The first annual Renaissance Black Film Festival (RBFF) is coming to Albany, running June 22–25 at the historic Palace Theatre and the extravagant Renaissance Hotel. With both venues located in the capital’s historic downtown, attendees will easily be able to navigate between each location.
RBFF puts a spotlight on Black artists and creatives within the film industry and recognizes New York’s Capital Region as a burgeoning hotbed for filmmaking. RBFF will show films from a plethora of Black filmmakers across the country, with awards and cash prizes going to Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, and Best First Project.
The festival is led by entrepreneur and the Palace Theatre’s Executive Director Kevin Johnson, filmmaker Micah Khan, creative agency Collectiveffort, and supported by its’ ambassador, NAACP Image Award recipient Morris Chestnut. Panelists and honorary board members include Gail Bean of FX’s hit show Snowfall and acclaimed screenwriter and director Jamal Hill who’s worked on films such as I am Legend, among many others.
“Over the last decade, we’ve seen about 20 productions come to the area, each growing larger and larger. The secret of the flexibility, affordability and overall beauty of our area has gotten out and folks that are here should be ready to join the industry as it lays roots,” says Collectiveffort Co-founder Patrick Harris.
In addition to the screenings, RBFF will host a series of panel discussions, networking events, public afterparties, an award ceremony, and a few special surprise screenings.
The festival’s curators are accepting submissions up until June 7. Starting Friday, May 26 tickets are on sale here. Tickets are also available for purchase at the Palace Theatre Box Office (located at 19 Clinton Ave). Box Office hours are Monday – Friday Noon to 5PM.
Rob Beaulieu Band’s new album Fade Just Right features nine songs by the band, each one with a unique sound that compliments the overall feel of the album. Different members of the band get their opportunity to shine throughout the pieces, coming together into the album’s many harmonies.
Rob Beaulieu founded Rob Beaulieu Band, a deeper dive into Americana when compared to other projects, mixing in blues and soul alongside it. He is also a founder and member of the bands Raisinhead and Stone Revival Band. Beaulieu plays guitar and provides vocals for the band, with other members including: James Kirk (bass and vocals), Chad Ploss (drums and vocals), Dave Spadaro (Guitar), Sherry Jean Waite (Vocals), and Tony Perrino (Organ).
The album opens with “Ghosts,” which sets the standard for the rest of the album. About the dedication of lovers throughout their lives, even when they have been separated, “Ghosts” has Rob Beaulieu Band’s signature harmonies and organ acting as a haunting undercurrent for the piece.
Each song brings in a new element to mix up things a little bit. The titular song “Fade Just Right” has a much slower piece than most of the album, and uses a xylophone-like sound in one of its motif’s, a sound unique to the piece. In songs such as “Searchin for Paradise” and “Light from the Shoreline,” Sherry Jean Waite takes the role of lead vocalist, a performance that shines through in the album.
While the songs all have different stories to tell, “Ghosts” and “Spooky” have a haunting theme. “Spooky” in particular latches onto this, with a slower pace and emphasis on a long, mournful note that echoes throughout the piece. The song creates its own phantoms with these notes, the ghosts of “Spooky” occasionally joining in with the harmony through these “phantom calls.”
The final song, “Sweet Marie” is an energetic conclusion to the album, ending it on a high note. The song’s love letter-like nature is enhanced by its clean rhymes, making it sound almost like a love poem. All the instruments in this piece are tuned for the upbeat finale and are given space to play without the vocalists.
The band will be playing at The Hollow in Albany on June 23 at 8:00 p.m. alongside Aiko the Dog. For more information and to RSVP for their next show, check out Rob Beaulieu Band’s website.
Fear of Strangers, originally known as The Units, is an Albany-based quartet that revolutionized the DIY era of the city during the 70s with its simple, melodic rock and clever lyrics. The band announced they will be doing a reunion show at Lark Hall on June 2.
Update – this show has been moved to November 4th. Read a message from the band below.
Dear devoted fans and FOS curious, we’re sorry to have to postpone our FOS/Units reunion show at Lark Hall. We’ve had a personal injury within the band. Everyone is fine and it’s not something too serious or life-threatening, but still it would hamper our performance. We want to put on the best show that we can, so we hope you’ll find it worth waiting for. The rescheduled date is Saturday, November 4, 2023 at Lark Hall. Check this page for updates as the date approaches and we hope everyone can still make it!
