The Capital Repertory Theater announces previews for the critically acclaimed show FLYabout the Tuskegee Airmen, the unit of black pilots that was the first of its kind in the US military. Previews for the show will run Jan. 28-Jan. 30.
FLY tells the story of four black pilots serving in the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II.
Trey Ellis and Ricardo Kahn wrote the play which tells the story of several black pilots who flew on wartime bombing missions in World War II. The story is told through a mix of classic theater, dance, and spoken word. These spoken word portions of the play are performed by a griot, a traditional West African storyteller.
FLY is directed by Clinton Turner Davis and choreographed by Hope Clark. Davis has directed plays both in the United States and in Taiwan. His experiences includes productions for the Negro Ensemble Company and Theatre Four. He is also the director of the American Young Playwrights Festival.
The view from inside Capital Rep.
Clark was nominated for a Tony Award for her choreography in 1993’s Jelly’s Last Jam. In the past, she has collaborated with renowned director George C. Wolfe.
Opening night of FLY, at the Capital Repertory Theater, is Feb. 1 with shows on Tuesdays-Sundays running until Feb. 20. Tickets can be purchased at the Capital Repertory website or by calling the box office at 518.346.6204.
This past Saturday TR3, with Tim Reynolds, rolled through Hudson Falls to perform for a sold out Strand Theatre crowd. Most of you likely know Tim, and have seen him on stage with Dave Matthews Band. While TR3 and DMB are two very different bands, Tim’s playing is a constant. He has a special knack for tailoring moods, creating ambience, and shredding tastefully. These abilities were on display from the start of the show when TR3 opened with “On This Mountain Born in the Clouds,” from their newest album “Wild in the Sky.” The song featured a dreamy, and persistent guitar section that built in intensity over Dan’s driving backbeat.
After “On This Mountain Born in the Clouds” put the crowd into a trance-like state, TR3 broke them out of it with more tracks from the new album. “A Bone to Pick” changed up the tone and had The Strand Theatre rocking. “Galloping Sun Dogs” and “Poet” were the final tracks played from TR3’s new album before they transitioned into some older songs with “Sweet Spot.” Each song was as unique as the last and featured Tim’s ability to create melodies that feel familiar from the first run through.
TR3 took a break from playing original songs when they played “Song for Sonny Liston,” a Mark Knopfler tune that featured Mick’s vocals. The covers did not stop there, and the band played more songs by Peter Gabriel, The Angels, The Doors, and David Bowie. Riders on the Storm was a real surprise, and was unlike any other cover of the song. Tim played Ray Manzarek’s famous rainfall keyboard intro as though it was written for guitar. TR3 then closed out their chunk of covers with Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel” that took the energy of the room to a whole new level.
TR3 then transitioned back to playing original tunes as the show wound down, unbeknownst to the fans. The show would finally come to an end with a one song encore. “Golden Flower” was beautifully intricate, was the perfect bookend to the night’s atmospheric opener. TR3 slowly brought the room’s energy back down to Earth as Tim set a loop before leaving the stage. Mick and Dan followed one by one, but not before Dan could slowly play himself out, leaving only the loop Tim had set. Then, for just a moment, there was a feeling of complete peace. Until the track cut out, and the fans realized the show had come to its final end.
TR3 and Tim Reynolds will be on tour for a few more weeks, and you can find dates and tickets on Tim’s website. The trio will be heading out to Ohio and Illinois before returning to the East Coast to play shows in New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. You can also purchase some merch or CDs on Tim’s shop page.
Setlist: On This Mountain Born in the Clouds, A Bone to Pick, Galloping Sun Dogs, Poet, Sweet Spot, Grania, The Left Hand of Darkness, Song for Sonny Liston (Mark Knopfler), Mercy Street (Peter Gabriel), Who Rings the Bell (The Angels), Riders on the Storm (The Doors), Rebel Rebel (David Bowie), Ley Lines, Victory Express, Burning Season
A new art exhibit opens at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center. Blind Visionariesisa visual and musical installation that combines images from blind photographers and live jazz. The performance will be on Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center.
The photographers are from a New York City based group called the Seeing with Photography Collective. They use a new method of painting referred to as “light painting” which they will perform in a concert with a live jazz band. Their work is being published in the book Shooting Blind by Aperture.
At the event itself a voice narration from the members of the collective guides the participants through the same artistic process. At the same time, their photographs are projected on the walls to create a connection between the visual and musical.
The musical accompaniment is courtesy of Daniel Kelly. The long time composer and performer, who even worked with Lauryn Hill in the past, will be playing with his band the Danny Kelly Trio.
The group also features Adam Coté on bass and Bram Kincheloe on drums. In addition to the Feb. 3 performance Blind Visionaries will host a free show for high school students on Feb 4. Free reservations at the Performing Arts Center website.
The Upstate Theater Coalition announced their proposal for a protection plan for aid from New York State on January 25, 2022. The protection plan would help performing arts centers who have been affected dramatically by COVID-19 to guarantee they can “keep the lights on.”
The State Theatre – photo by Casey Martin from NYS Music’s “This Darkness Has Got To Give” series
The Upstate Theater Coalition consists of ten different performing arts centers across New York from Buffalo to Poughkeepsie. The Coalition generates a remarkable annual economic impact of over $200 million per year serving millions of annual patrons and students. After being shut down for nearly 18 months, these theaters, like their peers in New York City, have had a challenging restart due to continuing COVID -19 concerns and audience hesitancy. New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s Executive Budget proposal included $350 million for a pandemic relief fund for “businesses and theater/musical arts”. The Upstate Theater Coalition is asking for a maximum appropriation of $25 million from the proposed pandemic relief fund to “keep the lights on.”
The Stanley Theatre photo provided by The Stanley Theatre from NYS Music’s “This Darkness Has Got To Give” series
The Shea’s Performing Arts Center by Zachary Todtenhagen from NYS Music’s “This Darkness Has Got To Give” series
Philip Morris who is the Coalition’s spokesperson, spoke on the proposal saying, “The Upstate Theater Coalition is grateful to Governor Hochul for her leadership and commitment to upstate theaters through her proposal to create a $350 million pandemic relief fund that would in part provide necessary financial assistance to cultural arts institutions. We are asking the Governor and the Legislature to set aside only 7 percent or $25 million of this fund in the adopted state budget for upstate theaters in the coalition. This commitment would ensure that these upstate performing arts centers will at least not suffer financial losses or be forced to layoff staff as New York moves past the COVID pandemic.”
The Palace Theatre by Zach Culver from NYS Music’s “This Darkness Has Got To Give” series
This proposal would make it so that the state could guarantee up to 80 percent of the theater’s budgeted revenue from ticket sales and concessions for the 2022 theater season, with total assistance not to exceed $25 million. Any theater that exceeds 80 percent of their potential 2022 revenue would not receive assistance, and the state would provide aid up to 80 percent of potential revenue for any theater that falls short. This plan will enable upstate theaters to continue to confidently program their stages and bring people back into Upstate’s downtowns, supporting each community’s restaurants, services, shops and lodging establishments as they recover.
The Bardavon by Mickey Deneher from NYS Music’s “This Darkness Has Got To Give” series
The Upstate Theater Coalition’s proposal protection plan could be exactly what these upstate New York venues need to guarantee they can “keep the lights on.”
Following Umphrey’s McGee’s show at the Palace Theatre on Saturday, January 22, bassist Ryan “Little King” Stasik, World’s Okayest Bass Player, joined with a trio of Buffalonians for a heavy post show at Empire Underground as Death Kings. Aqueous guitarist Uncle Mike “Muerto” Gantzer, former Turkuaz drummer Michelangelo “Ox” Carubba, and guitarist Brett Fernway channeled metal and alternative from the 1990s at their fourth show as a band.
In a venue that Stefon would rave about – “Albany’s hottest coldest place for hardcore fusions jams is Empire Underground. They’ve got everything – an entrance down a parking garage ramp, cement walls, PBR for days, and look in the corner, is that a wook? No, those are Gremlins, and not the Gizmo kind.” Yes, Empire Underground was the place to be post-Umphrey’s McGee.
Opening with Harvey Danger’s 90’s anthem “Flagpole Sitta” gave the audience a taste of what was to come, with deep shredding metal, especially on the original “Suicide Tuesday.” Stasik noted that even though it was their fourth show as a band, it “feels better every time.” Death Kings is the post show of choice if your prog metal needs aren’t met. Ween’s “It’s Gonna Be a Long Night” stood out among an original filled setlist, as the band pushed past 3am and into the cold of Sunday morning.
Setlist: March, 86, Flagpole Sitta, Dead Memories, Cyco, Flom, Welcome 2 Hell, It’s Gonna be a Long Nite, Suicide Tuesday, Easgles, Territorial Pissings, Burn Enemy, Fuck Authority, Bad Mouth, Disembodied Encore: Breed, Blackout, Fight
Saratoga Performing Arts Center is located in the historic town of Saratoga Springs, and houses one of America’s most prestigious summer festivals.
SPAC is pleased to announce premieres and debuts by women and BIPOC composers, choreographers, performers, and conductors this summer alongside the classical work.
