Category: Profiles

Venue Profile: Oneonta Theatre, A Historic Vaudeville Theater Revitalized

The Oneonta Theatre, located at 47 Chestnut Street, just 100 yards away from Oneonta’s vibrant Main Street, is a true gem of a venue. Being situated in a college town, the theatre is just a hop, skip, and jump away from a wide array of dining options, as well as a plethora of bars. Consisting of two separate concert spaces, the larger of which can accommodate 900 people, and the smaller 200, the Oneonta Theatre is a unique and charming place to check out a show. The larger downstairs theater has a deep, tall stage, one that can accommodate a large band or the cast of a play, and the sloped floor typically has seats up to about two-thirds of the way down towards the stage, leaving the front of the floor open for boogieing down. The smaller upstairs theater features a stage that is not very much higher than the dance floor area, with seats sloping upwards towards the back of this space, and is slightly rounder than the space downstairs. An amazing sound engineer works with the theatre, making sure the sound is stellar in both of the differently configured theaters.

Designated as a historically significant building on the National Register of Historic Places, the Oneonta Theatre was originally built as a vaudeville theater in 1897, during a particularly happening time in Oneonta’s history, when the railroad ran through town. From its lavish first production of The Sporting Duchess (at a production cost of $50,000!) on February 28, 1898, to silent and talking films throughout the 19-teens and Roaring ‘20s, to the site of countless Oneonta High School graduations, this theater was a definite draw for both area residents and travelers from afar. Then, in the mid-1960s, the theater was slated to be wiped out as part of an urban renewal program planned for Oneonta, but fortunately a gentleman by the name of Harold DeGraw bought it and saved it from being destroyed, and invested his own private funds to rehabilitate the theater and storefronts. In 1979-80, the upper balconies were separated from the main theater, turning it into a two-theater “multiplex.” Live plays continued to be performed here, as the Orpheus Theatre group used the downstairs performance space for their plays and musicals. That is how the Oneonta Theatre operated until about 1992, at which point the stage was actually abandoned, and the theater started to deteriorate, becoming more and more dilapidated with each passing year.

In 2009, the current owner, Tom Cormier, took ownership of the Oneonta Theatre. Interestingly, the theater was actually not what motivated him to buy the building. He became interested in the property for the front part of the building, which consists of three storefronts and six apartments, but when he looked more closely into purchasing the property, he discovered that it actually contained two buildings, one of which was the dilapidated theater. Initially, Cormier said the theater was in such bad shape that it was impossible to stand inside it for more than a half hour without having respiratory issues from all the mold and pigeon poop that had built up over the years, but thankfully, the non-profit group Friends of the Oneonta Theatre, to whom Cormier rents the theater for $50/month, were able to convince him to fall in love with the theater and put in the time, money, and effort to rehabilitate it. During the renovations, Cormier came across numerous hidden treasures, including a collection of signatures on the walls backstage from actors who had performed there over the years, and a complete newspaper found between the first and second stories from the day after a World Series game that took place sometime in the 1950s during which a perfect game was pitched! (He even mentioned that he and several of the employees have encountered ghosts, but he assured me they were all friendly.)

Having gone through extensive repair work, it can now once again be said that the Oneonta Theatre has truly lived up to its motto of “Showing Oneonta A Good Time Since 1897.” Some of the bigger acts who have been booked here since Cormier took ownership include Steve Earle, Arlo Guthrie, Chris Robinson, Blue Oyster Cult, Kansas, McGuinn & Sebastian, Little Feat, The Radiators, and the Zombies – quite the assortment! Cormier also likes to feature more local and regional acts, and has in fact helped out some local acts by booking them as openers for bigger names, and as a result of that, a couple of bands (including Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds) have landed national touring gigs! In addition to live music, the occasional cult classic movie can be viewed at the Oneonta Theatre. In the past few years, The Big Lebowski and The Rocky Horror Picture Show have been shown on the big screen, and the audience has come out in full garb. The Theatre has even provided suitable goodies during these movies, such as serving up White Russians (normally, only beer, wine, and a limited selection of bottled cocktail drinks are available at the bar located inside the lobby area of the Theatre) during The Big Lebowski, and handing out prop bags including rice, noisemakers, and toilet paper to encourage audience participation during The Rocky Horror Picture Show! The theatre also rents out its space for the occasional college event, and as such has hosted a few foam parties, the first of which completely trashed the floors of the theater due to the chemical composition of the foam, and which resulted in a scene reminiscent of a slaughterhouse afterwards, as the floors of the theater were red, and the red paint was streaming down the entrance hallway before heading out the door and down the sidewalks! But Cormier just turned what could have been a bad situation into good, and used the opportunity to strip the floors, since the job was already halfway done!

When asked about plans to expand or renovate the theatre, Cormier mentioned that he does have some changes in mind for this summer, but it’s too early to reveal those changes. He is in the process of looking for investors for this project, so if anyone is interested, please get in touch with Tom Cormier through the theatre’s website! Upcoming shows that have been confirmed at the Oneonta Theatre this summer include Rusted Root on June 27, Start Making Sense (a Talking Heads tribute band) on June 28, and Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds on August 22, but continue to check their website, as they are always booking new bands. And now, to quote theatre owner Tom Cormier, “We’re not the shiniest nickel around, but there’s a good vibe in this place! And the sound’s incredible. So, come to Oneonta, come visit us!”

