Albany psychedelic rock band Ampevene has just put out their newest single “The Chemistress” on March 7th. The band recommends listening to the single with headphones as the mixing was planned to give the song an almost 3D feel to it.
Ampevene is an experimental fusion of original progressive rock, psychedelic, and other genres. Based out of Albany, the band has opened for nationally touring acts such as Moon Hooch, Consider The Source, Flux Capacitor, and Aqueous. “The Chemistress” was inspired by rock bands such as The Mars Volta, Black Midi, Tool, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Comprised of Gabe Stallman (guitar and vocals), Mack Hogan (bass), Ava Smith (keys and synth), and Brian McKinney Fahey (drums), Ampevene has played in some of the region’s best venues including Larkfest, The Hollow, and Putnam Den in the Capital Region, The Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie, Nectar’s in Burlington, Vermont, and Funk ‘n Waffles in Syracuse.
“The Chemistress” is a pure listening and visceral experience, Ampevene blends a free form frenzy, jagged riffs, and hypnotic rhythms into a tight, psychedelic, sonic landscape, designed to trip up and trip out any listener. Ampevene draws their influence from renowned artists such as Omar Rodriguez Lopez, Miles Davis, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, TOOL, Mastodon, King Crimson, John Frusciante, and more, yet somehow manages to create something completely unique for their listeners.
During a performance, Ampevene will take you through a transcendent experience of sounds ranging from soft floating grooves to heavy math based confusion, and even downright noise, yet somehow the complexity doesn’t obscure the pure emotion, and even comfort that the songs exude. They released their first full length album, Ephemagoria, in 2018.
To listen to “The Chemistress,” click the link here.
John Wesley Seneca is debuted his new album, While Rome Burns, earlier this month. The album consists of 14 tracks, most of which are largely instrumental. The tracks were recorded during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic from March to November of 2020, and the album’s release comes near the three-year anniversary of the world shutting down due to the pandemic.
Promotional artwork for While Rome Burns. Credit: Wes Seneca
A veteran Capital Region performer, Seneca goes by the alter ego “Wes.” An acoustic musician, he never intended to make an electronic album but said “circumstances” led to it. At first, it was just a way to pass time during the lockdown, but it became something bigger as the world “slowly started to open up.” The singer never intended to release an album, but upon hearing again in 2022, he thought he could “curate” some of the songs into something more. The music of WhileRome Burns is vastly different than what he normally makes, which is why he made the album under an assumed name.
“All for Me Gorg,” is a highlight of John Wesley Seneca’s new album. The track is a disco-inspired version of an Irish sailor’s song and lyrically quotes both “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” and Shannon’s 1983 dance hit “Let the Music Play.” While the Covid-19 pandemic is certainly something many don’t want to remember, especially since it is on-going, While Rome Burns provides a glimpse into how music helped Wes Seneca cope with the most arguably some of the most disastrous months of the virus. WhileRome Burns is now available, however, the album currently isn’t available to download for free. Click here for more information.
Watch part 1 of the John Wesley Seneca interview for While Rome Burns
At the Schenectady Armory, the Van Gogh Experience has been open for nearly a year, welcoming thousands to explore the art and life of Vincent Van Gogh in an immersive experience. A variety of new events that incorporate music into the art space have added a new twist on Van Gogh, combining art and music in unique ways.
Following a successful performance by Gratefully Yours in February, a Silent Disco event – Silent Night Starry Night – will be held on Friday, March 24, combining Van Gogh and music in a truly unique way.
Doors open at 8pm, with patrons receiving headsets upon arrival. The music starts at 8:45pm, featuring two DJ’s battling back and forth on the two channels, allowing attendees to listen to either channel as they explore the entire exhibit, including the immersive room. The channels will allow you to flip back and forth between top 40, R&B, house and reggae music, with the channels tracking listeners, leading to a winning DJ and genre being declared.
The first 100 tickets are $40 and presale tickets $50, plus a $5 ticketing fee. VIP packages are available and include a private table, coat check and a Van Gogh poster from the retail shop. Vendors are welcome but need to purchase a four pack of VIP tickets in order to vend.
Additional events at the Schenectady Armory and Van Gogh Experience include yoga classes and Sensory Friendly nights for children and adults.
Yoga is held one Saturday morning each month at 7:30 a.m. and the last Sunday of every month, a yoga wine down starting at 7pm, both in the immersive room. The Sunday March class will be held March 26th and again on April 30, both followed by a happy hour in our Armory lounge. Yogis are welcome to get a non-alcoholic beverage or cocktail and either hang in the Armory lounge or cruise through the exhibit with their cocktails. The next Saturday session will be April 8.
The cost for regular admission to the yoga class is $50 which includes the class, admission to the exhibit and your first cocktail or beverage is complimentary. VIP packages are also available, which include the yoga class, admission to the exhibit with the virtual reality experience also included, your first beverage during happy hour, a Van Gogh yoga mat, thermos and yoga hand towel. The cost for this package is $90.
On the first Tuesday of each month, discover the exhibit during a sensory sensitivities and disabilities Awareness Day. Schools are welcome as well as families with autistic children and students with other disabilities for an inclusive sensory conscientious showing of the exhibit. Special accommodations will be made to create a more sensory-friendly environment for guests with sensory sensitivities and other special needs.
National Autism Awareness Day is Sunday April 2nd with an event held that day, followed by the first Tuesday autism and disabilities awareness day on April 4th.
Sensory Friendly and Autism Awareness Days feature artificial noise reduction, the elimination of flashing lights and the dimming of armory lighting as well as sensory safe spaces throughout the exhibit all in an effort to create a more sensory-friendly atmosphere.
The cost for all students and their siblings is $15. One caretaker or teacher is admitted complimentary and the cost for additional adults is $30. For information on groups and field trips please email Tiffany at gmschenectady@exhibitionhub.com. Tickets may be purchased at the box office at 125 Washington Ave Schenectady NY 12305 or at feverup.com
And then there were four: welcome to the Final Four of NYS Music March Madness 2023, featuring up and coming bands from around New York State, all coming to a local music venue near you.
For the past 8 years, this annual competition has been shining a spotlight on the talented artists and musicians from across the Empire State. This year’s competition is the biggest and best yet, with a lineup of diverse genres and highly skilled performers. March Madness 2023 highlights 64 bands and artists you might not know, but should know, as these homegrown talents are making waves through the New York State. Check out Round 4 here.
Enter your email address, get to know the bands, and vote for your favorites below!
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Yard Amphitheater Region Winner
Mainline
Mainline officially hit the scene at the end of 2019 when Anthony Schettino (Bass), Johnny Iodice (Lead Singer & Guitar), Mason Servedio (Drums), and Devin Reck (Guitar) released their debut single “Open Fire” which eventually led to the self-titled EP that came out in February of 2020. Their album “The Unholy Idol” has garnered up over 80,000+ streams across platforms, and has gotten worldwide attention. The current lineup since 2022 now includes Ryan Hartell on guitar, replacing Devin Reck. As of November 2022, the band released their most recent single “In Nothing We Trust” everywhere on streaming. You can find Mainline on April 15 at The Chance Theater.
Straight from the band:
“We are just excited to have been asked to be part of this year’s March Madness competition, and now to make it into the final four! It’s been a great way to engage with our own fans, also to promote ourselves and everyone involved. Thank you to everyone who has been voting!”
Mainline
Funk n Waffles Region Winner
The Forest Dwellers
The Forest Dwellers are a reggae-infused folk/ indie group based out of Rochester, NY that plays universal medicine music. The band blends melodic music with incredible vocal harmonies. Stemming from different styles and genres, The Forest Dwellers fuse them into a new take on a familiar sound all its own. Listen to their song “Open Road” here. The Forest Dwellers are playing Sterling Folkfest in Sterling, NY dates May 25th- 29th. As well as The Family Hoedown at the G Lodge in Hannibal, NY dates June 9th-11th. You can also catch them playing every Wednesday in June at Abilene Bar and Lounge in Rochester as part of their first residency.
