Fresh off a year that included the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime show and a critically acclaimed Las Vegas Residency, Usher brought Round Two of his Past Present Future tour for a two-night special in Brooklyn.
The crowd embraced Usher, one of the most influential artists of the early 2000s — eight-time Grammy-winning, multi-platinum influential and is one of the best-selling musicians of all time. The R&B phenom dazzled Brooklyn’s Barclays Center with an all-world, shining spectacle that added to his allure.
Usher performs in Brooklyn, New York during a Past Present Future tour stop. (Karl Jean Baptiste, NYS Music)
At around 9:30 p.m., the luminary touched the stage, commanding the landscape with a kind of mesmerizing aura and opened with “Coming Home,” the title track from his latest chart-topping outing. He followed that up with “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home),” which quickly summoned ecstatic gasps from the audience mid “I just wanna get your attention…” Like that, the sold-out audience went down memory lane singing right along.
Usher performs in Brooklyn, New York during a Past Present Future tour stop. (Karl Jean Baptiste, NYS Music)
Between the hits (“You Make Me Wanna…,” “U Got it Bad”), (“Yeah!,” “OMG”), and (“There Goes My Baby,” “Throwback”), Usher’s undeniable collection of classics was undeniable.
With each performance, each song sounded just as fresh as they did in 1997, 2001 or 2004 and is a testament to the singer’s enduring catalog. The show carefully curated these times by traveling through these eras as a way to illustrate the singer’s transformation through the years.
Usher performs in Brooklyn, New York during a Past Present Future tour stop. (Karl Jean Baptiste, NYS Music)
Above all things, if anything was clear from the two-hour extravaganza other than that an Usher concert is top-tier experience, it’s that one of the world’s greatest entertainers of all time and is still at the top of his game.
Rock legends Styx and Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon have announced their upcoming “Brotherhood of Rock” tour. The tour sees two dates in NY including Empower FCU Amphitheater in Syracuse on July 14 and SPAC in Saratoga Springs on August 12.
Styx and Kevin Cronin have one of the strongest brotherly bonds spanning 25 years, especially since they’ve crossed paths on the North American concert trail along with the occasional joint festival concert. Fittingly, next summer they’ll join forces for the sixth time for their “Brotherhood of Rock” tour, along with special guest Don Felder of the Eagles.
The seven men comprising Styx – James “JY” Young (lead vocals, guitars), Tommy Shaw (lead vocals, guitars), Chuck Panozzo (bass, vocals), Todd Sucherman (drums, percussion), Lawrence Gowan (lead vocals, keyboards), Will Evankovich (mandolin, guitars), Terry Gowan (bass, guitar, vocals)—have committed to rocking the Paradise together with audiences far and wide, and each one of them is committed to making the next show better than the last. Styx draws from over five decades of barn burning chart hits, joyous singalongs, and hard-driving deep cuts.
Like a symphony that builds to a satisfying crescendo, a Styx set covers a wide range of stylistic cornerstones. From the hunker-down fortitude of all that is the “Blue Collar Man,” to the majestic spiritual love for a special “Lady” from an individual yearning for true connection as a “Man in the Wilderness” to a regal reach-for-the-stars bravado of “Come Sail Away” to the grainy all-in gallop of that rugged “Renegade” who had it made, the band draws on an unlimited cache of ways to immerse one’s mind and body in their signature sound.
Styx in 2012
For his first solo summer outing, iconic vocalist and hit songwriter Kevin Cronin’s band features the same multi-talented lineup that toured America in 2024 as REO Speedwagon. Cronin continues to be joined onstage by lead guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt, who have played in REO Speedwagon since 1989.
Cronin began fronting REO Speedwagon in 1972, delivering a newly melodic sound, and setting the stage for the explosive HI INFIDELITY (1980). Fueled by massive hit singles “Keep On Loving You” and “Take It On the Run,” the RIAA Diamond Award-certified album remains a high-water mark for rock bands. He has written number one hits such as “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” and “Roll With the Changes,” “Time for Me to Fly,” “Don’t Let Him Go,” and “In My Dreams.”
German electro legends Kraftwerk has announced their return to North America for the “Multimedia Tour 2025.”
The tour kicks off on March 6 at Franklin Music Hall in Philadelphia and wraps up over a month later on April 24 in Dallas, TX. The tour sees a total of 27 dates and includes two stops in New York. Kraftwerk dazzles audiences at Kings Theatre on March 13 and the legendary Beacon Theatre on March 14. The “Multimedia Tour 2025” commemorates Kraftwerk’s breakthrough album Autobahn and their first U.S. Tour, which took place in 1975.
Earlier this year Kraftwerk completed an extraordinary nine-night concert series celebrating 50 years of Autobahn–which was composed, produced, and recorded by founders Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1974–at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. The shows garnered rave reviews in the press, a compass for what’s in store for the “Multimedia Tour.”
The multi-media project Kraftwerk was started in 1970 by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider. They set up their electronic Kling Klang Studio in Düsseldorf, Germany, where they conceived and produced all Kraftwerk albums. By the mid 1970’s Kraftwerk had achieved international recognition for their revolutionary electronic ‘sound scapes’ and their musical experimentation with robotics and other technical innovations.
With their visions of the future, Kraftwerk created the soundtrack for the digital age of the 21st century. Their compositions, using innovative techniques, synthetic voices and computerized rhythms, have had a major international influence across an entire range of music genres: from Electro to Hip-Hop, from Techno to SynthPop. In their live performances, Kraftwerk composer, author and producer Ralf Hütter illustrates his belief in the respective contributions of both man and machine.
KRAFTWERK MULTIMEDIA TOUR 2025 DATES:
MAR 06 – Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall
MAR 07 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE Outdoors
MAR 08 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall
MAR 10 – Montreal, QC – Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts
MAR 11 – Boston, MA – Boch Center Wang Theatre
MAR 13 – Brooklyn, NY – Kings Theatre
MAR 14 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
MAR 16 – Washington, D.C. – The Anthem
MAR 17 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium
MAR 19 – Orlando, FL – Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center
MAR 20 – Miami, FL – Adrienne Arsht Center
MAR 23 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern
MAR 24 – New Orleans, LA – Orpheum Theater
MAR 25 – Memphis, TN – Overton Park Shell
MAR 26 – Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle
MAR 28 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Cathedral Theatre
MAR 29 – Chicago, IL – The Auditorium
MAR 30 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre
MAR 31 – Kansas City, MO – The Midland Theatre
APR 02 – Denver, CO – Ellie Caulkins Opera House
APR 06 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium
APR 07 – Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
APR 13 – Indio, CA – Coachella*
APR 16 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union
APR 20 – Indio, CA – Coachella*
APR 23 – Austin, TX – Bass Concert Hall
APR 24 – Dallas, TX – Majestic Theatre
*Festival appearance
Tickets for “Multimedia Tour 2025 – 50 Years of Autobahn” go on sale to the general public Friday, December 13 at 10AM local. Registration for presale opens today, December 5, and presale begins Wednesday, December 11 at 10AM local. For more information on the tour and to register for presale, click here.
Former NFL pro bowler and NY Giant tight end Darren Waller continues his post-retirement musical journey with a new single and music video featuring Westside Boogie. The inspiring track explores themes of personal introspection, blending vulnerability and memories of self-doubt to create a strong message of growth and self-discovery. Additionally, Shady Records artist, Westside Boogie, chimes in with his own moment of self-reflection to top off the emotional record. Similarly, the music video is therapeutic in its presentation, with Waller rhyming his verse as he solemnly raps his verse.
Getting Boogie for this record was really organic, thanks to a mutual connection from my high school basketball days. As an artist, he’s incredibly versatile and vulnerable, which made him a perfect fit for the record. We’ve both found success and joy in a lot of areas of our personal lives, but we’re still looking for the answers to our deepest questions.
– Darren Waller
All in all, Waller has been using his newfound career as a music artist as a form of therapy, The new song follows Waller’s Internal Warfare: This Too Shall Pass EP, which dropped last month. Inspired by a year of significant transformation, the EP takes an in-depth look at personal and professional highs and lows he experienced. Moreover, earlier this year, Waller also released On Notice: Bag Talk EP, showcasing his artistic versatility, and Mind Games: It’s All In Your Head EP, which touches on Waller’s decision to retire from the NFL.
