NYS Music 2024

Tag: pocket bandits

  • Pocket Bandits Release Groovy Single “Second Drink” Ahead Of Debut LP

    Ithaca-based trio Pocket Bandits have released their Groovy third single “Second Drink” alongside the announcement of their debut LP.

    pocket bandits

    A modern twist to the old-school organ trio, Pocket Bandits packs the musical punch of a large ensemble in a smaller unit. Members Joe Massa on guitar, Simon Bjarning on drums, and Samuel B. Lupowitz on organ, synth, and pedal keyboards combine their musical prowess into a final product that is full of infectious dancing energy. 

    Having performed separately in various groups across Central New York prior to the pandemic, when the group’s regular musical roster came to a halt they found themselves faced with a unique opportunity- and with that Pocket Bandits was born.

    Since then, the trio has performed countless covers from Steely Dan to Chappell Roan with original compositions sprinkled throughout.

    The unit debuted their first official release in April of this year, and since then have been hard at work writing, rehearsing, and recording. Returning for their third track to date, Pocket Bandits has released the infectiously funky “Second Drink.” 

    Clocking in at just over six and a half minutes, “Second Drink” capitalizes on each and every second with an overflowing, undeniable, stylish funk. Recorded almost entirely live at Redwood Lane in Ithaca, there’s some serious technical work at play hidden beneath the layers of boogy with shifting time signatures, a suitelike structure, and a gradual buildup to an organ solo that really bring the piece to life.

    Even more exciting is the news that dropped alongside “Second Drink”- the reveal of Pocket Bandit’s debut EP. Releasing on January 24 is Nine– a set of nine vibrant originals from the trio that are sure to excite.

    The group has also teased an album release show in their homebase of Ithaca with more dates across the Northeast to follow. To learn more about Pocket Bandits, find out about a show near you, and keep up to date with all of their latest endeavors, be sure to visit their official website here.

  • Premiere: Pocket Bandits Share Sophomore Single “Midway”, Buffalo Debut September 27

    Ithaca trio Pocket Bandits have announced the release of their sophomore single “Midway” and their debut performance in Buffalo on September 27. Listen to premiere of the track below.

    Pocket Bandits, the dynamic instrumental organ trio that emerged on the Central New York music scene in the fall of 2023, release “Midway,” on Friday, September 27. The band also makes their Buffalo debut that evening, hitting the stage at Nietzche’s with award-winning Boston soul singer-songwriter Jill McCracken and Buffalo local artist Sara Elizabeth.

    Equal parts light and dark, shiny and grungy, melodious and angular, the new single captures all the intensity and fun of the trio. On the heels of their debut release from the spring of 2024, “The Pocket Bandit,” the progressive funk-fusion trio return with another live show favorite. “Midway” deftly splits the difference between inviting danceability and avant-garde exploration, synthesizing the extremes of the three-piece’s identity into one jubilant track.

    The track is captivating to the ears of many genre-enjoyers. “Midway” encapsulates every persona and sound that each member possesses. It is dynamic, powerful and diverse in taste. There’s a little something for everyone here, and this is a staple of Pocket Bandits’ style.

    They are a modern twist on the old-school organ trio: the power of a big band in a tiny package. The group is also performing a free hometown show that weekend, on the final day of the Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival, Sunday, September 29 at 4pm on the Dewitt Park Stage.

    With “Midway,” Pocket Bandits expand on “The Pocket Bandit” in their grand ambitions for their new collaboration. With more shows and more music on deck as 2024 moves into 2025, Pocket Bandits invite you to hop aboard and follow along for the ride.

    Thrilling your senses and filling the dance floor, the trio engage their audiences with melodic, dynamic original compositions, as well as crowd-pleasers by The Beatles, Chappell Roan, Steely Dan, and even the Super Mario Brothers.

    For more information on the Pocket Bandits, their new release “Midway” and to purchase tickets to their show in Buffalo, click here.