Category: Capital Region

Upstate Concert Hall Relocates to Pearl Street in Albany

For years, Upstate Concert Hall has been incorrectly listed on tour promotion and concert posters as being located in Albany, NY. The venue, has been located in a Clifton Park, NY strip mall since 1996, when it was named Northern Lights, and is a 20-minute drive over the Mohawk River from Albany. The geographic error makes little difference now, as the owners of Upstate Concert Hall have relocated to Albany.

Guster performing at Upstate Concert Hall, 2019. photo by E. Reid Coker

With a fresh location in the former Capital Repertory Theatre building on South Pearl Street, the venue and area are in for a major upgrade from its previous setting. Capital Rep is moving to a new location in a renovated warehouse at 251 North Pearl Street, per the Times Union.

Upstate Concert Hall is beneficial for artists passing through the Capital Region, particularly metal and hardcore artists, as well as jam bands. The new venue at the former home of Capital Repertory Theatre stands to be a positive sign for the city of Albany, especially on Pearl Street where revitalization feels to be continually on the cusp of a renaissance.

The view from inside Capital Rep, the new home of Upstate Concert Hall

With added apartments downtown, additional (free!) parking nearby, and a just announced Skyway bringing downtown closer to the Hudson River, Upstate Concert Hall joins The Hollow Bar and Kitchen, Pearl Street Pub, Parish Public House, The Egg, The Palace Theatre and Times Union Center, as well as the soon to open Lark Hall, as a hub for music in the Capital city.

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said of the move, “This is yet another example of the unprecedented investments occurring in Albany’s newest neighborhood.”

The Clifton Park location became known as a great destination for a large number of bands who could not find a location in the city of Albany to play to crowds over a capacity of 250. There were drawbacks to the venue, including a low ceiling which limited light shows and large scale production (think of OK GO! and their confetti cannons, hitting a 12 foot drop ceiling doesn’t have the same effect).

Add in average sound quality throughout the expansive venue, as well as the location within a strip mall with limited restaurants and bars within walking distance, and Upstate Concert Hall became a destination for the artist, not the venue.

The view from inside Capital Rep, the new home of Upstate Concert Hall

Speaking to the Times Union, Jeff Buell, a principal at Redburn Development said, “We are working closely with Upstate Concert Hall to reimagine what a rock room looks like mid- and post-COVID.” Redburn purchased 111 N. Pearl two years ago as part of a six-property deal with the longtime owner, the developer Herb Ellis. Redburn has finished or is converting nine downtown buildings to rental apartments as part of a project with more than 275 residential units and a price tag north of $80 million. Buildings that are open are full or near capacity, Buell said, with others due to open in the coming months already 50 to 80 percent leased.

Upstate Concert Hall has played host over the years to an immense variety of bands, among them Stone Temple Pilots, Mister F, Twiddle, Kung Fu, AWOL Nation, Lettuce, GWAR, Big Gigantic, Clutch, Umphrey’s McGee, OK GO!, Shadows Fall, Guster, and Blues Traveler, to name a few. The tradition of great live music in Albany will surely continue with this addition. In the meantime, we still need to #saveourstages.

Watch a memorable GWAR performance from 2014 below.

September 25, 2020
SPAC Reimagined unveils the Ellen Reid Soundwalk

As part of its SPAC Reimagined Series, Saratoga Performing Arts Center is hosting a free, audio-immersive event, the Ellen Reid Soundwalk, allowing people to walk and listen to music as they wander around the area.

The GPS-enabled installation opened on September 21 and runs until November 1 which leaves a month to visit the hiking trails, geysers, and the natural springs of the Saratoga State Park. The audio experience is tailor-made and meant to illuminate the natural environment. The event requires hikers to download the free application and grab some headphones before going on the route.

The Soundwalk was crafted and created by Pulitzer prize-winning composer Ellen Reid. Her Soundwalk features a newly written score, performed by the SOUNDWALK Ensemble. Ellen Reid understood the anxiety around current events and explained the helpful purpose of the Soundwalk.

