CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. -- My friend Alisha and I got an early start on Halloween by heading to Northern Lights in Clifton Park last Thursday.
This concert hall with a hard rock flair is about an 80-minute drive from downtown Pittsfield, and less than 20 minutes north of Albany. If you've never been, be aware that it's set back from the highway in a plaza with a massive parking lot.
Our main motive for going was that cunning Canadian heavy-metal band Kittie. Formed in the mid-1990s, the all-girl group is best known for their grimy 1999 hit "Brackish."
Also on the lineup were Midwest rockers SOiL, Atlanta-based industrial metal groove group Arkaea, Albany-area death metal band Scarver Protocol, and metal's own Straight Line Stitch from Knoxville, Tenn.
The show was supposed to start at 6 p.m., and we didn't leave Pittsfield until sometime after 7 p.m. We arrived a little after 8 p.m., got carded and banded, and paid $15 at the door. As we walked in, we found we were just in time.
Either Arkaea or Scarver Protocol was just wrapping up when we walked in. We literally heard the last three chords before the stage went black. So we took the time in between sets to grab a drink at the bar.
For those of you have been in the past, Northern Lights is no longer the cramped sweat box it once was.
Outside, smokers still do their thing under neon light. Inside, due to renovations earlier this year, the club has
The rectangular bar was easy to get a drink at and a good place to watch a game on television. You can also get ear plugs there. A Sierra Nevada draft ale and a rum and cola, both in plastic cups, cost $11. Alisha commented that the latter was strong.
There is seating all around the bar and an area of tables and chairs opposite. A lone vendor looked like he was selling pizza of some sort in this corner, but we didn't care to investigate.
Behind a curtain, a second bar, booths and chairs were set up. Out of sight were the arcade games and pool table the bar used to have out during shows.
The restroom for men was by the entrance, and the one for women more toward the stage. Though the ladies room not the cleanest space, it had the most stalls (five functioning) I've ever seen in any bar.
Also by the front entrance were the merchandise tables. And throngs of people were spread out on the club floor.
Northern Lights is a general ad-mission venue, standing only. Ages 16 and up are welcome; younger teens need guardian supervision. By a loose count, there were more than 100 people at this particular show.
They came out in skinny jeans with black nail polish, baggy jeans and pocket chains. There were lots of skulls and bones and rock T-shirts. And a number of girls wore flesh-baring tank tops.
The next band, Straight Line Stitch, took the stage and played a wicked hardcore set, complete with countless "F-bombs" (a certain curse word), guttural roars and aptly sung harmonies, tight strings and drums, and the most amazing set of purple head-banging dreadlocks worn by frontwoman Alexis Brown.
The best part of Northern Lights is that it's big enough to attract some big names (Train, Insane Clown Posse, Boys Like Girls and Aerosmith's Joe Perry are among upcoming acts). But it's small enough to create an intimate setting.
Unless specified by the bands, photography is allowed.
Alisha and I mingled with Brown and had our picture taken with her, and also got introduced to bassist Jason White.
Though we sat near the back for Soil's nearly hour-long set, we got front and center standing spots next to the stage for Kittie.
There was plenty of moshing and a few crowd surfers, but, for the most part, people were friendly and rather ruly. The sound quality was excellent. Kittie rocked and wailed on this last stop of their tour, playing tunes, mostly from their new album. Overall, we had an absolute blast.
The only thing truly missing from this evening out, was an encore.
If you go ...
Northern Lights, 1208 Route 146, Clifton Park, N.Y., (518) 371-0012, www.northernlightslive.com, www.myspace.com/northernlightslive
Style: Concert hall.
Dress: Casual, with a rock star flair.
Cover: Ticket prices vary by event, and can be purchased through the venue or through Ticketmaster. A general range is $15 to $30.
Food: Occasional on-site fast food vendors. Restaurants within walking and driving distance.
Entertainment: Live music with an emphasis on rock, heavy metal and alternative rock.
Font Resize
