Reggaeton artist Bad Bunny made his third ever appearance on Saturday Night Live and first as host and musical guest, bringing along a few friends for sketches that were spoken in equal parts English and Spanish.
Inviting out Pedro Pascal – who hosted SNL for the first time last year – in the monologue, Bad Bunny began the show saying “My name is Benito and I am very excited to be here onSabado Gigante“ a nod to the long-running Univision Saturday night variety show. Bad Bunny took aim at the GRAMMY Awards in his monologue, opting for [Speaking Sexier Language] instead of [Speaking in non-English] when subtitles appeared, before Pascal translated for the audience into English, creating a bilingual monologue, with Bad Bunny offering hugs and kisses to his people in Puerto Rico to close.
A native of Almirante Sur, Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny referenced Puerto Rican and Spanish culture in sketches including “Rap Battle” with Bad Bunny as ‘Fuego,’ as a Spanish King in “The Age of Discovery” (featuring Fred Armisen) and “Telenovela” which featured an unexpected appearance from Mick Jagger.
Lady Gaga surprised fans when she introduced (in Spanish) Bad Bunny as musical guest who performed “Un Preview” in a white cloaked stage with only a coin operated horse ride moving to the beat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkSnz-5C5C8
Featured player Marcello Hernández had ample air time for this episode, his Dominican/Cuban roots providing multiple opportunities to speak Spanish and reference Hispanic culture. In the sketch of the night, Bad Bunny dresses up as his tia and Pascal as his mother, Hernández parodied bringing a white girlfriend (new featured player Chloe Troast) home and the Spanglish conversations that ensued.
Bad Bunny’s second song “Monaco” from Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana began with two violinists before revealing a long dinner table with Bad Bunny in the center around masked dancers on each side.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1ArZCGbIr0
Mick Jagger would return one more time in a cringey “Convent Meeting” as an irresistible Sister Kevin.
Next week, Saturday Night Live‘s Halloween episode will feature comedian Nate Bargatze with musical guest Foo Fighters.
NYC-based singer-songwriter Steve Conte released a new official music video for his latest single, “Girl With No Name.” The video was filmed on the streets of New York, and shows iconic locations such as Times Square and the famous Flatiron Building.
Conte wrote “Girl With No Name” based on ideas of missed opportunity and attraction. He began writing it in 1984 and finished the track for his upcoming album. He cited influences such as The Beatles, XTC, and Diana Ross and the Supremes.
This is a song of regret…about missed opportunity and lack of skills in meeting someone you’re attracted to. When putting my new album together, I was looking for songs that would fit nicely alongside the songs that Andy Partridge and I had written for it and I kept thinking of this one. I wrote it back in 1984 and never forgot it – which was a good sign.
Steve Conte
Photo Credit: Anja Van Ast, 2020
Steve Conte is known as a longtime member of the rock group New York Dolls, as well as working alongside Paul Simon, Billy Squier, and Peter Wolf. Conte expanded internationally in recent years, working alongside Japanese composer Yoko Kanno to write soundtracks for anime series’.
Disco Biscuits have a long history of music festivals in New York State, their own Camp Bisco, as well as numerous performances at festivals of all sizes around the state. For the first time since 2013, a new, intentionally more intimate festival, BISCOLand, was conceived and held in Lafayette at Wonderland Forest over October 6-7.
photo by Tara Gracer
Joining Disco Biscuits were a pair of bands that appeared on earlier Camp Bisco lineups – Lotus and Emancipator, and newcomers to the Bisco fold – Opiou, The Floozies, Eggy and Space Bacon. With classic Camp Bisco lineups featuring up and coming artists as well as staples of the EDM/jamtronica community, the vibe of a stripped down but still well dressed music festival, perfect for an autumn weekend in Central New York.
As for the Disco Biscuits, the jamtronica pioneers took the opportunity to break new ground with some unique musical pairings over the weekend. Biscuits fan Shimmy noted this was the first time the band segued “Confrontation” into “Orch Theme” and followed that up with “And The Ladies Were the Rest of the Night,” the other being December 29, 2014.
Even more notably, the band took the encore on Saturday, October 7 to perform the first ever inverted “Kitchen Mitts,” playing the ending of song first, then the first part. Add to that this inverted “Mitts” appeared inside of a fitting encore appearance of “Home Again” made for an apt coda on the weekend.
Disco Biscuits – BISCOLAND at Wonderland Forest – LaFayette, New York – October 6, 2023
Set 1: Wet, Munchkin Invasion > The Wormhole > Space Train > Cyclone > Nughuffer1 Set 2: Nughuffer 1 > Shocked > To Be Continued > Reactor 2 > M1 > To Be Continued
1 dyslexic 2 inverted
Disco Biscuits – BISCOLAND at Wonderland Forest – LaFayette, New York – October 7, 2023
Set 1: Jam 1 > Bombs > The Deal > Voices Insane 2 > I-Man Set 2: Mindless Dribble 3 > Confrontation 4 > Orch Theme 5 > And the Ladies Were the Rest of the Night 4 > Spacebirdmatingcall Encore: Home Again > Kitchen Mitts 6 7 4 > Home Again
1 w/ ‘Could U Be Loved’ (Bob Marley) teases 2 unfinished 3 w/ Wormhole quotes 4 inverted 5 w/ Crickets tease 6 LTP 2/4/2023 (53 shows) 7 first time inverted
The first episode of Saturday Night Live‘s 49th season aired on October 14, with former cast member Pete Davidson hosting, joined by musical guest and Bronx native, Ice Spice. The show had been on hold due to the recently ended Writers Guild of America strike.
Opening the show with an uncharacteristically serious message, Davidson discussed the events in Israel and Gaza, comparing the recent terrorist attacks to those of 9/11, when Davidson’s father Scott, a firefighter, was killed in the tragic events of that day. It was comedy – Eddie Murphy’s Delirious – that helped Pete deal with the childhood trauma he endured, and with saying that, Davidson shared he would try to be funny this evening.
And try he did, with a few fresh sketches – Wired Autocomplete Interview, Beach Day and Secretary – plus topical sketches including FOX NFL Sunday pregame coverage, where the hosts cannot stop talking about Taylor Swift, regardless of her lack of connection to football.
Davidson didn’t appear as Chad or at the Weekend Update desk as he would while a cast member, instead dialing all his energy into “I’m Just Pete,” a parody of “I’m Just Ken” from this summer’s Barbie movie. Self-deprecating to the core, Pete makes light of himself and criticisms of his character in a poignant and hilarious digital short.
Ice Spice served as musical guest for the first time on Saturday Night Live, having gained a following for her unique voice and style of rapping. This past week, the Bronx-native rapper won big at the 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards for Best Breakthrough hip-hop artist, and coming up in November, she will open select dates for Doja Cat.
Standing stiffly on the Studio 8H stage, an LED box was created around Ice, with two dancers flanking her with a low LED ceiling and dancefloor, while she sang her hit “In Ha Mood.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4t2SKGjkTE
Ice Spice’s second song this evening was introduced surprisingly by Taylor Swift, with her new song “Pretty Girl” on, with Nigerian singer Rema joining her for a duet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3FzkxeEACE
SNL returns on October 21 with host and musical guest, Bad Bunny.
On a fall Saturday night in Cohoes, the blues were alive and well at Cohoes Music Hall, with North Mississippi Allstars bringing their patented Hill Country sound to a lively, packed audience that hung on every note.
The power trio of brothers Luther (guitar) and Cody (drums) Dickinson were joined by bassist Berry Oakley Jr. this evening. Dickinson’s hypnotic guitar sound was on display this evening, particularly on “Outside,” off Set Sail, and featuring Lamar Williams Jr. on the studio version. A pair of songs with Cody Dickinson on vocals – “Let Me In” and “KC Jones” peppered the first set, ending with the 1969 R.L. Burnside classic “Po Black Maddie” that the Allstars have brought to a new generation with their amped up version.
Set 2 began with a double dose of southern rock, as the Hernando, Mississippi trio performed a 17 minute version of Allman Brothers Band‘s “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.” You’ll want to watch this one:
The rest of the set featured classic NMAS songs “Goin Down South” and “All Night Long,” the latter sung by Cody Dickinson who took over guitar duties while Luther switched to bass and Berry hopped on the kit, followed by Cody taking an extended drum solo under a purple hue.
There was nary a flaw in the show this evening, the band members dialed in and playing songs from across their extensive catalog. They’ll be back next year, if not sooner, with an audience that continues to fill in to hear this wonderful Mississippi Hill Country sound.
North Mississippi Allstars – Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, NY – Saturday, October 14
Set 1: Up and Rolling, Shake (Yo Mama), Mean Ol’ Wind Died Down, Let Me In, Outside, Ship, Meet Me in the City, K.C. Jones, Po Black Maddie Set 2: In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, Goin Down South, Rabbit Foot, Mississippi Bollweevil, Otha’s Bye Bye Baby, Bumpin’, All Night Long > drum solo, Shame Em on Down, Mean Old World Encore: Didn’t We Have a Time (Luther solo)
NYC-based alt-rock group Black Rose Burning released “Ad Astra,” the title track from their brand new album alongside a sci-fi inspired official music video. Following singles, “Fight!”, “Night Terrors,” and “Sing to Me,” the group’s new album released in September, inspired by the Latin phrase “Ad Astra Per Aspera.”
“Ad Astra,” the new record’s title track, sports a sci-fi inspired video, featuring stylized digital graphics showing space travel and all things outer space. The song’s high energy matches well with the graphics, and showcases the group’s growing synergy. Inspired by the Latin phrase “Ad Astra Per Aspera,” meaning “through hardships to the stars,” the song carries themes of reaching beyond Earth towards the stars.
Sonically it’s a major leap forward in the ever-growing sound of Black Rose Burning in every way. Letting experts do what they do has resulted in – a lush soundscape that’s better than I could have ever hoped for. And even though I again wrote all the material, having partners who understand my vision is both invaluable and awe inspiring.
George Grant
Formed in 2018, Black Rose Burning began with instrumentalist, producer, and engineer George Grant, joined by guitarist Frank Morin and drummer Luis Infantas. Ad Astra was recorded in Grant’s own studio, PV Recording Company, where the full band recorded the album alongside Grant’s production skills.
Black Rose Burning released their previous album, The Wheel, in December 2021. Since then, the group released three new singles, “Fight!”, “Night Terrors,” and “Sing to Me,” leading up to their third full length album, Ad Astra. The new album is available on streaming platforms, and available for purchase on BandCamp.
Grammy-nominated duo The Milk Carton Kids were among the multitude of hosts at the Americana Music Awards in Nashville on September 20th. In addition to their co-hosting duties, the duo took the stage alongside Noah Kahan for a cover of Paul Simon’s “American Tune.”
Formed in 2011, The Milk Carton Kids are an American folk duo hailing from California. Nominated for Best Folk Album at the 2013 Grammy Awards, the group’s new record I Only See The Moon released this past May on LA-based ANTI- Records.
Noah Kahan, the New-England native singer-songwriter, rose to global fame with the release of his third full-length album, Stick Season. Taking the stage with The Milk Carton Kids, he and the duo offered smooth vocals against a lone acoustic guitar.
The Milk Carton Kids are set to embark on a US tour this fall, stopping at Kingston’s Broadway Theatre at UPAC, as well as New York City’s Beacon Theatre. Both New York dates will be in support of fellow folk artist Gregory Alan Isakov.
