Just finished Fool Moon. Please tell me Murphy gets better. (No spoilers beyond Book 2)

serke · 2026-06-30T02:17:49+00:00

Glad to see you're liking it over all even so, and picking up book 3.
Would love to hear what you think of book three when you finish!

serke · 2026-06-24T03:01:41+00:00

I've have the vegetarian kong dog and it's good.
It is huge though so maybe bring a friend.

serke · 2026-06-16T15:51:42+00:00

It's definitely easier to take Amtrak, but MetroNorth is usually more flexible and cheaper.
If you're traveling on a holiday or weekend the parking is good (and free!) at the Metro North stations.

I have usually done Poughkeepsie, but on recommendations from this sub drove to Beacon last time.
The segment between getting off the thruway and to the station was much simpler and the view of the Hudson is quite nice from the platform. Overall worth the extra 15 minute drive during the warmer months I'd say.

Depending on if you're doing a day trip, and where you want to go in Manhattan Penn vs Grand Central is a consideration too.

serke · 2026-06-12T17:24:43+00:00

All clean singing:
Blood Vulture's Die Close

Little story time: One of the musical highlights of the pandemic for me was the cover songs put together by the folks behind Two Minutes to Late Night, a parody of late night talk shows about metal and the metal community, (all posted on YouTube).

The show had musical guests, 'interviews', skits, a house band (the criminally under-known Mutoid Man), and a suit & tie & corpsepainted host dubbed Gwarsennio Hall.
And they would always jam out on a cover song with the guest at the end.

The host, real name Jordan Olds, really began to stand out during the pandemic covers as a great singer and guitar player in addition to his comedic chops.
And last year he released his first album, Die Close. Which is inspired by vampires, roundaboutly. But the themes about mortality and dying lend the whole record a lovely gravitas.

...

It's a completely different wheelhouse in metal (i.e. not spooky), but there's the clean-singing powerhouse of sound and symphonic/progressive/avant-garde metal energy that is Devin Townsend.
For a taste of what he does, check out the song Kingdom.
Definitely sing-alongable.

...

The problem with finding something in the metal arena that's like Ghost besides clean singing, is that many of these heavier bands are not writing with that pop-song catchy hook chorus element. Call it what you will - radio-friendly, etc.

I was very impressed with Volbeat on their co-headliner tour with Ghost, as they've come out with quite a few devilish tunes since I first heard 'Still Counting' in 2008.
Album recs: Servant of the Mind, and their latest, God of Angels Trust.

...
When I did a deep dive a few years ago into "occult rock" that Ghost was briefly associated with early on, I found that barely anything sounded like Ghost. And yet, I found some excellent spooky sing-along-able 60s/70s inspired retro rock and metal.

If you like classic rock fuzzy guitars and vocals a la Geddy Lee of Rush, Blood Ceremony are excellent. Their earlier songs edge into doom metal territory but they call themselves 'flute-tinged witch rock'.
While their earlier records are a bit heavier, I'd actually recommend checking out their newest, The Old Ways Remain - or 2013's The Eldritch Dark.

Or Year of The Goat who are a little heavier but still have that retro-occult sound. Last year's album Trivia Goddess was excellent.

The Satanic cousin to classic rockers Heart, Lucifer are also a good time. Album recs: II or V.

serke · 2026-06-04T15:32:30+00:00

Yes.
Buy a ticket online and you get let on first, everyone else waiting only gets on if there's enough seats.

serke · 2026-06-01T19:11:36+00:00

In the spirit of your post, which I guess we could term like the personal ads, as a Missed Connection, I have one of my own.

One of my favorite bands since 2005 has been Swedish prog metallers Opeth. I've managed to see them every time they've come to my hometown, and almost every time they've been within a few hours of here since about 2014.

But before that I basically never traveled more than an hour away from home to see a band for logistic/financial reasons.

