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Adirondack Independence Music Festival Continues to Bring the Jams Year After Year

This year’s annual end-of-the-summer celebration of music in Lake George at the Adirondack Independence Music Festival saw two evenings with moe. and a one evening with Dark Star Orchestra. The three-day festival held over Labor Day Weekend saw day-long music with bands alternating between two main stages.

photo by Allison Marie

The festival is always a smooth event, and as attendees we get to see the machinations of soundchecks and the work of loading and off-loading a stage, thanks to side-by-side stages. Emcee Jeff Morad from WEQX gave hourly hydration reminders as he thanked each band and announced the next act. The organization has it down, and it’s great to be there catching all the jams.

Photo by Derek Java

Day One saw a mix of regional and national acts. Standouts during the day were the always jammy Dogs in a Pile, a super fun band, and if you haven’t seen them, consider New Years Eve at Putnam Place. Keller Williams was blissful as always, starting his set with a great version of “Breathe.” Throughout a great loop-filled set (he is a master at building songs solo using loops), he dropped covers and originals, and standing out was a fun-filled “Freeker by the Speaker.” You can’t count any of the daytime bands out, though, as all day was filled with fun jams, people dancing, and bubbles floating through the air. Other daytime acts included Hilltop, Sophistafunk, Eggy, Lucid.

Photo by Derek Java

Headliners on Friday were the always incredible Dark Star Orchestra (DSO). Bringing an authentic sound to the date they reinterpreted, DSO channeled the Grateful Dead’s show on April 16, 1978 show from Huntington, WV, with clarity and wisdom. The sound was spot-on and the crowd danced and sang along all evening. We know the term “nostalgia act” gets some negative connotations, but for DSO, that is the mission, who make every show fun for spectators to guess the date of the show, and the more knowledgeable in the crowd can guess the direction the show is taking by the equipment being brought out by the players. Super fun evening with a classic Dead show performed by DSO.

Photo by Derek Java

Saturday of Adirondack Independence Music Festival saw more attendees and a continuation of killer music. Star-on-the-rise Karina Rykman brought the jams throughout her set, working off her new album, Joyride.

For listeners at ADK Fest, the first half of her 60 minute set saw only three songs, as she and her two bandmates, Adam November on guitar and Chris Corsico on Drums, set the festival alight, taking risks and diving deep into the jammy sections of her bass-led compositions.

Photo by Derek Java

Saturday also had a particular reggae vibe to it. Roots of Creation brought their fiery dub-ska, blending a mythos of Bob Marley-esque roots with Grateful Dead covers including “Row Jimmy” and “Fire on the Mountain,” lots of fun for all seeing this band.

Mihali brought his reggae vibe, too, bringing out a new tune or two, with Twiddle fans all smiles singing reggae-tinged Twiddle songs and Mihali’s own songs from his album Effection.

Photo by Derek Java

There was also a “foodie” aspect to the daytime bands on Ssaturday, with a blend of rock and jam by Creamery Station, Baked Shrimp, and stretching the metaphor, Melt. Fans of these bands and new listeners alike had a great day of music. Rounding out the daytime acts were Dumpstaphunk.

photo by Chris De Cotis

moe. has made ADK Fest the spiritual successor to moe.down, with a feel of Labor Day weekends spent in Turin at Snow Ridge Ski Resort throughout the weekend. Opening up with a pair of tunes usually played in reverse – “Okayalright” and “Wormwood” – moe. could have opted for “Not Coming Down” to complete the Wormwood trilogy, but shifted to “Downward Facing Dog” before inviting Ivan Neville from Dumpstaphunk to the stage for “Happy Hour Hero.”

photo by Dave Decrescente

Set 2 saw Mihali come to the stage for an intense and exploratory “Recreational Chemistry” (see video below), and moe. breaking out a set nearly full of old school songs, capped off with a classic “Jazz Wank” > “Buster.” For an encore, the addition of Nate Wilson to the lineup has led to the fresh covers making their appearance in the last two years, this evening including Traffic’s “Light Up or Leave Me Alone.”

