HiddeninTheHoney is the latest release from Albany’s Atelo Songs. After performing across New York State for 15 years as Sam Gleason, Atelo Songs was “born” in 2020. According to the artist’s bio, embracing this new moniker was “marking a transformative phase in his artistic journey”.
Surviving an apartment fire, and an accident that would leave him with permanent injuries and brain damage requiring eighteen months of rehabilitation, Atelo Songs emerged as a “means of self-betterment and creative expression.” Atelo joined Albany Barn, an artist housing program, and has spent the last several years focusing solely on music.
HiddeninTheHoney is interesting and artistic. There’s lots of substance to his lyrics and they are delivered with interesting melodies and smooth harmonies.
We all have those certain songs, albums and artists who have helped us get through trying times. HiddeninTheHoney is an album about trying times and their aftermath. It sounds heavily influenced by Panic! At The Disco, almost as if it was their music that helped Atelo through his struggles. “Panic!” fans will hear lots of familiarities but it’s never copy-cat or cookie cutter. Atelo delivers his songs in his own style with a demeanor more Elvis Costello than Panic! At The Disco’s Brendan Urie.
HiddeninTheHoney kicks off with the rocker “Not in The Mood”. Slide-Guitar and rollicking piano compliment the fast paced lyrics of the verses. The chorus is catchy and very relatable with Atelo singing that He’s “always trying to improve but today I’m just not in the mood.”
“Death Dead in The Eyes” has a Latin, jazzy sound. If Carlos Santana had invited Elvis Costello to perform a track on one of his collaboration albums, this may be the result.
“Go Meet The Trees” is a campy, sing a long song that sounds as if someone made a left turn leaving a Panic! At The Disco concert and ended up at a GratefulDead show. The melody sounds like it could belong in a modern day pharmaceutical commercial. Warning – You may find yourself singing along by the end.
The album’s final track, the trans-like “Final Door” closes with the line “There’s Nothing in Store” but there may be lots more in store for Atelo Songs. Don’t be surprised if You hear some of his music on modern rock radio or appearing on a movie soundtrack or in a Netflix series. HiddeninTheHoney is a good listen and a musical journey, creative and striving for originality throughout, and may just take Atelo Songs from Albany to the national spotlight.
Jelly Roll will bring his headline “Beautifully Broken” tour to MVP Arena in Albany on Sept. 24, at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 27, and the KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Oct. 6
Nashville native singer and songwriter Jelly Roll first debuted at number two on the top country album charts with his debut Whitsitt Chapel, released in June 2023. The album earned him the biggest country debut album in Billboard consumption chart history.
Prior to entering the country music scene, Jelly Roll began his career in hip hop, getting inspiration from rappers like UGK, 8Ball & MJG, and Three 6 Mafia. He started selling mixtapes out of his car, releasing tracks from his debut project, The Plain Shmear Tape, in 2003. In 2010, he released “Pop Another Pill” in collaboration with Memphis-based artist Lil Wyte, later leading to the album Year Round by the hip-hop group SNO, of which Jelly Roll was a member. Over the next few years, Jelly Roll continued to release many mixtapes and independent solo albums including collaborations with Lil Wyte, and Struggle Jennings.
Following his sweep at the 2023 CMT music awards where he earned three awards to become the most awarded artist of the night, the Billboard Country Power List cover star Jelly Roll was named the country’s “most authentic new artist” by the New Yorker and received the Billboard’s breakthrough award in 2023. His hit single “Save Me” features a confessional, vulnerable expression of self-doubt, set on the stage for his new season of life. It later took him to new heights including a Platinum certification from the RIAA on the heels of his 28-week reign at No. 1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart.
This summer the artist will bring his “Beautifully Broken” tour to the MVP Arena in Albany on Sept. 24, Madison Square Garden on Sept. 27, and the KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Oct. 6. Tickets will be available starting with various presales beginning on Monday, February 26. Additional pre-sales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning on Friday, March 1 at jellyroll615.com.
Jelly Roll “Beautiful Broken” 2024 Tour Dates:
Tue Aug 27 – Salt Lake City, UT – Delta Center
Wed Aug 28 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center
Fri Aug 30 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Arena
Sat Aug 31 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Sun Sep 1 – Portland, OR – Moda Center
Tue Sep 3 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center
Wed Sep 4 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center
Fri Sep 6 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
Sat Sep 7 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center
Mon Sep 9 – El Paso, TX – Don Haskins Center
Wed Sep 11 – San Antonio, TX – Frost Bank Center
Fri Sep 13 – Lafayette, LA – CAJUNDOME
Sat Sep 14 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center
Tue Sep 17 – Orlando, FL – Kia Center
Thu Sep 19 – Charleston, SC – North Charleston Coliseum
Fri Sep 20 – Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena
Sat Sep 21 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
Tue Sep 24 – Albany, NY – MVP Arena
Thu Sep 26 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Fri Sep 27 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Sat Sep 28 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena
Sun Sep 29 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
Tue Oct 1 – State College, PA – Bryce Jordan Center
Wed Oct 2 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
Sat Oct 5 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
Sun Oct 6 – Buffalo, NY – KeyBank Center
Wed Oct 9 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena
Fri Oct 11 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Sat Oct 12 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center
Tue Oct 15 – Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena
Fri Oct 18 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
Sun Oct 20 – Bossier City, LA – Brookshire Grocery Arena
Tue Oct 22 – Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena
Wed Oct 23 – St Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
Fri Oct 25 – Knoxville, TN – Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
Two independent movie theaters in Albany have announced their closing. Landmark Spectrum 8 Theaters on Delaware Ave., and Madison Theatre on Madison Ave. announced the news last week on back to back days.
