Warner Records Rebrands, Changes Name & Logo after Six Decades

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, takes a brief look at the past and future of the iconic label

News broke this week that iconic record label Warner Bros. Records has changed its name and logo. Now known as Warner Records, this is the first time the label has made any huge changes to its outward name and appearance in its more than six-decade history.

The lapse of a 2004 deal between Time Warner and a group of investors, which stated that the company must use the Warner Bros. Records branding for at least 15 years, this year led to this penultimate part of the company’s rebranding process.

The new name and logo follow a handful of recent changes to the label’s staff. In 2018, Warner’s US branch got a new Co-Chariman and CEO in Aaron Bay-Schuck and a new Co-Chairman and COO in Tom Corson. The UK branch named Phil Christie its new president in 2016. Warner Chapel also got a new name and logo of its own this month, as well as a couple of new co-chairs. That’s not to mention that the company left its Burbank headquarters of 44 years in March for a new one in Los Angeles.

Said Bay-Schuck and Corson in a press release about the changes; “For the first time in the label’s history, we’ve had the opportunity to create a distinct, modern identity entirely of our own. The timing couldn’t be better, since we all feel the label is at a moment of reinvention that builds on our legacy, while moving into a future driven by fearlessness and creativity. We have a growing roster of world-class artists, a rejuvenated team, and an incredible new location. It’s a new day for Warner Records, an iconic label that was born in the California sun, and is at home everywhere on earth.”

Christie’s approach to the rebranding is less flowery and more artist-based, noting in the release; “We’re signing and developing the next generation of British artists to move global culture, so we wanted the Warner Records brand to have the power and freedom to mean different things to different people around the world. A new logo isn’t meaningful on its own, and our label will always be defined by the originality of our artists, our music and our people.”

Formed as the music division of the Warner Bros. film studio in 1958, Warner Records has become an iconic company in its own right. The label signed its first big artist the Everly Brothers, in 1960. Though the company had a few successes with the Everlys and a couple of other early artists like Petula Clarke, they found it hard to produce hit records during their first decade of existence. After a handful of buy-outs, first by Seven Arts in 1967, then by Kinney in 1970, Warner finally hit its groove in the late 1960s and early 1970s, signing a wealth of popular artists and developing into a major label player in the music industry. Over the years, the label has been home to many of the industry’s biggest artists, including Madonna (on Sire), Prince, Grateful Dead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day (on Reprise), My Chemical Romance, Fleetwood Mac and Black Sabbath, to name only a few. Warner, along with its acquired labels like Sire, Reprise and Atlantic, is currently the third largest record label behind Universal and Sony.

Like with anything new, there are some who feel like some of these changes weren’t thought through. The new logo, especially, has been getting some flack in the day since being revealed. Featuring the company’s name in bold, white block letters set against a black backdrop with a large white circle to the left of the words, a design far from the roundedness of the original shield logo, the company has described  the new design as “artful simplicity and impactful typography that are ideally suited to the digital world,” with the circle “suggesting a record, a sun, and a globe, [as] a nod to the label’s past, present, and future.” Not everyone is seeing it as such, though, as many people with former ties to the company have been calling the new design “bland,” “uninspired” and “generic at best.”

Though some may not like the changes, the newly christened Warner Records name and logo are now part of the label’s more than six decade story. With the rebranding, the company completes a transformation that has been years in the making. Now, Warner looks towards the future, continuing to focus on their artists and usher in a new era of musical creativity.

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Find iconic Warner Records titles and more at Vinyl Bay 777! As Long Island's top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres to suit most music fans. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Week In Review: New Songs / Music Videos You Need to Check Out (May 19-25, 2019)

The new music train did not stop in the lead up to Memorial Day weekend as a plethora of songs and music videos have been released over the past week. This week saw some amazing new tracks from the likes of Yungblud, Waterparks and Lukas Nelson, as well as engrossing videos from Vampire Weekend, The Lumineers and more. As you’re enjoying your extended weekend, why not add some new tracks to your playlist by taking a look back at some of the week’s hottest new songs and music videos.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, has been scouring the internet for the best new pop and rock songs and music videos of the past week. Here are seven we know you’ll enjoy as much as we do.

