It is almost a year since I last attended a real, live gig. Let me tell you, I have missed live music terribly, and things don’t look rosy for a return to sweaty club gigs, or any other kind of gig any time soon. After we entered the first lockdown in those dim and distant days of early 2020 little would we know we would be in the same, or maybe worse situation a year down the line with no end in sight.
Online Fatigue
Over spring and summer last year I enjoyed watching a variety of online gigs, from acoustic guitars in front rooms, to full blown electric sets from bands playing to camera’s in empty clubs. Then I stopped watching. I don’t know if you’d call it online fatigue or what, but they just didn’t cut the mustard for me anymore. Spending 8+ hours a day in front of a laptop and on Teams calls meant the thought of sitting in front of a small screen again after finishing work didn’t appeal, neither did contending with the constant buffering on the big TV screen as I cursed our godawful Wi-fi.
As we moved from 2020 to 2020 v2.0, things didn’t look any brighter, despite reschedule gigs for Summer 2021 and beyond, each press conference on the TV resulted in my writing off 2021 as promising to be flat as a bannock with not much hope of live gigs or holidays.
Live from the Big Apple
Just as all hope was lost, a post appeared on my Facebook feed that hinted at a chink of light in the darkness. All the way from the Big Apple, the post was promising. A night of live punk n roll from the legendary Bowery Electric, featuring the purveyors of one of my favourite albums of last year, Dreaming and celebrating the birthday of one of the shining stars of the New York music scene, bassist, and former B-Girl Cynthia Ross. Yes, the cool swagger of New York Junk was going to be streamed live to my living room. Not only that, but they were going to be joined by a star-studded cast of friends throughout the live broadcast, including, from much closer to home, the legendary Jonzip of The Zips. Back to online gigs it was then.
I don’t know what it was about this particular gig that held such an allure, after all, was it not just going to be like watching any other gig on the telly, like having the DVD after the event? Mibbes aye, mibbes naw. Whatever the reason, I was genuinely quite excited and up for this gig, and despite the time difference and the fact the gig would be available for a week after the live broadcast I was determined to experience the “live” event.
Things didn’t get off to an auspicious start… if there is anything more certain that comes out of trying to stream a gig live around the world, it is technical difficulties. Hey, it isn’t just streaming live gigs halfway around the world that is problematic, if you are one of the fortunate ones that survived 2020, you will have probably experienced issued calling your Mum on Facetime or joining a work Zoom call… First world problems in the dawn of the 2020s.
Anyway, a gig that was supposed to start at 1am (Glasgow time) edged closer to 2am… but that wasn’t a problem, there were plenty of folks on the online chat with their banter and witty repartee to help the time pass swiftly. Although at times it did make me wish I was on the other side of the Atlantic.
Jonzip
Then the lightbulb moment, the message changed from “this broadcast has not yet started” to the Bowery Electric lightbulb logo. Things were happening. A quick introduction from the birthday girl herself, then a familiar face appeared, it was the aforementioned Mr Jonzip McNeill. Resplendent in a bright red surfer/Hawaii shirt and dark glasses to kick off proceedings with the acoustic, Surfin’ in NYC. Go yersel’ big man, a welcome sight and sound and plenty references to the band, and lady in question ending on “Happy B’day B-Girl C”.
From the laid-back vibes of Jonzip to the full on aural punk assault from the magnificent Two Hearts/Titty Twister, and a birthday greeting from the suave Michael Imperioli (aka Christopher Moltisanti from The Sopranos), not only a great actor but obviously a man of impeccable musical taste.
The moment we’d been waiting for…
Without further ado, it was over to who we’d all been waiting for. Bass player extraordinaire and “B”irthday girl Cynthia, the effortlessly cool guitar virtuoso, Joe Sztabnik, co-writer of The Ramones Poison Heart, friend of one of the key players in the story of the New York city music scene the much missed Johnny Thunders and all round ice cool dude, then there was the powerhouse at the back, Bob Bert, a man who has played with bands and artists such as Sonic Youth, Lydia Lunch and Kid Congo Powers amongst others on his impressive CV.
What else could you possibly need to get your Tuesday night (or should I say Wednesday morning rocking). It was obvious from the get-go; this was going to be a special night. Kicking off with an opening salvo of the two lead tracks on their latest release Dreaming (available to purchase now on Red Vinyl and CD from Tarbeach Records – along with a signed gig poster as Walt may have mentioned several times on the chat).
