Dave Michaels

Dana Fuchs has never dealt in nostalgia. For this questing artist, it’s not about the rear-view but the road ahead. The next song. The next session. Tonight’s show and tomorrow’s bus ride. But as Dana sheds her musical skin with her triumphant fourth album Love Lives On, it seems a fitting juncture to rewind the reels and thumb a backstory as compelling as any in rock ‘n’ roll. This life and times doesn’t always make for easy reading. The triumphs are laced by tragedy, ugliness, injustice.

The Wheels Of Soul Tour rides again this Summer with another all-star triple-bill featuring Tedeschi Trucks Band, Drive-By Truckers and The Marcus King Band! The unique musical experience that is the Wheels of Soul Tour is set to reach new heights with this incredible lineup of artists, all with deep southern roots, and all with influences that reach around the globe.

We all love to be captivated - to be blown away by the power of music!  HEARD's new world jazz is energetic, joyous, fresh and fun!  A melange of influences from West Africa, Brazil and all points in between!  

We were thrilled to have HEARD in our studio recording this Live@EXT session!  Listen as they perform music from their new release, FLYWAY.  

Meet Stephen Clair.  He's got a Ray Davies-like vocal delivery and mountains of songwriting credits.  A one-time Albany resident, Clair now based in Beacon, is the guiding force behind the Beacon Music Factory, which teaches music to kids and adults.

"My Crime"

B.B. King dubbed  Albert Cummings "a great guitarist."  Cummings writes, plays and sings the blues like nobody else.  He's played with blues legends B.B. King, Johnny Winter, and Buddy Guy.  

TJ Foster is a prolific singer/songwriter, composer and audio engineer from the Capital Region.  A member of the folk-rock quartet, Darling Valley, he's releasing his debut solo record, First Person, Vol. 1 on April 13, in which he performed and recorded every instrument at his own home studio.  

Dave Michaels chats with one of the Stax Records originators; the legendary Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter William Bell!  

... sell out The Egg that is!  "Job security!" says Oliver Wood; one-third of the dynamic Americana trio The Wood Brothers.  

Oliver and Chris Wood along with Jano Rix dropped by WEXT on the heels of the release of their sixth album, One Drop of Truth.  Hear them tell Dave Michaels the inspiration behind the album and listen as they perform in our studio.  

What happens when you challenge yourself to write a song on-demand and immediately record all of the parts, mix it and call it done in as little time possible?  "Oh, Life".  

Local 518 David Tyo explains how his original song "Oh, Life" was conceived, written, recorded, and mixed in three hours and two minutes.  No fancy studio trickery.  No looking back.  Nothing but forward momentum until something was created.  

The best singer-songwriters serve the song. The songwriter’s songwriter, James Maddock, who has earned the respect of masterful writers such as Bruce Springsteen and Willie Nile, has built his acclaimed legacy on humbly honoring purity of expression. For his latest album Insanity vs. Humanity, returns Maddock to his politically-charged roots, bringing him full circle after a three-decade career.  

The multitalented Liv Cummins hosts “Saturday Night LIV” -- a mix of sketch comedy, music, and novelty acts reminiscent of classic TV variety shows hosted by Ed Sullivan and Carol Burnett.

Liv dropped by to talk with Dave Michaels and brought Sandy McKnight, one of the evenings musical performers.  Our conversation begins with an inpromptu sketch followed by an acoustic performance by Sandy.  

Danl, a four-piece Americana roots-rock band from Albany, dropped by to share some new songs from their sophomore album, "Myth of Me".  Comprised of 518 stalwarts Jeff Sohn on bass, Chris Carey on drums, Danl on keys and lead vocals and Adam Clairmont on guitar, the guys talk about how the band came about and recorded this new album at Overit Studios.  

Hear their Local 518 Session here:

New Year's Eve is quickly approaching and there's no better way to ring in the new year than with a 5k, live entertainment, hot cocoa and fireworks!  

