Rock and Roll legends KISS announce their final set of shows on The End of The Road Tour, coming to the city where their career began- New York City, on Dec. 1 and 2, as well as other cities.
KISS was formed in New York City in 1973 on 23rd Street, composed by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss. They are one of the best-selling bands of all time with 44 album releases, selling more than 100 million records worldwide, including 21 million RIAA-certified albums. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 for their influence on rock music and their eye-catching aesthetic, inspiring many.
In a statement, the band said, “It will be a privilege and honor to finish touring at Madison Square Garden, 10 blocks and 50 years from where we first started.” Their final tour will be hitting MSG on Dec. 1 and 2, concluding their run of about 50 years. Tickets will be available starting Monday, March 6, with a KISS Army presale at 10 a.m. Additional presales will be available throughout the week before the general on-sale starting on Friday, March 10 at 10 a.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit here.
New York City is home to dozens of iconic music venues, from the Apollo Theater to Radio City Music Hall. But while these glamorous theaters continue to stand the test of time, others live on in memory rather than physical form.
Take CBGB, which closed in 2006. The dark and dingy space nurtured the emerging NY punk scene throughout the 70s, hosting the Ramones and Blondie among others. Now, the punks might be saddened to find, it is home to a high-end Italian art gallery.
But there is one venue, located in Island Park, NY that is even less talked about –The Action House – perhaps Long Island’s premier music venue in the 60’s and 70’s. It was the epitome of cool and a nurturing force for the local music scene, yet it was often overshadowed by New York City’s powerful glow.
The Action House, located in Island Park, NY – Photo from mindsmokemusic.com
But the Action House had its own unique vibe. It had grit, grime and a rebellious streak all its own. Part dance hall, part club (a common configuration of the time), the venue was also capable of pulling in big name acts like the Doors and Canned Heat.
In perhaps one of the Action House’s most infamous shows, the Doors took the stage for a two night performance on June 16 and 17th, 1967. Legend has it that on the first night, Jim Morrison slugged 15 shots of Jack Daniels whiskey back to back before taking the stage. He would attempt it again once more mid-set. While the first night was certainly one for the ages, the second night was perhaps the Door’s shortest and most lackluster performance ever. The hungover Morrison didn’t sing much, instead moaning into the microphone until his bandmates decided to drag him off the stage.
Jim Morrison Performs at the Action House in Island Park, NY – Photo from Mild Equator
Adding to the intrigue, the Action House was also owned by Phil Basile, a known associate of the Lucchese crime family mob. This wasn’t necessarily out of the ordinary for the era, but it did invite a world of chaos and an interesting crowd into the fold of the Action House.
Mike Ricciardella, drummer for The Illusion, described it like this:
“The Action House was a wild place back then. The bouncers were nuts and very wild! The drug scene was wild! The chick scene was wild! The parking lot scene was the wildest, though. Really nuts. The parking lot was the place where the crowd hung out and got high. Inside was rock’n’roll, outside was Fantasyland.”
– Mike Ricciardella
Frequent performers included the Vagrants, featuring guitarist Leslie West who would eventually co-found the band, Mountain. The Hassles featured a young Billy Joel. And then there was the Vanilla Fudge. The band was actually managed by Basile, who in addition to owning the club and his various other escapades also served as an artist and tour manager.
An Action House flyer with the Vagrants and the Vanilla Fudge on the lineup – Photo from mindsmokemusic.com
But this relationship led to some “interesting scenarios,” to put it mildly, as reported by theLong Island Press:
“The mob-connected Action House was paying The Vagrants an exorbitant $1,500-a-night fee for a grueling 28-day-a-month schedule. This led the garage rockers to get creative with their performances. They incorporated pyrotechnics into their act, having fireworks explode as one of their songs reached its peak. One night after a performance, however, a leftover explosive wound up torching the stage along with all of the band’s instruments. This somehow did not throw them off schedule; the booking agency had them equipped with new instruments and ready to play the very next day.”
A playbill for the Grateful Dead and The New Riders of The Purple Sage at the Action House on Nov 9-10, 1970 – Photo via concertarchives.org
Other notable performers included the Yardbirds in ‘68 and the Grateful Dead alongside The New Riders of the Purple Sage in November of 1970. (You can listen to parts of the set here)
Shortly after the Dead’s performance in 1970, the Action House featured a series of name changes. It was briefly known as the Rock Pile, as documented on this short feature piece by the New York Times back in 1971.
