Category: Punk

  • The Sleeping Announce First Album in 13 years, “I Feel Like I’m Becoming A Ghost” 

    Long Island’s The Sleeping has just announced the upcoming release of I Feel Like I’m Becoming A Ghost, out July 28th. After coming down from the high of two sold out reunion shows in Brooklyn and on Long Island, the post-punk outfit band has announced their first new album in nearly 13 years featuring their original lineup that hasn’t written together in over 16 years.  

    The Sleeping Announces “I Feel Like I’m Becoming A Ghost” Out July 28th

    “Now that this is the original lineup, it feels like a massive evolution,” says vocalist Douglas Robinson. “I would describe this new record as a band that stayed true to who they are while completely reshaping the approach to their sound. This record feels way more focused from every angle, but it’s us at its core. We were never a band who copied our influences. Everything that we put out is influenced by our love for music as a whole, and not just particular bands or artists.” 

    The Sleeping Announces “I Feel Like I’m Becoming A Ghost” Out July 28th

    On I Feel Like I’m Becoming A Ghost, The Sleeping dials in their eccentric and erratic blend of ambient indie rock, post-punk, and melodic hardcore. The abum overall shines a light on mental instability. It was written, recorded, and produced at Applehead Recording in Woodstock, NY with the infamous production duo Mike Birnbaum and Chris Bittner (Coheed and Cambria, Bad Brains, Weerd Science, Team Sleep) with insight from the band. 

    The Sleeping formed in 2003 in Long Island, founded by Cameron Keym, Sal Mignano, and Joe Zizzo. After auditioning twenty-two potential vocalists, they came across Douglas Robinson, former singer/guitarist of the band Stillwelle. 

    Their live performances are known for their emotive, high-energy and tight-knit sound. They’ve toured with infamous bands like Jimmy Eat World, Taking Back Sunday, Bayside and ALEXISONFIRE. Their music has been featured in video games including Tony Hawk’s Downhill JamMadden NFL 07Guitar Hero III: Legends of RockGuitar Hero: World Tour, and FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage

    The Sleeping Announces “I Feel Like I’m Becoming A Ghost” Out July 28th

    I Feel Like I’m Becoming A Ghost is due out on July 28th and is now available for preorder on here. Along with this, there will be items and limited-edition bundles available as well. 

    For more on The Sleeping, click the link here

  • Lollapalooza Reveals Lineup Featuring Over 170 Musicians for 2023 Edition

    Lollapalooza revealed a powerhouse lineup for their 2023 edition, featuring stars such as Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, ODESZA, Lana Del Rey etc. The biggest music festival of 2023 will take place August 3-6 at Grant Park in Chicago.

    The exhilarating celebration will showcase over 170 bands with nine stages and four full days of music and programming.  Lollapalooza is always on the hunt for upcoming artists to take the stage. As a result, fans can enjoy the must-see breakout stars including, Dom Dolla, Sabrina Carpenter, Lovejoy, Knock2, Jessie Murph, Suki Waterhouse, Thee Sacred Souls, and The 502s. Fan favorites Lil Yachty, Tems, J.I.D, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Maggie Rogers, Carly Rae Jepsen, Diplo, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Fred again and Noah Kahan will also be featured in the festival. 

    Lollapalooza is recognized as the premier music festival across the world because of its diverse lineup. The 2023 edition presents NewJeans,, The Rose, Rina Sawayama, Rema, NIKI, Morgan Wade, DPR IAN + DPR LIVE, Lainey Wilson, L’Impératrice, Ivan Cornejo and Sudan Archives.Furthermore, Lollapalooza makes history this year with its first Latina female performer, Karol G. Additionally, British superstars The 1975, and Tomorrow X Together will also take the stage. Chicago will be fully represented with musicians such as Louis the Child, Dehd, Sincere Engineer, Friday Pilots Club, Motherfolk, Kidd Kenn, and more.

    lollapalooza 2023

    Lollapalooza was founded in 1991 by Perry Farrell and remains an innovator in festival culture over 30 years later. The festival made its mark by being the first festival to bring together artists from a wide range of musical genres on one bill, the first to expand to multiple days, the first to blend art and activism, and the first to expand internationally. Besides Chicago Lollapalooza has held shows in culturally rich countries including Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Germany, France, Sweden and India.

