First Friday saw Girl Blue performing at The Eleven. Hippiefunland TyeDyes was also present.
Photography by Timothy Reidy.
Albany Tree Lighting
The City of Albany’s Tree Lighting took place at Academy Park on December 5.
Photography by Timothy Reidy.
See Troy’s Tree Lighting here …
What the Hell is Going on in New York Cannabis?!
What the Hell is Going on in New York Cannabis?! – by Ri Tokes.
High all, and welcome to another edition of what the hell is going on in New York cannabis?!
This week is going to be about the arts and crafts side of weed. This is the world I love most.
Are you ready?
First and foremost, we stoners are also creatives. Think back to the late ‘90s and early ‘00s. Ever smoke out of a soda can, watermelon, or apple? Ever hollow out the dash of your car to turn it into a hookah? Nah? Just my crew, ok fine. But you’re catching my drift.
Was it ever too cold to smoke outside, so you opted for your parents’ wrath? But created a smoke tube out of a toilet paper tube and some of your parents’ dryer sheets? That’s the creative sh** I’m talking about, but let’s spin it.
But like, what can I turn my products into?!
So many things!
I have some injury-induced arthritis, and when it’s cold, dispensary topicals aren’t strong enough. But I have shea butter, coconut oil, and olive oil at home… Sounds like I need to pick up a few jars of resin or rosin and infuse those into oil. Add a few drops of warming and cooling essential oils like peppermint and camphor to really make it hit. There are a million ways you can make right in your own kitchen.
This goes for edibles as well. With the Holidaze here, have you considered the foods you can infused with flower, oil, or concentrates from your local dispensary? One of my favorite things to do is infuse my dinner and dessert sauces. Everyone gets to choose their own adventure this way.
I truly believe you can take any product and make it into something that works for you. I get sample products all the time. I can’t use them all, it’s simply not possible. This means I can make custom products for myself, or I can gift friends and family. Aged 21+, of course.
How do you know you’ve infused it properly? There are a few ways. You can buy a tester like the T-Check, or you can follow some infusion instructions online. There are also some really great calculators to help guide you based on the legal products you have on hand. For topicals, no testing needed. For edibles, please test and consume responsibly. I don’t want to hear about you greening out on the news.
So, now that you know there are new possibilities, what are you going to make?
Limahl’s Neverending Wish for Christmas
“I love the run-up to Christmas — it’s a wonderful distraction from the short, cold days of winter,” says UK music topliner Limahl about the holiday season. Limahl, the original lead singer for ’80s band Kajagoogoo, is experiencing a resurgence of popularity of his holiday classic, “One Wish For Christmas” (originally released in 2020), reflecting the cultural thirst for perennial artists who have withstood the test of time. “One of the biggest music shows on UK TV when I was growing up was ‘The Andy Williams Show,’ so there may well be a touch of his influence in there. He made a conscious effort to create an old-school style music production using real instruments—drums, bass, guitar, piano, strings, and so on—and avoided any trendy gimmicks that might date the track in a year or two,” he says of his effort to keep in line with an honored tradition.
“Christmas is, and always will be, about enjoying time with loved ones — family and friends,” he continues. “In the lyrics, our couple are planning a romantic London city-break over the holidays, excitedly talking about all the things we missed during the pandemic: a flight, a hotel stay, shopping, cocktails, theatre … all those little experiences that make life feel full. So yes, I think the message is just as relevant now as it was when it was released in 2020.”
Chart-topping singles like “Too Shy (Hush Hush)” (with Kajagoogoo) and his solo smash “Neverending Story” have continuously been revived on hit TV shows like “American Horror Story” (Season Nine: “1984”), “Black Mirror” (Episode: “Bandersnatch”), and “Stranger Things” (Season Three). Also, headlining performances in festivals and benefit concerts, coupled with the recent release of his cover of the America classic “A Horse With No Name” (that fashioned the classic rock single with a shiny and propulsive electronica outfit), suggest it’s only fitting that his Christmas single shares a rejuvenation as well!
Jukebox – Music News Cuts – 12/12
Jukebox.
Florence Welch
Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine recently revealed that she once started a witches’ coven in her youth.
“One time, I tried to make one of my classmates fall in love with me so me and my coven put his name in a bottle,” she said, “and the rule was that there had to be a drop of blood and… well, I don’t know if it ever worked [laughs].”
