December 15, 2025 by Elias Prodger (‘26)
Mr. Ubriaco, the beloved English teacher, record collector, and energetic staple of Saratoga’s English department. However, many of you may not know that Mr. Ubriaco’s musical interest extends to his membership in the local band, Tops of Trees.
The Capital Region’s own six-piece rock ensemble, Tops of Trees, has been a fixture of the local music scene for the last handful of years. Following the release of their debut EP, The Tree House Sessions, in 2023, the group has appeared at almost every Capital Region musical hotbed, such as Saratoga’s Universal Preservation Hall and Albany’s Lark Hall. The band’s live shows are their bread and butter, and it’s incredibly clear that the goal of this album is to capture that feeling in a studio recording on their debut full-length album, Do Something.
The opening track, “Light On,” is a perfect microcosm for the record to come. The track plays the character of your mother or drunk uncle at a wedding, violently pulling you onto the dance floor as soon as Earth, Wind, and Fire’s “September” begins. Depending on the listener’s attitude, its positivity within its groove and introspective lyrics can feel either overbearing or uplifting and energizing. The driving energy defines the vast majority of the track, whether through funk-driven triad fills or its full-throttle outro, which showcases Ubriaco’s most passionate and impressive vocal delivery on the entire record.
The musical high point of these songs is the superbly orchestrated and recorded horn section, led by keyboardist and vocalist Alex Miller. The arrangements are ripped straight from the textbook of ’70s soul and soft rock, and I wish we read from that textbook more. The band’s sound is thoroughly ingrained in this style, up to a borderline pastiche on the song “Mad Love.” The band’s sonic characteristics are enjoyable, with their influences worn thoroughly on their sleeve, which can sometimes come off as played out, but are mostly nostalgic nods to the classics.
The band’s true uniqueness is in its identity, so offensively and unmistakably Upstate New York. The band is as Upstate New York as eating Stewart’s ice cream, looking over Lake George, and listening to Dave Matthews, as they painfully roll their eyes at the audacity of someone from Westchester calling themselves “Upstate.” The fourth track, literally titled “Upstate,” celebrates their love for the region and how grateful they are to be in their surroundings. The song is endearing while catering to a highly specific region of the country.
The second half of the album generally slows down, playing with the idea of slow jams. The band’s work with group vocals and varying lead vocals really contributes to the band’s collective spirit and group dynamic. Harmony is the band’s strong suit and core message. Overall, Do Something is a celebration of the sounds the band loves and a thoroughly enjoyable time. The band expresses such pride and confidence within their album in who they are and appears to be thoroughly enjoying themselves in the process. I expect to see them gracing stages all over the region this summer as their fans hoist their Nalgene bottles and Uncommon Grounds bagels into the air and step onto the dance floor to have an excellent time to these songs.