NYS Music 2024

Tag: manhattan

  • Sabrina Monique Releases Vibrant Debut Album It’s Not Me, It’s You 

    White Plains born and New York City-based singer-songwriter Sabrina Monique has released her debut album It’s Not Me, It’s You.

    Sabrina Monique It’s Not Me It’s You 

    Born and raised in Brewster, Sabrina Monique has been performing to brighten others’ days since the beginning. Living with her single mother and grandparents in a tense environment, she quickly realized how much value there is in the power entertainment holds over someone’s emotions, and before long she was skipping high school classes for auditions in New York City.

    Moving into an apartment in Manhattan at 17 with 12 other girls, Monique was determined to see her dreams through- and that she has. While auditioning, performing at the iconic Ellen’s Stardust Diner, and developing her personal sound, Sabrina auditioned for American Idol 2020 and landed herself a feature on the show’s nineteenth season. 

    While incredibly exciting, this opportunity proved to be challenging. Her entry into the pop industry came with subsequent body image issues as she felt the pressure to fit the “pop star ideal”. Emotionally tense and creatively stifled, the 2020 pandemic that put the world to a halt offered Monique a unique opportunity to create without inhibitions.

    “I wrote everything I held in my body—it was like a faucet you couldn’t turn off.”

    – Sabrina Monique

    Tucked away in a Nashville studio, the songs seemed to just flow out of her. These tracks would eventually become her newly released debut album, It’s Not Me, It’s You. 

    A collection of dance songs, ballads, and seething guitar-heavy tracks, It’s Not Me, It’s You is a powerful series of battle anthems. Artistically liberated both in personal creativity and industry restraint, Monique tackles and gives voices to the stories of women fighting sexism, body imaging, the patriarchy, and the archaic stereotypes perpetuated throughout the music industry.

    Tracks like her debut single “It Was Always You” take heartbreak and wrap it into an upbeat reggaeton-inspired dance-pop anthem, while “Love Again Unplugged” strips the layers of production and pretense down to their most raw forms in a vulnerable show of emotional honesty and growth. 

    “I needed to write this album to move forward. It’s been cathartic for me, and it represents stepping into my power. I pick my producer. I write my own music. I am the captain of my ship.”

    – Sabrina Monique

    A stunning collection of songwriting with contributions from hand-picked producers, It’s Not Me, It’s You is an admirable show of raw emotion and poetic ponderings from the mind of Sabrina Monique. 

    To learn more about Sabrina and keep up to date on her latest ventures, visit her official website here.

  • Benefit Concert for Creative Music Studio To Be Held in NYC

    A benefit concert for Creative Music Studio will be held at (Le) Poisson Rouge in Greenwich Village on Wednesday, Dec. 11.

    Creative Music Studio

    This special event will feature a diverse lineup of artists performing everything from experimental surf rock to poetry to beloved tunes by Medeski Martin & Wood through both solo and improvised group jam sessions. Artists such as Ava Mendoza, Billy Martin aka illy B, and Joe Russo, will be performing at the benefit, among other instrumentalists and poets. All proceeds from this show will go to the Creative Music Foundation.

    Creative Music Studio aims to engage musicians and listeners through workshops, recordings, and concerts worldwide. For 40 years, Creative Music’s main program was the Creative Music Studio, a physical 45-acre campus in Woodstock NY where musicians lived. Residents include hundreds of Guiding Artists, including several MacArthur ‘Genius’ Award winners (George Lewis, John Zorn, Cecil Taylor, John Cage, Charlie Haden). Over 550 concerts were recorded and were digitized as part of the CMS Archive Project. 

    Since 2008, (Le) Poisson Rouge has had indie rock, contemporary classical, electronica, metal, jazz, world music, and everything in-between on its stage. in the heart of New York City’s historic Greenwich Village to reflect the rich musical culture of the city it calls home. A Gallery Bar that hosts art exhibitions, stand-up comedy, and drag queen bingo make LPR the most eclectically independent venue in NYC.

    General Admission – Advance Standing room tickets – $51.50 | 7:00 PM GA doors

    Learn more and purchase tickets here.

  • Prolific Haitian-American Rapper Mach-Hommy Marks First-Ever New York City Performance At The Appel Room At Lincoln Center

    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
    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 show promo
    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.

