Fly By Midnight Gives New York The Feels at Mercury Lounge

 
Justin Bryte (left) & Justin Salvo (right) performing live at Mercury Lounge. Photo courtesy of Sergio Carrasco.

Justin Bryte (left) & Justin Salvo (right) performing live at Mercury Lounge. Photo courtesy of Sergio Carrasco.

Fly By Midnight performed at Mercury Lounge last week after a prolonged absence from their native New York City. The indie-retro pop sensation, known for their charm, unique vocals and infectious hooks, packed-out the legendary LES venue with screaming fans as they performed covers and songs from their compilation album “New York Nostalgia.”

The Staten Island duo have had a successful 2018 so far, coming off the heels of a successful college tour, the release of their break-up song, ‘Just Say It” (on Valentines Day we might add) and a compilation album of previously released singles back in March. Recently, Fly By Midnight was one of the first artists to be voted solely by their fans to perform at this year’s Firefly Music Festival in July.

Justin Salvo with emotion on stage at Mercury Lounge. Photo courtesy of Sergio Carrasco.

Justin Salvo with emotion on stage at Mercury Lounge. Photo courtesy of Sergio Carrasco.

Fly By Midnight opened their headliner with two unreleased tracks on Wednesday that showcased the duos groovy basslines, gushy harmonies and retro-pop elements that blossomed perfectly with Fly By’s seductive vocals.

Fly By Midnight crooning underneath the lights. Photo courtesy of Sergio Carrasco.

Fly By Midnight crooning underneath the lights. Photo courtesy of Sergio Carrasco.

We were trilled to watch Fly By Midnight perform “All The Feels,” which they performed that morning at Billboard Studios. Their performance highlighted some of Fly By Midnight’s best traits with stellar production, sex appeal and a two-step basslines that had Mercury Lounge grooving the night away.

Their performances to “Vinyl” and “Just Say It” displayed Fly By’s resilient stage presence that exemplified their strong fan engagement and humble approach within their music. We sang along harmoniously and clapped to the beat, as Fly By put on an anthem-esque style performance on, “Vinyl,” under Mercury’s flashing lights. On “Just Say It,” the band jammed out with commanding, yet sensual vocals, strong guitar licks and a powerful drum set that kept the audiences hands in the air.

Official break up song visual for "Just Say It" by Fly By Midnight.

Along with amazing renditions to Michelle Branch’s “Everywhere” and The Beatle’s timeless hit “Hey Jude,” Fly By Midnight closed out their set with their chart-topping track, “Vibe” ending the night with an explosively rich performance with alluring melodies and a breezy summery feel that lit up the crowd.

Justin Bryte on stage at Mercury Lounge. Photo courtesy of Sergio Carrasco.

Justin Bryte on stage at Mercury Lounge. Photo courtesy of Sergio Carrasco.

Fly By Midnight crouching in front of the crowd at Mercury Lounge. Photo courtesy of Sergio Carrasco.

Fly By Midnight crouching in front of the crowd at Mercury Lounge. Photo courtesy of Sergio Carrasco.

With their consistent fan engagement, unique music style and charming on-stage presence, it’s no wonder why Fly By Midnight is an emerging band that has rippled across the indie-pop landscape. With sold out shows in colleges and universities across the country, Fly By is slowly transitioning on becoming one of the larger names in the independent space.

Fly By Midnight playing live at Mercury Lounge. Photo courtesy of Sergio Carrasco.

Fly By Midnight playing live at Mercury Lounge. Photo courtesy of Sergio Carrasco.

Through their savvy use of social media, post-show presence and approachability the band has forged their path towards creating a growing and trending brand that strikes the hearts of their young fanbase.

Catch Fly By Midnight at a city near you and add their new single, “All The Feels,” to your playlist this week!

Fly By Midnight on stage at Mercury Lounge. Photo courtesy of Sergio Carrasco.

Fly By Midnight on stage at Mercury Lounge. Photo courtesy of Sergio Carrasco.

 

Marcus Machado - Bringing Back Lead Guitar at Soul in the Horn 2016

 
Marcus Machado at SummerStage 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos. 

Marcus Machado at SummerStage 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos. 

It was the Soul in the Horn festival at Herbert Von King Park in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn last Wednesday and the amphitheater was filled with the thick, smooth, sounds of Marcus Machado and his guitar. Performing among a line up of talented acts, such as Maurice “Mobetta” Brown and Kendra Foster, Machado stands out amongst a roster of serious talent that flowed together beautifully at this years Soul in the Horn Festival.

Machado strummed his guitar effortlessly with a full and powerful sound. The jazzy notes and bluesy rock arrangements closely resembled those from Machado’s legendary influencers, such as Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Carlos Santana and Eddie Hazel to name a few. Yet, Machado projected an upbeat, fun, unique and intricate arrangement that blend the sounds of blues, rock and jazz masterfully. During his performance, a five-piece band accompanied Machado on the drums, sax, bass, keys and smooth vocals, filling out the sound. Songs ranged from classic jazz, to full on “I absolutely must move my shoulders” funk.

