This past Friday, October 14 ZZ Top brought 50 years of Rock to Albany’s The Palace Theatre for the first time.
Austin Meade from Austin, Texas opened for ZZ Top. Meade is an electric performer whose music has a very hard-rock feel. Known for his intensity on the drums and guitar, Meade currently has four rock albums. His latest effort — Abstract Art of an Unstable Mind — released on the day of the concert. Meade debuted a song off that album during his performance.
Meade opened up to a warm reception at promptly 8 o’clock. His guitarists seemed to want to grab the crowd’s attention, playing with extra vigor whenever Meade approached center stage. Meade performed for about 30 minutes before ending with his hit single, “Happier Alone.” In this performance, he added in lyrics from Dua Lipa’s, “Don’t Start Now,” to end the song, and ending his set.
An older crowd welcomed ZZ Top to Albany with a thunderous ovation. Everyone was on their feet as a new-look ZZ Top took the stage. Last year, lead bass player Dusty Hill died in his home in Houston at the age of 72. Before his passing, he wished for the band to go on. ZZ Top’s guitar tech, Elmwood Francis assumed the position. This was Albany’s first time seeing Francis rock out live on stage.
There was not any mention of Dusty Hill during their hour and 15-minute set. The vibes were positive as Billy Gibbons, ZZ Top’s lead vocalist and guitarist, repeatedly asked “are y’all having a good time?” They played of their greatest hits from the last 5 decades including “Give Me All Your Lovin,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Brown Sugar,” and “Pearl Necklace.”
ZZ Top had left the stage, but not a single person left the theatre. They returned quickly with sporting sparkling red jackets. They closed the show playing “La Grange” with fluffy white guitars and a barrage of bubbles.
The ZZ Top tour continues in Port Chester, NY on October 18th at The Capitol Theatre. If you cannot catch them there, they have a strip of shows in Las Vegas from December 3rd-10th at The Venetian.
Astounding an intimate audience during their Lark Hall debut, the experimental progressive jazz-rock quartet Kick the Cat wasn’t pussyfooting around during their recent stop in Albany on October 7th. From heavy metal and beautiful blues-based rock, to complicated jazz compositions mixed with playful funk and all sorts of funky time signature changes, the enduring Chicago-based band unleashed an all-out assault of the senses by combining just about every style of music known to man and making it their own. Uncompromising and anything but commercial, those who dared to take a chance on this night were rewarded with a very special performance.
Kick the Cat performing at Lark Hall in Albany, NY 10/7/22
In a move that only further cements an already legendary status, veteran Capital Region concert promoter Greg Bell of Guthrie/Bell Productions announced just days before the show that it would be free-for-all. No cover charge, no hidden agenda. Why you ask? In a statement released on social media, Bell claimed “Because I feel people should see these two bands, I am making this a free show. No tickets needed, no admission fee, just great music.” Also making their Lark Hall debut on the evening was the Hudson Valley-based group NEQ. Made up of guitarist Todd Nelson, Kyle Esposito (bass) and Manuel Quintana (drums), the group was also joined by Ross Rice on keyboards. Playing mostly songs from their 2022 debut album ‘Nevertheless”, the band showcased a diverse set of influences ranging from classic and prog rock, to gospel, funk and even a splash of spaghetti western. Clearly having a good time on stage, the bands heartfelt approach immediately endeared themselves to the listener and set the bar incredibly high for what was soon to follow.
NEQ performing at Lark Hall in Albany, NY 10/7/22
Dressed like regular dudes, the members of Kick the Cat casually took to the Lark Hall stage around 9:30pm. Greeting the audience with gratitude and letting them know in advance things were about to get weird at times, but also groovy and beautiful at times too. Though the band might be new to some, they’ve actually been playing together for nearly twenty-five years. Consisting of front man Chris Siebold on guitar, Kris Myers (of Umphrey’s McGee) on drums, Chris Clemente on bass and Vijay Tellis-Nayak on keyboards, The Cats opened with the pummeling start/stop frenzy of “Ow! My Eye,” clearly letting you know you had to be punished before you were pleasured.
