Category: Capital Region

Leftover Salmon Returns to The Egg on December 2

Jamgrass legends Leftover Salmon make their return to The Egg on December 2. Bassist Greg Garrison spoke with NYSMusic about the group’s first time back in Albany since the 2003, the group’s influence on the jamgrass scene, their songwriting process and release of the live album 25.

For fans of bluegrass and its speedier cousin, jamgrass, the welcoming atmosphere can be felt as “a happy, fun festival vibe,” as Garrison describes it. The upbeat, progressive improv nature of Yonder Mountain String Band and Greensky Bluegrass can trace itself back to Leftover Salmon, whose unique genre of Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass is an instant jolt of energy to audiences around the country. Bringing the audience to their feet at The Egg will be thanks in part to drummer Alwyn Robinson, a role often not filled in typical bluegrass acts. “The fact we have always had a drummer and looked to find a well-versed and good drummer, and with our current drummer Alwyn Robinson from Brooklyn, kept up with the tradition of energetic drummers that we’ve had,” noted Garrison.

There are of course other bands who preceded Leftover Salmon in their contributions to the jamgrass scene. Hot Rize, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Newgrass Revival paved the way for Leftover, marking a lineage that dates back to the early 1980s, connecting current jamgrass-descendants with their predecessors. Over the years, Garrison has seen bands come and go, and the sound changed ever so slightly over time. “The faces and names of the bands have changed, and some have done better than others, like Railroad Earth and String Cheese Incident, who are paving the way for how far you can push the genre as far as crowd and sound. The ones who stay a little truer to roots – Yonder Mountain String Band and Greensky Bluegrass and the like, you could listen to them 10 years ago and now, while the material might change and playing has gotten better, it has matured, it’s still the same.”

Greg Garrison, photo by Andrew Wyatt

The evolved newgrass sound can be found within their recorded albums as well. On their albums High Country and Aquatic Hitchhiker, listeners can find songs that change as they are performed live, whereas Garrison notes, “some will stretch out a little bit and we see where it takes us, and take a simple arrangement and continually use it as a vehicle live.”

Songwriting on recent studio albums has been fresh songs that had not been road-tested. Songs were written individually outside the studio and once in the studio, arranged as a band and lyrics edited to polish the final product. “Andy Thorn (banjo) was a live player since before he joined us. He used to see us when he was 15 years old. Now, he’ll come up with a tune that is a fully formed Leftover Salmon tune before we get a hold of it.”

25, a celebration of Leftover Salmon’s 25 years of music, was released over Thanksgiving weekend. Selecting the tracks was a feat, taking three years’ worth of shows and trimming the list down to 50-60 recordings to choose from. “It took a better part of a year to dig through it all and get what we wanted. Mario Casilio (sound engineer) spent time in the studio together mixing it and making sure it sounded good enough as a representation of the band. It’s the first album I’ve been able to produce for the band. I feel like we picked some interesting tunes that don’t get played very often, like an old version of “Blister in the Sun,” which we play once a year, so to capture a good one of those is great.

“Bill Payne (Little Feat) playing with us for the past couple years (all but one track features Bill) has helped us move in the direction of filling some spaces in a collective improvisation kind of way. We had a horn section with us at the Boulder Theater last year – it sounds like Leftover Salmon but the stuff is definitely unexpected and made it sound really good, and much better than just pulling something off of archive.org, but there’s nothing wrong with that, I do it too.”

Back in the Northwest for New Year Eve, Leftover Salmon will be joined by Skerik and Bill Payne in Portland, followed by shows in Alaska, Fort Collins, CO, a three week run in March and April, as well as the annual Ski Tour, which will include a mini-festival at The Stanley Park Hotel in Estes Park, CO. Unique to the Rocky Mountain-based band are events like Winter Wondergrass in Lake Tahoe, NV and Colorado, an outdoor bluegrass fest in the winter. “Everyone braves it and has a good time, plus we have a few shows in Chicago at The Vic Theater. We’ll be out and about doing our thing.”

Leftover Salmon continue their Northeast run with stops at Higher Ground in Burlington, VT on December 3, Brighton Music Hall in Boston, MA on December 4 and The Wolf Den in Uncasville, CT on December 5.

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November 30, 2015
Jam for Tots Brings Holiday Joy and Music to The Capital District

Jam for Tots, a music benefit series held throughout New York State each holiday season, returns with host Luke Weiler who has been holding the benefit shows 2008.

With events held at The Hollow in Albany, Putnam Den in Saratoga, Last Chance Cheese (Tavern) in Tannersville and Aaron’s Irish Pub in Gloversville, intimate shows are on tap with a variety of live music as well as a chance to donate gifts and raise money for the neediest this holiday season. Weiler feels encouraged for this year’s Jam for Tots. “I’m so excited to see what takes place this year as I am always excited about the events and the vibe that we can all create collectively as Jam For Tots keeps going strong another year.”

The impact of the donations raised by Jam for Tots is quite impressive. “We have donated about $20,000 worth of toys over the last 8 years. We’ve had exceptionally amazing years where we had $10,000 in toys total, and years where we only had two events that raised about $2,000,” shared Weiler. “All bands donate their performances and with four events this year, I am looking forward to a good amount of toy donations, hopefully at least $2,000. I set attainable goals and more the better if we surpass the goal.”

As a holiday event, Jam for Tots is something that is feel good and fun to be a part of. These intimate events help to bring joy to many kids over the Christmas season. Bring a toy and get free admission to each of the Jam for Tots events in November and December.

November 25, 2015
Updated: Wanda Jackson Cancels Dec. 5 Show at Cohoes Music Hall

Updated Nov. 30: Due to a recent knee injury, Wanda Jackson has had to cancel the Dec. 5 appearance at the Cohoes Music Hall. All ticket holders will receive a full refund through Brown Paper Tickets. There are no details on the possibility of rescheduling the performance.

We wish Wanda a speedy recovery and strong return to the stage.

The Queen of Rock is making her way to The Cohoes Music Hall on Saturday, Dec. 5.

A 2009 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Wanda Jackson returns to the Capitol District bringing a long career’s worth of material with her.

Jackson started playing music at a young age, encouraged by her father to learn guitar during the Second World War, also being exposed to artists like Tex Williams, Spade Cooley and Bob Willis at the same time. After she gained attention for herself through hosting a radio program on KLPR while in high school, her father continued to support her by becoming her road manager in her early career.

Over the years she has had incredible success, scoring hits early with “Fujiyama Mama” and a take on Elvis’ “Let’s Have A Party.” Though primarily a rockabilly singer, Jackson bounced around from that and country music from time to time, and released three gospel records in the 1970s.

After her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009, Jackson connected with a younger generation of genuine rock and roll musicians and began working with Jack White on an album. That album became known as The Party Ain’t Over, released in January 2011, and included covers of Dylan’s “Thunder on the Mountain” and the Amy Winehouse’s “You Know I’m No Good.”

Now, after 60 years of touring, Wanda Jackson brings a fruitful career of rock and roll to The Cohoes Music Hall on Saturday, Dec. 5. Local Albany rockabilly band The Lustre Kings will open the evening; they’ve joined with Jackson on many occasions over the past few years. Jackson herself is quoted on the Lustre Kings’ website:

I have worked with many bands around the world through the years, and none are better than Mark Gamsjager and the Lustre Kings. Their fine showmanship and musical ability make them the greatest in my book. THEY ROCK!!

Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door and are available through Brown Paper Tickets.

November 24, 2015
Darius Rucker Wheels Into New York and Brings The Party to Syracuse & Albany

Ever since having the opportunity to interview Darius Rucker for NYS Music, I was anxiously awaiting Darius’s arrival in New York as a little kid would be awaiting Christmas morning. His genuine easy going manner during his interview was only a mere foreshadowing of how dynamic this entertainer was. Raising the roof at the Oncenter War Memorial in Syracuse and the Times Union Center in Albany, he played to the crowd like a pro athlete. How could he not with the hat trick he had in store for us? The evenings lineup was definitely stacked to ensure winning performances as newcomers Cam and David Nail got the house a rockin’ before Darius came in to score the final winning goal.

Opening the evening was newcomer Cam. Hailing from California, this dynamic young lady has made her mark in country music in a huge way. Catching the attention of this journalist with her recent release of Burning House, she has been on my radar from the moment I heard her unique sound, her deep lyrics, and melodic voice. She’s fresh and energizing and took the stage like a ball of fire bouncing around delivering a set that didn’t disappoint. I urge you to remember her name as she will soon be head lining and selling out arenas all by herself as a top entertainer in the business. No tomato here.

