Phish and the City of Albany have always had a cozy relationship. Going to back to 1989 and their first gig at Pauly’s Hotel, Phish has played a total of 17 shows in Albany during the course of their career. Shows in the early 90’s at the Palace Theatre helped establish their Upstate New York following. So it would come as no surprise when their 2003 20th Anniversary Tour rolled around that Albany would be one of the stops. This would only be a short, four-show trek around the Northeast, culminating in the “anniversary” of their first ever show on December 2.
The first two shows of the tour did not disappoint at all. Special guests like the Dude of Life popped out for the encore in Long Island on November 28, and Tom Marshall joined in on a classic version of “Buffalo Bill” the night before in Philadelphia. Now it was Albany’s turn and the band went even further back in their history for tonight’s guest selection.
Picking up on the palpable December pre-show energy, the show begins with a “Chalkdust Torture” that ramps it up even more. The entire Pepsi Arena crowd seems to join in on the “Can’t I live while I’m young” line. A blistering guitar solo from Trey Anastasio highlights this one before all is said and done. The “Stash” that comes next allows for plenty more audience participation. It eventually develops into a dark, yet fairly uneventful jam. A standard run-through of “Guyute” then follows, with the Albany crowd audibly loving every minute of this first set Phish staple.
An interesting little juxtaposition of both styles and song histories then proceeds this. The delicately mellow “Thunderhead,” from 2002’s Round Room release, makes a rare appearance. It’s only the sixth live performance ever of this song. And, to date, it has yet to be played a seventh time. After a tidy little jam that gradually picks up in intensity, “Sparkle” emerges. The high pace, first set romper dates all the way back to 1991 and has been played hundreds of times.
“Wolfman’s Brother” finally gives the band a chance to stretch things out a little again. Aside from “Stash,” this is really the only other true “jam” of the first set. Mike Gordon’s aggressive bass play provides the fuel for this one and dominates throughout. Gradually, the rest of the band seems to catch up in this “Wolfman’s” that easily glides past the 15-minute mark after an exuberant finish. “Good Times Bad Times” then puts a cap on a rockin’ but relatively quick first set. Perhaps this was done to allow some additional set break practice time with the still-TBA special guest.
Before said guest would be revealed, there was still some business to tend to first. Phish would grace the Albany crowd with three classic songs sure to make any show memorable. “Tweezer” promptly begins the second set. It sees more inspired guitar play from Anastasio atop the funky rhythms generated by Gordon and drummer Jon Fishman. The jam continues to ascend accordingly until about the ten-minute mark, when it takes an ambient hard left turn. The music continues to devolve and get spacey for another few minutes before Fishman slyly increases the tempo and the band is off and running with the instrumental “Also Sprach Zarathustra” aka the theme to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Keyboardist Page McConnell takes control early on with his standard electric keyboard fills complementing Anastasio’s iconic guitar riffs.
Before the last remnant of “2001” even finish echoing, Phish launches into “You Enjoy Myself,” further delighting the Albany faithful with an epic start to the second set. There’s no issues with this version at all as the band rips through the composed sections with ease. Then another cohesive, psychedelic jam emerges with McConnell continuing to dazzle on piano.
Finally, it was time to reveal tonight’s special guest. It would be none other than Jeff Holdsworth, one of the original members and co-guitarists of Phish from its inception in 1983. Jeff would eventually leave the band before they gained much notoriety. Tonight marked the first time he played with Phish since a gig on May 17, 1986 at Goddard College in Plainfield, VT. As befitting for an anniversary run, they would play a few of the songs he wrote that are still regular fixtures at Phish shows to this day.
The first of these was “Camel Walk.” Holdsworth seems to have a little issue with the lyrics early on, but manages to keep it together for this longtime favorite. Trey then gives him proper thanks for writing that song as well as the next one, “Possum.” Despite some feedback issues, they manage to maneuver through this Phish classic as well, with Anastasio doing a lot of the heavy lifting.
Jeff stays on stage and even takes lead vocals on the first song Phish ever played as a band, a cover of The Hollies’ “Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress.” Understandably, he seems to be a little more comfortable singing on this one than the Phish songs he hadn’t played in more than 17 years.
“Run Like An Antelope” would then go on to close the second set. While Holdsworth would remain on stage to play guitar, he must have been turned down fairly low in the mix. This also gave Phish one last chance to surprise the Albany crowd. Longtime lyricist and friend of the band Tom Marshall emerged to deliver the song-ending vocals. One last cover, Jimi Hendrix’s “Fire,” would complete one of the more interesting and memorable Phish show in Albany’s rich history.
Check out the full audio below, or go here for track-by-track selections.