Swagger
For an online gig, the sound was mighty. Solid rhythmic bass lines to die for from Cynthia, touching lyrics of Gutter Angels (courtesy of Puma Perl – more from her later….) kicking things off in style followed by the pure New York City Ramones swagger of She Don’t Care, Joe’s guitar positively singing to me, and what of Bob? What a job he was doing at the back.
Walk My Dog is gloriously bluesy and talking of bass lines, with headphones on (well it was well after 2am and the rest of the house was in bed) and eyes closed I could imagine standing stage front and the bass rumbling through my whole body. That bluesy feel carries on into Don’t Cry, a song that has all the attitude of The Heartbreakers, adding a little Stonesy Its All Over Now twist to proceedings.
Sometimes when I’ve watched online gigs, there is a distinctly awkward feeling when the band stops playing a song and there is no audience reaction. I didn’t get that feeling at all for this one. It really did feel like I was part of an intimate club gig.
The Party was just beginning…
Bob comes to the fore on the pulsating beat of I’m Scared, pair this with the throbbing bass lines and Joe’s crunching guitars this is one behemoth of live a tune. Two songs to go? Well, at least for the run through of the Dreaming album. True to form, Passion kicks in, and the pace slows for this outstanding anthem, but as the title suggests the passion, desire and wanton energy are there in bucketloads. Pair that with the nostalgic feel of the wistful and wonderfully pensive title track of the album, the dreamy rock n roll of Dreaming would have made a wonderful closer, but the party was just beginning…
If anyone tuning in hadn’t bought the new album yet, surely Walts plea’s in the chat won’t have fallen on deaf ears after that masterful performance, and now the second part of the set was the accomplished trio playing for fun…
All back to Max’s
That set would have been worth the entry money on its own, as it stood, there was plenty more to come. New album showcase over, the band kicked on, kicking out the jams with Love Song to My Mirror from Doing Time in New York City. The party continuing with them rolling right to the end of the line in the classic driving beat of the 7 Train, then it was off to Max’s Kansas City, flawless riffing, and that rhythm section. On FIRE.
They came on with a roar and they went out with a Thunder, their beautiful tribute to a dear friend made even more poignant with the loss of Sylvain Sylvain and Walter Lure in the last few months. Absolute class. And “rock n fucking roll”… as the next contributor, Pam Hogg, asserted in her Glaswegian drawl before the video for Opel Eyes her Cramps-esque song with The Kills Alison Mosshart.
Birthday tributes followed from Death Valley Girls Bonnie Bloomgarden and Chihiro & Captain of Boys Order all the way from Japan complete with poppers, cake, and candles and their take on “B” Girls Fun at the Beach. The Sweet Things Sam Hariss continued the party with his tribute to Syl and a rocking version of Teenage News backed by New York Junk.
This is Prague calling!
More birthday wishes from Phil Shoenfelt (Southern Cross) along with an acoustic Pale Blue Eyes, Kill the Dandies performing Shave Me and a message from Ron Synovitz (producer of Dreaming), Ron made mention of the albums opening track Gutter Angels, with lyrics from Puma Perl, who performed her poem lamenting change in New York, End of the World.
The Trash Bags contributed their anarchic performance of Crimes to the night’s entertainment, it was nearing 3am in Glasgow so I needed this head rush and injection of adrenaline to give me a second wind…before the wonderful Peter Perrett contributed his emotional tribute to Johnny Thunders, Thy Will Be Done.
Beechwood – Jawdroppingly great
Things are still far from over…. To end the night there was a jaw droppingly great set from Beechwood. Owning The Rolling Stones hit The Last Time to kick things off, what followed was a rowdy half hour or so of wild and raucous perfectly formed rock and roll. I’m embarrassed to say I only have a few songs by this remarkable band. You can rest assured that following this outstanding set, I’ll be rectifying that astonishing omission.
What an amazing nights entertainment.
I long for the day that live gigs can return, but more than that I long for the day that COVID restrictions (and finances) allow me to finally visit New York City and, with any luck, take in a few gigs and dive bars along the way.
I hauled my tired arse off to bed drained but happy and dreading the alarm going off in a few hours to signal the start of another working day…
If you were one of the misfortunate souls tha.t didn’t get to witness this event, you’ve still got time! Head over to Rolling Live Studio and get yourself a pass, the gig is available until the 2nd of February.
Cheers to all involved – that was a cracking way to pass the wee small hours.
Get the album (and poster if there are any left) at Tarbeach Records
It was a cracking event! And the Gingerquiff has captured the spirit of it, brilliantly! As he said, you can still get the link and watch it, till 2nd Feb. Do yourself a favour and check it out. Thanks GQ for yet another first class review!