Nippertown!

It’s the Weekend!

January 27th, 2012, 4:15 pm by Greg

We’d like to send a great big thank-you to everyone who dropped by this week to add encouragement, support 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
J Hunter
Joel Patterson
Kirsten Ferguson
Gail Burns
Timothy Reidy
Joe Deuel
Pete Mason
Brian Tromans

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 privided us with cool giveaway merch – tickets, CDs, downloads and other swag – for the faithful Nippertown readers:

Spectrum 8 Theatres, Albany
WEXT-FM, North Greenbush

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:

Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs
The Ghent Playhouse, Ghent
The Ale House, Troy
The BSP Lounge, Kingston
Upstate Artists Guild, Albany
River Street Beat Shop, Troy
Jillian’s, Albany
Northern Lights, Clifton Park
Step Up Presents, Albany

Thanks for keeping Nippertown alive… and lively,

Sara Ayers
Greg Haymes
Andrzej Pilarczyk

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Posted in The Dogs of Nippertown

Hot Reads: Nippertown’s Top Five Stories of the Week

January 27th, 2012, 3:08 pm by Greg

Yes, we know. We’ve heard complaints that some of you just don’t have the time to read Nippertown.com as fast as we write it.

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

1. Major New SPAC Rock Concert Announcement… (by Staff)

2. The First Alive at Five Concert of 2012… (by Staff)

3. First Band Announced for J.B. Scott’s Reunion, 5/5/12 (by Staff)

4. Kevin Costner Returns to Clifton Park (by Staff)

5. LIVE: The Vaudeville Circus & Masked Ball @ the BSP Lounge, 1/21/12 (by Timothy Reidy)

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Posted in Uncategorized

Live: Black Taxi @ Jillian’s, 1/19/12

January 27th, 2012, 2:00 pm by Greg

Black Taxi @ Jillian's1/19/12 (photo by Brian Tromans)

Review and photographs by Brian Tromans

Coming off the sold-out CD release party at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom, Black Taxi headed north in their new van to deliver their infectious energy to Albany last Thursday night. Despite the snowy weather, the Brooklyn-based band launched their 2012 tour at Jillian’s in Albany.

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Tags: Albany, Black Taxi, Brian Tromans, Jillian's
Posted in LIVE

Other Voices, Other Rooms…

January 27th, 2012, 1:00 pm by Greg

From WXRT: Some of you undoubtedly have fond memories of Lin Brehmer (aka the Reverend of Rock & Roll) and his on-air tenure as disc jockey back in the golden glory days of WQBK-FM. So it may be difficult to acknowledge that Brehmer is currently celebrating his 20th anniversary at the hip Chicago radio station WXRT-FM. Last Saturday was officially declared Lin Brehmer Day by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and here’s Lin’s diary notes for the day.

From Pitchfork: Ryan Dombal interviews Nick Zammuto about the end of his fab band the Books and the lauch of his new band Zammuto, who make their hometown debut at MASS MoCA in North Adams on Friday, February 3.

From Kevin Marshall’s America: A plea to the local media to stop celebrating mediocrity.

From Movies: C.J. Lais assesses his Oscar nomination predictions and comes up with a pretty decent total tally.

From Indie Albany: Downtown Des Moines, Iowa never looked so cool as it does in this set of captivating photographs by J. Eric Smith.

From Joan Osborne: From one fabulous soul singer to another, Joan Osborne offers a fond farewell to the late great Etta James. PS: Osborne is headed into The Egg in Albany on Sunday, April 1.

From The Rogovoy Report: Speaking of great soul singers, Seth Rogovoy reviews Mavis Staples’ concert last weekend at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington.

From Paste: Garrett Martin rattles off his list of “The 10 Most Memorable Bands Who Only Released One Album.” The most glaring omission? Blind Faith.

From Pitchfork: Jenn Pelly reports that the somewhat clueless folks at Disney World are now selling Mickey Mouse t-shirts inspired by the album cover of Joy Division’s “Unknown Pleasures.” Really?!?

