Seven Music Live Streams to Check Out While “Social Distancing”

COVID-19 has been ravaging the music industry, putting the concert industry at a stand-still as states close venues and artists cancel shows and other large gatherings in exchange for “social distancing.”

In lieu of concert halls with hundreds or thousands of people in attendance, a handful of artists have been making the leap to live streaming. An uptick in the practice started in the last week, with artists such as Code Orange, Cro-Mags, John Legend and more already clocking in time from their own homes. From singular artists “hanging out” with their fans through quiet social media gatherings to large festivals of multiple artists moving online, there is still way more to come.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, has pulled together a list of some of the already announced live streams taking place over the next few weeks. Here are seven to look forward to while stuck at home.

1.       Ben Gibbard: Death Cab For Cutie / The Postal Service frontman Ben Gibbard will be live-streaming intimate sets from his home studio every day at 7PM Eastern on Facebook and YouTube. He started last night, playing a ten-song set of fan favorites and a cover of Radiohead’s “Fake Plastic Trees.” Gibbard announced his plans on Tuesday, saying that fans can even expect special guests to “stop by digitally.” (Daily, 7PM Eastern, Facebook / YouTube)

2.       Christine and the Queens: Similarly to Gibbard, French singer/band Christine and the Queens will be live streaming on Christine’s Instagram at 6PM Eastern every day. According to a post on Twitter, “guests and weird concepts” will be included in the streams. The first stream featured a discussion with Charli XCX. (Daily, 6PM Eastern, Instagram)

3.       Shut In & Sing: Described on StageIt as “a group of songwriters joining forces to stay connected through music and community,” Shut In & Sing is an ongoing concert event launched by Kelly McCartney (‘Hangin’ & Sangin’ podcast) and singer/songwriter Natalia Zukerman featuring music from country, folk and Americana artists on a nightly basis. Artists range from the fairly well-known (such as Jill Sobule [3/21] and Lori McKenna [3/28]) to up-and-comers looking for a break. The first show starts Thursday and more are booked through April 11. All shows are pay-what-you-can. (March 19-April 11[so far], Times Vary, StageIt)

4.       Luck Reunion Festival: Initially slated to begin on Thursday (3/19), Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion Festival has moved from his backyard to the internet. ‘Luck Presents: ‘Till Further Notice’ will feature performances from Nelson and his sons, Margo Price, Jewel and more, as well as segments with “partners, charities, and makers that make up the cherished “Luck Family.” The show starts at 7PM Eastern on the Luck Reunion website, Twitch and Facebook. It is free, though a tip jar is available for those who want to donate to the artists. (March 19, 7PM Eastern, Luck Reunion/Facebook/Twitch)

5.       The Indigo Girls: After cancelling all of their March and April tour dates (including one right here on Long Island), The Indigo Girls will be taking to Facebook on Thursday for a “low key, home grown set of songs” and a “Q and A.” The stream is to celebrate the band’s upcoming album, ‘Look Long,’ out May 22. (March 19, 6PM Eastern, Facebook)

6.       Ultra Virtual Audio Festival: With Miami’s Ultra Music Festival cancelled, the festival is teaming up with SiriusXM to bring EDM fans a “virtual” alternative. The Ultra Virtual Audio Festival will be presented starting Friday (3/20) on the limited-run station UMF Radio. Artists joining the fest include Armin van Buuren, Afrojack, Martin Garrix and Major Laser, among others. (March 20-23, 5PM Eastern, SiriusXM Channel 52)

7.       Neil Young: Announced on his Neil Young Archives site Monday that he plans to start streaming what he calls “Fireside Sessions” in the near future. Young’s wife Daryl Hannah will be filming the sets, describing it “a down-home production” with “a few songs,” and “a little time together.”

Now, more than ever, we need music to help us deal with the world in crisis.  These are just some of the artists and events who are attempting to bring people together through the power of music amidst the chaos. With the growing amount of restrictions being put in place, it’s only a matter of time before even more artists join the ones above in live streaming sets.

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Find music from many of these artists and more at Vinyl Bay 777. As one of Long Island’s largest independent record shops, 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.

Artists Who Keep/Kept Their Identity a Secret

Slipknot’s most mysterious new member has been unmasked. Lovingly referred to as “Tortilla Man,” a social media post from the Postojna Cave in Slovenia revealed that Michael Pfaff was the unknown masked percussionist that took Chris Fehn’s place following a lawsuit. The band had been refusing to divulge who Tortilla Man was, as none of the band’s members ever had an official reveal.

Like the masked members of Slipknot, there are many other bands out there that would prefer to remain anonymous, whether their identities have been revealed or not.

