Metroland_Dec 2024

| contents

Erin Harkes

staff

editor-in-chief & publisher

Erin Harkes

associate editor

TJ Foster

director of art & photography

Kiki Vassilakis

multimedia manager Andy Scullin

visual arts editor

Tony Iadicicco

graphic designer Kevin Wisehart

contributors

Rory Graham, Elissa Ebersold, James Mullen, Tom Miller, Patrick White, Natalie St. Denis, Dana Brady, Becky Daniels, Jaye McBride, Dana Owens, RM Engelhardt, Jody Cowan, Sarah Sherman, Izzy Vassilakis, Jessica Hoffman, Ryan Shanahan, and Dan Savage

Cover photo by Kiki Vassilakis

| from our editor

I shared this story on social media the day the first issue came out. For those of you lucky enough to not BE on social media, I wanted to share it again. October 25th is now the proudest day of my life for TWO reasons. And I can’t wait to keep adding to the gratitude pile….

I wrote this the day the first paper came out (10.25.24)

When I got home last night, I had to wash a lot of newsprint ink off me. Never did I think I’d be that happy to have such dirty hands.

Months ago, an idea took root in my mind, and like a dog with a bone, I wasn’t going to let go. We were never going to go to print, but everyone I talked to echoed the same sentiment:

“I miss PICKING ONE UP.”

Everyone.

So, I listened.

I wanted to release it in October. October is my month—the time of my birthday, as well as another significant date. Probably the MOST significant.

As the ink poured down the drain, I reflected on fourteen years ago, exactly, and how little I could recall from that night. I remember having a lot of alcohol and drugs in my system, like I did most days, but that night I pushed it too far and nearly died. If I’m honest, I was okay with it at the time because I didn’t want to live anymore. Many nights I went to bed wishing I wouldn’t wake up.

That is, until I almost got my wish. I woke up on the cold sidewalk just off the corner of Madison and Lark, blood pouring from my mouth as I pushed myself up from the concrete. I leaned against an iron fence, staring up at the trees above and speaking to a spirit or a deity I suddenly found myself believing in.

“Foxhole prayers”, they’re called.

In that moment, I realized I didn’t want my “wish” anymore. I went to the hospital, sought help, and have been sober ever since.

by Erin Harkes

October 25th holds great importance for me. I set my mind on getting the paper out by then. I never asked the team about it; I just ran with it. For that, I’m both grateful and sorry. It wasn’t intentional; I guess I had the conversation in my head; they simply didn’t get the memo. But they all stepped up. And stepped up so well. Under tremendous, and seemingly arbitrary, pressure.

As we drew closer to making this happen, I remembered something. Months after my accident back in 2010, I would joke with people while recounting the story of where I woke up, saying that, because of how close I was to the Metroland offices and my utter oblivion that night, I must have been trying to get the paper to write another article about me.

A dark joke, a coping mechanism for trauma. Who would even think to do such a thing?

So here I am, in the fullest circlest of moments—making up words because I can. I’m a publisher and editor now! Last night I sipped coffee at 8:30 PM to stay awake and finish my work before I curled up in a warm, soft bed instead of a cold, hard sidewalk. I woke up early to get back to work, go on the news, deliver papers—do a lot of things I never thought I would do. The only constant is the tears. I cried then, and I’m crying now, but these are tears of pure joy (with MAYBE a bit of exhaustion).

I’m grateful for this life and the opportunity to share these words. For clarity and consciousness. For the challenge of not letting down those who depend on me now—and not letting myself down either.

This is my paper route now. Thanks for coming along.

It’s been an incredible month! Thank you for all your kind words! It’s only going to get better from here! We look forward to working with everyone and making this the best for all around.

Erin Harkes Editor-In-Chief & Publisher

| newsfront:ResurrectionRiverfront

Albany Waterway, Inc. hopes for new life to spring from the ruins of the Erie Canal by James Mullen

We’ve heard it before, maybe even long before it was lamented by ESPN personality Rebecca Lobo: “There’s nothing to do in Albany!”. Some hear this, and they emphatically agree; they cite what they say is an anemic and ailing nightlife, even citing the city’s cabaret law as an obstacle (more on that in last month’s issue!). Many in the arts and entertainment community bemoan the sentiment, emphasizing that the current level of quality and diversity in local independent music and art is the best it’s been in decades. Whether

of the Albany waterfront and the importance of the Erie Canal to the development of New York as the Empire State. Their proposal includes four options, with three smaller options that could be either completed individually or ultimately linked together to achieve a waterfront that would stretch from the state university building all the way to the warehouse district.

Some team members have even been advocating for a version of this vision for almost four decades.

you think that the city has little to offer in terms of nightlife or that people simply need to be paying closer attention for where to find it, there’s one group of people who are committed to doing something about it: Albany Waterway, Inc.

Albany Waterway, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporate entity formed by an interdisciplinary team of advocates with a vision to revitalize the capital by reconnecting it with its greatest historic resource: The Hudson River. On their website, you can find a well-crafted and comprehensive presentation including a slideshow, some video content, detailed artist renderings, and an indepth breakdown of the historical significance

“I wrote about this idea when Len Tantillo had it under Mayor Jennings back in the mid 80s,” said Paul Grondahl, the Vice Chair of the group’s board of directors. “This isn’t the first time it’s been brought in. I thought it was brilliant then, I think it’s even more important now. Downtown is really struggling, and the other ideas proposed with the D.O.T. study really do nothing other than [address] vehicular traffic. They don’t create anything that’s going to bring any interest or excitement to downtown.

“[Len] always had this idea to try to bring the city back to the river and get rid of 787… Why

not bring the river into the city? And if you look at his paintings and look at historical records and maps and early photographs, it’s exactly what was there. I mean, there was a booming waterfront.” (Some of Tantillo’s paintings can also be found on the Albany Waterfront Inc. website.)

Their proposal would be to bring the river to the city instead of the other way around, with three options that could also be completed in phases to comprise a fourth option forming one long waterfront by bringing the river up Broadway past the SUNY building all the way up to a restored Lock 1 of the Canal, reinvigorating its historic eastern terminus.

“In these 40 years, the best thing that I’ve seen happen is the growth of the warehouse district,” Grondahl tells me. “Go down there on a Friday for happy hour and you can’t get a parking spot. Now there’s about eight to ten breweries, restaurants doing really well. We need more of that. There’s nothing really in the core of downtown. This is the only idea that would create some excitement, where people would want to have something to eat, something to drink… you really need something that brings economic development and jobs and some excitement. I think the canal can do that.”

Another vital member of Albany Waterfront Inc.’s Board of Directors is BJ Costello who serves as Chair; he has also served as Chair for the board of the USS Slater museum on Broadway.

“The USS Slater is the only surviving destroyer escort alive in the world, and it sits in Albany. People come from all over the world [to see it],” he says. “It’s the biggest attraction in Albany. It’s situated right at the foot of Broadway and people come in and ask, ‘Where can we walk to get a cup of coffee?’ and the answer is nowhere,

right? ‘Where can we walk to get a sandwich?’ and the answer is nowhere. That struck me. I’m listening to these people from all over the world, and I’m thinking, ‘we’ve got this river right here, but we’re not using it.’

“This idea would take the river inland just above the Slater, and onto Broadway. It would take it past the state university building and continue north all the way up to Lock 1 of the Erie Canal.”

The new waterfront would occupy unused or under-utilized space along Broadway, including the front lawn/courtyard in front of the state university building. It would meander all the way to the original terminus which is currently buried beneath Water Street. It was filled in and became a warehouse access road leading to the Niagara Mohawk substation.

“There’s a famous old song, ‘I’ve got a mule, her name is Sal, 15 miles on the Erie Canal…’ ” Costello cites. “One of the lines goes ‘from Buffalo to Albany’. Well, if you look for it in Albany, you would never find it. Why? Because it’s buried under a mound of dirt, and there’s a little building on top of it.”

The project is more than just a nod to the history of the state capital and its role as the eastern terminus of the Erie Canal; it’s part of a growing economic trend which already has several successful examples to pull from. There are many cities around the country that have been revitalized by using waterfront development to attract residents, tourists, and investment.

“Let’s take Oklahoma City,” Costello cites. “Oklahoma City, which is in the middle of America, does not really have a big water source. A few years ago, they put in a canal and funded it with public funding. Citizens voted for a limited – I think it was a three year, one cent – sales tax, and that’s how they funded it. Fast forward, they now have an NBA team. They are putting up the third tallest building in the world, and they’ve had tremendous economic development that has happened all because of this idea of putting water into the city.”

He also noted similar successes in San Antonio, Texas and Providence, Rhode Island. “In Providence, they have something called Water Fire. What they did is they uncovered parking lots and found rivers, and with that, they now have several million people a year come to Providence.

“Now they have this tremendous, tremendous economic development with restaurants and businesses; this is a tiny state and it’s got all this excitement going on. Here we are in the capital city of the Empire State, and we don’t have any of that.”

However, you don’t even have to look that far to find success stories like these. You can find them right here in the Capital District. Costello points to the current state of Schenectady and Troy as proof. He mentions Troy’s revitalization around River Street, stressing the growth of their farmers market (which he frequents) and the area around it.

“People from Albany travel to Schenectady and Troy to have dinner, which is really a shame.”

Grondahl also points specifically to the recent developments in Schenectady’s Mohawk Harbor, a 60-acre waterfront community along the Mohawk River. It includes such amenities as luxury living accommodations, high tech offices, restaurants and retail; it also boasts public access to the water for boating and recreation as well as plenty of community areas with outdoor seating and landscaped green space. To top it all off, it includes direct access to the Mohawk-Hudson Bike Trail as well as Rivers Casino and Resort.

“You can see what it did. The state gave them the funding to create that, and it’s booming. They can’t build enough condos there. You’ve all kinds of interesting places to eat and drink, and it looks out over a marina. What really needs to happen is some political will and some imagination.”

That imagination, according to Grondahl, is provided in large part by

Tantillo whose aforementioned artist renderings demonstrate not only the historical presence of the canal in Albany, but also the plans for its potential future. Those plans include linking the proposed waterfront with not just the USS Slater, but also with the approved 8,000 seat, professional soccer stadium being constructed around the corner from MVP Arena to house an MLS Next Pro club team. Current plans for the stadium would see it completed by 2026 to house a team owned by Business for Good founders Ed and Lisa Mitzen for that MLS Next Pro season. Redburn Development – the owner of the historic Kiernan Plaza – is also involved.

“The idea is, how great would it be to connect those two buildings with water?” adds Costello. “As you probably know, people come to these events, they drive into Albany, they drive out of Albany and they spend no time in Albany. Once you incorporate the water it’s a tremendous attraction. So our idea now, as an initial step, is to connect those two buildings with water. That would be a good start for us downtown.”

In addition to the soccer stadium and Kiernan

Proposal Full Map

Plaza, the plans for the restoration of Lock 1 on the canal directly coincide with the demolition of the notorious Central Warehouse. The history of Albany’s warehouse situation is well-known and demolition or development has famously been attempted multiple times only to dissipate without action; however, this looks to have finally changed with reports indicating this past July that $10 million was awarded to the city in order to ensure the safe completion of the demolition.

One presentation that Tantillo put together shows the true potential of this aspect with scenes from the Rideau Canal in Canada, winter at Canalside Buffalo, and a similar project in San Antonio. Then, as he transitions to the following slide, he declares, “Here’s Albany, our great landmark,” as a photo of Central Warehouse appears. It is a stark juxtaposition indeed.

As for the political will, it seems to finally be coming to fruition after all the decades of hard work. “The important thing to know is that we’ve been at this [current proposal] now for a couple of years, and there’s

a tremendous groundswell of support, both among friends who have joined us and among all the politicians and state agencies,” says Costello.

The group says that among the reasons for that groundswell of public support are some important social benefits as well, such as the creation of jobs and affordable housing. It’s also a completely non-invasive project, meaning that it would not cause any changes to any other current plans for addressing the highway and traffic nor would it significantly impact plans for any current structures. They further emphasize the importance of making sure that the groundswell of public support translates to concrete numbers.

Chet Opalka, another member of the Board of Directors, adds, “One of the things we want to do is send as many people to our website as possible and have them sign on as friends. If we amass a big enough contingent of people to support us, that puts pressure on the politicians”. If you would like to be a part of applying that pressure and helping return the city of Albany to its canalside roots, you can sign up to be a friend of the waterway and find a plethora of related resources and materials at www.albanywaterway.org.

Sketches by: Len Tantillo

| confessions from the underground

mental health

by TJ Foster

The idea for this column is to connect with a local musician and discuss a topic – unbeknownst to the interviewee – that shines a light on some more taboo, less talked about subjects. One of the things I love about it already is how a conversation can go in a completely different direction than you expect it to. Case and point: this conversation about mental health had as much to do with physical health. My immensely talented friend, Angelina Valente, was kind enough to pour her heart out (and even listen while I did some of the same). Angelina is a formidable performer and songwriter, winning all three of the Eddies awards she was nominated for at last year’s ceremony. Her music is a wonderful amalgamation of jazz, blues, folk and pop – a perfect soundtrack for this time of year. Our conversation below has been edited for time, which was necessary since we ended up talking for about 90 minutes.

TJ Foster: Thank you so much for doing this, I know you’re incredibly busy! The topic I want to chat with you about is mental health. And with that in mind, the first question I want to ask you is the most important: how are you?

Angelina Valente: (laughs) It’s such a loaded question, right? I mean, I’m doing okay minute to minute. Could cry at any second. Last week, at one of my nine different day jobs, I just cried in the bathroom at work. That’s what I’ve come to!

TF: Fair! It’s good to let that stuff out.

AV: You gotta feel the feelings, right?

TF: Definitely! So. The reason I wanted to cover this with you is two-fold. One, we’re heading into a time of year that can be difficult for a lot of people. And two, generally speaking, I don’t know that I’ve met a single other musician that hasn’t struggled with mental health in one way or another. I know you’re one of those people as well, and wanted to ask when you first sort of “put a name” to it all.

AV: I have a weird relationship with anxiety and my mental health. I know a lot of people kind of realized that they had anxiety or whatever at a very young age, but I didn’t really. My anxiety wasn’t ever heightened when I was young; it wasn’t even something I ever thought about. And then I remember my freshman year of college, I was walking to the dorms with one of my roommates, and I had this feeling of floating, like I wasn’t in my body. I had no idea what that feeling was. I

look back on that now and I’m like, “Oh, that’s me disassociating and having anxiety!”

It was never debilitating, until I got COVID in 2021. It was right before all the vaccines rolled out. I was living at home with my parents at that time. My mom has brain cancer, so if she got COVID, she could’ve been fucked. We had to be really careful not to bring that into the house. So we made it that whole way, and then I got COVID. I’m a person who gets sick a lot, but this just utterly destroyed me. I couldn’t move or get out of bed for days, and my body was just so weighed down. I’ve never experienced something like that in my life. I don’t talk about this often, but in my experience with COVID, there was just no part of my body that it didn’t touch or affect in some way; it wreaked havoc all over me.

This is kind of heavy, but I vividly remember one weekend, I was in the ER for two nights with a tooth infection that hurt so bad I couldn’t move. I was getting chronic sinus infections and ear infections at the time, and one spread to my tooth. So I was lying in bed, and this thought came into my brain: “I don’t know if I’m going to make it through the night.” My brain was just like, “Our lungs could just give out because we haven’t been using them for weeks now.” And that’s when I started having really bad insomnia. My therapist told me I have PTSD around this now. The last three years I’ve been battling anxiety and waking up every single night between 2am and 4am with my heart pounding. It’s my brain telling my body not to fall asleep because I’m terrified that I’m not going to make it through the night.

TF: Wow. This is all very relatable, just so you know, but we’ll get to that in a second.

AV: Okay, I’m glad, because I’m saying all these things and I didn’t expect to go here today!

TF: Did you ever get a more official, mental health diagnosis?

AV: Yeah, so I go to this new doctor, and I’m telling him all these things, and I’m crying. I don’t know what’s going on with me. I’m not at home in my body. He looks at me and says, “I think you have anxiety.” And I was so shocked. Like, this is chest pain. This is headaches. This is not sleeping. I couldn’t comprehend it. I finally started being able to put some of these feelings to words, and I have this song called “Broken” that I’ve just started playing in the last year live.

I’ve thought about death probably a lot more than an average person. I always thought that when you think about death, you think about being 90 and passing having lived a full life. But all of a sudden I was like, “Wait a minute – I’m not even 30 yet, and I’m gonna die.” So I wrote this song, and the bridge lyrics are, ‘I’ve never been afraid to die, but when death looked me in the eye, I didn’t want to go.’ Finally, in the last year I’ve started sleeping through the night again without sleep aids. I can drink coffee again at one in the afternoon, which is a huge deal, because I had to cut out all caffeine so I wouldn’t wake up in the middle of the night.

TF: I admittedly think about death a lot too, if I’m being honest. (laughs) So, besides music, what else can you turn to these days

for a serotonin boost?

AV: One of the things that has really helped me is reading. I’ve gotten back into deep fantasy novels this year. I feel like a kid again, discovering these. It’s just a quiet thing that you have to be present to do. The other thing that I found is this tapping [mechanism]. And I wish I found this earlier in the summer, because I was again not sleeping through the night or taking care of myself because I was anxious about shows.

