Category: Long Island

  • Counting Crows to Perform at 5 NY Amphitheaters this Summer on tour with Dashboard Confessional

    Grammy and Academy Award-nominated rock band Counting Crows are scheduled to tour this summer with Dashboard Confessional, performing at five amphitheaters in New York.

    They will kick off their New York performances on July 1 at St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview in Syracuse, followed on July 2 with a show at Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center in Canandaigua. On July 5, the band will perform at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. This will be followed by another show at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theatre on July 8. Counting Crows will finish their New York tour shows on July 9 at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

    Counting Crows Dashboard Confessional tour

    Formed in San Francisco, Counting Crows’ career spans seven studio albums over nearly three decades. The band’s debut studio album, August and Everything After, was released in Sept. 1993 and peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 weekly chart. They found further success when their 1996 second studio album, Recovering the Satellites, peaked at number 1 on the Billboard 200 weekly chart. Their music has been prominently featured in pop culture, including “Colorblind”, from their 1999 third album This Dessert Life, being included in the soundtrack for the 1999 film Cruel Intentions. Their seventh studio album, Somewhere Under Wonderland, was released in 2014, and their newest EP, Butter Miracle, was released in 2021.

    Dashboard Confessional

    Rock band Dashboard Confessional originated in Boca Raton, Florida, and is led by singer Chris Carrabba. Their debut album, The Swiss Army Romance, was released in March 2000. They released their ninth album, All The Truth That I Can Tell, in 2022, touring with fellow rock band Jimmy Eat World in support of the album on the “Surviving the Truth” tour. The band has a long history with Counting Crows, first meeting in 2003 at the 17th annual Bridge School Benefit Concert. In the nearly 20 years since they have formed both a professional and personal relationship together.

    Presale for Counting Crows’ tour with Dashboard confessional, which has five shows at New York amphitheatre venues, begins Tuesday, March 14 in select markets. General on-sale begins Friday, March 17 at 10 a.m. For additional information, follow Counting Crows on Facebook and Instagram.

    Counting Crows with Dashboard Confessional ‘Banshee Season’ 2023 Tour Dates

    June 13            Omaha, NE                  Steelhouse Omaha*

    June 17            Indianapolis. IN           TCU Amphitheater at Winter River State Park 

    June 18            Cincinnati, OH             PNC Pavilion 

    June 21            Milwaukee, WI             Miller High Life Theatre 

    June 23            Highland Park, IL         Ravinia Festival (On-sale May 1)

    June 24            Sterling Heights, MI     Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill 

    June 26            Moon Twp, PA             UPMC Events Center 

    June 28            Niagara Falls, ON         OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino

    June 29            Northfield, OH             MGM Northfield Park

    July 1               Syracuse, NY                St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview

    July 2              Canandaigua, NY       CMAC

    July 5              Saratoga Springs, NY  Saratoga Performing Arts Center

    July 6              Holmdel, NJ                PNC Bank Arts Center 

    July 8              Wantagh, NY             Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater 

    July 9              Bethel, NY                 Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

    July 12             Columbia, MD            Merriweather Post Pavilion 

    July 14             Gilford, NH                 Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion

    July 15             Boston, MA                Leader Bank Pavilion

    July 18             Providence, RI             Providence Performing Arts Center

    July 19             Bridgeport, CT            Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater

    July 21             Bethlehem, PA            Wind Creek Event Center 

    July 22             Atlantic City, NJ          Borgata Event Center

    July 25             Selbyville, DE              Freeman Arts Pavilion (On-Sale March 24)

    July 26             Doswell, VA                 The Meadow Event Park 

    July 28             Virginia Beach, VA       Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach

    July 29             Raleigh, NC                 Red Hat Amphitheater 

    August 1          Charlotte, NC              Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre

    August 2          Charleston, SC            Credit One Stadium 

    August 4          Fort Myers, FL             Suncoast Credit Union Arena 

    August 5          Fort Lauderdale, FL     Hard Rock Live 

    August 8          St Augustine, FL          The St. Augustine Amphitheatre

    August 9          Tampa, FL                    MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre 

