Up and coming jam band Dogs In A Pile have announced their plans for a 2025 Spring Tour which includes an opening two-night stand at Brooklyn Bowl in New York City. The spring tour also includes a number of return trips to cities with shifts up in venue sizes as well.
The two tour opening shows at Brooklyn Bowl will mark the band’s headlining debut there and first visit back since October 2021. The band will then make stops in Bethlehem, PA (April 3) and Buffalo, NY (April 5). In between those dates, they’ll play their largest indoor space in Western PA yet at Mr. Smalls in Pittsburgh (April 4).
The spring tour then sees Dogs In A Pile playing exclusively Midwest gigs with shows in Ferndale, MI (April 8), Cleveland, OH (April 9), and Columbus, OH (April 11), before heading further west to Kalamazoo, MI (April 12), Madison, WI (April 13), and Indianapolis, IN (April 15). The spring run also includes several Southern shows, including Charlottesville, VA (April 18) – where a massive October 2023 performance at The Southern Café and Music Hall has earned them a headlining slot at the Jefferson Theater.
The tour later wraps up with two shows in New Orleans, LA during Jazz Fest at Chickie Wah Wah on April 29 and May 3, before the band heads to Mexico for Viva El Gonzo in San José Del Cabo on May 8, 9, and 10. See below for all newly added dates.
Presale ticketing is already underway and tickets will go on sale to the general public this Friday, December 20 at 10 am ET. To view all tour dates and learn more, visit dogs-tour.com.
Dogs In A Pile Spring Tour 2025
3/8 – Chicago, IL – Salt Shed (indoors)*
3/28 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl
3/29 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl 4/3 – Bethlehem, PA – Musikfest Cafe 4/4 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls 4/5 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Iron Works 4/8 – Ferndale, MI – Magic Bag
Hank Azaria has announced an upcoming Bruce Springsteen tribute tour. Ahead of the upcoming national tour, Azaria will play the Brooklyn Bowl on Nov. 8, as well as Springsteen’s original stomping grounds, The Stone Pony Nov. 15 in Asbury Park.
As a lifelong Springsteen fan the project is a labor of love for Azaria. Perhaps best known for his decades of work on The Simpsons, Azaria has began a new and different undertaking as a voice actor. Azaria spent months creating an impression of Bruce’s distinctive speaking cadence and singing ‘voice’ to conceive the tribute show. As Azaria told Rolling Stone,“I think of it as a theatrical performance,” he says. “I’m staying in character as Bruce even though I’m telling stories about myself. It’s a performance piece, but I’m not a Bruce impersonator.”
At the debut public performance of Hank Azaria and the EZ Street Band, at Le Poisson Rouge, the sold out celebration of The Boss’ music was such a joyful experiance Azaria decided to take the show cross-country. Full details and routing for the tour will be announced soon. Azaria doesn’t simply sing Springsteen’s music, but also speaks on the impact it has had on Azaria’s personal life. “I’ve never worked harder preparing for any role than I did in perfecting a singing vocal impression of Bruce,” said Azaria.
The tribute performance itself is a joyful, full-tilt rock ’n roll event, and Azaria’s physicality and flair are a true homage to Bruce. Azaria channels many familiar components of Bruce Springsteen’s iconography: intimate, irreverent storytelling, connection to family, preternatural stamina, camaraderie with the band, and a palpable love for performing. Azaria has delivered a show we want to root for – invigorating, upbeat and ambitious.
Alternative/Reggae group Badfish have announced the “Gimme the Gold Tour 2025” which sees dates in Buffalo, Saratoga and Brooklyn in February.
For nearly 25 years, Badfish have channeling the music and live performance of reggae/punk/ska legends Sublime with a reverence to the ingenuity of Sublime’s songs – and a vibe all their own. Sublime is arguably one of the most influential and enduring acts of their generation. In 2001, Rhode Island-based Badfish was formed as a fun project with one goal: to perform the Sublime songs they knew and loved for fans who shared that love. It didn’t take long for this “fun project” to develop into a full-time touring endeavor that persists to this day.
