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John Glassbrenner – Capital Region Timekeepers – An Xperience Interview

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John Glassbrenner

John Glassbrenner – Capital Region Timekeepers – An Xperience Interview – by OP Callaghan.

John Glassbrenner is one of the busiest drummers on the scene. He is not only playing in multiple bands, but the sheer number of notes he packs into his playing is simply amazing.  Born and raised in the Capital Region, Glassbrenner is not only one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet but one of the best players in the scene. He is this year’s Extreme Music Awards winner for best drummer and has established himself as a favorite amongst his peers. So please welcome John Glassbrenner!

RRX: Welcome, John. I’m a huge fan of your work. Your playing on the Concrete stuff is really something. Tell us how you got started playing drums.

JG: I got started at a very early age. I started showing interest around 4-5 years old. What caught my interest were a couple of family members who were drummers, and it inspired me to start playing.

RRX: Who were some of your early influences?

JG: My earlier influences ranged from guys like Alex Van Halen, Lars Ulrich, Dave Lombardo, and Neil Peart.

RRX: Tell me about your first kit.

JG: My very first drum set was given to me by a cousin’s boyfriend. It was a blue sparkle 1968 (I think that was the year, lol) Tempro four-piece kit. No hardware other than a kick pedal. I had cymbals hanging on ropes from the rafters with five-pound weights tied to the bottom of the ropes.

RRX: I love it! Suspended cymbals! Do you come from a musical family?

JG: I guess I’d have to say yes. There weren’t a ton of musical players, but there were a few. Some drummers throughout the family and my mother played organ/piano occasionally. It was the cousins, Billy and Bobby, mostly that inspired me to pick up drumsticks and bang on stuff.

RRX: I heard that you’ve studied with the hitman himself, the mythical monster known as Jason Bittner. Have you taken lessons from anyone else, or are you primarily self-taught?

JG: I haven’t taken lessons a whole lot from Jason, but we have been friends for years. I have talked and done some woodshedding with him a couple of times, and he did help me in a lot of ways on how to play to a click (metronome). Over the years, he has also helped me with things like how to be a pro, how to carry oneself out there in the industry, and how to work hard at your craft. Don’t tell him I said this because he will break my stones, lol, but I’ve always looked up to Jason. His work ethic – the things he’s done – really inspire me to get to the level that he’s gotten himself to. That guy is an absolute master at his craft. Again, don’t tell him I said this. Hahahahaha. I have also done a few lessons and general hang sessions with John Longstreth, Alex Cohen. A lot of these guys have become my friends so it turned out more of hangouts and questions among friends than a “lesson“ per se. I am mostly self-taught.

RRX: Jason is super talented and, despite his success, is still involved in nurturing and promoting the local scene. John, tell me about your early performances.

JG: My first real band that actually got out and started playing live was a band called Agony Within. It was a bunch of friends from school, the neighborhood, and a friend of one of those guys who became one of my good friends as well. We all gelled really well and practiced pretty much every day of the week when we could. We were young, had no idea of how things worked, and we wanted to take over the world. Our first show was at QE2 in Albany. I cannot for the life of me remember who we played with, but we opened the show, and that was my first taste of playing in a club and live setting.

RRX: What a great place to start! Tell me about some of your recent work.

JG: The last three years, I was playing in a national band from Long Island called Pyrexia. I left the band about 10 months ago after touring extensively all over the States, doing many tours and festivals, and a trip over to the Czech Republic to play the infamous Obscene Extreme festival. Currently, I am playing with the bands Incontinence, Malefic, and Concrete ( all out of the 518),  and recently joined a band out of Rochester that hasn’t been announced yet so unfortunately I’ll have to keep that one under wraps for now.

RRX: I really love your playing on both the Concrete and Malefic stuff. It’s intense but very clean. No easy feat, playing that fast and maintaining consistency at the same time. Very reminiscent of Jason Bittner and Dave Lombardo (Slayer). Who are some of your current favorite players or influences?

JG: Currently, my influences are all over the place. Mainly death metal and metal players, but a couple that are completely out of the box for me and the music I play. In no particular order, Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall),  John Longstreth (Origin), Derek Roddy (Hate Eternal), Jordan Varela (Lust of Decay), Dave Culross (ex-Suffocation), Mike Smith(ex-Suffocation), Eric Morotti (Suffocation), Nils (Myrkskog), II (Sleep Token), Alex Cohen (ex-Pyrexia/independent) to name a few of the “bigger national players.“ I also take inspiration from quite a few from our local scene as well. Chris Mahar, Phil Shannon to name a couple.

RRX: Excellent. Tell me about your current setup.

JG: Right now, I’m running a very small kit for ease of travel and setup. I’ve been a Trick drums artist for about 20 years or so now. I’m running a Cast Midnight aluminum shell kit consisting of an 18” bass drum (triggers register great on a smaller kick drum), 10” and 12” toms, and a 14” floor tom. I use various snare drums, mainly 13” x 7” in size. Those brands are Trick drums, or a custom-made 13” x 7”  brass-shelled Van Kleef-brand snare.  I also (for now) run Paiste cymbals exclusively. Trick bass drum pedals and Roland electronics for samples and triggering of the kick drum.

