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Reckless Barb – Thanks for Asking!

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Reckless Barb – Thanks for Asking!

Reckless Barb – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: What was the very first reaction to your music, from the first person to ever hear so much as a practice jam or the demo of your first song?

RB: On this upcoming album, Now I Am My Life, it was way back in 2019 when I first made Splash 1: Out Of The Water (the opening track). I sent it to some friends with my first mix on it. Tom Messina, the lead guitar player on the track, had absolutely ripping solos flowing around sonically, and people seemed to gravitate to that in a natural and positive way. I knew the mix wasn’t super clean or complete, but the general reaction was – Trippy Man!

RRX: “The best laid plans of mice and men…” I don’t really know the quote, but I know this one; sh*t happens. When we least expect it, calamity befalls us. Sometimes just comic inconvenience. Please tell us a story about some comic inconvenience that happened to you whilst performing?

RB: This past summer, I was playing a solo set at Indian Ladder Farms. I had almost sliced off the tip of my middle finger 2 weeks before, and was still in a lot of pain. I was filling in time for the
day and hadn’t expected to be there. After the first couple songs, I paused and flipped everyone off. It just felt so silly to be performing with a giant splint forcing my middle finger up.
It was a moment that I could simply laugh at my predicament in disbelief that I had almost cut my finger off and was still singing my heart out.

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?

RB: Oasis Cafe in New Paltz. I traveled to the gig, only to find out there was no PA. I was the front man at the time, so I ended up cutting the bottom out of a plastic cup and belted out my lyrics as hard as possible. It was embarrassing but fit the vibe enough. Oh – last year we were playing outside at 518 Craft in Troy. A lady was at the monument, seemingly not doing well and started
barking at dogs as they walked by. Memorable from my angle. I used to lick my drummer’s face when I was in college, and then proceed to roll around the floor making gargling noises
while the instruments ripped. Band fights tho, I’m lucky to not have those in my orbit. With the latest Reckless Barb experiences, I was featured at Alchemy Wellness in Schenectady. I really sang my heart out that night, just me and the acoustic. It was really special when someone, unexpectedly, resonated so much with the words I was saying. It felt like that was all I ever really wanted with these tunes – to connect on a deeply emotional plane with strangers. Something about being human or something.

RRX: We have to play somewhere, and sometimes those places have more going for them than a stage and a power outlet. What is a memorable place you played, and bonus points if it’s not a well-known place.

RB: I most recently played drums at Ghost Hit Recording Studio – an old church in West Springfield, Massachusetts. That was with a Psychedelic trio I play with called Daydream Fountain. Very
epic and beautiful. I really enjoy the intimacy of poetry/acoustic music at Paper Moon in Troy and regularly participate there. Mojos Cafe in Troy is an absolute highlight. We did the first full band Reckless Barb show there. The sound was amazing, and there was fantastic lights as well! Impressive on all fronts, and we packed the house that night. Shoutout Mojos. And shoutout the Reckless Barb band! Next show is 11/28 at Indian Ladder Farms.

You never know how it will go with my loose music, but man the guys I’m playing with are so good and bring the songs to life. My album, Now I Am My Life, comes out on 11/02 on all platforms of listening – I’d love for you to hear it! A psychedelic pop odyssey about existence, told through the lens of a fish jumping out of water. What could that mean?! A consciousmoment, I look forward to you hearing it with fresh ears.

RRX: Playing out is tricky because you never know what’s going to happen when you get there. Sometimes everything goes wrong. What was your worst show like?

RB: I was setting up for my first show as Reckless Barb. It was to be short, just me and the electric guitar. I thought I could use backing tracks, but hadn’t adequately prepared. It’s ok, I learned
quickly what not to do. The guitar amp was behind the PA and the feedback was crazy and the backing tracks weren’t loud enough. I ended up just playing electric guitar too quietly and singing but the PA was too low. It was the break out I needed though. Let everything go wrong on the first Reckless Barb show and improve next time.

RRX: Would you rather have one of your songs blow up and make you a one-hit wonder and household name, or would you rather have all your songs be solidly received, but no
chart-climbers? (You have to pick one or the other here.)

