NYS Music 2024

Category: Alternative/Indie

  • Rob Eberle Releases New Single “Half of You”

    Long Island-based singer and producer Rob Eberle has shared a new heart wrenching single, “Half of You,” out now.

    rob Eberle

    Rob Eberle is a young, talented singer-songwriter as well as a producer from Long Island. Rob’s unique ability to use music to express his own and other people’s life experiences is what makes him stand out. He continues to show his creative power behind all of his songs, writing the melodies and lyrics and working with different producers to add special moments to every single one.

    The experiences and moments of Eberle’s life, as well as the lives of others around him, are glimpsed through his songs. Eberle has created his own genre-bending niche in the world of darker alternative pop-rock, drawing inspiration from a wide range of artists such as FINNEAS, Elliott Smith, Billie Eilish, Jeremy Zucker, Olivia Rodrigo, and Alexander 23.

    Rob’s new single “Half of You” is a moving song that explores the difficulties of a one-sided relationship. Eberle depicts the emotional journey of unrequited love and the toll it takes on the one who longs for reciprocation through eerie melodies and soul-stirring lyrics. The narrator’s emotional conflicts are vividly depicted in the song as he battles with the quiet that results from a lack of compassion for one another. 

    When describing the song, Rob shared that his single “is perfect for playing during those sunny drives with the windows rolled down, particularly during the bridge section of the song. “Half of You” is also the kind of song you find yourself playing alone in your room at night right after experiencing a devastating breakup, yearning for the person you’ve lost”. The single’s bleak tune and thoughtful words create a dramatic atmosphere that encompasses you in the profound feelings it communicates. 

    With every note of “half of you,” the song asks listeners to connect with the complex feelings of heartbreak and desire, as well as the unwavering optimism that love will eventually find its way back. The single is a captivating exploration of the common issue of unrequited love thanks to its lyrics and singing.

    Fans can stream “Half of You” on all streaming platforms, and to learn more about Rob Eberle fans can visit here.

  • Music is Art Festival to Returns to Buffalo AKG Art Museum After Seven-Year Hiatus

    The Music is Art Festival announced its grand return to Buffalo‘s AKG Art Museum after a seven-year hiatus on September 21 at Buffalo State University.

    This year’s festival promises an eclectic mix of music, live performances, art installations, and interactive experiences. The Music is Art Festival has always been a beacon of artistic expression and cultural gathering in Buffalo. The festival showcases what the creative and bright community has to offer. The scenic AKG and Buffalo State campus provide a canvas for Buffalo’s artistic prowess and vibrance.

    The festival includes various diverse musical performances of many genres, choreographed dances, dazzling art exhibits, and unique, original vendors. The festival also includes theatrics, interactive experiences designed to engage, inspire, and entertain attendees of all ages.

    Over 100 bands and acts are set to perform. Hundreds of art exhibits are set to dazzle attendees. Various other games, performances and displays of artisanship look to encapsulate the beauty of multiple art forms at once.

    “We are thrilled to bring the Music is Art Festival back to the AKG where it really grew into the encompassing event that it is today. AKG Buffalo and Buffalo State are not just venues; they are symbols of the rich artistic heritage and vibrant community spirit that this festival celebrates. We’re committed to creating an immersive experience that highlights the incredible talent of Buffalo’s artists, musicians, and creatives.”

    Robby Takac, Festival Founder

    For more information about the Music is Art Festival, including how to participate or attend, please visit their website at MusicIsArt.org/festival.

  • Matt Maltese Wows the Crowd at Irving Plaza

    On Friday, March 22, UK-born singer-songwriter Matt Maltese took the stage at Irving Plaza for his sold-out show as part of his “Touring Just to Tour” NY run. The beautiful stage truly set the vibe of the concert—the lights, the vines, the street lamps—they all created a cozy and whimsical experience that complemented Matt’s soft and buttery vocals. 

