The Capital Region’s best-kept musical secret

May 19, 2026

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Hey 518 readers! Today, we’re introducing you to one of the best musical experiences in the Capital Region—the Jive Hive Live in Albany. Although it’s not exactly open to the public, we absolutely love what founder Tom O’Connor is doing here for the local music scene. Keep reading to learn how you can score an invite!

🎟️ Last call for the next 518 Dinner Club! Bookings close at 6:30 pm TONIGHT. Save your seat now or get on the list for next month.

🎭️ A special shoutout: Led by Patrick White, the Harbinger Theatre is coming off an exceptionally strong year where three of its shows received Best of the Year awards from Berkshire On Stage, The Daily Gazette, The Saratogian & The Troy Record. Its next production is “Ladies’ Day,” by Amanda Whittington, directed by Rachel Stewart.

The show revolves around four fish-filleting friends who spend an unforgettable day at the races, running June 12-19 at the James L. Meader Little Theatre at Russell Sage in Troy. Get tickets now!

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

The Jive Hive Live; the Amy Ryan Band performing at the Jive Hive 📷️ Phat X. Chiem

🎸 Inside Jive Hive Live: Albany’s invite-only music hideaway

The Jive Hive Live is one of the coolest places to hear music in the Capital Region.

Most people have never seen a show here.

That’s because you need to know founder/owner Tom O’Connor or know someone who knows him or one of the bands that play this invite-only venue.

Tom keeps it on the lowdown to avoid upsetting the neighbors.

You see, Jive Hive is run out of a renovated carriage house on a sprawling two-acre property that dates back to 1830. We can’t reveal the location, but we can tell you that it’s very close to UAlbany.

Here, Tom and a tight crew of musicians, engineers and friends have built something that behaves less like a music venue and more like a gift economy. 

Bands come in and play. Jive Hive records the whole thing with professional-quality audio, cameras and lights. A small audience is treated to an intimate live performance. You can also see all of their shows on YouTube.

Then the artists leave with raw material that they can turn into promo reels, a live album recording, or social media content.

Jive Hive doesn’t charge the artists for this. Given the pro-level recording studio at Jive Hive, Tom estimates that each recording session would cost from $5,000 to $10,000 in fees anywhere else. Since 2021, hundreds of bands have recorded there, equating to millions of dollars in donated studio time.

“The local music scene in the Capital Region is incredibly awesome,” says Tom, during a break from a live recording with Jak Lizard. “Our mission is to help everyone kick it up a level.”

Everyone in the music scene knows about Tom and his recording studio. At the recent Eddies Awards, which celebrates music talent in the CR, you heard a lot of appreciation for the Jive Hive.

“The number of people who mentioned the Jive Hive in their thank yous was incredibly gratifying,” Tom says.

None of this is surprising. Tom is a musician’s musician. You might know him from The NoLaNaughts, the 10-piece New Orleans funk band that frequently plays around the Capital Region.

Mikey Baish, leader of The Sugar Hold, which just played the Albany Tulip Festival, is a prime example of the Jive Hive network in action. His band recorded there in their early days.

“That kind of kick started everything,” he says.

Since then, he’s become part of the Jive Hive’s inner machinery, helping coordinate bands and fill in on video.

“What makes the Jive Hive so special is that everybody’s doing it for the love of the music, the love of the community,” Mikey says. “Nobody’s getting paid.”

Along with Mikey, the regular crew includes Alec Lewis of the Alec Lewis Group, Mikey’s brother, Nick Baish, and other folks who have a talent to share.

Shows happen almost weekly. The genre can swing wildly: from blues rock to R&B soul funk to emo pop punk. Pink Floyd tribute band Run Rabbit Run played there early on. Eric Jon Tasker brought his musical project there.

So how do you actually get invited to a show? Follow Jive Hive Live on Instagram, where they sometimes post about upcoming shows. Better yet, message them to say that you’re a subscriber to The 518 Newsletter! That should open some doors.

