Disco Biscuits have shared part 2 of their Rock Opera set in space, Revolution in Motion. The four tracks follow the January release of Part 1, which included newer jam vehicles, “Another Plan of Attack” and “Twisted in the Road.”
Revolution in Motion, Part 2, features songs “Times Square,” “Freeze,” “Tourists (Rocket Ship),” and “Spaga’s Last Stand,” all which have debuted by the Disco Biscuits since 2022 and become the basis for some of the band’s most exploratory work to date.
The video companion to Part 2 picks up where Part 1 left off, where we saw aliens enter a wormhole while getting too ‘shocked’ brings them to our solar system, where the aliens descend towards New York City, setting their sites on Times Square – specifically, in front of Palladium Times Square at 7th Ave and 45th St., where the Disco Biscuits are performing.
The aliens freeze all those outside waiting to get into the show, but with Disco Biscuits on stage deep underground, they are not frozen and come to the rescue, ascending the memorable escalator in the lobby of the Palladium theater. With the aliens planning to abduct the frozen humans for study, the Disco Biscuits confront the aliens, saving the day, but in the process of themselves being abducted onto the alien ship.
Part 3 and 4 will released in March, as the band builds up to their album release show at Webster Hall on March 29.
Disco Biscuits 2024 Tour Dates 3/7 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore 3/8 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore # 3/9 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE # 3/10 – Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theater 3/13 – Albany, NY – Empire Live 3/14 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall % 3/15 – Portland, ME – State Theatre % 3/16 – Boston, MA – House of Blues % 3/28 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – F.M. Kirby Center 3/29 – New York, NY – Webster Hall ! (SOLD OUT) 3/30 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom 3/31 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom 4/2 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom 4/4 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues 4/5 – Houston, TX – The Heights Theater 4/6 – Dallas, TX – Longhorn Ballroom 4/7 – Burnet, TX – Texas Eclipse Festival 4/11 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel 4/12 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl 4/13 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle 4/14 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre 6/20-23 – Rothbury, MI – Electric Forest Festival
moe. has announced a 12-date “Best.Summer.Ever” Tour at stages across the country, and joined by Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, a tour that guarantees a blend of classic jams, improvisational brilliance, and a vibrant celebration of live music.
Tour stops include shows at The Rooftop at Pier 17 in NYC, a two-night run at Wonderland Forest in Lafayette and a show at Outer Harbor in Buffalo. All but Buffalo feature two sets of moe. and one set of Daniel Donato.
The “Best.Summer.Ever” Tour will kick off with a bang on the Fourth of July at the Stone Pony Summerstage in Asbury Park, NJ. This show, as well as performances on July 5th in Westport, CT, and July 6th in Jay, VT, will also feature Neighbor.
Continuing their commitment to mental health awareness and support within the music community, moe. is proud to announce that $1 from each ticket sold will be donated to Backline and Sweet Relief’s Music’s Mental Health Fund. This vital program offers grants to subsidize mental health and wellness services for touring musicians, crew members, and their families, underscoring the band’s dedication to the well-being of their extended musical family.
Since the addition of Nate Wilson on keys and return of Chuck Garvey on guitar, the band has been reintroducing rarities and classic rock covers back into setlists. Recent shows have featured the first-time performance of Led Zeppelin’s “Going to California,” while in San Francisco, the return of the original “Paper Dragon,” Pink Floyd cover “Interstellar Overdrive,” “CalifornIA,” and “Take the Skinheads Bowling.”
moe. is currently gearing up for their “Ski Tour” in March, kicking off with a notable four-night run at Park City’s Egyptian Theatre, followed by stops at favorite Colorado haunts, particularly meaningful as it marks moe.’s first return to many of these venues since the early 2020 “ski tour” was abruptly halted due to the pandemic’s onset.
Daniel Donato’s own musical frequency was tuned at a young age while growing up in Nashville. After a high school history teacher gave him a pile of Grateful Dead bootleg recordings when he was 18, the stage was set for what would eventually become Donato’s vision, Cosmic Country. Since then, the guitar virtuoso, singer, songwriter and bandleader has released two acclaimed albums, the latest being 2023’s celebrated Reflector and has been tearing it up on the road playing over 200 shows per year. Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country has played to sold-out crowds from coast to coast and garnered a passionate and rapidly expanding fanbase.
