Israeli Rock Star delivers a beautiful rendition of a song that’s all over the news this year as Woodstock celebrates its 50th Anniversary.   50 years later, the iconic festival still resonates and folks around the world recognize the impact it has in pop culture today.

Ninet Tayeb is an artist, not only a singer/songwriter/musician but also an acclaimed actress from Israel who’s taken up residency in Los Angeles.

Rock ’n’ Roll is in her blood. She has six albums under her belt. The first single “Self Destructive Mind” from her upcoming third English –speaking LP is out now.

The exclusive world premiere of “Woodstock” is released today. (https://song.link/Woodstock)

Of the song, Ninet says: "At the beginning, I got nervous singing this one as the original song and performance is so pure and timeless. I was trying to bring my whole being into it.

To me Woodstock is a place in time where I go back to as I feel I’ve been there already at the first one, in a different lifetime, hanging out with Janis backstage.”

Ninet Tayeb is also scheduled to perform as part of the Woodstock 50 Line-Up this Summer.

"I Can’t tell you how excited I am to take part in such a historical event, be on one stage with all those beautiful musicians and bring some glittering vibes into this universe of love. To be a part of the most influential festival of all time is a really incredible thing for me and my band.”

The track's producer and video director Joseph E-Shine shares his thoughts.

"We put a lot of thinking to the arrangement of this one since it’s such an iconic Joni Mitchell song that was followed by a timeless Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Cover.

We wanted to give the listeners a pure rock’n’roll spirit experience, as if they’re watching a live performance and mix them with modern synths and beats to enhance the emotional arc of the song.

On the video side, Ninet really wanted the live energy of the band on screen so we went to a dirty club in Tel-Aviv and just went for it, during the process of making it we made sure to give the audience the sub story in Mitchell’s lyrics.”

Fans can get excited as Ninet Tayeb is touring around the U.S w/ another iconic band The Zombies.

There’s also a date in LA for School Night and one in San Diego and a Rough Trade NYC Show before opening for The Zombies.

Dates: 

July 29th  - Soda Bar -  San Diego 

July 30th -  Echo - LA

Aug 13th - Rough Trade - Brooklyn

Woodstock 50 - TBA

Zombies dates

August 19th - Ocean City Music Pier, Ocean City, NJ

August 21st - Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield, CT

August 25th - Payomet PAC, North Truro, MA

August 27th - Narrows Center for the Arts, Fall River, MA

August 29th - Bottle & Cork, Dewey Beach, DE

For More on Ninet Tayeb check her out here:

http://www.ninettayeb.com

@n.tayeb on Instagram

FB- NinetTayebOfficial

Sex, danger, and a psychedelic sonic swirl - welcome aboard a night with The Liza Colby Sound as the New York-based quartet goes interstellar. Jump on the rocket ship and trip out on a dose of LCS at home with the band’s debut full-length album, Object To Impossible Destination, out July 19, 2019. Object To Impossible Destination finds The Liza Colby Sound on a fresh odyssey. Their first full-length album after 3 well-received EPs, this 8-song collection distills down the essence of LCS.

In the words of frontwoman Liza Colby, “Object to Impossible Destination: 8 songs, 8 stops on a heavy trip through a rock and roll fever dream, extra headroom. Get off and stay onboard.” Here, the hooks are sharp, and the ensemble playing is spacious and vibey - attributes which are finely displayed on “Shake You” and “Eye On You.” “Shake You” is the razors edge between love and obsession; the space that relentlessly reminds us that all is fair in love and war. “Eye On You,” whose video premiered on Billboard, traverses a thick viscous stoner haze, and proto-metal riffage.

Naugahyde boogie thrills abide on “Cool Hand” which recalls the “light and shade” dynamics of Led Zeppelin and the sophisticated melodicism of Cream’s Jack Bruce. Musos will delight in the challenging time signature of “Young Girl,” though you don’t need a Berklee degree to shake your ass to this jam. Imagine the Delta blues transported to a 1970s Fillmore West night, and then beamed to 2019. The Liza Colby Sound quartet features seasoned musicians welding decades of experience, including Jay Shepard on guitar, Alec Morton on bass, and Charly Roth on drums. Powerhouse Liza Colby brings smooth vocals with a seductive, shamanistic twist on the classic rock n’ roll sound.

TRACKLIST

1. Cool Hand

2. Creep On

3. Try Me

4. Young Girl

5. Shake You

6. Eye On You

7. Oh Baby

8. Zero To Freakout

When she’s not prowling the stage clad only in a paper-thin leopard-print leotard with LCS, Liza Colby can be found featured on many other creative projects. From singing with Brass Against The Machine to building an acting career on Netflix’s Russian Doll (amongst others), Liza simply loves “doing creative stuff.” With artistry seeping at the seams, Liza uses her fiery and sensual presence to channel female independence, strength, and empowerment in a time where these themes seem more relevant and prevalent than ever.

There are many destinations up next for The Liza Colby Sound in 2019, including Stateside and another round of European touring, as well as NYC residency at Coney Island Baby on September 5th, 12th, and 19th. Like the album’s curious title—a tip of the hat to a slight of hand trick where an object in one space reappears inexplicably in another distant location— LCS will be spreading its psych-rock magic globally. NYC locals - catch them live at their upcoming residency in NY at LOLA on September 5th, 12th, and 19th.

Gangstagrass has been cooking up the heat to stun their fans once again by releasing their 5th album and first live recording, “Pocket Full of Fire” which came out earlier this year. The response thus far has been incredible including Billboard’s Bluegrass Albums Chart Debut at #8. They used the International Folk Alliance Conference as the vehicle to create momentum and buzz whilst performing the moment it was available on all streaming devices.   They walked away from the conference as one of the most talked about artists taking home endorsement deals, and booking agencies for territories outside of the U.S as well as grabbing the cover story for Cashbox Canada.

Hoping to achieve the same at Americana Fest -Nashville this week where they’ll be showcasing for the first time.

The live recording is independently released by RENCH Audio and distributed by ONErpm. Brooklyn based Producer Rench has brilliantly come up with a genre of their own, Bluegrass and Hip-hop. These two opposite genres that collide together play a distinct role in our American music culture. Their new album features their latest singles,  “Barnburning” and “Keep Talking”.

