Rock singer Alice Cooper will perform at the Palace Theatre in Albany on July 31 as part of his “Too Close For Comfort” Tour.
Alice Cooper has pioneered his grandly theatrical brand of hard rock that was designed to shock many. With equal inspiration from vaudeville, garage rock, and horror films, the ensemble put on a theatrical production complete with electric chairs, guillotines, fake blood, and boa constrictors. He is still on tour regularly, taking his dark and horror-themed theatrics to audiences all over the world.
Cooper and his family relocated to Phoenix after he was born in Detroit, Michigan. The Alice Cooper Band was founded when the members were still in high school in Phoenix. Frank Zappa found the band in Los Angeles in 1969 and later signed them to his record company. Their breakthrough third album Love It to Death, which debuted on the charts in 1971, was the result of their collaboration with the up-and-coming record producer Bob Ezrin. It was followed by the hits “Killer,” “School’s Out,” “Billion Dollar Babies,” and “Muscle of Love.” Every album release was accompanied by a more grandiose traveling stage production. They later released their album titled Greatest Hits, in 1974. Cooper subsequently released his now classic debut solo album, Welcome to My Nightmare in 1975, which was backed by his legendary and groundbreaking theatrical “Welcome to My Nightmare” concert tour.
Alice Cooper’s impact on rock & roll and popular culture has been widely recognized for a considerable amount of time. Throughout his incredible career, he has received numerous accolades and awards, sold-out tours, platinum records, and numerous other honors.
Cooper will perform at the Palace Theatre in Albany on July 31 as part of his “Too Close For Comfort” tour. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 19 via Ticketmaster.
The Commodores and The Pointer Sisters have teamed up for a sensational co-headlining tour: An Evening of Icons, which will stop at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater on July 25.
These musical icons are ready to wow audiences with their unique fusion of funk, soul, R&B, and pop. Their career spans decades, and they have sold over 100 million albums and an array of chart-topping hits. To add even more magic to the mix, they’re welcoming special guests, The Spinners.
The Commodores are the powerhouse behind classics like “Brick House” and “Easy.” They’re delighted to perform alongside The Pointer Sisters, especially in light of Motown’s 65th anniversary. This tour celebrates the enduring power of music, as their timeless hits continue to bring people together across generations.
Meanwhile, The Pointer Sisters, who have achieved success with hits like “I’m So Excited” and “Jump (For My Love),” are just as thrilled to collaborate. They are preparing to give a show that will keep the audience talking long after the curtains close. The sisters added, “65 years of Motown and timeless hits! What a milestone. It’s a joy to be touring with a true Motown treasure, The Commodores. Here’s to the music that continues to move generations!”
This tour, presented by Live Nation and represented by the renowned Seth Shomes of Day After Day Productions (DADP), will begin with a bang on Thursday, July 25 at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater. Representing these legendary acts is a dream come true for Seth Shomes. He grew up listening to their music, so when the tour hits New York in July, he’s excited to see the fans belting out every word.
Country Rock band Nitty Gritty Dirt Band have expanded their “All The Good Times: The Farewell” Tour by adding a new show at the Adler Hall at New York Society for Ethical Culture on October 6 with special guest Tommy Prine.
Originally formed in 1966, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, also addressed as the Dirt Band, has entertained many audiences with their top-shelf musicianship and timeless hits like “Mr. Bojangles,” “Fishin’ In The Dark,” “An American Dream,” and many more. And now, the time has come for the progressive country band to say so long to the highways and byways they’ve crossed an unimaginable number of times throughout their career.
When sharing about the show, the band shared that, “’All The Good Times’ perfectly describes our career.” With over 20 released albums, the band added that, “Playing our music for Dirt Band fans all over the world has been an incredible experience for us. The most important part of that has been the connection to our audience—that beautiful communal give and take is like nothing else. That’s the very spirit we’ll be celebrating as we head into our farewell tour. We really look forward to seeing you folks. Good times will be had by all!”
