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An amazing day of music and two arrests *UPDATED*
Submitted by Norman Yamada on Sat, 04/14/2007 - 7:27pm.
We had an amazing day of music at Tonic.
It began with a solo set by Marc Ribot; cello solo by Ha-Yang Kim and a few duos with Kim and Clifton Hyde on steel guitar, then a freeprov quartet of Ned Rothenberg, Jerome Harris, Marc and Jim Pugliese. Marco Carppelli played a solo set; Keiko and Karthak (sp?) played sets on laptop; Nora from Tribal Soundz and Jim Pugliese played amazing mbira music. We were graced with Butch Morris's presence for a few minutes for a conduction. Rick Brown and Sue Garner sang a great song. Matthew Shipp played a set; and Steve Dalachinsky read poetry as Matthew played. Roy Nathanson, Doug Weiselman and John King also played; and Gina Leishman sang some great songs. Over the course of the day hundreds came by to join the protest, partake of the music and participate.
I'm sure I'm forgetting many other musicians who were there... please email me so I can update this account.
As we expected, however, the landlord refused to take possession of the building unless it was vacated. Marc Ribot and Rebecca Moore chose to keep playing music and not to leave; they were arrested for "trespassing" and led out in handcuffs as a huge crowd of artists and music fans and others cheered for them in support. They were arrested after singing "Bread and Roses"; the demonstration ended around 4:45 pm. (Special thanks to Barbara Celis of
Marc and Rebecca were released at around 9:00 pm tonight after spending some hours in holding cells, being fingerprinted, having mug shots take, and being assigned a court date in May. Other photos of the day can be found at William Avery Hudson's blog. Robert Arihood has also posted great pictures at his blog: see
here,here and here for his three blog entries.
After such a tremendous day of music and mobilization, we again ask you all to sign our petition and continue to support us. We plan to have a press conference on the steps of City Hall on Tuesday to discuss the closing of Tonic and what is happening to the new music scene of nyc; we hope and expect that Alan Gerson (the city councilman for District 1) or a member of his staff will be there with us in support.
Thanks again for all your support. If you were down at the club today, a special thanks.
Press coverage...
Submitted by SarahV on Mon, 04/16/2007 - 12:18pm.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/16/arts/music/16toni.html
http://www.timeoutny.com/newyork/tonyblog/?p=1952
An article in the NY Times, you must be doing something right! Keep up the good work. I live too far away to have been there but I was thinking about you guys all day. Thanks for standing up for those of us who couldn't be there.
Tonic
Submitted by oswaldsson on Mon, 04/16/2007 - 5:04am.
It is unfortunate that this venue has been made unavailable. It provided a valuable centre of excellence for an import though minority interest. I was lucky enough to get there once in its all too brief life when I em-ceed Derek Bailey's COMPANY sessions. Though cramped and without much comfort for the pmusicians, it had an excellent atmosphere. Surely, Mr Dalachinsky must have something to say on this regrettable loss to practitioners of on the hoof creativity, bastion of freedom and heightened awareness, qualities in desperately short supply in this age of steam-roller capitalism.
Best regards to all of you trying to save this venue or to get another one to rise pheonix-like in its place.
Thanks to all - support still needed
Hi - thanks to all who have helped take part in this protest and supported keeping non-mainstream music and art in NYC. To update this post, unfortunately Marc and I did not get our case dismissed at our first court appearance in May. We have another court date set for mid July and hope to keep you posted, but we appreciate the solidarity... and I hope artists in this city will keep coming together over what is happening, that is forcing artists and all low income people and communities out of New York.