Rockin’ on the River 2023 announced the four-show series will return to its former location of River Front Park in Troy on Wednesday, June 28, July 12, July 26, and Aug. 9.
Photo by Dave DeCrescente.
Each concert at the Rockin’ on the River 2023 series is free to attend, happening from 5:30-9 p.m. and features vendors local to downtown Troy. Free parking is available on-street in designated areas and throughout the district, with several lots and garages all within walking distance of the show.
We are excited for Rockin’ on the River to return with four shows to one of its former original locations River Front Parks. This event brings a lot of buzz and excitement in Downtown Troy. We focus a lot on supporting our local bands as you’ll notice with our line-up, everything about Rockin’ on the River supports local, with this location we are such a short walk from one end of the downtown district to the other, it’s easy to enjoy great shopping before the show, and food and drinks after.
Olivia Clemente, Executive Director, Downtown Troy Business Improvement District.
Rockin’ on the River 2023 Lineup
June 28- Neon Avenue
Based out of Clifton Park, Neon Ave is a Grateful Dead tribute band that brings a different energy to the classic songbook, inviting audiences to jam out all night long. Kristian Montgomery & the Winterkill Band to open.
July 12- Legacy
Rockin’ on the River 2023 brings the audience back in time with Classic Rock tribute band Legacy dedicated to the “Rock Anthems” and Heartfelt Ballads of Foreigner and Journey. These timeless melodies are performed to perfection, letting the audience groove all night long. Sirsy to open.
July 26- Conehead Buddha
Conehead Buddha is an eight-piece ska-rock-funk-latin-reggae-jam-hop from New York. Josh & Tracy to open.
Aug. 9- Skeeter Creek
Skeeter Creek is a five-piece Americana band blending their own variants of country, folk, bluegrass, and rock, and is ranked among the best of the new and upcoming alternative artists. They have each toured with some of the biggest names in the industry and won several awards. Nick & Liam to open.
Each Sunday evening from 7-9pm you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up and coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music from Merci Van, Caity Gallagher, and Kirsti Blow.
WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.
Merci Van – “Oppenheimer”
Merci Van is from Saratoga Springs and makes synth post-folk music. Members are Alicia Macier Van Scoy, Ed Cormac, and Katlyn Celentano. Their new single “Irrational Anthems” is out now.
Caity Gallagher – “Worth Remembering”
Caity Gallagher is a rootsy singer/songwriter based in Albany, who uses lifting vocals and empowering lyrics to tell universally relatable stories. She started playing piano at age seven and guitar at sixteen, and has been compared to the likes of Jackson Browne and Carole King. Her newest EP Something Worth Remembering is out now on streaming platforms, with the song “Worth Remembering” having a spot on Sunday’s EQXposure.
Kirsti Blow – “Last Cigarette”
Kirsti Blow is a singer/songwriter hailing from Upstate New York, recognized for her soft voice and unforgettable instrumentals. Her new album Loose Ends, written over the course of two years, explores the feelings of of elation and fear, love and disillusionment, and the changing seasons while traveling in the US and Spain. “Last Cigarette” will hold a spot on EQXposure this Sunday.
Singer-songwriter-bassist Karina Rykman announced her first headlining tour this fall, ahead of the release of her debut album. “Joyride Tour 2023” begins Sept. 20 at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn, then travels the US through mid-December.
“Joyride Tour 2023” celebrates the upcoming arrival of Rykman’s hugely anticipated debut album, JOYRIDE, arriving via AWAL on Friday, Aug. 18. While the tour kicks off in Brooklyn, Rykman will also stop in Saratoga Springs at Putnam Place on Nov. 30.
The album was first heralded with the premiere of the first single and title track, “Joyride.” Equal parts thick bass, ethereal synths, disco-funk guitar, and silky, inviting vocals, the track – which features signature lead guitar from JOYRIDE co-producer Trey Anastasio – expertly captures Rykman’s jubilant brand of sonic exploration, bridging an array of genres to arrive at her own compelling and original take on psychedelic indie rock.
Born and raised in New York City, Karina Rykman’s musical path began in her early teens playing in bands whenever she could while attending a veritable ton of live music as a fan. Her prowess on the bass guitar soon landed her several high-profile television gigs spanning America’s Got Talent to backing up pop star Julia Michaels on TODAY. By the end of her senior year at NYU, Rykman’s talent and infectious spirit saw her invited to join pianist Marco Benevento’s band, with whom she performed countless shows including dates with Vulfpeck, Dispatch, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, Guster, and many more.
Rykman soon formed her namesake band, accompanied by Adam November (guitar, loopers, effects) and Chris Corsico (drums). She quickly earned a reputation as a mesmerizing, unmissable live act, lighting up an array of international stages with headline sets, show-stealing festival performances (including Bonnaroo, Peach Music Festival, and Sweetwater 420 Fest), shows alongside Khruangbin, Guster, and The Disco Biscuits (among others), and recent appearances sitting in with the 8G Band on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers.
Along with headlining her tour, Rykman will also perform at festivals this summer, including the Borderland Music Festival in East Aurora. More information about tickets can be found here.
Tour Dates
AUGUST
11 – Westport, CT – Levitt Pavilion (Free Show)
17-19 – Thornville, OH – Secret Dreams Music & Arts Festival *
19 – Cockeysville, MD – Hot August Music Festival *
SEPTEMBER
1-3 – Lake George, NY – Adirondack Independence Music Festival *
9 – Indianapolis, IN – All In Music & Arts Festival *
10 – Mundelein, IL – The Miracle In Mundelein *
15 – Fredericton, NB – Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival *
15-17 – Greenfield, MA – Wormtown Music Festival
17 – East Aurora, NY – Borderland Music Festival *
The Who had bid farewell to fans in 1982 after nearly 20 years together as a band, and after seven years had passed, it was time for a music industry tradition – the Reunion Tour. And where else to warm up for a major comeback tour than with a show at Glens Falls Civic Center, on June 21, 1989
Returning to the stage after seven years was no simple feat. Personalities and egos had clashed, drug use became endemic within the band, and members were itching to quit. Guitarist Pete Townshend had fallen into a depression, wanted to do more than play the hits on the road, leading him to eventually quit the band in 1983. Bassist John Entwistle nearly quit as well, but he hoped to stay on the road. Singer/guitarist Roger Daltrey shed some light on this time period, telling Record Collector,
I think Pete knew he’d made a mistake around 1980. He was going downhill with substance abuse and all that kind of stuff. And I decided at the beginning of that (1982) tour to pull the plug on the band and for it to be our last, because I was really frightened at the time of finding him dead on the bathroom floor, or dead in bed in the hotel room. It was one of those situations. I thought the only way to stop this is to come off the road. It was a difficult decision, but I felt it was the only way forward. We’d gone backwards.
Roger Daltrey, on The Who breaking up in 1982
Coinciding with their 25th Anniversary Tour, the 1989 The Who tour was also the 20th anniversary of the rock opera Tommy. On March 24th, Townshend, Daltrey and Entwistle appeared together at a press conference at Radio City Music Hall to announce they would once again tour as The Who that summer. Townshend, who had announced in 1987 he suffered from tinnitus, told the press that he still experiences hearing problems, garnering a laugh, saying “we will play very, very quietly.”
Skip ahead to June, and The Who were bound for Upstate New York, to perform a warm up show for the tour at Glens Falls Civic Center on June 21, 1989. The Kids Are Alright Tour: 1964-1989 kicked off with a career overview of their work and an unusual connection of songs that led the shows to lasting nearly three and a half hours at some venues. With a variety of songs from across a quarter century, including a great deal of new ones from Townshend’s Iron Man soundtrack (released earlier that year), some songs would be cut from the show, making this performance in Glens Falls full of rarities and popular tracks, side-by-side. Audiences in New York and Los Angeles featured full-scale presentations of Tommy.
The first half of the show featured a great deal of songs from Tommy, including an extended “Overture” which was uplinked to the BBC to be broadcast live in England, as well as aired locally, and uninterrupted, on WTEN in Albany.
Beyond Tommy songs, a fair amount of Townshend’s solo work appeared in the show, including “I Won’t Run Anymore,” “All Shall Be Well” and “A Friend Is a Friend” from Iron Man, a rarity “Trick of the Light” that had not been played since 1979, “A Little Is Enough” and “Give Blood.” Townshend would play acoustic guitar during Tommy and his solo songs, then switched to electric guitar for the second act.
The solo Entwistle song, “Too Late the Hero” stands out as well, in addition to covers of “Hey Joe” (The Leaves), “Summertime Blues” (Eddie Cochran), “Love Hurts” (The Everly Brothers) and a show stopping “Twist and Shout.”
