Tag: albany

  • Drive-By Truckers Announce Stops in Woodstock, Albany and NYC on Spring 2023 Tour

    Established country group Drive-By Truckers has newly announced their full set of tour dates for the Spring 2023. The tour makes its way to the Northeast in May, with Drive-By Truckers performing at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, two nights at the Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan, and a show at The Egg in Albany.

    Drive-By Truckers

    The band with its roots stemming from Athens, Georgia starts the tour with an appearance in Indianapolis, Indiana on March 9 at The Vogue, followed by traveling from the end of March to the beginning of April for their annual four-day “Heathens Homecoming” celebration at their hometown’s own beloved 40 Watt Night Club.

    Club XIII by Drive-By Truckers
    Welcome 2 Club XIII

    Following the four-day celebration, a four-part two-night stands series by the band opens at Saxapahaw, NC’s Haw River Ballroom from April 25-26, leading up to premiering at Washington DC’s 9:30 Club from April 29-30, then New York City’s Bowery Ballroom from May 4-5, and lastly The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC. The recently-made announcement of the schedule of the Drive-By Trucker’s full tour is after the the release of the band’s 14th studio album, Welcome 2 Club XIII, which includes new singles like “The Driver”, “Every Single Storied Flameout”, along with the debut’s anthem, “Welcome 2 Club XIII”.

    Drive-By Truckers Spring 2023 Tour

    MARCH

    9 – Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue #

    10 – Detroit, MI – Saint Andrew’s Hall #

    11 – Milwaukee, WI – The Pabst Theater #

    12 – Madison, WI – Barrymore Theatre #

    14 – Iowa City, IA – Englert Theatre #

    15 – Urbana, IL – The Canopy Club #

    17 – Louisville, KY – Old Forester’s Paristown Hall #

    18 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant #

    19 – Fayetteville, AR – JJ’s Live #

    21 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Jones Assembly #

    23 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater #

    24 – Austin, TX – Paramount Theatre #

    25 – New Orleans, LA – Joy Theater #

    26 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City #

    29 – Athens, GA – 40 Watt †

    30 – Athens, GA – 40 Watt %

    31 – Athens, GA – 40 Watt ^ 

    APRIL

    1 – Athens, GA – 40 Watt @

    20 – St. Petersburg, FL – Floridian Social Club $

    21 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room $

    22 –Orlando, FL – Ace Café (Outdoors) $

    23 – Columbia, SC – The Senate $

    25 – Saxapahaw, NC – Haw River Ballroom $

    26 – Saxapahaw, NC – Haw River Ballroom $

    28 – Richmond, VA – Brown’s Island $

    29 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club $

    30 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club $

    MAY

    2 – Woodstock, NY – Levon Helm Studios $

    4 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom $

    5– New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom $

    8 – Albany, NY – The Egg Performing Arts Center

    9 – Munhall, PA – Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall $

    11 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall $

    12 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel $

    13 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel $

    † HeAthen’s Homecoming w/Model Citizen
    % HeAthen’s Homecoming w/Hayride
    ^ HeAthen’s Homecoming w/Camp Amped & Mercyland
    @ HeAthen’s Homecoming w/Wednesday
    $ w/Lydia Loveless
    * w/ Tyler Childers

    Tickets can be bought here.

    “The Driver” by Drive-By Truckers
  • Take Two: Beabadoobee and Lowertown take on Albany’s Empire Live

    Indie bedroom-pop musician beabadoobee marked her second-to-last US tour stop at Empire Live last Saturday, Dec. 3, with support from rising alternative duo Lowertown. 

    beabadoobee performing solo at the start of her set / Photo Credit: Sumaiya Nasir

    Empire Live, located on Pearl Street in downtown Albany, is a mid-sized room for bands with a mid-sized following. It boasts a spacious floor with standing-room-only, ideal for dancing. 

    Sandwiched between MVP Arena and the Palace Theatre, Empire Live offers locals a unique taste of both upcoming and well-established musical artists. The intimate venue was packed from the stage barricade to the bar with highschool to late-20s aged fans, plus a few hesitant parents here-and-there, with no shortage of energy.

    Beatrice Kristi Laus, stylistically known as “beabadoobee,” is a Filipino-British musician who came into popularity in 2017 with viral hit “Coffee.” Her most recent album, “Beatopia,” evokes childhood nostalgia with an MS-Paint or restaurant-tablecloth-crayon drawing looking album cover. Stuffed animals were scattered across the amps on stage, one fan even throwing a teddy bear to Bea halfway through the show.

    beabadoobee performing “Coffee” solo during the encore / Photo Credit: Danielle Modica

    Atlanta-based Lowertown started off the night strong with a spirited and punky set. In album sessions, the band has more of a soft, shoegaze sound. Live, they pull out all the stops and are nothing short of a high-energy garage band experience.

    Olivia Osby of Lowertown performing / Photo Credit: Sumaiya Nasir

    The songs were fast and loud with jam interludes by guitarist Avshalom “Avsha” Weinberg. Lead singer Olivia Osby encouraged the audience to go wild, opening a mosh pit, crowd surfing and spitting water into the crowd. Fans followed through, opening a large circle in the center of the already sardine-can-packed venue and going hog wild.

    Olivia Osby of Lowertown crowd surfing / Photo Credit: Danielle Modica

    Songs “No Way,” “All My Friends” and “Best Person You Know” stole the night with the most jumping and chanting.

    Lowertown performing / Photo Credit: Danielle Modica

    beabadoobee began her show after a quick stage reset and suspenseful audio introduction. After performing “10:36” solo, the band joined Bea and only added more flair to her soulful, soft and sweet singing style. Bea’s band kept up a late 90’s grunge/pop punk vibe. Bea’s guitarist and back-up singer, Jacob Bugden, complemented her baby-like pitch with a Billy Corgan-esque tone.

    beabadoobee & her band / Photo Credit: Danielle Modica

    “The Perfect Pair” and “She Plays Bass” stood out with the most energy and crowd engagement. The audience passionately shouted the lyrics back to Bea while she maintained control, coordinating group audience jumps.

    Bea frequently stood towards the back of the stage during instrumental portions, allowing for her band to receive all the attention. She shared her gratitude with the crowd various times, even joking about her inability to pronounce “Albany,” butchered with a subtle British accent.

    beabadoobee jamming on guitar / Photo Credit: Danielle Modica

    Both bands’ sets were thoughtfully planned out, seamlessly transitioned and well-executed, there was never a “when will it end” moment like other drawn out shows. The crowd stayed engaged with electric excitement, loudly chanting the lyrics to the songs they knew – even the venue playlist pre-and-post show. The good vibes seemed to encourage both sets to go a little harder with each song, giving fans a night to remember.

    After an hour-and-a-half-long performance, Bea and her band briskly exited the stage to ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” playing from the venue speakers. Audience members stayed behind to dance along.

    Lowertown Setlist: It’s It’s It’s, Debris, Scum, No Way, At the End, My Friends, Bucktooth, Best Person

    Beabadoobee Setlist: 10:36, Apple Cider, Care, Fairy Song; Yoshimi, Forest, Magdalene; Worth It, Together, Charlie Brown, The Perfect Pair, Sunny Day, Sorry, She Plays Bass, See You Soon, Don’t Get the Deal, Back to Mars, Last Day On Earth, Talk
    Encore: Coffee, Ripples Cologne

  • In Focus: Beabadoobee and Lowertown Stop at Empire Live in Albany

    Beabadoobee with opener Lowertown made a stop at Empire Live on Saturday, December 3rd for her second show in New York during her Beatopia tour. Beabadoobee, with her grungy outfit and electric green guitar, fully embodied the indie-rock age of the early-2000s through her stellar performance. 

    Beabadoobee
    Beabadoobee performing The Perfect Pair

    Filipino-British artist Beabadoobee, also known as Beatrice Laus, previously played at the Brooklyn Steel with guitarist Jacob Bugden, bassist Eliana Sewell, and drummer Luca Caruso. She is having one last US show in Boston before beginning her European tour. Beabadoobee is set to return in 2023 to open for Taylor Swift’s upcoming The Eras Tour. 

    Lowertown, consisting of Atlanta duo Olivia Osby and Avsha Weinberg, has opened for Beabadoobee for the entirety of her Beatopia tour. Invoking music of the indie-rock, electronic, and lo-fi genre, the pair put on an incredible performance with many songs from their new album, I Love To Lie.

