Tonic (music venue)
Tonic was a music venue located at 107 Norfolk Street, New York City which opened in the Spring of 1998 and closed in April 2007. It was self-described as supporting "avant garde, creative and experimental music " and known for its commitment to musical integrity.[1][2] A former kosher winery, the small and unassuming building provided a sense of intimacy by setting the performers within arms length of the audience.[3] Tonic was the location of numerous live recordings by a variety of musicians.
Tonic's closing was related to soaring rent on the Lower East Side.[4] The final show on Friday, April 13, 2007 was an evening of improvisation organized by John Zorn and a techno party, the venue's weekly resident, The Bunker, hosted by Bryan Kasenic (DJ Spinoza).[1] The closure the following day was accompanied by a symbolic protest. There were more than 100 protestors.[4] Refusing to leave, two musicians, Marc Ribot and Rebecca Moore, were arrested for trespassing while cheered on by supporters across the street.[1] The Bunker moved the following week to Luna Lounge in Brooklyn which was itself a club recently displaced from the Lower East Side.[5]
Selected recordings
- Medeski Martin & Wood, Electric Tonic, July 4, 1998
- R. Stevie Moore, More Moores Than Smiths – Live at Tonic, September 6, 1998 (DVD)
- Medeski Martin & Wood, Tonic, March 16–20 & 23–26, 1999
- John Zorn and Masada, Masada Live at Tonic 1999, Summer 1999 (DVD)
- Erikm, DJ Olive and Christian Marclay, September 17, 2000 (during the Electroluxe Festival)
- William Parker Clarinet Trio, Bob's Pink Cadillac, August 1, 2001
- John Zorn and Masada, Live at Tonic 2001, 2001
- Wally Shoup, Paul Flaherty, Thurston Moore and Chris Corsano, Live at Tonic, September 14, 2002
- Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Live at Tonic, June 25, 2002
- Fred Frith and John Zorn Duo, July 15, 2003
- Dennis Gonzalez NY Quartet, NY Midnight Suite, August 2003
- Marina Rosenfeld, Toshio Kajiwara and Christian Marclay, August 21, 2003 (Subtonic phOnOmena)
- Milford Graves and John Zorn, September 8, 2003
- Sunny Murray, Perles Noires Volume I, October 10, 2003
- Xiu Xiu, Live at Tonic, March 20, 2004
- Club d'Elf, Live At Tonic, May 26, 2004
- White Out w/ Jim O'Rourke and Thurston Moore, Senso, December 18, 2004
- Christian McBride, Live at Tonic, January 10, 11, 2005
- Wood Brothers, Live at Tonic EP, July 25, 2006
- Marco Benevento, Live at Tonic, November 1, 15, 22, 29, 2006
- John Zorn's 50th Birthday Celebration Series recorded at Tonic
References
- ^ a b c Requiem for a Club: Saxophone and Sighs Nate Chinen, The New York Times, April 16, 2007, Retrieved September 29, 2007
- ^ Ben Sisario Avant-Garde Music Loses a Lower Manhattan Home nytimes.com, March 31, 2007
- ^ Federico Cribiore (2000). "Tonic is a special place.". Tonic [CD booklet]. Hollywood: Blue Note.
- ^ a b Lower East Side Is Under a Groove Allen Salkin, The New York Times, June 3, 2007, Retrieved September 29, 2007
- ^ The Listings: April 20 – April 26 April 20, 2007, The New York Times, Retrieved September 29, 2007
External links
- t o n i c – official site
- The Bunker – official site
- Tonic Group Photo Pool at Flickr