Category: Albany

Bela Fleck “My Bluegrass Heart” Spring Tour Coming To New York this week

Nominated in 2022 for Best Bluegrass Grammy, Béla Fleck hits the road on his GRAMMY winning album “My Bluegrass Heart” Spring Tour. Fleck will stop in New York on April 6th at the State Theatre of Ithaca, April 8th in Albany at The Egg, April 10th at the Patchogue Theatre and April 13th at Tarrytown Music Hall.

After the sold-out shows at Carnegie Hall and the Ryman, Béla Fleck decided to extend his “My Bluegrass Heart” that will feature a variety of musicians.

Béla Fleck’s title for his album, My Bluegrass Heart was inspired from the classic “My Spanish Heart” from Tony and Chick Corea who he decided to dedicate the album too. Although this is his third run of the tour, Béla Fleck continues to keep the tradition of sharing music between generations.

“We’re reuniting the incredible first band—but with one change. Fiddler Stuart Duncan joins Sierra Hull, Justin Moses, Mark Schatz, Bryan Sutton and me. It’s time for the banjo player in the band to practice feverishly, because keeping up with this gang is no joke. It’s also one of the great joys!”
-Béla Fleck

The core group of bluegrass musicians that play with Béla Fleck include New Grass Revivalist Sam Bush, fiddle player Stuart Duncan, bassist Mark Schatz and dobro player Jerry Douglas, alongside Chris Thile, Molly Tuttle, David Grisman, Brian Sutton, Edgar Meyer, Sierra Hull, Billy Strings, Tony Trischka, and fiddle avant-gardist Billy Contreras.

Ticket information can be found here.

Béla Fleck: My Bluegrass Heart Tour

Featuring Stuart Duncan, Sierra Hull, Justin Moses, Mark Schatz, Bryan Sutton
March 31 Savannah, GA Savannah Music Festival

April 1 Norfolk, VA Virginia Arts Festival

April 2 Reading, PA Berks Jazz Festival

April 3 Northampton, MA The Academy of Music

April 5 Lebanon, NH Lebanon Opera House

April 6 Ithaca, NY State Theatre of Ithaca

April 7 Concord, NH Capitol Center for the Arts

April 8 Albany, NY The Egg

April 9 New London, CT Garde Arts Center

April 10 Patchogue, NY Patchogue Theatre

April 12 Williamsport, PA Community Arts Center

April 13 Tarrytown, NY Tarrytown Music Hall

April 14 Wilmington, DE The Grand Opera House

April 15 Charlotte, NC Knight Theater

April 16 Bristol, TN Paramount Bristol

Featuring Michael Cleveland, Jacob Jolliff, Cody Kilby, Justin Moses, Mark Schatz

May 24 Wilmington, NC Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

May 25 Durham, NC Carolina Theatre

May 26 Charleston, SC Charleston Music Hall

May 27 Cumberland, MD DelFest

Featuring Michael Cleveland, Sierra Hull, Justin Moses, Mark Schatz, Bryan Sutton

June 12 Springfield, MO Gillioz Theater

June 14 Kansas City, MO Kauffman Center

June 16 & 19 Telluride, CO Telluride Bluegrass Festival (+ special guests)

Bluegrass Happening: Bela Fleck & My Bluegrass Heart, Sam Bush & The Jerry Douglas Band

June 21 Jefferson City, MO Capitol Region Amphitheatre

June 22 Davenport, IA Adler Theatre

June 24 Highland Park, IL Ravinia

Featuring Michael Cleveland, Sierra Hull, Justin Moses, Mark Schatz, Bryan Sutton

June 25 Eau Claire, WI Blue Ox Music Festival

June 26 Washburn, WI Big Top Chautauqua

Bluegrass Happening: Bela Fleck & My Bluegrass Heart Sam Bush & The Jerry Douglas Band

June 29 – Marietta, OH @ Peoples Bank Theatre

July 2 – Vienna, VA @ Wolf Trap

April 4, 2022
Albany Tulip Festival 2022 Lineup Announced, Featuring Taina Asili, Hanzolo, Parquet Courts, And More

The City of Albany has announced the lineup for the 2022 Tulip Festival. It will take place on May 7 and 8 in Washington Park.

The Tulip Festival is Albany’s signature spring event. It features over one hundred artisans selling their homemade crafts, a fine arts show, food, two stages of live entertainment, and more than 187,000 tulips in over 150 varieties.

Albany Tulip Festival

The Tulip Festival 2022 lineup is going to be bringing in some great musical acts from across NYS.

SATURDAY, May 7

MAIN STAGE

Washington Park Parade Grounds
1:30p.m. – Bad Mothers: The dirty-rock band from Albany NY heralded for their consistently hard-hitting performances. Recently signed to Black Country Rock Media.

