Fugazi at Maxwell's (04-09-1989)

On April 9, 1989, Fugazi appeared at Maxwell's for only five dollars!  The band rolled through just prior to the release of their second EP, "Margin Walker."  They played several songs from that EP and also a few from 1990's "Repeater."  The Blisters opened this sold out show!

Set list:

1. Greed

2. Brendan #1

3. Bulldog Front

4. Burning

5. Burning Too

6. Bad Mouth

7. Sieve-Fisted Find

8. Shut the Door

9. Margin Walker

10. Song #1

11. Waiting Room

12. Give Me The Cure

13. Suggestion

14. Lockdown

15. Long Division

16. Glueman

17. Joe #1

18. Turnover

19. Reprovisional

20. Furniture

Alex Chilton at Maxwell's (04-05-1986)

On April 5, 1986, Alex Chilton crossed the Hudson River for an appearance with a full band at Maxwell's! Mr. Chilton played a few Box Tops songs in this set, including "The Letter," and a whole lot of covers.  Thanks Mike Rosenberg for the help with the set list!

Set list:

1. Margie (Eddie Cantor)
2. I’m Gonna Make You Mine (Lou Christie)
3. Boogie Shoes (KC & The Sunshine Band)
4. B-A-B-Y (Carla Thomas)
5. Thank You (John-Willie Tee)
6. Sick And Tired (Chris Kenner)
7. September Girls 
8. Shake It
9. Tina The Go Go Queen (Sir Mack Rice)
10. Stuff
11. Honkin’ Down The Highway (Beach Boys)
12. Save Your Love For Me (Buddy Johnson)
13. Youngblood (The Coasters)
14. Battle Of Earl K Long (Ernie Barton)
15. The Letter (The Box Tops)
16. Fields Of Clover (The Box Tops)
17. Nobody’s Fool (Dan Penn)
18. Past, Present And Future (The Shangri-Las
19. No Sex
20. Te Ni Nee Ni Nu (Slim Harpo)
21. Lonely Weekends (Charlie Rich)
22. Solar System (Beach Boys)
23. The World We Knew (Frank Sinatra)
24. Underclass
25. Bangkok

Alex Chilton at CBGB's (04-04-1986)

I'm in love...

What's that song?!?!?!?

On April 4, 1986, the undisputed king of power-pop, Alex Chilton, played a wonderful solo set at CBGB's!

Whiskeytown at Tramps (04-04-1998)

On April 4, 1998, Ryan Adams' Whiskeytown played at Tramps!

Maureen Tucker at Maxwell's (03-27-1987)

On March 27, 1987, Maureen "Mo" Tucker played an incredibly memorable set at Maxwell's!  Best known as the drummer of the Velvet Underground, Mo put that pedigree to good use during this performance as she played several VU classics, including "Heroin" and " After Hours."  

Mo's performance featured appearances from Half Japanese and Penn Jillette of Penn and Teller fame.  Most notably, Penn sings "Heroin" while simultaneously swallowing/blowing fire!! Mo released an EP entitled "Moejadkatebarry" in June 1987 on Penn Jillette's label, 50 Skidillion Watts.

Hüsker Dü at The Ritz (03-26-1987)

Click photo for FLAC version!

On this day in 1987, Hüsker Dü played the first of two nights at The Ritz. Millennials more commonly know The Ritz as Webster Hall, which recently closed for renovations. The group played a massively long 29-song set on this first night, featuring mostly songs from "Warehouse: Songs and Stories." This would be one of the band's final shows in New York City, as Hüsker Dü broke up in late 1987.

Set list:

1. These Important Years
2. Charity, Chastity, Prudence And Hope
3. Standing In The Rain
4. Back From Somewhere
5. Ice Cold Ice
6. You're A Soldier
7. Could You Be The One?
8. Too Much Spice
9. Friend, You've Got To Fall
10. Everytime
11. Visionary
12. She Floated Away
13. Bed Of Nails
14. Tell You Why Tomorrow
15. It's Not Peculiar
16. Actual Condition
17. No Reservations
18. Flexible Flyer
19. Turn It Around
20. She's A Woman (And Now He Is A Man)
21. Up In The Air
22. You Can Live At Home
23. Never Talking To You Again
24. Hardly Getting Over It
25. Love Is All Around
26. Books About UFOs
27. Eight Miles High
28. Helter Skelter

Matthew Sweet at Irving Plaza (03-25-2000)

On March 25, 2000, Matthew Sweet wrapped up the "In Reverse" tour with a gig at Irving Plaza.  Matthew Sweet emerged out of the burgeoning Athens, GA music scene in the 1980s and he's still doing his thing! Last June, he released his 12th full length, "Tomorrow Forever."  

