Gem Radio Theatre, dedicated to reviving the golden days of radio by bringing classic favorites to the stage, will hold “History Tea” on Sunday May 5 at Garnet Hill Lodge in North River, NY.
The sixth annual event, History Tea is presented as a live event featuring stories of famous and infamous characters, all with connections to the Adirondacks. Actors for this event hail from the North Country towns of North Creek, Chestertown, Minerva, Indian Lake, and North River.
In addition to this event, Gem Radio Theatre will host an annual Graveyard Walk in the Town of Johnsburg for History Weekend in September.
The history-laden event will begin at 2pm on Sunday, May 5. The cost is $20 per person and reservations are recommended – call 518-251-2444. Garnet Hill Lodge is located at 39 Garnet Hill Road, North River.
Buffalo jam stalwarts Organ Fairchild have released the first track off their upcoming album, Songs We Didn’t Write, featuring creative re-arrangements of some favorite music by other artists.
The first single is a breezy instrumental romp through Bob Marley’s “Them Belly Full,” and was released on April 5. The full album will be out on June 7, on 180-gram vinyl, CD and digital formats.
Recorded, mixed and co-produced by Justin Guip (Hot Tuna, Levon Helm) and mastered by Alan Evans (Soulive) – the pair behind Leisure Suit – Songs We Didn’t Write includes instrumental reworkings by Organ Fairchild of Grateful Dead’s “Lost Sailor,” Otis Redding’s “Hard to Handle” with very special guest Jorma Kaukonen, a Harry Styles song, and many more.
It was actually my son who suggested a full album of cover songs! Why not? We love rearranging material in our organ trio format, and our shows always include some choice covers – we had a ball making this!
Organ Fairchild guitarist Dave Ruch
Songs We Didn’t Write will be released on June 7, with album preorders shipping on May 31. Pre-Order here
Songs We Didn’t Write Tracklist Them Belly Full (Bob Marley) Lost Sailor (Grateful Dead) Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen) Canyon Moon (Harry Styles!) Hard to Handle feat. Jorma Kaukonen (Otis Redding) Eleanor Rigby (The Beatles) Lazy River Road (Grateful Dead) I Wish feat. The Brass Machine (Stevie Wonder) Redemption Song (Bob Marley)
On June 29, Phish frontman Trey Anastasio will perform with The Boston Pops at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts. The performance will feature Anastasio performing solo work and orchestral compositions, amid the atmosphere of the Berkshire Mountains.
Part of the Popular Artist Series, Anastasio will perform with the Boston Pops – conducted by Edwin Outwater – at the Koussevitzky Music Shed, in Lenox, MA on Saturday, June 29, at 7pm.
Anastasio had been set to perform with the Boston Pops in 2020, but the event was one of the many live music performances canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Performing along with a string section, a Rescue Squad or a philharmonic, Anastasio has taken his orchestration talents to a wider audience, melding compositions for rock and guitar along with an orchestra. Since 2000, Anastasio has performed with string groups, and the Tanglewood show is his second of this summer, having announced a July date with the National Symphony Orchestra in Vienna, VA.
photo by Conor McMahon
Tickets for Trey Anastasio and the Boston Pops at Tanglewood will go on sale Wednesday, April 17 at 10am at Trey.com.
Just eleven days after the release of their fifth studio album, Hoist, Phish arrived in Binghamton for a show at Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, just down the road from the Broome County Forum. The show quickly became known among fans for a funk-filled soundcheck, as well as creative placement of “Little Drummer Boy” throughout the second set.
Students from colleges across the state – Cornell, Syracuse, Albany and Binghamton among them – headed down to Binghamton on this evening, making for a lively lot scene. The marquee reportedly read “Reba McEntire” with “Phish – Sold Out” below it, perhaps the muse for “Reba” showing up in the second set this evening.
The soundcheck of “Makisupa Policeman” was indeed funky, although a full recording has yet to surface. All that we have so far is the clip below.
A reported “really difficult ticket,” Binghamton is no stranger to great Phish shows, with an early show at Campus Pub in 1988 and two shows at Broome County Forum in 1992. This 1994 show would unknowingly be the band’s penultimate show in The Parlor City, with only the notable December 14, 1995 show following, leaving Binghamton Phish-less for nearly 30 years – aside from two Trey Anastasio Band shows in 1999 and 2014.
A venue upgrade, this would be Phish’s first show at Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, a minor league hockey arena, just down the road from the Forum. Opening up with “Magilla” for the first time, the GA show would hold a few songs that are ‘jamcharts‘ worthy, as well as some fun with “Little Drummer Boy” during the second set.
