David McKenzie recorded a huge number of gigs at New York area music venues mostly from 1985 to 1993. You can hear many of his recordings at The McKenzie Tapes. He also shares picture of cassettes, concert tickets and the show listing in the Village Voice, where available.
Many of the tapes are from shows at Maxwell’s (1978-2013) in Hoboken, New Jersey, where Kearny worked for a time. We also get to travel back in time to Brownie’s, Bowery Ballroom, CBGB, Irving Plaza and Coney Island High.
Other tapes in the collection were made by the late John Reinert, a prolific taper of shows at Maxwell’s and other New York City venues from the 1980s until his passing.
Soul Asylum play Maxwell’s – 1 January 1991
The collection begins with Soul Asylum at Maxwell’s on New Year’s Day 1991.
Soul Asylum played a rockin’ set to ring in 1991 at my favorite club, Maxwell’s in Hoboken, NJ.
Setlist:
1) Blue Suede Shoes (Carl Perkins cover [Medley])
2) Easy Street
3) Be on Your Way
4) Closer to the Stars
5) Veil of Tears
6) All the King’s Friends
7) Nice Guys (Don’t Get Paid)
8) Village Idiot
9) Stranger
10) Never Really Been
11) We 3
12) Gullible’s Travels
13)To Sir With Love (Lulu cover)
14) Sexual Healing (Marvin Gaye cover)
15) Candy (Iggy Pop cover)
16) Dirty Old Town
17) Rhinestone Cowboy (Larry Weiss cover)
18) Pissin’ in the Wind
19) Tell Me Something Good
20) The Tracks of My Tears (The Miracles cover)
21) Lone Rider
Bad Brains at Max’s Kansas City, February 1979
In February 1979, D.C. punk pioneers Bad Brains played the legendary Max’s Kansas City. This would be the first of two gigs that Bad Brains played at Max’s in 1979, as they’d return to wrap up the year in December.
Set list:
I
Don’t Need It
Jammin’ at the Atlantis
Pay to Cum
Supertouch / Shitfit
The Regulator
Why’d Ya Have to Go
Don’t Bother Me
SuccessBanned in D.C.
The Big Takeover
Stay Close to Me
Attitude
You’re a Migraine
Just Another Damn Song
The Man Won’t Annoy Ya
Redbone in the City
I
Butthole Surfers at CBGB’s – 12 February 1986
On February 12, 1986, the Butthole Surfers played a very memorable show at CBGB’s. Around this time, the band was transitioning from a more traditional punk rock band to a bit of a psychedelic, freakout/crazy/whoa. The band had just released the “Cream Corn” EP a month prior, which saw them experiment with blues, industrial music, psychedelic rock, and country rock in the space of four songs. Enjoy this psychedelic shit!
Set list:
John E. Smoke
Cherub
Suicide
Graveyard
Moving to Florida
100 Million People Dead
To Parter
Tornadoes
Pittsburgh to Lebanon
Psychedelic Jam
Lady Sniff
U.S.S.A.
Comb
Concubine
Red Hot Chili Peppers at The Ritz, 24 February 1988
On February 24, 1988, the Red Hot Chili Peppers played The Ritz. The band toured extensively in support of their 1987 album, “The Uplift Mofo Party Plan,” with more than one stop at the Ritz in 1988. This show occurred several years before the band achieved mainstream success with “Blood Sugar Sex Magik.”
The Jesus and Mary Chain at The Ritz, 14 April 1987
On April 14, 1987, The Jesus and Mary Chain played at The Ritz! The Scottish alternative rockers were preparing to release their second studio album, “Darklands,” which would be released in August of 1987. The group played several songs from this yet to be released LP, including “April Skies,” “Nine Million Rainy Days,” and “Happy When It Rains.”
Sonic Youth at Maxwell’s – 23 April 1987
On April 23, 1987, Sonic Youth played the first of two nights at Maxwell’s. The group debuted never before heard material from their upcoming fourth LP, “Sister,” which was released in June 1987. Sister was partly inspired by the life and works of science fiction writer Philip K. Dick (the “sister” of the title was Dick’s fraternal twin, who died shortly after her birth, and whose memory haunted Dick his entire life). Sister was also the first Sonic Youth album to crack the Top 20 of the Village Voice’s Pazz & Jop critics poll.
(I Got A) Catholic Block
Tuff Gnarl
Pipeline/Kill Time
Pacific Coast Highway
Stereo Sanctity
Cotton Crown
Schizophrenia
White Cross
Beauty Lies in the Eye
Hotwire My Heart (Crime Cover)
The Feelies at Maxwell’s, 2 June 1986
On June 2, 1986, The Feelies returned to Maxwell’s for another gig! Following their performances on May 9 and 10th of 1986, the group returned to their home venue to film a live performance for a Japanese documentary. A portion of this documentary can be found on YouTube. In this short interview clip, the band describes what they love about playing at Maxwell’s, their performance in “Something Wild,” and their cult following in Osaka, Japan.
As it turns out, The McKenzie Tapes has an actual VHS tape of this documentary, which I will post as soon as I either bring it to Staples or digitize it myself. Enjoy!
Would you like to support Flashbak?
Please consider making a donation to our site. We don't want to rely on ads to bring you the best of visual culture. You can also support us by signing up to our Mailing List. And you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For great art and culture delivered to your door, visit our shop.
