The Disco Biscuits stopped at the Palace Theatre in Albany on Friday Feb. 3rd. This was the third stop of their winter tour, and the coldest night of the year in the Northeast. Those fans who were willing to brave the sub-zero temperatures were treated to a heater of a show. The Disco Biscuits also treated fans with the release of a new studio album Shocked! on the same day.
Snake and Stars opened the show. The electronic duo is comprised of Michael Travis (The String Cheese Incident) and Aaron Johnston (Brazilian Girls, David Byrne’s American Utopia). The band was formed last year between the two long time friends as an improvisational exploration of electronic dance music. Their current tour continues into April.
The Disco Biscuits opened up with the relatively new “Why We Dance,” followed by “Spy” which was an encore for the band at their November 1, 2007 show at The Palace. A nonstop segue of “Times Square > Bombs > Humuhumunukunukuapua’a > Another Plan of Attack” rounded out the rest/majority of the first set. Set two opened with fan favorites “Crickets” and “42”, followed by the Shocked! track “Tourists (Rocket Ship)”, which continued the segue frenzy, leading into “Tempest > Svenghali > 42” with the new “To Be Continued” closing out the second set.
If you missed this show, catch the Disco Biscuits at one of their upcoming tour stops, including three more shows in New York at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester over March 23rd, 24th, and 25th.
Check out the Biscuits’ setlist and full photo gallery below.
The Disco Biscuits – Palace Theatre, Albany – Friday, February 3, 2023
Set 1: Why We Dance, Spy, Times Square > Bombs > Humuhumunukunukuapua’a > Another Plan of Attack Set 2 Crickets > 42 > Tourists (Rocket Ship) > Tempest> Svenghali > 42, To Be Continued Encore Frog Legs
Captivating the audience with beautiful harmonies and songs of both heartbreak and hope, Hayley Jane and the Hold On Honeys put on a stellar performance at Lark Hall in Albany on February 2nd. Collaborating with each other for the first time and trading sit-ins, the immediate chemistry between these two respective acts could be felt by everyone in the room.
Haley Jane performs with Troy, NY’s Hold On Honeys at Lark Hall on 2/2/2023
Kicking off the show were Troy natives The Hold On Honeys, an indie folk minimalist vocal trio comprised of Emily Curro, Raya Malcolm and Shannon Rafferty. Trading leads and singing to their strengths, each member of the Honeys’ was given an equal chance to shine, but the true beauty came when this pitch-perfect trio sang together as one. After serenading the highly receptive audience with songs like “Case of You,” “Lullaby,” and “Maple Lane,” tender ballads about finding love and losing it, the gals then showed their more optimistic and fun-loving side with “Get High,” before sending us to intermission with “Down Home Girl.” A very enjoyable set, but it wouldn’t be the last time we’d see this promising up-and-coming act.
The Hold On Honeys opened the show at Lark Hall on 2/2/2023
After a quick break in the action, it was officially time for Hayley Jane to grace the Lark Hall stage. A familiar face to the Albany crowd, Jane has been playing the area for years, mostly with The Primates behind her, or as part of Yes Darling with Ryan Montbleau. For this run however, Hayley enlisted an equally talented group of Burlington, VT based players that featured Josh Dobbs on keyboards and the former Swimmer rhythm section of Jack Vignone handling bass and Cotter Ellis on drums.
Opening her set with “Look to the Moon,” the pace quickly picked up when Hayley went into a bit of medley of mashup cover songs. Touching on a Cowboy Junkies-esq rendition of “Blue Moon Revisited” that took a ‘tasty’ left turn into the Italian classic “That’s Amore,” before eventually paying homage to the Grateful Dead with a beautiful version of “Ramble on Rose.”
Haley Jane gives up her secrets at Lark Hall on 2/2/2023
Inviting you in with her undeniable charisma and vulnerability, Jayne’s storytelling between numbers left you feeling like you actually knew her. Looking around the room, you literally could see an entire audience falling in love. Working her way through a few songs from her most recent solo album, “Road Map” and “Soul Shaken,” from 2021’s Late Bloom, one of the most powerful and emotional highlights of the night came next when Hayley Jane performed “For Someone Who Needs It,” a song about depression, loneliness and reaching out for help. Fan shot footage of that can be seen below.
