Music On Long Island - Historical Venues: S

Exterior of the building which housed The Sahara:

Located at 140 Jericho Turnpike in Syosset, New York, The Sahara was a restaurant, bar and grill which briefly hosted all-ages live music events. Among the notable artists who performed at The Sahara -- which featured shows promoted by Christian McKnight -- were Taking Back Sunday, Thursday, Poison The Well, Matchbook Romance, Hotwire, Bayside, Anterrabae, Eighteen Visions, The Pietasters, The Casualties, The Bouncing Souls, T.S.O.L., Shai Hulud, Piebald, The Starting Line, and ASOB (featuring Jeff Rosenstock).

The same site reportedly at least one live performance by Twisted Sister. Footage of Taking Back Sunday performing live at The Sahara in 2001 can be seen here. Here is a 2002 article from the Long Islander talking about a band called Sound Flava playing an upcoming gig at The Sahara, which calls the spot "Club Sahara."

Flyer from then-upcoming live events at The Sahara:

Sources:

https://www.setlist.fm/venue/sahara-syosset-ny-usa-43d61767.html

https://www.longislandpress.com/2016/03/02/the-evolution-of-taking-back-sunday-2

http://sahara-restaurant-bar-grill-in-syosset-ny.cityfos.com

https://www.brooklynvegan.com/8-amazing-live-videos-to-watch-while-youre-home-and-every-show-is-cancelled

https://www.angelfire.com/indie/stopthetrain/tour1.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/longisland/comments/14jzx32/concert_ticket_prices_in_the_early_00s_on_li

https://octoberxswimmer.livejournal.com/159069.html

Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on April 19, 2025. Updated on July 15, 2025 and October 2, 2025.

Located at 897 Front Street in Uniondale, New York, Screwy Louie's was a popular local bar and grill. It reportedly existed from 1991 through 1998. The space occasionally featured touring acts. Located just off-campus from Hofstra University, this spot was often referred to as a "Hofstra bar."

Edna's Goldfish (featuring future Reunion Show bassist/singer and blink-182 and Guns N' Roses tech Brian Diaz) was documented as performing at the venue.

Flyer from venue:

Keychain from Screwy Louie's:

Sources:

https://www.setlist.fm/venue/screwy-louies-hempstead-ny-usa-23d1d8ab.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/24418454914

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/713456746

https://defiantlydutch.blogspot.com/2008/10/well-have-different-kind-of-debatewhen.html

http://toliveanddieonlongisland.blogspot.com/2010

Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on April 19, 2025.

Exterior of Slipped Disc Records:

Slipped Disc Records opened in 1982 at 68 Rockaway Avenue in Valley Stream, New York, and quickly stood out from other record stores by specializing in metal, hardcore, and punk music. The store also stood out for selling hard-to-find import albums and hosting prominent artists on-site for in-store events. Ultimately, Slipped Disc closed its doors on April 19, 2008, after being open for over 25 years. Founder Mike Schutzman remains active within music, organizing and overseeing an ongoing record show in various locations in the northeast of the U.S. called Vinyl Revolution Record Show.

Among the notables who appeared at Slipped Disc over the years were The Rolling Stones' Mick Taylor, Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Motörhead, Ratt, W.A.S.P., Queensryche, Twisted Sister, Judas Priest's Rob Halford, Ronnie James Dio, Zakk Wylde, and Sepultura. More on the early days of Metallica can be found here, per early fan and friend of the band John Kornarens. More archival photos of the store and staff, beyond what is shown below, can be found here.

Discussion about Slayer's 1984 in-store appearance at Slipped Disc took place in November 2025 with Slayer biographer D.X. Ferris -- as part of a virtual event hosted by the Freeport Memorial Library -- which you can see here.

