Mike Valente is a well-known figure in the 518 music scene. As the founding member of national touring act Brick by Brick, he’s shared the stage with some of the world’s biggest, and heaviest, bands touring across the United States and Europe. Mike is also the owner of Upstate Black N Blue Productions which books shows at Empire Underground and Empire Live in downtown Albany, New York.

Mike takes us through his early years growing up in Troy’s Lansingburgh neighborhood, the formation of his first band Attica, and the opportunity to open for Slayer at RPI’s Houston Field House in 1991. We also dive into the 2025 Extreme Music Awards, the brainchild of Mike and Ralph Renna which celebrates all things metal, punk and hardcore in the greater 518 Capital Region of Upstate New York. The awards show is happening at Empire Live on January 11th, 2025, with a pre-party on Friday, January 10th, and an after-party on January 12th.

Tickets are available now at ExtremeMusicAwards.com and EmpireLiveAlbany.com. It’s going to be an all-star affair featuring some big names from the metal world, including Gary Holt of Exodus and Slayer, former Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson, along with members of Shadows Fall, Anthrax, Hatebreed, and more.

There’s a little bit of profanity in this episode, so consider this a heads up for anyone listening with kids.

Episode Notes:

• Extreme Music Awards
• Brick By Brick - Loyal To The Grave (Official Music Video)
• Attica - Redwire (Official Audio)

Credits:

Produced, edited, and hosted by John Salka
Theme music by Steven J. Goldman, Four Legs Records

Visit troystorypod.com for upcoming episodes, guests, and bonus content.

Connect with Troy Story on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter)

On February 11, 1991, the legendary Slayer performed most of their new album, “Seasons in the Abyss,” along with other career-spanning tracks during an 80-minute set at the RPI Houston Field House in Troy, New York, with support from Testament, and local Capital Region band Attica.

We’re joined again by Jason Bittner, lifelong Capital Region resident and world-renowned drummer, and Mike Valente, founding member of national touring act Brick by Brick, owner of Black N Blue Productions, and founder of the Extreme Music Awards, to recount their unique metal memories of that night in the Collar City.

As members of the burgeoning 518 heavy music scene as members of different bands (Suspended Animation for Jason, and Attica for Mike) both were gunning for an opening slot for Slayer’s Troy show, something that would be decided by a Battle of the Bands at Saratoga Winners the night before.

In our episode, Mike and Jason wade into the friendly dispute over the results of the battle, Mike shares his memories of opening for Slayer with Attica and the hostile reception they received from fans, and Jason recalls his chance backstage encounter with then-Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo that began more than three-decade friendship between the two metal legends.

Episode artwork photo courtesy of Mark Kurtzner, http://facebook.com/mark.kurtzner

Episode Notes:

• Setlist: Slayer, RPI Field House, Feb. 11, 1991
• Album Info: Seasons in the Abyss
• https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2018/01/25/tour-awesome-new-titans-bloc-1991/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahDPXwvAmKY (1987 interview with Slayer about getting Lombardo back in band)
• Testament, Allentown, PA - Feb. 12, 1991 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek_D04U3z_U

Credits:

Produced, edited, and hosted by John Salka
Theme music by Steven J. Goldman, Four Legs Records

Visit troystorypod.com for upcoming episodes, guests, and bonus content.

Connect with Troy Story on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter)

First published in The Troy Sentinel on December 23, 1823, “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clark Moore helped shape modern conceptions of Santa Claus and many of our familiar holiday traditions. For our latest episode we invited Kathy Sheehan, Executive Director of the Hart Cluett Museum and the city of Troy and Rensselaer County historian, to explain the story behind this iconic piece of American holiday lore, the more recent debate over authorship, and the poem's two-century connection to the Collar City.

Happy Holidays from Troy Story! See you in 2025!

Episode Notes:

• Hart Cluett Museum
• How 'The Night Before Christmas' got its start in Troy (Times Union, Dec. 2020)
• 'A Visit from St. Nicholas' (Wikipedia)

Additional Credits:

• "07 Twas The Night Before Christmas Story" by Grantyny is licensed under CC BY 3.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/?ref=openverse.
• Episode artwork: https://www.flickr.com/photos/internetarchivebookimages/14563542937/ available via Public Domain (CC0 1.0 Universal).

Credits:

Produced, edited, and hosted by John Salka
Theme music by Steven J. Goldman, Four Legs Records

Visit troystorypod.com for upcoming episodes, guests, and bonus content.

Connect with Troy Story on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter)