So I'm Opening the Final Show Ever at CBGB's...
You read correctly...
The sacred land that has spawned so much history will have it's eternal flame finally extinguished on September 27th by yours truly and New York legends Creature, J-Zone, The Juggaknots and Louis Logic.
It's an odd feeling. I'm nothing short of honored to be a part of such a historic night. With over 30 years of history, some of the most important artists of all time have come up and been discovered there. And when I say discovered, I don't mean on some money for nothing and chicks for free steez. I mean seen by kids who were on some next shit, and thus everything spirals into some of the most influential, enjoyable, and essential sounds to ever be heard.
I'm not saying it's all been great. The very bands we're sharing the building with that night on the other stage are fucking terrible self-professed "southern goth rock," but the fact that CBGB's is a venue for such ventures, no matter how asinine, speaks volumes for what a one-of-a-kind place it is. Where else could Blondie, the Ramones, Talking Heads, Television, L7 and various other bands of dubious taste and talent but undeniable influence hone their craft?
On a personal level, I never expected this. First and foremost because I never expected a place like this to close. CBGB's is world famous landmark. I challenge you to find a more important venue still in operation today! Since I picked up my first Ramones live bootleg recorded shortly after "Leave Home" dropped, I read up on its history and had dreamed for years, be it with ELSM or solo, to play there. This continued through high school when, while starring in the state-winning One Act "Twilight, Los Angelus, 1992" and bring DeLaSalle it's first One Act trophy, I was rocking a CBGB's shirt. Even seeing the hometown homies The F-Ups rock there my first month into college, or rocking there myself in February of this past year, I never thought I would be such a footnote in the closing of its final chapter.
It's bittersweet. I ran into the headliner Louis Logic earlier this week at FatBeats and we talked about it. The excitement for any show is a great feelings, particularly on such a top-to-bottom great bill. But with each day that this, the biggest show of my life, looms closer, the heart that beats within the Grandfather of my passion continues to slow down.
I have a line in the opening song from a song I wrote in 2002 that finally surfaced on my 2004 return-to-rap record 'The Brown Bunny' called "Jihad." There's a line in there that begins "Half my time at CBGB's..." When I've performed it live as my set opener over the past four years, I've always substituted "CBGB's" with the name of wherever it was I was rocking. When I wrote it that Friday night in September, over a loop from Pachelbel's Cannon*, I sat wondering what it would be like to scream those words in those hallowed halls.
"Now the evening has come to a close
And I've had my last dance with you
On to the empty streets we go
And it might be my last chance with you
So I might as well get it over
The things I have to say won't wait until another day" - Tony Orlando
September 27th - CBGB's Final HipHop Show Ever.
Louis Logic
The Juggaknots
J-Zone
Creature
...and me.
$12.00 and the Most Historic Night of your Life.
*NOT Vitamin C, as some pickleheads in my high school mistook it for.
The sacred land that has spawned so much history will have it's eternal flame finally extinguished on September 27th by yours truly and New York legends Creature, J-Zone, The Juggaknots and Louis Logic.
It's an odd feeling. I'm nothing short of honored to be a part of such a historic night. With over 30 years of history, some of the most important artists of all time have come up and been discovered there. And when I say discovered, I don't mean on some money for nothing and chicks for free steez. I mean seen by kids who were on some next shit, and thus everything spirals into some of the most influential, enjoyable, and essential sounds to ever be heard.
I'm not saying it's all been great. The very bands we're sharing the building with that night on the other stage are fucking terrible self-professed "southern goth rock," but the fact that CBGB's is a venue for such ventures, no matter how asinine, speaks volumes for what a one-of-a-kind place it is. Where else could Blondie, the Ramones, Talking Heads, Television, L7 and various other bands of dubious taste and talent but undeniable influence hone their craft?
On a personal level, I never expected this. First and foremost because I never expected a place like this to close. CBGB's is world famous landmark. I challenge you to find a more important venue still in operation today! Since I picked up my first Ramones live bootleg recorded shortly after "Leave Home" dropped, I read up on its history and had dreamed for years, be it with ELSM or solo, to play there. This continued through high school when, while starring in the state-winning One Act "Twilight, Los Angelus, 1992" and bring DeLaSalle it's first One Act trophy, I was rocking a CBGB's shirt. Even seeing the hometown homies The F-Ups rock there my first month into college, or rocking there myself in February of this past year, I never thought I would be such a footnote in the closing of its final chapter.
It's bittersweet. I ran into the headliner Louis Logic earlier this week at FatBeats and we talked about it. The excitement for any show is a great feelings, particularly on such a top-to-bottom great bill. But with each day that this, the biggest show of my life, looms closer, the heart that beats within the Grandfather of my passion continues to slow down.
I have a line in the opening song from a song I wrote in 2002 that finally surfaced on my 2004 return-to-rap record 'The Brown Bunny' called "Jihad." There's a line in there that begins "Half my time at CBGB's..." When I've performed it live as my set opener over the past four years, I've always substituted "CBGB's" with the name of wherever it was I was rocking. When I wrote it that Friday night in September, over a loop from Pachelbel's Cannon*, I sat wondering what it would be like to scream those words in those hallowed halls.
"Now the evening has come to a close
And I've had my last dance with you
On to the empty streets we go
And it might be my last chance with you
So I might as well get it over
The things I have to say won't wait until another day" - Tony Orlando
September 27th - CBGB's Final HipHop Show Ever.
Louis Logic
The Juggaknots
J-Zone
Creature
...and me.
$12.00 and the Most Historic Night of your Life.
*NOT Vitamin C, as some pickleheads in my high school mistook it for.