Category: Albany

A Colorful Homecoming for The Clay People: Iconic NY Rockers Debut New Songs & New Comic Book

Capital Region punk/metal industrial rock legends The Clay People busted out of the underground over the weekend, playing their first hometown gig in years on Friday, June 17^th at Albany’s Empire Live. The enduring icons not only gave fans a preview of their forthcoming studio album, Cult Hypnotica, but also used the occasion to debut their very own comic book.

The Clay People performing at Empire Underground on 6-17-22.

From modest beginnings in the underground Industrial Darkwave scene, to the breakout release of their self-titled major label debut, it has been a long, strange journey for these Albany rockers. Born from the unique creative bond of Daniel Dinsmore, Brian McGarvey and Daniel Neet, The Clay People first started making music together in 1989. In the decades that followed, the band would add guitarist Jared Weed and bass player Eric Braymer and go on to share the stage with internationally known touring acts such as Stained, Static X, Clutch, Rob Zombie, Disturbed, Filter and Stabbing Westward to name a few. In 2020, the band seemingly rose from the dead and released Demon Hero and Other Extraordinary Phantasmagoric Anomalies & Fables, a bold and massive sounding album that sent a clear message: this band is far from finished.

Daniel Neet performing with The Clay People at Empire Underground on 6-17-22.

In fact, 2022 is shaping up to be one of The Clay People’s most prolific years in quite some time. Having spent the pandemic unleashing their trapped energy and recording a deep library of new tracks, the band just put the finishing touches on their latest studio album, the highly anticipated Cult Hypnotica, which is set to drop on July 1^stwith supporting dates expected to be announced shortly thereafter. To help get the hype train going a bit, The Clay People decided to treat some of their oldest and most dedicated fans to a taste of the new material during a hometown throwdown performance at the new, yet familiar Empire Underground in downtown Albany, a venue highly reminiscent of the former Northern Lights in Clifton Park where TCP played some of their most legendary shows.

The Clay People debut their very own comic book “Colossus”in Albany, NY 6/17/22.

Opening the performance with a bit of a mash-up cover of Lo Fidelity Allstars “Battle Flag,” it wasn’t long before the bedlam picked up proper with “Colossus,” the song that inspired the band’s new comic book of the same name. The comic, which was collaboratively produced by Top Cow Productions, Inc and Epitome Studios, was one sale for the first time at the bands merch table. After a squealing version of “NoW,” The Clay People then busted out a song everyone in attendance seemed to know, “Plug” off their 1998 breakthrough self-titled album.

You can’t give in
Living in this guilt of sin
Losing your grip
What can you make of it?
Are you a part of it?
You can’t give in
Lyrics from “Plug”

Spending much of the show perched on top of the front row barricade, frontman Daniel Neet’s stage presence was powerful and commanding. Dressed all in black, wearing sunglasses and resembling the late Layne Staley (Alice in Chains) a bit, Neet’s unique voice effortlessly shifted from gravely baritone, to spoken word, to all out fits of shouting rage. Still sounding great after all these years, Neet poured everything he had into this performance and with enough vigor of a man half his age.

The Clay People performing at Empire Underground on 6-17-22.

After “Plug,” The Clay People would then debut a series of songs off their upcoming album, including “Turn Me On,”” Cult Hypnotic,” “Drugs,” She Loves,” and ” Destroy All Humans,” before returning to the TCP staples like “X-Ploding Head” and “Pariah” which had the whole crowd banging their heads in unison and shouting “I don’t want to die here.” After working their way through “Strange Day,” the band would then play the most commercially successful song in their catalog, 1998’s irresistible riff heavy classic anthem, “Awake” and finally bring the performance to a close with one of their oldest songs, “Stone.”