The Units came onto the Albany DIY scene with their fresh energy of punk and new wave, fusing the luster of Steely Dan, the thump of Parliament/Funkadelic, and the firm edge of the Talking Heads. They traded the name for the ferocious and catchier Fear of Strangers, going from doing covers of whatever was hot at the moment to creating their own fresh and catchy covers. The quartet is comprised of bassist Steve Cohen, vocalist ‘Lonesome’ Val Haynes, drummer Al Kash, and guitarist Todd Nelson.
Photos by Dave Suarez and Lynne Harty.
They released their debut single “Japan” b/w “I am Sorry” in December 1979 under the name The Units, and once they changed their name they released their only album in 1982 on the Faulty Products label. The band became one of the most prolific ones to come out of the late 70s DIY scene in Albany, eventually opening shows for like-minded pioneers including The Police, Squeeze, XTC, The Specials, B-52’s, and R.E.M. In 1983, the band called it quits, but Cohen, Haynes, Kash, and Nelson have all made music in other realms and in other cities.
The band will be hosting a Fear of Strangers/The Units Reunion Show on June 2 at Lark Hall, dedicated to the memory of Lin Brehmer, shining a light on the beginnings of the underground Albany scene, serving as a powerful reminder that the scene is still bright and beaming. Upstate New York’s premiere acoustic Americana trio, Lost Radio Rounders, will start the evening off at 8 p.m. For more information about the event and to purchase tickets, visit here.
Making their maiden voyage through Albany, Kendall Street Company had fans jumping for joy on Friday, April 28th when they brought their barefoot brand of high energy, jam-infused beach rock, along with their signature sense of humor, to Lark Hall for the first time. As enlightening as it was entertaining, it was the kind of show that sent you home thinking you’d just danced with the stars of tomorrow, today. The type of band that makes sure everyone is having fun, and If you didn’t this night, why were you even there in the first place?
Jumping for Joy: Kendall Street Company brought the fun to Albany for their Lark Hall debut on 4/28/23.
Based out of Charlottesville, VA, the band originally formed in 2013 and has been riding a steady wave of momentum since the end of the pandemic. Thanks in large part to constant touring, dedicated songwriting and finding a balance between humor, business and being the best of buds, Kendall Street Company consists of frontman Louis Smith on rhythm guitar and vocals, the dress wearing Brian Roy on Bass, Ryan Wood on drums, Ben Lederberg on electric guitar, and saxophonist/keyboard player Jake Vanaman. Their sound is often hard to categorize, a melting pot of various styles and influences ranging from soul-searching blues, to jazz inspired bluegrass, to psychedelic yacht rock, to straight up feel-good pop rock. Along with an equally diverse and impressive list of covers in their bag, Kendall Street Company showcased it all on this Friday night in Albany.
Kendall Street Company opened the show on 4/28/23 with their brand new single, “Becca’s Dad.”
Opening the performance with their latest single “Becca’s Dad,” followed by “Wineglass Television,” we got our first cover song of the night in the form of the Grateful Dead‘s “Bertha,” which the Lark Hall faithful happily ate up. Having reviewed several Lark Hall shows in the past, it never once occurred to me what the bird actually sounds like. Thanks to one of the most memorable and educational moments of the night, however, it’s now a chirp I don’t think I’ll ever forget. In deadpan poker face, KSC frontman Louis Smith would take us to school by calling up a Lark sound effect and piping it through the PA system long enough to where it was funny, then unfunny, then hypnotic and then funny again. Amusing themselves and the audience alike, make no mistake, these guys are serious musicians.
Barefoot Boogie: Kendall Street Company rocked Albany’s socks off on 4/28/23.
Continuing on with “Porridge,” “Unwind (Boiler Jam),” and a surprise cover of “Ode to Viceroy” by Mac DeMarco, the band would play another unreleased new song called “Trapeze”. The highlight of the night came next when fans in the crowd approached the stage and gifted the band a few containers of Aged White Cheddar potato chips, clearly a request for the guys to play their song of the same name. After taking a moment for a mid-set snack, as if the knock-off Pringles were communion wafers, not only would the band grant the request, they would jam it out using the chip containers as percussion shakers! While everyone in the audience was legitimately laughing out loud, the guys made note how the chips were a little dry and made them thirsty. Whether it was a planned bit, or spontaneous like I hope it was, it was effective and endeared the guys to the Albany crowd even more.