June 4, 2014
Venue Profile: The Hollow Revitalizes Historic Downtown Albany

The Hollow at 79 North Pearl street in Albany has quickly become one of the most recognized venues for excellent live music, with a great history of hosting up-and-coming bands and nationally touring acts alike. The venue is quaintly nestled just doors down from Albany’s historic Lodge’s clothing store and The Palace Theatre, placed directly in the middle of Albany’s night life.

The venue was originally an urban retail store and a shoe repair shop. After renting out the Yorkstone Pub and turning it into the Bayou Cafe, the owners continued to expand further until the stage was built and the bar looked the way the owner’s had planned. Throughout the 2000’s, the venue quickly became known for cover bands that would bring in throngs of people every weekend, with a line out the door. Eventually, cover bands no longer brought the same crowd every weekend and the scene in downtown Albany began to quickly change. The owners saw an opportunity to change the venue for the better of the community and offer live shows that music enthusiasts would want to see. The long time owners sold the venue to close friends of their family and took over the booking for all acts at what would then on be referred to as “The Hollow.” The name is a nod to the area surrounding the venue which has long been referred to as Sheridan Hollow. After the change in management and name, the venue began hosting bigger and better acts. A variety of acts have played the stage at The Hollow including Break Science, Deer Tick, Brothers Past, The Heavy Pets, Jennifer Hartswick, Normal Instruments, Tauk, Lucid, Mister F, Wild Adriatic, Start Making Sense and The Black Mountain Symphony.

The venue itself is a great spot to catch music locally. The large bar set a few feet from the stage makes it easy not to miss the musical acts while quenching your thirst. All of the Hollow’s bartenders and waitstaff are friendly and personable making it a relaxed environment during happy hour, lunch, dinner or during a live show. The front patio is the perfect place during the warmer months to sit outside with friends even during times where there are no performances. The menu offered at The Hollow gives a wide array of options for whatever your appetite may be, also offering their different pairings of wine and beer for each meal. The bar itself is divided into sections, one section holds the stage and wrap around bar which can get pretty packed during a sold out show, there is a section with some tables and a pool table for those concert goers that want to see the music but not necessarily be within a large crowd of people, as this section can also get pretty packed during a sold out show. The third section is generally only used for dining guests and is rarely full of people during a live show, while a second bar in which you do not have to pay cover for the show to grab a few drinks with friends.

The venue is big enough to hold larger named bands, but also enclosed enough to make each show intimate between the artists and the crowd. If you live in the Albany area and you are looking for a great venue, some great drinks or even a great meal, make sure to check out The Hollow Bar and Grill.

May 27, 2014
Meet Your NYS Music Staff: Writer Amy Lieberman

Amy Lieberman, born in Queens, raised in Westchester County, and currently living just outside of the quaint hamlet of Treadwell in the scenic Catskill Mountains, was raised on music: from her mother, who would often sing her and her sister to sleep while strumming the guitar, to her father, who would occasionally wake them up by playing “Taps” on his trombone; to one of their babysitters, who was a huge Beatles fan, and would play Beatles records all the time.

Her first ever concert was a ShaNaNa concert, which she attended with her family when she was six years old, and was bitten by the live music bug at that early age. As soon as Amy had the opportunity to start learning to play music, she jumped at the chance. The instrument that opened up the world of music to Amy was the recorder, which she learned in second grade. From the recorder, she moved on to the piano, on which she took private lessons for six years. In the school band, Amy played the flute, and eventually had the chance to tackle the bassoon, a huge instrument on the opposite end of the spectrum from the tiny flute! (She had to endure several trips on the school bus, lugging around the bassoon, which was not the easiest task to accomplish.)

The band that first got Amy into the jam band scene, as is common for many others, was Phish. During a high school play for which she was a member of the lighting crew, Rift would often makes its way into the cassette player, and it ended up being a life-changing musical experience for Amy. Between the 80 and 120 Phish shows she has been to (she lost count somewhere along the way, and has yet to figure out the total number), her love of the improvisational style of music expanded, with some of her other favorite bands on the scene including the Grateful Dead (and its various incarnations), String Cheese Incident, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Widespread Panic, to name just a few. Along the way, she had the opportunity in college to take a class on old time, country, and bluegrass music. At the time, her parents thought it was kind of a waste of time, but it actually ended up playing a huge impact on Amy’s life, as she currently plays bass and mandolin in a couple of old-timey bands that play locally around the Catskill Mountains.

One of her bands, the Tremperskill Boys, was especially honored to have gotten to share the stage with International Bluegrass Music Association Entertainer of the Year Winners the Gibson Brothers at the Fiddlers Festival in Roxbury, NY, in October 2013! On a yearly basis, as far as concerts go, Amy tries to see as many Phish shows as she can and has been attending Mountain Jam every year since it started back in 2005, as well as the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival since 2000. In addition to enjoying rocking out to the incredible music performed at those events, she uses these concerts as a form of continuing education, and tries to truly listen to the music so she can take some of the techniques used by the mind-blowingly talented musicians who play at these festivals, and apply them to her own music. Amy has a degree from Brown University in the Science and Culture of Sustainable Living. She is looking forward to being able to devote more time to seeing, playing, and reviewing lots of awesome music this summer!

Amy is fortunate to have gotten to see most of the bands she has always dreamed of seeing, but there are a couple of musicians that she still needs to see before she leaves this world, and those are The Black Keys and Justin Timberlake!

