NYS Music 202​1

Category: New York Series

  • In Focus: Music Venues Across New York State

    It’s been over a year since music venues had to shut down, and signs of life are starting to be seen this spring. With the passage of the COVID relief bill, which provides $15 billion for music venues across the country, small businesses are able to breathe a sigh of relief. Warm weather allows outdoor venues, both new and old, to utilize space to accommodate socially distanced shows while we wait for the country to get vaccinated and infection rates to subside

    arlene's grocery music venues
    photo by Joseph Buscarello

    Looking back on the February installment of this photo series, we can see the seasons changing and venues coming to life, if not getting a facelift. By the time we bring you the next edition, we hope to see fans in the crowd and venues back to business, with a greener summer to come.

    A list has been circulating on Facebook recently, one well worth sharing. As you check out the current state of venues across New York State, courtesy of NYS Music’s photography team, consider these rules moving forward for the post-pandemic live music scenes across New York and the country.

    RULE #1: No guest list. Don’t ask. Not now. Not ever. Everyone in the live music industry has been out of work for 13 months and we all need your support now more than ever. Buy the damn ticket.

    Rochester – photos by Corinne Cummings

    RULE #2: Support local. Before you buy that high priced ticket to see that big name artist at that big corporate venue, consider putting that money back into your own community. This is the best way to ensure that a thriving arts & culture scene will return to cities across America.

    Ithaca – photos by Casey Martin

    RULE #3: Wear a damn mask. If you’re going to a show, tiny cloth go over mouth & nose. Period. Vaccinated? Don’t care. Already had it? Don’t care. Rona is a hoax? Also don’t care. We only get one shot at restarting this machine. Please don’t be the one that messes it up.

    New York City – photos by Joseph Buscarello

    RULE #4: We are not babysitters. We get it. Social distancing sucks. Masks suck. You’re tired of washing your hands. After more than a year of isolation, all you wanna do is lean in close and spew your spittle on friends and strangers alike. But it’s been 13 months. You know the rules by now — please follow them.

    Buffalo – photos by Zachary Todtenhagen

    RULE #5: No free drinks. Don’t ask. Venues have been shutdown for 13 months waiting for this moment. Support them.

    Utica – photo courtesy of The Stanley Theatre

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    RULE #6: Tip your bartender. 20% is ok. 25% is better. More than 25% is best. Anything under 20% is a non-starter.

    Brooklyn – photos by Steve Malinski

    RULE #7: Support the scene. Can’t make the show? No problem. It costs $0.00 to support us in other ways. Share the posts. Listen to the music. Invite your friends to the event page. In order for this to work, we need all hands on deck.

    The Hudson Valley – photos by Mickey Deneher

    RULE #8: Be kind. Look — it’s been awhile. We’re gonna be a little rusty. Plus, so much of what needs to happen in order to bring back live music safely is new for all of us — fans, venues, promoters and artists alike. There will be hiccups. There will be lines. There will be unforeseen circumstances. Be nice anyway.

    Plattsburgh – photos by Jerry Cadieux

    RULE #9: Go to the merch table. Support the artists. Buy the t-shirt. Buy a sticker.

    Syracuse – photos by Josh Davis

    RULE #10: Have fun. You’ve been waiting for this moment for more than -fully. Come out early. Stay out late. Dance. Laugh. Make a new friend. Discover a new band.

    Albany photographer Zach Culver went on a road trip this month and shares his photos of venues in Denver, CO and Las Vegas, NV.

  • New York Series: Lou Reed “Coney Island Baby”

    Coney Island Baby is an album of love songs. In 1975, Lou Reed was recording it as a follow-up to the baffling Metal Machine Music. Coming from that formless and seemingly random experiment in noise exploration—which he did because he felt like it—this record was Reed’s response to some industry pressure, along with his reminder that he was talented as they come. It was borne from necessity as Reed found himself in a difficult position at the time. His career was in jeopardy for lack of new, accessible music, and his finances were suffering. 

    Coney Island Baby
    RCA/RCA • 1976/2021

    So, Coney Island Baby was the rock record he needed. The title track, also titled “Coney Island Baby,” is a breezy, stroll of a song. Thematically, the lyrics muse about the power of love to wash away insecurity and provide a sense of stability in life’s unpredictable moments. The “glory of love” is Reed’s religion. It’s been said that his muse for much of the album was his girlfriend at the time, a trans woman named Rachel Humphreys, whom he mentions by name along with his local childhood school. 

    “You know, man, when I was a young man in high school, you believe in or not—I wanted to play football for the coach.” Reed is right, his listeners would probably not believe it. But, he drives this memory home by mentioning it a few times. Football stars were supposedly strong, brave and popular. No one is immune to wanting to feel that way in high school, even Reed. He repeats this, giving listeners an insight into one of his main desires growing up: to be noticed. 