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🥡 Ocean Palace, the cult favorite Chinese restaurant on Central Avenue in Albany, is closing after 30 years in business. Get there for tasty dim sum before the end of the month. [Times Union]

🥙 Alaturco Gyro Mediterranean Restaurant is opening a second location in the former Gershon’s Deli space at 1600 Union Street in Schenectady. Yay, more delicious shawarma wraps and gyros for everyone! [News10]

🍣 We love a good izakaya! From the folks behind Jack’s Oyster House comes two new restaurants, opening this week: Izakaya Kinko and The Vault, a tapas-style wine bar. And the spaces look gorgeous! [The Dishing]

🛒 The Trader Joe’s on Wolf Road is demolishing the Honey Baked Ham store next door to make way for more parking. This is a trade we can approve. [Albany Business Review]

🗳️ Do you know Orlondo Hundley, the young upstart politician making a run for mayor of Schenectady? He’s been making waves with a big social media presence. Orlondo is officially launching his campaign on June 27 at Tacos & Margaritas in Schenectady.

This stunning 1910 home on graceful Manning Boulevard in Albany has pristine hardwood floors, sky high ceilings, a grand foyer, lots of light due to its southern exposure, and tasteful fixtures throughout the place. Chef it up in the renovated kitchen with French doors opening to the upper deck, and sprawl out over five grand bedrooms, 2.5 baths, first-floor laundry, and a beautifully designed private third-floor suite with its own kitchenette.

Double decks look out over a big grassy backyard for summer fun or winter merrymaking. Pair the easy, elegant style with modern upgrades like a heat pump, mini-splits, and tankless water heater for efficiency and ease. Walk to St. Peter's, excellent restaurants, and your favorite neighborhood spots.

The deets: 5 bd, 3 ba, 2918 sf. Asking: $489,000. Days on market: 4. See the full listing here.

Note: The 518 Weekender now publishes on Thursdays. Watch your inboxes!

WEDNESDAY

📍 The Historic Albany Foundation invites you to a special trolley tour through the historic district of North Albany.

💙 Lupine Fest goes all month long at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve.

🎡 The Rotterdam Carnival is happening all week. Admission is free; unlimited ride wristbands are $30.

🎭️ Opera Saratoga’s 2026 Summer Festival opens on Wednesday and runs through June 28.

💀 Union College’s Theater Department presents “Hamlet.”

🎭️ Tony Award-winning musical “The Outsiders” plays at Proctors through May 24.

THURSDAY

🍽️ The 518 Dinner Club is headed to Albany’s Warehouse District. Hurry to save your seat—bookings close on Tuesday at 6:30 pm.

🏃‍♂️ The 2026 CDPHP Workforce Team Challenge is the biggest running event in the CR. If you’re running or spectating, be prepared for closed roads.

🦉 Get to the Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s Discovery Center for a special evening event, Science Symposium.

FRIDAY

⭐️ Hop on Zoom for a lunchtime panel discussion featuring 8 artists from “Americana/ble: The Big Group Show” at Kiddie Pool. Moderated by Karley.

🪕 The GottaGetGon Festival is a huge family-friendly folk music event that takes place every Memorial Day Weekend at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds.

🌔 Want to take a stroll on the world's longest elevated pedestrian bridge on a moonlit evening? The next Walkway At Night is this Friday at the Walkaway Over the Hudson.

SATURDAY

🇭🇹 Get a taste of Haiti at the first annual Albany Haitian Flag Day at the Washington Park Lake House.

🦞 It’s all you can eat at Ilium Brewing’s 2nd annual Crawfish Boil!

🎞️ “Georgia O’Keeffe, The Brightness of Light" screens at the Hyde Museum

📜 The free Pinkster Celebration at Schuyler Mansion features musical performances, dancing, and mansion tours.

🍸️ The Rensselaerville Public Library’s Cocktail Party is at the beautiful Hilltown Commons, with music by Moonshine Mule.

🐦️ This seems oddly specific but pretty cool at the same time. Tiny Bird Book Contemplative invites you to create a tiny accordion-style book filled with beautiful bird images and thoughtful quotes.

🌿 The Chronic Dispensary celebrates its grand opening with food trucks and free ice cream.

MONDAY

🇺🇲 It’s Memorial Day! Albany.com has a list of the major celebrations across the Capital Region.

ON VIEW

Our music listings are now published separately on The 518 website. Click here.

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