To Whom It May Interest: Our Concert Could Be Your Life (Stream)

As it’s been promoted and publicized, the new bastions of all that is “Indie” honored the bands spotlighted in Michael Azerrad’s much revered, Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981-1991. The book was published ten years ago and has basically come to be known as the definitive tale of independent music leading up to the movement’s momentary breach into mainstream America. I know I’ve talked about this book at length, citing it as one of the best rock n’ roll books I’ve ever read and as a wellspring of essential music. Music writers could only dream of writing something this necessary, Azerrad’s perfect account not only defines D.I.Y. Culture and post-punk music for the uninitiated, but credits these bands with shaping the current music-scape. A lot of these bands may have been overlooked or eventually forgotten were it not for Azerrad. Having said that, it’s amazing that a book could warrant such an event.

The full concert, which took place in New York City’s Bowery Ballroom on May 22nd, is available at NPR. Simply click here and enjoy.

In the meantime, Prefix Magazine posted this great video of St. Vincent covering Big Black’s intense, “Kerosene.” Give it a look/listen and check out the concert.



Here’s the original, which is definitely one of my favorite Big Black tracks.



Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead