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Music On Long Island - Venues: U

A look at notable live concert and entertainment venues which are no longer in business

Ultra-Sonic Recording Studios

Former site of Calderon Hall:

145 N Franklin St, Hempstead, NY 11550 | LoopNet

As opened in 1962 and reportedly closed in 1992, Ultra-Sonic Recording Studios was both a recording studio and concert venue. The space was located at 149 North Franklin Street in Hempstead, New York. It was said to be across the street from famed venue Calderon Hall.

Among the studio albums recorded there were Turnstiles by Billy Joel (resident of Hicksville and Oyster Bay), American Poet by Lou Reed (native of Freeport and the Hamptons), An Evening With... by Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart, Brain Capers by Mott The Hoople, Live 1973 by Gram Parsons & The Fallen Angels, and In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly. Among the artists who performed live sessions and broadcasts taped at Ultra-Sonic were The Doobie Brothers, Steve Miller Band, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Frampton, Todd Rundgren, Hall & Oates, Taj Mahal, Tower Of Power, and Big Star.

A recording of Billy Joel at this venue from 1971 can be heard here. A 1972 broadcast featuring Bonnie Raitt and Little Feat's Lowell George can be heard here. Lou Reed's 1972 broadcast from Ultra-Sonic was recently re-released by Long Beach label Tapehead City on cassette.

Examples of covers of commercially-released titles from Ultra-Sonic:

Lou Reed - Ultrasonic Recording Studio New York 1972 - Amazon.com Music

Big Star — Live On WLIR – Omnivore Recordings

Ultra-Sonic Recording Studios Former Location In Hempstead, NY

Sources:

https://rockandrollroadmap.com/places/where-they-played/north-east-u-s-venues/ultra-sonic-recording-studios-former-location-in-hempstead-ny

https://gearspace.com/board/so-much-gear-so-little-time/675528-ultrasonic-studios-hempstead-ny.html

https://www.setlist.fm/venue/ultrasonic-recording-studio-hempstead-ny-usa-2bd6102a.html

https://www.discogs.com/label/265349-Ultra-Sonic-Recording-Studios?srsltid=AfmBOoopdJAEgs0mco3Aq2sGckUiiixfvWLVwDDLlZVctwbNGzHU2u4L

https://open.spotify.com/album/5DOKXuLodhfZNfWcda6AuC

https://toddrundgren.bandcamp.com/album/ultrasonic-studio-1972

Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on April 19, 2025.

Ultra Sound Lounge

Exterior of current tenant of where the Ultra Sound Lounge previously existed:

La Cantinita

Located at 2715 Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown, New York, the Ultra Sound Lounge -- alternately known as Metasin -- occasionally hosted national artists and headliners. Among the notable artists who performed at the USL were As Tall As Lions (featuring future GRAMMY Producer Of The Year Dan Nigro), Dan Deacon, theSTART, Murder By Death, The Sleeping, From First To Last, Alexisonfire, Crime In Stereo, Most Precious Blood, and Spitalfield. The space now appears to be occupied by a restaurant called La Cantinita.

None More Evil performing live at the Ultra Sound Lounge:

None More Evil live at Metasin / Ultrasound Lounge - Levittown, NY Oct 2003  - YouTube

Poster for a then-upcoming event:

tool98 | Flickr

Sources:

https://www.setlist.fm/venue/ultra-sound-lounge-levittown-ny-usa-43d66707.html

https://longislandmusicscene.fandom.com/wiki/Ultrasound_Lounge_(Metasin)

https://www.reverbnation.com/venue/1167394

https://epicede.tripod.com/id8.html

https://www.noplacelikelongisland.com/podcast/2017/1/9/timothy-connolly-on-tsr-games-legendary-realms-east-rockaway-dd-and-more

Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on April 19, 2025.