RRX: Smaller drums, but a big sound! Where can we see you playing next?

JG: Currently, Concrete has a few shows booked but nothing here in the immediate area. We are playing in Syracuse on March 22, May 9 in Plattsburgh, May 10 in Quebec City, and October 18 in Brooklyn. We are currently also trying to set up tours for the summer and early fall/winter.

RRX: You were the recipient of this year’s Extreme Music Awards’ “Best Drummer,” which is high praise from the local scene. What advice do you have for the young drummer just starting out?

JG: Yes, I did win the Extreme Music Award for best drummer. I definitely did not see that one coming! I was very shocked when I heard my name called. I didn’t think I’d win that and had zero preparation for a speech or anything like that. I was nominated with some absolutely fantastic drummers from this area. Any one of them could have won. I am humbled and beyond grateful to be recognized not only by my drumming peers but the 518 extreme music scene as a whole. As far as advice to young up-and-coming drummers here, all I can say is to be humble, network, and practice incessantly. Make sure that if you want your band or project to be successful, you need to make sure you’re a positive person/influence to be around. Dedication to the craft is of the utmost importance, and always prepare yourself to have to take a couple of steps backward sometimes to move forward. Hard work does pay off if you keep at it. The industry can be very cutthroat out there, and you just need to buckle up for the ride.

RRX: Thanks, John! Looking forward to hearing more from you.

 

 

 

More from OP Callaghan…

 

Himalayan Fur Goblins – The Weird Side of the Internet

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Staff
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Himalayan Fur Goblins

Himalayan Fur Goblins – The Weird Side of the Internet – by Liam Sweeny.

When I was a kid, I loved animals. I still do, but now I get to hate scooping poop and changing litter boxes and the price of the good food the shelter was feeding her, because it was her food and why mess with a proven winner, right? And speaking of shelters, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten an animal bigger than a guinea pig anywhere but my local shelter. Nothing admirable; I grew up broke and that was the cheapest place to get a dog or a cat. But I was at the shelter all the time when I was a kid. I can even remember some of the dogs I couldn’t get because our landlord said no.

So it warmed my heart to find out about Adrian Budnick, an animal shelter volunteer and photographer, who has gone viral for her methods in shining a light (or rather, a flash) on the dogs up for adoption. Her opus, so far? The “Himalayan Fur Goblin.”

The thing about breeds, when it comes to shelters, is that they’re arbitrary and they don’t matter. If you’re a breeder, or entering into dog shows, then pedigree is principal. But when you’re just finding a happy home for stray pups, who the hell cares? “Himalayan Fur Goblin,” “Teacup werewolf,” “Speckled freckled cuddle calf,” might as well be breeds if it makes people want to go to the shelter and get a furry boi.

So Adrian Burdick has whipped up a great TikTok following, and her “breeds” have gone viral. Her shelter has seen a 25% increase in adoptions.

I imagine this is helpful with pit mixes, because so many people buy pit bulls thinking that they’re going to be vicious guard dogs, and then they find out that pits are just as likely to be lovers as they are fighters. So they end up disproportionately represented in shelters. And since they end up always being mixes, why the hell not change the breed to a “Creamsicle push-up pup.”?

I’m changing my cat’s breed to “Dusty orange-speckled keyboard stomper.”

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Ginger Geezus and Friends @ J&P’s Bar & Lounge, 3/23/2025

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Timothy Reidy
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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Ginger Geezus were Listen Up Awards favorites (and winner for Favorite Rock Band), and helped host the afterparty at J&P’s Bar and Lounge. Good times ensued…

Photography by Timothy Reidy.

More from the 2025 Listen Up Awards …

 

Invincible Casuals “Picnic Ape” Live Video

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Staff
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Invincible Casuals “Picnic Ape” Live Video at Wellfleet Beachcomber

shot by Chris Blood and Steve Swain, audio recorded by Chris Blood, mixed by Rikki Bates

KISSTORY Coming to Cohoes Music Hall

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Staff
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KISSTORY

KISSTORY is coming to the Cohoes Music Hall on Friday, April 11, 2025 @ 7:30pm!

Get ready to rock’n’roll all night with the ultimate KISS tribute band! Special Guest is Motley Crue tribute band Live Wire 518.

KISSTORY, known for their authentic look and sound, will take you back to the golden era of KISS, recreating the excitement, energy and spectacle of one of the greatest rock bands of all time. With their signature makeup and flamboyant costumes KISSTORY will have you singing to all your favorite KISS classics.

Join us at the Cohoes Music Hall for a night of unforgettable music and entertainment. Be prepared to be blown away by the electrifying performance of KISSTORY!

Brought to you by E1 PRESENTS. 

$20 to $69. Tickets are available at the Cohoes Music Hall Box Office or online at www.thecohoesmusichall.org.

The Cohoes Music Hall is located at 58 Remsen St., Cohoes NY. (518) 434-077

“Open Mic” @ The Colony, 3/31/2025

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Joshua Scarselli
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The Colony Hotel opened close to 100 years ago, and today provides a hotbed of musical entertainment to the Woodstock area and well beyond. Each Monday, they host a very popular Open Mic Night. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you should.

