https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/27/arts/rock-action-in-the-suburbs-draws-even-manhattanites.html
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 21 May 2025 23:19 (two days ago)
Hoping TSF will weigh in.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 21 May 2025 23:28 (two days ago)
Found that because of something I remembered about WPIX-FM.
Related to this: https://gearspace.com/board/remote-possibilities-in-recording-amp-production/22331-remember-wpix-fm-broadcasts-1979-a.html
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 21 May 2025 23:30 (two days ago)
Also related: https://stealingalltransmissions.wordpress.com/tag/wpix-fm/
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 00:34 (yesterday)
To further derail my own thread:https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/22/style/night-life-the-latest-clubs.html
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 00:39 (yesterday)
Wow, a ton of great new wave type acts played at the Malibu in Lido Beach, probably a number of UK acts on their first US tour. The Bow Wow Wow show that article mentions was their second ever US engagement, following two nights at The Ritz. The club's website - now they're known as Malibu Shore Club - claims Frank Sinatra and The Who have also performed there.
― Josefa, Thursday, 22 May 2025 00:44 (yesterday)
When I go on setlist.fm and look up clubs like the Malibu, or Hurrah in Manhattan, and see their old bills it almost makes me angry that I missed out on having a club like that to frequent.
― Josefa, Thursday, 22 May 2025 00:48 (yesterday)
OTM
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 00:52 (yesterday)
https://stealingalltransmissions.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/wpix-general-playlist-aug-10-79.jpg
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 00:53 (yesterday)
The reason I came across that it is because of Ralph M. Newman, who seems to have managed the music at The Left Bank in Mount Vernon, who was also a WPIX-FM DJ, which is how I knew of him.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 00:56 (yesterday)
He was the host of the Old Rock & Roll Show.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 00:59 (yesterday)
The theme/aircheck of which just came back to me in a very strong auditory memory.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 01:00 (yesterday)
Life would be a dreamIf you would listen to the Ralph Newman ShowWith his good buddy big AlfredoLife would be a dream102WPIX102WPIX102W-P-I-XF-M
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 01:01 (yesterday)
Sung to the tune of “Sh-Boom,” by The Chords themselves. Sounded great. Not sure how many original members though.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 01:04 (yesterday)
Interesting that The Suburban Lawns get mentioned.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 01:14 (yesterday)
But not The Suburbs.
Sorry no the, just Suburban Lawns.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 10:17 (yesterday)
Trying to remember what year it was when I visited NYC and saw flyers w/ photo of UK ska band The Specials upcoming NYC gig (s) that said “Specials for $10, don’t go”
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 22 May 2025 14:03 (yesterday)
Apparently The Specials came to NYC three times. Once in March 1980 when they played at the Hotel Diplomat (W. 43rd St.) and also a place called Speaks on Long Island. Then on April 19, 1980 they appeared on Saturday Night Live. Finally, in August 1981 they came back to play at the Paramount Theatre on Staten Island and at the aforementioned Malibu Night Club on Lido Beach.
― Josefa, Thursday, 22 May 2025 14:35 (yesterday)
Speaks! Now there’s a name from the wayback machine
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 16:01 (yesterday)
My Father's Place maybe? isn't that in NJ?
― sleeve, Thursday, 22 May 2025 16:03 (yesterday)
My Father's Place is in Roslyn, NY
That Specials flyer I remember must have been for the March 1980 Hotel Diplomat gig.
I think WPIX gave up on its new wave/punk format around March 1980
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 22 May 2025 16:45 (yesterday)
Searching for Hurrah led me down a rabbit hole of ad cuttings and black and white pix of of New Order (first US tour before they hired Gillian)/Gang Of Four/Go-Go’s
― I am the stranger, killing the Boer (Boring, Maryland), Thursday, 22 May 2025 16:52 (yesterday)
There was definitely a New York area radio station that kept playing "modern rock" well into the 80s — I remember hearing R.E.M. and other bands that definitely hadn't broken nationwide yet.
― Instead of create and send out, it pull back and consume (unperson), Thursday, 22 May 2025 17:15 (yesterday)
WLIR.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 18:03 (yesterday)
Or WNEW-FM even.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 18:04 (yesterday)
The WPIX-FM story is a good part of this well-written book about the Clash's popularity in the USA: https://pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=681
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 18:05 (yesterday)
I got the WPIX setlist from the related website.
https://stealingalltransmissions.wordpress.com/2013/05/12/potpourri-for-punks-and-mothers-pix-stagger-lee-etc/
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 18:07 (yesterday)
Supposedly a guy name Will Keller was or is writing a book about WPIX-FM.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 18:08 (yesterday)
Anyway when WPIX changed formats (again) WLIR and WNEW kind of seemed to pick up some of the slack. Maybe they had already been moving in that direction. There was also WNYU of course, but that went show to show.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 18:11 (yesterday)
Maybe even before WPIX there was a WNYU punk show in the middle of the night hosted by Nolan Void iirc.