    Olivia Osby from Lowertown

    During her song “10:36,” Beabadoobee urged the crowd to “Get down, get down!” before jumping at the drop of the chorus. Guitarist Jacob Bugden dived into the sea of people rocking their “fairy-core grunge” outfits as hundreds of hands allowed him to surf the crowd. Beatrice, with her large collection of red panda stuffed animals on stage, threw one into the crowd for a lucky fan to take home. 

    Finally, Beatrice ended her set with an encore, singing “Coffee“—her first ever original and most-popular song—“Ripples,” and “Cologne.” Her immaculate vocals, incredible energy, and phenomenal guitar-playing with the rest of her band truly wowed the crowd.

    Lowertown Setlist: It’s It’s It’s, Debris, Scum, No Way, At the End, My Friends, Bucktooth, Best Person

    Beabadoobee Setlist: 10:36, Apple Cider, Care, Fairy Song; Yoshimi, Forest, Magdalene; Worth It, Together, Charlie Brown, The Perfect Pair, Sunny Day, Sorry, She Plays Bass, See You Soon, Don’t Get the Deal, Back to Mars, Last Day On Earth, Talk
    Encore: Coffee, Ripples Cologne

    Beabadoobee singing Coffee and Ripples during her encore
    Eliana Sewell on bass
    Jacob Bugden on guitar
    Avsha Weinberg from Lowertown
    Olivia Osby from Lowertown
  • Conductor David Alan Miller Discusses ASO Holiday Performances in Albany and Troy

    Two fan favorite festive orchestral performances arrive in the Capital Region in the coming weeks. The Albany Symphony Orchestra (ASO) appearing at Albany’s Palace Theatre for the The Magic of Christmas series on Sunday, December 4th and at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall for the Holiday Classics on Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11.

    ASO holiday
    Albany Symphony Orchestra

    Groups of young, talented performers are being featured in the musical performance at the Palace Theater on Sunday, December 4, including The Music Studio and Capital District Youth Chorale, as well as the Boland School Dance, Ghanaian drumming group Gballoi and special guest narrator Walter Throne of the Albany Business Review.

    ASO holiday
    Capital District Youth Chorale Featured in Magic of Christmas Poster

    GRAMMY Award-winning Albany Symphony Orchestra conductor David Alan Miller is leading the orchestra in both concert series, which includes directing classical musical pieces by J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, and Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson included in Holiday Classics. “It’s always such a treat for us to present beautiful Baroque and Classical music in the glorious Troy Savings Bank Music Hall during the holiday season,” said David Alan Miller.

    Albany Symphony Orchestra David Alan Miller

    Mr. Miller went in further depth about his experience leading the ASO during the holiday season and music highlighted in prior and upcoming performance.

    Heather Occhino: The Magic of Christmas and Holiday Classic show events are premiering at Albany’s Palace Theater and Troy Savings Bank. How long have you been the director of the Albany Symphony Orchestra?

    David Alan Miller: 31 years 

    HO: Music by Mozart and Bach are going to be included in Holiday Classics. Do you think sharing classics, such as Mozart’s Symphony No. 39, on stage affects the audience size for each year Holiday Classics is premiered?

    DAM: Yes, there are different pieces we play at different times of year. People love Baroque and Classical music, we tend to play them during the month of December. Hearing these pieces is a wonderful treat. The shows on the weekend of 12/10 includes music by Black American multi-genre music composer, Coleridge Taylor Perkinson. 

    HO: Is Holiday Classics the first performance where musicians belonging to your ensemble are highlighting historically known performances part of the concert series?

    DAM: No, we feature musicians during every season. 

    HO: Do other musical troupes other than the Albany Symphony Orchestra typically join shows you direct?

    DAM: Yes, particularly in Magic of Christmas; 8-9 groups are joining this performance-an African drumming group, a children’s chorus, which are important particularly for Holiday programs. Young opera singers from Bard College are joining on the shows Dec. 10-11.

    HO: A special appearance by Santa is featured in the Magic of Christmas. What do you think this will mean for the children of your audience?

    DAM: We want to make it as much fun as possible for kids. We pick kids’ names out of a hat and conduct “Jingle Bells” on stage and do big sing alongs with the whole audience-we want to make the performance as engaging as possible. 

    Buy Magic of Christmas and Holiday Classic tickets here.

    Watch Albany Symphony Orchestra Perform at AHA! A House for Arts
  • King Buffalo 2023 Tour Includes Stop at Empire Underground

    On Friday, February 17, 2023, rock-trio King Buffalo, will be performing at Empire Underground on their just announced tour, along with an appearance by special guests, Swell the Fellas. The group is returning from their tour with Clutch, and more recently with Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, from their spring tour in North America.

