Best of 2021: Steve Nover’s Top Concerts

If you go to concerts in the Capital Region you’ve seen Steve Nover. Not only is he an established percussionist, but he is also an avid concertgoer. You can usually find him by the stage, or just off the side, dancing. When I get to a venue and see Steve, I know I picked the best concert to go to that night. He must have an internal compass that leads him to the best live music the area has to offer. Here’s Steve’s list of the Top shows he went to this year. – Jim

Best National Concerts

1-King Crimson w/ The Zappa Band opening, SPAC, Saratoga Springs, August 23
2-The Flaming Lips w/ Particle Kid, Palace Theater Albany, November 13
3-Albert Cummings, Music Haven Central Park Schenectady, August 15
4-Freihofer’s Jazz Fest, SPAC; Joey Alexander, Dianne Reeves, Christian McBride’s New Jawn & The Hot Club Of Saratoga, Saratoga Springs, June 26
5-Joan Osborne w/ Madeleine Peyroux, Hart Theater, The Egg, Albany, September 9
6-Hot Tuna w/ The Midnight Ramble Band, The Hart Theater The Egg, Albany, December 1
7-David Bromberg Big Band w/ John Sebastian, Jimmy Vivino, Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams & Andy Falco opening, Hart Theater The Egg, Albany, December 4
8-Richard Thompson, Swyer Theater The Egg, Albany, December 5
9-Los Lobos, Hart Theater The Egg, Albany, September 26
10-The Legendary Wailers, Empire State Plaza, Albany, August 25
11-Pearlpalooza; Slothrust, Jocelyn & Chris, Glass Pony, Timbre Coup, Albany, September 18
12-Albert Cummings, Swyer Theater The Egg, Albany, December 11
13-Gogol Bordello, Empire Live, Albany, September 14
14-Bernstein, Goldings Stewart, Swyer Theater The Egg, Albany, September 17
15-Caroline Rose, Empire Live, Albany, October 21
16-Ginuwine, Empire State Plaza, Albany, August 5
17-Leo Kottke & Mike Gordon, Troy Music hall, Troy, December 15
18-Amy Helm w/ The Sea The Sea, Alive At 5, Albany rain site, July 14
19-Sarah Borges & The Broken Singles, The Hangar on the Hudson, August 21
20-Soule Monde w/ Victory Soul Orchestra, Alive At 5 rain site, Albany, July 7
21-Tuba Skinny, Lark Hall, Albany,
22-Claire Daly Quartet, Jazz On Jay, Schenectady, August 26

Best Local Concerts (which basically began in July)

1-Gringo Starr, The Hangar On The Hudson, Troy, November 6
2-Graham Tichy Band, Empire State Plaza, Albany, July 4
3-The Figgs, The Hangar On The Hudson, Troy, December 4
4-Natural Classics, Architrave & Alicetm, No Fun, Troy December 16
5-Super 400 & Wild Adriatic, Empire State Plaza Convention Hall, Albany, September 11
6- The Lustre Kings, Brunswick Community Center, Brunswick, September 7

I also saw two wonderful dance companies:

1-Rennie Harris Movement, Hart Theater The Egg, October 22
2-Pilobolus, Hart Theater The Egg, November 12