Following his live performance debut at this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Jai Paul traveled East to Queens‘ Knockdown Center on Tuesday, April 25.
It has been over 10 years since Jai released his first single, “BTSTU” on the acclaimed British label, XL Recordings. In that time, his debut project was leaked prematurely (then made officially available), founded a label with his brother, aptly called The Paul Institute, and returned with two new singles.
Due to this mystifyingly sporadic release pattern, it is no surprise his first headlining performance would be to much fanfare (and a consistently lengthy merch line).
Backed by his brother A. K. Paul on guitar, fellow Paul Institute member, Fabiana Palladino on keyboard and backing vocals, Rocco Palladino on bass, and Isaac Kizito on drums, the group performed an hour-long featuring many songs from the aforementioned leaked project (Bait Ones) and a new song titled, “So Long”, which he premiered a week prior in Indio.
Jai had the audience from the start, jumping into “He” after an interlude of “Higher Res”, many in the crowd finally feeling a sense of relief after anticipation of a live performance lurked for over a decade.
Numerous times throughout the night he showed genuine appreciation for the fans sticking with him for this long, repeating “I know I’ve been gone a long time” in the chorus of “BTSTU”.
The show concluded with the sonically expansive track “Str8 Outta Mumbai”, reaching back out to the crowd with the line “but you know I’ll do anything for you” to conclude the song and cathartic performance.
As soon as the Vani Jairam sample hit, the crowd immediately erupted into exhilaration, dancing and bouncing throughout the packed sold-out venue.
Jai Paul returns to his hometown of London, England to perform two shows at HERE @ Outernet on May 9th and 10th.
Jai Paul | Knockdown Center | Queens, NY | April 25, 2023
Setlist: Higher Res, He, Crush, 100,000, So Long, All Night, Zion Wolf Theme, Good Time, Genevieve, Do You Love Her Now, Jasmine, BTSTU, Str8 Outta Mumbai
Lloyd Banks continues his run of quality projects with his latest release, The Course Of The Inevitable 3: Pieces Of My Pain. The PLK’s (Punch Line King) latest release came with little press-run and debuted near the top of the iTunes rap charts, eventually climbing its way up to number 1. However, this is a familiar feat for the Jamaica Queens native, whose Course of The Inevitable series has seen Lloyd Banks return to studio albums after years of free mixtape downloads.
All in all, the response has been positive. The Course Of The Inevitable 3 currently sits at number 3 on the iTunes chart trailing only NF’s Hope and Youngboy Never Broke Again’s Don’t Try This At Home. Known for his introverted personality as much as for his lyrical prowess, Lloyd Banks kept the project’s features close to home as usual. With guest verses from Method Man, Dave East, Vado, 38 Spesh, Cormega and longtime friend and G-unit cohort, Tony Yayo.
In light, Lloyd Banks has sculpted The Course Of The Inevitable 3 to be a New York-centric album, full of hustlers and survivors of the streets who can help Banks relay his message. As the album’s Apple Music synopsis says, “A haze of philosophical street raps and sleekly sinister production.”
Forest Hills Stadium in Queens is celebrating its centennial this summer with a stacked lineup of events showcasing the stadium’s rich past and celebrating its future.
Forest Hills Stadium was built in 1923, and ten years ago went under renovation to make it more modern and renewable, making shows as environmentally friendly as they can be. The venue is climate-positive and carbon negative, meaning the venue offsets more than what’s created, tracking recycling efforts from concession areas, backstage, and beyond all season long. The stadium also supports local community-driven initiatives in an effort to give back to Queens, including QueensWay (a project proposing to convert the former LIRR Rockaway Beach Branch (RBB) into a new, public park) and Queens Community House (a multi-site, multi-service settlement house that serves the diverse neighborhoods of Queens).
This summer hosts the most diverse and exciting list of performances yet, celebrating the venue’s centennial. The new season will feature approximately 30 music and comedy performances from an exciting and eclectic mix of some of the biggest names in music and entertainment today. Some artists include one of the best-selling rock bands, the Dave Matthews Band, on June 6, the brand new Re:SET concert series featuring headliners like boygenius, Steve Lacy, and LCD Soundsystem, and up-and-coming indie artist Maggie Rogers in late July. Other artists include platinum-selling indie rock band The Strokes on Aug. 19, a former member of One Direction, the boy band that rocked the 2010s, Louis Tomlinson on July 29, indie rock group the Arctic Monkeys on Sept. 8 and 9, rock group in August Fall Out Boy and in July Weezer, and many more.
Indie group Cigarettes After Sex perform at Forest Hills Stadium Sept. 15.
Mike Luba, the executive responsible for the stadium’s rehabilitation produces concerts at the venue in coordination with The Bowery Presents, spoke about how exciting this summer will be, and the venue’s anniversary. “It’s hard to believe that it’s coming up on a full decade since we began the renovation of the stadium. We’ve come a long way since that first show with our brothers in arms Mumford and Sons, who bravely stepped up to play the opening night back in 2013. It’s been incredibly rewarding to ride along with the stadium crew, the hundreds of artists, our invaluable community neighbors and partners as well as the over 1 million folks who have found their way out to the magical oasis of a stadium smack in the middle of Queens.”
Tickets for the summer events at Forest Hills Stadium are on sale now here, with more to be announced at a later date.
2023 Forest Hills Stadium Centennial Season Calendar
Saturday, May 20th & Sunday, May 21st – Head In The Clouds Music & Arts Festival Promiseland Saturday, June 3rd – Lane 8, Sultan + Shepard, Jerro, Massane (LIVE), Ocula Sunday, June 4th – Kevin Hart Friday, June 9th – Dave Matthews Band Wednesday, June 14th – BERT KREISCHER’S FULLY LOADED COMEDY FESTIVAL: Shane Gillis, Tiffany Haddish, Dave Attell, Big Jay Oakerson, Dan Soder, Rosebud Baker Friday, June 16th – Re:SET (LCD Soundsystem, Jamie xx, IDLES, L’RAIN & More) Saturday, June 17th – Re:SET (boygenius, Clairo, Dijon, Bartees Strange) Sunday, June 18th – Re:SET (Steve Lacy, James Blake, Toro y Moi, Fousheé) Friday, June 23rd & Saturday, June 24th – Zach Bryan, Charles Wesley Godwin Friday, July 7th – The Smile, Robert Stillman Saturday, July 8th – Two Friends, Matoma, NOTD, Deerock Thursday, July 13th – Weezer, Future Islands, Joyce Manor Thursday, July 27th – Maggie Rogers, Soccer Mommy Saturday, July 29th – Louis Tomlinson Tuesday, August 1st – Fall Out Boy, Bring Me The Horizon, Royal & The Serpent, Games We Play Saturday, August 5th – Rock The Bells Festival Saturday, August 12th – Queens of the Stone Age, Phantogram Thursday, August 17th – Jason Mraz & His Superband w/ The New York Pops Saturday, August 19th – The Strokes, Angel Olsen, Seaton Smith, Promiseland Friday, September 8th & Saturday, September 9th – Arctic Monkeys, Fontaines D.C. Friday, September 15th – Cigarettes After Sex Sunday, September 17th – Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Festival Friday, September 22nd – Duran Duran, Grace Jones, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Bastille Friday, September 29th – Sylvan Esso, Goth Babe, Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul Saturday, September 30th – Jungle
Hip Hop’s underground continues to make waves as Emo, Trap-metal and phonk pioneers Bones, Xavier Wolf and Eddy Baker announced they will hit the road this summer for the InLovingMemory Tour. Produced by Live Nation and Rolling Loud, the 20-city tour kicks off in Los Angeles, CA, on May 20, and includes a stop at the Knockdown Center in Queens, NY, on Friday, June 2. Additionally, this latest expedition will be the first-ever co-headlining tour by the three members of Seshollowaterboyz (a mash-up of their self-releasing labels TeamSESH, Hollow Squad. Waterboyz and Healthy Boyz). Simultaneously, this will Bones’ first time back on the road in four years and Bones’ first time back on the road in four years.
However, the InLovingMemory tour announcement continues a busy 2023 for Bones. The prolific artist recently shared TheWitch&TheWizard, a haunting album created with longtime TeamSESH music producer Greaf. In March, Bones and Eddy Baker teamed up for “YellowStone,” the first single from Jones Peak, their upcoming collaborative effort, their first since 2019’s cult favorite SparrowsCreek. Jones Peak is set to release on April 14 through TeamSESH and Empire Records.
For over a decade trio of underground mainstays have consistently churned out music to little mainstream fanfare. Yet, their quality and innovation leaves fans wanting more. Despite their underground status, the trio have still cultivated commercial success. Bones recently earned his first-ever gold certification from the RIAA for his 2014 hit “HDMI,” while Hollow Squad CEO Xavier Wulf went gold with his 2014 Blood Shore Season 2 cut “Psycho Pass.” BONES, Wulf, and Baker recently treated fans to a preview of the upcoming tour, joining forces on the main stage during Rolling Loud California 2023.
