Palace Brothers at Tramps (06-06-1997)

June 06, 2018 by Thomas Gallo

On June 6, 1997, Palace Brothers played at Tramps! In April 1996, Will Oldman released "Arise Therefore," his last album under the moniker "Palace Brothers." Steve Albini produced this record! Later in 1997, Will Oldham would release Joya under his own name. Thereafter, he would go on to release his work under the name Bonnie "Prince" Billy, including 2017's "Best Troubador."

Thank you to Scott Brown for the set list and band info:

Band : Will Oldham, Jack Carneal, Willy MacLean, Ned Oldham, Aram Stith, Jason Stith

Set list:

Ohio River Boat Song
Riding
Valentine's Day
Trudy Dies
Come In
Little Blue Eyes
Horses
Stable Will
Untitled
West Palm Beach
Gulf Shores
Marriage
O How I Enjoy The Light
(End Of) Traveling
Lost Blues
I'm On My Way Home Again (Everly Brothers)
Green River (Everly Brothers - NOT CCR)

Sonic Youth at Paard Van Troje in The Hague, Netherlands (06-06-1986)

June 06, 2018 by Thomas Gallo

On June 6, 1986, Sonic Youth played at Paard Van Troje in The Hague, Netherlands. The group released their third LP "EVOL" in May 1986 on SST Records, and followed the release with a European tour. Their setlist on this night featured mostly songs from this new release but those in attendance also got a sneak peak of "White Kross," a song that would appear on their next record, "Sister." Sonic Youth made appearances in two other Dutch cities, Groningen and Lindhoven, before returning for a performance at CBGB's on June 13th, 1986.

Set list:

Marilyn Moore
The World Looks Red
Shadow Of A Doubt
Starpower
Death To Our Friends
Tom Violence
White Kross
Secret Girl
Burning Spear
Green Light
Brother James
Flower
Expressway To Yr Skull

Bonnie Prince Billy at Bowery Ballroom (06-03-2000)

June 03, 2018 by Thomas Gallo

On June 3, 2000, folk singer-songwriter Bonnie Price Billy played at Bowery Ballroom! In 1999, Will Oldham released his first album under the moniker Bonnie Prince Billy entitled "I See A Darkness." This was Bonnie Prince Billy's second ever appearance at The Bowery Ballroom and he treated the crowd to a lengthy set.

Set list:

The Same Love That Made Me Laugh
One With The Birds
O Let It Be
Nomadic Revery (All Around)
A Minor Place
A Sucker's Evening
Rider
Little Boy Blue I
Madelein-Mary
West Palm Beach
Another Day Full Of Dread
I See A Darkness
The Gator
Death To Everyone
No Gold Digger
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
Little Boy Blue II
The Weaker Soldier
Werner's Last Blues To Blockbuster
Cat's Blues
We Are 138
Meaulnes

The Feelies at Maxwell's (06-02-1986)

June 02, 2018 by Thomas Gallo

On June 2, 1986, The Feelies returned to Maxwell's for another gig! Following their performances on May 9 and 10th of 1986, the group returned to their home venue to film a live performance for a Japanese documentary. A portion of this documentary can be found on YouTube. In this short interview clip, the band describes what they love about playing at Maxwell's, their performance in "Something Wild," and their cult following in Osaka, Japan.

As it turns out, The McKenzie Tapes has an actual VHS tape of this documentary, which I will post as soon as I either bring it to Staples or digitize it myself. Enjoy!

T Model Ford at Knitting Factors (05-31-1999)

May 31, 2018 by Thomas Gallo

On May 31, 1999, blues musician T-Model Ford appeared at the Knitting Factory! Born James Lewis Carter Ford, T-Model Ford released his 2nd studio album entitled "You Better Keep Still" in 1999 on Fat Possum Records. He would release another six studio albums, the last in 2011, before sadly passing away at the age of 90 in 2013.

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion at Tramps (05-30-1998)

May 30, 2018 by Thomas Gallo

On May 30, 1998, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion played at Tramps! In late 1997, the band began recording their sixth studio album, "Acme," by cutting a few tracks with Calvin Johnson at his studio in Olympia, WA. Following a New Year's Eve performance in Chicago, the band visited Steve Albini at his Electrical Audio studio. While in Chicago the band recruited Andre Williams to provide guest vocals for the track "Lap Dance." He joined the Blues Explosion on stage to round out this set at Tramps!

