Posts Tagged ‘Arts Center’

LIVE: “The Right Mix” @ the Saratoga Arts Theater, 11/7/09

Friday, November 20th, 2009

How big was it? Michael Jerling at the Saratoga Arts Theater

How big was it? Michael Jerling at the Saratoga Arts Theater


Produced by Nancy Walker – an excellent singer-songwriter-turned-concert-promoter – and emceed by Dave Michaels from radio station EXIT 97.7, “The Right Mix” showcased some of Nippertown’s very best roots-oriented musicians, packing the intimate Saratoga Arts Center Theater with a full house of fans.

Hot on the heels of his new CD, “Music Here Tonight: Live At Caffe Lena” on Fool’s Hill Music, magnificent singer-songwriter Michael Jerling kicked off the evening’s music in fine fashion. Accompanied by percussionist-keyboardist-accordionist Teresina Huxtable and the Northeast’s incomparable, premier bassist Tony Markellis, Jerling rolled through a set of evocative, heartfelt songs, highlighted by the humorous, real-life-on-the-road odyssey “Wide Awake In Parsippany” and the comical “In The Middle Ages.”

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FIVE FIRSTS: Mark Tolstrup of Street Corner Holler

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Street Corner Holler: Dale Haskell and Mark Tolstrup

Street Corner Holler: Dale Haskell and Mark Tolstrup

NAME: Mark Tolstrup
BAND AFFILIATION: Street Corner Holler (duo with Dale Haskell plus sometimes on those lucky occasions Tony Markellis)
INSTRUMENT: Slide Guitar

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … “The Monkees”

2. THE FIRST CONCERT THAT I EVER SAW WAS … Dave Van Ronk at Passim’s in Cambridge, Mass.

3. THE FIRST MUSICAL INSTRUMENT I EVER OWNED OR PLAYED WAS … Sears Silvertone guitar. Sweet sound. Unplayable neck.

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ArtBeat: Elizabeth Dubben Heads to Spa City Arts Center

Thursday, November 12th, 2009
Elizabeth Dubben

Elizabeth Dubben

After three years as one of the brightest exhibition venues on Nippertown’s independent art scene, the Amrose Sable Gallery in Albany shuttered its doors back in May, leaving gallery director Elizabeth Dubben in a bit of limbo.

But she’s landed on her feet, having recently taken over the position of Exhibition Coordinator at the Saratoga Arts Center.

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Be Here Now: Local Foods, Local Films @ Saratoga Arts Center, 11/15/09

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

Two Saratoga Springs restaurants – One Caroline Street and Mouzon House – are sponsoring a special event benefit for the Saratoga Film Forum at 2:30pm Sunday (November 15) at the Saratoga Arts Center.

It starts with a screening of the documentary film, “Food, Inc.,” directed by Robert Kenner. The movie lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing the dark, mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government. “Food, Inc.” reveals shocking truths about the food we eat, how it’s produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.

The afternoon’s festivities will also include premieres of two new short films by local filmmakers Patti Lane and Sarah Pedinotti; food provided by One Caroline Street and Mouzon House and a panel discussion with local farmers and merchants.

Tickets for “Local Foods, Local Films” are $35 and are strictly limited. Call 584-FILM for reservations.

Farmony (Harvest Fest trailer) from DreamBig Media Group on Vimeo.

Real Good for Free: Tony Fletcher’s “All Hopped Up”

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

FletcherTony Fletcher slipped into the Spotty Dog in Hudson a couple of weeks back to offer a reading of his new book, “All Hopped Up and Ready to Go: Music from the Streets of New York 1927-77,” even though the tome hadn’t officially had its publication date yet.

Well, it was officially published last week by the fine folks at W.W. Norton, and it’s well worth picking up. You can read the introduction here.

“It’s incredibly good value – just $18.95, before any discount, for a 460-page book that spans fifty years of musical history and took almost five years of my life,” explains Fletcher on his blog.

“CDs still officially retail close enough to that price. You’re lucky to get an interesting bottle of wine for under $20. A meal out costs twice as much, if you’re lucky, and you’re hungry again within a few hours. Books, on the other hand, take weeks to read, fill your soul, and last a lifetime. They also look good on your bookshelf. And some of them go a long way towards getting you laid.”

Now Fletcher is gearing up for another reading and a launch party with a twist at the Kleinert/James Arts Center in Woodstock from 5-7pm on Saturday (November 7).

The event includes a reading and a wine and hors d’ouevres reception, but also a panel discussion about the various music scenes of New York City. Joining Fletcher in the panel conversation will be:
Tommy Ramone (the Ramones)
Eric Weissberg (The Tarriers, “Duelling Banjos”)
Elda Gentile (The Stilletos)
Fred Smith (Television)

Admission is free.

Previously:
Real Good For Free: Philip Glass Download at Amazon
Real Good for Free: Silent Film Spectacular (Wednesdays)
Real Good For Free: Music @ Noon at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall (second Tuesdays)
Real Good For Free: Quintessence (Weekends)
Real Good for Free: Colleen Pratt @ the Van Dyck (Thursdays)
Real Good for Free: Tuesdays @ Revolution Hall (Tuesdays)
Real Good for Free: CRUMBS Nite Out @ The Linda (4th Thursdays)

LIVE: The Flower-Corsano Duo @ the Spring Street Gallery, 10/28/09

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

FlowersCorsano

Experimental and creative improvised music in any given town has a very few outlets for the practitioners of this unique art form.

But here in Nippertown, we are blessed.

