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Grandstand Jockeys – Xperience History

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Grandstand Jockeys

Grandstand Jockeys – An Xperience Interview – by Liam Sweeny.

Originally published January 2024.

We reached out to RA Burris of the band Grandstand Jockeys for a few words.

RRX: I got your CD from Rob Smittix, and I’ve been jamming it out in my car for weeks. Love the sound, love it. Because it’s straight rock, but the melody lines are quirky. The melody lines sound like something Ween might do (sorry, everything cool sounds like Ween to me.) Where is the odd influence that brings out that unique sound?

RB: That’s a great and kinda complex question. So ok I have been a musician for many years so there are more than one influence that help drive it but for the most part the melodies are just there almost like out of nowhere. More times than not I have the melodies before I have the words. It’s almost like they are out there just waiting to be picked up like radio waves it’s hard to explain but I just hear them.

RRX: You have new members in the lineup. And people here might not know who’s in your ‘not new’ lineup. So roll call. Who are you? Who plays the guitar and who plays the didgeridoo? And was it easy for the new people to slip into the band, or were there challenges adapting the current setlist?

RB: Ok so we are the Grandstand Jockeys and we consist of Ron Burris- vocals and Guitar, Brian Rex – Drums and backing vocals, the new guy Morgan Smith on guitar, and finally Eric Braymer who has been in the band in many different roles but currently is filling in on Bass and backing vocals.  So The Jockeys have had a few lineup changes and we have been blessed to have worked with all of them. When new members come in or go out there is always a little challenge in finding the right person. It is not just one thing, yes being a good musician helps but having a great attitude and willingness to work is important as well. We have truly been blessed to have so many amazing musicians who gave us more than I can articulate. These are all great musicians in their own right who know how and what to do so with each transition it’s been pretty smooth

RRX: Thank you for doing a Lobby Session at our station. Mighty cool of you. Do you think that live recording sessions like that offer you anything that just playing out doesn’t? Do you feel you can be more free? And you guys were acoustic, is that a much different beast for the band?

RB: So first we want to say thank you for having us do your lobby session, we had a blast and it was a new experience for us kinda like our own unplugged. I’m going to date myself here but I remember watching Nirvana doing MTV’s unplugged and I always wanted to have that moment for myself/ band. The most exciting part of it is being vulnerable out there, kinda like tight rope walking. Plus it allows the audience to hear a different side of the music.

RRX: Grandstand Jockeys is playing in support of A Wilhelm Scream at Empire Underground. Wilhelm Scream is a national act. What’s the show going to be like? Is it you two or are there going to be other acts?

RB: So Willhelm scream is from Boston and they’re national act. We haven’t had the pleasure to play with these guys before I don’t think that they’ve had hard times. Maybe they have not two versed in their history but what I have heard of them is some really good music and we’re excited about the opportunity to share a stage with them and locals Girth Control and Senior Living. And you and your audience are already doing something to help I just letting us spread the word and we really appreciate that.

RRX: You have other shows coming, like a show in Philadelphia at Century, then back to Empire with the Noncompliants, the Hauntings, and Black Belt Jones. Are you and the aforementioned bands ‘tour-buddies’? Will the Empire show be your first time playing together? If so, how did you all connect?

RB: So yes we will be playing a show at the rock club century in Philadelphia this will be our first trip to Philadelphia and we’re very excited about the opportunity to expand our fan base and meet the people of Philadelphia , we are also take the show to Stamps in Buffalo on 3/23 another first for us and we are stoked, Plus we have two more shows coming up at Empire Underground on 3/16. We will be playing with my old band NonCompliants which I was the drummer of before starting the Grandstand Jockeys and switching instruments. Plus we will be sharing the stage with Black Belt Jones – love those guys. Eric Braymer who is filling in on bass for us currently is the guitarist for Black Belt Jones. He is my best friend and we have a long storied musical history.  Also we get to rock out with The Hauntings on this bill and they have been a favorite of mine for a while now, we have been trying to get a gig together and it finally is going to happen!! I want to put a very public thank you to Mike Valente & Empire Underground. He has given us tremendous opportunities and support and TGJ has nothing but love and respect for him. Cheers Mike.

RRX: Here’s where you answer the question I didn’t ask. Remarks? Comments? Educate, enlighten, emote – the floor is yours

RB: So 2023 has been a super busy year for TGJ. we released 2 Ep’s to complete our Ep trilogy that started in 2021 with release of our first Ep “Win”.  The  “Place” Ep was released on 6/27/23 as was the “&$how” Ep on 10/31/23  and we had a host of great musicians who came in the studio with us to lend their talents I’m sure you know a few of them on the “Place” ep we had  Brian Mangini add some B3 we had Rob Smittix do a great monologue, we had my very talented niece Kyra Pearl do some vocals, we had the super talented Jared Weed who played with us for a short time drop some amazing leads, and Dave Parker (Coheed and Cambria / like Astronauts/the prize fighter inferno) did synth and guitar work and then on the  release “&$how”  we had some more Jared Weed dropping solos, the world famous Alex Torres played congas and more Dave Parker on synth.

All 3 Eps were mastered at Sterling sound in NYC by Grammy Award winner Randy Merril frankly Everyone involved has been great from photographers Jim Wertman and Eric Johnson, Overit Multi Media and Dan Dinsmore really everyone involved has been amazing and it has led to a very good 2023 where we got to open up for some of the biggest artists in the country like Crobot, Austin Mead, Dillon Dostal, Rickshaw Billy’s burger patrol, 96 Bitter beings, JJ Savage, Kendra Morris and Sgt Scag and we played with home town bands from all over and they were all great and lots of fun to share the stage with.

Speaking of stages in 2023 we played at The Midway cafe – Boston, The Chance theatre – Poughkeepsie (twice) Empire Underground, No Fun,  and We even got to play the Troy Pig out and we have Radioradiox Art and Rob to thank for that. They both have been amazingly supportive and we can’t thank them enough there are so many new and exciting things coming up in 2024 and we are excited!

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Press Release: Grand Opening of On The Ave Podcast Studio (Albany) 4/27

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Staff
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“The Architects of Albany’s Creative Boom.” 

Event Details:

  • Date: This Sunday 4/27/25 3-6pm Location: 217 Central Ave Albany , NY 
  • Location: 217 Central Ave Albany , NY Time: 3pm – 6pm

The On Ave Podcast Studio is the first of its kind in the upstate area, offering a dedicated space for podcast and content production. We believe it’s going to be a game-changer for local businesses and creators.

Jukebox – Music News Cuts – 4/25

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Staff
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Jukebox

Jukebox.

