NYS Music 2023

Tag: folk

  • Noah Kahan Brings Stick Season to Artpark 

    Popular folk artist Noah Kahan began his Stick Season tour for a sold out crowd at Artpark on May 26. This tour is celebrating Noah’s third studio album Stick Season which was released at the end of 2022. 

    Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

    Opener Joy Oladokun kicked off the night with her mix of R&B, folk, and rock tunes. Her influences as a queer woman of color has given her powerful lyrics and connective albums a new meaning. Joy converted new fans that night as she spent her set connecting and singing with people about mental health. 

    Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

    Noah later took the stage with his whimsical visuals and groovy band members. The group first played the popular hit “All My Love” which immediately had fans hyped up. Despite this being the Stick Season tour he brought back his roots when playing classics off his old EP Cape Elizabeth. These included “Glue Myself Shut,” and “Maine.” 

    Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

    Addressing Mental Health

    Noah is no stranger to mental health issues. In fact he not only writes about it in his songs but even discusses it on stage with countless people listening. That night at Artpark he talked with everyone how important therapy is and being okay with asking for help. Noah helps break the stigmatization around metal health issues and alcohol abuse. After his heavy hitting speech he sang “Growing Sideways” which examines the distraught feeling of being stuck.  

    Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

    The artist took a moment on stage to play some acoustic songs which brought an ease over the crowd. Fans really became excited though when Noah played several tracks off his unreleased deluxe edition of Stick Season including “No Complaints” and “Dial Drunk.”

    This night was special for Noah Kahan considering it was the first time he was playing certain songs live and the start of a tour that is about to sweep the nation. His music discography has already left a mark on the internet space but his live show is what will make people coming back for more. 

    Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty

    Artpark’s Summer concert series is a must see for both the music and the environment. Make sure to check out upcoming shows here. Young The Giant is coming June 13 and Michael Franti & Spearhead perform June 21. 

    Setlist: All My Love, Everywhere Everything, She Calls Me Back, False Confidence, New Perspective, No Complaints, Glue Myself Shut, Growing Sideways, Maine, Northern Attitude, Dial Drunk, Carlo’s Song, You’re Gonna Go Far, Orange Juice, Homesick, The View Between Villages, Stick Season, Mess 

  • A New York City Night with Fruit Bats at Webster Hall

    On Thursday, April 20th the Fruit Bats returned to New York City, having not played on the island of Manhattan in three years. The East Village’s beloved Webster Hall slowly filled with an eclectic crowd.

    Photograph by Emma Dowd

    People of all ages mingled and spoke about their relationships to the band, as they sipped wine and other elixirs. The energy was timid and sweet, emulating the same experience the Fruit Bats create with their sound.

    Photograph by Emma Dowd

    Hums of conversation and the movement on the floor fell to a still hush when the openers, H.C. McEntire took to the stage. The lights glowed golden and a light fog rolled onto the crowd, as the lead singer transitioned the night into an experience. Slowly, each instrument organically introduced itself into the song. Multiple guitars, a bass guitar, and a percussion set melded together to create a culmination of bluegrass and folk. The audience was entranced as they drank in the band’s filling guitar riffs, and weighty vocals.

    Photograph by Emma Dowd

    When H.C. McEntire humbly exited the stage, they were rewarded with hoot and holler applause. After a half an hour set change, the Fruit Bats made their way onto stage. Each band member made themselves comfortable behind their instruments. The keyboardist, Frank LoCastro, even poured himself a tall glass of red wine. Multi-instrumentalist Josh Mease, bassist David Dawda, and drummer Josh Adams situated themselves as their lead singer, Eric Johnson, approached the mic. He greeted New York City warmly, expressing his gratitude for having returned to “the big island.”

    The show commenced with Johnson’s raw voice dueting with the melody pulled by the guitar. The first lyric to be sung was from their song, “The Pet Parade”: Hello from me to all you out there. The crowd waved back to Johnson, their swaying hands casted a moving pattern of shadows across the notorious Webster velvet drapes that frame the stage.