In honor of Slipknot's new member, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of these mysterious bands. Here are seven artists/bands who started out or remain anonymous behind their masks.

1.       Iamamiwhoami: In December 2009, a mysterious electronic artist going only by iamamiwhoami went viral on YouTube, producing short bites of well-produced, genre-defying music coupled with videos that would completely conceal her and her collaborators’ identities. Diligent followers of the singer continually tried to decode who might be behind the channel, whether it was someone well-known (among the names being thrown around were Lady Gaga and Christina Aguilera) or someone trying to gain traction with some brilliant marketing. Speculation came to an end in March 2010 when the video for “t” revealed the singer’s full, undistorted face, showing her to be Swedish artist Jonna Lee.

2.       Ghost: The entire idea of metal band Ghost was meant to be shrouded in mystery. Aside from their lead singer, who has gone by various stage names (Papa Emeritus I, II, III & Nihil, Cardinal Copia) over the years only to be revealed as Tobias Forge in 2017 during an intense legal battle, all of the band members are corralled into the designation of “nameless ghouls.” Each member wears identical outfits and face-concealing makeup, giving them no identity at all.

3.       The Network / Foxboro Hottubs: It’s fairly well-known at this point amongst fans that both The Network and Foxboro Hottubs feature members of perennial pop-punk favorites Green Day. However, none of their identities have ever been officially revealed. That’s especially true for The Network, who came on the scene in 2003 and released one album through Adeline Records that same year (a mistake if they wanted to remain anonymous from Green Day as the label was run by frontman Billie Joe Armstrong). The six-member band all wore masks and claimed to have been “brought together by an ancient prophecy.”

4.       Static-X: In 2019, industrial rock pioneers Static-X revealed that they would be reuniting for their first album in 11 years in memory of their late frontman, Wayne Static and to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of their breakout album, ‘Wisconsin Death Trip.’ For the tour they planned to mount, the band hired a singer, who decided to go by the name Xer0 and wear a mask designed to look like Static’s. Though people have tried to decipher who Xer0 might be (Edsel Dope, frontman for Dope and an opener for the Static-X reunion tour is generally thought to be behind the mask), his identity has not yet been revealed.

5.       PPL MVR: Dressed as yeti-like creatures, PPL MVR blew up in 2014 despite no one knowing who was behind the masks. According to their website, they are: “A band of unknown origin, the one and only PPL MVR explores myth and mystery through hefty guitar riffs and transmogrified vocals. They venture outside the selfie-obsessed waters we all willingly swim in to find solace in ritual and our pure animalistic nature. There is an ancient power in coming together to stand in a sacred place and chant, sing songs, pump our fists in the air, and venerate.” For a while it was speculated that the band could be a side project of New York hardcore band Brand New, especially when a link on Brand New’s website brought fans to a PPL MVR video. This theory may have been debunked, but my research can’t find where that information comes from.

6.       The Residents: Around since the 1960s, The Residents is as much an art collective as they are a band. Releasing over 46 works together, the group’s identities have never been known due to their signature giant eyeball helmets and refusal to grant interviews. Over the years there were many speculations about who could have been in the band, including members of The Beatles, the Dead Kennedys, Devo among them. In 2017, it was revealed that Hardy Fox, one of the band’s Cryptic Corporation crew members, was one of the primary composers for the band.

7.       Masked Intruder: One of the hottest and most intriguing up-and-coming punk bands of today, Masked Intruder keep their identities a mystery in conjunction with their convict stage personas. Instead, all four members go by the color of their ski masks.

There are many artists and bands that choose to be anonymous with the world. Some start their rise to fame this way, like iamamiwhoami, creating an air of mystery and getting people to sleuth out who they are. Others choose to continue and grow their careers anonymously by embedding it in the fabric of their act, like Ghost or Masked Intruder. Whether people end up finding out who’s behind the mask in the end or not, there is one thing that’s clear: everyone loves a little mystery.

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Find music from some of these mysterious artists and more at Vinyl Bay 777. As one of Long Island’s top independent record shops, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a wide range 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.

Bands Reuniting on the Road in 2020

The world loves a good reunion tour. Getting to see your favorite disbanded band one more time can be exciting for fans nostalgic for the “good old days.” Lucky for us, 2020 already has a handful of big name reunion tours announced, many just in time for the summer festival season.

With a whole lot of reunions in the news, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the most anticipated. Whether it’s only been a few years since disbanding or nearly a decade, here are seven reunited groups heading out on tour in 2020.

