The 2024 holiday season is upon us, and along with a spirit of giving and supporting those most in need in our local communities. Jam for Tots will once again be held at venues across New York State, bringing live music fans together for great shows while collecting toys to brighten the spirits of children statewide.
For more than 10 years, Jam for Tots has been held across New York State and the Northeast, where fans are encouraged to bring along with an unwrapped toy for a child (under 13) to drop in the donation box. These toys will be brought to local charities within the venueâs community, to ensure that these toys brighten the day of children within the local area.
Things kick off at Hibernian Hall in Albany on November 15 with One Heart Band. See below for the full lineup of 2024 Jam for Tots shows across New York State (chronological order).
Friday, Nov. 15 – One Heart Band – Hibernian Hall, Albany
Saturday, Nov. 16 – Barry Goudreau’s Engine Room – The Strand Theatre – Hudson Falls
Thursday, Dec. 5 – Open Mic Jam hosted by John Pinder – The Stewart House, Athens
Trees of green, red roses, and timeless jazz standards await audiences in Andrew Delaplaine and Christopher Renshaw’s “A Wonderful World”. The new Broadway presentation of Louis Armstrong’s personal life and music career opened at Studio 54 on November 12th.
James Monroe Iglehart in “A Wonderful World”. Photo by Jeremy Daniel
As I took my seat at Studio 54, it was clear that the audience was a mixed bag of casual listeners, broadway lovers, jazz enthusiasts, and Louis Armstrong superfans. No matter what group each person fell into, we all knew at least one detail of Louis Armstrong’s story: the instantly identifiable tone of his voice.
From the very first word of Aurin Squire’s book, it was clear that star and co-Director James Monroe Iglehart was able to channel Armstrong and imitate the gravelly tone with great precision. He fully embodies the icon in both his captivating vocals and his dialogue, the latter of which volleys seamlessly between dramatic and comedic throughout the production.
As the story unfolds, we find that Squire’s book takes a brilliant approach to Armstrong’s biography, choosing to utilize the legend’s four wives to advance the plot through the 50+ years that are covered on stage. Each romance marks the beginning of a new chapter on the Studio 54 stage in a fast-paced narrative. This format not only lends itself well to walking the audience through Armstrong’s life and career, but it also treats us to four strong leading women.
Most notably, Darlesia Cearcy, last seen on a Broadway stage earlier this year in “How To Dance In Ohio,” delivers a masterful performance as Louis Armstrong’s fourth and final wife Lucille Watson. Cearcy gives such a wide range of emotion in her lines that makes her one of the most well developed characters in the show despite the fact that she is not introduced until after intermission.
James Monroe Iglehart and Darlesia Cearcy in “A Wonderful World”. Photo by Jeremy Daniel
While the cast delivered an excellent performance, I was most impressed by a duo who was never on stage. Set Designers Adam Koch and Steven Royal somehow created a stage that was both simple and sophisticated, vintage and modern, and all around perfect for this story. The versatile scenery masterfully uses one stage design to carry audiences from jazz clubs to dining rooms to tour buses and beyond with very few changes between scenes.
“A Wonderful World”. Photo by Jeremy Daniel
Overall, “A Wonderful World” delicately walks the line between a feel-good musical and an American history lesson. The beautiful set, joyous music, and captivating drama are sure to entertain audiences through their bright blessed days and their dark sacred nights.
On this blustery evening, Kendall Street Company brought the crowd to attention with a full band sound chocked with the influence of jam and alt rock from the late 1990s. A cover of ZZ Top’s “La Grange” was a key energy-driver, followed by an odd yet fun final song performed in the persona of a German band, Sauerkraut. Catch them at the Westcott Theatre on December 5 and Mercury Lounge December 21-22.
After a 30 minute break, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong – singer/guitarist Greg Ormont, guitarist Jeremy Schon, bassist Ben Carrey, and drummer Alex Petropulos – took to the stage for an opening funk trio of tunes to start the night, “Henrietta,” “Live It Up,” and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Around The World.” The quartet who formed in 2007 at University of Maryland are workhorses pushing well into their 17th year with no signs of slowing down. Sustained funk jams were moderated by mixed improv that was anything but formulaic.
