Over July 4-6, Biscoland will return to Wonderland Forest in Central New York, for three nights of electronic music and jam bands, hosted by trance-fusion pioneers Disco Biscuits.
Official Biscoland poster by Vinny Naro
Wonderland Forest is situated roughly 25 minutes south of Syracuse in the rolling hills of Lafayette, NY. Plot your trip with the map below.
This will be the second Biscoland at Wonderland, the first being held this past October. The return to a summer music festival hosted by Disco Biscuits brings back Camp Bisco memories, albeit much smaller, and as bassist and DJ Marc Brownstein put it in October, “We really hope you will consider a spontaneous last minute trip to support the thing that you always wanted, a return to the festival of the old days.”
The Wonderland Forest Grounds
Bisconauts can expect five sets of Disco Biscuits, including one set on Thursday night of Tractorbeam. Playing each day prior to the hosts are Lettuce, Nora en Pure, Kitchen Dwellers, Lespecial, Break Science, Maniac Focus, Saxsquatch, Ben Silver, DJ Minx, Jimkata, Out of the Beardspace, RAQ, Squeaky Feet, The Breakfast, Space Bacon, Mark Farina, Cofresi, Dizgo, Cloudchord, Souleye and Horizon Wireless.
Weekend Passes & Single-Day Tickets are still available at bisco.land.
Check out the daily schedules below and stay tuned for updates during the festival!
Disco Biscuits 2024 Tour Dates
7/4-6 – Lafayette, NY – BISCOLAND 7/11 – Selbyville, DE – Freeman Arts Pavilion 7/12 – Atlantic City, NJ – Bourbon Ballroom 7/13 – Richmond, VA – The National 7/14 – Wilmington, NC – Greenfield Lake Amphitheater 7/15 – Isle of Palms, SC – The Windjammer 7/18-19 Thornville, OH – Secret Dreams Festival 7/20 – Patchogue, NY – Great South Bay Music Festival 8/9-11 – Long Pond, PA – Elements Festival 8/29-30 – TBA 8/31-9/1 – Murphysboro, IL – Weekend at the Cave 9/6 – Dillon, CO – Dillon Amphitheater 9/7 – Bellvue, CO – Mishawaka Amphitheatre (SOLD OUT) 9/8 – Bellvue, CO – Mishawaka Amphitheatre (SOLD OUT – VIP available) 9/11 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot 9/13 – Livingston, MT – Pine Creek Lodge (TRACTORBEAM) 9/14-15 – Livingston, MT – Pine Creek Lodge
In June 2004, the “end” was nigh for Phish as a band. The thought-to-be career-ending Coventry festival was slated for mid-August and all indications at this time was that there was no turning back and to savor every last performance. Before Phish would hang it up though, they graced SPAC with a two-day run over Father’s Day Weekend that featured moments of sheer brilliance, musical flubs that were all too common to this era and a surprise dad of their own that evoked memories of a happier time in the band’s history.
This particular SPAC run, only the fourth and fifth times that the band has ever played here, starts off with a bit of a surprise in the form of a “Reba” opener. Phish breezes through the composed sections of this intricate arrangement with ease before a relatively brief but euphoric improvised jam that follows. Alas, there would be no whistle-led ending to this one. Instead the band immediately pivots to a much more traditional show opener in “Runaway Jim.” Trey Anastasio leads the way on this one with some driving guitar fills which continually increase the tempo and depth of the ensuing jam until it comes to a head.
Tonight’s show maintains a relatively old school feel to it early on with the “NICU” that comes next with the “looked back on those days when my life was a haze” and the “Play it, Leo” lines both getting a hearty round of applause from the SPAC faithful. Phish then finally dives into their newer material with “Scents and Subtle Sounds” from their Undermind album which was just officially released last week. There would be no slow introduction for this one though as heard on the album. Instead Phish immediately jumps into the lyrical portion of the song, the first time they would ever do this. “Scents” yields another brief but truly uplifting outro jam with keyboardist Page McConnell pounding away on the piano while he and bassist Mike Gordon bookend it with harmonized lyrics.
Phish 2004 SPAC poster by Louis Arzonico
There’s a noticeable break between songs afterwards, perhaps with Phish trying decide how to end this first set at SPAC. It begins with a very slow, almost plodding “Wolfman’s Brother” that the band really takes their time with and certainly doesn’t suffer from a lack of funk. The “Walls of the Cave” that follows provides some of the best moments of the first set. After its typical thunderous outro jam, Phish takes it around the block and then some, going into a full Type II ambient/melodic jam that includes guitar riffs from Anastasio that would reappear in tomorrow night’s second set. As the jam slowly peters out, drummer Jon Fishman starts up the signature high-hat intro to “David Bowie” which closes out the first set in grand fashion.
