Big Frank and the Bargain Bingers – Xperience History

Staff on February 23, 2025

Big Frank and the Bargain Bingers – Xperience History – by Liam Sweeny.

Originally published in November 2018.

At the General Store down the river, go about five miles south past the last Cow Crossing sign, where the trucks in the lot all have mud finishes and if they don’t sell it, you just don’t need it, and you might just find Big Frank and the Bargain Bingers kickstarting Judgment Day.

With Frank Novko on bass, Johnny Hoffman and Bob Resnick on guitar and drums respectively, and everybody pitching in on vocals, Big Frank and the Bargain Bingers have here, there, and a little bit of everywhere. We sit down with Big Frank for a chat.

RRX: I’ve heard you all described as “swamp rock” and having heard some of your stuff, I can definitely see that. Can you describe your sound to our readers? How else would you describe yourselves beside swamp rock?

BF: Our sound is the sum of our influences, varied as they are, with the common thread being what is now termed the Americana music/genre. Which is an all-encompassing term itself, being a mix of blues, rock, classic country, Motown/Stax and R&B. Beside “swamp rock” I would say our sound would be what you would hear in a roadhouse somewhere out in Oklahoma in, say, 1964 – a bit of country, some R&B, a little surf, some rock, a bit of garage rock, etc…

RRX: You guys are a three piece. There are a lot of power bands that are three piece, like Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, Rush… what do you think are advantages of being a three piece band?

BF: For one it’s easier to get everyone together for rehearsals and scheduling gigs. Also it’s a purity of sound; with fewer members, it’s easier at times to give the music space, and also lets us all have our moment to stretch out.

RRX: Can you tell us how Big Frank and the Bargain Bingers came to rock the Capital Region? Is your current lineup the lineup you’ve always had, or have there been other players throughout the years?

BF: The genesis of the band came about as I was tired of being reliant on singers/front people. I was writing songs, and wanted to do something different, something that incorporated originals and covers you don’t typically hear.

The lineup, as with many groups, has changed a little over the years, with the constant members being Johnny Hoffman (guitars, vocals) and I. We’ve cultivated a good musical dialog over the years. I joke at times; it seems we have the Spinal Tap drummer curse. We’ve had a few talented people on drums – former members are Johnny Long, Matt Robbins, and Corey Hough on guitar, harmonica and vocals. We use the guys as fill-ins when Bob has another commitment.

RRX: You guys have been bringing joy to the region for a long time. Can you think of any notable shows you played? Any notorious shows? Do you have a place around here that you really like to jam out at?

BF: A more recent notable show was last year at The Hanger on the Hudson, we opened for The Fleshtones (we’ve opened for them a few times.) This gig, we played a couple of tunes from their back catalog, songs they hadn’t played in years as an unannounced tribute to them. The feedback from Keith Streng (Fleshtones guitarist ) was very positive; he enjoyed what we did.

Notorious shows – well there’s been a few. A gig in Herkimer at Brownies with a group called Boneslaw, a crazy night with a packed house the typical rock debauchery. Many gigs at Positively 4th Street with Black Cat Elliot, the Lawn Sausages, Phillips Head…

Places we like to play – pretty much anywhere that will have us, but of note, The Ale House in Troy and the Lost and Found in Albany. We did a Sunday session there this past spring/summer. Also The Olde English Pub and Indian Ladder Farms Cidery and Brewery.

RRX:Following from the previous question, you all have been in the local scene for a long time. You’ve probably seen it change considerably over the years. So, broad question: what do you think has changed around here since you started playing? And just as important, what has stayed a constant in the 518 music scene?

BF: The obvious answer, the venues to play at have changed, opening/closing. Places to play original music is limited. Gigs start earlier (which isn’t a bad thing.) New opportunities have risen at the local breweries that host live music which is nice to see.

The constant is the level of talent in the area; we have some damn fine musicians, talented songwriters, and the camaraderie of bands and musicians is good.

RRX: We’re all influenced by people, but I hate asking people to list influences. So I try to be creative. Discuss this among yourselves and compose a super group that you’re going to open up for. The players all must be from different bands. What’s the lineup?

BF: As I’m writing this alone here’s my supergroup (Frank) it does not reflect the opinion of the Bargain Bingers

OK here’s the group:
Vocals: Big Mama Thornton
Drums: Charlie Watts
Bass: (upright) Ron Carter
Keyboards: Jon Valby
Guitars: Roy Nichols, Rick Miller, Steve Ferguson
Horns: the Blood Sweat and Tears horn section from 1973

Photo credit: Julia King.

RRX: Sharing is caring. Share for us some local musicians, in your genre or not, that you’d like to show some love to. And to add to this, say one thing about them to pique our interest. Who do you love?

BF: Skip Parson of Skip Parson and the Riverboat Jazz band. Skip has been playing in the area forever, and now in his 80’s he’s still bringing it on clarinet. Dixieland and trad. Jazz, he’s the real deal. Catch him at The Fountain on New Scotland Ave, Albany. He’s been playing there since 1971.

Got to shout out to Black Cat Elliot. I played bass for them a few years ago when they needed a player. Great tunes and fun guys to hang with.

Guitarist Bernie Mulleda, from the 1980’s Albany band The Stomplistics. If he’s out playing, catch him, be it gypsy jazz, R&B, or slinky Stones rock. He crushes it.

