A new 2-track single from Troy’s Adequate Phil, “9ine Beers D33p,” was released on Aug. 18. This single features two guest artists which blends the bands spacey, psychedelic sounds with their smooth, lyrical flows.
Adequate Phil is a band from Troy who define themselves as a psychedelic freak-folk group. The band consists of Arunesh Ghosh and Andrew Golden while featuring on this track, Kevin Burns, Matthew Johnson, and Matt Malone.
Adequate Phil are heavily influenced by classic psychedelic acts like Animal Collective, The Beatles, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and Radiohead. This new track manages to blend in elements of hip-hop production. This gives their sound interesting parallels with acts such as Gorillaz or Danger Mouse, while still providing interesting and new ideas.
For their latest single “9ine Beers D33p” released on Aug. 18, the band has teamed up with two MCs in Troy, Big Lettuce and Yung Alfredo. This is a project that manages to produce a sound with the feeling of 8-bit stoned stargazing. Adequate Phil says, “It’s been a blast working on this, and we think it’s some of our best stuff yet.”
Learn more about Adequate Phil by checking out their website here.
JOE GENI reveals his newest single ‘City of Light’ ahead of the October 4 release of his album ‘Cities Built Upon Cities’.
Born in Illinois but living most of his adult life in New York City, Joe Geni has been releasing reflective indie-pop tracks since 2019 with his debut album ‘After Wandering Empire’, followed by the release of ‘Doggerland’ in 2021. Narratives of international affairs, climate change, urban infrastructure, and transportation all connect with the depths of the emotional human experience throughout his discography, a careful weaving that continues through his most recent releases.
About The New Single
“City of Light” joins two other pre-release singles for Geni’s newest album, “City of Energy” and “City Where The Sky Subsides,” creating a culminating piece that traces the transformation of Long Island City from its industrial past to the booming skyscrapers of today, all while reflecting on change, impermanence, the parting of friends, and feeling lost in the experience that is the city’s constant evolution.
“City of Light” in particular highlights the power of human connection and resilience in the face of lockdowns. While highlighting the friendship and community that can come from such dire situations- a testament to human connection and hope that emerged while the earth heals.
“And as the pandemic abated and something vaguely resembling normal life began to re-emerge, I, like one of our tiny mammalian ancestors crawling out of its burrow after the meteor that wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs, felt a burst of energy, and a feeling that that really in spite of everything we will be OK. Maybe.”
– JOE GENI
The upcoming album, as with Geni’s previous works, is produced, mixed, and mastered by Charlie Nieland, who has previously worked with the likes of Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, and Blondie.
To learn more about “City of Light,” his upcoming album, and his story, visit JOE GENI’s website here.
Returning for his third single of the year, singer-songwriter Mihali has partnered up with fellow musician Andy Frasco and producer Spencer Thomson to offer listeners a peek into the traveling musician’s “Circus Life” in the midst of their respective tours.
Former frontman of rock band Twiddle and a rising reggae star in his own right, Mihali Savoulidis is no new face to the music industry. His solo career formally began in 2020 with the release of “Breathe and Let Go”, with several singles following throughout during the Covid-19 pandemic. This year marks an exciting series of singles following the 2022 release of his last album, Effection, the most recent being his collaboration with fellow musician and songwriter Andy Frasco, “Circus Life”.
Both seasoned in the touring artist lifestyle and currently on the road for their respective acts, “Circus Life” is the product of Mihali and Frasco’s reflections upon the ups and downs of life, specifically as it pertains to musicians whose day to day lives become a cycle of performance and travel- possibly for months at a time.
With a slightly more acoustic americana sound than some of Mihali’s recent works, “Circus Life” meshes a rolling beat with calming piano chords and lyrics that come from the heart to express both the unspoken struggles of touring life and the beauty of it- the sacrifice that must be made to bring love to the fans, the friends, and the family he holds dear.
“Mihali and I were talking about living on the road one day after a gig, depleted but happy, and he said “Yeah, it’s like we’re in the circus.” We both looked at each other and didn’t say a word, but knew that exact feeling. Two months later, he sent me a demo called “Circus Life,”and I asked if I could add a bridge…I love when songs come out like that.”
