Raisinhead have been playing music together for over 15 years, and on New Year’s Eve, the beloved Upstate band will play in Saranac Lake at the Waterhole Music Lounge. This is the perfect North Country spot for music lovers to ring in 2023 together.
Raisinhead was formed by Rob Beaulieu in 2001, who wanted to play improvisational music in a live setting. Each band member Ted Grey (guitar), Brian Mangini (keys), Tom Pirozzi (bass) and Jeff Prescott, Chadd Ploss and Scott Apicelli (drums) has been involved in other musical projects and still manages to get together and play the music of The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, The Allman Brothers and many original tunes. The band consists of former members of The Ominous Seapods, Harvest, The Deadbeats, & Fat Albatross, to name a few.
Raisinhead is three-singer band, which gives the audience a constantly changing vocal perspective, tune by tune. The diverse background, joy of performing, and decades of experience between the members is what gives the band its high energy sound. The band has built a strong following in Upstate New York that promises audiences an interactive evening of sound, energy, and pure fun.
Raisinhead is always at its best on stage, under the lights, doing their thing, and creating an experience you won’t forget any time soon.
Doors open at 730pm on December 31, with the Joshua West Quartet kicking the night off at 830pm. Advanced Price Tickets are $10, Day of Show Tickets are $12. Tickets can be purchased here or at the downstairs bar.
The Christmas episode of Saturday Night Live brought together Elvis (Austin Butler) and Lizzo for a remarkable show that saw long-time cast member Cecily Strong bidding the late-night institution farewell. Lizzo filled in for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who were originally scheduled to perform, but had to back out due to illness.
The cold open was a send up of an NFT scam put forth by the 45th president this past week, played much more comically than Alec Baldwin by James Austin Johnson.
Butler’s monologue recalled that the 2021 Christmas episode was mostly cast-free due to surging COVID infection rates. Butler spoke about growing up in Anaheim, CA, being home schooled by his mom, alongside his sister (who he wished a happy birthday to in the balcony). Talking about how his mother helped him break out of his shell of shyness, and how they watched Saturday Night Live together, Butler teared up in paying tribute to her memory and credited his acting career to her. Austin Butler made his Broadway debut in the 2018 revival of The Iceman Cometh and received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Elvis.
Sketches including a rip-off of Wheel of Fortune “The Phrase That Pays” was a deeply weird SNL game show concept, as was the the It’s a Wonderful Life spoof “A Christmas Epiphany,” where the viewpoint of an ideal family inside a house being observed by a voyeur was a fresh twist on the holiday classic.
On the rise featured player Sarah Sherman made a stand out appearance as Jewish Elvis, with Austin Butler in the front row in drag as one of the old women who get overly-stimulated by the Semetic singer.
Lizzo, who hosted in April, performed her first song “Break Up Twice” with a setting paying homage to artist Annie Lee’s Blue Monday. Lizzo, in white negligee, is seen sitting on the edge of the bed, having just woken up, exhausted but ready to press ahead with the day. Then, belting out the seventh track on her 2022 release Special, Lizzo stepped forward to reveal the full band, singing about a man who left her in tears but whom she does not want to leave, referencing her relationship with Myke Wright.
“Break Up Twice” had Lizzo singing direct to the camera and lit in white while the band was lit in blue, with notable samples of “Doo Wop (That Thing)” by Lauryn Hill and Judy Clay and William Bell’s “Private Number” found throughout.
Weekend Update saw the final appearance for Cecily Strong’s desheveled Cathy Anne, who joked about having to go to prison. Making slightly-cringe conversation with Michael Che, Cathy Anne switched back to Cecily Strong, breaking character to say, “I had a lot of fun here and I feel really lucky that I got to have so many of the best moments of my life in this place with these people that I love so much.”
Lizzo’s second performance found her covering Stevie Wonder’s 1967 holiday classic “Someday at Christmas,” dressed in a half silver, half gold angel dress, wrapped up like a shiny gift. The track is among those featured on Amazon Music, with musicians offering classic covers of Christmas songs. Lizzo said of the song “I chose to cover ‘Someday At Christmas’ not just because it’s a classic, but because it’s a reminder to us that almost 60 years later, we are still fighting for peace, compassion, and equality, a friendly reminder to spread love and kindness this holiday season.”
