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  • Montclair Jazz Festival Announces 2023 Downtown Jamboree Lineup

    The 14th annual Montclair Jazz Festival, produced by the acclaimed Jazz House Kids, has announced the lineup for this year’s Downtown Jamboree, held on September 9th. This year, headliners include Regina Carter, Antibalas, Steve Turre, Melanie Charles, Person to Person with Eric Person and Houston Person, Christian McBride, the festival’s music director and curator, as well as many others.

    Montclair Jazz Festival

    The Montclair Jazz Festival is one of the most popular jazz events in the greater NYC area that is free to the public. In addition, it is one of the largest jazz festivals in the country. With music directed and curated by Grammy-winner Christian McBride, it comes on the heels of McBride’s famed Newport Jazz Festival, where he serves as artistic director.

    What is so unique about the Montclair Jazz Fesival’s downtown takeover is that it represents the coming together of Jazz House Kids’ full mission to provide access, learning, career development and community building through the American artform of jazz. Its treasured practitioners provide inspired mentorship for our emerging talent throughout the year and will create a joyous afternoon with incredible performances for thousands of fans.

    Melissa Walker, founder & president of Jazz House

    This year’s Montclair Jazz Festival returned to downtown Montclair, NJ this summer with two Soundcheck Series concerts and jam sessions, community events, and two marquee Saturdays with live music on multiple stages. One of the hallmarks of the festival will be the Jazz House alumni and peer performance on the Jazz Cruise Alumni Stage @ Midtown. The performance will feature some of the nation’s top talent who trained at the Jazz House, the country’s foremost jazz education organization.

    It’s going to be yet another fabulous year at the Montclair Jazz Festival with such great artists, both up and coming and legendary, joining us. Regina Carter, Antibalas, Steve Turre, Endea Owens, our Jazz House Collective and so many more, promise to make this year another hit.

    Christian McBride, director and curator

    The Montclair Jazz Festival is free to the public. More information can be found at montclairjazzfestival.org or on the official Montclair Jazz Festival app, available on the Google or Apple App Store.

    DOWNTOWN JAMBOREE LINEUP

    Downtown @ BDP Holding Stage

    Hosted by ALONZO BODDEN

    1:00 PM | JAZZ HOUSE COLLECTIVE

    2:30 PM | STEVE TURRE

    4:00 PM | MELANIE CHARLES Make Jazz Trill Again

    5:30 PM | CHRISTIAN McBRIDE’S NEW JAWN

    7:00 PM | ANTIBALAS

    Uptown @ The Fullerton Stage

    Hosted by ANDROMEDA TURRE

    1:00 PM | PERSON 2 PERSON

    2:30 PM | EDMAR CASTAÑEDA Quartet

    4:00 PM | VINCE ECTOR Organatomy

    5:30 PM | REGINA CARTER

    7:00 PM | MICHAEL MWENSO + THE SHAKES

  • Borderland Festival Returns for 5th Year, Lineup Announced

    Borderland Festival announces it will be returning for its 5th year to Knox Farm State Park, just 15 minutes from downtown Buffalo, featuring many well-known and legendary acts from Sept. 15-17.

    Borderland Festival

    Borderland Festival is one of the region’s most popular music and art festivals, taking place at Knox State Farm. The three-day experience will host more than 20 bands on two stages from Sept. 15-17. Festival goers can expect a diverse mix of music spanning the genres of rock, country, and Americana, along with performances from local musicians. Aside from the music, there will be a range of artisans, axe throwing, Kidsland, local chefs and food trucks, and alcohol from local breweries.

    The 2023 lineup features Trey Anastasio with Classic TAB from the legendary jam band Phish on Saturday night. Anastasio is known as the co-founder of the band and the lead guitarist, receiving several Grammy nominations for his work and a Tony nomination for “Best Original Score” in 2013 for writing the music to Hands on a Hardbody. For the first time, the festival will host a Friday night headliner with jam band Goose, a four-piece indie groove band from Norwalk, Connecticut. The band is made up of members Peter Anspach, Jeff Arevalo, Ben Atkind, Rick Mitarotonda, and Trevor Weekz, recently closing out five nights at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester.

    One of Buffalo’s own favorite bands, moe. will also be closing out the weekend for a sunset performance on Sunday, Sept. 17. The band has had a lot of success and longevity since its creation due to its engaged fanbase, aka the fa.moe.ly which has led them to do headline tours, international festival sets, music-themed cruises, and sold-out shows alongside countless household-name artists. The artist lineup also includes Dawes, The Infamous Stringdusters, Sammy Rae & Friends, Neal Francis, Mighty Poplar, The 502s, Krasno/Moore Project, and a full weekend of local bands.

    Tickets are on sale now, featuring three-day weekend passes, single-day “anyday” tickets, three-day VIP passes are sold out, camping passes, and more. Kids ten and under are free if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

  • Travis Scott Announces Barclays and MSG Shows on Upcoming Circus MaximusTour

    Travis Scott has announced his upcoming tour ‘Circus Maximus’ for recent release UTOPIA, featuring three shows in New York, two at New York’s Barclays Center on December 18 and 19, and at Madison Square Garden on December 21.

    UTOPIA has been recorded as one of the biggest hip-hop releases in 2023, as Travis Scott proved himself once again as a songwriter, producer and performer and continues to create a seamless production throughout his music. The album has become number one on Billboard Top 200, with over 1.5 billion streams globally.

    Travis has had a huge influence on the hip-hop and rap community, creating huge commercial success for himself and often characterized as “ambient”. He redefines the modern music boundaries, while indulging an immersive experience for his listeners. UTOPIA is recognized to be a game changer for Scott’s career while seamlessly creating a narrative throughout his songs that bring the fans wanting more.

    In addition to the tour, Travis plans to donate $2 per ticket sold towards the Cactus Jack Foundation, which supports scholarship programs and fulfills college education expenses. Tickets will be available on Thursday August 31 at 10am ET. New York looks forward to Scott’s return as listeners await what’s in store for the ‘Circus Maximus’ 2023 Tour.

    TRAVIS SCOTT UTOPIA – CIRCUS MAXIMUS TOUR 2023 DATES

    Wed Oct 11 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center

    Fri Oct 13, 14 – Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena

    Tue Oct 17, 18 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center

    Fri Oct 20 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center

    Sun Oct 22 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena

    Wed Oct 25, 26 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center

    Sun Oct 29 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena

    Tue Oct 31, Nov 01 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena

    Sun Nov 05 – Los Angeles, CA – SoFi Stadium

    Wed Nov 08 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena

    Fri Nov 10 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena

    Sun Nov 12, 13 – Portland, OR – Moda Center

    Wed Nov 15 – Salt Lake City, UT – Delta Center

    Sat Nov 18 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center

    Tue Nov 21, 22 – Austin, TX – Moody Center

    Sat Nov 25 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena

    Mon Nov 27, 29 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center

    Fri Dec 01 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena

    Mon Dec 04 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena

    Wed Dec 06 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena

    Fri Dec 08 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena

    Sun Dec 10 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center

    Tue Dec 12 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena

    Fri Dec 15 – Chicago, IL – United Center

    Mon Dec 18 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center

    Tues Dec 19 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center

    Thu Dec 21 – New York City, NY – Madison Square Garden

    Sat Dec 22, 23 – Boston, MA – TD Garden

    Tue Dec 26 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center

    Fri Dec 28, 29 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena

    Tickets available at shop.travisscott.com

  • The Pretenders Perform Intimate, Career-Spanning Set At The Stone Pony In Asbury Park, NJ

    On the threshold of releasing their 12th studio album Relentless (Rhino Records) on September 15, their first in three years, frontwoman Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders are supplementing their seven summer stadium shows in support of Guns N’ Roses with their own U.S. headlining tour.

