Electronic synth-pop band from Brooklyn, telly, has shared their latest track, “Broken Heart Baby.” The nostalgic synth track is a breakup ballad perfect for screaming at the top of your lungs with your friends in your car, and predates their future EP, EPISODE 1.
telly is a duo made up of Ashley Claude (vocals, production) and Max Solomon (guitar, synths, sfx, production).
telly will be releasing their debut EP EPISODE 1 on October 11. The EP will feature previous singles “BLINK” and “Arena Gates” – as well as newly released single “Broken Heart Baby.” In the duo’s own words, “EPISODE 1 is an escapist reflection of the relentless digital landscape.”
To celebrate the release of EPISODE 1, telly will be performing live on release day. Join the band at Gold Sounds in Brooklyn, New York on October 11 at 7:30pm ET to hear songs from the new EP live, with support from Couch Prints, Chroma, & Jand.
“’Broken Heart Baby’ is a crushing breakup ballad told through the lens of a road trip. The nostalgic synth lead, propelling live drums, and reverberating vocals evoke the overwhelming emptiness that hits you when you realize you’re alone in a relationship. It’s the perfect song to scream cry to in the car with your friends!”
telly
“Broken Heart Baby” is a great addition to any playlist for those who prefer an electronic-pop vibe, one that complements Ashley’s vocals well. Her voice is deep and guttural, but portrays a lot of emotion and matches the carefree vibe of the song. It seems to have a good deal of indie influence, and feels like a song to blast in the car with friends while going for a late night drive to and from McDonald’s (if you’re an Upstate New Yorker past midnight).
Pre-save EPISODE 1 HERE, Stream “Broken Heart Baby” HERE, and follow telly on Instagram and TikTok.
While things have certainly cooled off outside around Central New York lately, there is no shortage of indoor concerts to warm your spirit. Here are five can’t-miss shows in Syracuse for the month of October.
Central New York star Sydney Irving returns to Syracuse with a performance at the Maplewood Inn on October 12. The concert should be quite the celebration, as the show serves as the album release party for Irving’s newest album, Unfashioned Creatures, which will be available on all streaming services on October 10. The 20 year-old singer songwriter has been turning heads all across New York State for several years. She recently opened for Gavin Degraw at this year’s Spiedie Fest in Binghamton. Irving will again be joined by her backing band, “The Mojo” for the release party. You won’t want to miss this special performance.
An impressive lineup of female musicians take the stage October 15, as F.I.R.E. Festival once again returns to the Oswego Music Hall. F.I.R.E., which stands for Females Inspire Rock Empower, showcases not only music, but also female led businesses and art. The event, which was curated by Jess Novak, was designed to serve as an alternative to the many male dominated music festivals. The day of music will feature area talents such as Jess Novak, Amanda Rogers, Stress Dolls, Starting Off Red and many more. See the full line up of music and vendors here.
Tickets are $10 at the door and music starts at 1pm.
The sounds of Frank Zappa will once again ring about Westcott Street, as renowned Zappa tribute band The Furious Bongos return to the Westcott Theater on October 22. The band played before a passionate audience of Zappa fans in March of this year. The band will be joined on this tour by Chad Wackerman, a legend in his own right, whose resume includes drumming for Frank Zappa himself, as well as James Taylor and Stevie Vai.
Tickets are $20. Doors open at 7pm with music starting at 8pm.
Fresh off a blistering performance at the 2023 New York State Blues Festival, Brandon Santini brings his soulful blues sounds to the 443 Social Club & Lounge on October 27. Santini turned many heads at this years Blues Fest, as he displayed his tremendous talent on the harmonica. This intimate performance at the 443 Social Club & Lounge is certainly one you won’t want to miss.
Central New York’s college talent will be on full display on October 29 at Funk ‘n Waffles, as The Accountant & All Thumbs perform. The Syracuse University funk/hip-hop group are sure to have the club bouncing when they take the stage. The four piece band has quickly become known for their high energy sets which blend elements of funk, hip-hop, and rock. They will be joined by singer-songwriter Nancy Dunkle as well as Le Moyne College’s own Champagne Blondes.
