albany – Pigments of Sound Sensation

March 2, 2022March 2, 2022

LIVE: Plush (with Daughtry) Gets Standing Ovation From Audience at Their First Ever Live Show (July 31, 2021)

Originally Written for Nippertown.

Clearly I’m publishing this months after it was first published. And since then I’ve been to a few more Plush concerts. So there might be some edits I make with a newer perspective. But I’m not sure. I haven’t reread this since it was written. But so much has happened since my last entry that pertains to this one, and so a little context is needed.

In October of 2020, in the midst of a pandemic, Moriah’s father and mother reached out to me about taking some photos for a secret project. Moriah was putting together a band, and they wanted some promo shots and a demo song to send to record labels. They sat around my dining room table, my cat settling into Moriah’s dad (Josh)’s lap within minutes of them taking a seat. We discussed the project, costumes, locations, poses…and planned a date for all four of these women to come together. They were so newly put together that they didn’t even have a band name yet.

July 23, 2020July 23, 2020

A CONVERSATION WITH MAESTRO DAVID ALAN MILLER, VIRTUOSO OF AN ALBANY TRADITION (PART 2 OF 2)

This is part two of an exclusive two-part interview with Director and Conductor of the Albany Symphony Orchestra, Maestro David Alan Miller (MM) on Nippertown. Read Part 1 here. Part two can be found on Nippertown here.

Elissa Ebersold: How do you go about finding a composer or commissioning someone? How do you discover these individuals to write these pieces for you?

July 23, 2020July 23, 2020

A CONVERSATION WITH MAESTRO DAVID ALAN MILLER, VIRTUOSO OF AN ALBANY TRADITION (PART 1 OF 2)

Initially written for and posted Nippertown

The Albany Symphony Orchestra has been a staple of the Capital District’s cultural and music scene for nearly a century. Since its inception in 1930, the ASO has been home to eight music directors, though none whose tenure has been as long as the current director and conductor, Maestro David Alan Miller. Under the guided swish of his baton, the UC Berkeley and Julliard graduate has produced a vast majority of the symphony’s recordings, and for them earned three Grammy nominations and one Grammy win.

For nearly 30 years, Miller has not only brought his musical prowess and passion to the orchestra, but also his creative and avant-garde approach to orchestral traditions. Somewhat analogous to his animated personality, he offers audiences not only classical favorites, but a balance of a diverse range of contemporary, even theatrical compositions often played on-location in atypical venues. Miller continues to bring life and modernity to a centuries-old musical tradition, and will expertly entertain music-lovers of all ages while doing so.

May 2, 2020May 2, 2020

Madison VanDenburg: From Second-Runner-Up To Running Full Speed Ahead (Part 1 of 2)

Initially written for and posted on Nippertown

Photo: Elissa Ebersold. Madison VanDenburg, Aurora Games, Albany, NY, 08.20.19

When it comes to reality TV shows, there’s no such thing as the binary. It’s never just as simple as “I watch it” or “I don’t watch it.” There are so many gradations that float in between “do” and “don’t.” There’s the guilty pleasure watchers. There’s the casual watchers, or the home-sick-in-bed watchers. You could be one of the watching religiously watchers and/or one of the live-tweeting commentating watchers. Or you could be like many and watch when a citizen of your locale becomes a focal point of the show. While I probably more closely fall into the “casual watcher” category, having turned these reality competition shows on and off for the past fifteen years or so, I know the latter category probably encompasses many citizens of New York’s Capital Region these past couple of years. Who could blame them with incredible talents such as Moriah Formica (The Voice, American Idol), Sawyer Fredericks (The Voice), and now more recently, the incredible Madison VanDenburg coming out of the woodwork and taking second runner up in season two of American Idol at only 17. No, sorry, scratch that. Not coming out of the woodwork. Coming in like a Category 5 hurricane.

So, if you haven’t seen how absolutely mind-blowingly talented Ms. Madison is, well this interview is sure to be a good place to learn all about her. Madison is a queen of melisma and control, and damn good pitch. Her voice sucks you in, and she sounds exactly like she does on TV. No autotune needed. She is incredible to see perform live, and I am fortunate and humbled to know her and watch her forge her own path and conquer her dreams.

May 2, 2020May 2, 2020

Moriah Formica: The Reality After Reality TV (Part 2 of 2)

Initially written for and posted on Nippertown. Part 1 (on blog) h ere.

Editor’s Note: This is the second part of the powerful interview with local rock star, Moriah Formica, a motivated and talented musician that was on the reality TV music competitions, American Idol and The Voice. Be sure to read the first part of this exclusive interview by Nippertown’s Elissa Ebersold, of what happens when the cameras stop rolling.

May 2, 2020May 2, 2020

Moriah Formica: The Reality After Reality TV (Part 1 of 2)

Initially written for and posted on Nippertown

Moriah Formica, if you live in the good old 518 area, is not a new name. She is another one of the many extremely hard-working and talented superstars to find fame, be it local or international, on a reality television music competition show. She is what Adam Levine, frontman for Maroon5, has called a “pint-size powerhouse” and what country superstar Blake Shelton once referred to as someone who received an extra dose of talent when God got distracted when He was sprinkling it onto people. It’s people like Moriah that make me joke that they need to save some talent for the rest of us.

March 23, 2020May 2, 2020

Frank Palangi: No Plan B

With COVID-19 cancelling or postponing all concerts and events around the world, a new form of content was needed. Originally posted on Nippertown, I’ve decided to interview some friends of mine that also happen to be popular local musicians. First off is my friend Frank Palangi. View my gallery of Frank here.

October 18, 2019October 18, 2019

Daughtry Acoustic Trio || Troy Music Hall || 10.16.19

Daughtry (Acoustic Trio), Troy, NY, 10.16.19

Concert review initially posted for the online publication Nippertown.

American Idol alumni Chris Daughtry, flanked on either side by Elvio Fernandes (Piano) and Brian Craddock (Guitar), put his heart and soul into over an hour of some of Daughtry’s biggest hits in their purest form Wednesday night at Troy Music Hall.

August 21, 2019August 22, 2019

Madison VanDenburg :: 08/18 & 08/19

Madison VanDenburg, Altamont Fair, NY, 08.18.19

The last time I wrote about Madison, she had just barely started her run on American Idol. Since then, she claimed the title of Second Runner-Up (or third place), and has been touring nationally and locally with her band and her fellow Idol contestants.

August 1, 2019August 1, 2019

Our holy mother of The Midnight :: June 23, 2019

The Midnight performs at Upstate Concert Hall.

Well it’s been over a month since this concert, and I’ve not neglected this blog purposefully. I was on vacation for two weeks, and I spent the time I’ve had since my return by packing and moving my things from one house to another. That being said, I’m happy to finally be able to talk about this show and show the photos.