Week in Review: New Songs/Music Videos You Need to Check Out (July 16-22, 2017)

Another week is in the books. It’s been a struggle, but now that the weekend is here, let’s take a look back at the new music and music videos that came out in the last seven days.

It’s been an emotional week in the music world, but also one filled with great rock music. Linkin Park released a new music video this week only hours before the tragic news of lead singer Chester Bennington’s death broke. Prophets of Rage and Dhani Harrison both released the first songs from their respective upcoming debut albums. We also got new music from X Ambassadors, Nine Inch Nails and Gossip’s Beth Ditto.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, has been searching the internet for the best new songs and music of the week. Here are eight of our favorites that we think you will enjoy too.

1.      Prophets of Rage, “Living On The 110”: Rap-rock returns as Prophets of Rage released the first single from their self-titled debut album this week, “Living On The 110.” The song’s socially conscious lyrics about poverty are delivered over a melody driven by heavy guitars. It’s a lot like a Rage Against the Machine song, except the rapping is more precise and coherent. (video)

2.      Dhani Harrison, “All About Waiting”: Perhaps I’ve just never heard Dhani Harrison sing, but he sounds a lot like his father, the late Beatle George Harrison. With that being said, “All About Waiting,” the first single from his debut solo album, is far from a Beatles song. The song has an experimental and eclectic sound. Its EDM beat and 80s synth-pop vibes give it a more electronic feel while the guitars and layered vocals try to swing the melody towards rock. It can be a bit messy at times, but it’s a pretty good song. (video)

3.      Jack Johnson, “My Mind Is For Sale”: I’ve always loved Jack Johnson’s smooth sun-filled sound. Even when he’s telling someone off, like the lyrics in “My Mind Is For Sale” suggest, it comes off like a beach dude telling you not to “harsh his vibe.” (video)

4.      The Vamps, “Paper Hearts”: Pop-rock band The Vamps new track, “Paper Hearts,” sounds like a pop-ier version of adult contemporary darlings like The Script and Snow Patrol. It’s sweet enough to make any tween girl swoon, but also has a prominent snare beat that prevents it from being too over the top. (video)

5.      X Ambassadors, “Ahead of Myself”: X Ambassadors continue to tease their upcoming, as-yet untitled new album with another new song. “Ahead of Myself” is a catchy pop-rock track with electronic elements that give it even more texture. The vocal and instrumental dynamics are also outstanding. The way singer Sam Harris trails off while descending notes during the verses struck me as interesting and jazzy. I also like how the song gets big during the chorus and almost non-existent during the verses. It’s a well-written song. (video)

6.      Linkin Park, “Talking To Myself”: Hours before news of Chester Bennington’s death broke, the band released a video for “Talking To Myself,” the third single from their latest album, ‘One More Light.’ The lyrics to the song don’t have the same kind of dark, heavy quality that a lot of their songs do, even by ‘One More Light’ standards. It’s a bit lighter and more arena rock than the trudging guitars fans are used to.  But the song works and Bennington sounds amazing on it. The video looks to be a tribute to fans and the making of the new record, which is great too. (video)

7.      Nine Inch Nails, “This Isn’t The Place”: The second single from Nine Inch Nails’ new EP, ‘Add Violence,’ “This Isn’t The Place” is a much softer song for the industrial rock band. It has a bit of an ominous air to it, like it could start to accelerate into something huge at any moment. But it doesn’t. It stays still like a murky fog. It’s also, for the most part an instrumental track, with the few vocals it does have acting more as another instrument than trying to get a point across. (video)

8.      Beth Ditto, “In And Out”: “In And Out” is a melodic indie-pop track that shows off Gossip frontwoman Beth Ditto’s vocals well. It’s a simple song with a hum-able tune that has a sense of familiarity to it. (video)

*Bonus: If you are into new versions of old songs being done by their original artists, check out “Do It Again” by the Beach Boys’ Mike Love with John Stamos and Mark McGrath and “Thong Song” by JCY with Sisqo.

These were some of our favorite new songs and music videos from the past week that we think you will enjoy. Check these out and use them as a starting point for music discovery.

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Discover music new and old at Long Island’s top new independent record shop, Vinyl Bay 777. We have thousands of titles to choose from in a varied array of genres ranging from rock, pop and hip-hop to R&B, dance, classical and more. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia. Shop our Plainview store during business hours or shop online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you will find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Remembering Chester Bennington: Seven Highest-Charting Linkin Park Songs

Chester Bennington at Globe Arena
 in Stockholm. Photo taken by Rickard
 Laurin in May 2007. Found on
 Wikimedia Commons.

Yesterday, the world lost another powerful voice in rock music, Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington. The singer lost his battle with depression and was found having committed suicide by hanging at his home in California. He was 41.

With Linkin Park, Bennington helped foster a new era of rock in the early 2000s. Combining the anger of grunge and the power of metal while mixing in some hip-hop bars for good measure, nu metal became a phenomenon that defined rock for a good portion of the aughts. And the band did it well. All seven of their studio albums debuted in the top five on the Billboard charts. But Linkin Park also went beyond that label. They have always experimented with their sound, expanding on it and taking risks. In 2003 they collaborated with Jay-Z for a remix EP that would bring open them up to a whole new fan base. On their latest album, ‘One More Light,’ released in May, the band chose a more melodic sound that put hip-hop on the back burner and focused on expanding their sound and songwriting.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, would like to honor Chester Bennington life and legacy by taking a look back at some of Linkin Park’s most iconic chart toppers. Here are seven of the band’s highest-charting singles and what made them so popular.