1.       Yungblud, “Parents”: “Parents” is an attitude-filled, fresh take on the “Parents Just Don’t Understand” trope. Yungblud’s rap/sung vocals against the minimalist rock /reggae vibe of the song’s melody makes for a catchy, memorable track that would be radio-ready if not for the lyrical content. (video)

2.       The Lumineers, “Gloria”:  The Lumineers released a video for their latest single “Gloria” this week. A continuation of the video series the band has been releasing for their upcoming album ‘III,’ “Gloria” has an intense, emotional rollercoaster of a plot with one shocking moment after another. From Gloria is laying on the ground convulsing to her cracks her husband’s head open with a vodka bottle (all while her baby is watching) to the car crash apex, it doesn’t slow down for a second. (video)

3.       Waterparks, “Turbulent”: Waterparks’ Hopeless Records debut single, “Turbulent” is paced to reflect its title, bound to a killer pace by quick snare rolls and an even quicker electronic beat. In fact, the sound includes more electronic elements than the band’s previous albums, which have typically favored upbeat pop-punk. The song feels a bit dark and heavy, covered by an electronic film that is holding it back. However, the lyrics and vocals maintain the same kind of charm that made them one of my favorite bands of 2018. (video)

4.       Jamie N Commons, Skylar Gray & Gallant, “Runaway Train”: I don’t usually put covers on this list, but the concept is too important not to include. A “reimagining” of the Soul Asylum classic (which turned 25 this week) sponsored by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the video brings the original video into the present by including a new set of missing youths in need of help. The hope is that lightning will strike twice and these children will be found like 2/3 of those featured in the original. The track itself is more soulful with a fuller, more orchestral sound. (video)

5.       Vampire Weekend, “This Life”: Early this week, Vampire Weekend released a video for their latest ‘Father Of The Bride’ single “This Life.” Starring Ezra Koenig and collaborator Danielle Haim, the video is shot in black and white with the bright California sun providing the perfect lighting for the song’s effervescent, sun-drenched nature. I also enjoy the sedar finale with Mark Ronson. (video)

6.       Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real, “Turn Off The News (Build A Garden)”: “Turn Off The News” is a folk-tinged rock track about tuning out living life. Based on the premise that we as a society are too consumed by media that we are losing track of what is important, the song begs its listeners to spend more time being together and caring for ourselves and for one another. Accompanied by a strong, airy-yet-full-bodied melody, the lyrics more than get their message across without getting bogged down with too much weight.  (video)

7.       Mike Donovan, “B.O.C. Rate Applied”: Mike Donovan channels 1960s-era rock bands on his latest single “B.O.C. Rate Applied.” The sound is laid back and “groovy,” layering fuzzy vocals on top of light guitar strumming and structured snare hits. (video)

Further Listening:

·         Kyle Craft, “Broken Mirror Pose”: (video)

·         Ginesse, “In Between”: (video)

·         Doll Skin, “Empty House”: (video)

A multitude of great new songs and music videos were released this week, just in time for the long Memorial Day weekend. Check out some of our favorites above and let us know what new tracks you’ll be adding to your weekend playlist in the comments below.

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Discover music new and old at Vinyl Bay 777! As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in an array of genres to suit the tastes of most music lovers. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. Whether you’re looking for something new to you or to rediscover the classics, we have you covered. And with more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Six Bands Who Formed During College

College campuses have notoriously been popular places for bands to form. While one’s studies are usually the main reason for attendance, college is also a place where people develop life-long friendships and relationships with other like-minded people. And for those that are musically inclined and have that special kind of chemistry, a successful band may not be too far behind.

With colleges all over the world celebrating their commencement activities this month, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at bands that made it big out of college. Here are six whose rock star dreams became a reality.