Welch’s interest in witchcraft and the supernatural goes back to her childhood, filled with Greek mythology and folklore. “I remember reading a lot of book on Greek mythology like the minotaur being sacrificed to [Goddess of the underworld] Persephone and just being obsessed with The Odyssey and The Iliad,”
Goo Goo Dolls
Goo Goo Dolls will be putting on a Summer 2026 tour, with help from Neon Trees. The tour will be in amphitheaters and arenas, and will start out in Lincoln, California. It will travel to Minneapolis, Boise, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Tampa and elsewhere. The public sale of tickets starts today.
Goo Goo Dolls 2025-2026 Tour Dates:
12/31 — Atlantic City, NJ @ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
02/20 — Tempe, AZ @ Innings Festival 2026
03/19 – Victoria, BC @ Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre ^
03/20 – Abbotsford, BC @ Rogers Forum ^
03/22 – Kelowna, BC @ Prospera Place ^
03/23 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome ^
03/25 – Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place ^
03/26 – Saskatoon, SK @ SaskTel Centre ^
03/28 – Winnipeg, MB @ Canada Life Centre ^
03/30 – Sault Ste. Marie, ON @ GFL Memorial Gardens ^
04/01 – Oshawa, ON @ Tribute Communities Centre ^
04/02 – Hamilton, ON @ TD Coliseum ^
04/04 – London, ON @ Canada Life Place ^
04/06 – Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre ^
04/08 – Laval, QC @ Place Bell ^
04/10 – Halifax, NS @ Scotiabank Centre ^
04/11 – Moncton, NB @ Avenir Centre ^
04/18 — Georgetown, TX @ Two Step Inn
05/15 — Las Vegas, NV @ The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas
05/16 — Las Vegas, NV @ The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas
05/20 — Las Vegas, NV @ The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas
05/22 — Las Vegas, NV @ The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas
05/23 — Las Vegas, NV @ The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas
07/24 – Lincoln, CA @ Thunder Valley Casino Resort *
07/26 – Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater *
07/27 – Boise, ID @ Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater *
07/29 – Idaho Falls, ID @ Mountain Center Arena *
07/30 – Billings, MT @ MetraPark *
08/01 – Rapid City, SD @ Summit Arena at The Monument *
08/03 – Grand Forks, ND @ Alerus Center *
08/04 – Minneapolis, MN @ Mystic Lake Amphitheater *
08/06 – Milwaukee, WI @ BMO Pavilion *
08/08 – Davenport, IA @ Mississippi Valley Fair *
08/09 – Bloomington, IL @ Grossinger Motors Arena *
08/11 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Acrisure Amphitheater *
08/12 – Huber Heights, OH @ Rose Music Center at The Heights *
08/14 – Pittsburgh, PA @ The Pavilion at Star Lake *
08/18 – Huntsville, AL @ The Orion Amphitheater *
08/19 – Brandon, MS @ Brandon Amphitheatre *
08/21 – Orange Beach, AL @ The Wharf Amphitheater *
08/24 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre *
08/25 – Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Hard Rock Live *
08/27 – Macon, GA @ Atrium Health Amphitheater *
08/29 – Charleston, SC @ Credit One Stadium *
08/30 – Simpsonville, SC @ CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park *
09/01 – Richmond, VA @ Allianz Amphitheatre at Riverfront *
09/03 – Syracuse, NY @ Empower Federal Credit Union *
09/05 – Scranton, PA @ The Pavilion at Montage Mountain *
09/06 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena *
* = w/ Neon Trees
Robert Plant
Robert Plant will be going on tour this spring, the “Spring Fever” US tour to be exact, and he’s accompanied by Saving Grace and Suzi Dian. The tour will have stops in Austin, New Orleans, Nashville, Philadelphia, and New York City, among many others both in the US and the UK.
The general ticket sale started today at 10am.
Robert Plant with Saving Grace and Suzi Dian 2025-2025 Tour Dates:
12/09 – Eastbourne, UK @ Congress Centre
12/11 – London, UK @ Royal Festival Hall
12/14 – Birmingham, UK @ Symphony Hall
12/15 – Manchester, UK @ Manchester Apollo
12/17 – Glasgow, UK @ Royal Concert Hall
12/18 – Edinburgh, UK @ Usher Hall
12/21 – Middlesbrough, UK @ Town Hall
12/22 – Newcastle upon Tyne, UK @ 02 City Hall
12/23 – York, UK @ York Barbican
03/14 – Albuquerque, NM @ Kiva Auditorium
03/16 – Tulsa, OK @ Tulsa Theater
03/18 – Dallas, TX @ Majestic Theatre
03/19 – San Antonio, TX @ Majestic Theatre
03/21 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Live at Moody Theater
03/22 – New Orleans, LA @ Saenger Theatre
03/24 – Memphis, TN @ Orpheum Theatre
03/26 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
03/28 – Knoxville, TN @ Big Ears Festival
03/29 – Louisville, KY @ The Louisville Palace
03/31 – Raleigh, NC @ Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
04/01 – Asheville, NC @ Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
04/02 – Newport News, VA @ Christopher Newport University’s Ferguson Center for the Arts
04/04 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met
04/06 – Red Bank, NJ @ Count Basie Theatre
04/07 – New York, NY @ Cathedral of St. John the Divine
Elephant Back – An Xperience Interview
Elephant Back – An Xperience Interview – by Rob Smittix.
