Shows In New York to Check Out this Weekend (August 11-13, 2017)

Another week is almost over. As you’re getting ready to kick back this weekend, why not plan to take in a live show as well.

New York is brimming with great rock shows this weekend. With high-profile artists like Bret Michaels, Yes and the Goo Goo Dolls to local favorites like The Hollows, Nine Days and Crime In Stereo all in the area, any rock fan will want to get out and jam.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, loves live music. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of rock shows happening in the New York area this weekend. Here are eight that we think you will thoroughly enjoy.

1.       Bret Michaels: Poison frontman Bret Michaels will be bringing his solo nostalgia tour to Long Island tonight. Hear Poison’s greatest hits and Michaels’ solo works live. Opening the show will be local band Brand of Julez, who you won’t want to miss either. (Friday, Mulcahy’s)

2.       Gene Ween Does Billy Joel: Gene Ween has brought back his Billy Joel cover band for a short east coast run of dates that will culminate this weekend. The second-to-last show happens on Long Island tonight at the Space at Westbury. Following these shows, he will be going out with his band Ween, for another string of shows. (Friday, Space at Westbury)

3.       The Hollows: If you’re into alt-country, then you will enjoy The Hollows. Their members are quite talented, often switching instruments with each other on stage from song to song. The show is being presented by 7 Crown and will feature Vick & the Velvicks and Quantum Split as support. (Friday, Irving Plaza)

4.       Yes: Yes will be bringing their touring festival, Yestival, to the area tonight. The festival will feature Todd Rundgren and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy as support and will find Yes performing at least one song from each of their albums during each date. If you can’t make Yestival, Yes will be back in New York mid September for two shows at The Paramount in Huntington. The band celebrated its 50^th anniversary earlier this month. (Friday, Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island)

5.       Nine Days: Best known for their 2000 single “Absolutely (Story of a Girl),” Long Island’s Nine Days have returned. They released their new album, ‘Snapshots,’ last year and have been playing venues around the area frequently. Their next show will be this Saturday in Amityville. (Saturday, Amityville Music Hall)

6.       Lifehouse & Switchfoot: In a line-up that sounds like it was made in heaven, Lifehouse and Switchfoot are touring together on their “Looking for Summer” co-headlining tour. Switchfoot released their latest album, ‘Where The Light Shines Through,’ last year, while Lifehouse released a greatest hits album in July. Get ready for a night of early 2000’s nostalgia rock at its best. (Saturday, Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island)

7.       Goo Goo Dolls: Goo Goo Dolls has been releasing outstanding music for more than two decades with many hits to show for it. Their latest album, ‘Boxes,’ came out last year and the band is currently on tour to promote it. The “Long Way Home” summer tour hits Long Island’s Jones Beach Theater on Sunday with ‘American Idol’ alum Phillip Phillips opening. (Sunday, Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater)

8.       Crime In Stereo: Long Island hardcore rockers Crime In Stereo is currently celebrating the 10 year anniversary of their third album, ‘Is Dead,’ with a short run of tour dates where they will be playing the album in its entirety. This show is sold out. (Sunday, Knitting Factory)

These are just some of the amazing rock shows happening in New York this weekend. Check these or any of the other shows big and small happening in the area and start your weekend off right with live music.

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Going to see a live show this weekend? Stop by Vinyl Bay 777 before the show to find music from these and other great artists. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in an array of genres. Choose from a wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia. Drop by our Plainview location or shop online from the comfort of your own home at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our collection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Remembering Jerry Garcia: Seven Facts about the Legendary Grateful Dead Frontman

Jerry Garcia. Year Taken Unknown. Taken
by Carl Lender. Found on Wikimedia Commons.

Twenty-Two years ago today, Jerry Garcia, frontman for the Grateful Dead, passed away. The singer/instrumentalist, who had celebrated his 53^rd birthday just a week prior, had suffered a heart attack in the middle of the night during a stay in rehab.

