JUST ANNOUNCED!!! 2025 Listen Up Awards at Cohoes Music Hall March 23rd

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November 7, 2024

TROY, NEW YORK: The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall is excited to announce that the popular lunchtime series Music at Noon is back next week with Heliand Quartet. Since 1988, on the second Tuesday of each month from October to May, the free Music at Noon concert series has presented exceptional musicians with a diverse mix of musical styles. Shows are free to attend and be sure to bring your lunch! Pre-show activity “Exploring Wind Instruments & Piano” begins at 10am. Grab a complimentary cup of joe before the show in our upper lobby! Full Music at Noon series lineup listed below!

November 12th – Heliand Quartet

Woodwind Ensemble/ Vermont based

December 10th – Bleecker Consort

Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music

January 14th – Michael Century

Piano

February 11th – Thomas Piercy, Marina Iwao and Daniel Hass

Clarinet and Hichiriki, Cello, Piano

March 11th – Toss the Feathers

Irish traditional music and song

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Pre-Show Educational Hour: 10a-11a, Performance: 12p [doors open for performance at 11a]

“Exploring Wind Instruments & Piano”

Instrument Petting Zoo and Student Performance

Join us for an exploration and discovery of the instruments that make up Heliand Consort! Listen, learn, and play along on the oboe, bassoon, and piano!

This workshop is a hands-on exploratory musical experience. The musicians will begin with an interactive series of songs/pieces that will introduce the students to chamber music and each instrument: piano, oboe, and bassoon. Students will be able to identify how each instrument works, how to produce a sound, and how each instrument fits into the chamber ensemble. Students will have an opportunity to try out each instrument in the later portion of this workshop, where the musicians will host a petting zoo!

Target Age Group: Students Grade 1 through 4, also open to the public with limited seating available.

REGISTER HERE

Music at Noon free to attend thanks to the support of our generous sponsors:

Program Sponsors:

Architecture+

CDTA

Fenimore Asset Management / FAM Funds

Saratoga National Bank

Berkshire Bank

Price Chopper/Market 32

Stewart’s Shops / Dake Family

Lucille A. Herold Charitable Trust

Full Season / Additional Sponsors:

Supported by New York State through Alive Downtowns

Troy Redevelopment Foundation

New York State Council on the Arts

Fagan Associates

The McCarthy Charities

RingSquared

Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation

Emry’s Garden

The Moore Insurance Agency

Bacchus Wood-Fired

Teachers with buses and large groups should call ahead to reserve seats. Limited number of handicapped accessible spaces available. Patrons and groups with special seating requests please contact the Box Office at 518-273-0038. For more information about Music at Noon or the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall’s upcoming programs visit our website at www.troymusichall.org.

Rachel Freeman – An Xperience Interview

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November 7, 2024

Rachel Freeman – An Xperience Interview – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: Can you tell me a little (or a lot) about Byrdhouse? What was the inception of it? Did it start with a concept, or was it the brick-and-mortar first?

RF: Byrdhouse began as a D.I.Y. venue in Albany, New York where I could share my passion for local music by booking dozens of independent bands and artists. Spanning three separate locations, the Byrdhouse was a welcoming environment in which a diverse crowd of music lovers could let loose and show support for their community. Since its inception, Byrdhouse shows have put a spotlight on numerous genres, amplifying marginalized voices to be heard by larger audiences. Though the Byrdhouse has ceased functioning as a venue, its original all-inclusive punk ethos remains intact through renewed booking efforts. Byrdhouse has now evolved into its next stage: an ever-growing conglomerate of creative collaborations moving from stage to stage and artist to artist. Byrdhouse’s most popular bookings include Weatherday, Vial, Horse Jumper of Love, Jigsaw Youth, and Weakened Friends for No Fun in Troy, as well as Guerilla Toss, Mannequin Pussy and Screaming Females for WCDB Albany. On top of booking popular alternative bands, Byrdhouse is also responsible for managing tours and shows for local up-and-comers including Senior Living, Alliteration, Candy Ambulance, and Lemon of Choice. Together, with the support of the Capital Region’s many amazing D.I.Y. communities, Byrdhouse has managed to book over 100 shows with no signs of stopping yet. We’ll see you at our next show.

As of now, I have worked with the staff of No Fun, Tex of Hey Greasy, and Shane of Super Dark Collective, along with investors to carry the power and ownership of beloved Troy venue No Fun.

