The Scene Spring Edition 2018

Music, Art & Entertainment

The

Festivals & Fun in the Sun

SPRING EDITION

Festivals Within Four - PAGE 8 Musicians and Social Media - PAGE 13 Interview with SoDown - PAGE 16

Music, Art & Entertainment

C O N T E N T S

From the Director.........................................................................................Page 2 Schedule of Shows.......................................................................................Page 4 Festivals Within Four: Can’t Miss Events Within a Four-Hour Drive............Page 8 Plant-Based Power to Keep You Dancing Through the Midnight Hour.... Page 10 Musicians on Top of the Social Media Game........................................... Page 13 Artist Spotlight: SoDown........................................................................... Page 16 Album Review: Salutations, Conor Oberst................................................ Page 18 moe@thepalace Picture Page................................................................... Page 19

From the Director This winter was so long in the Northeast, you’d think White Walkers were coming south of The Wall! Thankfully, festival season is coming. To me, music is best with equal parts fun and sun.

For all the negativity in the world at the moment, this guide serves as a positive light to shine on love-filled events. Hopefully there is something that speaks to you, as it’s through these love-filled events that we can witness and embrace the power of community. Whatever your taste, we’re all in this together! Whether you’re lying on the lawn, feet kicked back under the pavilion, or dancing in the pit – get out and be a part of it, “For the times they are a-changin’.”

Chad Ritchko Director of The Scene

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ENTERTAINMENT | The Scene

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Published by The Daily Star, The Scene is your guide to arts and entertainment in Central New York. Free copies are distributed throughout Otsego, Delaware, Schoharie and Chenango counties. www.thesceneonline.com or check us out at The Scene on Facebook 102 Chestnut St., P.O. Box 250, Oneonta, NY 13820 DIRECTOR Chad Ritchko critchko@thedailystar.com (607) 441-7239

EDITOR Jessica Reynolds reynolds.jessica1926@gmail.com (607) 437-5007

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Tracy Bender PUBLISHER Fred Scheller fscheller@thedailystar.com (607) 441-7214

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Valerie Secor vsecor@thedailystar.com (607) 441-7235

Member of The Associated Press and CNHI News Service

SCHEDULE o f Sh ows

SPAC

CMAC

Saratoga Springs, New York

Canandaigua, New York

Home to the New York City Ballet and The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center hosts concerts in an acoustically ideal amphitheater surrounded by hiking trails, geysers and natural mineral springs.

Renovated in 2006, the Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center’s state-of-the-art facility features 5,000 covered seats and lawn seating for up to 10,000 guests with a pristine view of Canandaigua Lake.

June 9 | Kendrick Lamar with SZA, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock June 11 | Dead & Company June 16 | Foreigner with Whitesnake, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening June 27 | Keith Urban with Kelsea Ballerini June 29 | Imagine Dragons with Grace Vanderwaal June 30 | Steely Dan and Doobie Brothers July 3 | Tedeschi Trucks Band with Drive-By Truckers, The Marcus King Band July 7 | Rascal Flatts with Dan + Shay July 12 | Halsey with Jessie Reyez July 13 | Dave Matthews Band July 14 | Dave Matthews Band July 15 | Jason Aldean with Luke Combs, Lauren Alaina, Dee Jay Silver July 22 | Charlie Puth with Hailee Steinfeld July 28 | Lindsey Stirling with Evanescence July 29 | John Fogerty July 31 | Chicago with REO Speedwagon, Michael Tolcher Aug. 5 | Dierks Bently with Brothers Osborne, Lanco Aug. 7 | The Piano Guys Aug. 19 | Luke Bryan with Jon Pardi, Morgan Wallen Aug. 21 | Godsmack with Shinedown Aug. 22 | Pentatonix Aug. 23 | Chris Stapleton with Marty Stuart, Brent Cobb Sept. 14 | Ringo Starr Sept. 15 | Kid Rock with Brantley Gilbert, Wheeler Walker Jr. Sept. 23 | Willie Nelson with Neil Young, Nathaniel Rateliff, Lucas Nelson 4

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June 16 | Sturgill Simpson June 23 | John Fogerty with ZZ Top June 30 | Roger Daltrey with full Symphonic Orchestra July 8 | Keith Urban with Kelsea Ballerini July 10 | Tedeschi Trucks Band with Drive-By Truckers, Marcus King Band July 20 | Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit with Brandi Carlile Aug. 5 | David Byrne with Benjamin Clementine Aug. 8 | The Piano Guys Aug. 29 | Earth, Wind and Fire Aug. 31 | Steve Martin and Martin Short with Steep Canyon Rangers, Jeff Babko

MONTAGE MOUNTAIN Scranton, Pennsylvania A world-class concert venue, ski resort and water park, Montage Mountain is home to popular music festivals Camp Bisco and The Peach.