Phish – December 1, 2003 – Pepsi Arena – Albany, NY
Set 1: Chalkdust Torture, Stash, Guyute, Thunderhead -> Sparkle, Wolfman’s Brother -> Good Times Bad Times
Set 2: Tweezer -> Also Sprach Zarathustra > You Enjoy Myself, Camel Walk, Possum, Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress > Run Like an Antelope
Encore: Fire
Note – Camel Walk through Fire with Jeff Holdsworth on guitar
The nominations for the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards have been announced and a host of New York artists are among the nominees. Today we take a look at the nominees hailing from across New York State.
One of the most prestigious music awards in the industry, The GRAMMY Awards are held annually to recognize the best of the best in music each year, both on stage and behind the scenes. Now in its 67th year, the Recording Academy has released its nominees ahead of this year’s presentation of awards on February 2, 2025.
To little surprise, several nominees on this year’s ballot hail from the state of New York. With some of the industry’s biggest names rooted in the state and rising stars cropping up each and every day, you can check out our list of this year’s GRAMMY nominees who call New York home below.
A$AP Rocky
Most recognized as A$AP Rocky, Rakin Mayers returns for his third GRAMMY nomination to date with Best Music Video for “Tailor Swif”. Born and raised in Harlem, Rocky’s career was launched within the hip hop collective ASAP Mob- hence his stage name- and has since skyrocketed into the limelight with a BET Award, two BET Hip Hop Awards, an MTVU Woodie Award, and an MTV Video Music Award Japan, among several nominations.
The Baylor Project
Husband and wife and musical duo Marcus and Jean Baylor are nominated for Best Jazz Performance for their track as The Baylor Project “Walk With Me, Lord (SOUND | SPIRIT)”. Based in New Jersey, the two will add this nomination to their roster of seven previous nominations, including two for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
Béla Fleck
Béla Fleck
With an astounding five nominations for this year’s awards added to his collection of eight wins thus far, banjo virtuoso and New York City native Béla Fleck has an impressive list of accolades and accomplishments under his belt already. Having won in an array of categories already, Fleck’s nominations for the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards are Best Jazz Performance, Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, Best Instrumental Composition, and Best Arrangement.
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Nominated for the second year in a row for Best Orchestral Performance is the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra alongside conductor and fellow nominee JoAnn Falletta. Founded in 1935, the Orchestra has presented live symphonic music and other adjacent events to the folks of Buffalo and beyond for nearly a century now. With more than 120 classical, rock, pop, kids and youth concerts each year, this nomination marks another major recognition for the already GRAMMY Award-winning Philharmonic.
Cardi B
Born in Manhattan, Cardi B- or Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar- is up for Best Rap Performance with her track “Enough (Miami)”. Cardi was raised in the South Bronx but spent much of her time in her grandmother’s home in Washington Heights, the region she accredits her accent to. She also attended Renaissance High School for Musical Theater & Technology, a vocational high school on the Herbert H. Lehman High School campus.
Catherine Russell
Catherine Russell
Native New Yorker and graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts Catherine Russell is in the running for Best Jazz Vocal Album for My Ideal with Sean Mason. Born into musical royalty, Russell’s father Luis Russell was a lifelong pianist, composer, bandleader, and musical director for Louis Armstrong, and her mother Carline Ray performed with International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Mary Lou Williams, and Sy Oliver as a pioneering vocalist, guitarist, and bassist.
After graduation, Russell toured and recorded alongside the likes of Carrie Smith, Steely Dan, David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Michael Feinstein, and more, with a total of over 200 appearances on various albums made thus far in her career.
Cory Henry
A jazz organist, pianist, gospel artist, producer, and musical prodigy, Cory Henry began his musical career at just two years old when he was introduced to the piano and the B3 organ. Performing an astonishing show at the Apollo Theater at just six years old, the Brooklyn-Born artist was first a member of the unit Snarky Puppy before launching into his solo career in 2018. Henry has been nominated for Best Roots Gospel Album for his collection Church.
Photo: Shervin Lainez
Daniel Nigro
Long Island local Daniel Nigro is nominated for Producer Of The Year and Best Song Written For Visual Media, and if you’re a fan of today’s pop princesses it’s likely you have Nigro to thank. With credits in Olivia Rodrigo’s “girl i’ve always been”, “so american”, “stranger”, and “Can’t Catch Me Now” as featured in the Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes soundtrack, as well as the entirety of breakout star and fellow GRAMMY nominee Chappell Roan’s debut album The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess, Nigro’s impact on the past year’s most popular music cannot be understated.
