Goo Goo Dolls at Maxwell's (03-09-1991)

On March 9, 1991, The Goo Goo Dolls played Maxwell's! Long before the Goo Goo Dolls exploded onto the mainstream with that song from that movie City Of Angels, they were your average-blue collar punk band from Buffalo, NY.  After doing the rounds in Buffalo opening for seminal punk bands such as SNFU, Dag Nasty, ALL, The Dead Milkmen, Gang Green, and Doughboys, the band began touring regularly in the late 1980s. This set at Maxwell's took place shortly after the band released their third full-length, "Hold Me Up," in 1990.  Before the Goos reached superstardom in the late 90s, they had the opportunity to collaborate with Paul Westerberg for the song "We Are The Normal" from their 1993 album, "Superstar Car Wash."

Boss Hog at Tramps (03-09-1996)

On March 9, 1996, American blues punk group Boss Hog played at Tramps.  Boss Hog is project of Jon Spencer (of the Blues Explosion) and his wife, Cristina Martinez. The band achieved some notoriety, not only due to their abrasive sound, but more to Martinez's confrontational use of nudity on the band's record sleeves.  Throughout the course of Boss Hogg's three decades of existence, they've released four full length albums, three EP's, and several singles.  Most recently, the group released "Brood X" - their first album in almost 17 years. 

Rollins Band at CBGB's (03-09-1990)

On March 9th, 1990, Rollins Band played a raucous set at CBGB's!  The band embarked on a tour in 1990 to support their 2nd full length release, Hard Volume. Critic Steve Huey describes their music as "uncompromising, intense, cathartic fusions of funk, post-punk noise, and jazz experimentalism, with Rollins shouting angry, biting self-examinations and accusations over the grind."

Soul Asylum at Maxwell's (03-09-1988)

On March 9th, 1988, Soul Asylum played a ten song acoustic set at Maxwell's! The set mostly included songs from their three prior studio albums, two covers, and a new song from the forthcoming LP, "Hang Time!"

Set list:

1. Sun Don't Shine
2. Particularly Lonesome
3. Ooh La La (Small Faces Cover)
4. Ship of Fools
5. Chevy Van (Sammy Johns Cover)
6. Another World, Another Day
7. The Cross / The Boss
8. Whoa!
9. Put the Bone In
10. Never Really Been

Descendents, Gang Green, Dag Nasty, Half Life, and Big Red at City Gardens (03-08-1987)

On March 8, 1987, City Gardens hosted a stacked lineup of the some of the finest punk rock acts of the 1980s! The Descendents topped a bill that also included Dag Nasty, Half Life, Gang Green, and Big Red.  

This gig marks the early stages of a transition period for the Descendents, as following their 1986 summer tour, Karl Alvarez and Stephen Egerton of the Utah band Massacre Guys assumed bass and lead guitar duties, respectively.  The band had also just released their fourth studio album, "All", in January of 1987, their final release before their second hiatus in the summer of 1987.  However, as we all know, Alvarez, Egerton, and Bill Stevenson continued to record music under the name "All" with Dave Smalley of Dag Nasty on lead vocals.  All released their debut LP, "Allroy Sez," in December of 1987.

Ben Harper at Roseland Ballroom (03-06-1998)

On March 6, 1998 Ben Harper played at the Roseland Ballroom.  Ben played mostly originals, but threw in two very legit covers for this encore - Hendrix and Marvin Gaye!  During his initial set, he even covered a Jam song!

Set list:

1. Number Three 
2. Oppression / Get Up, Stand Up
3. Glory & Consequence 
4. Ground on Down 
5. Breakin' Down 
6. Burn One Down 
7. Jah Work 
8. Homeless Child 
9. Gold to Me 
10. Fight for Your Mind
11. Mama's Trippin'
12. The Modern World (The Jam cover)
13. Faded
14. The Will to Live

Encore: 

1. Widow of a Living Man
2. Walk Away
3. I Shall Not Walk Alone
4. Waiting on an Angel 

Encore 2:

1. Sexual Healing (Marvin Gaye cover)
2. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Jimi Hendrix cover)

Delta 72 at The Cooler (03-06-1999)

On March 6, 1999, Delta 72 played a gig at The Cooler.  Delta 72 got their start in Washington, D.C. back in 1992 with a 7" single released on Discord Records titled "On The Rocks."  Original member, Ben Azzara, parted ways with the group in 1995, and the remaining members went on the sign with Chicago's Touch and Go Records, where they'd release another three studio albums before disbanding in 2001.  Around the time of this show, the group was preparing for the release of their EP titled "Sorega Doushita," which would be released in July of that year.

As for the venue, The Cooler, a music and performance space, opened on Wednesday, September 22, 1993 at 416 West 14th Street in the Meatpacking District in Manhattan. The club showcased a wide variety of experimental music, Americana music, roots music, and spoken-word performers. Performances at The Cooler also included dance, film and video arts, and club parties.  The club closed on June 2, 2001 with a performance by Michael Karoli of Can, Botanica,, Jim Thirlwell James Chance, and Suicide.

Die Kreuzen on WFMU (03-05-1988)

On March 5, 1988, Die Kreuzen appeared for a live in studio performance and interview on WFMU! They crammed six songs into 20ish minutes and then discussed a range of topics including DJ Fabio, drinking contests with Killdozer, and their show at 428 Lafayette Street on the following Monday.  The band even gave away tickets to that show to a lucky caller who was successfully able to answer some Die Kreuzen trivia questions! 

The caller was able to answer:

1) Where did "All White" appear before it was on the first Die Kreuzen album?

2) Who was the producer that botched the first two Die Kreuzen Records?

Congrats to the lucky winner, Linda! Hope she had fun on March 7, 1988 at 428 Lafayette Street!!  

Die Kreuzen at CBGB's (03-04-1988)

On March 4, 1988, Milwaukee, Wisconsin's Die Kreuzen played at CBGB's. Unlike the previous Die Kreuzen tapes in this collection, this set takes place in 1988, just prior to the release of the group's penultimate LP, "Century Days." This tape sounds crisp and clear, so enjoy it!

Oh, and the end of this tape includes an undated interview with Joey Ramone on The Howard Stern show. I'm not sure of the year. I was going to edit it out and post it seperately, but I figured I'd just keep it on this one. It cuts off kind of abruptly, but contains some good moments!

Elvis Costello & The Attractions at C.W. Post College (03-03-1978)

On March 3, 1978, Mr. Declan McManus (more commonly known as Elvis Costello), rocked the faces off a bunch of Suffolk County college students! This concert was originally broadcast on air via WLIR-FM as a promotional campaign for Elvis and his band's second U.S. tour.  They did not disappoint, as the band played a 45 minute set consisting of fan favorites from "My Aim Is True" and "This Year's Model."

Enjoy!

Set list:

1. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
2. The Beat
3. Radio, Radio
4. Less Than Zero (Dallas Version)
5. Waiting For The End Of The World
6. No Action
7. (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
8. Pump It Up
9. You Belong To Me
10. Lipstick Vogue
11. Watching The Detectives
12. I'm Not Angry
13. Miracle Man

D-Generation at CBGB's (02-28-1997)

Let's rewind 364 days and listen to D-Generation at CBGB's on February 28, 1997.  

D-Generation at CBGB's (02-27-1998)

On February 27, 1998,  D-Generation returned to their home venue, CBGB’s. Fresh off a world tour supporting Green Day, the group fawned over the legend in attendance that night, Joey Ramone! They were so smitten that they dedicated the final song of their set to the Ramones' frontman! D-Generation would ultimately break up in April of 1999 before reuniting for a series of reunion gigs in 2011. They went on to release their fourth album, "Nothing Is Anywhere," in 2016.

Red Hot Chili Peppers at The Ritz (02-24-1988)

On February 24, 1988, the Red Hot Chili Peppers played The Ritz.  The band toured extensively in support of their 1987 album, "The Uplift Mofo Party Plan," with more than one stop at the Ritz in 1988.  This show occurred several years before the band achieved mainstream success with "Blood Sugar Sex Magik."

Karen Finley at Maxwell's (02-24-1989)

On February 24, 1989, performance artist Karen Finley performed a 40 minute set of some of her finest performance art-y material!  The end of this tape includes commentary from the crowd on her interesting performance.  My favorite part comes at around five minutes, where Ms. Finley discusses taking laxatives! Enjoy!

BR5-49 at Tramps (02-20-1998)

On February 20, 1998, BR5-49 returned to Tramps in New York City.  Just like their show at Tramps in '97, the group played another 30 song marathon set filled with country, fiddle-y goodness.  Enjoy!