    The string of special dates – nine in total – are bringing to their fans a rare look at the iconic English-American rockers as they play intimate clubs across America. The trek kicked off at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom on August 16, followed by a second gig in Nashville, TN on August 26. This past Tuesday (August 29), on a humid night in Asbury Park, NJ, it was The Stone Pony’s turn to perform host duties.

    Photo: Michael Dinger Photography | Pit Perspectives

    The new album’s title, as described by Hynde, refers to “The life of the artist. You never retire. You become relentless.” And relentless she and her crew were as they thrilled the 850-capacity crowd with a 20-song assault that featured deep cuts across the landscape of their 44-year discography. Made famous by their helping hand in launching the careers of local natives Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi into superstardom, the seaside bar was filled to the rafters with a healthy contingent of Baby Boomers, hundreds of which were queued along Ocean Avenue more than 2 hours before doors!

    Photo: Michael Dinger Photography | Pit Perspectives

    Promptly at 8:30 pm, as the entrance aria from the 1875 French opera Carmen played over the house PA, the quartet discretely slipped into the venue from a side door and entered stage right to a raucous ovation. Rocking knee-high leather boots, Levi’s and a black Stony Pony tee over a waffle-knit shirt, Hynde took up her Fender – she would relinquish it only once during the night – and immediately offered up a brand new track (“Losing My Sense of Taste”) for their forthcoming release. Speaking of The Boss, Hynde quipped early in the set, “Bruce, are you hear? I lost your phone number, or I would’ve called.”

    Photo: Michael Dinger Photography | Pit Perspectives
    Photo: Michael Dinger Photography | Pit Perspectives
    Photo: Michael Dinger Photography | Pit Perspectives

    While playing all their hits in the stadium gigs with Guns N’ Roses – choice numbers the likes of “Don’t Get Me Wrong,” “Back on the Chain Gang,” “I’ll Stand by You,” “Brass in Pocket,” “Middle of the Road” and “Talk of the Town” – tonight’s setlist was tailor-made for all the die-hard Pretenders fans in attendance, the ones who know every album inside and out. For nearly 90-minutes straight, Hynde enchanted her followers while showcasing powerfully distinctive vocals and captivating, emotional depth, making it evident as to why The Pretenders have long since carved their name into the annals of rock history with unwavering authenticity. The only hiccup in an otherwise flawless performance was a false start to the opening verse of “Thumbelina,” a track taken from their third studio album Learning to Crawl (1984).

    Photo: Michael Dinger Photography | Pit Perspectives

    Injecting a raw, edgy quality into the performance, infused with the unmistakable sound that defines The Pretenders’ signature style, “The Buzz” (Hate for Sale, 2020) was dedicated to the late Johnny Thunders who came to prominence in the early-70s as a member of the New York Dolls and with whom Hynde made a guest appearance on his first solo album. The Pretenders would dedicate another song later in the night, albeit sarcastically to the Sackler family, with their delivery of “Junkie Walk,” another track from Hate for Sale. The epic night of rock and roll concluded with a three song encore featuring the lone cover of the night, “I Go to Sleep,” an homage to The Kinks by Hynde and The Pretenders whose very first single in 1979 was a cover of The Kinks’ “Stop Your Sobbing,” quickly giving the newly founded band critical attention that they would preserve for nearly the next five decades.

    Setlist: Losing My Sense of Taste > A Love > Turf Accountant Daddy > The Adultness > Downtown (Akron) > The Buzz > Domestic Silence > Time the Avenger > Biker > Boots of Chinese Plastic > Don’t Cut Your Hair > Gotta Wait > You Can’t Hurt a Fool > Tequila > Thumbelina > Let the Sun Come In > Junkie Walk
    Encore: I Go to Sleep (The Kinks cover) > Precious > Tattooed Love Boys

    UPCOMING TOUR DATES

    September 3 – Toronto, Ontario (Rogers Centre)*
    September 5 – Detroit, MI (Shelter)^
    September 7 – Minneapolis, MN (7th St Entry)^
    September 9 – St. Louis, MO (Busch Stadium)*
    September 17 – Leicester, UK (BBC Radio 2 In The Park)◊
    September 19 – Paris, France (Maroquinerie)†
    September 20 – Paris, France (Maroquinerie)†
    September 21 – Utrecht, Netherlands (Tivoli Vredenburg Ronda)†
    September 23 – Hamburg, Germany (Reeperbalm Festival)◊
    September 25 – Berlin, Germany (Columbia Theatre)†
    October 1 – Dana Point, CA (Ohana Festival)◊
    October 2 – Los Angeles, CA (The Regent Theater)^
    October 4 – Pioneertown, CA (Pappy + Harriet’s)^
    October 6 – San Francisco, CA (Bimbo’s 365 Club)^

    * With Guns N’ Roses
    ^ Headlining show (U.S.)
    Festival appearance
    Headlining show (Europe)

  • Recording Studios in New York City

    New York City is the epicenter of music-making and recording studios in the Empire State, and the Big Apple has over 200 studios spread across the five boroughs. In doing so, New York City surpasses the rest of the state by having the most recording studios in a single region.

    Numerous prominent names in the music business have recorded in New York City, including New York natives Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Lana Del Ray, Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, Q-Tip, A Tribe Called Quest, Mariah Carey, and Jennifer Lopez, as well as non-natives like Britney Spears, Beyonce, Destiny’s Child, Kanye West, Rihanna, Whitney Houston, Sia, Taylor Swift, and Gwen Stefani. For the first time, we are doing what no major outlet has done before, listing all the recording studios in New York State and the prominent singers who have made music there.

    Radio City Music Hall is one of the top music and entertainment venues in New York State, where several of the industry’s top performers have had shows.

    Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village has been the go-to studio for several recording artists and originally came to be in 1968 after Jimi Hendrix and his manager Michael Jeffery bought a newly defunct nightclub called The Generation. On August 26, 1970, Hendrix hosted the grand opening of his psychedelic studio lair to fellow musicians and friends. Guests included Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Ron Wood, and Patti Smith. Today, Electric Lady Studios is made famous by Jimi Hendrix and classic 70s sessions with The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, and Patti Smith, among others, and maintains its reputation as the most hallowed grounds for recorded music. It is the oldest working and thriving recording studio in New York City.

    “I put on my straw hat and walked downtown, but when I got there, I couldn’t bring myself to go in,” recalls Patti Smith in her award-winning memoir, Just Kids. “By chance, Jimi Hendrix came up the stairs and found me sitting there like some hick wallflower and grinned.”

