Troy’s Emerald City Band journey takes a ride to Eddie’s HOF

Beloved band left a lasting impact on music scene

TROY—In the ‘70s, the Emerald City Band was the highlight of nightlife in Troy. Known for their eclectic blend of rock, pop, and soulful grooves, the band earned a reputation for electrifying performances that captivated audiences through the ‘80s. Their vibrant force in the music scene has earned them a spot in the Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Hall of Fame.

Throughout their legacy, the band has seen a few lineups. Started by guitarist Joe Mele and keyboardist/vocalist Gary Brooks, Emerald City has also featured keyboardist/guitarist/vocalist Gary Tash, sax player/vocalist Rick Rourke, bass player/vocalist Eddie Powers, guitarist/vocalist Dave Costa, drummer/vocalist Gary Sagendorf, keyboardist Peter Iselin, drummer Chris Garabedian and bass player Joe Montarello.

Mele and Brooks always wanted to be in a band, and when one of their projects ended, they called in some childhood friends–Costa, Sagendorf and Powers–to create Emerald City. After a few years, Tash stepped in, a few other transitions happened, and after a 30-year hiatus, they returned in 2011 with Rick Rourke.

“We never lost track of each other. We always kept in contact all these years,” Mele said.

Back in the ‘70s, the nightlife was very different than it is now. With a younger drinking age and no cable TV, being in a band was the “thing to do,” said Mele. Emerald City would play at high school dances and all over a vibrant bar scene.

According to Garabedian, “We played at least twice every Friday and every Saturday night. We always had opportunities to play.”

Expanding their reach, the band also toured “many different places.” “We went out to Philadelphia, and we played in Rochester and Syracuse,” Tash said. During the late ‘70s into the ‘80s, they performed shows in New York City —including CBGBs and the Great Gildersleeves.

Tash recalls fans taking busses down to the City to support their shows. “You’d get free beers on the way down, free beers on the way back on the bus and get to see the show. And in some of the shows we played, the first band who went on there was almost nobody in the club. When we went on, it was like 350 people. It was really exciting to have happen.”

“The fan base is the most important thing that drives a band. Once you get in front of an audience – and the Troy fan base is where it all started– it’s how we learned how to appreciate our fans. Wherever Emerald City showed up, there was a fan base and we’re so, so grateful for that. They’re the most gracious audience I think I’ve ever played for. And as we went out and did things all over the place, the fan base supported us. Without the fans, we have no money, we don’t get paid, and we don’t have a place to play. So’s a lot of appreciation there,” Garabedian said.

The concert that means the most to them through all their different experiences is the Dustin Mele Memorial concert.

The Dustin Mele Memorial concert, in its 13th year, is a tribute for Mele’s son. According to Mele, there’s been interest to move it to other venues in different cities, but he chooses to keep it at Revolution Hall in Troy.

“Troy’s a special thing, having grown up here,” he added.

The band reunited in 2011 to kick off the second leg of their journey and played local events such as Rocking on the River, Alive at Five with Dave Mason, Troy Pig Out, Schaghticoke and Brunswick Summer Concert series.

Although they no longer play together, and have since lost members Gary Brooks and Dave Costa, they all stay in touch and get together once a month for lunch. Their friendship, a driving point of Emerald City, still journeys on. “It was an honor to play with them,” Tash said.

“The music scene was just taking us on this ride. Bars were developing, then clubs started developing–suddenly, we got to ride into all these big places,” Mele said.

Join one of the stops of the Emerald City Band as they celebrate their long journey into the Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Hall of Fame.

Tickets are on sale now for the exceptional showcase of music in the Capital Region, sponsored by MLB Construction Services, LLC and media partner WEXT.  Visit the Box Office at Proctors in-person or via phone at (518) 346-6204 Tuesday-Saturday 12 p.m.-6 p.m. or online by visiting atuph.org.

The Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards and Hall of Fame, as well as UPH, are part of Proctors Collaborative.