1.       “In the End”: This is actually a hard list to make since a lot of Linkin Park’s biggest hits showed their popularity on the alternative and mainstream rock charts than on the general chart. But “In the End” was a real breakthrough for the band. The fourth single from their debut ‘Hybrid Theory,’ the song was their first number one hit on the alternative chart and did nearly as well on the main Billboard chart, peaking at number two. Unlike their debut singles “One Step Closer” and “Crawling,” which are far more aggressive, “In the End” is a bit more philosophical. Its refrain of “I tried so hard and got so far/but in the end it doesn’t really matter” has been used by countless website tributes to Bennington as a way to understand his death.

2.       “New Divide”: In 2009, the band released “New Divide” as a one-off single for the film ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.’ The song ended up being a big hit for the band, reaching number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the alternative and mainstream rock charts. It’s a little more hopeful than some of their previous singles, less about demons and more about achieving something meaningful.

3.       “What I’ve Done”: In 2007, Linkin Park introduced their third album with the monster single “What I’ve Done.” The song instantly went to number one on the alternative and mainstream rock charts and peaked at number seven on the Hot 100. “What I’ve Done” finds the band moving towards an even bigger sound than what they had achieved on their previous two albums, transitioning them to arena rock rather than just another flash-in-the-pan nu-metal band.

4.       “Numb”: One of the songs that instantly come to mind when you think of Linkin Park is “Numb.” The song has become a classic amongst early 2000s rock hits. Peaking at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the alternative and mainstream rock charts, the song’s lyrics are like an angry conversation about not meeting other people’s expectations. It’s an important message made through gritted teeth that has provided catharsis to many an angry at the world adolescent.

5.       “Shadow of the Day”: A rare “ballad” for Linkin Park, “Shadow of the Day” was a slower pick following the release of more energetic ‘Minutes to Midnight’ singles “What I’ve Done” and “Bleed It Out.” But it worked out well for them, peaking at number two on the alternative chart, number six on the mainstream rock chart and number 15 on the Hot 100. The song is one of their more depressing lyrically, but showed that the band didn’t have to scream to make a hit. They could just let the lyrics speak for themselves.

6.       “Breaking the Habit”: A detailed and powerful song about drug addiction from the addict’s perspective, “Breaking the Habit” again takes a serious subject and paints a picture that anyone can understand and visualize. For an artist to connect like that early in their career is amazing. It’s no wonder the song topped the alternative and mainstream rock charts and peaked at number 20 on the Hot 100.

7.       “Somewhere I Belong”: Everyone can sympathize with wanting to feel like they belong somewhere in this life. The struggle to find oneself is real and Linkin Park put that desire into perspective in such a way that easy to relate to and cathartic to scream at the top of your lungs. Though the band has two singles that did slightly better on the Hot 100, “Somewhere I Belong” did reach number 32 and top both the alternative and mainstream rock charts and remains one of the most popular songs in the band’s catalog to date.

Linkin Park has been one of the most influential bands in 2000s hard rock. Between Chester Bennington’s passionate delivery and their ability to write songs that capture life’s hardships in a relatable way, the band has transcended labels and remains at the top of their game nearly two decades later. Bennington’s presence with the band will be sorely missed, as he, the band and their music were a beacon of hope for many.

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Find music from Linkin Park and more influential rock artists at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. Long Island’s top new independent record shop has thousands of titles to choose from in store and online. Whether you’re looking for hard rock, metal, punk, alternative, or any other genre (rock or otherwise), we have you covered. Browse a wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more. More titles are being added all the time, so drop by this weekend to honor your idols and see what’s new.

'Appetite For Destruction' at 30: Seven Facts About the Iconic Album

This Friday (July 21), Guns N’ Roses’ debut album, ‘Appetite For Destruction,’ will be turning 30. Featuring such iconic songs as “Welcome To The Jungle,” “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “Paradise City,” it has become one of the most influential rock albums of all time. Over the last three decades, it has earned the titles of best-selling debut album of all time, and 11^th best-selling album of all-time, period.

‘Appetite For Destruction’ changed the expectations for what popular rock could sound like. At a time when hair metal bands were everywhere, Guns N’ Roses came out of the gate with a raw sound that combined punk ethos with hard rock. It wasn’t glitzy or clean, but it was direct and down-to-earth.

To celebrate ‘Appetite For Destruction’s’ milestone anniversary, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look back  at the making of the album. Here are seven facts about ‘Appetite For Destruction,’ it’s recording, release and response.

1.       It wasn’t originally a hit: The way people refer to it now, you would think that ‘Appetite For Destruction’ was one of the biggest albums right out of the gate. But it actually took nearly a year for the album to catch on. The situation was so dire that their label, Geffen, wanted the band to stop promoting the album and start work on the next one. It wasn’t until MTV started playing the video for “Welcome To The Jungle” that the album went from selling 250,000 units in the US its first year to selling more than 18 million in the US as of 2008.

2.       MTV wouldn’t play “Welcome To The Jungle”: As stated above, MTV wouldn’t play the video for “Welcome To The Jungle,” which severely hindered the album’s ability to reach more listeners. Tom Zutaut, the A&R rep that signed Guns N’ Roses to Geffen, told Loudwire last year that the reason for this was that MTV feared they would be thrown off local cable channels if they played it. MTV wasn’t even 10 years old when the video came out, so it was a legitimate fear, but when the channel did air it (its debut was at 5 AM on a Sunday), they got enough positive responses to put it into their rotation.

