Stereo Dinner is the brainchild of Jon Weiss, a club and venue promoter booker, which he co-founded with partners Chris Lott, who doubles as creative director, and Max Puglisi. In the works even before the lockdown, Stereo Dinner will launch its first of what it calls a “meet-greet-and-eat,” Ramones Recollection Dinner, on June 24th, with the band’s longtime tour manager Monte A. Melnick. The event will be hosted by Patti Smith guitarist and rock historian Lenny Kaye and will take place at Bar Primi, located in the heart of the Bowery –not coincidentally – on Joey Ramone Place. The 30 tickets put on sale sold out immediately at $175 apiece.
Weiss is probably best known as the man behind Cavestomp!, the long-running garage-rock festival he launched to spotlight bands like the Fleshtones, Chesterfield Kings, Question Mark & the Mysterians and his own group, the Vipers, which was last held in 2015.
“This Stereo Dinner is an opportunity to mine that great era of New York punk-rock,” he says. “When I first saw the Ramones, it was like seeing the Beatles. It was unlike anything I’d ever heard, but I immediately understood it. They both spoke to me and changed everything instantly.”
Stereo Dinner’s first two shows, featuring dinner and karaoke singing with Mickey Dolenz, were canceled after Covid hit. “You could have a steak poivre and sing ‘Daydream Believer’ with an original Monkee,” says Jon. “We created this concept on the premise that artists and fans are interested in a deeper, more intimate connection, interaction, exchange and experience than your typical pre- or after-show ‘meet-and-greet.’”
And while the idea for Stereo Dinner came pre-pandemic, the results have been to support the beleaguered live event and restaurant businesses.
The next event will celebrate the launch of former New Yorker nightlife editor John Donohue’s new book, A Table In Paris, as well as a limited-edition collection of fine-art prints, to be held at the Quality Bistro in Manhattan, on Bastille Day, July 12. Proceeds will go to the non-profit ROAR (Relief Opportunities for All Restaurants), targeted to help laid-off workers in the food industry.
Weiss says Stereo Dinner is currently looking for a streaming partner – they’ve talked to Mandolin and Fans Live, among others – to provide a virtual version of the events, partnering with food delivery services in the local geographic area to provide that part of the experience.
“Even though live events are back, streaming is here to stay,” insists Weiss, who touts Ticketfly/TicketWeb founder Andrew Dreskin’s new Fly Machine platform, which promises “the most immersive livestream experience yet.”
Stereo Dinner is also planning to expand its reach to other cities, including Los Angeles.
“Social media has sparked fans’ interest in getting to know their favorite artists even better,” says Weiss. “Stereo Dinner means to satisfy that hunger... and feed you at the same time.”