Nearing the half-way point of a 21-date North American tour that kicked off in mid-September, Nick Cave made a rare solo appearance this past Saturday night, October 7, on the first of two back-to-back shows at the legendary Beacon Theatre on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
Having released Ghosteen with the Bad Seeds in 2019, and the acclaimed album Carnage in 2021 – as well as last year’s Seven Psalms EP comprised of short spoken-word pieces – with fellow Bad Seeds collaborator Warren Ellis, the 66-year old crooner from “the Land Down Under” has confirmed that new material with the Bad Seeds is on its way . . . soon!
The Beacon Theatre | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
With Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood providing accompaniment on bass, the 130-minute, 25-song gargantuan set (including a seven song encore) commenced at 8:25 pm. Per usual, with a magnificent slick of hair, Cave was dressed ‘to the nines’ in a stunning blue suit and loose tie as he appeared onstage shortly behind Greenwood. Slowly making his way around the perimeter of the stage apron, Cave greeted his adoring followers with several waves and a blown kiss.
Nick Cave & Colin Greenwood | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
Taking his perch at the ivories, the nearly five decade career-spanning set kicked off with “Girl in Amber” (Skeleton Tree, 2016) and concluded with “People Ain’t No Good” (The Boatman’s Call, 1997). Sandwiched in between, . . .
there was introspection:
“We are going to try and get inside these songs in some kind of way, or go on an adventure. When I perform a song, sitting at the piano, I start to work out what the song is really about in some kind of way. It’s been quite special to do [this tour] for me.”
there was humor:
“This next one (referring to the song “Galleon Ship” from Ghosteen) has got some [good] words in it. There is a bit that says ‘For we are not alone it seems. So many riders in the sky. The winds of longing in their sails. Searching for the other side.’ I thought that was pretty good. The rest [of the song] is okay. You don’t always get a full song. Sometimes four lines is enough.”
and there was reminiscence:
“When I lived in Brazil for a few years, I wrote a lot of very beautiful, lovely songs, and this is not one of them (referring to “Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry” from 1992’s Henry’s Dream). I used to sing this song to [my son] Luke when I was trying to put him to sleep. I noticed that he fell asleep [to] a faster rocking rhythm, so [this song] has that sort of thing going on. It may be the first Nick Cave song of this kind, which was that I’d go out walking and a cascade of terrible things happen to me, that start generally with the personal and end with apocalyptic. And in the center of this is [my] attempt to rock my child to sleep and the general anxiety of a parent trying to protect their child from this cascade of events.”
Nick Cave & Colin Greenwood | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
Special treats abounded too! Topping the list (for me at least) was the intimately rendered “To Be Found,” the Bad Seed’s newest single and only the fourth time it has been performed live. Not far behind was a cover of the post-punk ballad “Shivers” (Door, Door, 1979) by The Birthday Party, of which Cave was a band member from 1977-1983 and which also led to the birth of the Bad Seeds. If that weren’t enough for the die-hard fan, Cave gifted the 2,600-capacity audience “Palaces of Montezuma” (Grinderman 2, 2010) from his garage rock side project known as Grinderman.
Watch Cave and Greenwood perform fan favorite “Into My Arms,” from the aforementioned The Boatman’s Call, below:
In support of last year’s memoir Faith, Hope and Carnage, Cave has scheduled a book tour that is taking place concurrently with his shows. Joined by Irish journalist Seán O’Hagan, the series of in-store signings focuses on his life following the tragic death of his son, Arthur, in 2015.
