After closing off a successful multi-year run five years ago with the first appearance of The Sonics in NYC, Cavestomp! returned this past weekend to a venue much closer in spirit to where the original Cavestomp! series began over 28 years ago. Rebooted as a multi-day garage music festival in 1997 by promoter and former member of The Vipers, Jon Weiss, the festival aimed to keep alive the songs and attitude that helped create a small but vibrant scene in NYC in the mid-80s. Throughout the years the festival brought old and new bands to the attention of hundreds of eager garage music aficionados. The current series of Cavestomp! shows brings the experience back down to its roots by showcasing the new breed of garage bands while keeping a toe in the water of tradition by also booking a small handful of much older local groups.
This past weekend was a perfect example. Friday’s line up brought up The Electric Mess, Paul Caporino (of M.O.T.O.), Light Bulb Alley, The Bambook Kids and The Mess Around. Saturdays showcased Shaw Nuff (a band of garage music veterans originally formed as a tribute band to the late Greg Shaw of Bomb records) and Chris Such and the Savages (members of the 80s NYC garage band The Headless Horsemen playing under their beat/R&B combo alter ego).
As always, more shots can be found here.
-Jeff
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