Show Detective (Weekend Shows) – Friday, May 5th – Sunday, May 7th
Written by Staff on May 4, 2023
Show Detective
Friday, May 5th
Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer and Rakesh Chaurasia, Troy Music Hall, Troy, 8pm
Jagged Little Pill, Proctor’s Theatre, Schenectady, 7:30pm
SOME SHOWS YOU SEE. THIS SHOW YOU FEEL.
Joy, love, heartache, strength, wisdom, catharsis, LIFE—everything we’ve been waiting to see in a Broadway show— is here in the exhilarating, fearless new musical based on Alanis Morissette’s world-changing music.
Directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus (Waitress, Pippin, upcoming 1776) with a Tony-winning book by Diablo Cody (Juno) and Grammy-winning score, this electrifying production about a perfectly imperfect American family “vaults the audience to its collective feet” (The Guardian). “Redemptive, rousing and real, JAGGED LITTLE PILL stands alongside the original musicals that have sustained the best hopes of Broadway.” (The New York Times)
You live, you learn, you remember what it’s like to feel truly human… at JAGGED LITTLE PILL.
joe p, Empire Underground, Albany, 8pm
HEX: Cinco de Muerte, Fuze Box, Albany, 8:30pm – 2am
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the gothiest way possible. Enjoy dark music with sugar skull peeps, and smash a *small* pinata.
Pinkalicious The Musical, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 6pm
Based on the popular series of children’s book by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann, this is the tale of young Pinkalicious Pinkerton. She loves pink and wants everything in her life to radiate with a pink hue. After she can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents, her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor’s office with Pinkititis. This is an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe- a dream come true for this pink-loving enthusiast… or is it? Alas, Pinkalicious needs a way out of her pink predicament, and, joined by her family, she finds a solution through unity and appreciation for the unique quirks that define us all. A professional cast will bring this delightful tale to life, with weekend shows for the general public, and weekday shows for schools to come and enjoy in our historic Music Hall. It’s the perfect field trip, and a show with a perfect message for our elementary school audiences.
Hammerhead Horns- Cinco De Mayo Party, Rustic Barn, Troy, 8pm – 11pm
The Hammerhead Horns are a quartet of old friends who convene to perform old-timey blues, ragtime and honkytonk with Piano, Drums, Trumpet and Trombone.
Nectar’s Presents Upstate wsg Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm
Start Making Sense: Talking Heads Tribute w/ Atlassian, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 9pm – 12:30am
If David Byrne is one of the geniuses of modern times, then Start Making Sense is a tribute to genius. The musicians in this 6 to 7-piece Talking Heads Tribute take pride in faithfully recreating the music of Talking Heads entire career. Together they bring much of the Heads unique live show to the stage, with front man Jon Braun as a spot-on David Byrne, giving you a “once in a lifetime” experience. Prepare yourself for a rockin’, funkin’, danceable celebration of the new-wave art punk you loved from the 80’s !!!
Band Website: www.startmakingsenseband.com
Dirty Grass Players, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-10pm
The Dirty Grass Players, a four-piece new-grass band from Baltimore, is known for having one toe-tappin’ foot in traditional bluegrass while pushing boundaries with their blazing musicianship. Composed of Connor Murray on bass, Alex Berman on vocals & banjo, Ben Kolakowski with the guitar & vocals, and Ryan Rogers on mandolin, they have been bringing their growing fanbase a down and dirty performance for over five years. Their ability to seamlessly transition from down-home bluegrass to spirited improvisation makes each performance unique. Mix in some Allman Brothers, Pink Floyd, or a dash of southern rock and you’ll quickly understand what they mean by “Dirty Grass.”
Opening for the Dirty Grass Players is Lance and Lea. Texas native Lance Kotara grew up playing in a rock band in the Texas club scene & Colorado cowgirl LeAnna Kaufman was raised Amish, listening to gospel music and singing in church. The two met randomly in Nashville, TN and after their first songwriting session together, formed the duo . Marked by old school country and americana influences with Texas blues guitar, storytelling lyrics, and soothing harmonies. The duo already has an award under their belt, winning “New Artist Of The Year” at the 2019 iHeart Radio Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards in Lea’s home state of Colorado. “There Goes My Heart” was also nominated for Album Of The Year at the 2020 iHeart Radio RMCMAs.
Stream this show live at caffelena.tv. Enjoy one week of access with your live stream ticket.
Saints and Liars & The North And South Dakotas, Hangar on the Hudson, Troy, 8pm-11pm
Saints & Liars is a Vermont-based Americana band who has been blending their own variants of honky tonk, folk, bluegrass, and rock n roll since 2012. Having remained a live performance driven group for almost a decade, the band inevitably found themselves in the studio in late 2020, to record their very first professional release, ‘These Times’.
The band’s core members include Jed Hughes [guitars, lead vocals], Mike Farkas [guitars, vocals], Chris Rogers [bass], and Nolan Rolnick [drums], but often feature a rotating fifth member, bolstering the group’s live sound with the addition of electric guitar.
In addition to teaming-up on stage with amazingly talented folks like Pappy Biondo (Cabinet), Andy Falco (Infamous Stringdusters), Charlie Rose (Elephant Revival) and many others, the band has opened shows for distinguished acts such as Greensky Bluegrass, The Ghost of Paul Revere, The Mallett Brothers Band, and Sarah Shook & The Disarmers.
The North & South Dakotas are an original folk & bluegrass band with a rotating cast of players from the Upstate, NY region. From quick pickin’ grass tunes, to heartfelt ballads, The Dakotas bring a unique and original energy to the stage.
Nymbus, Lost and Found, Albany, 9pm
Grawlixes / Unknown Liberty / The Microbes / Mirrored Hell, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm
Grawlixes – https://grawlixes518.bandcamp.com
Unknown Liberty – https://unknownliberty.bandcamp.com
The Microbes – https://themicrobesct.bandcamp.com
Mirrored Hell – https://mirroredhell.bandcamp.com
Tops of Trees, Oobleck, SQWERV, Pauly’s Hotel, Albany, 8pm
Saturday, May 6th
Drive-By Truckers, The Egg, Albany, 7:30pm
Part of the American Roots & Branches Series
Alt-country rock pioneers the Drive-By Truckers with founding members Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley along with keyboardist/guitarist Jay Gonzalez, bassist Matt Patton, and drummer Brad Morgan perform their Americana roots influenced originals delivered with their signature blend of deadpan pragmatism and profound tenderness as heard on their new recording Welcome 2 Club XIII.
Jagged Little Pill, Proctor’s Theatre, Schenectady, 7:30pm
Soraia, Dance Cancer, Joe Mansman, Anacortez, Chapter 11, Empire Underground, 7pm
Party101 with DJ Matt Bennett, Empire Live, Albany, 8pm
It Came from Oneonta, Fuze Box, Albany, 6:30pm-10:30pm
SUNY Oneonta Alumni show for the Capital D!
Pinkalicious The Musical, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 6pm
Dead Man’s Waltz, Rustic Barn, Troy, 8pm-11pm
Dead Man’s Waltz (formerly Steal Your Peach) Interweaving the classic songs and jams of The Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers and The Band.
Afrobeats Night, Lark Hall, Albany, 6pm-9pm
Join us for Afrobeats Night 2023 on Saturday May 6th starting at 9pm! With guests Baba Yako, Kofiama and DJ Obie1. 21 + over event.
Cosmic Turtle, Tops of Trees, Inconclusive, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 7:30pm-10:15pm
Cosmic Turtle formed in early 2022 at Skidmore College as a group of young musicians striving to bring live music back to campus in the wake of COVID restrictions. The resulting band has been playing their mix of pop, indie, and good old-fashioned rock n’ roll on campus and in town ever since. Though their lineup changes a bit each semester as different students study off-campus, their high energy and commitment to having a good time remain strong.
Funky, Soulful… Fresh
Tops of Trees is a newly budding original music group growing roots in Upstate NY. The band has a drum and bass focused vibe featuring a soulful horn section, fervent guitars and classic organ, pulling you by the waist into a melodic funk pilgrimage.
A modern interpretation of soulful music steeped in early R&B, funk and blues.
Join The Saplings and watch Tops of Trees as they pioneer a new age of music – Trunk Funk.
Be sure to check out part 1 of their new EP on their website.
Website: www.topsoftrees.com
Inconclusive is a pop rock band from Saratoga Springs, NY. The band consists of Skidmore students Julia Henslee (Voice), Armant L’Heureux (guitar), Talia Gordon (keyboard), Owen Kitchel (bass), and Evan Robertson (drums). the band started only a few months ago after friends Julia and Talia jokingly threw the idea around, only to realize they were both serious. After a bit of asking around, Inconclusive was born. Even though most of the members barely knew each other, a strong bond was formed quickly through the group’s collective love of music making.
Little Folks Series: Folk Talk Trio, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 3pm-4:30pm
This series is made possible by Polyset and Kevin & Claudia Bright
Folk songs teach children history in an authentic and engaging manner. The Folk Talk Trio is guaranteed to delight kids of all ages
Heard, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 6pm-8pm
Energetic and upbeat, eclectic global music group Heard will open your ears & hearts … and get you up out of your seats dancing!
Heard is a collective of musicians that bring their skills and passion for world music, jazz and improvising together to create irresistible grooves set in a unique sonic tapestry. Together for a decade, their vibrant sound incorporates influences from West Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean and beyond. Their debut CD Karibu reached #15 on the WorldJazz charts and 2018’s daring Flyway has garnered much critical acclaim. Heard is a 4 time Eddy Music Awards nominee in the World Music category.
Their core quintet includes Jonathan Greene (woodwinds), Bobby Kendall (bass), Brian Melick (drums), Zorkie Nelson (percussion/vocals), and Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius (keyboard/vocals).The press on Karibu agrees: “Heard’s Karibu is smart, worldly, melodic – with lots of ear candy in the form of percolating rhythms and textures” (WLNZ); “[It] belongs at the front of the jazz racks – Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius & Heard get a Most Highly Recommended” (Improv Jazz Nation); “Refined, generous, jubilating … the writing is stunning, open, articulate” (World Guitarist), and from the Times Union: “Unexpected journeys through the realms of classical, jazz and world music.” Come see for yourself what everyone is raving about!
Stream this show live at caffelena.tv. Enjoy one week of access with your live stream ticket.
Girl Blue / Reese Fulmer & The Carriage House Band / Jimi W, Hangar on the Hudson, Troy, 8pm-11pm
Girl Blue – If you like Alanis Morissette, Brandi Carlile, and crying in public, you’re going to love Girl Blue. Writing deeply emotional songs with strong singable hooks, singer-songwriter Arielle O’Keefe is absolutely one to watch. She’s been featured on top Spotify playlists (New Music Friday) and charts (#2 on US Viral Charts), in national commercials, and on top blogs like the Huffington Post. She has received 7 Thomas Edison Music Awards, twice receiving Songwriter of the Year and Solo Act of the Year. It’s been said “she…has the kind of spark that makes stars” and, most especially as a live performer, she has an authenticity that regularly moves audience members to tears.
Reese Fulmer & The Carriage House Band – If you ask Reese about himself, he’ll tell you he’s a brand new soul. But his songs tell a different story, with a clear eye and poetic touch, of a conduit to something much older and deeper. With a fluid lineup of versatile and talented players in his Carriage House Band, Reese’s music is reminiscent of the early work of Josh Ritter or Iron & Wine.
with special guest Jimi W
Planetarium Party (Taurus SZN) / DJ Trumastr, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm
Planetarium Party – A monthly mystic disco hosted by First House Rising Astrology & Syd Silvair
DJ Trumastr – https://soundcloud.com/dj-trumastr
Sunday, May 7th
Music for Peace in a Time of War, Troy Music hall, Troy, 3pm
NY Folklore presents Jewish Folk Music, The Linda, Albany, 3pm–5pm
New York Folklore presents a free, three-part showcase of the Capital Region’s diverse folk music traditions. This event will feature an extended 20-minute intermission. A separate, but permeable lobby is available. The order of the show is as follow below.
The Kleiner Klezmer Orchestra was formed in the late 1980s when a local Rabbi connected the musicians, today they are made up of David Bates (accordion) Dave Ray (violin), Dave Lambert (clarinet), Steve Lambert (trumpet). and Bailey Quinn (vocalist). The formation of the group was highly influenced by the Klezmer revival of the 20th century. Klezmer incorporates Yiddish folk music, folk dance tunes, and “folklorized” music of Yiddish theater. They often play at Jewish community events around the Capital Region. The group’s repertoire is a result of the transcription of 78s and the collection and research of historic arrangements by the band.
Joshua Sussman is an Albany-based violinist. He has played the violin since he was five years old. In addition to formal musical training at Hartt School. Joshua is a well-respected scholar and player of Chassidic folk tunes; he learned through participation in weekly gatherings called fabrengans (Chassidic celebratory gatherings), while attending yeshiva (Rabbinical college). His music is an extension and expression of his Jewish faith. https://www.joshuasussman.com/
This programming is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Chris Distefano: Right Intention, Wrong Move, The Egg, Albany, 7pm
Part of the Guest Comedy Presentations Series
Chris Distefano is one of today’s biggest and most beloved names in comedy. Chris quickly rose to success after being named the funniest person on MTV for his show-stopping performances on the Guy Code/Girl Code series. From there, he went on to star in IFC’s Benders, co-host the Netflix gameshow Ultimate Beastmaster, and even had his own CBS sitcom. Outside of television, Chris has also become one of the most respected and flat-out funniest comedians in the standup world. Fresh off his appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman and Late
Night with Seth Meyers, Chris released his Comedy Central special 38 Waist, which perfectly encompassed both his Brooklyn-born edge and nice-guy charm.
When Chris isn’t on stage delivering his gut-busting jokes, you can catch him in his element in the comfort of his own couch where he records his wildly successful podcasts, “Chrissy Chaos” and “Hey Babe”, alongside Impractical Jokers’ Sal Vulcano. Both podcasts are among the most popular on all streaming platforms and have massive followings on Patreon. A big sports fan, Chris has been fortunate to host episodes of shows including MLB’s Off The Bat and MSG’s The Brackets, and was invited by the New York Mets to throw the first game pitch in 2021. Chris
has a fearless, yet endearing stage presence, and his natural ability to connect with audiences around the world has made him a household name in not just comedy, but all of entertainment.
Since selling out the world-famous Beacon Theater in New York City, Chris continues to travel the country on a sold out comedy tour, entertaining thousands by poking fun at the world—and himself—with his uniquely warm energy. Chris’ second full-length special, Speshy Weshy, premiered on Netflix this past May.
Presented by AM Productions
Jagged Little Pill, Proctor’s Theatre, Schenectady, 7:30pm Top of Form
Extinction AD, Goblet, Breathless by Dawn, Mira, x5x1x8x, Empire Underground, Albany, 5:30pm
Pinkalicious The Musical, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 6pm
Capital Underground 35th Anniversary Concert, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 1pm
Come join us for the Capital Underground 35th Anniversary Concert at Putnam Place. The event will feature music across two stages, with performances by Frozen Sun, Shyste Chronkyte, Blase Debris, Gracies Paris, Xkwisit, Mista Pigz, Under the Den, Sime Gezus, Michael Francis McCarthy, Bonus, Chris Sanders, The Tradition, and B. Austin.
Bright Series: The Sweet Lillies, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 7pm-9pm
The Sweet Lillies’ music is, first and foremost, heartfelt and collaborative. Those defining traits Made up of Julie Gussaroff, Becca Bisque, and Dustin Rohleder, the Lillies have combined their individual strengths together to deliver powerful narratives of life in song. With their acoustic string-band lineup of guitar, viola, and upright bass given flight by ethereal, vocal harmonies that float like a dream, the Sweet Lillies’ music has an old-time soul with a forward-looking eye. The Sweet Lillies have incorporated all of their cumulative life-experiences into their music, their song-writing, and their artistry, crafting an uncommonly-beautiful style they have christened String-Americana – a nod to the band’s all encompassing musical tastes and willingness to experiment with genres.
The Bright Series is made possible by the generous support of Kevin & Claudia Bright
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