After playing their first gig in 1966 in Southern California as a Jug band, by 1969 The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band had become a cornerstone of the burgeoning country-rock community. Their career breakthrough came in 1970 with the release of their record Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy and their hit single “Mr. Bojangles,” a folksy top ten pop hit that brought roots music to the national forefront. In 1972, the band released the first of three groundbreaking Will The Circle Be Unbroken albums, collaborating with many of the best bluegrass, country, and folk artists in the world.
After a successful career that spawned over decades, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in 2015. While in the midst of their 49th year touring the band still managed to work on several projects leading up to their 50th Anniversary. In September of 2015, the band commemorated their 50th anniversary with a sold out show at the Ryman Auditorium. Taped for a PBS special which debuted in March 2016, the concert included guests John Prime, Sam Bush, Vince Gill, Jerry Jeff Walker, Alison Krauss, Rodney Crowell, Byron House, Jerry Douglas and Jackson Browne in addition to former member Jimmy Ibbotson.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band will bring their “All The Good Times: The Farewell” Tour with special guest Tommy Prine to Adler Hall at New York Society for Ethical Culture on October 6. Tickets are $55, $75 and $95 (plus applicable fees) and will be available here starting on Friday, April 19 at 10:00AM.
The Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes will return for its fourth concert in the OSFL Musicians’ Choice Chamber Series “OSFL Principal Strings” hosted at the Park Church in Elmira on April 26.
After performing “Music With Friends” last fall, the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes will perform their fourth concert in the OSFL Musicians’ Choice Chamber Series “OSFL Principal Strings”. The concert will be performed by Quartetto Masuno– five principal musicians from the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes. With the concert kicking off on April 26, the OSFL has also announce that there will be a pre-concert reception including a wine tasting by Lakewood Vineyards for early arrivers.
Led by OSFL Concertmaster Augusto Diemecke, Quartetto Masuno signifies “quartet plus one” coming together as a whole in unity. When sharing news about the concert, Augusto described the epitome of string quartet experience “is to play together as one”. Attending audience will witness that effect as the group performs two iconic chamber music pieces by Franz Schubert.
Along with concertmaster Diemecke, the stellar lineup of virtuosic musicians from the OSFL will include assistant concertmaster Debrah Devine, assistant principal Viola Joanne Lowe, principal cello Christine Lowe-Diemecke, and assistant principal cello S. Shade Zajac. Together, they will breathe life into two timeless masterpieces by Franz Schubert, immersing audiences in the rich tapestry of the chamber music tradition. Audiences will be captivated by Schubert’s iconic String Quartet No. 14, famously known as “Death and the Maiden,” a cornerstone of the chamber music repertoire revered for its emotional depth and evocative, haunting melodies.
Additionally, the ensemble will showcase Schubert’s majestic Cello Quintet in C Major, a crowning achievement of the composer’s illustrious but all too short career, ushering in the early romantic era. With its rich harmonies and emotive melodies, this quintet which was composed for two violins, viola, and two cellos, promises to take listeners on a journey of profound emotional depth mixed with artistic expression.
Starting at 6:30, concertgoers will be invited to indulge their senses and savor the flavors of the region with a pre-concert wine tasting by Lakewood Vineyards. The tasting will set the stage for a delightful evening of cultural enrichment and musical immersion at the historical Park Church. Fans are encouraged to not miss this extraordinary opportunity to experience the transformative power of live chamber music where passion, precision, and unparalleled artistry unite to create an unforgettable evening of chamber music.
Following the tradition of the Musicians’ Choice Chamber Music Series, oral program notes will be given by the musicians interspersed throughout the performance. The short format program which is approximately 75 minutes is presented in an intimate, relaxed setting without intermission.
To secure tickets, fans can visit OSFL.org or call 607-936-2873 or in person at the OSFL office, 49 Bridge Street, Corning, NY to reserve their seats. Tickets for the April 26th concert are $40 for adults, $20 for students with ID, and free for children under age 18. Groups of 10 or more will receive a 10% discount. Concert seating is general admission. Ticket sales at the door will be available until sold out.
