NYS Music 2024

Tag: funk

  • Oobleck: Inciting Funk in the Capital Region since 2008

    Albany-based analog funk band Oobleck has been in Capital Region faces with their funk for 16 years and they don’t plan to quit anytime soon.

    Oobleck

    Oobleck, founded in 2008, is an original, analog funk band out of the Capital Region. Known regionally for inciting dance parties wherever they land, they boast a big, in your face sound inspired by New Orleans street music. It’s a melee of horns, super heavy drums and bass and your favorite type of chunky guitar riffing that leaves your bum shaking and your face grinning.

    Bass driven. Horn laden. Layered textures and dark melodies. Funk to fuel your soul. The band is made up of five members – Sam Parker on guitar, Kevin Van Genechten on drums, Scott Vorwald on tenor sax, Audrey Van Genechten on trumpet, and Josh Radigan on bass. The band meshes effortlessly to create sound that is found nowhere else in the Capital Region.

    Oobleck

    Oobleck has four albums to date – Tell Your Mom I Said Hi (2012), Rise & Shine (2013), Don’t Mistake the Barn for the Basement (2015) and their most recent Down the Rabbit Hole which released January of this year. Down the Rabbit Hole contains 11 jaw-dropping tracks that are guaranteed to immerse the listener in something fun.

    The band just finished recording a new single “Purse Candy” and are hoping to release in January, with an accompanying video filmed during the recording session that is also slated to release shortly. For the LaMP show at Lark Hall, the band worked with Frankie Cavone of Mirth Films and just released a multi-cam video of the full set which can be seen below.

    On November 8, the band supported LaMP on their tour stop through Albany at Lark Hall. The band has only one upcoming show left in 2024.

    At 8:00pm on December 6 at UNIHOG in Hoosick Falls, Oobleck hits the stage with rock & soul group Tops of Trees. Together, these two musically powerful groups create explosively funky grooves that’ll have you moving well into the night.

    Oobleck

    Oobleck has shows in 2025 with the Sugar Hold scheduled for January 10 at Ophelia’s in Albany to kick the New Year off with a dose of super funk. Oobleck plans to be back at The Eleven (Lark Hall’s downstairs bar) in Albany in early April, and at Single Cut Brewery in Clifton Park in the spring as well. The group is working on getting back to Vermont and potentially hitting up Ithaca for the first time later this spring.

    For more information on Oobleck’s upcoming shows and to hear some of their tunes, click here.

  • Psych-Funk Band Lettuce Partners with GZA of Wu Tang Clan for 2025 Co-Headline Tour

    Psychedelic funk band Lettuce and legendary emcee GZA join forces for ‘The Get Up Tour’ in 2025. The tour sees 17 dates including one at Brooklyn Steel on February 7.

    GRAMMY-nominated psychedelic funk band Lettuce kicks off 2025 with ‘The Get Up Tour,’ an expansive 17-date run at prominent venues throughout the U.S. Joining Lettuce on seven of those performances is legendary hip-hop artist GZA of Wu-Tang Clan. GZA presents his iconic 1995 album Liquid Swords in full with The Phunky Nomads Band. On those performances, GZA will play the first set of the evening followed by Lettuce marking a full night of music and inevitable collaboration.

    The tour kicks off on the West Coast from Jan 22 – 24 in Del Mar, CA, followed by Los Angeles and Oakland. The tour comes to a close on March 2 in Denver, Colorado. New York City gets a taste of the tour on February 7 at Brooklyn Steel in Brooklyn.

    GZA’s Liquid Swords was released in 1995 and has become a widely revered album celebrated for its sharp lyricism and vivid imagery. The record heavily samples dialogue from the 1980 cult martial arts classic Shogun Assassin and uses dark, atmospheric beats throughout. The record charted at #9 on the Billboard 200 chart, #2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and was certified platinum nearly 20 years after its release.

    The Get Up Tour 2025 Dates:

    Jan 22, 2025 – The Sound at Del Mar – Del Mar, CA*

    Jan 23, 2025 – The Novo – Los Angeles, CA*

    Jan 24, 2025 – Fox Theater – Oakland, CA*

    Jan 31, 2025 – Mercury Ballroom – Louisville, KY ^

    Feb 1, 2025 – Mercury Ballroom – Louisville, KY ^

    Feb 2, 2025 – Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH ^

    Feb 4, 2025 – XL Live – Harrisburg, PA*

    Feb 5, 2025 – Stage AE – Pittsburgh, PA*

    Feb 6, 2025 – The Fillmore Silver Spring – Silver Spring, MD*

    Feb 7, 2025 – Brooklyn Steel – Brooklyn, NY*

    Feb 8, 2025 – House of Blues Boston – Boston, MA %

    Feb 10, 2025 – Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC ^

    Feb 11, 2025 – Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA ^

    Feb 12, 2025 – Victory North – Savannah, GA ^

    Feb 13, 2025 – Miami Beach Bandshell (Jam Cruise Pre-Party) – Miami, FL

    Feb 14-19, 2025 – Jam Cruise – Miami, FL

    Mar 2, 2025 – The Mission Ballroom – Denver #

    * Co-Headline Show w/ GZA

    ^ An Evening with Lettuce

    % Lettuce w/ Support TBD

    # w/ The Colorado Symphony

    For more information on Lettuce and GZA’s ‘The Get Up Tour’ and to purchase tickets to any of the dates, click here.

  • Cymande’s Triumphant Return: Getting It Back Documentary and New Album Renascence Reignite a Legacy

    On October 30, I had the privilege of attending a special screening at Ludlow House in NYC for Getting It Back: The Story of Cymande, an empowering documentary directed by Tim Mackenzie-Smith.

    This award-winning director crafted a story that not only celebrates Cymande’s musical legacy but also underscores their impact on generations of artists, particularly within hip-hop and funk. Featuring interviews with music legends and influencers like Mark Ronson, DJ Maseo of De La Soul, Jazzie B from Soul II Soul, and Jim James of My Morning Jacket, the documentary brings together a chorus of voices who attest to Cymande’s enduring influence. Mackenzie-Smith’s film premiered at SXSW in 2022 and has since traveled widely, introducing new audiences to the “Cym-aissance,” as Total Film put it.

    The screening was a powerful reminder of how Cymande’s fusion of funk, jazz, soul, and reggae created a sound with staying power. With breakout tracks like “Bra” and “Dove,” Cymande influenced the early hip-hop scene and continue to inspire artists across genres. After seeing their story celebrated in such depth, I was even more excited about the band’s latest news.

    Following their resurgence, Cymande has announced Renascence, their first new album in decades, set to release on January 31, 2025. This album promises a return to their classic sound with a modern twist, reconnecting with the spirit of their 1974 record, Promised Heights. The first single, “Chasing An Empty Dream,” is already out, featuring their trademark grooving basslines and layers of global rhythm. This track captures the band’s socially conscious, hopeful message, as bassist Steve Scipio explained, “It’s a reflection on materialism and the hope for a future where we return to valuing essential, timeless principles.

    Renascence boasts 11 tracks that weave together driving rhythms, saxophone wails, and stirring vocal harmonies. Songs like “Coltrane” and “How We Roll,” featuring Jazzie B, blend classic and contemporary sounds, while ballads like “Only One Way,” sung by Celeste, reveal the band’s softer, introspective side. Longtime members Patrick Patterson (guitar) and Scipio, along with Adrian Reid on keys and Raymond Simpson on vocals, are joined by a lineup of exceptional musicians, including Toni Kofi on sax and Kevin Davy on trumpet. Produced by Ben Baptie, this album serves as a crowning jewel in Cymande’s discography.

    The album artwork, designed by Ghanaian-born, UK-based artist Koby Martin, visually represents Cymande’s legacy and rebirth. A vibrant sun rises behind a laurel wreath, symbolizing victory and longevity, while a morphing dove and a pair of hands represent both the band’s loyal fanbase and new listeners alike. Martin’s colors echo the album’s diverse, layered sounds, promising an immersive experience for listeners.

    Cymande will support Renascence with a U.S. tour, kicking off in New York at Irving Plaza on February 13, 2025, and hitting major cities including Philadelphia, Chicago, and Los Angeles. This tour marks a monumental return to the stage for the British funk pioneers, who will bring their unmistakable grooves to fans old and new.

    Cymande’s long-awaited return represents not just a revival but a reclaiming of the legacy they laid decades ago. With Renascence, the band reaffirms their place in music history and offers a renewed soundtrack to inspire unity and resilience.

    Cymande US Tour Dates:
    FEB 13 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
    FEB 14 – Philadelphia, PA – Ardmore Music Hall
    FEB 15 – Washington DC – Howard Theatre
    FEB 18 – Chicago, IL – Metro
    FEB 19 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theatre
    FEB 21 – Denver, CO – Bluebird
    FEB 22 – Seattle, WA – Crocodile
    FEB 23 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
    FEB 26 – San Francisco, CA – August Hall*
    FEB 28 – Los Angeles, CA – The Bellwether

  • Funk Ensemble The Soul Rebels to Perform at Binghamton University on November 1

    New Orleans-based funk-fusion band The Soul Rebels have announced an upcoming show at Anderson Center at Binghamton University.

    The Soul Rebels started with an idea – to expand upon the pop music the members loved on the radio and the New Orleans brass tradition they grew up on. They took that tradition and blended funk and soul with elements of hip hop, jazz and rock, all within the style of a modernized and contemporary brass band. The band has built a career around an eclectic live show that harnesses the power of horns and drums in a party-like atmosphere.

    The Anderson Center for the Performing Arts welcomes this captivating performance style to Binghamton University on November 1. The Soul Rebels are riding high in 2024 after receiving national attention following the release of their new album, Poetry In Motion. Their explosive stage presence has led to live collaborations with the likes of Katy Perry, Nas, G-Eazy, DMX, Robin Thicke, Macy Gray, and most notably their new supergroup with the legendary Wu Tang Clan.

    Tickets for the general public range from $25-40, with a 10% discount on premium seats for seniors, veterans, and Binghamton University faculty/staff and alumni. Student and child tickets cost just $10 for any seat in the house. This show is one you’ll certainly want to be a part of. The group’s unmatched performance energy is something that sticks with you for a while.

    For more information on The Soul Rebels’ upcoming show at Binghamton University and to purchase tickets, click here.

  • In Focus: Alive at 5 with Galactic and Hilltop

    On a hot August 1st evening at Albany’s Jennings Landing, funk outfit Galactic closed out this year’s Alive at 5 summer concert series with a performance that was out of this world.

    Galactic , Alive at 5

    Galactic, originating from New Orleans, has been a powerhouse in the funk and jazz scenes since 1994, known for their electrifying live performances and eclectic sound. Their unique blend of funk, jazz, hip-hop, and electronic music, combined with Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph’s powerful vocals, creates an irresistible groove.

    Albany-based band Hilltop opened the show, getting the crowd in the mood to groove with their lively performance. Their infectious energy set the tone for the night, building excitement and getting people vibing to the music.

    Galactic took the stage next. Between singer Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph’s undeniable stage presence and the band’s exceptional musicianship, the show was a masterclass in funk.  Highlights of the night included Jelly’s powerful rendition of “Right On,” Glen D. Andrews’ soulful “You Don’t Know,” and the crowd-pleasing “Crazyhorse Mongoose.” 

    Glen D. Andrews performing "You Don't Know" with Galactic
    Glen D. Andrews performing “You Don’t Know”

    The crowd, enthusiastic about enjoying the summer to its fullest, volleyed beach balls back and forth, while jet skis and boats passed by on the Hudson River, providing an exceptionally fun, summery backdrop. Galactic continues their tour, now heading west this summer.

    Setlist: Here Comes The Funky Man, Right On, Making it Better, You Don’t Know Feat. Glen D. Andrews, Go Down, Something’s Wrong, People, Lady Liberty, Qualified, Heart For Steel, Crazyhorse Mongoose, Never Called You Crazy, Yes We Can, Dolla Diva, Compared To What

    Be sure to check out Albany’s Jazz Fest Sept. 14th at Jenning’s Landing, featuring Roosevelt Collier, Nate Smith and many more.

