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Benjamin Alexander Odom – Thanks for Asking!

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Benjamin Alexander Odom – Thanks for Asking!

Benjamin Odom – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: Like songs, every artist has a unique feeling about their first show. What was your first show like? Was it your best show? If not, what was your best show like?

BAO: My first show was very memorable and nerve wracking! The day after I joined the group, we rehearsed in the car on the way to the show , which was in Baltimore! Considering that I had just graduated high school earlier in the year and had just turned 18, there’s really not a whole lot I remember about my performance in particular! but I do remember that we were on this show with 3 other major artists and i ,being the youngest amongst them, was welcomed into the fold as if i had been around them for years!!And to this day, those of them that are still alive are still my boys!

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

BAO: That we love every song we sing! In truth, if we’re being honest, we sing most of our songs because we know tthey are the songs the audience will                     respond to the most. I remember Dionne Warwick saying that most of her hits she really didn’t like ,but since Burt Bacharach wrote them, she sang them!                     I’ve spoken to many artists who feel the same way! I must admit ,I do the same thing tailoring my stet list to my audience! My former manager once told                     me ,{RIP}, that people don’t have to spend their time and their hard earned money to come and see you! So you should do everything in your power to                         make it worth their while!

RRX: Our style comes from the extension of our influences. It’s like an evolution. We’re influenced, and it inspires us to influence. What can you say about your influences, and what you feel you’ve done with their influence as a musician or band? Have you extended their work

BAO: One of my greatest influences, outside of family, was Maurice White  of Earth Wind & Fire!The genius it took to put together such an entity truly fascinated me! Taking 10 or more individuals and finding a way to make them appear as one was artistry at its best! To be able to have one instrument do a simple line and then add that to ten or more other simple lines and come out as a masterpiece was so exquisite! I had the opportunity to speak to one of the members and he told me that Maurice’s vision was to get multiple ingredients to blend together to achieve 3 minutes of magic! And man did he accomplish that time and time again!! I am always attempting to do just that! Blending genres, generations and styles to try and create magic amongst individuals who might not otherwise get that opportunity!

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?

BAO: What I would consider my worst show was when we were playing a gig on the beach and earlier that day the weather report was for possible tornadic activity! So we start playing as you can see the clouds start to gather over the water! As time goes on , the drops become more frequent! Eventually it start to downpour and the skies darken with the with picking up furiously!I’m standing there with a towel over me and the neck of my bass praying not to get electrocuted! And yet ,these fools continue singing and the crowd continues shouting! As the weather worsen , i proceed to crouch behind my amp trying to shield myself from as much rain as possible! Eventually, better judgement prevail and they whisked us off stage into this building just as you could see the spout out over the water! After some stuff hitting the outside of the building and some flickering of the lights, the storm passed and a couple of bands went on to play! But i vowed never again to take that type of chance just for the sake of keeping the groove!

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.)

BAO: Most definitely one hit because that one classic could take care of your family for generations and could open up opportunities for you to do some many more things to change lives! Imagine creating that Christmas classic that will forever be played one season a year! I’ll take that for sure!

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?

BAO: One project I have been really longing to accomplish is called LADIES! LADIES!LADIES! It will bring together 2 legends, 2 almost legends and 2 newer artists. The entire band will be female along with the crew, management and security also female! Outside of me finding the funding and a male emcee, every aspect of this tour will be handled by females! I feel the world could use something like this right about now! My goal is not about building bridges, it’s about BLENDING bridges!Blending generations, genres and styles! Hopefully getting to the point of blending spirits! After all, we truly are all one! I think sometimes we just need to be reminded of it!

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Cold Chocolate @ White Lake Studios, 2/26/2026

Evan Lauber
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Cold Chocolate @ White Lake Studios, 2/26/2026

Last Thursday’s concert at White Lake Studios featured the duo Cold Chocolate from Boston.  These guys put on a great show,  with many songs sung from the heart about family and life experiences during COVID, including childbirth.  You can see a little bit of the concert here:

This was the first concert at Whitelake Studios since Xperience Monthly/RadioRadiox teamed up with them for their Upstate Unplugged series. It was also announced that Zorbas Trio (present for this show) would be performing in May.

Photography by Evan Lauber.

More coverage of the show here …

Troy Goes Bald for Kids’ Cancer Fight at Shave-a-Thon at Ryan’s Wake

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Troy Goes Bald for Kids’ Cancer Fight at Shave-a-Thon at Ryan’s Wake

Troy Goes Bald for Kids’ Cancer Fight at Shave-a-Thon
St. Baldricks’ Foundation Fundraiser Sunday March 22 at Ryan’s Wake

TROY, N.Y. — Later this month, Trojans will shave their heads in a show of solidarity with children battling cancer, raising funds for research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

The Shave-a-Thon will be held Sunday, March 22, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Ryan’s Wake Public House — continuing a local tradition that started in 2009 at Park Pub.

A shave-a-thon works by inviting participants to secure sponsors who pledge donations in exchange for watching them bravely (or humorously) shave their heads in public.

Organizer Debbie Nash got involved with the cause more than a decade ago, first as a supporter on the sidelines then as an active participant.

“One year a friend dared me to shave my head and promised to donate $1,000 if I did it. So I went for it,” Nash said. “It began as a dare, but the whole experience moved me deeply. Standing there getting shaved, I realized I was choosing this — while the kids fighting cancer have no choice at all.”

That first year, as Nash was being shaved, an honored boy stood beside her as her hair fell to the floor. St. Baldrick’s honored kids are the courageous children and teens facing childhood cancer whose stories drive the foundation’s efforts to fund cures and better treatments.

“Every time I looked in the mirror afterward, I thought of him and what he was going through. It really hits you how much we take for granted in life,” Nash said. “This happens to families every day.”

That boy, Nick, is about to turn 21 and doing well today, said Nash, who continues to shave her head annually and took over organizing the event in 2021. She has shaved her head a total of 10 times and is ready to do it again this month.

This is the second year the shave-a-thon will be held at Ryan’s Wake.

“It’s a great cause. We’re very proud to be a part of it,” said Jared Kingsley, general manager of Ryan’s Wake Public House. “This is one of those events that makes you proud to belong to this community.”

Now in its 26th year, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation started as a casual challenge among friends to shave their heads and collect donations for childhood cancer. It has grown into the largest charitable funder of childhood cancer research grants in the U.S., with more than $369 million awarded to support studies at institutions nationwide.

Every two minutes, a child somewhere in the world is diagnosed with cancer. In the United States, about one in five children diagnosed will not survive. The foundation backs research across the full spectrum — from early-stage lab innovations to clinical trials — to create better treatments, reduce long-term effects for survivors and hasten the discovery of cures. Contributions help institutions nationwide provide advanced care to children fighting cancer today and tomorrow.

During the shave-a-thon, five licensed stylists at Ryan’s Wake will shave heads amid a lively, supportive crowd. Participants are encouraged to line up sponsors from their circles, record the shave and share videos on social media to drive more donations. Preregistration is preferred via the event link (below), though walk-ins are welcome with a donation.

The event will include raffles, food, drinks and shamrock medallions for purchase. Attendees can personalize a medallion with a message, family name or tribute and add it to the pub’s walls as a visible gesture of support.

Those unable to attend or shave can still help by donating directly through the provided link at www.RyansWake.com

Ryan’s Wake has built strong momentum, with last year’s event raising nearly $37,000. Organizers hope to surpass that amount this year. The pub’s campaign allows individuals to start their own subcampaigns to rally personal networks.

For registration, donation details or more information, visit ryanswake.com or go directly to: https://www.stbaldricks.org/events/ryanswake2026

David Greenberger – Xperience History

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David Greenberger – Xperience History

David Greenberger – Xperience History – by Liam Sweeny.

Originally published July 2020.

The Duplex Planet was a ‘zine created by artist Davis Greenberger in Boston in 1979. In its thirty-year span, it had captured an oft overlooked experience – that of the elderly. Its quirky nature endeared in to many, and the characters created in the Duplex Planet carried over into other media, such as books, comics, and spoken word.

We have been given permission by David to relay a portion of his TED Talk. Which is a first for us, but we’re adventurous, so let’s all have fun with it.

“The first funeral I ever went to was in 1979. I was 25 and I was working as an activities director at a nursing home in Boston. There was a man at the home by the name of Arthur Brown. One day, he took sick, was taken to the hospital, and he died shortly after that – all in a short span of time. But he was 96, had lived a long and healthy life up till then. I asked around to see if anybody wanted to go to his funeral, and there was another man at the home who wanted to go; he was the one who wanted to go. His name was Arthur Wallace.

David Greenberger.

“So the two of us set off to go to this graveside service. I borrowed a car. On the way there, it took a little longer than I thought – I got a little bit lost – and the entire way there, Arthur was giving a sort of running commentary on skirt lengths and billboards and bad directions, and all the while, he was monkeying around with his hearing aid. that would fall out of his ear onto the seat, and he would jab it with a pen in some kind of a repair ritual and put it back in. It would fall out again. And the entire time he had a cigar that was not lit but was wet on both ends. So this is who I was in this small container with for the time it took to find the cemetery.

“Finally found it, pulled in. There were a couple people standing by one grave site. I parked the car and helped Arthur out. There were a lot of leaves on the ground – it was November – and I walked him across the leaves over to where these people were standing. There were a couple of elderly women who were distant relatives of the deceased, and then there was a minister. And when we were through with these brief introductions, the minister then said a very short service.
At the end of that, he asked if anybody else wanted to say anything. And Arthur Wallace, who I brought along, wanted to say something. So he stepped forward from where he was next to me, and he said something like this: “Arthur Brown was a good man but funny thing was he didn’t like bananas. Now when his lunch would come up on the tray, if there was a banana on it,. he’d give it to me. I like a banana. I like a banana okay. A banana’s my number two fruit. My number one fruit’s a big, mild pear.” And then he stepped back next to me. That was the first funeral I ever went to.

“So I should now tell you. how I came to be working in a nursing home in the first place. About a year before, I was on a cross-country trip and stopped in Palm Springs where my grandmother was spending the winter. I met a couple who were lifelong friends of hers, the Feitlers. And Herb Feitler and I spent the better part of a day. sort of palling around. We went in his car. to flea markets in surrounding desert communities out there. And I just had a fantastic time. When I got back home to Boston, in considering this fantastic time I had, I realized that what made it unique was that it was the first time I sort of had made friends with somebody who was significantly older than me but wasn’t in my family. And I liked that, and I thought I would like to do that again. I had just graduated from art school with a degree in painting, and I thought there was something I could do that would be better for me than scooping ice cream and delivering flowers. So I heard about a job at a nursing home as an activities director that somebody I’d gone to school with was doing and was going to be leaving the job. So I went there and applied, and I got the job – for 50 cents an hour less because I had no prior experience. But I started then, right away. It was in a residential, tree-lined neighborhood in Jamaica Plain, in Boston, and it was an old, converted duplex house, hence its name, the Duplex Nursing Home.

“And as soon as I set foot into this environment, I was just captivated with it. It was just filled with riveting bits of conversation that I had to write down, here being some examples: “I keep smoking, but what I really want to do is drive around in a stick-shift car.”; “If a crow would see my picture, the crow would fly away.”; “Mars will probably be a state someday.”; “I’m going to get me a fly, and I’m going to keep it in my room.”; “The most important thing of human behavior is don’t be terrorizing anybody.”; “I heard a knock at the door, and I hung up on it.”; “When you rake the yard, you rake the yard with a rake.”; I love that one… “I can speak five languages, and I can also blabber.”; “The weatherman says it’s going to be cold tonight, so around. midnight, I’m going to cook up a pork chop in the moonlight. Doesn’t cost too much to cook in the moonlight.”; “My shoveling days are over, Davy baby.”; “I’ll smoke another cigar, by and by.” And these became the basis for a publication I started. called “The Duplex Planet.

“I didn’t know exactly where it was going, and in fact, I set aside painting. I felt like if this was to be something that I was to find my way in, I shouldn’t have any other outlet that would allow that. I got the first issue together and gathered all the residents together one afternoon and handed out a copy to each one of them. Within about two minutes, they figured out that I wasn’t also passing out cake or refreshments or something and most of them wandered away, discarding these. However, that night, copies that made it home with me roommates and friends saw, and I instantly got that this was for everybody but the people in it. Had it been more traditional oral history, it would have been a keepsake of sorts for the residents, but this was something else: this was characters springing to life on the page. So I got to know all 45 of these residents; it was an all-male nursing home, this place. Some were talkative; some were not. Some were agitated; some were calm. Some were very articulate about all manner of things, and some didn’t really make a lot of sense in expected ways. And it was those latter ones who I was most interested in. I felt fortunate to be in close contact with people who were going through that, and I came to see that they ended up not making sense. having made the same sense that we all make when we make sense. If that makes sense.

“I’ve had about a quarter-million conversations in my life, and I’ve forgotten almost all of them. Conversations are a way for two people to be in the same time and place as one another. And we extract the data from it, and we’re left, then, with an emotional memory of somebody. I’m an artist, and I’m also somebody in the second half of my life, well into it, and I think I’ve learned as a human being and grown as an artist from continuing to meet people who are living the last years of their lives. The differences between us are obvious, but it’s the things that we have in common that are the most fulfilling to me. That’s where you find the surprise and the mystery and the truth.”

 

 

More from Liam Sweeny…

Ryan Montbleau / Lyle Brewer @ Caffe Lena, 2/26/2026

Timothy Reidy
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Ryan Montbleau / Lyle Brewer @ Caffe Lena, 2/26/2026

Ryan Montbleau played the first of a two-night stand at Caffe Lena on February 26, with frequent bandmate Lyle Brewer opening.

Photography by Timothy Reidy.

More from Caffe Lena here …

Whassup in the 518? Weekend Shows

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Whassup in the 518? Weekend Shows

Whassup in the 518?

Friday, March 6th

The Orchestra Starring ELO and ELO Part Two Former Members, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, 7:30pm

The Story Began in 1970…

The story starts in 1970 in Birmingham, England, where the Electric Light Orchestra began their journey as one of the world’s most popular rock bands. Their music was characterized by a fusion of Beatlesque pop, classical arrangements, and futuristic iconography.

The Fab Four: Tribute to the Beatles’ “Help!” and the Hits, The Egg, Albany, 7:30pm

If you want to experience the best Beatles tribute ever, you won’t want to miss The Fab Four-The Ultimate Tribute. The 2025 tour brings their all-new show to the stage, celebrating The Beatles’ second film, HELP!, with performances from the movie soundtrack, as well as the Beatles’ greatest hits of every era.

Joythief, Empire Underground, Albany, 7pm

United We Dance: The Ultimate Rave Experience, Empire Live, Albany, 9:30pm

Pete Correale: As I Was Saying, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 9pm

Pete has performed on numerous late night tv shows such as The Tonight Show, Letterman and Conan. as well as filming three of his own one hour television comedy specials, THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE, LET ME TELL YA and the last being on FOR PETE’S SAKE. He has also released two comedy albums, GIVE IT A REST and MADE FOR RADIO.

Pete is also the co-host of The Pete and Sebastian show, a podcast with comedian and longtime friend Sebastian Maniscalco.

Danny Quane, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 6:30pm-9:30pm

Danny Quane is an acoustic singer songwriter playing original folk/Indie, Irish, and popular bar room covers. Catch him live March 6 at Rustic Barn Pub in Troy, NY!

First Friday with Spendthrift Lover at The Eleven, Lark Hall, Albany, 6pm

Join us in welcoming Spendthrift Lover to The Eleven for their debut performance on Friday, March 6 . 6pm / FREE

Spendthrift Lover plays a unique repertoire of tunes gathered together over 2 decades, inspired by the music of Appalachia, and heavily influenced by the blues. The duo consists of multi-instrumentalists Brian Axford and Lauren Chiyoko whose harmonies are like two voices, one soul. At times this moving blend of genres pulls at the heartstrings, and at others, calls for foot stompin’, hollerin’, and two-steppin’. Brian and Lauren are both involved in other musical pursuits around the Capital Region (Playhouse Stage Company, (WAMM Women Are Making Music), to name a couple), but when their worlds collide- it is something special.

