93.9 WABY kicked off a busy weekend at the Hangar on the Hudson with a triple-bill free show featuring Joe Mansman and the Midnight Revival Band, the Hard Luck Souls, and the Dionysus Effect.
Photography by Timothy Reidy.
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Dave Michaels – An Xperience Interview
Dave Michaels – An Xperience Interview – by Rob Smittix.
RRX: Happy to talk to you. You’re one of the first guys I ever worked with in radio, going way back to what we call the “4 Central Ave” days. A lot of it is a blur to me, but I do remember I was an engineer at that time, and I was always assisting DJs on remotes when we went out to places and broadcast live. One in particular, I don’t remember exactly where it was, but I do know it was in Schenectady, and we had the big Marti antenna system that you pointed at the Helderberg Mountains to get it to broadcast and … I remember, we were inside the place and somebody ran over the wire and brought the whole Marti antenna down. I thought I was gonna get fired that day!
DM: When I was an intern at a radio station in Glens Falls, I accidentally ran over a microphone with the station vehicle, put a windscreen on it, went into the GM’s office, and handed him the microphone. He lifted the windscreen off of it and looked at this flat pancake of a microphone, then put the windscreen back on. He goes, “Don’t worry about it.” I thought I was gonna get fired and released from my internship. He just said, “Don’t worry about it”. He knew I was frazzled going here to there, everywhere, running this remote vehicle places, and boy was I scared giving him this microphone.
RRX: I guess that was the best case scenario right there.
DM: Yeah, it was. I could have been out of radio right then, before I even started. I could have ended the whole thing right there.
RRX: So I mentioned the 4 Central Avenue days, and there was a cluster of radio stations there. You were with Classic Rock 102.3. Like I said, you were one of the first people that I worked with, but I don’t know how you got to that point. You mentioned Glens Falls, what was your experience before I started with you?
DM: I started my career in Glens Falls. I worked at I107, which quickly changed to Magic 107, and then I went across town to KD100. From there, I went to the Edge. I was the imaging and production director there, and then they started up Classic Rock 102.3. They bought ZRock out of Schenectady, brought the studios into 4 Central Avenue, and made me the morning guy there. I was still the imaging and production director there. And then Mason and Sheehan got let out of their contract from PYX 106, and they came over and started doing the morning show, so I got moved to afternoons.
RRX: That makes sense.
DM: Then I moved to Albany Broadcasting, and then here to WEXT and WMHT. I just celebrated my 20th anniversary at WMHT; started there in December of 2004.
RRX: Oh wow, I was gonna ask … time flies when you’re having fun.
DM: You were mentioning the blurred memory of that ‘90s event there. I can hardly remember the ‘90s. It was a fun time but it really was a blur that was a long time ago.
RRX: I’ve always thanked my lucky stars that I have been blessed to be able to work in radio, and I’m sure you do too. I mean … maybe we’re not making the boatload of cash that we could be making, but we have a job that we go to and we enjoy every day.
DM: I still say that to myself to this day. It’s not an easy gig, but it’s not a hard gig. It’s not a manual labor, putting in 60 hours a week kind of gig. It’s very satisfying. I fell into it, and I’ve been lucky enough to be doing it now for 35 years. I got my start in college radio in 1990, professionally in 1993, and here we are in 2025. It’s a long, crazy road, but yeah, I thank my lucky stars every single day to be in this business. It’s fleeting, and it’s easy to be gone in this business. It can be discouraging, and it’s easy to be let go, you’re replaceable. I work at a great company now; that’s just fantastic. They treat their people great, I love it!
RRX: Congrats, celebrating 20 years over there is amazing.
DM: Thank you.
RRX: I’ve visited WEXT several years back to do a “My Exit” show and oh man … your studios are amazing, I did some TV work over there too, and I was very impressed by those studios as well.
DM: Yeah, they’re mammoth studios.
RRX: I’ve been to just about every radio and TV station in town, and I was very impressed by what you’ve got going on over there.
DM: Very cool. Yeah, not bad for a public radio station.
RRX: Yeah, I’d say so, man! Anything you’d like to say to our audience while I still got you on the line?