1.       Vampire Weekend: When Vampire Weekend burst out onto the indie rock scene in 2006, they became known as “that band that formed at Columbia University.” The quartet of Ezra Koenig, Chris Tomson, Chris Baio and Rostam Batmanglij met while studying at the Ivy League school and didn’t waste any time getting music out. Their debut album was written and recorded while they were still students on campus.

2.       Coldplay: The guys of Coldplay met early on in their university careers, way before they ever had a single class in fact. Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland became friends in 1996 during orientation week at University College London. Less than a year later and with the additions of fellow classmate Guy Berryman, Martin’s friend Phil Harvey and Will Champion, the band started playing small clubs together.

3.       Queen: Brian May formed the band that would eventually become known as Queen while a student at Imperial College in London. He and high school friend Tim Staffell formed a band called Smile, recruiting drummer Roger Taylor through an ad in the college’s newspaper. Freddie Mercury, who was studying at Ealing Art College and was friends with Staffell, joined in 1970 following Staffell’s exit and that same year played their first show as Queen. That show happened to be at, where else, Imperial College.

4.       Pink Floyd: Before being known as Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Richard Wright were all architecture students at London Polytechnic playing music together as Sigma 6. Many of their early shows were played in the school’s Regent Street basement. About three years after forming, the band, now featuring Syd Barrett, would change their name to Pink Floyd and history would be made.

5.       Interpol: According to a 2003 interview with Pitchfork, Interpol formed at NYU, though they were not originally friends. Said Dan Kessler, “I approached everyone at some point or another, and started loosely jamming with our first drummer [Greg Drudy], who lived in the same dormitory as me; he was just starting to play drums, so it was very loose-- and bad. I was just happy to have someone to play with, to tell you the truth. I had a very hard time finding musicians to play with-- musicians at all, really-- and I saw Carlos in some class and approached him.”

6.       R.E.M.: Though three out of the four members of R.E.M. studied at the University of Georgia, the band did not meet on campus. Instead, mutual friend Kathleen O’Brien introduced Michael Stipe to fellow students Mike Mills and Bill Berry in fall 1979. Along with Peter Buck (who Stipe met at a record shop) the new band started playing music together in 1980. The new band played their first show at a nearby church at a gig set up to celebrate O’Brien’s birthday.

College campuses have historically been popular places for bands to form. From like-minded friends making music together to those who actively sought to recruit fellow musicians from their school or other means, the university atmosphere has bred many a band, including some very popular ones like the ones above. With the next group of college graduates heading out to follow their dreams, it is only a matter of time before the next big college band finds their way to the public eye.

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Find music from these collegiate bands and more at Vinyl Bay 777. Long Island’s top new independent record shop has thousands of titles to choose from in a wide selection of genres. Browse or selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Five Famous Winners of the Eurovision Song Contest

We are currently in the midst of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest, the annual singing competition bringing together countries from around the European continent (plus Australia and Israel) to vie for the glass microphone trophy, bragging rights and the opportunity to host the contest next year. This year’s competition takes place in Tel Aviv, Israel following their win last year with Netta’s dance-pop entry “Toy.” The finale happens Saturday, May 18.

Over the last few years the popularity of the event has grown exponentially, catching the attention of curious onlookers around the world, including right here in the United States. A new version was adapted for the Asia-Pacific market and will take place sometime this year. An American version, dubbed the ‘American Song Contest’ is currently being discussed with a air date being eyed for 2021.

The Eurovision Song Contest has been an ongoing television event since its first broadcast in 1956. In such a long history, the competition has seen its fair share of successful artists come through. Artists as varied as Olivia Newton-John, Bonnie Tyler, Julio Iglesias, Justin Hawkins (The Darkness), Cliff Richard and t.A.T.u all graced the stage as competitors, though they did not win.

With the 2019 finale coming up this weekend, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look back at some of the Eurovision Song Contest’s most recognizable competitors. From those that gained notoriety from the competition to those whose fame was bolstered by their participation, here are five of the most well-known winners in Eurovision Song Contest history.