Taking her listeners on a humble journey, Hayley would tell the audience she was raised as a Baptist, and despite some groans, would give credit to her church choir for teaching her to sing. After belting out stellar versions of “Ignite” and “Madeline,” another of Jane’s favorite covers, Gregory Alan Isakov’s “Big Black Car” was next. Revealing a little more about herself, Jane would say the best thing she ever did was stop caring what other people think about her.
Essentially freeing her to be who she really is while also allowing a natural relationship to develop with the audience, Hayley confessed that “nerds rock” and are also “better in bed.” “Loose Screws” and “Madam Humphrey” would take a little walk on the wild side before Haley would play a new one called “Assembly of Words,” a song that was written while living in California and simultaneously going through the pandemic and a tough break-up. Some of her most vulnerable lyrics yet, afterwards she would admit to “feeling nervous” and “naked” during that one.
Hayley Jane and the Hold On Honeys captivate an intimate Lark Hall crowd on 2/2/2023
Picking the pace back up with another rocker from The Primates 2014 album Gasoline was “Hey Mister,” followed by an unreleased new song that was recently recorded with members of The Main Squeeze called “Girl.” Instead of leaving the stage and returning ala your typical encore however, Hayley would invite the members of the opening act, Hold On Honeys, to join her on stage for the remainder of the night. What then transpired was pure magic. Playing in Levon country and rambling together for the first time, Hayley and the Honeys’ uncorked an absolutely beautiful version of The Bands’ classic song “The Weight,” a rite of passage in this part of New York.
Feeling the combined energy of the women on stage, Hayley beamed with pleasantries for her new gal pals, even claiming she’d love to take them out on the road with her. As the curfew came and went, Jane would quickly check with Lark Hall staff if it was “Alright” to play one more. Once given the green light, Haley would quickly teach the Honey’s the chorus to the final song of the evening, “Make It Alright,” which was then jammed out to perfection, fusing multiple genres and stretching its legs all the way to the 15-minute mark and included “Wild Thing” teases for good measure.
Haley and the Honeys made a cold February night more than alright at Lark Hall 2/23/
After thanking everyone for coming out and wishing them well on their way home, the girls would convene near the center of the stage for a group hug and shared smiles. An exceptional performance all around and yet another reason to never miss a Thursday show at Lark Hall. An evening filled with genre bending, thought provoking, and at times heartbreaking music. Honest storytelling and songwriting, surprise collaborations, dancing, and beautiful down- home harmonies. Great medicine for these modern times indeed. While it remains to be seen how serious Jane is about taking her new friends out on the road, what we do know is that ‘Hayley and the Hold On Honeys’ sure has a nice ring to it.
Haley Jane | Albany, NY | 2/2/2023 | Lark Hall Setlist: Look to the Moon, Ramble on Rose, Roadmap, For Someone Who Needs It, Ignite, Madeline, Big Black Car, Loose Screws, Soul Shaken, Madam Humphrey, Assembly of Words, Hey Mister, Girl
Encore: The Weight, Make It Alright *Grateful Dead cover **Gregory Alan Isakov cover ***The Band cover featuring The Hold On Honeys **** Featuring The Hold On Honeys
Hold On Honeys | Albany, NY | 2/2/2023 | Lark Hall Setlist: Wisely, Calling All My Children, TN River, Chicago, Getting Home, Case of You, Lullaby, I’m On Fire, Maple Lane, Knowing, Get High, Down Home Girl
On Sunday, February 5th, 2023, Mac Saturn gave the young teens of Empire Live Underground a show worth missing the Grammys. Opening with rising star, Billy Tibbals, the show kicked off to a roaring start.
Carson Macc of Mac Saturn at Empire Live Underground – Photo by Jarron Childs
Coming from England, then moving to L.A. in his teens, Billy Tibbals has been chasing his dreams of being the next rockstar. Drawing inspiration from The Beatles, David Bowie, and The Damned; Billy and his band has a very vintage style of rock-n-roll that really electrifies the stage. His hopes are to get the youth off their phones and back to enjoying each other in person. He has 3 singles available currently on streaming services and plans to release in first album in April.
