Ric Ocasek
Elbow Room, New York, NY (USA)
September 5, 1997

Core Sound Binaural mics > Sony D7 DAT
taper/tracking: smores
transfer: ellaguru

setlist:
1. (fades into the end) ?
2. The Next Right Moment
3. Moving In Stereo
4. Fix On You

notes from smores: For those not familiar, the CMJ [College Music Journal] Music Marathon is an annual event where selected bands and artists play at various clubs throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn as a way for industry professionals to discover new breaking artists in the college radio world. In September 1997 I was fortunate to see that Mike Watt was playing at the Elbow Room (formerly the Rock Ridge Saloon) on Bleecker St. The challenge is that they issue so many badges to industry attendees, that it can be difficult (or impossible) for regular fans to get into a particular show because the clubs will limit entry for fear of having to turn away a badge holder due to capacity issues. I showed up plenty early (probably around 7pm) for Watt figuring that if they were going to let some paying customers in, it would be when the place was completely empty. I was there so early that there were only two or three of us in line. We could see very few people inside the club, but the door guy wouldn't let anyone without a badge in. He eventually told us that there was no way they were going to make decisions about letting people in until much later. I grabbed a Village Voice to see if anything else was going on that night and lo and behold a band that was getting some buzz, Fu Manchu, was doing an in-store performance at Sam Goody a couple of blocks away on 6th Ave. I got to Sam Goody just as Fu Manchu was starting. They played for about 30 minutes and I was absolutely blown away. Then I walked back to the Elbow Room. There were now a few more people in line, but by now the bands had started inside. Sadly, when the earlier the bands go on they play to a virtually empty room- which is ironic since the purpose of the marathon is to give exposure to these bands. At some point the door guy is given the OK to let non-badges in. I pull out my wallet to pay the cover and he waves us on- it is a free show! I walk in and Ric Ocasek (promoting his solo CD "Troublizing") is already onstage and there is no way for me to know how long he had been playing. I quickly got my recorder going, but it turns out he was almost done. I had seen CMJ shows where the openers would play 20 minute sets, but I have no idea if this was one of those times. This 11 minutes is all that exists of my tape. I stood next to Paulina. Parenthetically, the next night I went to CBGB where Fu Manchu was opening for Monster Magnet and were told that zero non-badges would be admitted.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the people who have helped me over the past couple years to convert and post my collection...and we're not even close to being done! I have met and worked with several people on this project and want to make sure they know how much I appreciate their work on my behalf. I know that some shows are better quality than others, but hopefully you have found something to add to your collection. Also, HUGE thanks to those who have contacted me publicly and/or privately to help me find shows I am after. There are some great things on the horizon in this new year as I have been talking to some of my taper friends from way back who are willing to lend tapes and let us work on them!
I am hereby updating my requests:
SID 'N SUSIE or Bangles, L7, LOVE/HATE, SUPERSUCKERS, UNCIRCULATED ELTON JOHN SHOWS, GUIDED BY VOICES, ACE FREHLEY [1992-present] OR PAUL STANLEY SOLO SHOWS [especially 1989] WITH KNOWN LINEAGE, TALAS, THE DONNAS, any of the SAIGON KICK reunion shows from 2013/14. Of course my prevous requests still stand: Warrior Soul, Tegan and Sara, Filter, Saxon, Porno For Pyros, Rose Tattoo, Wildhearts, Sinead O'Connor, Veruca Salt. Still looking for leads to UNCIRCULATED Foo Fighters or Nine Inch Nails MASTERS.
Also, if you are involved with archiving all shows of a specific band, feel free to ask. I like to help those that help me.