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ChatGPT and Coffee – The Weird Side of the Internet

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Staff
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ChatGPT and Coffee

ChatGPT and Coffee – The Weird Side of the Internet – by Liam Sweeny.

What the hell is this “reading the coffee cup” nonsense? Yeah, apparently it’s a thing to have ChatGPT to “read” a photo of their coffee grounds. ChatGPT then pretends it’s a psychic, and tells you about yourself. And ChatGPT is a perfectly acceptable way to do this, I think. For once, an app that tells you what it thinks you want to hear might actually be god for something. So you feed it a picture of your brew, and it makes shit up that you can choose to believe if you want to. They honestly should put that sentence in their sales kit.

Thing about believing in random nonsense is that it’s going to cause you to engage in random nonsense, and you might get hurt. A Greek woman, who has come to us nameless because of the shame of all this, followed a social media trend and had pictures of her and her husband’s coffees “read” by ChatGPT in a way similar to divining tea leaves, or tasseography. Unfortunately, the app told her that her husband was cheating on her.

She did what any woman in her place would do: she divorced her husband.

Okay, so there was definitely something going on behind the scenes. If we’re going to go ahead and believe that ChatGPT should be on the shelves next to crystals and herbs, surely we have to double-check, right? She is, reportedly, sensitive to forms of divination. Must be, really.

I feel bad for her husband, I really do. He’s pretty much on the hook for his own bullshit, but also AI’s bullshit too. So yes, I feel bad, mainly because I’ve got the guy pegged as long-suffering. But he could be just as weird, who knows. Maybe he drinks like crazy and she “read” the first cup of coffee he’d had in a month.

Or maybe he collects Funko Pops of 70s TV stars.

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Death Cult Pharmaceutical – Interview – Thanks for Asking!

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Staff
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Death Cult Pharmaceutical
Death Cult Pharmaceutical – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.
RRX: Every artist’s first song is a milestone. But so is the latest song. Describe the first song/album you recorded, and also the latest song/album you recorded; what are the differences?
BB: The first song we ever recorded was Screaming in the Rain, which is also the first song I ever wrote for the band, before the band was even a thing. It was more of a classic Ramones style punk song, and was on our first Ep of the same thing. Our next recording was our full length “Insane World”. Which had more of a hardcore/thrash edge to it.
BC: I think the early material is different lyrically from what we’ve been writing more recently. The early stuff was more about heartbreak on a personal level. Where as our new stuff that we are writing for our upcoming “Torture Zone” LP is more about the human condition and how trauma and abuse can affect the human psyche.
RRX: Part of learning to be a musician is to fall in love with a song, an album, and hammer away at your instrument until you can play that whole thing. What was that song for you? Was there a hardest part?
BB: There is a song on the upcoming album called “Shattered”. The song is very fast and has some time changes going on that make it probably the hardest song we’ve written. To be honest we still don’t have it down yet! But I know we will by the time it comes to record. It’s also personally a difficult song to perform because it deals with the impact of losing a love one to addiction. I often write about things that painful to me as a way of working through them. It is a cathartic experience.
BC: Sometimes I think that
when Brian comes up with a riff for something like our song passages, I might do something that is simple and keeps the beat at first and then shift into something more dynamic that showcases a little bit more of skill. I think for some of the thrashers like Passages it has been a challenge to stay on time in the past but I know we are improving with that and I think the next album will reflect that.
RRX: Sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Or so they say. Whether you’re off the wagon, on it, or never been, there’s something you got a thirst for. What are some of your basically harmless vices?
BB: In my opinion there are no “Harmless vices”. Even the more innocuous ones like coffee or scrolling on your phone alter your brain chemistry in some way. We have dealt with issues in the band over addiction and I personally have lost friends to it. That being said, pretty much every human ever has some sort of vice that gets them through the day. It is said that getting inebriated is the 4th greatest need behind food, water and shelter. Personally I find a couple beers and a little bit of weed can make for a fun jam session.
BC: Harmless Vices? Haha I think vices are called vices because they can trap you and keep you stuck in the same cycle permanently making you a slave. Ultimately that’s what addiction is it’s a form of bondage between yourself and a substance or whatever you’re trying to suck the life out of. I have struggled with addiction in the past and to a much lesser extent today. I think being in the band has actually saved me from falling deeper into addiction and depression. It gives us a sense of direction and purpose. It keeps me grounded and goal oriented. I am not saying don’t have a good time and I am certainly not straight edge but definitely an advocate for moderation. Otherwise the cost will be eventually losing everything.
RRX: What instrument would you add to the band if you could? Is there anything you are trying to do musically that would be helped with one or more additional players?
BB: We have talked about potentially adding a second guitarist to have some more lead/solo work going on. We also toyed around with the idea of adding horns and doing a Ska thing. But that would be way down the road.
BC: I sometimes thought about second guitar player or keyboardist, we have a rotating cast of bass players up until now so I think Brian and I would like to finally iron out who the mainstay in that position is going to be first before we add anyone new. TBH ever since seeing The Loved Ones open up for The Unseen back in 2005 at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn I have romanticized the idea of super loud and powerful sounding three piece. It’s somewhat rare and always a gem.
RRX: Love is a big part of music. We’re talking first loves here. Lots of cool stories about first loves and the things we do for those loves. Can you (or, in the case of a band, one member) talk about your first love, especially if you did something cool to express that love? (No names needed.)
BB: I wasn’t really sure what love was until I met my current girlfriend Kelsey. We have been dating almost 3 years and everyday has been magic. Until I met her I mostly had one night stands, flings, and a couple failed relationships. Some of the early DCP songs reflected the heartbreak I felt, particularly our songs “screaming in the rain” and “downbad” But on my first date with Kelsey we were dancing barefoot in the park listening to “4 non blondes” and didn’t care who was watching. I knew then she was the woman I wanted to be with. Since I’ve been with her I stopped writing songs about heartbreak and started writing more about worldly affairs, psychology, and spirituality.
BC: I have never really had much success in romantic love, I m Bisexual and have found the dating world on both ends of the spectrum to be a very cold, shallow and superficial place. Any “love interests” I have had in the past have had little to no interest in my creative side and I often get the sense that they would prefer not to discuss it. Even people who might look and act the part of a music fan. So I instead found true love in the bands, artists, and writers that came before me. They gave their gifts to the world in a bold, courageous, unapologetic fashion and I believe in doing the same, that’s what keeps me going.
RRX: I know when pitching it helps to tell someone it’s “this meets that.” So let’s try that with you. If you had to give me two bands that meet each other in your sound, what are those bands? More than two bands?
BB: This is a good question. I personally come from a more metal background while Bryan comes from punk. So I would say we are like negative approach meets death. Vocally I take a lot of inspiration from black metal and crust bands like disrupt or dystopia and also classic death metal bands like death or possessed.
BC: I think DCP is the best of many different worlds everything from Stoner Rock to Grunge to Hardcore Punk, Thrash and Death Metal. I’d say we are a somewhat of cross between Ramones and Suicidal Tendencies with a splash of Discharge and Death (FLA).