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Help Local Musician Kristian Pedersen Recover from a Fire

Staff on February 21, 2025

February 9th local musician Kristian Montgomery was awoken by a neighbor who helped him evacuate his farm house that had caught fire. The fire began in the barn and quickly spread to the entire home. It was a complete loss and coincided with sub zero temperatures. Kristian lost all his music gear, cherished family heirlooms and memories. His dog 3 cats and most of his chickens and ducks perished in the blaze. His wife and kids escaped unharmed but recovery from this kind of trauma takes years.

In 2021 Kristian Pedersen was nominated for the Boston music awards and fishing off the coast of New England. His band “Kristian Montgomery and the Winterkill band ” was getting more attention but at the same time he needed to get away from a woman he’ll bent on destroying him. He and his new wife April sold their fishing boat and bought a farm in western Vermont and started new. Chickens and ducks led to turkey and Geese then goats and horses. They began fostering kids who needed help all while Kristians musical ambitions were trying to find a Home. Vito Ciccarelli played his single on radioradiox and friendships with area promoters and djs became solid. Upstate NYs rock scene was a perfect fit for his style of songwriter and he finally felt like he was “Home” Kristian is nominated for “favorite Americana and country” band” at the 2025 Listen up music Awards.

On March 22 the day before the Listen up music awards the local music community is.coming together to support Kristian with a concert at the Southern Vermont arts center in Manchester Vermont. Doors at 4pm . A $10 cover charge/donation is suggested.The line up is evolving but Kristian will headline the event because he wants to earn this. He promises that in between tears he will put on the best performance he can.

Kristian’s GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-kris-and-family-after-devastating-fire?attribution_id=sl:828b9b6a-11bb-479c-8f5f-23db15a61bea&lang=en_US

 

 

Jukebox – Music News Cuts – 2/21

Staff on February 21, 2025

Cynthia Erivo

Jesus Christ Superstar will star Cynthia Erivo at the Hollywood Bowl from August 1st to August 3rd. It will be directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Sergio Trujillo, while Tony winner Stephen Oremus will be musical director and conductor.

Jesus Christ Superstar made its Broadway debut in 1971, and is about the last week of Jesus’s life. A film adaptation was done in 1973, and NBC aired a live version on Easter Sunday in 2018.

Erivo has been nominated for an Oscar for her performance in the film adaptation of “Wicked,” in which she played Elphaba. She will reprise this role in “Wicked: For Good” in November from Universal Pictures.

Brian Setzer

Brian Setzer of the Stray Cats has put his musical life on hold while he struggles with an autoimmune disease. The unnamed disease, while not causing him pain, has made playing guitar a problem, as well as other basic tasks. He is being treated in the Mayo Clinic. In Setzer’s own words, . “I cannot play guitar. There is no pain, but it feels like I am wearing a pair of gloves when I try to play,” he said. “I have seen some progress in that I can hold a pen and tie my shoes. I know this sounds ridiculous, but I was at a point where I couldn’t even do that.”

Setzer formed the Stray Cats in 1979, and they captured a Rockabilly resurgence that carried into the 90s. The Brian Setzer Orchestra is also known for playing the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting, and the movie Elf famously has one of his songs in it.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers is looking to sell their music catalog for $350 million dollars. This is in addition to the $140 paid to them by Hypgnosis, meaning that their total ask is around $500 million for all of their musical assets. Warner Music may already be in talks to buy them, but this hasn’t been confirmed.

These assets bring in $26 million annually. Bruce Springsteen sold his catalog to Sony Music for $500 million in 2021, and Pink Floyd sold to the same for $400 million. The biggest haul was $1.27 billion paid to Queen last year.

The Right Name at the Wrong Time – The Weird Side of the Internet

Staff on February 21, 2025

The Right Name at the Wrong Time – The Weird Side of the Internet – by Liam Sweeny.

I had a weird name growing up. Sure, now ‘Liam’ is super popular, and I think it was the top baby name in 2018 or something. But in the seventies and eighties, no one could pronounce it. It’s literally four letters and no one could pronounce it. Nobody even got it right by accident. Scramble four letters in a pan, throw some butter on the vowels, something should happen but nope. Nada. My gym teacher pronounced it ‘leome.’ I’ll go to my death saying this is why I hated gym glass and at 6’8, never became a basketball player.

But there’s someone else I feel really bad for. Her last name, Nizam. First name, Alexa. So she loved her name growing up. And then came Amazon, and their shining jewel, the personal assistant, “Alexa.” And the biological Alexa’s torment began.

She worked retail, so in true obnoxious idiot form, shoppers would ask her the weather, the time, always using her name. So which brings us to rule one of retail. Just because someone’s name is on a name tag, it’s not cool to use it. Ther boss is making hem put their name on a tag for the sole purpose of having a name you can bitch about in the inevitable complaints. They’re not introducing themselves on two-inch-long plastic.

This is terrible, but the funniest thing was when Alexa was on a videoconference call, and every time someone called out her name, everybody’s Amazon thing went off. So in a way, Alexa Nizam was the queen of all Amazon personal assistants.

These days, Alexa (machine Alexa) is not as hot as it used to be, and I doubt anyone is naming their kids ChatGPT or DeepSeak. But for a moment, a Millenial lost herself and was consumed by a shortcut to the National Weather Service and a wristwatch.

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Heathers: The Musical Performing at Cohoes Music Hall through March 9th

Staff on February 20, 2025

HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL OPENS AT COHOES MUSIC HALL FRIDAY, PLAYS THROUGH MARCH 9

Musical adaptation of 1989 cult classic dark comedy features Playhouse Stage Academy’s advanced teen actors performing alongside professional performers.

