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Amanda Case – Thanks for Asking!

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Amanda Case – Thanks for Asking!

Amanda Case – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: Cover art is cool. It shows listeners what the artist thinks the album is all about. Because music can be felt visually. If you had to give the public a visual image that you think they would see and just “get” your groove right away, what would it be?

AC: Okay, let me try to paint this picture… The setting is the inside of a European cafe. There’s a small table in front of the giant storefront window. On it is a plate of assorted pastries, a coffee cup, and a book. If you look out the window, you’ll see a sage green bicycle parked outside with a basket full of treats like bread, chocolate, cheese, a bottle of red wine, and maybe a bouquet of fresh flowers. Across the street are colorfully painted buildings with small trees and greenery in front of them. If you look through a small opening between buildings, you’ll see a golden sun peeking through and reflecting off a body of water that exists just beyond them. I think that’s my groove.

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.

AC: The video for my song Kissing Strangers was so much fun to make and included a lot of moments that were thought of right before we started filming. The pasta rejection, the burning note, the rose handoff, these were all things that we came up with on the spot. Everything happened so naturally, which made for an incredible experience.

RRX: I know when pitching it helps to tell someone it’s “this meets that.” So let’s try that with you. If you had to give me two bands that meet each other in your sound, what are those bands? More than two bands?

AC: Maggie Rogers meets Lizzy McAlpine meets Wild Rivers.

RRX: What was the very first reaction to your music, from the first person to ever hear so much as a practice jam or the demo of your first song?

AC: This was probably my best friend, Rachel. I had a very hard time playing in front of people when I first started, so we sat in my car, her in the front seat facing forward, and me in the back seat. I played my guitar and shared one of the first songs I ever wrote, but I couldn’t have her staring at me in the process. I think she liked it, but god forbid we made eye contact. I’d like to think I’m better at this now.

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?

AC: I am super impressed by Anthony Cubbage, aka AGE of the BEAR. I’ve been lucky enough to work with him on my last few tunes, and his ability to bring a song to life is astounding. His music feels like a warm hug on a sunny day. It’s just so easy to listen to. He also has one of my favorite voices!

RRX: A band is a business. A business of love, but you got to work for it. Let’s pretend, instead of a band, you all owned a business. What would it be, and why would it be good?

AC: I would own the little cafe described in the first question! I’d have pastries, muffins, cakes, and desserts on display. The menu would include coffee, espresso, tea, and delicious brunch items. The walls would be lined with art and bookshelves. I’d have a record player with a wide selection of vinyl for guests to choose from. There would also be a cozy bar and a few outdoor tables for people to enjoy an apertivo in the evenings.

 

Music Link: amandacasemusic.com

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Whassup in the 518? – Weekend Shows – 4/17-19

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Whassup in the 518? – Weekend Shows – 4/17-19

Wassup in the 518?

Friday, April 17th

Daniel Maltz, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, 7:30pm

Daniel Adam Maltz, fortepiano

The Egg Presents: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Egg, Albany, 8pm

For nearly six decades, the three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has entertained audiences with their top-shelf musicianship and timeless hits. Now the time has come for the band who has carried a torch for American country and roots music to say so long to the highways and byways they’ve crossed an unimaginable number of times throughout their career.

Brian Kane & the Beginning, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 8pm-11pm

Brian Kane and The Beginning, a local favorite Rock the Barn! If you want to have an epic night, come join the party!

Stella Rose @ The Eleven at Lark Hall, Lark Hall, Albany, 6pm

Stella Rose is back at The Eleven at Lark Hall on Friday 4/17 at 6pm// FREE

Meet “Stella Rose”, a gateway to the timeless tunes of the Jerry Garcia Band and the Grateful Dead, where the spirit of the music lives on. The group’s harmonious blend resonates with authenticity and genuine love for the music.Bryan Gautie, the mastermind behind the strings leads the way playing soulful guitar and lead vocals. Jess Bowan (Fiddle/Vocals) each a seasoned performer, join forces to weave a tapestry that captures the essence of these iconic bands.Percussionist Pete Andriakos drives the group adding his rhythmic pulse to the mix, while infusing each performance with an infectious energy.Jill Gautie completes the ensemble. Known for her captivating stage presence and harmonies that literally dance around the music.With roots extending from The Wheel, The NoLaNauts, and House of Saturn, the Stella Rose collaboration invites you on a musical journey that transcends time, keeping the flame of Jerry Garcia’s spirit burning bright.

An Evening with Run Rabbit Run, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm

Come experience all the magic of Pink Floyd at Lark Hall on Friday, April 17th for the return of Run Rabbit Run. Doors 7pm/Show 8pm.

