Author: Timothy J. Bopp

Hearing Aide: BoomBox ‘Western Voodoo’

It’s been a busy two years for the EM musical maestros BoomBox since the departure of original member Russ Randolph in 2016. Founder Zion Rock Godchaux put the time to good use with the addition of new musical partner DJ Harry and the creation of exciting new material that comprises the newly released Western Voodoo. This is the Muscle Shoals, AL based duo’s 5th LP and was recorded right outside of their hometown at Rat Nial studios. Godchaux describes the new tracks as a bit of a departure from their earlier material, “All of the rhythms, melodies, and frequencies add up to these healing properties. I hope people feel rejuvenated and re-focused on some level when they hear us. That’s Western Voodoo.”

This is readily apparent on the album, and is specifically noticeable on the LP opener “Castles”. The trance-like intro sets the stage for the entire album. The track kicks off into a great EM synth hook that precedes Godchaux’s haunting vocal. The groove on the number is so infectious, I found myself unconsciously moving in my chair, as if movement was a mandatory prerequisite to enjoying the jam fully.

Another highlight to BoomBox’s latest effort is the 5th track on the LP “Selling Fun”. It combines funky bass with the classic 80’s beats including synthesized horn accompaniment which is reminiscent of the early years of that decade’s dance music. Groovy guitars help accentuate Godchaux’s lyrics which tells the story of a pusher working the street “selling fun” on his little piece of the dark city. The rhythm is atypical of the gritty subject matter and is thoroughly upbeat which is in stark contrast to the dark lyrics of the song.

BoomBox’s hometown of Muscle Shoals, Alabama is famously known for Rick Hall’s historic FAME Studio and it’s famous Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, commonly referred to as the “Swampers”. These gifted musicians backed a variety of rock and soul artists throughout the sixties, including legends Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, and the Allman Brothers Band. While the “swamp sound” is much different than the EM beats of BoomBox, you can hear these jam influences in tracks like “Easy Operator” which features a laid back enjoyable guitar riff that completely balances out the number. This relaxed vibe is also reflective of Godchaux’s musical pedigree, a result of being the progeny of two members of the Grateful Dead.

This is definitely a band to see live in concert. They boast a killer light show that fits their grooves perfectly. Both Zion Rock Godchaux and DJ Harry are at the top of their game while performing live in front of an audience. BoomBox’s next outing will be a very special “hometown show” at the Brass Monkey in Florence Alabama on November 30th. They will continue to tour the US in support of Western Voodoo throughout the remainder 2018 and into early 2019.

Key Tracks: Castles, Selling Fun, Easy Operator

November 2, 2018
Hearing Aide: Waydown Wailers ‘Backland Blues’

Canton, NY based electric blues outfit Waydown Wailers have released Backland Blues, their third album released on Woodstock Records. The band, which was formed in 2011, is composed of brothers David Parker (vocals, guitar) and Christian Parker (rhythm & lead guitar), as well as Connor Pelkey (bass, backing vocals) , and Mike Scriminger (drums).

Backland Blues is Waydown Wailers‘ third release and was produced by Aaron Hurwitz aka Professor Louie on the Woodstock Records label. Hurwitz who was given the moniker “Professor Louie” by Rick Denko of The Band, plays Hammond Organ on multiple tunes on the record including No Mercy,” the fifth track. The song also features some excellent guitar work by Parker and illustrates why this band has garnered so much attention by music critics in the U.S. and Europe as an outstanding electric blues outfit. Another highlight of the album is “Another Bump In The Road” which feels more like an electrified Country and Western Tune.

The band also included two covers on Backland Blues, “Dizzy Miss Lizzy” (Made famous by the Beatles and Elmore James’ “Done Somebody Wrong.” The band did a superb job covering these vintage tunes and it was probably a calculated gamble that paid off handsomely for a band that has a large following in the United Kingdom. My personal favorite track on the album is “I Want Your Soul,” which is a tight little rocking number that demonstrates how well the boys play together as a band. The tune also features a nice hard rocking tone with great slide guitar.

The Waydown Wailers will be supporting the new album this summer, with their next date slated for Friday, August 23 at the Concert in the Park series held in Massena, New York.

Key Tracks: Back Door Woman, I Want Your Soul, No Mercy

July 21, 2018
John Butler Trio: An Aussie Family Affair At The Egg

The John Butler Trio and special guest Mama Kin Spender performed at Albany’s The Egg Performing Arts Center on Thursday, July 12 to a packed house of enthusiastic fans. The two Australian-based bands have a very special connection – their lead members are married to one another. JBT’s front man and namesake John Butler and Danielle Caruana, who performs as Mama Kin in the folk duo Mama Kin Spender, have been married since 1999. The couple have two children together: a daughter, Banjo, and a son, Jahli, who are currently joining their parents on the North American leg of their tour.Butler was born in Los Angeles, California and moved to Australia with his family when he was 16. He started his musical career as a “Busking” street musician and, with hard work and determination, has created 10 albums to date and started his own record label called Jarrah Records. The current lineup of JBT has been expanded to a quintet whose members include John Butler (guitar, banjo, lap steel,vocals), Byron Luiters (bass, vocals), Grant (G-Money) Gerathy (drums, vocals), Lozz Benson (percussion, vocals), and Ben Corbett (keyboard, vocals). The John Butler Trio has won multiple music industry awards in Australia since its creation back in 1998 and they have been successful in leveraging that success into serving the community by supporting a variety of non-profit causes that are close to the band.

The night started out with Mama Kin Spender taking the stage and performing “Cold Roof Top” off of their 2017 release Golden Magnetic. Tommy Spender played acoustic guitar while Mama Kin played drums as they performed the selection. The song is a love cry from a forlorn lover who is calling out the name of the object of their desire off a snowy city rooftop. The raw and sparse performance was a great start to their performance. Next up was “Dotted Line,” a protest march anthem that supports the rights of people to have same sex marriages. Spender explained that in Australia, much like in the US, the government was slow to make same sex marriages legal, but that it has now become a legal right to all of its citizens. They also commented on stage that the highly energetic number which needs to be forcefully belted out was a great way for the duo to get there “cardio” in during the show. Next up was the rockabilly number “Bird In Your Tree” which could have been a hit cut at Memphis’ famed Sun Studios back in the ’50s and featured some great guitar work by Spender.

A high point of the performance was when Mama Kin introduced the hypnotic tune “Underground.” Kin explained to the audience that the song was inspired by a special fungus named mycelium that acts as a caretaker of the forest by creating a “wood wide web” that interconnects the roots of a large number and variety of plants; something that Kin feels that as humans we need to work harder at emulating. The duo also performed a personal favorite of Spender’s, a cover of the country-western classic “Long Black Veil” that was executed superbly. The duo finished their opening set playing “Air Between Us” and priming the audience for the arrival of JBT.

After a brief break it was time for the main event as The John Butler Trio started strong with “Wade In The Water.” Benson and Corbett started off the number with percussion leading the band into the new number. During the introduction of the tune, Butler explained to the audience that where they come from it is tradition, while visiting someone else’s territory, to acknowledge the traditional indigenous custodians of the land. Wherever they travel the band shows them respect and to all of the ancestors whose shoulders we stand on.

Butler then rocked the lap steel and along with the band, created a primal soundscape that set the mood for the remainder of the performance. Next up, Butler switched over to the banjo and went into the pop friendly “Better Than That” off of 2007’s Grand National. Songs like “Pick Apart,” off of 2012’s Tin Shed Tales, illustrate the cohesiveness of the band and featured first-class solos by both G-Money on drums and Luiters on bass.

Butler is intimate with the audience on stage and describes his live performances as his own type of therapy. Whether it is relating stories of his father’s personal struggles after being injured in a fire and then expressing those feelings into a newly crafted song “Coffee, Methadone, & Cigarettes” or the telling of the story of a chance meeting of a girl in western Australia during a road trip that ends up being the woman he would fall in love with and marry, while introducing JBT’s love song “Betterman“. Butler lets the audience into his world creating an intimate bond with his fans that is palpable in the theater during the performance.

Butler’s guitar work is also something to see showing a versatility in playing many different types of music like Celtic, Folk, Hard Rock and Reggae. That musical prowess was on full display as, alone on stage, Butler strapped on his 11-string acoustic guitar and played the JBT classic “Oceans.” The intensity of the performance was electric and left the audience on their feet wanting more.
The first encore brought Mama Kin back on stage joining Butler. The couple sang “Losing You” as a duo, which was perhaps the cutest part of the night, with the spouses riffing off one another during the selection. The band closed the night with a shout out to their road crew and then went straight into a funkalicious version of “Zebra” that got the crowd dancing one more time before the house lights came up. The John Butler Trio will continue to tour throughout the summer with dates across North America.