The Billy Tibbals Band began the night strong and loud. With a style copied and pasted from a 70’s GQ magazine, Billy lead his sharply dressed band to an electric and energetic start. Things took a slow turn with a song titled “3am” about Tibbals’ younger sister. But it did not last for long as he really played his heart out for his potential new fan base. After the show, he was selling vinyls of his upcoming album, Stay Teenage, before it hits streaming services.
Billy Tibbals of The Billy Tibbals Band at Empire Live Underground – Photo by Jarron Childs
Mac Saturn, of Detroit, took the stage not soon after Billy’s 45 minute set. This was both their first national tour and their first time in Albany. They originally formed back in 2014 at a Christmas party and soon became a sextet of mixed instruments and vocals. They released a five song EP, Until the Money Runs Out, last August and plans to release a new single hopefully sometime later this year.
Keeping on the trend of vintage, Mac Saturn’s lead vocalist, Carson Macc, came out ice cold in a blazer his grandfather probably wore and rough 70s mullet. Though the crowd was small, they had the amplitude of a thousand screaming teens at Govball. Macc had them singing the lyric’s of “Ain’t Like You” back to them with ease.
Guitarist Mike Moody of Mac Saturn at Empire Live Underground – Photo by Jarron Childs
Though Macc took frequent breaks off stage, it gave more time for guitarist, Mike Moody, to really rock the crowd with gut wrenching solos. They performed a cover of Charles Brown Mint Julep shortly before ending with their number one song, “Plain Clothes Gentleman.” They really held a powerful presence for their last song, really sucking the crowd in with phenomenal instrumentals and partying with the fans.
They continue their tour with another New York stop at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo on February 9th. Their tour ends in their home state of Michigan with two shows in Ann Arbor on the weekend of April 1st.
Mac Saturn Setlist: Diamonds, Paradiso, Persian Rugs, Boxcutter, Get on the Phone, Ain’t Like You, Sleep, Mint Julep, 5 Long Minutes, Mr. Cadillac, That’s Business, Plain Clothes Gentleman
MVP Arena in Albany ended 2022 with a record breaking net profit of $2,321,245, the most since the venue opened in 1990, then named the Knickerbocker Arena.
Greta Van Fleet, photo by Csilla Kajtar for NYS Music.
Albany County officials announced the record breaking net profits for the venue last week, with the previous record being in 2000 with a profit of $2,188,761. In 2022, MVP Arena presented 106 events with an attendance of 434,277. Some of the top acts that came to the venue include John Mayer, Journey, Korn, Slipknot, Roger Waters, Cody Johnson, My Chemical Romance, Luke Combs, Greta Van Fleet, Judas Priest, and more. Family favorite events included Disney On Ice and the Harlem Globetrotters, and for the first time ever, AEW made their Albany debut to a crowd of professional wrestling fans.
The pandemic may have knocked us down, but MVP Arena has come back stronger than ever. The proof is in the numbers as we set a new record for net operating profits since Sinatra played the first show in 1990 and after welcoming some of the biggest names in music, comedy and more to Downtown Albany this year. Additionally, we’ve now invested $43 million into arena enhancements over the last four years alone with the NCAA March Madness and other great events scheduled for 2023. In the words of the great Frank Sinatra: ‘The best is yet to come.’
Albany County Executive Daniel P.McCoy
Once COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, those from Upstate New York, Western Vermont and Massachusetts attended the venue and enjoyed a slew of events. The annual economic impact derived within the capital region from those events at MVP Arena is estimated to be over $100 million. New technology to immerse fans further into the event going experience is helping the venue be so successful and helps the Albany area as a whole, according to ASM Global Executive Vice President Doug Thornton.
For the 2023 season, the MVP Arena will be hosting a wide variety of events. Coming this year are Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, Old Dominion, For King + Country, Zach Bryan, and Thomas Rhett with Cole Swindell. Other events include the NCAA Men’s DI Men’s Basketball 1st and 2nd Rounds, the NYSPHSAA Wrestling Championships, Jeff Dunham and Friends, Siena Saints men’s basketball, and the Albany FireWolves. For more information about the venue and to see the full schedule of events, visit here.
