According to a clip from a recently shared interview, former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar tells the interviewer that a drive on I-87 North was the inspiration behind “I Can’t Drive 55.” What many New Yorkers know as ‘The Northway,‘ Hagar was inspired to write the song after he was pulled over for speeding on a drive from Albany to Lake Placid.
In the clip above, Hagar said he had returned from a family safari vacation and was headed north when a cop pulled him over. Hagar thought he was driving under the speed limit.
“You get tickets for 62 around here. I’m like wait a minute, the speed limit is 65 and he’s like, ‘No, it’s 55.’ I didn’t know they changed it and I wrote the story right on the spot. This guy’s writing the ticket and I’m writing the lyrics.”
Hagar, Pulled Over on I-87 N
Even though Hagar does not mention the Northway or Interstate 87 by name, the only road you could go 55mph, let alone 65mph in the area would be The Northway.
So, if you’re ever had to drive north between 4 and 6pm during the week, you know what it’s like to not be able to drive 55. Plus, you and Sammy Hagar now have something in common.
Phish will perform an exclusive concert for listeners of their SiriusXM channel, Phish Radio, on Tuesday, December 3 at The Met in Philadelphia, PA.
SiriusXM subscribers will have a number of opportunities to win a pair of tickets to this show, including on-air on Phish Radio, online at SiriusXM.com/Phish (see official rules for complete details), via e-mail invitation sent to qualified subscribers who have opted in to receiving email from SiriusXM and who have registered their music interests at SiriusXM.com/perks.
The Met show marks the smallest venue Phish has played in nearly 20 years and will be broadcast live on Phish Radio.
Buffalo-based band Aqueous makes the first stop on their extensive fall tour tonight in Syracuse at the Westcott Theater. Comprised of Mike Gantzer (guitar/vocals), Dave Loss (guitar/keys/vocals), Evan McPhaden (bass) and Rob Houk (drums), Aqueous is known for their heavy improvisation and their “near psychic” level of on-stage chemistry. As a band, they are always exploring musically, and there is bound to be some exciting surprises for fans throughout the course of the tour. The band is eager to get back on the road and reconnect with fans after an extremely successful festival season this summer, which included appearances at Peach Music Festival, Summer Camp Music Festival and Cobblestone Live.
“You can’t beat the intimacy and connection with the crowd during headlining AQ shows at clubs, and we’ve got some big plans for this tour.”
Mike Gantzer
Highlights for the upcoming tour include a special “Hero’s Halloween” themed night in Pittsburgh which will also feature a collaboration with Pittsburgh’s own pop/funk horn section, Steeltown Horns. There will be VIP “King For A Day” packages for dates in Chicago and Denver. VIP Packages include early entry to the venue, photo opportunity with the band, a download of the show’s soundboard and limited edition VIP merchandise. Additionally, Aqueous will be making their debut at the famed Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY with their Vermont-based frends Twiddle. The tour will close out with a hometown two-night run at the Town Ballroom for New Year’s Eve with Buffalo based band Witty Tarbox.
New York and Connecticut-based trio lespecial will be joining Aqueous for a few dates on the tour. Lespecial seamlessly fuses a myriad of genres, veering from hip-hop to metal, prog to house, pensive indie-rock to apocalyptic dub.
See the full list of tour dates below, and visit the band’s website for ticket information.
10/24 – Syracuse, NY – Westcott Theater *
10/26 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Putnam Place *
10/30 – Harrisburg, PA – XL Live *
10/31 – Pittsburgh, PA – Rex Theater *
11/1 – Baltimore, MD – The 8×10 *
11/2 – Richmond, VA – Richmond Music Hall *
11/3 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Bunker *
11/6 – Raleigh, NC – Pour House *
11/7 – Atlanta, GA – Aisle 5 *
11/8 – Asheville, NC – Asheville Music Hall *
11/9 – Nashville, TN – Exit / In *
11/10 – Louisville, KY – Gravely Brewing Co. *
11/13 – Ann Arbor, MI – Blind Pig *
11/14 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi
11/15 – Grand Rapids, MI – Stache @ Intersection
11/16 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall $
11/17 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
11/19 – Saint Paul, MN – Turf Club
11/20 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown
11/22 – Denver, CO – Gothic Theatre $
11/23 – Steamboat Springs, CO – Old Town Pub
12/6 – Covington, KY – Madison Live
12/7 – Columbus, OH – Woodlands
12/30 & 12/31 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom
* w/ Lespecial
$ notes dates w/ “King For A Day” VIP Experience Option
While in the midst of a change of leadership, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has nominated 20 new possible inductees for 2020. These latest nominees—which include posthumous nominations for legendary rapper, The Notorious B.I.G, as well as R&B and soul songstress Whitney Houston—are bridging a gap between genres, genders and race. Something departing Rock Hall chairman Jann Wenner has been criticized for in the past. A claim which he has refuted. “Musical achievements have got to be race-neutral and gender-neutral,” said Wenner, according to the New York Times.
