Nashville Pussy and Gaunt at Coney Island High (04-25-1998)

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On April 25, 1998, Nashville Pussy and Gaunt played at Coney Island High! Following the initial 1997 breakup of Kentucky covpunk band Nine Pound Hammer, guitarist Blaine Cartwright formed Nashville Pussy where he would take up vocal duties in addition to guitar.  The band remains active, most recently releasing "Up The Dosage" in 2014.  

Gaunt was a pop-punk band from Columbus, Ohio, who released five full length albums before breaking up shortly after this gig.

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Sonic Youth at Maxwell's (04-24-1987)

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On April 24, 1987, Sonic Youth played a second consecutive night a Maxwell's! On the 24th, Dinosaur opened - this is before they added the "Jr.!" The group essentially played an identical set from the previous night, containing exclusively song 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)
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Son Volt at Irving Plaza (04-24-1997)

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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:

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  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)

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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)

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

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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!

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

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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. 

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

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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!

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Hüsker Dü at Maxwell's (04-11-1986)

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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: 

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

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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!

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

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

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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!

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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)

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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:

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  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

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

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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."  

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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!

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.

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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)

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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?