Saving Country Music sums them up best:

https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/2019-folk-alliance-international-in-words-and-pictures/

“Another big name at the conference was the bluegrass and hip-hop fusing Gangstagrass. Popularized by their musical appearances in the television series Justified, they’re one of the few genre benders who has gained the respect of many roots fans for not watering down the music of hip-hop and bluegrass to create the widest possible audience, but approach both genres with respect.

Think less Florida Georgia Line, and more Kendrick Lamar collaborating with Del McCoury. They’re not genre benders, they’re genre fusers, leaving all the hard edges on the music, and illustrating the shared themes of hip-hop and country when not watered down for the masses. It still feels more like a mashup than something that’s conjoined seamlessly, but folks have a hell of a good time listening to them. They were at Folk Alliance promoting their new live album Pocket Full of Fire”.

Music to Life says this about their social and political impact.

"Folks have never experienced a genre-bending band quite like GANGSTAGRASS;  Their arresting sound and approach speak to what this country needs - a musical path to moving past our political divides and reminding us of our shared humanity.” -  Elizabeth Stookey – Music to Life 

“Gangstagrass meld authentic bluegrass with rap and hip-hop. It's a concept that may look jarring on paper but the band does it so effectively that it's a much easier idea to sell once music fans see or hear them.” Forbes

Gangstagrass’ Producer Rench is an Emmy nominated, billboard charting musician and producer. Rench was nominated, along with rapper and actor T.O.N.E.Z, for an Emmy for the Gangstagrass song, "Long Hard Times to Come" used as the theme song to the hit FX series "Justified." Premiering in 2010 and running for six seasons, the series and the emmy nomination have  garnered a wide audience nationally that continues to grow - the most recent Gangstagrass album debuted at #5 on the Billboard bluegrass charts.

“While we are very proud of our studio albums, there's just something about our live shows that you can only get if you're there in the room. We do our best work onstage, and this album captures some of our best shows, in our favorite rooms, with crowds that support us and give us amazing energy that we give right back.” Banjo player Dan Whitener.

Pocket Full of Fire is a personal experience from Gangstagrass to their audience. Dolio the Sleuth states, “Gangstagrass is powered by love that takes on many shapes and forms. Most of all, it presents itself in our mutual love of the art we create together. Doing what we do live allows us to share that love with all of you!”

Venues where the songs were recorded live are:  Hi-Fi (Indianapolis), Willie’s Locally Known (Lexington) Space (Chicago),  Atomic Cowboy (St. Louis) and Motorco (Durham)

Pocket Full of Fire track listing: 

Barnburning (Live) 

Keep Talking (Live) 

You Can Never Go Home Again (Live) 

Red River (Live)

Nowhere to Run (Live)

Long Grey River (Live) 

Gunslinging Rambler (Live) 

Bound to Ride (Live) 

Home (Live)

All for One (Live) 

Will the Circle Be Unbroken (Live) 

Ain’t No Stopping (Live) 

SmartBuy Link    https://onerpm.lnk.to/PocketFullofFire

US Tour Dates:

Thursday, September 12th -          The High Watt -     Americana Fest - Nashville

Friday, October 4th-                      Bend Fall Festival-   Bend, Oregon

Thursday, October 17th-               RailGarten -  Memphis, TN

Friday, Oct 18th-                           Songbirds-        Chattanooga, TN

Saturday, October 19th-               Moonlight Festival -   Somerset, KY

Sunday, October 20th—               Pretentious Beer Co -  Knoxville, TN

Queens, New York, is a borough rich in rock 'n' roll history. KISS. The Ramones. RUN-DMC. Simon and Garfunkel. Dee Snider. Perry Farrell. And we'll take a leap -- Tony Bennett. 

Hollis Brown is a band from Queens, formed by singer-guitarist Mike Montali and lead guitarist Jonathan Bonilla (lead guitar). The band has been releasing music since 2013, during which they released an EP and two albums along with a Record Store Day tribute to the Velvet Underground's LOADED album. The group has toured extensively in the U.S. and Europe, both on their own and supporting the likes of Citizen Cope, Counting Crows, Jackie Greene, Jesse Malin, the Zombies, and many more. And you've heard their music in films such as "Bad Country" and on TV series such as Showtime's "Shameless," DirecTV's "Kingdom" and MTV's "Real World." Also their music has been featured in the worldwide trailer for “The Founder” staring Michael Keaton along with the Winter 2018 John Varvatos runway show and online campaign.

Hollis Brown is a (hard) working rock 'n' roll band, in other words, a group that lives up to the blue-collar legacy of their hometown. But, as evidenced on their new album Ozone Park, there's also a great deal of sophistication in the mix, rich melodicism and advanced harmonics that allow Hollis Brown -- yes, named after the Bob Dylan song -- to blend a wealth of influences into a distinctive sound that plants their own one-of-a-kind flag in ground that's been otherwise well-traveled.

"We really feel like the last of the great American rock bands," Montali explains. "When you play rock music it's always kind of a hurdle to not be considered a retro band or a throwback band because somebody is always trying to put you in a box or define you. You're always compared to another artist, another band -- who are great, sometimes, but they're...old. I think we want to make a statement that rock music can still be done in a modern way that is still as good as some of those acts from the past."

That's exactly what Hollis Brown set out to do -- "Great songs but rock 'n' roll with the sound of 2019" -- on the 10 tracks of Ozone Park, which was recorded at Unity Gain Studios in Fort Meyers, Fla. The songs cover plenty of musical ground but this is no mere playlist; rather, they weave together in a cohesive, dynamically exciting ride that ranges from the soulful buoyancy of "Blood From a Stone" and "Stubborn Man" to the ringing Americana guitars of "She Don't Love Me Now," the funky flavor of "Go For It" and the fuzzy hard rock of "Bad Mistakes." It represents care and craft, and a diversity Montali credits to his own musical roots. 

"Growing up in Queens I fell in love with all different types of music," he recalls. "we had hip-hop, we had funk music, we had rock 'n' roll music, we had singer-songwriters. Everybody in the band loves all those things, so it's nice to try and incorporate all those things. We're really open.