Since calling it quits, the former NFL star has dropped a number of viral records including “Who Knew (Her Perspective)” dedicated to his ex-wife, Kelsey Plum of the Las Vegas Aces. After being drafted into the NFL in 2015, waller began exploring music, inspired by his great-grandfather, the iconic jazz pianist Fats Waller. While music initially took a back seat to football, Darren made his musical debut in 2021 with the project Delusions of Clarity. Following that release, Waller received a placement on the official Madden NFL soundtrack in 2023.
Fast Tony Productions has announced the Sunday Blues Festival at The Parting Glass in Saratoga Springs for February 2, 2025.
Featured Guitarist – Toronzo Cannon
Headlining the festival is world-renowned blues guitarist and vocalist Toronzo Cannon. This isn’t just another night of great live music—it’s a celebration of the blues in a venue that captures the magic of intimate live performances.
If you’re a fan of blues, live music, or just good times, this is shaping up to be a night you won’t want to miss. Cannon has become a force to be reckoned with in the world of electric blues. His unique blend of modern Chicago blues, soulful vocals, and electrifying guitar work has earned him rave reviews from all over. Whether he’s ripping through an emotionally-charged guitar solo or delivering a poignant social commentary through his lyrics, Cannon’s performances leave audiences spellbound.
Fast Tony Productions may be new to Saratoga, but Anthony Mangano-Delaney has already shown his ability to pull off big events. His first show in November 2024, featuring Bywater Call, was a resounding success, drawing a crowd of 150 and setting the stage for continued exciting performances to come. Tony is also eager to see how Fast Tony Productions can carve out its space within the vibrant Saratoga music scene with venues like Caffe Lena, Putnam Place, and SPAC.
Known for its cozy atmosphere, The Parting Glass is the perfect backdrop for one of Chicago’s brightest blues stars. The festival kicks off at 5:00 PM with non-stop music leading into Toronzo Cannon’s headlining set at 7:30 PM.
For ticket information on the February 2, 2025, Sunday Blues Festival at The Parting Glass in Saratoga Springs, click here.
Multi-platinum country artist Cody Jinks has announced his upcoming 2025 North American Headline Tour, Hippies and Cowboys.
The Hippies and CowboysTour sees 23 dates including two in New York: The Rooftop at Pier 17 in NYC on August 13 and Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater in Syracuse on August 17. Special guests Tanner Usrey and Shane Smith & The Saints appear at certain dates along the tour.
The electrifying performer who has sold over 2 million tickets to date is looking forward to another ambitious stage setup as he embarks on this upcoming tour produced by Live Nation and FPC Live. Fans can expect the same kind of big tent, inclusive environment for which Jinks is known for.
The tour announcement dropped alongside his upcoming project, Cody Jinks Sings Lefty Frizzell, a tribute album to the late honky-tonk legend, Lefty Frizzell which includes covers of many fan-favorite tracks including, “If You’ve Got The Money I’ve Got The Time.” Giving the songs new life, Jinks takes the music, a cornerstone of traditional country and honky-tonk and makes it his own with the same sincerity and emotional depth that captured fans throughout Lefty’s career. The Hippies and CowboysTour kicks off on March 14 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and wraps up on September 20 in Youngstown, Ohio.
Cody Jinks 2025 Tour Dates:
March 14, 2025–New Orleans, LA–Mahalia Jackson Theatre of Performing Arts
May 29, 2025–Columbia, MO–9th Street*
May 30, 2025–Franklin, TN–FirstBank Amphitheater*
June 26, 2025–Nampa, ID–Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater*
June 27, 2025–Idaho Falls, ID–Mountain America Center*
June 28, 2025–Casper, WY–Ford Wyoming Center*
July 10, 2025–Wheatland, CA–Hard Rock Live*
July 11, 2025–Stateline, NV–Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys*
July 12, 2025–Berkeley, CA–Greek Theatre UC Berkeley*
July 17, 2025–Kent, WA–accesso ShoWare Center*
July 19, 2025–Airway Heights, WA–Northern Quest Amphitheater*
July 26, 2025–Morrison, CO–Red Rocks Amphitheatre
August 7, 2025–Asbury Park, NJ–Stone Pony Summer Stage#
August 8, 2025–Philadelphia, PA– The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark#
August 9, 2025–Baltimore, MD–Pier Six Pavilion#
August 11, 2025–Virginia Beach, VA–The Dome#
August 13, 2025–New York, NY–The Rooftop at Pier 17#
August 15, 2025–Bridgeport, CT–Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater*
August 16, 2025–Boston, MA–Leader Bank Pavilion*
August 17, 2025–Syracuse, NY–Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview*
September 18, 2025–Des Moines, IA–Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park*
September 19, 2025–Indianapolis, IN–Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park*
September 20, 2025–Youngstown, OH–Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre*
*with Tanner Usrey
#with Shane Smith & The Saints
Shane Smith & The Saints
For more information on the upcoming Hippies and Cowboys Tour and to purchase tickets, click 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.
Playhouse Stage Company is set to kick off its 37th season with A Christmas Story: The Musical from Dec 4 to 22.
Cohoes Music Hall opens with the musical on Wednesday, December 4 at 7pm. Performances continue through December 22nd, with 7pm evening performances Wednesday through Saturday, as well as 2pm matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. The season kicks off with holiday season entertainment for young and old alike.
A hilarious and heart-warming crowd pleaser, A Christmas Story: The Musical tells the story of nine-year-old Ralphie Parker, who has pinned his hopes on getting a “Red Ryder Carbine Action BB Gun” for Christmas. The musical, with a book by Joseph Robinette, features all the iconic moments from the film, from the leg lamp award, to the bunny suit, to Ralphie’s friend Flick getting his tongue stuck to a frozen metal pole.
It boasts a soaring, energetic score by Pasek and Paul, known for their work on Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman and more. The show is based on the 1983 MGM film, as well as the film’s inspiration, the novel In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd. The musical adaptation premiered on Broadway in 2012, in a production that featured two Playhouse Stage Company students and Capital Region natives, Jack Mastrianni and George Franklin.
“A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL.”
A Christmas Story: The Musical is directed by long-time PSC Director Michael LoPorto, returning to the company after most recently directing the celebrated 2023 production of Something Rotten at Park Playhouse. LoPorto is joined by frequent collaborator Brian Axford as Musical Director. Playhouse Stage Teaching Artist and performer Gabi Bazinet-Douglas makes her PSC choreography debut on A Christmas Story after appearing as Brooke Wyndham in this past summer’s Legally Blonde: The Musical.
The cast is led by well-known Capital Region actor and Sage Theatre Institute Professor David Baecker, as the show’s narrator, Jean Shepherd, as well as by PSC student Jack Holick as young Ralphie Parker. Joining them in the 26-person cast are Playhouse veterans Molly Rose McGrath and Nick Martiniano as Ralphie’s parents, and PSC Director of Education and Associate Artistic Director Ashley-Simone Kirchner, returning to the stage for the first time since 2019’s Avenue Q to play Ralphie’s teacher, Miss Shields.
The 37th Playhouse Stage Company Season continues in February with the dark musical comedy Heathers: The Musical, adapted from the 1989 cult classic film. In addition to productions at Cohoes Music Hall, the company will return to Park Playhouse in Albany’s Washington Park, and Guilderland Performing Arts Center in Tawasentha Park to present free, outdoor musical theatre for the community during Summer, 2025. Details about title selection and schedule will be announced in January.
For more information on the upcoming show at Cohoes Music Hall – A Christmas Story: The Musical and to purchase tickets, click here.
Avant-pop superstar Charli XCX has announced the “Brat 2025” Arena Tour which currently consists of five dates, two of which see Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Pop and electronic superstar Charli xcx has become an iconic figure in the arts, having helped expand the landscape of popular music over the last decade by seamlessly traversing the underground and mainstream with her artistic output. Over the course of a trailblazing career, the multi-hyphenate creative has earned critical acclaim for her innovative style and entrepreneurial spirit and seen her forward-thinking approach reshape pop culture in the process.
She released her sixth studio album ‘BRAT’ in June which stands as the most critically acclaimed album of the year and landed at Number 1 on the UK Official Album Chart in October. ‘BRAT’ has well and truly made its mark on the cultural zeitgeist this year; the audacious campaign has seen Charli cause roadblocks around the world with her pop-up ‘PARTYGIRL’ DJ sets, break the internet with viral videos and surprise collaborations with the likes of Billie Eilish, Lorde, Addison Rae, Robyn, Yung Lean, Julia Fox, Chloë Sevigny, and Rachel Sennott and introduce a new tone of green to the social lexicon.
The album was nominated for the Mercury Prize 2024 while ‘Guess featuring Billie Eilish’ debuted at Number 1 on the UK Official Singles Chart, making Charli the first British artist to land at the top of the charts this year. In October, Charli followed it up with ‘Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat’ – a brand-new version of the critically acclaimed album featuring reimagined takes and innovative reworks of tracks from ‘BRAT’ featuring the likes of Julian Casablancas, Bon Iver, The 1975, Shygirl, Ariana Grande, Caroline Polachek and more.
The “Brat 2025” Arena Tour kicks off on April 22 at Moody Center in Austin, TX. The tour then wraps up on April 30 and May 1 with two iconic shows at Brooklyn’s famous Barclays Center.
CHARLI XCX – BRAT 2025 – ARENA TOUR:
April 22 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
April 26 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center
April 28 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena
April 30 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
May 1 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
For more information on Charli XCX’s “Brat 2025” Arena Tour and to purchase tickets, click here.
Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs has announced four-piece jazz project, “Old Friends Beckoned, New Sounds Reckoned,” slated to hit the stage on January 11, 2025.
Matt Steckler, Yayoi Ikawa, Lonnie Plaxico & Tony Lewis present an evening of original jazz that draws upon collective inspiration, touching the heart with one cohesive brushstroke. The names Steckler, Ikawa, Plaxico and Lewis suggest four musicians who have intersected at different points on a jazz timeline. With the project Old Friends Beckoned, New Sounds Reckoned, their shared histories converge as singular new ideas emerge. Using original scores as a canvas, the quartet strives for a deeper vibe rooted in shared sacrifice.
Matthew Steckler, aka Matty Stecks, performs and composes in several musical settings internationally. Primarily as a saxophonist, he brings a dynamic, holistic approach to the live musical experience. As a composer and bandleader, Matthew has been recognized for his seminal work with the projects Pretzil Stex, Dead Cat Bounce, Persiflage & Musical Tramps, and been featured at festivals and major concert series in North America and Europe.
Born in Tokyo, Japan, but raised musically in New York, pianist/composer Yayoi Ikawa is an experience of ingenuity and compassion. After recording a straight-ahead jazz piano trio on Nippon Crown release “Angel Eyes” in 2004, she self-produced “Color of Dreams” displaying her original compositions. Since then, her group has featured in various music festivals and concerts in the U.S., Italy, Japan, Costa Rica, Guadeloupe and Martinique. Yayoi believes that Jazz is a social activity, and strives to learn from elders, collaborate with peers and pass it on to future generations.
Bassist Lonnie Plaxico’s musicianship is probably best expressed in his masterful integration of different forms combining the rigorous technique of classical, the improvisation of jazz, and the rawness of funk into one exhilarating musical experience. Plaxico’s recording and performance catalog is equally impressive for its caliber, depth and diversity. He has appeared with such luminaries as Sonny Sitt, Junior Cook, David Murray, Alice Coltrane, Stanley Turrentine, Joe Sample, Abbey Lincoln, and Dizzy Gillespie. He has also recorded five critically acclaimed albums as leader.
Tony Lewis is a drummer/songwriter from the South Bronx, New York who has worked with a variety of stellar artists including Little Richard, Sting, B.B. King, Dizzy Gillespie, Vernon Reid, Cyndi Lauper, Me’Shell N’degeocello, Rakim, Sam Moore (Sam & Dave), Michael Hill’s Blues Mob, and Craig Harris. As a child growing up in the Bronx, Tony’s early influences being around family and friends would prove to be a launching pad that led him to attend New York’s prestigious LaGuardia High School of the Arts.
Together, this 4-piece union of ultra-talented jazz musicians are sure to light up Caffe Lena with an amazing display of their capabilities. Tickets are available online and are currently at $30.37. The exciting new show takes place on January 11 from 8:00-9:00PM. Caffe Lena is located at 47 Phila Street in Saratoga Springs.
For more information on “Old Friends Beckoned, New Sounds Reckoned” and to purchase tickets, click here.
