On Thursday, January 8th, winter briefly lost its grip on Albany. Temperatures may have hovered near freezing outside, but inside Empire Live, the thermostat was shattered as Eggy and Real Estate kicked off their year with the aptly named Hell Froze Over tour. Equal parts dance party, sonic meditation, and celebration of two bands very much on the rise, the night proved that modern rock is alive, evolving, and still capable of moving both feet and minds.
Playing the first shows of 2026, this short four-date East Coast run paired two of the hardest-working and most compelling bands in their respective lanes. While their sounds differ, Eggy and Real Estate share a devotion to craft, chemistry, and creating an atmosphere that rewards the listener who leans in, or in this case, dances all the way forward. Brooklyn-based Real Estate took the stage first, wasting little time before easing the room into their signature dreamlike haze.
Formed in 2008 by lead singer and guitarist Martin Courtney (also of Predator Vision and formerly Titus Andronicus), the band’s current lineup also consists of bassist Alex Bleeker, keyboardist Matt Kallman, drummer Sammi Niss, and guitarist James Richardson and operates like a well-tuned machine built for atmosphere. With shimmering, layered guitars and rhythms that feel perpetually sunlit, Real Estate conjured the uncanny sensation of summer in the dead of upstate winter. Their breezy yet precise sound, melancholic yet hopeful, washed over the crowd as an elaborate light show pulsed and refracted behind them. With minimal stage banter, the band let the music do the talking, and it spoke volumes.
Mixing standout tracks from their 2024 album Daniel including “Water Underground,” “Flowers,” and “Freeze Brain” with beloved staples like “Days” and “Atlas,” the set struck a perfect balance between forward momentum and nostalgic comfort. Empire Live soon became a sea of bobbing heads and easy smiles, caught under what could only be described as a ‘bewitching melodic spell.’ Real Estate’s twin guitar interplay bounced and shimmered throughout the night, while their ethereal, tranquil vibe made the space feel intimate despite its size. Frequently adjusting the setlist on the fly, they still found room for fan favorites like “It’s Real,” “Easy,” and “Talking Backwards.” Their music, often likened to the perfect “windows-down” driving soundtrack, thrives on harmony and restraint, inviting listeners to look back while moving forward. In essence, a Real Estate show is less about spectacle and more about immersion, and on this night, Albany happily disappeared into their glowing, nostalgic soundscape.
After a brief reset, it was time for Eggy to do what they do best: blow the doors off. For the Connecticut-based quartet, this show marked a long-awaited milestone. Eggy’s relationship with the Capital Region runs deep. From opening for a then-little-known Goose at Parish Public House (now Ophelia’s) in 2019 to selling out rooms like The Hollow, Putnam Place, and Cohoes Music Hall, Albany’s largest club Empire Live felt like the next natural step. While not quite a sellout, the strong Thursday-night turnout made it clear that this graduation was well earned.
Comprised of Jake Brownstein (guitar/vocals), Dani Battat (keys/vocals), Mike Goodman (bass/vocals), and Alex Bailey (drums/vocals), Eggy has earned a reputation in the jam community for their seamless blend of funk, psychedelic rock, and classic songwriting all powered by fearless improvisation and airtight musicianship. They came out swinging with “You,” immediately setting the tone before dropping into Waiting Game tracks “Way Of The Stone” and “Must Come Down,” both sung by Bailey. From the jump, the band was locked in, communicating effortlessly as grooves stretched and tightened with purpose. Then came the jams.
A sprawling, adventurous “Farthest Step” sent the room into orbit, earning a roar of approval when the band smoothly pivoted into the reggae-dub groove of “Searchlight” (originally by John Brown’s Body) before circling around to the back half of “Farthest Step” without missing a beat. The transitions were seamless and the energy was relentless. Keeping the momentum flowing, Bailey returned to the mic for “Sweaters For Strawmen,” followed by “A Moment’s Notice” and the title track from 2024’s Waiting Game. It wasn’t until then that Eggy finally paused to breathe and to connect with the Albany audience.
Brownstein took a moment to reflect on how meaningful Albany has been to the band’s growth, offering heartfelt thanks that felt genuine rather than routine. The night carried extra weight for one fan in particular, Jesse Lang, who was celebrating their 100th Eggy show. Still visibly stunned by the number, Brownstein addressed the milestone with sincerity and awe. “We know how much effort it takes to go to one show, let alone 100. It’s a Thursday and you guys all had to work today, and you still made the time to be here. You probably have work tomorrow too and you’re still here and you’re rocking out and whether you’ve been to one show or one hundred, it just blows our fucking minds. Thank you guys so so much.”
He extended that gratitude to first-timers as well, acknowledging the courage it takes to give an unknown band a crack. “And if this is your first Eggy show and you’re like “fuck that shit,” well, thanks for giving us a chance. Because that’s pretty cool, too. It takes a lot to give things a chance. There’s just so much stuff out there. You guys are special, thanks for making us feel welcome. What an amazing way to kick off our year.”
It was a reminder of what sets Eggy apart. Not just technical skill or improvisational bravery, but humility and heart. Then stealing a tune from a band named Big Thief, the set closed with a funk-soaked cover of “Time Escaping,” igniting a full-blown dance party that peaked in perfect sync with the mind-bending light show. By the final note, the message was loud and clear: Albany wanted one more for the road.
Building up the suspense by playing a bit of a waiting game of their own, Eggy finally gave fans what they craved, returning for an explosive encore of “Shadow,” one of their oldest and most beloved songs. It was the perfect send-off. Joyful, powerful, and steeped in the positivity that has followed the band since their earliest days.
From cramped bar stages to headlining one of Albany’s biggest rooms, Eggy’s rise feels both inevitable and well-earned. They are hardworking, humble, immensely talented, and easy to root for. Their next step is already obvious: Eggy playing The Egg. It’s something that simply needs to happen and if they continue delivering performances like the one at Empire Live, it’s no longer a question of if they’ll crack Albany’s most iconic venue, but when. One thing is for sure, NYS Music will be following Eggy’s journey every step of the way.
Eggy | January 8, 2026 | Empire Live | Albany, NY
Set 1: You, Way Of The Stone, Must Come Down, Farthest Step-> Searchlight [1]-> Farthest Step-> Sweaters For Strawmen-> A Moment’s Notice-> Waiting Game, Time Escaping [2]
Encore: Shadow
[1] John Brown’s Body
[2] Big Thief
Real Estate | January 8, 2026 | Empire Live | Albany, NY
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