NYS Music 2023

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  • Vevo Announces Celebration For 50th Anniversary Of Hip Hop

    Vevo, the world’s peerless music video network, announced the celebration of its 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop. Vevo’s celebration of its anniversary serves as tribute to all aspects of hip hop. Music from “Legends In Concert,” “Hip-Hop International,” “2K Hip-Hop Legends,” “Rock Meets Rap,” “70’s Sampled Songs,” ‘80’s Sampled Songs”, and more will encompass the commemoration.  

    The celebration begins with an exclusive behind the scenes viewing of Public Enemy’s groundbreaking music video “Fight The Power” by Chuck D. Chuck D explains the writing process, concept for the video, the intermix of sounds used and public reception of the Spike Lee-directed video. 

    Vevo hip hop

    The anniversary allows you to enjoy Vevo footnotes, a series that takes viewers behind-the-scenes of their favorite videos. Come celebrate with your favorite artist to enjoy this honoring of hip hop. Expect to see stars like A$AP Rocky, Common, Cypress Hill, De La Soul, Grand Puba, Havoc (Mobb Deep), Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Macklemore, Mack Maine, MC Serch (3rd Bass), Naughty by Nature, Public Enemy, Raekwon, Salt-N-Pepa, Souls of Mischief and T.I.

    “Hip-hop hasn’t just shaped music; it’s shaped culture as a whole – from fashion, language, sports, even politics and beyond, and music videos have been there to aid in propelling those cultural shifts forward,” 

    Jordan Glickson

    Since 2009, Vevo has been connecting an ever-growing global audience to high quality music video content. Vevo offers fans an abundance of premium content to choose from, showcasing official music videos alongside a constantly developing lineup of live performances and trailblazing programming. From top superstars to rising new talents, Vevo brings incomparable cross-promotional support to artists across the musical spectrum. Vevo is available on YouTube, Samsung, Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Pluto TV, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Echo Show, Freevee, Apple TV, Google Tv, etc. More information on Vevo can be accessed here.

    “Hip Hop turning 50 means that there can be no doubt, no argument, no ignorance 

    about its consequence in the world. Back when PE was coming up, it was in the days before social media. Videos were the only way to connect with hip hop fans around the world. They delivered songs in a full package of sight, sound, story and style. A truly underrated art form. Vevo keeps that connection solid, not only for us but for hip hop artists

    from every corner of the globe. Here’s to the next 50.”

    – Chuck D

  • Stand Together Music and Other Music Industry Officials Come Together to Support Addiction Recovery

    A staggering 56% of music industry professionals have some type of substance abuse, with the industry now beginning to take the lead in supporting those with addiction Companies like Stand Together Strong are joining forces with 1 Million Strong to provide services to those struggling.

    Stand Together Music
    Colette Weintraub and Kevin Lyman.

    Colette Weintraub is the head of Stand Together Music, one of the partners in the 1 Million Strong initiative, seeking to support one million people in addiction recovery through the strength of community. Kevin Lyman is best known as the creator of the beloved Vans Warped Tour, shaping youth culture for over forty years with his award-winning expertise in the music industry and other ventures.

    Last month was Dry January, where participants stay sober throughout the entire month. An average of 35% of Americans participated in 2022, an increase from 21% in 2019. When the month is over, people tend to turn to alcohol to celebrate, but the problem of addiction runs deeper. Each year over 100,000 people are dying to alcohol-related causes. The music industry is among the hardest hit due to being known for things like sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. Many artists have been in the news after dying from their addictions, or losing their will to live while battling it.

    In an open letter to the music industry, 1 Million Strong wrote “We’re taking action to transform the way people think about addiction by supporting new ways for sober fans to enjoy shows, ensuring touring musicians and crews have access to resources on the road, and engaging in conversations about sobriety that are free from shame and stigma and full of possibilities.” The letter has been signed by Aloe Blacc, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, RIAA Chairman & CEO Mitch Glazier, Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino, and more. If you would like to sign the letter, visit here.

    Things like Warped Tour helped provide mental health and sobriety support on the road throughout, with sober coaches for artists and crew in recovery, and provided services to fans. Stand Together Music/1 Million Strong has been working hard over the past year to provide sober-supportive spaces at concerts and music festivals, like at Bourbon & Beyond to Park City Song Summit and The Chainsmokers show at The Greek Theatre in Berkeley.

