The Extreme Music Awards has announced their inaugural event to be held in Albany on January 13, 2024. Created by Mike Valente of Upstate Black N Blue Productions, the Extreme Music Awards are set to bring recognition to the Capital Region’s most extreme artists.
The awards ceremony will feature a house band, performing a full concert experience for attendees at Albany’s Empire Live. In addition, prizes will be raffled off including signed drum heads, guitars, gift certificates, and more.
Mike Valente, also a member of hardcore band Brick by Brick, created the Extreme Music Awards alongside a team consisting of RadioRadioX, Capital Underground, That Fuzzing Rock Show and 518Scene.com. The media groups joined together to celebrate and recognize extreme music throughout New York State and the Capital Region.
Tickets are available now and more updates will be available at extrememusicawards.com, including announcements about presenters and judges at the ceremony.
There was a palpable buzz across the Arbor Hill neighborhood in North Albany on Wednesday, as rockers My Morning Jacket made their long-awaited return to the area with a performance at the Palace Theatre. The band last played in the city in 2006. Madi Diaz opened the performance.
Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, My Morning Jacket has amassed quite the resume over its twenty-five years. Fronted by Jim James (vocals, guitar), the band also features Carl Broemel (guitars), Tom Blankenship (bass guitar), Bo Koster (keyboards), and Patrick Hallahan (percussion). The band has released nine studio albums, along with several EPs and live albums. Their current tour is in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the release of It Still Moves, and has seen the band perform the album in its entirety at certain shows.
Those arriving early on this evening were treated to an opening performance by singer-songwriter Madi Diaz. A lone spotlight illuminated the stage, as Diaz took opened the performance, just herself and a guitar. Diaz would take those in attendance on an emotional journey, performing songs like “Crying In Public” and “Same Risk.” Her powerful vocals, reminiscent of Phoebe Bridgers, filled the theater and captivated those in attendance.
As the clock struck 9:15, the stage went dark and the band’s familiar orchestral walk-on music played over the house speakers. The band members took to the stage to a thunderous roar from the audience. The familiar chord strums of “Circuital” would open the show and immediately all in attendance were on their feet. As the song slowly built in energy, fans made their way to the front of the stage, filling the side wings to dance about as the song kicked into full gear. The band kept the momentum going early, playing fan favorites such as “It Beats 4 U,” “I’m Amazed,” and “Mahgeetah” early in the set.
Jim James would bring Madi Diaz back to the stage early in the performance, to offer a beautiful rendition of the band’s classic ballad “I Will Be There When You Die.” The song would see Diaz harmonizing with James, with the two trading lyrics during the second verse, which even included Diaz adding a line to call out her hometown in Pennsylvania.
In all, the performance would feature all the familiar staples of a My Morning Jacket concert. Jim James’ signature vocals danced about the beautiful Palace Theatre. The band consistently elevated songs from their studio form, with jams and improvisations making each song unique to this night, with several tracks stretching into extended jam sessions. A prolific light show mesmerized those in attendance, with a giant disco ball dropping from the ceiling during “Wordless Chorus.”
After a nearly two-hour, career-spanning main set, the band would return to the stage for four more songs, opening the encore opening the encore with the hypnotizing “Feel You.” The band broke out older classics “The Dark” and “Anytime” before ending with the high-energy “One Big Holiday.” After such a brilliant set, fans poured into the streets, hopeful the wait for a return performance wouldn’t be nearly as long next time.
My Morning Jacket – Palace Theatre, Albany – Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Setlist: Circuital, It Beats 4 U, Love Love Love, I’m Amazed, Mahgeetah, Spinning My Wheels, I Will Be There When You Die (with Madi Diaz), Spring (Among the Living), Off the Record, Lay Low, Old Sept. Blues, I Will Sing You Songs, Phone Went West, Victory Dance, Holdin On to Black Metal, Lucky to Be Alive, Wordless Chorus
Encore: Feel You, The Dark, Anytime, One Big Holiday
The two-time GRAMMY Award-winning Albany Symphony, led by Music Director David Alan Miller, presents a concert that includes one of the most beloved works in the repertory and a soon-to-be new favorite “dance symphony,” evoking early rock ‘n’ roll at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.