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FIVE FIRSTS: Tom Occhiogrosso of Fear of Flying

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

fofNAME: Tom Occhiogrosso
BAND AFFILIATION: Fear Of Flying
INSTRUMENT: Drums

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … Jimi Hendrix’s “Are You Experienced”

2. THE FIRST CONCERT THAT I EVER SAW WAS … Rare Earth at SPAC

3. THE FIRST MUSICAL INSTRUMENT I EVER OWNED OR PLAYED WAS … Snare Drum

4. THE FIRST SONG THAT I EVER PERFORMED IN PUBLIC WAS … “Wooly Bully”

5. THE FIRST BAND I WAS EVER IN WAS … Chrisalis

Tom Occhiogrosso and his Fear of Flying bandmates serve up a powerhouse progressive rock concert at the Arts Center of the Capital Region in Troy on Friday, October 16.

Weekday Happenings

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Rejoice, boys & girls, moms & dads! You live in Nippertown, where you don’t have to wait for the weekend for good things to happen.

Here are a few suggestions of things to do during the next couple of days:

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13
Social Distortion with the Strangers, Middle Class Rut @ Northern Lights, Clifton Park
Communal Drone Night @ the Arts Center of the Capital Region, Troy (FREE)
Renaissance with Jann Klose @ The Egg, Albany
Kate Voegele with Green River Ordinance @ Revolution Hall, Troy
Opening night of “The Color Purple” @ Proctors, Schenectady

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14
The Dave Brubeck Quartet @ St. Rose’s Massry Center for the Arts, Albany
“Dancing on the Air” with Jay Ungar & Molly Mason @ The Linda, Albany
Opening night of “The Seafarer” @ Capital Repertory Theatre, Albany
“Silent Film Spectacular!”: “The Lost World” with music by Beware! The Other Head of Science @ Albany Public Library, Albany (FREE)
“Live from the Living Room” poetry reading with Jason Crane @ the Capital District Gay and Lesbian Community Center, Albany

Video, Light, Sound & Art @ ACCR, Make Your Own!!

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Aaaaand, speaking of video, light, sound and art at ACCR, they’ve just published their fall-winter class catalog and it’s a doozy. Drawing, dance, cooking, pottery, woodworking, yoga, stained glass, Jewelry-making, writing… you name it, it’s probably there. There are classes for children and teens, beginners and advanced.

Here are three classes that caught our eye:

  • Making Music through Electronics Hacking and Circuit Bending
    Saturday and Sunday, 11/21/2009 – 11/22/2009, 12:30 – 4:00 p.m. (2 classes)
    Members: $90 | Non-Members: $100 | Studio Fee: $30

    Saturday and Sunday, 1/16/2009 – 1/17/2009, 12:30 – 4:00 p.m. (2 classes)
    Members: $90 | Non-Members: $100 | Studio Fee: $30
    Instructor: Peter Edwards

    Circuit bending is the experimental process of short-circuiting and re-wiring audio
    electronics for the purpose of discovering unintended, often bizarre functionalities.
    The process is fun and inventive and often leads to new forms of musical expression
    and interaction. Instructor Peter Edwards will cover the basics of bending and
    help participants through the design and modii cation process. Each student will
    received a soldering iron and a set of basic circuit bending tools to keep, and will
    transform one item they bring with them into a unique musical instruments. This
    class is beginner friendly but previous experience with electronics and simple hand
    tool use is helpful.

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Be Here Now: Video, Light, Sound & Art @ ACCR, 9/25/09

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

The Arts Center of the Capital Region in Troy gets its video on with a special week-long showcase of the work of Nippertown video artists. It all gets underway with “A 21st Century Celebration of Light & Art,” a free opening reception and performance from 5-9pm on Friday, September 25, in conjunction with the monthly Troy Night Out arts walk.

Curated by Goodship, the exhibit spotlights a wide variety video art work, including documentaries, student and community work, computer animation and live performance video art. And you can delve into the more scientific side of light and color in the “Coloring Room.” Artists whose works are included in the exhibition are Penny Lane, Annmarie Lanesey, Chris Harvey, Jesse Stiles, lmnopf, skfl, fi$h2000, Vodstrup, Kyra Garrigue, Carrie Dashow, Jesse Pearlman, Karlsberg, Gabriel Diaz, Mike Feurstein, Román Jaquez, Ray Cutler, Captain Entropy and many others.

In addition, artists affiliated with the Albany Sonic Arts Collective and Casper Land will present a future-oriented and compelling collection of short improvisatory sonic explorations with video projections by Jason Cosco, including: tape manipulation and electronics from G. Lucas Crane and Eric Hardiman; guitar improv, vocals and feedback loops from Ray Hare; circuit bent and homemade electronic wizardy from Pete Edwards; modified electric banjo and electronics from Holland Hopson; and improvised percussion and electronics from Matt Weston.

Also in the Arts Center galleries, you’ll find a live video remix of local illustrators by lmnopf, live DJs, circuit-bending demos by Casper Land and a video game showcase from 1st Playable in the Digital Artist Space.

Step outside the Arts Center doors and experience a colossal light and sound installation in Monument Square.

Finally, why not stay late and dance the night away? The Official Unofficial Troy Night Out Afterparty begins at 9pm and goes late into the night, as the edges of multimedia art are pushed even further. See the artists in action with live music and video collaborations featuring thejessestiles3000, We are Architects, back from japan, jenkins and more.

Admission is free from 5-9pm; $2 after 9pm. Beer, wine and light fare by Brown’s Brewing Company available all night.

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