Best known for his work with the Grateful Dead, Garcia became the unofficial leader of the underground psychedelic rock scene starting to take hold of the music world in the late 1960s/early 1970s. His band would develop a cult-like following with thousands of fans that would religiously follow the band on tour around the country to see them perform in every city.

Garcia continues to be a one of the most respected artists in music. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, he was named by Rolling Stone as the 13^th best guitarist of all time. Countless bands have paid tribute to the late singer in song while famous fans have done everything from naming an ice cream flavor after him to naming newly discovered species and asteroids after him.

In memory of Jerry Garcia, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, has compiled a list of facts about the late Grateful Dead frontman. Here are seven that you may or may not have known.

1.       He was into country music before he got into rock: As a young child living with his maternal grandparents, Jerry Garcia grew up watching the Grand Ole Opry and bought records from the likes of Hank Williams. He didn’t only listen to country though, he also played it. The first instrument that he owned was a five-string banjo and one of his first groups was the jug band Mother McCree’s Uptown Jug Champions. It wasn’t until the mid 1960s that he saw ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ and got into rock music.

2.       He played almost all the instruments on his solo debut: In 1972, Jerry Garcia released his debut solo album, ‘Garcia.’ The album was, in the literal sense, almost an entirely solo record, as Garcia did all the vocals, guitar work, piano playing and sampling himself. The only instrument he didn’t play was the drums, which were helmed by Grateful Dead bandmate Bill Kreutzmann.

3.       He was a sci-fi fan: Garcia was a big fan of sci-fi books and even recorded some music for a couple sci-fi films. He was responsible for some of the music and sound effects for 1978’s ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ and held small walk-on roles in both that film and ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind.’

4.       He was a SCUBA diver: After being released from rehab in the late 1980s, Garcia took up SCUBA diving. According to an interview with the New Yorker, he said that it took up a lot of space that drugs did. In 1988, he got his certification.

5.       He had to relearn how to play the guitar: In 1986, Jerry Garcia went into a diabetic coma due to poor diet and a drug relapse. The coma lasted for five days and did so much damage that he had to relearn some basic motor skills. That included having to relearn how to play the guitar.

6.       His first shows as the Grateful Dead were during Ken Kesey’s Acid Tests: Author Ken Kesey was kind of like the Andy Warhol of the west coast, leading a number of parties centered around LSD use. It was at one of these parties that Garcia and company played their first show after changing their name to the Grateful Dead. The band became the Velvet Underground of the scene, playing many more of Kesey’s Acid Test shows.

7.       He only had one hit song: For the amount of popularity and cult status that the Grateful Dead had, they weren’t very popular on the charts. The band only had one hit in the top 10: “Touch Of Grey” from 1987’s ‘In The Dark.’ Neither the band, nor Garcia, would have another hit after that.

Jerry Garcia remains one of the most respected musicians in the field. More than two decades after his death, people are still being inspired by his work with the Grateful Dead, his side projects and solo work. As new generations discover his music, Garcia’s legacy will continue to live on.

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Find music from Jerry Garcia and other legendary artists at Vinyl Bay 777. 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 an array of genres. Shop in store or online at vinylbay777.com to see what’s new. With more titles being added all the time, you never know what you will find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Music Documentaries Announced for 2017/2018

It was announced on Monday that a new documentary about the Velvet Underground is in the works. The film will be directed by Todd Haynes, the same director behind the critically acclaimed Bob Dylan film, ‘I’m Not There,’ and tell the band’s story through interviews with surviving band members, contemporaries and footage gleaned from Andy Warhol’s archives and “experimental film.” The band has most recently been celebrating the 50^th anniversary of their debut album, ‘The Velvet Underground & Nico.’

This isn’t the only music documentary making waves right now. Green Day’s new film, ‘Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk,’ was just released this week and is touring theaters across the country. Now through Thursday, you can see the film at the IFC Center in Manhattan.

With all this news of new documentaries, we here at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, started thinking about other music documentaries that are in the works. Here are seven rock docs coming out in 2017 / 2018.

