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Liam Davis – Interview – Thanks for Asking!

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Liam Davis

Liam Davis – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: Every artist’s first song is a milestone. But so is the latest song. Describe the first song/album you recorded, and also the latest song/album you recorded; what are the differences?

LD: My first official single was ‘In My Dreams’ (2020). It was about a relationship that just wouldn’t work because I wasn’t ready. It was very self-reflective and had a sort of folk/pop sound to it. I started to branch out of that and dig more into my rock roots in my mid 20s. It’s funny because my new single ‘Lonely Man’, five years later, is a self-reflective folk/pop song with some rock elements in it. I guess I came full circle!

RRX: Music genres are difficult for some artists. Some strictly adhere; others not so much. What is your perspective on the genre you play, or the genres you hover around?

LD:I used to worry that I had to stick to one genre or I wouldn’t be able to gain traction as an artist. I worried that my fans would only like me one way. Then I put out songs in multiple genres and the same people were supporting all of them. I think that if you have a true core fan base of people that love you for you, they’ll listen to anything you put out.

RRX: It’s a lot of fun living in the present, but we all collect memories and give birth to dreams. We’re talking dreams here. Where you see yourself next year? In the next five years?

LD:I plan to move to Nashville next year. I love NY but it’s very difficult to grow beyond a certain point here. I think you can max out your potential here as an artist/musician and not get the recognition that you deserve. You can play an open mic in Nashville and land a record deal, haha. I just need to be in front of the right people. Then I’d like to record an album and tour, rinse and repeat.

RRX: We all get a little support from those around us. And we also can be impressed by our fellow performers. Who do you admire in your community, and why?

LD: Since moving to The Capital Region, I’ve been extremely blessed to be surrounded by dozens of brilliant musicians. My friend Dylan Suski is one of the best drummers I know and he’s finally getting the attention that he deserves. I’m also a drummer so we clicked immediately when we met. Dan Lawson is one of the best bass players I know. He came in to play upright bass on ‘In My Dreams’ and I was blown away. I was only 21 when I met these guys and they were very established, so they whipped me into shape a little bit, haha. I wouldn’t be where I am without them.

RRX: You sing or you rap, you play guitar, play drums, what have you, you have no doubt struggled to learn music. Something probably tripped you up. What was it for each of you? What did you have to overcome (bands, pick a member)?

LD: I play drums, guitar, piano, and I sing. The instruments came naturally to me, singing not so much. Because I was proficient on three instruments as a kid, I had confidence (maybe too much) that I could learn anything. I started trying to sing around 14/15 years old and it was a real struggle for awhile. My pitch was okay but I had zero technique and didn’t really know who I wanted to be as a person yet. As I got older and experienced more life, my voice got better and better. I still have a lot to work on but I’m proud of how far my singing has come.

RRX: With services like Spotify, streaming revenue can be pretty dismal. Without spilling secrets, do you have a promotional mindset or philosophy?

LD: Singles are the way to go. I’ve watched hundreds of videos on how to make it in this industry in today’s world. For a lot of musicians, they just want to do what they want to do and not come up with any sort of game plan. I think that’s fine, but don’t expect the results of someone that has a plan. I’ve put out seven singles now and each one does better than the last (for the most part). With streaming services and social media, you can promote each single as if it were an album…and you don’t need a record label to do it. Therefore, each song you release is getting the attention that 8-12 songs would get as a whole if you were releasing an album. I’m not an expert but I think that singles are the way to grow as an artist on Spotify, and once you have a larger following, that is the time to release a full project.

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Are Beer Goggles Real? – Glitches in the Matrix

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Are Beer Goggles Real?

Are Beer Goggles Real? – Glitches in the Matrix – by Liam Sweeny.

Sometimes I get science, and sometimes I don’t. And what I’m about to tell you, I think, is fun science, but perhaps dubious science. Let’s find out.

Beer goggles. Have a couple of drinks, and a 7 becomes a 9, and a 9 becomes double digits. (I don’t rate women with numbers in real life, but the internet is awash with literary devices.) Any of us who have ever drunk to excess have a story of waking up next to someone they’d just walk by on the street.. and maybe had before the boozy magic.

So what I “beer goggles” don’t actually exist?

An experiment at Stanford University tested a group of heterosexual men by giving them varying degrees of alcohol and showing them pics and vids of women they “might meet later.” They were asked to pick the four most attractive, and also the four they’d most like to meet. When they were just drinking cranberry juice, the most attractive women and the women they most wanted to meet weren’t necessarily the same people. And this was just about looks. The researchers concluded that the women they most wanted to meet were the one they thought they had the best chances with, not necessarily the most attractive.

When vodka was added, the men wanted to meet the same women they found most attractive. Basically, with the alcohol, they weren’t so worried about “gettable.” They had confidence, and therefore wanted to meet the most attractive women.

Now they say this disproves beer goggles, but I don’t see it. Beer goggles makes her more of a catch, not me, right?

I don’t think I was aiming high when I ended up in bed with a woman who brought a monkey that was addicted to Newport Light 100’s and could somehow scratch off the two-dollar scratchoffs. I mean, she got up and drank a full jar of Saurkraut and told me she didn’t have a cellphone.

Maybe she had beer goggles too.

From The New Scientist.

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Ronald Floor – Shooting Chernobyl

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Ronald Floor

Ronald Floor – Shooting Chernobyl – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: It’s become a real passion for people to go to abandoned places to take pictures. In our area of northeastern America, we have what’s known as the “rust belt,” very industrial, very abandoned in places. You’re in Amsterdam. Where is the “rust belt” in Europe?

RF: Eastern Europe has a lot of structures left abandoned. After the collapse of the USSR, a lot of factories were abandoned and left to decay. In these countries, the former USSR satellite states, they have other priorities then to demolish the factories.

