Tag: cohoes music hall

Renowned Musician Alejandro Escovedo to Perform in Cohoes

Rock musician, singer/songwriter Alejandro Escovedo, will bring his multiple talents to Capital Region when he takes the stage at the Cohoes Music Hall in Cohoes on May 11.

The show will also feature special guest Kris Gruen. Doors open at 7 p.m. and show time at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $25-$35. All ages are welcome.

Born in 1951, the Mexican-American musician’s guitar playing skills cross genres such as punk rock, roots rock, and alternative country. He comes from a family of musicians including brothers Coke and Pete Escovedo. Pop star of the late ’70s and early ’80s Sheila E., is Escovedo’s niece (Pete’s daughter).

Escovedo has released fifteen studio albums since 1992 including his latest effort, Burn Something Beautiful (2016). He collaborated with R.E.M. lead guitarist Peter Buck, and The Minus 5 member Scott McCaughey on songwriting for Burn Something Beautiful. The pair also helped produce the album. Throughout his career, Escovedo has collaborated on several albums including a tribute album to Moby Grape co-founder Skip Spence.

Alongside Jennifer Miro and Jeff Olener, Escovedo started his musical career in the punk rock group The Nuns during the ’70s music scene in San Francisco. In the ’80s, he moved on from The Nuns and teamed up with brothers and former The Dils members Chip and Tony Kinman to form the punk rock band Rank and File. Together they would release three studio albums before disbanding in 1987. He formed the band True Believers with his brother Javier.

When talking about how he carries his career, Escovedo stated: “You just do your good work, and people care. I always believed, when I was a kid, that if you worked hard, you would find fulfillment. I think I got a lot of that from my father and my brothers. A working musician is all I ever wanted to be. Hard work, stay true to what you want to do, and then eventually someone would notice for that very reason.”

May 8, 2018
Popovic’s ‘Stormy Monday’ Blues Night at The Cohoes Music Hall

It was a “Stormy Monday” for the blues inside the prestigious Cohoes Music Hall on April 16. The heavy rain didn’t put a damper on the blues fans that had stepped inside the music hall on a Monday evening to escape from the everyday stresses of daily life for a worry-free, entertaining evening of music from both Girl Blue and Serbian-Blues guitarist and vocalist, Ana Popovic.

Almost a full year since her last performance at the music hall, this time around, Popovic pulled out all of the stops as she continued to dazzle the audience with her electrifying guitar solos, captivating vocals, and a stunning cast of performers within her five piece ensemble that had joined her for her tour to promote her new three disk album Trilogy.

Popovic’s rhythm and horn ensemble were tight and in full swing throughout the entire evening. Her rhythm section begun the evening with an instrumental of their own rendition of “Ana’s Shuffle” from the album Can You Stand The Heat. They continued to jam along to the tune before Popovic, dressed in the similar red tank top, jeans, and heels that was previously worn at last year’s concert, joined the band on stage to play some solos on her guitar before moving on to perform a series of her songs from Trilogy.

“It’s great to be back!” called out Popovic to the audience as she had begun her song, “Can You Stand the Heat”, from her previous album. Song after song, Popovic and her ensemble were outstanding, never outshining each other as they performed their own riffs, rhythms, and solos for each song. Popovic took the time to introduce the City of Cohoes to her full ensemble before performing “Train” from Trilogy: Disk #1 (Morning) to a happy audience that was excited to also hear Popovic’s drummer, Cedric Goodman, play some riffs on the drums that got them dancing and moving in their seats. “Long Road Down” brought her listeners back in time to the times of being on the Oregon Trail while focusing on Popovic’s extensive travels as she had continued on her journey to further pursue music as she had moved from her origins of Belgrade, Serbia, to Amsterdam, Holland, Memphis, Tennessee, and settled in Los Angeles, California where she has currently resided for the past two years.

Popovic is able to smoothly transition well from performing lead to slide guitar as she continued to play slide on “If Tomorrow Was Today.” Following suit to her empowering gym-based workout song, “Show How Strong You Are,” each of her key players in her ensemble rose to the occasion and performed their energetic, emotionally-felt awakening solos, from the jazz-lead bass playing of the bassist, back to Popovic, to the drummer, and on towards the other performers to close out their main set.

