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
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.
5th 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.
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 annual Scarsdale Music Festival is returning for its fourth year June 1-12 to 6pm in Scarsdale Village. The six-hour music festival sees a hearty lineup of amazing talent from all over.
The festival is hosted by the Scarsdale Business Aliance and benefits Daniel’s Music Foundation. The foundation aims to empower individuals with disabilities through music education and performance. The annual Scarsdale Music Festival boasts an extensive lineup of highly talented individuals and groups.
The Scarsdale Music Festival is an exceptional, family-friendly community event that brings together thousands of people of all ages to celebrate their love of music, food, and community and is a not-to-be missed experience. The Scarsdale Business Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the Village of Scarsdale and its local businesses.
A total of 16 musical artists and bands are set to hit the stage on June 1. The lineup is diverse and dynamic with genres like Americana, indie-rock, world, hard-rock, pop, R&B, opera and more. Some artists include Artia Tobia, Conversing with Ocean, Hunter Road, The Men of Soul, George Dennehy, and more.
This year’s line-up of amazing talent performs on two main stages throughout the day as well as an all-new acoustic stage. Twelve bands from Scarsdale and the greater Tri-State area were chosen through an extensive selection process from over 70 submitted applicants.
This year’s Grand Tasting Village features elite wines from around the world, specialty cocktails, and food pairings. In addition, guests 21+ can also purchase beer and wine by the glass. Food trucks and other food vendors offer a selection of sweet and savory items. The Family Fun Zone features carnival games, face painters, arts and crafts, musical demonstrations, DIY and STEAM activities, sports, inflatables, and more.
Tickets for the annual Scarsdale Music Festival are on sale now. For more information on the festival and to purchase tickets, click here.
Dan Navarro brought his decades of finely crafted songs and well-honed performance skills to a standing-room only house at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs on Friday, May 3.
Dan Navarro at Caffe Lena
Navarro, who introduced himself by promising his audience “two hours of the most depressing songs you’ve ever heard”, delivered two sets of original contemporary folk songs, all of which he wrote or co-wrote, including “Circling The Drain”, which he opened the show with, “Bullet Proof Heart”, “Rose In The Window”, “Horizon Line” and “We Belong”. He performed on both six and twelve string Taylor acoustic guitars.
Dan Navarro at Caffe Lena
Dan preceded some of his performances with explanations as to how the song came to be written or the dynamics of co-writing. He talked of how co-writer Deborah Holland suggested he might want to listen to some lyrics she wrote for a song she’d titled “Circling The Drain”, to which he commented that he thought it was the “worst song idea I’ve ever heard”, and then she sent what she’d written so far and the song ultimately became their co-write of that title. He described how at one point he really didn’t think “We Belong”, which he co-wrote with long time songwriting and performing partner Eric Lowen, would amount to much, and then it became a huge hit for Pat Benatar and continues to appear in film, TV and countless other placements. And he described his long relationship with Eric Lowen as having been like that of an old married couple, saying: “We hung together for over thirty years, fought like hell and never had sex.”
Dan Navarro at Caffe Lena
Dan Navarro graced the crowd with a wonderful and inspiring pearl of wisdom about life based upon his own experiences, saying: “If I’d have stood on my anger, my pride and my bitterness, I’d have never lived the life I’ve lived…or had the successes I’ve had…When you’re swimming in poison, regret and fear and someone reaches out with an olive branch…do it.” Then he launched into “Bulletproof Heart”, one of his solo writes, and told us after he finished the song that at a recent performance in Arizona, the woman who inspired the song showed up. He didn’t elaborate!
Dan Navarro at Caffe Lena
Toward the end of the show, he told the audience that he continues to perform in his seventies simply because he loves it, and that that love of what he does drives him to the point that he doesn’t believe he can ever stop. Judging from the crowd’s reaction to his performance of song after song, his audiences will never stop showing up to listen.
Dan Navarro at Caffe Lena
Navarro was backed up by bass player/recording engineer Mark Dann of Woodstock, NY who varied between laying down supportive, mindfully chosen simple accompaniment to Navarro’s single note playing and weaving skillfully crafted, spontaneous, lead-guitar-like melodic base lines into Navarro’s chordal passages. Navarro pointed out that he and Dann had not had a single practice session, but that he’d given the bass player no more than a set list, and presumably the key and basic progression for each song. Mark Dann’s skills at producing spontaneous creativity were quite evident.