From Pitchfork: And former Joy Divison bassist Peter Hook responds to the Disney/Joy Division t-shirt…

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Posted in Media Watch

Five Firsts: Rex Fowler of Aztec Two-Step

January 27th, 2012, 12:00 pm by Greg

Aztec Two-Step: Rex Fowler and Neal Shulman

NAME: Rex Fowler
BAND AFFILIATION: Aztec Two-Step, the Nutopians (an eight-piece John Lennon Tribute band)
INSTRUMENT: Acoustic guitar and harmonica

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … “Crying” by Roy Orbison (made up big time for my first single: “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” by Brian Hyland!)

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Tags: Aztec Two-Step, Five Firsts, Rex Fowler, Schenectady, The Eighth Step
Posted in Music

Little Cinema to Debut New Joffrey Ballet Documentary, Simulcast and Discussion [Berkshire on Stage]

January 27th, 2012, 10:59 am by Sara

The Joffrey Ballet's Don Quixote (photo by Bob Nick)

Pittsfield’s Little Cinema at the Berkshire Museum will play host to the world premiere of Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance on Saturday, January 28 at 1:30 pm. It is one of only two Massachusetts theatres to be included in this fascinating event.

As a member of the Boston Ballet staff in the 1970′s, I was continually surprised when our most promising young dancers would suddenly announce they were leaving for the Joffrey Company. His dance scouts consistently covered the region looking for the cream of the upcoming crop, and his company grew mightily as a result. The ups and downs of Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino are well documented in the film, including this riveting tale from Suzanne Hammons Daone, who was with the company starting in 1959.

Click to read the rest at Berkshire on Stage

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Tags: Berkshire On Stage, Dance, Larry Murray, Pittsfield, The Joffrey Ballet, The Little Cinema
Posted in Film/TV/DVD

New Concert Announced for the Palace Theatre

January 27th, 2012, 9:55 am by Greg

The folk-rocking Avett Brothers were still pretty much an under-the-radar band the last couple of times they rolled through Nippertown – tearing it up at Revolution Hall in Troy back in October ’07 and again in July ’08.

That all changed the following year with the release of “I and Love and You,” the band’s Rick Rubin-produced major label debut, which became a Top 20 hit.

Now, the Avett Brothers are headed back to town, but clearly they’ve graduating to a big time venue – the Palace Theatre in Albany at 8pm on Sunday, April 22.

Priced at $38 and $43, tix are slated to go on sale to the general public at 10am on Friday, February 3.

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Posted in Be Here Now: Previews

1/27/12: Today’s Tips: Friday

January 27th, 2012, 9:00 am by Greg

MUSIC: Thurston Moore @ Club Helsinki, Hudson. The Sonic Youth guitar-strangler brings his other band to town in support of his decidedly more mellow, but no less adventurous album, “Demolished Thoughts,” produced by Beck. With Joshua Burkett. 9pm. $20. Related story.

MUSIC: Diego Garcia @ The Linda, Albany. In the wake of his stand-out performance at LarkFest back in September, Garcia returns to town in support of his solo debut, “Laura.” 8pm. $15. Related story.

ARTS WALK: Troy Night Out @ various locations, Troy. Art gallery receptions, music and more… 5-9pm. FREE.

FILM: “Toxie: Toxic Avenger Troma-Fest” @ Proctors, Schenectady. It Came From Schenectady screens the quintessential Trom flick, “Toxic Avenger” on a double-bill with “Cannibal: The Musical,” directed by Trey Parker (“South Park,” “Book of Mormon”). With a live appearance by “Toxie” director Lloyd Kaufman. 7pm. $9; students $6.

MUSIC: Eastbound Jesus @ Putnam Den, Sarataoga Springs. CD release party for the band’s sophomore album, “Holy Smokes.” With the Mallett Brothers Band.

MUSIC: Charlie Albright @ the College of Saint Rose’s Massry Center, Albany. Hailed by The Washington Post as “among the most gifted musicians of his generation, the acclaimed, award-winning classical pianist performs a solo concert. 7:30pm. $20.

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Posted in Be Here Now: Previews