why save cbgb?

[dorado]

why is there such an outcry to keep cbgb open? i don’t get it.
can someone give me one good reason? because blondie & television played there? big deal….they played other nyc clubs just as much but no one fought to keep those places open.
cbgb is currently a place that doesn’t give a shit about music. hasn’t for a long time. they haven’t booked a good show in 15yrs..they book 10 metal bands from NJ per night and do not care in the least about putting together cutting edge punk shows like they did way back when. their drinks are ridiculously overpriced and the place exists solely as a venue to sell the cbgb merch (t-shirts, jackets,panties etc…). yes, the same cbgb merch that is sold in bloomingdales and macy’s etc… and you all feel bad for this guy (hilly k.)??
yes, the same cbgb that will be opening a las vegas club for the same non-musical, monetary reasons. do you think any money will be made in a situation like that? yes, he will will make tons of money from that alone.
i grew up in nyc and fully realize the significance of what cbgb WAS but that is not what it is now so stop wasting your time trying to save it. there are SO many other causes to support.

[ammaringnyc]

The guy was Barbara Streisand’s manager. Oh and they make like 2 million a year on the t shirts. If they wanted to make money why didn’t they make cds with all the artists. I say let the place go. The only time any good bands have played their in the last 10-15 years was the anniversery and the concerts to save it. I am just hoping they play through September so I can see J.

[rockaction]

i think its about preserving a historical and cultural landmark of nyc. its like getting rid of katz deli.

[King Tubby]

I’m ambivalent about saving CBs myself, though there is a case to be made for keeping history of any kind front-and-center, given the total historical amnesia that plagues our culture in general, and the music-listening public in particular, to the detriment of both. And it’s not true that there haven’t been any good shows there for over a decade — there have been lots of good shows by bands hardly anyone has yet heard of (and may never hear of) which, if you remember, was the case with Television, Talking Heads, Blondie, Ramones, et al. There’s something to be said for a famous club booking unknown acts and giving them the opportunity to play through a really good sound system instead of relying solely on marquee names for their booking. And if you like real, honest-to-god punk rock, CBs is about the only place (along with the Continental) that books those Old School bands since Coney Island High shut down a few years ago. Then there’s also the importance of keeping as many venues (with good sound) around who aren’t part of the Clear Channel/TicketmASSter/House of Blues axis of extortion and lameness. Those Times Square venues make me sick, especially BB King’s with its $35 shows with crap sound in a crap location and goon squad security. It’s a drag that there are so few decent venues left in the village. I always have a good time at CBs, something I can’t say about Irving Plaza, for example (extortionate ticket prices, expensive shitty canned beer, etc., etc.). Thank god for the people who run the Mercury Lounge and Bowery Ballroom. They get it. So does Hilly Krystal. Rock clubs should feel like genuine hang-outs, not like mere impersonal movie theaters where you pay your money, check your entertainment, and bail in line immediately afterwards, a satisfied consumer. NYC has become one big, sad shopping mall, and the demise of CBs is yet another symptom of this shitty state of affairs.

[ammaringnyc]

I wouldn’t be upset. I am not a big fan of Katz’s.

[King Tubby]

I would totally miss Katz’s — while the corned beef is much better at the 2nd Ave. Deli, Katz’s pastrami is unparalleled. Great pickles, too. I might have to get a pastrami sandwich from there soon, now that I think about it……..

[beautiful_noise]

The issue is about the spirit of the club. Â It’s not about the appearance or the bands or the merch. Â Is the spirit still there? Â If not, then tear the fucker down for all I care. Â The future of music, and music in good venues for that matter, can’t rely on blasts from the past. Â If CBGB’s doesn’t feel like CBGB’s anymore, then it should dissappear. Â I just don’t know who can make that call. Â I haven’t been to the historic shows. Â You’d like to think that the owners could decide if the spirit is dead, but if it’s not dead already, when would you say it’s dead? Â It seems like bands that play there get a high off being on the same stage as THE RAMONES!!; they’re not adding to CBGB’s, they’re just sucking out whatever life is left. Â I think they’d be better off playing a farewell show. Â It would be true to punk rock to have a farewell show and then burn the place down; a sort of "If we can’t have it, then no one can" idea. Â Unfortunately, it seems like the fire already died out a long time ago.

[rockaction]

I have been to cbgbs only once and it was just to have a drink with a guy who use to play in the legendary DNA and ( also was in pere ubu before that) who used to play all the time there many years ago, there were no bands on, it was early and I sat watching the stage and listening to his many stories about the place and could only imagine some the magic moments that were created there. i didnt have to see a band there to revisit in my mind the many legendary photo’s and live performances – and just being there where tons of important music stuff happened and thinking about what it must of been like – makes it worth it to me… and as far the "spirit" that is there or is not there is a completley irrelevent notion. Unless you were there way back when – your not going to know what that felt like. I wouldnt know what it was like but the "distinguished gentlemen" feeding me beers and stories about the place certainly looked like he was in touch with it. It would be a shame to see it go.

[dorado]

no offense but that is alot of sentimental bullshit….and they don’t book any unknown cool punk bands. they book cookie cutter, pop-punk blink 182 or korn wannabe bands that perpetuate what is wrong about what people call "punk" today. i played cbgb tons of times starting when i was 16 and it was a good time but not really that big of a deal.
if you wanna talk about an east village club that was doing it for real, then we should all hold a vigil for brownies ’cause that place had it figured out. they took chances and carefully put together bills that made musical sense and would open minds and ears. cbgb does not do that and have not for a LONG time. it has nothing to do w/ those dumb clearchannel places etc….. they have a rent dispute and lost in court for non-payment to a homeless residential group. yes, those evil homeless housing people! c’mon people, look at the reality of the situation.
and it’s not like katz’s deli going away because katz’s deli still kicks ass in every way. but yes, the corned beef is better at 2nd ave deli!