Making Ozone Park with producer Adam Landry (Deer Tick, Rayland Baxter, Nikki Lane, Vanessa Carlton) in Fort Myers, Fla., Hollis Brown enjoyed plenty of opportunity for rewarding musical adventures. Some of it had to do with the recording process itself, mixing analog and digital technologies as well as the sound of four musicians -- Montali, Bonilla, keyboardist Adam Bock and drummer Andrew Zehnal -- playing together in one room. "We did a lot of pre-production and did the album pretty quick -- eight days, recorded and mixed," Montali says. "We did some sampling, some 808 digital drums on some of the songs and synth stuff we weren't doing before, just to make the sound current. But if it's a great song it's always a great song, no matter how you dress them up."

Montali and his mates are also proud of "the real band sound" they achieved on Ozone Park. "My favorite thing about bands is if you take one member out, it changes," he explains. "If you look at Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, the Ramones -- each member brings his own power. I think we got to that place on this record; if you take one member out of our group, it wouldn't have been the same record. We really developed how these songs would sound with just the four of us before we even went into the studio." Hollis Brown opted to give themselves that time, too. The group stayed off the road for the better part of the year, not only recording but rebuilding their business team and putting strategies in place for what the band felt was a pivotal work.

"It was a challenging year for us," Montali says. "We're so used to playing so much, being home and not playing was something very different. But it was all worth it. We felt like it was time to take a step back and get the right team together so that when this album comes out we're firing on all cylinders. "I think we're in a really good place now. We just want to keep the ball rolling and making music we believe in."

Hollis Brown on tour

11/24 - Ardmore Music Hall - Ardmore, PA (with Vintage Trouble, presented by WXPN)

11/26 - House of Independents - Asbury Park, NJ (with Vintage Trouble)

11/27 - Rough Trade - Brooklyn, NY (with Vintage Trouble)

11/29 - Space Ballroom - Hamden, CT (with Vintage Trouble)

11/30 - The Hollow - Albany, NY (with Vintage Trouble)

12/1 - Jergel's - Warrendale, PA (with Vintage Trouble)

12/3 - Lincoln Hall & Schubas - Chicago, IL (with Vintage Trouble)

12/4 - Amsterdam Bar & Hall - Saint Paul, MN (with Vintage Trouble)

12/6 - Globe Hall - Denver, CO (with Vintage Trouble)

12/8 - Top Hat - Missoula, MT (with Vintage Trouble)

12/9 - The Crocodile - Seattle, WA (with Vintage Trouble)

12/10 - Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR (with Vintage Trouble)

12/12 - The New Parish - Oakland, CA (with Vintage Trouble)

12/13 - El Rey - Los Angeles, CA (with Vintage Trouble, presented by KCSN)

1/5/20 - 3rd & Lindsley - Nashville, TN (with Creature Comfort, presented by Lightning 100)

1/18/20 - Rams Head on Stage - Annapolis, MD

Gangstagrass continues to stir up the heat stunning their fans once again by releasing their first mixtape entitled ‘My Brother, Where You At?’ via AudioMack a music streaming and audio distribution platform.

The mixtape demonstrates their Hip Hop musicality and dedication and love for the culture.  The project is compiled of eight tracks paying homage to the lyricists whose lyrical art form has had enormous significance on both R-Son the Voice of Reason and Dolio the Sleuth’s own artistry.  This recording was reimagined from a Gangstagrass rehearsal and the discussion of doing versions of classic bluegrass tunes.   It dawned on R-Son, that there was no real treatment for classic hip hop songs in that ilk.  Their song choice was deliberate in that it had recognizable samples that were also easily translatable with the band’s instrumentation and strategically, the tape began to take shape.

The initial tracklist grew to over fifteen songs in a matter of hours and creativity started pouring out.  They trimmed it down to a Volume 1 & 2 with the latter volume coming out this Spring.  After the tracklist for Volume 1 was pared, weekly rehearsals began. Earlier this month was when the entire mixtape was recorded at JayBlakLabs in Philadelphia where both the MC’s reside.

These two opposite genres that collide together play a distinct role in our American music culture.

Tracklisting: ‘My Brother, Where You At?’

Shaken Not Stirred - Shook Ones (PT 22-  Mobb Deep (Produced by Mobb Deep) 

Dozens -   Tried by 12-  East Flatbush Project.  (produced by Spencer 4 Hire)

Boom Goes The Dynamite  (Boom!- Royce The 5’9”. (Produced by DJ Premier)

We Fly - AKA Passin Me By-  The Pharcyde  (Produced by J-Swift)

Passin Me Breakdown- Instrumental

Whoadown- Whow-Black Rob (Produced by Buckwild)

Get Your Cuts Up - Simon Says - Pharoahe Monch (Produced by Pharoahe Monch

Enraged - Wrath of Kane -Big Daddy Kane (Produced by Big Daddy Kane & Marley Marl)

The renowned horn-driven soul/RnB/rock/pop/funk outfit Tower of Power (or TOP, as it is more often referred to by its global legion of fans), has been rocking their sound since 1968 - infusing Soul (with a capital S) into the music industry for 52 years. Fast forward, after celebrating their 50th Anniversary with the critically acclaimed 2018 release of “Soul Side of Town”, Tower of Power stirs it up for the launch of their next album - STEP UP. Hot off their buzzing NAMM Show where they performed in front of thousands of enthusiastic attendees at the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage close out, Tower of Power is ready to unleash their newest genre-blending explosion of sound on March 20, 2020.

Although the 14 tracks of this album were written and arranged in a careful 6-year-long process, the album itself was recorded in the same sessions with Soul Side of Town. When the band, along with GRAMMY®-nominated producer Joe Vannelli, recorded enough great material for two full albums, they decided to split the releases up and keep STEP UP as their launch into the new decade. The record features heartfelt lyrics from Stephen "Doc" Kupka. Now, with clever lyrics, funky arrangements, and tremendous musicality, Tower of Power step up their game with STEP UP, releasing March 20th, 2020.

