I never went to the Mudd Club in the early eighties. But I did go to Danceteria, The Ritz and the Peppermint Lounge.

The most interesting thing about the CBGB closing (other than Trudy and Victor got to go) was simply that it marked the last in a long line of famous clubs closing in NY. I read an article that detailed their rise and fall, and how some of them tried to survive and others couldn't. Sad and interesting.

IMDB

Lost In Translation star Scarlett Johansson has signed a deal to make her first record, Scarlett Sings Tom Waits, according to media reports in the US. The album is being recorded at the moment and sessions will continue through the winter, with a possible release next spring from Rhino Records' currently re-activated Atco label. According to Fox News, the 21-year-old is recording a whole album of songs by premier singer/songwriter Waits. Sources says the eventual release date will be coordinated to coincide with Johansson's movie schedule.

...huh.

Has anyone not mentioned the passing of CBGB? Seems a real shame that it has to go.

Isn't it moving to Vegas? C'mon, it'll be exactly the same, just... more Vegasy.

</sarcasm>

Today on Soundcheck The Sound That Shook Brazil:

Sex, samba and rebellion came together to form Tropicalia, an aggressive modern arts movement born in late-60's Brazil and now being celebrated in an exhibit at the Bronx Museum of Art. Today, a look at Tropicalia's vibrant musical legacy with guitarist and composer Arto Lindsay, and with scholar Christopher Dunn.

Info about the Tropicalia exhibition at the Bronx Museum.

Freddy Fender, R.I.P. He died of lung cancer last weekend. Emusic has a few of his albums, mostly Spanish language stuff from the early sixties. The two big hits, "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" and "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights," are on compilations, but they're all rerecordings.

There's also the Texas Tornados' (Freddy, Doug Sahm & his Sir Douglas cohort Augie Meyers, & accordion whiz Flaco Jimenez) Austin City Limits CD, which features a song called "Mathilda". Know anyone who'd be interested in that? (Yeah, I know it's not the same spelling.) I only listened to the snippet, but I'm pretty sure that's Augie singing. After listening to some other snippets I've added it to my "save for later" list. Excellent versions all. My only real complaint is that my favorite song of theirs, "Guacamole," isn't included. "She reached for my pepper. I grabbed her tomatoes. I knew it wouldn't be very long.... We'd be makin' guacamole all night long!"

Scarlett Sings Tom Waits

Huh. She's got an okay voice. I've heard a few of her recordings. And she's hardly alone in doing an all-Waits album.

I was just watching Scarlett today in The Black Dahlia. Excellent period hair! Plus, as Joe will confirm, nice rack.

Everybody in New York should go see the Tropicalia exhibit! It's the coolest!

It was very good period hair! Actually, great period everything all around.

Speaking of hair, I saw Cáit O'Riordan on a panel review show last night and she seemed to have cut hers with a hammer.