For the finale, Kenan Thompson (as Frank Lasagna) introduced Cecily on her last day working at Radio Shack, noting her 11 year run and giving a heartfelt ode to her longevity on the show, fitting, coming from the show’s longest running cast member.
Butler then appeared as “Casual Elvis” to serenade Strong with Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas” as Strong smiled and choked up, with Thompson’s final lyrics altered to “You’ll be doing alright, every saturday night” for the finale, as the cast joined in on stage for the end of the tribute.
The Saratoga Performing Arts Center will play host to the 46th Annual Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival on Saturday, June 24, and Sunday, June 25, 2023, for a full two-day and two-stage thrilling festival experience. The line-up is anchored by musical legends including Bonnie Raitt,Pat Metheny, Angelique Kidjo, and twenty-one more musical ensembles, who will be bringing a variety of genres ranging from jazz to roots, funk, blues and beyond.
Jazz Artist Angelique Kidjo
Grammy Award-winner and Rock and Roll of Fame Inductee Bonnie Raitt will be making her highly suspended return to the festival since 1988. She is known for her blend of blues, R&B, rock and pop classics like “I Can’t Make You Love Me,”, “Something to Talk About” and “Nick of Time”.
Bonnie Raitt
On Saturday, the festival’s major draw will be the explosive 19-piece megaband Snarky Puppy, which is making its second appearance. The enthralling jazz, rock, and funk trio is described as “An exultant throwdown of brilliant danceability” by the Village Voice. The group has won four Grammy Awards, the most recent one in 2021 for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.
Jazz Ensemble Snarky Puppy
Jazz and funk guitarist Cory Wong, best known as a frequent guest rhythm guitarist for Vulfpeck as well as for his ebullient solo material; eight-piece psychedelia and funk fiery band St. Paul & The Broken Bones; jazz and rock drum dynamo Cindy Blackman Santana, who is the regular touring drummer for Carlos Santana and previously Lenny Kravitz; and “Silky-voiced rising jazz star” (New York Times).
Cory WongCindy Blackman Santana
Having originally been founded as “the Newport Jazz Festival at Saratoga”, the musical event was renamed Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival in 1998 and is one of the most prominent jazz festivals in North America.
Saratoga Jazz Festival
On Saturday, June 24, performances will begin at 11 a.m. on the Charles R. Wood “Jazz Discovery” Stage and 12 p.m. on the Amphitheater Stage, and at 11:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., respectively, on Sunday, June 25. Fans may enjoy a magnificent arts and crafts market, artist CD signings, and fresh and diverse culinary selections in addition to two nonstop days of outstanding music on two stages. Tickets can be purchased here.
2023 FREIHOFER’S SARATOGA JAZZ FESTIVAL LINEUP
SATURDAY, JUNE 24
Amphitheater: Snarky Puppy Angelique Kidjo Cory Wong* Tower of Power Chucho Valdes Quartet Cindy Blackman Santana Band*
Charles R. Wood “Jazz Discovery” Stage: Kurt Rosenwinkel Emmet Cohen Trio* Claudia Acuna* Carolyn Wonderland* Glen David Andrews* Nduduzo Makhathini*
SUNDAY, JUNE 25
Amphitheater: Bonnie Raitt Pat Metheny Side-Eye St. Paul & The Broken Bones* Hiromi: The Piano Quintet feat. PUBLIQuartet
Charles R. Wood “Jazz Discovery” Stage: Samara Joy* Jupiter & Okwess* Melissa Aldana Mark Guiliana* Skidmore Jazz Institute Faculty All-Stars CentennialCelebration of Wes Montgomery, Tito Puente &Dexter Gordon featuring Clay Jenkins, Jimmy Greene, Michael Dease, Dave Stryker, Bill Cunliffe, Todd Coolman and Dennis Mackrel
The CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival will feature the great Bonnie Raitt on June 27th at the Festival’s 20th-anniversary edition. More than just a best-selling artist, expressive singer, and accomplished songwriter, Bonnie Raitt will bring her “Just Like That…Tour” on Tuesday, June 27th, 2023. The festival will be held from June 23rd to July 1st, 2023, in downtown Rochester.
The infamous Raitt has become an institution in American music. Born to a musical family, the ten-time Grammy winner is the daughter of celebrated Broadway singer John Raitt and accomplished pianist/singer Marge Goddard. Raitt was raised in Los Angeles where she grew up to have a respect for the arts and a commitment to social activism.