A New York Times article from 1971 about the Action House, when it was known as the Rock Pile.
The club declined further in the 80’s as DJs and dance clubs began to grow in popularity
It is unclear when the Action House officially closed its doors. As for the present, according to the blog Mind Smoke Music, The Action House was torn down over a decade ago. Back in 2018, the author of the blog found it had since been rezoned for condo development. The parking lot across the street was at the time a self-storage facility.
Now, the Action House, a relic of a bygone area, lives on only in memory of the lucky and the damned that got to experience it in its heyday. Further tales and legends of the venue can be found in the comment sections on blog sites like Streets You Crossed, where patrons of the Action House fondly recall their own memories of the club.
Based on these accounts, the venue lives up it name – a place where a lot of action went down.
The latest and greatest concert series in the North Country – Saturday Night at the Waterhole – returns to downtown Saranac Lake beginning Saturday March 4th. As the name suggests, The Waterhole Music Lounge will host live music on Saturday nights in the Upstairs Music Lounge.
The series runs from March 4th through early May, with a wide variety of bands and artists making their way into the North Country to warm up audiences well into the spring.
Concert tickets and more information can be found at saranaclakewaterhole.com or in person by stopping at the downstairs bar. Ticket prices will vary. Doors open at 7:30 and shows begin at 8:30 pm. The Waterhole is a 21+ music venue.
The Bubs will open the concert series on March 4th. This 10-piece white jumpsuit-clad collective of artists & musicians, have been sweeping everyone off their feet with their catchy songs and fiery contagious energy. Their music is ferocious, tender, vindicating, and cathartic; a crooked vessel for pain, nostalgia, empowerment, and vindication, all filtered through a dirty sieve. Think white-hot punk & garage rock styled music.
March 11th marks the return of Kat Wright, whose voice is both sultry and dynamic, delicate yet powerful; gritty but highly emotive and nuanced. She has been described as “a young Bonnie Raitt meets Amy Winehouse.” Add to that voice enough stage presence to tame lions, and the combination of feline femininity, proving to be immediately enchanting.
The Sideways return March 18th for their 5th Saranac Lake performance. Hailing from Rochester, New York, this eight-piece band offers up their own joyful blend of disco pop + snarky soul, with a heavy dose of jazz influence, founded by brainchild Joey “sideways” Stehle.
Driftwood will make their long awaited return to the Waterhole stage on the 25th of March. Their music has been described as fusing traditional Americana with contemporary influences and timeless subject matter. Listening to their music, one gets the sense that the band is young with an old soul. There’s a deep, driving force behind each refrain – the kind that makes you dance with your eyes closed, or stop still to take in the energy the band is passing on to the audience.
April 1st will mark the rescheduled date for Los Blancos. This band has a reputation for ripping through blues, soul, rockin’ zydeco, Latin, outlaw country, funk, folk, and bottomless bag of tricks that’s always sure to get the party started.
On the last Saturday in April, Mal Maiz will turn up the heat on the dance floor. Costa Rican “Brujo” Maiz Vargas Sandoval and his Afro-Latino Orchestra are a hot East Coast dance band with both a traditional and modern flair. Based out of Burlington VT, Mal Maiz blends traditional cambia with psychedelic grooves, latin, reggae, and afro-carribean sounds.
If David Byrne is one of the geniuses of modern times, then Start Making Sense is a tribute to genius. A crowd favorite, Start Making Sense will return to the Waterhole on May 6th. The musicians in this 7-piece Talking Heads tribute take pride in faithfully recreating the music of Talking Heads’ entire career, including songs they never performed live.
The Waterhole is stoked to announce The Seapods featuring Al Schnier of Moe. on May 13th. The Seapods are 4/5ths of the seminal 90’s jamband, Ominous Seapods who have now been playing at the Waterhole for 30+ years.
May 20th will highlight another crowd favorite, The Big Takeover. The 7-piece band hails from the Hudson Valley and is fronted by charismatic Jamaican-born singer and songwriter Nee Nee Rushie. The Big Takeover plays original music that is rooted in and reverent toward the genres and rhythms of Jamaican pop: reggae, rocksteady, and ska.
The final concert in the Saturday Night at the Waterhole series will feature the bedazzled and glittered performers of Bella’s Bartok. Their sound has gradually evolved from street-punk performers to an electric, brass filled, accordion-based spectacle that has continued to entertain audiences for nearly a decade.
Far above Cayuga’s Waters stands Barton Hall, a fieldhouse on Cornell University‘s campus where the Grateful Dead performed one of their most revered concerts, one reared against the arch of heaven. Dead & Company has been keeping the Dead’s flame alive with several tours since its 2015 debut, though sadly retiring following their upcoming Summer 2023 tour.
Quite a buzz was created by a simple graphic posted on Dead & Company’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter feeds on Feb. 28 where Deadheads quickly caught on to its nod to the May 8, 1977 Barton Hall show and what it alludes to.
The graphic, emblazed with Cornell’s signature red and white colors with the Dead’s lightning bolt set inside the university emblem’s border with “C23” styled in Cornell’s traditional block text. If that wasn’t a strong enough hint at something special in 2023, the text in the post reads “5.8.23 ,” the anniversary of the May ’77 Barton Hall show.
On Friday, March 3, Dead and Company confirmed they would be playing Barton Hall, responding by saying, “There’s a lot of excitement brewing about what’s to come at Cornell University. Yes–it’s true–Dead & Company will be playing a benefit concert at Cornell University.”
All proceeds raised from ticket sales will benefit MusiCares, a nonprofit organization that provides the music community with a network of critical health and welfare services. In addition, the show will support The 2030 Project, Cornell University’s climate change initiative.
Cornell University’s Barton Hall. Photo by Steve Malinski 2016
On the 40th anniversary of the May 8, 1977 show in 2017 the Cornell Chimes played a special tribute to the occasion with a concert comprised of arrangements of Grateful Dead songs, which can be seen below and read about in our article about that special event.
Having never set foot on American soil until a couple of days prior in New York City, the power metal quintet Powerwolf, founded in 2003 in Saarbrücken, Germany – affectionately known as The Wolves to their diehard legion of fans – descended upon The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts this past Saturday night, February 25.
Touring in support of their eighth studio album, Call of the Wild (Napalm Records, 2021), Powerwolf are vocalist Karsten Brill as “Attila Dorn,” lead guitarist Benjamin Buss as “Matthew Greywolf,” studio bassist and rhythm guitarist David Vogt as “Charles Greywolf,” keyboardist Christian Jost as “Falk Maria Schlegel” and drummer Roel van Helden.
Attila Dorn | Photo by Michael Dinger
Promptly at 7:00 pm, and much to the delight of nearly 100 fans who had been huddling together in below freezing temperatures (some as early as the morning hours), doors to the historic concert hall constructed in 1928 and known for hosting a bevy of legendary heavy metal acts over the years (Rammstein, Soundgarden, Korn, Rob Zombie and Slayer, to name but a few), finally opened. Approximately 30 minutes before the night’s opening act would take the stage, and with the nearly 2,200 seat venue filling up fast, fans continued to pack the warm confines of the lobby, while also checking out the ‘merch’ tables or grabbing a drink from the array of bars strategically placed throughout.
The Worcester Palladium | Photo by Michael Dinger
Running a little behind schedule, the house lights suddenly went dark as Napalm Records label mates Seven Kingdoms took the stage at 7:45 pm. Formed in 2007 and hailing from DeLand, Florida, they are a thrash metal band comprised of frontwoman Sabrina Valentine, her husband and guitarist Camden Cruz, along with brothers Keith and Kevin Byrd, on drums and guitar, respectively.
The Floridians performed a blistering 45-minute set that kicked off with “Universal Terrestrial,” taken from their most recent of five studio albums (Zenith, 2022). Led by Valentine’s broad vocal range that injects a raw emotion into all her lyrics, Seven Kingdoms nearly performed the entirety of Zenith, albeit two original songs (“Empty Eyes” and Life Signs”). Highlights of their set included “Love Dagger,” a tune reminiscent of the 1980s hair metal scene and “A Silent Remedy,” complete with explosive, crisp guitar riffing.
Sabrina Valentine | Photo by Michael Dinger
An unexpected inclusion in their 10-song set was a cover of Don Henley’s “The Boys of Summer.” However, with each member adding their own power metal flavor for good measure, the almost 40-year old tune written by the Eagles vocalist and drummer fit right in nicely. The penultimate song of the night was the aggressive “Diamond Handed,” before “In the Walls” (Decennium, 2017), a song inspired by an H.P. Lovecraft short story, left the crowd ‘powermetalized’ and wanting more!