1.       Lulu (1969): With a role in James Bond film ‘To Sir, with Love,’ a stack of top 10 hits (including the film’s title track) and a handful of television series, British singer Lulu was already a popular singer by the time she represented the UK in the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest. In fact, her television audience was the one that chose the song she would sing during the competition. Lulu ended up winning along with entries from Spain, the Netherlands and France in the event’s first (and last) four-way tie.

2.       ABBA (1974): Undoubtedly one of the biggest names to come out of the Eurovision Song Contest, ABBA won the competition for their native Sweden in 1974. Not only did they win, but the song that they performed, “Waterloo,” became an international top 10 hit. The song was also voted the best Eurovision Song Contest entry ever during the event’s 50^th anniversary celebration in 2005. ABBA went on to sell millions of albums worldwide and have gone multiple-times platinum. The group recently reunited for a television special, for which they recorded their first new music together in nearly four decades.

3.       Celine Dion (1988): Already known in her native Canada for her French-language albums, Celine Dion made a name for herself globally when she competed for Switzerland in the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest. She won with the song “Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi” (“Don’t Leave Without Me”), giving the country its first win in the competition. After learning English, she turned that recognition into a successful global career, one that has led her to perform all over the world, have one of the most successful Las Vegas Residencies in history and release many platinum-selling albums.

4.       Katrina & the Waves (1997): Katrina and the Waves already had a massive global hit with 1985’s “Walking On Sunshine” when the band competed for the UK in the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest. Their entry proved to be a comeback of sorts. The band won in a landslide against their closest competitor and gave them their biggest UK hit, “Love Shine a Light.”

5.       Lordi (2006): In a win for hard rock fans everywhere, Finnish metal band Lordi won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006 with their song “Hard Rock Hallelujah,” earning the highest amount of points a contestant had ever gotten at that point. The win was a first for Finland, who had been participating in the competition since 1961. It was also the first time a metal band won, as well as the first time a contestant won both the semi-final and the final.

The Eurovision Song Contest has played host to some truly talented artists, including many who have found fame prior to or following their appearance at the event. As more attention is paid toward the competitors the world over, there is no doubt that even more stars will be made in years to come.

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Find music from the Eurovision Song Contest’s highly successful past contestants and more at Vinyl Bay 777. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a wide variety of genres. Browse our selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Week in Review: New Songs / Music Videos You Need to Check Out (May 5-11, 2019)

A lot of new music is released over the course of a given week. So much so that it can be hard to keep track of all of it. This week was no exception, as the last seven days have brought a wealth of new songs and music videos to the internet for our listening and viewing pleasure.

The weekend is the perfect time to catch up on the week’s latest music. That’s why Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, has scoured the internet for the week’s best new tracks. Here are six (and a few more) that we think you’ll like as much as we do.

1.       The Regrettes, “Dress Up”: “Dress Up” is a fast-moving track full of attitude. The lyrics and vocals are clear against the song’s catchy, guitar-driven melody. It’s those aggressive-yet-bouncy guitars that will hook you and take you for the ride through the nearly three minute track. (video)

2.       Joey Cape, “I Know How To Run”: Lagwagon frontman Joey Cape returns with a new single, “I Know How To Run,” the first single from his newly announced solo album ‘Let Me Know When You Give Up.’ The song is a bit more upbeat than a lot of his solo work, which is usually just acoustic guitar and vocals, sounding instead more like something that could have come from his project Bad Astronaut. Acoustic or not, the song still has a fantastic melody and Cape’s vocals are still perfectly grainy and troubadour-like as ever. (video)

3.       Bring Me The Horizon, “Mother Tongue”: The latest single from the Bring Me The Horizon’s new album ‘amo,’ “Mother Tongue” leans more into the band’s new, more pop-punk sound. Supported by an uplifting melody, electronic flourishes and heavy guitars, the song’s chorus soars. (video)

4.       Blink-182, “Blame It On My Youth”: “Blame It On My Youth” looks back and forward at the same time. Lyrically, the song reflects on the band’s past and what motivated them to get started. If you listen, you can hear bits and pieces of their other songs in the melody and lyrics. The overall melody, however, is very different. Perhaps a little of Alex Gaskarth’s All Time Low writing style influenced Mark Hoppus during their Simple Creatures sessions (like Hoppus has no doubt done for Gaskarth over the years), because this song sounds like something off a We The Kings album. (video)