July 26 | Vans Warped Tour July 31 | Slayer with Lamb of God, Anthrax, Testament, Napalm Death Aug. 17 | Breaking Benjamin with Five Finger Death Punch, Nothing More Aug. 25 | Pentatonix Aug. 31 | Shinedown with Godsmack, Red Sun Rising Sept. 14 | Willie Nelson with Van Morrison, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Lucas Nelson

BETHEL WOODS Bethel, New York Located at the site of the 1969 Woodstock festival, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts includes a Pavilion Stage amphitheater with seating for 15,000, an intimate 440-seat indoor Event Gallery, the award-winning Museum at Bethel Woods, and a Conservatory for arts education programming.

June 8 | Roger Daltrey with Hudson Valley Philharmonic June 15 | Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle & Dwight Yoakam with King Leg June 16 | K104’S KFEST 2018 featuring Big Boy of Outkast and more June 22 | Poison with Cheap Trick, Pop Evil June 29 | Steve Miller Band with Peter Frampton July 13 | Jason Aldean with Luke Combs, Lauren Alaina July 14 | Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers July 15 | Kevin Hart July 21 | Lynard Skynard with 38 Special, The Marshall Tucker Band, Wild Adriatic July 26 | Lady Antebellum & Darius Rucker with Russell Dickerson Aug. 3 | Dierks Bentley with Brothers Osborne, Lanco Aug. 5 | The Beach Boys with The Righteous Brothers Aug. 11 | Trombone Shorty with Orleans Avenue Aug. 19 | O.A.R. with Matt Nathanson & The New Respects Aug. 24 | 311 & The Offspring with Gym Class Heros Sept. 1 | Steve Martin & Martin Short with Steep Canyon Rangers, Jeff Babko

TANGLEWOOD Lenox, Massachusetts A music venue in the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts, Tanglewood has been the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1937.

June 15 | Roger Daltrey with Boston Pops June 16 | David Crosby & Friends June 17 | Stephen Stills and Judy Collins with Kenny White June 19 | Alison Krauss June 22 | Andy Grammer June 23 | Harry Connick Jr. June 24 | Audra McDonald with Boston Pops June 29 | Bela Fleck and the Flecktones June 30 | Chris Thile July 1 | Emmylou Harris with Ry Cooder July 2 | Steve Miller Band with Peter Frampton July 3 | James Taylor July 5 | Boston Symphony Chambers Players Sept. 2 | Steve Martin & Martin Short with Steep Canyon Rangers, Jeff Babko

NORTHWELL HEALTH at JONES BEACH THEATER (Formerly Nikon Theater) Wantagh, New York An outdoor amphitheatre at Jones Beach State Park, this venue is one of two major outdoor arenas in the New York metropolitan area, along with PNC Bank Arts Center.

May 30 | Kendrick Lamar with SZA, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock June 15 | Bli Summer Jam, Shawn Mendes, Meghan Trainor, Backstreet Boys, Marshmello, Zedd June 20 | John Fogerty and ZZ Top June 21 | Poison with Cheap Trick June 22 | Foreigner with Whitesnake, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening June 23 | Lynyrd Skynard with Peter Wolf, Atlanta Rhythm Section June 29 | Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and STYX with Tesla July 6 | Rascal Flatts with Dan + Shay, Carly Pearce July 12 | Gov’t Mule’s Darkside of the Mule with The Avett Brothers July 14 | Foo Fighters July 17 | Dave Matthews Band July 18 | Weezer and The Pixies July 19 | Miranda Lambert with Little Big Town July 25 | Avenged Sevenfold with Prophets of Rage July 27 | Bush with The Cult, Stone Temple Pilots July 28 | Vans Warped Tour July 29 | Slayer with Lamb of God, Anthrax, Napalm Death, Testament July 30 | Kesha and Macklemore Aug. 2 | Jimmy Buffett Aug. 3 | Chicago with REO Speedwago, Michael Tolcher Aug. 4 | Lady Antebellum & Darius Rucker with Russell Dickerson Aug. 7 | Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson Aug. 10 | Brad Paisley with Kane Brown Aug. 11 | Evanescence with Lindsey Stirling Aug. 12 | Kidz Bop Live Aug. 14 | Jeff Beck, Paul Rodgers and Ann Wilson Aug. 15 | Pentatonix Aug. 22 | Counting Crows with Live Aug. 25 | 311 and The Offspring Aug. 28 | G-Eazy and Lil Uzi Vert with Ty Dolla $ign, YBN Nahmir, P-Lo, Murda Beatz Sept. 2 | Godsmack and Shinedown Sept. 6 | Breaking Benjamin with Five Finger Death Punch, Bad Wolves Sept. 8 | Ozzy Osbourne with Stone Sour Sept. 12 | Niall Horan with Maren Morris

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LAKEVIEW AMPHITHEATER Syracuse, New York The Lakeview Amphitheatre opened in 2015 to bring the best summer concert tours into the upstate New York area. The views from around the venue are spectacular. The Lakeview Amphitheatre box office is located at 490 Restoration Way on the Great New York State Fair Grounds in Syracuse, New York. The venue has 5,000 reserved/covered seats and capacity for another 12,000 on the lawn.

June 5 | Dave Matthews Band June 7 | Kenny Chesney with Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan June 11 | Imagine Dragons with Grace Vanderwaal June 13 | Poison with Cheap Trick, Pop Evil June 17 | Paramore with Foster The People, Soccer Mommy June 19 | Foreigner with Whitesnake, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening June 23 | Zac Brown Band with Mark O’Connor Band, Darrell Scott June 28 | STYX and Joan Jett with Tesla June 30 | Brad Paisley with Kane Brown, Dan Tyminski July 3 | Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers July 15 | Weezer and The Pixies with The Wombats

MayJune JulyAugust July 27 | Chicago with REO Speedwagon, Michael Tolcher July 28 | Yanni Aug. 4 | Slayer with Lamb of God, Anthrax, Testament, Napalm Death Aug. 12 | 311 and The Offspring with Gym Class Heros Aug. 17 | Luke Bryan with Jon Pardi, Morgan Wallen Aug. 22 | Breaking Benjamin with Five Finger Death Punch, Bad Wolves Aug. 23 | Pentatonix Aug. 24 | Lynyrd Skynard with Hank Williams Jr., 38 Special, Marshall Tucker Band Aug. 29 | Godsmack with Shinedown, Red Sun Rising Sept. 1 | Ozzy Osbourne with Stone Sour Sept. 14 | Kid Rock with Brantley Gilbert, Wheeler Walker Jr.

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May 26 | Post Malone with 21 Savage, SOB X RBE June 3 | Kendrick Lamar with SZA, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock June 19 | Dead and Company June 24 | Zach Brown Band with Mark O’Connor Band, Darrell Scott June 26 | Poison with Cheap Trick, Pop Evil June 27 | Dave Matthews Band June 28 | Chris Stapleton with Marty Stuart, Brent Cobb July 3 | Logic with NF and Kyle July 13 | Lynyrd Skynard with The Marshall Tucker Band, The Charlie Daniels Band July 21 | Lady Antebellum July 22 | Kesha and Maklemore July 24 | Godsmack with Shinedown July 25 | Vans Warped Tour Aug. 3 | Slayer with Lamb of God, Anthrax, Testament, Napalm Dealth Aug. 4 | Dierks Bently with Brothers Osborne, Lanco Aug. 7 | Chicago with REO Speedwagon, Michael Tolcher Aug. 10 | Jason Aldean with Luke Combs, Lauren Alaina Aug. 12 | Rob Zombie & Marilyn Manson Aug. 16 | Miranda Lambert with Little Big Town Aug. 18 | Kidz Bop Live Aug. 24 | G-Eazy and Lil Uzi Vert with Ty Dolla $ign, YBN Nahmir, P-Lo, Murda Beatz Sept. 3 | Breaking Benjamin with Five Finger Death Punch, Nothing More, Bad Wolves Sept. 7 | Niall Horan with Maren Morris

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Festivals Within Four Can’t Miss Events Within a Four-Hour Drive

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Flyday Music Festival

Festival of Disruption

Sterling Stage Folkfest

StrageCreek Campout

Date: May 18 – 20 (3 days) Venue: Blackthorne Resort Location: East Durham, New York Artists Include: Club d’Elf, Ed Mann, Eastbound Jesus

Date: May 19 – 20 (2 days) Venue: Brooklyn Steel Location: Brooklyn, New York Artists Include: Angel Olsen, Animal Collective, Flying Lotus, Jim James

Date: May 24 – 27 (4 days) Venue: Sterling Stage Kampitheater Location: Sterling, New York Artists Include: The Breakfast, Hayley Jane and the Primates, The English Project

Date: May 25 – 28 (4 days) Venue: Camp Kee-Wanee Location: Greenfield, Massachusetts Artists Include: Max Creek, Zach Deputy, Ryan Montbleau Band, Pink Talking Fish, lespecial

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Greenwich Town Party

Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival

Date: May 26 (1 day) Venue: Roger Sherman Park Location: Greenwich, Connecticut Artists Include: Eric Clapton, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Dates: June 16 – 17 (2 days) Venue: Croton Point Park Location: Croton On Hudson, New York Artists Include: Jeff Tweedy, The Mavericks, Ani DiFranco

Governors Ball

Ithaca Reggae Fest

Date: June 1 – 3 (3 days) Venue: Randall’s Island Park Location: Randall’s Island, New York Artists Include: Jack White, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Post Malone, Travis Scott, Halsey, Diplo, Eminem, N.E.R.D, Khalid

Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Fest Date: June 1 – 3 (3 days) Venue: Sussex County Fairgrounds Location: Augusta, New Jersey Artists Include: Jon Cleary, Taj Mahal, Tab Benoit

Disc Jam Date: June 7 – 10 (4 days) Venue: Gardner’s Farm Location: Stephentown, New York Artists Include: Lotus, Beats Antique, Galactic, The Motet, Electron

Taste Of Country Music Festival Date: June 8-10 (3 days) Venue: Hunter Mountain Location: Hunter, New York Artists Include: Eric Church, Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt

Mountain Jam Date: June 14 – 17 (4 days) Venue: Hunter Mountain Location: Hunter, New York Artists Include: Jack Johnson, alt-J, Sturgill Simpson, Portugal. The Man, The War on Drugs, Father John Misty, The Decemberists

Date: June 22 – 24 (3 days) Venue: Stewart Park Pavilion Location: Ithaca, New York Artists Include: Clinton Fearon & Boogie Brown Band, Sister Carol, The Meditations

Friendly Gathering Date: June 28 – 30 (3 days) Venue: Sugarbush Resort Location: Waitsfield, Vermont Artists Include: Twiddle, Greensky Bluegrass, Emancipator, Spafford, Nahko and Medicine for the People

Great Blue Heron Date: July 6 – 8 (3 days) Venue: Great Blue Heron Festival Grounds Location: Sherman, New York Artists Include: Donna The Buffalo, The Felice Brothers, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Driftwood

Camp Bisco Date: July 12 – 14 (3 days) Venue: Montage Mountain Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania Artists Include: The Disco Biscuits, Bassnectar, Excision, Tipper, Lettuce, The Floozies, SunSquabi

Rock the Dock Music Festival Date: July 13 (1 day) Venue: Lake George Steamboat Company Location: Lake George, New York Artists Include: Formula 5, Soule Monde, Strange Machines, Let’s Be Leonard

Green River Festival

XPoNential Music Festival

Date: July 13 – 15 (3 days) Venue: Greenfield Community College Location: Greenfield, Massachusetts Artists Include: Josh Ritter, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Old Crow Medicine Show

Dates: July 27 – 29 (3 days) Venue: BB&T Pavilion Location: Camden, New Jersey Artists Include: David Byrne, The War On Drugs, Strugill Simpson, Lucas Nelson & Promise of The Real

Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival Date: July 19 – 22 (4 days) Venue: The Walsh Farm Location: Oak Hill, New York Artists Include: Dry Branch Fire Squad, Del McCoury Band, Sam Bush Band, Billy Strings, The Wood Brothers

Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance Date: July 19 – 22 (4 days) Venue: Trumansburg Fairgrounds Location: Trumansburg, New York Artists Include: Patty Griffin, Toots and the Maytals, The Wood Brothers, Driftwood

Curveball Date: August 17 – 19 (3 days) Venue: Watkins Glen International Location: Watkins Glen, NY Artists Include: Phish

Billboard Hot 100 Festival Dates: August 18 – 19 (2 days) Venue: Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater Location: Wantagh, New York Artists Include: DJ Snake, Future, Rae Sremmurd, Bad Royale, BEXEY, French Montana

The Peach Music Festival Date: July 19 – 22 (4 days) Venue: Montage Mountain Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania Artists Include: Phil Lesh, Gov’t Mule, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Dickey Betts, Little Feat, moe., Umphrey’s McGee

Panorama Date: July 27-29 (3 days) Venue: Randall’s Island Park Location: Randall’s Island, New York Artists Include: David Byrne, The Weekend, Migos, The War On Drugs, Janet Jackson, SZA, Cardi B, Gucci Mane, The Killers, The xx, Odesza

Tumble Down Dates: July 27 – 28 (2 days) Venue: Waterfront Park Location: Burlington, Vermont Artists Include: Twiddle, Matisyahu, Billy Strings, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Taz

Huichica East Date: August 24 – 26 (3 days) Venue: Chaseholm Farm Location: Pine Plains, New York Artists Include: Allah-Las, Bettye LaVette, Circles Around the Sun

Cayuga Sound Dates: September 21 – 22 (2 days) Venue: Stewart Park Pavilion Location: Ithaca, New York Artists Include: X Ambassadors, Talib Kweli, Young The Giant, Matt & Kim