Bonnie is as known for her lifelong commitment to social activism as she is for her music. She has long been involved with the environmental movement, doing concerts around oil, nuclear power, mining, water and forest protection since the mid 70’s.
She even stated, “I’ve always wanted to make a record here, and once vaccinations made traveling safe again, we were thrilled to get everyone back together.” The mix of sounds and approaches on Just Like That…reveals how, 50 years after the release of her debut album, Bonnie Raitt continues to personify what it means to stay creative, adventurous, and daring over the course of a life’s work. “I think the absolute joy and relief of reuniting to play live music is really palpable on this record.”
With Just Like That…, this is her twenty-first album and first new release in more than six years. Rolling Stone even named her as both one of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time” and one of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bonnie Raitt continues to draw on the range of influences that have shaped her legendary career.
Tickets for Bonnie Raitt at CGI Rochester International Jazz Fest range in price from: Boxes $140, Orchestra $125, Loge/Mezzanine $105, Balcony $85. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 16th at 10am. To purchase, click the link here or call (585) 454-2060.
Mad Meg is most likely the smallest international band you’ve never heard of. Their new album “Who Deserves Balloons and Medals?” released Nov. 3 and has since been featured as album of the week on radio stations ranging from Mexico to Germany.
They’ve also toured Eastern Europe, even playing and recording an album in a Lithuanian prison for women. (They got a standing ovation from the prisoners.) The band will have a residency at New Nublu 151 in NYC starting early 2023 as well.
The band members of Mad Meg, posing for a photo shoot. From left to right: Jason Laney, Dan Veksler, Ilya Popenko, Ruslan Baimurzin, Igor Reznik
A self-described “punk crooner noir band, the group is composed of lead vocalist Ilya Popenko, bassist Igor Reznik, keyboardist Jason Laney, guitarist Dan Veksler and drummer Ruslan Baimurzin. If the names didn’t give it away, four of the five members come from countries that were a part of the former Soviet Union, except for outlier Laney, who grew up in Texas.
Through a mixture of fate, all five musicians found themselves working and gigging in NYC and through one way or another joined Mad Meg. While members have rotated over the band’s ten year tenure, Popenko has been the continual face of the band. Under his guiding hand, the current group – which has been together since 2016 – has developed their signature sound, a mix of rock, jazz, cabaret and dark comedy.
Ryan Bieber, contributing writer for NYS Music sat down with all five members of the band to discuss Mad Meg’s recent album and creative process.
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Ryan Bieber: You have a very unique style, which you’ve described as “punk crooner noir.” How would you describe that and the sounds that your band creates?
Dan Veksler: Punk is a sort of the general name for a kind of attitude toward life: this kind of simplistic and very rough, you know, stupid, uncouth way of going about tackling enormous issues.
Igor Reznik: And I think noir is a reference to the kind of film that I think can be imagined when listening to the stuff.
Ilya Popenko: We keep changing our style and the name of the style, because it keeps evolving.
Bieber: And what draws all of you to combine genres in such a way, what do you find interesting about that aspect?
Jason Laney: “We all come from very different places, musically. I think everyone here has an artist that they love that somebody else in this band hates with a fiery passion. It’s taking all of those different strains and getting to a place where all of us can be happy. If we can please the six people in this room, hopefully somebody else will like it.
Ruslan Baimurzin: This is the beauty of it, you know, because each of us represents the genre we like. It’s Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Tom Waits … Each of us was inspired by different bands. When we started making music, we tried to satisfy each of us at the same time.
Veksler: You know we don’t set out saying “Let’s make the song in this style or let’s mix these things.” We just play and this happens.
Mad Meg’s second studio album “Who Deserves Balloons and Medals?” released Nov. 3
Bieber: And so when it comes to the actual songwriting process and creating songs on the album, what does it usually look like? Is Ilya coming up with vocals first? Or is someone coming up with a melody on one of the instruments? And how does it go from there?
Popenko: Well, I usually write a song on a guitar and record that demo, either with just a guitar or some rudimentary arrangements. Then the guys, they take it apart, and each one comes up with their own lines.
Reznik: And then I scream somewhere in the song usually. There’s like a cherry on top.
Popenko: And just playing it live, that’s what kind of solidified it, because we don’t go immediately into the studio. It takes us a couple of years of running the songs in front of large live audiences to get it to the place that we want to record.