Raised in Massapequa Park, Daniel took piano, guitar, and voice lessons in his youth and attended Fordham University for philosophy during his college years. Nigro has accrued a total of 16 GRAMMY nominations across his career thus far in addition to winning Best Pop Vocal Album with Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour in 2021.
Photo: Monhand Mathurin
Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II
Hailing from Brooklyn, Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II is up for a Producer Of The Year for his work on tracks like Usher’s “I Love U” and “One Of Them Ones”, Lucky Daye’s Algorithm and “That’s You,” “Power of Two” from Star Wars: The Acolyte featuring the voice of VIctoria Monét, and song of the year nominee “Die With A Smile” with Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars.
Elaine Martone
Born in Rochester, raised in Long Island, and graduating from Ithaca College with a Bachelors in Music, Elaine Martone is a New Yorker through and through. With a background in the oboe, editing, and recording, Martone has been nominated for Producer Of The Year in the Classical category.
The Harlem Gospel Travelers
Formed with members hailing from throughout the five boroughs of New York City, The Harlem Gospel Travelers gathered originally as members of the Gospel For Teens music education program before launching their own collective rooted in their shared passion for gospel music. The group has been nominated for Best Roots Gospel Album for their album Rhapsody.
JoAnn Falletta
A decorated musician and conductor, JoAnn Falletta was raised in Queens and spent her college years at Mannes College of Music and Juilliard. Beginning her career as a guitar and mandolin student, Falletta began conducting the Mannes student orchestra in her freshman year despite administrative doubts concerning women in music directorship. JoAnn rose above and beyond these doubts, however, going on to Queens College for her Masters and Juilliard once again for her Doctorate in Orchestral Conducting.
JoAnn’s nominations for Best Orchestral Performance and Best Classical Compendium this year stem from her work as conductor for fellow nominee, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Joe Bonamassa
Blues rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Joe Bonamassa has been nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album with his release Blues Deluxe Vol. 2. Born in New Hartford and raised in Utica, Bonamassa began playing the guitar at just age four.
First influenced and taught by his father, Joe would go on to be mentored and trained by American guitar legend Danny Gatton at just 11 years old, and by age 12 he was touring around western New York with his band named Smokin’ Joe Bonamassa and even opened for the likes of B.B. King. Since then, Bonamassa has released a total of fifteen solo albums, with eleven charting number one on the Billboard Blues chart. This year’s GRAMMY nomination will be Joe’s fourth.
Photo: Danielle Neu
Kim Gordon
Rochester native Kim Gordon has earned nominations for both Best Alternative Music Performance and Best Alternative Music Album, for “BYE BYE” and The Collective respectively. Returning to New York after her college years to pursue the arts, Gordon discovered her love for no-wave music and the artistic freedom it offered.
Lady Gaga
Needing little introduction, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta- better known as Lady Gaga– is nominated for Song Of The Year for her collaboration with fellow pop superstar Bruno Mars, “Die With A Smile”. Born in Manhattan and raised on the Upper West Side, Gaga famously spent her college years at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, playing gigs with her band in the Lower East Side’s club scene as she honed her skill.
Once her solo career as the famed Lady Gaga began to take shape, she played iconic Manhattan venues such as Mercury Lounge, the Bitter End, and the Rockwood Music Hall, slowly developing a following- and the rest is history.
Lakecia Benjamin armed with her saxaphone. Courtesy of ropeadope.com
Lakecia Benjamin
Nominated for Best Jazz Performance and Best Jazz Instrumental Album is Lakecia Benjamin with Phoenix Reimagined (Live). Born and raised in New York City, Benjamin has been writing and performing music since grade school. After winning admission to the Fiorello LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, Lakecia attended the New School for its renowned jazz programming.
At The New School Benjamin studied with veterans of the genre including Billy Harper, Workman, Buster Williams, and Gary Bartz, who proved to be a key mentor in her studies and musical touch. Her deep roots in jazz and reputation for innovation landed her performance opportunities of all kinds, including a touring gig with Anita Baker.
Marc Anthony
The top selling salsa artist of all time, New York City native Marc Anthony has returned to the GRAMMY docket once more with a nomination in Best Tropical Latin Album for MUEVENSE. Raised in East Harlem, Anthony’s career is nothing short of admirable with over 12 million album sales recorded to date. This year’s nomination will sit on the shelf beside his eight Latin GRAMMY Awards, 29 Lo Nuestro Awards, and four GRAMMYs.
Madison Beer
Up for Best Dance Pop Recording is Madison Beer with “Make You Mine”. Born in Jericho, Beer saw a rise to fame after a cover she posted to YouTube was reposted by Justin Bieber. Debuting in 2013 with “Melodies”, Beer has since released two studio albums, the second Silence Between Songs earning her a nomination for Best Immersive Audio Album at the 66th GRAMMY Awards.