Set 1: Okayalright > Wormwood > Downward Facing Dog, Happy Hour Hero^, Yellow Tigers -> Mar-Dema > Brent Black
Set 2: Recreational Chemistry* > Sensory Deprivation Bank > Seat Of My Pants > Ups And Downs, Jazz Wank > Buster
Encore: Light Up Or Leave Me Alone, Spaz Medicine
^ With Ivan Neville on keys.
* With Mihali on guitar.

photo by Chris De Cotis

Sunday saw Jimkata keep the crowd swaying in the sunshine and get pumped up for moe. later that evening. What made Jimkata’s performance even more remarkable was the fact that they had performed in Virginia for a late night show the evening before, making the seemingly impossible journey from Virginia to Adirondack Independence Music Festival for a mid-day performance a testament to their commitment to their fans.

photo by Allison Marie

photo by Allison Marie

Neighbor graced the stage and dropped an instrumental cover of The Beatles/Joe Cocker’s “With a Little Help from my Friends. Prince Bowie featured Twiddle/Marble Eyes/Breakfast/Kung Fu drummer extraordinaire Adrian Tramontano on drums along with the Cool Cool Cool horns. Luke Bemand from lespecial joined the all star tribute group for Prince’s “Controversy.”

For moe.’s weekend closing sets, they opened up with “Water” as a nod to Lake George, and closed the set with “Meat” featuring Schleigho guitarist Suke Cerulo joining his one-time bandmates. Set two had no let up, opening with a slow burn of “Tubing the River Styx” > “The Pit”, a cover of Allman Brothers Band’s “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” – featuring Neighbor/Pink Talking Fish keyboardist Ricky James – followed by “Silver Sun” and a solid 1-2 punch of “George” and “Lazarus.” An encore of “Gone” and “Plane Crash” capped a fantastic weekend of music in Lake George, an annual affair made for a band like moe. and live music fans from across the Northeast.

photo by Frankie Cavone

Set 1:Water, ATL, Donâtcha Know, In Stride, Skrunk, Meat^
Set 2:Tubing The River Styx > The Pit, In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed2, Silver Sun, George, Lazarus
Encore: Gone, Plane Crash
^ With Suke Cerulo on guitar
* With Ricky James on keys

September 8, 2023
Maya Donovan Drops Newest Single “The Company”

Maya Donovan, released her newest single, “The Company,” on September 8, a song sure to appeal to audiences that share similar struggles, and with her blending of folk, jazz, and pop, it’s sure to perk up the ears of music listeners.

Maya Donovan has been expressing her emotions through music since she was a little girl. She mastered piano at seven years old, while also learning how to bring her melodies to life.

This song is no exception. Maya Donovan’s, “The Company” is a song that addresses her anxiety directly, personifying her fears and struggles as a real person. She discusses the constant feeling of being in limbo: unsure if the symptoms she experiences are just “in her head,” or a genuine illness.

The title, “The Company,” has two meanings, one being the unexpected companionship Donovan finds in her anxiety, and the other suggesting something more insidious. Donovan explains, “anxiety sometimes feels like it’s being orchestrated by this sinister network that I’m always trying to outsmart, a ‘company’ if you will, with a conspiracy to overthrow me from my own body.”

Maya Donovan crafts a powerful, relatable story for those who also struggle with their mental health, and the journey it takes to rediscover yourself on the never-ending mental health journey.

Donovan graduated from the prestigious LaGuardia High School for Performing Arts in New York City. The skills she learned while at this school are prevalent in all her performances at the Bitter End in Greenwich Village.

Maya Donovan’s latest single, “The Company,” is now available for streaming and download on all digital platforms. For more information on Maya Donovan, visit her website MayaSings.com.

Catch Maya Donovan this fall

Tuesday, September 12 – City Winery – The Loft , with Song Suffragettes

Thursday, September 28 – The Bitter End, NYC

September 8, 2023
Beastie Boys Square to be Officially Unveiled This Saturday

This Saturday, Sept. 9, Beastie Boys Square will officially be unveiled at the corner of Ludlow and Rivington Streets in Manhattan after the New York City Council approved the renaming.