Photography by Joshua Scarselli.

More from Joshua Scarselli …

 

Show Detective – Weekend Shows – 4/4 – 4/6

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Staff
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Show Detective

Show Detective.

Friday, April 4th

Funny Girl, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

WELCOME TO MUSICAL COMEDY HEAVEN!

Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direction from Michael Mayer, this love letter to the theatre has the whole shebang!

The Fixx, Empire Live, Albany, 7pm

Party Iconic Presents : Charli Parti, Empire Underground, Albany, 9pm

Forever Seger: The Silver Bullet Band Experience, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 7:30pm-10pm

With driving guitars, soaring harmonies and an energy that will lift fans out of their seats, FOREVER SEGER delivers a rock and roll show that brings Bob Seger fans back to days gone by. A dynamic concert experience with a world-class, ten-piece band, Forever Seger invites audiences to dance and sing along once again to the soundtrack of their lives.   Experience the music. Experience the show. Experience Forever Seger.

Off The Record Trio, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 8pm-11pm

Step back in time with Off The Record Trio, the Capital District’s premier 1960s rock ‘n’ roll lounge band!

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

Oobleck is a melee of horns, super heavy drums and bass, and your favorite type of chunky guitar riffing that leaves your bum shaking and your face grinning. When we say funk, we actually mean funked-out-afro-rock-alt-dub-whatever.

Balancing razor-sharp horn lines with live group improvisation, Oobleck mesmerizes…delving fearlessly where the moment takes them. Pushing the bounds of sound, Oobleck’s funk is an unbridled expression of the dark and light: a quintet’s worth of energy and synergy, infusing you with the raw love of music that comes only from playing, dancing and breathing from a place deep down. In the end, it’s funk to fuel your soul.

Bearly Dead, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm

Not just another Grateful Dead cover band. A cosmic exploration of the Grateful Dead catalog! Bearly Dead, Boston-based quintet, performs a concert-style show that celebrates the journey of the Grateful Dead from their earliest records until their final tours. The band delivers a full-spectrum concert experience filled with danceable energy and world-class musicianship. Each and every Grateful Dead member is honored through a collection of classics, b-sides, deep cuts, and exploratory jams. Holding true to the spirit of the music, Bearly Dead frequently adds to their 250+ song catalog and continues to showcase authentic, spontaneous improvisation – live and in-person – making each show a wildly unique Grateful Dead experience you do not want to miss!

Funky Fridays with Tad Cautious The Eleven at Lark Hall, Albany, 10pm

Tad Cautious is a DJ and musical curator who has performed at festivals such as Waking Windows in Vermont, Chicago’s Sacred Rose festival and Phish’s Riviera Maya festival in Cancun. He is the host of The Bunny, a weekly free-format show on SiriusXM based on the onsite station of the same name that he has helmed at Phish festivals since 1996. His sets range from international funk, psychedelic jazz and soul to muddled electronics, classic dub, and archival oddities, resulting in a pleasant disorientation.

Crystal Ship: Tribute to The Doors, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 8:30pm-11:30pm

Step back in time to the vibrant Sunset Strip in the swinging 1960s with Crystal Ship, the ultimate and definitive tribute to The Doors. Immerse yourself in the music, magic, and intensity of a live Doors concert as this highly acclaimed act takes you on a journey that will transport you straight into the heart of the iconic era. Crystal Ship is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Jim Morrison and The Doors, and they do it with unparalleled authenticity.

The Special Consensus, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-9:30pm

An opportunity to witness a milestone performance by Special Consensus as they commemorate five decades of exceptional bluegrass music.

Join us at Caffè Lena as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Special Consensus, a renowned bluegrass band that has been captivating audiences since 1975. Founded and led by banjo virtuoso Greg Cahill, recipient of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Distinguished Achievement Award and inductee into the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America’s Hall of Greats, the band has consistently delivered a contemporary bluegrass sound while honoring its rich traditions.

Angel Du$t / Restraining Order / Halo Bite / Dogpisser, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

4/4 10:00 PM Tad Cautious- Eleven at Lark Hall

4/4 5:00 PM Russ Kennedy- Wheatfields Clifton Park

4/4 5:30 PM Band Of Gold with Carman Lookshire- Grappa 72

4/4 5:30 PM Christine Spero- Wishing Well

4/4 5:30 PM Pat Decker- Prime at Saratoga National

4/4 5:30 PM Yankee Holler- Lionheart on The Green

4/4 6:00 PM Becca Frame Duo- Indian Ladder Farms

4/4 6:00 PM Bobbie Van Detta- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park

