A visit to the mailbag finds New York Rock, Final Friday at the Mack, reminder of Styleen’s

First off, I like it when the name fits the band. Mike Brindisi & the New York Rock. Sounds like front man Mike leads an outfit that plays some homegrown rock ‘n’ roll. That’s the way it rolls out of the Ithaca-based band’s new five-song collection, “Taste.” That title, too, fits the bill. The rock…

Rusted Root will showcase that lasting cool vibe at first Long Branch Jam

Two decades later, the first time I saw Rusted Root on the stage still thunders in my mind. The beat. The passion. The voices. The way all of those significant pleasures blended into quite memorable songs. After the set, I picked my jaw back up from the ground and went wandering backstage in search of…

WoodFellas lend their hip-hop cool to video song for Syracuse Chiefs

There’s a new video out that pledges allegiance to the Syracuse Chiefs. It’s titled “Chiefsville,” and it weaves a pretty cool hip-hop mood throughout NBT Bank Stadium. You can find the video on YouTube. The stars of the show come from Syracuse hip-hop crew WoodFellas, Dan Ignacio and Danny Velez, joined by Nikki Feroni. They…

Woo, doo, boo, be-doop-da-boop: Giacomo Gates will bring vocalese to M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest

One more addition to the M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest has become official. Executive director and founder Frank Malfitano has announced that Giacomo Gates will sing at 5 p.m. on July 5. On Sunday, Malfitano revealed that Manhattan Transfer vocalist Cheryl Bentine will team with lyricist, vocalist and hipster Mark Winkler at 5 p.m. July Fourth,…

‘West Coast Cool’ of Cheryl Bentine and Mark Winkler added to M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest lineup

One TBA at the M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest has officially become WCC. The addition to the national lineup for the July 4 date of the three-day, free-admission festival at Jamesville Beach Park has been announced by executive director and founder Frank Malfitano. Manhattan Transfer vocalist Cheryl Bentine will team with lyricist, vocalist and hipster Mark…

Lunch with an old student reveals great dreams for a new beginning

Keep in touch, I told my smiling students that final day of Music Journalism classes. I meant it. We’d just spent a Le Moyne College semester exploring the glory of words and music together. I hoped they’d gotten as much out of our collective efforts as their teacher had. I was the one who shined…

To save The Sound Garden in Syracuse, go to college

Listen to the people. Do not force The Sound Garden to shut down its Armory Square store. News accounts in the Syracuse morning daily told of a crowd of 50 or so folks that gathered in front of City Hall in support of the record store. The nub of the matter is an ordinance that…

Time to check in on “American Idol” and “The Voice” before they butt heads at 8 p.m.

Call it the Singing Show Showdown. The three singers left on this season of “American Idol” perform for the spots in the coveted finale. The FOX cameras were rolling as Kree Harrison, Angela Miller and Candice Glover traveled home to face stunning adulation, too. The hometown visits have proved to be one of the most…

Up in the Jamesville Beach Park sky, 22 balloons; on the stage, classic rock

Expect an invasion of music lovers from the Lilac City on Friday, June 28. Rochester rocker Lou Gramm is headlining the first of three nights of the 34th annual Syracuse Ballonfest in Jamesville Beach Park. Organizers announced details of the June 28 to 39 event this morning on a grassy field at the park. Honored…

Tell me about it, and I’ll share the news

As we head toward what promises to be a more springlike weekend here in Central New York, for the first time on markbialczak.com, I will shine my sun on a couple of nuggets from my email bag (and Facebook message list). •Rockers Hard Promises filled the house at Upstairs at the Dinosaur last weekend for…