We’re all experiencing the anxieties of living in an uncertain world. We miss our communities, and we miss the very thing that makes our cities special: the people.
Ellen Reid

Reid’s Soundwalk was co-commissioned by Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the New York Philharmonic, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, Mann Center for the Performing Arts in association with The Fairmount Park Conservancy, and Britt Festival Orchestra.

Movement around the park triggers the soundscape and the musical cells were carefully crafted to harmonize with the park’s landscape and attractions. The person walking will get to choose their path, which dictates the music the listener will hear. Participants can also dictate the music, ensuring that each experience will not be the same when roaming the State Park.

As a bonus, special musical “easter eggs” have been hidden around the park for people to navigate and discover. The Soundwalk is open until November 1, which leaves many opportunities for people to have a customizable, immersive, musical experience.

On your way to SPAC, don’t forget that Stewart’s Shops is your ice cream shop! With over 345 shops in 31 counties across New York and southern Vermont, the convenience store chain is known for their fresh &local dairy products. With dozens of choices at the cone counter, you’re bound to find something you love! Try a shake, sundae, or cone today, What’s Your Flavor?

September 23, 2020
In Focus: Pink Talking Fish gets Dazed and Confused at Jericho Drive-In
On a chilly September night, the first where autumn made its presence known, Jericho Drive-In in Glenmont, NY hosted a socially distant crowd of a few hundred for a double feature – Pink Talking Fish and Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused.

With cars lined up 10 rows deep, Pink Talking Fish gave the Capital District‘s jam scene something they had long been waiting for – a chance to get down and dance with close friends in a safe environment. Fans were smart and followed the rules we’ve all been aware of for six months – wearing masks when leaving your car area, and small clusters of live music fans staying within their bubbles. After 6 months of little to no live music, it’s fair to say that fans weren’t screwing this up (heads up here Gov. Cuomo).

The performance from Pink Talking Fish was as invigorating as it was cathartic. Their blend of Phish, Talking Heads and Pink Floyd was overdue for many in the crowd, with a show opening “Simple” with a “Third Stone from the Sun” tease on the 50th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix’s death.

One of many highlights of the evening, “Theme From The Bottom” > “Us And Them” > “Any Colour You Like” > “Theme From The Bottom,” featured a subtle tease of “Waste” and jumped feet first into show-stopper “Crosseyed and Painless.” To close out the night and give a nod to the second feature, Led Zeppelin’s “Dazed and Confused” was deftly intertwined within Phish’s “David Bowie,” bringing back the feel of exploratory “Bowie”‘s from the mid-90s.

Next up for Pink Talking Fish, they’ll play two shows in Burlington, VT at The Backyard at Nectar’s on Friday, October 16! More info and tickets here.

Jericho Drive-In, Glenmont, NY, Friday, September 18, 2020

Setlist: Simple* > Happiest Days Of Our Lives > Another Brick In The Wall Part 2 > This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody), Rift, Have A Cigar > And She Was, Reba, Wish You Were Here > Moon Rocks, Theme From The Bottom > Us And Them** > Any Colour You Like > Theme From The Bottom > Crosseyed And Painless > David Bowie% > Dazed And Confused > David Bowie%%

*w/ Third Stone From The Sun tease
**w/ Waste tease
% w/ Purple Haze tease
%% w/ Dazed And Confused teases Pink Talking Fish Drive-In
September 22, 2020
Belle-Skinner, TIP, Architrave and more featured on this week’s EQXposure

Each Sunday evening from 7-9pm on 102.7 FM, you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up and coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear music from Belle-Skinner, TIP, Architrave, and many more!

WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to a ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.

Belle-Skinner – “Tapestry”

Skinner was named one of “8 Female Musicians From Upstate New York You Should Be Listening To Right Now” by Saratoga Living and in 2015 was a finalist at the Telluride Troubadour Competition, a showcasing songwriter on the main-stage at Rocky Mountain Folks Festival in Lyons, CO. This Upstate artist has a nostalgic sense to her haunting voice that is nuanced with influences ranging from Joni Mitchel, Jeff Buckley, and Lana Del Ray. Her music elevates the modern folk song, rich in harmony, contrapuntal melodic phrasing, and wonderful song crafting.