Recognized as one of America’s most innovative and creative orchestras, the two-time GRAMMY Award-winning Albany Symphony is renowned for performances featuring classic orchestral favorites, lesser-heard masterworks, and a diverse array of new music from leading and emerging voices of today. The Symphony has received more ASCAP Awards than any other orchestra in America, as well as several GRAMMY nominations, including the orchestra’s most recent win in 2021.
Led by Music Director David Alan Miller, the Symphony presents a core classical series throughout the region, each featuring a world-premiere or recent composition; a multi-day American Music Festival that celebrates established and emerging living composers; performances by its cutting-edge new music chamber ensemble, the Dogs of Desire; and a family series and holiday concerts in collaboration with youth performing arts groups. The Albany Symphony’s award-winning education programs include Symphony in Our Schools, which brings musicians into classrooms for interactive music education.
Founded in 1930 in New York’s Capital Region, the Albany Symphony serves a diverse regional audience covering more than seven counties and parts of three states. It regularly serves as an ambassador for new music and Upstate innovation beyond the Capital Region.
This gorgeous concert will absolutely delight you, bringing two Romantic masterpieces together with Michael Daugherty’s amazing orchestral tour-de-forces. I’m particularly excited to present Tchaikovsky’s glorious Third Symphony, the work of a brilliant young composer that leads the way directly to his major masterpieces, ‘Swan Lake’ and the Symphony No. 4. Strauss’ ‘Blue Danube,’ and Michael’s ‘Last Dance at the Surf,’ will make everyone want to jump up and dance, and ‘To the New World,’ a riveting tribute to Neil Armstrong and the Apollo 11 mission, is a glorious tone poem about space travel. Audiences of all ages will love this program!
Music Director and Conductor David Alan Miller.
Michael Daugherty, a composer, pianist, and music educator is a long-time friend of the Albany Symphony. Two of Daugherty’s pieces will be performed including, “Last Dance at the Surf” and “To the New World.”
One of Daugherty’s favorite road trips in Iowa, the state where he grew up, was to the majestic Surf Ballroom. Many of America’s famous swing, jazz, and rock-n-roll bands have performed at this venue for music lovers who dance the night away. In memory of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and The Big Bopper who gave their last performances at the Winter Dance Party tour in 1959 before their plane crashed, and in celebration of the Surf Ballroom being declared a National Historic Landmark in January 2021, Daugherty’s piece will be performed on the November program.
“My dance symphony starts with woodblocks and pizzicato strings, playing a five-note rhythmic groove reminiscent of a Buddy Holly guitar riff. This groove is repeated in various transformations throughout the composition and provides a counterpoint to the main theme, a syncopated ascending melody played in unison by the woodwinds. The main theme goes through elaborate rhythmic and timbral developments, followed by a rousing ‘rockabilly’ section,” Daugherty said.
His piece “To the New World,” is about the 1969 Apollo-11 space mission. Like the rocket, which separated into three stages after lift-off, and the spacecraft, which was divided into three modules, his 22-minute composition is divided into three movements.
“The Blue Danube” is one of the most consistently played pieces in classical repertoire. Johann Strauss Jr. originally wrote the work for a carnival choir with satirical lyrics. The instrumental version, which will be performed at the November concert, is by far the more popular version played today. The piece was first performed in the United States in 1867. For pop culture fans, the piece is used in several movies and shows. Most recently, it was used throughout the 2021 Netflix series, Squid Game. Johann Strauss Jr. was born into a very musical family in Austria. As a child, he secretly took violin lessons because his father wanted him to become a banker, not a musician. However, his mother supported his dreams and Strauss moved forward making music his career.
The evening will conclude with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 3 also known as Polish. It is the only one of Tchaikovsky’s seven symphonies that is in a major key and the only one to contain five movements. During its first performance in the UK, conductor Sir August Manns referred to it as the Polish symphony because of the recurring Polish dance rhythms in the final movement. The piece was originally premiered in 1875 in Moscow. Ballet lovers may recognize the work from the Diamonds section of George Balanchine’s full-length ballet Jewels premiered in 1967.
The Albany Symphony November Concert will take place at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on Saturday, November 11, and Sunday, November 12.
Wooden Duck Entertainment and The LateShift are thrilled to announce “Songs for Smokey,” a reunion concert and benefit set to take the stage on Saturday, November 25, at The Hollow Bar + Kitchen. This extraordinary event not only commemorates a dear friend but also continues the heartwarming tradition established by the band, The LateShift.
