Park News Article
Ten Must-See Live Shows Coming to Albany in October
October 1, 2024
Welcome to October! There’s another incredible lineup of live music coming to Albany this month, and you won’t want to miss any of the action! From the return of hip-hop and jam band legends to the Capital Region debuts of rising indie and country stars, October is shaping up to be another month of amazing shows in New York’s Capital City. Wherever your concert travels take you in Albany this month, ParkAlbany’s garages and lots are always a quick walk away from all the fun. And to stay up to date with these shows and other upcoming events, be sure to browse our extensive events calendar for more information!
10/1: Switchfoot at Empire Live
Rock fans are in for a treat when Switchfoot kicks off the fun at Empire Live! This San Diego quartet has been on the scene since 1996 and were a key figure in the late 90s/early 2000s alternative rock movement. The name Switchfoot derives from a surfing term when you switch your feet to take a new stance in the opposite direction atop a wave, and frontman Jon Foreman stated that it’s “about change and movement, a different way of approaching life and music”. In 2002 the band was launched to new heights when their music was prominently featured on the soundtrack for the movie A Walk to Remember which included the songs “You”, “Learning to Breathe”, and “Only Hope” which was also covered by Mandy Moore. Switchfoot has been producing their patented blend of alternative rock/post grunge ever since, churning out 12 studio albums, 10 EPs, 43 singles, and 39 music videos. This storied collective remains a figurehead in the rock community, and they “Dare You to Move” at Empire Live for a thrilling Tuesday night show in Downtown Albany!
10/10: Chase Matthew at Empire Live
At just 26 years old, Chase Matthew has become a prominent rising star in the Tennessee country scene! Born in Sevierville and raised in Nashville, Chase began recording music as a teenager while also working as a mechanic. He officially launched his music career by age 22 and released his first EP County Line in 2021 through Holler Boy Records, with the title track becoming Chase’s first ever single. This single later became certified platinum, and he released his first studio album Born for This, which reached Number 2 on the US Heatseekers charts! Chase signed with Warner Records Nashville in October 2022 and released Come Get Your Memory in June 2023. “Love You Again” was his second breakout single which reached Number 9 on US Country Airplay and Number 24 on US Country charts! With every release, Chase Matthew’s popularity within the country world continues to grow and on October 10th Empire Live will be the place to be for any country fan who wants to experience this rising star for themselves! For those traveling from out of town, parking will be available at the Quackenbush & Riverfront Garages, both located a short walk from all the fun set to go down at Empire Live!
10/11: Lil Wayne at the MVP Arena
One of the world’s most iconic rappers stops by the MVP Arena this month, and it’s none other than hip-hop legend Lil Wayne! Often regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, and Lil Wayne has been rapping since he was just 11 years old in New Orleans. Signing with Cash Money Records in 1993, Lil Wayne quickly emerged as the record label’s flagship artist, and he held that honor for 25 years! Since 1999, this multiplatinum rapper has released 14 critically acclaimed studio albums, 3 compilation albums, 5 EPs, and 29 mixtapes. He has also won 5 Grammy Awards, 11 BET Awards, 2 MTV Video Music Awards, 8 NAACP Image Awards, and became the first male artist to surpass Elvis Presley with the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts with 109 songs! This special October show also features opening acts Lloyd, Ying Yang Twins, and Selfish Sons, all of which are sure to deliver amazing sets before “Weezy” delivers an unforgettable show in Downtown Albany! Want to start the Friday night fun a little earlier? Park at the Green-Hudson Garage and stop by the amazing bars and restaurants located a quick walk from the MVP Arena for some ice-cold drinks and delicious food!
10/11: The Mountain Goats at The Egg Performing Arts Center
Indie folk icons The Mountain Goats have been writing music since 1991, and over 30 years later, this dynamic North Carolina outfit is still going strong! The Egg Performing Arts Center is the place to be this month for dazzling folk music, with the venue’s corner-free setup providing immaculate acoustics! Led by John Darnielle, The Mountain Goats are known for producing their early songs through lo-fi home recordings made on personal boomboxes, then issuing their releases on as 7-inch vinyl and cassette tapes. Their prolific output through these audio mediums garnered a cult following of fans, releasing 4 studio albums, 6 demo albums, and 8 EPs between 1991-1998! They’ve since slowed their output, but focused their sound into an intriguing fusion of folk/rock that has stood the test of time between old and new fans alike. They’ve played live on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, the Late Show with David Letterman, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (who even joined them to sing “This Year” with the band)! Today, they remain a must-see act for indie folk fans, and their show at a venue as unique as The Egg is perfectly fitting for a band as unique as The Mountain Goats!
