(pic left from Flickr page of Jeremoss). I for one have grown completely numb to the co-opting of cool culture for nefarious commercial means. If the Strangulated Beatoffs had a song appear in a McDonald's ad, I probably would not bat an eye at this juncture (though if they do decide to do this I sort of fear for humanity what the band would be doing with their check). So, while I am right onboard with everyone who feels that downtown's identity has been clomped over by the high-rent boutiques, wine bars and luxury condos, I can't really feel that the amount of creativity in the city has been scaled down, just sort of displaced (to places with varying degrees of accessibility). I was truly saddened by Tonic's demise, mainly because it was such a central hub of important activity for so many artists who are
somewhat more scattered now, but I never got that weepy over CB's. The last show I saw there was the Chain Gang, a good couple years before it's closing, and I think I hadn't been there since 2000 before that. Hence, the fact that John Varvatos decided to buy the old CBGB space and turn it into a fancy retail outlet that happens to preserve the club's graffiti, stage, lights and postered icons amidst racks of $700 jeans isn't as appalling to me I guess as it is to all of last night's protesters down in the Bowery. The difference between 315 Bowery becoming this or a Starbucks is what seems to be really rubbing people the wrong way; I mean, if the current realty office that owns the old Pier Platters space in Hoboken decided to put a box of Flying Nun records on their reception counter I'd probably applaud them. Perhaps someone who has respect for the careers of Graeme and Peter Jefferies may be the kind of person I'd like to rent an apartment from, who knows. Regardless, I'm glad there's still a spirit of protest alive (who's headed down to the LES to get a slab of that Bruce Willis-as-roast pig effigy happening?), though I did get a laugh from a comment on Curbed, whether it be facetious or not (thanks Doron): "I can't wait to protest this abomination, I'll meet everyone at the Whole Foods on Houston at 8PM!"
though nowhere near the culture and span of NYC, Savannah Ga too has sold out or kicked out the unique, imperfect independent shops and spirit- and fuck- MUSIC scene- in trade for a bunch of boutiques designed to bring in the tourist dollar and 'european feel'... eliminating the small indie culture, totally snuffing it out just as it was going from germination to bloom.
there is literally one 'hip' place to see music now, and it is being choked by the new ruling that you have to be 21 to enter a place that serves alcohol. even to go see a guy strum guitar in a more conventional bar has the age restriction.
this leaves the art college freshmen little choice but to stay inside and fuck and smoke these days.
indie shops could no longer afford rent downtown, but american apparel, marc jacobs, and urban outfitters sure could....replacing the affordable fashion scene with the overpriced, and having the nuts to sell us pre-owned, pre-selected vintage clothes for 500 times what we used to pay when we actually found them on our own, at greater personal treasure.
oh, and not to mention i'm in the bible belt, so, good lick finding ANYTHING to do downtown after 6pm.
Posted by: zombot | April 18, 2008 at 01:20 PM
i should add, though, i just think the creativity is displaced, not vanquished. everything is cyclical. the high end shops are just emulating the punkish trends that the students can make themselves or buy cheaply in thrift shops. the new batch of overpriced 'antique' boutiques are just emulating what the dumpster divers and traders have been up to in savannah for decades...the rich are basically emulating the culture of the poor.
although i hate it now, i now that in 20 years the unaffordable condos will be so run down they will finally become quaint and affordable apartments again, just like the ones they replaced.
Posted by: zombot | April 18, 2008 at 01:46 PM
I don't see what the big deal is, Varvatos just put on the best show at CBGB's in years.
Posted by: Liz B. | April 18, 2008 at 02:49 PM
Wonder what that jerk Nick Rizzuto has to say about it this time?
Posted by: ljp | April 18, 2008 at 02:50 PM
i live a few blocks from there and all i can say is thank-the-god-i-don't-believe-in for letting me miss that waste of time/air/magic markers. don't these people have anything better to protest? sanctioned u.s. torture comes to mind...
Posted by: krup | April 18, 2008 at 03:27 PM
Of course, that clown Nick Rizzuto prefers that the US tortures people yet he bemoans the fate of that dump CBGBs...
Posted by: ljp | April 18, 2008 at 03:40 PM
If one cannot see the connection between luxury retailers charging 1600 dollars for a USED leather jacket (i.e. varvatos), and the era we are in of spin, war, and displacment of the poor or even semi-affordable culture, then I am the one that is truly stumped. And why do you think this is all I do? I go out on issues of war and attend whatever events I can. What Varvatos is doing is more offensive than a Starbucks... it is using music with anti-establishment messages to sell people overpriced clothes. BRC should be ashamed ... how will this help the homeless community they serve in the long run? They already were receiving millions in funding. We lost a place where anyone could gig... what we'll get is one private concert a month and varvatos expands his empire with a record label. Cheer it on, people.
Posted by: Rebecca | April 18, 2008 at 05:40 PM
Cities are organic things. They grow and die and grow again. They change. To expect any business, any neighborhood to stay the same forever denies life. So CBGB's becomes a yuppie boutique. It probably lived longer than it should have. Some formerly empty store front in some other part of town springs to life with something that is more than memories and documentary footage. Hell, why not cry for the Roman Coliseum? It's been out of action for nearly 2000 years and there hasn't been a place to throw Christians to lions since. Talk about loss of a venue!
Posted by: SS | April 19, 2008 at 12:57 AM
In a nutshell, SS, it's because the things which were made by people for people are being slowly replaced by things made by corporations for consumers. I'm a creator, not a consumer. And people like that are just being choked out. After 15 years of NYC, I split for greener pastures. So have most of my friends. I suppose entropy always wins at a crawl, but if you were around for the good parts you'd be sad to see it all go as well ( even CBGB's, a club I never much liked ). Time to fly.
Posted by: K | April 19, 2008 at 01:02 PM
........a $1600 jacket..hmm, one item of many item offered to OUT of towners, that MAY just happen to SPEND that $1600 in "YOUR" locality....hmmmm.... that would be clean, crispy revenue paying for , the operator, dispatcher, fuel, vehicles, the pavement, and all the other civil services put into action when a helpful soul dials 911 to save a blogger who's neck was fractured while trying to remove it from thier ass.
But then again, there very well MAY be a completely independent triage tent set up in YOUR locality that operates on antiestablishmentarianism.
Don't knock the hustle, it's payin for all the 'what if oopsies' .....NO disrespect of YOUR freedom intended, I just wanted to remind you that the gubment is paying folks to take the station of 'civil servant' in YOUR locality, FOR you....$0.02
tip your waitresses dammit
Posted by: Abe Woken | April 23, 2008 at 09:21 AM