Show Detective – Weekend Shows – Friday, August 4th to Sunday, August 6th
Written by Staff on August 3, 2023
Show Detective.
August 4th
David Wax Museum, The Linda, Albany, 8pm-10pm
“Human Nature is a Stranger to the Notion of a Pause”
Pioneering folk musicians David Wax and Suz Slezak are the plucky husband-wife duo
behind the eclectic, exuberant “Mexo-Americana” band David Wax Museum. After 14 relentless years touring the country and world, half of them with their two young children in tow, COVID’s abrupt disruption in March 2020 created a first jarring, then welcome creative pause for the Charlottesville, VA-based band. Not wasting a moment, Suz–who grew up homeschooled, playing the fiddle, singing rounds, and drinking raw milk fresh from her family’s homestead farm–immediately dug up their small downtown front yard to plant the first real garden of the indie rocker couple’s nomadic adult lives.
Pink Martini and The Philadelphia Orchestra featuring China Forbes, SPAC, Saratoga Springs, 7:30pm
Amphitheater
Performing on six continents and countless concert stages, Pink Martini draws musical inspiration from around the world. Members of the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame, the self-described “little orchestra,” joins the Grammy Award-winning Philadelphia Orchestra to perform its cosmopolitan world music spanning jazz to classical to vintage pop in over 25 languages.
HEX: Wasteland, Fuze Box, Albany, 8:30pm-2am
Dance for your life in Thunderdome. Drink from our fully stocked bar (without the radiation).
Take a break from the plight of humanity and come into the (air conditioned) wasteland. Dance for your life in Thunderdome. Drink from our fully stocked bar (without the radiation).
Lark Hall Presents The Deadbeats: 30th Anniversary Celebration, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm
The Deadbeats are a Grateful Dead Tribute act with a history of almost 30 years together. They are based out of the NY’s Capital Region and Hudson Valley Region. They have played thousands of shows along the East Coast, from Canada to Key West.
In 2022 the band is poised to go even deeper into the Grateful archive and pull out even more of that classic sound the Grateful Dead catalog emanates. The Deadbeats have grown into a fierce five piece band of friends who love to play together. Longtime members Mike Johnson, Denise Parent and Brian Miller have kept the band together for almost three decades, and they have not missed a beat. Brian Mangini (Ominous Seapods, Raisinhead, Moepods) and Dan Gerken (Danger! Ken, Timbre Coup) recently came onboard in 2019 to add some incredible rhythm and color to the band’s tapestry of sound.
In June 2022 The Deadbeats were voted “Favorite Grateful Dead Cover Band” at The Listen Up Awards put on at Lark Hall by Mirth Films. They also ranked in the top four Favorite Local Bands in the Chronogrammies 2020 and 2021. Saratoga Living Magazine ranked them in the Top Five Local Tribute acts of 2019. They were voted Best Jam Band of 2017 in The Capital Region of NY, and they took second place for Best Cover Band and Best Tribute Band. After almost thirty years, the band is still rockin the music of The Grateful Dead, JGB, Phish, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Band, Aretha Franklin, Bob Marley, and Janis Joplin along with a healthy supply of upbeat and catchy originals. Currently The Deadbeats play in Kingston and Albany regularly, and can also be found playing all around NY’s Hudson Valley and Capital Region. Their Grateful Dead/Phish inspired shows are a celebration of improvisational, jamming rock & roll. As a result of playing over a quarter of a century together, they have amassed a large and loyal following of fans who appreciate the open ended, participatory nature of their performances.
Working without a net, their set lists, arrangements, and jams are all left open to the inspiration of the particular moment, drawing in the crowd as active participants in the creative process rather than just spectators. It is a unique experience and it has been this commitment to these musical and philosophical ideals that has set The Deadbeats apart. The Deadbeats have an inexhaustible repertoire, and they are always adding more songs to the 300 plus catalog. With such a wide selection its easy to see why audiences walk away with a smile on their faces…..
DJ John Jamz, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 10pm
Come get down to the hottest beats by DJ John Jamz on the biggest dance floor in Saratoga. Dress to impress!
John Jamz is an open format DJ hailing from Albany, NY. John Jamz has opened for Funkmaster Flex, Doo Wop, Kid Capri and Red Alert. His nickname is ” The Specialist” and once you’ve seen him rock a crowd, you will see how he earned that title.
Folk Heritage Series: Jamcrackers, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 7:30pm
Adirondack-based musicians Dan Berggren, Peggy Lynn and Dan Duggan make up Jamcrackers – a diverse blend of folk, blues, ballads & gospel.
Seasoned solo performers Dan Berggren, Peggy Lynn and Dan Duggan have combined talents to create a dynamic trio named in honor of the river drivers who broke up log jams. They worked hard to find solutions, to get things rolling again, and it was a job that couldn’t be done alone. Berggren, Lynn and Duggan feel the same way about their music. These good friends and accomplished musicians bring a rare blend of humor, history and musical spirit to their performances. “Although the Jamcrackers … will win you over with their front porch style picking and charm, there’s much more to be appreciated from their music.” (Sing Out!)
