NYS Music 202​0

Author: Rhiannon Browning

  • U.S. Homeland Security Increases Foreign Artist Touring Visa Fees by 50%

    This past week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced a considerable fee increase to the touring visa for artists by the end of 2020.

    touring visa

    DHS proposed the fee increase last November and it takes effect in October. There are two types of visas involved in this increase. According to NME, O visas are for “individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement,” while P visas can be used by family of those individuals.

    The O visa rate will increase by 53%, going from $460 to $705. On the other hand, the P visa will decrease by 51%, making it $695.

    To Matthew Covey, an immigration attorney for the nonprofit Tamizat, this fee increase is extremely damaging for most arts institutions.

    “The bigger problem is that [Immigration and Naturalization] and later USCIS adjudication of the O and P regulations has become so arbitrary and onerous, that most arts institutions have been forced to hire attorneys to manage the process for them. As such, presenting performing artists in the U.S. now comes with massive legal costs which are — in our opinion — a catastrophic financial impediment to cultural exchange.”

    Matthew Covey to NPR

    The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration service said that “the current fees do not recover the full cost of providing adjudication and naturalization services.”

    Because of all regulations on a foreign artist touring visa, many music groups have been deported or denied. This, in turn, can be very problematic for future groups abroad that hope to tour the U.S.

  • On this day in 1980, Elton John rocked Central Park dressed as Donald Duck

    On Sept. 13, 1980, Elton John performed for around 400,000 people in Central Park. The sun was out, people were gathered (less than six feet apart), and Sir Elton was wearing a Donald Duck suit.

    Elton John Donald Duck
    Sir Elton John performing, “Your Song” while wearing his legendary duck suit.

    It might seem surreal, now, to imagine 400,000 people in the same place, at the same time, dancing and enjoying themselves. With Nigel Olsen on drums and Dee Murray on bass, the original Elton John Band created a legendary experience.

    The concert was part of Elton John’s 1980 World Tour, supporting his latest album 21 at 33. He played top hits “Bennie and the Jets,” “Your Song,” and of course, “Tiny Dancer,” and added some new ones in there too, like “Little Jeannie” and “Sartorial Eloquence.”

    Imagine all the people. Elton John paid tribute to his long time friend John Lennon by performing a cover of Lennon’s classic tune, “Imagine.” A few months later Lennon would be murdered by Mark David Chapman. Sir Elton said this made it too painful to perform the song ever again.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy2VmfgEaag

    Elton John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, started playing piano at a very young age, so it comes to no one’s surprise that he has plenty of awards under his belt. With two Academy Awards and four Grammys, John has and always had quite the reputation as being a musical genius. The latest tribute to the icon is the acclaimed film “Rocketman,” starring Taylor Edgerton as Elton John throughout his career; the movie would also land Elton John and writing partner Bernie Taupin an Oscar for Best Original Song with “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again.”

    Seeing Elton John, Donald Duck suit and all, singing “Your Song,” will never be forgotten as part of one of the most legendary concert experiences in Central Park of all time.

  • Blue Oyster Cult Release Videos ahead of first Album in over two decades, ‘The Symbol Remains’

    Do you need more cowbell? Blue Oyster Cult thinks you do because they’re released music videos for “Box in My Head,” “That Was Me” and most recently, “Tainted Blood” off the Long Island classic rock group’s first album in over two decades, The Symbol Remains.

    The early days of the Blue Oyster Cult.

    “That Was Me” is one of the many singles being featured on their upcoming album, The Symbol Remains. Their new album comes out Oct. 9 and embodies the well-known saying, “Good things come to those who wait.”

    Music video for new song, That Was Me.

    Blue Oyster Cult started producing the album in 2019 and thinks it represents the where the band is ‘here and now.’ The album is a mix of music they worked on years prior and brand new tracks.

    “With the song demos emerging for this record, we realized there was as much if not more variety in style and content on this record as any in our history. We embraced this and the thing tying all the disparate elements together is the band’s sound and performance,” said Eric Bloom, vocals/guitarist.

