Kickstarter Project of Note: Graffiti Rock 30th Anniversary

Holman by Arne Svensen

Michael Holman - he of the band Gray, associate of Jean Michel Basquiat, and general scenemaker on the downtown scene of early 80's NYC - has something else he'd like you to know about, and its worth a look. He was one of the earlier promoters of hip hop & graffiti culture in New York. Not only did he do a lot to bring hip hop downtown (literally), he also conceived of and hosted a short lived, but nevertheless influential TV show, Graffiti Rock. Not unlike American Bandstand or Soul Train in format, its difficult to imagine now that Graffiti Rock was absolutely groundbreaking at the time as hip hop was incredibly new as a genre. And besides the almost novelty hit status of "Rapper's Delight" in 1979, the genre was a long way from being socially acceptable. 

It turns out that 2014 will be the 30th anniversary of the show, and to celebrate, Holman is working on a retrospective collection of the show and related materials to release. He's also working on a documentary about the show, and hip hop culture at the time which will be packaged together with the Graffiti Rock collection. Watch the video below, and if you're so inclined, donate to his Kickstarter.

Added bonus - watch the episode of Graffiti Rock below the Kickstarter video.

The New York City Breakers on the set of Graffiti Rock. Shot by Martha Cooper.

Jean-Michel Basquiat wins dance contest, breaks records!

Read the story behind this great poster only at James Chance Official !

Movie of the Week: Downtown 81

I've run this one a couple of times over the last few years but its always welcome in my viewing queue.

www.downtown81.com

Basquiat's Gray debut release, Shades of..., available now!

Following a triumphant return to the live arena back in July, the surviving original members of Gray (aka Jean Michel Basquiat's old band) have released a new collection of music entitled Shades of... on their own Plush Safe imprint. Not only is it a new collection, it's also the band's debut! It only took them about 30 years...

From the band: Michael Holman and Nicholas Taylor have reunited once again to produce the first Gray album ever, titled, Shades of… on their own label, Plush Safe Records, that hankers back to Gray’s sonic roots - industrial noise melded with electronic atmospheres.

This multi-track compilation includes and involves sample tracks from Gray’s earliest recordings and performances, with samples of Basquiat’s music and voice. Included is a solo performance by Basquiat (recorded by Justin Thyme) called “Suicide Hotline,” where Basquiat, in 1980, called a suicide hotline, and in dramatic, and darkly teasing fashion, reads bits of his poetry to the hotline operator, never allowing the operator to know for sure if the “caller” is insane, suicidal, or simply toying with him. The effect of the piece is powerful and disturbing, yet poignant and moving in a way only Basquiat could produce. Other tracks range from Stockhausen inspired fugues, to trip hop lanced throw downs.

Holman & Taylor were fortunate to work with John Cale’s drummer Dean Anthony on this new music, as well as fabled Tubes drummer, Prairie Prince and drummer, Lenny Ferraro. Shades of… is not only a living piece of New York history, it’s also an audio interpretation of a journey to where Taylor & Holman see the future of music. Gray has not only returned to their sonic roots, they are also planning live performances that pay homage to their early Downtown gigs, where they performed inside, around and on top of sculptural works of art; like their infamous “Ignorant Geodesic Dome” stage set that brought the house down at the Mudd Club in 1981.

Visit Plush Safe Records for a preview of "Wig" from the collection, and listen to "Drum Mode" below - perhaps the most well known track by the Basquiat-era Gray.



Order Shades of... and preview more tracks at Other Music here.
Order Shades of... from Amazon here.

Tonight at the New Museum: The expressionist no wave of Gray

For the first time in 23 years, downtown post punk band, Gray, will be performing at the New Museum. Surviving members Michael Holman and Nick Taylor are lousy with the self-PR or else I would have written about this a long time ago. Thankfully for a phone call today with a friend, I now know about it. I'll be over at the Kasher Gallery for the Laura Levine/Punk and New Wave Artwork doubleheader. If anyone makes it to the Gray show, I'd love to hear how it was. Link to info & tickets below.

Before:

After:

"In every biography you read of the band Gray, it brings up the story that founding member Jean-Michel Basquiat named the band after Gray’s Anatomy, the 150-year old textbook that was an essential resource for his work. Considering those meticulous, systematic drawings of bones and muscles alongside Basquiat’s rough, violently emotional paintings, it’s difficult to discern what exactly he took away from the book." Continued here as well as info for tickets & set times.


  Jean-Michel Basquiat, Gray - Drum Mode (Downtown 81) by vangogen 

Movie of the Week - Downtown 81

Movie double feature of the week - Downtown 81 and Paris Is Burning

Its been a while since we've featured a Movie of the Week (usually of the Beat Jazz Variety). This week, however, I'm happy to bring you two underground classics - Downtown 81 and Paris Is Burning. For those of you who may not know, Downtown 81 is also currently streaming on Netflix. Anyone who is interested in (mostly accurate) historical footage of the ghosts of New York (somewhat) recent past should see these films. Enjoy...

Downtown 81:

via Dangerous Minds
Downtown 81 on Amazon

I also highly recommend the Downtown 81 soundtrack. It features music from an era-perfect selection of NY-based bands & acts of the time including Basquiat's band, Gray, Tuxedomoon, Liquid Liquid, Lydia Lunch, Lounge Lizards, DNA, Walter Steding, Rammelzee, Kid Creole, Suicide, and others. Hear some sound clips and/or buy it here.



Paris Is Burning:

Paris Is Burning on Amazon

More film - Graham Parker, Exene Cervenka, Basquiat

In other film news, here are a few things that I'll be looking out for:

Michael Gramaglia, director of the excellent End of the Century: the story of the Ramones, has turned his cameras on Graham Parker for his next project. Being that this blog is named after one his songs, I'd pretty much be a complete jackass if I didn't mention this project. Plus it looks like it's going to be pretty good. View a trailer, and make a donation to the project at Kickstarter.



Exene Cervenka of X has exhumed an old film, shot with friends in 1986, called Bad Day. Included in the cast of this irony laced western are Chris Desjardins, Dave Alvin, John Doe, and Kevin Costner. Exene has seen fit to make the entire film available as a pay-what-you-want download via the film's official website. All she asks in return is that downloaders not share the actual file, but steer friends to the film's website to donate & download it themselves. Some of the proceeds will be donated to the Gulf Coast aid organization the Committee for Plaquemines Recovery that helps the people affected in the Gulf region.



Lastly, we have Jean Michel Basquiat - The Radiant Child, from Tamra Davis.