Setlist: Girl in Amber > Higgs Boson Blues > Jesus of the Moon > Galleon Ship > To Be Found > O Children > I Need You > Waiting for You > Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry > Balcony Man > Carnage > The Mercy Seat > Black Hair > (Are You) The One That I’ve Been Waiting For? > The Weeping Song > Into My Arms > Jubilee Street > Push the Sky Away > Encore: Idiot Prayer > Love Letter > Shivers > Palaces of Montezuma > Brompton Oratory > The Ship Song > People Ain’t No Good
UPCOMING TOUR & BOOK SIGNING DATES
10/10 – Boston, MA @ Bosh Center – Wang Theatre 10/11 – Cambridge, MA @ Harvard Book Store* 10/12 – Montreal, QC @ Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier 10/14 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall 10/15 – Detroit, MI @ Masonic Cathedral Theatre 10/17 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium 10/18 – Nashville, TN @ Parnassus Books* 10/20 – Atlanta, GA @ Atlanta Symphony Hall 10/22 – Dallas, TX @ Majestic Theatre 10/23 – Austin, TX @ ACL Live at The Moody Theater 10/24 – Austin, TX @ BookPeople* 10/27 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre 10/28 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre 10/29 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre 10/30 – West Hollywood, CA @ Book Soup*
The Empire State Youth Orchestra are excited to announce their upcoming 2023-2024 season entitled ‘Breathe!’ The first concert of the season begins with a performance by the ESYO featuring William Lauricella on Saturday, October 29 at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.
The Empire State Youth Orchestra challenges and inspires young people to achieve excellence through music in a progressive learning environment leading to high-level performance opportunities. More than 500 youth from New York’s Capital Region and western New England are selected by audition each year to perform in ESYO. With 14 performing ensembles and orchestras suiting a range of playing levels, members receive training from outstanding conductors and coaches, and tutelage from extraordinary guest artists.
In 2015, ESYO launched CHIME (Creating Harmony Inspiring Musical Excellence) in Schenectady to address fundamental inequities preventing universal access to high level music opportunities for youth. Today, this free music program serves more than 150 students in partnership with the Schenectady and Albany City School Districts.
Founded in 1979, ESYO is a not-for-profit organization that has been recognized as a premier music education/performance program for youth and has received three ASCAP awards.
“I think of music like a living thing: we can explore how it breathes, and we can tune into its pulse, If an orchestra doesn’t breathe, it’s not really alive. This year, we will breathe more fully with each other and with the music, so we can live in the present moment and truly connect with each other and the world around us.”
– Etienne Abelin Symphony Orchestra Conductor
The engaging performance series is a celebration of unity, harmony and the collective spirit of music, allowing musicians and audiences to breathe together in the shared experience of live orchestral performances. In addition, the musicians will explore various interpretations of breath through the repertoire under an authoritarian regime. This season will challenge ESYO musicians to learn and perform a piece on stage without a conductor giving them the opportunity to sense the pulse, embody the music, breathe and work together as a whole. The public is invited to celebrate these outstanding musicians and savor the joy and magic of their live musical talent.
Ticket information, venue details, and the full concert schedule is available at esyo.org/news-concerts.