    Matt Maltese — Photographed by Sarah Hyun

    Matt Maltese got his start with music in Reading, Berkshire, where as a young kid he took a particular interest in songwriting. Drawing inspiration from the blues and jazz genres, Maltese wrote about heartbreak, falling in love, and the world ending—in a way like no other modern artist. His raw, poetic, and deeply heartfelt lyrics revealed his experiences navigating adolescence and adulthood. Maltese is halfway through his American leg of tour, where he has twelve more dates at venues in Massachusetts to California. He previously played at the Governors Ball Music Festival.

    Matt Maltese — Photographed by Sarah Hyun

    Prior to Matt’s entrance onto the stage, opener The Army, The Navy, put on a beautiful acoustic show for the crowd of twelve hundred. The pre-show playlist included jazzy background music that excited concertgoers swayed back and forth to. Upon Matt’s entrance, the crowd screamed in excitement. One fan yelled, “Matt you’re so British!,” where he responded with, “Yes, I am very British.”

    Matt Maltese — Photographed by Sarah Hyun

    During his opening song, “You Deserve an Oscar,” Maltese kept impressive eye contact with the audience as he belted sincere lyrics and beautifully played his piano. Halfway through the show, he played a game with the audience where he asked which out of three statements about his bassist, Jamien, was true—1. He fed his friend’s pet koi fish chips and chili oil, causing them to die; 2. He pretended to be a waiter at a random restaurant in order to get a woman’s number; and 3. He was fired from his ice cream job for using a single spoon to try every flavor there. He later revealed that all three were true.

    Jamien Randall Pepper (right) and Madden Klass (left) — Photographed by Sarah Hyun

    Towards the end of the show, he played his most well-known song, “As the World Caves In,” singing lyrics like “And here is it, our final night alive / And as the earth runs to the ground / Oh girl it’s you that I lie with / As the atom bomb locks in / Yes it’s you I welcome death with.” Anyone who has listened to Matt Maltese would not deny his true talent in crafting lyrics and melodies. 

    Matt ended the night with an encore, singing “Strange Time” and “Everyone Adores You (At Least I Do).” Although Matt does not have any New York dates left for this tour, he will likely return during his next run.

    Matt Maltese – Irving Plaza – March 22, 2024

    Setlist: You Deserve an Oscar, Mother, Irony Would Have It, Curl Up and Die, Hello Black Dog, Little Person, Mystery, Madhouse / Jupiter, Krystal, Krakow, Driving Just to Drive, The Earth is a Very Small Dot, Kiss Me (Sixpence None the Richer Cover), Rom-Com Gone Wrong, Nightclub Love, As the World Caves In / Intolewd

    Encore: Strange Time, Everyone Adores You (At Least I Do)

    Matt maltese irving plaza
    Matt maltese irving plaza
    Matt maltese irving plaza

  • Adequate Phil Release Latest Single “Limes,” Marking Final Track Before Debut Album

    Rochester psychedelic indie rock band Adequate Phil have released their latest track, “Limes” which is out on all streaming services now. The song marks their final single before the release of their debut album.

    adequate Phil Limes

    Adequate Phil, hailing from Troy, is an experimental psychedelic indie rock powerhouse with influences from Radiohead, Animal Collective, The Beatles, and The Shins. With the release of their debut album on the horizon and in spite of recent personal difficulties and lineup changes, Adequate Phil continues to captivate audiences with their magnetic stage presence and innovative sound. Since 2021, they’ve been an eclectic and relatively underground driving force in the local scene.

    adequate Phil Limes

    The track “Limes” is nothing short of unique. Its monumental psychedelic influence just oozes out of each pore of the track. You can hear the influence from classic psychedelic bands like The Beatles, Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, and more. You can also hear influence from artists like King Gizzard and even Yoko Ono.

    The vocals are haunting and obscure, the lead and rhythm guitar are hallucinogenic. Nothing about this song is conventional, but it has an eerie familiarity. The more you listen, the more you become entranced by the sounds the band emanates.

    For more information on Adequate Phil and to lay ears on their latest single, “Limes,” click here.

  • The Ghost Club Rock Out at Elsewhere

    The Ghost Club’s concert at Elsewhere, as part of “The King Whatever Tour,” was a riveting display of indie rock energy and resilience. Led by the enigmatic frontman Domenic Dunegan, the five-piece band delivered a performance that was as emotionally charged as it was musically compelling.

    Ghost Club

    Despite facing a momentary setback when Domenic accidentally hit his head while standing up on the bar, he soldiered on with unwavering determination, embodying the band’s ethos of perseverance against the odds.

    Ghost Club

    From the moment they took the stage, The Ghost Club commanded attention with their incisive songwriting and sharp commentary on themes of masculinity, self-reflection, and resilience. Hits like “Creature of the Shadows” and “I Feel Fine” had the crowd entranced, while live debuts of “It’s Your Call” and “I’m Sold” showcased the band’s willingness to push boundaries and explore new sonic territories.

    Ghost Club

    A defining moment of the evening came during their cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs,” where Domenic’s electrifying stage presence and raw emotion electrified the audience. Despite his injury, he continued to deliver a mesmerizing performance, captivating the crowd with every lyric and melody.

    Ghost Club

    As the night progressed, The Ghost Club treated fans to a string of live debuts, including the poignant “If I Fell (Don’t Wait Here for Me)” and the anthemic title track “King Whatever.” Closing out the set with the haunting ballad “Don’t Let Go,” Domenic and the band left an indelible mark on everyone in attendance, proving that they are a force to be reckoned with in the indie rock scene.

    Ghost Club

    Overall, The Ghost Club’s performance at Elsewhere was a testament to their resilience, passion, and unwavering commitment to their craft. Despite facing challenges along the way, they delivered a show that was both powerful and unforgettable, leaving fans eagerly anticipating their next performance.

    Stay tuned for their upcoming album “King Whatever” set to release ahead of this summer!

    Setlist: Creature of the Shadows, All I Know, It’s Your Call (Live Debut), I’m Sold (Live Debut), I Feel Fine, War Pigs (Black Sabbath cover), Sucker, Two Steps Ahead, If I Fell (Don’t Wait Here for Me) (Live Debut), Hate Me Too, King Whatever(Live Debut), Same Graves, Don’t Let Go

    Ghost Club

  • Bar Italia Brings Buzz to NYC for Two Nights on Path to Coachella Debut

    Bar Italia made their highly anticipated return to NYC with a cigarette-tinged concert at Warsaw in Brooklyn on March 15. Touring with their new album, The Twits, and making their way across the US to their Coachella debut, the band gave one of their best performances to date. The band entered the stage cast in warm, low-key lighting to an ecstatic crowd and filled the room with guitar buzz and imagery-filled lyrics.

    The British shoegaze/post-punk trio, signed to Matador Records, includes Sam Fenton and Jezmi Fehmi of Double Virgo and singer-songwriter Nina Cristante. They formed in 2020 to instant recognition but stayed away from the press until late last year, even keeping their names hidden from fans. This garnered them a mysterious image that they are now attempting to shed. They also added a new drummer, Liam Toon, just days before the show.

    The band has garnered a strong following in New York after making two trips from the UK last year. For an international band of their size, they have made a particular effort to play in NYC, and it has paid off for them, as Friday’s show was more than packed with eager fans. Now they’re off to continue across the US, eventually making stops on the West Coast, including two days at Coachella.

    Opening for them was Scarlet Rae, a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter who did a great job of setting the tone for the show and got a lively reaction from the crowd.

    It’s a feat how Bar Italia can get a crowd moving and cheering without almost any audience interaction. They uttered about 10 words between songs the entire show, but the audience was there for the music, and the music was electric. That’s not to say the band was closed off. They were full of smiles the whole night and didn’t hold back, showing a lot of emotion on stage.

