Archives: Alumnus

Payne’s Grey Sky is an American roots rock band from Kingston NY. Jimi Scheffel (lead vocals, guitar), Rich Dymond (bass, backing vocals) and Dave Sahloff (drums) formed the band in 2009. PGS often includes Hawk Hermann (fiddle, backing vocals) and Betsy Scheffel (backing vocals). In June 2015, PGS released their first CD of original music, the self-titled Payne’s Grey Sky. A number of tracks can be heard in rotation on local radio stations, WDST, WKZE and WVKR. Almanac Weekly music critic, John Burdick wrote in his review of the CD, “Lyrically, it is bardic, perching with impeccable balance between personal and social, addressing relationship challenges in a high diction that could just as easily be describing the historical moment. Musically, it’s ecstatic chamber/ folk rock …”

Over the years, Payne’s Grey Sky has lovingly donated their time for local fundraising events, including YWCA’s Tunes for Tots, the Ulster Police Women’s Auxiliary’s Coming Together for Kids, the Gruner Memorial Bike for Cancer Care, and The Delisio Memorial Golf Tournament benefiting the Special Olympics. In 2014, Payne’s Grey Sky was presented with the “Y” Ally award from the Ulster County YWCA for their support of this great local organization.

The band performs frequently at a number of local venues throughout the Hudson Valley, many of which are supporters of the O+ festival year after year.

http://paynesgreysky.com

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC054gB0c55UKgECToglWb8g

Hardc0re is a 14 year old DJ/Producer from NY.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE30jl_YkNgUQQgajqTlODQ

In the summer of 2014, at a crossroad in her life, singer and guitarist ran away with longtime band mates Jesse Bolduc and Jon Cantiello. They moved in together immediately and became a happy family.

http://www.candyambulance.com/

The world’s greatest (and only) all hockey rock band. The Zambonis formed in 1991 when defenseman/guitarist/singer Dave Schneider ask brothers Tarquin and Peter Katis if they want to start a group that played nothing but songs about hockey.
The boys said yes and hockey rock was born.
The only band to claim The Beatles and Wayne Gretzky as two major influences.
What sounds like an absolutely stupid, horrible idea turns out to please music fans, critics and hockey people like it too.
Rave reviews and features in the Ny Times, Sports Illustrated, The New Yorker, ESPN Magazine, LA Times, Magnet Magazine and many more has proven over and over that these guys are not only not a joke band but, are no joke.

Savvy songwriting, musicianship and wit exceeds the one dimension you would expect. Not only can they carve out great songs about hockey, life, love and hockey again but, in 1997 they received a cease and desist from the actual Zamboni® Company. After teams of lawyers battled it out, the two left the lawyers in the office and met in person. The off ice battle, was simply resolved with a hand written letter asking The Company to please not make us change our names to “The Motorized Ice Resurfacing Machines”.

25 years, 9 records, a bunch of jerseys and a whole lot of fun.
Hockey rock is alive and kicking in 2017

WWW.THEZAMBONIS.COM

Hammydown has made your salad, and scooped the foam onto your cappuccino. She’s scrubbed your splattered walls and vacuumed the dust from beneath your bed on her hands and knees. She’s delivered your pizza. A boss will say time and time again that it doesn’t cost anything extra to give service with a smile. With her quirky, lyric driven garage pop, Hammydown (aka Abbie Morin) digs at the true price that she and so many people like her have to pay. Gritty guitar, and wry humor capture the plight of the millennial slacker – those who button up and drag their way through the work week, try to pursue creative passions, but still just feel like losers. Based in Northampton, Mass, Hammydown is due to release the debut EP ‘Pizzaface’ on July 21, 2017.

hammydownmusic.com

Amity is an indie rock band based in the Hudson Valley. Releasing their first EP in June of 2017.

amityames.com

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Viva Le Vox began near Lake Worth, Florida in 2008 when Tony thorazine shuffled out of rehab, and has been rolling down the road in one form or another ever since. With the return of original bull-fiddle extraordinaire, Scarecrow Jenkins; and addition of Tugboat on drums, Tony Bones and the boys don’t plan on slowing anytime soon.

www.vivalevox.org

www.youtube.com/vivalevox

www.soundcloud.com/viva-le-vox

Hailing from Ithaca in Upstate New York, Zero Mean is a dark smoky haze of loud heavy fuzz, warble, and damaged haunting melodies that create an other worldly atmosphere. A mix of genres mutating, noise, punk, post-punk, shoegaze, doom, drone and metal.

“Zero Mean are an Ithaca/Central NY based trio who get low and fuzzy with their original and progressive punk-infused shoe-gaze. The band has a heart made of pure art, and can get as loud as anyone in the region and beyond. They’re dark, light, and wonderfully varied. ” – Christopher Harrington, The Ithaca Times

https://zeromean.bandcamp.com

THE MAMMALS ARE BACK

Mike + Ruthy, touring American folk act and founders of The Mammals are bringing back the band that energized crowds in the 00’s and gave them their start. “The music we’re making has old-time and Americana roots, and our lyrics have gotten more political again,” says Ruth Ungar. It’s true, The Mammals were known for their rabble-rousing musical statements which sometimes caused a stir with politically divided audiences from LA to MI. “If you tell the whole truth you won’t please everyone,” smiles Mike Merenda. He’s the songwriter and guitar/banjo player who’s 2004 Mammals anthem “The Bush Boys” made the Dixie Chicks seem downright polite.

This time around their goals remain two-fold: raise positive social awareness & have a good party! In their recent tenure as “Mike + Ruthy” they began a home-town festival near Woodstock, NY called The Hoot which exemplifies these ideals. Pete Seeger, who performed at the inaugural Summer Hoot wrote “Your Hoot was one of the best song gatherings I’ve seen in all my 94 years.” Perhaps it was the multi-generational celebration, the hand-built wooden stage, or the re-usable pint cups – either way, these musicians take pride in the small details that make a big difference. “Our lives are about building community and growing together,” says Ungar.

The Mammals have released a rowdy live-in-the-living-room video of the song “On My Way Home” and are digitally sharing a pair of topical tunes, “Culture War” and “Beautiful One” from their website themammals.love this Spring.

http://themammals.love