 

“Fiddle Night” @ Ophelia’s, 5/9/2025

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Timothy Reidy
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Friday Night was “Fiddle Night” at Ophelia’s, featuring Rusticator, Lucid Street, and Black Mountain Symphony.

Photography by Timothy Reidy.

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More from Ophelia’s …

Albany Tulip Festival 5/10/2025

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Timothy Reidy
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Day One of the much-loved annual festival featured the Mendelssohn Club, Amanda Case, Laveda, Zan and the Winter Folk, Jukebox the Ghost, Aila Chiar, the 502s, and the Albany Rock Pit Showcase Band. Along with, of course, the coronation of the Tulip Queen, Abigail Williams.

Photography by Timothy Reidy.

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More Tulip Festival coverage …

Bettye LaVette – an Xperience Interview

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Staff
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Bettye LaVette

Bettye LaVette – an Xperience Interview – by Liam Sweeny.

Bettye LaVette is, according from the New York Times, “one of the great soul interpreters of her generation.” In the words of George Jones, “truly a ‘singer’s singer.’ With a sixty year career span that traversed Motown from it’s birth. She is coming to Caffe Lena on June 22nd and you won’t be disappointed. Welcome Bettye LaVette.

RRX: So can you tell me a little bit about the Bettye LaVette Duo?

BL: Well, cause I’m a song interpreter as opposed to a singer. And for songs usually with magnificent lyrics. So I get a chance to exhibit them in the duo thing and when I’m with my band, everybody’s playing, I’m bouncing around the stage and tap dancing and whatever, So this is kind of a laid back thing and it’s more of a conversational attitude.

RRX: That’s cool. That’s really cool. In your autobiography, it comes up about your being a song interpreter instead of a just s singer. I’ve never heard someone say that, which is a really cool thing; that’s a very powerful thing. Can you explain a little bit of what you mean by being a song interpreter instead of just a singer?

BL: I think that everybody has a different thing about it, especially today because there aren’t a lot of song interpreters. Everybody seems to try to do everything exactly the way the other person did it. But I just take a little bit of umbrage with, with interpreter because I really haven’t interpreted anything. I’ve just given you my rendition of it. I’m not a mellifluous singer, that’s when I say I’m not a singer, but I tend to embrace words and put them in places where a lot of other people don’t, even if they, you formally heard them in other places like my Bob Dylan album.

RRX: Let’s talk about the Bob Dylan album, actually. I just read that it’s all Bob Dylan songs, right?

BL: Uh-huh.

RRX: What went into that? What was your thinking about doing that before you did it?

BL: Is this the only way I can get a contract with Universal?

(both laugh)

RRX: That’s a good answer. There we go.

BL: I had to really get the sound of him, which has never really appealed to me, and I’ve never really had to listen, although I’ve recorded some of his other songs, but I approached him strictly from a lyrical uh point of view and not a melodic point of view. And during the whole album, I had to listen to a lot of him to see how I wanted me to sound. And as I learned, I had to find out more about him. And I did. One thing is I usually tell the audience something when I’m trying to find something we had in common. And the one thing that I know we have in common is just like an old woman, he complains about everything. All the time. So we have that in common.