    King Buffalo tour
    King Buffalo

    Members of the Rochester-based group are vocalist and guitarist, Sean McVay, bassist Dan Reynolds, and drummer Scott Donaldson. The band has released a total of four full-length EPs, “Acheron”, “The Burden of Restlessness”, “Dead Star”, “Longing to Be the Mountain” and “Orion”, since their formation in 2013 and most recently had their fifth full-length EP called “Regenerator” released on Sept. 2, 2022.

    King Buffalo tour
    Empire Underground Performance of King Buffalo Poster

    The album “Regenerator” is a pinnacle piece demonstrating a modern psychedelic sound production, while containing elements which stretch the stylistic boundaries of the underground rock genre. The band’s self release in North America and through the Europe-based company, Stickman Records, serves as a leading thematical counterpart to their prior projects, such as the 2016’s “Orion” debut, 2018’s “Longing to Be the Mountain”, as well as other EPs.

    Drummer Scott Donaldson, discussed with NYS Music about King Buffalo and their most recently released album, Regenerator.

    Heather Occhino: How did your band come together and what made you decide to be drummer?

    Scott Donaldson: We formed from 2 bands from the Rochester area. As my band was breaking, so was Sean’s and Dan’s. I approached them about doing some stuff together and we had a natural chemistry, and have been rolling since then.

    HO: How do you manage all the aspects of being in a band and still find time to make music?

    SD: Being a musician and managing the day to day is a full time job. Fortunately, I’m able to handle the business side of things. When it comes to making music, we all jam together and form new some ideas. At this point, Sean will take the recordings and rearrange the ideas to form a more cohesive structure. Then we work through those ideas together until the song is complete.

    HO: How you would you describe your music?

    SD: We’re basically a new age classic rock band. We can be grouped into sub genres like psychedelic rock, stoner, metal, prog and so forth but we don’t really tie ourselves to any specific category.

    HO: How were prior tour performances both in and outside of the U.S? Have you seen a growth in your listening base since then?

    SD: We have seen significant growth since the pandemic in both Europe and North America. It’s nice to have some recognition since next year will be ten years as a band, but there is plenty more still to accomplish.

    HO: Are there any artists who influence your sound or inspire you creatively?

    SD: I think each of us are inspired daily by numerous influences. It’s impossible to pick any because anything can have a placebo that you might not even realize.

    Tickets for the performance at Empire Underground can be bought here.

    King Buffalo North America Tour Dates:

    11/8 – Boise, ID @ The Olympic

    11/9 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge

    11/11 – Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre

    11/12 – Fort Collins, CO @ Aggie Theatre

    11/14 – Omaha, NE @ Slowdown Front Room

    11/15 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line

    11/16 – Madison, WI @ High Noon

    11/17 – Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village

    11/18 – Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village

    11/19 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Stache

    12/10 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall

    1/3 – Cleveland @ Grog Shop

    1/14 – Indianapolis, IN @ Hi-fi

    1/15 – St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway

    1/17 – Iowa City, IA @ Gabe’s

    1/18 – Milwaukee, WI @ Colectivo

    1/19 – Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig

    1/20 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Cafe Club

    1/21 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Cafe Club

    2/16 – Brattleboro, VT @ Stone Church

    2/17 – Albany, NY @ Empire Underground

    2/18 – Lancaster, PA @ Tellus 360

    2/19 – Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall

    2/21 – Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor

    2/23 – Orlando, FL @ Will’s Pub

    2/24 – Miami, FL @ Gramps

    2/25 – Tampa, FL @ Crowbar

    2/26 – St. Augustine, FL @ Cafe 11

    2/28 – Athens, GA @ Hendershots

    3/1 – Ashville, NC @ Asheville Music Hall

    3/3 – Huntington, WV @ The Load

    2023 European Tour Dates:

    5/19 – 5/21 – Desertfest Berlin

    6/8 – 6/10 – Freak Valley Festival

    Official Music Video for King Buffalo’s “Mammoth”
  • State Champs Release Acoustic Singles “Act Like That” and “Outta My Head”

    Local to Albany, State Champs have released their newest acoustic single “Act Like That,” an energetic, bouncing track, and “Outta My Head,” with its stripped back guitar licks, both bringing vocal harmonies and breathing new life into the songs. Earlier this year, State Champs planted their flag firmly in pop-punk history with their 4th studio album, Kings Of The New Age, out now via Pure Noise Records

    State Champs Act Like That Outta My Head

    Kings Of The New Age includes hit singles “Eventually”, “Everybody But You” (ft. Ben Barlow), “Outta My Head”, and “Just Sound.” Alongside this, seven new tracks featuring additional guest vocalists Chrissy Costanza, Mitchell Tenpenny, and Four Year Strong. 