10/14: Fozzy at Empire Live
Rock and wrestling often go together, but how many rock bands are fronted by a wrestling icon? WWE/AEW legend Chris Jericho’s band Fozzy is stopping by Empire Live this month, and you don’t want to miss it! Formed in Atlanta in 1999 as Fozzy Osbourne, this group was initially a cover band assembled by Rich “The Duke” Ward from whatever musicians he could find in a given week. After meeting Chris Jericho in San Antonio following a wrestling show, Rich invited Chris to play a few shows with the band, with the first being in Marietta, Georgia and by 2000, Jericho (performing under the identity “Mongoose McQueen”) had fully joined the band now known simply as “Fozzy”! In the early years, Jericho refused to acknowledge that he and McQueen were the same person, and while in his wrestling persona Jericho would often state that he was a “huge fan” of Mongoose and Fozzy, while Mongoose would say the same about Jericho. Fozzy adopted a satirical backstory of being stranded rock stars that had their music snatched and re-recorded by other bands in the early 2000s and released 2 records of only hair metal covers. They eventually dropped their fictitious story and the McQueen persona to release original material in 2005 through their album All That Remains, which was met with widespread acclaim and popularity. Fozzy has since operated as a well-oiled rock machine, releasing 6 albums of hard-hitting original rock/heavy metal. For those looking to rock this month, Fozzy at Empire Live is the perfect show to bang your head and experience this one-of-a-kind band right here in Albany!
10/14: The California Honeydrops at Lark Hall
From busking in the subways of Oakland to playing stages all over the world, The California Honeydrops are set to deliver an amazing show this month at Lark Hall! Frontman Lech Wierzynski started playing blues and jazz as a teenager in Washington D.C. and studied trumpet under jazz legend Marcus Belgrave. Following his studies, he moved to Oakland to launch his own career and connected with piano veteran Chris Burns, Nansamba Ssensalo, and Ben Malament, who would rotate between tub bass, jug, washboard, and drums! From roots and blues to soul and R&B, the band’s sound is known for being tied together by their instrumentation, New Orleans-style songwriting, and distinctive vocal harmonies. With the unique blending of all these musical elements in place the quartet began playing in Oakland subways where they gained a loyal fanbase that grew into national attention and landed them a spot in Poland’s Rawa Blues Festival! The California Honeydrops continued touring and their fan base continued growing thanks to notable performances at the New Orleans Jazz Fest, the Byron Bays Bluesfest, and as an opening act for Bonnie Raitt in 2016! Be sure to not miss this truly one-of-a-kind Blues/R&B performance at Lark Hall in Albany’s Center Square neighborhood where there is also an amazing array of restaurants and bars for concertgoers to enjoy before and after the show along vibrant Lark Street!
10/18: Czarface at Empire Underground
Who’s a fan of east coast hip-hop AND comic books? This month at Empire Underground, fans are in for a special show from supergroup Czarface, a group known for their acclaimed music AND their comics! Formed in 2013 by underground hip-hop duo 7L & Esoteric and Wu-Tang Clan’s Inspectah Deck, this trio came together after previous collaborations and sought to “create something worth listening to”, according to Inspectah Deck. With no goals for the album, the trio released a 15 song record titled CZARFACE, with the album artwork resembling scenes from an action-based comic. Visuals aside, the album was met with widespread acclaim, and the group adopted the album’s title as the group’s official name! Czarface was later written as a mascot for the group and would be referenced in their future lyrics, album artwork, and lauded comic series! This written persona was further developed and expanded upon in both the group’s subsequent 14 releases and in the official comic book “Czarface: A Czar is Born” from 2021. From the deep lore of Czarface as a character referenced in the supergroup’s music and comics to 7L, Esoteric, and Inspectah Deck’s intricate storytelling and hip-hop prowess, this can’t-miss show within the intimate quarters of Empire Underground is sure to be one for the ages!
