Just back from New York AGAIN (yes, that’s twice in one month) as spectator/researcher, rather than performer, this time. My husband and I went to the Black and Blue Bowl to see many of our favorite New York hardcore bands but also to interview as many people as possible for a book we’re working on about the Safari Club–a now crumbling, boarded-up building that once hosted hardcore matinees (including many of the bands gracing the stage at BNB 2011). We talked to a lot of old friends and made some new ones. DC and New York have always had what I’ve seen as a very sisterly relationship, musically.
Here’s an impromptu anecdote from Lars Frederiksen, who was at the show and game to share a memory. Thanks, Lars!
Interview excerpts will trickle into the Live at the Safari Club website over the next year or so. In the meantime, I’ve got a lot of transcribing to do!
No book about the D C punk/ska/oi/go-go scene would be complete without at least a mention of the Bad Brains– although they were “forced” to relocate to NYC in the early 1980s (see their song “Banned in D C”). After all, they were probably the band that many of the bands that played at the Safari Club would have cited as their inspiration for getting into hardcore/punk/whatever. Even if it’s in the preface, they deserve their props in your book! (Note: since I live in NYC, I don’t know if they ever played at the Safari– but I’m sure they MUST have inspired many a D C area band to play there!)
The Bad Brains never played there but Earl did attend some of our shows and we have people telling stories of that. Of course, they are an inspiration to us all!:)