Reznik: We usually record most of our tracks live. That has been the tendency of the core of the band. And then maybe we put finishing touches, maybe add some tracks on the end.
Bieber: And when it came to making this album, when did you start to realize you had an album on your hands? Was there a particular moment where you were like, ‘Okay, let’s go with this,” or was it just from touring live a bunch that you came up with a solid set of songs?
Laney: This was our pandemic record. So we actually didn’t tour at least some of the material. I don’t think beforehand.
Popenko: It wasn’t like a moment but at some point, it just felt like the right time to kind of put them together because they felt like they were part of one bigger product. This album as opposed to some of our other records is the most conceptually solid one. Like some of the other ones that feels like a pile up of different songs and this feels like a finished product.
Bieber: While your songs can be dark, your lyrics are often tinged with comedy and irony. For instance, one of the tracks “Beyond Repair” tells the story of a broken robot begging its owner to be thrown away
Popenko: Definitely. In fact if something is written without using any type of humor and is supposed to be a serious song, I don’t perceive it as such. I’m suspicious of something overly serious. If a serious subject has some humor in it, it becomes approachable and believable to me.
“Who Deserves Balloons and Medals?” is Mad Meg’s second studio album
Bieber: The album also features a cover of the song “Jolene,” originally by Dolly Parton. How was that decided to be the song that you would all cover?
Laney: It was contentious. There was talk as to whether or not it would even be on the album.
Veksler: It does have a chord progression that is sort of reminiscent of an Eastern European kind of thing, which is not an intuitive thing to think of that song, but it’s true. And I think that probably has something to do with Ilya’s desire to do that one.
Reznik: I think we played Jolene for a while and went through a lot of different versions.
Popenko: Yeah and you can just jam on it forever. And that’s what we did. I think for several of us, the clincher finally to keep it on the record was when Alex [Dreyshner] added throat singing vocals. For me, that’s what put the song in a category where it was really original, even though it’s a song that has been covered many times by many people.
Bieber: What is the meaning behind the album’s name, “Who Deserves Balloons and Medals?”
Popenko: It comes from a song by the band, the Blind Boys of Alabama. “Who Deserves Balloons and Medals” is about you wanting credit for something you’re doing but no one’s going to give it to you but yourself.
Bieber: And even though the question appears largely rhetorical, does your band deserve balloons and medals in your opinion?
Tim Reynolds brought his rock trio TR3 to the historic Strand Theater in Hudson Falls in December. The merry crowd was treated to a blend of acoustic-rock and jazz-fusion instrumentals, with a couple of classic covers thrown in for good measure. TR3 really loves the Strand Theater and it is obvious both in their banter and in the way they play. You can see the pleasure in their faces as they showcase their talented chops. Peter Harris writes this about their visit in January 2022 at The Strand Theater: “[Tim] has a special knack for tailoring moods, creating ambience, and shredding tastefully.”
Tim Reynolds at The Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.
For those that don’t know, the Strand Theater has a historic past. It began as a movie theatre in the early 1920s. The transformations it had include being a warehouse and eventually a county court house. It was a “white, stale municipal building” as Director Jonathan Newell says to the Times Union. This theater is anything but that now. Gorgeous inside and out! A perfect place to jam for TR3 with Tim Reynolds leading the way.
TR3 at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.
TR3 featuring Tim Reynolds wraps up their December tour this weekend on Friday and Saturday in Concord, NH and Fall River, MA, respectively. Catch them if you can, and Tim’s trio will have your feet tapping along. Just the way Tim likes it! Be sure to check out the photos below to see this beautiful theater and the trio in action.
Tim Reynolds – Strand Theater, Hudson Falls, NY – December 13, 2022
Setlist: Dirty Feet, All By Design, Everything Could Be OK, So Am I, Watch It!, Radar Contact, On This Mountain, Sweet Spot, Mutant Swarm, Sun is Still There, U Can U Have U Will, Wanna Get With You, Going Places, Bone to Pick, Kabbalah, Riders on the Storm, Bowie Encore: Chicago
Tim Reynolds at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Dan Martier at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Mick Vaughn at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.TR3 at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Tim Reynolds at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Mick Vaughn at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Dan Martier at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Tim Reynolds’ guitars at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Mick Vaughn’s bass guitar at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Dan Martier’s drums at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Mick Vaughn at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.The Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Mick Vaughn at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.Dan Martier at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.TR3 at the Strand Theater. Photo by Derek Java.
