S.I. Local

More reliable than the SIR, S.I. Local is Your Only Stop for Exclusive Staten Island Music News! New York, NY | Sarina Bloodgood | Communication Arts Major @ MMC Contact: [email protected]

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Cup Half Full Even Without Full Cup

The Full Cup, a predominantly popular Staten Island venue, closed its door in late April. Seeing a little venue of its nature, filled with memories drenched in music, liquor and coffee, is a sad sight for the island. It had heart, style, potential, and was an intimate meeting ground for all genres, all ages, whether night or day. But no one should give up on the Island scene just yet.

Staten Island has a lot to offer in the music world. What seems to be a popularized opinion in the greater New York City area is that Staten Island is not even a part of the city, let alone a competitor in the music industry. The rugged land of “Shaolin” is home to many famous artists over the years, niche recording studios, and specialized venues that house local music acts that would put some of the (obscenity) seen in Brooklyn to shame. Fads of the rich and the famous, like band-branded Brooklyn, have taken the scene by storm, leaving little room for its stepsister boroughs to step into the spotlight. However, New Yorker’s should see Staten Island as a musical oasis-- a home away from all the noise and chaos of the other boroughs. The island has heart, and it has plenty of reasons to be heard.

Staten Island is starting to make a name for itself and should be seen a force to be reckoned with, producing many indie niche acts to put their spot on the map. Acts like Sara J, Canvas Radio, and Sergio Napolitano have put a folk spin into the island scene. Also, big name Ingrid Michaelson is certainly a reason to brag and a plus one for the indie-pop scene that has been booming on the island. Meanwhile, bands like Audiomentary and Paraiso put a rough edge on the label “rock”. But what is best about Staten Island’s scene isn’t just its versatility of acts, but it’s versatility in venues.

Places like 121 Bay Café offer a relaxing evening and an intimate vibe while St. George Theatre can house many heads and hold major acts such as Michaelson. The best thing about Staten Island’s music scene is it’s flexibility and “go-with-the-flow” feel. Everyone that is a part of the scene is doing it for the sake of the music, not for the show. They seem to truly love their venues and the people that are involved, which is why Full Cups closure was a massive hit to the scene. However, the Island can’t take this lying down. With studios like Cobra Sun, Moon, Cherry Bomb, and Fenix, there are still places for bands on the islands to get their recordings done, even if they have to take it to a popularized venue in Brooklyn to get their name out there.

But the point here is the Staten Island scene is trying, and it should be appreciated for its determination. Like the Little Sound Engine That Could, the Island will continue to turn out it’s hearts into through speakers, whether it’s in it’s own borough or not. The death of The Full Cup doesn’t mean defeat, but it does mean migration for a lot of locals on weekends for a decent show. However, if this truly is a city built on heart, everyone should get over their stereotypes and see Staten Island as a sacred part of the city, somewhere to stay a while and listen.

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Shaolin vs. The CD: Wu Takes On the Industry Standard

Wu-Tang Clan is bringing the ruckus with its newfound concept of artist compensation. The groups forthcoming LP, “The Wu – Once Upon a Time in Shaolin,” has been manufactured as one physical collectors copy, which is sparking outrageous auction bids of up to $5 million dollars.

“Wu-Tang Clan's one-of-a-kind album is essentially a value proposition, one that combines and pushes the envelope of such concepts as scarcity, exclusivity and novelty to such extremes that its value transcends monetary worth,” explains Andy Gensler, a contributing editor at Billboard Magazine.

While Wu-Tang’s desire is to take a jab at the industry standard, there are many fans that have used the Internet to voice their disappointment with the group’s decision, labeling the move as a lack of respect.

“I don't think that Wu-Tang's action necessarily undermines music, but it undermines their fans, which should come first and foremost,” says Chelsea Gentile, a grad student at USC specializing in Talent Management. 

Others, however, like Staten Island artist Sergio Napoletano, see the group’s decision from an artist perspective, thinking of the change as a positive step in the digital age. 

“It makes everything else around the release just as exciting. It's putting the focus back on the artist, the process and how they plan to display their art to others. It gives them their freedom back,” says Napoletano. 

