Saratoga Springs’ Putnam Place has an exciting lineup for this month, featuring a number of jam bands, indie pop, folk, and more. The venue will continue weekly open mics, game nights, and local artist spotlights with the Family Tree series.
Consider The Source
Beloved NY sci-fi fusion group Consider The Source will play at Putnam Place alongside Bella’s Bartok, a Massachusetts-based folk group. The two extraordinary music groups are known for exciting performances, and are sure to impress Saratoga on November 9.
On November 10, Putnam Place will host Bearly Dead, a Grateful Dead tribute band. The group boasts over 230 songs in their repertoire, and constantly rotate them for a unique concert experience for each crowd.
Bearly Dead
Blue Star Radiation will play Putnam Place on November 16 alongside Al Schnier and Rob Derhak of moe. The collaboration between the musicians will feature classic rock covers, band originals, and more for an exciting performance.
Putnam Place will continue to offer their weekly events this fall. Every Monday, the venue will host Family Tree, a performance featuring Steve Candlen, Kenny Hohman, Lori Friday, Chris Carey and Chad Ploss, joined each week by a special guest from the regional music scene. In addition, Mondays will be Sly Fox’s Open Mic Night, immediately following the Family Tree performance. In addition, Wednesdays will see Game Night and Karaoke with Eric C.
Tickets and more information for shows at Putnam Place are available at putnamplace.com.
November Shows at Putnam Place
11/9 – Consider The Source + Bella’s Bartok
11/10 – Bearly Dead
11/12 – Ripe w/ Hoko
11/16 – Blue Star Radiation w/ Al & Rob moe.stly acoustic
Mcguire has served as an associate artist and has frequently been on stage at Capital Repertory Theatre, which is also a part of Proctors Collaborative. As the new director of theatrical programming, McGuire will continue to direct the Broadway Camp productions as well as the High School Musical Theatre Awards, which recognizes outstanding local musical theatre productions and students. McGuire will also help support the development of student training classes and be a consultant on theatrical training classes across Proctors Collaborative.
“When looking for someone to fill this important position, we didn’t have to look further than Kevin. He has proven through his time as the director of Broadway Camp and his experience on and off Broadway that he is the perfect person for this role. We’re honored that our students will constantly have the opportunity to learn from one of theatre’s greats.”
– Christine Sheehan
McGuire will also be using his skilled experience from Broadway productions such as “Les Miserables,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “The Secret Garden” and many more productions as theREP such as “Man of La Mancha,” “The Full Monty,” “The Irish and How They Got That Way” and “The Wizard of Oz” to teach and direct the students at CSOA, allowing them to explore and reach their full potential in theatrical arts.
“It has always been my contention that the most important thing I can do is pass on to a new generation the incredible training I had in my youth. I love to teach. I love watching talent emerge.”
After a long absence from the front of the stage, Mike Kelley brings a few of his Sharks bandmates together as The Hammerhead Horns, plus friend and pianist Leslie Barkman, for a rare performance at The Rustic Barn in Troy on Friday, November 17.
Mike Kelley and some of this Sharks bandmates
Mike Kelley started out as a bandleader and songwriter leading The Sharks, a seven-piece combo whose popularity and fan base rivaled those of any Albany band in the 1980s. Kelley has spent the last two and a half decades as a sideman extraordinaire, as a studio keyboardist and on stage with The Lustre Kings, The Tichy Boys, Johnny Rabb, Nite Train, Lost Radio Rounders, Marc Tolstrup & Jill Burnam, The Lazy Suns, Off the Record, The Jagaloons and a reported ‘at least’ 20 other bands.
Kelley has worked with Rockabilly Hall of Famer Wanda Jackson, Joan Jett and Kenny Laguna, and was chosen to play piano on several of the tracks on Jackson’s 32 album, Encore.
Deemed one of the nicest guys in the local scene and a hell of a pianist, Mike Kelley continues to play more than 200 shows a year, all without any social media, website or YouTube channel.
Expect an evening of originals penned by Kelley, Barkman and trumpet player Bob Button, familiar covers and undiscovered gems, and don’t miss this rare show from Mike Kelley and The Hammerhead Horns on Friday, November 17 in Troy at The Rustic Barn.