4/4 6:00 PM Chris Carey & Tim Wechgelaer- Cock & Bull

4/4 6:00 PM George Krakat- Powers Pub

4/4 6:00 PM Juniper- Scarlet Knife

4/4 6:00 PM Just Nate- Carsons Woodside Tavern

4/4 6:00 PM Luke Pavlus- Spa City Tap & Barrel

4/4 6:00 PM Oobleck- Eleven at Lark Hall

4/4 6:00 PM Ragged Company- Inn at Saratoga

4/4 6:00 PM Singer Songwriter Night — Rob Fleming Josh Clevenstine-

4/4 6:00 PM Steve Candlen- Saratoga Winery

4/4 6:30 PM Bennett Brothers- Artisanal Brew Works

4/4 6:30 PM Joe Adee & The Lugnuts- Peddlers Bar & Bistro

4/4 6:30 PM Stretch Duo- Other One Brewery

4/4 7:00 PM Earth To Joe- Nanola

4/4 7:00 PM Evening With Sara Caswell- Stella’s Pasta Bar at The Van Dyck

4/4 7:00 PM Harmonic Duo- Seven Bistro

4/4 7:00 PM Nocturne- Quarters

4/4 7:00 PM POGO- O’Slattery’s

4/4 7:00 PM Shakedown Citi- Unihog

4/4 7:00 PM Spoiler- Holy Moses Tavern

4/4 7:30 PM Motion Blur- Hometown Pub & Grub

4/4 8:00 PM Bearly Dead- Lark Hall

4/4 8:00 PM Deadbeat Valentine- Saratoga City Tavern

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

4/4 8:00 PM Jess Jocoy- Cooperstown Distillery

4/4 8:00 PM TV Doctors & Dysfunktone- Ophelias Restaurant

4/4 8:30 PM Crystal Ship- Putnam Place

4/4 8:30 PM The Warped Band- Frog Alley Brewing

4/4 9:00 PM Aquanett- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino

4/4 9:30 PM Coverups- Spa City Tap & Barrel

Saturday, April 5th

ADRENALIZE – The Ultimate Def Leppard Experience, The Egg, Albany, 8pm

Drawing their name from Def Leppard’s fifth studio album (which debuted at No. 1 on both the UK Albums Chart and the U.S. Billboard 200), ADRENALIZE – The Ultimate Def Leppard Experience recreates the chart-topping, chest-thumping anthems that made Def Leppard the iconic and dominant force in arena rock of the ‘80s and beyond.

You’ll hear the hook-laden radio and MTV mega-hits like “Foolin’”, “Rock of Ages,” “Photograph,” “Hysteria,” “Rocket,” “Animal,” “Armageddon It,” “Love Bites,” and “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” along with deep cuts like “Wasted,” “High ‘n’ Dry,” and “Switch 625!”

Def Leppard, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019, is one of the world’s best-selling music artists, having sold more than 100 million records worldwide. They also hold the honor of being the top UK hard rock touring act, grossing $514 million worth of tickets since July 1980. This places them as the highest UK rock band earner in the last 42 years ahead of Iron Maiden.

Albany Symphony: Reena Esmail + Boléro, The Palace Theatre, Albany, 7:30pm

David Alan Miller, conductor
Kala Ramnath, violin

Maurice Ravel: Boléro

Alfredo Rodriguez Trio, SPAC, Saratoga Springs, 7pm

This program features a celebration of Cuban and Latin rhythms led by the passionate and electrifying Alfredo Rodriguez and his dynamic trio. Rodriguez creates a fusion of Latin, pop, timba, jazz, tango and funk that will transport you straight to the heart of Havana. His collective music chops will leave you breathless and exhilarated as you dance the night away to music that is sinuous, seductive and utterly irresistible.

Funny Girl, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

WELCOME TO MUSICAL COMEDY HEAVEN!

Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direction from Michael Mayer, this love letter to the theatre has the whole shebang!

Outta My Head, Empire Underground, Albany, 7pm

Party101 with Matt Bennett, Empire Live, Albany, 8pm

>*-Cohoes Music Hall

Jimmy Dore, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 8pm-10pm

“Jimmy Dore is outrageous and outraged, bothersome and bothered, a crucial, profane, passionate voice for progressives and freethinkers in 21st century America.” – Patton Oswalt

Jimmy Dore is a certified Youtube sensation with over ONE MILLION subscribers and over 600 million views.

Jimmy is also an award winning comedian with several Comedy Central Specials including “Citizen Jimmy” which was chosen “Best Of The Year” by iTunes and Punchline magazine.

Jimmy’s newest role is that of a political commentator and activist who isn’t afraid to challenge establishment narratives and speak truth to power. His authenticity and commitment to truth has earned him an incredibly diverse fan base of loyal viewers who are drawn to his quick wit and finely tuned BS detector.

Gratefully Yours, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 8pm-11pm

Experience the spirit of the Grateful Dead with Gratefully Yours, a band that goes beyond simply covering the music—they bring it to life. With deep improvisation, spontaneous energy, and a unique connection with the crowd, every show is an unforgettable journey. You might even hear your dream setli

Fireside Collective, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm-11:30pm

Fireside Collective has been on a roll since emerging seven years ago from the fertile roots music scene of Asheville, North Carolina. In quick order, the progressive bluegrass group released its debut album, won the 2016 Band Contest at MerleFest, earned an International Bluegrass Music Association Momentum Band of the Year nomination, and embarked on an ambitious touring schedule that’s earned an enthusiastic reception from traditional bluegrass to wide-ranging, eclectic music festival audiences alike.  ​Blending the characteristic interplay of bluegrass instrumentation and harmonies with strong original material and exuberant energy, Fireside Collective has drawn on folk, blues, funk and a wide variety of bluegrass sounds to create a distinctive body of work that’s all their own.

