Random memories

Random memories of clubbing in the 80's written off the top of my head for someone who I'm helping out with a project:

I started going out late 80/early 81 when I was 15. At the time, the drinking age in NY State was only 18 (its now 21 - changed mid 80's) so it wasn't difficult to get into places. Plus they just weren't as strict as they are nowadays.

I grew up just north of NYC and it was a quick 30 minute drive into midtown from where I lived. I had a girlfriend at the time who was 2 years older than me, and she & some friends were already going out a lot to see bands & go dancing, so I started going with them.

The set times for live music at the clubs in those days were much later than it is these days, so we'd go see shows at the Palladium (formerly the New York Academy of Music, soon to be a disco) which might end at 11:00 or so, then we'd go catch another band somewhere else like the Ritz or Danceteria.

At that time, we mostly went to the Ritz and Danceteria. Besides the live music, there were DJ's & dancing at all the clubs. They weren't so much "live music venues" as they are now. You hung out there after the bands were done and danced and/or drank.

The Ritz (which now exists as Webster Hall but is mostly unchanged) held about 1500 I think. Many of the UK bands at the time who were having some success on US radio would play here on their initial US tours, i.e. Depeche Mode, Haircut 100...bands like that. In the late 80's, the Ritz would move uptown taking over the Club 54 space. The original space became a cheesy dance club called Webster Hall for most of the 90's.

Danceteria was a multi-levelled club. Not sure of the capacity. By far, my all time favorite place. The famous location was on West 21st Street (the 2nd of three locations). The first floor was dancing & live music, the second floor was for more urban dance music - freestyle, disco, etc, the third floor was mainly a lounge with drinking, food (sometimes) and a video lounge). The fourth floor was only open periodically for special events, parties, etc. During the summer the roof would open up & it could be quite spectacular. I actually played one of Howie Montaugs famous No Entiendes parties up there in 1985 (I think).

We always got in for free there, and the bands were always interesting. The Jesus & Mary Chain & the Smiths both made their US debuts there. Many others would play memorable shows there as well. The goth scene would be a big part of the club - when the Batcave club came over to NY they did a night there. Even if the band's weren't any good, or it was a slow night, you could go & count on seeing friends there. The social aspect was really good. Check this out: http://lundissimo.info/imgs/danceteria/. I think I also mentioned the Danceteria group on Yahoo? There are many ex-employees & regulars there.

Other places:
Peppermint Lounge - initially on West 45th, moved to 5th Ave & 15th Street for a short time in the early-mid 80's. Great shows, not so much hanging out.

CBGB - of course, enough said

Save the Robots - after hours place on Avenue B. Can't really remember much because if I ended up here I was too fucked up to remember anything.

Mudd Club - only went once. It was small & CROWDED. Don't remember much other than that. I had gone to see Bow Wow Wow's US debut.

Cat Club - 13th St & 4th Ave. This club came to prominence in the mid 80's around the same time as the rise of Guns & Roses. There's was lots of hair metal here plus other shows & nights. On the more intimate side - maybe 600 or 700? Not sure. Not a favorite but I'd go on occasion to see certain shows. Saw in INCREDIBLE Wire show here in the later 80's.

Pyramid - on Avenue A between 6th & 7th Streets, and amazingly still in business. Great place to hang out & see shows. On the smaller side - maybe 300-400 capacity. Saw Liquid Liquid there, Red Hot Chili Peppers, many others. Played there myself. Great long front room with a bar, and back room where DJ's & bands played. Underrated & somewhat forgotten in the history of things. It was a place for the trannies & performance art folks as well. Anthony of Anthony & the Johnsons started out here.

Club 57 - founded by Ann Magnuson & a bunch of other folks at 57 St Marks Place in the ate 70's. Never went but wish I had!

Bonds - Times Square. Huge space that tried making it as a disco. Started having live shows there & is most famous for the shows the Clash did there in 1981. One of the more important moments of my adolesence.

A7 - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A7_(bar). A bar called Niagara now exists ini the space. Tiny, tiny, tiny, with lots of slam dancing. The walls would sweat & it seemed like complete mayhem in there at the time. Hugely important to the NY hardcore scene at the time. The Beasties came out this as well as Jesse Malin, and probably a few others.

Also, check out this article, http://squattheatre.com/article04m.html, from the NY Times in 1980. It'll give you some more suggestions especially as to what was happening at the literal dawn of the decade. When you are on that site, check out the rest of it. It's dedicated to a theatre on West 23rd St (the Squat Theatre) that did actual (experimental possibly?) theatre, but also had plenty of cool bands play there (Lounge Lizards, James Chance, Sun Ra, Kid Creole etc (http://squattheatre.com/concerts.html). What's strange to me is that I've never heard anyone talk about this place, and rarely see it referenced anywhere. I think it would be a good oppotunity for you to bring its history to a wider audience. You'll notice a strong no wave connection there, and also the young lady who was the female lead in Jim Jarmusch's "Stranger Than Paradise" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eszter_Balint) was part of the theatre group.

Here are some others for the list:

Area
Irving Plaza
Rock Hotel - at the Jane Street Hotel, later at the Ritz
8BC
the World
Palladium as disco