In Focus: Song City Concerts in a Circle at The Waiting Room in Troy

On Monday, November 11, Song City held its monthly concert, a multi-genre songwriter showcase held at the Waiting Room in Troy.

These concerts have a unique set up unlike any other. The artists are seated in a circle in the center with the audience around them. The singer/song writers then take turns sharing a song along with a bit of information about the songs story, or their writing process.

November artists at The Waiting Room in Troy included Honeysuckle, Sofia Corts, Micheal Francis McCarthy, and Dom Romano (Scotchka). These artists are all Capital Region locals. However, they weren’t all of the same genre.

Honeysuckle, based out of Saratoga Springs, consists of Holly McGarry and Chris Bloniarz. Honeysuckle has performed all across the country including many music festivals such as Lollapalooza and The Newport Folk Festival.

Sofia Corts, an 18-year-old pop singer from Albany, is currently attending Berklee School of Music on a Full Scholarship, and also performed at the 2024 Tulip Festival.

Micheal Francis McCarthy is an “American Roots” musician which blends delta blues, traditional folk, early country and more. He sang three songs, each one telling a personal story, including his young daughter’s curiosity, phone addiction, and a song that labeled hate as a cancer detrimental to society.

Dom Romano, an artist from Clifton Park, is the lead singer in the Albany-based band Scotchka. Their style is considered surf rock and are compared to many popular bands like the Arctic Monkeys and The Killers.

Overall, Song City creates a perfect atmosphere for new artists to share more than just their music. The intimacy of the venue allows them to feel closer to their audience and also connects them to their fellow artists. During the show we heard the artists discussing their different writing processes, complimenting each other’s styles, and even helping each other when there were microphone issues during a song.

Be sure to follow Song City to see the upcoming artists and concerts to hear new artists the second Tuesday of every month.