    The interaction between the trio’s vocals formed a texture that cannot be compared to any other act. Sam Fenton and Jezmi Fehmi’s distorted guitar riffs reverberated through the venue as they played “My Little Tony,” wallowing in their dramatic vocals before being lifted up by Nina Cristante and her tambourine in the chorus. The song’s lyrics connect deeply, focusing on imagery that conjures small, intimate scenes that convey displeasure for how our generation has learned to socialize.

    They capped off the main set with “World’s Greatest Emoter,” a song title referencing an interview in which Liam Payne described actor Will Smith as the “world’s best emoter” after he slapped the comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. The room was pounding with this song, and it only got more intense as they faked the audience out, ending the song multiple times, only to drop right back in seconds later at twice the volume. This was a highlight for the band’s new drummer, Liam Toon, whose skilled playing helped balance the song’s instrumentation with the song’s dense vocals and guitar.

    The crowd was feverish by the time the band said thank you and walked off stage, only to walk back on moments later unceremoniously. The band capitalized on this, playing three of their most popular songs. They capped the concert off with “Skylinny,” which had the entire crowd of 1,100 people chanting, “Run-a-runaway, Run-a-runaway.”

    This was the kind of concert that made you stop for a minute after to take in your surroundings and breathe. Hopefully, Coachella brings good things for Bar Italia because we are sure NY would be happy to welcome them back whenever they feel like hopping the pond again.

    Bar Italia – Warsaw, Brooklyn – March 15, 2024

    Setlist: Friends, my little tony, calm down with me, Real house vibes (desperate house vibes), twist, Jelsy, Brush w Faith, harpee, Nurse!, punkt, glory hunter, my kiss era, Polly Amour, worlds greatest emoter

    Encore: Banks, changer, Skylinny

  • Artist Profile: Up and Coming Indie-Folk Troupe Sweetboy

    NYC Indie-folk band Sweetboy has been gaining popularity after the release of their 2023 album A Day in the Park. The group is known for their powerful style of indie, folk, pop, and alternative meshing.

    Sweetboy was created by artists Anna Barnett and Jon Flores. The two met on Craigslist under aspiring musicians in search of a band. The pair got together, created some tunes, and began performing at open mics around NYC.

    The duo then added some new members, put out some demos, and by 2023, released their first album A Day in the Park. Their sound combines infectious indie-pop energy and nostalgic alt-rock angst with an introspective throughline.

    Sweetboy considers themselves not much more than nerdy music lovers trying to figure out the most interesting, authentic, and exciting ways to turn their feelings into songs. While the bandmates live throughout New York and New Jersey, the City is their musical home.

    The group performed their song “Upstate” on Albany’s WTEN news station on February 25. The song is a wonderful combination of sound, beginning with a strong folk tone, shifting and evolving into a higher-energy pop-rock ballad with a punchy drumbeat.

    “Upstate” features a percussive yet melodic piano. Throughout the tune, several changes of intensity and instrumentation occur. The track features Anna’s wonderous vocals along with soaring, choir-like vocals. From beginning as a slow, soft acoustic ditty, to a moving, quick-witted ballad, the song keeps the listener entranced and moving.

    To learn more about Sweetboy and their upcoming music, visit their website here. Make sure to check out their YouTube channel for all past releases as well.

  • W.Y. Huang, Sara Devoe, and Luminous Crush Featured on This Week’s EQXposure

    Each Sunday evening from 7-9 p.m. 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 W.Y. Huang, Sara Devoe, and Luminous Crush.

    W.Y. Huang, Sara Devoe, and Luminous Crush on EQXPosure

    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.

    W.Y. Huang– “Life Just Lately”

    Singaporean singer-songwriter W. Y. Huang has released the new song “Life Just Lately.” The New York-based musician captivates audiences with his groovy instrumentals and irresistible vocals.

    Sara Devoe– “am i pretty in the light?”

    Sara Devoe is a singer/songwriter from Albany. She takes most of her inspiration from artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Haley Heynderickx, Field Medic, and Grimes. Her catchy song “am i pretty in the light?” will be played on EQXposure on Sunday.

