Concept show artwork created by PTF guitarist Dave Brunyak.
In the hustle and bustle of Saratoga Springs, sits a treasured concert venue known as Putnam Den–not only to its show dwellers but to the talent that plays its stage as well. Gurus of blending together a trifecta of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish, Pink Talking Fish plan to put a fresh spin on their faithful covers during next Saturday night’s gig, which they just so happened to save for the Den.
Only preformed once prior in 2016, the hybrid fusion group will unleash their concept show, Dark Side of Gamehendge, on November 19. What exactly is that, you ask? Well, in simplest terms, its two sets of genius. The entire night will be a blanket tribute to Pink Floyd’s prominent and timeless album, Dark Side of the Moon, which still finds its way onto the charts today, as well as Phish’s rock opera, Gamehendge. The two sets combine tunes from each album while Talking Heads favorites will be peppered throughout.
PTF closed out their winter tour in North Carolina with the first and only performance of Dark Side of Gamehendge and referred to it as “quite the journey” on their Facebook page. Judging by the show’s artwork, crafted by PTF’s own Dave Brunyak, let’s take bets if the second journey will bring us to anywhere close land far, far away. See we shall. Doors open at 8pm and Primate Fiasco takes the stage at 9pm followed by Pink Talking Fish shortly after.
Q & A with PTF Guitarist Dave Brunyak:
Alyssa Ladzinski: You’ve only performed this concept show once before while closing out a tour earlier in 2016, what made you want to bring this show back?
Dave Brunyak: There’s something symbiotic about combining Pink Floyd’s iconic “Dark Side of the Moon” with Phish’s grand oeuvre “Gamehendge.” Both catalogs share elements of the battle between light and darkness and good versus evil. Quests for knowledge, desire for peace, and the race against time are themes universally present in the music. One informs the other and, by linking the two tales together, they both gain significant emotional gravity. For instance, in my head I see the Famous Mockingbird flying through the sky as the lyrics “Breathe, breathe in the air” set the opening scene. Below him, Colonel Forbin has just stepped into yesterday and is immediately on the run. Rutherford the Brave is under the same sun in a relative way, but he’s older and shorter of breath. King Wilson likely owns a football team and his insatiable greed for power is the root of all evil in Gamehendge, so they say. The Helping Friendly Book is what the fighting’s all about and the lizards are just ordinary men. The deeper you look, the more connections you find.
AL: The Den is a venue you frequent, what made you want to bring the concept show to Putnam Den specifically out of all shows on the fall tour?
DB: The Putnam Den has been a staple for us in recent years and may be our most frequented venue to date. I think we’ve done a pretty good job making our performances as diverse and entertaining as possible with each visit. That being said, we have to keep pushing the envelope to maintain that cutting edge. Also, Saratoga Springs has an active nightlife scene and people there are lucky to have great choices in entertainment every night. Bringing back “Dark Side of Gamehendge” for only it’s second exploit is another attempt to raise the bar in a community that demands (and deserves) our finest work.
AL: What do you hope to do differently this time around to set the show apart from the first time you played it in NC?
DB: Well, given the nature of what we’re doing, two-thirds of the songs in the show are predetermined. Choosing the Talking Heads tunes that support the narrative will create the concrete diversity from our first attempt. Executing the composed sections with precision is always a priority, but improvising harmoniously and meaningfully during the jams will inevitably be what makes this performance stand out on it’s own.
AL: If you had to choose one song off of Dark Side and Gamehendge as your favorite to play, what would it be?
DB: Tough one. Let’s use the deserted island analogy. If I were stranded with a lovely bunch of coconuts and a guitar that would only play two songs, I would choose those two songs to be “The Lizards” from Gamehendge and “Time” from Dark Side of the Moon. Both are pieces with broad movements in texture and they both have those epic guitar moments. Ask me tomorrow and I may have a different answer!
AL: How long did it take you to throw together the Star Wars inspired artwork for the show?
