Category: Capital Region

Wiz Khalifa and Logic Announce ‘Vinyl Verse’ Tour 2022, Barclay’s Center, SPAC and Darien Lake stops included

Wiz Khalifa and Logic have just announced their co-headline Vinyl Verse Tour featuring special guests. In fact, the 28-city tour will make a stops throughout New York at the Brooklyn Barclay’s Center on August 16, and at Saratoga Springs’ Saratoga Performing Arts Center on August 23. Truly, you won’t regret adding the dynamic experiences of Wiz Khalifa and Logic to your summer 2022 agenda.

The two infamous rappers have joined forces with Live Nation for their upcoming Vinyl Verse Tour. Featuring special guests DJ Drama, C Dot Castro, and Fedd the God, the 28-city trek kicks off July 27 at the FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine, California, making stops in Houston, Atlanta, and Brooklyn, before wrapping up in St.Louis.

Multi-platinum selling, Grammy and Golden Globe nominated recording artist Wiz Khalifa rose to fame with the success of his first major label debut album, Rolling Papers in 2011.

‎Rolling Papers holds infamous hits such as “Black and Yellow” and more. These successful songs gave Wiz the platform to win the “Best New Artist” and “Top New Artist” music awards. Later on, Wiz’s track “See You Again,” off the FURIOUS 7 soundtrack catapulted to the top of the charts across 95 countries. Throughout his career, Khalifa has inspired various elements of pop culture from music integration and content creation to MMA lifestyle apparel.

Also known as Sir Robert Bryson Hall II or Bobby Hall, Logic has made a name for himself as one of the most prolific and prevalent artists of the past decade since his emergence in 2010. The Maryland native progressed from online mixtapes to three number one albums, two GRAMMY® Award nominations, and dozens of gold and platinum certifications. Similarly, Logic has sold out arena tours on multiple continents and 6 billion streams and counting.

Wiz Khalifa and Logic’s song “High Today”

VINYL VERSE TOUR DATES:

Wed Jul 27– Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre

Thu Jul 28 – Inglewood, CA – YouTube Theater

Sat Jul 30 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion

Tue Aug 02 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater

Wed Aug 03 – El Paso, TX – UTEP Don Haskins Center

Fri Aug 05 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater

Sat Aug 06 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

Sun Aug 07 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion

Mon Aug 08 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP

Wed Aug 10 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena

Thu Aug 11 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion

Fri Aug 12 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre

Sat Aug 13 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach

Sun Aug 14 – Camden, NJ – Waterfront Music Pavilion

Tue Aug 16 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclay’s Center

Wed Aug 17 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center

Fri Aug 19 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live

Sat Aug 20 – Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre

Sun Aug 21 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion

Mon Aug 22 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center

Tue Aug 23 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Thu Aug 25 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheatre

Fri Aug 26 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center

Sat Aug 27 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center

Sun Aug 28 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake

Tue Aug 30 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center

Thu Sep 01 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre

Fri Sep 02 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

Wiz Khalifa and Logic’s song “Indica Badu”

Ticket Information:

Tickets go on sale starting on Friday, April 22nd at 10 am located here.

Citi is the official card of the Vinyl Verse Tour 2022. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday April 19th at 10 am ET until Thursday, April 21st at 10 pm through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details, visit here.

April 19, 2022
Adequate Phil Drops Psychedelic New Single

Adequate Phil doesn’t tether themselves to one genre, and their newest single, “Can’t Not,” showcases this. In it, elements of psychedelia, hip-hop, and folk infuse to make one cerebral concoction. This single is the third of many to come from the new “folk-freak” group coming out of Troy, which falls just north of Albany and lies alongside the Hudson River.

The band consists of three members. Sean McLaughlin provides vocals throughout the track. Moreover, Phil McGrath plays the guitar. Notably, Runey Ghosh provides beautiful bass instrumentation on this project. It is thick, it is beautiful, and it is funky. His instrumental abilities add an essential layer of personality to this song.

Their previous release, “Baby Leeches/Vessel” was previously covered by EQXposure on WEQX, an independent radio station in the Capital Region of New York.

The group will be performing at the Troy Speakeasy on April 23rd. For more on Adequate Phil, visit https://linktr.ee/adequatephil.

April 19, 2022
State Champs Continues Pop-Punk Excellence On New EP

State Champs has dropped a new five-song EP, titled Eventually. This release from the Albany band continues to showcase their incredible talents.