Elysium Furnace Works is proud to present Chourmo – a trio of leaders consisting of guitarist David Torn, alto saxophonist Tim Berne, and drummer Tom Rainey – at the VBI Theatre of Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, located at 12 Vassar St. in Poughkeepsie on Friday, May 17.
Elysium Furnace Works is a cooperative project co-led by Mike Faloon and James Keepnews. EFW seeks to present the work of vanguard artists in settings as dedicated and uncompromising as the art itself, focusing primarily on live music performances in and around New York’s vibrant Hudson Valley.
Chourmo will ignite a fire, intricate abstraction, and passionate forward motion at the venue. David Torn (also, aka “splattercell”) is a composer, texturalist, guitarist, and producer of international stature, renowned for his unique musical voice which seems to span and un-define a range of idioms and styles. His characterful and compositionally textural work has had a material impact and influence on both film scoring — through his scores, and his creative contributions to scores by Carter Burwell, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Cliff Martinez, Howard Shore, Mark Isham, and others. He has assisted artists like David Bowie, k.d. lang, Tim Berne, John Legend, Madonna, Tori Amos, Bill Bruford, and more.
David Torn.
Tim Berne is an American alto saxophonist and record label owner born in Syracuse. His passion for jazz started when he heard the album Dogon A.D. by Julius Hemphill. In 1974, he went to New York to find Hemphill, who gave him saxophone lessons and advice on how to manage his career. Berne started the record label Empire in 1979.
For Empire, he recorded four albums with avant-garde jazz musicians such as John Carter, Alex Cline, Nels Cline, Olu Dara, Vinny Golia, Paul Motian, and Ed Schuller. His next two albums appeared on Soul Note in the early 1980s. He then got a contract with Columbia and recorded with Robertson, Hank Roberts, Bill Frisell, and others. After two albums with Columbia, he signed with JMT, a label known for avant-garde jazz. Over the years he recorded with many bands including Miniature, Caos Totale, Bloodcount, Paraphrase, Hard Cell, Science Friction, Buffalo Collison, Snakeoil, and more.
The final member of Chourmo is drummer Tom Rainey who has performed and or recorded with numerous artists including Mose Allison, Tim Berne, Anthony Braxton, Kris Davis, Ingrid Laubrock, Joe Lovano, and countless others.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $30 at the door — advance tickets are on sale now.
Tim Berne.
Elysium Furnace Works 2024 Concerts
June 22: Jamaaladeen Tacuma / James Brandon Lewis: “On Your Shoulders”, VBI @ CHAC — A historic congregation of the legendary harmolodic bass pioneer from Ornette Coleman’s innovative electric ensemble Prime Time Tacuma with the DownBeat Magazine Rising Star on tenor saxophone. Lewis is a multi-generational celebration honoring past trailblazers and offering, in Mr. Tacuma’s words, “a special thank you to all the mentors and elders in music sharing their knowledge and creativity with the next generation.”
July 19: Matthew Shipp Trio, St. Andrew’s & St. Luke’s Church, Beacon NY — The renowned, era-defining pianist and composer Shipp returns to this sacred space in Beacon, joined by the world-class rhythm section of Michael Bisio on bass and Newman Taylor Baker on drums, as they celebrate their aptly-titled new recording for ESP-Disk’, New Concepts in Piano Trio Jazz.
September 21: Peter Evans, VBI @ CHAC — The fearsomely gifted trumpeter Evans astonishes audiences with the sheer multiplicity of sounds and textures he can coax from his horn and the staggering inspiration that shapes his fathomless exploration in this rare Hudson Valley solo appearance.
October 19: Yuko Otomo, VBI @ CHAC — In her first solo Hudson Valley appearance, the exceptional poet and writer Otomo brings her revelatory work steeped in humane soul and universal epiphany, accompanied by musicians TBA.
