New York


  • Playing in a Rock Band, 5: What Kind of Music Do You Want to Play?

    Frank Doris continues to mine his experience accrued over 50 years of playing in bands, offering insight into brand identity, having a set list, and playing music you don’t like for the sake of entertaining the crowd!

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  • A History of Hard and Heavy, Ep 2: Iron Butterfly, Jeff Beck, The Beatles

    In this episode, writer and self-taught musicologist Claude Lemaire chooses Iron Butterfly, Jeff Beck, and even the Beatles as pioneering heavy rock influencers.

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  • How Disneyโ€™s Fantasound Brought Surround Sound to Hollywood in 1940

    In the late 1930s, when Hollywood was still refining synchronized sound, Walt Disney had an audacious idea. He wanted to create an animated film that not only brought classical music to the masses but did so in a way that allowed audiences to feel like they were immersed in the music itself. Enter Fantasiaโ€”a revolutionary…

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  • The Vinyl Beat: The Doobies, Rhinos, Secret Identities, Salsa, and Tutus

    Welcome to the November Vinyl Beat! This month at Casa Rudy weโ€™re enjoying a couple of Doobies, being overrun by Rhinos, wearing aย Tutu, adding some salsa to lifeโ€™s recipe, and operating under an assumed identity.

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  • The Day Frank Zappa and Jimi Hendrix Took on The Beatles

    Frank Zappa was never one to tread lightly, especially when it came to tearing down cultural idols. So when he and the Mothers of Invention decided to parody The Beatlesโ€™ iconic Sgt. Pepperโ€™s Lonely Hearts Club Band cover for Weโ€™re Only In It For The Money, they went all in, crafting a visual riot that…

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  • Gradology 101: The Life of Joseph Grado

    From Brooklyn watchmaker to audio legend, Joseph Grado transformed precision craftsmanship into the iconic โ€œGrado soundโ€ that audiophiles still obsess over today.

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  • And Just Like Thatโ€”A Complete Reset to My Digital Streaming System!

    Tom Gibbs reveals how Euphonyโ€™s new software and a top-notch DAC took his music system to stunning new heights, with sound so real it feels like a live concert.

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  • A History of Hard and Heavy, Ep 1: The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, Blue Cheer

    Welcome to Claude Lemaire’s new series, in which he explores the history of hard rock, heavy rock, and heavy metalโ€”including metal’s many subgenres.

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  • Harlemโ€™s Honor Roll: The Most Important Jazz Photo Ever Taken

    On a hot August morning in 1958, something extraordinary happened on a Harlem street. Fifty-seven jazz legends gathered on the stoop of 17 East 126th Street, not for a performance, but for a photograph that would become one of the most iconic images in American music history: A Great Day in Harlem. Captured by Art…

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  • Bob Marleyโ€™s Final Bow: The Last Concert at Pittsburghโ€™s Stanley Theatre

    All photos by David Meerman Scott On September 23, 1980, Bob Marley, already a global icon and a beacon for reggae music, took the stage at the Stanley Theatre in Pittsburgh for what would be his last live performance. The air was thick with anticipation as 3,500 fans packed the sold-out venue, but few knew…

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  • How To Play in a Rock Band, Part 1: Introduction

    “Iโ€™ve decided to start a new series. Even if youโ€™re not a musician, perhaps itโ€™ll give some insight into the nitty-gritty of the art of music-making, or inform your listening the next time you sit in front of your stereo, or just provide some entertainment and perhaps a life lesson or two.

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  • Summer Jam 1973: When 600,000 Fans Rocked Watkins Glen

    Watkins Glen, New Yorkโ€”July 28, 1973. This date marks an unparalleled event in rock history. The Summer Jam at Watkins Glen wasnโ€™t just a concert; it was a colossal phenomenon that shattered records and set new standards for music festivals. Promoted by Shelly Finkel and Jim Koplik, the festival attracted an estimated 600,000 to 800,000…

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  • Boombox Bonanza: The History and Evolution of Portable Music Players

    In a world dominated by smartphones and wireless earbuds, itโ€™s easy to forget the trailblazers of portable audio that paved the way. This journey through the history and evolution of portable music players is filled with innovation, cultural shifts, and technological marvels. Letโ€™s dive into the groovy history and evolution of portable music players, a…

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  • David Bowie, Keith Richards & Tina Turner at the Ritz

    In January 1983, a now-iconic photograph was taken backstage at the Ritz in New York City. It featured Tina Turner, David Bowie, and Keith Richards, capturing a moment of musical camaraderie and mutual respect that symbolized a pivotal period in Turnerโ€™s career. The early 1980s were a challenging time for Tina Turner. After breaking free…

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  • Inside the Rolling Stones’ First US Tour

    The Rolling Stonesโ€™ inaugural U.S. tour in 1964 was a wild ride of rock โ€˜nโ€™ roll chaos and cultural clashes. Hereโ€™s a deeper dive into the anecdotes and adventures that marked this historic tour, setting the stage for the bandโ€™s legendary status. The Flight That Almost Didnโ€™t Happen Before the Stones could even set foot…

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