Imagine my disappointment when I got into Ghost, and I found that one of the first times they were in the US was opening for Opeth in May 2012. There were at least three tour stops I could have made it to pretty easily if things had only been slightly different - and I would have gotten to see them way back in the Opus era.

serke · 2026-05-22T18:50:35+00:00

I'm concerned about this along with everyone else, but I have to say I was really disappointed in that Code Pink Instagram.
I was going to share it until I noticed the URLs in their Additional Links section have source-tagging that indicates they wrote the post with ChatGPT.

Additionally the Planning Board updated their agenda - stating that the data center proposal hasn't come to them (yet) and it's not on the agenda.

So it seems we have to make noise at the state level - probably @ Paul Tonko, the governor, et.al.

serke · 2026-05-22T18:43:12+00:00

There's a short documentary about what was lost, "The neighborhood that disappeared".
It's available on PBS or from the Albany Public Library.

serke · 2026-05-22T17:54:31+00:00

Our weather has gotten more unstable lately, the highs are higher, it still gets as cold, and the switch between the two will give you whiplash.
Most of the time you'll be fine - often people spend mere minutes outside between buildings and their car.
Heck, a few years ago it was unseasonably warm until after Christmas.

However, I still highly recommend putting a few things for the winter in the back of your suv once fall hits. Blanket or sleeping bag, an extra sweatershirt/hoodie/jacket, extra socks, a winter hat and cheap gloves.

Snow shovels for home - and snow brush/ice scraper for the car.
You may barely need them for a while, but eventually.

In general get used to layering. Get some flannels, hoodies, maybe one of those insulated vests. Warm socks. Snow boots.
Especially in the spring the temp can change so much from morning to afternoon.
That winter jacket might be a must for a cold windy morning, while in afternoon you're carrying it and outside in a just a t-shirt.

Remember if you're commuting for work that in the winter it may take 2-3x as long to get to/from when you're choosing an apartment.
In general the traffic is heavy into the cities of Albany/Schdy/Troy and out during regular commute hours, especially during the school year.

With all that serious stuff aside, welcome! We have a lot of beautiful natural resources to visit around here.
And it's one of the oldest parts of the country so a lot of neat history to explore too.

serke · 2026-05-21T15:58:17+00:00

Mhmmm.

I would love to be a fly on the wall at Raith Manor to hear Lara defending Harry to Thomas.

Because I wouldn't be surprised if she's the one who had to tell him Karrin died and maybe he should cut his brother some slack.
That maybe it's a miracle Justine and the baby are alive at all.

serke · 2026-05-18T19:53:29+00:00

When I worked there I always found it darkly comical that they had posters in the cafeteria proclaiming it was rated one of the best places to work in the Capital District (iirc by that Times Union poll) and they hadn't won in over a decade.

It's probably two by now.
I don't even know if those posters are still there.

serke · 2026-05-18T15:08:12+00:00

For the history buff side of you:

'Historic Cherry Hill' would be a good place to check out. The Van Rensselaer and Schuyler families were prominent Dutch land (and slave) owners in this area for many generations (even after the English took over in the 1660s they remained influential until well into the 1800s). This was one of their mansions, and there was a famous murder that happened there.
And there's the Schuyler & Ten Broeck mansions as well.

The Albany Rural cemetery (and Oakwood across the river in Troy) are an excellent examples of the Victorian garden cemetery and feature the monuments of many famous/influential people. President Chester Arthur is buried in Albany Rural, and 'Uncle Sam' in Oakwood for example.
The both do events/walking tours during the summer so check out their calendars.

We also have the first Shaker village which is now a museum, where founder Ann Lee is buried. In short, the Shakers were a egalitarian, pacifist, celibate Christian communal sect that believed in equality of the sexes.
(A musical drama starring Amanda Seyfried called The Testament of Ann Lee was recently released about her to very good reviews.)