Cohoes, N.Y. (February 20, 2025) – Playhouse Stage Company continues its 37th Season as Heathers: The Musical opens on Friday, February 21 at 7:30pm at Cohoes Music Hall. Performances continue through March 9, with 7:30pm evening performances Thursday through Saturday, as well as 2pm matinees on Saturdays and Sundays.

Complimentary tickets for Heathers: The Musical are available throughout the run for members of the media and local theatre press who wish to cover or review the production. Local new stations are encouraged to film footage of the performance.  To request tickets, please email Owen Smith, Producing Artistic Director, at owen@playhousestage.org. Production photos will be sent to the media on Friday, February 20.

Based on the 1989 New World Pictures film by Daniel Waters, Heathers focuses on the students of Westerberg High School in the fictional town of Sherwood, Ohio. The very definition of a cult classic, the darkly funny and highly stylized movie helped launch the careers of Wynonna Rider, Christian Slater, and Shannon Doherty. The property has since been adapted into a musical and a television reboot. The musical adaptation features a book, lyrics, and energetic eighties-inspired score by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe. It premiered off-Broadway in 2014 and was updated for a 2021 West End run in London.  The show tells the story of high school misfit Veronica Sawyer, who ingratiates herself with a popular trio of girls, all of whom are named Heather, only to find that their behavior causes great harm to her classmates. After meeting and falling for a transfer student named Jason “J.D.” Dean, the pair set out to enact revenge on the Heathers, with fatal results.

“While Heathers is undoubtedly funny and energetic, it also tackles issues that teens in high school still face to this day,” said PSC Producing Artistic Director Owen Smith. “This story that concerns teen suicide, bullying, sexual assault, and gun violence is an ideal vehicle to challenge and develop our fantastic Playhouse Stage Academy advanced teen students,” Smith continued. “As has become the core of our programming in recent seasons, these incredible teen performers will appear in age-appropriate roles alongside dynamite regional professional actors, with our top-notch design and creative team guiding them.”

Heathers: The Musical is directed by PSC Managing Director Chuck Kraus, with choreography and musical staging by AshleySimone Kirchner and musical direction by Brandon Jones. The Trio have regularly collaborated to helm shows featuring Playhouse teens in recent season, most recently on 2024’s acclaimed production of Spring Awakening.  The cast is led by Molly Kirby, now in her eighth year as a Playhouse student, as Veronica Sawyer. Ms. Kirby was recently cast in the lead role of Ariel for this coming summer’s production of The Little Mermaid. Joining her are Keith DuBois as J.D., and the trio of Nora Miller, Ava Papaleo, and Vandy Benson as the Heathers. The fifteen cast members are supported by Playhouse veterans Molly Rose McGrath, Nick Martiniano, and Lancelot Douglas playing a variety of adult roles.

The 37th Playhouse Stage Company Season continues in March with Schoolhouse Rock Live, available for school field trips all month, with public performances on March 29 & 30. The company’s summer season will kick off in June with a developmental premiere production of the new musical The Waiting, and will continue with Oklahoma! at Park Playhouse in July, along with The Little Mermaid and Moana Jr. at Cohoes Music Hall in July and August.

Tickets and 37th Season Memberships are now on sale at the Cohoes Music Hall and Playhouse Stage box office. Adult tickets are $4000, with $30.00 available for Seniors (65 and older), and $20 tickets for under 18. Tickets may be purchased online at www.playhousestage.org, in person at 58 Remsen Street in Cohoes, or by phone at 518-434-0776. More information about Playhouse Stage Company and its productions can be found online at www.playhousestage.org.   ###

John Daloia – Interview – Thanks for Asking!

Staff on February 20, 2025

John Daloia – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: Music genres are difficult for some artists. Some strictly adhere; others not so much. What is your perspective on the genre you play, or the genres you hover around?

JD: Hi. I’m John Daloia.  I’m a local guitarist/singer who plays across multiple genres but with a heavy blues/rock influence. My first gigs were in High School in the late 1970s and covered “hard rock” of the time. We cut our teeth playing Zeppelin, Sabbath, Aerosmith and the likes. I agree with Austin-based guitarist Jackie Venson that “the blues are the roots”, at least for a large swath of popular music, and most everything I played early on had that blues rock feel. Over the decades since I’ve learned to play a lot of different music, but not always at the time the music came out. In college in the early 1980s I was drawn to psychedelic and protest music of the 1960s and became a Dead Head. I had little interest in the big hair metal or rock bands of that era, but I did branch out into southern and country rock – even some bluegrass – and played in several party bands (playing both guitar and bass), where I learned many of the rock/pop standards that keep a party moving and grooving.

When I play solo now, I’m all over the map, but my band efforts are a little more genre focused. I’m currently juggling several bands, one covering 90s/00s alt-rock (Generation Gap), another a more typical “classic” rock band (Earth To Joe), and also an all-original indie band (The Villaineers, headed by singer-songwriter Jeremy Routhier-James). I’ve always embraced music diversity, and I love mixing up songs in the sets I put together, sometimes to the chagrin or amusement of my bandmates.

Playing for so long I’ve acquired a pretty extensive repertoire and I’ve been described more than once over the years as a human jukebox. I really think the last – let’s say – 75 years have been the best for experiencing music. Technology and digitization have obviously been a big part of this, with the amazing songs we have all grown up with and love accessible anytime, anywhere.