Phish jumps right back into the deep end to begin the second set with the second ever performance of “A Song I Heard The Ocean Sing,” another new selection from Undermind which debuted days earlier in Brooklyn. It showcases the band’s true colors with a rollicking early jam that stays true to the song’s original structure before veering off into another exploratory Type II vehicle that elicits authentic aquatic vibes in its early stages before a slow and gradual reshape back to form.
poster by Jason Lees
This sets for the stage for “Piper,” a legendary version that phish.net properly describes as “a multi-section improvisational super heavyweight.” There’s no slow build in this 30-minute plus rendition that some argue is the best one of all time. Phish gets right down to business immediately, ripping through the brief lyrical section before leaping into a ferocious jam that starts off at an incredible pace and doesn’t let up for a while. At one point, the jam starts to ascend in a true “Tweezer Reprise”-like fashion without the song ever actually being played, with Anastasio going full rock god mode and vamping maniacally. It’s all adds up to a “Piper” that rivals the one played at Camp Oswego in 1999 and one that certainly belongs in any “Best Of” discussion.
The groove that develops on the back end of “Piper” eventually rounds cleanly into the beginning of “Gotta Jibboo.” Anastasio has the digital delay loop ready to go and this yields another joyous albeit brief jam that never rounds back into the end of “Jibboo.” Phish instead pivots to “Limb By Limb” with a standout version that features a series of patiently crafted, blissful peaks. “Cavern” then brings the second set to a close, marred a little bit by Anastasio completely spacing on some of the lyrics. Phish ends the first show at SPAC this weekend with a tame and relatively nondescript “Wading In the Velvet Sea.” Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said about their “last” one of these at Coventry later this summer.
June 19 review by Tim O’Shea
Phish – Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saturday, June 19, 2004
Set 1: Reba, Runaway Jim>NICU>Scents and Subtle Sounds, Wolfman’s Brother, Walls of the Cave->David Bowie
Set 2: A Song I Heard The Ocean Sing>Piper->Gotta Jibboo>Limb by Limb, Cavern
E: Wading in the Velvet Sea
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UIBFR2eVVs
In 2009, fans returned to SPAC for what would be a five-years and two month gap between Phish shows in Saratoga Springs, but no one at the time knew this, let alone the band. Having only played SPAC five times between 1994 and 2004, the band found new affinity for the (originally) summer home of the New York City Ballet and Philadelphia Orchestra. With Anastasio spending time from 2007-08 living in Saratoga Springs while serving probation, return trips to SPAC have been frequent, almost annual events, marking 19 shows since 2009 alone.
But this 2.0 era show stands out (as does the night before) with jam highlights throughout, erasing even if briefly the specter of the band’s ‘final’ shows coming up less than two months later. Never has the phrase “never miss a Sunday show” been more ominous, as for some, this would be the last time they would see the band perform live for many years.
Phish SPAC 2004 poster by Ryan Kerrigan
Opening up the first set with an energetic “Rift” that lit the audience up, segueing into “Julius” during which Trey broke a guitar string. Following the repair, the band was joined by Dr. Jack McConnell, the father of Page “Chairman of the Boards” McConnell, who performed “Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home” for the first time since 1999, even donning his tap shoes to soft shoe on this Father’s Day. This sit-in followed Jay-Z joining Phish just two days later in Coney Island on “99 Problems” and “Big Pimpin’.’
Shirt design by Tripp
The “Waves” that followed had a heavier flow to it, pushing past the composed section and keeping the song upbeat and lively until the end. A funky ‘Gumbo” gave way to a trio of shorter songs – “Water in the Sky,” “Horn” and “Poor Heart,” which offered a break in the action, before delivering a 22+ minute version of The Who’s “Drowned.” You could lump “Drowned” in with the second set jamming that followed, and rightly so – this version of “Drowned” is often overlooked because of the lore that has followed the second set of 6/20/2004, but should not be. Anastasio is in the zone throughout, shredding and leading the way, even working in a tease of Deep Purple’s “Lazy.”
Set two began with RoundRoom track “Seven Below” that showed early promise on December 31, 2002, and delivered in each appearance until that point. Starting out dark and working the tempo up, “-7” found its way into a rocking version of “Ghost.” This pairing would be found that November in Albany as another substantial “Seven Below” > “Ghost.’
An all-time great jam followed, with the rocking funk of “Twist” getting the balcony bouncing. At 21 minutes long, this deserves a few listens. By 7:00, the first Type II jam has lifted off, and as you listen, every two minutes, there is a fresh section of improv dissimilar from the previous two minutes. The jam from 7:00-17:00 just keeps evolving and developing, with Anastasio once again leading the way, while Fishman and Gordon lay down the rhythm to keep the pace. Locked in, after 17:00, “Twist” shreds until Anastasio pulls out the ‘hose’ and winds the song towards conclusion.
shirt design by Dylan Levene
“You Enjoy Myself” would follow and close the set, offering thunderous approval from fans and giving SPAC the ever rare, and coveted, four song set. An encore of “Good Times Bad Times” was bittersweet and is served as a mantra for that summer’s fateful tour, one that would put the band on hold for four and a half years, but bring them back stronger than ever in 2009.