DB: This one came together very naturally. Take the two words “dark side” out of context and I bet you 99/100 people infer a Star Wars reference. Cloaking the blend of the two albums in a Star Wars theme really brought the whole thing together visually. It took most of one workday to craft the artwork.
AL: I gotta say, I sure hope someone dresses up as a Jedi or a Sith, or at least throws in a Chewbacca or R2D2 loop somewhere. Can we expect any Star Wars treats?
AL: Do you plan on introducing innovative concept shows to fans in the future?
DB: Absolutely. We’re due to bring back a Talking Heads-centric concept show. “A Live One” was the album that really blew me away when I first started listening to Phish, so I’ve been bugging the guys to get that ready. Our NYE concept “PTF in the Mirror” incorporating Michael Jackson songs is going to rage in Boston! The concept shows are caveats we’ve employed to bring diversity to the schedule and keep things fresh and we’ve benefited from that.
AL: As a band that covers three huge music phenomenons, what other avenues do you hope to explore to make your live shows different as your careers move forward?
DB: The possibilities are endless! There is still so much ground to cover in the Pink Floyd/Talking Heads/Phish worlds, we could spend the rest of our career digging for gold in those catalogues. Like you said, they are phenomenons, so gold is not hard to find! Right now, I’m working on surrendering to the flow and trusting that, wherever we’re destined to be, we will get there.
Grammy nominated Cape Cod rockers Highly Suspect are set to play a show at Upstate Concert Hall this Saturday, November 12 for the first time. Doors are open at 7:00 p.m with show at 8:00 p.m. Slothrust is slated to open the show.
Along with the upcoming show, Highly Suspect is releasing their sophomore effort The Boy Who Died Wolf on November 18 via 300 Entertainment. The band will undoubtedly play a few songs from that album.
This is a band on the rise so it would be best to purchase tickets for this show sooner rather than later.
Harbron is a New York City and Hudson Valley resident who spent his career photographing the early careers of rock icons such as Blondie, Elvis Costello and The Police as well as the later careers of The Who, Genesis, The Grateful Dead and KISS.
Attendees will get a rare opportunity to explore more than 70 of Habron’s concert and portrait photographs of influential musicians from the 1970s and 1980s. The exhibition also includes some of his concert posters, memorabilia, and souvenirs, as well as guitars from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Guests are encouraged to wear concert attire.
Tickets for Rock the Museum are available at the Albany Institute of History and Art’s website.
The Connecticut based trio is sure to rage with their circus of talent for a late night in Brooklyn as the event is slated from 9pm until 4am. Keep an eye out for band member sit-ins during each performance as this lineup of artists cannot be contained! Tickets for “Lespectacle” are still available for a short time, but after the band’s killer 2016 Fall Tour, they won’t be around for long. You can purchase tickets here.
On October 29 in Bushwick, Unit J is throwing a raging ROCK. IS. DEAD. Halloween show featuring some of your favorite revived rock acts! Costume contest, cricket brownies, blood punch and a rad dance floor will be featured at Unit J, a multi-use art space in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
Tickets are available in advance for $25, at the door for $29, with VIP balcony seating costing $39. All tickets include 1 free drink. Get a free download from The Zombie Beatles “Key of B.”
Unit J is located at 338 Moffat St, Unit J, Brooklyn, NY, and regularly features live concerts, video and photo shoots, film screenings, art shows, and live theater. Take the L train to Wilson Ave or J train to Chauncey St.
The hardest working man in rock and roll revealed the lineup for his annual Christmas party Thursday. The show takes place at the U.S. Cellular arena in Warren Haynes’ hometown of Asheville, NC on Dec. 10. A line-up loaded with talent features Haynes’ main vehicle, Gov’t Mule headlining, along with a who’s who of musicians celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Band’s final show as The Last Waltz Band.
Haynes started the Christmas Jam in 1988 at a local Asheville club as a benefit for local charities. For the past 18 years, he has used it as a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity. As of last year, the Jam has raised over $1.8 million for the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity.