A little older and wiser, but just as intense. While their sound has evolved over the years, The Clay People have always stayed true to their heavy punk roots and despite the odds, have managed to stay relevant for more than thirty years. Outlasting most of the bands they came up with and with a new album right around the corner, it almost feels as if The Clay People have found the fountain of youth. With the type of physically demanding music they play and their equally demanding stage show, you have to wonder how long these guys can perform at this type of level. When contemplating that very question, vocalist Dan Neet simply grinned and said, “Like a cockroach. You can’t get rid of me. We’ll keep going until we’re dead.” Cult Hypnotica comes out on July 1^st.

The Clay People | June 17, 2022 | Albany, NY | Empire Underground

Setlist: Battle Flag (intro), Colossus, NoW, Plug, Turn Me On, Cult Hypnotic, Drugs, She Loves, Destroy All Humans, X-ploding Head, Strange Day, Pariah, Awake, Stone

Check out the full gallery of photos from the show and fan recorded video of “X-ploding Head,” “Awake” and “Stone,” below from NYS Music Photographer Zak Radick

June 23, 2022
Alive at 5: Spafford and Annie in the Water Jam Out at Jennings Landing

Making their first visit to Albany since October 2017, Spafford returned to the Capital Region with a vengeance on Thursday, June 16. Headlining week two of Albany’s beloved Alive at 5 concert series, organizers could not have booked a more appropriate act for “Jam Night” than the Arizona improv quartet; a band that’s bolstered their reputation in recent years by occasionally surprising audiences with unannounced single-song shows.

Despite a tornado warning in areas of Western New York, mother nature played nice and so did the band. Indeed the jams at Jennings Landing on this night went long and strong and judging by the look on many of the first timers in the crowd, it was as if the music was hitting them over the head like a sonic sledgehammer, and they loved it.

Opening band and local legends Annie in the Water started the evening as only they know how. The whole band was delighted to be playing for Alive at Five and you could tell from the first note. Although it wasn’t the jam-heavy sets fans may be accustomed to, the Annie boys threw down a well-rounded set that had a large portion of people on their feet. They chose original songs as well as an excellent cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” that have brought their fans to fall in love with the band.

Setlist: Time to Play, In the Sand, Lights up, River, Dreams (Fleetwood Mac), Seeds, Dancing the Night Away

In an age where “jamming” is often viewed as a dirty word, Spafford makes no bones about what type of band they are. Comprised of Brian Moss (guitar/vocals), Jordan Fairless (Bass), Andrew “Red” Johnson on keyboards and Nick Tkachyk on drums, their social media bio simply says “We Jam.” But while the theme for this week was “Jam night,” this was anything but your typical Spafford show. For one thing it was totally free, thus attracting a lot of curious and first-time listeners. Second, due to the 8pm city curfew, there was only time for the band to play one set and no encore. Another key component missing was the bands elaborate light show, which due to the time of day was an impossibility.

Well aware of these limitations, Spafford played it smart and went with an almost “festival-like” setlist. With first time ears upon them, they decided to offer up a collection of some of their more well known and more accessible compositions. Kicking things off with one of the songs that put them on the map, the opening riff of “Electric Taco Stand” made it clear that despite the constraints, these Arizona cats came to Albany to boogie down. After a beautiful and contemplative version of the Andrew “Red” Johnson sung “Slip and Squander,” bassist Jordan Fairless had his chance to shine on what was perhaps the highlight of the night, “Leave the Light On.” Shifting gears from its reggae style structure, this version would drift into a delicate and blissfully sublime space before Jordan would reel it in and lead fans through the call and response portion of the song, so catchy even first timers could be seen mouthing the words in unison.

Worth noting is that the guys appeared to be having an absolute blast on stage. Smiles all around, Jordan in particular seemed more jovial than his usual self, even making all kinds of “bass faces” and playing off Brian’s tasty licks by sticking out his tongue during an absolutely epic version of “Back Door Funk.” Showcasing their versatility and flaunting their ability to blend various genres seamlessly into one, the evening had everything from filthy funk and up-tempo jamtronica, to rump-shaking reggae, introspective instrumentals and all out rock n’ roll shred fests courtesy of Mr. Brian Moss and his custom Thomas Milana guitar: The Raven. In fact, if there was an actual way to keep track of such things, I’d be willing to bet Moss played more notes during this set than any other performer in Alive at 5 history.