The NYCB residency from July 12-16 will have highlighted contemporary works by Jamar Roberts, Pam Tanowitz, and Justin Peck. Other programs include one dedicated to 20th-century masters, a story ballet of A Midsummer Night’s Dream,and a special presentation of “NYCB On and Off Stage.”
The Philadelphia Orchestra residency from July 27-August 13 will feature the return of music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin in four programs including a finale featuring Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
The Philadelphia Orchestra.
The NYCB.
President and CEO of SPAC, Elizabeth Sobol, said it is exciting to have people back after two years of uncertainty.
After two long years without the full New York City Ballet in residence at SPAC, it is tremendously exciting to be announcing the return of the full Company in July 2022…SPAC’s ambitious and artistically inspiring programming continues our effort to bring significant contemporary works and iconic classics that have never been performed at SPAC to our stage, while also presenting a record number of works by BIPOC and female composers throughout the season.
The SPAC 2022 season will also feature film night, with Harry Potterand the Prisoner of Azkaban and The Princess Bride. Tickets for the season will go onsale to members on March 7, and March 16 for the general public, available here.
The Green River Festival in the Western Massachusetts town of Greenfield has announced the lineup for its 2022 installment. The headliners for the June 24-26 festival are Lake Street Dive, Father John Misty, Guster, Waxahatchee, Ripe, Galactic, and Hiss Golden Messenger.
The festival attained a certain level of renown recently, even being considered as one of “fifty essential summer music festivals” by the New York Times. This year they expect to have more than 30 live acts performing over the course of the event’s three days.
“For the first time we were able to host both RV and tent campers on site,” said Green River Festival Director, Jim Olsen “and still have plenty of space for three stages of music and all the other elements that make Green River Festival special. We know it will be even better in 2022.”
The full lineup includes Waxahatchee, Ripe, Galactic featuring Anjelika Jelly Joseph, Hiss Golden Messenger, Allison Russell, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Las Cafeteras, Katie Pruitt, Asleep At The Wheel, The Dip, Cha Wa, Kaleta & Super Yamba Band, Parsonsfield, Brennen Leigh, The Wildmans, Natu Camera, Steve Poltz, Rose & The Bros, MISTER G and the Global Citizen Ensemble, Matthew Fowler, and Oshima Brothers.
The lineup features the band Lake Street Dive (above).
Tickets for the event include both day and weekend passes and feature special rates for students.
“Six Local Heroes” have joined the Green River Music Festival Lineup:
StompBoxTrio explores the multicultural depths of 20th-century American blues, rock, and soul with some 21st-century mojo.
Love Crumbs is a folk-rock, indie, and Americana group based in Massachusetts. Known for blending poignant lyrics with smashing female vocals, their nostalgic, timeless, heart-on-sleeve sound harkens to a bygone era.
The Gaslight Tinkers’ blend of global rhythms creates a joyously danceable sound around a core of traditional New England old time and celtic fiddle music, merging boundless positive energy with melody and song.
Jake Manzi is known for his candid, easy stage presence, the moving stories behind his songs, and lyrics that will break your heart and make it whole again all at once.
The Green Sisters’ sound spans a wide range of bluegrass, barbershop, blues, country, and lots of original songs which fit right into the mix.
Poor Monroe is a New England-based bluegrass collaboration of seasoned players, delivering unmistakably tight vocal harmonies and scorching tempos that are the benchmark of the genre.
Buffalo native Willie Nile will be coming to Albany to play at The Linda on February 18 and will be performing his new album The Day The Earth Stood Still.
The Day The Earth Stood Still album cover.
Nile used lockdown as a basis for his album. After seeing the boarded-up streets of Manhattan, he grew inspired. Speaking of the inspiration Nile said this:
I have a storage space near the Holland Tunnel, and normally on a Friday night at rush hour, it can take an hour to move five blocks. But one Friday night last June…I realized that there wasn’t a car in sight, and that I could have laid down in the middle of the street without anyone noticing. The title The Day the Earth Stood Still hit me, and I carried it around in my head for awhile, and eventually it sparked this set of songs.
Nile grew up in Buffalo, and in the early ‘70s, he moved down to NYC, where his music career started to take off. He earned national status with a series of albums, and his independent indie work added to his fame.
Willie Nile, photo by CristinaArrigoni.
Nile has racked up many famous fans, including Bruce Springsteen and Pete Townshend, both of whom he has toured with on different occasions.
After all these years I’m still feeling the passion and the power and the pull of rock ’n’ roll as a way out, as a vehicle that can offer salvation and redemption and joy in this crazy-ass world. Here’s to more music and magic on the road ahead!