Shake It Up: Give an artist a can of chips and they’ll get you something out of it. 4/28/23
After “Sweet and Clean,” we got our third cover song of the night with “Doctor Worm” by They Might Be Giants. Speaking from the heart and getting a little sentimental, Kendall Street Company would then play the first song they ever wrote together, the irresistible “Cars.” Showing promise from the very beginning, on this night, KSC took a hard left during the song, detouring to the 5 boroughs and mashing it up with the Beastie Boys classic anthem “No Sleep Till Brooklyn.” “Laura, I’m Sorry About the Cobbler” would bring the main portion of the show to a close and leave the audience hungry for more. Happy to entertain the intimate crowd, Kendall Street Company would get a little sexy on the humorous encore of “Stanley Birddogmouth,” resulting in full audience participation similar to what you might see during a “YMCA” sing-along. As ridiculous as it was fun, it was hard not to get caught up in the charming antics Kendall Street Company provided to the unassuming Albany audience. This unteachable charisma and their innate ability to connect will surely help them go as far as they want to.
Kendall Street Company “cheesed” it up in Albany, Aged White Cheddar style on 4/28/23.
After taking a little time off to celebrate drummer Ryan Wood’s wedding, the band is set to make several east cost appearances later this summer. With upcoming stops in Pembroke, MA, Asbury Park, NJ and a late night Phish after party at The Cutting Room in NYC, Kendall Street Company will also take part in some major festivals like Strangecreek Campout and The Peach Music Festival in Scranton, PA. A band on the rise and one you definitely need to see live, if you’re looking for some good tunes, a good time and good company, Kendall Street has plenty to offer.
Kendall Street Company | 4/28/2023| Lark Hall | Albany, NY
Setlist: Becca’s Dad, Wineglass Television, Betha [1] , Porridge, Unwind (Boiler Jam), Ode To Viceroy [2] , Trapeze, Aged White Cheddar, Sweet & Clean, Doctor Worm [3] , Cars > No Sleep Till Brooklyn (Albany),> Cars, Laura, I’m Sorry About the Cobbler
Albany’s Alive at Five Summer Concert Series has announced its 2023 lineup, featuring a wide variety of artists and bands at Jennings Landing.
Photo provided by City of Albany Office of Cultural Affairs, credit to Andrzej Pilarczyk .
Alive at Five was created in 1990 with a performance by legendary folk artist Richie Havens and has since grown into a staple of the Capital Region. It is Albany’s signature free concert series, featuring eight weeks full of various artists, from big names to up-and-coming acts, and artists from the area. Concerts will take place on Thursdays from 4:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., from June 8 to Aug. 3 (excluding June 29).
Alive at Five Lineup
June 8- Emo Pride Night with Hawthorne Heights and Bad Luck
Hawthorne Heights is a rock band from Dayton, OH formed in 2001. Their lineup currently consists of JT Woodruff, Matt Ridenour, Mark McMillon, and Chris Popadak. Their newest record The Rain Just Follows Me (2021) is out now. Bad Luck is a punk band from Brooklyn consisting of Dominick Fox, Joe Fox, Charlie Caruso, and Michael Sichel. They write music about life, with stories of heartache, growth, setbacks, and personal triumphs, as seen on their most recent album Summer of Pain, a 12-song collection that serves as a bridge between childhood ambition and adult realism.
Hawthorne Heights.Bad Luck. From left to right: Joseph Fox, Dominick Fox, Charlie Caruso & Michael Sichel.
June 15- Jam Night with Mihali and Side-B
Mihali is the frontman of Twiddle, who announced their hiatus last year, and a reggae singer/songwriter. He released his solo debut Breathe and Let Go, in 2020 to great acclaim. His most recent record Effection is out now. Born out of Albany, Side-B is an energetic four-piece alternative rock band that blends influences ranging from classic rock acts like Led Zeppelin and The Police to funk, blues, jazz, punk, folk, and modern alternative. The group has a few singles released, and is now working towards finishing their debut record.
Mihali.Side-B, from left-to-right: Dylan Travison, AJ Horton, Eric Mitchell, Ian Justino.
June 22- Country Night with Matt Stell and Skeeter Creek
Matt Stell has accumulated over 360 million streams across his catalog to date. He is adding to this tally with his newest single, “That Ain’t Me No More,” the follow-up to his back-to-back No. 1, Platinum-certified track “Prayed For You” and Gold-certified “Everywhere But On.” He was the first-ever artist to receive a virtual plaque from the RIAA for “Prayed For You,” one of NSAI’s 10 “Songs We Wish We’d Written,” and performed the National anthem for NASCAR and NFL events. Skeeter Creek is advertised as New York’s #1 Country Band. They were nominated for four awards at the 2005 Northeast Country Music Association awards: Bluegrass Band of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Instrumental Band of the Year, and the Sunrise Award, among many others since their creation.
Matt Stell.Skeeter Creek.
July 6- Rock Night with Plush and Super 400
Plush is an all-girl rock band with a mission to bring rock back to the forefront of the music industry. The band consists of lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist Moriah Formica, lead guitarist Bella Perron, bassist Ashley Suppa, and drummer Faith Powell. Their debut album featured the Billboard Top 40 charting singles “Hate” and “Better Off Alone.” Super 400 is made up of drummer Joe Daley, guitarist Kenny Hohman, and bassist Lori Friday. The Troy-based trio formed in 1996 and their self-titled debut was released on Island Records two years later. They have toured internationally, and Troy’s mayor even declared February 25 as “Super 400 Day.” They opened Troy Music Academy in 2011 and have scored music for many TV shows.
Plush.Super 400.
July 13- Classic Rock Night with Sweet and Sly Fox & The Hustlers
Sweet is a classic rock phenomenon, creating music that will make you want to get up and dance. Sly Fox & The Hustlers is a New York-based rock band formed in 2010. They have been named Best Original Blues Rock Band multiple times by Albany’s Metroland magazine and have released two full-length albums, a live EP, a Christmas cover of the Ray Charles classic “That Spirit of Christmas,” and are finishing up their new album.
Sly Fox & The Hustlers.
July 20- Regose Night with The Skatalites and Dr. Jah and the Love Prophets
The Skatalites were formed in 1964 in Kingston, Jamaica by key studio musicians Tommy McCook, Rolando Alphonso, Lloyd Brevett, Lloyd Knibb, Don Drummond, Jah Jerry Haynes, Jackie Mittoo, Johnny Moore, and Jackie Opel. Since then they have released eight studio albums, including the two Grammy-nominated albums, Hi-Bop Ska The 30th Anniversary Recording and Greetings from Skamania. Dr. Jah and the Love Prophets have been bringing the reggae heat for over 25 years. Their original blend of conscious reggae and jam-band sensibilities have entertained audiences around the globe.
The Skatalites.Dr. Jah and the Love Prophets.
July 27- Hip-Hop Night with Rakim, DJ J-Ronin, and Camtron 5000
Rakim is a rapper from Long Island, widely regarded as one of the most influential and most skilled MCs of all time. He is a solo artist and was one-half of the golden age hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim. DJ J-Ronin is a multitude of things, ranging from a mixtape DJ to a manager, born and raised in Flatbush. He is the founder of the All Elements Crew, an international hip-hop organization that has chapters around the world. Finally, Camtron 5000 is a rapper from Albany, making music that is an extension of who he is as a person.
Rakim, photo by Jill Greenberg.DJ J-Ronin, photo by Jammi York.Camtron 5000, seen left.
Aug. 3- RSB Night with Montell Jordan and DJ TGIF
Montell Jordan is a singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his 1995 single “This Is How We Do It,” and was the primary male solo artist on Def Jam’s Def Soul imprint until leaving the label in 2003. DJ TGIF aka Craig Earle, is one of Upstate New York’s most in-demand DJs, performing regularly to both late-night sold-out crowds and family-friendly events alike. He was recently awarded the honor of the Albany Business Review’s 40 Under 40.
Montell Jordan performs live on stage during the 2023 Freestyle Explosion Throw Back Jam at Watsco Center on March 11, 2023, in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Johnny Louis/Getty Images)
For more information about Alive at Five 2023, visit here.
My Morning Jacket has announced their upcoming North American headline tour, highlighted by a series of very special shows celebrating the 20th anniversary of their third studio album, It Still Moves. The first of three shows (Oct. 19-21) at The Beacon Theatre in Manhattan will include the It Still Moves celebration, as well as shows in Atlanta and Chicago. The Palace Theatre in Albany will also host MMJ for their first performance at the historic venue.
