The Big Takeover

Since 2007, the New York six-piece The Big Takeover has been fulfilling the mission implied in their name: packing clubs in the city and upstate and building their brand and reputation on the road and in the studio. A far cry from the pop-punk of American ska, The Big Takeover take their cues from Desmond Dekker and the first wave of Jamaican pop music as well as from the soulful energy and sophistication of Motown. At the center of this tight, grooving ensemble is the live-wire singing and deceptively subtle songwriting of the Jamaican-born NeeNee Rushie, a powerhouse performer who makes the audience feel like accomplices more than spectators. Traditional and experimental, The Big Takeover’s global blend reveals deep fluency in reggae and world music, hints of soul, and a pop classicism that is their own thing entirely. In New York’s musically hopping Mid-Hudson Valley, they are only the band around that is welcomed and honored at all the major national-circuit rooms: the indie/experimental haven of BSP in Kingston, the jazz and blues gem that is the Falcon in Marlboro, the classic rock mecca of the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock. The Big Takeover packs them all. On the road, the band has played over 500 shows, sharing stages with The Original Wailers, Jefferson Starship, Eek-a-Mouse, the Slackers and more. The band was recently selected to participate in a Converse Rubber Tracks Session in Brooklyn NY, and released their fourth full-length record, ‘Silly Girl’ in 2017- to critical acclaim.

www.bigtakeoverband.com

Eugene Stetz

Self taught 28 year old painter, author, and street expressionist from High Falls, New York. Works range from fine arts to illustration, video, photography, and writing, to large scale murals painted all over the Americas. More info on www.STETZiSM.com

http://youtube.com/stetzism

Mr. Prvrt

Born on a family farm in upstate New York, Justin Suarez is an artist who brings together the rural and the urban. Celebrating wildlife, he paints flora and fauna flawlessly over concrete and brick. The animals he paints come to life as the viewer is drawn into the world of the painting. With over 15 years experience, he has painted murals across the US, and his work has been exhibited around the world. Justin Suarez brings the intensity of a raptor to his artistic endeavors, as well as his work as valued handler of birds of prey at Wild Wings Animal Sanctuary outside Rochester, NY, he is able to capture the majesty of the natural world through his explosive graphics and remarkable technique. He also works well with humans, with a rich history of collaborating with other artists on a vast array of murals. He is responsible, punctual, a master of logistics and a born team player.

In the fall of 2015, Suarez co-founded Roc Paint Division, the City of Rochester’s Youth Mural Arts Program.” Roc Paint is just that and yet so much more. Under the leadership of local artists, Justin Suarez, Lisa Barker and Sarah Rutherford, Roc Paint Division’s mission was to beautify the city’s R-Centers through mural arts while providing employment and training opportunities to young developing artists. What developed through the initial 13-week pilot program in 2016 was nothing short of phenomenal. A team of seven youth created murals at 6 of the City’s R-Centers. The murals were unified by their common theme of growth, chosen in part to acknowledge the major role that the R-Centers play in the lives of the young people who spend time there during their formative years. The project not only provided the seven youth with work experience, it resulted in breath-taking artistic depictions of youth, energy and hope that glow like beacons from the corners of the community that they shine from.

www.mrprvrt.com

John Breiner

John Breiner
(b. Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 1980)

Growing up in New York with an early love for Comics, skateboarding and graffiti I’ve maintained a career as an Illustrator / fine artist and muralist for well over two decades. While the focus of my personal work revolves around the reuse of found items, (specifically old paper, books and book jackets) I’ve also painted large-scale murals, various private commissions and designs as well as curated a number of group art shows and installations.

My works has been exhibited internationally (Turkey, Italy, Switzerland and China) as well as nationally in New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, Washington D.C, Philadelphia and San Francisco.

After residing in New York City for the last 13 years, I’m currently living and working as an artist and DJ in New York’s Hudson Valley region.

www.johnbreiner.com

https://vimeo.com/64609049

BoogieREZ

My creatures are my energy; my ‘Optimistic Rebels’ filled with imagination, curiosity, emotions and ambition. I create my creatures to inspire, to connect, and to share my life experiences — all with the greater purpose of positively impacting reality with others.

I am driven by Optimism the (art) movement and always seek to include International Optimism Yellow (‘INT-O Yellow’) into my work. INT-O Yellow is a color that was developed by fellow artist, Uncle Riley and UMEWE, the art and design social benefit collaborative, as a platform to work in solidarity with other artists to brighten the world and bring awareness to Depression cause.

There’s not much rhyme and not much reason in the world these days, but there are definitely rhythms. Vibrations emanating and bouncing off one another, the basics of life and connectivity.

As a dancer I feeeel these vibration, as a artist I generate these vibrations.

Perhaps when we find our purpose, we have found the most focused vibration and the frequency which transform us on an atomic level.

It is through this focused vibration that I have conceived my piece. It is an honor to be part of this project and I and delighted to share and unleash my Optimistic creatures on the 69th floor!

About Boogie:
Japanese American Street-artist who crafts detailed imaginary creatures, flowing abstractions and fun-loving characters. Her body of work taps into the flow of the streets, the vibrations of dance culture and blends the technical mastery of traditional Japanese prints with urban imagery, materials and locations.

boogierez.com

http://www.fox5ny.com/news/237484362-video

The Evolving Wordsmiths

Drey Macon: He captures your attention with his amazing eye for photography, and his emotionally conscious poetry will leave you feeling vulnerable in an astounding way. Drey has encompassed fashion, poetry, and photography that’s understood and loved by all walks of life.