The blues wasn’t exactly going to end completely from Popovic and her ensemble. The band returned to the stage for their encore as they concluded the evening with a cover of Popovic’s “Mo’ Better Love,” and closing out the event with a cover of a song that she had discovered recently before she began recording Trilogy, “Fence Walk” from the Brooklyn, NY based band, Mandrill. Popovic’s interaction with both the crowd and with her own band members is both electric and entertaining to watch. Moving from side to side, Popovic joined in on the jam between her horn players, Jon Ramm (trombone) and Brad Walker (saxophone), on the right side of the stage as they had gathered around each other, creating a musical dialogue heard within their notes and soloing while closing out the evening. Popovic left the stage, leaving the remainder of the ensemble to continue to jam to the tune and close out the funky number on a high note that satisfied both the band and the audience.

Albany based act, Girl Blue, featuring vocalist and guitarist, Arielle O’Keefe, opened up for Ana Popovic and her band. Playing a set of eight original songs, O’Keefe did a great job performing solo to her tunes that were mixed in with her own vocals being recorded on a loop. My first time hearing O’Keefe perform live, the sound of her voice reminded me of a mix between Norah Jones, Regina Spector, Alanis Morrisette, and Katy Perry, as she had sung her own unique, original tunes that related back to teenage and early adult moments of angst, drinking, and other fun, significant moments within her life.

April 27, 2018
NYS Music Presents: Live Shows to Occupy Your April

April is finally here, and as Upstate New York finally begins to thaw, the live music scene across the state is certainly heating up. If you are looking for live music to keep you entertained throughout the entire upcoming month, look no further. Just like every other month, NYS is here to give you a run-down on every can’t-miss show in New York State.

Syracuse – Funk N’ Waffles

April 5th – For Americana sounds that will transport you to a scorching hot desert while sitting in the always so sunny Syracuse, come experience Steel Guapo. Complementing their performance will be the bluegrass and newgrass sound of the Dirty Grass Players. Event link.

April 7th – Freekbass’s funky sound grew from his pure love for artists like Zapp, Midnight Star, Sly Stone, and Stevie Wonder that he had while growing up in Cincinnati. Make sure you catch him on his Funky Winter Tour as he stops in Syracuse with special guest and fusion rock band, Haewa. Event link.

April 14th – Come see what the growing buzz about The Blind Spots is all about as they play Funk ‘N Waffles with Kurt Riley. The five piece rock, pop and indie band has a killer rhythm section, mesmerizing guitar stylings and an incredibly strong vocal delivery from front woman Maddy Walsh to tie it all together that is sure to leave you wanting more.  Event link.

April 18th – It’s exactly what it sounds like – Perpetual Groove will be sure to have you rocking and rolling all night with their “anthemic arena rock” filled sets. If you can’t make it out to this show, no need to worry. They will be hitting Rochester and Saratoga Springs the night before and after this show. Keep reading for more details on those shows and click the link to secure your ticket for this stop on the tour. Event link.

April 19th – With just a guitar, drums, and a B-3 organ, the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio will wow you with their 60’s-inspired jazz and R&B style. The chemistry within this band has manifested itself in the best of ways and the trio wants you to feel it at this show. They will be performing with special guest Tanksley. Event link.

April 20th – Starting at 10 PM, Syracuse-native and local favorite group Skunk City will be performing with Vanishing Suns. Catch their funky rock and pop music before they head out play more shows in the Northeast. Event link.

April 21st – There’s nothing like a strong horn section to really start your Saturday night off with a bang. Starting at 10 PM, six-piece soul and jazz group, Gretchen & The Pickpockets, will be making that their mission, as they always do in their shows. Joined by JJ Murphy Trio, it is sure to be a high energy and quality show. Event link.

April 26th – Award-winning and highly-acclaimed bluegrass band, Kitchen Dwellers, will be treating Syracuse to one of their unforgettable performances. They will be joined by a truly treasured favorite of folk music lovers, Dirty Blanket.  Event link.

April 27th – As Mike Powell makes his way around New York State for shows this month, he will be stopping in at Funk ‘N Waffles with The Black River. His soulful folk songwriting will be sure to make you want to follow him around the state for the rest of his tour. Event link.

Rochester – Funk N’ Waffles

April 5th – Prior to their Syracuse show on the 7th, Freekbass along with Haewa will be bringing funk and fusion to Rochester. Do not miss out on this golden opportunity to see these artists who are known for oozing talent.  Event link.

April 6th – Another band who will be playing Syracuse as well, is Dirty Grass Players and Steel Guapo. Following their show in Syracuse on the 5th, it is a fact that you will want more. Here are the details on how to see them again. Event link.

April 12th – The trio that makes up The Last Revel has somehow found the magic combination that produces natural and delicate folk music but still delivers rocking “bombastic” performances. Special guest Max & Richie from Dirty Blanket, the Finger Lakes native bluegrass band, will be opening for them. Event link.

April 13th – At the Music Hall at Funk ‘N Waffles, Martin Sexton will be doing a special performance sure to draw emotions from the crowd with the use of his tenor voice or flawless displays of his falsetto, as well as an energetic response through his raspy and blues-inspired vocalization. He will be joined by Joan Osborne who will be treating the crowd to a selection of her favorite Bob Dylan songs as her latest album, “Songs of Bob Dylan”, was released in September. Event link.

April 17th – Before they take on Syracuse, Perpetual Groove and special guest Ocular Panther will be at Rochester’s Funk ‘N Waffles. Perpetual Groove is known for putting on performances that are highly polished but uniquely different from all their other shows, so this is definitely one act you are going to want to see more than once. Click the link for information on just how to do so. Event link.

April 20th – It is sure to be a fully packed night of entertainment at The Music Hall. The “communal music force” and inspiring force is bringing their “life music” to the lucky city of Rochester. As a collective, Arrested Development has won two Grammy awards and are a four time platinum selling hip-hop group that has also mastered the genres of R&B, funk and folk just to name a few. Joining them on this night will be Sophistafunk, Level 7 Experience, and DJ Whiz. Event link.

April 21st – Bringing you another jam-packed night at Funk ‘N Waffles, there will be sets happening at both The Music Hall, as well as the club side. Electronic rock artist, Max Creek, will be in The Music Hall, playing two sets while funky jazz band, The English Project, as well as Old Deer Ensemble will be playing sets on the club side. There is sure to be amazing music everywhere you turn on the 21st in Funk ‘N Waffles. Event link.

April 27th – From the platinum selling and Grammy award winning group Living Colour, Corey Glover is coming to deliver a healthy mix of hard rock and soul. Along with him will be the soulful, reggae hip-hop group the Alchemystics, alternative folk and rock group, the Dave Diprimo Band and finally alternative rock artist, Ponder. Event link.

April 28th – If you missed them in Syracuse, or more likely, just cannot get enough of them, Kitchen Dwellers will be in Rochester on the 28th with special guest The Ditch Diggers. The show starts at 9:30 PM. Click the link for more details and ticket information. Event link.

Saratoga – Putnam Place

April 13th – Critically-acclaimed and leading Celtic Rock band, Enter the Haggis, will be giving an unforgettable performance along with the lyrical stylings of Jon and Matt Wagar, better know as The Wagar Brothers who with the help of the rest of their band, always leave the crowd wanting more of their Americana Folk sound.  Event link.

April 19th – The highly original sound of Perpetual Groove is something you do not want to miss. Coming all the way from Georgia, the group bends genres with their sound that mixes jazz-rock, neo-psychedlia, R&B, electronica, and progressive rock among others. They want to show you just how good their critically acclaimed sound is with the help of JoyFunk band CBDB. Find details about tickets and more in the link.  Event link.

April 20th – Guthrie Bell Productions is bringing Greenwich, NY natives, Eastbound Jesus, and their Northern Rock, Bluegrass and Americana style sound to Saratoga with the Mallett Brothers featuring Jon Fishman, the drummer from Phish. Don’t miss this one of a kind show. Event link.