    Electric Lady has four studios available for artists’ use, A, B, C, and D.

    Studio “A” is home to a fully restored Neve 8078 – a hand-wired analog console that as recently as 2011 absorbed 2500 hours of highly skilled labor, utilizing only the highest-end components. The console was later outfitted with Martin Sound Flying Faders II. The studio’s 35′ x 38′ live room boasts an impressive collection of vintage microphones, instruments, and amps, as well as an almost palpable history. It is Electric Lady’s largest and most versatile space.

    Studio A of Electric Lady Studios in New York City.
    Studio B of Electric Lady Studios in New York City.

    For ten years, Studio C has been home to mix engineer Tom Elmhirst. Elmhirst has worked with artists like Adele, Frank Ocean, David Bowie, Amy Winehouse, and more, including 16 Grammy wins. He currently holds the record for most Grammys won by an engineer in a single year. Recent projects at Electric Lady include Adele’s “30,” James Blake’s “Friends That Break Your Heart,” and YEBBA’s “Dawn.”

    Tom Elmhirst, mix engineer at Electric Lady Studios in New York City.
    Studio D at Electric Lady Studios in New York City.

    Significant Artists who have recorded at Electric Lady include Beyonce (I am… Sasha Fierce,) Britney Spears (Oops I Did It Again,) Carly Rae Jepsen (Dedicated Side B,) Christina Aguilera (Stripped,) Destiny’s Child (The Writing’s on the Wall,) Gwen Stefani (The Sweet Escape,) J. Cole (For Your Eyez Only,) Kanye West (My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,) Kid Cudi (Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager and Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon,) Lady Gaga (Joanne, A Star is Born, and Chromatica,) Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett (Love for Sale,) Lorde, (Melodrama and Solar Power) Lana Del Rey, (Born to Die, Ultraviolence, Honeymoon, Lust for Life, Norman Fucking Rockwell, and Chemtrails over the Country Club) Mariah Carey, (Caution,) Maroon 5, (Red Pill Blues,) Sia, (Music – Songs from and Inspired by the Motion Picture,) and Taylor Swift, (Lover, Folklore, Fearless (Taylor’s version) Red (Taylor’s version) and Midnighs.)

    Discover Recording Studios from across New York State in Western New York, the Capital Region, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and Central New York.

    Premier Recording Studio has been graced by musicians such as Beyonce, Ne-Yo, Wiz Khalifa, Aaliyah, Usher, Justin Bieber, and DMX. J. Cole recorded his second studio album, Born Sinner (2013); Nicki Minaj recorded her fourth studio album, Queen (2018); and Travis Scott recorded his debut studio album, Rodeo (2015) at Premier. The facility has four studios at artists’ disposal, A, B, E, and F.

    Studio A is made up of a 9′ x 15′ Lounge, an 18′ x 21′ Control Room, a 21′ 24′ Live Room, and a 9′ x 14′ Iso Booth. Studio B is made up of a 15′ x 18′ Lounge, a 20′ x 20′ Control Room, a 9′ x 14′ Iso Booth, and a 20′ x 21′ live room. Studio E comprises a 10 x 13′ Lounge, an 8 x 16′ Iso Booth, and a 16′ x 23′ Control Room. Studio F comprises a 10′ x 13′ Lounge, an 8′ x 13′ Iso Booth, and an 11 x 23 Control Room.

    The Control Room in Studio A of Premier Recording Studio in New York City.
    The Live Room in Studio A of Premier Recording Studio in New York City.
    The Iso Booth in Studio A of Premier Recording Studios in New York City.
    The Control Room in Studio B of Premier Recording Studios.
    The Lounge in Studio B of Premier Recording Studios in New York City.
    The Iso Booth in Studio B of Premier Recording Studios in New York City.
    The Control Room in Studio E of Premier Recording Studios in New York City.
    The Vocal Booth in Studio E of Premier Recording Studio in New York City.
    The Lounge in Studio E of Premier Recording Studios in New York City.

    Random Chance Records in New York City was built by Farida Sheralam, and the studio’s website was created with NationBuilder. Sheralam was working on a book about the life of blues mandolinist James “Yank” Rachell (Blues Mandolin Man, University Press of Mississippi, 2001.) She thought about all of Rachell’s LPs that were out of date by that point, and in the process of obtaining the rights to Rachell’s music, Sheralam inadvertently created a record label. Sheralam obtained a bar code, website, advertising in blues magazines, etc. Then she started getting sent demos from artists, and the rest is history. Since then, Sheralam has kept the label going and has released some really good blues, jazz, Latin, world, and whatever CDs.

    The Hit Factory Recording Studio on Broadway in New York City, owned and operated by Troy Germano and also known as Germano Studios, first opened in 1969. In 1975, when Troy was first beginning his career in the music industry, his father, singer, and record producer Ed Germano purchased The Hit Factory, incorporated it into a business, redesigned its studios, and created the logo it uses today, bringing his son along for the journey. Troy experienced the company from the ground up, starting in the tape library and eventually becoming Executive Vice President in 1984. Before opening its current location in the Noho District in 2008 and becoming known as Germano Studios | The Hit Factory, the studio moved around multiple times throughout New York City. Additionally, The Hit Factory has locations in other big cities like Los Angeles and Miami.

    The Hit Factory/Germano Studios has produced music for Q-Tip (Amplified) Alicia Keys (Songs in a Mirror, Diary of Alicia Keys, and The Elements of Freedom) Beyonce (Dangerously in Love,) Britney Spears (Britney,) Celine Dion (The Color of My Love, Falling into You, and Let’s Talk About Love,) Christina Aguilera (Stripped,) Coldplay (X&Y,) Destiny’s Child (The Writing’s on the Wall and Survivor,) Jay-Z (The Life and Times of St. Carter,) Mariah Carey (Merry Christmas, and Butterfly,) TLC (Crazysexycool,) Ariana Grande (Sweetener,) Christina Aguilera (Liberation,) Nicki Minaj (Queen,) Kanye West (Yeezus and The Life of Pablo, Kid Cudi, (Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager) Lady Gaga (Born This Way) Lil Uzi Vert (Luv is Rage 2,) Mariah Carey (Merry Christmas II You,) Meghan Trainor (Title,) One Republic (Native,) Post Malone (Stoney, Hollywood’s Bleeding, and Twelve Carat Toothache,) and Rihanna, Rated R.)

    The Hit Factory has two studios available for use by musicians. Studio 1 is the ideal recording studio for cutting basic tracks as well as mixing for your latest album or single. The live room recently added a C. Bechstein Concert L167 baby grand acoustic piano. The control room has the deepest array of analog outboard gear paired with an endless list of plugins unrivaled by any other U.S. music studio. This studio has become one of the top vocal recording environments in New York City, and what separates Studio 1 from any other recording environment is the complete privacy matched with the constant updating of its equipment and plugins.

    Studio 2 is perfectly situated for those mixing projects that are geared toward the mix engineer and producer. The live room recently added a Bechstein A2 upright acoustic piano. The live room is predominantly utilized for lead & background vocals, key drum or guitar overdubs, or any writing session required. A 5-piece group of background vocalists, a string quartet, or a 6-piece horn section can be accommodated by the live recording space. The selection of analog outboard gear and near-field/mid-field monitoring is extensive and the main monitoring is the same Exigy S412G system with custom dual 18” subwoofers featured in Studio 1. 