    Lollapalooza’s contribution to the City of Chicago trumps all other festivals in the region., Although the festival occurs over an annual four-day weekend in the summer, Lollapalooza strives to provide meaningful engagement and impact year-round.  The festival supports local communities by introducing Chicago youth to creative opportunities in the concert industry and reducing barriers to arts access in Chicago schools. To support arts and education in Chicago Public Schools, organizers created the Lollapalooza Arts Education Fund donating $2.2M to programs. Additionally, Lollapalooza hosts an annual Sueños Job Fair and is united with African American Heritage Festivals, Teens in the Park Fest, Black Culture Fest, Musically Fed, and After School Matters.  For more information, please visit here

    To secure 4-Day General Admission, fans can sign up for the SMS Presale that begins this Thursday, March 23 at 10am here. A full list of amenities can be accessed here. Layaway Plans are also available on all ticket types starting at $20 down.

    1-Day Tickets, along with the lineup-by-day will be available later. Kids eight and under may attend for free with a ticketed adult and enjoy Kidzapalooza. It’s presented by Lifeway Kefir and is an interactive music playground within the festival that presents a lineup of family-friendly performances, activities, music, and dance workshops and more. 

  • Elvis Costello & The Imposters Announce New Tour With Dates At Beacon Theatre And Landmark Theatre

    Elvis Costello & The Imposters has announced their newest 23-date tour “We’re All Going On A Summer Holiday” with special guests Nick Lowe and Los Straightjackets.

    Elvis Costello

    The tour, with their special guest Charlie Sexton, includes a stop at the Beacon Theatre in New York, NY, and the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse.

     The “We’re All Going On A Summer Holiday” dates will follow two headlining appearances at the Byron Bay Bluesfest in Australia, three nights at the Sydney Opera House and a show at the Palais Theatre in Melbourne. In May, Costello and Steve Nieve will return to the concert hall stage together for the first time in twenty years, in Reykjavik, Iceland.

    Last summer, Elvis Costello and the Imposters performed a number of concerts with Nick Lowe and Los Straightjackets opening the show, and who will open again this year. That tour followed the release of Costello’s album The Boy Named If.

    More recently, Costello shared the deluxe edition of The Songs of Bacharach and Costello, a celebratory collaborative album created with Burt Bacharach, who died earlier this year.

    “We’re All Going On A Summer Holiday” Tour Dates

    Wed Jun 07 – Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Theatre

    Fri Jun 09 – Woodinville, WA – Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery

    Sat Jun 10 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater

    Sun Jun 11 – Reno, NV – Silver Legacy Casino Reno

    Tue Jun 13 – San Francisco, CA – Golden Gate Theatre

    Wed Jun 14 – Ventura, CA – Ventura Theatre

    Fri Jun 16 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre

    Sat Jun 17 – Las Vegas, NV – Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort 

    Sun Jun 18 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre

    Tue Jun 20 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion 

    Wed Jun 21 – Omaha, NE – Steelhouse Omaha

    Fri Jun 23 – Hammond, IN – The Venue at Horseshoe Casino

    Sat Jun 24 – Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest*

    Sun Jun 25 – Nashville, IN – Brown County Music Center

    Wed Jun 28 – Rochester Hills, MI – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre

    Sat Jul 01 – Lenox, MA – Tanglewood*

    Sun Jul 02 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom

    Wed Jul 05 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater

    Thu Jul 06 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway

    Sat Jul 08 – Syracuse, NY – Landmark Theatre

    Sun Jul 09 – Baltimore, MD – The Lyric

    Wed Jul 12 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre

    Fri Jul 14 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia

    For more information, and to purchase tickets, please visit Elvis Costello’s website.

  • FRIDAY Shares Clown-like Grunge Single/Video “Dear God”

    NYC-based multihyphenate creative Nicole Daddona, also known as FRIDAY, has shared her new single and music video, “Dear God.” The grunged-out ballad is a punk reclamation of emotions, paired with a video that shows her dressed up as a crying, cigarette-smoking clown as she takes over an empty indoor children’s entertainment facility.  

