PHOTO: Joe Putrock

Brent Gorton CD-release party

He’s back! Brent Gorton, that is, with a new solo album, simply titled Brent Gorton. The inaugural release for the new Collar City Records label, Brent Gorton (the album) finds Brent Gorton (the guy) playing many instruments himself, with a guest list that reads like a who’s-who of the Albany indie-music scene: Members of the Kamikaze Hearts, Lincoln Money Shot, Brevator, and Complicated Shirt all contribute to the proceedings. In typical Gorton fashion, British Invasion-influenced popsmithery (“Anna Berlin,” “That Photograph”) sits snugly with more experimental bits (“Feedback”) for a consistently interesting 30-minute listen.

An aside to the man himself: When we profiled you last year (June 23, 2005), you claimed that you “didn’t want to use a lot of guitar” on the album. What gives? This album is loaded with guitars (among other things). We’re not complaining, just trying to set the record straight here.

Brent Gorton and the Tender Breasts (pictured) will celebrate the album’s release this Saturday (May 20) at Valentine’s (17 New Scotland Ave., Albany). Boston-based pop act Mittens and local “supergroup” Gun Christmas will open the 9 PM show. Admission is $5. For more information, call 432-6572 or visit www.valentinesalbany.com.

Albany Symphony Orchestra

The Albany Symphony Orchestra’s season draws to a close Saturday night at the Palace with a program of musical fireworks titled Brave New Worlds.

The title gives the first hint about what’s on the program: Dvorák’s Symphony No. 9, aka “From the New World.” Easily the most popular of Dvorák’s symphonies, the ninth is bold and brash, combining the Native American and other folk-music influences—picked up on a U.S. visit—with the European symphonic tradition. As for the aforementioned fireworks, they’ll be provided by soloist Nadia Salerno-Sonnenberg when she joins the ASO for Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto.

Finally, there will be the premiere of My Father’s Waltz, specially commissioned from composer Michael Torke (Strawberry Fields). And then that’s it for maestro David Alan Miller and company until the fall—so don’t pass up this (temporary) farewell.

The Albany Symphony Orchestra will perform Saturday (May 20) at 7:30 PM at the Palace Theatre (19 Clinton Ave., Albany). Tickets are $41.25, $32.50 and $21. For tickets and other information, call the box office at 465-4663.

The Gilded Pony Performance Festival

“What goes up, must come down/spinning wheel, spinnin’ round . . .”

Wait a minute, scratch that: It was a “painted pony” they were singing about. There are also “gelded ponies,” but let’s not go into that. This is about a gilded pony, as in the Gilded Pony Performance Festival, a delirious amalgam of art and dance and performance and whatnot to be held this weekend at the Arts Center of the Capital Region in Troy and the Old Brick Church in Valley Falls.

In case the name—that’s Gilded Pony Performance Festival, remember?—isn’t quite specific enough, let’s hear from the co-curators, Hélène Lesterlin of Troy and Bethany Wright of Valley Falls.

The festival, cosponsored by Atlas Dance (pictured below) and FO(A)RM magazine, will present “current approaches to the exploratory arts by facilitating unusual and thought-provoking engagements between performers and audiences. Artists hailing from across the Northeast will converge to create a lively amalgam of dance, theater, performance art, music, poetry, sound art, video and installation.”

Tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday nights at the Arts Center of the Capital Region (265 River St., Troy), there will be performances at 8 PM in the Joseph L. Bruno Theater. On Sunday, things get looser and more carnival-esque at the Old Brick Church (12 Emily St., Valley Falls) from noon to 6 PM. C’mon, get your art on.

The Gilded Pony Performance Festival will be held this weekend (May 20-22) in Troy and Valley Falls. Admission to each individual event is $12 and $15; weekend passes are available for $35 and $40. Call (845) 417-3845 or e-mail gilded pony@gmail.com to reserve tickets and passes; more information can be found at www.gildedpony.org.