    The C. Bechstein Concert L167 baby grand acoustic piano in Studio A of The Hit Factory in New York City.
    Studio 2 of The Hit Factory in New York City.

    Battery Studios is Sony Music Entertainment’s New York City-based music production facility. Battery houses the technology to playback almost all existing audio formats and is capable of stereo and surround mastering, audio restoration and digitization, file verification, and immersive audio mixing. The studio has produced music for A Tribe Called Quest (People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, The Low End TheoryMidnight Marauders, Beats, Rhymes, and Life, and The Love Movement) Alicia Keys, Britney Spears (Baby One More Time, Oops I Did It Again, Britney, In The Zone, and Greatest Hits: My Peragotive,) JoJo (JoJo and The High Road,) and Nysnc (No Strings Attached and Celebrity.)

    Some of the equipment at Battery Studios in New York City.

    Threshold Recording Studio in Manhattan’s Midtown West neighborhood of Hell’s Kitchen has been in operation since 1997, offering award-winning recording studios, music production, artist development, and commercial project management. Threshold Studios is a hands-on, owner-operated facility with an unparalleled client list from the best and brightest of Broadway to some of the biggest pop stars of the 20th century- and every major broadcast media outlet in between. The studio features top-of-the-line vintage analog and digital gear including Protools HD, logic pro x, and more.

    Threshold Recording Studios NYC Vocal Booth Mic Facing Piano.
    Piano in Live room rear perspective Threshold Recording Studios NYC.
    The Console at Threshold Recording Studio in New York City.
    The live room at Threshold Recording Studio in New York City.
    The Baldwin 7′ Acoustic Grand Piano at Threshold Recording Studio in New York City.
    The vocal booth at Threshold Recording Studio in New York City.

    Quad Recording Studios in New York City has produced music for Alicia Keys (Diary of Alicia Keys,) Chris Brown (Heartbreak on a Full Moon,) Goo Goo Dolls, (Magnetic,) Jay-Z, Volume 2…Hard Knock Life and Vol. 3…The Life and Times of St. Carter,) Jessie J (Who You Are,) Kanye West (The College Dropout,) Mariah Carey (Rainbow and Charmbracelet,) Pop Smoke (Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon,) Post Malone (Beerbongs and Bentleys, and Hollywood’s Bleeding,) Selena Gomez and the Scene, (When the Sun Goes Down,) and Taylor Swift, (Taylor Swift, and Fearless.) Quad is equipped with five studios for use by artists, Q1-5, and the event space Club Quad.

    Q1, known as the best-sounding room in the city, can handle all your recording needs. Q1 offers an array of outboard gear and a 64 Channel Neve Genesys Black. The room uses the latest Augspurger technology making it one of the loudest and cleanest sounding rooms in the city. When not in the studio you can relax in the only private studio lounge with panoramic views of Times Square. Studio Q1 also offers a large live room capable of handling extensive tracking sessions.  

    The Control Room in Studio Q1 at Quad Recording Studios in New York City.
    The Live Room in Studio Q1 at Quad Recording Studios in New York City.
    The Lounge at Quad Recording Studios in New York City.

    Q2 is known as the medium format studio, with a built-in vocal booth making it ideal for vocal tracking and all sorts of production. Q2 uses a Dual 12” Augspurger system with 18” subs. Numerous hits such as Trains “Soul Sister“ have been recorded in Q2. The room comes with a private lounge and a small balcony overlooking Times Square. 

    Studio Q2 at Quad Recording Studios in New York City.

    Q3 is our most affordable room and uses one of Augspurgers newest products, the Duo 8 system. Equipped with a 35 sq/ft isolation booth, Q3 is perfect for in-the-box production and vocal tracking. 

    Studio Q3 at Quad Recording Studios in New York City.

    Q4 is Quad’s latest room and is located on the 12th floor. Built on the success of Quad’s infamous Studio Q1, Studio Q4 offers the same technology and vibe experience found throughout our legendary facility. With a dual 15’“ Augspurgers system accompanied by dual 18” subs, this system will shake you to the core.

    Studio Q4 at Quad Recording Studios in New York City.

    Q5 is Quad’s largest room and houses the largest Augspurger sound system in the city. Frequented by mainly major labels, Q5 is also available for bookings by an independent artist. With a large live room and high-end preamps like Neve, SSL, and API, this room is ideal for large tracking sessions.

    The Control Room in Studio Q5 of Quad Recording Studios in New York City.
    The Live Room in Studio Q5 of Quad Recording Studios in New York City.
    The Private Lounge in Studio Q5 of Quad Recording Studios in New York City.

    The Cutting Room Studios has two locations in New York City, located in the heart of Manhattan in Greenwich Village and Chelsea. The studio offers a variety of recording/mixing, music production, mastering, and more services. The Cutting Room has produced music for Cardi B (An Invasion of Privacy,) Lana Del Ray (Born to Die,) and Post Malone (Stoney.)

    The Cutting Room offers two studios, A and B, and a control room for use by clients. Studio A is the main tracking and mixing room and features a 48 Channel Solid State Logic Duality Console, as well as a Yamaha C5 grand piano. Additionally, a large selection of vintage outboard gear is available in Studio A. The bright and spacious room with urban views along Lafayette and 4th Street provides clients with a relaxed creative environment while remaining in the heart of the city. For late-night sessions, rooms are equipped with Philips Hue lighting, so you can get the color and vibe just right.

    Jungle City Studios in Chelsea, the art capital of New York, strives to bring back the golden age of New York City recording studios with an awe-inspiring artistic space never seen before. Founded by Rocco Berardi, Rosemary Spallina, Ann Mincieli, and Robert Baccigalupi and managed by Phil Spallina this three-room creative space fosters an intimate atmosphere while providing inspiring wide skyline views. Mincieli, longtime engineer and studio coordinator for Alicia Keys, has channeled her talents into making Jungle a technical prowess featuring the very best in vintage and modern technology. With over twenty years of experience in the music business, Mincieli has traveled the world engineering for some of the industry’s most renowned artists: Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Drake, Mariah Carey, Usher, Jennifer Hudson, and Whitney Houston, to name a few. Jungle City has been designed to please the most demanding and diversified lover of sound and music.

    Additionally, Jungle City has recorded music for Alicia Keys (Girl on Fire, Here, and Alicia, Keys,) Ariana Grande (Sweetener, Thank u next and Positions,) Beyonce (4, Beyonce, and Lemonade,) Chris Brown (Heartbreak on a Full Moon,) Demi Lovato (Tell Me You Love Me,) Drake (Nothing Was the Same,) J. Cole (2014 Forest Hills Drive,) Jay-Z (Magna Carta Holy Grail,) Nicki Minaj, (Queen,) Justin Timberlake (The 20/20 Experience 1 & 2 and Man of the Woods,) Kanye West (The Life of Pablo,) Katy Perry (Prism) Lorde (Melodrama) Post Malone (Twelve Carat Toothache,) Rihanna (Anti,) Taylor Swift (1989,) The Weekend (Beauty Behind the Madness and After Hours,) and Zendaya, (Zendaya.)