DM: Well, I hope people tune in … I’m on the air 5 am until 10 am Monday through Friday on EXIT 97.7FM and 106.1FM WEXT. I have a few features in the morning. I play Stax at Sunrise at 6:30 am, which is Stax Records artists. I also do Breakfast with The Beatles at 7:20 am, which is three from the Fab Four. I do Dawn of the Dead at 8:30 am, which is just playing a Grateful Dead tune out of their archives, and at 9:30 am, I do a thing called Dave’s Daily Double, and I play a double shot from a band or artist. But yeah, we play a great mix of music from around the world and all around the 518. We play local 518 bands every hour. We really are very supportive of our local music community. As you well know, there are a lot of great artists right here in town, every town around here. The Capital Region has some amazing talent, and they’re a part of our programming. They have been since day one. In fact, we went on the air with “Ash Wednesday,” a song from the Kamikaze Hearts, at noon on that Saturday, July 7th of 2007. So we kicked it off with the local 518. That’s what we’re all about. We love exposing people to brand-new artists, and we get jazzed about new music. When we discover something, we want to share it with folks, and we do that on a daily basis.
We’re always just trying to turn people on to the radio station and get them excited about what we’re doing. It’s a 100% listener funded radio station and it’s not government funded. We’re non-commercial. So there’s a variety of aspects that I think people would love to tune into and hear.
RRX: And if you’re reading this, of course you can’t hear it, but Dave’s got one of the best radio voices in the business.
Society High – Interview – Thanks for Asking!
Society High – 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?
PT: We were all in other bands before getting Society High together , and I wrote and recorded a lot of stuff in the past, I did a lot of cool stuff with my old bands and the memories and nostalgia of those days still mean a lot to me, but the difference is, when we got Society High together in 2003 it was finally the sound I was always going for. If you listen to my old bands recordings you can tell the direction I wanted to go but it wasn’t quite there, whereas the songs we wrote and recorded with SH everything came together very fast, and everything clicked pretty much right we hit the ground running in 2003 with non-stop shows, practice and writing/recording. The songs I wrote in the first 10 years of SH was probably my best stuff and we still play most of it today.
RRX: Like songs, every artist has a unique felling about their first show. What was your first show like? was it your best show? If not, what was your best show like?
PT: The first show I ever played was Feb 99 at Mother Earths Cafe in Albany with my first band in High School No Tomorrow. As for unique feelings there sure was ! a mix of excitement and nerves, but a few songs into the set the nerves wore off fast and I knew this was something I probably need to do forever. In my band at the time was another founding member of Society high WU , AND also playing that night but in a different band at the time (the Sofa Kings), future Society High Drummer and Bass player (Rocky and Juicehed) SO … All of us playing our first show together MUST mean something , even if we were in different bands at the time haha ! That feeling of playing that first show always stuck with me, even to this day, the night before a show I’m STILL just all stoked about having a gig haha
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.
PT: Ahhh hundreds of shows so many places stand out ! So before we could land gigs at actual bars and venues, we would put shows together at this Rotterdam Knights of Columbus and even though they were “basement” DIY shows, they were legendary fun times that we still talk about, even if no one really knew about it outside of Schenectady haha, so many other cool shows over the years, the Pussycat Lounge in NYC was so cool and one of if not THE best shows we ever played, an honorable and certainly well-known mention we did get to play CBGB before they closed all I can say about that is, I had the same feeling being on that stage as religious people say when they visit their holy land and of course Valentines , the best memories of this band really were at 17 New Scotland Ave , that was our home
RRX: Our Style comes from the extension of our influences. It’s like an evolution. We’re influenced, and it inspires us to influence. What can you say about your influences, and what you feel you’ve done with their influence as a musician or band? have you extended their work?