Badfish regularly tallies over a hundred shows per year, performing at large-scale festivals and headlining theaters across the US. Now after two decades of celebrating the music of Sublime, Badfish is ready to kick into another gear with the release of some exciting new original tracks on Ineffable Records. Badfish recently released its second new track – the anthemic “F You Pay Me” (featuring Grieves) – as the follow up to the band’s first single “High With You” (featuring Little Stranger). The crowd’s enthusiastic response to these new songs makes them feel right at home alongside Sublime staples in the Badfish set.
Harnessing this new creative energy, Badfish is set to gear up for their 2025 “Gimme the Gold Tour.” The tour takes the boys around the country where they’ll surely keep the vibes high for some familiar faces and many new ones as well. Badfish’s tour sees three dates in NY on this tour. Firstly, in Buffalo at Town Ballroom on February 2, next in Saratoga Springs at Putnam Den on Feb 20, and lastly on Feb 21 at Brooklyn Bowl in NYC.
Badfish 2025 Gimme the Gold Tour Dates
1/23: Ardmore, PA | Ardmore Music Hall 1/24: New Haven, CT | Toad’s Place 1/25: Sayreville, NJ | Starland Ballroom 1/29: Charlottesville, VA | Jefferson Theater 1/30: Falls Church, VA | State Theater 1/31: Virginia Beach, VA | Elevation 27 2/1: Charlotte, NC | Amos Southend 2/2: Charleston, SC | Charleston Pour House 2/5: Oklahoma City, OK | Tower Theater 2/6: Tulsa, OK | Cains Ballroom 2/7: St Louis, MO | The Pageant 2/8: Fort Wayne, IN | The Clyde Theater 2/12: Columbus, OH | Newport Music Hall 2/13: Pittsburgh, PA | Thunderbird Music Hall 2/14: Buffalo, NY | Town Ballroom 2/15: Cleveland, OH | House of Blues 2/16: Wyandotte, MI | District 142 2/19: Killington, VT | Pickle Barrel 2/20: Saratoga Springs, NY | Putnam Den 2/21: Brooklyn, NY | Brooklyn Bowl 2/22: Boston, MA | Paradise Rock Club
For more information on Badfish and to purchase tickets to their upcoming 2025 “Gimme the Gold Tour,” click here.
Brooklyn Bowl has announced the return of the annual Rosh Hashanah music bash, set to return October 2 and 3. This year marks the event’s 13th year.
Beginning at 7:30 P.M. on Wednesday, October 2 and 10 A.M. on Thursday, October 3, both musically driven services will feature Rabbi Daniel Brenner with musical director Jeremiah Lockwood. Also included are Antibalas’ Jordan McLean and Timothy Allen, drummer John Bollinger, saxophonist Stuart Bogie and Yula Berri on vocals and bass.
Internationally renowned teacher Jane Tuv will also lead a guided meditation at each event. There will also be Torah reading and procession led by Rabbi Brenner, as well as prayer, and shofar blowing. After the services on October 2nd, Brooklyn Bowl hosts a spiritually driven jam session featuring members of the service’s house band as well as additional guests. After services on October 3rd at 12:30 P.M., there is a lunch provided by Blue Ribbon with purchase of a ticket.
All proceeds will support the non-profit organization Shalom Y’all Jams, which works to organize holiday services at non-traditional locations. Brooklyn Bowl was ranked the number one busiest club in NYC in 2017. This celebration of Rosh Hashanah may very well love up to that title this October. You’ll want to get your tickets before they sell out.
To purchase tickets for the Rosh Hashanah music bash at Brooklyn Bowl and to learn more about the celebration, click here.
On Thursday, August 29, Brooklyn fans of the psychedelic rock genre were treated to a priceless exhibition. The heat was strong, but so was the enthusiasm of the evenings attendees. Two trio bands from different corners of the world – Balthvs and Free Whenever – were paired together so remarkably that it made one think to compliment whomever was responsible for the matter.
Free Whenever, a Brooklyn based psychedelic rock band, took the stage at 8pm sharp to a size-able crowd, nothing to sneeze at for an opening act on a Wednesday evening. The band consists of Neil Guleria on Guitar, Trevor LaVecchia on Bass, and Brendan Steuart on drums. This is not the first time the trio finds themselves opening for a big name in Brooklyn, having opened for Karina Rykman at Babies All Right late last year.