The upcoming North American tour continues a non-stop live schedule for My Morning Jacket that includes headline shows in the UK and Europe, festival appearances at Guadalajara, Mexico’s Corona Capital Guadalajara (May 20), Barcelona, Spain’s Primavera Sound (June 3), Porto, Portugal’s Primavera Sound (June 9), Madrid, Spain’s Primavera Sound (June 10), Manchester, TN’s Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival (June 17), Scranton, PA’s Peach Music Festival (July 1), Memphis, TN’s Mempho Music Festival (September 30), and a three-night run alongside Fleet Foxes set to visit Berkeley, CA’s Greek Theatre (August 18-19) and Los Angeles, CA’s historic Hollywood Bowl (August 20).
My Morning Jacket and the non-profit REVERB are partnering for the third consecutive year to reduce the environmental footprint of their tour and take action on the climate crisis. In addition to a comprehensive tour sustainability program, the band will be supporting REVERB’s climate portfolio which funds projects that measurably reduce greenhouse gas pollution, address climate justice, and directly decarbonize the music industry. For more info visit reverb.org.
My Morning Jacket recently announced the eagerly anticipated return of My Morning Jacket’s One Big Holiday, an all-inclusive concert vacation set for April 4-8, 2024 at Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo, Mexico. One Big Holiday will once again see My Morning Jacket performing three unique headline shows, joined by an all-star lineup including some of the band’s favorite artists and friends. Presale Opt-In registration is open now to One Big Holiday Returning Guest Members and members of MMJ’s One Big Family, exclusively at onebigfamily.mymorningjacket.com. Complete presale information and initial lineup details will be unveiled later this summer. For complete information, please visit mmjonebigholiday.com.
Members of My Morning Jacket’s One Big Family fan club on Medallion will have first access to presale tickets. Free registration is available now through Monday, May 15 at 9:00 am (ET) exclusively at onebigfamily.mymorningjacket.com. Spotify and local presales begin Wednesday, May 17 at 10:00 am (local) and continue through 10:00 pm (local). All remaining tickets will be released to the general public on Friday, May 19 at 10:00 am (local). For complete details and ticket availability, please see www.mymorningjacket.com/events. VIP tickets will also be available. For complete details, please visit www.cidentertainment.com/events/my-morning-jacket.
MY MORNING JACKET – TOUR 2023
MAY
14 – Mobile, AL – Saenger Theatre *
15 – Jackson, MS – Thalia Mara Hall *
19 – Guadalajara, Mexico – Guanamor Studio **
20 – Guadalajara, Mexico – Corona Capital Guadalajara ^
30 – London, UK – O2 Kentish Town Forum #
31 – Manchester, UK – O2 Ritz Manchester #
JUNE
3 – Barcelona, Spain – Primavera Sound ^
5 – Antwerp, Belgium – De Roma #
6 – Utrecht, Netherlands – TivoliVredenburg #
9 – Porto, Portugal – Primavera Sound ^
10 – Madrid, Spain – Primavera Sound ^
15 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre ‡
16 – Charleston, SC – Firefly Distillery ‡
17 – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival ^
20 – St. Paul, MN – Palace Theatre ‡
21 – Milwaukee, WI – The Riverside Theater ‡
23 – Indianapolis, IN – TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park *
The Albany Center Gallery (ACG), located on Broadway in Albany, is accepting submissions for an upcoming exhibition celebrating Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary this August.
ACG and curators Robert Cooper, Truemaster, and BoogieRez invite local and regional artists to submit their work for consideration. This call for submissions is free and open to the public.
Hip Hop finds its origins dating back to August 11th, 1973, when a back-to-school party was held in the Bronx, at 1520 Sedgwick Ave. Over the years it became known as the party that started the culture of Hip Hop. Hip Hop is both a culture and a style of music, beginning with four elements: MC’ing, B-boy/B-girl, graffiti, and DJ’ing. 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of Hip Hop and to commemorate this historic occasion, events of varying degrees are planned around the world, including the Capital Region at Albany Center Gallery.
From Tuesday, August 1 to Saturday, September 2, 2023, this exhibition will be held at ACG in celebration of Hip Hop’s culture and overall multidisciplinary influence on people, especially creatives.
Along with the exhibition, the commemoration will include multiple associated programs highlighting performances that embody the spirit of Hip Hop and this cultural phenomenon. Albany Center Gallery is looking for visual art (photography, painting, sculpture, installations, and graffiti), and performance artists (MCs, DJs, Dancers, Poets, and more) to join ACG and curators in celebrating the 50 years of Hip Hop.