Set list:

1. Millenium Blues
2. If Time Permits
3. Beware My Love
4. Divine Intervention
5. Time Capsule
6. You Don't Love Me
7. What Matters
8. Future Shock
9. Hide
10. I've Been Waiting
11. Come To California
12. Trade Places
13. Behind The Smile
14. Girlfriend
15. Someone To Pull The Trigger
16. The Ugly Truth
17. I Should Never Have Let You Know
18. Sick of Myself

Encore One

1. We're The Same
2. Thunderstorm
3. Faith In You

Encore Two

1. Evangeline
2. Does She Talk?

Royal Trux at Coney Island High (03-23-1997)

On March 23, 1997, Royal Trux played a 50 minute set at St. Mark's Place staple, Coney Island High.  A popular noise-rock band during the 1990s, the songwriting duo of Neil Michael Hagerty and Jennifer Herrema officially reunited in 2015 - playing a handful of shows over the last few years, including a 3-night residency at Market Hotel in 2017.  Fat Possum recently released the majority of their discography and the band announced plans to release their 11th full length in early 2019.

As for the venue, Coney Island High, located on 15 St. Mark's Place in Manhattan, was the most popular punk venue in New York through much of the '90s. The venue was demolished in the early '00s and replaced with a condo building, and now there's a sushi restaurant on the ground floor. Sad face.

Earthpig at CBGB's (03-18-1990)

On March 18, 1990, Earthpig played at CBGB's. I enjoyed listening to this New Jersey group, and Dave actually sent me a zine cutout with an interview of the group.  In the interview, Earthpig cited Die Kreuzen as an influence and stated that label executives compared them Stiff Little Fingers and The Who! "Go figure!

Walt Mink at Coney Island High (03-16-1996)

On March 16, 1996, Minneapolis math rockers Walt Mink played at East Village staple, Coney Island High! Emerging out of Macalaster College in 1989, Walt Mink released four studio albums over the course of their career, including 1997's "Collossus" on Deep Elm Records.  The group toured extensively throughout their existence in support of great bands like Firehose, Mudhoney, Pavement, and Mudhoney.  Lead guitarist, John Kimbrough, currently plays with Dave Hill in the band Valley Lodge! 

Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers at Maxwell's (03-16-1986)

On March 16, 1986, Jonathan Richman played a stunning set of tunes at Maxwell's!

The New York Times did a brief blurb on Jonathan's show at Irving Plaza on March 14, 1986, describing the set as "low-volume rock- and-roll." Similarly, the set across the Hudson river was definitely low volume, but in no way devoid of energy! You can hear the crowd clapping and singing along throughout the entire show, including a wonderful rendition of "Give Paris One More Chance!"

This tape sounds very crisp and clear, so please enjoy the heck out of it!

Picture in the Maxwell's green room courtesy of Charles Charas!

The Jesus and Mary Chain at The Ritz

On April 14, 1987, The Jesus and Mary Chain played at The Ritz! The Scottish alternative rockers were preparing to release their second studio album, "Darklands," which would be released in August of 1987.  The group played several songs from this yet to be released LP, including "April Skies," "Nine Million Rainy Days," and "Happy When It Rains."

Mudhoney at Maxwell's (03-11-1989)

On March 11, 1989, Mudhoney topped a bill that featured their Sub Pop label mates, Soundgarden. Though Mudhoney had released a string of singles and an EP, as of the date of this gig, they had yet to release their debut self-titled studio album, which was released in November 1986.  In December 1988, the group released a highly anticipated split single with Sonic Youth. Prior to the release of Mudhoney's "Touch Me I'm Sick" single in March 1988, Bruce Pavitt sent a five-song Mudhoney tape to Sonic Youth for the band's opinion. Sonic Youth immediately proposed a split single where each band covered the other. Sonic Youth covered "Touch Me I'm Sick", while Mudhoney covered Sonic Youth's "Halloween". 

Set list:

1. Magnolia Caboose Babyshit
2. No One Has
3. By Her Own Hand
4. Touch Me I'm Sick
5. You Got It
6. If I Think
7. Mudride
8. Here Comes Sickness
9. Burn It Clean
10. This Gift
11. Chain That Door
12. Need
13. Hate the Police (The Dicks Cover)
14. In 'N' Out of Grace

Goo Goo Dolls at Maxwell's (03-09-1991)

On March 9, 1991, The Goo Goo Dolls played Maxwell's! Long before the Goo Goo Dolls exploded onto the mainstream with that song from that movie City Of Angels, they were your average-blue collar punk band from Buffalo, NY.  After doing the rounds in Buffalo opening for seminal punk bands such as SNFU, Dag Nasty, ALL, The Dead Milkmen, Gang Green, and Doughboys, the band began touring regularly in the late 1980s. This set at Maxwell's took place shortly after the band released their third full-length, "Hold Me Up," in 1990.  Before the Goos reached superstardom in the late 90s, they had the opportunity to collaborate with Paul Westerberg for the song "We Are The Normal" from their 1993 album, "Superstar Car Wash."