(phone rings)
RRX: Hello, so it’s just Sarah that I have on the line?
Sarah Snediker: No, it’s me and Dave.
Dave Snediker: How’s it going?
RRX: Good. How are you?
DS: Good.
RRX: So, yeah, things are going pretty good. So, Elephant Back … I have Elephant Back on the line. I never ask about band names because it’s silly, but I assume you chose Elephant Back because Elephant P**** was already taken?
(brief moment of awkwardness, then laughter)
DS: Exactly.
RRX: I gotta work on my jokes or maybe my execution.
(all laugh)
SS: Yeah, it was a name Dave had in his back pocket, so …
RRX: That works. Actually, I got familiar with your band when I saw that you were nominated for a Listen Up Award. I can’t remember if that was last year or the year before.
SS: Yup. I can’t remember either, but I think it was the year before.
RRX: Yeah, well, nominations will be opening up soon, so maybe this will be your year.
DS: You never know, hopefully.
SS: You never know.
RRX: Absolutely. So, let’s start with Dave. What do you do in the band?
DS: I play guitar and other instruments when we record, but when we play live, I play the guitar and lead vocals.
RRX: Well, I am loving your vocals. I was just listening to the album before you called, and I’m digging the delivery and the style. The song “Oh What a Life” really gave some great vibes, but I love how you cut into that song with the vocals. That was one that definitely stood out for me.
DS: Yeah, that one was a fun one. The vocals during the verse are a little delicate, and then you got the catchy chorus. The bass part that I came up with is just a cool little melody, kind of a hooky thing.
RRX: Yeah, I was digging it all the way. And Sarah, what’s your role in the group?
SS: I play drums, I do backing vocals, and I do a lot of the behind-the-scenes production kind of stuff. I am the one yelling at Dave in the studio, like … hey, try to do this or go higher on your voice here or do something else here. So, I kind of mess around with production as well.
RRX: Well, you need that person in every band. It’s good to have a Sarah in every band!
DS: That’s true.
RRX: Where are you guys based out of? That’s what I was trying to remember.
SS: We’re kind of close to Syracuse. We’re in the middle of like … Syracuse and Utica.
RRX: Oh, okay. So you’re a little further out than I thought. Next time you do come to town, hit me up, and maybe we can get you in the studio and do a little radio. It’s always fun.
DS: That would be awesome.
SS: Yeah, that’d be great.
RRX: So yeah, the album “Evolution” was just released recently?
SS: The 27th of October, yeah.
RRX: With that being the case, are there any particular songs that you want to put out as singles? For me as a DJ, is there a certain song I should be playing right now?
DS: Well, the first video is gonna be from the song “Mine,” so I guess that’s gonna be the first single.
RRX: Well, there you go.
SS: Yeah, that’s in the works. I mean, the first three songs were the ones we really are pushing for radio, just because they seem the most relatable and kind of catchy.
DS: And the song “Sound Bite” too.
RRX: Well, excellent. Do I have permission to play them now?
SS: Oh yeah, go ahead.
RRX: Cool, I’ll get them into rotation tomorrow.
DS: What we did prior to this, in the last three albums, was … we’ve released singles and pushed those singles. We’re taking a new approach this time by releasing the album and just releasing everything and pushing everything. Just trying some stuff out this time.
SS: We talked to Alan down at West West Side Music.
We talked a lot about the waterfall theory, where you release singles and then you re-release, and he’s like … it really doesn’t matter. He’s like, at the end of the day, put the album out, put it on Apple Music, that’s where it’s at really, he said. But that’s our guy in New York City. West West Side Music.
DS: Yeah, he’s done some big bands, pretty cool.
RRX: Well, now he’s gonna be doing Elephant Back, so there you go.
DS: That’s right!
RRX: Yeah, the whole thing is weird with what’s gonna catch on and what’s not. Algorithms are strange. It doesn’t make sense all of the time. I’ve tried to test the waters with different approaches, and it doesn’t seem like there’s any science to it. It’s just what happens.
