Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with newyork and music

Nervous mandolinist looking for the friendliest old-time session in NYC.

nebulawindphone — Sat, 09 May 2009 18:10:40 -0800

Nervous mandolinist looking for the friendliest old-time session in NYC. I'm a pretty good all-around musician, but I'm terrified of playing with other people. I'm an introvert and a huge perfectionist — doing something I'm new at with a group of strangers is just about the worst thing I can imagine. (And playing music with a group is, yeah, something I'm new at. Nice vicious cycle, eh?)

The thing is, I've fallen in love with the mandolin, and playing the mandolin by yourself is one step away from playing the goddamn maracas by yourself. It just doesn't sound right without the rest of the string band. I guess it's time to suck it up and learn to play with others.

So I'm looking for the absolute friendliest, cuddliest, touchy-feeliest most welcoming and least intimidating old-time session in the city of New York. Bonus points if they're convenient to Greenpoint, but I don't mind riding the subway for a while if it means extra friendly. It would be nice, too, if there was a decent core of regulars who weren't absolute beginners, but if loads of experience is incompatible with friendliness, default to friendliness.

I'm looking for locations in NYC of iconic album covers.

phirleh — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:04:12 -0800

I'm traveling to NYC soon and I'm looking for locations of where iconic album covers were shot. Paul's Boutique by the Beastie Boys taken at Ludlow and Rivington comes to mind, any others?

Fredonia Harmonia

blapst — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:55:20 -0800

Looking for interesting musicians and music groups in and around Fredonia NY for video project. I'm producing a video project which requires that I find musicians or groups from the Fredonia/Dunkirk/Cassadaga-area of NY to perform live on camera, and I need leads. The project is open to many styles, genres, ages, and skill levels, but we are specifically looking to avoid the genres generally played on commercial radio. Examples of what we are looking for include:

-bluegrass
-gospel
-a cappella/barbershop quartet
-mariachi
-oompah
-hula/hawaiian
-marching band
-community orchestra
-any music featuring the following instruments: tuba, accordion, harp, pedal steel, ukelele, banjo, vibraphone, steel drums

I'm researching online (Google, Craigslist, etc.) and in town, but I thought I might throw it out to the hivemind to see if anyone has any suggestions I might not come across otherwise (I am not local to that area).

Do you know of small towns in the Adirondacks?

Nillocsoc — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:47:29 -0800

What are some small towns in the Adirondacks (NY)- with nice community, local food, and art? I am looking to spend a few months in the Adirnodacks and am searching for small towns that offer a nice sense of community: art, food, music, books, outdoor activities. Ideally not too touristy, but even that would be okay.

All ideas are appreciated, and anything details about the places would be great!

Thanks.

Where to buy ska/reggae in NYC?

cyrusdogstar — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 22:02:35 -0800

Where can I get relatively unknown ska/reggae music in New York City (or online)? The specific target of my search right now is a recentish album by a group called the Debonaires (a southern California band formed in the mid 90s, not the 1960s group with the same name). I've had such good luck with finding music on iTunes -- even stuff that's not really mainstream -- that this is the first time I've gotten an earbug that I couldn't immediately buy off the iTMS (boo hoo, I know).

As such, and because I've only lived here for a few years, I'm totally clueless about decent places to physically obtain non-popular music in New York, even though I imagine the place is teeming with indie music stores and the like. Does anyone know of such spots that would carry a decent amount of ska/reggae type music? I'll make the "lol Jamaica, Queens" joke now to get that out of the way.

Alternately, online music stores with a non-terrible ship time (the label for aforementioned album does have it but it's 2-4 weeks ship time) might work.

Underage show attendance in NYC

phrontist — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:27:38 -0800

Is there any chance of a 19 year old male getting in to a club in NYC next Friday? I'd really like to see the Kode9 show next Friday, when I'll be in town for HOPE. I've already purchased tickets, and though there was no warning on the website, it looks like it's 21+.

I don't drink, and coming from seeing shows in DC/Europe it's kind of infuriating that the mere presence of alcohol makes it impossible for me to see this show.

I've encountered two legal situations in the US where this is a problem. The first are areas that rule any establishment deriving Y% of their income from alcohol as a bar, and banning anyone underage from entering a "bar". The second is where liquor licenses are so difficult to keep establishments aren't content with the common solution of marking underage individuals hands (as is the case at almost every venue in DC).

Which category does NYC fall under, and if the latter, is there any conceivable way I could convince these people to let me in? Will they check every ID? Is it worth risking my $10, not refunding the tickets, and just trying to walk in (I'm rarely carded except where it's compulsory).

I work for a college radio station and requesting press credentials has worked in the past, but it's in Kentucky and I doubt a request would carry much weight that far away.

Pass the... studio.

eschatfische — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 10:37:23 -0800

Is there any sort of discography for albums created/recorded at Studio PASS? What was the story behind Studio PASS anyway? In the 80s, it seems like a lot of innovative music was being created at Studio PASS (the Public Access Synthesizer Studio in New York). They Might Be Giants' first album was recorded there, for example, as was David Van Tieghem's work. My understanding is that it was one of the only places underground artists had access to gear like the Fairlight CMI. Is there a definitive list of works recorded there? A description of the Studio PASS scene?