Next up was David Nail. Nail’s persona was a bit more subdued, however don’t let his quiet demeanor hinder his ability to wow you. The moment he opens his mouth this strong sultry country crooner melts your heart and mesmerizes you. Singing his hits “Whatever She’s Got,” “Let It Rain,” and “Kiss You Tonight,” Nail nailed it.

As Darius took to the stage, his opening number was a celebration of lights and a bit reminiscent of Elvis’ “A Little Less Conversation,” minus the scaffolding. He continued on that momentum and revved it up a bit more playing all of his country hits while interspersing bits and pieces from not only his Hootie & The Blowfish catalog but also other favorite covers from the Black Crowes to Blackstreet. Have to say, my favorite ditty of the evening, hands down was “No Diggity.”

Darius has a way of connecting with his audience because he leaves it all out there on the stage. His comedic manner of asking people to stop taking photos of him when he comes over to sing to them, gave us a glimpse of his sense of humor. And just for the record, the man had groove. He could move it and didn’t have a problem shaking it while he sang. His no holding back continued throughout the evening as he shares intimate bits and pieces of inspirational moments that brought him to music; personal peeks into his life featuring video footage of his wife and children, and he ultimately shared moments of his true inspiration, his mother. It’s this sharing and connection that makes you feel as though you are a personal friend, and what makes Rucker a true country superstar.

My favorite moment of the night was the encore. As Darius and fellow bandmates returned to the stage for the encore, he shared with the crowd what he coined as “the most honest song he ever wrote,” “So I Sang.” The only song that could possibly have topped that in my book was his cover of Old Crowe Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel” which has become a signature song and which closed out the night.

It was truly a pleasure welcoming Darius Rucker back to the New York region in Syracuse and Albany. This Charlestonian demonstrates what I love most about him and all those I’ve ever met in Charleston, the hospitality they extend, their pride they take in all things family, tradition, and culture, and their honesty in what’s important in life amidst a culture so full of technology, hustle, and bustle. It’s Darius’s music that makes you stop and take notice of all those things around us that are matters. That’s his Southern Style, up front and personal.

November 18, 2015
Mike McDonald Departing Formula 5

Albany jam rockers Formula 5 announced Thursday that founding keyboardist Mike McDonald, is departing the group at the end of 2015 for personal reasons, so he can focus his attention toward building his family.

Here is the announcement as posted on their Facebook page:

Hi friends and fans,

We’ve reached a juncture here in Formula 5 camp and it pains us to announce that our own Mike McDonald will be stepping down as a member of Formula 5 at the end of 2015. Mike has been with us since the beginning and has been a big part of what we have built here with our music, business, and community. As a group, we have been discussing this change for some time now and while it is a very emotional and difficult decision for us all, we all support Mike with his decision to step down and wish him luck in his future endeavors. This decision was made on good terms – it was simply a personal decision that had to be made.

One thing we want to assure everyone of is that Formula 5 will continue on. Mike will always be a big part of Formula 5 but his decision was made to allow F5 to continue to grow, and keep making music and bringing joy to people. And that is what he has urged us to do. While bittersweet, we are accepting of the changes and excited to announce that we will welcome a new member and long-time friend Matt Richards to take over keyboards and vocal duties. Matt is an excellent musician that has experience playing with the prog-funk group The Assortment of Crayons and we are excited to see how this new chapter of Formula 5 evolves. We are very grateful to be able to perform music and appreciate everyone’s continued love and support for F5.

McDonald took to the social media site to express his sincere thanks for his time in the band.

It is with a heavy heart that I announce that I will be stepping down as a member of Formula 5. This was not an easy decision and one that I (and the band) struggled with for quite some time now. First off, I want to say that I love music, I love performing, and I love this band. That isn’t going to change. Writing music with these guys, performing live, learning about the business, and traveling around the northeast and meeting some amazing people and musicians has been phenomenal and something that I will be forever be grateful for. The business side of music can be quite grueling and often not even close to profitable – But this band, the music, its members, our fans, and the northeast music community is something very special and has made it all worth it.

The struggle of balancing my family, my “other” full-time career, and the development of this band has become too much for me to commit to the countless hours I believe are necessary to keep pushing Formula 5 upward with the momentum we have seen over the last few years. Despite all this, it would pain me to see this band simply fade away because of my own personal situation changing. This is something that we, as a band, have discussed greatly over the last year or so. While a very difficult decision for me personally, we all have worked too hard to get where we are today and I would hate to see this band and community fade away – that is why I am stepping down.