As the first single from the record, and the album’s title track, Step Up is an instant groove full of Tower of Power’s signature funky and rhythmical sound: melodic lines flawlessly and soulfully executed by the horn section, notable guitar grooves laid down by Jerry Cortez, and topped off with a killer B3 solo by Roger Smith. The track’s empowering lyrics and motivational message cannot be ignored, and string together the song’s overall vibe for a feel-good track gives us a taste that fulfills the band’s promise of an album that will “move you physically and emotionally,” as predicted by bandleader and founder Emilio Castillo himself. The single Step Up is out now to whets fans’ appetites just enough in anticipation of the full album’s release on March 20, 2020.

Tour Dates:

1/29 Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up

1/31-2/1 Lake Tahoe, CA @ MontBleu Showroom

3/6 Monterey, CA @ Golden State Theatre

3/7 Napa, CA @ Uptown Theatre Napa

3/8 Napa, CA @ Uptown Theatre Napa

3/18 Williamsport, PA @ Community Arts Center

3/21 Upper Darby, PA @ Tower Theater

3/22 Plymouth, MA @ Plymouth Memorial Hall

3/24 Derry, NH @ Tupelo Music Hall

3/26 Brookville, NY @ Tilles Center for the Performing Arts

3/27 Fairfield, CT @ The Warehouse at FTC

4/2-4/5 Seattle, WA @ Dimitriou’s

4/24 Denton, TX Denton Arts and Jazz Festival

4/26 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse

4/28 Ponte Vedra Beach, FL @ Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

4/30 Clearwater, FL @ Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre

5/1 Orlando, FL @ The Plaza Live

5/3 West Palm Beach, FL @ SunFest of Palm Beach

5/31 Newport Beach, CA @ Newport Beach Jazz Festival

6/7 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion

7/5 Scranton, PA @ Peach Festival

7/17 Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Hollis Brown hits the road with a special 2-set show celebrating the 50th Anniversary of The Velvet Underground’s classic album “Loaded”.

After 6 straight months of touring to promote the June 2019 release of their new album, Ozone Park (Mascot/Cool Green Records)....playing tight opening sets for the likes of Robert Randolph, Vintage Trouble and Thunderpussy...Hollis Brown is ready to stretch out on stage. 

The Queens NYC based Rock band unveils their 50 Years of Getting “Loaded” show in Spring 2020.  Following a full set of material from their 3 original albums, Hollis Brown will perform the Loaded album in its entirety for the first time on tour.

Per singer Mike Montali, “When we were starting out, Loaded was an album that showed us how to write songs, and also how to capture a no-frills energy in our sound. It will be the first time we are performing this show in its entirety, and we can’t wait to hit the stages.”

Hollis Brown Gets Loaded was born out of a November 2013 NYC tribute concert to one of the band’s fallen heroes Lou Reed, where they were first asked to perform the seminal 1970 Velvet Underground album live.  Alive Naturalsound Records then convinced the band to commit their track-by-track interpretations to vinyl, which they recorded live over two days in a house in the country, for a limited-edition Record Store Day 2014 release.  However, the album soon took on a life of its own, with surprise airplay on tastemaker stations like KEXP Seattle and KUT Austin, prompting the label to issue a full physical and digital release. To this day, Hollis Brown’s versions of tracks like "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'" and “Sweet Jane” continue to organically find their way onto streaming playlists, and remain among their top songs on Spotify, Apple Music and Pandora. 

Hollis Brown Gets Loaded

https://open.spotify.com/album/4hoUsdDUCSLHzumb4xsl7O

https://music.apple.com/us/album/gets-loaded/864132884

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nneXa5Jz0Whw1euge9coDwpJfYCJlf3dQ

Hollis Brown - 50 Years of Getting “Loaded”

More shows to be announced!

Thu, May 28, 2020 Northampton, MA Iron Horse Music Hall

Wed, June 3, 2020 New York, NY Loft @ City Winery New York

Thu, June 4, 2020 New York, NY Loft @ City Winery New York

Fri, June 5, 2020 Woodstock, NY Colony

Sat, June 6, 2020 Boston, MA Haymarket Lounge @ City Winery Boston

Sun, June 7, 2020 Boston, MA Haymarket Lounge @ City Winery Boston

Thu, June 11, 2020 Annapolis, MD Rams Head On Stage

Fri, June 12, 2020 Asbury Park, NJ Wonder Bar

Sun, June 14, 2020 Roslyn, NY My Father’s Place

Wed, June 17, 2020 Philadelphia, PA Loft @ City Winery Philadelphia

Thu, June 18, 2020 Warrendale (Pittsburgh), PA Jergel's Rhythm Grille

The renowned horn-driven soul/RnB/rock/pop/funk outfit Tower of Power (or TOP, as it is more often referred to by its global legion of fans), has been rocking their sound since 1968 - infusing Soul (with a capital S) into the music industry for 52 years. Over 7500 Shows, 444,000 Unique monthly listeners and over 35 million streams and millions of albums worldwide, their fans are rabid! Fast forward, after celebrating their 50th Anniversary with the critically acclaimed 2018 release of “Soul Side of Town”, Tower of Power stirs it up for the launch of their next album - STEP UP. Tower of Power unleashes their newest genre-blending explosion of sound today, March 20, 2020.

Although the 14 tracks of this album were written and arranged in a careful 6-year-long process, the album itself was recorded in the same sessions with Soul Side of Town. When the band, along with GRAMMY®-nominated producer Joe Vannelli, recorded enough great material for two full albums, they decided to split the releases up and keep STEP UP as their launch into the new decade. The record features heartfelt lyrics from Stephen "Doc" Kupka. Now, with clever lyrics, funky arrangements, and tremendous musicality, Tower of Power step up their game with STEP UP. As the third single from the record, the album’s uptempo funky, Look in my Eyes is a feel-good groove that really showcases ToP’s muscality. It’s full of Tower of Power’s signature funky and rhythmical sound: melodic lines flawlessly and soulfully executed by the horn section, notable guitar wizardry laid down by Jerry Cortez, and topped off with a killer keyboard solo by Roger Smith that kicks off the whole song. Emilio Castillo vocal scats throughout which is a first. Rocco and David Garibaldi are locked up infectiously and the solos are some of the best they’ve ever recorded. The song is written by Rocco Prestia and Tom Schuman from Spryo Gyra. The track’s uplifting lyrics and extremely contagious spirit cannot be ignored, and string together the song’s overall vibe for an absolute party track. Almost through the end of the song, Jerry Cortez burns down the house on guitar. Step Up gives us a taste that fulfills the band’s promise of an album that will “move you physically and emotionally,” as predicted by bandleader and founder Emilio Castillo himself. The wait is finally over! March 20, 2020 fans’ appetites are completely gratified.