Lark Hall is bringing back the ultimate tribute to Pink Floyd, “RUN RABBIT RUN”Experience Pink Floyd’s full albums and masterpieces, lovingly recreated by Run Rabbit Run. These veteran artists from New York’s Capital Region play tribute across all eras of Pink Floyd’s discography–including immersive performances of complete albums. For Pink Floyd fans and newcomers alike, it’s an unforgettable concert of incredible music and compelling visuals.

Garnet Rogers, Caffe Lena, Saratoga, 8pm-10-pm

In a darkened bedroom, lit only by the amber glow from an old floor model radio, two young brothers aged 6 and 12 lay in their beds, listening to the country music broadcasts from the Grand Ol’ Opry, and practiced their harmonies. Two years later, the youngest one was playing the definitive 8-year-old’s version of “Desolation Row” on his ukulele. He soon abandoned that instrument to teach himself the flute, violin and guitar.

Drag Queen Karaoke, Lost and Found, Albany, 9pm

Anime Rave: Bitchin’ Betty & DJs, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

4/17 5:00 PM Dave Giardinelli-O’Connor- Frog Alley Brewing

4/17 5:00 PM Tame The Rooster Lite- Centre St Pub

4/17 6:00 PM Bill Alberts- Inn at Saratoga

4/17 6:00 PM Bobbie Van Detta- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park

4/17 6:00 PM Chris Carey- The Scarlet Knife

4/17 6:00 PM Christine Spero- Panza’s

4/17 6:00 PM DBW Duo- Carsons Woodside Tavern

4/17 6:00 PM Drank The Gold- Cock & Bull

4/17 6:00 PM Franklin Micare- 677 Prime

4/17 6:00 PM Grace Todd- Powers Pub

4/17 6:00 PM Had The Radish- Thirsty Owl

4/17 6:00 PM Luke Pavlus- Saratoga Winery

4/17 6:00 PM Mark Hodgkins- Spa City Tap & Barrel

4/17 6:00 PM Matt Finnigan- Holy Moses

4/17 6:00 PM Mike Purcell- Wishing Well

4/17 6:00 PM Pete Constantino- Treehouse Brewery

4/17 6:00 PM Rocky & The Moosemen- OK Socail

4/17 6:00 PM Russ Kennedy- Hank Hudson Brewing

4/17 6:00 PM Ryan Clark- Thirsty Owl

4/17 6:00 PM Stella Rose and The Eleven- Eleven at Lark Hall

4/17 6:30 PM Kevin & Josh- Peddlers Bar & Bistro

4/17 6:30 PM Seth Warden- Artisanal Brew Works

4/17 6:30 PM Steve Candlen- Diamond Club at Embassy Suites

4/17 7:00 PM Bad Monk & DJ Biz- Night Owl

4/17 7:00 PM Dan Bernstein- Emack & Bolios

4/17 7:00 PM Ill Funk Ensemble- The Bunker Latham

4/17 7:00 PM Lifeline- Kraverie

4/17 7:00 PM Vagabond- O’Slattery’s

4/17 7:30 PM Joe Lowery Trio- Play By Play Sports

4/17 7:30 PM The Ultimates- Wicked Eatery

4/17 8:00 PM DJ Dillon Robert- Misfit

4/17 8:00 PM Kale- Ophelia’s Restaurant

4/17 8:00 PM Motion Blur- Hometown Pub & Grub

4/17 8:00 PM Run Rabbit Run- Lark Hall

4/17 8:00 PM Ryan Clark- Cooperstown Distilling Saratoga

4/17 8:00 PM The Refrigerators- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino

4/17 8:30 PM 80’s Band with Lacey Allen- Frog Alley Brewing

4/17 8:30 PM Tommy V Live- Vapor

4/17 9:00 PM Steve Lambert Quartet- Nine Maple

4/17 9:30 PM Georgia Room- Spa City Tap & Barrel

Saturday, April 18th

Katarina Quartet 52nd Fischoff Competition Grand Prize Winners, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, 3pm

Experience the award-winning Katarina Quartet (Jaenel Liang, Jérôme chiasson, Celia Morin, Maya Enstad) in their Capital Region debut as Grand Prize winners of the 52nd Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in a program that spans elegance, innovation, and intensity. Haydn’s Op. 50, No. 2 opens with charm and clarity, followed by Vivian Fung’s bold and evocative “Spiraling.” The evening concludes with Beethoven’s powerful “Razumovsky” Quartet, Op. 59, No. 2.

Joel Thompson + Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, 7:30pm

Joel Thompson + Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto,

David Alan Miller, conductor
Garrick Ohlsson, piano

Joel Thompson: To See the Sky
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2
Edward Elgar: Enigma Variations

World Circus Day, The Egg, Albany, 4pm

Join The Big Top Group for an unforgettable afternoon celebrating contemporary circus, movement, and theatrical storytelling at one of New York State’s most iconic venues.