PT: we certainly all have different tastes in music in this band, my earliest musical influences start with my parents having a pretty great record collection, Alice Cooper, Jimi Hendrix, Zep, Beatles, The Animals etc, that’s what I listened to mostly as a kid. then in my early teens bands like Green Day were exploding, then that led me to discover Rancid, Nofx, Bouncing Souls in my later teens and The Ramones of course, the list is endless really haha. I feel the 90s skate punk stuff comes through in my songs more than anything else , I would like to think yes we have extended the works of those bands that is a nice concept for sure , everyone’s style and influences come through in their playing, my guys are all metal heads playing punk so there is definitely a “society high” sound and I don’t think we sound too much like any one band
RRX: With the exception of singing, everyone has an instrument, an inanimate object that has the distinction of being a lifelong friend. Smooth or temperamental, these objects have a character. So pick someone to answer, you can tell us something special about what you play, your technique, your instrument?
PT: I think everyone that has played in this band has their own style and technique and a very close connection to their instruments. We have had a few different line ups thought the years and I think all members past, and present added their own personality and flavor to the songs, Johnny M, Nicky No Shoes, WU, Justin Sizlack and Rocky and Juicehed. Personally, I know I am lost without my guitar, I have been playing my entire life starting with a few chords my grandfather taught me . I know It really might sound crazy to some people but yes for sure, the guitar is a lifelong friend
RRX: we let it out differently when we play music. The happy, sad, good, and bad; it can all be put out musically. Overall, do you feel better when you sing about the better times, or the worser times? Is there a difference you can describe?
PT: Playing music, especially in a band, is the greatest outlet I can think of. I have songs of both the happiest and worst of times. I don’t know if there’s a huge difference in how I feel when playing one or the other, happy, sad, good or bad. I have always been able to let it all out in my music. I do know that no matter the subject of the songs, nothing has ever balanced me out more than music and I’m just happy at 44 to be lucky enough to still be playing our original Punk Rock N Roll nonstop for over 20 years and all our friends and family still come out to party with us after all these years
Whassup in the 518 – Friday 5/9 – Sunday 5/11
Whassup in the 518
Friday, May 9th
Sound+Vision: Viva Las Vegas, The Linda, Albany, 7pm-10pm
Sound + Vision: Music at The Movies presents the greatest in soundtrack-cinema. On the first Tuesday of every month, we curate a film screening where the music fuels the engine of the cinema experience, with a preshow moderated discussion on the film and music’s history and cultural impact.
Presented in Hi-def and 51. surround sound. Co-sponsored by WAMC, WEXT, and Rochmon Record Club.
Viva Las Vegas is a 1964 American rock and roll musical film directed by George Sidney, written by Sally Benson, choreographed by David Winters, and starring Elvis Presley, Ann-Margret, Cesare Danova, William Demarest and Nicky Blair. Set in Las Vegas, Nevada, the film is about two competing race car drivers who also compete for the same girl.
Valerie June: Owls, Omens, and Oracles Tour, The Egg, Albany, 8pm
Known for her distinctive voice and singing style, “[Valerie June’s] every quiver bespeaks emotional honesty” (New Yorker). She combines psychedelic folk, indie rock, country soul, symphonic pop, and blues with her southern roots and northern cosmopolitan charm to create her own sonic universe. Heavily influenced by one-of-a-kind vocalists like Billie Holiday, Karen Dalton, Macy Gray, and Tom Waits, June’s singular voice finds its home amongst these oddly rare vocal entities.
As a Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist and Bob Dylan praised singer-songwriter, Valerie June has collaborated and shared the stage with myriad artists including John Prine, Norah Jones, Tyler Childers, Dinosaur Jr., Booker T. Jones, M. Ward, Robert Plant, Meshell Ndegeocello, Avett Brothers, Dave Matthews, Mavis Staples, Fred again.., Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, and Carla Thomas.
Fiddle Night: Black Mountain Symphony, Rusticator and Lucid Street, Ophelia’s, Albany 7pm
The night includes 3 bands fronted by a violin/fiddle (different genres).
Dancing Through Time! The Palace Theatre, Albany, 10am
Free Schooltime Performance
Few things bring people together like dance, and nothing spreads faster than the moves we see online! Dancing Through Time: TikTok & Reels Edition takes audiences on an exciting journey through the most iconic dance trends past and present. This high-energy, interactive performance explores the evolution of movement, from classic social dances to the viral sensations that have taken over the digital world. Along the way, students will discover the cultural roots of these dances, the influence of social media, and how movement continues to shape history and connection across generations.
Anthony Robustiano, Proctor’s Theatre, Schenectady
Anthony Robustiano comes back to his HOMETOWN with his infectious energy, relatability and vibrant story telling!! Amassing 2.5 Million followers across all platforms! Get your tickets today!!
Pain Of Truth & Sunami: Coast 2 Coast Tour, Empire Live, Albany, 7pm
The B-Street Band: A Tribute to The Boss, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 7:30pm-9:30pm
From the heart of the Jersey Shore, “Backstreets” was the first band in the world to do a unique tribute to a live performer. There are now an estimated 14,000 tribute bands following their lead and performing all over the world. Nearly 5,500 performances and 34 years later, the B-Street Band is still the hardest working tribute band on the circuit, with almost 200 shows per year throughout the country.
Notable performances include opening for Bruce outside at the Philadelphia Spectrum for the final 4 shows of the historic arena. Additionally, The B-Street Band performed before Bruce shows at Wachovia, MetLife Stadium, Prudential Center, and the newly constructed Comcast Xfinity Center at Citizens Bank Park.
Chris Sanders, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 7pm-10pm
Chris Sanders is a talented singer-songwriter known for his dynamic acoustic performances.
The Alec Lewis Group at The Eleven at Lark Hall (FREE SHOW) Albany, 6pm-8pm
The Alec Lewis Group is back at The Eleven and getting us ready for Tulip Fest Weekend!! FREE Show// 6-8pm.
The Alec Lewis Group is formed and fronted by local sound engineer, producer and musician, Alec Lewis and features his own original songs and compositions. Hailing from Albany, NY, The ALG sports a fresh mix of contemporary funk influences from Cory Wong to Kruangbin, fused with guitar-driven classic rock and blues elements drawn from the likes of Dire Straits and David Gilmour, all topped with a modern pop sensibility and vocal stylings that firmly root the group and its sonic blueprint in our modern musical DNA.
Jimkata & Space Bacon, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm
Not Chinese Takeout, Habeas Porpoise, Fallen Youth, Forever, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 7pm-12:30am
Not Chinese Takeout, Habeas Porpoise, Fallen Youth, and Forever team up for a concert at Putnam Place!
Not Chinese Takeout is a Blendcore band from upstate New York. While taking love and influence from a plethora of different sub genres of alternative music in particular pop-punk, midwest emo, and shoegaze, NCT has arrived and has plenty of material on the way. Delivered straight to your ears!
The Wildwoods, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-9:30pm
Lose yourself in the rich, inspired harmonies and lush sounds of The Wildwoods—where the heart of folk meets the soul of Americana.
Step into the heart of American roots music with The Wildwoods, a dynamic folk/Americana trio hailing from Lincoln, Nebraska. Comprised of husband-and-wife duo Noah and Chloe Gose and their long-time friend Andrew Vaggalis, The Wildwoods craft an intricate sound that blends heartfelt harmonies with lush violin, warm guitar tones, and a steady bass foundation.
Vs Self / Punxsutawney / Senior Living, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm
From “Bar People.”