Nonetheless, incoming chairman John Sykes—the president of Entertainment Enterprises for the radio conglomerate iHeartMedia—has made it a point to embrace the new direction that music is heading into. “The important goal is to diversify the New York foundation board, with more women, more people of color and [become] a board that reflects the artists that are now being inducted,” said Sykes, according to The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
While new agendas are being set forward, traditional rock bands are still a mainstay of the Rock Hall of Fame. This year’s nominations include rock acts Motörhead, Judas Priest, Dave Matthews Band, Nine Inch Nails, the MC5, Thin Lizzy and T Rex, among others.
After nominations, the committee in charge of electing inductees—made up of more than 1,000 historians, members of the music history and every living Rock Hall inductee—fill out ballots with the five highest vote getters making up that year’s class. Beginning in 2012, fans have been allowed to vote who they think belongs in the Rock Hall, with the top five fan vote-getters making up one ballot. Artists become eligible to be nominated 25 years after the release of their first commercial recording, according to the Rock Hall’s official website.
The official inductees will be announced in January, with the ceremony to take place in May. The show will air at a later date on HBO.
Morrison Hotel Gallery in Manhattan will pay homage to the world’s greatest jambands and the many talented photographers who have worked with these legendary performers with a new exhibition opeing on Thursday, October 17 at 7PM. From the Grateful Dead to Widespread Panic: Morrison Hotel Gallery Celebrates the Long, Strange Trip of Rock’s Legendary Jambands will take music lovers from Jerry Garcia and the gang backstage at the Fillmore East to Greg Allman posing next to a portrait of his brother as well as rehearsing with the band. The exhibit examines the forefathers of the jamband movement and takes visitors on an exploration of many of the like-minded bands that have followed, including The Band, Dave Matthews Band, Gov’t Mule, Grace Potter, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Tedeschi Trucks, and more.
The Jambands exhibition will feature images by photographer Jay Blakesberg, known for his iconic shots of the Grateful Dead captured over 41 years of working closely with the band. Blakesberg will also be the featured artist for Morrison Hotel Gallery’s November 3rd Close Up Artist Talk, co-hosted by the ACE Hotel New York. The Artist Talk will be in celebration of the release of Blakesberg’s new book, Jerry Garcia: Secret Space of Dreams, which was released on October 11.
In addition to Blakesberg, the Jambands exhibition will also feature extraordinary images by photographers Danny Clinch, C. Taylor Crothers, Sam Erickson, Herb Greene, Brantley Gutierrez, Lynn Goldsmith, Patrick Harbron, Rene Huemer, Elliot Landy, Gilbert Lee, Catherine McGann, Patricia O’Driscoll, Ken Regan, Amalie R. Rothschild, Norman Seeff, Allan Tannenbaum, Peter Tarnoff, Dave Vann, and Baron Wolman. This exhibition will show many of the musicians in this vibrant scene both on and off stage, over the course of the last 50 years.
The October 17 event is open to the public but an RSVP is required to attend. Email RSVPNYC@thepresshouse.com if interested. Morrison Hotel Gallery is located in Soho at 116 Prince Street.
Relix Editor-in-Chief Dean Budnick writes and hosts a new podcast, ‘Long May They Run’ from producer/director C13 Originals chronicling the impact of iconic touring bands on music culture, the industry, fans and more.
The first season covers the career of Phish, its fans and the impact the band has had on music and arts over the past 30 years. The show is currently in its first season and is available on all podcasting platforms.
Episodes are released each Wednesday. The first two installments take a look at the many Phish festivals and their impact on other festivals. Trey Anastasio and Page McConnell are interviewed, along with first Phish manager John Paluska and “first fan” Amy Skelton. Future episodes feature a discussion of the taping scene surrounding the band and an interview with NYS Music Editor-in-Chief and PhanArt owner Pete Mason, who discusses the community and the art scene that has developed around the band.
Phans can tune in to “Long May They Run” on Apple Podcasts other podcasting platforms.
It’s the end of an era as Jann Wenner, co-founder of Rolling Stone magazine, will be stepping down from his role as chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The change will take effect on January 1, 2020, where he will be replaced by John Sykes, the current president of Entertainment Enterprises for radio giant, iHeartMedia.
As Chairman, Wenner carried the responsibility of not only being the face of the Rock Hall, but the person who was blamed for perceived shortcomings, such as the lack of colored and women inductees. That burden will now fall upon Sykes, whom Jann Wenner himself nominated. “I just felt I had done what I set out to do… That it had been built, stabilized and become well financed and managed — and, after 30-plus years of running it, time for new energy, new ideas, a new generation,” Wenner said, according to the New York Times.