You know - you get home from a gig and you’re on the gig high. Plus you’re hungry because you didn’t eat dinner because you’re playing at 7:00 or whatever. It’s a weird thing. So I’d get home, eat a burger and a milkshake, and wonder why I’m not sleeping (laughs). I saw this TED Talk this drummer gave about breathing and rhythmically tapping on your body somewhere. Sometimes I get so tired I can’t even lift my hands, so I’ll do one finger and just breathe and tap. And then I fall asleep. And if I wake up in the middle of the night, I [repeat] and then boom –I’m out again. It’s magical.

TF: Oh wow. That’s fantastic. I’m stealing that.

AV: It’s amazing. Oh yeah, and I looked up [who the guy was] and he’s the drummer for Rusted Root. Isn’t that so random?

TF: Very! So, like I said, all of that was very relatable. I’ve struggled since I was younger, more so on the depression side than anxiety. I always assumed what it was but there was never an official name assigned to it. A month or so ago, I was offered this psych evaluation thing, with all these different assessments and wow. It was so analytical, comparing data points to people your age and demographic. And it came back unequivocally that I had General Anxiety Disorder and Persistent Depression with Major Depressive episodes. And it was so validating but also really heavy.

Your PTSD situation also really resonated with me because a few years before COVID, I also had a health scare that put me in the hospital for a few days, wondering if I’d make it. I had just turned 30 and was having these vasovagal episodes which basically meant that any time I would feel sick to my stomach or something, it would

cause me to faint. They wanted to check my heart first and foremost, and one night, I apparently passed out on my bathroom floor and my heart stopped.

AV: Oh my god! I had no idea.

TF: It was scary shit. EMS came at like three in the morning. My wife woke me up. I had no idea what was going on. They rushed me to the hospital and ended up putting a pacemaker in my chest.

AV: At 30.

TF: At 30. Yup.

AV: It’s wild that we’re all just like, carrying these things around and not even knowing it.

TF: It is. And I’m just so grateful that like, you’re okay, and I’m okay. It’s a lot though. And as we’ve pointed out, obviously the physical stuff can manifest into mental stuff and it’s a vicious cycle. Circling back around here, what impact would you say music has had on helping you heal?

AV: It’s funny – when you sing, sound reverberates all through your nasal cavity. So with these chronic sinus infections and things, I literally couldn’t sing because it hurt my face. I kind of developed this weird relationship with music in my writing, because I was just so mad at the world for going through this and then not being able to do the thing that has gotten me through everything in my life up to that point. The biggest option I have for processing emotions, and the thing that has brought me the most joy since I was literally five years old and first stepped on a stage, wasn’t an option. Performing was so hard because I was so fatigued, and my body just hurt all the time.

It became this mental game where I’m not physically able to go play shows. I can’t sing because my fucking face hurts. I’m not even physically able to sit up and write music. I developed such a negative relationship towards the thing that I love. Also, [I was watching] all these other people doing it, and that starts to wear on your brain in such an awful way. “I’m weak because I can’t do this thing.” And we’re already playing that game, right? “I want that gig, but they have that gig.” Looking at what everyone else is doing and thinking, “Why did they get that and I didn’t?” Does that make sense?

TF: More than you know. It’s just the product of where we are in society. It’s really hard to keep your eyes on your own paper.

AV: I love that. I’ve got to write that down. That is a great metaphor.

TF: I definitely borrowed that from an interview I did with the singer of the band Spanish Love Songs last year. Just hearing someone that I look up to put it that way was so relatable. It’s lived rent-free in my head ever since.

AV: I think I talked to you about this, but I was listening to Neil Brennan’s podcast, and they were talking about this same thing. And think about us versus Neil Brennan – he wrote on Chappelle’s Show, he has specials on Netflix, and he is feeling and interviewing guests at that same level that feel exactly the same as we do. It happens at every level.

This one guest was talking about it, and she said that she was looking at this other girl wanting her life and her jobs. But she realized, if she has their life, she has to have everything that goes along with it. So, in my brain, that means that I don’t get the things that I have. I wouldn’t have [my husband]. Maybe I wouldn’t have this

space that I love being in or my love of nature. If you want their life, you have to have all of the circumstances that led up to them being the person that they are, right?

Also, I look at other people and think, “I want what they have.” But do I? Because do I even like your songs? I like my music and I like my voice and I like what I have to offer. And maybe things happen a little slower for me because my physical body can’t handle them. I’m also not grinding and working and digging myself into the ground to make this ‘thing’ happen, because I want to be able to have a decent dayto-day life. I want to be able to sit down and have dinner with my partner and have meaningful conversation. I want to be able to meet my friend for coffee and be present with her. That really flipped a switch in my brain.

TF: That makes a lot of sense. And really nicely brings me to my next question about flipping this relationship between art and mental health on its head. We’ve talked about this idea of music as catharsis and almost a form of therapy, but what happens when the thing that fills you up starts feeling like it’s not filling you up anymore?

body. I have a safe space that I exist in, and all of these pieces are kind of coming together. We have enough money for food, we have water, we have shelter. All of my basic needs are met, and now I feel safe enough to be able to really heal what has happened to me and talk about it without breaking down. If it’s draining, you’re doing it for the wrong reasons.

TF: I think something else too, a lot of people don’t understand that when you go to see a musician perform, from a musician’s point of view, it’s so much more than just having another body in the room.

thing, you know?

TF: That’s probably a huge asset to your songwriting too, and being able to create from an earnest place rather than just simply creating for the sake of creating.

AV: I think that is so important. You cannot always be creating. I don’t know how people do that. I cannot output all the time. I am just a person; if the tank is empty, I’m not writing. But now that I’m kind of on the other side of this really bad bout of anxiety, it feels good again, and it makes me feel happy and healthy and like I can process my emotions again.

AV: I think musicians, we’re all meant to be doing this thing for one reason or another. But when I was reflecting on this summer, and how it made me feel, I was just exhausted and drained and fucking done. I have been doing this for so long, from a place of “Look at me… listen to me…” And if it’s not, like, filling you up anymore, then you need to come at it from another angle, right? I was just journaling about this – I haven’t really talked about this out loud yet, if you couldn’t tell. (laughs) But my last couple shows, I could step on stage and know that people are going to listen. I’m not fighting for attention. So what am I? Why am I here? What am I bringing to the table? And as I was meditating on it, the word ‘healing’ came through. That’s what I’m doing: I’m healing, selfishly, me and hopefully other people who listen to this music. Music is supposed to be cathartic and healing and make you feel seen and heard and understood, right? With everything that I’ve been through in the last handful of years, I’m finally feeling safe in my

No, someone made the concerted effort to spend their time watching you do the thing that you love. And having those folks there is a whole other side of filling up your cup. I’ve struggled with this a lot recently, because if you’re playing to an inattentive crowd or whatever, you start internalizing that and questioning whether it’s you and wondering if you’re just simply not good enough.

AV: I remember my first therapist talking to me about needing versus wanting. I have to do this thing versus I get to do this thing. I think that I was coming at this from a perspective of needing to do this, and holding on so tightly to that. But actually, I don’t need this. I want to do it. I like to do it. I have this quote written on a sticky note: “Attach you lose, detach you gain.” I’ve never thought of applying that to music, because I always thought you have to be grinding. But I’m playing gigs that I like, I’m enjoying my life, and I have a full life off-stage. The stage is not my entire life! I think that majorly improved my mental health, because I’m not forming my life and my identity around this one

TF: I’ve said this before, but you’ve always been so kind and generous to me in conversations, especially with this kind of stuff, and it’s definitely helped me realize that I’m not alone in my feelings. And I’d love it –if you wouldn’t mind – if you would leave a little nugget of advice for any musicians who might be feeling burnt out.

AV: I’d say… get back in touch with the ‘why?’ Why are you doing what you’re doing? And sometimes it could be like, “I don’t even know anymore,” and then maybe you need a break. Or it’s, “This is why I’m doing this!” Cool. That gets you enough gas to get through the next six months, you know what I mean? For me, I think it’s always coming back to… whatever is giving you anxiety, or making you depressed, or keeping you up at night – why are you doing all those things? Why are you putting your body [and your mind] through that?

TF: That’s great. Thank you. I think I needed that today.

AV: I think we all could use that a bit these days. But I also just love talking about this shit, and you’re so generous with your time. I’m also working through these emotions. Whenever we send stuff back and forth, I look at you and think, “Oh my God. You’re doing amazing. Look at TJ and the band and holy shit.” And then you’re sending me messages feeling exactly how I’m feeling! We’re all feeling exactly the fucking same, and no one wants to talk about it. Let’s talk about it! Photo credit: Kiki Vassilakis

| happy 30 th

anniversary

This year marks Parkway Music Store’s 30th anniversary! In 1994, Matt Hatfield and Tom Murphy embarked on a journey to create a music store that went beyond the ordinary—an inviting space where musicians of all levels could find quality instruments at fair prices and build lasting relationships. The mission has always been to provide exceptional products and services for everyone from budding beginners to seasoned professionals, catering to the diverse needs of bands, singers, guitarists, bassists, drummers, keyboardists, and sound engineers alike.

What started as a small basement operation has blossomed into a sprawling 15,000 square-foot facility, complete with an expansive showroom, dedicated demo rooms, and repair shops. Parkway is excited to announce the opening of their "back room" in 2025, showcasing some of the finest new and vintage gear available. This space will also feature an intimate performance area for shows and gear clinics, enhancing our community's musical experience. Additionally, their website has grown to showcase extensive inventory, including a "new arrivals" section highlighting the latest and greatest gear.

“One of my favorite aspects of Parkway is its role as a gathering place for musicians. It brings me joy to witness artists reconnecting, sharing stories about family, friends, and their weekend gigs—the good, the bad, and the downright weird! Each performance is a new adventure that could fill a book,” says Hatfield.

To celebrate their anniversary, Parkway Music is excited to offer a special Black Friday through Cyber Monday sale: enjoy 10% off both in-store and online at parkwaymusic.com.

Thank you for being part of our journey, and here’s to many more years of music together!

Matt Hatfield and Tom Murphy

Parkway Music Store

Tom Murphy (left) and Matt Hatfield (right)

| interview: sirsy

navigating the seven seas

Can Sirsy still be considered a “local” band? The bittersweet truth of a local act’s rising success is that it inevitably forces you to share them with a wider audience—if not the entire country, then at least beyond your hometown.

When a band dedicates itself to original music, it enters into a commitment unlike any other. This choice underscores a certain integrity, but it’s also akin to a tumultuous and at times unhealthy relationship—one that many musicians willingly engage in. They say that without risk, there can be no reward. But would we even call ourselves artists without the scars to prove it?

Sirsy consists of just two members, who are not only musical partners but also life partners. Together, they traverse the country, navigating everything from the intimacy of hotel rooms to improvising salads in hotel bathroom sinks, all while living out of a white van brimming with merchandise, instruments, and the occasional ice cream cone.

I can personally attest that they are just as kind as they seem—not just a façade to lure in fans. Their genuine gratitude for their supporters is one of the first things they mention in conversations. You’ll see.

Melanie Krahmer and Richard Libutti met in a basement in 1999 while auditioning for a disco band. No phrase could better encapsulate

the almost violent oscillation that occurs in the highs and lows of rock and roll. Artists will go to great lengths to pursue their dreams, often sacrificing their well-being in the process; this struggle can, paradoxically, serve as a catalyst for creativity—a necessary evil, if you will.

Their tenure with the disco band didn’t last long. Within months, they transitioned into Sirsy, initially as an acoustic duo. The band evolved over the years, turning into a four piece and then back to just two. This second iteration of the duo captured the same vibrant energy they had with a full band, but now it was just the two of them juggling all the responsibilities. Krahmer taught herself to play drums—while standing and singing, no less, piano, (and occasionally tooting a flute). Libutti plays electric guitar with his hands and a bass pedalboard with his feet.

Soon, they’ll be juggling active chainsaws.

Krahmer openly acknowledges the challenges of maintaining a band, a universal struggle in the world of rock and roll. In their case, these challenges are compounded by additional factors.

“[Bandmates] just wanted

to have a life outside of the band, and we don’t really have one,” Krahmer says. ”We’re a couple. We’re married. We’re almost always on the same page. It’s super annoying to be in a band with us. So, I can understand why it was difficult for people.”

Given that the couple has always written their songs and maintains a commitment to performing from their entire catalog, each turnover in bandmates meant training someone new—a process that left little room for creating fresh material. Yet, Krahmer admits that they wish they had reached this realization sooner. But as the saying goes, necessity is the mother of

by Erin Harkes

invention.

“We like to think it was a grand design that we had, but it was just shit luck,” Libutti says, humbly.

There’s no luck when it comes to their work ethic, however. It’s difficult to find a more dedicated pair than Krahmer and Libutti. Driven by a fierce sense of independence, they have been relentlessly touring and performing across the country for years, all without the backing of a steady manager, agent, or record label. While they have had opportunities to embrace such support, they have chosen to retain complete control over their artistic vision.

To stay true to their commitment to original music, this constant touring is essential—and they fully embrace it. With over 200 shows a year under their belts and tens of thousands of miles traveled, keeping up with them is not easy, but their fans somehow find a way.

Everybody Knows

Over the years the duo has cultivated such a devoted fan base completely organically. They are wildly accessible and when you watch them in action, it’s hard to believe they’re not politicians the way they work a room. It’s all genuine, though. They remember small, personal facts about nearly each person they meet. They ask about the family pet, a random health condition or how the eldest son is doing in college. Folks bring

Photo credit: Kiki

Vassilakis

them gifts, offer up spare rooms in their homes, cook them meals and even donate “miles” to their tours via their website. Each time they cross the United States, they return home with more followers, friends and fans.

Their journey is a testament to resilience and the power of human connection. They embody the spirit of independent artistry, relying not just on talent but on the meaningful relationships they’ve built over time. Their ability to engage with fans has transformed their performances into shared experiences rather than mere concerts. Such authenticity is rare in the music industry today, where everything can often feel transactional.

With Sirsy, nothing is bought or paid for with more than a true smile and a song.

In 2020, when the pandemic hit, other musicians offered live streaming concerts. Sirsy practically had their own television station. Libutti studied tirelessly to train himself on the technology necessary for a quality show. Multiple camera angles, paired audio and even graphic overlays were present each time. The shift to online broadcasting not only kept their spirits alive amidst adversity but also fostered a virtual family for fans who needed that connection just as much.

While it was the darkest of times, their fans were unified by the weekly broadcasts. Folks got to know one another in the comment sections and for just a bit everyone felt less alone.

“They all were chatting with each other every week on the livestream chat,” Melanie recalls. “And so they all felt like they got to know each other. That first year when we started coming back to playing shows, they would plan these meetups, and people

would travel from across the country to meet [folks] they had never met, but had been chatting with online. They became what we call the ‘extended family.’ It created a cool community amongst our fans that I don’t think existed prior.”

of visiting and an uncertain future for in-person contact. According to Krahmer, they would have their date nights on the Sirsy livestreams. They would send dedications to one another, which Sirsy would play.

Two fans benefitted more from those live streams than others.

A fan from DC, who had taken a tour in Vietnam years ago, fell in love with his tour guide and they had a long-distance relationship. When the pandemic hit, they were completely separated with no hope

Fans rally around them not only for their music but for their journey, which resonates deeply on a personal level. Their genuine approach fosters loyalty that transcends the typical artistfan relationship, turning it into something much more profound and impactful. It’s this connection and their heartfelt dedication that truly empowers their music and their message.

Leftover Girl

There’s no denying this was a difficult time for most creatives. Even more trying for someone who’s spouse was also one. Surviving this took a strength that was only built through even more difficult times in their past.

Krahmer has beaten breast cancer. Not once. But twice.

It’s difficult enough for someone who is self-employed to be out of work unexpectedly. There’s no sick leave or paid time off. There’s no real finish line for when you can get back to it. And then the second half of your band can’t work either. And you’re literally fighting for your life. Far too many factors to even consider. Krahmer and Libutti had hoped this was in their rearview mirror. In 2018, just past the seven year, cancer-free mark celebration, they embarked on a tour, only to receive a phone call a few days in from a doctor telling them they would need to turn around. There was some abnormality in a routine check up. Cancer was making an encore.

“Now we see them at our shows and they’re married. It’s kind of cool,” says Libutti with a mix of pride and awe.

“It gets you choked up,” says Krahmer. “We had a lot of really memorable moments during those livestreams with our fans.”

Heroically, the two fought it once again and after some time Krahmer is now, once again, cancer free. Unfortunately, Krahmer still struggles with the aftermath of two rounds of cancer. She gets chronic bronchitis/laryngitis, and general malaise. You wouldn’t know by watching them perform how often she took the stage the same day as

Photo credit: Kiki Vassilakis

a chemo shot, or the same week as an ER visit. Maybe it’s adrenaline. But I think it’s the sheer passion she has for what she does and who she gets to do it with. And it’s inspiring.

Krahmer’s battle with cancer is a powerful narrative of strength and tenacity. It’s a stark reminder that behind the artistry are real people with real struggles. Her ability to perform despite such personal battles reveals an inspiring dedication to her craft and her partnership with Libutti. Their story showcases the importance of support systems, creativity, and the human spirit’s unwavering resolve to overcome challenges, making them not just entertainers but role models in perseverance.

Revolution

In a storyline often reserved for romantic comedies, Krahmer and Libutti embarked on career paths that were vastly different from their current lives. Krahmer initially aimed for law school. A graduate of Siena College, she majored in psychology and minored in English, harboring dreams of becoming a “good kind of lawyer” dedicated to helping those without access to legal defense.