Afropunk Brooklyn Date: August 25 – 26 (2 days) Venue: Commodore Barry Park Location: Brooklyn, New York Artists Include: Erykah Badu, Tyler the Creator, Miguel, Janelle Monae, Jaden Smith

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Plant-Based Power to Keep You Dancing Through the Midnight Hour

By Kirsten Nunez Lifestyle journalist, editor, author and past contributor to Verily Magazine, CureJoy Inc and Time Inc. K-Nunez.com

When it comes to healthy eating, we’re always told to enjoy three meals a day. It’s the type of eating pattern that offers consistent energy and nutrition to get us through the daily hustle.

But what about snacks, the mini portions that are eaten in between? With the right approach, they definitely can be part of a healthy lifestyle.

Enter plant-based snacking. This means focusing on snacks made with whole foods like fruits, veggies and whole grains. Animal products and processed foods are avoided or limited, depending on your preference. It’s also not the same as vegetarianism or veganism, both of which can technically involve processed goods. Instead, it’s all about emphasizing the real stuff.

You might wonder, “Why bother?” To start, snacks curb cravings and provide energy in between meals.

They also control hunger, a key factor in avoiding overeating at meal time. Yet, healthy snacks are hard to find, thanks to all the sugary and salty treats out there.

Luckily, plant-based snacking is easy to do. It’s also a delicious way to enjoy the best of what the spring season has to offer. Need some inspiration? Here are seven delicious ideas for plant-based snacking.

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1. Banana Ice Cream

6. Roasted Chickpeas

For a healthy “ice cream,” blend a handful of frozen banana slices. Feel free to add extra ingredients like peaches, almonds, or coconut flakes for those spring vibes.

Fans of crispy snacks will adore this easy recipe. Simply rinse 1 can of chickpeas and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil and spices like black pepper, oregano or paprika. Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Smoothie Popsicles To make a plant-based smoothie, blend dairy-free milk, ice and fruits. Pour into an ice pop mold. Within a few hours, you’ll have a tasty frozen treat.

3. Frozen Smoothie-Covered Berries While you’re at it, dip berries into a smoothie. You can thicken the consistency by blending it with bananas, but don’t forget that plant-based diets can include yogurt, if you’d like. Place the berries on a metal cookie sheet lined with wax paper, then freeze.

4. No-Bake Oatmeal Bites Make energy oatmeal bites by combining 1 cup oats, ½ cup nut butter, and ½ cup flax seeds or coconut flakes. If you’d like, add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Form into balls and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Hey there, plant protein!

7. Buffalo Cauliflower Bites Give Buffalo wings a plant-based spin with this addicting snack. In a bowl, whisk together ½ cup chickpea or almond flour with ½ cup water. Chop a head of cauliflower and toss in the batter, making sure to coat each piece. Bake for 20 minutes at 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, combine ½ cup olive oil and ¾ cup Buffalo sauce. Mix with the cooked cauliflower and bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Remember, plant-based eating is different for everyone. You can include a few animal products or none at all – it’s up to you. The goal is to focus on whole foods. Not only will you skip the extra sugar, salt, and calories found in traditional treats, but your snacking game will be hard to beat. Take that, snack aisle.

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5. Baked Sweet Potato Chips Slice a medium sweet potato, toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil, and sprinkle on your favorite spices. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes. Baking uses less oil than frying, and unlike commercial chips, you can control the amount of salt.

Plus, sweet potatoes are awesome sources of vitamins A and C.

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The Scene | SPRING 2018 | 11

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Musicians on Top of the

SOCIAL MEDIA GAME With the rise of social media, there has been a huge shift in entertainment. Today, “behind-the-scenes” is the scene, and that’s because of social media.

Artists share not only their music but their interests, passions, and all sorts of other impromptu moments of daily life via Snapchat or Instagram stories. By doing so, they give their fans a chance to know more about them and begin to create their own niche or brand – a word that many musicians detest but that has become de rigueur among music industry types.

By Evan Friedell

planned material. Some prefer to barely use social media at all. Regardless, there’s no doubt that where there once were only a few gatekeepers controlling the TV channels and radio stations critical to an act’s success, now the gates are wide open. And while TV and radio still certainly help a career, the truth is that musicians and other entertainers are now effectively their own entertainment networks. They no longer need to appeal to the confines of mainstream media to attract eyes and ears.

This radical shift is due in large part to Musician/songwriter@jimkata one thing – the practical disappearance of @evandumond

Of course, many artists use these platforms in much more calculated ways, posting only professionally shot and edited content based on when they are releasing or promoting something. Or maybe they have some combination of both planned and un-

hard copy album sales. It’s a consequence of the advent of the internet. It’s simply more convenient to stream music for free or for $10 a month via a premium subscription. Even paid downloads are on the decline, with rumors that Apple will phase them out starting next year.

