Albany Open Arts - Musicians, Artists, Gigs, Venues

Lowes the Gladiator

Chase — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 22:39:22 +0000

i have been trying to do this for years and years, but have failed quite miserably every time. nothing came out right. nothing was what i wanted it to be. and then i realized that that is an essential fact of life–nothing will ever be as you want it to be. i recorded the “basement demos EP” live in my basement on my laptop microphone at the conclusion of the summer of 2008. 1 guitar. 1 vocal. 1 take. completely raw. no editing. no reverb. my voice cracks. my old guitar–beat up from countless hours of use–was mostly out of tune. i sped up. i slowed down. but it was me finally being honest with myself, and with everybody around me. it is a brief look into the inner workings of what i refer to as my “swiss cheese” brain. its been a battle since day one. its been a battle to get this far. its been a battle to write and record these songs. but lo and behold–i have triumphed through it all, to fight another day. i am proud of who i am. i am proud of what ive done. i am proud of the songs ive wrote. i am lowes the gladiator.

Josh Patrick Sheridan

Chase — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:43:05 +0000

My name is Josh Patrick Sheridan. I write rootsy/rocky/acoustic weepy numbers and play in and around Schenectady, New York. I’m currently supporting my burnt CD, Love Songs and Other Lies.

Patrick Porter

admin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:26:09 +0000

MUSIC: http://patrickporter.bandcamp.com/ BIO: This particular Patrick Porter born in the Dixie sticks and of the Tennessee trailers, wind whoop train whistle cornpone Americana mixed a whiff with hinterland Dada Germany by way of mother’s milk. Hijacked way out west to tramp the falling pinecones and Mount Roselee weeping one million horses’ worth of reverb through a chilly window, suckle the edge of a King Biscuit Flour Hour and tramp a K-Mart parking lot, make a first memory. Ten hot breaths later malt a Fender Mustang twang long lost into country mice, icebox stars and adolescent pining (not to mention a hearty heavy metal apprenticeship in pater’s biker bar band– hum duh duh duh in your head and hit a gong with a hot wing). Hundreds of plate-chipped cassettes later a first stab at posterity past puberty, Reverb Saved My Life LP, recorded at age 17 in an underground pool hall and released by Camera Obscura Records of scenic down under. Tours of America both gold star holy and sadly blackly spirits flagging, shuffle a stacked deck to NY state via wayward Greyhound daylong purgatory, green mint HESS goose the window shades and ice cream shakes at Friendly’s to ward off the schizoids. The recordings Lisha Kill LP (Camera Obscura Records), Maybe Waltz EP (Evelyn Records, London), and Skylan Mo (Asaurus Records, USA) materialize from the * shattered GE factory windows of rust belt Hudson River necropolises. Take a tour of Europe solo moly holy but for a choco Gretch acoustic and dinosaur cap, a ugly American quickly learns to eat marmite and count quid. Bittersweet At Best 7″ single released in Scotland (Keep Recordings, UK) and a good tour round the haggis wrap. Then back to America to record gumball-colored whimsical pistol whippasnapper Die Wandaland LP (Greyday Records, Oregon USA) and a blistering little sister named This Machine Kills Bathos LP (The Time Is Now Records, USA). Insert nervous breakdown of sorts in the rotten waterboy bench of the big apple’s most distant stem. Much wasted time learning to walk again. A better year spent painting and living in basements, dripping water on x-mas eve. Between three hundred hatched canvasses plant please Colfax, Colorado in 4 capsules, called collectively the DENVER 4. A Swan At Smiley’s LP (Greyday Records, 2009), Cry Me A River, Sing Me A Raft 12-Song EP (Greyday Records, 2009), Darlene Evening EP (Greyday Records, 2009), Goodbye Pork Pie Heart LP (Greyday Records, 2009). After some haggling with the gods and sawn off shotguns Porter whelped out to New England for the birds and 3-fams and dark factory X windows again, east coast holy ghouls only an inch up from the usual, harried Smith College fingernail sliver states, then past romantic disaster back to stopgap Denver again Denver where he recorded the upcoming hoolahooper Bachelor Pad Blue; Bent Pants and Stray Cats LP, to be released by somebody someday. Porter currently resides in upstate NY where he eats beans and carrots and walks under bridges. Patrick Porter listens to John Denver records and cries. Patrick Porter threw the TV across the room and cut his finger on the glass. Patrick Porter has lived in every traffic light corner apartment in America. Patrick Porter forgot how to play guitar a long time ago. Patrick Porter’s fingers are snarled in yo-yo strings. Patrick Porter smokes cigars and throws the stubs out the window. Patrick Porter gets into trouble all the time. Patrick Porter likes the movie MERMAIDS. Patrick Porter is a sore spot in the conversation. Patrick Porter drove an ice cream delivery truck and all the ice cream fell out and got crushed. Patrick Porter wishes he was an 80-year old bluesman living in a trailer in Buena Vista. Patrick Porter gets scared at night and walks around town in his pajamas. Patrick Porter is a total square.

Eric Benjamin

admin — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 18:14:15 +0000

Eric Benjamin (formerly Asian Ben) is a hardworking singer/songwriter born from the ashes of the dying punk/rock scene of the 518. He writes about his life sarcastic. Sex, Love, Toys, War, everything is free game to be spilled from this performers mouth. With musical stylings inspired from other singer/songwriters like Jason Mraz and John Mayer and also taken from punk/rock acts he’s grown up with like The Starting Line and The Spill Canvas. Do not let his shy and demure nature fool you; He is a musical force to be reckoned with.

The Midnight Society

admin — Thu, 06 May 2010 23:25:03 +0000

The Midnight Society is an acoustic singer-songwriter duo from Albany NY. Stylistically, the duo has been described as ranging from folk to indie-rock, and combines insightful, witty lyrics and catchy, upbeat melodies. Their unique sound recently earned them first place at the Upstate Idol Competition in Columbia County. More info at midnightsocietymusic.com

Emily Yanek

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 23:10:21 +0000

My name is Emily Yanek. I’m a singer/songwriter living in Harrisburg, PA. I have been writing songs my whole life, and plan on making a living from touring and making albums. I’ve been on the coffee house circuit for about a year and am breaking into bigger cities like Philly and New York. My debut album, ‘Watching The Highway,’ is to be released sometime this year. See where I’m playing and what I’ve been writing at myspace.com/emilyyanek

Kelly Anne

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:53:59 +0000

My passion is to sing. All I really want is to be heard.

Aaron Gaita at the Muddy Cup Open Mic

Chase — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:56:14 +0000

Come see Aaron Gaita open up the night at the Muddy Cup Open Mic in Albany on February 15th, 2010 from 7:30pm – 8:00pm. Check out Aaron’s myspace here – http://www.myspace.com/AaronGaita.

Video or music of Aaron coming soon.

Brian Alvarado

admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 05:04:20 +0000

Just a young cat from the Sunshine State who’s mission is to inspire a direction of heart through love, community, and communication. Arts, sound, and passion. “Let us dance willingly, create freely, and commune sincerely.”

(Video taken at Muddy Cup Open Mic – Brian @ 0:18)

Jake Toth

admin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:48:22 +0000

Hailing from a mountain town on the Wallkill River, Jake Toth’s hometown setting is a major factor in his playing and writing style. Only at the young age of 19, he has managed to cause enough ruckus for an entire life’s worth of songs and poems. Many of his songs are very naturalistic–taking the listener through drug abuse, addiction, poverty, and more importantly, observation of human activity. Writer and musician Garrett Lions called Toth, “[a] prolific Naturalist with his rambling shoes tied.”