The ceremony, taking place from 12-2 p.m. will feature appearances from Michael “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz, including a DJ set by Jon Bless HiFi System.

The Beastie Boys were an American rap group from New York City, formed in 1981. The group was composed of Michael “Mike D” Diamond, Adam “MCA” Yauch, and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz. Beastie Boys has sold 20 million records in the United States and had seven platinum-selling albums from 1986 to 2004. They are the biggest-selling rap group since Billboard began recording sales in 1991.

Photo by Ron Galella.

The historic corner was once home to Paul’s Boutique—the namesake of the Beastie Boys’ sophomore LP, released in 1989. Cultural advocate LeRoy McCartney spearheaded the campaign, fighting for a decade. He also did similar landmark-naming campaigns, like the Wu-Tang Clan (Wu-Tang District in Staten Island) and The Notorious B.I.G. (Brooklyn’s Christopher Wallace Way), and credits Council Member Chris Marte with helping to push the renaming.

Last summer Marte gave credit to the group themselves for paving the way in the genre of hip-hop and thanked the local residents, businesses, politicians, and more who supported the fight for the street name. “I see it as a celebration. A celebration for the Lower East Side, a celebration for hip-hop, and especially a celebration for our community who has been organizing for a really long time to make this happen,” Marte also said.

Photo by William Farrington.

The unveiling of Beastie Boys Square coincides with the ongoing celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, which includes the first-ever theatrical screening of Spike Jonze’s Beastie Boys Story, taking place at IFC Center on September 8 and 9.

September 8, 2023
Albany’s 21st Annual Riverfront Jazz Festival Returns this Weekend

The City of Albany’s 21st Annual Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival will kick off on Saturday, September 9th. The all-day free event will begin at 12 pm at the Corning Preserve Boat Launch under the 787 bridge. Five live acts will take the stage throughout the day, concluding at 8 pm with a fireworks display.

Since the debut event in 2002, the City of Albany Jazz Festival features an eclectic array of musical greats, acclaimed up-and-coming artists, as well as local favorites. The festival features food, beverages, and great vendors for all ages. Admission is free.

Local favorites include Kevin McNeal, an Albany native, who excels in the local jazz scene. He leads his group, BluesWing, for the first live performance of the event.

In addition to music, the Henry Johnson Award for Distinguished Community Services will be presented to Valerie Alexander-Moseley. Alexander-Moseley is a local community leader with a passion for economic and social justice throughout West Hill and the city of Albany.

Ground rules for the event include no glass, animals, or recording of performances. All City of Albany parks are now curb-to-curb tobacco-free and marijuana-free. In the event of inclement weather, the Jazz Festival will be held at the Corning Preserve Boat Launch. More information and updates are available at albanyevents.org.

2023 Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival Lineup

12:30pm – Kevin McNeal & BluesWing

2:00pm – Ashley Keiko

3:30pm – Roni Kaspi

4:30pm – Henry Johnson Award Presentation

5:00pm – The String Queens

6:30pm – Rebirth Brass Band

8:00pm – Fireworks Show

September 8, 2023
Billy Joel Returns Home for New Year’s Eve UBS Arena Show

UBS Arena announced New York’s favorite Billy Joel will return to his hometown this New Year’s Eve for a landmark show at the brand-new arena. His first show at Belmont Park’s new arena and his first hometown Long Island appearance since 2018, Billy Joel will help crowds ring in the New Year beginning at 9:30 pm on Dec 31.

A recurrent New York City area performer and Long Island native, Billy Joel is a staple of Madison Square Garden lineups. As a recipient of legendary awards such as the Kennedy Center Honors and multiple Grammy Awards, Joel is one of the most celebrated musicians of all time.

UBS Arena at Belmont Park is one of the New York area’s largest entertainment and sports venues. Opened in November 2021, the arena is home to the New York Islanders, one of the city’s own NHL teams.

We are thrilled to welcome Long Island’s own Billy Joel to UBS Arena at Belmont Park. To have such an iconic artist as our New Year’s Eve show is an honor. We look forward to ringing in the New Year with him and our guests later this year.
Kim Stone, UBS Arena president

Pre-sale for Citi® Cardmembers begins Monday, September 11 at 10am through Thursday, September 14 at 10pm. Public on sale begins Friday, September 15 at 10am via Ticketmaster. More information is available at billyjoel.com.

September 7, 2023
Fall Out Boy Announce 2024 Co-Headline Tour with Jimmy Eat World, Coming to MSG and MVP Arena

Fall Out Boy has announced the second leg of their “So Much For (Tour) Dust,” now named “So Much For (2our) Dust,” with rockers Jimmy Eat World, coming to MSG and the MVP Arena in March 2024.

Fall Out Boy is one of the biggest-selling rock bands. The group is comprised of vocalist Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, drummer Andy Hurley, and guitarist Joe Trohman, who after taking a short hiatus from the group, is back full-time.

Formed in Chicago in 2001, the group has released several albums over the years that have become a staple in the emo community. Their seventh studio album MANIA debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 in January 2018 and garnered a GRAMMY nomination for Best Rock Album. Other records that have done well on Billboard charts include 2015’s AMERICAN BEAUTY/AMERICAN PSYCHO and 2013’s Save Rock and Roll, whose song “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)” went multi-platinum.

Photo by Joshua Davis for NYS Music.

Their first U.S. run over the summer celebrating the release of their newest record So Much (for) Stardust, proved to be a success, coming to places like Darien Lake and Forest Hills. Much like the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, which featured surprise songs every night, FOB did their own rendition, adding the Magic 8 Ball to their set. The ball would pick a song the band would play that night, and many of them hadn’t been played in over a decade, or never played live before.

fans were eager to see what came from the group next. After fans spotted the group dropping merch with “So Much For (2our) Dust,” on it a few weeks ago, the tour announcement didn’t come as much of a surprise, however, the addition of rock band Jimmy Eat World was unprecedented, yet equally as exciting.

Jimmy Eat World has just come off of a joint tour with Manchester Orchestra, and they released the single “Place Your Debts” in 2022. Also joining FOB on this momentous tour are rock bands The Maine, Hot Mulligan, Daisy Grenade, Games We Play (who was also an opener on the first leg), and Carr.

The group will stop at Madison Square Garden on March 22, and surprisingly at MVP Arena in Albany on March 24. Those lucky enough to be in the official Fall Out Boy discord server (which only opens up for seconds at a time for fans to join) will receive a presale code at 9:30 a.m. local on Sept. 13 to purchase tickets. Don’t fret though, you can join the group’s mailing list, receiving a code to purchase tickets at 10 a.m. local on Sept. 13. General sale is on Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. local.

For more information on how to purchase tickets, visit here.

Fall Out Boy 2023-2024 Tour Dates:
10/17 – Warsaw, PL @ COS Torwar
10/18 – Prague, CZ @ Sportovni Hala Fortuna
10/20 – Milan, IT @ Mediolanum Forum
10/21 – Munich, DE @ Zenith
10/23 – Paris, FR @ Zénith
10/24 – Amsterdam, NL @ AFAS Live
10/25 – Brussels, BE @ Forest National
10/27 – Leeds, UK @ First Direct Arena
10/28 – Glasgow, UK @ OVO Hydro
10/29 – Manchester, UK @ AO Arena
10/31 – Birmingham, UK @ Utilita Arena Birmingham
11/02 – London, UK @ The O2
11/03 – London, UK @ The O2
11/04 – Cardiff, UK @ Cardiff International Arena
11/06 – Oberhausen, DE @ Rudolf Weber-Arena
11/07 – Hamburg, DE @ Barclays Arena
11/08 – Berlin, DE @ Max-Schmeling-Halle
12/01 – Melbourne, AU @ Flemington Racecourse
12/02 – Sydney, AU @ Centennial Park
12/03 – Brisbane, AU @ Brisbane Showgrounds
12/06 – Bangkok, TH @ Thunder Dome
02/28 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center *
03/01 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena *
03/03 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center *
03/04 – Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center *
03/07 – Fort Worth, TX @ Dickies Arena *
03/08 – Austin, TX @ Moody Center *
03/11 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Paycom Center *
03/13 – Birmingham, AL @ Legacy Arena at The BJCC *
03/15 – Orlando, FL @ Amway Center *
03/16 – Jacksonville, FL @ VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena *
03/19 – Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena *
03/20 – Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena *
03/22 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden *
03/24 – Albany, NY @ MVP Arena *
03/26 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena *
03/27 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena *
03/29 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center *
03/30 – Lexington, KY @ Rupp Arena *
03/31 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena *
04/02 – Milwaukee, WI @ Fiserv Forum *
04/03 – Des Moines, IA @ Wells Fargo Arena *
04/05 – Omaha, NE @ CHI Health Center Arena *
04/06 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center *

* = w/ Jimmy Eat World

September 7, 2023
SeptemberFest Street Fair in Nyack Returns

SeptemberFest in Nyack is returning this year on Sept. 10 from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., inviting families, friends, and visitors to celebrate Fall in the heart of the village on Main Street and Broadway.

SeptemberFest features a rich array of jewelry, clothing, accessories, art, crafts, gifts, and great food offered by 200+ vendors and scores of local businesses. “We’re pleased to once again host our SeptemberFest fair,” said Roger Cohen, President, of Nyack Chamber. “The fair is in many ways an introduction to our village. We welcome everyone to enjoy a special experience, come back for more, and stay – for a weekend…or even a lifetime.”

At the Gazebo on Main Street, people can enjoy music from The Scoop at 1 p.m., the Rockland-based “fun” band, playing a huge catalog of iconic rockers including The Beatles, Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Pretenders, Elton John, and more, with originals too. Also performing is the Nyack-based grunge rock group Bulletproof Heart at 4 p.m. They will pound out hits from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, with modern interpretations of classics from bands like Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Hole, and Weezer.

Photo by Nina Skow.

In addition to enjoying the music and sampling wares from hundreds of fair vendors, Fest-goers can enjoy the many boutiques and restaurants open year-round in the village. Nyack’s one-of-a-kind retailers offer unique merchandise across a broad spectrum of hard-to-find treasures, from antiques, custom jewelry, and original art, to hand-made clothing, crystals, vintage vinyl, specialty eyewear, and other products. People can also enjoy a vast array of food, one of the best in the Hudson Valley.

“SeptemberFest is a not-to-be-missed event, but it’s also an invitation to visitors and residents to sample the village’s special blend of memorable experiences,” said Cohen. “We encourage people to come back after our events to enjoy shopping, dining, music, art, theater, hiking, biking, and river recreation. Nyack offers it all – in a beautiful, walkable riverside community.”

For more information about SeptemberFest, visit here.

Upcoming Nyack Events

Sept. 11: Hometown Heroes (9/11 event)

Sept. 28 – Oct. 21: Phoenix Festival Live Arts in Nyack (live theater, dance, music)

Sept. 30: OctoberFest / LagerFest

Oct. 6: Spirit of Nyack (Halloween kickoff)

Oct. 8: Nyack’s Famous Street Fair (50th anniversary!)

Oct. 28: Halloween parade and festivities

Nov. 4: Rockland County Fashion Week

Nov. 11: Candlelight Concert Series (Bridget Kibbey)

Nov. 18: Jonathan Demme Close Up

September 7, 2023
Elemental View Boasts Innovative New Instrument At EMPAC’s Concert Hall This October

“Elemental View,” an innovative orchestral piece performed by Ellen Fullman and The Living Earth Show, will host a performance on October 24 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s EMPAC Concert Hall.

Photo: Robert Szkolnicki

“Elemental View” is a work in six movements by pioneering composer Ellen Fullman. She wrote it for her Long String Instrument, which she designed in 1980. The instrument is installed in an industrial sized space with 136 strings, tuned and configured precisely for this piece. Through this instrument, the piece immerses the audience, akin to standing inside a giant musical instrument. The result is music both ancient and utterly new, environmental, and with a folk-like orchestral sound. Fullman performs the piece with The Living Earth Show, who hold a multi-season residency at EMPAC.