SS: I’ve driven myself nuts, you know? Because I do all the social media stuff, and it’s too much. To have a job, have a band, and a studio that we run, it’s just too much to try to figure out the whole algorithm and what they’re gonna want next. I’m just resigned to the fact that this is what I’m gonna do, and if the algorithm likes it, cool, and if it doesn’t like it … it is what it is.
RRX: Yeah, you can only do what you can do. I hate the internet, but it’s a necessary evil when you’ve got something to promote. That’s the name of the game, but it is very DIY now, and that’s where the internet really helps out. These major record labels really don’t matter as much as they used to.
DS: Right. If you can get distribution and if you can book a good tour … really, the live shows are where it’s at and you gotta push the CD through the live shows. I’m all about that, getting the fans to the live shows, pushing the CDs, and all your merch through the live shows.
RRX: So, anything about this new album that you think is important for people to know?
SS: For me … when we’d written our first album, it was kind of like a conglomerate of different genres and each song was different. Then, when we went into the second two albums, that we split. There was a rock album and then there was an acoustic songwriter-y album. And on this new one, it’s like we elevated everything and tried to keep it all within an alternative vibe. As a whole, everything about it just came together really nicely. That’s why it’s called “Evolution,” because we’ve really elevated everything. We try to do that with every album, obviously, but this one … I was really proud of everything that we put out.
For more on Elephant Back visit: elephantbackmusic.com
Plastic Man Horror – The Weird Side of the Internet
Plastic Man Horror – The Weird Side of the Internet – by Liam Sweeny.
In the world post-breath, there is a technique called plastination. Using special polymers, they inject clear plastic into corpses that are carefully flayed to reveal one anatomical feature of another. Bodies are allegedly “ethically sourced,” and it’s all incorporated into traveling exhibits. It was at just such an exhibit that Kim Erik met what she believed was her son, a son that committed suicide in 2023. He was the exhibit.
The exhibit itself offered their deepest sympathies, and also offered the polite rebuttal that the corpse in the exhibit had been touring since 2004. And this is right about where the official ticker on this story rests… but time marches on, and there’s so much to this.
Is it ethical to display a real human body to the masses? You know, probably it’s ethically neutral, so long as the deceased had a say. But walking into some museum and seeing actual corpses, dead husks of our living husks. And I have to ask what aliens think of it. Because if I saw mice paying little cheddar nubs to go to a Decon station and take selfies.
I do think that Kim Erick, whether she was right or wrong about it being him, she’s a mother who lost her son and she sees this horrifying thing that looks just like her son because we’re humans and that might just happen.
So final business. Would you do it? If they were offering you like two grand a month, but when you die you become a medical dummy. Do you do it? I do. When I’m gone, I am not sentimental about my bodily preservation. But I do have conditions. I don’t mind if they add body parts, but I don’t want them to take anything off. And it would be cool to be fitted with a super hero’s cape and a skipper’s hat. Honestly that’s how most of those people are going to be remembered over the years.
YOUR Unpopular Musical Opinion, Vol. 1
YOUR Unpopular Musical Opinion, Vol. 1 – by Jason Irwin.
Unpopular opinions. We all have them. Do we share them? Well, that depends on whether we are prepared for the reaction. My question is … what is an unpopular musical opinion you have, and how can you back it up? I asked local musicians and music fans to chime in. At least it’s just music … which in today’s divisive world is a fairly harmless topic. As for me, I said what I said: Hole was a better band than Nirvana. Fight me! While you’re lacing up your gloves, here are a few more you probably won’t agree with (and that’s ok).
Rob Forman (Upstate NY/Capital Region recording and performing artist)
Music pet peeve: the tablet! We get paid nicely to perform, but it bothers me to see folks stop mid song to scroll down to the next page of tab/lyrics.
My follow-up question: Is it just the noticeable scrolling that irritates you –or is it a bigger issue?
Rob: Tablets used to be used for the occasional lyrics or a set list. Now, it seems like a lot of people can’t play without them! As I get more experience playing, I feel less like we get paid to play –and more for all the prep work. Time off from jobs. Travel. Rehearsing. So first, I thought it was just uncool. Now I see it as kind of lazy.
(Author note: I use a tablet for solo acoustic cover shows -with a Bluetooth scroller foot pedal, though!)