Mixtape Filter: Songs about NYC

sprocket87 — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 06:55:50 -0800

Indie songs about New York? I'm looking for songs about or making reference to New York, as in the City. Not looking for classic songs like "New York, New York", but stuff more in the modern & indie realm.

A few I already have in mind:

- LCD Soundsystem - New York I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down
- Interpol - NYC
- NOFX - Olympia, WA
- Beastie Boys - An Open Letter to NYC

What else ya got? Thanks :)

Jesse

What makes Albany, NY a cool place to live?

scooterdman — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 20:48:05 -0800

What makes Albany, NY a cool place to live? I recently accepted a job that's going to take me there in a few months, and I must admit, I know next to nothing about the place. What's it like there in terms of food, music, culture, weather, etc?

What can one do in Albany? Can one take a train to New York City, Boston, Montreal, anywhere else that's cool? How much would that cost?

Is it scenic? Are there lots of parks? Camping? Mountains? Rivers? Lakes?

What's the traffic like? Is there a lot of crime?

Any information, no matter how random or miniscule, would be appreciated. I am trying to get excited about my move, but I know nothing about this place.

Looking for quality goth clubs in NYC

kenoshakid — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 08:06:32 -0800

Looking for quality goth clubs in NYC, or clubs in NYC with a quality goth night.

Please help me identify a long lost song.

lowfi — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 13:49:50 -0800

80'sDanceMusicFilter: "New York, New York, New York!" My wife reminded me of this song last night. It sounds very "industrial" and if I remember correctly, in a very gruff voice, it repeated "New York, New York, New York!". Other possible lyrics are "City of Excitement" or "City of Enchantment". I believe it lists all of the boroughs, as well.

I want to say that it's by Gruesome Twosome, or Front 242. But I cannot seem to find it.

Thanks!

I've got a lot of pent up drumming. Where can I release it by the hour in Manhattan?

jeffxl — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 10:06:35 -0800

Where can I rent a room and a drum set by the hour in Manhattan? I'm looking to play the drums regularly again. I used to do this when I lived in Minneapolis quite easily since owning a drumset/affording a personal studio were all non-issues. Here in the land of small apartments and big bucks, doing the same thing isn't possible.

So I'm looking to re-create my previous situation, only without the owning part, and now by the hour. Manhattan would be best, specifically the UWS or Midtown, but I'd be willing to consider other options.

So do any of you mefites know of any great places that offer such a service? Playing a drum set that hasn't recently been beaten by wild chimpanzees is a huge bonus (read: not a piece of shit).

Sub question: Do I have to bring my own cymbals, or is everything provided?

play that funky music at my wedding on long island

josh — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 05:31:04 -0800

Help me hire a great wedding band in the NYC area. I'm getting married next June in Bayville, NY, which is about an hour east of NYC on Long Island. We've been looking around on the web at wedding bands and wedding band agencies; unfortunately we live in Boston and can't make it to any of these bands' 'showcase nights' to see them in person.

So: any MeFites been to a great wedding with a great band lately? Or had a great band at their own wedding? Our main thing is that we want to dance - a lot - at ours. We're not so into melismatic R&B vocals, but otherwise anything goes. Thanks!

New York, New York!

arcticwoman — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 11:50:03 -0800

What happened to the New York School of Music? I am researching someone who supposedly attended the NYSM in the 1930s but all attempts to find this school or any information on it have failed. I have emailed Juilliard and they have no idea what I am talking about. I have emailed the Manhattan School of Music (three weeks ago and again last week) and they haven't responded. Does anyone know anything about this reclusive school?

Good upcoming folk music shows in the NYC area?

Dr. Wu — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 12:34:20 -0800

My mother's husband is a big folk music fan, and his birthday is coming up. I'd like to get them 2 tickets to a good folk music show that takes place somewhere in the NYC area before the end of 2005. I've searched sites like pollstar.com, but the amount of information is just too large; conversely, searching the sites of individual venues takes forever, and I don't have a comprehensive venue list, anyway. Any online resources or reliable venues you can recommend?

Muchas gracias!

Making the mix (NJ-NY-TX style)

MsVader — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 10:44:07 -0800

Help me make a mix CD about New Jersey, New York and Texas... My brother's getting married in two weeks, and we're putting together "welcome boxes" for all of the guests coming in from out of town who'll be staying in hotels. I thought it might be fun to include a mix CD of songs about NJ (where we're from), NY (where he and his fiancee met), and TX (where she's from), and/or definitive songs by artists from those locations. I've got a short list already developing in my head, but I know that the experts of AskMe can come up with a better selection than I could hope to assemble on my own.

Help me, AskMetaFilter, you're my only hope...

Why is "27th Street Between 11th and 12th" Mentioned as "Off the Hook"?

rxrfrx — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 17:11:44 -0800

In the song "Don't Get Gassed," Erick Sermon (under the name Def Squad presents Erick Onasis) delivers this line:

I'm off the hook like 27th Street between 11th and 12th / All by myself

Where in Manhattan is this referring to, specifically? What's the significance of this location?