    Blue Oyster Cult formed in Long Island, NY at Stony Brook University in the late 1960’s. There, Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser and his friends created sounds of psychedelia and acid rock. Through a jam session, rock critic Sandy Pearlman overheard the band and decided they were worth it.

    Over the years, they created a melody of rock tunes that would captivate the world. One of their most famous, “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper,” reached 12 on the Billboard charts and became a rock classic.

    Roeser talked about the band’s goals in creating this new album saying, “The goal was for the new music to stand up to the quality and vitality of our legacy recordings, and I believe we have successfully done that. Other than that, the sound of our voices and style of our writing and playing can’t help but sound familiar to fans of our work.”

    BOC has recently released the video for “Box in My Head,” the second single off The Symbol Remains, due out on October 9. For more information visit Blue Oyster Cult’s website.

    The most recent premiered video for the single “Tainted Blood” was written by Eric Bloom and Richie Castellano, featuring lead vocals by guitarist Richie Castellano. The Symbol Remains will be released on Friday, October 9.

  • New Jersey Governor Signs Executive Order to Reopen Music Venues

    New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced on Monday, August 31 that indoor performance venues would be allowed to reopen, with reduced capacity, starting Sept. 4.

    new jersey
    New Jersey Performing Arts Center pre-COVID.

    Included in the executive order are music venues, performance centers and movie theaters.

    Murphy’s rules are simple: continue to follow CDC recommended guidelines, and along with the recommendations, a capacity limit is in place at 25% or 150 people.

    Although for many artists this is good news, travel restrictions and capacity limits are still a concern as far as profiting off of the shows go.

    Around 40 clubs and venues in New Jersey are members of the National Independent Venues Association, which made headlines last month when they started the #SaveOurStages Act. They continue to petition for nationwide financial aid to struggling music venues.

    According to nj.com, some industry workers believe there will be a huge turn out with large-scale events, while others don’t think the country is even close to going back to any normalcy.

  • Indie Groove Band Goose Announce Two Social Distancing Shows at South Farms

    Groovy, Connecticut based jam-band, Goose, is excited to announce two socially distant concerts at South Farms in Morris, CT on Sept 16 and 17.

    Goose South Farms
    Cover art poster for Goose concerts at South Farms.

    Unlike many shows being held during the pandemic, these shows will not be drive-in, rather have designated grids for the audience.

    The group started their winter of 2020 tour at Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan and then at the Williamsburg Hall of Fame, selling out both shows. They, unfortunately, could not play their spring concerts due to COVID.

    Goose hails from Norwalk, CT. In the band is, Rick Mitarotonda (vocals, guitar), Peter Anspach (vocals, keyboards/guitar), Trevor Bass (bass), and Ben Atkind (drums). Their eclectic tunes come from growing up together and sharing their love of music and story telling.

    Tickets are on presale now. General tickets go up Sept. 4 at 10 a.m.

  • Marco Benevento Announces Socially Distanced Concert at MASS MoCa

    Marco Benevento, known for being a experimental rock musician, is set to take the stage September 12 for a social distancing concert at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCa).

    American pianist, song-writer, multi-instrumentalist, record producer Marco Benevento.

    Benevento has been a well known pianist in the New York experimental jazz scene since 1999. His career lead him to collaborate with other musicians such as, Matt Chamberlain and John McEntire. He was nominated for the Jazz Album of the Year at the Independent Music Awards in 2008. His most recent en devour was creating his own record label called, “The Royal Potato Family,” along with manager Kevin Calabro. His latest studio album was created using his label, Let it Slide.

    MASS MoCa is museum & performing arts center that highlights the work of contemporary artists in particular and has been open since 1999. It resides in an old factory in North Adams, MA and is considered one of the leading contemporary art museums. They host visual arts, performances, and educational programs year round.

    Although he normally plays with band mates, Karina Rykman and Dave Butler, this performance is a solo act. The show goes on at 7:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now.

    For more information on Marco Benevento and his upcoming performance at MASS MoCa visit their website.

  • The Upstart Crows Release Catchy Single “Stuck”

    Brooklyn based alt rock band, The Upstart Crows, today debut their catchy single and accompanying music video for “Stuck.”

    Image may contain: 1 person, sitting and indoor
    Lead Vocalist/guitarist Jon Adams.

    Lead Vocalist/guitarist, Jon Adams, says the new single displays the “frustrations with feeling stuck in life.”

    “Stuck is a catchy ballad reflecting on the frustrations of feeling stuck in life, waiting for change to come, and not being sure if it will ever come.”

    Jon Adams

    Some major influences for writing the tune were Shakey Graves, Shovels & Rope, and Caroline Rose’s first album, America Religious.

    Adams formed the band along with band mate and drummer, Forest DeCoste, in the basements on Keene, NH. The two made their way to Brooklyn where they went on to release their first self-titled album. The two recently parted ways, although both are on good terms. Adams says that he was in the process of looking for new band mates when the global pandemic happened, so in the meantime, he’s playing solo.

    “Recently Forest decided he wasn’t interested in playing in the band anymore so he quit the band. We are still on very good terms, and we even still play DND every week. I was in the process of finding new band mates and moving the project in a new direction but Covid put the kibosh on that for now. So currently it is just me.”

    Jon Adams

    In regards to live shows and concerts starting back up, Adams says that we still have a long way to go, but he’s hopeful for the future.

    “It looks like live music, for now, is live streams. But I bet we will figure out a creative solution to have live music again. I hear some people are doing shows at drive-in movie theaters now. “

    Jon Adams

    Be sure to check out The Upstart Crows past sounds and tune in to watch and listen to Stuck.

    Music video for “Stuck”

  • SLA faces lawsuit by NYC Venues and Bars Over New Guidelines

    Angered that the State Liquor Authority (SLA) created new guidelines last week in regards to live music and ticketed events, establishments have teamed up to file a lawsuit.

    SLA lawsuit

    According to the SLA’s website, venues and bars cannot hold ticketed events, karaoke and other live entertainments. They claim that an establishment is allowed to have “incidental live music,” but it cannot be ticketed or advertised.

    “Only incidental music is permissible at this time. This means that advertised and/or ticketed shows are not permissible. Music should be incidental to the dining experience and not the draw itself. All other forms of live entertainment, such as exotic dancing, comedy shows, karaoke etc., are not permissible currently regardless of phase.”

    via SLA website

    To many establishments, they feel these new guidelines will affect business drastically. According to the lawsuit, these rules restrict “free speech.”

    “Despite the fact that coronavirus is not transmitted via sound waves, the SLA just decimated already struggling businesses. This rule prohibits lawfully operating establishments from advertising the entertainment that is lawfully available: to wit, a ban on advertising of music at food service establishments. This constitutes a content-based restriction on free speech,” the lawsuit states.

    The lawsuit was filed with the support of the New York Independent Venue Association. Forming this past summer, NIVA has been on the forefront of the #SaveOurStages movement. Their mission was and still is to get financial support from Congress to the industry. They represent over 100 independent music venues including The Tralf, Littlefield, Birdland Jazz Club in Manhattan and Buffalo Iron Works in western New York.

    The new guidelines appeared not too long after multiple raves throughout NYC got busted for illegally selling liquor and disobeying the social distancing rule.

    Bill Crowly, a spokesperson for SLA told Gothamist that large gatherings such as these can be very dangerous.

    “These high-risk gatherings would create exactly the situation we are trying to avoid, where people congregate, mingle, and create congestion at points of ingress and egress,” Crowly said.

    On the side of the restaurant/bar industry, a manager, Kim, at Littlefield said that its been a hard time reopening and that costumers have to respect that.

