Don’t miss Jimbo Mathus as he brings blues to SubCulture in NYC this Thursday, June 13th! He will be joined by legendary blues artist Alvin Youngblood Hart and The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band. You can purchase tickets below. http://www.subculturenewyork.com/event/271931-big-damn-blues-revolution-new-york
Fri, 03/07/2014 - 2:35 pm
Wed, 04/09/2014 - 10:57 am
To kick off the new year, the Sheen Center for Thought & Culture is kicking off a new music series; Convergences – Indie Artists Series. The goal of this collection of shows is to spotlight indie artists and performers whose work straddles the line between music and other forms of art in new and exciting ways.
This year’s talented guests split their time between the worlds of music and theater. They include Michael Cerveris, Lauren Worsham and Kyle Jarrow’s band Sky-Pony, Dan Mills and others. On the Great White Way they have been recipients of Tony, Drama Desk, Obie and Theater World Awards. One of them is even writing the book for Spongebob The Musical!
William Spencer Reilly, the Sheen Center’s Executive Director says "Convergences is built for par- ticularly creative artists who are inventive and inquisitive and whose creativity can't be contained by a single art form. The Sheen Center is a natural home for these kinds of artists and we're terri- bly excited about launching this new music series in our intimate and inviting Loreto Theater. It's a new way to 'step into the light’.” The series was curated by Managing Director, Andrew Levine.
Tickets for the series will cost between $22 and $47, and can be found at the Sheen Center web- site here.
THE SHEEN CENTER FOR THOUGHT & CULTURE
Named after the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, best known for his popular radio and TV ministry in the 1950s and 60s, The Sheen Center is a project of the Archdiocese of New York and showcases works that affirm the highest values of the human spirit through the performing and visual arts, lectures and exhibits. The state-of-the-art complex has a 270-seat proscenium theater equipped with five- camera high-definition Livestream capability and a multi-track recording studio with thirty-two onstage inputs; an 80-seat black box theater; four rehearsal studios; and an art gallery. Connect with the Sheen Center online.
MICHAEL CERVERIS AND HIS ACCOMPLICES IN UPCOMING ‘CONVERGENCES - INDIE ARTISTS SERIES’
Michael Cerveris’s musical journey is a long and storied one, beginning with his artistic upbringing in West Virginia by two Juilliard alumnus, growing to being Tommy in The Who’s iconic rock musical and coming along with Pete Townshend on his Psychoderelict Tour, to playing the lead in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. His punk and rock roots only softened years later when an acting part in Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant brought him to New Orleans, where he rediscovered his Southern roots.
Fast-forward to today, and Cerveris can boast three full-length solo albums, two Tony Awards, a role in the Broadway musical Fun Home (where he won one of the Tonys), and the pride of raising the puppy he rescued in New Orleans. He divides his time between New York City and New Orleans, and continues to dabble in between music, film, and theater.
Come out to watch Michael present a special performance of Piety, his lushly orchestrated acoustic album performed by Cerveris and his band with a chamber ensemble and singers along with selections from his first record, Dog Eared, and EP, Hinterland. Piety was nominated for Best Of The Beat Award by OffBeat Magazine for Best Country/Folk/Singer-Songwriter Album of 2016 and critic John Swenson wrote on Tourworthy.com: "Piety really is beyond category, definitely one of the best records released in New Orleans in 2016."
Watch Cerveris’ video for “Loose Cattle” here!
LOOSE CATTLE -- Better -- from Hooke Live Sessions in Preservation Hall, New Orleans (Audio Binaural 3D recording) from Loose Cattle on Vimeo.
In Janie Barnett’s newest album, You See This River, she evokes her hybrid style that favors roots-music instruments, the whimsical storytelling of her favorite author John Steinbeck, and the social passions of one who grew up in the backyard of Washington D.C., melding various chapters of her life into the Americana album she always intended to make. Featuring Blue Room, a collaborative group of musicians at the top of the Brooklyn music scene, who flesh out the body of the songs with a luscious, cinematic sound, the album is a musically complex and emotionally wrought platform for Barnett’s genuine artistic voice to break out through.
You See This River is the deeply personal 13-song result of Barnett’s life-long search for her artistic authenticity. Inspired by some of the most intensely emotional moments of her life - struggling to just stay afloat while balancing raising her daughter and her growing music career, the heartbreaking but liberating decision to end an over 15-year-long marriage, and finding the people who will stand by you for life, romantically or otherwise – the album revolves around a lyrical theme of the human impulse for longing. In her own words:
“The stories here are of the primal instinct for nostalgia, the beautiful and terrible journey up and down the river, the persistence, romanticism, and pig-headedness of humans.”