Joining Daltrey, Townshend and Entwistle was Simon Philips on drums, filling the void left by the untimely passing of Keith Moon in 1978. The Who also brought in a large number of musicians to accompany them for each performance, including Steve ‘Boltz’ Bolton (Guitar), John Bundrick (Piano, Keyboards), Chyna (Backing Vocals), Simon Clarke (Brass Section), Simon Gardner (Brass Section), Jody Linscott (Percussion), Roddy Lorimer (Brass Section), Billy Nicholls (Backing Vocals), Tim Saunders (Brass Section), Neil Sidwell (Brass Section) and Cleveland Watkiss (Backing Vocals). When asked why such a large number of musicians, Townshend replied on Good Morning America, “The more musicians you have, the quieter you can play. It’s a bit difficult to make a big sound with an electric guitar unless it’s quite loud. I’m paying the price now for playing too much loud guitar.”
While their record breaking performance in Buffalo in 1982 with The Clash was a sign fans were still hungry for punk in all its forms (godfathers optional), The Who of 1989 were looking for something a bit more dialed back. Speaking to David Gates of Newsweek, Townshend said, remarking on what audiences expect of The Who at this point of their career.
They expect us to be present. We’re just supposed to be there. It’s not that it’s unimportened what we play or how we play, but it’s importent that we’re present and that we want to be present. You don’t invite people to celebrate your work and then look like you don’t want to be at the party.
Pete Townshend
Fans of The Who were certainly enjoying this first chance to see a band that had bid farewell seven years prior. Daltrey, at age 45, still swung his microphone on its cord like it was a lasso, and Townshend (44), continued to leap in the air on cue, in addition to his trademark guitar windmill, which was now adorning t-shirts for sale at the show. Newsweek would say the night was “a hell of a show for the money.”
The Kids Are Alright Tour: 1964-1989 would first be seen in Glens Falls, but the official start was in Toronto on June 23 and 24, the city where the band played their final show in 1982.
Rehearsal Setlist: Sister Disco, You Better You Bet, Who Are You, Baba O’Riley, Behind Blue Eyes, Won’t Get Fooled Again, Hey Joe
Setlist: Overture, 1921, Amazing Journey, Sparks, The Acid Queen, Pinball Wizard, Do You Think It’s Alright, Fiddle About, I’m Free, Tommy’s Holiday Camp, We’re Not Gonna Take It, I Won’t Run Any More, All Shall Be Well, A Friend Is A Friend, I Can’t Explain, Substitute, I Can See For Miles, Trick Of The Light, Boris The Spider, Hey Joe, Who Are You, Naked Eye, Summertime Blues, Too Much Of Anything, Baba O’Riley, My Generation, A Little Is Enough, 5.15, Love Reign O’er Me, Love Hurts, Too Late The Hero, My Wife, Sister Disco, Give Blood, Join Together, You Better You Bet, Behind Blue Eyes, Won’t Get Fooled Again
Encore: Pictures Of Lily, Twist And Shout
Watch videos and recordings from June 21, 1989 at Glens Falls Civic Center below.
The annual Summer at the Plaza 2023 Festival lineup has been announced, taking place at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, featuring family-friendly concerts, movies, and festivals, starting with the annual July 4 celebration.
The Summer at the Plaza 2023 celebration kicks off on July 4 with an exciting program with incredible live music. The “Queen of Percussion” Sheila E. has made a name for herself as one of the most talented musical icons over the decades. She is fearless and passionate, following the beat of her drum, and touching the lives of many over the years. Sibling Upstate NY natives Jocelyn & Chris also perform. Along with the performances are the best fireworks display in the region and great food and beverages.
Featured on June 21 is a Pride Night Celebration with Jan’s Jukebox, of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 12 and All Stars season 6, and special guest DJ Phoenix, from 6-9 p.m.
The popular Lunchtime at the Plaza Concert Series returns this summer, featuring live music and a variety of food trucks on ten Wednesdays between June 7 and Aug. 16 from noon to 1:30 p.m.
The lunchtime concert series provides an excellent opportunity for state employees and the public to come to the Empire State Plaza and enjoy being out in warmer temperatures and summer sun while listening to live performances and eating a healthy lunch from one of the Plaza food vendors or shopping at the weekly farmers market.