Carlos Santana

Iconic guitarist Carlos Santana was hospitalized for dehydration during a sound check for a concert on April 22nd. The concert was being put on at San Antonio’s Majestic Theatre, and it was canceled, but the tour in which it was a stop will go on.

“Out of an abundance of caution and the health of Mr. Santana, the decision to postpone the show was the most prudent course of action,” manager Michael Vrionis stated. “He is doing well and is looking forward to coming back to San Antonio soon as well as continuing his US Tour. Thank you all very much for your understanding. The show will be rescheduled soon.”

Santana has had to cancel a number of shows due to dehydration in 2022. The current tour, set to conclude May 1st.

Riot Fest

From https://www.brooklynvegan.com/riot-fest-2025-lineup-blink-182-green-day-weezer-sex-pistols-rilo-kiley-beach-boys-more/

Pistols, Rilo Kiley, Beach Boys, Pogues & more

Riot Fest first took place in 2005 as a much smaller festival than it’s since grown into, and this year it will celebrate its 20th anniversary as it returns to Chicago’s Douglass Park from September 19-21. Tickets are on sale and the 2025 lineup is out now, featuring headliners blink-182, Green Day, and Weezer (celebrating Blue Album). In the slightly less big font, it’s got The Sex Pistols (with Frank Carter), Rilo Kiley, Knocked Loose, The Beach Boys, The Pogues (who are touring with guests, following the death of Shane MacGowan), Jack White, IDLES, Jawbreaker, Bad Religion, The Hold Steady, Texas Is The Reason (their third-announced reunion show), Dance Hall Crashers (also a reunion), Alkaline Trio, The Wonder Years, The Front Bottoms, James, Sparks, and more, and “Weird Al” Yankovic gets an interesting-looking billing in the middle of the poster.

In the smaller font, we get another Shudder To Think reunion show (!), Hanson (lol), The Damned, The Bouncing Souls, Rico Nasty, Screeching Weasel, Citizen, Microwave, Free Throw, Dehd, The Linda Lindas, Panchiko, Buzzcocks, Stiff Little Fingers, Superchunk, Militarie Gun, The Cribs, Helmet, Touché Amoré, Marky Ramone, Camper Van Beethoven, Agnostic Front, Lambrini Girls, Ovlov, Smoking Popes, Puddles Pity Party, H2O, Wishy, Harrison Gordon, Samiam, The Tossers, Shonen Knife, Zero Boys, Agent Orange, Quannic, Weakened Friends, Footballhead, a few Chicago/Illinois hometown legends (Pegboy, Didjits, The Effigies), and more.

Ozzy Osborne

Ozzy Osborne has proclaimed himself to be “in heavy training” for an upcoming “Back to the Beginning” concert in Birmingham.

According to SirisXM’ Ozzy Speaks show with Billy Morrison, “I’m in heavy training for this [‘Back To The Beginning’ concert in Birmingham, United Kingdom] that’s coming up [in early July]. I haven’t done anything for — this will be seven years [since I played a full concert], and so I’ve been through all this surgery. It really is like starting from scratch.”

Osborn described his training as endurance work. “Well, it’s endurance training. The first thing to go when you’re laid up is your stamina, so believe it or not, I’m doing two sets of three-minute walks a day and weight training. I’ve gotta get going, you know.”

He explained: “I’m waking up in my body. I mean, three minutes to you, for instance, is nothing, but I’ve been laying on my back recovering from umpteen surgeries.”

Ozzy hasn’t performed a full show since 2018.

 

Robo Marathon and Dark Factories – The Weird Side of the Internet

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Staff
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Robo Marathon and Dark Factories

Robo Marathon and Dark Factories – The Weird Side of the Internet – by Liam Sweeny.

I think that someday we will have Skynet, and judgment day. Maybe John Conner is already alive, a Gen Z with imposter syndrome and crippling student febt, someone who will be glad when an AI superbrain realizes what a croc student loan debt is and wipes it out… and doesn’t stop there.

When they teach future kids about the history of Skynet, probably in a bunker or a tunnel, they’re going to include the half marathon held in Beijing recently, in which humanoid robots were participants.

You know, if Skynet doesn’t get off the ground, this marathon will be in the history of robotics, a precursor to the struggle for robot civil rights.

The robots had A LOT of help, with teams helping them navigate and battery stops. Victory, among the robots, was had by, get this, the “Sky Project Ultra” robot. I wonder how popular the Terminator movie series is in Beijing, and if the name was art imitating life.

It seems like there’s a far stretch from this to armed terminators crunching human skulls beneath their feet, but for God’s sake, we’re teaching them how to run. Imagine these things running across highways at night like deer? Imagine hitting one? Are we going to have robot crossing signs? I hope so.

This might be light hearted, but also a little scary. But not as scary as dark factories. They should be their own story, and probably will be, but dark factories are completely robotic factories, and there’s no light, because robots don’t need it. Toyota has even built a city in Japan that is fully integrated with “smart tech” and humans living alongside robots, maybe joining each other for a run.

Running robots and dark factories, web-enabled light bulbs that go out if you don’t pay your subscription to Light bulbs, Inc. What a crazy pre-apocalyptic world we live in.

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Thirteen – A Taylor Swift Tribute Band, The Strand [Review]

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Stephanie J Bartik
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Thirteen

Concert Review: Thirteen – A TS Tribute Band Brings Taylor Magic to the Strand Theater
Stephanie J Bartik   NY Rockstar Photographer

On Friday night, April 18, the Strand Theater in Hudson Falls transformed into a glittery,
heart-hands-filled haven as Thirteen – A TS Tribute Band lit up the stage with a high-energy performance that was equal parts dazzling and heartwarming. It wasn’t just another concert—it was a multigenerational celebration of Taylor Swift’s music, and the love of live music itself.

From the moment the lights dimmed and the first notes echoed through the theater, excitement pulsed through the audience. Moms, dads, aunts, uncles, and grandparents packed the auditorium, accompanying the true stars of the night—pre-teen fans decked out in sparkly outfits, fuzzy jackets, and stacks of handmade friendship bracelets. Kids beamed as they danced in the aisles, belting out every lyric with full-throttle joy. It was a beautiful sight to witness—parents and grandparents passing down their appreciation for live music and performance to a new generation of fans.

The band brought Taylor’s infectious spirit to life with a bubblegum-pop meets rock vibe that matched the emotional highs of the original songs. Vocalists Beth Zaje and Kiera Davis commanded the stage with warmth and charisma, flawlessly recreating the vocal stylings Swift fans adore. Their harmonies and connection with the audience elevated the experience beyond mere imitation.

Supporting them was an exceptional band that captured every sonic detail of Taylor’s most iconic hits. Guitarist Derek Montanye and bassist Chad Johnson laid down vibrant, energetic grooves, while Michael Bruce’s tight drumming kept the pulse of the show driving forward. Kevin Hodge on keyboard added the perfect sparkle, rounding out the lush arrangements that had everyone from the front row to the back clapping, dancing, and singing along.

The lighting design added to the immersive feel of the evening, with the stage awash in Taylor’s signature hues—pink, lavender, and baby blue. It was visually enchanting and entirely on theme for the Swiftie crowd.

The highlight wasn’t just the music—it was the atmosphere. Thirteen didn’t just perform for the audience—they performed with them. The love was mutual, and the memories will last long after the last chord rang out.

If you have a Swiftie in your life, don’t miss out. Follow Thirteen – A TS Tribute Band on Facebook to catch their next show. It’s more than a concert—it’s an experience.

 

Ronnie Stone, Bare Mattress and A Very Special Episode

By
Timothy Reidy
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Ronnie Stone
Hellseeker had a party show with Ronnie Stone, Bare Mattress and A Very Special Episode. Thurs 17 April at No Fun. Photography by Timothy Reidy.

Songwriters Night – Buggy Jive – Mojo’s, Troy

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Timothy Reidy
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Songwriters
Songwriters in the Round
Featuring Kate McDonnell, Buggy Jive, and Stephen Clair — three incredible voices, one intimate night of stories and songs.  Photography by Timothy Reidy.

Interview: Sanctum Magazine “Another Voice on the Scene”

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Staff
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Interview: Sanctum Magazine

Photo: from left to right: Zeke Motzer, Peter MacAloney, Chris Frawley

By: Rob Smittix

RRX: I know you’ve got a few people on the line, if you just introduce yourselves and what you do for the magazine.

CF: Cool. I’m Chris Frawley. I am the editor in chief for the magazine. I’ve written all the main articles for it so far. I also edit submissions for the written pieces and put the final product together using InDesign… the layout and everything.

RRX: Nice, that part’s always fun, as I know.

CF: Yeah, I can definitely spend a long time just trying to get the littlest details right. Until eventually, I just have to say, no one will possibly notice this, accept that it’s going to be imperfect, but that’s okay.

RRX: Perfection is a little too much sometimes, if it’s too perfect, it becomes less interesting.

CF: Yeah and then it’s only going to be perfect to you at most, you never know what other people are going to get out of it. I think that’s pretty common in art and in media, right? How many times has a band made a song and it was just a draft or something that they did and then it becomes their most popular hit? Right?

RRX: Absolutely, or if you write songs like I do, record them, and years later I’m like… oh man, I should have never said that.

CF: Yeah. That’s the worst when you’re sitting up at night and you’re thinking about… why did I say that? Why did I say that stupid thing? But ultimately you make yourself move on sometimes.

RRX: There you go. Who else do we have in the line today?

PM: Hi, I’m Peter MacAloney. I do photography, usually for a few of the feature articles and then I also offer design support for Chris.

CF: Peter has also done photography for some ads that we’ve put in there.

RRX: Oh, cool. Yeah, they look good.

CF: Thanks. He also wrote two pieces in the first two issues. The two show reports that we did.

RRX: I’m holding issue number three from November 2024 in my hands right now. So are you putting this out monthly or quarterly? What’s the scoop?

CF: Well, we’re kind of figuring out a regular release schedule right now. It was a bit hard to maintain a steady schedule last year when I first started doing this with everyone. I wanted to do every other month so as not to rush it. That kind of proved difficult after the second issue for a bunch of reasons, some of which were external, some of which were internal. We were all kind of scrambling a little bit during the summer and fall of last year. A few different things delayed it because of that. Also, like I said earlier, doing it has to be a perfect thing which definitely delayed it. But we got to interview Prince Daddy and the Hyena, which I was super excited for, I think we all were, because they’re a really big band, and they are local, so it was a big opportunity. So I was like… this has to be perfect. I think it did come out really well but I also believe that in delaying it so much, and obsessing a little bit too much over it, the landing itself was a little bit uneasy but I’m still really happy with the way it came out.

RRX: Oh, it’s great. Well, first of all, Prince Daddy and The Hyena is a fantastic group. Obviously, we’re kind of doing the same sort of thing with our businesses. This is a really high quality magazine that you’ve got here. It’s got a very nice layout, very high quality… It’s impressive.

CF: Thank you. Yeah, I did definitely want to go for a quality over quantity approach. Not that either is wrong necessarily. It’s just a different product at the end of the day. It’s just a really solid kind of booklet, that would stand the test of time. You could hang on to and maybe even have a collection of them, something that you could keep on your shelf or your coffee table.
Zeke (Motzer) put it pretty well in that sense. Zeke also is on the line, I didn’t get a chance to introduce her. She does art and helps with some of the submissions but also helps with getting some of the ads and whatnot.

RRX: Oh, hello, Zeke go ahead, I’m sorry.

ZM: You’re good… hello!

CF: Yeah, Zeke is also our partner in doing the booking for some of the shows that we have and she’s very good at making connections with bands and people in the scene. So definitely an invaluable member of the team, I would say.

RRX: Absolutely, now from doing this ourselves here, when you put this out, I thought to myself, what is it that makes you want to take on an undertaking like this? Because it’s a lot of work.

CF: It really is. I did not realize how much work it would be until I really started doing it. There’s so many things that you know you would never think of.
People shouldn’t think about it. I’ll think on my end, the creator end to put in all the little details and bits of work and then people can just enjoy it on their end.
I’ve been writing for music and media for a while now. I went to school for writing at New Paltz, which is where Peter and I met and where we first started throwing shows in the original Sanctum House.

PN: Good times.

CF: Good times, and we got really into it. And then I wanted to start writing on some of the different bands and artists in the area for the school newspaper. I started doing that but then COVID hit, so we had to shut that down.
After that, I was doing freelance writing and some different projects that I had was writing for artists and doing reviews, doing press releases for songs that came out and doing biographies.
But I really wanted to have my own project or something that I could collaborate with other people on that would give me a chance to scratch that itch of wanting to write, edit and interview people. I wanted to help give a platform to artists that we find interesting or that we feel deserve to have their own platform.

RRX: And you’re definitely providing that. You’re giving them a nice product here.
You’ve got your heart and soul into it. You’re into the music scene. You’re into that vibe. And you started it out in the coolest little town in all of New York State, New Paltz, which I always ask people that went to school down there, did you take the time to go to Mohonk? A lot of people, surprisingly, said no. And I’m like… you’re nuts.

PM: I did. I went.

RRX: Yeah, you’ve got to. That’s the coolest spot. You know? I’ve been going there for years.

CF: Yeah, it is. It’s beautiful down there. We still visit from time to time, there’s so many great artists and different scenes and opportunities for people down there to express themselves. When we were there, the scene was really huge. It was a good entry point for us to kind of get our foot in the door and we just kind of started doing it and fell in love with it in terms of… throwing shows, creating content and talking about it. And then we met up with Zeke about a year and a year ago and she’s has been doing shows up here for a while and we all started doing shows together. Peter and I brought the media angle to it because we really enjoy doing that part. We’ve been doing the magazine, we’ve also been doing shorter form video and written interviews online. The magazine is good and it’s a nice platform but it’s also kind of irregular in terms of how often it comes out. So we wanted a way to get more content out there in a quicker way that didn’t take so much time and effort.

RRX: Sure, absolutely. So you’re doing some music bookings and that sort of thing as well?

CF: Yeah.

ZM: I’ve been booking shows in the Albany area for almost three years now and held over 300 shows at venues all across the Capital Region. My biggest goal is to just keep the community alive. People coming out for music, keep providing space for people to express their art. I think that the magazine really plays a nice role in complementing what we do with the music events.

RRX: That’s a win when you can do your own advertising.

ZK: Yeah, exactly,

RRX: I wouldn’t know, or anything.

(All Laugh)

CF: In terms of getting ads in the magazine, or in terms of the connection between the two of them?

RRX: I mean… if we’re putting on an event, we’re like, cool, we don’t have to buy advertising. We got it already, you know? So that sort of thing,

CF: Yeah, I think for you guys, it might be a little bit more seamless in that department. We definitely do a lot more shows than issues of the magazine.

RRX: Well, we’re glad to have people that are still putting on shows. We talked about the magazine being an undertaking but so are shows because you’re not only putting up money, and you’ve got to pay people out. You’ve got to pay the venues, bands, sound, lighting, etc. Everyone wants to get paid and you have to make sure that people come out, so that the money’s not coming out of your own pocket. I’ve done it a few times and I’m like… I don’t know why I do this.

CF: Oh, it’s so much, It can be. It’s great when it goes well. Zeke can tell you, she’s insane. She does so many shows.

ZM: Yeah, I book more shows than I care to admit but I was saying just the other night, at the end of the day… I don’t mind paying money out of my pocket to support local art. Somebody has to be willing to take those risks, (and I’ve gotten good enough at it, where I feel confident take those risks.

RRX: Yeah, it looks like it’s actually working for you. I want to make sure (because you’ve got my email now), to let me know about every single solitary show you guys got coming up. Send me the info on it and we’ll see if we can get some coverage for it.

CF: That’d be amazing. Awesome.

RRX: I think it’s cool that we’re chatting it up. I think that a couple of outlets like ourselves that are both involved in the same music scene could only be beneficial for one another.

ZM: Absolutely.

CF: We’re definitely trying to be in it for the community. When I first started doing this… I knew I wasn’t reinventing the wheel in terms of “a zine” or a local publication because there’s a bunch of really nice ones in the area that are all doing a great job. I just wanted to throw my hat into that ring and put my own spin on it and my own style. It was a project that I really wanted to do, that I felt was in me. I always loved writing and editing and actually putting it into a publication was definitely a step up and a lot more work. I had to learn how to use Adobe InDesign, which in itself, is an undertaking.

RRX: Yeah, it is. Was there anything that any of you wanted to say to our readers?

CF: I just wanted to say thank you for interviewing us. This was definitely very cool and I appreciate the opportunity to speak about this. I appreciate anyone who’s supported us, anyone who’s bought the mag or who’s put an ad in it and anyone who’s submitted something. We’ve gotten a lot of really great submissions on this most recent issue that we put out, issue four, with “Film and Gender” as the main article. We had some amazing submissions for that one. So it is a humbling thing when a lot of people come out and help support you in your dream. I am very appreciative of Zeke and Peter too, for being the main supporters in this because I came to them with this idea and they’ve had my back the whole time.

RRX: Well, that’s not easy to come by. So you’ve got to thank your lucky stars on that one.

CF: Certainly.

ZM: I want to really get people out there… go to shows, buy merch from the touring band and support local art!

RRX: 100% Well, cool. What’s the main way to find you online?

CF: You could follow us on Instagram. That’s like our main platform, although we’ll see, because the algorithm has been insane lately. But if you want to send submissions to us, you can email them to us at Sanctumpresents@gmail.com

RRX: Awesome.

CF: We’re interested in submissions and advertisers and we do pay people for submissions. We can’t afford to pay them a lot but we still pay them something. We’re trying to get a grant right now, which would definitely let us pay people a little bit more, I would love to do that.

RRX: Absolutely well. I hope that all works out for you and I appreciate your time.

CF: Yeah, man, thank you. We appreciate it.

Whassup in the 518

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Staff
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Whassup in the 518

Whassup in the 518.

Friday, April 25th

Chris Distefano, The Egg, Albany, 7:30pm

Chris Distefano is one of today’s biggest and most beloved names in comedy. He became the first stand-up comedian to sell out both the world-famous Radio City Music Hall and the Theater at Madison Square Garden on consecutive nights in 2023, but his fearless yet endearing stage presence and natural ability to connect with audiences around the world has made him a household name in not just comedy, but all of entertainment. Chris quickly rose to success after being named the funniest person on MTV for his show-stopping performances on the Guy Code/Girl Code series. From there, he went on to star in IFC’s Benders, co-host the Netflix gameshow Ultimate Beastmaster, and starred in his own CBS sitcom. In 2022, Chris was selected by Jimmy Kimmel to host Jimmy’s latest TV venture, Super Maximum Retro Show, for ViceTV. Outside of TV, he’s become one of the most well-respected and flat-out funniest comedians in the stand-up world. Fresh off his appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Seth Meyers in 2019, Chris released his first full-length special, Size 38 Waist, on Comedy Central, which perfectly encompassed both his Brooklyn-born edge and nice-guy charm. His second special, Speshy Weshy, premiered on Netflix in May of 2022.

UA Student Association Parkfest, MVP Arena, Albany, 7:30pm

Featuring Quavo

Hamro, Empire Underground, Albany, 7:30pm

Nick DiPaolo, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 8pm-10pm

In this day of watered down comedy, Nick Di Paolo’s brutally honest performances remind us of what great stand up should be – funny, socially relevant, and a little bit reckless.

His strong political opinions and razor wit make him a perfect fit for talk radio. He currently hosts “The Nick Di Paolo Show” Mondays through Thursdays and has been featured on “The Nick Di Paolo Show” on SiriusXM, and “The Nick & Artie Show” on DirectTV.

