Anti-Social Commentary

(11) Posted on 04/06/07 by Tony SQNS

By The Mighty Afrodite

Hello Darlings. Miss me?
Actually, I’m not vain enough to assume that anyone noticed that I was gone, so let’s not waste valuable space addressing the fact that I am back. All I will tell you is that, life is what happens when you make other plans.
Now on to more important matters.
This October, a few things have happened, things of such cultural importance, that I decided now would be a good time to drag my slacker ass to the computer, and give my thoughts on the matter. ( Whether any one wants to hear them or not!)
CBGB’s closed. Yeah, it really happened. Everybody’s favorite punk rock mecca has closed its doors, forever. I was sad about it. After all, The Mighty Afrodite was born there, right on stage, during a memorable Queen V show. ( By the way, I never got my T-shirt.)
The Continental, which , according to a good percentage of popular opinion, could have picked up the CB’s gauntlet, has instead opted to remove it’s stage, and remain strictly a bar. Again, a little sad, but then, change is the only constant. I don’t have to like it, but there is nothing I can do but accept it.
Which brings us to the third event of cultural importance I have to mention, with no small amount of relief and giddiness: Otto’s shrunken Head celebrated it’s 4rth year of continuing the New York tradition of just plain having fun, in it’s usual loony, orderly chaotic, family style way.
Yep, The Mighty Afrodite may have been born at CB’s, but I make my home at Otto’s. And what better place really? Otto’s is anarchy without the pretentiousness, Bartenders, who mix great drinks, have great personalities, and don’t feel the need to inflict attitude on the patrons.( Although, they can be pretty firm should you decide to step out of line.) As a matter of fact, to give you some idea of what kind of place Otto’s is, they still have most of the original line-up of bartenders they started with, including Friday nite Pin-up cutie Natasha, Pam The Metal Queen(Hail Satan!) Who reigns every Thurs. And Sun. Nite( for those of you who start your weekend early and and don’t get up in time for church), Nelsha, who hasn’t let childbirth or a move to Jersey slow her down, and of course, Nell Mellon, who celebrates her own anniversary, 1 year as co-owner of Otto’s. They also have a few notable newbies, such as the two Lyndsays, Lyndsay #1 who presides over Saturday nite with Pam, when she’s not on the other side of the bar, onstage with Mindless Self Indulgence, and Lyndsay #2 who starts your week off right, pouring liquid lunch Mon. And Tues. day, and of course, Every one’s fav White Trash Rock & Roll Diva, Lainie Ford.
Not to be undone is the many varied and hoppin’ events that take place on a yearly, monthly and weekly basis. There is always something to do at Otto’s, and it’s never the same old thing. To really get a sense of just how much there is going on, you’d have to visit the website, www.Otto’sshrunkenhead.com, but my personal favorites are weekly, Frankie Woods Wind Down Sundays, which, if you’re lucky, will be followed up by the Sofa Jam with Kenn Rowell of the Bagdaddios, as well as whomever is still milling around at this point.
I like to start the month off right with the first Monday of every month, The San Francisco Fisherman, bringing us their Vibrophonic Orchestra, with all sorts of special guests, go-go dancers, and burlesque performances. As for ending the night on a good note, There’s Midnight Monster Hop, the last Saturday nite of every month, presided over by Mike of The Memphis Morticians, with psycho/punkabilly spin as well as some of the most flesh-crazed bands to ever stumble over the stage.
On a yearly basis, We have Nell Mellon’s annual Debutante B-day Bash, with the usual line-up of great bands, as well as free flowing tequila and good will, or there ‘s the Annual Mermaid Parade After Party, Where the Otto’s Parade float participants, un-wind and wind up after the Parade, and the Gotham Girls Roller Derby team rest their wheels. Of course, there’s no Midnight Monster Hop quite like the Halloween Midnite Monster Hop, And to top it off, Otto’s X-mas party.
Of course, the high Grand Poohbah of this brain-fever,...er...brain-fart,...er... dysfunctional brain child is Steve Pang, big happening man-about-LES, who’s genius lies in A) it’s all about the people, and B) Let’s try something new today.
NOW, I know what some of you are saying; how could the 4rth year of a relatively new venue, a tiki bar no less, have as much cultural importance as the closing of CB’s and change over of the Continental? Those of you who have been to Otto’s even once don’t need clarity on this point, so the following is for those of you who have never been lucky enough or unpretentious enough to cross the Otto’s threshhold.
Otto’s, more than any venue I have ever known, including CB’s (in it’s later years, to be fair) embodies both the Sublime and the Ridiculous spirit that is New York City. Otto’s does what New York has always done, it entertains, it welcomes, it parties, it ignores bullshit fads and trends and pays attention to the important things: Gay line dancing, public nudity, everyone’s birthday, bad ladies room plumbing, sex in the photo booth, what-does-your-band-play-never-mind-just-bring-‘em-down, Philipe the Bucket, you don’t have to worry about belonging any where, you belong here, how was your day, are you doing okay, I have some drumsticks you can borrow, Betty Boop, and flesh-eating zombies, Kennedy Fried Chicken, mermaids, and Tiki Boys, public spectacle(always helpful) and private drama(because no one cares) It’s good to see you, and it’s good to see you too, and while we’re at it, Seize this, Honkus!, and Hey, is everybody having a good time?
Otto’s is home, where everyone knows your name and your alcohol capacity, where no one raises an eyebrow, and every one raises your spirits, and the lunatics run the asylum.
Come on Down to Otto’s, we’ll find something for you to do.
The closing of CB’s wasn’t the end of an era after all, because there will always be places like Otto’s to pick up where they left off.

Bamboozle Scandal!

(2) Posted on 05/08/06 by nypunk

This was sent after the band PRYDE was disqualified from The Break Contest. They were kicked off of the contest because a high ranking memember of the Stone Pony paid off the judges 100 dollars each to push them into the next round. Once this was found out the band was kicked off. However you'll now notice that PRYDE is playing 7:00 on the HURLEY / HOT TOPIC STAGE. Something fishy is going down.

"ASBURY PARK, NJ—Following their performance at week seven of The Break, the ultimate band competition, NJ ska ensemble Awful Waffle have been added to the lineup of The Bamboozle, set to take place May 6-7 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford. The band originally took third place overall for the day, but were moved up to the second place slot following a disqualification. Judges from 95.9 WRAT, Monmouth University and The Aquarian Weekly were on hand at the Stone Pony, and the crowd was raucous in their appreciation of Awful Waffle’s up-tempo, horn-infused punk rock. They now join other prominent locals and national acts such as Fall Out Boy and Taking Back Sunday as part of the weekend punk festival.

Source: www.punknews.com