RRX: You went into the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone to take pictures. What kinds of things did you see that weren’t the same as other abandoned places you’ve been to. Was there anything that really drove home it’s past?

RF: I went to Chernobyl in 2019. You need to have permission from the government to visit the Exclusion Zone and you can’t enter the zone without an official guide. Normally I visit one building at a time, the zone is a complete city where you need multiple days to explore. You have lunch in the canteen of the reactor together with the workers that are still dismantling the plant and you sleep in a hostel in Pripyat, inside the zone.

The schools where everything was left behind made a big impression on me. They left all the beds and toys, like puppets and toy  cars, because they needed to leave in a hurry and they were told they will be back in just a few days…They never returned.

RRX: When you go into abandoned sites, you face the possibility of having the police find you trespassing, and, depending where you go, more than the police. Have you been anywhere that was guarded, or where you risked some form of imprisonment or capture?

RF: In Albania, I visited an unused military ammunition factory that was still owned by the military. I snuck in at night and explored till daylight. A couple days later I went back to explore the rest, but the place was crowded with military guards that time. Probably they noticed that someone has been inside. A couple months later I heard that 3 other explorers were caught there, and were imprisoned for 8 months.

RRX: Above all, you’re a photographer. And it seems at odds that an art form so focused on beauty can find that beauty in structures that have found nothing but neglect. What, in your opinion, is the “beauty” of abandonment. What do you seek to bring out in your photography of these places?

RF: I like the places that have been abandoned and where nobody has been for years but where it looks like people just left. I like the natural decay: the bladdering paint, the dust, structures being reclaimed by nature. It’s a shame that a lot of places got vandalized with graffiti or trashed just for fun. I try to avoid those kind of places.

RRX: Like I said before, it’s become a passion for people to shoot in neglected or abandoned locales. We have groups here, and those groups connect with other groups over shared interest. Is there a network of groups in Europe? What does that particular scene look like?

RF: There are a lot groups on Facebook and Instagram, and also Whatsapp groups with other explorers where they share information about the locations like where to enter the building, if there is a guard or a neighbour that watches the place,  but also to share if a buiding has been demolished.

I never share where the location itself is. Sometimes I spent multiple days searching the internet to find the location. That’s part of the hobby.

RRX: This question, I guess, is simple; have you ever gone somewhere you didn’t want to shoot because you felt it was a shame that it fell into disrepair?

RF: I come in a lot of places that’s a shame it felt in disrepair. Like palaces in Portugal, castles in France or Italy. But that are just the places I want to photograph! A lot of those places are still stuffed with furniture and other things. How cool is it to photograph a dinner table that has still the glasses on it, but is covered in dust and paint that falls from the ceiling?

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Hold on Honeys @ The Eleven, 11/7/2024

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The Hold on Honeys continued their residency at the Eleven.

Photography by Timothy Reidy.

More from Timothy Reidy …

Aquanett Coming to the Strand Theatre Sat, Nov. 23

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Aquanett

Aquanett is coming to the Strand Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 @ 8:00pm!

While the Aquanett experience is anchored by the sound of ’80s metal bands like Bon Jovi and Whitesnake, don’t expect a run-of-the-mill club band that just stands in the corner.

Quite the opposite – this is one of the most decadent and colorful tribute acts today. Imagine Hollywood … the Sunset Strip … when bands like Motley Crue and GnR ruled the world.

This is the scene Aquanett re-creates night after night. With a complement of lights and special effects, the full production of an ’80s rock concert is brought to life on the stage. It’s wild, flashy and full of the decadence that marked the ’80s. It’s the sound, the clothes, and of course, the hair…but most of all, it’s pure fun.

Seeing is believing, but know that Aquanett is truly an experience, unlike anything you have seen before…or at least since 1991! Aquanett celebrated their 20th Anniversary in 2020!

$20 in advance, $25 day of show. 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 more information and 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.

Sawyer Fredericks / Cassandra Kubinski @ The Linda, 11/3/2024

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The Linda had Cassandra Kubinski and Sawyer Fredericks, each playing with their own group first, then performing together.

Photography by Timothy Reidy.

More from Timothy Reidy …

WEQX 40th Anniversary – Jason Keller – Xperience History

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Jason Keller

WEQX 40th Anniversary – Jason Keller – Xperience History – by Liam Sweeny.

On lonely stretches of road, where the houses are only close enough to let you know you’re in habitable land, he’s been your copilot, the only one you’ve trusted to mess with the music. He screws around with you at the office, when all the ‘kill me now’ memes apply. He’s brought you the greatest and most hated, and in both cases, he’s gone unsung.

Jason Keller has been all over the map in radioland, most notably (for me, anyway) on 103.5/103.9 (The Edge) 103.1 (Channel 103.1/WHRL) and 102.7 (WEQX.) More than just seasoning the upstate New York and Vermont airwaves, he’s brought to your attention the best of what happens here with care and professionalism.

We sit down with Jason and talk about hunting for UFOs with radio waves.

RRX: You’ve had decades of experience doing what I’m just beginning to do here, in terms of cultivating content that’s going to hit a wide audience. And obviously, as it is here, you don’t usually get an open hand; there’s usually an ‘assignment desk’ of sorts. When you had a ‘must get’ interview or profile, how did you make it yours?

JK: When interviewing someone, no matter the setting, one must establish a rapport with that person within ten seconds. Set the tone immediately, and engage your subject. I’ve found that most people will follow you down the path of an interview if they sense that you’re in control of the moment, credible, and that you’re a genuine and curious person. Also, learn to wrap it up; be a gymnast, have a dismount ready.

RRX: Radio is so close, so human. We live in a Spotify universe, but on that long drive, in that room in the dark, your voice might be the only friendly one a person has heard all day. When you’re in the studio, do you ever think that you might be someone’s only friend? Do you ever get emails, messages, or phone calls?

JK: If I am someone’s only friend, well then, I’m privileged to be in such a position. Yes, I do get a variety of messages on many topics through all different mediums; there is no shortage of ways to contact anyone at this point. I’m glad I also got to briefly experience the era of getting actual letters written to a radio station. Literal fan mail was really a special experience; seeing someone’s handwriting was very telling; especially from prisoners. So on the topic of what I think about when the mic is on, I’d say most of us who do this are always trying to deftly balance multiple variables: Relevance of the topic being addressed, proper timing of the music and production elements, the improvisation of descriptive word choices, making an actual point with those words, and doing all of this while running the soundboard. Anyone who has access to a radio show knows how fickle the entire field is – impress your audience.

RRX:  Radio is a passion, one that we all clearly love, but it’s a business too. Now WEQX has been in the same musical niche since I was a kid, which, without aging me, is high praise. But formats change faster than musical tastes change. Have you had to cope with any radical format changes where you worked? What’s the key to surviving one?

JK: EQX is one of the last great independently owned alternative stations in America; we just passed the 35 year mark. I’ve been doing the 3-7pm afternoon show on EQX since 2013, but the inaugural day of the station was on November 4th, 1984. This day cemented our station founder, the late Brooks Brown, as a true legend. I really have to thank station owner Mimi Brown, and our program director Jeff Morad, for fostering a continual environment of creativity and independence. I did spend a significant amount of time working for large radio conglomerates, and yes – I have experienced a radical format change. I enjoyed over a decade of my career at a rock station in Albany called Channel 103.1; I wrapped up my morning show at 10am on a random Friday, and by 10:03 on that same Friday I no longer had a job. Two days later the station flipped formats and it became the FM simulcast of news/talk 810 WGY. Surviving a format change you ask? One, remember that you are not just your radio show, it is simply an extension of you. Two, embrace new professional paths. Three, don’t be bitter – it’s not a good look.

RRX: You followed Howard Stern on 103.5 / 103.9, the Edge. So you had the full listenership; I don’t remember changing the channel, don’t think anyone else did. I don’t like ‘what was it like’ questions, but seeing as how you’ve been so well traveled across the dial, are there truths that come with following a national syndication?

JK: During the mid/late 1990s, I was still very new to all of this, and coming on right after Howard Stern was a great motivator to not completely suck. At first it was a bit daunting since I hadn’t really done many radio shows in the daylight. I was about one year into doing weekend overnights in Burlington, Vermont (thanks to my first program director Steve Cormier,) and The Edge was already a highly rated alternative Rock station in the Capital Region; I was fortunate to be in a position to be exposed to such a sizeable audience. The program director, Dan Binder, took a chance on me and offered me my first full time radio show. I wanted this so bad, but I definitely remember being nauseous that first day and thinking that taking this job was a terrible move. After my first week, I chilled out a bit and never looked back. Each day the Howard Stern morning show would end at a totally different time. Middays (my show at the time) were defined by 10am to 3pm, so when Stern would sometimes go to 11am, some of my ratings were essentially a gift from him. Thanks Howard.

RRX: What I like about radio, as opposed to streaming DIY, is that it’s person-to-person. Someone is turning me on to music, someone I could run into in the store. Do you think that larger stations are missing something when they playing me the same twenty-four songs every day. What can they learn about a ‘grassroots’ approach?

JK:  I think all radio stations have to do what they have to do to stay solvent. I will though always advocate for the benefits of personality driven radio, and the more intriguing the staff the better. I also think expanding a song play list is never a bad thing. There is absolutely no shortage of compelling, accessible, music that would most definitely change vast numbers of lives with just a little more airplay. I am proud to be part of a radio station that encourages irreverence, and continually champions new music while celebrating important library tracks.

RRX: I mentioned Spotify in a previous question, and I’m probably one of the last people to have a car that isn’t as hooked up as my phone. And if 5G starts to get implemented, WiFi is going to reach as many people as tower-driven radio waves. So how does radio stay relevant over the ‘rise of the machines’?

JK: This question requires me to be a bit of an oracle, which I am certainly not.  I do though absolutely find it beneficial to acknowledge technological trends, continually read industry trades, attend broadcasting conventions, and to learn how to properly implement new platforms while never losing site of the real task everyday: creating compelling content. I think as a society we are far away from the FCC dismantling the radio towers, and the stations who hold those FCC licenses are going to continually find ways to serve, benefit, and entertain their local communities.

RRX: This is where you answer the question I didn’t ask. What in your car makes the best emergency pop filter? What number is closest to the listener line, so you get all their calls? Enlighten, educate, emote – the floor is yours.

JK: I’ve never been in an emergency pop filter situation, but if I was, I’d say start talking close to your car’s interior roof lining for some makeshift sound dampening. Second part of your question: We don’t have anything really close to our 802.362.1027 request line, but I did just speak to a nice elderly man last week who mistakenly called our business line, and we had one of those quaint “wrong number” exchanges where you try and get to the bottom of the mystery. Why not take the two minutes to have that chat? It’s another human connection with someone who just might need one.

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Show Detective – Weekend Shows 11/15 – 11/17

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Show Detective

Show Detective.

Friday, November 15th

The Chicago Experience: Featuring Chicago Transit, The Egg, Albany, 7:30pm

Celebrating over 25 years together, this is The World’s leading Chicago Tribute Band!

The band features five lead singers, a three-piece horn section, and a five piece rhythm section covers all of your favorites from the early classics like “‘Make Me Smile’, ‘25 or 6 to 4’ and ‘Saturday in the Park’ to the later, softer, keyboard-oriented ballads like ’If You Leave Me Now!”