Architrave – “Blissed Out”

Ballston Spa duo Architrave features programmed grooves, hearty classic synth sounds, with real guitars and bass. They have just released a new single, “Blissed Out,” which continues on their catalogue of moody electronic pulsating melodies. The New Wave movement of The Cure, Portishead, The XX has new momentum with Architrave.

TIP – “Canadian Coins”

TIP features Very clever and intricate song crafting and musicianship describes this quartet of college friends. The music is unique, evocative, and layered. Performing on recent live streams during quarantine for WEQX at HIGHPEAKS Sound. Think of guitar driven riff bands, each musician in this band plays with equal conviction as if these players were pre-destined to be in the same band today, they each play as an extension of the next player. There is a freshness to their sound, something bands strive for but these guys are out of the gate with that. Check their live stream show at High Peaks Sound a few weeks ago.

September 19, 2020
Matt Smith to Release Eight New Albums Today

Matt Smith, a Capital District-raised, Austin-based artist, has released eight new albums as well as ten digital releases from Smith’s catalog of recordings. The albums will be available everywhere music is streamed or bought. Hard copies of the album are available through Austin’s Waterloo Records.

Smith has been working on the flagship release, Being Human, for four years. The song addresses broad themes of love, death and spirituality, along with timely issues such as immigration, narcissism and addiction.

Parlor is a solo acoustic instrumental album recorded entirely on an 1890’s Thompson and Odell parlor guitar that has been handed down through four generations of the Smith family. Chop Shop – Live at Strange Brew was recorded at the legendary south Austin venue during the
band’s weekly Sunday afternoon residency.

When asked about why releasing now, Matt Smith said, “It’s an election year and there’s COVID. I had them all ready, and rather than dribble them out, why not put it all out at once? That way, I can get back to work on new material.”

September 18, 2020
New Drive-In Music Set to Roll On In to Lee, MA

These days, large outdoor spaces are pretty much the only way to get your live music fix. Well there soon will be one more venue option available for bands and concert goers like. Local business Canna Provisions Presents, based in Lee, MA, will be sponsoring Roll On In – a pop-up venue that now inhabits a meadow located in town.

Roll On In is committed to providing socially distanced entertainment, in a world where live music and music culture came to a complete stand still back in March. It boasts festival-level production on stage and large LED screens and line arrays in an effort to deliver the visuals and harmonics that are both so missed in these socially distant days.

This weekend will mark the opening weekend with three nights of live music currently scheduled. Friday, September 18, will feature Rice: An American Band and Rev Tour’s Steal Your Peach Band – an all-star collective of Northeast musicians playing Allman Brothers and Grateful Dead tunes.

Saturday night sees two Massachusetts-based bands take the stage in Trailer Trash and Whiskey City. And Sunday, Beau Sasser’s Escape Plan will headline and be accompanied by Uppercut – another ensemble of musicians collected from bands like RAQ (Todd Stoops), Turkuaz (Mikey Carrubba) and Star Kitchen (Danny Meyer).

Patrons can arrive each night at 5 pm and enjoy a full night of music with great food options also on site. Music begins at 6 pm and runs until approximately 10 pm each night. Cars with anywhere from two to six people will be allowed entrance with a cost of $25 per head. For more information and tickets, please visit rolloninshows.com.

Canna Provisions is responsible for the one recreational marijuana shop that has been nothing short of a cash cow for the town of Lee, MA. They are a committed community oriented company that clearly recognizes the importance and vitality of the live music industry. More concerts are expected to take place at this new pop-up venue until November.

September 15, 2020
The Low Beat closes its doors for good

The Low Beat, located on Central Avenue in Albany, has permanently closed. This marks the first music venue in the Capital District to officially not reopen due to the economic shutdown caused by COVID-19, and no relief coming from Congress.

