“Debbie Harry is still a young punk: Dressed in a loose floral dress and Converse sneakers, she pouts a little while waiting for Santogold to put on an elaborate purple leather jacket and lime-green hot pants, then carefully pack up a suitcase’s worth of clothes after her photo shoot. But the classic rock icon and the flashy emcee have more in common than meets the eye: Both make power pop out of the hip sounds of their era, both became famous in their early thirties, and both, they discover, are ambivalent about the way New York’s music scene has changed over the years.”

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what i see little addressing of in the clamor of the election is the issue of anti-intellectualism in the US… a heated topic that is in discussion regularly, here it is on a back burner, back stage area… a lot seems to date to the end of the 19th century and the emergence of communism as part of the worlds political makeup and the association of intellectual ideals with being ‘red’….later the whole ‘nerd’ concept… what needs to be really put forward here? everyone sees it… what perplexes me is that even though the idea of the poet warrior is looked up to when it comes to Samurai films it is not considered a ‘real’ option for life in America… at its most extreme the persecution of the educated has resulted in the excesses of extreme dictatorships like the Khmer Rouge which murdered those of its subjects who had even a simple education… anyone interested just look up ‘anti-inellectualism’ in wikipedia and there you will find long discussions that are outlines of the current ‘positions’ or ‘sides’ of the political arena, the same stupid stances of ‘conservative’ vs. ‘liberal’ the position of the media; Gore portrayed as a boring ‘brain’ who ‘spoke monotonously about theories and numbers no one could understand’, Bill O’Reilly having a hostile attitude towards what he calls the ‘ivy league’ elite etc. etc. the word ‘intellectual’ itself being used as an insult… am i alone in feeling this is a crazy state of affairs… America entered the 20th century embracing the ideals of intelligence; Einstein was a popular figure and his work helped end the second world war, send men into space all of that… is everyone out there really so far gone that they but into all of this… the last few days have seen huge rifts in the economy that are results of the last eight years of government… the same people who picked the current government have picked the people they want to see as the next government, why are we supposed to think that there is going to be a difference

since writing the above the debate and the crash… in the debate we saw Ob address one of the issues i am always on about… the other day for the first time i was actually called by a political poll… ‘what did i see as a central issue…’ well the image of the US in the eyes of the world of course… as i mentioned probably several times on my blog things… once more every time we travel and talk to just average people i see that almost 100% they are confused about the situation in the US; how could we here have let this guy be our leader, twice no less…

so now with the financial crisis i see that Wm. Gibson one of our favorite writers has proved his vision for America to be even more accurate than i might have imagined; we are looking forward to an immediate future that will in all likelihood be owned and operated by a lot of international interests… soon enough we will see the neon signs filled with Chinese characters, the cities filled with the new ‘foreign’ elite who own all that we can no longer maintain… empires come and go… i recently saw it put forth that the ‘swinging London’ of the Beatles sixties was in fact the last gasp of the British isles rather than the beginning of anything… America leads the world in instant gratification, the Chinese as just one example have been able to put it off for years in order to create a future for their next generations… over the last half a year or so maybe more i have seen the word “owned” enter the popular lingo to mean control, influence etc etc… lots of you tube clips titled ‘so and so owned by this or that’… so in a way perfect timing here; who is gonna ‘own’ the US?

finally on a lighter note (maybe) i have seen commentators go on about “things in the US may soon come to resemble conditions the way they were in the seventies”… well you can all imagine how i might feel about that… my new slogan is: “DEPRESSION MEANS HAPPIER ARTISTS”

Debbie Harry has been scheduled to appear at the Public Theater’s celebration of the tenth anniversary of Joe’s Pub in New York. “Roy Nathanson and friends with special guest Debbie Harry” will appear on Oct. 12 at 2:30 PM. Tickets are free, but you must follow the instructions on Joe’s Pub Virtual Line (www.joespub.com) to snag a pair. Requests will be taken until October 5th and you can request tickets to as many shows as you like. On October 6th you can log on and see if your request has been granted. For more information, check www.joespub.com

Debbie Harry, the face of rock/New Wave band, Blondie, is an avid supporter of Rational Animal, an organization whose mission is to increase public awareness about at-risk animals in New York City. She has contributed this fabulous piece of art, donated by Marc Jacobs, for ROCK & RESCUE 2008 auction.

One side blue, the other a fuschia color, the print depicts Debbie Harry and the band name “Blondie.” What’s more, each side is autographed by Debbie herself!

This amazing piece of artwork measures a whopping 71 and 7/8 inches x 48 inches. Click on this link (http://www.charityfolks.com/cfauctions/auction_bid.asp?auctionid=12587&catname=Music&mcid=8749) to bid and for more information.

Debbie Harry is scheduled to perform at the 3rd Annual “Gimme Shelter Rock & Rescue” benefit show in New York City on October 6th, 2008. The event will be hosted by Adam Horovitz (aka Adrock of the Beastie Boys) and Gina Gershon, and will also feature performances by Lissy Trullie, Jesse Malin, Goonsquad, Bloody Social, Earl Greyhound and Adam Green, with DJ sets by Moby and J.D. Samson (of Le Tigre). The event will include an auction with items from Debbie Harry, Beastie Boys, Black Crowes and more! For more information check the Highline Ballroom site at highlineballroom.com and the Gimme Shelter site at rational-animal.org.

