small circle

Some Photographs by Joseph Holmes : http://streetnine.com/#/Portfolio/CBGB%20%282006%29/1/ CBGB is one of the most important spaces in contemporary culture. But just in this statement there are problems already, because I assume that there is common understanding about what ‘contemporary’ and ‘culture’ is. This problem I can neutralize. Let’s just say that ‘contemporary’ is whatever happened to the Western world since Rock and Roll; and ‘culture’ is Rock and Roll. Whether you like to listen to other styles of music is beside the point. Because there was nothing and then there was whatever you listen to. And that is Rock and Roll. That settled, the more serious problem is that of distance. The space between wherever we are and wherever this place is. It is now infinitely far away, because CBGB closed down in October 2006 (what happened after this is kind of pointless. Read the Wiki if you’re interested). It represents counter-culture--bands revolted against the very culture th