  • Sammy Rae and The Friends bring Heartfelt Joy and Community to Terminal 5 

    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

    Nov 15, 2024 Roadrunner Boston, MA

    Nov 16, 2024 Roadrunner Boston, MA

    Dec 31, 2024 The Anthem Washington, DC

    • Perelman PAC Announces First Icons of Culture Festival

      The inaugural Icons of Culture Festival presented by BNY, will feature influential actors, artists, chefs, and more in conversation from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 at the newly opened Perelman Performing Arts Center in Downtown Manhattan.

      Icons of Culture Festival

      The Icons of Culture Festival will bring audiences into the room with trailblazers in music, comedy, film, sports, and more to talk about pushing boundaries, making a mark, and elevating the everyday to the iconic. The festival features cultural change-makers sharing their personal journeys and powerful insights, encouraging us all to be iconic in our own lives.
      Featured conversations at the festival include Misty Copeland, The Dogist, Alex Edelman, Renée Fleming, Michael Imperioli, Baaba Maal, Philippe Petit, Questlove, Marcus Samuelsson, Kathleen Turner, Serena Williams, and Vanity Fair‘s Little Gold Men Live, and more to be announced.

      PAC NYC on Fulton Street in Manhattan is the new home for artists in theater, dance, music, opera, and multi-disciplinary performances from New York and around the world. Since its opening in September of 2023, PAC has brought many concerts and series to their stages, to “create a range of unique experiences for audiences and be fully responsive to artists’ creative visions.” On their lobby stage, you can catch concerts throughout the year on most Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Series such as “Old Songs, New Songs” which features artists from the Middle East and North Africa, or “¡Oyeme!” which features hip-hop and Latinidad artists.

      Tickets for the festival are on sale now. Learn more about Perelman Performing Arts Center and purchase tickets here.

    • Clairo Charms On Night 1 of 5 Night Residency at Webster Hall

      Clairo kicked off her five-night residency at Webster Hall on Friday, September 14th to a sold-out crowd. Webster Hall is the perfect venue to experience Clairo’s music, and more artists should prioritize smaller venues like this. Sure, she’s playing four extra shows to sell the same amount of tickets as she would in an arena, but the difference in experience is staggering.

      While Chappell Roan is currently making headlines for setting boundaries with fans, Clairo is just coming off a three-year hiatus with her new album Charm due to her own experiences with people repeatedly invading her privacy. Finding a way to comfortably interact with fans at shows and online should be a priority for any artist. Clairo deserves huge props for her commitment to doing things in a way that feels comfortable for her.

      Webster Hall was packed before Frankie Cosmos opened, with people overflowing through the side doors of the main ballroom and lining the balcony. Frankie Cosmos’ sound has developed nicely over the past years, with better production and instrumentation. In particular, her drummer injects some extra funk into the mellower songs. Even though Frankie Cosmos was a late addition to the Webster Hall shows, Greta Kline said she was happy to see people outside her fanbase singing along.

      Clairo and her ensemble entered the stage single file with a tray of glasses to cheers and sat down on the set for a little pre-show drink. As she poured wine and handed it to her bandmates, Clairo, in her headphones, black dress with gold ribbons, black tights, and heeled loafers, talked quietly with her ensemble before they eventually clambered to their designated positions on the stage’s tiered platforms covered in green carpet. The stage held a staggering amount of instruments to be used over the show’s hour and a half runtime with a flute, chimes, sax, electric guitar, nylon string acoustic guitar, bass guitar, a real piano on the stage, synths, and a drum machine on an antique table next to Clairo for her song “4Ever.”

      Clairo played through the entirety of her excellent new album, Charm, interspersed with some of her fan favorites. Charm adds much more intrigue to Claro’s sound, incorporating jazzy layered synths and a laid-back West Coast cabana vibe on some tracks such as the album’s opener “Nomad” and “Glory of the Snow.”  Clairo takes this sound further with a modern electronic spin on tracks like “Sexy to Someone” and “Echo.” “Echo” specifically features a jaunty little synth that harkens back to the likes of Broadcast.

      After four songs she requested the lighting tech turn off the front lights and spent most of the show backlit by the giant light handing over the middle of the stage. She seemed reserved at the beginning, but by the second half of the show, she found her groove, and you could tell she was enjoying playing in her home city. A fan held up a red and white ringer tee they made for her that said “Clairo is For Lovers,” and Clairo loved it, saying she would wear it to bed that night. That’s probably the only fan out there who can say they’ve given an artist their favorite pajama tee.