“That’s what I was going to do,” she

reflects. “The more that I learned about the career, the more I learned that that wasn’t necessarily always possible. It didn’t work like it did in the movies, and I was naïve. I sat for my LSATs, and I had this epiphany in the middle of them and thought, ‘I don’t want to do this at all.’ So I walked out on the test, and I totally tanked the exam.”

Meanwhile, Libutti was on a premed track as a biology major at RPI, having taken his MCATs.

“It’s a funny thing because when you’re young, your parents tell you you can be anything that you want,” he says. “You want to be an astronaut, you know? All the things that stereotypical young people want to be. But then when it comes time to go to college, maybe you should pick something that you can get a job [at]. So I felt like music was always a constant in my life, but I got a little bit brainwashed by that education system. I was always a good student, so it seemed weird to not just do something academic, but, you know, music drew me back in.

“I was very fortunate that I met Melanie, because I think I feel that connection. I think if I had not met Melanie, I probably would be some miserable nerdy lab tech.”

How fortunate we all are to witness the talent, kindness, and humor that is Sirsy. Their road stories unfold like a sitcom, like if The Big Bang Theory decided to play music. From health challenges to car troubles, their lives are a continuous adventure that surely deserves an incredible biopic, though their story is still unfolding.

Each year brings more states and miles to their tour, along with new tracks and albums to their discography. And when we’re lucky, they spend a few weeks locally so we can soak up their talent before sending them off again.

Next month, they will perform three consecutive nights at the historic Caffe Lena, having sold out every previous show there. The powers that be insisted on the three-day run—an unimaginable feat for any local act. Despite Krahmer’s modest concerns, it’s likely all three shows will sell out. Her humility endears her to fans, while Libutti brings levity with a quick joke, ensuring things don’t get too emotional. It’s this balance that helps them navigate their close partnership. You might expect more bickering from a duo so frequently on the road together, but you’re going to be disappointed. They are the best

of friends, the strongest partners on and off stage, and an inspiration to many both musically and beyond.

Remarkably, they’ve also managed to create new music. Their song “Little Phoenix” will debut at Caffe Lena, followed shortly by the release of “Stupid Little Heart,” a poignant tribute to Melanie’s father, who is struggling with dementia.

Just when you think they might be too good to be true, they share sentiments like their lack of desire to be ‘rich and famous.’ Their genuine goal is for anyone who hears their music to leave feeling a little better than before, believing that their songs can positively impact people’s lives in some way. That’s what truly matters to them.

Besides, why be rich and famous when you can be Rich and Melanie?

(I had to. If you knew them, you’d understand.)

Sirsy can be seen locally during their unprecedented three day run at Caffe Lena December 6th, 7th and 8th and not again till March! Go to Sirsy.com for more info!

Photo credit: Kiki Vassilakis

Photo credit: Kiki Vassilakis

| interview: a harmonious legacy

Veena and Devesh Chandra bring Indian classical music to the capital region by Jody Cowan

For over 38 years, Veena Chandra, an internationally acclaimed sitarist and educator, has shared the timeless beauty of Indian classical music with the Capital Region. Born in Dehra Doon, the Valley of the Himalaya Mountain Range on November 30th, 1944, Veena was introduced to music by her father, her first Guru.

Since then, Veena has built a bridge between generations, cultures, and communities. She is the founder and director of the Dance and Music School of India in Latham where she teaches Indian classical music alongside her son and tabla virtuoso, Devesh Chandra. Through their performances, workshops, and outreach, the mother-and-son duo have made this rich musical tradition accessible to audiences of all ages.

Their current four-part workshop is part of the Resonance Series at The Egg in Albany. Curated by Arun Ramamurthy, the Resonance Series highlights styles and sounds from the South Asian subcontinent, exploring their relationships to art and music cultures found here locally and around the world. I had the pleasure to sit in on the third and most recent of these free, family-friendly sessions, and was immediately captivated by the Chandras’ hands-on approach to Indian rhythms, melodies, and improvisation. Speaking with both Veena and Devesh after the workshop, I was able to gain some insight into their mission to preserve Indian classical music for generations to come.

Jody Cowan: It was a pleasure to join your workshop with all of these families and young learners! How important do you find the role of music in both fostering community and connecting with children?

Veena Chandra: I think it’s very important for the children, you see. I think they need to have a little exposure like this. The more that people do come out with their children is good because there’s not many places for people to bring their children. They don’t take them to the concerts and all of that really. This is a free thing, and we allow the kids to be coming in and to be themselves. For their development, their personality development, this is very important for their expressions through the music.

Devesh Chandra: And we talk now, because we’re in such an age of like, passive electronics. This is something children can do. They have to learn how to express themselves, through music, through art, and this type

of opportunity. And another thing, this is a tradition that’s passed down and passed forward from my mother to me. Here sometimes, I feel like kids don’t know what to do and things like phones and iPads have taken over everything else.

Veena: The parents are so much in distress and they cannot find control. I think from the beginning, if we can just turn all of that off and put them in the music and dance then everything else becomes more enjoyable. So this is very important for their personality development, and to give them good self confidence, and it will also affect their brain, you know, because music is good for their brains.

Devesh: And we see it firsthand when we go to a school or something, and we play for the students, and then you can see them, just relaxed. And then we ask them,”How do you feel?”, and they’re like, “I feel calm. I feel peaceful”. So the music has that effect on them. Our music in

particular, Indian classical music, the idea is that it is for your selfdevelopment.

Jody: With decades of teaching experience here in the Capital Region, how have you seen Indian classical music evolve in its relevance and accessibility to younger generations?

Veena: I mean, it is available because we’ve been teaching it and we have it available to any age group. We have this 85 year old gentleman, he’s been coming to our concerts with his wife. And during the COVID time, we did Facebook Live for three years. There was a lady here today, she came from Coxsackie, and she said that she was able to get through this period of pandemic because of our music.

Devesh: [Veena’s] been doing this in the area for 38 years. So I think over time, a lot of the public has seen us and the audience has just developed that way, also there’s more Indian community in the

area now. In general though, I think in the Capital Region, because she’s been doing this for so long, a lot of people do know about Indian classical music and have experienced it in some way. I mean, we do a number of projects. We do this family circle obviously, which is wonderful. And we do another project where we play at various farmers markets, malls, and libraries so many people get to experience it on a different level..

Veena: I also invite artists from India; I was lucky to have two artists coming this year so far. One was in May at the Hindu temple, and another one last month at Skidmore College where I invited a major dancer and we played live music. It was wonderful! We were just at Bennington College too. This year, we also just went into all the Schenectady schools, every single one of them, and a couple of other community areas in Schenectady.

Devesh: It was a project made possible by The National Endowment for the Arts and it’s

called Our Town project. It was a citywide initiative in Schenectady, and the idea was to bring these sorts of Indian traditions to the kids. Schenectady in particular has a large Guyanese population, of which their ancestry is Indian.

Jody: Most people are probably familiar with the musical instrument and sounds of the sitar. Devesh, how do you find the tabla resonates with audiences, and what methods have you found effective in showcasing this instrument?

Devesh: The biggest thing I tell audiences is that what we play, the music that I’m playing and that my mom is playing, it’s been taught and passed down as an oral tradition. So it’s passed down generation to generation by speaking it – and that’s for the melodies, but it’s also for the rhythms. So, everything that I play I can say, and when I can show an audience the correlation between “this is the word Na”, and then the sound sounds like that, and “Ha” which sounds like this, they understand then that it is a language, and that the rhythm is a language that you can speak!

based on ragas, those traditional melodies and rhythms. Today it is a little bit less, but occasionally, you still find it.

Jody: You two perform and teach together often. What unique joys and challenges come with working together as a mother and son duo?

Veena: (Laughs) We are a very good duo. I know when he wants to play more, then I give him that cue, you know, and he goes on.

Devesh: We get along well. I mean I grew up doing this with her so we would sort of build together.

Devesh: We even go and teach at Williams College together. We get to drive, and do everything really together. It’s nice that we’re doing something more impactful for the community, rather than doing, you know, 100 concerts where we’re going around the country and performing and leaving and performing and leaving, which we do also, but it is nice to go into schools, to see the kids, to know that we did something today that was really good for them. They may not hear this music ever again, right? And then to get to do a project where we’re back and we see them, and then these kids are

you see his influence in your teaching and performance today?

Veena: Oh, well he’s the one actually who got me into the music, you know, because he named me Veena. Veena, which is a musical instrument, is the predecessor of sitar. When I was born, I think he was too much into music at that point. He was young and he carried his sitar up in the mountains where he was. He was working for his department so he would be placed in a very boondock area up in mountains or somewhere where there is nothing. He would light a candle, and he would be playing at night. I would sit there listening, and when he said he was done, I would still be sitting there quietly waiting for more to come.

The tabla has this unique sound, that’s different but is familiar. I think it’s the rhythm people resonate with. Unlike a lot of drums, they also walk a line between melody and rhythm. I can do melodic things on the tabla too, which is different. They are found in some popular music and songs. Specifically, Bollywood film scores have a lot of tablas. I would say, in the older films especially, a lot of the Bollywood songs were

Veena: But I tell him as well, “I’m gonna do this, apply for this grant, that grant, etc.”. I’m into it because I see he is going to be a full time musician and he needs money coming in. We also have an apprenticeship program in which we have a couple of students that we have brought on. So they get a little money, we get money to teach them, and all of that. It’s very rewarding.

hugging [my mom] and saying, “Oh, thank you for coming”. They’re so happy and it’s something they didn’t know existed, really, until they heard it – until we came and did it. Then they see, obviously, our relationship is on the stage for you to see. Everything comes on the stage.

Jody: Veena, I know your father played an integral role in your musical foundation. How do

Then he would set us up, on a Sunday morning, with a harmonium and a tabla, me and my brother, and we would be just playing the whole day. He would show me a little bit, but he didn’t have to teach me too much. That’s one thing for sure, because I was interested in it, so I would be doing it myself. I know that when it came to learning sitar, I was like 10 or 11 years old, and I would pick up the sitar that he had and I would do something with my other brothers and sisters. I would just play something, or imagine that I’m playing a concert or something like that, and then maybe break a string and put it back like that. And I would never tell him, but he would realize that, you know, that’s time for me to get proper training. So, he’s the one who got me into it and moved that wheel so much that

Photo credit: Mehul Joshi

I’m still going non-stop with music today. This is music that teaches you discipline and how to treat your teachers and your elders.These students, they have to learn what discipline is. People didn’t teach them! We are teaching students right now. We have everything open. People complain like “Why are you teaching for free? Why are you playing for free?” You know, because this music is for the human savior. This is for the human service. It gives us more satisfaction to share it with the audience. I call it a triple A, you know, which is where art, and artists become one, and then the audience becomes one with that.

Jody: Your workshop series has brought Indian classical music and dance here to the Egg. How has each session built on the one before and what can audiences expect from the final session on December 8th?

Devesh: Yes, it’s been wonderful!

We have to thank Arun Ramamurthy and Diane Eber from The Egg and the entire team that has helped organize and put this series together. Our music is improvised, we keep it open to who the audience is, and we try to cater each session to who comes. So, when we get returning people, then we build on what we taught them last time. If we get a mostly new crowd, then we have to go back and teach them fundamentals and try to get to that same point. But there’s so much to teach in the session, we try to give you a little bit of everything.

Veena: We hope people returning will get more

chances to learn. In these sessions, it’s not even a drop in the sea, you know. Indian music is so vast, but at least we create interest and let people know that this is happening in the Capital Region. People can find out where we are, what we are

doing here, they get exposure to that, and they can take it from there.

Devesh: We are so glad that The Egg is doing this series, and hopefully we get to do many more. This is great support for our music that I think is happening for the first time, and we are happy to do this because this is our goal, basically, to preserve and promote Indian classical music, to keep it up and to pass it on to the next generation. The music is built on the positive vibrations, and we’re here to share that with the community.

As they prepare for the fourth and final Family Circle session on December 8th, Veena and Devesh Chandra invite the community to experience the uplifting vibrations of this ancient art form. Whether you’re a seasoned admirer or new to the world of sitar and tabla, this session promises to inspire and engage. The Egg Presents Family Circle #4 with Veena and Devesh Chandra on Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 2:00pm. Tickets are available at the Egg Box Office and online at https://tickets.theegg.org/

Photo credit: Jody Cowan

Photo credit: Mehul Joshi

| interview: fashion as art

a conversation

with Shannon McAvoy, founder of Virtue Consignment Boutique by Sarah Michelle Sherman

Fashion, much like art, serves as a powerful medium for self-expression and storytelling. With its ability to be both transformative and evocative, it provides us with a canvas for our personal style while also holding the power to dictate what lies ahead.

That’s why Virtue Consignment Boutique isn’t just a place to grab discounted contemporary and luxury-fashion pieces—it’s a dynamic space where clothing becomes art, and where customers become empowered. I sat down with Shannon McAvoy, the owner and founder of Virtue, to discuss how her boutique helps clients find not just their style, but themselves.

McAvoy’s passion for fashion began early. Growing up in upstate New York, her love for style and design led her to pursue a degree in fashion merchandising at SUNY Oneonta. After graduating, McAvoy moved to New York City

where she worked for renowned brands like Betsy Johnson, Nautica, and Liz Claiborne.

Despite a successful career in the field she loved, McAvoy took her talents to other industries, including canine hospitality, where she became an award-winning, household name on Boston’s North Shore. But the pull of fashion never left.

Virtue Consignment was born from McAvoy’s desire to return to her true love and roots, offering a unique experience to shoppers in the Capital District. And for this visionary, curating a boutique isn’t about jam-packing the racks.

“It’s not just about the clothing,” McAvoy says. “There’s a mental component to all this… when you look good, you feel good.” That’s the mindset that drives everything McAvoy does—helping customers find the pieces they need to feel their best, redefine their style, and embrace their authentic selves.

“There are so many facets to this. So many women have this innate sense to pick themselves apart,” she says. “Body shaming, what we do to ourselves—it’s a huge issue. I wanted to create a space where women could shop and feel comfortable, like they’re being helped but not pushed.”

McAvoy has witnessed the impact of her approach firsthand, as customers leave feeling confident and excited with their new pieces. “It makes me feel like I’m doing the right thing,” she reflects. “I never knew how much this would affect people. It seems superficial because it’s clothing…but it’s not just clothing.”

In a world where fast fashion has become the norm, Virtue Consignment shines as a symbol of sustainability, creativity, and self-exploration—a space as much about self-discovery as it is about shopping. Each piece in McAvoy’s

boutique carries its own unique history— often from the closets of those ready to part with items that no longer serve them. Maybe the original owner wore it for a one-time occasion; maybe they changed sizes.

The act of selling clothes we’ve outgrown can be a therapeutic experience, a way to let go of past styles or even old versions of ourselves. It’s not just about clearing space in one’s wardrobe, but about embracing change, making room for new chapters, and finding value in what once was.

Step into McAvoy’s boutique and let the pieces that speak to you be a guide—a way to inspire,

“In a world where fast fashion has become the norm, Virtue Consignment shines as a symbol of sustainability, creativity, and self-exploration.”

empower, and transform you into the person you want to be. That’s the magic of Virtue— carefully curated, and waiting for you.

You can find Shannon and her unique boutique selections in Latham’s Newton Plaza.

Photo credit: Virtue Consignment Boutique

Photo credit: Virtue Consignment Boutique

| interview: jim furlong

Owner Jim Furlong talks 35 years of Last Vestige Music Shop and how its made its lasting mark by Natalie St. Denis

On Halloween, a staple of the music-loving community here in the Capital Region celebrated its 35th anniversary: Last Vestige Music Shop in Albany has been keeping turntables spinning since its start in 1989.

Shop owner Jim Furlong has been with the store since its humble beginnings, when it was a vinyl phonograph mail order business in 1984. He is certainly no stranger to the Albany music scene. From 1977 to 1979, he worked at Just A Song record store and then at the city’s first used record store: World’s Records on Central Ave. While at World’s Records, he was also simultaneously playing in The A.D.’s, a fairly well-known punk band in the area. The group released three different 45s and an album during their time together.

“In ‘83, the band moved to the New York City area to try and ‘hit the big time,’ as they say,” Furlong recalls.

Eventually, once back in Albany, he was approached by Roxanne Storms, the owner of the used, funky, kitschy clothing store, Special FX.

“She had purchased, and her husband purchased the building at 176 Quail St. in 1987, from the original owners, who used to have a notorious bar underground in the basement called Frank’s Living Room, which was famous with SUNY students from the early 70s, right up until the drinking age went to 21, and then they closed,” Furlong said.

“What’s always been a philosophy of mine was to try to have something for anybody.”

Unfortunately, the band had some internal issues and didn’t last. Despite this, Furlong stayed in the city and worked at Manhattan’s Midnight Records, a mail order and retail business selling domestic and import vinyl.

Storms asked Furlong, who has a background in carpentry, to do some remodeling work. This opportunity would allow him to get his foot in the door with promising, unexpected endeavors to soon present themselves.

One day, in 1988, it was suggested

he open a record store, an idea which he was apprehensive about because vinyl seemed to be on its way out and he was doing pretty well with just the mail order business. But, in time, he ended up deciding to take over the space in the basement, opening Last Vestige in 1989.

Just a few years later, Last Vestige moved across the street to a larger building. Previously a laundromat

that went out of business, Furlong won the bid for the property after it went on the county auction block. The rehab and gutting of the establishment took about six to seven months, but finally, on New Year’s Day in 1994, they moved everything across the street to their new home at 173 Quail St. January 2nd marked the shop’s grand opening.

Since then, Last Vestige has made a lasting impact on the Capital Region, staying relevant all these years, making many wonder: how do they do it? Furlong says their inventory, mainly used, allows them to stand out from other shops.

“What’s always been a philosophy of mine was to try to have something for anybody,” he said. “I have, and I try to have, genres of every shape and form.”

He has also seen the evolution of customers’ tastes over time

Photo credit: Tom Miller

Photo credit: Tom Miller

and factors that into the shop’s inventory selection. For example, Furlong says they carry an interesting international section after seeing more people digging foreign sounds in the last 15-20 years. So they make an effort to carry whatever they can get their hands on in that department.

“A lot of people do stroll in the store who are Baby Boomers who may have lived somewhere else for a while. We’ll get a lot of music from South America, the Caribbean, eastern Europe, far east Asia, so we try to have that, as an example,” he tells me.

Last Vestige tries to appeal to other audiences as well by having a variety of other sections like spoken word, poetry, plays, political commentary and even a fun children’s vinyl selection. These are, of course, in addition to your typical, more mainstream genres like folk, blues, jazz and rock.

The music shop doesn’t just specialize in vinyl records, though. Beyond the store’s front doors, CDs and cassettes are also available for purchase. Furlong points out that cassettes have made a bit of a comeback, which has been fun. But his team is still sure to be selective with the cassettes, CDs and vinyl they offer to customers so they aren’t sitting around collecting

They see a lot of people come from out of town, including out of the state and even out of the country.

Last Vestige is also able to connect with music lovers at the various record fairs they attend each year, locally in Albany and Saratoga and oftentimes even making the trip out to those in Utica, Syracuse

in ‘89 still popping in, as well as a number of customers who moved out of the area through the 90s and the early 2000s, and when they’re up visiting relatives, they still pop in over the holidays or other times to say ‘hi,’ and that really makes me a happy man.”

Furlong jokes that he could open a

“We really try to – the hip word these days is ‘curate.’ I’m not so much of a curator as I am a supplier. I try to find things that I think people will like. Some of it lays around forever, and some of it disappears quicker than I expected,” Furlong says.

Another important aspect of the business is their mail order department, of which just about the entirety of the second floor is dedicated to. Lots of their vinyl, CDs and cassettes are sold on eBay and Discogs through mail.

As expected of a business who has been at it for 35 years, there have been challenges along the way. Furlong said the neighborhood the shop is located in has seen good times and bad, but overall, business is still pretty strong with walk-ins.

and Binghamton. Furlong enjoys the fairs because they help further promote the business and allow the shop to get rid of some inventory they have more than enough of, while also connecting with people who may be looking to sell their collections – an important aspect of the business, for regulars and new faces alike.

“We have a lot of people who’ve been [coming by] since I opened

couple of branches of Last Vestige in North and South Carolina, as well as Florida, and he’d probably get a bunch of customers back. One thing’s for sure: he appreciates all who have come in over the past 35 years and the loyalty they show to the business.

Going forward, Furlong doesn’t see himself retiring full time and wants to keep a hand in the business. But at the same time, he feels confident in his employees that have worked for him for a long time, so he is looking at ways to hand it off to them when the time comes.

“I started the business when I was 35 and now I’m 70. Some people don’t make it that long in this type of business,” Furlong says.

35 years later and Last Vestige Music Shop is still going strong. Stop by the store at 173 Quail St. in Albany, Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

Photo credit: Kiki Vassilakis

Photo credit: Tom Miller

Photo credit: Tom Miller

Photo credit: Tom Miller

Rory Graham | venue spotlight

cohoes music hall

This November, Cohoes Music Hall celebrated a momentous occasion: their 150-year anniversary; a sesquicentennial, if we’re getting technical.

The history of this Victorian-style brick building is a winding tale beginning with its purchase in 1874 by two businessmen: William Acheson, a miller, and James Masten, a newspaper owner. The Music Hall rose to a significant height in the early 20th century, becoming a popular destination for Vaudeville performers, hosting the likes of Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill Cody, George M. Cohan, and Eva Tanguay. Tanguay is actually believed to haunt the Hall to this day, resulting in her very own shrine on the side of the stage, which performers must honor if they want their shows to go off without a hitch.

After their Vaudevillian days came to a close, the hall was sold to the National Bank of Cohoes, then closed in 1936. In 1968, something even more inconceivable than a haunting occurred that resulted in the Music Hall’s reopening: the building was sold to the City of Cohoes for $1.00. No, that is not a typo; one single dollar was exchanged so that the bank could thrust what they thought was a useless building into the hands of the city. However, once the city realized what was truly inside, the

building was restored over the following five years and it reopened in 1975 with a performance of London Assurance, a nostalgic nod to the very first show ever performed at Cohoes Music Hall.

To pull back the hall’s curtain a bit more (pun intended), I was able to pick the brain of Owen Smith, the producing artistic director for Playhouse Stage Company, which has been in charge of the Hall since 2020. According to Smith, the 1975 renovations truly were done in the spirit of reinvigorating the hall’s glory days.

“The team went to great pains to get it right, and I give the city officials that led that process in the 1970s a lot of credit,” he tells me. “Of course, there were quality of life and accessibility improvements, from adding a cooling system, to adding an elevator, but in terms of the styling and vibe of the building? It was truly restored as if it was 1874 all over again. Since then, improvements have been made to the sound and lighting systems–which were fully replaced by the City in 2019–and new windows were fashioned and installed for

by

audience comfort and energy efficiency. But, at every turn, a premium has been placed on honoring the historic nature of the space, and that is a commitment that will hold true for generations to come, I hope.”

While the history of the building is incredible in and of itself, it doesn’t even begin to touch the magic that can be felt once you step inside those humongous double wooden doors. Smith relayed that what stands out for audiences at Cohoes Music Hall is the intimacy of the space.

Photo credit: Tom Miller

“While we can seat 450 folks, the shape of the Hall, in its Victorian, Second Empire style, means that no audience member is more than 100 feet or so, tops, from the performer on stage. Whether you are watching live music, theatre, or comedy, you feel a close connection with the artist. And yet, the atmosphere and history of the venue make it feel grand at the same time. It’s really a unique combination.”

With such a gem right inside Cohoes’ downtown, it’s easy to see how the hall has become a valuable actor in the community.

Smith explains, “Cohoes Music Hall is a vital catalyst for economic development in Cohoes, and it’s a driver of foot traffic to the entire Spindle City downtown community. We’re now programming more than 150 public events per year at the hall–the most in its history since reopening–and those events get people into our city’s bars, restaurants and shops. When you combine that with the regular student foot traffic nightly at our Playhouse Stage Studios education space on Remsen Street, it’s really quite a driver for the downtown business community.”

While Cohoes might not be the first place we think of when we consider a night on the town, perhaps it’s time we start to change that. Whether you’re looking to step inside local history, explore Cohoes’ downtown, or see a show with some spectacular seats no matter where you sit, the Music Hall is clearly the place to be. Happy Sesquicentennial, Cohoes Music Hall — we sure are lucky to have you after 150 years and can’t wait for 150 more. (That will be a tercentenary, for the record.)

Photo credit: Tom Miller

$7 TUESDAYS Including 12/24 & 12/31 Great titles coming in December: NIGHTBITCH, BABYGIRL, THE RETURN THE ORDER, THE END, QUEER NOSFERATU, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN And much more! 290 Delaware Ave Albany

400 State Street, Schenectady

$7 TUESDAYS Including 12/24 & 12/31 December includes: MUFASA, SONIC 3 , LOTR: ROHIRRIM, KRAVEN THE HUNTER, And much more!

WILTON MALL CINEMAS & THE BIG SCENE

3065 State Rte 50 Saratoga Springs Lowest ticket prices in Saratoga County! Acres of free lighted parking!

$7 TUESDAYS Including 12/24 & 12/31 December includes: MUFASA, SONIC 3 , LOTR: ROHIRRIM, KRAVEN THE HUNTER, And much more!

SCENE ONE E-GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE AT www.scene1ent.com! ALL THEATERS OPEN DAILY!

| listen here

E.R.I.E.

Positioned as the middle child in their triadstyle EP release, E.R.I.E. presents new record, the lows, as part of their series The Highs, The Lows, and Everything In Between, with THE HIGHS having been released in late September. On visuals alone, this record presents a change from the previous: all caps song titles have become completely lowercase and the picture of a crowded bar has been replaced with an image of the once beloved Saratoga Winners burning down. However, don’t let the artistic choices fool you because these four tracks are anything but low.

The first track “battlescars” kicks off the record with high energy electric guitar and pulsing

by Rory

Graham

drums, setting lead singer TJ Foster up for a rousing, fist-pumping chorus. The group experiments with some softer backing vocals in the chorus, but really takes advantage of them during the bridge and final chorus, adding harmonic nuance to their punk rock sound.

The pulsing energy continues in the next three tracks, “it’s nepotism, baby!,” “good time” and “burn out,” with some creative variations throughout. For instance, “it’s nepotism, baby!” plays with tempo in a way that reflects the emotions found in the lyrics, speeding up to reflect anger and slowing down to reflect doubt or thoughtfulness. It’s intentional moves like these that E.R.I.E. has traditionally excelled at, pushing their music beyond the one-dimensional and into a place of complexity and analysis.

The penultimate track, “good time,” is by far the stand out from a stylistic perspective, opting for a choppier, darker sound to accompany the radio-static vocals. Again, the universe of sound created is a perfect match for lyrics that, here, ring cynical and sadly true, beginning with “Congratulations, you’re a viral sensation, with nowhere to go now but down...” It is within these lyrics that you can clearly see “the lows” referenced in the title as the band grapples with concepts of capitalism in the music industry and replacing simpler older days with shiny, scary new ones.

out if all that we know is a lie / and every mantra was told just to keep us alive.” Regardless of the source, there still feels like a little bit of hope in this song for better days ahead.

These worries are encapsulated perfectly within the final track, “burn out,” which feels oddly comforting for a song that honestly discusses fears of dreams deferred for far too long. Perhaps it’s the warm harmonies in the chorus, perhaps it’s the catchy riffs, or perhaps it’s the fact that E.R.I.E. is unafraid to admit what we’re all thinking inside with lines like, “I’m trying to find

In the end, while we may be slogging through the lows of our realities, E.R.I.E. uses their uptempo electric guitar riffs and pounding drums to remind us of the most important message: we are not alone in our thoughts. In fact, we’re all secretly spiraling about wasted youth, capitalism, and the passage of time… pretty heavy, am I right? Now, rather than feeling these immense lows alone, why not turn on this record and sing along to a great rock song about it instead?

the lows is out 12/06 on all major streaming platforms, or available now on bandcamp (abandcallederie.bandcamp.com)

| listen here

PENPALS & Dezmatic

Shitty Wizards by

Andy Scullin

“I say ‘know what I’m sayin’ a lot, because a lot of the time I just want to know if you actually know what I’m sayin’…” is the line that kicks off Shitty Wizards, the latest from Albany-based emcee Dezmatic who joins NYC’s PENPALS for this album which dropped on November 27th. One thing became entirely certain by the time this track was over: I definitely did know

what he was saying because I was hanging on every word. The way that the lyrics not only fit together in a perfect rhyme and unique flow, but how they painted such a complete picture without weighing the verse down with extraneous words, was wholly captivating.

Case and point, if the line “Ain’t the before times, it’s the end of days / Next space hippy mention Mercury and retrograde is gonna catch the fade for interrupting death parade…” doesn’t make you think, then maybe you aren’t listening close enough.

Tight hip-hop beats and rapier-sharp lyrics are present throughout, but what

really caught my attention was the use of piano, and even some strings being interwoven to create a truly unique underscore. The use of samples, while certainly a hip-hop staple, also stood out. Not just in their use, but in the selection of samples used as well. Within the first minute of the track “Another Day at the Office,” we hear not only the sound of Mario grabbing a gold coin from Super Mario Bros., but also John Goodman as Walter Sobchek declaring, “I can get you a toe.”

They are clever, unexpected and very well placed within the song.

Just when I thought I was figuring this record out, they hit me with “Metro North Dub,” a reggae/dub tune that threw me for a very pleasant loop. The beat is definitely the star on this track, but the classic dub keyboard is close behind, fighting to take the lead.

I’ll admit that most of my hip-hop knowledge is stuck back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, but I could not help compare the track “Never Trust the Living” to be the perfect marriage of A Tribe Called Quest and Wu-Tang Clan. It starts with some cinematic samples and a smooth, jazzy bassline before filling

the space behind the lyrics with subtle hi-hats, bells, and keys. The glide of this track, and my inability to keep my head from nodding to the groove, may make this my pick for the stand-out track, even if it comes in just shy of two-minutes in length.

As previously stated, my knowledge of hip-hop may be limited, but I know for sure when I like something, and Shitty Wizards had me from the first few seconds and didn’t let go until the last note. The beats had my attention on every song, and the lyrics are so sharp, it’s as if they were just run over a whetstone. The more hip-hop albums that come across my desk to review, the more I am convinced that 518 hip-hop is definitely doing its part to keep the artform alive.

With features from Moses Rockwell, elsphinx, K-Cromozone and more, this one is sure to be mentioned amongst the classics for years to come.

Know what I’m sayin’?

| hot singles in your area november

Each month, we recap the hottest singles released by local artists on our site. Here’s a list of what the 518 delivered in November – be sure to scan that QR code to read more about – and stream! – each tune.

The Sugar Hold - “Ooh La La”

Cassandra Kubinski - “Comes Down To You”

NOAH XO - “Friday”

Deanna Deluke - “Charlotte”

E.R.I.E. - “burn out”

grape juice! - “DRIVE YOU CRAZY”

YORT - “Mojave” (Live)

Caity Gallagher - “Caught in the Middle”

AB the Audicrat, Emcee Graffiti, Xkwisit - “Old Man Rap”

Girth Control - “Scottish Dave’s”

Arrow Through Me - “Take Care”

Millington - “RADIO”

Lucid Street - “Potential Redemption”

Watch Reggie Run - “Christmas Moon"

| november snapshots

a visual journey across the capital district

by Elissa Ebersold, Tom Miller, Mike Tamburri and Kiki Vassilakis

& 30, 2024 Black Friday & Black Friday & • 80 Locally owned Shops & Restaurants Nutcracker Scavenger Hunt Saturday November 30 12pm-4pm

DECember 6, 2024

• CRAFT VENDORS on Lark Street The Armory & Across the City

DECember 14, 2024

• TASTE AND CAST YOUR VOTE FOR THE BEST CHILI AND CHOWDER ON LARK STREET

• RACE STEPS OFF AT 2:00PM

| november snapshots

a

visual journey across the capital district

by Elissa Ebersold, Tom Miller, Mike Tamburri and Kiki Vassilakis

| ask becky

by Becky Daniels

Becky Daniels is the Founder and Chief Romance Officer of Micropolitan Matchmakers, the first locally-based singles event and matchmaking company in the Capital Region. Each month, Becky tackles reader questions about dating and relationships. Submit your question to askbecky@themetroland.com

Q: I recently started seeing someone new, and we've been on a few “in real life” dates. I think things seem pretty good, but I’m just not sure where they stand. So, I'm a bit hesitant to get too serious too quickly. How can I figure out their interest level in me without coming across as too eager or desperate?

Sincerely, Cautiously Curious

Dear Cautiously,

I totally get it - putting yourself out there without knowing how the other person is feeling can be really scary. But, as I read this question, the thing that pops out to me is that it feels like you're giving this person a whole lot of power in this situation. In waiting for them to let you know how they feel before deciding how you feel, you’re letting them dictate your feelings.

In some ways, that’s easier - if they don’t want to move the relationship forward, then you can blame them for it not working out, right? On to the next. But, if you put yourself out there and get rejected? That sucks. The problem is that if both of you have that mindset - you’re never going to get anywhere.

So, before we go any further, the biggest question you need to answer is how do you feel about them? Some questions that might help you figure this out include:

How do you feel about yourself when you’re around this persondo they make you feel happy and confident? Insecure or tense?

Are you curious about them? In your time together, have your conversations left you wanting to know more about them?

Do your relationship goals align? If you want marriage and children, is that also in their life plan? If you want to remain childfree by choiceare they on board with that?

Do you genuinely enjoy spending time with this person?

Once you have taken some time to explore your own feelings in this scenario, then it’s time to communicate those feelings. Getting a little vulnerable and opening up can be tough at first, but it gets easier the more you do it! The best thing you can do is to pull the band-aid and be honest about where you’re at. It’s totally fair after a few in-person dates to have a check-in conversation and - without any pressure on the other personjust let them know where you’re at. They’ll either be on the same page (woohoo!), not be where you are (which is hard, but better to know), or they’ll need a bit more time to think about it.

Flexing the muscle of being honest with your feelings to the person you’re dating can be intimidating,

but also empowering. And isn’t open communication a key piece of the foundation you want to set for a potential lifetime together? If you can’t be open with them in the beginning, it will only get harder as you grow.

Q: I've been talking to someone for a few weeks and I think we have a lot in common. He seems really perfect so far, to be honest. We messaged on the app for a bit and then moved to texting and we text pretty regularly. He always says good morning and then we chat throughout the day and I just feel like he has a lot of the qualities I’m really looking for in a person. But all of that said, I'm starting to get a little frustrated because he hasn’t actually asked me out yet. I really want to meet in person and I feel like he should make the first move, but should I just do it myself?