May 23, 2014
Local Limelight, Geek Week Edition: Buffalo’s Armcannon

Armcannon, a most unique band from Buffalo, makes music for nerds. Not just any nerds, but those who loved video game music, metal and progressive rock. As part of Geek Week, spoke to Chris Dlugosz (keyboard) and Dan Theman (guitar) about the band, their music, and appearances at unique music festivals you might not have heard of. Mike Willard (guitar), Larry Steele (drums) and Ian Machniak (bass) round out the Western New York group making waves as electronic music and metal merge genres.

photo credit: David Weaver http://www.burstmethod.com

Jeremiah Shea: Finish this sentence: Armcannon is for fans of…

Chris Dlugosz: The nostalgia of the classic themes of NES and SNES, as well as non videogame people who appreciate musical proficiency.

Dan Theman: Armcannon is for fans of progressive metal, retro gaming nerds, and people who like serious music that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Jeremiah Shea: Where would Armcannon like to see themselves in 5 years?

Chris Dlugosz: With another complete album or three available to the public. Our constant improvement in quality is not slowing.

Dan Theman: Oh god. I don’t think we’re a band that has delusions of grandeur, that we’ll be playing Brazilian soccer stadiums in 5 years. We take our compositions and arrangements incredibly seriously, and labor over every chord, every accent, and every note. But we’re not a band who focuses that sort of energy towards the music business and “making it”. That said, Dan (Danimal Cannon) is currently composing music for new video games and he would love to be a well known video game composer in 5 years. Chris would be right at home scoring movies, and Mike would be known as a world class guitar player and jazz/metal guitarist. It’s kind of funny how our ultimate goals are not necessarily focused on the band itself, but Armcannon has given us the privilege, the pleasure, and the the practice to really hone our skills as musicians, meet amazing people, and play some incredible shows. That said, in 5 years, hopefully we’ll have an album of original music out, because as much as we love arranging old nostalgic themes, we also desire to spread our wings as musicians as far as they’ll go.

Jeremiah Shea: What’s on the horizon this year for Armcannon?

Chris Dlugosz: We are secretly writing a secret new kind of album that nobody has done before.

Dan Theman: We’ll be in Orlando this upcoming weekend headlining an event called Ongaku Overdrive. We’re currently writing some original music, we’ll see where that takes us.

Jeremiah Shea: Explain how you got involved with the upcoming festival in Orlando. Is this your first Fest?

Chris Dlugosz: They approached us through this beautiful process we like to call “The Internet does all the work for us” and simply invited us to play. This is utterly and absolutely NOT our first fest, as fests are 99% of the type of shows we have always played. The biggest of them all is MAGfest which stands for Music And Gaming fest. It’s basically a mecca where all the good videogame bands converge for a whole weekend.

Dan Theman: We usually play a few festivals around the US every year. There’s actually a growing and thriving scene of bands and artists making music that’s inspired from games in all kinds of genres. Sometimes that includes acts that are considered “nerdy” as well. Most of the regular shows we play we’re incredibly different than any of the acts on the bill, we stick out like a beautiful sore thumb. These festivals allow us to play shows with like-minded artists from all across the world, for fanbases that you wouldn’t believe. This sort of scene is completely off the radar of the traditional music business, but the dedication of the fans who pack these events allow these events to successfully exist as a microcosm of the rock world, on another planet entirely. What if I told you one of the most intense and raucous shows we’ve ever played was in a hotel ballroom? It’s really something else.

photo credit: Emi Spicer http://uglymachine.net/

Jeremiah Shea: Cite some major accomplishments for the band – I know you guys have played with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, correct?

Chris Dlugosz: Through some interesting circumstances, we were allowed a brief cameo on two different occasions with the BPO. it was an event called VideoGames Live where a touring conductor goes from city to city and hijacks the philharmonic orchestras and makes them play video game music.

Dan Theman: We’ve performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic twice actually! We played small sets in the middle of the touring Video Games Live orchestral show, I love the idea that you might find us in a sweaty basement, or on a gilded stage filled with world class musicians. We take immense pride in our 3 album releases, and hearing another musician talk about how our arrangements and playing have influenced them in some way never seems to get old. This year we were contacted by Capcom to produce some official remixes for a Megaman 25th Anniversary album which was really fun to do.

Jeremiah Shea: What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever been a part of?

Chris Dlugosz: The coolest thing we have been a part of is MAGfest. We have been headliners there every year since 2006, and since then we have made literally hundreds of good friends and network connections for this ever-expanding nostalgia-infused sub-culture. We have watched the staff there grow from excited youths to full fledged business filling entire convention centers rivaling the size of PAX.

Dan Theman: The coolest thing for us is performing at a festival called MAGfest which stands for Music and Gaming Festival. The crowds at that particular festival are special in the way that they truly “get” what we’re trying to do, they catch all of the obscure subtleties that we layer into our music. Their intensity during the show is essentially unrivaled, and that sort of passion feeds back into us, pushing us to new heights. We feel very much at home there, in a world where we constantly feel a little like outcasts that exist as a novelty or curiosity for most people.

Armcannon – Website Bandcamp Facebook Twitter

Dan Theman also makes original music with Nintendo Gameboys. It’s called Chiptune and you can see his TED talk about it earlier this year.

