This is the first post of 2024! Thank you to CNYAlive for letting me promote and share our local scene for all these years.
Saturday night I got to go see Stephen Phillips and his band open for Root Shock at Middle Ages Beer Hall. Meanwhile over at Funk ‘n Waffles A Kid Called Danger held their album release show. It was a great reminder of the fresh original music coming out of Syracuse.
Thursday
The MOST has a cool event going on hosted by Salt City Horror Fest.
Jeff Meyer will be turning 50 on January 5th, but would like to celebrate with friends and film fans. Money raised go towards programming at The MOST – where I’ve been working for over 20 years.
NightLab—Happy Hour, Science & a Show!
Crime Scene Forensics: Pulp Fiction
6:00 pm happy hour, 7:00 pm showing of Pulp Fiction
Adults-only happy hour evening at the MOST with exhibits, science activities, and a 7:00 screening of the classic 1994 movie Pulp Fiction!
Enjoy happy hour and hors d’oeuvres from XO Taco and a cash bar with beer, wine, hard ciders, and seltzers.
$20 per person includes admission, hors d’oeuvres, and movie.
Enjoy popcorn, snacks, and drinks during the show from our concession stand.
All ticketholders must be 21 years of age or older. ID is required and will be checked at admissions – anyone under 21 will not be permitted to enter.
Friday
Dear Linda: A Musical Love Letter to Linda Ronstadt – May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society 8 pm. Tickets available here.
Something special happens when voices blend in harmony. When the CNY Songbirds blend their voices, their “tighter than three coats of paint” harmonies create magic!
The Songbirds have been entertaining enthusiastic Central New York audiences for years, breathing new life into classics by Steely Dan, CSN&Y, Linda Ronstadt, and more at venues including The Ridge in Chittenango, the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Chevy Court at the NYS Fair, and the Center for the Arts in Homer. Their outstanding musicianship and sophisticated interpretations always leave audiences cheering for more.
The band includes many names familiar to the CNY music scene:
Multi-instrumentalist Kristopher Heels (guitar) has been a performing musician since 1984. As a regional, touring and session player, his goal is to compliment the song and the artist with his unique approach to whatever style he’s given.
Maureen Henesey (vocals) has been singing throughout CNY over the past 20 years. She was a long-time member of local party band Mere Mortals and the SAMMY award-winning original bluegrass group, The Easy Ramblers.
Tom Hillenbrand (guitar) brings the same craftsmanship to his guitar playing that he brings to his day job as a goldsmith. Tom currently performs with Prime Time Horns, Monkey Fever, and is a featured performer at venues across CNY.
Brett Hobin (bass) is a 30-year veteran of the Syracuse music scene. He has owned and operated Hobin Studios for 25 years, playing on hundreds of records and producing dozens of others, to critical acclaim.
Joanna Jewett (vocals) has been performing throughout Central New York for over 30 years, as lead vocalist with a variety of bands, including The Critics, a party/wedding band that played across New York State. Currently, Joanna performs with Dangerous Type, Radio Floyd, The Mix Tapes, and the CNY Songbirds.
Liz Strodel (drums) has been playing locally since 2001. Whether it’s blues, country, hip hop or rock, she prides herself on backing artists of all different genres. She stays busy with both live and studio performances. Liz wrote and released an EP of original songs entitled “Nights & Weekends”.
B Kelly Wilcox (keyboard) is best known as the keyboardist and co-singer with the progressive rock group Cold Sweat, as well as opening for Marillion on their first US tour with Steve Hogarth. He has been a key figure on the Syracuse music scene, participating in rock tribute shows, most notably alongside Earl Slick and Bernard Fowler for “Ruby Tuesday: Music of the Rolling Stones.”
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Artswith the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.
This project is made possible with funds from the Tier Three Project Support Program, a regrant program of the County of Onondaga with the support of the County Executive and administered by CNY Arts. This project is also made possible through the support and generosity of our Folkus Members.
Saturday
Brass Inc. performs at Middle Ages Beer Hall and it’s FREE! Doors at 7 pm.
Jeffrey Gaines returns to 443 for another sold out show at this venue! Call to join a waitlist in case tables open up.
Jeffrey Gaines has been heralded for his soul-searching lyrics and his powerful live performances. With only his voice and a guitar for accompaniment, Jeffrey Gaines has earned a reputation as a captivating performer, entertaining audiences everywhere he goes.
Sunday
KMase Storytellers is always a great way to spend a Sunday! It’s an early show at Funk ‘n Waffles at 6 pm.
Dark River Stone is a solo artist from Upstate New York whose passion is singing and writing songs. Using only voice and guitar, River performs original works with the intensity of a full rock band.
His high energy, catchy melodies, and wide vocal range have yielded comparisons to artists such as Ed Kowalczyk of Live and Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional. On occasion, you’ll find him performing acoustic renditions of throwbacks to the 80s, 90s, and 2000s.
River hopes to not only share his love of music with his following but also aspires to grow his community which has become a safe space for those who wish to express their individuality without judgement and escape from the stress of the world.
Luke Mock is an indie-pop artist whose music immerses you in a captivating whirlwind of emotions, driven by catchy hooks and delivered with an irresistibly genuine charm. Hailing from Auburn, a quaint city in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, Luke has graced the stage alongside luminaries like The Driver Era, Kesha, AJR, Ryan Quinn (The Voice), Neyla Pekarek (The Lumineers), and Joe Whiting (Savory Brown), among others.
At the core of Luke’s musical essence lies his unwavering commitment to crafting songs that resonate with honesty and personal depth. Each melody is meticulously woven with narratives brimming with emotion, brought to life through his captivating vocals and infectious pop music elements. Drawing comparisons to icons such as Shawn Mendes, Charlie Puth, and Julia Michaels, Luke’s melodic prowess captivates audiences and leaves an indelible imprint.
However, Luke’s artistic journey didn’t begin solely with his solo endeavors. He found solace and inspiration in his collaboration with Perform 4 Purpose, a not-for-profit organization empowering young minds through music while raising funds for charitable causes. Through this transformative experience, Luke discovered music’s profound ability to forge connections and resonate with others. Now, he seeks to unravel the complexities of his personal experiences and perspectives, using the universal language of music and boundless creativity to touch hearts across the globe.
Kai is a Syracuse local who goes by “Starstruck” online. A singer-songwriter inspired by the likes of Billy Joel, Bo Burnham, and Ben Folds, Kai describes his music more as storytelling with a melody, and that love of sharing stories is exactly what draws him to wanting to share his music with anyone who would like to listen.
Other samples of Kai’s music and audio work can be found with his employment at Escape the Estate LLC and Intrigue Experiences LLC, primarily with the Museum of Intrigue. He has written instrumental music to play ambiently around the space, recorded and mixed audio for certain story games, and more. He also released an album titled “The Record” under the name “Jack Mallory”, featuring nine original songs written for Intrigue’s Magnum Opus, an interactive theater show with a high emphasis on emotional connection.
Kai doesn’t plan on letting up any time soon, hoping to release more music under his own name, post music videos, and more.
missing or outdated ad config