Fullman’s Long String Instrument boasts strings from wall-to-wall of the gymnasium-like space. She plucks, bows, and glides her fingers across the strings lengthwise to create sound, as it reverberates through the hall. As she walks along the strings, tones unfold at different rates in proportion to string length, creating a wave of different musical undertones. Further, the notation for the Long String Instrument consists of indications of both tempo and spacial movement for the artist, as specific harmonies and tones emerge at different locations along the length of the strings.

Invention and discovery are key features of Fullman’s display, as she shows off multiple custom tools to produce new sounds. Fullman designed and created the box bow, shovelette, and shoveler, which play three, six, or nine strings at once. Varying techniques with these tools produce ringing or closed sounds, as Fullman and her ensemble move through the instrument.

In addition to the Long String Instrument, Fullman and The Living Earth Show include more traditional musical techniques. In movements such as “Environmental Memory,” the group uses Travis Andrew’s guitar, as well as Andy Meyerson’s native percussion skills on pieces of the Long String Instrument.

The presentation continues The Living Earth Show’s multi-season residency at EMPAC, showing engaging, large-scale art and working closely alongside artists. The Living Earth Show functions as a megaphone and canvas for the world’s most progressive artists, pushing the boundaries of technical and artistic possibility. The group amplifies voices, perspectives, and bodies previously excluded while showcasing exciting art to the community.

“Elemental View” will be performed at EMPAC Concert Hall on October 24 at 8PM. Tickets and more information are available here.

September 7, 2023
Cortland Repertory Theater Announces Fall and Winter 2023 Event Schedule

Cortland Repertory Theater has announced their fall and early winter schedule at their downtown Cortland building, located at 24-26 Port Watson Street in the city of Cortland. Events start on September 16, and the season doesn’t end until New Year’s Eve.

Cortland Repertory Theater boasts a handful of events for people of all backgrounds and ages. From Trivia nights to drag shows, there will be something at the CRT for everyone. Be sure to read the details of each event for age restrictions, prices, and times.

The CRT Downtown schedule includes:

September 16 at 7:30PM: “Broadway’s Greatest Hits”

A cabaret evening of memorable show tunes performed by SUNY seniors, raising funds for their NYC Spring Showcase at CRT.

September 21 at 7:00PM: Third Thursday Trivia.

Attendees test their knowledge on a wide range of subjects in six rounds, each with five questions. Prizes are given each round, with one final grand prize for the evening. Hosted by CRT’s Producing Artistic Director Kerby Thompson.

September 29 & 30 at 7:30PM: Edgar Allen Jo’s Excellent Dragventure.

CRT partners with Go Jo Productions to present some of New York state’s top drag performers to “drag the audience through time”. During this time travel experience, the audience will stop by Marie’s for tea and cake, bond with Abe Lincoln, and party with Napoleon. Note that this is an 18 and up performance, because history is seriously not PG.

October 14 & 15: The Little York Fall Fiber Arts Festival.

Now in its 11th year, this CRT fund raiser held at the Little York Pavilion boasts over 30 vendors for knitters, weavers, yarn enthusiasts, and so much more. Other items include maple products, wood-worked items, clothing, and a variety of unique holiday gifts. The festival is open from 9:00-5:00 on Saturday and 10:00 – 3:00 on Sunday.

October 14 at 7:30PM: Billy Joel’s “Piano Man.”

Wade Preston returns for his 7th annual fall concert. Wade’s “one-night only” concert of stories and songs by Billy Joel and other artists are memorable for everyone who attends. With his versatile piano skills and vocal talent, on top of his child-like stage charm and great sense of humor, Wade delivers a unique night filled with rock n roll that will leave the CRT reeling for more.

October 19 at 7:00PM: Third Thursday Trivia – Halloween edition.

October 21 at 7:30PM: Backtrack Vocals.

Backtrack Vocals is a 5-person professional a cappella singing group based in NYC transforms familiar pop, funk, Motown, standards, and Broadway songs with new vocal and beatbox arrangements. Their performances are infused with heart and humor, and because of their wildly versatile repertoire, there’s sure to be something for everyone.

