Albany’s Spectrum 8 Theatre has found new management and will reopen this spring, potentially in late April, per multiple reports last week.
photo via Spotlight News
As reported in February, Spectrum 8 was slated to close, with owner Landmark Theatres withdrawing from management after nearly 9 years. Scene One Entertainment has stepped in to take over management, bringing back a few notable aspects of Spectrum 8 that regulars missed in the past decade.
Scene One Entertainment owner Joseph Masher said in a press release, “The overwhelming response to the theatre’s closing last month prompted me to move faster with the building’s owner to get the cinema reopened. I’ve been working very closely with [Spectrum 8 co-founder] Keith Pickard to bring the heart and soul back into the Spectrum. The art gallery will be reactivated and the calendar that was published monthly will return.”
Among the changes are the return of the theater’s locally-sourced cakes, pastries, cookies, mint brownies, and real butter on the popcorn. The Spectrum reports it will also serve alcoholic beverages once it obtains a liquor license.
Spectrum 8 has been in operation since 1983, beginning as a single screen theater before expanding to eight screens, offering a wide number of independent movies, Oscar nominated films that are hard to find in theaters, including foreign language films and live and animated short films, in addition to Hollywood blockbusters.
Albany Symphony announced the anticipated return of Peter and the Wolf: Tiny Tots concert for three shows this spring. The shows will take place on April 30 and May 1 in Albany and May 2 in Saratoga Springs.
Peter and the Wolf
The Albany Symphony Tiny Tots concerts are geared for children between the ages of 18-months and 7 years. Tiny Tots concerts are interactive school day performances that have thrilled preschool audiences, teachers, and parents, presented by the orchestra for over 30 years.
David Alan Miller and the Albany Symphony plan to take you and your children on a wonderfully interactive, magical adventure. Peter and the Wolf is a classic symphonic fairy tale for children by Sergei Prokofiev. The story will be personified through music for children and adults alike to enjoy. In addition, you and your children will meet and get to hear all the instruments of the orchestra and the amazing musicians who play them.
Albany Symphony Tiny Tots Concert
Albany Symphony is renowned for performances featuring classic orchestral favorites, lesser-heard masterworks, and a diverse array of new music. The symphony strives to present the community with virtuosic talents and homages to all-time classics.
The Albany Symphony Tiny Tots concert is a prime example of the level of community the organization possesses. The April 30 and May 1 shows are held at Congregation Beth Emeth in Albany. The May 2 performance of Peter and the Wolf takes place at the SPAC School of Arts in Saratoga.
Tickets for this event are just $5 and are available for purchase on AlbanySymphony.com.
Albany’s Glass Pony will celebrate beloved bassist Jeff ‘J-Dog’ Picarazzi’s 30th birthday on Friday, April 5 at Ophelia’s On Broadway (formerly Parish Public House), as the band’s first show under the new branding.
The Albany group is currently recording a 4-song EP at White Lake Studios, where the group previously recorded Washed Away with Brett Portzer (Skinless) engineer. A vinyl edition of Washed Away will be dropping in April, limited to 100 copies, and mastered by Justin Perkins of Mystery Room Mastering
Recently, Glass Pony released Best in Show – Live 2023 on Tuesday, March 26, featuring multitrack audio from various 2023 shows. Listen and download the album on Bandcamp.
Next up for Glass Pony after the Ophelia’s show is a performance on Monday April 8 at Adirondack Eclipse Experience in Blue Mountain Lake (sold out), followed by a show on April 11 at Al’s Wine & Whiskey in Syracuse.
On Wednesday March 20, California-based HUNNY took the stage at Empire Live in Albany, supporting Mom Jeans alongside Summer Salt. With a dynamic setlist pulling from the band’s near-decade long discography as well as their most recent album, new planet heaven, HUNNY put on a show that exemplified their long-standing and ever-growing presence in the alternative scene.
HUNNY hails from Northern California, a product of the indie rock scene that flourished in the area in the 2010s. They are the first of two bands supporting fellow California-based Mom Jeans on their US tour; several other bands, including Free Throw and Just Friends, are also set to join for select dates.
This was HUNNY’s second visit to Albany, but their music is well known and well liked within the prominent shoegaze and post-punk scenes in the Hudson Valley, making them a perfect fit to raise the energy for a mid-week show.
