Shot By: Matt Weber

Harlem, 1985. Photo: Matt Weber.

Movie of the Week: The Sisters of Mercy Live in '85, Royal Albert Hall

First and Last and Always 

Body and Soul 

Marian 

No Time to Cry 

Walk Away 

Possession 

Emma 

Amphetamine Logic 

A Rock and a Hard Place 

Floorshow 

Alice 

Fix 

Knocking on Heaven's Door

East Village art & nightlife, 1983 & 1985

Above, a map of art galleries in the East Village, October 1983, from the East Village Eye. Below, a listing of bars & nightclubs in the East Village in 1985, same neighborhood.

Images courtesy of Ephemeral New York.

Pumped Full of Drugs: New Order live (1985)

Recorded live at Shinjuku Koseinenkin Hall in Tokyo

May 2nd 1985
Setlist:Confusion
Love Vigilantes
We All Stand
As It Is When It Was
Sub-Culture
Face Up
Sunrise
This Time Of Night
Blue Monday

Movie of the Week: The Hoboken Sound (1985)

Image courtesy of Jersey Food Blog

"A look at a small but influential musical movement in New Jersey's "Mile Square City". Famous for its favorite son Frank Sinatra, this documentary by a local NYC TV station focuses on the bands that made Hoboken famous for its music and clubs in the 1980s.

Featuring a look at The Chris Stamey Group, Cries, The Cucumbers, The Bongos, Gut Bank, The Feelies, and Gene "The Singing Plumber" Turonis, this documentary is a really nice step back in time. If you were there or have even heard of any of these bands, this is a great way to get reacquainted."

Appearances include Joe Piscopo, Southside Johnny Lyon and Little Steven Van Zandt, as well as Steve Fallon (Maxwell's owner) and Glen Morrow (member of The Individuals, and co-founder of Bar/None Records).

Music Vest!

Kyle's Cassettes: Kashif - Condition of the Heart

The following was inspired by Kashif's Condition of the Heart (Arista Records, 1985):

I used to work with this bald headed chick that I always mentally referred to as ‘Curly’. I realize that this, at its absolute best, might seem only slightly juvenile, however I never actually called her this to her face nor did I ever do so behind her back amongst other free-thinking, like minded colleagues. I’d like to think that my character is not comprised of an entirely blasé fabric, but I guess, if it’s not already apparent, that it is actually pretty debatable.

I should probably also make it clear that her hairless existence wasn't exactly by choice, rather it was the result of a fairly circumstantial series of events. It had something to do with a particularly aggressive set of dreadlocks she had in the late nineties.  Apparently you can wrap them too tight and if your not careful you can end up on what I like to call a, “permanent dreadlock holiday.” 

This was her story at least and I’m no barber or anything so I just took it at face value because it just didn’t seem right to question that sort of alibi. The finer tenets of African American hair care leave me feeling, how should I put it, out of my depth. Probably the less said about it the better. Continued after the jump...

Movie of the Week - Chet Baker: Candy (1985)

"What it lacks in fancy filmmaking or other bells and whistles, it more than makes up for in simplicity and clarity of intent." (via)

Tracklisting:
1. "Candy"
2. "Love for Sale"
3. "Tempus Fugue-It"
4. "Sad Walk"
5. "Red's Blues"
6. "Nardis"
7. "Bye Bye Blackbird"
8. "My Romance"

Personal musical memories

Above are a Danceteria pass & ad from the Village Voice from February 13, 1986. It was the one & only time I played the mainstage there. The other gig I played there was a rooftop No Entiendes party thrown by Howie Montaug which had to be one of the wildest nights of my life...you would've had to have been there.

Also pictured are myself & my great friend (more like a brother really), Steve. Following the break up of our two bands (Chappaquiddick & Borscht), and our move to NYC in 1984, we performed as a duo - sort of a punk Simon & Garfunkel - at the first versions of Lach's Anti Folk nights in the loft Steve shared with Lach. We also did open mic nights where we could, and also just busked in the streets, and later CBGB & the aforementioned No Entiendes party. Eventually we got the Lowboys together which lasted a year, maybe two, and then fell apart due to various shenanigans. They were great days. The photos above are of Steve & I playing at and standing in front of CBGB.

Pete Shelley solo gig

Here's a flier for a rare Pete Shelley (Buzzcocks) solo acoustic gig in the cozy basement of the Vasmay Lounge on East Houston Street. Is the joint still there? Circa 1984 or 1985 during the New Music Seminar. The night was DJ'd by Ed Bahlman of 99 Records fame. A good deal for $3.00!

Friends & such

I recently pulled apart a few old raggedy photo albums. As I can scan stuff I'll be posting some of it here. Here are a few photos of friends, most of whom I'm still in touch with. These are all circa 1982-1985, New York City.

More cool it with the boom booms

Personally autographed Cramps publicity shot from Lux & Ivy, circa 1984-1985.