NYS Music 20​19

Category: Capital Region

  • GEM Fest celebrates Glens Falls’ wide-ranging Arts Scene

    Glens Falls will become a mecca for the arts, with the return of the 4th annual GEM Fest on July 26 and 27. The Glens Falls Entertainment and Music Festival brings together bands from across the greater Glens Falls area, as well as national acts, and combines comedy, live art, film, theater, photography and more at venues around Glens Falls for a FREE two-day event.

    gem fest

    The focus on the arts started when Brian Michael visited Gugs in April of 2016. “Gugs is the central venue in Glens Falls where a ton of bands were just starting to cut their teeth at the time – Candy Ambulance, Joe Mansman, William Hale, Asa Morris and The Mess, among others. Mike Rios put together an open mic night on Thursdays, but Gugs was only open from Thanksgiving Eve until April 20,” said Michael, GEM Fest Director. So with the venue closing for the season, and there being very few places in the city of Glens Falls for live music, Brian and Joe Mansman had an idea to hold a Venue Festival in Glens Falls, where venues would host music throughout the day.

    The organizers went to the owner of Mean Max Brewing and asked to back him on the festival concept. That led to the owner of 190 Grill and Cinema (now the Downtown Social) getting on board as well. From there, GEM Fest was born and the event became a one-day street fest in the Summer of 2016, which was entirely free to the public. It featured a art gallery presentation at the two venues, and several local bands.

    gem fest

    From there, a team effort has helped bring GEM Fest for four consecutive years. Local venues are on board, and local businesses see better business on the day of GEM Fest than they do any other day of the year, according to Michael. With the help of Candice Frye, the Executive Director of LARAC (Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council), which supports the in Warren and Washington counties, Brian was able to secure grant funding. The ever growing event received maximum funding for this year, and with sponsors on board, the fest remains free for the fourth year in a row, accessible for everyone who wants to attend.

    The impact of GEM Fest can be seen already. In 2016, there was one venue in town with regular music, plus Gugs was only open part of the year. Now, in 2019, there are four venues that book bands on a regular basis, with a fifth soon to open. Michael says of this development, “GEM Fest helped clue the local businesses in on the music in the region, and certain niche markets – Helping to elevate the visibility of the music & arts in our city. The integration of this festival into an organization called Art in the Public Eye has also further solidified our commitment to creating platforms for local / and now regional musicians – as well as many other forms of art – to be seen and heard in the heart of Hometown USA.”

    Since 2016, GEM Fest brings an immense crowd out in support of the arts, with a benefit to local businesses, who are patronized by those who attend. The direct support of local businesses is supplemented by the careful selection of craft vendors – while encouraging patrons to eat and drink at local businesses, due to a markedly low acceptance of food type vending.

    gem fest

    Thanks to grants and sponsors, GEM Fest is 99% free, with a fee charged only for the comedy shows each day. Since events are free, venues don’t sell out, although last year three venues reached capacity, a sign of growth after only three years of GEM Fest. In order to bring fans out, Michael says GEM Fest “keeps a high level of integrity, adding the best local musicians and a few national headliners. Getting the local support and financial backing is key to maintaining the fest, and we’re glad to have that for four years now. We are a destination event and it helps grow the scene and throws art in the public eye.”

    There is history in the area as well, as plenty of art to be found that GEM Fest has brought greater attention to. The Hyde Collection, which includes work by Rembrandt, Picasso and Edward Hopper, is one of the greatest collections of art in the 518. The Park Theater has recently undergone a $13 million dollar renovation, and the Charles R. Wood Theater in downtown Glens Falls plays host to a wide variety of arts, from plays to concerts to comedians.

    With the support of LARAC, Glens Falls can be viewed as always having been an artistic town, with a great deal of artists and painters emerging from the Lower Adirondack area. “There might be five different artistic communities within the city and we want everyone to work together on that day to exhibit what we’ve got as a community.”

    GEM Fest is designed so that everything is going on at once, making it a challenge to decide what to see. “What we are encouraging people to do is to come out and see art they may not see otherwise. The music draws them out – if they like comedy, they can check that out, and maybe they see more comedy that year. Some kids might walk by a live painter and be inspired to become a painter. Everywhere you look, there’s something else going on. Walk about the whole city because for the two days, it’s an artistic showcase of Glens Falls.”

    In just a few short years, GEM Fest has established itself as a destination event where music and art collide. Find out more at the official website for the festival and check out the music artists who will be performing around town July 26-27.

    2019 GEM Fest Music Lineup

    • Chestnut Grove
    • Joe Mansman and the Midnight Revival Band
    • Between Now and Forever
    • Lock 9
    • Paradox Saints
    • The Lucas Garrett Band
    • Switch Mob
    • Zach Matari
    • Sly Fox and the Hustlers
    • Ampevene
    • Timbre Coup
    • Tambourelli & Her Supertrips
    • Safety Meeting
    • Peter Annello
    • Brain Medicine
    • Ugly Muppets
    • Arch Fiends
    • Iüdica
    • Lollygagger
    • Candy Ambulance
    • No More Death Stars
    • Anamon

  • Village of Menands announces Summer Concert Series

    The Village of Menands, just north of Albany, has announced their summer concert series. The concerts are held on Tuesdays, starting July 9 at Ganser-Smith Memorial Park (Menands Park). Shows go from 6-8:30pm, rain or shine. All are welcome, including families, dogs and those with lawn chairs. Food and beverages available for purchase from the Menands Fire Co.

    village of menands

    Menands Summer 2019 concert series lineup:
    July 9 New York Players
    July 16 Oldies Show
    July 23 Hotshot Hillbilly’s
    July 30 Hair of the Dog
    August 6 The 317
    August 13 The All Paul Show

    For more information visit the Menands Village website.

  • Erin McKeown Bares All at Caffè Lena

    Erin McKeown had confidence that seemed unshakable on the stage at Caffè Lena Thursday night, June 20. Erin began her set speaking about how she has to do a lot of self-work and self-building to get where she is. She spoke of how she had been outed at a young age, and her parents weren’t accepting of her lifestyle. It was a relief to hear that someone who was so strong could have moments of self-doubt.

    “Sometimes,” she explained, “It is hard to look in the mirror and like what you see. Mirrors can break you back.” This led into her first song of the evening, “Mirrors Break Back,” off her album of the same name released in 2017. She changed her performance by treating the song as a poem, a spoken word piece. When she was finished, she was met with loud applause from the audience.

    Erin performing a spoken word version of “Mirrors Break Back” at Caffè Lena on June 20.

    The room was filled with joy, a crowd who could appreciate who Erin was and understand her background. Caffè Lena had given the LGBTQ community a safe space to listen to an out and proud lesbian performer and activist. Erin spoke openly about her life. She talked about the struggles she has had, and how she has overcome it.

    Witty and charming, Erin stated that she felt like she should play songs for the Pride event that were gay, but then commented that all of her songs were. She did include an “especially gay set” for the crowd. These included songs like “Sugar in a Pie” and “Jenny.”

    She also chose a song, “28,” which was about a particular time in her life – when she was 28. Erin relates it to the orbit of Saturn, which takes 28 years, and when it rolls around there is a time of upheaval and huge changes take place. “It’s not especially gay, but I am,” she said with a playful shrug as she began.

    Erin switched to the piano to continue her set with the song “The Lions” which contains the lyrics, “There’s a risk, there’s a twist, to anything worth doing.” This seems to be a philosophy that Erin has carried with her through life. She has successfully produced the musical Miss You Like Hell which has won five Drama Desk awards and was named the “Best Musical of 2018” by Wall Street Journal. At the age of 40, Erin published a song book, Some of My Better Songs (But Not All of Them). She is currently working on another musical and perhaps a singer/songwriter record. Erin is someone who is constantly busy, and she seems to thrive when she has many creative endeavors going on at once. 

    Erin does nothing by halves. In geographic areas where there has been tension about gay rights, Erin has chosen to not avoid them as some artists have, but has made it a point to play there. She wanted to see how things were on the ground level and encourage the people fighting the good fight. For them, she wrote the song “Queer Gospel” to encourage them to persist despite the difficulties they faced.

    The audience gave Erin a standing ovation, and when she returned for her encore she chose to play a song that required audience participation. Together Erin and the audience sang “Where Did I Go” with the audience filling in the chorus and Erin singing the solo verses. The Caffè was filled with voices brought together to rejoice in who they were, in whom they had bravely chosen to be despite adversities. Hands clapped in unison. On a night when it was important to come together, Erin ended with the right song.

    Caffe Lena will continue the pride series next month with a performance by Jonatha Brooke on  July 17th at 7 p.m. For tickets go here.

  • What You Need to Know About Phish at SPAC

    If you are heading to Phish at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), here are some veteran tips for making the most out of the two-day run, especially for out-of-town phans.

