Girls Night Out: Nightclubbing with the Go-Go's & Pulsallama

This week finds Pat & Emily discussing the maiden visit of the Go-Go's to NYC in 1980 (making their debut at the Mudd Club, and a couple of days later at Danceteria), along with legendary downtown NYC band & Club 57 regulars, Pulsallama. Any mention of Pulsallama is always welcome 'round these parts!

"When the Go-Go’s arrived in New York City from the West Coast in August, 1980, they were a sweet, goofy package of pure pop in a New Wave wrapper. They provided the kind of light summer fun that can prove irresistible and were well received when they played their first night at Danceteria (see clip)." Continued here.

Pulsallama appreciation

Pulsallama, who we've featured here quite a few times in the past, get a nice look-see over at Dangerous Minds today. Have a look.

Robert Carrithers Photography

Tish & Snooky, members of the Sic F*cks and founders of Manic Panic

Although I am no longer involved in the planning for a certain event coming up here in the city this fall (no comment), one of the nice things that came out of my prior involvement has been meeting a few nice folks. One of them has been Robert Carrithers - a Berlin-based American photographer and film maker. Robert lived in NYC in the very early 80's and spent quite a bit of time documenting some of amazing nightlife happening at the time - namely at Club 57. I wanted to share some of his beautiful images here & steer you towards his website and his flickr page.


Underground film makers Scott and Beth B


Actress, all around performer, and Club 57 manager, Ann Magnuson


Diana Lillig (Pulsallama) in front of Dave's Luncheonette on Broadway and Canal


Country and Western night at Club 57. Where does one find all of that hay in the East Village of the early 80's?


Pulsallama member, Jean Caffeine


Fashion designer and Club 57 regular Stacey Elkin


Performer and East Village legend, John Sex

Friday Ephemera - Pulsallama

Become a fan of Pulsallama on Facebook.





Oh, Y Records...so underrated and wonderful.

Pulsallama - Devil Lives in My Husband's Body

Thanks to Randy H. for pointing this out.

Posted on YouTube by director, Paul Dougherty, this is what he has to say about it: "I directed this music video for the all-girl band Pulsallama. Part of the original line-up, Ann Magnuson had recently left the group and went off on her own (she does it all, sing, comedy, performance). Pulsallama grew out of that fertile scene at Club 57 in New York's East Village in the early 80s. Club 57 alum include Kenny Scharf, Keith Haring and the Hairspray team of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. The women of Pulsallama are all stars but a special mention goes to Wendy Wild who died prematurely in 1996. She was a local legend in the East Village who among many other things helped start Wigstock. That's Wendy as the hunched "old woman" who plays "steel drum" towards the end of the video. Directed & edited by Paul Dougherty."

For some rare Pulsallama MP3's, click here.

Read more & find a couple of more MP3's by clicking here.

New York Noise, Vol. 2

Released today in the UK, it should be easy to find here in the States...I've been looking forward to this for a while now from Soul Jazz.

TRACKLISTING
1. pulsallama - ungawa pt. 2
2. mofungo - hunter gatherer
3. red transistor - not bite
4. vortex ost - black box disco
5. certain general - back downtown
6. sonic youth - i dreamed i dream
7. rhys chatham - drastic classicism
8. clandestine feat ned sublette - radio rhythm (dub)
9. glorious strangers - move it time
10. felix (arthur russell/nicky siano) - tigerstripes
11. the del byzantines (w/jim jarmusch) - my hands are yellow
12. don king - tanajura
13. jill kroesen - im not seeing that you are here
14. ut - sham shack
15. the static (glenn branca) - my relationship
16. y pants - favorite sweater

This is the second volume of Soul Jazz Records’ New York Noise and delves further into the post-punk/dance world of New York in the 1980s. The music ranges from the guitar-driven experimentation of Sonic Youth, Red Transistor and minimalism of Rhys Chatham to the dubbed-out disco of Arthur Russell and Nicky Siano and Pulsallama. All alongside a healthy dose of punk-funk from the likes of Y Pants, Vortex and more. Glenn Branca, Rhys Chatham (minimalist classical composer), Jim Jarmusch (film-maker and founding member of Del Byzantines), Arthur Russell, Ned Sublette (writer), Thurston Moore -all included here- played key roles in bringing the New York music and art scene together in the early 1980s alongside the artist Jean Michel Basquiat, actor Vincent Gallo, poet Lydia Lunch and a host of other characters. This album features text, original photos and interviews documenting this amazing period.

For more from Soul Jazz, go here. Be on the lookout for an early hip hop comp from them this year as well.