A pre-chant version of “Wilson” would follow this horns-less “Magilla,” a unique listen now after nearly three decades of fans chanting “Willllll-son” with each intro guitar riff. “Rift” would be met with great cheers in a typical early Set 1 slot, doubling as the title of the band’s prior album to Hoist.
“Bathtub Gin” would feature notable improv, giving way to “Nellie Kane” and the first track of the night off Hoist, a ripping “Julius,” also the first track on Hoist. “Fee” featured a piano outro from Page McConnell that bridged the way into the now ultra rare “All Things Reconsidered,” last played in 1997 and deserving of a return to the Phish rotation. The “Stash” that would follow is not one to sleep on, featuring ‘a gnarly and heavy-duty power rocking jam’ that paved the way for “The Squirming Coil” and set break.
Set two would open with another Hoist track, “Sample in a Jar,” to a brief crowd reaction. A hefty “Reba” that is well executed gives way to the Frank Zappa composition “Peaches en Regalia,” pairing Zappa-esque with a true Zappa tune, with an ending that featured a tease of “Little Drummer Boy” before shifting into the now-retired “Big Ball Jam.”
The debut of “Demand” would follow, and while a “Split Open and Melt” jam akin to the Hoist version was not paired with the short song, it did serve as a perfect bridge to “Mike’s Song.” This version of “Mike’s” finds Trey Anastasio using his pedals to create other-worldly sounds that are at times menacing and metallic, accented by LD Chris Kuroda’s strobes flashing through on-stage fog. A breather would be needed in the “I am Hydrogen” that followed, particularly because “Weekapaug Groove” would be chock full of teases – “Little Drummer Boy,” a latter portion of “Divided Sky” and even “Dave’s Energy Guide.”
Closing out this fun filled set were a calming “Tela,” “Slave to the Traffic Light” which featured a serene build and an outstanding peak, capped off by a well placed “Cavern.” For an encore, the band would start without microphones for an acapella rendition of “Amazing Grace,” followed by “Highway to Hell” – likely not exactly what the fans in the front row were looking for when they were chanting for “AC/DC Bag,” but a heck of a cover to drop on fans just as the show was coming to a close.
Listen to the show from Binghamton here (second set SBD). Phish would head west the next night to perform at Alumni Arena at SUNY Buffalo – stream that show here.
Set 1: Magilla, Wilson > Rift, Bathtub Gin > Nellie Kane > Julius, Fee -> All Things Reconsidered, Stash, The Squirming Coil Set 2: Sample in a Jar, Reba, Peaches en Regalia > Big Ball Jam, Demand[1] > Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove[2], Tela > Slave to the Traffic Light, Cavern Encore: Amazing Grace, Highway to Hell [1] Debut [2] Vocal jam
Formed to “reprise” the Phish experience, Reprise is an all-star band featuring big names in the Northeast jam scene, with a unique spin on performing the music of Phish. They’ll make their New York debut this June in Woodstock at The Colony.
Featuring Cal Kehoe (guitar, Pink Talking Fish), Scott Chasolen (keys, Ulu, The Machine) Chris DeAngelis (bass, The Machine, Kung Fu, The Breakfast) and Adrian Tramontano (drums, Twiddle, Kung Fu, The Breakfast, RAQ, Marble Eyes, Twiddle, Mihali), Reprise debuted on March 1 and 2 at Nectar’s in Burlington, performing two classic Phish shows – one from Nectar’s itself on March 13, 1989 and Sugarbush, VT from July 16, 1994.
The two sold out shows at Phish’s original stomping grounds served as the start of a new era for these four musicians, as well as taking classic Phish shows and performing them in full each night.
The first two shows had the shows they would be covering announced in advance, but starting with the June 13 show at Milkboy in Philadelphia, and their first NY show at The Colony in Woodstock on June 14, the band will not announce what show they are playing until the show is complete. If this sounds like the Phish version of Dark Star Orchestra, Blaze on!
As with all Reprise shows, an iconic Phish show will be recreated at both Milkboy and The Colony – tickets are on sale now,
There are an unknown number of bands and musicians in any town, at any given time. Across the 518, dozens if not hundreds of unsigned, fledgling artists that are getting their start, with dream and aspirations pushing them forward. The goal varies for each individual, but getting signed to a record deal, an agency or a management company is typically where sights are set.
Andy Scullin, creator, host and producer of Unsigned518, has a passion for local music that has led to more than 120 episodes and counting of regular, weekly podcasts. On Tuesdays you’ll find guests range from bands and musicians to figures in the 518 scene who sit down to have a genuine conversation about their music with Andy, as well a share a few songs, sometimes performing live.
