David Mancuso's Loft on RBMA

Jeff "Chairman" Mao  has published a momentous oral history of David Mancuso's Loft for Red Bull Music Academy. The history is comprised of interviews with Vince Aletti, John Benitez, Barbie Bertisch, David Felton, Fred Flores Ernesto Green, François Kevorkian, Louis Kee, Hiromi Kiba, Danny Krivit, David Liu, Tina Magennis, Colleen Murphy, Paul Raffaele, Mark Riley, Josie Ritondo, Alex Rosner, Douglas Sherman, Nicky Siano, Will Socolov, Elyse Stefanishin, Yukihiro Suzuki, Luis Vargas and Donna Robbins Weiss--I hope I'm not leaving anyone out. Jeff even spoke with me; I have fond memories of an intense interview conducted on a scorching hot day in NYC in early May last year. It's a huge piece of writing and a valuable addition to the historicisation of the Loft--thank you, Jeff! 

While I'm here, I'd very much like to flag up a crowdfunding campaign organised by Ben Goldfarb on behalf of the wonderful Judy Russell, a longstanding employee at Vinyl Maniac and Downtown 81, a regular at the Paradise Garage and a close friend of many in the scene, including Larry Levan, who fell on hard times after becoming ill. It was wonderful to be able to interview Judy and include some of her memories and insights in Life and Death on the NY Dance Floor. Please donate! 

Lastly, the New York Times has published an obituary of the magical Boyd H. Jarvis, already much missed. The article ends with sister Yvette Jarvis recounting how Boyd made and recorded music until his death. What else was he going to do?

Talk at Bananamoon, Glasgow

photo by Lyndell Mansfield--such perfect colour coordination throughout!

photo by Lyndell Mansfield--such perfect colour coordination throughout!

Slightly late notice, but this Thursday I'll be talking about Life and Death on the New York Dance Floor, 1980-83, at Bananamoon, Glasgow, co-owned by Keith McIvor and Jonnie Wilkes of Optimo. Details are here, http://bit.ly/2BV1w1V.

I understand that reservations were snapped up pretty quickly but it might be worth coming along anyway, just in case some folks don't show up--or maybe we'll find a way to create more space. 

Raissa Pardini, whom I got to meet at the Life and Death on the NY Dance Floor event held at Donlon books back in the autumn of 2016, has been in touch so say she's coming along, so this gives me the perfect opportunity to post one of my favourite snaps of L&D, held by Raissa,

 

 

Basquiat: Boom for Real at the Barbican

Basquiat.jpg

Basquiat was a major figure in Life and Death on the NY Dance Floor, so I was delighted to be asked to feed into the Barbican's forthcoming Basquiat: Boom for Real season in several ways plus write this piece, just published, which contextualises it all, http://bit.ly/2iMdx0K

In addition to offering bits and pieces of help with the show itself I've been co-curating a music night, featuring Kid Creole & the Coconuts, Arto Linsday, Justin Strauss! That'll take place on 7 October. There's more info at http://bit.ly/2eLkElG

Earlier that day I'll be heading to a free screening of Downtown 81, the downtown film starring Basquiat, after which I'll be chairing a discussion with downtown designer/producer/scenester Maripol and (last I heard..) August Darnell of Kid Creole and Arto Lindsay. All were heavily involved with Downtown 81, Basquiat and the wider downtown scene.

In-between I'll be working with five young directors who'll be creating short films as part of the Barbican's Too Young For What? Creative Learning programme-which is what it's all about, in a way, http://bit.ly/2vxwHNQ

The basic argument of the article: we might like to think of Basquiat as a genius, but he only became Basquiat because of his immersion in the wider downtown scene, so creativity is in many respects collective, and we might do well to think more (in Eno's term) of scenius than genius...

Vogue Hommes feature

Vogue Hommes (Paris) has published a 6-page interview with me about Life and Death on the NY Dance Floor.

"Il consacre avec Life and Death on the New York Dancefloor 1980-1983 [...] une somme prodigieusement fouillée, intensément politique, gorgée de détails, de titres de chansons, et d'anecdotes," writes Julien Gester in the intro. "Généreux et maniaque jusqu'à l'excès, le récit de Lawrence se nourrit aussi bien de playlists extensives que de documents d'époque et d'entretiens avec les principaux acteurs--devenus superstars ou restés dans l'ombre--de ce moment incandescent dont notre modernité ne s'est toujours pas remise."

I'm amazed. The only thing that would have amazed me even more is if they'd slipped a copy of the book into the picture of the mean-looking guys on the front cover--no, strike that, if they'd invited me to appear in the shoot.

In other news...

If your German is good and your French not so good, the Austrian magazine Malmoe has published an article about Life and Death on the NY Dance Floor, http://malmoe.org/artikel/tanzen/3263

If English is your preference, Matthew Billy has posted another episode of his Between the Liner Notes radio doc, 19: Discophobia (Disco Part 2). It includes i/vs with Joseph Carvello, Ray Caviano, Jim DeRogatis and me, http://bit.ly/BTLNdisco02

Signature has published a feature titled “10 Weird and Wonderful Biographies on the Music of the 1970s” that includes kind words about Hold On to Your Dreams: Arthur Russell and the Downtown Music Scene, 1973-92. “As a musician and composer, Russell’s body of work includes everything from boldly experimental compositions to ecstatic dance tracks to heartfelt pop confessionals,” writes Tobias Carroll. “Lawrence’s book is a fantastic look at Russell’s music, and the impact it continues to have on what we listen to today.” http://www.signature-reads.com/…/10-great-biographies-on-t…/

If you haven’t already, please sign the petition “Let NYC Dance: Repeal NYC's Cabaret (No Dancing) Law Now”, https://www.change.org/p/new-york-city-council-repeal-nyc-s…?