Award-winning educator and songwriter Dan Berggren has deep roots in the Adirondacks. His music reflects the spirit and the hardworking people of that region. Author and environmental activist Bill McKibben says: “Dan is a throwback to the old role of the folk singer… he’s articulating things that need to be said right now.” Peggy Lynn writes and performs songs, using her bluesy alto voice to sing about women and natural beauty of the North Country. With Sandra Weber, she co-authored Breaking Trail: Remarkable Women of the Adirondacks. In 2005, both Lynn and Berggren received the Adirondack Mountain Club’s Education Award.
National Hammered Dulcimer Champion Dan Duggan is known from Maine to California for his wizardry on the hammered dulcimer, flat-picking guitar, and keyboards. In addition to his 18 recordings, Duggan’s dulcimer talents are spotlighted on Paul Simon’s Grammy-nominated album You’re the One. Also known for his dance calling, Duggan actually calls while playing the hammered dulcimer. Together, this trio sparks a rare chemistry and a guaranteed good time.
The Folk Heritage Series is made possible by the Charlie Pickett & Kathleen Rehl Endowment Fund
The Sugar Hold / Hot Knives / Rhoseway / Barbie Barker (of Candy Ambulance), No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm
The Sugar Hold
Hot Knives
Rhoseway
Barbie Barker (of Candy Ambulance)
Sal lacobucci and Dreaming The Blues with special guest BerkStar, Pauly’s Hotel, Albany, 8pm
A muscular power trio in the classic ‘70s format pioneered by Mountain, and Beck, Bogert & Appice, and most notably Robin Trower, Dreaming The Blues plays high-intensity blues-rock with a welcome emphasis on copious guitar excursions from Sal Iacobucci.
https://www.dreamingtheblues.com
https://www.facebook.com/salDTB
August 5th
Ida Mae Specker, Troy Music Hall, Troy, 6pm
The Summer Square Concert Series is a free, outdoor event at 6 PM Saturday nights July and August in the Music Hall Courtyard.
Ida Mae Specker is an old-time fiddler, folk singer and songwriter from Andover, Vermont. Her music fuses original, contemporary, and traditional material, bringing heartfelt new life and relevance to the chain of American folk music. Specker’s debut EP of original music, ‘Billy in the Heartland,’ was released in December 2019. A longtime member of family band The Speckers, Ida Mae is currently touring solo and with a backing band featuring a rotating roster of musicians. Specker is releasing a new EP in summer 2023, a live session recorded in a church in Peru, Vermont, by Dan Rome and Austin Burrell (Future Fields). Her live performances showcase Specker’s original songs in addition to creative arrangements of traditional old-time tunes, bluegrass and country songs. More information at www.idamaespecker.com
Hudson Valley Writer’s Guild presents: Trailer Park Quarterly and Hobo Camp Review, The Linda, Albany, 8pm-11pm
The Hudson Valley Writers Guild presents a special night of poetry and spoken word at The Linda, featuring writers from Trailer Park Quarterly & Hobo Camp Review!
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ In Concert, SPAC, Saratoga Springs, 7:30pm
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Amphitheater
Grab your broom and get ready for the tasks ahead! The Triwizard Tournament comes to Hogwarts™ in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ in Concert.
The Philadelphia Orchestra will perform Patrick Doyle’s magical score, winning both the International Film Music Critics (IFMCA) and ASCAP Film and Television Music Award, live while the entire film plays in high-definition on a 40-foot screen.
WIZARDING WORLD and all related trademarks, characters, names, and indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s23)
Hemlock “The Dirty Thirty Tour”, Empire Underground, Albany, 7:30pm
w/s/g Don Gatto (from Hungary), 1000 Yard Stare, Confinement, Born Dying
Jameson Rodgers, Empire Live, Albany, 8pm
w/ Drew Green
SUMMER SCHOOL 2023 ANNUAL PUNK ROCK SHOW & PARTY, Fuze Box, Albany, 7pm-11:30pm
TRAUMA SCHOOLDROPOUTS along w/ Jersey’s Own Working Class Rockers the HUDSON FALCONS, One of our All Time FAV bands (Ultra Rare Appearance) PLASTIC JESUS and WET SPECIMENS! Doors at 6:00, Show at 7:00pm
DJ TGIF, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 9pm-2am
It’s always a party with DJ TGIF at Putnam Place. Come get down on the biggest dance floor in Saratoga, or hang out on our relaxing patio. Bottle service available, dress to impress!
Holly Near with John Bucchino, Jan Martinelli and Christelle Durandy, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-10pm
Legendary singer/songwriter, actress, teacher + activist Holly Near continues to inspire and reveal the power of social change through song
After 50 years of bold work, Holly Near is still one of the most consistent and well-informed voices for change. Her work is loving, challenging, funny, thought provoking, and remains rooted in the global community. As an outspoken singer and ambassador for peace, Near brings a unique integration of world consciousness and self-evaluation, always growing and sharing her experience humbly and boldly.
With a background in both music and theater, Near enjoyed success as an actress before changing her focus to songwriting, making the most of her clear voice and knack for compelling melodies. In 1971, Near joined the cast of Free the Army, an activist entertainment group founded by Jane Fonda that performed off-base for soldiers in the U.S. and the Pacific. Working with FTA helped focus Near’s ideas about the importance of music in activism and the rising women’s movement. She went on to become a major figure in the rise of the women’s music movement in the ’70s. Near is known for the anthemic quality of many of her songs. As a songwriter she takes up the challenge of turning big concepts into small, personal stories. In response to the slaughter of the students at Kent State, she wrote “It Could Have Been Me.” And following the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk in San Francisco, she penned “Singing For Our Lives,” which has become an anthem for the LGBTQ community and appears in the Unitarian Church hymnal.
“It seems that whenever we need the comfort and wisdom provided by Holly’s art, she is there for us, like a loyal friend at the ready with an understanding, warm hug. Always refreshingly kind and down to earth, Holly makes everyone feel at home at her performances.” – San Francisco Bay Times. In 2019, Near began a website project called Because of a Song, an online historic archive that documents some of the influential artists that rose from the feminist lesbian music scene in Oakland, California. The site can be viewed at www.becauseofasong.com. A recipient of dozens of awards from organizations such as the ACLU and the National Organization of Women, Near was one of Ms Magazine’s Women of the Year recipients and has been nominated for Grammys as well as the Legends of Women’s Music Award. Near reflects: “I do not separate my music from my heart nor do I separate my ideas from my daily life. I open myself up to learning as much as I can about humanity and this mysterious life experience … Moment by moment, I integrate what I learn into my personal life, personalizing my politics. It is from this personal place that I write my songs.”
Rock The Locks (Rochester) – Awful Kanawful / The Low Spirits / Jazz Goons, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm
Awful Kanawful – https://awefulkanawful.bandcamp.com
The Low Spirits – https://thelowspiritsband.bandcamp.com
Jazz Goons – https://soundcloud.com/user-858718478
Kristian Montgomery & The Winterkill Band, Pauly’s Hotel, Albany, 8pm-11pm
Join us for Kristian Montgomery & The Winterkill Band along side
Nodetour and The Sleds
August 6th
Radioradiox Xperience Monthly 5th Anniversary Party, Hangar on the Hudson, Troy, 3pm
Musical performances by our staff. A salute to the talent that makes us who we are.
Capital Region Blues Network Northeast Blues Challenge ’23, The Linda, Albany, 2pm-4pm
The Capital Region Blues Network hosts its band qualifiers for the Internation Blues Challenge.
Several of our region’s top blues bands compete in the NYS Capital Region Blues Network International Blues Band Challenge. Come show your love and support of The Blues. The winner of the challenge continues to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge in January 2024.
More info at CapitalRegionBluesNetwork.com
The Chicks, SPAC, Saratoga Springs, 7:30pm
World Tour 2023
Amphitheater
Earning universal recognition as the biggest-selling U.S. female band of all time, The Chicks have sold more than 30.5 million albums and are among an elite group of artists and the only female group to achieve multiple “diamond” selling (ten million copies) releases. Counting 13 GRAMMY® Awards, six Billboard Music Awards, four American Music Awards, and numerous Country Music Association Awards among many other accolades, their last record-breaking studio album, TAKING THE LONG WAY (2006), won five GRAMMY® Awards including “Album of the Year,” “Record of the Year,” and “Song of the Year.”
ARKAI: Lake George Music Festival Preview, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 7pm-9pm
ARKAI is an electroacoustic duo that fuses classical virtuosity with the electricity of a rock band, and the beauty of a string quartet
If metal band Metallica took a time machine to Johann Sebastian Bach’s studio in Cöthen as he was composing Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, the resulting collaboration might sound a bit like ARKAI. Graduates of The Juilliard School, this award-winning string duo is comprised of violinist Jonathan Miron and cellist Philip Sheegog. They’ve performed at venues as diverse as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, to NYC’s Joe’s Pub and City Winery. As creative collaborators, ARKAI was commissioned by the Museum of Chinese in America to compose a work for their exhibition Responses: Asian Americans Resisting the Tides of Racism.
“These energetic, accomplished young musicians present an innovative model of how musicians interested in classical and popular music can transcend genres. That they do so with a lot of heart makes it even better” (Ruth S. Holmberg, Professor of American Music at University of Tennessee). ARKAI was selected by the U.S. Department of State and the Association of American Voices to participate in the 2021-22 American Music Abroad season. Through this program, ARKAI has engaged in exchange programs with underserved audiences around the world with little or no access to American music, demonstrating the power of cultural diplomacy as a tool to bring people together.
RadioRadioX