Robert Millis (398 Group)
Cover/Tribute Acts Are Killing the Live Music Industry. Classic economics says that ecosystems—whether they be businesses, towns, or societies—die if/when they rely primarily on nostalgia. Any legitimate analysis of today’s music industry results in a “and here we are” conclusion, given the utter dominance of cover and tribute acts in across-the-board (tiny to huge) live performance tallies. Economies grow based on innovation. For the music industry, that is new music. New music drives the supply chain, financially supporting not only the artists (as do cover acts) but also a variety of allied professions (publishers, agents, management, writers, techs, labels, etc.). The missing ingredient today is new music discovery. Zero Sum: A show by a cover act is a non-show by an original act. Yes, it is a consumer/demand issue. Yes, it is a demographic issue. Yes, it is a media issue. But somehow, the whole formula needs to change for the industry to become sustainable or even survive. Money talks, so the solution is wrapped somewhere around incentivization strategies. But that’s another discussion.
Asa Morris (Upstate NY/Capital Region recording and performing artist)
Unpopular Opinion: Playing it safe is f****** boring. When it comes to music or art in general, in attitude, lifestyle, or creation, safety is poison. F*** up. Take stupid chances. Make people uncomfortable. Make yourself uncomfortable. No one remembers how tame you were in any noteworthy way. You might as well be a neatly organized pile of folded laundry left in a hamper for no longer than 11 and a half minutes. I can think of dozens of local (and national) musicians with songs I couldn’t even hum after seeing them. That isn’t to say that they aren’t talented or capable, only that even soaked in virtuoso solos and $300 effects pedals, they are f****** B O R I N G. Threaten me with a good time.
My Follow-up question: Can you name a local and/or national act that “takes stupid chances” and isn’t “f****** B O R I N G?”
Asa: Sure, I mean, as far as Glens Falls, the classic William Hale always feels like it’s teetering on coming off the rails. In a wonderful way. Luc’s insane bellows, hollers, and crooning (sorry, Luc) all wrapped up in nightmare imagery with what essentially is a traveling barbarian poet society of a band. It’s always wonderful and dangerous. Nationally, I couldn’t say. My image is always the punk and HC scenes I grew up in, or perhaps early Nine Inch Nails when things were quite literally dangerous. Currently, though, I couldn’t tell you.
Jason La Juene (Raven Events)
My Unpopular Opinion: Why do bands and fans still keep going to bad-looking and bad-sounding shows and not have the b**** to say, “That was not the best sounding show” or “I couldn’t even see you guys on the stage because it’s so dark”? Not for nothing, but not every band and every venue is great. For example, I recently saw a video from a band that only had one light, and it was making so much strobing that I couldn’t watch the whole video, let alone be there. I also saw another video from a local show, and the band sounded like they were in a tunnel. The vocals (which you could barely hear, let alone mute vocals or effects between songs) were almost nonexistent. Bands and venues are settling for substandard shows, and the audience just takes it and is being nice. Step up, people, and bring back amazing-looking and sounding shows. No names will be given to protect the “innocent.” Being in live audio production for over a decade, all I see is what was half-a**** is now quarter-a**** in efforts—and you want top $$$ for shows?
Lisa Irwin (518Rock.com –and Jason’s Wife)
I like to listen to live music LIVE. If I’m not at a live show, I don’t like to listen to music that was recorded and previously performed live. Sometimes during live performances, musicians take creative liberties, which are often amazing when seeing this live. These liberties capture the moment and the energy of the musicians, the venue, and the crowd. However, when I’m in the car or at home, I want to hear the song exactly as I know it. I don’t want to be interrupted by conversation or cheers.
My follow-up question: What about a song like “I Want You to Want Me” by Cheap Trick? This is one of your favorite songs (I know this.) However, you really only ever hear the live version on the radio. Think about it –when is the last time you heard the studio version? How do you feel about songs like this – where their live version is the “standard” or more popular one?
Lisa: Ok. So, you just ruined that song for me. After re-listening, I heard at the beginning that there are cheers, then I thought it was over. Now I feel like I hear high-pitched squeals throughout the song at times that pierce my ears. Thank you for that.
(Author note: Sorry, darling!)
Whassup in the 518? Weekend Shows
Whassup in the 518?
Friday, December 12th
Whiskey Myers & Friends Acoustic w/s/g Bones Owens & Rob Leines, The Palace, Albany, 7:30pm
PBR: Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, MVP Arena, Albany
The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour will return to Albany for the first time since 2017, when top bull riders and their bovine dance partners storm into MVP Arena Dec 12-13.
Over the course of the two-day event, 35 top riders will appear in the two initial rounds, taking on some of the sport’s toughest bulls. After two rounds, the top 10 riders with the highest aggregate scores ride for a chance at the event title. The riders will battle it out for the crucial Velocity Global points, which contribute to the Velocity Global Standings and determine new riders added to the elite Unleash The Beast tour throughout the season. The Top 3 Velocity Global riders who have not already qualified for PBR World Finals are also invited to the marquee event in bull riding in May 2026.