Set list:

1. I Been To Georgia On A Fast Train
2. Bettie Bettie
3. Even If It's Wrong
4. Change The Way I Look 
5. Right Or Wrong
6. Hometown Boogie
7. Long Black Veil
8. Out of Habit
9. I Ain't Never
10. They Call Me A Playboy
11. Love's Gonna Live Here
12. Humdinger
13. My Eyes Are Jealous
14. Me And Opie Down By The Duck Pond
15. Take Me Back To Tulsa
16. Go Boy Go
17. Hillbilly Thang
18. Down Here Nobody Knows My Name, Back Home My Name Is Mud
19. Applause
20. Storybook Endings (If You Stop Believing)
21. Little Ramona (Gone Hillbilly Nuts)
22. You Are Never Nice To Me
23. Cherokee Boogie
24. Ole Slew Foot
25. Gone Gone Gone
26. Big Mouth Blues
27. Fraulein
28. Wheels and a Crowbar
29. Seven Nights To Rock
30. Honky Tonk Song
31. One Long Saturday Night

Railroad Jerk at CBGB's (02-16-1996)

On February 16, 1996, "industrial-folk," "junkyard-blues" group Railroad Jerk played CBGB's wit support from Five Style.  Although the band called Manhattan home for the majority of their career, their formation In the 1990s, Railroad Jerk released four LPs on Matador Records and shared various bills with the likes of Guided By Voices and Cat Power.   Later in 1996, the band would release their fourth and final album entitled, "The Third Rail." They played some songs from that record at this show! The end of the tape includes a few songs from Five Style, who shared the bill with Railroad Jerk.

Wilco at Irving Plaza (02-15-1997)

On February 15, 1997, Wilco played a show at Irving Plaza that is infamously remembered for the "Deli Tray Incident."  At around 50 minutes into the group's set, Jeff Tweedy retreated backstage and emerged with a tray full of cold cuts - and oh yes, he proceeded to throw those meats into the crowd! 

Aside from all this salami tossing, the band played a really amazing sets featuring all of your favorite songs from 1995's A.M. and 1996's Being There (my personal favorite Wilco album).  This show was also taped for the HBO show, "Reverb."  I included a link to the Youtube video of Reverb episode below.  Enjoy this one!

Click photo for video of the show!

Set list:

1. Misunderstood
2. Far, Far Away
3. Forget The Flowers
4. That’s Not The Issue
5. Someday Soon
6. New Madrid
7. Red-Eyed And Blue
8. I Got You (At The End Of The Century)
9. Someone Else’s Song
10. Why Would You Wanna Live
11. I Must Be High
12. Passenger Side (punk)
13. Hotel Arizona
14.  Monday
15.  Kingpin
16. Outtasite (Outta Mind)
17. Box Full Of Letters
18. Casino Queen
19. We’ve Been Had
20. The Long Cut
21. Dreamer In My Dreams
22. Will You Love Me Tomorrow

Die Kreuzen at Maxwell's (02-14-1992)

On February 14, 1992, Die Kreuzen brought the love for a special Valentine's Day show at Maxwell's.  They headlined a bill that also featured Bewitched and Sugarshock.  I tried to see if the band made any tour stops between the show at CBGB's on February 7th and this show - while I couldn't find much information about this tour, it turns out they at least played The Moon in New Haven, CT on February 9th! 

Freakwater at Mercury Lounge (02-13-1998)

On February 13, 1999, alternative country group, Freakwater, graced the stage of Mercury Lounge.  The New York Times published a glowing review of the band's performance: 

The band has only two acoustic guitars, a stand-up bass and a fiddle, and a performance style straight off the front porch, but the singers' voices put the band on the hard-edged end of the country scale. Their timing is willfully imperfect, unsynchronized; Ms. Irwin, on her way to a note, scrapes against the roughest nodes of the throat she can find, and Ms. Bean, often pitched an octave higher, opens her mouth wide to holler her lines.

But these subtle frictions are their skills, and their peculiar combination of voices is hard to forget. Though there was some humor in songs like ''My Old Drunk Friend,'' Freakwater skips down-home niceties and gravitates toward darkness; Ms. Irwin and Ms. Bean found the stark fear lying behind the putatively optimistic tune ''Keep on the Sunny Side of Life,'' and excavated it whole, singing with beaming eyes as though the song possessed them.

Click here to read the full New York Times review!

Sloan at Bowery Ballroom (02-13-1999)

On February 13, 1999, the Toronto via Halifax quartet, Sloan, brought their power-pop goodness to the Bowery Ballroom! The band embarked on an extensive 1999 tour in support of their 1998 album, "Navy Blues."  Sloan is most well known for their sharing of songwriting from each member of the group and their unaltered line-up throughout their career.  If you like what you hear, Sloan will be playing THE BOWERY BALLROOM again (19 years and change later) on May 18, 2018! See you there!