Phish – Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), Saratoga Springs, NY – Sunday, June 20, 2004
Set 1: Rift > Julius, Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home?[1], Waves, Gumbo, Water in the Sky, Horn, Poor Heart > Drowned Set 2: Seven Below > Ghost -> Twist, You Enjoy Myself Encore: Good Times Bad Times [1] Dr. Jack McConnell on vocals and tap shoes
Beetlejuice The Musical The Musical The Musical opened at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady on Tuesday, June 18, bringing in a packed audience who laughed and sang along to the beloved film, now in musical form.
Photo by Matthew Murphy
Telling the story of Lydia Deetz with greater empathy and backstory – she is at her mother’s burial at the onset of Act 1 – gives cause for Lydia to seek out the help of Beetlejuice, performed masterfully by Justin Collette.
With a recently diseased deceased couple, Adam (Will Burton) and Barbara (Megan McGinnis) Maitland, taking up residence in their former house – now the Deetz’ – they become visible to Lydia, leading to haunting hilarity and foot-tapping musical numbers amid a visually stunning series of sets that utilize the slant framed doors, windows and hallways of the Tim Burton film.
Photo by Matthew Murphy
Pulling from the source material effectively, but introducing Beetlejuice by the end of the first number, the focus in Act 1 on the demon in the striped suit was on par with that of Lydia (Isabella Esler, making her professional debut), a shift from the 1988 film. The 2018 debut on Broadway garnered Tony Award nominations for Best Musical, and well deserved given the production of songs “Dead Mom,” “That Beautiful Sound,” “Say My Name,” “Barbara 2.0” and of course, “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song).”
The first act was Beetlejuice’s time to shine, taking centerstage until he finally joins the world of the living by the end of the act. But Act 2 is greatly focused on Lydia, a time for actress Isabella Esler to be front and center, belting out number after number – “Home” being a show-stopping highlight. In Act 1, Lydia gives the story heart, a tease of what a treat audiences were in store for, both in Act 2 of Beetlejuice and Esler’s career potential as well.
Beetlejuice The Musical The Musical The Musical contains strong language, mature references, and a lot of the crazy, inappropriate stuff you would expect from a deranged demon, but great family fun nonetheless.
Photo by Matthew Murphy
Beetlejuice The Musical The Musical The Musical at Proctors runs through Sunday, June 23. Tickets are available here.
On the heels of a performance in Saranac Lake this weekend, jam band stalwarts since 2008, Dopapod, have announced an indefinite hiatus, beginning at the end of 2024.
The group also announced âBest Friends 2024â Fall Tour dates, with more to be announced.
Shared on the band’s social media channels, the band’s message stated:
To our family, friends, and fans:
Before we get into the details and such, we’ll just get right to the point: Starting in 2025, Dopapod will no longer be touring, recording, or writing for the foreseeable future.
The last sixteen years have been an unbelievable adventure. We really did get to experience the whole spectrum of having a full time, professional touring band. To paraphrase Homer Simpson: âThe dizzying highs, the crushing lows, the creaaaaamy center.â All of it, the highs, lows, and everything in between has been an absolute treasure trove of life and learning experiences.
However, the price we have paid mentally, financially, physically and otherwise can no longer be ignored. We feel deep down in our guts and our hearts that this is the best possible thing not for the band, but for four dudes who truly love each other and want the best for each other. And to be clear, our families have always offered full support of this lifestyle and did not play a role in this decision. The touring life has never been easy and it seems to be getting more difficult. We send our love to all the artists/crew that put so much of their heart and soul into making live music possible.
Coincidence or not, we did say when we took our last break that we were inspired by an article where a company would take a sabbatical every 7 years, and it’s been 7. Plus, in 2017 we had a full solar eclipse and this year we had another. Regardless of all that, we are treating this as an indefinite hiatus.
We love you all and have endless appreciation for this journey and everyone who has enjoyed the music weâve put out into the world this last decade and a half. In the meantime, we will continue to play tons of shows through the remainder of 2024, including all of these âBest Friends 2024â fall tour dates in addition to the already announced summer dates. So come see us while you can. We fully intend on giving you the best shows we can possibly deliver, and savoring every second of it.
With immense love and gratitude,
Eli, Rob, Chuck and Neal,
dopapod.
While a surprise to many of the broader Dopasquad fanbase, artists are finding it tougher to be on the road financially, as well as the burden of touring consistently. Bands including Aqueous, Ghost Light, Baked Shrimp, and CBDB have all called it a day since 2021, many citing the costs of touring and the personnel that go with it, while others (Twiddle and Turkuaz in particular) see variations of the original lineup continuing on (Mihali, Cool Cool Cool, respectively).
Dopapod joining this fraternity – one that could be found gracing the lineups of numerous festivals in the past decade (Catskill Chill, among others) – is a symptom of the post-pandemic world where costs are higher, even if audiences are coming out to see and support artists.