After working their way through “Mind’s Unchained,” the show would come to a glorious end by way of the anthemic “Salamander Song” in which the audience was encouraged to “dance the whole way home.” Judging by the look on some of the freshly melted faces of Albany’s first timers, that’s exactly what they may have done. While it may not have been your typical two-set Spafford show, there was still plenty to like about this performance. Savoring every minute of it, Albany fans can only hope it doesn’t take 5 more years for this very talented band to return.

6/16/22 | Alive at Five | Albany, NY

Setlist: Electric Taco Stand, Slip and Squander, Leave the Light On, Backdoor Funk, Mind’s Unchained > Salamander Song

Up next in the Alive at 5 concert series is Classic Rock night with Lita Ford headlining and up-and-coming New York band Candy Ambulance opening things up. The event is scheduled to take place on June, 23 at Jennings Landing on Thursday, June 23, 2022 and as always, is completely free.

June 19, 2022
Todd Snider American Troubadour Tour Arrives at The Egg in September

Todd Snider has announced his “American Troubadour Tour” for September and October 2022. The dates will begin on the East Coast on September 7th at the Harvester Performance Center in Rocky Mount, VA. Then will kick off on Swyer Theatre at The Egg at 7:30pm, September 13.

Singer-songwriter Lilly Winwood, daughter of British rock legend Steve Winwood, will support Snider’s tour with songs in her 2021 debut album Time Well Spent.

Todd Snider American Troubadour Tour

Along with Snider’s “American Troubadour Tour” his new record Live: Return Of The Storyteller will release at the same time. It was captured during his first shows back from the pandemic and follows up the 2011 concert album The Storyteller. Snider also recently shared a new single, “First Agnostic Church Of Hope And Wonder,” which was highly recommended by the Associated Press.

Todd Snider

Tickets for the “American Troubadour Tour” are on sale now at toddsnider.net.

Todd Snider – American Troubadour Tour Dates

September 7 – Harvester Performance Center – Rocky Mount, VA*

September 9 – Infinity Hall Norfolk – Norfolk, CT*

September 10 – Narrows Center for the Arts – Fall River, MA*

September 11 – Infinity Hall Hartford – Hartford, CT*

September 13 – Swyer Theatre at The Egg – Albany, NY*

September 15 – StageOne – Fairfield, CT*

September 16 – The Center for Arts in Natick – Natick, MA*

September 17 – Sellersville Theater – Sellersville, PA*

September 18 – The Queen – Wilmington, DE*

September 29 – Paramount Theatre – Denver, CO+

October 1 – The Wilma – Missoula, MT+

October 2 – The ELM – Bozeman, MT+

October 3 – Egyptian Theatre – Boise, ID@

October 4 – Tower Theatre – Bend, OR@

October 6 – Revolution Hall – Portland, OR@

October 7 – Soreng Theater at Hult Center – Eugene, OR@

October 8 – Neptune Theatre – Seattle, WA@

October 9 – The Bing Crosby Theater – Spokane, WA@

October 12 – Arcata Theater Lounge – Arcata, CA@

October 13 – Raven Theatre – Healdsburg, CA@

October 14 – Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA@

October 16 – Rio Theatre – Santa Cruz, CA@

October 18 – The Fremont Theater – San Luis Obispo, CA@

October 19 – The Coach House – San Juan Capistrano, CA@

October 21 – Paradise Performing Arts Center – Paradise, CA~

October 22 – Bally’s Lake Tahoe Casino Resort – South Lake Tahoe, NV~

October 24 – The State Room – Salt Lake City, UT~

October 25 – The State Room – Salt Lake City, UT~

October 26 – Washington’s – Fort Collins, CO

October 28 – Knuckleheads – Kansas City, MO

October 29 – Scottish Rite Hall – Omaha, NE

October 30 – Wooly’s – Des Moines, IA

October 31 – Jamf Theatre – Eau Claire, WI

* with Lilly Winwood
+ with Nicki Bluhm
@ with Ryan Montbleau
~ with Ray Wylie Hubbard

