Signal Earth released a new project titled Scenes and Soundtracks on September 15. Salvatore Prizio presents a concept in his new record: traveling periods of time, taking musical snapshots from moments at various locations across the globe. Prizio aims to decentralize and redefine old pop culture models, giving those ideas a different perspective.
The New York songwriter and music industry veteran, under the moniker Signal Earth, is inspired by numerous genres. He seeks to create a world view of an electronic artform past, present and future. Prizio respectfully explores the numerous galaxies of world music through the genres of dance, instrumental and electronic.
Signal Earth carries the mantra: people have more in common than in difference. From the beginning, Scenes and Soundtracks offers a lot more variety than expected. It gives endless ear-catching sounds. The album also speaks to decentralizing old pop culture paradigms by reimagining them. Heroes come from all parts of the globe in this instrumental narrative.
The tracks are melodic, pacing and provide a coherent sound. Signal Earth wonderfully blends synth, yet offers plenty of variety within the record. With the amount of influence this record has, this a recommended project for synth listeners.
Key Tracks: Voyage 1924, Desire 1889, Training Montage 1976
New York music venues decided to file a Federal lawsuit against State restrictions on live music on September 6, 2020 in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan. The lawsuit involves ten establishments across New York who believe the live music restrictions are unworkable and unconstitutional.
The Federal lawsuit challenges both the ad ban and the rule against charging for shows as being arbitrary since there is no evidence those actions have any effect on the slowing coronavirus spread.
Lark Hall lit up in red demanding the passage of The Restart Act. Photo by Zach Culver.
Last week New York state announced rules that aimed to contain the spread of the coronavirus according to state officials but many venues feel they have been disproportionately singled out in this new ruling. The rules allow only what the state calls “incidental” music to be performed at venues making it impossible to promote performances and therefore making it difficult for venues, bars, and restaurants to intrigue an audience to attend their establishment.
The ten establishments involved in the lawsuit are establishments that serve liquor and host or promote live music or entertainment. These venues come from all across New York state including four in New York City. The others are located throughout upstate New York in Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Clifton Park. The plaintiffs in the case are Turks Group, LLC, operating as The Sultan Room & The Turk’s Inn in Brooklyn, 49 Illinois Restaurant, LLC, operating as Buffalo Iron Works in Buffalo, The New York Independent Venue Association, a trade association, Columbus Ale House, Inc., operating as The Graham, in Brooklyn, Upstate Shows, Inc., operating as Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park, Jayarvee, Inc., operating as Birdland Jazz Club in Manhattan, Capitol Enterprises, Inc., operating as The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, Jukimoo, LLC, operating as Littlefield in Brooklyn, nfinity on Main, Inc., operating as Tralf Music Hall in Buffalo, and Rapid Theater Niagara Falls USA, Inc., operating as The Rapids Theater in Niagara Falls.
Times Union Center lit up in red demanding the passage of The Restart Act. Photo by Zach Culver.
The defendant named in the lawsuit is the State Liquor Authority Chairman Vincent Bradley. The State Liquor Authority has been the leading charge in enforcing Governor Andrew Cuomo’s coronavirus orders. They do this by having the ability to suspend liquor licenses and impose fines on establishments not following the rules.
According to syracuse.com, “The lawsuit asks the court to halt the state’s enforcement of the orders. It also seeks payment for the cost of the lawsuit and lawyer’s fees, but does not specify monetary damages.” The state’s coronavirus rules are simple and easy to follow for most of these establishments. People being required to wear a mask, social distance, use hand sanitizer, having employee health checks, and ect would be very doable for establishments who host live music and yet they are being singled out from being able to promote their businesses.
The Federal lawsuit says, “The advertising and ticketing of shows would allow establishments to maintain better control over their limited capacity, allowing them to tell patrons in advance that an evening is sold out and thus avoiding the gathering of crowds trying to gain admission (and the increased risk of transmission that comes along with such gatherings).”
For more information on the New York’s new guidelines for establishments and how they effect the establishments and musicians read NYS Music’s article on the guidelines.
Ticketed music events will now be banned at bars, restaurants, and similar venues in the state of New York due to new coronavirus guidelines for Stage 3 and 4 reopening for licensed on premise establishments released on August 18, 2020. These new guidelines prohibit these establishments in NY from offering live music that customers pay for separately.
The Hollow, Albany – photo by Zach Culver.
Not only do they prohibit ticketing music events but prohibit any events where a patron has to buy a ticket. On top of that it prohibits venues from advertising live entertainment. These new guidelines will bring all events that have been planned by venues to a screeching halt. Music will be allowed at establishments but has to be “incidental” music according to the rules posted in Q&A format on the State Liquor Authority website. Incidental music basically means music can be at performed at establishments but it can’t be advertised and promoted as a reason people should go to the establishment.