November 16: AM / FM, VBI @ CHAC — This power duo of guitarist Ava Mendoza and violinist Gabby Fluke-Mogul synthesize a heady brew of avant jazz, blues, and noise – radically upending experimental music(s) past, present, and future.
December 7: Harriet Tubman (Ross / Gibbs / Lewis), VBI @ CHAC — Elysium Furnace Works closes out its monumental season with the fiery intensity of the long-running eclectic and electric collective Harriet Tubman, comprising the insanely talented and accomplished trio of guitarist Brandon Ross, bassist Melvin Gibbs and drummer JT Lewis.
Canadian roots player Dave Gunning has announced a show at 8th Step at Proctors in Schenectady on April 19 to introduce his newest album, The Same Storm.
Dave Gunning captivates audiences by painting pictures through his heartfelt stories and compelling songwriting, humorous lyrics and stunning musical arrangements. Gunning rapidly amasses fans across Canada and abroad by blending sensitive folk and innovative arrangements to his original songs.
The Same Storm continues along a similar path similar to its predecessors. The album celebrates moments big and small, lending a voice to the folks that need it most. Dave Gunning uses his musical gift to indulge in a bit of nostalgia, but always with an eye toward the future and the stories it will bring. Gunner never shies away from tougher topics, staying true to the folk music tradition. This includes social and environmental outcries through powerful tunes.
Gunning’s knack for connecting with audiences is lifelong, preceding the skills and experience he’s earned on the road. Gunning is often referred to as a voice of Nova Scotia. He combines a finely-tuned balance of sincerity and impeccable performance that makes him one of the country’s most engaging entertainers.
Dave Gunning heads to Addy Theatre at 8th Step at Proctors in Schenectady for a show introducing and celebrating his latest album. The Same Storm is to be showcased with a night of fun, captivating talent. Gunning sets to bring the audience together in a state of love while proudly divulging into the tracks’ wonder.
“The Same Storm marks another career milestone for one of Canada’s most inspiring and accomplished singer-songwriters, a captivating performer currently nominated for two Canadian Folk Music Awards including Best Solo Artist. Self-effacing and very, very funny, he is a master of his craft: his knack for perfectly timed on-stage banter and gracious storytelling has endeared him to audiences and fellow performers alike.”
– The 8th Step
Doors for the show open at 7pm, and tickets range from $27-40. For more information on Dave Gunning’s upcoming show in Schenectady on April 19 and to purchase tickets, click here.
This weekend in Albany, Ophelia’s on Broadway welcomes Ryan Dempsey and Frends for two musical nights of jam-packed jam band members. The Twiddle keyboardist will be leading a cavalcade of stars on Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20.
On April 19, Dempsey welcomes Mike Gantzer from Aqueous, Vinnie Amico of moe., Joshua West of Annie in the Water, Billy Stark on Bass, as well as a few surprise guests.
Saturday April 20 finds Frends Vinnie Amico of moe., Billy Stark on bass, Scotty Somerville from Late Shift, Hayley Jane on vocals, Al Schnier of moe., and host Ryan Dempsey.
Tickets are available here for Friday and here for Saturday.
The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra has announced its third Chamber Series Concert of the 2023-24 season, Brahms and Glière, a program featuring a rich array of musical offerings performed by CCO musicians and friends on April 21 at 3:00 pm at the First Unitarian Church, in Ithaca.
The CCO was founded in 1976 and is officially designated “Ithaca’s Orchestra.” Each season includes an Orchestral Series, Chamber Music Series, a Holiday concert, a Family Concert Series, and the long-standing Willard Daetsch Youth Outreach Program, which earned the 2015 Yale Distinguished Music Educator award. In 2017, the CCO added a Youth Orchestra, which offers a high quality symphony orchestra experience for youth in Ithaca and the Finger Lakes region of New York State.
The concert will include musicians Rhiannon Banerdt, Christina Bouey, Anthony Bracewell, Sarah Chandler, Steven Harmon , Grace Ho, Wendy Mehne, Paige Morgan, Vadim Serebryany, and Taylor Smith.