Iconic underground punk-blues rocker Jon Spencer is back and with him is a whole new band of misfits, The HITmakers. Making a stop at Lark Hall in Albany on January 31st, the highly entertaining and outspoken group unleashed an explosive performance that was raucous and loud and hit the Capital Region crowd over the head like a 12-ounce hammer.
Jon Spencer and the HITmakers made their Lark Hall debut on 1/31/23
First bursting on the scene in the mid-‘80s with bands like Pussy Galore and Boss Hog, Spencer found his biggest commercial success in the 1990’s as front man for The Blues Explosion. A forefather to the bass-free, fuzz-heavy garage rock revival that would spawn acts like White Stipes and The Black Keys, after 2015’s Freedom Tower album, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion would quietly disband when guitarist Judah Bauer became too sick to go on tour.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion took off in the 90’s with over-the-top performances like the one seen here
Now back on the road supporting his latest record, 2022’s Spencer Gets It Lit, his new band, The HITmakers, consists of Sam Coomes (Quasi, Heatmiser) on keyboards and Bob Bert (Pussy Galore, Sonic Youth) on percussion with Andy Zammit on drums. Fans hoping for a “best of the Blues Explosion” type set on this cold Tuesday night in January were shit out of luck. Taking the Lark Hall stage and promptly turning his back to the audience until the opening number “Junk Man” fully kicked in, Spencer and the HITmakers played the intimate venue as if it were an arena. Socking it to them with his signature reverbed-out grunts and growls and blistering blues guitar licks, you couldn’t help but snicker at some of the onstage antics. Even at Spencer’s age (he turns 58 on February 5th), he comes off as more believable than men half his age.
Jon Spencer rips into it at Lark Hall on 1/31/23
Working their way through songs like “Push Comes to Shove,” “Primary Baby,” and “Beatle Boots,” it was impossible not to take notice of the clanging and banging coming from percussionist Bob Bert. That’s because his unique kit was made entirely of scrap metal, trash cans and an old gas tank. Trading in drumsticks for a screwdriver and some 12-ounce hammers, “the noise, the noise, the noise” from Bert was particularly felt on “The Wilderness.”
Tools of the Trade: Bob Bert takes out the trash in Albany 1/31/23
Blasting out scuzzy rock anthems like “My Hit Parade,” “Strike 3,” and “Bruise,” keyboard player Sam Coones got way out there, shouting along and adding all kinds of otherworldly synth textures to songs like “Ghost” and “The Worst Facts,” going so far as to tell the crowd that the problem with Albany is that everyone here is too optimistic. “You think you can really do anything you want.”
Sam Coomes lights it up at Lark Hall 1/31/23
Tearing through the 75 minute set, “Love Handle” from 2018’s Spencer Sings the Hits got the crowd moving and grooving before one of the most raucous songs of the night, “Get It Right Now,” where in his charismatic preacher’s-like howl, Spencer proclaimed “Mick Jagger ain’t got nothing on me. Daryl Hall, John Oats, Billy Joel, no! Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Zuckerberg…NOTHING ON ME.” A darker theme then emerged with “Death Ray” followed up by “Just Wanna Die” before “Worm Town,” a song which ponders being in “a dirt nap, six feet under,” would bring the set to a close with Spencer simply putting down his guitar and walking off stage. It took a little convincing from the appreciative Lark Hall crowd, but eventually The HITmakers would return for an appropriate encore of “Trash Can.”
Time ain’t got nothing on Jon Spencer
One-man band and surf rock guitar playing virtuoso Bloodshot Bill opened the show and dazzled with his unique vocal delivery, catchy hooks and hilarious banter. At one point saying he “felt so good he could do about a million pushups,” but since he still had songs to play, he invited anyone from the audience to come up and do them for him. There was only one taker and he maxed out doing less than 10. For a crowd of less than a hundred on a cold Tuesday in Albany, it was yet another memorable night at Lark Hall. Artsy, offbeat and 100% rock n roll.