A special artist pre-sale begins on Wednesday, February 14th @ 10am local [PW: BSE24], and the general public on-sale begins this Friday, February 16th @ 10am local time. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit moe.org.
moe. US Tour Dates Saturday, February 17th – The Cabot – Beverly, MA* Sunday, February 18th – The Cabot – Beverly, MA~ Friday, March 6th-Tuesday, March 10th – Egyptian Theatre – Park City, UT~ Thursday, March 12th – Mesa Theater – Grand Junction, CO Saturday, March 14th-Sunday, March 15th – Sheridan Opera House – Telluride, CO Monday, March 16th – Vilar PAC – Beaver Creek, CO Tuesday, March 17th – Strings Music Pavilion – Steamboat Springs, CO* Thursday, March 19th – Belly Up – Aspen, CO Saturday, March 21st-Sunday, March 22nd – 10 Mile Music Hall – Frisco, CO Monday, March 23rd-Tuesday, March 24th – Washington’s FOCO – Ft. Collins, CO~ Thursday, July 4 – Stone Pony Summerstage – Asbury Park, NJ Friday, July 5 – Levitt Pavilion – Westport, CT Saturday, July 6 – Stateside Amphitheater at Jay Peak – Jay, VT Wednesday, July 10 – Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks – Bethlehem, PA Thursday, July 11 – The Rooftop at Pier 17 – New York, NY Friday, July 12 – Wonderland Forest – Lafayette, NY Saturday, July 13 – Wonderland Forest – Lafayette, NY Tuesday, July 17 – Outer Harbor – Buffalo, NY Wednesday, July 18 – Cain Park Evans Amphitheatre – Cleveland, OH Thursday, July 19 – Rose Music Center – Huber Heights, OH Friday, July 20 – Rock the Ruins – Indianapolis, IN Saturday, July 21 – Bell’s Beer Garden – Kalamazoo, MI
A true hootenanny was held in the Catskill town of Olivebridge over February 2-4 at the Ashokan Center’s Winter HOOT. The weekend-long event brought together a diverse crowd of music and arts lovers, taking in the beauty of the Ashokan Center’s idyllic setting, while enjoying sets of music from The Mammals, Lau Noah, Mikaela Davis and Southern Star, Jeremy Schonfeld and many more.
Afternoon Square Dancing – photo by Mickey Deneher
Friday evening’s HOOT festivities started with a delicious dinner shared by Ashokan supporters, family and friends. Jay & Molly delighted a packed audience with storytelling and songs for the duo’s first-ever evening performance at a Hoot. The night concluded with a community jam-along where everyone got a moment to shine and solo in the spotlight with a world-class backup of musical support.
The acoustic stylings of many were heard over the course of Saturday, beginning with Little Roots – music for the kids and parents alike – a Family Square Dance, followed by piano man storyteller Jeremy Schonfeld taking the stage at 2pm. The Evening Bells shared enchanting harmonies in their hour long set, including a unique song from the late Vic Chesnutt.
Mikaela Davis and Southern Star – photo by Mickey Deneher
Rochester’s Mikaela Davis and Southern Star graced the stage for a powerful set of songs, many from their recent release, And Southern Star. A gorgeous set of music unfolded, starting with the first single, “Cinderella,” setting a tone for a smooth, flowing set that varied slightly in tempo but never lost the beauty of harp mixed with a live band including steel pedal, guitar, bass, drums and saxophone. Davis gave a nod to jazz harpist Alice Coltrane, and showed her vocal range on songs “Home in the Country” and “Don’t Stop Now,” the audience of 200 grooving along in their seats. Catch the group on tour with Circles Around the Sun this winter, with shows in Brooklyn, Ithaca and Albany.
With a brisk evening outside, amid fires to warm tots and parents, a set of Catalan guitar music inside featured old-timey songwriter fare from duo Lau Noah. Following this was the crowd being introduced to sponsors of the weekend’s Hoot, naturally in the form of song. “The NYS Music Song” was written last February and performed for the third time ever by The Mammals ahead of their set, in gratitude for NYS Music’s sponsorship of Ashokan Center events.
The Mammals – aptly described on their show poster as “Too rock for the folk show, too folk for the rock show” – were presented as advertised, and as host band, headlined the evening. Full of upbeat Americana and deceptively mellow, The Mammals fall into the Donna the Buffalo subset of the genre, sans accordion.
A brief Pete Seeger history lesson offered an interlude, recognizing the famous former local Hudson Valley resident who wanted to be remembered, above all, for teaching people to sing. With that, the crowd sang along to “I Like the Way it Feels,” to drive home the communal nature of the weekend, giving true surround sound inside the Ashokan Center lodge.
The Mammals – photo by Mickey Deneher
After Storey Littleton’s midnight set, Sunday began with a revitalizing yoga session lead by Sara Trapani – Ashokan’s Development Director – and an Ashokan tradition to sign off every program and camp with a community sing and “Ashokan” Farewell.Â
The Ashokan Center’s Winter Hoot was a rousing success from the smiles on all the faces of all ages across the room each day. Don’t miss the Summer Hoot this coming August!
A most-esteemed American composer, Philip Glass has released a new album, Philip Glass Solo, on January 26. The collection features his most enduring and beloved piano works, painting an intimate portrait of the renowned pianist.
Philip Glass Solo was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when the world was undergoing a major shift and Glass was shifting from a busy tour and premiere schedule to spending time at home. Glass dedicated this time to revisiting some of his most critically acclaimed piano music, taking to them with a fresh view from his home studio in New York.
