McCoy delivers incredible show at Aztec
By David H. Waller
To nearly a full crowd at the Aztec Theater, Neal McCoy took the stage in Albany for the first time in nearly 30 years—and it was well worth the wait. The last time he played here was at the Polo on the Prairie, and somehow, he remembered it like it was yesterday.
As he walked onto the stage and scanned the audience, he spotted Melinda Musselman, smiled, pointed, and said, “I remember you—you booked me for a show.” Melinda smiled back and shouted, “Yes, we had you at Polo on the Prairie!” Without missing a beat, McCoy cracked, “We’re still available,” drawing immediate laughter from the crowd. That moment set the tone for the entire evening—a night filled with music and more laughs than anyone expected.
McCoy is known for saying that no two shows are ever the same, and after watching him perform, I can say with confidence—he means it. His energy on stage was contagious. He wasn’t just singing songs. He was connecting with people, telling stories, cracking jokes, and turning a concert into something that felt more like a reunion of old friends.
I’ve been to nearly every Albany Live show since the series began, and I’ve loved each one. But there was something different about this night. From the second song in, you could feel the buzz in the room. People were singing, laughing, and leaning in—not just for the music, but for whatever came next. McCoy would sing a verse, stop to tell a story, then launch into the chorus like nothing happened. And somehow, it all worked.
At one point, he asked the crowd who was seeing him live for the first time. A Lueders woman in the back raised her hand and shouted that she’d been waiting 30+ years to see him. McCoy was floored. He stopped the music, walked down the steps of the stage, and made his way through the crowd to meet her. He talked with her, took a photo, and gave her a moment she’ll probably never forget.
That moment summed up the whole evening: personal, heartfelt, and full of good-natured fun. It didn’t matter if you’d grown up listening to Neal McCoy or had never heard one of his songs before—you didn’t need to be a fan to be entertained. He had the entire crowd laughing so hard that more than a few people were holding their stomachs by the end of the night.
In fact, if he ever decides to hang up his microphone, I’d suggest a second career as a stand-up comic. He had the kind of timing, delivery, and instinct that professional comedians spend years trying to master. But of course, he’s also a world-class performer with a voice and a style that make you want to dance, sing along, and stay until the last note fades.
By the time the lights came up, it was clear that we’d witnessed something special. Everyone I talked to afterward said the same thing: This was the best show Albany Live has ever hosted.
“Saturday’s concert was an absolute blast. Neil is such a true old-school performer — his energy and the way he interacted with the crowd were just fantastic,” said Michaela Smith. “It was particularly moving to see so many longtime fans in attendance.”