1.       My Chemical Romance: One of the biggest announcements of 2019 was when mid-2000s “emo” favorites My Chemical Romance announced that they were getting back together. The band has already played one very successful show together in Los Angeles, CA and will be heading overseas in 2020 to play shows in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. This past week, the band announced another UK show, only this time they also included two minutes of unheard music that have fans wondering if a new album could be on the horizon from this reunion too.

2.       Mötley Crüe: Another of the biggest tour announcements late last year was that of hair metal legends Mötley Crüe. The band had signed a “cessation-of-touring” agreement in 2015, which the group symbolically torched in the tour’s announcement video. It doesn’t feel like Mötley Crüe have gone anywhere, given that the band has recorded and released new music in the last two years (though not a new album, they haven’t done that since 2008), but it is that success that prompted the band to do their first tour in half a decade in the first place. The North American tour kicks off July 7 in Miami, FL and wraps up September 5 in Los Angeles, CA with a stacked line-up of openers including Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

3.       Pussycat Dolls: Mid-2000s girl group the Pussycat Dolls are getting ready for their first tour in nearly a decade. Disbanding in 2010, the girls went their separate ways towards their own solo careers, the most successful of which being that of Nicole Scherzinger (whose most known for being a reality competition judge these days). The group got back together (sans Melody Thornton) for a performance on ‘The X Factor UK’ (which Scherzinger judges) late last year and will be heading out on the road for the ‘Unfinished Business’ tour around the UK in April. New music is also on the horizon, as the group debut a new song, “React,” during their ‘X Factor’ performance.

4.       Rage Against The Machine: It’s hard to believe that Rage Against The Machine’s last reunion was already eight years ago, but the political rap-metal band is back again! So far, the reunion tour is limited to five west coast dates around their appearances at the 2020 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April.

5.       Faith No More: It’s been five years since metal outfit Faith No More capped off their first reunion with their last album, ‘Sol Invictus,’ and disbanded after a year of touring. Now the band will be returning to Europe for a festival tour throughout June and July. A new album, however, may not be in the cards, as Roddy Bottum said in an interview with ‘Kerrang!’ that the band has “no plans right now to record any new music.”

6.       Bright Eyes: Conor Oberst has not been a stranger to the music scene over the last ten years, presenting his own solo works and leading various groups, the most recent of which was the duo Better Oblivion Community Center with Phoebe Bridgers last year. But after nine years, Oberst is getting his most well-known band back together, Bright Eyes. It was announced this week that the band had signed to Dead Oceans and will be releasing their first album since ‘The People’s Key’ in 2011. A short tour was also announced, featuring dates in Tokyo, Japan in March, Los Angeles, CA in May, Queens, NY in June and an appearance at the End of the Road Festival in the UK in September.

7.       Circle Jerks: Punk Rockers Circle Jerks’ debut album ‘Group Sex’ turns 40 this year and the band is celebrating by playing their first shows together in nearly a decade.  Dates announced so far include Punk Rock Bowling in Las Vegas, NV and the Wiesen, Austria, Berlin, Germany and Munich, Germany dates of the re-launched Punk In Drublic Festival.

With disbanded acts in pop, indie rock, metal and punk gearing up to reunite on the road in 2020, now’s the time to see them live before it all goes away again. Check out the reuniting bands listed above and let us know what bands you’re excited to see/would like to see reunite in the comments below.

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Find music from many of these reunited bands and more at Vinyl Bay 777. As one of Long Island’s top independent record shops, 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.

13 Concerts in New York to Get You Ready for the 2019 Holiday Season

The holidays are fast approaching! With 11 days until the start of Hanukkah and Christmas exactly two weeks away, the festive mood continues to grow here in New York, as it undoubtedly has in the rest of the world. Why not continue to ramp up the festivities with some live music?

New York is full of great live music all year round, but during the holiday season it can’t be beat! From huge artists like Mariah Carey and annual concert events like Jingle Ball to smaller yearly Hanukkah events from the likes of Moshav and Golem, there is something for everyone. We even celebrate the winter solstice big!

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, loves live music. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of holiday shows happening in New York over the next couple of weeks. Here are 13 to get you deeper into the holiday spirit!

1.       WALK Holiday Show/Goo Goo Dolls: Long Island’s WALK 97.5 is already getting into the holiday spirit with a 100% Christmas playlist, so it would make sense that the station would be gearing up for a holiday show of their own. That happens tonight at the Paramount in Huntington. 1990s rockers the Goo Goo Dolls headline the event with Beach Slang and ‘American Idol’ alum David Cook will opening. (12/11 @ The Paramount Huntington)

2.       Idina Menzel: Actress and singer Idina Menzel is a busy women. Aside from the release of ‘Frozen 2’ a few weeks ago, she also released a new holiday album, ‘Christmas: A Season of Love,’ in October. Menzel will be ending a three-show tri-state area holiday run of shows tonight with a stop at New York’s Carnegie Hall. (12/11 @ Carnegie Hall)

3.       Pre-Hanukkah Smackdown: Looking to get into the Hanukkah spirit even before Hanukkah begins. Drom NYC is presenting their “Pre-Hanukkah Smackdown” this Thursday with a worldly list of artists that put a spin on traditional klezmer, including the Afrobeat-infused sound of Zion80 and the klezmer-bhangra fusion of Sharabi. Headlining you have gypsy-punks Golem, who’s mix of klezmer, Yiddish melodies and high-intensity performance makes for a lively show you won’t want to miss. (12/12 @ Drom)

4.       Jingle Ball: iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball has become synonymous with the holiday season at this point. The series of yearly holiday events from the radio mega network, Jingle Ball brings together some of the year’s most popular artists to celebrate the season. This year’s New York line-up is a veritable who’s-who of chart-toppers, including Taylor Swift, Lizzo, the Jonas Brothers, Camila Cabello, 5 Seconds of Summer, Dan + Shay, Niall Horan, Lewis Capaldi, Halsey, Monsta X and Fletcher.  (12/13 @ Madison Square Garden)

5.       Mariah Carey: The queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey is currently celebrating the 25^th Anniversary of her first Christmas album, ‘Merry Christmas,’ and the inescapable holiday classic “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” The singer will be wrapping her 2019 holiday tour on Sunday at New York’s Madison Square Garden. (12/15)

6.       Hot For The Holidays: If you’re looking for a hip-hop holiday show, Hot 97 is gearing up for their annual Hot For The Holidays show next week. This year’s artists include Khalid, Wale, Layton Greene and The Bonfyre. (12/18 @ Kings Theatre)

7.       Lea Michele: Actress and singer Lea Michele released her first-ever Christmas album, ‘Christmas in the City,’ in October, which hit Billboard’s Top Holiday Albums chart at number 3. Catch her perform music from the album and more during a special three-night residency at the New York Society For Ethical Culture.  (12/19 -21 @ NY Society For Ethical Culture)

8.       Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Perennial holiday instrumental favorites the Trans-Siberian Orchestra are heading our way to spread some Christmas cheer. The group will be bringing their “Christmas Eve And Other Stories” show to Long Island and New Jersey next week. (12/20 @ Nassau Coliseum; 12/21 @ Prudential Center)

9.       Marky Ramone’s Holiday Blitzkrieg: Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg, featuring former Ramones drummer Marky Ramone, is set to rock New York’s Gramercy Theatre for their annual ‘Holiday Blitzkrieg.’ Like last year, the group will be joined by Bad Religion/Circle Jerks guitarist Greg Hetson.  (12/20 @ Gramercy Theatre)

10.   Make Music New York Winter: Back for its winter festival, Make Music New York will be celebrating the winter solstice with as much outdoor music as possible all over the city. Favorites such as Piano City (which features pianos placed randomly around the city for people to play), Flatfoot Flatbush (a folk music gathering) and “The Mobile Hallelujah” (traveling carolers singing Handel’s famous ‘Messiah’ movement) all return, and there will be plenty of opportunities to jump in and join a holiday parade or sing Christmas carols with your fellow New Yorkers. (12/21)

11.   CeeLo Green: “Forget You” singer and Goodie Mob member CeeLo Green is celebrating the holidays on the road for his “Holiday Hits” tour. Green will be playing songs from his 2013 Christmas album, ‘Magic Moment,’ as well as hits from throughout his career. (12/21 @ Sony Hall; 12/22 @ Suffolk Theater)

12.   Yo La Tengo: Yo La Tengo’s Hanukkah shows are a holiday tradition at this point. The band will be playing eight consecutive nights at the Bowery Ballroom starting December 22 (the first night of Hanukkah), celebrating every night with special surprise guests. All shows are sold out except the 24^th and 25^th (Christmas Eve and Christmas).  (12/22-29 @ Bowery Ballroom)

13.   Moshav: Another Hanukkah tradition: Moshav. The band will be playing their annual “Festival of Lights” show on Hanukkah night three / Christmas Eve. Soulfarm and Yimmy will be opening. (12/24 @ SOB’s)

With the holidays only weeks away, now is the perfect time to start celebrating with live music. Check out some of the shows listed above and let us know what holiday shows you’re excited to see this season in the comments below.