Having opened in 2014, The Low Beat was a relocation of sorts for Valentine’s, which closed in February 2014 due to expansion of Albany Medical Center. Owner Howard Glassman oversaw both venues, both of which played host to waves of jam, punk, hardcore and indie artists who passed through the Capital Region, with live music nearly every night of the year.

photo by Sarah Winner

At Valentine’s in the 1990s, bands like moe., Ominous Seapods and more built followings that last to this day. Wednesday nights with The Deadbeats were infamous among local Grateful Dead aficionados, and those nights continued at The Low Beat with bands like Ampevene, Glass Pony and others gracing the ‘No Pepper Games’ stage.

Glassman said opening up a new venue in the wake of the closing of Valentine’s,

It’s gonna be a little different, only because it’s going to be our bar. It’s going to be our building. We can do whatever we want and not have to worry about getting kicked out. This is what I do, so this will be around as long as I’m around. I think people need to feel like they have their place. Think about all the bars that have closed. CBGB’s, Maxwell’s, think about when the Palais Royale was still open. It’s not the same (as Valentine’s) but it’s not the same for different reasons. But once we open up, hopefully the first Wednesday when The Deadbeats play, and people come in and they’re like “Ah there’s Grumpy and there’s Chris,’ and they settle in, and I think when their ass makes an indentation in the seat, they’ll be cool and say ‘Alright. This is where we’re gonna hang for the next 20 years.’ I think it’s the vibe. It’s totally a vibe thing.

March 9 was the final night of music at The Low Beat, which saw The Deadbeats perform ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping through the country and closing music venues, shopping malls, bowling alleys and other communal places of leisure.

This past weekend Glassman opened the doors to The Low Beat and invited people to come down to the venue and pick up anything they wanted before the doors were permanently closed. All Glassman asked in return was a little money to help pay off his final bills, as reported by the Times Union.

Starting Monday, September 14 from 9am-5pm, stop in and get what is left of the venue’s memorabilia, just be sure to bring your own screwdriver, boxes and cash.

When asked for his final thoughts on The Low Beat, Glassman simply said “It was never EVER boring.”

September 14, 2020
Amico-Barady Quartet Announced for next Palace Sessions on Sept. 16
The Palace Theatre, City of Albany, and Mirth Films have announced the Amico-Barady Quartet for next edition of The Palace Sessions set for Wednesday, Sept 16 at 7PM.

The Amico Barady Quartet, a jazz band started 15 years ago by Vinnie Amico and Jay Barady, are the featured performers. The band members include Vinnie Amico (moe., drums), Jason Barady (Floodwood, mandolin), Rich Williams (saxophone/flute) and Zach Fleitz (bass).

photo by Frankie Cavone

The Palace Sessions is a monthly live music series featuring local regional musicians performing at the Palace Theater in Albany, NY. The Palace Theatre’s mission is to enhance the Capital Region’s cultural and economic development with world-class arts and entertainment. Like many other live music events, The Palace Sessions had to postpone and revamp their previous musical events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are thrilled to be able to welcome live music back to the hallowed halls of the Palace Theatre. This historic building exists to entertain and create memories and after a nearly four-month absence due to COVID-19, it is a thrill to know that it will again. We hope that our patrons will enjoy these performances as much as we do!”
Billy Piskutz, Executive Director of the Palace Performing Arts Center.

Donations to benefit the Palace Performing Arts Center can be made here or directly through the Palace Theatre’s Text to Give program by texting Palace2020 to 44321.

The Palace Sessions are sponsored by KeyBank, CDPHP, St. Peter’s Health Partners, 102.7 WEQX, Albany.com & High Peaks Event Production. Check out a preview of what’s to come with photos from Frankie Cavone of Mirth Films.
September 13, 2020
Joshua Bell kicks off SPAC at Home Concert Series on Sept. 12

On Saturday, September 12, Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) will begin their “SPAC @ Home: Concert Series” with world-renowned violinist and Grammy Award-winner Joshua Bell and classical pianist, Peter Dugan. The event will be held at the Arthur Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College.

