Park News Article
Ten Must-See Live Shows Coming to Albany in September
September 1, 2024
Happy September Albany! The heat of summer may be winding down, but the live music scene remains hot this month throughout Albany, NY! From rising superstars making their Capital City debuts to the star-studded lineups of yearly musical festivals, it’s a great time to get out and experience a thrilling live show. Wherever you plan on enjoying live music this month, ParkAlbany is proud to offer convenient event parking at our parking garages & lots which are located just around the corner from your favorite venue. And to keep the fun going, be sure to browse our events calendar to discover another world-class show and find the best places to park!
9/1: Steel Panther at Empire Live
Kick off your month with glam metal parody quartet Steel Panther at Empire Live! Formed in Los Angeles in 2000, this group is best known for their over-the-top outfits, on-stage pseudonyms, and profane humorous lyrics. Their popularity grew in the early 2000s playing hair metal covers along LA’s Sunset Strip under the name “Metal Shop”, which they later changed to “Metal Skool” before finally settling on Steel Panther. By the mid-2000s, success from their debut EP propelled them to the mainstream media and they appeared as “Danger Kitty” in a Discover Card advertisement and appeared as themselves on the Drew Carey Show. Their cover of the song “Fantasy” by Aldo Nova was selected as the opening theme song for Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory and Steel Panther’s success has grown ever since! They have released 6 studio albums, 2 video albums, and 24 music videos of their outlandish glam metal parody music. If you’re looking for a laugh and some headbang-worthy glam metal/comedy rock where “Anything Goes”, you won’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind act during their “On The Prowl” World Tour!
9/10: Megadeth at the MVP Arena
Experience the legendary thrash metal of Megadeth this month at the MVP Arena! Led by the infamous Dave Mustaine, this iconic collective is regarded as one of the “Big Four” of thrash metal, with the others being Slayer, Anthrax, and Metallica. Known for their dual lead guitars, fast & complex arrangements, and lyrical themes of war, politics, death, and personal relationships, Megadeth has cemented themselves as one of the world’s most commercially successful metal acts of the late 20th-early 21st centuries. Hailing from Los Angeles, this group formed in 1983 after Dave Mustaine was fired from Metallica due to interpersonal conflicts with frontman James Hetfield. He vowed to exact revenge on Metallica by forming a group that was “faster and heavier” and recruited new members Dave Ellefson and Greg Handevidt, who played bass and guitar, respectively, and rounded out the new lineup before they all went on to record their first demo. By 1985, Megadeth released their first LP Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good! which is regarded today as an essential album in establishing thrash metal as an authentic subgenre of heavy metal. With its blistering solo sections and chaotic rhythms, Megadeth’s sound was defined with this album, and they continued to hone their sound and create more critically acclaimed music throughout their subsequent 15 studio albums. Today, Megadeth has sold more than 50 million records worldwide and remains an inspiration for numerous modern metal bands. The MVP Arena is the place to be for any metalhead this month, featuring hard-hitting openers Mudvayne and All That Remains as support for this iconic band’s “Destroy All Enemies” World Tour in Downtown Albany!
9/13: Peter Frampton at the Palace Theatre
“Show Me The Way” to the Palace Theatre this month for an unforgettable show with Peter Frampton! At 74 years old, this British guitarist is still rocking and enchanting audiences all over the world. Frampton has been a staple of the rock and roll world since the late 1960s and rose to prominence during his stint in the band Humble Pie when he was just 19. After departing the band, Peter went on to lead an illustrious solo career, releasing 4 studio albums between 1972-1976. In 1976, he released the live album Frampton Comes Alive! which reached 8x platinum in the United States and spawned several of his most iconic songs. This album brought the “talk box” guitar effect to prominence which became one of Peter’s trademark effects through the rest of his career.
Frampton Comes Alive! has defined Frampton’s career and is consistently ranked as one of the greatest live albums of all time. Thanks to this multiplatinum album’s success, his previous 4 and following 25 releases kept his popularity soaring, and Frampton has since won several Grammy awards, Juno awards, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year! It’s not every day a rock and roll legend comes to town, and fans won’t want to miss this icon’s “Positively Thankful” Tour! Be sure to park early and enjoy some pre-show dinner and drinks from one of the many wonderful establishments located a quick walk away from all the fun at the Palace!
9/14: Nate Smith at the Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival
The Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival is back for its 22nd year, and jazz lovers are in for a treat with drum phenom Nate Smith as the headliner! Drumming since he was 11 years old, Smith draws inspiration from rock and funk music. By 16, Nate had grown interested in jazz after listening to the record Album of the Year by jazz drum legend Art Blakely and his band The Jazz Messengers. While attending James Madison University to study media art and design, he performed at the Conference of the International Association for Jazz Education in Atlanta and met renowned jazz vocalist Betty Carter, who invited him to joint performances at the Blue Note Jazz Club in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan. Following performances between NYC and his home state of Virginia, Smith enrolled in graduate school at Virginia Commonwealth University and met bandleader Dave Holland and soon joined his lauded quintet in 2003.