1.       ‘Don’t Break Down: A Film About Jawbreaker’: Jawbreaker was one of the most influential bands coming out of the early east coast emo/hardcore scene. Along with Fuguzi, Minor Threat and Rites of Spring, the band was a legend of the underground. ‘Don’t Break Down’ was filmed in 2007, when all three original members met up to discuss their time together and listen back to their old music. It also features interviews with the band, as well as producer Steve Albini, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, Foo Fighters’ Chris Shifflet and more. The film will be premiering at the Alamo Drafthouse Theater in San Francisco, CA on August 11 with no word on if it will have a wider release. Jawbreaker are also officially reuniting for a one off show at this year’s Riot Fest in Chicago, the first time they will be performing on stage together in more than 21 years.

2.        ‘Sidemen: Long Road To Glory’: ‘Sidemen’ follows Pinetop Perkins, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and Hubert Sumlin, three bluesmen who have played with some of the greats in the genre, including Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, on their 2009 tour as The Perfect Age of Rock ‘n’ Roll Blues Band. The premise for writer and director Scott Rosenbaum was to capture these musicians “performing live versions of classic blues songs with the musicians they had so heavily influenced.” This film comes out on August 18, with its first screenings at the Landmark Sunshine Theater in New York.

3.        ‘May It Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers’: ‘May It Last’ chronicles the making of the Avett Brothers’ latest album, ‘True Sadness,’ released in 2016. It’s directed by Michael Bonfiglio and Judd Apatow, who is usually known for his work in comedy rather than documentary. The film is having a one-night-only screening on September 12 at theaters across the country.

4.       ‘Other Music: The Story Of An Iconic Independent Record Store’: Other Music was a record shop in the East Village of Manhattan specializing in indie rock and avant-garde releases. In June 2016, the shop closed after 21 years in business. The film, which was successfully funded through Kickstarter, features interviews with former employees and artists who played in-store there over the years, including Vampire Weekend, Interpol and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, as well as footage shot during the shop’s final month.

5.       Untitled Sublime Documentary: Last week, it was announced that a new documentary about California ska-punks Sublime is being produced. Spearheaded by the band, who is celebrating the 25^th anniversary of their debut album, ‘40oz to Freedom,’ this year, they have chosen Bill Guttentag to direct. The film is set to feature footage and rare, unreleased tracks from the band’s archives, and tell the story of the band, the loss of lead singer Bradley Nowell, and how they are moving forward. It is set to come out sometime in 2018.

6.        ‘The Quiet One’: ‘The Quiet One’ takes a look at the life and career of Bill Wyman, the original bassist for the Rolling Stones. The film will take advantage of Wyman’s extensive archive that includes hours of film footage, photographs and memorabilia, as well as a diary that he kept updated daily. Bill Wyman told Deadline (as quoted by Rolling Stone) about the film that “The time feels right to delve into the archive and tell my story before I croak.” The film is currently filming and will most likely be released in 2018.

7.       Untitled Tupac Documentary: Another Tupac documentary is being made this year, and this time it’s official. The project does not have a title yet, but is being produced by Amaru Entertainment and Tupac’s estate, and has tapped Steve McQueen to direct. Gloria Cox, Tupac’s aunt and sister to Tupac’s mother, told Rolling Stone about the film that “Our goal has always been to tell the true story, which has never been done before in such a complete way,” going on to say that “My sister always said to me, ‘We are not in the business of defending Tupac. Our job is to allow him to be seen in the most complete way, so his actions, his choices and his words will allow him to speak for himself.” There is no release date for the film as of yet.

Although the Velvet Underground documentary does not have a title or release date, there are still a lot of other exciting new music documentaries coming out in the next year. From ones being released in the next few weeks to those still in production, there is a lot to look forward to if you are a music fan.

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Find music from these documentary-worthy artists and more at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have 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 and memorabilia in store or online. With more titles being added to our selection every day, you never know what you will find when you drop by Vinyl Bay 777.