“Songs for Smokey” serves as a tribute to Zachary “Smokey” Tyler Warner, a beloved friend who departed this world a decade ago. It has become an enduring tradition for the band, featuring annual performances during Thanksgiving week. The first of these heartfelt gatherings occurred in 2013, serving as a fundraiser that led to the establishment of the Zachary Warner Scholarship, administered through North Colonie Friends of Music.
Unlike traditional academic scholarships, this scholarship recognizes music students who demonstrate exceptional kindness and compassion. The funds raised from the initial event provided invaluable support for a decade. This year’s concert aims to extend this support for another decade, benefiting a new generation of exceptional music students.
Zach, or “Smokey” as he was affectionately known, was a vibrant and sincere individual who left an indelible mark on those he encountered. His unconventional and spontaneous nature was a source of inspiration to those around him. His connection with The LateShift went beyond mere friendship; it was a deep and enduring brotherhood. A decade after his untimely passing, his memory lives on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
The LateShift, renowned for their last album, Forks and Knives, released in 2016, decided to disband in 2021. However, they are reuniting for this special occasion to perform two sets of music. The first set will celebrate the band’s 15-year catalog, offering a greatest hits selection that includes the fan-favorite song “Drink and Stone,” a poignant track co-written by Zach. The second set promises to be an electrifying mix of everyone’s favorite party tunes, complete with musical surprises and even some special guest appearances.
Tickets for “Songs for Smokey” at The Hollow Bar are available now and can be purchased here. Act quickly to secure your tickets at a special presale price of $10 until November 2. Starting November 3, general admission tickets will be available for $15.
Frogs and freaks flew into the Palace Theatre in Albany on Friday, October 20, heralding the return of Les Claypool and his Frog Brigade. The first tour for the group in 20 years began earlier in the year, winding its way into the Northeast for a run of late-October shows.
With draped banners of stars and stripes giving a nod to Pink Floyd’s The Wall, the stage took on a blue dystopian hue, as the six piece band – Skerik (saxophone), Mike Dillon (percussion, vibraphone), Sean Lennon (guitar), Harry Waters (keyboards), Paulo Baldi (drums) and Claypool (bass) – arrived on stage to “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” (Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore), Claypool bringing up the rear. With Les dressed in all black and a bowler hat, a slow bass led intro to “Cosmic Highway” took the audience on a psychedelic ride, right into “Up on the Roof.”
Following Les offering praise to Skerik, Skerik spoke in French briefly before telling an Albany/All bunny/All moose joke that earned groans and chuckles from the audience.
A cover of The Beat’s “Mirror in the Bathroom” was an early highlight, taking the narcissistic 1980 song out for an extended spin. “David Makalaster,” the Purple Onion track, followed, with Claypool Lennon Delirium composition “Blood and Rockets: Movement I, Saga of Jack Parsons – Movement II Too the Moon” closing a ‘short but didn’t feel short’ 60-minute set.
With Harry Waters – son of Roger – helming the keys, set 2 began with a full rendition of Pink Floyd’s Animals, the five song suite never missed a mark, Claypool donning a pig mask while switching to stand up bass.
A pair of songs from Les Claypool and the Holy Mackerel – “Precipitation” and “Calling Kyle” would follow, with “D’s Diner” closing the second set with audience callbacks, whispered lyrics, and xylophone throughout.
King Crimson’s “Thela Hun Ginjeet,” a song that Claypool and his Frog Brigade kicked off the main stage at the first Bonnaroo (and the incredible DVD as well) would drive the energy of the audience to 11, peppering in “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” teases. As the band left the stage, walk out music of “Pure Imagination” played, calling back to Claypool’s memorable Primus and the Chocolate Factory tour.
A can’t miss tour, the Frog Brigade will be at The Wellmont Theatre in Montclair, NJ on October 24 before heading to Hulaween and ending the tour at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Halloween.