Stream “STEP UP”

Watch “Look in my Eyes”

Step Up Track List

East Bay All The Way

Step Up

The Story Of You And I

Who Would Have Thought

Addicted To You

Look In My Eyes

You Da One

Sleeping With You Baby

If It's Tea Give Me Coffee

Beyond My Wildest Dreams

Any Excuse Will Do

If You Wanna Be A Winner

Let's Celebrate Our Love

East Bay Oaktown All The Way

Smoking NYC duo SUSU are fired up to release their new single, Let’s Get High, on 4/20/2020. Here SUSU, known for their eclectic style Blends soul, rock ‘n’ roll, and a kaleidoscope of inspirations and influences.

Belonging to the underrepresented demographic of black women in rock, SUSU is making their outlook known. Lyrically, Liza and Kia explore a variety of political, personal, and emotional arcs throughout their music. This continues on Let’s Get High. With the current state of the world, SUSU is looking to reset the global energy, if only for 4 minutes and 20 seconds.

LISTEN TO LET’S GET HIGH HERE

Let’s Get High sees the dynamic ensemble invoking collective consciousness, playfully riffing over higher frequencies. Described as a “4 minute and 20 second time travel/endorphin shot”, the single aims to celebrate the positive power of connectivity. A smoky atmosphere is layered with dramatic build ups and a climax a la Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit," with guitars omnipresent. Unintentionally timely, Let’s Get High scavenges for the various pleasures that life has to offer, all through the eyes of two women with clear intentions. Functioning as a post-bohemian hybrid of PJ Harvey and Mazzy Star, SUSU looks to traverse Rock and Roll with eccentric lysergic twists.

Blending Bluegrass, electro beats and Hip-Hop seems like an unlikely recipe for success, but that mix has taken Gangstagrass to the top of the Bluegrass charts. Their recent live album spent almost 20 weeks in the Top Ten. The band packs concert halls, Rock and Country music clubs and festivals with impressive live shows, featuring their hybrid of Jam Band improvisation, prodigious Bluegrass chops, and socially conscious rapping. In an era when the social, racial, musical and economic divisions between Americans have become more strained, Gangstagrass is providing a glimpse of the kind of conversations about race and power that we could be having if we were ready to listen.  “Too many people are seeing each other as enemies when they could be communicating and finding common ground,” says Rench, the band’s founder and producer, “if anything, this pandemic is showing so clearly how connected we all are, we just need to realize that those connections run down to our part in poverty and racism.”  The music on the new Gangstagrass release, ​No Time For Enemies, ​ is upbeat, but the lyrics are more political than the previous fare. “As a multi-racial band, that bridges American musical cultures, we walk the walk when we sing about getting real on the subject of racism.”

In fact, Rench maintains, music is a perfect reflection of our segregation, and Gangstagrass is providing an antidote to our racialized conception of the genre. “Many people don’t know that the banjo was originally an African instrument that traveled here with slavery. Early America found slaves and poor whites combining African and European instruments and styles across the south. The dawn of the recorded music industry happened during Jim Crow segregation, so music was marketed with completely artificial racial categories of ‘race music’ and ‘hillbilly music’ - which after decades have been imprinted on our minds as black soul music and white Country music. This is a fabrication of the industry and its time for it to die.”

To these ends, Gangstagrass continues pushing the envelope with collaborations featuring banjo player Dan Whitener, fiddle player Brian Farrow, Hip-Hop emcees R-SON The Voice Of Reason and Dolio The Sleuth, backed by Rench’s Hip-Hop production. Gangstagrass started working on ​No Time For Enemies ​ just before Coronavirus forced the nation to adopt social distancing measures. They completed three tracks in the studio together before self-quarantining began and they had to stop production. “Ain’t No Crime” opens with an a cappella chorus, then jumps into the lightning-fast, the tongue-twisting flow of R-SON. Skittering banjo and loops of R&B handclaps lay down a beat that’s equal parts bluegrass and funk. Whitener’s banjo solo introduces a chorus that’s pure Country, to set up Dolio’s measured description of a party driven by Bluegrass and Hip-Hop.

“Nickel and Dime Blues” showcases the band’s Bluegrass side, with the pickers grooving against a funky clap track. Dan Whitener sings lead and follows a poor worker into a pharmacy where he is unable to afford medicine, a  liquor store to discover he can’t afford to buy a bottle to soothe his worries and ultimately to prison. Fiddle, banjo and scratching fill the space between country crooning and raps describing widely shared hardships. “We believe in talking about the economic struggle,” Rench says.  “These are things folks across the country can relate to - rural and urban, black and white - despite thinking that they’re so different. We have to unlock solidarity.”    “Freedom” marks a deep dive into politics and race. “It’s time we helped America get down with race and history, so we’re not pulling punches here,” Rench says. “America has to look at what's been going on for centuries and understand why the fight continues and the resolution can't wait. It’s time for us all to stand for racial justice, and we’re putting that here in your ear to get comfortable with if you want to be down with us.” Farrow’s bluegrass fiddle and Whitener’s banjo float above a funky backbeat, as Dolio and R-SON layout America’s racial conflict, from plantation slavery to the civil rights movement, and the frustration engendered by today’s seeming indifference to the struggle.