Bloodshot Bill opening up for The HITmakers on 1/31/23
Jon Spencer & the Hitmakers – January 31, 2023 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY Setlist: Junk Man, Push Comes to Shove, Primary Baby, Beetle Boots, My Hit Parade, Strike 3, Wilderness, Ghost, Bruise, The Worst Facts, Love Handle, Get It Right Now, Death Ray, Just Wanna Die, Worm Town Encore: Trash Can
Dionne Warwick is taking her show “HITS! The Musical” on tour, with three stops in NY. Warwick and her son, Damon Elliot, have joined the production team as co-producers to bring the show to over 50 cities across North America, starting in February. The show will be stopping at The Egg in Albany, Kodak Theater in Rochester and Town Hall in Manhattan.
As an institution in pop music, Dionne Warwick’s partnership with this musical is a made match. Warwick’s collection of iconic songs — “Walk on By,” “Alfie” — are matched in legend by the hits in “HITS!” which include “Hero,” “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” “I Will Always Love You,” and “Singing in the Rain.”
Warwick is still touring herself; she will perform this February 3 at the MusiCares Dinner to honor Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson. CNN is releasing a documentary feature on Warwick’s life called “Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over” —airing on February 4 on CNN and streaming on HBO thereafter.
Today, Warwick is still going strong. She will be performing at select locations in North America during 2023, including the star-studded MusiCares dinner on February 3 honoring Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson. She will also attend the 65th GRAMMY Awards which will be held February 5. Fans can expect a new recording from Dionne Warwick later in February: “Peace Like A River,” a duet with Dolly Parton.
Warwick said she was drawn to produce “HITS!” because of the exciting cast of young creatives. Her son Damon Elliot agreed, saying that the musical’s well known score will bring together families. Elliot, manager and music producer in his own right, most recently he produced the title track for “80 For Brady,” an upcoming sports comedy film.
The tour will stop in Albany, Rochester and NYC. Tickets can be purchased here. See the full list of tour dates below.
HITS! The Musical 2023 SCHEDULE
February 25 Asheville, NC The Wortham Center for the Performing Arts
March 1 Concord, NH Chubb Theater at Capital Center for The Arts
March 2 Albany, NY The Egg
March 3 Rochester, NY Kodak Theater
March 4 Boston, MA Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre
March 7 New Haven, CT Shubert Theater
March 8 Englewood, NJ Bergen Performing Arts Center
March 9 New York City, NY Town Hall
March 10 Glenside, PA Keswick Theatre
March 11 Harrisburg, PA The Whitaker Center
March 12 Pittsburgh, PA Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
March 15 Cleveland, OH Mimi Ohio Theater
March 16 Columbus, OH Southern Theater
March 17 Dayton, OH Victoria Theater
March 18 Easton, PA State Theater
March 19 Baltimore, MD Lyric Theater
March 22 Washington, DC Warner Theater
March 23 Durham, NC Carolina Theater
March 24 Charlotte, NC Knight Theater
March 25 Norfolk, VA Harrison Opera House
March 26 Charleston, SC Charleston Music Hall
March 28 Atlanta, GA Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
March 29 Orlando, FL Dr. Philips Center for Performing Arts
March 30 Jacksonville, FL Times Union Performing Arts Center
April 1 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Parker Playhouse
April 2 Tampa, FL Straz Center for Performing Arts
April 5 Birmingham, AL Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex
April 6 Huntsville, AL Von Braun Center
April 7 Nashville, TN Tennessee Performing Arts Center
April 8 Louisville, KY Brown Theater
April 12 Lexington, KY Lexington Opera House
April 13 St. Louis, MO Touhill Performing Arts Center
April 14 Chicago, IL Harris Theater for Music and Dance
April 15 Detroit, MI Royal Oak Music Theatre
April 16 South Bend, IN Morris Center
April 19 Appleton, WI Fox Cities Performing Arts Center
Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew of Talking Heads have announced additional dates on their upcoming tour, with shows in Albany, Buffalo, and New York City in February and March.
Photo credit: Michael Weintrob
Talking Heads member Jerry Harrison and noted touring member Adrian Belew will be bringing their popular Remain In Light concert on the road this winter. The album is coming up on its 40 anniversary, and Harrison commented on its significance in his life.
