Capella Grey throws a party in the Bronx with new “Baechester” music video

November 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Per his request, fans of Capella Grey flocked to New York City’s Baychester subway station with hopes of appearing in his music video for “Baechester.”

The visual, helmed by New York-based director jacktrvdes, sees Capella leading a party of sorts in various Uptown locations, which he describes as sentimental to those familiar with the neighborhood.

“This is for the shorties wit da lip gloss that got off the 5 @ baychester and walked over the bridge,” he wrote in his social media casting call.

Capella doesn’t mention the word Baychester anywhere in the song; he titled it that way, he said, because the upbeat track is nostalgic and reminds him of life growing up in the Bronx.

The tune and vibe of “Baechester” is similar to Capella’s 2021 breakthrough hit, “Gyalis,” which also has an official music video shot in Uptown.

“Gyalis” became widely recognized as the “song of the summer” and earned Capella his first Billboard top 10 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Check out “Baechester” on the YouTube channel for Capella’s music label, Allepac the Family.

Gene Simmons and Neil Young leave X following controversial Elon Musk comments

November 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Rockers Gene Simmons and Neil Young have both announced they are leaving X, formerly known as Twitter. The move comes as several companies have pulled ads from the social media site after owner Elon Musk seemed to endorse a post that included comments that have been deemed antisemitic.

Simmons, who is Jewish and was born in Israel, simply posted, “Friends, I’ve decided to end my X/Twitter posting.” He shared links to his Instagram, TikTok and Threads accounts.

Young announced his decision to leave on his Archives website, sharing a photo of Musk with the caption, “Teslas should fly flags of love – not hate.”

“We are stopping all use of X that we can control,” the site reads. “For reasons that should be obvious to the richest man on Earth, we are taking action against his company.”

It continued with a message to both Palestinian and Jewish friends, noting, “We do need to start over in the present and release our terrible connections to the past. As bad as they are, they need to be forgotten so we can be free to move on in life together, all humanity, focused on saving our planet for future generations of all people.”

Musk has since come out and denied he is antisemitic, writing on X, “This past week, there were hundreds of bogus media stories claiming that I am antisemitic. Nothing could be further from the truth. I wish only the best for humanity and a prosperous and exciting future for all.”

Måneskin shares video for ‘RUSH!’ deluxe bonus track, “OFF MY FACE”

November 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Måneskin has premiered the video for “OFF MY FACE,” a bonus track included on the deluxe version of the band’s latest album, RUSH!

The clip captures a performance of the Italian rockers in a tight closeup, and features quick cuts of the band members dancing and vamping for the camera. You can watch it streaming now on YouTube.

The deluxe RUSH!, dubbed RUSH! (ARE U COMING?), was released on November 10. It includes a total of five bonus tracks, four of which — “OFF MY FACE,” “VALENTINE,” “THE DRIVER” and “HONEY (ARE U COMING?)” — have gotten videos.

The original RUSH! was released in January, and includes the singles “SUPERMODEL” and “THE LONELIEST.”

Blondie’s Chris Stein doubts he will play live with the band again

November 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Blondie guitarist Chris Stein hasn’t played with the band in over a year, after telling fans in April 2022 that he had to sit out of shows due to an irregular heartbeat. He’s also living with prostate cancer, and all of that has led him to realize he isn’t likely to tour again.

“I miss it a little [playing live], but it’s a lot of work, and I did it for 50 years, I kind of got it out of my system,” he shares in a new interview with The Sunday Times. “It’s doubtful I’m gonna do more shows at this point.”

Stein says the rock star lifestyle has left him feeling “a little fatigued,” and he seems to regret some of the decisions he made over the years.

“All this stuff caught up with me in my old age,” he explains. “Don’t do drugs, kids, is all I can say. All that sh** I did over the years didn’t help.”

Fans will soon be able to read all about Stein’s rock star life. He recently announced that his memoir, Under A Rock, will be released June 11. It is available for preorder now.

Busta Rhymes shares track + producer list for new album, ‘Blockbusta’

November 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

The new album on the way from Busta Rhymes, titled Blockbusta, includes a long list of hip-hop stars on and off the mic.

Quavo, Bia, Young Thug, Burna Boy, DaBaby, Coi Leray and Shenseea are among the project’s featured rap artists. Also listed on the 19-song track list Busta recently shared on social media are singers Chris Brown, Yung Bleu and T-Pain.

On the producer side of things the “Touch It” rapper tapped Hitmaka (Nicki Minaj, Meek Mill, Lil Durk), Navi Beats (Yung Bleu, Mariah Carey), Wheezy Outta Here (Future, Gunna, Drake) and more.

The group of beat-makers join previously announced album executive producers Swizz Beatz, Pharrell Williams and Timbaland, along with Busta.

In announcing Blockbusta, the four EPs gathered to discuss the importance of the collaboration.

“You really feel illuminated,” Pharrell said. “This illumination is good because I think people are going to be able to get and feel that.”

Busta’s 11th studio album is expected out Friday, November 24.

AC/DC fans pick “Thunderstruck” for their Christmas #1 campaign

November 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

AC/DC fans have decided on what song they want to make #1 for Christmas.