    • TV On The Radio Announce Special ‘Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes’ 20th Anniversary Edition

      Brooklyn-based band TV On The Radio has announced a 20th anniversary edition of their critically acclaimed debut album, Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes, featuring five bonus tracks to be released on November 15, in addition to a return to live performance to celebrate.

      Desperate Youth Bloodthirsty Babes TV on the radio

      Composed of Tunde Adebimpe, Dave Sitek, Kyp Malone, and Jaleel Bunton, TV on the Radio has developed a reputation that precedes them over their past twenty-plus years as a rock band. Recognized for their eclectic sound and experimental attitude, the band has toured worldwide, collaborated with countless household names, and released a total of five studio albums among a plethora of singles. An act of rebellion by simply existing as a Black indie rock band and a force of sonic exploration, TV on the Radio is truly not to be missed.

      Now, just over twenty years since their debut album, TV on the Radio is returning to the public eye for a celebratory re-release of Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes, featuring five bonus tracks, two of which are unreleased. The first, “Final Fantasy,”  is out now  and is an early demo of their song “Bomb Yourself.”

      Recognized by Rolling Stone as “an immaculate album about disappointment in all its forms” and featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, TV on the Radio’s first album release had made its mark on the world from the start. Saturated with concepts of life, love, and loss through the lens of post-9/11 America and heavy with the tension felt by the youngest generations at the time, Desperate Youth puts visceral emotions into words and words into never-before-heard sound. 

      In addition to the exciting rerelease, TV on the Radio has announced their first shows since 2019, with multiple nights in New York City at the historic Webster Hall. The band will be in the city on November 25, 26, 29, and 30, with dates in Los Angeles and London to follow. While still a part of the band, member Dave Sitek will be unable to join the tour. Tickets will be on sale Thursday, September 12 at 10:00 AM local time- for more information, visit here. 

      The full list of dates as well as the 20th Anniversary Edition track list are below.

      TOUR DATES

      November 25 – New York, N.Y. @ Webster Hall

      November 26 – New York, N.Y. @ Webster Hall

      November 29 – New York, N.Y. @ Webster Hall

      November 30 – New York, N.Y. @ Webster Hall

      December 4 – Los Angeles @ El Rey Theatre

      December 5 – Los Angeles @ El Rey Theatre

      December 7 – Los Angeles @ El Rey Theatre

      December 10 – London, UK @ Islington Assembly Hall

      December 11 – London, UK @ Islington Assembly Hall

      December 12 – London, UK @ Islington Assembly Hall

    • In Focus: Cigarettes After Sex at Madison Square Garden

      On Friday, September 6 American dream pop band Cigarettes After Sex performed a sold out show at Madison Square Garden.

      Perri Sage Photography

      The band formed in 2013 in El Paso, Texas and are made up of lead vocalist and electric guitarist Greg Gonzalez , drummer Jacob Tomsky, and bassist Randall Miller. The band explores a celestial soundscape using a unique approach to the dream pop genre.

      The trio blew up internationally in 2016 when their first debut EP “I.” launched. Their music enters an ethereal and dreamlike haze that’s soothing and romantic. Best known for top hits “Apocalypse,” “Cry,” “Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby” and “K.” Their songs include riffs of the guitar, a steady drum beat and synthesized swells which creates a sound you could almost fall asleep to.

      Perri Sage Photography

      Their lyrical composition is drawn heavily from Greg’s personal memories and allude a cinematic and emotive response. Each song describes moments of romance and the feeling of falling in love. Similar to a black and white melancholic film with a lingering sadness that reminds us of our past.

      Cigarettes After Sex beautifully allows their audience to connect with them on a deeper more personal level. The atmosphere of the show was full of people who could relate to one another emotionally and connect to another’s experience.

      Perri Sage Photography

      The band continues to amaze their fans and fulfill the hope to bring forward ethereal, imaginary and a calming space to soothe their audience. As of recently, the ambient band released their third studio album “X’s” this past July including three singles Tejano Blue, Dark Vacay and Baby Blue Movie. While they continue to bewitch listeners with lust and longing, the band conquered a night to remember.

    • Pentatonix Announce 2024 Holiday Tour Making Three Stops in NY

      Pentatonix have announced the dates for their 2024 holiday tour: Hallelujah! It’s A Christmas Tour. Pentatonix’s holiday tradition returns for the third year with their biggest Christmas tour yet. They will play at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 26, in Albany on Nov. 16, and in Buffalo on Nov. 23.

      pentatonix

      Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, and Matt Sallee make up the three-time Grammy-winning and Emmy-nominated quintet, Pentatonix. They have announced a 2024 winter tour going from Nov 14 to Dec 22. The group will hit three venues in New York; Madison Square Garden, MVP Arena in Albany, and KeyBank Center in Buffalo.

      Since emerging in 2011, the vocal quintet has reached unprecedented rights for an a cappella group. They have sold 10 million albums worldwide and have performed everywhere from The White House and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to The Hollywood Bowl. They have had two albums hit #1 on the Billboard 200—Pentatonix [2015] and A Pentatonix Christmas [2016]. They made history as the first a cappella act to win ‘Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella’ at the Grammys in 2015 and 2016. and again they won a Grammy in the category “Best Country Duo/Group Performance” for their duet with Dolly Parton on her song “Jolene.” 

      pentatonix

      The group has played at many world-renowned venues and for world-renowned people such as The Kennedy Center Honors for Tom Hanks, covering “That Thing You Do” as President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama watched from the crowd. They have also collaborated with Kelly Clarkson, Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, and Lindsey Stirling, to name a few.

      They played a role in the film Pitch Perfect 2, and in 2023, received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Pentatonix will also star in the upcoming Netflix holiday romcom, Meet Me Next Christmas.

      Learn more about Pentatonix here.

      Pentatonix: Hallelujah! It’s A Christmas Tour Dates:

      11/14 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena

      11/16 – Albany, NY @ MVP Arena

      11/17 – Hershey, PA @ GIANT Center

      11/19 – Worcester, MA @ DCU Center

      11/21 – Fairfax, VA @ EagleBank Arena

      11/23 – Buffalo, NY @ KeyBank Center

      11/24 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena

      11/26 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden

      11/30 – Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena

      12/1 – Columbia, SC @ Colonial Life Arena

      12/3 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena

      12/4 – Duluth, GA @ Gas South Arena

      12/5 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena

      12/7 – Peoria, IL @ Peoria Civic Center

      12/8 – Cleveland, OH @ Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse

      12/10 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center

      12/11 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena

      12/12 – Rosemont, IL @ Allstate Arena

      12/14 – Sioux Falls, SD @ Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

      12/15 – Fargo, ND @ Fargodome

      12/17 – Milwaukee, WI @ Fiserv Forum

      12/18 – Des Moines, IA @ Wells Fargo Arena

      12/19 – Tulsa, OK @  BOK Center

      12/21 – Fort Worth, TX @ Dickies Arena

      12/22 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center

    • Dave Matthews Band Announces Fall Tour, Hit MSG for Two Nights

      Ahead of Dave Matthews Band induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in October, the band has announced a Fall Tour. They will hit many big cities on the eastern half of the country including Madison Square Garden on Nov. 22 and 23.

      Dave Matthews Band
      Photo credit: Sanjay Suchak

      Since 1993 when Dave Matthews Band’s first studio album was released, they have been a power house in the rock world selling 38 million CDs and DVDs. They have also sold over 25 million tickets since their birth making them the second largest ticket-seller in history. After the group’s 2018 album Come Tomorow, they became the first ever band to have 7 consecutive studio albums hit number one on the Billboard 200.

      Dave Matthews Band released a new album, the first in five years, Walk Around The Moon in 2023. The album has been praised by many publications and the band has supported it with many concerts and tours since its release. Most recently, they played their traditional Labor Day weekend concerts at The Gorge in Washington state. They will arrive in New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Nov 22 and 23 closing out the six planned dates to take place in November.

      Dave Matthews Band will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 19 in Cleveland, OH. The induction ceremony will stream on Disney+, and will be released on Hulu the next day.

      General on sale for tickets begins on Friday, September 20, at 10:00 a.m. ET. For more information, visit davematthewsband.com.

      DAVE MATTHEWS BAND FALL 2024 DATES

      11/15               Pittsburgh, PA                           PPG Paints Arena

      11/16               Columbus, OH                           Nationwide Arena

      11/19               Uncasville, CT                           Mohegan Sun Arena

      11/20               Uncasville, CT                           Mohegan Sun Arena

      11/22               New York, NY                            Madison Square Garden – The Arena

      11/23               New York, NY                            Madison Square Garden – The Arena

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