Rochester born singer-songwriter, producer, and harpist Mikaela Davis has announced a solo and acoustic tour throughout the northeast, including four stops in New York State.
Multi-talented vocalist, producer, songwriter, and harpist Mikaela Davis has been making waves since her initial release Delivery in 2018. Graduating from the Crane School of Music with a degree in harp performance, Davis bends the rules of genre and sound to her will with each release as she melds her classical training with 60s pop melodies, psychedelia, and driving folk rock.
Since her debut in the industry, Davis has shared the stage with the likes of Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Christian McBride, Bon Iver, Lake Street Dive, and Circles Around the Sun alongside her band members Alex Coté, Cian McCarthy, Shane McCarthy, and Kurt Johnson.
photo by Daniel Bocchino
Mikaela’s upcoming endeavor, however, takes on a less explored and much more personal shape- she has announced a series of six shows throughout the northeast that will feature John Lee Shannon of Circles Around the Sun on the guitar, herself, and her harp. The stripped-back series of six evenings on some of the northeast’s most beloved stages will allow for Davis’ harp background to shine even brighter.
Experimenting with new ideas as well as reimagining some old, she will be making appearances in Albany, Homer, Kingston, and Rochester over the course of the tour’s run in a string of special shows that fans new and old will not want to miss.
Tickets for Davis’ upcoming tour are on sale now, including shows at Ophelia’s in Albany on November 19, the Center for the Arts of Homer on November 20, Senate Garage in Kingston on November 23, and ARTISANworks in Rochester on November 24. For more information and ticket sales, visit her website here.
Mikaela Davis Solo Tour Dates
November 19: Ophelia’s – Albany, NY
November 20: Center for the Arts of Homer – Homer, NY
Alternative/Reggae group Badfish have announced the “Gimme the Gold Tour 2025” which sees dates in Buffalo, Saratoga and Brooklyn in February.
For nearly 25 years, Badfish have channeling the music and live performance of reggae/punk/ska legends Sublime with a reverence to the ingenuity of Sublime’s songs – and a vibe all their own. Sublime is arguably one of the most influential and enduring acts of their generation. In 2001, Rhode Island-based Badfish was formed as a fun project with one goal: to perform the Sublime songs they knew and loved for fans who shared that love. It didn’t take long for this “fun project” to develop into a full-time touring endeavor that persists to this day.
Badfish regularly tallies over a hundred shows per year, performing at large-scale festivals and headlining theaters across the US. Now after two decades of celebrating the music of Sublime, Badfish is ready to kick into another gear with the release of some exciting new original tracks on Ineffable Records. Badfish recently released its second new track – the anthemic “F You Pay Me” (featuring Grieves) – as the follow up to the band’s first single “High With You” (featuring Little Stranger). The crowd’s enthusiastic response to these new songs makes them feel right at home alongside Sublime staples in the Badfish set.
Harnessing this new creative energy, Badfish is set to gear up for their 2025 “Gimme the Gold Tour.” The tour takes the boys around the country where they’ll surely keep the vibes high for some familiar faces and many new ones as well. Badfish’s tour sees three dates in NY on this tour. Firstly, in Buffalo at Town Ballroom on February 2, next in Saratoga Springs at Putnam Den on Feb 20, and lastly on Feb 21 at Brooklyn Bowl in NYC.
Badfish 2025 Gimme the Gold Tour Dates
1/23: Ardmore, PA | Ardmore Music Hall 1/24: New Haven, CT | Toad’s Place 1/25: Sayreville, NJ | Starland Ballroom 1/29: Charlottesville, VA | Jefferson Theater 1/30: Falls Church, VA | State Theater 1/31: Virginia Beach, VA | Elevation 27 2/1: Charlotte, NC | Amos Southend 2/2: Charleston, SC | Charleston Pour House 2/5: Oklahoma City, OK | Tower Theater 2/6: Tulsa, OK | Cains Ballroom 2/7: St Louis, MO | The Pageant 2/8: Fort Wayne, IN | The Clyde Theater 2/12: Columbus, OH | Newport Music Hall 2/13: Pittsburgh, PA | Thunderbird Music Hall 2/14: Buffalo, NY | Town Ballroom 2/15: Cleveland, OH | House of Blues 2/16: Wyandotte, MI | District 142 2/19: Killington, VT | Pickle Barrel 2/20: Saratoga Springs, NY | Putnam Den 2/21: Brooklyn, NY | Brooklyn Bowl 2/22: Boston, MA | Paradise Rock Club
For more information on Badfish and to purchase tickets to their upcoming 2025 “Gimme the Gold Tour,” click here.
Albany Symphony has announced a dazzling new program for the month of November which features outstanding and captivating works presented November 16 and 17. The concerts take place at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.
The November concert features Smetana’s “Moldau”, Joan Tower’s Cello Concerto, “A New Day” and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.” These shows take place on November 16 at 7:30 PM and November 17 at 3:00 PM. The evening opens with the flowing, lyrical, “Moldau,” by Czech composer, Bedřich Smetana, which evokes the Vlatava River (the Moldau). The piece evokes the composer’s deep love of his homeland.
“A New Day,” written in 2021 by GRAMMY Award-Winning composer Joan Tower, will feature cellist Raman Ramakrishnan. The piece is an appreciative, hopeful, and nostalgic work of art reflecting on love and a long, fruitful relationship. Joan wrote the piece with the thought in mind that this life of love lasts only a limited time, and a duo must appreciate every moment together until the end. Joan Tower is widely regarded as one of the most important American composers living today. Her works have been commissioned by major ensembles, soloists, and orchestras across the country and the world.
Composer Joan Tower
The evening concludes with one of the most beloved symphonies of all time, Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.” The piece was composed in 1893 while Dvořák was the director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York City. It premiered at Carnegie Hall to ecstatic acclaim. Dvorak conceived the piece as a blueprint for future American composers to find their uniquely American voices. It is an anthem to America and reflects Dvorak’s great interest in Spirituals and Native American Music.
The 2024-2025 season runs through the American Music Festival in June. It includes the Water Music NY: More Voices Festival, a Symphony Side-by-Side with the Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO), Magic of Christmas, Tiny Tots concerts for young people, and more. The shows on Nov 16 and 17 are ones you’ll certainly regret missing. These shows highlight legendary classical pieces that have shaped the way composition is done. Seeing an art form like this is timeless.
For more information on the Albany Symphony and to purchase tickets for the upcoming November 16 and 17 concerts, click here.
The Palace Theatre, in partnership with the City of Albany’s 2024 Cash for Coats Drive, welcome the Nolanauts on Friday, November 8.
The free performance enjoines funk music lovers in the Capital District to support CA$H FOR COATS, with donations of $25 or more garnering an invite to a special VIP Reception area with complimentary food provided by The Hollow Bar + Kitchen.
The Cash for Coats program is a community-based initiative designed to collect funds to purchase new winter clothing items for Albany school children in need. Donations can be made the following ways.
Nolanauts is a fast rising, high octane, 10-piece rockin’ funk collective fired up about celebrating the joyful historical and contemporary fire of New Orleans music, sharing it with fans of all ages while creating a vibrant party atmosphere wherever they go. The ensemble features passionate, committed musicians of different generations playing music by Crescent City legends, from 50-60-year- old chestnuts to more contemporary songs.
Starting with a livestream presentation at The Linda WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio in Albany, fans, NoLaNauts have performed at such mid-size venues as Frog Alley in Schenectady, Putnam Place in Saratoga Springs, Lark Hall in Albany (including an opening slots for NOLA legends, Glen David Andrews & John “Papa” Gros), Cohoes Music Hall in Cohoes, NY and at the Rye Bread Music & Arts Festival. The band dropped their debut original single “Early Warning” in February 2023 and has three upcoming singles set for release throughout 2024.
The Palace Sessions is a live music series featuring some of our favorite regional & national acts performing in different spaces within the historic performing arts center. The Palace Sessions was conceived in 2020 through a partnership with the City of Albany & Mirth Films as an outlet to provide live music to the Capital Region (and entertain ourselves!) during a time when venues were closed and live music was difficult, if not impossible to come by as well as raise money to support the Palace Theatre.
The Palace Sessions lives on with free live performances in the Palace Lobby, open to the public and aired online.Past Palace Sessions performers include moe., Eastbound Jesus, Annie in the Water, Thomas Nicholas, Moriah Formica, and more… To enjoy past episodes of the Palace Sessions online, visit here.
On a crisp fall day full of anticipation for Phish’s return to Albany, a mist hung over the pre-show festivities with the news of the passing of Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh. The chatter of whether this would be noted or honored by Phish – when, and how – was debated by fans gathered around South Pearl from Beaver St. to Hudson Ave.
photo by Conor McMahon
Those conversations were quickly put to rest with the opening notes of “Box of Rain,” Phish’s first ever performance of the Lesh and Robert Hunter penned tune, and the first time for the four members to cover the Grateful Dead in more than 26 years (not including Bob Weir’s 2016 Nashville sit-in)
And with that, the show was off and running. Following the emotional “Box of Rain,” Phish dropped “The Moma Dance” into a traditional second slot, followed by a boisterous “Free.” The flow was set early with this trio of tunes as the first three-night Phish run in Albany was underway.
photo by Conor McMahon
A mellowing “Dirt” gave way to “Wolfman’s Brother,” which Lesh notably performed a stellar version with Phish in April 1999 at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco. “No Man in No Man’s Land” and a deep “Theme From the Bottom” filled in next, with “Steam” and “Sand” closing the first set.