The concert program includes the Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 5, the Kreisler/Dvorak “Slavonic Fantasy,” the Sarasate/Chopin Nocturne No. 20, and the Wieniawski “Polonaise de Concert.” After the concert, there will be a Q&A session with SPAC President Elizabeth Solo and Director of The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College, Ian Berry.

Tickets for the virtual event are $10 and can be purchased at spac.org. Ticket buyers will be directed to an exclusive stream.

Born in Bloomington, Indiana, Bell began the violin at age four, and at age twelve, began studies with his mentor, Josef Gingold. At age 14, Bell debuted with Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and made his Carnegie Hall debut at age 17 with the St. Louis Symphony.

Bell has performed for three American presidents and the sitting justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. He participated in former president Barack Obama’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities’ first cultural mission to Cuba, joining Cuban and American musicians on a 2017 Live from Lincoln Center PBS special, Joshua Bell: Seasons of Cuba, celebrating renewed cultural diplomacy between Cuba and the United States.

September 12, 2020
Venues Across New York File Federal Lawsuit Against State Restrictions on Live Music

New York music venues decided to file a Federal lawsuit against State restrictions on live music on September 6, 2020 in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan. The lawsuit involves ten establishments across New York who believe the live music restrictions are unworkable and unconstitutional.

The Federal lawsuit challenges both the ad ban and the rule against charging for shows as being arbitrary since there is no evidence those actions have any effect on the slowing coronavirus spread.

Lark Hall lit up in red demanding the passage of The Restart Act.
Photo by Zach Culver.

Last week New York state announced rules that aimed to contain the spread of the coronavirus according to state officials but many venues feel they have been disproportionately singled out in this new ruling. The rules allow only what the state calls “incidental” music to be performed at venues making it impossible to promote performances and therefore making it difficult for venues, bars, and restaurants to intrigue an audience to attend their establishment.

The ten establishments involved in the lawsuit are establishments that serve liquor and host or promote live music or entertainment. These venues come from all across New York state including four in New York City. The others are located throughout upstate New York in Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Clifton Park. The plaintiffs in the case are Turks Group, LLC, operating as The Sultan Room & The Turk’s Inn in Brooklyn, 49 Illinois Restaurant, LLC, operating as Buffalo Iron Works in Buffalo, The New York Independent Venue Association, a trade association, Columbus Ale House, Inc., operating as The Graham, in Brooklyn, Upstate Shows, Inc., operating as Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park, Jayarvee, Inc., operating as Birdland Jazz Club in Manhattan, Capitol Enterprises, Inc., operating as The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, Jukimoo, LLC, operating as Littlefield in Brooklyn, nfinity on Main, Inc., operating as Tralf Music Hall in Buffalo, and Rapid Theater Niagara Falls USA, Inc., operating as The Rapids Theater in Niagara Falls.

Times Union Center lit up in red demanding the passage of The Restart Act.
Photo by Zach Culver.

The defendant named in the lawsuit is the State Liquor Authority Chairman Vincent Bradley. The State Liquor Authority has been the leading charge in enforcing Governor Andrew Cuomo’s coronavirus orders. They do this by having the ability to suspend liquor licenses and impose fines on establishments not following the rules.

According to syracuse.com, “The lawsuit asks the court to halt the state’s enforcement of the orders. It also seeks payment for the cost of the lawsuit and lawyer’s fees, but does not specify monetary damages.” The state’s coronavirus rules are simple and easy to follow for most of these establishments. People being required to wear a mask, social distance, use hand sanitizer, having employee health checks, and ect would be very doable for establishments who host live music and yet they are being singled out from being able to promote their businesses.

The Federal lawsuit says, “The advertising and ticketing of shows would allow establishments to maintain better control over their limited capacity, allowing them to tell patrons in advance that an evening is sold out and thus avoiding the gathering of crowds trying to gain admission (and the increased risk of transmission that comes along with such gatherings).”

For more information on the New York’s new guidelines for establishments and how they effect the establishments and musicians read NYS Music’s article on the guidelines.

September 7, 2020