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Remembering Cake Shop (pics, video, tributes)

cakehop
Cake Shop’s Andy Bodor performing on Cake Shop’s final night (via @MercuryGirls)

Lower East Side mainstay Cake Shop closed after 11 years over the weekend. Shellshag were the last band to play the Ludlow St venue, as part of the New Year’s Eve celebration that also had owner Andy Bodor performing as well. Andy was the heart and soul of Cake Shop and his vision (and impeccable taste) fueled it and kept things weird right to the end. This was a place named after a Swell Maps song, whose interior featured a giant photo of heroes Ron & Russel Mael of Sparks, and championed the likes of R. Stevie Moore, Eugene Chadbourne, and ’80s Flying Nun. It’s a wonder it lasted as long as it did.

The penultimate night (12/30) was the real last hurrah, with mid-’00s band caUSE co-MOTION and Hamish Kilgour’s Mad Scene reuniting just for the event (Andy played bass on a few Mad Scene songs), plus sets from Future Punx, Cassie Ramone (who pulled out some Vivian Girls songs), Air Waves’ Nicole Schneit and 178 Project (ft. Sal of Liquid Liquid). Andy and his brother (and Cake Shop co-owner) Nick gave heartfelt speeches, saying they hope to open a new spot in Brooklyn in 2017.

Below we’ve rounded up remembrances from friends and artists who played Cake Shop over the last decade, as well as photos and videos.

Cake Shop, you were one of a kind. That tinsel curtain, and the string lights dangling from the foam sound insulation, are as iconic a backdrop as any in NYC. You will be missed, and we look forward to seeing what you have planned next.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOu9hD_gWGp/?tagged=shellshag

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOsnFx9jQUP/?taken-at=268255&hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOqxuV2jYoX/?taken-at=268255&hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOnSkUdAJRO/?taken-by=ameliaaahh
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOqv4yfDpCe/?taken-at=268255&hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOhipmPDmDO3OLKIxTyLlGsoL4qW08s-0a58XI0/?taken-at=268255&hl=en

https://twitter.com/ZOLAJESUS/status/814214060564774912
https://twitter.com/ZOLAJESUS/status/814213315299840000

https://twitter.com/HeavenlyBeatny/status/813882161812082688

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Luhsek8VRA4

happy new year 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f_-s80SUMY