Rock fest invades Schaghticoke
Trivium - Photo by Jim Gilbert / NYSmusic.com
“Who here is actually from Schaghticoke?” asked Lzzy Hale, the lead singer and guitarist of Halestorm, to a crowd of thousands on Saturday night. “Like, 10 of you?”
She had a point. The rural Rensselaer County village has an official population of 592, per the 2010 U.S. Census.
But at this weekend’s Rock ‘N Derby festival at the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds, the small town could be heard for miles around. Over 50 metal bands — defined liberally enough to classify Lamb of God and Collective Soul under the same umbrella — performed over three stages and three days in the first-ever iteration of the festival.
The top stage, the Derby Stage, may have been a bit far, located at the other end of the property from the other performance sites — the Rock N’ Stage and the Arena Stage — but it was worth the walk, especially with bands that appealed to the younger crowd. Five Finger Death Punch, A Day to Remember and Shinedown each had a night to headline and play hits to the enamored patrons banging their heads in the lawn.
The latter two groups each paid acoustic homage to Lynyrd Skynyrd with A Day to Remember jamming to “Sweet Home Alabama” and Shinedown getting its crowd to sing in on the band’s now-famous rendition of “Simple Man.”
But the crowd was more than a chorus; it looked the part too. Speckled in the audience were masks matching those of Ghost and Hollywood Undead, locks of hair that covered faces like Claudio Sanchez from Coheed and Cambria and Capital District heritage representing the area’s own State Champs, who played their punk rock on Saturday afternoon.
At the Rock N’ Stage, the first generation of metal fans found its home. On Saturday night, Anthrax and singer Joey Belladonna turned the calendar back to 1987 with “I Am the Law” and “Caught in a Mosh.” The upstate New York vocalist’s energy was apparent throughout, straining his vocals as the crowd echoed his chants and fistpumps.
On Sunday, the second stage rocked out to Sixx:A.M., led by Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx, before Megadeth arrived in an atypical somber mood, given the circumstances.
In the light of the previous night’s news — the passing of the band’s former drummer Nick Menza — the performance was emotional, including a 30-second moment of silence in Menza’s honor, before a drum solo that perhaps honored the man just as well. Candles and flash-lit iPhones waved in the wind as Dave Mustaine’s voice trembled for his original bandmate.
Inside the Arena Stage screamed the loudest bands of the weekend, as the tattooiest metalheads of all moshed and danced in the dust of the indoor venue: a horse stable. Amid the smell of dung and hay, bands like Beartooth and Rings of Saturn ricocheted their heavy sound waves off the metallic ceiling, creating an environment that was insane at best, and insufferable at worst.
But that was not the only instance of metal crashing on a dirt floor in Schaghticoke over the weekend. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, an on-site demolition derby provided for an exciting diversion from the noisy rock shows. Cars crunched and engines flared — with volume and with flame — as the drivers fought to the death of their automobiles.
A Day to Remember bassist Neil Westfall tried his luck himself in the treachery as a special guest driver, but the headlining member’s fortunes were quick to fade, finishing 15th in his heat of 18 cars.
Although not guaranteed to turn into an annual festival, Schaghticoke’s first metal weekend seemed to be a success. Some complaints existed — maybe sweep the media barn next time? — but local vendors made significant profits and visitation numbered in the thousands. For those thrilled to see dozens of their favorite bands in the Albany area, Rock ‘N Derby was not only a Day to Remember, but perhaps a Weekend to Remember.
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Thank you all for joining us to light the NYS Holiday Tree!
It would have been better if it didn’t start early. We waited to come at 5:30 because of the cold and got there 2 minutes before the finale. Not happy about that at all. You have a schedule for a reason.
Lol
Seriously! I intentionally arrived w/ a few minutes to spare because of how cold it was tonight. Didn't want to have my 2 year old out any longer than needed. Got there and the tree was lit already and the fireworks were going off. Very disappointing!
Did anybody ever pick up the drone? 😩😩😩
Thank u❗❗❗❗
Me and my children came out at 3 and stayed until fireworks it was so much fun❗
If you came at last minute you missed it all lol🤷
The Official Ceremony followed by the Tree Lighting and fireworks starts at 5:15p! 🎄
Why did you start the fireworks early? It said on FB tree lighting and fireworks 5.30- 6 but they started at 5.20 and we and many others missed them. People were running down State St as soon as they heard them start.
Honestly, I never head out until I hear the fireworks, but I enjoy them every year. Maybe next year I'll plan ahead. Thanks as always for the December fireworks!
Tuba Christmas performing at the NYS Holiday Tree Lighting presented by BlueShield of Northeastern New York! #DYK? Their heaviest tuba is 42 pounds!
Thank you to everyone who has take a ride on CDPHP Cycle!
CDPHP Cycle! rides surpass 40,000 trips taken for 2019
www.saratogian.com
CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. — The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) and CDPHP wrapped up the third season of the CDPHP Cycle! riding season with more than 41,000 trips taken andClear out the bus stops on Rt. 9 Watervliet/Latham. Kids are standing in road! The stop right ahead of the circle had about a dozen people balancing on iced over roads. A little further down a mother was body shielding her toddler while they waited for the bus...once again in the road because the stop was snowed in. Shameful!!
Join us tonight on the Capital City trolley for the holiday light display in downtown Albany at 5pm and First Friday!
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Our trolley will also be running tomorrow from 12-2pm for the Hot Chocolate Stroll downtown☕️
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Download the Cityfinder app for trolley stops and real time arrivals at your fingertips! 📱
The trolley lit up...
Join us tonight in @saratoga_ny for the Annual Victorian Stroll!❄️
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Stay warm on Our free trolley, running from 4:30pm - 9pm, with a trolley arriving every 15-20 minutes🚎
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Visit: Saratoga.com/events for more info!
There's the trolley yayyy
What time does the last bus run going to schenectady
All Spinney Group offices will be closed Thursday, November 28th and Friday, November 29th in observance of Thanksgiving. We all hope that you enjoy the holiday with family and friends! We will re-open for regular business hours on Monday, December 2nd at 8AM - hope to see you then!
All Spinney Group offices will be closed Thursday, November 28th and Friday, November 29th in observance of Thanksgiving. We all hope that you enjoy the holiday with family and friends! We will re-open for regular business hours on Monday, December 2nd at 8AM - hope to see you then!
Thank you to all of our service men and women from the entire Spinney Group team!