Along with efforts towards No Fun, I also work with creatives across the state, including collaborations with Ella Kasper in Binghamton to book and spread the love of DIY music there. Byrdhouse is growing and collaborating with many like-minded individuals, including our Hudson Valley/New Paltz sister collective Doors at 7.

I wouldn’t be where I am without the help of others and collaborating with the DIY community.

RRX: Zeke told us about the Times Union getting her address and basically doxing her and Caesar’s Palace. And it strikes me that underground music, a purely benign pursuit, can be seen by the bureaucratic world as some aberration. Can the city do things to help places like Byrdhouse, Caesar’s Palace, or Rat Den, instead of trying to shut them down?

RF: For DIY venues, the concern of being shut down by the cops has always hung pretty high above the heads of people who run it. If the bureaucratic world could focus on actual crimes more than trying to shut down venues, and abolish the worry for venue-runners, I believe that the DIY scene would prosper that much more.

If bureaucratic entities step in, to me, it doesn’t really seem as DIY to me. But if there were community resources that could help fund and source those running DIY, there could be some benefit to folks. Something to hone the safety and teach those around; a community-helping-community feel.

RRX: I like to focus on a scene, maybe it’s the writer in me. So let’s talk about two moments having to do with your experience with the underground DIY scene. So far, what was your most beautiful moment? Can you describe it? And what was your saddest moment? Same thing.

RF: Sad: creative spark suffered and as everything suffered, the DIY scene had a huge damper because of COVID. It was truly sad having to cancel huge festivals and shows I had booked because of the pandemic. It felt like I was about to hit my peak during Byrdhouse Basement 2 and it got crapped on. I couldn’t see my friends and musicians. It truly was an incredibly sad moment for me. Seeing the community hit a Great Depression if you will. (Byrdhouse Basement 2 is where I hit my stride as a booker, and seeing all my hard work get trampled on was a hard time.)

Beautiful: brick-and-mortar Byrdhouse.

All the memories of piecing together the venues and coming together as friends who have a deep pleasure in working together to showcase music.

First venue: first show; seeing it all come together and do something we were proud of.

Second venue: favorite venue of the three, where we truly tore down walls and built that basement fit for shows. Sharing all that time with my friends and musicians and getting to know the scene and people more.

Third venue: last show after a festival that was supposed to happen forever ago. Phoenix Fest, all my friends together, and dedicating the last song to Jonah (our friend who passed away two days before the first Byrdhouse show. We dedicated a song to him at the first-ever show and were able to do the same for the last-ever basement show.) The community DIY was really felt at that last show.

RRX: Byrdhouse, Caesar’s Palace, Rat Den, Dojo … it wasn’t just for local acts. Bands from the region, maybe from the country, did touring stops. BJ told me about Ben Rowe’s “2 Dead Hummingbirds” promotions, said a lot of great bands came through that way. Can you tell me about that, or any other effort to bring bigger acts in?

RF: Yeah, so putting Albany on the map so that bigger touring acts will play Albany is super important to me. We want our favorite artists from all around to come play in Albany. Byrdhouse’s focus has been putting a spotlight on local bands and showcasing what our community is about, in hopes of pulling bigger touring acts too, to support and relish in harmony with each other.

RRX: Zeke talked about a lot of the shows going to bars and businesses now, like No Fun and Son of Egg. Do you think it’s inevitable when you get successful that you have to move what you’re doing “aboveground?” Can the underground shows successfully coexist with traditional shows, like bar shows?

RF: Inevitable might not be the right choice of word or paint the right picture, but I think as venue-runners experience their calling and have a passion for booking shows and being involved, they want to bring it to a bigger setting and evolve a bit. My roots will forever be in DIY, and I would be nowhere without it. I don’t think it’s inevitable but I think it’s a rite of passage for the few that do find it to be their calling.

I truly believe DIY shows are super important to coexist with traditional shows. DIY shows are paramount to keep the community thriving with smaller bands starting off, and for people to get a sense of the roots in the community. I see DIY as the root of the scene, and the bar venues as the evolution of said roots.

RRX: Someone from ESPN somewhat recently said that there was nothing to do in Albany. Some people here defended her statement. What would you say to that?

RF: She’s not wrong but she’s not right. To her point, with regard to nightlife, she could be correct because the city bureaucrats don’t value the nightlife and for places to operate to excite tourists and natives alike. For example, the cabaret license puts a damper on businesses being able to showcase local talent. She’s wrong in the sense that we have a great underground community, with shows happening and fun events held by community organizers.

