Quality events for this weekend

Friday June 16

TGIF Yoga at Heartspace: Community class, In both Albany and Troy.

Jonah Bokaer: Occupant at Basilica Hudson: Friday and Saturday dance performances.

Taco Fiesta at the Bradley: Tacos at Troys newest bar.

Summer Legs, Jouska, Broken Field Runner, Hate Club at The Low Beat: Summer Legs EP Release show with some great local and formerly local talent.

Nothing, Souvenirs, Neaux at BSP: Punk/rock/pop.

Church Girls, Haley Moley, The Plastic Faction, Trees Take Ease at Pauly’s: Dancy/indie/alternative/rock.

Cretin Hop at Fuze Box: Rock and roll outsider dance party.

Saturday June 17

Troy River Festival: Art, music, food, makers, and more in Troy.

Jonah Bokaer: Occupant at Basilica Hudson: Friday and Saturday dance performances.

Poke the Bear at The Half Moon: “Part of OutHudson’s LGBTQ Pride weekend”.

Troy Dance Factory Showcase at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall: Sixth annual.

The Shins at Ommegang: With Tennis Music.

Big Village Little City, Front Business, DJ Mercy at River Street Pub: Flavors of funk.

Twin Peaks, Honduras, Winstons at BSP: Indie.

Smorgasburg Upstate at Hutton Brickyards: Big outdoor market with food, drinks, wares and more in Kingston.

Father’s Day, Sunday June 18

Dad Fest in Washington Park: Celebrating all the fathers out there.

Smorgasburg Upstate at Hutton Brickyards: Big outdoor market with food, drinks, wares and more in Kingston.

Juneteenth Celebration at Capital South Campus Center: Music, food, entertainment, and more.

All weekend

Art Omi: The sculpture fields are awesome.

Day trip to MASS MoCA: Pretty drive and a great museum.

The NYS Museum: Bunch of great exhibits and it’s right in your backyard.

Second-run movies at the Madison Theater: Only five bucks!

Movies at The Spectrum: First run, independent movies at a small centrally located theater.

Farmer’s Markets: Troy, Delmar, and Saratoga on Saturday, and Schenectady and Saratoga on Sunday.

Quality events for this weekend

Friday June 09

TGIF Yoga at Heartspace: Community class, In both Albany and Troy.

Moon Worship, Hill Haints, Sun Natives at The Low Beat: Moon Worship’s record release show.

Circa Waves at The Hollow: Indie.

Endless Boogie, Brian Dewan at The Half Moon: Stomer/psych/blues rock.

Albany Got Soul at Fuze: Soul/funk dance party.

Juelz Santana at BSP: Seriously.

Saturday June 10

Art on Lark 2017: Celebrating the arts. Music/food/artisans/makers/etc.

Renaissance Festival at Indian Ladder: Oh hell yeah.

Freak Flag Day at Basilica Hudson: Fireworks, art, and a goth rave.

Comedy Show at Terra: Comedy in an Italian restaurant.

Palmslap, Escaper, Jelly Ellington at BSP: Funk/soul/fusion.

Kimock at Club Helsinki: American rock guitarist.

Sunday June 11

Capital Pride in Washington Park: Celebrating diversity with music, a parade, and more. 🏳️‍🌈

Troy Flea at Riverfront Park: Vintage, handmade, antiques and more.

Barrows, Yoma, Grimer at Pauly’s: Instrumental/heavy/rock/metal.

Vanna, Lions Lions, Ghost Key, Actor Observer, Unwill at Fuze: Post-hardcore.

All weekend

Art Omi: The sculpture fields are awesome.

Day trip to MASS MoCA: Pretty drive and a great museum.

The NYS Museum: Bunch of great exhibits and it’s right in your backyard.

Second-run movies at the Madison Theater: Only five bucks!

Movies at The Spectrum: First run, independent movies at a small centrally located theater.

Farmer’s Markets: Troy, Delmar, and Saratoga on Saturday, and Schenectady and Saratoga on Sunday.

Quality events for this weekend

Friday June 02

First Friday Albany: Arts, culture, music, food, and more all around Albany.

TGIF Yoga at Heartspace: Community class, In both Albany and Troy.

The Avett Brothers at Ommegang: With Nicole Atkins.

Opening Reception: Illustrated at Pine Hills APL: Opening for the latest art installation.

A Tribute to Weezer at The Hollow: Paying tribute to the Blue Album and Pinkerton.

Portugal. The Man at The Palace: With Electric Guest.

Albany Tea Festival at Overit: Get your tea on.

Hawthorne Heights at Jupiter Hall Albany: With Restless Streets, Viewpoints, and Almost Accounted For.

Pride Kick-Off Dance Party at BSP: It’s Pride month!

Exhuman presents Vital at Fuze: Goth night!

Savoy Taproom’s 1st Anniversary Party: Featuring music from True with performances throughout the night.

Saturday June 03

KIKI Screening at Crandell Theater: Screening of the acclaimed film.