    The Fruit Bats’ sound felt like a location. It held a midwestern kindness that could not be missed, as they performed songs tributing their roots in Chicago, Illinois. Though, the music was transient. As Johnson told stories through his lyrics, the audience was brought along with him to his muses. The journey was a long one, given that the setlist expanded over a vast culmination of records dating back to 1997.

    Photograph by Emma Dowd
    Photograph by Emma Dowd

    The band performed songs from Johnson’s early career all through their newest record, “A River Running To Your Heart,” that was released last week. The record’s first debut to the world happened in New York City. Johnson asked if the crowd minded if they played something new. The audience welcomed the proposition with open arms and open minds, as they listened to the fresh record. He sang of “proverbial shame,” “chosen family,” and the thread of most albums “love.”

    Photograph by Emma Dowd

    The show concluded peacefully, the audience fulfilled and the Fruit Bats doused in gratification. Claps and utters of “thank you’s” vibrated in the crowd. Their goodbye was swift as they stilled their instruments and waved to their listeners as they made their way backstage. The stage emptied and the lights came on, but the crowd stayed awhile. Ushered to the bar, they stayed carrying on the story of the music they just heard.

  • In Focus: Maya Hawke Plays Second Night at the Music Hall of Williamsburg

    This past Monday, March 13, Maya Hawke, well known for her role as Robin on the critically-acclaimed Netflix series Stranger Things, played an incredible show with opener Raffaella at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. The indie-folk singer, with her enchanting vocals and eclectic tone, truly wowed the crowd with various songs from her latest album, Moss. Fans from all over wearing long skirts, patterned tights, and fun jackets eagerly lined up in anticipation of Hawke’s sold-out show, one out of many for her Tactless tour.

    Maya Hawke

    Maya Hawke, born, raised, and based in New York City to Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, grew up surrounded by the music scene from a young age. The 24-year-old began truly taking off with her music career in 2020, with the release of Blush, a twelve-track record evoking somber yet raw lyrics with haunting instrumentals. Hawke, now nearing the end of her tour, is set to play four more shows in the US after playing eight across Europe and the UK. She last played New York in late August at the intimate, 120-capacity Colony venue in Woodstock.

    Raffaella took the stage at 8 PM, rocking a pair of star-covered jeans and a gray t-shirt. Her set consisted of multiple songs like “GROWN UP” and “BLONDE” from her recent EP release, LIVE, RAFF, LOVE (Act I). Her clear and energetic tone captivated an engaged audience bobbing their heads along to her indie-rock tunes.

    Raffaella
    Raffaella

    The Music Hall of Williamsburg hosted an engaging and intimate show, with Maya Hawke wowing her crazed and excited fans, many of whom brought signs, gifts, and letters for her to take. Prior to the show, a soundcheck experience and meet and greet were hosted to raise money for reproductive rights nonprofits such as Planned Parenthood and Noise for Now. Hawke improvised a song, “Running Shoes,” per the suggestion of a crowd member, and gave a heartfelt speech about her becoming the “best version of me and not the best thing that exists.” During “Here They Come,” Hawke sang beautifully with Hamilton Leithauser, and she became very emotional during her performance of “Thérèse,” waving her arms around to the beat of the music. 

    After a quick exit and outfit change, Hawke ended the show with an alluring encore, singing one of her earliest releases, “To Love a Boy.”

    Setlist: Backup Plan, Bloomed Into Blue, Hiatus, Crazy Kid, Luna Moth, Into My Arms (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds cover), Generous Heart, Running Shoes, Mermaid Bar, Missing Out (unreleased), I Wanna Be Sedated (Ramones cover), Here They Come (with Hamilton Leithauser), South Elroy, Thérèse, Sweet Tooth