May 7, 2014
Local Limelight: North Country Stalwarts Lucid

Lucid is the top band in New York’s smallest market yet perform quite well in the larger markets throughout Upstate and beyond, making them true underdogs in the Upstate New York scene. This passion to prove their mettle has netted the band of 10 years a recent hit album, Home is Where We Wanna Grow, their own music festival, Backwoods Pondfest, a following of passionate fans, and of course, their iconic bus ‘Lucy’.

Champions of the inaugural March Madness tournament, Lucid embodies the North Country spirit and is one of the most successful acts to come out of the region. Playing a mix of rock, jam and funk and self-described ‘wood rock’ in their powerhouse performances, Lucid mixes the sound of six members to create a sound that can be imitated but not duplicated. Featuring Kevin Sabourin (guitar), Lowell Wurster (percussion/harp), Jamie Armstrong (saxophone), Chris Shacklett (Bass), Andy Deller (Keys) and new addition Chris English (drums), the future is bright and the potential for a burst out of the Upstate area seems imminent for the septet from the northern 518.

Pete Mason: How did Lucid first start out?

Lowell Wurster: Kevin (Sabourin), Jamie (Anderson) and Nick (Sauvie, our first bass player) played with a few different people, just jamming mostly, who found our first drummer, Ryan “Rippy” Trumbull. I knew Jamie and Kevin from growing up in Plattsburgh. One day I saw Jamie walking and we got to talking; he said he was playing with some guys and to come check them out. I went and really dug what they were doing. They were having so much fun and I asked them if I could come to a practice and jam a bit. After practice they asked if I wanted to be in the band! A few months later we were playing a show in Plattsburgh at this horrible place called Maggie’s and had a friend sitting in on keys. There was this dude (Andy Deller) yelling to our buddy what the key changes were. At break we asked our friend Steve who that dude was and he told us his name was Andy and a great key player at that. He played with us the whole second set and the rest was history. Five years later our bass player Nick wanted to pursue higher education instead of being in a band. We had a few fill in bass players until St. Patrick’s Day five years ago we had Chris Shacklett play a show with us, and it was like magic; he fit right in. That night on the bus ride home we asked him if he wanted to join and he said yes. After our first big tour down to Florida, our original drummer, Rippy decided he didn’t want to travel anymore. As sad as it was he decided to leave. we tried out a few different drummers and we asked Kyle Murray to join the fun. He rocked with us for about a year and a half. Kyle decided life on the road wasn’t for him and wanted to phase out as our drummer, then just like magic, Chris English popped up at the perfect moment. By the grace of God, Chris decided Lucid was exactly what he needed in his life and we knew he was exactly what we needed in ours. Chris moved up to Plattsburgh about two months ago and shit is beautiful now.

Jamie Armstrong: Sabo, Nick (our original bassist) and I were spending time together playing music and hanging out. Stumbled into it really. Andy, Lowell and Rippy (our original drummer) came along shortly there after. We all had mutual musical interests and loved hanging out together, so naturally the band grew more and more over time as we bonded and our music developed. As some members decided to leave (as things started getting more committal) along the way, we’ve seemed to have perfect luck picking up new members to fill the role and evolve the band in a positive way. Great examples of that are Chris Shacklett, who joined on bass in 2009 and Chris English who recently joined on drums.

Chris Shacklett: I joined the band about four years after the initial formation. The band formed for me when I graduated from Plattsburgh state in 2009 without having any idea how I was going to be an “adult”. Everything felt right from the very beginning and every place in time the band has taken me has been exactly where I needed to be. For my whole life I knew music was the main element of my being, but I never seriously considered playing music to be a career until I joined Lucid.

PM: What are Lucid’s main influences on their music and style?

Jamie Anderson : The band itself is very eclectic. We draw on many styles as we all have differing musical backgrounds. If I could some up a style for Lucid it would be ‘homegrown blues Americana.’

Andy Deller: I think our home is the main influence. That and a stubborn refusal to pigeonhole ourselves in any kind of way. It’s hard to point to other artists that are influences. That is to say, each member brings his own particular influences. Our tastes do intersect; I don’t think there is a one of us who would say they did not like Zeppelin or The Beatles or Hendrix. But I am the only avid Rush fan I know of in the band, and the other fellas have their particular favorites. So we each bring our own thing to the total sound.

Chris English: My main musical influence and style is all over the map. I’m into a lot more local artists than anything. Some of the music I started listening to at a early age include Donny Hathaway, The Clark Sisters, Buddy Guy, Paul Simon, Grateful Dead, The Funk Brothers, Stevie Wonder, and many more.

PM: What separates the North Country from rest of Upstate? What makes it distinct?

Kevin Sabourin: Wilderness, a deep appreciation of nature and life that comes with being a fairly self-reliant people who are hard working. Crafts people, music loving, tough, rugged and beautiful, like the surroundings in which we live.

Andy Deller: What separates us from the rest of Upstate is the Adirondack State Park, to be geographically obvious. We’re maybe a little more backwoods and redneck than the rest of Upstate – not that there’s a value judgment on that. It’s neither better nor worse, just different. To be more serious, I think the people in our area really make the difference; I’ve never seen audiences more gracious, more open to something new and different, or more ready to dance.

Chris Shacklett: I don’t think there is any separation. Separation is not conducive to the band’s purpose. I may be saying this because I believe my scope of the North Country or Upstate is not broad enough to draw any borders.

Jamie Armstrong: We live way up here in the Northern Adirondacks. Next to Lake Champlain. Fresh air! Being sandwiched between a beautiful mountain range and a huge blue lake is all I need. And the geographical diversity reflects in the people who live up here. The music community is encouraging.