The group opened the show with “JFK,” the lead song off of their 2022 album Homesick. Within seconds of the grungy, overdriven guitar meeting the crowd’s wall of sound, everyone was moving. The band’s own energy on stage is tenable from the photo pit, their own jumps and erratic movements matching their audience’s. The band continued to pull the rest of their setlist from 2022’s Homesick, as well as new planet heaven and their mid-2010s hits, such as “Televised,” and their closer, “Vowels (And The Importance of Being Me).” By the end of their set, the house was full, and the bar was open- all eyes and ears were on HUNNY, and the crowd couldn’t help but move.
As I was headed out of the venue, I happened to overhear a Mom Jeans fan mentioning the first opener, praising the group’s ability to appeal to potential fans- the last thing I hear her say is, “I don’t know, but they got me jumping!”
With solar eclipse events and preparations underway from Buffalo to Plattsburgh, one New York band, Annie in the Water, has been on a two-month long journey that will find the group performing during the totality on April 8.
Annie in the Water have been on a ‘Road to Totality’ tour since January, with stops around the Northeast, as well as a trip to Colorado for shows in Denver, Golden and Breckenridge. The longevity of the group and perseverance that led them to their current lineup and performance schedule has been noted by longtime fans, as well as new fans they’ve picked up along the way.
Following the Colorado shows, Annie in the Water returned back to New York for shows in Rochester and Syracuse, but a performance at Lark Hall was cancelled due to the snow storm over March 23-24. That show is now rescheduled for Friday, April 5, and making for a 4-show run that will catch the band playing in Sackets Harbor on April 6, where the duo of Brad Hester and Michael Lashomb first performed together. They then head south to Woods Valley Ski Area near Rome on April 7, then head north again towards the High Peaks, for a show on April 8 at Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington.
When asked about playing during the totality of the solar eclipse, Matt Richards (keys/vocals) shared:
“Just as the eclipse reaches totality, I think myself and as a band will also reach a transient feeling of completeness. The hard work of scheduling, preparing for, and performing the tour will be complete. But just like the eclipse, that moment and feeling won’t last long and it will be onto the next phase for myself, the band, the moon, and the sun.”
After respite in April, the band will hit four music festivals in the first half of the summer, performing at Shakori Hills in North Carolina, Memorial Meltdown in Lake George, Sterling Stage Folkfest in Sterling, NY and Northlands Festival in New Hampshire in June. They’ll also be part of Twin Ponds Campground ‘3rd Thursday’ concert series this summer, where Backwoods Pondfest was held for many years, in Peru, NY.
The Albany Symphony presents works from alluring composer Viet Cuong and sound-shifting legend Beethoven this Spring. The shows take place Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14 at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.
Composer Viet Cuong
The show features extraordinary new works by composer Viet Cuong, who has captivated audiences across the globe. Mastermind Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 is showcased for both dates as well. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 is particularly memorable for its humor and brilliant virtuosity, along with its powerful rhythms and structure. Cuong’s works will also be recorded for Albany Records and will complete an important new disc that also includes his Sub-marine, a gorgeous, commissioned work, premiered by the orchestra last season.
The dates see soloists like Justin Benavidez on Tuba and Sandbox Percussion. The Tuba Concerto is performed by soloist Justin Benavidez and begins with him performing a bass line that blossoms upward with every note. The two awe-inspiring shows from the Albany Symphony include several unique and soul-altering performances that cannot be missed.
“The Albany Symphony and I are so proud and excited to be collaborating with Viet Cuong on this beautiful concert and on Viet’s first full commercial recording. Viet is fast becoming one of America’s most celebrated and performed composers, and he is absolutely one of our favorite partners! We commissioned his breakthrough piece, Re(new)al, seven years ago, and have marveled at the way it has been taken up by orchestras EVERYWHERE!”
Music Director, David Alan Miller
For more information on this April’s events from the Albany Symphony and to purchase tickets for the performances by Viet Cuong, click here.
On Sunday, March 24, Fall Out Boy’s “So Much for (2our) Dust” tour stopped at MVP Arena in Albany. The line up consisted of Games We Play, Hot Mulligan, Jimmy Eat World, and Fall Out Boy.
Games We Play kicked off the evening with a high energy performance of “Get a Job.” They played a total of 4 songs during their 30-minute set. Hot Mulligan was up next with their 9-song set which included songs such as “Drink Milk and Run,” “OG Blue Sky” and “Bckyrd.”
Jimmy Eat World promptly took to the stage and amped up the crowd playing their song “A Praise Chorus.” Putting on a fantastic and energetic set, Jimmy Eat World had the crowd engaged. They played many well-known songs such as “Sweetness,” “Bleed American,” “Big Casino,” and “Pain.” They closed out their set with “The Middle” which had everyone singing along.