RB: My debut album, Now I Am My Life, is made to be enjoyed best front to back. The whole album viewed as a singular body of work. Songs do stand on their own, but I think it would feel better to know that the album was really resonating with people. As long as both options allowed me to keep making music freely and to the highest degree that I can, then I’d choose the all songs solidly received route. However, if becoming a household name with a hit was the gateway to greater creative freedom, then that’s it. But not fame for the sake of fame. I used to think that was cool. Now I feel like you might have to sacrifice too much authenticity for that. And I’m not
willing to make that compromise.

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

So Totally / Loadcard / Bad Dream Adventure / Otobo @ No Fun, 10/23/2025

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So Totally / Loadcard / Bad Dream Adventure / Otobo @ No Fun, 10/23/2025

Byrdhouse Records brought in the ConspiraTOUR, which featured So Totally, Loadcard, Bad Dream Adventure, and Otobo. No Fun, Thursday, October 23.

 

Photography by Timothy Reidy.

More from No Fun here …

 

 

 

Kate Taylor – An Xperience Interview

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Kate Taylor – An Xperience Interview

Kate Taylor – An Xperience Interview – by Liam Sweeny.

James Taylor has seen fire, and he’s seen rain. But he probably first saw both of them with his sister, Kate. And I have a story. I was going to interview Kate Taylor on a Tuesday, and the prior Saturday, I was emptying our storage unit. I was throwing away beat-up, scratched records, and I was about to toss a stack in the dumpster when I happened to look before launch, and it was “Sister Kate,” Kate’s debut album. Freaky, right? Well, I went home, and the phone rang. It was Kate. I thought it was Tuesday; she thought it was Saturday. I’m sure she was right. I’m also sure that you all were meant to read this. She will be at Caffe Lena in Saratoga on November 1.

RRX: I want to talk about “Sister Kate.” We have to, because I listened to it and I was blown away. And you just have a great story personally, going back up until now. And you have something new coming up. “Why Wait!” So tell us about Kate, and how “Sister Kate” and “Why Wait” came to be?

KT: Yes.

RRX: So let’s talk about that, ‘cause I just listened to a little bit of it and it sounds very, very tasty.

KT: I had met Peter Asher with James in London back in ‘69. I had gone over there to make sure that the Beatles were taking good care of James, because that was very important for this 18-year-old person to be able to do this. So I went over, and he had been recording with Peter on the Apple label, and yes, they were taking good care of him. But in the meantime, I got to meet Peter, and we went to his sort of summer cottage.

It was in June, and we went up to the country place out there somewhere and had tea, and there were a lot of his friends there. And James and I climbed down into this ancient stone-lined, empty swimming pool that was in the backyard. And we sang some of the songs that we sang together in earlier years. And they’re like, “You know, it sounded great.” I mean, to me, it was so much fun. Well, of course, singing with James is the ultimate.

A little while later, I came back home. I just moved to Martha’s Vineyard from – I didn’t even know where I was living before – Cambridge, I guess. At one point, the phone rang, and it was Peter Asher telling me that he was moving to Los Angeles, and did I want to make a record? And I said, by all means. Well, I actually said, “Let me think about it.” Yes.

So I flew out to LA and we started to make this record. He had just finished working on James’s record, was it “Sweet Baby James,” maybe? It was his first record that he made with Peter in Los Angeles. Peter had been the head of A&R on the Beatles label. And James knocked on the drum, and that’s a whole story in itself. But Peter was now managing him and producing him. And so he set up the same situation with me.

RRX: So that must have been an amazing time.

KT: We were making “Sister Kate,” and it was a great time to be in Los Angeles. There were all these people on the cusp of these incredible careers. And of course, nobody could really anticipate what was going to happen with all these, but Jackson Browne and the Eagles, and Linda Ronstadt and Joni Mitchell and James, Carole King, you know. It was a wonderful time to be there because everything was fresh and everybody was excited, and it was kind of the beginning of this whole new phase of music in America, and there I was.

RRX: So what happened after that? Did you just keep hitting the road and the studio?

KT: I did a tour, and then I came home, and I realized that I really needed a little time to recharge and collect myself. I went home, I went into a friend’s teepee, and I said, I’ve got to have one. But I realize now that I needed grounding. I bought some canvas. I got a pattern. I sewed, hand-sewed a teepee, went up to Maine, and got the poles. Set the thing up. It was like six years later that James came into my teepee yard and said that he was changing record labels, and that they’d given him the opportunity to record someone … and he asked me if I wanted to make a record. I said, by all means, and we got working on that

RRX: Now, there’s a story about Linda Ronstadt, isn’t there?

KT: When I was in LA, Jackson Browne had approached Peter about producing him and being his manager. Peter thought about it, and he thought about James, and that perhaps it was just too close to have these two singer-songwriters on the same sort of roster, you know? Who gets what band and what … just so “two cooks.” He turned Jackson down, and then he told me that Linda Ronstadt had also asked him if he would be her manager and producer. He and I talked about it and agreed that it would also be cutting it close to the bone – Linda and I, you know, who gets what song? It was just a little bit too close.

So he turned Linda down. And then I came home and I realized that I was like a little gal with a finger in the socket. I was so excitable, and I realized that I needed some grounding. So the teepee was perfect. I didn’t know this at the time, but looking back on it, I can see that teepee was just the right medicine for me at that time.

I called Linda, or I saw her, maybe at a show. And I said, “Well, look, I’m not going to be doing any touring, and I’m not recording right now. So why don’t you call Peter and let him know that he can, that I say it’s all right if he manages and produces you.” And so she did … and they had this amazing string of incredible recordings, and it was really perfect. I feel like the fairy godmother.

I would be at home, and I met my husband, and we had our first child, and I was doing another thing. But I used to sit and watch the Grammys, and I’d see Peter win another one for best producer or something. And I said, “Now, someday I would like to work with Peter again.” He continued to work with James for about twenty years, so Peter was very close to the family. I would see him occasionally at a show, or he would come to some family events and things. So I knew him, I was in touch with him, but we were definitely in different sort of spheres.

RRX: So let’s talk about “Why Wait!” Was was that road like?

KT: In 2007 or 2008, I started to kind of rekindle my performing. I had made a record, kind of recorded it at home, called “The Beautiful Road.” I was getting back up and doing some performing, and I was going to be in the City, in New York, at the Metropolitan Room. I got in touch with Peter, and I said, ”You know, are you gonna be in New York at this time because I’ve got a show and I’d love it if you would come.” And lo and behold, he came. It was lovely to see him, and I sang it, I sang for him. I don’t know whether this was psychosomatic or what, but I had the most horrific cases of laryngitis. I rarely get this, but here I was, doing the sound check, and it was like my mouth would open and air would come out, but no sound. The waiters who were setting up the tables and things, they looked over like, “Oh no, poor girl.” But there’s something about the adrenaline that you have pumping through you when you’re on stage … so I was able to make some noise. I told the audience, I said, ‘You’re just going to have to imagine all the fabulous notes that I’m not hitting that I usually do.”

So I made it through, and it sounded OK. Peter and I kind of rekindled our friendship, and I ended up using some of his band on my shows when I got to California. I opened for him a couple of times, and we had a nice situation, just sort of very familial. And then COVID hit, and everybody was off the road.

Peter and I were out in Los Angeles and his manager realized that 2021 was the 50th anniversary of “Sister Kate.” This was 2020 or something, and we realized that an anniversary was coming up, and we decided to make a record. So I flew to Los Angeles in a hazmat suit. We started the record, and it turned out that a lot of the fellows who had been on the “Sister Kate” record were also sidelined because of COVID. They had gone on to make these amazing careers touring with giants, but they were all off the road. So a lot of the original players on “Sister Kate” came and played on “Why Wait!”

So that was really fun. It was so satisfying for me and so gratifying. I was just happy to be with these people, hear them play, watch Peter do his thing. It was nice. So we put out “Why Wait!” And then we did a tour with Albert Lee, Peter and I, and a couple of other people. It had a wonderful drummer who had worked with Paul McCartney. We did a tour, Peter and I, we fell back into our friendship again, and it was nice. That was a nice kind of bookend for that particular phase of my life and my singing career, I guess you call it. Anyway, so there you are.

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Eighty Gee: Perfect is Boring Deluxe Edition Review

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Eighty Gee: Perfect is Boring Deluxe Edition Review

Eighty Gee: Perfect is Boring Deluxe Edition Review – by BradQuan Copeland.

“What is perfection, but the opinions of the unperfected?” – Eighty Gee. Act 1: Perfect is Boring (Intro). This Albany MC came to my attention through a fellow colleague who didn’t have the time to take the dive, but I’m sure as hell glad I did! Perfect is Boring: The Deluxe Edition is a fully loaded arsenal that understands the concept of less is more. At just 10 songs totaling a 20-minute runtime, Eighty pounds his way into the coliseum in full Silverback form, ten toes down with an aura that sprays bass through the speakers like an unhinged Draco.

This project is sturdy—indicative of a man who doesn’t need to say much for his presence to be felt. He slides through the tracks of this nonskip project with an attitude-era swagger, ignited by a chest-pounding, feral fury that matches the energy of artists like Lil Durk, G Herbo, and Big 30. Though he boldly flexes his street merit, he approaches this body of work with a level of humility that makes it known that this warrior carries the blood of a king. “Don’t look up to me, just stand next to me.” A standout line from his track, Risk, unfolds the essence of a real G who steps alongside his army.

The production is clean, and this well-architected project subtly navigates through the natural and well-earned paternal emotional intelligence revealed through the heartfelt line, “My biggest fear is that my child hate me.” He then delves into his romantic side with the hood ballad Vibey, showcasing a well-seasoned singing voice in which he rides the wave effortlessly, manipulating his vocals through melodic ripples that raise and lower the internal temperature seamlessly. The thump of bass mimics the power strut of a baddie mighty enough to knot the silver tongue of the devil. The chemistry between him and Ke $upreme mirrors a Queen and Slim-esque unified defiance. They beautifully set the stage of an intimate house party cloaked in kush smoke with red solo cups in hand, where goers grind in the moment with the unspoken but clear anticipation to crack the bed by night’s end.

A gangster, but also a gentleman in the sense that his beginning thesis is restated through the lens of a woman in Act 2: Date Night, before the work delves into its introspective conclusion. This project is a smooth 8.2 out of 10 and leaves a lasting impression that will surely make me explore his earlier work and anxiously wait for future projects. If you haven’t already, give Eighty Gee a thorough listen and relish in his healed yet visible war scars that paint a picture beyond the streets he proudly claims.

 

 

More from BradQuan Copeland…

NEIL YOUNG: SOMETHING LIVE, SOMETHING RARE , SOMETHING NEW

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NEIL YOUNG: SOMETHING LIVE, SOMETHING RARE , SOMETHING NEW

NEIL YOUNG: SOMETHING LIVE, SOMETHING RARE , SOMETHING NEW- by Tony Mastrianni.

Neil Young remains alive and very busy these days. He revisited one of the most personal songs in his extensive catalog during a special benefit concert on May 23rd, delivering the first live performance of his song “My Boy” in more than four decades. The show, a solo acoustic set held on the grounds of Ontario’s Lakefield College School, in his native Canada marked his first full performance of 2025 and supported restoration efforts for a historic 116-year-old cottage nearby. Despite the cold and rainy conditions, attendees witnessed the intimate 18-song performance. While the set featured classics like “Heart of Gold,” “Comes a Time” and “Sugar Mountain,” it was  mid-show performance of “My Boy” that drew audible emotion from the crowd. Originally released on 1985’s “Old Ways,” the banjo-led ballad is a tribute to Young’s eldest son, Zeke. The song had not been performed live since the 1983 Solo Trans tour. Young also surprised fans with rarely played tracks like “Love/Art Blues” (last performed in 2008) and the CSNY deep cut “Name of Love,” which had not been seen on a setlist since 2014. He closed the show with “Old Man,” although a printed setlist hinted at two intended encore tracks – “Throw Your Hatred Down” and “Rockin’ in the Free World” – though they were scrapped due to inclement weather. The crowd would have welcomed them; however, they got more than their fair share of Neil’s musical magic.

Oceanside Countryside is the latest of Neil Young’s great “lost” albums vinyl LP album was recently released as part of his Analog Original Series (AOS) by Reprise Records.  The album was recorded from May to December 1977, preceding the release of Comes A Time in 1978. The two albums share the same country/folk sound, and three songs (“Goin’ Back,” “Human Highway” and “Field of Opportunity”) appear on both albums. The vinyl release of Oceanside Countryside includes some tracks that are on the CD of the same name in Neil Young’s Archives Vol. III. However, this track list is how Oceanside Countryside was originally planned to be released a long time ago and finally made available on vinyl for the first time ever.  Recorded on tape, these are the original mixes done at the time of recording. The sound is superb.

And to top things off, he just came out with a new studio album with a brand-new band, Neil Young and The CHROME HEARTS . The debut just released is called Talkin To The Trees. It is a deeply personal and powerful album containing ten new compositions by Young. “Big Change,” the first song from the album, was released in January 2025, with a message that left no doubt where Neil Young stands in these challenging times.  Neil delivers big time his high-pitched/high octane vocals and gritty trademark guitar lines, and superb harmonica in many of these tracks. The Chrome Hearts are Spooner Oldham (Organ); Micah Nelson (Guitar and Vocal); Corey McCormick (Bass and Vocal); Anthony LoGerfo (Drums); with our legendary Neil Young (Guitar, Harp, Piano, Vibes). The album was co-produced by Lou Adler and Young, and recorded in Malibu.  His new band is a bit less fervent than his old legendary mates Crazy Horse. They are tight and offer full-bodied a fluid rhythm section to support the iconic Mr. Young. I would like to pass along the lyrics to my favorite track on the new LP, which again reflects Neil’s personal feelings and insights. It is the opening track “Family Life.”

Lyrics:

“Family Life” 

When today has come & gone

I might be singin my new song

It might be short and it might be long

But I’ll be singin my new song

Might be one I wrote for Ben

Who always smiles when I sing to him

It might be one I wrote for my grandchildren

Who I can’t see

But I’ll sing it from the heart

And that’ll be the easy part

Singin for Ronan and Aliyah

So they know just how I feel

Might be one for my man Zeke

Who’s growin’ tall and strong & free

Buildin’ dreams with his new girl

Livin’ life that’s meant to be

And I’ll call it family life

When I sing it for my wife

Who I love and I adore

And she’ll smile for me once more

Yeah I’ll sing it from the heart

And that’ll be the easy part

Singin’ for my best wife ever

The best cook in the world!

Yeah I’ll sing it from the heart

That’ll be the easy part

Then I’ll remember Amber Jean

And I’ll sing it from the heart

It all started in Canada with The Buffalo Springfield in the mid-late 60’s and Young’s monumental trail of some of the finest music brought forth by this pioneering rock icon for half a century, with no plans for slowing down. There is the R&R HOF and then there is an elite level that surpasses that plateau. Neil has cleared the bar, and is at the highest level of productivity and stardom. He is in a stratosphere of his own! Lurking around my turntable right now is Neil’s NEIL YOUNG GREATEST HITS 2-LP which also includes a bonus 45 single of “Sugar Mountain” b/w “The Loner” (Reprise Records).The tracks selected for inclusion were based on original record sales, airplay, and known download history.

**note: NEIL is currently on a national tour promoting the new band and album. He is also appearing at Bethel Woods, New York-Center For The Arts on August 24th.

Jen Chura – An Xperience Interview

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Jen Chura – An Xperience Interview

Jen Chura – An Xperience Interview – by Rob Smittix.

RRX: I appreciate you doing this with me. Lots of people are going to read this. So no pressure.

(Both Laugh)

RRX: First of all, I am so happy that Empire Live/Underground is in Albany. It kind of morphed from being Northern Lights to Upstate Concert Hall (Clifton Park), but then came into Albany a few years back. For me, the move was ideal. It’s a great spot for live music. So thank you for being a part of it.

JC: Absolutely.

RRX: What is your exact title there?

JC: Operations Management, I guess. I do a lot of different things. I have about 20 different hats I wear, so it’s very hard to nail it all down, but that probably sums it up.

RRX: Well, I mean … it was even hard getting you on the phone today because you have a show going on tonight. It’s a lot of work, I don’t think people realize what putting on these events actually entails.

JC: Yeah, we’re close to a sell-out tonight, so pressure’s on.

RRX: That’s awesome, but yeah, it is a lot of pressure. People simply open up the Xperience Monthly, or they go to your website (EmpireLiveAlbany.com) to find out who’s coming to town, never putting any thought into what it takes behind the scenes.

JC: Every show is different, but it all kind of stays the same when it comes to the booking side of things. Obviously, the show gets booked after negotiating all of the numbers. From there, it goes right to ticketing and advertising, then into show day and full-blown production.

