Trey Anastasio Band's James Casey Launches 'Aux Chord' Digital Venue

James Casey has announced the launch of Aux Chord, a new online music venue. The multi-instrumentalist, best known as the saxophonist for Trey Anastasio Band, plans on offering ticketed live stream events as the shutdown of live music continues.

While Casey acknowledged that the idea of live streaming events is nothing new, Aux Chord: A Live Streaming Venue will place an added emphasis on video and audio quality that is missing from platforms like Facebook or YouTube. The online music venue is pitched as being designed by musicians, for musicians.

In a press release, Casey announced that he will be the venue’s first performer with a showcase airing on Thursday, June 11th at 9 p.m. ET. Additionally, future performances will feature Jennifer Hartswick and Nick Cassarino, Natalie Cressman and Ian Faquini, Louis Cato and Erin Boyd, and many more to be announced.

“The goal of Aux Chord is to supply a place for the music community to continue to grow and thrive, and supply a place for music fans to be able to see great live music with great picture and sound,” Casey said in a statement. “I doubt we’re the first to do this, and we definitely won’t be the last, but hopefully this can be a positive thing for the artists at large.”

As a resident of New York City, Casey said that he saw the early warning signs of the pandemic that COVID-19 would eventually become. In accordance with the impending doom of the live music industry, he began brainstorming with partner Ayla Cobb in quarantine back in February on how to reconcile with an entire calendar year’s worth of cancellations. Eventually, with the help of web designer Stephen Small, the groupmind created Aux Chord: A Live Streaming Venue. Casey added of the new venture,

Hopefully this can be a resource for musicians, especially independent artists, in a time where we honestly aren’t able to perform and do what we’ve been working towards our whole lives. But what we can do is these live streams and create art for people to consume, especially considering that everyone is going through a whole lot right now. This isn’t like going live on Facebook or Instagram and busking. The platform is about elevating that experience and really performing for the people. We’re putting on a show.

For more information on Aux Chord, and to purchase tickets for Casey’s June 11th showcase, head to the venue’s website.