The titular track on this project highlights all the staple pieces that make a pop-punk classic. The hook is insanely catchy and the drums are powerfully ambitious with just the right amount of trash. The guitar on this is bright. Closing your eyes while listening to this thing, one can picture themselves in a teenage skater movie, as exemplified by the cover art of this project.

Notably, the second track on this project features Ben Barlow of Neck Deep. “Everybody but You” timelines the adolescent feelings of anger after love loss in the best ways possible. Teenagers are irrational, and seeking revenge in the form of the throwdown of the century may not seem like the most reasonable course of action, but State Champs convinces you otherwise on this track.

This EP comes in anticipation of the fourth studio album from State Champs, Kings Of The New Age, where they hope to continue cementing themselves as pop-punk icons. So long as the tracks continue to sound like this, King Of The New Age will be excellent.

Pre-order for the album is available at https://lnk.to/StateChamps.

April 18, 2022
Underground System Releases Genre-Bending Single “Desnuda”; EP To Release May 6th

Brooklyn collective Underground System has recently released “Desnuda.” The single comes in anticipation of their forthcoming EP, Into The Fire, which is set to release on May 6th.

Underground System is a compelling collective that blends reggaeton, funk, and house music. The deep bass lines on this cut mixed with the ethereal Spanish vocals create an atmosphere that only a few other artists can replicate. Underground System may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if any of the former genres interest you then it is definitely worth checking out.

Photo Credit: Maurizio Mascetti

The collective will be touring this summer and they will pass through New Jersey and New York. Tour dates are available down below.

5.12 – Rockaway Music Live//co-curated by Found Sound Nation & Majel Connery: Rockaway Hotel & Spa
5.26 – Strasbourg (FR): Pelpass Festival
5.27 – Ajaccio (FR): Aghja
5.28 – Le Bieymard (FR): Festival D’Olt
6.01 – Paris (FR): Le Hassard Ludique
6.02 – Lille (FR): La Gara Saint Sauveur
6.03 – Angouleme (FR) Festival Musiques Métisses
6.04 – Rouen (FR): Rush Festival
6.17 – Brooklyn, NY: Brooklyn Made (Homecoming Record Release Show)
6.18 – Coeymans Hallows, NY: Circus of Life Festival
8.12 – New York, NY: Hudson River Park

A new single will be available for streaming on April 22nd. For more information, visit www.undergroundsystembk.com.

April 16, 2022
Alice Cooper’s “Detroit Muscle” Tour Makes 3 Stops in NY this September

Metal legend Alice Cooper will embark on a “Detroit Muscle” tour this fall, with stops in Buffalo, Binghamton, and Albany in September.

Alice Cooper pioneered a grandly theatrical brand of hard rock that was designed to shock. Drawing equally from horror movies, vaudeville, and garage rock, the group created a stage show that featured electric chairs, guillotines, fake blood and boa constrictors. He continues to tour regularly, performing shows worldwide with the dark and horror-themed theatrics that he’s best known for.

With a schedule that has included six months year in and year out on the road, Alice Cooper brings his own brand of rock psycho-drama to fans both old and new, enjoying it as much as the audience does. Known as the architect of shock-rock, Cooper has rattled the cages and undermined the authority of generations of guardians of the status quo, continuing to surprise fans and exude danger at every turn, like a great horror movie, even in an era where CNN can present real life shocking images.

As he finally heads back out on the concert trail in 2021, Alice insists he’s still motivated to continue touring and recording albums, as well as making time for other projects, including most recently, Alice’s widely praised 2018 performance as King Herod in NBC-TV’s live production of “Jesus Chris Superstar” on Easter Sunday.

Released in February, 2021, his latest album Detroit Stories, (produced by Bob Ezrin) is inspired by the garage rock music of Detroit in the late Sixties, including several classic covers of Detroit hits from that era, recorded in Detroit with all Detroit musicians.

As if that wasn’t enough, “Nights With Alice Cooper,” Alice’s nightly radio show, continues to air in nearly 100 cities in the USA, Canada, Australia, and the UK. The five hour long show features his favorite classic rock songs along with his insider anecdotes about many of the artists.

Tickets go on sale Friday, April 15 at 10AM at ticketmaster.com.