Week in Review: New Songs/Music Videos You Need to Check Out (July 30-August 5, 2017)

The weekend is finally here! With another long week officially over, it’s time to take a look back at some of the new songs and music videos that came out in the past seven days.

This week saw a lot of engaging new music videos. Ed Sheeran, Jay-Z and Lorde all released videos for songs off their recently released albums, as did Garbage, who released a video for their one-off single, “No Horses.” Old Dominion and Macklemore both released videos for songs off their upcoming releases. We also got a highly talked about new song and video from Jessie Ware. There were also some great new songs and videos from the likes of Enter Shikari, Glass Animals, Everything Everything, Kesha and PVRIS.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, has been keeping track of all the new songs and music videos coming out over the last week. Here are seven that we think you need to check out this weekend.

1.       Enter Shikari, “Live Outside”: The amount of gusto this song comes out of the gate with really draws the listener in while its electronic elements and driving guitar rhythm give it enough momentum to keep the listener interested. The video goes really well with the song as well, adding a layer of twisted creepiness with the amount of happiness the band and actors are forced to endure. (video)

2.       Old Dominion, “Be With Me”: The concept of the video for “Be With Me” is a noble one, showing that girls can be anything they want to be. The song mentions that in its lyrics too, but ultimately misses the point it was trying to make. “You could be anything, so why don’t you be with me” doesn’t seem that empowering. That being said, the song is still catchy and memorable. (video)

3.       Garbage, “No Horses”: Garbage released the one-off single “No Horses” last month and now have officially released a video for it. Just like the song, the video is politically charged, showing images of police and riots interspersed with horses running free and creepy footage of singer Shirley Manson freaking out and washing someone’s foot in blood. (video)  

4.       Macklemore feat. Lil Yachty, “Marmalade”: While I enjoyed “Marmalade” as a song, the video for it is much more engaging and adorable. It features child-version of Macklemore (the real rappers play their dads) stealing his dad’s car and getting into mischief with a child-version of Lil Yachty and a bunch of their friends. It’s very ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,’ as everything goes off without a hitch without any grown-ups trying to stop them. (video)

5.       Jessie Ware, “Midnight”: There has been a lot of hype behind the video for Jessie Ware’s latest single “Midnight” this week, and for good reason. Ware has a unique, bluesy voice that draws the listener in. Mixed with the catchiness of the song, “Midnight” could be her ticket to recognition. (video)

6.       Ed Sheeran, “Bibia Be Ye Ye”: “Bibia Be Ye Ye” is an example of melding two musical traditions the right way. Ed Sheeran’s voice pairs beautifully with island feel of the melody. Perhaps that’s because the song was written in Ghana with Ghanian musicians, so there is no cultural appropriation. The video was shot in Ghana as well and portrays the joyousness and pride of the people in the town it was shot in. (video)

7.       Lorde, “Perfect Places”: “Perfect Places” is the kind of song that you can hear being played on the radio. Combining the way Lorde draws out certain syllables when she sings with the subdued melody creates this slightly catchy tune that grows on you over the course of the song. (video)

These are some of our favorite songs and music videos that came out over the last week. Check these out and start your weekend right with great new music.

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Discover music new and old at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a wide variety of genres. Browse through our ever-growing selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia. Whether you’re looking to discover a new artist or rediscover the classics, we have you covered. Stop by our Plainview location or shop online from the comfort of your own home. With more titles being added all the time, you never know what you might discover at Vinyl Bay 777.

Live Shows in the New York/New Jersey Area This Weekend (August 4-6, 2017)

The New York/New Jersey music scene is always bustling. From the small clubs to the big venues, there is never a shortage of good music to take in. This weekend is no exception.

 Whether you’re in the mood for rock, funk, hip-hop, EDM, country or comedy, there are a lot of great shows coming through the area this weekend. Phish will be ending their 13-night run at Madison Square Garden while Dave Chappelle is just getting started with his 16-night run at Radio City Music Hall. Punk bands Rancid, Social Distortion and Good Charlotte are all in town this weekend. Webster Hall will be having its final club night this weekend.