Boss Hog at Tramps (03-09-1996)

On March 9, 1996, American blues punk group Boss Hog played at Tramps.  Boss Hog is project of Jon Spencer (of the Blues Explosion) and his wife, Cristina Martinez. The band achieved some notoriety, not only due to their abrasive sound, but more to Martinez's confrontational use of nudity on the band's record sleeves.  Throughout the course of Boss Hogg's three decades of existence, they've released four full length albums, three EP's, and several singles.  Most recently, the group released "Brood X" - their first album in almost 17 years. 

Rollins Band at CBGB's (03-09-1990)

On March 9th, 1990, Rollins Band played a raucous set at CBGB's!  The band embarked on a tour in 1990 to support their 2nd full length release, Hard Volume. Critic Steve Huey describes their music as "uncompromising, intense, cathartic fusions of funk, post-punk noise, and jazz experimentalism, with Rollins shouting angry, biting self-examinations and accusations over the grind."

Soul Asylum at Maxwell's (03-09-1988)

On March 9th, 1988, Soul Asylum played a ten song acoustic set at Maxwell's! The set mostly included songs from their three prior studio albums, two covers, and a new song from the forthcoming LP, "Hang Time!"

Set list:

1. Sun Don't Shine
2. Particularly Lonesome
3. Ooh La La (Small Faces Cover)
4. Ship of Fools
5. Chevy Van (Sammy Johns Cover)
6. Another World, Another Day
7. The Cross / The Boss
8. Whoa!
9. Put the Bone In
10. Never Really Been

Descendents, Gang Green, Dag Nasty, Half Life, and Big Red at City Gardens (03-08-1987)

On March 8, 1987, City Gardens hosted a stacked lineup of the some of the finest punk rock acts of the 1980s! The Descendents topped a bill that also included Dag Nasty, Half Life, Gang Green, and Big Red.  

This gig marks the early stages of a transition period for the Descendents, as following their 1986 summer tour, Karl Alvarez and Stephen Egerton of the Utah band Massacre Guys assumed bass and lead guitar duties, respectively.  The band had also just released their fourth studio album, "All", in January of 1987, their final release before their second hiatus in the summer of 1987.  However, as we all know, Alvarez, Egerton, and Bill Stevenson continued to record music under the name "All" with Dave Smalley of Dag Nasty on lead vocals.  All released their debut LP, "Allroy Sez," in December of 1987.

Ben Harper at Roseland Ballroom (03-06-1998)

On March 6, 1998 Ben Harper played at the Roseland Ballroom.  Ben played mostly originals, but threw in two very legit covers for this encore - Hendrix and Marvin Gaye!  During his initial set, he even covered a Jam song!

Set list:

1. Number Three 
2. Oppression / Get Up, Stand Up
3. Glory & Consequence 
4. Ground on Down 
5. Breakin' Down 
6. Burn One Down 
7. Jah Work 
8. Homeless Child 
9. Gold to Me 
10. Fight for Your Mind
11. Mama's Trippin'
12. The Modern World (The Jam cover)
13. Faded
14. The Will to Live

Encore: 

1. Widow of a Living Man
2. Walk Away
3. I Shall Not Walk Alone
4. Waiting on an Angel 

Encore 2:

1. Sexual Healing (Marvin Gaye cover)
2. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Jimi Hendrix cover)

Delta 72 at The Cooler (03-06-1999)

On March 6, 1999, Delta 72 played a gig at The Cooler.  Delta 72 got their start in Washington, D.C. back in 1992 with a 7" single released on Discord Records titled "On The Rocks."  Original member, Ben Azzara, parted ways with the group in 1995, and the remaining members went on the sign with Chicago's Touch and Go Records, where they'd release another three studio albums before disbanding in 2001.  Around the time of this show, the group was preparing for the release of their EP titled "Sorega Doushita," which would be released in July of that year.

As for the venue, The Cooler, a music and performance space, opened on Wednesday, September 22, 1993 at 416 West 14th Street in the Meatpacking District in Manhattan. The club showcased a wide variety of experimental music, Americana music, roots music, and spoken-word performers. Performances at The Cooler also included dance, film and video arts, and club parties.  The club closed on June 2, 2001 with a performance by Michael Karoli of Can, Botanica,, Jim Thirlwell James Chance, and Suicide.