Marin Alsop
Marin Alsop is nominated for Best Orchestral Performance for her work with the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, and it’s little wonder why. As the first woman to win the Koussevitzky Prize for conducting, the first conductor to earn a MacArthur Fellowship, a musical director and chief conductor for several orchestras, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, Alsop has achieved quite a lot in her career thus far.
Born in New York City and raised on the Upper West Side, Alsop attended The Masters School and studied violin at Juilliard’s Pre-College Division, eventually graduating from the school with a Bachelor of Music and Master in violin. While studying, Alsop also played in the New York Philharmonic and the New York City Ballet.
Norah Jones
Awarded singer-songwriter and Manhattan-born musician Norah Jones has been nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for her release Visions. Music is practically in Jones’ blood, having been raised by her mother, the concert producer Sue Jones, and father, the Indian Bengali musician Ravi Shankar.
With nine GRAMMY wins already under her belt, over 50 million record sales recorded to date, and the title of Billboard’s top jazz artist of the 2000s decade, this nomination adds to her already impressive collection of accolades.
Pete Rock
Born in The Bronx and raised in Mount Vernon, Pete Rock is nominated for Best Rap Performance alongside Common on their track “When The Sun Shines Again” featuring Posdnuos. Having grown up in an environment of live music, Rock was influenced by his father’s part-time DJ gig and extensive record collection, often accompanying him to watch his father perform. His passion was sparked at age seven after his parents bought him a Fisher-Price record player toy.
Post Malone performs onstage during the Global Citizen Festival.(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Global Citizen)
Post Malone
Known professionally as Post Malone, Austin Richard Post is up for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “I Had Some Help” featuring Morgan Wallen and Best Country Album for F-1 Trillion. Born in Syracuse, Malone was heavily influenced by his father who had been a DJ in his youth, subsequently introducing his son to a myriad of genres including rock, country, and hip hop, all of which make appearances in his professional work.
This year’s nomination will add to his collection of other GRAMMY nominations in addition to a whopping ten Billboard Music Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards, and three American Music Awards.
Run DMC
The three-member hip hop group RUN DMC has been nominated for Best Music Film for their piece “Kings From Queens”. Fittingly titled, Run DMC hails from Hollis. Formed in 1983, the trio is recognized as one of the most influential hip hop acts in history for pioneering the new-school sound and ushering in what many consider to be the golden age of the genre.
Samara Joy
Rising jazz star SamaraJoy is nominated for Best Jazz Performance for “Twinkle Twinkle Little Me” with Sullivan Fortner and Best Jazz Vocal Album for A Joyful Holiday. A native of Castle Hill in the Bronx, Joy’s life has been entwined with music since the very beginning. Her grandparents led the Philadelphia gospel group the Savettes, and her father Antonio McLendon has produced, composed, and arranged his own astounding original works.
Beginning her jazz journey during her studies at SUNY Purchase, Samara won the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition which put her name on the map for those within the scene. Debuting in 2021 with a self-titled album, her career quickly took shape and her second release Linger Awhile garnered her first GRAMMY win with Best Jazz Vocal Album in addition to the headline-making Best New Artist.
Shemekia Copeland
Born in Harlem, Shemekia Copeland is up for two nominations in Best American Roots Performance for “Blame It On Eve” and Best Contemporary Blues Album for her release of the same name. The daughter of blues guitarist and singer Johnny Copeland, Shemekia began singing at an early age and made her first public performance at just ten years old at the Cotton Club on 125th street. Copeland has released 12 albums and received eight Blues Music Awards to date.
Tony Trischka
Born in Syracuse and raised in a household that was almost overflowing with music, Tony Trischka has been nominated for Best Bluegrass Album with his release Earl Jam. Recognized as one of the most influential banjo players of today, Trishka is credited with the inspiration of a generation’s worth of progressive bluegrass artists.
For the first time in over a decade, ’90s jam stalwarts Addison Groove Project will perform live with two shows, one in Boston and another a week later at DROM in the East Village, slated for 2025.
Addison Groove Project formed in high school in the suburbs outside of Boston, gaining a reputation as a hard working and talented band, performing at festivals including Bonnaroo and across the Northeast, bringing a combo of funk, soul, rock, groove and jazz. The band’s founding bassist, John Hall, passed away in 2004.
As the band notes, it has been about a lifetime since the group last performed live. Brendan McGinn (vocals/guitar) is now a doctor, Andrew Keith (drummer) is a therapist, Ben Groppe (tenor sax) is a chef, Dave Adams (saxophone) is currently band director at a middle school, and Rob Marscher (keys) continues to play music with Matisyahu and Star Kitchen, on the side of software development gigs.