5.       Justin Bieber & Ed Sheeran, “I Don’t Care”: You can definitely hear both Ed Sheeran’s and Justin Bieber’s contributions to “I Don’t’ Care.” For Sheeran’s part (and the best part of the song in my opinion), the melody sounds a little like “Shape Of You” with its cowbell/woodblock percussion hits and easy-going feel. Bieber’s part is a bit more electronic and, to be honest, puts a bit of a damper on the heights the song achieves. (video)

6.       Starcrawler, “She Gets Around”: Melding electronic and garage rock sounds, “She Gets Around” is an alt-rock rager with a catchy chorus. The song keeps its pacing, even as it descends into fuzzed out chaos towards the middle, regaining its composure by the end for one last chorus. (video)

Further Listening/Viewing:

·         Aly & AJ, “Don’t Go Changing”: (video)

·         Alex Cameron, “Miami Memory”: (video)

·         The Teskey Brothers, “Hold Me”: (video)

·         Emarosa, “Get Back Up”: (video)

With the weekend here, now is a great time to look back at the week’s best new songs and music videos. Check out some of our favorites in the list above and let us know what new tracks you’ve been digging this week in the comments below.

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Discover music new and old at Vinyl Bay 777. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a wide variety of genres to suit the tastes of most music fans. Browse our selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. Whether you’re looking to find something new to you or to rediscover the classics, we have you covered. And with more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

New Albums Still to Come in May 2019

We’re already one week into May and we’ve already seen some pretty important new albums hitting shelves. Last week saw the highly-anticipated release of Vampire Weekend’s ‘Father Of The Bride,’ as well as albums from Judah & The Lion, L7, Dream Syndicate, Bad Religion and Ashley Tisdale. And there’s still more to come as the month soldiers on.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the new albums we can expect to see coming out in the next month. From rock and metal to pop and hip-hop, here are seven albums worth watching for in May.

1.       Charly Bliss, ‘Young Enough’: Up-and-coming pop-rock band Charly Bliss is getting ready to release their sophomore album, ‘Young Enough,’ this week. The follow-up to their well-received debut full-length ‘Guppy,’ the new album has a lot to live up to. However, with upbeat, catchy-yet-thought provoking singles like “Capacity,” ‘Young Enough’ could prove to be just as powerful. (5/10)

2.       Whitesnake, ‘Flesh & Blood’: After a year-and-a-half of delays, Whitesnake is finally releasing their new album ‘Flesh & Blood.’ The band is still at the top of their game after more than four decades, coming out swinging with hard-rocking tracks like lead single “Shut Up & Kiss Me.” According to frontman David Coverdale, that song is supposed to be a light love song to counteract all the darkness in the world right now. (5/10)

3.       Carly Rae Jepsen, ‘Dedicated’: Carly Rae Jepsen has proven herself to be a force in pop music over the last 10 years, producing hit after hit to compete with the bigger pop stars. Her upcoming fourth studio effort ‘Dedicated’ is shaping up to be another hit with singles “Party for One” and “Now That I Found You” having made their way to the top 30 in the US. (5/17)

4.       DJ Khaled, ‘Father of Asahd’: DJ Khaled has broken out over the last three years, releasing two highly popular albums and working with several of today’s hottest hip-hop artists. He plans to do it all again with ‘Father of Asahd,’ his 11^th studio album. From what we already know, the album features appearances from Beyonce, Jay-Z, Future, Justin Bieber, Chance The Rapper, Migos’ Quavo and more. (5/17)

5.       Rammstein, ‘Rammstein’: Rammstein’s first new album in a decade, the band hasn’t shied away from controversy in promoting it. The German metal band has released two singles so far, both with videos that have had people talking. “Deutchland” in particular raised concerns of anti-Semitism with its video, which chronicles hundreds of years of negative German history, including the Holocaust. With that being said, “Deutchland” and second single “Radio” each have strong melodies and pointed lyricism that push the envelope and make you think. The rest of the album should be interesting as well. (5/17)