– Andy Frasco
Both Mihali and Frasco are currently touring with a handful of dates in New York between the two acts.
Mihali will be at Wonderland Forest in Lafayette on September 21 and The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester on October 25- tickets are available here.
Frasco and the rest of his band, Andy Frasco & The U.N., will be performing at this year’s River Jam in Buffalo on October 13. Tickets are available here.
To learn more about Mihali’s work, ongoing tour, and story, visit his website here.
The Second Peace and Unity Festival, held at Snug Harbor on Staten Island, was a celebration of community, culture, and music. Hosted by the K Woods Foundation, this event brought together a diverse lineup of performers, both established and emerging, to uplift and engage the community.
Kareem “Kay” Woods and Method Man
Founded by Kareem âKayâ Woods, the K Woods Foundation is a Staten Island-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting underprivileged communities with a particular focus on youth development, education, and community engagement. Through events like this festival, mentorship programs, and educational initiatives, the foundation aims to empower young people and foster a positive impact on Staten Island and beyond. Their collaborations with local schools, community centers, and other organizations play a crucial role in this mission.
This year’s “Peace and Unity Festival” also partnered with POLARIS, a Black-owned television network, to launch a 2024 voter registration drive that successfully registered many attendees. POLARIS worked directly with Kay Woods to raise awareness around voter registration, tying this crucial initiative to the cultural significance of the hip-hop festival. POLARIS will continue voter registration activations over the next two months and plans to host a celebrity roundtable discussion as part of their efforts to engage the community in the electoral process.
Smif-N-Wessun
The festival featured a mix of local talent and established artists, creating an electric atmosphere that united the community in celebration. Among the performers were local acts such as Cosi PARI, Heff, JoJo Pellegrino, Who is Bravi, Waterteam Stumik Dezeagle, Yap City, and Smiff N Wess. Their performances showcased the rich musical diversity and talent within Staten Island.
Ghostface
The highlight of the festival came toward the end of the event with a series of unforgettable performances by some of hip-hop’s most legendary figures. Method Man, who had made a special appearance earlier in the day, returned to the stage alongside Ghostface, Raekwon, Cappadonna, and Sheek Louch, delivering a powerful set that captivated the audience. Beanie Sigel and Freeway kept the momentum going with their dynamic performance, setting the stage for the festival’s finale. Closing out the night, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, and Freekey Zekey took the energy to its peak, leaving the crowd buzzing with excitement.
Beanie Sigel & Freeway
The 2nd Peace and Unity Festival was more than just a music event; it was a testament to the strength and resilience of the Staten Island community. By bringing people together through music and culture, the K Woods Foundation continues to make a lasting impact, fostering a spirit of unity and empowerment that will carry on long after the festival’s final note.
The twelfth Summer Hoot was held at the Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, NY over the course of three days, August 23 – 26, offering an eclectic mix of people spanning generations came together to celebrate their love for music.
Tucked away in the Catskill Mountains, the Ashokan Center offers 385 acres of pristine forestry accentuated by the Esopus Creek, which rolls through it. Augmenting this paradise, a wide array of musical talents performed at the Hoot. This harmony of nature and music created the ideal environment for co-founder Mike Merenda to declare Summer Hoot 12 as Zen.
Summer Hoot 2024 at The Ashokan Center
In the span of three days, more than twenty musical acts showcased their creative talents. The diverse lineup included folk, indie rock, jazz, and singer-songwriters, as well as Mexican, Argentinean, Creole, and Jamaican stylings.
Friday night began with Hoot founders Mike & Ruthy welcoming the early arrivals. Entertainment followed with performances by Tuba Skinny, Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys and others setting the tone for the weekend.
Ashokan Center Board of Director Kale Kaposhilin described the Hoot and the center as “a chosen family of loving intention.” This spirit was evident as people of all ages laughed, sang, and danced throughout the Hoot.