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

Little Folks Series Featuring Evie Ladin & Keith Terry, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 3pm-4pm

From bells and banjos to body music, boxes, and balls, Evie Ladin & Keith Terry transform everyday objects—and even their own bodies—into instruments! Blending Appalachian step dancing, world rhythms, jazz, and found sounds, this duo creates a fun, interactive performance that will have kids and families clapping, stomping, and discovering the music all around them.

Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-9pm

Fresh off their first-place win at the 2023 Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival band competition, Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light have been captivating audiences across the Northeast. With songs that are both sweet and biting, Sumner’s lyric-forward writing and intricate, winding chord progressions push far beyond traditional folk conventions. Her powerful vocals are matched by the extraordinary talents of Kat Wallace (fiddle) and Mike Siegel (upright bass), whose dynamic performances elevate the music to breathtaking heights.

Sumner’s career began on the bluegrass circuit with the genre-bending Boston group Twisted Pine, but her solo work has earned her critical acclaim. She won the Lennon Award in the folk category of the 2021 John Lennon Songwriting Contest for her song “Radium Girls (Curie Eleison),” secured a spot in the Kerrville New Folk Competition, and was recognized four consecutive years as one of WBUR/NPR’s top Massachusetts entries in the Tiny Desk Competition.

Their latest album, Heartless Things, marks a bold evolution in Sumner’s sound, blending elements of chamber-folk and indie-pop with Appalachian balladry and bluesy hooks. This immersive collection showcases her top-notch narrative songwriting while pushing the boundaries of contemporary folk music. Don’t miss this unforgettable evening of music that’s redefining what modern folk can be.

Can’t make it in person? Stream the show live at Caffè Lena TV. Enjoy two weeks access with your live stream ticket.

90s Grunge Cover Band, Lost and Found, Albany, 9:30pm

Mista Pigz (Album Release Show) / Hanzo Bladez / ELLZZ / Capital City Crook$ / Sime Gezus / Beat Behemoth / Xkwisit, No Fun, Troy, 6pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

4/5 5:00 PM Donna & The Buffalo- Revolution Hall

4/5 5:00 PM Nick Mattison- Holy Moses Tavern

4/5 5:00 PM Shine On- Artisanal Brew Works

4/5 5:30 PM Chris Dollard- Tinney’s Tavern

4/5 5:30 PM Matt Donnelly- Wishing Well

4/5 6:00 PM Allen & Azzaam- Stella’s Pasta Bar at The Van Dyck

4/5 6:00 PM Erin Powers- Inn at Saratoga

4/5 6:00 PM Jay Yager- Henry’s Tavern

4/5 6:00 PM Jeff Grippin- Korner Bar & Grill

4/5 6:00 PM Jenna Sue & Steve Cowles- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park

4/5 6:00 PM Megan & Ryan- Spa City Tap & Barrel

4/5 6:00 PM Mitch Frasier- Carsons Woodside Tavern

4/5 6:00 PM Phil Drum- Powers Pub

4/5 7:00 PM Ain’t No Stangers- Hometown Pub & Grub

4/5 7:00 PM Big Medicine- Parting Glass

4/5 7:00 PM Josh Clevenstine- Across The Street Pub

4/5 7:00 PM Scott Bravo- Emack & Bolios

4/5 8:00 PM Albany Rock Pit- September’s Too

4/5 8:00 PM DJ Chizzick- Misfit

4/5 8:00 PM Fireside Collective- Lark Hall

4/5 8:00 PM Matty D- Bourbon Room

4/5 9:00 PM DJ Prez- Saratoga City Tavern

4/5 9:00 PM Gadget- Nine Maple

4/5 9:30 AM Country Converts- Saratoga Farmers Market Wilton Mall

4/5 9:30 PM Hit n Run- Spa City Tap & Barrel

4/5 9:30 PM Matt Cosgrove Band- Caroline St. Pub

Sunday, April 6th

Funny Girl, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direction from Michael Mayer, this love letter to the theatre has the whole shebang!

Sunday Jazz at UPH: Petite Fleur, Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga Springs

Petite Fleur is a Baltimore-based group specializing in Jazz Manouche, drawing great inspiration from Django Reinhardt. The trio—Sami Arefin (guitar), Christie Macdonald (guitar and vocals), and Annie Bailey (bass)—carries on the tradition of French swing music, keeping one of jazz’s most energizing and sentimental genres alive for audiences across the East Coast.

Armor For Sleep – What To Do When You Are Dead – 20th Anniversary, Empire Live, Albany, 7pm

LOJOBROWN feat.Logan Richardson, Joe Sanders & Justin Brown, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 7pm-9pm

Three of the globe’s most innovative artists in contemporary jazz music—Logan Richardson, Joe Sanders, and Justin Brown—unite to form LOJOBROWN. Individually celebrated as visionaries who consistently push the boundaries of modern jazz, their collaboration promises a bold exploration of what’s possible when three singular voices converge to create art.