3:00p.m. – TBA

4:30p.m. – Parquet Courts: Parquet Courts’ music is filled with thought-provoking rock. They are experimenting with electronic and psychedelic music to tell a story, while also maintaining uniqueness. Their newest work Symphony For Life falls on groovy dance music, rather than rhythm. The band is built largely from improvised jams, inspired by New York clubs, Primal Scream and Pink Floyd.

LOCAL 518 STAGE

Washington Park Lakehouse Stage

1:00p.m. – Hanzolo: is a 7-piece band from Upstate New York, that have an explosive and emotional sound that mixes soul, jazz, rock, and funk. Their songs are danceable and fun, with thoughtful lyrics. They recently won NYS Music’s March Madness competition and have won the EQX Battle of Bands and opened Albany’s annual Pearlpalooza music festival.

2:15p.m. – Canella: Canella brings a Latin spice to her indie folk-rock style. With some pop influences, her songwriting is full of intricate melodies that tell stories of existentialism and share intimate thoughts. Born and raised in Colombia but listening to 70’s and 90’s rock, Canella dove deeper into her solo songwriting career, utilizing her influences from former Albany local band Waitress, and implementing these elements into her more personal sound.

3:30p.m. – B. Chaps and Freedom Stratton: Freedom Stratton does it all he’s a singer, dancer, actor and model! B. Chaps is from Albany, NY, and does hip hop/alternative music with jazz mixed in.

4:45p.m. – E.R.I.E: came on to the Albany, NY scene in 2020. What began as a passion project developed while singer/songwriter TJ Foster was unexpectedly laid up in a hospital bed for three days, has turned into a fully-formed quartet, winning over audiences with their catchy songs and energetic live performances.

SUNDAY, MAY 8

MAIN STAGE
Media sponsors: 1023 Kiss FM
1:30p.m. – Taina Asili: Taína Asili is a New York-based Puerto Rican singer, filmmaker and activist who carries on the traditions of her ancestors, taking past and present struggles into her music with a soulful and strong voice. Her songs have themes of hope and liberation, fusing with Afro-Latin, reggae, and rock genres. Asili’s music spans continents, and inspires audience at venues across the globe- from Carnegie Hall to the Women’s March on Washington to the main stage of San Francisco Pride. With an energetic horn section and infectious rhythms, Asili’s music urges people to get on their feet and dance to the rhythm of rebellion.

3:00 p.m. – DJ TGIF

4:45p.m. – Powerhouse Funk Band: Combining R&B, neo soul, jazz, funk and everything in between, Powerhouse will have you dancing on your feet and feeling the good vibes deep in your soul. They play with a lot of emotion and soul, which gravitates fans to listen to them.

LOCAL 518 STAGE
1:00p.m. – Kyla Silk: R&B singer Kyla Silk has a soulful voice reminiscent of Carole King and Janis Joplin, as well as modern influences like Alicia Keys.

2:15p.m. – SIDE – B: Four-piece alternative rock band from Upstate New York consisting of drummer Dylan Travison, bassist Eric Mitchell, guitarist AJ Horton, and vocalist Ian Justino.

3:30p.m. – Kieran Rhodes: Kieran Rhodes is an accomplished performer, songwriter, pianist and vocalist. As a songwriter, he has released multiple songs under his name which can be found on all streaming platforms. Kieran also has experience writing songs for television. His most recent project being a co-writer on a song for The Food Network’s “Restaurant Impossible.”

4:45p.m. – Playin’ with Fire: is a vibrant and powerful Performance Act capturing seamless tributes to every song that audiences love. Led by an irresistible, energetic female vocalist and dynamic male singer/guitarist, the band handles music from Rock, Pop, Country and Blues with astonishing accuracy. Crowd pleasing originals, harmonies and engaging personalities make the Playin’ with Fire Band a sure “fire” hit for any event. The 5 person band includes professional musicians (drums, bass, lead guitar) who have performed with major recording artists across the nation.

April 3, 2022
Grateful Dead Continue To Build Knickerbocker Arena Legacy: March 28, 1993

Knickerbocker Arena will always be one of those venues with a special place in Grateful Dead lore. The band played the downtown Albany arena thirteen times in their career which included three three-night runs at “The Knick.” Today, we look back at the middle show of the last three-night run there in 1993. It may not reach the heights of the band’s initial heralded run here in 1990 which helped provide material for their Dozin’ At The Knick album, but it sees the Dead at a time when they’re clearly comfortable in their own skin with this last incarnation of the band. The show provides a solid blend of Grateful Dead fan favorites, a pair of Dylan covers, and some newer original songs that were only played a smattering of times in this late era for the band.

