The Velvet Underground Map of New York

 The Velvet Underground Map of New York

Found: 33 minutes of The Velvet Undergound at the Boston Tea Party, 1967, in color!

Mind: boggled. Thank you, internet. Here is some color footage of the Velvet Underground live in Boston from 1967. The sound quality pretty much suck, but who cares? If you listen closely you'll be able to make out some of the tunes. According to the uploader this was "directed" by Andy Warhol. I'm not not sure what that means exactly, but this is truly a treasure. Here is the description:

THE VELVET UNDERGROUND IN BOSTON (1967, sound, color, 33 mins. Dir: Andy Warhol):

This newly unearthed film, which Warhol shot during a concert at the Boston Tea Party, features a variety of filmmaking techniques. Sudden in-and-out zooms, sweeping panning shots, in-camera edits that create single frame images and bursts of light like paparazzi flash bulbs going off mirror the kinesthetic experience of the Exploding Plastic Inevitable, with its strobe lights, whip dancers, colorful slide shows, multi-screen projections, liberal use of amphetamines, and overpowering sound. 

It is a significant find indeed for fans of the Velvets, being one of only two known films with synchronous sound of the band performing live, and this the only one in color. It's fitting that it was shot at the Boston Tea Party, as the Beantown club became one of the band's favorite, most-played venues, and was where a 16-year-old Jonathan Richman faithfully attended every show and befriended the group. Richman, who would later have his debut recordings produced by John Cale, and later yet record a song about the group, is just possibly seen in the background of this film.

Lou Reed's Private Memorial, Apollo Theater, NYC 12.16.13

Lou by David Gahr

This past Monday, friends & family of Lou Reed gathered at the Apollo Theater in Harlem for a private, invite-only memorial service. Jim Fouratt was kind enough to tape it, and its an incredible document. 

Jim writes: THIS A IS A LOW RES GOOD AUDIO DOCUMENTATION OF MOST THE PERFORMANCES AT THE Memorial. Includes Laurie Anderson, Mo Tucker, John Cale, Patti Smith, Debbie Harry, Paul Simon, Antony, John Zorn, Jenny Muldar, Lenny Kaye, Mark Ribot, Hal Wilner + others. I made it for myself and share it with all LOU fans who were not able to attend. Let me put the memorial into context: In the Buddhist tradition it takes days 49 days for the spirit to leave the body. It is called "bardo." Like Jewish Shiva, Irish wakes and different cultural rituals, it is a time for the living to share stories and simply just sit together to help each other and most importantly help the spirit be fully freed into into the Cosmos, December 16 was the fiftieth day and at the Apollo Theater a celebration of Lou Reed's life and work took place with his friends and family gathered with his wife the artist Laurie Andersen all saying goodbye, good speed Lou.

The Big Read: The story of White Light/White Heat by the Velvet Underground

As you may know, The Velvet Underground's White Light/White Heat will be getting the deluxe reissue treatment shortly (order here). This morning, Mojo Magazine ran a great article by David Fricke about the album that looks like it may be a new(?) feature for Mojo's website called the Big Read. Anyway, the article is excellent, including great quotes from all concerned, and the layout online is gorgeous. The images contained here are from it, and i thought this a good excuse to run them. Read the article here.

Velvet Underground: 1970 Max’s Kansas City Concert Poster

From the collection of the late Velvet Underground guitarist Sterling Morrison, a rare 1970  concert poster advertising the Velvet's last shows with Lou Reed, at Max's Kansas City in New York.  These were the shows at which the band's Live At Max's Kansas City album was recorded.  Measuring 28.75" x 11", this is in very nice condition; a high level paper conservator has flattened three horizontal creases and retouched a few small stains (one small line from what looks like a pink magic marker is visible on the back.) At our request, Sterling Morrison's widow Martha has written in pencil on the back "Martha Morrison: Sterling Morrison Collection."  Our letter of authenticity will note that this was part of Morrison's legendary archive.  A classic image with incredible provenance. Buy it.