NYS Music 2024

Tag: westcott theater

  • Grateful Dead Pianist Tom Constanten Announces Farewell Tour

    Grateful Dead pianist Tom Constanten has announced a farewell tour spanning September and October 2024. This tour alongside Live Dead & Brothers will give deadheads one last opportunity to see the legendary pianist live in concert. Among the tour dates are four performances across New York state. 

    Tom Constanten Farewell tour

    Tom Constanten was born in Long Branch, New Jersey in 1944. Following enrollment at UC Berkeley, Constanten met future Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, becoming further involved in music. This musical career soon led Constanten to study across Europe, playing alongside legends of modern classical, like Karlheinz Stockhausen and Steve Reich. Constanten then followed up his studies with a brief stint in the US Air Force. 

    Following his return to the US, Constanten immediately joined the Grateful Dead on tour. His debut with the band was a November 23, 1968 performance at Athens, Ohio’s Memorial Auditorium. During his three-year career with the band, Constanten played keyboards on three Grateful Dead recordings: Anthem of the Sun, Aoxomoxoa, and Live/Dead. Constanten’s stint with the Grateful Dead ended with an April 28, 1971 performance at the Fillmore East in New York.

    Following his departure from the Grateful Dead, Constnaten remained close to his bandmates while pursuing other artistic endeavors. Since 1971, he has recorded alongside the Incredible String Band, Jefferson Starship, and more. In 1994, Constanten was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside the other members of the Grateful Dead.

    Tom Constanten alongside Jerry Garcia

    Now, after more than five decades of touring, Constanten will make a final farewell tour across the United States. Supergroup Live Dead & Brothers will join Constanten on stage throughout the tour. The band consists of Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers collaborators, dedicated to celebrating Constanten’s legacy. Among the musicians are the Allman Betts Band’s Berry Duane Oakley and Les Dudek. Also featured are Grateful Dead collaborators Mark Karan, Scott Guberman, and Pete Lavezzolli. 

    The tour will begin on September 6th in Irving, Texas, before making its way Northeast. Along the two month-long tour, Constanten will make four stops across New York State. The first stop comes in Buffalo’s Sportsman’s Tavern on September 26th. Following this performance is a September 27th show at Albany’s Empire Live. The 1000-person venue features state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment, and a large stage, making it one of Albany’s premier venues. 

    Constanten will return to New York on October 9th with a show at Canandaigua’s Fort Hill Performing Arts Center. The venue’s features a 387-person orchestral theater dating back to 1928. The venue’s impeccable sound makes it one of the top theaters in the Finger Lakes region. Constanten will close out his tour with an October 12th performance at Syracuse’s prolific Westcott Theatre. 

    Across these tour dates, Constanten and Live Dead & Brothers will perform an eclectic mix of rock, jazz, and blues. These shows will act as a testament to the legacy of the Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers catalogs, featuring their trademark improvisational jams.  

    Tickets for Constanten’s farewell tour shows are currently on sale. For more information on tickets, visit the link here. 

    Tom Constanten Tour Dates

    9/6 – Carpenter Hall –  Irving, TX

    9/7 – Cailloux Theater – Kerrville, TX

    9/17 – Perot Theatre – Texarkana, TX

    9/18 – Cullen Theatre – Houston, TX

    9/19 – Greenville Municipal Auditorium – Greenville. TX

    9/20 – Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts – Amarillo, TX

    9/26 – Sportsman’s Tavern – Buffalo, NY

    9/27 – Empire Live – Albany, NY

    9/28 – Pat Garrett Amphitheater – Strausstown, PA

    9/29 – The Hamilton – Washington, DC

    10/1 – Sellersville Theater – Sellersville, PA

    10/2 – Beacon Theatre – Hopewell, VA

    10/5 – Rams Head on Stage – Annapolis, MD

    10/8 – The Empire – Belleville, ON

    10/9 – Fort Hill Performing Arts Center – Canandaigua, NY

    10/10 – Jergel’s Rhythm Grille – Warrendale, PA

    10/11 – Tussey Mountain Amphitheatre – Boalsburg, PA

    10/12 – Westcott Theatre – Syracuse, NY

    More dates to be announced

  • In Focus: Couch Brings Sunshine, Dynamic Sounds to Westcott Theater

    Dynamic jazz-pop band Couch brought their Sunshine, Part 2 Tour to the Westcott Theater in Syracuse on Friday, March 29.  It was a fittingly beautiful, sunshine-filled spring day in Central New York. The show was the second stop on a lengthy, cross country tour for the band, which features Sophia James as the opener.