April 21st – For a night full of covers from everyone’s favorite three bands – Pink Floyd, The Talking Heads, and Phish – come out to Pink Talking Fish as they bring yet another unforgettable performance to Putnam Place. The opener is TBD – stay tuned on updates and find out more about the show by clicking the link. Event link.

Buffalo – Nietzche’s

April 8th – For a movingly beautiful performance, do not miss singer/songwriter Christopher Paul Stelling and his virtuoso guitar-picking at Nietzche’s at 4 PM. Critically acclaimed and timelessly enjoyable, his performance is sure to be an evening to remember. Event link.

April 18th – Nathan Kalish and The Lastcallers have been touring for the majority of the last decade and are bringing their knee-slapping, country-Americana sound with a healthy dose of psychedelic funk, to Buffalo. Coming along with them is American folk group The Brothers Blue with their acoustic and old-time folk sound.  Event link.

April 28th – Witty Tarbox, will be releasing their EP The Adventures of Schmitty Issue #1 v RARE and celebrating the occasion at this “night of wild circus shenanigans” with special guests and fellow Buffalo natives, Handsome Jack and Mosswalk. The first 25 people through the door get a hard copy of the band’s first EP, and copies will be on sale at the show.  Event link.

Albany

April 8th, 15th, and 22nd – Presented by Guthrie Bell Productions, Amy Helm will be doing her 2nd annual Woodshed Residency Tour and will be performing every Sunday, starting on the 8th, at the Hollow Bar + Kitchen. Don’t miss this golden opportunity to see some amazing Americana rock music.  Event link.April 12th – Another fantastic upcoming show presented by Guthrie Bell Productions is The Magic Beans with Let’s Be Leonard at the Hollow Bar + Kitchen. Colorado natives, but Saratoga-local favorites, The Magic Beans not only combine genres, but do an incredible job of blending their original songwriting with inspired improvisation, all tied together in one big dance party at each of their shows. Click the link for more details and prices for their Early Bird Special.  Event link.

Cohoes – Cohoes Music Hall

April 22nd – For the best Zappa tribute band live music has to offer, come see Project/Object on the 22nd at 8 PM. With the longest continuous touring record, as well as having been able to play with 20 members of Zappa’s band from multiple eras, this band is sure to bring an unforgettable show. This particular reunion tour will feature band members Napoleon Murphy Brock and Denny Walley and will bring setlists packed with classics from their time with Frank Zappa.  Event link.

Plattsburgh

April 13th – The Plattsburgh Blues and Jazz presents the two-time Grammy-nominated artist who is defining the sound of Chicago blues today, John Primer and the Real Deal Blues band will be treating Plattsburgh to a show at Olive Ridleys at 8 PM. Tickets are $18 in advance and will be $20 at the door. Click the link to grab tickets to see this legendary musician as he comes through New York State.  Event link.

Saranac Lake

April 14th – If you miss him at Olive Ridleys, here’s your second chance! Live at the BluSeed Studios in Saranac Lake, John Primer and the Real Deal Blues Band will be performing again. Doors will be at 7 PM with music starting at 7:30 PM.  Event link.

April 1, 2018
Turkuaz Brings a High Energy Wednesday Show to Cohoes

The nine-piece funk group Turkuaz played the Cohoes Music Hall in Cohoes, NY Wednesday January 31. This was the group’s first time playing in Cohoes and managed to leave a great impression. No matter if it was your first or tenth time seeing Turkuaz, there was a song for everyone. Just a couple songs into their set, the group played “Mountain,” one of their signatures songs with a long dramatic pause keeping the crowd on their toes.

Throughout the whole show the energy stayed consistantly high. Turkuaz ended the set with “Monkey Fingers.” Lead guitarist Craig Brodhead and Sax player Josh Schwartz traded off solos pushing the song to its limits.