The hit Latin band, Bacilos, featuring Jorge Villamizar and André Lopes, have announced their first tour in the United States since 2004. Produced by Live Nation, the nine-city — Back in the USA ‘23 — tour kicks-off on April 27, 2023 at North Beach Bandshell in Miami, FL, and will make stops in Orlando, Atlanta, Houston, Boston and New York‘s own Irving Plaza on May 12, before wrapping up in Chicago, IL at House of Blues on May 14.
Bacilos’ first tour in the U.S. in 19 years will make a stop at Irving Plaza in New York City on Friday, May 12, 2023.
When curating their set the duo decided to give an exciting spin to their classic records while bringing sensational new material into their performance. In addition to Villamizar and Lopes, Bacilos will be accompanied by their high-caliber band. Moreover, having performed across Latin America to huge crowds with immense success, Bacilos’ show is representative of their vibrancy and impact-fulness as critical trendsetters in modern Latin Pop music.
This past year, Bacilos released new classic songs and collaborations with Latin America’s most outstanding young artists. Their music has reached around 22 million people around the globe, reaching up to 180 countries. In addition, with more than 1 million creations, Caraluna — the tittle of their Latin Grammy winning album and single — became a Worldwide trend when the community accomplished a very successful TikTok movement with new choreography.
BACILOS BACK IN THE USA ‘23 TOUR DATES:
Thursday, April 27, 2023 – Miami – Miami Beach Bandshell
Friday, April 28, 2023 – Orlando — House of Blues
Sunday, April 30, 2023 – Atlanta – Buckhead Theatre
Thursday, May 4, 2023 – Houston – House of Blues
Saturday, May 6, 2023 – Austin – Emo’s
Sunday, May 7, 2023 – Dallas – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
Wednesday, May 10, 2023 – Boston – Paradise Rock Club
Friday, May 12, 2023 – New York – Irving Plaza
Sunday, May 14, 2023 – Chicago – House of Blues
Tickets for Bacilos go on sale starting on Friday, December 9 at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster.
Today the lineup was announced for the Peach Music Festival, a four-day event coming to Montage Mountain in Scranton, PA from June 29 to July 2.
The Peach Music Festival was created in 2012 as the first-ever Allman Brothers Band-inspired festival in the Northeast and has quickly evolved into one of the most highly-anticipated summer musical events loved by music enthusiasts from across the nation. It is a one-of-a-kind festival, as it features food and craft vendors on the grounds and access to the scenic Montage Mountain Ski Resort’s large water park.
The 2023 edition of the festival sees Goose, Tedeschi Trucks Band, My Morning Jacket, and Ween headlining. For the past few years, Goose and the Tedeschi Trucks Band have been performing, as they are popular acts people love to go see. My Morning Jacket released their self-titled album last year, and have been touring all year. Ween has yet to play at the Peach Music Festival, and their alternative rock style will be a great addition to the diverse range of artists on the bill.
Other great artists will be performing at the unique festival, including Duane Betts, Andy Frasco & The U.N., TAUK ft. Kanika Moore, Magic City Hippies, Dogs In A Pile, and more. There will also be features, like founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, Jaimoe, performing as Jaimoe and Friends, duo Brother and Sister, and a special appearance by Trouble No More, featuring Brandon “Taz” Niederaurer (Guitar, Vocals), Daniel Donato (Guitar, Vocals), Dylan Niederaurer (Bass Guitar), Jack Ryan (Drums), Lamar Williams Jr. (Vocals), Nikki Glaspie (Drums), Peter Levin (Keys) and Roosevelt Collier (Pedal Steel Guitar), performing the Allman Brothers Band album Brothers & Sisters.
Also appearing at The Peach Music Festival 2023 are Lawrence, Thumpasaurus, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Karina Rykman, Ghost Light, Tapers Choice, Son Little, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Mihali, Raq, TAZ Plays Hendrix, Circles Around The Sun, Melt, Mo Lowda & The Humble, Oh He Dead, Cris Jacobs Band, Friends of the Brothers, Couch, Psycodelics, Yam Yam, Hans Williams, Ally Venable, Parrotfish, Will Evans, Wax Owls, Brown Eyed Woman, Veronica Lewis, Baked Shrimp, Quinn Sullivan, Kanika Moore Presents The Broadband, The Sweet Lillies, JB Strauss, Kendall Street Company, One Time Weekend, Proper Tea, RoastJohn, and more.