The Milk Carton Kids Upcoming Tour Dates
October 8—Los Angeles, CA—Los Angeles Folk Festival
October 10—San Francisco, CA—The Independent*
October 12—Portland, OR—Aladdin Theater*
October 13—Seattle, WA—St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral*
Phish welcomed legendary guitarist Derek Trucks during the second set of their show on Saturday, August 26 at SPAC. For roughly an hour, Trucks traded guitar licks with Trey Anastasio and jammed on classic Phish songs as well as TV On the Radio’s “Golden Age.”
Photo by Derek Java
The late August shows served as a benefit for the Vermont and Upstate New York flood recovery effort. While rumors of Trucks abounded during the day, only when his amp was brought out on stage following a speedy “2001” did the audience let out an electric cheer for the guitarist of Allman Brothers Band, Derek Trucks Band, and currently, Tedeschi Trucks Band.
Photo by Derek Java
Trucks had joined Phish once prior, in Charlotte, NC on July 7, 1999, for “Funky Bitch” and “Possum,” the latter of which would serve as the encore this evening as well. Additionally, Trucks and Susan Tedeschi were joined by Anastasio at Lockn 2019 for a recreation of Derek and the Dominoes Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.
Watch Derek Trucks join Phish for “Golden Age,” “Everything’s Right,” “First Tube” and “Possum.”
Phish – Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) Saratoga Springs – August 26, 2023
Legendary Grateful Dead singer/guitarist Jerry Garcia touched many lives in his brief 53 years on Earth. Regarded as one of the most influential musical figures of all time, even 28 years after his passing, Garcia’s legacy and words continue to inspire and resonate with a whole new generation. An artist in every sense of the word, his creativity, curiosity, kindness, vulnerability, sense of humor and his unique ability to collaborate with almost anyone make him one of the most revered players of any era. Relatable to millions and a limitless source of inspiration for countless Grateful Dead-inspired tribute acts, while Jerry’s journey may be one of the greatest stories ever told, you could easily argue that even though he’s gone, the music never stopped.
Jerry Garcia’s Birthday Bash: NYS Dead Coalition featuring Organ Fairchild and Vinnie Amico of moe. performing at Lark Hall on 8/1/23.
Born Jerome John Garcia on August 1, 1942, in 1965 he would become one of the founding members of The Grateful Dead and from there, go on to become one of the most recognizable figures of the last century. One of the most recorded musicians in history, he’s also said to have played in over 25 side projects while releasing more than 30 studio albums. Since his passing on August 9, 1995, Deadheads around the world have respectfully anointed the “days between” his birth and death as a time to honor Garcia’s life and legacy. Fortunate to be living in a place both rich in local talent and Grateful Dead history, this year I wanted to try something a little different to convey my appreciation. With multiple venues across the area holding special Jerry-themed celebrations during the first 9 days of August, I charged up my camera, cleared out my memory cards and set off to hit as many of them as I could. If I told you all that went down, it would burn off both of your ears, but as best as I can remember, here’s how the Capital Region celebrated the Days Between in 2023.
Moe. drummer Vinnie Amico sat in with NYS Dead Coalition at Lark Hall on 81/2023.
Kicking off the weeklong celebration was New York’s own Organ Fairchild. Stopping by Albany’s Lark Hall on August 1st as part of “Jerry’s Birthday Bash,” the Buffalo-based band would pull double duty on the night. First playing a set that mixed originals songs in with Grateful Dead covers like “Picasso Moon,” “Cream Puff War,” and “He’s Gone,” Organ Fairchild would return later in the night with a few friends for an extra special NYS Dead Coalition set. Featuring Vinnie Amico of moe. on drums along with Tom Mahoney and Ron Permoda from the Utica-based Dead band Into The Now, the memorable performance featured stellar renditions of uptempo rockers like “Let The Good Times Roll,” “After Midnight,” “Cumberland Blues,” and “New Speedway Boogie,” while the back half the set was far more tender and introspective with our first “Bird Song” of the week, along with “Peggy-O,” “They Love Each Other” and a lengthy dose of “Love Light” that even Jerry Garcia himself would have been moved by.