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Find the perfect holiday music 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 lovers. 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.

Seven Rock Artists & Bands Who Have Guest Starred on ‘Sesame Street’

The groundbreaking 50^th season of ‘Sesame Street’ is set to premiere this Saturday (11/16) on HBO. On Tuesday, the world got a sneak peak at the first episode when the show posted a clip featuring Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl singing a song called “Here We Go” with Big Bird and Elmo as they traveled around the United States. Other guest stars set to drop by this season include Maren Morris, Charlie Puth, Thomas Rhett and more.

Over its five decades on the air, the iconic children’s program has featured a multitude of guest stars interacting with the Muppets, including a slew of prominent musicians. From legends such as B.B. King, RayCharles, David Bowie and Michael Jackson to today’s hit makers such as Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran, many a musician has had their moment with these beloved characters. This also includes a handful of rockers and rock bands.

In honor of ‘Sesame Street’s’ 50^th anniversary, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look back at some of the rock artists who have gotten to perform on the show over the years. Whether they performed something new, rewrote their own songs or performed their own music unedited, here are just seven of the rockers who have had the opportunity to play with the ‘Sesame Street’ Muppets.

1.       Spin Doctors: In 1993, Spin Doctors were at the height of their career, having two massive hits with “Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong.” For their appearance on the show, the band rewrote portions of the former song to soundtrack a segment where Telly and Elmo were fighting over who Zoe should play with.

2.       R.E.M.: Following the success of their 1991 album ‘Out Of Time,’ R.E.M. made an appearance on ‘Sesame Street’ with a rearranged version of their second single, “Shiny, Happy People.” The song was re-titled “Happy, Furry Monsters” and was featured in a segment where the band played while all the monster characters acted out different feelings.

3.       Dave Matthews: In 2013, Dave Matthews appeared on the show sans band to work through some feelings with Grover. The singer strums through a new song called “I Need A Word” on banjo while the two sing about their “not very good” feelings in an effort to find what’s bugging them.

4.       OK Go: Technically, OK Go’s appearance on the show wasn’t interacting with the Muppets. However, the band did write an original song for the show called “Three Primary Colors,” and starred in the accompanying “insert” video, which they filmed in the stop-motion style that helped them go viral five years prior.

5.       Paul Simon: Back in 1977, Paul Simon played his hit song “Me And Julio Down By The School Yard” sitting on the iconic ‘Sesame Street’ stoop for the show’s human children (an interesting choice given the song’s subject). Simon returned more than a decade later to appear with Ladysmith Black Mambazo for “The African Alphabet.”

6.       Train: Following the release of 2012’s ‘California 37’ and a renewed interest in the band, Train made an appearance on the iconic show. The band reworked their then current single “Drive By” into a counting song called “Five By,” which found the trio, The Count and Elmo wondering how many peaches and chairs they would need.

7.       Goo Goo Dolls: Still riding high from the success of 1998’s ‘Dizzy Up The Girl,’ the Goo Goo Dolls were invited to appear on ‘Sesame Street’ in 2000. The band performed a reworked version of their hit “Slide” entitled “Pride,” which they sung to Elmo to celebrate his successes.

Over ‘Sesame Street’s’ 50 year history, the show has played host to hundreds of guest stars, many of which came from the world of rock and other genres of music. Take a look back at some of the rock artists who have reworked their music or written entirely new songs for the show and let us know who some of your favorite past ‘Sesame Street’ guests were.

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Find music from ‘Sesame Street’ and its many guests 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. 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.

Musicians Who Competed on ‘Dancing With The Stars’

The latest cast of ‘Dancing With The Stars’ has been announced, and as is to be expected, it includes a few singers amongst its celebrity ranks. Singers competing in season 28 (which starts September 16) include Fifth Harmony’s Ally Brooke, The Supremes’ Mary Wilson and ‘American Idol’ alum-turned-country superstar Lauren Alaina.

Though not always a given, musicians tend to do well on ‘Dancing With The Stars.’ There have been multiple occasions where they have risen to the final rounds and even won the entire season.

In honor of the new ‘Dancing With The Stars’ cast, Vinyl Bay777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look back at some of the most memorable musicians to grace the ballroom stage. Here are seven singers / groups whose performances captivated viewers.

1.       Normani Kordei: Ally Brooke isn’t the first member of Fifth Harmony to put on her dancing shoes. Back in 2017 bandmate Normani Kordei took to the stage to compete, finishing in third place on season 24. At the time, the group was still going strong, having released their third, self-titled album just months after her appearance. Going by just her first name, Normani’s solo career is heating up now as her single featuring Sam Smith, “Dancing with a Stranger,” peaked in the top 10 this year.