The show begins with a tune that was starting to entrench its spot as a show opener in this last phase of live Dead, “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleoo.” Jerry Garcia sounds engaged right from the get-go and drops an immaculate guitar fill early on in the proceedings. The band takes their time dragging out the composed portion of the opener before Garcia lays down another heavenly solo. After a courtesy nod of gratitude from the Knick crowd, the opening licks to “Walkin’ Blues” ring out loud and true and fellow guitarist Bob Weir takes control for the next number. He leads the way through a cover of the American blues classic before they resort back to one of their sentimental originals in “So Many Roads,” replete with another feathery Garcia solo that serves as the bridge before a somewhat “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door”-esque ending.

The Dead make the following cover selection more than clear with a joyous romp through Bob Dylan’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece” that has both guitarists wailing on vocals by song’s end. Things then slow down again somewhat with the “High Times” that comes next. This Grateful Dead classic serves up a classic blend of bluesy Garcia solos that merely matches vocals of the same tenor. This sets the stage for yet another late-era Dead regular that never seemed to take off, “Eternity,” co-crafted by Weir and his fellow Ratdog bandmate Rob Wasserman.

A slow transition into “Deal” then follows, with bassist Phil Lesh pushing the tempo early and often before a jam that reaches near hysterical proportions closes out the first set earnestly. The second one begins with the familiar tones of “Scarlet Begonias” as the Knick crowd gets brought back to life with this vintage Dead number. This triggers a brief but blissful jam, with Garcia’s tricked out guitar creating the effects of a veritable flute solo, that serves as the springboard into a raging “Fire On The Mountain.”

After a somewhat abrupt ending to “Fire,” the drum-fueled intro to “Samson and Delilah” emerges. Some vintage bass bombs from Lesh are peppered throughout on a frenzied take on this live show staple. Another old standby in “Ship Of Fools” then follows, graced with a typical breathtaking solo from Garcia, before the Dead break out “Wave To The Wind,” a song co-written by Lesh and longtime band lyricist Robert Hunter that was played only a handful of times in 1992 and ’93.

A post-song segue into “Truckin’” gets a little murky but the band soon finds their footing and treats the Knickerbocker Arena crowd to another classic Dead sing-along number. It sees some strong piano fills thrown in from Vince Welnick that help fuel a brief but explosive jam that sets the table for the traditional “Drums” > “Space” portion of the evening.

From the psychedelic mist emerges another song synonymous with ’90s-era Dead, “Long Way To Go Home” with an energized Welnick taking charge and leading the way on vocals. The tone then shifts from new school to old school in a hurry as the band dusts off “Attics Of My Life.” It ends a 41-show gap from its last performance, which just happened to be here at The Knick last June. The set then comes to a rousing finish with a “Turn On Your Lovelight” that sees Bob Weir doling out the signature bluesy vocals and Garcia once more digging into his bag of tricks and emitting joyous trumpet-sounding guitar fills on the closer. The second and final Dylan cover of the night then serves as the encore as the show ends with a beautifully somber take of “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.” The Grateful Dead would return to Knickerbocker Arena the next day to close out this run and, two years later, they would play their final shows at this heralded venue.

Check out video of the entire show here and below thanks to YouTube.

View This And More Grateful Dead Shows From Across The Years In New York State With Our Interactive Map Below

Grateful Dead Knickerbocker Arena – Albany, NY 3/28/93

Set 1: Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Walkin’ Blues, So Many Roads, When I Paint My Masterpiece, High Time, Eternity, Deal

Set 2: Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Samson And Delilah, Ship Of Fools, Wave To The Wind > Truckin’ > Drums > Space > Way To Go Home, Attics Of My Life > Turn On Your Lovelight

E: Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door

March 28, 2022
In Focus: Eastbound Jesus, Glass Pony, and Wreckloose Celebrate Guthrie Bell Productions

On Friday, March 24th, fans gathered at the Cohoes Music Hall to celebrate one of our all-time favorite promoters, Greg Bell from Guthrie Bell Productions with music from Eastbound Jesus, Glass Pony, and Wreckloose. Greg has been bringing live music to the lucky residents of the 518 for the past 30 years and counting. Friday night’s event was the first in a series of four shows put together to celebrate Greg’s legacy.

Eastbound Jesus, Glass Pony, Wreckloose

Not one to break tradition, for Friday night’s show, we all got some extra-special treats thanks to Greg Bell including seeing one band that doesn’t really play together anymore. Wreckloose dusted off their equipment and it was impossible to tell they haven’t been playing together constantly over the years.

High Energy & Hyped Up

Glass Pony and EastBound Jesus wrapped up the evening. Glass Pony is hands down one of the most energetic jam bands I have ever seen perform live. What an absolute blast. And I had heard about Eastbound Jesus for years before I finally got to see them on Friday night — it was well worth the wait. This inexhaustible band played for an impressive two hours.

More to Come from Guthrie Bell Productions

If you missed this incredible show, don’t despair — there are more to come. Guthrie Bell productions has shows scheduled for the next three weekends starting with The Sharks w/ Johnny Rabb & The Jailhouse Rockers on April 9th.