Photo by: Andy Hill Dopapod at Catskill Chill 2014
Dopapod formed at Berklee College College of Music in Boston in 2008, with Eli Windermand and future Turkuaz drummer Michelangelo Carubba as a duo. Later, Rochester native Rob Compa joined the band, adding in Chuck Jones on bass and Neal Evans on percussion, shifting to drums when Carubba joined Turkuaz. Scotty Zwang replaced Evans from 2013-16 behind the kit.
NYS Music has covered Dopapod countless times in the past decade, from show reviews, interviews with band members, to reviews of many of the group’s palindromic albums – Radar, Drawn Onward, Redivider, Never Odd or Even, Megagem,Emit Time,Dopapod, and 2024 releases Aiboh and Phobia (combined, aibohphobia is the fear of palindromes). We wish the band members the best through their remaining shows and what lays ahead.
photo by Filip Zalewski
The band will continue to tour this summer, including a show at The Waterhole in Saranac Lake on Friday, June 21, Great South Bay Festival on July 20, and Bearsville Theater in Woodstock on September 13. Tickets go on sale Thursday, June 20 at Dopapod.com.
At Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, a captivated audience was on hand for the June 9 performance from Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams.
The second of two nights for the Woodstock couple at the historic venue, each night was opened by Jenna Nicholls, who brought a unique voice to the stage, one that is tailor made for Caffe Lena. With Jon LaDeau on guitar alongside her, Nicholls opened with a ukulele song that had an old timey radio sound, making horn sounds via bilabial fricative while she plucked away.
A resident of Saugerties, Nicholls cited the Jalopy Music Hall scene for her folk/Americana sound, one that is as unique as it is intriguing. Add in some cowboy songs and a little yodeling, and Nicholls rightfully has earned her first headline show at Caffe Lena on January 18, 2025.
Woodstock locals Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, fresh off the release of All This Time earlier this year, took the stage around 9pm for a mesmerizing set. Joined by former Hot Tuna drummer (and longtime Midnight Ramble production manager) Justin Guip and bassist Branden Morrison (whose tone was on point all night), the band opened with the lead single from All This Time, “Desert Island Dreams.”
During the show, Campbell was impressively augmenting his guitar sound to have that of a slide guitar, minus the slide. He mentioned that his father grew up in The Bronx, while Williams mentioned her home of Peckerwood Point, TN, in a dry county, just north of Memphis.
Performing much of their new album in order – “All this Time,” “Ride with Me,” “The Way You Make me Feel” and others, Campbell and Williams would pause between songs to share stories, including those involving legendary drummer, Levon Helm. Sharing a story from the recording of Electric Dirt, Campbell recalled that Levon suggested the duo start their first record, which would be recorded at Levon’s barn in Woodstock. One of those tracks would end up on their recent release, the George Jones/Gene Pitney composition, “That’s All it Took.”
A mid show cover of Duke Ellington’s “Caravan” was time for all four on stage to shine, as seen below.
A deep cut of American comedy and vaudeville came to light with “A Little Better,” a song referencing Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, bringing to mind the simple joys of life that can make you feel better, by watching ‘Stan and Ollie Dance.’
Stories from Williams of ‘pew jumpers’ at revivals down south peppered the set, noting the spirit of the music that compelled even the most devout to rise from their seats in joy and exultation. A cover of “Long Black Veil” by Lefty Frizzell featured Larry Campbell on mandolin and tugged at your emotions as Teresa Williams belted out the lyrics in the small confines of Caffe Lena.
A cover of Helm’s “Poor Old Dirt Farmer” off Dirt Farmer, which featured Campbell as producer and on multiple instruments and was engineered by Guip, was presented as a ‘cajun waltz’ but had a distinct sound of having Irish and Appalachian roots.
The penultimate song, “When I Stopped Loving You” was a highlight of the night, as was the Julie Miller penned “I Love You.” The encore of “Down on My Knees” was followed by a rousing rendition of the Grateful Dead classic, “Sugaree.” The duo spent time meeting fans in the lobby of Caffe Lena, discussing songs and their show and taking photos, a treat to close out a spectacular performance.
On July 20, 2024, catch Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams with musical friends old and new at their inaugural July Jam at Arrowood Farms in Accord. Get tickets here.
Music legends united for the first time on Saturday, June 8, as Billy Joel welcomed Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio during his 149th lifetime show at Madison Square Garden.
Photo Credit – Myrna Suarez
For two guys who have performed at MSG more than any others – 149 times for Joel, and at least 89 times for Anastasio between Phish and TAB shows (not including guest appearances for either) – you’d think the collaboration was bound to happen, eventually at least. So the night before Billy Joel says farewell to MSG with his 150th career performance and the end of his monthly residency.