Spectrum Theatres will hold its final screening on February 22, while Madison Theatre will close its doors on February 25.
Photo by Chuck Miller
Madison Theater owner Kevin Parisi said to the Times Union, “It’s just good timing for us, for our other businesses and where we’re heading. We think it’s ready for someone to take over and take it to the next level, and the busy season is coming in, so it’s the right time for a transition.”
The June 2024 closing of The College of Saint Rose will not help the new owners of Madison Theatre, whoever they may be. The college is within walking distance of Madison Theatre and ‘The Point’ with many bars and restaurants, all which will be taking a financial loss due to lack of college students’ patronage.
“We love Albany and all of its untapped potential. We are so thankful for all of our customers and supporters. You made us what we are. Thank you to our Pine Hills neighborhood for caring and loving our beautiful theatre.”
from a statement posted on Madison Theatre’s Facebook page
The closings come just two months after Pauly’s Hotel, Albany’s oldest bar and a rite of passage for bands of all genres, was closed and put up for sale by the owner. Common among all three, Covid-19 took a toll on customer bases, with fewer people packing into venues of all sizes since March 2020, opting for streaming entertainment at home.
In the same Facebook post, Madison Theatre mentioned Spectrum Theaters closure, saying in solidarity, “The Madison Theatre wants to express our sympathy for the recent news of the Spectrum Theatre closing. Small business owners everywhere can truly understand how hard of a decision it was to make. We know just how much The Spectrum means to the Delaware Avenue neighborhood, and Albany in general. We are extremely confident that they will be back up and running in no time at all. We want to wish all involved an easy transition and look forward to the reopening in what will hopefully be the near future.”
Spectrum 8 has been in operation for more than 30 years, 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.
Landmark Theaters took over Spectrum 8 in 2015, and in announcing the closure, said in a statement, “Landmark Theatres is constantly evaluating its business strategy and has decided to close the Landmark Spectrum Theatre. We are proud to have served the community over its many years of operation. We look forward to adding new Landmark Theatres soon.”
While Landmark stepped in nine years ago to take over Spectrum and keep the Delaware Avenue staple running at full speed, attendance has dwindled since the pandemic, and the decision to close its doors was rapid, leaving employees blindsided, with seven or eight current workers having to look for new employment with less than two weeks notice. With ownership and management changing in the course of those nine years, the focus drifted away from cinema, and thus towards closure.
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said in a statement regarding the sudden closing of Spectrum: “I am confident the closure of the Spectrum Theatre will be temporary. I have been in contact with representatives from one of the prospective parties interested in operating the Theatre and look forward to there being a new operator so the shows on Delaware Avenue can go on.”
While these two closures are back to back punches in the gut for Albany, there are still a great deal of movie theaters in the area, including Bowtie Cinemas and Rotterdam Square Mall, as well as Regal Cinemas at Colonie Center, Crossgates Mall and Clifton Park. Still, independent films are hard to come by at these national chain theaters.
Despite the closures, recent openings of venues in the Capital District should be noted. Electric Grinch has opened in Schenectady, and Ophelia’s on Broadway will open its doors soon in the former Parish Public House (née Red Square). Add to this a revitalized downtowns in Albany, Schenectady and Troy, and these theater closures should be seen as exceptions, not the rule, when it comes to entertainment in Albany.
Samantha Fish has announced her anticipated “Death Wish Blues” tour which will be stopping at the Hart Theatre at The Egg in Albany on March 10, at the The Beacon Theatre in New York on March 15, at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse on March 23 and at the Asbury Hall at Babeville in Buffalo on March 24.
Kansas City based songwriter tour will be a collaboration with Texas-base rock singer Jesse Dayton after the success of their joint album Death Wish Blues which was released in May 2023 . The album produced by Jon Spencer went #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart for three consecutive weeks and since December 2022, the duo have toured across the U.S., U.K., Europe and Australia, and soon they will bring rock performances to Albany and New York.
After its release in 2023, the powerful and spirited album praise is neverending, Rolling Stone stated, “Jesse Dayton and Samantha Fish make the blues cool and current,” while Saving Country Music called it “wild, rambunctious and loud”. Before Death Wish Blues, Samantha released her critically acclaimed Faster in 2021. The album uncovered new possibilities in Samantha’s captivating sound, revealing her affinity for North Mississippi blues heroes like R.L. Burnside and wildly inventive iconoclasts like Prince. Faster followed her 2019 Rounder Records debut, Kill orBe Kind, produced by the Massachusetts-based Scott Billington.