PM: For those who don’t live there or venture north, what is the music scene like across the North Country?

Chris Shacklett: Don’t tell me this town ain’t got no heart. You just gotta poke around.

Lowell Wurster: Well we are spread out up here, but there are amazing pockets of music lovers spread out around the ADK’s. Beautiful little communities that love original music. Folks up here look at music as a necessity, not a luxury. I’ve never met bigger music lovers then in the North Country. Plattsburgh is undergoing some amazing changes and I’m really happy and excited to be on several different community action boards that are helping spread art and music around the area. Saranac Lake is amazing and filled with real folks who thrive for music; their Winter Carnival is something to behold, hearty folks up there. I love it up there, right in the mountains and cold as hell. Backwoods Pondfest has brought tons of amazing acts to the North Country over the last eight years and with its continued success shows the thirst these mountain folks have for original music. They can’t seem to get enough.

Andy Deller: Well, because of the audiences I described above, the scene is VERY diverse, creative, and supportive. On any given night you can stroll through Plattsburgh or Burlington and find any number of different styles – rock, blues, funk, reggae, metal, jazz quartets, and brass bands. What I truly love is the cross-pollination: people from highly diverse bands getting out and jamming with one another in impromptu acts. It happens all the time here.

Jamie Armstrong: It’s very rich, with a wide array of styles and ideas floating around, but all held together by a supportive arts community. There’s a lot of support up here. Kids are movin’ and shakin’ and motivated. That goes for our community in general. A lot of great people are trying to make positive change all the time!

PM: What other musicians do you think also encompass the spirit of the North Country?

Kevin Sabourin: The Blind Owl Band, who have the same North Country work ethic and attitude that we do of going until the job is done and playing long hours and working hard. The crowd has been busting there ass all day working, building farming, so we have to work as hard as they do for them.

Lowell Wurster: The one that immediately comes to mind is The South Catherine St. Jug band from years and years ago, Sven Curth (who plays solo mostly) but is in the band JIM who plays a few times a year and is made up of some of the North Country’s best.

Andy Deller: The local artists that don’t receive much press, and maybe even avoid it: Trinity Park Radio, Will Scheifley, and his on again off again Shameless Strangers, Mike Pederson, Giovanina Bucci, Catie Wurster and her band Doomf**k – the list can go on and on. We have a huge, hugely diverse, and highly active music scene up here where people can take the time to have some real professional fun, and it’s all thanks to the audience – the people of the North Country.

Jamie Armstrong: I guess to sum it up, there’s a lot of musical diversity in a very tight knit community up here in the mountains. People are trying to make things happen in a positive way up here. We love it.

Chris English: I can say George Wurster is the spirit of the North Country. I love that guy.

Catch Lucid on tour this summer throughout New York and select New England dates, wrapping up with the Lucid-hosted Backwoods Pondfest Music Festival.

May 7 Firehouse, Rochester, NY
May 8 Spring Revival, Macedon, NY
May 9 Nietzche’s, Buffalo, NY
May 10 Keegan Ales, Kingston, NY
May 16 Shake the Mountain Festival, Solid Rock Ranch, NY
May 22 Blarney Stone Pub, Norwich, NY
May 23 Olive’s, Nyack, NY
May 29 Nanola, Malta, NY
May 31 Main Pub, Manchester, CT
June 10 Church, Boston, MA
June 12 Theos BBQ, Springfield, MA
June 20 Shepard’s Cove, Lake George, NY
July 25-26 BRYAC, Bridgeport, CT
August 8-9 Backwoods Pondfest Music Festival, Peru, NY

Lucid Website Facebook Twitter YouTube

May 6, 2014
Venue Profile: Bogie’s in Albany, A Scene Coming Together

While the venue is closer to 30 years old, for the last five years the local hardcore and metal scene in the Albany area have really called Bogie’s on Ontario Street home. To say that Bogie’s has character is like saying the Pope is a little religious – from the black walls and the sticker covered bathrooms, to the fliers thrown throughout the place celebrating past and upcoming shows. Above the bar there are signed drum heads and cymbals, each to tell tales of legends and start-ups alike coming through those doors, to play for the diehards that make up Bogie’s core clientele.

This coming weekend Bogie’s is reaching out to the community for help. The music scene is not a lucrative one and to keep the metal and hardcore scene alive, Mike Valente is asking friends, family, and fans to come support the venue. “Repair Fest” is a weekend-long show held at Bogie’s with some of the best local bands on the metal, hardcore and similar scenes.

Friday night headliners Sworn Enemy will be gracing the stage along with Valente’s own Troycore band, Brick By Brick. Saturday will be headlined by local industrial rock band, The Clay People. The music continues on Sunday with headliner, Full Blown Chaos.

NYS Music sat down with Mike Valente before a Goatwhore show last month and asked a few questions. Here’s what Mike had to say about Bogie’s and some of the memories inside those walls.

NYS Music: How long have you run Bogie’s?

Mike Valente: Five years.

NYS Music: What have been some of the more notable bands that have played here the past five years?

Mike: Corrosion of Conformity, Tommy Tutone, Sepultura, Soulfly, Marc Rizzo, Stigmata, Black Flag, I could go on and on.

NYS Music: What’s one memory that sticks out?

