"Her pissed charisma, the screaming guitar—and perhaps our leather bank, all hundred tripping freaks who'd made the pilgrimage— silenced further carnage." What an incredible sentence. Love it
Thanks so much for this piece. Last year I saw Ezra Furman in concert in Vancouver and her final encore was a cover of "Because the Night". I've heard plenty of people take on Patti Smith's songs and they almost all feel limp in comparison to the original version. But Ezra shares Patti's uniroinic belief in the power of art to change the world. And Ezra's fans - many of them queer youth living on the margins - had no reason to take it for granted they'd get home from the show safely. In that context, "Because the Night" became prayer and prophecy. A stunning song by a stunning performer in the perfect moment.
On a lighter note, I often like to think that the contrast between Patti's affect offstage vs. onstage informed Emma Thompson's study-in-contrasts portrayal of the prophesying professor Sybill Trelawney in the Harry Potter series.
I swear, Susie, you've had more wild adventures than even I've had, and that's saying something! Plus, you narrate them with such style, such amazing language, such verve!! I'm tickled that we're friends, darlin'. You're quite amazing!
Not as wild as yours, Susie, but the faint line of my connection to Patti Smith is this:
Lou Reed went to Syracuse U. for one year and then dropped out. During that time, he fell under the influence of poet Delmore Schwartz. I came along to Syracuse (better fellowship than yours at the Episcopal basement...I got two flights to the Yucatán plus room and board out of it) the following year. The rest of the Delmore fans and Lou's associates were still there, as was Delmore, a wreck by then, paranoia runs deep, you know, but still as brilliant as he ever was (same as it ever was, same as it ever was). I had a briefest affair with an excellent sculptress who'd been in relationships with both Reed and Schwartz. I became a Delmore aficionado too. Principal among the fans were my friends Peter Locke and Donny Kushner, who later together produced "Divorce Court." (Donny alone was one of the producers of the 2003 "Monster.) Through them I had a nice breakfast with Reed and met Andy Warhol, the grayest person I ever met (and even before Valerie took to carving on him). If memory serves, Lou and Peter and Patti were the only people who saw poor Delmore's remains to their final destination.
"Her pissed charisma, the screaming guitar—and perhaps our leather bank, all hundred tripping freaks who'd made the pilgrimage— silenced further carnage." What an incredible sentence. Love it
What a story!
Wait, what was that part about Ginsberg?
Loved the Valerie Solanas quote; as well as Patti’s leap onto pool table; thanks for writing
Great vignette, great storytelling.
Thanks so much for this piece. Last year I saw Ezra Furman in concert in Vancouver and her final encore was a cover of "Because the Night". I've heard plenty of people take on Patti Smith's songs and they almost all feel limp in comparison to the original version. But Ezra shares Patti's uniroinic belief in the power of art to change the world. And Ezra's fans - many of them queer youth living on the margins - had no reason to take it for granted they'd get home from the show safely. In that context, "Because the Night" became prayer and prophecy. A stunning song by a stunning performer in the perfect moment.
On a lighter note, I often like to think that the contrast between Patti's affect offstage vs. onstage informed Emma Thompson's study-in-contrasts portrayal of the prophesying professor Sybill Trelawney in the Harry Potter series.
As always, a great and thought-provoking read.
Wowwww! A-Mazing!!!!
I swear, Susie, you've had more wild adventures than even I've had, and that's saying something! Plus, you narrate them with such style, such amazing language, such verve!! I'm tickled that we're friends, darlin'. You're quite amazing!
Not as wild as yours, Susie, but the faint line of my connection to Patti Smith is this:
Lou Reed went to Syracuse U. for one year and then dropped out. During that time, he fell under the influence of poet Delmore Schwartz. I came along to Syracuse (better fellowship than yours at the Episcopal basement...I got two flights to the Yucatán plus room and board out of it) the following year. The rest of the Delmore fans and Lou's associates were still there, as was Delmore, a wreck by then, paranoia runs deep, you know, but still as brilliant as he ever was (same as it ever was, same as it ever was). I had a briefest affair with an excellent sculptress who'd been in relationships with both Reed and Schwartz. I became a Delmore aficionado too. Principal among the fans were my friends Peter Locke and Donny Kushner, who later together produced "Divorce Court." (Donny alone was one of the producers of the 2003 "Monster.) Through them I had a nice breakfast with Reed and met Andy Warhol, the grayest person I ever met (and even before Valerie took to carving on him). If memory serves, Lou and Peter and Patti were the only people who saw poor Delmore's remains to their final destination.
I wonder if we’ll ever make art like that again.
Loved it all, especially the jump onto the pool table. And after reading about your experiences, the clip gave it extra resonance.