“And We Keep,” by Hana van der Kolk, is described as “a song, a dance, and a ceremony devised specifically for the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. It was performed on February 19 and made use of the entire theater.
Photography by Timothy Reidy.
Thus Love / Laveda / Closebye @ No Fun, 2/19/2025
Brattleboro’s Thus Love closed out the North American leg of their World Tour at No Fun on February 19. With support from Laveda and NYC-based Closebye, this made for a great rock show at the Troy venue.
Photography by Timothy Reidy.
Show Detective – Weekend Shows – 2/28 – 3/2
Show Detective.
Friday, February 28th
Total Mass Retain YES Tribute Band, The Linda, Albany, 8pm-10pm
After their successful 2024 debut, The Linda proudly presents the return of Total Mass Retain YES Tribute Band on Friday, February 28, 2025. YesFans and Prog Fans don’t want to miss this show!!
Officially endorsed by YES, TMR is recognized as the #1 YES Tribute Band in the USA. Regarding their return to The Linda, TMR drummer Joe Cass had this to say…
“We’re so excited to return to Albany after an amazing first show at the Linda. Last year, we performed two full albums, Fragile and Close to the Edge…this time we are putting together an incredible mix of YES Classics and Epics from the most loved 70s and 80s albums, including The Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the Edge, Going For The One, 90125, and more!!!”
99.5 the River’s Pay Less for the Dress, Proctor’s Theatre, Schenectady
The 99.5 The River Pay Less for the Dress gives area students the opportunity to purchase new and gently used prom dresses for just $9.95 each, while helping two local charities, The Proctors Scholarship Fund and The ARC of Rensselaer County.
Internal Bleeding, Empire Underground, Albany, 7pm
The Wheel, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 8pm-10pm
Music of The Grateful Dead and Beyond!
The Blind Owl Band w/ Bella’s Bartok, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-11:30pm
Hailing from Saranac Lake, NY, in the heart of the Adirondack mountains, The Blind Owl Band has been creating what they call Freight Train String Music since 2010. And a freight train it truly is. Although the quartet’s sound is rooted in traditional stringed instruments (guitar, basses, banjo and mandolin), their music surges forward with the strength and power of a hundred-ton diesel locomotive. Songs barrel down the tracks with momentum and intensity normally found in much heavier, heavily amplified music. “Although we look like a bluegrass band we are not,” explains co-founder Eric Munley (mandolin, vocals).
Carolyn Shapiro & Band, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-9:30pm
Carolyn Shapiro is an Eddie Award-winning (Capital Region Folk Artist of the Year, 2022) old-time banjo player and songwriter from Glens Falls. Her sound is rooted in the old songs of Appalachia. Trained in the clawhammer style of banjo by Trish Miller and John Kirk, Carolyn blends tradition with her own unique, sultry flavor to create honest music that feeds the soul like a good home-cooked meal.
Hellseeker Goth Nite w/ Ghost Cop / Bloodx3 / Architrave, No Fun, Troy, 8pm-11pm
From “Bar People.”
2/28 10:00 PM Boombox- Putnam Place
2/28 5:00 PM Garland Nelson- Prime at Saratoga National
2/28 5:30 PM Bennett Brothers- Bootleggers
2/28 5:30 PM Rob Aronstein- Wishing Well
2/28 6:00 PM Al Santoro Trio- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino
2/28 6:00 PM BJ Fitzgerald- Spa City Tap & Barrel
2/28 6:00 PM Brian Kane- Carsons Woodside Tavern
2/28 6:00 PM Dan Dekalb- 677 Prime
2/28 6:00 PM Dazey Duo- Saratoga Winery
2/28 6:00 PM Justin Joyner- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park
2/28 6:00 PM Keith Pray Trio- Cock & Bull
2/28 6:00 PM Keri Alonzo- Inn at Saratoga
2/28 6:00 PM North & South Dakotas- Saratoga Winery
2/28 6:00 PM Off The Record- Normanside Country Club
2/28 6:00 PM Pat Decker- The Scarlet Knife
2/28 6:00 PM Rafa- Powers Pub
2/28 6:00 PM Sherian Nolan & Mike Steiner- Dock Browns Tavern
2/28 6:00 PM Steve Candlen- Thirsty Owl
2/28 6:30 PM Coverups Duo- Peddlers Bar & Bistro
2/28 6:30 PM Shine On- Artisanal Brew Works
2/28 6:30 PM Stretch Duo- Other One Brewery
2/28 7:00 PM Chris Dollard- Dukes Chophouse At Rivers Casino
2/28 7:00 PM Grand Central Trio- Bunker Saratoga
2/28 7:00 PM Jeff Walton- Principessa Elena
2/28 7:00 PM Mike McMann- Cherry Plain Square #17
2/28 7:00 PM On Tap Duo- Kraverie
2/28 7:00 PM Peter Pashoukos- Hometown Pub & Grub
2/28 7:00 PM Pineapple Plexus- Quarters
2/28 7:00 PM The Bypass- O’Slattery’s
2/28 8:00 PM Blind Owl Band & Bella Bartok- Putnam Place
2/28 8:00 PM Blindf Owl Band- Putnam Place
2/28 8:00 PM Carolyn Shapiro Band- Caffe Lena
2/28 8:00 PM DJ Vision- Misfit
2/28 8:00 PM Litt Hour- Al’s Roadhouse
2/28 8:00 PM Matt Cosgrove- Bourbon Room
2/28 8:00 PM Mischief with Dan Mellom- Holy Moses Tavern
2/28 8:00 PM Ninedeeeznite- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino
2/28 8:00 PM Refrigerator’s- Wicked Eatery
2/28 8:00 PM Will Pedicone- Arsenal City Tavern
2/28 8:30 PM Big Sky Country- Frog Alley Brewing
2/28 9:00 PM Funk Evolution- Vapor
2/28 9:00 PM Pete Sweeny Trio- Nine Maple
2/28 9:30 PM Watchdog- Spa City Tap & Barrel
Saturday, March 1st
Hannaford Kidz Expo, The Egg, Albany, 11am
Featuring three shows by Ridiculous Nicholas with DJ Harlan spinning tunes in the lobby
99.5 the River’s Pay Less for the Dress, Proctor’s Theatre, Schenectady
The 99.5 The River Pay Less for the Dress gives area students the opportunity to purchase new and gently used prom dresses for just $9.95 each, while helping two local charities, The Proctors Scholarship Fund and The ARC of Rensselaer County.
Oscar Nominated Shorts: Animation, Proctor’s Theatre, Schenectady
For the 20th consecutive year, ShortsTV presents “Oscar-Nominated Short Films.” With all three categories offered – Animated, Live Action and Documentary – this is your annual chance to predict the winners! A perennial hit with audiences around the country and the world, don’t miss this year’s selection of shorts. The Academy Awards take place Sunday, March 2.
Septicflesh, Empire Live, Albany, 7pm
Danny Quane, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 7pm-10pm
Danny Quane is an acoustic singer songwriter playing original folk/Indie, Irish, and popular bar room covers.
Creatures of the Night: A Planetarium Party, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-11pm
To celebrate the impact of “The Monkey” and the release of the new adaptation, the original film’s writer/director Spencer Sherry has teamed up with legendary local institution Planetarium Party to bring you a very special evening of dancing, drinks, and a whole lot of animal print. Syd and M. of Syd Silvair, and Dubjack will each be throwing down the beats, while Good Karma Entertainment delivers some show-stopping surprise performances. The dress code is bestial, so wear your finest furs, feathers, fins – (fangs?). Come get feral and dance the night away with us.
Ladies Night ft: King Bully & Sly Fox, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 11:30pm-2am
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.
Little Folks Series featuring FAB5, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 3pm-4pm
FAB5, a project of Mostly Modern, brings the magic of music to life for kids and families!
FAB5, a project of Mostly Modern, brings the magic of music to life for kids and families! With a vibrant string quartet and percussion, they blend classical, Celtic, Latin, film scores, and modern tunes into an energetic, interactive experience. Perfect for sparking young imaginations and inspiring a love for music.
Caleb Klauder + Reeb Willms Country Band, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-9:30pm
Driving dance tunes, winning originals, and enduring dedication to the traditional country music of America’s rural working people.
