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| Rick Snell's Monday night "Bluegrass Sessions" at Mona's resumed last night |
Effective immediately, City Winery NYC will require staff and indoor guests to show proof of a COVID booster inoculation instead of a recent negative test, along with proof of vaccination. The venue's website yesterday updated its entry requirements, indicating that indoor patrons be "fully vaccinated." Several paragraphs into the announcement, "fully vaccinated" is defined as having received a booster.
City Winery's new booster requirement will precede by two weeks a similar policy by the Metropolitan Opera House. The Met announced on December 15 that the booster will be required for entry to all performances starting January 17 for all who are eligible. The Met will admit ticket holders who are not yet eligible, however, if they show proof of basic vaccination.
City Winery's new booster policy is the venue's second safety protocol update in 15 days. Michael Dorf, CEO and founder of the eight-city franchise of City Winery venues, announced on December 19 that effective immediately the New York City venue would require a recent negative COVID test in addition to proof of vaccination. The announcement encouraged testing prior to arrival and also availed a limited number of tests on site; in these cases, the venue would apply a $40 table minimum on food or drinks.
This negative test policy was not in place when customers purchased advance tickets for the three sold-out Los Lobos concerts on December 19-21. Perhaps the suddenness of this safety innovation significantly reduced attendance on opening night. The next day, the second and third Los Lobos concerts were canceled and City Winery closed for several days. A private correspondence with the concierge on December 22 indicated that the negative test policy might end soon.
At press time, one of the graphics on the venue's website continues to specify that a negative test result is required, but the rest of the page and a more recent correspondence with the concierge seems to negate that requirement. The admission policy could become stricter for individual shows. Per the Key to NYC mandate issued in August 2021, however, all indoor seating in New York City restaurants requires at least proof of vaccination.
City Winery NYC will host its next concert on January 7 with Willie Nile. Performances this week by Howie Day, the Adam Ezra Group and Natu Camara are postponed or canceled.
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| A bi-weekly Monday night blues jam returned to the Red Lion last night |
Updates on Various New York City Music Venues
Joe's Pub instituted a negative test result policy similar to City Winery's two days earlier, on December 17, then several days later closed and canceled its remaining December and several January performances. The venue will reopen on January 22 with a performance by Joe Pierce. In addition to proof of vaccination, negative test results will be required for entry until January 30.
Over the new year weekend, various music clubs closed for a few days, canceling shows to insure that staff and customers do not get infected for the holiday. Several of these venues and have reopened or will reopen this week. The Bitter End reopened last night and resumed it Monday night jam with Richie Cannata. Mona's resumed its Monday night bluegrass sessions last night and will resume its Tuesday jazz jams tonight. Otto's Shrunken Head will reopen tomorrow night, although the venue's website has not yet posted a January entertainment calendar. Baby's All Right will resume live music on Thursday with four nights headlining Masego; tomorrow's performance by Penelope Scott is not happening.
The Iridium was scheduled to reopen on December 27. The new reopening date is January 10. All scheduled concerts in between those dates, including Macy Gray, Pakt, Joe Louis Walker, and the Oz Noy Power Trio were postponed or canceled. Later in the month, the headliners include Jane Getter Premonition, Alex Skolnick, Albert Lee, the Ed Palermo Big Band, Eddie 9V, Electric Miles and Mark Hudson. Cherry Poppin' Daddies canceled for January 16.
The Brooklyn Bowl is closed until January 9. Slick Rick's January 7 concert has been rescheduled to March 5. The Connells' January 8 concert has been rescheduled to March 3.
Elsewhere continues extending its closure further and further. The venue is now scheduled to reopen on February 10 with a show by the Greeting Committee.
Connolly's Klub 45 will resume live music with Shilelagh Law on January 14. The James Rocket performance on January 7 is among the suspended shows.
Market Hotel remains closed until January 15, when it will headline Blue Hawaii. Intermittent concerts, including Star F*cking Hipsters and Rebelmatic on January 7, are not happening.
TV Eye remains closed and has not yet announced a reopening date. The Acid Tongue concert on January 7 will be rescheduled.
Many touring bands, who typically perform in venues that are open only when tickets are sold in advance, continue postponing or canceling at least the most immediate bookings. Guided by Voices is the most recent casualty. The band reportedly will not perform at Irving Plaza on January 14, although the venue has not updated its website to reflect this news.
Jeff Slate seems to have canceled his January 8 tribute to David Bowie at Hill Country Live. At least six shows this coming week at Mercury Lounge are postponed or canceled by the bands; check the venue's website for updates on shows.
Smaller venues, particularly bars and restaurants, are experiencing numerous adjustments to the entertainment calendars. A prudent customer will contact the venue for confirmation before traveling.
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| Papa Vega at the Anyway Cafe on January 3 |
Tonight's Live Music
The following concerts were postponed or canceled for tonight. Make other plans.
- Jill Sobule at Joe's Pub
- Howie Day at City Winery NYC
- Brion Starr, Savoia, Girl Skin, DJ Tasmin at Nublu 151
- Danny's Devil's Blues at the East Village Social
- Emily Gabriele at Mary O's
The Manhattan Beat recommends the following live music tonight.
- SaRon Crenshaw (acoustic) at Terra Blues (7 p.m.)
- DUMMY, Theo at Mercury Lounge (6:30 p.m.)
- Sweepea, May Rio at Mercury Lounge (9:30 p.m.)
- Mr. Rose at the 11th St. Bar
- Mona's Hot Five at Mona's
- Ilya Dinov at the Anyway Cafe
- The Story/Bryan Band at Terra Blues (10 p.m.)
- Eli Bridges at the Red Lion (1 a.m.)
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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 January 2022 calendar.
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