The program will feature Glière: Selected Duets for violin and cello, from Op. 39, JÚLIO Medaglia: Belle Epoque in Sud America for woodwind quintet, Grant Cooper: Octagons for clarinet and string quartet, and Brahms: Trio for violin, piano and horn in E-flat Major, Op. 40. “We are eagerly anticipating our next Chamber Series concert,” said Managing Director, Sarah Chandler. “Our musicians performed for sold out houses at our November and January Chamber Series concerts.They love walking out onstage and seeing our enthusiastic audience members filling the seats. Our subscriber base is growing, and we invite you to come to your very first CCO concert!” She added.
For more information and tickets, fans can visit CCOithaca.org or contact the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Box Office at 607-273-8981 or info@CCOithaca.org
Emmy Award winner and two-time GRAMMY Award nominee David Cross has assembled a lineup of A-list comedians and friends for a special night of laughter under the stars at SummerStage at Central Park in New York City for David Cross and His Super Pals on Aug. 8, 2024.
Joining Cross for this incredible evening in Central Park are Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Silverman, Fred Armisen, Sean Patton, Zach Zucker, Shane Torres, and more. The evening also marks a reunion on stage between Cross, the inventive performer, writer, and producer on stage and screen, with Odenkirk as both starred in the 1990s hit TV show, Mr. Show with Bob and David.
Adding to his long list of memorable TV and film characters, on August 8, Cross will join the cast of the Netflix series, The Umbrella Academy, as Sy Grossman for the fourth and final season. In February, Cross released his eighth stand-up special, David Cross: Worst Daddy in the World, to rave reviews on the 800 Pound Gorilla YouTube channel.
He hosts the podcast, Senses Working Overtime with David Cross, produced by Headgum and available every Thursday on all audio platforms with video available on Davidâs YouTube channel. In 2023, he was seen in the Julia Louis-Dreyfus film, You Hurt My Feelings, and the FX series, Justified: City Primeval. In 2021, he starred in the National Geographic series, Genius: Aretha, portraying famed music producer, Jerry Wexler opposite Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin.
David Cross and His Super Pals join James Arthur, who will open the summer concert season at SummerStage on May 17, along with Masego (June 19), Gaslight Anthem with Joyce Manor (August 21), Counting Crows (July 11), The Roots (August 23), T-Pain (June 23), Robert Glasper and Yebba (August 1), Ethel Cain (June 27), and many others.
Tickets for David Cross and Super Pals go on sale on Friday, April 19 at 10 a.m.
On April 17, the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College will present “as if our hands could hold the weight of promise” in conjunction with the Elevator Music 48: Alone, only in flesh exhibition.
Artists MIZU, Theresa-Xuan Bui, Antonius-Tín Bui, and dancer Glenna Yu will turn the Tang elevator and atrium staircase into a living canvas of sound, movement, and spoken word poetry. They take the audience on an excursion, joining the diasporic artists on a migration embodying the hesitations, expectations, and contemplations of returning home.
Elevator Music 48: Alone, only in flesh is a collaborative meditation on the intersections of identity, belonging, and the spaces in-between. The artists invite viewers to commune with the unknown through Asian snacks, traditional Vietnamese áo dài clothing, and experimental cello. In this experience, they engage all five senses.
Additionally, Ivy K. Vương, Curatorial Assistant, is working with the artists to organize the performance. At 4:30pm, Skidmore College’s K-Pop II students will perform under Visiting Artist-in-Residence Chia-Ying Kao before the main event.
The Tang Teaching Museum at Skidmore College explores interdisciplinary learning, blending arts within history, economics, and biology. Designed by architect Antoine Predock, this award-winning building symbolizes the fusion of art and ideas. Open Tuesday-Sunday, noon-5pm, with extended Thursday hours until 9pm.
Save April 17 in your calendars to celebrate art, culture, and community at the Tang Teaching Museum. The performance is free for anyone to see and begins at 5pm. For show and artist details, click here.