March 28, 2022
Carly Pearce Gives a Heartfelt Performance At The Egg

After winning female artists of the year at the American Country Music Awards this past month, Carly Pearce headed to Albany to perform at The Egg to give a heartfelt and award-winning performance on Friday, March 18.

Hannah Ellis opened up the show with her guitarist Kevin Monahan where they sang her first hit single “US” and a cover of The Band Perry’s fire starting song, “Better Dig Two” which got the crowd stopping their feet back to their southern roots while singing along. The set list consisted of nine songs with three being covers.

Carly Pearce, left and Hannah Ellis, right

The lights dimmed low while the fog began to emerge out onto the stage and just when Carly’s band finished setting up, she strutted onto the stage in her vibrant red outfit and glitter boots. Without hesitation she opened up her show with the first song off her current album 29: Written In Stone, “Diamondback.”

The songs were uplifting everyone in their own way. As you looked around the venue you could see the hand on the heart swaying motion and the hand in the air emphasizing the heartbreaking words Carly sang that touched the individual. Heading into the fourth song on her 29 album she paused to explain to the crowd the meaning behind her album and how the order of the songs were intentional in order to tell the story of her life.

Halfway through the show it was time for the track named after the album “29” and this was where the crowd began showing its vulnerability and intimacy. As Carly explained the meaning behind the song and how she came from a line of very strong women in her family, so she didn’t want to shy away from the truth and embarrassment she felt during the emotional year of her marriage. A women in the crowd made a cheers to all the women in the room prior to the start of the song and everyone followed her as well as Carly.

There was an instant connection with this shows crowd and Carly Pearce. She brought two girls to the stage who held a sign up about their troubles and Carly didn’t let them go unnoticed or unheard as she talked to them on the stage about the struggles a lot of women face.

As the last song of the show began to be strummed and the cords of “Every Little Thing” began, the crowd stood up and swayed along feeling every soft lyric Carly sang. All a sudden at the half way mark of the heartfelt song they stopped and switch the beat to “Hide The Wine” a song from her first album that led to the crowd to begin jumping up in down at their seats to the all too familiar girl power song.

Waving goodbye to her fans as they stood and cheered for her, Carly left everyone with an adreanline rush. As the fans headed out of the venue the singing didn’t stop, a few women walked down the stairway singing the last song “Hide The Wine” lyrics and cheering.

March 25, 2022
In Focus: Railroad Earth Makes a Stop at The Egg

Railroad Earth’s 2022 tour just made a stop in Albany this past Friday, March 18. This was the their first show at The Egg since 2019, and the Capital District crowd showed just how much they missed Railroad Earth the last two years. The folk-centric jam band put on a dynamic show filled with rowdy choruses, dueling solos, and an atmosphere that felt almost like a celebration. The Egg audience was on its feet from the start of the show as folks were in great spirits. When Railroad Earth took the stage, everyone was immediately put in the mood to dance and move around out of their seats.

Among the high energy peaks, the show was also filled with spacious moments that bordered on serene. Fans enjoyed these calm moments by slowing down with the band as they got lost in the music, creating an ambience that allowed the colorful light show to shine. Fans could breath while appreciating the full experience being created before them, before being pulled right back to their feet to continue dancing along to the very next song. And so the show flowed along like this for an hour and a half, with everyone in The Egg seeming to have been transported somewhere far away from Albany.

Railroad Earth have been working in the studio as well, and recently released a brand new single titled “Come and Go Moon.” Back in January, they released another single titled “Runnin’ Wild,” which was their first newly recorded track since “It’s So Good” was released back in 2019. Two new songs in 2022… One could wonder if there may be a new album on the horizon for Railroad Earth. All we can d is wait and see though, so sense speculating. In the meantime, you should listen to what Railroad Earth has been up to in the YouTube video for their new single below.

If you missed your chance to see Railroad Earth at The Egg, then be sure to check out the bands upcoming tour dates as they travel down the east coast through the end of March. After a few weeks off, the band will be hopping all over the country throughout the summer. To see all of Railroad Earth’s upcoming tour dates, visit railroad.earth/tour.

March 23, 2022
Still Freaky: Korn Conquers the Capital Region

Capital Region concert goers were emphatically “ready” Sunday night, answering the question that started it all for enduring alt-metal icons Korn.  Turning out in droves to the newly anointed MVP Arena (formerly the Times Union Center), it had been several years since local Albany “freaks” had been able to see the Bakersfield, California metal mainstays in this type of setting. Fresh off the release of their 12^th studio album Requiem, the pioneering titans silenced anyone who thought they may have gone soft, bludgeoning fans with a career-spanning selection of angsty anthems, radio hits, and OG favorites. Still here, still volatile and still a draw, on this night Korn reminded everyone exactly why, at one point, they were considered the kings of the genre.

Trading in the JNCO’s for black leather trench coats and hitting the road for 19 dates with fellow hard rockers Chevelle and Code Orange, the two-time Grammy award winning band have an ambitious spring lined up. Comprised of vocalist Jonathan Davis, guitarists James “Munky” Shaffer and Brian “Head” Welch, bassist Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu, and drummer Ray Luzier, the sheer level of Korn’s reach over the years transcends accolades and platinum certifications. While it’s easy to make fun of their name and the nu-metal scene they largely helped bring to the masses, Korn has shown they are indeed ‘here to stay’ by continuing to push boundaries and finding ways to connect with a whole new generation. You see, in 2022 there is very little left for them to prove. From conquering the ‘boy band’ craze of the late nineties to selling over 40 million albums, at their peak Korn was arguably the biggest band in the world.  Many will remember their star-making TRL and SNL appearances, their Family Values Tours and their infamous headlining scorcher during the first night of Woodstock ’99, before Rome went up in flames.  These days, however, you can almost count the number of “heavy bands” who survived that era on one hand. A testament to their longevity, on this night in Albany plenty of people still wanted to see Korn throw down.

They came dressed in black, some with tattoos and eye liner, some covered in body piercings, others with neon-colored hair and sexy go-go boots, and yes, a few “freaks” came swimming in their vintage wide-legged JNCO’s. For the most part though, the fans who turned out were just your typical metalheads; the burly, bearded, beer-drinking guy-next-door type who likely has been “following the leader” for close to thirty years. After solid opening sets from Code Orange and Chevelle, it was finally time for what the Korn Kids came for.

As the lights suddenly went black, a brooding piece of orchestral music began piping into the MVP Arena. After a few moments, a large curtain with Korn’s logo became visible on stage, backlit to reveal silhouettes of the band members taking their signature power-stance positions. As the anticipation reached a fever pitch, the veil suddenly pulled away and fell to the floor as Korn launched into “Forgotten,” the first track off their new album. Fans instantly locked into it, erupting in unison while pumping their fists to the songs heavy chugging riff. The band looking fresh and already feeding off the Albany energy, also bouncing to the groove in perfect syncopation, dreadlocks flying in all directions, bent over at the waists as their instruments practically touch the stage; the thunderous and steady hands of drummer Ray Luzier’s anchoring it all down from his massive kit high above the stage.  Off to the races, Korn quickly followed that up with one of their biggest radio hits in “Got the Life” allowing fans to “get their boogie on” and show off their voices to the song’s sing-along chorus.

The thick and sludgy hit single “Here to Stay” came next, followed by a new and relatively untested song off their latest album called “Start the Healing.”   Front man Jonathan Davis, who admits he feels most at home when he’s hurting, was in fine form here. Sounding as good as he ever has and just as tormented. His unique, guttural, throaty screams filling the arena as he stalked back and forth across the stage like a starving lion that’s just been unleashed. Closing his eyes and clutching onto The Bitch (his custom made H.R. Giger microphone stand), when watching Davis exercise his demons live, there is no denying his sincerity. The unimaginable pain of his past is obviously still there and is still fueling an unbridled rage. Speculation of abuse aside, whatever happened to Mr. Davis in his younger years clearly had a lifelong impact. The type of torment very few overcome and very few can ever truly understand.

Celebrating the twentieth anniversary of their Untouchables album, Korn would dust off a bit a rarity in the form of “No One’s There.” Davis would then pull out the bagpipes for the iconic intro of 1994’s demented nursery rhyme smash “Shoots of Ladders,” at one point even working in a tease of Metallica’s “One” before returning to its usual structure.  Sensing an opportunity to slip in another new tune, Korn upped the heavy with “Lost in the Grandeur,” which saw Brian “Head” Welch really getting into it. If dreadlocks could tell a story, Head’s could write novels. Inches longer than the last time we saw him, the man has become something of an inspiration for fans battling the hopelessness of addiction.   After stunning the metal world in 2005 by quitting the band and finding faith, it would be years before fans discovered the reality of the situation. After kicking a life-threatening drug addiction and learning to better manage severe bouts of depression, Welch would rejoin his brothers in the band in 2012. Seeing him look healthy, happily headbanging and throwing souvenir guitar picks at fans, you couldn’t help but respect the guy. Let’s admit it, Korn just isn’t Korn without the chemistry between Head and guitarist James “Munkey” Shafer and if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, by now this dynamic dreadlocked duo of 7-string ax slingers could have their own monument. The signature sound they fathered was on full display for the next two songs, a pair of radio hits in “Ya’ll Want a Single” and “Falling Away From Me.”

