"I appreciate the irony of the DIY site punkcast being taken down by arguably the originator of punk style using entirely establishment means." - Joly MacFie

"Sorry to say the punkcast YouTube account is currently suspended.

As you may know it contains around 700 clips, mainly of the NYC music scene, but also of local internet related events including public hearings of the NYC Council's Committee on Technology in Government. It has had approaching 3 million views.

YouTube has a policy of suspending accounts of repeat copyright offenders and I just got my 3rd strike.

Almost laughably it was a DMCA takedown from Richard Hell over some footage I shot of him talking about his next record at a book signing a couple of weeks back. I plonked a mic in front of him and told him I was shooting for webcast, The clip was of conversation as I waited for him to start reading. He didn't say anything in particular beyond what went out in his recent press release about the record i.e. it's redubbed version of an old record that he wasn't happy with. I posted it with a link to his pr. Thought I was being helpful. I'd earlier posted a similar clip of him reading from his new book, and his co-author even posted it on his blog.

I've filed a counter-notice and, if and when the account get's re-instated I'll remove the clip..." [Joly MacFie of Punkcast.com]

Joly may not even realize (well he will after reading this) that the clip (or one of the related ones) was even posted on Richard Hell's official site...well IT WAS until this morning when it was removed. It is of course possible that Richard himself didn't do this, but someone at his label, publisher, etc... A peak at his Wiki page reveals associations with "Sire, Warner Bros., Red Star, Matador, and Rhino".

The record that Richard describes in the disputed video is his remake of 1982's Destiny Street ("originally released in 1982 on Red Star Records, and was reissued in 1995 by Razor & Tie"). The album, Destiny Street Repaired (which is public knowledge), will feature new vocal tracks and music that includes guitar work from Bill Frisell, Marc Ribot and founding Voidoid member Ivan Julian. The record will come out on September 1st through Insound (the online store that is also the label in this case).

The rest of the note from Punkcast, (UPDATE: ) AND a letter Richard Hell wrote to Joly in response, below...

Continue reading "Punkcast YouTube account suspended by Richard Hell (who is releasing "Destiny Street Repaired" on Insound)"

Sonic Youth - 1983 (Stephanie Chernikowski via MoMA)

As previously mentioned, MoMA's Looking at Music: Side 2 opens June 10th and will run to November 30th. The exhibit, which catalogs NYC's early '70s and '80s music scene, will include an installation of photos, videos, audio and more, as well as live events, and punk-film screenings from September-November".

The audio guide for the exhibition will include three conversations specifically recorded for MoMA: Richard Hell in conversation with Vito Acconci; James Nares in conversation with Coleen Fitzgibbon; and Diego Cortez in conversation with Fab 5 Freddy. Richard Hell will also do a poetry reading at the museum in July.

Other highlights of the exhibition include rock film screenings (The Blank Generation, New York Dolls - All Dolled Up, and others), Bob Gruen's 1976 video "New York Death Cult (Live at Max's Kansas City)" which features footage of the famed New York music venue from that era, early issues of Search & Destroy, Punk Magazine and Interview magazine, and lots of audio stations playing "iconic music from the era".

Not connected with Looking at Music, but also happening at MoMA: the next MoMA Monday Nights show (a PopRally event) will be Stars Like Fleas on June 8th (5:30pm-8:45pm). More info, and a coupon for half-off entry to the show can be found HERE.

More details on Looking at Music, with film schedule, below...

Continue reading "MoMA's Looking at Music: Side 2 - exhibition includes Richard Hell, Bob Gruen, Fab 5 Freddy & more... "

BEGATS - 04/21 @ 8:00pm - Hal Willner and Special Guests
Readings of the work of William S. Burroughs, Marquis DeSade & Edgar Allan Poe
with Steve Buscemi, Richard Hell, Chloe Webb, Tom Davis, & special guests

and music by Trevor Dunn, Yuka Honda, Sean Lennon, Doug Weiselman & Hal Willner

curated by Hal Willner

Tickets are still on sale.

PREVIOUSLY: Issue Project Room is 6 -- April (pre-move to Livingston St) benefit/birthday schedule w/ Moby, Hal Willner & more

Band of Horses @ ACL 2008 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Mary J Blige @ Radio City Music Hall
* Sam Champion & Hymns @ Mercury Lounge
* Chromeo, Peanut Butter Wolf @ Webster Hall
* Helios Creed/Chrome, Kreisor, Weird Owl @ The Annex
* Stereolab, Van Allen Belt, Atlas Sound @ The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza
* Say Hi, Spacekamp and Jukebox The Ghost @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Shy Child, Team Robespierre, Project Jenny/Project Jan @ Public Assembly
* Shearing Pinx, Pterodactyl, Hearts of Darkness @ Death By Audio
* Get Him Eat Him, M Shanghai String Band, Babe The Blue Ox @ The Bell House
* Muggabears, Evangelicals, Parenthetical Girls, Miracles of Modern Science @ Cake Shop

Richard Hell was born on this day in 1949.

Happy "International Day of Non-Violence".

Mission of Burma is playing a $5.00 show during CMJ.

Department of Eagles (other members of Grizzly Bear and Dirty Projectors included) AND Louis CK were on Conan O'Brien last night. Video of the entire episode is embedded below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"