    Jungle City is equipped with four studios, East, West, North, and South, and Rooftop Lounge for recording artists. Jungle City Studios Penthouse Studio East features a retro-futuristic design which includes a cutting-edge 48-input SSL Duality Console and a vintage EMI TGI12345 Mark III Console. With the perfect blend of analog and digital gear, Jungle City’s Penthouse Studio East can accommodate any project. Whether it’s recording or mixing an album project, 5.1 surround mixing, video shoots, hosting a listening session or just having an event, the 2400 sq foot space is completely private and is well-fitted with all the latest technologies. The Dual 15″ Augspurger monitors were explicitly built for the dimensions of the room and are beautifully set in the control room glass.

    The Penthouse East Studio at Jungle City Studios in New York City.

    The Penthouse West Studio is one of Jungle City’s two larger studio accommodations. Mirroring Penthouse East, it features a retro-futuristic design that includes a cutting-edge 48-input SSL Duality Console and a vintage EMI TGI12345 Mark III Console. With the perfect blend of analog and digital gear, Jungle City’s Penthouse can accommodate any project, whether it’s recording or mixing an album project, 5.1 surround mixing, video shoots, hosting a listening session or just having an event, the 2400 sq foot space is completely private and is well fitted with all the latest technologies.

    The Penthouse West Studio at Jungle City Studios in New York City.

    One of two mix/overdub/production suites on Jungle City’s 10th floor, the North Studio is outfitted with a 32-input Avid D-Control and Pro Tools HD4 with Expansion Chassis. Centered around Digidesign’s Icon D-Control, Studio North is the perfect room for working in the box. The 32-input Icon is the ideal control surface for both Stereo and 5.1 Surround mix sessions. The room is perfectly complemented by a 16-channel EMI Chandler Limited Mini Rack Mixer for summing as well a 2-Channel Lavry Blue converter. Studio North also is equipped with the Antelope Isochrone OCX-V and Isochrone 10M Rubidium Atomic Clock for a tighter, more focused sound that will translate flawlessly in your final mix through our custom 15″ Augspurger Main Monitors and 18″ Pioneer Subwoofers.

    The Penthouse North Studio at Jungle City Studios in New York City.

    The Penthouse South Studio, lushly appointed with custom work counters, innovative, perforated absorbing diffusers, and acoustically-tuned walls, is one the most versatile rooms in New York City. At the core of the room is the dual-functional Euphonix S5 Fusion console with the ability to become a 64-channel digital desk at the touch of a button. The Euphonix S5 Fusion is one of the most cutting-edge digital consoles using Avid’s latest Madi Converters which allows you to mix utilizing Euphonix’s 40-bit floating point processing.

    The Penthouse South Studio at Jungle City Studios in New York City.
    The Rooftop Lounge at Jungle City Studios in New York City.
    The VIew of the Manhattan skyline from the Rooftop Lounge at Jungle City Studios in New York City.

    The Smooth Spot Recording Studio in Midtown Manhattan is owned by Michael Kevin Walsh, offers a wide array of video and editing services, and is the ideal place for opera, jazz, R&B, rock, pop, voice-over, and musical theater artists in New York City. At the heart of this New York City studio is a whisper-quiet isolation booth where artists can record vocals using the highest-quality microphones available. Whether this is your first time in a recording studio or you are an accomplished professional, The Smooth Spot Recording Studio is the perfect place to record any track.

    Flux Studios is a six-room, 10,000 sq. ft. cutting-edge recording, mixing, and mastering music studio located in the East Village of New York City.

    Featuring acoustics by Fran Manzella, the Dangerous Room offers a 36-channel 1974 custom Neve console, a Pro Tools HDX system with 32 channels of Avid HD I/O, Focal and ProAc monitors, and the best selection of vintage and modern outboard gear as well as full assortment of up to date plugins, including the complete UAD collection, Waves Horizon bundle and all Avid, Sonnox, Soundtoys, and Flux plugins among others. The Dangerous room, like all Flux Studios’ rooms, is 100% Thunderbolt compatible, allowing visiting producers and engineers to use their personal computers to drive the room’s infrastructure if they desire to do so. It’s the fastest and easiest way to convert a home studio project into a professional project without export and plugin hassles.

    The Dangerous Room at Flux Studios in New York City.

    Dangerous’ 486 sq ft live room has two separate isolation rooms and a vocal booth with a full line of sight into the live room and the control room. The live room is modular and can be separated into two sonically isolated 200 sq ft rooms with a line of sight. The live room also features a collection of high-end instruments and amps, including a Yamaha C6 Grand Piano with Disklavier system, late 70s Yamaha Recording Custom drums, a 70s Fender Rhodes, a 70s Wurlitzer electric piano, and a 60s Hammond C3 organ with matching Leslie.

    The Dungeon room, acoustically tuned by Vicoustics and powered by Focal Trio11 Be + dual Sub6 speaker system, provides an impeccable listening environment for modern music production. Outfitted with a 9.1.4 DOLBY ATMOS setup powered by Focal speakers and managed by a Trinnov room correction system, this room is ideal for mixing in both stereo and spacial audio formats, as well as providing an inviting atmosphere for producing, writing, and recording. The full Pro Tools HDX system, featuring 24 I/O via an Avid HD IO along with a Universal Audio Apollo x8, is readily accessible via Thunderbolt for producers who want to work on their computer and still have access to the room’s gear. The built-in computer features Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, and Ableton Live 9, as well as an up-to-date series of UAD Complete, Sonnox, Soundtoys, FabFilter, NI Komplete plugins, and the Waves Horizon Bundle.

    The 208sq ft control room is designed to accommodate writing sessions with easy access to keyboards and instruments. It boasts an assortment of preamps and compressors by brands such as Avalon, dbx, Shadow Hills, Universal Audio, and CAPI among others. The center of the studio is a 24-channel Digidesign D-Command digital console. The accompanying 250sq ft live room has concrete floors and a 12ft ceiling height with a separate vocal booth and an amp iso. Flux Studios has a long list of instruments including a collection of analog synths perfect for writing and tracking sessions.

    The Dungeon Room at Flux Studios in New York City.

    The Transporter Room is Flux Studios’ all-in-one creative room, designed to allow producers and musicians to quickly go from writing to recording instruments and vocals, and from creating beats to mixing. Powered by Barefoot Master Stack speakers, an SSL Matrix board, and a selection of vintage Neve preamps and various analog compressors, Transporter is the premier writing room in the building. Over the years it has been the launching pad for major artists like The Strokes, The Rapture, Mark Ronson, John Hill, ASAP Ferg, and many others. The large 282 sq ft control room has a vocal tracking area surrounded by TubeTrap treatment, a customized upright piano, analog synths, Fender electric guitar and bass guitar, and midi keyboards.

    The Transporter Room at Flux Studios in New York City.

    The Fabulous Room is a mixing and mastering studio featuring the highest quality analog and digital gear for a super clean signal flow. It boasts a full assortment of outboards by Dangerous, Neumann, GML, Mercury, API, and many others. Ample space and a flawless listening environment via Focal monitors make it a premier mixing and mastering facility. The Fabulous room also houses an arsenal of vintage analog and hard-to-find synths making it a perfect space for writing and producing. Inspiration comes rapidly when sitting in front of a real CS80 or a perfect Prophet V, Octave Cat, or MS20 among others.