Ginger Geezus, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 8pm-11pm

Upstate NY Blues Rock Band with Modern Vibes. Classic 60s and 70s covers and Original Songs.

Happy Hour with the New Planets at The Eleven at Lark Hall (FREE SHOW), The Eleven, Albany, 6pm-8pm

Join us in welcoming back the New Planets on Friday 4/25, 6-8pm for an unforgettable Happy Hour!

Moon Hooch w/s/g Future Joy, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm

Moon Hooch began busking in the subway platforms of NYC in 2010, quickly getting noticed by the NYPD, who had to ban them from locations that couldn’t handle the crowds. In a few short years they were opening for the likes of Beats Antique, They Might Be Giants, and Lotus, while selling out their own headline shows at marquee venues around the United States and Europe. Their unconventional sound and techniques, utilizing found objects like traffic cones, landed them appearances on NPR’s Tiny Desk in America, “Later…with Jools Holland” in the UK, “Hamish & Andy’s Gap Year” in Australia, and private audiences with the Premier League’s Chelsea F.C. They are currently touring the world.

Nicole Fiallo w/ Xamxara, Ronnie Rave, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 9pm-2am

Join us for our highly anticipated 2nd Annual Midnight Mass | Bloomin’, an event that promises to be an unforgettable experience for all attendees. This year, we are thrilled to announce that we will be featuring some of the world’s biggest and most renowned artists, alongside a curated selection of the area’s favorite local talent. These performers are set to deliver an electrifying lineup that will keep you dancing and engaged throughout the night. Expect an evening filled with foot-stomping grooves, infectious rhythms, and captivating visuals that will transport you to another realm.

Laurie MacAllister of Red Molly, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-9pm

Join us for an unforgettable evening with Laurie MacAllister, the soulful singer-songwriter best known as a part of the beloved Americana trio Red Molly. With her warm, captivating voice and heartfelt storytelling, Laurie has been a cherished figure in contemporary folk music for over two decades. From headlining festivals like MerleFest to lending her voice to the iconic Folgers Coffee jingle, Laurie’s journey has been as remarkable as her music.

Her solo album, The Lies the Poets Tell, is a tribute to the contemporary folk music scene, celebrated by SiriusXM as “Defining. A curated collection packed with emotional vibrancy.”

In late 2024, Laurie launched her solo career, marking the start of an exciting new chapter. Now, on her Solo Debut Tour, she brings her soul-stirring songs and intimate stage presence to fans old and new.

NOYK Presents Feminomenon and Emo Night, Lost and Found, Albany, 9pm

Hellseeker Goth Nite w/ Midnight Choir, No Fun, Troy, 8pm-12am

From “Bar People.”

4/25 10:00 PM Boombox- Putnam Place

4/25 5:00 PM DJ Trumastr- 677 Prime

4/25 5:30 PM Rob Aronstein- Wishing Well

4/25 5:30 PM Rob Fleming- Dancing Grain Farm Brewery

4/25 6:00 PM Ben Zoleski- Prime at Saratoga National

4/25 6:00 PM Ben Zoleski- Prime at Saratoga National

4/25 6:00 PM Bennett Brothers- Dock Browns Tavern

4/25 6:00 PM Dan M- Spa City Tap & Barrel

4/25 6:00 PM Eric Kufs- Thirsty Owl

4/25 6:00 PM Jack Kelle- Anthony’s Italian Restaurant

4/25 6:00 PM Keith Pray Trio- Cock & Bull

4/25 6:00 PM Matt Evans- Powers Pub

4/25 6:00 PM Micah Scoville- Carsons Woodside Tavern

4/25 6:00 PM Thom Powers- Inn at Saratoga

4/25 6:00 PM Travis Rockenstire- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park

4/25 6:00 PM Wreckles Duo- Saratoga Winery

4/25 6:30 PM Chris Dollard- Diamond Club at Embassy Suites

4/25 6:30 PM Coverups Duo- Peddlers Bar & Bistro

4/25 6:30 PM Juniper- Artisanal Brew Works

4/25 6:30 PM Trivia Night- S&S farm Brewery

4/25 6pm DJ Romantic’s- The Scarlet Knife

4/25 7:00 PM Harmonic Duo- Trestle Restaurant & Pub

4/25 7:00 PM Lifeline- Kraverie

4/25 7:00 PM Like Father Like Son with Taylor Jarvis- Quarters

4/25 7:00 PM Litt Hour- The Bunker Saratoga

4/25 7:00 PM Pat Decker- 151 Bar

4/25 7:00 PM POGO- O’Slattery’s

4/25 7:00 PM Radio Gold- Panza’s

4/25 7:30 PM Double Tap- Holy Moses Tavern

4/25 7:30 PM The Accents- Vapor

4/25 8:00 PM DJ Dillon Robert- Misfit

4/25 8:00 PM Ginger Geezus- Rustic Barn Pub

4/25 8:00 PM Matt Cosgrove- Bourbon Room

4/25 8:00 PM Moon Hooch & Future Joy- Lark Hall

4/25 8:00 PM Steve Candlen- Cooperstown Distilling Saratoga

4/25 8:00 PM Tailspin- Saratoga City Tavern

4/25 8:00 PM Watchdog- Wicked Eatery

4/25 8:30 PM Funk Evolution- Frog Alley Brewing

4/25 9:00 PM Rick Rosoff Quartet- Nine Maple

4/25 9:30 PM Wide Awake- Spa City Tap & Barrel

Saturday, April 26th

Albany Pro Musica will close its 2024-25 season with an homage to Broadway! Albany Pro Musica and the Pro Musica Pops will present some of our audience’s all-time favorite showtunes, arranged for chorus, small ensembles, and soloists, and featuring Broadway talent Jamari Johnson Williams.

RAEL – The Music of Peter Gabriel and Genesis, The Linda, Albany, 8pm-10pm

RAEL – The Music of Genesis is a New York and Northern New Jersey-based tribute band that recaptures the energy and originality of the “early years” live stage performances by Genesis. RAEL pays homage to the most groundbreaking and influential band in the progressive rock genre by incorporating the musical excellence, lyrical storytelling, and theatricality that brought Genesis to a position of prominence in the rock world. RAEL-The Music of Genesis brings older listeners back to the day, while introducing progressive rock newcomers to the sights and sounds right along with other legendary bands such as Pink Floyd, Moody Blues, Yes, Rush, and King Crimson to name but a few. RAEL is focused on faithfully reproducing full album versions from the Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett days of Genesis. Performances include tracks from Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot, Selling England by the Pound, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, and A Trick of the Tail. Concert audiences rave about their high-energy shows and musical detail. RAEL also performs solo Peter Gabriel hits in their live shows.

