Shows/1986-02-13

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Links:

• Partial video recording of the show
• "8BC Nights" show program
• "8BC Nights" press release
• The Kitchen flyer; Feb. 1986
• The Villager preview; Feb. 6, 1986
• New York Daily News listing, Feb. 13, 1986
• New York Times listing, Feb. 14, 1986
• New York Magazine listing; Feb. 17, 1986

• Poster • Listing

Setlist: (Incomplete!)

• Nothing's Gonna Change My Clothes
• Put Your Hand Inside The Puppet Head
• Alienation's For The Rich
• Everything Right Is Wrong Again
• Youth Culture Killed My Dog

They Might Be Giants
— with Kęstutis Nakas' "The Amazing Spear of Destiny", Watchface's "Stereotype in Quad" co-headlining —
The Kitchen in New York, NY
February 13, 1986 at 12:00 AM

Fan Recaps and Comments:

This show was part of The Kitchen's "8BC Nights" series, a four-evening event honoring the East Village nightclub and performance space 8BC, which had closed in October 1985. Curated by 8BC founders Cornelius Conboy and Dennis Gattra, the series showcased acts that had been regular performers at the club. The event ran from February 12 to 15 and was hosted by the Alien Comic, with Carlo McCormick serving as DJ. Tickets cost $4 for members and $6 for non-members, and performances began at 9 p.m. They Might Be Giants brought out Frieda to give a special introduction to their set.

The band's performance was partially filmed by an audience member. This footage is the earliest known video recording of the band, and is among the earliest live recordings of them overall. Running just under 12 minutes, it includes clips of five songs as well as introductions by the Alien Comic and Frieda. The original recording is preserved in The Kitchen's videos and records archival collection at the Getty Research Institute. Excerpts from the footage were featured in the 2003 documentary Gigantic (A Tale Of Two Johns).

This show marked the second time the band shared a bill with the performance art group Watchface. According to member Iris Rose, it was at this event that the two groups became friends. They went on to appear together on several bills at Darinka and other venues in the following months.

Description from The Kitchen's "8BC Nights" press release:

From February 12 to 15, The Kitchen will defy the laws of gravity (and the City of New York) by bringing former East Village club owners, Cornelius Conboy and Dennis Gattra and friends uptown. 8BC NIGHTS celebrates the unconventional and spectacular cabaret that was "8BC" from October 1983 to October 1985 when New York City zoning regulations closed it down. Famous for its ambitious production rate, its enormous, raised proscenium stage, and its flamboyant staff, 8BC was dedicated to presenting the work of emerging artists to a demanding downtown audience. The Kitchen is pleased to reunite crew, staff and some of 8BC's favorite artists and audience for four evenings of performances, music, video and film.

Opening the bill each night will be Kestutis Nakas' epic "The Spear of Destiny" a vernacular rendition of the history of the Roman spear that pierced Christ's side. Originally presented in four parts, "Spear of Destiny" has been revised so that audiences can witness the extravaganza in a single night. Nakas' opening piece will be followed each night by a performance event and a band. Performance will include Karen Finley, whose disturbing sketches chronicle contemporary urban life, and Jo Andres of "Liquid TV" fame, who uses aggressive movement and eerie phosphorescent paints to create her mesmerizing rituals. Musicians range from the quintessentially raw downtown sound of LIVE SKULL to "love" band HIS MASTER'S VOICE, headed by painter Keiko Bonk. In addition there will be film, tapes, slides and video including Ethyl Eichelberger's inspired and outrageous "Leer", all overseen by that Master of Ceremonies, the Alien Comic.

Preview from The New York Times, Feb. 14, 1986:

Stage: Spirit of 8 BC Is Evoked at the Kitchen

The Kitchen, the newly relocated performance space now on the far-west reaches of 19th Street, is many things to many people — perhaps too many things. One of its functions seems to be as a showcase for Lower East Side performing arts, although it's way across town from the actual Lower East Side, and why uptowners would find 512 West 19th Street any more accessible than Avenue C is one of life's little mysteries.

Anyhow, the Kitchen is now in the midst of a rather more interesting showcase than most. For two years, from October 1983 to October 1985, a club called 8 BC — so named for its location on Eighth Street between Avenues B and C — was the liveliest center for the sort of post-modernist arts that have flourished recently on the Lower East Side. But last fall the city's zoning regulations caught up with the club, which closed precipitously.

Now, the Kitchen has reassembled most of 8 BC's key figures and is offering four nights of supposedly typical 8 BC fare through tomorrow. Each night begins with a camp-epic drama called The Amazing Spear of Destiny, followed by a different performance artist or dancer and ending with an avant-garde rock band. There is also a master of ceremonies (the Alien Comic), a disk jockey and miscellaneous videos and projections to enhance the club atmosphere.