But Formula 5 is far from done. These guys are my family and I know that they are making better music than ever before and the future looks very, very bright. The band is very excited to announce that a long-time friend and a fantastic keyboard player and musician, Matt Richards will be stepping in as a new member. He has written and performed with The Assortment of Crayons and I truly think he is a fantastic addition to push Formula 5 into its newest chapter.

Change is good. While still a somber situation for me personally, I strongly urge all of you to still support Formula 5 and the great music that they are and will continue to create.

I will be finishing out the rest of the calendar year playing the next 3 shows with Formula 5 – my last show being on December 12th at dinosaur bbq in Troy. If you feel so inclined, come on out and bid farewell to this chapter of F5.

** Sat Nov 14th – Monopole Bar – Plattsburgh, NY (2 sets) –https://www.facebook.com/events/990469491013152/
** Friday Nov 27th – Annual Black Friday Bash w/ Formula 5, The Jauntee & Sprocket – The Hollow – Albany, NY! – The Hollow Bar + Kitchen – Albany, NY (w/ The Jauntee, Sprocket) –https://www.facebook.com/events/825373814250781/
** Sat Dec 12th – Farewell Show – Dinosaur BBQ – Troy, NY (2 sets)

Thank you to my family, friends, and fans for supporting me throughout the last 5-6 years as I followed one of my dreams.

This post will be updated as more information becomes available.

November 13, 2015
Putnam Den Brings Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real on November 14

On Saturday November 14, rising talent in American rock ‘n’ roll will grace the stage at Putnam Den when Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real come to Saratoga Springs. Having performed at Farm Aid when the annual concert made a stop at SPAC in 2013, Lukas and P.O.T.R. recently backed Neil Young on his latest album The Monsanto Years.

Having made a promise at the age of 11 to his father Willie, that he would teach himself how to play guitar alongside Hendrix and Vaughn, the now 24 year old Nelson has found his calling amid touring year round across the country to continually growing audiences among some of the greats – Neil Young, John Fogerty, Bob Weir, B.B. King, and Bob Dylan, to name a few. No Depression magazine has noted of Lukas’ voice “With a unique voice and gift for penning timely socially conscious lyrics stretched over muscular guitar riffs, Lukas Nelson is earning not only fans but, heaps of critical praise as well.”

Supporting Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real are Glens Falls natives Joe Mansman and The Midnight Revival Band, a 5 piece rock band influenced heavily by outlaw country, roots, blues, and folk. Rich Ortiz starts the night with his one man band drawing on inspiration from the likes of Jim Croce, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder and Willie Nelson.

More information on the show can be found through Putnamden.com.

November 12, 2015
Interview: Popa Chubby – Go for the Raw Sound and Crank It Up

Popa Chubby, the long-time stage name for Ted Horowitz, has been playing a mean guitar for over 25 years. Fresh off of playing shows in Europe this past month, he returns state side starting off a winter tour this Friday Nov. 13 at 8pm at The Hangar in Troy with several other New York appearances on the schedule. Tickets for his show at The Hangar are on sale here.

His other New York shows include: Nov, 28 at Daryl’s House (Pawling), Dec. 12 (Christmas Concert) at Roulette Theater (Brooklyn), Dec. 31 at The Turning Point (Piermont), and Jan. 16 at Treme Blues & Jazz (Islip). Check out his full tour schedule here.

In anticipation for his appearance at The Hangar on Friday, Popa Chubby chatted with NYS Music about his music, playing guitar and his new double-live album, Big, Bad and Beautiful.

Steve Malinski: You’ve got a sound that’s quite your own, sort of a cross roads of blues, rock and roll with quite a level of musicianship.

Popa Chubby: Yeah man, I appreciate that. I started off playing rock and roll, metal, punk rock and speed metal before I got into the blues.

SM: And I’m sure growing up in New York City had and impact on your sound –

PC: – NY Hardcore! –

SM: – So what lead you to find the groove you have today?

PC: It was like 1980 – no, the late 1980’s and the hardcore scene had kind of dried up by that point. There was a lot going on and I just wanted to play. Somebody gave me a Muddy Waters record and I heard it and was like holy cow this is awesome. So I put a little band together. We started playing in bars around NY and it just took off. A couple of years later I had a big record deal with Sony/Okeh, made a record with Tom Dowd, then went to Europe and it’s just been going on ever since, for 25 years.