    The Fabulous Room at Flux Studios in New York City.

    The inspiration room is a writing and production room with perfect integration of a range of digital and analog instruments via a Universal Audio Apollo extended system. The real-time processing power of the UAD hardware and software enables the producer to focus on writing music rather than patching cables.

    The Inspiration Room at Flux Studios in New York City.

    Home to legendary producer David Kahne, the Revolution room is an ideal production room with a 205 sq ft control room and an adjacent vocal booth that enables tracking of vocals and instruments. The 12ft ceilings make it a pleasant listening environment while two large windows provide natural light during the day.

    The Revolution Room at Flux Studios in New York City.
    Flux Studios in New York City.

    Mirrortone Studios is one of the premier recording studios in New York City, with over a decade of producing music for Grammy-winning artists, major labels, and indie musicians alike. In addition to being one of the most sought-after artist-run recording studios, Mirrortone has composed music and provided audio-post services for agencies, brands, commercials, television, feature films, apps, branded content, and videos of all types. Mirrortone offers several services including mixing/mastering, artist/album recording, original music production, track production, professional score recording, and more.

    Mirrortone Studios was founded by Jay Rothman and Roman Molino Dunn, who also serve as composers and producers. Rothman is an award-winning New York-based Composer, Producer, and Sound Designer scoring films, and commercials, producing bands, and creating sound design for people and companies of all sizes around the globe. Dunn is an award-winning composer, Billboard-charting music producer (a.k.a Electropoint), and co-owner of Mirrortone Studios in New York City. He has composed and produced music for advertising agencies, corporations, television commercials, TV shows, feature films, radio, and internet campaigns, and his productions have climbed the top 20 Billboard and iTunes charts.

    James Quesada serves as a recording and mixing engineer at Mirrortone Studios. Quesada’s engineering style is equal parts industry polish and indie grit. He’s known for being easy to work with, creating an artistic environment, and having fun while getting the important work done. Having worked on countless albums, EPs, singles, and post-productions, he finds inspiration in every genre from garage rock to future trap, radio drama to film score. More than working in any genre, Quesade loves working with people.

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  • Pixies and Modest Mouse Knock it Out of the Park in Cooperstown

    It was rain-soaked double header in Cooperstown on Friday, August 25th, as a near-capacity crowd braved the elements at Brewery Ommegang for a pair of headlining sets from legendary alternative rockers Pixies and Modest Mouse.  Along with support from critically acclaimed opening act Cat Power, the powerhouse bill proved to be a home run with fans of all ages, despite some minor curveballs thrown by Mother Nature. 

    Upon arrival, the ominous sky over Brewery Ommegang felt only fitting. That’s because every time DSP Shows bring Modest Mouse to town, dating back to their first visit in 2014 and again in 2021, the weather seems to head south just prior to showtime. The same was true this year when opening act Cat Power had to abruptly cut their set short when it started raining cats and dogs in an absolutely torrential downpour that sent fans running for cover under the tree line.

    Dark Center of the Universe: An ominous sky over Brewery Ommegang felt only fitting on 8/25/23.

    Doing little else to detour the remainder of the show, however, the audience was quick to embrace the soggy scene and use the minor rain delay to fill up their beer cups and grab some merch of which there was plenty.  A simple glance around the grounds showed that while many fans were already sporting their brand new (and dry) Pixies and Modest Mouse threads, plenty of bands they’ve helped influence were represented as well. Twenty-somethings wearing shirts for bands like Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and Built to Spill, along with newer acts like King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and The Strokes, but it was the surprising amount of Deadheads and Ramones fans in the audience that proved just how diverse the appeal of this show was.  

    Fire It Up: Modest Mouse was “beautifully bold” in their return to Cooperstown on 8/25/23.

    Taking the soaking wet stage shortly after 8pm and greeting the audience with his best impersonation of an old-time radio sports announcer, Modest Mouse front-man Isaac Brock immediately connected with the crowd with some playful baseball banter, before ‘leading off’ with “Dark Center of the Universe,” one of the groups oldest and most iconic songs. Comfortably dressed in a sweatshirt depicting magic mushrooms, on deck was the infectious groove of “Tiny City Made of Ashes,” which the band seemed to jam on for a minute before Brock gave his OK to “Fire It Up.” Then came a pair of songs that helped introduce Modest Mouse to the masses back in 1996 with the first two tracks from their debut album This Is a Long Drive For Someone With Nothing to Think About.

    A beautiful and always appreciated “Dramamine” would seamlessly segue into “Life Like Weeds,” before the angst-ridden rock of “Breakthrough” would fall just shy of turning the muddy grounds into an all-out mosh pit. Cooling off the aggression with some of Brock’s signature thought provoking lyrics, “Baby Blue Sedan” had sentimental fans singing along to the lyrics of “I am doing the best that I can” in a touching moment of solidarity.

    “Sad song, last dance and no one knows who the band was, except this one mattered and I felt it had a spirit.” – Issac Brock

    Up next came “Back to the Middle” from Modest Mouse’s most recent album, 2021’s The Golden Casket, before Brock would swap out his guitar for a banjo and deliver a playful backwoods rendition of “This Devil’s Workday.” His intense delivery and ferocious growls often overshadowing the brilliance of his songwriting, Brock’s unique perspective and ability to translate surrealism into words have long made him among this generations most thought-provoking lyricists.

    After busting out the beloved B-Side of “King Rat” and then 1997’s “Heart Cooks Brain,” Modest Mouse would then get the crowd singing along with the recent radio hit “We Are Between,” before Brock would really sink his teeth into the performance with a jaw dropping version of “The Ground Walks, with Time in a Box,” which featured Isaac playing the guitar solo behind his head and then with his mouth! Falling just short of going full blown Marty McFly, the kids at Ommegang absolutely loved Brock’s vintage rock-star antics here and would erupt even further when the song seamlessly transitioned into the chart topping “Float On,” the bands breakout hit from 2004’s Good News For People Who Love Bad News.

    Following“The Whale Song,” the quick 75 minute, career spanning set would come to a close with another upbeat singalong, “Dashboard.” Fantastic, focused and swinging for the fences, the amount of “good songs” this band still had left in their arsenal is quite a testament to just how deep and diverse their catalogue runs.    

    Modest Message: “Don’t worry, even if things end up a bit too heavy we’ll all float on.”

    With two bonified headliners on the same bill, there was a strong showing of followers for each. Between sets, it was a playful conversation starter to ask which of the two you were really there to see. While the majority didn’t hesitate to say “both,” I was surprised by just how many blamed the Friday night out on their partners, saying “oh, my wife loves the Pixies, she was obsessed with them in high school,” as if there was some kind of wrong answer or guilt for admiring either of these groups and still listening to them. 