A little something for Star Wars fans, “The Imperial March” was sandwiched inside “White Night,” and for giant ape fans, “King Kong” followed. A crowd ranging widely in ages from Gen X to Gen Z was dancing along to every song, grinning when the thumping rhythm section vibrated the floors of Empire Live.
Frequent collaborator, saxophonist Lee Ross, joined the band for “J-Town” and stuck around as Jake Vanaman (Kendall Street Company) joined on sax for “F.U.” Driving rock peaks from “Feed the Fire” gave way to “Julia,” which while chill to start, embarked into a surprisingly complex jam to end the set. An encore of “Fun in Funk” was the last piece of the puzzle for Pigeons Playing Ping Pong this evening in Albany.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong – Empire Live, Albany – Friday, November 8, 2024
Setlist: Henrietta > Live It Up > Around The World, White Night > The Imperial March > White Night, King Kong, My Own Way, Distant Times, J-Town* > F.U.*^, Feed The Fire, Julia Encore: Fun in Funk * w/ Lee Ross on alto saxophone ^ w/ Jake Vanaman (Kendall Street Company) on tenor saxophone
moe. has announced the release of their 14th studio album, Circle of Giants, with the Upstate New York band embarking on a year of celebration that includes the band’s 35th anniversary.
Circle of Giants gives a nod to moe.’s enduring resilience and musical evolution over decades of highs and lows, bringing a fresh sound infused with introspective lyrics, coupled with masterful instrumentation and dynamic energy.
To celebrate, moe. has today released the album’s first single, “Ups and Downs,” a relatable take on the ups and downs of relationships, blending honest lyrics with an infectious groove.
“Ups and Downs” dives into the highs and lows we all face, capturing the rollercoaster of emotions in a way that feels both personal and universal. It’s a track that hits close to home while keeping the energy high. Rob Derhak shares more on the song’s origins:
‘Ups and Downs’ came about from an experiment I conducted during the pandemic in 2020. There was a lot of uncertainty about our future, and the touring music business was especially uncertain. Stuck at home, and left to my own devices, I began working on my home digital recording setup.
I came up with the idea of trying to write songs for people, and ‘Ups and Downs’ was one of those songs. It began with a conversation and a story. A man wanted me to write a song for him that could help express his feelings for his wife and their relationship. He wrote an email about how they met, but what struck me most was when he said, ‘Like anyone else, we’ve had our ups and downs.’ Once I read that, my mind opened up, and I was able to draw from my own experiences in personal relationships, and thus, the song ‘Ups and Downs’ was born.”
Bassist Rob Derhak
Circle of Giants also marks the debut of keyboardist Nate Wilson on a moe. studio release. Having joind the band in 2023, Wilson contributed two tracks to the album, “Yellow Tigers” and “Giants,” showcasing dynamic songwriting and adding a fresh dimension to moe.’s signature sound. Tracks like “Yellow Tigers,” as well as “Band in the Sky” and “Living Again” embody a passion and perseverance that has defined moe. for over three decades.
In the spirit of celebration, moe. has also launched a pre-order for a reissue of their beloved holiday album, Season’s Greetings on festive red, white, and green pinwheel/splatter vinyl. The album bundle, including limited-edition holiday merchandise, is available now on moe.’s official website.
To coincide with the album release, moe. will embark on an extensive winter tour beginning at the Aladdin Theater in Portland, OR on Thursday, January 30th. The tour spans the U.S., hitting fan-favorite cities and iconic venues. Continuing their commitment to mental health awareness, $1 from each ticket sold will benefit Backline, supporting mental health resources for touring musicians and their families.
A special Artist Presale will open on Wednesday, November 13th at 10am local time (Password: CHEERS35YRS), followed by a Local Presale on Thursday, November 14th. Tickets go on-sale to the public this Friday, November 15th at 10am local time. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit moe.org.
VIP packages and individual show upgrades are available for an additional $100 (plus fees) in select cities, including Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, Crystal Bay, NV, Solana Beach, CA, San Francisco, CA, Frisco, CO, Denver, CO, and Philadelphia, PA. For these select markets, moe. will offer a “Cheers to 35 Years VIP Experience,” an unforgettable opportunity for fans to connect with the band. Each VIP package includes one General Admission ticket. an intimate pre-show performance, Q&A session with the band members, exclusive VIP merchandise gift, commemorative VIP laminate, merchandise shopping prior to public entry, and early entry into the venue.