Either way, having an opinion or not is not the point. The death of the CD is imminent and the business model surrounding it as well, forcing artists to find new ways to make ends meet.

Wu-Tang Clan’s sophomore release “Wu-Tang Forever” sold 612,000 copies in 1997 grossing nearly two million dollars. The groups millennium release of “The W” sold 301,000 copies with only one million in sales, a 49% decrease in album sales over a mere three-year period. The CD release downfall into the 2000’s was even more evident when the groups next two album releases didn't come close to the one million dollar mark. However, is Wu-Tang Clan investing well by putting faith in the impending rarity of the CD?

“A determining factor of its long-term value, however, may depend on how good the album is -- which given where Wu-Tang are in their careers is a big if.  If it gets slammed by press or listeners or if it gets leaked, its value may never reach or sustain the 7-figure numbers now being batted around,” says Gensler. 

The buzz surrounding the album is driving a lot of interest and proving that artists have begun to manufacture their own ways to restructure the old music industry model. What we are experiencing is an artist’s rebellion, the post-modern movement of the music industry.

Late last year Beyonce created buzz with her self-titled album which was never advertised before its drop on iTunes. The album sold nearly 430,000 copies in its first 24 hours, 614,000 in its first week, and eventually became the fastest selling album in iTunes store history. Beyonce’s first week sales total for her fourth studio album prior to "Beyonce", “4”, was 310,000 copies, making her secret online exclusive a 98% increase in sales. As Beyonce would say, no “#Billborts” needed. Artists are using their artistry to make the sales.

Artists are taking the death of the retail CD and finding creative solutions to a dying business model; the first step in a successful restructure long needed within the music industry. Whether or not it lasts or if it's the right direction to go, maybe that is not the point.

“Hype is a real and powerful thing. The digital age of music has chopped this down a lot by making music available in any which way you desire.” says Napoletano. “But, what if the artists make it special again?”

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FIRST GLIMPSE: Wu-Tang Clan Releases New Single "Keep Watch"

Wu-Tang have released their first single from their upcoming 20th Anniversary Record A Better Tomorrow. The track called "Keep Watch" was produced by long-time Wu-partner DJ Mathematics and features singer Nathaniel.

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Michaelson Breaks a Million with "Girls Chase Boys"

The video, which pays homage to Robert Palmer’s 80’s hit “Simply Irresistible”, features several feminized men sporting red lipstick and pink tops, imposed behind a low-cut blazer and eyeglass wearing Michaelson. While Palmer’s video features all women, Michaelson’s has a mixture of both men and women, blurring the lines of gender unlike most pop songs today.

While she could have gone with an atypical pretty pop video and played follow-the-leader to the top, Michaelson stuck to her beliefs and made a video dedicated to an issue seen daily in pop music videos: gender stereotyping. While some artists can make viewers go sour over social issues in their music videos, Michaelson has elegantly merged the subtle meanings under layers of make-up and juxtapositioning.

Each individual in the video is presented to the audience with identical make-up and clothing, marking no difference between girls chasing boys, or boys chasing girls. While Michaelson’s video parallels with Palmer’s in many parts, it is a completely different ballpark because of the way the dancers are presented. These tiny tweaks and little gestures completely change the meaning of gender and the video, making Michaelson’s video a beautiful homage not only to Palmer, but also to the way we rationalize and see gender in the 2000’s.

“Girls Chase Boys” has simple cuts and simple dancing, making the message loud and clear. Michaelson’s headmistress look is sexy, yet empowering. While some may say she is only furthering the stereotyping by flaunting a low-cut blazer and sexy teacher glasses, one could argue that this is exactly what Michaelson wanted. You are supposed to see her as this sexpot figure; she is exactly what society thinks. But in opposition to the female and male dancers looking all-similar in the back, the message becomes louder and fitting. With each “boys chase girls chase boys” there is a blending of which direction the chasing goes, making everyone an equal being and quite capable of being equally chased. To Michaelson, gender doesn’t matter because we’re all capable of that broken feeling and we’re all capable of overcoming it.

