Son Volt at Irving Plaza (04-24-1997)

On April 24, 1997, Son Volt played at Irving Plaza.  The group had just released their second studio album, "Straightaways," two days earlier and were uber pumped to play songs from their new record!  Jay Farrar even threw in some cover songs of his old band, Uncle Tupelo, for good  measure!

The New York Times did a nice write up of the show in their April 26, 1997 edition. Neil Strauss wrote:  

Son Volt's newer songs, like those of Mr. Buckner, were more moody and impressionistic than structured, with sweeps of pedal-steel guitar, banjo and fiddle. This sometimes led to monotony, especially since the band grouped all of its upbeat songs together near the end of the show and saved its shimmering guitar solos for the encore. But it all seemed strategical: As the band sang in its new song, ''Picking Up the Signal,'' it is ''turning away from faster/down-shifting low.''

Set list:

1. Tear Stained Eye
2. True to Life (Uncle Tupelo cover)
3. Last Minute Shakedown
4. Slate (Uncle Tupelo cover)
5. Creosote
6. Out of the Picture
7. Left A Slide
8. Back Into Your World
9. Catching On
10. Live Free
11. Ten Second News
12. Picking Up the Signal
13. Cemetery Savior
14. Loose String
15. Caryatid Easy
16. Route
17. Drown
18. No More Parades
19. Windfall
20. Been Set Free
21. Chickamauga (Uncle Tupelo cover)

Sonic Youth at Maxwell's (04-23-1987)

On April 23, 1987, Sonic Youth played the first of two nights at Maxwell's.  The group debuted never before heard material from their upcoming fourth LP, "Sister," which was released in June 1987.  Sister was partly inspired by the life and works of science fiction writer Philip K. Dick (the "sister" of the title was Dick's fraternal twin, who died shortly after her birth, and whose memory haunted Dick his entire life). Sister was also the first Sonic Youth album to crack the Top 20 of the Village Voice's Pazz & Jop critics poll.

1. (I Got A) Catholic Block
2. Tuff Gnarl 
3. Pipeline/Kill Time
4. Pacific Coast Highway
5. Stereo Sanctity
6. Cotton Crown
7. Schizophrenia
8. White Cross
9. Beauty Lies in the Eye
10. Hotwire My Heart (Crime Cover)

Firehose at CBGB's (04-23-1988)

On April 23, 1988, Firehose followed up their excellent Maxwell's show with a great gig at CBGB's!

Living Colour at The New Ritz (04-22-1989)

On April 22, 1989, Living Colour played one of the first ever gigs at the newly re-located Ritz.  In April 1989, the venue relocated from it's original location on 11th street to  to the site of the former Studio 54 on West 54th Street.  

This gig was broadcast of 102.7 WNEW - you can hear the station ID at the top! Living Colour rose to fame with their debut album Vivid in 1988.  A few month after this performance, they were named Best New Artist at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards and won their second Grammy Award for their follow-up album Time's Up.  Additionally, the group would tour with the Rolling Stones in 1989!

Dag Nasty at Maxwell's (04-21-1988)

On April 21, 1988, Dag Nasty played at Maxwell's! The Washington D.C. group had just released their third LP, "Field Day," in February of 1988 - their first on Giant Records and their second with vocalist  Peter Cortner.  Dag Nasty actually just came through the NYC area recently, including appearances in Brooklyn at Brooklyn Bazaar and at Crossroads in Garwood, NJ. 

Firehose at Maxwell's (04-20-1989)

On April 20, 1989, Firehose pulled through Hoboken, New Jersey for two shows at Maxwell's.  This tape captures the late show, which was a rocking one as the band shredded late into April 21, 1989! The group would release their 3rd studio album, "FromOHIO" in October 1989.  

Apples in Stereo at Tramps (04-18-1998)

On April 18, 1998, Elephant Six Collective superstars, Apples in Stereo, played at Tramps! The group mostly played songs from their 1995 debut, "Fun Trick Noisemaker," and their second LP (my personal favorite), "Tone Soul Evolution!" 

I miss this band a lot. They remind me of my college days - back then I was heavily into Elephant Six bands. Oh, I also recently read that frontman Robert Schneider put the project on hiatus to pursue a career as a mathematician. Sad face. Enjoy!

The Stranglers at The Ritz (04-16-1987)

On April 16, 1987, The Stranglers appeared at The Ritz. The group had just released their 9th album, "Dreamtime"  in October 1986. This would wind up being the only Stranglers album to chart in the U.S.  

Hüsker Dü at Maxwell's (04-11-1986)

On April 11, 1987, Hüsker Dü played at Maxwell's! This show kicked off a three night stand that included April 12th and 13th gigs at Irving Plaza.  Interestingly, this show was not listed on the Maxwell's flier.  As you can see below, the show is listed as "Closed For Renovations!" 

Set list: 

1. Flip Your Wig  
2. Every Everything
3. Makes No Sense At All
4. The Girl Who Lives On Heaven Hill
5. I Apologize
6. If I Told You
7. Private Plane
8. Don't Want To Know If You Are Lonely
9. Chartered Trips
10. What's Going On?
11. Masochism World
12. The Wit And The Wisdom
13. Terms Of Psychic Warfare
14. Powerline
15. Books About UFOs
16. Ramblin' Rose
17. (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care
18. Hardly Getting Over It
19. Sorry Somehow
20. Love Is All Around
21. Green Eyes
22. All Work And No Play 

Celibate Rifles at Maxwell's (04-11-1987)

On April 11, 1987, Syndney Australia's Celibate Rifles ventured all the way to Hoboken to play at Maxwell's! As a venue, Maxwell's was ahead of the curve when it came to booking up and coming acts from down under - including New Zealand.  The local record shop, Pier Platters, had an extensive stock of Australian and New Zealand imports, which kept the demand for live performances from down under bands quite high! Celibate Rifles.  The Celibate Rifles played a great 45 minute set to the satisfaction of all in attendance!

Black Flag at Maxwell's (04-10-1986)

On April 10, 1986, Black Flag played one of their last NYC-area shows at Maxwell's.  According to Henry's intro, the band was unfortunately involved in a minor car accident.  Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the band's PA system and amps were damaged.  The photo below is an original taken by Dave McKenzie!

Setlist:

1. Retired At 21
2. Annihilate This Week
3. Bastard In Love
4. Drinking And Driving
5. Paralyzed
6. In My Head
7. White Hot
8. Black Love
9. Kickin And Stickin
10. Society's Tease
11. Loose Nut 
12. Nervous Breakdown
13. This Is Good
14. I Can See You
15. Swinging Man Jam
16. Gimme Gimme Gimme
17. Louie Louie

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!