All art forms and mediums are welcome to submit. The work submitted should represent an artistic style that is inspired or influenced by the artist’s experience in Hip Hop culture throughout the years. Work must be submitted by Sunday, June 4, 2023, at midnight to be considered. Submit work and learn more details here.
On a delightful Monday evening in Albany, the Drive-By Truckers played The Egg Performing Arts Center. The show was their fourth-straight stop in the state of New York on their spring tour. The band hit Levon Helm Studios and played Bowery Ballroom twice last week. And it wasn’t the first time the band played The Egg, having played the venue in 2014 and 2017.
While nearly all of the shows on this leg of the tour featured Lydia Loveless as the opener, she was not on the bill for this one. That made it an evening with the Truckers, who took the stage shortly after 7:30 PM and wasted no time getting into their set. Over the course of two hours, the band played eighteen originals and impressively drew upon songs from ten of their albums—plus a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “State Trooper.” The entire set was great, and the band sounded best on the songs it jammed out, especially the final few minutes of “Pauline Hawkins.”
If you missed this leg of the tour and want to catch the Drive-By Truckers in New York, fear not. They’re set to play at Water Street Music Hall in Rochester and the Paramount in Huntington in September.
Setlist: Carl Perkins’ Cadillac, The New OK, Surrender Under Protest, The Opening Act, Women Without Whiskey, The Driver, A Ghost To Most, Pauline Hawkins, Sounds Better In The Song, Wilder Days, Every Single Storied Flameout, Puttin’ People On The Moon, Gravity’s Gone, Heathens, Marry Me, Buttholeville, State Trooper (Bruce Springsteen cover), Made Up English Oceans, Angels And Fuselage
Legendary rock band Jethro Tull has announced their newest venture, “The Seven Decades” tour, which will close with dates at NYC’s Beacon Theatre, Port Chester’s Capitol Theatre, and finally, Albany’s Palace Theatre.
Led by Ian Anderson, the concert will feature a rich collection of the best-known Jethro Tull from 1968 to date. Fans will recognize the key songs from the band’s rich heritage. These are songs which put Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson on the map during these seven decades. “The Seven Decades” tour will hit the U.S. from August through November, with stops around the country, ending with three dates in New York State.
Jethro Tull’s 23rd studio album, “RökFlöte” is now out on all streaming media and in stores via Inside Out Music. Following 2022’s “The Zealot Gene,” the group’s first LP in two decades, Anderson and his bandmates’ new 12-track record is based on the characters and roles of some of the principal gods of old Norse mythology, and exploring the “RökFlöte” — rock flute — which Jethro Tull made iconic.
With more than 30 albums to their credit and sales totaling more than 60 million, Jethro Tull are one of the most successful rock bands of all-time with a catalog that contains classics that still resonate today. Led by Anderson, they continue to tour throughout the world, entertaining audiences of all ages.
Tickets to all shows are now on sale. Visit Jethro Tull’s website for ticket links to all shows.
“The Seven Decades” Tour Schedule
Aug. 18 – Ravinia Festival – Highland Park, IL Aug. 19 – TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park – Indianapolis, IN Aug. 20 – Rose Music Center at The Heights – Huber Heights, OH Aug. 22 – PNC Pavilion at Riverbend – Cincinnati, OH Aug. 24 – Wolf Trap – Vienna, VA Sep. 26 – The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park – San Diego, CA Sep. 27 – Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA Sep. 29 – Thunder Valley Casino Resort – The Venue at Thunder Valley – Lincoln, CA Sep. 30 – The Mountain Winery – Saratoga, CA Oct. 01 – Luther Burbank Center for the Arts – Ruth Finley Person Theater – Santa Rosa, CA Oct. 27 – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom – Hampton, NH Oct. 28 – MGM Music Hall at Fenway – Boston, MA Oct. 29 – Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT Nov. 01 – Beacon Theatre – New York, NY Nov. 02 – The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY Nov. 04 – Palace Theatre – Albany, NY
It was a heavy night of sonic improv and heavy themes at Lark Hall on April 26th, when enduring jam band veterans Perpetual Groove made their long-awaited return to Albany. Tackling topics of loss and regret, redemption and hope, the band was at the top of their game and demonstrated a level of musical maturity and precision that can only come from decades of playing together. Commemorating 20 years since the group’s breakout album, Sweet Oblivious Antidote, the evening also marked the debut of the venue’s brand new disco ball.