6.       The Stray Cats, ‘40’: It’s been more than 26 years since The Stray Cats have released an album together. But for the band’s 40^th anniversary, the trio is doing just that. The album’s first single “Cat Fight (Over A Dog Like Me)” swings as if no time has passed. (5/24)

7.       Ionnalee, ‘Remember The Future’: Gaining prominence in 2009 as the highly secretive iamamiwhoami, electro-pop artist Jonna Lee has since taken up the moniker of Ionnalee to release new music, putting out the project’s debut ‘Everyone Afraid to Be Forgotten’ in 2018. A little over a year later Lee is back with that album’s follow-up, ‘Remember the Future,’ this month. There’s something understated yet entrancing about her sound that sucks you in. (5/31)

Even with one week down, May 2019 still has a lot of killer new album releases to look forward to. From highly anticipated projects from the likes of Carley Rae Jepsen and DJ Khaled to ones from artists just bubbling up like Charly Bliss to established rock and metal bands like Rammstein, Whitesnake and The Stray Cats, new music abounds this month. Keep an eye out for some of the titles listed above and let us know what May 2019 releases you’re excited to get your hands on in the comments below.

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Discover music new and old at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop. We have thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres to suit the tastes of most music fans. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. Whether you’re looking for something new or to rediscover the classics, we have you covered. And with more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Week In Review: New Songs / Music Videos You Need to Check Out (April 28 – May 4, 2019)

A lot of music is released over the course of any given week. This week was no exception as we got some brand new tracks from big names in rock and pop, including Taylor Swift, Shawn Mendes, Madonna, Angels and Airwaves, Of Monsters and Men and many more.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, loves new music. That’s why we’ve once again scoured the internet for some of the week’s top new songs and music videos.  From rock and pop to even a little hip-hop, here are six (and a few more) of our favorites that we think you’ll enjoy.  

1.       Angels And Airwaves, “Rebel Girl”: Angels And Airwaves waste no time getting back to form with their new single “Rebel Girl,” the band’s first new song since 2016. The song’s underlying rock guitars and drums give it some heft while the synths make the melody soar. Tom DeLonge’s hard pronunciations add a punchiness to the already catchy chorus. (video)

2.       Logic feat. Eminem, “Homicide”: I’m impressed by two things with this track: 1) the speed at which Logic raps and 2) how he intertwines Eminem’s signature “chicka-chicka” into the song before bringing Em himself out. This weaving of two artists unique styles is something that doesn’t always happen with collaborations and its nice when it does. (video)

3.       Celine Dion, “Right In Front Of You”: “Right In Front Of You” is exactly what you would expect to hear from Celine Dion. The song’s melody is light and uplifting with a sound that takes you right back to her 1990s hits. (video)

4.       Madonna, “I Rise”: It’s almost uncanny how young Madonna’s vocals feel on this album. I don’t mean Madonna in her heyday young, but in the sense that if you close your eyes, this could be any of the up and coming female vocalists making pop music right now. The melody and pacing of the song are super trendy. Madonna really has some good people behind her. (video)

5.       New Years Day, “Shut Up”: “Shut Up” is a pounding track with a grinding bass line, sludgy guitars and biting lyrics about knowing what you want and not letting anyone tell you different. It’s one of the more memorable songs on the band’s new album, as its melody is quite catchy and its phrasing is really easy to pick up. The video is a bit gore-y towards the end, so you’ve been warned. (video)

6.       Taylor Swift feat. Brendon Urie, “Me!”: It’s hard to know what to make of “Me!.” The song is very bubbly and grandiose, a complete 180 turn from her last album. It’s almost too saccharine to enjoy. However, it’s also immensely catchy, which has to count for something. That she tapped Panic! At The Disco’s Brendon Urie to sing duet seems very appropriate given the quirkiness of his music and career. (video)