June 18, 2022
An Interview with Peter Hughes, GM of The Linda WAMC Performing Arts Studio

Peter Hughes is a man of many talents, serving as both General Manager and Programmer for The Linda, WAMCs Performing Arts Studio, as well as on-air host of “Live at the Linda” on WAMC Northeast public radio. A former market manager for Talmi Entertainment, Peter has overseen the he growth, development and operations of the Park Theater in Glens Falls, and before that spent two decades at Proctors Theater in Schenectady.

Rob Smittix of RadioRadioX spoke to Hughes about The Linda, the history of the building, and the best lunch options in Albany.

RadioRadioX: I’m actually here at The Linda in the green room, which is behind a bank vault.

Peter Hughes: It’s in the bank vault, it is actually the bank vault.

RRX: In the bank vault, sitting with Peter Hughes. Peter what is your official title?

PH: I am the… it’s not that exciting, I am the General Manager and Programmer of The Linda which is WAMC’s performing arts studio here on beautiful Central Avenue in Albany, New York.

RRX: This really is really prime Albany, this is right in the center of everything.

PH: This is the heart of Albany. This is the Central Avenue business district, there are at least 17 different languages spoken just within two blocks of this building. It is a cultural milieu and it’s got the absolute best restaurants, most authentic and wonderful places to eat from all around the world just within walking distance. Lunch is a gorgeous buffet of options, it’s pretty remarkable.

RRX: Yeah, there is a… I forget the name of the place, there’s a Jamaican spot a few blocks down on Quail and on Wednesday’s they have mannish water soup.

PH: We’re addicted here to Afghan kabob, the number 12 beef and lamb over rice is the staple of my diet at this point.

RRX: That’s why I came here really to talk about food because we all love food!

PH: Let’s talk about food!

(Both laugh)

RRX: Well, the Linda. I love this place. I played a show here myself; it was one of my absolute favorite shows my band has ever played and we’ve played hundreds of shows.

PH: Thank you.

RRX: This room right here in the vault, this is where all the magic happens.

PH: Just to describe in case people that are reading this don’t know what the Linda is. The Linda is short for The Linda Norris Auditorium, and it is WAMC Northeast Public Radio 90.3FM, I think 17 other stations and 28 other broadcasters that is available in seven states. WAMC’s performing arts studio, with emphasis on the word studio. It is a live recording studio for the performing arts for Northeast public radio. This is not something that’s been happening recently strictly because of the shutdowns of Covid, we were closed for a year and a half to live audiences, so that filters out everything that we do. But traditionally and we will again…this is a place where live interviews happen, the roundtable with happen occasionally from here with a live audience and fund drives and occasionally Live at The Linda which is my radio show eight o’clock on Wednesdays and Sundays. Which for four hours every week on local radio you can hear concerts either recorded or sometimes live done right here and broadcasted from this building. So, when you are here for a music concert (which is not everything we do) you’re not just here for the music, like a club or a bar or other venues, the uniqueness of The Linda is that you are part of the show. There are microphones recording you as part of the broadcast audience and that is completely unique in the Capital Region. Completely unique for an NPR station and that is a one of a kind, one in the world type situation we have here.

And if we keep saying things about the vault. This building is 100 years old (which was converted 20 years ago), it was originally one of the gorgeous giant, huge, hard lock, concrete, art deco banks. The vault which is (bangs on wall) 30 inches of American steel and concrete is where the green room is. There’s no safer guest/green room in the State of New York with the sketchiest Wi-Fi signal ever.