    Luminous Crush– “Go By”

    Luminous Crush is Laura Molinelli and Ben Campbell, who make music spanning multiple genres like bluegrass, country, indie, and psychedelic.

  • Alt Rockers Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket Announce Co-Headlining Summer Tour

    Alternative Rock bands Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket announced their upcoming co-headling tour beginning this August. The 15-date tour sees a show at Artpark Outdoor Amphitheater in Lewiston, NY.

    Gin Blossoms

    Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket will combine hits and new music for an unstoppable feat of music. The acts will be joined by special guest, Vertical Horizon, a DC-based Alt-rock band. Gin Blossoms were formed in 1987 and have an impressive discography of 90s anthems. The band plans to perform various hit tracks like “Hey Jealousy” which reached 25 on the Billboard Top 100. The tour will also see tracks from their latest album, Mixed Reality.

    Toad the Wet Sprocket is comprised of Glen Phillips, Todd Nichols, and Dean Dinning. This year marks a new milestone in their journey with the 30th anniversary of the 1994 platinum selling album Dulcinea. The band will celebrate Dulcinea throughout the year on tour with many songs from the album played in the band’s live set every night on tour.

    Toad the Wet Sprocket

    Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket 2024 Tour Dates

    08-01 Oshkosh, WI – Waterfest Concert Series

    08-02 La Vista, NE – The Astro

    08-03 Mankato, MN – Vetter Stone Amphitheater

    08-05 Grand Rapids, MI – TBA

    08-07 Cleveland Heights, OH – Evans Amphitheater

    08-11 Lewiston, NY – Artpark Outdoor Amphitheater

    08-13 Medford, MA – Chevalier Theatre

    08-15 Bethlehem, PA – Wind Creek Event Center

    08-16 Cary, NC – Koka Booth Amphitheatre

    08-17 Sugar Hill, GA – The Bowl at Sugar Hill

    08-18 Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center at the Heights

    08-20 Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie Center for the Arts

    08-22 Selbyville, DE – Freeman Arts Pavilion

    08-23 Middlefield, CT – Powder Ridge

    08-24 Essex Junction, VT – Champlain Valley Fair

    Ticket on-sales for Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket tour begin Friday, March 15 at 10am local time. Visit Gin Blossoms’ website or Toad the Wet Sprocket’s website for more information and to purchase tickets. 

  • Bad Mary Releases Hopping New Music Video for Track, “Forget About It”

    New York alternative punk band Bad Mary announced the re-release of their track “Forget About It” from their Better Days album. The album has been remixed and remastered as the Better(er) Days EP. Along with the rerelease, comes the band’s latest music video for the track.

    bad mary forget about it

    “Forget About It” is a song that Bad Mary has been playing in their sets for years. Now with the re-release of the track on their latest EP, its only appropriate they finally crafted a creative new video to complement it. The band hails from Long Island and NYC, and have played various venues like The Highline Ballroom, The Knitting Factory, and Bowery Electric.

    Bad Mary is powerhouse lead vocalist Amanda Mac, her husband Mike on bass, her dad Bill on drums, and her professor David on guitar. The band weaves rhythmic power and brain worm riffs as if it were 1979 all over again. They draw much influence from bands like Green Day, Blondie and The Ramones.

    The new music video shows an all-white background with Amanda in a pop art style. The song is loud and punchy much like what the music video portrays with its bold art style and pop-up lyrics. The video and music together serve to convey flashiness and power. The punky, poppy music behind the video really carry the theme till the end.

    “Forget About It” is a song we’ve been playing in our sets for years. It’s probably the song that we have played the most as a band. An important part of every set, it’s been a crowd favorite forever. With Better(er) Days we really wanted to capture the live energy and the chaos of a song with less than two chords, one line of lyrics, and a one-note guitar solo”.

    Bassist Mike Staub

    To learn more about Bad Mary and their up-and-coming music visit their website or click here.