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When The 5.6.7.8's played The House of Blue Leaves in Quentin Tarantino's film Kill Bill, the evening culminated in an epic revenge-fueled battle involving swords and other…

Blame it on climate change or just great booking, but Troy, NY, was overtaken by some dangerous surf on Monday night.  Another killer line-up put together by the folks from…

Festival season is upon us. Locally, on the next three weekends, one could easily enjoy Farming Man, Nipperfest, and the Rye Bread Festival without traveling…

The last day of June brought the summer heat to Albany, enough to drive a music lover below ground into the cool concrete confines of Empire Underground: the venue that…

Trees need sunlight and water to thrive. Family Tree is no exception to this rule, so on Wednesday, the local supergroup uprooted from its usual free Monday night residency…

The reigning Queen of Burlesque, Dita Von Teese, who is often credited with re-popularizing the performance art form in the 90s, has said of burlesque, "It's about what you…

As spring slips into summer spectacular sounds can be sought out at several sensational seasonal showcases specially suited to spoil your senses both scenically and…

The hottest June 1st since 1918 didn't hinder the Hold on Honeys from handing over a heaping helping of heavenly harmonies to launch this year's Howlin' at the Moon Americana…

Words & Music: Barbie Barker http://www.instagram.com/barbie_barker_Video Direction: Leif Zurmuhlen http://www.instagram.com/leifzurmuhlenVideo & Music Production:…

Pianist, arranger, improviser, provocateur, and jazz warrior-goddess Connie Han enthralled the Universal Preservation Hall on Saturday night with her technical mastery of the…

"The minute I walked into this place, I thought of this song-it's a murder ballad, I'll leave it at that!" said John Doe as he surveyed a packed Hangar on the Hudson on…

When the drummer from the band at the top of the bill set up his kit and then proceeded to casually reduce his stage outfit to just sneakers, tube socks and white briefs, I…

Rock and Roll kids.Jesse Malin and Tommy Stinson have both been rocking stages since their early teens, and they show no signs of letting up as they navigate through…

The Hangar on the Hudson was hopping off the hook with a desperate, reckless rock & roll revival of classic rockabilly, twang, garage, and surf from Toronto trio…

Sunny War didn't do a whole lot of talking on stage between songs, "Did anyone have the spinach & artichoke dip?...It's good!" was one of her lengthier interludes, but…

2022!  The year I plunged into photographing more live music than I ever had in my entire life!  Thanks to the entrée provided by Nippertown I was able to immerse myself in…

On the eve of Christmas Eve, as temperatures in Saratoga Springs plummeted, rising young jazz star Samara Joy kept the Universal Preservation Hall "Warm in December" with her…

SARATOGA SPRINGS - All were welcome at the birthday celebration for Nippertown owner Jim Gilbert Saturday. Putnam Place opened its doors for a double bill with two of the…

ALBANY - A little more than a year after his highly entertaining solo show, Pokey LaFarge returned to the Swyer Theater at The Egg with a full band filling out the live…

ALBANY - Accordions and eyeliner.  Trombone, trumpet and taxidermy.  The Hollow's hardwood floor was heaving with uninhibited abandon Thursday night as Bella's Bartok led the…

SYRACUSE - Electric performer in constant motion out front.  Charismatic guitarist with a sly smile leading the band.  Second guitarist who occasionally sweetens the deal…

TROY - Sinister seasonal sounds started early on Thursday as Super Dark Collective presented a Halloween party at No Fun in Troy.First up, Beneath Black Waves, two…

ALBANY - The groove was tangible, the beat palpable, and the sound non-fungible as The Joy Formidable rocked The Hollow on Friday night. The Welsh alternative rock trio…

What could be better than bathing in bluegrass, and blues blasting from the basin of the Berkshires? The 2022 FreshGrass Festival at MASS MoCA also bubbled with elements of…

Starcrawler slithered onto the patio at Albany Distilling Company on Wednesday night to deliver a handful of their songs in a special acoustic invite-only WEQX performance.…

The summer stage on the lot behind Frog Alley Brewing in Schenectady felt like an arena Saturday night, as the still potent Stone Temple Pilots reminded the teeming crowd of…

Not even the most ardent Toddie could have possibly predicted the set list for Todd Rundgren's show at The Egg on Tuesday night, the latest stop on his aptly named…

Bob Dylan was once described in a song by David Bowie as "a strange young man with a voice like sand and glue". Emma Swift may not have his master's voice, but she does…

"Class is in session, sit up and pay attentionYou rockin' with the masters of this hip-hop professionThe flow so heavenly, priests start confessin'Now that you're settled,…

Wielding his many axes like a burly, overalls-clad Paul Bunyan of the Blues, The Reverend Peyton came out swinging and preaching his unique gospel of front porch country…

A gloomy day in Albany brightened up and faces started melting when "Mother of Metal" Lita Ford and her band thundered onto the stage at Jennings Landing for Albany's Alive…

Tommy Stinson was in rare form Thursday night.   Rare Form Brewing Company in Troy, to be specific.  Tommy Stinson - the lifelong rocker from Dogbreath, The Replacements,…

Slipknot, Daft Punk, GWAR: at this point in his career Nick Lowe could easily have his choice of any masked band to back him and his deep catalog of pure pop for now people.…

Singer, Songwriter, Anti-Fascist Carsie Blanton served up her unique musical cocktails of activism and hedonism at The Linda on Friday night to an engaged, appreciative…