Giancarlo Llaverias: A New Paltz’s graduate who studied communication and neuroscience with a background in Afro-Latino studies and marketing. A lover of the arts and musician who has accompanied Poet Gold.

Jen Herman: A: passionate social justice advocate working to address sexual violence response and prevention. Spoken word artist currently pursuing a Masters in Social Work.

Miles Xavier Wellington-Deanda aka Spokenwyrd: Spoken word artist working as a mental health peer counselor working to address stigmatization and gaps in our mental health system.

Madeline Henriquez: Poet, comedian and personal chef advocating for health equity to reduce disparities and empowering individuals to make healthful decisions and connect to health and social resources.

Joshua “Terruhwrist” Cirilo: What some say is a dying clan, Terruhwrist breathes life to and leads a new generation of socially aware lyricist who has heavy ties with hip hop. His wordplay is innovative and attention demanding in any cipher.

Jo’Van O’Neal: The 24-year-old Newburgh NY native is an enigmatic spirit who channels that mystery into art. Whether it be poetry or music, Jo’Van O’Neal capitalizes on the disparaging nature of his home city and uses it as a catalyst to build his work. His poetry covers a numerous of intersectional sociopolitical topics that provoke thought and emotion.

Scruffy Pearls

Scruffy Pearls is a multi-genre band made up of two couples and two good friends from New York City. Their songs are inspired by a 13-year romance, the ups and downs of dream chasing, and the belief that “Good Things” will come.

Actress/singer Carly Brooke’s jazzy vocals bring a retro essence to the group’s modern soul-pop songs, whilst bright horn arrangements and deep rhythmic grooves enhance their unique yet nostalgic sound.

Scruffy Pearls’ first single, “Good Things” is about letting go of the “shoulda,coulda,woulda’s” in life, and going after what you love. Their self-titled EP, produced by Cass Dillon, was released on October 2016 and is now available on Spotify, iTunes, and Pandora Radio.

https://www.scruffypearls.com

Carl Chesna & Co.

Carl was born in Sleepy Hollow, NY, and played in local bands from the age of 13 until he moved to NYC’s East village 10 years later. He lived in New York for about a decade, performing regularly in and around the city, and formed the indie label, “Regular Records.” What started as a vanity label for his critically acclaimed EP, “The Psychology of Waiting” ended up growing to promote a healthy roster of NYC-based artists – a musically diverse crew, including: 46bliss, Abby Straus, Amy Coleman, and Lasonya Gunter. His song, “St. Anthony” has received airplay worldwide and even prompted his being interviewed by an arts magazine in Budapest. He relocated to Asbury Park, NJ in 2001, and has been part of the Jersey Shore music community ever since. He performs in and around Asbury Park on a regular basis, and has begun to re-record his debut full-length CD, “Prayer to the Black Madonna”. He has started the Asbury Wax Cylinder Recordings label, and wrote the Mercury Retrograde Society column for Aquarian Music Magazine. Chesna was nominated for “Top Male Acoustic” at the 2010 Asbury Music Awards and played at their Awards ceremony at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park.

https://www.carlchesna.com

Band of Others

Band of Others was founded in 2013 when two lifelong musicians, a guitarist and drummer, met on the R train while taking their daughters to school in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. They discovered a mutual affinity for the reverb drenched surf sounds and spaghetti western soundtracks of the early 60’s, outlaw country and obscure garage bands. Not satisfied with the sounds of the local music scene, they decided to start their own project and become the kind of band they had always wanted to see. They soon had their first gig, at a PTA meeting. Since then, Band of Others has become a regular on the club circuit in Brooklyn and Manhattan, playing at Freddy’s, Hank’s, The Cobra Club, Black Bear and the Way Station in Brooklyn, Desmond’s Tavern, Otto’s Shrunken Head, Pianos, The Shrine and Leftfield Bar in Manhattan, performing both as a band and as sidemen in various projects.
Band of Others features Bobby Other on guitar and lead vocals, Danny Other on drums and vocals and Chico Otro on rhythm guitar and vocals and Johnny Other on bass. “All of our originals are either biographical or carry a social message,” said Bobby Other. “We’re too old to write love songs about teenage girls, and we don’t hear a lot of politically conscious songs, or songs with grown up subject matter these days, so we decided to fill that gap ourselves.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVNGUR8GwVk&t=1117s

https://soundcloud.com/bob-hudock

Monogold

In an interview with The Village Voice before the release of their last album, Monogold told the Internet “We’re a fucking rock band.” Since the release of 2015’s “Good Heavens” (which was Monogold’s acoustic-based effort) they have torn down any preconceived notions that they or anyone else had of them. After completely stripping down their sound for “Good Heavens”, the Monogold boys took this new foundation of simplicity and started building with their signature, catchy power-trio melodies and hooks. They still like to go deep on the lush soundscapes, but their songs have become a bit more focused and driven by the instrumentation and the vocals.

With their new EP – Yolk, Kelly, Apuzzo, and Falotico are giving the world a small taste of what is to come in the future of the band. The four song EP is a prelude to another full length record which is in the process of being mixed right now. As with their new found musical simplicity, the lyrical content will tackle the simple things: breastfeeding, giving birth, being born, fucking, bugs, and of course, penises and vaginas meeting for the first time.

https://www.monogoldmusic.com