Violent Femmes at Stache's in Columbus, OH (05-15-1984)
On May 15, 1984, the Violent Femmes played at Stache's in Columbus, OH!
R.L. Burnside at The Cooler (05-14-1996)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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
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)
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!
The Bongos at The Cat Club (05-07-1986)
On May 5, 1986, The Bongos played the Cat Club in New York City! The Hoboken group's set encompassed a wide range of songs from their career, including two of their earliest singles, "In The Congo" and "Telephoto Lens." The encore featured a rousing rendition of the fan favorite "Barbarella" with Fred Schneider of the B52's on tambourine. They also played two of my favorite Bongos songs, "Apache Dancing," and their classic cover of T Rex's "Mambo Sun!"
I don't know too much about The Cat Club, but according to a Vice article it was the "epicenter of the NYC glam metal scene in the late 80s up until it shut in 1990." The venue was located in the East Village on East 13th street between Broadway and 4th Avenue - about a block south of Union Square.
Photo from the Winter 1986 edition of the Away From The Pulse Beat Zine
The Fall at Maxwell's (05-05-1988)
On May 5, 1998, Mark E. Smith graced the Maxwell's stage! I'm not sure if this is the first time The Fall played at Maxwell's, but the sound quality of this tape is superb! The Fall had just released their 10th studio album "The Frenz Experiment," in February of 1988. The record reached number 19 on the U.K. charts - making it the highest charting Fall record to date.
Mark E. Smith sadly passed away earlier this year. He is greatly missed!
The Afghan Whigs at Maxwell's (05-04-1990)
On May 4, 1990, the Afghan Whigs played at Maxwell's! This tape captures the group at a big turning point in their career - as in April of 1990, the band released their second studio album, "Up in It" on Sub Pop. With their signing, The Afghan Whigs became the second non-Northwestern U.S. band to record for the Sub Pop label. The record was largely recorded by Nirvana producer Jack Endino. On this tour, The Afghan Whigs also made a stop at The Pipeline in Newark, NJ and at The Pyramid in New York City.
YouAmI at Brownie's (05-04-1998)
On May 4, 1998, Australian alternative rockers, You Am I, played at Brownie's!
Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper at Maxwell's (05-03-1986)
On May 3, 1986, Mojo Nixon and Skip Roper brought their psychobilly jams to Maxwell's! The two paired off in the early 1980s in San Diego. Roper mostly The two released their first album in 1985 on Enigma Records, "Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper." There's a whole bunch of back and forth banter between the crowd and Mojo/Skip in this tape!
The Jayhawks at Irving Plaza (05-02-1997)
On May 2, 1997, the Jayhawks played at Irving Plaza! The group was touring in support of their fourth studio album, "Sound of Lies," which was released on April 22, 1997. Check out that Chris Bell cover to round out the set!
Their latest album, Paging Mr. Proust, was produced in Portland with Peter Buck and Tucker Martine. The group also served as Ray Davies' backing band for his April 2017 release, "Americana."
Celebrate Brooklyn! just announced that the Jayhawks will be headlining a concert at Prospect Park on June 16. Mandolin Orange and Parsonfield are also playing!
Set list:
- It's Up to You
- I'd Run AwayPoor Little Fish
- Take Me With You (When You Go)
- Settled Down Like Rain
- Out on the Side (Dillard & Clark cover)
- Dying on the Vine
- Sixteen Down
- Big Star
- Two Hearts
- The Man Who Loved Life
- Trouble
- Waiting for the Sun
- Stick in the Mud
- Think About It
- Blue
- Real Light
- Ain't No End
- I Am the Cosmos (Chris Bell cover)
Patti Smith at Bowery Ballroom (05-01-1999)
On May 1, 1999, the "punk poet laureate," Patti Smith, played with her band at the Bowery Ballroom! This would be Smith's seventh of many appearances at the lower east side venue, as in 1998, she began a string of New Year's Eve performances that lasted until 2012. The Bowery Ballroom began hosting concerts in 1998, so Patti played a whopping seven gigs at the joint in it's very short existence!!!
Bob Mould at Maxwell's (04-30-1989)
On April 30, 1989, Bob Mould played his first ever post-Husker Du solo gig at Maxwell's. Wow! He enlisted a backing band of some of the area's finest, including Anton Fier on drums, Chris Stamey on guitar, and Tony Maimone on bass. Bob Mould had just released his debut solo album, "Workbook," and would spend the remainder of 1989 touring the United States. He even made his way back to Maxwell's in December of that year!
Bob Mould was very fond of Maxwell's, as his various projects played countless gigs there over the course of 30+ years. When Maxwell's closed in 2013, he remarked to Vulture magazine:
Maxwell's is sort of my CBGB. For R.E.M., the Feelies, the Replacements, Hüsker Dü, all the bands of that era — that was our room. Bear in mind, I never played CBGB. In early ’85, I called up and tried to get a gig there. They were like, "Never heard of you." Really? You didn't hear Zen Arcade or New Day Rising? Maybe you should go read The Village Voice or something.
Set list:
- Sunspots
- Wishing Well
- Compositions
- For The Young And Old
- Heartbreak
- A Stranger Dreaming,
- I Am If You're True
- Poison Years
- Sinners And Their Repentances
- Lonely Afternoon
- Brasilia Crossed With Trenton
- See A Little Light
- Whichever Way The Wind Blows
- All Those People Know
- Glory
- Shoot Out The Lights
- Makes No Sense At All
- Celebrated Summer
- Hardly Getting Over It
Tom Verlaine at The Ritz (04-26-1987)
On April 26, 1987, Tom Verlaine played at the Ritz! He played a bunch of songs from his 1987 album, "Flash Light" and threw in some Television classics to round out the set. His band at this point in time consisted of Jimmy Ripp, Fred Smith, and Jay Dee Daughterty. That's straight fire!! The apex is the freeform coda to an 18+ minute “Kingdom Come” wherein the quartet simulate a cacophonous train wreck!
Set list:
- Rotation
- Souvenir From A Dream
- Dissolve/Reveal
- Bomb
- The Scientist Writes a Letter
- Oenetration
- Monologue/Swim
- Clear It Away
- Cry Mercy Judge
- Kingdom Come
- Marquee Moon
- Psychotic Reaction
Butthole Surfers at the Marquee (04-25-1991)
On April 25, 1991, the Butthole Surfers played at the Marquee! The group was touring in support of their fifth studio album, "piouhgd," which was released in February 1991 on Rough Trade.
Rollins Band at CBGB's (04-25-1992)
On April 25, 1992, Henry Rollins and his band played a raucous set at CBGB'S! Although it's not included in the recording, Tool get the festivities going as the opening act. The group was touring in support of their 1992 double album, "The End Of Silence."