    When Nicole Daddona preforms as her alter ego FRIDAY, she channels her creativity in each moment and brings a sense of nostalgic fun to each track. Daddona catches her audience with an emotionally deep sound that when you listen, you’ll transport you to a world where the weekend never ends.  

    FRIDAY Shares Clown-like Grunge Single/Video "Dear God"

    With each song, FRIDAY captures different aspects of the human experience, adding her unique, colorful perspective. When listening to “Dear God,” her hook-filled songs and playful melodies will get stuck in your head and your heart. 

    FRIDAY Shares Clown-like Grunge Single/Video "Dear God"

    Besides Nicole’s new project FRIDAY, she is the founder and designer of the “lowbrow, high fashion” clothing and accessories company Magic Society, creating iconic, playful, and maximalist designs like the Judy Bag (a purse made from deadstock blow-up dolls). She’s also one half of the production company Magic Society Pictures, who just debuted their most recent film The Mundanes at this year’s SXSW.  

    FRIDAY Shares Clown-like Grunge Single/Video "Dear God"

    It’s well known that FRIDAY is a true creative powerhouse. This talented artist is not only a visual artist and filmmaker but also a fashion designer who has turned her hand to music. Through her whimsical and eclectic solo musical project, FRIDAY explores themes of love and loss with a touch of nostalgia and DIY aesthetics. In fact, she once described her music as “Harry Nilsson meets Nirvana,” which gives you a taste of the unique sound she brings to the table. 

    FRIDAY Shares Clown-like Grunge Single/Video "Dear God"

    FRIDAY’s music draws inspiration from a range of artists, including Marc Bolan, Jeff Lynne, George Harrison, Nirvana, and Harry Nilsson. Her sound is an accumulation of multiple genres, inspired by Art Rock, 70s power pop, grunge, bubblegum pop, and NU-Disco influences.  

    From the influences of NYC, her music is inspired by vintage horror films, unrequited love, dreamcore, and weirdcore. It’s a cross-genre project that has something for everyone. FRIDAY channels her creativity in each moment and brings a sense of nostalgic fun to each track. 

    To listen to “Dear God” by FRIDAY, click the link here

    To watch the music video for “Dear God,” click the link here

    For more on FRIDAY, click the link here

  • The Murder Capital Deliver Raw and Dynamic Performance in Brooklyn

    Irish post-punk group, The Murder Capital, hailing from Dublin, performed at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg on Tuesday, March 28th.

    The Murder Capital Live at The Music Hall of Williamsburg
    The Murder Capital, 2023 Photo by Parker Alexander

    Brooklyn was the last stop on the band’s debut North American tour before it was shuttered in early 2020, only performing twice. Since then, they have played all across Europe and the UK, finally making their way back overseas this month, hot off the release of their self-released (on Human Season Records) second album, Gigi’s Recovery, this past January.

    The Murder Capital, 2023 Photo by Parker Alexander

    Much like the album, the show brought a fully realized, introspective post-punk set with dynamic energy that elevated the record for the 650-capacity venue.

    The show started with For Everything, the brooding opener off their debut album, When I Have Fears, which released in 2019.

    The Murder Capital, 2023 Photo by Parker Alexander

    They continued on at a monstrous pace, invoking a few raucous mosh pits, making it to a newer track, Return My Head and onto More Is Less.

    There were moments of Radiohead imbued with Bauhaus, sharing a great polyphonic relationship between both guitars and bass, with the drums driving the rhythm amidst every harsh snare hit, most notably in the 2-part song, Slowdance I+II. Frontman James McGovern’s poetic lyricism gracefully complemented every movement, switching between thunderous bellows and spoken pieces.

    The Murder Capital, 2023 Photo by Parker Alexander

    The North American Gigi’s Recovery Tour continues through April, where the band will make a surely momentous visit to California’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, followed by a few other international festival appearances throughout the rest of the Summer.