Show Detective – Weekend Shows – 11/8 – 11/10

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November 7, 2024

Show Detective.

Friday, November 8^th

Seth Rosenbloom, The Linda, Albany, 8pm-10pm

“For me, playing great music is all about being able to authentically convey a wide
range of emotion,” guitarist and vocalist Seth Rosenbloom insists. “I was drawn to the
blues at a young age because that has always been very evident to me in the Blues.”
Critics have affirmed the fact that Seth knows of what he speaks. Rock & Blues Muse
proclaimed, “The future of blues is in very capable hands.” Living Blues Magazine
echoed those sentiments by declaring, “Rosenbloom’s ready to assume the mantle of a
true electric blues champion,” Blues Blast Magazine concurred, saying, “Seth
Rosenbloom is a guitar player’s guitar player. His ceiling is unlimited.”

Cash for Coats – Palace Sessions Live with The NolaNauts, The Palace Theater, Albany, 7pm

Join us in the Grand Lobby of the Palace Theatre for a Free Live Performance with the NolaNauts! In partnership with the City of Albany’s 2024 Cash for Coats Drive, we are pleased to welcome the NOLANAUTS to the Palace Sessions Live on Friday, NOVEMBER 8! This performance is FREE and Open to the Public but MAKE A DONATION OF $25 OR MORE TO CASH FOR COATS and you will be invited to enjoy a special VIP Reception with complimentary food provided by The Hollow Bar + Kitchen. Free Tickets are available at -> https://bit.ly/PSLC4CNolanauts24

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents The Greatest Show On Earth, MVP Arena, Albany, 7pm

Picture the “ultimate playground” with trapeze swings soaring through the air, jaw-dropping somersaults off teeter-totters, extreme BMX riders defying gravity on huge ramps, and a merry-go-round stage spinning with excitement, and much more. It doesn’t get any bigger or better than this!

Dexter and The Moonrocks, Empire Underground, Albany, 7:30pm

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Empire Live, Albany, 8pm

Howie Day – 20th Anniversary of “Stop All The World Now”, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 7:30pm-9:30pm

Howie Day’s emotionally resonant lyrics and inventive melodies have earned him both critical praise and a legion of devoted fans. He is known for his energetic, heartfelt shows, where he connects with audiences through the strength of his songwriting and his quirky sense of humor. Day’s warm tenor voice “soars into fluttering, high registers, but also grates with real, pleading grit,” as one critic put it. A native of Bangor, Maine, Day began playing piano at age five and guitar at age 12. By 15, he was writing his own songs and performing across New England. Shortly after graduating high school, Day became a fixture at college coffeehouses across the U.S. He wrote, financed and released his first effort, Australia, which was named Best Debut Album at the 2001 Boston Music Awards.

The Hammerhead Horns, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 7pm-10pm

The Hammerhead Horns are a quartet of old friends who convene to perform old-timey blues, ragtime and honkytonk with Piano, Drums, Trumpet and Trombone.

The Mallett Brothers Band + Cosmic Turtle, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs

Jim Gaudet and The Railroad Boys, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-10pm

If you’ve never attended a performance by Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys, you’re missing out on one of the Capital Region’s true musical treasures. Since 2006, The Railroad Boys—comprised of singer/songwriter Jim Gaudet on guitar, Bobby Buckley on bass and backing vocals, Sten Isachsen on mandolin and backing vocals, Sara Milonovich or Tucker Callander on fiddle, and ‘Upstate’ Richie Pagano on piano—have been playing festivals and venues, big and small, all over the country. Their original music, driving energy, and camaraderie have attracted many a guest artist over the years, and in January 2023, the group welcomed bassist Bob Buckley into the fold.

Rodeo Barons | Angelina Valente, Hangar on the Hudson, Troy, 8pm-9pm

Rodeo Barons are an original roots-flavored, harmony-driven rock & roll band from Saratoga Springs. Originally formed in 2007, the group features Chris Carey and Mike O’Donnell on electric guitar and vocals, James Gascoyne on bass and vocals, and Sam Zucchini on drums and vocals.

Femininomenon, Lost And Found, Albany, 9pm

(Female Artist Live Band Karaoke)

Escape from the Zoo / Hans Gruber and the Die Hards / Blast Craze / Zombie Giuliani, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

11/8 4:00 PM Open Mic hosted By Shannon Tehya- Northern Lights Cannabis Dispensary

11/8 5:00 PM Chris Dollard- Wheatfields Clifton Park

11/8 6:00 PM Anthony Cubbage- The Scarlet Knife

11/8 6:00 PM Bret Scott- Powers Pub

11/8 6:00 PM Frank Murray- Bunker Clifton Park

11/8 6:00 PM Mike Herman- Indian Ladder Farms

11/8 6:00 PM Part Time- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park

11/8 6:00 PM Russ Kennedy- Carsons Woodside Tavern

11/8 6:30 PM Don Ferlazzo- Other One Brewery

11/8 6:30 PM Wreckless Duo- Peddlers Bar & Bistro

11/8 7:00 PM Hammerhead Horns- Rustic Barn Pub

11/8 8:00 PM Donna Tritico Band- Nanola

11/8 8:00 PM Grit n Whiskey- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino

11/8 8:00 PM Rodeo Barons & Motorbike & Agelina Valente- Hanger on The hudson

11/8 9:00 PM Rhythm Pilots- Centre St. Pub

Saturday, November 9^th

Running on Jackson – The Premier Jackson Browne Tribute Concert, The Linda, Albany, 8pm-10pm

Prepare for an unforgettable tribute to the incomparable Jackson Browne. With a career spanning over 50 years, Jackson Browne’s legacy as a singer, songwriter and musician is unparalleled. His iconic hits like “Running On Empty,” “Doctor My Eyes,” “Rock Me On The Water,” “The Load Out/Stay,” “Somebody’s Baby,” “Tender is the Night” and countless others have captivated audiences worldwide.

The Egg Presents: David Cross – The End of The Beginning of The End, The Egg, Albany, 8pm

With special gust Sean Patton

Emmy Award winner and two-time Grammy Award nominee, David Cross is an inventive performer, writer, and producer on stage and screen.

David’s eighth stand-up special, David Cross: Worst Daddy In The World, is available on the 800 Pound Gorilla Media YouTube channel, and he will join the cast of the Netflix series, The Umbrella Academy, for their fourth and final season premiering August 8.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents The Greatest Show On Earth, MVP Arena, Albany, 11am, 3pm, 7pm

Picture the “ultimate playground” with trapeze swings soaring through the air, jaw-dropping somersaults off teeter-totters, extreme BMX riders defying gravity on huge ramps, and a merry-go-round stage spinning with excitement, and much more. It doesn’t get any bigger or better than this!

A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, SPAC, Saratoga Springs, 7pm

The celebrated contemporary dance company, A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, renowned for their captivating performances, consistent boundary-pushing, educational programming, community-based workshops across the globe and its work deeply rooted in Black culture, will bring two performances to Spa Little Theater for its Saratoga Performing Arts Center debut.

Pop Evil / Bad Wolves: The Animal Instinct Tour, Empire Live, Albany, 7pm

The Brokenhearted, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 7:30pm – 10pm

E1PRESENTS THE BROKENHEARTED, the East Coast’s #1 Tom Petty Tribute. Returning to Cohoes Music Hall after previous sold out events, The Brokenhearted features lead singer Johnny Clifford on guitar, harmonica, and vocals. Clifford has been playing the music of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers since first hearing them back in the 70’s, going by the nickname Johnny Petty as it was a natural fit. They also feature the man on Keys and backup vocals, Matthias Donnelly, a musical staple in the Northeast for over 30 years, writing movie scores, musical theater, and recording commercials and instructional soundtracks, as well as opening for musical greats like Brian Auger and Eric Burdon. He performed on a hit pick on the billboard 100, played piano on WMHT for a live Jazz series and performed on national television on “The Rich and Famous”. Joining them is Frank Affinito on drums and vocals, with great sound and tight groove. Charged with extensive harmony duties and singing lead on some tunes, James Cappello is the groovy bass player rounding out the rhythm section. James and Johnny have a long musical history playing together for over 40 years in several bands. Together they are THE BROKENHEARTED The #1 Tribute to Tom Petty, and not to be missed!

Neon Avenue, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 8pm-11pm

Neon Avenue is more than just a Grateful Dead Tribute band—they’re a journey through the heart and soul of the Dead’s legendary sound.

LaMP ( Russ Lawton, Scott Metzger, Ray Paczkowski) wsg Oobleck, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm-11:30pm

On a magical night at Nectar’s in Burlington, Vermont in December of 2018, three musical masters—Russ Lawton, Scott Metzger and Ray Paczkowski—came together with alchemical synthesis, and created a fresh, so-tight-it’s-free sound, permeated with technical prowess and a deep-pocket punch. The packed house fortunate enough to be in attendance that night witnessed the birth of something very special.

Tad Cautious Outer Space Funk & Soul at The Eleven (LaMP Aftershow), Lark Hall, Albany, 9pm-11pm

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.

Gratefully Yours, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 7pm-11pm

The Jagaloons LP Release Show, Hangar on the Hudson, Troy, 7pm-11pm

The Jagaloons | The Sound Minds | The Sci-Flies | Shortwave Radiobands

Emo Night Karaoke, Lost And Found, Albany, 9:30pm

Sex Mex / Flavour / Bloodx3 / The Plisskens, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

11/9 11:00 PM Tad Cautious- Lark Hall

11/9 4:00 PM The Guilty Pleasure- Cherry Plain Square #17

11/9 5:00 PM Jeff Stein- Frog Alley Brewing

11/9 6:00 PM Chris Carey- The Scarlet Knife

11/9 6:00 PM Chuck Ayers- Powers Pub

11/9 6:00 PM Jay Yager- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park

11/9 6:00 PM John Stack- Carsons Woodside Tavern

11/9 6:30 PM Hot Club Saratoga- Browns Brewing Walloomsac Taproom

11/9 6:30 PM Marcus Ruggiero- Other One Brewery

11/9 8:00 PM Neon Avenue- Rustic Barn Pub

11/9 8:00 PM Running On Jackson’s- The Linda

11/9 8:00 PM The Herring & The Hummingbird- Nanola

11/9 8:00 PM Tooty & The Motherpluckers- Trestle Restaurant & Pub

Sunday, November 10^th

ESYO: Repertory, String, and Concertino String Orchestras, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, 3pm

Phrasing in music (as well as conversation) have an ebb and flow that make them sound natural. It is what separates a human performance from a mechanical performance. In our first concert, String Orchestra will be using the subject of Contrapunctus as an example of a musical idea that flows through the music and the ensemble as each section takes turns riding its wake. When we play a contrapuntal piece, it is up to each section to flow into control of the subject and then release it as it moves somewhere else.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents The Greatest Show On Earth, MVP Arena, Albany, 11am

Picture the “ultimate playground” with trapeze swings soaring through the air, jaw-dropping somersaults off teeter-totters, extreme BMX riders defying gravity on huge ramps, and a merry-go-round stage spinning with excitement, and much more. It doesn’t get any bigger or better than this!

A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, SPAC, Saratoga Springs, 2pm

The celebrated contemporary dance company, A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, renowned for their captivating performances, consistent boundary-pushing, educational programming, community-based workshops across the globe and its work deeply rooted in Black culture, will bring two performances to Spa Little Theater for its Saratoga Performing Arts Center debut.

Tellabration! 2024 – Lost and Found, Proctor’s Theatre, Schenectady

Items can be lost and found, but so can people, hope, love, and many other important intangibles. Come and listen to our captivating storytellers, Siri Allison, Kate Dudding, Margaret French, Marni Gillard, Claire Nolan, Nancy Marie Payne, and Beverly Schwartz, share stories about the lost and the found.

Vertical Horizon: Everything You Want 25th Anniversary Tour, Empire Live, Albany, 8pm

Puppy Pals Live! Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 3:30pm

E1Presents Puppy Pals LIVE ! This is a family fun action-packed show where adopted and rescued dogs perform spectacular stunts and breathtaking feats. Watch as we lead the puppies and audience through challenging and comical tricks as the pooches show everyone who is really boss! Full of canine stunts and laugh-out-loud canine comedy it is no surprise this show has been a hit all over America!

Second Sunday Bluegrass Jam Featuring Mike McMann, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 5:30pm-9pm

Come to the best Bluegrass Jam this side of the river!

Jerry Garcia Brunch with Stella Rose Trio at The Eleven, Lark Hall, Albany, 12pm-2pm

Embarking on a their latest journey, Jill and Bryan, known in the Capital Region as integral members of local tribute bands, have joined forces to create their duo project weaving together the soulful and timeless melodies of Jerry Garcia.