Jeanette Moy, Commissioner of OGS
Kicking off the series is Acute Inflections, New York’s Jazzy R&B duo, consisting of Elasea Douglas (vocalist) and Sadiki Pierre (bassist). June 14 brings Upstate NY native Maria Zemantauski, who has toured Spain, Italy, and across the continental United States to great acclaim. She brings Brian Melick to perform a variety of Spanish classical, flamenco, and American fingerstyle music. June 21 features a Make Music Day celebration featuring Heard, a collective of musicians who bring their skills and passion for world music, jazz, and improvising to create irresistible grooves set in a unique sonic tapestry.
Heard.
The Lunchtime at the Plaza series on June 28 acts have yet to be announced, and the following week has no concert because of the July 4 celebration. Veteran Appreciation Day is July 12, featuring the Gone Gray Band, performing a mix of 50s, 60s, and 70s music that shaped their lives. July 19’s show has acts that have also yet to be announced. July 26 features Carmen and Life’s Guilty Pleasures with lead singer Carmen Lookshire from Albany, performing a mix of jazz-infused songs. The last few weeks feature The Age performing R&B/soul on Aug. 2, The Dominant 5, a brass ensemble, on Aug. 9, and finally R&B group Legacy on Aug. 16.
The New York State Food Festival returns Aug. 16 from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. The annual Food Festival pairs a wide variety of delicious food and beverages with an exciting lineup of free entertainment, featuring the Robert Randolph & The Family Band, with an additional performance by Flavour. Robert Randolph has jumped from spiritual to secular music, finding an audience among roots rook aficionados, jam band followers, or blues fans with his fiery, passionate instrumental work and heartfelt music.
Returning on Sept. 13 from 5-9 p.m. is the Hops & Harvest Festival, celebrating the best of what autumn has to offer in Upstate New York as well as tasty beers crafted by several local breweries. This year will feature a performance by the Yonder Mountain String Band, with additional performances by Sicard Hollow and Bees in the Barn. Grammy-nominated progressive bluegrass group Yonder Mountain String Band is celebrating its 25th year as a band. Blending bluegrass with elements of rock, alternative, psychedelic and improvisational music, the band exists and excels in a rock world, without drums, as an acoustic group, performing at festivals, rock clubs, theaters, and stadiums.
Yonder Mountain String Band.
Summer at the Plaza 2023 also features the Capital Concert series with a variety of artists. Commissioner Jeanette Moy said the lineup “includes something for everyone, with alternative, rock, country, and hip-hop artists taking the stage and providing the public with evenings full of free entertainment.” Kicking off the series on July 12 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. is Spin Doctors and Cracker. Spin Doctors, from New York City, had an extremely successful run in the 90s with their 1992 debut album Pocket Full of Kryptonite, featuring the familiar hits“Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong.” Peaking at No. 4 on the Top 100 singles chart, “Two Princes” had more U.S. radio spins than any other rock & roll song in 1993.
Cracker has been described as a lot of things over the years: alt-rock, Americana, insurgent country, and many more. Cofounders David Lowery and Johnny Hickman have been rockin’ for a quarter of a century – amassing ten studio albums, multiple gold records, thousands of live performances, and hit songs that are still in current radio rotation around the globe, including “Low,” “Euro-Trash Girl,” “Get Off This” and “Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out With Me.”
Spin Doctors, photo by Zachary Beecher.
July 19 brings heavy-hitting rock legend Night Ranger to the stage, captivating audiences with its killer melodies, and intricate instrumentation, selling over 17 million albums worldwide, performing across more than 4,000 stages, and acquiring a radio audience that exceeds one billion. They have earned widespread recognition that includes both multi-platinum and gold albums, and have released an impressive amount of hit singles and album tracks including “Sister Christian,” “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me,” “When You Close Your Eyes,” and the anthemic “(You Can Still) Rock In America.”
Returning to the Summer at the Plaza series on July 26 is the unique modern country Eli Young Band, a true band of brothers who play their own instruments and write their own songs. The band was founded by Eli Young with guitarist James Young, bassist Jon Jones, and drummer Chris Thompson at the University of North Texas in 2000. The trailblazing group has come a long way since its founding, producing Billboard’s No. 1 Country Song of the Year and winning the ACM Award for Song of the Year with “Crazy Girl,” plus multiple CMA, CMT, ACA, and Teen Choice Award nominations.
Closing out the Capital Concert Series is a hip-hop night with Big Daddy Kane, featuring performances by Roxanne Shanté and Black Sheep. Big Daddy Kane made a name for himself as one of hip-hop’s most lyrical, diverse, innovative, trendsetting MCs. He is the first rapper to ever hold two sold-out shows at the world-famous Apollo Theater for women only. With several gold albums, Kane has endured a long career, releasing iconic songs like “Ain’t No Half Steppin’,” “Raw,” “Smooth Operator,” “Warm It Up,” and more.
