Punk rockers jam at Union Square
BY BOB KRASNER
New Yorkers are used to seeing
just about every kind of
performance in the subway
– break dancers, karaoke singers, accordions,
folk music, jazz trios, violin
virtuosos and some that are, let’s say,
somewhat less talented.
This time of year it’s not unusual
to catch lots of Christmas tunes in
the air, but last Thursday night in
the Union Square subway station the
three bands representing the Brooklyn
label Muddguts Records had no
intention of acknowledging the spirit
of anything but punk rock.
To the delight of their fans, the
amusement of passersby and the consternation
of a didgeridoo player, The
Trash Bags ripped into a song from
their new release, only to be shut
down by the NYPD. Luckily, the upshot
was that they only had to move
to a less obtrusive location which
The Trash Bags L-R: Tito Echevarria, Chuck Bones, Moan Elisa.
was, unfortunately for the didgeridoo
player known as Street Mule, right
next to his spot.
He kept playing, though he was
drowned out by c*mgirl8 and then
PHOTOS BY BOB KRASNER
the Gnarcissists, both also celebrating
new releases. The latter really
revved up the mosh pit, most likely a
new occurrence in the station.
The crowd was filled with fans who
were at the least familiar with each
other because, as Sally Escalante explained,
“in New York people follow
the same bands. We’re all friendly –
it’s a group effort.”
Saara Untracht-Oakner admitted
that “the sound is better in a club,”
but she added that it was “great to see
everybody smiling.”
Chuck Bones, lead singer for The
Trash Bags, had a great time. “It was
sick that we pulled that off!” he told
us later, mentioning the unplanned
“clown who whipped me with his
scarf” as one of the more memorable
moments of their short set.
Moan Elisa, the band’s guitarist,
summed it up briefly: “It was a very
New York City experience.”
More info: muddguts.com.
Trash Bags drummer Lyla Vander having a discussion with the
NYPD, prior to relocation.
The mosh pit.
The Gnarcissists. L-R: Matthew
Orr, Matt Tillwick, Nazar Khamis,
Jerry Peel (not pictured).
c*mgirl8 in action. L-R: Bobbie Hondo, Veronika Vilim, Chase, Lida
Fox.
Muddguts Records owner Mark Cross, seated, surrounded by band
members after the show. The didgeridoo player known as Street
Mule can be seen, still playing, at far right.
14 January 2, 2020 Schneps Media
/muddguts.com