    “If any band were to be crowned royalty amongst the current generation of pop-punk acts, we have little doubt the honor would go to New York’s State Champs.”

    – Beyond The Stage Magazine

    Starting in bedrooms and basements in 2010, State Champs quickly ascended in the pop punk scene owing as much to early Fall Out Boy and Green Day as latter-day Warped Tour bands. In 2022, Kerrang! declared them “one of the most authentic and well-respected bands in pop-punk. Derek DiScanio, Tyler Szalkowski, Ryan Scott Graham, and Evan Ambrosio deliver a strong message throughout Kings Of The New Age.

    State Champs delivered their music and heartfelt message on extensive tours with bands like Fall Out Boy, 5 Seconds Of Summer, A Day To Remember, and Simple Plan; three different Warped Tours; and a co-headliner with Neck Deep. 

    “With their pop-punk flag firmly planted, State Champs may have just provided us with the soundtrack to help remind us of the carefree days and the endless possibilities of a summer that could change our lives for the better.”

    – Chorus.fm 

    On the highly anticipated release, the band shares, “Kings of The New Age is our fourth album, the one that we spent the most time on, and the one that makes the biggest statement. After writing over 30 songs, we narrowed it down to 11 that best represent our mission as a band, and sonically, match the energy level we wanted to captivate heading into this new chapter.” 

    State Champs Act Like That

    “We had a short press week back in June where we did some in studio acoustic sessions,” explains guitarist Tyler Szalkowski. “We fell in love with the acoustic versions of Act Like That and Outta My Head. We knew we had to get these recorded and get them out to you all. Enjoy and see you all very soon on the Kings of the New Age tour.” 

    “[Kings Of The New Age] is full of engaging, high-velocity pop punk songs that are great for summertime listening.”

    – New Noise Magazine

    State Champs Upcoming Tour Dates 

    Nov 11 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues * 

    Nov 12 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live * 

    Nov 13 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel * 

    Nov 15 – Toronto, ON – Phoenix Concert Theatre * 

    Nov 18 – Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall * 

    Nov 19 – St. Louis, MO – Red Flag * 

    Nov 20 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater * 

    Nov 22 – Denver, CO – Gothic # 

    Nov 23 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union # 

    Nov 25 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues # 

    Nov 26 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues # 

    Nov 27 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren # 

    Nov 29 – Austin, TX – Empire Garage # 

    Nov 30 – Dallas, TX – South Side Music Hall # 

    Dec 2 – Orlando, FL – Plaza Live + 

    Dec 3 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore + 

    Dec 4 – Nashville, TN – Eastside Bowl + 

    Dec 6 – Richmond, VA – The National + 

    Dec 7 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom + 

    Dec 9 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner + 

    Dec 10 – Albany, NY – Empire Live + 

    To listen to State Champs release on Youtube, click the link here.

  • Celebration of Hmong Culture at UAlbany Continues with “The Latehomecomer”

    From Monday, October 24, to Friday, November 4, 2022, A Celebration of Hmong Culture Through the Arts is being presented through the collaboration of The UAlbany Performing Arts Center and New York State Writers Institute. The multi-series event is focusing on Hmong culture and history, with an emphasis on Kao Kalia Yang’s memoir, The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir.

    The Latehomecomer hmong culture
    Gaosung Heu in The Latehomecomer

    Through the collaboration of the Hmong Museum in Minnesota with UAlbany, there will be a display of Hmong story/flower clothes, known as Paj ntaub, presented throughout the course of the entire event, from 11am to 4pm, during the weekdays. The material of these intricate textiles are a significant aspect of Hmong culture, particularly the variety and quality of the content integrated on the story clothes, which helps provide a broader understanding of Hmong tradition.