There was a fun moment during “Coming Undone” when the band did a surprise segue into Queen’s classic arena rock anthem “We Will Rock You.” The main portion of the set then concluded with perhaps Korn’s most well-known song “Freak on a Leash,” the breakdown giving bassist Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu a prime opportunity in the spotlight to showcase his impressive musical chops, resulting in a raucous and sustained ovation from fans of all ages as the band exited the stage.

After a few minutes of soaking in the cheers, Korn happily returned to play a few more.  First was a medley of sorts consisting of the opening track 1998’s Follow the Leader, ‘It’s On!’ mashed up with the songs ‘Trash’ and ‘Did My Time.’   From there, one of the most unique and unimitatable songs in Korn’s discography, the Davis-led snarling beat box style scat-rap of ‘Twist’ which flowed directly into a song that’s been on the shelf in recent years, ‘A.D.I.D.A.S.’ The kinkier side of the Capital Region showing itself during the adolescent acronym hit when the entire arena sang together “I don’t know your fuckin’ name, so what? Let’s fuck!” and then simultaneously shouting out that “all day [they] dream about sex.” A truly memorable and somewhat hilarious moment. After an impressive, yet obligatory drum solo from Luzier, Korn thanked fans for all the years of support, promised they’d be back soon, and then sent the crowd home happy with the song that put them on the map, a celebratory rendition of “Blind,” complete with a cannon blast of confetti and party streamers and a massive applause from the Albany Korn Kids who still deeply appreciate and respect this band.

Like stepping back in time, this “freak show” felt like a nostalgic throwback to the glory days of the late 1990’s. Firing on all cylinders and going balls-to-the-wall the entire performance, Korn clearly still has “it” and are showing no signs of slowing down. With their impressive and physically demanding stage presence, unmatched intensity, energy and rage, it was as if Korn found the fountain of youth on this evening in Albany. Musical trends come and go, but this is still rock n’ roll and there will always be an audience hungry for this type of angry, defiant, and cathartic music. On this memorable mid-March night, metal fans got exactly what they paid for.

Korn | March 20, 2022 | Albany, NY | MVP Arena

Setlist: Forgotten, Got the Life, Here to Stay, Start the Healing, No One’s There, Shoots and Ladders, Lost in the Grandeur, Y’all Want a Single, Falling Away From Me, Worst Is on Its Way, Coming Undone Freak on a Leash

Encore: It’s On / Trash / Did My Time, Twish, A.D.I.D.A.S., Drum Solo, Blind

March 23, 2022
Cypress Hill Release New Album “Back In Black”, Announce Tour Dates With Stops In Brooklyn and Albany

Critically acclaimed rap group, Cypress Hill, has a busy year ahead of them, not only having just released their tenth studio album, Back In Black, but a new video for album highlight “Certified” and months of touring ahead.

Cypress Hill is a rap group from South Gate, California that have been active since the late 1980’s. They have paved the way for the rappers that followed, especially considering their desire to use Spanish lyrics in songs. This group stood their ground during a time when rappers had trouble getting booked to perform live. Cypress Hill shifted the culture of the music industry and for that their accomplishments did not go unnoticed. In fact, they earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, sold more than 9 million albums, and were nominated for three Grammy Awards.

Considering, Back In Black is their first full-length album since Elephants on Acid in 2018, Cypress Hill had to adapt to today’s culture and were pushed creatively as artists. Their newest work has reconnected the group with Black Milk (Slum Village, Lloyd Banks, Pharoahe Monch), who produced the entire album.

Within Back In Black, the group raps about cannabis but in an educational way. Knowing the impact it has had on people of color, as well as where it stands with the federal government, Cypress Hill believes it is a significant conversation to have and what better way for them to vocalize that than through their lyrics.

We can talk about smoking, but there’s still a lot of people out there that need to be educated. As the scene has progressed and evolved into what it is now, there still are some road bumps out there. It’s not federally legal across the United States. It’s legal here in California and other states, but we still face a lot of obstacles in terms of the federal government. A lot of us are pushing to finally get it recognized federally. There’s still a whole lot of work to be done, so we just keep pushing along.
B-Real

Furthermore, their video for “Certified” was directed by Tillavision, who have a great reputation for creating 3D, augmented reality and virtual reality content for well-known artists such as Swae Lee, Pop Smoke, JuiceWRLD and Young Dolph.

However, Cypress Hill’s agenda for 2022 does not end there. The rap group has plans to embark on a massive slate of touring including performances at Slipknot’s Knotfest Roadshow 2022.

With the visionary photographer and director Estevan Oriol, Cypress Hill has developed a documentary titled Insane In The Brain: Cypress Hill. It will debut as part of Showtime’s HIP HOP 50 banner on April 20 at 8pm ET/PT. This film will take viewers on a cannabis filled journey of the lives of the rap group, highlighting their relevancy for 30 years, unique sounds, and genre-shifting sonic tapestry. With never before seen footage, Insane In The Brain: Cypress Hill, will most importantly reflect the group’s everlasting brotherhood.

Tickets and VIP Packages for Cypress Hill’s tour are now available. For more information visit the Cypress Hill website.

CYPRESS HILL LIVE 2022
3/18 – Kings Of The West – Rio Rancho, NM %

3/20 – Big Surf Water Park – Tempe, AZ

4/2 – Smoking Gun Casino – El Paso, TX

4/9 – North Carolina Azalea Fest 2022 – Wilmington, NC ^

4/19 – Red Rocks – Morrison, CO %

5/18 – Bryce Jordan Center – University Park, PA *

5/20 – Barclays Center – Brooklyn, NY *

5/21 – Dunkin Donuts Center – Providence, RI *

5/22 – SNHU Arena – Manchester, NH *

5/24 – MVP Arena – Albany, NY *

5/26 – Bell Centre – Montreal, QC *

5/28 – Videotron Centre – Quebec, QC *

5/29 – Canadian Tire Centre – Ottawa, ON *

5/30 – Budweiser Stage – Toronto, ON *

6/1 – Heritage Bank Center – Cincinnati, OH *

6/2 – Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI *

6/4 – Alpine Valley Music Theatre – East Troy, WI *

6/5 – TaxSlayer Center – Moline, IL *

6/7 – Azura Amphitheater – Bonner Springs, KS *

6/9 – The Broadmoor World Arena – Colorado Springs, CO *

6/11 – Ford Idaho Center – Nampa, ID *

6/13 – Climate Pledge Arena – Seattle, WA *

6/14 – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater – Ridgefield, WA *

6/17 – MGM Grand Garden Arena – Las Vegas, NV *

6/18 – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre – Chula Vista, CA *

% – w/ Ice Cube
^ – Festival date
* Knotfest Roadshow 2022

March 22, 2022
The Final Four of NYS Music March Madness 2022

And then there were four…. Welcome to the Final Four of NYS Music’s March Madness 2022, featuring up and coming bands from around New York State, all coming to a local music venue near you.

Since 2015, New York State Music has crafted a March Madness friendly competition that spans all the musical harbors of the Empire State. As fans and musicians, the NYS Music team aims to spotlight the great talent found across New York in a friendly contest, bringing broader attention to the next generation of artists and bands on the rise. March Madness 2022 highlights 64 bands and artists you might not know, but should know, as these homegrown talents are making waves through the New York State. Check out Round 4 here.

Enter your email address, get to know the bands, and vote for your favorites below!

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Bearsville Theater Region Winner
Fine Grain

Fine Grain, a shoegazy punk band from Albany took both the red and blue pills with a Genny and got banned from Trader Joe’s. The girthy tones of this gritty group will remind you of late nights on a stoop in September, your first beer after work, weird questions about your parents cephalopods, and of course, the crushing weight of capitalism.

Fine Grain is currently in the studio at Brunswick Recording, working on new music, and have been incorporating visual projections that sync up to their music, intensifying the experience for fans.

Funk n Waffles Region Winner
Gooseberry

Gooseberry is a 4-piece band from Brooklyn, born during the Fall of 2019. Their combination of indie rock and soul is a recipe for a unique sound that Gooseberry delivers in each song. The band consists of Asa Daniels (formerly of Baked Goods) on guitar/vocals, Evin Rossington (drums), Sam Rappaport (keys, vocals), and Will Hammond (bass). The band is a genre-bending alchemy of many disparate elements. They are often referred to as having “two bands in one.” This phenomenon can be attributed to the distinctly different approaches of their two chief songwriters—Asa and Sam.

New on the block, Gooseberry has already begun developing a devoted following in and around New York City, running the full gamut of venues from The Bowery Electric to DROM to house shows across the boroughs, quickly staking their claim in the ever-lively Brooklyn music scene. Fans know they’ll be kept on their toes, as the band moves in and out of genres and styles, always keeping the crowd engaged. Upcoming shows include Thursday, March 24 with Grady Spencer & The Work at Hill Country in NYC, then at Bowery Electric on April 14 and at The Knitting Factory on May 21.

DSP Shows Region Winner
Seize Atlantis

Seize Atlantis has a unique, tight sound fueled by punchy bass, hard-driving percussion, melodic lead guitar, and pronounced moody vocals with meaningful lyrics, a truly dynamic range of soft to heavy Alternative Rock. Formed in 2019 out of Glens Falls, Seize Atlantis is a four-piece band most closely influenced by bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam, providing their own spin on a variety of covers from classic rock to modern pop in addition to their own original music.

Catch them on Friday, March 18 at Mean Max Brew Works in Glens Falls, April 10 at Fitzgerald’s in Fort Edward, and on April 22 at Empire Underground with Under the Den, Bad Mothers, and Sydney Worthley. Watch “The Unstoppable Groove” below.

The Helping Friendly Hemp Company Region Winner
HANZOLO

HANZOLO won the EQX Battle of the Bands and opened Albany’s annual Pearlpalooza music festival in 2021. They have opened for bands like Lawrence, Wild Belle, and *repeat repeat. The boys released their first album Table Butter in 2019 and followed it up with their second, HANZOLO, in the fall of 2021. Hanzolo’s music has been compared to Table Butter: soft enough to spread yet hard enough to keep its shape.

Upcoming HANZOLO shows include April 8 at Madison Theater in Albany, April 14 at Pauly’s Hotel, April 24 at The Range in Ithaca and April 27 at Lark Hall.

Voting for the Final 4 has closed. Stay tuned for Championship Round starting on Saturday March 26 at 10am, ending Sunday, March 27 at 11:59pm!

NYS Music has partnered with businesses across New York State to highlight these 64 up and coming bands. Regional sponsors include Funk n Waffles, a premiere music venue in Syracuse established in 2007 with a unique take on the culinary and entertainment industries, offering a wide variety of gourmet waffles and breakfast food, as well as offering live music every night! Bearsville Theater in Woodstock is where Americana was born – where Dylan took folk music and married it to Rock & Roll. where folk went electric, and where Janis took a breath and recuperated, before launching her hurricane energy and heart stopping songs out into the world. Renovated in 2019-2020, Bearsville Theater has an impressive calendar of shows for Hudson Valley music lovers.

DSP Shows based in Ithaca, NY and Northampton, MA, is one of the leading independent concert promoters in America, with shows at venues including State Theatre of Ithaca, Hangar Theatre, The Haunt, Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, Brewery Ommegang, Asbury Hall, The 9th Ward at Babeville, and Daryl’s House among others. The Helping Friendly Hemp Company offers a wide variety of industry leading products including tinctures, soft chews, and hemp flower, using only USA grown hemp extract.

The winners of each region will be rewarded with a collection of prizes worth $3000. Partners for NYS Music’s March Madness 2022 include Mirth Films from Albany, a music news/entertainment outlet that specializes in original video content and live streaming, with news coverage ranging across the whole country, who will provide a professional multi-camera recording session at The Palace Theatre in Albany for the winning band, premiering exclusively on Mirth Films.

The XPerience Monthly is the greater Capital Region’s alt-monthly newspaper, bringing independent music and thought provoking articles to the area. The XPerience Monthly will feature the winning band in a newspaper profile and interview this summer.

Check out Past Years’ NYS Music March Madness Here

March 21, 2022
Don’t miss Jennifer Hartswick and Nick Cassarino, Live at Lark Hall on March 23rd

Two artists in the wide-reaching jam scene will come together at Lark Hall on Wednesday, March 23 when Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band) and Nick Cassarino (The Nth Power) take the stage. This live duo have a rich sound, having worked together as early as 2018 on Hartswick’s solo album Nexus.

Jennifer and Nicholas have been playing, writing, laughing, and storytelling for almost two decades. Born and raised in Vermont, their bond is ever present in this intimate acoustic duo. Hartswick and Cassarino have each made names for themselves, touring tirelessly. Their passion, dedication and sophistication are evident in their joyous, soulful performances, providing audiences with a truly special musical experience

Hartswick is one of the most exciting performers in music today, pulling double duty on trumpet and vocals, exuding confidence and joy, bringing her own refreshing spirit to the stage every time she performs. Jennifer’s music is honest, soulful and comes with a maturity far beyond her years.

Hartswick is an original member of the Trey Anastasio Band and has recorded/shared the stage with Herbie Hancock, Phish, Christian McBride, Tom Petty, Aaron Neville, Carlos Santana, The Rolling Stones, Big Gigantic, Dave Matthews, Meghan Trainor and countless others.

Jennifer’s live performances are renowned as spontaneous, joyful and contagious. Her natural charisma and sincerity shines through, and each performance is a celebration of musical collaboration. And whether she is wailing on the trumpet or singing an intimate vocal solo, her performance is all part of a single seamless instrument, one that is played not only with astounding technical proficiency, but also with sensitivity, conviction and heart.

Nicholas Cassarino was born into a musical family in Vermont, singing publicly as early as age five, and at age 11 began playing guitar. In Vermont, he met Hartswick, who would later introduce him to the likes of Nikki Glaspie, Christian McBride, and the entire jam/festival scene.

In 2008, Nick moved from Burlington to NYC, joining a 10-piece hip-hop collective, Lifted Crew, and toured with rap icons Slick Rick the Ruler and Big Daddy Kane. He also worked extensively at gospel churches in the city and began furthering his solo career. Watch the duo perform “Drowning” live from Telefunken Studios.

Tickets for this performance from Jennifer Hartswick and Nick Cassarino are available here.

March 21, 2022

Built in Breakdance