Marcus Machado and band at SummerStage 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Marcus Machado and band at SummerStage 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Marcus Machado at SummerStage 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos

Marcus Machado at SummerStage 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos

The music had the whole crowd moving and filled the summery air with a sweet, smooth and positive vibe. One that Machado purposely created, reminding the audience to “give love” and “practice peace” throughout his performance. At a particularly beautiful moment, before one of his closing songs, he asked the audience to hold up their peace signs as he dedicated the piece to those we lost in the tragic Orlando attack, as well as Mohammad Ali and Prince, whom we also lost this year. The amphitheater quickly filled with peace signs in the air and a subtle moment of silence before launching into another graceful, roaring, guitar track.

Soul in The Horn 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos

Soul in The Horn 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos

If his undeniable talent isn't’ enough to consume you, his stage presence will be. Machado stands tall and cool, front and center of the stage, holding his guitar like it’s an extension of himself and strumming it casually as if it’s completely second nature. He has a swagger to the way he moves about the stage; nodding at this band and coyly demonstrating that he’s the one in charge.

Marcus Machado at Soul in The Horn 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Marcus Machado at Soul in The Horn 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

It’s not often you see the guitarist front and center, leading the show; which Machado is trying to change. As he said in Rolling Stone Magazine’s “Next Young Gun” featured article, “While I feel like these days there’s a lot of great players out there, something has changed where you don't’ really see guitar players as the lead people.” He’s doing his part to bring it back. The entire band was amazing, and delivered a full sound, but the guitar lead the way. And those guitar solos? Damn.

Soul in The Horn 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Soul in The Horn 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Soul in The Horn 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Soul in The Horn 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Seeing Machado playing live is a must. He willfully, and unapologetically, commands the stage beautifully with his presence, skill, and effervescent sense of love and harmony. He has dates here in New York from now through December. His guitar-powered EP, 29 is currently streaming on Spotify and on his website, Official Marcus Machado, where you can also see all of his show dates, bio and music. This artist is an act you don’t want to miss! 

 

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French HipHop/Blues Band Scarecrow Put On a Roaring Performance at Drom NYC

 

Very rarely do we get the chance to witness a group of music who can grasp the sounds of different cultures so effortlessly and harness them as their own. With the power of a roaring bluesy vocal, a groovy baseline and a smoking late 80’s/early 90’s sound, Scarecrow - The Blues Hip Hop showed us how artists can successfully master that calling. 

With much thanks to the combined efforts of The French Embassy and Bureau Export, Scarecrow showcased their talents for the France Rocks SummerFest in New York for the first time in over two years last Friday. We caught their performance at the mysteriously intimate and gypsy-esque Drom NYC amongst a group of music enthusiasts excited to take part in the French quartet’s latest act as they prepared for their second album, The Last, releasing this coming Friday.

Scarecrow’s featured performance was a spine chilling and aggressive piece that spoke of the band’s ingenuity and aesthetic appeal. Ahead of a thunderous and enticing intro, lead vocalist and bluesman, Slim Paul, let out a roaring vocal that channeled across the shadowy halls of Drom, crawling up its back-stage curtains and hurling towards us. It was a unique sound that truly blew us away: A kick-ass note that personified beautifully through Paul’s affirmed lyrical and edgy voice, labeling its mark at any New Orleans jazz club or Memphis BBQ joint.

What followed was a genre binding and sound twisting bar from French emcee, Antibiotik Daw, who also masterfully scratched the turntables with late 80’s/early 90’s urban adlibs, screeching hints of Chuck D, Run DMC and The Wu Tang Clan. Although we unfortunately couldn’t understand the fast hitting French lyrics, it was Antibiotik’s confidence, swag and all-out vibe that helped get our heads bopping, while the bluesy bass lines from Jamo and funky drum set from Le Pap, helped solidify Scarecrow’s urban and bluesy musical arrangements.

What really struck us was Scarecrow’s consistency. Whether their song was predominately hip-hop, blues, funk or a bit of both, the quartet meshed the sounds together flawlessly. When Antibiotik viciously spit on the mic, Slim Paul's raw vocals and Jamo's gripping guitar play brought Scarecrow's performance from the sounds of classic hop-hop into the essence of rock. Accompanied by Antibiotik’s scratches, we were constantly taken for a musical ride that stopped along 80’s hip-hop, 70’s funk and good old fashion dirt-road blues.

Scarecrow’s hip-hop elements, raw rural bluesy notes and urban-esque vibe provided the finishing touches on an already bubbling melting pot that billowed a steam enriched with generations of musical influences, cultures and instrumentation. Scarecrow’s continuous efforts to bridge together American and French music are groundbreaking. With sounds reminiscent of both Screamin' Jay Hawkins and 90's Hip-Hop, the group truly is deserving of their international praise. Their ability to embrace these different sounds allows them to conquer audiences in not only the U.S. or Europe, but throughout the world as they've performed over 400 shows in 10 countries and have a tenacity to produce even more.

This group can truly be an inspiration to aspiring artists and bands across the globe not only for their incredible showcases, gritty music, and cool vibes but for how they can bring cultures together. Somehow we seemed to have lost that in both the mainstream and independent music scenes, but Scarecrow tackles it head on. Truly, they are one of the best bands we’ve seen this year. Can’t wait to catch these guys again. Their new album, The Last, will be available for streaming and digital download this Friday, June 24, 2016. Make sure to catch Scarecrow the next time they’re in your city!

Make sure to listen and follow to Scarecrow – The Blues Hip-Hop music below.

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