Mark Dann, bassist for Dan Navarro at Caffe Lena
The show was part of Navarro’s continuing 2024 US tour, with NY performances at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs and Song Salon at Graveside Variety in Woodstock; and in support of his most recent solo album release, “Horizon Line”, and his duo album with James Lee Stanley, “All Wood and Led”, which he described as an acoustic “Laurel Canyon” reimagination of famous Led Zeppelin tunes, from which he played his version of “Whole Lotta Love”.
Dan Navarro at Caffe Lena
In addition to his work for decades as a singer songwriter, which have included not only his own recordings, songs he has written or cowritten have been recorded and performed by Pat Benatar, The Bangles, The Temptations, Dionne Warwick and others. Navarro’s songs have appeared in films including Deadpool 2, Pitch Perfect 2 and Talladega Nights and TV series including This Is Us and The Office. And he has performed as a singer and voice actor in movies including Encanto, Coco, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, and Pirates of the Carribean 5, to name a few.
Dan Navarro at Caffe Lena
During the show Navarro mentioned that it “means the world to me to be in this room” and told the audience that his ties to Caffe Lena go back to 1986 when he and his former co-writing and performance duo partner, Eric Lowen, sat in a field not far from Saratoga at Lowen’s parents’ house staring at the stars and Lowen told him about Caffe Lena’s rich history. Navarro first played at Caffe Lena in 1998 and has played and taught songwriting there on numerous occasions since.
Dan Navarro at Caffe Lena
A tribute to Navarro’s songwriting skill was the presence of numerous New York State local and regional songwriters in the crowd – Michael Eck who recently performed at Caffe Lena with a release party for his CD “fermata”, Brad Cole of Rhinebeck who has opened for Dan, Carl Rubino who has co-written with Navarro, and CB Smith.
Dan Navarro at Caffe Lena
For his final song, Dan and his bass player worked their way on to the middle of Caffe Lena’s packed floor where he did “We Belong” raw, with no mic or PA. His performance at this legendary listening room once again made evident how special the intimate performances of a smaller venue like Caffe Lena are. You just can’t get the same relationship between performer and audience in a stadium or even large hall.
Dan Navarro at Caffe LenaDan Navarro at Caffe LenaDan Navarro at Caffe LenaDan Navarro at Caffe LenaDan Navarro at Caffe LenaDan Navarro at Caffe LenaDan Navarro at Caffe Lena
No stranger to Western NY, Tim McGraw brought his energy back to Buffalo on May 4, rocking the KeyBank Center. Playing in the area for the first time in 5 years, McGraw’s Standing Room Only Tour ’24 tour featured Carly Pearce and rising star Abby Anderson as openers.
Like many other regions, Western NY has taken a liking to country music and Tim McGraw over the years has played gigs in Buffalo, Darien Lake, Rochester, and Canandaigua, often on the same tour. With five prominent venues from Buffalo to Canandaigua, there is no shortage of fans or places to play.
Hitting the stage after Abby Anderson’s brief set, Carly Pearce came out to the hyped Buffalo crowd. With the hockey and football seasons both over for a while, Buffalonians needed something to keep then energized and Pearce did her part. She even bantered about illegal activities in Buffalo. Apparently, wearing slippers in public after 10pm is against the law, as is throwing a ball at an unexpected person’s head.
Since coming into her own with 2017’s “Every Little Thing”, Pearce has been a mainstay on country charts and stations across the country. While the thirty-four-year-old has her own style and sound, it is very reminiscent of the 90s country sounds of Faith Hill, Shania Twain, and Miranda Lambert, with some vindictive tones. Such is the case with “What He Didn’t Do”. The song talks about a breakup and different sides of the story. While she won’t say he did, she will tell you what he didn’t do. Pearce urges fans that if they are in a relationship and they question why they are in it, it’s time to get out. Applause and cheers fill the arena as Pearce stands there looking teary eyed with an ear to ear smile.