    August 11        Alpharetta, GA            Ameris Bank Amphitheatre 

    August 12        Albertville, AL             Sand Mountain Amphitheater 

    August 14        Nashville, TN              Grand Ole Opry

    August 18        New Orleans, LA         Saenger Theatre 

    August 19        Sugar Land, TX           Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land

    August 22        San Antonio, TX          Majestic Theatre 

    August 23        Irving, TX                    The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory 

    August 25        Norman, OK               Riverwind Casino* 

    August 26        Tulsa, OK                    The Cove*

    August 30        Highland, CA              Yaamava’ Theater** (On- Sale March 20)

    August 31        Phoenix, AZ                Arizona Financial Theatre**

    September 2    Las Vegas, NV           Pearl Theater**

    September 3     San Diego, CA          The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park** (On-Sale May 2)

    September 6     Los Angeles, CA        YouTube Theater 

    September 8     Lincoln, CA                The Venue at Thunder Valley

    September 10   Berkeley, CA              The Greek Theatre 

    September 13   Airway Heights, WA   BECU Live Outdoor Venue

    September 14   Bend, OR                    Hayden Homes Amphitheater

    September 16   Seattle, WA                 TBD (On-Sale TBD)

    September 17   Seattle, WA                 TBD (On-Sale TBD)

    September 19   Bonner, MT                 KettleHouse Amphitheater

    September 21   Boise, ID                      Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater  

    September 22   Salt Lake City, UT        USANA Amphitheatre

    September 25   Morrison, CO              Red Rocks Amphitheatre 

    *- No support 

    **- Frank Turner as support 

  • Great South Bay Music Festival 2023 Announces 15th Anniversary Lineup

    The Great South Bay 2023 Music Festival presented by Island Federal Bank announced its back for its 15th anniversary, taking place at Shorefront Park in Patchogue Village, from Thursday, July 20 through Sunday, July 23.

    Great South Bay 2023
    Photo credit Filip Zalewski for NYS Music.

    The Great South Bay 2023 Music Festival features over 60 performers on four stages, in classic and contemporary rock, jam, blues, jazz, Americana, ska, reggae, alternative, and funk genres. The festival is known for its eclectic lineup of headliners with four very different days of music.

    Kicking off the festival Thursday, July 20, with ten performers on two stages, is the legendary Hot Tuna, returning for their fourth visit to Headline the Main Stage. Classic rock act Dave Mason supports, and Barnburners The Fabulous Thunderbirds featuring Kim Wilson round out the lineup and local guitar legend Kerry Kearney and the Kings of the Psychedelta make an appearance.

    Friday brings the annual rock-reggae-ska party, with 15 performers across three stages. Huntington Beach California rock-reggae veterans Dirty Heads return with support from LA ska-punk band Goldfinger, plus Sublime Tribute: Badfish, Maryland rockers Ballyhoo and emerging LI hometown reggae-
    rockers Oogee Wawa.

    The annual Jam-Saturday features 18 performers across four stages. Phil Lesh & Friends, featuring the legendary bassist and original founding member of the Grateful Dead, takes the main stage. Supporting acts include jazz-funksters The Eric Krasno Trio, Neighbor, and local singer-songwriter musician Cassandra House.

    Great South Bay 2023 will close out Sunday with guitar legend, Warren Haynes & Govt. Mule, performing “Dark Side of the Mule”, a tribute to the 50th Anniversary of Pink Floyd’s classic album The Dark Side of The Moon, complete a laser light show and over-the-top effects. Immediately supporting is Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening, plus Duane Betts and Palmetto Motel. Returning to the Main Stage is Long Island-born and bred guitarist Brandon “Taz” Niederauer who performed at Great South Bay on the “emerging artist stage” when he was just 12 years old and has since shared the stage with Gregg
    Allman, Gary Clarke Jr., Lady Gaga, and many more.