Glare / Zeruel / Leaving Time, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

11/10 10:30 AM Erin Powers- The Scarlet Knife

11/10 2:00 PM Fundraising Concert For Ashville Musicians- Margarita City Mexican Bar & Grill

Nicholas Kopp – Interview – Thanks for Asking!

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November 7, 2024

Nicholas Kopp – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: With the exception of singing, everyone has an instrument, an inanimate object that has the distinction of being a lifelong friend. Smooth or temperamental, these objects have a character. So pick someone to answer, can you tell us something special about what you play, your technique, your instrument?

NK: I use an AKAI MPC that houses a great deal of samples from my large collection of percussion instruments. In using them, it ensures the electronic music I create with it is unique to myself and the listener. I have loaded these samples into another similar unit as well as a modular synthesizer rig. Processing my own instruments with these devices is an incredibly rewarding way to discover new and interesting sounds, something that is crucial to my individual approach as a musician.

RRX: Artists, musicians, we immortalize. We set it in stone. Is there anyone who has passed that you feel you have immortalized in your work? If so, can you tell us a little about them?”

NK: Both of my parents. I’ve been able to understand my lived experience with them and how it has shaped my work since their passing. The totality of ancestral memory informs my work more profoundly as I build a deeper awareness of it.

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

NK: Do something no one else is doing. Experimentation breeds individuality. Every mistake is an opportunity to do something new. Above all, play it like you mean it. I’m someone who’s lived that philosophy in every performance. I tell my students all of these things as often as possible.

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?

NK: Christopher Brown, Shane Sanchez, and Sarah Darby, also known as Madeline. Chris was the first person to encourage me to perform my solo work live-telling me whenever I was ready, “the platform is here”. Following that, I have performed at many Super Dark Collective events, and cannot thank the 3 of them and everyone else involved that makes those shows happen-giving myself and other unique artists a chance to express themselves and share their work with a wider audience.

RRX: What do you think is the most poorly understood thing about music, or the music you play?

NK: Electronic music is not always repetitive. I take a very improvisational approach to performing my solo sets, incorporating generative music processes to ensure a unique experience is created for each audience as well as myself.

RRX: What would you like fans to know before they come to see you play? (No basic stuff; get specific.)

NK: I want people to know that I create new visuals and musical accompaniment very thoughtfully for each space I perform in, and take that process very seriously.

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?

NK: I want to clone myself to play drums over the electronic pieces I compose.

Cheesy Snacks – Interview – Thanks for Asking!

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November 7, 2024

Cheesy Snacks – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: Every comic book hero has an origin story. What is the origin story for the band? (points if you tell it like a comic book origin.)

PH: This project emerged from a vat of nuclear waste coated in cheese dust. The band has gone through nuclear fusion, fission, and then fusion again and again until we have now reached V16. This 16th edition of your favorite dairy based edible consists of Evan Crawley (drums), Avery Budnick (bass) Tori Christie (Vox, Synth, Percussion), Joe Taurone (when he can) and Perch Hapland (me, myself & I). I was bit by a rare cheese-fly that altered my face so a new character, and name, had to be chosen. After my name was changed I noticed that I developed a new power… the ability to write songs.

With that I usually bring some sort of melody, riff, or a fully fleshed out demo and then let the team just get after it. The best part about this newest edition of the project is everyone’s willingness to collaborate. Everyone is incredibly talented and I trust everyone’s ear which makes rehearsals so much fun. Even if we are in the weeds with a new tune I know that once it clicks everyone is going to express their own flavor on the tune.

RRX: Different people in the band will like different songs. A drummer’s favorite song on the release will be different than the guitar player’s. What are each of your favorite songs from your most recent album?

PH: Since the last few records have been a totally unhinged process and there hasn’t been a steady band recording them all we are gonna play a quick game of everyone’s favorite song to play live.

AB: “Stress Fracture… 6,7,8 it bangs.”

EC: “Stress Fracture” or “One Angry Hippo.” Stress Fracture cause its fun to play and gets the crowd going. One Angry Hippo because I love how dynamic it is. The energy in the end when everything builds is so cool.

TC: I selfishly love playing Hollow Colo the best, but if we are talking about the songs we’ve played recently then definitely Stress Fracture or Breadknot.

SW: No clue, but at this point probably the new ones because I’ve been having a lot of fun working them with the band. They are gonna be recorded this winter and out next year at some point.

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?