Sincerely, Impatiently Waiting

Dear Impatiently,

If I only had a nickel for every time I answer a similar question. You are not alone in this frustration. And there is one of two things going on here:

He is potentially a little bit shy and waiting for you to very explicitly open the door for an in-person to make sure you are into the idea and that he won’t come off as a creep.

He already has a significant other and is just looking for a penpal and an ego boost.

I wish this wasn’t such a common occurrence, but it really does happen all the time. And the only way to get an answer is to ask the question. And you can do it in a way that opens the door for him to do it first. Next time you’re chatting and he’s filling you in on something, you can say, “you know, that sounds pretty interesting. I’d love to hear more about it in person!” If he doesn’t pick up what you’re throwing out there after that and you’re still interested, you can more explicitly say, “let’s continue this conversation face to face - maybe coffee this weekend?”

If he continues to dodge an inperson meeting after 2 attempts, that is your answer. I would drop him.

And, in the future, I always caution against messaging for a long time before meeting in person. It’s easy when you’re messaging with someone to build up a perfect version of them in your head. And, as you know, nobody’s perfect! It’s hard for people to measure up to the version of them (or the version of the perfect partner) we create in our minds. So, the earlier you meet, the easier it is to keep yourself from early-exciting over the person you create in your mind versus the real human that you go on a date with.

Saratoga

The B3nson Recording Company’s 13th Annual B3nson Family Funsgiving by Natalie St. Denis

Attendees were buzzing with excitement, mingling amongst comrades. The show felt like a true family affair, in perfect timing for the holidays.

On November 22nd, friends, family and music lovers alike packed swiftly into The Hangar on the Hudson in Troy, for The B3nson Recording Company’s 13th annual B3nson Family Funsgiving.

Beanies, cardigans and flannels sprinkled the tightly packed room, from both guests and band members soon to take the stage.

The instrument cases and other equipment piled up to the left of the stage in front of a vibrant neon green, leather couch where a suited-up skeleton lounged was indication that everyone was in for a rocking night. The four local bands set to take the stage were The Hoborchestra, Rover, Geoff Gordon and Dan Carr & the Cure for Asthma.

The Hoborchestra was up first and they quickly set the mood right with their entrancing, mellow indie sound, wellsuited by the rustic cabin-core vibes of the intimate venue that is The Hangar. The three-man group charmed the crowd in a way that made everyone feel as if they had been transported to an open field among the stars; the only other thing needed was for the wall behind the stage to fall to reveal such a sight. While this wasn’t the reality, The Hangar’s ambient lighting, featuring hints of blues, purples, pinks,

reds and yellows among warm string lights overhead, was a close second.

Following The Hoborchestra was Rover, featuring a second go-around for the drummer, who starred in both bands. Rover started off with a song about sleeping in, but the audience was feeling far from sleepy once the band settled into their groove. The quartet’s mesmerizing harmonies were a real stand-out in their performance. Rover kept up a similar mellow, indie feel, but they also weren’t afraid to get heavier and hit some harder riffs, which got the crowd fired up. At times, they even had a surf music ring to them, further solidified when they ended one of their songs with a vocal whooshing sound, sung in unison to resemble calming ocean waves.

Toward the end of Rover’s set,

they welcomed friend Alex Muro on stage, at which point he and his acoustic guitar took the lead to break things down a little. Muro was repping an asymmetrical half mustache and half beard look, perhaps a marking of the change in seasons here in Upstate New York and the start of a new beard to keep warm during the hibernating months of winter.

Next up was Geoff Gordon, who piled all six of their members onto the tiny Hangar stage, amped up and ready to go. Starting off groovy with some vibrant bluesytype vocals, Geoff Gordon soon ventured further into a more upbeat, playful range, showcasing their comprehensive sound. The two lead singers had a riveting way of balancing out each other’s vocals, one gruff and more on the edgy side, and the other offering a warmer, velvety tone.

Photo credit: Kiki Vassilakis

Photo credit: Kiki Vassilakis

The band worked through some technical difficulties with grace, as well. The keyboard wasn’t shining through as it was intended to, the band calling the occurrence a “classic Funsgiving mishap.” Luckily, after just a few minutes, the resolved issue became a “Funsgiving miracle” once things were set right.

The night concluded with Dan Carr & the Cure for Asthma, a young group with layers of country twang, folk, indie and R&B woven throughout their style. The backup singers played off each other’s voices and had that classic in-sync sway dance to accompany their riffs. Powerful vocals all around in this bunch. Listeners could make out a yodel here and there too in between tambourines, shakers, harmonicas and a pedal steel. Dan Carr & the Cure for Asthma’s performance was a quirky and fun way to end the annual occasion.

The B3nson crew ran a tight ship, with turnover between sets only taking a few minutes. While this was the case, the bands made sure to not take anything too seriously and have fun. After all, that’s what Funsgiving is all about.

Photo credit: Kiki Vassilakis

Photo credit: Kiki Vassilakis

Photo credit: Kiki Vassilakis

Photo credit: Kiki Vassilakis

| live: hey greasy!

Satisfaction Guaranteed Record Nite/Friendsgiving & Mid Century Potluck with DJ Tex & DJ K. Fink at No Fun

by Dana Brady

If you’re aching for an escape from present-day drudgery and gloom, Satisfaction Guaranteed’s all vinyl DJ nights are a candy-colored retro oasis of 1960s nostalgia. This month, DJ Tex and DJ K. Fink took their usual monthly record nights and added a holiday party spin (no pun-intended).

Guests were encouraged to bring a dish for a mid-century themed potluck, and what followed can only be described as a Looney Tunes-style cartoon buffet feast: think Jell-o molds, pineapple ring and cherry-topped cakes and pies with heaps of whipped cream, casseroles, lots and lots of aspic, a hotdog crown roast, and Corningware bowls filled with baked beans.

The creations were all arranged

along a large table to the left of No Fun’s stage and there was even a whiskey “beef” fizz on the drink menu pre-batched by local cook Amy Trimarchi (although, this was mercifully made with vegetable broth). The display of food was further enhanced by a selection of vintage wares from Transistor Sisters Vintage. Between the food, glassware, coffee table books, and crocheted blankets, the venue felt like being transported to your

grandmother’s house in the coziest and best way possible.

This month’s event took place for the first time at No Fun in Troy where the duo set up shop in front of one of the venue’s large picture windows to spin records under multicolored string lights. Reflecting off the rainy pavement just outside, the event brightened an otherwise dreary fall Wednesday night.

Photo credit: Dana Brady

Photo credit: Kiersten Fink

Regarding the music selection, Tex says: “Halloween and Christmas have lots of novelty songs and tracks that fit the theme, but there’s nothing out there for Thanksgivingrelated songs, so we started getting a food and drink themed setlist together. There are so many songs called ‘The Chicken’ or ‘Mashed Potato’ or ‘Popcorn.’”

The duo most often feature genres such as soul, psych/garage rock, and R&B, while also mixing in a variety of rarities from the mid-tolate 1960s most people would otherwise likely never come across on a casual night out. Tex and Fink settled on the name Satisfaction Guaranteed from the leftover

“Passing by always made us think about the song by The Mourning Reign, which we usually try to sneak into the set,” Tex says. The event has been a regular vinyl night for over a year, usually taking place the third Wednesday of each month, and popping up at places like the Larkin Hi-fi in Albany and Whiskey Pickle in Troy.

You can follow Satisfaction Guaranteed on Instagram at @ satisfaction_guaranteed_ny and be sure to keep an eye out for where they show up next.

window lettering of an old nail salon on 4th and Fulton in Troy.

Photo credit: Dana Brady

Photo credit: Kiersten Fink

Photo credit: Kiersten Fink

"retro | metro checks in with metroland staffers of yore" by Erin Harkes

R.M. Engelhardt is an American Poet, Writer & Author who over the last 30 years has published several books of poetry including Where There Is No Vision, Coffee Ass Blues & Other Poems, The Last Cigarette: The Collected Poems of R.M. Engelhardt, The Resurrection Waltz, Dark Lands and others. Through his ideas and visions he has helped to create a large amount of the Upstate/Albany, NY Spoken Word ~Poetry Scene and is the former host of the long running “The School of Night” an Open Forum-Mic For All Poets in the late 1990's/Early 2000's and now hosts "INVOCATION ALBANY " A Spoken Word Poetry Event Monthly held in Downtown Albany NY at the Bull & Bee Meadery And Tasting Room as well as being the Editor of the Independent Small Poetry Press DEADMANSPRESSINK which publishes, promotes and helps writers & poets to put their unique work out into the world with a concentration on experimental literature.

R.M. worked for the first iteration of Metroland and we were thrilled that he wanted to be a part of Metroland Now! To hear the full interview, listen to “The Mistress of None” at themetroland.com/podcasts.

ERIN HARKES: We are talking mostly today about poetry. You reached out a while back when the Metroland thing got started and are going to end up luckily adding a very needed component to what we are trying to do, which is a nice poetry section spot where we can feature what’s going on in the poetry community. And you are probably the best person for this job because you used to do it for the former Metroland.

R.M. ENGELHARDT: Yeah, I have this deja vu feeling. But I did actually do the poetry section for the old Metroland in the probably early 2000s, I would say, and I didn’t really do it for that long. It was probably about maybe two years.But we were able to publish local poets and have discussions about poetry on there. And we had Metroland back then full of poetry events and all sorts of poetry articles. So it was a great time for the Albany poetry scene and around the area.

ERIN HARKES: Very cool. And I’m taking it from how you’re saying that that it has shifted a little bit since that time.

R.M. ENGELHARDT: A little bit. Poetry in Albany, particularly Albany, City of Albany, used to be something that was huge. Back in 1999, I came up with this idea for a thing called “Albany Poets”. And it was, well, this is dating me. But the Internet was something amazing and new back then. So what we did was we created the first big poetry website in the area and we created

events around that with the group Albany Poets that we named Albany Poets. And we made a lot of things happen. There was me, there was Tom Francis, Mary Panza, Dan Wilcox, a whole bunch of poets who are still around today doing stuff in the community. And so, well, what happened was back then we had even an over explosion of poetry, which wasn’t really a bad thing. We had a lot of poetry readings in the area, especially in downtown Albany. I did one at Valentine’s called the School of Night. There are other ones that came along and then something kind of happened over time that’s kind of unexplainable. It’s almost like maybe it. There were too many or it burnt itself out or slam came into the scene and it kind of changed perception of poetry and poetry. Open mics, like contest stuff, things like that. There’s no real answer in that regard. But what happened was poetry readings became less karaoke and trivia nights started becoming extremely popular. And then all of a sudden, even though there were some die hards like myself and others that kept running their readings, it just kind of drifted off. So now after all these years, in 2024, suddenly there seems to be a resurgence of poetry in the area. It’s. It’s starting to come back a little bit slowly, but coming back in a good way.

ERIN HARKES: That’s great. I think a lot of things are kind of coming back in like reflections of days of, you know, the early aughties. I’m seeing some resurgence of things, Metroland notwithstanding, but

I remember going to a lot of open mics during that time. The time that you were mentioning and as a musician and seeing that there was always a good representation of. It was just, it was very common to just have a poet get up and read. And I, now that you’re saying it, of course I didn’t really recognize it at the time because I was only really thinking about myself. But I noticed that they, they just weren’t coming. Even when I started to host open mics, it was. They just stopped coming out, I guess. So.

R.M. ENGELHARDT: Well, there’s so many places that you could go to read that people I think just started saying, oh, you know, I, I’m not going to go to this reading tonight, maybe I’ll go to that one next week or whatever. And then eventually there’s the trickle down theory, where everything just pretty much kind of started disappearing. A lot of places started closing up and not supporting music, let alone poetry or anything else. They just closed. And for a while, the fuse box, before it became the fuse box, was closed. And that was kind of when it was the QE2, way back in the early 90s. It was like the big place for poetry. You would get huge crowds at the QE2 reading that was run by Tom Natal back then. And that’s where I started. That’s where a whole bunch of area poets started. And it was just. To this day, you can’t beat it. Yeah, you know, it’s just. It was. It’s a matter of time. It was just a matter of what was then and what is now.

| merry christmas, ya filthy animals

holidays in the capital region by TJ Foster

Well, folks… here we are. The turkey has been gobbled. The cranberry sauce cans have been recycled. The festive Starbucks cups have hit the shelves. The endless barrage of Black Friday emails have been received and promptly deleted. It can only mean one thing: Santa’s comin’ to town. (I KNOW HIM!!!)

To join in the spirit, we thought we’d talk about what else is comin’ to town this holiday season. And yeah, we know there’s a full-fledged calendar in the back of this paper, but son of a nutcracker, we wanted to create a one-stop shop for all things festive and jolly that you and your families can enjoy this year.

Speaking of nutcrackers… if you’ve been vying for a chance to see The Nutcracker ballet in person, you have no excuse this year. There’s not one, not two, but almost a dozen chances to catch a performance. It’s safe to say our nuts will be satisfactorily cracked this season after all of these performances:

• Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet! will be at The Palace in Albany on 12/3.

• The Nacre Dance Group will be at The Egg on 12/7

• Northeast Ballet performs at Proctor’s in Schenectady on 12/14 and 12/15

• Headliners: Holiday Edition Drag Show at the newly reopened Van Dyck Music Club in Schenectady on 12/13

• A Christmas Carol at the Capital Rep Theatre on 12/16

• Thorgy Does Christmas at Proctor’s on 12/20

• Albany Berkshire Ballet performs at The Egg , also on 12/14 and 12/15

• The Adirondack Ballet Theater Co. performs at The Wood Theater in Glens Falls on – you guessed it – 12/14 and 12/15

• The Grand Kyiv Ballet will be at The Egg on 12/20 It’s not just The Nutcracker choreographing its way onto your holiday calendar, though. There’s also these performances, which are sure to be filled with more spirit than a moose mug full of eggnog. (Is there any better way to drink it?):

• HUNG with Care: A Queer Holiday Burlesque Spectacular! at Lark Hall on 12/1

• Cirque Dreams’ Holidaze at The Palace on 12/5

• The Snow Queen (also at The Palace) on 12/6

Of course, the Christmas season would be nothing without the music. Heck, radio stations and retailers alike have been going all in on that since November 1st. But if your proverbial strand of Christmas lights is burnt out from hearing Mariah Carey and Bing Crosby on repeat, there’s a stocking full of concert-sized treasures for you to unwrap instead. So put on your favorite ugly sweater, and catch a sleigh ride down to any or all of these shows this December – after all, the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear:

• Country star Billy Gilman brings his Christmas & Hits show to The Wood Theater in Glens Falls on 12/1.

• Down in Schenectady, Angelina Valente and friends present Holy Jazz, It’s a Funky Folkin’ Christmas Show! at Van Dyck Music Club on 12/7.

• The Screaming Orphans Christmas Show hits The Egg on 12/7

• Albany Symphony’s Magic of Christmas will hit The Palace in Albany on 12/8

• Troy Savings Bank Music Hall presents The Many Moods of Christmas on 12/15

• If you like a little more rock in your holidays, Singlecut North in Clifton Park will be hosting another Holiday Hootenanny on 12/14, with a lineup featuring The Sugar Hold, The Battenkillers, and ShortWave RadioBand.

• Finding Christmas: An Old Fashioned Rock ‘n Roll Holiday at The Palace on 12/15

• Christmas with the New York Tenors at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on 12/18

• It’s a Jazzy Christmas is so nice it’s happening twice: 12/20 at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga, and 12/21 at Proctor’s in Schenectady

• Over at The Cock N’ Bull in Galway, The McKrells will deliver a doubleheader with performances on 12/18 and 12/19, followed by a Christmas Spectacular featuring local Irish-folk stars Drank the Gold on 12/22

One of the things my family looks forward to every year is cramming in as many of our favorite Christmas movies as possible between Thanksgiving and Christmas. For those looking to enjoy some on the big screen, The Palace Theatre will once again screen free movies for the whole family with:

• Home Alone on 12/9

• A Christmas Story on 12/16

• It’s a Wonderful Life on 12/20 Plus, on 12/27, they will also be hosting a 35th Anniversary Screening of Christmas Vacation including a live conversation with Clark Griswold himself, Chevy Chase! Tickets and jelly-of-the-month club subscriptions are still available at time of publication.