Glass’ most personal record to date, Philip Glass Solo offers a snapshot of his life, and a portrait of daily practice over eight decades through several cherished works.
Now 86, Glass reflects on his career and the new release:
“This record revisits my works for piano. From 2020-2021, I had time at home to practice the works I have played for many years. This record is both a time capsule of 2021, and a reflection on decades of composition and practice. In other words, a document on my current thinking about the music. There is also the question of place. This is my piano, the instrument on which most of the music was written.
It’s also the same room where I have worked for decades in the middle of the energy which New York City itself has brought to me. The listener may hear the quiet hum of New York in the background or feel the influence of time and memory that this space affords. To the degree possible, I made this record to invite the listener in.”
Philip Glass
Philip Glass Solo features “Opening,” originally written for the 1982 album Glassworks, which remains one of Glass’ most transfixing pieces and established a sound that quickly became a calling card, the masterpiece of “Metamorphosis” I, II, III, and V, the series of music Glass arranged for his first solo piano concerts in the 1980s; one of his most beloved pieces and longest performances on record (at 16:35), “Mad Rush,” which he composed as an organ piece in 1978 when the Dalai Lama made his first public address in New York; and a reworked version of “Truman Sleeps” from the soundtrack of the beloved 90s film The Truman Show, where Glass appeared on screen performing the piano in one of the pivotal scenes of the film. His changes speak to the heart of all artists’ evolution of both themselves, and their music, over time.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Philip Glass graduated from the University of Chicago and the Juilliard School. In the early 1960s, Glass spent two years of intensive study in Paris with Nadia Boulanger and while there earned money transcribing Ravi Shankar’s Indian music into Western notation.
By 1974, Glass had a number of innovative projects creating a large collection of new music for The Philip Glass Ensemble and for the Mabou Mines Theater Company. This period culminated in Music in Twelve Parts and the landmark opera Einstein on the Beach, for which he collaborated with Robert Wilson.
Since Einstein, Glass has expanded his repertoire to include music for opera, dance, theater, chamber ensemble, orchestra and film. His scores have received Academy Award nominations (Kundun, The Hours, Notes on a Scandal) and a Golden Globe (The Truman Show). Glass’s memoir Words Without Music was published by Liveright Books in 2015. Glass received the Praemium Imperiale in 2012, the U.S. National Medal of the Arts from President Barack Obama in 2016, and 41st Kennedy Center Honors in 2018.
Glass’s recent works include a circus opera Circus Days and Nights, Symphony No. 13, Symphony No 14, and Triumph of the Octagon, commissioned and premiered by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Glass is currently writing his 15th symphony commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra.
Philip Glass Solo is available in both digital and limited-edition condensed vinyl format. Listen and order here.
This spring, just as Election 2024 starts to warm up, Lost Radio Rounders will present a musical/historical program, titled “Songs America Voted By, 1840-1940.”
With six public performances of the “Songs America Voted By” program lined up, the group starts in March with shows at libraries, museums, historical societies and college campuses.
Back before TV, radio, and even PA systems, political parties would produce small booklets containing lyrics extoling their candidates virtues, while trashing the other guy. And in this time frame, it was all men running for office (how times have changed!)
The booklets would suggest that those lyrics should be sung to the tune of popular melodies of the day, in the form of parodies. The program also includes issue songs about women’s suffrage, abolition and temperance.
The “big bang” of campaign singing was led by the long defunct Whig party in 1840, and FDR’s use of radio for his fireside chats would put the first big nail in the coffin of campaign songs by 1940.
Although the program from Lost Radio Rounders does not deal with any aspect of the coming election, the program may certainly attempt to prove that “the more things change, the more they stay the same.”
Lost Radio Rounders “Songs American Voted By, 1840-1940” Performances
Tuesday, March 26 at noon H.V.C.C. Bulmer Auditorium 80 Vandenburgh Ave., Troy NY FREE
Friday, April 12 at 10 a.m. Bethlehem Public Library 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar, NY FREE
Saturday, September 7 at 2 p.m. The Berkshire Athenaeum (Pittsfield Library) 1 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield, MA FREE
Sunday, October 20 at 2 p.m. Guilderland Public Library 2228 Western Ave., Guilderland, NY FREE
Sunday, November 3 at 2 p.m. New Scotland Historical Association 7 Old New Salem Road, Voorheesville, NY FREE
Dylan was at Proctors Theatre on Monday, October 30, and although he did not entertain one of the songs that follow, here is a look at the many songs written about Schenectady, as well as the songs that reference the notoriously difficult to spell Upstate city.
Prior to being settled by the Dutch in 1661, the Mohican originally lived in the area around the Mohawk River. The Mohawk referred to the area as “Schau-naugh-ta-da,” meaning ‘Over the Pine Plains” which eventually morphed into “Sche-nec-ta-dee” and finally, Schenectady. Part of the colony of New Netherland settled by Arent Van Curler of Nijkerk, Netherlands. The town was famously burned by the French and their Indian allies in February 1690 in what has been known as “The Schenectady Massacre,” killing nearly all inhabitants. Home to Union College and General Electric, the town’s sobriquet is “The City that Lights and Hauls the World,” a little more wordy than ‘The Electric City’ that many also refer to the town.