Mike: Tommy Tutone (of Jenny/867-5309 fan) was blasted on something. He was wearing sunglasses, chewing gun, he had the worst bus I’ve seen and he was hyped up really good. He needed someone to sell merch, so Matt was helping him out and Tommy told him to sell signed photos for $3. $1 for Tommy, $1 for Matt. When Matt pointed out they were $3 and that only accounts for $2, Tommy ignored the question and told Matt that he should try to get a hummer from the girls. Completely wasted.

NYS Music: Repair Fest is coming up. What is it and what are some goals?

Mike: There are a ton of repairs needed here. The bar is surviving, there is enough for salaries except mine and Ralph (Mike’s partner at Bogie’s) most the time. The repair funds will go toward doors, floors, ceiling, bathrooms, coolers, etc. This place has taken a beating over the years.

NYS Music: Do you attribute the damage to the hardcore scene?

Mike: Not the hardcore or metal scene. Those guys are the most respectful, it is when we throw college parties that everything gets destroyed. Like a tornado goes through here.

NYS Music: Can you tell me about your affiliation with Black ‘n Blue out of New York City?

Mike: Freddie and Cousin Joe, they are BNB. They’ve helped a lot and have Black ‘n Blue Bowl, big names and they are only three hours away. Upstate Black ‘n Blue is completely separate but we help each other out.

NYS Music: What are some bands that played here before anyone knew who they were?

Mike: State Champs. They played the first spot of six bands. they started at the bottom but worked hard. They are getting big and they are going to be big. They deserve it.

NYS Music: Any bands out right now to look out for?

Mike: Sure. Before I Had Wings, Collateral Damage and Ego Destroys. There are others, too.

NYS Music: Is there a difference between the Albany scene and the Troy scene?

Mike: Not a difference anymore. It is the same kids, they go wherever there is a good show. Troy bands are very proud of their Troy connection though.

NYS Music: What’s the scene like now?

Mike: It is okay, all the promoters are working together. Trick Shots, Upstate Concert Hall and Bogie’s. We try not to book over top of each other. None of us are getting rich off this and we all have other jobs to pay the bills. We have to work together and we do.

So this weekend, if you have a free day, free afternoon, or even a free hour, come down to Bogie’s at 247 Ontario Street in Albany and support the local venue. If you can’t make the festival, please consider to donate online at their GoFundMe account (www.gofundme.com/6k0qjw) and check out future dates at Bogie’s including these in May: Adrenaline Mob on the 14th, Vanna on the 24th and Blacktide on the 31st.

Website: www.bogiesny.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Bogies-NY

May 6, 2014
Water Street Music Hall is Back in Business

Water Street Music Hall posted on their Facebook page this morning that Happy days are here again! – The Rochester, NY music venue has their liquor license once again. After a change in owners and management team and this long-awaited granting of their liquor license, Water Street is back in the game.

Photo by: Darren Kemp

Rochester has suffered lately with a lack of venues fit for the same shows that are coming to Buffalo and Ithaca, NY. With Water Street Music Hall re-opening with a full liquor license and an updated interior, this is great news for Rochester.

The folks at Water Street have said they will now be handling all of their booking as well as the Zeppa Auditorium on Gregory St. in Rochester. After the sold out Devil Makes Three show at Zeppa this past Wednesday (that was co-produced with Funtime), this is a good sign of things to come for the Rochester music scene.

will have concert announcements and news as it is released so stay tuned for the exciting comeback of one of Rochester’s favorite music venue.

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April 26, 2014
Local Limelight: Ian Wagner Brings a Fresh Sound to Watertown

Ian Wagner is a local Watertown artist whose incredible talent has raised the expectations for musicians all over the North Country. Originally from Fairbanks, Alaska, Ian traveled the country and joined the military in 2001. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion 22nd Infantry Regiment Ft. Drum as a Combat Medic on May 13th 2003. He was medically retired after being wounded in action during his second tour. In 2009, Ian decided to pursue his dreams as a musician. He was a member of local bands Network and Wagner’s Agenda before going solo in 2011. Ian has made the North Country his home, and we are happy to have him!

With acoustic covers of artists like Luke Bryan, Shinedown, Tenacious D, and even Eminem, he hits every genre. He transforms every song into his own, performing with incredible passion and energy. His talent is unlike anything you will hear out of this region. You will remember the first time you saw him play, and you will be sure to see him again. I have been lucky to see him play many times and recently I sat down with him to learn more about this upcoming artist.

Katrina Johnson: I heard you were working on an album, is that true?

Ian Wagner: Not entirely. I have about an LP’s worth of original material that’s ready to be recorded. But I’m shy with my originals. You actually heard one on Saturday though, which is rare. That song is called “Deeds Not Words” and was written specifically for the families of fallen soldiers.

KJ: I loved that song.Very well done! What is the next step for you? What is your ultimate goal?

IW: Well, that’s still a little up in the air. I’ve played on every stage Jefferson County has to offer, and I consider this place my new home. I’m definitely interested in branching out though. It seems like the logical choice. We are fortunate to live in an area rich with musical talent. I’ve shared the stage with some incredible musicians, some of international notoriety. Most significant to me are Brian Purwin and Marcus Hagans. They have become my brothers both on and off the stage. If I had my way the three of us would be out on the road, but there are numerous obstacles preventing all of us from being able to commit 100% to the dream. I plan on spending my summer here in the North Country playing as much as possible.

KJ: Did you meet them here or did you serve with them?