Other events include free fitness classes starting June 6, free and open to individuals of all ages, regardless of fitness level or experience. The classes will be held at a new outdoor location on the Empire State Plaza this summer, between The Egg and Cornerstone. Lessons take place every Tuesday and Thursday through Aug. 31 from 5-6 p.m.
For more information about the Summer at the Plaza 2023 lineup, visit here.
Saratoga Performing Arts Center played host to Sean Kingston, En Vogue, TLC and Shaggy on Friday June 16. SPAC stands head and shoulders above any outdoor venue in the Capital Region, and this evening, the venue lived up to its reputation as even the rain couldn’t stop a good time.
The way that thousands of people filed into SPAC in the name of R&B brought joy to my heart. It is wild how much we take basic necessities for granted until we lose access to them. Alas, a mix of live hip-hop, R&B, and dancehall always proves essential for the well-being of citizens.
R&B + Dancehall Concert in New York
Sean Kingston maximized his thirty-minute set with plenty of vibes. Dutty wine dancing, nostalgia, and vocal energy set the tone for the whole evening. Certainly, when “Beautiful Girls” blasted through the speakers, every person of age instantly reminisced about the era of ringback tones.
Next, En Vogue continued the theme of setting the tone with radiant energy. Not one drop of rain could stop their shine as they played renditions magnificently. Some people questioned the order of the setlist but nobody could debate the way En Vogue prepared the audience for the next act, TLC.
TLC-Waterfalls [06/19/23]
Now, TLC stole the spotlight if you ask me. It seemed as if the rain would subside during breaks and lesser-known songs. But when songs like “Red Light Special” and “Diggin On You” made their way through the airwaves the whole crowd started to feel the rhythm. Ironically, when the best songs came on the rain began to steadily flow.
Rain Washes Worries Away
This precipitation did not put a damper on things, whatsoever due to its light and misty nature. The beautiful woman by my side chose not to untie her rain jacket from around her waist as she embraced the evening elements. Altogether, the moment felt like it belonged in an R&B video.
The break between TLC and Shaggy proved to be well-deserved for the audience. After exiting the TLC trance, concertgoers gathered around for one last hurrah. Performers who emit strong stage presence tend to make you feel close to the stage no matter where you stand.
Toward the beginning of his set, Shaggy grew discontent with the energy level of the crowd. Calling an audible, he threw on “Red Red Wine” to lift the crowd to the level he desired. From there, not one person could resist swaying their hips to Mr. Wasn’t Me. While that song is the classic, “Boombastic” and “Guardian Angel” were the ones that really brought the house down.
Overall, this show at SPAC proved to be extremely worthwhile. Everyone needs an outlet and an opportunity to let loose. This dual-purpose event provided the chance to immerse within an incredible atmosphere and truly let any anxieties or worries dissipate for the entire evening.
Attention Disco Biscuits fans! The jamtronica pioneers may not be back in New York until mid-August, but you can catch a rare performance by Tractorbear: A Tribute to the Disco Biscuits, on Friday, July 7 at Parish Public House in Albany.
Tractorbear, a tribute to the pioneers of Jamtronica/trancefusion, the Disco Biscuits, will perform two sets of Disco Biscuits tunes – both classic songs from the early years, as well as tunes from the recent Shockedalbum that was released in April.
Opening the night is Sweeping Views, starting at 10pm.
This is a very special late show, with doors at 9pm and Sweeping Views opening the night at 10pm that you won’t want to miss. Don’t sleep on this party Albany! #SIYD
Tractorbear takes the stage at 11pm for two full sets. Get tickets here and check out past Tractorbear shows below.
The long strange trip is allegedly coming to an end, but not before one more Saturday night in Saratoga Springs. Kicking off Father’s Day weekend on a high note, the spirit of Jerry Garcia was alive and well as Dead & Company rolled into town for a pair of sold out shows at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) on June 17th and 18th.
Billed as “The Final Tour,” concert goers from all over turned out in huge numbers, creating both a circus-like atmosphere, a bit of an over-crowded cluster, and oh yeah, one heck of a good time! While the weekend also marked the 40th anniversary of the Grateful Dead’s first-time playing in Saratoga, many fans were also quick to point out the last time Dead & Company were in town, the show never actually happened, as it was abruptly called off due to a family emergency within the band. It was never rescheduled, although this year, a second Dead & Company show was added for the first, and last time ever.