A new addition to the budding podcast is the Thursday release of “Weekend Spotlight,” which are recorded on Wednesday evenings and released a couple of hours later at midnight. These episodes offer a quick look at a few local shows happening that coming weekend, and feature a few songs or a guest joining in on the call to discuss the show. This is also a spot for Andy to premiere music by local bands, giving listeners a taste of what they can see live that coming weekend.
But this isn’t a new endeavor for Scullin, who got his start in radio in 1992 at a small adult/alternative station in West Dover, VT – station WVAY. “I was an on-air talent (at just 19 years old) and while I was there, learned how to edit audio. When I first started editing, “cut and paste” literally involved a razor blade and tape. I did that for a few years, and then pursued other jobs outside of broadcasting.”
Scullin would later work at WEQX a few years on, becoming Production Director and host of EQXsposure before once again leaving radio for other ventures. Andy later went on to be producer of The Joe Gallagher Show on WGY for several years.
From these experiences, the idea for Unsigned518 populated in Scullin’s head for nearly 20 years. Combining his love of local music with a love of talking into a microphone would lead to creating a free-form show that gives the artist a chance to have their story told in the way they want it to be, not having to adhere to pre-planned questions.
What’s more, Andy Scullin is a musician himself, playing bass and singing for ShortWave RadioBand, a high-energy punk/garage band based in Schuylerville, infusing elements of punk, ska, and alternative into the music. The group started in 2020 as an acoustic duo with Lonny Eaton (ShortWave’s guitarist/vocalist), playing cover songs in the corner of Argyle Brewing’s taproom. After a year and a half as a duo, the pair met drummer John Woods, immediately hit it off and started jamming, with Scullin shifting to bass.
In October 2021, the trio recorded and released their first original song, “Don’t Care,” following it up with “SomeDay” in early 2022. Horns were included in the recording, and would lead to Abby Stone joining the band on trumpet, followed by Ryan Shaw joining as a second guitarist to fill out the band’s sound.
Since becoming a five-piece, ShortWave RadioBand have gigged all over the 518, playing with and becoming friends with dozens of local bands. The group has played WAMC’s Summer on Central series, Putnam Place in Saratoga and other venues in the region. With a live EP and eight singles recorded, they also have a few videos under their belt, including “So Long, The Hopeful” which features members of nine local bands playing roles, including The Sugar Hold, Seize Atlantis, Gozer and more.
ShortWave RadioBand and Unsigned518 recently collaborated with Poison Noises on a guitar pedal called the Pork Pi – a play on the popular Muff Pi pedal and Andy’s signature orange Pork Pie hat – which is a monster distortion pedal for guitar or bass.
Below you’ll find some of Andy’s favorite Unsigned518 episodes, and there are many more where these came from. Be sure to check out and subscribe to Unsigned518.
Albany’s Spectrum 8 Theatre has found new management and will reopen this spring, potentially in late April, per multiple reports last week.
photo via Spotlight News
As reported in February, Spectrum 8 was slated to close, with owner Landmark Theatres withdrawing from management after nearly 9 years. Scene One Entertainment has stepped in to take over management, bringing back a few notable aspects of Spectrum 8 that regulars missed in the past decade.
Scene One Entertainment owner Joseph Masher said in a press release, “The overwhelming response to the theatre’s closing last month prompted me to move faster with the building’s owner to get the cinema reopened. I’ve been working very closely with [Spectrum 8 co-founder] Keith Pickard to bring the heart and soul back into the Spectrum. The art gallery will be reactivated and the calendar that was published monthly will return.”
Among the changes are the return of the theater’s locally-sourced cakes, pastries, cookies, mint brownies, and real butter on the popcorn. The Spectrum reports it will also serve alcoholic beverages once it obtains a liquor license.
Spectrum 8 has been in operation since 1983, beginning as a single screen theater before expanding to eight screens, offering a wide number of independent movies, Oscar nominated films that are hard to find in theaters, including foreign language films and live and animated short films, in addition to Hollywood blockbusters.
On April 6th, Crossroads Collective is hosting a fundraiser at The Lost Horizon with performances by Japanese Psych-Rock Band TEKE :: TEKE, and Syracuse’s own, GUNK! A masterful alternative prog-rock ensemble.
This meaningful fundraiser highlights great music and the inspiring work done by the Crossroads Collective and the Let’s Play program.
Crossroads Collective is a student-led organization that bridges the gap between Syracuse University and the local Syracuse community. Through their partnership with the Arthouse Collective, they organize music lessons, workshops, open mics, and performances within the area to foster a supportive and creative environment open to everyone.
Proceeds from the show will go to supporting the Let’s Play program. Currently, SU students are teaching a variety of free music lessons for inner city kids in local libraries and youth centers. Money raised from this event will go to supporting these lessons.
With solar eclipse events and preparations underway from Buffalo to Plattsburgh, one New York band, Annie in the Water, has been on a two-month long journey that will find the group performing during the totality on April 8.
Annie in the Water have been on a ‘Road to Totality’ tour since January, with stops around the Northeast, as well as a trip to Colorado for shows in Denver, Golden and Breckenridge. The longevity of the group and perseverance that led them to their current lineup and performance schedule has been noted by longtime fans, as well as new fans they’ve picked up along the way.
Following the Colorado shows, Annie in the Water returned back to New York for shows in Rochester and Syracuse, but a performance at Lark Hall was cancelled due to the snow storm over March 23-24. That show is now rescheduled for Friday, April 5, and making for a 4-show run that will catch the band playing in Sackets Harbor on April 6, where the duo of Brad Hester and Michael Lashomb first performed together. They then head south to Woods Valley Ski Area near Rome on April 7, then head north again towards the High Peaks, for a show on April 8 at Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington.
When asked about playing during the totality of the solar eclipse, Matt Richards (keys/vocals) shared:
“Just as the eclipse reaches totality, I think myself and as a band will also reach a transient feeling of completeness. The hard work of scheduling, preparing for, and performing the tour will be complete. But just like the eclipse, that moment and feeling won’t last long and it will be onto the next phase for myself, the band, the moon, and the sun.”
After respite in April, the band will hit four music festivals in the first half of the summer, performing at Shakori Hills in North Carolina, Memorial Meltdown in Lake George, Sterling Stage Folkfest in Sterling, NY and Northlands Festival in New Hampshire in June. They’ll also be part of Twin Ponds Campground ‘3rd Thursday’ concert series this summer, where Backwoods Pondfest was held for many years, in Peru, NY.
Amid a winter storm that ushered in spring, banjo virtuoso and father of modern bluegrass, Tony Trischka, performed to a crowd of brave travelers in The Egg’s Swyer Theater on Saturday, March 23.
Roughly 30 fans braved the elements to see Trischka’s tribute to Earl Scruggs, the legendary three-finger banjoist, titled EarlJam. Featuring Michael Daves (vocals, guitar) Jared Engel (bass) and Brittany Haas (fiddle), the show traced the story of Scruggs from his childhood to his later years.
Celebrating this tour, Trischka said, “Earl is my North Star, a lifetime pathway. And I’m not alone. Through his music, this shy kid from Flint Hill, North Carolina went on to enrich countless thousands of lives. At the age of 13, when I first heard 16 notes of Scruggs style banjo playing, I put down my folk guitar and mercilessly pestered my parents to buy me a banjo. Once in my hands, that 5-string became my obsession and has been for close to 60 years.”
“The depth of his genius becomes ever more apparent when I transcribe his solos, which I’ve been doing my entire musical life and with renewed vigor. Discovering new twists and turns in his playing is pure joy and in fact the inspiration for this tribute show.”
Tony Trischka on Earl Scruggs
The show was full of Scruggs songs, including popular fare “Salty Dog,” “Foggy Mountain Breakdown,” and the seminal TV show theme, “The Ballad of Jed Clampett,” as well as covers mixed in, ranging from Bob Dylan to Grateful Dead and The Band.
Trischka, a Syracuse native, is a not only a banjo innovator, but he is also an educator, influencing everyone from Béla Fleck to Steve Martin.
A treat for fans of new era bluegrass enjoyed “Brown’s Ferry Blues,” the first track off Trischka’s upcoming album, recently recorded with Billy Strings.
While it was a cold, miserable night of weather outside, Trischka and the music of Earl Scruggs kept it memorable inside for the small crowd of dedicated fans, paying them a nod during “Mama Don’t ‘Low” by changing the lyrics to “Mama don’t ‘low no snow driving ’round here.”
Tony Trischka’s EarlJam – The Egg, Swyer Theater – Saturday, March 23, 2024
Setlist: Kentucky Bullfight, Reuben, Heavy Traffic Ahead, Salty Dog, Foggy Mountain Breakdown, Six White Horses, Earl’s Breakdown, Martha White Theme, Fiddle and Banjo, Ballad of Jed Clampett, Can’t Stop me from Dreaming, Mama Don’t ‘Low, Rainy Day Women #12 and 35, Brown’s Ferry Blues, Liza Jane, Casey Jones, Chinese Breakdown, Here Comes the Bride, Gentle on My Mind, You’ve Got to Die, Farewell Blues, Fox Chase