With the band each with families at the forefront of their lives, instead of getting together each weekend at iconic New England rock clubs, the band’s group chat has led to a desire to play together again for the first time since 2013.
The band joked about their absence for fans to “come out in March to see if we’ve still got it or if we should stick to our day jobs.”
Addison Groove Project will perform in 2025 at The Sinclair in Cambridge, MA on Saturday, March 29, and the following week on Saturday, April 5 at Manhattan’s DROM.
Tickets are on sale now for the Drom show – General Admission is $32.61 ($25.00 + $7.61 fees) and GA Preferred Seating is $61.38 ($49.99 + $11.39 fees).
Put down your farming tools and pick up a program, the Stardew Valley: Symphony of Seasons Concert Tour has announced a show in Albany’s own Palace Theatre in 2025.
With over 30 million copies sold across all major platforms and 12 translations, Stardew is a major success for an indie project – a testament to both the passion of the creator and the vibrant fanbase that has been cultivated.
If you ask anyone passionate about the cozy game genre what they would recommend, one of the first titles to crop up would likely be Stardew Valley.
An indie title beloved for its open-endedness that allows players to grow crops and livestock, mine in the cavern and fight mysterious hidden monsters within, spend in-game days fishing at sea (or wherever else your heart desires), socialize with the townsfolk, and either take things at your own pace or maximize efficiency to the umpteenth degree, Stardew Valley has something for everyone.
Largely inspired by its farming simulation predecessor Harvest Moon, players begin the game by learning of their inheritance of their late grandfather’s farm tucked away in a quaint community named Pelican Town. Developed by Eric Barone, colloquially known online as ConcernedApe, Stardew Valley is even more beloved as a solo development venture of Barone’s- a labor of love down to every aspect, especially when it comes to the game’s soundtrack.
Curated by Barone himself, Stardew Valley: Symphony of Seasons will transport audiences into the quaint Pelican Town and beyond into all of the whimsical nooks and crannies the Valley and beyond have to offer. This exciting tour will make its stop in Albany on October 30, 2025 at the Palace Theatre.
A reinvention of the game’s first concert tour which sold out in record time, Festival of Seasons, Symphony of Seasons returns bigger and better with a 35-piece orchestra and entirely new arrangements of tracks from the game spanning Pelican Town to Ginger Island, Calico Desert to the Wizard’s Tower.
Accompanying the orchestra’s performance will be a screen displaying gameplay from Stardew itself in addition to original content created exclusively for the concert series under ConcernedApe’s supervision.
“It was a special experience to hear the music of Stardew Valley performed live in concert for the first tour, surrounded by fans of Stardew Valley. But now, with the upcoming Symphony of Seasons, we’ll hear the music in a bigger and grander way, with a larger orchestra and additional songs from the game. I’m really looking forward to it!”
– Eric Barone (ConcernedApe)
As with the last set of shows, fans and newcomers alike are encouraged to arrive dressed in their best game-themed clothing and costume. In addition, event-exclusive merchandise will be available to purchase the night of.
Tickets for Stardew Valley: Symphony of Seasons at the Palace Theatre in Albany on October 30, 2025 will go live on Monday, December 9, 2024 at 9:00 AM. For more information on how to attend and purchase tickets, visit Palace Theatre’s official event page for the whimsical evening here.
GRAMMY-award winning rapper and producer J. Cole has announced a special one-night-only show on Monday, December 16 at Madison Square Garden to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his third studio album.
A rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, basketball player, and self-taught pianist- J. Cole has it all. Having started as the first artist to sign on to Jay Z’s label Roc Nation, each of Cole’s releases has debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 in addition to earning him two Grammys and seventeen nominations, a Billboard Music Award, three Soul Train Music Awards, and eight BET Hip Hop Awards.
In addition to his own work, Cole has produced for the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Janet Jackson, and Mac Miller. He’s also pursued other ventures like his own record label, taking shape in Dreamville Records.
Despite his massive commercial success, Cole has avoided a more sanitized pop sound to pursue works that tackle complex and conscious sounds and themes. This passion for pressing matters spread to Cole’s touring habits, introducing his annual ticketed events in 2013 aptly titled “Dollar And A Dream” shows, where fans only have to pay $1 to attend.
Having been active in the music industry for 15 years, Cole is celebrating the tenth anniversary of his third studio album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive with a one-night-only event at Madison Square Garden.
In addition to standard tickets, on the day of the show an additional 2,014 tickets will become available for just $1, continuing Cole’s tradition of “Dollar And A Dream” into this once in a lifetime event. Details on the location and time for the special $1 tickets will be revealed day of, limited to an in-person only purchase of one ticket per fan.
