NYS Music 20​13

Category: Troy

  • The Bayou Cafe in Albany changes its name to The Hollow Bar + Kitchen

    The Bayou Cafe in Albany, NY recently announced on their FaceBook fan page that they were under new ownership and now open under the new name, The Hollow Bar + Kitchen. The post explained that the new owners were grateful for all that the previous owner had done for the local music scene, but that they were ready to take the business in a new direction.

    In addition to the name change the Hollow boasts of bringing well known local Chef Henry Ciccone on board to help develop the new menu. Patrons can also expect a room-by-room remodel of the space with a promise to the ladies for a much more pleasant Woman’s Bathroom!

    Don’t worry live music lovers the new vision most definitely will include delivering the sweet tunes of some of the best original and cover bands in the region that the Albany Bayou was known for. The new owners want everyone to know that although the name and menu are changing they want to build on what the Bayou was to so many in the Albany music scene.

    We look forward to bringing the space back to what it has been known for over the past 10 years. Great food, great beer and great music. ~ The Hollow Bar + Kitchen

    The Hollow Bar + Kitchen
    79 North Pearl Street
    Albany, New York 12207

    Hours
    Mon: 5:00 pm – 12:00 am
    Tue – Thu: 11:30 am – 12:00 am
    Fri: 11:30 am – 4:00 am
    Sat: 4:00 pm – 4:00 am

    Twitter: @thehollowalbany | FaceBook | http://bayoucafe.com | Ph: (518) 426-8550

  • Passion Pit and Matt & Kim bring music back to the RPI Houston Field House

    It’s been over two years since music filled the historic RPI Houston Field House. That all changed in a big way when Passion Pit and Matt & Kim partied with several thousand of their closest fans. We can only hope this will be the first of many great concerts returning to RPI.

    Things kicked off with the indie-pop duo of Matt (Johnson) and Kim (Schifino). The super energetic couple ripped through many of their hit singles including “Now” and “Let’s Go” off their latest album, Lightning.  Throughout their performance, Schifino climbed her drums like a child on a playground jungle gym (and even crowd surfed at one point!) while Johnson supplied a playful and upbeat keyboard accompaniment to balance out the powerful bass. Both Schifino and Johnson regularly saluted the crowd, thanking them and expressing how excited they were to be playing the Capital Region again.

    Passion Pit continued the evening’s celebration. The five-member group from Cambridge, Massachusetts consists of Michael Angelakos (lead vocals, keyboards), Ian Hultquist (keyboards, guitar), Xander Singh (synthesizer), Jeff Apruzzese (bass, synthesizer bass), and Nate Donmoyer (drums). The band performed a well-balanced mix of hits including “Sleepyhead” from their first album Manners and “Carried Away” from their recent sophomore album Gossamer. Andelakos often engaged the accommodating crowd, coaxing them to sing along. The pinnacle of the evening was a powerful and moving rendition of the hit single “Take a Walk”.

    As expected, this evening was more than just a concert, it was a revival. It was the revival of music at the RPI Houston Field House.

  • Willy Moon introduces himself to Upstate NY at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, February 15th

    Willy Moon graced the small stage at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Troy this past Friday night, a free show courtesy of WEQX, for a short 45 minute set that had ladies dancing on the stage, Willy dripping in sweat and the crowd shaking to each song he performed.

    willy moonWith the crowd packed up and close to the lip of the stage, playback coupled with an intense drummer and guitarist held their own while Willy glided across the stage as though he were on a Hoverboard. With a voice like Elvis, moves like Jagger (which came from Elvis) and the looks and style of Joseph Gordon Levitt, Willy sang James Brown, soul numbers off his soon to be released debut album, as well as his popular hits “Yeah Yeah” and “I Wanna Be Your Man”. At one point, Willy looked a little winded, saying “I’ve been eating too many of these ribs and I’m all fucked up”, which got him cheers of applause from a crowd who could relate.

    Check out the interview with Willy Moon. This kid will be big one day

  • Willy Moon playing Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Troy on Friday, February 15th

    Every so often, a random musician plays in Upstate New York that scratches heads. One might ask, “Isn’t this guy bigger than playing a small venue for free?” or “How did they get these guys here?” – this can be said for The Lumineers playing a free show at Upstate Concert Hall in December, or Spanish DJ Danny Avila, who will be headlining Coachella and Ultra Music Festivals, playing The Westcott Theater on February 4th. Upstate New York being so accessible to New York City, it’s easy for acts to stretch out and get to the smaller locales and venues, and for that, Upstate New York is truly blessed.

    willy moonFor your consideration, another ‘Wow, HE’S playing up here?!’ is heading to the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Troy pm on Friday, February 15th. New Zealand-born and London-based singer Willy Moon. This is a free show that is part of the WEQX Miller Lite Concert Series. The show will start at 10pm. Get there early and eat some GREAT Bar-B-Que!

