To this day I regret never being able to have a glimpse of one show at the legendary CBGBs in New York City. I would have settled for seeing anything just so I could say I was there and saw the innards of the concert club. Just to be stuck inside that cramped venue seeing a band live for one night would be enough. Tragically that will never happen now as the club was forced to close its doors a few years back.
Credited for starting many bands careers, CBGBs (Country, Blue Grass, & Blues) was a concert club in the district of Manhattan that opened its doors in the 70s with the intention of being a venue for country, bluegrass, and blues bands. The unique club welcomed many unsigned bands to play their original music and kick started many bands careers. In turn, it became more of a club for punk rock acts. It aided in the success of many punk rock and hardcore bands throughout the years until October 2006 when the club had to close its doors because of legal battles between club owner and musician Hilly Kristal over back owed rent. Aside from protests and fund raisers, not enough money could be raised.
The doors may be closed forever, but the legacy will live on thanks to live shows that were recorded and are now starting to be released. MVD Audio started a CD series called the CBGB OMFUG Masters: The Bowery Collection so at least I can now hear some of the shows I missed out on.
With a few CDs being released already I was lucky enough to obtain a live show played on February 3rd, 2003 featuring The Queers. The thirty one tracks The Queers played that evening was just a taste of the thousands of shows that were played in that club.
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