PH: Many many records. Hopefully a radio hit. Maybe a song that charts the Spotify charts? Who knows! There are two records almost fully written at the point of typing this interview out. One is full of material we, as a band, have been playing for the last six months or so. There are a couple other tunes to be thrown in the mix, but the foundation is ever present. Additionally I’ve been writing about a song a week all year so I have an excess of tunes that will construct the themes of future projects. There might be a couple EPs, a bunch of singles or just a few more records.

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?

PH: The entity of this band has been burdened by the constant lineup change. One day the name shall become sentient and tell me off, but while I’m still in control there are a ton of variations on the docket.

A folk version of the current lineup is in the works, but at some point I would love to bring some of my music to a small chamber group, or an orchestra, or ideally get some horns on some stuff I’m currently writing. I think the possibilities are endless and I want to keep all my avenues open.

RRX: Tell me about your most recent song, album, or video (you pick.) Tell me a story about what went into making it. Not a process, but a cool story that took place within the process.

PH: The last record, The Way to Saturn, came out of a pretty wild time in my young adult life. I just finished crossing the country on a bicycle with my friend and it left me with this feeling of constant longing. I took that feeling and went down to New Jersey for about a week to record in my buddies apartment. After that I went up to Maine to record in another friend’s studio for about a week. This all came about because I was on my way to move to Tennessee, but due to a lot of quick succession events I couldn’t quite make it work. So… I just stayed out on the road and continued writing and recording. The process was a proof to myself that I could do it all on my own.

RRX: Playing out is tricky because you never know what’s going to happen when you get there. Sometimes everything goes wrong. What was your worst show like?

PH: I always try to stray away from using absolute terms like “worst” and “best” when referring to shows because in hindsight a lot of the tough ones are great character building opportunities or, at the bare minimum, provide a good laugh. That being said I’ll offer up 2 as nearing un-recoupable. We played a show with a very different lineup at the Rat Den back in 2022 where we historically blew up the PA. We ran a digital drum rig through an insanely loud pedal board and just absolutely pressed the living crap out of the PA. Everything cut out, it smelled like smoke, and the following day we went out and purchased a whole new setup for the DIY space. The second would have to be one of the shows we played earlier this year at The Greenhouse. We had a two week residency and on the first week’s show we had my good friend Natalie of She’s Having a Meltdown slinging grilled cheese to the crowd. Due to the power strain (provided by a hot plate and 3 tube amps has on a very stable power setup in a DIY basement) we lost power in the entire basement 3 or 4 times. It was a pain in the butt to try and play your best with the constant fear of everything shutting off at any second. That being said we gave it our all and there was an awesome moment where the power cut off right on the last note of a song. This moment felt almost magical and the crowd had an absolutely electric response to it! It was actually captured by Camelia Ferwela aka Skywayfilm! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdMOQdFmmsA)

GWAR – Empire Live, Albany – November 2nd

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November 6, 2024

GWAR – Empire Live, Albany – November 2nd – Photography by Rachael Skinner.

Interview: Michael Gilbert of Flotsam & Jetsam

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November 6, 2024

An Interview with Michael Gilbert of Flotsam & Jetsam

By Justin Smulison

Photo By: Shane Eckart

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Flotsam & Jetsam continues their streak of metal mastery with I Am The Weapon, the latest in a succession of remarkable output. Available from AFM Records, I Am The Weapon picks up where 2021’s Blood In The Water left off, with a potent blend of power and thrash metal on standout tracks like the “Burned My Bridges,” and “Primal.”

Nearly 40 years after their arrival on the metal scene, the Arizona-based quintet demonstrates it can throw some curveballs, by incorporating some elements of rock and groove on tracks like “Beneath The Shadows.”

Now 15 albums deep into their career, the band plays with a level of ferocity unmatched by many of their peers. Did having the same lineup for the first time in several years help them reach a new creative peak? In this video interview, guitarist and band co-founder Michael Gilbert joined contributor Justin Smulison to discuss what drives the metal mainstays, their collaborative process, and what would be in store for fans should a new Flotsam & Jetsam tour commence.

Flotsam & Jetsam:
https://www.flotstildeath.com/
https://www.facebook.com/flotsamandjetsam.official
https://www.instagram.com/flotsamandjetsamofficial
https://shop.afm-records.de/

I Want a New Nugent – An Xperience Article

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November 6, 2024

I Want a New Nugent – An Xperience Article – by Rob Skane.

