Episode 4 (Spring 2026)
15:00 - 16:00 Sunday February 15th, 2026
Ayan & Christian
After having focused last week on the 1970s NYC's blossoming NEW WAVE movement, Ayan and I did a little bit of reading up on its sibling-of-sorts, NO WAVE, to present today.
We discussed the influence of New York's Suicide (Alan Vega and Martin Rev) on the later artists that were ultimately given the "No Wave" label. Suicide's style and stage-presence existed in a stark contrast to the Punk and New Wave artists that they performed alongside in venues like CBGB and Max's Kansas City club. Vega and Rev were aggressive and nihilistic – fitting in the poor economic conditions 1970s NYC.
In 1978, many new bands, made up of people who started off as filmmakers, visual artists, but not necessarily musician, were performing at underground venues across the city. Bands such as The Contortions, Teenage Jesus & The Jerks, Mars, DNA, and Theoretical Girls. Brian Eno was in attendance at a music festival featuring some of these acts and more, and he decided to produce a compilation of their music – ultimately given the name "No New York."
It's important not to recognize this scene as a "movement" of sorts. When James Chance (The Contortions) was asked if he 'd consider himself part of a movement, his response was "AARGHH!!! NO!! I DESPISE movements!! I'd never be part of any movement!" [2] This refusal to be associated with any grand narrative / style (New Wave, Punk) was integral to these musicians. Labels came from the outside, not within; and "No Wave" artists were so dead set on ignoring/destroying musical boundaries that it's hard to really fence them in with a single term. Furthermore, the scene didn't actually last all that long in the end. Robert Palmer at the New York Times said that "Naming the movement just about finished it off." [2]
Even still, the influence of these underground NYC artists from the 70s reaches far and wide. Sounds like Industrial, Post-Punk, Post-Rock, DANCE PUNK (to be discussed next week), Noise, and more can point to this moment in time as one to be admired. Personally, I loved reading about the DIY-ness of it all and the eagerness to make sonic art regardless of a lack of musical experience or "talent." Thanks for tuning in!
Playlist
"Ghost Rider" (1977) by Suicide
"Dish It Out" (Live at CBGB's, NYC February 4th, 1978) by James Chance, The Contortions
"The Closet" (Live at CBGB's, NYC November 4th, 1978) by Teenage Jesus & The Jerks
"Tunnel" (1978) by Mars
"Brown Paper Suit" (1978) by Liquid Idiot
"Torso Corso" (1979) by Lizzy Mercier Descloux
"Too Many Creeps" (1980?) by Bush Tetras
Theoretical Girls (Live, 1978)
"Lesson No. 1 for Electric Guitar" (1980) by Glenn Branca
"Do the Wrong Thing" (1981) by Lounge Lizards
"Big Strong Boss" (1983) by Swans