With all the shows happening in the New York/New Jersey area this weekend, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, wants to help you make the decision of what to see just a little easier. Here are 11 shows that we think will be well worth checking out.

1.       Mew: Following a successful tour opener at Music Hall of Williamsburg last night, Danish rockers Mew are getting ready to do it all again tonight. The band released their latest album, ‘Visuals,’ in April, their first without founding member Bo Madsen. (Friday, Music Hall of Williamsburg)

2.       Earth, Wind & Fire / Chic feat. Nile Rodgers: Legendary funk bands Earth, Wind & Fire and Chic have teamed up for the 2054 tour, which hits New Jersey tonight. According to the Earth, Wind & Fire website, the show will have specialized seating that encourages dancing in the aisles, so this is bound to be one amazing show. (Friday, Prudential Center)

3.       Brad Paisley: Brad Paisley has been very busy since the release of his new album, ‘Love and War,’ released in April. The most recent news coming from his camp word of a new comedy special on Netflix titled ‘Comedy Rodeo’ starring the country singer that will be available to watch starting August 15. Watch Paisley bring his witty banter and country charm to New Jersey tonight when his Weekend Warrior World Tour makes a stop at PNC Bank Arts Center with newcomers Dustin Lynch, Chase Bryant and Lindsay Ell. (Friday, PNC Bank Arts Center)

4.       Rancid / Dropkick Murphys / Bouncing Souls: Rancid is currently touring behind their latest album, ‘Trouble Maker,’ released in June, and are taking along two more of the 1990s top punk bands, Dropkick Murphys and Bouncing Souls. Both bands have new albums of their own to promote: Dropkick Murphy’s ’11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory’ was released in January while Bouncing Souls’ ‘Simplicity’ was released in July 2016. (Friday, Stone Pony; Sunday, Coney Island Amphitheater )

5.       Dave Chappelle: Dave Chappelle is three days into his record 16-date run at Radio City Music Hall and things are already heating up. His guests tonight are The Roots, while Saturday and Sunday will feature Chris Rock, Jeff Ross (Saturday) and Arsenio Hall (Sunday). Chappelle recently made a comeback after taking a few years away from the spotlight. (Friday, Saturday & Sunday, Radio City Music Hall)

6.       Phish: While Chappelle is just starting his residency, Phish is finishing up theirs. The final three shows of the Baker’s Dozen run at Madison Square Garden are this weekend. Phish has yet to play the same songs at any of these shows, so there’s a good chance that you will be getting a one-of-a-kind show and even hear some very deep cuts. (Friday, Saturday & Sunday, Madison Square Garden)

7.       Social Distortion: If Rancid being in town this weekend weren’t enough punk for you, Social Distortion is here too! The band is currently working on their first new album in nearly six years, which is slated for release next year. Support for the tour comes from Jade Jackson. (Saturday, The Paramount Huntington)

8.       Nashville In Concert: Fans of the show ‘Nashville’ will be in for a treat this weekend when its stars make their way to Coney Island on Saturday. Be prepared to hear hits from the show, as well as originals (particularly from Charles Esten, who has been putting out a song a week for the last year). You’ll probably even get to see all the cast members singing duets and full group jams. This show will definitely be a lot of fun. (Saturday, Coney Island Amphitheater)

9.       J. Cole: Since its released this past December, J. Cole’s latest album, ‘4 Your Eyez Only,’ has been one of the top-selling albums of the year. The album hit platinum status in April, a feat for an album nowadays. The rapper is currently on a world tour promoting the album, hitting Long Island this Saturday with Anderson .Paak, Bas, J.I.D. and Ari Lennox. (Saturday, Nassau Coliseum)

10.   Skrillex: Webster Hall only has one more week before it closes down for renovations, with this Saturday’s show being the venue’s last club night. Dubbed ‘The End Of An Era,’ the club has booked none other than Skrillex to drop the bass there one last time. Skrillex has played the venue numerous times, both as a solo act and with his band From First to Last. This show is sold out, but if you were able to get your hands on tickets in the two days they were available, this will be an epic night of music. (Saturday, Webster Hall)

