Real Good for Free: Charlie Watts Riots @ Albany Tulip Festival, 5/8/10

Charlie Watts Riots have been a buzz band ever since emerging on the Nippertown music scene two years ago. It’s another case of old faces-new band, and in this case, the chemistry combusted nicely.

Singer-guitarists Seth Powell and Brendan Pendergast joined forces with the rhythm section of bassist Mike Pauley and drummer Joe Putrock, and the band has been making big noise ever since – from Valentine’s to the Bread & Jam Cafe, from the WEXT studios to the sadly now-defunct Jason’s Upstairs Bar.

At 2:15pm, Charlie Watts Riots will likely be playing before their largest audience to date, as they take over the Lakehouse Amphitheater stage in Albany’s Washington Park for the annual Tulip Festival celebration.

CWR has something else up their collective sleeve as well. The band will also be celebrating the release of their debut CD, “Long Story Short.” Recorded at Soundcheck Republic in East Chatham, the collection of a dozen original tunes was produced by the band and mixed by Powell and Dominick Campana.

“As is the case with most first CDs, we were very eager to get something recorded and into people’s hands, but our schedules have afforded us the time to be a little more deliberate,” says Powell.

Hit the park on Saturday afternoon for a blast of CWR’s buzz-saw brand of distortion-driven power-pop, and then take some home with you, too. Here’s the full schedule of performances for the Tulip Festival on Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the Tulip Festival is, of course, free.