So I'm going to New York for the first time: places? sights? gigs? your help please..
 

Okay, so I'm going to New York for the first time ever in exactly 2 weeks. I'm there for four nights. Basically, much of the art and music I love is from New York, and I'm determined not to just go around seeing the sights, I want to explore the 'soul' of the city, see what makes New York tick and what makes it artistically the most facinating of places- go under the surface a little, I guess. I'm also determined to go to a gig whilst I'm there, but I've no way of knowing whats on and what venues to the check, and I'm 19, which may be a problem getting into venues.

So the itinerary of my trip is yours to determine. but what I want to know is, ~ what places will intrest my musically, (so obviously i have alot of interest in no wave and NY avant-garde, but also old-school hip-hop) ~ what place will interest me artistically (galleries - big ones and small independent ones) ~ excellent record shops ~ gigs I might enjoy in the 4 days after the 4th, or at least where i can find out about them ~ things that just need to be seen.

your help would be much appreciated...

You can find out about some shows
here: http://www.ohmyrockness.com/ShowList.cfm
and some free shows
here: http://www.brooklynvegan.com/events.html

And as for galleries, Chelsea is just jam-packed with them.
http://chelseaartgalleries.com/

empire state building
United Nations building
central park
Manhattan
Greenwich Village

Thanks, these sites have been really helpful. Whats really awesome is theres alot of stuff I could see, on the night of the 5th, Jungle Brothers (free show) or Fiasco (feasibly, both). The 6th People Under The Stairs, and the 7th (maybe) Black Keys. Brilliant, thanks very much!

most of the big sites are in manhattan. if you want to check out the birth of hip-hop you can travel to the bronx if you want. no one i know has yet.

i mostly just stay in brooklyn. greenpoint has three cool record stores you should check out.

and they're called?

I'm sorry but these are the friggin worst listings in town for gigs, other than the Village Voice - unless you do want mediocre stuff. Try toddpnyc.com, thestonenyc.com and knittingfactory.com, also the Issue Project Room and Death By Audio, I believe they are all ages and will challenge you, unless you don't want to be challenged, in that case stick to brooklyn vegan by all means.

If you want to see what the soul of NYC is and what makes it tick, just get a $100 bill, place it on the naked ass of a 16 year old boy or girl, and you'll have it.

Ha ha, I could do that very easily in London! I don't think those sites are bland unchallenging gigs at all, Fiasco certainly doesn't fit in that category. I plan to go to The Stone at some point, and to be all pretentious and avant-garde, but I also want to go and rock out at the Jungle Brothers and People Under The Stairs, is that alright with you?

We have enough tourists...but if you're really coming here, stay the hell out of my way.

thanks, nice to meet you too.

Even though American tourists in this country have a reputation for being ignorant and loud, I have to say your extremely welcome here. shame its not reciprocated.

you're* welcome.

Come to L.A. We love tourists.

ah, the food sucks there anyway...

but seriously - if you're in the middle of the sidewalk with a laminated map half-folded and it's rush hour... God, my walk to work sucked this morning.


You knew I was joking, right?

its hard to tell on this inter-web.

so are the dates 8/4 through 8/8?

yeah i learned very quickly that slow moving people here suck.

oh and i was kidding about the bronx. i wouldn't do tourist stuff there. there's a better chance you may get mugged if you do.

I probably won't have time to do the Bronx realistically, though I'd like too one day. The Jungle Brothers will be the fix of Hip Hop i need for the trip.

Buy a T Shirt from St Marks Place with a fascist slogan on it, bump into ex-members of Television at Otto's, eat a pastrami sandwich at Katz, buy a Hubert Selby Jnr first edition at Strand books, get your photo taken under the 53rd and 3rd sign, check out the Wonder Wheel at Coney Island (while eating a hot dog from Nathans), buy the Kill Your Idols DVD from Mondo Kims. Don't plan too much, just stick the first Ramones album on your iPod and GO FOR IT!

EDIT: Cloud One really is one helluva great album isn't it.

I like your style Demonrail, but sadly I don't like the Ramones or facism, and wouldn't know who the members of Television are, let alone ex-members.

With you on the fascism thing, but you know, I was on holiday and it seemed like the right thing to do at the time.

Anyway, if you're thinking about Hip Hop: Definitely check out Fat Beats at 406 6th Avenue (second floor) Rock and Soul on 7th between 35th-36th; and finally you WILL spend lots of $$$s at the amazing Sound Library on Ave A between 13th and 14th.

this is one of the best things in life, innit?

get a rainbow italian ice from the boardwalk cart for dessert.

Absolutely!

I was obsessed with the film The Warriors as a kid so checking out the WW was more a pilgrimage than it was a tourist venture.

It was a bit like my going to a White Castle simply because of the Beastie Boys. Sad, but true.

white castle is one of the most hilarious places in the world.

I went to one in Ohio. Quite possibly the worst thing I've ever eaten in my life but it just had to be done. Can still taste the fuckers every time I burp though.

hahahahahahaha.

the one i went to was in new fucking jersey.

whats a white castle? and where the Beasties reference it?

I'd give a random appendege to see the JB's.

They're playing for free - freee!!!

Beastie Boys' 'Girls.'

I like the way that they walk
And it's chill to hear them talk
And I can always make them smile
From White Castle to the Nile

Beastie Boys' 'Hold it Now - Hit it.'

Got the ladies of the eighties from here to White Castle

Sounds like some plans. Take the advice above.

There's one on 8th ave and 36th half a block from where I work. If I'm feeling particularly masochistic I go there. There's always entertainment from the tourists and junkies out of the methadone clinic.

The one in Columbus Ohio was like something out of Jacob's fucking Ladder!

That does look completely inedible.

You know, when I went to India we were told not to drink the water the Indians were, becuase our immune systems couldn't cope and we'd die. Do you think the same applies if an Englishman eats a White Castle?

This is an experience worth having.

whats that?

two words: 'Doner' and 'kebab'

Nathan's Hot Dogs. They taste better than they look. I promise.

ha ha, indeed