An Instrument Petting Zoo with guitars, bongos, violins, tambourines, and banjos was set up to offer the young (and young at heart) the opportunity to try out instruments and embark on their creative journey.
Summer Hoot Instrument Petting Zoo
Saturday and Sunday featured three stages from which to choose. The music began mid-morning and continued late into the night, including a “singers in the round” session at midnight. For those interested in making their own music, the Jubilee Jam tent in the Magical Musical Campground was open 24/7.
Dotted throughout the Ashokan Center grounds are a series of small buildings, one of which is The Pewter House. Stepping into this room feels like entering the 19th century, with its wood beams and wood burning stove. The intimacy of this space allowed for a deep connection with the performers.
The Pewter House
A select few performed in this unique setting. Naiika Sings, a Brooklyn-based chanteuse, gave a standout performance. Naiika, who began her career performing on NYC subway platforms and trains, elevated The Pewter House to a space of spiritual revelation with her performance.
Performers on the Pete Seeger and Toshi Seeger stages came from around the globe. Highlights included Bridget Kearney, founding member of Lake Street Dive; Steve Poltz, a Canadian folk singer; Carolina Mama, an Argentinean singer-songwriter; and Laurel Massé & Vinnie Martucci, a jazz and swing ensemble.
The Mammals
Local talent from the Hudson Valley was also well-represented. The Big Takeover, David & Jacob Bernz, and Jay Ungar & Molly Mason performed. No Hoot would be complete without Mike Merenda & Ruthy Unger Merenda and their band, The Mammals. Mike & Ruthy and band closed out the Toshi Seeger stage on Saturday night.
The heart of the Hoot is music and nature. The heart of the Ashokan Center is the appreciation of the natural world. Hoot + Ashokan = Zen.
Summer Hoot Performers
The City StompersThe MammalsJordan Hamilton & Seth BernardThe Gaslight TinkersDavid & Jacob Berns joined by Josiah Longo & Tink LoydSteve PoltzBridget KearneyNaiika SingsBrendan Daniel
From Sept. 5-8, on Cool Whisper Farm in North Hillsdale, NY the Oldtone Music Festival will bring music lovers old and young together to celebrate the music of the past and even the future.
Ahead of the 2024 installment of one of the largest roots music festivals, I had the chance to speak with Trevor Roush, the co-producer of the Oldtone Music Festival. The festival is booting up again for the first time since 2022 following the worldwide pandemic caused music venues and festivals everywhere to close. On that fateful day, a small one-day festival was held and an unlikely visitor helped bring it back bigger and better than ever three years later.
But first, what is the Oldtone Music Festival? A three-day music festival in the Hudson Valley, Oldtone Music Festival aims to promote and preserve Roots music. “Roots music to me is just all music.” says Trevor Roush, “At Oldtone, it’s not just bluegrass. We have Conjunto music, which is, a traditional Mexican music, folk music, Cajun music, old-time string band music, New Orleans jazz, New Orleans R&B… You know, it’s just all music.”
As I spoke to Trevor, he was looking over volunteers who had shown up from across the country to help put together the festival. “I feel like what’s important to me about roots music, and I’m seeing it firsthand right now is that it brings people together. Cross-generationally, and cross-culturally, they all believe in this type of music. And, you know, I’m watching 40 volunteers of all different ages from other parts of the country build stages right now and set up tents. It’s like a real family-type art… There is no there is no one person here with one job. Everyone’s sort of all over the place.”
The motto of Oldtone is “Participation is preservation.” Trevor explains how participation preserves Oldtone, “You’ve seen this. Through the pandemic, if there’s a restaurant that somebody really likes or a community, if you’re not there patronizing it, it’s not gonna be there. And if you believe in something, you need to support it. “There’s so many different ways to support things. Like, you could volunteer or, you can buy a ticket. That’s kinda the easiest way. But, I feel like once somebody is involved, they’re involved for a lifetime. And they’re also excited about getting other people involved in it.”
This familial bond and community is an essential part of Roots music in general. According to Trevor, “The music is passed down. A lot of the tunes are passed down, from, you know, the older generation to a younger generation. And there are songs about families, and working and the familiarity of doing the same task. A lot of the songs are about raising a hog and slaughtering a hog. That type of thing.”