Tickets on-sale this Friday, November 15th at 10am local time. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit moe.org
moe. 2024-25 Tour Dates Friday, November 22-Saturday, November 23 – Sunshine Hootenany – Brookville, FL* Saturday, December 7-Wednesday, December 11 – The Mexico Incident – Puerto Morelos, MEX~ Thursday, January 30 – Friday, January 31 – Aladdin Theater – Portland, OR Saturday, February 1 – Neptune Theatre – Seattle, WA Monday, February 3 – Crystal Bay Club Casino – Crystal Bay, NV Wednesday, February 5 – Thursday, February 6 – Belly Up – Solana Beach, CA Friday, February 7 – The Bellwether – Los Angeles, CA Saturday, February 8 – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA Tuesday, February 11 – Commonwealth Room – Salt Lake City, UT Thursday, February 13 – Strings Music Pavilion – Steamboat Springs, CO Friday, February 14 – 10 Mile Music Hall – Frisco, CO Saturday, February 15 – Sunday, February 16 – Gothic Theatre – Denver, CO Thursday, February 27 – Wellmont Theater – Montclair, NJ Friday, February 28 – Saturday, March 1 – Brooklyn Bowl – Philadelphia, PA Sunday, March 2 – Mr. Smalls Theatre – Millvale, PA Wednesday, March 5 – Jefferson Theater – Charlottesville, VA Thursday, March 6 – The Ritz – Raleigh, NC Friday, March 7 – Neighborhood Theatre – Charlotte, NC Saturday, March 8 – The Eastern – Atlanta, GA Monday, March 10 – Charleston Music Hall – Charleston, SC
*with Karina Rykman and Dogs in a Pile ~with String Cheese Incident, Daniel Donato, Chromeo and more
Mach-Hommy, the enigmatic Haitian-American rapper, will be performing in New York City for the first time ever on Wednesday, November 27 at The Appel Room at Lincoln Center. Presented by Live Nation, the performance will see Mach-Hommy bring his (most recently) heralded album #RICHAXXHAITIAN to life in its entirety. This rare, intimate show promises an unforgettable fusion of raw talent, rich storytelling, and the magic of live music at one of the city’s most iconic venues with the city skyline as the backdrop.
Mach-Hommy will offer a glimpse into his enigmatic persona.
About Mach-Hommy
Moreover it will offer a glimpse into the Mach-Hommy persona that has buzzed about throughout hip hop’s underground scene for nearly a decade. That is until his 2021 album Pray For Haiti (executive produced by Westside Gunn) broke through on a larger scale, earning him looks from the likes of Black Thought and Jay-Z. Nonetheless, the Mach-Hommy persona operates like a successful, family-owned business. Using the principals of quality control, Mach is intentional in not over-saturating himself or his product. How else would one gain a loyal following while keeping their lyrics off of lyric decoding websites, only granting a handful of interviews since debuting on the music scene over a decade ago, maintaining no social media presence, and covering their face with a bandana featuring the Haitian flag?
The answer lies in how Mach-Hommy treats each project like a culture-shifting piece of art, worthy of a place at the Louvre, delivering exclusive vinyls and artwork to go along with each project. After all, Mach—who established a fund to support social, economic, and technological growth in Haiti with his 2021 classic, Pray for Haiti—views #RICHAXXHAITIAN as a small musical antidote to the political strife that has long plagued his cultural homeland, intensified since the assassination of former president Jovenel Moïse. “Within two months of releasing Pray for Haiti, the president was assassinated by a paramilitary hit squad,” says Mach. “Now we’re talking about a place with no central governing body. Haiti was the world’s first free Black republic, but now it’s in free fall.”
Mach-Hommy’s first ever performance in New York will see him perform his latest album #RICHAXXHAITIAN
Fans can purchase tickets for Mach-Hommy’s historic debut performance in New York City here.
It was an intimate evening at the Ballroom. Normally the pit and first landing areas are standing room only GA. Tonight was a little different with reserved seating replacing those areas.