    The Murder Capital | Music Hall of Williamsburg | Brooklyn, NY | March 28, 2023

    Setlist: For Everything, Return My Head, More Is Less, The Stars Will Leave Their Stage, Green & Blue, Crying, A Thousand Lives, Gigi’s Recovery, Slowdance I, Slowdance II, We Had to Disappear, Feeling Fades, Only Good Things, Don’t Cling to Life, Ethel

    The Murder Capital
    The Murder Capital
  • In Focus: Curtis Waters – Getting Silly at Baby’s All Right

    King of punk rap music Curtis Waters brought the Bad Son Tour to the iconic Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn. As part of his first ever headline tour, with help from Tommy Richman and Jonah Roy, Curtis Waters turned Baby’s All Right into an anticapitalist-rock paradise for an incredible show.

    Curtis Waters (Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma)

    Curtis Waters is a rising star in the music industry, known for his infectious beats, catchy lyrics, and fearless experimentation with various genres. Born in Nepal and raised essentially everywhere, Waters has been making music since his early teens and honed his skills through online collaborations with other musicians around the world. His breakthrough hit, “Stunnin’,” which he produced, wrote, and performed, went viral on TikTok in 2020 and propelled him to mainstream success.

    Since then, Waters has continued to push boundaries with his music, blending elements of hip-hop, rap, and punk to create a unique sound that better reflects who he is and resonates with fans worldwide. With recent releases HIMBO and GOD’S LONELY MAN that were 7 years in the making, Curtis Waters is poised to become one of the most exciting voices in music today.

    Tommy Richman (Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma)

    Hailing from Woodbridge, Virginia, Tommy Richman is a certified star. Tommy’s passion for music started at a young age, when he began taking voice lessons and singing in his church choir. After dropping out of college to pursue his dreams, Tommy persevered and has become a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. With hit releases such as “Star Girl”, Richman’s music gives us a glimpse into the mind of a true musical genius. Richman just released “Wish I Never Knew You”, produced by him and Jonah Roy. With his signature sound and unwavering commitment to his craft, we can’t wait to see where Richman’s journey takes him next.

    Curtis accepting the “Most Humble Musician Ever” Award (Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma)

    The energy of the show was absolutely unmatched. From start to finish, the concert was akin to an eventful burst of a supernova, with support from Jonah DJing and playing guitar all night, to opening up the pit during every single song – even launching himself off the stage to mosh with the people. Between the jumping and yelling, there were sentimental moments, like when two dedicated fans presented Curtis with a specialized “Most Humble Musician” award and a brand new tie he wore at the rest of the stops on tour. While there was a general set list, because the crowd was so engaged with the show, he performed a never before seen song, specifically requested by his self proclaimed biggest fan. Riding off the high of the buzzing crowd, Curtis and friends left the stage to interact with fans after the show, showering them with support and admiration for the hardcore show. From anticapitalist rants to heartfelt speeches about success, anyone who attended the show is already counting down the days until the next time they can attend a Curtis Waters concert.

    Curtis moshing in the crowd (Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma)

    Though Bad Son Tour may be over, stay tuned to Curtis and Tommy’s socials for news for any upcoming performances.

  • Warn The Duke Drop New Album “All That’s Solid” Out March 17th 

    Brooklyn-based melodic punks Warn The Duke are back with a new album titled All That’s Solid, out on Friday, March 17th. The band will celebrate that night with a show at Brooklyn’s Our Wicked Lady.  

    Warn The Duke Drop New Album “All That’s Solid” Out March 17th 

    The new LP All That’s Solid is a window into the ebbs and flows of recovery. Songwriter and lead singer Dan McCool (former River City Rebels) leads us through cycles of despair, renewal, and self-forgiveness that emerge after trauma and loss.  

    This is Warn The Duke’s first album in eight years, being written on the heels of lockdowns, divorce, and addiction. By layering harmonies and the combo of male/female vocals, the band emphasizes the record’s bittersweet atmosphere. 

    Warn The Duke Drop New Album “All That’s Solid” Out March 17th 

    There are some far-ranging influences bringing the listeners through All That’s Solid. For instance, the warmth of Mike Ness’s vocals, the wry defiance of Against Me!, the dense, dark guitar tone of Nothing. Also, the earworms and hooks of The Replacements, early 2000s math rock-inspired lead guitar lines, and the hard-hitting punk grit of Hot Water Music.  

    “These guys play that brand of punk rock and post-hardcore that bands like Hot Water Music perfected.”