    Coney Island Baby
    Reed and Rachel Humphreys
    Mick Rock

    This entire monologue is backed by a steady 4/4 beat with only a few chord changes and a couple of members of Reed’s rotating band for the record. After each verse in which he describes feeling trapped or oppressed by his environment, the song opens into a chorus with Reed repeating “glory of love.” Whereas the verses describe different situations in which he’s felt uncomfortable emotions, even hate, during life—it’s love that saves him from falling. It’s also the promise of love from a “princess on the hill” that fills his desire for acceptance.

    Lou Reed may have wanted to be on his high school football team. Or maybe not. But what is true, and fascinating, is that from this song we can imagine that Reed has faced the struggle to be embraced at points in his life, and has consistently found answers in love—a deeply human experience that unites us all. 

    “Coney Island Baby” lyrics

    You know, man, when I was a young man in high school
    You believe in or not I wanted to play football for the coach
    And all those older guys
    They said he was mean and cruel, but you know
    Wanted to play football for the coach
    They said I was to little too light weight to play line-backer
    So I say I’m playing right-end
    Wanted to play football for the coach
    Cause, you know some day, man
    You gotta stand up straight unless you’re gonna fall
    Then you’re gone to die
    And the straightest dude
    I ever knew was standing right for me all the time
    So I had to play football for the coach
    And I wanted to play football for the coach

    When you’re all alone and lonely
    In your midnight hour
    And you find that your soul
    It’s been up for sale

    And you begin to think ’bout
    All the things that you’ve done
    And you begin to hate
    Just ’bout everything

    But remember the princess who lived on the hill
    Who loved you even though she knew you was wrong
    And right now she just might come shining through

    And the -Glory of love, glory of love
    Glory of love, just might come through

    And all your two-bit friends
    Have gone and ripped you off
    They’re talking behind your back saying, man
    You’re never going to be no human being
    And you start thinking again
    ’bout all those things that you’ve done
    And who it was and what it was
    And all the different things you made every different scene

    Ahhh, but remember that the city is a funny place
    Something like a circus or a sewer
    And just remember different people have peculiar tastes
    And the –

    Glory of love, the glory of love
    The glory of love, might see you through
    Yeah, but now, now
    Glory of love, the glory of love
    The glory of love, might see you through
    Glory of love, ah, huh, huh, the glory of love
    Glory of love, glory of love
    Glory of love, now, glory of love, now
    Glory of love, now, now, now, glory of love
    Glory of love, give it to me now, glory of love see you through
    Oh, my Coney Island baby, now
    (I’m a Coney Island baby, now)
    I’d like to send this one out for Lou and Rachel
    And all the kids at P.S. 192
    Coney Island baby
    Man, I’d swear, I’d give the whole thing up for you

  • A Look at Shuttered Music Venues Across New York State

    We’re coming up on one year without live music. Venues across New York State, and the country, are shuttered with no option for music beyond streaming. Our venues are the lifeblood of so many towns and cities across this great state, and these independent music venues still need our help, as they struggle to stay afloat until we’re in the clear.

    In June, NYS Music photographers, having no live music to shoot, began looking at these music venues across the state. Over the summer and fall we saw venues closed for the foreseeable future, including The Jazz Standard in Manhattan. Venues are rallying their supporters to help as best they can at this time, including Arlene’s Grocery on February 9.

    Music Venues New York State
    Paramount Hudson Valley Theater, Peekskill, NY – photo by Steve Malinski

    Venues in New York and beyond are stuck in limbo, but they aren’t gone – not for good – so long as we can find resolution and relief at the state and national levels. The Heroes Act has passed in the House of Representatives, and the upcoming relief bill looks poised to jump-start the economy and provide a much needed lifeline to venues.

    Winter has arrived, and across the state, venues still shine through the snowy nights. We start this month’s photo series of music venues across New York State in New York City, courtesy of Joseph Buscarello.

    Visit NIVA to find out how you can help venues across New York, and the country. We need to #saveourstages and preserve live music now, for when this is over.

    New York City – photos by Joseph Buscarello

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    Ithaca – photo by Casey Martin

    Manhattan and Hudson Valley – photos by Steve Malinski

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    Geneva – photos by Joseph Booth

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    Saranac Lake – photo by Neil Sedlak

    Music Venues New York State

    Buffalo – photos by Derek Hosken

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    Plattsburgh – photos by Jerry Cadieux

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    Albany – photos by Zach Culver

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    • Music Venues New York State
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    Long Island – photos by Rob Tellerman

    The Hudson Valley – photos by Mickey Deneher

    • Music Venues New York State

    Utica – photo courtesy of The Stanley Theatre

    Music Venues New York State