Now, to address the elephant-sized reindeer in the room. We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket run by a big eastern syndicate. (That’s a deep cut for y’all). Luckily, our area also has a plethora of local festivals and markets to help you “shop small” – or just enjoy some festive, community-driven activities:

• Holiday Makers Market at Nine Pin Cidery on 11/30

• Holiday Craft Marketplace at the Saratoga City Center on 11/30

• Holiday Stroll at Stuyvesant Plaza each Sunday from 12/1 - 12/22

• Victorian Street Walk in Saratoga on 12/5

• Gifted: Winter Market at The Albany Barn on 12/6

• First Friday Winter Wonders Market in downtown Albany on 12/6

• Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Cookie Bake-Off at Indian Ladder Farms, 12/6

• Holiday Market at Union Station in downtown Albany on 12/6 and 12/7

• A Big Gay Holiday Market Pop-Up at Common Roots Brewing on 12/7

• Winter Bazaar at Thacher State Park on 12/7 and 12/8

• Adirondack Holiday Festival will run from 12/6 - 12/8 in downtown Glens Falls

• 42nd Annual Troy Victorian Stroll on 12/8

• The eclectic and unique Albany Twilight Market will be at Washington Park Lakehouse on 12/14

• The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls is hosting a Holiday Open House 12/14 - 12/15

• Schenectady’s annual Festival of Trees will be ongoing between 12/7 - 12/28

• Holiday Stockade Stroll at The Stockades in Schenectady from 12/18 - 12/21

Of course, you can’t have a proper holiday season without Santa. The big man. The head honcho. The connection. And fear not, kids – he’ll be flying in to see everyone quite a few times this year:

• Photos with Santa at Stuyvesant Plaza each Sunday from 12/1 - 12/22

• Breakfast with Santa at Indian Ladder Farms on 12/7, 12/14, 12/15 and 12/21

• Doggies with Santa – including a Howliday Ugly Sweater Contest! – at Indian Ladder Farms on 12/8

• Sensory Santa Sessions in partnership with the Autism Society Greater Hudson Region at The Hot Yoga Spot in Albany on 12/8

• Santa Brunch at June Farms on 12/14 and 12/21

Wait, you want more? We haven’t even mentioned yet the Merry Swiftmas Holiday Dance Party at UPH in Saratoga on 12/6 – I know all too well that’s going to be festively enchanting – the 4th Annual Bikeatoga Pie Ride in Saratoga on 12/8, the 19th Annual Santa Speedo Sprint and Chili Chowder Fest on 12/14 on Lark Street , Saratoga Santacon on 12/14, or ‘Twas a Girls Night Before Christmas at Proctor’s GE Theatre on 12/14! With such a wide variety of seasonal happenings around here, it’s fair to say we’re going to have the hap- hap- happiest Christmas since… well, you know the rest. Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals. We’ll see ya out there.

| savage love

turkey run

Dear Readers:

I’m off for Thanksgiving. I was to tempted to re-run “Thanks Again” (November 21, 2023) which has the single best Thanksgiving-related question that has ever appeared in an advice column — but I re-ran that column last year. So, instead I’m re-upping the column that appeared just before Thanksgiving in 2016.

Dan

I’m a very sex-positive girl and I finally convinced my boyfriend to open up about his fetishes. I could tell he was ashamed and torn about sharing them with me, but I’ve been with my fair share of guys and surfed the net for years, and I was convinced nothing could shock me. Well, it turns out he’s into soft vore. I’m not gonna lie, I was a bit put off at first, but of course I didn’t tell him. I started looking for information about his fetish, and it’s not as uncommon as I thought. I stumbled upon many websites for like-minded people, and my understanding of it is that vores really long for intimacy and protection. Is my interpretation correct? Also, after learning about it, I realized it’s less extreme than some of the stuff we usually engage in, like heavy BDSM, so I want him to feel fulfilled. Is there any way I can help him “act out” his fetish? He would like to be the eatee.

Fully Understanding Lover’s Longings

“Vore,” for readers who aren’t familiar with the term, refers to a range of kinks that involve the threat or reality of being eaten alive and/or eating another creature alive. Vore comes in “soft” and "hard” varieties, like other kinks, with soft vore involving fantasies of being swallowed whole and hard vore involving fantasies about the (imaginary!) ripping of flesh and the (simulated!) crunching of bones and shedding of blood.

Fantasies about creatures large enough to swallow a human whole and/or devour one in chunks are important to this kink, as a quick image search for “vore fetish” on Google proves. But since most vore fantasies involve creatures that qualify as fantastical beasts, i.e., large animals (kinkmegafauna) interested in swallowing humans whole, vore fetishists are limited to role play, although some have built their own creatures or sought employment at the Jim Henson Company and repurposed larger Muppets off the clock.

Before you can determine which way to go — assuming your boyfriend wants to “act out” his fantasies in the first place — you’ll need details, FULL. Is your boyfriend into the intimacy and protection aspects of vore? Does he want to be gently “held” in the mouth and only threatened with being eaten or does he want to be swallowed whole and slowly dissolve in something’s guts? Does bondage, i.e., being a bound sacrifice, play a role in his fantasies?

Learning more about what his fantasies look like — besides the whole being swallowed alive thing — is the first step.

Once you know exactly what turns him on, FULL, you can explore his kinks through role-play and dirty talk. Ramping things up slowly baby steps — is always a good idea with varsity-level kinks, so try sexting each other and/or creating dirty vore stories over e-mail or text. If your boyfriend wants to get physical, you can start with mouthy things like biting, licking, sucking, etc., combined with dirty talk about digesty things like chewing, swallowing, stomachs, etc.

If things go well, you bring his fantasies to life — or as near to life as possible —using props and costumes. Try zipping him up in a sleeping bag to simulate being in a stomach — filling it with a gooey liquid will make it feel more like the inside of some fantastical beast’s stomach — but be careful not to smother him. (Accidentally smothering to death is bad. #TheMoreYouKnow) You could also visit a place with isolation/floatation tanks together and pretend you’re trapped in the stomach of something or someone awful.

Finally, FULL, I want to commend you for not freaking out when your boyfriend shared his kink. You listened, you did a little research, you gave it some thought, and you reached out to me. For that, I’m upgrading your GGG card to platinum.

by Dan Savage

Any advice for a first-time sex-toy buyer? I’m looking into vibrators, but I don’t want to spend a bunch of money on something that doesn’t do it for me.

Very Into Buying Electronics

“VIBE should go to a sex shop in person so she can physically pick up and turn on the models she’s considering buying,” said Erika Moen. “If possible, go to a shop that advertises itself with any of the following words: feminist, queer, LGBTQ+, sex-positive, womanfriendly, trans-friendly, or inclusive, as these places tend to be staffed by people who are passionate and genuinely invested in helping folks of all walks of life.”

Moen and her partner, Matthew Nolan, have been making the Oh Joy Sex Toy comic for three years, which combines reviews of sex toys with really awesome, hilarious, and inclusive sex ed. And Moen, who has personally tested hundreds of sex toys, wants you to rub one or two out before you go shopping.

“VIBE should pay attention to the kind of action that feels good or gets her off,” said Moen. “Does your clit like super-direct focus? The smaller the head of the vibrator, the more laser-like the precision. Do you like lots of overall, engulfing stimulation that covers a lot of ground? The larger the head, the more surface area it’ll cover, and the vibrations will be more generally distributed across the entire vulva, from outer labia to clit.”

For best results, Moen recommends buying two toys, VIBE, if you can swing the expense.

“Get a generic bullet vibe first,” said Moen. “They’re about $15 to $20 — it’s a model that has a control box you hold in one hand and a cord that connects to a simple vibrating egg shape that you hold in your masturbating hand. Try it out at home, and then based on how you did or did not enjoy it, purchase a more expensive, high-quality model ($60 to $120) based on the kind of vibrational stimulation you learned you want from that first cheaply made model. Personally, I recommend the Minna Limon and Vibratex’s Mystic Wand for smallersized, decently powered vibrators. And then the big guns that’ll blast you to the moon and back are the Doxy and Vibratex’s Magic Wand (formerly known as the Hitachi Magic Wand). Best of luck to you!”

Follow Moen on Instagram and Threads @FuckYeahErikaMoen.

A friend and I want to go to the inauguration in January with the intention of standing with our backs to the ceremony as a peaceful protest statement. A handful of people doing this won’t say much, but if hundreds/thousands of people did this, it could send a message to the world that the majority of us did not vote for him and are not supporting his hate. Do you feel this would be a worthwhile action to try to organize (along with giving money and time to organizations that support social justice), and if so, would you give voice to this idea to your readers/ listeners?

Peaceful Protester

I’m torn.

On the one hand, we need to stand

against Trump. Like his campaign, his nomination, and his election, his impending inauguration is an outrage. On the other hand, flying is expensive and lodging in DC isn't cheap, PP, and our money could be better spent. Going to DC to turn your back on Trump as he’s being sworn in doesn’t preclude making a donation to the Chosen Family Law Center (chosenfamilylawcenter.org) or the National Center for Lesbian Rights (nclrights.org) or the International Refugee Assistance Project (refugeerights.org), of course, and symbolic acts of resistance — demonstrations, zaps, protests — often inspire people to engage in additional and more practical acts of resistance (donating money, monkey-wrenching discriminatory "registries," urging local elected officials to not cooperate with antiimmigrant campaign).

But if heading to DC to protest on Inauguration Day feels right and necessary, you have my full support — so long as that’s not the last thing you do or the only thing you do. But me? I'm going to spend the day making donations, baking cakes, and sucking cocks.

Dear Readers: I hope everyone has a lovely Thanksgiving — you deserve one — and I’ll be back at you next [month] with a brand new column. — Dan

Got problems? Yes, you do! Email your question for the column to mailbox@savage.love!

Or record your question for the Savage Lovecast at savage.love/ askdan! Podcasts, columns and more at Savage.Love

| art murmur

by Tony Iadicicco

Aztec Glyph for Time, glass and a noble gas by Cris Ortiz @authenticneonart and @cristheneonartist

Mother's Cry, oil and mix media, 50x52" by Dorothea Osborn @dorotheaosborn_artist

Rear view, various fabrics10x20", x 6 panels by Dorothea Osborn @dorotheaosborn_artist

Forsythia Branches, sumi and ink made from journal ashes on cotton muslin, two panels 17x35" by Hayden @paper_and_cotton

The First Flowers from Jude, Bittercress, watercolor in earl grey water on cotton paper, 3.5x6" by Hayden @paper_and_cotton

The Thorns Of Plastic Roses, mixed media 30x40" by Alex Waters @alex_h2o

Join us between 12/14 and 12/20 for The Transformation Project Exhibition, a powerful showcase highlighting the resilience, creativity, and stories of individuals impacted by Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Now in its second year, this exhibition presents a collection of visual art, written pieces, and music from community members who responded to an open call for submissions, as well as works developed during the Transformation Project workshops. Curated by Frida Foberg and members of the collaborating organizations, this exhibition aims to break down stigma, foster understanding, and promote hope and recovery. Come and witness stories of hardship, strength, and renewal, as the exhibition sheds light on the individual and shared journeys toward recovery and resilience.

Please be aware that some of the content might be triggering.

Experience firsthand the diverse and heartfelt

expressions of those navigating SUD, and see how art serves as a conduit for healing, connection, and community support. The event is a collaborative effort involving the NOpiates Committee, Arts Letters & Numbers, Sand Lake Center for the Arts, and the Rensselaer County Mental Health-Student Assistance Program.

Exhibition details are as follows: Opening Reception: December 14, 2024, 3-6 PM

Exhibition Hours: December 15-17, 2024, 3-6 PM

By Appointment Only: December 18-20, 2024

Location:

Arts Letters & Numbers 1548 Burden Lake Rd, Averill Park, NY

The Circus Comes at Night, digital illustration, 33x22" by Quill Harrison @september_colors

The Circus Comes at Night, digital illustration, 33x22" by Quill Harrison @september_colors

The Circus Comes at Night, digital illustration, 33x22" by Quill Harrison @september_colors

| theater

i can’t, i have rehearsal

It’s not really a coincidence that both times Trump was elected president, I was in rehearsal. What’s a little crazy is that I was in rehearsal with the same person both times, Jen Van Iderstyne, who I’m currently loving up on stage in A Moon for the Misbegotten at Schenectady Civic Players.

The first time he was elected we were doing a British sex farce, Out of Order, by Ray Cooney at the old Curtain Call Theatre which had nothing on its mind but double entendres, exposed adulteries and body parts, and escalating panic (although it did have British politicians in its cast list). We went home from rehearsal almost giddy to watch the returns which would certainly proclaim Hillary the first female president. After my partner Chris and I threw our television out the morning of 11/9/2016, we showed up in rehearsal crestfallen and in no mood to prance around and grab each other’s body parts. It felt like we were doing exactly what we shouldn’t be: producing escapist, feather-brain fluff and this one had an unfortunate leering mentality.

We opened the show and were met with the loudest, most outrageous, almost violent laughter I had ever witnessed in a theatre, whether I was onstage or in the audience. There were gale force laughs projected back at us onstage; we had to pause numerous times and the length of the laughter certainly extended the run times on Saturday nights. The audience needed to purge itself, and the laughter was expelling anxiety, fear and dread.

This year, Jen and I are in rehearsal for the aforementioned A Moon for the Misbegotten, Eugene O’Neill’s masterpiece wish fulfillment written as a benediction and salve for his older brother Jim who drank himself to death at the age of 43. And what system of government could be more badly designed or conceived (the definition of misbegotten) than America’s with its impending new cabinet filled with sex offenders and Fox news hosts?

Another production, Into the Breeches!, previewed the night after the 2024 election through my theatre company, Harbinger. The audience entered the theatre as if it were a wake. With Kamala’s loss, it seemed as if there was a death in the family. The play sees a woman take over her husband’s Shakespeare company while he’s off fighting the Axis and carry on with a production of Henry V cast all with women. The production was greeted warmly and gratefully. One of my best friends Kathleen Carey said, “There were lots of much needed laughs from this talented cast but more importantly, this is a play and production needed for this time, right now, when much of America has continued to remind us that they consider women as less than.”

by Patrick White

Two elections, two or three disparate productions. Do you offer an escape, a meditation or a direct rebuke? One thing seems incontrovertible, at this time of national peril: art is essential. The last time I threw out the television. What do I throw out this time? I will tell you that I have not read an op-ed article since 11/5 and have avoided everything but the headlines of the incoming administration. The one thing I will not throw out is theatre. I took on the massive role of Jim Tyrone despite producing Into the Breeches! and the cast party to benefit the Capital Region Festival of Theatre because it was critical to my well-being as an artist. You can’t be a sentient theatre maker and let that opportunity go by.

A friend messaged me after the election that we ought to organize a night of agit-prop theatre in opposition to Trump and it struck me as “so 2016,” pink pussy-hat marching and “Resist” and all that. We had a direct response with Into the Breeches! the night after. We don’t have to concoct something; we are in the theatre every night and if we are not directly responding to the right wing (this has never been a conversation or consensus building), we are holding on to our sanity and creating the world we want to live and engage with in our theatres with our collaborators and audiences.

I think of a third election, Obama’s in 2008, which buoyed me and gave me a second chance at a

life in the arts. It gave me hope. If America can elect a Black man president, surely, I can create a vital, engaged, committed life in the theatre, even in Albany. Since then, I have started teaching privately, directed three dozen productions, written hundreds of reviews, started a podcast which is going strong in its second year, founded a theatre festival to celebrate and promote all the dramatic arts in the Capital Region and created Harbinger, a theatre company that has produced 14 Capital Region premieres and worked with 90 different actors for thousands and thousands of audience members all within the last three years.

Fill the theatres, concert halls, museums and libraries with your dedication and commitment to a better world that was promised to us. The better angels of our nature are working it out with a piece of art. As Carrie Fisher said, “Take your broken heart and turn it into art.”

25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee delights local theatre audience by Jess Hoffman | review

I’m a resident of the Pine Hills neighborhood and a local theatre aficionado to boot, yet I’m ashamed to say I often forget about Steamer No. 10, the little firehouse-turnedtheatre right in my neighborhood. I saw a few shows at Steamer No. 10 as a child, but as immersed in the local theatre scene as I have been as an adult, I have hardly set foot in the venue since. I recently went to see The 25th Annual Putnam

actors singing sentimental songs about life, school, and a spelling bee. In reality, it was a production of adult actors playing tweens and teens, singing songs about adolescent life that are much more geared toward adult audiences than children. One particularly enjoyable number about an unfortunatelytimed erection, performed with an appropriate combination of embarrassment and rage by Will Whisenhunt, perfectly illustrated the somewhat heartfelt, somewhat irreverent, totally hilarious tone of this show.

County Spelling Bee – the first show of their 2024-2025 season – and was reminded of just what a gem Steamer No. 10 is.

When I first saw the title, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, it conjured up the image of enthusiastic but unhoned child

Photo credit: Kiki Vassilakis

The spellers are misfit kids with anxieties and insecurities aplenty, the hosts of the bee are imperfect adults with issues of their own, and an ex-con doing required community service (played by James W. Alexander) acts as a “comfort counselor,” handing out juice boxes and awkward hugs to

contestants who are eliminated. Also included in the overall stellar cast was Amy Sarah LaMena, who begins the show with a dazzling smile and charisma that lights up the stage as the spelling bee host, Rona Lisa Peretti. She was joined by the hilariously surly Vice Principal Douglas Panch, played by Terry Peterson.

characters. (Livia Walker and Caleigh Hogan were especially adept at embodying the youth of their characters.) This show also pulls volunteer spelling bee contestants from the audience, and I was impressed by how well the actors played off the audience volunteers. Among the cast and crew, there are many who were either theatre novices or returning

If adults playing tweens sounds silly to you, rest assured it absolutely was. But with an expert combination of costuming (by Viviane Galloway), hair and make-up (by Jennifer Canale), plus the exceptional talent of the actors, the cast expertly portrayed the adolescent spelling bee contestants and the adult

to theatre after a long hiatus. Such variation in experience can be challenging for a production, but is also what community theatre (emphasis on “community”) is all about! All in all, Steamer No. 10’s first show of the season took on a delightful but challenging production and it more than paid off!

The experience at Steamer No. 10 Theatre left me wondering what “the little theatre that could” has planned for the future. In addition to upcoming productions of The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon, A Wrinkle in Time, and Carrie: the Musical, Steamer No. 10 has a new executive director. Eleah Jayne Peal recently took on the role, and says that her primary goal as executive director is “to unite and engage

our Capital Region community of theatre goers and theatre makers alike.” Peal is dedicated to spreading love and excitement for theatre arts throughout the Capital District. She also has a focus on education, and is committed to teaching students of theatre to experiment and take risks, maintaining Steamer No. 10 as a “place where students can be themselves, learn, and thrive. Where they are free to ask questions

and find solutions to the challenges presented, without fear of failure.”