    Supporting and presenting original emerging artists has always been part of our mission at GSB. For 2023 the festival will present over 30 talented original artists that we are excited to give stage time and lay on our music loving attendees. New talented original artists to keep on your radar this year include: Cassandra House (performing on our Main Stage and opening for Phil Lesh), Jules, Jack & Friends, Dudley Music, Robinson Treacher, MJT, Circus Mind, Miles to Dayton, Foster Europe Band, Baked Shrimp, and more.

    Great South Bay supports the Long Island community and will continue to donate $1 from every ticket sold, to the GSB-Stony Brook Cancer Center Fund. To date, the fest has raised well over $250,000 for the cancer center. Additionally, Great South Bay Presenting Sponsor Island Federal Bank will also give $1- $2 worth of food donations for every ticket that’s sold to LI Cares, the Harry Chapin Food bank. The festival will also again donate booth spaces in our “Storyville Tent” to local organizations looking to raise awareness and funds for their cause.

    The mission of the Great South Bay Festival is to always support emerging local artists, and are proud present over 30 talented original artists. Some of these not mentioned previously include Jules, Jack & Friends, Dudley Music, Robinson Treacher, MJT, Circus Mind, Miles to Dayton, Foster Europe Band, Baked Shrimp, and more.

    Tickets are available to purchase now. Children under 10 are free.

    Festival Times:
    Thursday, July 20: Doors are at 3:00 p.m., fest goes till 10 p.m.
    Friday, July 21: Doors are at 3:00 p.m., music till 11 p.m.,
    Saturday, July 22.: Doors are at 1:00 p.m., music till 11 p.m.,
    Sunday, July 23: Doors are at 2:00 p.m. with performances till 10 p.m.

  • BTS’ SUGA Announces Global Tour Stopping in New York

    SUGA, a South Korean rapper, songwriter, producer and member of 21st century pop icons, BTS announced his first-ever solo international tour. The tour begins with two nights at the UBS Arena in Belmont Park, NY, on April 26th & 27th. There will also be a show at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, on April 29.

    SUGA BTS

    SUGA, also known as Yunki Min, is globally known for his record producing abilities. What makes this pop star special is his personal sense of musical philosophy, constantly pushing the boundaries through his works on BTS albums, solo projects and collaborations with other artists. The young Korean rapper has made music with Juice WRLD, Max, and So-ra Lee. SUGA has also contributed with the production the remix version of Coldplay x BTS’ “My Universe,” an Original Soundtrack for HYBE’s original story 7FATES

    BTS is an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Beyond the Scene”. They are a GRAMMY-nominated South Korean boy band that has been capturing the hearts of millions of fans globally since their debut in June 2013. Members consist of RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook The band has established themselves as 21st century pop icons breaking countless world records through their self-produced music, elite performances, and interactions with their fans. After BTS’ 2014 Skool Luv Affair, various BTS’s songs were produced by SUGA. 

    Produced by HYBE, BIGHIT MUSIC and Live Nation, the tour will begin in April and finish in June Tickets can be purchased here.

    SUGA | AGUST D TOUR DATES: 

    Wed Apr 26 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena

    Thu Apr 27 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena

    Sat Apr 29 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center

    Wed May 03 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena

    Fri May 05 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena

    Sat May 06 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena

    Wed May 10 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum

    Thu May 11 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum

    Sun May 14 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum

    Tue May 16 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena

    Wed May 17 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena

    Fri May 26 – Jakarta, ID – Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE BSD) Hall 5-6

    Sat May 27 – Jakarta, ID – Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE BSD) Hall 5-6

    Sun May 28 – Jakarta, ID – Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE BSD) Hall 5-6

    Sat June 10 – Bangkok, TH – Impact Arena

    Sun June 10 – Bangkok, TH – Impact Arena

    Sat June 17 – Singapore, SG – Singapore Indoor Stadium

    Sun June 18 – Singapore, SG – Singapore Indoor Stadium

    Sat June 24 – Seoul, KR – Jamsil Indoor Stadium

    Sun June 25 – Seoul, KR – Jamsil Indoor Stadium

    Japan dates to be announced soon

  • The Lumineers Tour Stops include Performances at Catbird Festival, Jones Beach and Darien Lake this Summer

    The Lumineers, an alternative folk band, announced their summer 2023 tour dates, including performances at three New York venues. Their first New York performance will take place in Wantagh at Jones Beach Theater on Aug. 18, followed by a performance at the Catbird Festival in Bethel on Aug. 19. The Lumineers’ last New York performance will be at the Darien Lake Amphitheater on Aug. 22.