Discover Grateful Dead shows from over the years across New York State with our interactive map below
In typical Dead fashion, just getting inside the venue was an adventure in itself. Between massive traffic jams, Shakedown Street shenanigans and huge lines at the turnstiles, before the show even started the lawn overflow had spilled well into the food court area. The place was absolutely packed and the buzz in the air was tangible, friendly, and electric. Strangers were literally stopping strangers just to shake their hand. As Dead & Company took the stage to a rousing ovation, things would kick off with a well-received cover of Sam Cooke’s classic “Let the Good Times Roll,” a sure sign that both the band and the fans were on the same page.
Anchored by original Grateful Dead members Bob Weir (guitar/vocals) and Mickey Hart (drums), this incarnation of the group features cross-over pop superstar John Mayer on lead guitar and vocals, Oteil Burbridge (bass/vocals), Jeff Chimenti (keyboards/vocals), and Jay Lane (drums). Noodling their way into the familiar sounds of “Scarlet Begonias,” the 14 minute dance party would pick up even more steam as the band segued into the time tested sing-along of “Deal.” Weir would croon “Black-Throated Wind” for us next, before handing over vocal duties to Mayer for the always appreciated “Dire Wolf.”
The centerpiece of the set, and perhaps the whole night, came next in the form of “Bird Song.” As people slowly realized what it was, you could almost feel the collective sense of joy. The delicate and lush harmonies transporting you to a place of peace and tranquility, despite having the controlled chaos of some thirty thousand people all around you, all clamoring for a better view of the stage. John Mayer’s melodic guitar work played particularly well off Chimenti’s tasteful keyboards here, yielding the longest piece of improvisation of the night, clocking in at just under 19 minutes. A silky smooth transition into “Going Down the Road Feeling Bad” had the entire place feeling groovy and singing along once again with huge smiles on their faces as the opening set came to close.
After a brief break in the action, an up-tempo “70’s era” version of “They Love Each Other” kicked things back into gear to start the second half of the show. The popularity of Mayer was very noticeable here. Anytime he would sing a verse, a wave of female cheers would cascade through the audience, though Mayer, wearing noise canceling headphones, would never hear them. Instead focusing on interplay with Weir and settling into a fiery groove that would eventually lead the train to “Terrapin Station,” the captivated crowed swayed to the music in pure delight as the lengthy, complex composition was executed beautifully. Oteil Burbridge, who will headline the Rye Bread Music Festival not far from Saratoga next month, was particularly charismatic as “Terrapin” reached it’s final peak.
Like I told you, what I said / Steal your face right off your head
– “He’s Gone”
After that, there was nothin’ left to do, but smile, smile, smile as the song that gave birth to one of the most recognizable logos of all time, “He’s Gone,” gave the audience both a chance to sing and to reflect. The slow and bluesy groove would gradually build on itself, adding subtle layers of momentum until coming around again and finally revealing itself as “The Other One.”
About 13 minutes into it, things would get a little weird as Mickey Hart and Jay Lane would tag team on “Drums/Space,” which took on a decidedly darker, droning-type vibe that had at least one person near me slightly concerned for their apparent heart condition. Eventually the rest of Dead & Company would return to the stage and seamlessly pick up right where they left off, continuing with the second half of “The Other One.”
Next, Bobby would lead the band though the emotional high point of the evening with a heartfelt rendition of “Days Between,” a tribute to the enduring legacy of Jerry Garcia and a sentiment that resonated deeply with everyone in the audience. Picking up the pace now, the band would get everyone back on their feet and dancing once again for a set closing “Turn On Your Love Light.” With the audience still hollering for more, everyone knew exactly what was coming for the encore. And while fans were treated to a smokin’ yet obligatory “One More Saturday Night,” you couldn’t help but feel skeptical at the shows bittersweet ending.
With the band currently sounding as tight as ever and clearly still with significant drawing power, are we really to believe this is the end of the road for Dead & Company, or is this perhaps just the start of an exciting new chapter? With scores of imitators and Dead cover bands already ensuing the music never stops, one thing is for certain: whether this band tours again or not, The Grateful Dead will never die. After a few days of rest, “The Final Tour” will resume at Citi Field in Queens, NY before heading to Fenway Park in Boston this weekend.