Dust off your boots for some bona fide honky tonk! Country music powerhouses Caleb and Reeb are known for driving dance tunes, frequently-covered originals, and enduring dedication to the traditional country music of America’s rural working class. Hailing from Washington State, Caleb and Reeb are pillars of the Pacific Northwest’s old-time and country scene via the Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms Country Band and the Foghorn Stringband, which Caleb co-founded.
Mardi Gras Party, w/ Nolanauts, The Brass Machine, Glen David Andrews, Lost and Found, Albany, 2pm
Front Biz / Haunted Cat / Yort, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm
From “Bar People.”
3/1 7:00 PM POGO- Hometown Pub & Grub
Sunday, March 2nd
Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra – Concert III: REACH, Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga Springs
The program features John Musto performing his “Litany” and “Piano Concerto #2,” Debussy’s “Children’s Corner” and guest vocalist Ann Marie Adamick with Mahler’s “Songs of the Wayfarer.”
Don’t miss the pre-concert talk with our guest artists and Artistic Director/Conductor Glen Cortese at 2 p.m. at UPH! It’s an excellent way to learn more about the music and an opportunity to ask questions about the performance. All are invited to attend.
The Mallett Brothers Trio, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 7pm-9pm
This band of brothers excels on the live stage, bringing high-energy and an authenticity that fans love. They typically play this area with their full five-piece rock band. Tonight, as Luke and Will Mallett take the Caffe Lena stage in the footsteps of their father, long-time folk favorite David Mallett, they’re leaving the drums back home and creating a special, intimate acoustic trio for our venue.
No Fun Dance Series Vol. 3 – Latin / Salsa Night w/ DJ Loco, No Fun, Troy, 6pm-10pm
Week Eight: Jesse Sample’s Feak of the Week “Ole”
Jesse Sample’s Feak of the Week airs EVERY WEDNESDAY at 6pm EASTERN only on RadioRadioX.com
This is Jesse Sample. We come across a lot of people in this life, and they make impressions. Some of those impressions are great and we say to ourselves, “I want to be like that guy…or I really like how she handles herself. I’d like to be more like that.”
When me and my sister were young, my mom worked a lot. She was coming up in radio and we spent a lot of time in other people’s houses and hanging with other people’s kids. My mom had a friend from work, and we often hung out with her kids and her husband. Her kids were cool, and her husband was a sweet, nice guy who made time for the people around him. That’s something to aspire to.
He just passed a few days back and he’s been on my mind. He had a real kindness about him, and he expressed it in a unique and fun way. He will be missed. But the impressions he made are still with the people he mixed it up with. I want to get out there and make the good impression, the kind impression. I want people to feel good when I’m around.
Thanks to all of you out there tuned into RadioRadioX. This is the Freak of the Week, “Ole.”
“Honky Tonk Dance Night” @ No Fun, 2/16/2025
Byrdhouse Records presented Honky Tonk Dance Night, and lots of dancers showed up. They got a Texas Two-Step lesson with Mike, followed by music by Billy and the Great Western Postal Service and DJ Tex.
Photography by Timothy Reidy.
“First Friday Albany” 2/7/2025
February’s First Friday celebrated Black History Month, and included:
McGreevy ProLab & ProPress hosted “Framing Hollywood: A Picture of Cinema,” a selection of photographs from renowned film and TV set photographer Phil Caruso.
E.R.I.E. entertained at Ophelia’s.
Jordan Taylor Hill and friends shared poetry, rhythm, and tradition at City Hall.
Photography by Timothy Reidy.
More Than All the Money in the World – The Weird Side of the Internet
More Than All the Money in the World – The Weird Side of the Internet – by Liam Sweeny.
Ever pay a fine? I think we all have. I’ve paid a few. One thing I have been lucky to avoid is the kind of fine where, if you don’t pay it, it compounds. Maybe a handful of you have been up that creek. If, for example, your car gets towed and it’s in the lot for a few days, that can get pretty pricey. But at some point, there’s a limit. Like the towing company scraps your car, or a court puts out a bench warrant for you. But you have to wonder how far that kind of fine really could go.
Wonder no more. Enter Alphabet, parent company of Google. They have a fine, a big one. They won’t pay because they can’t pay because nobody could. The fine is for more money than there is in the world.