    The two-time Grammy-winning band’s tour is in support of their 2022 fourth album, Brightside. The album reached the top 10 in both the U.S. and Canada, with its title track reaching the number one spot on Billboard’s Alternative National Airplay and Adult Alternative Airplay charts. This feat marked the sixth time the band topped the latter chart in less than 10 years.

    The first edition of The Lumineers Brightside tour last year sold more than 750,000 tickets across five continents. The album was recorded throughout the winter and spring of 2021 at Baron’s Sun Mountain Studios in Boiceville, NY. Produced by longtime collaborator Simone Felice and engineered and mixed by David Baron, who also provided input on producing, the nine-song collection sees The Lumineers’ co-founders/co-songwriters Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites performing virtually all of the instrumentation.

    Current members of The Lumineers: Wesley Schultz (mic) and Jeremiah Fraites. Credit: Instagram

    Schultz and Fraites are from New Jersey and played at various venues throughout New York in the 2000s. In 2010, they relocated to Denver and met former band members Neyla Pekarek, Maxwell Hughes, and Ben Wahamaki. Their self-titled debut album was released in the spring of 2012. Shortly after, their debut single, “Ho Hey” was released. Before the release of their debut album and single, “Ho Hey” was featured in a December 2011 episode of The CW’s Hart of Dixie.

    The Lumineers are continuing their partnership with environmental nonprofit REVERB to reduce the environmental footprint of this year’s tour. The band will help fund a REVERB-vetted climate project that aims to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. Fans are encouraged to join the band’s efforts at every show in the REVERB Action Village.

    Artist presale for The Lumineers’ summer tour begins Monday, March 6 at 12 p.m. General on-sale begins Friday, March 10, at 10 a.m. More information is available here.

    Watch the Brightside music video:

  • Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit Announce Tour Dates At Artpark, Capitol Theatre, The Paramount

    Grammy-Award winners Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit has announced the upcoming release of their eighth album, Weathervanes, along with a brand new North American tour. 

    Written and produced by IsbellWeathervanes features 13 brand new tracks. “Death Wish,” the debut release from the collection, is available now. Weathervanes is a collection of grown-up songs: Songs about adult love, about change, about the danger of nostalgia and the interrogation of myths, about cruelty and regret and redemption. Some will make you cry alone in your car and others will make you sing along with thousands of strangers in a big summer pavilion, united in the great miracle of being alive. Isbell is a storyteller at the peak of his craft, observing his fellow wanderers, looking inside and trying to understand, reducing a universe to four minutes.

    “There is something about boundaries on this record,” said Isbell. “As you mature, you still attempt to keep the ability to love somebody fully and completely while you’re growing into an adult and learning how to love yourself.”

    Jason Isbell

    Weathervanes was recorded at Nashville’s Blackbird Studio and features Jason Isbell’s Grammy-winning band, The 400 Unit. Special guests include GRAMMY winner Amanda Shires and harmonicist Mickey Raphael, with background vocals on “If You Insist“ by renowned producer and engineer Sylvia Massy & Ian Rickard and Strings on “Death Wish” by Morgan O’Shaughnessey

    Also announced today, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit will be hitting the road throughout the summer, including a show at Artpark Mainstage Theater in Lewiston on August 5.

    Tickets are on sale now via the band’s website.

    Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit 2023 Tour

    3/1 Calgary, AB Jack Singer Concert Hall

    3/2 Edmonton, AB Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

    3/4 Kelowna, BC Kelowna Community Theatre

    3/5 Vancouver, BC Queen Elizabeth Theatre

    3/6 Victoria, BC Royal Theatre

    3/8 Boise, ID Morrison Center

    3/9 Jackson Hole, WY Jackson Hole Center for the Arts

    3/10 Bozeman, MT The Elm

    3/11 Billings, MT Alberta Bair Theater

    3/12 Rapid City, SD The Monument – Fine Arts Theatre

    3/14 Joliet, IL Rialto Square Theatre

    3/15 Joliet, IL Rialto Square Theatre

    4/5 Sydney, AUS Enmore Theatre (with Allison Russell)

    4/6 Melbourne, AUS Palais Theatre (with Allison Russell)

    4/8 Tyagarah, NSW Bluesfest

    4/22 Miramar Beach, FL Moon Crush: Seascape Beach Resort

    4/28 Cincinnati, OH Andrew J Brady Music Center

    4/29 Cincinnati, OH Andrew J Brady Music Center

    4/30 Scaly Mountain, NC Bear Shadow Music Festival

    5/2 Omaha, NE Orpheum Theater

    5/3 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre

    5/4 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre

    5/6 Salina, KS Stiefel Theatre

    5/7 Lubbock, TX Helen DeVitt Jones Theater at The Buddy Holly Hall

    5/9 Dallas, TX The Factory in Deep Ellum

    5/11 Austin, TX Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater

    5/12 Austin, TX Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater

    5/13 Austin, TX Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater

    5/14 Little Rock, AR The Hall

    6/15 Fayetteville, AR JJ’s Live (with Adeem The Artist)

    6/16 Kansas City, MO Boulevardia

    6/18 Indianapolis, IN WonderRoad Festival

    6/22 LaGrange, GA Sweetland Amphitheatre

    6/23 Birmingham, AL Avondale Brewing Company

    6/24 Birmingham, AL Avondale Brewing Company

    6/25 Ann Arbor, MI A2SF

    6/29 Palo Alto, CA Frost Amphitheater

    6/30 Quincy, CA High Sierra Music Festival

    7/1 Bend, OR Hayden Homes Amphitheater

    7/2 Canby, OR Clackamas County Fairgrounds

    7/4 Bonner, MT KettleHouse Amphitheater

    7/5 Seattle, WA Woodland Park Zoo

    7/6 Spokane, WA Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox

    7/9 Dillon, CO Dillon Amphitheater

    7/11 Tempe, AZ Marquee Theatre

    7/14 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre

    7/15 Paso Robles, CA Vina Robles Amphitheatre

    7/16 Las Vegas, NV Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas

    7/26 Harrisburg, PA Riverfront Park

    7/27 Boston, MA Roadrunner ~

    7/28 Port Chester, NY The Capitol Theatre ~

    7/31 Huntington, NY The Paramount

    8/1 New Brunswick, NJ State Theatre New Jersey

    8/2 Washington, D.C. Wolf Trap

    8/4 Toronto, ON Massey Hall

    8/5 Lewiston, NY Artpark Mainstage Theater

    8/8 Richmond, VA Brown’s Island

    8/9 Salem, VA Salem Civic Center

    8/12 St Augustine, FL The St. Augustine Amphitheatre

    8/13 North Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues

  • 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.

  • Rising Punk Band The Knottie Boys to Perform Twice in New York this April

    The Knottie Boys, a rising punk rock band from New York, are scheduled to perform their EP A Face Fulla Dirt twice in New York this spring. Their first performance will be at Club Odyssey in Oneonta on April 9 at 7 p.m. This will be followed on April 11 at 6 p.m. with a performance at Amityville Music Hall in Long Island, part of Makes My Blood Dance’s tour. 

    Knottie boys
    A Face Fulla Dirt, The Knottie Boys’ EP

    A Face Fulla Dirt compiles five punk rock tracks from The Knottie Boys. The entire EP can be enjoyed in less than a half hour (for those in a rush, at least.) Otherwise, it’s safe to say the crowd will be demanding an encore at their Oneonta and Long Island shows. There’s enough variety in their music for everyone to enjoy, but there’s still more than enough energy in their tracks to sustain an action-packed live performance. If you’re looking for a fun night out with live music, The Knottie Boys are a band you can’t miss.

