Albany indie-rock band Canella has released their latest single titled “Groomer,” a powerful track of resiliency and reclamation.
Based in and frequently performing throughout Albany, Canella is rooted in a shared love of creation. Written acoustically by lead singer and songwriter Juliana Castrillón, members Joe Taurone, Gabe Klingler-Horn, and Dan Carr expand each and every track to whatever extent they feel- whether that results in a song meant to make you laugh, or a track that’ll bring you to tears.
Having released their debut albumCan’t Make You Smile in 2023, Canella has returned with the second pre-release single off of their upcoming EP The Snake, the deeply personal and intense “Groomer.”
Penned after a turning point in Castrillón’s life, “Groomer” encapsulates the intense and complex emotions felt after she reconnected with a former music teacher from her adolescence, consequently uncovering an uncomfortable truth about her past.
With her perspective altered, Juliana was caught in a limbo of deep depression and months of silence. Unable to put the storm of emotion to paper, Castrillón would not be able to write again until 2024, driven by a mix of fear, anger, and shame.
Now, after years of processing and healing and in the wake of the 2024 election, Juliana is not only ready to share her story but is determined to do so in a show of reclamation, solidarity, and support.
“I didn’t realize how much I had blamed myself for being a victim of abuse,” says Juliana. “Now, taking back my story and sharing it is a crucial part of healing—taking my power back and feeling finally free and not alone.”
– Juliana Castrillón
“Groomer” is heavy, gritty, and full of sharp emotion. It’s always awe-inspiring to hear tracks full of pure emotion, but this track takes it to another level. The rage, disgust, betrayal, and defiance can all be felt palpably, an all-consuming experience with cutting vocals and aggressive instrumentals where words fail- perhaps the kind of all-encompassing emotion that can only be communicated through sound.
The track concludes with a powerful moment of pure guitar, drums, and bass- the kind of music felt down to the bones. “Groomer,” is a rallying cry just as much as it is a moment of emotional release. Intense, emotive, and guttural, Canella’s latest release is a striking example of shaping one’s darkest moments into something relentless.
Canella will be gracing the stage of No Fun in Troy on December 20 to celebrate the release along with support by Tula Vera and Rat Motel. Tickets are priced at $10 and are available here.
For more information on Canella, their upcoming EP, and all other future endeavors, be sure to check out their official website here.
Eight-piece soul-pop band, Lawrence, has announced the U.S. leg of their world tour.
The band will play four dates in NY at such venues as: the Empire Live in Albany, on Mar. 7, Buffalo RiverWorks in Buffalo on Mar. 9, The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, on Mar. 28, and The Paramount in Huntington on Mar. 29.
Fronted by siblings Gracie and Clyde, Lawrence will embark on a 16-city tour of the U.S. to support their fourth studio album, Family Business. This will be their biggest solo headlining tour to date after the massive 65-date stadium run with the Jonas Brothers in 2023.
Released on June 21, 2024, Lawrence’s fourth album, Family Business, has brought the band to new heights. The album’s opening track, “Whatcha Want,” broke into the Top 40 on the US Pop Chart, while Lawrence has performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Today with Hoda & Jenna, and CBS Saturday Morning. The album is accompanied by their biggest headline tour yet which not only brought them to Australia for the first time but will bring them back to Europe and the UK, in addition to their US tour which has new dates to be added.
Clyde and Gracie Lawrence created Lawrence, an eight-piece soul-pop band comprised of musician friends from childhood and college. The band has gained a following for its high-energy, keyboard-driven sound, which features tight, energetic horns and explosive lead vocals.
Tickets are available now. Learn more and purchase tickets here.
Lawrence: The Family Business Tour Part 2 Tour Dates:
Thu Mar. 06 – Providence, RI – The Strand Ballroom
Fri Mar. 07 – Albany, NY – Empire Live
Sat Mar. 08 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues Cleveland
Sun Mar. 09 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo RiverWorks
Tue Mar. 11 – McKees Rocks, PA – Roxian Theatre
Thu Mar. 13 – Knoxville, TN – The Mill & Mine
Fri Mar. 14 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
Sat Mar. 15 – Jacksonville, FL – FIVE
Sat Mar. 16 – Orlando, FL –Universal Studios – Mardi Gras
Thu Mar. 20 – Richmond, VA – The National
Tue Mar. 18 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall
Fri Mar. 21 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
Sun Mar. 23 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
Tue Mar. 25 – Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe
Thu Mar. 27 – Montclair, NJ – The Wellmont Theater
Fri Mar. 28 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
On a late-fall Sunday evening in Albany, Nine Inch Nails brought their “Further Down the Spiral Tour” to the Knickerbocker Arena (now MVP Arena). The December 4, 1994 performance was notable not just for the opening acts – Marilyn Manson and Jim Rose Circus – but also a show cut short when a fan threw a shoe at the head of NIN drummer, Chris Vrenna.