Wow.

BL: But he doesn’t divulge much about how he feels, you know, he just tells what happened, who did it. And that it annoyed him or whatever. He really said it hurt him. He really comes from that point of view, and he rarely said things like it hurt because I love them. It’s always just, ‘they did this.’ And then he tells the ironic things that what they did is just like, like wading in water or like falling off the log or out of a tree. But he never just says it broke my heart, or I never thought I was gonna recover from that. It’s just, it’s almost, it almost seems like a reporter.

Do you see a lot of that in songwriters? Do you see a lot of that in general?

BL: No, I think that’s what makes him so unique. He tells some of the most interesting things that happened. But he doesn’t tell you how he felt about them. But I did try and find him. I found a great deal of him in Emotionally Yours. I had to take the lyrics and set them aside away from him. And there was no denying what he said. If I saw him, I said, ‘no, no, I got you. I know what you said.’

So have you heard from him?

BL: Oh, no, no, no, and I resent that too. Anytime you could help a person by just saying their name, I think just to have that much power and not to use it at all is really a mean thing to do.

RRX: The writers, the songwriters, are there a lot of core group of writers that, that people go to or is it, is it more of a broader expanse?

BL: Oh, I don’t know. I’m sure everybody does it different. And then there are a lot of people who write their own songs. I just look for songs that are adult. And if they’re supposed to be funny, I don’t want them to be funny. I don’t look for 10 and 2 songs as we’re calling them now, me and some others, where you sing two verses and repeat the chorus 10 times. So I avoid that kind of thing. And I don’t know a lot of writers personally, of course, when I was in Detroit, I knew all the writers that were there, but the people whose songs I’m reinterpreting now, I’ve had a chance to meet some of them, Rolling Stones and Paul and Ringo. But these are people that I’ve been singing as long as they have. We were just in different places, and they didn’t come to where I was and I couldn’t afford to go where they were.

RRX: You’ve been accused of having “buzzard luck.” Can you explain that?

BL: Many things, if you read the Bible, if you read the book. I’ve just had some ironic things happen, which is why somebody chose to write a book because the things that have happened to me haven’t been. the normal things that happen to people. Do you know anything about Motown at all?

RRX: A little bit.

BL: About their very first singers, her name was Mary Wells.

She was about 10-15 years before Diana. She was the first big female vocalist. At any rate, I had been singing. A month. And in a scuffle in New York, her husband shot my manager in the head. I didn’t know any other managers so I had only been singing. So that’s how it started. And then when my friend David Friedland, who wrote the book that you referenced, decided to name his chapter about me, Buzzard Luck, because he had heard my mother say it early on when he first met me. My mother said, I’ve never seen anything like this girl, she has buzzard luck.

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Whassup in the 518 – Weekend Shows

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Staff
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Whassup in the 518?

Whassup in the 518?

Friday, May 16th

Josh Gates Live! The Egg, Albany, 7:30pm

Adventurer, television personality, and author Josh Gates is the host and executive producer of the smash-hit Discovery Channel series, Expedition Unknown. The show follows Gates as he sets out on a global journey to explore archaeological discoveries, historic mysteries, and scientific breakthroughs. Josh immerses himself in each story, conducting his own investigations, showcasing the work of dedicated explorers while also highlighting vibrant cultures and fascinating destinations. Armed with a degree in archaeology, a quick wit, and a hunger for adventure, Gates travels to some of the most remote corners of the planet in immersive, hilarious, and thrilling journeys.

The Great Gatsby, The Palace Theatre, Albany, 7pm

World Ballet Company

Something Great is coming to Albany this Spring! Join us for the World Premiere of The Great Gatsby Ballet!

Step into the jazzy world of the Roaring Twenties with this new production of the World Ballet Company. See the glitz, glamor, and tragic romance of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s timeless novel LIVE on stage, featuring a multinational cast of 40 professional ballet dancers, an all-star creative team, lustrous hand-crafted costumes, and lavish, groundbreaking sets. The original score evokes the energy and atmosphere of the 1920s.

A Salute to America’s Veterans, Proctor’s Theatre, Schenectady

From the Revolutionary War to modern times, our nation has found solace and strength in song during moments of conflict and strife. We invite you to join us in celebrating our national heritage by singing these timeless pieces, honoring our veterans and the enduring spirit of our country.

Myers Annual Dance Concert, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

Celebrate the 41st Anniversary of Myers Studio with original choreography created by the Myers Studio Staff and dancers. Under the Artistic Director of Darlene Myers.

Crazy Train, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 7:30pm-10pm

E1PRESENTS brings Crazy Train back to Cohoes Music Hall with a special guest opener to be announced soon. CRAZY TRAIN is the ultimate touring Ozzy Osbourne Tribute show, hosted by Vinny Cormier, the best Ozzy impersonator around, and supported by a Berkeley level crew, including his son Dylan on guitar. Crazy Train delivers a musically and visually captivating show unlike no other tribute, packed  with Special Effects and “wow” moments you won’t forget! Crazy Train plays every show like it is “LIVE AND LOUD 1993! ” Crazy Train rolls over all of the Prince of Darkness’ noteworthy hits anywhere from Sabbath  to Patient #9.

Neon Avenue, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 8pm-11pm

Neon Avenue is more than just a Grateful Dead Tribute band—they’re a journey through the heart and soul of the Dead’s legendary sound.

Run Rabbit Run, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm

E1Presents is bringing you the experience of Pink Floyd’s masterpieces lovingly recreated and reimagined by a supergroup of veteran performing artists from New York’s Capital Region RUN RABBIT RUN.If you love Pink Floyd or are taking your first dive into this incredible musical experience, Run Rabbit Run is sure to impress. Run Rabbit Run will be paying tribute to 50yrs of everyone’s favorite album ” Wish You Were Here ” in its entirety! YES, the whole album, plus some extra favorite hits to pack this night full of surprises. Run Rabbit Run will be Performing songs like ” Shine On You Crazy Diamond” , “Welcome To The Machine, “ Wish You Were Here“, and so many more .Come experience all the magic of Pink Floyd right here at Lark Hall on May 16th, 2025.Band Introduction: On vocal and guitar we have Carl Blackwood, Drums and vocals by Cody Bingham, Bass and vocals go to Sean Fortune, Lady T with just pure vocals, Keyboards and synth is none other than Chris Andreski, Lo Baboulis is all vocals, Scott Vorwald on Saxophone, & Eric Halder jamming out on the guitar.Bring your friends, family, even bring your kids, this will be an epic night of pure musical bliss!

Sophistafunk & Friends w/ Capital Zen, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 9pm-12:30am

Come join us for a very special show with Sophistafunk & Friends featuring special guests: Rob Compa (Dopapod /Neighbor), Mike Gantzer (Aqueous), Sam Kininger (Soulive / Lettuce), Josh West (Annie in the Water) and more. They will be joined by Capital Zen, who will kick off the evening.

Sophistafunk is rooted in undeniable musicianship and authenticity, blending intoxicating beats with mind-expanding flows. Mad scientist Adam Gold is known for his heavy synth basslines and funky vocals. He plays four vintage keyboards at the same time, sometimes even while beatboxing! Gospel trained drummer and singer Emanuel Washington combines neo-soul with deep house, reggae, and more. Frontman / emcee Jack Brown evokes comparisons from Mac Miller to Michael Frantí, but his lyrical skill and conscious vibes are truly one of a kind. The band also features musical guests, ranging from brass instruments to guitars, turntablists, female singers, & other surprises. Lately, they’ve been touring with sax powerhouse Tommy Weeks of the Funky Dawgz Brass Band.

Don Armstrong & The Wiskeypalians, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-10pm

Caffè Lena favorite Don Armstrong first attended a show at the legendary venue 62 years ago at age 15. Under the watchful eye of Lena Spencer, he learned through the graces of the performers passing through: Paul Clayton, Dave Van Ronk, Rev. Gary Davis, Bob Dylan, Hedy West, John Herald, Gil Robbins, Ian & Sylvia, Utah Phillips. Since then, it’s become a home away from home.

Plight / Service Industry / Happy Birthday James / CPS, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

5/16 5:00 PM Dan Sherwin- Wheatfields Clifton Park

5/16 5:30 PM Jack Kelle- Bootleggers

5/16 6:00 PM Dan Dekalb- 677 Prime

5/16 6:00 PM Eric Peter- Powers Pub

5/16 6:00 PM Mark and Jill Sing The Blues- Lionheart on The Green

5/16 6:00 PM Nick Horace- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park

5/16 6:00 PM Plus One Duo- Indian Ladder Farms

5/16 6:00 PM Ruby Rose Duo- Sofia’s of Clifton Park

5/16 6:00 PM Shine On- Bound By Fate Brewing

5/16 6:00 PM Tops Of Trees- Eleven at Lark Hall

5/16 6:30 PM Kyle Hommel- Other One Brewery

5/16 6:30 PM The Earlybirds- Peddlers Bar & Bistro

5/16 7:00 PM Chuck Ayers- Druthers Clifton Park

5/16 7:00 PM Dan Bernstein- Emack & Bolios

5/16 8:00 PM Neon Avenue- Rustic Barn Pub

5/16 8:00 PM Nymbis- Nanola

5/16 8:00 PM Rabbit Run- Lark Hall

5/16 9:00 PM Refrigerators & DJ Reel- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino

Saturday, May 17th

Barbara’s School of the Dance 50th Anniversary Recital, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

This year’s 50th Anniversary Recital titled, Steal the Show at Proctors on Saturday, May 17th!