Setlists

Mama Kin Spender: Cold Roof Top, Dotted Line, Bird In Your Tree, Underground, Long Black Veil, Dig Below, Air Between Us

John Butler Trio: Wade In The Water, Better Than, Tahitian Blue, Betterman, Just Call, Blame It On Me, Coffee Methadone and Cigarettes, What You Want, Pickapart, Ocean, Ragged Mike, Miss Your Love, Don’t Wanna, Livin’ In The City,

Encore: Losing You (Featuring Mama Kin), We Want More, Zebra

July 17, 2018
Hearing Aide: Dana Fuchs ‘Love Lives On’

It was the immortal bluesman B.B. King who once deftly stated “As long as people have problems, the blues can never die.” New Jersey native and soul singer extraordinaire Dana Fuchs is living proof that the King of the Blues was right on the money. After overcoming numerous trials and tribulations in her personal life over the years, Fuchs has been able to overcome that pain and hardship by channeling it into her music. The latest LP from Dana Fuchs, Love Lives On, was recorded on her own newly formed label Get Along Records in Memphis, TN. The record features a stellar backup band which includes Dana’s longtime musical collaborator and guitarist Jon Diamond as well as R&B legends Charles Hodges on Organ and Stax Records session veteran Steve Potts on Drums.

Perhaps the most radio friendly number on Love Lives On is the opening selection on the album, “Backstreet Baby.” The song has an infectious groove and upbeat vibe that features a nice electric guitar hook by Diamond which is supported by a nicely placed funky horn section. The lyrics are stark and yes a little dark, but Fuch’s streetwise soulful vocals along with the band’s upbeat tempo really makes “Backstreet Baby” cook.

Dana’s voice has the ability to conjure visions of such female blues greats as Etta James and Janis Joplin. The soul that is put into the phrasing in her voice is essential to the classic R&B genre and is most reflective on tracks such as “Faithful Sinner.” The song’s inspiration comes from Fuch’s late father and their relationship. The lyrics talk about looking past the faults in people in your life and giving them unconditional love. The tune also features a beautiful organ introduction and in concert with Fuch’s gospel inspired vocals transports the listener to a Memphis church straight out of the sleepy South.

The acoustic “Fight My Way” is a lyrical declaration by Fuchs that the struggle with darkness in one’s life is real and redemption does not come free or easily. It is a constant battle that takes both your will and hard work to achieve. Musically the number features Fuch’s at her soulful best, while Diamond demonstrates his folksy blues side by playing slide acoustic along with a pleasing mandolin accompaniment.

Love Lives On finishes up strong with a stripped down version of the Johnny Cash classic “Ring Of Fire.” The LP’s version slows the tempo of the number down drastically and transforms the defiant and angry number into a classic Soul Cry torch song. The drastic change up from the Cash original totally works, and is a testament to the collaborative creativity that Fuchs and Diamond have developed over the years working together.

Dana Fuchs will be touring in support of Love Lives On with numerous dates both in the U.S. and Europe this summer.

Key Tracks: Ready To Rise, Sittin’ On, Back Street Baby, Ring Of Fire

May 7, 2018
Hearing Aide: Cold Lazarus ‘Cold Lazarus’

The eclectic and spacey quartet Cold Lazarus celebrated their first anniversary by releasing a self titled LP comprised solely of original material that showcases the band’s musical originality and diversity. The band, which is based out of Jamestown, NY, is comprised of Adam Gould (vocals, guitar), Gavin Paterniti (bass), Marc Scapelitte (drums), and Drew Minton (keyboards). This band of talented musicians creates a hypnotic jam vibe that incorporates a multitude of varying musical genres that the band members refer to as Reggae-infused intellifunk jam rock.

Selections off of the LP like “Pieces,” that clock in at over 10 minutes, illustrate what Cold Lazarus is musically capable of. This track covers the musical spectrum of reggae, prog rock, and funk taking the listener along for a uniquely enjoyable cosmic ride.

“Butterflies,” another tune off of Cold Lazarus, is a more traditional reggae song with Gould’s guitar and Minton’s keyboards working in concert to create a sound reminiscent of Slightly Stoopid or Sublime. The number also features a pleasing saxophone solo by Minton, that provides a sense of warmth and depth while adding a nice bit of contrast to the piece.