On the corner of Lark and Hudson, one building hosts a great deal of women’s history that continues to be written to this day.
photo via Historic Albany Foundation
Built over 100 years ago, this building served as the location for the 48th Annual Suffrage Convention, as a chapter house for the Daughters of the Eastern Star (the female equivalent to Free Masons), as well as hosting USO events, dances, and a then serving as the eba Center for Dance & Fitness from 1977 until 2017.
Lark Hall, opened in 2021, continues this tradition of music and the arts at Lark and Hudson still being written 11 decades later, with the opening of a coffee house/bar/taproom, The Eleven.
Owner and manager of The Eleven, Jenn Miller, looks at The Eleven as bringing the building vision to full capacity, replacing Lark Street Yoga and Lark Street Mercantile in the downstairs of the building. Connecting to Lark Hall upstairs makes this an ideal pre-show stop, unique among all the choices Lark Street has to offer.
With a staff of four full time employees and another 20 part time between Lark Hall and The Eleven – including Chef Dale Hajdasz and General Manager Neil Benjamin, Jr. – Miller’s experience in the restaurant industry during college as well as many years within the live music scene puts a hospitality driven focus towards the guests, artists and staff. Whether it be the restaurant industry or music industry, knowing how to treat people so they want to come back, and bring their friends, is at the forefront of her business ethos.
photo by Zak Radick
Now is the time of returning
Miller attended college at Eastern Connecticut State University, and would meet her husband, Justin, in Saratoga Springs. The pair married in 2002, having three kids and relocating to Rochester where she earned a Masters in Counseling, then moving back to Albany with their family. Working as a guidance counselor in Rochester, Schenectady and Albany City Schools, after 15 years she looked to move out of education and into something new.
photo by Zak Radick
The Millers are true live music aficionados who have traveled the country and beyond seeing the best of live music and music festivals, as well as their favorites: My Morning Jacket and Phish. When they would return back to Albany, they lamented the music scene not having certain bands and shows, let alone a venue that club/bar bands can graduate from. At first, they joked about the idea of opening a music venue, and soon it became a goal, and then a serious venture.
Since purchasing the building in 2018, the Millers have invested more than $1 million into the space to increase accessibility to Lark Hall, and also received a grant from the City of Albany for further work. Now with two businesses both opened in the past two years, the vision has come full circle, with a dedicated bar/restaurant downstairs and music venue upstairs.
photo by Zak Radick
Now is the time past believing
The Eleven came to be about a year ago when they sought to utilize the vacated Lark Mercantile space downstairs. With a tenant gone and a grant for small business renovation from the City of Albany, they began work on refurbishing the downstairs into a waffle/charcuterie/taproom, something different and not found elsewhere on Lark. Add in a coffee bar, pastries and desserts, it took about a year for the vision to come full circle and be complete, with a grand opening coming on Saturday, November 11, featuring the music of Holly Bowling.
photo by Zak Radick
Dining on small plates of local, French or Italian meats and cheeses, waffles, and Grateful Dead themed sandwiches – “Reuben and Cherise” a fresh take on a classic reuben – the menu is not overwhelming and invites you back to try more of these samplings, carefully curated by Chef Dale. A selection of 12 beers – that’s Eleven, plus (the other) one – from around the Northeast pair well with all culinary offerings, was accompanied the evening of November 3 with a crackling fireplace on the widescreen TV, along with an acoustic set of covers from Jeff Becker.