After 14 years with Holland, Nate Smith released his first album as bandleader in 2017 titled Kinfolk: Postcards from Everywhere. In 2018, he cowrote and performed in funk group Vulfpeck’s debut EP and toured with them through 2019. From jazz to funk, Smith has been a dynamic figure in the drumming world, composing soundtracks for both the Discovery Channel and TLC and co-writing the song “Heaven Can Wait” with Michael Jackson. For fans of masterful drumming and awe-inspiring jazz, the 22nd iteration of this free annual Albany festival is another can’t-miss event this month, and Nate Smith is sure to cap off a fun-filled day along the scenic Hudson Riverfront! And getting there is as easy as parking at the Riverfront Garage and crossing the bridge attached to the garage straight to all the dazzling music at Jennings Landing!
9/15: Sevendust at Empire Live
Rock out with Atlanta-based quintet Sevendust this month at Empire Live! Since the mid 1990s, this group has been a fixture of the alternative rock/metal genres with their electrifying sound and energetic live performances. In 1994, bassist Vince Hornsby joined drummer Morgan Rose in a band called Snake Nation, and John Connolly joined as a guitarist. They recorded their first demo, but they weren’t pleased with the vocals. Following a year-long search, they recruited Lajon Witherspoon for vocals and added guitarist Lee Banks to complete the lineup and renamed themselves Rumblefish. Soon after Banks was replaced by longtime guitarist Clint Lowery, and so was the name Rumblefish, which they were forced to change after discovering another band with the same name. Rumblefish quickly became Crawlspace, but again, that name turned out to be taken, and that existing band found out and demanded $2,500 for naming rights. Instead of paying for Crawlspace (formally Rumblefish), they elected to change their name to Sevendust, inspired by the commercial insecticide brand “Sevin Dust”. As an homage to their earlier name, a song titled “Rumble Fish” was included on their second album Home.
Sevendust quickly solidified themselves as a premier alternative rock act thanks to their aggressive fusion of bottom-heavy guitar riffs and soulful, accessible choruses and melodies. They’ve played everything from grunge to rock to nu-metal, and their 14 acclaimed studio albums and 36 singles are evidence that this dynamic group has staying power. Their fourth studio album Seasons turns 21 this year, and the band is set to celebrate this album during their show here at Empire Live! From a Grammy nomination to 3 certified gold records, Sevendust is a timeless rock act that is sure to make for a thrilling closer to your weekend in Downtown Albany!
9/20: Bowling For Soup at Empire Live
Get ready to sing and dance like it’s “1985” with Bowling For Soup at Empire Live! In case you were wondering, the band is bowling to earn soup, and not on its behalf, thanks to a clarification from the band several years ago. This Wichita Falls, TX pop-punk group formed in 1994 and consisted of Jaret Reddick on guitar and lead vocals, Chris Burney on guitar, Erik Chandler on bass, and Lance Morrill on drums. Everyone except Reddick shared backup vocal duties, and by 1996, the group relocated to Denton, Texas to record their first record label album Rock on Honorable Ones!! This premiere album featured 15 songs of pure pop punk and cemented their role as the upbeat, pop-punk icons they’re known as today. Their 2002-2004 releases Drunk Enough to Dance and A Hangover You Don’t Deserve propelled them to superstardom, thanks to the smash hits “Girl All the Bad Guys Want”, “Punk Rock 101”, “1985”, and “Almost”. They’ve since released 6 more studio albums, 26 music videos, sang the theme song to Phineas and Ferb, and received a Grammy nomination.
Fusing pop-punk, power pop, and alternative rock, this group has been making fun, upbeat music for 30 years now, and fans are in for a treat when they play through A Hangover You Don’t Deserve front to back to celebrate 20 years of their breakthrough record! This Saturday night show is sure to be one for the books, and the Quackenbush & Riverfront Garages are both just a short walk from all the fun set to go down at Empire Live!
9/21: Robert DeLong at PearlPalooza 2024
Downtown Albany’s premier free music festival PearlPalooza is back this month for its 15th year, and North Pearl Street is set to come alive with an enchanting performance from Robert DeLong! This Washington-based musician has been on the scene since 2010, and he’s ready to electrify this must-visit festival with his acclaimed blend of house, dubstep, and electronic music.
Starting as a drummer for multiple Washington based indie rock bands, DeLong began to explore his local rave scene, leading to the incorporation of electronic elements into his compositions. In the early 2010’s DeLong branched out to begin his solo act, with his 2013 debut record Just Movement quickly hitting the Billboard Dance & Heatseekers charts thanks to his unique sound that was described as a merger of “electronic dance music, alternative rock, and vocals” that are “poppy enough to make you move but dissonant enough to be interesting”. He has since released 4 studio albums and had his 2018 song “My Favorite Color Is Blue” featured on the soundtrack to NHL 19.
DeLong’s live performances, where he has been known to use video game peripherals like Wiimotes and joysticks hooked up to a MIDI interface to modify his sound, feature a one-of-a-kind energy both on stage and in the crowd. From his dance-worthy beats to his mystifying vocals and arrangements, PearlPalooza fans are sure to love Robert DeLong as he headlines an action-packed Saturday in Downtown Albany! Attendees will have parking available at the Green-Hudson, Quackenbush, and Riverfront Garages, all of which are a quick walk from a fantastic array of local vendors, delicious food and drinks, and community partners lining the vibrant stretch of North Pearl Street between Pine Street & Sheridan Avenue! [Photo Credit: Downtown Albany BID]
9/24: Jelly Roll at the MVP Arena
One of country music’s newest superstars Jelly Roll is making his Albany debut this month, and the MVP Arena is slated to be packed with adoring fans of this breakout Nashville-based artist! Fusing country music with hip-hop, Jelly Roll’s one-of-a-kind sound has propelled him to the top of several US charts since his popularity exploded in the early 2020s. With a music career that kicked off in the early 2000s, Jelly Roll began by selling mixtapes of his music out of his car in Tennessee. The Plain Shmear Tape, his first mixtape, was released in 2003 and was followed with a four-part series Gamblin’ on the White Boy which has released between 2004 and 2011.
Various collaborations with other country and hip-hop artists helped Jelly Roll gain more recognition through the 2010s, and by 2021, he made his Grand Ole Opry radio debut, which is widely considered a crowning achievement for country artists in the metro Nashville area. The following year, he was invited by Craig Morgan to perform live with him at the Opry and soon after, scored his first Number One single, “Dead Man Walking”! 2022-2023 would see Jelly Roll spend a record-breaking 25 weeks atop Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart and sell out the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. He has since won 4 CMT Awards, 2 iHeart Radio Awards, a People’s Choice Award, and earned a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for his song “Save Me” featuring Lainey Wilson!
This Nashville phenom show no signs of stopping, and his “Beautifully Broken” Tour is your chance to experience this rising star for yourself right here in Albany! Parking for this must-see show will be available at the Green-Hudson & Riverfront Garages, both located a short walk from the MVP Arena and near plenty of amazing eateries for some delicious pre-show bites & pints!
9/25: X at Empire Live
If you’ve ever enjoyed punk rock or 90s grunge, chances are your favorite band has been influenced by X! These Los Angeles punkers have been on the scene since 1977, and nearly 50 years later, this quartet is still rocking! Founded by bassist-singer John Doe and guitarist Billy Zoom in 1977, the band began to take shape after Doe started bringing his girlfriend Exene Cervenka to their practices, which lead to her taking on the role of full-time vocalist. Drummer DJ Bonebrake joined as X’s drummer soon after Cervenka, and the lineup was complete!
First signing with Dangerhouse Records in 1978, X began playing local LA clubs and building their reputation in the punk scene, this eventually lead to the band signing with larger independent label Slash Records. After paying their dues on the LA scene and moving labels, X released their debut record Los Angeles in 1980, which sold higher than most other independent label releases at the time and was produced by The Doors’ legendary keyboard player Ray Manzarek. Featuring Doe and Cervenka’s now-signature off-kilter harmonic vocals, Los Angeles was a hit and served as the prototype for the band’s following releases, which would transition to shorter and faster songs that more closely resembled the now typical punk rock sound. X would go on to release 5 more genre-defining studio albums between 1982-1993 before entering a prolonged hiatus between 1998-2004. Since then, X has continued to tour frequently throughout North America and released 2 more studio albums, Alphabetland in 2020 and Smoke & Fiction in 2024. Doe announced earlier this year that Smoke & Fiction will be X’s final album and their eponymous tour will be their final tour as well. If you’ve never seen this high-octane punk act live, their show in Downtown Albany is your last chance to witness these legends performing in-person!
9/26: Teddy Swims at the Palace Theatre
Enjoy the soulful R&B melodies of rising star Teddy Swims at the Palace Theatre this September! Rising to prominence both online and in the Atlanta metro area, thanks to his YouTube song covers of artists like Michael Jackson, H.E.R., Amy Winehouse and Chris Stapleton and after, joining various alternative rock/R&B bands, Swims got their first major taste of stardom in October 2019 with a cover of Shania Twain’s “You’re Still the One”. This viral video quickly went on to become a breakout moment, garnering 167 million views and became the catalyst for the recording of Teddy’s debut major label single “Picky” in January 2020. After embarking on his first headlining tour soon after in support of his Unlearning EP, he would later perform on The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Late Late Show with James Corden, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show, all while maintaining his extensive touring and creating more viral YouTube song covers.
Teddy Swims released his debut studio album I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1) in September 2023, which features his trademark blend of R&B/soul/pop. This record is now certified Gold in the United States and is evidence that this artist is quickly on the rise and shows no signs of slowing down! Teddy Swims’ latest tour in support of this album stops by the iconic Palace Theatre with support from his band Freak Freely, and this thrilling Thursday night spectacle is sure to be one for the books!
September is jam-packed with incredible shows for nearly every taste, so be sure to get out and experience all that Albany has to offer this month! Remember that our nearby parking garages & lots are all conveniently located and just a quick walk from all the fun in Downtown Albany and beyond. To discover more amazing upcoming events happening throughout the city, be sure to check out our extensive events calendar for more information and to find the best places to park for your upcoming experience in New York’s Capital City!