So, if you come here and you can get back stage (there’s some public access here), you can spy the incredible, heavy, meticulous bank door which is something straight out of an old time gangster film. You expect to see someone with a tommy gun and a bag with a dollar sign on it. It’s very cool and that’s one of the unique things about this place.

RRX: Now how long have you been with The Linda?

PH: I’ve been here just over a year. My personal history, you know straight out of the womb (laughs) out of college. I worked for Proctors in Schenectady, and I was there for almost 23 years. I started out making five bucks an hour at the box office and eventually made my way up to heading the marketing team. I was in programming and producing of events. Producing of a film series, Broadway marketing, entertainment marketing, producing, all of that. You do everything over that amount of time. That was a long time, so I moved on to other ventures, bounced around a little bit and then Covid hit. I was working for a wonderful organization in Massachusetts The Talmis who produce the great Nutcracker around the country. We were working on that, and everyone was just devasted, everyone was laid off, everyone was unemployed. Every job I ever had was gone. You know this as a musician, we’re all just on the sidelines. The sitting on the bench part was too difficult.

One day last April, a year ago, I get an email from a really good friend of mine who said “Hey, WAMC is looking for a new guy to run The Linda and you should go for that.” I’m so depressed at that point, I’m thinking I’m never going to get it because I’ve been let down so many times. So, I apply on a Friday, I get a call on Monday, I get interviewed, hired on Wednesday and start on Thursday. Boom I was back in the game!

They told me my first day that I had a radio show. I thought great! Immediately started working on virtual concerts at that point which was what everyone was doing at that moment. We made a transition into winding those down because we had to look towards re-opening for live humans. There were a mountain of restrictions and social distancing rules, so we needed a very detailed plan in order to do that. We did that last June.

RRX: I am so glad you did.

PH: So back to music, cinema events, speakers, authors, scientists and political debates (again we are an NPR affiliate). All of that is part of what The Linda is. It was built to be a community asset and a room dedicated to the concept of free speech.

RRX: I don’t remember exactly when The Linda became The Linda.

PH: I think 20 years ago. From what I hear, and this may not be the total story so don’t quote me as this being fact, it’s just the story that I’ve heard. Dr. Alan Chartock, who is our Executive Director, would walk by this bank building on his way to get lunch (likely Ichiban) and would say one day we’re going to turn that into a performing arts center.

RRX: Well, I hope that is the story because I can just envision Alan Chartock and his dream coming into fruition. That’s pretty neat.

For more on The Linda WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio visit thelinda.org

Originally published in The Xperience Monthly

June 16, 2022
Green Island Gazebo (GIG) Announces 2022 Summer Concert Schedule

The Village of Green Island, located just north of Albany and located on (and in) the Hudson River will once again hold its annual free summer concert series at the Green Island Gazebo, or GIG.

Located in River Park on the north end of Hudson Avenue, GIG is mainly known for the free summer concert series, although GIG also hosts the annual Festival of Trees in December.

Summer concerts are held each Wednesday night from 6pm-8pm and made possible by generous sponsors and the GIG-a-bite crew who cook up and serve delicious weekly treats along with a group of volunteer bakers who donate desserts.

No taxpayer dollars are used to fund the GIG summer concert series, with profits from GIG used to make improvements in River Park and Paine Street Park, and to support other groups such as the GI Senior Citizens.

Concerts are held at the River Park Gazebo on Hudson Ave. In the event of rain, concerts iwll be held under the Collar City Bridge on Hudson Avenue. Smoking and alcohol are not permitted in the park.