This gentle storytelling is present throughout the album; “Better Times Are Coming” reflects the weariness as well as the continuing willingness of our citizenry to resist in hard times, “Wrap Me Up” articulates the human need for longing in a romantic tale of love found late in life, and “How You Are” is a compassionate letter from a mother to a daughter. Of the title track, Barnett says:
“The title track captures this journey on the river – sometimes deliberate, sometimes meandering, indeed sometimes treacherous, with no apparent way to jump the current, all the while watched by those who choose to stand on the sidelines. All we might know for sure is that we’ll float another day.”
Sonically, the record echoes its title, with beautifully flowing melodies fluidly layered with Barnett’s gently evocative vocals, suggesting the soundtrack of one’s favorite indie film. The masterfully crafted songs have an approachability and addictive staying power, with Lydia Hutchinson of Songwriter Magazine saying “I have been playing [You See This River] in my kitchen now all day today…It’s so consistently good, one of those rare recordings you can listen to all the way through, every track.”
On Sunday afternoon, December 3, Janie Barnett presents her Urban Americana Holiday Party, celebrating the spirit of the human heart, resistance, and transformations in the year ahead. The revelry will feature a bevy of special guest artists who are full of bluster, and they plan to heckle the audience into full participation in the proceedings.
On Janie Barnett’s 2017 release, You See This River, she evokes her hybrid style, favoring roots-music instruments, the whimsical storytelling of her favorite author John Steinbeck, and the social passions of one who grew up in Washington DC’s backyard. The record reached the top 20
on Americana radio in its first weeks of release, and is on the first-round Grammy ballot in the following categories: Best Folk Album, Best American Roots song (“Good Crazy Thing”) and Best American Roots Vocal (“Good Crazy Thing”).
The album features Blue Room, a collaborative group of musicians at the top of the NYC/Brooklyn music scene, as well as several of Nashville’s prize players. You See This River has a luscious, cinematic sound, musically complex and emotionally wrought in its stories.
You See This River is the result of Barnett’s long search for artistic authenticity. She has mined her experiences as parent, partner, artist, and social animal. The relationships she presents are full of ambiguity and passion. In her own words:
“The stories here are of the primal instinct for nostalgia, the beautiful and terrible journey up and down the river, the persistence, romanticism, and pig-headedness of humans.“
Sonically, the record echoes its title, with fully-shaped, flowing melodies fluidly layered with Barnett’s evocative vocals, suggesting the soundtrack of one’s favorite indie film. The masterfully crafted songs have an approachability and addictive staying power, with Lydia Hutchinson, founder and editor of Performing Songwriter Magazine, writing: “I have been playing [You See This River] in my kitchen now all day today…It’s so consistently good, one of those rare recordings you can listen to all the way through, every track.”
Janie Barnett's Urban Americana Holiday Party
Sunday, December 3, 2017 12:30pm - 2:00pm
A grateful celebration of our musical humanity...and that we've survived this year!
With very special guests Vicki Kristina Barcelona, Julie Gold, Kenny White, Robin Batteau, Gary Schreiner and Lisa Gutkin (Klezmatics); with Richard Hammond, Larry Saltzman, Jeremy Beck, Ira Siegel, Angela Reed,Frank Vilardi and Sammy Merendino.
City Winery
155 Varick Street
New York, NY 10013 Tickets: $20
Purchase in advance: http://www.citywinery.com/newyork/tickets/americana-thanksgiving-janie-barnett-12-3.html
For additional information visit www.citywinery.com or call: (646) 677-8350
To mark the release of their first new music in four years, jam fusion band, The Dream Logic, offers a glimpse into their highly-anticipated album, sharing the brand-new single, “I’m Gonna Take it From You”. On October 12th, the track will be released less than three weeks ahead of the band’s third full-length studio album, Liquid Sunshine. Produced by Emmy- Nominated Joseph Colmenero (Selena, RZA, Phillip Glass) at The Cutting Room Studios, one of the last standing recording studios in Manhattan, the record is a fusion of jam, funk, jazz and rock & roll led by multi-instrumentalist and composer Charles Compo.
“I’m Gonna Take it From You”, a volcanic explosion of rock and blues, is about vengeance; about the underdog coming back and giving the antagonist a run for his money. The track is funky, but more important, it highlights what each of the members bring to this incredible ensemble.