3.       It originally had a different cover: Decency laws were a big thing in the 1980s, especially because of the Parents Music Resource Center (PRMC). Such is why Guns N’ Roses had to change the cover of “Appetite For Destruction.” The original cover was based on a painting by Robert Williams of the same name that featured a robot raping a woman and a ravenous metal angel getting ready to take revenge on him.  Many stores refused to sell the album with this cover, so Geffen decided to scrap that cover and the iconic cross and skulls cover was created.

4.       The album has a light side and a dark side: If the breakdown of the vinyl album’s sides seems a bit light and dark, that was actually done on purpose. Instead of doing the traditional side A and side B, the band made the tracklist themed. Side G, which stands for “guns,” contains songs about violence. Side R, which stands for “roses,” on the other hand, is filled with love songs.

5.       There is actual sex on the album: In the same Loudwire article, Zutaut mentions an incident where Axl Rose wanted authentic sex sounds on the song “Rocket Queen.” To do this, Rose decided to ask drummer Steven Adler’s girlfriend to have sex with him (Rose) in the studio. No word on what this did to Rose and Adler’s friendship.

6.       “November Rain” was considered for ‘Appetite’: While ‘Appetite For Destruction’ features a plethora of hits, there is another hit that nearly made it onto the album. Rumor has it that “November Rain” was in the running to be on the album, but didn’t make the cut because they already had “Sweet Child O’ Mine” on it and didn’t want to add another ballad. The song is one of the band’s oldest, supposedly written as early as 1983. The ballad ended up being released on 1991’s ‘Use Your Illusion I’ instead.

7.       Many of the songs were written before the album was even a thought: A lot of bands when first starting out will have some sort of repository of tracks that they had been playing out with. Such is the case with Guns N’ Roses. Much of ‘Appetite For Destruction’ was written either while the members were in different bands or way before they were signed and thinking about recording. According to the Loudwire article, “It’s So Easy” and “Anything Goes” were written while many of the members were still in Hollywood Rose, while “Rocket Queen” was started while Slash, Duff McKagan and Steven Adler were in Road Crew. And as for the songs that the band did write while recording the album, those came together really quickly. The most extreme stories of this were the three hours it took Axl Rose to write “Welcome To The Jungle.”

Over the last three decades, Guns N’ Roses’ debut album, ‘Appetite For Destruction,’ has become one of the most revered and best-selling rock albums of all time. Once it caught on, its sound changed the face of popular rock, proving it didn’t have to be overly polished to be good.  As the iconic album celebrates its 30^th anniversary this week, it continues to be an influential piece of work for generations of musicians and fans alike.

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Find iconic rock albums from the likes of Guns N’ Roses and more at Long Island’s top new independent record shop, Vinyl Bay 777. Our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes and music DVDs include thousands of titles in a vast array of genres. Stop by our Plainview store or shop online at vinylbay777.com to see what’s new. With more titles being added all the time, you never know what you’ll find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Seven Musicians Who Have Had Big Parts in ‘The Simpsons’

News broke Monday that Ed Sheeran will be making a guest appearance on ‘The Simpsons’ next season. The popular singer will be playing a young musician named Brenden in what’s being described as a parody of ‘La La Land.’ Sheeran’s character will be a love interest for Lisa in the episode.

Ed Sheeran will be joining a long list of musicians and actors who have guest starred on the show. And while it is somewhat unusual that a musician gets a part where they further the story, there have been a few instances where they have done just that.

Inspired by Sheeran’s latest acting role, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island's music outlet, is taking a look at some of the musicians who have had substantial parts on ‘The Simpsons.’ Here are seven that went beyond the normal cameo.

1.       David Byrne: Talking Heads frontman David Byrne made two appearances on the cartoon, but it was his cameo in the episode “Dude, Where’s My Ranch” that stands out. In it, Byrne plays producer to Homer’s song “Everybody Hates Ned Flanders,” a song which ends up taking over the airwaves so completely that no one could get away from it. The incident drives the Simpson family to leave Springfield for a while. Byrne is still at it when they come back, only this time with a song featuring barkeep Moe.

2.       Lady Gaga: Lady Gaga is often portrayed as being this beacon of hope for people who feel like they don’t belong. ‘The Simpsons’ took that to the next level when they had “Mother Monster” on the show. In “Lisa Goes Gaga,” the singer, while en route to a concert, senses through some sort of ESP that Lisa was down in the dumps. Gaga stops her train in Springfield to try and cheer her up, at the same time spreading the message that everyone should be themselves.

3.       Fantasia Barrino: ‘American Idol’ season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino had the opportunity to be on the show in 2005, playing a young singer vying against Lisa in a singing competition in the episode “A Star Is Torn.” Barrino’s character ends up singing the same song as Lisa, prompting Homer to write Lisa a new song, forwarding the storyline.

4.       Mandy Moore: Mandy Moore, the “wholesome” singer of 90s bubblegum-pop hit “Candy,” got to play a much raunchier version of herself in the episode “Marge and Homer Turn a Couple Play.” In the episode, her character, Tabitha Vixx’s marriage to Springfield Isotopes slugger Buck Mitchell is on the rocks and it is up to Homer and Marge to repair it.

5.       Carrie Brownstein: Slater-Kinney guitarist/vocalist Carrie Brownstein and her onscreen comedy partner Fred Armisen brought their ‘Portlandia’ style to ‘The Simpsons’ for the episode “The Day the Earth Stood Cool” during the show’s 24^th season. The two played a couple who moves next door to the Simpsons, exposing the title family to a different kind of culture, one filled with pork pie hats and breastfeeding. As if the episode couldn’t get any “cooler,” it also has a cameo from The Decemberists.

6.       Michael Jackson: In perhaps one of the weirder casting scenarios from the series, the episode “Stark Raving Dad” finds Homer put in a mental institution and sharing a room with Leon Kompowsky. Kompowsky believes that he is Michael Jackson, and even helps Bart right a song for Lisa’s birthday when he and Homer are released. Though the credits don’t name him as such, Kompowsky is played by Michael Jackson, meaning the character wasn’t crazy when he said he was the “King of Pop.”

7.       Shawn Colvin: Best known for her 1997 single “Sunny Came Home,” Shawn Colvin made an appearance in the very intense episode “Alone Again, Natura-Diddily.” The singer plays the lead singer of a Christian rock band, Rachel Jorden, who becomes a love interest for Ned Flanders after he loses his wife Maude earlier in the episode. The romance is brought back in a second episode where Ned, still obsessed with Maude, tries to turn Jorden into her likeness.

There have been a number of musicians who have been animated into the universe of ‘The Simpsons.’ Some of them were even given roles that advanced an episode’s storyline. Though we will have to wait until next season to see it, Ed Sheeran now joins this list of musicians honored with story lines on the long-running show.

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Find music from many of these animated stars and more at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. Long Island’s top new independent record shop has thousands of titles to choose from in an array of genres. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store and online. With more titles being added every week, it’s always a great time to stop by and see what’s new.

Week In Review: New Songs/Music Videos You Need to Check Out (July 9 – 15, 2017)

Happy Saturday! It’s once again time to take a look back at some of the best new songs and music videos that were released over the past seven days.

This week in rock music, Nine Inch Nails made their return, releasing the first single from their new EP, ‘Add Violence,’ out next week. Garbage also returned this week, releasing a surprise, one-off new single that is anything but typical. Punk supergroup Armstrongs (featuring members of Rancid and Green Day) made their debut. In pop, Kesha continued her resurgence in the spotlight with a bold new song. As for newer artists, pop-punks MAKEOUT and garage-rockers The Struts both came out with songs you need to hear.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, has been scouring the internet for this week’s best new songs. Here are eight that we think you should definitely make part of your weekend listening.

1.       Garbage, “No Horses”: “No Horses” doesn’t seem to follow the same kind of formula of a typical Garbage song. It doesn’t have a stand out chorus or any sort of predictability to it. What it does sound like is a poem set to a heavy guitar melody. Proceeds from sales of the single will go to the Red Cross. (video)

2.       Armstrongs, “If There Was Ever A Time”: Armstrongs, which features Tim Armstrong of Rancid, his nephew Rey, Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day and his son Joey of SWMRS, wrote “If There Was Ever A Time” for the documentary ‘Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk.’ The song is a pretty good blend of each of the bands’ sounds. It starts out more like a Rancid track when Tim has the lead, then when Billie Joe takes the lead it all of a sudden transforms into something more melodic, like what Green Day would have put out 20 years ago. All proceeds from the sale of the song will benefit East Bay punk club 924 Gilman Street, where all the Armstrongs’ bands got their starts. (video)

3.       MAKEOUT, “Crazy”: What I like most about “Crazy” is its energy. It immediately bursts out at you with its tongue-twister of a pre-verse and continues to power through without slowing down. It’s not the most mature song lyrically, but it’s fun and will definitely have you rocking out. (video)

4.       Foster The People, “Sit Next To Me”: “Sit Next To Me” sees Foster The People trying to expand on the sound that made their debut album so popular. The chorus does give off “Helena Beat” disco-rock vibes, but finds maturity in pulling back during the verses. It doesn’t necessarily have the same oomph that their previous songs have had, but it is a cleaner sound. (video)

5.       The Struts, “One Night Only”: I love songs that take a turn for the dramatic, especially when it comes off with as much passion as “One Night Only.” The song starts off with a garage rock base and takes off with these vocal and guitar flairs. It’s very Queen-meets-The Strokes. (video)

6.       Kesha, “Woman”: If you were missing that over the top Kesha sound from “Praying,” she more than makes up for it with “Woman.” The song’s mix of genres, which includes bits of pop, dance, country, jazz and big band (provided by the Dap Kings horn section), comes across as a bit clunky, especially in the beginning. However, its purpose as a female empowerment anthem comes across very clearly. (video)

7.       Arcade Fire, “Electric Blue”: Regine Chassagne takes the lead on the latest single from Arcade Fire’s upcoming album. “Electric Blue’s” cadence remind me a little of MGMT’s “Electric Feel”, though this song has much less of a rock edge and a lighter, more ethereal feel. As the song goes on and the band starts experimenting with different sounds, it transforms into amodern disco-infused electronic jam. (video)

8.       Nine Inch Nails, “Less Than”: The first single from Nine Inch Nails’ newly announced ‘Add Violence’ EP, “Less Than” is filled with all the distorted, fuzzed out guitars and vocal attitude you would expect from one of the band’s songs. To a degree, the distortion in this song makes it sound a little like video game music, which sort of makes sense with the theme of the lyric video. (video)

These are just some of the great new songs and music videos that came out this week that we think you will enjoy. Check these out and keep rocking all weekend long.

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Discover music new and old at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. Whether you are looking to rediscover the classics or find a new artist to love, Long Island’s top new independent record shop has you covered. Stop by our Plainview store or shop online from the comfort of your own home to browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more. We have thousands of titles to choose from in an array of genres. And with more titles being added every week, it’s always a great time to discover something new at Vinyl Bay 777.