Green Island GIG 2022 Schedule (with food specials)

July 6 – The Accents (fried chicken basket, strawberry shortcake)

July 13 – Lustre Kings (steak sandwich, banana split ambrosia)

July 20 – Get up Jack (Irish Night) (Corned beef sandwich, mint chocolate chip ice cream)

July 27 – New York Players (Mac-n-cheese, Rice pudding)

August 3 – Swing Docs (Sausage and Peppers, Watermelon)

August 10 – Capt. Squeeze and the Zydeco Moshers (Foot Long Hot Dogs, S’more bars)

August 17 – Big Fez and the Surfmatics (Hawaiian Chicken Sandwich, Cookies and Cream Ice Cream)

August 24 – The Oldiest Show (Sock Hop Night) (Pulled Pork Sliders, Peach Pie with Ice Cream)

August 31 – TS Ensemble (Pasta Fagioli)

June 14, 2022
In Focus: Young Culture and State Champs at Alive at 5

On Thursday, June 9th, 2022, Albany’s first Alive at 5 show of the year opened with Alternative/Indie rock band Young Culture and closed out with Pop-punk band State Champs. The show was moved to the rain location at Corning Perserve Boat Launch after rain was in the forecast. The sun was shining bright, however, for a high energy performance with crowd surfers just as high.

Both bands are originally from the Capital Region whose music might bring out feelings that a typical high schooler would have from their crush. Both bands share an alternative rock style that a teenager going through a break up could bop their head to. After many years of success, they decided to come back home to open the Alive at 5 series.

Young Culture started in Albany in 2016, and quickly blew up after the release of their EP “(This is) Heaven.” Young Culture performed at Empire Live back in November of 2021 for Grayscale’s Umbra Tour. Young Culture is gearing up for a summer tour titled, Into the Raging Sea with Broadside. State Champs also performed at Empire Live as the head liners for Frozen Fest. This was the release show for State Champs’ new album, Kings of a New Age.

Alive at 5 could not chose two better bands to open the series. Young Culture’s lead vocalist, Alex Magan connected with the young crowd with “Kinda Over You,” a song he said was about his ex-girlfriend in high school. That song, along with “Laylo,” helped the young crowd to mellow out for a short bit and connect with the band on a more personal level. Both songs where about a love that did not last, a theme that resonated well with the audience.

They left on a high note with “Party Girl” and “Holiday in Vegas.” Alex stood on equipment boxes in the pit to grab the hands of those crowd surfing. There was a long of head banging from other members of the band along with the crowd. They thanked Albany for inviting them back home.

Representatives from In Our Own Voices and the Capital Pride Center came out with Kathy Sheehan, the Mayor of Albany and Sam Mills, Albany’s 2022 Tulip Queen. They all gave a brief speeches about upcoming pride events in the Capital Region.

State Champs brought energy back up when they opened with “Here to Stay.” The band tried to remind everyone that Alive at 5 was supposed to be a family fun event, but then performed “Everybody But You,” one of their hit songs with the F-word emphasized in the chorus. Members of the band stood on the equipment boxes to greet crowd surfers during the set. The crowd surfing was constant by mostly young people. It was evident that the crowd may have been getting tired of the surfing as many surfers were being thrown to the barricade towards the end. The most pit opened twice, first for a circle mosh ad the second time for a traditional mosh.

It was a great performance from State Champs, that lasted over an hour. They answered cheers for an encore with two songs. They have a tour lined up for Sad Summer Fest starting in July. The festival comes to New York on July 22nd at Pier 17.

Young Culture Setlist: Bloodthin, Better Off as Friends, Hum, Godspeed, Kinda Over it, HB16, Fantasy, Laylo, Shiver, 21 Days, Drift, Party Girl, Holiday in Vegas

State Champs Setlist: Here to Stay, Eventually, Frozen, Outta My Head, Hard to Please, Mine is Gold, Act Like That, Simple Existence, Remedy, Easy Enough, Criminal, Just Sound, Losing Myself, Slow Burn, History, Everybody But You, Dead and Gone, Elevated, Secrets

June 12, 2022
Albany’s Dad Fest Lineup Announced for June 19

The City of Albany and Albany Parking Authority are holding a free Father’s Day celebration at Washington Park on June 19 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Albany Dad Fest celebration will feature a classic car show, live music, great food, and family fun. Washington Park, settled in the Capital Region of Albany, has abundant amentities and is surrounded by a variety of bars and restaurants.