There will be two shows again:

Recital 1 is 12-2pm

Recital 2 is 4-830pm

Chopping Wood by Seeger & Bernz, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

“‘Chopping Wood’ is Pete Seeger up close and personal like never before. Derived from years of conversations between Seeger and his close friend and collaborator David Bernz, it takes readers on a uniquely personal journey through this legendary folksinger and songwriter remarkable life and career, in his own words.” AMAZON

Sara Evans, Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga Springs

Multi-platinum entertainer Sara Evans is at the top of her game. As the fifth most-played female artist at country radio in nearly the last two decades — her five No. 1 singles include “No Place That Far,” “Suds In The Bucket, “A Real Fine Place To Start,” “Born to Fly” and “A Little Bit Stronger”. Several of those #1’s spent 2 weeks in the top spot and were certified platinum by the R.I.A.A. Overall, she’s had 15 songs chart in the top 20.

David Halprin, Empire Underground, Albany, 7pm

Matt Mirabile Band, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 8pm-11pm

Blues & R&B

Lark Hall presents Carsie Blanton, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm

Carsie Blanton is a songwriter with hooks,chutzpah, and revolutionary optimism. “It is possible to face the world as it is – rapidly heating, ruled by grifters, ravaged by profitable wars – and still have hope,” she says of her newest release, After the Revolution. “Not the narrow, grasping hope you might hang on an election or a billionaire, but a patient, zoomed-out hope.”

Of After the Revolution, NPR’s Fresh Air says “”Protest music tends to be strident or self-righteous or just bluntly angry. But Blanton, a folk singer with a rock attitude, knows how to construct songs with real melodies and storylines that don’t obscure her messages.”

Dead Man’s Waltz, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 7:30pm

Interweaving the classic songs and jams of The Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers Band and The Band, Dead Man’s Waltz is an all-star collective from the Northeast festival scene. Dead Man’s Waltz features top-notch musicianship and offers a refreshing twist to the music of three legendary and iconic bands. While staying true to the spirit of the music, the band members put their own dynamic spin on a vast catalog of beloved songs that are now part of the new American song book.

Ladies Night ft: King Bully & Sly Fox, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 11:30pm-3am

Come get down on the biggest dance floor in Saratoga for our weekly “Ladies Night” 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.

Bettye LaVette, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-10pm

Experience the unparalleled talent of Bettye LaVette, one of the greatest voices in American soul and blues, live at Caffè Lena. With a career spanning over 60 years, LaVette is a 7-time Grammy nominee, Blues Hall of Fame inductee, and R&B Pioneer Award winner, renowned for her ability to transform songs into deeply personal and moving performances.

From her breakout single “My Man – He’s a Lovin’ Man” at just 16 years old, to her acclaimed Broadway run in “Bubbling Brown Sugar”, to her powerful reinterpretations of classic songs, Bettye has consistently pushed boundaries, making every song uniquely her own.

Experimental Music Night w/ Eve Essex / Armbruster / Kevin Kenkel & more, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

5/17 1:00 PM Richard Clements Band- Brookside Nurseries

5/17 2:00 PM Jeff Stein- Niskayuna Block Party

5/17 4:00 PM Red Haired Strangers- Helderberg Mountain Brewing

5/17 4:20 PM Jack Kelle- Northern Lights Dispensery

5/17 5:00 PM POGO- Frog Alley Brewing

5/17 5:30 PM Insolent Willies- Dancing Grain Farm Brewery

5/17 6:00 PM DJ Romantic’s- The Scarlet Knife

5/17 6:00 PM Part Time- Sofia’s of Clifton Park

5/17 6:00 PM Scott Chamberlain- Powers Pub

5/17 6:00 PM The Next Chapter- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park

5/17 6:00 PM Tyler Giroux- 677 Prime

5/17 6:00 PM Warden & Company- Carsons Woodside Tavern

5/17 6:30 PM Don Ferlazzo- Other One Brewery

5/17 7:00 PM Alan Goldberg- Emack & Bolios

5/17 7:30 PM DeJa Vu Tribute- Cohoes Music Hall

5/17 8:00 PM Carsie Blanton- Lark Hall

5/17 8:00 PM Donna Tritico Band- September’s Too

5/17 8:00 PM Lucid Street & DJ Tomb- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino

5/17 8:00 PM Matt Mirabile Band- Rustic Barn Pub

5/17 8:30 PM Dr. Jah & The Love Prophets- Centre St Pub

5/17 8:30 PM Skeeter Creek- Frog Alley Brewing

Sunday, May 18th

NY Folklore presents Techung and Ensemble: The Music and Culture of Tibet, The Linda, Albany, 3pm-4:30pm

New York Folklore presents a free, multi-part showcase of New York’s diverse folk music traditions.

Techung and Ensemble – Music and Culture of Tibet

Techung is an accomplished Tibetan folk and freedom singer/songwriter, and a masterful multi-instrumentalist who hails from the vibrant town of Dharamshala, India and presently resides in New York. He is a past recipient of the New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Folk and Traditional Arts.

Techung creates music that navigates and weaves both the secular and sacred aspects of Tibetan culture, while capturing the soundscapes of Tibet and the profound longings of Tibetans who have endured decades of exile living in India. Techung has more than twelve recorded albums of Tibetan folk and contemporary music to his name. He shared the stage with numerous popular artists, including the likes of Patti Smith, Philip Glass, U2 and the Beastie Boys. At the 2018 Tibet House benefit concert held at Carnegie Hall, Techung collaborated with composer Philip Glass, who commended him as “a man of such talent representing the culture of this exiled and oppressed community.” Techung’s traditional and modern performances not only aim to preserve the music of his ancestors but also strive to disseminate the rich Tibetan cultural heritage with global communities around the world.

Matt Rife, SPAC, Saratoga Springs, 8pm

The Dance Studio, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

Join the students of The Dance Studio as they bring to life tap, jazz, ballet and point routine to songs from musical icons across generations!

Bluegrass Jam featuring Alan Epstein and Bruce Thompson, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 5:30pm-8:30pm

Bluegrass Jams are for making new friends, sharing songs, playing and listening to blue grass and new-grass. All skin levels are welcome.

 

 

Latin Night w/ BoyBoy, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 7pm-1am

Join us for Latin Night every Sunday at Putnam Place and get down to the hottest Latin beats by BoyBoy!

Want to learn Latin dancing?  Our friends from Tango Fusion Dance Company will be here from 7pm – 8pm (every Sunday) offering free dance lessons.  No partner or experience necessary!

Food will be available for purchase, or perhaps you would rather enjoy a hookah, provided by our friends at Hookah Mami’s.

Sing in the Streets, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 12pm-4pm

American Roots Blues Family Folk Jazz Multi-act Program Singer Songwriter Soul

Join us for Sing in the Streets, Caffè Lena’s beloved outdoor music festival celebrating 65 years of live music, community, and connection!

This free, family-friendly event fills the streets of downtown Saratoga Springs with 15 acts across 7 stages, featuring folk, blues, jazz, Americana, soul, and kids’ music. It’s a joyful afternoon of discovery, with performances tucked into alleyways, storefronts, patios, and parks surrounding Caffè Lena’s historic home on Phila Street.

Dikembe / Teenage Halloween / Glazed / ETLY / Scotchka, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

5/18 1:00 PM Matty Finn- Other One Brewery

5/18 11:00 AM Kristian Montgomery / Doc Horton & Jay St. BandRiver Street FestChris Busone Band / Peak Music Allstars- River Street Fest

5/18 3:00 PM CRBN Fundtaiser- Hanger on The hudson

5/18 3:00 PM Cryin Out Loud- Wicked Eatery

5/18 3:00 PM Jeff Brisbin- Druthers Clifton Park

5/18 3:00 PM Mark And Jill Sing The Blues- Hanger on The hudson

5/18 3:00 PM Russ Kennedy- Basin Grill

5/18 3:00 PM Zac Nightingale- Klam’r Tavern & Marina

5/18 5:00 PM Dan Sherwin- Yanni’s Too

5/18 5:30 PM Bluegrass Jam With Alan Epstein- Rustic Barn Pub

One-Hundred Years of Steepletop: a Millay Centennial

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Neoptolemus
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by Neoptolemus

She rocked the poetry establishment at the tender age of nineteen with “Renascence” (the British spelling), a neo-epic poem about nature, death, and rebirth that still resonates today. 

She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1923 ($1000) for a collection of her works: “The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver: A Few Figs From Thistles: Eight Sonnets in American Poetry. 1922.  A Miscellany.”

Her poetry was popular and sold well, and her speaking tours were well-attended, earning her $300,000 (approximately $5 million in current dollars) in her best years. In 1925, she purchased a home in Austerlitz, NY, amid the scenic, rolling hills of Columbia County.  She dubbed it “Steepletop,” after the abundant pink steeplebush flowers that adorned the surrounding fields. This was the poet’s sanctum sanctorum, a cozy place of solitude where she could contemplate and write. It was also a place with a swimming pool (no swimming suits allowed!) and bar where celebrities of all types came to visit and play. Made a National Historic Landmark in 1972, Steepletop preserves some of Vincent’s personal artifacts, including the gem that was her private library.

She died here in 1950 and is buried in a modest grave on the property.

Edna St. Vincent Millay

In recent times, the surrounding woods and meadows of Steepletop have faced an uncertain future and have been closed to the public since 2018.  Fortunately, in January of this year, the Millay Society was able to partner with a coalition of Scenic Hudson, the Land Trust Alliance, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to preserve Steepletop’s integrity in the form of a Conservation Easement. 

This year is the centennial anniversary of Steepletop (and the 75th anniversary of Vincent’s death), and the Millay Society wants to celebrate it with all the neighbors.  Information about Steepletop’s centennial events is available on the web at https://millay.org/centennial-celebration/#presentations . 

Xperience Monthly chatted with Krystyna Poray Goddu, the Literary Officer of the Millay Society, about the Steepletop Centennial:

RRX: Welcome, Krystyna!  As Literary Officer, are you taking the lead in planning the Centennial, or is it a group venture of all the Millay Society officers?