ESYO 2023-2024 Concert Season
Oct 29th, 2023 – EMPIRE STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT FEATURING WILLIAM LAURICELLA – Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Nov 5, 2023 – REPERTORY ORCHESTRA, STRING ORCHESTRA, AND CONCERTINO STRINGS – Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Nov 5, 2023 – PERCUSSION ENSEMBLES – Brown School, Schenectady
Nov 19, 2023 – YOUTH AND REPERTORY JAZZ ORCHESTRAS – Carl B. Taylor Community Auditorium, SUNY Schenectady
Dec 10, 2023 – WIND ORCHESTRA CHAMBER MUSIC – Massry Center for the Arts, College of St. Rose
Dec 14-17, 2023 – MELODIES OF CHRISTMAS FEATURING ESYO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND MELODIES OF CHRISTMAS CHORALE – Produced by CBS 6 at Proctors Theater, Schenectady
Dec 17, 2023 – PERCUSSION ENSEMBLES HOLIDAY CONCERT – Massry Center for the Arts, College of St. Rose
Feb 14, 2024 – REPERTORY ORCHESTRA AND CONCERTINO STRINGS – Location TBD
Feb 15, 2024 – STRING AND YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRAS – Carl B. Taylor Community Auditorium, SUNY Schenectady
March 10, 2024 – WIND ORCHESTRA AND REPERTORY JAZZ ORCHESTRA – Massry Center for the Arts, College of St. Rose
March 11, 2024 – FESTIVAL OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC WITH ESYO PERCUSSION ENSEMBLES – University of Albany Performing Arts Center
March 23, 2024 – PLAYATHON – Crossgates Mall
April 21, 2024 – SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA FEATURING THE 2024 CONCERTO COMPETITION WINNER – Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
May 4, 2024 – REPERTORY ORCHESTRA AND STRING ORCHESTRA – Zankel Music Center – Skidmore
May 5, 2024 – CONCERTINO STRINGS, WOODWINDS AND BRASS ENSEMBLES – Location TBD
May 5, 2024 – PERCUSSION ENSEMBLES AND CONCERTINO PERCUSSION – Brown School
May 10, 2024 – YOUTH AND REPERTORY JAZZ ORCHESTRAS – Carl B. Taylor Community Auditorium, SUNY Schenectady
May 12, 2024 – WIND ORCHESTRA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA AND CHAMBER MUSIC – Massry Center for the Arts, College of St. Rose
June 2, 2024 – FESTIVAL OF YOUNG ARTISTS – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Bandcamp United, a union comprised of Bandcamp employees, released a statement last week in response to the recent sale of the company to Songtradr, a music marketing company. They have launched a petition, demanding better employee treatment, among other things.
According to Relix, the union acknowledged being engaged in negotiations with the company since August, reached out to Songtradr CEO Paul Wiltshire with a request for voluntary recognition, having not heard from Songtradr. According to Bandcamp United, most Bandcamp workers have had access revoked to critical systems by Epic Games during the transition.
For almost 15 years, Bandcamp has been built on the idea of community. It has functioned as much more than a marketplace, providing a way for artists to connect and communicate with fans directly and for like-minded artists to find one another. Bandcamp has always stood strong in its beliefs and its place in the community that it has helped foster. Maintaining that value is critical for artists everywhere, and it starts with valuing the workers who have built it into the beloved platform it is today.
They are pushing for demands that include job offers for all employees, clear, fair, and consistent voluntary severance offers, and recognition of their union at Songtradr, with a swift continuation of negotiations while retaining the progress achieved at the bargaining table. They added that Songtradr is “offering positions to workers on a rolling basis with a 72-hour turnaround for acceptance despite the sales documents stipulating that the Purchaser allow 7 days to consider the offer.”
The integrity of the workers who build Bandcamp is a crucial aspect of the company’s ability to uphold its values. Bandcamp’s core mission is best protected by retaining all workers and by those workers having a seat at the table.
Cami Ramirez-Arau, Support Specialist
The union has initiated a petition, urging supporters to call on Wiltshire to acknowledge Bandcamp United. Songtradr has since issued a statement, saying “We have received Bandcamp United’s letter and are reviewing it. Supporting the Bandcamp community will be our number one priority once the purchase is completed.” They went on to say that “Not all Bandcamp employees will receive offers from Songtradr. Based on its current financials, Bandcamp requires some adjustments to ensure a sustainable and healthy company that can serve its community of artists and fans long into the future.”
Ed Blair, another support specialist said, “Bandcamp isn’t Bandcamp without the people who build and maintain the website – we are the people who made this website the platform it is for artists. Songtradr not immediately recognizing Bandcamp United is a worrying indicator that they have misunderstood the value of Bandcamp. It’s not a platform or a portal, it is a painstakingly hand-crafted community. The workers who make up Bandcamp United are essential for the future of Bandcamp.”