RRX: Our style comes from the extension of our influences. It’s like an evolution. We’re influenced, and it inspires us to influence. What can you say about your influences, and what you feel you’ve done with their influence as a musician or band? Have you extended their work?

JD: I was very lucky to be mentored by some awesome musicians. I took guitar lessons in my teens from a couple of legends – my older cousin (and world-class guitarist) Chuck Daloia and one of his mentors, Seymour Kougher, an older accomplished, local guitar jazzman who had also taught Chuck.  Seymour played in the style of the jazz greats – think Joe Pass or Wes Montgomery – and Chuck, younger and closer in age to me, exposed me to jazz and cutting-edge music of that time, artists like Herbie Hancock and Mahavishnu Orchestra, along with, of course, lots of rock music.

They influenced the types and genres of music I became exposed to, but perhaps more importantly they imbued in me what I consider are great ways to develop and grow as a guitar player.  There are many guitar greats who are very organic, both in style and how they grew. But I learned the old school way – weekly lessons, reading music and learning the basics of music theory.  Organic or old-school, you become a true student of your instrument, which lays the foundation for a fulfilling musical journey. Playing guitar, like any instrument, is, for many of us, a life-long endeavor – and always evolving and growing. We all have our limitations, famously stated by Jerry Garcia, and the beauty of exploring and finding new and renewed expression is what keeps us fresh and enthusiastic about playing.

RRX: We let it out differently when we play music. The happy, sad, good and bad; it can all be put out musically. Overall, do you feel better when you sing about the better times, or the worse times? Is there a difference you can describe?

JD: Music is an interesting thing.  The stories told are a record and reflection of our existence, so the subject matter can be pretty intense. Musicians feel these emotions when they perform and, on a good night, they infuse those feelings and connect with the audience. When things are working it is magical. My thing is mostly covers and what I see is that the connection people have to music is just amazing, whether the subject of the song is something very positive, or a haunting narrative. Our job as musicians is to bring it together in the cauldron, and get it mixed up right.

RRX: My singer punched my drummer out. Memorable moment, though nothing to brag about. But we have these things that, when summing up your endeavor, an incident comes to mind. What do you got?

JD: With my years playing you’re going to have to hear about a couple.  You don’t make it this far without “notable”, sometimes ignominious, happenings. Over the yea I’ve experienced the gamut…. everything from a New Year’s brawl where the band leader was in the middle of an out-of-control family feud/fight, to literally getting chased out of a Troy bar when bikers heckled and threatened our untalented lead vocalist (disclaimer: that happened when I was 17!).  More recently I got physically ill on the sidewalk out front at The Local 217, a first for me, but luckily near the end of the gig!  Or crazy happenings like LSD-driven college parties where music quickly devolved from any kind of structure into hours of sound, visual and audio. Day-glo paint was involved in a few of these parties, illuminating the partygoers, everything in the dorm, and the musicians.

Perhaps the most notable (or notorious LOL) was a teenage gig in my hometown of Mechanicville.  Our rock band played a late afternoon show at the City’s annual Feast of The Assumption – a notable local festival – and every teenager in town came out.  We were rocking out and the crowd was really getting into it, but the organizers thought it was getting a bit too boisterous and they shut the power off and ended the show. The crowd however was not too happy, and suffice to say, there was an article in the Troy Record the next day that quoted the local Bishop, who castigated the hooligans who disrupted the event. It’s a bit ironic and a testament to aging I suppose, that I’ve played at the Feast a couple times in the decades since, playing some of the same songs, in front of the same “hooligans”.  The rebels become the establishment!

RRX: What would you like fans to know before they come to see you play? (No basic stuff; get specific.)

JD: To begin, please come out and see me play! And book me and my bands for private parties and events! [laughing] I do get to do a little promo here right?

So, here’s the deal. When you see me play solo, you may hear anything from the last six or seven decades.  I play hits from classic rock, alt-rock, southern and country rock, blues and I am always happy to fulfill requests.  I’ve learned how to play to a crowd, although I would reframe that and say play “with” the crowd. In addition to club and party gigs, I’ve played at events for everything from births to deaths, weddings,  anniversaries, etc. and I can’t fathom any absolute takeaways other than music is a wonderful tonic that helps hold us together, and that I’ve been one lucky SOB.

RRX: It’s a lot of fun living in the present, but we all collect memories and give birth to dreams. We’re talking dreams here. Where do you see yourself next year? In the next five years?

JD: Ok, I’m a 62-year-old cover guy, but even I still have dreams! I can honestly say that I’ve already experienced a fulfilling lifetime of music, but the journey continues.  I’m excited about the band and solo work I’m doing. I’m collaborating with some excellent musicians, and I still feel relevant, and in five or ten or fifteen years I hope it’s the same. Music is one of those unique human experiences where we get to commune and live in suspended, timeless moments.  I’m just so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and I’m going to continue to rock and roll until I can’t.

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Show Detective – Weekend Shows – 2/21 – 2/23

Staff on February 20, 2025

Show Detective.

Friday, February 21st

Swan Lake, Grand Kiev Ballet, The Palace Theatre, Albany, 7pm

Sex & the City – a Super Unauthorized Musical Parody, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

Sex n’ The City: The “Super” Unauthorized Musical Parody follows our favorite single gals looking for love in the big city. We tackle serious topics like “will I ever find the one”, “can you ever really be over your ex” and “for the third time, it’s a neck massager!”. Come join Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha on a hilarious trip through New York in the 90s.