    -Nerdist 

    Joining McCool on the album are drummer Derek Davis (former Big D and The Kids Table/The Toasters), bassist/vocalist Chris Marciniak, lead guitarist Chris Ferreria, and guitarist/vocalist Dori Cameron. 

    The album features the songs “Sometimes,” “The Middle” and the single “Anniversaries” (the latter of which is now streaming). Watch the music video for “Anniversaries” below and pre-save the album on Spotify. “All That’s Solid” arrives on 12” LP vinyl and digital on Friday, March 17th. The band will celebrate that night with a show at Brooklyn’s Our Wicked Lady. 

    Warn The Duke Drop New Album “All That’s Solid” Out March 17th 

    All songs on All That’s Solid were written, performed, and produced by Dan McCool and Warn The Duke. Furthermore, some were recorded and mixed by Jeff Berner at Studio G (Brooklyn). Additional record recording and co-production was done by Chris Duggan at Blue Banshee Studio (Brewster, MA), and mastered by Jon Markson.

    For more on Warn The Duke, click the link here

    To pre-save All That’s Solid, click the link here

  • In Focus: Gramercy Theatre Welcomes Meet Me @ The Altar

    Electrifying punk rock group Meet Me @ The Altar blew the roof of Gramercy Theatre on March 2 as part as their first ever headline tour. Along with their openers Daisy Grenade and their intense sound, and Young Culture’s standout stage presence, the Meet Me @ The Altar show was absolutely unforgettable for anyone in attendance.

    meet me at the altar @
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

    Meet Me @ The Altar is a three-piece WOC pop-punk band, consisting of guitarist/bassist/singer Téa Campbell (Florida), drummer Ada Juarez (New Jersey), and singer Edith Johnson (Georgia). Originally formed in 2015, the three members—all of whom lived in different states at the time—worked on music remotely through the internet. The band went on their first tour in 2018 and were signed by Fueled by Ramen in 2020. Their creativity continues with their new album Past // Present // Future that came out on March 10.

    meet me at the altar @
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

    Daisy Grenade is a power-punk bubble grunge band that serves a punch with a lip-glossed kiss on the side. Made up of the two gorgeously disturbed girlies Keaton Whittaker and Dani Nigro, they turned their unapologetically feminine angst into sickeningly catchy, morbidly worded bubble-grunge bops that are dripping out of a saccharine shell. With Pete Wentz as a mentor and the collaboration of The Ready Set for their sophomore EP, CULT CLASSIC, these two theater kids started making music in 2020 and haven’t looked back.

    Daisy Grenade Setlist: Heavy Metal Parking Lot Kind Of Cool, Darby, Stone’s Throw, Skin, I Got It Bad, Rorschach, Dominoes, Colm’s, Veritas, Pocket Change

    meet me at the altar @
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

    Hailing from Albany, the trio of Alex Magnan, Gabe Pietrafesa, Troy Burchett that make up Young Culture have been brewing their sound for the past couple of years and most recently have released their album You Had To Be There. Their music can be described as early 2000s-sunshine-rock-meets-modern-technology that pops with bright color and vibrant emotion. The band signed with Equal Vision Records in 2018 and have been releasing banger after banger ever since.

    Young Culture Setlist: Not In Love, Drift, Smooth, Fantasy, Silver Lining, Shiver, Holiday in Vegas, Serendipity, Different Now, Kinda Over It

    meet me at the altar @
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

    Daisy Grenade took the stage first, launching directly into a hardcore “Heavy Metal Parking Lot Kind Of Cool”. Embodying female angst and jumping around the stage, the energy in the room was electric. The crowd was moshing along as they played new songs, like “Skin” and “I Got It Bad”. After a quick shoutout to their parents in the crowd, the fans for bringing the energy, Daisy Grenade retired the stage with a bang after playing “Pocket Change.”