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Though major labels are still powerhouses, the days of taking financial risks on developing artists are gone.

Any artist attempting to have a career in this environment, whether new or established, has to take a creative approach to how they do things. The goal is to have revenue in the form of ticket sales, merchandise, streams, YouTube plays, or licensing. Therefore, it’s all the more important to maintain that connection with a fan base. And the fruits of doing so could make it possible to succeed without the help of a label at all.

Below, we’ll take a look at several artists of differing social statures and how they’re using social media.

Some are monolithic pop stars whose careers began in the record label opulence of the 90s. Others are new artists traversing the shifting sands of the music industry in the age of the internet. Either way, it’s clear that willingness to adapt is a key asset. Different social media outlets favor certain types of posts at different times and constantly introduce new features to take advantage of. Some acts hire a social media manager to keep up with it all, while others take it upon themselves, finding unique ways to cut through all the noise and connect with fans.

Questlove “the multi-tasker” Maybe you’ve seen him on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” behind the drum kit, giant afro and accompanying pick bouncing with each head bob. Maybe you’ve heard his voice on his podcast, or caught one of his weekly DJ sets at Brooklyn Bowl or picked up a copy of his brand new book about food. Over the years, Questlove has steadily transformed from a drummer in the 90s-born hip-hop group The Roots into a multi-faceted brand. And that transformation is due, in large part, to the simultaneous rise of social media.

Currently, he’s got three different handles on both Instagram and Twitter: “Questlove” for personal use, “Quest Loves Food” for food 14

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pictures and reviews, and “Questlove Supreme” named after his podcast on Pandora, where he interviews various musicians and entertainers. If you follow any of these, you can stay up to date on where he’s playing, who he’s interviewing next and/or what chefs he’s enamored with. Through the Story feature on Instagram, you can even catch a peek behind the scenes while it’s all happening.

Beyoncé “the queen” It says something about the effectiveness of an artist’s image when their name becomes synonymous with female empowerment and royalty. She’s “Queen Bey.” You could call that the power of her brand – there’s that ugly word again. But, really, she is a brand – actually, a few brands. Over the years, Beyoncé has turned her talents into a multimillion-dollar industry that includes perfume and clothing lines. There is certainly a calculated effort to keep her Queen-like image consistent across social media.

How would a queen use Instagram? Well, there would probably be a professional photographer taking the pictures. Everything would be in the third person, with rarely an image from her point of view. Does royalty use the Story feature to show you their workout routine or a quiet night on the couch with the kids?

That would reveal too much. It’s better to make a proper impression and keep a safe distance from the public eye.

Scroll through Beyonce’s 113 million-follower profile and this is what you see: perfectly edited shots of her looking stunningly beautiful in designer dresses. She (or her social media manager) makes a concerted effort to post three photos from the same photoshoot/event every week. This way, each week fills up a row, turning the overall layout into a multi-colored Bey-land of designer outfits. Even when announcing her next On the Run Tour with Jay-Z, they stuck to the formula of three promotional videos at a time. Posting

content with the objective of creating a slick-looking overall layout is a tactic that a lot of artists are using.

Beyonce’s Facebook and Twitter seem a little less active in comparison. Occasionally there will be a post about a social issue for which she’s advocating, but mostly it’s reserved for tour and album announcements.

Take a look at the comments on any of her posts and you might understand why it’s probably more appealing for her to stick to the image-oriented world of Instagram.

Even the queen, no, especially the queen, has trolls.

Michael Franti “the includer” Michael Franti has been recording and performing with his group Spearhead since 1994. Recently, he’s had a string of hits on mainstream radio such as “Sound of Sunshine,” “Say Hey,” and “Life is Better With You.” Though he started his career pre-social media, he now uses it like a needle and thread, sewing together the distance between live shows, new music releases, his “soulrocker” yoga retreat in Bali, and other causes that he advocates for. He serves as an optimistic leader to his followers, encouraging them to be peaceful, healthy and to “stay human,” a lyric from one of his songs.

Tune into Franti’s Instagram Story videos, and you’ll find him musing on the tour bus, working out before a show or taking a dip in the ocean with his sweetheart. While on tour, he often posts the time and location where he’ll be doing yoga before a show and encourages fans to join him, as he did when he played Ithaca’s State Theatre in June. It seems as though his main objective is inclusivity, treating his fans like family and inviting them all to the picnic.