Jo Koy, The Palace Theater, Albany, 8pm

As one of today’s premiere stand-up comedians, Jo Koy has come a long way from his modest beginnings performing in a Las Vegas coffee house. Jo’s uniquely relatable comedy pulls inspiration from his colorful family that has reached all kinds of people and has translated into sold-out arenas around the world.

MercyMe, TobyMac, Zach Williams Tour, MVP Arena, Albany, 7pm

You wanted more, so we made it happen! Three of the biggest names in Christian music – TobyMac, MercyMe and Zach Williams – are teaming up once again for an unforgettable concert tour. With chart-topping hits, passionate lyrics, and a commitment to spreading God’s love through music, TobyMac, MercyMe, and Zach Williams take the stage to perform fan favorites and deliver an uplifting experience that will leave you feeling inspired. Get your tickets now, and get ready to sing, dance, and worship with TobyMac, MercyMe, and Zach Williams!

The Emo Night Tour, Empire Live, Albany, 8pm

The Bear Bones Project, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 8pm-11pm

Gypsy Jam, blend of R & B, Jazz, and traditional multi-dimensional collaboration will take you on a heartfelt musical journey.

Odie Leigh: Carrier Pigeon Tour, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm-11pm

Join us in welcoming Louisiana native Odie Leigh to the Lark Hall stage on Friday, November 15th. Doors 7pm/Show8pm

Odie Leigh would never have called herself a musician before the depths of the 2020 pandemic, when her rapper roomies made a bet: Whoever records a song that goes viral first, wins. Slightlyticked off that they hadn’t included her in the wager, she decided to hit them with her best shot, and Odie was crowned the victor when a track she wrote blew up on TikTok. “I was like, ‘I’m gonna show y’all. I’m gonna win,’” she recalls, laughing. “Then I woke up to a bunch of comments on TikTok being like, ‘Oh my God, release this. This is amazing!’ Now, I’m a musician.”

King Bully, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs

Dana Cooper – Album Release, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-10pm

“Few artists can claim to make music for 50 years and still do so with the same eagerness & enthusiasm that marked their initial efforts”
– Lee Zimmerman, American Songwriter

Nashville-based songwriter Dana Cooper is touring in support of two new albums, one of which was recorded live at Caffe Lena one year ago. This release joins a 30-album discography that began with his first Elektra Records album featuring the legendary band “The Section” – AKA “The Immediate Family” – as his session band.

Black Kat Boppers w/s/g El Dorados, Hangar on the Hudson, Troy, 8pm-11pm

Black Kat Boppers hail from down on the South Coast Water Way in Southampton and are 4 fellas who love to play hard boppin’, jump up, rockin’ blues, dance music.

Influences include Rhythm & Blues, Jump & Jive, Ska, Doo-Wop with a lucky energy.  Collectively, when all brought together, Black Kat Boppers sound is raw, authentic, sincere & unique.

Hello Shark / Keta Ester / Kitchen / Nada y Nada, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

11/15 5:00 PM Wandering Roots- S&S farm Brewery

11/15 5:30 PM Russ Kennedy- Wheatfields Clifton Park

11/15 6:00 PM BJ Fitzgerald- Spa City Tap & Barrel

11/15 6:00 PM Chris Dollard- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park

11/15 6:00 PM Dan Dekalb- 677 Prime

11/15 6:00 PM Dazey Duo- Saratoga Winery

11/15 6:00 PM Drank The Gold- Cock & Bull

11/15 6:00 PM Had The Radish- Thirsty Owl

11/15 6:00 PM Juniper & Chris Carey- Carsons Woodside Tavern

11/15 6:00 PM Matt Evans- Powers Pub

11/15 6:00 PM Pat Decker- The Scarlet Knife

11/15 6:00 PM Peter Pashoukos- Ravenswood

11/15 6:00 PM Thom Powers- Inn at Saratoga

11/15 6:00 PM Tracey & Friends- Prime at Saratoga National

11/15 6:30 PM Quick Fix Duo- Peddlers Bar & Bistro

11/15 6:30 PM Ron Comstock- Other One Brewery

11/15 6:30 PM Steve Candlen- Diamond Club at Embassy Suites

11/15 6:30 PM Tim & Norm- Artisanal Brew Works

11/15 7:00 PM Brendan Conley- Bunker Saratoga

11/15 7:00 PM Completely Different- Kraverie

11/15 7:00 PM Dave Porter- Hometown Pub & Grub

11/15 7:00 PM Dueling Pianos- Nanola

11/15 7:00 PM Harmonic Duo- Trestle Restaurant & Pub

11/15 7:00 PM Jeff Walton- Principessa Elena

11/15 7:00 PM Mike McMann- Cherry Plain Square #17

11/15 7:00 PM Radio Gold- Panza’s Saratoga

11/15 7:30 PM Band Of Gold with Carmen Lookshire- Grappa 72

11/15 8:00 PM Art N Shawna- Cooperstown Distillery

11/15 8:00 PM Bear Bones Project- Rustic Barn Pub

11/15 8:00 PM Dana Cooper- Caffe Lena

11/15 8:00 PM DJ Vince Oliver- Misfit

11/15 8:00 PM Ky McCinton Band- Ophelias Restaurant

11/15 8:00 PM Pete Sweeney Group- Nine Maple

11/15 8:00 PM Skeeter Creek- Wicked Eatery

11/15 9:00 PM Rhythm Pilots- Electic Grinch

11/15 9:00 PM The Accents- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino

11/15 9:00 PM The Accents- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino

11/15 9:00 PM The Far Trio- Centre St. Pub

11/15 9:00 PM The Refrigerators- Vapor

11/15 9:30 PM Motion Blur- Spa City Tap & Barrel

Saturday, November 16th

Joan Tower + Dvorák’s ‘New World’, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, 7:30pm

David Alan Miller, conductor

Raman Ramakrishnan, cello

Bedrich Smetana: “The Moldau” from Má vlast

Joan Tower: Cello Concerto, “A New Day”

Antonín Dvorák: Symphony No. 9, “From the New World”

St. Catherine’s Center for Children Presents: Elvis: Good Rockin’ Tonight, The Egg, Albany, 7pm

Elvis Presley holds a unique place in the history of American entertainment. He burst onto the national scene in 1956 with a string of hits that earned him the title, King of Rock ‘n Roll. The most iconic recording artist of all time, and among the best-selling, his legend lives on in music, film, and in the talented artists who recreate his sound and image on stage.

The Egg Presents: Bill Frisell Trio featuring Luke Bergman & Rudy Royston, The Egg, Albany, 8pm

We will be serving mac n’ cheese at this event as part of our “Mac N’ Jazz” series! Come early to grab a bite to eat

Bill Frisell’s career as a guitarist and composer has spanned more than 40 years and many celebrated recordings, whose catalog has been cited by Downbeat as “the best
recorded output of the decade”. His latest recording titled Orchestras was released April ’24 on Blue Note. In the trio format he’s favored throughout his career, the guitarist and composer has always projected an orchestral scope — through his remarkably complete sense of harmony, a unique gift for melodies that remain with you long after a performance, and a keen feel for how dynamic range can be used to convey emotion. But on his new double album, his fourth release for Blue Note Records, he makes those symphonic evocations a reality. Produced by Lee Townsend, Orchestras documents two inspired concert-hall engagements arranged by Michael Gibbs for Frisell’s long-standing trio with bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Rudy Royston: one featuring the nearly 60-piece Brussels Philharmonic, conducted by Alexander Hanson; and one with the 11-piece Umbria Jazz Orchestra, under the musical direction of Manuele Morbidini.

Pentatonix: Hallelujah! It’s a Christmas Tour, MVP Arena, Albany, 7pm

As one of the most innovative, inventive, and inimitable vocal groups of all time, Pentatonix reimagine, reinvigorate, and redefine a cappella. Since emerging in 2011, the three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning and Daytime EMMY® Award-nominated vocal quintet – Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, and Matt Sallee – have reached unprecendented heights, topping charts, selling 10 million albums worldwide, generating billions of streams, and performing everywhere from The White House and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to The Hollywood Bowl. Their catalog boasts back-to-back #1 albums on the Billboard 200, namely the gold-certified Pentatonix [2015] and platinum-certified A Pentatonix Christmas [2016].

TrueSongs 2024: Lyrics of Life, SPAC, Saratoga Springs, 7pm

Now in its fifth year, TrueSongs is Caffe Lena’s annual celebration of courage, resilience and caring. Seven local people who have faced a significant challenge have been paired with professional songwriters. Each team will take the stage together to share with us, through words and music, a story of overcoming adversity. It’s an emotional and uplifting evening of true stories, and the songs they’ve inspired.

Fool Me Once – Michael Mills Magic, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

Join us for an unforgettable night as we take a trip down the rabbit hole of deception.

In “Fool Me Once: A Magic Show” magician Michael Mills takes you on a playful tour of contemporary trickery.  From sleight of hand to optical illusion and beyond – even flirting with the dark arts of psychological manipulation.

Laugh, gasp, and marvel. By the end, you’ll be questioning not just what you’ve seen, but how you see.

Are you ready to have your mind blown?

“Through the two-hour show I probably spent about one hour laughing and about one hour being utterly amazed” -Saratoga Living Magazine

Grunge Night with The Ledbetters & Superunknown, Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga Springs

Grab your flannels and combat boots and join us for a Grunge Night that will transport you back to the 90s! The Ledbetters, THE ultimate Pearl Jam tribute band, are joined by Superunknown who is quickly becoming the premier tribute band for the music of Chris Cornell.

Desperados – A Tribute to The Eagles, Cohoes Music Hall, 7:30pm-10:30pm

Newly added to the E1Presents roster of great bands is DESPERADOS – A Tribute to The Eagles. This all-star team of musicians brings back that 70’s era music we all know and love, from songs like “Take It Easy,” “Witchy Woman,” “Lyin’ Eyes,” “Hotel California,” and many more. With more than just seasoned musicians we have on the Drums the one and only Ernest LaRouche. With a Berkley Degree in music, he went straight into playing percussion in “Powerman 5000”, “Marsels”, “Jeffrey Osbourne”, “The Peasants”, “Mappari”, and in 2008 he became a member of ” World Play” with Ray Green (Tower of Power) and Tracy Bonham opening for Roger Daltrey, Joss Stone, Darius Rucker and Goo Goo Dolls. In 2013, he became the principal drummer for Britany Spears and remains in the band for all performances.

Sharp Dressed Band, Rustic Barn, Troy, 8pm

Sharp Dressed Band is the premiere tribute to the legendary ZZ Top, bringing the raw energy, Texas blues, and unmistakable swagger of the original band to life.

The Eugene Tyler Band at The Eleven at Lark Hall (FREE SHOW), The Eleven, Lark Hall, Albany, 6pm-8pm

Indie-bluegrass trio Eugene Tyler Band is, at their core, a road band, who’ve spent years cutting their teeth on the bluegrass festival circuit and clubs across the northeast. Their newest record, Low It Goes, captures the free-wheeling intensity of those live shows and showcases the cathartic, irreverent songwriting that has won them fans all over the country. Sharing stages with bands like Billy Strings, the Kitchen Dwellers, Driftwood, and the Mountain Grass Unit, ETB has carved out a unique voice in the bluegrass scene, with cutting, often humorous songs, and a fast & loose approach that calls back to influences like the Clash and Drive-By Truckers.

Guthrie Bell Productions Presents 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.  ​

Rob Beaulieu Band, performing Derek and the Dominoes, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs

Man Must Explore, Lost And Found, Albany, 9pm

Pinky Lemon / Stroma / Grey Monitor / Watercoat, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

11/16 5:00 PM Alex Grandy & Alan Epstein- Artisanal Brew Works

11/16 5:30 PM Highroller HoBo’s- S&S farm Brewery

11/16 6:00 PM Azzaam Hameed- Panza’s Saratoga

11/16 6:00 PM Chris Carey & Tim Wechgelaer- Cock & Bull

11/16 6:00 PM Chuck Kelsey- Powers Pub

11/16 6:00 PM Jeff Stein- Galley Bar & Grill

11/16 6:00 PM Jeremy Gold Quartet- Stellas Pasta Bar

11/16 6:00 PM Matt Cosgrove- The Scarlet Knife

11/16 6:00 PM On Tap Duo- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park

11/16 6:00 PM POGO- O’Slattery’s

11/16 6:00 PM Shine On- Inn at Saratoga

11/16 6:00 PM Stef Solo- Carsons Woodside Tavern

11/16 6:00 PM Steve Candlen- Thirsty Owl

11/16 6:00 PM Tyler Giroux- 677 Prime

11/16 6:00 PM Up The River Duo- Spa City Tap & Barrel

11/16 6:30 PM Dan Mellon- Diamond Club at Embassy Suites

11/16 6:30 PM Party Of Three- The View at Brookhaven Golf Course

11/16 6:30 PM Rafa Picon- Prime at Saratoga National

11/16 6:30 PM Stretch Duo- Other One Brewery

11/16 7:00 PM Contagious- Bunker Saratoga

11/16 7:00 PM Junkyard ManneQuins- Cherry Plain Square #17

11/16 7:00 PM Lyric’s Of Life- Spa Little Theater

11/16 7:00 PM Ragged Company- Kraverie

11/16 7:30 PM Grunge Night With The Ledbetters & Superunknown- Universal Preservation Hall

11/16 8:00 PM Gadget- Nine Maple

11/16 8:00 PM Ill Funk Ensemble- September’s Too

11/16 8:00 PM Sharpe Dressed Band- Rustic Barn Pub

11/16 9:00 PM Aquanett- Nanola

11/16 9:00 PM Coverups- Caroline St. Pub

11/16 9:00 PM DJ Intell Hayesfield & DJ Jonesy- Night Owl

11/16 9:00 PM Out Of Office- Centre St. Pub

11/16 9:00 PM Rob Beaulieu Band- Putnam Place

11/16 9:00 PM Skeeter Creek- Vapor

11/16 9:30 PM Catalyst- Spa City Tap & Barrel

Sunday, November 17th

Joan Tower + Dvorák’s ‘New World’ | Matinee, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, 3pm

David Alan Miller, conductor

Raman Ramakrishnan, cello

Bedrich Smetana: “The Moldau” from Má vlast

Joan Tower: Cello Concerto, “A New Day”

Antonín Dvorák: Symphony No. 9, “From the New World”

NY Folklore presents Nikolayev – Chassidic Jewish tunes from Ukraine, with Laura Melnicoff & Her Band, The Linda, Albany, 3pm-5pm

Laura Melnicoff is a cellist based in Albany, New York. Her performances have taken her to major stages and festivals in North America, Europe, and Israel, including Carnegie Hall, the Music Hall of Williamsburg, Kyiv Summer Music Evenings, Sababafest, KlezKanada, Yiddish New York, and the Aspen Music Festival. Her work has been profiled in The New York Times, the New York Jewish Week, and the Forward. Before her recent move to the Capital Region, Laura frequently worked with the National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene, and was cello chair of the critically-acclaimed off-Broadway hit Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish, directed by Joel Grey. Laura is the recipient of the 2024 Folk Arts Grant by the New York State Council for the Arts. In 2023, Laura was the recipient of a grant from the Arts Center of the Capital Region, which supported her debut album of solo works for classical cello, “Bars of Light.”

The Egg Presents: Family Circle #3 with Veena and Devesh Chandra, The Egg, Albany, 2pm

Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Indian Classical Music with the Raga Family Circle, an interactive workshop series featuring Veena & Devesh Chandra. Over 4 engaging sessions, this series progresses through the basic fundamentals of Indian melody and rhythm and offers children and families a unique hands-on experience to try instruments and authentically experience this storied tradition. Veena and Devesh Chandra, embodying the generational passage of knowledge from guru to disciple, bring to life a rich cultural heritage that has been carefully preserved and evolved over centuries. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned music lover, the Raga Family Circle invites you to be part of a living tradition, offering a rare opportunity to experience the joy, complexity, and transformative power of Indian Classical Music in an accessible, immersive setting.

Nick Swardson: Toilet Head, The Egg, Albany, 7pm

A comedian, actor, writer and producer, Nick Swardson’s unique comedic view has established him as a force in the film and TV sphere and as a prolific stand-up comic.

Nick has starred in numerous blockbuster comedies for major studios. He starred in Grown Ups 2 (2013) with Adam Sandler; starred alongside David Spade and Lauren Lapkus in the Netflix feature, The Wrong Missy (2020); executive produced and starred in The Do Over (2016) and Ridiculous Six (2015); co-produced and appeared in Sandy Wexler (2017); co-wrote, co-produced, and starred as the lead in Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star (2011); starred alongside Jesse Eisenberg, Danny McBride, and Aziz Ansari in 30 Minutes or Less (2011); wrote, produced, and starred in Grandma’s Boy (2006); wrote and starred in Benchwarmers (2006), and co-wrote and appeared in Malibu’s Most Wanted (2003). Most recently, Swardson voiced a character in the Netflix animated movie, Leo (2023), with Adam Sandler and Bill Burr and starred in Josh Duhamel’s Buddy Games (2019) and Buddy Games: Spring Awakening (2023). 