11.   Good Charlotte / 3Oh!3: Speaking of final shows at Webster Hall, the venue will be having amazing line-ups all week. Sunday’s will feature Good Charlotte, who released their first album in 6 years, ‘Youth Authority,’ last July, and 3Oh!3, who released their latest album, ‘Night Sports,’ last May. The show is sold out, but if you do have tickets, you won’t want to miss it. (Sunday, Webster Hall)

These are just some of the amazing shows coming through the New York/New Jersey area this weekend. Check these out or any of the other hundreds of shows happening throughout the area and fill your weekend with the sweet sounds of live music.

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Before you head out to the venue this weekend, stop by Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com to pick up music from many of these artists and more. 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 all the time, there is always something new to find at Vinyl Bay 777.

New Albums to Watch For in August 2017

The summer music release season continues to roll on as August gets under way. With all the new albums coming out, it’s time to take a look at what albums will be coming out this month.

August will see new releases from some top music talents, as well as some up-and-coming players in the game. Kesha will be making her return this month when she puts out her first album in five years. Quiet Riot will be debuting their new lead singer with their upcoming album. Queens of the Stone Age and Gogol Bordello will also be putting out new music. PVRIS is poised to make their big break with their upcoming sophomore album.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, has been browsing the internet for the latest news on new albums. Here are seven coming out this month that we think will be worth checking out.

1.       Dan Wilson, ‘Recovered’: Best known as the lead singer of 1990s one-hit-wonders Semisonic, you may not know that Dan Wilson also writes music for some of today’s hottest artist. ‘Recovered’ finds Wilson taking on some of these songs for himself. The track list includes such hits as Adele’s “Someone Like You,” John Legend’s “You and I” and Dixie Chicks’ “Not Ready To Make Nice,” among others. There is even a rerecording of his own hit, “Closing Time.” (8/4)

2.       Quiet Riot, ‘Road Rage’: ‘Road Rage’ is veteran metal band Quiet Riot’s first album with new lead singer James Durban, best known for his stint on ‘American Idol.’ The entire album was rerecorded to accommodate the new singer after the departure of Seann Nichols. (8/4)

3.       Kesha, ‘Rainbow’: Due to legal issues, Kesha has not been able to release new music in more than five years. The fact that ‘Rainbow’ is even being released and how quickly it was put together and ready to go is a miracle in itself. Listening to the singes, Kesha has a lot to say and is really branching out from the boozy pop she’s known for. This could possibly be one of the hottest albums of the year. (8/11)

4.       Gogol Bordello, ‘Seekers and Finders’: It’s been four years since Gogol Bordello has released a new album. With ‘Seekers and Finders,’ the gypsy punk band make their return, describing the album to Consequence of Sound as a “very magical and playful record” that “echoes the band’s persona.” (8/25)

5.       PVRIS, ‘All We Know of Heaven, All We Need of Hell’: It was only a couple of years ago that PVRIS were playing the small, unknown stages of Warped Tour. Now the band is poised for their big break with their upcoming sophomore album, ‘All We Know of Heaven, All We Need of Hell.’ Single “What’s Wrong,” is a fantastic, powerful track that really shows what the band can do, so I have a lot of faith that this is going to be a great album. (8/25)

6.       Queens of the Stone Age, ‘Villains’: Queens of the Stone Age will be mixing up their sound a bit when they release their seventh studio album, ‘Villains,’ later this month. Produced by Mark Ronson, frontman Josh Homme decided to go a bit more upbeat with the new album, telling Rolling Stone that he wanted the kind of “tight, vacuous dry sound” of previous Ronson hit “Uptown Funk.” It will be interesting to hear how he integrates that into the band’s hard rock sound. (8/25)

7.       Filthy Friends, ‘Invitation’: Started as a David Bowie cover band, supergroup Filthy Friends will be releasing an album of originals this month. The band features Slater-Kinney’s Corin Tucker, R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, The Minus 5’s Kurt Bloch and Scott McCaughey and King Crimson’s Bill Rieflin, and has already released the album’s first two singles, “Any King of Crowd” and “The Arrival.” (8/25)

August is gearing up to be a great month for new music with a lot of highly anticipated albums being released. These are just some of the albums that we think will be worth looking out for this month. Keep these in mind and let us know what albums you’re excited to hear this month!