Set list:

Wait a Minute
Afro
Dynamite Lover
Give Me a Chance
High Gear
Greyhound
2Kindsa Love
Flavor
Attack
Magical Colors
Confused
Get With It
Fuck Shit Up
Calvin

Encore:

’78 Style
Bellbottoms
Wail
Full Grown
All Aboard
Chowder
Chicken Dog
Lap Dance (with Andre Williams)

Adrenalin O.D. at Maxwell's (05-26-1988)

May 26, 2018 by Thomas Gallo

On May 26, 1988 Elmwood, NJ based punk rockers Adrenalin O.D. played at Maxwell's! Fresh off the release of their third record, "Cruising With Elvis In Bigfoot's U.F.O.," A.O.D. came into this gig and played loud, fast, and hard! The band disbanded in 1990, before reuninting in 1999, 2005, and 2007.

The Godfathers at Maxwell's (05-23-1987)

May 23, 2018 by Thomas Gallo

On May 23, 1987, U.K. band The Godfathers played at Maxwell's! The band was formed in 1985 by brothers Peter and Chris Coyne after the demise of their former project, The Sid Presley Experience. Their sound notably blended elements of punk, new wave, and R&B. In 1987, the group embarked on their first ever U.S. tour in 1987 and signed to Epic Records. They would release their major label debut, "Birth, School, Work, Death," in 1988. The record achieved some modest success on college radio and MTV. The group disbanded in 2000, but reformed in 2008 and remain active. They've since released two LPs, "Jukebox Fury" in 2013, and "A Big Bad Beautiful Noise" in 2017.

Marshall Crenshaw Interview on WRNU Rutgers University - Newark (05-22-1981)

May 22, 2018 by Thomas Gallo

Check out this really fun interview on WRNU Rutgers University - Newark radio with Marshall Crenshaw from 38 years ago! In the start, you can actually hear a ROTARY PHONE being dialed. The discussion wraps up with Mr. Crenshaw doing a station ID for WRNU. Listening to this was a ton of fun!

Pixies at Maxwell's (05-21-1988)

May 21, 2018 by Thomas Gallo

On May 21, 1988, he Pixies made their second ever appearance at Maxwell's! This gig comes at a watershed moment for the band, as they had just released their seminal album, "Surfer Rosa," in March of 1988. Their set includes many classic songs including "Where Is My Mind?," "Bone Machine," and my personal favorite, "Gigantic!!" The show ends with a Beatles cover! Enjoy - the sound quality is excellent!

Set list:

The Holiday Song
Nimrod's Son
Bone Machine
Break My Body
Isla de Encanta
Broken Face
Ed Is Dead
Where Is My Mind?
Something Against You
Hey
Gigantic
I've Been Tired
Vamos
Caribou
Tony's Theme
Wild Honey Pie (Beatles Cover)

Ass Ponys at Mercury Lounge (05-18-1996)

May 18, 2018 by Thomas Gallo

On May 18, 1996, Ass Ponys played at Mercury Lounge! Hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, Ass Ponys developed a sound that combined rock and country into an off-kilter blend of Americana music. In 1996, the released their fourth studio album (their second on A&M) entitled "The Known Universe."

Violent Femmes at Stache's in Columbus, OH (05-15-1984)

May 15, 2018 by Thomas Gallo

On May 15, 1984, the Violent Femmes played at Stache's in Columbus, OH!

R.L. Burnside at The Cooler (05-14-1996)

May 14, 2018 by Thomas Gallo

On May 14, 1996, R.L. Burnside played at The Cooler in New York City. An accomplished blue guitarist, Burnside got his start in rural Mississippi before relocating to Chicago after World War II. He eventually moved to Memphis in the 1950s and then back to Mississippi. He recorded and played music sporadically over the course of the next few decades, but achieved more significantly notoriety in the 1990s after being signed to Fat Possum Records. In 1995, his playing attached the interest of Jon Spencer, who recruited him for his touring band that same year. The 1996 album "A Ass Pocket of Whiskey" was recorded with Spencer's band. Burnside would go on to collaborate with the likes of Kid Rock and the Beastie Boys in the late 90s and early 2000s. He passed away in 2005 at the age of 78.

The Grifters at Maxwells (05-12-1996)

May 12, 2018 by Thomas Gallo

On May 12, 1996, Memphis indie rock band, The Grifters, played at Maxwell's! The group had just released their first album on Sub Pop entitled "Ain't My Lookout" in February of 1996. he band originally formed in the late 1980s as A Band Called Bud with vocalist/guitarist Scott Taylor, bassist Tripp Lamkins, and drummer Dave Shouse. After being renamed the Grifters, the group recorded primarily at Easley McCain Recording and were closely affiliated with Memphis's Shangri-La Records label for a time. The late Jeff Buckley was a vocal supporter of The Grifters and was close friends with the band.