Dad Fest

Classic Car Show — 10:00am – 2:00pm

The Classic Car Show will be presented by Albany Parking Authority. During the show, 32 trophies produced whenever will be awarded. There will also serve great food, live bands, vendors, and a Radio Station with DJ. Registration $15 day of the show. Benefiting Henry Johnson Vet House.

Erin Harkes — 11:00am – 12:00pm

Erin Harkes

Singer-songwriter and standup comedian Erin Harkes will convey the power in her music to the Dad Fest audiences. Erin is regularly voted Best Singer/Songwriter, Solo Musician and Comedian in the Capital Region by the Times Union Reader’s Poll, The Alt and the Metroland.

Sydney Worthley — 12:30pm – 2:00pm

Sydney Worthley

Albany-based singer-songwriter Sydney Worthley will bring her performance to the Washington Park from 12:30pm to 2:00pm. With the power released in her songs, she has two nominations at the Eddie’s Music Awards, a feature on NPR’s Heavy Rotation list, and a new project right around the corner.

The Wheel — 2:30pm – 4:00pm

Grateful Dead tribute band, The Wheel, is going to perform for the Dad Fest in Washington Park. The group consists of rhythm guitarist and bandleader Andy Morse, bassist Dave Pallas, drummer Joe Sorbero and percussionist Pete Andriakos.

The Wheels

Attendees to Dad Fest should know that glass containers are not allowed in the park. Animals or pets are also not allowed. Please do not record performances in the festival. All City of Albany parks are now tobacco-free.

For more information on Dad Fest and all of the City of Albany’s free, family-friendly events, visit www.albanyevents.org. As for parking information, visit www.parkalbany.com.

June 10, 2022
Fozzy Announces Dates For Save The World Fall Tour

Atlanta metal band Fozzy has announced dates for their Save The World tour this fall across the U.S. and Canada.

The tour, which features No Resolve and GFM as guest acts, begins September 8 in Columbus, OH and finishes October 10 in Virginia Beach. It includes two New York dates, with stops at the Lost Horizon in Syracuse on October 2 and October 8 at Empire Live in Albany. Tickets will go on sale Thursday.

Chris Jericho, Fozzy frontman and famed pro wrestler. (Credit: David A. Smith/Getty Images)

The tour is in promotion of Fozzy’s new record Boombox, released on the 6th. Their eighth studio album in a 20+ year career, Boombox entered the Neilson Current Hard Music Albums chart at #5 and the Current Rock Albums and Current Digital Albums charts at #19, having amassed nearly 14 million streams.

The record also features three top 20 singles on Nielsen’s Mainstream Rock National Airplay chart, “I Still Burn,” “Nowhere to Run,” and “Sane.”

Tour Dates:

Thursday, September 8          Columbus, OH @ The King of Clubs

Friday, September 9                Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom

Saturday, September 10         Flint, MI @ Machine Shop

Sunday, September 11             Pittsburgh, PA @ Jergels

Monday, September 12           Grand Rapids, MI @ Intersection

Thursday, September 15        Bloomington, IL @ Castle Theater

Friday, September 16              Hobart, IN @ The Art Theater

Saturday, September 17         Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave

Sunday, September 18            Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts

Monday, September 19           Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theater

Thursday, September 29        Charlotte, NC @ Underground

Friday, September 30              Richmond, VA @ Canal Club

Saturday, October 1                 Baltimore, MD @ Soundstage

Sunday, October 2                    Syracuse, NY @ Lost Horizon

Monday, October 3                   New Bedford, MA @ The Vault

Thursday, October 6                Montreal, QC @ Foufounes Electriques

Friday, October 7                      Toronto, ON @ Opera House

Saturday, October 8                 Albany, NY @ Empire Live

Sunday, October 9                    Philadelphia, PA @ Brooklyn Bowl

Monday, October 10                Virginia Beach, VA @ Elevation 27

June 9, 2022
Sabrina Trueheart Emerges in “Holding Onto Something Good”

On Friday, May 20, Albany folk singer Sabrina Trueheart released her debut EP, Holding Onto Something Good. The four-song project follows the release of singles “To Die Alone” and “Wait,” released in January and March respectively.