    First things first — follow NYS Music on Twitter and Facebook for helpful hints throughout the weekend. We’ll be on location sharing traffic info, park updates and keeping fans aware of anything that they should know. In past years, Saratoga officials have announced a crackdown on alcohol and intoxicated people in the state park known as SPA, which includes SPAC. In the past, there has always been a lot of chatter preceding the summer concert season at SPAC regarding  the increased police presence and no-alcohol policy (with ticket enforcement and arrest potential). The past few times have not been as eventful, and as long as you pre-game smart, you should be fine. Our advice is to not treat SPAC as a free-for-all — this is a New York State Park and state troopers roam the grounds, not local just police.

    Saratoga Spa State Park is easy to get lost in, as this is an expansive park, and you can easily wind up walking around for an hour looking for the lot your car is in, or altogether become disoriented. Save the map below, just in case.

    phish at spac

    In the interest of making sure everyone knows what has been the norm in the past, whether you have been here before or not, keep these few things in mind:

    State Troopers. Keep all alcohol in a cup and don’t test the troopers. Phish fans are typically well behaved, but this is a state park, just like Jones Beach, something that shouldn’t be ignored while pre-gaming in the lots.

    Hotels. Some establishments have been known to call-in suspected drug use. Be smart when pre-gaming at the hotel or getting back, and try to enjoy the post-show scene before getting some needed sleep.

    Leaving SPAC. Expect checkpoints for drunk driving and K-9 units for the obvious. Don’t leave the park without a sober driver and when you do, drive the speed limit. Whether you’re driving down Route 9, Route 50, I-87 or towards the small towns north and south of Saratoga, take your time.

    Post Shows – more info coming soon!

    If you are headed south out of SPAC, or looking for music and eats, stop off in Malta for two nights of post shows at Nanola. Where is Malta? Just 10 minutes south of SPAC, off Exit 12 right on Route 9. The menu is fantastic — great Cajun-inspired food and American dishes, as well as one of the best draft and bottle selections in the Capital District.

    There is an amazing amount of music lined up after each day of this year’s Phish SPAC run. That’s the beauty of seeing Phish at a venue like SPAC — the town opens up its doors to Phish with many options for music, art and daytime and nighttime activities.

    We will see you all at SPAC!

  • In Focus: Slick Rick The Ruler takes crowd on a great adventure at Alive at 5

    Slick Rick the Ruler was joined by DJ T.G.I.F and Giant Gorilla Dog Thing for Albany’s Alive at 5 summer concert series at its location under I-787 on Thursday, June 20. Ricky Martin Lloyd Walters, known to the world as Slick Rick and widely regarded as “hip-hop’s greatest storyteller,” is a London-born, Grammy-nominated performer and the most successful British-American rapper in music history.

    The hip-hop veteran began his career in 1983, as a member of Doug E. Fresh’s Get Fresh Crew, pioneering what is today celebrated as the “Golden Age of Hip- Hop.” Recognizing the need for positive influences, Rick has devoted his time to mentoring youth on the dangers of violence. Additionally, he has partnered with various local and national organizations to raise awareness and funds for the issues impacting underserved communities.

  • Hearing Aide: Ignis ‘Mirrorless’

    Albany based duo, Ignis, released their sophomore LP Mirrorless on June 10. The unique styling of the record, comprised of brothers Colby and Tristan Beach. A background in piano from a very early age led both brothers to take on other instruments, and as a result, formed Ignis back in 2017. The brothers have released two self-recorded EP’s to date: Walking, and Cover. In January 2018 they released their first full length album, The Face of Mars. Even though there are issues with the actual production value and execution of Mirrorless, the band is young, with time and perhaps a deft hand in the studio to assist in the production of new material, they will surely be able to overcome these technical deficiencies.

    Unfortunately there are some tracks like “Go With Me” where the guitar is noticeably out of tune. If that was the intention of the duo, it made it an unpleasant experience for the listener. The vocals by lead singer Colby also seem to be inconsistently in tune throughout the LP. Nowhere is this issue more apparent than on both the third song “Fade Away” and the final track “Wombat Master”. There also seems to be some audible timing issues on “Fade Away” as well, which points to potential inexperience at the mixing board.

    There are some positive aspects of Mirrorless that are pleasing. The majority of the musical arrangements show intelligent musicianship. They are able to evoke feelings that Ignis wants to convey to its audience. The duo definitely seem to be working with an extensive musical pallet that includes numerous style elements including keys, percussion and a variety of interesting guitar styles.

    Additionally Mirrorless shows promise with songwriting by the Beach brothers that includes lyrics and rhythms that are both eccentric, introspective and interesting to listen to. Since this is the band’s sophomore effort, there is no doubt that there is still more in store for the future of this group. If the duo continues to evolve and are attentive to the details required of recording, they will be on track towards developing a bigger following and popularity in the Capital District. This of course takes time and experience. That experience comes from playing live and continued time in the studio. If Ignis performs regularly and commits to improving their knowledge of the mechanics of musical recording,  they will be able to develop a more mature sound that will elevate their art to the next level.

    Key Tracks: My Way, Red Dress

  • In Focus: Kiss Jupiter Hall Goodbye With Revenge Tribute

    The final show at Jupiter Hall, Albany, NY

    On Friday night, June 14, Albany’s Jupiter Hall closed their stage for the last time; but before the darkness, the venue was alive with flashing lights, fans, great music – and snow!

    Another great show by Chaos Collective and Joe Von Schnizel, The Jupiter Hall venue went out with a bang! The feeling at the show was not one of despair, but rather a celebration. Four bands played, but they seemed to have the hearts of all the prior bands within them, and they gave it all to the appreciative fans.

    Revenge, a Kiss tribute band was the headliner, following an energetic lineup featuring: Frank Palangi band, The Hard Luck Souls, and Wasteland Junction.

    Frank Palangi

    Frank Palangi, an indie rock songwriter, opened the show with his band. His deep, full voice is reminiscent of Dave Gahan, the lead singer of Depeche Mode. His range was amazing, ccompanied by Greg Auffreduo on drums. You can catch some of his upcoming shows at Abrews in Dracut, MA on June 23 or The Schenectady Armory Center, June 29. For a list of other events, see his website.

    Setlist: Set Me Free, Live It Up, Intro, It’s All Right, Break These Chains, Metallica Mix, Turn It All Around, Purple Haze.

    Chris Itani

    Next up were The Hard Luck Souls, an original blues-influenced hard rock band from the Capital District. Chris’ cool bluesy rock voice, led the tight, well-rehearsed group featuring Chris Itani on vocals, Brian Gentile on guitar, Mark Schmidt on drums and Dave Smassanow on bass. The setlist was from their 2017 CD, Closer to the Flame, and included: “You’re Not a Saint,” “In My Head,” “Izzy’s Thunder,” “Believer,” “Fly Away,” “Get Back,” “Better Keep On Running,” and “I’m Not Ashamed.”

    You can catch The Hard Luck Souls at the Troy Farmers Market on June 29, 2019, Check their Facebook page for more times and locations. Check their Facebook page and sample the CD here.

    Bob Messick, Bassist for Wasteland Junction

    The show kept moving along with Wasteland Junction, a hard rock band from Schenectady, NY. The sounds of Wasteland Junction kept fans on their feet. Bob Messick held it down on Bass, R.J. Fowler on drums, Chris Fowler on rhythm guitar and Cy Romleski venturing on lead guitar completed the group. You can see them on August 2, at Chrome in Waterford, NY with Revenge (Kiss tribute band).

    Setlist: I Profit, Tooth in Nail, Ride the Lightning, Cold Sweat, Iron Fist, What Your Doin’, Stone Cold Crazy, Kill the King, Priest Medley.

    David Smith

    The night closed after Revenge, the Kiss Tribute band swept up the stage with a wild performance. The music was loud and rocking. How fitting to have “Rock and Roll All Night” as the last song. The venue has died, but the memories of the music and the bands will rock, and roll all night. Thank you to all the entertainers, the event coordinators, promoters, staff and especially, the fans. Let’s keep local music alive.

    Setlist: Detroit Rock City, Psycho Circus, Rise to It, Deuce, Lick it Up, A Million to One, War Machine, Hide Your Heart, Shock me, Love Gun, I was Made for Loving You, Black Diamond, and The last song of the set, the last song of the show, the last song played at Jupiter Hall, was Rock and Roll All Night!

  • Hearing Aide: Hasty Page ‘Things To Do Before I Die’

    Hasty Page and their official release party for Things To Do Before I Die is set for June 21 at The Linda WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio located in Albany NY. Tickets are $12.00 and the show kicks off at 8:00PM. The band will be continuing to support their new album with dates slated through the summer.

    It’s been two long years since the Queensbury based alt/indie rock power trio Hasty Page has released new recorded material. Fans will be pleased to know that the wait is over with the release of their second full length LP Things To Do Before I Die, which dropped yesterday, June 20. This 11-track gem is a great follow up to their last release, Distance, and features tasty hooks that give the listener a whole lot. Hasty Page is comprised of Josh Morris (Lead Vocals/Drums), Zane Agnew (Lead Guitar/Vocals), and James Paolano (Bass/Vocals). The band was formed in 2015 and has sound that is reminiscent of such acts as The 1975, Nothing But Thieves and Pearl Jam.

