7/18/14 15:30
I have no regrets about last
night. Well, maybe I saw a band that was
forgettable. But, I got the chance to
hang with Mike Sweeney who was my long time concert partner. I spoke to the one and only Jody Stephens
from Big Star at the gig. He was playing
drums for the forgettable band. My eyes
may have deceived me, but I thought I spotted Lee Ranaldo in the sparse crowd
at Bowery Electric last night. Lee plays
with the one of the musicians from the forgettable band. But they play together in Lee’s band. I hope to see that band. Saw Sonic Youth many years ago at Jones Beach. Last night, we
were all there, all fifty plus strangers; to see the tired band "End of Love," who were making what was promoted as a “rare” New York appearance.
You bastards, you sold me.
Honestly, I wanted to hear Jody and Nels play, but after I noticed Lee,
I hoped he would pick up a guitar.
It’s a small stage. No room for
another player. End of Love consists of
Jay Deegan, Jennifer Groves, Irvin Menken and Jody Stephens. Special guest was the accomplished and idolized guitar god Nels Cline who plays with WILCO. Before
I write on. Excuse the brief interruption
since I saw Jesse Malin last night after the forgettable band played. Jesse was a friend of a friend (15 years ago)
and he is a rock star. Back then he was
sort of a rock star, finding his way after D Generation. Even Jesse sighed when he watched Nels pack
his things in the trunk of a taxi, and head out of the
Bowery. It was late by then. Jesse said he was still sober and the night was
early for the rock star. He clasped his
hands, bowed slightly and blessed us before we departed the blue neon residue
station. Back to the gig which is the
reason we were there. Earlier in the
night, I checked with the door and was told the forgettable band was getting on
the stage at 10:30. They must have been on minutes
early, meaning Mike and I missed the first three songs. We walked in as they were playing Big Star’s
September Gurls. Let’s remind ourselves
this was the forgettable band’s first gig and so far by the indications of
their web site – the only gig for this band.
Just as well? Just a suggestion? If you practice together - you will play
better as a whole band instead of this piece meal collaboration. Look at the set list, there are instructions for the musician who obviously did not know the songs. Jennifer’s voice was lacking. her bar band stage presence was embarrassing. She barely moved and her voice was reaching too
many times. There was the small
contingent of fans or were they family? She cupped her hands over her eyes a
few times and waved. I have not seen
that behavior since the open mic show in Patchogue. Same goes for the other one in that band, Jay Deegan.
When someone called out from the back, he called back the little circle of
giggling intoxicated pals. The same pals
who did not, “shut da fuck up” while the band played their boring songs. I could not hear Irwin’s banal comments before
most the dire songs. It seemed like a
tactic to avoid the next song. Before
they were over, I moved down to the floor to the dozen or so who stood
there. There were the video goons and
the camera addict who did not stop snapping. But before we sweep it up and toss it in the
can, the band came out to the encore, kicked it out with another Big Star copy,
In the Street. Thank you for the last
breath of empowering impact. The music ended. The minimal audience slowly merged out into
the night. Under the half moon, their
bodies and hearts went far off to their own distractions - under summer
ceilings, and leaving behind the conventional conditions of the city.
Thank you for reading this.
Enjoy the pictures
Next review BB King in Patchogue,
7/20
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