Category: Features

Dark Star Orchestra Announce More Summer Dates – Shows at Wonderland Forest, Pier 17, Frog Alley and Innovative Field in Rochester

Dark Star Orchestra, one of the country’s premier Grateful Dead tribute bands, have finalized their U.S. summer touring schedule. The tour will span both coasts and everything in between, and the band’s August slate now contains shows all throughout New York State.

Along the tour, Dark Star Orchestra is going to be performing some special this summer. For the July 21 show at the Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park, NJ the band announced today they will be recreating the Dead’s epic 9/3/77 show from nearby Englishtown, NJ. “Its proximity, only 25 miles from Asbury Park, and the fact that it was an epic outdoor show, made sense for us to choose,” notes DSO bassist Skip Vangelas. “Itâs a classic show in the GD world and one that New Jerseyans, whether Deadhead or not have never forgotten!”

A few weeks later, the band is scheduled to play Wonderland Forest in Lafayette, NY on August 9 and 10. The newly established venue located just south of Syracuse will also play host to the Biscoland festival this summer. DSO will also play The Rooftop at Pier 17 on August 11, Innovative Field in Rochester on August 21 and the Frog Alley Summer Stage in Schenectady the following day on August 22.

Special dates are dotted all throughout the summer tour, including the band’s debut at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, CA on July 13. It marks a celebration of 40 years of the Rex Foundation and the benefit performance will see DSO offer a 40-years-to-the-day recreation of the Dead’s 7/13/84 performance from The Greek Theatre.

More information and links to ticketing info can be found here.

May 10, 2024
Roc Marciano Leads the New School with Marciology [Prolific Penmanship]

Underground hip-hop always outlasts the mainstream appeal. Look no further than Roc Marciano for the ultimate proof of talent mastery. Since the jump, Roc Marci sets out to fine-tune his pen along the road to craftsmanship. Steel sharpens steel and this man puts forth bodies of work that prove to be ironclad. Recently, he dropped Marciology which contains some serious gems.

Leaders of the New School

For those who know – Roc Marciano remains a lowkey legend. This latest release convinced fans that the ‘Marcberg’ era returned. Busta Rhymes discovered this man through ‘seven degrees of separation’ as Roc made a debut with aptly titled, ‘Marcberg in 2010. Fast forward to 2024 and Marciano continues to take dynamic groundbreaking approaches while crafting music. Consistency combined with continuous adaptation to the times exhibits the reason why this man stands the test of time.

Masterfully, Roc produced the majority of Marciology. Add in Alchemist and Animoss for additional splashes on production and you have yourself a project. Keep scrolling to see which tracks took the cake on this all-time album.

Standout Tracks

True Love – this song serves as an anthem type track. Sounds like it deserves to be blared throughout your hometown. Makes one want to celebrate winning achievements of any sorts. Truly a blessing of a song.

Tapeworm – the most blare-worthy of any song on this entire list. Incredibly poignant placement from Animoss. Big fan of songs that have different versions of the chorus after each verse. Roc serves revolving door type hooks on this track and really makes a believer out of the listener.

Leflair – real old school vibe and a great song to kickback and relax. Sounds like it deserves to be performed by a grand orchestra. Makes one want to explore a Haunted House and escape unscathed. Definitely a top-tier track amidst a collection of brilliant songs.

Phenomenal Philosophies

For those who know – they know Roc Marciano and how much he has put on for the entire underground scene. Amongst underground circles, Roc Marciano continues to show and prove his highly earned ranking and stature as an emcee. He resonates greatly and sits atop the temple of lowkey legends.

Economically, not everyone manages to blend exuberance with agency and exigency quite like Roc Marci. Beneath the Marciology cover, his album has a mysterious handwritten note. Look closely and you may see a cult. Rather than focus on sorcery – try to interpret the reason he chose to spook the listener with the artwork.

Never one to sacrifice the purity of his artwork – Roc flies so gracefully under the radar. Rather than sign a bogus contract – he would rather experiment with music to create according to the variable nature of the artwork. By branching out of his comfort zone – he continues to push the culture forward and leave massive imprints within the underground kingdom.

Overall, this album turned out to be incredibly enjoyable. For those who have never heard from the likes of this man – now is your chance. His braggadocious nature combines swiftly with his smooth laid back raps. He strikes the right balance between just smooth enough to hit you in the heart and strong uptempo to get you going.

May 10, 2024
In Focus: Ty Segall at Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland

On Sunday, May 5, Ty Segall played the Beachland Ballroom in support of his latest album, Three Bells. Sharpie Smile opened and played a great set. Just as Ty and his band took the stage you could hear a crackling noise. It sounded like it could have come out of the speakers, like some weird wet sounding feedback.

