By: Chuck Miller
history, Music, Uncategorized

May 5th. Blotto. Fear of Strangers. The Penny Knight Band. Ernie Williams and the Wildcats. I am SO there!!

If you wanted to see top entertainment at a local, intimate performance venue in the late 1970’s – early 1980’s, you could go to the Ritz or the Chateau or the Falcon’s Nest… but really, you wanted to go to JB Scott’s.

The Central Avenue locale was the place where everybody performed.Β  U2 played three nights there in 1981; Bono actually wore a JB Scott’s T-shirt in one of his music videos. JB Scott’s was the Revolution Hall of its time; it was the Valentine’s; it was the Northern Lights.

JB Scott’s was the home stage for several legendary Albany-based rock and pop bands.Β  Blotto played there at least 40 times, and packed the place every night.

And now Blotto has been announced as the co-headliner, along with the Units / Fear of Strangers, on a 30th-anniversary concert to remember the legendary nightclub.

On May 5, Michael’s Banquet House in Cohoes will revert back to the time when the Capital District’s rock scene was electric and diverse and totally fantastic.Β  And yes, I’m going.Β  Hells no I’m not missing this concert, no way no how.

In fact, go to JB Scott’s Facebook page to see more information about who’s performing and how you can purchase tickets to the event.

Let’s start off by giving you the lineup of talent for the night.

BLOTTO

“I Wanna Be a Lifeguard.”Β  “She’s Got a Big Boyfriend.”Β  “Metal Head.”Β  “Goodbye, Mr. Bond.”Β  “We Are the Nowtones.”Β  Do I need to go any further?Β  No I do not.

You know how many different Blotto-themed nights they had at JB Scott’s?Β  The Blotto Pajama Party.Β  Blottoween.Β  The Blotto Valentine Ball.

Maybe this will help. You get a +1 if you can name the veteran metal guitarist who joins Blotto for this classic heavy metal spoof song, “Metal Head.”

FEAR OF STRANGERS

Originally known as the Units, Val Haynes and Fear of Strangers were just as popular in the Capital District, and original members Val Haynes, Todd Nelson, Steve Cohen and Al Kash will be joined by their β€œutility player” Jeff Doctorow, who played with them at their first show in 1978 at the Junior College of Albany. Smart Capital District music fans bought their 1982 LP until it sold out, and Metroland once named them the second-best Capital Region act of the past 30 years (behind Nick Brignola).

Here’s a music video from their early years, this is “Shopping For a Dog.”

THE PENNY KNIGHT BAND

This group was extremely popular in the early 1980’s, and even won a FLY 92 “Battle of the Bands” contest, back in the day when FLY 92 actually played local music. They really did. They don’t do it now, I mean why play Phantogram when you can get a few more spins out of Nicki Minaj?

Here’s one of the Penny Knight Band’s big hits, “Jumpstart My Heart,” as performed in a 2010 reunion show.

ERNIE WILLIAMS AND THE WILDCATS

The legendary bluesman can still rock the joint, and I don’t think he’ll ever stop. He may outlive us all. If you’ve never heard Ernie Williams perform, then I feel sorry for what you have missed. In fact, check out this clip from his 86th birthday concert at the Linda. Check this out and be impressed.

All those groups – plus the Last Conspirators and the Lazers – for one low price.Β  If you go to one concert this year… it has to be this one.Β  I just bought my tickets today.Β  I hope I see you there!