Les Claypool and his Frog Brigade – Palace Theatre, Albany – Friday, October 20, 2023
Set 1: When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Cosmic Highway, Up on the Roof, Mirror in the Bathroom, David Makalaster, Blood and Rockets: Movement I, Saga of Jack Parsons – Movement II Too the Moon
Set 2: Pigs on the Wing, Part 1, Dogs, Pigs (Three Different Ones), Sheep, Pigs on the Wing, Part 2, Precipitation, Calling Kyle, One Step Beyond, Buzzards of Green Hill, D’s Diner
The UAlbany Performing Arts Center (PAC) will host a free film screening of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari composed by Brett L. Wery and performed by The Area Wind Ensemble on Sunday, November 12.
This event is one of three this season that celebrates local artists as part of the UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s prime performance series. Composer Brett L. Wery is the Music Director/Conductor of the Capital Region Wind Ensemble in Schenectady and composer/editor for Sonata Grendel Publishing in Scotia. Wery’s compositions have been performed and recorded around the world while also named winner of the Classic Pure Vienna International Music Competition.
The Area Wind Ensemble also by the name Quintocracy based in the Capitol Region featuring Melanie Chirignan on flute, Susan Loegering Daves on bassoon, Kelly Lockwood on oboe and Kathryn Svatek on horn. They will be joined for this performance by guest artist Allegra Smith on clarinet.
Over the years, the ensemble has created a goal to break the dusty, classical ensemble mold in support of their belief that music is for all and the music around us should be as diverse as the culture in which we live. Supporting the opportunity to perform for the upcoming silent horror film and help enhance the mystique of the cinema experience.
Admission to this event is free. No reservations or tickets are required. For further information, visit here.
Full of gritty energy, thoughtful storytelling, extremely tight improvisation, a spectacular light show, and a palpable connection to their audience, Kitchen Dwellers brought their unique brand of psychedelic bluegrass to Cohoes, NY on Thursday, October 12th.
No strangers to the Capital Region, Kitchen Dwellers have played the area many times over the years, but the second show of their 2023 fall tour would be their first at the historic Cohoes Music Hall, one of the oldest (and allegedly haunted) venues in the country. Delivering an absolute scorching performance, the level of musicianship on display was scary good.
Kitchen Dwellers made their Cohoes Music Hall debut on 10/12/2023.
Showing up to the corner of Remsen and Cayuga, you were instantly met with heady vibes from the municipal lot as the jokers and tokers greeted one another. There was a laid back feeling of familiarity and optimism as people of all ages lined up to check out the plethora of band merch and the gorgeous limited edition show poster designed by artist Dan Dippel. Fans who got there early enough were treated to a delicious appetizer from the young-and-hungry opening act, Fireside Collective from Asheville, NC.
After a brief set change, Capital Region show promoter Greg Bell of Guthrie Bell Productions took center stage to welcome everyone to the Cohoes Music Hall and wax nostalgic for a moment before introducing Kitchen Dwellers to a massive ovation. Wasting no time serving up the main course, the band set the tone early with a “Sundown” opener, the first of five songs that would be played from their latest album, Wise River. They had the crowd captivated from the very first note.
Kitchen Dwellers (L-R): Max Davies, Torrin Daniels, Joe Funk, and Shawn Swain performing on 10/12/23.
Consisting of Torrin Daniels on banjo, Joe Funk on bass, Max Davies on guitar, and Shawn Swain on mandolin, describing their inspired sound is no easy task. Utilizing traditional string instruments, adding a few effect pedals and foregoing a drummer, their expansive playing is full of character, bombastic banjo riffs, lightning fast licks, virtuosic finger picking and foot-stomping grooves. These guys make the complex look effortless. After squeezing “Their Names Are The Trees” into a “This Time” sandwich, the Kitchen Dwellers were cooking with pure gasoline as they alligatored “Smokestack” through a pair of choice covers – “Salt Creek” and “Alcohol in the Bloodstream.” Coming up for air to greet the audience and exchange some friendly banter about the proper pronunciation of Cohoes, the band would then invite Fireside Collective dobro player, Tommy Maher, to the stage for the remainder of the set.
Chest Fever: Fireside Collective’s Tommy Maher (dobro) joined in on the fun on 10/12/23.
Taking control of the ship and guiding the band through the crowd-pleasing title track of 2019’s Muir Maid, upright bassist Joe Funk’s vocals sounded fantastic here, while the extended interplay and energy of Torrin’s flying dreadlocks and Maher’s youthful exuberance sent the room into a fever pitch. With the venue itself located just on the outskirts of Levon Country, perhaps that was their intention all along, as a well-placed cover of The Band’s classic “Chest Fever” would bring the opening frame to a close.