That’s just dirty laundry I don’t need to air the truth So I ain’t gonna tell you everything he did But I’ll tell you what he didn’t do
Having worked with high profile names over the past several years, including Chirs Stapelton, Ashley McBryde, and Leann Rimes, Pearce has paid her dues and earned all the accolades. Included accolades are 2018 CMT Award for Breakthrough Video of The Year for “Every Little Thing” and 2021 CMA Award for Female Vocalist of the Year. Keep your eyes on this talented musician as her career continues to gain steam going forward.
Setlist: Diamondback, Next Girl, Easy Going, Never Wanted to Be That Girl, Let’s Go to Vegas (F. Hill cover), We Don’t Fight Anymore, Every Little Thing, Country Music Made Me Do It, Truck on Fire, What He Didn’t Do, I Hope You’re Happy Now
Following a brief intermission, fans continued to fill the arena as lights go down and a solid red back drop illuminated the stage. Suddenly, a gargantuan silhouette of a guy in his famous Stetson hat appears and seemingly models for the crowd. The crowd erupts as the backdrop fades and Tim McGraw rises to the stage in Buffalo for the first time since 2019.
An ageless classic, McGraw is outfitted in his typical Stetson hat, tight fitting jeans, and ripped shirt. A musical GQ cover, some might say, is touring to promote his newest album Standing Room Only, released in summer of 2023
With nearly 30 years of music to choose from, the singer/actor delivers an impeccable setlist of classics and new music, with killer light show and animated backdrops changing for each song to tell the story.
Starting off the set, fans are treated to powerful rendition of “Truck Yeah”, a song about living the life of southern boy. The old pick up with blaring music, farm life and chasing the girl.
Rap or country, city farm It don’t matter who you are Got a little fight, got a little love Got a little redneck in your blood Are you one of us?
“Southern Voice” and “All I Want is a Life” round out the first three, and the crowd is just getting warmed up. Going word for word and matching the energy of each song is the game tonight. If only the Sabres could learn something about matching energy.
As I walk off to tuck photo gear and find my seat, the Buffalo faithful are serenaded with bluesy version of Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer”. There aren’t many songs from Elton than can be covered properly, but I’ll damned if McGraw didn’t take it to another level.
As the set continues, McGraw takes a moment to let the crowd know that he does not chatter much during his shows. Explaining why, he says he is married and has daughters. He knows that nobody will listen to him anyway.
Moving on, with songs like “One Bad Habit” and “Watch the Wind Blow By”, the backdrop screen plays videos and images of Tim and his wife, Faith Hill, a testament to his undying love to his wife. Having been married since 1996, they have the marriage that Ross and Rachel only dreamed of. A storybook marriage that has stood the test of time and fame.
Playing the title track from his most recent album, it is a song about living life and making the most of everything. Getting mad at things that don’t matter will get you nowhere, you need to embrace the challenges and make people envious.
Live a life so when I die There’s standing room only, standing room only Standing room only, standing room only
Rounding out his set, Tim comes out for a 3 song encore that is preceded by a video montage of the series 1883, which starred both him and his wife. Accordingly, “The Cowboy in Me” led things off, followed by “Humble and Kind,” and “Live Like You Were Dying”. “Humble and Kind”, although released by McGraw, was written by Lori McKenna as song to her children about everything she wanted her children to know. McGraw was able to put some new melodies to it and took it to the top in 2015. The following year, though, McKenna did release it on her album.
“Live Like You Were Dying” was released in 2004 and although never confirmed it tells about someone who has been stricken with a debilitating sickness. Singing about all the things you never had the chance to do or kept putting off for whatever reason, and now you must find a way to cross those things of the bucket list. A powerful and emotional song to close out the set that undoubtedly left some fans in tears.
Growing up, I was never a fan of country music. My entire family listened to it, except me. I was reluctant to attend a Tim McGraw show in 2004 as part of a marital bargaining chip. That show truly changed my take on country music going forward. Watching Tim and Faith on stage and how broad their talents were something to marvel at. Powerful, thought out lyrics, and amazing stage presence hooked me and now 20 years later, this happens. The world works in mysterious ways.