After a very quick turnover of the elaborate stage design by Powerwolf’s road crew, filled with dark werewolf fantasy art throughout, the moment we had all been waiting for had arrived! At 8:45 pm, the lights went down once again and one by one, beginning with the Dutch drummer van Helden, each band member took the stage and acknowledged their fans for a lasting moment before assuming their respective stage positions. Wearing meticulously-applied silver and black corpse face paint and donning industrial goth outfits, the ceremony commenced with “Faster Than the Flame,” the first of four offerings from the aforementioned Call of the Wild album – Powerwolf would go on to play “Dancing With the Dead,” “Beast of Gévaudan” and “Blood for Blood (Faoladh)” later in the night. As the song concluded, the fans erupted in applause, a whirling mosh pit suddenly formed in the center of the General Admission floor and repeated chants of “Powerwolf” began in unison, the first of many that fans would bestow upon its metal heroes.
Matthew Greywolf | Photo by Michael DingerRoel van Helden | Photo by Michael DingerCharles Greywolf | Photo by Michael DingerFalk Maria Schlegel | Photo by Michael Dinger
Attila then addressed the congregation before him for the first of many times. “Good evening Worcester, it’s wonderful to be here! Welcome to the one and only holy heavy metal mass in the world!” “Incense & Iron” was up next, a track from Powerwolf’s seventh studio album (The Sacrament of Sin) released in 2018, which showcased Matthew Greywolf’s powerfully precise guitar craftmanship. Before launching into “Army of the Night” (Blessed & Possessed, 2015), Attila again acknowledged the faithful patrons of their music. “Thank you very much, you are very awesome my friends. Tonight is a very special night for us because we are playing here for the first time. It is a really amazing atmosphere here.”
Although Powerwolf would not present any songs from their debut album (2005’s Return in Bloodred) or their second album (2007’s Lupus Dei), there was plenty of other righteous material to keep their pilgrims satisfied, including “Amen & Attack” (Preachers of the Night, 2013) and “Armata Strigoi,” another gift from their sixth studio album Blessed & Possessed. In advance of the later piece, Attila humorously coached the audience to croon the anthemic (and rather complicated I might add) four-part chorus until we got it right, which we all did.
Attila Dorn | Photo by Michael Dinger
The subsequent quartet of songs were all selected from The Sacrament of Sin and included “Stossgebet,” “Demons Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” “Fire and Forgive” and Powerwolf’s first ever power ballad, “Where the Wild Wolves Have Gone.” While the fantastic audience continued to perform just as well as their Deutschland brethren, belting out lyrics in all the right places, our minds were officially blown when Powerwolf bestowed upon us the lead single to their ninth studio album (Interludium), set for release this Good Friday, April 7.
As the epic 18-song set entered the final stages, an encore was preceded by a glorious grouping of career-spanning tracks, including fan favorite and the third gift imparted from Blessed & Possessed, “Let There Be Night.” After Powerwolf exited the stage to quickly recharge their batteries, I was surprised to notice a throng of fans (albeit small) in the upper balcony heading for the exits – big mistake! Why you ask? Because an unforgettable, three song encore for the ages followed next, including back-to-back tracks from Powerwolf’s fourth studio album (Blood of the Saints), “Sanctified With Dynamite” and “We Drink Your Blood.” Sandwiched between these songs, Attila shared “This night showed me one thing my friends. All of you here are possessed with heavy metal! And I think I speak for everyone here in this venue, heavy metal, this music, gives us a lot of power and energy! And you my friends give us this energy back, and I appreciate that. In Germany, we say ‘vielen danke schön.’”
The Worcester Palladium | Photo by Michael Dinger
After splitting the crowd up the middle for a cheering match between each side of the stage (Matthew Greywolf versus Charles Greywolf), Attila promised us that they’d return and thanked their “best crew in the world.” As the night neared 10:30 pm, the religious experience was capped by 2009’s “Werewolves of Armenia” in grand fashion.
If you are able to join the pack, Powerwolf’s “North American Crusade” tour will resume in Dallas on March 20, followed by shows in Denver (March 22), San Francisco (March 24) and Los Angeles (March 25). On April 6, an exclusive “Interludium Release Show” will be performed at Palladium in Cologne, Germany. And to all the wolves out there, Metal is Religion!