    After a brief “7th inning stretch”, suddenly the lights went dark and the legendary Pixies stepped up to the plate using The Beatles “You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)” as their walk-up music. Stoic, confident and fierce, the band opened up their performance with fan favorite “Gouge Away,” followed by two more songs also from the bands iconic 1989 album Doolittle, “I Bleed,” and “Crackity Jones,” before going all the way back to the beginning with “Isla de Encanta” from their earliest album Come on Pilgrim.

    A lot of Doolittle: Pixies performed 9 songs from their iconic album Doolittle on 8/25/23.

    With the current lineup consisting of original members Black Francis, Joey Santiago, and drummer David Lovering, the band would name Paz Lenchantin as their permanent bassist in 2016. Providing ample energy on the low end, the crunchy groove of “Planet of Sound” never sounded better as bandleader Black Francis belted out at the near full moon, before “There’s A Moon On” had fans dancing under it. Black Francis, the type of guy that wears sunglasses at night, appeared to be dressed for a funeral, but make no mistake, Pixies are alive and well in 2023. Often imitated, never duplicated, his primal and raw delivery sounded as visceral this night as it did 30 years ago.

    With his distinct vocal style ranging from dynamic bloodcurdling shrieks, to melodic, near spoken word nonchalance, his lyrics remain as cryptic and open to interpretation as ever. We’d get a healthy dose of the new stuff next with a “triple play” of songs from their latest album. 2022’s Doggerel, before bringing the audience back to more familiar territory with some of their biggest tunes like “Here Comes Your Man,” “Motorway to Roswell,” and “Caribou,” which the person next to me hailed as their best song.

    Here comes your frontman: Black Francis was in fine form at Brewery Ommegang on 8/25/23.

    While many romanticize about the Pixies and their obvious influence on 90’s music, you don’t often think of them as a romance band meant for date night. The fans at Ommegang, however, never got that memo as couples all around found great joy in reliving the soundtrack of their youth, stealing kisses in the key moments, savoring every second as one of their all-time favorite groups serenaded them under the misty, cinematic skies. Enchanting and magnetic, Paz Lenchantin, the original bass player of Maynard James Keenan’s A Perfect Circle and Billy Corgan’s Zwan, here now as a Pixie, seemed to be having the most fun out of everyone. Headbanging through the fog and shadows on her beautiful Fender 69 P-bass, picking away on classic tunes like “Hey,” “Cecilia Ann” and the crowd pleasing “Debaser.”

    Debasser: Paz Lenchantin picks away on classic Pixies songs on 8/25/23.

    Bright, loud, and beautiful, fans knew almost every word to every song for the remainder of the show.  From 1987’s “Holiday Song,” to another pair of hits from Doolittle, a surfed-out version of “Wave of Mutilation” and the climate change wakeup call of “Monkey Gone to Heaven” that saw the often experimental Francis take sonic frequencies to the warning track, building a wall of swirling distortion as he shoved his guitar into the amps creating intentional feedback. The career spanning set wouldn’t be complete, though, without the most well-known song in the Pixies catalog, “Where is My Mind?”

    Gone to Heaven: Pixies performed a Hall of Fame setlist on 8/25/23.

    While playing it every night may feel like a chore for some members of the band, it was quite clear that it still resonates after all these years and that the next generation of kids who only know Pixies from the 1999 David Fincher film Fight Club – were here for it too. Holding their phones up in lieu of lighters, the massive field of cellular fireflies created a stunning visual image and a feeling that you were experiencing an epic moment in time courtesy of one of Rock’s most influential bands. While the show could have ended there and no one would have complained, we were then treated to one final ‘call to the bullpen’ for a cover by one of the original pioneers of Punk. Closing the show with a searing rendition of Neil Young’s “Winterlong” to put an emphatic stamp on a fantastic 26-song set of timeless alternative anthems. Convening at the center of the stage to take their bows, fireworks began illuminating the night as the Pixies slowly faded into it, triumphantly bringing another successful Summer Concert Series at Brewery Ommegang to a close. A bitter-sweet realization, but hey, as they say in baseball, “there’s always next year.” We’re already looking forward to it.

    Pixies closed out Brewery Ommegang’s Summer Concert season on 8/25/23.

    Pixies | August 25, 2023 | Brewery Ommegang | Cooperstown, NY

    Setlist: Gouge Away, I Bleed, Crackity Jones, Isla de Encanta, Planet of Sound, There’s a Moon On, Who’s More Sorry Now?, Get Stimulated, The Lord Has Come Back Today, Mr. Grieves, Death Horizon, Here Comes Your Man, Motorway to Roswell, Snakes, Caribou, Hey, Doggerel, Cecilia Ann*, St. Nazaire, Debaser, Cactus, The Holiday Song, Monkey Gone to Heaven, Wave of Mutilation**, Where is My Mind?, Winterlong***

    *The Surfones cover
    **UK Surf version
    ***Neil Young cover

    Modest Mouse | August 25, 2023 | Brewery Ommegang | Cooperstown, NY

    Setlist: Dark Center of the Universe, Tiny City Made of Ashes, Fire It Up, Dramamine > Life Like Weeds, Breakthrough, Breakthrough, Baby Blue Sedan, Back to the Middle, This Devil’s Workday, King Rat, Heart Cooks Brain, We Are Between, The Ground Walks, With Time In a Box > Float On, The Whale Song, Dashboard.

    Pixies

    Modest Mouse

  • In Focus: JVKE Stops at the Rooftop at Pier 17

    Rhode Island born pop-artist JVKE took the scenic stage at the Rooftop at Pier 17 this past Wednesday, August 30th. Fans from all over – and many of them younger kids with their parents – flocked to see the “golden hour” singer put on his This is What Tour Feels Like show. 

    JVKE, photographed by Sarah Hyun

    JVKE, blowing up in part on TikTok for songs like “this is what falling in love feels like” and “this is what sadness feels like,” previously played at Irving Plaza on January 25th. Crafting songs with his producer-brother Zac truly transformed JVKE’s music into the masterpieces they are today. The body-shaking beats, powerful vocals, and intricate piano accompaniments have created a sound so uniquely him. Aside from the beautiful melodies and productions of each song, JVKE’s lyrics touch on heavy subjects like love, heartbreak, sadness, and acceptance in the most unfiltered and gut-wrenching way. 

    JVKE, photographed by Sarah Hyun

    Before the show began, a robotic-like female voice came on and introduced itself as JVKE’s emotional intelligence. The stage was set up like his bedroom, with JVKE even sporting a pair of plaid pajama pants and a black oversized hoodie. As he journeyed through his this is what ____ feels like album—which is divided into four groups of three songs—he made a point to give a small anecdote for each by detailing his experiences with certain people and emotions. For example, during “this is what heartbreak feels like,” “i’m not okay,” and “ghost town,” JVKE described the betrayal and utter hopelessness he felt after his first breakup. Before singing songs “this is what falling out of love feels like,” “catch me,” and “i can’t help it,” he described his initial struggle but ultimate success in moving on from that past relationship. JVKE is truly a talented storyteller, as emotions were at an all-time high throughout the whole show. 

    JVKE, photographed by Sarah Hyun

    During “golden hour,” JVKE sat down at his bedroom desk and began playing the iconic opening notes on a keyboard that laid there. Children eagerly climbed onto their parents tall shoulders, tweens stood on their tippy-toes with poster in hand, and couples slow-danced in the back of the crowd as golden lights lit up with venue. The performance of this song was truly breathtaking. Fans passionately reached out their hands as they belted lyrics like, “I don’t need no light to see you shine” // “It’s your golden hour” // “You slow down time” // “In your golden hour.”

