New Musical Express in the early ’80s
Dutch photographer/video maker born of the British post-punk era. As a contributor to English music paper New Musical Express in the early ’80s, Corbijn established his trademark style–dense black and white pictures of doomed romantics like Joy Division and Echo and the Bunnymen.
His unassuming personality and empathy with his subjects helped Corbijn forge alliances with some of future éminences grises of the alternative world: Morrissey, Depeche Mode (for whom Corbijn also designs stage sets), U2, and R.E.M. have all, at one time or another, sworn fealty to him, sometimes insisting on sanctioned Corbijn photos in place of commissioned shoots.… Continue reading
Anti-folk
Lower East Side, Manhattan, scene created by young punk-influenced songwriters emerging during the mid-’80s in opposition to the folk establishment.
Named after the Akira Kurosawa film The Hidden Fortress, the Fort was opened in 1987 by the singer known as Lach.
The venue gave stage time to mainly white, middle-class performers like Brenda Kahn, Cindy Lee Berryhill, Paleface, Michelle Shocked, cartoonist David Chelsea, King Missile’s John S. Hall, and Beck.
When police closed the Fort in 1989, Lach moved a few blocks north to Sophie’s (now the Sidewalk Cafe), where Bob Dylan made a brief yet fabled appearance.
The… Continue reading
An ambient music
- “Aphex Twin” (R & S Records).
Term coined circa 1978 by Brian Eno to describe his forays into drifting instrumental composition.
Beginning with the 1975 album Discreet Music, Eno began producing a series of records partially influenced by the piano music of early-century French composer Erik Satie; intended as background music, the discs highlighted tape loops and “treated sounds.”
The combination of fast-paced electronic dance music and Ecstasy that began to dominate clubs worldwide in the late ’80s paradoxically created an appetite for soothing sounds and still surroundings.
Ambient music made an ideal soundtrack for “chill out” rooms in clubs;… Continue reading
More Cowbell
Last Thursday we went to see Rilo Kiley at the 9:30 Club and heck if Jenny Lewis didn’t break out the cowbell. As my friend Sarah emailed me after she saw the same show in Asheville, “You mentioned cowbell. I had no idea she was going to try to bring sexy back using the cowbell.” But try she did and for all I know, maybe she succeeded. Jake seemed to think she did. It was a good show, even though Winona Ryder was apparently in attendance and we did not see her. Brandi Carlile was also good the following night,… Continue reading