    This isn’t about turning the industry sober, but more about giving those struggling a better path to recovery and bring their best selves to music, allowing fans and everyone else to benefit from their art.

  • The Killers and Foo Fighters to Headline Sea.Hear.Now 2023

    The fifth installment of the Sea.Hear.Now festival will be returning to its familiar grounds along the picturesque waterfront in Asbury Park, New Jersey on September 16-17, 2023. The annual two-day music festival will be headlined by alternative rockers The Killers on Saturday and 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Foo Fighters on Sunday.

    sea.hear.now

    Produced by Tim Sweetwood of C3 Presents (Austin City Limits, Lollapalooza), along with iconic rock photographer Danny Clinch, his good pal Tim Donnnelly (a music journalist turned promoter) and HM Wollman (an industry veteran), the festival is a celebration of live music, art and surf culture.

    sea.hear.now
    A packed beach audience enjoying live music on the Surf Stage (2022) | Photo by Michael Dinger

    The Killers, in support of their two most recent studio albums (2020’s Imploding The Mirage and 2021’s Pressure Machine), will be back on the road this spring with a March 16 kick-off in nearby Atlantic City, New Jersey. The 11-date tour for these Las Vegas natives formed in 2001 will include three shows in Mexico, as well as an appearance at Shaky Knees on May 5 in Atlanta, Georgia.

    Foo Fighters, who are officially returning to the stage in 2023 after the tragic death of drummer Taylor Hawkins in March of last year, will also be making two festival appearances in May – Boston Calling and the Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival in Columbus, Ohio – as well as Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tennessee on June 18.

    Pearl Jam performing at the 2021 festival | Photo by Michael Dinger
    Patti Smith performing at the 2021 festival | Photo by Michael Dinger
    The Smashing Pumpkins performing at the 2021 festival | Photo by Michael Dinger
    sea.hear.now
    Billy Idol performing at the 2021 festival | Photo by Michael Dinger

    The festival’s lineup will feature 50+ artists across three stages (two in the sand and one in Bradley Park), including Greta Van Fleet, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and Sheryl Crow on Saturday and Weezer, Rebelution, Mt. Joy, The Beach Boys and The Breeders on Sunday.

    Cage the Elephant performing at the 2022 festival | Photo by Michael Dinger
    Boy George performing at the 2022 festival | Photo by Michael Dinger
    IDLES performing at the 2022 festival | Photo by Michael Dinger
    sea.hear.now
    The Backseat Lovers performing at the 2022 festival | Photo by Michael Dinger

    In addition to the music scene taking place on both of the beach stages, festivalgoers can also experience artwork created by the musicians performing over the weekend, including impromptu sets, at the Transparent Clinch pop-up gallery in Bradley Park. And if that weren’t enough, the weekend will also include a professional team surf contest known as the “North Beach Rumble.”

    A portion of the festival’s proceeds is also donated to grassroots, non-profit environmental organizations and community charities such as the Surfrider Foundation, Operation Beachhead, Clean Ocean Action, Garden State Equality and Boys & Girls Clubs of Monmouth County, to name only a few.

    Gary Clark Jr. performing at the 2022 festival | Photo by Michael Dinger
    Courtney Barnett performing at the 2022 festival | Photo by Michael Dinger

    Ticket presale for Sea.Hear.Now 2023 begins this Thursday, February 9 at 10:00 am EST. Available options include 1-Day and 2-Day tickets (General Admission, GA+, VIP and Platinum), plus a 2-Day Ultimate Experience. Layaway Pans, starting at $20, will also be made available for all ticket types. For additional information, including presale code sign-up details, visit seahearnowfestival.com.

    sea.hear.now
    Excited fans during Wet Leg’s set at the Park Stage (2022) | Photo by Michael Dinger

    2023 Daily Lineups:

    Saturday (September 16)

    The Killers

    Greta Van Fleet

    Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

    Sheryl Crow

    Tash Sultana

    Royal Blood

    Bob Moses

    Cory Wong

    Oteil & Friends

    Living Colour

    Babe Rainbow

    Surfer Girl 

    Snacktime

    Quincy Mumford

    Yawn Mower

    Sunday (September 17)

    Foo Fighters

    Weezer

    Rebelution

    Mt. Joy

    The Beach Boys

    The Breeders

    Tegan & Sara

    Stephen Sanchez

    Joey Valence & Brae

    Adam Melchor

    Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country

    Easy Star All-Stars

    Sunflower Bean

    Waiting On Mongo

    Alexander Simone & Whodat?

