Kaos Korner – May in Review – Niki Kaos

Kaos Korner.

In my personal life, May has always been one of those months that feels soooooo busy! And the live music scene is no exception. It makes it hard for a girl to figure out what shows to catch – but it is important to me to support a range of local, regional and national touring talent, so I figure out what I can squeeze in and get out there!

Connie Han – Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga, NY

I was lucky to interview Connie for RadioRadioX Xperience Monthly, and it was a thrill to see her play live at UPH. The sound was dialed in perfectly, and I would describe her as a rock star jazz musician. Performing with producer and collaborator Bill Wysaske and bassist Ryan Berg, you can feel the flow of the music is effortless as they power through her emotive songs.

The piano riffs would sometimes make me think… if Steve Vai was a jazz pianist, he would sound like this. And the skill in which they were executed was just as precise by Connie. She pours her emotion out into the music and given that she is just emerging as a jazz talent to look out for, I’ll be keeping her on my radar for sure!

They Promised Her the Moon – Tech Valley High School, Albany, NY

While not a music event – I had a blast at my son’s TVHS play, “They Promised Her the Moon”. Growing up performing in my school’s drama club, it was a blast to see future generations of theater kids having fun. I wonder if some of these up-and-coming stars might make it to Broadway someday. The play was about Jerrie Cobb, the first American woman to test for space flight. Utilizing flashbacks as Jerrie trains in an isolation tank, the vignettes are portrayed by a dynamic cast of actors, all who gave engaging performances. May is a great month to catch end of school year productions and support the local performing arts stars of tomorrow.

VaVaVooDoos – Xperience FuzeBox Sunday Matinee Series, The Fuze Box, Albany, NY

I’m a huge fan of the Sunday afternoon shows, and The Fuze Box, in collaboration with RadioRadioX, has been serving up a monthly matinee with a trio of eclectically collected local favorites and up and coming acts. I was traveling home from NYC, so sadly I missed the first two acts, but I’m sure Black Belt Jones and Gus Unplugged kicked ass! I was able to get there just in time to catch the full VaVaVoodoos set, and these garage rockers are in the zone. Tight, catchy songs that are irresistible – and live chops that show these guys put their heart, soul and a lot of rehearsals into perfecting their sound.

With so many free outdoor concerts and an abundance of festivals for all musical tastes, I vow to plan ahead early so I don’t miss out on the many great shows going on in the Capital Region. Hope to see you out there – supporting our amazing live music scene!!