Standard tickets will be available on Wednesday, December 4 at 10:00 AM. For more information on this once-in-a-lifetime one-night-only event and how to attend, check out the event’s official page here.
In the most recent episode of Troy Story: A Podcast for the Collar City, Times Union Sports Columnist and writer Joyce Bassett revisits her first Bruce Springsteen show. The journalist revisits their experience at the RPI Houston Field House on November 12, 1978, when Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performed for lucky Trojans and Engineers.
The concert was part of the band’s Darkness on the Edge of Town tour which crisscrossed the United States and Canada between May 1978 and January 1979. In the audience that night was 16-year-old Joyce Bassett—now an award-winning sports columnist and writer with the Times Union—who saw Bruce in concert for the very first time at the RPI Field House in Troy, just a mile away from her house in the city’s Frear Park neighborhood.
The show started with seats in the back rows but by the night’s end, Joyce was on her friend Patty’s shoulders in front of the stage, reaching out to The Boss.
During the episode, Joyce reflects on her memories of the Troy show and setlist, her first date with now-husband Mike seeing Springsteen in Buffalo in 1980, meeting Bruce in 2016, her favorite Springsteen show of the 40 she’s attended during the last 46 years, and how the RPI concert sparked a lifelong love of Springsteen.
The episode also features audio from the Troy concert, available via a bootleg recording called “Prove It All Night: Bruce Springsteen Live in Troy,” courtesy of JEMS—a tapers collective that began in the early 1970s responsible for this and countless other bootleg recordings of shows that have circulated by traders and later via the internet.
Troy Story: A Podcast for the Collar City, is a monthly oral history podcast produced and hosted by John Salka, who has served as Communications Director for the city of Troy and advisor for two mayors. Salka brings a firsthand perspective to the recent history of Troy amid developing strong relationships with community leaders, business owners, and residents.
The next multi-episode chapter looks back at Metallica’s first and only show in the Collar City when the band’s Damaged Justice tour took over the RPI Houston Field House on March 15, 1989. Episodes will feature world renowned drummer and Capital Region resident Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall, Category 7), former RPI student and concert security staff Eric Haskins, and then-high school student and Metallica fan Kevin O’Connell. All three attended the show that night in 1989 and share their recollections of the gig.
The full episode covering Bruce Springsteen’s performance at RPI in Troy is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band – RPI, Houston Field House, Troy – Sunday, November 12, 1978
Setlist: High School Confidential, Badlands, Streets Of Fire, Spirit In The Night, Darkness On The Edge Of Town, Independence Day, The Promised Land, Prove It All Night, Racing In The Street, Thunder Road, Jungleland, Rave On, Fire, Candy’s Room, Because The Night, Point Blank, Mona > She’s The One, Backstreets, Rosalita (Come Out Tonight), 4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy), Born To Run, Detroit Medley, Quarter To Three
On Monday, November 18, the New York City Council passed a resolution designating every November 30 as “Shirley Chisholm Day,” honoring the longtime Bedford-Stuyvesant resident, political pioneer, as well as the first Black woman elected to Congress and first woman to run for President.
Chisholm speaking at the 1972 Decmocratic National Convention – photo via Library of Congress
The honor arrives a week that would have ended with Chisholm’s 100th birthday, on Saturday, November 30.
“This legislation is … an affirmation of the contribution of Shirley Anita Chisholm, who unlocked and opened doors for generations of political leaders who were excluded simply for being Black.”
Brooklyn Councilmember Farah Louis – regarding “Shirley Chisholm Day”
Earlier this year, breakout vocalist Samara Joy released an original single, “Why I’m Here,” a song so triumphant it was chosen for the Netflix film Shirley, starring Oscar winner Regina King as the title character.
Co-written with GRAMMY winner PJ Morton, “Why I’m Here” captures the inspiring drive of Chisholm. with Joy noting, “For me, this song was a representation of how Shirley Chisholm’s commitment to pursuing her purpose has affected us all, whether we realize it or not.”
The song further establishes Samara Joy as a voice to be reckoned with, both in the world of jazz and beyond. Likewise, Chisholm was a force to be reckoned with, and a passionate leader for decades.
Born in 1924 in Brooklyn as Shirley Anita St. Hill, Chisholm noted in her 1970 memoir “Unbought and Unbossed” that she was taken to Barbados at an early age to live with her grandmother, later returning to Brooklyn when she was 10. There, she lived with her parents and siblings in an “unheated, four-room, cold-water railroad flat” in Brownsville, a mostly-Jewish neighborhood at the time.