    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

    There was a shift in the room when Young Culture emerged. The chants from fans were almost deafening, as all you could hear was their little tagline, “YC F*CKS”. Launching right into “Not In Love” from their most recent album. The crowd’s enthusiasm skyrocketed as Alex left the stage to stand on the barricade, directly interacting with the fans during the set. With encouragement from the band, the crowd surfing began, putting security to work. From the constant chanting to the jostling of the fans around in the pit, the energy in the room built up to new heights.

    meet me at the altar @
    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

    By the time Meet Me @ The Altar took the stage, the crowd was buzzing with anticipation. With Téa and Ada tuning and prepping their instruments. Riding off the high of the crowd chanting their names, leading lady Edith hops out and launches into one of the bands most well known songs, “Say It (To My Face)”. With an energy equivalent to a pop punk rager, this hardcore show can only be described as feral and free. The chanting and the crowdsurfing didn’t cease, even long after they performed their final song. Only a week before the release of their new album, Meet Me @ The Altar is on an upward trajectory when it comes to their sound.

    Meet Me @ The Altar Setlist: Say It (To My Face), Beyond My Control, Hit Like A Girl, King of Everything, Try, May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor, Now Or Never, Feel A Thing, [unknown song], Complicated, Same Lane, A Few Tomorrow, Garden 

    Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma

    In terms of upcoming shows, Daisy Grenade will be on tour with Meet Me @ The Altar until April. They’re then scheduled to head on tour supporting Fall Out Boy on multiple dates from June 23rd in Montana to July in Colorado. For any updates on future shows and tours, check out their website.

    Young Culture will also be with Meet Me @ The Altar until April, but past that, there is nothing scheduled. For updates, check their website and socials.

    After tour wraps, you can find Meet Me @ The Altar at an array of different festivals, from Adjacent Festival in New Jersey to Leeds Festival in the UK.

  • E.R.I.E. Share Sophomore Indie-Rock EP “Suburban Mayhem” 

    Capital Region indie-rock quartet E.R.I.E. have just released their second EP Suburban Mayhem on March 8th. The band previously released the single “World is On Fire” to tease the album in early February featuring local scene friend Sydney Worthley

    E.R.I.E. Share Second Indie-Rock EP “Suburban Mayhem” 

    Suburban Mayhem arrives to the scene with grander scope and vision. The album turns its focus externally, commenting vividly on the outside forces burrowing into our brains on a daily basis. It’s a resplendent examination of the world around us, rife with equal parts cynicism, wit and hope.  

    E.R.I.E. Share Second Indie-Rock EP “Suburban Mayhem” 

    The album features pitch-perfect collaborations with Brooklyn-based dream-pop trio ALMA, and fellow Albany songwriter Sydney Worthley. The record showcases a band not only finding their footing, but settling into a signature sound affectionately self-described as Tom Petty cosplaying as blink-182.  

    The first song on the album “Oh Well” gives listeners a peak into what Suburban Mayhem is truly about. Others songs like “Bad Mans World,” “Suburban Mayhem (Holy Fuck),” and “The Motions” truly show the dedication and ambitions that the band has. “Bad Mans World” is a favorite of mine, with its lyrics being meaningful yet a jam at the same time.

    E.R.I.E. Share Second Indie-Rock EP “Suburban Mayhem” 

    The four members of E.R.I.E. – guitarist Matt Delgado, drummer Chad Flewwelling, and bassist Levi Jennes spent most of 2022 self-recording their sophomore full-length, yielding 12 nostalgia-tinged songs. Suburban Mayhem further lends credence to the frequent comparisons to The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner and The Get Up Kids that the band has garnered, with its “crunching guitars, catchy choruses and a down-to-earth, working-class vibe that recalls modern heartland punk rock…” (Daily Gazette). 

    Upcoming Tour Dates:  

    Mar 18 – Albany, NY @ Lark Hall  

    To listen to Suburban Mayhem, click the link here

    For more on E.R.I.E., click the link here

    To read the previous NYS Music article on E.R.I.E., click the link here

  • The Action House: Long Island’s Forgotten Music Venue

    New York City is home to dozens of iconic music venues, from the Apollo Theater to Radio City Music Hall. But while these glamorous theaters continue to stand the test of time, others live on in memory rather than physical form. 

    Take CBGB, which closed in 2006. The dark and dingy space nurtured the emerging NY punk scene throughout the 70s, hosting the Ramones and Blondie among others. Now, the punks might be saddened to find, it is home to a high-end Italian art gallery

    But there is one venue, located in Island Park, NY that is even less talked about –The Action House – perhaps Long Island’s premier music venue in the 60’s and 70’s. It was the epitome of cool and a nurturing force for the local music scene, yet it was often overshadowed by New York City’s powerful glow.