5/9 5:00 PM Russ Kennedy- Wheatfields Clifton Park
5/9 5:00 PM Too Nuts Trio- Frog Alley Brewing
5/9 5:30 PM Gianna Robustiano & Tony Garza- Bootleggers
5/9 5:30 PM Rob Aronstein- Wishing Well
5/9 6:00 PM Alec Lewis Group- Eleven at Lark Hall
5/9 6:00 PM Bennett Brothers- Bound By Fate Brewing
5/9 6:00 PM Bob Fox- Thirsty Owl
5/9 6:00 PM Christine Spero- Panza’s
5/9 6:00 PM Dan Mellon- Spa City Tap & Barrel
5/9 6:00 PM Dan Sherwin- Colonie Golf & Country Club
5/9 6:00 PM Harmonic Duo- Saratoga Winery
5/9 6:00 PM Jim McArdle- Powers Pub
5/9 6:00 PM Joanna Feuer- The Scarlet Knife
5/9 6:00 PM Mike O’Donnell- Cock & Bull
5/9 6:00 PM On Tap Duo- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park
5/9 6:00 PM Pat Decker- Prime at Saratoga National
5/9 6:00 PM Seth Warden- Inn at Saratoga
5/9 6:00 PM The Schmooze- Carsons Woodside Tavern
5/9 6:00 PM Tumbling Gap- Indian Ladder Farms
5/9 6:30 PM Chris Dollard- Diamond Club at Embassy Suites
5/9 6:30 PM Rich Clements Band- Artisanal Brew Works
5/9 6:30 PM Stretch Duo- Other One Brewery
5/9 6:30 PM Travis Rockenstire- Peddlers Bar & Bistro
5/9 7:00 PM Chris Sanders- Rustic Barn Pub
5/9 7:00 PM Dead Residents with Eric Kufs- Quarters
5/9 7:00 PM Dirt Cheap Trio- Holy Moses Tavern
5/9 7:00 PM Jason Irwin- Seven Bistro
5/9 7:00 PM Jeff Walton- Principessa Elena
5/9 7:00 PM Joe’s Boys- Bunker Clifton Park
5/9 7:00 PM John Eisenhart- Hometown Pub & Grub
5/9 7:00 PM Legacy- Beach Bar At Dock Browns Tavern
5/9 7:00 PM Little Jack- O’Slattery’s
5/9 7:00 PM Not Chinese Take Out / Habeas Porpoise / Fallen Youth / Forever- Putnam Place
5/9 7:00 PM Seize Atlantis- Unihog
5/9 7:00 PM Tiny Planet- Kraverie
5/9 7:30 PM Popa Chubby- Parting Glass
5/9 8:00 PM DJ Prez- Saratoga City Tavern
5/9 8:00 PM DJ Vision- Misfit
5/9 8:00 PM Jimkata & Space Bacon- Lark Hall
5/9 8:00 PM Joe Are.Sham. Bow- Katie O’Byrnes
5/9 8:00 PM Refrigerators- Vapor
5/9 8:00 PM The Accents & DJ Nick Papa Giorgio- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino
5/9 8:00 PM The Wildwoods- Caffe Lena
5/9 8:00 PM Thom Powers Duo- Cooperstown Distilling Saratoga
5/9 8:00 PM Will Capuano- Bourbon Room
5/9 9:00 PM Mischief- The Ice House
5/9 9:00 PM Steve Lambert Quartet- Nine Maple
5/9 9:30 PM Coverups- Spa City Tap & Barrel
Saturday, May 10th
The Music Experience, The Egg, Albany, 7pm
Presented by Thoughtful Productions Music Festival
A new rock show featuring master storytellers, stunning visuals, and unforgettable live performances
If you’re swept away by the power of rock then you know every song tells a story. The Music Experience brings these stories and the bands that perform them to life with master storytellers, stunning visuals, and unforgettable live musical performances. Join us for this one-of-a-kind night of music and memories at The Egg in Albany.
High School Musical Theatre Awards 2025, Proctor’s Theatre, Schenectady
The HSMTA program culminates on the MainStage at Proctors with an awards ceremony, modeled after the Tony Awards®, to recognize outstanding musical theatre productions and students. Winners are announced for each category interspersed with lively production numbers from the shows nominated for Best Musical and finalists for Best Actor and Best Actress. Additionally, students selected from each participating school perform in the opening and closing numbers for an inclusive and celebratory event, also featuring a full orchestra and music direction and choreography by theatre professionals.
The RESET: An Immersive Sound Healing Experience with Davin Youngs, Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga Springs
You’ve never experienced sound and music quite like this before. At the captivating crossroads of wellness and music lies The RESET—an invitation to journey beyond the traditional concert experience, into a space of profound transformation and healing. Created and performed by renowned singer and sound healing artist, Davin Youngs, this immersive take on a “sound bath” will elevate your mind, body and spirit.
Harmonic Duo, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 7pm-10pm
Experience the mesmerizing harmonies of the Harmonic Duo, with the sound of a full band!
The Wheel Recreate 6/14/76 at The Beacon, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm
bob. An Interpretation of Dylan, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 7:30pm-10:30pm
Al and Vinnie from moe. and a few of their friends, perform their interpretation of Bob Dylan’s catalog. Join them as they pay homage to the unparalleled artistry of Bob Dylan and embark on a journey through his unparalleled musical legacy with bob.virtuosos to celebrate the legacy of one of the greatest songwriters of all time.
Meet the Maestros:
Al Schnier: Renowned for his masterful guitar playing and captivating stage presence, Al Schnier is a founding member of moe., a pioneering force in the jam band scene. With a career spanning over three decades, Schnier’s innovative approach to music has earned him a place among the most respected guitarists in the industry.
House of Hamill, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-10pm
From serendipitous beginnings to becoming a fixture on festival stages across the U.S., House of Hamill is a band that thrives on unexpected magic and undeniable chemistry.
What started as a chance collaboration between Rose Baldino (Burning Bridget Cleary) and Brian Buchanan (Enter the Haggis) has blossomed into a powerhouse trio with Caroline Browning on bass, delivering soaring harmonies, masterful musicianship, and electrifying energy. Their performances seamlessly blend original jigs and reels, reimagined folk ballads, and crowd-favorite covers, all wrapped in an engaging stage presence that makes every show a joyous occasion.
Honky Tonk Record Club w/ The A.M.’s / DJ Tex & Steve Hammond, No Fun, Troy, 2pm-6pm
Bad Heart Burlesque & No Fun Presents: Drag Save the Queen, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm
From “Bar People.”
5/10 10:30am Carmen Lookshire Duo- The Scarlet Knife
5/10 11:00 PM King Bully & Sly Fox- Putnam Place
5/10 12:00 PM LV2 & Almost Home- Hometown Pub & Grub
5/10 4:00 PM Arox- Centre St Pub
5/10 4:00 PM Hammer & Nail- Helderberg Mountain Brewing
5/10 4:20 PM Jack Kelle- Northern Lights Dispensery
5/10 5:00 PM Art n Shawna- Artisanal Brew Works
5/10 5:00 PM Azzaam Hameed & Annette Harris… Fundraiser- Fredrick Allen Lodge
5/10 5:00 PM Phil Drum- Mittlers
5/10 5:00 PM Twilight Drive- Dancing Grain Farm Brewery
5/10 5:30 PM Rob Aronstein- Wishing Well
5/10 6:00 PM Ben Zoleski- Spa City Tap & Barrel
5/10 6:00 PM Dan Sherwin- Ravenswood
5/10 6:00 PM Eric Kufs- Thirsty Owl
5/10 6:00 PM Jacksland- Prime at Saratoga National
5/10 6:00 PM Jacksland- Prime at Saratoga National
5/10 6:00 PM Jay Yager- Henry’s Tavern
5/10 6:00 PM Jeff Brisbin- Dukes Chophouse At Rivers Casino
5/10 6:00 PM Jeff Walton- Powers Pub
5/10 6:00 PM John Stack- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park
5/10 6:00 PM Keri Alonzo- Inn at Saratoga
5/10 6:00 PM Lifeline- The View at Brookhaven Golf Course
5/10 6:00 PM Lifeline- The View at Brookhaven Golf Course
5/10 6:30 PM Colleen Pratt & Peg Delaney- Panza’s
5/10 6:30 PM The Wingers- Other One Brewery
5/10 7:00 PM Acoustic Graffiti- Kraverie
5/10 7:00 PM Bob Fox- Holy Moses Tavern
5/10 7:00 PM Harmonic Duo- Rustic Barn Pub
5/10 7:00 PM Sherri Nolan Duo- Principessa Elena
5/10 7:00 PM The Attics- Quarters
5/10 7:30 PM BoB … A Bob Dylan Retrospective By Al & Vinnie Of Moe- Putnam Place
5/10 7:30 PM Bob Dylan Interpretation By Al & Vinnie From Moe- Putnam Place
5/10 7:30 PM Davin Youngs- Universal Preservation Hall
5/10 8:00 PM Big Radio- Centre St Pub
5/10 8:00 PM Comedy Night- Artisanal Brew Works
5/10 8:00 PM DJ Vision- Misfit
