On November 19th, 1996, Royal Trux played at Mercury Lounge! The band played a number of songs from their forthcoming sixth studio album, Sweet Sixteen, which was released in February of 1997. The group split in 2001, but reunited in 2015. Their first album in almost two decades is scheduled for release in early 2019.
On November 8th, 1987, Government Issue played at CBGB’s! Forming in Washington D.C. in 1980, Government Issue was a part of the first wave of hardcore bands to emerge from our nation’s capital, alongside legendary acts such as Minor Threat. Over the course of the 1980s, the band shuffled through several different lineups, with John Stabb and Tom Lyle remaining constant on lead vocals and guitars, respectively. Around the time of this gig, J. Robbins joined on bass and Peter Moffett assumed drumming duties from Sean Saley. A few months prior, the band released their sixth LP on Giant Records, You. The lineup at this gig would remain in place until the band broke up in 1989. Subsequently, J. Robbins formed the beloved Jawbox and Burning Airlines, while Moffett joined Wool.
Government Issue has reunited sporadically over the last decade. They performed reunion shows in 2007, 2010, 2014, and 2015.
On November 5th, 1988, Nikki Sudden played at Maxwell’s! Best known as the frontman of the legendary British post-punk act Swell Maps. Following the breakup of Swell Maps in 1980, Sudden started a solo career and also released records with Dave Kusworth as the Jacobites. In 1988, Nikki Sudden released his fourth solo album, Crown of Thorns. He sadly passed away in March of 2006 at the age of 49.
In 2013 and 2014, The Numero Group reissued a series of Sudden's albums on vinyl, including Waiting on Egypt, The Bible Belt, Jacobites, Texas, Kiss You Kidnapped Charabanc scheduled for February 2014.
On November 4th, 1998, The Afghan Whigs played at the Bowery Ballroom! A week prior to this show, the group released their sixth studio album, 1965. At this time, the group embarked on their own headlining tour, and toured with Aerosmith as their opening act.
On November 4th, 1995, Red Red Meat played at Brownie’s! The Chicago based blues-inspired indie rock quartet were in the midst of touring in support of their second album on Sub Pop, Bunny Gets Paid, which was released in October of 1995. Subsequently, the band would release their fourth full length in 1997, There’s A Star Above The Manger Tonight, before disbanding later that year.
On November 2nd, 1996, Chavez played at Maxwell's! Chavez originally formed in 1993 km New York City. The band played a fierce brand of math rock. Three days after this show, the band released their second studio album, Ride the Fader, on Matador Records. After a period of inactivity, the band re-formed in 2006.
Happy Halloween! On this day in 1986, the Dead Boys reunited for a Halloween performance at The Ritz! Although the group initially disbanded, they reunited for several gigs in New York throughout the 1980s. They re-released their first album as Younger, Louder and Snottier in 1989. The group formally reunited in 2017 and continues to play live shows.
On October 31st, 1992, Eugenius played at Maxwell’s! Based out of the burgeoning indie rock scene in Glasgow, Scotland, the band was formed under the name Captain America in 1990 by Eugene Kelly after the dissolution of The Vaselines. Since Kurt Cobain was a huge fan of The Vaselines, he invited Eugenius on their 1991 European tour. In 1992 the band released their second EP, Flame On. Around the same time, the band was forced to change their name to Eugenius after threat of legal action from Marvel Comics. In 1992, the band also released their debut album, Oomalama. The band disbanded in 1996.
On October 28th, 2000, At The Drive-In played at the Bowery Ballroom! The El Paso band had just released the critically successful Relationship of Command in September of 2000. Despite the success of the album, the band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2001, with Cedric Bixler and Omar Rodriguez forming the Mars Volta and Jim Ward forming Sparta. The group reunited in 2012 and subsequent release their fourth studio album, in•ter a•li•a, in 2017.
On October 28th, 1990, Mudhoney played at Maxwell’s!
On October 27th, 1985, the Minutemen played at Maxwell’s! Hailing from the working class town of San Pedro, California, the trio consisting of D. Boon, Mike Watt, and George Hurley formed in 1980 after the dissolution of The Reactionaries. The band would go on to release four full lengths and a number of EPs on Los Angeles’ SST Records, including their double album magnum opus, Double Nickels On The Dime.
Though the band was associated with the underground punk and hardcore scenes in the 1980s, the Minutemen incorporated a wide variety of stylistic influences into their music, including funk, jazz, and blues. In popular culture, the group is most widely recognizable for their song “Corona,” which served as the theme song for the popular MTV show Jackass.
Tragically, guitarist D. Boon passed away in a car accident on December 22nd, 1985, less than two months after this show. The end of this tape contains a short radio segment (on WFMU, I believe) announcing his passing.
On October 23rd, 1998, Mudhoney played at Tramps!
On October 23rd, 1995, Babes In Toyland played at Maxwell's! Earlier that year, the Minneapolis noise rock trio released their third and final studio album, Nemesisters. The group rose to prominence in the early 90s with their 1990 debut, Speaking Machine and their commercially successful follow up, Fontanelle. The group disbanded in 1997, but reunited in 2014.
On October 21st, 1995, Sonic Youth played at The Academy! The band’s setlist mostly focused on songs from their ninth studio album Washing Machine, which was released in September 1995. The band also played some tracks from EVOL, Daydream Nation, Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star. The Academy was a concert hall style venue in Midtown Manhattan that also hosted The Smashing Pumpkins, Pavement, Marilyn Manson, and Blur before closing in 1996.
On October 20th, 1990, Firehose played at CBGB’s! The gig occurred about a year after the trio released their third studio album, FROMOHIO.
On October 20th, 1998, R.L. Burnside played at The Cooler! The renowned blues guitarist played music for much of his life but received little recognition before the early 1990s. In the latter half of the decade, Burnside recorded and toured with Jon Spencer, expanding his fan base, and introducing his music to a new fan base in the punk and garage rock scene. He played at The Cooler, a popular club in the Meat Packing district that hosted a variety of acts throughout the 90s.
On October 18th, 1992, Screaming Trees played at CBGB’s! Known as one of the "Godfathers of Grunge," Screaming Trees emerged out of Ellensburg, Washington, a suburb of Seattle, in 1985 after their debut LP, Clairvoyance, caught the attention of Greg Ginn at SST Records. The band would release four albums on SST before signing with major label, Epic Records, in 1991. In September 1992, the band released their sixth studio album, Sweet Oblivion.
On October 18th, 1996, Jason and The Scorchers played at Tramps. Like many of the acts that performed at Tramps in the mid to late 90s, Jason and The Scorchers were an alt-country/cowpunk band that originated in Nashville, TN in 1981. In 1996, the band released their eight and ninth studio albums, Both Sides of the Line and Clear Impetuous Morning. The band disbanded in 2007, but briefly reunited in 2010.
On October 17th, 1997 Chrome Cranks and White Hassle played at CBGB’s! Chrome Cranks were an American punk-styled blues band that originally formed in Cincinnati, but after a brief hiatus, reformed in New York City in 1992. Bob Bert joined the band on drums in 1994. In 1997, around the time of this show, the band released their final studio album, Love in Exile, before disbanding in 1998. White Hassle, the opening act, released their debut record in 1997, National Chain.
On October 14th, 2000, Mike Watt and his back band The Pair of Pliers returned to Mercury Lounge. Watt and his group played Mercury Lounge again one year to the date and threw in some fun surprises in their set. The band even played some Minutemen songs, including “I Felt Like A Gringo!”
