On a bitterly cold winter night in Albany, the kind that tests your devotion to live music, those who bundled up and made their way to Lark Hall were richly rewarded with something rare. What awaited inside the warmly lit, wood-floored sanctuary was not just a concert, but a masterclass in songwriting, friendship, and a vibe that only happens when world-class musicians choose intimacy over spectacle. At center stage sat two already accomplished friends, Tyler Ramsey and Carl Broemel, armed with little more than two acoustic guitars.
Known to many as key members of Band of Horses and My Morning Jacket, respectively, yet what these two are creating together feels entirely its own. Patient music built on texture, harmony, and space. The arena-filling crescendos are replaced with fingerpicked detail. The rock-star bombast traded for intricacy and for songs that breathe and listen back.
Fresh off what Ramsey jokingly described as “riding the snake” on the California leg of the tour, the duo arrived in Albany on February 19th smiling, relaxed and with road-tested confidence. Despite being accustomed to much bigger rooms, it felt like Lark Hall was specifically chosen for this tour. In fact, Broemel shares a special bond with the venue. He was the very first artist to headline a show there in 2019, before it had officially opened to the public. In many ways, this felt like a homecoming.
The evening itself had been perfectly framed. Direct support came from the immensely talented Maggie Halfman, whose voice would later prove pivotal. Downstairs at The Eleven, the Ky McClinton Band delivered a rocking kickoff set that warmed early arrivals nicely before the upstairs hush settled in for Ramsey and Broemel.
On stage under the spotlights, the duo opened with the title track of their new album Celestun, immediately establishing the night’s tone. Warm, unhurried, and totally relaxed. Songs like “In the Willows,” “Nevermind,” and “Garvanza” unfolded with meticulous grace, their guitars weaving around each other like old friends finishing each other’s sentences.
When Broemel invited Maggie Halfman back to the stage for “Flying Things,” Ramsey mentioned they had tried it during soundcheck and it gave him chills. With Halfman’s angelic vocal floating above their delicate picking, the entire room felt it too. Whether it was simply the magic of the moment or Lark Hall’s alleged resident spirit “Gertrude” giving her spectral approval, something special hung in the air. Broemel even paused to marvel at the audience’s reverent silence. The room was so locked in you could hear the old wooden floor creak when someone shifted their feet, or the faint crack of a beer can opening at the back bar and that was it. People came to listen and they understood the assignment.
A stirring “Elizabeth Brown” gave way to the night’s first cover, “Sail Away” by Neil Young & Crazy Horse. The influence of Neil Young has long run through both artists’ work, but here, stripped down and raw, it felt less like a cover and more like a conversation with a shared hero. “Sylvie’s Guitar” and “Windy and Warm” hit a comfortable sweet spot, but the crowd audibly melted during “Evening Kitchen,” Ramsey’s contribution to Band of Horses’ 2010 landmark album Infinite Arms. Not to be outdone, Broemel countered with “Carried Away” from his 2010 solo debut All Birds Say. His voice carrying the same gentle ache that has long colored his work, it was a reminder that both musicians have been quietly crafting timeless songs for well over a decade.
The playful banter sprinkled between songs added to the charm. When fans asked how they first met, the duo laughed and quipped that this wasn’t a VH1 Storytellers session, but they’d happily chat afterward. And they meant it. The setlist unfolded with elegant balance. Ramsey’s “Raven Shadow/1000 Black Birds” hybrid glided into Broemel’s show-stealing “4th of July,” which seamlessly morphed into a stunning take on “Going to California” by Led Zeppelin. It was one of those moments that felt suspended in time and made you wish it could last forever.
Maggie Halfman returned once more for “New Queen Anne,” and the trio once again cast their spell. A stunning rendition of Ramsey’s “A Long Dream” brought the main set to a blissed-out close, the kind that makes you forget to clap for a second because you’re still inside the song. While encores haven’t been a guarantee on the Celestun tour, Albany proved special. After the roaring response to “Going to California” earlier in the night, the potent pair emerged for round two with the mighty Zeppelin, navigating the peculiar tunings before launching into a jubilant “Dancing Days” from Houses of the Holy. Holy encore, indeed.
But what made this night unforgettable wasn’t just the setlist. It was the feeling. A room full of listeners who braved the cold and were richly rewarded. Two already accomplished musicians, stripped of spectacle and ego, leaning into craft and connection. The humility of artists of this caliber encouraging fans to stick around, shake hands, take selfies, and share stories. The sense that something unrepeatable had just occurred and everyone knew it. Concerts come and go. But every so often, there’s a show that feels suspended outside of time. Years from now, when someone mentions Tyler Ramsey and Carl Broemel’s Celestun tour at Lark Hall, those who were there will smile a little differently. They’ll remember the intimacy. How the guitars shimmered. How the floorboards creaked between songs. They’ll remember that for one winter night in Albany, music felt bigger than the room and somehow, closer than ever.
Tyler Ramsey & Carl Broemel | February 19, 2026 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY
Setlist: Celestun, In the Willows, Nevermind, Garvanza, Flying Things[1], Elizabeth Brown, Sail Away [2], Sylvie’s Guitar, Windy and Warm, Evening Kitchen [3], Carried Away, Raven Shadow / 1000 Black Birds, 4th of July > Going to California[4] > 4th of July, New Queen Anne [1], A Long Dream.
Encore: Dancing Days [4]
[1] with Maggie Halfman
[2] Neil Young & Crazy Horse cover
[3] Band of Horses cover
[4] Led Zeppelin cover
Maggie Halfman | February 19, 2026 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY
Ky McClinton Band | February 19, 2026 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY
Comments are closed.