  • Big Shrimp to Debut at LonCon at Wonderland Forest

    On September 20, Wonderland Forest in Lafayette, NY, will be home to LonCon, a two-day music festival featuring numerous rocking jam bands. This year, LonCon will also see the debut of newly formed Big Shrimp, ready to stun crowds with new faces.

    big shrimp

    Formerly known as Baked Shrimp, the group has decided to take on a new name, and of course, a new style. Hailing from Long Island and originally forming in 2017, Baked Shrimp took on the world as a trio, made up of Jared Cowen (Guitar/Vocals), Scott Reill (Bass/Vocals), and Jager Soss (Drums/Vocals). Their funk style brought them to festivals and shows all over the United States and Canada, and even provided supporting acts for artists like the Disco Biscuits, Pink Talking Fish, Aqueous, Dopapod, and more.

    In 2021, Baked Shrimp formed LonCon, a two-day music festival featuring hundreds of artists over the course of three years. Up until recently, they performed as Baked Shrimp, but are now ready to change it up and announce their new and improved act.

    Now known as Big Shrimp, the band has taken on not just a new name, but a new sound and even a new member. Joining the Big Shrimp crew is Matt Takesh, their brand new keyboard player.

    “I am so amped up to have Matt Takesh with us behind a batch of keyboards, including a real B3!” says guitarist and vocalist Jared Cowen. “He and Max Perrotti have been a pure joy to bring into our world of music, and we can’t wait to see what this lineup looks and sounds like on the stage.”

    This year, LonCon has moved to a new location, Wonderland Forest in Lafayette. Surrounded by beautiful scenery and dozens of hiking trails, attendees can choose to camp as close or as far from the festival as they’d like, and take in amazing hiking trails, scenic overlooks, waterfalls, and more.

    The full lineup of LonCon is to be released soon, with performances from Mihali, Big Shrimp x2, Aliens Among Us (ft. Ben Atkind (ElephantProof/formerly Goose), Ryan Dempsey (Twiddle), Sam Lucid (Dogs in a Pile), Jared Sage Cowen (Big Shrimp), Gantzer, Sophistafunk, Annie in the Water, and more already announced.

    “Having his and our friends and family be with us for what we continue to want to be an annual event, is so special, and inspires us to continue to want to grow our community,” says Cowen. The highly anticipated debut album for Big Shrimp is set to release in the Spring of 2025, following an incredible festival.

    For more information on LonCon, visit the festival’s website.

  • NEO Project: Ithaca-Based Band Brings The Funk All Over New York

    Hailing from Ithaca, six-piece funk band NEO Project dazzles audiences with their energetic stage presence and hypnotic fusion music. Their unique, high-energy sound and performances have blown crowds away for the better part of a decade. With an interesting mix of genres and insatiable chemistry, NEO Project is sure to put on an unforgettable performance.

    NEO project

    Since 2012, the band has been on a mission to make crowds dance with their stellar improvisation and musicianship. NEO Project is made up of Elly Holiday and Jimbo Scott as lead vocalists, John White on keyboards and backup vocals, Dwight Carroll on electric guitar and vocals, Franklin Henry on electric bass, and Mike McCoy on drums. As well-decorated veterans of the music industry, including past careers as music professors, soul practitioners, and even a former Motown sideman, they each hold a deep love and passion for funk, soul, jazz, and R&B music.

    In their many years of touring and making music, NEO Project has worn many hats when it comes to performing. Originally, they began as a funk band, but soon after realized their true potential in becoming an all-out dance band that blends a multitude of genres. Bringing in inspiration from Afro-Caribbean music, as well as soul, jazz, and R&B, NEO Project combines the genres that were truly inspirational to them, with their own improvisational twist.

    Eventually, through years of fine-tuning their sound, NEO Project became exemplary of the great diversity within the music industry, proving that genres can absolutely coexist and share the spotlight at the same time. Along with their own original music, NEO Project reinterprets some of the best soul, jazz, and funk music out there with their own unique twist, covering a wide range of artists from Deee-Lite to James Brown. Their unique sound has brought thousands from all over the state to bars, concert halls, and festivals to enjoy some new-age fusion in classic old-fashioned styles.

    NEO project

    Throughout the last ten years, the NEO Project family has performed all over New York, bringing the energy to music festivals and concert series alike. On July 11, the band headlined a performance at the Ithaca Summer Concert Series; their most recent surmounting success right from their hometown. Their most recent gig at the Finger Lakes Cider House brought the house down with their incredibly dynamic and original performance.

    NEO Project’s funky, charming tunes have brought them widespread critical acclaim, from magazines to newspapers and more. “There’s a new band based in Ithaca, NY that will have you tapping your toes and shakin’ your groove thing to its unique, fun style of Neo Soul, Funk, Jazz, Rock, and Afro-Caribbean world grooves,” says Roger Theies of What’s Hot? magazine. Harry Segal of The Dock calls them “the tightest funk fusion band in the land!”

    After a rousing ten-year anniversary, NEO Project’s reign is far from over. Catch NEO Project at The Range, 119 E State St, Ithaca, for a surefire performance that will never make you want to throw away your dancing shoes. The end of a busy season awaits the band as August begins, with headlining performances at the Geneva Lakefront Summer Concert Series on Wednesday, August 14. On September 2, NEO Project will perform for a private member’s exclusive event at the Ithaca Yacht Club, followed by a headlining performance at the Corning Harvest Fest on Saturday, September 21.

      For any information on the band, be sure to visit their official Facebook page, linked here.

    • Brooklyn Duo Rubblebucket Release Funky New Single “Rattlesnake”

      On July 10, Brooklyn-based art-pop duo Rubblebucket released their newest single, “Rattlesnake,” along with its corresponding music video. Filled with groovy basslines, punchy brass and saxophone riffs, and hard-hitting lyrics in a deceptively cool and catchy tone, “Rattlesnake” is the newest edition to a laundry list of funky tunes sure to make your hips move.

      rubblebucket

      Based on lead singer Klamia Traver’s own struggles with mental health and anxiety, the lyrics to “Rattlesnake” present a situation that almost everyone can relate to. The band loosely adapted a poem Kalmia wrote called “Time For the Rattlesnake” from her poetry book Year of The Banana. The poem recalls an encounter Traver had with the animal, jokingly saying, “The beauty of it took my breath away. But I later ruminated about how even when I am faced with the most breathtaking of our planet’s offerings, it can still be very hard to be present, focused & relaxed because of the chronic anxiety from which I suffer.”

      The song opens with, “I don’t want to analyze you / But it seems you’re stuck in a cage / Let the child inside drive you / You’ve got what it takes.” Rattlesnake, in this instance, acts as a metaphor for someone so coiled and wrapped up in their own worries, fears, and anxieties that they prevent themselves from chasing new opportunities and ideas, even if it is something their “inner child” so desperately craved. The bridge’s lyrics further implement this idea, this time bringing the perspectives of outsiders into it: “Sometimes you gotta kill your idols / Psychedelic cage / In the footsteps of our mothers / We make the same mistakes.”  

      rattlesnake rubblebucket

      With such an intense undertone, looking at the lyrics alone makes the tune sound morose and dark. But instead, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the song is almost deceptively catchy. The groovy bassline, provided by the band’s other half, Alex Toth, nearly makes you forget about the unsettling lyrics. Renata Zieguer’s strings certainly add another unique element to the instrumentation, bringing a classic ’70s-style disco charm. Kalmia Traver’s light, soothing vocals almost make you forget about the fears the song forces you to face. The band went full disco-funk with “Rattlesnake”, producing a track that sounds like Bee Gees and Michael Jackson meets Stereolab.

      For Rubblebucket, therapy takes the form of a dance party. “Rattlesnake” is a refreshing, funky tune that certainly stands out with its creative sound, and even more creative music video, reminiscent of something we would’ve seen from Talking Heads. The message here is clear: uncoil yourself like a rattlesnake, but dance while you do it.

      “Rattlesnake” is out now and available on all streaming platforms and be sure to catch Rubblebucket at their announced live shows for 2024, one in Washington and one in New Hampshire.

      Find tickets and more info HERE.

      Rubblebucket Live

      July 13 – Seattle, WA – Ballard Seafood Festival
      October 19 – Concord, NH – Concord Sound & Color Festival

    • Poughkeepsie’s Own Cory Wong Releases Dazzling New Single ‘Quotidian Fields’

      Poughkeepsie-based jazz artist Cory Wong released his newest single, “Quotidian Fields,” on June 28. The second single off of his forthcoming album, Starship Syncopation, “Quotidian Fields” saw Wong collaborate with Metropole Orkest and piano icon Bruce Hornsby. Moreover, this newest single brings a bright, fresh sound to the world of jazz, and creates excitement for Wong’s newest album.

      cory wong

      Known for his solo work with artists including the Dave Matthews Band, Vulfpeck, and many more, Cory Wong has been refreshing jazz since the late 2000s. In like manner, his newest single with Bruce Hornsby and Metropole Orkest, a jazz orchestra based in the Netherlands, is just the latest addition to his laundry list of fantastic collaborations.

      After all, Cory Wong’s “Quotidian Fields” gives us a glimpse into his mind. In the early stages of the single, Wong and Hornsby used samples and previously discarded tunes to brainstorm their ideas. When Hornsby sent Wong the piano riff heard at the beginning of the single, he knew that it was the perfect symbol of what he envisioned in his mind: a grandfather clock in the middle of the desert with mountains in the background. Hornsby’s piano tunes represent the clock, as something classic, elegant, and easily recognizable. The additional guitars and bass represent the mountain ranges in the background: something strong, powerful, and grounding that doesn’t take away from the grandfather clock standing before it. As a result the orchestra parts, mainly brass and drums, are meant to represent the desert, where the whole landscape is.

      Additionally, the arrangement and orchestration are inspired by a lot of classic American classical music. Inspiration from American classical composers like Aaron Copeland, George Gershwin, and Leonard Bernstein is obvious, as the single moves forward to a rising crescendo, then transitions into a full orchestra that still manages to uphold the elegance of Hornsby’s original piano riff.

      Cory Wong officially begins his tour in October. In addition to his Fall Tour, Wong will be performing two shows at the 2024 Caroga Lake Music Festival from July 30-31. He will also be part of the Caroga Arts Collective on Wednesday, July 31, where a raffle for a limited edition Fender guitar will be held. Moreover only 100 raffle tickets will be sold at $100 each and can be purchased HERE.

      Below are Cory Wong’s official Fall Tour dates. For more information and tickets, visit his official website.

      CORY WONG FALL TOUR DATES 

      OCT 29 – ST. LOUIS (The Pageant)

      OCT 30 – NASHVILLE (The Ryman)

      OCT 31 – NASHVILLE (The Ryman)

      NOV 1 – ATLANTA (The Eastern)

      NOV 2 – CHARLOTTE (The Fillmore)

      NOV 4 – RICHMOND (The National)

      NOV 6 – WASHINGTON DC (The Anthem)

      NOV 7 – BROOKLYN (Kings Theatre)

      NOV 8 – PHILADELPHIA (The Met)

      NOV 9 – TBA

      NOV 11 – TBA

      NOV 12 – TBA

      NOV 14 – PITTSBURGH (Stage AE)

      NOV 15 – TORONTO (History)

      NOV 16 – DETROIT (Royal Oak)

      NOV 17 – COLUMBUS (Kemba Live)

      NOV 20 – INDIANAPOLIS (Egyptian Room)

      NOV 21 – MADISON (The Sylvee)

      NOV 22 – CHICAGO (The Salt Shed)

      NOV 23 – ST. PAUL (The Palace)

      NOV 24 – ST. PAUL (The Palace)