Get Off My Case

November 6, 2006 7:25 AM

The Comateens: One small band's rise to mediumness. (Flash, music) The rock scene in NYC during the 80's was creative, diverse, and chaotic. Artists like Blondie, the Speedies, Klaus Nomi (previously)and Suicide were wowing audiences at Peppermint Lounge, Max's Kansas City, the Ritz, and Hurrah. The Comateens were part of this crowd, and early pioneers of the New Wave sound. Emerging from humble beginnings, they soon found themselves part of the rock and roll machine. This site documents not only the blow-by-blow of their career, but also captures the personalities, vibe and aesthetic of the era.
posted by kimdog (11 comments total)

Disclosure: I am a friend of the band, but wouldn't have posted if I didn't think it best of the web. Yeah, yeah... I know my favorite band sucks.
posted by kimdog at 7:26 AM on November 6, 2006

But you wouldn't have thought it best of the web if you weren't a friend of the band. I know Sid Griffin and used to go to all the Long Ryders shows, and it was a lot of fun and I'm sorry they broke up and I still think Native Sons should have been a huge hit, but I'd never dream of making a MeFi post about them because I know I don't have perspective about them. It's like showing your baby pictures around the office.

That said, I used to have a Comateens album. If I'd known there was going to be a MeFi post about them one day, I might have kept it.
posted by languagehat at 8:09 AM on November 6, 2006

Actually, languagehat, I would love to see a FPP on the Long Ryders. I was a huge fan. What is Mr. Griffin up to these days?
posted by NoMich at 8:33 AM on November 6, 2006

Werd. "Looking for Lewis & Clark" still gets me air-guitarin' after all these years!
posted by black8 at 8:37 AM on November 6, 2006

I know Sid Griffin and used to go to all the Long Ryders shows,

Really? They were great. You're right, they should've been huge.

(I made my Dictators post before meeting Handsome Dick personally, though I had been in his bar before. I guess that makes me half guilty.)
posted by jonmc at 8:44 AM on November 6, 2006

Let me second an interested in a Long Ryders FPP. Fascinating band and they rocked.
posted by Joey Michaels at 8:49 AM on November 6, 2006

Wow, I had no idea there were so many Long Ryders fans in the house! Somebody do a post so we can all stop derailing poor kimdog's (sorry, kimdog!).

What is Mr. Griffin up to these days?

I lost touch with him after he moved to England, but you can read about his recent activities here and of course on his website.
posted by languagehat at 9:03 AM on November 6, 2006

I liked some Comateens but they never really struck me as a major new wave pioneer. Wikipedia does claim they were "one of the first in the world to record solely with a drum machine" and Trouser Press seems to like them, so what do I know? By the way, anyone into 80s New Wave should probably spend time going through what Rubellan's been posting at YouTube. Some great forgotten stuff.

(another Long Ryders lover over here)
posted by mediareport at 9:22 AM on November 6, 2006

IIRC, they had a song called the "The Late Mistake" that had a video that aired on Beavis & Butt-head.

[man lifts up half of sandwich to see note reading "Don't try to follow"]

Beavis: What does that note say?
Butt-head: I think it says this video sucks.
posted by dr_dank at 10:10 AM on November 6, 2006

Is "mediumness" like "mediocrity" or is it more like "half-baked"?
posted by Kirth Gerson at 11:52 AM on November 6, 2006

How could you leave out Mudd Club?

3 Teens Kill 4

Our Daughter's Wedding (Lawnchairs are Everywhere!)

: >
posted by amberglow at 2:17 PM on November 6, 2006