10/19: Albany Symphony Orchestra at the Palace Theatre
Classical music is back in New York’s Capital City this October, and the Albany Symphony Orchestra makes their triumphant 2024 debut at the Palace Theatre for a special Saturday night show! This historic collective has been a testimony to Albany’s local talent and musical prowess for several generations, and their role in the community has been significant since their inception 94 years ago! Led by David Alan Miller, the symphony is the oldest professional symphony orchestra in the Capital Region, and they have released more than 20 albums, encompassing nearly 60 works. This storied collective has even won two Grammy Awards, one in 2014 and another in 2021! Their 2024 Albany debut is slated to feature Yuval Chen on piano, Tania León’s world premiere of Pregón, Tchaikovsky’s First Concerto, and Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4. Heading to experience this must-see show live? Park early at the nearby Quackenbush Garage and be sure to grab some pre-show food and drinks from a wonderful eatery nearby!
10/25-10/27: Phish at the MVP Arena
Legendary jam band Phish is bringing their acclaimed act to the MVP Arena this month for a special 3 day set of benefit shows! Best known for their mesmerizing musical improvisations and extended jams, Phish has been one of the world’s most beloved jam acts for over 40 years! Formed in Burlington, Vermont in 1983, Phish consists of Trey Anastasio on guitar/vocals, John Fishman on drums, Mike Gordon on bass, and Page McConnell on keyboards. Inspired by the style of the Grateful Dead, Phish stepped into the jam scene in the mid-1980s and seemingly carried the torch when the Dead disbanded in the mid-1990s. Since then, Phish has maintained an extremely dedicated fanbase thanks to the band encouraging “bootleg” recordings of live shows to share with one another, fostering a sense of community with pre-show gatherings, and ensuring no two Phish shows ever have the same setlist! Known for always mixing it up and injecting their patented psychedelic rock/funk/jazz fusion into their dazzling jams and unusual vocal arrangements, Phish has been a household name for over 40 years, and are arguably the biggest jam band since the Grateful Dead! Between October 25th-27th, fans will jam out for a good cause here in New York’s Capital City, with all proceeds benefiting the Divided Sky Foundation; a Ludlow, Vermont-based nonprofit founded by Trey Anastasio and Melanie Gulde dedicated to providing a safe, supportive location for those struggling with addiction to begin their recovery. Whether you’re looking to jam out with dedicated Phish fans or witness a generational act right here in Albany, these 3 shows are an amazing way to close out the last weekend of October!
Parking for the massive 3-day event will be available at all three ParkAlbany Downtown Parking Garages. Attendees who don’t mind a short walk and are looking to avoid congestion around the MVP Arena on the day of these shows are encouraged to park at the Riverfront Garage, located at 2 Columbia Street.
10/29: Set It Off at Empire Live
There’s nothing quite like singing and dancing along to a catchy pop-punk song live, and Florida trio Set It Off is the perfect band to enjoy some upbeat rock at Empire Live this October! Formed in 2008, this renowned trio consists of vocalist Cody Carson, guitarist/bassist Zach Dewall, and drummer Maxx Danzinger. The band’s large following initially came from Carson’s YouTube channel, and thanks to that attention, the group signed with Equal Vision Records where they released three EPs between 2008-2011. Fusing elements of emo with pop-punk/alternative, fans from across the spectrum of rock music were intrigued by Set It Off, and their success continued to grow through 2013-2014, where their songs “Partners In Crime” and “Why Worry” both reached Certified Gold and attained US Rock Radio airplay! Set It Off has played numerous tours since including the Vans Warped Tour in the mid-2010s. In 2018 the band signed with Fearless Records which led to the release of their album Midnight, which incorporated elements of both pop rock and R&B to their sound and landed at 86 on the US Top Albums Charts. Today, Set It Off is a premier pop-punk/rock act in the United States, and the “Deathless: Part II” Tour is your chance to enjoy their anthemic music as an electrifying close to October’s must-see shows!
From hip-hop to jam bands and plenty in between, October is stacked with an incredible roster of live music coming to Albany! No matter where you choose to enjoy a concert this month, ParkAlbany’s garages and lots are always just a short walk from your destination. And to stay in the loop with these and other wonderful upcoming events throughout the city, be sure to check out our events calendar for more details!