RRX: Yeah, I ran into you at one of the Upstate Punk Rock Flea Markets at Empire Live, which was on a Sunday. So I know, you even come in on the weekends to make it all happen.

JC: Yeah, there’s no off-time typically for myself or David (Siewert); the two of us operate this place. Obviously, we couldn’t do it without our staff. We have a few people that are … I guess, department heads, but the staff is what really keeps it all together. While David and I are the ones who run the venue, they are the reason we’re here.

RRX: Of course. I think back to when ESPN commentator Rebecca Lobo said, “Good luck finding something to do in Albany,” because that is so far from the truth. And Empire Live is at the center of it all! On any given night, you’ll see the massive lines outside waiting to get into Empire Live, while simultaneously, you’ll have an awesome show going on downstairs at Empire Underground. It’s a scene, and it feels like it.

JC: That’s great to hear. Again, we couldn’t do it without our staff. It takes a village, you know? We are very lucky to have some really wonderful pillars that actually keep us held up.

RRX: I can’t even keep up with the number of shows that you guys have going on there.

JC: Me either (Laughs).

RRX: No, it’s crazy, but when I see some of the acts that are coming through, I’m like … wow, what a great get! I mean … the shows have always been good there, but it seems like in the last few years, the game has been stepped up quite a bit, and maybe that’s an ode to you?

JC: Not really, not to me. I’m pretty low-key. There are a few of us who deal with booking and bringing the acts to the area. We all know Mike Valente brings shows to the area, but our other two partners are pretty well known in our industry; credit really goes to them, too, for the booking.

RRX: And you’ve got something for everyone, all the time. If someone’s not really into what’s happening today, something’s happening tomorrow that they will probably be into.

JC: Right, and that honestly was our goal even when we were located in Clifton Park. We really wanted to expand, and we were supposed to be in Albany in 2020 … but obviously, with COVID, shutting down and everything, that didn’t happen. David and I worked with people to get this place together for when we could be open. We had our first show upstairs in August of 2021. Our first show in the Underground was in November of 2021. And ever since then, we’ve been working to tweak things and make them better because … nothing is ever completed. There’s always a project.

RRX: Always is. You mentioned the pandemic, and I kid you not … Empire Live was the reason I got the vaccine. I wasn’t really feeling it, I didn’t know who to trust, but I knew I wanted to go to concerts.

JC: (Chuckles)

RRX: Well, awesome. Any last thoughts for our readers?

JC: Come on out to shows. See bands you like, see bands you don’t even know you like, and enjoy yourself. We just want people to come, have a good time, and feel comfortable and happy. That’s our goal. The best part about this job is when you have multiple shows per week and seeing the crowds change. But one thing that always stays the same is the fans watching their favorite bands and seeing their faces when they hit the stage. It’s a really cool feeling to know my staff and I made that happen for these people. Just like right now, the production is pretty heavy today, but our staff is killing it, and it’s gonna look phenomenal.

RRX: Well, I know you’re busy and you’ve got stuff to do, so I’m gonna let you go ahead and get to it, but I appreciate your time, Jen. Thank you.

 

 

 

More from Rob Smittix…

 

 

 

 

Extra! Extra! The November 2025 Xperience Digital Edition is Out! Get it Here!

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Extra! Extra! The November 2025 Xperience Digital Edition is Out! Get it Here!

Once again we set upon the table with our families and celebrate the little things. And we hope that your copy of Xperience is resting on the coffee table. Featuring Empire Live’s Jen Chura, singer Kate Taylor, and Candice Night of Blackmore’s Night.

Local Musician Cosby Gibson on Grammy Ballot for Folk Album

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Local Musician Cosby Gibson on Grammy Ballot for Folk Album

Interview: Cosby Gibson
By: Rob Smittix

Photo By: Tom Staudle

RRX: Cosby, how’s it going?

CG: Oh, pretty good. Some really great things… had a great summer.

RRX: Yeah, is that over? I think it’s over. I was holding on to it for so long, like, don’t drink the pumpkin spice. Once you do it, it’s over.

CG: It’s got magical powers to turn to autumn.

RRX: I’m very superstitious when it comes to that, for sure.

CG: The pumpkin spice?

