Tonight at the New Museum: The expressionist no wave of Gray

For the first time in 23 years, downtown post punk band, Gray, will be performing at the New Museum. Surviving members Michael Holman and Nick Taylor are lousy with the self-PR or else I would have written about this a long time ago. Thankfully for a phone call today with a friend, I now know about it. I'll be over at the Kasher Gallery for the Laura Levine/Punk and New Wave Artwork doubleheader. If anyone makes it to the Gray show, I'd love to hear how it was. Link to info & tickets below.

Before:

After:

"In every biography you read of the band Gray, it brings up the story that founding member Jean-Michel Basquiat named the band after Gray’s Anatomy, the 150-year old textbook that was an essential resource for his work. Considering those meticulous, systematic drawings of bones and muscles alongside Basquiat’s rough, violently emotional paintings, it’s difficult to discern what exactly he took away from the book." Continued here as well as info for tickets & set times.


  Jean-Michel Basquiat, Gray - Drum Mode (Downtown 81) by vangogen 

Movie of the Week - Downtown 81

Movie double feature of the week - Downtown 81 and Paris Is Burning

Its been a while since we've featured a Movie of the Week (usually of the Beat Jazz Variety). This week, however, I'm happy to bring you two underground classics - Downtown 81 and Paris Is Burning. For those of you who may not know, Downtown 81 is also currently streaming on Netflix. Anyone who is interested in (mostly accurate) historical footage of the ghosts of New York (somewhat) recent past should see these films. Enjoy...

Downtown 81:

via Dangerous Minds
Downtown 81 on Amazon

I also highly recommend the Downtown 81 soundtrack. It features music from an era-perfect selection of NY-based bands & acts of the time including Basquiat's band, Gray, Tuxedomoon, Liquid Liquid, Lydia Lunch, Lounge Lizards, DNA, Walter Steding, Rammelzee, Kid Creole, Suicide, and others. Hear some sound clips and/or buy it here.



Paris Is Burning:

Paris Is Burning on Amazon