So whether you’re a theatre novice, a veteran, or an experienced thespian looking to break a hiatus from theatre, I encourage you to keep Steamer No. 10 in the back of your head when seeking opportunities to enjoy a play or get involved in local community theatre.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee played its last performance on November 17th, but there will be plenty of future opportunities to visit Steamer No. 10 and enjoy what this local theatre has to offer! You can learn more about Steamer No. 10 and view their upcoming events at https:// steamer10.org.

| comedy events

does anybody remember laughter? by Ryan Shanahan

Have global politics and seasonal affective disorder got you feeling blue? Well, you’re in luck!

The Capital Region is host to a thriving stand-up comedy scene and this year is gearing up to end in hilarious fashion. With events all over you’ll have plenty of opportunity to let your hair (and guard) down with shows through the New Year from the area’s funniest comics!

Friday, November 29

Capital City Laughs Presents: Mike Recine

Van Dyck Music Club

237 Union Street, Schenectady

Doors open at 7 PM, Showtime 8 PM $20 online at Eventbrite.com, $25 at the door

Wednesday, December 4th

Women Aren’t Funny: Kaneez Surka

With Kailey Stafford and Erin Harkes

25 Washington St, Saratoga Springs

Doors open at 7 PM, Showtime 7:30 PM

$18 advance, $25 day of show

Thursday, December 5

Derek Humphrey, Jess Levin, Cody Montanye, and Padrick Smith

Locomotions Sports Bar and Grill

136 Railroad Ave., Cobleskill

Showtime 8 PM Free Event

Saturday, December 7

Sweating The Petty (Or Other Working Titles): Adventures In Internet

Scambaiting Book Release Show

Mojo’s Cafe and Gallery

147 4th Street Troy

Doors open at 7 PM, Showtime 7:30 PM

Tickets available at Eventbrite.com, $20 at the door

Friday, December 13

The Albany Funny Bone Presents: Ms. Pat Crossgates Mall,1 Crossgates Mall Road Albany

Shows at 7 PM and 9:30 PM

GA and VIP tickets available at Etix.com

Saturday, December 14

Tommy McClellan’s World Class: An Evening of Stand-Up Comedy

The Glove Theatre

40 North Main Street, Gloversville

Showtime 7PM

GA and Premium Table seating available at www.ticketstripe.com/ tommysBack

Monday, December 16

Hand Crafted Comedy

Stacks Espresso Bar

13 3rd Troy, NY

Doors open at 6 PM, Showtime 7 PM Free event

Saturday, December 21

Comedy with Twon Wood, Padrick Smith, Elizabeth Becz, Dylan Rees, and Craig Nesler

Rug City Bar and Lounge

14 1/2 East Main Street FL2, Amsterdam

Showtime 8 PM

$10 at the door

Ever considered trying stand-up comedy for yourself? You’re in luck all over again! Comedy open mics are held weekly at area venues, providing upand-coming comics multiple nights to practice in front of real audiences. Follow @AlbanyComedy on Instagram for a full schedule of open mics near you and stay up to date with comedy shows all year round!

a modest proposal by jonathan swift by Ryan Shanahan | comedy

The Catalonia region of Spain has been a cultural hotbed for art, architecture, literature, music, and beyond. But for all its varied avenues of human expression, none has struck me as so unique, so singularly Catalonian as the Muixeranga. Performed annually on the feast day of Our Lady of Health, the Muixeranga showcases ancient street dances and human pyramids, or castells. In 2015, an event was held which hosted 99 castell teams, one in particular setting the world record for tallest human tower ever constructed. Consisting of ten levels with four people in each level, that record remains unbroken to this day. Imagine, if their powers combined…

For the purpose of this article I have invented a problem that exists between the three major cities of the Capital Region: Albany, Schenectady, and Troy. That problem being, we have been at war since time immemorial over which city is the best. Is there any truth to this claim? Who’s to say. But I’ve written it down, and now you’re reading it. We can vie for the top seat by way of community action, entertainment, or food. We can bicker over whose roads are the least maintained or which politician is most unhinged. But these arguments do nothing in the way of tangibly displaying which city is number one. I have given less thought to what I am about to suggest than I have to deciding my dinner tonight, but I can promise you, dear reader, that it cannot fail.

To solve this regional problem, we must apply an American solution: we have to steal that tower idea from the Spanish and form Meat Voltrons. Three Meat Voltrons, to be specific.

One by one, and perhaps with some light scaffolding, the citizens of each respective city climb on top of each other until they’re crazy tall and do a fight. That’s it! You might be asking yourself, “is it really that simple?” Well, was it really that simple for Godzilla to fight a whole bunch of skyscrapers and tanks and stuff in the 1997 film Godzilla starring Matthew Brodrick? Because of how crazy tall he was? I think I’ve made my point.

When it comes to filling out the human figure, it will be the responsibility of each individual to set their differences and ego aside and delegate based on their abilities. Perhaps the Albany Allstars roller derby team could be The Legs. Maybe the Santa Speedo Sprinters see themselves as The Pants. However it’s decided, one thing everyone can agree on is that the honor of being The Head should go to the children; they are the lightest. (Everyone involved will be assigned Butt duty on a rotating basis, just to keep it fair.)

Once assembly is complete the battle will commence! Enemies will be made, alliances may form, but only one can be crowned the winner. As well, only one can actually do the crowning. It couldn’t be either of the losing contenders,

that would be humiliating. And it can’t be the winner. No, it has to be someone willing to sit out the entire contest. An impartial fourth party… And since no one else has chimed in to this article I suppose I should just bite the bullet and nominate myself. A generous offer, if you ask me.

Comic by: Jaye McBride

Comic by: Danatoon

| the metro poem

Greetings!

poetry in the capital region by R.M. Engelhardt

Emerge Gallery

~ for Robert Langdon

Welcome To The Metro Poem.

This place will be a new and unique forum for poets, poetry & the spoken word here in the Capital Region poetry scene, including open mics, new voices, old voices, new books and interviews with area writers about their lives and their work. We are very excited to be a part of the new Metroland Now that is going to be an amazing influence on the Upstate New York literary, music and arts communities.

Before we begin, introductions are in order. My name is R.M. Engelhardt, a poet myself and I've been a part of this great and legendary literary scene on and off for almost 30 years since the early 1990s curating poetry open mics, shows and benefits like so many other scribes locally keeping the spoken word alive. There are older and younger writers here and we all have our stories to tell from different places, times, backgrounds, writing forms and styles. And it's always been my belief and sole idealism that “Poetry is For Everyone” and that there are no rules, no degrees and no holds barred on what makes art or poetry possible. Poetry is a sonnet. Poetry is free verse. Poetry is pure creativity & resistance. And poetry is still what makes beauty and the ordinary possible. Back in the early 2000’s I wrote a column for the last incarnation of Metroland and did my best to help bring attention to events and the work of local writers by providing a place for their poetry submissions and the listings of their events.

I hope to do the same for other writers and poets here. The door has literally been reopened. Thanks Erin Harkes.

So… Local poet? Local writer? Got an event that you want to put the word out about? A new book on the horizon? Interested in finding out more about local Albany area readings or submitting your work? Maybe even perhaps writing an article or two?

Send an email to me at rm@themetroland.com

Best,

R.M. Engelhardt

Empire’s last hurrah lost in the paint. Art Manifestos of the past now read like gibberish. Entire knowledge systems gone in a few brushstrokes. Reality eating itself into abstraction to be beautiful again. Great revolutions dead in museums. New revolutions Evolving into sights & sounds faster than theories.

Galleries guarantee nothing but friendship. All we can do, such weak creatures of flesh & blood: Laugh & lament & Laugh again & lunge after Every last chance to be sparklers, burning & Ready with a brush to paint ourselves a new day, Yellow & blue & yelling a fresh mess on the canvas.

~ Will Nixon

Will Nixon is the author of the poetry collections, My Late Mother as a Ruffed Grouse and Love in the City of Grudges. With Michael Perkins, he is the co-author of Walking Woodstock: Journeys into the Wild Heart of America’s Most Famous Small Town. He has also written “The Pocket Guide to Woodstock.” He now lives in Kingston, NY.

*Poem courtesy of The Hudson Valley Writers Guild. https://hvwg.org

| horoscope

by Isavella Vassilakis

Isavella Vassilakis is an astrologer based in the Capital District, the founder of First House Rising Astrology, and co-creator of Planetarium, a monthly astrology themed dance party. You can find Izzy on Instagram at @firsthouserisingastrology.

For the greatest accuracy, your horoscopes are written with your rising sign in mind. That’s how astrologers know which life area the planets are affecting! If you don’t know your rising sign, you can easily find it online. Read for both your rising and sun sign to see which horoscopes ring true!

Sagittarius: November 23–December 21

Relationships have been a major focus for a while now — in fact, you’ve likely experienced many fated connections over the last year or so. (And not just romantic ones, but close one-on-one connections of all kinds, including business partnerships!) You’re also fresh off a personal Venus transit where the planet of love and beauty graced all aspects of your life for a few short weeks (not without caveats, however), but now Venus is cruising through your 2nd house of money and personal resources, so your focus has shifted towards ensuring you can support your freewheeling, spontaneous lifestyle. Home and family have been feeling some kind of crunch, whether it’s shifting family dynamics or a resource-sucking fixer-upper of a house, but these two major life areas (relationships +

home/family) have been quite BIG lately. And (cuz why not) December blows in with even more big transits for you freedom-loving archers!

The Sagittarius New Moon on the

you’re listening to your passions, they will inevitably point you in a direction. Of course, Saturn wants you to remember that the solid, lasting things you’ve built shouldn’t

1st will help clarify some, let’s just say, questions you might have at this point re: who are you really? Like, who are you right now, after all this recent personal evolution? And what’s next?!! The New Moon, plus the ongoing Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius, plus a Mercury cazimi also in Sagittarius, makes the entire first week of December a very youcentric time. These “questions” (confusion, doubts, concerns, etc) have arisen organically, so try to address them in kind! You’re a fiery go-with-the-flow type, so let the path open up before you. If

simply be scattered to the wind on a whim, so the challenge will be upholding the life you’ve built while still honoring your truest self.

That New Moon promises a fresh start, so listen to your intuition early on, because on December 6th , Mercury will meet up with the Sun in a rare cazimi moment. At this time, the planet of the mind will receive revitalizing Solar illumination for just a few moments in order to soak up its rays of clarity and guidance. And once Mercury stations direct on the 15th , things will start moving

forward again in general. That same day brings a Full Moon in Gemini that will reinforce all you’ve learned about partnerships; its bright light may offer further clarity and solidify your path. These are the big stories for you this month, Sagittarius, but there are two other side plots. Side Plot A: if finances have been an issue for forever, you’ll soon be able to slowly reverse that trend. Pluto has finally left your money sector (after living there for 13 years), and the end of the month brings a lovely Capricorn New Moon that will help you set new intentions — and grant the willpower to stick to them. Side Plot B: change is coming to the part of your chart that deals with siblings, writing, communication, and tech, so watch out for December 7th as Venus moves into Aquarius to bless those subjects, but only after she meets up with Pluto for a dark tryst. Power imbalances, secrets, dark thoughts, obsession — these are all Plutonian territory, and since this life area is due for major transformation over the next two decades, this day could set the tone. Happy December!

FOR MORE GO TO themetroland. com/horoscopes\

| night & day

|art

now – 12/31/24

The Albany Institute of History & Art

People of the Waters That Are Never Still: A Celebration of Mohican Art and Culture

now – 12/31/24

The Albany Institute of History & Art Delights of the Senses: Seventeenth-Century Dutch Art and Life, Featuring Paintings from The Leiden Collection

now – 12/14/24

The Printmakers Guild of NY (PGNY) 2024 Printmakers Showcase Exhibition

now – 12/7/24

Opalka Gallery

The Voracious Eye

now – 1/13/25

New York Folklore Society

The Yellow Mountains (Huang Shan) of Anhui Province

11/27/24 – 12/15/24

The Courthouse Gallery

Ali Herrmann Cosmic Landscape

11/29/24

J. Gernon Frame & Art

2nd Annual Winter Salon

11/30/24

Nine Pin Holiday Makers Market

12/3/24 – 12/29/24

Colonie Art League

Colonie Art League Annual Holiday Show

12/5/24

The Arts Center of the Capital Region ART OF

12/6/24

First Presbyterian Church of Albany Concert and Handmade Holiday Market Place

12/6/24

Albany Barn Gifted

12/6/24 – 12/20/24

The Hallway at Second Street Studios Holiday Show Extravaganza

12/6/24 – 1/11/25

Albany Center Gallery Members’ Show

12/6/24

Albany Barn

Metamorphosis Exhibit

12/7/24 – 1/4/25

Spring Street Gallery

Abstract Space

12/14/24 – 12/17/24

Arts Letters & Numbers Transformation Project Exhibition

12/14/24

The Laffer Galler

Upstate Artists

12/20/24 – 1/18/24

Bear and Bird Boutique + Gallery

Chroma Comfort: A Cozy Art Collection

12/21/24

A Big Gay Market

A Little Gay Holiday Pop-Up Market

12/27/24 – 12/8/24

The Laffer Gallery DUALITY

|theater

11/22/24 – 12/22/24

Capital Repertory Theatre

A Sherlock Carol

11/22/24 – 12/7/24

Skidmore College Theatre

Black Super Hero Magic Mama

11/30/24 – 11/30/24

MOPCO Theater on Jay Street Spontaneous Broadway

12/1/24 – 12/1/24

Caffe Lena Playwright’s Jam

12/4/24 – 12/15/24

Theatre Institute at Sage

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical

12/3/24 – 12/8/24

Proctors Theatre

MJ

12/5/24 – 12/22/24

Curtain Call Theatre

A Christmas Carol

12/6/24

Mopco Theatre

Weeb Wars: Anime Game Show

12/6/24 – 12/22/24

Albany Civic Theater On Golden Pond

12/7/24

Two of Us Productions

A Christmas Carol

12/7/24 – 12/23/24

Yankee Trails

Santa’s Magical Express

12/7/24 – 12/22/24

Cohoes Music Hall

A Christmas Story: The Musical

12/7/24 – 12/8/24

Universal Preservation Hall

Schenectedy-Saratogy Symphony Orchestra Poinsettia Pops

12/8/24 – 12/9/24

Troy Foundry Theatre

A Christmas Carol

12/8/24

Charles Wood Theater

Anthony Nunziata’s My Italian Christmas

12/12/24 – 12/15/24

Colonial Little Theatre

A Christmas Carol

12/13/24 – 12/15/24

Fort Salem Theatre

Snow Business

12/13/24 – 12/15/24

Home Made Theater

Holiday Cabaret

12/13/24 – 12/15/24

R’ville Stage Creations

It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play

12/14/24 – 12/16/24

Proctors Theatre

Northeast Ballet’s Annual The Nutcracker

12/15/24

Valatie Community Theatre

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

12/16/24

Capital Repertory Theatre

A Christmas Carol

12/22/24

Charles Wood Theater

A ‘Classic’ Christmas with Lee & Friends

12/13/24

The Arts Center of the Capital Region Land of Tease - A Nutcracker Burlesque

12/15/24

Bridge Street Theatre

The Singing Anchors Holiday Reunion

12/31/24

Capital Repertory Theatre

Opal Essence’s New Year’s Eve Dragtacular

|poetry

12/6/24

Cafe Euphoria Open Mic & Poetry Slam

12/8/24

Collar City Mushrooms

Second Sunday Poetry and Prose Open Mic

12/9/24

Schenectady Public Library Poets’ Circle Open Mic Event

12/10/24

Electric Grinch

Jay Street Poets

12/11/24

Schuylerville Public Library Poetry Night

12/11/24

ONLINE

Poetry and Short Prose

12/18/24

Bull and Bee Meadery Poetry Open Mic for The Spoken Word

12/19/24

Social Justice Center

December Third Thursday

12/20/24

Cafe Euphoria Open Mic & Poetry Slam

12/26/24

Inquiring Minds Bookstore Open Mic Poetry Night

|music

518Craft

Caity Gallagher 12/6/2024, 8:00 AM

Albany Elks, 25 S Allen St, Albany, NY 12208

The Teresa Broadwell Quintet 12/6/2024, 7:00 PM

Artisanal Brew Works

Friday Night Music!

