Whassup in the 518 5/2 – 5/4
By Staff on May 1, 2025
Whassup in the 518
Friday, May 2nd
Shane Gillis Live, MVP Arena, Albany, 8pm
May 2 | 2025 8:00PM | Doors 6:30PM
Clue, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady
Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? Based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount Pictures movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist.
Orleans, Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga Springs
Platinum hit-makers “Orleans” are celebrating 50+ years of live performances!
Known for their iconic hits “Still The One,” “Dance With Me,” and “Love Takes Time,” Orleans continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Their music, praised for its timeless harmonies and instrumental brilliance, has stood the test of time with continuous airplay on Classic Rock radio and streaming platforms.
Crobot, Empire Underground, Albany, 7:30pm
Sweet Baby James – #1 James Taylor Tribute, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 7:30pm-9:30pm
Don’t miss America’s #1 James Taylor tribute, as singer-songwriter Bill Griese brings his acclaimed Sweet Baby James show to town. Not your typical tribute band fare, Griese delights audiences using only his uncanny Taylor-like vocals & guitar playing, and a uniquely down-to-earth personality. No impersonations or theatrics; just the great music of JT.
“The next best thing to James,” “his voice is spot on,” “close my eyes and it’s JT,” “I don’t like tributes but I LOVED this show,” “James would be proud,” “amazing guitar playing,” “everything he does honors JT” (from 500+ 5-star reviews). Come hear favorites like Fire and Rain, You’ve Got a Friend, Shower the People, How Sweet It Is, and Steamroller, as well as hidden gems and much more. Get your tickets today!
The Bear Bones Project, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 8pm-11pm
Gypsy Jam, blend of R & B, Jazz, and traditional multi-dimensional collaboration will take you on a heartfelt musical journey.
Mike McMann & Bob Buckley Duo at The Eleven, Albany, 6pm-8pm
Mike McMann is a native of the Capital Region of NY currently residing on the NY/MA border in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains. From classic rock to southern rock to bluegrass, roots music to acoustic, instrumental – Mike has a wide range of styles, influenced by Doc Watson, Tony RIce, Mark Knopfler, Jerry Garcia, Jeff Beck and others. He has played guitar in area bands for thirty years, including Euphoria, The Tropical Hotdogs,the Kenny Gwynn Band, the Kim Buckley Band, The Doornails, The Nellies and of course, the Mike McMann Band. He has shared the stage with Tony Markelis, Pete Vumbaco, Kevin Maul, Dale Haskell, the Sun Mountain Fiddler – Dick Solberg, Luke McNamee, Marty Satalino, Rick Lipe, Peter Bearup, Gordon Gaines, Evan Kremin and more. See the More Info page for an update on the bands Mike is currently booking gigs with for 2021. And of course – all gigs are subject to change – call ahead to confirm with the venues.
The Steel Wheels w/s/g Jack Broadbent, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm-11:30pm
The Steel Wheels have long been at home in the creative space between tradition and innovation, informed by the familiar sounds of the Virginia mountains where the band was formed, but always moving forward with insightful lyrics and an evolving sound. In 2005, Jay Lapp (vocals, guitars, mandolin) and Eric Brubaker (vocals, fiddle) joined lead singer Trent Wagler (guitar, banjo) in forming the band as a vehicle for Wagler’s songwriting. They released several albums under Wagler’s moniker, before officially adopting the The Steel Wheels name with the 2010 release of Red Wing. Quickly staking their claim as independent upstarts in the burgeoning Americana scene, The Steel Wheels followed up this release with three more self-produced albums in the next five years, before joining forces with producer Sam Kassirer for Wild As We Came Here (2017) and Over The Trees (2019). Kevin Garcia (drums, percussion, keys) joined in 2017, bringing a new level of sonic depth and polish to the outfit. Newest member Jeremy Darrow rounds out the rhythm section and grounds the band as they continue to explore deeply rooted yet fresh folk rock sounds. Having gained the experience of thousands of shows, festivals and many miles on the road, the stubbornly independent band has formed deep bonds with each other and the audience that sustains them.
Funky Fridays with Tad Cautious The Eleven at Lark Hall, Albany, 2pm-10pm
Tad Cautious is a DJ and musical curator who has performed at festivals such as Waking Windows in Vermont, Chicago’s Sacred Rose festival and Phish’s Riviera Maya festival in Cancun. He is the host of The Bunny, a weekly free-format show on SiriusXM based on the onsite station of the same name that he has helmed at Phish festivals since 1996. His sets range from international funk, psychedelic jazz and soul to muddled electronics, classic dub, and archival oddities, resulting in a pleasant disorientation.