Kris Myers performing with Kick the Cat at Lark Hall in Albany, NY 10/7/22
Anchoring the controlled chaos, it was the powerful, confident and steady hands Kris Myers that demanded most of the attention early on. A strange sight to see the Umphrey’s McGee drummer without his percussion playing partner Andy Farag nearby, but casual fans may not realize Myers is one of Kick the Cat’s founding members. Myers, who started playing at age 8 and earned a master’s degree in jazz drumming from DePaul University, played on KTC’s first two studio albums before joining UM in 2003. It was here in this type of setting that his undeniable talent and dexterity could truly be appreciated. All evening long you could hear and see people whispering to each other about just how good he really is.
Kick the Cat performing at Lark Hall in Albany, NY 10/7/22
After working their way through a series of complex, percussion-heavy compositions like “Alt De Facto,” “Harebrained,” and “Hope Against Hope,” front man Chris Siebold took to the mic while changing out guitars, saying “We just bludgeoned your bodies, but now we’re about to bathe you in relaxation.” What initially came off as a “cool down” song for Myers effortlessly became a showcase of guitar playing virtuosity for Siebold. Landing somewhere between the luscious and dreamy tones of greats like David Gilmour and Jeff Beck combined with the chop-busting inspiration from bands like The Weather Report, King Crimson and Return To Forever, it was at this point in the evening that Chris stole the spotlight from Kris and let everyone know he was an absolute force behind the frets. After a beautifully bluesy rendition of “Two Down” from their 2002 album Weirdo another show highlight came in the form of “Camel Toe Vs. Snaggle Tooth,” which at its climax, forced even those sitting to rise up in appreciation.
Chris Siebold of Kick the Cat performing at Lark Hall in Albany, NY 10/7/22
After working their way through much of 2021’s Gurgle, Kick the Cat’s first studio release in over a decade, another clear sign of approval came when promoter Greg Bell approached the front of the stage and presumably asked the band to play little longer. Happy to oblige, Siebold joked “Another set? Sure, hell we’ll play till sunrise if someone wants to offer us another $30,000, which of course would be donated to charity. Any takers?” he asked. “No? Ok, we’ll play a little longer anyway, but if we start noticing the place is clearing out, just give us a sign.”
While Kick the Cat didn’t quite play till sunrise, they did perhaps play longer than any other band at the recently renovated Lark Hall. Fans who stuck around until the end were treated to ambitious songs like “Ramsey (All In)”, “Waz Up” and “That Stuff That’s Tough” before eventually bringing things to a close with the song “Squirt.” An evening filled with heady-yet-approachable grooves and other worldly soundscapes, angular melodies, fuzz-filled tones and all-out rock n roll, the level of musicianship KTC brought to Albany was unapparelled. While progressive jazz-rock fusion may not often be thought of as “cool” these days, Kick the Cat is and seeing them live is a thrilling experience you’re not likely to forget.
Kick the Cat performing at Lark Hall in Albany, NY 10/7/22
Kick the Cat | Lark Hall | Albany, NY | October 7, 2022
Setlist: Ow! My Eye, Alt De Facto, Harebrained, Hope Against Hope, Adolpho’s Dilemma, Visogoth’s Overture>Breakfast with the Visogoth’s, Two Down, Camel Toe Vs. Snaggle Tooth, Ramsay( All In), Waz Up, That Stuff That’s Tough, Squirt
Jocelyn and Chris returned to rock Syracuse with a show at the King of Clubs on Saturday, October 8. The show, which served as a launch party for Syracuse’s new streaming radio station, SGNL, also featured All Poets & Heroes.
Jocelyn Arndt at King of Clubs
Born in nearby Fort Plain, NY, Jocelyn & Chris have become favorites across the Upstate New York music scene. The band recently returned home from an extensive cross-country tour, which included notable stops at the NYS Blues Festival, as well as the Bourbon & Beyond Festival in Louisville, Kentucky. The band features siblings Jocelyn (vocals) and Chris (guitar) Arndt, along with Dan Zavadil (bass guitar) and Dave Bourgeois (percussion).