The pandemic that shut down most of the music touring and festival circuits in the world, unfortunately caused the demise of the Oldtown Music Festival. After much thought and changing the business to a nonprofit, they are back and better (and bigger) than ever. The lineup now features the grammy-winning winning Los Texmaniacs, as well as many other acts from across the country and beyond.
Los Texmaniacs
Trevor explains what’s changed, “We have reorganized as a nonprofit, which is different. That’s made it so the festival could come back through fundraising efforts and stuff like that. We have some more support, in that way. The festival always relied on musicians basically doing us a favor and playing for far less than they normally would play for just because they believed in the festival. Believed in us. So, now we’re at a point where, we can start to pay bands what they deserve, which is nice. Realistically, we’re back to where we were. 2019 was our best year. After that, as you would imagine, things got harder. We were on a roll in 2019. If we can make it back to 2019-type numbers and attendance, we’re doing good. The support is already at those levels, which feels nice. It was nice to bring this back, but we also want to bolster the [involvement] in this area. There’s a large Latinx community and we wanna get those folks more involved in the show.”
When asked how the Oldtone Music Festival was able to return this year, Trevor responded, “It’s on a working farm, and the farmers were supportive of us having it brought back. And the neighbor to the farm is this actor called Walton Goggins. He came to the festival in 2021. We did a one-day one, and he reached out to us and he was like, ‘This is amazing. I want to be a part of this.’ He’s been super helpful in helping us reach out to people that we’ve never been able to contact before and being an advocate for the festival. And also him feeling like he has a place – a calling in the community now. He’s been just an advocate, which feels really nice and supportive.”
Walton Goggins by Shayan Asgharnia
Walton Goggins, the Emmy-nominated actor, known for Fallout, and Sons of Anarchy, joined the festival this year as executive producer. But, I was curious about what got Trevor involved in the festival. He said, “So, I’m not a musician. Which I feel like is good in some ways. I can focus on organizing things, and not have to also worry about… the co-organizer is also a musician. and he’s said he’ll never play in the festival again because he’s just too chaotic organizing and doing stuff like that. But I guess where I came to this music was, I was working for my friend’s band and, I really like this music. What were their influences? And then you start going down this, rabbit hole. You start at one point and work your way back to, what was the root? Where where does this music come from? And then you can spur off of that into so many different ways where it’s “oh, wow. I really like this type of string band music.” And, then it’s like, “Now I’m l really interested and excited about Italian string band music.” And you can endlessly just be, discovering new things, and that’s what I like about curating something like Oldtone. The older generation gets inspired by the younger generation and vice versa and all the musicians are there sharing experiences with each other.”
I asked, “Can you see a future of roots music? Not just growing, or, continuing to exist, but, can you see it, evolve into something new? Different? Has it already?”
He responded, “Yeah. I feel like it sort of is evolving, and I feel like there are people out there that have started on the scale of, an Oldtone-type festival. Or, I know people that have played Oldtone before that are now, some of the largest touring acts and, are having crossovers with, Post Malone and people like that. And people, in that pop music world are, like, “What’s the root of this music that I’m making?” And, “How do I learn more about it?” The more industry-driven pop world is almost supporting, in a way, the roots music world just by notoriety. Those people with a bigger audience, [are] bolstering some of the people in this world.” He added, “There are some people who play Oldtone that have their hands in the pop world, they could come and play something like this and feel, more comfortable. It’s fun for them, and they could feel comfortable doing it without having the backlash of, ‘You didn’t play your your hit.’ You know? So it’s really nice for musicians to have an outlet for the things that they enjoy. Music’s funny. You’re always moving forward and backwards at the same time. As a musician, you’re developing your musical tastes all the time.”