  • Skinny Puppy to Perform in New York One Last Time

    Canadian music group Skinny Puppy is scheduled to celebrate their 40th anniversary with a performance at Irving Plaza in New York City, accompanied by special guest Lead Into Gold. The April 21 performance will be one of the last for the group, as the Skinny Puppy: Final Tour kicks off on April 6 in San Antonio.

    skinny puppy final tour irving plaza

    Skinny Puppy’s upcoming final tour also marks a return to the road for the group.

    “It’s been eight long years since we’ve toured, and there is no better way to end our run as a group than with a tour celebrating our 40th anniversary. To our west coast fans, don’t worry! We’ll see you soon!” – Skinny Puppy

    All current members cEvin Key (Kevin Crompton), Nivek Ogre (Kevin Ogilvie), and Mark Walk will be present for the upcoming final tour.

    Originating in Vancouver in 1982, Skinny Puppy is in large part created for founding and popularizing the industrial rock and electro-industrial genres. Formerly of the new wave band Images in Vogue, Key initially envisioned the group as a side project. After the addition of vocalist Ogre, they evolved into a full-time project.

    Skinny Puppy’s first full-length album, Bites, was released in Canada in 1985 and certified gold by Music Canada in 1994. Their subsequent releases have charted in North America and Europe. Noted for their theatrical and controversial live performances, Ogre once remarked that touring for himself was like “dating hydrogen peroxide”, referencing the numerous injuries he has acquired while touring.

    Tickets for Skinny Puppy’s final tour and Irving Plaza show are available for purchase beginning Friday, Feb. 10 at 10 a.m.

    SKINNY PUPPY: FINAL TOUR 2023 TOUR DATES: 

    Thu Apr 06 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theater

    Fri Apr 07 – Houston, TX – House of Blues

    Sat Apr 08 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues

    Mon Apr 10 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution

    Tue Apr 11 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live

    Thu Apr 13 – Atlanta, GA – The Buckhead Theatre

    Fri Apr 14 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore Charlotte

    Sat Apr 15 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel

    Mon Apr 17 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Roxian

    Tue Apr 18 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of the Living Arts

    Wed Apr 19 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring

    Fri Apr 21 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza

    Sun Apr 23 – Boston, MA – House of Blues

    Tue Apr 25 – Montreal, QC – The Corona Theater

    Wed Apr 26 – Toronto, ON – History 

    Fri Apr 28 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogarts

    Sat Apr 29 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues

    Mon May 01 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore

    Tue May 02 – Lawrence, KS – Liberty Hall

    Wed May 03 – Denver, CO – Summit

    Thu May 04 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot

    Sat May 06 – Garden City, ID – Revolution Concert House and Event Center

    Mon May 08 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom

    Tue May 09 – Seattle, WA – Neptune

  • Seventh Annual Love Rocks Benefit Show Announced at Beacon Theatre

    The seventh annual Love Rocks benefit show for God’s Love We Deliver will be live and streamed online from the Beacon Theatre on March 9, featuring artists like James Taylor, John Mayer Trio, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, and many more.

    Love Rocks NYC launched in 2017, and has since raised more than $25 million to date and helped fund more than 2.5 million meals for New Yorkers in need. The benefit concert highlights God’s Love We Deliver’s mission of providing meals and nutrition counseling for people in the New York Metropolitan area living with severe illness. The not-for-profit was founded in 1985 as a response to the AIDS pandemic, now serving people living with more than 200 different diagnoses, home-delivering more than 3.3 million medically tailored meals to more than 10,500 individuals last year.

