Teenage Jesus and the Jerks!!!!

[schwenko]

One of the seminal No Wave bands reunites for 2 shows at the Knitting Factory

http://www.lydia-lunch.org/live_dates.html


The first band formed by vocalist/guitarist/provocateur Lydia Lunch, Teenage Jesus & the Jerks were the center of New York’s short-lived no wave movement. Cacophonous, confrontational, and fiercely inaccessible, Teenage Jesus generally played ten- to 15-minute shows, never released a full-length album, and disbanded after a relatively brief existence. Even so, they were instrumental in laying the groundwork for the noise rock movement of the ’80s, and their work still sounds as forbidding and uncompromising as anything their spiritual followers recorded. Born Lydia Koch in Rochester, NY, Lunch founded Teenage Jesus & the Jerks in 1977 when she was just 16. Initially, the group included saxophonist James Chance (who soon left to form the Contortions), Japanese bassist Reck, and drummer Bradley Field. In 1978, Reck returned to Japan and was replaced by Gordon Stevenson; thus constituted, the trio recorded four tracks with producer Brian Eno for the 1978 compilation No New York, the seminal no wave document. By 1979, when the band issued a couple of EPs on the Lust/Unlust label, bassist/percussionist Jim Sclavunos had joined the group; however, they disbanded by the end of the year, as Lunch moved on to other projects. The group’s complete recorded output was eventually reissued on CD by the Atavistic label under the title Everything.

[Frau_Blucher]

BTW, are you going to this Schwenko? I have this sinking feeling that resurrecting No Wave might not be such a great idea. I tend to think it might make folks realize that it was all just noisy shit. [:0]

[schwenko]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Blir[/i]
<br>BTW, are you going to this Schwenko? I have this sinking feeling that resurrecting No Wave might not be such a great idea. I tend to think it might make folks realize that it was all just noisy shit. [:0]
[/quote]

got my ticket for the early show: I see it as performance art[:D]

[i_like_lectric_motors]

I was thinking about going to this since it's the last day of my vacation, but it's a long drive and the whole 15 minute show thing kinda worries me.

[schwenko]

Let the truth be told: Schwenko is a slobbering fan boy!![:D]

When I arrived at the Knitting Factory tonight there was a huge crowd, filling Leonard Street. Probably because: 1) The art gallery across the street had a photo exhibition of pictures from Thurston Moore's book, 2) There were 2 scheduled shows for Teenage Jesus and the Jerks and 3) plenty of scenesters hanging out on a warm June Friday night.

And there were plenty of stars in the crowd. First off I spotted Pat Place (Contortions, Bush Tetras), Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth), and Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) signing copies of his new book.

I went inside, and entered the main concert "hall". I believe that it is even smaller than Maxwell's. Luckily the air conditioning was on.

First up was some No Wave band, that might have been called Information (or maybe not). After a short set, the main course.

Lydia Lunch came on, snarling from the get go. Jim Sclavunos on drums and a Sonic Youth member (Thurston Moore) on bass.
LL was in great form cursing the audience out quite frequently, sticking her tongue out, and dismissing the audience comments (audience- "You suck!!" LL- "Yes I do, but I won't suck you") At one point she muttered "This is a mistake". And finally, "This is our last song, and don't expect any fucking encores".

TJATJ played fast and furious; don't ask me any "song" titles- it was all an assault on the senses, with LL venting her rage. As I have said before, I consider the performance to be performance art.

On my way outside I spotted James Chance on the street. And I barged in on Glen O'Brien, asking him if there would be any more TV Party dvds issued ("yes, another 2").

A wild, star-studded night! Next up, tomorrow night at Other Music, a book signing appearance by Thurston Moore.

[Frau_Blucher]

Holy hell Schwenko, it sounds like nothing less than a rendezvous with music history! Sounds fucking fantastic.

[coop41]

Schwenko, that is so sweet!!!! Have fun tonight!

[schwenko]

[quote][i]Originally posted by i_like_lectric_motors[/i]
<br>I was thinking about going to this since it's the last day of my vacation, but it's a long drive and the whole 15 minute show thing kinda worries me.
[/quote]

They played at least 20 minutes, maybe 25.[:p]

[Frau_Blucher]

Pictures...

http://www.prefixmag.com/photos/teenage ... g-factory/

[schwenko]

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2 ... s_t_1.html