    Hailing from Boston, Couch have been turning heads since their formation in 2021. Described as a blend of jazz, rock, pop and R&B, the band has performed at major festivals like Boston Calling, and toured in support of Lake Street Dive. The seven-piece band is currently touring in support of the recently released Sunshower EP (October 2023).

    Opener Sophia James rewarded those who arrived to the theater early this evening. James performed on stage solo, but brilliantly mixed in drum and vocal loops to build dramatic layers to her songs. She excitedly touted her upcoming release, Clockwork, due April 19, an EP that is sure to garner lots of listens from those who were in attendance tonight.

    An excited energy filled the theater as Couch made their way to the stage. Opening with the energetic “Saturday,” all of the hallmark staples of a Couch show were immediately on display:  the dramatic horn section of Jeffrey Pinsker-Smith (Trumpet) and  Eric Tarlin (saxophone) which blended with singer Tema Siegel’s dynamic vocals. Throughout the set, each of the band members were given ample time at the center of the stage. Guitarist Zach Blankstein delivered a fierce guitar solo during the interactive “Poems,” while Jared Gozinsky (drums) and Will Griffin each took turns showcasing their talents. Keyboardist Danny Silverston added layers of synths and also took his turn at the mic, leading the audience in a three-piece layer of sing along harmony during “Poems.”

    While much of the evening showcased the band’s high energy tracks, the band brilliantly weaved several slower ballads in to the mix. Siegel told the tale of finding love before performing “Autumn,” while later in the set the band performed the beautiful “Let Me Hold You.”  In between their own songs, they worked in several cover songs, including Billy Joel’s “Vienna” and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” the latter of which saw opener Sophia James returning to the stage to share vocals.

    After a brief encore break, the band triumphantly returned to the stage to perform the upbeat “Easy To Love.” Clearly a fan favorite, the song offered fans one last opportunity to sing and dance before the spilling out in to the streets. The sunshine of earlier in the day was gone, but it was not lost in the mood of those who attended this evening.

  • In Focus: Samantha Fish Brings Bulletproof Tour to Westcott Theater in Syracuse

    On an otherwise cold and snowy day, things heated up quickly inside the Westcott Theater on Saturday, as blues rock icon Samantha Fish brought her Bulletproof Tour to Syracuse, with JD Simo served up as the opening act this evening.

    Fish, 35, has been a major player on the modern blues-rock scene since launching on to the circuit in 2009.  The Kansas City native has become a favorite in the Central New York area, headlining several shows in the area over the last fifteen years.  Fish most-notably served as direct support for Buddy Guy at the 2023 New York State Blues Festival, which took place in Syracuse last summer. (Get the scoop on the 2024 lineup here!)

    The evening started with a set by blues guitarist, JD Simo, who gifted the early arriving crowd to a set that showcased his diverse style.  Showcasing himself as more than just dabbling in blues rock, Simo’s 40-minute set also displayed elements of jazz and psychedelic rock, while performing tracks such as “Mortgage My Soul” off of his 2022 release Songs From the House of Grease.  

    After a brief set change over, Samantha Fish took to the stage.  Armed with her signature cigar-box guitar and flanked by her bandmates, Fish launched in to the high energy “Bulletproof”.   Fish paced the stage and took turns showcasing her guitar skills for those on each side of the theater.  “The jewelry is coming off!” Fish proclaimed early in the set, hinting to the audience there was much more guitar prowess to come this evening.  

    Fish dazzled the crowd with her diverse musical catalog. Late in the set, Fish donned an acoustic guitar for three songs (two of which featured Fish on stage, solo). Certainly there are instances in the concert world where this would remove the energy from the venue, however this was not the case on this evening. Fish maintained captive hold of the audience all the while.

