Ever since watching the new Nick Cave documentary-of-sorts, “20,000 Days on Earth,” I’ve been on a bit of a Birthday Party/Bad Seeds kick. I’ve always been a fan, but dropped off somewhere around No More Shall We Part, only to plug back in again circa the first Grinderman e.p. (and then only to be left uninspired by his most recent work, Push The Sky Away, which I should probably re-visit).
In any case, in exhuming some of my favorite bits of Cave’s quite substantial catalog, I found myself perusing a Birthday Party gig history on this archive site and was struck by something curious.
During their maiden voyage to New York City, the ferocious Birthday Party evidently played a few gigs around town, notably at an "upmarket rock disco" called The Underground in Union Square, a couple of abortive gigs at the Ritz on East 11th Street, a night at the West 45th street incarnation of The Peppermint Lounge and — most curiously — two dates at a venue I have no recollection of called The Chase Park Lounge.
I immediately did a bit of googling, but frankly came up with absolutely nothing. The only links that came up were links back to various other Birthday Party gig accounts.
Here, meanwhile, is a review of one of the gigs at this mysterious venue by a churlish 16-year-old named Larry. Click on it to enlarge and read...
Okay, so I’m entirely stumped. I realize that live music venues in New York City come and go like sands in the hour glass, but I feel there must be some other evidence of this place’s existence.
Anyone remember The Chase Park Lounge? Weigh in.
Here, meanwhile, is the Birthday Party in their prime….
Lastly, this seems like a good point to brag that NICK CAVE LOVES ME!!!
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