Remain In Light is a high point in my career. Adrian and I had often discussed the magic of the 1980 tour and the sheer joy it brought to audiences. It is such a delight to see that joy once again in the audiences on the current tour.
Jerry Harrison
Belew says the tour will leave you “with a happy smile on your face.” Harrison and Belew first reunited to perform material from Remain In Light at the 2021 Peach Music Festival with Turkuaz. It marked Harrison’s first live performance since 1996.
The band then reunited at LA’s The Wiltern last month for a celebrated performance which began with a podcast conversation with Tawny Newsome. Harrison and Belew spoke about about the Talking Heads’ incredible rise to fame and the impact they had on music and pop culture.
The 2023 “Remain In Light” tour will include an opening set by Cool Cool Cool, featuring former members of Turkuaz. A special pre-sale, including a very limited amount of “Once In A Lifetime” Meet & Greet VIP Experiences are onsale here.
Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew “Remain in Light” Tour Dates
Thu, February 16 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre * Friday, February 17 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater * Sat, February 18 – Beaver Creek, CO – Vilar Performing Arts Center (Auditorium) * Tuesday, February 21 – Oklahoma City, OK – Tower Theatre * Wednesday, February 22 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory * Thursday, February 24 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue * Saturday, February 25 – Chicago, IL – Vic Theatre * Sunday, February 26 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room * Monday, February 27 – Akron, OH – Goodyear Theater * Tuesday, February 28 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom * Thursday, March 2 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall * Friday, March 3 – Pittsburgh, PA – Roxian Theatre * Saturday, March 4 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live! * Sunday, March 5 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom * Tuesday, March 7 – Philadelphia, PA – Keswick Theatre * Wednesday, March 8 – Albany, NY – Empire Live * Thursday, March 9 – New York, NY – Sony Hall * Friday, March 10 – Boston, MA – HOB Boston * Sat, March 11 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall * Saturday, May 13 – Placerville, CA – Golden Road Music Festival Sunday, May 14 – Mill Valley, CA – Mill Valley Music Festival Tuesday, May 16 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theater * Wednesday, May 17 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom* Friday, June 2 – Chattanooga, TN – Riverbend Music Festival Saturday, June 3 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall * Sunday, June 4 – Detroit, MI – The Majestic * Tuesday, June 6 – Richmond, VA – Virginia Credit Union Live! ^ Wed, June 7 – Raleigh, NC – Raleigh Memorial Auditorium ^ Friday, June 9 – Asheville, NC – Rabbit Rabbit ^ Saturday, June 10 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern ^ Sunday, June 11 – Columbia, SC – Township Auditorium ^ Tuesday, June 13 – Austin, TX – ACL Live @ The Moody Theater ^ Thursday, June 15 – Dallas, TX – Music Hall at Fair Park ^ Friday, June 16 – Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center ^ Saturday, June 17 – New Orleans, LA – Mardi Gras World ^ Monday, June 19 – Mobile, AL – Saenger Theatre ^ Tuesday, June 20 – Tampa, FL – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino ^ * w/ Cool Cool Cool ^ w/ Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade
On Friday, January 27th, indie-pop band Juice delivered a heartfelt and lively performance to their adoring fans at Lark Hall in Albany. This was their last show from their rescheduled Fall Tour.
Ben Stevens, Lead Vocalist of Juice – Photo by Jarron Childs
The sextet band from Brooklyn found each other while attending Boston College. Their unique sound comes from a combination of rock, pop, r&b, and hip-hop. Lead on the vocals by Ben Stevens, he is backed up on vocals by singer/guitarist Kamau Burton and rapper/violinist Christian Rose. Other sounds come from guitarist Daniel Moss, drummer Miles Clyatt, and bassist Rami El-Abidin. Currently, Juice has one album, Boy Story, 4 EPs, and a few singles to their discography. There are plans for more singles to come soon, hopefully before the start of their next tour.
Juice was originally supposed to play in Lark Hall in November of 2022, but had to reschedule due to personal reasons. Nonetheless, they did not disappoint their young fans. Their show opened up with rising indie r&b band, The E-Block.
