Fourteen years ago, I wrote a cover story for Metroland, a Capital Region alternative newsweekly, about a little-known music group called Charlie Everywhere. Sarah Barthel and Joshua Carter were making dreamy electronic pop music over Carter’s hip-hop beats. They performed at local VFW halls and at King’s Tavern.
At the time, Barthel and Carter were recording an album in a barn at Carter’s family’s house in Easton. A song calledMouthful of Diamonds was on the album. The dressing room at a Gap was where I heard it playing several years ago.
They had signed to Barsuk Records, released their debut album, and changed their name to Phantogram. They soon became one of the biggest musical acts to ever emerge from the Capital Region, playing major festivals like Coachella and Bonnaroo while collaborating with major stars like rapper Big Boi and pop singerMiley Cyrus. Their songs have been used in movies, video games, and Gillette commercials.
It is a big deal when Phantogram return to the area, as they do on Saturday at PearlPalooza, a free, all-ages music festival in downtown Albany.
This is billed as a DJ set, not a live performance. On previous tours, Barthel and Carter used drummer Chris Carhart and keyboardist Nick Shelestak. The duo will spin a mix of their recorded songs along with tunes they like for a DJ set, instead of a band playing.
At 11 a.m., there will be an all-levels yoga class. BattleaXXX, an awesome and hilarious trio of hard-rocking women from Albany, will play at noon followed by alt-rock solo act Precious Metals from Troy, genre-blending Arizona singer-songwriter the Kaleidoscope Kid, and Los Angeles rock quartet Whole Damn Mess
Outlaw Festival Returns to SPAC
There are several guarantees at Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival, which returns to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Sunday at 3:25 p.m.
Willie and Trigger have been on tour together since 1969 and Willie will bring his guitar. He will open with his signature tune, Whiskey River, followed by classics such as “On the Road Again” and “You Were Always on My Mind.” At 89 years old, his voice can’t take it, he won’t sing every song. But he can sing.
The opening acts will be Billy Strings, The Avett Brothers, The Avett Brothers, and Brittany Spencer. Willie’s Reserve: Nelson’s brand of cannabis grown by independent farmers will be sold by vendors in the Outlaw Village. At some point during the night, you will think that you are lucky to see Willie Nelson.
The Week Ahead
Fareed Haque, a modern guitar virtuoso, leads a group of musicians that combine the sounds of jazz, world music, and funk to create a sound of their own. 7:30 p.m.
On Friday at 8 p.m., West Coast folk band Vetiver will play at the Hangar on the Hudson.
The Palace Theater (19 Clinton Ave., Albany) will host a show by Alice Cooper on Friday at 8 p.m.
One of the most commercially successful pop-jazz groups, the Spyro Gyra, fills the historic Cohoes Music Hall with groovy jazz sounds. The time is 8 pm.
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