In our afternoon reading: interviews with Myriam Gurba and Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel, new writing from Hanif Abdurraqib, and more.
How Memory Works: Brian Blanchfield and Mark Polanzak Embrace Narrative Fallibility
If I begin this by saying, “If memory serves” or some equivalent, please be aware that I’m turning head-first into the cliché. Because that’s the thing: sometimes, memory has to serve. One of the most breathtaking accounts of a live performance I’ve ever experienced comes from a Lester Bangs essay about seeing Van Morrison in the mid-1970s. It is jaw-droppingly good; so good, in fact, that the event as I imagine it gives me chills whenever I think about it. […]
Afternoon Bites: Lester Bangs Drama, Blake Butler on Shane Jones, Recommended YA, Ivy Compton-Burnett, and More
Discussing the life and work of Stefan Zweig at the NYPL, Kim Gordon and Raymond Pettibon’s upcoming bookstore event, adapting the life of Lester Bangs for the stage, and more.
Michael Musto Vs. LCD Soundsystem: Who Cares?
Apparently Flavorpill does, so they’ve created a list of famous feuds between musicians and music journalists. If you don’t want to read it, here’s the rundown: Musto and James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem aren’t really having a feud. Murphy was being playful. Musto’s own publication interviewed him about it. Lou Reed vs. Lester Bangs: I’ll admit to this being relevant, and I wish more music crits. wrote drug fueled criticism of their hero’s. Courtney Love vs. Lynn Hirschberg: I didn’t […]
Sunday Brunch: The Moog Cookbook
You may associate the Moog with either space age bachelor pad background tunes, taking too much cough medicine and seeing Tangerine Dream (a la Lester Bangs), or maybe you just really like Gershon Kingsley (you probably should). Whatever your preference, brunch today is brought to you by The Moog Cookbook, which you can find in it’s entirety over at Music For Maniacs.