Setlist: Typa-Lika, Mountain, M’Lady, Nightswimming, Snap, Crypto, Fall Asleep, Famous, Holy Ghost, On the Run, 20 Dollar, Slippery People, Habitat, noise, Percy, The Rules, Coast, Don’t Do It, Monkey Fingers

Encore: Back To Normal

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February 3, 2018
Ominous Seapods reunite for first shows since 2011

It’s been six years since the last Ominous Seapods show, but after two sell out shows in Cohoes and a first time performance at Brooklyn Bowl, you’d be remiss not to wonder why they don’t reunite more often. With fans flying in from as far as the Carolinas, Germany, and the west coasts of America and Australia (where gitarist/vocalist Dana Monteith has made his home in Perth), three impressive reunion shows found audiences reuniting and excited for all that was in store. As Mike Wren mentioned in passing that night “Every so often, it’s a bookmark you come back to,” and perhaps that best describes the audience support and reverence for the Seapods.

The Ominous Seapods have a lasting legacy of influence on musicians in the jam scene. They are held with reverence by fans and music journalists who are still enamored (and rightly so) by the jam scene of the ’90s, and continue to inspire awe and musicians today. Promoter Greg Bell of Guthrie/Bell Productions spoke on January 12 about his history with the band dating back to 1992, and was all smiles throughout the night, having brought back to Albany the elder statesman of the jam scene. Despite it being a warm night outside, it was far from a warm up night inside, as the band hit the ground running and hit all the marks, right off the bat.

Cohoes Music Hall was the perfect venue for this show, as it has been for Max Creek, Garcia Project, and soon Turkuaz and Melvin Seals with JGB. The fourth oldest music venue in New York, the 1871 hall has undergone a transformation in the past two years and become an excellent show location that fits perfectly between clubs like The Hollow and Putnam Den, and larger rooms such as The Egg. So with two sold out shows, bassist Tom Pirozzi’s 50th birthday and a reunion of Plattsburgh Mutants on tap, the Music Hall was abuzz early thanks to Stone Brewing’s DidgeriDoom IPA, a nod to Monteith, who moved to Perth, Australia following the last Seapods show in 2011 at Valentines. Monteith also sported an AC/DC shirt, perhaps a subtle reference to their then-final show where they performed “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll).”

Opening up with “I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon,” the first big jam of the night came from “Theme for Another Enlightened Rogue” and the segue into “The Guide to Roadside Ecology” with Dana getting down to business early, and often. A few acoustic numbers came next, notably “Branch’s House” which grew smoothly into “The Pull from Adirondack Blue” and “Waiting 4 the Bomb to Drop” and Pirozzi and guitarist/vocalist Max Verna driving the set ending sandwich of “Sally” > “Cali” > “Sally.”

The energy continued to flow out of the setbreak with “Leaving the Monopole” getting checked off everyone’s ‘must hear’ list. The Seapods’ signature song still finds fans today who visit the ‘Single Stick’ in Plattsburgh and explore the lore that influenced the band’s writing. A debut of “Cumberland Blues” caught a few off guard, but it was pleasantly surprising that the band chose to throw a new cover into the mix this weekend. The jam of the set was around “Schizophrenic Rain,” which bookended “Oberon and Titania” and “Passengers En Route” and served as the most fluid and dialed in portions of the night, with a keys/bass/drums jam in the midst of the medley. A rockin “Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley” kept the flow of the night going, with “Hey Donnie Osmond” closing the set out. An encore of “That’s How they Got Along” and “Michael Murphy 3” left a great deal of tunes in the tank for Saturday night.