Luje Pascarella, Lead Vocalist of the E-Block – Photo by Jarron Childs
The band from Albany has been progressing from basement shows at The Laundromat, to bigger stages such as Albany’s Alive at 5 last summer. If you’ve been following them, you can hear that they are really starting to find their sound as a band. From being a jam rock funk band, to really creating a R&B, soul, and funk that they can call their own. The E-Block is really laying down a foundation that could be the start of a good career.
The E-Block opened with their newly released single “Stay.” Their performance was very r&b/soul heavy as lead vocalist/guitarist Luke Pascarella really pushed the limits of his vocals. They really played their hearts out and could’ve even brought the audience to tears at one point. They earned their cheers from the audience. Their set ended on a familiar note of a jam funk session that really had to crowd bouncing. They hosted an after party for their new single at Washington Tavern after the show.
Christian Rose, Violinist/Vocalist of Juice – Photo by Jarron Childs
Juice opened with a single, “DiCaprio,” from 2020. Their performance really went a lot of places because of how many music genres they have been able to incorporate in their style. Christian Rose played a violin solo so hard that it looked as if one of his strings broke, but he did not stop for one beat. The chemistry displayed on stage was undeniable, as their were many laugh shared amongst each other. There was also many moments when the band sat back and watched guitarist Daniel Moss serenade the crowd with powerful guitar solos.
Members of Juice watch a guitar solo performed by Daniel Moss – Photo by Jarron Childs
Vocalist Ben Stevens jumped into the crowd a danced with them which kept the good vibes going. The crowd was jumping, the music was bumping, and you could probably hear hearts thumping as Juice really pulled every ounce of energy from the crowd. There were begs for an encore at the end of their set, and Juice did not ignore them. They came back for a 1 song encore which brought many smiles to those in the crowd.
They will start “The Dip Stick on You” national tour on February 16th. In case you missed them this time, they will return to Lark Hall on February 23rd for another show.
Juice Setlist: DiCaprio, Shoot my Dreams, Peace of Mind, Audrey Tell Me, Stranger, Heartbreak in a Box, River, Workin’ On Loving, Stupidfreak, Make Pretend
Luje Pascarella, Lead Vocalist of the E-Block – Photo by Jarron ChildsThe E-Block at Lark Hall – Photo by Jarron ChildsLuje Pascarella, Lead Vocalist of the E-Block – Photo by Jarron ChildsChristian Rose, Violinist/Vocalist of Juice – Photo by Jarron ChildsChristian Rose, Violinist/Vocalist of Juice – Photo by Jarron ChildsVocalist Kamau Burton of Juice – Photo by Jarron ChildsBen Stevens, Lead Vocalist of Juice – Photo by Jarron ChildsJuice – Photo by Jarron ChildsBen Stevens, Lead Vocalist of Juice – Photo by Jarron ChildsBen Stevens, Lead Vocalist of Juice – Photo by Jarron ChildsGuitarist Daniel Moss of Juice – Photo by Jarron ChildsViolinist/Vocalist Christian Rose of Juice – Photo by Jarron ChildsBen Stevens, Lead Vocalist of Juice – Photo by Jarron ChildsBen Stevens, Lead Vocalist of Juice – Photo by Jarron ChildsBen Stevens, Lead Vocalist of Juice – Photo by Jarron Childs
moe. has announced that keyboardist Nate Wilson, who toured with the group last summer, will become a permanent member of the group. They also announced added tour dates for their Winter/Spring tour, in addition to Albany dates on Feb. 24 and 25.
moe.
Nate Wilson (Percy Hill) has been playing with the group since guitarist Chuck Garvey suffered a stroke in November 2021. Garvey is still recovering but joined back with the group for their NYE concert. In a December 2022 interview with Relix and talked about his recovery, and how he is relearning his fine motor skills, and says that music has been a huge help in his recovery.
moe. has had a lot of success and longevity since its creation due to its engaged fanbase, aka the fa.moe.ly which has led them to do headline tours, international festival sets, music-themed cruises, and sold-out shows alongside countless household-name artists. They have even promoted and headlined multiple festivals of their own, including snoe.down and moe.down.
moe., now with the addition of Nate Wilson, is comprised of Al Schnier (guitar, vocals), Chuck Garvey (guitar, vocals), Rob Derhak (bass, vocals), Jim Loughlin (percussion, vibes), and Vinnie Amico (drums). Derhak commented about Wilson joining the group in a statement. “We are thrilled to announce that our long-time friend, keyboardist Nate Wilson will be joining moe. full-time moving forward,” he says. “Former founding member of both Percy Hill, and Assembly of Dust (and current band leader for Ghosts Of Jupiter), Nate has been part of our lineup since our first shows without Chuck Garvey. He has since proven himself a valued contributor to our sound, and now with Chuck back in the groove, he compliments our overall style.”