Hmm. Seems like there is another person calling themself Nolan Void these days.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 18:13 (yesterday)
But yeah, The New Afternoon Show on WNYU:http://brooklynbugle.com/2014/09/17/the-thomas-edison-of-college-rock/
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 18:16 (yesterday)
Which show still exists.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 18:18 (yesterday)
https://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/133260
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 18:19 (yesterday)
https://freq-amp.com/2021/02/23/indie-and-the-606-massive-by-dick-alexander/
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 18:24 (yesterday)
There's a doc abour WLIR-FM!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r0tLe0M2-Q
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 18:30 (yesterday)
Guess they changed formats in 1982.
Here's some guy talking about the station:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJEx2Djzd5I
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 18:32 (yesterday)
Larry "The Duck" Dunn is or was still on satellite radio.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 18:39 (yesterday)
Now remembering Donna Donna introducing The Replacements at The Beacon.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 18:40 (yesterday)
Not sure how interesting this will be but here is an interview with the director of the WLIR movie along with some of the jocks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrpWpixonNU
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 18:47 (yesterday)
My Father’s Place and their willingness to feature local bands doing original material such as The Good Rats is mentioned in the article in the original post.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 19:43 (yesterday)
Seems like the owner of My Fathers’s Place was the DJ on the WLIR show Punky Reggae Party.
One LI venue yet to be mentioned is the Calderone Concert Hall.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 19:44 (yesterday)
Yet another bat signal to summon TSF to thread.
WLIR changed to the New Wave format exactly one year before James Jamerson died. In other words, August 2, 1982.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 19:58 (yesterday)
A year and a day after MTV started
― Josefa, Thursday, 22 May 2025 20:04 (yesterday)
Interesting. Because the documentary is claiming they paved the way for MTV.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 20:19 (yesterday)
tbh I remember MTV being kind of hard to see and certainly not ubiquitous those first few years
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 20:22 (yesterday)
Doc is pretty good so far. Just saw a poster for U2 playing at the Malibu Night Club.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 20:27 (yesterday)
Maybe they officially changed format in 1982 but something had started before that, in order for the dates to line up.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 20:30 (yesterday)
The U2 show at Malibu Night Club was December 13, 1981.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 20:31 (yesterday)
And I do vaguely remember a transition period.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 20:32 (yesterday)
Famously, the original MTV VJs couldn't watch MTV in the building where the MTV studios were, because the local cable company didn't carry it (at first)
― Josefa, Thursday, 22 May 2025 20:44 (yesterday)
Oh, this is interesting Speaks in Island Park, L.I. used to be the Action House that presented a lot of rock shows in the 1966-1970 period, including Vanilla Fudge, the Yardbirds, the Stooges...
― Josefa, Thursday, 22 May 2025 20:52 (yesterday)
WLIR was already playing New Wave stuff in 1980.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 20:57 (yesterday)
https://rateyourmusic.com/list/FoxHound_/92_7-wlir-screamer-of-the-week/
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0A5R36EQEDmMc9M0nM2phq
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 20:59 (yesterday)
So I gather that the Long Island scene was concentrated in sort of a corridor from Roslyn up north down to Hempstead and then down to the Island Park/Long Beach area.
― Josefa, Thursday, 22 May 2025 21:03 (yesterday)
Maybe. Hopefully TSF will heed the call and give us more detail.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 21:10 (yesterday)
Should have said “heed the call up” maybe
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 22 May 2025 21:11 (yesterday)
This record store has a WLIR section.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 23 May 2025 00:00 (twenty-three hours ago)
TIL that that one club’s name was spelled SPIZE. https://archive.org/details/REM_1983-04-26
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 23 May 2025 00:20 (twenty-three hours ago)
https://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/13/nyregion/the-new-bar-scene-soft-drinks-and-fences.html
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 23 May 2025 00:23 (twenty-three hours ago)
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/02/nyregion/battling-for-a-prize-radio-station-license.html
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 23 May 2025 00:40 (twenty-three hours ago)
The same bullshit happened in Florida at the same time where I was a teenager getting within spitting distance of drinking age when they suddenly raised the drinking age to 21
― Josefa, Friday, 23 May 2025 00:40 (twenty-three hours ago)
https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/10/nyregion/a-tugofwar-over-fm-radio-station.html
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 23 May 2025 00:41 (twenty-three hours ago)
Doc runs out of steam for a bit but still worth watching
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 23 May 2025 01:26 (twenty-two hours ago)
My band played a bar in Brooklyn in 91. I can’t remember where it was and I don’t want to remember
― calstars, Friday, 23 May 2025 01:31 (twenty-two hours ago)
Lauterbach's was the CBGBs of Brooklyn back in the late '80s into the '90s. Located on Prospect Avenue in Park Slope. Before my time, so don't ask me to elaborate.
― Josefa, Friday, 23 May 2025 02:11 (twenty-one hours ago)
Lauterbach's documentary in the works:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnXfGnahBHc
https://brooklynbeatfilm.com/
― bulb after bulb, Friday, 23 May 2025 02:41 (twenty-one hours ago)
Was always a bit underwhelmed by that scene tbh.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 23 May 2025 12:29 (eleven hours ago)
Also, before it was trendy it was kind of a dangerous place. Some people called it The Bucket of Blood iirc.
― Rocket from the Toonces (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 23 May 2025 12:30 (eleven hours ago)