World Circus Day brings together nationally recognized artists and regional innovators for a dynamic, multi-generational experience that highlights circus as a vibrant contemporary art form.

Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons, The Egg, Albany, 8:30pm

Music Saturday, April 18 2026 • 8:30pm

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Albany. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Coldplay & Imagine Dragons at The Egg – Swyer Theatre under the gentle glow of candlelight.

Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra – Concert IV: Poetic Echoes, Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga

For the season finale, the SSSO makes an appearance at UPH and Proctors! Joined by Saratoga Voices, the SSSO will present an inspiring celebration of music and poetry. Florence Price’s “Four Songs from the Weary Blues” brings the evocative words of Langston Hughes to life, while Vaughan Williams’ “Towards the Unknown Region” sets Walt Whitman’s poetry to sweeping, emotional music. The program closes with Mendelssohn’s enchanting “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” capturing Shakespeare’s timeless tale of magic, love, and mischief.

Evil Empire, Empire Underground, Albany, 7pm

Dogs In A Pile, Empire Live, Albany, 8pm

Jeff Grippin, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 6:30pm

Local singer-songwriter Jeff Grippin brings his rich blend of Americana, folk, rock, country, and bluegrass influences to the Rustic Barn Pub.

Happy Hour at The Eleven with Uncle Terry’s Pocket, Lark Hall, Albany, 6pm

Join us in welcoming back Uncle Terry’s Pocket to The Eleven on Saturday, 4/18. 6PM/FREE

Born of Terrence, turtles, and terps, Uncle Terry’s Pocket is a new twist on a classic sound. Hailing from the eastern summit of Florida Mountain in Mass, these guys come in hot with an eclectic setlist of different genres. The only time they get out of pocket is to get in the groove.

Juice w/s/g The Alec Lewis Group, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm-11:30pm

Join us in welcoming New York City, R&B band Juice back to Lark Hall on Saturday, April 18th. Doors 7pm//Show 8pm

Between their tight grooves, radiant harmonies, heartfelt lyrics, and jaw-dropping solos there’s no simple, easy way to summarize New York City five-piece Juice. Pulling from pop and rock, hip-hop and R&B, ‘90s alternative, modern electronic, folk, and more, their complexity is their strength: All six members are multi-instrumentalists fromdifferent musical backgrounds and upbringings, each one bringing his own unique flavor to the band. The result is a “multi-dimensional rock” identity that has continuously evolved over the past decade, as the band members themselves – Ben Stevens (vocals, keys), Christian Rose (vocals, violin), Kamau Burton (vocals, guitar), Daniel Moss (guitar), and Rami El-Abidin (bass) – went from students at Boston College to professional touring musicians and seasoned recording artists.

Roomful of Blues, Caffe Lena, Saratoga, 5pm-7pm; 8pm-10pm

Horn-Powered. House-Rocking. Pure Joy.

“Brawny shuffles, swinging horns, searing guitar, passionate vocals and balls-to-the-wall enthusiasm.” – Living Blues

“High-voltage swingin’ jump blues and R&B.” – USA Today

For more than 55 years, Roomful of Blues has been one of the most electrifying forces in American blues and R&B. Hailed by DownBeat as “in a class by themselves” and dubbed “the best little big band in the blues” by Blues Music Magazine, this world-renowned, horn-powered ensemble delivers jubilant, foot-stomping performances that leave audiences smiling, dancing, and wanting more.

Midnight Radio, Lost and Found, Albany, 9pm

Sara Devoe / Bug Crush / Laura Elliot / Russel The Leaf, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

4/18 3:00 PM Ron Comstock- Helderberg Mountain Brewing

4/18 4:00 PM Girl Blue- Dancing Grain Farm Brewery

4/18 4:00 PM Lost Radio Rounders- Hilltown Commons

4/18 5:00 PM Brendan Dailey- Artisanal Brew Works

4/18 5:00 PM Joe Adee & The Lug Nuts- S&S farm Brewery

4/18 5:00 PM Will Pedicone- Frog Alley Brewing

4/18 6:00 PM Colleen Pratt & Peg Delaney Duo- Panza’s

4/18 6:00 PM Dan Sherwin- Tinney’s Tavern

4/18 6:00 PM Derrick Forget- Spa City Tap & Barrel

4/18 6:00 PM Jay Emery- The View at Brookhaven Golf Course

4/18 6:00 PM Jay Yager & Keri Alonzo- Henry’s Tavern

4/18 6:00 PM Jeff Walton & Rick Bolton- Carsons Woodside Tavern

4/18 6:00 PM Marcus Ruggiero- Inn at Saratoga

4/18 6:00 PM Matt Ryan & Ben Zoleski- Thirsty Owl

4/18 6:00 PM Pat Decker- The Scarlet Knife

4/18 6:00 PM Rob Aronstein- Wishing Well

4/18 6:00 PM Tooty and The Motherpluckers- Powers Pub

4/18 6:00 PM Tyler Giroux- 677 Prime

4/18 6:00 PM Uncle Terry’s Pocket- Eleven at Lark Hall

4/18 6:30 PM Amanda Case- Other One Brewery

4/18 6:30 PM Jeff Brisbin- Diamond Club at Embassy Suites

4/18 6:30 PM Jeff Grippen- Rustic Barn

4/18 6:30 PM Void Jewel- Peddlers Bar & Bistro

4/18 7:00 PM Alan Goldberg- Emack & Bolios

4/18 7:00 PM Bootleggers- Kings Tavern

4/18 7:00 PM Bypass- O’Slattery’s

4/18 7:00 PM On Tap Duo- Kraverie

4/18 7:00 PM The Schmooze & DJ Biz- Night Owl

4/18 7:00 PM Whiskey River- Outpost 40

4/18 7:30 PM Off The Record- American Legion Rensselaer

4/18 8:00 PM DJ Postman- Misfit

4/18 8:00 PM Hound & Handler- Parting Glass

4/18 8:00 PM Juice w/s/g The Alec Lewis Group- Lark Hall

4/18 8:00 PM Nine Deeez Nite- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino

4/18 8:00 PM Turf and Turf- Ophelia’s Restaurant

4/18 8:30 PM DJ NPG- Vapor

4/18 8:30 PM Skeeter Creek- Frog Alley Brewing

4/18 9:00 PM Out Og The Box- Nine Maple

4/18 9:30 PM Ill Funk Ensemble- Spa City Tap & Barrel

Sunday, April 19th

Joel Thompson + Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, 3pm

David Alan Miller, conductor
Garrick Ohlsson, piano

Joel Thompson: To See the Sky
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2
Edward Elgar: Enigma Variations

Saturday 4/18: https://purchase.albanysymphony.com/ChooseSeats/2001

Sunday 4/19: https://purchase.albanysymphony.com/ChooseSeats/2201

Concert Crave Presents: Trina, Empire Live, Albany, 8pm

420 Eve Celebration at The Eleven with Nickopotamus, The Eleven, Albany, 3pm

Get ready to kick back, relax, and sip on some 420 vibes with Nickopotamus at The Eleven – it’s gonna be lit! 3pm with a 4:20 “Toast”//FREE

The Last Lap Market, Putnam Place, Saratoga, 11am-5pm

Come down to Putnam Place to enjoy a day of oddities and vintage at the Last Lap Market!

We will have 25 vendors from the capital region and beyond including everything from oddities to hand crafted soaps, crystals, vintage, jewelry, apothecary, tarot readers, tooth gems, and flash tattoos!

Swing by for a quick drink or stay the whole day from 11am-5pm.

Dan Berggren & Jeannine Laverty, Caffe Lena, Saratoga, 2pm-4pm

Folk Singer Songwriter Storytelling

Jeannine Laverty and Dan Berggren

More than thirty years their story and song collaborations have been strong reminders of the power of wilderness and the passion of its people. Join them as they take you into the woods, down on the farm and up the high peaks, giving you a good view of your hard-working neighbors.

Jeannine Laverty has been telling international folk tales since 1979 when her work teaching English as a second language to immigrants in New York City showed her firsthand how the U.S. is made up of cultures from all the countries of the world. Her school residencies and museum performances for children have been awarded funding from the NYS Council on the Arts, the New York Foundation for the Arts, and the National Institute for the Humanities.

Spring Sip, Sing, and Shop, Lost and Found, Albany, 4pm

Carp x Rachel’s Bday Show: Mental Weather / Apple Pie / CPS / Spray Bottle Fever, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.” ‍

4/19 1:00 PM Maggie Doherty- Kings Tavern

4/19 1:00 PM Stef Solo- Dock Browns Tavern

4/19 3:00 PM Brandon LaRocca- Franklin Square Market

4/19 3:00 PM Nickopotamus- Eleven at Lark Hall

4/19 3:30 PM Geo Doody- Hank Hudson Brewing

4/19 4:00 PM Triple Trouble Jam- Artisanal Brew Works

4/19 4:00 PM Warden & Company- Carsons Woodside Tavern

4/19 5:00 PM Bobbie Van Detta- Charlton Tavern

4/19 6:00 PM Sinatra And Friends- Panza’s

 

Ticketmaster/Live Nation – The Only Game in Town

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Ticketmaster/Live Nation – The Only Game in Town

Ticketmaster/Live Nation – The Only Game in Town – by Liam Sweeny.

