start of Civ/having nothing to do with McDonald's GB rant
 

So, I just found out that the Gorilla Biscuits are playing a reunion show at CBGBs as part of the "Save CBGBs" campaign. Apparrently, the show sold out in 3 minutes on ticketweb. Boooooooooooooooooo.

And for the record, I would like to state in a public forum that the idea of "Save CBGBs" is a load of crap. Anyone who's lived in New York and actually has some experience with CBGBs knows that CBs sucks balls and doesn't deserve to be saved. In my mind it's like saying, "save planet hollywood". It's been a crappy venue for years. Good riddance.

And now I'll watch while tickets start showing up on craigslist and ebay for hundreds of dollars. (no, i will not pay more than $20 for a ticket - in case you were wondering).

In other news, my coworker told me that Jeff Mangum showed up at the Olivia Tremor Control show last night and did a song with them. I will try to make it tonite.

Oh, yeah... I like to ride track bikes.

The end.

J

Dude CB's may have ***** bands but that's because it's never changed. CB's is a landmark that has never sold out and always stayed true to its form. Ever notice that only crappy little bands that play their own songs are the ones there? Just like in the 70s when punk was starting and the Ramones, Patti Smith, and Television were crappy little bands playing their own songs. Comparing it to planet hollywood is a travesty and you ought be ashamed.

ImOnCrank - I respect your feelings on the matter, but sometimes you've just got to let something go, especially when it becomes obsolete and is no longer functioning as what it once was. Save CBs is all about clinging onto an idea that is firmly rooted in the past -- the reality of the situation is that CBs is poorly managed and doesn't book good bands. And where is all this money going to go? Hilly's retirement fund? Fine, but it looks like the landlord wants them out no matter what, regardless if they pay the thousands and thousands of dollars in back rent that they owe.

Here's another analogy that you might like (or dislike) more than the "Save Planet Hollywood." Have you ever heard the story of how Kirk Douglas really really really wanted to play the role of Murphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Like, in his mind, it would be the role of his lifetime, the role he thought he was born to play. And his son Michael was the producer and had the rights to the film and the final say in who was going to play Murphy. And Michael knew that Jack Nicholson was just more appropriate of a choice than his OWN FATHER. And so he cut Kirk lose, a veritable patricide if you will. Because Michael knew that, perhaps Kirk was born to play Murphy 15, 20 years earlier. The time had long since passed where Kirk Douglas was the way to go. And Kirk? He is still hurt by the whole thing to THIS DAY! It still hurts. But it had to be that way.

Tough love.

J

Oh, so this post with "Civ" in the title really does have something to do with, well...Civ!

I saw the Toy Dolls at CBGB's in '97 (?). Good times!

I feel like looking for the first CIV album... I'm trying to remember if it was good or not. I know I used to own it years ago. But some Youth of Today would be better. Maybe Judge.

CIV was never good...ever.

And I think CB's should be saved. Or they can tear it down and turn it into a furniture store that sells $9,000 chairs.

I think that whole scene was overhyped.

As for the collectibility of the vinyl of the period, it's way over-hyped.

Plus, how can you can call some Revelation record "super rare" when they have the majority locked up in their vault (ie, Chung King).

Which is probably why I no longer have it. I can't even remember a CIV song at the moment. Which tells me not to go find it now (that and your statment TNCLR).

I kinda like the Radicts. What happened to them?

all i remember is it was somekinnda lounge-punk thing with a video that looked like a talk show...

it was no gorilla biscuits

Calle: I hear where you're coming from but on a much closer to home level, that's where my mom grew up at and hung out and that's where countless numbers of my friends bands had their first opportunity to play a real new york city show. There are very very few if any venues left in new york city that will give some ****ty suburban kids a chance to play in the city and that's what I love most about it. As for poor management, I feel pretty similarly to you that Hilly isn't on top of his game the way he used to be, however, I feel like this could be a renaisannce for the club. The bands playing there currently are some big (albeit old and occasionally worn out) names and CB's really has a chance to be reborn. Just because the club isn't Roseland doesn't mean it's not successful in its own way.

Besides there's a lot to be said for history and nostalgia for an era when music still kicked ass.

So true. If only I had taken the $100 that some straight-edge kid in Austin offered me for a Side By Side 7" many years ago. It's so bad that it's practically unlistenable.

their "smash hit" was... "I cant wait one minute more..." something like that.

I have noticed myself thinking the same thing about music in the last few years. I think its the same effect our parents experienced. Lately i too often catch myself thinking how the hell do kids today listen to the crap thats out there. But maybe there really was a period of good music, now gone sour. whos to blame...corporate greed, record companies, mp3's....blah...blah...blah. I think music really sucks now.

not trying to single this out (cos i doubt you're a Roseland-lover), but - Roseland SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKS. the worst venue in NYC, if ya ask me. godawful sound, terrible a$$hole security, high ticket prices. but i guess it's successful. :(

cbgb's sure ain't what it used to be, and i'm sorta ambivalent to what happens over there... but i still loves me some talking heads and patti smith.

northsix runs a tight ship in brooklyn, and there are plenty of other spaces for new acts to play.

All I listen to heavy-wise these days is Botch (ah, I miss Botch), Russian Circles, Pelican, Envy and ISIS. Oh, and Yaphet Kotto.

On the flipside, I'm moreso into the epic instrumental type bands - Tristeza (hurry up with the new album!), Maserati, The Mercury Program, Explosions in the Sky, etc.

It's like the two balance themselves out - one side heavy, one side mellow but all intense.

i thought Tristeza broke up 2 summers ago...guess not.

i was pretty into the single from the Maserati ablum (the one that was on the heavier side), but the rest of the albumn was way slow. i heard people comparing them to tortoise, but i didnt see it. Id like to see them live though.

Challah back to everything you just said right there. But even with places like n6, southpaw, and warsaw over the river, it's still harder to get a gig than it is at CB's.

On the topic of n6 though, the MC5 show there this weekend was fanf#ckingtastic and the ride back to manhattan was a perfect way to end it.

For those that care, a downloadable video of the Gorilla Biscuits reunion show. Image is mediocre, sound quality outstanding. Looks like it was pretty crazy. Hopefully this'll mean a couple more shows. And yes, this will make it through your company IT ;)

http://s56.yousendit.com/d.php?id=1H...K22NSR6TH609W4

the first CIV record was good. really good. it did have "Can't Wait One Minute More" on it... oddly i just saw that song used in an ad for some auto dealer sale(!?)... pretty insulting i say, but we've already lived through having buzzcocks songs on car ads, along with ramones songs on mobile phone ads, etc usw... one theory is that all the punks are growing up to work at ad agencies.

i would do almost anything to go to one of the Circle Jerks shows... just look at those lineups... incredible! 45 Grave, Zero Boys, other great ones i can't even remember at the moment (i have a concussion. cut me some slack!)

That show happened this past weekend, anyone go? I heard they were showing it on the monitors at the gallery next door as well.

I'm probably dating myself, but most of those bands I grew up with, and old and washed out or not they would still probably be fun shows. Unfortunately I slacked on the Circle Jerks, etc. shows, but they were for sale on ticketweb for a while.

The only one I managed to get tickets for so far is the Sick of it All/Fearless Vampire Killers thing. If nothing else it'll be cool to hear John sing some Cro-mags songs. I guess Harley will be doing them the night before.