Fool Me Once – Michael Mills Magic, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

Join us for an unforgettable night as we take a trip down the rabbit hole of deception.

In “Fool Me Once: A Magic Show” magician Michael Mills takes you on a playful tour of contemporary trickery.  From sleight of hand to optical illusion and beyond – even flirting with the dark arts of psychological manipulation.

Laugh, gasp, and marvel. By the end, you’ll be questioning not just what you’ve seen, but how you see.

Are you ready to have your mind blown?

“Through the two-hour show I probably spent about one hour laughing and about one hour being utterly amazed” -Saratoga Living Magazine

Exodus and Havok with special guest Candy and Dead Heat, Empire Live, Albany, 8pm

Mike Mazurki: A Life In Films – Presented by Spindle City Historic Society, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 8pm

The Spindle City Historic Society invites guest to join them at Cohoes Music Hall on Sunday, November 17 for a film festival celebrating the work of Cohoes native Mike Mazurki. This very special event will feature a screening of Mazurki’s films, including Dick Tracy and Murder, My Sweet, as well as exclusive archival footage from his career and a Q&A moderated by Phil Sawyer. This event is free to the public and open from 2pm to 8pm – voluntary donations may be made on site to the Spindle City Historic Society, Join us, grab some popcorn, and take a trip back with some historic films celebrating a Cohoes legend!

The Beatle Caffe, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 5pm

A tribute performed by Capital Region A-listers celebrating 60 years of The Beatles in America.

From “Bar People.”

11/17 10:30 AM Anthony Cubbage- The Scarlet Knife

11/17 11:00 AM Matt Cosgrove- Coat Room

11/17 3:00 PM The Beatle Caffe- Caffe Lena

11/17 3:00 PM Triple Trouble Wsg TBD- Artisanal Brew Works

11/17 3:30 PM Jeff Stein- Hank Hudson Brewing

11/17 5:30 PM Sinatra & Friends- Panza’s Saratoga

 

EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY- 10:00 PM -Al Bruno – Peddler’s

EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT- 6:00 PM- JEFF BRISBIN- HENRY’S TAVERN

EVERY MONDAY NIGHT 6:00 PM- Jeff Brisbin- The Hideaway

EVERY SUNDAY -10:30 AM-Andy Iorio- Wheatfields Clifton Park

EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT 6:00PM- Rich Ortiz or Special Guest

Lost Societies Die – Interview – Thanks for Asking!

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Staff
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Lost Societies Die

Lost Societies Die – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: Music genres are difficult for some artists. Some strictly adhere; others not so much. What is your perspective on the genre you play, or the genres you hover around?

LSD: We try our best not to stick to one sole genre. Even though I think some aspects of our favourites seem to stick around through our work, such as grunge, punk and metal. We are trying to incorporate ideas of dance and other things that just make you want to move because, to us, music is a physical relationship between the band and the audience. The art before the message.

RRX: In the musical world, there are many supporting players. Recording engineers, sound techs, cover art designers. Who are three people that support the craft that you would like to shine a spotlight on?

LSD: There have been plenty of people that have helped us down the road so far and I wish we could mention them all, but the biggest help has been our good friend Thomos Merdith. He’s been a rock for us and been a vital part in creating a ton of photos and reels on social media. His eye for photography has been crucial for us and we couldn’t have done it without him.

Secondly, our producer Kyle Evans. He has believed in us from the get go and that kind of support really makes a difference. It helps you believe in it too, even when times get tough.

Thirdly, I have to mention Matthew Wilding from Wilding Promotions. He got us our first gig and has sent us barreling towards our next lot. We are super grateful to have been introduced to this man. A real diamond.

RRX: Would you rather have one of your songs blow up and make you a one-hit wonder and household name, or would you rather have all your songs be solidly received, but no chart-climbers? (You have to pick one or the other here.)

LSD: As a group, we would rather have a much longer and lasting effect on people. Really make an impact on the world and a one hit wonder doesn’t really achieve that. You get lost in the sea of time and drift away into obscurity. Evan thought we’d miss out on that crazy lime light, it would be so much more rewarding to be something that people love for as long as they can.

RRX: We let it out differently when we play music. The happy, sad, good and back; it can all be put out musically. Overall, do you feel better when you sing about the better times, or the worser times? Is there a difference you can describe?

LSD: Singing through anything makes it better. It makes the dark times brighter, the good times better. Singing is the best therapy around. It allows you to take a step back and hear what you’re saying and what you mean to say. Because sometimes our words lose meaning, but music brings that meaning back. So I would say there is a difference, but the outcome is the same.

RRX: Let’s talk about your next project, your next few. Just not the ones you’re working on now. The ones you have your eyes on for the future. What’s coming to us?

LSD: We’ve got loads in the pipeline to be honest. We’ve got another five singles ready to drop in the new year and a live album. We are already looking forward to get back into the studio to record our next batch, as we feel that we are really starting to find our sound. It’s developing with better dynamics, better songwriting, clearer lyrical themes and some killer grooves. If you liked our first song, I think you’ll love what’s to come. I really do.

RRX: What instrument would you add to the band if you could? Is there anything you are trying to do musically that would be helped with one or more additional players?

LSD: We’ve talked a little bit about bringing in some kind of keyboard or synth. We think we can really do some cool stuff with. Bring a lot of atmosphere to the music. We wouldn’t bring anyone else, not at the moment anyway, but we are all pretty multi instrumental so I think we would just move some things around. All try out different positions in the band.