A décor of Grateful Dead posters, Stealies, Garcia handprints, and classic show posters from upstairs at Lark Hall around the soffit, the Grateful Dead roots abounding through the modern setting in the perfect neighborhood in Albany for it. Chuck Berry, who played Lark Hall in the 1950s, would smile seeing how far rock ‘n roll has progressed, inspiring the genesis of Lark Hall and The Eleven.
photo by Zak Radick
Thought Jewels Polished and Gleaming
Bringing Lark Hall and The Eleven to where they are now has not been easy, as Miller recognizes and recounts the struggles she has experienced as a woman in the music industry. Miller faced an oft male dominated music industry upon the purchase of the building, which led to more skepticism and in-group favoritism against Miller as she navigated getting bands to play at Lark Hall, in the process bringing Albany a needed mid-size venue (current capacity is ~325). Despite opportunities, Miller found a scene less than responsive at first, yet persevered and has proven skeptics wrong, and does so a second time with the addition of The Eleven.
photo by Zak Radick
Working with Dan Smalls and Ed Maier – two promoters covering a great deal of Upstate New York and the Northeast – as mentors to Miller, offering guidance on booking shows and bringing in a variety of acts to Lark Hall. Miller sees the bigger picture of what is possible in the area as a result of this mentorship.
“With the growing scene in Albany, what should be happening is everyone in the local industry – tourism, businesses and promoters – working together to grow the scene for all benefit.”
Jenn Miller
The result is a calendar with a wider variety of shows than any other venue in the Capital Region. This summer, Lark Hall featured a month long residency of musical RENT, and in the past year welcomed Daniel Donato, The Motet, Ghost Light, Circles Around the Sun, The Seapods, LaMP, Karina Rykman, Yo La Tengo, Midnights: A Taylor Swift Dance Party, among dozens of others.
photo by Zak Radick
With a background of a guidance counselor as well as a business owner, I asked Miller what resources she would suggest for ambitious female entrepreneurs who are looking to open their own business or venture. Research through experience, as well as patience, are the keys to Miller, starting with making sure to find your spot in the scene. Beyond that, it is most important to learn the backend tasks that no one sees, as she sees that knowledge and experience to be where everything comes together. Indeed, getting involved and off the periphery is the best start, but diving in and finding a niche can bring greater curiosity and reward.
photo by Zak Radick
Were Miller able to give advice to her younger self, she shares a nod to the Grateful Dead, “Without love in a dream it will never come true.”
Albany’s Lark Street – the “Village in the City” – gains a feather in its cap with the City Winery vibe found at The Eleven, and along with Lark Hall upstairs, this double threat venue on Lark Street brings new life to an old building and neighborhood. Tickets for Holly Bowling at Lark Hall on November 11 can be found here.
Anna Kuwabara, the executive director of the Albany Symphony, has announced her resignation, effective January 31, 2024.
Kuwabara, who joined the Albany Symphony in July 2017, played a crucial role during her tenure. She coincided her first day with the launch of Water Music New York, a celebration of the Erie Canal’s bicentennial through a series of free community concerts across the state. Her departure will be followed by the Symphony’s Board of Directors initiating the search for a new executive director.
Photo Courtesy Of Capital Region Living
Faith Takes, Chair of the Albany Symphony Board of Directors, expressed gratitude for Kuwabara’s leadership and dedication over her six-and-a-half-year stint. Under her guidance, the organization deepened its ties within the Capital Region community, initiated inclusion, diversity, equity, and access efforts, underwent two strategic planning processes, and navigated negotiations for two collective bargaining agreements with the Albany Musicians’ Association.
Kuwabara, alongside the management team, orchestra musicians, and David Alan Miller, successfully steered the Albany Symphony through the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the absence of in-person concert audiences, the power of music was upheld and continued to resonate within homes.
David Alan Miller, the Music Director and Conductor, acknowledged Anna Kuwabara’s invaluable contributions. “We all appreciate Anna’s hard work, dedication, and kindness over the past several years, particularly her inspired leadership guiding our orchestra through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic. I wish her the very best on her next endeavor,” Miller stated.
Anna Kuwabara is appreciative for her time with the Albany Symphony, remarking on the extraordinary nature of the organization and the Capital Region. She spoke of her fondness for the staff, talented musicians, David Alan Miller, the dedicated Board, Vanguard volunteers, and loyal Symphony supporters. She will hold the Albany Symphony close to her heart as it approaches its 100th anniversary.
