Envy on the Coast’s Ryan Hunter, Brian Byrne to reunite, perform sans other 3 members
Envy on the Coast as a full band: From left, Jeremy Velardi, Sal Bossio, Brian Byrne, Ryan Hunter and Dan Gluszak. Only Byrne and Hunter will reunite for shows in 2016. Credit: Bo Streeter
The surprise Envy on the Coast reunion in August will only include singer Ryan Hunter and guitarist Brian Byrne, not the other three members of the Long Island band’s lineup.
Tickets for the shows — Aug. 16 at Webster Hall in Manhattan, Aug. 18 at The Paramount in Huntington and Aug. 20 at The Sinclair in Cambridge, Massachusetts — go on sale at noon Friday through Ticketmaster and TicketWeb for the Webster Hall show.
The shows will be the first since Envy on the Coast’s members went their separate ways in 2010, following the release of the band’s promising “Lowcountry” album.
“Recently the idea of reuniting to do shows was collectively discussed at length, though we were unable to reach a unanimous decision about how exactly we would move forward, if at all,” Envy on the Coast’s former members keyboardist Sal Bossio, drummer Dan Gluszak and bassist Jeremy Velardi wrote in a statement. “It was in the aftermath of these discussions that two of our individual members decided that they would go out on their own using the Envy On The Coast name… We hold the legacy of this band near and dear to our hearts, as well as the decade of unwavering support and enthusiasm from the lifeblood of Envy On The Coast — you guys, the fans. However, we do not want the public to be misled that this will be a full reunion with all five original members.”
Hunter and Byrne declined to comment. However, last month, after Byrne joined Hunter’s new band 1st Vows onstage to play some Envy on the Coast songs, they wrote on Facebook: “We love creating/playing with our current projects... But we didn’t anticipate how incredible it’d be to play these songs again.”
For the upcoming shows, Hunter and Byrne will be joined by drummer Doug Rogells, who previously toured with the band, bassist Gray Robertson from 1st Vows and longtime friend guitarist/keyboardist Dan Ellis.
It is not clear what the reunited Hunter and Byrne’s plans are after these shows. Regardless, Hunter’s band 1st Vows is expected to continue, as is Byrne’s new project The Hand That Wields It.
Here is the open letter to fans from Bossio, Gluszak and Velardi:
Dear Envy On The Coast Fans,
In light of the recent announcement about the upcoming Envy On The Coast dates, we wanted to take the opportunity to officially let everyone know that the three of us will not be participating in these shows.
Recently the idea of reuniting to do shows was collectively discussed at length, though we were unable to reach a unanimous decision about how exactly we would move forward, if at all. It was in the aftermath of these discussions that two of our individual members decided that they would go out on their own using the Envy On The Coast name.
Rest assured, our not being a part of these shows is not for lack of desire. We hold the legacy of this band near and dear to our hearts, as well as the decade of unwavering support and enthusiasm from the lifeblood of Envy On The Coast — you guys, the fans. However, we do not want the public to be misled that this will be a full reunion with all five original members.
We love all of you, we are forever grateful for your continued support, and nothing will ever change that.
Sal, Jer and Dan