Examples of flyers and advertisements for in-store events featuring major events at Slipped Disc:

The store also tied in with artists appearing at the short-lived nearby live concert venue, the Rio Theatre:

Ratt at Slipped Disc:

Queensryche at Slipped Disc:

W.A.S.P. at Slipped Disc:

Slipped Disc also sold tickets to select live events -- example below from a Danzig concert at Sundance:

Flyer showing that Bad Brains concert tickets could be purchased at Slipped Disc:

Sources:

http://www.buymusichere.net/rel/v2_home.php?storenr=249&deptnr=43

http://www.slippeddiscrecords.com/SDRmainPage.htm

https://web.archive.org/web/20080219102503/https://getthrashed.com/media/slipped-disc.html

https://www.elektra.com/roadrunnerrecordsblabbermouth.net/news.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qfos6l1iedA&pp=ygUac2xpcHBlZCBkaXNjIHZhbGxleSBzdHJlYW0%3D

https://www.instagram.com/hownice212/p/DFFrJiupvnT/?next=%2Fwearenhea%2Ftagged%2F&locale=zh-hans&hl=am-et

Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on April 19, 2025. Updated on July 15, 2025, July 31, 2025, October 16, 2025 and November 6, 2025.

Prior venue at the same address, The Action House:

As located at 50 Broadway (sometimes listed as 50 Austin Boulevard) in Island Park, New York, South Beach Water Club has previously been the site of The Action House, The Shell House and other venues featuring live music.

Among the notable artists who performed at this short-lived concert venue were the Dropkick Murphys, The Beach Boys, America, The Distillers, The Bouncing Souls, Less Than Jake, New Found Glory, The Dwarves, Catch 22, and Mustard Plug.

A September 2025 presentation featuring content from this LibGuide entry was presented at the Long Beach Public Library in Long Beach, NY, which you can read more about here and watch here.

Sources:

https://www.concertarchives.org/venues/south-beach-water-club--998866

https://www.setlist.fm/venue/south-beach-water-club-island-park-ny-usa-6bd48aa2.html

https://www.myconcertarchive.com/en/event?id=24394

https://cousinfungus.com/its-cousin-fungus-on-top-of-lis-heap-newsday-nightbeat

https://www.villagevoice.com/rocking-the-cradle

Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on April 23, 2025. Updated on October 8, 2025 and October 11, 2025.

Sparks -- also known as Sparks Saloon -- was a small but renowned rock‑centric music venue located in Huntington, Long Island, as located at 134 Eeast Main Street. While not much detailed historical documentation related to Sparks can be located on the Internet, setlist resources confirm that Sparks hosted Blue Öyster Cult, The Scofflaws, and Night Ranger.

One standout moment in Sparks Saloon’s legacy is Billy Joel’s appearance there in July 1981. Though by that time Joel was performing in massive arenas, he deliberately chose Spark’s small venue to record early songs with his touring band for promotional purposes around the Songs In The Attic album. Fans have recalled that it was a filmed black‑and‑white performance, capturing Joel’s signature intimacy and energy suited to the material, even though the album’s released live tracks came from other cities..

After its time in Huntington, Sparks relocated to 1955 Deer Park Avenue in Deer Park, New York. Sparks continued to be a rock-centric venue, as believed to have closed in 1994. Among the notable performers who graced its stage were KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, Blind Melon, Dream Theater, Green Jelly, Testament, Ugly Kid Joe, Zebra, Spin Doctors, Blue Oyster Cult, Murphy's Law, Stu Hamm, Saigon Kick, Doyle Bramhall II, and Blues Traveler.

Video of Dream Theater performing at Sparks in 1992 can be seen here. Video of Ace Frehley performing at Sparks that same year can be found here. This venue appears to be a different venue than Sparks Saloon, where Billy Joel recorded some officially-released performances in 1981.

Ticket stubs from Sparks:

Advertisements for then-upcoming shows:

Sources:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/57040713427

https://www.setlist.fm/venue/sparks-deer-park-ny-usa-53d62bb5.html

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/dream-theater/1992/sparks-deer-park-ny-5bd6cffc.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z78SqHGNmwU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OL3JD1xMU0

http://www.blindmelonarticles.com/1993/shows/1993-03-27_deerpark.html

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/712815808

Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on April 13, 2025. Updated on May 28, 2025, July 15, 2025 and July 31, 2025.

Speaks -- not to be confused with Sparks, and sometimes written as Speak's -- is believed to have been located in the same spot as The Action House and Rockpile, as owned by promoter and manager Phil Basile. Speaks is believed to have been in business from 1978 through the mid-1980s. Its address has been documented as 50 Broadway in Island Park, New York.

Among the notable artists who had performed at Speaks were Aerosmith, Twisted Sister, The Stanton Anderson Band, Rat Race Choir, Gloria Gaynor, Andrea True, Tavares, B.T. Express, and Cyndi Lauper.