Michaelson has hit the nail on the head with fleshing open a conversation about the things we have chosen to stigmatize. We are in a new age of identification and diluting gender-related stereotypes through artists like Michaelson is refreshing. The “Girls Chase Boys” music video is needed. It the fuel and spark the music video world needs to burn the stereotyping to the ground. After months of Miley antics between Thicke lines, it's pleasant to see a pop artist release a single with much meaning and subsequently less nudity.

“Let’s not make it harder than it has to be,” Michaelson sings with a glazed look toward the camera at one point in the video. And that’s the truth: it shouldn’t be this hard. “Girls Chase Boys” is exactly the type of conversation the pop video industry has been ignoring. And what we all need now is to wait and see if the fire spreads. Also, to see what other societally relevant little euphemisms Michaelson has concocted for her newest album release.

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Staten Island's live music calendar: What's coming up, from Mack Wilds to Engelbert Humperdinck

Are we missing something? Let us know in the comments section!

S.I. Live has you covered on upcoming live music! Check it out and support!

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Tonight @ 120 Bay Cafe - Pussywolf, Giga Herbs, BIG HUGE

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What's Happening: Sofa Club Working on New Album

Image: Michael Dylan Ferrara

Ex-Paragraph frontman Danny Lane is far from the new kid on the island. Playing since 2000, Lane is now the brainchild of Sofa Club, a band that he terms as “modern, nostalgic dance pop.”

Playing for a little over two years now and having just finished their first full-length album titled Dating Yourself, Sofa Club is different than what most bands are presenting on Staten Island, but Lane stays pretty modest about it.

“I don’t know what makes us unique, but we definitely don’t sound like other Staten Island bands at all. We’re no better or worse, it’s just different,” stated Lane.

Either way, Sofa Club has something catchy about them, like an 80’s indie-pop mix fueled by glitter. The bands former EP titled Actual Video featuring the song “Gotta Gotta Gotta” is electronically enticing and fully equipped in synthwave rock.

“Maybe [our music] is more flamboyant, it’s like synth-y pop music you’d hear in a store at the mall in the 90’s. Currently, we are trying a more electronic approach, so maybe it’ll be will be even more different,” explained Lane.

But don’t let the lens of technology or their funky attire confuse you. While Sofa Club has a particular sound, the different pop elements make the tunes easily adaptable. Sofa Club is by the pop, for the pop, and most importantly, in it for all, according to Lane. 

“There will always be people, especially in Staten Island, who are like "Look, they roll their pants up , so dumb. I hate these weird losers.” But, the music generally sells itself to an audience of boys and men and girls and ladies and blacks and whites and talls and shorts and smarts and dumbs. Pop is for everyone.”

Keep your eyes peeled for the bands release in April 2014

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TONIGHT: Full Cup has Ollie Oxen for FREE!

388 Van Duzer

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Rap Artist William "Starda" Perry sits down with Live Fly TV to dish up how S.I. has influenced his music

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Need a rap fix? Check out S.I. Local Starda and how the island influence his start.

"William “STARDA” Perry born December 7th 1990, a Staten island native is a Hip Hop recording and performing artist; (the performing aspect is a guaranteed and charismatic experience) as well as a songwriter, actor, model, and if you will-visionary.  Like any artist, such greatness cannot be aspired unless there is first inspiration. STARDA’s inspiration being legends such as Run DMC, Mos Def, Biggie Smalls, Outkast, Pharoahe Monch, Jay Z, Jean Grae, the likes of Quincy Jones and so many others.  What many don’t know about William “STARDA” Perry is that on top of all that he is as an artist he is also a very savvy businessman; so much so he has quite a unique and artistically indifferent approach at branding himself. With established cultural arts umbrellas such as “The Snug Harbor Cultural Center” bringing him press and building many other local business relationships has helped him to expand vividly in his career as not only an artist but as an entrepreneur." - foreverlivefly.com

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Weekend Show Alert: Plastiq Passion CD Release @ Slake

251 W. 30th Street New York, NY

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Weekend Show Alert: Milestones @ Tobacco Road 

354 West 41st Street New York, New York 10036

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Weekend Show Alert: The Headlocks & Falling Apples @ Thai Rock 375 Beach 92nd Street Far Rockaway, Queens NY

