Mars: Rehearsal Tapes + Alt Takes NYC 1976-1978
Anomia released a second edition of this incredible collection of New York’s No Wave pioneers Mars. Would love to have this in the collection.
You must learn.
Grimey NYC
Animal New York posted these great photos of New Old York from back when it was on some real shit.
You must learn.
Back For The First Time: Social Climbers
Recommended Listening / Post Punk / No wave
This was a very last minute surprise. While surfing Allmusic last night I noticed a peculiar album I didn’t think would ever see the light of day again. Thanks to Drag City, Social Climbers can now be heard in a better light than their previous attempt way back in the early 80’s. One of the many looked over bands coming from the No Wave seen that I had never heard of until Austin’s End Of An Ear actually got a call from a Jersey warehouse saying they found some deadstock of random weird stuff. They jumped on the finds and there they had about 15 copies, still sealed, in stock on a random day of me walking in. Unfortunately Dan from End Of An Ear was so excited to show it to me he opened my copy and played it for me in store. So I could have had a sealed original, but neither here nor there this is awesome!
Weirdo post punk / minimal wave at it’s humbled finest. Here is my original post on the album.
To give it a listen + buy it from Drag City, you must learn.
Dinosaur L Boxset
Sneak Preview
Well, with the Dinosaur L 45s that came out earlier this year came the news of a limited edition boxset. To actually see it come to light is a whole other story. I had forgotten about the project and honestly just didn’t think it was going to happen. I should put more faith in Traffic as they IN NO WAY did not let me down with this beautiful piece of history.
Dinosaur L was one of the many aliases that my favorite artist, Arthur Russell, created in his short time on Earth.
I can’t believe we got a promo copy of this at The Lab and I am so jealous of the voice getting it, but I will have no problem dishing out whatever it takes to get one of these. We should have it in stock soon, so keep your wallets fat and eyes peeled.
To see more photos + get more information on how wonderful this is, you must learn.
The New Museum: Gray
Last Thursday was one of the best moments living in New York so far. The New Museum hosted a very special evening with Gray. Gray was initially founded by famed Warhol associate Jean-Michel Basquiat and Michael Holman. Holman, best known for his cultural aptitude and artistic vision in the New York Downtown scene was host and producer of Graffiti Rock, a short run television show revolving around the then young Hip Hop scene. Though Vincent Gallo was also a member of the group, they are now a two-piece with no Gallo in sight. There was however a large amount of Basquiat footage presumably shot on Holman’s trusty super 8 that was used throughout the performance.
Also making video appearances were Glenn O’ Brien, Fab 5 Freddy and Suzanna Mallouk.
Two shows in one night, both of them being sold out, were quite a spectacle and a good taste of what I could only imagine what it was like back then. Though The New Museum isn’t the Mudd Club, this was the closest I could get to reliving the experience.
These photos give no justice to the show, with their live industrial soundscapes and projections. It was truly a had to be there experience.
Downtown Calling Screening
Recommended Watching / NYC Events
Very excited about this NYC screening of Downtown Calling. As some of you may recall, Austin housed the world premiere of the film maybe two years ago now at the Austin Film Festival. I was lucky enough to catch the flick and DJ the after party with director Shan Nicholson. My pay for the night was a copy of the DVD, which I think is still unreleased, so it was well worth it. Also, getting to play my FAVORITE music that night to an attentive people was a blast.
Coming off the high of seeing the recently reunited Gray at The New Museum last week, this is is the icing on the cake.
If you are a fan of the original No Wave/Post Punk/Hip Hop scene that came from the streets of Downtown NYC, then you MUST see this film. Narrated by Debbie Harry + a ton of original super 8 footage shot by Gray’s Michael Holman gives us a new look into one of the most original times in musical/artistic history.
::BONUS::
Sal Principato (Liquid Liquid) + Johnny Dynell will be performing after the screening. Thanks to Remezcla, New York International Latino Film Festival, and everyone involved for bringing the film back to NY.