Straight from the band:
“We’re very excited to have made it into the final four of the NYS Music March Madness! We didn’t anticipate it happening but we’re just incredibly grateful for all the support. Over the last 5 and a half years we’ve had the pleasure to play music over the greater NYS region, and we hope to receive more opportunities to continue doing what we love. Thanks to NYS Music Magazine, the sponsors, venues and all the contributing bands. Much Love.”
The Forest Dwellers
Jane Dough Region Winner
Murder in Rue Morgue
Murder in Rue Morgue is CJ Carr, John Wolff, Matt Biss, and Dan Ouimette, hailing from the hometown of Manowar, and Level 7 in Auburn. The band is highly influenced by melodic death metal, such as In Flames, Killswitch Engage, and Times of Grace. The band is a group of hardworking musicians who leave it all up on the stage giving the best show every time. On the news front, Murder in Rue Morgue are representing the 315 metal scene, and are soon releasing their brand new single and music video for “Blood Song”. Listen to their 2019 album Endless Cycles here.
Straight from the band:
“Throughout New York there are tons of incredible bands and it is an honor to be part of this bracket! We are excited to see all the scene coming together and supporting each other! Together we flourish! Every week that has gone by we’ve listened to so many new artists and did some deep dives and research on our opponents. Genuinely incredible. We are also very excited about the possibility of playing at new venues in the state, many places we haven’t heard of.
We are grateful to be here, we are driven to keep going, and we respect and love all these wonderful musicians from all over New York State! “
Murder in Rue Morgue
Strand Theatre Hudson Falls Region Winner
Seize Atlantis
Seize Atlantis has a unique, tight sound fueled by punchy bass, hard-driving percussion, melodic lead guitar, and pronounced moody vocals with meaningful lyrics, a truly dynamic range of soft to heavy Alternative Rock. Formed in 2019 out of Glens Falls, Seize Atlantis is a four-piece band most closely influenced by bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam, providing their own spin on a variety of covers from classic rock to modern pop in addition to their own original music.
Catch them this Friday and Saturday at Scally’s Roadside Bar and Grill in Hudson Falls NY and Pauly’s Hotel in Albany, respectively.
Straight from the band:
“We couldn’t be more grateful and excited to have reached the Final Four of NYS Music March Madness! We’ve been up against some truly amazing and talented bands, and this competition has shown a light on how many quality performers there are in New York. We couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this state’s independent music scene! We look forward to competing with some legitimate powerhouses this round, and even if we don’t win we will continue to support and collaborate with as many other independent artists and prestigious venues as possible. We also can’t wait to release our new EP this summer!”
Seize Atlantis
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NYS Music has partnered with these great businesses across New York State to highlight the 64 up and coming bands and artists of NYS Music March Madness.
The finalists of of each region will be rewarded with a collection of prizes worth $3000. Partners for NYS Music’s March Madness 2023 include Mirth Films from Albany, a music news/entertainment outlet that specializes in original video content and live streaming, with news coverage ranging across the whole country, who will provide a professional multi-camera recording session at a prestigious venue in Albany for the winning band, premiering exclusively on Mirth Films.
Additionally, one finalist will earn a spot on the lineup for the Scarsdale Music Festival, held on June 3, 2023.
WEQX is a radio station in Manchester, VT. They’re are completely independently owned and operated, always have been, since 1984. This station exists out of a love for music, a love for radio, and the commitment to always giving their listeners the best of the best.
The illustrious TLC and Jamaican icon Shaggy have announced their upcoming amalgamated Hot Summer Nights 2023 Tour. The tour begins the first of June and will make a stop at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, NY on June 13th and at SPAC on June 16th.. Fans can also expect to enjoy special performances from special guests En Vogue and Sean Kingston.
The Hot Summer Nights 2023 Tour will feature top hits from both TLC and Shaggy that will transport you back to the late 90s and early 2000s. You won’t want to miss TLC’s performances of “Waterfalls,” “No Scrubs,” “Unpretty,” and “Creep.” Fans will also encounter Shaggy’s “It Wasn’t Me,” “Boombastic,” and “Angel”; En Vogue’s “Hold On, My Loving (Never Gonna Get It)”, and “Free Your Mind.” Finally, Sean Kingston will perform “Beautiful Girls” and “Take You There.”