Shows in the New York/New Jersey Area to Check Out This Weekend (July 14-16, 2017)

Great South Bay Music Festival 2012. Taken by Elise Yablon

Summer concert season is in full swing here in New York: Big tours are making their way to the area; outdoor festivals are popping up almost every weekend. Such makes this a great time to see a live show.

A lot of great rock music will be passing through the New York and New Jersey area this weekend. The Great South Bay Music Festival has already started taking over the water front in Patchogue with a diverse line-up of rock and reggae bands that include upcoming sets from the likes of 311, The Wailers and the Zombies. Incubus and Jimmy Eat World will be making their way to the area as part of one of the summer’s hottest rock tours, as are Taking Back Sunday, Buckcherry, The Flatliners and more. If comedy is more your style, Tim and Eric will be bringing their live show to New York this weekend as well.

If you’re on the fence about what shows to go to this weekend, let Long Island’s music outlet, Vinyl Bay 777, help you decide. Here are 11 shows that happening in New York this weekend that we think will be worth checking out.

1.       Taking Back Sunday: Long Island pop-punk favorites Taking Back Sunday kicked off the Great South Bay Music Festival yesterday and are continuing the momentum tonight and Saturday at Webster Hall. Both shows are sold out, so if you have tickets, consider yourself lucky, as these guys put on a great show. Support for these shows comes from fellow New Yorkers Every Time I Die and New Jersey’s Modern Chemistry. (Friday & Saturday, Webster Hall)

2.       The Flatliners: Pop-punk/hardcore band The Flatliners released their latest album, ‘Inviting Light,’ earlier this year, their first not released by Fat Wreck Chords in more than 10 years. The band is currently on a short run of North East tour dates with Pkew Pkew Pkew and Red City Radio’s Garrett Dale before they head back off to their native Canada to open for Sum 41. (Friday, Knitting Factory)

3.       Tim and Eric: If you’re a fan of irreverent comedy, the creators of Adult Swim’s ‘Tim And Eric’s Awesome Show, Great Job’ will be in the area all weekend celebrating the 10^th anniversary of the show on their ‘10^th Anniversary Awesome Tour.’ Be prepared for a night (or three) of the “grotesque humor” that made these guys instant stars. (Friday, Saturday & Sunday, Town Hall)

4.       311: The Great South Bay Music Festival continues tonight with some great vibes as 311, along with The Skints, New Politics and The Wailers, take the stage for a night of reggae and ska-infused jams. 311 is currently on tour behind their new album, ‘Mosaic,’ released in June. The band played in NYC earlier this week and this will be their only Long Island appearance of the year. (Friday, Waterfront Park, Patchogue)

5.       Incubus & Jimmy Eat World: Incubus will be bringing their massive ‘8’ tour with third-wave “emo” band Jimmy Eat World to the New York/New Jersey area starting tonight at the PNC Bank Arts Center. If you can’t make it to New Jersey this weekend, the tour will be hitting Long Island’s Jones Beach Theater on Wednesday.  (Friday, PNC Bank Arts Center)

6.       My Morning Jacket: My Morning Jacket will be continuing their summer tour of the eastern United States this weekend with a show in Queens Saturday. Gary Clark, Jr. and his soulful voice will be opening the show, so you won’t want to miss it. (Saturday, Forest Hills Stadium)

7.       Buckcherry: If you’re in the mood for some great hard rock, Buckcherry are currently wrapping up a short US tour, which will make its way to Long Island on Saturday. The band hasn’t released a new album since 2015’s ‘Rock: “N” Roll,’ but new music is on the way from lead singer Josh Todd and guitarist Stevie D., who will be releasing the debut album from their side project Josh Todd and The Conflict in September. Get to The Paramount early and check out opener Mother, as they put on a fantastic show too. (Saturday, Paramount)

8.       The Wailers: If you missed them at the Great South Bay Music Festival on Friday, you have another chance to see the legendary Wailers the next day at the Highline Ballroom. Started as the backing band for Bob Marley, the band has been keeping the singer’s music alive, as well as writing their own pieces, since the 1980s. (Saturday, Highline Ballroom)

9.       Warped Tour: If you missed the tour when it was on Long Island last Saturday, you have another chance to catch it when it hits New Jersey’s PNC Bank Arts Center this Saturday. With this year’s line-up being one of the most diverse the tour has ever had, its sure to be a wild day of punk, hardcore and metal music. (Saturday, PNC Bank Arts Center)

10.   Zombies: Closing out the Great South Bay Music Festival Sunday, the Zombies will be headlining a whole day of 60s and 70s rock greats that includes Kerry Kearney, Jesse Colin Young, Poco, Dave Mason and Eddie Money. The Zombies are currently celebrating the 50^th anniversary of their breakthrough album ‘Odessey & Oracle’ with a North American tour. (Sunday, Waterfront Park, Patchogue)

11.   Pitchfork Festival: Don’t feel like going out to see a live show? Why not live stream one. The Pitchfork Music Festival will be streaming select sets all weekend. Look out for sets from Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, Dirty Projectors, Angel Olsen, Francis & the Lights, The Feelies, Hamilton Leithauser, American Football and more. (Friday, Saturday & Sunday, Chicago)

With the summer concert season heating up, this is a great time to get out and see a live show. Check out any of the shows listed above or catch any of the hundreds of smaller shows that go on throughout the New York/New Jersey area all year round.

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Before you go out to the venues this weekend, make it a point to stop by Vinyl Bay 777 and pick up music from many of these artists and more. Long Island’s top new independent record shop has a wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia to choose from. Browse thousands of titles in store and online at vinylbay777.com. More titles are being added to our selection all week, so it’s always a good time to see what’s new at Vinyl Bay 777.

