OK, a couple of things here. First off, I realize that post-COVID is probably a ridiculously optimistic way to put it. There are rumblings of a new omicron variant and rising COVID numbers in Europe right now, and you know that it, and a number of other mutations, are going to make their way over here at some point.
But unless these strains are particularly deadly, I don't think you're going to see any large-scale resumption of the lockdowns. Most people are pretty much done with this whole pandemic thing, and if the powers that be try to close things down again - well, let's just say I'm amazed (and maybe a little disappointed) that a number of them didn't wind up hanging from lampposts the last time.
Secondly, I'm not even going to pretend that I have my finger on the pulse of real local music scene anymore. I'm pleased to see that 89 North here in Patchogue has reopened and resumed shows. But as to which local bars, coffee shops, etc. that were friendly to live music might be shut down for good, listing them is a task that's far beyond me.
So I'm going to stick to two categories - the places that national music acts play on Long Island, and the playhouses for Long Island musical theater.
As far as national acts go, the biggest loss to COVID as far as I can see is the Boulton Center in Bay Shore. They're not officially dead, mind you. However, a notice on their website states that they remain closed due to the pandemic, and that the financial hardship they endured during the last two years prevents them from operating at this time.
This is really unfortunate, as I've made it clear in the past that this was always one of my favorite places to see solo artists, small national acts, etc. It probably didn't help them that shortly before the pandemic, Michelle Rizzo, who did a lot of their booking, moved over to the Patchogue Theater. But from the sounds of it, this is mostly about finances, not booking ability. I hope we'll see them back someday. They are missed.
On the bright side, we've actually added one new (and large) national concert venue, The UBS Arena in Elmont. New home of the New York Islanders hockey team, this place just opened during the last year. There are some quirks to deal with - for example, the Long Island Railroad doesn't run from there in both directions (or at least it didn't when they opened). My brother, an Islanders season ticket holder who lives in Brooklyn, was a little surprised to learn that while taking the railroad there was no problem, getting home was a different story, as westbound trains didn't stop there - in order to get home, he had to take a train further east and then grab a train going back the other way. You can't make this stuff up.
Regardless, the UBS Arena currently has a musical schedule between now and October that includes The Eagles, John Mayer, the New Kids on the Block, Roger Waters, Twenty One Pilots, My Chemical Romance, The Who, Iron Maiden and Keith Urban. How is the sound? I have no idea, but maybe I'll find out when The Who roll in this October.
I don't know what this means for the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale - right now, they are open but mostly have minor sporting events on their schedule. So we'll see if they resume as much of a music power.
The two outdoor theaters seem to still be operating, but one of them only barely. The Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh (otherwise know as the Nikon Theater at Jones Beach) has a full schedule set for this summer, and seems to be back at the height of their powers. On the other hand, the Long Island Community Hospital Amphitheater (at Bald Hill in Farmingville) is running a very light schedule this summer. But they've always been a bit spotty anyway - they were just starting to up their game a little before the pandemic hit. And one other outdoor event, The Great South Bay Music Festival at Shorefront Park in Patchogue is back in full swing this year on the weekend of July 15, with bands that include Grouplove, The Manchester Orchestra and Bayside.
Other familiar indoor concert venues that are running full or partial schedules for the rest of 2022 include The Paramount in Huntington, The Patchogue Theater, NYCB Theater in Westbury (otherwise known as the Westbury Music Fair), The Space in Westbury (although their schedule seems pretty limited), The Suffolk Theater in Riverhead, The Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, My Father's Place in wherever the hell they're operating out of now (it might be more than one venue, I'm a little confused about it) and The Landmark in Port Washington.
Amazingly, most of the Island's musical theater venues seem to have stayed open, although they haven't all posted their fall schedules yet. This includes the three equity theaters, The Gateway Playhouse in Bellport, the John Engemann Theater in Northport and the Argyle Theater in Babylon. It also includes the CM Playhouse in Oakdale, the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts in Smithtown, The Cultural Arts Playhouse in Syosset, and Theatre Three in Port Jefferson. The Broadhollow Theater has become the Studio Theater. They maintain the Bayway Arts Center in East Islip, and now have the Manes Studio Theatre in Lindenhurst as well. The Merrick Theatre and Center for the Arts is still running in some manner as well. In a few weeks, when they've all released their Fall Schedules for 2022/23, maybe I'll do a post about it.
Also, both the Tilles Center in Brookville on the campus of CW Post and the Staller Center at Stony Brook University are back to running what look like nearly full schedules of music, dance, theater, etc., and I'm sure as time goes on and we (hopefully) get further and further away from COVID, we'll see their schedules get fuller and fuller. The same goes for the Kupferberg Center for the Arts on the grounds of Queens College in Flushing.
Anyway, for those of you out there on Long Island who are looking to resume a little bit of a fuller music schedule, I hope this was helpful. You can start perusing the websites of the various venues I've listed and see what appeals to you.
I'll be back soon, folks.