The event served as the official launch party for Syracuse’s new web-based streaming radio station, SGNL. SGNL, which started broadcasting in late August, features a mixture of both national indie rock artists as well as local Central New York talent. Advertised as “radio without the radio,” the station can be found online or through the SGNL app.
All Poets & Heroes at King of Clubs
Syracuse’s own All Poets & Heroes appropriately opened the evening. The band, who recently released the Colorful Lungs, Pt. 2 EP, played a 45 minute set made of up tracks off their previous releases as well as a few unreleased songs. The dark, blue lit stage was a perfect scene for the bands dreamy, psychedelic rock. The band have already built a passionate following in the Syracuse music scene, and that following is sure to grow as more people see them play.
Jocelyn & Chris at King of Clubs
Up next was Jocelyn & Chris. The set opened with an instrumental jam before Jocelyn took to the stage and the band launched into Outta My Head. The energetic, blues-rock track set the tone for the remainder of the first portion of the set. Rocking tunes, dominated by Jocelyn’s fierce and passionate vocals, which blended in synch with Chris’ powerful and dynamic guitar riffs. The band’s set leaned heavily on tracks off their latest release, Favorite Ghosts, and they were visibly excited to share these tracks with the audience. With strong lyrics and catchy melodies, such as on songs like Popcorn and So Far To Fly, it is easy to see why.
Dan Zavadil at King of Clubs
On an evening of many highlights, perhaps the pinnacle occurred about midway though the set, when the band took a seat on a bright orange couch to perform a mini, acoustic set. Their weekly “Couch Concerts” where a tradition during the Covid pandemic, where the band would live stream acoustic concerts from their basement. The acoustic set on this night featured covers of songs by Duran Duran, Captain & Tennille, and Jewel. This collection of covers, paired with the bands stripped back acoustic accompaniments, allowed Jocelyn’s vocals to soar.
If you missed Jocelyn & Chris in Syracuse, don’t fret! The band will perform at Lark Hall in Albany, NY on December 30.
Setlist: Outta My Head, Make a Move, Jagged, So Far To Fly, Kill in the Cure, Popcorn, Save a Prayer (Duran Duran), The Western, Love Will Keep Us Together (Captain & Tennille), Who Will Save Your Soul (Jewel), Witness, Run Away, Sugar & Spice, Skeleton Key
Sunday, October 9th brought progressive metal heavyweights to Buffalo. John Petrucci, considered by many as the greatest guitarist of his generation, has just released his first solo effort in 15 years, Terminal Velocity. For the first time in 12 years, he is joined by his longtime musical collaborator, one of his closest friends, and undoubtedly one of the greatest drummers on the planet, the incomparable Mike Portnoy. At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, moments like this don’t come around all that often, and for longtime fans of Dream Theater and Liquid Tension Experiment, this moment could not have come soon enough. If you’re reading this review because you’re wondering if JP and MP were able to recapture their storied musical chemistry, catalogued on over a dozen classic Prog Metal albums, then let me make it clear that they did indeed—and then some. Dave LaRue joins them on bass for the tour. He has played many times with JP and MP on past G3 tours.
What is special about this tour is their three wives are in the band Meanstreak, opening for Petrucci and company every night. Formed in 1985, Rena Petrucci is on lead guitar, Marlene Portnoy is on rhythm guitar, and their bassist Martins Myung is the wife of John Myung who plays bass in Dream Theater. The band also consists of singer Bettina France and drummer Yael Rallis.
The atmosphere of the show had a very calming presence to many fans in attendance. The floor of Town Ballroom which is usually standing only, had 40 chairs for fans to watch the show, while the rest of the upper level was standing room only. Fans watched with their jaws dropped when Rena Petrucci shredded solos just as well as her husband John Petrucci does. It was an amazing sight to see for sure.
Rena Petrucci
Meanstreak’s set was 45 minutes in length where they played eight songs from the album released in 1988 titled Roadkill.