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Celebrating Cohoes Music Hall Sesquicentennial

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Staff
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Cohoes Music Hall

Venerable Cohoes performing arts venue celebrates 150 year milestone on November 23, with three events planned in one day to mark the occassion

Cohoes, N.Y. (November 13, 2024) –  Saturday, November 23, 2024, will mark 150 years since Cohoes Music Hall first opened its doors to the public, and the venue’s management entity, Playhouse Stage Company, will mark the momentous occasion with three public events throughout the day. Playhouse Stage Company has been producing free outdoor musicals at Albany’s Park Playhouse since 1989, and has been producing musical theatre at Cohoes Music Hall since 2016. The company has managed the Hall since August, 2020.

Owen Smith, Producing Artistic Director, shared details of the Sesquicentennial events that are planned, saying “Cohoes Music Hall is the one of the Capital Region and the country’s most intimate and historic performing arts spaces, and we are delighted to mark it’s 150th Anniversary with a lineup on Saturday, November 23 that has something for everyone, and that celebrates the broad range of programming the building has been known for throughout its history.” Smith continued, “The day’s festivities will start in the morning with a free Family Fun Day Open House with music and activities for kids, featuring live music from Andy The Music Man. The Open House, which celebrates the Hall’s history of being a space that serves the youth of the community, will run from 10AM to noon.  We’ll follow with a celebration of the venue’s theatrical history, as Creative License Theatre Collective and Playhouse Stage Company present a 2PM matinee staged reading of London Assurance, the farcical comedy that was the first performance ever to appear on the Hall stage in 1874. Finally, in a nod to the Hall’s resurgence as a live music venue in recent years, we’ll welcome back Get Zep! at 8pm. The group featuring popular Capital Region band Super 400, have sold out the Music Hall for their Led Zeppelin tributes on four occasions, and they will perform “The Song Remains the Same” in its entirety that evening, along with other hits.”

Cohoes Music Hall was built for $60,000 in 1874, financed by two local businessmen, miller William Acheson and newspaper owner James Masten. The Victorian style Hall was popular on the Vaudeville circuit in the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries, playing host to such historic performers as Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill Cody, George M. Cohan, and Eva Tanguay, whose spirit, many believe, still haunts the Hall to this day. Eventually purchased by the National Bank of Cohoes, the Music Hall closed its doors in 1936, and was later sold to the City of Cohoes for $1 in 1968. The City enacted a redevelopment plan to restore the theatre, which took over five years. Finally restored to its original glory, the venue reopened in 1975 with a performance of London Assurance, the very play that had opened its doors about 100 years earlier. The venue has played host to, and has been managed by, various theatre groups and concert promoters over the years, with Playhouse Stage Company taking the reins in 2020. In recent years, the venue has hit records in terms of the number of shows presented annually, with a broad mix of musicals, plays, live music, stand-up comedy, and more.

“Cohoes Music Hall is one of our city’s treasures, and we are committed to making sure the venue remains a vibrant destination for generations to come,” said Cohoes Mayor William T. Keeler. Director of Community & Economic Development for the City, Stephen Napier Jr., commented on the vital role the venue plays for the City’s businesses, saying “The Music Hall is the anchor for our downtown community, drawing visitors to the restaurants, bars, and shops on Remsen Street and beyond. With more than 150 events presented annually now, the venue is a catalyst for continued growth in the Spindle City.” Napier went on to highlight the work that is being done to preserve and revitalize the building for future generations saying “This administration has secured and continues to secure significant capital funding for the building’s ongoing restoration and enhancement through grant programs including the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The current roof and HVAC projects will help to ensure that this building stands and thrives for another 150 years.”

Tickets are now on sale through the Cohoes Music Hall box office for both the reading of London Assurance and the Get Zep concert event. Audiences can purchase tickets via thecohoesmusichall.org, by phone at 518-434-0776, or in person at the theatre’s box office.  The Family Fun Day Open House is a free event for the public, and no tickets are needed. More details about each of the events are below.

Cohoes Music Hall Family Fun Day Open House

·       Saturday, November 23 from 10:00AM to 12:00PM

·       Free public event featuring music and activities for kids, including face painting, balloon animals, and live music from popular Capital Region children’s musician Andy the Music Man. Funnny, quick-witted, warm, and tuneful, Andy Morse has been delighting young audiences for more than 27 years.

London Assurance & A Toast to the Hall

·       Saturday, November 23 at 2:00PM

·       All tickets are $35, and include a complimentary flute of champagne

·       This special event will start with a champagne toast to Cohoes Music Hall’s 150-year history, followed by a staged reading of the play that first opened the Music Hall in 1874, and then reopened the building one hundred years later. London Assurance, adapted by Capital Region theatre artist Aaron Holbritter, will be co-presented by Creative License Theatre Collective and Playhouse Stage Company. The performance will feature Capital Region actors Ryan Palmer, Laura Darling, Amy Hausknect, Nick Martiniano, Jay Hunter, Ketih DuBois, Molly Kirby, Evan Jones, Chuck Kraus and Owen Smith

Get Zep! performing The Song Remains the Same

·       Saturday, November 23 at 8:00PM

·       All tickets are $33 in advance, and $36 on the day of the show.

·       Get Zep!, presented by Guthrie Bell Productions, is an upstate super group consisting of Troy’s fabled rock band Super 400 and dynamic Hudson Valley vocalist Sean Matthew Whiteford. The group has been touring the region and beyond with tributes to classic Led Zeppelin albums, selling out Cohoes Music Hall on four occasions. For this event, they’ll play “The Song Remains The Same” in its entirety, and other Zeppelin hits.

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