Tickets for the 2023 Peach Music Festival are on sale now, and new this year will be a GA+ ticket allowing fans with a General Admission ticket access under the pavilion for headliner sets (in the 200-level seating area) for $149.
It was a splendid evening for mid-week melodies, hump-day harmonies and independent live music in Glens Falls Wednesday, December 7th as fans of all ages filled the Park Theater for a captivating performance by The Ballroom Thieves and Griffin Sherry of The Ghost of Paul Revere. A beautiful and underutilized venue that dates all way back to 1911, the intimate room was the perfect setting for these modern-day master songwriters to pour their hearts out.
The Ballroom Thieves performing at Park Theater in Glens Falls, NY 12/7/2022.
Playing his first run of shows since the demise of The Ghost of Paul Revere, Portland, Maine’s Griffin William Sherry surprised both fans and even the venue when he arrived in town with a full backing band of musicians that also included former GOPR drummer Chuck Gage. Sherry joked from the stage how this was more people and more gear than he ever took on the road with his former band while also reassuring the crowd that it is ok to get a little rowdy. “I’m particularly looking at you ladies” he said, while pointing out a table full of much older women. “It’s so good to see you again!” chimed an excited fan from the other side of the room.
Perhaps still grieving the loss of GOPR who played their final show in September, fans were delighted to hear new renditions of some old favorites with “One of These Days” being a clear highlight. Known primarily as an acoustic guitar player, the surprises from Sherry didn’t end there. Using his new solo platform to try new things, longtime fans gasped when he suddenly strapped on a beautiful hollow body guitar and launched into a cover of the classic Pink Floyd song “Fearless.” The ‘electric’ Sherry would also try out several new songs, including “Stephentown” and the hard rocking set closer “Ain’t It Amazing.”
Griffin William Sherry performing at Park Theater in Glens Falls, NY 12/7/2022.
Following a quick pause in the action the lights went dim as the Ballroom Thieves then took their places on stage. Back on the road for the first time in years, the acclaimed neo-americana folk act from Boston were in complete command from the very moment they played their first note. Building up the tension with the hypnotic intro of “Canary,” the Thieves wasted no time in living up to their reputation as one of the most dynamic, energetic and melodic live bands on the independent circuit. Consisting of husband-and-wife duo Martin Earley on guitar and vocals and Calin Peters on electric cello, bass and vocals, the current incarnation is rounded out by John Henry Nolan on guitar and keyboards and drummer Kevin O’Connell (from Rome, NY) who somehow was able to play the show despite suffering a torn meniscus.
The Ballroom Thieves performing at Park Theater in Glens Falls, NY 12/7/2022.
Fresh off the release of their latest studio album, 2022’s Clouds, the band has gone through some tough times these last few years and many of their new songs address that head on. A chronicle of desire and despair, trust and betrayal and the importance of mental health, The Thieves would play the albums opening track “Worldender” next, followed by “In the Morning. “ Trading stunning and lush vocal harmonies, the cozy atmosphere almost made you feel like you were getting your own private show.
Switching back and forth between electric cello and bass guitar, Peter’s voice was both beautiful and haunting. Songs like “Almost Love” and “Do Something” put her squarely in the spotlight and it was easy to see she was reveling in it. Smiling, dancing and leaping about the stage, you couldn’t help but be charmed by her performance. Contradicting upbeat melodies with some darker lyrical content provided a powerful juxtaposition that wasn’t lost on the audience. A great example of this was the Earley sung rendition of “Shadow” which would then go into the brilliantly bluesy number “Anybody Else” from the bands 2017 album Deadeye.
Despite serious lyrics, Calin Peters was all smiles on 12/7/2022.
“Most of the time, we’re usually all about love and understanding, but not on this next one, “Peters’ said. “Picture in your mind someone you hate and when we play this song, we want you to think about them. That is, of course, unless they are in this room right now. If they are, sorry, you can’t play this game with us.” And with that thought in mind, Peter’s then crooned out perhaps the most hauntingly beautiful song of the night called “Woman.”