Photo Credit – Myrna Suarez
Billy welcomed Trey to the stage for “Sleeping with the Television On,” with Anastasio riffing on Eric Clapton’s “Layla,” getting Joel to join in for the ending sequence.
Photo Credit – Myrna Suarez
Later in the encore, Trey was invited back up for the encore, joining in gleefully on “You May Be Right” and Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll.”
Once again, today is May 18, or, 518 Day. The 518 is a huge region of New York State, an area code established in 1947 and covering 24 counties.
The 518 area code extends from the Mohawk Valley just west of Utica, to the Vermont and Massachusetts borders, and north to Canada, and includes Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Glens Falls, Plattsburgh and the entire North Country, Saranac Lake and the entire High Peaks region, plus Schoharie, Catskill, Hunter and Caroga Lake. A huge area of the state, and combined with the new 838 area code, covers more than 2 million New Yorkers!
Among this wide swath of the state is a great deal of music, from bands to venues, festivals to promoters, concert series and figures in the scene, the 518 has a rich amount of music, so much that we thought a great way to celebrate 518 Day (May 18), was to come up with a list of Five Hundred Eighteen things that make the 518 a great place for music.
But we wanted to keep this digestible, and in working with our friends at 518scene.com, we came up with at least a start – 51.8 (rounded up to 52) music venues, bands, promoters, series and more, that make the 518 so great. We started in May 2023 with our list and that of 518scene, and for 2024, we’ve got 52 more things that make the 518 great.
Read our list below and 518scene’s list for 2024 here.
1. 518 Day of Giving
Let’s start with a great way to give back – 518 Day of Giving is the first online, regional fundraiser of its kind on May 18, 2024. The day intends to harness the power of community to connect nonprofit organizations with new and existing donors, while raising funds and awareness for the nonprofit community. Collectively, participating nonprofits hope to raise $518,000 to continue to provide vital supports and services throughout the Capital Region and beyond. Donate to a variety of organizations here.
2. The Erie Canal Song
You likely learned this in grade school if you grew up anywhere near the Mohawk or Hudson Rivers. Originally titled “Low Bridge, Everybody Down,” the song by Thomas S. Allen recounts the history of the Erie Canal, and was first published in 1913 when the New York Barge Canal replaced the Erie Canal. While the sheet music cover shows a boy on a mule ducking down to pass under a bridge, the reference to “low bridge” in the song actually refers to travelers who would typically ride on top of the boats and need to lower their heads to allow for safe passage. Taking a geographic trip from Buffalo to Albany, the final lyrics of the song are “Low bridge, everybody down, Low bridge, I’ve got the finest mule in town. She’s a perfect, perfect lady, and she blushes like a gal. If she hears you sing about her and the Erie Canal.”
Stay tuned for a full history on the song this summer, ahead of next year’s Bicentennial of the Erie Canal’s opening!
3. Jive Hive Live
Located in Albany, Jive Hive Live is an intimate, state of the art, private space built for live recording and video livestream productions. Their mission is to provide a resource of both people and “things” that will enable talented musicians, artists and other creatives to share their work with “the world” in a professional manner typically out of reach. The goal is to build a self sustaining community that is “better together” vs the typical “zero sum game” environment.
4. Jazz on Jay
If you like jazz, then Jay Street in Schenectady is the place to be Thursday’s from 12-130pm at the corner of Jay Street and State Street for free outdoor concerts and enjoy some of the best live jazz acts in the 518.
5. WEQX
Founded in November 1984 by Brooks Brown as an independent radio station, WEQX may be stationed in Vermont at Mount Equinox (hence the call sign EQX), but the broadcast reach hits much of the 518, and as far east as New Hampshire. EQX is a sponsor of numerous live music events and presents a variety of concerts in the Capital Region. Entering their 40th year, WEQX is a true independent radio station, highlighting artists from across the 518 and New England with shows such as EQXposure, Going Underground, Jam n’ Toast and many more.
6. Starlite Music Theatre
Here’s a throwback for folks in Colonie. The Starlite Music Theatre was a theatre in the round, seating 3,000 attendees around a center stage, originally opening in 1958. Designed for theater as well as live music and comedy, the venue hosted the lives of Rodney Dangerfield, Three Dog Night, George Carlin, “Weird Al” Yankovic, B.B. King, The Beach Boys, Gallagher and many more. The located was closed in the early 2000s and demolished in 2012, making way for what was to be the headquarters of Ayco, but seems to be an open lot currently.
photo by Sara Ayers
7. Sawyer Fredericks
An Americana singer-songwriter from Glen in Montgomery County, Sawyer Fredericks, began playing local farmers markets, open mics, and iconic New York venues at the age of 13. With his deep, beyond-his-years original lyrics and melodies, soulful vocals, and powerful live performances, Sawyer seemed an unlikely match for reality tv, but he won over audiences to win season 8 of NBC’s The Voice. He continues to perform around the Capital Region and elsewhere.