What’s Trevor most excited about? He says, “I’m excited just to get it back. And personally, artist-wise, there is a woman from, Montana called Kiki Cavazos who is kind of elusive and really hard to get. And she is coming this year and it was no small task to get her here. They enlisted some buddies from New Orleans to basically go up there and kidnap her from Montana and drive her from Montana to New York. And then she’s going to do a run with her old buddies The Deslondes. That’s what I’m excited about. She played Newport Folk Festival in 2016 or 17 and kind of faded away and had some kids in Montana. And this is her coming out party again.”
Kiki Cavazos
Trevor said, “They can expect to have a good time.” He adds that you don’t even have to be a fan of roots music to enjoy yourself, “There’s a lot of volunteers on-site right now that have been here and are the most integral parts of it that are like, “I don’t even like this kind of music. I just like being around these people.” And everyone’s so nice and everyone’s so welcoming. There’s something for everyone. You will have your eyes opened to something special.”
When asked if there was anything else he would like to add, Trevor responded, “Just give a little nod to the weather so it doesn’t rain too much on Saturday.” And in a phrase that encapsulates the entire meaning of Oldtone, he adds, “But that’s no problem with us. We’ll still have fun.”
Day Lot Gate Times:
Thursday: 4 pm -12 am Friday: 11 am -12 am Sat: 9 am -12 am Sun: 10 am – 4 pm
It’s been just over two weeks since Phish’s Mondegreen music festival in Delaware, the band’s 11th in their more than 40 year career, and a reunion of fans as the band’s 2024 summer tour wound down.
Phish Mondegreen photo by Filip Zalewski
Spread out widely across the grounds of The Woodlands and Dover Motor Speedway, fans found themselves walking miles at a time to make it into the festival. And that’s before you’re dancing and driving your step count up and up. If you walked around 30 miles in those four days, you seem to fall in the median of the 40,000 attendees, based on anecdotal data.
Amid the huge jams and festival Phish that was heard over eight sets, there were plenty of non-musical highlights as well, particularly the art installations that peppered the festival area.
Over four days time, you’d have had the opportunity to see Luke Jerramâs Museum Of The Moon, where a 21-foot recreation of the Moon was suspended in mid-air, shining brightly through the trees at night. Just past the security checkpoint, you could see Lars Fiskâs Dodge Ball (a dodge caravan reimagined in the shape of a ball) and on the far side of the concert field, Henk Hofstraâs Eggcident installation.
The Cerealist Bowl photo by Taylor Weinberg
There was the parallel reality of Nova Heat, Olivier Grossetête’s Cardboard City Hall (which had to be dismantled a day early on Saturday, due to expected high winds) and Leigh Fordham Hall, which doubled as a game show stage before and after Phish each day.
Standing out as the most memorable and unique was The Cerealist Bowl, which was a speakeasy that required a password, featuring costumed servers and strange performance art, uniquely, a man who sat in front of a cotton candy machine, slowly covered in stringy pink sugar fibers.
Heliosphere photo by Brian Ferguson
Centered in the festival field was The Heliosphere, a beacon of light that bumped late-night music post-Phish, and served as a way to find yourself in these expansive grounds, making the immense festival feel much smaller, manageable even.
There were of course some downsides, including fan complaints during and after the festival citing ADA shuttle issues and accommodations. Add in communication issues between production team and staff in the campgrounds (also with shuttles) and there were some things that could have been done better. But nothing on the music or art end was lacking at any point of the weekend.
Museum Of The Moon photo by Derek Java
Even though the threat of severe weather on the final day led to a single afternoon set of Phish instead of two evening sets, fans took this in stride, rejoiced at the idea of afternoon Phish at a festival (something scrapped for Mondegreen, but a staple of all 3.0 fests, Magnaball, Superball and Fest 8.
While some who lived proximate to Delaware and were home Sunday night, others had time to rest before they ventured home, as planned, on Monday. For a four day run, the idea of music ending a little earlier was welcome to some older fans, allowing time to soak in these few days of Phish before heading back to civilization.
While the severe weather never materialized, the band made a smart call to plan for safety, to ensure the music was not impacted, and informed fans with plenty of advance notice, a notification going out on the Mondegreen app around 5pm on Saturday evening.