Oscar Nominated Shorts: Live Action, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

For the 20th consecutive year, ShortsTV presents “Oscar-Nominated Short Films.” With all three categories offered – Animated, Live Action and Documentary – this is your annual chance to predict the winners! A perennial hit with audiences around the country and the world, don’t miss this year’s selection of shorts. The Academy Awards take place Sunday, March 2.

Skarhead, Empire Underground, Albany, 7pm

Heathers the Musical, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 7:30pm

Get ready for the darkly hilarious and wildly entertaining Heathers The Musical, a laugh-out-loud comedy, and unflinching look at the joys and anguish of high school. Based on the cult hit film starring Christian Slater and Winona Ryder, this edgy show takes you deep into the halls of Westerburg High, where misfit Veronica Sawyer finds herself entangled with the school’s most popular—and dangerous—clique, the Heathers. With a killer score, biting wit, and unforgettable characters, Heathers The Musical explores high school drama, love, and revenge like you’ve never seen before. It’s a rebellious, high-energy ride full of wicked fun. Don’t miss this show that everyone will be talking about—big fun is guaranteed!

Kelly Maguire, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 7pm-10pm

Kelly Maguire is a local musician that plays music everyone loves from a wide variety of genres

TV Doctors at The Eleven at Lark Hall (FREE show), Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm-10pm

TV Doctors operates as a trio of experienced professional musicians from Upstate NY who have come together with a shared desire to cure musical boredom wherever it exists, with surgical precision. They are, in essence, a psychedelic jazz trio, based in improvisation; fearlessly surfing across genres to create a heavy and unique blend of funk, reggae, progressive rock, and contemporary jazz. Beginning in 2021, during the height of the pandemic, the group was afforded the opportunity to hunker down weekly, in a 2-car garage, and craft their signature sound. The rest is history, as what was once an experimental event has now blossomed into a powerful combo that has operated on stages spanning the Capital District and beyond, spreading its healing tones to all that come in contact with them. Patients say “Josh Witmer (guitar) rides a psychedelic wave atop the long-time paired and often brutish rhythm section that is Evan Conway (bass) and Bob Morris (drums).” ”

Jaytech w/ Adam Stark, Lovely Candela, groop.lab, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 9pm

The Boombox Series returns to Putnam Place, featuring another 360º performance by some of the world’s top artists alongside the area’s beloved local talent. Anticipate an evening filled with foot-stomping rhythms and mesmerizing visuals. Dive into a rave community dedicated to the core values of our culture: Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect!

Hot Club of Saratoga, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-10pm

Upstate NY’s premier gypsy swing ensemble, specializes in the timeless sounds of Django Reinhardt & the vibrant atmosphere of 1930’s Paris.

Step into the vibrant atmosphere of 1930’s Paris with Upstate New York’s premier gypsy swing ensemble, Hot Club of Saratoga! Specializing in the timeless sounds of Django Reinhardt, this dynamic group blends virtuosic musicianship, intricate rhythms, and heartfelt passion to create an unforgettable evening of music. Their music brings the magic of hot swing to life.

Emo Live Band Sing-a-Long, Presented by NOYK, Lost and Found, Albany, 10pm

Pinkshift / Jigsaw Youth / Special Secret Guest, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

2/21 4:00 PM The Son Dogs- Bye-i Brewing

2/21 5:00 PM Dan Sherwin- Wheatfields Clifton Park

2/21 5:30 PM Christine Spero- Wishing Well

2/21 6:00 PM David Gleason Trio- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino

2/21 6:00 PM Doc Orloff- Powers Pub

2/21 6:00 PM Geo Doody- Ancient Order Of Hibernians Albany

2/21 6:00 PM Gianna Robustianna & Ben Zoleski- Ravenswood

2/21 6:00 PM Luke Pavlus- Saratoga Winery

2/21 6:00 PM Matt Evans- Spa City Tap & Barrel

2/21 6:00 PM Part Time- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park

2/21 6:00 PM Pat Decker- The Scarlet Knife

2/21 6:00 PM Ryan Clark- Thirsty Owl

2/21 6:00 PM Stef Solo- Carsons Woodside Tavern

2/21 6:00 PM Thom Powers- Inn at Saratoga

2/21 6:00 PM Tyler Giroux- 677 Prime

2/21 6:30 PM Art n Shawna Duo- Dock Browns Tavern

2/21 6:30 PM Frank Murray- Other One Brewery

2/21 6:30 PM Jo Henley- Artisanal Brew Works

2/21 6:30 PM Rich Ortiz- Diamond Club at Embassy Suites

2/21 7:00 PM Chuck Valentine Duo- Quarters

2/21 7:00 PM Eli Young Band- Event Center at Rivers Casino

2/21 7:00 PM Harmonic Duo- Trestle Restaurant & Pub

2/21 7:00 PM Jeff Walton- Principessa Elena

2/21 7:00 PM Juniper & Chris Carey- Peddlers Bar & Bistro

2/21 7:00 PM Litt Hour- Bunker Saratoga

2/21 7:00 PM Rubie Rose- Cherry Plain Square #17

2/21 7:00 PM Tiny Planet- Kraverie

2/21 7:00 PM Trevor Wheelock- Bunker Clifton Park

2/21 7:00 PM Will Pedicone- The Sandbar

2/21 7:30 PM DJ Pythagoras- Seven Bistro

2/21 7:30 PM Double Tap- Holy Moses Tavern

2/21 7:30 PM Double Tap- Holy Moses Tavern

2/21 8:00 PM Bennett Brothers- Cooperstown Distilling Saratoga

2/21 8:00 PM DJ Vision- Misfit

2/21 8:00 PM Hot Club Saratoga- Caffe Lena

2/21 8:00 PM The Refrigerators- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino

2/21 8:00 PM TV Doctors- Eleven at Lark Hall

2/21 9:00 PM Aquanett- Vapor

2/21 9:00 PM Eric Walentowicz- QuartetNine Maple

2/21 9:00 PM Karaoke- Towne Tavern

2/21 9:30 PM ILL Funk Ensemble- Spa City Tap & Barrel

Saturday, February 22nd

New York Dog Film Festival 2025, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

The NY Dog Film Festival® is a medley of short films – animated, documentary and narrative – from around the world. These entertaining and inspirational movies celebrate all the ways we love our dogs. At the same time, we want to raise awareness of the life-saving work being done at small rescues and large shelters. In every location where the Dog Film Festival® travels, an animal welfare organization in the community will be the beneficiary of a portion of every ticket. For this screening, that organization is the Animal Protective Foundation. The APF hopes to be able to have information available about their organization at the event. 100 minutes.

Oscar Nominated Shorts: Live Action, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

For the 20th consecutive year, ShortsTV presents “Oscar-Nominated Short Films.” With all three categories offered – Animated, Live Action and Documentary – this is your annual chance to predict the winners! A perennial hit with audiences around the country and the world, don’t miss this year’s selection of shorts. The Academy Awards take place Sunday, March 2.

Oscar Nominated Shorts: Documentary, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

For the 20th consecutive year, ShortsTV presents “Oscar-Nominated Short Films.” With all three categories offered – Animated, Live Action and Documentary – this is your annual chance to predict the winners! A perennial hit with audiences around the country and the world, don’t miss this year’s selection of shorts. The Academy Awards take place Sunday, March 2.

The Erotics, Empire Underground, Albany, 7pm

Heathers the Musical, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 7:30pm

Get ready for the darkly hilarious and wildly entertaining Heathers The Musical, a laugh-out-loud comedy, and unflinching look at the joys and anguish of high school. Based on the cult hit film starring Christian Slater and Winona Ryder, this edgy show takes you deep into the halls of Westerburg High, where misfit Veronica Sawyer finds herself entangled with the school’s most popular—and dangerous—clique, the Heathers. With a killer score, biting wit, and unforgettable characters, Heathers The Musical explores high school drama, love, and revenge like you’ve never seen before. It’s a rebellious, high-energy ride full of wicked fun. Don’t miss this show that everyone will be talking about—big fun is guaranteed!

Harmonic Duo, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 7pm-10pm

Experience the mesmerizing harmonies of the Harmonic Duo, with the sound of a full band!

Ladies Night ft: King Bully & Sly Fox, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 10:30pm-2am

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.

Guitarist Sly Fox is best knows as the front man for blues-rock outfit Sly Fox and The Hustlers.

Mary Fahl, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-10pm

An ethereal, viscerally powerful contralto who crafts cinematic songs with a haunting, gothic romanticism.

Fahl first achieved fame as lead singer and co-founder of the mid-1990s NYC-based chamber-pop group October Project, a band known for their lush harmonies, sweeping melodies and Fahl’s unique and powerful vocals. After two records on Epic, Fahl went on to pursue her own muse, whether that meant writing and recording songs for movies (including the theme for the Civil War epic “Gods and Generals”), singing arias and medieval Spanish songs for Sony Classical or releasing a unique album-length take on “Dark Side of the Moon.”

The AM’s Album Release Show, Hangar on the Hudson, Troy, 8pm-11pm

The AM’s celebrate the release of their new album Here Comes That Broken Heart

With special guests Zan and the Winter Folk (Trio)

MOVE YOU Rave – An Underground Dance Party w/ Seth Nichols / TheTryRun / PS11 / White Rabbit Audio, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

2/22 1:00 PM Tradition Trio- Lakeview Inn Restaurant

2/22 5:00 PM The Davey’s- Saratoga Apple

2/22 5:30 PM Carmen Lookshire Duo- The Scarlet Knife

2/22 6:00 PM Bruce Fallen- Powers Pub

2/22 6:00 PM Franklin Micare- 677 Prime

2/22 6:00 PM John Stack- Carsons Woodside Tavern

2/22 6:00 PM On Tap Duo- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park

2/22 6:30 PM Trivia Night- S&S farm Brewery

2/22 7:00 PM Bennett Brothers- Spare Time City Sports

2/22 7:00 PM Harmonic Duo- Rustic Barn Pub

2/22 7:00 PM The Hammerhead Horns- McGeary’s Irish Pub

2/22 8:00 PM Guilty Pleasure- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino

Sunday, February 23rd

Leslie Mendelson, The Linda, Albany, 7pm-9pm

With her enchanted voice and evocative songwriting, Leslie Mendelson has won the hearts and minds of both an adoring fanbase and fellow artists alike. No less than Jackson Browne has declared, “Leslie’s melodies are timeless. They reach me way back in my youth somewhere. I hear traces of Burt Bacharach and Carole King, and hooks and passages that remind me of the pop songs I grew up hearing on the radio,” while The Wallflowers frontman Jakob Dylan shares: “Voices like Leslie’s can get away with almost anything. Along with being a great songwriter, this leaves her with few if any peers.”