    Encore: To Love a Boy

  • Gregory Alan Isakov Embodies Indie-Folk At Brooklyn Steel

    On the Friday evening of January 27th, Brooklyn Steel hosted a heavenly evening with Gregory Alan Isakov. A sold out crowd strewn in through the doors, waiting patiently at the base of the stage for the show to begin. Gregory and his band have been touring consistently for the past year, though their solo trek began at the start of January. Fans stood shoulder to shoulder, faces illuminated with the anticipation live music ensues. When the velvety lighting dimmed and the smoke poured over the stage, the soft murmurs vibrating throughout the crowd simultaneously hushed into a hungry silence.

    gregory alan isakov
    Photograph by Emma Dowd

    Isakov has been making music since 2005, and his sound remains remarkably particular. He was born in South Africa and moved to the United States at a young age, so his music holds space for a little bit of everywhere. Gregory’s fans are able to depend on him and the band to deliver consistent words of universal consolation and epiphanic life perspectives. His latest release was a single cover of The Lumineers‘ “Salt And The Sea,” in 2021, so his show was set up to be a tasteful selection of his songs from the past decade or so.

    gregory alan isakov
    Photograph by Emma Dowd

    The band members made their way onto the stage to introduce their instruments slowly one at a time until their sounds melded together into song. The violin, the cello, the drums, the guitar, the ukulele, the banjo, the piano, and other complimentary instruments made their appearance throughout the evening, emulating the skeletal archetype of folk music. When Gregory Alan Isakov himself materialized from the smoke, he sang into their first song of the night, “Southern Star.” Isakov’s songs are long works of spoken poetry made to be heard aloud in acoustically sound warehouses like Brooklyn Steel. Each pluck, each percussion, each riff had the respected time to be consumed and digested. 

    gregory alan isakov
    Photograph by Emma Dowd

    Gregory spoke to the crowd intimately about his songs, his experiences with songwriting, and live performances. Each song came with a story, and a dose of gratitude for their origins. The band emanated from Colorado, which Gregory paid ode to when he exclaimed “this one has a bit of Colorado in it,” when referencing the song “San Luis.” The rest of the fifteen song setlist flowed brilliantly with musicality and words of appreciation from Isakov. Smiling out to the crowd he rhetorically asked, “How lucky am I to do this?”

    “This one has a bit of Colorado in it.” – Gregory Alan Isakov

    Fans of Gregory’s music held a poetic stoicism to them. With their respect for esteemed lyricism and intentional instrumentals, the crowd devoted their attention to every filament of sound that came from the stage. The storytelling lore of folk music and the communal effect it curates laid the foundation for a silent conversation between Gregory Alan Isakov and the regardful audience. 

    gregory alan isakov
    Photograph by Emma Dowd

    In Between concluding songs, Isakov announced that he and his band have a new record coming out. He did not specify the release date, but the news landed excitedly as cheers ricocheted off the steel walls. Without a ‘goodbye,’ Gregory and the band left the stage, and the crowd didn’t let up until they reappeared. For their first encore, they sang “Dandelion Wine” and “Saint Valentine.” Huddled around the microphone, the band played the songs acoustically. A multitude of laboring instruments like the tambourine, the spoons, and the harmonica made an appearance. These songs seemed to be a couple of the band’s favorites to play, for their high energy was infectious.

    Waving to the crowd, Gregory and the band left once again. With a dimly lit waiting period, the crowd’s murmur resurrected in a ponderous curiosity as they wondered if the show would go on. At last, the stage lit up for the final encore. The band gave the crowd one last song, “All Shades of Blue,” with such tangible appreciation for the night everyone in the room had just shared. When the song finished, the band took their bows and thanked New York City for being an unmatched host and embracing their music with artful openness.

    gregory alan isakov
    Photograph by Emma Dowd

    Setlist: Southern Star, Dark, Dark, Dark, San Luis, Master & a Hound, This Empty Northern Hemisphere, Chemicals, Liars, She Always Takes It Back, Virginia May, Amsterdam, The Stable Song, Appaloosa Bones, Big Black Car, Second Chances, Caves
    Encore (1): Dandelion Wine (acoustic, full band), Saint Valentine (acoustic, full band)
    Encore (2): All Shades of Blue (acoustic, full band)

    gregory alan isakov