2.       Drew & Nick Lachey: 98° singer Drew Lachey was an early contestant on the show, winning season two all the way back in 2006. It took his older brother and bandmate Nick 11 years to follow suit. Nick became part of the second married couple to compete against each other on the show, as he was joined by his wife Vanessa Lachey (a former MTV V-Jay), and first couple to be partnered with another married couple (dancers Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy). When Drew competed, 98° had been on hiatus for several years, but by the time Nick danced, the band was back in the swing of things with a studio album, a Christmas album and a couple of tours under their belt.

3.       Nick Carter: Surprisingly the only Backstreet Boy to compete, Nick Carter placed second in season 21. A fan favorite, he was a high-scorer from the beginning. He even performed to two of BSB’s songs. While on the show, BSB were in the midst of a comeback of sorts (though they never really left), having just gotten off an extensive world tour behind their album ‘In A World Like This.’

4.       Joey Fatone & Lance Bass: Though they participated in different seasons, the tongue-in-cheek rivalry between *NSYNC’s Joey Fatone and Lance Bass was one of the drivers during Bass’ season. Fatone came in second on season four, which meant Bass had a lot riding on his appearance. He ended up coming up at tad short, placing third on season seven. *NSYNC never managed to spark a real reunion after the show (they’ve sang together at a few one-off events), but Fatone did get some acting and hosting gigs out of the show, while Bass’ brand has never been stronger.

5.       Donny Osmond: In a season filled with musicians, teen star all-grown-up Donny Osmond came out on top for season 9, beating out Mya (2), Kelly Osbourne (3), Aaron Carter (5) and Macy Gray (15) for the mirror ball trophy. Osmond had been a fan-favorite from the beginning, especially with older viewers and his success most likely came from that fan base pushing him through.

6.       Nicole Scherzinger: Former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger went for the gold on season 10, winning the whole competition. It was around this time that Scherzinger’s solo career was taking off, though she became better known for judging musicians than being one.

7.       Kellie Pickler: Lauren Alaina is also not the first ‘American Idol’ alum-turned-country superstar to hit the dance floor. Back in 2013, Kellie Pickler won season 16 of the program. At the time, Pickler was working on her fourth studio album, ‘The Woman I Am,’ releasing first single “Someone Somewhere Tonight” while still competing.

Musicians have usually done well competing on the reality dancing competition ‘Dancing With The Stars.’ Like the artists above, the show has seen several take the top or runner-up spots with memorable performances. With season 28 starting in September, time will tell how this year’s musicians fare against the other celebrities competing for the mirrorball trophy.

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Find music from these ‘Dancing With The Stars’ competitors 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. 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.

Artists with Long Gaps Between Albums

On Tuesday (6/25) country trio the Dixie Chicks announced that they were in the studio working on a new album. The album, once released, will be their first in nearly 13 years, following 2006’s ‘Taking the Long Way.’

The Dixie Chicks join a recent influx of bands and artists that have returned with new music after more than a decade away, including My Bloody Valentine, Chic, Chuck Berry and more.

Inspired by the news of the Dixie Chicks’ as-yet untitled album, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at artists that took their time between albums. Here are six whose new albums were long-awaited.

1.       Pink Floyd: Pink Floyd had pretty much disbanded following touring for their 1994 album ‘The Division Bell.’ In 2012, however, frontman David Gilmour and drummer Nick Mason decided to take another look at some of the unreleased instrumentals left over from the ‘Division Bell’ sessions. What came of it was a nearly all-instrumental new album, ‘The Endless River,’ released in 2014, 20 years after their last.

2.       My Bloody Valentine: Things started to fall apart for My Bloody Valentine in the mid-1990s. Despite being signed to Island Records in 1992, the bands members started moving in their own separate directions in 1995, leaving their 1991 album, ‘Loveless,’ as their final album. Although the band reunited in 2007, it would be another nine years before they would release their third album, ‘m b v,’ in 2013. The band is supposedly writing two more albums, though there is no timeline yet for their release.

3.       Chic: Following the reunion that brought about their 1992 album ‘Chic-ism,’ Chic continued to tour for the next two decades as a nostalgia act. The band released four albums, but they were all either compilations or live recordings. Nile Rodgers announced in 2013 that he was working on a new Chic album, ‘It’s About Time,’ which came out six years later in 2018.

