5/19/13: Today’s Tips: Sunday

May 19th, 2013, 8:00 am by Greg

MUSIC/RUN: SPAC Rock & Run @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs. A 1K kid’s race, as well as a 5K and a new 10K run will be held with music all along the course by the Lazy Suns, Ramblin Jug Stompers, Black Mountain Symphony, Hard Soul, Bridgette Guerrette and lots more. Followed by a post-race party and concert by the Acoustic Brotherhood featuring J Yager and Garland Nelson. 9am. Admission to all music and the party is free.

MUSIC: Eric Burdon @ The Egg, Albany. As the frontman for Rock & Roll Hall of Famers the Animals, Burdon has always had a powerhouse voice, a masterful command of the blues and a willingness to step out of the box. He’s in town to showcase his new album Til Your River Runs Dry and his many old hits. With Local 518 fave Erin Harkes. 8pm. $34.50, $44.50, $54.50; VIP with meet & greet $74.50.

MUSIC: James McCartney @ Club Helsinki, Hudson. The pop-rocker rolls into town his support of his debut The Complete EP Collection. And yes, he’s the son of Sir Paul… With Jon Sandler. 8pm. $15.

MUSIC: Bob Warren, Michael Jerling & Mike Quick @ Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs. It’s the wrap-up of the Caffe’s 53rd anniversary weekend with three fave singer-songwriters in a celebratory song circle. 7pm. $16 in advance; $18 at the door.

THEATER: “Red” @ Capital Repertory Theatre, Albany. This is the last weekend for John Logan’s marvelous, Tony Award-winning drama, which examines the tug of war between the worlds of art and commerce through the eyes of the great American painter Mark Rothko. Directed by Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill and starring Kevin McGuire. 2pm. $20, $40, $50 & $60. READ review here…

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5/18/13: Today’s Tips: Saturday

May 18th, 2013, 7:40 am by Greg

MUSIC: Alan Chartock & the Berkshire Ramblers @ Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs. It’s the centerpiece of Caffe Lena’s 53rd anniversary Homecoming Weekend with media mogul/banjo man Chartock leading his sprawling band of folk ramblers. 7pm. $40 (includes hearty appetizers & desserts).

MUSIC: Jim Weider’s Project Percolator @ The Egg, Albany. Guitarslinger Weider took over Robbie Robertson’s guitar chair in the Band (and held it longer than Robbie did) and has been playing for years in Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble Band. But this time around he gets his prog-rock-jazz groove on with drummer Rodney Holmes, guitarist Avi Bortnick, bassist Steve Lucas and very special guest Garth Hudson on keyboards. 7:30pm. $29.50.

MUSIC: Richard Barone @ Valentine’s Music Hall, Albany. The former frontman for the Bongos has done it all, working with everyone from Lou Reed to Pete Seeger. With Blue Factory. 9pm. GO HERE to win a pair of FREE tickets…

THEATER: “Red” @ Capital Repertory Theatre, Albany. This is the last weekend for John Logan’s marvelous, Tony Award-winning drama, which examines the tug of war between the worlds of art and commerce through the eyes of the great American painter Mark Rothko. Directed by Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill and starring Kevin McGuire. 3 & 8pm. $20, $40, $50 & $60. Also 2pm on Sunday. READ review here…

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It’s the Weekend!

May 17th, 2013, 4:00 pm by Greg

I like to eat my bed.

Goodbye, you old week, it’s been fun.

But before we head out for some big fun weekend around Nippertown, we’d like to send a great big thank-you to everyone who dropped by this week to add encouragement, support, proof-reading and, yes, criticism, too. And thanks for helping to spread the word about Nippertown.com.

Of course, we couldn’t possibly cover the wide, wonderful scope of offerings around town without a dedicated and devoted bunch of wonderful writers, photographers, artists, tipsters and other assorted enablers who continually enrich us all with their contributions. So a big salute goes out to this week’s community contributors:

Larry Murray
Timothy Reidy
Kirsten Ferguson
Don Wilcock
Brian Tromans
Ed Conway
Fred Rudofsky
Gail Burns

Please consider adding your name to this list. Just send us something – a review, preview, interview, photo, list, rant, crayon drawing or whatever’s on your mind. Remember, Nippertown is your hometown, and we can’t possibly do this without your help.

Thanks to the fine folks who provided us with cool give-away merch – tix, CDs, downloads and other swag – for the faithful Nippertown readers:

Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs
Valentine’s Music Hall, Albany
Putnam Den, Saratoga Springs

And thanks to all of the folks from the area venues and organizations who were gracious enough to provide us with review tickets and/or photo passes for their events:

Valentine’s Music Hall, Albany
The Ale House, Troy
The Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes
City of Albany Office of Special Events, Albany
WAMC-FM’s The Linda, Albany
New Stage Performing Arts, Great Barrington
Putnam Den, Saratoga Springs

Thanks for keeping Nippertown alive… and lively,

Sara Ayers
Greg Haymes

HOT READS: Nippertown’s Top 10 Stories of the Week

May 17th, 2013, 3:00 pm by Greg

Yes, yes, we know…

We’ve heard all of the complaints that some of you simply don’t have the time to read all of the Nippertown.com news as fast as we write it.