KPG: It’s definitely a group venture. The Millay Society board consists of five volunteer Trustees, so the extensive work on the Centennial Celebrations is being shared by all, plus a few additional local volunteers we are grateful to have working with us.

RRX: Can you describe, briefly, the events that are scheduled for the Centennial celebration?

KPG: We are opening the grounds to visitors on the second weekend of each month, beginning in June and continuing through October. We have many events planned, including musical performances and a poet composing poems on a typewriter in Milay’s writing cabin almost every weekend, and a plein air painting workshop on the final weekend. On our first open day, June 14, we are featuring The Edna Project — the husband/wife team of Seth Farber and Liz Queler — who will present Millay’s poems set to music. We will also be holding an awards ceremony for winners of our first Regional Student Poetry Competition. Grounds and Picnic passes will be available for $10 per person per day, and we’re taking reservations for sixty-minute docent-led tours of the Millay House, which are $25 per person and include access to the grounds for the day, as well. House tours sell out quickly, so if you’re interested, be sure to reserve a spot well in advance. Besides the events at Steepletop, I’ll be presenting a program on “Edna St. Vincent Millay and Steepletop: 100 Years Later” at the Mason Public Library in Great Barrington, Massachusetts on August 8 at 4 P.M. The presentation is free, but we’re requesting that people reserve their seats in advance. We’re also inviting volunteers to help prepare the grounds for the summer and autumn weekends. If you want to get your hands dirty, this is a good way to experience the nature of Steepletop up close. Volunteers can sign up on our website https://millay.org/centennial-celebration/#opendays  .

RRX:  It is said that Vincent led a rather salacious life. What materials are available to the public to learn about her?

KPG: There is a comprehensive biography by Nancy Milford, entitled Savage Beauty, and a shorter, but more accurately researched book by Daniel Mark Epstein, What Lips My Lips Have Kissed: The Loves and Love Poems of Edna St. Vincent Millay. Yale University also recently published two works of private Millay writings: Rapture and Melancholy: The Diaries of Edna St. Vincent Millay edited by Epstein in 2022, and Into the World’s Great Heart: Selected Letters of Edna St. Vincent Millay, edited by Timothy F. Jackson in 2023. If you’d like to actually hear Vincent read some of her poetry, digital files made from a 1941 recording are available on The Millay Society website.

RRX: How did you become Literary Officer of the Millay Society? What attracted you to this position? Did you have a preceding appreciation of her poetry

KPG: When I was about 12 years old, I somehow stumbled on the poem that first made Millay famous, “Renascence.” I was fascinated and moved by it, and inspired to seek out more of her work. Her poems have accompanied me throughout my life ever since; I found that whatever I encountered in my life—falling in love, falling out of love, being wounded in love, exalting in the brilliance of fall foliage or the crashing of ocean waves or the softer beauties of spring—Millay had put the perfect words to the experience. I was equally fascinated by her life and was always trying to learn more about her. I became a writer and harbored, for a long time, a dream of writing about Millay. I especially wanted to write about her for readers who were my age when I first discovered her poetry. That dream came true when I received a contract to write her biography for young readers.

Researching and writing that book, A Girl Called Vincent: The Life of Poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, led me to Millay’s Literary Executor, Holly Peppe, who granted me permission to use material from Millay’s letters and diaries, and vetted the final manuscript for accuracy. When it was published in April 2016, I was invited to join Holly for a book signing at a fundraising event for Steepletop. (A volume of Millay’s selected poems for which she had written the introduction was also published that month by Yale University Press.) A few months later, I was invited to join the Millay Society of Trustees, on which I’ve served ever since. Since 2022, I have served as secretary and literary officer.

RRX: You mentioned a Regional Student Poetry Competition. Tell us more about that.

KPG: As part of our mission to promote and preserve Millay’s literary legacy, we decided to hold a poetry competition for young writers. We were inspired by Millay’s efforts as a teenager to continually enter her work in poetry competitions, hoping to get published, of course, but especially hoping to win the cash prizes that were often offered. Our Regional Student Poetry Competition was open this year to students aged 13 to 18 residing in Columbia and Berkshire Counties, who were invited to submit a poem of at least eight lines. Our three judges — who are professional, published poets — will select first-place, second-place, and third-place winners in three age groups. They will receive prizes of $500, $250, and $100, respectively. The nine winners will also have the opportunity to present their poems at the awards ceremony, and to tour the Steepletop grounds and Millay House that day. This is the inaugural event, but we are hoping to make this an annual competition and to widen the reach beyond the two counties. We believe this competition is a fitting way to honor Millay’s commitment to poetry from a young age.

RRX:  How is Steepletop/The Millay Society funded?