4.       The Who: The Who may be releasing a new album some time in 2019, closing a 13-year gap between albums, but it’s not the longest the band has taken. Following the release of ‘It’s Hard’ in 1982 and a farewell tour the same year, Pete Townshend decided to leave the band. The break-up didn’t last long though, as the band reunited at Live Aid in 1985 and toured together in various line-ups ever since. Despite John Entwistle’s passing in 2002, Townshend and Roger Daltrey decided to release a new album in 2006, ‘Endless Wire,’ 24 years after the last.

5.       Guns N’ Roses: One of the most storied waits in rock music, it took Guns N’ Roses 15 years to follow up their 1993 album ‘“The Spaghetti Incident?”,’ (17 years if you’re only counting original compositions, making the ‘Use Your Illusion’ albums their last). Slash and Duff McKagan left the band between 1996 and 1997, leaving Axl Rose as the only original member. Rose spent a lot of time recording and rerecording what would become ‘Chinese Democracy,’ delaying what was supposed to be a 2000 release into a 2008 release. With the band’s supposed upcoming album, they will be bridging another long gap, 11 years since an official album release and 26 years since their classic line-up released an album.

6.       Chuck Berry: Though he had not released an album since ‘Rockit’ in 1979, Chuck Berry continued to perform live for much of his career. That changed in 2017 with the release of ‘Chuck,’ his first studio album in 38 years. Berry had been working on the album for a long time and seemed to know that it would be his final, saying in a statement “This record is dedicated to my beloved [wife] Toddy. My darlin' I'm growing old! I've worked on this record for a long time. Now I can hang up my shoes!” The legendary musician passed away a couple of months prior to its release.

Whether it was because of a recent reunion or an artist taking their time, there have been several artists over the last few years who have released new albums after decades of radio silence. The Dixie Chicks join this growing list, hopefully recapturing what made their music great more than a decade later.

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Find music new and old from these artists 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. 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.

Artists with Their Own Podcasts

Podcasting has been around for a while now, though it has been gaining new ground over the past couple of years. New shows dealing with every conceivable topic have been popping up on what seems like almost every day. Much like early radio-era scripted shows, podcasts have been able to peak people’s interests and capture their imaginations with both informative and entertaining content. Musicians are getting in on the act too, creating their own shows to either promote the music they love or to talk about their own music and career stories.

With podcasting becoming so popular, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at artists who have chosen to dabble in the field. Here are seven who have or have had their own shows.

1.       Questlove, ‘Questlove Supreme’: Best known as the drummer for hip-hop band The Roots, Questlove has proven himself on multiple occasions to be an international man of music. In 2016, he created the ‘Questlove Supreme’ podcast with music service Pandora, on which he conducted interviews with artists and “geek out” about music. According to a New York Times article, he would go through roughly 200 songs before recording each weekly episode.

2.       Chuck D, ‘Stay Free: The Story of The Clash’: In February of 2019, Spotify launched an eight-episode podcast about legendary British punk band The Clash. To host, the company landed another legend, Public Enemy-frontman Chuck D. If this sounds like a weird pairing, the podcast makes sure to establish the parallels between the band and Chuck D’s careers, adding a “surprising new dimension to the story of The Clash.”

3.       Aimee Mann & Ted Leo, ‘The Art Of The Process’: Announced in January 2019 and premiered on the Maximum Fun podcast network the same month, musicians Aimee Mann and Ted Leo’s ‘The Art Of The Process’ podcast discusses not only music, but creativity in all its forms. According to a Twitter post by Leo, “We talk to a broad array of ppl from many backgrounds and many regions of the creative spectrum about how, in these times, they remain creative while navigating the labyrinth of abandon, depression, elation, inspiration, and most importantly for us, work, structures, process.” Past guests on the monthly podcast include singer/songwriter Dan Wilson (Semisonic), comedian Wyatt Cenac and most recently television critic Emily Nussbaum.

4.       Ozzy Osbourne, ‘The Osbournes Podcast’: Back in 2002 when reality television was coming into its own, MTV premiered a show looking at the lives of Black Sabbath frontman and successful solo artist Ozzy Osbourne and his family called ‘The Osbournes.’ In 2018, the Osbourne family decided to look back on the four-season series with a 10 episode podcast.

5.       Rick Rubin, ‘Broken Record’: One of the most storied and in demand producers in music, Rick Rubin has teamed up with writer Malcolm Gladwell and New York Times editor Bruce Headlam for a podcast about the songwriting process. ‘Broken Record’ features Rubin talking with guests about their craft in an effort to “restart” the conversation between artist and listener “for a world without liner notes.”