Throughout Kuwabara’s tenure, the Albany Symphony spearheaded several projects and initiatives that enriched the community, expanded the boundaries of classical music, and brought recognition and acclaim to the Capital Region. These initiatives included an invitation for the Albany Symphony to perform at the Kennedy Center’s SHIFT Festival in Washington, D.C., commemorating the WWI Armistice Centennial, and hosting the Sing Out! New York Festival to celebrate New York State’s leading role as a champion of civil liberties. Additionally, the 2019-2020 Season celebrated Phenomenal Women in Music, and the Convergence initiative aimed to explore and build relationships with Black cultural arts, culminating in the 2023 Convergence American Music Festival. The Albany Symphony also introduced the Soundtrack New York Film Music Festival, showcasing extraordinary music from classic films, video games, and popular movies. The organization secured its second GRAMMY win for Christopher Theofanidis’ Viola Concerto featuring Richard O’Neill.
The Albany Symphony is a renowned music institution celebrating its commitment to enriching the community through exceptional orchestral performances and engaging initiatives. For more information, visit albanysymphony.com/
Folk-inflected rock artist John Mellencamp confirms the continuation of his acclaimed tour “Live and In Person 2024”, performing in 27 cities including Schenectady and kicking off in Rochester on March 8, 2024.
Mellencamp is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a recipient of the John Steinbeck Award, ASCAP Foundation’s Champion Award, The Woody Guthrie Award and Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and more recently, the Founders Award, the top honor assigned by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
“Beyond being just a rock star, he’s written songs that moved people, American anthems about teenage romance, about coming of age into adulthood, about families suffering through hard times in a trickle-down economy.”
– Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Last year, he released a deluxe edition reissue of his beloved seminal album, Scarecrow, which features a massive collection of bonus tracks, rarities and more never previously shared before. His critically acclaimed studio LP, Strictly A One-Eyed Jack, was released early last year to praise from The New York Times, NPR Music, Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and more.
The tour will kickoff in Rochester on March 8th with stops including Newark, Hartford, Schenectady, Washington D.C. and more with tickets going on sale Friday, November 3rd. The new tour dates will celebrate Mellencamp’s most recent album ‘Orpheus Descending’, recorded as his 25th studio album, exploring political and personal themes that compliment his American rocker artistry. He will continue to perform songs from the LP including standout tracks “The Eyes of Portland” and “Hey God” that highlight social issues Mellencamp continues to passionately advocate for.
JOHN MELLENCAMP LIVE AND IN PERSON 2024 TOUR
March 8—Rochester, NY—West Herr Auditorium Theatre
March 10—Newark, NJ—New Jersey Performing Arts Center
March 11—Worcester, MA—The Hanover Theatre
March 13—Hartford, CT—The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts
March 14—Schenectady, NY—Proctors
March 16—Erie, PA—Warner Theatre
March 17—Toledo, OH—Stranahan Theater
March 19—East Lansing, MI—Wharton Center
March 20—Richmond, KY—EKU Center for the Arts
March 22—Muncie, IN—Emens Auditorium
March 23—Springfield, IL—UIS Performing Arts Center
March 25—Green Bay, WI—The Weidner
March 26—Madison, WI—Overture Center for the Arts
March 27—Rockford, IL—Coronado Performing Arts Center
April 4—Duluth, MN—DECC Symphony Hall
April 5—Des Moines, IA—Des Moines Civic Center
April 7—Omaha, NE—Orpheum Theater
April 9—Springfield, MO—Juanita K. Hammons Hall for Performing Arts
April 10—Little Rock, AR—Robinson Center
April 12—Birmingham, AL—BJCC Concert Hall
April 14—Greensboro, NC—Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts
April 15—Chattanooga, TN—Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium
Award-winning show Live from Daryl’s House returns this fall after a three-year hiatus. New shows will premiere on Daryl Hall’s dedicated YouTube Channel, including guests Glenn Tilbrook, Robert Fripp, Howard Jones, and more, airing from his Pawling, NY venue, Daryl’s House.
