All Over Albany

Lewis Black at Troy Music Hall

Comedian Lewis Black will be back in town for a stand-up show at the Troy Music Hall March 16. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, October 26 -- they're $38 and up.

The promo blurbage for Black's tour -- "The Jokes On US Tour" -- touts "a cathartic release of anger and disillusionment for his audience."

Black has performed here a bunch of times, often at The Palace. This might be the first time his rants will enjoy the famed acoustics of the hall.

Troy Music Hall advertises on AOA.

Matisyahu at Troy Music Hall

Matsiyahu is set to play a show at the Troy Music Hall November 1. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Thursday, August 30 -- they're $29.50 and up.

Tour blurbage: "On this tour, he performs acoustic versions of his chart-topping songs, including two of his biggest hits, "King Without A Crown" and "One Day". ... Matisyahu presents his music in its most raw form, allowing his voice and beat-boxing, paired with inventive guitar arrangements, to expand through a lyrical intensity and musical improvisation. This format naturally digs deep into the meaning of the songs themselves, and lays Matisyahu's spiritual journey bare, fostering a closeness to the artist-fan relationship."

And, as you might remember, Matisyahu played Alive at Five this past June.

photo: Chris Townsend

Postmodern Jukebox back at Troy Music Hall

Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox is returning to the Troy Music Hall February 22. Tickets on on sale to the general public this Friday, August 17 -- they're $34.50 and up.

Postmodern Jukebox performs jazz/ragtime/swing covers of pop music. They've racked up about a billion views on Youtube, covering pop acts across all a bunch of genres.

The act has made multiple stops at the Troy Music Hall. That includes a show this past January ahead of which the group spent a few days rehearsing for a tour. And it was during that time the group recorded the video embedded above -- a jazzy cover of Paula Abdul's "Straight Up."

Troy Music Hall advertises on AOA.

Soweto Gospel Choir at Troy Music Hall

The Soweto Gospel Choir will be at the Troy Music Hall December 6 for a concert. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday (June 22) -- they're $25 and up. (There's also a $20 student ticket.)

Background on the group:

The multi Grammy Award winning Soweto Gospel Choir was formed in Soweto, South Africa, in 2002. The more than 30-member ensemble blends elements of African gospel, Negro spirituals, reggae and American popular music. The choir was formed to celebrate the unique and inspirational power of African Gospel music and draws on the best talent from the many churches in and around Soweto. The group sings in English and eight South African languages, including Xhosa, famous for its clicking sounds, and they are dedicated to sharing the joy of faith through music with audiences around the world.

Here's an NPR Tiny Desk concert with members of the choir from a few years back.

The show at the music hall is billed as "Songs of the Free - In Honor of Nelson Mandela's 100th Birthday."

Portland Cello Project: OK Computer at Troy Music Hall

The alt-classical group Portland Cello Project is set to play a show of Radiohead songs at the Troy Music Hall October 27. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Wednesday, April 18 -- they're $29 and up.

Show blurbage:

Portland's premiere alt-classical group brings a huge orchestral ensemble, including brass and percussion, to perform a night in homage to Radiohead. Patti King of The Shins joins them as a guest vocalist.

The first set of the evening is a selection of various Radiohead songs and the second set is, from start to finish, Radiohead's OK Computer album.

That clip embedded above is the group playing "Paranoid Android" last November.

1964
Also announced today for Troy Music Hall: The Beatles tribute act 1964 on September 27. Tickets go on sale to the general public Wednesday -- they're $29 and up.

Troy Music Hall advertises on AOA.

Josh Ritter at Troy Music Hall

Singer/songwriter Josh Ritter is set to play a show at the Troy Music Hall May 12. Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 16 -- they're $35 and $50.

The concert is being billed as a "special solo acoustic" show.

The last time Ritter was in town he played The Egg in 2016.

Bombay Rickey
Also recently announced for Troy Music Hall: Bombay Rickey on March 6. The group plays "both covers and original music that borrow equally from the worlds of surf rock, cumbia, spaghetti-Western, and Bollywood, balanced out with soaring operatic vocals."

Troy Music Hall advertises on AOA.

photo: Laura Wilson

Accordion Virtuosi of Russia at Troy Music Hall

The Accordion Virtuosi of Russia are lined up to play a show at the Troy Music Hall February 7. Tickets are currently on sale -- they're $29 and $34.