IW: I met them both at jam nights in Depauville actually. Marcus was in the Army. He gets out this week actually. Brian is originally from New Jersey and wound up here visiting his childhood friend at Better Farm in Redwood.

KJ: When did you start playing and performing?

IW: I’ve been playing music my whole life. I didn’t start performing until I decided to resign from my position as a tactical medical instructor at the MSTC on Drum and pursue my lifelong passion as a musician. That was in 2009

KJ: Who taught you to play?

IW: I have approximately five years of state recognized education. For the most part I taught myself everything I know. That isn’t to say I haven’t studied everything I can get my hands on. My mom plays a bit and sings from the heart. I guess in a lot of ways I inherited that from her. I taught myself how to read tablature when I was 13 and immersed myself in learning my favorite albums front to back when I could afford the corresponding book. The five years I was in school I learned how to read music and play every brass instrument my school had. I also tried my hand at clarinet and tenor sax. When I was very young my mom had a keyboard that I began picking familiar melodies off of. It’s hard to say who “taught” me to play because my musical experiences are multi-faceted. At the end of the day, I believe I taught myself. Music is a personal experience for me, and even though I share it with every one else these days, I always try to put 110% of myself in everything I do.

KJ: Who is your idol?

IW: They change frequently. The list is way too long to get to them all. I attempt to get to every genre. Locally there is a guy named Ben Wisner that I aspire to play as well as. Stevie Ray Vaughn had a big influence on me as I began maturing as a guitar player. Bradley Nowell taught me that you don’t have to have an amazing voice to sing with passion. Django Reinhardt had incredible absolutely impeccable rhythm and played with two fingers fused together after a burn injury. I explored trying to recreate sounds that guys like Jimi Hendrix made without having the luxury of being able to afford expression pedals, which was ultimately impossible, but taught me so much about digging sounds out of the instrument. Lately I’ve been on a country kick. I recently had the opportunity to stand 10 feet from Brad Paisley’s Dr. Z amplifiers while he delivered a show to 10,000 adoring fans. Not only was I up front, but I got to hang out with him a bit backstage! An incredible experience. Marcus and Brian consistently blow my mind. I can cover hundreds and hundreds of songs; I tend to do them my way. These guys just feel it and make it happen, even if they haven’t ever heard the original song. None of us have rehearsed for a gig as long as we have played together. We literally built our shows making it up as we went, and that has been incredibly inspirational for me. If the roles were reversed and I were supporting them, I would be sure to disappoint.

KJ: That is impressive. You guys do an amazing job. Do you have any shows scheduled yet for this spring or summer?

IW: I think the show I’m looking forward to the most so far in May is Bella Brook Vineyards, May 24^th. That’s in St. Lawrence County, and I have had an incredible time every time I have played there. This summer is starting to fill up with a lot of fun events, both public and invite only. I guess in closing I’d like to send a shout out to @musicology in Watertown. I play out multiple times a week and that takes a toll on my gear. I can always count on them t keep me ready for the next gig!

Check out Ian’s Facebook page to find out where you can see him next!

April 22, 2014
Franklin’s Tower: Albany’s Historic Hidden Gem

Downtown Albany has more than a few hidden gems among the myriad of businesses, state and local government buildings, cultural attractions, restaurants and bars in the historic area. Among them is Franklin’s Tower, a restaurant and music venue that has thrived for 10 years on Broadway and brought an exceptional menu that pairs favorite local musicians together in an historic setting.

A Unique Music Venue
Opened at the location of the former Plaza Grill in September 2004, owner Patrick Hall came up with Franklin’s Tower as a name that resonated with the Deadhead and as such has attracted local bands such as Sirsy, Hair of the Dog, Tim Healy Band, Scotty Mac and the Gold Tops, The Deadbeats, The Garcia Project and many more. Musically oriented and passionate, Hall has sought to convey his musical influences into Franklin’s Tower and developed a client base that comes for the music and stays for the food and ambiance. Music is only part of the attraction of Franklin’s Tower, but one that live music fans should not overlook, especially with an upcoming performance by Grateful Dead historian David Gans and Sycamore Slough String Band on May 9th. The middle of 11 siblings (and twin of Paul), Patrick was turned onto music very early on and saw his first Dead show in 1976 at Colt Park in Hartford.

When it comes to the menu, credit is shared among Hall, Justin Enginiri (a culinary graduate from Johnson and Wales) and head chef Oscar Sanchez who has been with Franklin’s Tower since the beginning. The menu features sandwiches and entrees that reflect the history of the building and the area, including delicious pulled pork, tasty chowder, burgers, salads and an eclectic lunch menu.

A Location Steeped in History

The building, located at 414 Broadway, was erected in 1819 and served as an apothecary, a hat factory and a hardware store, among other businesses, and the history of what the building has been since is featured on the menu Link. In 1919, 414 became a bar, with Anheuser Busch installing the mahogany-top bar if they would sell their product. Following suit in those years was Albany Democratic chair Dan O’Connell who had beers of his own, and if you didn’t sell his beer, you didn’t have business, simple as that. In that vein, an original Hedricks beer neon sign hangs across from the bar, above an old canteen that sold liverwurst sandwiches, soup, beer and shots for local works. Babe Ruth came up to see the Albany Senators baseball team and drank with the team at the bar on occasion.