Pro Musica on Broadway – at The Egg, Albany, 7:30pm

Albany Pro Musica will close its 2024-25 season with an homage to Broadway! Albany Pro Musica and the Pro Musica Pops will present some all-time favorite showtunes, arranged for chorus, small ensembles, and soloists, and featuring Broadway talent Jamari Johnson Williams.

Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence, SPAC, Saratoga Springs, 3pm

Revel in the incredible talent of CMS musicians led by Artistic Director, David Finckel as they close CMS’s 24/25 year-round season at SPAC. The sextet lies at the center of this program, anchored by Tchaikovsky’s lush and exuberant “Souvenir de Florence”. Additional works by Bach and Strauss showcase the versatility of the six-piece ensemble while two string trios by Haydn and Schubert offer listeners an exhilarating detour from the full ensemble.

Golden Oldies Spectacular – 2025, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

An incredible five act GOLDEN OLDIES SPECTACULAR comes to Proctors on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 7:00 pm.

A long-time favorite of Proctors oldies fans is headlining the show:  Jay and the Americans.  They have come a long way from when they started as teenagers in Sandy Yaguda’s basement, and founding members Sandy and Yaguda and Marty Kupersmith continue to deliver a great performance.  In the 1960s, JATA had twelve top 10 hits, including “Cara Mia,” “Come a Little Bit Closer,” “Let’s Lock the Door (and Throw Away the Key),” “This Magic Moment,” “Only in America,” “She Cried,” “Walkin in the Rain” and “Some Enchanted Evening.”

Passport Series: Vieux Farka Touré, Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga Springs

Often referred to as “The Hendrix of the Sahara”, Vieux Farka Touré was born in Niafunké, Mali in 1981. He is the son of legendary Malian guitar player Ali Farka Touré, who died in 2006. Ali Farka Touré came from a historical tribe of soldiers and defied his parents to become a musician. When Vieux was in his teens, he declared that he also wanted to be a musician. His father disapproved due to the pressures he had experienced being a musician. Rather, he wanted Vieux to become a soldier. But with help from a family friend the kora maestro Toumani Diabaté, Vieux eventually convinced his father to give him his blessing to become a musician shortly before Ali passed.  In 2013, Vieux Farka Touré’s beautiful and critically acclaimed album Mon Pays was released as an homage to his homeland. Being that his native Mali had recently been splintered by territorial fighting between Tuareg and Islamic rebels since January 2012,

Brick By Brick, w/s/g 25 Ta Life, Oakheart, Balor, Everdredd, Kakos, and The Lycan, Empire Live, Albany, 5:30pm

Been Stellar, Empire Underground, Albany, 8pm

Start Making Sense & The Ocean Avenue Stompers, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 8pm-11pm

Start Making Sense & The Ocean Avenue Stompers Horns present: the music of Talking Heads, David Byrne and More…

Start Making Sense is a Talking Heads Tribute band and they will be joined on stage by The Ocean Avenue Stompers, a four-piece horn section, for the entirety of the show. Many Talking Heads songs will be played, as well as non-Talking Heads songs. All will feature the Ocean Avenue Stompers. There will be no opening act. There will be two sets of music and both sets will feature horns. You don’t want to miss this show. Coming to select venues in March/April 2025!

Coconut Telegraph, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 7pm-10pm

Come see Coconut Telegraph, the ultimate Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band Experience!

Happy Hour with Todd Nelson at The Eleven at Lark Hall, Albany, 6pm-8pm

Todd Nelson is a highly regarded guitarist, composer and arranger who plays a

unique combination of Blues, Country, Folk, Jazz, Rock and Classical styles.

He is equally at home accompanying vocalists, leading an instrumental group

or playing in a large ensemble. Todd has recorded or performed with Terry Adams

(NRBQ), Gary Burke (Bob Dylan, Joe Jackson), Aimee Mann, Ed Mann (Frank Zappa),

Lonesome Val, Rumdummies, songwriters Jules Shear and Pal Shazar, the Wheelers

and Dealers and others. He is a founding member of Fear of Strangers (aka the Units), a

band that was an integral part of the Punk/New Wave scene in the Capital District of

New York in the 1980s, releasing an album on Miles Copeland’s Faulty Products label.

The band shared stages with the Police, Squeeze, the B-52s, XTC, REM and others.

Todd is currently performing music from his latest release, jazzamericana

Grateful Dub w/ Roots of Creation, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 7pm

Roots of Creation has taken on a unique new project: Grateful Dub. Combining their longtime love for reggae-dub style music and the Grateful Dead, RoC reworked some of the world’s favorite Dead tunes into a new studio album. RoC had the pleasure of working in the studio with the legendary 5-time Grammy winner Errol Brown who was Bob Marley’s engineer and now Rebelution’s live sound engineer for this project.

Grateful Dub is being performed live in its entirety at festivals, theaters, and clubs around the country, and features rotating special guests including Melvin Seals (JGB), Scott Guberman (Phil Lesh) full horn sections, and others. Grateful Dub captures the spirit and magic of the Grateful Dead, while laying it down reggae-dub style.

Roots of Creation will also open the show with an original set of music.

 

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

Come get down on the biggest dance floor in Saratoga 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.

Guitarist Sly Fox is best knows as the front man for blues-rock outfit Sly Fox and The Hustlers.

Mark Cosgrove & Good Medicine, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-10pm

When it comes to jaw-dropping guitar work and crowd-pleasing performances, Mark Cosgrove and his band take a backseat to no one. A National Flatpicking Champion and Doc Watson Guitar Champion, Cosgrove is known for his lightning-fast picking, rich musicality, and dynamic stage presence.

But this isn’t just a solo act—this band delivers. Featuring some of the most respected players in roots and acoustic music, this quartet brings incredible energy, chemistry, and musicianship to every show:

Nate Grower (David Bromberg Quintet & Big Band) – A monster fiddler whose playing is both fiery and expressive

Peter Lorch – Brilliant high harmony singing & rhythm guitar, adding depth and texture to every song

Larry Cohen (Tony Trischka & Skyline) – A new acoustic music pioneer, holding down the bottom end on bass

With a blend of bluegrass, swing, folk, and country, this band will take you on a high-energy, masterfully played musical journey.