Petrucci/Portnoy/LaRue
John Petrucci
After a 30 minute changeover, John Petrucci and company took the stage to the Sopranos theme music. The crowd screamed intensely as the band took the stage. Mike Portnoy counted off the title track “Terminal Velocity” and that went into “The Happy Song.” John Petrucci then spoke to the crowd and said “How about that number 17?,” referencing Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills and their big win earlier in the day. All of the fans cheered in excitement for the local connection.
Mike Portnoy
“Jaws of Life” was next on the setlist. From his original album Suspended Animation. This song is a nonoffensive and rather straight-beat opener that at least lets unsuspecting listeners know what kind of guitar trio this is; the players are pros. Other memorable songs played were “Damage Control” and encore “Glassgow Kiss.”
Dave LaRue
Shredding and art tend to be mutually exclusive by nature, since too many chord crunchers refuse to let the music be more important than they are. It often doesn’t help when a member of a well-known group undertakes a solo project, since standing out becomes even more urgent. John Petrucci avoids the land mines and delivers more depth than many listeners will likely appreciate.
Setlist: Terminal Velocity, The Happy Song, Jaws of Life, The Oddfather, Gemini, Out of the Blue, Tunnel Vison, Damage Control, Snake in the Boot, Temple of Ciracida
Meanstreak- Photo credit- Mike MillerPortnoy/Petrucci/LaRue- Photo Credit- Mike Miller
John Petrucci’s 2022 North American Tour Dates: 10/13 – New York, NY @ Town Hall 10/14 – Glenside, PA @ The Keswick Theatre 10/15 – Washington, DC @ Lincoln Theater 10/17 – Richmond, VA @ The National 10/19 – Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre 10/20 – Nashville, TN @ CMA Theater 10/21 – Charleston, SC @ Charleston Music Hall 10/22 – Clearwater, FL @ Capitol Theatre 10/23 – Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Café 10/26 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues 10/27 – San Antonio, TX @ Charline McCombs Empire Theatre 10/28 – Houston, TX @ Stafford Centre 10/29 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Tower Theatre 10/30 – Dallas, TX @ Factory Deep Ellum 11/02 – Phoenix, AZ @ Celebrity Theater 11/03 – San Diego, CA @ The Magnolia 11/04 – Los Angeles, CA @ Ace Hotel 11/05 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues 11/07 – San Francisco, CA @ Palace of Fine Arts 11/12 – Minneapolis, MN @ Pantages Theatre 11/13 – Chicago, IL @ The Vic 11/14 – Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theater 11/16 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues 11/17 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
From sidewalk cafes, Greta Van Fleet songs paved the walk to MVP Arena on Wednesday, October 5th in Albany. T-shirts were being offered “half-price” at each crosswalk. A young glitter-adorned audience was awaiting its idols, having driven as much as 11 hours to see the extremely successful Dreams in Gold show.
It’s been a considerable wait for Albany to witness the one and only Greta van Fleet in town. The band has come a very long way from the days of small clubs and theater shows. Their music developed from mere good tunes into the soundscapes of arena rock in which the public can get immersed.
Josh and Jake Kiszka
While still very young, the band members each distilled their performance styles and have shown an ease about connecting and holding an audience. And the outfits changed! While half the band appear opposed to shoes, their clothes were a beautiful display of stage fashion.
The show opened quite dramatically with the falling of a curtain that obscured the band as they started playing. Jake Kiszka (guitar) holds the musical backbone upon which songs are built. His impeccable phrasing weaved in and out with the rhythm section (Sam Kiszka-bass and Danny Wagner-drums), setting the stage for Josh Kiszka to express his high-register stylings.
Josh Kiszka
The concert was built on seven songs from their very successful album The Battle at the Garden’s Gate that went to #1 on Billboard. Songs from their Grammy winning first EP were still integrated into the performance (“Highway Tune”, “Safari Song”, “Black Smoke Rising”) and now sounded more playful than when they originally hit the airways. The latest hits brought a more ominous, dreamy, and richer sound, and tackled themes of war and the environment. The beautiful “Light My Love” was a highlight of the show, turning the arena into a sea of glittering cellphone lights.
