The Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. made an official announcement today about what they are calling, ‘a historical event’ – Paul McCartney is coming. The 2:30 PM press conference was held to add the venue to the list for Paul McCartney’s Out There tour. McCartney will play the Times Union Center on July 5th.
Tickets will be on sale through Ticketmaster, at 10 AM, on Monday, Apr. 14.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong have been growing their “Flock,” the name given to their fan base, at an exponential rate over the past couple of years. The high-energy, psychedelic funk the band produces has been garnering them high-profile festival gigs and opening slots for some nationally touring acts.
The Baltimore-based four piece is in the midst of a Spring tour that will bring the band to Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse on May 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, respectively.
The last time the group played Buffalo was after a snow storm hit the area for Aqueous’ residency at Nietzsche’s. The band played covers of Steppenwolf’s “Magic Carpet Ride” and Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough”, along with their tasteful originals, to add to the “Decades Night” theme that night.
Check out their full list of tour dates below, but otherwise we’ll see you Flockers at one of their three Upstate shows!
The Experience Hendrix 2014 Tour stopped in Albany, NY’s Palace Theatre on March 28th, 2o14, for a night of tribute to one of rock and roll’s first gods: Jimi Hendrix.
The annual tour is produced by Janie Hendrix, Jimi’s younger sister, as a tribute to her brother’s life and music. Along with featuring artists who cover his music while showcasing their own talents, the show presented short clips from a biographical documentary. The full house was treated to many different musicians, but highlights certainly included Doyle Bramhall II, Dweezil Zappa, Eric Johnson, Ana Popovic, Billy Cox, and Buddy Guy.
The tour has featured all types of virtuosos and has functioned essentially on the premise that “this is how Jimi would want to be remembered: in a fun, musical way,” to paraphrase Janie Hendrix. In fact, at the beginning of the show, Billy Cox said, “we like a rowdy crowd!” and launched into a high-energy performance of “Stone Free,” just to get the crowd to clap along.
But this was simply a warm up compared to the next part of the show which took the audience to a whole new level of energy. The legendary Eric Johnson (Cliffs of Dover) took the stage and had no fear of imposing his 100-pound violin tone and Texas accent on “Power to Love.” Johnson also threw his own spin onto each song as set-mates Scott Nelson and Chris Layton, as well as Eric Gales at one point, allowed time for duels and improvisation.
When Ana Popovic took the stage alongside Dweezil Zappa, she took full force, never leaving an opportunity to play another note. However, Zappa was not hard-pressed to keep up; he became his own force as they dueled for the audience’s awe. Together, they covered “House Burning Down,” and “Can You See Me?” Besides Zappa and Popovic’s ability to play guitar in an unbelievable fashion, the audience soon learned that Popovic had an uncanny ability to sing Hendrix songs as well.
The standouts of the night, though, included Doyle Bramhall II, Jonny Lang, and Buddy Guy, all of whom impressed the audience with their ability to collaborate with other musicians while mixing in their own style and keeping an overall handle on the music. As the night went on, the crowd became more and more excited, screaming, “excuse me while I kiss the sky,” while Eric Gales powered his way through “Purple Haze.”
Jonny Lang’s ability to cover “All Along the Watchtower” left those watching in awe; his voice was both majestic and practiced. He put on a show with the quality of his cover certainly rivaling both Dylan’s and Hendrix’s versions. Not only this, but Kenny Wayne Shepherd and singer Noah Hunt covered “Gypsy Eyes.” Hunt may have appeared underconfident on stage, but his ability to vocally mimic Shepherd’s solo paved the way for the final act of the night.
Buddy Guy has never really lost it. He can still play guitar as well, if not better, as he did years ago. The tone of his guitar is warm and his charisma and control of the crowd are almost political. There is not much to say about Buddy Guy — especially after his onstage appearance with Billy Cox to play “Hey Joe” — that has not been said throughout the years. This show was truly wonderful and it is not one fans will forget for a long time to come.
Setlist: Stone Free, Message to Love, Freedom, House Burning Down, Can You See Me?, Power to Love, Ezy Rider, May This Be Love, Are You Experienced?, Purple Haze, Foxy Lady, Hear My Train a Comin’, Angel, New Rising Son, All Along the Watchtower, Fire, Spanish Castle Music, Gypsy Eyes, Come On (Let the Good Times Roll), Voodoo Chile, Voodoo Child (Slight Return), Who Knows, Louisiana Blues, Them Changes, Hey Joe, Red House
The New Mastersounds have just announced that they will be playing Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre on Tuesday, June 10th. Their new album Therapy came out a few weeks ago and has been getting praise from around the music community.
They are no strangers to us at as we have seen them before at Equifunk this past summer as well as a Phish after-show this past December. They always put on a fantastic show, blending rock, jazz, funk, and soul together in a beautiful arrangement of notes that only they can do. Tickets are on sale now and are expected to go quickly as they do not make that many appearances in the area.
The Hudson Project has come to the festival scene with a bang with its initial lineup announcement this week. With an eye towards diversity, the festival has something for everyone that could see a great mix of people traveling to Saugerties, NY come the weekend of July 11th-13th. The headliners for the festival are Kendrick Lamar, Bassnectar, Modest Mouse, and The Flaming Lips. Some of the other big names include, Sound Tribe Sector Nine, Big Gigantic, Moby (DJ set), Matt & Kim, The New Deal, Dr. Dog, Flying Lotus, Lettuce, Infected Mushroom, ZZ Ward, Marco Benevento, Twiddle, and TAUK.
There will be more than 85 acts at the festival on four stages, as well as a fifth performance space, interactive art installations, carnival rides and a game center. All of this with the beautiful Catskill Mountains serving as the backdrop for the festival could wind up being one of the best New York has seen in a while. Taking place where Woodstock ’94 happened gives the festival a little sense of history as well.