Red Herrings / Candy Ambulance / Zombie Giuliani / Curb Kisser, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

4/26 3:00 PM Eric Fernandez- Helderberg Mountain Brewing

4/26 5:00 PM Shannon Tehya & Hunter Frost- Artisanal Brew Works

4/26 5:30 PM Matty Finn- Tinney’s Tavern

4/26 5:30 PM Rob Aronstein- Wishing Well

4/26 6:00 PM Brian Kane Duo- Dock Browns Tavern

4/26 6:00 PM Chuck Kelsey- Powers Pub

4/26 6:00 PM Hannah Kosiba- Prime at Saratoga National

4/26 6:00 PM Jay Emery Band- The View at Brookhaven Golf Course

4/26 6:00 PM Jenna Sue Duo- Carsons Woodside Tavern

4/26 6:00 PM Joe Adee & The Lug Nuts- S&S farm Brewery

4/26 6:00 PM Justin Joyner- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park

4/26 6:00 PM Northern Borne- Inn at Saratoga

4/26 6:00 PM Pat Decker- Thirsty Owl

4/26 6:00 PM Pat Decker- Thirsty Owl

4/26 6:00 PM Russ Kennedy- Henry’s Tavern

4/26 6:00 PM Todd Nelson & Friends- Eleven at Lark Hall

4/26 6:00 PM Tyler Giroux6- 77 Prime

4/26 6:00 PM Wayne Hawkins- Panza’s

4/26 6:30 PM Steve Candlen- Diamond Club at Embassy Suites

4/26 6pm Carmen Lookshire Duo- The Scarlet Knife

4/26 7:00 PM Ain’t No Strangers- Quarters

4/26 7:00 PM Chuck Ayers- Ships Pub

4/26 7:00 PM Dave Brennan- The Bunker Saratoga

4/26 7:00 PM Harmonic Duo- Kris’ Mid City Tavern

4/26 7:00 PM Josh Clevenstine- Back Barn Brewing Co.

4/26 7:00 PM Off The Record- Melvin Roads American Legion

4/26 7:00 PM On Tap Duo- Kraverie

4/26 7:00 PM Shades Of Blue- Emack & Bolios

4/26 7:00 PM Trevor Wheelock- Bunker Clifton Park

4/26 7:30 PM Vieux Farka Toure- Universal Preservation Hall

4/26 8:00 PM Deb Zep-Douglas- Bourbon Room

4/26 8:00 PM DJ Mic Power- Misfit

4/26 8:00 PM Escaper- Parting Glass

4/26 8:00 PM Psycho Mutton Chops- September’s Too

4/26 8:00 PM Rael- The Linda

4/26 8:00 PM Tommy V Live- Wicked Eatery

4/26 8:00 PM Union Depot Band- Nanola

4/26 9:00 PM Big Sky Country- Vapor

4/26 9:00 PM Deadbeat Valentine- Saratoga City Tavern

4/26 9:00 PM Joe Barna Quartet- Nine Maple

4/26 9:30 PM Double XP- Spa City Tap & Barrel

4/266:00 PMMatt Evans Spa City Tap & Barrel

Sunday, April 27th

New York Folklore presents: Arab American Heritage Month Concert, The Linda, Albany, 3pm-4:30pm

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

The concert will feature a short bilingual presentation by New York Folklore Fieldworker Nada Odeh, about Arab art and culture. The concert will kick of with two performances, by the Middle Eastern Music Ensemble at Cornell, and Paul Hage and Hicham Mihab.

The Middle Eastern Music Ensemble at Cornell performs traditional music from the Arab World, Turkey, and Iran, as well as related music from neighboring cultures.

The Eddies Regional Music Awards 2025, Proctors Theater, Schenectady, 6pm

The seventh annual Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards hits the MainStage at Proctors 6 p.m. Sunday, April 27!

The Eddies is an opportunity to amplify, empower and celebrate professionals working in the area’s wide-ranging music scene.

This year, we honor +190 finalists in over 30 categories for their work during 2024. Nominations and voting are determined by a group of judges representing the local music community. Each judge is provided with a copy of the quarterly Local 518 Music (and More) Reports for the year in question. This has been produced by Andy Gregory at WEXT since 2012; copies are available for free on the station’s website. This is a very thorough almanac of record, album and video releases in the market, complete with links to the work. We feel that this is the best way to ensure work is not overlooked.

Start Making Sense & The Ocean Avenue Stompers, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 7pm-10pm

This added Sunday show will feature a different playlist than Saturday’s show, but still include the Talking Heads biggest hits that fans expect!

Start Making Sense & The Ocean Avenue Stompers Horns present: the music of Talking Heads, David Byrne and More…

Start Making Sense is a Talking Heads Tribute band and they will be joined on stage by The Ocean Avenue Stompers, a four-piece horn section, for the entirety of the show. Many Talking Heads songs will be played, as well as non-Talking Heads songs. All will feature the Ocean Avenue Stompers. There will be no opening act. There will be two sets of music and both sets will feature horns. You don’t want to miss this show. Coming to select venues in March/April 2025!

“A Joyful Noise!” Sunday Gospel Dinner with Soulist Garland Nelson & Friends , Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 2pm-4pm

Saratoga and the entire Capital District, will be thrilled to learn that A Joyful Noise is back every month this year! This is a soul-cleansing early Sunday dinner hour of music directed by Soulist Garland Nelson. Nelson will be joined by a variety of his friends who are musicians and singers for a mid-afternoon of joyful noise. Songs range from traditional gospel and contemporary church music to soulful pop classics. Audience participation is downright thunderous. It’s impossible to stay quiet or in your seat as Garland Nelson stirs up the Spirit!

An early Sunday dinner served to your table is an integral part of this cultural event and is included in your ticket price. Your plate will be heaped with traditional food from the Carribbean. Coffee and tea is included.

Niis / Pollyanna / Bloodx3, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

4/27 1:00 PM Ian Losz Album Release Party- Nanola

4/27 2:30 PM Kilashandra- Lark St. Tavern

4/27 3:30 PM Dan Sherwin- Hank Hudson Brewing

4/27 4:00 PM Juniper & Chris Carey- Carsons Woodside Tavern

4/27 6:30 PM Scott Chamberlain- Other One Brewery

Interview: Brien Allen (Bridges Ablaze)

By
Staff
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0

Brien Allen (Bridges Ablaze) Interview
By: Rob Smittix

RRX: I appreciate you taking some time with me here today. Bridges Ablaze… so I’m sure you guys know about burning bridges, but sometimes that could be a good thing.

BA: Yeah, you know? It’s just contextual, right?

RRX: Exactly. So how long have you guys been around for?

BA: So, we’ve been a thing since about 2019, honestly.

RRX: Okay, so kind of like in the beginning of the plandemic and all that.