12/6/2024, 6:30 PM

Arts Center of the Capital Region Land of Tease - A Nutcracker Burlesque 12/13/2024, 7:30 PM

Backstreet BBQ

Dr. Dirty John Valby 11/30/2024, 8:00 PM

Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 85 Elm Ave., Delmar Albany Area Senior Orchestra 12/17/24, 2:00 PM

Caffè Lena

Frank Solivan and Jillian Lea 11/29/2024, 8:00 PM

Arlen Roth Band 11/30/2024, 8:00 PM

Fred Small 12/1/2024, 7:00 PM

SIRSY 12/6/2024, 8:00 PM

SIRSY 12/7/2024, 8:00 PM

SIRSY 12/8/2024, 3:00 PM

Jazz at Caffé Lena: Chuck Lamb Trio Featured Artist TBA 12/10/2024, 7:00 PM

Cyrille Aimée 12/12/2024, 7:00 PM

The Empty Pockets Mistletunes Holiday Tour 12/13/2024, 8:00 PM

Peter Yarrow, of Peter, Paul & Mary, and Mustard’s Retreat 12/14/2024, 7:00 PM

Peter Yarrow, of Peter, Paul & Mary, and Mustard’s Retreat 12/15/2024, 3:00 PM

Rees Shad & The Conversations 12/20/2024, 7:00 PM

|music (cont'd)

Nefesh Mountain: The Love & Light Tour

12/21/2024, 8:00 PM

“A Joyful Noise!” Gospel Dinner led by soulist Garland Nelson

12/22/2024, 5:00 PM

Stephen Kellogg 12/27/2024, 5:00 PM

Stephen Kellogg 12/27/2024, 8:00 PM

New American Cuisine

12/28/2024, 4:00 PM

New American Cuisine 12/28/2024, 7:00 PM

Charles Wood Theater

Billy Gilman: Christmas & Hits

12/1/2024, 3:00 PM

Cohoes Music Hall

Start Making Sense: A Tribute To Talking Heads

12/29/2024, 7:30 PM

Colonie Central High School

Memorial Concert Band of Colonie presents A Holiday Spectacular

12/11/24, 7:30 PM

Dorn Space

Rustic Chill Christmas Special

12/14/2024, 7:00 AM

Emack & Bolio’s

Dan Bernstein

12/14/2024, 7:00 PM

Alan Goldberg

12/27/2024, 7:00 PM

Pearl

12/28/2024, 7:00 PM

Emmanuel Reformed Church Festival Celebration Choir and Capital Community Voices present a Season for Song 12/15/24, 3:00 PM

Empire Live

The Acacia Strain: Tune Low Die Slow Ho Ho!

12/6/2024, 12:45 PM

The Acacia Strain: Tune Low Die Slow Ho Ho!

12/7/2024, 1:00 PM

An Evening with Shakey Graves & Buffalo Hunt

12/11/2024, 8:00 PM

Zakk Sabbath: King of the Monstours 12/30/2024, 7:00 PM

Empire Underground

DeeJay Element presents An Underground Thanksgiving 11/27/2024, 8:00 PM

He$h: Anarchy Tour

11/29/2024, 8:00 PM

Holiday Rhymes 11/30/2024, 7:30 PM

Anthony Green 12/5/2024, 7:30 PM

Mr Good Vybz presents An Evening with The Refrigerators

12/12/2024, 8:00 PM

Holiday Vibes Toy Drive

12/14/2024, 6:30 PM

Pathogenic 12/15/2024, 5:30 PM

Frog Alley Brewing

A Tribute To Taylor Swift 12/6/2024, 8:00 PM

Bryan Martin On Tour 12/14/2024, 7:00 PM

GE Theater

Hudson-Mohawk American Theatre Organ Society Free Concert 12/17/2024, 12:00 PM

GE Theatre at Proctors

Empire State Youth Orchestra: Percussion Ensembles Holiday Concert 12/22/24, 7:30 PM

Lark Hall

Lark Hall Presents The 4th Annual Last Waltz on Lark Street 11/27/2024, 8:00 PM

Lark Hall Presents Wolfman Jack 12/6/2024, 8:00 PM

Hartstone Productions and Lark Hall Present lespecial 12/7/24, 8:00 PM

The Rock & Roll Playhouse plays Music of Taylor Swift + More for Kids

12/15/2024, 12:00 PM

Lark Hall presents Steely Dead 12/27/2024, 8:00 PM

Memorial Chapel

Alexi Kenney, violin; Amy Yang, fortepiano 12/1/2024, 3:00 PM

Evren Ozel, piano 12/8/2024, 3:00 PM

The Octavo Singers Present: Handel’s Messiah 12/14/2024, 3:00 PM

Mt. Ida Preservation Hall

Eli Wallace, Bill Harris, Josh Berman and Ishmael Ali & special performance by Matt Weston

12/2/24, 7:30 PM

LUNA Presents: Michael Suddes 12/9/2024, 6:30 PM

MVP Arena

Ladies Love R&B 11/29/2024, 8:00 PM

Jeff Dunham Artificial Intelligence Tour

12/13/2024, 7:00 PM

Nanola

Twilight Drive at Nanola 12/13/2024, 8:00 PM

Niskayuna Reformed Church Empire State Youth Orchestra: Flute Choir Recital

12/9/24, 7:30 PM

No Fun

The Sugar Hold / Yort / Big Maybe 11/27/2024, 7:00 PM

Soul Blind / Godskin Peeler / Prize / Enemies At All Times / Evil Mind 11/29/2024, 7:00 PM

Tentacles / Death Island / Tyranize / Morticide 11/30/2024, 7:00 PM

Disintegration (members of Cloud Nothings) / Stroma / Nite Office 12/12/2024, 7:00 PM

Anime Rave

12/13/2024, 8:00 PM

No Fun’s 3rd Birthday Show: A Tribute to Lou Reed 12/14/2024, 7:00 PM

Pony in the Pancake Holiday Show w/ Los Espejos / Haley Moley / Electric Turtle / Cooper’s Hawk / Rabid Children / The A.M.’s / Huntress Wizard / Nathan Meltz 12/21/2024, 7:00 PM

Everybody That Loves You / Happy Birthday James / G.O.L.E.M. / No Coincidence 12/28/2024, 7:00 PM

Northway Brewing Josh West 11/29/2024, 5:30 PM

Brendan Dailey 12/6/2024, 5:30 PM

Caity Gallagher 12/29/24, 1:00 PM

Old Songs Community Art Center Windborne - Music of Midwinter 12/14/2024, 7:30 PM

Opalka Gallery Live music with Nancy Donnelly Duo. 12/6/24, 6:00 PM

Ophelia’s Hayley Jane Band 12/21/2024, 8:00 PM

Parting Glass Get Up Jack 11/30/2024, 7:00 PM

Prime At Saratoga National Rich Ortiz

12/5/2024, 6:00 PM

Tracey + Friends 12/6/2024, 6:00 PM

Rafa Picon 12/7/2024, 6:00 PM

Rich Ortiz 12/12/2024, 6:00 PM

Tracey + Friends 12/13/2024, 6:00 PM

Pat Decker

12/14/2024, 6:00 PM

Rich Ortiz 12/19/2024, 6:00 PM

Garland Nelson 12/20/2024, 6:00 PM

Pat Decker 12/21/2024, 6:00 PM

Rich Ortiz

12/26/2024, 6:00 PM

Maggie Doherty Duo 12/27/2024, 6:00 PM

Rafa Picon 12/28/2024, 6:00 PM

Proctors

Doc Horton and the Jay Street Band’s Motown and More Experience 12/1/2024, 7:00 PM

Twas a Girls Night Before Christmas 12/14/2024, 7:00 PM

Thorgy Does Christmas 12/20/2024, 7:30 PM

It’s a Jazzy Christmas 12/21/2024, 7:30 PM

Proctors GE Theater “It’s a Jazzy Christmas!” 12/21/24, 7:30 PM

Putnam Place Family Tree 12/2/2024, 7:00 PM

Schism: A Tribute to Tool 12/6/2024, 9:00 PM

The Warped Tour Band w/ Dookie, All The Blink Things 12/7/2024, 8:00 PM

Family Tree 12/9/2024, 7:00 PM

The Capital Region Give Back Fundraiser 12/11/2024, 6:00 PM

Mihalidaze (Mihali Live Band) 12/12/2024, 8:00 PM

Jocelyn & Chris Holiday Rock Riot 12/14/2024, 8:00 PM

Family Tree 12/16/2024, 7:00 PM

Family Tree 12/23/2024, 7:00 PM

Dogs in a Pile w/ Annie in the Water 12/28/2024, 9:00 PM

Dogs in a Pile w/ Consider the Source 12/29/2024, 8:00 PM

Dogs in a Pile w/ Hilltop 12/30/2024, 8:00 PM

Dogs in a Pile NYE Celebration 12/31/2024, 9:00 PM

Saratoga City Music Hall A Holiday Cabaret 12/6/2024, 7:00 PM

| night & day

|music (cont'd)

A Holiday Cabaret

12/7/2024, 7:00 PM

A Holiday Cabaret

12/8/2024, 2:00 PM

Saratoga Springs Public Library

Song Swap with Jeff Walton

12/16/2024, 7:00 PM

Saratoga Winery

Shine On

12/6/2024, 6:00 PM

Seth Warden

12/13/2024, 6:00 PM

Stef Solo

12/20/2024, 6:00 PM

Wreckless Duo 12/27/2024, 5:30 PM

SingleCut North

Six Mile Sundown

11/30/2024, 6:00 PM

Holiday Hootenanny Featuring: The Sugar Hold, ShortWave RadioBand, The Battenkillers

12/14/2024, 6:00 PM

Spa Little Theater

Damien Sneed: A Gospel Holiday

12/14/2024, 7:00 PM

VOCES8: Winter Tales

12/15/2024, 7:00 PM

Stella Pasta Bar & Bistro

Angelo Delaney Quartet

11/30/2024, 6:00 PM

The Art D’Echo Trio

12/7/2024, 6:00 PM

Jeanine Ouderkirk Trio 12/14/2024, 6:00 PM

Chad McLoughlin Trio 12/21/2024, 6:00 PM

Jenny Marie 12/28/2024, 6:00 PM

SUNY Schenectady Carl B Taylor Auditorium

Empire State Youth Orchestra: Wind Orchestra Holiday Concert 12/15/24, 3:00 PM

Empire State Youth Orchestra: Chamber Music & Fiddle Ensemble

12/15/24, 5:30 PM

Ten Broeck Mansion

Music in the Mansion: A Holiday Harp Concert at the Ten Broeck Mansion 12/7/2024, 11:00 AM

The Ale House

The Hammerhead Horns 12/7/2024, 8:00 PM

The Cock ‘n Bull

Keith Pray Trio 11/29/2024, 6:00 PM

Tony Trischka’s Holiday Show 12/10/2024, 7:00 PM

The Wynotte Sisters Christmas Show 12/12/2024, 7:00 PM

Drank the Gold 12/13/2024, 6:00 PM

The McKrells’ Christmas Show 12/18/2024, 7:00 PM

The McKrells’ Christmas Show 12/19/2024, 7:00 PM

“Christmas Spectacular” featuring Tim Wechgelaer, Chris Carey ‘n Drank the Gold 12/22/2024, 6:00 PM

Keith Pray Trio 12/27/2024, 6:00 PM

The Egg

The Egg & BenDeLaCreme Present: The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show 11/29/2024, 8:00 PM

Fearless: The Taylor Swift Experience 12/1/2024, 4:00 PM

Trevor Wallace and Michael Blaustein Present: Stiff Socks Live 12/2/2024, 8:00 PM

Screaming Orphans Christmas Show 12/7/2024, 7:00 PM

The Egg Presents: Family Circle #4 with Veena and Devesh Chandra 12/8/2024, 2:00 PM

Beatles VS. Stones: A Musical Showdown 12/11/2024, 7:30 PM

The McKrells Christmas 12/14/2024, 7:00 PM

The Egg Presents: Samara Joy; A Joyful Holiday (feat. The McLendon Family) 12/16/2024, 7:30 PM

The Grand Kyiv Ballet Presents: The Nutcracker 12/19/2024, 7:00 PM

The Grand Kyiv Ballet Presents: The Nutcracker 12/20/2024, 7:00 PM

The Eleven at Lark Hall

Sydney Worthley 11/30/2024, 6:00 PM

Jenna Nicholls

12/6/2024, 6:00 PM

Nickopotamus Birthday Show 12/7/2024, 6:00 PM

Jerry Garcia Brunch with Gratefully Yours Duo 12/8/2024, 12:00 PM

Capital Zen

12/13/2024, 7:00 PM

Stella Rose 12/14/2024, 3:00 PM

The Glove Theatre Home for the Holidays - Cabaret 11/29/2024, 7:00 PM

Home for the Holidays - Cabaret 11/30/2024, 2:00 PM

Home for the Holidays - Cabaret 11/30/2024, 7:00 PM

Home for the Holidays - Cabaret 12/1/2024, 2:00 PM

Caroga Lake Music Festival: A Very Vivaldi Christmas 12/5/2024, 7:00 PM

Tommy McClellan in “World Class”: An Evening of Stand-Up Comedy 12/14/2024, 7:00 PM

George Boone Blues Band 12/21/2024, 7:00 PM

Orange Velour 12/27/2024, 7:00 PM

Dead-Zep 12/28/2024, 7:00 PM

The Linda Live and Local at The Linda featuring The Belle Curves and Sabrina Trueheart 12/5/2024, 7:30 PM

Moondance - The Ultimate Van Morrison Tribute 12/6/2024, 8:00 PM

Antje Duvekot & Goodnight Moonshine Holiday Show 12/12/2024, 8:00 PM

Tony Trischka “of a winter’s night” 12/13/2024, 8:00 PM

Rochmon Record Club Listening Party 12/19/2024, 7:00 PM

David Bennett Cohen 12/21/2024, 8:00 PM

The Palace

The Rock Orchestra By Candlelight 12/2/2024, 8:00 PM

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet! 12/3/2024, 7:00 PM

Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening 12/4/2024, 8:00 PM

Circque Dreams Holidaze 12/5/2024, 7:00 PM

The Snow Queen 12/6/2024, 7:00 PM

Albany Symphony: Magic Of Christmas 12/8/2024, 3:00 PM

Sleeping Beauty 12/12/2024, 7:00 PM

Finding Christmas 12/15/2024, 2:00 PM

A Live Conversation With Chevy Chase 12/27/2024, 8:00 PM

Joe Gatto: Let’s Get Into It 12/29/2024, 7:00 PM

The Park Theater

Ethan Setiawan & Fine Ground w/s/g, Alan Epstein 12/5/24, 7:00 PM

Eric Carlin’s Half-Dead - An Authentic Grateful Dead concert Experience 12/7/24, 8:00 PM

New Year’s Eve Dinner & Comedy Show ft. Sean Donnelly 12/31/24, 8:00 PM

Comedy After Dark: Kevin McCaffrey 11/29/2024, 8:00 PM

The Strand Theatre E1 PRESENTS: KISSTORY - A Tribute to KISS 11/29/2024, 8:00 PM

4th Annual Strand Thanksgiving Spectacular 11/30/2024, 7:30 PM

Across The Pond - Beatles Tribute 12/6/2024, 7:30 PM

Rock This Town Orchestra 12/21/2024, 7:30 PM

The Waiting Room, Franklin Alley, Troy NY

Song City w/Nathan Meltz, Aila Chiar, Maurizio Russomanno, Luke Pascarella 12/10/2024, 7:30 PM

INK24 Live! 12/3/2024, 7:30 PM

theREP

Opal Essence’s New Year’s Eve Dragtacular! 12/31/2024, 8:00 PM

Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Gillian Welch & David Rawlings 11/27/2024, 7:30 PM

Alan Cumming Uncut 12/1/2024, 7:00 PM

Giggly Squad live: Club Giggly 12/4/2024, 7:30 PM (sold out), 9:30 PM

Eileen Ivers 12/6/2024, 7:30 PM

Boston Early Music Festival presents Telemann’s Don Quichotte 12/7/2024, 8:00 PM

Unihog

Bellas Bartok 11/30/2024, 8:00 PM

Taco Tuesday with Live Bait 12/10/2024, 7:00 PM

Neon Avenue 12/21/2024, 8:00 PM

UPH

Women Aren’t Funny 12/4/2024, 7:30 PM

Merry Swift-ness 12/6/2024, 7:30 PM

Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra Poinsettia Pops 12/7/2024, 7:00 PM

Code Groove

|music (cont'd)

Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra Poinsettia Pops

12/8/2024, 3:00 PM

It’s a Jazzy Christmas

12/20/2024, 7:30 PM

The Gibson Brothers Christmas Show 12/21/2024, 7:30 PM

Van Dyck Music Club

Angelina Valente & Friends present: “Holy Jazz, it’s a Funky Folkin’ Christmas Show!”

12/7/2024, 8:00 PM

HEADLINERS: Holiday Edition Drag Show

12/13/2024, 6:00 PM

Van Slycks at Rivers Whisper Band

12/4/2024, 2:00 PM

Beadle Brothers

12/6/2024, 8:00 PM

Country Weekends With Big Sky Country & DJ Kevin Richards

12/7/2024, 8:00 PM

Roadhouse 60’s

12/11/2024, 2:00 PM

Funk Evolution

12/13/2024, 9:00 PM

Wide Awake

12/14/2024, 9:00 PM

The Rogues

12/18/2024, 2:00 PM

New York Players 12/20/2024, 9:00 PM

12/21/2024, 9:00 PM

Carla Page

12/25/2024, 2:00 PM

Jukebox Rebellion 12/27/2024, 9:00 PM

Ten Most Wanted 12/28/2024, 9:00 PM

Grand Central Station

12/31/2024, 9:00 PM

Vapor Nightclub at Saratoga Casino

Skeeter Creek

12/6/2024, 8:00 PM

Big Sky Country

12/14/2024, 8:00 PM

Aquanett

12/20/2024, 8:00 PM

Ten Most Wanted

12/21/2024, 8:00 PM

The Refrigerators

12/27/2024, 8:00 PM

80s & 90s Party with DJ NPG 12/28/2024, 8:00 PM

New Year’s Celebrations with The Accents & Big Sky Country 12/31/2024, 8:30 PM

Wolf Hollow Brewing Company

Steve Oill

11/30/2024, 6:00 PM

Brother Junction 12/6/2024, 6:00 PM

Joann Sifo

12/14/2024, 6:00 PM

The Trojan Horns 12/28/2024, 6:00 PM |