Sweat pours down your face, off your hair, rivulets down the back off your T-shirt. It presses into your computer chair as you slam on the buttons and click over here and over there. Your competitors have computer rigs much more advanced, but you have a seventy-two ounce Mountain Dew and you have moxie and you will outlast. You will be victorious.

You will get those Taylor Swift tickets off of Ticketmaster.

The juggernaut that is Ticketmaster/Live Nation owns the world of live concert ticket sales through sheer size and influence over thousands of venues in the United States, and even more globally. Yet such things as market demand pricing, a slew of fees, and the at times inability to handle very large demand events leaves the public in the nosebleeds.

After the merger between Ticket Master and Live Nation, CNN reported that the ticketing conglomerate owned 70% of the market for concerts and live ticket sales. According to an article in Saving Country Music, from 1993 to the third quarter of 2022, Ticketmaster’s profit went from $7.5 million to Ticketmaster and Live Nation’s combined $4,03 billion. To illuminate this, their whole 3Q take in 2022 was $6.2 billion. Two-thirds of their take was pure profit.

One might say that over 30 years, it should be higher. But a CPI Inflation Calculator has the difference between 1993 dollars to 2023 dollars at about double, a 1993 dollar is worth about $2.09. So Ticketmaster, even counting the merger with Live Nation, should be looking at tens of millions of profit, not billions.

There is a method to their madness. Ticketmaster doesn’t just rob you at the door of the venue. Their first M.O., so to speak, is what’s called ‘dynamic pricing. The Scotsman explained dynamic pricing as a market-based pricing model, where, if the demand is high, the price of a ticket can skyrocket. It’s essentially the same pricing model for airlines, AirB&B, and Uber’s “surge pricing.”

Taylor Swift’s “Eras” tour, in some instances, was topping out at more than $4,500. Tickets to Bruce Springsteen once went to $5,000.00 a pop.

Another prong in the pitchfork is the fees. While Ticketmaster has to display the fees as a result of congressional action, they can name them whatever the hell they want, and they don’t have to tell you where that fee money goes. It’s just something we have to take, another sticker for the sticker shock.

And here’s the third prong, the one the proctologists use. Ticketmaster and Live Nation either own big venues outright, or a lot of their fees go into the venues’ pockets. So a big artist can’t organize their own ticket sales with most of the venues that could handle their fan base.

Ticketmaster will paint the musicians as the culprits, saying that they set the prices. But what happens if a band sets a low ticket price, and only one ticket price? Ask Pearl Jam. They tried to do this. And when Ticketmaster showed them that they had very little to say about ticket prices if they wanted to “work in this town again,” Pearl Jam stood up to them, eventually testifying in front of congress. But they never got as big as they could’ve if they’d just kissed Ticketmaster’s ring.

Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament were the two who testified before congress. “All the members of Pearl Jam remember what it’s like to be young and not have a lot of money,” Gossard told lawmakers. “Many Pearl Jam fans are teenagers that do not have the money to pay $30 or more that is often charged for tickets today. It is well known in our industry that some portion of the service charges Ticketmaster collects on its sale of tickets is distributed back to the promoters and the venues. It is this incestuous relationship and the lack of any national competition for Ticketmaster that has created this situation we’re dealing with today.”

Remember, $30 then would only be $60 now. Think we can see the problem.

Some might say that Ticketmaster and Live Nation get the job done when it comes to high-demand events. If not them, who? Aerosmith manager Tim Collins put it best, in the article Saving Country Music. “Last week, I was with Aerosmith in Italy, where the band is currently on tour,” said Collins. “We were talking about Ticketmaster, and how it relates to our concert business. Steven Tyler, Aerosmith’s lead singer, said to me, ‘Mussolini may have made the trains run on time, but not everyone could get a seat on that train.’ That is the problem that Aerosmith and I have with Ticketmaster.”

Collins’ statement may have proven to be half-right. For Taylor Swift’s “Eras” tour, they failed to make the trains run on time. Ticketmaster had to cancel public sale of Swift’s tour tickets because the demand was so high. To their credit, they do institute a Verified Fan program, similar to TSA’s Pre-Check except that it’s designed to discourage reseller bots from getting tickets. But the 1.5 million Verified fans they planned for met with a tidal wave of 14 million ticket seekers, including bots. On the scalpers market, politely called the resale market, tickets were going for hundreds of thousands.

Taylor Swift did have something to say, of course. The Guardian, among many others, picked up her full statement, but here’s an excerpt.

“Well. It goes without saying that I’m extremely protective of my fans,” she said. “We’ve been doing this for decades together and over the years, I’ve brought so many elements of my career in house. I’ve done this SPECIFICALLY to improve the quality of my fans’ experience by doing it myself with my team who care as much about my fans as I do,” she wrote. “It’s really difficult for me to trust an outside entity with these relationships and loyalties, and excruciating for me to just watch mistakes happen with no recourse.

“There are a multitude of reasons why people had such a hard time trying to get tickets and I’m trying to figure out how this situation can be improved moving forward.

“I’m not going to make excuses for anyone because we asked them, multiple times, if they could handle this kind of demand and we were assured they could. It’s truly amazing that 2.4 million people got tickets, but it really pisses me off that a lot of them feel like they went through several bear attacks to get them.”

A bright light to this is that not all artists are towing the Ticketmaster line, even if they’re stuck using them. According to Vulture, The Cure’s Robert Smith, a might disgusted with the many fees that Ticketmaster tacks on to his tickets, took to Twitter in all caps about it.

“I am as sickened as you all are by today’s Ticketmaster fees debacle. To be very clear: the artist has no way to limit them. I have been asking how they are justified. If I get anything coherent by way of an answer I will let you all know. X”

And wouldn’t you know it? Ticketmaster slowed their roll!

“After further conversation,” Smith later tweeted. “Ticketmaster have agreed with us that many of the fees being charged are unduly high, and as a gesture of good will have offered a $10 refund to all Verified Fan accounts for lowest ticket price (LTP) transactions… and a $5 per ticket refund to all verified fan accounts for all other ticket price transactions for all Cure shows at all venues: if you already bought a ticket you will automatically get a refund: All ticket sales tomorrow will incur lower fees.”

So what to make of Ticketmaster? Just a thought. Smaller, local bands you could see for ten dollars would take off and become huge if everybody saved their Ticketmaster money for a year and packed some local venues instead. And they’re usually all general admission, and no seats means no bad seats.

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Banshee Tree: Full Length Album ‘Bad Luck’ out April 17th

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Banshee Tree: Full Length Album ‘Bad Luck’ out April 17th

Interview: Banshee Tree/Michelle Pietrafitta (drums)
By: Rob Smittix

Photo By: Christian O’Rourke

RRX: Thank you Michelle for taking the time today to speak to me about your band Banshee Tree.

MP: Of course.

RRX: I’ve been checking out the band, totally digging it.

MP: Thank You.

RRX: Hopefully I get to see you live one of these days. I’ve watched a lot of your live videos and Banshee Tree definitely seems like a band that you need to see live.

MP: Oh, for sure, it’s a little bit different on the stage.

RRX: If you’re ever looking to come up this way, hit me up. I can point you in the right direction.

MP: OK, great. We actually have a lot of history… not as a band in New York but as individuals. Thom (LaFond)is from Schenectady and I went to college at in Oneonta.

RRX: Oh wow. I could throw a football to Schenectady from here.

MP: Exactly, yeah.

RRX: Well, Thom knows the area obviously but I’ve had a lot of friends in bands come to town without contacting me ahead of time and then I find out they’re playing. I’m like… that is not the right venue for them.

MP: Yeah, I know it’s funny how that makes such a big difference just where you go.

RRX: Oh, it does, absolutely. I’ve been checking out the music. I also heard the new album ‘Bad luck’ is coming out on April 17th. I also think it’s kind of unique that we’re talking about bad luck on Friday the 13th (March 13, 2026). Are you at all superstitious? Does Friday the 13th worry you? Do you walk under ladders or go in the other direction?

MP: You know… for me, Friday the 13th was always like a holiday when I was a kid. It was a special fun, exciting day. My best friend and I had this tradition where we would go to Di Vincenzo’s Pizza and grab a slice, and then go eat it in the graveyard across the street.

RRX: That is a good tradition. I love that kind of stuff. When talking to musicians I often get a little sidetracked with food talk, especially pizza in a cemetery, that’s gold.

MP: Yeah, I grew up in South Jersey in an Irish-Italian family, so pizza was important.

RRX: Oh hell yeah, but cemetery pizza, that’s something you don’t see every day.

MP: Yeah, exactly. Friday the 13th, it’s the 2nd 1 in a row… I’m not sure if you knew our newest single, the title track “Bad Luck” was released today?

RRX: Oh today?

MP: We were like, when should we release it? Oh, Friday the 13th makes sense.

RRX: It does. Now I know what I’m doing when we get off the phone. I’m checking that out.

MP: Yeah, that just dropped.

RRX: What is it about Bad Luck that made this the title track?