With 350 years of history, and a cultural landmark in Proctors Theatre, the historic Stockade District, miSci (Museum of Innovation and Science), Jazz on Jay, Music Haven Concert Series, the Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra, and the still relatively new Rivers Casino, the town on the shores of the Mohawk River is experiencing a downtown Renaissance, with events for all tastes and interests found all throughout the city.
So this ‘Electric City’ of Schenectady is notable enough, both for spelling and history, that over time, a few songs have been written about the town. Two of the most notable, “I Can’t Spell Schenectady” and “Schenectady” from Synecdoche, New York, we’ll get to in a moment, but let’s look at a pair of songs written for the town.
First, there’s “Schenectady Song” from Jason Martin. A ‘love ballad to the Electric City,’ the tune was originally released on cassette in 1998 and a re-edited version from Martin’s Magic Recording Eye (2001) can be heard below. Featuring samples at the start and end mentioning ‘High Voltage Hall’ and tests of electricity, the experimental song is unique, odd, and worth a listen.
Then there’s “Schenectady’s the Place,” the Official City Song, written by Cliff Brucker in 2016, a graduate of The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and The College of Saint Rose. Brucker’s song has the ‘commissioned by the local Chamber of Commerce’ vibe, although the version by SCCC School of Music heard below does have a certain panache and inviting nature to it. For an official city song, this is spot on for style, lyrics and music.
Then there are quite a few songs – much to this author’s surprise – that reference Schenectady, including “Hamilton Hill” by Demmene Syronn, released in 2020 and referencing a small neighborhood near Mont Pleasant. “I was a witness to the cultural birth of Hip Hop / From Hamilton Hill, Schenectady, Upstate New York”
“Starlight in Schenectady” by Peter JB Carman, the first track on Life the Pain, was released on Stockade Records in 2019. The song was first played at Moon and River where Carman and wife Lynn can often be found playing. Carman is a Baptist minister, writing hymns, poems and songs about Massachusetts, Rhode Island, North Carolina and Upstate New York, all places where he has served churches.
“Walking by starlight in old Schenectady And I don’t know where I’m bound Listen to the songs from the café down the street I surely love the sound And the years they do so swiftly roll And all day long it’s trouble and toil But I’m walking by starlight in old Schenectady And it’s home, it’s home I’ve found”
“Starlight in Schenectady”
“Afro Angel” by Will Smith (yup, that Will Smith) “Nothing” by Raekwon – “He felt bad but respected me / Pass the watch and the chain off respectably / Moseyed off, ran through Schenectady” – and “Someone to Love” by Fountains of Wayne – “Seth Shapiro got his law degree / He moved to Brooklyn from Schenectady, ’93 / Got some clients in the food industry” – all mention the town.
There’s also “Grim Reaper” by MC Zappa – “Try me; you might find I’m not in my right mind / Heads will roll, and I’ll repossess ya soul / I’m murderin’ rappers from here to Schenectady / Turn around, you see a sight you didn’t expect to see” “DECAP” by Dicaprio – “And I’m from Brazil, but I’ll always representing the County of that city, electricity, Schenectady” and “Bon Soirée” by Clay Coughlin – “I was laid up in Schenectady / But I’ll be bedding down on rue Sainte-Catherine.”
But for a double dose of local Upstate references, look no further than “The End’s The Same” by Off Balance, who drop a Stewart’s reference – “So sweet you make me feel at home just like some Stewart’s ice cream” as well as one for the town – “Disorder’s light to me / I hear these grimy synths like Ludwig on the ivories / and ebonies / Like nights I’m in Schenectady”
Getting back to the history of Schenectady, the Dutch settlement was burned to the ground in February 1690 by a war party of French soldiers and allied Mohawk and Algonquin. This event may have produced the first song in the 1840s, “The Burning of Schenectady.” Originally a broadside, featuring just lyrics and sometimes a suggestion for a familiar tune to pair with, the ballad can be sung to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne.”
The Burning of Schenectady – from a painting by Giles F. Yates, owned by A. A. Yates of Schenectady
There is some debate on the origin of the poem/ballad that led to the song, with folklorist ad historian Harold Thompson noting in his 1939 book Body, Boots & Britches that the original was written by Walter Wilie of Albany in June of 1690. Wilie notes before the lyrics (abbreviated below) “A Ballad – In which is set forth the horrid cruelties practiced by the French and Indians on the 8th of last February. The which I did compose last night, in the space of one hour, and am now writing, the morning of Friday, June 12th, 1690 – W.W.” Still, a debate continues as to the true origin of the first song of Schenectady.
God prosper long our King and Queen, Our lives and safeties all, A sad misfortune once there did Schenectady befall.