The group is essentially an orchestra in which most of the instruments are... accordions. We watched a few of the videos today -- because it's an orchestra mostly made up of accordions -- and it was a little bit of cheer on this gray, drippy January day.

The video clip embedded above is the group playing waltzes by Johann Strauss. The group is said to play everything from "folk music to arrangements of rock songs." (That first link includes more video clips.)

Troy Music Hall advertises on AOA.

Black Violin at Troy Music Hall

The duo Black Violin is set play a show at Troy Music Hall April 13. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, November 10 -- they're $29.50 and up.

Blurbage:

Black Violin is composed of classically trained violist and violinist Wil B. and Kev Marcus who combine their classical training and and hip-hop influences to create a distinctive multi-genre sound that is often described as "classical boom." The band released their major label debut Stereotypes (featuring Black Thought of The Roots and MC Pharoahe Monch) on Universal Music which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Classical Crossover Chart and #4 on the Billboard R&B Chart. Black Violin has shared stages with top names including Kayne West, Aerosmith and Tom Petty, and has creatively collaborated with the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, Wyclef Jean and Alicia Keys.

The two musicians played the Troy Music Hall last April (here's a review by Joseph Dalton). And they also played a sold-out "SPAC on Stage" show this past August.

Troy Music Hall advertises on AOA.

Tolkien & Lewis at Troy Music Hall

Not sure if this qualifies as possibly nerdy or geeky (maybe both!): A touring production called Tolkien & Lewis: Wardrobes, Rings & The Last Goodbye will be at Troy Music Hall this Sunday, October 8.

It's essentially an on-stage conversation between the two famous authors and colleagues. Blurbage:

Set in Oxford's celebrated Eagle & Child pub (where the two met many times over their 30 year friendship), the play focuses on an encounter that takes place following Lewis's recent heart attack. Tolkien, who suggested the meeting, is acutely aware that there may not be many more opportunities for these lifelong friends to get together.

As these two writers of fantasy reminisce they reveal the key events in their enduring friendship and the philosophy and aspirations that undergirded both their lives and their writings. Such revelations (interspersed with the humor they were renowned for) will at times, surprise the audience including their reaction to proposed movie versions of their books! They will also dispel some of the misconceptions that arise when people become legends in their own lifetime. It is not all harmony, however. They must deal events that caused cracks in their relationships and they do this with an honesty that not only exposes raw emotions but also lays the foundation for true reconciliation. Above all, this is a celebration of a friendship that did much to help them become two of the most successful authors of the 20th Century.

Maybe they'll talk about that time they went to go see Snow White together and then proceeded to rip on Walt Disney.

The show is at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $15 and up.

Troy Music Hall advertises on AOA.

Postmodern Jukebox back at Troy Music Hall

Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox is returning to the Troy Music Hall January 20. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, September 8 -- they're $29 and up.

Postmodern Jukebox performs jazz/ragtime/swing covers of pop music. They've racked up about a zillion views on Youtube, most recently of Taylor Swift, Fleetwood Mac, Avril Lavigne, Metallica, and film soundtracks.

The act played the Troy Music Hall in 2014, and was at SPAC this past summer.

Troy Music Hall advertises on AOA.

Puddles Pity Party, So Percussion, Time for Three at Troy Music Hall

Puddles

The Troy Music Hall recently announced a handful of upcoming concerts that are a little bit different...

November 10: Puddles Pity Party
The "sad clown with the golden voice." See his mashup of "Folsom Prison Blues" and "Pinball Wizard," (which has gotten 1.6 million views on Youtube) and his cover of "I Want You To Want Me." Because why not. He's also. performed with Modern Jukebox. Tickets are on sale now -- they're $29.50 and up.

November 15: Sō Percussion
A modern percussion ensemble that plays works from 20th century composers such as John Cage along with new works. Here's an NPR Tiny Desk concert they played. Tickets go on sale to the general public August 28 -- they're $29 and up.

February 15: Time For Three
A string trio -- two violinists and a bassist -- that plays classical music and covers of modern pop. See their cover of "Shake It Off." Tickets go on sale to the general public August 28 -- they're $34.

Troy Music Hall advertises on AOA.

Ray LaMontagne at Troy Music Hall

Singer/songwriter Ray LaMontagne is playing a show at the Troy Music Hall October 15. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, August 4 -- they're $55 and up.

