Forging unforeseen connections between Grouper at the Guggi versus Secret Project Robot, income distribution in NYC and Nipsey Russell

As denizens of Manhattan's Upper East Side, we here at Left of Left of the Dial are painfully aware that nothing valuable happens in these parts outside of the Fifth Ave Museum mafia. Sure, we stumbled across a tribute to Václav Havel at the Consulate General of the Czech Republic at 72nd and 1st on 3/30/12, and were pleasantly surprised to soak in mannered sets from Ivan Kral and some of the Patti Smith band, the Fugs' Ed Sanders, an original member of Plastic People of the Universe with accompanying video from the late 6Tz, David Soldier, Jonathan Kane and assorted poets and essayists. We missed Lou Reed, though. It was free, however, and that rarely happens 'round here! So until the apocalypse drives rents southward, bracingly worthwhile entertainment from live humans on the UES results solely from locals egging Gossip Girl location shoots. 

Okay, okay, enough about me.  There is one other occasional source of good vibes on the UES -  the aforementioned establishments of REALLY EXPENSIVE AND IMPORTANT ART (REAIA). Periodically, REAIA curators steal a peak at their interns' iPods and suddenly, there's a performance series from worthy practitioners of the combustible sonic arts, the likes of whom we here at LOLOTD really dig.  We fondly recall one July 2009 Friday evening at the Whitney, courtesy of Titus Andronicus. While we're not necessarily big fans, we sure felt the heightened tension TA capably wrought when, during the Dan Graham retrospective, throngs of kidz blitzkrieg bopped such a frenzy in the concrete basement (right next to the gift shop, adjacent to the really big glass window) that management became unglued and knew not how to handle it. Surely Dan Graham is some kind of diabolical whiz to've convinced the Whitney to green light that event.  

As for Friday 4/13/12, the Guggenheim, as part of the John Chamberlain: Choices  exhibition, presents presented Julianna Barwick and Grouper. The following week it's Cold Cave and on 5/10/12 Thirwell scrapes foetus with Zola Jesus. Damn if that doesn't rhyme. You never know when the Nipsey Russell in you will strike. Here's some Nipsey from an episode of Match Game '74: 

In this terrible recession

When our businesses will not thrive

Give us our social security now

And we'll work at 65!

Ahem. Anyway, as we were about to share, LOLOTD  is pleased that such worthwhile practitioners of the combustible sonic arts as Julianna Barwick, Liz Harris, et al are being recognized for their idiosyncratic awzumness and that it is indeed happening within the boundaries of the UES. Having said that, damn if $27 plus credit card fees isn't a bit much. Now, should that $ end up in the pockets of these performers, then rejoice.  We contacted the Guggenheim to ascertain the route of the money trail, but unsurprisingly, their response was that it was none of our goddamnfuckin'  bizness. The nurve. So we're conflicted, as usual. On the one hand, we're complaining that nothing ever happens 'round here and then, when it does, we're all excuses. To add insult, the Guggenheim is probably a great setting to bask in this sort of element, what with the audience being all hushed and rerspectful. This would be in stark contrast to the last time we saw Grouper, at the horrible Public Assembly in November 2011 with hundreds of lunks blathering on during her set and dubstep creeping through the walls of the adjacent room. 

So, after all the hand wringing, we say, go see these artists at the Guggenheim!  They deserve the $ to match the marquee. However, we also suggest a ready made alternative for Liz Harris, should you be so inclined.  

It was recently announced that Liz Harris will be one of three dee jays spinning for Secret Project Robot's 4/14/12 BBQ Fundraiser and garden growing thing. SPR is located at 389 Melrose in Bushwick, Brooklyn, which is in New York City, about as demographically far away from the UES as can be imagined. In fact, according to the 2010 census - as probably somewhat misreported at Wikipedia - the Guggenheim's 10128 zip code (along with surrounding zips) is believed to contain the highest concentration of wealth in the world.  In contrast, SPR's 11237 zip is the seventh most impoverished community in NYC, according to the NYC Center for Economic Opportunity's 2010 data. 

If you're going to spend $27 on Liz Harris, then, why not consider doing so at Secret Project Robot? Let SPR's proprietor Rachel Nelson make you a mint mojita, tip her handsomely, and drop some $ at the restaurants around the corner on Irving Ave. Everyone wins! And the Guggenheim?  They'll be fine, trust us.  Did we mention that Mayo Thompson will be performing at the Whitney with the Red Krayola and The Familiar Ugly on 4/13/12 and 4/14/12?

Next episode: We compare the art at 389 Melrose in Bushwick with the art at 389 Melrose in Los Angeles, which may or may not exist.