After the puzzled crowd looked around for a bit, everyone noticed that a sizable chunk of plaster from the venues old ceiling had fallen off on one side, and a piece was still left hanging in the balance. A hero from the venue used a precariously large ladder to grab the piece while an amused Ty and his band watched from the stage. After our hero pulled the plaster down, the crowd roared in approval and the show was once again on it’s way. I will also say that this is the only concert I have ever been to where someone from the venue came out and warned us to wear ear plugs. With no pit and myself situated right in front of the stage and about six inches from a guitarist amp, my tinnitus was happy I didn’t forget mine.

A Ty Segall show is probably not ideal when the state of the ceiling is questionable, his new album was heavily featured and it is certainly hard and blistering. Though as far as I am aware, the rest of the night went by without incident, even if it seemed like Ty and his other guitarist Emmett Kelly were egging each other on to bring down more ceiling.

Ty played a great set, with all of the hard rock proggy guitar solos you could want. The band really plays off Ty’s energy and the packed Cleveland crowd at it up. Some people don’t like it when a band plays so many new songs versus more of the hits, but I think prefer it. It shows that the band is still pushing forward and if they are excited about what they are doing it almost always translates to a better show. Next Ty heads out west before heading to Europe.

Setlist: The Bell, Void, I Hear, Hi Dee Dee, Emotional Mugger/Leopard Priestess, The Crawler, My Head Explodes, Imaginary Person, Waxman, Love Fuzz, My Best Friend, My Room, Wait, Looking At You

Encore: My Lady’s on Fire

May 10, 2024
Summer Fling tease debut album with single “Blissful Haze”

Up-and-coming New York City funk-rock band Summer Fling has announced a new single “Blissful Haze” set to release on May 10. The single comes in the leadup to a new album set to release in late Summer.

Singer-keyboardist Eddie Kam originally formed Summer Fling in Larchmont, NY before relocating to New York City. The group mixes chops learned from New York’s jazz conservatories with an eclectic blend of styles, ranging from indie-pop to funk, to forge an infectious sound. With a newly solidified lineup of seven recent college graduates, the band has torn up the live scene. They have played more than 35 gigs, even opening for names like They Might Be Giants and Spin Doctors.

“Blissful Haze” is a delightful song that accentuates Kam’s soulful vocals with wah-wah guitar and jazzy horns. The song’s lyrics explore the joys of a short-lived romance, with instrumentation that lends to the rosy, nostalgic atmosphere. On this track, Summer Fling’s jazz chops are on full display, crafting a smooth, yet complex pop-funk sound, with instrumentation reminiscent of Steely Dan.

This new single comes in the leadup to a very busy season for Summer Fling. The band is currently recording their debut album, which explores pop, funk and yacht rock, for release in late Summer.

The band has also planned festival appearances and tour dates in New York City, Boston and Philadelphia. At these shows, Summer Fling are sure to spread their message of inclusivity, and some great music tackling themes ranging from heartbreak to fun romance. In Eddie Kam’s words “Fun, silliness and great musicianship are the only rules at a Summer Fling performance.”

More information can be found at Summer Fling’s website and instagram.

May 10, 2024
Rodrigo y Gabriela 2024 tour stop at UPAC

GRAMMY Award-winning guitar virtuosos Rodrigo y Gabriela brought their 2024 Spring/Summer tour to the Ulster Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, May 1.

The duo showcased their craft, honed during the early years of busking on the streets of Dublin, Ireland.  The night was filled with gentle melodic notes, stirring crescendos, and powerful rock anthems from this multi-talented duo.

During the two-hour show, Rodrigo navigated between his acoustic, electric, and pedal steel guitars, while Gabriela generated percussive beats and flamenco-style sounds from her acoustic guitar.  The leveraging of this combination offered a diverse array of musical vistas.

The night wasn’t for the faint of heart.  A dynamic interactive light show augmented the duo’s onstage chemistry, while presenting the songs in an immersive form.  As the intensity increased, people couldn’t contain themselves, with dancing breaking out throughout the house.

A special moment found the pair strapping on acoustic guitars and stepping into the audience, performing songs in a fashion reminiscent of their early days of busking.  Nestled among their fans, the two expressed appreciation for the support received over the years, which enabled them to travel the world with their music.  In this genuine moment, their humility shone brightly, reinforcing the essence of Rodrigo y Gabriela.

At first glance, the night seems like a simple setup: just two individuals with two guitars. However, this is Rodrigo y Gabriela, a formidable musical powerhouse.  They filled the night with charisma and intensity, captivating their audience from start to finish.

At the end of the evening, the two left the stage as the house clamored for more.  The pair reemerged, encoring with “Tucam” from their self-titled second album.  As the song concluded and final bows were taken, many pairs of hands were raised high, forming a heart symbol for their beloved act.