Seven Kingdoms Setlist: Universal Terrestrial > Chasing the Mirage > The Water Dance > Valonqar > Love Dagger > Magic in the Mist > A Silent Remedy > The Boys of Summer (Don Henley cover) > Diamond Handed > In the Walls
Powerwolf Setlist: Faster Than the Flame > Incense & Iron > Army of the Night > Amen & Attack > Dancing With the Dead > Armata Strigoi > Beast of Gévaudan > Stossgebet > Demons Are a Girl’s Best Friend > Fire and Forgive > Where the Wild Wolves Have Gone > Sainted by the Storm > Resurrection by Erection > Blood for Blood (Faoladh) > Let There Be Night Encore: Sanctified With Dynamite > We Drink Your Blood > Werewolves of Armenia
Following a monumental weekend in Albany at the Palace Theatre, moe. has announced that they will be returning to New York this June for a two-night run at Saranac Brewery in Utica. The shows will take place over June 9-10, following the group’s return from Summer Camp Music Festival.
A special artist pre-sale begins at 10am ET on March 1 using the password HOPPYHOUR, and 2-day passes will be available for purchase here. A limited number of VIP Experience tickets will also be available via the artist pre-sale, to include a pre-show party at 1888 Tavern, early concert entry, a private bar & viewing area, and more.
Tickets for moe. at Saranac Brewery in Utica go on sale to the general public Friday, March 3rd at 10amET. For ticketing and show info, please visit moe.org/tour.
These shows will mark the 17th and 18th shows for moe. at Saranac Brewery, a venue mentioned in “Happy Hour Hero” and regularly the beer of choice at moe.down festivals. Hoppy Hour Hero, a moe.saic IPA, was crafted by Saranac in 2015, with a flavor described on Untappd as “Combining the intensely piney, citrusy, and tropical fruit aroma and flavor of Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops, this Double IPA is a liquid jam-session of big hop flavor. Packed with pineapple, mango, and passionfruit hop character, this is a big beer with a full body and firm bitterness.”
For the full tour, a special artist pre-sale will begin tomorrow, Wednesday, April 12th at 10am local time using the password MOREMOE – click here for more information. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, April 14th at 10am local time. For ticketing and show info, please visit https://moe.org/tour
moe. 2023 Summer Tour Dates Friday, April 14th – Higher Ground – Burlington, VT [SOLD OUT] Saturday, April 15th – Higher Ground – Burlington, VT [SOLD OUT] Wednesday, April 26th – Cain’s Ballroom – Tulsa, OK Thursday, April 27th – The Echo Lounge – Dallas, TX Friday, April 28th – Paramount Theatre – Austin, TX Saturday, April 29th – Tipitina’s – New Orleans, LA Sunday, April 30th – Tipitina’s – New Orleans, LA Tuesday, May 2nd – JJ’s Live – Fayetteville, AR Wednesday, May 3rd – The Truman – Kansas City, MO Thursday, May 18th – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY Friday, May 19th – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY Saturday, May 20th – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY Thursday, May 25th-Sunday, May 28th – Summer Camp Music Festival – Chillicothe, IL Friday, June 9th – Saranac Brewery – Utica, NY Saturday, June 10th – Saranac Brewery – Utica, NY Thursday, June 15th – Meow Wolf – Santa Fe, NM Friday, June 16th – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO^ Saturday, June 17th – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO^ Tuesday, June 20th – Pub Station Ballroom – Billings, MT Wednesday, June 21st – Center for the Arts – Jackson, WY Thursday, June 22nd – The Wilma – Missoula, MT Friday, June 23rd – Pine Creek Lodge – Livingston, MT Saturday, June 24th – Pine Creek Lodge – Livingston, MT Monday, June 26th – Knitting Factory – Boise, ID Tuesday, June 27th – Commonwealth Room – Salt Lake City, UT Thursday, June 29th-Sunday, July 2nd – High Sierra Music Festival – Quincy, CA Wednesday, July 12th – Oceanfront Concert Series – Virginia Beach, VA [FREE SHOW] Thursday, July 13th – Bottle & Cork – Dewey Beach, DE Thursday, July 13th – Saturday, July 15th – 4848 Festival – Snowshoe, WV Friday, July 14th – Penn’s Peak – Jim Thorpe, PA Sunday, July 16th – Neighborhood Theatre – Charlotte, NC Tuesday, July 18th – Miller Theater – Augusta, GA Thursday, July 20th – The Windjammer – Isle of Palms, SC Friday, July 21st – Avondale Brewing Co. – Birmingham, AL Saturday, July 22nd – The Caverns – Pelham, TN Friday, September 1st – Lowell Summer Music Series – Lowell, MA
Brooklyn-born rapper CeddyJay released his debut extended play, “Heartbroken In England” on Feb. 25. His EP was born out of heartbreak, detailing the emotions from his trip to England for love, and not getting what he hoped for. The single “Ginger” was released ahead of the EP on Feb. 14.