    Executive produced by iconic international fashion designer John Varvatos, NYC Douglas Elliman real estate broker and prominent concert producer Greg Williamson and esteemed concert/events producer Nicole Rechter, and featuring appearances by Stephen Colbert, Andy Cohen, Chevy Chase, Phoebe Robinson, and newly added special guests Gina Gershon, David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris, the concert will support and honor the work of the cherished New York-based not-for-profit

    The past six benefit concerts have featured a wide array of music including Cyndi Lauper, Keith Richards, Jon Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews, Robert Plant, Joe Walsh, Sara Bareilles, Hozier, and more. This year’s all-star lineup, led by Music Director and Band Leader Will Lee will feature James Taylor, John Mayer Trio, Sheryl Crow, Mavis Staples, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, St. Vincent, Rufus Wainwright, Jim James, Stephen Marley, Gary Clark Jr., Allison Russell, The War and Treaty, Bernie Williams and more to be announced.

    The outstanding house band will include Steve Gadd (James Taylor, Eric Clapton), Shawn Pelton (Saturday Night Live), Larry Campbell (Levon Helm, Bob Dylan), Eric Krasno (Soulive, Phil Lesh & Friends), Pedrito Martinez (Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Camila Cabello), Michael Bearden (Lady Gaga) and a six-piece horn section.

    Fans in NYC and elsewhere can experience this memorable night of music by signing up here, and for a $20 fee will be able to access a live stream link to the concert via Fans.Live while also helping support the organization as $20 = 2 Meals for New Yorkers living with severe and chronic illness.

  • Gustavo Dudamel to Leave L.A. Philharmonic and be New York Philharmonic’s Artistic Director

    Conductor Gustavo Dudamel is leaving the L.A. Philharmonic to become the Music and Artistic Director for the New York Philharmonic.

    Gustavo Dudamel
    Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images

    Dudamel will step into the role of leading the New York Philharmonic at the beginning of the 2026-27 season. For the 2025-26 season, he will serve as the orchestra’s Music Director, and his full contract will last for five years. He has been with the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 2009.

    In addition to the L.A. Philharmonic, Dudamel has been the Music Director of the Opéra National de Paris since 2021, and Music Director of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela since 1999. His mission statement is wanting to bring music to people across the globe, which he has accomplished through YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles), developed in 2007, which provides 1,500 young people with free instruments, intensive music instruction, academic support, and leadership training.

    Some of the honors Dudamel has achieved during his career include the Americas Society Cultural Achievement Award in 2016, the 2014 Leonard Bernstein Lifetime Achievement Award for the Elevation of Music in Society from the Longy School of Music, Spain’s 2020 Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts, the 2019 Konex Foundation Classical Music Award, Distinguished Artist Award from the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA), and many more.

    In a statement, he said he was “grateful” for the new title, and “grateful to the musicians and leaders of the New York Philharmonic as we embark upon this new and beautiful journey together [and] to my beloved family at the Los Angeles Philharmonic and YOLA [the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles].” NY Phil Board Co-Chairmen Peter May and Oscar Tang said they are excited to welcome him to the Philharmonic. “Building on this orchestra’s great legacy, he joins a historic list of distinguished Music Directors.”

    Gustavo Dudamel
    Gustavo Dudamel conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic, 2022, photo by Getty Images.

    Dudamel’s hire to the New York Philharmonic means the L.A. Philharmonic will be looking for a music director of its own. Said best by Gary Ginstling, Executive Director and incoming President & CEO, “With Gustavo Dudamel, the Philharmonic is poised for what I believe will be one of the most exciting chapters in its storied history.”

  • SAMMY Awards Announce 2023 Nominees

    Preparing for the 2023 SAMMY Awards show, local media and Hall of Fame inductees came together to build excitement for this year’s upcoming award ceremony on March 3 at The Palace Theater on James Street in Syracuse. The SAMMY Awards has become well appreciated within the Central New York music community, going back to 1993.

    SAMMY awards 2023
    Hall of Fame Inductees – Perri Sage Photography

    The SAMMYs will honor Hall of Fame nominees, as well as presenting awards in 14 different categories, as well as a People’s choice award. The night will also feature performances from Brownskin Band, The Carolyn Kelly Blues Band, Chuck Schieles Quatro, Not Robots! and Trauma Cat.

    On February 7, the SAMMY hall of famers and representatives get together to hold the annual awards show press conference. Hosted at the home of SubCat Studios, founded in 2001, were more than willing to help present and prepare for this year’s awards. 