Perpetual Groove made their Lark Hall debut on 4/26/2023
Kicking things around 8pm, The Social Assassins got things off to a loud and progressive start. Featuring fusion guitarist virtuoso Gabriel Marin of Consider the Source, the band has only played handful of live shows together since their debuting in October of last year. Marin, along with his trademark Vigier double neck guitar and a bevy of effects pedals, took us on a sonic journey through instrumentals like “Begrudging Acquiescence” and “The Red Hour,” while his high energy band of Assassins pummeled away on songs like “Hora Attik” and “Blood Boi.” Playing before a moderate crowd of concert goers on this Wednesday night, the band turned in a max effort performance for those who were there to appreciate it. A fusion of eastern influences mixed with everything from metal and disco, The Social Assassins surprised everyone with their unique sound, especially on their set closing version of A-ha’s classic sing along “Take On Me.”
Watch fan shot footage of Social Assassins performing “Take On Me” at Lark Hall on 4/26/23
After a brief intermission, it was officially time for Perpetual Groove to launch the Lark Hall crowd into orbit. Originally formed in 1997, the Athens, GA based quartet opened their single set performance with “Save For One” from 2007’s Live Love Die album. Sounding fantastic from the opening note to the last, guitarist/vocalist Brock Butler would lead P-Groove straight into a heady version of “Stealy Man” that saw the crowd let out collective cheers and head bangs when it’s extended jam dipped into the ‘heavy’ section before shifting gears into the first cover of the night with The Cars classic song “Drive,” and then finally returning to “Stealy Man” to complete an impressive 30+ minutes of uninterrupted music to start the show. After a few welcoming words, the groove would pick up again with another oldie in 2005’s “Andromeda.”
Watch fan shot footage of Perpetual Groove “Stealy Man” and “Drive” at Lark Hall on 4/26/23
Despite it being the 20th anniversary of the bands Sweet Oblivious Antidote album, Perpetual-Groove would only play one song from it, “TSM2.” Laying down the tastiest of bass lines, Adam Perry stole the show next on a well-received version of “Crockett and Tubbs” that got the whole place dancing. A bit of a deep cut in “Cairo” was next, allowing keyboardist Matthew McDonald a chance to stretch out both musically and physically. The burley chairman’s other-worldly synth textures were magnified all evening long thanks in part to the venue’s brand-new disco ball that was also making it’s Lark Hall debut during this performance.
It’s been 20 years since Perpetual Groove released their breakout album Sweet Oblivious Antidote
Perhaps the highlight of the show came next when P-Groove would uncork a monstrous version of the hard rocking “Speed Queen” bolstered by Butler’s trademark precision and the heavy hands of the newest member of the band, drummer Darren Stanley, who joined in 2022 after spending time with Jimmy Hearing and Col. Bruce Hampton. The thunderous and cathartic peak would seamlessly transition into a beautiful and introspective version of “Out Here,” a longtime live favorite that was only recently given the studio treatment. Following that up with one of Butler’s most personal songs was “It Starts Where It Ends.” Wailing away on his signature Stratocaster with eyes closed and his back arched, the song featured some of the most expressive playing of the night. Seamlessly transitioning into the set closing “Space Paranoids,” the band performed like a well-oiled machine and spoke a musical language unto themselves, effortlessly communicating changes just by exchanging glances at each other.
Watch fan shot footage of Perpetual Groove performing “It Starts Where It Ends” during their Lark Hall on debut 4/26/23
Rather than go through the typical rigmarole of exiting the stage prior to the encore, P-Groove would simply tell fans this will be their last song of the night and thanked them for coming out to their Lark Hall debut. Opting to go with a crowd-pleasing cover of Talking Heads “This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody),” coincidently the same song had also been covered by Ryan Montbleau at the venue just one week prior. Whether by choice or by happy accident, an agreeable theme appears to be emerging at Albany’s newest concert spot. After yet another night of stellar musicianship, improvisation and overall good vibes, if Lark Hall isn’t the place, then I don’t know what is.
Perpetual Groove | April 26, 2023 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY
Setlist: Save For One > Stealy Man > Drive* > Stealy Man, Andromeda, TSM2, Crockett & Tubbs, Cairo, Speed Queen > Out Here, It Starts Where It Ends > Space Paranoids
Encore: This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody)**
*The Cars cover
**Talking Heads cover
Social Assassins | April 26, 2023 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY
Setlist: Begrudging Acquiescence, The Red Hour, Hora Attik, Blood Boi, A Well-Placed Pen, Take on Me*