The rest of the album will be assembled during the lockdown, with each member sending Rench tracks to be assembled into songs. “Production will continue for a remotely recorded and produced album,” Rench explains. “We will see what direction that pushes things in. We’re also pivoting to live to stream, but limited by our separation. We can’t do a real live stream concert, so each band member is doing streaming sessions, showcasing their own personality, from solo performances to cooking demonstrations! We’ve been on Twitch (twitch.tv/gangstagrasscrew) every night and quickly built a solid subscriber base. Soon we’ll be launching a subscriber program to share content with fans directly. Our Twitch stream features a series we call ​Kick the Can ​ . You can watch a song being developed live, each night streaming as a band member records their part - Rench making a beat from scratch, Dan recording banjo parts, Brian fiddling, R-SON writing rhymes to it and so on. We’ll present a finished track at the end of the week, available to subscribers.”   Gangstagrass was born out of Rench’s desire to play the music he grew up with, Rap and Country - and his vision of demolishing our musical segregation.  FX Network asked Rench to write a song for their new Western crime series, ​Justified ​ . The result was the Emmy nominated “Long Hard Times To Come,” the song that opens every episode of the series. Since then, the band has made four studio albums and a live album. “At this point, there can be no sense that this is superficial, or a novelty,” Rench says. “This is real, we are authentic and we are producing a new formulation of American music that returns us to real connection. We are here to show that illusion of white and black music is a relic of the 20th century, and the 21st century starts with partying together. From there, learn to take care of each other and repair the damage our prejudice has done.”

Gangstagrass is a multi-racial group of string pickers and MCs allowing for a unique opportunity to create shared cultural space for dialogue and connection between folks that usually never intersect. With “Ain’t No Crime”, the third single off their much anticipated ‘No Time For Enemies’, their most collaborative track breaks loose and runs across genre lines with abandon. The song has quintessential Country elements and classic Hip Hop adrenaline, interwoven with Rock, R&B and Pop. It’s a wild party track on its face, with a subtle subtext about liberation. “Ain’t No Crime” is released Friday, July 10th via AntiFragile Music.

The song is the most collaborative track in Gangstagrass history. R-SON brought the initial impetus to do a fast, high energy track which was the last song the band recorded together in the studio before going into lockdown with most of the new album unfinished. Reflecting on the outcome of all those unique elements, Rench states, “I love that this track keeps you guessing- is it banjos and fiddles or soul singer and organ sounds or breakbeats? And just when it has established the high intensity groove, it hits you with half a speed verse, chorus and bridge. There are stops, tempo flips, wild dynamics from whispers to shouts, sound effects, so it feels like the unpredictable party of diversity we love for our world to be!”.

STREAM THE NEW SINGLE HERE

Gangstagrass has always been about breaking through the social and racial divisions between us. The album “No Time For Enemies” was primarily recorded during Covid-19. The death of George Floyd and the race-related protests added to the immediacy of their message and their desire to finish despite the challenges of recording during a pandemic.

In fact, Rench maintains, music is a perfect reflection of our segregation and Gangstagrass is providing an antidote to our racialized conception of genre. “Many people don’t know that the banjo was originally an African instrument that travelled here with slavery. Early America found slaves and poor whites combining African and European instruments and styles across the south. The dawn of the recorded music industry happened during Jim Crow segregation, so music was marketed with completely artificial racial categories of ‘race music’ and ‘hillbilly music’ - which have been imprinted on our minds decades later as black soul music and white Country music. This is a fabrication of the industry and its time for it to die.”

FX Network asked Gangstagrass to write a song for their new Western crime series, Justified. The result was the Emmy nominated “Long Hard Times To Come,” the song that opens every episode of the series. Since then, the band has made four studio albums and a live album. “At this point there can be no sense that this is superficial, or a novelty” Rench says. “This is real, we are authentic, and we are producing a new formulation of American music that returns us to real connection. We are here to show that illusion of white and black music is a relic of the 20th century, and the 21st century starts with partying together. From there, learn to take care of each other and repair the damage our prejudice has done.”

Gangstagrass is a multi-racial group of string pickers and MCs creating a shared cultural space for dialogue and connection between folks that usually never intersect. No Time For Enemies, the group’s fifth studio album, is their most collaborative to date, breaking loose and running across genre lines with abandon. The album has quintessential Country elements and classic Hip Hop adrenaline, merged with Rock, R&B and Pop.

The album serves as a mission statement for a new era: No more time to waste. There’s subtext about freedom and struggle and breaking through the social and racial divisions between us. The album was primarily recorded during COVID-19. The death of George Floyd and the race-related protests added to the immediacy of their message and their desire to finish despite the challenges of recording during a global pandemic. Subtle messages about race and politics are interwoven throughout the 11 juicy songs, opening with a history-steeped consideration of “Freedom”. No Time For Enemies combines irresistible dance tracks and serious subjects in a thoughtful narrative about what America is built on, culminating in “Your Land” – a reinterpretation of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” – featuring the very gifted vocalist Branjae

Brooklyn-based producer Rench, the mastermind behind Gangstagrass, maintains that the musical landscape is a reflection of our segregation and Gangstagrass is providing an antidote to our racialized conception of genre. “Many people don’t know that the banjo was originally an African instrument that travelled here with slavery. Early America found slaves and poor whites combining African and European instruments and styles across the south. The dawn of the recorded music industry happened during Jim Crow segregation, so music was marketed with completely artificial racial categories of ‘race music’ and ‘hillbilly music’ – which have been imprinted on our minds decades later as black Soul music and white Country music. This is a fabrication of the industry and it's time for it to die.”

Legendary jazz bassist Brian Bromberg delivers a shredder with Bromberg Plays Hendrix, a remixed and remastered tribute album in honor of one of the greatest entertainers of all time... Jimi Hendrix. Released digitally via Artistry Music/Mack Avenue Music Group with vibrant sound and an appropriately psychedelic palette that vastly improves the sonic experience. The reissue also includes a new bonus track, Bromberg’s original song “Jimi,” a sonic portrait of the hard-rocking wizard.

Watch “Jimi” Here:

The virtuosic bassist and world-renowned producer Brian Bromberg tackled that audacious challenge on his 2012 album Bromberg Plays Hendrix, a blistering homage on which Bromberg’s fretless and piccolo basses stand in for the original’s fleet fretwork. Joined only by the in-demand drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, Bromberg summoned a whirlwind of sound from his four- and five-string arsenal to craft a smoldering set of classics in keeping with Hendrix’s exploratory spirit. A half-century after his tragic death, Jimi Hendrix remains cemented in place near the top of anyone’s list of the greatest rock guitarists of all time.