Cover art for Holding On To Something Good.

The instrumentation of Holding Onto Something Good is almost as simple as possible, featuring nothing more than Trueheart’s voice and acoustic guitar along with a simple drumbeat on the title track.

Trueheart’s singing is the EP’s best element, with her soft voice matching the project’s focus on tender emotions. She also makes sure to save her impressive vocal range for the right moments, going high in the final seconds of “Honey Bee” and “Skinny Dipping.”

In terms of Trueheart’s guitar work on the EP, while the first two songs consist of slow and simple finger picked melodies, the second half showcases some technical prowess with the quick chord changes on “Skinny Dipping” and closer “Two of Us.”

Lyrically, Holding Onto Something Good is introspective, with musings centered around romance and moving past personal hardship. “Used to wanna run, but those days are gone,” she sings on the pre-chorus of the title track, a moment showing the project at its catchiest.

The EP’s title track showcases the project at its catchiest.

“Skinny Dipping” shows some vulnerability with its use of imagery, as Trueheart sings, “your body glistening, medicine for my troubled mind.”

“Two of Us” closes the EP on an intimate note, painting a picture of romance between two imperfect people. “Life’s good when it’s the two of us, but I’m still me and you’re still you,” she sings in the closing seconds.

While just 12 minutes long, Holding Onto Something Good rings clear, painting Sabrina Trueheart as a person who acknowledges her growth and is looking forward.

Key Tracks: Holding Onto Something Good, Skinny Dipping, Two of Us

June 3, 2022
Knotfest Roadshow plows through Albany at MVP Arena

On Tuesday May 24th 2022, MVP arena in Albany hosted Knotfest Roadshow, featuring Slipknot and Cypress Hill with Ho99o9 (Horror) as the opening act. Slipknot is currently on leg two of their roadshow that runs until June 18th in the USA. Slipknot is an American heavy metal band formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1995. This show marked 12 years since the passing of their original bassist Paul Grey on May 24th 2010.

Large welcome sign inside the front doors of MVP Arena. Photo credit- Mike Miller

Slipknot played many of their hits including Wait and Bleed, Psychosocial, Duality and Spit it out. Throughout the show Slipknot used pyrotechnics, many flame throwers and use of special effect lighting that was blinding at times to people in the front. The crowd in the front rows could feel the heat radiating from the flames bursting in the air. Crowd surfing and mosh pits were expected but their Albany fans brought more energy and raw emotion to the floor than other cities have their singer Corey Taylor said. Security was on point and ready to respond to any issues that arose and escorted any crowd surfers back to the floor section very quickly.

The fans against the barricade. Photo credit Mike Miller

To keep their look fresh, Slipknot has new masks this year. Their image is always changing slightly to stay aligned with their new music. They are expected to release their seventh album sometime this year. There was also VIP tickets for sale that included a walk through the Slipknot traveling “Museum”. It featured instruments of band members, and prior masks used, fans could view and interact with. New York hosted Knotfest Roadshow multiple last year in Syracuse and Darien Lake.

Singer Corey Taylor. Photo Credit- Mike Miller

Setlist: Disasterpiece, Wait and Bleed, All Our Life, Sulfer. Before O Forget, The Chapeltown Bag, Dead Memories. Unsainted, The Heretic Anthem, Psychosocial, The Devil and I, Snuff, Vermillion, Duality, Spit it out, People = Sh*t, Surfacing.

May 27, 2022

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