Debbie Harry performed in New York City last night at the Fifth Annual “Fashion Rocks” at Radio City Music Hall. She performed “Call Me” as a duet with Fergie. The show was recorded for TV and will air on CBS on Tuesday, September 9th. Check out some great photos at DayLife.com.

me in the dust

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we have returned from the relative safe fantasy of Las Vegas and Burning Man back into the tension, for me anyhow, of the pre election weirdness… i spent the last election, that is i watched the actual event unfold from a hotel room in Lima Peru… Lima is a huge city and a close neighbor of the US… it is all but overcome by poverty; we frequently would see say a seven year old kid holding a two year old to act as a ‘prop’ for his ability to create a pathetic sympathy for his begging efforts… this atmosphere just underscored the surreal nature of the election results happening miles away in the US

The wait is over! Deborah Harry’s new single “Fit Right In” backed with “Heat Of The Moment (Feat. Mecca Dawn)” is now available in the US and ready for immediate download! Check out www.deborahharry.com or go directly to the single on iTunes US and Amazon US!

LEAVING THE 21ST CENTURY
HOWL! FESTIVAL AND THE JACKIE FACTORY PRESENT
HOWLUCINATION ’08: “LOW LIFE CITY”
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7
5-7 PM, FREE ADMISSION
TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK, NYC
mothernyc.com/lowlife
howlfestival.com

CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF BRILLIANT BOWERY PERFORMANCE

On September 7, JACKIE FACTORY producers CHI CHI VALENTI and JOHNNY DYNELL will present their second annual HOWLUCINATION to crown this year’s HOWL! FESTIVAL. HOWLUCINATION is a new spectacle created by the JACKIE FACTORY each year as an evening event for HOWL!. The new LOW LIFE CITY follows on the heels of their first HOWLUCINATION at HOWL! – last year’s scandalous LOW LIFE. LOW LIFE CITY is a two hour theatrical showcasing the East Village – and especially, The Bowery, in a lavishly costumed production starring dozens of downtown’s finest. A time-travelling, bawdy and witty cavalcade of talent, this show is not recommended for children!

This year’s superb cast is now complete – MCs PAUL ALEXANDER (of “The Ones”) and HATTIE HATHAWAY, Bowery Belle DEBBIE HARRY, icon JOEY ARIAS with master puppeteer BASIL TWIST, burlesque supernovas DIRTY MARTINI, MISS DELIRIUM TREMENS and JONNY PORKPIE and NASTY CANASTA of PINCHBOTTOM BURLESQUE, GOON SQUAD featuring MISS GUY, drag divinity SWEETIE, butoh ensemble VANGELINE THEATER, WORLD FAMOUS *BOB*, LOGO song star ADAM JOSEPH as The Irish Tenor, slapstick duo DUELLING BANKHEADS, sister act ACID BETTY and EPIPHANY, sensationalist AMBER RAY, Bay Area artiste FAUXNIQUE, BLACKLIPS eminence POISON EVE, members of THE PIXIE HARLOTS, and New Bowery treasures TRINA ROSE, HEATHER LITTEER aka JESSICA RABBIT DOMINATION and TIGGER!

For pictures from last years edition visit LOW LIFE @ HOWL 2007 on FLICKR HOWLUCINATION ’08: LOW LIFE CITY was inspired by the seminal LUC SANTE book “LOW LIFE: The Lures and Snares of Old New York.” It continues a body of work born at JACKIE 60 a decade ago, with past editions in London, Minneapolis and of course, last year’s HOWL! For the show’s producers, East Village residents for over two decades, this annual show is a Valentine to the neighborhood’s past, present and future stars. Dress Up and join us in the park! Wear NYC demimonde evening glamour (1860-2010), Gangs of New York, Victorian/Edwardian rags, newsboy caps, B’hoy for Butch Women, corsets and vintage lingerie, Bowery Belle ringlets, Opium Den loungewear, Vampyre of Gotham, black parasols, Bowery Twink, velvet, 19th century Clownwear, Top Hats or Bowery Punk.

THE HOWL! FESTIVAL was named in honor of the groundbreaking poem by ALLEN GINSBERG and began in 2002. HOWL celebrates the East Village and Lower East Side’s role as a preeminent locus of culture, with signature events like the group reading of HOWL and ART AROUND THE PARK. Centered in Tompkins Square Park, the festival attracts more than 100,000 visitors bringing to the clubs, galleries, parks, streets, and theaters of Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

Barbara Maier, in association with GOODIE magazine, will present Revolutionary Acts: A Benefit for The Living Theatre Honoring Judith Malina.

Talent set to perform includes Tony-nominated Justin Bond, Debbie Harry, Eisa Davis and Coleman Domingo of Tony-winner Passing Strange, and Nellie McKay, among an impressive list of audacious performers.

Mon., Aug. 25th 7PM
Barbara Maier presents
A BENEFIT FOR THE LIVING THEATRE
Joe’s Pub
425 Lafayette St., NYC
Tickets: $50
($30 standing room)
212-967-7555
Table Reservations (two-drink or $12 food min.) 212-539-8778

Producer Maier says, “In the spirit of Judith Malina and The Living Theatre, I’ve encouraged the performers to contribute provocative works, social and political commentary.” The benefit is meant to provide substantial relief to the iconic The Living Theatre, which is experiencing financial challenges.

More details at www.joespub.com