Further Listening:

·         FINNEAS, “I Lost A Friend”: (video)

·         The Regrettes, “Dress Up”: (video)

·         Of Monsters and Men, “Alligator”: (video)

·         The Veronicas, “Think of Me”: (video)

·         Cage the Elephant & Beck, “Night Running”: (video)

·         Cursive, “Pick Up The Pieces”: (video)

·         Holy Ghost, “Do This”: (video)

This week saw the release of a lot of great new songs and music videos from some of rock and pop’s biggest artists. Check out some of our favorites this weekend that we’ve listed above and let us know what new tracks you’ve been digging this week in the comments below.

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Discover music new and old at Vinyl Bay 777! As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a wide variety of genres to suit the tastes of most music fans. Browse our selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. Whether you’re looking to find something new to you or to rediscover the classics, we have you covered. And with more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

New York Spring & Summer Music Festivals to Get Excited for in 2019

Great South Bay Music Festival 2012. Photo by Elise Yablon

Festival season is upon us! With both weekends of Coachella out of the way and Austin City Limits having just announced its line-up for the fall, those days of great music and memories under the sun are no longer a distant thought.

Living in New York, you don’t have to go far to find some of the summer’s hottest festivals. Between the world-renown Governor’s Ball and Electric Zoo festivals, the summer-long city-sponsored Summerstage and Celebrate Brooklyn shows and the localized and smaller festivals, New York will be bursting with live music this summer.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is gearing up for festival season by bringing you a list of the New York music festivals to keep on your radar. Check out these 10 for the ultimate summer of music!

1.       Red Bull Music Festival: Red Bull’s annual festival showcasing one-of-a-kind performances from an eclectic array of new and established artists started this week with two performances from Latina singer Rosalia on Tuesday and there’s still a lot to look forward to. The multi-venue, nearly month-long showcase boasts performances from JPEGMAFIA, Tierra Whack, FKA Twigs, Teyana Taylor and more, including a special premiere of Holly Herndon’s upcoming concept album ‘Proto.’ (Now-5/18)

2.       Governors Ball: With Panorama skipping the 2019 festival season, Governors Ball is once again the biggest three-day event in the city. New York’s indie answer to Coachella, the festival draws in people from all across the country and globe for a line-up that features the biggest names in music today. This year boasts headlining performances from Tyler, The Creator, Lil Wayne, Florence + The Machine, The 1975, Major Lazer, Nas and The Strokes with more than 70+ artists playing in total. That’s not to mention the “After Dark” pre and post festival shows scattered around the city. (5/31-6/2)

3.       Summerstage: Once again expanding beyond its original home in Central Park, City Parks Summerstage provides an entire summers-worth of eclectic live music and dance choices ranging from rock, pop and hip-hop to jazz and classical at parks throughout the five boroughs, many of which are free to attend. Some of this year’s highlights include free sets from Big Freedia, the Aussie BBQ festival, Japanese Breakfast, Alvvays, Lisa Lisa, Jody Watley, EPMD, Corinne Bailey Rae, The Mountain Goats, Talib Kweli and The Wailers, as well as benefit shows with George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Kurt Vile, Guster, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Bloc Party and The B-52s. More shows are still being added, taking the festivities into the fall. (6/1-10/1)

4.       BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!: In addition to Summerstage, Brooklyn’s Prospect Park has its own summer-long mostly free festival. Celebrate Brooklyn takes place at the park’s historic bandshell, this year’s eclectic performers include free sets from Patti LaBelle, Calexico with Iron & Wine, Liz Phair and Ted Leo and the Pharmacists and Bomba Estereo, and benefit shows from The National and Courtney Barnett, Father John Misty and Jason Isbell and Mac Demarco. (6/4-8/10)

5.       Make Music New York: Not your typical music festival, Make Music New York is a musical celebration that takes place during the summer solstice every year. Modeled after France’s Fête de la Musique, musicians of all levels are encouraged to “take center stage and share their skills and passions through live performances in public plazas and parks, on sidewalks and in front of shops, and in partnership with cultural institutions and businesses across all five boroughs.” Some of the special events you can witness/participate in include folk hootenanny Porch Stomp, underground punk happening Punk Island and Mass Appeal sets with many musicians playing one kind of instrument. (6/21)