May 9, 2024
Ckord App: Find Live Music Near You
Necessity is the mother of invention. In the case of Darko Mijatovic, the need to find live music locally led to the creation of Ckord, an app designed to bring together music lovers, support emerging artists and democratize music.

A native of Serbia, Darko moved to Ridgewood, Queens in the 1990s, earned a degree in electrical engineering from SUNY Binghamton, and later moved to Long Island where he is a Sr. Director at an engineering firm.

Always looking to find music in Queens or Nassau counties, the concept for the app came from his need to discover live music. The fully developed app now has the ability to get people out of their communities to find and support the arts.

While some apps isolate you and keep you glued to your phone, Ckord aims to get people out, building community, and creating real memorable experiences, with a goal to bring venues and artists together.

It looks really great to me. My first impressions are very positive and Iâm going to keep using it going forward.
Joseph – CKord user

With big name artists getting the lion’s share of the attention and money, Darko notes there is no reason why balance isn’t possible, or why a great artist shouldn’t be able to live off of music alone. Thus, Ckord focuses on emerging artists and gives them the attention not available elsewhere.

Having lived the past three decades in New York, the Big Apple was the natural first place to start with the app, focusing on the greater NY Metro area, where more than 3,000 NYC events have been listed, with more than 1,000 artists utilizing the app already. Venues, as well as artists and users, will find Ckord to be an entirely free app to utilize for their benefit.

Ckord also has lined up artists with whom they will work to capture a behind the scenes look at being an emerging music artist in NYC, among them are Nory, KLD Wave and Tucker Woods.
Download Ckord from the App store. An Android version is in the works, while the web version is designed for use by mobile device.
May 9, 2024
Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra Season Finale was Out of This World!

On Saturday, May 4, the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra presented “Other Worlds,” its grand finale of the 2023-2024 season. Maestro Daniel Hege led the orchestra in an evening of music from the superhero, fantasy, and sci-fi genres, enlivening a program of beloved classics with crisp, expressive musicianship and bringing delight to a large, all-ages audience.

The concert was dedicated to first responders. Members of local police, fire, and rescue departments received complimentary tickets, and at the start of the concert the entire audience rose to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” along with the orchestra in honor of these true superheroes of the community.

Cher and Ben Douglas

The musicians of the Philharmonic demonstrated tight, committed ensemble playing in an uplifting program of genre favorites, including themes from Black Panther, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and many more. The orchestra delivered a big, enveloping sound, highlighted by showy contributions from Principal Trumpet Frank Campos. Outstanding solos were also provided throughout the program by Assistant Principal Cellist Michael Newman. And the percussion section was elevated not only by the spectacular playing of Principal Percussionist Sam Lazzara, but also by the introduction of a new bass drum expressly designed for the Philharmonic by ErgoSonic Percussion. Lazzara and ErgoSonic President Ken Turner demonstrated this beautifully resonant instrument to the audience before the start of the show.

Maestro Hege was an engaging presence throughout, providing a feeling of warmth and welcome to the audience as he introduced each piece. Hege called the Binghamton Philharmonic “a true gem of the community,” and it was clear from the standing ovation and many curtain calls the orchestra received that the audience agreed. In all, “Other Worlds” was a bright and spirited finale to an invigorating season.

May 9, 2024
In Focus: Sum 41’s Final NYC Headline Show

On Monday, May 6 in Brooklyn, at the newly reopened Brooklyn Paramount, Canadian pop-punk sensation Sum 41 took the stage for their farewell performance in New York City.

Earlier this year the band announced it was calling it quits after 27 years, going out with a bang while celebrating their amazing career. The farewell tour coincides with the release of the new double album, Heaven :x: Hell, which came out March 29 of this year.

The bill included opening act Joey Valence & Brae from Pennsylvania, an unexpected hip-hop duo, followed by The Interrupters, who are Los Angeles based and delivered an igniting set complete with confetti in the end.

To close out the night, Sum 41 of course! Being my first time seeing them, I have to say they put on an epic show, amazing production, filled with pyrotechnics, lasers, a beautiful light show and multiple use of streamers and confetti. A larger-than-life spectacle in a standing-room-only, sold out venue, is definitely the way to go, if you’re really gonna go.

Sum 41 – Brooklyn Paramount – May 6, 2024

Setlist: Motivation, The Hell Song, Over My Head (Better Off Dead), No Reason, Underclass Hero, Some Say, Landmines, Dopamine, We’re All to Blame, Walking Disaster, With Me, Makes No Difference, My Direction / No Brains / All Messed Up, Drum Solo, Preparasi a salire, Rise Up, We Will Rock You, Ring of Fire, Pieces, What We’re All About, Fat Lip, Still Waiting

Encore: Summer, Waiting on a Twist of Fate, In Too Deep

Encore 2: So Long Goodbye

May 8, 2024
Buffalo Central Terminal Announces 2024 Calendar of Free Events from May to October

Buffalo Central Terminal has announced the release of their calendar of free events for the 2024 season. The community events take place from May to October at the Buffalo Central Terminal Lawn.

The festival includes a large variety of fun activities and events for all members of the community to enjoy. Events range from live music, plays, and movie nights to fitness bootcamps and car shows. Along with this, there are school giveaways for kids returning to the books along with an all-encompassing fall fest. From summer to fall, the Buffalo Central Terminal Festival keeps the community engaged and entertained.

The historic Buffalo Central Terminal is a prominent feature of Buffalo’s East Side and the Broadway Fillmore neighborhood. The not-for-profit Central Terminal Restoration Corp. has been the caretaker for more than 20 years.

The community driven Master Plan re-establishes the Terminal as a hub of activity. Buffalo Central Terminal is a beacon that attracts people and investment, celebrates, and fosters community voice and connections that contributes to the strong future of the city and region.

This year, the historic landmark boasts 15 free of charge events over the course of five months. The festival sees one event May 18, three in June, five in July, three in August, and two sendoff events in October.

Buffalo Central Terminal 2024 Festival Events

Health is Wealth Fitness Bootcamp A 3-part fitness and cardio bootcamp lead by GCOPE Fitness. The series is held on the Central Terminal Lawn from 9am to 10am on May 18, June 22, and June 29.

Central Terminal Car Show Admire over 100 meticulously restored sport compact and muscle cars Sunday, June 30 from 10am to 5pm at the Central Terminal Car Show.

Movie Night This year we’re hosting two movie nights at the Terminal. Join us July 29 for a taste of nostalgia with “The Goonies.” August 28 shows an animated film that’s perfect for the little ones. More to be announced soon.

Summer Concert Series After the tremendous enthusiasm from our audience last year, we’re excited to announce that our Summer Concert Series has been expanded to four sensational nights! Join us July 11, July 18, July 29, and August 8 from 5pm to 8pm.

Shakespeare in the Park returns to the Central Terminal Friday, July 19 with a “Midsummer Night’s Tour.” from 7pm to 8:30pm.

5^th Annual Back to School Giveaway hosted by Leg. Howard Johnson & CM Nowakowski

Get geared up for new school year at our giveaway Saturday, August 17 from 9am to 12pm.

Fall Fest Enjoy our family-friendly Fall Fest Saturday, October 12 from 11am-3pm, featuring music, pumpkin decorating, photog areas, beer & wine vendors and more.

Trunk or Treat hosted by Matt Urban Center The tradition continues Tuesday, October 29 from 4pm to 6pm.

To learn more about each event, and for more information on the Buffalo Central Terminal, click here.

May 8, 2024
Decemberists Open 2024 tour at UPAC in Kingston

After a six-year hiatus from the road, The Decemberists kicked off their “A Peaceable Kingdom” North American 2024 tour at UPAC on Tuesday, April 30. The band is out touring in support of the soon-to-be-released album As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again. The night’s performance reassured the sold-out house that the band had not lost a step after a six year absence.

The Decemberists

Drawing from lead singer/songwriter Colin Meloy’s college days at Oregon State as an English and theatre major, the show’s structure offered up the feeling of a three-act rock opera.

Act one: a subtly lit stage. Meloy enters from stage right, acoustic guitar in hand. Taking his position center stage, Colin performs “Red Right Ankle” from Her Majesty the Decemberists. One by one, the additional band members make their way to the stage, collectively performing three more songs including the debut of “All I Want Is You.”

The Decemberists

Act two: the stage is fully illuminated and the band plugs in, diving headfirst into the music. While showcasing tracks from their latest album, The Decemberists did not disappoint longtime fans playing favorites from their twenty-plus year career, including “Make You Better,” “Sucker’s Prayer,” and engaging in a sing-along during “16 Military Wives.”

Act three: the encore. Pushing nineteen minutes on the new album, “Joan in the Garden” closed the night out. With the feeling of a prog-rock styled anthem, The Decemberists took their fans on a musical journey, moving through multiple states of intensity, culminating with an explosion of white light encompassing the entire room as the song concluded.

The Decemberists

A bonus for the night was the Chicago-based band Ratboys. Their indie-pop drive proved to be the perfect opening act. A four-piece group, fronted by singer-songwriter Julie Steiner, garnered praise from the crowd as their set progressed.

Raatboys

The tour continues through the spring and summer, closing in The Decemberists’ hometown of Portland, Oregon, on August 3, with Ratboys opening most dates.

The Decemberists

Ratboys

May 8, 2024