A Grammy Award-nominated artist, Mendelson returns this summer with her fourth studio album, After The Party. For this latest effort, she collaborates with not one, but three producers: the legendary Peter Asher (James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt), the young, in-demand Tyler Chester (Madison Cunningham, Sara Bareilles, Sara Watkins) and her longtime songwriting partner, three-time Grammy Award-winner, Steve McEwan. Recorded at Jackson Browne’s studio Grove Masters in Santa Monica, CA, she was joined by an ace band featuring guitarists Waddy Wachtel and John Jorgenson, bassists Leland Sklar and Derrick Anderson, and drummers Jim Keltner and Abe Rounds.

The Egg Presents: John Pizzarelli, The Egg, Albany, 7:30pm

Guitarist and singer JOHN PIZZARELLI has been hailed by the Boston Globe for “reinvigorating the Great American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz.” Established as one of the prime contemporary interpreters of the Great American Songbook, Pizzarelli has expanded that repertoire by including the music of Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Antônio Carlos Jobim and the Beatles. In addition to being a bandleader and solo performer, Pizzarelli has been a special guest on recordings for major pop names such as Natalie Cole, Kristin Chenoweth, Tom Wopat, Rickie Lee Jones and Dave Van Ronk, as well as leading jazz artists such as Rosemary Clooney, Ruby Braff, Johnny Frigo, Buddy DeFranco, Harry Allen and, of course, his father Bucky Pizzarelli. He won a Grammy Award in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category as co-producer of James Taylor’s American Standard in 2021. A radio personality who got his start in the medium in 1984, Pizzarelli is co-host, alongside wife Jessica Molaskey, of Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli. He has performed on America’s most popular national television shows such as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Conan, and Great Performances, as well as the talk shows of Jay Leno, David Letterman, Regis Philbin and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Oscar Nominated Shorts: Documentary, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

For the 20th consecutive year, ShortsTV presents “Oscar-Nominated Short Films.” With all three categories offered – Animated, Live Action and Documentary – this is your annual chance to predict the winners! A perennial hit with audiences around the country and the world, don’t miss this year’s selection of shorts. The Academy Awards take place Sunday, March 2.

Word Plays: in the Twinkling of an Eye, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

What’s happening can change quickly. Come hear personal and historical stories as well as folk tales from Europe and a Pygmy Tribe from South Africa where events change in the twinkling of an eye. The story titles include:
Too Many Fairies
Jewish Rosary Beads
The Great Molasses Tragedy
Our tellers are: Siri Allison, Kate Dudding, Margaret French, Marni Gillard, Eileen Mack, Nancy Marie Payne, Sandy Schuman and Beverly Schwartz.

Sunshine and Submissions Presents: Rock ‘n’ Roll, Empire Live, Albany, 10am

Sunshine and Submissions is a small grassroots outdoor jiujitsu tournament that started in Saratoga Spa State Park in the park pavilions. We are pleased to announce our first winter indoor tournament at Empire Live in Albany, NY. Our mission is to grow the tournament in the capital district of New York with the hopes of fostering public interest in our beloved sport and expanding our jiu jitsu community. We also hope to work with and promote charity organizations that are local to the tournament sites. Come on out from your winter hibernation, put your skills to the test, and lets see what our sport can do!

Heathers the Musical, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 7:30pm

Get ready for the darkly hilarious and wildly entertaining Heathers The Musical, a laugh-out-loud comedy, and unflinching look at the joys and anguish of high school. Based on the cult hit film starring Christian Slater and Winona Ryder, this edgy show takes you deep into the halls of Westerburg High, where misfit Veronica Sawyer finds herself entangled with the school’s most popular—and dangerous—clique, the Heathers. With a killer score, biting wit, and unforgettable characters, Heathers The Musical explores high school drama, love, and revenge like you’ve never seen before. It’s a rebellious, high-energy ride full of wicked fun. Don’t miss this show that everyone will be talking about—big fun is guaranteed!

A Joyful Noise, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 5pm-7pm

Saratoga and the entire Capital District will be thrilled to learn that A Joyful Noise is back every month this year! This is a soul-cleansing dinner hour of music directed by Soulist Garland Nelson. Nelson will be joined by a variety of his friends who are musicians and singers for a late afternoon of joyful noise. Songs range from traditional gospel and contemporary church music to soulful pop classics. Audience participation is downright thunderous. It’s impossible to stay quiet or in your seat as Garland Nelson stirs up the Spirit!

Russel the Leaf’s Thought Band | Blue Ranger | Robot Hand, Hangar on the Hudson, Troy, 7pm-10pm

New Music for 2025! From Russel the Leaf’s Thought Band, Blue Ranger, and Robot Hand. With special appearance by People Person Puzzle Tree

Wifey / Orca Bones / Cheesy Snacks / G.o.L.e.M, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

2/23 1:00 PM Bret Scott- Other One Brewery

2/23 3:00 PM Wamm Jam .. Ladies Open Mic- The Gallery at 344 2nd Ave Troy N.Y

2/23 4:00 PM Matt Donnelly & Susie Q- Carsons Woodside Tavern

2/23 5:30 PM Fresh Jazz wsg Jenna Sue- Grappa 72

Sean Lippin – Interview – Thanks for Asking!

Staff on February 19, 2025

Sean Lippin – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: Like songs, every artist has a unique feeling about their first show. What was your first show like? Was it your best show? If not, what was your best show like?

SL: My first official show was at Coffeelabs in Tarrytown back in 2019. I played it with my buddy Will Holland aka Blues Davenport. It was the first time I put myself out in public as a solo artist playing completely original material. I put up flyers on telephone polls around town to promote it! It was exciting for me to see unexpected faces attend the gig. I worked at Trader Joe’s at the time and I told a customer who ended up coming to the show because I told them about it!

