all start with the letter P.

    photo courtesy of Lee Melnikoff

    Over a tasty dinner, I was able to ask Jeremy and Greg some questions.  Greg ordered the salmon – a dish he orders almost every night for dinner on the road because it packs on protein and energy while being easy to digest before the show.

    Chadbyrne:  What’s the most challenging song you play live and why?

    Greg: I find our newest songs are most challenging, especially when they have vocals. I’ve been focusing more on lyrics these days, sometimes finalizing them right before showtime, which makes them tricky to memorize. Instrumentally, our new song “Miyagi” is a doozy.

    Jeremy:  You’ll know when you hear it!

    Chadbyrne: PPPP has blown up in recent years, is there a specific moment when you felt like you “made it”?

    Greg: That’s really nice of you to say. I don’t know if I’ll ever truly feel like we “made it” per se, but it was so exciting when we decided to quit our day jobs to pursue music full-time about 12 years ago. I held a few jobs after college, but we were simultaneously touring almost every weekend of the year. We would go on these epic weekend runs and then I’d show up for work just so beat. Eventually we decided it was time to give this thing a real shot and tour full-time, and the fun hasn’t stopped.

    Jeremy:  Every time I look into the crowd and see people smiling and/or losing themselves to our music, I get that amazing feeling that “we made it”.  We’ve had so many awe-inspiring moments at shows and festivals that it’s hard to just pick one, but a few big ones that come to mind are some of our Peach Festival sets, our first headlining shows at the 9:30 Club, and All Good Festival in 2015.

    Chadbyrne: As a songwriter, what song are you most proud of and why?

    Greg: All of them! Writing music is so fun because you always remember each song’s origin and development. Some ideas develop quickly, others take years, but in both cases it’s so exciting when they’re finally played live because you remember the journey.

    Jeremy:  I try not to pick favorites, but it’s always a proud moment when I hear people singing along with our songs!

    Chadbyrne: If music hadn’t worked out, what profession do you think you would have undertaken?

    Greg: I was in sales after college. I had a knack for it, but I wasn’t passionate at all. I don’t know if I could go back to a 9 to 5, but I could see myself getting into real estate as a means to an end to spend more time with my family.

    Jeremy: If I didn’t find myself somewhere in the music industry, I’d probably be working some sort of IT job. I have degrees in Marketing and Business Information Systems, in case anyone is wondering the secret behind my playing.

    Chadbyrne: Who is your favorite guitarist and why?

    Greg: I always keep my ears open for inspiration and don’t play into the favorites game much. That said, I love Nile Rodgers, but I also love Shmeeans from Lettuce, Ryan from The Motet, Dan from Kyle Hollingsworth Band and countless others. They’re all great listeners, unique players, always melodic and in the pocket. Also since we don’t have a keyboardist, I often listen to those elements live. Huge fan of Joey Porter from The Motet and his funky approach on the clavinet, and everything Page from Phish plays.

    Jeremy: I’m a huge Phish fan, so I can’t deny that Trey Anastasio has been a huge inspiration – he’s a master of tension/release.

    photo courtesy of Lee Melnikoff

    “Let Your Cup Overrun”

    Yam Yam opened the night.  Pigeons took the stage just after 9pm.  This was the only night of the run anticipated not to sell out but that was just as well for the hard core members of The Flock in attendance as they were afforded more dancing room. “Distant Times” was the perfect up-tempo opener and the crowd knew all the lyrics.  But it was “Live it Up” that was the highlight of the first set.  The popular Pigeons staple builds and builds until Jeremy and Greg get locked into a tight call and response ultimately paying off with an exquisite crescendo. 

    After a Chili Peppers cover, as usual, Fun in Funk provided a spark near the end of the set.  PPPP are masters of no matter the genre or the song – they can always find a groove and it is usually danceable. Manny Newman again demonstrated why he is one of the best LDs in music.

    photo courtesy of Lee Melnikoff

    PPPP is like going to the Circus.  Greg is the affable and enthusiastic carnival barker who lures in patrons, Jeremy is the lion tamer guiding and patient who leads the posse to the next level and Ben is the charismatic clown always entertaining the masses with zest. 