November 4 at 7:30PM: Cortland’s own Jack Gerhard (pictured above) and his band.

Celebrating the release of his first album “If You Need Me”, Jack makes his concert debut with a stunning evening of cover tunes and a collection of his own original songs. Don’t miss Cortland’s star-on-the-rise in this intimate evening of heartfelt music.

November 11 at 7:30PM: TAKE3 – Where Rock Meets Bach (pictured above).

TAKE3 has a vast repertoire that travels from Bach and Beethoven, to Bieber and The Beach Boys. Enjoy a genre-defying trio that combines classical music and fuses it with rock-star charisma. Likely due to their training at the world’s top conservatories, TAKE3 performances have been described by audience members as a mini-Trans Siberian Orchestra experience.

November 16 at 7:00PM: Third Thursday Trivia

In December, Santa’s volunteer elves (CRT’s Board and Guild members) decorate the Grand Hall at CRT Downtown for the holidays from top to bottom. They invite kids of all ages to stop in, visit with Santa, take selfies, and get in the holiday spirit.

November 30, 7:00 – 9:00PM: Cocktails with Santa.

Cocktails with Santa is an evening reserved for those without children, but who still want to get into the holiday spirit with Santa himself. A cash beer/wine bar will be available, with CRT volunteers to take holiday photos for upcoming Christmas cards or Instagram posts.

December 1: Our display will be open for viewing in conjunction with the City of Cortland’s Tree Lighting Ceremony.

December 2 & 3: Photos with Santa.

After visiting Santa, take a stroll through our Wonderland and take selfies. Santa will be in his chair from 10 – Noon and 2:00 – 4:00 on Saturday, and 1:00 – 3:00 on Sunday. Family photos will be taken and emailed the following week.

December 9, 11:00 – 2:00: CRT’s Holiday Brunch, with special guest Lisa Rock and “A Carpenters Christmas”.

The CRT Board of Director’s 2nd Annual Holiday Brunch Fundraiser and party. Enjoy a delicious brunch, bid on unique silent auction baskets, scoop up some holiday spirits in wine grab bags, and enjoy a one-hour concert with Lisa Rock.

December 9 & 10: Lisa Rock and “A Carpenters Christmas”.

Based on the music of The Carpenters’ two holiday albums and variety shows, this festive holiday concert features “Merry Christmas Darling”, the jazzy “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” and many more. Concerts are at 7:30PM on Saturday and 2:00PM on Sunday.

December 21 at 7:00PM: Third Thursday Trivia: December Holiday Edition.

December 31, 9:00PM – 12:30AM: Dancin’ Thru the Decades New Year’s Eve Dance.

Dance into the New Year and have a great view of the city’s New Year’s celebrations. CRT’s DJ will play the ultimate dance mix of the greatest tunes from the 60’s to today.

For more information and ticket prices for all events at the Cortland Repertory Theater, visit cortlandrep.org, call 800-427-6160 or visit the CRT Box Office at 24 Port Watson Street.

September 7, 2023
70 Iconic Vocalists Tell All in New Book, “The Singers Talk”

Rod Stewart, Roger Daltrey, Tony Bennett, Nick Cave, Norah Jones, Smokey Robinson, Thom Yorke, Chrissie Hynde, Brian Johnson and Chuck D are just a few of the 70 vocal icons whose inspirations and techniques are revealed in a riveting new book, The Singers Talk (Permuted Press).

The Singers Talk is a first-of-its-king compendium of lengthy conversations conducted with dozens of vocal greats by Jason Thomas Gordon, the lead singer and drummer of buzzworthy LA-based rockers, Kingsize. Interestingly, Gordon is also the grandson of Danny Thomas, the early television sitcom pioneer who founded St. Jude’s, the world’s foremost hospital for child cancer patients, in 1962. All proceeds from the sale of this book will go to the hospital through its Music Gives to St. Jude Kids, a campaign created by the author.