After thirty-two years, TLC remains the best-selling American girl group of all time with over eighty-five million records sold worldwide. The trio earned thirty-five Major Awards including the Diamond Award, video of the year award for Waterfalls, four Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards, Brit Award and five Soul Train Music Awards. TLC is ranked number 12 on the list of 100 Greatest Women in Music and was recognized as one of the greatest musical trios by Billboard magazine.
Shaggy, the multi-Grammy award winning musician makes history as the only diamond-selling dancehall artist in music history. The legend has sold more than 40 million album units to date, in addition to landing eight singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and seven albums on the Billboard 200.
Tickets are now on sale. Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, access to the Takin’ It Back per-show lounge, special gift item, exclusive swag bag & more. For more information, visit here.
HOT SUMMER NIGHTS 2023 TOUR DATES
Thu Jun 01 – Pelham, AL – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
Sat Jun 03 – Miami, FL – FPL Solar Amphitheater @ Bayfront Park
Sun Jun 04 – St. Augustine, FL – The St. Augustine Amphitheatre
Wed Jun 07 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park @ Walnut Creek
Fri Jun 09 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Sat Jun 10 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
Sun Jun 11 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Tue Jun 13 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Thu Jun 15 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Fri Jun 16 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Sat Jun 17 – Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre
Wed Jun 21 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
Fri Jun 23 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Sat Jun 24 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
Sun Jun 25 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Wed Jun 28 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Fri Jun 30 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion At Toyota Music Factory
Sat Jul 01 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Sun Jun 02 – Lake Cowichan, BC – Laketown Shakedown (with Shaggy Only | Buy Tickets Here)
Mon Jul 03 – Austin, TX – Bass Concert Hall~ (with TLC, Shaggy, & Sean Kingston Only | Buy Tickets Here or Here)
Thu Jul 06 – Salt Lake City, UT – Granary Live (with Shaggy & Sean Kingston Only | Buy Tickets Here)
The Sembrich in Bolton Landing announced the 2023 Summer Festival Trailblazers, celebrating the singular achievements of outstanding individuals in arts and culture, beginning on June 11 and running through Aug. 30.
The Sembrich Museum.
Those who attend The Sembrich can experience music, history, and nature all at once, with museum exhibitions and an annual summer festival. It was once the teaching studio of Polish soprano Marcella Sembrich, one of the most famous musicians at the turn of the 20th century. Visitors can discover her legacy, which includes over 400 performances at the Metropolitan Opera and faculty positions at both the Juilliard Graduate School and the Curtis Institute of Music. The summer festival includes an exciting mix of world-class musicians, noted musical scholars, and a free film series.
Recently, The Sembrich received a total of $120,400 in grant funding from New York State to support new and ongoing initiatives, awarded through two agencies, the NYS Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and I LOVE NY/New York State’s Division of Tourism. Director of Institutional Advancement Caleb Eick said “these funds will allow us to continue to grow and expand our programs and presence in our community. We are excited to undertake new initiatives and further solidify The Sembrich and our region as a world-class cultural destination.”
The 2023 Summer Festival Trailblazers showcases singular achievements of outstanding individuals in arts and culture, from David Smith to Marin Alsop and Alma Mahler to Philip Glass, there will be 23 individual events throughout the summer months beginning on June 11 and running through Aug. 30. The Sembrich’s Artistic Director Richard Wargo spoke on the itinerary for the festival, showcasing an exciting series of programming.
The art world has always had trailblazers, those unique individuals who forged a route through the wilderness for others to follow. Our festival this summer is built around a number of these innovators…modernist sculptor David Smith, conductor Marin Alsop, musicians Grigor Piatigorsky and Alma Mahler, composers Franz Liszt, Philip Glass and Lin-Manuel Miranda, to name just a few. A number of our featured performers can be said to be “trailblazers” in their own right: guitar and cello duo Boyd Meets Girl, the all-female horn quartet Genghis Barbie and Hub New Music, whom the Boston Globe praised as ‘contemporary chamber trailblazers.’