8. Skyway Collective
The Skyway Collective started in the summer of 2023 as an idea to utilize Albany’s newly built Skyway. The idea: get together some DJ’s, decks, and speakers, and have a pop-up hang. Word quickly got out about the Monday night weekly pop-up dubbed Minimal Monday’s, gaining a social media stamp of approval from Mayor Kathy Sheehan, and the idea started to blossom into a community. With its swift growth and high demand, Steve Mink (SM INK), Connor Heid (Cauzee), Kellen Hagen and Devan Collins (DRC) began discussing where to go from there, and during one Monday night brainstorm on the skyway, “The Skyway Collective“ was born. The Collective has since evolved into its own production company with its signature “Skyway sound” system which the team utilizes to host club events and hold residencies around the capital district. As The Collective will soon be celebrate their 1st anniversary in June, they continue to make strides build the house/techno scene in upstate NY.
9. Washington Park Lakehouse
Located in Albany’s Washington Park, this Spanish Revival structure was designed by Albany architect J. Russell White and has been a feature of the park for many years, although not part of the original scope of the park, which opened in 1873. The interior of the lakehouse is detailed and has terrazzo floors and wrought-iron chandeliers. The outdoor amphitheater area is used for live music during the annual Tulip Festival, and hosts Park Playhouse theatrical performances during the summer. The Lake House is situated on 90 acres of rolling urban parkland, and the landscape architecture was inspired by Fredrick Law Olmsted.
10. Bogies
A staple of the Albany club scene in the 1990s and opened in the mid-1970s, Bogies was a beloved hole in the wall venue located at 297 Ontario Street that closed its doors for good in 2015, after ample efforts to revive the dive. Small, packed for shows, Bogies was THE place for underground music in Albany throughout its tenure and featured bands such as State Champs, Blink 182, PVRIS, Black Flag, Ice Nine Kills, The Replacements and dozens of metal bands in its latter years, plus other bands so briefly tenured, they’re lost to history. RIP Bogies.
11. The Eddies
The Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards Show and the Hall of Fame was created in 2019 by Sal Prizio and Jim Murphy of Proctors Theatre, to shine a light on the incredible talent of the local music scene, both past and present. Hundreds of individuals, groups and companies working in the artistic, technical, managerial, media and support areas of the Capital Region music industry are nominated every year, with an annual award show, typically in April. The Eddies are a part of Proctors Collaborative.
12. Dad Fest
Dad Fest is the City of Albany’s celebration of all the fantastic fathers out there, featuring a Classic Car Show, great food, music and vendors. Dad Fest is a chance for the whole family to kick back and enjoy an early summer afternoon at one of the Capital Region’s most picturesque parks. You don’t have to be a dad to enjoy Dad Fest as this event offers a little fun for everyone.
13. Eastbound Jesus
Eastbound Jesus was formed almost in 2010 in Greenwich, NY, a group of friends who clicked when writing music. They slowly picked up shows, dubbed their genre ‘Northern Rock’ and proceeded from there. The band has an intense local following in the 518, with packed shows across the region.
14. WAMC
WAMC/Northeast Public Radio is a regional public radio network serving parts of seven northeastern states, stretching across the 518 of New York, as well as the 315 and points south, they also cover events and news as far as Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. Stations and translators are in twenty-nine locations throughout the region, with offices and studios in Albany broadcasting 24 hours a day with a wide variety of publicly funded programming. NYS Music is a proud sponsor of WAMC.
15. Universal Preservation Hall
Located at 25 Washington Street in Saratoga Springs, Universal Preservation Hall (UPH) is a year-round arts and community events venue managed by Proctors Collaborative. With seating up to 700, this venue is one of the few ‘theatres in the round’ still in existence. The building opened February 29, 2020 after being restored to be a performance hall and rental venue, and despite the timing, it was a success starting with an exhibit of Rock n Roll pinball machines, as well as concerts and the Capital Region Music Music Hall of Fame induction each year.
A view of Universal Preservation Hall is seen during the media tour and ribbon cutting of the new concert hall in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union)
16. Washington County Fair
Located in Greenwich, what has come to be called the Washington County Fair was first held in 1890 and named the “Morganza Fair” serving as many fairs did, to exhibit and sell sheep and cattle. Now, more than 130 years later, the annual event offers the full Washington County experience including live entertainment, 4-H displays, foods you can only find at the fair, and your favorite fair rides. Get your tickets here.
17. Lake George Art Project Wednesdays in the Park
The Lake George Art Project sponsors a Wednesday evening concert series in Shepards Park, and for 2024 they’ll be held on July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 and August 7, 14, 21, and 28 with a special Saturday show on June 29. This year’s lineup features The E-block, Angelina Valente and many others. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the night by the Queen of American Lakes!
