Musical tourists take note: Walking with a Cro-Mag

Strange times we live in indeed...It could be my skewed perspective, but it seems like most of what's really interesting in music these days has already happened in the distant & not so distant past. Just ask Simon Reynolds. And in true entrepreneurial fashion, certain people are taking advantage of this fact, and I don't mean that in a negative sense. Ex-Cro-Mag frontman, John Joseph, and NYC concert promoter, Jake Szufnarowski, are two such folks.

Every weekend, two walking tours, hosted by these fellows, focus on the recent (i.e. last 40 years or so) musical history of the East Village and Lower East Side take place. Jake hosts THE PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE of ROCK N ROLL in NEW YORK CITY, while John takes participants through THE HISTORY OF ART, CRIME, DRUGS and PUNK ROCK ON THE LOWER EAST SIDE...phew! That's a lot to take in.

Nevertheless, if you're curious to see the former locations of sites like the former CBGB, Max's Kansas City, the Filmore East, and perhaps even places like the building used on the cover of Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti, or where the Stones shot their video for "Waiting On A Friend," these walking tours just might be for you.

Book your tickets, and get more info here. Originally published at the Vinyl District.

Friday Ephemera - NYHC

Back in the day - NYHC

Its funny how you can run into old acquaintances on the internet. This morning I was alerted by a small item Jeremiah ran today called Hardcore New York. A reader had pointed him to a great set of photos that someone named Brooke Smith had sent into Street Carnage - two of them are here - be sure to check all of them them out. Thats Dr. Know of the Bad Brains above. I can't quite place who that is below but it's on the tip of my tongue. See all of the photos here.

Anyway, I knew Brooke back in the very early 90's. We were both living in Rockland County at the time. Somehow we met, and hung out a bit. We weren't particularly close as I recall, but I've always remembered her for some reason. And there she is in 2011! At the time, she was acting, and was shooting Silence of the Lambs - she plays the girl who gets trapped in the well near the beginning. And judging by her IMDB page, it looks like she's been pretty busy ever since. Brooke, if you're out there, drop me a line.

Stay tuned for a NYHC-themed Friday Ephemera.

Friday Ephemera

171 Avenue A - A rehearsal & recording studio run by a friend to early NYC hardcore, Jerry Williams. Most notable for the Bad Brains debut album being recorded there, as well as the Beastie Boys debut, the Polly Wog Stew EP. It was also the original location of the first Ratcage Records store & label.