The Sembrich’s Artistic Director Richard Wargo
The highlights of the festival begin with “In the Footsteps of Piatigorsky,” a studio talk and performance by cellist Evan Drachman, dedicated to his celebrated grandfather, Gregor Piatigorsky, one of the pre-eminent string players of the twentieth century. The music featured includes Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, and Rubinstein, happening June 17 at 2 p.m. The Sembrich’s lakeside subscription Promenade Series enters its second season with an exciting lineup of groups including the Adirondack Jazz Repertory Ensemble, guitar and cello duo Boyd Meets Girl, and the leading post-feminist all-female horn group Genghis Barbie.
Genghis Barbie.
A staple in The Sembrich’s Summer Festival, World Music Wednesdays brings cultural traditions from across the globe to the shores of Lake George. Featured this year includes tango traditions with the Latin-Grammy artist Pedro Giraudo and his Tango Quartet, Celtic dances with Poor Man’s Gambit, and Georgian polyphonic singing with acclaimed choral group Iberi. The Sembrich’s Film Series this year features CODA (2021), Koyaanisqatsi (1982), The Conductor (2021), tick…tick…BOOM! (2021), and Elvis (2022).
The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing on July 15 is a presentation with vintage photos by Betty Spinell about forbidden love, jealousy, and mental instability that resulted in a shocking, cold-blooded murder. The ensuing “trial of the century” mesmerized the public and helped close the curtains on America’s Gilded Age. Discover the life and inspirations of turn-of-the-century muse and femme fatale, Alma Mahler on July 19 at 2 p.m. featuring quotes from her diary and music by Mahler, Strauss, and Schoenberg performed by Robert Osborne, bass-baritone and Tammy Hensrud, mezzo-soprano.
Featuring some of the finest concert artists in the classical music scene, the Alfred Z. Solomon Masterwork Series celebrates monumental figures in arts and culture including sculptor David Smith, Jean Francaix, Franz Liszt, and more. Artists performing include 25-year-old virtuoso pianist Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, the trailblazing quartet HUB New Music, and members of The Philadelphia Orchestra.
Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner
On Aug. 16 at 2 p.m. The Sembrich brings “Hamilton: The Man, The Musical, The Cultural Phenomenon,” to the venue, featuring musical theater historian John Kenrick and a lively studio talk that explores New York native Lin-Manuel Miranda’s trailblazing blend of hip-hop and Broadway styles in the revolutionary musical Hamilton. Finally on Aug. 26 at 6 p.m., there will be an elegant cantina-style gala performance on the lakeshore featuring rising operatic star, tenor Leonardo Sánchez, titled “Mi México Querido” (“My Beloved Mexico”). The performance includes the color, tradition, and passion of his beloved Mexico, featuring instruments like the guitar, guitarrón, vihuela, and accordion – pillars of traditional Mexican music.
For a full listing of events, or to purchase tickets visit here.
One music that never fails to soothe me is Celtic music. I can just feel the stress and the tension of the day wash off, and something crisp and green take its place. It is always welcome, and in turn always welcoming, and there’s a heaviness and a frivolity that can dance with each other. But Kilashandra is not a strictly Celtic band.
They are a Celtic-inspired jam band, and while my questions center around the Celtic part, I hope you will see the band as they will show you below. Maybe we can get them to jam.
I sit with Mark Emanatian, Eileen Markland, Chris Gil and Tom Dolan of Kilashandra and we discuss the rarity of four-leaf clovers.
Liam Sweeny: Celtic music is instantly recognizable, and it makes people feel a certain way, like a gentle breeze on a hilltop of rolling grass, or the bow of a ship destined for the promise of the New World. So the sound is unmistakable. Do you think Celtic lyrics, if read without the music, would be unmistakable as Celtic? Why or why not?
Mark Emanatian: I think the deep rivers of Irish literature, poetry, storytelling and history would make Celtic lyrics unmistakably Irish.
LS: The music of Ireland is a tradition that goes back centuries, and listening to Celtic music, you can hear themes that, though timeless, did originate in a time. But it wasn’t just Ireland, was it? How much of Celtic music comes from Ireland, and how much from Irish immigration to America? MARK: All music is transformed as it intersects with new places and new experiences.
