The Irrelevance of CBGB

“There is no longer a single club that is a hub for punk, said Yalan Papillons, who books punk shows for the Knitting Factory in Lower Manhattan. Since the early CBGB days, the music, too, has become a complex world of genres, she said, including black metal (which tends toward writhing on the floor and a kind of a cappella screaming), pop punk (more popular music often aired on Fuse TV, a cable and satellite network), and kiddie punk (a fist-throwing, more juvenile, I-hate-my-mom kind of music).

CBGB simply no longer books the best acts, Ms. Papillons said, adding, ‘I don’t really watch the CBGB calendar anymore like I used to.'” [NY Times]

“It still lends street cred for bands to play once at CBGB, but it’s only because of the lore and the legend. Then they move on to Mercury Lounge, Rothko or Southpaw – just three of dozens of decent rock clubs in Manhattan and Brooklyn which have a pulse, cleaner bathrooms and a more band-friendly environment.” [NY Post]

Previously
RANA @ CBGB (Benefits Day 3), NYC | Pics