Rockin’ on the River: It was all ‘Sunshine Daydreamin’ with Neon Avenue on 8/2/2023.
The next stop on our “Days Between the Capital Region” tour took us down by the riverside of Troy, where it was all ‘sunshine daydreaming’ with Neon Avenue. Headlining perhaps their biggest show yet as part of the Collar City’s annual Rockin’ On the River’ concert series, the energetic Clifton Park band more than rose to the occasion, delivering a phenomenal set of improvised jams on some of the Grateful Dead’s most beloved material.
Wharf Rats: Neon Avenue’s thoughtful setlist had fans dancing in the Collar City streets until sundown on 8/2/2023.
The picture-perfect weather brought out a huge crowd and songs like “Shakedown Street,” “Sugaree,” and “Scarlet Begonias” > “Fire on the Mountain” had both fans new and old on their feet and dancing all the way to sundown. Also mixing in hits like “Touch of Grey,” “Truckin,” and “Casey Jones,” for good measure, it was Neon Avenue’s thoughtful placement of songs like “Wharf Rat, “Sugar Magnolia” and “Magnificent Sanctuary Band” that yielded the most sentimental moments. Playing off their surroundings to great effect, perhaps the biggest cheers of the night came during the set closing “U.S. Blues.” Troy is said to be the original home of Uncle Sam after all.
View Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia shows from across the years in New York State with our interactive map below!
Our third stop of “Jerry Week” took us back to Lark Hall for another milestone performance, this time for legendary Hudson Valley rockers The Deadbeats who were celebrating their 30th anniversary. After playing around the area nearly every week for the last three decades, the highly respected group of local musicians have amassed a devoted following and they came out in full force on this Friday night in August. Blasting off with “Bertha,” the energy was there from the start and never let up. Working their way through a nice combination of “Beat it on Down the Line” and “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” other highlights of the first set included our only “Candyman” of the week, as well as “Dire Wolf,” and another smokin’ rendition of “Cumberland Blues” before “Scarlet Begonias” > Fire on the Mountain” took us to halftime.
The Deadbeats celebrated Jerry and a milestone of their own at Lark Hall on 8/4/2023.
Returning for a lengthy second set that included an impressive ride through “Help on the Way” > “Slipknot” > “Franklin’s Tower,” The Deadbeats also managed to throw in a few Jerry Garcia Band surprises too, like “Rubin and Cherise,” “Midnight Moonlight” and “Ride Mighty High.” “Truckin” and “Not Fade Away” had the whole room moving and grooving, but really, anyone who was there will tell you the second set was all about the funked-out version of “Throwing Stones” that essentially stole the show and helped make the band’s 30th anniversary party so memorable. Kudos to all members of The Deadbeats, past and present, for helping keep Jerry’s spirit alive in Albany all these years.
The Deadbeats Mike Johnson has been ‘playing in the band’ for an astonishing 30 years.
The next show we had the privilege of attending was a special stripped down acoustic performance by 3 members of The Wheel. Taking place on the 28th anniversary of the day Jerry Garcia passed, the intimate cocktail hour gathering, also at Lark Hall, was easily the most unique and sentimental performance of the week-long celebration. Consisting of Bryan Gautie on guitar and banjo, Andy Morse on guitar and mandolin and Woodstock’s Misty Mountain Ramblers’ keyboardist Kenny Schneidman, all three members jelled together nicely and would take turns singing and cracking jokes between songs. Opening up with “Dark Hollow” and our only “Deep Elum Blues” of the Days Between, other highlights of the set included gorgeous renditions of “Friend of the Devil, “Black Peter,” “Catfish John,” and “Must Have Been the Roses.”
Ripple Effect: The Wheel Trio unplugged for a sentimental cocktail hour set at Lark Hall on 8/9/23.