Children ages 2 & above need a ticket.
Danú: An Emerald Isle Christmas, SPAC, Saratoga, 7pm
Sounds of the Season Holiday Concert Series
Arthur Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College
Following their sold-out “Sounds of the Season” performance in 2022, Danú returns with An Emerald Isle Christmas, bringing the extraordinary music, song, and dance of Irish holiday traditions to Saratoga. Recognized worldwide as one of the leading traditional Irish ensembles, the group blends ancient Irish music with fresh repertoire, delivering a mix of virtuosity and energy. For over two decades, their musicians — on flute, tin whistle, fiddle, button accordion, bouzouki, and vocals in both Gaelic and English — have toured globally, winning multiple BBC and Irish Music Magazine awards. Featuring celebrated vocalist Nell Ní Chróinín and the vibrant flair of Irish step-dancers, Danú embodies the rich traditions of Ireland in a joyous holiday celebration.
The McKrells Christmas, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady
“The McKrell-Melick interpretation of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ is an absolute classic. It’s the best Marx Brothers routine that the Marx Brothers never did, with Kevin McKrell playing a mix of wisecracking Groucho and straight-man Zeppo, while the bug-eyed, puppy-dog-eager Brian Melick channels Harpo with amazing accuracy.” – Greg Haymes Times Union
Great American Ghost, Empire Underground, Albany, 7pm
Big Fez and The Surfmatics, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 7pm-10pm
Join us for our Surfin’ Christmas Party with Big Fez and The Surfmatics! Performing classic surf and beach music from the early 1960’s
Bright Series: High Horse, Caffe Lena, Saratoga, 8pm-10pm
Get ready for a rollicking ride with High Horse, a progressive-acoustic “boy band” that blends the raw energy of alternative rock with the soul of Bluegrass, Old-time, and Celtic traditions. Featuring four friends, three bows, and one pick, this dynamic quartet delivers virtuosic musicianship, tight vocal harmonies, and infectious good vibes.
Bimbo Nite: Naughty vs Nice (Ages 21+ w/valid ID), No Fun, Troy, 8pm-11pm
From “Bar People.”
12/12 5:00 PM Dan Sherwin- Yanni’s Too
12/12 5:30 PM Josh Clvenstine- Dancing Grain Farm Brewery
12/12 5:30 PM Open Mic hosted by Phillip Shaver- Real McCoy Brewery Ballston Spa
12/12 5:30 PM Richard Clements- Unified Beer Works
12/12 5:30 PM Tame The Rooster Lite- Bootleggers
12/12 6:00 PM Eric Kufs- Carsons Woodside Tavern
12/12 6:00 PM Justin Joyner- The Scarlet Knife
12/12 6:00 PM Tyler Giroux- 677 Prime
12/12 7:00 PM Dan Bernstein- Emack & Bolios
12/12 7:00 PM Like Bunny- Unihog
12/12 7:00 PM Vagabond- O’Slattery’s
12/12 7:30 PM Big Fez- Rustic Barn Pub
12/12 8:00 PM Supersuckers & King Sickabilly- Hanger On The Hudson
Saturday, December 13th
Isaac Thomas + Haydn’s ‘Surprise’ Symphony, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, 7:30pm
Isaac Thomas + Haydn’s “Surprise” Symphony
Saturday, December 13 at 7:30pm
Sunday, December 14 at 3:00pm
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
David Alan Miller, conductor
Christina Bouey, violin
Ji Weon Ryu, flute
Yi-heng Yang, fortepiano
Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5
Isaac Thomas: New Work (world premiere)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20
Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony No. 94, “The Surprise”
Bored Teachers, The Palace Theatre, Albany, 7:30pm
Bored Teachers are BACK with all new material on their “The Struggle is Real!” Comedy Tour. For years, Bored Teachers Studios has brought a sense of humor to teachers around the world to ease their daily struggle in the classroom. They’ve amassed over a billion views on their viral videos on social media, over 10 million followers, and the #1 ranked teacher-comedy podcast—#6 of all Stand Up Comedy shows on Apple Podcasts. Since 2022, Bored Teachers has been selling out comedy clubs and major theatres across 49 states, bringing laughter to over 150,000 teachers throughout the school year and has become the main event to attend in all of teacher world. Even non-teacher fans have reviewed it as one of the funniest stand up shows they’ve ever seen! The Bored Teachers Show is a comedy powerhouse that anyone who’s ever been in a classroom can relate to
PBR: Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour, MVP Arena, Albany
The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour will return to Albany for the first time since 2017, when top bull riders and their bovine dance partners storm into MVP Arena Dec 12-13.