5/10 8:00 PM Downtown Horns & DJ Tek- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino
5/10 8:00 PM Gianna Robustiano & Tony Garza- Bourbon Room
5/10 8:00 PM House Of Hamill- Caffe Lena
5/10 8:00 PM Luke Pavlus- Bourbon Room
5/10 8:00 PM Rustic Spirit- Nanola
5/10 8:00 PM The Schmooze- Wicked Eatery
5/10 9:00 AM Bennett Brothers- Saratoga Farmers Market .. High Rock Park
5/10 9:00 AM Cosby Gibson & Tom Staudle and The Bennett Brothers- Saratoga Farmers Market .. High Rock Park
5/10 9:00 PM Coverups- The Ice House
5/10 9:00 PM Matt Steckler- QuartetNine Maple
5/10 9:00 PM The Blackouts- Saratoga City Tavern
5/10 9:30 PM Dude Abides- Spa City Tap & Barrel
5/10 9:30 PM The Dude Abides- Spa City Tap & Barrel
Sunday, May 11th
Dance Force 2025 Annual Recital, Proctor’s Theatre, Schenectady
Dance Recital packed with exciting routines in a variety of dance styles!
The Ultimate Journey Experience By LEGEND, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 7pm-9:30pm
Rescheduled from March 21 due to illness
New Date: Sunday, May 11 at 7:00PM
Note: TIckets from the original date are still valid. Should you not be able to make the new date, please call the box office at (518) 434-0776 or email info@Playhousestage.org to request an exchange or Refund by April 1.
The Ultimate Journey Experience BY LEGEND brought to you by E1PRESENTS is a musically impressive band with extremely talented seasoned musicians that love Journey. LEGEND delivers an uncompromising energetic show based around five talented musicians including Michael Ledesma, – Lead Vocals. Ed Bornt- Guitars, Backing Vocals. Reg Kafouris- Keyboards, Rhythm Guitars, Lead and Backing Vocals.- George Biancosino- Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals. Richie Stigberg (ASCAP)- Drums, Backing Vocals.
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.
Drank the Gold, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 7pm-9pm
“At times, they dived into the track of the moon in the dark sea water and opened their mouths to swallow the silver. At times, they plunged into the path of the sun in the green-blue ocean and opened their mouths and drank the gold.”
— Pat O’Shea, The Hounds of the Morrigan
Rooted in Irish, old-time, and North Atlantic folk traditions, Drank The Gold brings a vibrant, heartfelt approach to traditional tunes and songs. Featuring Oona Grady (fiddle, viola, vocals) and James Gascoyne (guitar, banjo, vocals), this Upstate New York duo blends rich harmonies, driving rhythms, and fresh interpretations of centuries-old dance tunes.
Mother’s Day Brunch, Lost and Found, Albany
THICK / Slaughterhouse / Sir Echo, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm
From “Bar People.”
5/11 1:00 PM Joe.Are.Sham.Bow- Other One Brewery
5/11 2:00 PM Dan Sherwin- Yanni’s Too
5/11 3:00 PM Jimmi Justin- Basin Grill
5/11 3:00 PM Zac Nightingale- Klam’r Tavern & Marina
5/11 3:30 PM Russ Kennedy- Hank Hudson Brewing
Kilashandra @ Lark Street Tavern, 4/27/2025
Celtic jam outfit Kilashandra were in fine form on a Sunday afternoon at the lovely Lark Street Tavern.
Photography by Timothy Reidy.
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Dave Hause and the Mermaid @ Empire Live, 4/30/2025
Versatile singer-songwriter Dave Hause and his band the Mermaid played a fine set opening up for the Bouncing Souls at Empire Live on April 30.
Photography by Christopher Ebbs.
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XWA Champ Justin Rando Chats with Rob Smittix
Rob Smittix is on a quest to get body slammed by a pro-wrestler, let’s see if we can make it happen. XWA Champ Justin Rando has some insight for our naive host.
