Jesse Malin launches
live streamed shows
after rocking New
York City for 40 years
BY BOB KRASNER
Jesse Malin has been rocking NYC for
40 years, since his days as the 12-year
old leader of the hardcore punk band
Heart Attack. He moved on to front the
fondly remembered D Generation and then
a solo career that included noted collaborations
with Lucinda Williams, Billie Joe
Armstrong and some guy from New Jersey
named Bruce. Along the way, he became
co-owner of three East Village bars – all
within walking distance of his residence
– Niagara, Lola and Bowery Electric. As
if that’s not enough, he’s also the creative
director at the club Berlin and a music
producer.
Malin described his fi rst solo album,
“The Fine Art of Self Destruction” as being
about “fi nding glory in the wreckage” and
that’s pretty much what he’s managed again
with his series of live streamed shows, created
by necessity to deal with the times.
Forced to close the clubs, cancel a tour
and suffering the loss of a few friends to
COVID, he found himself sitting at home
– a self described workaholic with nothing
to do.
“After just putting out a new album I
was planning a tour, 100 dates, including
the Glastonbury festival, when we got
Jesse Malin performing “The Jean Genie” onstage at Bowery Electric for a
Bowie tribute.
grounded,” he recounts. “We had some
buzz and now I’m sitting in my house,
very depressed. Friends and management
encouraged me to do live streaming from
home,” he continues. ” It didn’t appeal to
me, but I decided to do it as a benefi t for
my band and crew.”
Taking a cue from his past project and
blending it with the current situation, he
titled the live series “The Fine Art of Self
Distancing”, set up his iPhone and gave it
a shot. “I made it into a show and tell,” he
recalls. ” For the fi rst show, I was nervous
as hell. I played songs, suggested movies,
told stories, recommended books and
10,000 people tuned in! We were hitting
places I’ve never been to – Russia, South
Africa, New Zealand,” he marvels.
Eventually, a masked keyboard player set
up in the kitchen while Malin held court in
the living room. As the COVID numbers
got better and testing more available they
moved to Berlin – the basement club at 2A
– and then settled in at Bowery Electric. Local
musicians such as Joseph Arthur, Felice
Rosser and Lenny Kaye did live sets with
the masked musicians while Zoom made it
possible for Debbie Harry, Graham Parker,
DMC (of Run-DMC), Jim Jarmusch, and
HR (from Bad Brains) to participate.
“To me, music is an interactive sport
that can be dismal without an audience,
but we made it work,” explains Malin. “I
have trouble using a DVD player, but I embraced
the medium. Friends donated time,
we added cameras and made it as much like
a concert as possible.”
Malin has come to appreciate, even
embrace the new outlet. “Artists are essential
workers and music is a medicine,
” he states. “This is something we’re going
through globally. Now, if you can’t see
Heather Litteer in a New York club because
PHOTOS BY BOB KRASNER
Jesse Malin inside Bowery Electric.
you’re in France, you can still stream it.”
After doing three or so shows a month
since last April, TFOSD ended the year
with a holiday show that featured original
tunes, guest stars and the Rolling Stones’
LP “Goat’s Head Soup ” performed in its
entirety. This one was a benefi t for the National
Independent Venue Association and
the Bowery Electric ( proceeds from previous
shows have also gone to both). Lower
East Side rocker Jill Fiore was happily part
of this one, performing Malin’s “Brooklyn”
with the band. “Jesse was wonderful that
night. He brought a lot of joy into people’s
lives and I was honored to be a part of it,”
she said. “I felt that I connected with the
audience, even though I couldn’t see them.”
Malin, who will be seen performing his
version of ” The Jean Genie” for a starstudded
Bowie live stream tribute on Jan.
8, is looking forward to streaming a “Best
Of” compilation of his shows on Jan. 14.
Going forward, he plans on having themes
for the upcoming shows, with subjects such
as “The Road”, an endless source of subject
matter.
Malin is frustrated but philosophical,
lamenting the politics and the losses of the
last year but retaining hope and fi nding
that there’s something to look forward
to. “There’s something so special about
live rock and roll,” he muses. “You can’t
recreate a club in your apartment with an
iPhone and a broomstick. When the live
shows happen again, there’s going to be a
lot of hugging and crying.”
Jesse Malin can be followed on Instagram
at @jesse_malin and more info can
be found at jessemalin.com.
Info about the live streams atrollinglivestudios.
com. Find out more about
Save Our Stages (NIVA) atsaveourstages.
com.
Jill Fiore ( left ) harmonizing with Jesse Malin on the holiday special.
10 January 7, 2021 Schneps Media
/jessemalin.com