Kitchen Dwellers’ Joe Funk croons away in Cohoes, NY 10/12/23.
When Kitchen Dwellers hit the stage for round 2, it didn’t take them long to address the elephant in the room, or in this case, the ghost. Nicknamed “The girl who made vaudeville famous,” many believe the spirit of Eva Tanguay has haunted the Cohoes Music Hall since her death in 1947. Often “felt” hanging around just off stage left and sometimes in the center of the balcony’s second row, the band acknowledged this bit of folklore by offering up their song “Ghost in a Bottle” in tribute.
Ghost in a Bottle: Kitchen Dwellers make an offering to the ghost of Eva Tanguay on 10/12/23.
The real meat and potatoes of the set would come next as the Dwellers found their groove on “Stand at Ease” which seamlessly segued into a cover of “White Freightliner Blues.” Showing a deep respect to their roots by weaving together a tapestry of their influences, the dexterity and speed at which these guys play make it almost impossible to stand still. After a stellar version of “Gypsy,” the band gave a special shoutout to a group of friends who traveled there from Vermont, allegedly breaking the record for the most people you can cram into a van, something which Torrin found debatable. Announcing they weren’t going to do the typical encore thing and that they’d just play until the venue kicked them out, the enthusiastic crowd were then treated to a sizzling combination of “Mountain” > “Drowning (… Again)” > “Ebenezer’s Winter” to bring the tasty night of galaxy-grass jams to a close just after midnight.
Putting a fresh spin on an old genre and blending the past with the future, Kitchen Dwellers rose to the occasion in Cohoes and threw down a performance that will be talked about for years to come. Upon leaving the Cohoes Music Hall, perhaps one excited fan summed it up best, saying “That was the best $20 I’ve spent in a very long time.“
With fall tour just getting underway, fans in New York won’t need to wait long to catch them again. Kitchen Dwellers have been tapped by Twiddle to take part in their final shows next month before going on an indefinite hiatus. The sentimental sendoff will take place at the historic Capitol Theatre in Port Chester. For more details on tour dates and tickets head to kitchendwellers.com.
Kitchen Dwellers | October 12, 2023 | Cohoes Music Hall | Cohoes, NY
Set 1: Sundown, This Time > Their Names Are the Trees > This Time, Smokestack>Salt Creek >Alcohol In the Bloodstream, Muir Maid * > Chest Fever *
Set 2: Ghost in the Bottle > Cuckoo’s Nest [Traditional] > Ghost In the Bottle, Stand At Ease > White Freightliner Blues, Gypsy, Mountain > Drowning (… Again) > Ebenezer’s Winter
* Featuring Tommy Maher of Fireside Collective on Dobro
Albany by way of Altamont prog-rockers Timbre Coup released a new single, “Firestorm,” on September 21, coming two years after the release of Sudden Urge.
Timbre Coup – Andrew Chamberlaine (guitar), Ben Pickering (bass), Dan Gerken (guitar/vocals), Matt Pickering (drums) – grew from the Capital District music scene in 2007, moving on to play hundred of shows alongside bands including The New Deal, Dopapod, Papadosio, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, and Consider the Source, in additional performing at Camp Bisco, Catskill Chill, moe.down, The Big Up, Mountain Jam, Wormtown and Strangecreek, among others.
Following a hiatus from 2014-18, which saw the band perforing in projects including Mister F and Lord Electro, Timbre Coup began playing and preparing for live shows again, making their triumphant return to a near sold out crowd on March 2, 2019 at The Hollow. Check out the live album from their return show on Bandcamp.
In 2020 the band would go on to record and later release in 2021 their fourth original album, Sudden Urge, a collection of previously unrecorded songs, both old and new.
Timbre Coup performing at Lark Hall – photo by Zak Radick
Singer and lyricist Dan Gerken shares this on the new track:
Firestorm was written in summer/fall of 2022 and consists of a guitar harmony driven theme throughout. The harmonies range from beautiful mixolydian keys to a more minor approach as the song wears on, telling a weaving story of heartache many people can relate to. The lyrics are meant to uplift. The song is a reminder to not be so dependent on a lover or a partner, but each has to stand alone in greatness to magnify the results of the partnership.