Tour blurbage:

Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter Ray LaMontagne returns to the stage on his Just Passing Through acoustic tour. The tour marks the first acoustic tour for Ray in 5 years and will be highlighting songs from his vast and varying body of work. Joining Ray on the tour will be John Stirratt from Wilco on acoustic bass. The two will be playing songs spanning across Ray's albums including Trouble, Till The Sun Turns Black, Gossip in the Grain, God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise, Supernova and Ouroboros.

LaMontagne last made a stop through here at The Palace in 2014.

photo via Ray Lamontagne Facebook

Tape Face at Troy Music Hall

The Troy Music Hall announced a group of shows for its upcoming season today, and it includes the usual mix of concerts. And then there's Tape Face on October 12.

Tape Face is, um, a guy with tape over his mouth. And his act pretty clearly draws on mime, clowning, and prop comedy. He got a lot of attention last year for his performances on the TV show America's Got Talent, on which he made it to the finals.

Show blurbage: "So what does he do exactly? Well, simply mentioning any aspect of this diverse show would be a disservice - the less you know the more you will enjoy this show."

Tickets for the show go on sale to the general public this Friday, June 16 -- they're $27.

Here's the rest of the newly-announced shows...

(there's more)

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis at Troy Music Hall

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis will be at the Troy Music Hall October 7 for a show. Tickets go on sale the general public May 5 -- they're $49.50 and up.

Marsalis is, of course, jazz royalty. Blurbage about the orchestra:

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (JLCO) comprises 15 of the finest jazz soloists and ensemble players today. Led by Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center Managing and Artistic Director, this remarkably versatile orchestra performs a vast repertoire ranging from original compositions and Jazz at Lincoln Center-commissioned works to rare historic compositions and masterworks by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson, Thelonious Monk, Mary Lou Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Charles Mingus, and many others.

It's the first show of the 2017-2018 season at the music hall.

The Troy Music Hall advertises on AOA.

photo: Joe Martinez

Trey Anastasio at Troy Music Hall

Trey Anastasio is lined up to play a show at the Troy Music Hall March 10. Tickets go on sale this Friday, January 27 at noon -- they're $65 and up. (There's also a presale starting Wednesday.)

Anastasio is, of course, one of the founders of Phish. This show is billed as "an acoustic evening with" him.

We're guessing there's a good chance this sells out. So if you'd like to go, it's a good idea to get ticket sooner rather than later.

Troy Music Hall advertises on AOA.

Branford Marsalis + Kurt Elling at Troy Music Hall

Marsalis and Elling

The Branford Marsalis Quartet will be joined by Kurt Elling for a concert at the Troy Music Hall April 27. Tickets go on sale to the general public Monday, December 12 -- they're $29 and up.

Marsalis is, of course, a saxophonist, band leader, member of a royal family of jazz. And Elling is a Grammy-winning jazz vocalist. Show blurbage:

Energized by the artistic promise of this collaboration, the band members have all contributed new arrangements to perform with this special line-up and will be looking beyond the Great American Songbook. Although following the format of a standard jazz quartet with vocals, the collaboration between jazz's most intense band and one of jazz's foremost singer should prove to be anything but standard.

The show is part of the Troy Music Hall's 37th annual gala.

The Troy Music Hall advertises on AOA.

Troy Music Hall updated 2016-2017 slate includes San Fermin and Selected Shorts

Ellis Ludwig-Leone of San Fermin + NOW Ensemble

The Troy Music Hall announced the second half of its 2016-2017 season Tuesday. The lineup includes the chamber pop group San Fermin with NOW Ensemble, the public radio fave Selected Shorts, and the folk group The Wailin' Jennys.

A compressed schedule of the new shows is after the jump. (Next year's portion of the season schedule already had some announced shows, including Marc Maron on March 11.)

Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, October 21.

(there's more)

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at Troy Music Hall

Hey, daddy-o: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is set to play a show at the Troy Music Hall November 3. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday (August 5) -- they're $29 and $37.

The band rode that 90s swing revival wave -- they even played the Super Bowl halftime show in 1999 -- and then just kept on going. They've now been together 23 years and sold more than two million albums across 10 releases.

By the way: Swingers was released 20 years ago this October.

photo via Big Bad Voodoo Daddy FB page

Marc Maron at Troy Music Hall

Comedian Marc Maron will be at the Troy Music Hall October 14 for a stand-up show. Tickets go on sale the general public this Friday (July 22) -- they're $29 and $34.

Maron's been around for a long time, doing standup and appearing in various shows and movies. But in recent years he's probably most famous for his podcast, WTF with Marc Maron.