Cover of CeddyJay’s Heartbroken in England. Credit: Spotify
CeddyJay grew up in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Flatbush and is of Haitian descent. Pursuing his career since the age of five, he quickly became a hit in New York City’s hip-hop scene. He has been compared to the likes of J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar, but still has his own unique style. CeddyJay draws audiences in with his special sound and catchy lyrics, and fans are certain to be entertained by all four tracks on his EP. The previously mentioned debut single, “Ginger” stands out as the best track from Heartbroken In England, followed shortly by the opening track, “Broken.“
The EP signifies a new chapter in Ceddyjay’s career. As they say, cliche as it is, “everything happens for a reason.” The rapper certainly found his reason, being the creation of a powerful EP reflecting the raw emotions of heartbreak and the resilience it takes to move on. Significantly, CeddyJay’s music is versatile. His music simultaneously showcases his love for music and personal experiences, telling a story that many can relate to.
Glens Falls’ The Park Theater Foundation has announced the launch of their first education initiative, Music & Technology Program, through regional high schools this year, beginning with Glens Falls City School District, part of Music In Our Schools Month. (March 2023).
The program will offer middle and high school students of Glens Falls City School District and Lake George Central School District who are enrolled in general music, band or orchestra classes, to work alongside artists and audio-visual engineers.
Rob Lindquist (piano), Steven Kirsty (bass), Matt Niedbalski (drums) – Erin Reid Coker (Gallery Nine North)
Included in the program are performances, workshops and collaboration with various jazz artists that are regularly featured in the Foundation’s ‘Third Thursday Jazz’ series. The Park Theater Foundation’s Executive Director, Chris Ristau, shared his thoughts on the Music and Technology Program:
The Music & Technology Program is the latest foray for the Foundation, and one that is near and dear to my heart. In an effort to support arts education in our community, this program is only the beginning of what we hope will become a much more regular, robust offering that expands to various local school districts. I would have never found myself in the position I am today if not for the opportunities I had throughout my educational career. I hope this program, and future outreach initiatives, inspire more students to get involved in the arts in our community, and to develop their skills and self-confidence.
Chris Ristau, The Park Theater Foundation’s Executive Director
Students taking part will engage in workshops that focus on music appreciation and cultural education, in addition to audio and visual technology comprehension. Guest artists will explain the history of their genre, as well as provide a demonstration of their instrument(s) to further showcase their musical style. Guest audio-visual engineers will demonstrate various audio and lighting effects, and how they influence and affect both the artists and show experiences.
Through this program, we want to introduce students to a genre of music they might not have otherwise been exposed to, and hopefully spark further interest in those who are familiar with it or who already perform. There isn’t much opportunity available for students to learn general knowledge and gain hands-on experience about how a show comes together. We want them to experience running a venue behind the scenes – from the audio-visual component to booking the artists. There’s so much that happens off the stage before the performer takes the stage!
Chris Ristau, The Park Theater Foundation’s Executive Director
A Lake George High School graduate himself (2004), Ristau saw the potential to introduce gear that was professional so that anyone looking to go down that career path was using the best tools of the trade possible.
Ristau had previously worked at the Glens Falls Music Academy (GFMA) for five years, before heading to the nonprofit world, and finally The Park Theater. Getting to know music teachers from Bolton, North Creek and other regional schools, Ristau saw GFMA as a perfect spot for him to land out of college, where he could work within a recording studio as a studio manager, befriending teachers in the process. Ristau’s experience in working with schools and supplying music programs with items via the storefront aspect of GFMA made it possible for him to identify needs throughout the region.
Thus, when Ristau came to work for The Park Theater, he looked to develop educational programming, in addition to the jazz series each Thursday.
Part of the mission of the Foundation is to bring performing arts opportunities to the community. The Foundation itself runs primarily out of The Park Theater building, a state-of-the-art entertainment facility, which has become part of its identity. When it came time to develop the program, we wanted to find a way for students to experience the space – an operating venue with a full stage and high end sound production equipment.
