Profiles of the NYC Downtown Music Scene.

My fellow New York music lover:
On December 2, 9, and 16th, it will be my great privilege to host the
very first conference on the history and experience of the New York,
downtown, music scene. The event will be held at the New School, 66
West 12th Street (bw 5th and 6th Avenues). Doors open at 7:30. The
event begins at 8:00.
Entitled "Profiles of the Downtown Music Scene," each of the three
dates will be dedicated to a discussion of a particular decade in the
history of this city and its music beginning in the 1970s. Tickets
to each night are $10, and tickets to the complete series are only
$25. Admission is FREE (!) with NYU, New School, Cooper Union and
other valid student IDs. There will also be a FREE wine and soda
reception after each panel. The ticketbooth is located at 66 West
12th Street.
Please find below a description of "Profiles of the Downtown Music
Scene." You can also find an abbreviated description on-line at:
http://www.nsu.newschool.edu/02a_specdiv.htm#0361
I hope that you will be able to attend what will surely be a historic
(not to mention, historical) set of evenings.
Regards,
Jeff
THIS Tuesday, December 2, 2003     Downtown New York Music in the 1970s:
JAYNE COUNTY, the first punk trans-sexual, began her life in Atlanta,
Georgia as Wayne Rogers. By 1975, as a member of the Backstreet Boys,
she became a featured act at the legendary Max's Kansas City. Jayne
later formed The Electric Chairs and released such songs as "Man
Enough to be a Woman," which also became the title of her
autobiography. Jayne continues to perform and DJ in New York City and
elsewhere.
HANDSOME DICK MANITOBA is the nom de punk of Richard Blum, Bronx
native and lead vocalist of The Dictators, whose 1975 debut album was
arguably the first by a punk rock band. The Dictators have since
released several albums and have thrilled music fans the world over
with the "thunder of Manitoba." Richard also runs "Manitoba's," a bar
in the East Village which showcases the best in punk and garage rock.
Native Brooklynite and avant-garde visual artist ALAN VEGA (Alan
Bermowitz) formed Suicide, the vastly influential electronic punk
band, in 1971. Suicide has remained one of the most controversial and
relevant musical acts in the world ever since.
In 1979, MYKEL BOARD hatched a musical plot and called it Art: The
Only Band in the World. From the early 80s to the early 90s, Board
continually formed new musical troupes under the name Artless. Board
is also a very gifted writer, having penned numerous salacious pulp
books as well as publishing "You're Wrong!" a column for the punk
magazine Maximumrockinroll since 1982. 
December 9, 2003          Downtown New York Music in the 1980s:
What do Sonic Youth, Swans, Angels of Light, White Zombie, John Zorn,
Bill Laswell, Helmet, Herbie Hancock, Cop Shoot Cop, Boss Hog, and
Cibo Matto have in common? They have all worked with producer and
sound engineer MARTIN BISI.
JOHN S. HALL is best known as the vocalist and lyricist of King
Missile, the influential spoken word/experimental music project that
released its first long-player in 1987 on the Shimmy Disk label. In
2003, Hall continued to charm the indie music scene with a new King
Missile CD, "The Psychopathology of Everyday Life." A collection of
his always-clever writing, Jesus Was Way Cool, was published by Soft
Skull Press in 1996.
ELLIOT SHARP began his musical odyssey at the tender age of six with
a level of virtuosity that led him to perform publicly just two years
later. After studying music at the graduate level, Sharp moved to
New York City in 1979 and rapidly became a central figure in the
downtown avant-jazz, no wave, and experimental music scenes,
collaborating with the likes of John Zorn, Wayne Horvitz, Bobby
Previte, and Butch Morris. Sharp is an extremely prolific musician,
playing guitar, clarinet, saxophone and experimental instruments on
no less than 190 records.
PARKER DULANY is the vocalist of Certain General, an influential post-
punk outfit originating in 1980. They soon became the house band of
Danceteria, the notorious New York City dance club. In 1984, Certain
General relocated to France and released November's Heat, which
earned the band both album of the year and band of the year honors.
In 2003, Certain General made its first recordings with its original
line-up since the mid-80s. For further information, please take a
trip to: http://listen.to/certaingeneral
December 16, 2003     Downtown New York Music in the 1990s-00s:
Since 1993, pornographer, dominatrix, and impresario extraordinaire,
ABBY EHMANN has been throwing the most sexy and outrageous music
events in New York. Ehmann is best known for having organized and
hosted such fantastically perverse parties as: Click & Drag at
Mother, the Kitsch Inn, Gomorrah, and Mondo Porno. She also
curated "Icon," a lecture series at the Museum of Sex in 2003. For
information on Abby's latest party, check out www.editrixabby.com
Over the past twenty-two years, KID CONGO POWERS has been a guitar
hero in Los Angeles, Berlin, and New York City. More than forty-one
albums feature him in their credits, including some of the choice
work by such vital artists as Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The
Cramps, The Gun Club, Sally Norvell, Angels of Light, Barry Adamson,
and the Knoxville Girls. These days, Kid Congo Powers fronts two
projects: Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds as well as Kid and
Khan. You may consult www.kidcongo.com for further details.
THEO KOGAN formed the Lunachicks with four other native New Yorkers. 
As the Lunachicks' vocalist, she toured the US, Europe, and Japan.
She's also hosted some of the most decadent rock parties New York has
ever seen: Lust For Life and RocknRoll Disco. These days, Theo makes
music as a solo act, writes, models, and acts for TV and in such
films as "In The Cut," "Tadpole," and "Zoolander."
Atlanta native LARRY TEE made the New York scene in the late 80s,
partying at Michael Alig's Disco 2000, and DJing and promoting the
Love Machine party. In 1993, he co-wrote Ru Paul's mega-
smash, "Supermodel." And the hits have kept coming. In 2001, Larry
Tee was one of the major forces behind the "Electroclash" movement,
as well as his very successful Berliniamsburg party at Club Luxx in
Williamsburg. Since Berliniamsburg closed, Mr. Tee has been active as
the owner of Mogul Electro Records, as a producer, as a DJ, and
promoter for The Outsider Music Festival at Crobar.
A native of New Jersey, JACK TERRICLOTH began his music career as the
vocalist and guitarist of Sticks and Stones, a hardcore punk outfit.
He relocated to New York City in 1992, took classical voice training,
and founded the World/Inferno Friendship Society shortly thereafter.
The World/Inferno is a volatile combination of cabaret and punk that
has since thrilled audiences far and wide. For evidence of their
escapades, you may visit www.worldinferno.com
PAUL WALLFISCH was classically-trained in the piano by his parents,
who were on the music faculty of Smith College. Upon turning
eighteen, Wallfisch relocated to New York City, and began a music
career that has taken him around the world and has included stints
with: Stiv Bators (Dead Boys), Sylvain Sylvain (NY Dolls), Daniel Ash
(Love and Rockets), Sally Norvell (Congo Norvell), and Firewater. As
the vocalist and keyboard player of Botanica, Wallfisch has written
the score to a major motion picture (Dummy) and has released three
CDs. An electronic invocation to www.botanicaisaband.com will provide
instant enlightenment.