Tag: valentines

  • WCDB 35th anniversary party at Valentines to feature Blotto, Oberhofer and more

    The University at Albany’s student run radio station, WCDB 90.9 FM, is celebrating their 35th Anniversary on March 1st at Valentines with a Festival Birthday Bash Extravaganza! Featuring acts both new and old, the night is sure to be memorable for those who worked at WCDB or attended SUNY Albany in the past three or more decades.

    WCDBThe doors open at 5:30pm with seven bands and alumni DJs to play in between sets.  Upstairs will have The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Oberhofer and one of the biggest acts to come out of The Capital Region, Blotto! Downstairs will feature Summer People, Barons in the Attic, if Madrid and Dirty Face.

    There will be prizes from local businesses and band merch giveaways. Tickets are $18 in advance and $23 at the door. Pick them up here and get them in advance! You can follow along for updates here or check out this blog that will keep things updated as the big night approaches.

  • 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!

  • Albany artists get together to Rock for Recovery in Newtown, raise over $4,000

    When Matt McWatters came up with the idea of doing a benefit concert  he did the right thing by enlisting the help of area promoter Greg Bell.  Within a week, the Who’s Who of the Capital Region music scene were signing up to donate their time and talents to the cause.  More bands wanted to play then there was stage time, so the list had to be narrowed down to twelve acts.  Those twelve were recognizable names, even to the casual local live music aficionado, for Rock for Recovery in Newtown.

    Friday night’s show included Way Down, Skunk Hostage, Funky Jukebox Brigade, Conehead Buddha, Dr. Jah & the Love Prophets and Timbre Coup.  Saturday night’s show was no less impressive with The Hearing Aides, Sean Rowe, Matt and the Bad Ideas, Super 400, Erin Harkes and Black Mountain Symphony w/special guests from the Ameros and 7th Squeeze.   was there Friday night to hear the amazing line up.

    Way Down, with a little help from Dirty Paris, had the hard job of going first, but their musical talents and jazz and rock influences shone through during there set that ended with a dynamic interpretation of Jimi Hendrix’s “Manic Depression” that had everyone moving.  Skunk Hostage played second and were met by a growing crowd that was eager for their fresh blend of progressive, punk and rock.  Tony Califano (bass/vocals) and Justin Fuld (vocals/guitar) mixed it up a bit and in addition to looking like brothers (according to at least one person) they played off each others musical strengths well.The next band, The Lucky Jukebox Brigade, took the stage with it’s eclectic blend of guitars, drums, trumpets, a tuba, a wash board, violin and then hidden away in the corner the multi-facated Kristoph DiMaria (with a broken nose) playing percussion, guitar, organ and offering entertaining backing vocals.  LJB does an incredible job of managing a really big sound with the help of their powerful vocalist, Deanna Deluke, and her ukulele.

    Longtime local favorites, Conehead Buddha, played to the peak crowd of around 200 people, filling the upstairs of Valentine’s with dance and good vibes.  The ska band that has been rocking the Capital District since the mid 1990’s didn’t miss a beat and got the crowd revved up for the final two bands of the night.

    Dr. Jah and the Love Prophets brilliantly fused together reggae and ska then rolled it in a jam band blunt.   Old favorites like “Come Down From the Mountain” and “Freedom Rising” had everyone singing along.  Dave even inducted everyone in attendance into the Jah Army.  When the lively set was done the “bright smiles” of the dancing “Jah Army” at Valentine’s was yearning for more.  And luckily the music lovers got more.

    The long evening of great music ended with the Prog Rock styling of  Timbre Coup who played to almost 2 am and still had time to squeeze in an encore.  Timbre Coup was able to stretch themselves out with the jam band crowd allowing everyone to get lost in the music.  They were sure to bring them back with an incredible solo from Andrew Chamberlaine’s seemingly magical 7-string guitar.

    When the dust settled after both nights of incredible music $4193.00 was raised for EverRibbon: My Sandy Hook Family Fund and Newtown Youth & Family Services.  Kudos to the promoters, the venue, the bands and especially the fans that came out to support a great event and the incredible home-grown music scene.

    To hear a few songs from Friday night’s show, visit the Soundcloud page.

    If you would like to donate to Newtown Youth and Family Services, you can visit their website, or donate by mail at: 15 Berkshire Road; Sandy Hook , CT 06482

    Check out more of Mike Wrens photos below