The Dream Logic is made up of Compo, drummer Camille Gainer and bassist Jerry Brooks. The band was founded in 2012 and released their first eponymous record in 2013, which featured Eric Krasno (Soulive), Mark Peterson (Vernon Reid, Cassandra Williams), James Casey (Trey Anastasio Band) and Mark Williams (The Legendary Roots Crew, Kool & The Gang). Since then, they’ve received great acclaim as a dynamic and unpredictable trio making impactful and progressive funk-rock music. Jam Bands has described their sonic soundscape as one that will “have you grooving, raging and rocking out.”
Individually, the members of The Dream Logic aren’t rookies dreaming of the big stages. Rather, they are seasoned veterans who individually have shared the stage and credits with pop, funk and soul superstars alike; playing with artists that range from Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera, to Roberta Flack and Martha Reeves, and composing for big names such as Camila Cabello, Twyla Tharp and The Weeknd. That might explain why, when all together, the three of them create a sound that is undeniably air-tight.
Listen to “I’m Gonna Take it From You” here.
On November 9th, one of New York City’s most exciting jam fusion bands, The Dream Logic, will release their third studio album, entitled Liquid Sunshine. Produced by Emmy- Nominated Joseph Colmenero (Selena, RZA, Phillip Glass) at The Cutting Room Studios, one of the last standing recording studios in Manhattan, this project is a fusion of jam, funk, jazz and rock & roll led by multi-instrumentalist and composer Charles Compo.
The Dream Logic is made up of Compo, drummer Camille Gainer and bassist Jerry Brooks. The band was founded in 2012 and released their first eponymous record in 2013, which featured Eric Krasno (Soulive), Mark Peterson (Vernon Reid, Cassandra Williams), James Casey (Trey Anastasio Band) and Mark Williams (The Legendary Roots Crew, Kool & The Gang). Since then, they’ve received great acclaim as a dynamic and unpredictable trio making impactful and progressive funk-rock music. Jam Bands has described their sonic soundscape as one that will “have you grooving, raging and rocking out.”
This latest project features Mustafa Ahmed (Arthur Russell, Camila Cabello) on percussion, Jeff Miller on keyboards, and Ben Tyree on Guitar. When asked about the process of making Liquid Sunshine, Compo stated: “We’ve spent a lot of time just playing together coming up with pockets and feels that we like and then adding words that reflect the different moods and situations that we live through, from relationships to dealing with people. “
Individually, the members of The Dream Logic aren’t rookies dreaming of the big stages. Rather, they are seasoned veterans who individually have shared the stage and credits with pop, funk and soul superstars alike; playing with artists that range from Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera, to Roberta Flack and Martha Reeves, and composing for big names such as Twyla Tharp and The Weeknd. That might explain why, when all together, the three of them create a sound that is undeniably air-tight.
Liquid Sunshine is led by their single “I'm Gonna Take It From You”. A volcanic explosion of rock and blues, is about vengeance; about the underdog coming back and giving the antagonist a run for his money. The track is funky, but more important, it highlights what each of the members bring to this incredible ensemble.
You can find “I’m Gonna Take It From You” on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/track/ 6CtSfXQiYeHA6atzN4NCNN?si=lzrV_l5RTGuFvLMDlTKYZw
Scott Seisler, former drummer and singer from the band Black Rooster, started his music career in a unique way. It was born as a coping mechanism following tragedy that struck not once, but three times. Seisler lost his younger brother, Shawn, to an opioid-related suicide. Shortly after, his parents Paul and Beverly were both diagnosed with cancer and passed away within five months of each other. With his entire immediate family gone within a few years, Seisler decided to turn to music to heal and embark on spreading the message about the opioid and suicide crises. To help achieve this, Seisler has partnered with Glenn Close’s organization, Bring Change To Mind, donating a portion of proceeds from album sales to the organization whose mission is to end the stigma and discrimination that surrounds mental illness.
In describing how he threw aside all previous inhibitions and picked up the drums and a microphone, Seisler explains, “When tragedy hits, we have a choice. We can go down the abyss of depression, or we can emerge with creativity and gratitude. I chose the latter. Music was always a passion of mine and the only way for me to process and cope with the loss of my brother, and subsequently my parents, was to dive into music headfirst and turn my pain into artistic expression.” Pouring his energy and heart into songwriting, Seisler penned the songs found on Missed the Last; the debut album released earlier this year alongside guitarist Bubby Jackson, bass player John Rehfuss and drummer Ben Bramhall.