Songtradr dropped a new press statement but still hasn’t recognized our union. This Bandcamp United Friday, keep buying music & help us fight for our union by emailing Paul, CEO of Songtradr.
Please keep the emails respectful! Post a screenshot & tag us on social media. pic.twitter.com/QnrpAiHJ1o
A-Zal, a New York City-based acoustic pop artist has released his newest track, “Lonely Town,” a ballad to the quiet side of the city of New York. The release comes as a follow up to his most recent release, “Movie Script,” from August 2023.
Migrating to the US in 2018, A-Zal found a quiet, intimate side of the city through integrating with a new city and country.
When I first came to New York, the glamour and energy of Midtown NYC pulled me like a magnet. But, I eventually got refuge in the unexplored streets of the city which had an altogether different story. When I performed in the subway stations next to Times Square or Bryant Park, I had a large set of audience members who would listen to my music while they passed me. However, as I went to the quieter side of uptown, I had very few listeners. And, the magic happened when these handful of listeners grew in number and turned into my real fans.
A-Zal
“Lonely Town” is a heartfelt, acoustic ballad that follows A-Zal’s search for company in such a vast city environment. As he navigates the “lonely town,” an ironic title considering the gradiosity of the city, the crowds and skyscrapers escape his perspective, and the city becomes his true companion.
A-Zal’s latest track, “Movie Script,” released in August to great success, climbing to the Mediabase TOP 40 Activator Charts within just two weeks of its release. After working with Marvel Studios on the popular TV series, Loki and Ms. Marvel, A-Zal is expecting an upcoming album, 17 & 11 Nights, soon after his newest singles.
“Lonely Town” is now available alongside an official music video, capturing A-Zal’s journey from India to the United States in pursuit of the famed “american dream.” The video follows him as he reminisces on performances in New York City subway stations, before his most recent big break with Marvel Studios.
The Orchestra Now is set to begin their 2023-24 season at Carnegie Hall on November 7th with a program titled Exodus: Jewish Composers in Exile, directed by Leon Botstein. The performance marks TON’s first show in New York City this seasons, and features four works.
The night’s composers will be Alexandre Tansman, Josef Tal, Walter Kaufmann and Marcel Rubin, all of whom wrote their pieces while in exile from their homelands during World War II.
Tansman, a multi-genre composers as well as pianist, fled Europe for the United States in 1941. His piece to be performed, Polish Rhapsody, was inspired by the invasion of Poland and dedicated “to the defenders of Warsaw.”
Josef Tal’s Exodus is based on the Passover Haggadah, and debuted with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra after Tal’s emigration to Jerusalem in 1942. The Orchestra Now’s performance will be the NYC debut of Exodus.
Walter Kaufmann’s An Indian Symphony was inspired by his emigration to India, where he lived for 14 years in Bombay after exile. This performance will also be the NYC debut of An Indian Symphony.
Finally, Marcel Rubin’s Symphony No. 4, Dies irae, is a reflection of his experiences during World War II. As a winner of the Grand Austrian State Prize for Music and the Gold Medal of Vienna, Rubin spent time in France and Mexico after leaving Vienna.
Director Leon Botstein will lead The Orchestra Now in the performance of these four pieces. The show will take place on November 7 at 7PM at Carnegie Hall, New York City. Tickets are available now online at carnegiehall.org, by phone at 212.247.7800, or at the Carnegie Hall box office at 57th & Seventh Avenue in Manhattan.
Texas based post-rockers Explosions In The Sky just released End, their eighth studio LP and first in more than seven years. The band is currently on the road, making their way to Brooklyn’sKings Theatre on Thursday, October 5th to showcase the new record in a truly perfect setting. The historic theatre is just as cinematic as the band’s signature sprawling instrumentals, which effortlessly reverberated around the spacious theater.