Greta Van Fleet – MVP Arena, Albany, NY – October 5, 2022
Setlist: Built by Nations, Black Smoke Rising, Safari Song, drum solo, Caravel, Heat Above, Light my Love, Broken Bells, Age of Machine, The Weight of Dreams
Snail Mail opened up a highly anticipated show at The Brooklyn Mirage on Oct. 3. The band, an indie rock project started by Lindsey Jordan, opened for the trilogy of Baltimore-based acts. The group warmed up the crowd for JPEGMAFIA and the main act, hardcore band Turnstile.
As the remnants of Hurricane Ian descended upon the open-air venue, a sizable crowd huddled together to keep warm. Decked out in ponchos and raincoats, the crowd didn’t let the bad weather deter them from Snail Mail’s set.
In an effort to preserve the equipment on stage, the band was forced to perform under tents. Though the circumstances were far from ideal, they didn’t let the environment affect the quality of the performance.
Snail Mail performed a carefully curated mix of songs, including “Pristine” and “Heat Wave,” two standouts from their first album, Lush. The band mixed in many songs from their critically acclaimed sophomore album, Valentine, most notably performing “Valentine” and “Ben Franklin.:
Valentine is the highly anticipated follow-up to 2018’s Lush, which Jordan released at just 17 years old. Now at 22, Jordan has gained much more life experience. She’s able to dive deeply into life-altering experiences, ranging from navigating life-altering success, a painful breakup, and 6 weeks in treatment.
We look forward to Snail Mail’s continued growth as the band matures and hope that the next time they perform in New York, they’ll be able to do so without the constriction of a tent. Listen to our favorite song off of Valentine, “Ben Franklin” here and enjoy the photo recap of the show below.
On Monday October 3rd, Tedeschi Trucks Band played their landmark 50th show at The Beacon Theatre with Hot Tuna opening as a special surprise guest. Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Cassady also joined the band later in the evening for a performance of Janis Joplin’s “Turtle Blues” as well as Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.”
There was speculation online by fans earlier in the week as to who the “special guest” was going to be. It remained a well kept secret until the moment it was announced at the start of the show. The crowd erupted as Hot Tuna made their way to the stage as the unannounced opening act for Tedeschi and Trucks. They played an acoustic nine song set filled with covers as well as some original Tuna songs.
The first two songs of their set, “Don’t You Leave Me Here (Dime For Beer)” and “Hesitation Blues” were featured on their debut self-titled live album from 1970. That was followed by Reverend Gary Davis’s “Let Us Get Together Right Down Here” and a Richard M. Jones cover of “Trouble in Mind.” Other songs included a cover of Jefferson Airplane’s “Good Shepherd” and “Day to Day Out the Window Blues” before ending their set with Jesse Fuller’s “San Francisco Bay Blues.”
Tedeschi Trucks took the stage around 8:45 and started their set with “Don’t Let Me Slide” from their 2011 debut album Revelator. This also happens to be the first song they ever played at The Beacon Theatre when they performed their first show there in 2011. The second song of their set was “All That I Need” from the band’s second album Made Up Mind released in 2013. They continued with “Laugh About It” and “Signs” before digging into their I Am the Moon: I. Crescent set.
I Am the Moon is the Tedeschi Trucks Band’s newest project. It is a series of four new albums along with four corresponding films made during the Covid lockdown. They have been working the albums into their shows during this current Beacon run. Thursday’s show featured I Am the Moon: III. The Fall while Friday’s show included I Am the Moon: IV. Farewell. Saturday’s crowd got to hear I Am the Moon: II. Ascension saving I Am the Moon: I. Crescent for their 50th Beacon show on Monday night.
Mike Mattison sang lead vocals on “Fall In” which then led into the title track of the project. After that was “Circles ‘Round the Sun” featuring Kebbi Williams on saxophone. For the final song of the album, “Pasaquan” most of the band left the stage leaving just Derek, keyboardist Gabe Dixon, bassist Brandon Boone and the two drummers Tyler Greenwell and Isaac Eady for this captivating twenty two minute rendition of the song.
