Park News Article
Ten Must-See Live Shows Coming to Albany in November
November 1, 2024
November is here, with another fantastic lineup of live music happening in Albany New York! It’s getting colder outside, but the live music scene remains hot! From hip-hop legends to rock and metal titans coming to town, there’s an electrifying concert for everyone throughout New York’s Capital City! No matter where your upcoming concert plans take you, ParkAlbany’s garages and lots can always be found a quick walk from your destination. And to stay in the loop with these and many other amazing upcoming events, be sure to explore our events calendar for more information!
11/01: The LOX at the Palace Theatre
Kick off your month with iconic hip-hop group The LOX! Formed in Yonkers in 1994, this trio consists of rappers Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch. Initially named the Bomb Squad, they later changed their name to the Warlox, before ultimately shortening their name to The LOX after signing with Bad Boy Records. Thanks to attention from Mary J. Blige and collaborations with Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, and Mase, The LOX gained mainstream success and released Money, Power & Respect in 1998. Their debut record peaked at Number 3 on the Billboard 200 and is now certified platinum! Following now-famous legal disputes with their record label the next year, The LOX departed Bad Boy Records for Ruff Ryders, and released We Are the Streets in 2000, which peaked at Number 5 on the Billboard 200! Through the early 2000s, Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch each worked on separate solo projects and The LOX entered an indefinite hiatus until they reformed in 2013, when they went on to release 2 EPs and 2 more studio albums. Today, The LOX is back and better than ever, and they remain a staple of East Coast rap! Their Friday night show at the historic Palace Theatre is sure to be an unforgettable night for hip-hop lovers, and event parking will be available a quick walk from all the action at the Quackenbush & Riverfront Garages!
11/02: GWAR at Empire Live
Sci-fi space monsters GWAR are set to take over Empire Live this November! In 1984, this Virginia collective led by frontman Dave Brockie came together with a shared love for rock, metal, mythology, and absurd humor, which they used to craft their over-the-top, monstrous assortment of “barbaric interplanetary warriors”. This narrative served as the lyrical and performative basis for all of the band’s fifteen studio albums, with their debut album Hell-O debuting in September 1988! Beginning with a hardcore punk sound, GWAR expanded into genres like thrash, metal, and rock, all featuring their signature boundary-pushing lyrical themes of violence, political satire, and toilet humor. Since their formation, GWAR became known as one of the world’s most acclaimed and controversial “shock rock” bands, evident in their rambunctious live shows featuring their trademark grotesque costumes, questionable lyrics, and enactments of graphic violence which result in the audience bring sprayed with an assortment of “fluids”! Following the unexpected death of Dave “Oderus Urungus” Brockie in 2014, bassist Michael “Blöthar the Berserker” stepped up as lead vocalist, and the band has been going strong in his memory ever since! Today, GWAR remains the same controversial, over-the-top collective that has garnered so much attention throughout the last 40 years, and these legendary space monsters are slated to bring their iconic live spectacle back to Downtown Albany for a truly unforgettable evening of rock, shock, and plenty of fake blood!
11/04: The Hu at Empire Live
Have you ever listened to Mongolian folk metal before? If not, The Hu is bringing their unique act to Empire Live for a can’t-miss show! Formed in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in 2016, this dynamic quartet fuses metal with traditional Mongolian instrumentation like the tovshuur, the morin khuur, and throat singing, and they drew inspiration from the Hunnu empire in a style they dubbed “Hunnu rock”. They adopted the name “The Hu”, which is Mongolian for “human beings”, and their tovshuur player stated that they “took the name because of the inclusive nature”, adding “It’s not about being Mongolian; it’s about being human”. In 2018, The Hu released the music video for “Wolf Totem”, and this song reached Number 1 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Digital Song Sales, making them the first Mongolian musical act to ever top a Billboard chart! Their popularity skyrocketed from there, and The Hu received the highest state award in Mongolia, the Order of Genghis Khan, for promoting Mongolian culture around the world. With several music and culture awards, appearances in two Star Wars video games, and 2 critically acclaimed studio albums under their belt, The Hu is on the rise, and you won’t want to miss their stop in Albany this month! Be sure to park early at the Quackenbush or Riverfront Garage and grab a bite to eat from one of downtown’s many amazing eateries before all the fun kicks off at Empire Live!