The chemistry between the gentleman is palpable both in the auditory and visual sense, and it pays off in a huge way. Playing through their entire new self-titled album, they ventured into both old and new songs that demonstrate the essence of their signature sound of psychedelic groove music. Notable highlights were “Camino“, “Sicily“, and “Jonas the Shaman” a song whom they claimed was based off the very man running their merch table in the back. With the unreleased track, “Horizons”, they went out with a thunderous hurrah, the palate was cleansed, and the stage was set.
Balthvs, a psychedelic funk triad from Columbia, graced the stage just after 9pm. Their stop on this leg of their tour not only marks their first performance in New York, but the first time the group has been on the east coast entirely. Touring to promote their new album, “Harvest“, the band consists of Johanna Mercuriana on Bass/Vocals, Santiago Lizano on Drums/Vocals, and Balthazar Aguirre on Guitar/Vocals. Balthvs, with the v pronounced like a u, made their New York debut quite memorable, guiding the evening through a lens the likes of which are quite rare.
The band boasts an impressive catalog of music for just having officially formed less than 5 years ago. 3 full length albums under their belt and 40 singles, many of which have millions of streams. The crowd was fully behind the headliners as dancing was the assignment. Balthazar mentioned in between songs that they were dining at the venues restaurant before showtime, and he saw a “Joe Russos Almost Dead Burger”. Laughs emerged amongst the audience. “I dont know if we have any heads here..hope we dont screw this up!” which was followed by a truly wonderful rendition of Grateful Dead‘s, “Bird Song”, a first for them on this tour.
One could say that their set was a masterclass in defining the root definition of what modern psychedelic music is. A myriad of global influences and style, a kaleidoscope of sound. Funk, Disco, Middle Eastern, Cumbia, Rock and Roll and so much more. The evening concluded with a final encore, long lines at the merch stand could be found for both acts. Free Whenever continues to build momentum locally. Balthvs will go on to play Austin City Limits, and then abroad to Europe and The Middle East continuing support of their new album, Harvest.
Williamsburg, Brooklyn’s combination concert venue, bowling alley, bar and restaurant, Brooklyn Bowl, has announced a two-night celebration for their 15th anniversary, hosting GRAMMY Award-nominated, six-piece, funky music collective Lettuce on Saturday, September 28 and Sunday, September 29.
An NYC landmark, Brooklyn Bowl’s blend of live music, bowling, and exceptional cuisine has become a cornerstone of NYC’s nightlife over the last 15 years. Located in a historic 19th-century Hecla Iron Works building, Brooklyn Bowl was the first venue to bring together live music and 16 lanes of bowling in New York City, and with the great success replicated around the country, with locations in Nashville, Philadelphia and Las Vegas.
The venue has hosted over 5,000 shows to date, including performances from musical legends like Questlove, M.I.A., Snoop Dogg, Lauryn Hill and Childish Gambino. Beyonce, Lorde, Neil Patrick Harris, Spike Lee, Bill De Blasio, former President Bill Clinton and members of the Brooklyn Nets have also all attended Brooklyn Bowl as special guests, in addition to the over 350,000 guests who attend annually.
The venue also boasts food by the Blue Ribbon restaurant group—famous for its finger-licking fried chicken—and serves locally crafted beers, many of which are from Brooklyn Brewery, located right next door.
With countless accolades, like being named Zagat’s “Best Music Club” three years in a row, being nominated for “Nightclub of the Year” by Pollstar and as one of the best restaurants in NYC by Trip Expert, Brooklyn Bowl has cemented its status as one of the best all-in-one concert, food and entertainment destinations in New York, something that Lettuce will be celebrating this September.
Buy tickets for Brooklyn Bowl’s 15th anniversary or any of their other shows here.
On Thursday, May 2, PEAK took the stage at Brooklyn Bowl along side guitarist Ryan Liatsis and P(X3) for a night full of funk, riffed-out blues-rock and music to fuel the soul.
PEAK, a Brooklyn based band consists of guitarist and vocalist Jeremy Hilliard, keyboardist and vocalist Johnny Young, bassist Josh T. Carter and drummer Kito Bovenschulte. The group captivated their audience with melodic songwriting along with psychedelic funk groove that makes your body move. They took on a life of their own as some of the best musicians in the NYC improv rock scene with moody blues-rock and created an atmosphere for their danceable improvisations.