Another highlight of the show was a cover of “Keep On Growing” by Derek and the Dominos. It was only fitting that an Allman Brothers song be included in this special Beacon show. Derek and Susan absolutely killed it on a “Whipping Post” before leaving the stage to a standing ovation. The encore featured two songs from I Am the Moon IV. Farewell, “Another Day” and “Soul Sweet Song.” The band then honored Leon Russell ending the show with a cover of “Space Captain” from Matthew Moore.
There are still a few more Beacon shows left. After that, they are doing shows in Denmark, Norway and the UK. You can see the rest of their upcoming tour dates here.
Setlist: Don’t Let Me Slide, All That I Need, Laugh About It, Signs, High Times, Hear My Dear, Fall In, I Am the Moon, Circles ‘Round the Sun, Pasaquan, Turtle Blues, Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right, Made Up Mind, Keep on Growing, The Storm, Whipping Post, Another Day, Soul Sweet Song, Space Captain
The Felice Brothers hosted The Felice County Fair on Saturday, October 1. Set on a crisp, fall day at the picturesque Arrowood Farms Brewery in Accord, NY, the event featured a day of musical acts and collaborations.
The Felice Brothers @ The Felice County Fair
The fair served as a sort of homecoming celebration for The Felice Brothers, who hail from nearby Palenville, NY. The band, made up of siblings Ian (vocals and guitar) and James Felice (vocals, keyboard, accordion), also includes Jesske Hume (bass guitar) and William Lawrence (drums) was concluding a long tour in support of their latest album, From Dreams to Dust (2021).
The day of music kicked off with a solo acoustic set by Will Lawrence. Lawrence delivered a quick solo set, featuring acoustic ballads off his first solo album, Through the Hollow Hills. Lawrence, who played the acoustic guitar and kick drum, was an appropriate act to start the day.
Al Olender @ The Felice County Fair
Up next was Al Olender, who dazzled the crowd with her powerful vocals and charismatic stage presence. Flanked by a full band, Olender was also joined by James Felice for several songs. Quite simply, Olender sings about life. She delivered passionate and honest lyrics to songs dealing with the realities of a harsh break up, the death of a close family member, and life during a pandemic. By the end of her set, the crowd was fully engaged.
The music continued with individual sets by Haley Heynderickx, Evan Stephens Hall (Pine Grove), and Hooray For the Riff Raff. As the day progressed, the collaborations became more plentiful. The Felice Brothers served as the backing band for songs with Stephens Hall and Hurray for the Riff Raff. Conor Oberst joined the fun, playing the kazoo with Stephens Hall. Even Ian Felice’s son joined on stage at one point, banging a toy drum.
Ian Felice @ The Felice County Fair
Finally, it was time for The Felice Brothers. As the band took the stage, James Felice proudly proclaimed the festival had sold out. It was a well-deserved accomplishment for a band that has earned a loyal and devoted following after almost two decades of touring. The band launched into their opening track, the catchy “Jazz on the Autobahn.” Crowd participation was at high at this point, as the audience joined in, singing and dancing along with the band.
Brothers Simone and Ian Felice embrace @ The Felice County Fair
On a day filled with special moments, perhaps the crowning moment occurred halfway through The Felice Brothers set when the band brought Simone Felice to the stage. Simone, a founding member, left the band in 2009 due to medical issues. It was clearly evident on the brothers’ faces how special this moment was. With Simone in tow, the band closed their set with several early-era Felice Brothers favorites, including “The Devil is Real” and “Whiskey in my Whiskey” before closing their set with “White Limo.”
Conor Oberst @ The Felice County Fair
The night was not over yet, as the fair closed with headliner Conor Oberst. Oberst, most known for his work with Bright Eyes, filled his set with tracks from his various solo albums. He was backed again by The Felice Brothers, who have served as Oberst’s backing band for serval tours, as well as his most recent solo offering, Salutations (2016). As the set neared a close, Oberst summoned all of the day’s performers to the stage, before closing with the Bill Withers classic “Lean On Me.” It was a fitting end to a wonderful day of music and collaboration.