Dead & Company | Saratoga Performing Arts Center | Saratoga Springs, NY | 6/17/23 Set 1: Good Times , Scarlet Begonias > Deal, Black-Throated Wind, Dire Wolf, Bird Song > Going Down the Road Feeling Bad Set 2: They Love Each Other > Terrapin Station, He’s Gone > The Other One (verse 1) > Drums > Space > ‘The Other One (verse 2) > Days Between, Turn On Your Love Light Encore: One More Saturday Night
Dead & Company | Saratoga Performing Arts Center | Saratoga Springs, NY | 6/18/23 Set 1: Hell in a Bucket, Sugaree, Mississippi Half-Step > Mr. Charlie, Friend of the Devil > Lost Sailor > Saint of Circumstance > Big Railroad Blues Set 2: Samson and Delilah, Playing in the Band > Help on the Way > Slipknot! > Franklin’s Tower > Drums > Space > Death Don’t Have No Mercy, Throwing Stones, Sugar Magnolia Encore: Werewolves of London > Playing Reprise
The theme for the second installment of Albany’s Alive at 5 was Jam Night. On Thursday, June 15th, Mihali along with Side B played 2 non-stop jam sessions for the people of Albany.
Mihali is one of the co-founders of the jam band Twiddle. Out of Vermont, Mihali has been with Twiddle for the last 18 years. Late last year Twiddle, made the announcement that they were taking an “indefinite hiatus” following their Distance Makes the Heart tour.
Mihali plans to join the band for a few of their shows, but really started to branch off from the band. He has his own shows that he’s doing along with the Twiddle tour. He also released a single, “Raise it,” last month along with his second solo album Effection last summer.
Side B from Albany played a solid hour set to open Jam Night. They are no stranger to Albany stages as they played a set during the Holiday Tree Lighting. The young alt-rock band played an electric and energetic set for their first Alive at 5. Guitarist A.J. Horton ran in to the crowd to get them on their feet. They really started to turn heads as they grew a bit on an audience towards the end of their set, especially with a cover of Presidents of the United States of America’s “Peaches.”
Mihali played an almost non-stop one and a half hour set to a large crowd of Albany residents. The band really worked together well to take few breaks between songs and just really jam out. The saxophonist had a large presence on stage as they had many breakout solos alongside some of the other band members.
There was not one bad vibe to be found as Mihali played a mixture of covers, old, and new music. Parents with their children might have had stories to tell about some of their favorite Twiddle songs from high school.
As Mihali was leaving the stage, there was a reluctance from the crowd to just go home. No chants for an encore erupted, but instead a long applause. Nonetheless, Mihali came back saying that they still have 5 more minutes left of their set. He started of with the smooth a reggae beat from “Enemies” before switching to a more hard rock beat. It really felt that every strum of the guitar struck a cord on your inside.
Jam Night of Albany’s Alive at 5 – Photo by Jarron Childs
To catch Mihali next, he will be playing at the Peach Music Festival at June 29th in Scranton, PA. Mihali plans to rejoin Twiddle on August 10th for the Catskill Montain Jubilee on July 14th. To catch Twiddle next, they will be playing in Buffalo at the Cobblestone Music and Arts Festival on July 14th.
Mihali Setlist: All Day, Open House, Strongest of Our Kind, Terrestrial Tango, Carved Lines, Maplewood, Plush, Empty Overflow, Iron Lion Zion, Ballad of the Broken, Hypocrite, Find My Way, Breath and Let Go, Living is the Lesson, Enemies, Watchtower, Stairway
Held annually on June 21, the summer solstice, Make Music Day is a daylong, musical free-for-all that celebrates music in all its forms. All across the world, free music events will take place, with a great deal of events held across New York State.
Make Music Day began in France in 1982 as the Fête de la Musique and now spans over 1,000 cities in 120 countries in 2023. Make Music Concerts, unlike conventional music festivals, encourage performances by anyone who wants to participate. In the same way, performances are enjoyed by everyone who wants to attend. Ranging from classical to folk, hip hop to opera, latin jazz to punk rock, live music of all kinds can be enjoyed on Make Music Day.
Make Music Troy
The first annual Make Music Troy, a wonderful mix of free, public musical events, will debut on Wednesday, June 21. This summer, over 100 U.S. cities will join the world’s largest annual music event, with thousands of Make Music performances nationwide. Participating organizations include Troy Public Library, Troy City School District, Oakwood Community Center, The Ruck, Song City, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, and more. Anyone and everyone is welcome to participate, regardless of musical expertise or age.