    New York natives, The Knottie Boys formed in 2018 after high school. At the time, they were working at Hot Topic. The band is known for its theatrical playing style and story-driven songs. Their entire EP can now be listened to on Spotify. For more information, check out their official website.

    The Knottie Boys’ Tour Schedule:

    Sun, Apr 97:00 P.M: Odyssey, 80 Water Street, Oneonta

    Tue, Apr 116:00 P.M: Amityville Music Hall, 198 Broadway, Amityville

    Watch the “Do it Again” music video below.

  • The Gaslight Anthem Tour makes 3 Stops in New York this Spring

    Rock band The Gaslight Anthem is following up their 2022 comeback with a headline tour this spring. During the tour, the band will perform at the Buffalo Outer Harbor Site, The Paramount in Huntington, and the Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards in LaFayette.

    The Gaslight Anthem Members, from left to right: Benny Horowitz, Brian Fallon, Alex Levine, and Alex Rosamilia

    The band’s 2022 tour marked the first time since 2018 that they performed together.

    The Gaslight Anthem consists of Brian Fallon (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Alex Rosamilia (lead guitar, backing vocals), Alex Levine (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Benny Horowitz (drums, percussion, backing vocals). The band first came on the music scene in 2007, with their debut album, Sink or Swim. Their most recent album, Get Hurt, was released in 2014, after which the band went on an indefinite hiatus. After a brief reunion for the 2018 Governor’s Ball Music Festival, the group officially got back together in early 2022. The Gaslight Anthem announced they were working on their yet-to-be-titled new album in Dec. 2022.

    Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 10 a.m. begins the artist presale. Local/venue presales begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16 at 10 a.m. All presales conclude on Feb.16 at 10 p.m. General on-sales begin Friday, Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. For more information, please see www.thegaslightanthem.com.

    THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM – US TOUR 2023

    MAY

    1 – Houston, TX – House of Blues * †

    2 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theater †

    3 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom †

    6 – Atlanta, GA – Shaky Knees Music Festival ^

    7 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall *

    9 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution * †

    10 – St Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live * †

    12 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz * †

    14 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium †

    16 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore Charlotte T

    17 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live * †

    19 – Atlantic City, NJ – Sound Waves at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino * †

    20 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Outer Harbor Site *

    21 – Wallingford, CT – The Dome at Toyota Presents Oakdale * †

    23 – Portland, ME – The State Theatre *

    25 – Bethlehem, PA – The Wind Creek Event Center *

    26 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount *

    27 – LaFayette, NY – Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards *

  • De La Soul is From the Soul: Remembering Trugoy

    When TMZ first reported on February 12 that De La Soul’s Dave “Trugoy the Dove” Jolicoeur had passed away, there was an outpouring of respect and support throughout social media. And for good reason, the 54-year-old Long Island native was not only one of hip hop’s most innovative rhymers, he had the catalogue and accolades to back it up. However, Plug 2’s value to the hip hop community isn’t based on his achievements on a commercial scale. For many, De La Soul represents the happiest times of their formative years, the boom era where hip hop wasn’t this high-functioning corporate machine, but when the art was still based around thoughts, feelings and the power to dare to be different, the organic way.

    Embed from Getty Images

    Hailing from the same Long Island outskirts that produced the likes of Chuck D, Rakim and Biz Markie, De La Soul’s contributions to hip hop and the black experience overall was one of normalcy. In an ever-changing rap landscape that had adopted an in-your-face brashness amid Public Enemy, NWA and Rakim’s rise, De La Soul served as the buoyant middle ground between the brazen and squeaky clean rappers of the day. While the group’s success is the product of four like minded creative vanguards (Posdnous, Trugoy, Maseo and Prince Paul) there’s no doubting that Trugoy embodied their very essence. Even as their music matured in between 3 Feet High and Rising and Stakes is High, Dave’s laidback effervescence remained a constant.

    https://youtu.be/tD_crXNhzKs

    Trugoy and De La Soul’s Impact

    In an era where black extremism seemed to be the new norm in hip hop, De La Soul brought a fresh point-of-view to life as a black young adult. With their quirky melodies, lighthearted approach, and genre-bending use of samples and rapping styles, the Amityville Memorial High products helped bring the other black experience to prominence. The one where you had fun, nobody got hurt, police was not involved and everything was okay. As a result, their music offered an alternative to contemporaries as their experiences as suburban black youth afforded them a broadened, colorblind view to artistry.