Hip Hop & Breakdancing Night, No Fun, Troy, 5:30pm-11:30pm

From “Bar People.”

4/6 1:00 PM Matty Finn- Other One Brewery

4/6 2:00 PM Kids Open Mic- Emack & Bolios

4/6 3:00 PM Triple Trouble- Artisanal Brew Works

4/6 4:00 PM Grand Central Trio- Carsons Woodside Tavern

4/6 4:00 PM PetiteFleur Jazz- Universal Preservation Hall

4/6 8:00 PM Albany Rock Pit- September’s Too

4/9 8:00 PM Music Bingo Hosted By Michelle- Misfit

 

 

 

Giorgio Tsoukalos – An Xperience Interview

By
Staff
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Giorgio Tsoukalos

Giorgio Tsoukalos – An Xperience Interview – by Rob Smittix.

RRX: Thanks for talking to me. From where I stand, It looks like you’ve got the best job in the world.

GT: Thank you very much. Look, if somebody had told me that one day, I’d be crisscrossing the United States with the TV show that I’m on, I would have said no way, it’ll never happen, and here we are. I have to pinch myself, really, because the love and the enthusiasm that we receive on the road from our fans is something else. We love our fans, and this is something where we go out there and we give a personal hello and thank you to them.

RRX: Absolutely. Well, as someone myself who videotaped a UFO a couple of years ago and have seen plenty since … I mean, I’ve always been interested in it, but when I start seeing it for myself, I’m like, holy crap, it’s real! Have you ever witnessed anything yourself?

GT: So first of all I think it’s awesome that you too have witnessed something. More and more people are seeing stuff and nobody can tell you that you didn’t see what you saw because you videoed it.

RRX: I know.

GT: This was back in August of 2014 … if this story had happened to me alone, I would not tell the story, but I was there with 30 other people out in the desert. Some of us had night vision goggles, and some of us did not. Even the people without the night vision goggles witnessed the exact same thing. We’re watching the sky, and all of a sudden, this one guy says, “Hey everyone, look over there at the Big Dipper!”  If you know anything about constellations, the Big Dipper is pretty easy to identify. You’ve got the rectangle, and you’ve got the handle of the dipper, basically.

RRX: Right.

GT: Inside the rectangle, to the naked eye on a starry night, it’s black and completely dark, there’s nothing in there. Well, sure enough, there were two additional stars inside the rectangle of that Big Dipper. Within a 10-minute period, after every two or three minutes, those two lights, those two stars, started to shine brighter for about 10-20 seconds, and then they dimmed again to their original luminosity. After about two minutes, they got brighter again, then dimmed to their original luminosity, but on the third time that they powered up again, those two little stars moved out of the Big Dipper constellation equally distant from each other and they just shot into space at breakneck speed! They essentially just blipped out. All of us were stone-cold sober, we may have had a beer or two, but … you know? We were all there, and we all saw the same thing. Again, you tell me that we did not see what we saw that night … it was very strange and all I could wonder was what do these pilots look like? That’s all I could think of.

RRX: Witnessing it with other people is a big deal because otherwise you’re gonna question if maybe your mind was playing tricks on you. Now, we’re in a time where new information is getting released and a lot of people are hoping for disclosure. Part of me is like … I don’t know man, maybe be careful what you’re wishing for but another part of me is like maybe we can use a little intervention because somebody’s gotta step in and say something before we implode. But if contact did happen, how do you think people would respond to that?

GT: Such a great question, and it’s something that I ponder and ruminate about almost every day. I’ve certainly changed my opinions over the years because had you asked me this question 30 years ago, I would’ve thought that the planet has to prepare itself for contact otherwise, people would break out in panic. But if you remember December 2017, when the Pentagon Papers were leaked about that UAP program that the US government had been conducting for at least 5 years … that story came on a Friday, and there was no panic; people went back to work on Monday, kind of unfazed and that to me was Day One of disclosure by the way. Since then, we’ve now had two, if not three, congressional hearings already about UFOs. I mean, disclosure is happening. I know you’ll agree with this: disclosure is not a one-time event, it’s a process, it’s a drawn-out situation, and we’re smack dab in the middle of it!

I think that people like you and I or your audience listening to this right now … while we may be deeply into the UFO topic and we know all the details, we all know the cases and so on, we are still the minority. The great majority of the population doesn’t really care about UFOs. I’m sorry to break it to you.

RRX: No, you’re right. I don’t get it but you’re right.

GT: The hearings are not for us, they are for the rest of the population essentially to be conditioned, so that everybody is getting ready for the conversation. I also think that Ancient Aliens absolutely has been part of this process of getting people ready.

RRX: I think so.

GT: We’ve been on the air since 2009 and people are still tuning in because we’ve struck a chord. People are always interested to learn, how did it all begin? Where did we come from? Why are we here and where are we going?

RRX: Exactly. Now, I know that probably everyone who gets a chance to chat with you could probably talk to you for hours. But we don’t have hours, I only have a minute or so left of your time. So, I guess my last question to leave you with is this. Of all the things that you’ve seen and all the information that you’ve come across, is there anything that stands out as the most compelling? What to you really confirms that something has existed in ancient times?

