Line dancing is afoot to the music of JB Aaron at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill.
Once upon a time, the halls inside a mall were the last place I’d expect to find a growing local music scene.
It’s happening at Destiny USA, the mega shopping, dining and entertainment complex in Syracuse.
They call the expansive new wing The Canyon. And that’s
the way it looks from the rails of all three stories as you can gaze skyward to the rope adventures awaiting way up top at a place called WonderWorks.
Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill is on floor three, waiting with food, drinks in Red Solo Cups, and a music stage. Last summer, I caught the namesake’s special afternoon set in his Syracuse franchise. Way cool, very up close, acoustic fun.
On Friday and Saturday nights, they book Central New York country bands — save for the special national nights when touring acts come to play — and let the dancing begin.
Saturday night, my dear wife Karen and I caught some action presided over by JB Aaron of Niagara Falls. The country music fans were having fun.
The Shakedown entertains a happy crowd at World of Beer.
The latest addition to the Syracuse live local music scene is World of Beer.
Wednesday through Saturday nights, WOB feature bands on the stage to add to the aura of hundreds of beer choices.
Saturday night, The Shakedown entertained a chatty gathering.
The way the bar is set up, the music easily escapes into the rest of the wing.
It’s a hopping scene.
If you’d like to read my entire story on the Syracuse Public Media site, click the link below.
http://waer.org/post/new-destiny-usa-wing-hops-live-local-music
Have gone to see live local music in the mall? Are there a lot of choices for live local music where you live?</strong?
Mark Bialczak 
I am a fan of music everywhere, as well as art everywhere! I feel that malls need to attract more business, which this does. I feel bad that many people tend to go to the Big Box stores out of the simple in and out process. Winter times, I love walking or strolling around a mall, would enjoy live music to entertain myself. I also love watching people in malls! I am a grabber of coffee and sitting on a comfy sofa or chair, just seeing who is around me. This was a way to get me thinking about trying to suggest this same thing to Polaris Mall. We have an outdoor part there, but where the most music is downtown Columbus, at Easton Towne Center or our artsy area on High Street. Our small town/ local places, Roop’s has open mic night and a regular band on Fridays, and guests on Sat. nights, Old Bag of Nails has a patio where three to five months a year they have live music. Then there are several other places… I won’t take any more space up here! Smiles, Robin
LikeLike
It sounds like you have a choice of places to enjoy live music, and that is good, Robin. As far as malls go, if they do things out of the box, they can serve as a community gathering place, too.
LikeLike
Destiny is my local mall, too. Thanks for the news. I was there a few weeks ago, and walked through the new Canyon. Wow! Different for a mall! More like a mini amusement park for young adults.
LikeLike
They are trying hard to make a unique statement to our community, Grace. That’s a good thing for CNY.
LikeLike
I haven’t been to our mall in ages. Seems like all the stores are shutting down because they keep raising the rent there. My favorite book store, the only audio video store, several restaurants, clothing shops, all gone now. I’ve eaten at some restaurants in the food court one week, gone back for a second round the next week and it’s gone. Live music? Not a chance. I think even the mall walkers are boycotting the place.
LikeLike
Some malls are going the way of the dinosaur while others are thriving. Location? Commitment by owners? Changes in the community? All of the above? Sorry, Angie.
LikeLike
This is awesome! I haven’t heard of live music in malls since Tiffany did her mall tours. Remember her?
LikeLike
Of course I remember Tiffany’s pop, Sandra. Not only that., I just saw her and Vanilla Ice on a cooking series on The Food Network!
LikeLike
i love live local music. don’t know of any of our malls with this, but i do go to some local places in downtown ann arbor that have a wonderful offering of all kinds of music. nothing like experiencing it firsthand. your mall hotspots are probably good for the mall business too –
LikeLike
I like having the local music a lot better than not having it there, Beth, though there are other local bars that have been doing it so well for a long, long time.
LikeLike
i would have to agree with that, i think the more the better, as far as places promoting the local music scene. )
LikeLike
That is a great idea, having live music in a mall! I wonder if my cousin has ever played there? He’s in a band called Seventh Sign from Niagara Falls… Neat!
LikeLike
I will keep my eye out for your cousin’s band on the mall music schedules, former Western New Yorker! Good to hear from you today.
LikeLike
And, FMI, did you check out my ‘My Three Dogs’ post today?
LikeLike
The mall is dead. Long live the mall!
LikeLike
The gerbils are always spinning the wheel of life, Chris.
LikeLike
I hear them in there, but I’ve never actually seen one. I have friends who have.
LikeLike
Our local mall is not a hot spot. But there are quite a few local establishments that promote and encourage live music. We have greatly enjoyed these.
LikeLike
Here, too, Colleen. It opens my eyes to see the mall join the music mix.
LikeLike