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)
On Saturday, Aug. 19, the third annual Open Sky Music Festival will take place at Lake Placid Center for the Arts (LPCA).
From 12-10 p.m., experience a day of fun, food, and music featuring everything from bluegrass to rock, pop, and blues. The festival is completely outdoors and is open to all ages.
The first Open Sky Music Festival was held in 2021 and continued into 2022. Incredible headliners are scheduled to perform on the mainstage and local favorites on The North Country Stage. Among the high-profile acts, Martin Sexton is scheduled to perform. Sexton grew up in Syracuse, and since the moment he picked up a guitar, has been hooked ever since. Sexton tours with what Rolling Stone calls his “soul-marinated voice,” acoustic guitar, and a suitcase full of heartfelt songs.
The LPCA has been a premiere destination for New York arts festivals for more than 50 years, since 1972. Against the backdrop of the Adirondack Mountains, audiences will have a great view to look at while watching the talented performers. LPCA is home to robust arts education programs, beautiful visual art galleries, and meaningful services to artists and fellow arts organizations. The center is the perfect destination for a weekend trip with the little ones, and or a quick day trip with your group of college friends. LPCA provides visitors with food and beverages from a number of vendors.
Festival passes for the Open Sky Music Festival at Lake Placid Center for the Arts start at $75 and go on sale on March 29 at 10 a.m. From March 29-31, LPCA members can purchase early bird passes for $50. Click here for more information.
“The Little Mermem” from the 2021 Open Sky Music Festival
This past Monday, March 13, Maya Hawke, well known for her role as Robin on the critically-acclaimed Netflix series Stranger Things, played an incredible show with opener Raffaella at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. The indie-folk singer, with her enchanting vocals and eclectic tone, truly wowed the crowd with various songs from her latest album, Moss. Fans from all over wearing long skirts, patterned tights, and fun jackets eagerly lined up in anticipation of Hawke’s sold-out show, one out of many for her Tactless tour.
Maya Hawke
Maya Hawke, born, raised, and based in New York City to Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, grew up surrounded by the music scene from a young age. The 24-year-old began truly taking off with her music career in 2020, with the release of Blush, a twelve-track record evoking somber yet raw lyrics with haunting instrumentals. Hawke, now nearing the end of her tour, is set to play four more shows in the US after playing eight across Europe and the UK. She last played New York in late August at the intimate, 120-capacity Colony venue in Woodstock.
Raffaella took the stage at 8 PM, rocking a pair of star-covered jeans and a gray t-shirt. Her set consisted of multiple songs like “GROWN UP” and “BLONDE” from her recent EP release, LIVE, RAFF, LOVE (Act I). Her clear and energetic tone captivated an engaged audience bobbing their heads along to her indie-rock tunes.
Raffaella
The Music Hall of Williamsburg hosted an engaging and intimate show, with Maya Hawke wowing her crazed and excited fans, many of whom brought signs, gifts, and letters for her to take. Prior to the show, a soundcheck experience and meet and greet were hosted to raise money for reproductive rights nonprofits such as Planned Parenthood and Noise for Now. Hawke improvised a song, “Running Shoes,” per the suggestion of a crowd member, and gave a heartfelt speech about her becoming the “best version of me and not the best thing that exists.” During “Here They Come,” Hawke sang beautifully with Hamilton Leithauser, and she became very emotional during her performance of “Thérèse,” waving her arms around to the beat of the music.
After a quick exit and outfit change, Hawke ended the show with an alluring encore, singing one of her earliest releases, “To Love a Boy.”
Setlist: Backup Plan, Bloomed Into Blue, Hiatus, Crazy Kid, Luna Moth, Into My Arms (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds cover), Generous Heart, Running Shoes, Mermaid Bar, Missing Out (unreleased), I Wanna Be Sedated (Ramones cover), Here They Come (with Hamilton Leithauser), South Elroy, Thérèse, Sweet Tooth
Raising awareness for autism, Steve Earle and City Winery are set to present the 8th annual John Henry’s Friends Benefit Concert on May 15th at The Town Hall in New York City.
This year’s eclectic lineup will feature a guitar pull with notable performances and storytelling from Steve Earle, David Byrne, Terry Allen, and Kurt Vile.
Additionally, and keeping with the annual tradition, on May 15, the City Winery’s Loft will be hosting the live rehearsal show which will feature Steve Earle solo.
Most importantly, all proceeds will support the show’s longtime partner The Keswell School, an educational program for children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Founded on the belief that children diagnosed with ASD can live full and productive lives as integrated members of their communities, The Keswell School provides educational, therapeutic, and supportive services for children diagnosed with ASD and their families.
Forever close to his heart, Steve’s son, John Henry, is a student at the school.
The John Henry’s Friends Benefit Concert has previously hosted Bruce Springsteen, Rosanne Cash, Willie Nile, Graham Nash, Shawn Colvin, Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, Jason Isbell, Josh Ritter, and Amanda Shires, among others.
The show shines a light on Autism through music and uplifts a worthy program empowering individuals with ASD to live the lives they deserve.
VIP packages will be available at and will include Town Hall’s orchestra seating, as well as admission to the After Party at City Winery immediately following the show and various experiences with Steve including a private dinner.
Packages and tickets are limited and on sale now at citywinery.com.
The 40th anniversary of the Talking Heads 1984 concert film and album, Stop Making Sense, will be celebrated in theaters later this year, with the full show being issued on vinyl for the first time on August 18. The collection of beloved songs will be shared as a limited edition two-album set, paired alongside a 28-page booklet with unpublished photos and new liner notes.
Earlier this week, the band shared a post on the band’s social media featuring Talking Heads frontman David Byrne retrieving his famous oversized grey suit from the dry cleaner, after decades of storage. Byrne then rides home on his bike, dons the suit and warms up a little as “Naive Melody” plays over the video, segueing back to his 1984 self from the movie.
The Jonathon Demme-directed Stop Making Sense 2023 arrives via A24, which acquired the film’s worldwide rights. Stop Making Sense captured the Talking Heads as they performed at Hollywood’s Pantages Theater in December 1983 in support of their fifth album, Speaking in Tongues.
Accompanying the film will be a new deluxe edition of its soundtrack, due out on August 18th via Rhino Records. Available digitally with a Dolby Atmos mix of the complete concert and as a 2xLP set, the reissue is mixed by Jerry Harrison and E.T. Thorngren. Notably, the reissue adds on two previously unreleased performances of “Cities” and “Big Business / I Zimbra,” as well as unseen photos.
Byrne performed his Oscar-nominated “This Is a Life” at the Academy Awards earlier this week, which saw “Everything Everywhere All At Once” win 7 Oscars, including Best Picture. Next, Byrne will provide music for the upcoming John Mulaney Netflix special, Baby J, and his disco pop musical Here Lies Love, about the life of former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos, which is set to open on Broadway this summer.
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.
Sister pop duo Aly & AJ released their fifth studio album, With Love From, on March 15. The album comes after 2021’s A Touch of the Beat Gets You Up on Your Feet Gets You Out and Then Into the Sun, their first studio album in 14 years. Prior to its release, four singles, “With Love From,” “Baby Lay Your Head Down,” “After Hours,” and “Blue Dress” were released in support.
The cover of Aly and AJ’s debut album, Into the Rush. Credit: Amazon
Aly & AJ were born in Torrance, California in 1989 and 1991 respectively, and raised in both Southern California and Seattle. Both of their parents, who are now divorced, work in the music industry, their dad is a producer, and their mother is a musician who performed in the Christian rock band, JC Band. The sisters have a history with Disney, with Aly playing a supporting role in the sitcom Phil of the Future from 2004-06, co-starring in the 2005 Disney Channel Orginal Movie Now You See It, and starring with AJ in the network’s 2006 original movie Cow Belles.
Their debut album, Into the Rush, was released in 2005. The album was heavily supported by Disney, with their cover of “Do You Believe in Magic” appearing in the soundtrack of Now You See It…; the single “No One” appearing in the 2005 Walt Disney Pictures Film Ice Princess; another cover “Walking on Sunshine,” appearing in the soundtrack for the Lindsay Lohan film Herbie: Fully Loaded. The album’s debut track and fifth single overall, “Rush” was featured in Disney’s Twitches, before being released to mainstream radio and becoming their first single to chart the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at 59. Their single, “On the Ride” appeared in the soundtrack for Cow Belles.
Insomniatic, their third studio album, became their most successful release to date in 2007. The album’s debut single, “Potential Breakup Song” similarly became the duo’s most successful single to date. The sisters took an extended break after the album’s release, marking their return in 2017 with the EP Ten Years. In 2021, they released their first studio album in 14 years, A Touch of the Beat Gets You Up on Your Feet Gets You Out and Then Into the Sun. The album didn’t reach the same success as their previous work, but it was supported by a single, “Slow Dancing.”
With Love From marks a minor departure from Aly & AJ’s previous work, something they started doing with their prior album. Highlights from the album include the title track, “With Love From,” and “After Hours.” While their early work encompassed upbeat dance music you were likely to hear at a party in the late 2000s, their newer music is a slower-paced, soft-pop sound. The change feels natural, reflecting the growth they’ve had over the years of their career. Aly & AJ are ready to introduce their new sound to a live audience, headlining a tour this spring that will have a stop at the Hammerstein Ballroom on April 22.
Listent to the With Love From music video by Aly and AJ.
Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh performs this week at The Capitol Theatre with a slew of talented musicians for four nights, which started on March 15, Phil’s birthday show. Sunday will see Phil notch his 100th show at The Cap, capping off the celebration.
For Phil’s birthday show, he was joined by Rick Mitarotonda, Grahame Lesh, James Casey, Natalie Cressman, Jennifer Hartswick, John Medeski, & John Molo. The show started off running with “Help On the Way > Slipknot”, with the first set including Deadhead favorites such as “Cumberland Blues” and “Scarlet Begonias”. Later in the set, James Casey’s vocals on “Fire on The Mountain” were masterful.
The second set opened up with “Not Fade Away,” filled with explorative jamming which peaked with a psychedelic “The Wheel” and an energetic “Let it Grow” to close out the set.
Owner of The Capitol Theatre, Peter Shapiro, came on stage to surprise Phil Lesh with a birthday cake. The crowd proceeded to sing “Happy Birthday” to Phil, before the band concluding their encore with a classic “I Know You Rider.”
Phil Lesh – The Capitol Theatre – Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Set 1: Help on the Way > Slipknot! > Cumberland Blues, Dire Wolf, Scarlet Begonias, Fire on the Mountain, Franklin’s Tower Set 2: Not Fade Away, Playing in the Band, St. Stephen > The Other One > Long Time Gone > The Wheel > Let It Grow Encore: Donor Rap, Happy Birthday to You, I Know You Rider
Due to illness, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band’s concert at MVP Arena in Albany on Tuesday, March 14 has been postponed.
In a statement, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band said that they “are working on rescheduling the date so please hold on to your tickets as they will be valid for the rescheduled show.” This has been the third show the band has had to postpone due to illness, including March 9 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH, and March 12 at Mohegan Sun in Montville, CT.
The show has been rescheduled to Sept. 19, and previously bought tickets are valid for the new show. If you cannot make the show, you can request a refund up until April 16.