11/09: Pop Evil at Empire Live
Get ready to rock this November with Pop Evil! If you like hard-hitting rock/metal/post-grunge, this must-see Saturday show is for you! This quintet formed in Muskegon, Michigan in 2001 from the pieces of several local bands, including vocalist Leigh Kakaty’s previous band TenFive. After only playing covers for years, the band eventually released War of the Roses independently in 2004, followed by Ready or Not in 2006, which featured fan favorite song “Somebody Like You”. Through these releases, they were referred by a talent scout to Erik Quintero of G&G Entertainment, who signed the band to a management deal in 2008. Their following release Lipstick on the Mirror was released later that year, and their songs “Hero” and “100 in a 55” received plenty of airplay and praise on U.S. rock radio! By 2011, Pop Evil released “In the Big House” as a tribute to the University of Michigan and was used as the football team’s pump-up song during home games in the early 2010s! Since then, the band has released 5 studio albums and has toured with bands like Disturbed, Theory of a Deadman, and Killswitch Engage! This Saturday night bang your head with Pop Evil, coheadliner Bad Wolves, along with Sierra Pilot and Oni when they bring their high-octane “Animal Instinct Tour” to Downtown Albany!
11/13: Haley Heynderickx at The Egg Performing Arts Center
Looking to enjoy dazzling indie folk music this month? Then visiting this must-see show with Haley Heynderickx at The Egg Performing Arts Center will be “Worth It”! Hailing from Oregon, Heynderickx has been a fixture of the indie folk scene since 2015. She learned how to sing in church while she was growing up in Forest Grove, Oregon with her Filipino-American family, and she has used her heritage and upbringing as inspiration for her lyrics and songwriting. Haley has stated she draws from a wide array of influences in her music, citing folk music of the 1960s-1970s, jazz radio, and idiosyncratic guitar styles made famous by artists John Fahey and Leo Kottke. The latter influences are especially apparent in her guitar playing, with her songs featuring agile fingerpicking of notes behind her soaring vocals. Her debut EP Fish Eyes was released in 2016 and she released her debut album I Need to Start a Garden in 2018 which was met with widespread acclaim. NPR Music wrote that the album “captivates” and Heynderickx was named an “Artist to Watch” by Stereogum thanks to this release. She has since released 2 more EPs of her signature introspective folk music and has opened for several high profile indie folk artists. Her newest album Seed Of A Seed was released TODAY, so fans are in for a treat when she brings brand-new music along with her classics to The Egg for a memorable show in one of Albany’s most striking venues!
11/16: Pentatonix at the MVP Arena
America’s premier a cappella quintet Pentatonix is coming to town to unofficially kick off the holiday season in Albany! Best known for their pop-style arrangements overlayed with vocal harmonies that incorporate scat singing, beatboxing, vocal percussion and riffing, this Texas group is one of the most unique and commercially successful musical acts of the last decade! Consisting of Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, and Matt Sallee, Pentatonix won Season 3 of The Sing-Off in 2011 and began distributing their music through Madison Gate Records via YouTube. Featuring acclaimed a cappella covers of modern pop songs, PTX, Volume 1 helped jumpstart their stardom, reaching Number 2 on the US Billboard Top Independent Charts in 2012. PTX, Volume II was released in 2013 and quickly reached Number 1 on Billboard’s Independent Albums charts! The next year, they signed with RCA records and released their first of many Christmas albums, That’s Christmas to Me and their popularity skyrocketed from there!
By 2015, Pentatonix won their first Grammy Award for the song “Daft Punk”, and they went on to win 2 more Grammys between 2016-2017. Their first Christmas special aired in 2016 on NBC and ran yearly through 2018, all in conjunction with several more Christmas albums and guest appearances. From their lengthy list of accolades to their yearly presence around the holiday season, Pentatonix’s unique take on music and performing has led them to be a household name, and their upcoming “Hallelujah! It’s A Christmas Tour” is the perfect way to experience this iconic group for yourself during a fun-filled Saturday at the MVP Arena! Want to start the fun earlier? Park early at the Green-Hudson Garage and grab a bite to eat from one of the many incredible nearby eateries located a quick walk from the garage and arena!
11/17: Exodus at Empire Live
Metalheads won’t want to miss thrash metal legends Exodus this November! This California quintet has been a fixture of the Bay Area thrash metal scene for nearly half a century, bringing their signature blend of aggressive guitar work and fast-paced rhythms to adoring metal fans all over the world! Then-unknown Kirk Hammett of Metallica formed Exodus in 1979 with several high school classmates, and they began to make a name for themselves playing covers of British heavy metal songs along with their own original music during backyard parties and school functions. Kirk eventually departed the band in 1983 to replace Dave Mustaine in Metallica, and the band underwent several other lineup changes, with guitarist Gary Holt remaining as the only member to appear on all of Exodus’ recordings. While the “Big Four” of thrash metal is the arrangement most commonly known in the metal scene, talks of the “Big Six” and even the “Big Eight” circulated to include Exodus, who are often regarded as pioneers of the genre.