Willie Nile
The Day The Earth Stood Still combines all the elements of rock and punk, mixed with the passion of going through a pandemic. Produced by Stewart Lerman, who worked with Elvis Costello and Mumford and Sons, the album is described as “magical.”
Willie Nile and Steve Earle, photo by Cristina Arrigoni.
Willie Nile will be coming to The Linda in Albany on February 18 to play his new album live, as well as other fan favorites with some rarities mixed in. Tickets can be found here.
Willie Nile 2022 Tour Dates
Fri., June 25 STANHOPE, NJ Stanhope House.
Fri., July 2 BOSTON, MA City Winery
Sat., July 10 RED BANK, NJ The Vogel at Count Basie Theater for the Arts. Two shows: 4 & 8 p.m. 4 p.m.—40th Anniversary Show for Willie’s second album, Golden Down, featuring the whole album played top to bottom plus several fan favorites. 8 p.m.—Willie’s eponymous first release played in its entirety (41st Anniversary) followed by different fan favorites.
Sat., July 17 PIERMONT, NY Turning Point (solo; two shows)
Thurs., July 22 RIDGEFIELD, MA (outdoor show)
Sat., July 24 AVIS, PA WQBR Radio gig; outdoor show
Fri., Aug. 13 EGREMONT, MA The Barn. (duo show)
Sat., Aug. 21 TARRYTOWN, NY Tarrytown Theater,
Sun., Aug. 22 NEW YORK, NY City Winery (new album release show)
Sat., Aug. 28 WASHINGTON DC The Hamilton
Wed., Sept. 1 WOODBRIDGE, NJ Woodbridge HS Fields. 1 Samuel Lupo Place. Free show
Having performed in the Capital District 11 times since 2003, Umphrey’s McGee performed their most cohesive show in the region to date, a dialed in performance at the Palace Theatre in Albany on Saturday, January 22 that brought out the heavy hitters, a few bust outs and an audience that was immensely appreciative.
If opening the show with “Cemetery Walk” didn’t set a tone for the evening, the 14+ minute “Booth Love” that followed certainly did. “Make it Right” and the relatively new “Suxity” followed, segueing nicely into a classic version of “The Floor.” From there, the piano stylings of Joel Cummins were front and center for “Salamander Strut,” a tune that has not been played this decade, let alone this century – the last performance coming in 1999, a gap of more than 2400 shows.
And if a 23 year bust-out didn’t get your attention, a rare cover over Ween’s “Even If You Don’t” followed, marking the second time the band has played it, and third overall if you count the Godboner set from Summer Camp 2015. “Anchor Drops” -> “Mulche’s Odyssey” rounded out a cohesive 66 minute set, leaving the audience cheering for more.
And more they would get. Opening up the second set with pure rock anthem “Attachments, with a high energy shredding jam to follow that segued into “Glory.” “The Crooked One” featured a tease of The Police’s “Wrapped Around Your Finger,” transitioning seamlessly into “It Doesn’t Matter,” each song clocking in at over 12 minutes a piece.
“The Silent Type” followed, with a low key tribute to Albany’s roots in “The Fussy Dutchman,” followed by a patiently built “JaJunk” which built into an all time great thumping dance session. For the encore, the companion to the opener, “Cemetery Walk II” featured guitarist Brendan Bayliss joining Cummins on keys, a rare treat that put an exclamation point on the Umphrey’s best show in nearly two decades worth of Capital Region performances.
This past Friday, Chris Pierce stopped by Caffe Lena and put on a passionate show for a small, but excited Saratoga crowd. The singer/songwriter recently released his latest album titled ‘American Silence,’ from which he performed a number of songs. Chris opened his set with the title track of his new album, and this set the tone for the evening. He sang soulfully, shared personal stories, and welcomed the crowd in to his world for over an hour and a half.
Chris also played the song ‘It’s Been Burning For a While.’ The song perfectly highlights his abilities as a musician and a lyricist. Chris put his vocal control on display all night, ranging from pained whispers to powerful roars. Chris even told a story of a childhood vocal coach who would, kindly, hit students in the stomach while attempting to hold out a note. The emotion and tone of his voice were allowed to breath all night, as Chris accompanied his voice only with his guitar, and on occasion a harmonica.
Chris Pierce heads to the West Coast next, and you can see all his future tour dates on his website.
Setlist: American Silence, The Bridge of John, Chain Gang Fourth of July, Sound All the Bells, Static Trampoline, Let Me Be Your Sunshine, Young Black and Beautiful, We Can Always Come Back to This, Stand By Me (Ben E. King), Are Your Beautiful, Invisible People, Residential School, It’s Been Burning for a While, Call it a Day