    Morris and Zane Agnew began playing acoustic duo shows around New York’s Capital Region, where they honed both their playing skills as well as their songwriting. A few months in, close family friend James Paolano was added to the roster on bass to fill out the trio. Since then, they have been playing regularly out in the Capital Region at The Hollow Bar + Kitchen, Jupiter Hall, and even made the trip down to the Rockwood Music Hall in NYC.

    Things To Do Before I Die starts out in a very unique way with its first track “Sleep.” The tune is a mellow trance inducing intro that perfectly matches its title. The song features heavy synth and overdubbed vocals that paint a warm spacey dreamscape for the listener. The track quickly crescendos into a shockingly climatic vocal command, “GO TO SLEEP!,” after which the number abruptly ends. The second track, “Wake Up,” is a jolt back to reality that relies heavily on guitar, featuring a tasty musical hook. The song is a sort of call to arms, that lyrically challenges listeners to wake up to the problems that surround them in the world. Morris’ vocal chant, “One in ten of us all pretend,” eludes that people need to take a hard look around themselves and shake off the trance that they fall into while living their mundane everyday lives.

    “Body Shots” is a guitar driven groove fest that highlights both Agnew’s funky guitar playing and Paolano rock steady bass beat. The song is upbeat and perfect for playing out live. The band is tight on this number and the boys are playing to their strengths, drawing on the experience that only a live performance can provide. It features catchy lyrics that reference drinking and sports, a beat made for getting out on the dance floor and moving your feet. “Body Shots” is one of the strongest pieces on the LP.

    Perhaps the most radio friendly track on Things To Do Before I Die is the seventh track “Vices.” The single opens with an orchestrated synth introduction that is reminiscent of The Kings Of Leon and effortlessly transitions into Morris’ infectious vocal. The melody and chorus on this song are so pleasing that it makes perfect sense; Hasty Page would commit their time and energy into creating an expensively produced video for the tune. Although “Vices” features less of Agnew’s signature guitar sound and drifts more into the musical direction of pop, it is a catchy number that is memorable and is destined to be a fan favorite.

    Key Tracks: Vices, Body Shots, Wake Up

  • Dead and Company Ushers in Summer Season at SPAC: Weir and Mayer Make What’s Old New Again

    Dead and Company ushered in the summer concert season at SPAC on Tuesday, June 18 with their bluesy, jazzy jam sessions that lasted late into the warm evening. Check out the setlist and photo gallery below.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMeieLIBVfE

    Set 1: Feel Like a Stranger>Hell in a Bucket>Alabama Getaway, When I Paint My Masterpiece>It Must Have Been the Roses>Cumberland Blues>Cassidy>US Blues

    Set 2: Here Comes Sunshine>Shakedown Street>Wharf Rat>Playing in the Band>Uncle John’s Band>DrumsSpace>Viola Lee Blues>Dear Prudence>Casey Jones

    Encore: In the Midnight Hour>Playing in the Band

  • Erin McKeown to Kick Off Pride Series at Caffè Lena

    Erin McKeown will be the first show that starts a new tradition at Caffè Lena this month. Caffè Lena has been proud to promote an inclusive environment and present a diverse range of performers on the stage.

    On June 20, Erin’s performance will mark the first of a new monthly pride series where LGBTQ  performers will be featured. It will be a safe space for people to hear the stories of members of the LGBTQ community. Sarah Craig, Executive Director of Caffè Lena, is excited to expand Saratoga’s musical horizons by giving these performers a stage. Through her years of collaborating with Saratoga Pride, Sarah has been “blown away by both the turn out and the quality of performances” that have been presented during the Pride Open Mics. The talent and creativity are there, and Caffè Lena wants to give these LGBTQ performers a chance to display it.

    Erin McKeown was an excellent pick to start the new series. An out and proud lesbian, Erin has garnered a solid reputation as a performer and activist. Throughout her career, she has released ten albums, the most recent being Mirrors Break Back in 2017.  Miss You Like Hell, her first musical, has garnered multiple awards including five Drama Desk Awards. The Wall Street Journal named it the “Best Musical of 2018.” 

    Future shows in the Pride Series include Jonatha Brooke in July, David and Sophie Buskin in August, and a mystery performer in September that Sarah Craig is particularly excited about.  Tickets for this show and all future events in the Pride Series can be purchased at the Caffè Lena website.

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