There are shows where you know what you’re getting before you walk in — and then there is a Buckethead show. When a man in a white mask and a KFC bucket takes the stage at Empire Live on Tuesday, May 12, the only certainty is that nothing about it will feel ordinary.
About Buckethead
Brian Patrick Carroll has built one of the most singular catalogs in modern guitar music. Known for blending thrash metal, jazz fusion, bluegrass, progressive rock, and electronica into a style that defies easy description, he has released hundreds of albums — including an ongoing Pike series that has been running since 2011. He spent time as the lead guitarist for Guns N’ Roses from 2000 to 2004, and has collaborated with Les Claypool, Iggy Pop, and Bootsy Collins. Signature tracks like “Soothsayer,” “Jordan,” “Whitewash,” and “Big Sur Moon” have earned him a devoted following that crosses genre lines entirely.
Live, he doesn’t speak. He doesn’t explain. He plays — and somewhere in the set he’ll distribute toys to the front row, a ritual known as Toy Time, before inviting fans to trigger his guitar’s killswitch. It’s a show you experience rather than just watch.
This Albany date is part of a North American tour running through August 2026.
About Empire Live
Empire Live opened in fall 2021 at 93 N. Pearl Street in downtown Albany’s entertainment district, succeeding the long-running Upstate Concert Hall. The main room holds 1,000 for general admission — standing room, big stage, good sightlines from anywhere. The smaller Empire Underground sits downstairs with room for 350.
Doors open around 7:00 PM; showtime is 8:00 PM. The venue is cashless — card only for concessions and merch. Bag policy is strict: clutches no larger than 6×9 inches. If you’re driving in from outside the city, a nearby hotel stay is worth considering to avoid the downtown traffic and parking hassle.
Tickets
Tickets start at $60.00. Buy Tickets →