Meat Puppets at The Ritz (05-10-1987)

May 10, 2018 by Thomas Gallo

On May 10, 1987, the Meat Puppets played at The Ritz! The Asbury Park Press published the following regarding the show, and the group's fourth LP 'Mirage,' in their May 10, 1987 edition:

[The Meat Puppets] are scheduled to headline tonight at the Ritz in New York, their biggest gig ever in the city (opening is Soul Asylum, a sizzling Husker Du protege). After the unfocused "Up on the Sun" in 1985 and last year's harder-edged EP "Out My Way," "Mirage" is a return to form. It has the juiciest bunch of hooks the band has strung together on one album, along with some of the prettiest West Coast guitar lines of any record in 1987. Brothers Cris and Curt Kirk-wood formed the Meat Puppets with drummer Derrick Bostrom in Arizona. Their first album was pretty much a thunderous rush of blues-influenced rock that sounded a bit like the laid-back music of the Grateful Dead. There were other Deadheads at SST, notably the members of Black Flag, but none dared to commit punk's cardinal sin of laying back quite so openly. Who would have thought of punks in the 1980s wearing long hair and colorful T-shirts and playing serious two-steps? Nowadays, a number of bands are doing the same thing. The Meat Puppets haven't been put out to pasture, though. They're still making sparkling records, like the new "Mirage" (SST, P.O. Box 1, Lawndale, Calif., 90260), their fourth full-length.

Edit: Thank you to Gerald Schumacher for the set list-

1. Not Swimming Ground
Lake Of Fire
Quit It
Leaves
Get On Down
Beauty
Out My Way
Plateau
Swimming Ground
A Hundred Miles
The Mighty Zero
Love Our Children Forever
Lost
Mirage
I Am A Machine
She's Hot
Liquified
Bad Boy
Up On The Sun
I'm Bad I'm Nationwide
Burn The Honky Tonk Down
I Just Want To Make Love To You

The Feelies at Maxwell's (05-09-1986 and 05-10-1986)

May 09, 2018 by Thomas Gallo

Time for a tape from my favorite band!

On May 9, 1986, The Feelies treated an eager Maxwell's crowd to two sets of magical tunes! This Maxwell's gig captures the band at a pivotal point in the career, as the group released their second LP, "The Good Earth" in 1986 - six years after their debut, "Crazy Rhythms." In the six years between releases, members of the Feelies and their friends would play Maxwell's countless times under several different monikers, including Yung Wu, Speed The Plough, and the Trypes. 1986 also marked the band's big screen debut, as the group (credited as "The Willies), appeared in Jonathan Demme's "Something Wild" in 1986!

The Feelies are playing BSP Kingston in Kingston, NY this Friday May 11th and World Cafe Live in Philadelhpia this Saturday May 12th.

Dinosaur Jr. at The Roxy (05-09-1997)

May 09, 2018 by Thomas Gallo

On May 9, 1997, Dinosaur Jr. at The Roxy in New York City. Fresh off the release of their seventh studio album, "Hand It Over" in March of 1997, the band embarked on a year long world tour with dates in Australia, Japan, and Europe. This occasion would mark the second to last Dinosaur Jr. show in New York City prior to their original break up. The band would return to play Tramps in November 1997 before breaking up the following month. Dinosaur Jr. reunited in 2005 and continues to inflict tinnitus on their adoring fans across the globe!

Hüsker Dü at Maxwell's (05-09-1985)

May 09, 2018 by Thomas Gallo

On May 9, 1985, Hüsker Dü played a sold out show at Maxwell's as part of their "New Day Rising" tour. So far, this is one of several Hüsker Dü shows in the McKenzie Tapes collection, but this one is definitely the oldest and arguably captures the Twin Cities trio in their prime. The set list features several classic Dü songs, including "Pink Turns To Blue," their cover of the Byrds' "Eight Miles High," "Girl Who Lives On Heaven Hill," and "It's Not Funny Anymore!"

Poison Idea at The Pyramid Club

May 09, 2018 by Thomas Gallo

On May 9, 1990, Portland punks Poison Idea played at The Pyramid Club in New York City! Prior to breaking up in 1993, the band established their own record label in 1989, American Leather, and released two records the same year: a reissue of their 1982 demo Darby Crash Rides Again and the Discontent 7”. In 1990, the band released "Feel The Darkness."

The Pyramid Club is located on Avenue A and between 6th and 7th street. The Pyramid Club was is part of the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District. The Landmarks Preservation Commission designated this district a landmark on October 9, 2012.

Dag Nasty at CBGB's (05-08-1988)

May 08, 2018 by Thomas Gallo

On May 8, 1988, Dag Nasty headlined a Sunday Hardcore Matinee at CBGB's! That's right, for the low, low price of five dollars, you could see a total of four excellent hardcore bands and be in bed at a very reasonable hour!