In 1983, Wenner aided in the founding of the Rock Hall, along with Ahmet Ertegun, Bruce Springsteen manager Jon Landau, attorney Suzan Evans, and record executives Seymour Stein and Bob Krasnow, and has served as its chairman since 2006 following Ertegun’s passing.
The institution began inducting honorees in 1986 and a few months later, Cleveland was selected as the permanent home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Throughout its history, there have been 330 inductees, comprised of esteemed artists, producers, and music executives.
Wenner is leaving behind a strong legacy, according to the Rock Hall’s website: “the Rock Hall had a total impact of $199 million in business sales in Cuyahoga County. Visitors to the Rock Hall spent an estimated $127.4 million in 2017, averaging a daily spend of $349,000, both on-site and at other businesses in the County.”
Gordon Lightfoot has postponed the October and November dates of his “80 Years Strong” due to a leg injury the Canadian balladeer sustained while working out earlier this year.
The 80 year-old Lightfoot was scheduled to perform dates at Binghamton’s Broome County Forum on Oct. 25, Buffalo’s Kleinhans Music Hall on Oct. 28, Rochester’s Kodak Center on Oct. 29 and Utica’s Stanley Theater on Nov. 3.
A statement from Lightfoot’s representatives stated, “Doctors orders have mandated that Gordon will not be sufficiently recovered, due to complications from an injury sustained while working out at his gym, and will be unable to travel in time for his upcoming tour.”
Tickets already purchased may be refunded at the point of sale and all tickets will be honored at the rescheduled dates, which are expected to be some time in June.
In the wake of several tragic losses, more than fifty music industry professionals have banded together to create an industry-wide mental health support initiative, Backline.
A hub for artists, industry professionals and their families to quickly and easily access mental health and wellness resources, Backline has partnered with leading support organizations and care providers to streamline access to services specifically geared towards the music industry including Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, Anders Osborne’s Send Me a Friend, VA Way, and more.
Backline’s creation was supported by industry professionals including Ben Baruch (11E1even Group), Nadia Prescher (Madison House), Joshua Knight (Paradigm Agency), Jay Sweet (Newport Folk Festival) & Peter Shapiro (Brooklyn Bowl).
The Backline website will start as a referral-based system, where professionals will assess visitors’ needs and lead them to appropriate resources. Backline’s goal is to provide a network of on-demand mental health services available at no (or low) cost for industry professionals, with a focus on addressing the unique challenges and stresses of our space.
“There are wonderful organizations who have been doing great work to support the health and wellness of the music industry. What we saw was a gap in making these resources easily accessible. Mental health treatment is not one-size-fits-all, so it is our hope that by bringing these organizations together in one place, and providing case managers to guide visitors through the resources, we can make it simple to get the help you need,” says Hilary Gleason, CEO of Level, Backline’s convening body.
Level pairs businesses and bands with non-profit organizations while identifying what resources each has to bring to the table to build innovative campaigns and events that align with each party.
In the coming weeks, Backline’s educational materials and trained professionals will make their way onto tour buses, green rooms, backstage areas, and beyond. “The Relix Roadie Lounge is honored to be working with Backline to show musicians, techs, crew, production staff, and all the hard working people behind the scenes, that there is always help. The road can be a lonely place. Together, we hope to give support and a home away from home with Backline,” adds Josh Rowe, VP of Partnerships & Events at Relix Media Group.
A slice of Nashville can be found in the Big Apple this fall with a pop-up vinyl store, Spin On: Nashville’s Vinyl Collection, having opened on October 1 at SHOWFIELDS in NoHo. Curated by Nashville’s world-renowned record store, Grimey’s, in celebration of its 20-year anniversary, Spin On will offer a curated selection of vinyl records by artists who live in Nashville or albums that were recorded in Nashville.
“The Music City brand is at the heart of Nashville’s tourism success and the city’s overall success,” says Butch Spyridon, President and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “We think this is a creative way to showcase and reinforce the strength and diversity of the music that’s created, written and recorded in Nashville.”
Grimey’s is Nashville’s independent record store since 1999, specializing in new and preowned vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs, books, magazines, turntables, and other tangible artifacts. The Nashville trademark regularly hosts live performances, record release parties, book signings and interviews.
SHOWFIELDS’ flagship store premiered in December 2018 at 11 Bond Street in New York and has since grown into a revolving array of art, food, drink and community programming bridging art and retail in the heart of NOHO.
Spin On will be open October 1-January 15 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday and noon to 8 p.m. on Monday.
In addition to the incredible selection of vinyl, the unique pop-up at SHOWFIELDS will host intimate performances, signings and more.