At 9:10pm, Fall Out Boy took to the stage, starting with song “Love from the Other Side,” transitioning to an incredible performance of “The Phoenix” and, “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down.” The pyrotechnics and loud booms during their 1st three songs elevated the energy in the arena to a new level. The visual effects and props used throughout the show added to that excitement.
Performing new songs from their latest album “So Much (for) Stardust” as well as many hits from earlier albums such as “Uma Thurman,” “Dance, Dance,” “Thnks for Th Mmrs,” and “Centuries.” The crowd was also treated to a piano medley.
This show was nothing short of amazing. Each band delivered high-energy performances, solid vocals, and nonstop action throughout the evening.
Fall Out Boy Setlist: Love from the Other Side, The Phoenix, Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down, Uma Thurman, G.I.N.A.S.F.S, Reinventing the Wheel to Run Myself Over, Grand Theft Autumn/Where is Your Boy, Calm Before the Storm, This Ain’t a Scene, It’s An Arms Race, Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes, Heaven, Iowa, Bang the Doldrums, Headfirst Slide Into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet, Fake out, The Kintsugi Kid (Ten years)(Partial, Piano Medley), What a Time to be Alive (Partial, Piano Medley), Don’t Stop Me Now (Queen Cover)(Partial, Piano Medley), So Much (for) Stardust, Baby Annihilation ( with “20 Dollar Nose Bleed” spoken word snippet), Song 2 (Blur Cover), Dance, Dance, Hold Me Like a Grudge, I Am My Own Muse (Magic 8-Ball Song, Tour Debut), My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up), Thnks fr Th Mmrs, Centuries, Saturday.
Fall Out Boy “So Much for (2our) Dust” Tour Dates:
Amid a winter storm that ushered in spring, banjo virtuoso and father of modern bluegrass, Tony Trischka, performed to a crowd of brave travelers in The Egg’s Swyer Theater on Saturday, March 23.
Roughly 30 fans braved the elements to see Trischka’s tribute to Earl Scruggs, the legendary three-finger banjoist, titled EarlJam. Featuring Michael Daves (vocals, guitar) Jared Engel (bass) and Brittany Haas (fiddle), the show traced the story of Scruggs from his childhood to his later years.
Celebrating this tour, Trischka said, “Earl is my North Star, a lifetime pathway. And I’m not alone. Through his music, this shy kid from Flint Hill, North Carolina went on to enrich countless thousands of lives. At the age of 13, when I first heard 16 notes of Scruggs style banjo playing, I put down my folk guitar and mercilessly pestered my parents to buy me a banjo. Once in my hands, that 5-string became my obsession and has been for close to 60 years.”
“The depth of his genius becomes ever more apparent when I transcribe his solos, which I’ve been doing my entire musical life and with renewed vigor. Discovering new twists and turns in his playing is pure joy and in fact the inspiration for this tribute show.”
Tony Trischka on Earl Scruggs
The show was full of Scruggs songs, including popular fare “Salty Dog,” “Foggy Mountain Breakdown,” and the seminal TV show theme, “The Ballad of Jed Clampett,” as well as covers mixed in, ranging from Bob Dylan to Grateful Dead and The Band.
Trischka, a Syracuse native, is a not only a banjo innovator, but he is also an educator, influencing everyone from Béla Fleck to Steve Martin.
A treat for fans of new era bluegrass enjoyed “Brown’s Ferry Blues,” the first track off Trischka’s upcoming album, recently recorded with Billy Strings.
While it was a cold, miserable night of weather outside, Trischka and the music of Earl Scruggs kept it memorable inside for the small crowd of dedicated fans, paying them a nod during “Mama Don’t ‘Low” by changing the lyrics to “Mama don’t ‘low no snow driving ’round here.”
Tony Trischka’s EarlJam – The Egg, Swyer Theater – Saturday, March 23, 2024
Setlist: Kentucky Bullfight, Reuben, Heavy Traffic Ahead, Salty Dog, Foggy Mountain Breakdown, Six White Horses, Earl’s Breakdown, Martha White Theme, Fiddle and Banjo, Ballad of Jed Clampett, Can’t Stop me from Dreaming, Mama Don’t ‘Low, Rainy Day Women #12 and 35, Brown’s Ferry Blues, Liza Jane, Casey Jones, Chinese Breakdown, Here Comes the Bride, Gentle on My Mind, You’ve Got to Die, Farewell Blues, Fox Chase
We continue our look back at one of the more influential and memorable series of shows The Grateful Dead have ever played in the State of New York. On this day in 1990, the Dead continued their first ever run of shows at The Knick in Albany, formally known as Knickerbocker Arena. The three-night run sees the band in peak form and contains so many musical highlights that it was rightly crafted into a three-disc 1996 live release entitled Dozin’ At The Knick. After a brilliant first night, the band shows no letup in this second night that features a prime portion of the second set that’s all featured on the album.