All You Need Is George” : An All-Star Celebration of George Harrison, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm

Join us for a once in a lifetime celebration of George Harrison feat. Jackie Greene, Steve Kimock, Berry Duane Oakley and more

For the first time in over 50 years, The Music of George Harrison tours North America!

An extraordinary ensemble of world-class musicians come together to celebrate the timeless genius of George Harrison. Their deep camaraderie and unmatched artistry shine through every note, driven by a profound love for Harrison’s music. From his groundbreaking years with The Beatles, to the lush brilliance of All Things Must Pass, through solo treasures like Any Road, and the magic of The Traveling Wilburys, this show is a journey through one of music’s most soulful legacies.

Jam-band legends Jackie Greene, Steve Kimock, Pete Lavezzoli, Reed Mathis, Berry Duane Oakley, and Gil Assayas unite for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of George Harrison’s timeless legacy. Don’t miss it!

Whiskey City w/ Northern Spies Band, Putnam Place, Saratoga, 8pm-11:59pm

Celebrating 15 years as the Berkshire region’s premier country-rock powerhouse, Whiskey City brings a “Nashville-quality” show to stages around the region. Voted “Best Live Band in the Berkshires” four years running, this six-piece ensemble is known for high-octane performances that keep the dance floor packed all night. From modern country hits by Jason Aldean and Sugarland to classic 80s rock anthems, Whiskey City delivers a professional, heel-stompin’ experience you won’t want to miss.

Dust Bowl Fairies, Caffe Lena, Saratoga, 8pm-10pm

THIS SHOW WAS RESCHEDULED FROM SUNDAY, JANUARY 25TH DUE TO THE STORM.

Dust Bowl Faeries perform a faerie-tale of dark cabaret and macabre polka music, infused with a dose of witchcraft and a dusting of woodland magic. Hailing from the haunted villages of the NY Hudson Valley, the Faeries perform original songs peppered with nuances of tango, flamenco, Klezmer, Balkan and Romani swing music. Singing saw, piano accordion, lap-steel, bass, acoustic guitar and percussion combine to create the Dust Bowl Faeries otherworldly sound.

NOYK – Feminomenon, Lost and Found, Albany, 9pm

Bimbo Nite Rave: Cats vs Dogs (21+ w/ valid ID), No Fun, Troy, 8pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

Saturday, March 7th

The 12th Annual Dustin Mele Memorial Concert, Brown’s Revolution Hall, Troy, 6pm

Funk Night, Slidin’ Dirty, Troy, 8pm-11pm

All Your Friends, Empire Underground, Albany, 8:30pm

Double Vision: The Foreigner Experience, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 7pm-10pm

Double Vision delivers the most energizing performance you will ever see. Boasting some of New York City’s top professional rock musicians, Double Vision delivers the most authentic tribute to the legendary band, Foreigner. They are second to none at recreating the masterful songs Foreigner fans worldwide love to hear. Double Vision brings audiences an unforgettable experience with ear to ear smiles, singing, dancing and clapping along to some of the greatest hit songs from the 70s & 80s, including “Juke Box Hero,” “Hot Blooded,” “Cold as Ice,” “I Want to Know What Love Is”, “Urgent,” “Double Vision,” “Head Games,” “Feels Like the First Time,” and more!

Maggie’s Clan, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 8pm-11pm

Get ready for an Irish-inspired night of rock, reels, and pure energy—Maggie’s Clan brings the Celtic party straight to the Rustic Barn! 🍀🎶

Stella Rose @ The Eleven at Lark Hall (FREE Show), Lark Hall, Albany, 6pm

Stella Rose is back at The Eleven at Lark Hall on Saturday 3/7 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.

Sophistafunk w/s/g The Ky McClinton Band, Lark Hall, Albany, 6pm-11:59pm

Get ready to groove with Sophistafunk and The Ky McClinton Band on Saturday, March 7th. Doors 7/Show 8

The unstoppable funk hip hop dance party.” From underground shows to international festivals, Sophistafunk has become known as “the hip hop band for the jam band fan (-Live for Live Music).” Featured as house band on several Food Network television shows, the band’s iconic friendship with legendary chef Guy Fieri has led to wild opportunities through the years. But from Hollywood to their home in Syracuse NY, Sophistafunk remains committed to their formula vintage tones, funky beats, mind-expanding flows, and powerful positive vibes. That’s why each Sophistafunk performance , often with a variety of special guests, is truly a celebration of what makes live music so great.www.sophistafunkband.com

Reprise: Recreating Iconic Phish Shows, Putnam Place, Saratoga, 8pm-11:30pm

Don’t miss REPRISE as they “reprise” Phish’s 6/26/95 performance from SPAC in its entirety.

REPRISE is an all-star band that formed to *reprise* the Phish experience. Cal Kehoe, longtime frontman for Pink Talking Fish, helms the enterprise on guitar. Adrian Tramontano (Twiddle, Kung Fu and The Breakfast) masters the drums. Scott Chasolen chairmans the boards for the project, bringing years of experience as a founding member of Ulu and keyboardist of The Machine, a Pink Floyd tribute. Multi-instrumentalist and composer Chris DeAngelis (The Machine, Kung Fu and The Breakfast) rounds out the foursome on bass. The time is near, the mission’s clear — get ready to blaze on with REPRISE!

More Music Less Violence Presents: Girls Need Lov3, Caffe Lena, Saratoga, 8pm-10pm

More Music Less Violence Presents: Girls Need Lov3. An Independent Artist Experience, in collaboration with the award-winning Capital Region nonprofit More Music Less Violence, we highlight female artists in honor of International Women’s Day. Nine different women from the Capital Region will bring their talents to the Caffe Lena stage for a night of empowering and uplifting women’s voices.

Doors at 7, show at 8

This is the third installment of Girls Need Lov3 since its launch in 2020, created and assembled by DJ HollyW8D to highlight women in music in honor of international women’s day.

Each program has been an unforgettable and empowering experience so you are in for a treat!

This is a very unique all-women music showcase celebrating the month of March, community and local artistry. See you there!

Live music

Live violin

Live painting

& More

Live Performances by:

RIA CURLEY

SHEHXNA

AMANDA CASE

IVELIAH

LACE

SHAYN JEANETTE

VIOLINA-VIOLINIST

AILA CHIAR

V3X

Live Painting by: Spice

(Painting will be auctioned off post show)

This isn’t just a concert.

This is a curated experience designed to uplift women creatives within the capital district while giving the community a space to discover and support them all at once.

Advance tickets recommended.

Space is limited at Caffe Lena.

Secure your spot now and be part of the movement.

Www.MoreMusicLessViolence.Org

Jerry Rig / Flavour / Cheap Heat / DJ Darby Hash, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

3/7 1:00 PM BR and B- Lakeview on Crystlal Lake

3/7 1:00 PM Rich Ortiz- Treehouse Brewery

3/7 10:00 AM Dan Bernstein- Saratoga Farmers Market at Wilton Mall

3/7 12:00 PM Benefit Concert For Jennifer with Waller Road , Juan Calzada, Mark Scirocco- Quarters

3/7 3:00 PM Little Folks Series with Peter Davis- Caffe Lena

3/7 5:00 PM Matt Evans- Treehouse Brewery

3/7 5:00 PM Tim & Norm- Dancing Grain Farm Brewery

3/7 6:00 PM Chris Carey- The Scarlet Knife

3/7 6:00 PM Dan Mellon- Spa City Tap & Barrel

3/7 6:00 PM Dan Sherwin- Recovery Sports Bar Troy

3/7 6:00 PM Don Kelly- Powers Pub

3/7 6:00 PM Grace Todd- Thirsty Owl

3/7 6:00 PM Matty Finn- Stoney’s Irish Grill

3/7 6:00 PM Nick Horace- Seven Bistro

3/7 6:00 PM On Tap Duo- Inn at Saratoga

3/7 6:00 PM Stella Rose- Eleven at Lark Hall

3/7 6:00 PM Susie Q & Matt Donnelly- The View at Brookhaven Golf Course

3/7 6:00 PM The Hawthornes- Carsons Woodside Tavern

3/7 6:00 PM Tyler Giroux- 677 Prime

3/7 6:30 PM Pat Decker- Diamond Club at Embassy Suites

3/7 6:30 PM Rick Bolton & Maggie Doherty- Peddlers Bar & Bistro

3/7 7:00 PM Big Radio- Bunker Saratoga

3/7 7:00 PM DJ Tune- Night Owl

3/7 7:00 PM Joe Adee & The Lug Nuts- Cherry Plain Square #17

3/7 7:00 PM Josh Clevenstine- Across The Street Pub

3/7 7:00 PM Slingshot- Emack & Bolios

3/7 7:30 PM Five Odd Cats- Mt. Ida Preservation Hall

3/7 7:30 PM Hairband Riot & The Cellarmen- Wicked Eatery

3/7 7:30 PM Rhythm Pilots- Melvin Roads Ameican Legion

3/7 8:00 PM DJ Postman- Misfit

3/7 8:00 PM Girls Need Lov3 with Ria Curley , Amanda Case , Shehxna- Caffe Lena

3/7 8:00 PM Maggies Clan- Rustic Barn Pub

3/7 8:00 PM Reprise… Recreating Phish Shows- Putnam Place

3/7 8:00 PM Sonic Sacrifice and Ginger Geezus- Ophelia’s

3/7 8:00 PM Sophistafunk & Ky Mclinton Band- Lark Hall

3/7 8:00 PM Unhinged- September’s Too

3/7 9:00 PM Matt Steckler Quartet- Nine Maple

3/7 9:30 PM Tailspin- Spa City Tap & Barrel

Sunday, March 8th

A SACRED PLACE, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, 3pm,

An Artist Series performance, featuring the Cantus Trio

An Artist Series performance, featuring the Cantus T

A Sacred Place explores the intersection of love and nature through works by Ešenvalds, Boykin, Paulus, Rutter, Pärt, and others. The singers of Albany Pro Musica will be joined by the Cantus Trio, with Noah Palmer, piano, Jamecyn Morey, violin, and David Bebe, cello. Featuring the U.S. premiere of Alex Berko’s “Sacred Place,” an ecological service that connects the old with the new, the sacred with the secular, and the individual with their community.

Candlelight, The Egg, Albany, 3pm

⭐ 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 90s Unplugged at The Egg – Swyer Theatre under the gentle glow of candlelight.
Be Like Blippi Tour! The Palace Theatre, Albany, 3pm

Blippi is coming to your hometown in the all-new Be Like Blippi Tour! Get ready to see the world more curiously as you move like, play like, and explore just like Blippi! Join Blippi and Meekah. live on stage in a high-energy live show packed with music, laughter, and surprises, featuring fan-favorites like “The Excavator Song,” “Monster Truck,” “Dino Dance,” and “Curious Like Me.” This brand-new interactive adventure invites families to put on your orange glasses and unlock the spark of curiosity inside us all—showing that everyone can Be Like Blippi!