I was your woman And you left me standing Alone in a world that had not heard me use my voice yet You’re just tired of my noise, I guess Hey, we all make our choices and break our own horses Are you hearing me say all this? This is the last one For you
– “Woman”
Following that up with two more older, tender songs “Pendulum and “Bees,” Martin Early would soak in the moment and candidly address the audience by saying “It’s been a tough couple of years, but we never stopped writing songs and you being here to hear them means more than you’ll ever know. This next one is about coming to terms with a crippling depression.” Providing perhaps the emotional highpoint of the evening, “I Lose” hit you like a ten ton hammer.
The Ballroom Thieves performing at Park Theater in Glens Falls, NY 12/7/2022.
Showcasing their flexibility, both musically and physically, the chemistry between the Ballroom Thieves was undeniable. Interacting like a tight-knit family, even during the “sad” songs each member of the band was clearly engaged, invested, enjoying themselves. At the peak of all Peters and Earley would lock eyes, meet each in the middle of the stage and get so lost in the music that they’d both end with their backs on the floor. Perhaps the loudest cheer of the evening came during their most rocking song, “Fistfight,” rocking duel-guitar attack of the bands hit single “Fistfight.” After wishing guitarist John Henry Nolan’s Aunt Emma a happy birthday, The Ballroom Thieves would close the set with a powerful rendition of “Wolf.”
The Ballroom Thieves laid it all on the line in Glens Falls on 12/7/2022.
These days you almost expect an encore at every show, but in perhaps the best fake out ever, you could hear the collective letdown when the house music came up. Just then as fans starting getting ready to leave, the music and lights suddenly went back down. Returning to the stage with huge smiles and to a huge ovation, The Ballroom Thieves then treated fans to one more surprise by closing the show with a cover of the Donna Lewis song “I Love You Always and Forever.”
A captivating performance from start to finish. From hushed whispers to cathartic screams to synchronized dance moves, the intimate and thought-provoking show felt truly special. Anyone who wasn’t sure about this band going into it walked out of the Park Theater a full fledged believer. Up next, the Ballroom Thieves will take a little time off for the holidays before Early and Peters return to the road for a brief duo tour this winter.
The Ballroom Thieves | December 7, 2022 | Park Theater | Glens Falls, NY Setlist: Canary, Worldender, In The Morning, Almost Love, Do Something, Shadow, Anybody Else, Woman, Pendulum, Bees, I Loose, Fistfight, Wolf Encore: I Love You Always Forever (Donna Lewis cover)
Griffin William Sherry | December 7, 2022 | Park Theater | Glens Falls, NY One of These Days, Stephentown, Me and My Shadow, Fearless (Pink Floyd cover), Ain’t it Amazing
All-American southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd and their Texan counterpart, ZZ Top have announced their first co-headlining tour, aptly titled “The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour.” The two will hit 22 cities in North America over 2023 summer.
Since their debut over 50 years ago, Lynyrd Skynyrd has maintained its icon, proving the band has incredible staying power, capable of resonating with all generations. It’s the reason one can still hear “Sweet Home Alabama” at college parties, where the oldest person in the room just hit legal drinking age, as at family reunions, where “Free Bird” can be the only thing that can cut through the hazes of dementia. The band knows of their reach, and their primary mission in continued touring is to celebrate that legacy. The band’s current line-up features Johnny Van Zant, Rickey Medlocke, Mark “Sparky” Matejka, Michael Cartellone, Keith Christopher, Peter Keys, Carol Chase and Stacy Michelle, with select appearances from Gary Rossington, who still carries significant presence and creative influence within the band.
ZZ Top’s endurance in the scene is thanks to their mantra: “Tone, Taste and Tenacity.” The bluesy roots band made a name for themselves with their 1973 release Tres Hombres, and they made a name for the tour with their certified diamond track “Sharp Dressed Man.”
Tickets go on sale Friday, December 16 at 10 a.m. here. See tour dates below.
THE SHARP DRESSED SIMPLE MAN TOUR DATES:
July 21 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
July 23 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
July 28 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
July 29 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
July 30 – Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
August 7 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre*
August 10 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
August 11 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre
August 13 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion
August 17 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis, MO
August 19 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Chicago, IL
August 20 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
August 25 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
August 26 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
August 27 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
September 1 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
September 2 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
September 3 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
September 8 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
September 9 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
September 10 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
September 15 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
September 17 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