Ticket stub – Nine Inch Nails, Albany, NY – December 4, 1994
The second part of Nine Inch Nails’ Self Destruct Tour saw shows in Buffalo and New York City coming on either side of the Albany show, and following the release of the critically acclaimed album The Downward Spiral. With recent performances that summer – not only the legendary mud show at Woodstock 94, but also in Poughkeepsie at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center a few weeks prior on August 3, 1994 – the Albany show was hotly anticipated by grunge loving teens.
And while this show’s openers were Marilyn Manson and Jim Rose Circus, other openers this tour included bands from the grunge era – Hole, The Melvins and Pop Will Eat Itself.
Manson and his band were introduced onto the stage by the Jim Rose Circus, with a lineup including serial killer inspired aliases – Daisy Berkowitz (guitar), Twiggy Ramirez (bass), Madonna Wayne Gacy (keyboard) and Sara Lee Lucas (drums). This was among the first times fans could see the controversial Marilyn Manson live, and while memories of the opening set are fleeting – the 30 minute set likely began close to the ticket time of 7:30pm, with many fans still waiting to get inside – one fan recalls from Manson’s set a vulgar tirade directed at a young woman in the crowd.
Both before, during and especially after Manson’s set, hundreds of fans in seated sections rushed down the aisles past security, packing the floor to nearly uncomfortable levels even before Jim Rose Circus took the stage. The ensuing snarl of bodies on the floor meant the circus – a freak show, really – meant that there were many more eyes on the stage for graphic stunts. The modern-day circus freak show that first made its name at Lollapalooza 1992, had interjections from Rose who kept the crowd on the hook as ringmaster, guiding the captive audience through a series of tricks and stunts taking place across the stage.
Early 1994 NIN Tour After-Show Pass
Among the acts were swallowing and regurgitating razor blades, smashing a cinder block on a strongman’s chest, ‘eating’ sparks from a grinding machine, and one member of the circus taking a unstrung 1970s tennis racket (smaller than today) and squeezing his entire body through the racket, slowly but surely dislocating appendages and succeeding in the act. For the more adventurous, click here to see what the performance included, but for those in attendance, time has thankfully aided in forgetting some of this set.
Note – I was a week away from turning 17, and still to this day, have only rushed the floor at a concert once. While the Nine Inch Nails performance was as memorable as could be, the Jim Rose Circus interlude has stuck with me for 30 years. I don’t know where my seats actually were for the show, but they sure weren’t on the floor. Of all the times to rush the floor and crowd near the stage…
photo by Paul Carter
And for the next 20 minutes or so as the freak show went away and a screen lowered behind Nine Inch Nails’ gear, the anticipation grew steadily for an already GRAMMY-winning band (Best Metal Performance – “Wish”) to play songs from the new album, as well as the previous seven ‘halos‘. What would amount to a 74-minute show due to the aforementioned shoe to the head, was nothing short of memorable, albiet confusing at the end.
The Nine Inch Nails lineup for this tour included frontman Trent Reznor (vocals, guitar, keys), Robin Finck (guitar, keys, backing vocals), Danny Lohner (bass, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), Chris Vrenna (drums), and James Woolley (keys, programming, backing vocals). With a sepia-toned screen/banner behind the band, projections followed along with the music as themes of darkness, death and generally disturbing imagery were shone, adding a visual layer to a band that drew heavily on imagery in music videos for “Closer” and “Hurt,” in addition to previous videos.
Ticket stub – Nine Inch Nails, Albany, NY – December 4, 1994
The band went through the setlist (seen below) as they likely did for many shows that tour – a good deal of The Downward Spiral songs, plus some older songs, and the anger-filled anthem “Head Like a Hole” closing the show. It was during this song that someone in the audience threw a shoe (rumored to be a boot, but alas, a sneaker) and hit drummer Chris Vrenna in the head. Presumably, someone threw someone else’s shoe, making it easier to avoid being caught for the offending toss.
Vrenna finished the song, the band left the stage, and a few moments later, an announcement would come over the public address system, saying “The drummer suffered a concussion. The band is unable to continue.â With that, the lights were up and the show was over. Confusion abounded but the crowd was shuffled out towards South Pearl Street, an abrupt ending to an epic evening.
Without a basis for pop-culture shoe-throwing references, this notable tennis shoe toss was relegated to urban legend status, as the incident took place a full three years before Austin Powers coined the phrase “Who throws a shoe, honestly?” and 14 years before an Iraqi journalist threw a shoe at then-President Bush.
photo by Paul Carter
On December 17, 1994, the Daily Gazette gave brief mention of the show in the “Spotlight” section of the paper by writer M.L., under the heading “Really Nailed.”
“For Nine Inch Nails drummer Chris Vrenna, the show ends when the shoe hits him in the head. The Nails refused to come back for an encore after their Dec. 4 show at the Knickerbocker Arena when Vrenna was beaned in the noggin by a sneaker thrown by rowdy fans, according to Soo Hyun, a music publicist in New York City.”
It does not seem though that Vrenna had a concussion, but given the circumstances and sudden stopping of the show, giving the audience a reason was paramount at the time.
This author’s NIN cap from the 90s, still in good/used condition
M.L. continues, “Although the show left a nice bruise on Vrenna’s head, it seems the offending sneaker injured the drummer’s pride more than his body, Hyun said. “There was no damage, it was just a shoe,” Hyun said. “He’s played while bleeding before without any problems.”
The show marked a first for Vrenna, as it was the first time he had been hit while performing on stage by fan throw items. Hyun continued “While fans often chuck objects at the band during their shows, the Knick concert was the first time that Vrenna has been struck while playing. They really expect this kind of stuff to happen.
Luckily, two audience recordings of this show are available here (Sony ECM-155 + Aiwa J505) and here (Sonic Studio DSM6 Mics + Sony TCD-D7). The recordings are decent for the time period, with a little chatter over ambient sections of songs. A close listen to “Head Like a Hole” may indicate when in the song Vrenna was struck – Head, meet Sole – but kept playing til the end.
The memory of the non-encore stands out, and looking back on setlists of the tour, “Closer” and “Something I Can Never Have” were among the songs the crowd missed out on. Still, between rushing the floor, a musical freak, a freak show, and Nine Inch Nails, the night of December 4, 1994 at the Knickerbocker Arena was nothing short of memorable.
Ticket stub – Nine Inch Nails, Albany, NY – December 4, 1994
While no video footage of the show exists, you can view the Nine Inch Nails performance a few days later at Madison Square Garden, on December 7 and 9, 1994, which shows what the entire show in Albany would have been like, encore and all.
Nine Inch Nails – December 4, 1994 – The Knickerbocker Arena, Albany
Setlist: Pinion. Mr. Self Destruct, Sin, March of the Pigs, Piggy, Reptile, Gave Up, Happiness in Slavery, Eraser, Hurt, The Downward Spiral, Wish, Suck, The Only Time, Down In It, Head Like a Hole
Put down your farming tools and pick up a program, the Stardew Valley: Symphony of Seasons Concert Tour has announced a show in Albany’s own Palace Theatre in 2025.
With over 30 million copies sold across all major platforms and 12 translations, Stardew is a major success for an indie project – a testament to both the passion of the creator and the vibrant fanbase that has been cultivated.
If you ask anyone passionate about the cozy game genre what they would recommend, one of the first titles to crop up would likely be Stardew Valley.
An indie title beloved for its open-endedness that allows players to grow crops and livestock, mine in the cavern and fight mysterious hidden monsters within, spend in-game days fishing at sea (or wherever else your heart desires), socialize with the townsfolk, and either take things at your own pace or maximize efficiency to the umpteenth degree, Stardew Valley has something for everyone.
Largely inspired by its farming simulation predecessor Harvest Moon, players begin the game by learning of their inheritance of their late grandfather’s farm tucked away in a quaint community named Pelican Town. Developed by Eric Barone, colloquially known online as ConcernedApe, Stardew Valley is even more beloved as a solo development venture of Barone’s- a labor of love down to every aspect, especially when it comes to the game’s soundtrack.
Curated by Barone himself, Stardew Valley: Symphony of Seasons will transport audiences into the quaint Pelican Town and beyond into all of the whimsical nooks and crannies the Valley and beyond have to offer. This exciting tour will make its stop in Albany on October 30, 2025 at the Palace Theatre.
A reinvention of the game’s first concert tour which sold out in record time, Festival of Seasons, Symphony of Seasons returns bigger and better with a 35-piece orchestra and entirely new arrangements of tracks from the game spanning Pelican Town to Ginger Island, Calico Desert to the Wizard’s Tower.
Accompanying the orchestra’s performance will be a screen displaying gameplay from Stardew itself in addition to original content created exclusively for the concert series under ConcernedApe’s supervision.
“It was a special experience to hear the music of Stardew Valley performed live in concert for the first tour, surrounded by fans of Stardew Valley. But now, with the upcoming Symphony of Seasons, we’ll hear the music in a bigger and grander way, with a larger orchestra and additional songs from the game. I’m really looking forward to it!”
– Eric Barone (ConcernedApe)
As with the last set of shows, fans and newcomers alike are encouraged to arrive dressed in their best game-themed clothing and costume. In addition, event-exclusive merchandise will be available to purchase the night of.
Tickets for Stardew Valley: Symphony of Seasons at the Palace Theatre in Albany on October 30, 2025 will go live on Monday, December 9, 2024 at 9:00 AM. For more information on how to attend and purchase tickets, visit Palace Theatre’s official event page for the whimsical evening here.
Albany-based analog funk band Oobleck has been in Capital Region faces with their funk for 16 years and they don’t plan to quit anytime soon.
Oobleck, founded in 2008, is an original, analog funk band out of the Capital Region. Known regionally for inciting dance parties wherever they land, they boast a big, in your face sound inspired by New Orleans street music. It’s a melee of horns, super heavy drums and bass and your favorite type of chunky guitar riffing that leaves your bum shaking and your face grinning.
Bass driven. Horn laden. Layered textures and dark melodies. Funk to fuel your soul. The band is made up of five members – Sam Parker on guitar, Kevin Van Genechten on drums, Scott Vorwald on tenor sax, Audrey Van Genechten on trumpet, and Josh Radigan on bass. The band meshes effortlessly to create sound that is found nowhere else in the Capital Region.
Oobleck has four albums to date – Tell Your Mom I Said Hi (2012), Rise & Shine (2013), Don’t Mistake the Barn for the Basement (2015) and their most recent Down the Rabbit Hole which released January of this year. Down the Rabbit Hole contains 11 jaw-dropping tracks that are guaranteed to immerse the listener in something fun.
The band just finished recording a new single “Purse Candy” and are hoping to release in January, with an accompanying video filmed during the recording session that is also slated to release shortly. For the LaMP show at Lark Hall, the band worked with Frankie Cavone of Mirth Films and just released a multi-cam video of the full set which can be seen below.
On November 8, the band supported LaMP on their tour stop through Albany at Lark Hall. The band has only one upcoming show left in 2024.
At 8:00pm on December 6 at UNIHOG in Hoosick Falls, Oobleck hits the stage with rock & soul group Tops of Trees. Together, these two musically powerful groups create explosively funky grooves that’ll have you moving well into the night.
Oobleck has shows in 2025 with the Sugar Hold scheduled for January 10 at Ophelia’s in Albany to kick the New Year off with a dose of super funk. Oobleck plans to be back at The Eleven (Lark Hall’s downstairs bar) in Albany in early April, and at Single Cut Brewery in Clifton Park in the spring as well. The group is working on getting back to Vermont and potentially hitting up Ithaca for the first time later this spring.
For more information on Oobleck’s upcoming shows and to hear some of their tunes, click here.
The Albany Symphony plans to take the holiday season to new heights with their “Magic of Christmas” concert at The Palace Theatre this December.
The award-winning Albany Symphony provides a whole lot of extra sparkle this holiday season in one of the Capital Region’s favorite holiday musical traditions. On Sunday, December 8, “The Magic of Christmas” fills The Palace Theatre with festive holiday music, family fun and special guests. The Albany Symphony and its sleigh-full of hometown talent will delight and entertain audiences of all ages with an afternoon of holiday musical favorites, a carol sing-along and a visit from the big man in the red suit.
In keeping with the Albany Symphony’s longtime role as a collaborator, the orchestra is proud to be joined by community partners, including The Music Studio, Capital District Youth Chorale, Rince go Brach (formerly Boland) School of Irish Dance, Northeast Ballet, Saratoga Springs High School Choraliers, and Schalmont High School Concert Choir.
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.
“The Magic of Christmas” takes place from 3:00pm to 5:00pm on Sunday, December 8 at The Palace Theatre in downtown Albany. Conducted by David Alan Miller, prepare for an afternoon of festive family fun and cheer. Sponsored in part by Price Chopper and Market 32, the concert is jam-packed with holiday classics. Like everything the Albany Symphony does, the afternoon includes a medley of familiar and brand-new tunes, including “Joy to the World,” “Sing Noel,” “Santa’s Holly Jolly Little Christmas,” Nutcracker selections with dancers, and much more. In traditional joyful fanfare, audiences join in a Christmas sing-along to close the program.
For more information on “The Magic of Christmas” concert at The Palace Theatre on Dec 8 and to purchase tickets, 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.
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
Get the scoop on what to do before and after Phish during their three-night run in Albany over October 25-27!
photo by Dave DeCrescente
Formed in 1983 through flyers across the University of Vermont’s campus, Phish has had a career of steady incline for more than four decades. Amassing more than eight million sales in the United States, 14 studio albums, a seemingly endless list of live shows under their belt, and their own record label named JEMP records, Phish is a legendary psychedelic-rock-jam fusion to be reckoned with.
Comprised of members Trey Anastasio, Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon, and Page McConnell, Phish has accomplished what most bands have not in the face of multiple group hiatuses and solo endeavors- a legacy as one of the most influential jam bands that spans the first four decades of their achievements thus far and extends well into the prospective future.
With roots in the Northeast, Phish’s connection to New York can not be understated. The band has performed 83 shows in Manhattan’s historic Madison Square Garden to date, surpassing Elton John in 2023 to become the second most frequent musical act to grace the Garden’s stage behind record-holder Billy Joel.
The metro area hasn’t been the only one to experience the magic of Phish’s live performance, however. The group has traveled up and down the entire state, a feat highlighted in our three part series exploring their endeavors in Albany in particular over the course of several decades. Read part one, two, and three here.
Albany has hosted Phish countless times over the course of their career, making it one of few cities they still frequent where fans can track their progression as a band over the course of their visits to the area. Beginning in Albany at the city’s oldest bar Pauly’s Hotel to a crowd of 30-40 fans back in 1989, Phish has worked their way up to a three night stay at the MVP Arena this October 25-27.
In a historic announcement, Phish will be playing their first ever three show run in which 100% of the concert and merchandise profits will go to the Divided Sky Foundation. Established in 2020 during the Beacon Jams, Divided Sky Foundation dedicates themselves to building and supporting a non-clinical residential recovery program that recognizes that addiction is a disease and not an absence of willpower.
Colloquially known by its original name of Knickerbocker Arena, the MVP Arena will be host to Phish and thousands of devoted Phish heads over the course of the exciting and deeply meaningful weekend. For those in attendance, there’s a lot to know about attending the shows and everything in between for the weekend of Phish! But don’t worry- we’ve got you covered.
Primarily, the shows themselves- be sure to check the Arena’s extensive list of policies including bags and prohibited items on the event’s page before you leave home here.
Once at the venue, there are multiple entrances depending on which is nearest you. The main entrance faces Market Street, but if using the MVP Arena parking lot, visitors can use the arena entrance on level three. The Beaver Street entrance provides another route into the arena itself as well.
In addition to attending an unforgettable evening- or evenings- of live music, there’s plenty to see and do in Albany, Phish adjacent and beyond. Fans may find themselves enjoying a grilled cheese at the “Cheesiest Phish Pre Party,’ or adventuring through the Albany Capital Center for the 2024 Dead Man’s Hand Tattoo Expo that spans the duration of the weekend.
Looking for events to explore on a particular day? Read the day-by-day breakdown of the weekend of Phish below.