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You Should Listen | The Seconds

<a href="http://theseconds.bandcamp.com/album/monstro" data-mce-href="http://theseconds.bandcamp.com/album/monstro">Monstro by The Seconds</a>

Album Pick of the Week: The Seconds - Monstro | Indie / Rock

Why you should listen: The psych that's there in keys, the hanging vocals, on occasion-- this band has something in them that resonates with drifting clouds, but obviously in a good way. Every track has it's own peculiar way of standing out, making this mixed bag a good one to reach into. Each instrumentation stands for itself, yet blends so well with John Disalvo's swimming vocals which are sometimes powerful on tracks like "FSU" and other times beach-y like "Crab". If you're looking for a come down to, to wade in the mellow yellow, The Seconds are your pick. 

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S.I. WEEKEND: 3/7 - 3/9

The weekend update covers local music events and S.I. native band shows around the city.

The Full Cup: United Island Fest | A two day event jam packed with talent presented by WSIA and LX Booking.

Day 1 – Saturday, March 8th: 

Milestones Polarity One to the Head A Work In Progress Strays Six Shots Later PLEdGE Road To Violence

Day 2 - Sunday, March 9th:

A Death On Main Street Smile, You’ve Won Pete’s Lost Luggage Endless Sacrifice A Major Choice Among The Ruined Avarice

Plastiq Passion @ Slake | CD Release Show ft. Palm Pilot, Michael Eliran, Yabadum, and Suchaporn!

BPW @ Bungalo 18

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Staten Island's struggling Full Cup posts 'An Apology, A Solution & A New Mission Statement: An Open Letter to S.I.'

Enduring performance venue reportedly under new management

Rob Bailey | Staten Island Advance

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Sergio Napoletano Releases New Singles, Possible EP in Works

[Image & Video Credit: Marc Estrella]

Port Richmond native Sergio Napoletano is fresh out of the studio with two new singles. The tracks, mixed and mastered by Gary Nieves Jr. at Cobra Sun Studio in Staten Island, are the first of a possible new EP for Napoletano and band.

“I quickly figured that a rock single/ep was the way to go. Record a few tunes and keep it moving. After recording five songs and having it take a while to put out, I wanted to try something different.” said Napoletano. 

The trio, noted as “a three piece, indie rock band playing some straight forward tunes” by singer Napoletano, are in no way newcomers to the recording process. Drummer AJ Pantaleo has been recording drums with Gary Nieves Jr. for some time prior to the new singles release, making for a more collaborative, creative, and less stressful adventure.

“We rehearsed the songs at our studio and then set up a night session at Cobra. We laid down the basic tracks that night and then Serg did a few other sessions on his own. We all shared ideas during the process, even Gary jumped into the mix,” said Pantaleo.

Although having the right people for mixing is a prominent part of making a great single, band compatibility is what leads to a successful release. Napoletano, Pantaleo, guitarist Thomas Pistilli, interim album keyboardist Will Shalda have played together over the years in different projects, creating a comfortable environment in the studio. And according to drummer Pantaleo, that’s what exactly makes these new releases different than other content out there.

“We have a really great relationship with each other, musically and personally. The process was a lot of fun and I think the new single represents that. Our love and passion for music is what drives this band. No bullshit. Just music,” stated Pantaleo.

Guitarist Thomas Pistilli also wants people to know that these singles aren’t just from another band on the island, but from a group of musicians who are committed down to the chords.

“I think most importantly we'd want listeners to really appreciate it [the singles] for what it is and in this case, a product of collaboration from a group of very passionate and talented guys just looking to get the sounds out there. With all of us as, for the most part, self-taught musicians, what you hear comes from the heart,” said Pistilli.

While the band still remains nameless, using Napoletano as the lead keeps the main point of the band short and sweet. No flashy names for the singles or the band means real music, all the time.

“I've been using my name to represent the band because it's just easier that way. If a cool band name comes out of it then great. But till then, I'd rather give people an idea as to where the songs evolved from and where to keep going to find it in the future,” said Napoletano.