Explosions In The Sky at Kings Theatre, 10/5/2023. Photo by Joseph Buscarello
Explosions In The Sky have mastered the art of the cinematic soundtrack over their career, with End being no exception. Aside from eight studio records, the band soundtracked several films including the enormously successful Friday Night Lights. The quartet’s instrumentals are uniquely suitable for the big screen as well as a focused LP. Their three-guitar approach allows them to layer lush and complex loops that suck the listener into a meditative experience. The music swells to climactic crescendos surrounded by moments of minimal beauty that keep you engaged for the entire album.
Thursday night was an exciting draw for any fan of Explosions In The Sky. The band does not tour all that often to begin with, and Kings Theatre is the type of venue that would perfectly amplify the band’s instrumentals. The show started off with an opening set from the Jim White (drums) and Marisa Anderson (guitar). For thirty minutes, the duo bounced back and forth between complex drum passages and swirling guitar arpeggios, integrating with each other at times but also playing solo here and there. The entire set felt like a singular, continuous piece that was flushed out in the moment on stage. Kings was filled in early and the crowd cheered the duo on as the set continued to evolve.
Explosions In The Sky at Kings Theatre, 10/5/2023. Photo by Joseph Buscarello
The opening duo set the tone for the night, hinting at the atmosphere that was about to take over the theater. Explosions In The Sky took to the stage to a thunderous ovation as they picked up their guitars and got ready for the show. As the first notes of “First Breath After Coma” rang out, from easily the crowd favorite 2003 LP The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place, the audience erupted into a joyous fervor. The band would play a couple more tracks from this album at Kings Theatre, but also added a last minute show at Bowery Ballroom on Sunday, October 8th where they would play the record in full.
The show rolled on, treating fans to a mix of songs from all over Explosions In The Sky’s catalog, blending the art of cinematic soundscapes with the live show setting to maximum effect. There is only one more stop in the U.S. on this tour, taking place on October 20th in Miami at the III Points Music Festival. After that, the band heads over to Europe for a run of shows throughout November. Head over to their website for the full itinerary and check out our photo gallery from Kings Theatre below.
The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra will hold its second Orchestral Series Concert of the 2023-24 season at Ithaca College this October. Called “Beethoven’s Eighth,” the program is led by Music Director Finalist Guillaume Pirard and features Cellist Guy Johnston.
The CCO was founded in 1976 and is officially designated “Ithaca’s Orchestra.” Each season for the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra includes an Orchestral Series, Chamber Music Series, a Holiday concert, free Family Concerts, and the long-standing Willard Daetsch Youth Outreach Program, which earned the 2015 Yale Distinguished Music Educator award. In 2017, the CCO added a Youth Orchestra, which offers a high quality symphony orchestra experience for youth in Ithaca and the Finger Lakes region of New York State.
The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra’s concert will open with Arvo Pärt’s meditative In Spe, followed by Shostakovich’s haunting Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, and the evening will be closed with Beethoven’s jubilant Symphony No. 8. There is also a free Pre-concert chat with the conductor and soloist at 6:30 pm.
With a deep belief in the power of collaborative music making to create transformational experiences for musicians and audiences alike, Guillaume Pirard has become a highly respected artist and educator of his generation. Since making his debut with the Orlando Philharmonic, Pirard has conducted the New York University and Cornell University Orchestras, Ensemble X, Opus Ithaca, the Philharmonic of Moravia, the Metamorphosis Chamber Orchestra, the Lviv Philharmonic, the Mannes School of Music Opera and the Mannes Orchestra, and served as Assistant Conductor for the Buffalo Philharmonic and Ensemble 21.
As co-concertmaster and founding member of The Knights, Pirard toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe with performances at the Tonhalle in Zurich, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg and the Muziverein in Vienna, and major festival appearances at Tanglewood, Ravinia, Caramoor, Skaneateles, the Festival-de-Paques in Aix-en-Provence and the Salzburg Festpiele. Pirard is serving as Visiting Professor of Violin at Ithaca College for the 2023-24 academic year.