Brooklyn Bowl welcomed fans with an open floor to dance, as fans had an intimate engagement throughout the night with the New York jam band. Quick controlled snare, dominant guitar riffs, upbeat blend of melodies and synthesized sounds from keyboard combined to create PEAK’s ambience of psychedelic, funk variables of rock and roll, a musical narrative that let good-timey clash with poetic guitar.
By the end of the night, the crowd was in their groove and connected with the band, looking forward to their future music endeavors. After this show, PEAK will be on their way to Burlington, Vermont at Nectars on May 4th and 5th. Shortly after, the band will head to Newmarket, New Hampshire to perform at The Stone Church on May 16th.
PEAKSetlist: Forsythia Fills the Wilderness, Little Miss Mary Merry- Go- Round, Woody Guthrie with Ryan Liatsis, Daddy Donât Live in that New York City No More, When the Night Comes Calling You, Pastures of Plenty, It Ainât Over âtil the Credits Roll, Run Me Down
Spafford returned to New York City’s Brooklyn Bowl last weekend for a “holiday” performance on April 20 with a show full of cover songs and some exquisitely jammed out originals. This three-set show marked the end of a short run of shows in the Northeast for the band, who are back in action after a scary accident on tour last month in Ohio. Spafford certainly showed no signs of being worse for the wear and made it an enjoyable 4/20 for all involved.
A late arriving crowd to the Bowl walked into a soundtrack mix of classic rock hits on the PA atop a bed of pin strikes and gutter balls. Pre-show music included a nice live version of “In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed” as a nod to the recently departed Dickey Betts. Spafford then took the stage and started things off with the appropriately titled “I Can’t Find My Vape,” a newer, funky instrumental tune in the vein of Herbie Hancock.
The crux of the first set, however, was the next two songs, starting with a near 30-minute “Comfortable.” The song started out exactly as such, with a nice comfortable groove to it, before an intense guitar solo from Brain Moss ushered in another loose but explorative jam with strong psychedelic undertones. Certainly no strangers to extended jamming, the band showed off their musical prowess early and took the sound down to near ambient levels before building it back up to a triumphant finish.
This was followed up “The Postman,” another original but a much more composition-based song off their 2018 release For Amusement Only. The now firmly entrenched keyboardist Corey Schechtman shined on all of them – piano, synthesizer, and organ – as Spafford doled out some more legitimate funk to the Brooklyn Bowl audience through a thick, oozing jam that slowly escalated in pace. The opening set then came to a close with an old school original, the reggae-tinged “Diana” that culminated with another provocative Moss guitar solo.
Spafford then let all the covers out in the second set and wasted no time in doing so. Drummer Nick Tkachyk began things with a simple, lone, up tempo drum beat and the band then immediately launched into their take of Stone Temple Pilots’ “Plush.” With its faster pace and underlying organ fills, it’s certainly a more joyous take on the dour alt rock classic. True to their nature, Spafford stretched out the ending and molded it into a massive jam that maintained upbeat and completely danceable. This eventually led to bassist Jordan Fairless taking over the mic to lead the way on a take of Porno for Pyros’ “Pets,” another regular in the Stafford stable of cover songs.
Another jam that smoothly shifted from mellow to breakneck then served as the springboard for a leap into another signature cover song, Tears For Fears’ “Mad World.” Schechtman on piano alongside some furious rhythm guitar from Moss served as the fuel for yet another ebullient interpretation of a glum pop hit from yesteryear. Spafford then shifted from musical influences to modern day and segued right into a newer cover song they’ve made their own, Demi Lovato’s “Anyone.” Moss did the heartfelt, introspective lyrics about prayer justice all while the song never lost its peppy undercarriage. To close out the second set at Brooklyn Bowl, Spafford once again delved into the alternative music playbook with a pair of Green Day covers. Fairless returned to lead vocals for their their techno-like cover of “Brain Stew” which was parlayed right into a jazzed up take on “Jaded,” both making their live Spafford debut.
The third set began with a not-so-subtle nod to the holiday at end with a quote from the movie Reefer Madness played over the PA and Spafford followed in tow with an entertaining cover of Sublime’s “Smoke Two Joints,” a song they first debuted last year on 4/20. It paid homage to the original at first and then turned into a sprawling, exploratory jam that reached several veritable peaks before rounding back into form.