Scapelitte’s skills as a percussionist and Paterniti’s skill on bass are excellently showcased on the intro of the LP’s fourth track “Shit’s Lit Farm”. Vocalist Gould lyrically depicts the trials and tribulations of dating and developing personal relationships in the digital information age. The number transitions into a fast tempo bridge that features Gould’s craftsmanship on the guitar and Minton’s heavy use of trippy synth, which eventually organically evolves back to the tune’s original refrain.

Cold Lazarus will kick off their CD Release Tour at Shawbucks in their home town of Jamestown on April 28. They will continue to tour in support of their new LP into the summer of 2018.

Key Tracks: Maybe, Freaky Little Girl, Sun Song

<a href="http://coldlazarus.bandcamp.com/album/cold-lazarus">Cold Lazarus by Cold Lazarus</a>

April 27, 2018
Bring On The Heat: Vicious Jimmy Tears Up Albany’s Parish Public House

It was a cold and snowy night on Saturday, February 17th, outside Albany’s Parish Public House, but inside you could feel the heat with a packed house that was ready for a heavy dose of deep fried funk served up by Vicious Jimmy and special guest Morris Code. It was apparent that Vicious Jimmy’s two year hiatus from playing did not detract from their fans coming out and supporting the band. This type of fan support could be due to the fact that the lineup of the band features all Albany natives, including Tom “TK” Kretzler on guitar/lead vocal, Tim Fiato Jr. on keyboards, Jeff Jukes on Bass, Gary Nowik on drums/percussion and newcomer to the band, Jason “JY” Young on lead guitar/backup vocal.

Vicious Jimmy was formed back in 2009 and released their single LP Relatively Dangerous in 2012. The band has had a few lineup changes over the years, but with the welcomed addition of Young to the band’s roster this past year, the band has developed a new energy in their playing and showmanship. JY is no newbie, he has been a mainstay in the local musical scene for years with his long time work in the acoustic duo Yellow Dog, which just celebrated their 25th year playing together. Kretzler and Young met at a party and when JY listened to their music, he knew he wanted to be part of the band.

Vicious Jimmy took the stage first, which initially seemed strange to me, but when I asked about the band opening the show bassist Jeff Jukes stated jokingly, “Our fans like to be home before midnight so they can get their sleep”. He was alluding to the fact that the audience that came out for Vicious Jimmy was primarily comprised of their Generation X contemporaries, who are now well into their late 40’s.

The band started their set with a “Black White Black” jam which is strictly an instrumental led off by Tim Fiato’s funky keyboards which was slowly picked up by the rest of the band, leading them straight into “Intro,” a mainstay in the band’s set list. This number set the groove for the evening while, at the same time, musically introducing the band members to the crowd in a very Vicious Jimmy deep fried, funky way. Next up was “Ape City” which showcases the comical and irreverent lyrics that makes VJ’s music so much fun to listen to. During the break between songs, guitarist Young called for the audience not to be shy and to come up towards the stage and dance. After a brief tune up, Vicious Jimmy went into their classic song “Donkey” and kept the pressure up on the audience with their lyrical chant, “Get Your Ass Grooving”. The crowd still seemed reluctant at first, but after a few more funky licks from the boys, they finally started to loosen up and dancing started to break out right up by the stage. Vicious Jimmy showed that they came to play. During the number “Underground,” when Kretzeler and Young went into a complicated extended guitar solo, the two guitarists harmonized expertly together, creating a jam that was a personal highlight of the show.

Another high point of the night’s set was Fiato’s artful keyboard solo that was an intro into “Dr. Selkirkian,” a song that eerily depicts a menacing physician living in the tiny town of Selkirk which is located just south of Albany. VJ finished their set strong, performing fan favorite “Liquor,” but instead of playing the number as it is on Relatively Dangerous, they broke the piece up into three pieces in a variant style labeled as “Liquor in Three Jiggers.” The first part being the bluesy “Who’s Drinking?,” in which Kretzler polls the audience from the stage on what type of alcohol they were partaking in. The second “Jigger” was the more traditional “Liquor” that featured the band’s signature funky sound. The third and final movement was straight out of the Blues Brothers/Sam and Dave soul review routine. The boys sped up the tempo of the last movement, while Kretzler, in true Elwood Blues style, thanked everyone for coming out in the crummy weather and pleaded to the crowd to drive safely home and to remember to be good to one another. The set wrapped up with the band leaving the audience craving more of Vicious Jimmy’s down home, deep fried funk.

