NYS Music 20​15

Category: Albany

  • Town of Clifton Park Performing Arts at The Common

    The town of Clifton Park will present free performances on summer Wednesday and Sunday nights at Clifton Common on Vischer Ferry Road.

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    Shows begin at 7 p.m., unless otherwise noted, and will run rain or shine. Lawn chairs are welcome, and alcoholic beverages are not permitted. Check Cliftonpark.org for more info.

    June 28 – Clifton Park Community Chorus
    July 5 – Red Molly – vocal trio
    July 12 – Sirsy – soulful indie pop
    July 17-18 – ‘The Little Mermaid” theatre camp (begins at 5 p.m.)
    July 17-19, 24-27 – “Anything Goes” presented by the Not So Common Players
    Aug. 2 – Neil Diamond Tribute Show – Tom Sadge brings the look, sound, movement and magic to life
    Aug. 9 – Big Sky Country, High energy modern country band
    Aug. 16 – New York Players – dynamic ensemble featuring outstanding vocals and horns

  • Loudonville Summer Concerts at The Crossings

    Each Thursday this summer from 6:30-8:30pm at The Crossings in Loudonville, located at 580 Albany-Shaker Road, enjoy a variety of bands performing music across many genres of music. This lineup features local talent that is sure to entice locals to come out and enjoy the summer evenings with music in the air.

    The Crossing Summer Schedule

    July 2 – Bluz House Rockers
    July 9 – George Wonders Orchestra
    July 16 – Holly McCormack with Cello Voce
    July 23 – Keith Pray’s Mohawk Brass Band
    July 30 – The Pipe Kings
    August 6 – New York Players
    August 13 – 2 Broads with Alotta Sound
    August 20 – Nick Coluccio (Sinatra Tribute)
    August 27 – Jeff Gonzales and the 2 Bit Cowboys

  • Tony Bennett is Coming to The Palace Theatre this Fall

    The legendary Tony Bennett will grace the stage of The Palace Theatre in Albany on Sunday, October 18 at 7pm, with special guest Antonia Bennett.  Tony Bennett’s artistry and accomplishments are applauded here at home and all over the world from people from 11 to 90 years old.

    In the past 10 years alone, Bennett has sold over ten million records, a testament to his longevity and artistic achievement that has long been a part of his life since growing up in Astoria, NY. Upon being discovered by Bob Hope, his career took off and the rest is history. Among the honors Bennett has received are 17 Grammy awards, including a 1995 Grammy for Record of the Year for his MTV Unplugged album, which introduced his music to new generation, as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.  He has had 24 songs in the Top 40, including “I Wanna Be Around,” “The Good Life,” “Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)” and the signature, “I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” garnering him two Grammy Awards.

    One of the few artists to have new albums charting in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 00’s and 10’s, he has recently collaborated with pop star Lady Gaga on Cheek to Cheek, a collection of jazz standards. Having toured the world to sold out audiences with rave reviews whenever he performs, Bennett was recently observed by former President Bill Clinton as, “Now in his seventh decade of singing, Tony Bennett has somehow kept his unique voice, with its beauty and range, its strength and style, and still in perfect pitch.  But as talented as he is, Tony’s most impressive quality is his giving spirit!”

    Tickets for this special performance range from $60.50 – $128 and go on sale Friday, June 26 at 10am at The Palace Theatre.

  • Ginger Baker Sets Albany Ablaze, a Night of Improvised Jazz

    Ginger Baker brought his new band Jazz Confusion to The Egg for a grand evening of music for a packed audience. Playing two sets, though the second was a little shorter, and an encore, Ginger and his band had the crowd sitting on the edge of their seats to see what they would perform next. Ginger Baker is of course known most famously for being in the super groups Cream and Blind Faith, but at the heart of his playing has always been jazz. He was just getting over a bout with pneumonia, but the only time you would have know he had been sick was when he talked to the audience or stood up from his drum kit. When he was sitting behind the kit, his hands still flew all over the kit with ease. After all these years and problems he has gone through in life, it is a joy to be able to see him still be able to play the drums so effortlessly.

    The band that Ginger put together displayed their power during the show, seamlessly weaving in and out of one anothe. Pee Wee Ellis, formerly James Brown’s band leader, played beautiful solos and dotted the songs with intricate melodies on his saxophone, while Alec Dankworth’s bass playing kept the music steamrolling forward. Abass Dodoo, a tremendous percussionist from Ghana, added a flair of Afrobeat to the music of the others and complimented Ginger’s playing perfectly. Anytime one of the members had the chance to take a solo, it was great to see the other three members of the band watch as if they were in the audience and seeing the other member play for the only time on the short tour the band is on. Though there may not have been any “famous songs” played by the group, the crowd at The Egg got their moneys worth and then some from the four virtuoso musicians.

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  • WEXT Benefit Concert In Albany June 20 To Highlight Local Music

    On the eve of summer, three Capital District bands will come together to bring in the change of the seasons a benefit concert WEXT – Exit 97.7 FM. The show, with doors opening at 7 pm, will feature Accents, SubSlab, and Stockade Kids.

    Accents, a folk-rock quartet to whom writing music has always been about sincerity. Featuring two husband and wife duos, the group showcases lush harmonies, soaring guitars and a unique show highlighted by the multi-instrumental abilities of the band. SubSlab is a rock quintet that writes songs with an upbeat ear tuned to stories of love and loss, redemption and hope. Influences span time and genre, creating powerful tunes with melodic hooks, thundering bass lines, harmonious guitars and rock-steady drumming. Stockade Kids present a fusion of Hip-Hop, Rock, and Jazz. With a unique duo-horn section, a heavy-grooving rhythm section, a lead singer with a powerful voice and passionate lyrics, and a rapper with a direct delivery and distinct point of view, Stockade Kids offers something for everyone, with unlimited possibilities.

    Celtic Hall is located at 430 New Karner Rd., Albany, NY. Tickets  $10 before June 15th  online and $15 at the door.

  • Mike Gordon Tours the NYS Thruway

    Twitter conversationalist, hotline recorder, and Phish bassist Mike Gordon, taking a break from his ongoing couch tour, is on the road in NYS with his solo band. Next week they’ll hit upstate New York hard, with stops in Buffalo, Syracuse (technically Baldwinsville), and Albany. After a few shows outside of New York, Mike will return to play down in Port Chester.

    mike gordon NYSThe tour has already seen the band debut a few originals as well as take on new covers of Fiona Apple, Here We Go Magic and Robert Palmer. Keyboardist Robert Walter was added to the touring band though he won’t be the only one playing the keys. The stage will feature an interactive synthesizer available for the audience to join in the fun. This could be your shot to jam with one of the greats! Dates and details below.

    Read a past interview with Phish bassist Mike Gordon here.

    June 16, Town Ballroom, Buffalo
    Doors 7pm, Show at 8pm
    Tickets $28

    June 18, Paper Mill Island Amphitheater, Baldwinsville (outside Syracuse)
    Doors 6pm, Show 7pm
    Tickets $30

    June 19, The Egg, Albany
    Doors 7pm, Show 8pm
    Tickets $31.25

    June 27, Capitol Theater, Port Chester
    Doors 7pm, Show 8pm
    Tickets $30/$45

  • A Concert in Memory of Tim Rem: A Benefit for Suicide Prevention and Awareness

    The Second Annual Benefit for Suicide Prevention and Awareness – A Concert in Memory of Tim Rem will be held on June 13 at Parish Public House from 6pm until close. Music starts at 8pm Wiley Griffin and Friends followed by Groovestick.

