concert video

Clubs started videotaping bands on ¾ inch tape around the 80’s. Some clubs saw it as a way to make some money. They’d tape a band, send them a sample and then offer to sell a copy. Hurrah’s in New York City did that for our 1981 show. Though I was recently told that video’s done by Hurrah were done by independent video producers. By today’s standards the quality of the video was awful, cameras that couldn’t deal with low-light or were had badly “burned” lenses from stage lights. It was better then nothing and I’m glad we bit the bullet, paid our few hundred bucks (probably about what we got paid to play). In the early days of the 9:30 Club they often had a camera that was basically a closed-circuit TV system to send the signal to a small TV at the back bar and a few other locations around the club.

The 9:30 was in the habit of reusing their videotape until it wore out, so it is unlikely that any videos of our many shows at "the club" (as it was known by regulars) in 1980 and 1981 have survived. TDU was asked to do a reunion show to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the club in 1990; that show and a show we did at Hurrah in NYC in 1981 are the only surviving video recordings we know of. (Both can be viewed and/or downloaded from this page.)

For iPod users capable of playing video, I’ve encoded some of the video for the iPod.

Hurrah’s NYC - entire show (86 mb)

Recorded in 1981 at a club called Hurrah's, the band was in fine form that night, though the set was short. Saxophonist Ya Ya was in NYC working with Ornette Coleman. We knew him through our friend Bill Warrell, Bill ran dc Space a place for alternative music in Washington dc. We'd never played with Ya Ya before, but some of what happened this night worked pretty well. Video was shot by Merrill Aldighieri.

view

iPod

Hurrah’s NYC - Cous Cous

1 song from the 1981 show in New York City; Cous Cous was a crowd favorite though we’d never had a saxophone on it before this night. Video was shot by Merrill Aldighieri.

9:30 Club 10th Anniversary - entire show (117mb)

Almost 9 years after the band stopped playing together the 9:30 Club asked us to reunite for a party celebrating its 10th anniversary. With just a few rehearsals, it was remarkable how it all came rushing back to us. My Arp Odyssey had been stolen so I had to adapt some new technology to get the sound right. There was some magic that night.

9:30 Club 10th Anniversary - Obsession

I’ve always loved to play this song. The bass line from Terry Baker is sublime and Michael Barron’s guitar is haunting. As the synth player I tried to find that space right between Susan Mumford’s voice and Michael’s guitar. I was always inspired by both.