With no rhythm devils or soaring electric guitar solos during the set, the real beauty was being able to fully concentrate on the actual songwriting and Robert Hunter’s timeless lyrics. Perhaps the trio’s biggest strength, however, was the combination of their voices together. Using three-part harmony to great effect, there were moments during the set that simply gave you the chills, particularly on “Bird Song” and the set closing “Ripple,” which you can watch below.
Watch fan shot footage of The Wheel Trio performing “Ripple” at Lark Hall on 8/9/23.
Afterwards the buzz was all about “the other” Grateful Dead-inspired show that was also happening in the area that night. Full of heart and still daylight outside, those who couldn’t get enough Jerry packed up the party and trucked on over to the Cohoes Music Hall where two sets of Bearly Dead was just getting underway.
Bearly Dead’s Dynamic Debut: The Boston-based band buzzed with high energy during their Cohoes Music Hall performance on 8/9/23.
Walking into to the historic (and allegedly haunted) Cohoes Music Hall is always a vibe, but I admit I wasn’t very familiar with Bearly Dead beforehand. Kicking off their show with our first “Here Comes Sunshine” of the week, right away you could tell these guys “really cook” and I could feel a sense of ease come over me as I knew after all this poking around, I ended up in exactly the right place. Working their way through fiery renditions of “Passenger,” “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo,” and the crowd favorite “Ramble on Rose,” it was clear that Bearly Dead were diligent students at Grateful University and they had done their homework. Bringing a fresh and energetic approach to these ageless tunes, the band first came of age in Somerville, MA in 2015 and would go on to do a 5-year Wednesday Night Residency at Thunder Road before the venue closed in the midst of the pandemic. Now taking their show on the road and touring nationally, Bearly Dead brought their A-game to Cohoes on August 9th. Immediately making a good first impression with first set staples like “Black-Throated Wind,” and “Tennessee Jed,” by the time the band linked together a monstrous “Terrapin Station” > “China Cat Sunflower” -> “I Know You Rider” jam sandwich to close the opening frame, no one needed further convincing that these guys are the good shit.
Sharing the Weight: Bearly Dead paid tribute to both Jerry Garcia and Robbie Robertson on 8/9/23
On the same day the world learned that legendary singer/songwriter Robbie Robertson of The Band had passed away, the second set began with a touching moment of acknowledgement to one of their other musical heroes. Introducing the first song by saying, “I think Jerry wanted a buddy to jam with today,” Bearly Dead then broke into a heartfelt rendition of “The Weight.” Stragglers still smoking outside must have been kicking themselves as they quickly rushed in to fill the noticeably empty floor, so in an effort to help them out a little, I quickly pulled out my phone and hit the record button. That footage can be seen in the clip below.
Watch fan shot footage of Bearly Dead covering “The Weight” during their Cohoes Music Hall debut on 8/9/23.
One of the most striking things that helps separate this band from others like it is that every member can really sing and with convincing passion. Perhaps Jerry’s most well-known solo song came next with “Cats Under the Stars,” before “Rhapsody in Blue,” and “Easy Wind” flowed beautifully into the iconic Grateful Dead anthem “Dark Star.” Seamlessly working in “Miss You” teases by The Rolling Stones, “Dark Star” would continue to burn straight into a poignant take on “He’s Gone,” and even further into “Uncle John’s Band,” before reeling in the 40 plus minute frame of uninterrupted music with the gorgeous bluesy b-side “Death Don’t Have No Mercy.” Picking up the pace once again, the dance party resumed one final time with a proper and appropriate “The Music Never Stopped” before segueing into one of the most powerful versions of “Morning Dew” I’ve heard in a long time. Simply cathartic.
Watch fan shot footage of Bearly Dead performing “Death Don’t Have No Mercy” at the Cohoes Music Hall 8/9/23.