The lengthy subtitle to Thomas’s book tells all – The Greatest Singers of Our Times Discuss The One Thing They’re Never Asked About – The Voices. Unlike guitarists, bassists and keyboardist who get to share their thoughts on their instruments through a plethora of specialty magazines and websites, how our favorite singers cultivate their unique sounds, and what they do to maintain them during high stakes recording sessions, grueling tours and over decades-long careers, is often a mystery. Interestingly, The Singers Talk also features exclusive interviews about many celebrated voices no longer with us. These include Steven Van Zandt on Little Richard, Butch Vig on Kurt Cobain, Clive Davis on Whitney Houston, Nile Rodgers on David Bowie, Wendy Melvoin on Prince and Jimmy Iovine on Tom Petty.

Gordon’s conversations with and about the vocal greats are steered by 20 questions he poses to each. These include where and when they began singing, their earliest influences and dream duet partners (living or dead), five favorite singers and several technical questions like how they warm up (if at all) and keep their voices intact on the road. Naturally, they also reveal the stories behind some of their most famous performances on record.

The Go-Gos’s Belinda Carlisle shares that it was Julie Andrews in the film Mary Poppins who inspired her to sing and that she never takes to the stage with consuming two Aleve tablets to fight inflammation that can compromise her performance. If Emmy Lou Harris’ early dreams came through, she would be a singing actress in musicals like West Side Story. The country rock great credits Gram Parsons and his amazing story songs to helping her find her voice. The original leather rocker girl, Joan Jett, was also all about movie musicals in her youth, especially Liza Minnelli in Cabaret. This was before she would fall in love with rock via Paul Rodgers’ singing in Free’s “All Right Now” and T. Rex’s “Bang A Gong.” This trio is representative of many singers interviewed here who say they keep their voices is shape while on the road by avoiding overly air-conditioned rooms and by traveling with one or more humidifiers! And while Chrissie Hynde also ascribes to the above road Rx, she was turned on to singing by the original punk, Iggy Pop. She says, ironically I trust, his success demonstrated that there was a space on the hit parade for “ugly Midwestern voices like ours.”

Producer Butch Vig shares that Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain hated to double-track his voice, claiming “it was fake.” The mercurial musician would also only be good for a couple of takes before he blew out his voice. But Vig did get Cobain to double-track by using a bit of psychology – by telling Beatlefile Kurt that his idol, John Lennon, did it on almost every record. The Doors’ Robbie Krieger credits some of Jim Morrison’s vocal punch to the size of his throat commenting: “Have you ever looked at the size of his neck? It’s as big as Pavarotti’s!” He also sets a long-discussed rumor straight saying that his singer’s spine-chilling performance on “The End” was indeed recorded while Morrison on L.S.D. Ozzy Osborne also brings up the legendary Italian opera star saying he always eats as apple before going on stage, just like Pavarotti himself did (it helps lubricated the voice according to Osborne). The Who’s Roger Daltrey feels he found his voice through the band’s songs, most notably, in the studio and live performances of the rock opera, Tommy. And rock’s most iconic scream, the one in “Won’t Get Fooled Again?” Does it obscure his singing talent? “It drives me nuts,” he says. “I’m getting to the age where it’s my least favorite song to sing.”

The recently-departed jazz great Tony Bennett claimed it takes seven years of steady work to learn how to sing properly and that his own influencers are not singers but great jazz sax players and pianists. Producer Nile Rodgers ascribes the success of David Bowie to his perfectionist preparation and thespian skills. Like his career and discography, his voice was also about constant change. Bowie would develop wholly new styles and approaches for the “characters” he took on in his songs. And the secret to Public Enemy’s Chuck D’s success? It’s that he wanted to be – and communicates very much like – a sports play-by-play announcer. “Rap carries the same rhythms as sportscasters like Marv Albert,” adds D. His technique has been helped by his recent study of Pilates and five-years of core training.

“Singing is so much more than hitting the right note,” Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs. “It’s about connecting with the audience, connecting with something divine, connecting to your most primitive and deepest intuition, and to your nature as a human on this planet.” Adds Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, mid-interview, “This is the most geeked out I’ve ever talked about my voice!”

September 7, 2023