The guitar-driven album, that not only mourns those since passed, but also reflects the gratitude for the memories those lives created, features dauntless drums, melodic bass lines, and powerful vocals with heartfelt storytelling lyrics. Shocked, numb, and in survival mode, Seisler went deep into the well of emotions and began to express everything he was suppressing for so long. “At the end of the day - after experiencing so much loss - you have to find the positive, ‘cause you’ll never find the “why"… I choose to live and love life in their memory… as they would want me to.”
The most poignant tune - and first single - “Missed the Last “, was written with the hope that it would not only help Seisler heal, but others too. “If it does” Seisler says, “then it would all be worth the pain of putting myself out there.“
Reflecting on the guilt Seisler carries as a result of Shawn’s suicide the chorus of this "heartbreaking and beautiful” (Pamela Harrington of Bring Change To Mind) song says:
Stopped the first time, Missed the last
Why didn’t you call so I could turn you back
This heart is broken now forever last I failed you my brother
No I can never go back
Seisler reflects, “When I really sit down and think about it, I failed him, I got the call the first time and should have been looking harder, listening and going home more and calling……. But life away in NYC got in the way. Every time I look at the words or sing the song…. It always hurts and as long as it does I will never forget; the pain will always be there every day. But… I have learned from my pain and it has made me a better person.”
The video for “Missed The Last” was shot in two places close to Seisler’s heart; his hometown of Reading, PA, and his parents’ retirement home on the Chesapeake Bay. To reflect the feeling of loneliness of the song, the Director chose to shoot in abandoned locations (the abandoned ship yard, the empty homes, and the hallow factory), each haunted with memories and a reflection of Seisler’s internal struggles; telling the story of a call that was missed.
An enchanting Maui afternoon and sunset await viewers in the comfort and safety of their homes on July 11th with Concert in the Country. This one-day-only music experience features Grammy Award-winning Hawaiian legend John Cruz and his all-star band taking the stage at an expansive private ranch in Haiku, Maui. Also performing is Hawaii breakout, conscious-culture artist Paul Izak joined by percussionist Sam Ites. The two live concerts will be broadcast online. The first performance, Afternoon Delight, begins at 3pm HT (9pm ET) with Paul Izak & Sam Ites and John Cruz & his All-Star Band going on at 4pm. The second performance, Hawaiian Sunset, starts at 6:30pm HT (12:30am ET) with Paul Izak & Sam Ites and John Cruz & his All-Star Band going on at 7:30pm.
Both concerts are multi-camera HD with tickets ranging from $10 to $50. Tickets are available for purchase at http://bit.ly/mauiliveand allow “concertgoers” to watch the performance of their choice on their mobile device, tablet, computer or TV and interact with the artists and other attendees by visiting the same website where tickets are sold. TV viewing requires Roku, Google Chromecast, Apple TV or Amazon Fire service. These performances are in the moment experiences, no rebroadcasts. Ticketing and streaming are handled by InPlayer, whose clients include IMG (owner of UFC, PBR, Miss Universe, etc.). The event is produced by Mark Tarone, a Hawaii resident with 20 years’ experience presenting events in the islands.
Noa Noa Hawaii, an award-winning clothier specializing in hand-batiked prints, will be adding traditional Hawaiian/Pacific islander energy and culture to the occasion by donating gift cards which will be given away during each show. Concert in the Country gives fans and music lovers a chance to support island artists while enjoying a premium, Hawaii concert experience. 100% of net proceeds go to the featured performers. More information, including photos of the event’s beautiful ranch property, as well as links to artist recordings and videos is available at: http://bit.ly/mauilive
Concert in the Country
Featuring Grammy Award-winning Hawaiian legend John Cruz and His All-Star Band along with breakout, conscious-culture artist Paul Izak joined by percussionist Sam Ites. There will be two sets.
Afternoon Delight
3pm HST (9pm EDT): Paul Izak & Sam Ites
4pm HST John Cruz & His All-Star Band
Hawaiian Sunset
6:30pm HST (12:30am EDT): Paul Izak & Sam Ites
7:30pm HST John Cruz & His All-Star Band
Tickets for the multi-camera HD concerts are available for purchase at http://bit.ly/mauilive. Tickets range from $10 to $50.
“Concertgoers” can watch the performance of their choice on their mobile device, tablet, computer or TV. TV viewing requires Roku, Google Chromecast, Apple TV or Amazon Fire service. Guests can and are encouraged to interact with the artists and other attendees by visiting the same website where tickets are sold.