6.       Robert Plant, ‘Digging Deep’: The most recent addition to the musicians starting podcasts club is Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, whose ‘Digging Deep’ launched its first episode on June 2. The show features Plant discussing his five decade music career and the “moments, people and places that have inspired some of [his] most treasured music.”

7.       Henry Rollins, ‘Henry & Heidi Podcast’: Henry Rollins has led a pretty storied career in the music industry as frontman for Black Flag and the Rollins Band, solo artist and motivational speaker, all of which he has been discussing sporadically on his podcast, the ‘Henry & Heidi Podcast,’ since 2015.  Along with his manager Heidi May, Rollins tells stories about his career in hopes that “listeners have some fun listening to it.”

More and more people have been jumping on the podcasting bandwagon lately, including musicians. There are many artists like the ones above out there using the format to discuss their careers or explore other artists’ creative pursuits. As podcasting continues to pick up steam, it wouldn’t be surprising if even more artists develop their own shows.

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Find music from these musicians 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 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.

Surprising (and Not-So Surprising) Musicians Who Contributed to ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’

Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of long-running cartoon ‘SpongeBob SquarePants,’ has passed away. The animator and marine biologist lost his battle with ALS on Tuesday. He was 57.

Over the last two decades, Hillenburg’s ‘Spongebob’ has become one of the most popular characters in cartoon history, appealing to both kids and the adults who grew up with it. The show became so popular that it has attracted many celebrity guests to become involved. That includes top-name musicians, who have lent their talents to the television show, as well as its first movie and subsequent Broadway production.

In honor of Stephen Hillenburg’s work, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the big name musical artists who have been a part of the ‘SpongeBob’ universe. Here are seven artists that have either voiced characters or written music for the show and its properties.

1.       David Bowie: David Bowie, who’s children were fans of the show, is one of the only artists to have both voiced a character on an episode of the ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ TV series as well as contribute a song to the Broadway show. The episode in question was an hour-long musical called “Atlantis SquarePantis” which featured Bowie as Lord Royal Highness, the ruler of Atlantis. As for Broadway, his 1995 collaboration with Brian Eno, “No Control” was chosen after the singer gave director Tina Landau permission to use something from his catalog.

2.       The Flaming Lips:  When it came time to make the first ‘SpongeBob’ movie, Hillenburg was adamant about having off-beat artists on the soundtrack. Artists like Wilco and Ween made the cut, as well as The Flaming Lips, who provided the song “SpongeBob and Patrick Confront the Psychic Wall of Energy.” Because of the film contribution, the band was also asked to write a song for the Broadway musical, which became “Tomorrow Is.”

3.       Ween: As mentioned above, Hillenburg liked off-beat bands and Ween seems to have been an early favorite. According to an old Ween message board, the band was asked by Hillenburg, who was inspired by their album ‘The Mollusk,’ to write and record a song about tying shoes (“Loop de Loop”) for the show before the cartoon ever aired. The band ended up working with ‘SpongeBob’ again, this time providing their song “Ocean Man” (from ‘The Mollusk’) for the first movie’s soundtrack.

4.       Pantera: Another early ‘SpongeBob’ inclusion, Pantera rearranged one of their songs for the show’s second season. The song was “Death Rattle,” which was turned into “Pre-Hibernation,” and was included in a montage of scenes where Sandy and SpongeBob were getting ready for Sandy’s hibernation.

5.       Gene Simmons: Another famous metal face, Kiss frontman Gene Simmons, also contributed to the show. Simmons lent his voice to the character of Sea Monster during the show’s fifth season. Announcing the part on the Kiss website in 2007, he said “I was born for this part. I've been waiting all my life to be a Sea Monster. It's in my blood. It's what I do. It's my job.”

6.       Dee Snider: Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider is apparently a big fan of ‘SpongeBob.’ Like Simmons, he provided a voice for the show’s sixth season, playing a snail shell salesman named Angry Jack who was far from angry (you know, until “stuff” happens). The fandom must have been mutual, as original movie track “Goofy Goober Rock” was supposed to be a parody of Twisted Sister’s “I Wanna Rock.”

7.       Mötorhead: Mötorhead also had one of their tracks parodied for the first ‘SpongeBob’ movie, except the band actually recorded the track themselves. “You Better Swim” is a reworking of “You Better Run” from ‘March ör Die.’

 ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ has been providing inspiration to fans both young and young at heart with its wacky, off-beat nature. Such is why there have been many musical artists (like the ones above) and actors who have jumped at the opportunity to voice characters or contribute music to the franchise. As long as people continue to be inspired by the show, Stephen Hillenburg’s characters will continue to live on in television (and music) history.

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Find music from these ‘SpongeBob’-loving artists and more 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 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.