From forth the woods of Canada The Frenchmen tooke their way The people of Schenectady To captivate and slay.
They marched for two and twenty daies, All thro’ the deepest snow; And on a dismal winter night They strucke the cruel blow.
….
They then were murthered in their Beddes. Without shame or remorse; And soon the Floores and Streets were strew’d With many a bleeding corse.
The Village soon began to Blaze, Which show’d the horrid sight – But, O, I scarce can Beare to Tell The Mis’ries of that night.
They threw the Infants in the Fire, The Men they did not spare; But killed All which they could find Tho’ Aged or tho’ Fair.
O Christe ! In the still Midnight Air, It sounded dismally, The Women’s Prayers and the loud screams’ Of their great Agony.
…
And Here I End the long Ballad The Which you have just redde; And wish that it may stay on earth, Long after I am Dead.
Lyrics (partial) to “The Burning of Schenectady” – Walter Wilie, 1690
The aforementioned “Schenectady” from the motion picture Synecdoche, New York, stands out as one of the two most notable songs on the town. The title of the film makes a play on pronouncing the town name – Synecdoche (Sin-eck-duh-kee) while also being a literary expression alluding to a larger concept by bringing to mind a single part of the whole. Raul Yang notes “It perfectly captures the essence of the movie it was written for, and it stands on its own as a beautiful piece of music.” The deeply surreal film with a focus on aging and death, with director Charlie Kaufman including “Schenectady,” which introduces the idea of death in its last verse: “There’s always a never again.”
But of all these songs about Schenectady, the standard bearer has to be “I Can’t Spell Schenectady.” Written in 1948, let’s glance at the lyrics first.
Reading, writing and geography; But when it comes to spelling, I’m confessin’ There’s just one word that stumps me constantly. I can spell Dakota, can handle Minnesota, but I can’t spell Schenectady, I can spell Havana and figure out Savannah, but I can’t spell Schenectady. Why, one time at a spelling bee Said teacher all at once, “Now, Willie, spell ‘Schenectady’,” I felt just like a dunce! I spelled Anaconda and even Tonawanda, So what does she expect of me? I just can’t spell Schenectady. I can spell Pomona, Seattle and Tacoma, but I can’t spell Schenectady, I mastered Ypsilanti and Agua Caliente, but I can’t spell Schenectady.
Written by Al Trace, Arthur Terker, Abner Silver and Harry Clarkson, “I Can’t Spell Schenectady” is not in the range of “Weird” Al Yankovic for comedic songs, but rather resides in the realm of satire he would come to be known for, More so, this song is akin to a Bob Hope “Road To…” film featured song.
Starting out with a high pitched Alvin and the Chipmunks voice, the song laments Schenectady’s spelling difficulties with multiple voices joining in to drive home the orthographic dilemma they face.
The song was released on vinyl in July 1953, with a B-Side of “The Who is it Song,” both songs performed by Big Jon Arthur and No School Today Cast, and released on a 45 RPM Decca (9-88153) 7″ record, Children’s Series 1-252, with artwork by Sam Norkin.
Schenectady is the home of General Electric, the early radio-drama pioneer WGY, the first television station with WRGB, not to mention bread so delicious, Jack Nicholson had Perreca’s ship him loaves of bread following the filming of Ironweed in 1987. Yet for all these, Schenectady does not get respect in song or other media as should be afforded. Sure, the town name is difficult to spell, but ‘Place Beyond the Pines’ is a bit wordy. Schen-ec-ta-dy – it’s just that easy!
Album art for “I Can’t Spell Schenectady”
FormerLate Show with David Letterman head writer Bill Scheft once referred to Schenectady as “the Xanadu of funny-sounding places” in an interview with the Daily Gazette. “Four syllables, good rhythm and that hard comedy ‘K’ right in the middle. It scans perfectly. Of course, it’s no Cohoes, but what is?” And with that, check back soon following a search for songs about Cohoes.
PEAK has dropped the third installment in their ongoing live series, with Hot Clips Volume 3, released on January 5.
Culled from performances in 2023, Hot Clips Volume 3 features some of the band’s favorite recent performances. Specifically, this album shows what the band – Jeremy Hilliard (guitar and vocals), Johnny Young (keys and vocals), Josh T. Carter (bass and vocals), Kito Bovenschulte (drums), Nate Searing (drums on “Idyllwild Flower”) – are looking for in a jam of group interaction, transcendent moments that come naturally and without force, and happen organically.
Mixed and Mastered by Johnny Young and Jeremy Hilliard and engineered by Michelle Young, the songs range from older PEAK staples to unreleased tracks appearing on the next studio album. Covers on the album include a reimagined version of Woody Guthrie’s “Pastures of Plenty,” and a stretched-out take on the Led Zeppelin classic “The Song Remains the Same.”