    The Latehomecomer hmong culture
    ‘Crossing the Mekong River’ Story Clothe

    The documentary Being Hmong Means Being Free that was screened on Thurs., Oct. 27, at 4:30pm, which frames a lens of modern-day Hmong life in America through the perspective of program host, Lia Vang, centers around a Hmong immigrant community in Wisconsin. The film further examines concepts rooted in ancient Hmong culture and provides a connection to how these traditions have progressively shaped the Hmong community, and also looks at the challenges in Hmong life during contemporary times.

    Secondly, a duo-performance of the Literature to Life stage adaptation of The Latehomecomer is set to happen at the Performing Art Center. On Thurs., Nov. 3, a pre-talk show will be presented at 7pm, prior to the public performance starting at 7:30pm, following a second part of the performance on Fri., Nov. 4 at 10am, which is solely for high school students.

    Directed by Elise Thoron, The Latehomecomer this theatre work starts as author Kao Kalia Yang is born in the Ban Vinai Refugee camp in Thailand and eventually arrives in the United States.  The book and stage presentation follow her journey from a quiet, reticent student struggling to speak English while facing racial discrimination to a self-empowered young woman claiming her voice to tell the untold story of her people. They tell a universal story of immigration through the specific lens of this ancient culture inextricably bound to the history of the war in Vietnam.

    Driven to share her family’s history after her grandmother’s death, The Latehomecomer is an eloquent, firsthand account of a people who have worked hard to make their voices heard. In search of a place to call home, thousands of Hmong families made the journey from the war-torn jungles of Laos to the overcrowded refugee camps of Thailand, finally emigrating to America. Winner of a PEN USA Literary Award for Nonfiction and Readers Choice Award, The Latehomecomer is the first memoir written by a Hmong-American to be published with national distribution. A Hmong written language was not taught or used until the 1950s so the author plays a significant role in bringing the culture into the realm of literature.

    The Latehomecomer is performed by Gaosong Heu, a performance artist, musician, vocalist, published writer, educator, arts administrator and entrepreneur based in Saint Paul, MN. She received her B.A. in Theater Arts from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and her Master of Arts in Arts Administration from Columbia University. Gaosong has over 15 years of training in Western Classical music, as well as training in traditional styles of Hmong folk music.

    There will be a public performance at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center on Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 7:30pm, preceded by a pre-show talk beginning at 7pm. A second performance will take place on Friday, November 4, 2022 at 10am exclusively for high school student groups. 

    Advance tickets for the public performance are $15 for the general public and $10 for students, seniors and UAlbany faculty-staff.  Tickets purchased on the day of the show (pending availability) are $20 for the general public and $15 for students, seniors and UAlbany faculty-staff.  Individual tickets can be purchased on the UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s site at www.albany.edu/pac.

    Admission to the morning matinee is free for high school student groups. Reservations are required. Educators wishing to bring groups can contact the UAlbany Performing Arts Center office at (518) 442-3995 or PAC@albany.edu.  Home school students and parents are also welcome.

  • Ali McGuirk brings the Work of Love to The Linda Performing Arts Studio in Albany

    Ali McGuirk delivered a pared-down but powerful performance at The Linda Performing Arts Studio in Albany on Oct 1. The theater was pleasantly packed and ready for a throaty earful from McGuirk.

    Ali McGuirk at The Linda

    Ali McGuirk performed solo with only a couple of guitars as “friends.” Her partner in performance couldn’t make it. Even so, McGuirk is a compelling and entertaining presence on stage with just guitars accompanying her! Her soulful voice and a jazzy and sparse guitar playing style connect well with her audience.

    Ali McGuirk's guitars on stage at The Linda

    McGuirk’s set was filled with songs off her recently released a full-length album entitled Til It’s Gone. The album was recorded in Los Angeles with a gaggle of studio musicians, including Little Feat guitarist Fred Tackett. Highlights included “Ex-Boyfriends” and the title track “Til It’s Gone.” The audience was rapt and appreciative of the solo performance McGuirk delivered.

    Upstate NY’ers can catch Ali McGuirk in neighboring VT at South Burlington’s Higher Ground on October 14. Her new album Til It’s Gone is available on all streaming platforms.

