Knitting Factory 20th Anniversary - anyone else see the show?

[VicAjax]

so i went to Michael Dorf's 20th anniversary show for the "Old Knit" last night (he couldn't say "Knitting Factory" because he's no longer affiliated with it, AFAIK)... pretty star-studded event:

Lou Reed
Laurie Anderson
Joe Lovano
Don Byron
DJ Spooky
Roy Nathanson
Bill Ware
Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth)
Marc Ribot
John Zorn
Mike Doughty (Soul Coughing)
Medeski Martin and Wood (actually, Chris Wood was a no-show)
Gary Lucas

it was a ramshackle event, with lots of technical glitches and an aborted attempt at a grand finale... but there were some fantastic -- even historic -- performances. i was right down front in the center, so that added to the coolness.

some highlights for me:

John Zorn joining Lou Reed on stage for Reed's "Rock Minuet." it was the first time the two living legends had ever performed together. Reed was almost moved to tears during Zorn's solo, and they bear hugged each other afterwards. Lou planted a wet one right on Zorn's lips.

DJ Spooky and Lee Ranaldo duet... it was supposed to be a multimedia piece with an old propaganda film from Soviet Angola projected behind them... but the projector was fubar. still, it was a fantastic piece... i love watching Ranaldo free form. he was creating these mesmerizing soundscapes by dragging the head of his guitar slowly along the floor, playing the body of it with drumsticks, manipulating the feedback and bowing the strings. together with Spooky's beats, it was absolutely hypnotic.

Joe Lovano, Roy Nathanson, Don Byron, Bill Ware and others opened the show with a fantastic version of Eric Dolphy's "Out to Lunch." i could listen to Bill Ware's vibes all day long.

Laurie Anderson was predictably brilliant. it was just Laurie, her synth and her drum machine. she played two tunes which were simultaneously thought-provoking, soothing, hilarious and transporting. i don't really know of any other artist who can do that.


anyhow, other than being a bit disorganized, it was a great celebration of a legendary and important venue. hats off to Michael Dorf.

[Aman]

I was there!

The two highlights were definitely the Zorn and Reed pairing, and the DJ Spooky and Lee Ranaldo duet. Zorn really held back on his sax until that amazing solo towards the end, with the searing ripples of wails and screeches. The Spooky piece would have been even more brilliant with the propaganda film working, but watching Ronaldo do his thing is always a joy.

Laurie Anderson was brilliant too. It was overall a good show, but I really hated the ending, and really wanted Medeski Martin and Wood to play, not Medeski Martin and some lame bass player who can't write love songs for his life. They should have played more than that one tune. I also thought that the performer who used to work at the Knitting Factory was a little cheesy at times with his songs.

But, in the end, the show was good because it benefited The Stone. I'm friends with one of his bass players (who was sitting nearby) so I had him bring me back stage and I got to get a glance at Lou Reed (though I didn't talk to him). I talked to Bill Ware and was extremely complementary on his vibes playing too. He seems to be a humble and great guy. And, of course, I had a chat with John Zorn quickly and he's always fun to talk to.

It was a great way to spend a Thursday.

[VicAjax]

Originally Posted by Aman

I was there!

The two highlights were definitely the Zorn and Reed pairing, and the DJ Spooky and Lee Ranaldo duet. Zorn really held back on his sax until that amazing solo towards the end, with the searing ripples of wails and screeches. The Spooky piece would have been even more brilliant with the propaganda film working, but watching Ronaldo do his thing is always a joy.

i was definitely curious about the video, but i'm actually a bit glad that it didn't work (even though it obviously pissed Spooky off). i got lost in the music without being distracted by the images.

Laurie Anderson was brilliant too. It was overall a good show, but I really hated the ending, and really wanted Medeski Martin and Wood to play, not Medeski Martin and some lame bass player who can't write love songs for his life. They should have played more than that one tune. I also thought that the performer who used to work at the Knitting Factory was a little cheesy at times with his songs.

yeah, the second set wasn't as strong as the first, Laurie Anderson notwithstanding. i consider Wood to be the most replaceable of the MMW members, but i agree, they NEVER should have let that yo-yo sing. should have done another MMW tune instead.

the guy who used to work the door of the Knit was Mike Doughty. i believe all three songs he played were Soul Coughing tunes. not my cup o' tea either (a little too close to Dave Matthews for my taste). he had good stories, but should have only gotten 2 songs instead of 3.

and i agree, the end was a disaster. they obviously had to shut it down at 11pm sharp, so it was ill-advised to even attempt it. not to mention it was just a general trainwreck. i bet they all felt pretty stupid up there.

But, in the end, the show was good because it benefited The Stone. I'm friends with one of his bass players (who was sitting nearby) so I had him bring me back stage and I got to get a glance at Lou Reed (though I didn't talk to him). I talked to Bill Ware and was extremely complementary on his vibes playing too. He seems to be a humble and great guy. And, of course, I had a chat with John Zorn quickly and he's always fun to talk to.

that's very cool... which bass player? i really dig Trevor Dunn, too.. forgot to mention him. Lou looked sooooo old, but i was awed to be standing so close to him while he performed.

It was a great way to spend a Thursday.

no doubt!

[clarke68]

Man, I'm jealous of you guys who live in New York...I was a huge KnitFac fan back in the day (actually got out to the old office a few times) and would have loved to have been there. John Zorn with Lou Reed is absolutely off the hook. Was the show at The Stone?

I know nothing the politics behind the KnitFac's de-evolution from hub of the Downtown jazz scene to whatever it is these days...I thought I heard that Dorf sold out. Was it Appel that sold out? Did neither one sell out?

Mike Doughty's music before Soul Coughing was really cool (and that was way way before Dave Matthews)...kind of singer-songwriter-poetry-funk. I had no idea he used to work the door at the Knitting Factory.

Thanks for the post! Living in NYC vicariously is better than not at all!

[The Actual]

old thread, show sounded awesome though.


Knitting Factory is moving again. Went to my last show at the leonard st address this past weekend, Oneida Fest.
Favorite "corporate" venue in the city, hope the next space is as good. As long as the same people are running it though there should always be great artists performing I hope.

[tru blu]

Waaayyyy old thread, but the part that makes me laugh is John Zorn playing with Lou Reed. Some years ago at the Knitting Factory, Zorn b-tched out Lou from the stage for talking during one of his sets. Zorn didn't know it was Lou (he was sitting in the balcony), and didn't know Lou's conversation buddies that night were Czech President Vaclav Havel and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. They stopped talking, though.

I actually remember when Doughty was doorman...he was kind of a jerk back then…got to know him later, in his Soul Coughing days…actually a nice guy.

[VicAjax]

Originally Posted by tru blu

Waaayyyy old thread, but the part that makes me laugh is John Zorn playing with Lou Reed. Some years ago at the Knitting Factory, Zorn b-tched out Lou from the stage for talking during one of his sets. Zorn didn't know it was Lou (he was sitting in the balcony), and didn't know Lou's conversation buddies that night were Czech President Vaclav Havel and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. They stopped talking, though.

that is a great story! i've seen Zorn get really cranky on stage before - sometimes at the crowd, sometimes at his band - it's not a pretty sight. of course, i've also seen him when he's looked like the happiest person in the world.