Tim McGraw setlist: Truck Yeah, Southern Voice, All I Want Is a Life, Tiny Dancer (Elton John), Just To See You Smile, Over and Over/Shotgun Rider, One Bad Habit, Watch the Wind Blow By, Something Like That, Where The Green Grass Grows, Standing Room Only, Red Ragtop, Highway Don’t Care (w/Taylor Swift), I like It I Love It, Felt Good on My Lips, Real Good Man
Encore: 1883 video footage, The Cowboy in Me, Humble and Kind, Live Like You Were Dying
The funky dubstep artist Boogie T made a stop in Buffalo on May 2. This multi-faceted producer left Town Ballroom with another EDM show for the books on his 140 Warriors Tour.
Boogie T, Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
It wouldn’t be called a warriors tour if Boogie T didn’t bring along his talented friends for the ride. Underground bass producer Chef Boyarbeatz began the night with his nostalgic take on heavy breaks. His Spongebob visuals were psychedelic and such a crowd a pleaser once he played his latest single “Squidwards Revenge.”
Chef Boyarbeatz, Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
After, two hard-hitting producers performed a special b2b for Buffalo. Bringing bass music from Hong Kong, Saka joins technical artist FLY for a high energy performance. The two mix effortlessly on stage as they blend hip-hop, dubstep, and rap. The two artists constantly switch on and off the decks showcasing their latest work. Their Baby Keem flip of “Trademark USA” was a staple that got everyone hyped up.
Saka b2b FLY, Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Boogie T followed up this performance as he took over the stage with his Louisiana swag. This booming producer, also known as Brock Thornton has expressed himself through music since eight years old. His talent in both writing and playing various instruments is evident. Hence for the band he is also in when he’s not behind the decks: BOOGIE T.RIO. His knowledge of all things music and his southern twang brings a new funk to dubstep that is unlike anything others are doing in the scene.
Boogie T, Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
From the Swamps to the Stage
Odds are you can pick out a Boogie T song instantly just from his unique sound. Plus it doesn’t matter how much time has passed, his hit tracks bring roaring energy anywhere at any time. That very much was true in Buffalo that night because the screams were unreal once he played “Smokin’ Dat Spliff,” and “2KFO.”
Boogie T, Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Boogie T’s stage performance is a perfect mirror to his music. His music brings the wonky noises to the people so he brings the funk to the stage. His entertaining dance moves and infectious energy make him so lovable to fans. His visuals somehow extend his unique swag even further with cartoon-like images.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
His collaborations with other artists are some of the best pieces of work to come out of the EDM world. Specifically, when Boogie T and Ganja White Night team up their songs are instant hits. So, of course Boogie T performed those songs, “Clarity” and the fan favorite single “Flava.”
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Finally Boogie T left the stage but not without a roaring crowd response begging for an encore. He then returned and performed one obvious final track: “Encore.”
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
EDM lovers look no further for shows in Western NY because we have the lineup for you. Riddim artist INFEKT performs May 11 at Buffalo Ironworks and TSURUDA comes for his rescheduled show May 25. Get your tickets here.
The Next Festival of Emerging Artists, a trailblazing arts immersion program for early-career string musicians, composers, and choreographers, is launching its expansive 12th season from June 1–14, 2024.
The Next Festival of Emerging Artists, founded in 2013, provides 20 young string performers (ages 20-30) with a countryside residency, a New York performance tour, and a groundbreaking cross-disciplinary workshop with early-career composers and choreographers chosen by leaders in the field.
The Next Festival has supported more than 250 emerging artists. Collaborating directly with major composers and performing alongside leading soloists, Fellows dramatically expand their network. Festival alumni become working musicians, leaders, and socially conscious citizens. Past participants include performers with the Handel and Haydn Society, the Executive Director of Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and Le Concert des Nations, Malmo Symphony Orchestra (Sweden).
The Festival supports Fellows through a radical “pay-what-you-can” model, ensuring that talent can participate regardless of financial circumstances. The Next Festival commissions new compositions by established and early career composers, presenting over 75 guest artists since 2013, including Pulitzer, GRAMMY, and MacArthur award winners.
PS21 Performance. Photo by Steven Taylor.