SM: I’ve kind of pinned your sound as a version of Blue Cheer with a big guitar sound.

PC: Well, I will take that as a huge compliment. I like to rock, man, you know. I like to crank it up. I’m into the raw sound so it’s definitely got a healthy aspect of rock and roll and punk in it for sure.

SM: Kind of like how Ted Nugent plugs directly into his amps and rips from there.

PC: (laughter) Yeah, the Nuge! Luckily he and I are nothing alike politically.

SM: I recently came across a video of you jamming out with Johnny Winter at his 70^th birthday celebration at B.B. King’s in NYC last year. How awesome was that for you?

PC: That was just a legendary night. Johnny’s 70^th birthday. He asked me to play with him. Ironically the first concert I ever saw was Johnny Winter. So it was a real monumental night for me.

SM: Was that the big highlight of your career so far?

One of Popa Chubby’s idols, Leslie West, at Bethel Woods (Woodstock 40th Anniversay) Aug. 15, 2009. photo: Steve Malinski/The Polytechnic

PC: One of them. There have been a lot of high points and that’s definitely one of them, on stage with one of my idols. I was really lucky too because he passed away shortly after that. It’s been quite a year. I’ve gotten to play with a lot of the guys I grew up listening to. Johnny Winter, Leslie West, just great stuff. It’s been awesome.

SM: You just returned from a Eurpoean tour that spanned five countries. What was that experience like?

PC: We did a month long European tour, myself and a band I’m working with called the Balkun Brothers out of Hartford, CT, a duo along the lines of the Black Keys…Blue Cheer, MC5, like the heavier side of blues rock. So we just killed it in Europe and now we’re coming back. It starts this weekend in Troy and I’m really psyched to be up there, I love the area. I’ve played I the Albany area for a long time and it’s gonna be great.

SM: Are the crowds over there in Europe much different than what they are like here?

PC: I wouldn’t say they’re different. It’s just… it’s just been awesome, so great. I’m just so lucky to be doing what I’m doing, man. I’m sitting in my studio right now and I’m looking at my wall with poster of a lot of my heroes. People like Hubert Humlin, and Leslie West is up there, and of course Johhny’s up there, Jimi Hendrix. I’m just so lucky to be doing what I’m doing. Really just happy to be playing music and guitar.

SM: So I’ve counted 24 releases that you’ve had in your career and you’ll soon be adding a 25^th – a live album. What can you tell us about that?

PC: A double live record, Big, Bad and Beautiful. I think in a large sense this is a career-defining record for me. It really sums up 25 years of work and it really came together, man. We recorded it last spring in France when we were on tour and I’m really proud of it. It’s 27 songs and it reflects a lot of my stuff – old, new, and in between. So I’m really happy about this record and it’s been great. It’s coming out on Cleopatra in January.

SM: I’ve never had a chance yet to see you live but from what I’ve heard of you since I first stumbled on you music at my college radio station
back in 2007 and from videos I’ve seen it seems like you have a deep passion for music. What’s so special about the blues and rock and roll to you?

PC: You know what, I can’t really speak for the blues and rock and roll, but I can speak about my music. It’s hard and it’s raw. It’s like…my music reflects what I grew up listening to. For me, like when punk rock came around, seeing bands like The Ramones and Richard Hell & The Voidoids, The Damned, and The Deadboys and stuff like that. There was an immediacy, that and the guitars would just rip your face off. And even seeing bands like Motörhead, Metallica and Black Sabbath, then going back to listen to people like Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy, it’s all got the same element to it. It’s like, no bullshit, man. It’s like, straight up.

SM: You’ve got a lot of shows coming up, including the one this Friday at The Hangar in Troy, Daryl’s House, Roulette Theater –

PC: – Yeah we do, man, it’s non-stop. We’ve got a lot, and in January we’re going back to Europe again. Business is just really kickin’ for me. We just got an offer for a festival in Juno, AK, then back to the west coast in the summer.

SM: With all these shows in your home state, do you have anything special lined up?

