May, 1974: The first great gig at the CBGB
A final curtain call awaits us all, and Patti Smith was on hand to deliver the final sermon for CBGB, as the doors closed for good on October 15th, 2006.
Lasts are always a tricky thing to truly gauge. I experienced it personally only recently, as Miles Kane took to the stage in Sheffield for the final ever show at the Leadmill. You find yourself enclosed within four walls, four walls that you know have seen more history than most, and try to take in the fact that they won’t grace such history ever again (at least, not under the name “The Leadmill” anyway).
As Kane came on to play his encore, there was a stir in the crowd, almost as if people could sense that the end was nigh and they were desperately clamouring for something that they could hold on to, for an iconic moment to occur, as a bid to truly mark the end of such a legacy. Miles Kane is a great performer, but he’s not a miracle worker, the only thing he could do that night was put on a great show, which he did, and while people seemed to pine for something more, it was a longing which went unanswered.
It was only right that Smith take on the role as the venue’s final performer. She had not only been a regularly attendee at the space and played there too, but she embodied everything that made the venue the sticky-floored Mekkah of musical rebellion in NYC. But while the story ended with Smith, she wasn’t the first chapter in this dank-smelling book.
Considering the fact CBGB is widely associated with punk and experimental music, it’s interesting to learn that when the venue first opened, it was never supposed to house any of those genres. In 1973, when the space was founded by Hilly Kristal, she intended the venue to be a space for country, bluegrass and the blues, hence the initials CBGB. When those styles of music failed to bring in the crowds, Kristal pivoted slightly, and it wasn’t until a year after the space opened and she booked Television to play that she clocked just how much that punk style of music could deliver.
The gig took place on May 5th, 1974. Television were booked to play and they delivered a set which cemented them as musical legends and also helped CBGB fully establish the sound it should be championing. The setlist has been lost in time, given the band were only just finding their feet, but those punters who found themselves in the audience that night likely didn’t realise that they were witnessing history.
The support band also helped CBGB better understand the kind of music it should be showcasing, as they brandished a similar sound that was equally as good to listen to. The band were called Stillettoes, and while you may not be too familiar with that name, you’ll likely know what they changed it to: Blondie. These were also a staple at CBGB, and once again, it all comes down to that fateful night in 1974.