Setlist, January 12, 2018
Set 1: I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon, 1/4 lb. Hot Dog, Theme For Another Enlightened Rogue ->
The Guide To Roadside Ecology, Millworker’s Lament*, Long Black Veil**, Guardian Angels*** -> Candy Cane Flame***, Branch’s House**** -> Jam -> The Pull From Adirondack Blue, Waiting 4 The Bomb To Drop, Sally Simpson -> First Day In California ->. Sally Simpson,

Set 2: Econobrain intro^ -> Old GP, Leaving The Monopole -> Counting Time -> Cumberland Blues^^, Schizophrenic Rain -> Oberon And Titania -> Passengers En Route -> Schizophrenic Rain -> Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley, Hey Donnie Osmond

Encore: That’s How They Got Along, Michael Murphy 3

*Max solo acoustic
**Lefty Frizzell cover, first time played, without Mangini, Verna on acoustic guitar and Pirozzi on upright bass
***Verna on acoustic guitar
****Monteith on acoustic guitar
^with Doug Burns
^^Grateful Dead cover, first time played

Entering night two with much colder weather at their back, fans returned to Cohoes Music Hall sporting a variety of flannel on par with an L.L. Bean outlet. “Jet Smooth Ride” lifted the crowd up and into the night. “Cary Suite” and “Final Destination” had the band finding the pocket and staying there, jamming without the drawback (or benefit, if you will) of ADD. The jams were even more on point and didn’t let up or evaporate before their time. The set ending pair of “Anything is Possible” with Monteith on egg beater and “Blackberry Brandy”

A second set that flowed freely was on tap, starting with a more than 15 minute “Jump for Joy” opener. Monteith took some time to mention how hard it was for him to leave Perth to get to New York for these shows, but expressed casual gratitude for the response from fans. A string of segues led to a 12 minute “John Henry’s Hammer” and a second “Pull from Adirondack Blue” in as many nights. “Bong Hits and Porn,” one of the best song titles ever, was slid into a sweet groove and held on for nearly 15 minutes and found Monteith back on eggbeater.

For the final song of the night, Pirozzi took over on guitar for “Ship,” and led the crowd in the sing-along. With fans cheering for one more, my friend David leaned over and said “You can’t finish the weekend without “Leaving the Monopole,” and lo and behold, they would not. Once again, we got the Seapods tune, and the fans who were only there that night revelled, danced and sang the words as easily as they did in 1995.

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Setlist: January 13, 2018
Set 1: Jet Smooth Ride, Cary Suite, Final Destination > She Makes the Journey, Serpents in the Sand, Railyard Scene > Somedays > Stephen O’Rourke > The Fiesta, Anything Is Possible (w double Eggbeater jam) > Blackberry Brandy

Set 2: Jump For Joy, Sad Corner > What’s the Buzz, Keep in Mind > Waiting Room > Gunshot Static > John Henry’s Hammer > The Pull from Adirondack Blue, Bong Hits & Porn*

Encore: Ship, Leaving the Monopole
* with Monteith on eggbeater

For the final set of the reunion, a performance at Brooklyn Bowl was the perfect closing to the weekend. Owned by former Wetlands owner Pete Shapiro, having Ominous Seapods perform at Brooklyn Bowl brings them full circle and to a stage built on the shoulders of former Wetlands staples like themselves. The performance was an opening slot for the Zen Tricksters, and would be a distilled, “best of” set compared to the previous two shows. Fan Gabe Sasso noted that the crowd ate up how tight the band sounded, with one standout highlight “Josephine’s Grand Motion” which was not played the previous two nights. And with the final note of “Bong Hits and Porn,” Mutants are back to waiting for the next reunion shows to be announced, and based on response from these shows, one would hope it will be less than six years between shows.

Setlist, January 14, 2018
Set 1: Blackberry Brandy, Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley, The Guide To Roadside Ecology, Michael Murphy 3, Josephine’s Grand Motion, Sally Simpson > First Day In California > Sally Simpson, The Pull From Adirondack Blue, Leaving The Monopole, Bong Hits And Porn

January 18, 2018
The Ominous Seapods Reunite to wish Tom Pirozzi a Happy 50th Birthday

A Plattsburgh State undergrad once asked Max Verna to define an Ominous Seapod. “I don’t really know,” he said, providing no explanation behind the name of his band for the young reporter working on a feature for his student newspaper. “I do like the sound of it, though.”

The Ominous Seapods, one of the most popular jam bands here in upstate New York in the 1990s, is coming back out for a two-night engagement at the Cohoes Music Hall on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 12 and 13.