GT: Absolutely. It’s a place in South America in the highlands of the Andes in the Bolivian plateau called Puma Punku. It’s an ancient site that’s about 13,000 ft altitude, and they have magnificent structures up there, gigantic platforms made of sandstone and smaller blocks made of andesite that are so perfectly fitted together that you cannot put a dollar bill in between them. And having been made of andesite at an altitude of 13,000 feet raises the question of transportation. It raises the question of how andesite was cut with tools that so far have not yet been found. So far, they only found bronze and copper tools up there, and it’s wishful thinking to suggest that andesite was cut with bronze or copper, even iron cannot cut andesite. Obviously, these blocks up there were cut and manufactured by human beings. According to the local population, whom you still can visit today, they themselves say that this was all done by … well, you have two versions, either by the so-called giants or by the so-called gods. But they did it for them, and the gods or the giants taught the local population how to do it.  In one other story, it even says that the local population had nothing to do with it, and the giants or the gods built that place in one single night. That is not Giorgio Tsoukalos, that’s from Inca accounts recorded by chroniclers. All people have to do is go and open the books, the ones with the paper pages, the ones that don’t run out of battery power. It’s all there. People have forgotten how to use a library.

RRX: Yeah, no kidding. Well, I believe that’s my time. I appreciate you and I look forward to binge-watching Ancient Aliens again tonight, like I do most nights. And hey, if you ever get bored, you got my number. I’ll talk to you for hours.

GT: You got it. Thank you so much. This is a pleasure and I hope to see you at the show.

Ancient Aliens Live

UPAC (Kingston, NY)

April 11th, 8pm

AncientAliensLiveTour.com

boxoffice@bardavon.org

 

 

 

More from Rob Smittix…

EXTC Coming to the Strand Theatre April 12th

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Staff
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EXTC

On Saturday April 12, 2025 @ 8:00pm, the band EXTC is coming to the Strand Theatre! Featuring the music of XTC with drummer Terry Chambers, this is going to be a great night of XTC music!

For almost four decades XTC fans could only dream of witnessing the sensational XTC classic songbook played live. That dream has now become a reality. XTC’s legendary drummer Terry Chambers is back on the road with his band EXTC (named and approved by XTC frontman, Andy Partridge).

Emerging out of the post-punk and new-wave explosion of the late 70s XTC experienced global success touring with the likes of The Police and Talking Heads.

They achieved huge success in North America and Japan. In 1982 XTC stopped touring to become a studio-based entity. Born in early 2019, EXTC set out to achieve its goals of performing to audiences who had waited so long to hear the XTC back catalogue performed live.

EXTC has kept much of the original fan base from XTC’s glory days of the late 70s and early 80s as well as gaining a new following of fans in their own right. Enthusiastic fans are eager to see Terry and EXTC perform all those classics live once more.

Alongside Terry the EXTC line-up features frontman Steve Hampton (lead vocals & guitar – Joe Jackson, The Vapors and Dead Crow Road) and Terry Lines (bass & vocals – The Rams and Dead Crow Road). A new live album will be released by a USA based record label on Friday, April 4, 2025. Going to be a great show!

$30 general admission. Tickets are available at the Strand Box Office; cash or check only or online at Brown Paper Tickets. Doors into the lobby, coffee shop and box office open at 6:30pm. For the ticketing link, please visit our website at www.mystrandtheatre.org. The Strand Theatre is located at 210 Main St, Hudson Falls, NY.

Please visit our website, Facebook or Instagram accounts for a list of upcoming events at the Strand.

Xperience Did It! Joe Putrock – An Xperience Interview 6/4/2024

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Staff
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Joe Putrock – An Xperience Interview – by OP Callaghan.

“There are thousands of great pictures of Seth (Powell) and Mike (Pauley), but very few of me!” mused Joe Putrock. “That’s what happens when you spend so much time behind the camera!” As the drummer for the Charlie Watts Riots, Putrock is used to sitting in the back. But when he’s not behind the kit, he’s behind the lens, as one of the area’s most well-known and accomplished photographers. He’s a great guy, and a great drummer, so please welcome Joe Putrock!

RRX: How did you get started playing drums? How old were you when you started?

JP: I started playing the drums around fourth grade. Not having the air for the French horn (my first try at an instrument), and not wanting to learn music theory enough to play the trumpet (my second attempted instrument), I settled on the drums. This made me, and my music teacher, much happier and I loved the fact that all I had to carry was a pair of drumsticks and not lug around a French horn.

RRX: Have you taken lessons, or are you self-taught?

JP: I took lessons for a little while, but then basically relied on watching MTV and trying to replicate what I saw on television. I often wonder if I had YouTube when I was a kid if I would have been a much better drummer as an adult! The access to instruction, videos, and tutorials is really unbelievable.

RRX: Who are some of your influences?