"I always try and have original music on every CD I do. I recorded a tribute CD to the legendary Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim that had a lot of original music on it done ‘In the Spirit of Jobim.’’ (That is also the title of the CD.) Bromberg Plays Hendrix is no different as I wanted to record an original song for the project. I wrote the song “Jimi” in the spirit of Jimi’s great song “Voodoo Child,” which did not make it on the CD due to circumstances beyond my control. So, my song “Jimi” kind of fills the musical gap left by not including "Voodoo Child" on the project, as the feel and vibe of the songs are different than all of the others on the CD. It rocks hard but also has a bit of straight-up funk as well. “Jimi” is just a powerful, fun, in-your-face track with some insane drumming from the amazing Vinnie Colaiuta. Crank it up!”

A decade after its recording, the album remains dizzying in the virtuosity and visceral power of its musicianship and passion. Brian was happy with the original version of the CD but after a big studio upgrade and new equipment he wanted to jump back into the project and do a remix/remaster to make the project sound as good as he felt it deserved to sound.

A noted “shredder,” Bromberg wields his fluid and supple fretless bass in place of Hendrix’s lead guitars and vocal melodies. “The fretless bass is a lot more emotional, more human,” he says. “It got me one percent closer to the way that Hendrix delivered a melody. When you play fretless you can’t screw up; it’s all you, and you have to be musical about it. It was a monumental challenge to do the record, and it was insanely fun.”

That intrepid and celebratory attitude, paired with the bassist’s scorching musicianship, makes Bromberg Plays Hendrix a fitting and invigorating tribute to the legendary guitarist. In this new addition, that spirit becomes all the more vital.

Over the course of two memorable evenings in June 2018, legendary soul-funk-R&B outfit Tower of Power returned to Oakland, the city that started it all, to celebrate its landmark 50th anniversary with a few thousand friends, family and fans. The window-rattling grooves and raucous party spirit of ToP has been a balm for the soul throughout the band’s half-century existence, but the release of 50 Years of Funk & Soul: Live at the Fox Theater – Oakland, CA – June 2018 couldn’t have come at a better time.

Due out March 26, 2021 from Artistry Music/Mack Avenue Music Group (Full Hi-Res Digital Album Available for Exclusive Streaming and Download on Qobuz on Feb 26th), the high-spirited live album and video offers a reminder of the communal joys of the live music experience, something that’s been sorely missed over this staggering pandemic year. Released as a 3-LP set, a 2-CD/DVD combo, a standalone DVD, as well as digitally, 50 Years of Funk & Soul is the next best thing to hearing these brilliant musicians in person. Fittingly for such a special occasion, Tower of Power went all out for these hometown shows, supplementing the core 10-piece band and its iconic horn section with additional horns and a string section.

Bandleader and saxophonist Emilio Castillo also invited back a few elite ToP alumni, including saxophonist Lenny Pickett (musical director of the Saturday Night Live band); keyboardist Chester Thompson (Santana); guitarist Bruce Conte and former vocalist Ray Greene, who shows off his trombone prowess. They join the renowned modern line-up of the band, featuring co-founder Stephen “Doc” Kupka on baritone sax, longtime drummer David Garibaldi, and lead vocalist Marcus Scott. Adding a bittersweet tinge is the presence of founding bassist Francis “Rocco” Prestia, who passed away in September 2020.

“People come up to me all the time and say, ‘Wow man, 50 years! We can't believe it,’” laughs Castillo. “You can't believe it? I'm the one that can't believe it. We've been through a lot of ups and downs and learned a lot along the way. We've affected a lot of people's lives and done a lot of work that we're very proud of. The band has a real family atmosphere. It's been very rewarding.”

Castillo was only 17 years old when he met Kupka and started to assemble the band that would become Tower of Power. “I had no vision at all,” he recalls now. “I just loved playing soul music. My idols were a local band called The Spyders and they had gigged in Sacramento. I thought, ‘Man, if I could just get to Sacramento that would be it.’ That's literally how small my vision was.”

The band has long since surpassed Castillo’s admittedly modest aspirations, traveling the world, enjoying hit singles on their own and backing some of the most legendary artists of the last 50 years – a list that includes Otis Redding, Elton John, Santana, the Grateful Dead, John Lee Hooker, Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, and countless others. In the process they’ve defined an “Oakland soul” sound as instantly recognizable as those from Castillo’s hometown, Detroit, as well as inspirations like Memphis and Philadelphia.

“Oakland is a very special city,” Castillo says. “It has a really unique type of soul to it. I loved Memphis soul music, yet because of my upbringing I always wanted to make it slicker. I think that defined my approach to music.”

The Fox Theater, where 50 Years of Funk & Soul was recorded, is just a stone’s throw from Jack London Square, where ToP got its start at the now-defunct club On Broadway. While the Bay Area music scene had become famous because of the Fillmore, across the Bay in San Francisco, ToP launched a whole new sound and wore its less glamorous origins proudly.

“You can take the boy out of Oakland, but you can't take the Oakland out of the boy,” insists Castillo. “We always called the East Bay, where we were from, the dark side of the Bay. It was more ethnic, with a lot of blacks, Hispanics and Asians, and soul was the thing there. So, we called our first album East Bay Grease and put a map of Oakland on the cover, which proved to be a really smart move. People all over the world started saying that we represent the Oakland soul sound.”

That sound is vividly represented throughout the nearly two hours of pulse-quickening funk that makes up 50 Years of Funk & Soul. The setlist spans the band’s history, from classic hits “You’re Still a Young Man,” “So Very Hard to Go,” “What is Hip?” and “Don’t Change Horses” to newly-minted favorites like “Stop” and “Do You Like That?” from recent albums on Artistry Music/Mack Avenue Music Group, Soul Side of Town (2018) and Step Up (2020). The band shows off its taut precision on the intricately syncopated “On the Serious Side” and proves eerily prophetic by including “Soul Vaccination.”

This vigorous and dynamic live set should prove to be just that for fans around the world starved for the ToP groove over this past year. Count Castillo himself among their ranks – used to fronting the band for 200 dates a year, he’s only played a single gig since last March, joining Los Lobos for a drive-in concert at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. “It’s really been a challenge,” Castillo says of living in lockdown. He’s looking forward to resuming that tireless schedule once the coronavirus is under control. Despite the band’s long and storied history, he has no plans for retirement.

