Mike Stampalia

image: setlist from Radiohead’s show at Saratoga Winners (July 26, 1995) by Mike Stampalia.   30 years ago: Radiohead @ Saratoga Winners Steve: “So what was your last gig in uh, in America?” Thom: “Oh, it was awful. (laughing)” Ed: “There’s a place called Saratoga Winners in this kind of like shack, up in ah, […]

By Mike Stampalia.   60 years ago: The Dave Clark Five @ RPI Fieldhouse   40 years ago: Barry Manilow @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center The show, however, is over-choreographed and leaves not a moment for any spontaneity from a singer who happens to have a good personality and should be given more freedom to […]

By Mike Stampalia.   60 years ago: Carlos Montoya @ Berkshire Music Barn The suddenness of Montoya’s thematic changes, the unannounced illogical changes of volume, direction and speed may be appropriate accompaniment for an arched-back, whirling, heel-stamping flamenco dancer, but in the music they fill us with frustration and confusion. – R.C.H for the Morning […]

By Mike Stampalia.   50 years ago: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band @ the Music Inn The songs from Springsteen’s soon-to-be-released third album, especially “10th Avenue Freezeup,” “Born to Run” (the title song) and “All the Redemption I Got Is Under My Hood” were great. – Richard Taskin for the North Adams Transcript […]

image: Sammy Hagar at SPAC July 22, 2025 – photo by Stephanie J Bartik for RadioRadioX By Mike Stampalia.   1 year ago: Sammy Hagar / Loverboy @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center The last two songs of the night were “Jump” and “When It’s Love.” Pat Monahan came back out to sing the “nah part,” […]

30 years ago: Queensryche / Type O Negative @ Knickerbocker Arena The plot line revolved around the lead character, Nicky (portrayed by Queensryche vocalist Geoff Tate), who was involved in some vague journey of self-discovery. Or was it about the tug of war between career success and personal satisfaction? Or maybe it all boiled down […]

image: James Taylor on SPAC stage (July 20, 1975) – photo from the Saratogian By Mike Stampalia.   50 years ago: James Taylor / Emmylou Harris @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center “Gorilla,” “Walking Man,” “Down in Mexico,” and an almost angry version of “Steamroller” balanced the softer songs which are Taylor’s alone. Guitarist Danny Kootch […]

By Mike Stampalia.   50 years ago: Joan Baez / Hoyt Axton @ Music Inn The songs did not seem to come from an organized program, but appeared to be decided spontaneously. She sang the haunting “Long Black Veil” and an incredibly beautiful “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and closed her set with one of Bob […]