Cryin’ Out Loud plays blues rock without asking permission: gritty guitars, Allman Brothers-informed drive, and original songs that hold their own alongside that kind of company. The Bar Harbor, Maine band’s debut album cracked the Top 10 on the Roots Music Report Blues Chart in 2024, and on Halloween night they bring that sound back to Frog Alley Brewing in Schenectady for a show that doubles as a full-on costume party.
About the Show
The band — fronted by Brandon Stallard on vocals and Ben Chute on lead guitar — came together in Maine and built a loyal following across the Northeast behind high-energy live performances. Their philosophy is direct: “We put everything we have into the music. We do our absolute best, and always tell the truth, flaws and all,” Stallard has said. They named themselves by accident: originally called Wheelhouse, they discovered another band with that name at their very first gig, just as the venue owner exclaimed “For Cryin’ Out Loud!” — and the name stuck.
Their debut album, “Play Loud & Smoke Often,” was produced by Grammy Award-winning guitarist Paul Nelson, known for his work with Johnny Winter, and recorded in Bangor, Maine. Nelson passed away ten days after the album was released. “Working with Paul had a profound impact on all of us as musicians,” Stallard said. “Paul’s fingerprints were on every song.” The record draws from The Band, the Allman Brothers Band, and Little Feat, and it reached the Top 10 on the Roots Music Report Blues Chart. Guest appearances include Erik Lawrence, Paul Nelson, and keyboardist Brooks Milgate. The album was released on Pilot Light Records.
Cryin’ Out Loud is currently touring behind the album, and this Halloween stop is a return engagement; they played Frog Alley in June 2024. Promoters have described them as a band built on “high-energy performances, killer musicianship, and a sound that’s as raw and real as it gets.” The night is officially billed as “Spend Halloween Froggystyle at Frog Alley”: costumes are encouraged, and the event listing calls for “a night of beer, music and spook.” It’s a 21+ event.
Venue & Logistics
Frog Alley Brewing is on State Street in downtown Schenectady, a working brewery with a live music room that has drawn Northeast touring acts consistently — and a natural fit for the Capital Region circuit. The show runs 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Tickets
No ticket price was available from sources at the time of publication. Buy tickets