Detour HC, Empire Underground, Albany, 5pm

Punk Rock Flea Markey, Empire Live, Albany, 11am-5pm

Second Sunday Bluegrass Jam featuring midnight Choir, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 5:30pm

A welcoming round-robin bluegrass jam every Second Sunday—come pick, sing, or just enjoy the music in Troy, NY!

Tim O’Brien with Jan Fabricius, Caffe Lena, Saratoga, 7pm-9pm

Tim O’Brien and his wife Jan Fabricius have performed together nationally and internationally since 2015. The original songs on their 2025 release Paper Flowers offer tangible proof of a deep collaboration and serve as a narrative of the couple’s life together. Both live and in the studio, they present an acoustic music roots repertoire that’s at once both original and traditional.

Caity Gallagher, Lost and Found, Albany, 6pm

CRSC Benefit Show, No Fun, Troy, 6pm

From “Bar People.”

3/8 2:00 PM The Frets- Broken Loop Brewing

3/8 2:30 PM Off The Record- Larl Street Tavern

3/8 3:30 PM Demantra Constatine- Hank Hudson Brewing

3/8 4:00 PM Joe’s Boys- Carsons Woodside Tavern

3/8 4:00 PM Joe’s Boys- Stella’s Pasta Bar at The Van Dyck

3/8 5:00 PM Bobbie Van Detta- Charlton Tavern

3/8 5:00 PM Masters of Nostalgia- Cock & Bull

3/8 5:30 PM Bluegrass Jam- Rustic Barn Pub

3/8 6:00 PM Musicats Duo- S&S farm Brewery

3/8 6:00 PM Sinatra And Friends- Panza’s

3/8 7:00 PM Kilashandra- Patricks Pub

 

Arthur Scott Verner – An Xperience Interview

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Arthur Scott Verner – An Xperience Interview

Arthur Scott Verner – An Xperience Interview – by OP Callaghan.

Happy March, all y’all!  This month, we are lucky enough to talk with Arthur Scott Verner, a fabulous drummer and studio owner, who got his start playing a real-life game of Grand Theft Auto!  He’s a super-talented guy who has worked with some of the best that the Capital Region music scene has cultivated. His newest endeavor is Jupiter Queen, a killer band featuring my friend Eric Braymer on guitar. So let’s welcome Arthur Scott Verner!

RRX: Welcome, my friend! Thanks for being here today. Tell me how you got started as a drummer.

Arthur Scott Verner: When I was 13 years old, I got busted for stealing a car. (Ironically, this is also how I learned to drive a car.)  I was sent to Camp Nueva Vista, which was a juvenile delinquent “rehabilitation” camp in Perth, New York. There I met Herb Summers, a counselor and, unbeknownst to me, a drummer. One evening, we were talking, and he said come and check out this snare drum. He started playing on a beautiful late ‘70s Tama snare, and my eyes just lit up. Herb looked at me and said, “Do you wanna learn how to play the drums?” I said,  “Oh yeah!” He gave me a set of sticks, a practice pad, and started teaching me rudiments.  That started it all.

Herb Summers is the reason I’m a drummer. Herb currently owns Olde Saratoga Stave Drum Company and is an amazing craftsman.  I own one of his custom 13/8 Stave River birch snares.  It’s amazing.  I am truly and forever grateful to have met Herb.

RRX: That’s great! Did you take any other lessons, or were you self-taught after that? Tell me about your first kit.

ASV: Took a few lessons from Peter Boras from Downtime (early ‘80s band in Albany), and I think Mark Foster was part of that, too.  Hard to remember. My first drum kit was a Stewart red sparkle 20” kick, 12” tom, 14” floor tom. Soon to be replaced by a ‘70s silver sparkle Ludwig kit with (2) 20” kicks, 12” and 13” toms, and a 16” floor tom. I sold that kit to Phil Lanz, who eventually sold at least half of it to Pete Donnelly from The Figgs.

RRX: Very cool! Do you come from a musical family?

ASV: Neither of my parents played music, but everyone else in my life is musical.  My wife, Kim, is a classically trained violist and has a degree in music.  My older daughter, Lily, plays guitar and bass and writes songs.   My younger daughter, Luca, is a professional stage actress and singer and has performed in over 50 youth and professional musical theater shows in the area.  Many people know my brother Jamie, who is an amazing local drummer.   We’ve been in a few bands together, the most notable of which was Queer For Astroboy.  My family has spent many Friday nights out in my studio, playing and jamming together.

In addition to drums, I’ve been the bass player and sang harmonies for QFAB.  I’ve also been writing and arranging my own music for decades. I’ve been either the bass player or the guitarist in a few bands that featured my music.  Most recently, I sang lead and was the guitar player for a band called Grey Sky Sunday.   I love the creative process of writing and recording songs.  As an engineer, I find that sometimes it’s just easier to write and play all of the parts myself when I’m getting the initial ideas down.  And then I’ll bring in others to play the finished parts on an album project or when we play out live.

RRX: Tell me about some of your earliest musical endeavors.

ASV: My first band back in high school was a southern rock cover band, learning all the classics such as “Whiskey Rock-a-Roller” and “That Smell”.  We were a two-drummer band at the time, which was pretty cool.  The mother of our bass player got us our first gig at the Last Chance Saloon on Lower Central Avenue in Albany.  She called down to us in the middle of a keg party and screamed, “Get upstairs, you’re playing your first gig.”  We were all pretty drunk already, but packed up our gear and headed out.  It was pretty hilarious, but we played and had a blast.

I’ve played drums in bands that cover a wide range of musical styles.   I’ve been in southern rock, country, rock, Grateful Dead, and Ramones cover bands.  I’ve been in original bands that ranged from punk, new wave, and early alternative (such as Birds of Prey and Hand Held Moon), power punk/alternative with QFAB, and harder rock/stoner rock with Catching Flyz, Grey Sky Sunday, and now with Jupiter Queen.

RRX:  Any particular gigs that stand out?

ASV: One of my favorite experiences was playing drums with Andy Morse’s “Andy the Music Man” Band at the Gathering of the Vibes.  It was my first experience playing a larger festival.   We were playing Andy’s children’s music, but then it morphed into a family-friendly Grateful Dead jam. I brought my family and had to tell our kids not to expect to get carted around in golf carts and get to eat in the “artist” tents when they went to music festivals as they got older.

I also got to check off a “bucket list” gig for a musician growing up in the area, and had the opportunity to play LarkFest with QFAB.  Moby went on the same stage later that day.

RRX: Tell me how you came to start drumming for Jupiter Queen.

ASV: I initially started working with Jupiter Queen as the sound engineer and producer of their last album, “Benighted,” which was recorded at my recording studio, DMS Studios in Clarksville, New York.  I had already known Mike Langone for more than 20 years through the local music scene.  We’d previously played together when I was the drummer, and he was the singer for a Ramones cover band, Loud and Fast.  He’s just a positive spirit.   Last August, after we finished their album, they asked me to jam with them a few times.  You just know when things click.  I really appreciated how each member brought ideas to the table, and everyone plays off of these new ideas.  No ego. Not trying to take over the writing process.  This is a band that truly writes collaboratively and listens to each other.

RRX: They’re a great band, and I’m excited to see you play.  What are you using for a kit?

ASV:   In Jupiter Queen, I’m currently playing a Premier Genista kit 24,13,16,14.

RRX: Are you a drum collector?

ASV: What drummer isn’t a drum collector, to some extent?  Currently, I have seven snare drums, including my Olde Saratoga Stave 13×8 river birch, Pearl 14×6.5 Dennis Chambers signature, Pearl 8×14 maple concert, 14×6.5 Pearl free floater, Ludwig 14×5.5 Premier Genista, Tama 14×6.5 metal snare.  I also have a second kit for the studio, which is a Pearl BLX Birch kit 22,16,10,12,13.

RRX: Excellent! Tell me about your studio, DMS.

ASV: I started DMS Studio in 1990 in my basement at 689 Clinton Ave in Albany.  Those who recorded with me in the early days may remember loading in and out of the studio from the street through the basement windows so the bands wouldn’t have to drag their gear down my long, narrow steps to the basement.  Back then, I was recording on an 8-track analog machine and a 24-channel Mackie board. I made so many cool records and demos in that basement and have great memories from that space.  I moved the studio to the loft area of my barn in Clarksville in 1999.  Over the years, I’ve recorded so many great bands and artists, and made so many friends in the local music scene.  Some of the bands and musicians include the Staziaks, Arc, Andy “The Music Man” Morse, Mark Oldendorf, Jeff Gonzales, Blase Debris, Chris Jacobson/Untaymed, Mordwolf, The Tradition, Zac Leftler, Held Under, Kill All Betrayers, Downer, Sugar Eater, Grey Sky Sunday, Subduing Mara, Coal Palace Kings, QFAB, Great Day For Up, The Day Jobs, Monster X, The Disenchanted, Police Line, and Jupiter Queen.  I’ve recorded rock, rap, RnB, country, folk, polka, and spoken word.  I’ve worked on hundreds of singles, album projects, and demos. It’s been a wild ride.

RRX: Amazing! So many great artists. That’s an impressive body of work! Any horror stories?

ASV: I can’t recall any nightmare situations because of the artists, though there have been a few train wreck gigs over the years. But they were few and far between.

RRX: What is your approach with Jupiter Queen?

ASV: It’s interesting being a drummer and an engineer. I’ve struggled with how to do both on the same project.  In the last six months, I’ve been practicing/playing every day, and my goal moving forward is to grow to become a better drummer and to evolve with Jupiter Queen writing, recording, and performing songs.

RRX: When is the next gig?

ASV: Jupiter Queen is playing March 1 at Empire Live and April 9 in Boston at The Middle East.  We are working on finalizing some other dates, including a summer Doom/Stoner Festival at Putnam Place.

RRX: I can’t wait! Thanks for doing the interview, and best of luck.

Check out Jupiter Queen on March 1 at Empire Live, and don’t forget the Dustin Mele Benefit on March 7 at Revolution Hall in Troy.

 

 

More from OP Callaghan…

Hammer and Nail @ The Ale House, 2/24/2026

Timothy Reidy
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Hammer and Nail @ The Ale House, 2/24/2026

Honky Tonk Tuesday at the Ale House featured Hammer and Nail and their special guest, George Barot.

Photography by Timothy Reidy.

More from the Ale House here …

 

518 Zine Fest Returns for Third Year with Nearly 30 Vendors Announced

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518 Zine Fest Returns for Third Year with Nearly 30 Vendors Announced

South End Children’s Cafe Welcomes Capital Region Creatives on March 28

Current List of Vendors Doubles Previous Zine Fest Offerings

Makers Space Encourages Public to Make Their Own Art

View Promotional Flyer Here

Albany, NY – Today the 518 Zine Scene announced nearly 30 vendors participating in the third 518 Zine Fest. Following up on the success of two prior festivals, the artistic collective is excited to welcome dozens of creatives from across the region to buy, sell, share and create zines. On top of vendors, two community organizations will be in attendance and members of the public will have the opportunity to collage, write and make their own zines in a dedicated space at the event.