To RSVP + get more information, you must learn.
Gray Reunion at New Museum
NYC Events / Art Happenings
Oh My Rockness coming through with a huge surprise for me. Gray, Jean-Michel Basquiat’s band (for lack of a better reference) is reuniting for the 2nd time since their initial inception in the late 70’s/early 80’s.
The noise outfit came from the uncanny downtown scene that spawned the likes of No Wave and one of the greatest moments in New York’s Musical history.
Two performances in one day will mark their first live appearance in more than two decades.
For more information + ticket purchase, you must learn.
Coati Mundi - Dancing For The Cabana Code
Recommended Listening / Purchase
Coati Mundi is the vibraphonist from Kid Creole & The Coconuts and continues the tradition of avant disco pop that came from the New York downtown scene in the late 70s and early 80s. This new album was co produced with Rong’s Lee Douglas and seems to be a really good call back to my favorite time in music.
The double LP is limited edition to 500 copies, so grab it soon!
You must learn.
Kenny Scharf: Houston & Bowery Wall
Kenny Scharf is a living testament to the New York that I love so much and wish it still was. He was friends with Basquiat, Haring, + Klaus Nomi and still represents that time in New York art history that was pulling from nowhere and truly unique.
Scharf is the latest artist to grace the wall on Houston & Bowery after the really great Amaze + Twist wall that was around for the Summer season.
Excuse the pics. There was a projection above it while I was shooting with my P&S and I didn’t wanna catch any of that. I will go back around to try and catch it when it’s done.
Futura 2000 - The Escapades of Futura 2000
So excited about this recent record score. I can’t begin to explain how much this record means to me and how long I have looked for it. I have never ever seen this record in person, so I flipped over it once and luckily I did a double take.
Futura 2000 started painting graffiti with the other true New York masters on subway cars in the 70s and later moving into the gallery scene. His work was so different than what everyone else was doing it stood out and really advanced the art form as well as people’s thoughts on graffiti.
The 12 inch is quite a unique piece to my personal collection just because of who is all involved with it. First off, Celluloid released the 12 inch, one of my favorite labels that have put out such acts as Suicide, James Chance, and Konk. Second, Futura handled the art direction for the sleeve, which the back looks a lot like what was to come for future Mo’ Wax releases. Third, and most important, The Clash were the band making the music + Fab 5 Freddy & Dondi were doing back up vocals!!!
How much more Hip Hop/Punk history could have been packed into this release?
The Visitors are Dennis Kane & Sal Principato
Recommended Listening / Mixtape
Urb Magazine just sent out their newest email update and I am glad I opened it. Their latest podcast is from none other than one of my biggest influences, Liquid Liquid’s Sal Principato, and new partner Dennis Kane. Collectively they are now known as The Visitors and are taking NYC back to the way it used to be.
The mix shows a nice percussive mix of Disco, Ethiopian Jazz, and Sweaty Funk. To me this shows Principato’s influences as clear as day.
This is also a nice interview to go along with the mix that has them reminiscing about their careers up til this point, their new project as The Visitors, and my favorite time period in music ever.
To download the mix, you must learn.
Kid Creole & The Coconuts
James Chance - Sax Machine
Directed by Julien Perrin
Julien Perrin seems to be documenting the later work of artists from the New York No Wave & German Kraut Rock scenes. Scanning through Perrin’s Vimeo profile there are great pieces from Lydia Lunch, James Chance, Michael Rother (Neu!), & Faust. His contributions are for a pretty great website Gonzai.
To view the above mentioned videos, you must learn.
The Radiant Child
Recommended Watching / Trailer
Jean Michel Basquiat… Footage not shown for more than 20 years… Sign me up!!!
A new documentary film based on interview footage shot by friend Tamra Davis in 1985.
To watch the trailer, you must learn.