FRIDAY: OCTOBER 25
Prior to the opening evening, Gratefully Yours will be performing a free pre-show at the casual food and live entertainment venue Ophelia’s at 4:00 PM- only two blocks from MVP Arena. Later that evening the band will return to the stage for a $20 post-show performance with doors at 10:00 PM and a start time of 11:00 PM.
In addition to Gratefully Yours, The Big Dig Live will host a free groovy afterparty at The City Beer Hall with doors at 10:30 PM and a start time of 11:00 PM, and Lark Hall will be hosting The Jerry Dance Party with DJ Jerrbrother. Doors open at 11:00 PM and tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.
SATURDAY: OCTOBER 26
Day two will open with a variety of events including a Divided Sky Foundation pre-show hosted by The WaterWheel Foundation, a PhanArt hometown art show and live music event, and another morning set at Ophelia’s that will loop back around for the evening post-Phish.
A Divided Sky Foundation pre-show event hosted by The WaterWheel Foundation will take place on the 26 prior to the event, a benefit exclusive to ticket holders who purchased the package alongside their ticket or ticket request.
If tickets to the Divided Sky Foundation pre-show aren’t in your hands, don’t worry. There’s plenty more to explore in the area, like the PhanArt Show at the Palace Theatre. In association with Mirth Films, PhanArt presents some of the scene’s best known artists as well as some of the area’s rising stars. From 12:00 to 5:00 PM, attendees can collect exclusive art and apparel, enjoy live music from acts like Kale and Sweeping Views, and treat themselves to free Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food as courtesy of Lark Street Ben & Jerry’s.
Annie In The Water will be the artist in residence at Ophelia’s for October 26, with a free acoustic set pre-Phish and two electric sets after the show at 10:00 PM with tickets at $20.
Saturday’s after parties also include acts like the Beau Sasser Trio, Adrian Tramontano, and Justin Hendricks coming together for a free show at The City Beer Hall with doors at 10:30 PM and show at 11:00 PM, and the Dude of Life Band alongside special guest Ella Fishman at the Empire Underground starting at 11:15 PM. Partial proceeds from the Dude of Life Band’s after party will benefit the Waterwheel Foundation with tickets priced at just under $34.
In addition to these incredible acts, The Jerry Dance Party with DJ Jerrbrother will return for one more night to wrap Saturday evening at Lark Hall in partnership with DayGlo and Nectar. Tickets are priced at $15 in advance or $20 at the door.
SUNDAY: OCTOBER 27
The weekend of Phish will conclude on the 27th. While there isn’t anything Phish-y to attend outside of the final performance that evening, the Albany Comic Con will be hosted at the Polish Community Center just a fifteen minute drive away from MVP Arena. Tickets are $10 online or at the door all day Sunday.
Singer/songwriter Charley Orlando has announced his upcoming “Bob. Interpretations of Dylan” tour, along with the creation of music group “Ruha.”
The combined tour sees eight dates, seven of which take place in New York. “Bob. Interpretations of Dylan” begins November 6 in Syracuse at Funk ‘n Waffles. The tour also includes a solo show, a performance with Salt City Waltz, one with Pearly Baker’s Best, and lastly a show with Charley’s new project: Ruha. Charley Orlando’s tour wraps up with Ruha in Syracuse at Funk ‘n Waffles on December 7.
Ruha consists of Jessica Brown, Brian Lauri, Brian Welch, Zach Fleitz and Charley. They plan to play songs from all of their original catalogues at the upcoming show. Charley Orlando is the essence of heart in music. Having released 17 albums Charley continues to paint outside the lines of convention. In his 30 plus year career he has been added to the GRAMMY entry ballot a total of 28 times and played over 3,000 shows in North America.
Born and raised in Capitol District area of NY, Charley developed a passion for music from a young age. He started playing the guitar at the age of eight and quickly discovered a natural talent for songwriting. Throughout his career, Charley has released 18 albums, each one showcasing his incredible musicianship and songwriting abilities. His music is a unique blend of blues, folk, and rock, with heartfelt lyrics that resonate with audiences around the world.
Charley Orlando Shows:
11/6 Syracuse,NY; Funk ‘n Waffles 8pm w/s/g Ruha (bob.)
11/7 Albany,NY; Ophelia’s 8pm w/s/g Laura Leigh (bob.)
