Troy Story: A Podcast for the Collar City

08/03/2025

"What the hell is going on?!"

Next time, we welcome 93.9 WABY DJ, singer/songwriter, and Troycore historian Ralph Renna for a wide-ranging interview on growing up in the Collar City, his years fronting Last Call Troy-Core, promoting the Capital Region music scene, and his second act as an "elder statesman" for the heavy music community through the Extreme Music Awards with Troy Story alumni Mike Valente.

08/02/2025

Did you know? A stop on the underground railroad stop operated out of a barber shop in downtown Troy, operated by Peter Baltimore, the father of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's first Black graduate.

RPI Alumni Downtown Troy Business Improvement District Hart Cluett Museum

Full interview: https://youtu.be/Ryhg55pQU8w

08/01/2025

We looked through public records, videos of public meetings, and news stories from the last decade to fact-check a head-scratching claim made during a recent Troy City Council meeting. https://apple.co/3IVcJU0

07/31/2025

In this mini episode, we take a closer look at a head-scratching claim made during a recent Troy City Council meeting. https://apple.co/3IVcJU0

07/28/2025

We love watching for little snapshots of the Collar City in episodes of The Gilded Age on HBO. And now we're getting another season that (hopefully) will feature more of Troy's architecture, history, and people.

What locations have you spotted in season three of the hit HBO show?

The hit HBO series helmed by Julian Fellowes filmed its first three seasons throughout Troy, Albany, Schenectady and more.

07/25/2025

NYS Music revisits some of Ozzy Osbourne's performances in the Capital Region, including his stop at the RPI Field House in Troy, New York, in January 1996.

Ozzy Osbourne, powerful rock front man of Black Sabbath and legendary solo artist, passed away on Tuesday, July 22 at the age of 76. Osbourne's legacy touched thousands of lives and hundreds of venues, especially those in New York State. The Prince of Darkness Osbourne passed after complications fro...

07/25/2025

Hudson Valley Community College alumni, Army veteran, and former Rensselaer County Democratic Committee chairperson Tom Wade remembers the lack of organized political activities on campus during his years at HVCC during the late 60s and early 70s.

Hudson Valley Community College alumni and U.S. Army veteran Tom Wade explains the lack of organized political activities on campus during his years at HVCC,...

07/24/2025

I’m still coming to terms with the sudden loss of Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of F*cking Darkness.

Part of our long-term plans for the podcast was to revisit Ozzy’s 1996 performance at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Houston Field House in Troy. Trailers were recorded, we launched a new webpage, released the teaser, and blasted out a press release asking for contributions from fans.

Less than 24 hours later, the news broke. I’m still gutted. Like many of you, I’ve been spinning Sabbath and Ozzy albums on repeat, experiencing the songs again and getting lost in the memories of hearing those tracks for the first time.

For most heavy metal fans, Ozzy occupies a place in their hearts, either as a gateway to heavier music or a reminder of our youth. Losing someone like Ozzy feels like that small connection is broken, marking an end of a specific era in our lives. But, as Ozzy so poignantly sang, “never say die!”

And so we all can, and must, carry on.

The silver lining has been the funny, insightful, and compelling stories we’ve received during the last few days. Some laugh-out-loud voicemails, very detailed emails, text messages, and photos from fans.

If you saw Ozzy in Troy that cold winter evening in 1996, please reach out. I’d love to hear your story for the episode.

http://troystorypod.com/ozzy

RPI Alumni Joe Holmes Official Mike Inez Page NYS Music 93.9 WABY 102.7 WEQX - The REAL Alternative WEXT Radio Times Union The Record WRPI WNYT NewsChannel 13 WRGB CBS 6 News, Albany Troy City School District Lansingburgh Central School District The 518 518scene.com Hart Cluett Museum WMHT Public Media Jason Bittner

07/23/2025

I was stunned this afternoon after hearing about Ozzy Osbourne's sudden death. Fans of heavy music all have their opinion about the former Black Sabbath front man, but for many he was the godfather of heavy metal.

Many watched the Prince of Darkness take the stage for the final time in his hometown of Birmingham earlier this month, surrounded by friends, family, fans, and the bands representing the heavy metal diaspora whose roots stretch back to Ozzy's time in Black Sabbath and subsequent solo career across the decades.

For a little trip down memory lane, check out the Times Union's review of Ozzy's 1996 concert at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Houston Field House. Video from the show is linked in the comments.

We'll miss you, Ozzy.

In light of the Prince of Darkness's death on July 22, 2025, we're dredging up a 1996 review of the performer's Field House show in Troy.

07/22/2025

Look, ma! We're on the news!

Seriously, though... thank you WNYT NewsChannel 13 for sharing our request for memories on Ozzy Osbourne's '96 gig in Troy! We're already getting voicemails and messages!

Ozzy Osbourne fans, a Troy podcast wants to hear from you.

07/21/2025

Did you see Ozzy Osbourne at the RPI Houston Field House in Troy, New York in 1996? We’d love to hear your story for a future episode!

Local History Podcast Compiling Fan Memories of the Prince of Darkness' 1996 Concert in Troy

07/12/2025

Did you see Ozzy Osbourne at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Houston Field House in Troy, New York in 1996? We’d love to hear your story for a future episode!

➡️ http://troystorypod.com/ozzy