Growing up in Missouri, Fish first found her love of songwriting in her late teens, mining inspiration from Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen. The singer first took up guitar at the age of 15 and began seeking gigs by cold-calling countless local bars. “I used to open the phone book and call up every place in Kansas City, even if they didn’t have live shows,” she remembers. “I had maybe a three percent success rate, but eventually, I started filling up my calendar—if you put on a good enough show, word of mouth gets around.” She added.
Over the years, Fish has maintained her reputation as a phenomenal live act and repeatedly turned out critically acclaimed albums, earning an ever-growing number of accolades. This coming spring the singer will be performing in Albany, Syracuse and Buffalo and fans can find tickets here.
Samantha Fish Tour Dates:
02/16/24: Dallas, TX, Majestic Theatre w/ Kenny Wayne Shepherd
02/17/24:San Antonio, TX, ACL Live w/ Kenny Wayne Shepherd
02/18/24: San Antonio, TX, The Espee
02/20/24: Oklahoma City, OK, Tower Theatre
02/21/24: Little Rock, AR, The Hall
02/22/24: Kansas City, MO, The Truman
02/23/24: St LSt Louis, MO, Delmar Hall
02/24/24: Nashville, TN, Ryman Auditorium w/ Kenny Wayne Shepherd
02/25/24: Chattanooga, TN, Barrelhouse Ballroom
03/08/24: Uncasville, CT, Mohegan Sun Casino
03/09/24: Fall River, MA, Narrows Center For The Arts
03/10/24: Albany, NY, Hart Theatre at The Egg
03/13/24: Ridgefield, CT, Ridgefield Playhouse
03/14/24: Boston, MA, The Wilbur
03/15/24: New York, NY, The Beacon Theatre w/ Kenny Wayne Shepherd
They say sometimes you need to go away to come back and for fans of Long Island’s most promising powerhouse fusion trio Baked Shrimp, you can only hope that’s true.
After tirelessly traveling the roads, sailing the seas and playing music together for the last seven years, 2024 finds the band in uncharted waters. Murky and unclear. Fresh off the release of their 5th, yes 5th, studio album, fans of the band (known as the Crustnation), were both surprised and saddened to hear that Baked Shrimps’ current tour would also be their last. But before you can stick a fork in them, the tasty band with the tasty jams served up one final course on Friday, February 9th, giving longtime Albany supporters one final chance to dance at the packed-out Hollow Bar + Restaurant, a venue that’s played an important part in the bands storied history.
Baked Shrimp performed their final Albany show on 2/9/24 at The Hollow.
The double dose of entertainment started off proper with an opening set from Albany’s Glass Pony. Supporting the release of their latest album Washed Away, the self-described ‘psychedelic groove circus’ had fans both new and old mesmerized by their infectiously danceable tunes from the very start. Comprised of Eddie Hotailing (guitar/vocals), Chanda Dewey (drums), Jeff Picarazzi (bass) and Greg Pittz (lead guitar), the band has seen a noticeable growth in both their popularity and in their song writing over the last year. Showcasing their dynamic range and versatility with a set of mostly original songs like “Greenhorn Blues,” “Hypnos” -> “Somewhere to Go” and “Doppler,” it was Glass Pony’s searing rendition of the H.G. Wells/War of the Worlds-inspired jam “Grover’s Mill 1938” that was perhaps most memorable.
Glassy Pony’s Eddie Hotailing connects with the Albany audience on 2/9/24.
Humble and quiet off stage, when frontman Eddie Hotailing is in the grips of performing, he becomes like a rabid animal unleashed. Whether jumping off the stage and jamming out in the crowd, climbing up the walls or on top of Chanda Dewey’s drum kit, feeding off the energy and connecting with the audience is what he does best. Perched high atop The Hollow stage with his guitar in the air, Hotaling has never been more magnetic. Paying tribute to one of the groups biggest influences, Glass Pony would finish out their set with a cover of God Street Wine’s “Nightingale.” A great start to a great night of rock ‘n roll music indeed.
Glass Pony kicked things off proper at The Hollow on 2/9/24.
After a brief set break, promoter Greg Bell of Guthrie Bell Productions took the stage to say a few words about Baked Shrimp. An early believer in the band, Bell is largely responsible for bringing them to the Capital Region so many times over the years, but sadly, this night would be his last. Introducing the band by saying he loves these guys and calling them “the most polite fucking band he’s ever met in his life,” Baked Shrimp jumped right into the deep end with a near 12 minute confessional-like rendition of “More Or Less.” It was clear the guys weren’t just going through the motions. Every note had added meaning and things felt sentimental from the start.
Weird Times: Bassist Maz Perrotti filled in for Baked Shrimp’s Scott Reill on 2/9/24.