Seven Artists Who Let Fans Play On Stage With Them

Earlier this week, video went viral of a wheelchair-bound fan who got the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join Coldplay on stage in Dublin. The fan, who was lifted above the crowd by other concert-goers who had accidentally fell onto him, was crowdsurfed to the stage where frontman Chris Martin gave him a harmonica. Martin then proceeded to improvise a song about that night’s show with the fan.

You hear about stories like this all the time, where artists let fans come up on stage and play with them. Most of the time these are one-off occurrences, like in the Coldplay story, but there are some bands that make this a part of every show they do. Heck, there are even bands that allow the entire audience to crowd the stage when they play.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, loves it when the fan experience gets enhanced by crowd participation. That is why we’ve decided to research some interesting stories of fans getting to join their favorite artists on stage. Here are seven that are just too awesome to be true.

1.       Green Day: Green Day started letting fans play with them early in their career and now it’s as expected a piece of their live show as their three-song acoustic encores. After all these years, it seems like it would have to happen that one of these lucky players would become famous themselves. That famous face would be Matt Healy, frontman of The 1975. Healy related in a 2016 interview with Spin that he was pulled on stage at the age of 13 by bassist Mike Dirnt to play with the band.

2.       Bruce Springsteen: Springsteen is another artist who is no stranger to letting fans play on stage with him. Earlier this year, the singer was doing a show in Brisbane, Australia when he saw a sign made by a fan in the front row asking to play “Growin’ Up” with him. Springsteen obliged, giving him some lessons in conducting the band in the process. This is usually something that happens  once-in-a-lifetime, but not for this kid. Four years earlier, the same kid was brought up on stage to play “Waitin’ on a Sunny Day” with The Boss.

3.       The Who: Back in 1973, The Who were at the top of their game, having just released ‘Quadrophenia’ earlier that year. It was also the height of Keith Moon’s drug addiction and at a show in November that year, Moon passed out on stage twice. As the story goes, Pete Townshend asked the crowd if there was anyone out there who could play drums. A fan named Scott Halpin, who had somehow made it side stage before the occurrence, was volunteered by a friend and whisked on stage. Halpin finished the set with them and was given a tour jacket for his help.

4.       Blink-182: Fans love to linger when shows are over. If we can get just one more glimpse of the band, or even one more song, that’s always a plus. One fan earlier this year decided to take it one step further during a recent Blink-182 show, where he decided to jump on stage after the band exited and take a seat at Travis Barker’s drum kit. Mark Hoppis and Matt Skiba then went back on stage, and after telling the crowd to go home, decided to play “Always” with the kid.

5.       Steel Panther: In 2012, a fan decided to come on stage during a Steel Panther show, telling the band that he knew how to play all their songs on guitar. The band proceeded to make fun of his outfit, then gave him a chance to prove himself. The fan then surprised everyone, especially the band, by killing the guitar part of “Eyes Of A Panther.”

6.       Kenny Chesney: Not all on-stage fan interactions are completely musical. During a 2015 concert in New Jersey, Kenny Chesney invited a young girl on stage to sing along with him. The girl ended up not wanting to leave, instead asking for a kiss from the country crooner and following him around the stage for more than 10 minutes. Chesney ended up letting the girl hang out on stage for one more song.

7.       Foo Fighters: At a show in Toronto during the band’s 2015 tour, a fan told Dave Grohl that it was his birthday and that he wanted to play drums with the band. Grohl obliged, letting him take Taylor Hawkins’ seat during “Big Me,” but with the caveat that he better not suck or he will “personally tar and feather” him backstage. Suffice it to say, the fan did alright.

Interaction with fans is an important part of the live show experience. Whether the artist includes such interactions in their shows regularly or not, stories like the ones above, when they happen, are once-in-a-lifetime events. When fans get the opportunity to come up on stage with their favorite artist, it’s a moment that will stay with them forever.

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Be free to be a fan at Long Island’s top new independent record shop, Vinyl Bay 777.  We have thousands of titles to choose from in genres ranging from rock, pop and country to rap, R&B, dance and more. Browse a wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia from your favorite artists. More titles are being added all the time, so make it a point to stop by our Plainview shop during business hours or check out our selection online at vinylbay777.com to see what’s new today.

Webster Hall Closing for Renovations – A Brief History of One of the City’s Last Iconic Venues

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, takes a look back at Webster Hall’s impact on the NYC music scene

 

Webster Hall. Taken April 23, 2017 by Elise Yablon

News broke Monday that the legendary Webster Hall venue and nightclub would be closing its doors in August for renovations. The venue was recently purchased by AEG and Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, who have decided to demolish and renovate the space, which would have it closed for an “undisclosed period of time.”

There are two reasons people are freaking out over Webster Hall’s closing. One is this “undisclosed period of time” language. The venue has been around for more than 100 years and to see it shut its doors for any period of time seems like blasphemy. The other reason, and the one being discussed in this article, is that by shutting down and demolishing the venue, another piece of New York’s history will be gone as well, regardless of whether a new venue is placed there or not.