The show begins with a succinct but crisp “Greatest Story Ever Told,” with Jerry Garcia’s signature guitar tone present early and often. The vocal harmonies of Bob Weir and Brent Mydland are on point as the band seems fully engaged from the get-go. “Touch of Grey” then follows in the two-spot, the Dead’s “hit” from their 1987 In The Dark release that introduced the band to so many. Garcia nails all of the vocals and phrasing, in addition to the signature ripping guitar solo, and Mydland joining in on harmonies seems to take this “Grey” to another level. It’s a surprise this wasn’t include for Dozin’ At The Knick selection.
Weir then leads the band through a bluesy cover of “Wang Dang Doodle” before Mydland does the same on one of his signature tunes, “Never Trust A Woman.” Brent’s soulful vocals combined with increasingly powerful runs on the organ make this one of the finer versions ever played, sadly also one of the last as well. The Dead then cue up a classic love song for the Knick, one familiar to Jerry Garcia Band setlists, “Jack-a-Roe.” The tune about doing anything in the name of love, which can be traced back as far as the early 1800s, features story tale-like lyrics and a couple of ripping runs by Garcia on guitar on the band’s modern day take on it.
They follow this up with another cover, this time a wonderful take of the Bob Dylan-penned “When I Paint My Masterpiece.” Weir handles the bluesy vocals with aplomb, which rise in intensity from start to finish, wrapping up a fun three-song section of the first set. This grouping of songs is prominently featured on the first disc of Dozin’ At The Knick and it’s no surprise why.
The band then shifts back into “jam” mode and unleash a 13-minute “Bird Song” that’s one of the highlights of the show. It features a jam that takes off immediately and, fittingly, bounces and flutters around in a way only the Dead can manipulate. Garcia goes through a multitude of guitar filters and the resumption of the composed section seems to come out of nowhere. Seizing this momentum, the first set then ends with a triumphant “Let It Grow” that’s highlighted by some nimble bass lines from Phil Lesh and more explosive runs from Garcia up and down the fretboard. It caps off a first set at the Knick bookended with two Dead originals played to perfection with a fun mix of cover songs thrown in between.
To begin the second set, “Eyes of the World” quietly starts up in a much slower, groovier tempo than most of its predecessors. It’s a pristine version with some nice interplay between Garcia and Lesh throughout and with the instrumental sections between verses executed to perfection as the band seems fully engaged right away after the set break.
As the “Eyes” jam dwindles down to drums-only, so starts the beginning of “Samson of Delilah” in a clean segue. Mydland shines on keys in a jam that starts off strong and never lets up as the Dead treat the Knick crowd to another one of their takes of a traditional arrangement, this one with Biblical roots. From this, the opening chords of “Crazy Fingers” emerge and Garcia reassumes the helm. It’s a slow. deliberate take on this Dead classic and Garcia drops another guitar solo in an accompanying fashion.
As the tempo finally begins to pick up at the end, the Dead execute another fairly seamless segue into another live staple, “Truckin’.” Weir leads the band on vocals on a brief, but jubilant take of this classic number that doesn’t stretch out too far. Instead, a blues-heavy riff soon develops and the Dead immediately launch into a cover of Howlin’ Wolf’s “Spoonful.” This one gets capped off will a full-on, short but sweet “Mind Left Body” outro jam, with Garcia playing through a trumpet-like filter. This was likely a nod to the full-fledged MLB jam that took place just the night before.
This sets the stage for the traditional mid-second set “Drums” -> “Space” section and drummers Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann proceed to go through every percussive tool at their disposal. The “Space” section is highlighted by Garcia and Mydland both noodling maniacally on their respective instruments before Garcia unleashes a trombone-like guitar effect to change the mood and Mydland slowly starts up another one of his signature tunes, “I Will Take You Home,” in a very silky transition.
Once “Home” finishes up, the mood shifts from sentimental to joyous once more as the Dead treat the Knick to their ripping cover of “Goin’ Down The Feeling Bad.” This yields a brief but jubilant jam with Garcia singing the verses energetically, but as it quickly descends in pace, he quickly slides into the opening licks of the always contemplative “Black Peter” and the Dead deliver a poignant version.