Chris Ristau, The Park Theater Foundation’s Executive Director
Utilizing The Park Theater venue space allows the Foundation to connect the performance and technical side of things. Ristau notes “The Music and Technology Program was developed considering what we do here and how that, presented to the student body, will be useful to them.” This program will showcase the venue to the students and introduce them to some of the ‘Third Thursday Jazz’ series musicians – many who are educators themselves. The goal is to have the musicians on the stage, performing and talking about how they got into playing music.
Funding was made possible to get a pilot program off the ground and develop it with other schools in the area, to determine the size and scope of the program. A grant from the Glens Falls Foundation was received for Glens Falls High School programming taking place this March. In Fall 2022, they received additional funding for the Lake George High School programming taking place later this year.
Working with Krislynn Dengler, superintendent at Glens Falls City School District, and John Luthringer, superintendent at Lake George, who both started their respective positions in July 2022, led to Ristau’s initial outreach. Said Ristau, “From there we sat down with teachers in the music program who helped shape the program into something that will complement the music and general curriculum already in place.”
Jazz music history will also be learned throughout the program. We will give insight on how to book a show, the technical aspects behind the scenes, how to run sound and lights well to complement what is on the stage, and demonstrate the effects on the board, highlighting the capabilities that lead to a good night of tech, as opposed to a bad one.
Chris Ristau, The Park Theater Foundation’s Executive Director
Drummer Matt Niedbalski, who met Ristau at Parkway Music in Clifton Park, learned of his vision to bring more jazz to Downtown Glens Falls, and has become a key part of the once-a-month series, Third Thursday Jazz. Getting additional musicians from around the area on board was easy for the jazz drummer, given his proximity to The Park Theater, and his background teaching drumming made for a great role in developing the series and onstage portion of the educational program.
Erin Reid Coker (Gallery Nine North)
Chris Reed Jr, a Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam graduate opened the Glens Falls Music Academy with his wife, Meredith, a teacher at Glens Falls. Reed now handles sound tech at most of the Foundation’s performances, and was previously Chris’ supervisor at GFMA.
Ristau further explained how the educational portion of the Music & Technology Program comes together: “The initial performance will be for the full student body in the arts wing, then they break it down for a more hands on, in depth portion for the older kids who may be looking into this as a career. They then reconstruct things back so they have a full performance with students who are able to play with the gear to experience it first hand.”
For more information on the Park Theater and the Park Theater Foundation, please visit their website.
Upcoming Events in March
March 1: The Park Theater Foundation hosts Rochmon Record Club for a series of listening parties. Hosted by Chuck Vosganian, this listening party will focus on Paul & Linda McCartney’s “Ram” (1971). Tickets: $12.00. Doors: 6:30pm | Showtime: 7:00pm.
March 9: The Park Theater Foundation presents ‘Live & Local’ featuring indie-folk group, Cricket Blue. Dubbed one of the “10 Vermont Bands You Should Listen To Now,” Cricket Blue have taken their music and storytelling to stages and folk festivals across the United States and Canada. Tickets:Early Bird – $15.00 | Day Of Show – $20.00. Doors:6:30pm | Showtime: 7:00pm.
March 16: The Park Theater Foundation presents ‘Third Thursday Jazz’ with The Matt Niedbalski Trio featuring The Dylan Canterbury Quintet. Experience some of the best jazz music in the Capital Region! Tickets: $10.00. Doors:7:00pm | Showtime: 7:30pm.
March 17: ‘The Park Presents:’ St. Patrick’s Day Dinner & Show ft. Cassie & Maggie: In partnership with Park Street Hospitality, The Park Theater Foundation presents St. Patrick’s Day Dinner & Show on March 17th, 2023! This event features a special ‘The Park Presents’ performance by award-winning Celtic duo, Cassie & Maggie, and includes a delicious Irish-inspired 3-course prix fixe menu curated by Park Street Hospitality’s executive chef, Matthew J. Delos. Nova Scotian sisters, Cassie and Maggie, have been lighting up the world with their unique blend of traditional and contemporary Celtic instrumentals and vocals. Appearing on stages across North America, the UK, and Europe the sisters have enchanted audiences far and wide with lively fiddle, piano and guitar arrangements, stunning sibling vocal harmonies in both English and Gaelic, all complemented by their intricate and percussive stepdancing style. View the full menu at parktheatergf.com. Tickets:$65.00 (includes tax and service fee). Doors: 5:30pm | Dinner: 6:00pm | Showtime:7:30pm.