So for the casual once-or-twice-a-week reader, here’s a summary of the Top 10 most-viewed stories from Nippertown in the past week:

1. Complete Line-Up for Alive at Five Concerts Announced for 2013 (by Staff)

2. A Summer of Two Dylans at SPAC (by Staff)

3. Comin’ Soon: New Concert Announcements (by Staff)

4. New Concert: Zombies Walk Among Us? (by Staff)

5. LIVE: Albany Tulip Festival’s Lakehouse Stage @ Washington Park, 5/11/13 (by Brian Tromans)

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Flashback Friday: El Extreme, 1990

May 17th, 2013, 2:00 pm by Greg

Poet, actor, playwright, singer-songwriter and one of the most charismatic, manic Nippertown frontmen of the early ’90s, Luis Chaluisan led his sometimes madcap, always marvelous mambo-hip-hop band El Extreme (full name – La Gran Orquesta El Extreme) through many memorable shows back in the day, showcasing such fondly remembered nuggets as “Biscuit Head” and “Why Must You Funk Up My Life?”

Isn’t it about time for an El Extreme reunion?

Other Voices, Other Rooms…

May 17th, 2013, 1:00 pm by Greg

From Buzzfeed: Maria Sherman’s “26 Signs You Were A College Radio DJ” – including a shout-out to Troy’s WRPI-FM…

From Keep Albany Boring: KC gives you the lowdown on this weekend’s lecture and workshop by scientist/survivalist Guy McPherson at Basilica Hudson in Hudson.

From All Over Albany: A story about the Albany Historic Foundation’s plans to hand St. Joseph’s Church – the site of the annual Restoration Festival (aka Rest Fest) fundraisers for the building’s preservation – back to the City of Albany…

From the Rogovoy Report: Seth Rogovoy previews the new Hudson area all-star band the Faux Meek, who make their debut at Club Helsinki on Saturday (May 18) opening for David Jacobs-Strain. What do they sound like? As Rogovoy reports, “Think the Velvet Underground meets the Grateful Dead at a Cocteau Twins concert.”

From Saratoga Wire: Thomas Dimopoulos has a round-up of events for the Saratoga 150 Festival, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Saratoga Race Track.

From New York: The magazine’s travel writer Michael Alan Connelly raves about Saratoga Springs – especially its culinary and cultural options.

Festival Fever: SummerSound @ Tanglewood, 5/26/13

May 17th, 2013, 12:00 pm by Greg

Tanglewood is kicking off its summer concert season earlier than expected this year, playing host to the Berkshires’ newest summer music festival, SummerSound on Sunday, May 26 of the Memorial Day weekend.

Focused primarily on regional acts, the single-day fest will run from 12noon-5pm; Tanglewood parking lots open at 11:30am. SummerSound is being produced in conjunction with the fourth annual Memorial Day Marathon – run through parts of Stockbridge, Great Barrington and Lenox – which is also being held on Sunday, May 26.

In addition to the music, the fest will also feature food and drink from various Berkshires merchants.

Tickets are $12 in advance online; $10 in advance at the Arcadian Shop in Lenox and Wandering Star Craft Brewery in Pittsfield. Admission for kids age 10 and under is free.

Artists currently scheduled to perform at SummerSound include:

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Three-in-One CD Release Party @ Hudson River Music Hall on Saturday

May 17th, 2013, 11:00 am by Greg

Three-in-One CD Release Party @ Hudson River Music Hall on Saturday

Not one…
Not two…
But THREE…

That’s right, three CD release parties are all rolled into one big bash on Saturday night (May 18) at the Hudson River Music Hall in Hudson Falls.

Doug Irving – former Nashville singer-songwriter now based in Queensbury – will celebrate the release of his new album, Fire Towers and Shanties.

Bill Frandino will unveil his new 20-song album, Return.

And Hudson Falls native T.R. Remsen will celebrate his recently release debut EP, Holy Lord.

The evening’s music marathon gets underway at 7:30pm on Saturday. Admission is $8 at the door.

Cartoonist John CaldwellCaffe LenaJim GaudetHolly & EvanShadowlandAdvertise on Nippertown!Jazz AprilBerkshire On StageArtist Charles HaymesArt Night SchenectadyHudson SoundsLeave Regular Radio BehindG.C. Haymes