Guy Johnston is one of the most exciting British cellists of his generation. His early successes included winning the BBC Young Musician of the Year, and significant awards, notably the Shell London Symphony Orchestra Gerald MacDonald Award, Suggia Gift Award and a Young British Classical Performer Brit Award. He has performed with many leading international orchestras including the London Philharmonic, Ulster Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, NHK Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony, Britten Sinfonia, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, Moscow Philharmonic and St Petersburg Symphony.
The concert will take place Saturday, October 21 at 7:30pm in Ford Hall at Ithaca College.
For more information and “late edition” subscriptions or single tickets, visit CCOithaca.org.
Well before the doors to Essex opened on Friday night, a line rounded the corner and the energy was palpable. Not only would Rochester be gaining its first glimpse of a much-anticipated brand-new live music venue, Essex, but the lucky ones with tickets would also bear witness the return to a local stage to their now internationally revered darling Danielle Ponder. It was the first night of a sold-out two-night stand for the blooming soul-singing star.
As for Essex itself, entry was easy and efficient. The main area is nearly square, with four load-bearing posts defining an ideal center viewing area. This middle area was fairly packed up until about three-quarters back, with plenty of room to be found on the outer edges. Two easily-accessible bars resided in the back corners, selling a variety of beer, wine and liquor. The walls were painted black brick, with black curtains lining the back wall. Subtle downlighting surrounded the posts and walls, keeping the area well enough lit without distracting from the stage. The stage was intimately low but high enough to see from the back, and was well-lit with a variety of LEDs behind and in front. Two large TVs flanked the stage about a quarter way back. With private individual bathrooms, no one of any sexual orientation will be waiting more than any other.
Ponder took the stage solo, sitting with an acoustic guitar, just as she did twenty years ago when she was first giving the solo musician thing a whirl down the road at Java’s Cafe. Harking back to her very beginnings, she sang one of the tunes she sang then, “The Passion” by Lauryn Hill. Contrasting that immediately, she gave the crowd a glimpse of the future, and a glimpse of her songwriting process, playing “Thoughts,” a song dedicated to those struggling with self doubt, for the first time live, raw and unfiltered.
From there, her band entered, and it was back to the material the world has been falling in love with, “Some of Us Are Brave,” “The Only Way Out,” “So Long,” and more from her breakout hit album, and others from further back like “Be Gentle,” and “Holding Me Down.”
During “Someone Like You,” another Rochester legend, Grammy-winning saxophonist Jimmy Highsmith Jr. came out to add some of his signature horn work. She didn’t let him leave the stage without letting everyone know how instrumental Highsmith was in nurturing her career. As a young artist she attended one of his shows and asked for his advice. He sat with her and her band for over an hour encouraging them and giving them hope that people from Rochester could definitely “make it.”
She closed with her show-stopping rendition of Radiohead’s “Creep.” Thom Yorke may have abandoned it, but Ponder can now claim ownership with what must certainly be the best version of the song out there. She explained that she premiered the song years ago at the tiny UUU Art Gallery on State Street.
From Highsmith’s inspiration, to Java’s, to UUU Art Gallery, and now to Essex, Ponder connected the dots of her career and Rochester’s instrumental part in it. She explained that whenever she plays she always opens with, “I am Danielle Ponder from Rochester New York!” And after every show, no matter where she is, someone will invariably approach her to tell her that their friend from Rochester told them to see her.
Years from now, when the long-standing institution Essex is celebrating it’s own 50th anniversary, here’s a bit of trivia: the first artist to grace the stage was actually Chi the Realist, who opened the show. A local budding rap talent, he and his band also delved into history, celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip hop with his own unique take on the form, amply warming up the stage for Ponder and providing a proper kick-off for the newest hot spot on the block.
Here’s what’s happening in Essex’s immediate future:
10/27 – Essex Halloween Pop Off with DJ Pepi
10/28 – Mothership (The Led Zeppelin Experience)
11/9 – Lucero, with Jason Boland and the Stragglers