    After a near 90-minute set, Fish and her bandmates would return to the stage with opener JD Simo.  “Let’s party for one more song” Fish would announce, before launching in to “Bitch on the Run”.  Fish and Simo would trade guitar solos through out the track while the packed theater took their last opportunity to dance about. Soon the show would be over and the packed theater would spill back out in to the cold Syracuse air.    

  • Daniel Donato to Play Shows in NYC and Syracuse in February

    Acclaimed singer/songwriter Daniel Donato has announced he will be playing two shows in NY in support of his latest album Reflector.

    The “Cosmic Country” artist plans on stopping at Syracuse’s Westcott Theater on Saturday, February 10 and NYC’s Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday, February 13, showcasing Donato’s growing appeal and sound.

    Daniel Donato shows

    Donato’s genre “cosmic country” is a meshing of southern rock, bluegrass, classic country, and honky-tonk. It encapsulates the sounds of Southern California folk and Northern California musical exploration. His show marks the release of his recent 15 track album Reflector, in which he will be performing at his shows in Syracuse on February 10 and NYC on February 13.

    Daniel Donato has a unique sound that he wants to show the world, and he’s been doing exactly that. His blended soundscape is full of energy, soul, and vibrations. His creative processes, next-level guitar skills, and dedication to his craft propel him to satisfy his goals, and then some.

    “I fell in love with the song “Jessica” on Guitar Hero, the Allman Brothers song. I remember thinking, ‘God, if I can just play this song and feel like I’m flying…’ And then here we are fifteen years later, it’s March 25th and we’re at the Beacon Theatre, it’s a sold-out night, and after we get done singing ‘Blue Sky’ in my solo, before I even think about it, I’m playing ‘Jessica’.

    As I’m playing that and the theater erupts with joy, I’m realizing, like, ‘Man, good job. That 12-year-old is alive. The part of you, that Self, that was you before the world told you what you were or what you could be or what you should be.’”

    Daniel Donato on staying true to oneself

    For more information on Daniel Donato visit his website at DanielDonato.com. To find tickets to his show at Westcott Theater in Syracuse or Bowery Ballroom in NYC, click here.

    Daniel Donato – Upcoming Shows

    February 2 – Winston-Salem, NC – The Ramkat

    February 3 – Charlotteville, VA – Jefferson Theater

    February 4 – Morristown, NJ – The Homestead

    February 6 – Portsmouth, NH – 3S Artspace

    February 7 – Portland, ME – Portland House of Music and Events

    February 8 – Amherst, MA – The Drake

    February 9 – Hartford, CT – Infinity Hall Hartford

    February 10 – Syracuse, NY – Westcott Theater

    February 13 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom

    February 14 – Tysons, VA – Capitol One Hall

    February 15 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre

    February 16 – Charlotte, NC – Stage Door Theatre

    February 17 – Atlanta, GA – Sweetwater’s 27th Anniversary Party

    February 18 – Asheville, NC – Salvage Station

    March 1-3 – Steamboat Springs, CO – Winter Wondergrass Festival 2024

    March 6 – Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live!

    March 7 – Old Forester’s Paristown Hall – Louisville, KY

    March 8-9 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium

    March 21 – Peoria, IL – Revival Music Hall

    March 22 – Hobart, IN – The Hobart Art Theater

    March 23 – New Berlin, IN – Danenberger Family Vineyards

    March 28 – Athens, GA – Georgia Theater

    March 29 – Tuscaloosa, AL – Druid City Music Hall

    March 30 – Huntsville, AL – Mars Music Hall

    April 5 – Memphis, TN – Grind City Music Festival 2024

    April 6 – New Orleans, LA – Hogs for the Cause 2024

    April 13 – Augusta, GA – Major Rager

    April 14-18 – Maya Riviera, Mexico – Panic en la Playa 2024

    April 20 – Pelham, TN – Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country in The Caverns

    April 26 – New Orleans, LA – Republic New Orleans

    May 11 – Isle of Palms, SC – Windjammer

    May 23-26 – Axton, VA – Rooster Walk Reunion Music & Arts Festival

    May 24-26 – Thornville, OH – Dark Star Jubilee

    June 20-23 – Bend, OR – 4 Peaks Music Festival

    June 27-29 – Eau Claire, WI – Blue Ox Music Festival