18. Blind Owl Band
Based in Saranac Lake, The Blind Owl Band is a bluegrass/country/folk-rock band that formed in 2011 and includes Arthur Buezo (guitar, vocals), Christian Cardiello (bass), James Ford (banjo, vocals), and Eric Munley, (mandolin, vocals), who is now the proprietor of the Waterhole. The group met while studying at Paul Smith’s College and trace their name to an incident while performing at Paul Smith’s, when a saw-whet owl flew into a window. The owl got up and stared at the band for a moment before flying away, and with a saw-whet owl nicknamed a ‘blind owl’, the name stuck. Blind Owl Band now perform intermittently around the state, but bring a feisty sound and crowd with them in each performance.
19. Albany Civic Theatre
With an intent to provide education and training in acting, directing, writing, speech, staging, producing, reviewing, and other aspects of the dramatic arts, Albany Civic Theatre has a unique role in the 518, as they aim to encourage and foster community interest and participation in the dramatic arts through the non-profit sponsorship of plays, lectures, publications, workshops, study groups, drama libraries and related activities. Check out their upcoming season here.
20. Ophelia’s on Broadway
Replacing Parish Public House in Albany is Ophelia’s on Broadway, which boasts a return-to-roots feel, including an homage to Red Square (the name prior to Parish), a fresh menu and a perfect location for late night shows or continuing the party after Alive at 5 this summer.
21. WEXT
The Capital District has a great listener-supported roots and rock radio station in WEXT, with an eclectic, unique and diverse lineup of music. 97.7 FM and 106.1 WEXT from WMHT Educational Telecommunications with a goal to provide listeners with a unique listening experience with music that knows no boundary of genre. WEXT focuses on emerging artists, plus classic songs that regular radio has forgotten and especially music from the Local 518.
22. Park Theater Foundation
The Park Theater Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the Glens Falls community by providing a venue for quality and affordable entertainment and educational opportunities in the performing arts. NYS Music is a proud sponsor of the Park Theater Foundation.
23. Glass Pony
Self-described as a high-energy psychedelic groove circus, Glass Pony has been turning heads and becoming a staple of the 518 since 2018. The four-piece band comprised of Chanda Dewey (drums), Eddie Hotaling (guitar, lead vocals), Jeff Picarazzi (bass), and Greg Pittz (lead guitar) combine for a continually unique and entertaining experience. Glass Pony live performances incorporate danceable grooves, interesting set lists, and creative and compelling improvisation with a wide variety of influences from 60’s and 70’s rock, 80’s post-punk and 90’s jamband. Catch them soon – check out their upcoming shows here.
24. John Brown song
Songs are often measured by their ability to stand the test of time. “John Brown’s Body” is one of those songs that has held up even into the present day. Although the tune has gone by many names and many iterations over the centuries, the hymn turned revolutionary anthem retains its status as one of the most memorable songs of the Civil War. Read more on the history of this Civil War era song from Ryan Bieber here.
25. SingleCut North Clifton Park
With a tap room in Astoria, as well as in Clifton Park, the delicious beer from SingleCut Tap Room features music from a variety of bands, with food trucks located outside for full enjoyment of tasty brews and music made right in the 518. Check out upcoming events here.
26. Blotto
What more can be said about arguably the biggest band to come from Albany? Blotto combined new wave and soul with R&B and comedic themes, and sported pseudonyms on recordings and on stage. You’d hear them on Dr. Demento‘s radio show in the early 80s, and the band was featured on MTV on the first day of broadcast, with the video for “I Wanna Be a Lifeguard” becoming infamous, rated by some as the worst music of all time, but featuring numerous locations across the 518 – watch for yourself and see how many you can spot!
Ed note: new area code 838 is popping up in the 518, and we welcome a challenge to find Eight Hundred Thirty Eight things that make this region the best for music, but let’s take this one area code at a time.
“20 years of Lucid, I never thought I’d see the day.” Lowell Wurster shared this sentiment alongside an announcement that on Saturday, May 18, Lucid would gather together at the Strand Center in Plattsburgh to celebrate two decades of North Country funk and soul.
Lucid at The Waterhole – October 2023
The Strand Theater itself is celebrating as well, marking 100 years of performances this year, having opened in 1924 as a vaudeville theatre. In recent years, the venue has undergone renovations and upgrades, bringing the Strand into the 21st Century.
Lowell shared his excitement for the anniversary event. “This show is a celebration of a community and love, The North Country is our home and this is where our hearts lie. To be able to celebrate our 20 year anniversary in our hometown means the world to us. Some of us went to the same high school and had the same teachers.”
“The whole community rallied around us years ago when we went on our first East coast tour. There’s always been such an outpouring of support for us and its been quite humbling. We love the North Country,” added Wurster.
Supporting Lucid is Lowell’s father, George, with ‘When Pigs Fly’ – the name derived from his band Blind Pigs from many years back. In the past year, members of Lucid, the Blind Pigs original drummer, Pat Madix, and Mike Dashnaw from The Shameless Strangers were brought together to create When Pigs Fly for this special occasion.
“I honestly think people are pretty excited to watch my dad’s band. After years of watching him sit in with us now folks can watch him front a whole set, that is exciting for me and a lot of other people are pretty stoked.”