This inclusivity correlates with the fact that he often posts content exclusive to each platform. He’ll use Facebook Live to show the band working on a new song. Or, when he makes a video tour announcement on Instagram, he’ll be sure to post it separately to Twitter rather than just

hit the “share” button so that his followers there can see the full video. During his summer tour last year, he shared a video of a 9-yearold fan playing one of his songs on the ukulele with him singing along.

She just confidently walked up to him and told him she could play his songs. So, he shared it with his fans across all platforms, and it ended up with more than 3 million views on Facebook alone.

Vulfpeck “the innovator” There’s probably not a band out there with as much internet ingenuity as Vulfpeck. Though rooted in a foundation of serious 70s-style funk chops, the band has cut its way through the 21st century white noise with tactics best described as clever gimmicks.

In 2014, while many musicians were debating the unfairness of miniscule Spotify royalties, these guys decided to release an album called “Sleepify.” It’s essentially an album of absolutely nothing, with each blank track lasting just long enough to count as a “stream.” They then asked their fans to turn it on repeat while they slept so that they could rack up royalties from Spotify. Those streams added up to more than $20,000, and in return they announced a tour that was entirely free. It turned out to be a cunning publicity stunt that garnered their actual music legions of listeners.

sound. All of their Facebook videos are shot with a grainy filter and noticeably unslick editing. It’s this interplay of intentional and haphazard, tongue-in-cheek and serious, retro and progressive that is their appeal.

In promotion of their 2016 album “The Beautiful Game,” Vulfpeck hosted a “telethon” using Facebook Live to gather attention from their fan base. At the time, Facebook was algorithmically favoring the new “Live” feature, guaranteeing that a Live video would get more views than a regular post. Usually, a Live video would just be shot with a phone, allowing you only one angle and one phone mic to broadcast with. Instead, they were able to utilize an app that allowed them to have multiple microphones for audio, different camera angles, and text display on the screen, creating a full-on, silly production. This was pretty much unheard of at the time and another example of how they have used forward-thinking ideas to present a retro image. It’s this kind of creativity that has allowed them to start their own label, with their latest new act gaining 4.5 million views on their first Live video shown on the Vulfpeck Facebook page. This kind of success is truly impressive, especially considering that they are a primarily instrumental act.

Chance the Rapper “the influencer” At age 24, this Chicago-born and raised hip-hop artist has already achieved a historical feat. He’s the

The band stays true to a certain lo-fi 70s-80s public access TV aesthetic that suits their throwback

first musician to receive a Grammy nomination and award for an album that was released as streaming-only. This will most likely be looked back on as a significant statistic, a turning point in the transition from downloads to streaming. But it’s not a coincidence that he earned this award. He, along with manager Pat Corcoran, were pioneering through the quickly evolving internet age since they started in 2011 and found ways to independently build a career by capitalizing on online buzz while resisting major labels.

Chance’s first two albums were released as free digital downloads and uploaded to free social streaming sites like hip-hop oriented Datpiff and Soundcloud. He gained record numbers of streams with his slightly quirky, gospel-infused beats and unique rhyming style.

They were then able to translate this underground buzz into real life sell-out shows, selling out Chicago’s Lincoln Hall for his first show as a headliner.

He still retains his independent status today, even after the massive success of “Coloring Book,” and the way he uses social media reflects that. Nothing he posts comes off as controlled by handlers or concocted by management teams.

It’s just him posting Instagram Stories from the gym or advocating for certain causes both in Chicago and nationally, or posting links to new music he’s listening to. Given their track record of innovation, it will be interesting to see how his team releases his next album. ¯

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Artist Spotlight

Interview with (Ehren River Wright)

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Lonny: Coming off of 2017, SoDown blew up across the scene, playing huge venues like Red Rocks with artists like Pretty Lights and Manic Focus. Can you tell us what you started doing differently that helped you grow and what it was like to start playing renowned venues and festivals with such artists?

Playing such venues is a dream come true. It’s a larger stage to connect with people, and that’s my main goal as an artist. There is nothing like looking out and seeing a crowd moving as one, connections happening between everyone without saying a word. It’s really special.

SoDown: To be honest, I didn’t do much differently, I’ve just continued dedicating time and energy to my music and doing my best to interact with the people who support me.

When did you start producing music?

What made you want to do it?

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SPRING 2018

I started producing music in 2011. I was in business school and working at restaurants. I had always been a

By Lonny Chin huge music fan, and when I started to get into electronic music, I saw how it brought people together. That was really the catalyst. Bringing people together to get on the same level and enjoying each other and our collective consciousness.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

So many places, really. Other music, nature, my friends and family, different emotions. All of my life comes together in my music. It’s hard to say one or two things.

“

I like to create an adventure. I try to create something that takes people on a journey, physically and emotionally.”

