Punk... 'cause if you're ugly, you're probably tone-deaf too.
Thinking there was an NYU picnic today, I walked over toward campus, and heard music coming from Washington Square. I go over and "Little Steven" Van Zandt is onstage, mumbling about CBGB. (He's a funny guy and I like him as Sylvio and all, but if this is how he talks on the radio, I have no idea how he's still on the air.) Anyway, as some of you may know, the famous punk club CBGB's lease ran out today, so in order to try and save the club, benefits are being held and politicians are being talked to. If you would like to get involved, go to http://savecbgb.org. But wait! Hear me out for a minute. I live literally like 4 doors down from CBGB, and I do realize that it is historical in that it gave the Ramones and Talking Heads a place to get started. But just think for a second how many shitty bands have also gotten their start there. I attended CBGB one night last year to see Filomath. They played a good show, but I was also treated to four bands that collectively suck more dick than the population of San Francisco. These bands were not "punk" bands either. Stellar Tuesday was the closest to punk, but they were terrible, and they even brought out an acoustic guitar. Powervibe... I don't even have to say anything about them with a name like that. The Misery Loves had like 2 decent songs, but were they innovative? No. Were they punk? No. The last band was from Japan and started their set by saying, "Herro, SheBGB." That was the punkest it got. Filomath are not punk, but does anyone really know who they are besides me? Probably not. (If you are interested, http://filomath.com.) If this club wants to continue to exist, perhaps they should get some bigger draws, even if only once a month to keep that underground cred. I suppose you've never been to CBGB either. To put it midly, the place is a shithole. The floor is alternately covered in wood and metal plates, and is lumpier than my grandmother's mashed potatoes. I'm surprised it's not being closed due to fire code violations. The walls are plastered in the stickers of thousands of no-name bands, and I'd only get a drink from the bar if I wanted gonorrhea and a staff infection. But I digress... The portion of the benefit I saw today included a band called the Chesterfield Kings (who should have quit when they formed in the '70s), Bouncing Souls (whose lead singer looked oh-so-punk with his Paul Rudd haircut and pink t-shirt), Blondie (who has lost her sex appeal but was still good), and Public Enemy. Public Enemy deserves their own sentence because even Professor Griff was there... but they only played 3 songs. Three guesses as to which ones. A few special guests stopped by to say hi including Tina Weymouth and another guy from Talking Heads, and Everlast. Yeah, fucking House of Pain Everlast. Although it was heartwarming to see all these people united for a cause and one of the main arguments that was made was that this place allows artists to share their work with people, can we seriously consider Powervibe art? Do many people in the punk scene even think of their music as art? If this place means so much to punk, and therefore, rock and roll, why aren't there bigger artists rushing to the cause, even if they didn't play there? The bands that made the club a landmark have since disbanded, and what has come from the more recent artists to play there? Word is, the Strokes got their start there. Word is, the Strokes also suck, but where were they today when the benefit was going on? In January 2004, a historical club called the Bottom Line was bought out by NYU, and I believe even Bruce Springsteen played a benefit, but to no avail. However, the Bottom Line will return as a club, and is currently deciding on which of 30 locations it would like to occupy. My point is: Clubs come and go. My prediction is: Despite the fact that the city council and mayor have agreed that CBGB is a cultural landmark, the guy who owns the building will evict the club and turn it into lucrative New York apartment property. My second prediction: CBGB will be remembered, and that new building will have quite a time with the graffiti. These things come in threes: There will be a new CBGB club, most likely in New York, and shitty music will continue to thrive, with the occasional stand-out band making a name for itself.
Note: I am not anti-CBGB. I like being able to say that I live on the same block. I do, however, believe that if the building were taken care of a little better and some popular bands were booked every so often, the venue would stand a better chance continuing its long existence.
Note: I am not anti-CBGB. I like being able to say that I live on the same block. I do, however, believe that if the building were taken care of a little better and some popular bands were booked every so often, the venue would stand a better chance continuing its long existence.