The 2016 version of the Christmas Jam happens Dec. 10 and is guaranteed to sell out quickly. Pre-sale tickets are available at noon Monday Oct. 24 with VIP packages also available. General sale begins Nov. 1. General admission tickets are $63 and a limited number of reserved seats are available for $73.
Performers this year, in addition to Gov’t Mule, include Bob Weir, Michael McDonald and Jamey Johnson with Alison Krauss. The Last Waltz Band features Haynes, McDonald, Johnson, Don Was, John Medeski and Terrence Higgins.
Other special guests scheduled to appear include Branford Marsalis, George Porter, Jr., Steve Kimock, Marcus King, Kevn Kinney, Audley Freed, “Steady Rollin’” Bob Margolin and Mike Barnes.
For more information on this year’s event, visit the Jam’s website. And while you’re mulling over whether you should attend, take a gander at this stellar version of “Stormy Monday” featuring Gregg Allman from the 2013 Jam.
Mister F brings lespecial to town this Friday, October 21 to The Hollow Bar and Kitchen in Albany. Featuring performances of brand new material and some very special guest collaborations between the bands, Mister F is stoked to be back on their home turf before heading out into the Midwest for a tour with McLovins next week. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 day of show.
Having recently returned from Luna Light Festival in Maryland, Mister F welcomed Holly Bowling to the stage to play keytar on “Answer the Dog.” Keyboardist Scott Hannay shared the story on the sit-in: “We had talked a number of times in the past about having her throw down on my keytar, but the timing just hadn’t yet worked out. She reached out to me shortly before we pulled into Luna Light festival this past Saturday and we made it happen. She’s a natural on that thing. Someone get that girl a keytar!”
Brian Wilson announced last week that he will extending his Pet Sounds: The Final Performances 2017 Tour through 2017, with an addition of 37 new dates starting on March 27th at the Walt Disney Resort in Orlando, FL through May 28th at the Santa Barbara Bowl in Santa Barbara, CA.
The tour is in celebration of the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds 50th Anniversary, in which Wilson and his band perform the album in its entirety, mixed with additions from his solo work and other Beach Boys classics. Traveling with him are special guests fellow former band members, Al Jardine and Blondie Chapin.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Wilson commented on the tour saying, “It reminds me of the harmonies that we did,” Wilson said. “My favorite part of music is harmony. That’s the part of music I like the most. I like the full harmony.”
Wilson and band will be in Albany, NY on April 26 at the Palace Theater.
Brian Wilson Pet Sounds: The Final Performances 2017 Tour Dates
March 27 – Orlando, FL – Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
March 29 – New Orleans, LA – Saenger Theater
March 31 – Durant, OK – Chocktaw Casino
April 1 – Mayetta, KS – Prairie Band Casino
April 2 – Park City, KS – Hartman Arena
April 4 – Fort Collins, CO – Lincoln Center
April 6 – Boise, ID – Morrison Center for the Performing Arts
April 9 – Seattle, WA – Paraount Theatre
April 12 — Edmonton, CA – Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
April 13 — Calgary, CA – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
April 15 — Winnipeg, CA – Burton Cummings Theatre for the Performing Arts
April 17 – Sioux City, IA – Orpheum Theatre
April 18 – Des Moines, IA – Civic Center
April 19 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater
April 21 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre of Columbus
April 22 – Northfield, OH – Hard Rock Live
April 23 – Indianapolis, IN – Murat Theatre at Old National Centre
April 25 – Hershey, PA – Hershey Theatre April 26 – Albany, NY – Palace Theatre
April 28 – Newark, NJ – New Jersey P.A.C.