Hot Clips Volume 3 Tracklist:
Vanishing Skies, 5.17.23, Nectar’s, Burlington, VT One Lifetime Isn’t Enough, 9.8.23, The Wescott Theatre, Syracuse, NY Little Miss Mary Merry-Go-Round, 5.17.23, Nectar’s, Burlington, VT It’s Easy To Give Up (Don’t Give Up Too Easy), 7.16.23, Park City Music Hall, Bridgeport, CT Run Me Down, 9.8.23, The Wescott Theatre, Syracuse, NY Pastures Of Plenty, 5.17.23, Nectar’s, Burlington, VT The Song Remains the Same, 9.8.23, The Wescott Theatre, Syracuse, NY Idyllwild Flower, 8.11.23, Yasgur Road Reunion, Bethel, NY It Ain’t Over ’til the Credits Roll, 9.8.23, The Wescott Theatre, Syracuse, NY
PEAK Spring 2024 Tour Dates
1.28.24 Amherst, MA, The Drake, supporting Midnight North TICKETS
2.1.24 Hartford, CT, Infinity Hall, supporting Midnight North TICKETS
2.2.24 Fairfield, CT, Stage One at FTC, supporting Midnight North TICKETS
2.29.24 Burlington, VT, Nectar’s, supporting Midnight North TICKETS
3.8.24 Baltimore, MD, 8 x10, supporting Unkle Kunkel’s Big Gram Band
4.4.24 Syracuse, NY, Funk and Waffles, w/ Spunj and Small Batch
A hallmark event in the North Country of New York, the 2024 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival will kick off later this week, starting February 1 through February 11. The history-rich event is a celebration of Saranac Lake, dating back to 1897 and the longest running event of its kind in the United States.
Winter Carnival button design by Garry Trudeau
Former Saranac Lake resident and Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau has designed the 2024 Winter Carnival button, lending the influence of 1940s horror and comic books and to accent the “Creepy Carnival” theme. Find out how to pick one up, either by mail or at businesses in Saranac Lake.
As is tradition, the ice castle is being built along the shores of Saranac Lake, with a recent process photo shared on Facebook by Meachele Burgoyne Manchester.
Of course, no Winter Carnival is complete without the live music at The Waterhole all throughout the week. Pick up a week long pass and save! Things kick off on February 2 with Annie in the Water and Organ Fairchild. Get the full scoop and ticket details here.
2024 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Schedule
Thursday, February 1
11am to 12:30pm & 4pm to 5:30pm: Drop off times for the Winter Carnival Sun Catcher Contest at the NYS Boat Launch to the right of the Ice Palace; display and voting throughout the Carnival. Find info on Sun Catcher Contest.
5:30pm: *23rd Annual Past Royalty Mixer & Dinner – Open to past royalty only, $, at the Red Fox Restaurant
Friday, February 2
All Day Clue Hunt – Available outside History Hut & Gift Shop near the Ice Palace. Are you able to solve the clues in town?
1pm to 5pm: Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift Shop, near the Ice Palace
7:30 pm *Women’s Civic Chamber Coronation of Winter Carnival Royalty, at Harrietstown Town Hall Post Coronation *Winter Carnival Royalty Reception, at the Elks Lodge
Saturday, February 3
All Day Clue Hunt – Available outside History Hut & Gift Shop near the Ice Palace. Are you able to solve the clues in town?
10am to 6pm: Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift Shop, near the Ice Palace
10am: NBT Bank Ice Palace Fun Run at the Ice Palace – 4 miles, at the Ice Palace, State Boat Launch
10am to 3pm: Edward Jones Arctic Golf Build-an-Obstacle Contest (Located at Prescott Park)
10am to 4pm: *Paul Smith’s Booster Club Chocolate Festival, at Romano’s Saranac Bowling Lanes
11am: Long Run Wealth Advisors Curling Exhibition, on Lake Flower near the Ice Palace
11am: *Paul Smith’s College Woodsmen Exhibition, at Riverside Park
12pm: Heat Keepers Icicle Contest, at Riverside Park (icicle check-in at 11:30am)
12pm: Lake Placid Curling Club “Hit the Button” Curling Competition, on Lake Flower & open to all ($)
12:30pm: Saranac Teachers Association Little Ladies Fry Pan Toss, at Riverside Park (for girls 6 to 17, registration from 11am to 12pm)
2:30pm: New Time & Day! LifePower Chiropractic Ultimate Frisbee Games (Saranac Lake High School Football Field, Call 518-637-3238 for details)
1pm: Taylor Rental Ladies Fry Pan Toss, for ladies 18 and up, at Riverside Park (registration 11am to 12:30pm)
5pm to 7pm: *Catholic Daughters/Knights of Columbus Spaghetti Dinner going to local scholarships. (St. Bernard’s School Cafeteria 63 River St $)
7pm: Lighting of the Ice Palace & Hotel Saranac Opening Fireworks Display (roads close at 6:15pm)
Sunday, February 4
All Day Clue Hunt – Available outside History Hut & Gift Shop near the Ice Palace. Are you able to solve the clues in town?
