Musicians Are Touring, Despite the Risks

Between the Buried and Me at the Gramercy Theatre on August 9

Many of the largest concert draws will tour in 2022, but many have already come through the New York area this summer, including Guns N' Roses, Dead and Company, the Foo Fighters, the Strokes, Trey Anastasio, Bright Eyes, Brandi Carlile, Wilco, and Tony Bennett with Lady Gaga. The numbers of touring musicians continues increasing, even while numerous larger-profile artists announced this month that they were cancelling at least some parts of their tours due to COVID-related concerns. Granted, the current tours generally are shorter and more regional than national, and they last about three weeks instead of six months, but hundreds of professional musicians are taking chances and hitting the road. After 16 months of either remaining closed or booking only local musicians, many venue operators are presenting talent that is traveling from other parts of the state or the country.

Many touring musicians, including the Trey Anastasio Band and Jason Isbell, are playing exclusively to vaccinated audiences everywhere they travel. When they arrive in New York City, touring musicians will find that all indoor venues here require proof of vaccination for entry, and many outdoor venues are demanding the same. Even so, touring means weeks of hotels, restaurants, public bathrooms and other variables where the musicians risk exposure to the virus.

Modest Mouse at Brooklyn Steel on August 11

The Districts at Brooklyn Steel on August 11

Widespread Panic is the latest group to postpone some of its concerts. The band announced today that its five-night engagement at the Beacon Theatre, which was to happen on September 16-20, will be postponed to January 2022. The band made the announcement on its website.

"Since returning to live performance, the Band, Crew and Management have gone to great lengths and expense to ensure the safety of every soul in the venue," reads Widespread Panic's web page. "We are taking this pause to re-enforce our already stringent protocols. Bottom line – the COVID virus is relentless, and it loves an audience."

Ashley McBryde at Irving Plaza on August 17

Priscilla Block at Irving Plaza on August 17

Earlier today, Pixies cancelled an 11-date tour that was to include the September 10 reopening of the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York, and the Residents cancelled a September 2 show at le Poisson Rouge because of COVID concerns. Tony Bennett, Garth Brooks, BTS, Michael Bublé, Florida Georgia Line, Korn, Lettuce, Limp Bizkit, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Stevie Nicks, Nine Inch Nails, Alan Parsons and Neil Young are among the larger attractions that in August announced that at least some of their tour dates would be cancelled or postponed because of COVID-related concerns. Phoebe Bridgers just adjusted her tour so that all her previously announced indoor dates were moved to outdoor venues. Meanwhile, other bands are announcing new concert tours, including the Doobie Brothers, who just announced a 50th anniversary tour.

The number of touring acts coming to the New York area appears to be better now than it has been since the start of the coronavirus pandemic aborted the touring talent industry in March 2020. Tomorrow alone, the Eagles will perform at Madison Square Garden, John Legend and the War and Treaty will be at Radio City Music Hall, Lake Street Dive will play at Rumsey Playfield, Ann Wilson will perform at City Winery NYC, GZA will be at the Blue Note, and JP Saxe will play a secret show at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2. Later in the week, Blackberry Smoke, the Allman Betts Band, and the Wild Feathers will play at the Rooftop at Pier 17, and Magic City Hippies will headline at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. This Friday, All Time Low, the Story So Far, the Maine, Movements, Grayscale, and Destroy Boys will be at the Rooftop at Pier 17, Noah Cyrus will headline at Irving Plaza, and Circles around the Sun will play a rescheduled date at the Bowery Ballroom. On Saturday, Rancid, Dropkick Murphys, and the Bronx will perform at Forest Hills Stadium, Brent Cobb and Nikki Lane will play at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, and HR will be at the Bowery Electric.

This photographs on this page celebrate a few of the many touring acts that have performed recently in New York City.

Eef Barzelay of Clem Snide at the Loft on August 8

Steve Forbert at City Winery NYC on August 8

Teddy Thompson & Jenni Muldaur at the Loft on August 18

Colin Hay at City Winery NYC on August 15

Dori Freeman at the Loft on August 18

Black Lips at TV Eye on July 7

Electric 6 aboard the Cosmo on July 17

***

The Manhattan Beat covers New York City's live music developments as they happen. All photographs are by Everynight Charley Crespo, except when noted otherwise. For a list of Manhattan venues that are presenting live music regularly, swing the desktop cursor to the right and click on the pop-up tab "Where to Find Live Music." For a listing of upcoming concerts for live audiences, visit The Manhattan Beat's August 2021 calendar.