As the Days Between celebrations came to a bittersweet close, a flood of emotions ran through my mind. Pardon the obligatory pun, but I couldn’t help but feel grateful and for so many different reasons. Reinvigorated and inspired. Even 28 years after Jerry Garcia’s passing, it’s clear the music he made is as relatable and as relevant today as it ever was and that Jerry’s contributions will never be forgotten. Over the course of the 5 shows, you were bound to hear some repeats, but considering how few there actually were is quite a testament to just how deep GD’s songbook is. I’m grateful for the musical community I live in that continues to play these songs, the talent that it takes to get up there and actually do it and to the amazing local venues that provide a platform for them to do it on. There will never be another Jerry Garcia, but if this 9 day period taught me anything, it’s that this music is absolutely timeless, “Weir everywhere” and that the Capital Region still has plenty of heart, I can hear it beat out loud.
Check out full setlists and photos of each show courtesy of NYS Music correspondent Zak Radick.
Organ Fairchild ft. NYS Dead Coalition | August 1, 2023 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY
Set 1: Morning Coffee, Over the Handlebars, Yum, Picasso Moon > Cream Puff War > He’s Gone, Chamelonious Monk with Layla tease
Set 2: Let the Good Times Roll, After Midnight, Cumberland Blues, New Speedway Boogie, Bird Song, Peggy-O, They Love Each Other, Love Light.
*Set 2 featured members of Into The Now and Vinnie Amico of moe.
Neon Avenue | August 2, 2023 | Riverfront Park | Troy, NY
Setlist: Shakedown Street, Touch of Grey, Sugaree, Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain, Truckin > Wharf Rat > Sugar Magnolia > Casey Jones, Magnificent Sanctuary Band, U.S. Blues
Encore: Brokedown Palace.
Deadbeats | August 4, 2023 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY
Set 1: Bertha, Beat It On Down the Line > Greatest Story Ever Told, Hard To Handle, Candy Man, Cumberland Blues, The Buzz, Dire Wolf, Scarlet Begonias > Fire On the Mountain
Set 2: Help on the Way > Slipknot > Franklin’s Tower, Crosstown Traffic, Truckin, Rubin and Cherise, Throwing Stones, Not Fade Away, Midnight Moonlight, Ride Mighty High
Encore: Ripple, US Blues
The Wheel Trio | August 9, 2023 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY
Setlist: Dark Hollow, Deep Elum Blues, Oh Babe It Ain’t No Lie, Jack A Roe, Dire Wolf, Rosalie McFall, Friend of the Devil, Deal, Black Peter, Bird Song, Catfish John, Must Have Been the Roses, On the Road Again, Uncle John’s Band, Midnight Moonlight, Cumberland Blues, Ripple
Bearly Dead | 8-9-2023 | Cohoes Music Hall | Cohoes, NY
Set 1: Here Comes Sunshine, Passenger, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Ramble On Rose, Black-Throated Wind, Tennessee Jed, Terrapin Station > China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Set 2: The Weight[1], Cats Under the Stars, Rhapsody in Blue, Easy Wind > Dark Star[2] > He’s Gone -> Uncle John’s Band > Death Don’t Have No Mercy, The Music Never Stopped > Morning Dew
[1] Dedicated to Robbie Robertson [2] Contained Rolling Stones “Miss You” teases
New York’s own Tony Bennett, one of the most awarded singers of his generation, has passed away at age 96. His death marks the end of a recent battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and a life filled with chart-topping hits and almost every musical accolade possible, including 20 Grammys, a Lifetime Achievement Award and two Primetime Emmys. His signature jazzy singing style and notable duets with contemporary superstars allowed Bennett to forge a career that lasted nearly 70 years in total.
(Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Anthony Dominick Benedetto was born in Long Island City in Queens on August 3, 1926, the son of Italian immigrants. He and his older siblings grew up in poverty in New York, in the face of The Great Depression. Although his father passed away when Tony was only 10 years old, he helped him develop a love for arts and music like Al Jolson and Louis Armstrong. With the help of an uncle who worked in vaudeville. Tony Bennett was already performing live at 13 years old, singing at various Italian restaurants in Queens. He attended New York’s School of Industrial Art but dropped out at age 16 to help support his family. He never gave up on his dream of being a singer though, continuing to amass gigs as a singing waiter at restaurants as well as a a successful run at a Paramus, NJ night club.