RRX: Yeah, don’t do it. But yeah, we had a good summer and now we’re in fall, so it’s pretty much winter from here on out. You’ve got some some good stuff going on. Tell us about it.

CG: Yes, I found out a couple of weeks ago that my album, ‘The Hollow Crown,’ made it to the ballot for the Grammys. It’s just so exciting. The ballot is the first step before nomination. Actually the nominations will be announced and then the ceremony is next year of course.

RRX: Man, that’s so cool. Can I vote?

CG: Please. Twice! Exactly.

RRX: Well deserved, the music speaks for itself.

CG: I really appreciate it. I love awards, they’re really inspiring, but I always remember the audience is what’s most important. And I think because of the experience of being together or listening to the albums, it seems to develop a bond between the artist and the audience. So, I guess being part of the awards or being part of the Grammys is gonna bring people into the work and invite new people.

RRX: I know a few people that have one (Grammy). Actually I know a guy who has a sh** t ton of them.

CG: Wow, send that luck our way.

RRX: It’s wild because it changes your first name and it will never be the same again, even if you get nominated and don’t win. Then your first name will be Grammy-nominated and if you win, well… your first name for the rest of forever will be Grammy-winning.

CG: It’s funny that you say that because when I first got the email saying that it was on the ballot, I had a little bit of a feeling of fear because of the changes that it could bring. It sometimes feels like you’re on this river of changes that you can’t always stop. With people who are famous or celebrities sometimes bad things happen to them and so you know? Just trying to keep a watchful eye. It’s just really inspiring and an honor to be recognized for the work and also among artists with such a high level of artistry, that really raises the bar.

RRX: Well, you’re already a Listen Up Award winner, right?

CG: Of course, we love those awards, that was so much fun.

RRX: How did that change your life?

CG: Well it helps people pay attention a little bit more and of course if you’re already offering something of quality, then it brings more people into the room which which I love.

RRX: It’s definitely a good selling point. It looks great on flyers and posters and it helps get gigs. Well, that’s really cool. So the album that’s on the ballot, did you send it to me yet for airplay?

CG: I think you might have the title song. The album is named the Hollow Crown, and the title song is also the Hollow Crown. It’s in the folk album category for the, for the ballot. But I named it the Hollow Crown because I was also thinking about… if you’re chasing something that is empty or hollow, you may think you’ve got something great but really it’s empty. Also the album is about remembering the past and remembering the good things in particular. It can give a good foundation for you to make progress from if you have really good memories but if you’re remembering the bad things, that’s a good opportunity to untangle them. Just get them out of the way because they will haunt you otherwise.

RRX: Yeah, you’re not kidding.

CG: I know, right? I guess it took about 4 years to make the album. A part of that was a delay because of COVID. The songs are acoustic with solo guitar and voice, it’s my approach. My personal style is reminiscent of the artists of the Woodstock era, kind of like… a solo songwriting type thing.

RRX: Yes, I love those vibes.

CG: Yes, the very simple things. I mean… I think each style of music has its place in a person’s life. Like if you’re on a treadmill you’d probably want to listen to something really upbeat and jazzy, but then if you’re at home on a Sunday you might want to listen to acoustic.

RRX: If I’m on a treadmill, first of all… call the news but I’d be listening to the “Eye of the Tiger,” for sure.

CG: Yeah, right.

RRX: I’m more about lyrics and the thought that goes into them, you know? The writing process. I’m sure you got yourself one of those.

CG: Yes, Tom (Staudle) and I do a songwriting workshop and we do talk about that. I would say most of my songs come from just playing the guitar first and hearing interesting chords. I don’t know if my brain is funny or something but sometimes a sound will also sound like a word.
One time I was washing dishes, the sink was running and the water sounded like these words and I was able to actually write a whole song from that. So if that’s a disorder, that’s a good thing.

RRX: You tapped into something there. That’s the universe speaking to you. You could probably just go out into nature and listen, the birds will be singing and you’d understand what they’re saying.

CG: I do like to spend a lot of time in nature. I do a lot of trail running and walking in the woods. I love it.

RRX: Absolutely. And we are fortunate enough to have some really cool sites, we’re surrounded by it here.

CG: I know. Living in Upstate New York, you’ll have like a little city that has all your shopping stuff and then you go a short way out, even just 5 miles and there’s all these mountains or trails or rivers and streams. It’s great!

