CBGB Nostalgia Vol. 6 | Avengers
Volume 6 of Unartig’s CBGB series offers Penelope Houston’s Avengers. Shortly before CB’s final collapse, Ms Houston and company played one last show to a sold out and rowdy crowd on September 08, 2006. A memorable night, filled with classics and warmly welcomed sing-alongs.
Songs:
00:12 Corpus Christi
03:29 Uh Oh
06:28 Cheap Tragedies
09:14 I Want In
11:34 Crazy Homicide
13:35 The End Of The World
17:18 Desperation
19:21 Second To None
21:32 White NIgger
24:32 Car Crash
29:23 Paint It Black (Rolling Stones)
32:43 The American In Me
34:42 Money (Flying Lizards)
36:36 Fuck You
38:28 Open Your Eyes
40:42 I Believe In Me
44:10 Thin White Line
46:54 We Are The One
CBGB Nostalgia Vol01 – Angry Samoans
CBGB Nostalgia Vol02 – Blondie
CBGB Nostalgia Vol03 – Gorilla Biscuits
CBGB Nostalgia Vol04 – Patti Smith
CBGB Nostalgia Vol05 – Avail
CBGB Nostalgia Vol06 – Avengers
Hot Water Music – Retrospective Vol. 3
Volume 3 of (((unartig)))’s Hot Water Music retrospective offers another slew of “No Division” shows, this time from the tour’s U.S. leg, which was at least as crazy as the engagement in Europe a few months earlier. Also featured in this edition is footage from the European tour with Leatherface in 2001 and words by Eric Weiss of Rumpshaker Zine and Walter Schreifels of Quicksand, Gorilla Biscuits, Youth of Today, Rival Schools, Moondog.
Subway Series – Vol. 3
If your daily commute required subway transfers at 14th Street/Union Square in the last few years, chances are you have caught the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble live in action. Originally Chicago, IL based, this collective of brothers, seven of whom are the sons of Sun Ra Arkestra’s Kelan Phil Cohran, relocated to New York City in 2005 and appeared quite regularly on Gotham’s streets in the past. It’s hard to tell whether or not this is still the case. Looking at their busy calendar, filled with plenty of major domestic and overseas festival gigs, indicates otherwise. But who knows, if you are lucky, you might still be able to catch some guerilla style brass eruption in a busy subway station or on a crowded sidewalk. In the meantime, here’s some footage from a couple of years ago.
Subway Series Vol01 – Drummers
Subway Series Vol02 – Subway Show 5
Subway Series Vol03 – Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Hot Water Music – Retrospective Vol. 2
The second edition of our Hot Water Music retrospective focuses on the year 2000 “No Division Tour” in Europe which had the Gainesville, FL outfit team up with Germany’s Muff Potter. No disrespect to pre and post eras, but as far as I am concerned the 1999 release of “No Division” marked Hot Water Music’s artistic peak, both studio-wise and in terms of live energy. While many consider “Forever and Counting” their strongest offering, I beg to differ and give my vote to its successor. It was when “No Division” hit the streets that everything about this band was smoking hot, resulting in sold out and completely nuts live shows across the country. Even if it sounds cliché, in 2000 there was a certain honesty in their performances and songs that seemed not so staged, but real. These shows were not just a routine that repeats itself night after night. I am not the type known for living in the past, but I kind of wish I could turn back time for a night or two because the way that these boys delivered remains unmatched to this very day. It was one of those moments in time that you wish would never change and last forever. Below are impressions from said tour including a few thoughts and memories by Nagel of Muff Potter and Joe Readel.
Subway Series – Vol. 2
Fun times on the New York City subway. Lead by The Eskalators, back in June a group of maybe 100 people headed from Times Square out to Queens on the 7 Train, singing along to all sorts of train related songs including Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy Train, The Clash’s Train in Vain and Runaway Train by Soul Asylum.
Subway Series Vol01 – Drummers
Subway Series Vol02 – Subway Show 5
Subway Series Vol03 – Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
CBGB Nostalgia Vol. 5 | Avail
As part our continuing series of shows from CBGB’s we offer you a selection of songs from Avail’s opening set for the Bad Brains on October 09, 2006. Ever since I discovered them in the early 90s via a Bad Trip 12″ ‘Thank You’ list, this Richmond, VA outfit has held a special place in my heart. Yes, the good old pre-internet, pre-Myspace times, when the discovery of a new kick ass band actually felt like holding a little treasure in my hands. A small feeling of success and victory that got totally lost in an oversaturated myspace age. Anyway, having discovered Avail the way I did back in the day, it almost gave me the chills listening to Tim Barry on stage at CBGB’s, talking about how Fred from the band Bad Trip always took care of them, going back as far as 1989. Fred not only took care of these Richmond boys when they came to town, he also provided a few thoughts and memories for this edition of Un:art:ig’s run of CBs nostalgia. Enjoy!
[Fred Muench | Bad Trip]
A mutual acquaintance had introduced me to Tim and Joe probably in about 1988 or 1989. When I first heard their demo “reaching out” I thought to myself—these guys definitely have something special and I started following them. That CBs show was pretty funny– they were really excited but Mondays at CBs was audition night and the average age of the people there excluding me, a friend and the band was 50 (and drunk). One thing about them was that they were definitely in good spirits the whole time though. It was when Tim came off the drums and started singing that it all came together. Whoa… they were able to merge emo (real DC emo- not today emo), anthem OI, southern rock and hardcore like nobody was able to do. Their live shows were insane. Among the bands that began in the late 80s, Avail and Snuff are the primary two that still have a regular spot in my rotation. It’s just good and it will stay good.