Alice Cooper ‘Detroit Muscle’ 2022 U.S. Tour Dates

Sept. 07 — Bethlehem, Pa. @ Wind Creek Event Center
Sept. 09 — Alton, Va. @ Blue Ridge Rock Festival
Sept. 11 — Windsor, Ontario @ The Colosseum @ Caesar’s
Sept. 13 — Buffalo, N.Y. @ Shea’s Buffalo
Sept. 14 — Binghamton, N.Y. @ Visions Arena
Sept. 16 — Albany, N.Y. @ The Palace Theater
Sept. 17 — Atlantic City, N.J. @ Tropicana Casino & Resort
Sept. 18 — Wallingford, Ct. @ Toyota Oakdale Theatre
Sept. 20 — Muncie, Ind. @ Emens Auditorium
Sept. 21 — Grand Rapids, Mich. @ DeVos Hall
Sept. 22 — Hammond, Ind. @ The Venue @ Horseshoe Casino
Sept. 24 — Louisville, Ky. @ Louder than Life Festival
Sept. 25 — Chattanooga, Tenn. @ Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium
Sept. 27 — Memphis, Tenn. @ Orpheum Theater
Sept. 28 — St.Louis, Mo. @ Stifel Theatre
Sept. 30 — Cedar Rapids, Iowa @ Paramount Theater
Oct. 01 — Springfield, Ill. @ Bank of Springfield Center
Oct. 04 — Loveland, Colo. @ Budweiser Event Center
Oct. 06 — Prescott Valley, Ariz. @ Findlay Toyota Center
Oct. 08 — Las Vegas, Nev. @ TBA

April 15, 2022
Proctors 2022-23 Season Announced

On April 11^th, Proctors Collaborative announced new shows coming to Proctors in Schenectady for the 2022-2023 season of the KeyBank Broadway Series. Due to COVID-19 complications, the announcement was posted on the Proctors Facebook page on April 11^th.

Starting the season will be Disney’s Aladdin, which will kick off their newly imagined North American tour. Then, Proctors brings back a Broadway classic to the stage. Hairspray, which will be available as a crossover show to Capital Repertory Theatre subscribers.

“Probably the biggest sign that the Proctors Collaborative is back is our ability to announce a new season! Imagine, a Disney tech is returning with Aladdin, Hamilton returns, and as many Tony awarded shows will be here as ever before. Yes, Proctors, UPH and theRep are back,”
says Proctors Collaborative CEO Philip Morris.

Next on the calendar Proctors 2022-2023 features the Tony Best Musical winner Hamilton. Joining them this season are Tootsie and Jagged Little Pill, which very recently closed its Broadway run due to COVID-19. Closing out the season, Proctors welcomes back Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations

Proctors 2022–2023 KeyBank Broadway Series

Aladdin

Oct. 11-23, 2022

Discover a whole new world at Disney’s ALADDIN, the hit Broadway musical. From the producer of The Lion King comes the timeless story of ALADDIN, a thrilling new production filled with unforgettable beauty, magic, comedy and breathtaking spectacle. It’s an extraordinary theatrical event where one lamp and three wishes make the possibilities infinite. See why audiences and critics agree, ALADDIN is “Exactly What You Wish For!” (NBC-TV).

Hamilton

Mar. 14th-19th, 2023

This “theatrical landmark has transformed theater and the way we think about history” (The New York Times)

HAMILTON is the story of America then, told by America now. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, HAMILTON has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre—a musical that has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education. With book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, HAMILTON is based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography. It has won Tony®, Grammy®, and Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors.

Tootsie

Apr. 11th-16th, 2023

Call it “musical comedy heaven” (Rolling Stone). Call it “the most uproarious new musical in years!” (The Hollywood Reporter). Call it TOOTSIE! This laugh-out-loud love letter to the theater tells the story of Michael Dorsey, a talented but difficult actor who struggles to find work until one show-stopping act of desperation lands him the role of a lifetime. Featuring a hilarious Tony®-winning book by Robert Horn and an outrageously clever score by 2018 Tony-winner David Yazbek (The Band’s Visit, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), this New York Times Critic’s Pick is “a joyful delight” (The Washington Post) that’s “so packed with punchlines, it should be called a jokebox musical!” (Bloomberg). “In these turbulent times, when the world seems out of balance, we need a place to let the good times roll,” raves Rolling Stone. “TOOTSIE is it!”