6.       Warped Tour: Warped Tour may officially be over as a touring festival, but that doesn’t mean it’s over. Like many expected, Kevin Lyman brought the name back to celebrate what would have been its 25^th season. Instead of a summer of touring, the new incarnation includes three large-scale festivals, including one right on the beach in Atlantic City. Many of the festival’s most influential alumni will be playing, including 311, Andrew W.K., Bad Religion, Bowling For Soup, Blink-182, Glassjaw, Good Charlotte, Less Than Jake, The Offspring, Reel Big Fish, Shiragirl, Taking Back Sunday, Thrice, The Starting Line, We The Kings and more. (6/29-6/30)

7.       Great South Bay Music Festival: Long Island’s biggest bay side festival is back for another year. The Great South Bay Music Festival boast four unique days of music paying homage to the island’s musical heritage. Thursday features the return of LI pop-punk darlings Taking Back Sunday to the fest, along with Glassjaw, The Menzingers, Frank Iero and more. Friday gets a more ska-tinged vibe with headlining sets from Sublime with Rome, Slightly Stoopid, Soja and local favorites Oogie Wawa. Saturday features Lotus, Dweezil Zappa, Assembly Of Dust and more, as well as a tribute to Woodstock. Finally, on Sunday War will be celebrating their 50^th anniversary with America and the Edgar Winter Band. This has always been a great festival with good music and a killer vibe. (7/18-7/21)

8.       Woodstock 50 (If It Happens): This year marks the 50^th anniversary of the Woodstock Festival, an event that captured the love & peace movement of the late 1960s. For this special occasion, original co-organizer Michael Lang has put together a festival blending original Woodstock artists and values with today’s biggest artists and initiatives. Some of the artists headlining the bill include The Killers, Miley Cyrus, Santana, Robert Plant, Dead & Company, Chance The Rapper, Greta Van Fleet, Portugal. The Man, Jay-Z, Imagine Dragons, Cage The Elephant, Canned Heat, Hot Tuna and The Zombies. There has been some controversy over the last week as to whether or not this event will actually take place or be completely cancelled. If it doesn’t happen, the Bethel Woods Performing Arts Center, where Woodstock originally took place, will be holding a series of events celebrating the anniversary, including performances from Ringo Starr, Edgar Winter Band, Blood Sweat & Tears, Santana, the Doobie Brothers and John Fogerty. (8/16-8/18)

9.       Afropunk: Since 2005, the Afropunk Festival has been showcasing the alternative side of black culture and music. The New York edition boasts an array of established and up-and-coming artists at the intersection of punk, rock, hip-hop, R&B, blues and jazz. Some of this year’s notable names include Jill Scott, FKA Twigs, Leon Bridges, Kamasi Washington, Gary Clark Jr., Santigold, Toro Y Moi, Nao, Death Grips, Danny Brown and The Suffers. (8/24-8/25)

10.   Electric Zoo: Evolved: One of the biggest electronic music festivals in the world, Electric Zoo returns to Randall’s Island in 2019 with a stellar line-up of today’s hottest DJs. Artists include Armin Van Buuren, Benny Benassi, Skrillex/Boys Noize collaboration Dog Blood, Afrojack, Alison Wonderland, Cash Cash, Kaskade, Zedd, R3hab and more.(8/30-9/1)

Festival season is here and New York is the perfect place to experience it all. From general popular music festivals and summer-long events to those that cater to a specific fandom or throw genre out the window altogether, New York will be showcasing some of the best in music and culture that the world has to offer. Consider some of the festivals above when planning your summer activities and let us know what festivals you’re excited for in the comments below.

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Before heading out to see your favorite bands this festival season, drop by Vinyl Bay 777 to find music from many of your favorite acts and more. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres to suit most music fans. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CD, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.