Wilson commented about how excited he was to join the group, saying “The band and their fans are legends. Can’t wait to hit the road this spring!” moe. will be embarking on a Winter/Spring tour, with stops in Albany at the Palace Theater on Feb. 24 and 25. A special artist pre-sale will begin this Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 10 a.m. local time – click here for more information. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, Feb. 3rd at 10 a.m. local time.
moe. Winter Tour Dates Friday, February 17th – State Theatre – Portland, ME* Saturday, February 18th – State Theatre – Portland, ME* Friday, February 24th – Palace Theater – Albany, NY* Saturday, February 25th – Palace Theater – Albany, NY Thursday, March 9th – Brooklyn Bowl – Nashville, TN Friday, March 10th – Mars Music Hall – Huntsville, AL Saturday, March 11th – Minglewood Hall – Memphis, TN Sunday, March 12th – Vinyl Music Hall – Pensacola, FL Wednesday, March 15th – Music Hall – Charleston, SC Thursday, March 16th – The Plaza Live – Orlando, FL Friday, March 17th – Culture Room – Ft. Lauderdale, FL Saturday, March 18th – Jannus Live – St. Petersburg, FL Sunday, March 19th – PV Concert Hall – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Tuesday, March 21st – Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC Wednesday, March 22nd – Jefferson Theatre – Charlottesville, VA Thursday, March 23rd – The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC Friday, March 24th – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA Saturday, March 25th – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA Wednesday, April 26th – Cain’s Ballroom – Tulsa, OK Thursday, April 27th – The Echo Lounge – Dallas, TX Friday, April 28th – Paramount Theatre – Austin, TX Saturday, April 29th – Tipitina’s – New Orleans, LA Sunday, April 30th – Tipitina’s – New Orleans, LA Tuesday, May 2nd – JJ’s Live – Fayetteville, AR Wednesday, May 3rd – The Truman – Kansas City, MO * with Karina Rykman
Jon Spencer and the Hitmakers will unite for a 2023 winter tour across New York. The tour features the incendiary talents of Bob Bert, Sam Coomes, last but not least the original jet-scream, Jon Spencer. The musicians will visit Albany, Rochester, and Ridgewood (Queens) and more. Fans can enjoy this exuberant starting from late January to early February.
The rockstars will be performing Spencer’s latest album, Spencer Gets It Lit and will feature songs like Junk Man, Death Ray, WormT own and more. The album is a classic Jon Spencer taken to the extreme, it emphasizes a sound of electro-boogie, constructivist art pop, a psychedelic swamp of industrial sleaze and futurist elegance. The album is recognized as an epic master work of freak beat from the world’s weirdest garage.
Spencer Gets It Lit features mind-boggling layers of fury, fuzz guitar a crash-bang battery of phaser blasts and photon torpedoes. Jon Spencer is the ultimate performer; he frantically spits, croons, rhapsodizes, and seduces. The album is his most complex and sensational album in years. It is a dark, danceable odyssey, and a celebration of the place where electricity meets the mind.
Jon Spencer and the Hitmakers are here to crank it up and blow our pants off, … Anyone who has the chance to see this current ensemble, must do so immediately. Peppered with rarities, Blues Explosion songs, even Pussy Galore cuts, Spencer was a bewitching figure on stage, ripping through all the tracks with raw grit and fury
-Gun Control Magazine
Come watch the true heroes of the underground perform hits that will rock your world. Spencer’s says “We are back – primed and loaded – ready to bring the HITS to all the rockers!” Spencer Gets It Lit can be streamed here.