Live from Daryl’s House debuted on November 15, 2007, with a solo episode featuring Daryl himself, often spotlighting local chefs cooking their cuisine on camera. The first few seasons offered an eclectic mix of legends and newcomers from Gym Class Heroes’ Travis McCoy, Chromeo, Fitz and the Tantrums, Minus the Bear, Aloe Blacc and K.T. Tunstall to Nick Lowe, the Doors’ Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek, Smokey Robinson, Toots & the Maytals, Train, Jose Feliciano, Billy Gibbons, Sammy Hagar, Todd Rundgren, Cheap Trick, Wyclef Jean, Aaron Neville and Kenny Loggins. Between 2007 and 2018, a total of 84 episodes were produced. Since 2014, “Daryl’s House” Restaurant and Music Club in Pawling, NY has been the series’ home base.
“It was an idea to use the Internet for entertainment, which hadn’t really been done before,” marvels Daryl Hall, introducing the new season of his popular Webby Award-winning music series, Live from Daryl’s House, recounting the lightbulb moment back in 2007 to host an intimate online showcase for music, and to fill the time between touring.
“Having been a part of this series with Daryl since its inception, I’m filled with pride at the number of incredible artists that have appeared on this very special music series. In my opinion, our latest season is a continuation of the quality programming that the fans have come to expect.”
Jonathan Wolfson
Prior to the new season, the last two episodes filmed featured Styx’s Tommy Shaw and Vintage Trouble vocalist Ty Taylor, which both aired in October of 2020.
After a long production hiatus, Live from Daryl’s House will return on November 1 on Hall’s YouTube Channel, with a brand-new season of six shows, one a week, through the end of the year, starting with Squeeze singer/songwriter Glenn Tilbrook, including Atlanta psychedelic jam band Blackberry Smoke singer/guitarist Charlie Starr (Nov. 8); King Crimson guitarist and Daryl Hall solo album producer Robert Fripp (Nov. 15); singer/songwriters Andy Grammer (Nov. 22), Lisa Loeb (Nov. 29) and U.K. synthpop pioneer Howard Jones (Dec. 6).
Visit Daryl Hall’s YouTube for episodes of Live from Daryl’s House.
The Bacon Brothers are set to play two upcoming shows in New York, as they continue their fall tour lineup across the country. Brothers Kevin and Michael Bacon banded together in 1995 to form The Bacon Brothers, an official name to the musical pairing that has been around since their childhood.
Having released 11 collections of music since then, the duo is looking ahead to two shows in New York State: November 17 at Albany’s The Egg, and November 18 at Westbury’s The Space.
Photo Credit: Jeff Fasano
The Bacon Brothers titled their first album, Forosoco, after their self-described genre, blending folk, rock, soul, and country influences. Most recently, they released “Philly Thing,” a single dedicated to their hometown of Philadelphia. The song benefitted charities Rock to the Future and Kevin Bacon’s own SixDegrees.org.
NYS Music had the chance to interview The Bacon Brothers ahead of their upcoming NYS shows, talking all things music, family, and upcoming projects.
Cara Denton: You’ve coined your own genre – forosoco. As you began your music careers, did you ever feel limited by genre categories, or was it a natural part of your philosophies to work outside those categories?
Michael Bacon: Forosoco is a non-category. Genre distinctions have been a part of popular culture since the radio was invented. It helps the music business focus on narrow marketing strategies that streamline their business model. The key to success in any endeavor is to find out what is different about yourself and get really good at that.
Kevin Bacon: We just go where the song takes us. Sometimes they feel more folky, rocky, soulful, or country. We’ve always said to ourselves let’s not try to stick to a “sound” let’s have our lack of a sound be our sound.
CD: What artists, instruments, or genres of music have shaped your musical education throughout your lives?
MB: I’ve always had two parallel worlds in art music (cello, oboe) and folk music (banjo, guitar ukulele, etc…). As a composer and songwriter, every day I draw from the unique musical ambiance provided by our parents in the house in which the 6 of us grew up.
KB: Wow so many. Starting with Michael and our sister playing guitars and harmonizing. Motown. British Invasion. TSOP. James and Joni. And on and on. I love drums. I had a drum kit in our basement. And congas. Bongos. Etc.
CD: What does playing a show in New York City look like for you? Any pre-show rituals, sightseeing, or food spots you like to hit?
MB: It’s our hometown and beats flying or driving to distant venues. It’s a ten-minute subway ride to City Winery.
KB: Sightseeing?! I’ve lived in NYC since 1976 so pretty much seen the sights. My favorite slice is Joe’s on Carmine if that helps.
CD: Family is a binding force and an important factor in your musicianship – how does that shape your performances, songwriting, or experience as musicians?
MB: Ours is a family business. Families draw apart when they lack connection. I’m really proud, and I take some credit for my brother’s success in the music business.
KB: Family is everything.
CD: Do you have any practices or hobbies outside of music that you turn to to find inspiration or rejuvenate your creativity?
MB: I enjoy sailboat racing, motorboats and crossword puzzles.
KB: Animals and nature. Being on a horse, riding through the hills.
CD: What’s next for the Bacon Brothers? Any new styles, collaborations, or new developments you’re particularly excited about trying?
MB: I’m hoping one of the new songs catches a wave and a lot of people love it.
KB: Very excited about the new record. Never thought we would make this much music!
An ever-musical family, The Bacon Brothers continue to yield tour dates and new music to come. Their recent EP, Erato, released in July of 2022, with five brand new songs. The title track features a belting chorus, resonant guitar strumming, and catchy lyrics. The duo is touring across the country now, with tickets for their shows in Albany and Westbury now available.
BACON BROTHERS UPCOMING TOUR DATES
Nov 11 – Larchwood, IA – Grand Falls Casino and Golf Resort
The Extreme Music Awards has announced their inaugural event to be held in Albany on January 13, 2024. Created by Mike Valente of Upstate Black N Blue Productions, the Extreme Music Awards are set to bring recognition to the Capital Region’s most extreme artists.
The awards ceremony will feature a house band, performing a full concert experience for attendees at Albany’s Empire Live. In addition, prizes will be raffled off including signed drum heads, guitars, gift certificates, and more.
Mike Valente, also a member of hardcore band Brick by Brick, created the Extreme Music Awards alongside a team consisting of RadioRadioX, Capital Underground, That Fuzzing Rock Show and 518Scene.com. The media groups joined together to celebrate and recognize extreme music throughout New York State and the Capital Region.
Tickets are available now and more updates will be available at extrememusicawards.com, including announcements about presenters and judges at the ceremony.
The Halluci Nation (formerly A Tribe Called Red) announced they are performing at The Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023.
Photo credit: Rémi Thériault.
The Halluci Nation is comprised of Bear Witness and Tim “2oolman” Hill, beginning as an act of protest, throwing dance hall parties for Indigenous youth in their hometown of Ottawa to Indigenize the club space after realizing the city’s nightclubs hosted such parties for many different cultures, but none representing the First Nations community. The Halluci Nation takes its name from a phrase coined by John Trudell, to describe the vast global community of people who remember at their core what it means to be human. As a visionary artist and activist, Trudell recognized the connection between his accomplishments and what A Tribe Called Red did intuitively through music and art.
Through groundbreaking stage shows and ever-changing visuals, Bear Witness and 2oolman are working to create media that reflects the modern-day Indigenous identity. They are facilitating a necessary conversation around a subtle and complex representation of the contemporary Indigenous experience. The project is built on collaboration, with the duo collaborating with a diverse set of people, including Yasiin Bey (AKA Mos Def), the Indigenous Australian band, OKA, the Wayuu-Colombian powerhouse, Lido Pimienta, and more.
The next chapter for The Halluci Nation has them further exploring the boundaries of cross-genre collaborations. “We wanted to take the music to another place,” says 2oolman. “We showed a little bit of our ambitious side on our last record and we got to do a lot of songs that we’d been wanting to do for a long time. And this is just the start. We are at the point where we are making music we love, inspired by our everyday lives and the people that surround us. We’ve got so much more coming.”
Photo credit: Rémi Thériault.
This event is part of the Sanctuary Eco-Art Trail project, connecting Indigenous legacy with environmental justice. Located on a block-wide environmental campus in North Central on settler lands, this neighborhood is one of the most under-resourced in New York State, with a long history of disinvestment and environmental contamination. The Eco-Art Trail acknowledges these layered histories as they dream and build towards restored biocultural diversity and robust Indigenous futures.