Webster Hall was first built in 1886 and was originally used as a forum, holding meetings by anarchist groups, labor unions and other left-leaning political factions. The space took on more of an entertainment tone in the 1920s when it first started holding masquerade balls and eventually became a speakeasy during prohibition. In the 1950s, Webster Hall got into live music, first becoming a hot spot for Latin and folk music, then opening up as a recording studio for RCA where numerous Broadway cast recordings, as well as tracks from Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and many more, were put on tape. It wasn’t until the 1980s that live music really took a hold of the space, changing its name to The Ritz and becoming one of the city’s biggest rock venues. A who’s who of artists played early shows there, including Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, Guns N’ Roses, Beastie Boys, U2, Iggy Pop, Frank Zappa and many, many more. Even after its sale and renovation by the Ballinger Brothers (who held on to the space until with was sold to AEG last year) in 1989, the venue continued its legacy of popular club nights and legendary live shows. Since changing its name back to Webster Hall in 1992, the likes of Green Day, Metallica, Buzzcocks, Sonic Youth, Modest Mouse, John Mayer and more have graced the venue’s stages.

As it stands today, Webster Hall was and is a staple of New York’s music and party scenes. With three stages of various capacities, the venue has given bands both established and up-and-coming a place to get their music heard. Late-night revelers have had one of the longest-running, wildest and weirdest parties to look forward to every weekend. When Webster Hall closes down next month, it will be going out on the top of its game as one of the best clubs and venues in the city.

The venue’s legendary status was recognized in 2007 when the building was declared a landmark by the state’s Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Many people consider Webster Hall to be one of (if not THE) last remnants of the city’s historic music scene. Venues like Max’s Kansas City, The Fillmore East and the Palladium all closed down decades ago. CBGB, which closed in 2006, is now a John Varvatos clothing store. The places that housed the city’s rich music scene of the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s have been disappearing little by little over the years. Whether that’s due to gentrification or money issues, these changes can be a shock to the system, a sign that an era has come to a close.

Webster Hall’s final show will take place on August 9 with Marateck, Grid and Kraus in the Studio. Club goers say their goodbyes four days earlier with the final Gotham nightclub show happening in the Grand Ballroom on August 5. A full listing of the venue’s remaining shows can be found on the Webster Hall website. While it’s too late to do anything about the Webster Hall’s impending close, there is still an effort being made to maintain its legacy. A number of the venue’s stagehands are trying to raise money for a documentary to be made about its final month. Fans of the venue can help fund the project through Kickstarter.

Although Webster Hall has gone through many changes over the last century, its legacy as one of New York City’s most important venues lives on. The venue has been home to historic political rallies, recording sessions, decades of late night parties and countless legendary performances. Ultimately, a new venue will open with new ownership and more great memories to be had. But when Webster Hall shuts its doors on August 9, even though a new chapter for the venue will be starting, it will be the end of an era for New York’s music and club scenes.

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Vinyl Bay 777 is your outlet for everything music. Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia at our store in Plainview, as well as online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added all the time, you never know what gems you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Week in Review: New Songs/Music Videos You May Have Missed This Week (July 2-8, 2017)

It’s been another great week for new rock and pop music. Now that the week is officially over, let’s take a look back at some of the new songs and music videos released over the past seven days that you may have missed while trudging through the shortened work week.

A lot of artists made their official comebacks this week. The All-American Rejects, Ted Leo, Kesha and Jet have all released new music this week after extended breaks. We also got new singles backed by videos from Liam Gallagher and Coldplay, while Macklemore released a video for the previously released single “Glorious.” There were also some great new songs by Silverstein, Omni and Sabrina Carpenter.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, has once again been keeping track of the latest song and music video releases and are bringing you some of our favorites from the past week. Here are eight songs that we think you should check out.

1.       All-American Rejects, “Sweat”/”Close Your Eyes”: The All-American Rejects have come back swinging with two very different new singles, their first in five years.  Not only are the songs different from anything the band has put out thus far in their career, they show very different sides of the band’s new sound. “Sweat” is a playful, sexy, sweaty mess that makes you feel a bit dirty for listening to it. “Close Your Eyes,” on the other hand, slows things down a bit. It sounds a little like Brit-pop-meets-indie-rock. And though the songs are so different, they actually come together really well in the two-part mini-movie the band released to go with them. The first part is just as dirty as the first song makes you feel (perhaps it even adds to that feeling with the streetwalkers and choreographed dancing), while the second part ends up being more introspective and demure, taking the form of a classy party. Both the song and film left me really excited to hear/see what comes next. (video)

2.       Macklemore feat. Skylar Grey, “Glorious”: I mentioned this song when it came out, but Macklemore released a video for it this week and it’s kind of endearing. In it he surprises his grandmother for her 100^th birthday. This includes taking her out wherever she wanted to go and inviting her friends to her house for a get-together. (video)

3.       Kesha, “Praying”: Kesha has been through a lot in the last five years and coming out on the other side, she has finally released some new music reflecting on it. A stunning change of pace for the singer, who usually goes for something a little more provocative and drunken, “Praying” is a beautiful, confessional song that lets you know exactly what is on her mind. There’s this one high note towards the end that really overtakes you and makes you feel all the anger and frustration she’s releasing. So well done and…who knew Kesha could sing? (video)

4.       Coldplay, “A L I E N S”: Another single from their upcoming ‘Kaleidoscope’ EP, Coldplay released a lyric video for “A L I E N S” this week. The song seems laid back enough, a little reminiscent of older Coldplay, though not as memorable. But it also serves a fairly political message, as the “aliens” being referred to here are not space aliens, but refugees. Proceeds from the track are going to Migrant Offshore Aid Station. (video)

5.       Liam Gallagher, “Chinatown”: The second single from Liam Gallagher’s upcoming debut solo album, “Chinatown” is an acoustic tune that slows down and stretches out the very familiar Oasis sound. Its lyrics and melody are equally pensive, which seems to suit the often dour Gallagher’s voice and style well. The song might not be as catchy as “Wall of Glass,” but it doesn’t really need to be. (video)