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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 an array of genres. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store and online. Whether you’re looking to discover something new or rediscover the classics, we have you covered. And with new titles being added all the time, you never know what you’ll find at Vinyl Bay 777.

MTV at 36: How “Music Television” Shaped Popular Music

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, looks back at MTV’s legacy and if it will ever reclaim its glory days

MTV Logo. Found on Wikimedia Commons.

Thirty-six years ago today, MTV made its debut, filling a niche in the television schedule that no one ever knew was necessary: a 24-hour music channel. Through the airing of music videos and other music-related programming, the channel has become a juggernaut, launching the careers of countless new artists and giving rise to the term “Video Jockey.” And while the channel may have lost its musical direction nearly a decade ago, the channel’s legacy of cutting edge cultural programming remains.

MTV wasn’t always as popular as it is today. In fact, when the channel first launched in 1981, cable carriers were weary of picking it up. There were very few instances of channels completely devoted to music before and providers weren’t sold on whether people would actually watch something like that. Even carriers in the channel’s home market of New York didn’t start carrying it until two years later, after proving that it was going somewhere.

With that being said, when MTV took off, it took off. The channel’s Top 40 format proved to be a success amongst teens and young adults. It gave new life to the music video, which, while existing prior to the 1980s, was not an overly popular means of promoting an artist in the United States at the time. With the popularity of the music video, MTV was able to launch the careers of artists that were not getting the kind of radio airplay other popular artists had been. Michael Jackson, Guns N’ Roses, Madonna, Prince and more all saw spikes in popularity from having their music in MTV’s rotation.

Particularly in the last decade, MTV has drifted away from music programming in favor of reality-based and scripted shows. The shift prompted the channel to drop the words “Music Television” from its name in 2009, officially ending the channel’s hold on the music industry. Though you will still hear new music on the channel, it’s usually embedded in television shows with just a short prompt in the lower eighth of the screen telling you to visit the MTV website. The only music-influenced programming currently airing new episodes is Nick Cannon’s ‘Wild ‘N’ Out,’ which gives rappers and comedians a chanced to roast each other through rap battles.

MTV has tried to bring back some of their past music programming in some form or another over the last few years. ‘Unplugged’ and ‘120 Minutes’ were both revived in the early 2010s, but ended up either being relegated to specials on the MTV website. Attempts at bringing back music videos in the early hours of the morning failed. This week, it was announced that ‘Total Request Live,’ the music video countdown show that premiered in 1998 and gave rise to boy bands like The Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC and 98 Degrees, and bubblegum pop princesses like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, would be making a return in October.

The one thing that MTV never lost throughout its entire run is its ability to push the envelope with its programming. They put black artists into their rotation when it didn’t seem popular to do so. They gave comedians a shot at getting their material out there, no matter how racy. Their news and documentary broadcasts were cutting edge and showed real life problems that people in the channel’s demographic were dealing with. Even now, MTV’s unscripted programming is some of the most inclusive in terms of portraying people of all races, religions and sexual orientations.

MTV has been a pioneer in music television and cultural programming. Early on, the channel was a force in the music industry, popularizing the music video and launching the careers of many artists along the way. Though it has gotten away from the music programming it was once known for, its ability to break boundaries has continued to guide the channel’s current programming. MTV might not be the musical influencer that it once was and probably never will be again, but it will always be remembered for what it has done, no matter what comes next.

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Find music from MTV’s hottest artists 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 ranging from pop, rock and R&B to hip-hop, dance, classical and more. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more. Stop by our Plainview, NY location or shop online from the comfort of your own home. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, there is always something new to find at Vinyl Bay 777.

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.