The Festival features nine premieres in two weeks by some of today’s most exciting composers, including Curtis Stewart, Michael Dudley Jr., Rebecca Saunders, and Next Festival Artistic Director Peter Askim.
Two-time GRAMMY nominee Seth Parker Woods, “a cellist of prodigious technical gifts and sharp intellect” (The New York Times), appears as the 2024 Festival Guest Artist. The artists participate in recording sessions of the newly-commissioned works and take part in multi-disciplinary collaborations with composers and choreographers, including Pulitzer Prize and GRAMMY-winning composer Aaron Jay Kernis, along with Peter Askim, and Choreography Mentor Sidra Bell.
Woods has collaborated with a wide range of artists representing the classical, popular music, and visual art worlds and has been nominated for two GRAMMY Awards, first in 2023 as a member of the celebrated new music ensemble Wild Up, and again in 2024 for his autobiographical solo tour-de-force, Difficult Grace (Cedille 2023).
Seth Parker Woods. Photo by Ben Gibbs.
On Friday, June 7, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. at PS21/Center for Contemporary Performance in Chatham, NY, and Saturday, June 8, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center in NYC, Peter Askim leads an orchestra of String Performance Fellows in a program of three new world premiere commissions: Essay #1: Leave the People by GRAMMY nominee Curtis Stewart, …there is yet beauty by ASCAP Award-winning Michael R. Dudley, and a new work by Askim.
The evening concludes with Herencia, a deeply personal ode to hybrid cultural identities by cellist Andrea Casarrubios and the East Coast Premiere of the wildly unpredictable Ire: Concerto for Cello, Strings, and Percussion by Rebecca Saunders with Woods as soloist.
Co-commissioned with the American Composers Orchestra and workshopped in 2023 EarShot Readings, Dudley’s …there is yet beauty is meant to evoke hope amidst chaos, within both the musicians and audience.
Michael R. Dudley. Photo by Anna Marshall.
Curtis Stewart’s Essay #1: Leave the People takes the audience through a multi-part logical argument about the nature of academia in classical music: who is remembered, who is lauded, who is leading the way? Who is used and who is left behind, and does it matter? Stewart was inspired to write the piece after the lawsuits around affirmative action directed at schools. “So, I asked myself: What would American music be without Blackness? What would American conservatories be without blackness? What would American classical music be without blackness?” he said.
Andrea Casarrubios’ Herencia was commissioned by the Sphinx Organization and is the Spanish translation for both “inheritance” and “heritage.”
For this work, my inspiration was not a particular musical ‘heritage’ or genre; rather, it was the artists who would be playing it. I envisioned the remarkable musicians of Sphinx Virtuosi taking the stage to play this piece, and I thought of how each individual has trailing behind them a unique history of unfathomable complexity; an epic that they bring to bear in every moment of performance. I also imagined the way this collection of histories would one day coalesce with a shared intention to illuminate their world — your world — with music.
Andrea Casarrubios.
Askim’s new work is a study in emotional cross-currents – music that is at times unyielding and relentless, soaring and transcendent: breathless, cascading, exuberant, and complicated – but always in motion.
Saunders’ Ire (2012) is the last in a series of three-string works, exploring the sonic potential of a tiny fragment of sound, the trill. The composer says of the piece, “The sonic potential is pushed almost to breaking point, the bow revealing again and again the fast quasi-mechanical manic trilling sound that lies hidden beneath the surface of silence.”
The following week, young composers and choreographers at the beginning of their careers, selected by Aaron Jay Kernis, Sidra Bell, and Askim, are invited for workshops at Gibney Dance Studio in NYC. The Next Festival’s 2024 Choreographer, Composer and String Performance Fellows premiere new music and dance works in a free, public showing at the studio on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 3:00 pm.
This is the culmination of a week-long workshop, consisting of rehearsals, collaboration, and spontaneous creation, aided by mentors Aaron Jay Kernis, Askim, and choreographer Sidra Bell. The composers will guide Composer Fellows in new music to be played by the Festival’s String Performance Fellows alongside new dance works supported by Bell. The workshop’s unique structure focuses on developing new languages to work across disciplinary boundaries, prioritizing processes rather than a finished product.