Back in April of 2019 former Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason appeared at The Beacon Theatre in NYC with a saucerful of pre-Dark Side of the Moon songs from the Pink Floyd catalogue. That show (and the rest of that tour) proved the longevity of Syd Barret’s time with the band and resonated so well that Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets returned to the road, recently stopping at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester on Monday, Sept. 26.
The show was originally set for January 2022 but was postponed due to pandemic uncertainties at the time; it was certainly worth the wait. But an even longer gap of time was present. Pink Floyd had played at The Cap on April 22, 1970, the last time Mason was at the venue. At the time, Pink Floyd was not having the best luck with touring the United States as their stop in New Orleans less than a month later resulted in the remainder of their US tour being cancelled. It wasn’t until the 1973 release of Dark Side of the Moon when Pink Floyd was discovered by a majority of their fans, and it was this premise that prompted the idea for bringing the band’s earlier works to a wider audience.
The introductory bass guitar notes of “One of These Days” excited the audience and established a pillow of winds that carried that feeling through the whole show. The quality of the sound far surpassed what would come from a cover band and was an authentic breath of new life to the early Pink Floyd songs. After all, Nick Mason has been the only continuous Pink Floyd member since he co-founded the band; bassist Guy Pratt is the son-in-law of late PF keyboardist Richard Wright and toured with David Gilmour’s backing band; keyboardist Dom Beken had collaborated with Richard Wright; guitarist Lee Harris suggested the idea for the project to Pratt; and guitarist Gary Kemp had great enthusiasm about joining the band.
The Capitol Theatre’s intimate space and its excellent acoustics topped off the decadent slice of progressive rock history brought back to life. As opposed to arena shows where one might feel disconnected from the band, every note played engaged the crowd. From every spot in the room it was easy to tell and feel the happiness and energy of the band members, especially with Pratt and Kemp playing off each other with their presence and Mason frequently displaying a humble smile from behind the kit.
Particular treats from the show included “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun,” “Echoes,” and “Astronomy Domine.” The entire setlist was enjoyable, although many more early Pink Floyd songs would also fit the bill (if time allowed). Ending the evening as a nod to Syd Barrett’s character was the quirky song “Bike.”
If you missed Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets at The Cap (or want to see it again), the tour will be stopping at The Beacon Theatre on Wednesday Oct. 12, rescheduled from January 2022.
Setlist:
Set 1: One of These Days, Arnold Layne, Fearless, Obscured by Clouds, When You’re In, Candy and a Currant Bun, Vegetable Man, If, Atom Heart Mother, If (Reprise), Remember a Day, Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun Set 2: Astronomy Domine, The Nile Song, Burning Bridges, Childhood’s End, Lucifer Sam, Echoes Encore: See Emily Play, A Saucerful of Secrets, Bike
Ali McGuirk delivered a pared-down but powerful performance at The Linda Performing Arts Studio in Albany on Oct 1. The theater was pleasantly packed and ready for a throaty earful from McGuirk.
Ali McGuirk performed solo with only a couple of guitars as “friends.” Her partner in performance couldn’t make it. Even so, McGuirk is a compelling and entertaining presence on stage with just guitars accompanying her! Her soulful voice and a jazzy and sparse guitar playing style connect well with her audience.
McGuirk’s set was filled with songs off her recently released a full-length album entitled Til It’s Gone. The album was recorded in Los Angeles with a gaggle of studio musicians, including Little Feat guitarist Fred Tackett. Highlights included “Ex-Boyfriends”and the title track “Til It’s Gone.” The audience was rapt and appreciative of the solo performance McGuirk delivered.
Upstate NY’ers can catch Ali McGuirk in neighboring VT at South Burlington’s Higher Ground on October 14. Her new album Til It’s Gone is available on all streaming platforms.
Setlist: All Back, Leave Me, Milk, Evelyn, Empty Vase, Work, Let It Be You, When I see You / Til It’s Gone, Exorcist, Anti Love Song, Ex-Boyfriends