PC: I’m always happy to play in New York, man. Especially this time of the year – November, December – is when I’m local and get to play all my favorite shows. And definitely Troy/Albany is a hotspot for me. I’ve recorded a lot of records there, also in Saratoga back in the 90’s…oh man, I can’t even remember the name of the club! It might have been Metronome or something like that [The Metro]. But anyway we recorded Hit the High Hard One up there. So that region has always been really great for me and I’m really excited to get back up there to play. So it’s gonna be a great show. Thanks for taking the time to talk to me, I really appreciate it.

SM: Same to you, it’s been a pleasure.

November 12, 2015
Dave Rawlings Machine Cranks It Up In Buffalo

If you go see a Gillian Welch show, you’ll see her husband Dave Rawlings accompany her on guitar and vocals. If you go see a Dave Rawlings show, you’ll see Welch accompany him on guitar and vocals.

The difference is who’s driving. At a Welch show they’ll play mostly Welch songs, ceding the floor to Rawlings for a number or two. At a Rawlings show, the opposite. And most of the time, Rawlings will round out his band with a few more players. For the current tour they’re on, supporting Dave Rawlings Machine’s just released Nashville Obsolete, they were joined by Brittany Haas on fiddle, Paul Kowert on bass and Willie Watson on guitar, all who make appearances on the album as well.

Bedecked in head-to-toe denim, cowboy hats and long prairie dresses, they certainly dressed the part of the deep-rooted folk they were slinging. With an opening salvo of “Ruby,” “To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)” and “Candy,” they came out guns blazing. Rawlings immediately showcasing his impeccable chops, with Haas entering as the clear and capable second soloist of the group.

Welch grabbed her harmonica for the next song but Rawlings had her return it. “Dave wants me to sing a bummer of a song,” she remarked as they kicked into “The Way That It Goes” off of her Harrow and the Harvest album. This was Rawlings’ show after all. Later in the set he would prompt Watson to swap out his guitar for a fiddle mid-song. “More fiddle!” like the conductor of his own folk freight train.

Everyone, not just Welch, got their turn in the shotgun seat. Watson sang a pair of songs off his Rawlings-produced album Folk Singer Vol. 1 and Kowert was featured on a traditional gospel tune. All members but Haas sang, though she got numerous turns to highlight her fiddle playing throughout the night. Her accompaniment and harmonizing with Rawling’s complicated solos was the secret additive making the Machine run extra hot.

The Machine was most certainly Rawlings’. His clean yet furious picking of his 1935 Epiphone archtop created a highlight-reel’s worth of material. The audience hung on every note, collectively holding their breath as the solos wound to a peak, producing an audible exhaust of CO2 once he made the turn. Just a simple guitar, no pedals or tricks, yet he was able to elicit a library of sound.

During the second set the band would accordion back and forth from the full five-piece down to a couple different trio configurations, and all the way down to the Rawlings/Welch duo for a take on “Sweet Tooth.” Back up to a trio with Watson on banjo, they worked a “This Land Is You Land” perfectly into “I Hear Them All” that turned into a big old singalong just as Pete Seeger would have wanted. Rawlings noted “It’s starting to sound like a real folk concert in here!” To keep the spirit alive they kicked into a Watson-led rendition of “Stewball,” in which the crowd helped balloon the quintet to a band of hundreds.

Early in the set an audience member cried out, “Doesn’t have to be now, but can you play that Dylan song?” Welch quickly retorted, “Which one?!” before Rawlings sought to take back control of his show by stating “We’ve descended into chaos.” But they did play that Dylan song, closing with “Queen Jane Approximately.” They closed out the show in big fashion, with Rawlings grinning widely and bouncing up and down like a rock star, through a blistering solo. It was met with, what wasn’t the first, or last, standing ovation of the night.

Dave Rawlings Machine let Welch take the helm again for an encore of her “Look At Miss Ohio” followed by an a cappella take on “Didn’t Leave Nobody But the Baby” that finally got Haas behind a mic. The crowd wouldn’t let the Machine stop working there though. After another relentless ovation the band was back again for a cover of The Band’s “The Weight.” Another chance for everyone to do some singing, except Haas of course, who ‘sang’ a verse with her fiddle instead. And with that, the Dave Rawlings Machine finally came to a rest.

November 11, 2015
The Revivalists Prove Size Doesn’t Matter in Albany

Upon pulling up to find parking outside The Hollow on November 5, I noticed a familiar face taking a solo stroll down Pearl Street. The late 20s/early 30s man was staring up at the many abandoned buildings that seem to colonize the area as of late. With a closer look, I realized the stranger was Zack Feinberg, guitarist of The Revivalists, the New Orleans based rock hybrid group I was about to see.