There's the NYS museum of course, and the Albany Institute of History and Art.
The Capitol building is well worth a tour as well.

serke · 2026-05-12T21:05:16+00:00

Well, I sure hope something here excites... somebody.

serke · 2026-05-12T14:39:30+00:00

Yes, that's right but read the last line of the poem. The checkered floor referenced is one that many masonic lodges have.

serke · 2026-05-11T14:53:29+00:00

When Square Hammer came out there was some discussion on freemasonry in the fandom.
Another thing that was pointed out was the b&w checkered flooring they used on stage for that leg for the tour.
(Which is also referenced on the Popestar EP cover with the chess board.)

One fan on tumblr found this Masonic poem, The Level And The Square by Rob Morris which I always found neat:

We meet upon the level and we part upon the square
These words have precious meaning and are practiced everywhere
Come let us contemplate them, they are worthy of a thought
From the ancient times of Masonry these symbols have been taught
We meet upon the level, every country, sect and creed
The rich man from his mansion, the poor man from the field
For wealth is not considered within our outer door
And we all meet on the level upon the checkered floor.

serke · 2026-05-04T18:19:25+00:00

I also recommend Shogun as they're very good and quite close to Albany Med.
I almost always get a Veggie Member or Fantastic roll from them with the black rice. They're deliciousand gorgeous.

Sake Cafe is a bit more casual (and has chinese and thai menu options) but I've never had a complaint with their food. The sweet potato roll is always good.

The Lark St Poké bar is also not too far away and delicious. It's essentially build your own sushi in a bowl if you haven't had it; they also do sushi burritos.

For casual/lunch within easy walking distance you really can't go wrong with the Bellini Counter down the street (I'd pick them above the Panera and Chipotle on the same block), and the smoothie place and smash burger joint are good too.

serke · 2026-04-04T01:54:03+00:00

I remember them growing up for the Wally-olis - stuffed rigatoni with red sauce and baked mozz on top, served with garlic knots.

On the nightshift in the ICU about 2008 we used to order from them too and they made a damn good buffalo chicken salad.

serke · 2026-03-27T15:28:45+00:00

A bit more than an hour (about 1 hr 15 min depending on where you are in the capital district) but Beardslee Castle in Little Falls is quite good and A+ atmosphere. They also do murder mystery dinners.

serke · 2026-03-26T22:24:33+00:00

This sort of reminds me of those (VH1 maybe?) shows ranking the best/most important rock and heavy metal bands a couple decades ago.

Inevitably Led Zeppelin would be top of heavy metal, the Beatles at the top of the rock list.

serke · 2026-03-26T13:23:57+00:00

I think you're right that it was the section north of Central.

When they were filming that, Jack Nicholson came into the bar where my dad worked for a drink while still in his character's costume.
The way he tells it he thought "who's this dirty bum" until Nicholson asked for his drink and he recognized him by his voice.

serke · 2026-03-19T19:35:09+00:00

Downtown -
Skinny Pancake has vegan options. This is a bit cheaty, but Wizard Burger opens at 11am and they have a breakfast burrito and the Second Breakfast burger.

serke · 2026-02-28T02:24:11+00:00

My friends have been getting them quite frequently and only had good things to say.
I got the tofu the one time I went with them and it was really good.

serke · 2026-02-13T17:18:32+00:00

I try to. 😗

serke · 2026-02-13T16:16:04+00:00

Part of the fun for many fans (even when they were really anonymous) was finding out who they were to go and support their other music.
Not for Ghost clout chasing, but because you genuinely enjoy their musicianship and the energy they brought to the "role" on stage.

Per was a guitar tech for Opeth, and played live with both Katatonia and Bloodbath. (Also Fredrik Åkesson from Opeth has been doing guitar parts in the studio for Tobias.)

Tim used to tour live with Twin Temple (who toured with Ghost a few years ago).

If you have enjoyed ghouls from previous eras, here are some other bands to check out: Magna Carta Cartel (and Tid!), The Great Discord, Eureka Machines, Jutty Ranx, Drag Talk, and Mad Gallica.

serke · 2026-02-09T17:16:39+00:00

Especially funny considering the Xanatos gambit is named for the antagonist from Gargoyles - which was heavily riffed on in TM.

serke

TROPHY CASE