Tell me about your creative process for a live set.

gone through, learned and experienced.

I like to create an adventure.

I try to create something that takes people on a journey, physically and emotionally.

Coming in hot into 2018, you have a bunch of shows lined up through July, including both weekends of Forest, Summer Camp and High Sierra. Are there any specific fests you would like to play in the future?

This year has been huge for you musically, are you able to pick a favorite show that you played in 2017 so far?

Red Rocks with Manic Focus and Pretty Lights.

Red Rocks will always hold a special place in my heart.

The first show I went to at Red Rocks steered me in the direction to make music, so it was a dream come true to play there.

It seems that lately most electronic artists are incorporating more of a live approach to their sets. Do you have any desire to add more musicians to your live performance?

At this point, I’m focused on making my solo performances the best they can be. I’m always open to ideas though and have some things in mind for the future.

Do you have any plans for a bigger multi-state headlining tour after this Colorado run concludes?

We have tons of stuff in the works right now, and I’m hoping to get out into the country more and more as things progress.

Any specific inspirations from when you were younger? Music and non-music inspirations?

Music is a representation of our life to date, a culmination of everything we have

I am looking forward to this summer so much! I would really like to play Shambhala, I went once as a fan and it blew my mind! Also really looking forward to starting to play some international fests.

Looking forward to seeing what you have planned for the rest of 2018, can we expect any upcoming releases?

I have a ton of unreleased music. I’m plotting on how to release it, but it will be coming to light soon. There is no shortage of tunes! I just started what I call the “GetDown Key” which is subgenres of my style represented by different shapes on the album art. SoHeavy: Diamond; SoGroovy: Triangle; SoChill: Circle You just came out with “Kill Em,” collaborating with Kyral and Banko - very tight. I saw on Twitter that you want to collab with Ganja White Night, are there any other artists you’d like to collab with?

There is a long list of artists I would like to collab with!

I have some collabs in the works with some artists that I really respect! Can’t wait to share them! ¯ CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

The Scene | SPRING 2018 | 17

w e i v e r album

SALUTATIONS T S R E B O R O CON

By Jessica Reynolds Editor of The Scene Oh, Conor, I’ve missed you.

It’s just that you hadn’t been yourself lately, and it didn’t go unnoticed. With Salutations, though, it feels like you’ve come home. Home to that waltz-y, folk-y, grunge-y sound with which I first fell in love on Bright Eyes masterpieces Lifted and I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning.

Salutations, the seventh full-length solo release from the singer-songwriter, features re-worked, fleshed out, fullband versions of tracks from 2016’s Ruminations, plus seven new songs and contributions from Pearl Charles, Jim James, Blake Mills, Gus Seyffert, Maria Taylor, Nathaniel Walcott, M. Ward, Gillian Welch and Jonathan Wilson. With a total of 17 songs and a runtime of over an hour, Salutations is a substantial listen.

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WINTER 2018

Although many of the lyrics are the same as the last album because the songs are remixes, these newly reworked tunes feel like the old Conor, as if you’re seated across from him in a smoky room and he’s singing just for you in that raw, wavering voice I’ve come to know. If you’re a fan of his previous solo work or Bright Eyes work, you’ll definitely be into Salutations.

With warm, robust instrumentation – including a hefty helping of fiddle and harmonica – it feels like Conor is getting back to his roots with this album. Ruminations was fine. It was different and new and ambitious, and I enjoyed it because I enjoy everything he does. But, because I’m a creature of habit, I wasn’t overly zealous about his reliance on piano and the more-polished feel of the album.

Although the songs were supposedly “stripped down” and just him, they felt unfinished – too sparse. I wanted messy, raw, full, genuine circus-style Conor, and that’s what he gave us with Salutations.

when Oberst sings “And I love her torn stockings and her lipstick of red” and his voice cracks gloriously, genuinely. (Why does this man sing so often about prostitutes?) I’m also obsessed with the beautiful, haunting female harmonies in “Barbary Point (Later).”

Oberst just announced he’ll play two shows with John Prine in November in the Midwest, and I’m still kicking myself for not seeing him live when he was in the area several years ago. For now, I’ll have to settle for imagining he’s across the room from me while listening to Salutations, which, in my opinion, is easily the greatest installment in his solo discography. ¯

As per usual, the new tracks are full of edgy, quirky, bitter lyrics that are lightened with folk-rock licks in three-quarters time. Standout moments for me are in “Too Late to Fixate,”

CONOROBERST.COM

moe@thepalace Welcome Back,

Rob!

Cancer stood no chance against this bad boy on bass.

PHOTOS BY CHAD RITCHKO

The Scene | SPRING 2018 | 19

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