He made a stop at The Egg back in 2013.

Lyle Lovett + Robert Earl Keen at Troy Music Hall

Announced Tuesday: Lyle Lovett will be playing a show at the Troy Music Hall with Robert Earl Keen September 29. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday (June 24) -- they're $38 and up.

Lovett makes a stop in this area just about once a year or so and his shows seem to be popular. This time he's bringing along Keen, a Texas singer/songwriter and longtime friend. (They went to Texas A&M together.) They'll be performing together.

Also announced Tuesday: Big Head Todd and the Monsters will be at the Troy Music Hall November 16. They'll be performing the music of famed blues musician Willie Dixon with Mud Morganfield, Billy Branch, and Ronnie Baker Brooks. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday -- they're $36 and up.

Lake Street Dive at Troy Music Hall

The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall is continuing to fill out its fall schedule. The latest addition: Lake Street Dive on October 4. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday -- they're $30.

Lake Street Dive was recently through this area for a stop at Brewery Ommegang. They're touring in support of an album -- Side Pony -- released this past February. Album blurbage:

[A] side pony, for them, is really a metaphor for their philosophy and personality as a band, one that seamlessly incorporates R&B, pop, '60s-era rock, and soul into a unique, dance-party-ready mix. As bassist Bridget Kearney puts it, "When we were settling on the album title, that one just stuck out to us as embodying the band's spirit. We've always been this somewhat uncategorizable, weird, outlying genre-less band. That's the statement we wanted to make with this record: be yourself."

If you like Lake Street Dive... There's a good chance you also like Lucius. A reminder that group is at Upstate Concert Hall next Wednesday, June 22 with Margaret Glaspy.

photo: Danny Clinch

Vaud and the Villains at Troy Music Hall

The music act Vaud and the Villains -- a "19 piece 1930s New Orleans orchestra and cabaret show" -- is set to play a show at the Troy Music Hall September 23. Tickets go on sale to the general public May 23 -- they're $27.

We weren't familiar with the group before today's announcement, so we watched some clips on line. It sounds like a party.

The Troy Music Hall announced two more shows today:

+ Black Violin -- "blend of classical, hip-hop, rock, R&B, and bluegrass music" -- on October 6. Tickets are $20 and up.

+ Bluegrass act The Gibson Brothers on October 8. Tickets are $25 and up.

Troy Music Hall advertises on AOA.

photo: Jessica Verma Photography

David Cross at Troy Music Hall

Comedian/actor David Cross is set to make a stop at the Troy Music Hall March 20 for a stand-up show. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, January 8 -- they're $34 and $44.

Cross is famous for his role as Tobias Fünke on Arrested Development, and before that for his work on Mr. Show. He's also appeared in a bunch of other shows, movies, and music videos.

The tour bringing Cross to Troy as the "Making America Great Again!" tour.

The Troy Music Hall advertises on AOA.

Neko Case at Troy Music Hall

The Neko Case is set to play a show at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall March 5. Tickets go on sale to the general public December 21 -- they're $35 / $15 students. (And they're currently available to music hall members.)

Case's solo music is somewhere in the area of indie rock, alt-country, and folk rock. She recently released a new collection of her solor work -- Truckdriver, Gladiator, Mule -- on vinyl.

Also: We're reasonably certain Case is some of sort of superhero. Anyone with a voice like hers is either from Asgard or was bitten by a radioactive spider.

The Troy Music Hall advertises on AOA.

photo: Dennis Kleiman

The Punch Brothers at Troy Music Hall

Progressive bluegrass (plus other stuff) band The Punch Brothers is lined up for a show a the Troy Music Hall December 10. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday (September 25) -- they're $39 and $49.

The band's leader is Chris Thile, a mandolin virtuoso whose omnivorous blending of influences and styles (classical, jazz, indie rock and more) helped earn him a McArthur "genius" grant. And band is filled out with a team of accomplished musicians: Gabe Witcher (fiddle/violin), Noam Pikelny (banjo), Chris Eldridge, (guitar), and Paul Kowert (bass). Here's an NPR Tiny Desk concert from earlier this year.

(The Punch Brothers were one of the headliners for this past weekend's Fresh Grass festival at MASS MoCA. It's pretty clear they just can't stay away from this area. Understandable.)

The opener for the Troy Music Hall show is singer/songwriter Gabriel Kahane.

The Troy Music Hall advertises on AOA.

photo: Brantley Gutierrez