Upstate Beat: The year that was… was pretty darn good

A look back at the live music scene of 2023

Judging by 2023, the musical outlook for 2024 looks promising.

This past year, the local music scene continued to rebound from the early pandemic years. 

In fact, the live music scene seems to be thriving, thanks in part to newer music venues that are taking off – including Lark Hall, Empire Live and No Fun – as well as established venues (Caffe Lena, Cohoes Music Hall, The Hangar on the Hudson and more) that rock on.

Meanwhile, it goes less reported but a thriving scene of basement, underground and DIY venues bubbles below the surface – shows that are often not listed publicly in newspapers or major websites but can be found promoted on social media featuring local and touring artists.

And if you’re willing to take a drive, the Hudson Valley and Berkshires have even more to offer these days musically, from the Avalon Lounge in Catskill to Tubby’s in Kingston.

My new favorite road trip is to the Colony in Woodstock, a music venue in a restored 1929 theater that seems to be doing everything right: great bookings, a fun vibe, delicious food and plenty of seating in the balcony for those who get there early or standing room below.

Now on to the shows …

Of all the performances I attended in 2023, the one that people mention the most to me is the one that didn’t even happen. In a bizarre moment at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the show by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds on July 8 was canceled just before the band took the stage after a bomb threat was called in to a police dispatcher.

The Saratoga Park Police went the prudent route and evacuated the venue, but fortunately we did get to see great sets before that happened from openers Metric and Garbage, both fixtures of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Credit goes to the Gen X crowd for responding so calmly and to the security personnel who took the threat seriously.

There were some other big misses from 2023, including two illness-related postponements at MVP Arena in Albany by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, who promise to honor the tickets on April 15. And the Grammy-winning hip-hop group Arrested Development was forced to cancel a headlining set at Schenectady’s SummerNight on July 14 due to flight-related snafus. 

Personally, I missed plenty of shows this year that I regret not being able to attend, such as the homecoming show by Amsterdam’s Meg Duffy in the now wildly popular band Hand Habits; the show by Bob Dylan at Proctors that sold out quickly; and the annual NipperFest Music & Arts Festival in Schenectady’s Central Park that is always a highlight of the season.

But of the shows I did attend in 2023, here are 10 of my highlights: 

Tears for Fears at SPAC, July 2. Everything about this show from the British synth-pop pop band was flawless, from the set pacing to the complex interplay of vocals by band founders Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal. Highlight: 1980s sing-along hits “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” “Head Over Heels” and “Pale Shelter.” 

John Doe Folk Trio at The Hangar on the Hudson, April 28. John Doe of Los Angeles punk rock band X brought his latest project to Troy, but there was nothing stripped down or folk about it. The band – featuring drummer Lisa Pankratz and Kevin Smith, the longtime bassist for Willie Nelson – rocked. Highlight: A blistering version of X’s “The New World.” 

Big Daddy Kane at Empire State Plaza, Aug. 2. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, 

rapper Big Daddy Kane and his backflipping break dancer fired up the plaza along with hip-hop pioneers Roxanne Shante, one of rap’s first female stars, and Black Sheep. Highlight: Big Daddy Kane’s smooth flow on “Ain’t No Half Steppin.’ ” 

Chk Chk Chk (also known as !!!) at No Fun, June 10. The indie dance-punk band was big in the 2000s but doesn’t seem to have skipped a beat, judging by the way they burned the house down at No Fun in one of the most fun shows of the year. Highlight: frontman Nic Offer’s frantic tambourine shaking on “A Little Bit (More).”

Pixies, Cat Power and Modest Mouse at MASS MoCA, Aug. 26. In the Gen X show of the year, the influential alt-rock band played outside at Joe’s Field for an epic sundown show with indie-rockers Modest Mouse and songwriter Cat Power. Highlight: Pixies on the classic “This Monkey’s Gone to Heaven” and Cat Power on the slyly powerful “Manhattan.”

The Bobby Lees, the Colony, Nov. 12. When one of the best rock bands touring today announced they were breaking up due to the financial hardships of making a living from music, Game of Thrones star Jason Momoa showed up to cheer the Woodstock band on from the front row. Can he save them? We’ll find out. Highlight: The killer tune “Hollywood Junkyard.”

Spiritualized® Live™ at Basilica Hudson, Nov. 8. The British shoe-gaze band featuring frontman Jason Pierce, formerly of Spacemen 3, rarely plays an area show, so this one seemed extra special. Pierce plays seated, with his side to the crowd, supposedly to vibe better with his band. But that was just fine because he filled the space with a wall of sound. Highlight: “Shine a Light,” featuring the beautiful choir of singers.

The 5.6.7.8’s, Sit n’ Spin and the Abyssmals at No Fun, Aug. 24. The all-female Japanese rock band from Tokyo, led by two sisters, became better known in this country when director Quentin Tarantino used their garage-rock music in “Kill Bill Vol. 1.” They made a rare and exciting upstate New York appearance with two great openers and sounded as good as ever. Highlight: the ska influenced “Mothra” about the fictional Japanese monster.

The Sadies at The Hangar on the Hudson, April 14. The Canadian country-rock band tragically lost member Dallas Good unexpectedly last year to a heart condition, but his brother Travis Good and the rest of the band played as if they don’t know how to stop. And why should they? Highlight: “Through Strange Eyes,” a sad but prophetic tune.

Squeeze and Psychedelic Furs at The Egg, Sept. 7. It was a great double bill, because the two bands of British new wave stars still sound at their peak and unleash hit after hit. This will be known as the last area performance by Furs saxophone player Mars Williams, who was indispensable to the band and died this fall. Highlight: Squeeze classic “Cool for Cats” and Psychedelic Furs ‘80s hit ‘Pretty in Pink.”

More highlights of 2023 

The Figgs at No Fun, Feb. 11; Sky Furrows at No Fun, Feb. 17; Gift at No Fun, Feb. 19; W.I.T.C.H. and Death Valley Girls at No Fun, June 6; Joe Pernice at Ready Mix Design print shop in Troy, July 28; Messer Chups at No Fun, Aug. 21; Iris DeMent at Cohoes Music Hall, Sept. 9; Superchunk at the Colony, Sept. 15; Fishbone at PearlPalooza, Sept. 16; The Nude Party at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, Sept. 30; Pigs x7 at No Fun, Oct. 31; Jeffrey Lewis and the Burning Hell at No Fun, Nov. 2; Both Sides Now: Songs of Joni Mitchell at Caffe Lena, Nov. 4. 

The Week Ahead

Saratoga Springs’ citywide New Year’s Eve celebration (now called the Saratoga New Year’s Fest) is now a weekend event, with afternoon and evening entertainment as well as headlining acts at venues throughout the city including Joan Osborne, Robert Randolph, Dogs in a Pile, Tracy Bonham and the Gibson Brothers. 

No Fun in Troy celebrates New Year’s Eve on Sunday with a fun local bill including the rock bands Brule County Bad Boys, the Sugar Hold, Sun Natives, 100 Psychic Dreams and Yort. 7 p.m. 

Reach Kirsten Ferguson at theupstatebeat@gmail.com.