Over the course of the two-day event, 35 top riders will appear in the two initial rounds, taking on some of the sport’s toughest bulls. After two rounds, the top 10 riders with the highest aggregate scores ride for a chance at the event title. The riders will battle it out for the crucial Velocity Global points, which contribute to the Velocity Global Standings and determine new riders added to the elite Unleash The Beast tour throughout the season. The Top 3 Velocity Global riders who have not already qualified for PBR World Finals are also invited to the marquee event in bull riding in May 2026.
Children ages 2 & above need a ticket.
Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, SPAC, Saratoga, 5pm
Experience a Beloved Holiday Tradition — For the First Time with CMS in Saratoga
This December, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center brings one of the Baroque era’s most iconic masterpieces to Saratoga Springs: the Complete Brandenburg Concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Hailed by The New Yorker as “joyous, effervescent, and yes, festive,” CMS’s performances of these concertos have become a treasured holiday tradition in New York City. Now, for the first time in our 12-year partnership, SPAC audiences can experience all six works in one dazzling evening—performed by twenty of the world’s finest chamber musicians on the stage of the Arthur Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College.
Northeast Ballet’s Annual the Nutcracker, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady
Northeast Ballet’s annual production of Nutcracker brings you international guest artists and the best of the best that regional talent can offer. Our cast reaches over 100 to entertain and welcome the holiday season.
Become a traveler in Clara’s magical dream through the glistening snowfall to the Magic Kingdom of Sweets. Experience all the thrilling variations from the various countries she visits.
The Acacia Strain: Tune Low Die Slow Ho Ho! Empire Live, Albany, 12:45pm
518 Burton Street, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 7pm-10pm
518 Burton St. brings acoustic energy, killer guitar work, and feel-good vibes to The Rustic Barn Pub!
Mike McMann & the UnderDawgz, Lark Hall, Albany, 12pm-1:30pm
Nickopotamus at The Eleven (Santa Speedo/FREE Show), The Eleven, Albany, 3pm
NOYK & American Foundation for Suicide Prevention presents Jingle Bell Rock, Lark Hall, Albany, 7pm-11:30pm
Jimkata w/ Escaper, Putnam Place, Saratoga, 7:30pm-8:30pm
Blurring the line between rock band and electronic act, Jimkata is onto an entirely new era on stage. Once again a quartet, the band has been proving that no songs from their extensive catalog is off limits. Described as “A hard hitting dance party with soaring guitar riffs and soul tickling lyrics,” Jimkata takes you on an emotional joyride before tucking you gently in to bed, still humming the words.
With a life long friendship at it’s core friends since middle school, Evan Friedell, Aaron Gorsch and Packy Lunn infuse Jimkata, with an adventurous musical streak & relatable lyrical themes. Adding Cooper Casterline into the mix holding down the low end has allowed the band to stretch the music out in a live setting. Mixed in with the modern sensibilities & hard driven indie rock are influences drawn from the likes of Motown, singer-songwriters & even old country songs, where storytelling & a quick turn of phrase share priorities with melody & the beat.
65th Anniversary Folk Heritage Series: The Kennedys Rockin’ Holiday Show, Caffe Lena, Saratoga, 8pm-10pm
Vocalists/guitarists Pete and Maura Kennedy, a husband and wife duo, first met when Pete was playing guitar in Nanci Griffith’s Blue Moon Orchestra. When Maura replaced Iris DeMent as a harmony singer on a Griffith tour, they found themselves in the same band, and opened shows for Griffith as a duo. The Kennedys hosted the late lamented Dharma Café program on Sirius satellite radio, and on Broadway, they are regular cast members of Theatre Within’s annual tribute to John Lennon – working in that capacity with Patti Smith, Debbie Harry, Jackson Browne, Cyndi Lauper and a host of others.
Lowercase: MOVE YOU Rave – Underground House & Techno, No Fun, Troy, 8pm-11pm
From “Bar People.”
