HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW. ONE NIGHT AT THE WORLD’S GREATEST ROCK CLUB: CBGB’S

Generated by Facebook Photo Fetcher 2

Written By: Pawl Bazile

Photography by: LDO Photography

CBGB’s. It happened once, it’s gone now. It will never happen again. The rock club every rock club wants to be… It was a legend unto itself, and in its glory days was a showcase for every act that dared to try something new. It was punk before punk had a name, and now they sell jeans there or something.

Certain things in life are in excusable, and i had no excuse for never being there. I lived across the river in New Jersey my whole life, and went to school in NYC a stones throw from the Bowery. Seeing a show there was something I wanted on my list of “how I lived life to the fullest” I would surely read to an indifferent young nurse on my death bed.

“Please Kill Me; the Uncensored Oral History of Punk” by Legs McNeil & Gillian McCain was my bible in highschool. This was in the mid 2000′s and well past the clubs prime. Anytime I heard of a show happening at CB’s, it seemed to be followed by someone declaring “….that place isn’t the same”. Maybe I didn’t go because I didn’t want the magic spoiled for me. In 2006, rumor had it the doors were finally closing for good. I made my move…..

….My poorly planned, frantic move (in the true nature of a punk). I didn’t know who was playing. I didn’t care. It didn’t matter. The mission was for me to be a microscopic piece in the legacy of that building. I wanted to stand in the place where greatness stood… before it was a ruin. We were going to see one show at CBGB’s.

Me and Nuno loaded into my car. Nuno drinks, I don’t. At the time he was drying out. I was unsure how his new sobriety would effect the evenings magic. We got to the door. I asked who was playing and told “Surf Guitar Legend Dick Dale”. $20. Nuno complained about the price and sarcastically repeated “Surf Guitar Legend”. I have to admit, the bands I know about, I know everything about… But if it’s out of my music loop, like most people, i couldn’t tell you the first thing about it. The name Dick Dale rang a bell, and he did at least one song from the Pulp Fiction soundtrack. Not too shabby, but we were still on shaky ground.

A lot of things don’t live up to the hype. Crystal Pepsi. Avatar. Loosing your virginity. Flu season. CBGB’s lived up to the hype… for sure. It looked how I wanted it too, It smelled how I wanted it too, but at the same time didn’t. I’m not a guy who’s really about “vibes” but the vibe in there was unreal. I stared at the empty stage and thought “Ramones” “New York Dolls” “Richard Hell” “Henry Rollins” “Iggy Pop” “Talking Heads” “Misfits” “Bad Brains” “Blondie” all gave the best of themselves right in this spot, in their primes.

Some guitar sound began playing off stage. It was like being hit with cold water. At once everyone’s head shot instinctively to the left to “look” at the sound. Out walked Dick Dale. 69 years old. Balding grey ponytail, headband, leather jacket. Would have looked mighty silly if he wasn’t murdering us all with audio. The song he was opening with was “Nitro” and he was so good, I was afraid to move. I watched Nuno’s cynicism crash to the floor and his eyes widen. This old man, in the greatest small club of all time fucked up my our whole world. I pissed in the bathroom on the way out so I could say I did.

CBGB’s was closed about a month or so after that. We said we’d be back to see Joan Jett before then, but didn’t make it. Perhaps it was better not to taint the magic and hellfire of my only visit. Even well past its prime, in its 2006 death throws that club proved why it was a beast. CBGB’s died a soldier’s death and inspired at least one more hopeless punk on it’s way out.

There are always rumors about relocations and rebuilds, but that club will need to earn it’s own story. There will never be another CBGB’s. Never before never again. However there will be a first “something else” and its happening right now. Something, some club, some bar, some basement, some garage, some backyard, some festival is in its prime. It’s turning out a different scene. It’s giving new talent a chance to cut its teeth. It’s happening somewhere near you… everywhere. Don’t sit back and miss it. And if you can’t find it, make it.