Setlist art by Coventry Phish
The second set began just before 10pm with a nearly 10 minute “Blaze On” (9:59 to be exact), giving way to the one of the biggest jams of the night in “Piper,” with a “Carol of the Bells” tease in “Piper” bringing Christmas a little early to the Capital Region.
photo by Conor McMahon
Segueing from a steady “Piper” jam into “Light,” the second set vehicle of “Tweezer” kept the improv-heavy set flowing, dipping into “The Wedge,” and a pair of songs perfect for Halloween, “The Howling” and “Monsters.” And while “Backwards Down the Numberline” could have closed the set, a fan on the rail very likely influenced the closing rocker found in “Carini.”
photo by Conor McMahon
An encore that kept the show rolling close to midnight began with “Sleeping Monkey,” the first in more than two years. Just when you think they’d wrap things up with “Tweezer Reprise,” the opening riffs of “Ghost” appeared, pushing the expected encore into the realm of the unexpected, finally seguing into “Tweeprise,” just as Freddie Freeman ended Game 1 of the World Series with a grand slam. Not the ending Yankees fans wanted, but a celebration nonetheless for Phish fans in Albany or home on the couch.
photo by Conor McMahon
Phish continues their run on Saturday night. Get the scoop on what to do before and after the shows here.
Box of Rain made its Phish debut after the passing of Phil Lesh earlier in the day. Carol of the Bells was teased in Piper. Mike teased the bass line from Shakedown Street in The Howling. This show was a benefit for Divided Sky Foundation.
Phish – MVP Arena, Albany, NY – Saturday, October 26, 2024
Set 1: Possum, Sigma Oasis > Back on the Train, Nothing, Stash, Bouncing Around the Room, Tube > Bathtub Gin, More
Set 2: Prince Caspian > Down with Disease[1] > Ruby Waves > Fuego > What’s the Use? > Golden Age > Lonely Trip, Harry Hood
Encore: Golgi Apparatus > Slave to the Traffic Light
[1] Unfinished.
Trey teased Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 during Back on the Train and In Memory of Elizabeth Reed during Stash. Nothing was played for the first time since June 1, 2022 (118 shows). Down With Disease was unfinished. Page teased The Little Drummer Boy at the end of Harry Hood. This show was a benefit for Divided Sky Foundation.
Phish – MVP Arena, Albany, NY – Sunday, October 27, 2024
Set 1: Heavy Things, What’s Going Through Your Mind, Access Me, My Friend, My Friend, My Sweet One, Limb By Limb, Mountains in the Mist, Kill Devil Falls, Walls of the Cave
Set 2: Everything’s Right > Chalk Dust Torture, Mercury, Wading in the Velvet Sea, Most Events Aren’t Planned
Encore: Gotta Jibboo, Waste > Bug > Character Zero
Access Me was played for the first time since August 31, 2019 (185 show gap). Trey teased We’re Off to See the Wizard during Limb By Limb. Stash was teased during Chalk Dust Torture. This show was a benefit for Divided Sky Foundation.
The Strand Theatre in Hudson Falls has a large schedule of shows for the coming months. From late October to late December, the venue plans to present shows for all walks of life.
The mission of Hudson River Music Hall Productions, Inc. is to create community through music and the related arts. They accomplish this goal through their venue, the Strand Theatre, at 210 Main St., Hudson Falls, NY. Since its first production on December 19, 2010 in the former Washington County Courtroom, The Strand Theatre has brought over 150 events per year to the public; live music, art gallery openings, dance seminars, theatrical productions, private gatherings and many more opportunities for the community to gather through the arts.
The theatre presents all genres of music from rock to folk, country to classical, jazz and world music, modern pop and more. They mostly host music events, but also 6-10 theater productions and 6-10 dance performances per year, monthly classic films, a World Cinema Series, Silent Film Festival, a weekly open mic, lectures and more. This fall to winter 2024 season at the theatre is no different.
For the coming months, The Strand Theatre hosts at least 50 new events within its walls. These shows range from folk and rock tributes to concert film, ensemble performances to movie screenings, dance shows to instrumental showcases, and so much more. The events hold a wide array of genres for all types of music enjoyers: rock, jam/progressive, world & reggae, pop, R&B, hip-hop, metal, classical and more.
Strand Theatre Hudson Falls has a 350-seat auditorium with a 32’x24’ stage for music performance, dance, theatre production and film, a professional concert sound system, a 9’ Steinway concert grand piano, a WiFi coffee shop, an art gallery/lobby and education/rental space. There’s simply a little something for everyone.
Barry Goudreau’s Engine Room
The Strand Theatre 2024 Schedule
10/22 – Prog Night with: Lifesigns, Mike Keneally Trio with Gregg Bendian and Teddy Kumpel, 7:30pm, doors at 7pm, $35/general admission, $50/orchestra section, VIP Post concert meet and greet for an additional $25 10/24- Artimus Pyle Band – a tribute to Ronnie Van Zandt’s Lynyrd Skynyrd, 7:30pm, ARTIMUS PYLE BAND Honoring Ronnie Van Zant’s Lynyrd Skynyrd, $50/floor level, $40/lower balcony, $30/upper balcony 10/25 – E1 Presents Raise Your Hands – a tribute to Bon Jovi, $25/balcony, $30/floor, $50 VIP Front Row 10/26 – Neil Diamond Tribute with Rich Ortiz! 7:30pm, $25/floor seats, $20/Balcony 10/27 – Monsters of Rock Band, 80’s hair metal, 3pm, $20/adults, Kids 12 and under are free, Costume Contest too! 10/28 – Lobby show – Jared Curtis, 7pm, free admission 10/30 – Movie: Rocky Horror Picture Show with shadow actors from SUNY Adirondack Theatre Club 11/1 – David Cross and Larks’ Tongues Band plays King Crimson 1972-74, $50/orchestra section, $35/general seating. 11/2 – Ernie LaRouche Band, 8pm, hosted by Mark Abodeely, Journey’s Escape album in its entirety and more, opener Nocturne Troubadours at 7:30pm featuring Marc Clayton and Tania Halko-Susi, 11/3 – North Country composer’s concert hosted by Catherine Reid, 3pm, 11/4 – Lobby Concert-Elizabeth Conant and band, pianist/singer/songwriter 7pm, free admission 11/7 – Thursday Showcase: Polar Identity, atmospheric rock, 7:30pm, $5 11/8 – Jethro Tull’s Martin Barre – a Brief History of Tull, 8pm, $60/Orchestra Section, $50/lower level, $40/lower balcony, $30/upper balcony. 11/9 – Manticore – a tribute to Emerson Lake and Palmer, 7:30pm, $25 11/10 – The Bob Cats – Rock ‘n’ roll salute to Bob Dylan with Jerry Marotta and friends, $25/floor, $20/balcony 11/11 – Lobby Concert-The Newells, family acoustic quartet-guitars/vocals, 7pm, free admission 11/12 – Movie Night – Sweet Dreams, 7pm, free admission 11/14 – World Cinema Series – Gojira, (Japanese), 7pm, free admission 11/15 – Strange Magic – a tribute to Electric Light Orchestra 11/16 – Barry Goudreau’s Engine Room, former Boston guitarist plays Boston and more, 8pm, $35/orchestra section, $30/floor, $25/balcony 11/17 – Jonathan Newell, classical chamber works, 3pm, $20/general, $15/seniors&veterans, $10/students 11/18 – Lobby Concert – Warren Sieme, acoustic guitar/vocal 11/20 – PAKT – with PERCY JONES – bass ADAM HOLZMAN – keyboard KENNY GROHOWSKI – drums TIM MOTZER – guitars, electronics, progressive rock improv. $25 11/21 – Thursday Showcase: Kaleb Dingmon, opening acts TBA, Pop/R&B/Hip-Hop, 8pm, $5 11/22 – Creedence Clearwater Revival Tribute with The Fortunate Sons, 8pm, $25 11/23 – Aquanett, 80’s Rock Night!, $20/in advance, $25/day of show 11/24 – The Cosmic American Music Circus w/ The Lazy Suns, The Bluebillies, The Zorbas Trio, 3pm, $15/10 11/25 – Lobby Concert-Kevin Maynard and Ana Maynard, 7pm, free admission 11/26 – Movie Night – Miracle, 7pm, free admission and free popcorn 11/27 – Patsgiving: Benefit Concert for The Pat Nolan Scholarship Fund 11/29 – E1 Presents Kisstory – Kiss Tribute in full make up 11/30 – Mark Abodeely’s 4rd annual Thanksgiving Spectacular 12/2 – Lobby Concert: Marc Vincent, 7pm, free admission 12/5 – Thursday Showcase: Petra and Sola: The Painter and the Poet 12/6 – Across The Pond – Beatles Tribute, 7:30pm, $15/general admission, $5/students 12/7-Stephanie Schnieder Voice Studio Recital 12/7 – Seven Wonders – a tribute to Fleetwood Mac, 12/8 – Professor Louie and The Woodstock Horns play the music of The Band 12/9 – Lobby Concert- Art-n-Shawna, 7pm, free admission 12/10 – Movie Night – Somewhere In Time, 7pm, free admission and popcorn 12/12 – Thursday Showcase: HaHa Events presents Rockin’ For Christmas 12/13 – The McKrells Christmas Show, 12/14 – The Bluebillies Ol’ Time Christmas Revue, $15 general admision. $12 seniors/students. Start time 7:00 PM 12/15 – Lake George Community Band 12/16 – Lobby Concert – Johnny Clifford, 7pm free admission 12/20 – Movie Night – It’s a Wonderful Life, 7pm, free admission, 12/21 – Rock This Town – an oldies show of 50’s&60’s rock and pop and a salute to Brian Setzer and The Stray Cats 12/27 – Beyond Purple – tribute to Deep Purple, Rainbow, Dio and Whitesnake featuring guitarist Jimi Bell, 8pm 12/28 – Storm Front – Billy Joel Tribute, 8pm, presented and hosted by Mark Abodeel
For more information on The Strand Theatre’s upcoming events and to purchase tickets to any of the shows, click here.
Sometimes an intimate theater experience can deliver just as big of an impact on a live music fan as a massive arena setting can. Murray’s Law, acoustic duo Brian Murray and Jimmy Law from well-loved jam band Dogs in a Pile, delivered just that, a larger than life sound and overall experience inside the small and cozy Swyer Theatre of The Egg on Sunday evening in Albany, New York.
Superstition strikes as to never miss a sunday show, especially when you can catch such great talent steps away from your apartment. The October 20, 7pm show started just minutes after, with a very gracious and thankful Murray and Law to those in attendance. The small theatre held a tiny but extremely devoted crowd, already releasing cheers and woos of support, eager to hear what the artistic duo had in store. Incredible sound, for one, was obvious almost at an instant and rang true through the two-set night.
Playing as a stripped down acoustic duo made a truly pleasant listening experience, as fans were able to better focus and dial in on the intricacies of their individual sounds as musicians, and further amplified by the quality of sound in the room. They traded on and off between impressively fast and fun fingerpicking to hard and steady jamming in front of a simple setup of a few tall candles, beautiful, colorful mosaic lamps and endless guitar pedals that eventually lent the audience some fun reverb bouncing off the walls of the Egg.
The night’s setlist was a carefully, and well crafted arrangement of DIAP tunes, covers from american folk and country greats and favored jam bands. John Hartford’s “Joseph’s Dream” opened up the show with easy listening before dropping into the intricate fingerpicking, or “travis picking” stylings of Merle Travis’ “Cannonball Rag”. The already amped up audience got to sample a new Dogs tune titled “Look Johnny II”, sandwiched right in between an expected and wanted Grateful Dead cover, “Jack-A-Roe,” where Law’s raw vocals shined, and an impressive rendition of Jim Croce’s “Walkin’ Back to Georgia.” A collective appreciation swept over the room and while most stayed seated, groups towards the back just couldn’t contain the groove, surrendering, dancing and loudly applauding through the night.
With a nod to the venue being titled the Egg, Murray joked the nut of his guitar fell off and had to be assembled back together like humpty dumpty just seconds before walking on stage. Lighthearted fans joked in response that we got a two-for-one concert/comedy special deal. After a quick break, the guitarists continued to excite the crowd in set two with their own ‘Go Set”, the Dead’s “Cosmic Charlie” and “Lazy Susan,” a new track Murray penned in Nashville, during a time he just so happened to meet Lucas Nelson. A personal highlight of the show was the heartfelt cover of recently deceased Kris Kristofferson’s “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” and Murray’s emotional vocals that accompanied it. Encore came to wrap up the special evening with a double header of Trey Anastasio Band’s “Ether Sunday” and the Allman Brothers’ “Soulshine.”
With Dogs in a Pile riding high popularity waves in the current scene and a ever-growing Dog Pound of fans, it was a true treat to be able to experience such a remote setting bursting at the seams with talent in musicianship and appreciation by both the duo and fans alike. Be sure to catch the full Dogs in a Pile group at Putnam Place in Saratoga for their New Year’s Run!
10/20/24 Murray’s Law at the Egg , Albany NY Setlist
Set 1: Joseph’s Dream, Cannonball Rag, You Didn’t Hear It From Me, Today, A Thing Called Love, Wildflower, Jack-A-Roe, Look Johnny II, Walkin’ Back To Georgia, Mr. Banker, Shenanigans
Set 2: Go Set> Cosmic Charlie>Go Set Ending, Lazy Day, Lazy Susan, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Burning Daylight > No Excuses > New Shoes> Power Trip
World-renowned classical guitarist Eliot Fisk joins the Glens Falls Symphony for a guest solo performance on Nov 9-10.
The residency by one of the world’s most acclaimed classical guitarists, Eliot Fisk, begins on Saturday, November 9, at 7:30pm. Mr. Fisk will perform a solo performance of works by Barrios-Mangore, J. S. Bach, Gyorgy Ligeti, Isaac Albeniz, and others as part of the de Blasiis Chamber Music Series. Then on Sunday, November 10 at 4pm, the Glens Falls Symphony’s 2024-25 season continues in the beautiful and acoustically unique sanctuary of Christ Church United Methodist in Glens Falls.
Esteemed composer Michael Gandolfi will be in residence for rehearsals and performance of his work, “Sinfonia Brevis”, for strings and woodwinds. Eliot Fisk then joins the orchestra for a performance of “Fantasia para un gentilhombre” by Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo. Following intermission, the orchestra will perform Franz Schubert’s incredibly charming jewel box of a work, the Symphony No. 5.
“Classical Guitarist Eliot Fisk” Concert and “Fisk Fest” COMPLETE SCHEDULE
Wednesday, October 30 at 2:30pm: “Sound+Film” series, featuring a screening of a BBC Documentary about classical guitar at our NEW location the Queensbury Senior Center, 742 Bay Road, Queensbury, NY. FREE
Saturday, November 9 at 7:30pm: Eliot Fisk Solo Recital: At the Helen Froehlich Auditorium, Hyde Collection, Glens Falls, NY. This concert is part of the de Blasiis Chamber Series. Punch & cookies reception following the performance – all are welcome. Tickets $25/Adults, $10/Youth.
Sunday, November 10 at 3pm: Pre-Concert Talk: Music Director Charles Peltz discusses the concert, the music, and the guest artists in a free talk at 3 pm, in the Christ Church United Methodist. FREE.
Sunday, November 10 at 4pm: Performance with the Orchestra: Christ Church United Methodist, in concert with the Glens Falls Symphony. Tickets $35/Adults, $12/Youth.
Tickets to both Eliot Fisk concerts can be had at “Fisk Fest Weekend Ticket”, which includes a special collector edition button. Includes performances on 11.9.2024 and 11.10.2024 $55 for Adult $23 for Student.
For more information on the upcoming Eliot Fisk performances and to purchase tickets, click here.
The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall has announced the return of the fan-favorite Lift Series in 2025. The new lineup includes various multi-talented individuals set to rock the audience.
Curated by Organ Colossal, these performances give you the unique opportunity to sit on the historic Music Hall stage with the artists while they perform. The Lift Concert Series presents performances of new, independent music featuring regional performers, curated by local artists Sam Torres and Sophia Subbayya Vastek. The series sees three shows, one in January, February and March. Similarly, the lineup consists of three powerful music groups that plan to dazzle those in attendance.
The audience is invited to be seated on stage, with the musicians, creating an intimate concert experience. Concerts are designed to last about an hour, and after the performance, concertgoers are encouraged to enjoy the rest of the evening at one of Troy’s many restaurants or breweries. Tickets are only $25 in advance and are available online and at the box office now.
Doom Dogs
2025 Lift Series Lineup
January 8
DOOM DOGS
Genre-free Improvising Super Group with Reeves Gabrels, Jonathan Kane and Jair-Rohm Parker Wells.
Reeves Gabrels (Guitars): Reeves Gabrels is an electric guitar virtuoso recognized by musicians and audiences alike for his expressive range and power. He is known for his creative collaborations with David Bowie during the ’80s and ’90s, co-writing, co-producing and adding his innovative guitar work to a half-dozen acclaimed studio albums in addition to extensive touring. Since 2012, Reeves has been a member of the iconic band The Cure, where his artistry continues to captivate audiences worldwide. With Reeves Gabrels on lead guitar for Doom Dogs, sonic brilliance is a hallmark of the band’s performances.
Jonathan Kane (Drums): Jonathan Kane, the heartbeat of Doom Dogs, was a founding member of the influential band The Swans, has worked extensively with Minimalist godfather La Monte Young, was the only drummer for Rhys Chatham’s orchestra of 100 electric guitars, and leads his own trance-blues band Jonathan Kane’s February. His drumming style is characterized by a powerful and hypnotic presence, driving the band’s improvisations with precision and intensity. Jonathan’s vast experience as a drummer and composer contributes to the band’s ability to create spontaneous and enthralling musical moments that leave audiences in awe.
Jair-Rohm Parker Wells (Basses): The foundation of Doom Dogs’ mesmerizing sound lies in the hands of Jair-Rohm Parker Wells, a true legend in the world of experimental rock and jazz. Aside from being a founding member of the avant-rock band Machine Gun, Jair-Rohm was also a member of the seminal German experimental Rock band Embryo during the 1970s. His NS Design electric upright and bass guitar prowess adds a rich and dynamic depth to the band’s spontaneous compositions, pushing the boundaries of experimental rock and jazz. Jair-Rohm’s artistic sensitivity and expertise make him an indispensable part of Doom Dogs’ sonic exploration.
February 5
ZAN AND THE WINTER FOLK
Zan & The Winter Folk is an Americana band from Troy, NY. Led by Zan Strumfeld, The Winter Folk create anthems for the revivalists, lullabies for the lonely, and ballads for the hopeful. Vacillating between an acoustic quartet — two guitars, banjo and upright bass — and a rocking quintet with drums, The Winter Folk blend an upbeat, rootsy spirit with a melodic longing and vulnerability in their storytelling. Since forming in 2017, they have played at festivals, music halls and living rooms. With a captivating sound and comedic banter, The Winter Folk reveal a unique and intimate performance wherever they play. The band has two EPs, “How To Be Alone” (2019) and “Your Girl No More” (2018). Their full-length album, “New Morse Code,” was released in June 2024.
March 5
THE LADLES
The Ladles are known for their signature harmonic blend, intricate arrangements and commitment to human connection. Imagine the tight, sisterly harmonies of The Staves meets Madison Cunningham’s songwriting ingenuity. At a Ladles show, you can’t help but feel part of something bigger. Swept up in their ethereal soundscapes, you can easily forget what separates you from the person next to you. Based in NYC and San Francisco, The Ladles are Katie Martucci, Caroline Kuhn, and Lucia Pontoniere.
Troy-Natives – Zan & The Winter Folk
For more information on Troy Savings Bank Music Hall’s popular Lift Series and to purchase tickets, click here.
This is part 3 of a series looking back at the history of Phish in Albany. Here are Part 1 and Part 2 as we eagerly anticipate the next round of shows at the Times Union Center this week.
December 1, 2003
2003 was a special year for Phish as it marked the band’s 20th anniversary of their first show ever. December 2, 1983 is generally recognized as the first public gig – a low key affair at a University of Vermont cafeteria where they may have even been known as Blackwood Convention. After ditching that moniker, and trading out guitarist Jeff Holdsworth for keyboardist Page McConnell, the Phish brand grew quite successfully over the next twenty years. To commemorate the occasion, Phish scheduled a “short but sweet” 4-show tour of the Northeast that culminated in a 20th anniversary show on December 2 in Boston.
12/2/83 Harris-Millis Cafeteria – University of Vermont
No proper fall tour in the Northeast, no matter how short, would skip over Albany, which was the penultimate stop. Remember, this was before Phish laid permanent claim to Madison Square Garden for indoor NY shows. The first two shows of the tour did not disappoint at all with special guests like the Dude of Life popping out for the encore in Long Island and Tom Marshall joining in on a classic version of “Buffalo Bill” the night before in Philadelphia. Now it was Albany’s turn and the band went even further back in their history for this guest selection.
In a move that seemed to be well kept under wraps, Phish brought out founding member and guitarist Jeff Holdsworth for a string of songs in the the latter part of the second set,.from the old school choice of “Camel Walk” to the “Run Like an Antelope” closer. In between these, Phish kept the nostalgia vibe strong with throw backs like a cover of “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress,” the first song at the first gig 20 years ago, and the Holdsworth-penned “Possum” that’s a regular at live shows to this day. While nothing was quite astounding from a musical perspective in this portion of the show (Holdsworth seemed to be very low in the mix), the band still afforded him some solos to take as everyone got a fun glimpse of the band’s origins.
Set 1: Chalkdust Torture, Stash, Guyute, Thunderhead -> Sparkle, Wolfman’s Brotther -> Good Times Bad Times
Set 2: Tweezer -> Also Sprach Zarathustra > You Enjoy Myself, Camel Walk, Possum, Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress > Run Like an Antelope
Encore: Fire
Note – Camel Walk through Antelope with Jeff Holdsworth on guitar
November 27 & 28, 2009
Fast forward 6 years later and it was a whole different state of Phish in Albany. After the band’s disastrous “farewell” festival that was Coventry in 2004, a second hiatus followed that lasted almost five years and was finally ended with a trio of triumphant return shows at Hampton Coliseum in March of 2009. After those shows and a successful two-legged summer tour and Halloween shows in Indio, CA, the band was truly on the way back and picking up steam as they forged a new chapter in their career. While some jaded fans may have complained the consistency of quality live shows wasn’t the same yet or that the band’s “new sound” wasn’t quite the same, it’s generally agreed that Phish made an impact statement with this set of Phish Albany shows, courtesy of one of the most acclaimed stretches of music to this day.
Poster by AJ Masthay
Each of these shows has a flavor all their own in terms of what makes them special. Friday the 27th was highlighted by some unique song selections and a couple of memorable debuts. With an energy only upstate New York can deliver, Friday started off with a rip roaring “AC/DC Bag” > “Maze” one-two punch and things only took off from there. The first set also featured an electric “Gumbo” that gave MacConnell more than enough room to show off his chops and the very rare “Two Versions of Me,” from the band’s 2004 release Undermind. So rare, in fact, the song hasn’t been played live since.
Friday night’s second set was marked by two Phish debuts, one of which is still a live show staple. After a dark and moody “My Friend, My Friend” opener, the band played “Golden Age” for the first time ever, a TV on the Radio cover that few saw coming.
The rest of the second set continued to build with another cover, Little Feat’s “On Your Way Down,” before a truly epic sequence of “Fluffhead” > “Piper” > “Tomorrow’s Song,” another true rarity plucked from Undermind and, to this day, the only time the song has been played live.
Set 1: AC/DC Bag > Maze, Driver, My Mind’s Got a Mind of its Own, Gumbo, Bouncing Around the Room > It’s Ice, Two Versions of Me, Timber (Jerry) > Limb by Limb, Cavern > Light
Set 2: My Friend, My Friend > Golden Age, On Your Way Down, Fluffhead > Piper > Tomorrow’s Song, Prince Caspian > Harry Hood > Suzy Greenberg > The Squirming Coil, I Been Around
Encore: Fire
Poster by Steve Rogers
Saturday night’s Phish Albany show picked up where things left off the night before and turned the intensity up a notch, if that were at all possible. Starting with an ebullient “Party Time” opener, the atmosphere inside The Knick was electric as fans rejoiced in another show that helped further cement the band’s status as “back.” The first set also had its share of fun song selections like “Sanity” and “Foam” as well as the triumphant return of “Vultures” for the first time since the band’s reunion. But this show will go down in lore for the incredible piece of improv that began the second set.
“Seven Below” began things with a tightly wound composed section played with precision, that soon turned into a driving, soaring jam thanks to the efforts of bassist Mike Gordon and drummer Jon Fishman. The improvisation then touched on elements of prog rock, ambience and then some all while being fueled by majestic guitar play from a seemingly happy and healthy Trey Anastasio on guitar. As the jam slowly petered out some 20 plus minutes later, the distinctive opening guitar riffs of “Story of the Ghost” came into play and Phish was off and running again. A spirited and quick run through the song’s composition, fueled by plenty of singing along from the crowd, soon yielded to bouncy, near blissful jam that eventually turned into a dark, sinister, almost heavy metal-ish type throwdown, serving as the surest sign yet that Phish was back in a big way.
They could have ended the show right then and there and few would have complaints. A more than appropriately named cover in The Velvet Underground’s “Cool It Down” followed and was fairly short lived before a direct segue into “Gotta Jibboo” that picked things back up. However, it would be near impossible to top the masterpiece that was the close to 48 minutes of music that the first two songs produced. A monstrous “You Enjoy Myself” serves as only a footnote on this Albany classic.
Set 1: Party Time, Stealing Time from the Faulty Plan, Uncle Pen, Sanity, Foam, Walk Away > NICU, Alaska, Split Open and Melt, Joy, Vultures, Backwards Down the Number Line
Set 2: Seven Below > Ghost, Cool It Down > Gotta Jibboo, Let Me Lie, Wolfman’s Brother > Julius
Encore: You Enjoy Myself
Take a look at our 2018 review of Phish at the then-Times Union Center and stay tuned for coverage of this weekend’s three-night run in support of the Divided Sky Foundation!
December 1, 2003