Songs:
South Bound 95
Deepwood
Black and Red
August
Taken
West Wye
Virus
Heroin
Rest
Model
Simple Song
CBGB Nostalgia Vol01 – Angry Samoans
CBGB Nostalgia Vol02 – Blondie
CBGB Nostalgia Vol03 – Gorilla Biscuits
CBGB Nostalgia Vol04 – Patti Smith
CBGB Nostalgia Vol05 – Avail
CBGB Nostalgia Vol06 – Avengers
Subway Series – Vol. 1
Back in January 2007 we were on our way to the Idiotarod race in Williamsburg when we ran into a cute little “drum & dance” stunt on the L-Train platform at Union Square. This footage was believed to be lost for more than two years until I excavated it this morning by pure chance. If you have more info on the performers please feel free to share – and if it’s only for the sake of giving proper credits.
Subway Series Vol01 – Drummers
Subway Series Vol02 – Subway Show 5
Subway Series Vol03 – Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
CBGB Nostalgia Vol. 4 | Patti Smith
October 15, 2006. Patti Smith put the final nail into CBGB’s coffin with a 3 hour long set. Instead of offensively priced drinks, one can now buy high end consumer level fashion items inside these legendary walls. Below are 33 minutes of the last beat of CB’s dying heart and a few thoughts on the “Home of Underground Rock” by Steve Trimboli, written in 2004.
[Steve Trimboli | Goodbye Blue Monday & Scrapbar]
when i died, as my life was flashing before my eyes on the last day of april in 1995, i saw that we were a moment in time. that we’re all moments in time. my dad, steve (there were a few uncles, but no one loved me as much as him) chose not to go to the wake or funeral. instead, he came the following morning and filled my stairway with wonderful white flowers and so much love. i don’t think anyone knows just how much he loved me. a couple of days later, he met with the doctor (we’ll use that word instead of “landlord”). they told him that they can give me a transfusion (that’s another word for “lease”) and that dad could take care of me for another five years . i watched as he looked at the walls, his fingers touching the stone, and i flooded his heart and mind with memories and promises. how odd it was to hear him say, “no. i don’t think so. i think it was enough.” well, CBGB’s was very lucky and blessed, but sits in a different world now. go there and look around. it doesn’t belong there anymore. the east village and lower east side has become the “lower-upper-east side”. that place died ten years ago anyway. it’s over. trust me. i know dead.
Songs:
Piss Factory
Pale Blue Eyes (Velvet Underground)
Birdland w/Flea
Rock N Roll Nigga
Gloria
CBGB Nostalgia Vol01 – Angry Samoans
CBGB Nostalgia Vol02 – Blondie
CBGB Nostalgia Vol03 – Gorilla Biscuits
CBGB Nostalgia Vol04 – Patti Smith
CBGB Nostalgia Vol05 – Avail
CBGB Nostalgia Vol06 – Avengers
CBGB Nostalgia Vol. 3 | Gorilla Biscuits
September 03, 2006. Gorilla Biscuits brought the house down at CBGB’s one last time before the “spit covered walls and piss soaked bathrooms”, as Civ put it, closed for good. Below is a 25 minute edit of the show. Please excuse the not so stellar quality. The packed room was a madhouse with kids constantly flying all over the place. There basically wasn’t a single moment during the 70 minute show without someone crashing into me.
Songs:
New Direction
Stand Still
Big Mouth
First Failure
Sitting Around at Home
Things We Say
Competition
Hold Your Ground
Dance Floor Justice w/Porcell
High Hopes
Good Intentions
Cats and Dogs
As One (Warzone)
Start Today
CBGB Nostalgia Vol01 – Angry Samoans
CBGB Nostalgia Vol02 – Blondie
CBGB Nostalgia Vol03 – Gorilla Biscuits
CBGB Nostalgia Vol04 – Patti Smith
CBGB Nostalgia Vol05 – Avail
CBGB Nostalgia Vol06 – Avengers
Seaport plays away match in Brooklyn | Polvo & Obits
Friday, 31 July 2009. The South Street Seaport was under inches of water. The downpour was torrential and the location deserted. Well, except for those sorry drenched souls being involved with putting on or covering the show, yours truly included. If I learned one thing that night, it was that rain ponchos don’t do shit for you on a bike. All they do is make you look stupid for riding around with a garbage bag flapping in the wind. Bottomline: It was easy enough to figure out that the free Polvo and Obits shows won’t happen. At least not at this location. Instead it was moved to the newly opened Brooklyn Bowl on the other side of the East River, making it the first ever “away match” for a Seaport event. Why did I ride my bike into Manhattan again? Anyway, at $5 Brooklyn Lager pints at the spacious and luxurious Williamsburg joint in the end it turned out to be quite a splendid and dry night after all. Thanks to the Seaport Crew for pulling through with this the way they did. Their hardwork was rewarded with two memorable sets of guitar driven sonic bliss. Videos and Set Lists from both Polvo and Obits below.
Polvo Set List
Obits Set List
