Category: Poughkeepsie

Felice Navidad! Felice Brothers to Release Benefit Christmas EP

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley will be decking their halls with tidings of comfort for families throughout the region through the help of Palenville’s Felice Brothers. The band is set to release a five-song EP, Felice Navidad, of original Christmas-themed songs through their online store on Nov. 30.

The cost of the EP download is $5, with net proceeds benefiting the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley. Those pre-ordering now will receive a free download of the new song, “Country Ham.”

The band will also be performing at Foodstock 8, an annual charity concert benefiting the same food bank at The Chance in Poughkeepsie on Nov. 21. Other bands on the bill that night include Lindsey Webster, Sirsy and Lara Hope and the Arktones. Other dates include a Nov. 28 gig at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, Webster Hall in New York on Dec. 2 and Brighton Music Hall in Boston on New Year’s Eve.

The follow-up to the band’s acclaimed 2014 album Favorite Waitress is slated for release in 2016. The Albany Times Union called Waitress, “freewheeling, loose and heartfelt…A wild cross between The Band and Nirvana.”

The Felice Brothers have released their first video from the benefit Christmas EP, set to be released Nov. 30. Ian Felice performs the simple, forlorn tale of Christmas. Felice tells the Wall Street Journal, “It’s a narrative about feeling lonely on Christmas, and the different emotions that can go with the holidays that aren’t always talked about in the happy-go-lucky songs.” Check out the new video here:

November 23, 2015
The Machine Runs Smoothly at The Chance Theater

Musical icons have graced The Chance Theater for decades and on Friday, March 6, The Machine, rocked the Poughkeepsie venue. This is a band that has built its legacy playing the music of legendary Pink Floyd, and they have proved to be quite masterful at it. They played two long sets, digging deep into Pink Floyd’s catalog and jamming into early Saturday morning.

Bassist and lead vocalist Adam Minkoff promised early in the evening that they would play plenty of songs and The Machine delivered. They opened with “Have A Cigar,” instantly lighting up the crowd. Guitarist Ryan Ball hit each note accurately and shredded an emotional solo during “Wish You Were Here.” Drummer Tahrah Cohen emulates Nick Mason’s style perfectly and demonstrated her talent with a tight solo leading into “Time.”

Scott Chasolen tore up his keys rig during “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2” and reminded you can’t have any pudding if you don’t eat your meat. “Comfortably Numb” was another favorite that had the Poughkeepsie faithful singing along. They also mixed in songs that don’t get as much radio time like “If” and “Sheep” and performed “The Trial.”

The Machine’s musical prowess is undeniable and the show’s production is also fascinating. A well-choreographed light show accompanied the music—lights flared up with time changes and colors were in tune with the mood of the music. Between songs, the room went dark except for small neon lights around the stage that stayed lit. The theater never went silent. There was always something reverberating or ticking even when the music was at a lull.

The show lasted just over three hours and few people left early. As can be expected at a Floyd tribute show, the crowd ranged in age from 16 to 66 and had fairly equal representation of all age groups in between. Despite the variance in attendees’ backgrounds, everyone left with a smile and one of their favorite Pink Floyd tunes still ringing in their heads.

March 13, 2015
Great Gig in The Chance: The Machine Comes to Poughkeepsie

For more than a quarter century, The Machine has been recreating Pink Floyd experiences across the world with spectacularly produced light and video shows and tight musical performances. On Friday, March 6, they bring their Floydian touch to Poughkeepsie’s Chance Theater.

Photo Courtesy of The Machine

The New York based quartet has built its reputation as one of the finest cover bands touring. Critics laud The Machine’s precision and fans praise the experiential nature of each show. They play a diverse mixture from Floyd’s extensive catalogue and each show provides something new. On any given night, they might take requests from fans, play entire albums, or share the stage with entire symphonies. The Machine has played festivals such as Bonnaroo, sold out large arenas, and they bring their renowned gig to Poughkeepsie’s historic Chance Theater on March 6.

The show is at 7:30. Tickets for The Machine at The Chance can be purchased here.

March 2, 2015
Blues Legend Robert Cray to Play Bardavon January 31

Grammy Award winning blues guitarist Robert Cray and his band will play the Bardavon 1869 Opera House on Saturday, January 31.

A 2011 inductee into the Blues Hall of Fame, Cray released his 17^th studio album in 2014. He has played with the likes of legends Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, and John Lee Hooker and on January 31 leads the Robert Cray Band to the stage of New York State’s longest continually running concert hall.

Cray’s music falls under the blues umbrella, but jazz, funk, soul, R&B and rock influences can be detected throughout his catalog. According to Cray, “When I first started playing guitar, I wanted to be George Harrison – that is, until I heard Jimi Hendrix. After that, I wanted to be Albert Collins and Buddy Guy and B.B. King. And then there are singers like O.V. Wright and Bobby Blue Bland. It’s all mixed up in there.” He’ll let that all loose on January 31 in Poughkeepsie.

Joining Cray on the guitar is Richard Cousins on bass, Les Falconer on drums, and Dover Weinberg on the piano. Cousins has played on and off in The Robert Cray Band spanning five decades while Weinberg played with the band in the 70’s before recently rejoining. On the drums, Falconer is beginning his third year with Cray. The band’s decades worth of playing together adds up to tight grooves and complete control under the limelight.

Their Saturday night performance at the Bardavon is sure to be a hit. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets can be purchased here.

January 22, 2015
Poughkeepsie’s Playhouse: Bardavon 1869 Opera House

Located on Market Street in downtown Poughkeepsie, the Bardavon 1869 Opera House has drawn world-renowned stars to its stage for nearly a century and a half. The theater was originally dubbed the Collingwood Opera House when its doors opened on February 1, 1869, named after original owner James Collingwood. Multiple renovations later, the Bardavon boasts the title of being New York State’s longest continuously running theater.

The theater officially opened as the Bardavon Theatre on January 1, 1923, looking much like it does today. The original unique high dome ceiling remained, but the theater was transformed to house films in addition to live performances. From the roaring 20’s to 1975, the Bardavon was one of New York’s premier movie houses which also featured vaudeville shows and plays. It was scheduled to be demolished in 1975 before the Dutchess County Arts Council and a group of locals created the Concerned Citizens to Save the Bardavon group. They leased the historic building and created the Bardavon 1869 Opera House not-for-profit corporation to protect the beloved theater’s future. The building has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978.

Today, the Bardavon Opera House hosts live concerts, school performances, and other events. The theater’s original Wurlitzer Organ, originally installed in 1928, was sold off in the 1960’s but has since been re-installed and is now a cherished reminder of the Bardavon’s celebrated history. Tours of the 1,150 seat historic theater, which the Hudson Valley Philharmonic calls home, are offered to groups and the public.

Since its doors opened, the Bardavon has hosted performances by Mark Twain, John Phillips Sousa, Frank Sinatra, Greg Allman, Art Garfunkel, Levon Helm, Bob Dylan, B.B. King, and Al Pacino. Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Theodore Roosevelt both frequented the historic theater while the Talking Heads, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, Blue Man Group, The Felice Brothers, and Dark Star Orchestra have all taken stage at the Bardavon.

Arlo Guthrie at the Bardavon (2014).

With strong public support and recognition in the National Registry secured, the Bardavon 1869 Opera House’s impressive resume should continue to grow as the 21^st century rolls on.

January 13, 2015