Overall, the festival was a huge success by all standards, with fans left wondering how long until they return to Dover for Phish Festival #12.
Below, view photos from Phish’s Mondegreen via four NYS Music photographers, each with a different style and eye for the band over the four day music festival.
While Sullivan and Ulster counties today are known for their countless miles of Catskills trails, quaint hippie towns and world-class climbing spots, they were once known for housing one of the grandest collections of summer resorts in all of America: the Borscht Belt.
For over 50 years, more than 500 hotels and thousands of bungalows catered to countless guests annually, creating a bubbling cultural scene like no other. Though the Borscht Belt era is now long-gone, the impact that it had on Jewish and American culture is undeniable and one that won’t be forgotten any time soon.
Early Years
Initially created in reaction to the increases in anti-Semitism in the New York City area during the early 1920s, the Borscht Belt was a safe haven for Jewish people who had been excluded and banned from other resorts and hotels in New York and surrounding states. Due to the massive demand and lack of alternative vacation destinations, Borscht Belt resorts quickly became a popular holiday spot for Jewish people in the region. Only 100 miles from New York City, the Catskills Borscht Belt resorts were extremely close and traveling there was simple. Frequent train service even gave those without cars a simple way to get north.
Once the Borscht Belt gained a reputation through word of mouth, Jewish families began flocking to the Catskills in droves. Many of them would even spend multiple months in the resorts, which led to the region becoming extremely special for much of the New York Jewish population. And why wouldn’t it be? Borscht Belt accommodations not only provided a nondiscriminatory vacation destination for Jewish people but also boasted luxurious hotels, top-tier music and entertainment and stunning natural beauty.
In addition to resorts for the more well-off patrons, the Catskills also had thousands of bungalows, which usually had a kitchen/living room/dinette, one bedroom, and a screened porch, which less well-off people were usually able to afford. Regardless of class and creed, there was a place for everyone to visit in the Borscht Belt.
Prime
In the Borscht Belt’s prime, over 500 resorts and 50,000 bungalows dotted the scenic hills of the Catskills. From Memorial Day to Labor Day every year, thousands of people would flood to the region, enjoying the virtually unlimited lavish amenities. Despite the resorts catering largely to their Jewish clientele, the food, music and entertainment were all top-notch, not just for the region or religion but for all of America.
Walking into one of the high-end resorts was an experience like no other. One would be met with hundreds of workers hurriedly walking around, buffets lined with more food than anyone could eat and happy guests walking to the pool or golf course. There was no shortage of entertainment in the Borscht Belt. Even busboys would have little acts they would do while serving patrons, just to get a better tip. And with all the people in such close quarters having grand times, resorts also gained the reputation of being the place to go to find your future partner.
For a few decades, the Borscht Belt looked unstoppable. Business was consistent, the resorts and bungalows kept filling up and food kept flying off the plates.
The Stars
With the Borscht Belt being so successful for many decades, naturally, the money was there to bring in the finest talent. With Vaudeville dying out 1930s with the arrival of moving pictures, comedians had to go somewhere else, which, in combination with the Borscht Belt’s rise, gave way to the perfect storm. Some of the country’s best all-time comedians, like Milton Berle, Rodney Dangerfield, Woody Allen and Jackie Mason, all got their start or regularly performed in Borscht Belt venues. Audiences were used to seeing the best of the best and would not shy away from giving vocal criticism, so the Borscht Belt became known as a comedy bootcamp for comedians looking to rise to the next level.
During the few decades of the Borscht Belt’s prime, already established comedy legends like Norm Crosby, Jack Carter and Shecky Greene butted heads with rising talents and future stars like David Brenner, Bill Dana and Robert Klein. A young Jerry Seinfeld even used to sneak into watch shows, which greatly influenced his future career as a comedy megastar. The high-pressure environments that comedians had to endure, just like how pressure makes diamonds, led to some of the greatest comedy shows of all time going down in the Catskills.