To close out the set, they then launch into a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Around and Around” a song they’ve mastered and made their own by now. Weir belts out the vocals that rise in intensity with each passing verse and the Dead give the Knick crowd one last dose of pure rock and roll as only they can. The entire sequence from “Space” to “Around and Around” is seamless and near flawless and prominently featured for all to enjoy on Disc 3 of Dozin’ at the Knick.
To close out night two of the run, the band shows their love for American-based rock once more with a second Dylan cover, this time it’s “Quinn the Eskimo.” This shuts the door on night two at the Knick, with one left to play.
Check out Archive.org for a great recording of the entire show.
Grateful Dead Knickerbocker Arena – Albany, NY 3/25/90
Set 1: Greatest Strory Ever Told > Touch of Grey, Wang Dang Doodle, Never Trust A Woman, Jack-a-Roe, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Let It Grow
Set 2: Eyes of the World > Samson and Delilah, Crazy Fingers > Truckin’ > Spoonful > Drums > Space > I Will Take You Home > Goin; Down The Road Feeling Bad > Black Peter > Around and Around
E: The Might Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)
View this and more Grateful Dead shows from across the years in New York State with our interactive map below
Albany has been ranked as the best place to live in the state, according to a survey by the U.S. News & World Report. Some may also be shocked that New York City ranked fifth in the 2023-24 list of best places to live in the state, behind Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo, respectively. What we find less surprising is that all five cities have a large music presence.
The Palace Theatre in Albany is one of the Capital Region’s premier music venues. Credit: Palace Theatre.
Ranked as the #1 best place to live in New York State, the Capital Region is home to several music venues and recording studios. White Lake Music and Post, one of the recording studios on Albany’s roster, has produced, recorded, and mixed multiple Billboard Top 40 singles and provided audio services for clients including Netflix, Discovery, Lifetime, Universal, Disney, Nickelodeon, and HBO. Additionally, the Palace Theatre, which first opened its doors in 1931, has been graced by the presence of musical greats like the Rolling Stones and is home to the Albany Symphony Orchestra.
Central New York’s premier professional theatre, Syracuse Stage. Credit: Syracuse Stage
Ranking second on the list, Syracuse is home to many venues, among them Syracuse Stage, which is approaching its 50th anniversary this year. The premier professional theatre in Central New York, Stage is part of Syracuse University and is a member of The League of Resident Theatres (LORT), the largest professional theatre association in the country. America’s leading actors, directors, and designers work and/or have worked at Stage including Tony Award-winners Jason Alexander, Lillias White, Chuck Cooper, and Elizabeth Franz, Emmy recipients Jean Stapleton, Sam Waterston, John Cullum, James Whitmore, and Ben Gazzara.
Drive By Truckers at Water Street Music Hall – photo by Brian Ferguson
Rochester ranks as the third best place to live in New York State. Rochester is home to Water Street Music Hall, the city’s largest and oldest concert venue. Originally opened in 1976 under the name The Country Warehouse, the venue has brought hundreds of large artists including Phish, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Ashanti, David Byrne, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Iggy Pop, Jack Harlow, Sublime, St. Vincent, King Gizzard and the Wizard Lizard, Maroon 5, Weezer, and many more.
Shea’s Theatre in Buffalo. Credit: Shea Performing Arts Center.
Coming in fourth is the Queen City of Buffalo, a major music and entertainment region of its own. Buffalo is home to GCR Audio, a recording studio that has worked with Buffalo natives the Goo Goo Dolls, who recorded their self-titled debut album as well as Jed, Hold Me Up, Superstar Car Wash, A Boy Named Goo, Jessie J, and Who You Are at the studio. The city is also home to the nearly 100-year-old Shea’s Theatre, which this year alone has held performances of classic musicals such as Les, Mamma Mia, and in previous years Beetlejuice, Dear Evan Hanson, A Christmas Story: The Musical, The Nutcracker, and Mean Girls: The Musical, among others.
Exterior of MSG – photo by Rob Tellerman
As we know, New York City is the music and entertainment capital of the Empire State, if not the country. With countless music venues such as the Beacon Theatre, Knockdown Center, Brooklyn Bowl and Madison Square Garden, plus dozens of recording studios such as Electric Lady, the Big Apple has earned its title as one of the best cities for music in the world. MSG has hosted more than thousands of sports events and concerts, including upcoming tours by Fall Out Boy and Nicki Minaj. Electric Lady Recording Studio has made music for several big names in the industry such as Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, as well as New York natives Christina Aguilera and Lana Del Rey.
The state of New York is home to several of the most prestigious and oldest music venues in the country, making it clear to see why the aforementioned cities rank in the top five best places to live in New York State.