JP: My main influence was always Phil Collins. The stuff he did with Genesis, his solo stuff, and the Brand X records were all I would listen to as a kid. There was also Chester Thompson, who was the touring drummer for Genesis (among others), Stewart Copeland of The Police, Steve Gadd, Liberty DeVitto from Billy Joel’s band, Kenny Aronoff from John Cougar’s band, Tony Thompson who played for the Power Station (I was a bit too young for his playing with Chic), and a ton of other drummers that I didn’t even know by name. Before the internet, and liner notes, oftentimes I was influenced by drummers that I didn’t know by name until years later.

RRX: Do you come from a musical family?

JP: I am the only person in my family that plays an instrument. That being said, I came from a household where music was very important and where all of my extended family members had incredibly diverse tastes in music. My grandmother always had country music playing on the radio, my aunt was always listening to the Beatles or Elvis, my uncle is the one that got me into Genesis, and my mother would be listening to Marvin Gaye and the Village People one minute and Kenny Rogers and Bobby Vinton polka records the next. There was never a shortage of things for me to listen to as a child.

RRX: Tell me about your first kit.

JP: Oh man, I remember it like it was yesterday!! It was a used silver/gray Reuther five-piece that my mother bought me for graduating eighth grade. I grew up with two siblings and a single mother; I still don’t know where she got the money for it. I pounded on that thing constantly. I’m sure I loved that drum set way more than my neighbors did!

RRX: What was your first gig?

JP: St. Paul’s School, playing the snare drum part to “Don’t You Want Me” by the Human League and playing the bass drum part to “Say, Say, Say” by Michael Jackson. Probably sixth or seventh grade. I really thought I had made it at that point and that my career as a rock drummer was cemented.

RRX: I think it did! Do you play any other instruments?

JP: I would love to say that I did, but nothing else ever worked out.

RRX: What do you do when you’re not playing? Any other careers beyond rock stardom?

JP: I have always had day jobs, mostly revolving around photography or music. Shooting bands, shooting for music publications, sound guy at a live music club, etc. Whatever the job, it had to be flexible so that if I had a gig, I could have the time off to go play it.

RRX: Tell me about some of your playing experiences. Who have you played with?

JP: I have played with an incredibly varied bunch of people. I was always willing to play for whoever needed someone. Oftentimes it was just one gig here, two or three gigs there with someone else. I played for several years with Howard Glassman and his band the Coal Palace Kings. Most notably, I spent probably a decade with Seth Powell, Brendan Pendergast, and Mike Pauley in The Charlie Watts Riots.

RRX: Any particular gig (good or bad) stand out?

JP: None really stand out more than any of the others, but it seems (or at least I like to think) that I can remember so much of it. Everyone has gigs that they drove three hours to play for a bartender or set up in front of another act to play a 20-minute opening slot on three square feet of the stage. Those weren’t great, but they were still a gig. I’ve been very fortunate to play really great gigs though, with really great people. There is one funny gig now that I think of it … Jed Davis needed a fill-in drummer for a couple of gigs, one of them being Larkfest. The drums on the record were played by Anton Fig, of the Late Night with David Letterman Band and Kiss, so I really had my hands full. Didn’t have much time to learn the stuff and the parts weren’t easy. I did my homework, wrote out charts, practiced, and had everything all set. We’re playing the gig in front of a pretty decent-sized crowd, the first song starts, and the wind picks up and blows my charts all over the Dunkin’ Donuts parking lot!!

RRX: Yikes! What are you playing now?

JP: Unfortunately, I’m not playing much at all these days. It’s funny—when you’re younger you have no money and garbage jobs, you borrow drums and cymbals, and gig whenever you can because it’s all you want to do. You get older, have a good job, can afford any drum set and cymbal setup that you want, but don’t have the time to get out somewhere and play. I have an Alesis kit that I have set up in my office now. I get to play, and my neighbors don’t hate me. I would love to start gigging again. If anyone out there is looking for a drummer, practices for two hours a week on Sunday morning, gigs once or twice a month (tops) in front of at least 50 people (preferably on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday evenings), provides someone to transport, load in and load out my kit, pays well and plays exactly the type of music I want to play, please get in touch with me!

RRX: Hahahahahahahaha! Dream gig! Put together your dream band, with you on drums.

JP: It sounds kiss-ass, but when Seth Powell and Mike Pauley were on, I can’t think of another band I would want to play with. When we were locked in, playing in front of an energetic crowd, it was some of the best playing experiences I have had. We had some really great times.

RRX: Not kiss-ass at all. Very sweet. Demented, but sweet. Have you ever been arrested? Was it Seth’s fault? Does he have dirt on you?

JP: Never been arrested, but the one time I’ve been pulled over was because of Seth Powell! We were playing somewhere in Massachusetts, and they have those weird left turns where you turn right, and then it spins you around to where you are perpendicular to the road you were on. For some reason, I was driving, and Seth says, “Just take the left, it doesn’t matter!” So, I do, and then of course—flashing lights.

RRX: What do you like to do when you’re not playing music?

JP: Luckily, I still shoot quite a bit. Photography has always been my main thing and continues to be. Being a middle-aged guy, I have started playing pickleball, of course. I read quite a bit, and make artwork, but whatever I’m doing, you can bet there is music on.

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