Freedom Festival at The Sanctuary for Independent Media: Music, art, food, activities, and more.

Summer Jam at SPAC: Featuring Flo Rida, Sabrina Carpenter, Bebe Rexha, and more.

Dr. Beardface, Totally Gnarly, The Savage Randys at The Low Beat: Punk.

The Slackers And Los Thujones at BSP: Ska/dub/reggae.

Fun Time Music Show at Fuze: With Lanny, Dez, Off The Meat Rack, Killer Looks and Noise, Elohim, and DJ Element.

The Suitcase Junket at Club Helsinki: One man band.

Botanica with DJ Ephraim Asili at The Half Moon: Dance party.

Sunday June 04

Tour De Cure in Saratoga springs: Ride your bike for a good cause.

Triage at Club Helsinki: Jazz improv trio.

All weekend

Cambridge Balloon Festival: Full weekend of activities.

Art Omi: The sculpture fields are awesome.

Day trip to MASS MoCA: Pretty drive and a great museum.

The NYS Museum: Bunch of great exhibits and it’s right in your backyard.

Second-run movies at the Madison Theater: Only five bucks!

Movies at The Spectrum: First run, independent movies at a small centrally located theater.

Farmer’s Markets: Troy, Delmar, and Saratoga on Saturday, and Schenectady and Saratoga on Sunday.

Quality events for this weekend

Friday May 26

Body Shine Vol. 13 at Fuze: House, disco, dance. A proper dance party.

Troy Night Out: Arts, music, food, drinks and more around Troy.

TGIF Yoga at Heartspace: Community class, In both Albany and Troy.

Troy Night Out with Graft Cider at SMCo.: Cider and tacos.

Mase, 112, Carl Thomas, Total, Black Rob at The Palace: Hip-hop reunion show.

Swarming Branch, Neighborhood of Make Believe, Full Body, Kvlt Ddy, Maud the Pyschic at River St Pub: Folk/rock/glam/prog/etc.

Maybird, Sun Parade, Cannon the Brave at The Hollow: Indie/pop/alt/psych.

Morgan O’Kane, Vic Thrill at The Half Moon: Alternative/punk/Americana.

Pop Culture Provocateurs Burlesque Revue at Fuze: Sampling of all the area’s burlesque talent.

Elysia Crampton and Russell E.L. Butler at EMPAC: Boundary pushing electronic music.

The Figgs at The Low Beat: Preparing for a tour in Japan.

Cretin Hop Saratoga Vol. 1 at Putnam Den: Rock and roll dance party.

Saturday May 27

Noah Kalina Photography Exhibit Opening Reception in Livingston Manor: Opening for “The Fog”.

The Figgs at The Low Beat: Preparing for a tour in Japan.

Collard City Growers Annual Plant Sale at The Sanctuary for Independent Media: Barters welcome.

Sunday May 28

MASS MoCA Building 6 Grand Opening: Expanding an already huge and great building.

All weekend

Art Omi: The sculpture fields are awesome.

Day trip to MASS MoCA: Pretty drive and a great museum.

The NYS Museum: Bunch of great exhibits and it’s right in your backyard.

Second-run movies at the Madison Theater: Only five bucks!

Movies at The Spectrum: First run, independent movies at a small centrally located theater.

Farmer’s Markets: Troy, Delmar, and Saratoga on Saturday, and Schenectady and Saratoga on Sunday.

Sylvan Esso at Jupiter Hall: Photos and Recap

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On Wednesday night, EQX put on the first big show that’s crossed my radar at Crossgates’ new venue, Jupiter Hall. Inside of Lucky Strike Social, which has a “gastro kitchen” restaurant, arcade, bowling alley, rec room featuring games like ping pong, corn hole, and pool, as well as a brand new 650 person music venue, Sylvan Esso and Lucy Dacus played to an enthusiastic, sold out crowd. With malls all over the country feeling the squeeze from online retailers, they’re scrambling to put music, carnivals, and more experience based offerings in these malls to bring in younger crowds, and to ultimately stay afloat.

Lucy Dacus opened the show, starting at exactly 8pm. As an opener for Sylvan Esso, Lucy Dacus was a great choice, as the full band delivered slow-burning indie rock songs with an admirable casualness. The crowd universally enjoyed Lucy’s big voice, and becuase of the slower cadence of Lucy’s music, those in attendance were sufficiently ready to jump around for the headliners. Sylvan Esso took the stage with force, playing a few loud, dancy songs to get the crowds blood pumping, and to set the tone for the rest of their set. They went through their catalog, performing songs new and old with more indie and minimal sensibilities alongside the big crowd pleasers.

Once the show came to a close, I had forgotten I’d been in the mall for a few hours. As weird as it felt to head into the mall at 8pm on a weeknight for a show, the venue itself it felt familiar. I’ve got a hunch it will become much less weird to head to Crossgates for a show if talent like this keep coming to town.