After a brief pause in the action, while the bands transitioned their gear, it was Morris Code’s turn to take the stage. The Albany 5-piece is comprised of band members Conor Donovan on vocals, Jesse Rawson on guitar, Daniel Milici on keyboard, Dan Walker on drums, and Kyle Salcedo on bass. Walker was not available for the gig so Vicious Jimmy’s drummer Gary Nowik was gracious enough to fill in for him for the performance. The band came out strong with a Morris Code original, “Take Over.” The sound of the band was much harder than Vicious Jimmy and lent itself more to hard rock than funk. The band also did a few covers and featured a mash-up of The Allman Brothers’ classic “Midnight Rider,” Lorde’s “Royals” and finally Lynyrd Skynyrd’s rock anthem “Sweet Home Alabama.” While you might think that this would not be a good combination of songs to work with musically, all in all, it really seemed to work. It became apparent that the crowd was thinning out and became much younger. Morris Code went on to play more original material including “Snake Charmer” and “Cafe Berlin,” both of which were featured on the band’s 2015 LP Decrypted. A personal highlight of the set was an interesting version of Radio Head’s “Creep” which featured Rawson on both electric guitar and trombone.

SETLISTS:

Vicious Jimmy: Black White Black Jam, Intro, Ape City, Donkey, Good For You, Blackhouse, Underground, Hard Boiled, Dr Selkirkian, Stiff Arm, Liquor in Three Jiggers: • Who’s Drinking? • Liquor

Morris Code: Take Over, Only Me To Blame, Midnight Rider/Royals/Sweet Home Alabama, No Turning Back, Charades, Hysteria, Snake Charmer, Creep, Cafe Berlin Watching Stars, Joker And The Thief, Don’t Count Me Out

February 23, 2018
Somebody Call The Doctor: Vicious Jimmy and Morris Code Cure the Funky Blues at Albany’s Parish Public House

It has been a cold and miserable winter here in Capital Land. Many people in the area are suffering from an acute lack of funkiness which is not only extremely toxic, but is also a very communicable disease. If you feel that you are suffering from this awful malady, then do I have the cure for you: a night of deep fried funk featuring the masters of the funky beat, Vicious Jimmy with special guest Morris Code.

This locally based band will be performing at the Parish Public House in Albany on Saturday, February 17 with special guest Morris Code. This will be Vicious Jimmy’s triumphant return since starting an extended hiatus back in 2015. They will be performing numerous of their original funky classics, including “Liquor,” “Dr. Selkirkian” and “Stiff Arm” which are all featured on their 2012 LP Relatively Dangerous. Vicious Jimmy will be debuting a new lineup with the addition of guitarist and vocalist Jason “JY” Young, formerly of the Smokehouse Prophets. It is a show definitely not to be missed and there is no prescription required.

February 14, 2018
Rocking For Rosie’s Love: Local Bands Support Kids Suffering from Cancer

It was a great night of local music on Saturday, January 27 as The Crimson Tips, The Hard Luck Souls, and Iüdica took over the Low Beat in Albany for a very special benefit to help kids diagnosed with cancer. Admission to the event was free and the participating bands only asked that attendees donate a small toy or provide a financial contribution to the not for profit Rosie’s Love Foundation.

Rosie’s Love Foundation was formed after the death of it’s namesake, two-year-old Rosemary Frances Johnson, who passed away after a valiant battle with neuroblastoma. Her family wanted to give something back for all the love Rosie received while being treated for her illness at Albany Medical Center. The foundation provides fun activities and toys for children receiving in-patient cancer treatment and offers various types of assistance to those children’s family members.

First up in the line up was Lake George based Iüdica. The roster of the band includes Brian Michael Rhythm on guitar/vocals, Chris Walker on bass/vocal, Nate Fidd on percussion, and Thom Grover on lead guitar. The group came out strong with a rendition of “Arty” a hard rock in your face number that set the tone of the show. The highlight of the set was the band’s rendition of “Circuits,” which is featured on their 2017 EP Brain Carvings. Iüdica went on to play their new release “Lipstick, Black Dress” which is slated to be released later this year. Lead singer and guitarist Brian Michael lost his guitar strap during the song and while trying to keep the number rolling, wound up whipping off his glasses, which landed on the stage. He was able to keep the pace and when asked about the incident after the show he stated “well that’s rock and roll.”