The Hudson Project is offering regular, VIP, and luxury camping depending on how you would like to spend the weekend. There are also going to be shuttles and buses running all weekend from various locations in New York. Tickets are on sale now at the festival’s website. Come mid-July, Upstate New York is going to be rocking like it hasn’t in a while.
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moe. will be playing back to back nights at Saranac Brewery on June 20-21. Saranac Brewery has hosted many shows in the past including moe., which are no strangers to the Utica, NY landmark. The band will be promoting their newest album, No Guts, No Glory – which will be out on May 27th. The summer tour will include stops in Bellevue, CO on June 13th and Kansas City, MO on June 15th. It looks like moe.’s summer is starting to fill up with many shows throughout the country.
Tickets go on sale for Saranac on Saturday, April 5th at noon.
moe. Upcoming Dates
5/28- New York, NY – No Guts, No Glory album release show
5/30-Providence, RI- Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
5/31-Hampton Beach, NH- Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
6/13-Bellevue, Co- Mishawaka Ampitheatre
6/14- Denver, Co- LOHI Music Festival
6/15- Kansas City, MO- The Crossroads
6/20- Utica, NY- Saranac Brewery
6/21- Utica, NY- Saranac Brewery
6/22-Hudson, NY- Clearwater’s Great Hudson Revival Festival
7/31- Breitenbach am Herzberg, Germany- Burg Herzberg Festival
8/2-8/3- Bridgeport, CT- Gathering of the Vibes
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Enthusiastic fans filed into Albany’s Hart Theatre at The Egg on Sunday, March 30th, to view the ukulele virtuoso, Jake Shimabukuro. Since the age of four, the 38-year-old phenom proved to be very entertaining and a one-of-a-kind musician.
Shimabukuro showcased his lightning-fast and complex finger work at his opening show. Eventually, Shimabukuro was joined by electric bass guitarist Rich Glass for a few original tunes. Crowd favorites included “Gentle Mandolin,” and a stirring melody entitled “Blue Roses Falling.” During the second half of the show, Shimabukuro picked up the tempo a bit with an impressive “electric guitar” jam and the always famous cover of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Jake Shimabukuro offers his audience an experience that is both unique and entertaining.
Watch Jake Shimabukuro’s Ukulele performance right here
Nine-time Grammy Award winning artist John Legend has announced dates for his 2014 North American acoustic spring tour – An Evening with John Legend: The All of Me Tour.
The tour will begin on March 20th in Temecula, CA at the Penchanga Resort & Casino and will conclude on June 7th at the Ferguson Center in Newport News, VA. The 46 city tour will support Legend’s current recording Love in the Future and will feature Legend in an intimate/acoustic setting, highlighted by a five-piece string quartet.
Legend will bring the tour to New York State on Thursday, May 15th at the Theatre At Westbury in Westbury, N.Y, Friday, May 16th at the historic Proctor’s Theatre in Schenectady, N.Y, Sunday, May 18th at the Bardavon in Poughkeepsie, N.Y and Saturday, May 31st at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, N.Y. For more information and to purchase tickets please visit the website.
Legend’s highly acclaimed fourth studio album Love in the Future, which continues to gain momentum on the Billboard 200 chart and currently sits in the top 10 on the R&B Album Chart. The albums single “All of Me,” was recently certified Gold sales status.
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Putnam Den hosted two soulful bands, Alan Evans Playonbrother and Turkuaz, this past Thursday the 27th of March that rocked the roof off the venue. Both acts had new music to share with fans that eagerly filled up the dance floor.
With their most recent name change, Alan Evan’s Playonbrother started the night to prove that they are more than a jazz trio. Were they always this edgy? The new name was the boost the group needed to give them more of a dark rock sound. Guitarist Danny Mayer was relentless in his strong guitar riffs throughout the set, never slowing down as Beau Sasser on keys cranked out sharp notes for the familiar jazz like sound that fans have always loved. Alan Evan’s passionately beat his drums and cymbals with a new found fiery confidence, not his usual cool, calm and collected manner. One of the highlights of the night was their rendition of Cream’s “Sunshine of your Love” and subsequent jam, an out of control, hard hitting masterpiece. The trio recently released a new album, Woodstock Sessions, Vol 1. that is available online or at their shows on their current tour with Turkuaz.
The well-oiled funk machine known as Turkuaz shook the crowd and Putnam Den with their explosive dance music. The 9-piece band from Brooklyn resembles a modern day Talking Heads but with more funk, some Motown flavor and a touch of techno. The band has harmonies coming from every direction and member, not to mention a great chemistry that makes each show fun and special. Their synchronized dance moves were contagious to the crowd and kept everyone pumped up throughout the night. Guitarist Dave Brandwein dances in the eye of the Turkuaz tornado, being a strumming, sturdy force. Geneva Williams and Sammi Garett showcased a wide range of vocals, both in unison and in the solo spotlight. Chris Brouwers was a treat to watch perform in that he can multi-task like a boss as he plays the trumpet and keys at the same time. They are set to release their newest album, Future 86,on April 1st with all pre-orders (digital or physical) receiving a code to download it the day it comes out, no joke. To quote one of their new songs, “The future is coming now” and it is Turkuaz. Be sure to see Turkuaz and Alan Evans Playonbrother at Rock n Roll Resort v4: The Dream Machine, and get your hands on their latest music.
Setlist: Typa-Lika, Night Swimming, Coast, Rules, Murder Face, 20 Dollar, Chatte, Lookin’ Tough, Can You Handle It?, Tiptoe Thru Crypto, It’s Hard, Honky Tonk, Future, Bubba, Take me to the River, Monkey Fingers
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