MP: It didn’t start as the title track. We had a lot of songs and we started putting them together and figuring out which ones flowed the best together. We started to see kind of a theme coming out so… like the whole album has themes of warnings from nature. What you do with those warnings? Do you take heed? Do you listen to them or do you just keep on your same path? That’s where the idea of bad luck comes from… there’s these warning signs but what do you do with them? Do you learn the lesson and incorporate it or do you turn it into what it is, bad luck? Also, we started creating this album with a violinist that left the band.
It’s kind of this contemplation of… what seems like bad luck in the moment is leading you to a new territory that could be better than you imagined. For example, we lost our violinist and we weren’t sure if the band was gonna continue or what we were gonna do. The most perfect person kind of just fell into place and he finished the album. So the violinist started the album and then the saxophonist completed the album. So what might seem like bad luck at the time can turn into a whole beautiful journey that you didn’t expect. You don’t know where it’s gonna lead you and so it’s like trusting the journey and moving forward.

RRX: Yeah, that’s exactly it.

MP: Yeah, it’s cool because we have that theme threaded in a very direct way because we had the violinist, he started the album with us, so we kept some of his parts and weave them into a little interlude that has the saxophone and violin kind of weaved together. It’s kind of like the passing of the baton through the album itself.

RRX: Glad you stuck around and made it work because it became what it’s supposed to be.

MP: I’m extremely grateful that we saw it through.

RRX: Was there anything else that you wanted to make sure you got out there to the universe?

MP: Yeah, 100%, goodness… for me music is about bringing people together and music is about helping people process all of the things that they don’t get to in the process of their day to day lives. Like… live concerts give you the opportunity to shake it all loose and release it. That’s what I hope to bring through our tours and that’s what I hope this album brings to people as they listen to it. It’s got themes of nature….

RRX: I caught that. And I think that’s really where humanity is disconnected, we need to get back to that. We need to take our shoes off, put our feet in the soil and just try to remember what we are. I feel like we’re being shaped and molded by screens.

MP: That’s exactly right. I’ve actually noticed like… when I was going out to the store and how it would be a preposterous idea for me to not bring my phone. That moment made me realize how deep we’ve gotten into this. And it’s rewiring our brains. The connection to nature is not only important but it grounds us and helps us be happy and calm as beings and remember what life is all about. I think if we don’t do that, then our whole lives will pass us by and we’ll realize, oh s***, I spent the whole thing looking at my phone and distracting myself. An entire lifetime can go by doing that if we’re not careful. So hopefully the themes of this song can help remind people to connect back into themselves and into nature.

RRX: Well, Amen to that! I’ve thought about this… kids these days will look back at their fondest memories of childhood but it’s in virtual reality.

MP: Exactly.

RRX: Which is a wild concept.

MP: It is. I feel like this generation is getting hit from the side. When TV first became a thing, people got lost in that and then they’re like, oh sh**, this is kind of bad, let’s step back. And now, we’re blindsided a bit by it but I think eventually people will realize and step back more. I think there’ll be a number of people who are just like, oops… my life was dedicated to this thing by accident.

RRX: Right? It doesn’t sound like you or I will ever be those people that are lined up for the new iPhone.

MP: No. Probably not!

Week Fifteen: Jesse Sample’s Freak of the Week “Hi”

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Week Fifteen: Jesse Sample’s Freak of the Week “Hi”

Jesse Sample’s Freak of the Week airs EVERY WEDNESDAY at 6pm EASTERN only on RadioRadioX.com

This is Jesse Sample. Do you ever stop and consider the myriad things that the people around us do to feel alive? And have you ever thought about the price they pay for that feeling? The guy on his couch nodding off is chasing the same thing as the CEO when maybe that CEO slips into the less virtuous side of town when doing business in Asia. The only thing that is different is the delivery apparatus. This is where my head was when Rosa and I made this week’s song.

What is that thing they are chasing? Can we cook it down to a common denominator? When someone pursues the feeling of being alive by voluntarily embracing annihilation it seems somewhat paradoxical. And it’s not uncommon.

And while we’re at it, what is that thing we are chasing? It’s not always just somebody else. How do I come to terms with this in my life? I think about it often and I’ve come to the conclusion that this riddle is never resolved for good. This isn’t one where you set it and forget it. Could it be the difference between feeling love and truly generating love is the direct difference between food and poison?

More questions than answers tonight…

Thanks to all of you tuned into RadioRadioX. This is the Freak of the Week, “Hi”

 

Advertiser Ambush: Casa Verde Dispensary Troy, NY

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Advertiser Ambush: Casa Verde Dispensary Troy, NY

Sara B (RadioRadioX/Xperience) drops by Casa Verde 15 Campbell Ave Troy, NY 12180

THE YOUTUBE VIDEO WAS REMOVED SAYS IT VIOLATED STANDANDS, WE ARE IN APPEAL MODE!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel HERE!

https://youtu.be/pn0Q_gs3LP4?si=AiKXERCgrf6Zywvm

Blues Night at the Strand Theatre – April 24th

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Blues Night at the Strand Theatre – April 24th

On Friday April 24, 2026 @ 7:30pm, it’s Blues Night at the Strand Theatre with Tinsley Ellis!