Ted Nugent owned a pretty good chunk of guitar hero real estate in the 1970’s. He played guitar like he was insane. He sang like he was insane. And, Key-Reist… he even looked insane. Check the album cover photo on “Cat Scratch Fever.” Actually, don’t, it may freak you out and you’ll need time in a safe space with a fidget spinner. Anyway, when rock n’ roll was scary, Nugent was next level.

The music was proud and furious. The playing was incendiary, and the Fender Super Twin amps made Uncle Ted sound as loud as an airplane. Derek St. Holmes had a fantastic rock n’ roll voice. He kept the vocals “upstairs” – which was standard operating procedure when it came to rocking hockey rinks down to the ground. Let’s not forget that St. Holmes was no slouch in the guitar slinger department either. Rob Grange held down the bottom end on bass and Clifford Davies beat the ever-loving daylights out of the drums. These dudes were blazing. Stormtroopin’ through your town and melting faces. They were truly an American Band, ya heard?

September of 1975 brings us Nugent’s first solo wax – “Nugent.” Brilliant, right? The first two songs on Side One, “Stranglehold” and “ Stormtroopin’,” just about made my brain melt out of my ears. Either that or it was sweat from the headphones because I probably listened to Side One about a dozen times in succession, who knows… And a year later we have platter number two, “Free-for-All.” “Dog Eat Dog” was/is mind-blowing. Fun fact, those first two records went platinum. This was when people brought albums and the FM radio played everything. Yeah, there was payola too, but so what? The records were UH – MAZING. Saint Ted of Nugent toured forever behind those records and people went bananas when he played. So did he.

Check it, kids, eight months after album two we have the legendary “Cat Scratch Fever” lp. Eight months … not three years of meditating and chanting the evil spirits out of your Gibson Byrdland hollow-body electric guitar. The Nuge was working it. Playing gigs and writing naughty rock n’ roll songs, who said “Wang Dang Sweet Poontang?” He kept on chooglin’ all day, every day and everywhere. This record goes triple-effin’ platinum, by the way.

So … three years and three studio albums brings us to the Motor City Madman’s finest hour, sorta. “Double Live Gonzo!” Holy buckets of sheep shit, this record is phenomenal. It’s got the best Woofah Goofah Mama Toofah-inspired stage raps ever, bar none. “… I know that ain’t nobody out there came to be mellow tonight, now did ya?” And the sensitive and caring dedication of a “love song” to all that Nashville … ummm. Yeah, go listen to the record, ok?

Uncle Ted was important. He made rock n’ roll fun and bawdy and over the top, in a different way than KISS did. He flew around the stage like he was no stranger to Peruvian marching powder, you feel me? He hit the stage, all the time, like a man who spent three weeks in a tree stand eating apples and bow hunting the Great White Buffalo. See, this is what we need now. We need another Nuge. Another Uncle Ted. Let’s make rock n’ roll absolutely crazy again.

5 Million Bees – The Weird Side of the Internet

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November 6, 2024

5 Million Bees – The Weird Side of the Internet – by Liam Sweeny.

I ain’t scared of much. Probably death, I think drowning is up there. If you’ve ever seen me, you might imagine I’m not afraid of Diabetes or heart disease, and despite appearances, they scare me too. But one thing I’m truly afraid of is bees.

I was maybe three or four, you know the first time you start remembering things? That’s how old I was. And we were living in a second floor apartment in Rensselaer. And my mother and father, being it was the late seventies, thought nothing of watching the TV movie The Swarm while I sat unawares on the couch.

Terrified. And I wouldn’t be that terrified again until, also sitting on the couch, my parents introduced me to the nuclear holocaust film The Day After.

But bees. I remember walking onto a hive in the woods on the ground ans running away as fast as I could while one of them stung me inside my ear.

I’m telling you my life story for a reason. Imagine five million bees. That’s what fell out of a truck in Burlington, Ontario. A beekeeper showed up and said it was the craziest cloud of bees he’d ever seen. So I wonder if he was an experienced beekeeper, right? How many other clouds has he seen to say this one was crazy. Crazy compare to the “Honey Stomp of 1996” crazy, or compared to the “couple bees that make me wait to get into my car” crazy?

Really, it was like a hundred beehives. And people were told to keep their windows rolled up, which is like telling people not to eat the box the pizza comes in. And would they even be able to get the bees back, like are they like honed in to the queen and they’ll return, or are they about to start ruining everybody’s picnics in Burlington, Ontario?