ME: Vocalist Chris Gil has an interesting story. I’m all about those, stories. But his was an impromptu chance to sing at the Pepsi Arena, and a standing ovation. If that doesn’t tell a person they got something, right? So something started shit right there, something inside, a switch from a private thing to a public pursuit. Tell us about it, will
Chris Gil: It was an honor and a thrill to sing the National Anthem at the Pepsi Arena and receive a standing ovation. I put the same energy into my singing whether it’s to a full crowd or 1 person in the back of a pub. It’s all about connecting with the audience.
But I really like singing and playing with this band Kilashandra. Mark Emanatian writes some great songs and is a master guitar player. Eileen Markland is a force of nature. Tom Dolan holds us together. We really connect with each other and we let the audience in on it too.
I’m looking to forward to some big gigs we have coming up: opening for the Young Dubliners at the Colonial Theater in Pittsfield and the Watertown Irish Festival. And of course, we’ll be hitting the pubs from the Berkshires to the Catskills to the Adirondacks.
Come see us at a big show or a pub, I love singing to people
LS: Eileen Markland is a Berklee trained composer and arranger, with a universe of talent with different instruments, having played with more folks than can fit in a small club with the tables removed. One thing I read was that you work with music for visual media. How does playing for visual media differ from playing for the crowd?
Eileen Markland: Harmony is the reason I wake up each morning and endless melodies accompany every activity and quiet moment throughout my day. Composition is the only place in life where I experience true freedom. I can create and mix any scenario I’m craving or feeling by crafting a series of chords, melodies and vocal/ instrumental combinations which then have the potential to perfectly express what I need, if I get it right. Yes, I can tell you what I’m feeling in words, but a musical description is three dimensional, even four dimensional! Composition (and improvisation), for me, is the deep exploration and expression of the state of my soul.
Live performance is a unifying, raw experience that creates a shared sense of community and, really, nothing less than pure love between the people performing and those watching and listening. It’s a social experience with both tangible qualities, such as dollars earned and new friends made, and intangible qualities such as relieved anxiety and the lessening of feelings of loneliness. I deeply believe that live music has been and always will be one of the staples to a peaceful society on a worldwide scale. For me, personally, my best friends are the musicians in my life. The music we create together and the real bonds that come with this ride keep me happy and sane in all corners of my life.
LS: Mark Emanatian, you come from a background I’m very aware of; the blues. Coming to Celtic from blues, and going back again, must be an interesting experience. It seems that they are very different music with different conventions and origins, different historical contexts, so on. What is the common thread that unites them?
ME: First off, they come from a deeply emotional story…and tough histories of people oppressed…the music arises from that…and the music has several similar qualities based around major and minor pentatonics…you can hear a lot of the crossover in bluegrass music that was influenced by both of these musical rivers.
LS: Improvisation is my favorite quality in music. If my brain wasn’t so blues-soaked, I would’ve hopped on to the jazz train and would still be a passenger. Tom Dolan, you are an improviser. In Celtic music, is improvisation the same as it is in jazz, or is it more structured? Is there phrasing that you have in Celtic music that you base on?
ME: There is not a lot of bass in traditional Irish music. Often uilleann pipes are used for drone or acoustic guitar or bouzouki are used in place of the bass to add harmony and movement to songs and tunes. Irish music does not generally use chromaticism or altered and extended chords. So, there is not much similarity between improvising in Irish music and jazz. However, there is modal playing, and the use of pedal tones in common and that is useful for improvising in both genres. And listening to each other. Listening helps. It is using intensity, volume, rhythmic variations to push the tempo to move the song along, hopefully to greater heights, or down to support the lyrics. I have been playing in bands with Mark for 50 years. We have a good understanding of what each other might play. Mark and I have played with Eileen in various groupings for over ten years. Chris is an inventive rhythm guitar, acting as a catalyst, often playing bodhran rhythms, propelling the songs forward. We have a shared vocabulary that allows us to have a conversation on stage. Sometimes full group improvisation can break out. But above all the playing must support the song.
Albany based jam band Hilltop have announced their newest spring tour, taking place across New York and the New England area.