Momentum Series: Joe Louis Walker, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-12pm
Chick Corea glibly referred to him as “The Chick Corea of Blues,” and Aretha Franklin called him “The Bluesman.” Blues Hall of Famer Joe Louis Walker has an impressive list of credentials: a six-time Blues Music Award winner, nominee for the Contemporary Blues Grammy and a duet with B.B. King on his Grammy award-winning Blues Summit album. But that doesn’t come close to describing the euphoria-inducing, feel-good rollick of one of the greatest bluesmen in a generation. Billboard hailed his playing as “…gutbucket blues, joyous gospel, Rolling Stones-style rock crunch, and aching R&B. Walker’s guitar playing is fine and fierce.” NPR described Joe Louis Walker as “a legendary boundary-pushing icon of modern blues.”
The Hard Luck Souls | Joe Mansman & the Midnight Revival Band | The Dionyus Effect, Hangar on the Hudson, Troy, 7pm-10pm
93.9 WABY presents Capital Underground Live Feat. The Hard Luck Souls, Joe Mansman & the Midnight Revival Band, The Dionyus Effect
90s Night with NOYK, Lost and Found, Albany, 9pm
Eric Gaffney (co-founder of Sebadoh) / Rabid Children, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm
Saturday, May 3rd
The Furious Bongos play Zappa!, The Linda, Albany, 8pm-10pm
We’re only in it for the money.
HAHAHAHA
Actually, we’re just a bunch of professional musicians with pretty diverse backgrounds who decided to take on a pretty big challenge and have some fun in the process.
Now, you might ask, “Oh yeah? ‘Professional’ musicians, eh? What makes you think you can play Frank’s music as well as [insert Zappa family member here]?”
Well…you might not have heard of us individually, but you have heard of the people we’ve spent our careers working with (and we don’t mean “I played a 10am slot at a festival once that was headlined by Famous Artist X”):
The Egg Presents: Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company, The Egg, Albany, 8pm
The Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company concert will feature a reprise of Celebrated Emblems, a highly anticipated first-time collaboration with the Musicians of Ma’alwyck with Brett Wery on clarinet. Also on the program, ESDC will premiere Sometimes I Cascade to music by jazz violinist Leroy Jenkins, a performance of Fade to music by Henryk Gorecki and a return of ESDC’s The Egg Kids Project designed for teenage students of dance. The evening will begin with a 7:15 pm Prelude Talk given by Artistic Director Ellen Sinopoli with guest artist Ann-Marie Barker Schwartz, artistic director of the Musicians of Ma’alwyck.
Photo by Gary Gold
Albany Symphony: Music of John Williams, The Palace Theatre, Albany, 7:30pm
David Alan Miller, conductor
The music of John Williams has transported us beyond our imagination. To new worlds. Through heart-pounding adventures. Be there as David Alan Miller conducts all your John Williams favorites: Superman, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Harry Potter, E.T., and of course, Star Wars.
Clue, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady
A mansion. A murder. A mystery.
Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? Based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount Pictures movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist.
Henry Fonda for President (2025), Proctors Theater, Schenectady
A descendent of the founder of the nearby village of Fonda, Henry Fonda rose through Hollywood to embody America’s quintessential everyman. “Fonda starred as Abe Lincoln, Tom Joad, Wyatt Earp, and the honest naval officer Mister Roberts,” notes film historian J. Hoberman (Artforum). “He was the protagonist of The Wrong Man (1956) and of 12 Angry Men (1957). He fought for democracy in the Spanish Civil War on-screen… and in World War II in actuality. He personified New Deal democracy, Cold War liberalism, and—thanks to his rebellious children—the 1960s generation gap.
The Psychology of a Murderer, Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga Springs
Unlock the mind of a murderer.
Join forensic psychologist Dr. Rachel Toles for an illuminating journey into the mind of a killer. In “The Psychology of a Murderer,” Dr. Toles thoroughly examines the various factors and breaking points that might lead someone to kill, while exploring infamous cases, such as the Menendez brothers, Chris Watts, Aaron Hernandez, Jeffrey Dahmer, the Columbine killers, Aileen Wuornos and more. The pending case of Luigi Mangione will also be covered.