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    Consequently, their idiosyncratic point of view saddled them with a “hippie” gimmick from their record label. After all, black plight had long been one of America’s main soundtracks. For their part, De La Soul refused to portray themselves as victims to anything but wacky outfits. With their D.A.I.S.Y. (Da Inner Sound Ya’ll) mantra, De La Soul epitomizes hip hop’s ethos of “keeping it real.” Along with other members of the Natives Tongues, De LA Soul brought about a musical and social balance to the hip hop landscape. However, they remained true to themselves, refusing to be boxed into the alternative hip hop mold that was building around them.

    De La Soul is Dead was a backlash of feeling that way about the industry. About how our art was being compromised. I think people’s point of view of what we were trying to do — it seemed as if they were pointing their hands at us like, these guys are basically here to represent something that we believe that they are, and they’re going to act the way we think they’re supposed to. It was like, no, that’s not who we are. It’s not what we’re doing, and it’s not what we feel. You feel emotional when things happen inside, and we just gotta let it out through music.

    -Trugoy the Dove in an interview with Kickstarter Magazine

    At the heart of it all was Dave, whose creatively juxtaposing role as Trugoy resonated with many around the world, with De La Soul serving as an inspiration and pushing the budding careers of several acts, including Yasiin Bey and Common. With iconic group’s back catalogue set to hit streaming services on March 3, we can be assured that De La Soul will never be dead.

  • Phil Firetog Trio & Co. Share Emotional Single “How A Heart Breaks”

    Long Island-based alternative acoustic “mom rock” group Phil Firetog Trio & Co. have just released their upcoming single “How A Heart Breaks.” The single is an uptempo pop-rock track about dealing with grief and memorializing loved ones.  

    Share Emotional Single "How A Heart Breaks"

    “How A Heart Breaks” describes heartache whilst retaining the intensity of rock progressions, paired with emotionally charged lyrics. They have also recently released their fan-favorite single, “Fall,” the first track to include the “Company” performing alongside the trio and their latest holiday-themed single “Long Island Christmas Eve.” The band is set to perform five shows in Westhampton Beach in February and March. 

    Phil Firetog Trio & Co. Share Emotional Single "How A Heart Breaks"

    Phil Firetog Trio & Co. was formed in 2015 and is composed of a Phil Firetog (lead vocalist/guitarist), Johnny “Pots” Potocnik (drummer), Liam Gordon (bassist), Tye Granger (saxophone) and Gabriel Nekrutman (flute/clarinet/alto sax). Each member of the band is diversely talented, they are musicians who blend their individual and distinct styles to craft a sound that is truly rare.  

    Singer/Songwriter Phil Firetog develops music that is rich and intricate and spans the spectrum from clean to grit and ambient to rocking by mastering acoustic guitars with pedals and distorted amps. Johnny “Pots” Potocnik & Liam Gordon fill the spaces with complex & rhythmic grooves, intriguing listeners while they connect on another level outside the lyrical storytelling. 

    The band will continue new single releases in 2022 starting in September with their release of “Fall”. It’s clear that Trio and Company will continue to reshape and reinvent itself in this ever-shifting industry while staying on the edge of new sounds and genres – never losing the essence of the core trio: ‘Rare and Transformative’ 

    Upcoming Tour Dates: 

    FEB 04 – @ Westhampton Beach Brewing Co. Westhampton Beach, NY 

    FEB 18 – @ Connolly’s Pub & Restaurant 45th St. New York City, NY 

    MAR 03 – @ Westhampton Beach Brewing Co. Westhampton Beach, NY 

    APR 22 – @ Westhampton Beach Brewing Co. Westhampton Beach, NY 

    MAY 20 – @ Westhampton Beach Brewing Co. Westhampton Beach, NY 

    For more information on tour dates and to purchase tickets, click the link here.