BY JASON COHEN
COVID-19 has affected
many different industries, one
of them being the arts. As musicians
cannot tour, hold concerts
or perform it has been a
tough time for them.
The Fox and King, Inc.
(TFAK), located in Throggs
Neck, recognized the struggles
they are facing and decided
to take a deeper look into
the Bronx’s untapped music
community and its relations
to the boroughs culture, culinary
scene and rich history.
TFAK founders Chris
Vasquez and Fernando Michael
launched a docuseries,
“B-Sides” and it premieres on
BronxNet Jan. 6, at 8:30 p.m.
Michael explained that they
had big plans for 2020 before
the pandemic hit. There were
numerous shows lined up and
they hope now this can provide
some respite for local musicians.
“With ‘B-Sides,’ we want to
further display the independent
music scene within the
Bronx on a rawer, and more
intimate, level,” Michael said.
“Every artist has their own
story that needs to be heard
and this series will help to unveil,
and present, those stories
to our local community.”
The pilot episode follows
Throggs Neck resident Alex
Bondarev, lead vocalist for
Bronx-based indie-rock band,
Conversing with Oceans.
From lunch at Jimmy Ryan’s
Bar & Grill, to his live performance
segment of his song,
“Life,” Michael and Vasquez
highlight the local rock scene,
food and bar hubs and inspiration
of the Bronx Underground
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BRONX TIMES R 14 EPORTER, JAN. 8-14, 2021
within the Throggs Neck community.
The duo who have been
in the music industry for a
decade, said when the pandemic
arrived they adapted.
In March and April TFAK
launched Nite Sessions, where
their artists performed on Instagram
Live.
But they felt the need to do
more. With no broadcasting or
fi lm background, Vasquez and
Michael decided to give it the
old college try and dive into
the lives of musicians.
“We’re trying to highlight
local artists in the Bronx and
their relations to the Bronx
community,” Vasquez explained.
“In a COVID setting
we had to be innovative.”
The fi lming and interviews
were done in the summer and
they plan to do at least two or
three more episodes.
Being their bread and butter
is booking artists , it was
not an easy experience, Michael
explained, However, after
numerous days of editing
they are pleased with how it
came out and look forward to
its debut.
“It’s a bit of a passion project
for us,” Michael said. “I’m
very excited. I had no idea it
would come to fruition.”
Their next scheduled interview
is with Drew Torres of
the Drew Torres Trio.
Docuseries to debut
on BronxNet about
music in the Bronx
TFAK founders Chris Vasquez and Fernando Michael launched a docuseries,
“B-Sides” and it premieres on BronxNet Jan. 6, at 8:30 p.m
Photos courtesy of Sergio Reyes
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We’re here for you, too.
Unexpectedly Human
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