“They were a name I would always see on old show flyers amongst other names that are still big in the scene today,” said Kim Neaton, WEQX-FM radio personality. “I wasn’t familiar with them when they were active, but their name often pops up in conversation and I always would think, ‘Damn. I wish I got to catch a Seapods show!’”

While Phish and Dave Matthews Band led the charge in a jam band culture described in 2001 as a phenomenon by the New York Times, moe., the Disco Biscuits and the Ominous Seapods pulled up the rear. At the time, both the Seapods and Disco Biscuits were signed under Hydrophonics Records, a subsidiary of Megaforce Records which itself earned success years earlier by introducing Ministry and Metallica.

“These guys can rip,” wrote Dean Budnick, of the Seapods. The Relix Magazine editor named the group in a well-crafted Who’s Who directory of upcoming bands in his 1998 book “Jam Bands: North America’s Hottest Live Groups.” “The humor of the players often celebrates the absurd, resulting in some memorable, spontaneous interactions between each other and between band and audience. … Such as the time it hosted an eight-track release party.”

Verna, Dana Monteith, Tom Pirozzi, Brian Mangini and Ted Marotta toured the nation, playing 200-plus gigs a year, a reputation recognized by SPIN Magazine, and appreciated by an online fanbase supported by a website at Dartmouth University affectionately called the Podnet. “We have some really loyal fans on the Podnet who have taken it upon themselves to get the word out and to spread tapes,” Tom Pirozzi told Budnick. “So we’ve walked into a bar in Iowa City where the place is just packed full of people who have heard about us, know our music and are excited to have us there.”

At one point, the website boasted of having more than 300 subscribers, known as mutants. It was maintained by David Merrill, a Dartmouth technician nicknamed The Bourbon Cowboy. It was a place to find setlists, lyrics and pictures. In its heyday, fans could swap tapes from live shows. The internet was still in its infancy in the late ’90s. Social media and smartphones, absolute requirements for networking and navigating new landscapes, did not exist. So, most fans found out about shows by signing up to the band’s mailing list — postal, not email. (At the

band’s height, that list contained more than 10,000 names.) Fans could also call the band’s dedicated phone line connected to an answering machine that listed upcoming show dates. The Podnet is still online, but the ’90s design suggests it hasn’t been maintained for years. Some of the mutants, including Merrill, have since moved on to Facebook.

Pirozzi recently shared his amazement over the power of social media. He said he posted word of the Seapods upcoming Cohoes show on Facebook twice. Once on his page, and another on the Mutants’ page. A short time later, he said, the Saturday evening show was sold out.

“It sold out in five days,” said Pirozzi. “I was surprised, actually. I knew we’d do well, and thought maybe by the day of the show we’d sell out, or be close to sold out. I didn’t expect to sell out in advance. We were all shocked by that.”

The band opted to offer a second show on the preceding Friday, Pirozzi’s 50th birthday. (It, too, is close to selling out.) Pirozzi said he’s humbled by the response from fans, and looks forward to seeing faces he hasn’t seen in 20 years.

“I could see on Facebook, people coming in from Colorado, from North Carolina, California,” asid Pirozzi. “I think it’s just going to be a great reunion for people I haven’t seen in years. Obviously, people I haven’t seen in 20 years. I’m looking forward to that.”

The definition of an Ominous Seapod, initially sought by a Plattsburgh State undergrad, is less elusive today than it was nearly 30 years ago.

“By all accounts the band and their fans know how to have a real great time,” said Neaton, who now associates herself with Guthrie Bell Productions. “And, if Greg Bell says a band knows how to party, I think the Cohoes Music Hall is perhaps in for a party unlike anything it’s seen before. It’s really cool to be part of a reunion that’s bringing so many people in from out of town to celebrate a band that meant a lot to the jam scene for so long, especially in a room as special as this.”

This article was originally published by The Spot 518 and is the property of Spotlight Newspapers in Albany, N.Y., and appears as a special to NYS Music. TheSpot518 and NYS Music work in partnership to provide readers with in-depth coverage on the local music scene in the Capital District and New York state, respectively. For more, visit TheSpot518.com.

January 11, 2018