THE VIBRATORS

with Semi Precious Weapons at Rebel in NYC; September 29, 2007

Steve Godoy		Knox		Pete

The venue was a cool club in midtown Manhattan called Rebel, a much fancier and less odoriforous place than the last place I'd seen The Vibrators play, which was the late, great dive on the Bowery and the birthplace of punk, CBGB. The biggest difference between The Vibrators on that night (September 30, 2006 - just one night short of a year before) and the band on this night was a change in the lineup. The Vibrator's lifelong drummer, Nicky, was absent, but not really missed. Sitting in behind the drums was Steve Godnoy, of Los Angeles band The Last of the Bad Men, and he was a good replacement who fit in really well. On bass was Pete, who has been in the band since his predecessor, Robbie Tart, left in 2003. And on vocals and guitar was, of course, Ian "Knox" Carnochan, who has been there from day one in February 1976 when the band formed. Knox is, apart from being on of the nicest people I know, a talented painter and his portraits of Sid Vicious and Joey Ramone were a huge part of the HUNG and HANGED art exhibits that I curate. It was good seeing him again at Rebel and good seeing The Vibrators play once more cause 31 years on, they still rock. New York glam rock band Semi Precious Weapons opened for The Vibrators and got a great response from the kids up front, some of whom groped and/or made out with members of the band as they played.

Above: Justin Tranter, onstage with Semi Precious Weapons.

Knox		Pete

After the show was over, I went to the afterparty. There was a ridiculously long line to get into the venue where the party was being held, a place called X-Rated, and just as I was about to say fuck it and walk off, B.P. Fallon, who manages Semi Precious Weapons, whisked me past the bouncers and into the party. Thanks, B.P.. The party was fun, I drank a lot, and I saw a few people I know. Snooky of Manic Panic and the Sic F*cks stopped in and the lovely Melody Bleak, who runs things over at Rebel, was there.

At the afterparty: Melody Bleak (third from left) and Justin Tranter from Semi Precious Weapons (on right) and friends.

After the afterparty, I had to catch a 3am train to Baltimore to go visit my parents, who I haven't seen for some time. The next day, my mother and I went to the Batlimore aquarium where I photographed an adorable and most unusual little fish who seemed very happy to model for me, hovering around the front of the tank and seemingly enjoying all the attention it was getting. As far as fish go, they don't get any cuter than this. This, of course, has nothing to do with The Vibrators or punk rock but as this is my website, I can pretty much stick a picture of a fish at the end of the gallery if I want to, dig? That's just one of the many perks of running your own empire. Trump has his millions and I can post pictures of fish if I want to in the music section of my website. Ah, the power!