Tonic (music venue)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Tonic was a music venue located at 107 Norfolk Street, New York City which opened in the Spring of 1998 and closed in April 2007. It was self-described as supporting "avant garde, creative and experimental music" and known for its commitment to musical integrity. A former kosher winery, the small and unassuming building provided a sense of intimacy by setting the performers within arms length of the audience. Tonic was the location of numerous live recordings by a variety of musicians.
Tonic's closing was related to soaring rent on the Lower East Side. The final show on Friday, April 13, 2007 was an evening of improvisation organized by John Zorn and a techno party, the venue's weekly resident, The Bunker, hosted by Bryan Kasenic (DJ Spinoza). The closure the following day was accompanied by a symbolic protest. There were more than 100 protestors. Refusing to leave, two musicians, Marc Ribot and Rebecca Moore, were arrested for trespassing while cheered on by supporters across the street. The Bunker moved the following week to Luna Lounge in Brooklyn which was itself a club recently displaced from the Lower East Side.
Selected recordings
- Medeski Martin & Wood, Electric Tonic, July 4, 1998
- R. Stevie Moore, More Moores Than Smiths – Live at Tonic, September 6, 1998 (DVD)
- Medeski Martin & Wood, Tonic, March 16–20 & 23–26, 1999
- John Zorn and Masada, Masada Live at Tonic 1999, Summer 1999 (DVD)
- Erikm, DJ Olive and Christian Marclay, September 17, 2000 (during the Electroluxe Festival)
- William Parker Clarinet Trio, Bob's Pink Cadillac, August 1, 2001
- John Zorn and Masada, Live at Tonic 2001, 2001
- Wally Shoup, Paul Flaherty, Thurston Moore and Chris Corsano, Live at Tonic, September 14, 2002
- Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Live at Tonic, June 25, 2002
- Fred Frith and John Zorn Duo, July 15, 2003
- Dennis Gonzalez NY Quartet, NY Midnight Suite, August 2003
- Marina Rosenfeld, Toshio Kajiwara and Christian Marclay, August 21, 2003 (Subtonic phOnOmena)
- Milford Graves and John Zorn, September 8, 2003
- Sunny Murray, Perles Noires Volume I, October 10, 2003
- Xiu Xiu, Live at Tonic, March 20, 2004
- Club d'Elf, Live At Tonic, May 26, 2004
- White Out w/ Jim O'Rourke and Thurston Moore, Senso, December 18, 2004
- Christian McBride, Live at Tonic, January 10, 11, 2005
- Wood Brothers, Live at Tonic EP, July 25, 2006
- Marco Benevento, Live at Tonic, November 1, 15, 22, 29, 2006
- John Zorn's 50th Birthday Celebration Series recorded at Tonic