Chisholm graduated from Brooklyn College and in 1951 received a master’s degree in early childhood education from Columbia University before eventually joining the League of Women Voters and the NAACP. In 1964, she became the second African American in the New York State Legislature and in 1968 she won a seat in Congress, advocating for early childhood education, among other causes.
Chisholm represented Brooklyn’s 12th Congressional District, which covered much of Bed-Stuy, for seven terms from 1969 to 1983. In recent years her legacy has been celebrated with various honors, including a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 and a statue in Prospect Park approved by city officials.
In the lead up to her run for the Democratic nomination for president in 1970, Chisholm argued, “Our representative democracy is not working, because the Congress that is supposed to represent the voters does not respond to their needs. I believe the chief reason for this is that it is ruled by a small group of old men.” Chisholm’s words from more than a half-century ago echo loudly today in the wake of the most recent presidential election.
The lyrics to “Why I’m Here” follow the course of Chisholm’s trailblazing career, with the chorus, “An easy road was never promised, and so much has been from taken from us, but I won’t stop no matter how much I have to go through, I won’t shed one tear, I know why I’m here,” solidifying the icon’s tenacity in the face of oppression, racism and sexism.
Photo by Ambe J. Williams
In February 2024 at the 66th GRAMMY Awards, Samara Joy added to her accolades by taking home Best Jazz Performance for her single “Tight.” Self-produced, the winner features Joy with her working band – pianist Luther Allison, bassist Mikey Migliore and drummer Evan Sherman – recorded at the legendary Electric Lady Studios in NYC.
Samara Joy is currently on tour, with a few upcoming New york performances, before heading to Europe to start 2025.
December 13 – United Palace, New York, NY
Decemeber 16 – Hart Theatre at The Egg, Albany, NY
December 17 – “A Joyful Holiday” Feat. The McLendon Family – UB Center for the Arts – Mainstage Theatre, Buffalo, NY
Shirleycan be seen on Netflix, starring Regina King as Chisholm and directed by Oscar winner John Ridley (“12 Years a Slave,” “Jimi: All Is By My Side”). Shirley follows Chisholm’s 1972 presidential campaign and the impact she left on modern culture.
Samara Joy “Why I’m Here” Lyrics Fight! Fight! Bending but never broken Knocked down but I keep going I’ve decided to stand my ground I will not be moved And I have no fear I know why I’m here
An easy road was never promised And so much has been taken from us But I won’t stop no matter how much I have to go through I won’t shed one tear I know why I’m here
The future is in our hands Now’s the time to stand Together we’ll pave the way Those who walk by faith With their heads held high Have the power to change the world
Bending but I can’t be broken I’ve been knocked down But I choose to keep going I’ve decided to stand my ground I will not be moved And I have no fear So don’t you shed one tear Cause I know why I’m here
Albany-based analog funk band Oobleck has been in Capital Region faces with their funk for 16 years and they don’t plan to quit anytime soon.
Oobleck, founded in 2008, is an original, analog funk band out of the Capital Region. Known regionally for inciting dance parties wherever they land, they boast a big, in your face sound inspired by New Orleans street music. It’s a melee of horns, super heavy drums and bass and your favorite type of chunky guitar riffing that leaves your bum shaking and your face grinning.
Bass driven. Horn laden. Layered textures and dark melodies. Funk to fuel your soul. The band is made up of five members – Sam Parker on guitar, Kevin Van Genechten on drums, Scott Vorwald on tenor sax, Audrey Van Genechten on trumpet, and Josh Radigan on bass. The band meshes effortlessly to create sound that is found nowhere else in the Capital Region.
Oobleck has four albums to date – Tell Your Mom I Said Hi (2012), Rise & Shine (2013), Don’t Mistake the Barn for the Basement (2015) and their most recent Down the Rabbit Hole which released January of this year. Down the Rabbit Hole contains 11 jaw-dropping tracks that are guaranteed to immerse the listener in something fun.
The band just finished recording a new single “Purse Candy” and are hoping to release in January, with an accompanying video filmed during the recording session that is also slated to release shortly. For the LaMP show at Lark Hall, the band worked with Frankie Cavone of Mirth Films and just released a multi-cam video of the full set which can be seen below.
On November 8, the band supported LaMP on their tour stop through Albany at Lark Hall. The band has only one upcoming show left in 2024.
At 8:00pm on December 6 at UNIHOG in Hoosick Falls, Oobleck hits the stage with rock & soul group Tops of Trees. Together, these two musically powerful groups create explosively funky grooves that’ll have you moving well into the night.