Jagged Little Pill

May 2nd-7th, 2023

SOME SHOWS YOU SEE. THIS SHOW YOU FEEL.

Joy, love, heartache, strength, wisdom, catharsis, LIFE—everything we’ve been waiting to see in a Broadway show— is here in the exhilarating, fearless new musical based on Alanis Morissette’s world-changing music.

Directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus (Waitress, Pippin, upcoming 1776) with a Tony-winning book by Diablo Cody (Juno) and Grammy-winning score, this electrifying production about a perfectly imperfect American family “vaults the audience to its collective feet” (The Guardian). “Redemptive, rousing and real, JAGGED LITTLE PILL stands alongside the original musicals that have sustained the best hopes of Broadway.” (The New York Times)

You live, you learn, you remember what it’s like to feel truly human… at JAGGED LITTLE PILL.

Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations

May 23rd-28th, 2023

Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations is the electrifying new smash-hit Broadway musical that follows The Temptations’ extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Nominated for 12 Tony® Awards and the winner of the 2019 Tony Award for Best Choreography, it’s a thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty, and betrayal during a decade of civil unrest in America. Set to the beat of the group’s treasured hits, including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” Ain’t Too Proud tells the unforgettable story of the legendary quintet that Billboard Magazine named the greatest R&B group of all time.

Subscriptions for the 2022–2023 KeyBank Broadway Series at Proctors go on sale Wednesday, April 13^th and are available through the Box Office at Proctors, in person, over the phone at 518-346-6204 Monday-Friday 10am-6pm, or online here.

April 13, 2022
The Sharks Reunite at The Hollow with Johnny Rabb & The Jailhouse Rockers

On Friday, April 9th, all the old school rockers of Albany came back together at The Hollow in Albany for a once-in-a-lifetime reunion of two of the local’s favorite bands from back in the day – The Sharks and Johnny Rabb with his Jailhouse Rockers. This was the third installment of shows celebrating the 30th anniversary of local promoter and rock legend Greg Bell of Guthrie Bell Productions. This epic show at the Hollow proved that even after several decades in the business, Greg Bell still knows what the people want, and consistently gives it to them.

Johnny Rabb & The Jailhouse Rockers

First up was Johnny Rabb & The Jailhouse Rockers. Unlike most of the other bands we have seen recently, these guys didn’t take a little pandemic break — for some of them, it had been decades since they rocked out together. Their set was packed full of well-known and loved oldies ranging from the 50s to the 70s, and it was impossible to tell they hadn’t been on tour.

The Sharks

The Sharks reunited for the first time in 19 years as part of the celebration, bringing with them a following that sold out The Hollow and a captive audience. With an early R&B sound ranging across the 50s to early 80s, the band member (short one) had a party in Albany, thrilling with “Everybody Wants to Know” and two well tuned covers – “Baba O’Riley” by The Who and “Downtown” by Petula Clark.

Setlist: Too Late to go back, I’ll Follow you, Change Your Tune, Take What You Get, Please Say Yes, Pay Day Blues, Bien Vendido, She Never Feels the Same, Too Good for Words, Baby Don’t Know It, How Can I Give You, With Your Love, Moving to America, Baba O’Riley, Little Yeeti, Rehabilitation Blues, Everybody Wants to Know, Good Old Days, Arm in Arm, Down Town, I Won’t Be Happy

April 12, 2022
Triveni take Albany Crowd on a Journey with Classical Indian Music

The Swyer Theatre at The Egg played host to a sold out afternoon performance on Sunday, April 10 by Triveni, featuring three of the greatest musicians in Indian classical music – Zakir Hussain, Kala Ramnath, and Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh. The three musicians have been honored in India and abroad with numerous awards, and have collaborated for Triveni’s initial tour in North America.

The mixed crowd drew from the large South Asian population in the Capital Region, all captivated by the sonic experience the trio had to offer this afternoon.

All three performers walked out shortly after 3pm, taking their seats behind their respective instruments. Hussain wished the crowd a happy Palm Sunday, and said that they were all very glad to finally be performing, which was greeted by loud applause from the audience. Ramnath and Kumaresh – wearing traditional saris – flanked Hussain on each side, with Ramnath playing violin to Hussain’s right and Kumaresh the Saraswati Veena.

