Dave Michaels

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

Scott began his music career in Wisconsin in the early ’90′s. He spent his teenage years attending Milwaukee’s prestigious High School of The Arts by day, while playing in clubs and touring by night. In the Fall of 2008, Scott joined the Gregg Allman Band as a touring guitarist, being hailed as “Gregg Allman’s secret weapon” by Glide magazine. Scott has developed a close musical relationship with Allman over the last 9 years and serves as Musical Director for the Gregg Allman Band.

Our friends from Dyer Switch Band dropped by to play some songs and chat about plans for a new album!  We're very excited about having them join the Local 518 lineup at this year's Albany Tulip Festival this Sunday!

All the details about the 69th Annual Albany Tulip Festival are HERE. 

Stop by and say "hello!"  We'd love to see you!

Ryan Montbleau has been an acclaimed singer, songwriter, and bandleader for more than a decade, but with his new album I Was Just Leaving, the New England-based artist has truly arrived. Contemplative and richly emotive, the album offers a glimpse into the often-lonesome life of the relentlessly traveling troubadour, a strikingly single-minded existence too often clouded by the blur of constant motion.

Local 518 band, Gordon St dropped by the studio for the first time to play some new songs and talk to Dave Michaels.  The band will celebrate the release of their self-titled, full-length album April 29th with a CD release show at Firestone 151 and some very special guests joining them on stage. 

Timothy B. Schmit, the groundbreaking vocalist, songwriter and bass player from legendary rock groups Eagles and Poco just released a new 12-track solo album titled, "Leap of Faith".  Hear the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer talk to Dave Michaels about his storied four-decade long career.

Local 518 singer-songwriter Steve Candlen dropped by to play some songs and talk about all the music he's been making. 

Steve recorded two EP's at Overit Studios in Albany last year; A Murmuration of Starlings and Subwayfarer.  He continues to write and record at a feverish pace.

Keep listening to Exit 97.7 WEXT for new music from this prolific Local 518'er. For more information about what Steve is up to, visit his Facebook page.

Though perhaps technically a singer-songwriter, Ian Fitzgerald prefers the term 'folk singer,' as it more accurately describes the tradition in which his music is rooted. From early twentieth century field recordings through Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, Gillian Welch, and hundreds of artists in between, Ian has been influenced by one of the sturdiest strains of American music. 

Hear Ian play songs from his new album, "You Won't Even Know I'm Gone" and chat with Dave Michaels Live@EXT:

Mike Poulopoulos (Rebel Darling) and Zack Hay  (North & South Dakotas) stopped by WEXT and chatted with Dave Michaels. 

Mike and Zack, together with Adam Brockway (Eastbound Jesus) are playing at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs this Sunday, January 15th.  The Americana Songwriters In The Round will showcase the songwriting talents of these three amazing Local 518'ers. 

Hear a sneak peak of what you can expect as they trade songs and talk with Dave:

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland has announced the Class of 2017:  Joan Baez, Electric Light Orchestra, Journey, Pearl Jam, Tupac Shakur and Yes. 

And Local 518 singer/songwriter Michael Eck weighed in as a voting member of the Hall!  Hear Michael talk with Dave Michaels about his connection to the Hall, the voting process, the hits and misses, and all the movers and shakers, the visionaries and inspirations that changed the way we listen to rock & roll. 

The 11th Annual Santa Speedo Sprint is back in downtown Albany, Saturday, December 10th!  Jason VonGuinness and Chad Binney from the Albany Society for the Advancement of Philanthropy  (ASAP), who put on this holiday tradition, talk to Dave Michaels. 

Learn more about ASAP and register online for the 11th Annual Santa Speedo Sprint here:  https://albanysociety.org/

Are you ready to party like it's 2017?

There's no better way to ring in the New Year than with all your friends in beautiful downtown Saratoga Springs at First Night Saratoga!

Alix Jones, First Night Coordinator and Development Associate with Saratoga Arts talks with Dave Michaels about all the preparations that lead up to one of the oldest and largest celebrations in the country! 

We are all deeply saddened by the passing of Miss Sharon Jones; a pint-sized powerhouse of a soul singer who lost her courageous battle against pancreatic cancer on November 18 at the age of 60. 

Australian singer-songwriter and blues rock guitar virtuoso Hamish Anderson dropped by the station to play us some songs from his new full length debut release Trouble. 

“I took it a stage further; a really sort of heavy, authentic blues band and like everything else, you add to what went before.   I always looked to The Stones, people like that, they came before me and of course they were the beginnings of that whole thing in England.  I certainly kicked that ball along.”

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers recently stopped by on their way through town touring.  The guys ripped through three exciting songs and hung with Dave Michaels.  Tommy talked about his earliest memories of watching his older brother play in a band in their basement which sparked his own passion to play guitar.  Influenced by the great blues, R&B and rock 'n' roll artists of the 60's, Tommy set off on a lifelong musical journey that has taken him from local stages to national and international touring. 

Twin guitars! 

Thin Lizzy!

Jimmy Page and the Spirit lawsuit! 

British rockers Wishbone Ash are one of the major innovators of the harmony twin lead guitar format; inspiring such bands as Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden and Metallica.  

Dave Michaels talks with the incredibly gifted and beloved voice of The Moody Blues;  who is performing solo at The Egg on Wednesday, May 18. 

"I could drop dead in the middle of this conversation."  74-year old music icon and two-time Rock And Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Graham Nash opens up about his life from The Hollies, CSN&Y to his latest solo release, This Path Tonight. 

If you want to hear the whole conversation, it's here on Soundcloud: