NO CLUBS, NO CULTURE

Three new Follow the Sound videos and a bit more George Clinton

In walking around Manhattan this summer shooting the Follow the Sound series, I have been struck by how much of the nightlife that made this city a cultural center has been demolished for high rise buildings of dubious design value and that contribute little to the life of the city. Because I am married and old, I haven’t been a nightlife person for quite a while. Which has only magnified by horror at the absence of so many music clubs and dance palaces. Manhattan is still a busy place. Lots of students and workers fill the streets and subways. But there’s no question that rezoning and perks for developers have taken the freaky edge off Gotham City.

Still, I love it here, despite the increasing numbers of mentally ill folks and the income desparity that becomes apparent on a daily basis. So I will continue to document the many “ghost” sites of music here and elsewhere. But always remember when people complain about clubs and the noise and wildness they engender — no clubs, no culture.

People loved the long George Clinton interview so much I’m now posting a shorter bit of it, which is mostly about George’s life as a New Jersey barber. More old school interviews to come. Stay tuned.