April 29 – Boston, MA – Lynn Auditorium
April 30 – Worcester, MA – Hanover Theatre
May 2 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – FM Kirby Center
May 3 – Washington, DC – Lincoln Theatre
May 6 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre
May 7 – Chattanooga, TN – Tivoli Theatre
May 9 – Birmingham, AL – BJCC Concert Hall
May 12 – Houston, TX – Revention Music Center
May 13 – Austin, TX – AC Live at the Moody Theater
May 16 – Tulsa, OK – Brady Theatre
May 18 – Albuquerque, NM – Kiva Auditorium
May 19 – Tucson, AZ – Centennial Hall
May 20 – Laughlin, NV – Harrah’s Laughlin
May 22 – Phoenix, AZ – Celebrity Theatre
May 24 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Civic Theatre
May 26 – Los Angeles, CA – Pantages Theatre
May 28 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl
On Thursday, Oct. 20 catch Nothing But Thieves U.S. tour on their stop at Lucky Strike Social in Albany, for a free show presented by WEQX. They will be joined by special guests, The Wrecks.
Nothing But Thieves is a five-piece band from Essex, England consisting of old friends Conor Mason (vocals), Dominic Craik (guitar, keys), Joe Langridge-Brown (guitar), Philip Blake (bass) and James Price (drums).
The group offers an alternative/indie sound that has a ghostly, tender quality that flows well within their eloquent songwriting. They have shared the stage with artists like Awolnation, Arcade Fire, Twin Atlantic, and more.
This is the second tour they’ve done in the U.S. The first tour back in 2012 contributed greatly to their growth as an emerging band with its own original sound, according to the band’s Soundcloud. Their debut studio album through Sony Music Entertainment back in 2015 entered the official U.K. chart at number 7 and topped iTunes chart at number 3.
Just the Tip is the start of a three day Halloween event at Anthology in Rochester, NY. Kicking off on Thursday, October 27, this ALL AGES show, featuring regional bands and headliners each night for a sensational music experience.
On Thursday, Level 7, Joe Driscoll, Funknut and Subsoil perform sets throughout the night, performing from 8:30 PM until 2 AM. Save money by purchasing the three-night ‘megaticket’ and enjoy PBR specials at Just the Tip.
Friday, October 28 features Thunder Body, Danielle Ponder and the Tomorrow People, with Saturday night performances from The Blind Owl Band, The Honey Smugglers, and Mulberry Soul. Friday tickets are $20 and Saturday tickets are $16.
Thursday schedule:
Doors: 8:00 PM
Level 7: 8:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Joe Driscoll: 9:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Funknut: 9:30 PM to 11:00 PM
Joe Driscoll: 11:00 PM to 11:30 PM
Subsoil: 11:30 PM to 1:00 AM
Joe Driscoll: 1:00 AM – 1:30 AM
Level 7: 1:30 AM to 2:00 AM
Known for their high-energy live shows, Subsoil is lyric-driven live Hip-Hop music. Subsoil’s performance wields a keen edge of razor-sharp lyricism, with equal emphasis on tight grooves and furious improvisations within a funky dance aesthetic.
Funknut formed in 2006 when Tony Gallicchio and Tristan Greene started playing together as a key and drum duo. Since then, Funknut has expanded and has been blessed to play with a rotating cast of talented musicians with Tristan and Tony as the core. In 2009, Sean McLay became a permanent member of the band holding down the low end and making things even funkier than before. In 2010, good friend Paul McArdle joined in on the guitar. Fans of improvisation, each Funknut show is different from the next.
Joe Driscoll was born in Syracuse, New York. He performs solo, and uses recorded loops of his own beatboxing and live looping using a sampler to fuse hip-hop, reggae, soul, folk and roots rock. During 2007 and 2008, Driscoll has toured with Dirty Pretty Things, Regina Spektor, Coldcut, and The Sugar Hill Gang at events in the US and Europe.
Level 7 (Skribe & DJ 2way) are a hip-hop duo who have been blessed to share the stage with bands such as Mosaic Foundation, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Thunderbody, Subsoil, Sophistafunk, Danielle Ponder and TheTomorrow People, and Cha Cha & the Ndor Band.
Harbron is a New York City and Hudson Valley resident who spent his career photographing the early careers of rock icons such as 