“Firestorm” is the latest from Timbre Coup and is part of a new recording and writing goal for the band as they embark on their fifth studio album this coming winter and spring. The band records at Gerken’s studio just outside of Albany, giving the group a great deal of freedom and flexibility in the recording and writing process. With raw ideas aplenty, the band looks to the structure and writing styles for each song as they press ahead.
We have another completed song we are going to finish and release hopefully by the end of the year, and then we get to really start grinding on some new and old ideas in the practice space and the studio to get the desired amount of material for a release.
Dan Gerken, guitar/vocals, Timbre Coup
Timbre Coup brings a little something for everyone in the live setting as well, giving the group room to improvise upon their dynamic compositions, sing both melodic and haunting vocals, all with slick chops from all members, entertaining any crowd with fervor.
There was a place where the water didn’t flow There was a place All that matters is what you hold In spite of it all it’s a hopeless mess for some there was a place I’d like to run
I saw that she left me for dead and I was freaking out I knew I should’ve left her instead But now I’m bleeding out
Description for some Definition for all I don’t want to see you dropping the ball So carry that weight a burden reaffirmed and begin to use all that you’ve learned
“Firestorm” from Timbre Coup was released on all platforms in Septmeber 2023.
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)
Long Island prog/jam rock trio Baked Shrimp are building quite a name in the jamband scene, not only for their musical talent, but for their annual Halloween tradition, now in its 6th year. The Halloween Extravaganza & Costume Contest, to be held at The Hollow on Friday, October 27, this year marks the second straight Halloween at The Hollow, with support from Albany’s own Timbre Coup.
Presented by Guthrie Bell Productions, Baked Shrimp’s Halloween Extravaganzas always include a surprise theme and band costume, audience costume contest, and an above and beyond production.
Baked Shrimp is a high-octane progressive fusion trio, emerging as a rising powerhouse in the festival circuit. Hailing from Long Island, Jared Cowen (Guitar/Vocals), Scott Reill (Bass/Vocals), and Jager Soss (Drums/Vocals) showcase their energetic and improvisational talents, transforming their three-piece sound into a symphonic experience.
As per tradition, Baked Shrimp goes above and beyond for Halloween, calling on Spinal Tap for the 2022 theme, which included pre-recorded movie skits shown on the screen behind the band, setting up the next song, dropping flowers off the balcony, making a “Stonehenge” prop plus dancers on select tunes.
The audience gets involved in the fun too – every year with the audience costume contest, the band and audience vote for winners (prizes include posters and merch), as well as one lucky winner who gets to join the band members on stage.
Check out last year’s Halloween Extravaganza below:
With another big show planned for this year, the theme, as tradition, does not get revealed until the show.
Opening the night will be Timbre Coup, who formed in 2007 just outside Albany in the town of Altamont. After many years and hundreds of shows alongside bands like The New Deal, Dopapod, Papadosio, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, and Consider the Source among others along with festival appearances at such events as Camp Bisco X 2, Moedown and Mountain Jam, Timbre Coup brings a little something for everyone. With dynamic compositions, melodic and haunting vocals as well as slick chops this quartet entertains with a fervor.
After a brief hiatus between 2014-2018 the band sought other projects including jam projects Mister F and Lord Electro among others. This time away allowed more time for family and time to keep up with life. In 2018 Timbre Coup began playing and preparing for live shows again, and on March 2, 2019 the band made its triumphant return in front of a near sold out crowd at The Hollow. Listen to their newest single, “Firestorm,” below.
To prepare yourself for what Baked Shrimp have in store for this year, take a look and listen to the past Halloween themes from Baked Shrimp, and get ready for a truly unique evening of live music, great for jam and prog fans alike.
All photos by Miles Hurley
2022 – Spinal Tap – The Hollow, Albany
2021 – NRBQ – Greenlawn
2020 – Baseball – Cooperstown
2019 – Wizard of Oz – New Paltz
2018 – Scooby Doo/Trick-or-Treat – Valley Stream
The Hollow show is just one of the dates on Baked Shrimp’s recently announced 25-date Fall Tour which kicked off on Friday, October 6th. Other New York shows included on this tour are: 10/6 – Beaus Bar – Greenlawn, NY 11/1 – Lovin’ Cup – Rochester, NY 11/2 – Buffalo Iron Works – Buffalo, NY w/ eberwine