6.       Jet & The Bloody Beetroots, “My Name Is Thunder”: Jet released their first song in nearly seven years this week. “My Name Is Thunder” is a collaboration with electronic group the Bloody Beetroots. Two versions of the song were made, though both have this hard rock sound at its core that reminds me a bit of AC/DC. (video 1 & 2)

7.       Ted Leo, “You’re Like Me”: Fans finally got a taste of Ted Leo’s upcoming new album this week with first single, “You’re Like Me,” his first bit of new music in seven years. The song swings like an early rock tune from the Beatles, but it sounds much more modern. It feels really accessible and fun too, which makes me really excited for the rest of the album. (Soundcloud)

8.       Omni, “Equestrian”: Omni’s sound on “Equestrian” falls somewhere between surf-rock and early punk. There isn’t a ton of emotion to the vocals, which makes the singer sound a little robotic, like Devo. But the lack of emotion is made up for in the straight-from-the-garage texture of the guitars. (Soundcloud)

These are some of this week’s top new songs and music videos that we think are worth a listen. Catch up on the latest music by checking out these songs and using them to start your own path to music discovery.

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

Live Shows in New York/New Jersey to Check Out This Weekend (July 7-9, 2017)

The New York area is filled with some of the most amazing music in the world. There is something going on every night if you know where to find it. And now that another weekend is almost upon us, why not take advantage of what the area has to offer and plan to take in a live show.

There are a lot of large tours coming through New York and New Jersey this weekend, as well as some killer one-off shows that you won’t want to miss. If it’s nostalgia you crave, you can go back to the 80s with New Kids on the Block are back, the 90s with The Wallflowers and Better Than Ezra, or even further back to the 70s with the Yardbirds. James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt are also bringing some of that 60s folk rock spirit to the area. If you like rap, two of Hip-Hop’s pioneering artists are taking the stage this weekend: Eric B. & Rakim and Raekwon.

With all the great live music happening across the New York area, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, has decided to highlight some of the biggest shows of the weekend. Here are nine that we think will be worth checking out.

1.       James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt: Two legendary singers coming together for one great night of folk rock. James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt are touring together this summer and will be playing Long Island tonight. Taylor released his latest album, ‘Before This World,’ in 2015 and is getting ready to release a pop-up book based on his song “Sweet Baby James.” Raitt released her 17^th album, ‘Dig in Deep,’ last year. (Friday, Jones Beach Theater)

2.       New Kids On The Block: NKOTB was in the area last weekend giving 80s pop fans in New Jersey a serious case of nostalgia. Now they are back with Boyz II Men and Paula Abdul to do the same for Long Island. (Friday, Nassau Coliseum)

3.       Eric B. & Rakim: The legendary rap duo of Eric B. and Rakim are celebrating 30 years of their debut album, ‘Paid In Full,’ this year with a full on tour. The two have not performed together in nearly two decades, so tonight’s show at the Apollo will definitely be special. (Friday, Apollo Theater)

4.       Vans Warped Tour: The annual cross-country punk tour is now in its 22^nd year. Look out for an even more eclectic line-up than usual this year, featuring sets from Gwar, Hatebreed, Hawthorne Heights, American Authors, Save Ferris, Silverstein, Anti-Flag , The Ataris, Sick Of It All, Strung Out and many, many more. (Saturday, Jones Beach Theater)

5.       The Wallflowers and Better Than Ezra: Ninties hit makers The Wallflowers and Better Than Ezra are on the road together this summer, giving fans a shot of alt-rock nostalgia. The tour will be making its way to the New York/New Jersey area this week, starting with a show at the Wellmont Theater on Saturday. If you can’t make that show, catch them on Long Island this Tuesday at The Paramount.  (Saturday, Wellmont Theater)

6.       Ruben Studdard: The season two winner of American Idol has been capturing hearts for more than a decade now. Watch him continue to do the same this Saturday at his intimate one-off show at B.B. King Blues Club. (Saturday, B.B. King Blues Club)

7.       Yardbirds: The Yardbirds have been going strong since reforming in 1992. With a current line-up featuring Jim McCarty, John Idan, Kenny Aaronson, Johnny A. and Myke Scavone, the band is finishing up a run of US date this weekend in New York. (Saturday, Highline Ballroom)

8.       Electric Six: If you’re looking for something a little more scenic, Electric Six will be playing a set this Sunday on a boat in the middle of the East River. Support for the show comes from New York punk rockers Wyldlife. (Sunday, Rocks Off Concert Cruise Aboard The Jewel)

9.       Raekwon: As a solo artist and member of the iconic rap group Wu-Tang Clan, Raekwon has made himself known as an innovator in the genre. He released his latest album, ‘The Wild,’ in March and is currently on a summer tour to promote it. He takes the stage at B.B. King Blues Club this Sunday. (Sunday, B.B. King Blues Club)

These are just some of the many shows big and small happening in the New York area this weekend that we think will be worth the money. Check these out and make live music a part of your weekend plans.

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Live music and records go hand in hand. That’s why you should stop by Vinyl Bay 777 before the show to pick up music from these artists and more. Browse thousands of titles in a plethora of genres ranging from rock, pop, hip-hop and R&B to classical, jazz, dance and disco and more. We have a wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia to choose from in store and online at vinylbay777.com. More titles are being added to our selection all the time, so it’s always a great time to see what’s new at Vinyl Bay 777.