Photo by Tammie Birdwell

Hussain noted they would treat the performance as a train on a journey, stopping at different stations. Noting the North Indian raga tradition background of Ramnath, and the South Indian veena of Kumaresh, Hussain served as the bridge for the two to meet, culminating in hypnotic interplay between all three and, at times, duets between them.

The combination of sounds from each of the stringed instruments joined with the tabla made for a consistent musical conversation, one with no breaks in between, just a constant flow from song to song. With the group’s name of Triveni derived from the mythical site of the union of three sacred rivers in India, the name was on point as a perfect one for this concert of musicians.

Photo by Tammie Birdwell

In one segment, after 20 minutes of continuous interplay between Ramnath and Kumaresh, Zakir joined in after quietly observed the pair. As the collaboration progressed, Hussain used the rapid drumming of his fingers on the tabla to drive the tempo of the “train” quickly uphill. After taking a lengthy solo, Hussain was joined by once again by Ramnath and Kumaresh, bringing the performance to a ferocious close.

Photo by Tammie Birdwell

After a slightly more than 90-minute set, the trio went out in front of their instruments to bow in appreciation to the audience. At this time, Hussain stepped back, allowing the women to soak in the appreciation from the Swyer Theatre audience.

Triveni Tour Dates

4/12/2022 Pittsburgh Cultural Arts Pittsburgh, PA
4/14/2022 Sixth&i Washington, DC
4/17/2022 Global Arts Live Somerville, MA
4/19/2022 Davidson Theatre Columbus, OH
4/20/2022 Cleveland Museum of Art Cleveland, OH
4/23/2022 Indian Classical Music Circle Austin, TX
4/24/2022 Wortham Center Houston TX

Photos by Tammie Birdwell

April 11, 2022
2022 Old Songs Festival In Altamont Announced

The 2022 Old Songs Festival at the Altamont Fairgrounds in Altamont, NY, has announced it will be hosting the festival in-person on June 24, 25 & 26.

2022 Old Songs Festival Logo

Old Songs celebrates music from all areas around the world, including Folk, Celtic, Quebecois, Roots, Americana, and World music. All these different kinds of music mesh together from the help of Contemporary musicians, singers, and songwriters.

The festival encourages people of all ages to join jam sessions, take part in learning instruments, sing sacred harp, and move their feet to the many dance bands that come to the festival. School-age children who play an instrument can participate in the “Great Groove Band” and perform on stage on Sunday.

The Great Groove Band.

There are three main concert stages, each featuring multiple artists on Friday & Saturday from 6:30 -11 pm, and Sunday 3:30 – 7 pm. There are over 100 plus performances, dances, workshops, and jams in ten areas around the festival grounds.

There are a lot of performers that represent many regions and countries. Some different performers going to the festival include É.T.É from Quebec, Beppe Gambetta from Italy, Copley Street from Ireland, Ustad Shafaat Khan from India, Hubby Jenkins, Reggie Harris, and a whole lot more.

Tickets are available to purchase here.

April 10, 2022
Warden and Co. Define Their Sound With New Album “Somewhere”

Warden and Co. have released their sophomore album Somewher,e following their 2019 debut Songs for Everyone. The 11 track album covers a range of emotions while helping to develop the band’s Americana identity.

Formed in Saratoga Springs in 2011, Warden and Co. have worked their way into the New York State music scene, with genuine folk influences and steady instrumentals. After starting out as children’s and family artists, frontman Seth Warden, violinist Doug Moody, and drummer Brian Melick changed trajectory to focus on a more mature genre.

This album covers a broad spectrum of human emotions and experiences: love, uncertainty, frustration, desire, fear, and compassion.
Seth Warden

‘Somewhere’ features a sweet duet with Warden’s teenage daughter, Lovella. The father-daughter harmonies go well with the slower paced instrumentals and give listeners a warm, sentimental feeling inside. It’s a comforting reminder that our parents will always be with us, no matter where we travel.

‘PSA’ is a faster paced track that keeps your attention all the way through. The fun cautionary tale warns of a beautiful, but mysterious woman that will have her fun with you and disappear. Moody’s excellent orchestral skills come through toward the end of the song as Melick’s drums provide a much needed foundation.

‘You’ve Got a Way With Love’ closes the album with a more brash sound and it’s easy to hear how the band has grown over the course of the album. Each member’s talents shine in the almost four minute track.

Somewhere is now available on all streaming platforms.

Key tracks : Somewhere, PSA, You’ve Got a Way With Love

April 9, 2022

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