Hilltop, who recently too part in NYS Music’s March Madness 2023, are already starting to grow their own dedicated fanbase and now they are looking to expand that. Coming off another succesful show at the Parish Public House in their home town, Hilltop looks forward to bringing their music to audiences across the northeast.
Inspired by legendary acts like Phish and The Grateful Dead, Hilltop combines original music, iconic covers, and musical improvisation to create an unforgettable experience for their audience.
With over 100 shows under their belt, Hilltop shows no signs of slowing down. The band, consiting of brothers Stephen & Reid Perry, and their friends Aris Nieuwkerk and Dave Klang, have also performed at festivals in Lake George as well as Catskill Mountain Jubilee last August.
On tour, Hilltop will be joined by area favorites The Apollos, Vertices, as well as supporting The Chops and Seapods ft. Al Schneir. The tour will take stop at New York venues including The Monopole, Brooklyn Music Kitchen and Funk N Waffles, interlaced with vibrant New England shows.
For more information, please visit Hilltop’s website.
Hilltop 2023 Spring Tour
3/23 – Zenbarn – Waterbury, VT (w.s.g. The Apollos) 3/24 – Sawtooth Kitchen – Hanover, NH 3/25 – The Monopole – Plattsburgh NY 3/31 – Brooklyn Music Kitchen – Brooklyn, NY 4/1 – Midway Cafe – Boston, MA (supporting the Chops) 4/6 – Stella Blues – New Haven, CT 5/12 – Funk N Waffles – Syracuse, NY (supporting Seapods ft. Al Schneir) 5/13 – Parish Public House – Albany, NY (w.s.g. Vertices)
Since the 1970s, Do-It-Yourself (D.I.Y.) concerts proved to be a vital part of generational music culture, stemming from the thriving underground punk movement in cities like London and New York. The D.I.Y. scene brings local bands, artists, and other like-minded creatives together to build accessible, open environments for the community to enjoy music in safe and inviting spaces.
Our very own Albany has served as an epicenter of the underground music scene for generations, through informal gatherings of college garage bands and local talent. Passing the torch from venue to venue over the years, our generation’s leading venue can be recognized as The Byrdhouse.
Named for a stack of birdhouses in Washington Park and spelled with a “Y” instead of an “I” to make the brand more recognizable, Rachel and Adam founded The Byrdhouse in 2018 while attending undergraduate courses at University at Albany and the College of Saint Rose, respectively.
Rachel recalls attending basement shows at former Saint Rose venues called the Rice House and the Orange Peel as her “rite of passage,” while Adam performed locally in a band called Delphino. Upon the closure of these venues after their founders graduated, the duo partnered with other friends to create their own space to enjoy live music. The Byrdhouse first opened the doors to their basement in October of 2018 for a Halloween show.
A show at the Byrdhouse basement. / Photo Credit: Peter Herrick
“[The Rice House and The Orange Peel] always got really great acts and made a good atmosphere,” Rachel said. “Sort of what I wanted to base Byrdhouse off of.”
The early days of Byrdhouse focused on music and experience, with a tight knit community crew putting on and attending shows. Converting a rental house in downtown Albany into a small concert venue by building a makeshift stage, pitching in to collect speakers and other equipment – all while on a college student budget.
“We were cutting up mattresses, insulating, and making it noise proof,” Rachel said of preparing the rental house basement. “We even deconstructed a bunch of walls in the basement to construct an audience viewing area.”
“We did a lot of work to try to insulate to make sure that things weren’t too loud outside,” Adam said. “We never got a noise complaint, and you know, we were running a pretty tight ship. So that house was never really in disarray, at least not from the shows.”
As the years went on, Byrdhouse began to expand both their reach and notoriety among the Albany music community. Rachel found a passion in formulating setlists of acts of a similar genre for theme night events, and began to popularize amongst music-loving Capital Region college students as a weekend go-to.
Adam and Rachel of Byrdhouse (left-to-right). / Photo Credit: Josh Reedy
“We started off as a venue that was free to everyone…bands that we knew and people that were cool with that and it was fine. But as we started to charge and I started to get bigger acts, I started to formulate shows based on similar genre and theme…if I was doing a theme show…for goth night…I would be looking for all Gothic-esque bands and I would search from different cities” Rachel said.