BA: Yes, it kind of was a seed planted, we didn’t really do too much, we weren’t even sure how we were gonna do it. We didn’t even know if we were gonna sing, so, we just covered “The Kill” and tracked it in San Antonio in 2019. I’ll never forget the first time we heard the studio bounce, it wasn’t even mixed or anything and we’re just like, wow… this is us, what the hell? Yeah, so that was kind of it and then COVID hit and honestly… I feel like it kind of made us stronger in a weird way. It was just very strange.

RRX: Well, I mean… if you were starting the band about that time, then certainly it just seems like well… now you have time to work on things, where other bands (like my band) that was around for 18 years actually… the pandemic killed our band.

BA: Wow!

RRX: Like that was it. It was over. So, it could work both ways, I guess.

BA: Wow, yeah.

RRX: I’d love to just start a new band, but I haven’t even had time to do that.

BA: Yeah, life has gotten really crazy busy and stuff… like you said, a crazy time to start a band because we really had time to network and plan and find our sound and start to develop, harness the internet, develop the brand, acquire the live equipment, you know?

RRX: Mhm. But it looks like from what I’m seeing, it’s just the two of you guys (Brien Allen & Ruben Zamora) as far as the band itself, or has that changed at all?

BA: It’s definitely kind of changing at this point. We’ve been working with some guys and we’re starting that evaluation of who’s really gonna be with us in the long term? We at least want a couple guys, like drummers/drum tech, at least a powerhouse duo on every instrument. That’s kind of where we are right now. We just did a photo shoot with the guys and we’re starting to really look like a band. But at this point, me and Ruben do the majority of the writing with our producer. Maybe going forward, if one of the guys has a really cool idea, we’ll throw it in there but I mean… for the most part, it’s still really me and Ruben because we’re the singers. We do all the vocals and most of the riffing.

RRX: Your music’s great though, you’ve got a really big sound, which is something that I noticed right off the bat. So obviously, when you’re putting the music out, it’s more than just you guys.

BA: Indeed, yeah, it is a pretty huge sound, when me, Ruben plus and our producer work together, that’s just kind of how it comes out.

RRX: Excellent. You’re based out of Austin now, right?

BA: Yeah, we got guys kind of all over, well, ranging from San Antonio up to North Austin and Leander.

RRX: Austin seems to be the place these days. It’s the new mecca for music. I mean it’s probably better than Nashville at this point.

BA: Yeah, it is insane. I mean… Colorblind, Fire From The Gods, Catch Your Breath, The Sword… all these are huge man.

RRX: Hans Gruber and The Diehards, what could be any better?

BA: Right!

RRX: You guys have only been around for a short time and just I checked out your social media. You guys hit over 40 million streams on TikTok on just one song (Heartbroken Angel).

BA: Yeah, yeah, that was kind of a weird little thing that happened out of nowhere. One day I checked our streams and one of our distribution accounts… I saw that number and I was like… you’re sh***ing me. What is this?

RRX: Your other numbers are good too but damn, 40 million. And to do that, as a relatively newer band. that’s just amazing. Congratulations!

BA: Thank you. Yeah, it was a weird perfect storm of networking, distribution company stuff, them communicating with TikTok, getting on a TikTok Rock playlist and then just a bunch of people sharing it for 6 months.

RRX: So that’s the secret. I’ve never been able to pull that sh** off. Getting 1000 views on one of our music videos was a big deal.

BA: I mean… every view really matters, especially if it’s people that care.

RRX: That is true. Well, it looks like you’re getting a real fan base together.

BA: We wanted to do that before we embarked on any serious live missions, while we perfected our sound, practiced for 9 to12 months and then we could have a fan base. All the equipment’s there, so we could, just hop out of isolation and hit the road.

RRX: Anything else that would be fun to tell us about your music?

BA: It can get so deep, I mean… so deep, for example… “Heartbroken Angel…” fun fact, the original seed of that song goes back to 2012 or 2013.
I met Ruben in 2014 at a Guitar Center in Austin. He was just moving in from El Paso, so, you know? First place, he was gonna, go was the Guitar Center.
I just happened to be there that day and I was like… who is that shredding?
So I obviously had to do a shred battle, right?

RRX: Of course.

BA: And he was beating me and I’m like, well… I have to get his number. My experience with that is like 1 in 10 will follow up.
But he did and it was worth it. He’s just so great. The next thing he showed me was Heartbroken Angel actually.

RRX: Oh wow.

BA: Yeah, from an old band in a different form and we re-recorded it in 2021. Then we took it to our producer and then he like… control, alt, deleted half of it. Then we just rewrote parts and kept some old parts and now it is what it is. It’s funny because that was the song that brought me and Ruben together and it’s really what solidified my interest in him. It wasn’t only his shredding but it was also him showing me that song, I was like, good God, this is the sound I’ve wanted and that’s a fun fact about that song.

RRX: 40 million people can’t be wrong!

BA: Right? It’s crazy because the part that ended up going viral was the part we co-wrote together, it was part of the new section.But if not for the old version, we wouldn’t have even formed.

RRX: That’s amazing, it was in the cards for you guys. What do you have coming up?

BA: Maybe for 2025… we’re probably just gonna focus on more Texas and surrounding states for touring… like shorter runs, but 2026, I think we’ll hopefully have a new EP out by then and we’ll try to coincide lots of other things with that, including a tour or maybe a festival or whatever we can get our hands on.

RRX: I could see big things coming to you guys, man. The sound’s there, the music is there. There’s definitely an audience for it. I think bigger and brighter days are upon you.

BA: Fingers crossed, we hope so. Never in 1000 years did we think we’d be fronting a band together, but it just happened and it’s exciting. Going forward too, I think our music’s obviously going to be evolving. Our sound’s already very dynamic. We wanted to start out the gates where we were kind of dipping our toes in a few things, so people knew what to expect, the unexpected. Who knows what’s to come? But it’s gonna be a lot of fun.

RRX: You’re definitely on my radar now. Was there anything else that you wanted to say? Messages of hope or peace?

BA: One thing that’s really been on our minds lately is don’t let anybody tell you what to think, feel, or even be, right? You’re allowed to feel what you feel and it doesn’t always have to be a good thing. In our experience, the only way to get the true forgiveness or acceptance or positivity is to go through the full cycle of feelings. Whatever it is you’re going through, you’re not alone and you’re allowed to feel that whatever it is you think.It’s a valid thought, otherwise… existence would prohibit it from even being thinkable. Beyond that, to hell with whatever people expect you to be, be who you want to be because you only live once. Don’t ever let people cram you into a box. Be yourself and you will find your people.

RRX: Awesome. Couldn’t have said that better man!

For More information on Bridges Ablaze CLICK HERE!

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