Oobleck has shows in 2025 with the Sugar Hold scheduled for January 10 at Ophelia’s in Albany to kick the New Year off with a dose of super funk. Oobleck plans to be back at The Eleven (Lark Hall’s downstairs bar) in Albany in early April, and at Single Cut Brewery in Clifton Park in the spring as well. The group is working on getting back to Vermont and potentially hitting up Ithaca for the first time later this spring.
For more information on Oobleck’s upcoming shows and to hear some of their tunes, click here.
Playhouse Stage Company is set to kick off its 37th season with A Christmas Story: The Musical from Dec 4 to 22.
Cohoes Music Hall opens with the musical on Wednesday, December 4 at 7pm. Performances continue through December 22nd, with 7pm evening performances Wednesday through Saturday, as well as 2pm matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. The season kicks off with holiday season entertainment for young and old alike.
A hilarious and heart-warming crowd pleaser, A Christmas Story: The Musical tells the story of nine-year-old Ralphie Parker, who has pinned his hopes on getting a “Red Ryder Carbine Action BB Gun” for Christmas. The musical, with a book by Joseph Robinette, features all the iconic moments from the film, from the leg lamp award, to the bunny suit, to Ralphie’s friend Flick getting his tongue stuck to a frozen metal pole.
It boasts a soaring, energetic score by Pasek and Paul, known for their work on Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman and more. The show is based on the 1983 MGM film, as well as the film’s inspiration, the novel In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd. The musical adaptation premiered on Broadway in 2012, in a production that featured two Playhouse Stage Company students and Capital Region natives, Jack Mastrianni and George Franklin.
“A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL.”
A Christmas Story: The Musical is directed by long-time PSC Director Michael LoPorto, returning to the company after most recently directing the celebrated 2023 production of Something Rotten at Park Playhouse. LoPorto is joined by frequent collaborator Brian Axford as Musical Director. Playhouse Stage Teaching Artist and performer Gabi Bazinet-Douglas makes her PSC choreography debut on A Christmas Story after appearing as Brooke Wyndham in this past summer’s Legally Blonde: The Musical.
The cast is led by well-known Capital Region actor and Sage Theatre Institute Professor David Baecker, as the show’s narrator, Jean Shepherd, as well as by PSC student Jack Holick as young Ralphie Parker. Joining them in the 26-person cast are Playhouse veterans Molly Rose McGrath and Nick Martiniano as Ralphie’s parents, and PSC Director of Education and Associate Artistic Director Ashley-Simone Kirchner, returning to the stage for the first time since 2019’s Avenue Q to play Ralphie’s teacher, Miss Shields.
The 37th Playhouse Stage Company Season continues in February with the dark musical comedy Heathers: The Musical, adapted from the 1989 cult classic film. In addition to productions at Cohoes Music Hall, the company will return to Park Playhouse in Albany’s Washington Park, and Guilderland Performing Arts Center in Tawasentha Park to present free, outdoor musical theatre for the community during Summer, 2025. Details about title selection and schedule will be announced in January.
For more information on the upcoming show at Cohoes Music Hall – A Christmas Story: The Musical and to purchase tickets, click here.
With Phil Lentz Presents… Vol. II, New York City-based jazz composer and pianist Phil Lentz returns with his signature sound, crafting a genre-blending album with new emotional heights and technical finesse.
Building on the warm reception of his 2022 debut, Lentz delivers a fresh, diverse, and uplifting listening experience that feels both timeless and unmistakably current.
Featuring standout tracks like “Play Your Melody,” “I Remember the Early Days,” and “Bebopping Along,” the album weaves jazz, pop, folk, and classical influences into a seamless tapestry, making it an instant favorite for music lovers of all backgrounds. The album’s lush arrangements blend alto saxophones, violins, and rich vocal textures, creating a soundscape that invites listeners to lose themselves in a melodic journey filled with nostalgia, joy, and introspection.
“This time, I wanted to step beyond the boundaries of traditional jazz,” Lentz shares. “Drawing in elements of folk and classical felt natural, adding layers of texture and depth to the compositions. Each track aims to capture those fleeting moments of peace and joy we all seek.”
Phil Lentz Presents… Vol. II is brought to life by a talented ensemble, including Dennis Harte on guitar, Wolfgang Lugomarsini on bass, Dave Young on drums, and features the soulful sounds of Red Heller and Richard Philbin on alto sax, with Bob Cohen’s violin adding a dynamic flair. Produced by Dennis Harte, recorded at Studio Mozart in New Jersey, and expertly mastered by Tom Hutten at Bionic Mastering, the album offers a finely crafted and resonant listening experience.
Released on November 22 on CD and across all major digital platforms, Vol. II is more than just a follow-up, but rather a testament to Phil Lentz’s artistic growth and his boundless vision for contemporary jazz.
