Long Island needs a Revolution!

For over 19 years Revolution, a music venue in Amityville, closed its doors permanently this week. Revolution Bar & Music Hall offered our community all types of musical genres and styles with live shows, but due to the corona virus pandemic, Revolution had to permanently pull the plug on what many Long Islander's looked forward to seeing and hearing for years.

The small concert hall and bar on Merrick Road was first called Molly Bloom's 2 and was host to local bands and bigger acts like the Stray Cats and Taking Back Sunday. Many local bands got their start and played on the Revolution stage. Many who would have not been given the opportunity to play anywhere else as an unknown, unsigned artists. But almost six months of live concerts being shut down due to COVID-19 was too much for the venue to stay alive, owner Pauline Lercara Damiani said while appearing on the Double Trouble Radio Show on local Internet Radio Station iRADIOUSA.

"What a horrible week, I am heartbroken", said Dave Black co-host with Paul Terror of the Double Trouble Radio Show. "These two did not deserve this. Nineteen years of supporting local and national music and it's been taken away." Many recognize the issue of the COVID-19 Virus and the associated pandemic, but what is confusing is allowing certain businesses to reopen following mandated guideline but not others. To many it seems that the music industry is being targeted and local musicians and community members are joining together to voice their disgust at the decisions coming from Albany. "You have to get involved!", says Dave in a Facebook Post.

A non political family friendly event, Save the Music, is planned to show solidarity and support for Long Island's Music and Entertainment Industry. It will take place on Saturday September 19, 2020 at Eisenhower Park from 2-4 pm. Local event hosts say that the demonstration is aimed directly at the tyrannical and unwarranted regulations that unfairly attack the live music and entertainment business. These regulations, including the newest, "no ticketed or advertised events" are just another way to choke hold the already dying New York businesses and live entertainment industry. Those interested in attending should meet at Football field #4, directly across from Parking field 6/6A. Face masks and Social Distancing will be required and observed in accordance with the Governors orders and Nassau County Parks regulations.

The sad thing to note is that while businesses like Revolution has become another to close, as a result of the pandemic, the east end of Long Island has seen traffic jams and people from all over enjoying what the Long Island Wine Country has to offer. This is including live music and large group gatherings just this past weekend. "You have to eat something before you can drink", people are told as they flock to the venues. It was great to hear local musicians playing and seeing those in attendance smiling and seeking some form of normality, but if good for one then why not good for all. Seeing the owners of Revolution taking down and holding their sign with tears in their eyes truly was just so wrong. For many on Long Island it was and always will be the day that the music died.