With the holiday formalities out of the way, the third set was then dominated by the other extended jam of the evening, a 30-minute “Dirtbag” that served as testament to the band’s musical dexterity. Starting with a rollicking funk jam, it soon devolved into total silence before being resuscitated by some triumphant guitar fills from Moss. The multi-textured song also has elements of progressive rock, acid jazz and, of course, jam band, really allowing band the show off their full skill set.
Spafford then closed out another successful appearance at Brooklyn Bowl with one last flurry of cover songs, starting with Pink Floyd’s “Run Like Hell.” It’s not quite as hectic as The Disco Biscuits’ take on it, but thanks to some looping synthesizer sounds produced by Schechtman and more metronome-like precision from Tkachyk on drums, it eventually produced an incredibly lively jam that funneled right into “Cantaloupe Island,” some actual Herbie Hancock. After some heartfelt thanks from Moss, Spafford paid one last respect to the date and sent folks on their way with an honest cover of Tom Petty’s “You Don’t Know How It Feels” and its joint smoking instructions.
As a reminder, Spafford has several upcoming shows in New York including one on June 12 at Rochesterâs Water Street Music Hall. Three days later, Spafford is set to play Colony in Woodstock and then the band wraps up their time in NY (for now) with a stop on Long Island at The Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett on June 17. Tickets for all Summer Tour dates are on sale at spafford.net.
Spafford Brooklyn Bowl – New York, NY 4/20/24
Set 1: Can’t Find My Vape, Comfortable > The Postman, Diana
Set 2: Plush > Pets->Mad World->Anyone, Brain Stew->Jaded
Set 3: Smoke Two Joints > Dirtbath, Run Like Hell->Cantaloupe Island
Circles Around The Sun was born in 2015 when lead guitarist Neal Casal was invited to compose a handful of Grateful Dead influenced instrumentals to play between sets at the Dead’s ‘Fare Thee Well’ concerts. Since, the Los Angeles-based band formed and influenced by contemporary instrumental rock.
The tour kicks off for their fourth studio album release, Language, welcoming guitarist John Lee Shannon, a longtime peer who joins bassist Dan Horne, keyboardist Adam MacDougall, and drummer Mark Levy. The six song release builds on a 70s groove with cosmic-disco and synth sounds that compliment extra percussion and bass riffs. This album allowed the band to explore a new-found sound that encourages a psychedelic and hypnotic feel. The audience was floored by the atmospheric presence they brought to the stage this past weekend. The new material harnesses soul-jazz, funk, rock and allows an exhilarating new path for Circles Around The Sun.
Overall, the band blew the crowd away with their incredible stage presence and new tune transformation. Influenced by free-form and fusing transformational instrumental elements to extend their art as musicians. New York looks forward to see what else the group has is in store for upcoming shows in Albany at Lark Hall on March 9, and in Buffalo at Iron Works on March 12.
On Thursday, January 18, Miami’s alternative funk band Magic City Hippies performed at the Brooklyn Bowl in continuation of their ongoing winter tour featuring opening artists, The Palms and Josh Fudge.
The Palms formed in Los Angeles in 2015, and have become commendable in today’s independent musical landscape. Some of their top hits include “Breakin’ Up,” “Push Off,” and “All4you,” from their 2016 EP Sway.
Josh Fudge is an Oklahoma-born multi-instrumentalist who mixes modern vibrancy with alternative indie-pop that feels nostalgic. He is able to bring people together and creates an intimate, homegrown sensation throughout the crowd.
Magic City Hippies are originally from Miami and first dubbed themselves Robby Hunter Band before being renamed back in 2015. They began self producing in 2013 when their first self-titled EP was released. Over the years, their sound has evolved while utilizing loop pedals and incorporating elements of electronic indie rock with a strong emphasis on groove.
The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Robby Hunter, drummer Pat Howard, and guitarist John Coughlin. Some top hits include “Limestone” and “Fanfare” from the Hippie Castle EP and “Queen” and “Water Your Garden” from most recent album Water Your Garden.
Overall, their energetic live performance put on quite the show, blending a mix of psychedelic pop and funk groove while receiving both fan and critical attention during their musical success. Thursday night saw a youthful exchange between the artist and the crowd, cementing a memorable fifth night as part of their winter tour. MCH’s next pit stop is in Boston as we look forward to seeing what’s in store for the band’s evolution in the psych-funk music scene.