    The Action House, located in Island Park, NY – Photo from mindsmokemusic.com

    But the Action House had its own unique vibe. It had grit, grime and a rebellious streak all its own. Part dance hall, part club (a common configuration of the time), the venue was also capable of pulling in big name acts like the Doors and Canned Heat. 

    In perhaps one of the Action House’s most infamous shows, the Doors took the stage for a two night performance on June 16 and 17th, 1967. Legend has it that on the first night, Jim Morrison slugged 15 shots of Jack Daniels whiskey back to back before taking the stage. He would attempt it again once more mid-set. While the first night was certainly one for the ages, the second night was perhaps the Door’s shortest and most lackluster performance ever. The hungover Morrison didn’t sing much, instead moaning into the microphone until his bandmates decided to drag him off the stage.

    Jim Morrison Performs at the Action House in Island Park, NY - Photo from Mild Equator
    Jim Morrison Performs at the Action House in Island Park, NY – Photo from Mild Equator

    Adding to the intrigue, the Action House was also owned by Phil Basile, a known associate of the Lucchese crime family mob. This wasn’t necessarily out of the ordinary for the era, but it did invite a world of chaos and an interesting crowd into the fold of the Action House. 

    Mike Ricciardella, drummer for The Illusion, described it like this:

    “The Action House was a wild place back then. The bouncers were nuts and very wild! The drug scene was wild! The chick scene was wild! The parking lot scene was the wildest, though. Really nuts. The parking lot was the place where the crowd hung out and got high. Inside was rock’n’roll, outside was Fantasyland.”

    – Mike Ricciardella

    Frequent performers included the Vagrants, featuring guitarist Leslie West who would eventually co-found the band, Mountain. The Hassles featured a young Billy Joel. And then there was the Vanilla Fudge. The band was actually managed by Basile, who in addition to owning the club and his various other escapades also served as an artist and tour manager.

    An Action House flyer with the Vagrants and the Vanilla Fudge on the lineup - Photo from mindsmokemusic.com
    An Action House flyer with the Vagrants and the Vanilla Fudge on the lineup – Photo from mindsmokemusic.com

    But this relationship led to some “interesting scenarios,” to put it mildly, as reported by the Long Island Press:

    “The mob-connected Action House was paying The Vagrants an exorbitant $1,500-a-night fee for a grueling 28-day-a-month schedule. This led the garage rockers to get creative with their performances. They incorporated pyrotechnics into their act, having fireworks explode as one of their songs reached its peak. One night after a performance, however, a leftover explosive wound up torching the stage along with all of the band’s instruments. This somehow did not throw them off schedule; the booking agency had them equipped with new instruments and ready to play the very next day.”

    A playbill for the Grateful Dead and The New Riders of The Purple Sage at the Action House on Nov 9-10, 1970 - Photo via concertarchives.org
    A playbill for the Grateful Dead and The New Riders of The Purple Sage at the Action House on Nov 9-10, 1970 – Photo via concertarchives.org

    Other notable performers included the Yardbirds in ‘68 and the Grateful Dead alongside The New Riders of the Purple Sage in November of 1970. (You can listen to parts of the set here)

    Shortly after the Dead’s performance in 1970, the Action House featured a series of name changes. It was briefly known as the Rock Pile, as documented on this short feature piece by the New York Times back in 1971.

    A New York Times article from 1971  when it was known as the Rock Pile.
    A New York Times article from 1971 about the Action House, when it was known as the Rock Pile.

    The club declined further in the 80’s as DJs and dance clubs began to grow in popularity

    It is unclear when the Action House officially closed its doors. As for the present, according to the blog Mind Smoke Music, The Action House was torn down over a decade ago. Back in 2018, the author of the blog found it had since been rezoned for condo development. The parking lot across the street was at the time a self-storage facility.

    Now, the Action House, a relic of a bygone area, lives on only in memory of the lucky and the damned that got to experience it in its heyday. Further tales and legends of the venue can be found in the comment sections on blog sites like Streets You Crossed, where patrons of the Action House fondly recall their own memories of the club. 

    Based on these accounts, the venue lives up it name –  a place where a lot of action went down.