A September 2025 presentation featuring content from this LibGuide entry was presented at the Long Beach Public Library in Long Beach, NY, which you can read more about here and watch here.

Front and back cover of an Aerosmith bootleg related to their only known performance at Speaks:

Select flyers and advertisements for then-upcoming events:

Sources:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzTqvSlMaJM/?igsh=eWE5MHBka2s3bm13

https://msmokemusic.com/blogs/mind-smoke-blog/posts/5280861/rock-geography-the-action-house-island-park-ny

https://www.facebook.com/groups/7387168561297326/posts/7613254112022102

https://www.songkick.com/venues/195388-speaks

https://www.concertarchives.org/venues/speaks

https://www.city-data.com/forum/long-island/292192-speaks-i-think-island-park-4.html

Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on April 21, 2025. Updated on May 28, 2025, July 15, 2025 and October 11, 2025.

Located at 2965 Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown, New York, Spit was a nightclub and music venue believed to have opened in 1978 and closed in 1992. Spit had been the site of origin for many WLIR radio broadcasts. The space also had the name of Uncle Sam's, some of its events were promoted as happening at Siberia, and the overall venue alternately been known in writing as Spitz. 

Among the notable artists who performed at Spit and its various themed nights were Madonna, Duran Duran, Iggy Pop, Kansas, Blue Öyster Cult, Steve Vai, Fishbone, Mr. Bungle, Tiny Tim, Electric Love Hogs (featuring future Goldfinger singer John Feldmann and future Buckcherry bassist Kelly Lemieux), Skinny Puppy, L.A. Guns, Zebra, Edgar Winter, Willie Nile, Dee Snider, and Eddie Money.

Reportedly, Duran Duran played their first ever North American gig at Spit on September 16, 1981. A recording of Mr. Bungle's 1992 performance at this venue can be found here. Video of Madonna performing at Uncle Sam's in 1983 can be viewed here, here and here. Video of Taylor Dayne performing at Uncle Sam's in 1987 can be viewed here. The band Kid Panic performing at Spit can be viewed here. An old television commercial produced for Spit can be viewed here.

Duran Duran "all access" pass believed to be from their 9/16/81 performance:

A September 2025 Facebook thread related to Spit helped confirm that "Uncle Sam's became Spit," that "Uncle Sam's" was "in the front spit in the back," and that Duran Duran's John Taylor remembered this 1981 performance -- screenshots pasted below:

Further confirmation of Madonna performing live at Uncle Sam's is shown above -- and notably, Madonna announced a world tour in 2023 with help from Long Island natives Judd Apatow and Amy Schumer. Additional coverage of Madonna can be seen here.

Print advertisements for the venue:

Bootleg album by Dee Snider's Widowmaker, as recorded at Spit:

Signed ticket stub by L.A. Guns' Tracii Guns (original Guns N' Roses member) contributed by Anthony Dalto:

Additional ticket stubs located online:

Spit jacket:

Sources:

https://www.setlist.fm/venue/spit-levittown-ny-usa-3bd23408.html

https://www.concertarchives.org/venues/spit

https://www.facebook.com/groups/61343641536

https://www.facebook.com/groups/HeyLongIslandDoURemember/posts/10156806096931245

https://www.reddit.com/r/longisland/comments/m8mo47/uncle_sams_in_levittown

https://archive.org/details/19920403Mr.Bungle-SpitzLevittownNYUSA

https://web.archive.org/web/20150202081614/http://www.theintegralworm.com/longislandnightclubs.html

Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on April 19, 2025. Updated May 7, 2025, June 23, 2025, September 17, 2025, October 8, 2025 and Ocotber 25, 2025.

Undated exterior photo of former site of venue:

The Spize nightclub was a popular live music venue and nightclub located at 1058 NY-110 in Farmingdale, New York, the same space which later occupied The Crazy Donkey. Situated across from Republic Airport, the space had also been home to The Long Island Saloon and The BIJOU. The venue had the nicknames "The Elvis of Dance Clubs," "The Video Dance Club," and "Where the People Make the Difference." Spize appears to have been open from 1983 through 1993.

Among the notable artists who performed at this venue were R.E.M., Ministry, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), Modern English, Joe "King" Carrasco, Martha & The Muffins, and Anti-Nowhere League. Venue advertising for OMD's then-upcoming performance at the venue can be seen here.