“Restaurants and other on premises food and beverage establishments that have a license through the SLA are only allowed to offer on-premise music if their license certificate specifically allows for such activity (i.e., live music, DJ, recorded, etc.). A manufacturer that has an on premises license also must assure that its on premises license certificate specifically allows for the type of music it is offering. A manufacturer without a separate on premises license may offer music unless its license certificate specifically prohibits such music.
If offering music, indoors or out, all relevant aspects of the respective Department of Health guidance dining must be followed, e.g., patrons should not be standing except for necessary reasons (e.g., restroom, entering/exiting), standing patrons should wear face coverings, etc. Performers should be at least 12 feet from patrons.
All other forms of live entertainment, such as exotic dancing, comedy shows, karaoke etc., are not permissible currently regardless of phase.
Additionally, please note that 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.”
New York State Phase 3/4 Guidelines for Licensed On-Premises Establishments Answer for “Can I have live entertainment or a DJ in my indoor or outdoor dining area?”
This new coronavirus guidelines will disproportionately hurt musicians and venue operators. Many musicians depend on ticketed events for income. Many bars and venues depend on special music events to pay the bills. According the New York Upstate article Julie Leone, who is co-owner of The 443 Social Club & Lounge on Burnet Avenue in Syracuse had spoken to a State Liquor Authority enforcement officer August 18 and, “Was told the agency could automatically suspend the liquor licenses for any venues found to be advertising shows. That seems to be different from regular enforcement, in which officers physically visit the venues to verify non-compliance.”
To many, this guideline seems shocking, unfair, and far out of left field. It will effectively shut down many establishments again that have only recently been able to reopen. These guidelines were implemented with the intention to try to keep people from mingling for prolonged periods of time to help contain the spread of the virus by Governor Andrew Cuomo and other state officials but to musicians and venue operators it feels like an attack on the music industry.
Funk n’ Waffles, Syracuse – photo by Josh Davis.
Dave Ehmann, owner and founder at Adirondack Independence Music Festival elaborated on his feelings about this implementation of these guidelines on his Facebook page saying, “I don’t know about anyone else but I feel like someone needs to hear enough is enough with this bullshit. This is nothing more than a straight up attack on the music industry. Why aren’t we yelling louder and pushing back? It’s gone way past being safe into straight up nonsense. Peaceful protests are in order here.”
The Haunt, Ithaca – photo by Casey Martin
Adam Gold, owner of Syracuse’s well know Funk ‘n Waffles gave his two cents on the new guidelines saying, “I was under the impression these were the regulations anyways. For me it was more of a reminder: ‘By the way, you still can’t do anything (music-wise). We aren’t currently having any indoor dining, even with it being technically allowed for several weeks now. It seems the one thing experts tell you to avoid doing is being near a bunch of strangers in a building for more than an hour.’”
Jarrett Hartstone, promoter at Hartstone Productions, feels that safety is paramount and guidelines should not limit live music performances.
Having closely followed this entire pandemic since the beginning, I fully believe in the need for reopening guidelines in order to keep people safe and control the spread of COVID-19. That said, I think that this latest order by the State and SLA saying that establishments can’t advertise live music and that it has to be “incidental” takes it step too far.
As long as an establishment is operating within the safety guidelines (ie; maintaining social distancing, requiring face coverings, frequently disinfecting, even making people remain seated at tables if need be), there is no reason why they can’t safely host live music and advertise it to help generate business to their already reduced-capacity establishment.
While safety measures are indeed critical to controlling the spread of the virus, so is the need to give businesses (in this case musicians, music venues, bars and restaurants) a fighting chance to survive.
If an establishment isn’t operating within the safety guidelines, by all means, issue a violation. But the focus should be on whether or not they are operating safely, which has nothing to do with advertising and hosting a particular band.
Jarrett Hartstone, Hartstone Productions
Corey Rossoff, owner of the Monopole in Plattsburgh, feels awful for musicians and bands who rely on live performances for income. He divulged on this saying, “I feel bad for all the musicians. We have cancelled all of our live music due to social distancing being impossible with a band playing. Everyone wants to be near the stage. We cancelled open mic because of all different people having to share instruments. We don’t even have the upstairs where bands play even open. With no end in immediate site I just have told bands there is no sense booking anything at this point. We have the downstairs open at reduced capacity at this time. This was even before this information was emailed to us from the SLA a couple of days ago. We don’t charge covers when we do have live music but under this ruling we could not even have any live music. So as I said I don’t know what avenue all the musicians have to make an income so I feel awful for all the many bands everywhere.”
If you are part of an independent music scene in New York State and would like to comment on this story, email nora@nysmusic.com.
Annie Clark, better known as St. Vincent, shared an acoustic rendition of her song “New York” during the Brooklyn Academy of Music‘s Virtual Gala held this week. The performance will be available via livestream through May 20.
Due to the Covid19 pandemic, BAM held their annual gala online, which included performances and tributes from Cate Blanchett, Zadie Smith and Jeanne Donovan Fisher.