10am to 6pm: Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift Shop, near the Ice Palace
10am to 3pm: Edward Jones Arctic Golf, at Prescott Park
10am to 3pm: *Skate Lake Colby sponsored by Adirondack Health – demos, free skate, straight line drag races for ice skates and kick sleds 2pm to 3pm, at the beach at Lake Colby
10am: *White Stag Downhill Ski Races, at Mt. Pisgah
11:30am: *Arctic Bar-B-Que with Friends of Mt. Pisgah, $, at Mt. Pisgah Ski Center
1pm: The Blue Buns Wheel-a-Palooza, a bathing suit-clad around town bike ride (Located at Ice Palace, State Boat Launch)
2:30pm: Adirondack Lakes and Trails Outfitters Flower Ball, on Lake Flower ice car A “Totally 80s” ice car sculpture in progress on January 27, 2022.
Monday, February 5
All Day Clue Hunt – Available outside History Hut & Gift Shop near the Ice Palace. Are you able to solve the clues in town?
1pm to 5pm: Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift Shop, near the Ice Palace
7pm: *Ecunemical Service (St Lukes Church followed with cider & donuts, Rev Vance Mortinsen & Rev Bill Cooper)
Tuesday, February 6
All Day Clue Hunt – Available outside History Hut & Gift Shop near the Ice Palace. Are you able to solve the clues in town?
1pm to 5pm: Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift Shop, near the Ice Palace
5pm: Winter Carnival Grand Marshall Reception, $, Hotel Saranac
6pm: Winter Carnival Royalty Dinner, $, Hotel Saranac
Wednesday, February 7
All Day Clue Hunt – Available outside History Hut & Gift Shop near the Ice Palace. Are you able to solve the clues in town?
1pm to 7pm: Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift Shop, near the Ice Palace
5pm to 7pm: Family Night at the Palace, sponsored by Hudson Headwaters Health Network, at the Ice Palace, State Boat Launch
6pm: Curtis Lumber Snowshoe Races at Dewey Mountain, all ages
Thursday, February 8
All Day Clue Hunt – Available outside History Hut & Gift Shop near the Ice Palace. Are you able to solve the clues in town?
1pm to 5pm: Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift Shop, near the Ice Palace
6pm: American Management Association Torchlight Skiing & Fireworks, at Mt. Pisgah Ski Center)
Friday, February 9
All Day Clue Hunt – Available outside History Hut & Gift Shop near the Ice Palace. Are you able to solve the clues in town?
10am: Adirondack Bank Innertube Races, at Mt. Pisgah Ski Center
12:30pm to 2pm: Coakley Home & Hardware Children’s Skating Races, at Saranac Lake Civic Center
1pm to 6pm: Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift Shop, near the Ice Palace
2pm to 4pm: Coakley Home & Hardware Family Open Skate, free hot chocolate, at the Saranac Lake Civic Center
7:30pm: *Rotary Club Variety Show; tickets available at Chamber of Commerce, Ampersound, and NBT Bank; $; at Harrietstown Hall
TBD Firefighter’s Broom Ball, at Saranac Lake Civic Center
Saturday, February 10
All Day Clue Hunt – Available outside History Hut & Gift Shop near the Ice Palace. Are you able to solve the clues in town?
10am to 11am: Meet the Winter Carnival Characters at the Ice Palace (Located at Ice Palace)
10am to 6pm: Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift Shop, near the Ice Palace
10am: *CanAm Snow Rugby, at the Saranac Lake High School Track Field
11am: *Paul Smith’s Woodsmen Exhibition, at Riverside Park
12pm: Gala Parade Lineup, register at Nice n Easy Mobile
1pm: Gala Parade presented by Casella Waste and North Country Community College, from the firehouse on Broadway to LaPan Highway
New Time & Day Guide Boat Realty “Storming the Ice Palace” Closing Fireworks Display (Ice Palace)
Sunday, February 11 – Last Day
All Day Clue Hunt – Available outside History Hut & Gift Shop near the Ice Palace. Are you able to solve the clues in town?
10am to 3pm: Winter Carnival History Hut & Gift shop, near the Ice Palace
10am: Community Bank Adult Cross-Country Ski Races, at Dewey Mountain
11am: Bionique Testing Labs Snowflake Volleyball Tournament, at Saranac Lake Civic Center, Rotary Field
11am: Adirondack Lakes & Trails Outfitters Flower Ball, on Lake Flower
12pm: Adirondack Health Youth Cross-Country Ski Races (Dewey Mountain, Call 518-891-2697, Children Event Fees covered by Saranac Lake Kiwanis Club)
12pm to 1:45pm: Face painting before Kiddie Parade (Located at Hotel Saranac)
2 PM: Casella Waste Systems Kiddie Parade from Hotel Saranac to Harrietstown Town Hall
Visit here for a printable Saranac Lake Winter Carnival 2024 schedule and for more info on events and buttons.
For the second episode of Saturday Night Live in 2024, Studio 8H welcomed back Madame Web actress Dakota Johnson, along with musical guest and SNL Five-Timer Club member, Justin Timberlake.
