Aa (BIG A little a)
(((unartig))) regulars are probably more than familiar with Aa (BIG A little a) by now. Excerpts of their song “Thirteen” appear during almost all our clips’ intro- and outro credits. It has little to do with the band’s generosity of letting us use their music for free that there’s tons of (((unartig))) recorded Aa footage to share with you all, but more to do with the fact that Aa is one of the most mesmerizing New York City powerhouses around. Over the course of the last four years I have attended over a dozen of their shows and captured most of them. Below is an overview of said material and words by Christopher R. Weingarten, writer for Rolling Stone, Spin, The Source, The Village Voice, author of the book “Public Enemy’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” and former drummer for Parts & Labor. A song index is located at the end of the feature.
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Hot Water Music – Retrospective Vol. 4
The fourth and final edition of our Hot Water Music retrospective concentrates on the European tour in 2001 with Leatherface and on the reunion shows in 2008. It features blurbs by Scott Stimac of Wallside, Andrew Lainey of Leatherface and David Lee Burdon of Leatherface/Former Cell Mates.
You will probably notice that some of the 2001 footage is of sub par quality. Halfway through the Wiesbaden set I wrecked my Sony VX1. Fumbling around onstage with the camera like an idiot, the monopod to which it was attached came apart and sent the camera flying into Wollard’s guitar. Unfortunately, I was way too wasted to realize what was going on. Seconds later camera parts were being handed to me, and it just wouldn’t stop. It felt like a Twilight Zone. “Hey, here’s your view finder, oh and the lens.” Well, to cut a long story short, HWM in Wiesbaden was the last show I ever shot on the VX1. The remainder of the tour had to be captured with prehistoric equipment, namely an old Canon UC1 Hi8 with terrible audio. Another episode to be added to an out of control tour…
Looking back, 2001 was a major juncture in my life, and wrecking the VX1 had little to do with it. Being on the road throughout the summer and experiencing every imaginable rock and roll cliché to an extent most would file under “heavy adult content”, culminated in a distinct feeling of something having peaked. Think ‘mountain top’ and where to go from there. Even though this was more of a subconscious affair, somehow I knew that from here on forward everything would feel like a rerun of your favorite TV show, like a great movie being aired over and over again during Christmas. As incredible and as mind blowing of a ride as it was, I couldn’t do it any longer. Communicating this state of ‘turmoil’ properly to friends and acquaintances alike was a challenge I have probably failed miserably. And I have little doubt that it left a few stains on friendships, maybe even some beyond repair. One thing though should always be understood. No matter how much I personally might value a certain record over another or how much I am willing to throw myself into this exhausting beast called “being on the road”, I will always feel nothing but love for the four individuals that are Hot Water Music.
Torsten | (((unartig))) – October 2009
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Neurosis – Retrospective
A few weeks ago I was shooting the shit at a show with Ty from Team Robespierre. At one point of our conversation he ‘confronted’ me with this one particular question that I have always struggled with. “What’s your favorite band?” It had been a while since someone asked me this and I came to realize that after all these years I still don’t have an ad hoc answer, even though Joy Division is always on the tip of my tongue. In a way music doesn’t work for me like that. Individual releases or bands usually represent a certain time in my life rather than having this overall greatness that outshines anything that’s currently in rotation. It’s almost like a photo album, a very nostalgic affair. Every once in a while you pull it off the shelf to let it take you back in time. Listening to Ministry’s “Thieves” for example immediately brings back memories of a beloved club called Farmer’s Inn, a place where I wasted a good portion of my youth. Does this make Ministry my favorite band? No it doesn’t, because music can’t be ranked by such standards or criteria, at least not by me. Working on the Neurosis retrospective didn’t quite change this outlook but it made me realize that I might want to add another band to the pool of names to bust out whenever the ‘favorite band’ subject gets brought up. It’s not like I had forgotten about their ability to take over ones body and mind with heavy waves of sonic bliss. It’s more like the nostalgia filled infusion caused by editing several hours of Neurosis footage brought back something to the forefront of my mind that I had known for a long time: Neurosis is indeed one the great bands out there, easily on the same level with those that I consider to be the greatest.
Below is previously unreleased video footage shot by me between 1994 and 2008, as well as writings by Kevin Egan (Beyond, 1.6 Band, Twenty Four Thousand Dollars) and Stone of Trust Zine.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
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
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.
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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.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
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
CBGB Nostalgia Vol. 2 | Blondie
October 14, 2006. The night before CBGB’s doors closed for good. On stage, Blondie. Easily one of the most goosebumpy moments I have ever experienced in any New York City club. Below is our footage from said night, presented here for the very first time.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Songs:
Hanging on the Telephone (The Nerves)
Poison Heart (Ramones)
Call Me
The Tide is High (The Paragons)
One Way or Another
I wanna be your Boyfriend (Ramones)
Rip her to Shreds
Please Please (Beatles)
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. 1 | Angry Samoans
On September 08, 2006 the Angry Samoans set foot onto the world’s second most famous stage one last time. Even though un:ART:ig also documented a huge ToddP show in Brooklyn earlier that night, we managed to rush over to Manhattan’s East Village just in time to catch this classics filled performance. Recorded from CBGB’s prime shooting spot, the so called ‘crow nest’, we hope you’ll enjoy the concentrated highlights presented in the little piece below.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Songs:
Right Side of my Mind
Gimme Sopor
Gas Chamber
Hot Cars
Not of this Earth
You Stupid Asshole
Inside my Brain
They saved Hitler’s Cock
Get off the Air
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
UNARTIG 
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