Briefly pausing to acknowledge the elephant in the room, the band took a moment to welcome bass player Max Perrotti to the “Crustnation” family. Filling in for original Shrimp bassist Scott Reill on this night, the amount of material and notes Perrotti was able to learn is a bit mindboggling. While the band has kindly requested privacy regarding the specifics of the situation, it was certainly weird seeing someone other than Scott holding down the low end. Perhaps intentionally building on that theme, the infectious opening licks of “Weird Times” and the deep improvisational jam that came from it further laid the blueprints of the unpredictability yet to come. After showing off a bit of country-style pickin’ and counting their “Lucky Stars,” Baked Shrimp would go all the way back to their earliest years with “Touché” from their 2018 debut album Feast of Delight.
Baked Shrimp’s Jared Cowen threw everything but The Wrench (his custom axe) at The Hollow on 2/9/24.
Seamlessly segueing from the psychedelic vibes into their first call-back cover of the night, the band jammed on the “Peter Gunn Theme” in a nod to their Blues Brothers-inspired Halloween set that took place at this same venue in 2023. Fans were eating it up and dancing their tushies off as the band brought it back to the final verse of “Touché,” which I could have sworn also contained teases of “The End” by The Doors.
Suddenly stopping the show and announcing he simply can’t go on any longer without Bones, lead guitarist and frontman Jared Cowen then introduced the Albany audience to the band’s latest amusing muse, a replica skeleton torso made of, you guessed it, bones. Placed atop the bass drum, it didn’t end there as this will forever be remembered as the night local artist Kosmic Kris introduced Bones to Legs, a rather creepy looking mannequin base covered in various inks. Paired together, somehow Bones and Legs just worked, like love at first sight, almost as if it were meant to be.
Bones got a Leg up during Baked Shrimp’s final Albany performance on 2/9/24.
The two props would remain on stage for the remainder of the show as charismatic drummer Jager Soss took over on vocal duties for the down and dirty rocker “Molly Ann.” Baked Shrimp would bring the tremendous first set to a close with the lead single “Chop Suey” from 2024’s final self-titled album. Catchy as hell and even better live. Working in more call-backs to previous Halloween shows, “Chop Suey” also contained “Scooby Doo Theme” teases (Scooby Doo 2018), and a “Ding-Dong the Witch is Dead” jam (Wizard of Oz 2019).
Drummer Jager Soss performing in Albany on 2/9/24.
Following a quick 10-minute set break, Baked Shrimp returned for Set II with purpose and vigor. After launching into an extended “Pork Etiquette” -> “Dragostea din tei” -> “Pork Etiquette” dance sandwich, the band called back to their 2021 NRBQ themed Halloween show with the rarely played “Howard Johnson’s Got his HoJo Workin.” From fun to introspective, there was a noticeable shift in The Hollow’s vibe when the band mellowed out on “The Victim” before lifting the mood back up with John Fogerty’s ‘can’t miss’ singalong “Centerfield,” which the band first played at their baseball themed Halloween show back in 2020. You can watch fan shot video of that in the video clip below.
Put Me in Coach: Baked Shrimp had the whole crowd singing along to their cover of “Centerfield” on 2/9/24.
After leading the crowd through another song from the new album called “Can’t Cut the Mustard,” the bittersweet feeling that the end was near suddenly felt very palpable. Expressing a genuine and heartfelt “thank you” to the audience for all the years of good memories and support, Cowen would mention how special this night felt to him and his hopes people will keep up with the guys down the line as they will still be out there making music in one form or another. After getting the ‘OK’ from both Greg Bell and Bones, Baked Shrimp would encore for the final time in Albany with a funked out nod to their 2022 Spinal Tap show with “All the Way Home,” before closing with a nostalgic speech about the importance of friends and loved ones, forgetting about those ‘weird’ times and to be present in the moment, to smile, to dance with strangers and the importance of supporting your local music scene. Pouring everything left in the tank into the powerful and soaring anthem “Rock Bottom,” which included subtle Umphrey’s McGee “All In Time” and Led Zeppelin “Immigrant Song” song teases, Baked Shrimp stood tall at the end, proud and powerful and completely exhausted as the marathon performance came to a close just after 2am.
Baked Shrimp serving it up in Albany on 2/9/24.
What. A. Show. Incredible musicians and even better people. While this chapter of Baked Shrimp may be coming to a close, it’s clear there’s still lots of music and lots of talent left inside these guys. It’s been a privilege watching them grow and getting to know them a bit over the years. From their earliest gigs at hole-in-the-wall clubs, to gracing the stage at major festivals like Peach, Northlands, Adirondack Independence, and the Great South Bay, to teaching us how to “Love Like Lon” at their own inaugural LonCon Festival, we here at NYS Music wish nothing but this best for all the members of this band. If hard work truly pays off, one day Baked Shrimp will surely be swimming in riches as bountiful as the heart of the ocean itself. Don’t take it from me though, listen for yourself! You can stream the entire show from The Hollow now on Bandcamp or at the link below. Baked Shrimp is scheduled to play their final show on Saturday, February 17, 2024 in Bridgeport Connecticut in what will surly be an emotional evening.
Baked Shrimp | February 9, 2024 | The Hollow | Albany, NY
Set One: More or Less, Weird Times, Lucky Stars, Touché -> Peter Gunn Theme -> Touché, Molly Ann, Chop Suey. Set Two: Pork Etiquette -> Dragostea din tei -> Pork Etiquette, Howard Johnson’s Got his HoJo Workin’, The Victim, Centerfield, Can’t Cut the Mustard. Encore: All the Way Home, Rock Bottom. Notes: Entire show featured Max Perrotti on bass, filling in for Scott Reill. This show paid a tribute to Baked Shrimp’s 6 Halloween performances which all took place in New York, 2 of the most recent being at The Hollow. “Peter Gunn Theme” from Blues Brothers 2023, “Chop Suey” contained “Scooby Doo Theme” teases (Scooby Doo 2018), and a “Ding-Dong the Witch is Dead” jam (Wizard of Oz 2019), “Howard Johnson’s Got his HoJo Workin’” from NRBQ 2021, “Centerfield” from Baseball 2020, and “All the Way Home” from Spinal Tap 2022. “Bones” and his new partner “Legs” were introduced and brought on stage prior to “Molly Ann.”
Glass Pony | February 9, 2024 | The Hollow | Albany, NY
Blues musician Marcus King has announced the release of his new album titled, Mood Swings releasing April 5. Along with the album, Marcus King plans to tour throughout North America and Europe starting March 7. The tour will kick off at Love Rocks NYC and feature 6 dates in New York State.
New album Mood Swings will feature 11 tracks and will be showcased during the upcoming tour. The album was produced by legendary producer Rick Rubin who says the singing and guitar playing on the album are “from another planet.”
Marcus King is known for his electro drum stomp, his richly soul vocals, and his bluesy, jazzy guitar playing. His new album, however, takes his audience down a new path of sound. King combines elements as diverse as modern pop, R&B, aughts hip hop, piano driven classic rock and the warm production and symphonic instrumentation of classic era soul, R&B and jazz.
The tour will feature six dates in NY including, Manhattan for the Love Rocks NYC benefit, Port Chester, Syracuse, Darien Lake, Albany, and Brooklyn.
Marcus King Mood Swings Tour Dates
March 7, 2024 – Love Rocks NYC – New York, NY
March 9, 2024 – The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY
April 6, 2024 – U.S. Bank Stadium – Minneapolis, MN w/ Chris Stapleton
April 13, 2024 – 10 Annual Major Rager – Augusta, GA
April 19, 2024 – Moon Crush “Pink Moon” Festival – Miramar Beach, FL
May 06, 2024 – The Moore Theater – Seattle, WA
May 07, 2024 – Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR
May 08, 2024 – Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR
May 10, 2024 – The Masonic – San Francisco, CA
May 11, 2024 – Grand Sierra Ballroom – Reno, NV
May 14, 2024 – The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA
May 15, 2024 – The Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ
May 17, 2024 – The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
May 18, 2024 – Fillmore Auditorium – Denver, CO
May 22, 2024 – The Monument – Rapid City, SD w/ Chris Stapleton
May 24, 2024 – Denny Sanford PREMIER Center – Sioux Falls, SD w/ Chris Stapleton
May 25, 2024 – Harrah’s Stir Cove – Council Bluffs, IA
May 26, 2024 – EPIC Event Center – Green Bay, WI*
May 29, 2024 – The Pageant – St Louis, MO
May 30, 2024 – GLC Live at 20 Monroe – Grand Rapids, MI
May 31, 2024 – Blossom Music Center – Cleveland OH w/ Chris Stapleton
June 01, 2024 – Railbird Festival – Lexington, KY
June 02, 2024 – Salt Shed – Chicago, IL
June 04, 2024 – College Street Music Hall – New Haven, CT*
June 06, 2024 – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion – Philadelphia, PA w/ Chris Stapleton
June 07, 2024 – Jiffy Lube Live – Bristow, VA w/ Chris Stapleton
June 08, 2024 – Landmark Theatre – Syracuse, NY
June 10, 2024 – Ruby Amphitheater – Morgantown, WV*
June 12, 2024 – T-Mobile Center – Kansas City, MO w/ Chris Stapleton
June 13, 2024 – Thunder Ridge Nature Arena – Ridgefield, MO w/ Chris Stapleton
June 14, 2024 – The Criterion – Oklahoma City, OK
June 15, 2024 – Globe Life Field – Arlington, TX w/ Chris Stapleton
July 11, 2024 – Darien Lake Amphitheater – Darien Center, NY w/ Chris Stapleton
July 12, 2024 – The Pavilion at Star Lake – Pittsburgh, PA w/ Chris Stapleton
July 13, 2024 – Palace Theatre – Albany, NY
July 16, 2024 – Egyptian Room – Indianapolis, IN
July 18, 2024 – Huntington Center – Toledo, OH w/ Chris Stapleton
July 19, 2024 – Schottenstein Center – Columbus, OH w/ Chris Stapleton
July 20, 2024 – The Fillmore Detroit – Detroit, MI
September 04, 2024 – Orpheum – Vancouver, BC
September 06, 2024 – Grey Eagle Event Center – Calgary, AB
September 07, 2024 – Midway Music Hall – Edmonton, AB
September 09, 2024 – Burton Cummings Theatre – Winnipeg, MB
September 13, 2024 – Massey Hall – Toronto, ON
September 14, 2024 – London Music Hall – London, ON
September 17, 2024 – Kemba Live! – Columbus, OH
September 19, 2024 – Warner Theatre – Washington, D.C.
September 20, 2024 – Warner Theatre – Washington, D.C.
September 21, 2024 – The Ritz – Raleigh, NC
September 24, 2024 – Avondale Brewing – Birmingham, AL
September 26, 2024 – Riverside Theater – Milwaukee, WI
September 28, 2024 – The Sylvee, Madison, WI
September 29, 2024 – Vibrant Music Hall – Des Moines, IA
October 07, 2024 – Roxian Theatre – McKees Rock, PA
October 09, 2024 – State Theatre – Portland, ME
October 11, 2024 – House of Blues Boston – Boston, MA
October 12, 2024 – The Fillmore – Philadelphia, PA
October 13, 2024 – Brooklyn Paramount – Brooklyn, NY
October 17, 2024 – La Riviera – Madrid, Spain
October 18, 2024 – Sala Apolo – Barcelona, Spain
October 20, 2024 – Fabrique Milano – Milan, Italy
October 21, 2024 – Komplex 457 – Zurich, Switzerland
October 23, 2024 – Le Transbordeur – Lyon, France
October 25, 2024 – Essigfabrik – Cologne, Germany
October 27, 2024 – Markthalle – Hamburg, Germany
October 28, 2024 – De Roma – Antwerp, Belgium
October 29, 2024 – AFAS Live – Amsterdam, Netherlands
October 31, 2024 – Metropol – Berlin, Germany
November 01, 2024 – The Grey Hall – Copenhagen, Denmark
November 03, 2024 – Bataclan – Paris, France
November 05, 2024 – Eventim Apollo – London, UK
November 06, 2024 – Albert Hall – Manchester, UK
November 07, 2024 – Barrowland Ballroom – Glasgow, UK
November 09, 2024 – O2 Institute – Birmingham, UK
November 10, 2024 – The Great Hall – Cardiff, UK
November 12, 2024 – Olympia – Dublin, Ireland
Tickets for Marcus King’s North America dates will be available starting with Citi presale beginning on Monday, February 12. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning on Friday, February 16 at 10 am at LiveNation.com.
For More information on Marcus King or his upcoming tour, click here.
Sooner or later, they say everything old is eventually new again. This seems particularly true when it comes to the surging revival of Americana/Bluegrass music and on Wednesday, January 24, concert fans in Albany found that out firsthand. Sharing the stage at The Hollow for a co-headlining night of frantic finger pickin’ and foot stompin’ brilliance, Ashville, NC’s Fireside Collective and Nashville’s Airshow demonstrated beyond the shadow of a doubt why they are two of the hottest emerging forces in ‘Newgrass” music today.
Fireside Collective brought the heat to The Hollow on 1/24/24.
First on the docket put together by Guthrie Bell Productions was Airshow. Originally formed in Reading, PA, it wasn’t until childhood best friends Steve Gallagher (guitar/vocal) and Cody Chelius (mandolin/vocals) met up with Bill Baker (bass/vocals) and John Rodrigue (drums/vocals) in Nashville that their high energy jams really started to soar. Two studio albums and a boatload of live recordings later, Airshow finally landed in Albany for the first time.
Nashville’s Airshow made their Albany debut at The Hollow on 1/24/24.
After filling up their bellies at The Hollow’s adjoing restaurant, the guys quickly started burning off the calories by opening with “Burning the Hardwood Floor.” As tardy fans slowly filled in the room while the band worked their way through numbers like “Up Dog,” “On’ry and Mean” and “Up in the Clouds,” it wasn’t long before you could see what all the fuss was about. More jammy and electric sounding than traditional Bluegrass, the Oysterhead shirt worn by Chelius gave the band instant street credit and signified they were students of improvisation by some of the best to ever do it.
Through a bevy of effects pedals, guitarist Steve Gallagher effortlessly made his acoustic sound like a raunchy electric axe, which paid huge dividends on songs like the funky “Skydiver” and “Up on the Ridge.” After showcasing their chops and technicality on the high-octane barn burner called “Spider Bite,” Airshow would ignite the crowd even further by their hilarious synchronized dance moves on their final number, “Up On The Hill.” An excellent set that surpassed my expectations, this certainly was not your father’s bluegrass I was expecting. It was better.
Cody Chelius of Airshow performing at The Hollow on 1/24/24.
As the pouring rain outside The Hollow continued, things inside were just starting to heat up. Making their return to the Capital Region after wowing fans at last year’s Eastbound Throwdown and again at Cohoes Music Hall opening for Kitchen Dwellers, Fireside Collective have quickly earned a reputation for their ferocious and infectious live shows. Consisting of Joe Cicero (guitar); Jesse Iaquinto (mandolin); Tommy Maher (resonator guitar) and Carson White (bass), this tour also marks the latest addition to Collective by way of drummer Mike Tillis.
Fireside Collective performing in Albany on 1/24/24.
Kicking things into high gear with a “Devil’s On the Hillside” > “Choctaw Hayride” combo, the band was firing on all cylinders from the very start. Seamlessly trading vocal harmonies and instrumental leads at the drop of a hat, the band jelled together like a well-oiled machine. A tender, more, country styled vibe emerged on “Done Deal” from the bands 2020 album Elements, before a stellar re-imaged cover of “It’s All Over Now Baby Blue” endeared itself upon unsuspecting ears resulting in big time smiles both on stage and off.
Fireside Collective performing at The Hollow on 1/24/24.
Shifting focus to songs from the latest Fireside Collective album Across the Divide, “Let it Ride” threw caution to the wind, while extended jams on “Your Song Goes On” and “When You Fall” showcased some of the hottest licks and best interplay of the night between Tommy Maher and Jesse Iaquinto. After “Don’t Stop Lovin’ Me” came a special treat for those in attendance at The Hollow. Announcing a brand-new song saved for this specific night, the band would debut “Down in the Hollow” in the most appropriate and satisfying way possible. Check out fan shot footage of that exciting moment in the clip below.
Throwing it back to an oldie but a goodie from Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers on “These Old Blues,” Fireside Collective kept it classy while paying proper respect to the forefathers of the Americana/folk genre. From the past to the present, the extended jam out of “And the Rain Came Down” felt like hearing a bit of the future. This was Newgrass and the fun-loving crowd at The Hollow couldn’t get enough. So much so that local promoter Greg Bell of Guthrie Bell Productions approached the stage and asked the boys to play one more. Happy to oblige and perhaps pander to the obvious Deadheads in the audience, Fireside Collective spontaneously uncorked a 12-minute rendition of the Grateful Dead classic “Scarlet Begonias” to bring the already hot show to a scorching close. Watch fan shot footage of that in the clip below.
Guthrie Bell Productions does it again, I mean what a show! Two great young bands with musical chops and maturity far beyond their years. I suppose I walked in expecting some sort of hump day hoedown, but what I got felt more akin to a Saturday night rock ‘n roll rager. With choice cover songs, original debuts and a gorgeous commemorative poster designed Chelsea Housand, Fireside Collective and Airshow at The Hollow was an absolute barn burner.
Fireside Collective | January 24, 2024 | The Hollow | Albany, NY
Setlist: Devils On the Hillside > Choctaw Hayride, Done Deal, It’s All Over Now Baby Blue, Let It Ride, Your Song Goes On, When You Fail > Jam, Don’t Stop Lovin’ Me, Down in the Hollow*, These Old Blues, And the Rain Came Down > Jam
Encore: Scarlet Begonias
*Original debut
Airshow | January 24, 2024 | The Hollow | Albany, NY
Setlist: Burning the Hardwood Floor, Up Dog, Lonesome On’ry and Mean, Up in the Clouds, Skydiver, Up on the Ridge, Greenway, Spider Bite, Up on the Hill.
Shooting for the moon with infinite potential, Asbury Parks’ next big thing is Fungkshui. Not stopping there, they may also be the next big thing in the Capital Region too. With frequent visits to the area, including recent high octane rock performances at Putnam Place and the Rye Bread Music Festival (RFB), the fun-loving psychedelic prog-funk quintet is quickly and consistently earning high praise from high people in high places.
Fungkshui performing at Lark Hall in Albany 1/25/2024.
Whether Fungkshui (pronounced funk shway) are playing to packed clubs along the boardwalks of New Jersey, or randomly stopping in for an unannounced happy hour improv set at The Eleven, it seems the band has found their ‘home away from home’ at Albany’s Lark Hall. As friendly with their staff as they are with their fans, Fungkshui originally made a good first impression at the hall last March while opening for acclaimed avant-garde jazz trio LaMP. Later returning for “Funk Night” with the E-Block in September, NYS Music was there for the for their most recent throwdown on Thursday, January 25th.
Teaming up with sonic astrological improv jammers Quantum Cosmic, a new experimental side project featuring members of Annie in the Water, Raisinhead and The Switch, the dynamic pairing of bands proved to be the perfect combination of good vibes and good times. On a night full of other-worldly jams, technical proficiency, soaring and sublime guitar solos, guest sit-ins, and enough funk to make you want to float around the room and dance with total strangers, both bands turned in peak performances that you ‘outta be kicking yourself for missing.
Blasting off a little later than the advertised 8pm start, Quantum Cosmic quickly made up for lost time by inviting the audience to help telepathically guide them through their all-improvised set. Encouraging listeners to share their positive and creative thoughts as well as birthday wishes to drummer Joshua West, “Just hopefully you’re not a dick about it, ” joked guitarist Michael Lashomb, who also plays with the ever-busy West in Annie in the Water.