For more information about the Next Festival, visit here.
Billie Eilish has announced two album listening parties in support of her highly-anticipated third studio album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, set for release on May 17. The free events presented by American Express, and produced by Live Nation, will take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday, May 15 in association with YouTube Music and at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, CA, on Thursday, May 16 in association with Snapchat.
HIT ME HARD AND SOFT album cover by William Drumm.
Tickets will be available through Ticketmaster HERE. Fans can request up to two tickets for the free Billie Eilish listening parties in Brooklyn and Los Angeles. Requests must be submitted by Tuesday, May 7 at noon ET. Submissions do not guarantee tickets to the event. Confirmations will be sent out on Friday, May 10.
Described by Rolling Stone as “Eilish’s best album yet,” her third record is her most anticipated yet. Itwill be available on all digital platforms, and in a continued effort to minimize waste and combat climate change; across all physical formats in limited variants on the same day, with the same track-listing and using 100% recyclable materials.
Photo by William Drumm.
The listening party announcements come after Billie Eilish announced her HIT ME HARD AND SOFT tour, coming to Madison Square Garden on Oct. 16, 17, and 18. She will continue her long-standing partnership with environmental nonprofit REVERBon this tour, building on the success of previous efforts, which resulted in over $1 million donated to greenhouse gas reduction and climate justice projects, more than 150,000 fan actions, and much more. Sustainability efforts on this tour will include reducing greenhouse gas pollution, decreasing single-use plastic waste, supporting climate action, and updating concession offerings to promote and encourage plant-based food options with Support+Feed.
A pair of indie rock’s most influential bands showcased two of their impactful albums on Friday, May 3rd at the MVP Arena in Albany, as The Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie teamed up for an impressive co-headlining bill. The bands were celebrating the 20th anniversary of the release of their most celebrated albums (The Postal Service, Give Up and Death Cab for Cutie, Transatlanticism), with each band performing their respective album in full.
The tour itself was born out of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of The Postal Service’s iconic (and only) studio release, Give Up. The album started as a collaborative effort between Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie) and electronic wiz Jimmy Tamborello (Dntel). The album, which was praised for its creative efforts, saw the tracks written with the two mailing demo CD-Rs back and forth until reaching completion. The duo would eventually add Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley) to the mix, and The Postal Service was born.
Wisconsin based Slow Pulp opened the show and provided a 35 minute set of dreamy, indie-pop tracks. From their opener, “Idaho”, the band had the early arriving crowd caught in a shoegaze induced trance.
The near capacity crowd had filled the seats when Death Cab For Cutie took to the stage. The band, all dressed in black, opened with the dramatic crescendo of “The New Year,” and continued on to perform their critically acclaimed album Transatlanticism in entirety. The album, which tells the tale of the struggles and emotions that come with a long-distance relationship, likely served as the soundtrack for many in attendance as they navigated love and loss during their adolescence.
Gibbard brilliantly wove the audience through the musical journey, which saw classic Death Cab tracks like “Title and Registration” and “Expo ’86”. Late in the set, Gibbard and his band mates performed epic renditions of the album’s title track, as well as “Passenger Seat,” both of which saw the arena illuminate with cellphone lights and even a lighter or two, a call back to the original era of this music.
Excitement was palpable through out the packed arena well before the house lights dimmed and The Postal Service made their way to the stage. Now dressed in all white, Gibbard, along with Jenny Lewis whipped the arena in to a frenzy from the opening synth notes of “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight.” While the album would cover similar themes as Transatlanticsm, the sadness and sorrow were masked with upbeat synths, sounds, and drum loops, curated by Tamborello. Highlights of the set included Gibbard and Lewis dueting on “Nothing Better” as well as the dark and isolative “This Place is a Prison”.
Gibbard and Lewis would return to the stage to perform an acoustic rendition of “Such Great Heights”, an rendition of the Give Up track which was made famous by Iron & Wine. It was the second performance of the song on this evening, as the band had previously performed the more upbeat version during the main set. It was a treat for those in attendance to hear the diverse renditions of the song, and a testament to the songwriting and musical talents displayed on the album.
