Local Music Acts and Venues Take Further Cautions Against COVID Spread

Los Lobos at City Winery on December 20; for the first time anywhere, all guests had to show proof of vaccination plus a negative COVID test (photograph by Ehud Lazin)

To help prevent the spread of the new strains of COVID among staff and customers at least 17 Manhattan and Brooklyn music clubs over the weekend announced temporary closures. City Winery yesterday announced that immediately it would require its guests to show proof of COVID vaccinations plus a recent negative test. The Bowery Ballroom, Mercury Lounge and Saint Vitus Bar last week announced that customers must wear masks in their venues at all times except while drinking. The staff at the Town Hall last week did not permit ticketholders to enter Steve Earle's benefit concert until they donned their masks. Since then, the announcements from bands and venues continue mounting.

All Them Witches at Warsaw on December 7; Lagwagin cancelled there two nights ago

Musicians Make Difficult Decisions

LCD Soundsystem stated on December 17 that the band intended to face the risks and complete its 20-night residency at Brooklyn Steel. A day later, that decision was reversed and the band cancelled its final three performances. In a statement on social media, the band respected that many ticketholders wanted to withdraw and explained that "we also, now with all the new info, want to stop for our own sakes."

Zach Bryan's concert at Webster Hall tonight is postponed. Webster Hall's next concert will be Claptone on New Year's Eve. Originally scheduled for two shows on New Year's Eve that would party into the wee hours, Claptone now will perform one show and the event will end at 2 a.m.

The band Nothing will not perform at Saint Vitus Bar tonight and tomorrow night. The band announced on social media that "Due to a positive test within the Nothing/Bambara/Midwife family, we've decided to postpone the remaining dates of the tour."

Vakili Band will not perform at Mercury Lounge tonight. The band's social media says "Because if the Rockettes can't kick up their heels, we're gonna hold off rocking too." A new date will be announced at a later time.

Dog Date at Mercury Lounge on December 6; tonight's early show headliner canceled at the venue

Smirk at Mercury Lounge on December 6

Emily Duff has cancelled her monthly show at Cowgirl tonight and will perform a free live stream instead on her Facebook page at 6 p.m. Duff posted on social media "Tough decision but here it is folks, Emily Duff Band LIVE at Cowgirl! Is CANCELED. I’m sorry but there’s just too much ‘Rona runnin’ rampant round here right now and I’m not willing to run the risk of ruining anybody’s health. My band and my fans, my family and my friends mean too much to me. Cowgirl feels the same."

Puma Perl, Joe Sztabnik and Dave Donen will not perform at the Anyway Café tonight. Perl announced on social media that the trio has "made the difficult decision to cancel," adding that "We love doing these shows and seeing all of you but transmission rates are too high right now to be comfortable with gathering people together.  Hope to see you all at the next one, January 17, if all goes well."

Towncryer at the Anyway Cafe on December 2; the venue is experiencing some cancellations by musicians

Curtis Suburban at Otto's Shrunken Head on December 10; starting today, the venue will close for two weeks

More Venues Consider Safety

Unsteady Freddie, who has curated the monthly Surf Rock Shindigs at Otto's Shrunken Head since 2004, has had to cancel his January gig. It would have been his birthday show, and would have featured performances by The TarantinosNYC, the Supertones, and the Reverb Kings. He was informed yesterday by the venue management that "To maintain the safety of our staff, DJs, performers and customers we will be closing after tonight's Holiday Party. We plan to reopen January 5th, after all traveling staff has returned and had time to test." This means that Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co., which was to resume its monthly residency on December 23, also will have to wait until the venue's reopening in January.

Both Rockwood Music Hall and Terra Blues closed last night and will remain closed tonight. Kathy Zimmer's show tonight at Rockwood's Stage 3 will move to a later date and a different venue. An email notice reads "Sorry to report that Covid is cancelling Kathy Zimmer at Rockwood 3 Monday night. She found a makeup date on Monday, January 17, at the Mercury Lounge.  We'll have details in 2022. Rest up, and be good to yourself and your neighbors."

The Pioneers at Terra Blues on December 5; the venue will be closed tonight

Kolker at the Bitter End on November 26; the venue yesterday posted that "unfortunately due to staffing issues we are forced to close this evening"

Mona's posted on social media that "due to the Omicron (Grinch) variant sweeping thru the neighborhood, Mona's will be closed for the holidays 20th-27th." That means that Rick Snell's Bluegrass Session tonight and the Tuesday night jazz session are both cancelled.

The website for the Cellar Dog says simply "Out of an abundance of caution, and for the safety of our staff, artists, and guests, cellar dog is temporarily closed. We thank you for your continued support."  

The Originals will not perform at Irving Plaza tonight. The Ear Inn has cancelled its live music all this week. The Manhattan Beat will continue to report developments as they happen.

The Saul Rubin Quartet at the Cellar Dog on November 24; the billiard hall's website lists shows this week but also says that it is closed (photograph by Seth Okrend)

***

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 December 2021 calendar.