    For the 2023 SAMMY Awards, Hall of Fame inductees include, Larry Hoyt, Carolyn Kelly, Doug Thaler along with nominated music educator of the year Kevin Dorsey and Irving Kaufman for the lifetime achievement award. Early Tuesday morning, a few hall of famers gave insight on the SAMMYs and their contribution to the awards show over the years.

    SAMMY awards 2023
    Perri Sage Photography

    Honoree Larry Hoyt shared, “The SAMMYs is really great in so many ways for so many different reasons. We have so many talented people here in Central New York who deserve more recognition than they normally would receive.” Hoyt began writing for the Syracuse Post Standard and along the way became a part of the original committee that brought the SAMMYs together.

    Along with Hoyt, NYS Music spoke music educator of the year Kevin Dorsey. Dorsey has been a music educator in the Syracuse district for 25 years and previously won two SAMMY awards in his past years as a musician. Dorsey stated, “I’m honored and I’m humbled really.. This is what I’ve wanted to do with  my life and there’s people out there who feel like I’ve done it at a level that’s deserving of recognition. People are recognizing the work I’ve done with my students and I’ve had 3,000 students in the past 25 years and I’m truly honored.”

    SubCat Studios – Perri Sage Photography

    2023 SAMMY NOMINEES

    BEST JAZZ ALBUM

    • London McDaniel – The Christmas Album • Shawn Seals & SMX – Color
    • Test Kitchen – Wings of Dreams

    BEST AMERICANA ALBUM

    • Brian and the Beautiful Birds – Brian and the Beautiful Birds
    • Christian Parker – Every Passing Mile
    • The Dirty Doves – Bumblebee Brandywine
    • John Cadley – I Never Knew
    • The Rollin’ Rust – Road Rats

    BEST OTHER STYLE ALBUM

    • Jeff Tripoli – Wabi Sabi
    • Jim Elenteny – Twelve String AcousticGuitar Music
    • Max Scialdone – Christmas Songs
    • Tom Rasely – Nylon
    • The Turbulents – Stick to the Script
    2023 SAMMYs Sponsors

    BEST ELECTRONIC ALBUM

    • AK Kastro – 2009
    • C-u-RT – The Yellow Seahorse
    • Everett – Alien’s Attempt
    • Mazedude – Game Remix, Tracker Homage • The Stranger – Cold Out Here

    BEST JAM BAND ALBUM

    • Adam Brooks – Ain’t All About You
    • Anthony Saturno – Mixed Bag of Beans, Vol. 1 • Master Thieves – Wanderlust

    BEST POP ALBUM

    • Amoreena – The Garden
    • Cloey Tierno – I Fell in Love with the Rain • DreaMe – Chapter 22 New Beginnings
    • Jess Novak – Bad Bitch
    • Keith Calveric – Untold

    BEST HARD ROCK ALBUM

    • Gainer – A Blackened Embrace
    • Head Underwater – It Gets Worse
    • No Blush – No Blush
    • Our 11th Hour – Of Halos & Hand Grenades • Stone Thrower – This is Permanent

    BEST R&B ALBUM

    • FB – For U
    • FB – For U Too
    • Nate Glyn – Greatest Hits (2017-22)
    • Shawn Seals & SMX – Session Files #1

    BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM

    • Bell & Sgroi – Candy Apple
    • The Kiwis – Strange Danger
    • Sound Discard – Riptide
    • Steven Page – Excelsior
    • Trauma Cat – The Truth Doesn’t Live Here

    BEST SINGER/SONGWRITER

    • Breaking Bones – Sleepyhead
    • Cam Caruso – On the Other Side (5 YearAnniversary Edition)
    • Gina Holsopple – All the Things I Wanna Hear
    • Jason Decker – Fall Under The Sun
    • Paul Case – This Love

    BEST COUNTRY ALBUM

    • Lisa Gentile – Start Flying
    • Mike Gibson – Suburban Hillbilly • Steven Cali – Own Kinda Fix
    • Tink Bennett – Collaborations
    • Whiskey Hollow Rush – Linda Lu

    BEST ROCK ALBUM

    • Ben Wayne – spectator
    • Bradford Allen – Selfishly Empathetic
    • Glass Image – Mixed Emotions
    • Irv Lyons Jr. – What Are We Fighting For
    • O T B (Old Tall Buildings) – Lost In The Loud

