Author

Michael Hallisey 177 posts 0 comments

Michael is a freelance journalist by trade, and a financial representative by profession. His reporting has covered a wide variety of topics including album reviews, sports, local history, climate change and Internet security. He has earned bylines with The Harlem Valley Times, The Spotlight, The Colonie Sports Tracker, 8Ball Music and Upstate Metal.

News

Historic Albany nightclub Rain-Bo Room, frequented by Sinatra, Calloway and Ellington, to reopen

Michael Hallisey Oct 7, 2019

Inside the expansive back room in the northwest corner of the old Kenmore Hotel hangs a drab, grey curtain concealing the last piece of history tied to the space. The curtain protects a mural called “The Court of Cleopatra,” painted on…

Features

Creating a playlist is an intimate act of appreciation for music and people

Michael Hallisey Sep 8, 2019

There is a subtle science behind making a good mixtape, and I’m not talking about a musician’s collection of work captured on a flimsy metal strip of magnetized particles of rust. Mixtapes were once ubiquitous to the teenaged way of life.…

Album Reviews

Hearing Aide: Jocelyn & Chris Arndt ‘The Fun in the Fight’

Michael Hallisey Apr 12, 2019

Jocelyn and Chris broke into Billboard’s Top 40 in the Adult Album Alternative chart with “Red Stops Traffic,” the third single off their 2017 release, “Go.” The album as a whole was Jocelyn and Chris’ most successful release. It peaked at…

Metal/Hard Rock/Punk

A reunion in Waterford’s Chrome Food and Spirits will welcome the memories of Saratoga Winners this…

Michael Hallisey Apr 4, 2019

It was 10 years ago this month that Saratoga Winners, one of the Capital District’s favorite live music venues, burned down in an early morning fire. This Saturday, a reunion is to be held to remember it and the people who made it special.…

Albany

Latham teen advances on “American Idol” after powerful audition

Michael Hallisey Mar 15, 2019

The 518 music scene will be sharing another one of its fabulous musicians with the world as she appears on “American Idol” for at least another week. Madison VanDenburg, 17, appeared on Sunday’s episode of “Idol” and auditioned with…

Album Reviews

New York’s Katie Louise Unleashes Debut EP

Michael Hallisey Mar 15, 2019

Capital District pop artist, Katie Louise, is releasing her first EP, celebrating with a no-holds-barred show at Jupiter Hall. Louise, 21, will release Unleash today, Friday, March 15. The seven-song EP will show its feathers later that…

Albany

Victory Soul Orchestra preps for a funky album release party

Michael Hallisey Jan 20, 2019

Victory Soul Orchestra is unique to the local scene. An exclusively instrumental group backed by a strong horn section you’d be hard pressed to find outside of a big band. Yannuzzi pulls his trumpet in and calls “D is Dead” out to the room.…

Albany

The Massry Center for the Arts, celebrating 10 years with a stellar 2018-19 season, presents The…

Michael Hallisey Nov 15, 2018

The Massry Center for the Arts, located on the campus of The College of Saint Rose, continues to celebrate 10 years of extraordinary performances with two stellar performances this November. On Thursday, Nov. 15, The Ballroom Thieves,…

Rock

Capital Records Live! at Proctors Theater announces October lineup

Michael Hallisey Oct 10, 2018

Volume two of the new Proctors series Capital Records Live! represents the next step in an effort to shine a brighter light on the local music scene. The initial edition, in March, was based on The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts…

Albany

Hearing Aide: Mirk ‘Sense’

Michael Hallisey Oct 3, 2018

Mirk has been a part of the local scene since it first formed in 2009. Each of the band’s previous six releases has its own vibe, which makes it difficult for anyone to pigeonhole the band into a specific genre. The band’s sound is best…

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