Since the formation of Exodus, they’ve released eleven studio albums of hard-hitting thrash metal, as well as three live albums, a compilation album, and a re-recorded version of their 1985 breakout album Bonded by Blood. The band separated between 1993-1997 and again between 1998-2001, but they’ve been back and going strong ever since! Dubbed the “original kings of Bay Area thrash metal”, Exodus carries a significant legacy and influence in the metal world, and their visit to Empire Live is sure to be an amazing showing of history and talent in New York’s Capital City!
11/20: Trans-Siberian Orchestra at the MVP Arena
Keep the holiday spirit going strong this November with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra! For nearly 30 years, TSO has been an arena rock juggernaut bringing high-octane renditions of holiday music to nearly 10 million fans, and they’re returning to Downtown Albany for the third year in a row! Founded in 1996 by Paul O’Neill, Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli of the band Savatage, TSO fuses rock and metal with symphonic elements and neoclassical music. Gaining significant popularity when they began touring in 1999 after releasing their second album The Christmas Attic, theTrans-Siberian Orchestra released four more studio albums between then and 2015, slowing down their recording to focus on their now-famous extravagant live performances! TSO is lauded for their elaborate holiday season concerts which feature a massive ensemble of touring symphony musicians all while incorporating mesmerizing light shows, pyrotechnics, lasers, video screens, and effects synchronized to their music!
As a result of their mind-blowing live shows, Trans-Siberian Orchestra is one of the best-selling live bands of the 21st century! They’re one of the few bands ever to go straight to theatres and arenas instead of starting at smaller clubs and venues, they’ve never been an opening act, and they’ve never had a band open for them! Their metal-laced covers of holiday music and charitable efforts through their extensive touring have made them both a household name and a holiday season staple, and “The Lost Christmas Eve Tour” is sure to be another unforgettable spectacle in Albany, NY!
11/23: Talib Kweli at Lark Hall
Hip-hop icon and activist Talib Kweli is bringing his renowned songwriting to the quarters of Lark Hall this month! This Brooklyn MC has emerged as one of the most lyrically talented and socially insightful rappers since he came onto the scene in 1997! Kweli connected with fellow Brooklyn rapper Mos Def in 1998 to form Black Star and releasing the critically acclaimed Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star the same year , which featured lyrical themes of modern-day social issues and philosophical ideas. Their following release Hip Hop For Respect was released in 2000 and spoke out against a notable case of police brutality involving Amadaou Diallo, which brought together 41 emcees to represent the 41 shots fired upon Diallo. Kweli’s activism and unapologetic commentary have remained strong throughout his career, evident in his thought-provoking songwriting. Talib Kweli has released 8 solo studio albums and was part of 11 other studio albums through both Black Star and additional collaborations with rappers like Madlib and Pharrell Williams.
Throughout his 27-year music career, Kweli has created a truly commanding presence in the hip-hop world, and his Saturday night show is sure to be an incredible showing of talent and lyricism! For those driving in from out of town, enjoy free on-street parking in the area of Lark Hall and be sure to grab some pre/post show drinks and bites from the amazing eateries located along Lark Street!
11/29: Monica at the MVP Arena
Get ready for an action-packed evening at the MVP Arena during the Ladies Love R&B Concert, featuring a stacked lineup of iconic R&B artists and a headlining performance from Monica! Monica has been a fixture of the R&B scene since 1991 and gained prominence following the release of her debut record Miss Thang in 1995. Her second album The Boy Is Mine was released in 1998 and became her best-selling album and thank to Monica having more creative control, the album spawned three Billboard number one singles.
The Boy Is Mine became a legendary R&B album, and Monica’s success continued through the 2000s-2010s, as she won a Grammy Award, a Billboard Video Music Award, a BET Award, and a Soul Train Award. Today, Monica remains a legendary R&B artist who continues to enchant fans with her commanding stage presence and iconic alto singing voice. For fans of R&B, the “Ladies Love R&B”concert is the perfect opportunity to witness Monica’s talents here in the Capital Region! Be sure to park early at the Green-Hudson Garage and enjoy Downtown Albany’s incredible bars and restaurants before an unforgettable concert at the MVP Arena!
November features an incredible lineup of world-class talent, and you won’t want to miss any of the action! No matter where you choose to enjoy a show this month, ParkAlbany’s garages and lots are always a quick walk from your destination. And to start planning your next live music adventure in Albany, be sure to check out our events calendar to discover more amazing upcoming musical outings!