    BEST HIP-HOP OR RAP ALBUM

    • Blackman Preach – 12 Years Gone
    • Christenelle Diroc – With Synchronosity & Serendipity
    • FB and Exoticz – The Round Table
    • Slick Fashionz & Queeto ABF – The World Is Yours • The WiZdom G.O.A.T. – Perseverance

    BEST SINGLE

    • Adam Brooks – Gone & Forgotten
    • All Poets & Heroes – Give It To Me Straight • MániSoul – Run This Back
    • The Real RAW Breed – Sun Don’t Shine
    • Ryla – Intuition

    Held at the Landmark Theater starting in 1993, the SAMMYs are more than ready to recognize the talent of the music community in Central New York for 2023. For 30 years the awards show has been acknowledged as one of the number one local music events hosted in Syracuse, New York. With that said, mark the date, as the 2023 SAMMY Awards will be one to remember!

  • Blue Note Jazz Club Announces Alternate Ticketing Methods for Fans

    Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City has announced they will be introducing an alternative ticketing method for fans. This is particularly timely given the recent Ticketmaster Senate hearing regarding the disastrous ticket pricing and inconvenient ways to purchase tickets. 

    Blue Note Jazz Club

    Since 1981, the Blue Note Jazz Club has been a cultural institution in NYC and one of the premiere jazz clubs in the world. It strives to preserve the history of jazz, and the club practices the foundations of jazz on a nightly basis and carries the torch for the genre in the 21st century.

    The club has been frequented by celebrities such as Scarlett Johansson, Colin Jost, Zoe Kravitz, and Jon Hamm, and has featured musicians like Robert Glasper, Ron Carter, Pat Metheny, Ms. Lisa Fischer, Christain McBride, Keyon Harrold, Meshell Ndegeocello, and more.

    Blue Note will be partnering with the company Yellowheart for the second year in a row. They look to develop smart tickets to help prevent the most common issues with traditional ticketing, like scalping, fraudulent tickets, expensive resale prices, and more. This is especially timely considering the Ticketmaster Senate hearing, where the site came under fire for mishandling and botching the presale of the latest Taylor Swift tour.

    About the new ticketing system, Blue Note marketing director Jennifer Harrington said “By partnering with YellowHeart, we are able to offer exclusive access to shows on our stage and a peak behind the scenes with the artists who perform here. Smart ticketing with blockchain technology has long been on our radar and now we have the ideal partner to bring this moment to life.” There will be a select number of smart tickets available for every show that have added benefits, such as VIP seating, and exclusive media airdropped directly via the tickets, which can include recorded performances to messages from artists in the business.

    The first ticketed performance will be STOUT: The Live Avenger Experience on March 6 at the club. To purchase tickets and to see other events happening at the venue, visit here.

  • Gord Downie & Bob Rock Share New Single “The Moment is a Wild Place”

    The late Gord Downie & Canadian producer Bob Rock have just released their latest single “The Moment Is A Wild Place.” The epic rock duo has also just announced their upcoming album Lustre Parfait, the ninth album to bear Downie’s name outside of The Tragically Hip, and the first to bear Rock’s. 

    Gord Downie & Bob Rock Share New Single and Upcoming Album 

    The single is a long-fabled collaboration between Gord Downie, late front man of legendary Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, and GRAMMY® Award-winning producer/musician Bob Rock. Their partnership began in 2006 when Rock produced The Tragically Hip’s acclaimed 10th studio album, World Container, followed in 2009 by the chart-topping We Are The Same. 

    Gord Downie & Bob Rock Share New Single and Upcoming Album 

    Robert Jens Rock, record producer, engineer, guitarist, and songwriter has produced and engineer top-selling albums by such timeless artists as Metallica, Bon Jovi, The Tragically Hip, The Cult, Mötley Crüe, Aerosmith, Cher, Loverboy, Bryan Adams, Simple Plan, Michael Bublé and many others. He is known for his robust, radio-friendly production touch and the intuition to play to an artist’s character and strengths, Rock is perhaps best known for his long-standing role as producer for Metallica. 