[King Tubby]

"dorado " wrote:

no offense but that is alot of sentimental bullshit….and they don’t book any unknown cool punk bands. they book cookie cutter, pop-punk blink 182 or korn wannabe bands that perpetuate what is wrong about what people call "punk" today. i played cbgb tons of times starting when i was 16 and it was a good time but not really that big of a deal.
if you wanna talk about an east village club that was doing it for real, then we should all hold a vigil for brownies ’cause that place had it figured out. they took chances and carefully put together bills that made musical sense and would open minds and ears. cbgb does not do that and have not for a LONG time. it has nothing to do w/ those dumb clearchannel places etc….. they have a rent dispute and lost in court for non-payment to a homeless residential group. yes, those evil homeless housing people! c’mon people, look at the reality of the situation.
and it’s not like katz’s deli going away because katz’s deli still kicks ass in every way. but yes, the corned beef is better at 2nd ave deli!

Please re-read my post more carefully. It implies no causal relationship between Clear Channel hegemony and what’s happening at CBs. And don’t be so quick to defend the group that’s kicking CBs out of the building — seeing them as selfless advocates for the homeless is just what they want you to do. There is, however, a SHITLOAD of nonprofit money they stand to make with CBs out of the way, much of which I suspect won’t necessarily reach those for whom it’s supposed to be earmarked. But that’s another story.

[bedbug]

Isn’t that building suppose to be turned into a homeless shelter?

Yeah, everyone’s coming out to support the cause. Save the rock club. Screw the homeless!

[fata morgana]

"bedbug " wrote:

Isn’t that building suppose to be turned into a homeless shelter?

Yeah, everyone’s coming out to support the cause. Save the rock club. Screw the homeless!

I think–from the article that crazycloud posted–that the upstairs part of the bulding is presently being used to help house the homeless or has community action organizations housed in that building to help those in need. If that is the case, I still stand by what I’ve said on the upstairs post. And I’m still going.

[rockaction]

"dorado " wrote:

no offense but that is alot of sentimental bullshit….and they don’t book any unknown cool punk bands. they book cookie cutter, pop-punk blink 182 or korn wannabe bands that perpetuate what is wrong about what people call "punk" today. i played cbgb tons of times starting when i was 16 and it was a good time but not really that big of a deal.
if you wanna talk about an east village club that was doing it for real, then we should all hold a vigil for brownies ’cause that place had it figured out. they took chances and carefully put together bills that made musical sense and would open minds and ears. cbgb does not do that and have not for a LONG time. it has nothing to do w/ those dumb clearchannel places etc….. they have a rent dispute and lost in court for non-payment to a homeless residential group. yes, those evil homeless housing people! c’mon people, look at the reality of the situation.
and it’s not like katz’s deli going away because katz’s deli still kicks ass in every way. but yes, the corned beef is better at 2nd ave deli!

Hmmm…. maybe cb’s should let you book the bands – since you seem to be so punk rock. Tell me some new "cool unknown" punk bands that I am missing out on – in then year 2005! I really haven’t heard much good new unknown "punk rock" in over 20 years.

How can you mention a club with all its history in Cb’s and Brownies in the same post ? Whatever happened at Brownies that was so punk rock and legendary? Your Band playing on a tuesday night? Having said that Mark E Smith did trade some punches from some members of The Fall and got arrested for beating up his girlfriend at Brownies. I saw God is my co-pilot play a very intense show there once but but that was hardly legendary and not very "punk rock".

[stimp]

Of all the clubs that should have been saved in NYC, the A-7 should have been saved, the place Bad Brains recorded the ROIR sessions, and Max’s. Those are three important places that should of been benchmarked in NYC history. But their not so I say bye bye to Cb’s……

[King Tubby]

"rockaction " wrote:

"dorado " wrote:

no offense but that is alot of sentimental bullshit….and they don’t book any unknown cool punk bands. they book cookie cutter, pop-punk blink 182 or korn wannabe bands that perpetuate what is wrong about what people call "punk" today. i played cbgb tons of times starting when i was 16 and it was a good time but not really that big of a deal.
if you wanna talk about an east village club that was doing it for real, then we should all hold a vigil for brownies ’cause that place had it figured out. they took chances and carefully put together bills that made musical sense and would open minds and ears. cbgb does not do that and have not for a LONG time. it has nothing to do w/ those dumb clearchannel places etc….. they have a rent dispute and lost in court for non-payment to a homeless residential group. yes, those evil homeless housing people! c’mon people, look at the reality of the situation.
and it’s not like katz’s deli going away because katz’s deli still kicks ass in every way. but yes, the corned beef is better at 2nd ave deli!

Hmmm…. maybe cb’s should let you book the bands – since you seem to be so punk rock. Tell me some new "cool unknown" punk bands that I am missing out on – in then year 2005! I really haven’t heard much good new unknown "punk rock" in over 20 years.

How can you mention a club with all its history in Cb’s and Brownies in the same post ? Whatever happened at Brownies that was so punk rock and legendary? Your Band playing on a tuesday night? Having said that Mark E Smith did trade some punches from some members of The Fall and got arrested for beating up his girlfriend at Brownies. I saw God is my co-pilot play a very intense show there once but but that was hardly legendary and not very "punk rock".

I don’t think the Brownies comparison works anyway, given that the owners decided to phase out live music and just run a drinker’s bar of their own volition. They weren’t being forced to vacate the premises. I was just at the old Brownies the other day for their 2-for-1 happy hour and was trying hard to remember what it looked like with a stage in there. I couldn’t do it. It was weird.

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