    Now, you may be wondering, “Who the hell is Willy Moon?” Well, you have probably heard one of his songs from a recent iPod ‘Bounce’ commercial. With just a few songs under his belt, his first album comes out later this year, aptly titled Here’s Willy Moon. He has a couple other tunes, particularly his debut “I Wanna be Your Man” and “Yeah, Yeah”. Willy sounds like he has a little Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis influences in his music, plus some slick footwork based on his moves in the videos below. Check them out below and don’t miss this treat at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que on February 15th

    One of those ‘stick in your head all day tunes, in a good way’ – “Yeah Yeah”

  • The Bear Bones Project at The Rustic Barn in Troy, January 25th

    What once was a bunch of friends jamming cover songs to an elite few in a living room while their listeners munched on hummus and drank the wine has now molded into closed session rehearsals and a slew of new songs.  Those originals skipped a trial run. Instead, the five bones tossed their project out into the world for a live recording in front of a live audience at the Rustic Barn in Troy, NY.

    BBP524

    The Bear Bones Project has drawn a following of old time hippies hanging onto Grateful Dead era songs and young followers trying to capture the essence of an era just out of their reach.  The winter covered streets, the flakes in the frosted beards and ice under foot didn’t stop their dedicated following for the trek into the hills just beyond Troy. Inside the dimly lit pub, the wooden beams and stone fire place set the ambiance for a toasty evening of good grub, hearty brew and jam friendly music which will soon find it’s way to a polished disc.

    Each set was a blend of originals speckled in between obscure cover songs.  However, they started with a fun warm up tune familiar to most.  The Bear Bones Project had a little fun with The Beatles original, “I’ll Follow the Sun.” They create a neat little arrangement of two part harmonies breaking away to the only female of the group, Sandy Decker, during the chorus.  They were warmed up, the crowd was primed and they kicked it up a notch breaking into some brand new songs written by lead vocalist and guitarist, Carey Ahner.  The Bear Bones Project arranged each song for an overall sound of bluesy, classy jams interjected with a playful flute.  Bill Decker laid the bass lines down and drummer Eric Johnson moved the songs along as guitarist and vocalist Pete O’Hearn added just enough depth to keep this project firmly rooted in it’s inspirations of whimsy and jazzy tunes.

    Each new song is rich in lyrics, and musically accomplished.  There is a certain kind of sway to their songs and it is certain to get folks out of their seats. The Bear Bones Project can be seen at various clubs around the Capital District.

  • Camp Bisco 12 announced for July 11-13

    Questions were looming whether Camp Bisco was going to happen in Upstate New York this year.  There were rumors of it being completely done; moving south or even changing it’s name.  Well, Bisco fans don’t need to worry anymore.  Camp Bisco announced that the show will go on for # 12 of its run. Camp Bisco will be returning to the beautiful Indian Lookout Country Club, in rural Mariaville, NY.

    Camp Bisco is a unique festival for many reasons.  Where else can you find such a unique blend of electonic house, hip hop, jam bands and whatever else they might throw at you every year.  the only thing you can count on is that the disco biscuits will be gracing the stage and that you will have a great time.  Oh yeah, there is also a good chance of rain.

    The festival plans to expand and enhance the experience for attendees by adding “surround sound and greater concert production to all stages. From large-scale art installations and artist workshops to performance art demonstrations, carnival rides and more, Camp Bisco is also increasing the interactive elements in 2013 to create an even better festival experience for patrons. Long distance shuttles will also return, offering service from Albany, Baltimore, Boston, New York City and Philadelphia.”

    Early Bird tickets go on sale Saturday, February 2 at 10 a.m. EST for a very limited allotment at $170. General on sale tickets will start at $185, before raising to the last minute price $199. All-inclusive pre-sale VIP packages are available again this year, starting at $450 for VIP and $1300 for a pair of Platinum VIP tickets, before increasing to $500 and $1400 respectively. Camp Bisco will also be introducing a new layaway plan, where fans can divide payments on General Admission tickets equally between the on sale date and July 1st. Tickets will be available online at campbisco.net. Camp Bisco is an 18 and over event.

  • Trey Anastasio Band post-shows in Albany on January 26th – Hot Day at the Zoo,and more!

    Trey Anastasio Band comes to Albany on Saturday, January 26th, but the music doesn’t stop when Big Red leaves the stage. If you’re coming to town for the main show, stick around for three great late night options, all close by The Palace Theater. The Bayou is located a few hundred feet down North Pearl Street from The Palace while Red Square is on Broadway, a block east of North Pearl and about a 1/2 mile walk. A cab is recommended to get to Valentines.

    Bayou Cafe: Hot Day at the Zoo with The Blind Owl Band

    Hot Day at the Zoo (HDATZ) is the quartet of Jon Cumming (banjo, dobro, vocals), Michael Dion (guitar, harmonica, vocals,) Jed Rosen (upright bass, vocals), and JT Lawrence (mandolin, vocals). Dion and Cumming are the band’s two main songwriters. Both, with distinctive personalities, offer enough stories to fill a catalogue of songs that are whole-hearted and full of sincerity. Add in Rosen, who’s technical prowess allows him to hold down the beat and push the music along, and Lawrence, who’s youthful energy and stellar musicianship fuel his strength in fulfilling each song’s missing piece, and the result is a band who humbly creates something bigger than any of themselves.

    Rosen speaking about HDATZ’s live performance says, “Expect to see four guys up on stage playing their asses off and singing their hearts out.” All four members play with so much vivacity and vigor that an abundance of both baby powder to keep dry and superglue to prevent their fingernails from falling off is necessary. Whether they’re headlining or performing as special guest support for artists including The Band’s Levon Helm, David Grisman, Leon Russell, moe., and Hot Buttered Rum, HDATZ connects with their audience through their defiant high energy on stage. With improvisations that give songs new shape, signature arrangements of covers, and many special guests, concertgoers may expect to never see the same show twice.

    Red Square – Turkuaz with The Chronicles

    The Brooklyn-based funk army known as Turkuaz “is like tossing a lit match into a dumpster full of fireworks” (bestnewbands.com). Their stage show combines influences from Sly and the Family Stone to Talking Heads into an explosive auditory and visual circus, a full-frontal assault on the senses. After multiple residencies at NYC’s Brooklyn Bowl, two blowout performances at Bear Creek Music Festival, and tours spanning the east and west coasts, Turkuaz has developed a reputation from NYC to San Francisco as the band that plays louder, faster, and harder than all the rest. Learn more at

    Combining jazz, hip hop, funk, soul, and gospel, The Chronicles bring a unique sound that defies classification. Founded by upstate NY horn heavyweights, Bryan Brundige and Jeff Nania in October of 2009, The Chronicles have included and continue to feature the most talented up-and-coming musicians in the Capital Region. The Chronicles have been working hard to spread their music throughout the northeast with appearances at regional theaters like the New Hampshire Jazz Center and Proctor’s GE Theater. They have also appeared at major music festivals like Riverfront Jazz Festival, Tulip Festival, Bella Terra, African American Heritage Day, The Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival, The Big Up, and The BeatShot Music Festival. Albanyʼs alternative newsweekly, Metroland recognized them as “Best Jazz” in 2012, and in their 2011 “Best of the Capital Region” critic’s poll as the best in live hip hop with “jazz chops out the yin yang, and new tunes at their fingertips every time they pick up their instruments.”

    Valentines – Cats Don’t Have Souls, Oven Fresh & Formula 5

    While this is an after party, the music begins at 9pm. Formula 5 caps off the night, and they are a great up and coming jamband in Albany, with a great sound. Check out our interview with them.

    Cost is $10 to get in but only $5 with a Trey ticket stub!

  • Adam Ezra Group at The Bayou Cafe, Albany, January 11th

    On a damp January evening, AEG brought their sweaty, passionate, live performance to the Bayou Café in Albany, NY. Playing to a room full of appreciative fans, the band did not disappoint. The Adam Ezra Group (AEG) hails from Boston, MA and was playing in support of their recent album Ragtop Angel, which took the 2012 New England Music Awards honors for  ‘Album of the Year’, as well as ‘Song of the Year’ for “Takin’ Off”. 

    Those that know the AEG know they are not only about the music but are also activists and community leaders committed to changing the world through their music. This is very in the song entitled “Miss Hallelujah” which Ezra performed with compassion, soul and power to kick off the show. The early part of the show also included the bands version of “Cripple Creek”, dedicated to the late Levon Helm and “The Devil Came Up to Boston”, a variation of Charlie Daniels’ “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”

    The remainder of the show was a nice blend of AEG favorites including “On My Own”, “Home Again Soon”, “What Did I Say”, “We’re Going Out Tonight” and “Steal Your Daughter” from both previous albums View From the Root (2010), Chain (2005), Tumble Down Slow (2004) and their latest album Daniel The Brave (2012).

    There’s something to be said about getting back to basics. The Adam Ezra group is all about down-to-Earth, grassroots music. The bands vast talent and old fashion work ethic combined with their commitment to making the world a better place through their music is certainly a breath of fresh air.

    www.adamezra.com

    www.bayoucafe.com