    Gord Downie & Bob Rock Share New Single and Upcoming Album 

    “I’ve always been a fan of long pieces of music,” says Bob Rock. “Setting a mood and going someplace, just taking you somewhere. The music was based on that journey, this rising tide of chords, crescendos in the chorus. Somehow, I stumbled on this magic chord, a simple minor to a major progression, and it moved me. And Gord reacted to it. It’s absolute perfection in terms of songwriting and in terms of what he did. It’s special because of what he talks about. The lyric was written before he was diagnosed with the sickness that he had. They say you gotta live in the moment. It causes you to look back, and I get choked up every time I hear it, still. I think most people will be moved by it. It’s one of his finest moments.” 

    More than a decade in the making, Lustre Parfait sees Downie’s peerless lyricism and incendiary heart given newfangled energy by his longtime friend and collaborator, famed producer/musician Bob Rock.  

    Gord Downie is the late lead singer and songwriter of The Tragically Hip, who, over more than 30 years and across fourteen studio albums, built an enduring legacy as perhaps the essential Canadian rock band. With seven solo albums to his name, Downie’s own music refutes definition, renowned for its adventurous poetry, collaboration, elastic composition, and singular vocal wail.  

    Unfortunately, Downie passed away on October 17th, 2017. Since his passing, The New York Times stated that Downie has “no parallel in the United States. Imagine Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Michael Stipe combined into one sensitive, oblique, poet-philosopher, and you’re getting close.” 

    “First and foremost Gord was my friend,” continues Rock, “and having the opportunity to work with him on these songs was one of the biggest highlights of my professional life. I am grateful that I got to witness his genius in such close proximity.” 

    To listen to “The Moment Is A Wild Place,” click the link here.

    To preorder the upcoming album Lustre Parfait, click the link here.

  • Ticketing Reform Bill Proposed by President Biden

    Over the past few weeks, Democrats and Republicans have come to an unprecedented place of unity. Ever since the Ticketmaster controversy over Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour”, Congress has been in discussion over the best course of action to combat, what many refer to as, a monopoly that Ticketmaster has on the concert industry. In response, Biden has suggested a ticketing reform bill, the “Junk Fee Protection Act.”

    Ticketing Reform Bill

    President Biden has expressed his support for the ticketing reform bill and is urging congress to pass it. As expressed by Biden during a meeting of his competition council, the bill would “lower the huge service fees that companies like Ticketmaster slap on tickets for concerts or sporting events that can easily add hundreds of bucks to a family’s night out.”

    The President added, “Congress should pass the Junk Fee Protection Act, so we can crack down on these fees and give hard-working Americans just a little bit more breathing room.” President Biden hasn’t been the only figure to express his discontent with the leading ticket company.

    The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing titled “That’s the Ticket: Promoting Competition and Protecting Consumers in Live Entertainment” taking place on Tuesday, January 24.

    Jerry Mickelson, the chief executive of Jam Productions, said “For the leading ticket company not to be able to handle bots is, for me, an unbelievable statement.”

    Jack Groetzinger, the chief executive of SeatGeek, a smaller but aggressive competitor to Ticketmaster, has called for the break up of Ticketmaster and Live Nation Entertainment.

    Jack Groetzinger, CEO of SeatGeek, testifies at Senate hearing of Ticketmaster debacle, Jan. 24, 2023.

    “The only way to restore competition in this industry,” he said, “is to break up Ticketmaster and Live Nation.”

    The Ticketmaster monopoly accusations aren’t just smoke and mirrors. Reputable experts have expressed their concern. The time has come for action to be taken.

    In order for a monopoly to be in effect, there must be a lack of competition. A specific person or enterprise is the sole “winner” in a case where a monopoly is in effect. To that end, think about the last time you bought a ticket for a concert or other live music event through any platform outside Ticketmaster.

    At the hearing, lawmakers cited more than just the Taylor Swift presale controversy. They drew a broader image of an industry where Live Nation is often all of the ticketing agent, promoter, and venue owner/operator.

    Richard Durbin (D-IL), Senate Judiciary Committee chair, stated at the start of the hearing, “Ticketing and live entertainment markets lack competition and are dominated by a single entity.” Members of both parties expressed their support for Durbin’s sentiments. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), has referred to this concept as the “triangle of a monopoly.”

    Full Senate hearing on Ticketmaster crisis.