Bit Brigade Performs “Super Mario World” + “F-Zero” LIVE, Empire Underground, Albany, 8pm
Al Stewart & Livingston Taylor, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes
AL STEWART
The Scottish-born singer-songwriter, Al Stewart, has released nearly 20 introspective and lyrically powerful records featuring brilliant backing musicians (Jimmy Page, Phil Collins, Richard Thompson, Peter White, etc.). His biggest platinum successes, Year of The Cat and Time Passages, were released in 1976 & 1978, respectively. He’s had several top 20 singles, including the above-mentioned titles, as well as “On the Border” and “Song On The Radio”.
LIVINGSTON TAYLOR
Livingston Taylor picked up his first guitar at the age of 13, which began a 50-plus-year career that has encompassed performance, songwriting, and teaching. From top-40 hits “I Will Be in Love with You” and “I’ll Come Running,” to “I Can Dream of You” and “Boatman,” the last two recorded by his brother James, Livingston’s creative output has continued unabated. His musical knowledge has inspired a varied repertoire, and he is equally at home with a range of musical genres—folk, pop, gospel, jazz—and from upbeat storytelling and touching ballads to full orchestra performances.
Get Up Jack, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 7pm-10pm
Award winning Celtic/Americana music!
Capital Zen at The Eleven at Lark Hall (FREE SHOW), Lark Hall, Albany, 6pm-8pm
A genre blending live music experience, Capital Zen has been playing shows around New England for over a decade. Combining elements of rock, funk, hip-hop, and prog, Capital Zen gives fans fully crafted originals, a unique blend of covers, and always a couple “I can’t believe they’re playing this” moments. Come to one Capital Zen show, and we guarantee it won’t be your last.
Hilltop w/s/g Residual Groove, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm
Hilltop is a four piece Funk Rock band based in Albany, NY. The group consists of brothers Stephen & Reid Perry, and their friends Aris Nieuwkerk and Dave Klang. The Perry brothers started playing rock music in high school with Aris, who met keyboardist/founding member George Scherck at music school in Schenectady, NY. Reid and Dave met in Dobbs Ferry, NY at Mercy College, and Stephen studied percussion at SUNY Fredonia before transferring to Mercy. The five of them eventually started playing and writing before their first show in January of 2018 and released their self titled, self produced album a year later. George left the band in 2019 but the band has continued to grow as a quartet. With over 100 shows under their belt, Hilltop shows no signs of slowing down. Each member offers a proficient, unique approach to their instrument, defining the experience. This band of young musicians is ready to spread their music and will continue to engage crowds wherever they go.
Margarita & Mimosa Fest + King Bully, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 2pm-8pm
Part bar hop, part delicious cocktail celebration, the 8th Annual Margarita & Mimosa Festival takes place across 15 bars & restaurants throughout downtown Saratoga. The event will include live music, DJ’s, samplings, giveaways, beer ,mimosas, seltzers, tequila & wild margarita specials. King Bully & Sly Fox will be playing the hottest music on the biggest dance floor in Saratoga, so make sure you come by and let’s have some fun!
Ladies Night ft: King Bully & Sly Fox, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 11pm-3am
Come get down on the biggest dance floor in Saratoga with King Bully and Sly Fox.
King Bully blurs the lines between Dancehall, Afrobeat, Hip-Hop, and Latin into what is a refreshing departure from anything else you’ve heard. The Troy NY native not only dominates the Capital Region club circuit, he also boasts an impressive list of concerts, which includes acts like Dababy, Lil Baby, Cardi B, Fabolous, DMX, Ja Rule, Ashanti and more. Always sure to get the crowd hype and the club packed, DJ King Bully is the sound that keeps any party going strong.
Little Folks Series featuring Deb Cavanaugh & Dandelion Wine, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 3pm-4pm
Looking for a fun, interactive, and musical experience to share with your little ones? Deb Cavanaugh ( aka, Miss Deb) & Dandelion Wine bring their joyful, high-energy show to Caffè Lena’s Little Folks Series, blending folk, blues, rock, and a touch of musical magic to delight audiences of all ages!
Sing, dance, and laugh along, with mountain dulcimer, guitar, upright bass, and more, this dynamic group makes every performance an engaging adventure filled with fun songs, playful storytelling, and music that kids (and grown-ups!) will love.
Kyran Daniel, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-10pm
“An incredible force in music… always received with thunderous applause and standing ovations.” – Tommy Emmanuel
Guitarist, composer, and producer Kyran Daniel brings his distinctive style to Caffè Lena for an evening of intricate, expressive guitar music. His career began alongside Grammy nominee Tommy Emmanuel, leading to a full scholarship at Berklee College of Music and collaborations with artists like G Flip, Gretta Ray, and Grammy-winning producer Printz Board (Black Eyed Peas, Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson).
The Spring Thing, Hangar on the Hudson, Troy, 4pm-10pm
Kim presents, THE SPRING THING!
Featuring Grief Group, Laura Leigh, The A.M.’s, Girth Control, Toriendofstory, Wavy Cuningham, Ice Queen, Coupons
To celebrate the arrival of spring and kick-off outdoor music season, come out and catch 8 great acts at The Hangar in Troy! 2 stages, one indoor one outdoor. Rain or shine.
The Capital Region has an incredible music community that spans so many genres and styles of music. The goal of this event is to get people out in front of musicians they may not normally see. Maybe you’re a metal fan that never catches a country band, or maybe you go to punk shows but have never seen a great local hip hop performance… Here’s a chance to come out and support our local music community as a whole, connect with new people and maybe find a favorite new act!
Doors at 3pm / Music at 4pm (4PM START FOR REAL!)
Emo Live Band Karaoke, Lost and Found, Albany, 9pm
The Mystery Lights / Sun Natives / Abyssmals, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm
Sunday, May 4th
Rock Voices Albany: Spring Concert 2025, The Egg, Albany, 4pm
Join Rock Voices Albany as they return for another unforgettable evening of incredible music, this time featuring songs by The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Romantics, Bonnie Raitt, Aretha Franklin, The Eagles, Sting, Guster, Beck, Colbie Caillat, Lucius, and more.
Backed by a professional rock band, Rock Voices Albany brings these songs to life with the rich harmonies of Tony Lechner’s arrangements. With a 150+ voice choir and a live band, you’re in for a real treat!
Clue, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady
A mansion. A murder. A mystery.
Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? Based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount Pictures movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist.
Sunday Jazz at UPH: Brian Patneaude Quintet, Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga Springs
Formed in 2002, the Brian Patneaude Quintet currently features pianist Rob Lindquist, guitarist Justin Henricks, bassist Jarod Grieco, and drummer Danny Whelchel. The group’s music is an organic blend of modern jazz styles, featuring accessible melodies and rich harmonic textures that appeal to both casual listeners and jazz aficionados alike. Their close-knit musical relationship and seamless interplay are the result of performances at numerous venues throughout the Northeast—including the Kingston International Jazz Festival, Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Guilderland Performing Arts Center, WAMC Performing Arts Studio, Cohoes Music Hall, the “A Place for Jazz” concert series, Albany’s Lark Fest, Saratoga’s Final Stretch Street Festival, and an eight-and-a-half-year weekly residency at Justin’s, one of the Capital District’s most highly acclaimed jazz venues.
Foodstock 13, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 2pm-8pm
Foodstock is a musical benefit to raise money for The Food Pantries for the Capital District.
Lark Hall Market, Lark Hall, Albany, 12pm-5pm
Latin Night w/ BoyBoy, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 7pm-1am
Join us for Latin Night every Sunday at Putnam Place and get down to the hottest Latin beats by BoyBoy!
Want to learn Latin dancing? Our friends from Tango Fusion Dance Company will be here from 7pm – 8pm (every Sunday) offering free dance lessons. No partner or experience necessary!
Food will be available for purchase, or perhaps you would rather enjoy a hookah, provided by our friends at Hookah Mami’s.
The Resonant Rogues, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 7pm-9pm
The Resonant Rogues’ dark Appalachian folk paints a picture of their lives in the mountains of Western North Carolina and on the road. Anchored by the songwriting duo of Sparrow Smith (banjo, accordion) and Keith Smith (guitar), they’ve traveled the byways and highways of America and crossed the oceans with instruments in tow. From riding freight trains to building their own homestead, the pair are no strangers to blazing unconventional trails.
The Rogues just released a new album, recorded in Nashville with renowned producer Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Hurray for the Riff Raff), featuring guest appearances from Sierra Ferrell, Benjamin Tod, John James Tourville (Deslondes), and Jason Dea West.
The Invincible Casuals, Hangar on the Hudson, Troy, 7pm-10pm
The Invincible Casuals aka the Incredible Casuals
Rikki Bates, Chandler Travis, Steve “Woo Woo” Wood.
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