Photo by Leif ZurmuhlenByron Frayne (Vocalist for SIN: NIN tribute band): As a youth, I responded to the teenage angst expressed by Nine Inch Nails: anger and…

Comedian Demetri Martin’s offbeat observations kept a full house at The Troy Music Hall in fits of perpetual laughter on Friday night.  “We say a head of lettuce-why not a…

With guitars strapped high and sideburns grown low Canada's Wine Lips ripped through a nonstop set of punk rock garage psychedelica at No Fun in Troy on Friday night. The…

Everyone seemed to be having fun at No Fun in Troy on Friday night, grooving to a Super Dark Collective show starting off with the Burlington, Vermont indie-rock trio The…

Another Saturday night, another Super Dark Collective feast of local talent on stage at No Fun in Troy:First up some enchanting psych-folktronica from Albany’s Swamp Baby…

With movie theatre-style seating and a giant screen (largest in the northeast!) the black box GE Theatre at Proctors was ideal for the premiere of reaLation's "Selfish" video…

The Soul Rebels stepped right up onto the Lark Hall stage and SLAPPED — in the very best sense of the word! The New Orleans eight-piece brought the party with their eclectic…

"This is an honor.  This is a bucket list for us!", declared lead singer and guitarist for Super 400 Kenny Hohman regarding the Troy band playing their first-ever show at the…

Former Spacehog, former Arckid, former Leeds and ex-son-in-law of Steven Tyler, Royston Langdon took the Empire Live stage solo armed with his acoustic guitar, cowboy hat,…

Patton Oswalt achieved almost, but not quite stand-up comedy from his perch on all-terrain Knee Scooter (complete with basket and bell) on the Troy Music Hall stage on Friday…

St. Patrick's week got a kickstart from Ireland's own Screaming Orphans joined by dancers from Green Island's Boland School of Irish Dance for a festive Irish Hooley Saturday…

Between apologizing for the need to constantly tune her vintage Airline guitar and cheerful between-song banter singer-songwriter Al Olender delivered a fine batch of her…

It was a family affair Friday night at Caffe Lena as husband and wife David Wax and Suz Slezak performed accompanied by longtime collaborator and multi-instrumentalist Alec…

"How do you all live with this weather? ...We are sun babies!", proclaimed singer Zanele Manhenga a few songs into Nobuntu's performance Thursday night at Troy Music…

Guitar, drums, cello?  New Jersey's The Happy fits proved it can work at Lark Hall on Wednesday night to an adoring crowd whose young feet made the century old Hall's…

One glance at the listing for Rotten Stitches, Stolen Wheelchairs, and The Casualties and you might have thought you'd be in for a seminar on America's failing health care…

Just a few days notice was no problem for the mighty Super 400 to fill the opening slot for Dave Mason's gig at the Egg on Wednesday.  The Troy trio delivered a sparkling set…

A Saturday night triple feature at The Madison Theatre booked by 2 Dead Hummingbirds (who wish to provide multi-genre bills that highlight both left-field hardcore and…

The Way Up is Reeya Banerjee’s first foray into original music after years of playing classic rock covers in bar bands. Produced by Manhattan-based composer and…

A frigid winter's night in Troy, but Zombie Giuliani brought the punk rock rock salt and burned through a corrosive set, then Sunbloc came out with the rock and roll…

Hayley Reardon has an innate gift for capturing the essence of people and personal history through song. At the age of 24, the young storyteller has been honing her craft for…

Twas a week before Christmas, when all through The Hangar on the Hudson all the creatures were stirring, especially the festive crowd; Rocking holiday classics were sung and…

"Playing solo, like tonight at The Bunker in Clifton Park, I take it easier with my vocals and try to dial it back and make it feel more intimate.  There is definitely a huge…

It's a party when a towering sad clown with a beautiful singing voice belts out the lyrics from the theme to Gilligan's Island over the music to Stairway To Heaven while…

Mikaela Davis and Southern Star returned to The Hollow on December 11th following their cross-country tour with The Gipsy Kings. Residing in the Hudson Valley, Davis has…

I had my 19 year old son, Finn, with me for a few events in Albany on Friday night and one of our stops was at The Egg for me to photograph the Sarah Jarosz show.  I told him…

Located in a historic State Street mansion, the new gallery features architectural paintings and photographs by David Hinchen of Albany and beyond. Hinchen has said, "For me,…

Sean Rowe is an internationally renowned singer-songwriter from Troy. He also hosts the online series, "Can I Eat This?" on which explores his other passion: harvesting and…

The Mississippi blues group, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, played two shows on November 18th at Caffe Lena in Saratoga. Here is Leif Zurmuhlen's Photo Gallery of the…

Super 400 finished off their 25th Anniversary weekend with a show at Putnam Place in Saratoga with Sly Fox and the Hustlers.Photo Gallery by Leif Zurmuhlen

Troy’s favorite rock n roll trio, Super 400, with special guests Sten and Maria Z returned to The Hangar on the Hudson to celebrate 25 years together. It was a sold-out show…

Austin, TX’s resident rocker, Emily Wolfe transcends the ranks of ordinary musicians. Her creative songwriting keeps her fans aglow thanks to her strong, powerful lead vocals…

Super Dark Collective and Rare Form Brewing put together a great night of live music on Friday, October 29th with Dust Bowl Faeries, Fox Kraft, and Pony in the Pancake.…

Robyn Hitchcock played The Egg in Albany Sunday night. Hitchcock is one of England’s most enduring contemporary singer/songwriters, is a surrealist poet and talented…