    Setlist: All Back, Leave Me, Milk, Evelyn, Empty Vase, Work, Let It Be You, When I see You / Til It’s Gone, Exorcist, Anti Love Song, Ex-Boyfriends

    Ali McGuirk at The Linda
    Ali McGuirk at The Linda
    Ali McGuirk at The Linda
    Ali McGuirk at The Linda
    Ali McGuirk at The Linda
    Ali McGuirk at The Linda
    Ali McGuirk at The Linda
    Ali McGuirk at The Linda
    Ali McGuirk at The Linda
    Ali McGuirk at The Linda
    Ali McGuirk at The Linda
    Ali McGuirk at The Linda
  • Toubab Krewe is Making 4 Stops in NYS This Week

    Toubab Krewe is making four stops in NYS this week, with a fifth stop next month. They will be hitting Buffalo, Albany, and Ithaca, with an appearance in Port Washington in November.

    Toubab Krewe

    Toubab Krewe is an instrumental powerhouse from Asheville, NC that fuses west-African traditional music with elements of rock, jam, and Appalachian styles. Formed in 2005, the group is made up of Justin Perkins (Kora, Kamelngoni, guitar, percussion), Terrence Houston (drumset), Drew Heller (guitar, organ), Justin Kimmel (bass, keys), and Luke Quaranta (Djembe, Congas, Dundun, Sangban, Kinkini).

    The group takes inspiration from African greats like Ali Farka Toure, Orchestra Baobab, and Salif Keita but remains true to themselves. They have also gone on many trips to learn more about African music, traveling to places like Guinea, the Ivory Coast, and Mali.

    This short tour stops in numerous places in NYS. On October 4, they will stop at Buffalo Iron Works, a venue they have toured before. They will head to Albany on October 5, playing at Lark Hall. The next day they will go to Ithaca and play at Deep Dive. They’ll be in Brooklyn at Industry City on Saturday, October 8th. For tickets to the tour, go here.

    Tour Dates

    10/4 Buffalo NY – Buffalo Iron Works

    10/5 Albany NY – Lark Hall

    10/6 Ithaca NY – Deep Dive

    10/7 Bridgeport CT – Park City Music Hall

    10/8 Brooklyn NY – Industry City

    10/30 Live Oak FL – Hulaween 

    11/12 Port Washington NY – Landmark on Main

  • In Focus: Jimmy Eat World at Empire Live

    On Sept. 28 Jimmy Eat World came to Albany to say “Something Loud” to the people at Empire Live Albany.

    Jimmy Eat World is a rock band from Mesa, AZ that formed in 1993. Their most notable album, Bleed American, had jump-started them to fame with their most well-known song “The Middle.” Jimmy Eat World has been all over the alternative rock realm with songs that could be categorized as pop-punk, emo-pop, and punk-rock to just name a few. Their ability to continue to shift across rock has kept them relevant to fans young and old for the last 20+ years.

    The show opened with a last-minute addition rock band, Frankie and his Fingers from Kingston. They formed in 2004 when lead vocalist Frank McGinnis and guitarist Ryan Stoutenburgh found each other in college. Their latest album, Universal Hurt, dropped in March of 2021. They have an upcoming show in Woodstock on October 2nd.

    Frankie and his Fingers opened to a growing crowd of mid-20s-late 30-year-olds. They played their hearts out for about 30 minutes with warm applause from the crowd. Frank McGinnis’ energy on stage was very reflective of how excited the band was to be their opening for such a big name. After their set, the band waited by the merch station to greet fans and answer questions.

    By the time Jimmy Eat World took the stage, there was no standing room left. They opened strong with lead vocalists Jim Adkins taking hold of the mic and singing “Futures.” Throughout the set, the stage was consistently backlit with blinding lights that shined on beat with many of the intricate guitar strums. The crowd, who many probably have been following since 1995, sang the chorus of “Work” with Adkins and many other songs throughout their time on stage.

    Towards the end of an hour and half long set, Adkins prefaced their latest single and tour title “Something Loud” as a song about finding yourself in rock. An idea that has probably fueled Jimmy Eat World to continue to find new sounds in their music.

    They thanked their fans for coming and welcoming them back to New York. They closed with their hit, “The Middle.” The Something Loud tour continues in Ocean City, MD on Oct. 1, and a rescheduled show in Burlington, VT on Oct. 3.

    Jimmy Eat World Setlist: Intro/Futures, Pain, Bleed American, Big Casino, I Will Steal You Back, Praise, Congratulations, Let It Happen, Work, Blister, Sunday, Hear You Me, Sure and Certain, Rockstar, Something Loud, Denver, Sweetness, The Middle