“B.B. King is my role model,” he says. “He just kept on playing to the bitter end. No matter how B.B. was feeling on the bus, he’d step on stage, the lights would go on and he'd come to life. I’ve always said that's who I want to be. My plan is to continue working and spreading the good news of Tower of Power.”

Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden is excited to present a fun-filled day of live music with the Emmy-nominated bluegrass/hip hop fusion band Gangstagrass, previously seen on America’s Got Talent. The event takes place on Saturday, April 29 from 1:00 PM - 5:30 PM on the South Meadow of Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden at 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301. Admission is $40.00 and children under 5 are free. More information, including the schedule of events and tickets, is at https://snug-harbor.org/event/gangstagrass2023/

Kicking off the festivities will be MakerPark Radio DJ Tom Ferrie at 1:00 PM and Staten Island’s own Jazztronauts at 2:00 PM, with Gangstagrass taking the stage at 4:00 PM. In addition to entertainment, food trucks and vendors will be onsite, including Valducci’s Pizza Truck, Melts & Soups, Egger’s Ice Cream, Celebrate at Snug Harbor, and Pig Island NYC.  Drinks are sponsored by Kills Boro Brewing Company, who will also be pouring their unique signature beers at the event. This program is supported in part by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. All the proceeds benefit the Heritage Farm at Snug Harbor.

“Snug Harbor is pumped up to bring Gangstagrass to Staten Island to perform on our outdoor South Meadow Stage. In the same way that Snug Harbor offers our visitors a blend of contemporary cultural events inside of classically historic architecture, Gangstagrass fuses together the sounds of bluegrass and hip-hop into an unexpected and energetic sound that creates a fantastically fun experience for concertgoers!” said Jessica Baker Vodoor, President & CEO of Snug Harbor. “And as a bonus: by purchasing a ticket to the concert, you’ll be directly helping our Heritage Farm inspire Staten Island’s community. Concert proceeds will go towards underwriting Heritage Farm hands-on workshops, growing experiences, and healthy eating opportunities.”

"There's no shortage of reasons justifying our participation in an event supporting Snug Harbor, and its various projects,” said Sean Torres, co-owner of Kills Boro Brewing Company based in Staten Island. “We've collaborated with the Heritage Farm at Snug Harbor on a handful of different brews, and some of us are customers of its awesome CSA program. Staten Island benefits greatly from having this amazing farm. As a business in the community, and the farm's next-door neighbor, we feel it's important to make sure that program continues to grow. Pun intended."

"The Heritage Farm at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden is a special NYC treasure,” said Jimmy Carbone, founder and producer of Pig Island NYC, an annual food festival which will be at Snug Harbor in September 2023 for the fourth year in a row.  “Our chefs work closely with the farm in order to source all the vegetables for our event, including collard greens and shishito peppers! We’re happy to support this special event, and look forward to being back.”

Gangstagrass is a band combining great American traditions of bluegrass, hip-hop, and beyond to create a whole new musical genre that is more than the sum of its parts.  Known for the Emmy-nominated theme song “Long Hard Times to Come” from the FX television show Justified, they’ve developed a whole new genre. Their latest album “No Time for Enemies” climbed to #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass chart. Gangstagrass takes so much of what’s amazing in this country, and distills it into a message of common ground in the form of original songs that have everyone up and dancing!

The Jazztronauts are Nutone Recording’s funkiest fusion band, hailing from Staten Island, NY. Focusing on improvisational performances that incorporate their love of jazz, funk, hip hop, and electronic music, their sounds have been dubbed future jazz by listeners and their shows have quickly become a gathering place for music lovers and nightlife aficionados.   

About the Heritage Farm at Snug Harbor
Snug Harbor’s Heritage Farm was established in October of 2011 to help feed, inspire, and educate the local community. The Heritage Farm is a 2.5-acre production farm that uses sustainable, low-till farming practices that focus on building soil health through the use of compost, crop rotation, intercropping, and cover cropping. The goal is to provide the Staten Island and NYC community with hands-on growing experiences, insights into NYC’s food systems, and access to fresh and local produce for years to come.

The Heritage Farm references a farm that was collectively managed by the residents of Sailors’ Snug Harbor in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  At its peak between 1880 and 1910, Sailors’ Snug Harbor was a self-sustaining community, producing fresh vegetables through its working farm. One hundred years later, Snug Harbor is trying to accomplish a similar task of encouraging its local community towards self-sustainability- by growing culturally relevant produce for diverse communities and focusing on creating inspiring educational experiences for all. Every year, the Heritage Farm hosts hundreds of young adults from local high schools, SYEP, and the Department of Probation’s YouthWRAP program.  Many more community members and volunteers help grow and support the farm’s efforts.  
 
Prior to 2020, the farm’s main revenue source was from selling distinct, locally grown produce to high-end restaurants in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, establishing partnerships with culinary heavy hitters such as Per Se and French Louie.  However, in March 2020, the Farm shifted its primary focus from restaurants to the community, establishing its first Community Supported Agriculture program and establishing regular farm stands selling produce directly to the community. The farm aims to inspire discourse around how communities can come together to create a more equitable food system and alleviate food insecurity among neighbors in need. In 2021, the Heritage Farm grew over 22,000 pounds of produce in its fields, high tunnel, and two poly houses. It donated around 4,000 lbs of produce to local community partners and 10% of farm stand sales and CSA purchases were made using SNAP/EBT and P-EBT.  Looking forward into 2023, the Heritage Farm will continue this community focus and plans to grow education and workforce development opportunities through programs like Con Edison’s Young Farm Engineers.

About Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden
Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden offers dynamic programming in the arts, horticulture, and agriculture for diverse communities and all ages, on our historic 83-acre campus. We envision being a locally impactful, globally renowned destination, true to our values of artistic vibrancy and community, inclusion and discovery, stewardship and conservation.

Snug Harbor is the result of more than four decades of restoration and development to convert a 19th-century charitable rest home for sailors into a regional arts center, botanical gardens and public park.  One of the largest ongoing adaptive reuse projects in America, Snug Harbor encompasses 26 historic structures, 14 botanical gardens, a 2.5-acre urban farm, wetlands, forests and park land on a free, open campus.  Snug Harbor is a proud Smithsonian Affiliate organization. Learn more at snug-harbor.org.