Along with Matt Richards on keys, Raisinhead guitarist Ted Grey and bassist James Woods, the band who hasn’t played the same show twice and gambles on “making it up as they go along’ would surprise everyone by also inviting up fellow Annie in the Water/Space Carnival bassist Chris Meier for a memorable trippy dip on the AITW OG staple “The River,” in which the birthday boy West hilariously changed (forgot?) some of the lyrics. After coming back down to earth for a brief intermission, things at the hall were about to get even more Fungky.
Chris Meier sits in with Quantum Cosmic at Lark Hall 1/25/2024.
Barreling their way towards Nectars in Burlington, VT, the road to get there saw Fungkshui work their way through New York by way of gigs at Snug Harbor in New Paltz, an unannounced acoustic set at The Eleven and finally, their fiery headlining set in Albany. Kicking things into gear with a technically proficient and impressive “Meat Salad” >“Ready To Go” > “Power Out” jam sandwich, it was immediately evident what all the fuss over this band is about. Part punk, part prog and overflowing with all kinds of primal groove, there is no denying the twin ax attack and chemistry of guitarists Jack Reed and Max Vitale. Along with the luscious locks of Jon Scheps on the low end, drummer Bobby Reilly and the band’s most recent addition of Dan Hogan on keys, Fungkshui took the Lark Hall stage by sheer force.
Fungkshui performing at Lark Hall in Albany 1/25/2024.
Feeling confident and comfortable in the surroundings, Fungkshui would take the opportunity to debut a new song called “Run It” before getting down and dirty on “Barefoot Blues” and the playful “Dan Dan The Waterman.” One of the true highlights of the night came when the band invited Annie in the Water/Quantum Cosmic keyboardist Matt Richards out for some dueling piano action on Dan Hogan’s well-lit rig. Catharsis through collaboration shining through disco ball lights and huge smiles beaming from the faces of everyone on stage, it was the kind of magic musical moment that makes Lark Hall such a special place to see a show.
Matt Richards sits in with Fungkshui in Albany 1/25/2024.
An unexpected guilty pleasure came next in the form of Alice DeeJay’s “Better Off Alone,” which had the whole room dancing around each other in circles. After successfully showing their hand, Fungkshui would then “Ante Up” and “Fade Away” before going deep into the night with one last party jam, “That’ll Do.”
Matt Richards sits in with Fungkshui in Albany 1/25/2024.
With such a formidable relationship already forming between the band and the venue, you almost can’t help but feel optimistic there will be many more magical Fungkshui moments on Lark for years to come. Fresh off the release of their first full length album “Ready to Go,” it’s clear this band is just that. Buckle up in 2024, Fungkshui is about to blast off, and what can I say, I’m totally here for it.
Watch fan shot footage of Fungkshui performing “That’ll Do” in the video clip below:
Fungkshui | January 25, 2024 | Lark Hall | Albany
Setlist: Meat Salad > Ready To Go > Power Out, Run it•, Barefoot Blues > Dan Dan The Water Man, Didn’t Know Anything, Better Off Alone*, Ante Up, Fades Away, That’ll Do
*= Alice DeeJay Cover •= Original Song Debut
Quantum Cosmic | January 25, 2024 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY
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.”
The Albany Symphony Orchestra announced a February concert to Celebrate 100 years of Rhapsody in Blue with Kevin Cole. The concert will take place on Feb. 10 at the Proctors Theatre.
The Albany Symphony celebrates its living musical heritage through its adventurous programming, commissioning, and recording of new work, and broad community engagement beyond the concert hall. The Two-time Grammy winning Symphony will host a 100th birthday party concert for Rhapsody in Blue, featuring Kevin Cole, the world’s foremost interpreter of George Gershwin’s piano music. The program will include, An American in Paris, Carlos Simon’s AMEN! and Simon Says, and a world premiere trombone concerto by Jack Frerer.
Cole, who has performed with over 100 orchestras worldwide, has appeared several times with the Albany Symphony. He was the first pianist to perform all four of Gershwin’s works for piano and orchestra with the Symphony.
The concert also coincides with the release of a Naxos recording David Alan Miller created with Cole and the National Orchestra Institute Philharmonic. The concert will also feature a trombone concerto created by Jack Frerer and featuring the principal trombonist of the Albany Symphony, Greg Spirdopoulos.
Founded in 1930 in New York’s Capital Region, the Albany Symphony serves a diverse regional audience covering more than seven counties and parts of three states. In addition to an eight-concert subscription season, an annual multi-day American Music Festival including performances by the orchestra’s genre-bending ensemble Dogs of Desire, and a host of education and community outreach events, the Albany Symphony regularly serves as an ambassador for new music and Upstate innovation beyond the Capital Region.
Recognized as one of America’s most innovative and creative orchestras, Albany Symphony is renowned for virtuosic performances featuring classic orchestral favorites, lesser-heard masterworks, and a diverse array of new music from leading and emerging voices of today.
The concert will take place on Feb. 10 at the Proctors Theatre and Tickets are available here.