    A highlight of the 2nd set was Gator on the drums – he is a heavy hitter adept at keeping impeccable time behind the kit as best exemplified by his bombastic extended drum solo at the end of “Water.”  PPPP should do the soundtrack to a sci-fi film as the music is not of this world.  Jeremy continues to demonstrate that he is the most underrated guitarist around – with the fastest fingers in the scene.  The show was complete, with even Ben singing a tune.  The encore was special with arguably the band’s best tune, “Dawn a New Day.”  Upbeat and packed with lyrics ala “Strawberry Letter 23,” it is a lengthy joyous romp and a proper way to end the epic night on a positive note.

    Pigeons Playing Ping Pong – Brooklyn Bowl, Williamsburg – Thursday, April 13

    Set 1: Distant Times, Henrietta, Live it Up, Hit the Ground Runnin, Around the World, Overrun, Fun in Funk>Skinner  

    Set 2: Fall in Place, Water, Beneath the Surface, Bad for You, Melting Lights, Ha ha ha yeah, su casa, schwanthem

    Encore: Dawn a New Day

  • Fake Dad Releases 80’s New Wave Single “FASHION GIRL”

    NYC’s Alt-pop duo Fake Dad has released their newest single titled “Fashion Girl,” today, April 14th. The alt-pop duo is delivering their second project of 2023 that perfectly captures an electrifying, cathartic, throwback 90’s grunge sound that is a departure from their usual discography, demonstrating their versatility as both songwriters and performers. 

    Fake Dad Releases 80’s New Wave Single “FASHION GIRL”

    The single “FASHION GIRL” is angsty and nostalgic sounding, paying homage to groundbreaking throwback styles like 80’s new wave and 90’s female led riot grrrl punk. In the song, Fake Dad tells the story of a personal best friend breakup while offering commentary on a variety of topics like beauty standards, body and gender dysmorphia, daddy issues, insecurity, and female rage. 

    Fake Dad Releases 80’s New Wave Single “FASHION GIRL”

    At first glance, “FASHION GIRL” is a fun, energetic track that calls upon listeners to let-lose with contagiously danceable reverb-soaked Oberheim drum machine patterns, messy driving distorted guitar, heavy bass, and surf-rock style riffs. With a deeper look into the single, Fake Dad speaks to an untapped, silent pain that so many people carry around with them about constantly being made to feel like they will never look good enough, be pretty or hot in the right way, and the unacknowledged frustration, and rage, that they live in a world that assigns so much of their worth to people’s ability to live up to superficial ideals. 

    Fake Dad Releases 80’s New Wave Single “FASHION GIRL”

    Following recent releases “maybe next year” and “New Machines,” the duo delivers their second project of 202. They perfectly capture an electrifying, cathartic, throwback 90’s grunge sound that is a departure from their usual discography, demonstrating their versatility as both songwriters and performers.  

    18.jpg

    Birthed from Fake Dad’s deep dive into Russian Dark Wave (and post-punk bands) and a tragic falling out with a fashion major (childhood) best friend who hailed from a wealthy UES Manhattan type family, this song is about the insecurity and sadness hidden behind the eyes of so many of the people the fashion industry swallows up with the promise of beauty and power. It at once exalts, criticizes, and empathizes with them, aiming to hand the fashion girls back their power and grant them an opportunity to reconcile with the ephemeral love and power that masquerades as the ideal, golden shell of a life.  

    When listening to the single, fans can hear a reminiscent of 80s New Wave (New Order, Joy Division, The Cure, Talking Heads) for a non-male-led era. In other words, all the female-fronted, angsty energy of 90s riot grrrl/bikini kill punk along with its slightly more pop-leaning, bratty (yet still unequivocally angry) early 2000s sound reminiscent of bands like No Doubt, The Cardigans, Alanis Morissette, Paramore, and P!nk. 

    Fake Dad wants listeners to experience a sense of catharsis from this track, “whether it’s someone who dedicates their life to changing themselves into something that looks good enough, or someone who wishes they could opt out of the value system entirely, there is an anger that needs to be released.”

    “Fashion Girl” premiers on all platforms April 14th.

    For more music by Fake Dad, click the link here.