A timely, August-related guest post this week from legendary CBGB’s engineer (among other endeavors) and friend, Robin Danar. FYI, Robin’s recent record, Altered States is pretty freakin’ unbelievable, a collaboration featuring up-and-coming indie artists you likely know (Rachel Yamagata, Pete Yorn, etc.). You should own it. More about Robin here.
Take it away, Robin:
Dear Hilly–
Well, it’s been over 2 years since I’ve seen you and I think about you a lot so I figured I’d check in. I’m writing from Cali…..won’t be in NY ’til around Xmas.
I’m actually still in touch with many of our old friends and associates via email and networks. It’s fun to see that the deep impact you and CBGB’s had on us in the 70′s and 80′s still exists today. I just saw the virtual tour that BG helped put together just before the club closed (http://www.bravadousa.com/cbgb/pano/pano.html) which was a pretty wild flashback. Every so often I’ll put on Patti’s closing show that was on satellite radio and yeah I listen loud!
Anyway, I owe a lot to you for helping this producer/artist find a direction. Since August 28 will always be a date I remember, I thought I’d send a copy of this NY Times blog I wrote a year ago. I look at it as a fun story with happy memories (August 28, 2008 makes one year since Hilly passed away):
I was the sound guy at CB’s for years in the 70s and 80s. It was an amazing time and every so often I get sidetracked from what I’m supposed to be doing and end up spending hours looking at books, listening to music or just scanning the web and remembering. There are great books, amazing photos, YouTube videos and some classic stories, many of which are quite true and some that are, uh…… “lost in translation??”
I was lucky to be in NY for several months in 2007 and spent a bunch of time with Hilly before he went back into the hospital. He was tired. The chemo was quite a workout but I caught him on some “good” days and he was a bit slower but still moving along. He was never a speed demon anyway. Besides just hanging out, catching up or sitting and talking about nothing in particular, I got to see what I hope will some day be a book in a museum gift shop.
CB’s had closed and most of it was at that time in storage while its future was being discussed. Yes, Hilly loved Vegas and he was into moving there but he wanted CB’s “as was.” Could Vegas handle that? Moving and storing things like that involve documentation for shipping purposes and one day we looked through a huge book of what I compare to baby photos. Talk about flashbacks. If you know anything about that club’s history, you’ve probably heard about the bathrooms, the walls, the graffiti, the back alley, and heard terms like “what a dive.” We were known (thank you) for some kick-ass sound but the look was kind of…… simple.
But for some strange reason, everything looked absolutely beautiful. It wasn’t the Parthenon or the Roman Coliseum but it was somehow gorgeous. I think during the time I was working there, a lot of bands from all over the world felt that way when they first walked in the front door. Whether there to play or there to watch, I saw many people actually marvel at the “beauty.”
I was mesmerized by everything in Hilly’s book, no matter what it was. I recently heard that when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its New York annex a couple of weeks ago, onstage with Mayor Bloomberg, Clive Davis, and Billy Joel, was the phone booth from CBGB’s. I can officially declare that phone booth as a major part of New York rock history. Not only who used it but what went down in that booth. Some of it involved things to remember and much of it I’d rather forget. I didn’t see the news conference but I bet it looked awesome.
Baby photos aren’t for everybody. I’ll often smile politely when trapped into “sharing” with a new parent/friend. But one time, when I was on tour with Laurie Anderson, I remember Lou Reed coming up to me with his “Robin, check this out!” His book documented his new gear setup. Guitars, racks, and pedal boards that he was quite proud of. He knew I’d get it and I must admit that it looked quite cool.
To me, so did Hilly’s book. My bet is that some day they’ll display the phone booth, the pinball machine and maybe even a toilet. But the book had it all and I wish they’d just give it a big room somewhere to show it off.
