Albany doesn’t always rage on a Wednesday, but when it does, it looks like this. On July 23rd, the Capitol Concert Series really outdid themselves. Empire State Plaza got rocked with an afternoon-to-evening scorcher that felt less like a free show and more like a rock revival.
Locals Plush and SoCal stalwarts Lit tag-teamed a crowd that came for both the hometown heroes and nostalgia but stayed for the sheer force of live music done right.
Plush opened the show with the swagger of a band that’s no longer just “on the rise”. They’ve arrived. Kicking off with the crushing “Left Behind,” they stomped onto the stage like they owned it. And honestly? They did.
The band’s chemistry is undeniable, their sound razor-sharp. And their energy? Electric. Plush didn’t play it safe. They played like they had something to prove and proved it tenfold.
Lead singer Moriah Formica delivered a seismic vocal performance, especially on “Why,” a gut-punch of a song co-written and co-produced with David Draiman of Disturbed. But the night’s standout wasn’t just behind the mic — it was down low, in the rumble.
Plush bassist, Ashley Suppa was an absolute show-stealer. Draped in bold red lingerie leggings and armed with a low-end thump that could level buildings. She played with ferocity, attitude and style. Turning heads while she was shaking speakers.
By the time they dropped “Kill the Noise,” it was clear: Plush wasn’t opening the show — they were laying claim to the stage.
Plush isn’t just clocking festival appearances at Sonic Temple and Welcome to Rockville or opening for legends like Disturbed, Alice In Chains and KISS — they’re taking over, and Albany got a front-row seat to the changing of the guard.
Then came Lit, blasting in from Orange County with the kind of full-throttle momentum that made you forget it was a weeknight. With a setlist stacked with crowd-pleasers, Lit launched into a high-speed, hit-packed joyride that pulled everyone into a glorious, guitar-drenched time warp.
Fan favorite “Miserable” had the crowd instantly screaming along, but the band didn’t just coast on nostalgia. New track “Sick of Me Too” hit like a freshly lit fuse — taut, catchy, and ready to explode.
Frontman A. Jay Popoff commanded the stage like he’d been shot out of a (confetti) cannon. His brother Jeremy shredded with a grin that never left his face.
The whole band seemed locked in a mission to give every person in the plaza the summer memory they didn’t know they needed. They jumped, sprinted, even caught air, turning the hot summer stage into their own personal playground.
With the summer sun still beating down and the Capitol rising behind them, Lit closed their set with “My Own Worst Enemy,” firing it off like a cannon blast.
It hit just as hard as ever — tight, relentless, and unapologetically loud. It wasn’t just a closer; it was a final jolt of adrenaline that sent the whole plaza into overdrive.
The Capitol Concert Series promised free music, but this felt priceless. Plush showed us what’s next. Lit reminded us of what still slaps. And Albany? Albany turned all the way up.
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