March 23: The Park Theater Foundation presents ‘Live & Local’ featuring world music band, HEARD. Heard is a collective of musicians that bring their skills and passion for world music, jazz and improvising together to create irresistible grooves set in a unique sonic tapestry. Energetic and upbeat, HEARD will open your ears and hearts! Tickets:Early Bird – $15.00 | Day Of Show – $20.00. Doors:7:00pm | Showtime: 7:30pm.
March 29: The Park Theater Foundation hosts Rochmon Record Club for a series of listening parties. Hosted by Chuck Vosganian, this listening party will focus on Rod Stewart’s “Every Picture Tells A Story” (1971). Tickets: $12.00. Doors: 6:30pm | Showtime: 7:00pm.
March 31: The Park Theater Foundation presents ‘Comedy After Dark’ featuring highly-acclaimed New York City stand-up comedian, Adam Mamawala. He has appeared on Comedy Central, MTV, BET, and SiriusXM. Adam has been a freelance contributor to Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update and Someecards and currently co-hosts podcasts Away Games and HORSE, as recently featured in the New York Times. Enjoy an evening of laughter and fun with family and friends! Tickets:Early Bird – $22.00 | Day Of Show – $25.00.Doors: 7:30pm | Showtime:8:00pm.
The Knottie Boys, a rising punk rock band from New York, are scheduled to perform their EP A Face Fulla Dirt twice in New York this spring. Their first performance will be at Club Odyssey in Oneonta on April 9 at 7 p.m. This will be followed on April 11 at 6 p.m. with a performance at Amityville Music Hall in Long Island, part of Makes My Blood Dance’s tour.
A Face Fulla Dirt, The Knottie Boys’ EP
A Face Fulla Dirt compiles five punk rock tracks from The Knottie Boys. The entire EP can be enjoyed in less than a half hour (for those in a rush, at least.) Otherwise, it’s safe to say the crowd will be demanding an encore at their Oneonta and Long Island shows. There’s enough variety in their music for everyone to enjoy, but there’s still more than enough energy in their tracks to sustain an action-packed live performance. If you’re looking for a fun night out with live music, The Knottie Boys are a band you can’t miss.
New York natives, The Knottie Boys formed in 2018 after high school. At the time, they were working at Hot Topic. The band is known for its theatrical playing style and story-driven songs. Their entire EP can now be listened to on Spotify. For more information, check out their official website.
The Knottie Boys’ Tour Schedule:
Sun, Apr 9, 7:00 P.M:Odyssey, 80 Water Street, Oneonta
Tue, Apr 11, 6:00 P.M:Amityville Music Hall, 198 Broadway, Amityville
After Buffalo’s blizzard postponed a bunch of events, popular EDM artist Kaivon made his way to western NY for a rescheduled show. On Friday, February 24, Kaivon performed a sold out show at Buffalo Ironworks.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Supporting acts Daniel Win, Daggz, and Psognar opened up the night. The group varied their sound from melodic chill beats to dubstep tracks.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Kaivon’s Awakening tour is dedicated to his 2022 album that sets as a reminder for listeners to stay true to their own selves and purpose. His debut album examines spirituality and self-examination in order to find fulfillment. The idea that one is not their thoughts but in fact the observer of those thoughts is how the album pushes the level of importance on presence.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Kaivon’s Album Brought to the Stage
Kaivon’s personal storytelling in his music is brought to life in his performance. He creates a journey for his audience through introspective dialogue, eye-catching visuals, and dream-like beats.
Kaivon is the perfect candidate for individuals first getting into EDM because he doesn’t stick to one style. He introduces euphoric songs of his like “It’s Not Too Late” and “I Need You.” Also, the producer plays popular tracks that he has remixed such as The Fray’s, “How To Save A Life,” and Glass Animals, “Heat Waves.”
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
The artist’s show is nothing short of nostalgia by playing remixes from Paramore, Kid Cudi, Kendrick Lamar, and more. His show is a perfect balance of lyrical euphony mixed in with classic hits that everyone loves. He even mixes in heavier bass like Zeds Dead for those EDM fans that love to head bang.
The venue was packed tight with fans against the rail and even after the show where Kaivon hung around to talk with everyone. He’s definitely an artist you want to keep an eye out for!
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
If you missed this past weekend at Buffalo Ironworks, don’t worry there’s plenty more shows coming up! Chest Fever performs on March 7 and Shlump Alien Trip Tour makes a stop on March 11. Get your tickets here.
,” the anniversary of the May ’77 Barton Hall show.