No matter what though, I’m really glad I got to sit there with Hilly and look through it. I’ll always remember him with a big smile on his face.
xox
rd
Tags: Billy Joel, CUT THROUGH THE NOISE, KATE BRADLEY, Laurie Anderson, LETTERS FROM THE ROAD, Lou Reed, OUTLANDOS MUSIC, Pete Yorn, Rachel Yamagata, Robin Danar —
So it’s off to Austin, Texas for me this Saturday. Going all-out this year for a 10 day stint, covering interactive, film & music at SxSW. If you’ve been before, you get that this is a fairly brave undertaking. Which is why I’ve got tons of Emergen-C, Tylenol, and eye-cream ready to go with. And I purchased an iPhone over the weekend to make it easier to navigate all those texts, etc., I feel so 21st century! God damn, this thing is friggin’ cool. It’ll be perfect once I transfer my “Truth Hits Everybody” ring tone from my old phone. In any case, by the end of Sx, all the walking, talking, the late nights, the tacos and Lone Star Ale having taken their toll, I’m sure I’ll feel at least 10 years older. But it’s a small price to pay. Showcases I’ll be at below, in case you happen to be in town 
. I’ll have a blog for you guys next Monday for the full report of the front half of the festival, at least insofar as much as I can take in the first couple of days. In the meantime… here’s what’s been spinning around the office this month so far:
Simone White, Yakiimo
If you haven’t met Simone just yet, the above is a decent taste… a commercial that played all over Europe and the UK with her song, “The Beep Beep Song” from the first album, I Am the Man. Spectacular record. The new one on the way is Yakiimo, with a release across the pond scheduled for June. Working on getting it out here as well. I think of her as a modern-day Joni Mitchell. Fave tracks from Yakiimo include Victoria Anne, Candy Bar Killer, and You Are Loved. You can hear them all here. Totally worth the import price.
Clem Snide, Hungry Bird
When Eef Barzelay isn’t busy doing his solo projects (which I equally adore) he’s got his hands full with Clem Snide. Always a good buy. My picks: Me No (a rocker!) and Pray, so very R.E.M. Hear them here.
Glasvegas, Glasvegas
Lamely, the actual video is no longer embed-able (Columbia Records, you fucking idiots). But still, holy crap, this is heaven. So very very Brit Box. Glasgow pop at its uber-finest. Genius name. Can’t get enough and can barely stand the wait to see them in Austin. So God damn brilliant. Echo and the Bunnymen meets The Family Cat. Double-shit hot.
Sometymes Why, Joey
Yep, it’s a Concrete Blonde cover, gorgeous. You can get it on their new album, Your Heart Is a Glorious Machine.
Michael Miller, I Made You Up
Unfucking believable. It’s a creeper so make sure you hang with it. Really hard to decide favorite tracks because the whole thing just builds. Nonetheless, “Munkie,” “Sweetness,” “Carolina Skyline,” “Gomer Put Your Fist Down,” “Sutures.” Hear them here. I’m telling you, this is a five-star record, all the way. Due out this summer. Pete Yorn, Tracy Bonham, Amy Correa and others guest. Plus it’s an all-star backing band. How the hell isn’t this guy famous? Working on that.
That’s all for now, talk to you guys from Austin next week. Here’s where I’ll be among other places:
- Breath of Fresh Air Showcase 12-6 PM, Wednesday 03/18, Threadgills, 301 W Riverside Dr (Brownshoe, Jeremy Messersmith, Romantica, Chris Velan, The Secret, Life of Sofia, Amy Speace, Winterpills, KaiserCartel, The Damnwells)
- Bloodshot Records Showcase 12-6 PM, Friday 03/20, Yard Dog, 1510 S. Congress (Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, Ben Weaver, Charlie Pickett, Exene Cervenka, Deadstring Brothers, Ha Ha Tonka, The Meat Purveyors, Dex Romweber Duo, The Silos, Andre Williams, Justin Townes Earle, Rosie Flores, Waco Brothers
xo
3/9/09 | Comments (2)Tags: Amy Correa, Amy Speace, Brit Box, Charlie Pickett, Chris Velan, Clem Snide, CUT THROUGH THE NOISE, Echo and the Bunnymen, Eef Barzelay, Glasvegas, Ha Ha Tonka, Jeremy Messersmith, Joni Mitchell, KATE BRADLEY, Michael Miller, NOW PLAYING, OUTLANDOS MUSIC, Pete Yorn, REM, Simone White, Sometymes Why, The Damnwells, The Family Cat, Tracy Bonham, Winterpills —