Earlier this month, in honor of the band’s 50th anniversary, the Facebook fan group AC/DC We Salute You launched a campaign to get an AC/DC single on top of the U.K. chart for the holidays. After a vote, fans have decided to concentrate their efforts into the 1990 song “Thunderstruck.”

The campaign follows the one the band launched in 2013 for their 40th anniversary. They set out to get the classic AC/DC single “Highway To Hell” to the top of the U.K. chart but ultimately got it to #4.

“It is fitting in a way. Last time out, we championed a Bon Scott song. This time, we’re championing a Brian Johnson song,” the group shares. They advise that fans download “Thunderstruck” between December 15 and December 21 to have the best chance at that coveted Christmas #1.

In other AC/DC news, drummer Phil Rudd tells New Zealand’s Stuff that he’s auctioning off some of his personal items to help raise money for a cancer charity in honor of his best friend Toni Wilson, who is dying from breast cancer. Items that will go up for auction include AC/DC gear, drum sticks played while performing, memorabilia and even a sports car. Proceeds will go to the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.

Elton John honored at Evening Standard Theatre Awards in London

November 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Elton John has won several awards, including a Tony, for his stage musicals, but on November 19, he was given a special award for his contributions to the art form as a whole.

At the Evening Standard Theatre Awards in London, handed out by the U.K. paper The Evening Standard, Elton received the Editors Award for “bringing his collaborative musical spirit to theatre.” Among Elton’s hit musicals are The Lion King, Billy Elliot, Aida and Tammy Faye, which was a hit this year in London’s West End and is moving to Broadway next year.

Elton was presented the award by his collaborator on Tammy Faye, Jake Shears of the group Scissor Sisters, and by Culture Club‘s Boy George, who will be returning to Broadway next year with a role in Moulin Rouge: The Musical.

On Instagram, Elton wrote, “Creating music for the stage has been some of the most gratifying projects for me, from the Lion King to Billy Elliot and now Tammy Faye, so thank you to the editors for this award as well as @jakeshears and @boygeorgeofficial for presenting it to me. With @tammyfayebway coming next year, I couldn’t be more proud of this recognition. Thank you.”

In other Elton news, earlier this month, he was presented with a plaque recognizing that his best-of compilation Diamonds has been RIAA certified multi-Platinum for sales of more than two million copies.

Puscifer releases soundtrack to ‘Global Probing’ streaming concert

November 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Puscifer has released the soundtrack to their recent Global Probing streaming concert.

The show, which first premiered on October 26, included performances of songs off the Maynard James Keenan-led band’s 2020 album, Existential Reckoning, interwoven various skits and productions related to the group’s various characters and mythology.

If you missed the stream when it first happened, you can now purchase or rent Global Probing now via iTunes and PusciferTV.com. For a preview, you can check out a newly released live video for the Global Probing performance of “The Humbling River,” streaming now on YouTube.

Puscifer will hit the road in 2024 on the Sessanta tour celebrating Keenan’s 60th birthday. The bill also includes fellow MJK band A Perfect Circle and Primus.

Musical featuring music of Dusty Springfield, Lesley Gore & more to open in New York City

November 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

A musical featuring songs made famous by Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark, Lesley Gore and more is set to make its Off Broadway debut next year.

Deadline reports A Sign of the Times will begin previews at the New World Stages in New York City on Wednesday, February 7, with the musical opening Thursday, February 22. It features such popular ’60s hits as “Downtown,” “Gimme Some Lovin’,” “Rescue Me,” “I Know A Place” and more.

Set in the summer of 1965, the musical revolves around a young female photographer trying to survive in New York City.

So far, no casting has been announced.

While this will be the musical’s Off Broadway debut, it’s not the first time it’s ever been staged. It originally played at Connecticut’s Goodspeed Musicals’ Norma Terris Theatre in 2016, and had another run in 2018 at the Delaware Theatre Company.

Geddy Lee gives update on the future of Rush

November 20, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Rush’s Geddy Lee recently revealed that the book may not be closed on him and bandmate Alex Lifeson touring again, although Lifeson’s health issues may prevent it from happening. Apparently, that’s not the only thing that may keep Lifeson off the road.

Geddy tells Rolling Stone that Lifeson may not be keen to tour because he wasn’t “super happy in the last few tours” and got bored quickly. “I think being away and touring is more difficult for him to be happy,” he explains.

If they ever tour again, it will be the first time since the 2020 death of their drummer Neil Peart, and Geddy isn’t so sure they should go out using the name Rush.

“I don’t know how comfortable we would be doing that, calling ourselves Rush, and it’s all speculation because … Honestly, it’s unlikely to happen,” he says. “That’s a conversation for probably another time, but we might not be super comfortable.” He then joked, “But we could always call ourselves some other stupid name, or Rash.”

When the suggestion “Lee and Lifeson” came up, he wasn’t happy with that either, noting, “‘Lee and Lifeson Play the Songs of Rush.’ That really sounds like an old-fart Eighties band.”

On a positive note, Geddy, whose memoir, My Effin’ Life, is out now, suggested the possibility of new music from him and Lifeson isn’t out of the question, although they currently don’t have anything planned.

“Would I like to write some more music? Now, yes, I would. I am ready for that,” he says. “Does Alex want to write some more music with me? Yes, he does. He’s made that very clear. And that’s something I will try to do with him over the coming year.”

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