InLovingMemory Tour Dates
Sat May 20 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
Tue May 23 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrew’s Hall
Thu May 25 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore Minneapolis presented by Affinity Plus
Fri May 26 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues
Tue May 30 – Boston, MA – Big Night Live
Wed May 31 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring
Fri Jun 02 – Queens, NY – Knockdown Center
Sun Jun 04 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore Charlotte
Mon Jun 05 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
Tue Jun 06 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live
Thu Jun 08 – Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center
Fri Jun 09 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom
Sat Jun 10 – San Antonio, TX – The Aztec Theater
Mon Jun 12 – Albuquerque, NM – Revel Entertainment Center
Hip Hop’s underground scene will be getting a jolt as Queens rapper — and television star — Meyhem Lauren is teaming up with legendary DJ, Cypress Hill’s own DJ Muggs and one of the best producers of his generation in Madlib. The trio have announced an album titled Champagne for Breakfast set for release on April 7 through Soul Assassins Records.
In anticipation for the project they’ve released the brooding album cut “Szechuan Capital.” Featuring fellow Queens-bred rapper/actor Action Bronson, “Szechuan Capital” is the name of a restaurant in Flushing Queens. “It closed down around 20 years ago,” Meyhem remarked. “It was a special spot in Flushing and Action is a special human from Flushing so it all made sense; at least to me.”
Meyhem and Action Bronson share a personal relationship as part of the hip hop/art collective Smart Crew. Additionally, Meyhem stars in Bronson’s food documentary series F*ck, That’s Delicious. However, their true ties are as cultural vanguards for the borough of Queens. Whether it be through their graffiti, music or being food aficionados, they pay ode the historic borough. “Szechuan Capital” is no different, as it is an ode to the lesser-known cultural landmarks that have bred some of hip hop’s best. With DJ Muggs and Madlib on production the essence of the culture pushing the artist will always be conveyed.
Madlib and DJ Muggs
After all, the fabled producers have spent the last few years fortifying their legacies. A founding member of Cypress Hill and the Producer of House Of Pain’s “Jump Around,” the Grammy-nominated producer has collaborated with a whose-who in hip hop’s underground scene. In the last few years alone he has released projects with Mach-Hommy, Roc Marciano, Yelawolf, Rome Streetz and Jay Worthy; and he’s currently putting the finishing touches on the forthcoming Soul Assassins 4 album. Meanwhile, Champagne for Breakfast will be Madlib’s third project of the year. The legendary producer has already released Liberation 2 with Talib Kweli and In The Beginning, Vol 3 with Declaime this calendar year.
In like manner,this latest album will add to the extensive collaborative history between Meyhem, Muggs and Madlib. Meyhem has previous projects with DJ Muggs 2017’s Gems From The Equinox, 2018’s Frozen Angels and 2019’s Members Only.
Flushing Town Hall is celebrating Women’s History Month with a special “Octogenarian Women of Jazz” performance. Four octogenarian women will take center stage at Flushing Town Hall on Friday, March 24th, in honor of Women’s History Month. Well past the age of retirement but still very much in their artistic prime, these women prove that great jazz, like great wine, gets better with age.
Flutist/tenor saxophonist Carol Sudhalter, beloved as Flushing Town Hall’s house band leader, will celebrate her 80th birthday leading a very special quintet of Octogenarians for the occasion. She will be joined in the band by world-renowned pianist Bertha Hope (86), drummer Paula Hampton (87) of the legendary jazz Hampton family, and widely popular vocalist Keisha St. Joan (84).
In addition, the concert will feature the rare participation of revered bassist Bill Crow, joining the women on stage at an impressive 95 years of age. Performing well past the typical age of retirement and still very much in their artistic prime.
“Looking at movies, books, and general depictions, we are accustomed to thinking of 80 as an ending, as an age when the mind and body begin to decline,” says Carol Sudhalter.” But now that I am 80, I realize that it is just the beginning of a new life and such a rewarding culmination of past years’ work at the same time. I am so excited to share the stage with my fellow Octogenarians to bring a wonderful evening of jazz to the audiences in Queens.”
“I have been honored to have Carol lead the house band of our popular Louis Armstrong Legacy Monthly Jazz Jams for several years now and am excited to see her take the stage with this extraordinary ensemble for her big birthday,” says Flushing Town Hall’s Executive and Artistic Director Ellen Kodadek. “Carol’s work is extremely important to Flushing Town Hall and the Queens jazz community — and we are so excited to celebrate her birthday with this special concert.”
Flushing Town Hall’s Women of Jazz concert begins at 8:00 PM EST on Friday, March 24th. Tickets are $15/$10 for members, seniors, and students with ID. Tickets can be purchased here.
