Author

Neil Benjamin Jr. 72 posts 0 comments

Neil Benjamin Jr. has been a music, sports and news journalist for nearly a decade, earning a few NENPA and AP awards in that time. A recent career shift into the education field has allowed Neil to focus his work on his most fervent interest: live music. Melding his writing talent and music passion is dream come true for a teacher who has attended more than 100 Phish concerts.

Interviews

New York Minute: A Chat With Jess Novak

Neil Benjamin Jr. Mar 7, 2016

Jess Novak is young, talented and so full of soul that it's sometimes tough to remember she's just a regular girl. A girl who has recorded multiple albums, performed nearly 300 shows, has participated in triathlons, has sung the National…

Show Reviews

Peaking Upstate: Twiddle Plumps Sold-Out Crowd

Neil Benjamin Jr. Feb 28, 2016

It was fitting to see a sold out Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park on Friday night for many reasons. Mainly, it signified maturity and growth for Formula 5 and headliner Twiddle, a jam-rock group out of Burlington. Formula 5 has been…

Album Reviews

Hearing Aide: David Gans ‘It’s a Hand-Me-Down’

Neil Benjamin Jr. Feb 26, 2016

David Gans is a man with many talents. After launching a music career in 1970, Gans became a noted and award-winning journalist born, writing for Rolling Stone, Relix and BAM, while also serving as editor at a few different publications.…

Show Reviews

Wild Adriatic Record Live Album in Saratoga at Putnam Den

Neil Benjamin Jr. Feb 22, 2016

Wild Adriatic brought its show to the Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs with a bit more hype than a typical show. The three-piece rock band, based out of Albany, announced months ago it was going to record a live album on February 20 in the…

Show Reviews

RAQ Stuffs the Hollow on Reunion Run

Neil Benjamin Jr. Feb 17, 2016

RAQ is baq. Let's hope they continue this upward trajectory. The four-piece band has not played much in recent years due to members being tied up in a cavalcade of other projects. A somewhat perfect storm recently paved way for the band to…

Uncategorized

Nance Out, Trucks in as Widespread Panic Drummer

Neil Benjamin Jr. Feb 9, 2016

News broke a short time ago that founding member Todd Nance is no longer the drummer for Widespread Panic, and that Duane Trucks is taking over rhythm duties from here on out, according to a report on Jambase. Nance was WSP's drummer…

Capital Region

Formula 5’s Joe Davis Talks new Lineup, Cohesion, Phish in Advance of Tour

Neil Benjamin Jr. Jan 13, 2016

Of all the music I saw in 2015, one moment stands out in particular. At Disc Jam, headlining band Twiddle was deep into their set when suddenly, but slowly, each member of the Vermont band was swapped out for the members of Upstate New York…

Show Reviews

Phish Show no Signs of Rust in MSG Opener, December 30, 2015

Neil Benjamin Jr. Jan 4, 2016

It really shouldn't have come as even the slightest surprise that Phish opened their four-night New Year's run at Madison Square Garden on December 30, 2015, looking and sounding fresh, full of energy and playing with something to prove.…

News

Chris Duffy Joins the Magic Beans

Neil Benjamin Jr. Dec 16, 2015

Guilderland native Chris Duffy, former bassist for Dirty Paris, will be move to Colorado from Los Angeles to join The Magic Beans as its bassist. From magicbeansmusic.com: The Magic Beans are a traveling band from Nederland, CO set out…

Capital Region

Dark Star Orchestra Keeps it Alive at the Palace

Neil Benjamin Jr. Dec 2, 2015

On November 16, DSO barreled into the Palace Theatre in Albany, a place guitarist Rob Eaton said is near and dear to the band's heart. There are more Grateful Dead cover bands than I can count in the Albany area alone. These groups keep the…

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