The Hard Luck Souls were next up on the bill and they came out swinging with “I Never” the second track off of their 2017 release Closer To The Flame. The Souls are a tight unit with front-man Chris Itani commanding the stage like a seasoned veteran. The song’s lyrics describe the end to a messy relationship and paired with the excellent guitar work of Brian Gentile, perfectly represents the hard rock vibe of the four man group. The highlight of the Soul’s set was “Get Back,” a fast paced number reminiscent of The Stone Temple Pilots. The crunchy tune showcased the prowess of the band’s rhythm section which features Dave Smassanow on bass and Mark Schmidt on drums. Deep into their set the Souls treated the audience by performing the band’s newly minted single “Keep On Running.” The number has only been played out live by the boys a few times and was received enthusiastically by the crowd. The Hard Luck Souls finished their portion of the evening strong with high energy renditions of 90’s classics “Nice Shot” by Filter and Soundgarden’s “Outshined.”

The Rock and Roll fund raiser was capped off when the event’s organizers, The Crimson Tips, took the stage. The hard rock outfit is a family affair with Lance Valderrama on guitar/vocal, his son Kyle Valderrama on bass/vocal, and Lance’s cousin John Nicotina on drums/vocals. Lance started the show by thanking everyone for coming out and supporting Rosie’s Love and dedicated the show to his good friend Walter, who is currently battling with fourth stage cancer. He said that the band wanted to do more for shows for charities in the Capital Region in order to give back to their community. The Tips then went into their first number “Please Help Me” off of their 2016 LP Sludge Train. The tune got off to a rocky start due to sound problems which cut off the vocals of drummer John Nicotina. The problem was quickly resolved and the band kept playing through the difficulties. The boys produce tremendous sound for a trio and with pieces like “Let Her Bark” and “Same Shit Different Day,” The Crimson Tips gritty sound hearkens back to the late 80’s NYC punk scene. The Crimson Tips ended their performance with a blistering performance of “I Just Caught You Looking,” a song that is about when someone can’t let go of a failed relationship and becomes a stalker.

Overall the fundraiser at the Low Beat was a success. It was a great lineup of local talent and the bands were able to collect a sizable amount of donations in toys and some much needed money for Rosie’s Love. These tokens of goodwill will hopefully bring a little joy into the lives of some kids who are going through a really tough time.

Setlists:

Iüdica: Arty, Ghosts, Watching, Circuits, Brain Carvings, Lipstick Black Dress, B side Love, Chocolate And Parsley

Hard Luck Souls: I Never, Hold On, Can’t Be True, Izzy’s Thunder, Feels Like Forever, Let My People Go, Way Down Low, In My Head, Fly Away, Get Back, Nice Shot, Better Keep Running, Outshined

Crimson Tips: Please Help Me, Better For You, Let Her Bark, Liar, Sunday Morning, Bleed Me, She Moves, Just A Girl, Freedom, I Won’t Be There, Goodbye, So Low, Hold On, Same Shit Different Day, I Just Caught You Looking

February 2, 2018
Show Some Love for Rosie’s at Albany’s Low Beat

The legendary Low Beat in Albany will be hosting a benefit rock show on Saturday January 27th for the Rosie’s Love Foundation. The charity, which was established in 2000, supports families who are affected by the scourge of childhood cancer. The benefit, which kicks off at 7:00PM, was organized by Albany’s own preeminent hard rock band, The Crimson Tips.

The bill additionally features homegrown hard rocking act, The Hard Luck Souls and Lake George based power trio Iudica wraps up the night’s festivities. The event is free but the organizers request that attendees offer a simple donation of a children’s toy or provide a financial donation to the foundation.

Rosie’s Love Foundation was formed after the death of it’s namesake, two-year-old Rosemary Frances Johnson, who passed away after a valiant battle with neuroblastoma. Her family wanted to give something back for all the love Rosie received while being treated for her illness at Albany Medical Center. The foundation provides fun activities and toys for children receiving in-patient cancer treatment and offers various types of assistance to those children’s family members.

January 19, 2018