R.E.M.'s 1983 performance at Spize can be heard here. Performances recorded at this venue were sometimes broadcast via WLIR. Other examples of live performances at this venue can be heard here, here and here.

Flyers and advertisements for venue, including a then-upcoming R.E.M. performance:

Vintage t-shirt showing the venue's logo:

Sources:

https://www.setlist.fm/venue/spize-club-farmingdale-ny-usa-5bd627c8.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SPIZE

https://bygonebrand.com/products/spize-danceclub-tee?srsltid=AfmBOorovaGqjYiDc_mXDLSuhQbX7yWy96guRBchDwkc-QMGt94Jqm9W

https://www.facebook.com/groups/HeyLongIslandDoURemember/posts/10159951079566245

https://www.instagram.com/bygonebrand/p/DHioUYjJVTT/?api=1%2F&hl=zh-cn

https://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/13/nyregion/the-new-bar-scene-soft-drinks-and-fences.html

Reesarched by Darren Paltrowitz on April 30, 2025. Updated on June 23, 2025 and July 15, 2025.

The Stage Door -- sometimes known as Sparks, hence the separate entry for Sparks within this LibGuide -- in Deer Park, Long Island was a mid‑sized rock venue during the 1980s and ’90s. The venue notable hosted Dream Theater, then still early in their career (under the name “Majesty”). Their July 10, 1986 performance at The Stage Door included covers of Queensryche's“Queen of the Reich” and Dio's “We Rock” alongside their original material. Later that same year, on October 25, 1986, they returned to the same venue, debuting “The Ytse Jam” live; audio of this performance can be heard here.

Paltrocast interviews with members of Dream Theaters can be read here, here and here.

Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on October 16, 2025.

Sundance was a live music venue located at 455 Main St in Bay Shore, New York. It was opened by Frank Cariola in 1981 as a country music club, eventually switching over to rock-centric programming in 1985; Sundance is also known to have hosted live professional wrestling events. Cariola opened up other Long Island music venues and had worked as a songwriter and associate of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons.

Among the notables who had performed at Sundance were Criss Angel (a native of East Meadow), Buddy Rich, Guns N' Roses, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Soundgarden, Faith No More, The Ramones, Dream Theater (Long Island natives), Alice In Chains, Slayer, Primus, Bad Brains, Ace Frehley, Sepultura, Megadeth, Winger, Yngwie Malmsteen, Anthrax (whose guitarist Scott Ian used to live in Merrick and Seaford), Dokken, Extreme, Testament, Michael Monroe of Hanoi Rocks, Danzig, George Jones, The Who's John Entwistle, Biohazard, Zebra, and Motorhead.

Advertisements for then-upcoming events at Sundance:

Ticket stubs from Sundance:

Sundance ticket stubs contributed by Anthony Dalto:

Slash of Guns N' Roses live at Sundance in 1987:

Vinnie Vincent Invasion live at Sundance:

Sources:

https://www.concertarchives.org/venues/sundance--3

https://www.setlist.fm/venue/sundance-bay-shore-ny-usa-bd731f2.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/50900863925

https://www.piercingmetal.com/coming-early-2020-the-sundance-roxy-reunion-w-zebra-overkill-yt-more

https://www.city-data.com/forum/long-island/421389-sundance-rock-club.html

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/slayer/1990/sundance-bay-shore-ny-4bde4f9e.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLV1IRNhfO4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ3t3_Zrjig

Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on April 16, 2025. Updated on October 16, 2025.

Little is known about a club in East Quogue, New York called Suspenders, except that The Ramones performed there in 1983 as part of their Subterranean Jungle tour. An Instagram posting related to that, as showing Johnny Ramone in action at Suspenders from that evening.

Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on August 19, 2025.

The Swing Set -- also written as The Swingset -- was a venue located at 60 East Main Street in Bay Shore. The venue was documented to have hosted performances by Madball, Agnostic Front, Sick Of It All, Glassjaw, E Town Concrete, Mindless Self Indulgence, Piebald, New Found Glory, Midtown, Rx Bandits, Vision Of Disorder, Shai Hulud, and Snapcase. Below are several flyers related to these shows, as believed to have been promoted by Christian McKnight.

Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on June 23, 2025.