For 70 years, the building was owned by the McCaffrey and Tenczar families, the latter of whom Hall purchased the location from after 24 years as a food service manager. In the 1990s, Plaza Grill was a hotspot for politicians, with Johnny Night Train spinning records as it became a popular dance spot. With a 2nd floor dining room and 3rd floor catering space – both with full bars and grand views of the SUNY administration buildings (formerly the Delaware and Hudson Building and Albany Evening Journal Building) – there are prime spots for when you want to have a private party or meeting. The view and history emanates from the walls of this brownstone turned gin mill turned bar turned restaurant. The décor is art deco, cleaned up a bit from the decades of smoking in bars that left a film on the walls and features a great deal of photographs and paintings of musicians that are connected to Patrick’s passions.

Revisiting Downtown Albany

When it comes to downtown Albany, Hall remarks, “some people think downtown Albany is like downtown Alaska,” a not too far off comparison in an area chock full of local businesses that would otherwise thrive in a Saratoga or Austin setting, which Hall feels Albany could be like, with the right effort. Disappointed in the lack of effort from creative minds to make downtown a destination, Hall sees the potential in the downtown area. “Younger people want to live downtown and in cities, not in the suburbs,” and with nearly 100 new apartments going in on Broadway this year, the hope is that more business will come to the lower Broadway area and all of downtown Albany.

With these developments, Hall is “encouraged more than I ever have been”, with the hope that “new Mayor (Kathy Sheehan) will walk the walk” in regards to downtown development. Hall wishes that downtown Albany could be like a real city and get businesses thriving again, and with the conscious effort to bring in more residential space as of late, there is hope that the future is brighter.

The pending Albany Convention Center was planned to go in around Green Street (between Red Square, the Greyhound Station and the Times Union Center) but with the location moved to behind the Times Union Center, a move that has boggled more than a few minds, Hall laments “Shovels are going in, just not here.” The goal to attract business from outside of the area and bring those from the suburbs back to downtown faces the battle of an overblown misconception of downtown Albany, one with crime and a lack of parking. While parking during the day in a state capital is likely to be difficult, at night there is more available parking than some realize. Crime has not been a problem in the downtown area, no more than other areas of the city, yet patrons stay away from an area ripe with eclectic restaurants, bars, clubs and a vibrant nightlife that deserves a second glance by all. Hall sums up his thoughts on downtown simply, saying, “If I had my day business at night, I’d be on a sailboat.”

With a local music scene that is one of the best in the country, Hall feels strongly that this can be a centerpiece of downtown Albany’s urban renewal in the coming years. “You can see good music 364 days a year. There are great local pubs, The Egg, The Palace Theatre, The Times Union Center, Red Square, The Hollow, Capitol Rep and The Linda … It’s a phenomenal scene, that’s what I love about it”.

Franklin’s Tower on Facebook Franklin’s Tower is located at 414 Broadway in Albany, 518-431-1920 Hours are Monday-Friday Lunch 1130-3pm and Monday-Saturday Dinner 5-9pm

April 2, 2014
EXIT 97.7 WEXT Announces Fund Drive

“Leave Regular Radio Behind” is their motto, they focus on local 518 artists, they dig through endless catalogs of forgotten songs, they are supported only by their listeners; they are Exit 97.7 WEXT and they command a unique on air musical experience rivaled by many, with a new Fund Drive coming up.

Presented from March 21-28, WEXT-FM announces the Songwriter Showcase, an ideal platform respecting various musicians, navigating the sound waves to where songs begin.

The Songwriter Showcase is a group of songs played on air from years past through current or new artists. The rotation of songwriters presented range from Neil Young to Josh Ritter. There will be songs that are political to songs that tug on the emotional heartstrings and everything in between. The Songwriter Showcase is only one example of programming 97.7 WEXT presents. Other special shows include countdown lists that no other radio tackles such as: the 500 greatest bands and albums of all time, as well as 977 greatest songs of all time. Other equally unique programming includes the 200 women who rock on International Women’s Day and an entire week is devoted to songs of freedom and protest.

The EXIT 97.7 began July 7, 2007 making this year their lucky seventh anniversary. The station is not only proud of their commitment to music but also maintains a strong community based ideal sponsoring events such as Tulip Fest, Lark Fest and Art on Lark. Members of the community are also invited to partake in MY EXIT programming where the listener creates their own playlist and becomes the DJ for an hour. WEXT is a huge supporter of local talent, providing 518 artists with an outlet for their creativity with live in-studio performances. Local musicians are showcased throughout the day.

Defying commercial radio, WEXT has a stronghold on local public broadcasting, setting their own policies and program decisions based on the desire and needs determined by open communication with the community. The community-owned and operated station relies heavily on financial support of its members, as there is no commercial advertising on air. During the Songwriter Showcase, listeners will have an opportunity to make a contribution during WEXT’s spring fund drive. In exchange members will receive a gift. Based on the contribution, each member will be able to choose from CD’s such as the re-mastered Uncle Tupelo’s No Depression, or concert tickets to upcoming shows. The sold out James Taylor show at Tanglewood is one package offer. Other available contribution packages include tickets to Shawn Colvin and Steve Earle at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Breckell at The Palace Theatre or Jake Shimabukuro at The Egg.

Exit 97.7 WEXT is still in its infancy yet the station has become a staple of the community and did so through grassroots efforts using the co-op paradigm as its model. Turn the dial to 97.7 FM and be the judge. Contributions can be made online at exit977.org or by calling toll free 1-800-272-6492.

March 21, 2014