Comedy was massive in the Borscht Belt, but it wasn’t everything. While the music scene in the region lacked the star power that the comedy scene had, the quality was far from lacking. Hundreds of musicians were employed by the resorts to provide constant performances for guests, which heavily contributed to the festive reputation of the Borscht Belt era. No matter where you went, whether it be a small bungalow colony or the Concord Resort Hotel, music was everywhere, and that’s how people liked it.
The Fall
In the late 1950s and ’60s when air travel became more simple and affordable, people’s options for where they could vacation widely increased. The trains that used to frequently run up to the Catskills from New York City also decreased in frequency. These changes in travel, alongside the decrease in anti-Semitism in the decades following World War II, gave Jewish people more places to go to which were also more accepting of their faith. Another major development in the 1950s was television’s replacement of the radio as America’s most dominant broadcast medium. Now, people didn’t have to go up to the Catskills to catch a comedy or music show, they just had to turn on the TV.
As the ’60s gave way into the ’70s and ’80s, more and more of the once-thriving Borscht Belt resorts closed their doors for good. The closings acted as a domino effect: some resorts would close, which would lead to fewer overall guests vacationing in the Borscht belt. The lack of customers would cause more disrepair, which would lead to more closures, and the cycle would continue. First, the bungalow colonies fell, then the small hotels, then the large resorts. By the time 2000 rolled around, the Borscht Belt was a shell of its former self. In 2013, Kutsher’s Hotel, the last of the staple resorts, fell, signifying the official end to the already long-gone Borscht Belt era.
Photography by Marisa Scheinfeld
Today
Although the Borscht Beltâs prime is long gone, the region’s rich history has lived on. Documentaries including “When Comedy Went to School” have done excellent jobs at painting the picture of what the golden era of the Borscht Belt was like to experience, highlighting the comedic superstars that ruled over the Catskills.
The Borscht Belt Museum, a museum documenting the golden age of the Catskills resort era, also opened in 2023 and has already done a lot to document and spread Borscht Belt culture, frequently updating their historical exhibits that are open to all visitors. The museum also recently hosted their second annual Borscht Belt Festival, which, in their words, is “a project which is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Borscht Belt resort era, and celebrating its history as a refuge from bigotry, the cradle of stand-up comedy and a cultural catalyst that left deep imprints on America.”
The Borscht Belt Museum in Ellenville, NY
Many people have also been paying homage to the traditional Jewish music that rang through the Catskills decades ago, creating and sharing music honoring times past. The Jews Brothers Band is a modern Klezmer band that makes music inspired by their director’s grandfather’s old Jewish music. One of their top songs, “Up in the Borscht Belt,” harkens back to the Borscht Belt’s prime and all of the wonderful qualities that made it such a special destination.
Aaron Bendich is a 30-year-old New Yorker who, inspired by memories with his grandfather in New York City, has created and hosted two Jewish music radio shows, with the more recent one being named “Borscht Beat.” Although The Borscht Belt’s prime lasted for nearly a half-century, the impact on not just Jewish culture but American comedy and music culture is everlasting. Indeed, the Borscht Belt is alive and well. L’Chaim!
Miami-based indie soul artist JOSCH, also known as Josh Schwartz, just released his highly anticipated fourth single, “Detta,” with a music video to follow next week. Inspired by the cult-classic Dark Tower fantasy series from Stephen King, the song explores themes of abuse, vengeance, redemption, and escape.
JOSCH, pronounced like “Josh,” draws from a wide pool of inspirations for his music. From funk, R&B, electronic, soul, pop and lyrically-based folk music, no single genre can claim JOSCH. Already an extremely accomplished musician, he spent the last few years of his career touring North America with Zac Brown Band on their 2022 “Out In The Middle” stadium tour and rock and roll legends Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew on their 2023-24 “Remain In Light” tour. The previous ten-plus years saw him touring internationally with indie funk band Turkuaz. As a baritone sax player and featured vocalist in these settings, he has been at home on the sidelines of the stage. Now, with the birth of his solo project, JOSCH is ready to take center stage and share with the world even more of his creative contributions.