Atlanta-based musician Tinsley Ellis—known for decades as one of the greatest electric blues-rock guitarists of his generation—is now also recognized as one of the very best contemporary acoustic blues guitarists, songwriters and performers in the world.

With 2024’s critically acclaimed, Blues Music Award-nominated Naked Truth, Ellis unplugged with his first-ever acoustic album. On it he mixed his own striking original songs—inspired by Son House, Skip James, Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters—with a few reinvented covers.

Now, with his new album, Labor Of Love, Ellis delivers a raw, edgy, self-produced set of 13 original compositions. The songs spin modern tales of floods, conflagrations, voodoo spirits, personal travails and heaven-sent prayers.

Each performance carries the weight, experience and hard-earned wisdom Ellis learned over four decades on the road, making Labor Of Love as profoundly deep and moving as any music he has made in his career.

He’s earned the love and respect of many of his fellow musicians, having shared stages with The Allman Brothers, Warren Haynes, Oliver Wood, Buddy Guy, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Gov’t Mule, Widespread Panic, and more.

Over the years, legends including Otis Rush, James Cotton, Gregg Allman, Jimmy Buffett, Son Seals, Koko Taylor and Albert Collins invited Ellis to join them on stage. Mega-star guitarist Joe Bonamassa calls Ellis “a national treasure.”

$25/general admission. $30/first 2 rows. Tickets are available at the Strand Box Office or online at Events.com. Doors into the lobby, coffee shop and box office open at 6:00pm. For more info 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.

Advertiser Ambush: Boutique & Coffee Made Simple

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Advertiser Ambush: Boutique & Coffee Made Simple

Boutique & Coffee Made Simple
1471 Route 9
Halfmoon, New York 12065

Sara B (RadioRadioX/Xperience)visits Boutique & Coffee Made Simple in Halfmoon, NY

Brick By Brick Announce April Weekender with Fury of Five, Milwaukee Metal Fest and European Tour with Hoods

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Brick By Brick Announce April Weekender with Fury of Five, Milwaukee Metal Fest and European Tour with Hoods

Albany, NY — Brick By Brick Announce April Weekender with Fury of Five, Milwaukee Metal Fest and European Tour with Hoods

Albany metal/hardcore veterans Brick By Brick have announced two major runs for 2026 and their debut at this year’s Milwaukee Metal Fest, marking one of the band’s busiest and most aggressive touring years to date. The band will first team up with New Jersey heavyweights Fury of Five for a three‑day Northeast weekender April 16–19, followed by a full European tour alongside Sacramento hardcore legends Hoods from July 30 through August 14.

April Weekender with Fury of Five (April 16 – 19)

A collision of two of the Northeast’s most uncompromising forces, Brick By Brick and Fury of Five will bring a concentrated blast of metallic hardcore to four cities:

  • April 16 — Old Towne Theatre, Old Town, ME
  • April 17 – Bunaglow, Manchester, NH
  • April 18 — Alchemy, Providence, RI
  • April 19 — Cellar on Treadwell, Hamden, CT

This run marks the first time the two bands have shared a mini‑tour in years, promising a string of shows built on raw intensity, street‑level grit, and the kind of crowd energy both bands are known for.

Milwalkee Metal Fest (June 4-6)

European Tour with Hoods (July 30 – August 14)

Brick By Brick will then cross the Atlantic for a two‑week European assault with long‑running West Coast hardcore icons Hoods. The tour will hit multiple countries across the EU and UK, bringing a double‑dose of American metallic hardcore to some of the scene’s most dedicated international fans.

Full routing and venue announcements attached.

About Brick By Brick

For over two decades, Brick By Brick have been a cornerstone of the Northeast heavy music scene, known for their crushing blend of metal and hardcore, blue‑collar authenticity, and punishing live shows. Their relentless work ethic and no‑nonsense approach have earned them a loyal following across the U.S. and abroad.

Check out Brick By Brick’s latest release produced by Joey Z (Life of Agony), Collapse on Spotify

Photo By: Jim Wertman

Jackson Sundown @ Slidin’ Dirty, 4/9/2026

Timothy Reidy
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Jackson Sundown @ Slidin’ Dirty, 4/9/2026

The Slidin’ Dirty Groove Retreat features Jackson Sundown jamming every other Thursday, comprising Rob Beaulieu, Nick Landess, Matt Schneider, and Pete Vumbacco.

Photography by Timothy Reidy.

More from Slidin’ Dirty here …

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