(the crowd, just before Blondie came on)
As I threatened in my last post, I decided to go check out the "CBGB FOREVER" rally in Washington Square Park (not really a big feat, being that we live a block away). While it's true that the club in question really hasn't hosted an act I've wanted to go see in about ten years, I'm pretty firmly in the camp that wants to keep it open and running. As many of the speakers during the day suggested, we live in a city that seems all too ready to pave over its culture without realizing what its losing in the process. Letting the fickle tides of real estate dictate what stays and what goes is surely not the best way to progress. Like it or not, CBGB is an institution and should be regarded as such. This is only my opinion, mind you.
(Blondie onstage)
In any case, the rally was an entertaining affair. Of the acts I caught, I have to say that I enjoyed Billy Nile's two songs. I thought the Charms were absolutely dreadful. Institute with Gavin Rossdale is basically just his old band, Bush with a different name (so much so, that they even played a Bush track, "Machinehead," which is the breathe in, breathe out song for those of you with dim recollections of the mid-90's). I didn't manage to catch the Chesterfield Kings or the Bouncing Souls (though I hear H.R. from the Bad Brains showed up to do a reggae track with them). I came back shortly before Blondie came on and the crowd had swelled rather significantly (despite the implausibly sticky humidity). I was never able to see Blondie "back in the day," as they say, but have always been a fan. Evidently, keyboardist Jimmy Destri has flown the coop since their last album, and the band is now simply Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, the curiously ageless Clem Burke on drums and a clutch of sidemen who look like they were plucked from an Aerosmith tribute band. Running through a handful of oldies ("Dreaming," "Haning On the Telephone", "Rip Her to Shreds", "One Way or Another", etc.), the band put in a respectable if not especially explosive performance. Debbie and Chris don't quite look as wonderful as they used to, but...y'know....neither do I, so enough about that. Clem Burke, meanwhile, must have made some pact with the devil. I'm tellin' ya. The man's well preserved.
(Public Enemy onstage)
After a brief wait and one or two more spearkers came special guests, Public Enemy (surely not the first name that springs to mind when CBGB's is invoked). Ironically, in benefit of a club that books guitar-based rock almost exclusively, these hip hop legends provided the most incendiary performance. Coupled with Chuck D's between-song eloquence, P.E. made the most convincing argument for CB's doors to remain open.
That said, the landlord doesn't quite see it this way (see latest details by clicking here.)
Spotted wandering around in the crowd: Alice Donut's de facto mascot, Chet, Punk Magazine's John Holmstrom and photog extraordinaire, Glen E. Friedman.
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