12/13 1:00 PM BR and B- Lakeview on Crystlal Lake
12/13 12:00 PM Hayley Jane- Ophelia’s Restaurant
12/13 5:00 PM K&O Duo- Dancing Grain Farm Brewery
12/13 6:00 PM Frankie Lessard- The Mill
12/13 6:00 PM Franklin Micare- 677 Prime
12/13 6:00 PM Jeff Walton- Carsons Woodside Tavern
12/13 6:00 PM Matt Cosgrove- The Scarlet Knife
12/13 7:00 PM DJ Jason Irwin- Sammy Cohens
12/13 7:00 PM Harmonic Duo- American Legion Wynanskill
12/13 7:00 PM River Country Band- Outpost 40
12/13 7:00 PM Ruby Rose- Cherry Plain Square #17
12/13 7:00 PM Sticks & Stones- O’Slattery’s
12/13 8:00 AM Jingle Bell Rock With Shannon Tehya , Keegan James, Dj Fearless- Lark Hall
12/13 8:00 PM Wonka Willy EDM Tour- Ophelia’s Restaurant
Sunday, December 14th
Isaac Thomas + Haydn’s “Surprise” Symphony Matinee, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, 3pm
Isaac Thomas + Haydn’s “Surprise” Symphony
Saturday, December 13 at 7:30pm
Sunday, December 14 at 3:00pm
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
David Alan Miller, conductor
Christina Bouey, violin
Ji Weon Ryu, flute
Yi-heng Yang, fortepiano
Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5
Isaac Thomas: New Work (world premiere)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20
Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony No. 94, “The Surprise”
Christmas Dreaming with Stella Cole, SPAC, Saratoga, 3pm
Sounds of the Season Holiday Concert Series
Arthur Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College
Rising jazz sensation and viral star Stella Cole will bring her signature voice and holiday spirit to Saratoga as part of her 2025 holiday tour. With over 1.7 million social media followers and millions of views on her viral performances, Cole has been hailed by People as a “powerhouse rivaling Judy Garland and Rosemary Clooney.” She recently released her sophomore album It’s Magic on Decca Records US, following the success of her holiday EP Snow!, which features classics like “White Christmas” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Cole will perform holiday favorites from Snow!, selections from her growing repertoire, and beloved seasonal standards in a performance that promises to be both nostalgic and fresh.
Northeast Ballet’s Annual the Nutcracker, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady
Northeast Ballet’s annual production of Nutcracker brings you international guest artists and the best of the best that regional talent can offer. Our cast reaches over 100 to entertain and welcome the holiday season.
Become a traveler in Clara’s magical dream through the glistening snowfall to the Magic Kingdom of Sweets. Experience all the thrilling variations from the various countries she visits.
Christmas Oratorio Tea, Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga
Ring in the holiday season with Charles Weidman’s “Christmas Oratorio,” set to the exquisite music of Bach. This breathtaking modern dance classic will be elevated with expanded live music and choral accompaniment, creating a truly immersive and unforgettable experience. Under the direction of Noah Palmer, an orchestra, choir, and opera soloists will bring this masterpiece to life like never before.
The Acacia Strain: Tune Low Die Slow Ho Ho! Day 2, Empire Live, Albany, 12:45pm
Second Sunday Bluegrass Jam, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 5:30pm-9pm
Bluegrass Jams are for making new friends, sharing songs, playing and listening to blue grass and new-grass. All skin levels are welcome.
Winter Solstice Paint & Sip with Laura Leigh, Lark Hall, Albany, 1pm-3pm
Nordlys Global Voices Series: Kongero, Caffe Lena, Saratoga, 7pm-9pm
Experience the spellbinding sound of Kongero—a world-renowned Swedish Folk’appella quartet whose voices weave together with breathtaking power, beauty, and precision.
CRBN “Memphis Bound” Benefit Concert, Hangar on the Hudson, Troy, 2pm-5pm
Holiday Sing and Shop, Lost and Found, Albany, 5pm
K-Pop Dance Night: DJ ODD.I.C/ KLOSURE, No Fun, Troy, 5:30pm – 11pm
From “Bar People.”
12/14 2:30 PM Hammerhead Horns- Lark St. Tavern
12/14 3:00 PM John Nolan- O’Slattery’s
12/14 3:30 PM Dan Sherwin- Hank Hudson Brewing
12/14 6:00 PM Tim Wechgelaer & Chris Carey & Drank The Gold- Cock & Bull
12/14 7:00 PM Mary & Me- Emack & Bolios
12/14 Bobbie Van Detta- Charlton Tavern
Sara B Presents – Live From The 518 -S1 E2
We visit Jo’s Joint, interview with Jo, have Caprese Crostinis, chat and listen to a performance from Adam Gerstenberger, and take a tour of Collar City Mushrooms at Indian Ladder Farms. #localbusinesssupport #518 #troyny #livemusic #mushrooms #capitalregion #supportlocalmusic #supportlocal#radioradiox