Photo Credit: Rocco DeCarlo, 2015

“Oh God, this place must look so lame,” I thought to myself.

Here is a band whose tour has recently included the likes of Telluride and Red Rocks in Colorado, various festivals including Kaaboo, a sold-out Halloween show at the 9:30 club in Washington D.C., and poor Zack here can’t even find a pizza joint open in downtown Albany on a Thursday night.

Fortunately the Hollow was jam packed on this particular evening. A combination of the unseasonably warm weather and the rising popularity for the raw talent of the band. I felt at ease that “Smallbany” would at least provide an energetic crowd, ranging from backwards snap-back sporting college girls to business casual school district administrators who were attending a conference nearby.

Photo Credit: Rocco DeCarlo, 2015

To my surprise, our small city and relatively petite venue seemed to have provided an opportunity for the band to relax and have some fun. While initially pulled back, singer Dave Shaw literally let his impressively voluminous hair down as he bounced about the stage. At times he crouched down so close to the women in the front row, I could practically feel the heat coming from their blushing faces. Had he removed his shirt – as he is known to do – I would have questioned whether we were at a concert or an evening with the Chippendales.
With a few exceptions, the set was mostly tunes from their most recent album Men Amongst Mountains, providing plenty of solo opportunities for the horn section featuring Rob Ingraham on the saxophone and Michael Girardot on trumpet and keys. These two help provide the familiar NOLA sound, while the steel pedal guitar played by Ed Williams announced a twang all his own.

Photo Credit: Rocco DeCarlo, 2015

Shaw continues to woo the ladies by physically joining them in the crowd. Even Williams jumps up from his steel guitar to playfully ask “Why don’t you love me, baby” during “When I’m Able,” a song from their City of Sound album. This particular song provides room for improvisation and crowd interaction. Crystal clear notes rise from the keys, Shaw breaks out the tambourine and an intense faceoff ensues between Feinberg and Williams. These guys are clearly having a blast in Cap City.

After exiting momentarily to take a breath, the septuplet returned to the stage for an encore of “Need You,” an emotionally charged and powerful song from the new album. And finally the cherry on top of this Cajun sundae, the boys closed out the evening with Prince’s “When Doves Cry.” Although they weren’t dressed the part as they did for their Halloween show, the Revivalists nailed the cover while adding their own grit to this pop classic.

If the Revivalists were unimpressed with Albany, it certainly wasn’t evident by the intensity of their set. So there you have it – at least when it comes to cities and venues – size apparently doesn’t matter.

Setlist: Bullet Proof, Stand Up, Fireflies, Amber, Monster, When I’m Able, Keep Going, Fade Away, Criminal, It Was a Sin, Wish I Knew You
Encore: Need You, When Doves Cry

November 10, 2015
Mike Campese Christmas Show in Albany

Hey Albany area rock fans, are you in the holiday spirit? If so, guitar virtuoso Mike Campese will bring his heavy shredding style of hero holiday guitar playing to The Madison Theater in Albany on Saturday, December 5.

Campese and his band will play rock-themed holiday favorites such as “Deck the Halls,” “Grinch,” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “Auld Lang Syne” and “Silent Night,” to name a few.

Show time starts at 8:30 and tickets cost $10.

Campese has released eight studio albums in his solo career, but the holiday-inspired show will see Campese perform songs from his sixth studio album The Meaning of Christmas, along with some other releases. The well-received album was released in 2008.

Campese is a guitar virtuoso and composer. He is best known for his time as a member of the symphonic speed metal group Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Campese was chosen over several guitarists in 2004. In his first album with the band, Campese received a gold record for his work on TSO’s fourth album, The Lost Christmas Eve.

Campese is no stranger to the Albany area, born right in the New York capital and graduated from Shaker High School in Latham. Campese is an honors graduate from the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California. Growing up around musicians, Campese started playing guitar at the age of 13. His father was a virtuoso violinist and his brother also played guitar.

Fans can also catch Campese in a solo performance at this year’s First Night 2016 in Saratoga Springs at Empire State College’s meeting room #1 – 103 starting at 7 p.m. At midnight, Campese will play to the First Night fireworks inside Congress Park to “rock” in the New Year.

November 9, 2015