    JVKE ended the night at Rooftop at Pier 17 with an incredible encore and promised to return for another show. He has two more scheduled dates for this run of tour, one in Philadelphia and another in Boston.

  • Comedian Cam Herdt poses the question ‘What’s the Best Show Ever?’ with new Podcast

    What is the Best Show Ever? The answer to that is complicated, and varies from person to person. But comedian Cam Herdt brings that question to the forefront in his new podcast, ‘Best Show Ever.’

    ‘Best Show Ever’ invites guests to talk about concert-going careers, their first concerts, worst concerts, honorable mentions and the best show the guest ever saw, hitting on the things that made that show the best. This is more than a setlist breakdown, and instead a look into an epic evening through the stories these guests bring with them.

    Comedian Cam Herdt loves talking about shows, specifically, the best shows ever. Listen as he invites special guests, musicians and music journalists to reminisce about their concert-going careers and share untold stories from the history of seeing live music.

    cam herdt

    The first season features podcasters, musicians and people Cam is close as guests, so as to get a variety of perspectives, talking about the jam scene, with many different acts brought up. The first two episodes drop on September 5, featuring Jeff Arevalo and Cam’s Dad, Mark Herdt.

    The show is hosted on Osiris Media and available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify & anywhere you can listen to podcasts.

    Guests for Season 1 of ‘Best Show Ever’ with Cam Herdt

    Dad & Jeff Arevalo 9/5
    Megan Glionna & Ryan Storm 9/12
    Aaron Schafer & Sam Grisman 9/19
    Long Strange Putt & Long Strange Niche 9/26
    Brian Murray & Willie Schlosser 10/3
    RJ Bee & Leslie Mac 10/10
    Tom Marshall 10/17

    https://youtu.be/lHwa3skypTY?si=CDdCVjc2zVlbyCF2
  • Small Ghosts, Architrave, Bars Homer Featured on This Week’s EQXposure

    Each Sunday evening from 7-9 pm you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up-and-coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music from Small Ghosts, Architrave, and Bars Homer.

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

    Small Ghosts- “I Might Disappear”

    Small Ghosts is a noisey rock band from Troy, formed in 2022, featuring members from a number of well-respected northeast bands. Their first record BLEED was released in June.

    Architrave- “Twitch of the Wing”

    Architrave is a synth-pop duo from Ballston Spa, made up of Jennifer Maher Coleman and Paul Coleman. Their unique blend of synth and alternative sounds makes listeners really enjoy them, and their new single off of their upcoming album Out of My Mind and Into Yours is out now.

    Bars Homer- “Lo”

    Bars Homer is a solo project created by multi-instrumentalist Paul Lambert based out of Saratoga Springs in 2023.

  • Twiddle Announces Live Album “The A-List”, a Live Compilation from April 2022-March 2023

    Vermont-based jam quartet Twiddle have announced The A-List: A Live Compilation of Music from April 2022-March 2023, releasing September 8th, their first live record since 2019’s Unplugged in Burlington

    twiddle the a-list

    Produced by Adrian Tramontano, mastered by Dave DeCristo, and recorded and mixed by Sam Johnson, the 24 live cuts were hand-picked by the band from some of their favorite shows over the past year, adding up to more than 4.5 hours of music from 14 different shows.

    The first single from the record is now available on all streaming services – a beautifully extended “Jamflowman” from their 10/26/22 show at The Underground in Charlotte, NC.

    The “Jamflowman” from Charlotte in October of last year was one of those moments of musical synchronicity that we aim for in our improv. We hope you dig this as the first cut from the A-List, and can’t wait for you all to hear the full thing in a few weeks!

    Mihali Savoulidis

    The 14-minute odyssey captures the band clicking on all cylinders during a period of significant growth, traversing peaks and valleys, showcasing the band’s technical skills, and capturing the magic of their live shows.

    photo by Dave Decrescente

    A limited edition Gatefold Double LP featuring 11 of the best live tracks from the record is also now available for pre-order on the band’s merch store. Pressed on clear wax with green and purple splatter, the LP’s artwork features the photography of longtime band-photographer, Dave Decrescente.

    Twiddle The A-List Tracklist

    1. Syncopated Healing (11/12/22 – Delmar Hall, St. Louis, MO)

    2. Jamflowman (10/26/22 – The Underground, Charlotte, NC)

    3. Gatsby the Great (2/26/23 – Crystal Bay Crown Room, Crystal Bay, NV)

    4. Orlando’s (12/17/22 – Higher Ground, Burlington, VT)

    5. The Mission (11/26/22 – The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY)

    6. Beehop (12/17/22 – Higher Ground, Burlington, VT)

    7. Fighting For (12/7/22 – The Vogue, Indianapolis, IN)

    8. Polluted Beauty (3/4/23 – The Olympic, Boise, ID)

    9. Dr. Remidi’s Melodium (3/4/23 – The Olympic, Boise, ID)

    10. Hattie’s Jam (6/9/22 – Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Vail, CO)

    11. When it Rains it Poors (6/9/22 – Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, Vail, CO)

    12. Daydream Farmer (11/9/22 – Varsity Theater, Minneapolis, MN)

    13. The Catapillar (11/3/22 – Deep Ellum Art Co., Dallas, TX)

    14. Nicodemus Portulay (11/5/22 – The Mohawk, Austin, TX)

    15. Blunderbuss (7/30/22 – The Levitt Pavilion, Westport, CT)

    16. Five (3/4/23 – The Olympic, Boise, ID)

    17. Beethoven and Greene (12/17/22 – Higher Ground, Burlington, VT)

    18. Apples (7/29/22 – The Levitt Pavilion, Westport, CT)

    19. Latin Tang (4/2/22 – College Street Music Hall, New Haven, CT)

    20. River Drift (7/30/22 – The Levitt Pavilion, Westport, CT)

    21. Wasabi Eruption (3/4/23 – The Olympic, Boise, ID)

    22. The Box (3/4/23 – The Olympic, Boise, ID)

    23. Mushrooms of the Sea (11/5/22 – The Mohawk, Austin, TX)

    24. Every Last Leaf II (11/5/22 – The Mohawk, Austin, TX)

    DISTANCE MAKES THE HEART TOUR

    After 18 years, this will be Twiddle’s final year of touring before an indefinite hiatus after 2023.

    8/26 – Vineyard Haven, MA – Beach Road Weekend

    9/15 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl (with Kyle Sparkman)

    9/16 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl (with Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers)

    9/22-23 – Lafayette, NY – Tumble Down at Wonderland Forest

    10/5 – Providence, RI – The Strand (with Yam Yam)

    10/6 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino (with Yam Yam)

    10/7 – Burlington, VT – The Flynn Theatre

    11/11 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom (with Melt)

    11/24 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre (with Kitchen Dwellers)

    11/25 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre (with Kitchen Dwellers)

    11/26 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre (3 Sets)

    Tickets at www.twiddlemusic.com/tour