The opening sketch this evening through was a bit more of a cold and dry open, making light of the NFL season coming to an end this weekend (short of the Super Bowl), and draining the last comedic bits of Taylor Swift’s influence, out of the football and SNL seasons.
During Johnson’s monologue where she reminisced about her last stint as host, and brought up The Social Network co-star Justin Timberlake, who showed up to casually remind Johnson that he’s available for sketches, given his Five-Timer Club status.
During the “Waiters” sketch, Sarah Sherman displayed equal parts Gilda Radner and Kristin Wiig with her unique quirk worked in.
“The Barry Gibb Talkshow” returned for the first time since 2013, taking a look at the 2024 election, with Jimmy Fallon making a special appearance as Barry Gibb and Timberlake as Robin Gibb. Bringing this back was a no-brainer with Timberlake on the show this week, even if Fallon has gotten a little tiring as of late.
“Home Videos” would be the highlight of the episode, with Andrew Dismukes as a son who learns his parents were on a Maury Povich-style talk show, where his father (Mikey Day) learned he was the father.
An always a welcome short from Please Don’t Destroy kept their hot streak going, even if Dakota Johnson did knock the trio down a peg, referring to Ben Marshall, John Higgins, and Martin Herlihy as ‘The Lonelier Island’ in a roast-filled segment.
Timberlake performed “Sanctified” for his first song, the second single from his upcoming sixth solo album, Everything I Thought It Was, due out on March 15. JT was joined by Houston rapper Tobe Nwigwe for the rock/rap/R&B number, walking in from stage left, flanked by dancers clad in flowing white dresses, an appearance that was teased last week on Nwigwe’s Instagram.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLC8XiBxV1k
Timberlake’s second song was the first single from Everything I Thought It Was, “Selfish,” the same title as a 2011 release from his ex, Britney Spears. Surrounded by white neon lines along cascading walls, stripped down with just a drummer and keyboardist, Timberlake sang softly in contrast to “Sanctified,” a more passionate and smooth pop hit in “Selfish.”
SNL returns on Saturday, February 3 with host Ayo Edebiri and musical guest Jennifer Lopez.
The Albany Symphony has announced the hiring of Interim Executive Director David Hyslop, a veteran of the orchestral industry. Hyslop brings with him decades of experience with a great number of orchestras, he is also a Schenectady native, bringing a local insight to the position.
Born in Schenectady, Hyslop’s resume includes 58 years of orchestrating, acting as the former CEO to the Minnesota Orchestra (1991-2003), St. Louis Symphony (1978-1991), Oregon Symphony (1972-1978), and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, as well as the interim executive director for more than 15 musical organizations.
Since 2004, David Hyslop has spearheaded consulting projects throughout the country including executive searches, strategic planning, development feasibility studies for endowment campaigns, and the Wheaton Grand Theater redevelopment and business planning project in Illinois.
“The Board of Directors of the Albany Symphony are thrilled that David Hyslop has agreed to be our new interim executive director as we look toward the future in 2024. His extensive career working with symphony orchestras around the country coupled with his knowledge and connections of the industry make him the ideal candidate as we continue to search for a permanent executive director.”
Faith Ann Takes, Albany Symphony board chair
Led by Music Director David Alan Miller, the Albany Symphony presents a core classical series throughout the region, a multi-day American Music Festival, performances by its cutting-edge new music chamber ensemble, the Dogs of Desire; and a family series and holiday concerts in collaboration with youth performing arts groups. The Albany Symphony’s award-winning education programs include Symphony in Our Schools, which brings musicians into classrooms for interactive music education.
We are so fortunate to welcome David Hyslop as our interim executive director. He is one of the great figures in the world of orchestra management, and we are thrilled to have a person of such broad experience and insight guide us through this very important transition period. He is also a dear friend, with whom I worked extensively at the Minnesota Orchestra many years ago. We are deeply honored that David has agreed to help us build a strong future for the Albany Symphony.
David Alan Miller, Albany Symphony music director and conductor
Hyslop has received many honors throughout his career. Among these, a Minnesota Orchestra Subscription Concert was dedicated to him in his final season with the Minnesota Orchestra.
“The David J. Hyslop Trumpet Chair” was Endowed in Perpetuity by the St. Louis Symphony. Fanfare for D.H. was commissioned by the St. Louis Symphony to honor Hyslop’s 10th Anniversary with the Symphony and was composed by Pulitzer Award winning composer Joseph Schwantner. Additionally, Hyslop was awarded a Martha Baird Rockefeller Grant in Performing Arts Management by the League of American Orchestras. Most recently, Hyslop was awarded a lifetime achievement award by his alma mater, Ithaca College.
“I look forward to working with Albany Symphony and helping them as they move through this transition period,” said Hyslop. “It’s also very exciting to be fostering my relationships back in the Capital Region, where I was born and spent many years before going off to college.”