    “Nightlife is so vital here—I don’t know why else people would move to New York, and I feel like it’s going to die. We’re holding out as long as we can with whatever aid we can get. But this is going to change the whole landscape of nightlife in New York,” said Kim.

  • Rave Organizers Continue Defending their Illegal Events

    Over the past month, illegal raves have continued to spark anger throughout Brooklyn as rave organizers claim they’re not doing anything wrong.

    Rave Organizers
    The event on Aug. 15 lead to testers and tracers being dispatched.

    According to Gothamist, Brooklyn had a reported 200 positive cases from the last two weeks. In response, test and trace teams were dispatched to the Sunset Park area.

    Regardless of the positive cases, rave organizers continued to hold two parties in the same area on Aug. 8. Being illegal, the Sheriff’s Office broke the two raves up the early morning after.

    One rave took place on 47th street in a warehouse with 200 people. There was alcohol, even though the event didn’t have a liquor license. Police arrested and charged multiple people.

    In a statement made to reporters the following Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said no one should be putting others’ lives at risk.

    “I want to be abundantly clear: you cannot organize a large gathering that’s going to put people’s lives in danger or you will suffer the consequences,” said de Blasio.

    The other rave happened only a few blocks away and also had alcohol without a liquor license. Police busted the event shortly after the 47th Street rave at 2 a.m.

    According to sources, the events had different organizers, but they coordinated the timing together.

    Nocturnal Radio Live hosted the 47th Street rave, but it wasn’t their first. On July 4, multiple raves throughout the city popped up, including one thrown by them.

    Although the events were highly illegal, the group had no problem promoting them on their social media pages.

    Rave Organizers
    Nocturnal Radio Live posted this on their Instagram page, but took it down along with their whole page.

    From a Chainsmokers concert in July to a secret rave under Kosciuszco Bridge a few weeks ago, rave organizers don’t seem to want to back down from hosting these events.

    Ulitsky and Simms, the head of Nocturnal Radio, said they provided “unity.”

    “Everything we’ve done and plan to do in the future is out of unity, not about separation and depression,” said Simms.

    Ulitsky added, “As far as people attending, we’re getting a lot of positive feedback. As long as that’s happening, we don’t feel like we’re doing anything wrong.”

  • U.S. Senators Introduce ENCORES Act for Struggling Music Venues

    Two U.S. senators introduced a new bill, the ENCORES Act, that will provide economic support to struggling live music venues and their workers.

    ENCORES Act
    SaveOurStages hopes to get economic relief for struggling music venues.

    Senators Tom Carper and John Tester created the Entertainments New Credit Opportunity for relief & Economic Sustainability (ENCORES) Act.

    The bill gives a new tax credit to venues with less than 500 employees. The initiative is to help cover the cost of refunded tickets and cancelled concerts.

    “Today, I am joining Senator Tester to introduce the ENCORES Act, a bill that will provide much-needed relief for our live music venues by creating a tax credit to help cover refunded ticket costs due to canceled events. Music venues are truly special places that have, for generations, provided our families with priceless memories. It’s on us to do what we can to support this industry now so that we can come out on the other side of this pandemic and ensure that this will not be the day the music died.”

    Senator Tom Carper

    According to a press release, venues will be eligible if they offered costumers a voucher before they requested a refund.

    In an effort to make sure a bill providing venues with economic support passes, the National Independent Venue Association created #SaveOurStages and #RestartAct.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CDzdp7iF48n/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
    Many live music venues show their support for the #SaveOurStages Act.

    The U.S. is not the only nation protesting in support of live concert venues. England took storm with the #WeMakeEvents and Red Alert Movement. Marches throughout Manchester occurred Aug. 11, according to BBC.

    The ENCORES Act credit will allow the venues to redeem losses because of cancelled concerts.

    Milton Theater Director Fred Munzert from Delaware expressed his gratitude towards Carper.

    “History tells us that for every challenging time the arts persist and comes back even stronger. Art is one of the first things people look to when regaining their sense of normalcy.”

    Fred Munzert