KPG: We rely heavily on private donations. In 2024, we established the Centennial Buildings Project to fund much-needed extensive repairs to the three primary buildings on the property: The Millay House, Ellis Studio Carriage House, and Tamarack Cottage, which is our Visitors Center. Work on the Ellis Studio Carriage House has been completed, but fundraising for work on the Millay House and Tamarack Cottage is ongoing. Donations of any size are welcome and greatly appreciated, and can be directed to https://millay.org/centennial-buildings-project/#helpnow . And we continue searching for sponsors for the Centennial Celebrations as well as partnerships for a more substantial, long-term way to support Steepletop. Anyone interested in becoming involved as a sponsor can find more information at https://millay.org/centennial-celebration/ .

No MSG TV: Tony Berkley – Lobby Sessions

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Staff
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Tony Berkley of Berkstar pops by the RadioRadioX/Xperience Studios to play some tunes and chat with Rob Smittix!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel HERE!

Week Nineteen: Jesse Sample’s Freak of the Week “Letting Go”

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Staff
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Jesse Sample’s Freak of the Week airs EVERY WEDNESDAY at 6pm EASTERN Only on RadioRadioX.com 

This is Jesse Sample. Grudges are heavy. We carry them around and hold onto them and build our world around them.  We had an expectation, and we didn’t get what we wanted, and we’re pissed. And when we maintain a grudge, we don’t let  it go. It simmers on the back burner of our mind, and it sucks up energy.

When we forgive someone else, we forgive ourselves. When we set down our resentments and expectations, we are free to move about our lives without carrying around a useless weight. And when someone harbors hate for us, they are hurting themselves. It’s not personal. They’ve got a grudge and it’s a grudge they have with themselves. Don’t drink their poison and be sure to flush yours down the pisciatoio .

This week’s song is part 3 of a three song Series that was part of my Capstone project for my Songwriting degree from Berklee. Thanks to all of you tuned into RadioRadioX. This is the Freak of the Week, “Letting Go.”

RECAP: LaMP / The E-Block @ Putnam Place, 5/8/2025

By
Penny Piper
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A Soul-Melting, Nerd-Dream, Face-Blasting Night of Pure Magic

Words and Photography by Penny Piper.

Team! Let me tell you about the LaMP show at Putnam Place in Saratoga Springs on May 8th, 2025—this night was straight-up next level. One of those shows that leaves you buzzing for days. I’m still trying to process what even happened.

LaMP. Photo by Penny Piper

LaMP is Scott Metzger on guitar, Russ Lawton on drums, and Ray Paczkowski on keys—three absolute monsters of musicianship. Metzger? Dude’s not just a guitar player. He is the guitar. His tone, feel, and phrasing are otherworldly. Like he’s channeling something bigger than all of us. You might know him from Joe Russo’s Almost Dead or WOLF!, and he’s played with heavy hitters like Phil Lesh, John Scofield, and Nels Cline. But with LaMP, he gets raw. It’s soul-level playing.

And Russ and Ray? Legends, my friends. These guys were there from the beginning of the Trey Anastasio Band, and I’ve been going to TAB shows since 1999. That’s when they introduced “Sand” and “First Tube”—two songs that hit me hard back then and will forever be my “favorite song” answers. I got to talk to Russ before the show about those tunes, and he told me he, Trey, and Tony Markellis (RIP) wrote them early on. Hearing that straight from him was one of the coolest moments of my life.

And yep—I brought my “Burlap Sack and Pumps” poster from the 2001 Jones Beach show (yes, I’m that nerd) and had Russ and Ray sign it, 24 years later. Full circle moment. Nerd joy achieved.

Now let me tell you—LaMP destroyed Putnam Place. Like full-on scorched earth. Ray was up there using his whole body to play. Watching him do his thing is like the musical version of ASMR—so satisfying. And Russ? Man was playing like he was still 18, flying around the kit but still so precise. He even stopped mid-show to turn down his snare (pro move), and then hit us with a flurry of rhythm that felt like a tornado-cyclone-tsunami combo. It was insane. The way they communicate without words? Just eye contact, feel, instinct. That kind of musical telepathy is rare. You could feel it in the room.

Luke Pascarella of the E-Block. Photo by Penny Piper

Before LaMP, the E-Block kicked things off—and holy hell, this band is unreal. They’ve become my favorite new group, hands down. You’ve got Luke Pascarella on guitar and vocals, Daniel Folds on bass, Devin Tetlak on keys, and Aaron Shields on drums. Every one of them is top-tier. Their songwriting and delivery are on point.

When I first heard tracks like “Stars” and “Number One,” I couldn’t stop playing them. Then they dropped “Sleepwalking” back in January, and I loved it so much I wrote a whole press release about it. And now their newest track, “Pocket”? They played it live and yup—instantly obsessed. So good. They’re up there having a blast, too. Dan had this huge, contagious smile the whole set. And Luke hit us with a lyric that had the entire crowd reacting—“If you’re worried I’m not home alone, it’s not your business, ugh ‘cause I got bitches”—and the place went WHOOOOAAA. Iconic moment.

Big love to Hartstone Productions and Putnam Place (aka the Den for the back-in-the-day-ones) for continuing to give us these soul-reviving, heart-pumping nights. This was one for the books!

 

LaMP

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The E-Block

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