The Bouncing Souls @ Empire Live, 4/30/2024
It’s hard to believe, but the Bouncing Souls have been together for 36 years now. The New Jersey punk stalwarts played Empire Live on April 30, as part of their East Coast! F*&k You! tour.
Photography by Christopher Ebbs.
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Week Eighteen: Jesse Sample’s Freak of the Week “Home is where the Heart Breaks”
Jesse Sample’s Freak of the Week airs EVERY WEDNESDAY at 6pm EASTERN only on RadioRadioX.com
This is Jesse Sample. We all grow up and walk through this world as adults. Some of us do well in some arenas and some of us struggle in some arenas. How did that happen?
What are things that shaped us? We’ve all sustained wounds in our youth. And if you’re hearing or reading this you’ve survived, but not unscathed necessarily. Things have all healed up funny. The tissues of our lives are scarred and imperfect.
Do you know someone who can’t help but destroy everything around them? They don’t look like they’re having fun, in fact it’s quite the opposite. It’s killing them but they can’t help themselves. Does anyone observe that in themselves?
Can acknowledging these mainly subconscious forces in our lives crack open the window change? I must believe that is possible for myself.
This week’s song is part 2 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, “Home is where the Heart Breaks.”
RECAP: Best Friends Girl @ Strand Theatre, 5/3/2025
Words and Photography by Stephanie J Bartik (NY Rockstar Photographer).
On a rainy night in Hudson Falls, New York, the cozy confines of the ever-transitional Strand Theatre were electric with nostalgia as Best Friends Girl, the #1 tribute to The Cars, transported the audience back to the golden age of new wave. Despite the gloomy weather, the mood inside was anything but dreary—fans entered the venue with anticipation, and by the time the first synth line pulsed through the air, smiles had already started lighting up the aisles.
The Cars were pioneers of American rock, a band that seamlessly fused 1960s power pop sensibilities with the edge of 1970s glam and the emerging visual flair of the 1980s MTV era. That eclectic blend of styles was alive and well onstage thanks to the high-caliber performance
by Best Friends Girl. This wasn’t just a cover show—it was a full-bodied homage, and it hit all the right notes.
Frontman John Starr delivered a charismatic performance, channeling Ric Ocasek’s signature vocal style while adding his own warmth and flair. His rhythm guitar anchored the band confidently, setting the tone for a show that respected the source material without being a note-
for-note imitation. Starr’s ability to interact with the audience elevated the atmosphere, prompting many in the crowd to sing along and dance in the aisles. At one point, he ran up the stairs to the balcony (not an easy task) to play for the fans upstairs! It is always so good when a
band acknowledges all of the fans.
Kevin Gallagher’s lead guitar work was crisp and dynamic. Whether replicating the punchy riffs of “My Best Friend’s Girl” or the razor-sharp solos of “Just What I Needed,” Gallagher played with both technical precision and the kind of rock swagger that brings a tribute to life. His tone and phrasing were spot-on, capturing the soul of Elliot Easton’s style.
On bass, Gary Bonneau provided the low-end glue, grooving with confidence and subtle flair. His playing was tight and melodic, a perfect match for the band’s tight arrangements. Mike Weber on drums was a driving force behind the band’s energy — steady, powerful, and perfectly timed, keeping the crowd moving with each familiar beat.
Perhaps the most critical piece in reviving The Cars’ distinctive sound was Tom Wooley on keyboards. He recreated the band’s signature synth textures with raw authenticity. Wooley’s playing was not only faithful to the original tones, but his stage presence added an engaging
visual element, enhancing the band’s overall energy. The unfiltered wave of analog-style synths filled the room and set a nostalgic tone that fans deeply appreciated.
Each member of Best Friends Girl is a highly professional musician, and together they recreated the quirky cool and sonic innovation of The Cars with love and precision. Their connection with the crowd turned a gray night into something vibrant and unforgettable.
If you missed this show, don’t worry — on May 24, Best Friends Girl will be bringing their tribute next to Daryl’s House, a venue known for hosting top-tier talent. Don’t miss the chance to relive the hits of one of rock’s most iconic bands, performed by a tribute group that clearly loves what they do.
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