THE DOZEN: January’s Must-See Concerts

By Greg Haymes
Photograph by Tim Reidy

You could call it Best Bets, Prime Picks, Top Tips or whatever. We call it The Dozen, whereby we offer a monthly round-up of 12 (or so) of the shows around Greater Nippertown that have got us jazzed the most. Only one entry per venue. Of course, your results may vary, so please feel free to comment below and let us know what you think we missed or overlooked.

Here’s The Dozen for the month of January:

TONIGHT (FRIDAY, JANUARY 6): Alejandro Escovedo & the Burn Something Beautiful Band @ Club Helsinki, Hudson. In support of his excellent new album, Burn Something Beautiful, the Texas rocker/troubadour brings along an all-star band featuring Peter Buck of R.E.M., Scott McCaughey of Young Fresh Fellows, Kurt Block of Fastbacks and Linda Pitmon of the Baseball Project. With the Minus 5. 9pm. $25 & $30.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 12: Joe Barna & Sketches of Influence @ the Stockade Inn, Schenectady. The CD release celebration for Suite Lee: An Original Music Tribute To Pianist Lee Shaw. 7pm. FREE.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 12: Roosevelt Dime @ Parish Public House, Albany. Seamlessly combining the feel-good groove of classic R&B with acoustic Americana instrumentation, the Brooklyn quartet creates an infectious signature style and sound. With Milkweed. 8pm. $10 in advance; $12 at the door.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13: Sean Rowe @ the Hangar on the Hudson, Troy. It’s a homecoming concert for the rumbling Collar City songsmith-forager. 8pm. $20.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14: Phantogram @ Upstate Concert Hall, Clifton Park. Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter have come a long way since their days as Charlie Everywhere. Unfortunately their homecoming concert is officially sold out. With We Are Scientists. 7pm. $30.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20: The Lustre Kings @ McGeary’s Pub, Albany. Mark Gamsjager and his bandmates bring their annual Elvis Birthday Bash to McG’s with plenty of special guests. Do the Clam! 9pm.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21: Amy Helm @ the Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes. The second generation Americana artist from Woodstock returns to the recently renovated hall. With Eastbound Jesus. 8pm. $25, $30 & $35.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24: Kris Kristofferson @ The Egg’s Hart Theatre, Albany. The legendary singer-songwriter-actor (and more) performs his classics – “Me & Bobby McGee,” “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” “Help Me Make It Through the Night” and so many others. 7:30pm. $39.50, $49.50 & $62.50.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26: NOW Ensemble + San Fermin @ Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy. Composers Ellis Ludwig-Leone and Mark Dancigers collaborate on an evening of music performed by NOW Ensemble & members of the indie fave band San Fermin. This concert is only one of three that they will perform together. 7:30pm. $25.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26: Rubblebucket @ the Hollow Bar + Kitchen, Albany. After earning a batch of new fans opening for Lake Street Dive at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall last year, the band returns to the club scene in support of their new EP, If U C My Enemies. With Sam Evian. 9:30pm. $15 in advance; $18 at the door.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27: Joan Shelley @ The Linda, Albany. The acclaimed Kentucky singer-songwriter makes her Greater Nippertown debut in support of her latest single, “Cost of the Cold.” With Michael Eck. 8pm. $15.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27: Fabolous & Jadakiss @ Proctors, Schenectady. A rap show at Proctors? Is this a sign of the apocalypse? With Young M.A., Dave East and Phresher. 8pm. $49-$104.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28: Umphrey’s McGee @ the Palace Theatre, Albany. Serving up their sparkling musical hybrid sound, the jam-prog-metalesque band may be leaning a bit more than usual toward the jazz end of the spectrum with the addition of special guest, super saxman Joshua Redman. With Spafford. 7:30pm. $25, $27.50 & $29.50.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28: An Acoustic Evening with Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt @ the Calvin Theatre, Northampton. The two superlative singer-songwriters sit down for an intimate evening of songs, stories. 8pm. $49.50 & $65.50.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28: Celebrating the Legacy of Frank Jaklitsch @ Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs. We lost too many Greater Nippertown musicians during 2016, including singer-songwriter Frank Jaklitsch, who never turned down a request to play a benefit concert. At the Caffe, Good Things will be joined by many of Frank’s musical friends to raise funds for Shaker Veterinary Hospital’s Save-a-Pet Fund. 8pm. $18 in advance.