This spring’s zine festival will take place at the South End Children’s Cafe located at 33 Rensselaer Street in Albany, NY. Held on March 28, 2026, the 518 Zine Fest will start at 12pm and end at 4pm. 518 Zine Fest is a free event and community members of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to attend.

“Created for zinesters by zinesters, the 518 Zine Fest is an important outlet for our community,” said organizers with 518 Zine Scene. “The space we are creating serves as a venue outside traditional capitalist structures for creatives to come together, share their art, spread their message and meet other like minded individuals. We hope that with the larger location we’ve secured, even more people will be able to attend and feel inspired to create their own zines.”

Vendors for the third 518 Zine Scene include;

  • Paper Moon

  • Skidmore Zine Club

  • ¡Weird Latinx Colectivo!

  • Art.With.A.Waddle

  • September Colors

  • Hudson Valley Writers Guild

  • Anna May (Albany Zine Club)

  • Hell Yeah Lit

  • Melody Often & Ulises Farinas

  • Joe Padgett Herz

  • Jaesyk Comics

  • Green Street Press

  • Maggie Minor

  • PETTY Magazine

  • Cosmic Dog House Press

  • Dead Man’s Press Ink (Albany Poets)

  • izzy b

  • Blaqbunicolektif

  • Erin Dorney

  • wolfbxywares

  • ApparentlySharp

  • Matthew Klane

  • Mary Mustard

  • Tommy Oddity

  • Respectful Zines

  • Zine Machine

  • Free Alex Stokes Project

  • Autwine

  • Gwen Shuni D’Arcangelis

Zines from these creatives include publications that touch on politics, queer identity, digital art, photography, collage, poetry, sports, memoirs, local news, local events, mutual aid and other human interest topics. Depending on vendor policies, zines will be made available for free, trade or purchase, allowing dissemination of these low to no cost publications with other creatives. In addition to zines, some vendors will have art prints, comics and jewelry available for purchase.

Two community groups will be joining the nearly 30 creatives vending at the festival. The Capital Region Sanctuary Coalition will be in attendance raising awareness about the rights of immigrants in our community along with the Palestinian Rights Committee – a 40+ year-old organization founded in Albany which has been advocating for Palestinian human rights and the end of Israeli Apartheid and military occupation in Palestine.

For more information about the March 28 event, the organizers and the vendors, interested zinesters can find additional details on Instagram @518zinefest, @518zinescene or by emailing 518zinescene@gmail.com.

What is a Zine?

According to the New York State Library, a ‘zine’ is an abbreviation of the word fanzine, or magazine which are most commonly small circulation, non-commercial periodical publications.

Zines are produced in a range of formats, from computer-printed text to comics to photocopies and collage, to handwritten/drawn text. Print remains the most popular zine format, although electronically-disseminated “e-zines” are a growing phenomenon.

The range of topics covered is broad, including fiction, politics, art, poetry, personal journals, social theory, or any single topic obsession far enough outside of the mainstream to prohibit inclusion in more traditional media. While zines may be highly subjective and idiosyncratic, there is an element of “community-seeking” in their publication. Titles have a nominal cover price, and can often be obtained free of charge via exchanges with other zine publishers, a form of barter that is reminiscent of the “amateur journalism” movement of the mid-nineteenth century.

About 518 Zine Scene

The 518 Zine Scene is a collective of artists and zine makers located in Albany, New York. Dedicated to uplifting artists in the Capital Region, the 518 Zine Scene has hosted numerous zine festivals and zine making events across the area. The most recent event was held in October of 2025 at Nine Pin Cider in Albany. In addition to these events, the 518 Zine Scene has highlighted publications on our Instagram account, @518zinescene.

Opposed to the idea that artists should pay for exposure and the opportunity to share their work, the 518 Zine Scene ensures that all events and promotional opportunities are free to participate in and attend. Learn more about the 518 Zine Scene and submit materials for promotion by following the collective on Instagram.

Week Nine: Jesse Sample’s Freak of the Week “Not Today”

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Week Nine: Jesse Sample’s Freak of the Week “Not Today”

Jesse Sample’s Freak of the Week airs Every Wednesday at 6pm Eastern ONLY on RadioRadioX.com

This is Jesse Sample. Sometimes creative things reveal themselves to the creators. Have you ever had the feeling of starting something and then the thing you started takes on a life of it own and now you’re reacting. I’ve been meaning to work with Matty D of Ginger Geezus for a while. And much to my delight, the work went a different way than I could have ever expected.

I showed up to his house in Cohoes around 7:00 pm. I have always loved Cohoes and never need to be asked twice to go on a drive there. It’s historic buildings and proximity to the mighty Mohawk River have always made it one of my favorite places. I step into a warm and softly lit home that is well kept and deliberately furnished. It turns out Matty likes old things.

I reached out earlier that day in the spirit of spontaneity and Matty accepted my invitation. I recorded some guitar tracks in the Morning over some drum tracks courtesy of Jim Dooley. I sent him the rough file and when I arrived Matty had already listened a few times.

Upon arrival, I set up my mobile studio and we commenced a process that was very much our own. People have different sets of sensibilities. When you’re working with other people in a studio, those sensibilities reveal themselves and we as cowriters and cocreators can dance in harmony. There is a time to charge ahead and there are times to sit and wait and listen. When we choose the later, things can reveal themselves, and that’s why we do it.

I had a great time making this raw and mean track with Matty D and look forward to doing it again.

Thanks to all of you tuned into RadioRadioX. This is the Freak of the Week, “Not Today.”

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