    Liam Bancroft, founder of the event, started this benefit not only raise money for suicide prevention and awareness, but to preserve the legacy of his cousin, Tim Rem. “Tim was a staple in the Albany scene and was an ardent supporter of music, both local and national,” said Bancroft. “He was instrumental in bringing Boombox to the Capital Region for the first time through his friendship with Zion Godchaux. Even though my family holds a golf tournament every year called the Brothers Classic and we participate in the Out of the Darkness Community Walk in Saratoga Springs every year, I felt it was imperative to hold a benefit that was closely linked with one of Tim’s greatest passions.” While preserving the legacy of Tim Rem is a primary focus of the benefit, an equally important focus will be on issues related to mental illness and serious depression that lead to suicide; two things that are closer to home than almost any other illness or disease.

    With sponsors including Twiddle, WEQX Guthrie/Bell Productions, Dead Presidents Lounge, Parish Public House, Northern Lights Smoke Shop, Nanola, Heartspace Yoga and Healing Arts, The Machine Art Co-op, McGeary’s Irish Pub, DiCarlo’s, Albany Wine & Spirits, and Capital Wine, the benefit stands to be a strong night of music and fundraising. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. 

  • Jason Bonham Serves The Capital Region Some ‘Rock And Roll’

    Tribute and legacy acts are big business for concerts in today’s industry. The baby boomer generation has gotten older and wants that feeling they had growing up listening to the music that was the soundtrack to their lives.

    You also have the newer generation who may not have had the chance to experience the great music, and are interested in seeing what their parents got to see.

    In the case of Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience you get the best of both worlds. Jason, son of Led Zeppelin drummer, John Bonham, celebrates the music that he did not have much of an opportunity to see. Performing to audiences who are starving to see it in person.

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    “The Song Remains The Same” starts the concert with a bang, and the energy never left the Palace Theatre for the next two hours. Stringing together both hits and rarities, Jason and his band kept the crowd in their palms with ease. Jason told funny stories about his father and the feeling he got playing in London with the surviving members of Led Zeppelin in 2007.

    He also spoke about how the band is never trying to act as if they are Led Zeppelin. For most of the evening that last part was true, but about three-quarters of the way through the show the audience was invited to crowd the aisles and to have a “fucking good time.” After this request and for most of the rest of the evening lead singer James Dylan began to channel more than just Robert Plant’s vocals. Lead guitarist Tony Catania similarly did more than evoke Jimmy Page’s guitar work. Moving about the stage like two legends for the rest of the evening. James and Tony had been doing just fine with their great vocal and guitar playing respectively and did not need to change what they had been doing.

    During “Thank You” video screens showed videos of John, receiving some of the loudest cheers of the night. An acoustic “Going to California” had the loudest sing along. “Kashmir” ended the set to a standing ovation and the band came out for a one-two punch of “Rock And Roll” and “Black Dog” to end the evening.

    There is a fine line for a tribute or legacy act to walk on, so as not to become a caricature of the band they are paying their respect to.

    For most of the night the musicianship on stage during Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience spoke for itself, but for a small part of the show the line became a little too blurred.

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  • ‘Smell the Love’ Fundraiser at The Low Beat on May 23

    A fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Smell the Love features Albany’s finest and most quirky, interesting, and fragrant, musical talent. The Low Beat is the place to be on the evening of May 23 if you love rock and roll and hate cancer.

    Give cancer the glove and rock out with The Maraca Incident, Jillian “Keezamonkee” Matundan and Friends who ride insane distances on their bikes to raise money to fight blood cancer, The Sidd Finch Project, and Message From Vega. Cover change is $10 and donations to kick cancer’s ass are encouraged. The final performance of the night will feature players for all bands.

    For the first 25 entrants, purple flashing spike bracelets will be given out, with posters on sale for $5. Door prizes and silent auction will be available throughout the night.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Eastbound Jesus Release “Better Things”, Second Track off “Hollerin”

    With their second album Hollerin due out this summer, Eastbound Jesus has released exclusively with NYSMusic the second track off the album. We love where this album is headed…

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