RRX: I agree. I love this area and the fact that we have the urban and the country so close together.

CG: Speaking of country, what I’ve also been interested in is old time fiddle playing. The old time fiddle style was actually l developed outdoors, in the Appalachian Mountains, in the forest and in the woods. I’ve been going to some of these festivals, one was in West Virginia and one was in the Catskills. The whole festival is musicians playing outdoors, being in the the trees or campground by the fire and it’s amazing. It just sounds so much better in the outdoors than it does in a room.

RRX: I would love an experience like that. Well we’ve got a little bit of time left here. I wanted to make sure that you got everything out that you needed to get out there.

CG: Yes, the Hollow Crown album is available in both digital and physical formats. The physical album has 13 songs, a lyric booklet, links to the music videos, pictures and a free digital download actually goes with it. Something special that I put in the physical package are two collector cards. They’re song collector cards with watercolor illustrations. I did a little painting about the song and then the two songs are in there. I actually have 3 other ones in the past, so it’s sort of like a series.

RRX: Nice personal touch.

CG: I’d also like to point out that the album is a home recording and it’s published independently. I think that’s a really good step for an album like this to be included on the Grammy ballot. It shows that they are now thinking about artists who are doing it this way rather than going through the record labels or whatever.
If anyone’s interested in hearing or sampling the album, it’s on my Bandcamp, CosbyGibson.bandcamp.com and you can also download it from there. My website is CosbyGibson.com.

RRX: Everyone should definitely check it out. It’s wonderful, beautiful music. Congratulations for even getting as far as you did… so far, and we’ll definitely be rooting for you.

CG: Fingers crossed!

Crazy Train Coming to The Strand Theatre on Novc 22nd to Honor Ozzy

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Crazy Train Coming to The Strand Theatre on Novc 22nd to Honor Ozzy
Join us at the Strand Theatre on Saturday Nov. 22, 2025 @ 8:00pm and relive the magic as Crazy Train honors OZZY with a performance that’ll rock the stage!

National touring band Crazy Train is the ultimate touring Ozzy Osbourne Tribute show and is hosted by Vinny Cormier, the best Ozzy impersonator around. Crazy Train delivers a musically and visually captivating show unlike no other tribute, packed with special effects and “wow” moments you won’t forget! 

They play every show like it is “LIVE AND LOUD 1993!” Get ready to rock out to fan favorites like Crazy Train, Mr. Crowley, No More Tears and plenty more! Crazy Train performs the Prince of Darkness’ noteworthy hits anywhere from Sabbath  to Patient #9.

The special effects and light show provide an appropriate aura of spookiness to complement one of the very best rock tribute shows on the road today. Add to that the perfect house mix and a painstaking commitment to detail, and you have an unbeatable rock show with Crazy Train.

Brought to you by E1 PRESENTS.

$25 balcony, $30 floor, $45 VIP front row (will include a signed poster and photos with the band onstage right after the show.)  Tickets available at the Strand Box Office; cash or check only or online at Eventbrite. For more info and the ticketing link, please go to www.mystrandtheatre.org. Doors open into the coffee shop, lobby and box office at 6:30pm.

The Strand Theatre is located at 210 Main St, Hudson Falls, NY.

Eagles Tribute Band Desperado’s Coming to Cohoes Music Hall Nov. 8th

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Eagles Tribute Band Desperado’s Coming to Cohoes Music Hall Nov. 8th

On Saturday Nov. 8, 2025 @ 7:30pm, experience an unforgettable evening at the Cohoes Music Hall with The Desperados as they bring the timeless music of The Eagles to life!  The Desperados are talented musicians Johnny Clifford, Mark Caruso, Scott Bently, Steve Hymowech and Ernie LaRouche.

Playing The Eagles’ hits such as “Take It Easy,” “Best Of My Love,” “In The City,” and many more, this is going to be a great night of The Eagles classics by The Desperados! Join us at the Cohoes Music Hall for a night of unforgettable music and entertainment!

Brought to you by E1 PRESENTS. 

$25 to $49. Tickets are available at the Cohoes Music Hall Box Office or online at www.thecohoesmusichall.org.

The Cohoes Music Hall is located at 58 Remsen St., Cohoes NY. (518) 434-0776.

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