Make Music Troy will feature a variety of musical performances and activities throughout the day. Some highlights of Make Music Troy will include:
Year End Celebration at Tenth Street Garden – Children’s Songs & Sing Along – 2:30pm – 3:15pm
Color Run Music Celebration at School 19 – Performances by HEARD – Time TBD
Drum Making Kits at the Troy Public Library – All Day
Under the Mural Community Drum Circle at the Troy Saving Bank Musical Hall Parking Lot – Performance by Zorkie Nelson – 6:00pm-7:00pm
For those interested in participating, you can sign up here. Artists and performers sign up to note their interest. Businesses, buildings, schools, churches, and other institutions interested in hosting performances can visit the website to match with local performers.
A full schedule of events will be available and posted here.
Make Music New York
Returning for its 15th year, Make Music New York will feature an exciting roster of activations. During the week leading up to the 21st, there will be events on June 17 and 18, like Porch Stomp!, the tenth annual edition of NYC’s Americana and folk music festival featuring over one hundred musicians performing on Governors Island. Additionally, the Southeast Queens Gospelfest – an amazing lineup of gospel musicians headlined by award-winning songwriter Rich Tolvert Jr presented in partnership with NYC Dept. of Parks & Recreation At Baisley Pond Par, Queens. It will also be the 15th year of the annual DIY Punk Festival, Punk Island, at the American Veterans Memorial Pier in Shore Road Park, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
Highlights for June 21 include:
Pueblo Harlem – the Afro Larin Jazz Alliance’s (ALJA) annual celebration of Hispanic heritage and cluture, which has taken place since 2014, including performances by the multi-Grammy-Award winning Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, the Fat Cats, ALJA’s pre-professional youth ensemble, and special guests from ALJA’s family of performing and traching artists – at Johnny Hartman Plaza in Hamilton Heights. Presented in partnership with the NYC Department of Transportation and The Brotherhood Sister Sol.
Street Studios: From 12-4 pm in front of the Harman / JBL store at 19 E Houston Street in Soho. A small mobile recording studio will be set up on the shop’s sidewalk. Gust producers will invite the public and passerby to contribute original audio (by singing, rapping, playing an instrument) which they then record, mix, and loop and play back to create spontaneous, collaborative productions. This season’s producers are The Beatbox House, a NYC-based collective of World Champion Beatboxers comprised of five core members: Gene Shinozaki, Kenny Urban, NaPoM, Amit and Chris Celiz.
Paul’s Pianopalooza: From 3-7 pm at Madison Square Park in the Flatiron District, the New York State Music Teachers Association, District 1 Manhattan-Bronx, will kick off with a piano-based marathon and a 90th birthfay celebration for beloved NYC composer and educator Paul Sheftel. Pianists of all ages and levels will perform a program of Paul’s works, including a visit from the maestro himself, to be followed with “Made in New York,” piano music by NYC composers of all stripes. Presented in partnership with the Madison Square Park Conservancy.
Mass Appeal Guitars: Hosted by NYC Guitar School, from 4:30-7 pm at Union Square Park’s south plaza. You can bring your guitar to the park and join hundreds of guitarists of all levels in Union Square, for a massive guitar strum-along of beginner friendly songs like “Redemption Song” by Bob Marley, “Seven Bridges Road” by The Eagles, and more. Free guitar lessons from twenty guitar teachers from 4:30-6:30pm, the play-along is at 6:30pm, and then stick around at 7 pm for live rock music.
Yonkers
At Riverfront Auditorium, 6pm: Library Jazz Band – Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions – 50th anniversary!
The Library Jazz Band, a new 17-piece jazz orchestra, shares originals of every track of the landmark album.
Auburn, New York, will have live piano music at Café 108 (owned and operated by Auburn Public Theater) from 11:00am to 2:30. They will also have live music in Stage Right at Auburn Public Theater from 4:00pm to 9:00pm.
Albany
The Eggwill celebrate international‘Make Music Day’on Wednesday, June 21st at 12:00 pmwith afree outdoor concert by the group Heard.
Heard is a collective of musicians that brings their skills and passion for world music, jazz and improvising together to create irresistible grooves from West Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean and beyond, set in a unique sonic tapestry. For this special ‘Make Music Day’ concert, they will invite the audience to sing, stomp and shake along with them, with free egg shakers for the first 100 people who arrive for the show!
In the event of inclement weather, the concert will take place on the South Concourse at the Empire State Plaza. The event is presented in cooperation with the NYS Office of General Services Special Events with support from M&T Bank.