“Detta” tells the poignant story of its titular character, a “diamond in a patch of dirt, born beneath a neon light” into a world of darkness and pain in the backwoods of Arkansas. Lines like “Mama was a goner with a taste for dope and Daddy didn’t like to talk, but she knew what he was thinking when he got to drinking and his fists flew like a hawk” detail the depths of the despair surrounding Detta in her early life. The song captures her journey from suffering to defiance as she fights back against her abuser, leading to a dramatic escape from her troubled past into an unknown future. After hitching her way to the California coast, the law catches up with her; “though she heard the sirens coming and she knew her running days were done, she thanked God for that perfect moment in the California sun.” It’s up to the listener to decide if she surrenders peacefully, goes out in a hail of bullets, or escapes across the border into Mexico. Whichever they decide, they may be surprised to learn the inspiration for this dark tale.
“I read the Dark Tower series from Stephen King years ago and absolutely fell in love with it. One of the main characters is Odetta, a lovely, well-off young woman with a split personality. Her alter ego is Detta, a cutthroat, streetwise rebel who does whatever she must to survive. I was really drawn to that dichotomy of light and dark existing in the same person,” JOSCH explained. He wanted to make the story of the song accessible to people who didn’t read the book series but with a subtle nod to the literary inspiration, hence the chorus lyrics, ‘Detta, Odetta.’ “It may sound like I’m singing ‘Detta, oh Detta” but if you read the lyrics and are a Dark Tower nerd like me, I’m hoping you’ll get a kick out of the little easter egg.”
As with JOSCH’s first three singles, “Detta” masterfully blends analog and digital sounds and textures to create a blend all its own. The track features a haunting blend of gritty Rhodes electric piano played by Steve Swatkins (Scary Pockets, Allen Stone) and drumming by Nashville’s Mike Blong. Rob O’Block, musical renaissance man of Nashville and co-producer of the track, brought the track to life with bass, synthesizers, percussion, drum programming, and soaring, ominous electric guitar riffs that perfectly complement JOSCH’s quick-flowing, swamp-bluesy vocals.
In conjunction with the single’s release, JOSCH will also unveil a visually striking music video on September 5. The video artfully depicts the chaos and beauty of Detta’s life and her tumultuous escape, combining vintage found footage with shots of Detta, played by jewelry designer and vintage clothing seller Lauren Hayes, to create a surreal and darkly humorous narrative that’s the perfect visual companion to the song.
Visit here to stream “Detta” on your preferred streaming platform, and stay tuned for the upcoming music video from JOSCH.
Women’s Day at the New York State Fair had a local flair this year, as Rochester native Danielle Ponder performed on the Chevy Court Stage. Ponder had been scheduled to perform at the fair last year, however illness forced a cancellation.
Few in the music industry have the inspirational story Danielle Ponder has. Formerly an attorney with the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office, Ponder quit her position one week sky of turning 40 years old to pursue a career in music, full time. The soul/R&B singer-songwriter has toured with George Clinton, Leon Bridges, and Marcus Mumford, performed on numerous late night television programs, and even performed at the historic Newport Folk Festival in 2023. She is currently touring in support of her 2023 release, Some Of Us Are Brave.
It was hard not to notice the grin on Danielle Ponder’s face as she took the stage at Chevy Court on Wednesday at the New York State Fair. Ponder was greeted with a roar from the crowd, many of whom had made the trek from nearby Rochester for the performance. Ponder launched into “Some Of Us Are Brave” and quickly showcased her talents to those unfamiliar with her music. Ponder’s vocals soared through out the fairgrounds, as she displayed her dynamic vocal range.
Between songs, Ponder joked with the audience regarding the serious nature of her music. “Here comes another break up song”, she joked. She told the tale of her inspirational journey to performing music full time, adding “Begin to walk and the path will appear”. And she paid homage to the local venues who supported her rise to stardum, including Funk & Waffles and The Westcott Theater.
Ponder would close the sixty minute set with a stunning rendition of Radiohead’s “Creep”. Ponder’s vocals soared through out the fairgrounds one last time, as she delivered her on take on the classic track.
The New York State Fair continues through Monday. See the remainder of the concert schedule here.