As the lights went down the packed room was ready, and absolutely erupted when the band took the stage. After a 13-year absence from the area, they let the band know they were missed. And take notice they did, with some big smiles on their faces, Lucinda Williams and her band jumped right in with “Let’s Get the Band Back Together.” From the first song to the last, they were on point, and I’m sure as the tour continues, it will only get better.
Setlist: Let’s Get the Band Back Together, Can’t Let Go, Car Wheels, People Talkin’, Protection, Stolen Moments, Lake Charles, Juke Box, Fruits of My Labor, Where the Song Can Find Me, Are You Down, Rock N Roll Heart, Bleeding Fingers, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, You Can’t Rule Me, Out Of Touch, Righteously
Sammy Rae & The Friends brought soulful vocals, upbeat rhythms, sweet horns, and a genre-crossing show to Terminal 5 on Friday, November 8. Most importantly, they brought heartfelt joy and community to a packed venue when it was so needed – less than a week after the most contentious election in recent history.
Fresh off their first full studio album Something for Everybody, Sammy Rae & The Friends made a New York homecoming at Manhattan’s Terminal 5 for two nights on November 8 and 9. This isn’t the first time the band has toured in New York, having finished their CAMP world tour in Buffalo earlier this year, but it is the first time they’ve been back to showcase their new album.
Sammy Rae & The Friends appeal has grown exponentially since they formed in New York City, and played their first 30-person gig, as Sammy Rae said from the stage. The singer moved to the City in her late teens, originally intending to study music. She ended up playing at venues around the city and building her own network of musicians who would later become the eponymous “friends” in her band.
Smoke Ring, followed by Sub-Radio, opened the show, with the latter jumping onto the stage from their first note. The Washington DC-based Indie-pop band kicked, high jumped and sang soring lyrics for an action-packed hour before Sammy Rae & The Friends came on.
Showcasing that “Friends” isn’t just a name and community isn’t just an ideal, C-Bass Chiriboga, Sammy Rae’s drummer, replaced Michael Pereira, Sub-Radio’s drummer, with just four days’ notice since the latter was stuck out of the country. Throughout their set, Sub-radio and C-Bass created a safe space for queer teens highlighting the importance of music for those finding themselves, especially after an “incredibly hard week.”
As soon as Sammy Rae & The Friends stepped on stage, they exploded with energy, joy, and hope. Building on Sub-Radio’s message, early in the set, Sammy Rae highlighted that governmental policies may come and go but that community and radical joy will build true strength. The rest of the show expanded that message both on stage and in the audience. More than most front people, Sammy Rae shares the spotlight with her band, physically moving to the back of the stage to let her horn section riff off each other, her guitarists take the spotlight, and even letting her bassist solo with a standup bass. A string quartet even joined the band, so did Jacob Jeffries who was in from Los Angeles.
Their message of joy and community didn’t end at the stage. Throughout the audience, lyrics were yelled, fans danced, and Sammy Rae & The Friends encouraged it all – allowing fans to feel everything they needed. At one moment, as Sammy Rae saw members of the audience crying, she stopped the show, saying, “I see so many of you crying, and you’re so beautiful.” The singer then asked audience members to turn to their neighbors and tell them that they were beautiful.
As the night wore on, the band ended by bringing all their stored energy to bear, thanking their hometown audience with massive solos, sending the audience off with one more moment of joy.
Setlist: Friends Intro >Thieves, The Feeling, We Made it, Jackie O, Cool Douge, No Rule Book > Winds Intro, I Get It Now, David, Call Ya Back, Good Time Tavern, Luck of the Draw, Good Life Medley, State Song, Hold the Line, Coming Home Song
Sammy Rae & The Friends will be on tour in the northeast through December before going to Europe in February 2025. Notably, The band has committed to making their entire tour as environmentally friendly as possible, working with Headcount across the U.S. to register voters, and donating one dollar of every ticket sale to local LGBTQ organizations in each city they play.
Tour Dates:
Nov 11, 2024 Ulster Performing Arts Center Kingston, NY
Nov 12, 2024 Academy of Music Theatre Northampton, MA
Nov 13, 2024 Academy of Music Theatre Northampton, MA
Ithaca indie electro rock outfit Jimkata performed at Indian Ladder Farms on Friday, November 8, on the heels of the release of Running in Place. The event was marked by their own IPA on tap, “Running in Place West Coast IPA.â
Performing in the Clear Mountain Room, the recently opened venue boasted a decent sized crowd who traveled to the outskirts of Albany County for a unique setting for a Jimkata show. On the brisk evening, Evan Friedell, Aaron Gorsch, Packy Lunn and new bassist Cooper Casterline were clearly having fun on stage, teasing “Crosseyed and Painless” a few times during an “OG” Jimkata show with a healthy amount of improv.
Next up for Jimkata are shows in Washington D.C., the Midwest and in January, Colorado.
The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) will host two days of live music, comedy, film screenings, and family events in celebration of their 20th anniversary on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 in Stony Brook.
Presented by Catholic Health, Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame’s anniversary celebration will feature continuous entertainment including Kerry Kearney, DMC with Johnny Juice, Stanton Anderson, American Idol Christian Padavan, comedians, surprise guests and more. Admission includes refreshments and an appearance by Santa. Kids under 12 are free.
Founded in 2004, the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is dedicated to the idea that Long Island’s musical heritage is an important resource to be celebrated and preserved for future generations. They have inducted more than 100 musicians and music industry executives, and also offers education programs and scholarships to Long Island students, sponsors the Long Island Sound Award, and features traveling educational exhibits, including a state-of-the-art mobile museum.
Admission also includes access to LIMEHOF’s Billy Joel exhibit. The exhibit features over 5 decades of rare memorabilia including albums, tours, inspirations and personal experiences from Billy Joel’s life-spanning career. Videos, awards, recordings, instruments, photos and more were donated from Billy’s personal collection.
The event will feature holiday music videos of LIMEHOF inductees and will have visits from Santa Claus at 2pm on both days and surprise visits from LIMEHOF inductees. It will also feature the set and sleigh from Twisted Sister’s Christmas Special. More performances to be announced.
Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, NY has announced Banjo Concert 2024 which is to be held at Esopus Lodge Performance Hall on November 15.
Banjo Concert 2024 takes place on Friday, November 15 at 7:30 PM at Ashokan Center’s Esopus Lodge Performance Hall. The concert is an evening of 5-string bliss with Scott Hopkins, Hilary Hawke, BB Bowness, Maggie Shar, and Keith Billik. This concert kicks off a weekend workshop and will be filled with many styles, stories, and beautiful banjo music for the community to enjoy.
This event is part of Ashokan Center’s Banjo Weekend where eventgoers can enjoy a weekend of banjo-centric bliss with a stellar lineup of teachers in a warm and supportive environment. Dive into daytime classes, evening jam sessions, and an inspiring opening-night staff concert. Whether you’re into Bluegrass or Clawhammer (or both!) and whether you’re an advanced banjo-player or just getting started, you won’t want to miss this good-time get together with friends old and new at Ashokan, a stunningly beautiful location.
Based out of NYC for the past 12 years, and originally from upstate, NY, Hilary Hawke has been composing, writing, teaching and performing music she loves in solo and collaborative projects, both as a multi-instrumentalist/vocalist and as a creative and versatile banjo player. Hilary performed in the Tony award winning revival production of Oklahoma! on Broadway, and Steve Martin’s production of Bright Star on Broadway. She’s devoted herself to performing and teaching old-time, and American traditional music but also brings her love of all types of music into creating her own unique sound.
BB Bowness hails from New Zealand and has made a home in Boston for the past decade. She co-founded the band Mile Twelve who have toured intentionally and won numerous awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association. BB was awarded the 2020 Steve Martin banjo prize. She loves teaching and stays busy with a full roster of students in Boston and online. Her euphoric energy and love of the banjo are readily apparent in any of her live performances.
Keith Billik is best known as the creator and host of The Picky Fingers Banjo Podcast, a show listened to by banjo enthusiasts worldwide, and which earned Keith a 2022 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) award nomination for his involvement in the bluegrass industry. As a player, Keith has performed and recorded professionally for nearly twenty years, including stints with Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys, Mark Lavengood’s Bluegrass Bonanza, and his current project, Wilson Thicket. In addition to private banjo students, Keith has been a faculty banjo instructor at both Great Lakes Music Camp and Midwest Banjo Camp and is thrilled to be a part of the Ashokan Banjo Weekend.
For more information on the upcoming Banjo Concert 2024 and to purchase tickets, click here.