Who? What? When? Where?  ... Why?  Why not!  Dave Michaels talks with First Night Director Alix Jones from Saratoga Arts about all there is to see and do in downtown Saratoga Springs on New Year's Eve!  

Our good friend, JD McPherson and his incredibly hot band dropped by today and ripped through three songs from the new album, "Undivided Heart & Soul". 

In this Live@EXT session, hear Jackie Greene, the one-time member of Black Crowes and Trigger Hippy talk about the impetus for creating two EP's, recording solo in a noisy Brooklyn basement and  growing up; "It sounds like a country song, but it's true," Jackie says.  "My dad and mom split up when I was a kid and he left behind his acoustic guitar.  I don't know, maybe I was about 10.  I took piano lessons for a little while.  Took guitar lessons for about 2 mo

Americana treasure and New York punk troubadour Jesse Malin stopped by and talked to Dave Michaels about his early hardcore days before turning down the volume of his music.  "What I felt was we were playing out in these big venues, opening for these really big bands and everybody at that time wanted to mosh, the mosh pit, ya know", Jesse explains.  "I went back down to acoustic guitar.  I think there's a real connection between folk and punk be

His birthdate puts him squarely in the middle of Generation X, but Greg Klyma is an old-school troubadour. His enduring themes, articulate and amusing stories, and populist ideals make him one of those rare young artists who is carrying the torch of Woody and Ramblin' Jack.

New York-based singer-songwriter Bill Scorzari paints a lush folk music landscape with compelling lyrics and a rough, worn voice that draws you in.  His independently released sophomore album, Through These Waves is out now.  Produced by Jonah Tolchin (Yep Roc) and engineered, mixed, and mastered by Billy Bennett, the album of all original material was recorded over twelve days at the famed Bomb Shelter in East Nashville through the studio’s 1970’s MCI console and mixed to tape.  

Son Little is a nu-soul innovator from Philadelphia who “doesn’t strive to reproduce his influences; he recombines them into something new.” (NPR) He first gained notice through collaborations with The Roots and electronic producer RJD2, and has gone on to release a debut on roots-rock heavyweight ANTI- Records. Classic soul-inspired riffs are enhanced by a kaleidoscope of electronics, and anchored by Little’s mellifluous (often echo-soaked) voice. Perfect for sipping on an afternoon IPA.

Dave Michaels recently caught up with legendary blues rock icon Kim Simmonds!  Hear what they had to talk about below.  And don't miss Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown in a FREE show August 22 at Music on Mainstreet in Canajoharie! 

Exit 97.7 WEXT PRESENTS My Morning Jacket! 

My Morning Jacket make their MASS MoCA debut this Saturday night and drummer Patrick Hallahan tells Dave Michaels fans can expect the unexpected! 

Alex Wollyung (l), James Johnson (c), and Patrick Grace (r) from Local 518 Good Fiction dropped by to debut new songs from an upcoming fan-funded album!  Hear this bombastic trio in a stripped-down session and talk to Dave Michaels about their nine month music hiatus, musical heroes, upcoming shows and how you can help make their next album a reality. 

Local 518  brother and sister Jocelyn & Chris Arndt have been among our faves for several years!  Hear them tell Dave Michaels how they juggled attending Harvard University while writing, recording and touring relentlessly across America.  In the moments when they're not busy, Jocelyn likes to read while Chris explores his cooking abilities. 

He's a writer, producer, performer, musician, lion tamer and phlebotomist.  Okay maybe not the last two, but Sandy McKnight is certainly an entertaining jack-of-all-trades!  Sandy dropped by to play some songs and talk about his music projects, tv show and upcoming shows.

Keep up with Sandy at his website.

Cake - One of our favorite bands of the '90s are gearing up for two incredible shows in our area!  Go the distance!  Catch 'em at one, if not BOTH stops! With no set lists, you're in for a real treat! 

Friday, May 26 at Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, New York

Sunday, May 28 at MASS MoCA in North Adams, Massachusettes