One Man’s Mission to Revive an Iconic Saratoga Music Venue

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The hallway that connects The Parting Glass’ front bar with a backroom stage is decorated with fading images of musicians who once performed at the venue. The talent that graced the Irish pub’s stage includes Alison Kraus (winner of 27 Grammy Awards), Bela Fleck (17-time Grammy winner), and legendary folk group The Kingston Trio.

But it’s been some time since these artists visited a place that, well into the 21st century, was still outfitted with 1980s and 90s analog gear. One Parting Glass regular, Anthony Mangano-Delaney, used to gaze at the worn images of nationally touring musicians on the walls and wonder if perhaps his local watering hole wasn’t due for a resurgence.

In November of 2024, Mangano-Delaney created Fast Tony Productions, a company that for the past year has been booking, promoting, and staging concerts at the Parting Glass. It was the long-time music enthusiast’s first foray into the actual music business. Despite this, he’s already sold thousands of tickets to nearly two dozen shows, while also handling all the lights, sound, and event production himself.

“There’s never been one show that just went totally smooth, uneventful, or unsurprising,” Mangano-Delaney told Saratoga TODAY. “There’s always something new that pops up, which, in a way, that’s why I continue to do it and enjoy doing it. There’s always a new challenge.”

One of the self-taught promoter’s first orders of business was updating Parting Glass’ equipment. He moved the old school analog gear up to a section of the attic that he calls “The Parting Glass Museum” and replaced it with new speakers and mixing boards. Now, the venue boasts equipment that meets modern-day touring standards. Musicians coming from larger venues in places like New York City can simply plug in and play.

“Life isn’t easy on the road for theater acts these days, let alone acts that are in smaller clubs and bigger bars,” Mangano-Delaney said. “So to be able to give them five-star treatment, to give them a great artists’ area, great hospitality, a full menu, everything you could want to drink…a great sound check, a great place to rest—it’s good to be able to offer that to people.”

Mangano-Delaney said that the revamped Parting Glass has impressed visiting bands enough that most have either returned or plan to return.

Among the acts booked thus far are veteran rocker Pat Travers, Irish-American band the Young Dubliners, and Jimmy Vivino, leader of the house band featured on Conan O’Brien’s late-night talk show.

Next up on the schedule is a Nov. 14 co-headling “Heavyweights of Soul” show featuring Grammy winner Mike Farris and Grammy nominee Sugaray Rayford; a Dec. 10 concert with Curtis Salgado, the real-life inspiration behind John Belushi’s Blues Brothers characters; a Dec. 21-23 McKrells Christmas residency; a Jan. 13 show with Tantric, who are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their certified gold debut album; and a Jan. 23 performance by five-time Grammy nominees Professor Louie & the Crowmatix, whose frontman produced three of The Band’s studio albums.

It’s a busy lineup, but for Mangano-Delaney, the juice is worth the squeeze.

“When you wrap up a show, the house lights come on, you put on the house music, and you have people coming up wanting to shake your hand and wanting to give you a hug,” Mangano-Delaney said. “I like to see the smiles on their faces and know that the same passion that I have, I’m able to share that and see other people’s faces light up. That’s really cool for me.”