RRX: What do you think is the most poorly understood thing about music, or the music you play?

SL: The problem with music today is that the barrier to entry has become way lower so it’s devalued in a way that almost anybody who wants to do it, can. People try to make it as artists today using computer generated music and then they ride social media algorithms to build a following based on merely pressing a few buttons. There’s just so much garbage to sift through in the tundra that is the world wide web. So how does one stand out in this field? Authenticity is the answer.   

RRX: Artists, musicians, we immortalize. We set it in stone. Is there anyone who has passed that you feel you have immortalized in your work? If so, can you tell us a little about them?”

SL: Tom Petty is the answer for me. He was a phenomenal songwriter and his music captures this sunny, driving down the coast kind of vibe that I look to capture in my songwriting. I’ve really gotten into him over the last decade, once I started learning more of his catalog. Whenever I turn on one of his tracks, I picture what it must have felt like before the days of the internet, to come home from the record store, pop his work into the record player, get in the right mind set, and just let his music carry you away.

RRX: What do you think is the most dangerous song to cover from the perspective of criticism? Who do you think is too hard to cover, and why?

SL: Anything by Stevie Wonder because his voice is so unique and out of range for most male singers. Also the technicality of his songs is very challenging!

RRX: With the exception of singing, everyone has an instrument, an inanimate object that has the distinction of being a lifelong friend. Smooth or temperamental, these objects have a character. Can you tell us something special about what you play, your technique, your instrument?

SL: I used to get criticized for my singing until I took lessons and really focused on technique. Through this process, I realized that learning how to sing is like learning any other instrument. It takes coordination, a good ear, except the instrument is your entire body. There is truly so much that goes into singing that people don’t realize. A sung note can sound off just because of the way your mouth is shaped in a specific instance.

RRX: What would you like fans to know before they come to see you play?

SL: I’d like for my fans to know that my intention is to empower them. We live in a world where so many people and things try to knock you down and just tell you that you can’t be you. In my original music, I intend to convey a message that one can overcome the most challenging of obstacles, no matter what. I really focus in on writing lyrics that are relatable and have an edgy sense of humor. You can’t take life completely seriously!

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Grandma’s Ashes in the Park – The Weird Side of the Internet

Staff on February 19, 2025

Grandma’s Ashes in the Park – The Weird Side of the Internet – by Liam Sweeny.

One of the most satisfying and rewarding things one can do is to turn some abandoned plot of land into something beautiful, like a garden or a park. In Cornwall, England, gardener Paul Caruana, along with a small cadre, a “green thumb brigade,” have taken an ignored and forlorn stretch of the River Truro, and made it into “Sunny Corner,” a little slice of heaven for all who visit.

But it isn’t actual heaven, and this distinction may be lost on a number of folks who have been emptying the urns of their loved ones onto Sunny Corner’s verdant fields.

Now I get it. If your loved one isn’t in a coffee can on the mantle (Hi, dad!) you will want to find a place for their earthly remains. A lot of people know where they want to go, and they put it in their wills. But the guardians of the garden a Sunny Corner are begging people not to. And they’re asking for a bizarre and very reasonable reason; when they’re cleaning the garden, occasionally the wind takes an unlucky turn, mixes it up with a rake, and Uncle Teddy’s ashes go into the gardener’s mouth.

That’s gross, right? If the gardener swallows, is that cannibalism? Ans as I just described it, it has probably happened more than once.

They’re not total spoil sports. You are allowed to bury ashes there if you go through them, but most people aren’t.

Oh, and as a side jet, I read, from a funeral director, that no matter how hard they try, the contents of the urn do not only contain your loved one. Close, but not 100%.

Might as well go for a second side jet for the sake of symmetry. You can call the National Park Service (in America) and get permission to lay ashes in “memorialization.”

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Dodging Bullets – The Weird Side of the Internet

Staff on February 17, 2025

Dodging Bullets – The Weird Side of the Internet – by Liam Sweeny.

Two kids, friends. Smoking weed, talking smack. Gun afficionados or maybe just badasses. One friend tells the other he can dodge bullets. Again, smoking weed. Two guns and they go into the garage. One unloads, the other zen’s himself for the dodge. It’s not real, just an aim and a dodge and a very rough determination of whether or not the ephemeral bullet was dodged. One wasn’t dodged, and sadly, this one was a real bullet that never got unloaded.

A shot in the chest, buddy tries rescusitation but it’s a no-go. Paramedics come, they go, but there’s no luck, no restoring the mortal coil. The law hits the shooting friens with manslaughter and weapons charges.

This situation could be upended and twisted corkscrew and spring a bouquet of megaphones, but at it’s heart it’s a story of idiocy. Guy thought he could dodge bullets. Having been a connoisseur of high grade pot for a time in my life, I can say that I have believed I could do things. I could play like Hendrix, paint like Renoir, write like Cervantes and cook like an incarcerated chef with a huge commissary. But I never thought I could dodge a bullet, not even down a block, much less in a eight foot garage. This is a sad story, but I think if there were no guns involved, they would’ve done some other dumbass thing that would’ve gone wrong.

My pick is one of them would’ve said they were immune to electricity and the other would’ve brought a toaster into the bathroom to prove it. It’s not that people shouldn’t have fun and sometimes live dangerously, but do it in such a way that if you go down, it doesn’t end up in the fifth column down on your local weird news page.

 

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…