Lowell Wurster, on When Pigs Fly
A perfect band to pair up for the evening, Lucid fans have seen George play with the group over the years, making this a family affair in more ways that one. Expect to see Wurster’s sister, Catherine, of DoomF$ck, also sitting in throughout the evening.
“We’re just so excited to share this experience with everyone. This is a celebration of 20 years of building community, this is about love and the family we’ve built with this community,” said Wurster.
The 20 year anniversary celebration for Lucid takes place on Saturday May 18 at the Strand Center for the Arts, with doors at 6pm and the show starting at 7pm. Tickets and more info can be found here or at the Strandcenter.org
Necessity is the mother of invention. In the case of Darko Mijatovic, the need to find live music locally led to the creation of Ckord, an app designed to bring together music lovers, support emerging artists and democratize music.
A native of Serbia, Darko moved to Ridgewood, Queens in the 1990s, earned a degree in electrical engineering from SUNY Binghamton, and later moved to Long Island where he is a Sr. Director at an engineering firm.
Always looking to find music in Queens or Nassau counties, the concept for the app came from his need to discover live music. The fully developed app now has the ability to get people out of their communities to find and support the arts.
While some apps isolate you and keep you glued to your phone, Ckord aims to get people out, building community, and creating real memorable experiences, with a goal to bring venues and artists together.
It looks really great to me. My first impressions are very positive and Iâm going to keep using it going forward.
Joseph – CKord user
With big name artists getting the lion’s share of the attention and money, Darko notes there is no reason why balance isn’t possible, or why a great artist shouldn’t be able to live off of music alone. Thus, Ckord focuses on emerging artists and gives them the attention not available elsewhere.
Having lived the past three decades in New York, the Big Apple was the natural first place to start with the app, focusing on the greater NY Metro area, where more than 3,000 NYC events have been listed, with more than 1,000 artists utilizing the app already. Venues, as well as artists and users, will find Ckord to be an entirely free app to utilize for their benefit.
Ckord also has lined up artists with whom they will work to capture a behind the scenes look at being an emerging music artist in NYC, among them are Nory, KLD Wave and Tucker Woods.
Download Ckord from the App store. An Android version is in the works, while the web version is designed for use by mobile device.
NYC sibling duo The Lemon Twigs have just released their latest LP, A Dream Is All We Know, via independent Brooklyn label, Captured Tracks. They also embark on an international tour, stopping back in New York for shows at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, and Webster Hall in the East Village.
The Lemon Twigs – a duo consisting of brothers Brian and Michael D’Addario from Hicksville, Long Island – have been described as “remarkably inventive… harmonically unlike anything that’s come before them” by Michael McDonald. The brothers formed the band while still enrolled at Hicksville High School, and have been consistently recording and touring since 2014.
A Dream Is All We Know was recorded completely to tape and mixed and mastered by Brian and Michael themselves on of-the-era equipment, and explores the timeless tropes of the Lennon-McCartney songbook, with Sean Ono Lennon co-producing “In The Eyes Of The Girl.” The album features the harmonies of the Wilson family, and many other 1968 influences including The Move, Big Star, The Raspberries, The Byrds, The Left Banke, and many more.
The Lemon Twigs have also announced a massive, 30 date headlining tour this fall. The run of shows include some of their biggest US venues to date including Webster Hall. The fall tour follows summer dates across the Southeastern US and a leg in the EU.
The Lemon Twigs Live Dates
USA
5/4 – White Eagle Hall / Jersey City, NJ
5/5 – The Southern Cafe and Music Hall / Charlottesville, VA
5/7 – King – Raleigh, NC
5/9 – The Pour House / Charleston, SC
5/10 – Tuffys Music Box / Sanford, FL
5/11 – Heartwood Soundstage / Gainesville, FL
5/12 – Crowbar / Tampa, FL
5/14 – 40 Watt / Athens, GA
5/15 – Saturn / Birmingham, AL
5/16 – 805 After / Huntsville, AL
5/17 – The Burf / Lexington, KY
5/18 – Rumba Cafe / Columbus, OH (SOLD OUT)
Europe
5/25 – CCVF / Guimarães, Portugal
5/26 – LAV / Lisbon, Portugal
5/28 – Sala Copérnico / Madrid, Spain (SOLD OUT)
5/29 – Kafe Antzokia / Bilbao, Spain
5/30 – Sala Oasis / Zaragoza, Spain
6/1 – Primavera Sound Festival / Barcelona, Spain
USA
7/20 – Fort Collins, CO / The Aggie
7/23 – Indianapolis, IN / HI-FI
7/24 – Detroit, MI / Magic Bag
7/26 – Northampton, MA / Iron Horse Music Hall
7/27 – Woodstock, NY / Levon Helm Barn
Europe & UK
8/29 – 9/1 – End of the Road Festival / Salisbury, UK