While Rachel took on promoting and organizing shows, Adam served as what he calls the “technical hand.” What set Byrdhouse apart from other venues was their commitment to sound quality. Eddie, who joined the team later on, took over the sound technology.
“That’s a big deal for me, you have to take care of people’s ear health,” Eddie said. “Some venues now don’t even have a tech person… we were one of the few that had someone, either me or Adam, dedicated to it.”
Byrdhouse kept a consistent lineup of shows up until March 2020, when all events shut down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When COVID had hit it had blew out all of my plans. We had thought about doing live streams and stuff, but it just seemed too much at the time for everyone, I think, and after COVID had cooled down a bit…I had talked to some other friends of ours who wanted to keep the Byrdhouse spirit alive,” Rachel said.
The Byrdhouse returned on Aug. 21, 2021 to fans, bands, and artists alike welcoming them back – craving the sense of togetherness underground music once brought. The Byrdhouse returned with the same vibrant energy, and basic health precautions, to ensure locals had fun and bands could get back out into the scene.
“We had a good reputation with people, you know, people would come back and spread the word,” Adam said. “If you see a band that you love play live for you and they tell you that this is our favorite show or one of our favorite places to play, that’s awesome… that’s hard to beat”
Though “covers” were charged at the door, varying from about $5 for entry, the Byrdhouse organizers never took any profit. At the end of the night, the money was counted up and equally distributed to each of the performing acts as payment.
“Basement venues are like nonprofits…you’re working to not make profits…the profit is the community coming together,” Eddie said. “You can tell that bands wanted to play there…it was all focused on the music.”
Guitarist joins the crowd. / Photo Credit: Peter Herrick
After four years, three houses, and one global pandemic, The Byrdhouse held their last two shows at the end of Phoenix Fest, a D.I.Y. festival, in April of 2022.
“Graduating from college I felt like it might be a better time for younger generations to start their own basement venues and pass it along…pass along the torch to the younger generation so they can experience what I did” Rachel said.
Today, Rachel still plays a role in the Albany music scene with the transition of The Byrdhouse to D.I.Y. booking and management group Byrdhouse Records. She says it will “continue with doing shows and booking tours” through above ground venues like No Fun in Troy.
“My heart is in the D.I.Y. scene, but as I’ve gotten older with it, I want to make it into something bigger and more versatile,” Rachel said. “[Opening] an actual established concert venue is something that I dream of.”
*This article originally appeared in a series created by the Albany Student Press, University at Albany’s student-run newspaper.
“It Sounds Better in the Basement” is a developing series playing off of punk band The Devil is Electric’s 2001 release of the same name. The song represents the soul of basement shows and its importance in providing a platform for local bands. As Albany college students, we strongly believe in archiving the student culture of the Capital Region for generations to look back on. As part of UAlbany’s independent student newspaper, it is our mission to tell stories while protecting those who live them – which is why we have chosen to refer to sources on a first-name basis (unless receiving permission otherwise). This series will continue with features of other local venues, bands, and notable figures.
Each Sunday evening from 7-9 p.m. 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 Ampevene, Tops of Trees, and Simplemachine.
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.
Ampevene is a fresh, experimental fusion of original Progressive Rock, Psychedelic, and other genres based out of Albany. The group is currently comprised of Gabe Stallman (guitar and vocals), Mack Hogan (bass), Ava Smith (keys and synth), and Brian McKinney Fahey (drums). They take inspiration for their free-form frenzy, jagged riffs, and hypnotic rhythms from groups like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, TOOL, and more.
Simplemachine – “Ingloria”
Simplemachine just released the anti-suicide anthem “Ingloria,” urging those to get help if they are struggling. The song tugs on your heartstrings as they sing “I never saw it coming/then through the haze/the hum of distant drumming.” The song utilizes powerful vocals and somber violin strings to get the message across that help is available to you, and to please seek it before doing anything drastic.
Tops of Trees – “Frontline”
Tops of Trees are a newly budding original music group based out of Upstate, NY, with a modern interpretation of soulful music steeped in early R&B, funk, and blues.