Google was brought to suit by Russia, who went after them because they, Google, removed Russian TV channels from YouTube. Apparently they did it in such a way that it was illegal. Google said it was because they were state television. This was in 2020. A year later, Ukraine. And more Russian channels got blocked, so more plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Russian courts sided with Russia, of course, and Alphabet was fined 100,000 rubles. About a grand U.S.. But if it wasn’t paid, double the amount was added every week. And Alphabet didn’t pay.
Current fine is, and we’ll go U.S. here, $1.85 undecillian dollars, $1.85 followed by 37 zeroes. Now estimates of all money or possible moneys or things worth money is about $1.2 quadrillion dollars, 0r twelve-hundred trillion dollars. So really, Alphabet is never paying this. Most likely, if they’re able to do business in Russia again, they’ll end up with a real honey offer for settlement.
“ABBA Revisited” @ Cohoes Music Hall, 2/16/2025
“ABBA Revisited” brought all the hits to the Cohoes Music Hall on a Sunday afternoon, including a “Dancing Queen” encore, much to the delight of the crowd.
Photography by Timothy Reidy.
No MSG TV: Legacy Music Group – Lobby Sessions
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Legacy Music Group visits the RadioRadioX.com/Xperience Monthly studios and sings an acapella cover of Shai’s “If I Ever Fall in Love.”
RECAP: “A Man Named Cash” @ Strand Theatre, 2/23/2025
“A Man Named Cash” Breaks Records at the Strand Theatre in Hudson Falls
Words and Photos by Stephanie J Bartik (NY Rockstar Photographer).
The spirit of Johnny Cash was alive and well on Sunday, February 23, at the Strand Theatre in Hudson Falls, NY. The 3 p.m. matinee performance of “A Man Named Cash” was more than just a tribute concert — it was a historic moment for the venue. With a sold-out crowd, the show officially broke the theater’s paid attendance record, cementing its place in the Strand’s storied history.
For a venue that has hosted legendary artists such as Ace Frehley, Al Di Meola, Don Felder of the Eagles, Winger, Vixen, and Molly Hatchet, this was no small feat. Yet, it speaks volumes about the timeless appeal of Johnny Cash’s music and legacy. Decades after his passing, the desire to relive his songs, create new memories, and introduce his music to a new generation remains as strong as ever. The show’s timing was especially poignant, just days before what would have been Johnny Cash’s 89th birthday on February 26.
The band behind “A Man Named Cash” — Scotty Mac (guitar), Rob Lindquist (bass), and Eric Hammell (drums) — provided the perfect foundation for an unforgettable performance. At the heart of it all was Eric Hofmanis, whose portrayal of Johnny Cash is widely regarded as one of the most authentic in the tribute world. Hofmanis was handpicked by the Johnny Cash Estate, including John Carter Cash, to be the lead vocalist for “Johnny Cash: The Official Concert Experience,” a multimedia tour that spanned over 100 cities across the U.S. and Canada. His voice, rich and deep, brought Cash’s catalog to life in a way that left audiences spellbound. From early Sun Records hits like “I Walk the Line” to the raw, emotional power of “Hurt,” Hofmanis took the audience on a journey through nearly 50 years of Cash’s music.
Adding to the magic was Megan Houde, who stepped into the role of June Carter Cash with an energy and charm that lit up the stage. Much like the real-life chemistry between Johnny and June, Hofmanis and Houde’s performances together were both heartwarming and electrifying. Their playful banter and heartfelt duets brought a sense of joy and authenticity to the show, reminding the audience of the love and humor that defined the Cash-Carter partnership.
The record-breaking turnout at the Strand Theatre was more than just a number – it was proof that Johnny Cash’s music still resonates deeply with fans of all ages. From the front row to the rafters, fans were smiling, singing along, and fully immersed in the experience. The glow of cellphones held high in the air throughout the theater painted a striking picture — everyone wanted to capture the magic, to relive it later, or to share it with family and friends who couldn’t be there. It was a testament to just how much this music means to people, evoking nostalgia and joy in equal measure.
For those who missed it or want to experience the magic again, “A Man Named Cash” continues to tour, keeping Johnny Cash’s spirit alive for generations to come. To learn more about the band, visit AManNamedCash.com or follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/amannamedcash.