In 1944, Bennett was drafted into the US Army during the latter stages of World War II and even spent time on the front lines at one point in Germany. Upon discharge, he studied at the American Theatre Wing on the GI Bill. Here, he was taught the bel canto singing discipline which would allow to sing him for as long as he did. It was at this time that he also first started to develop his atypical approach of imitating, as he sang, the style and phrasing of other musicians.
Pearl Bailey gave Tony his big break in 1949, asking him to open for her at a show in Greenwich Village. This led to a deal with Columbia Records where Bennett’s career first started out as a commercial pop singer. His first big hit was “Because Of You,” a ballad with a lush Percy Faith-led Orchestra. It reached #1 on the charts in 1951 and stayed there for ten weeks.
Bennett continued to score more number ones in the early part of the 50s with songs like his rendition of “Blue Velvet” and “Rags To Riches.” He even had a short-lived television variety show in 1956, The Tony Bennett Show, which served as a replacement to The Perry Como Show. As the age of rock and roll ushered in, Bennett adapted accordingly with more jazz-oriented long form recordings like Cloud 7 and the critically acclaimed The Beat Of My Heart which featured icons like Art Blakey and Candido Camero. He even became the first male pop vocalist to sing with the Count Basie Orchestra.
Bennett was also a notable advocate for civil rights. He participated at the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches and performed at a rally the night before Martin Luther King’s “How Long, Not Long” speech. His career and popularity took a noticeable dip in the ’60s and ’70s where he tried, unsuccessfully, to record contemporary rock songs. He bounced around between different labels and even started his own record company called Improv which was out of business by 1977.
After a near fatal overdose and an ongoing battle with the IRS, Bennett hired his son as manager in an effort to turn his career around. He was able to get his expenses under control, moved him back to New York, and began booking him in colleges and small theaters to distance him from a “Vegas” image. By 1986, Tony Bennett was re-signed to Columbia Records, this time with creative control, and released his first album to reach the charts since 1972, The Art Of Excellence.
He continued to stay relevant throughout the ’80s and ’90s thanks to the guidance of his new management which regularly booked him on TV shows like Letterman and Late Night With Conan O’Brien. In 1993, Bennett played a string of benefit concerts organized by alternative radio stations around the country, introducing a whole new generation to composers like Cole Porter and Gershwin. He even made an appearance at the MTV Movie Video Awards alongside the Red Hot Chili Peppers, cementing the gap between his and the current generation. His 1994 appearance on MTV’s influential Unplugged is heralded as one of the better episodes and may have marked the peak of Bennett’s popularity.
Bennett continued to tour extensively throughout the 90s, including a memorable appearance at Glastonbury in 1998, with his financial worries long a thing of the past. He was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1997. Tony Bennett is also a member of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.
The latter part of his career may have produced one of his more successful recordings of all time in Duets: An American Classic, which was released in 2006 as part of a celebration of Bennett’s 80th birthday, receiving two Grammy awards and resulting in a slew of corresponding concerts and TV specials. A sequel, Duets II, was released five years later featuring collaborations with artists like Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson and Lady Gaga. His recording of “Body and Soul” for the album with Amy Winehouse is reportedly the last one she made before her death.
In 2021, Tony Bennett announced his retirement from concerts and released his final album Love For Sale, another collaboration with Lady Gaga. With this, he broke the record for longest span of top-10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart for any living artist. He also broke the Guiness World Record for the oldest person to release an album of new material, at the age of 95 years and 60 days. Fittingly, his last live performances were also with Lady Gaga in 2021 that was later aired as a television special. Bennett is survived by by his wife, Susan Benedetto; his two sons, Danny and Dae Bennett; his daughters, Joanna Bennett and Antonia Bennett; and nine grandchildren.
