January 2-14, 1967
The Steve Paul's Scene, New York, New York
301 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036
Google Maps | Wikipedia
The Steve Paul & Andy Warhol Underground Amateur Hour
Poster: reproduced in Peel Slowly And See booklet (p. 78); in Andy Warhol | 365 Takes (take #43); in The Velvet Underground | An Illustrated History Of A Walk On The Wild Side (p. 73); in The Velvet Underground | New York Art (p. 135); in The Velvet Underground & Nico | 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition 6CD (p. 73).
Ads:
- in The Village Voice, January 5, 1967 (printed twice p. 14 & 15). Reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 93).
Google News Archive - in The Village Voice, January 12, 1967 (p. 28). Reproduced in All Yesterdays' Parties - The Velvet Underground In Print 1966-1971 (advance reading copy only); in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 93).
Google News Archive
Photos: shot on January 7 by Fred McDarrah, available in:
- Q #82, July 1993 (p. 55).
- Life - The Observer Magazine, 3 January 1993 (p. 12).
- MOJO #63, February 1999 (p. 61).
Film (?): in January 5, 1967 issue of Hitweek (Netherlands): "The psychedelic Velvet Underground & Nico will perform during the Canadian World Exhibition in Montreal. Afterward they will go to Europe, but not before Andy Warhol has made a film of their live performance in the New York "Scene Club". Reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 97).
Review: by Richard Goldstein, as part of pop eye in The Village Voice, January 19, 1967 (p. 12 & 30).
Reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 94).
Google News Archive
The show is announced in "Records Ramblings | New York" section of Cash Box, December 31, 1966 (p. 20): "Steve Paul's The Scene has booked the Velvet Underground and Nico. As an added attraction, Andy Warhol will make a film in the Wesr 46th St. nitery at the same time. So if you want to be in the pictures..."
Then briefly mentioned in "Records Ramblings | New York" section of Cash Box, January 14, 1967 (p. 12): "The Velvet Underground and Nico are at the Scene..."
Also The Velvet Underground gig at Steve Paul's The Scene is also briefly mentioned in May 1967 issue of Hullabaloo magazine as such: "The only real waste was the VELVET UNDERGROUND. I can really see no talent in them at all". Reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 138).
Steve Paul: "We played the Velvet Underground and let them do whatever they wanted. They did quite a lot and people who feared not the borders of experimentation, stayed. Most people came to the border and asked for a passport back home."
[in Steve Paul's 'Scene' Goes TV: 2-Hour Metromedia Telecaster in Cash Box, September 2, 1967 (p. 8 & 42)]
January 16-23, 1967
1967 International and Universal Exposition, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
A gig is announced in Records Ramblings | New York section of Cash Box, December 31, 1966 (p. 20): "William Kermit Smith tells us that the Velvet Underground & Nico will work a 1-week gig at Montreal's “EXPO-67,” from Jan. 16th to 23rd. During this stay they will tape an Ed Sullivan TV'er. The group is also scheduled for a 30-day European tour to begin in mid-Mar. This tour is promoted by Giorgio Gomelsky, Robert Wace, and William Kermit Smith."
The performance is also announced in January 5, 1967 issue of Hitweek (Netherlands): "The psychedelic Velvet Underground & Nico will perform during the Canadian World Exhibition in Montreal. Afterward they will go to Europe, but not before Andy Warhol has made a film of their live performance in the New York "Scene Club".
Reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 97).
Lou Reed's appearance at Montréal World Fair is mentioned in International Who's Who Popular Music 2002.
Google Books
February 2-4, 1967
The New Mod-Dom, New York, New York
23 St Mark's Pl, New York, NY 10003
Google Maps
Andy Warhol Presents Nico Singing To The Sounds Of The Velvet Underground
Ad: in The Village Voice, February 2, 1967 (p. 33). Reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 99).
Google News Archive
February 4, 1967
Phi Epsilon Pi Fraternity, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
documented by a December 2, 1966 contract with the American Federation Of Musicians.
February 7-11, 1967
The New Mod-Dom, New York, New York
23 St Mark's Pl, New York, NY 10003
Google Maps
Andy Warhol Presents Nico Singing To The Sounds Of The Velvet Underground
Ad: in The Village Voice, February 9, 1967 (p. 21). Reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 101).
Google News Archive
February 14-18, 1967
The New Mod-Dom, New York, New York
23 St Mark's Pl, New York, NY 10003
Google Maps
Andy Warhol Presents Nico Singing To The Sounds Of The Velvet Underground
Ad: in The Village Voice, February 16, 1967 (p. 29) - same ad as in February 9 issue.
Google News Archive
February 17, 1967
Baxter Hall, Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts
The Ice-Edelic Experience
documented by a group's contract with the American Federation Of Musicians.
Press articles:
- Feb. 17-18 | Warhol, Brubeck, Top Skiers to Highlight Williams College Winter Carnival Events in North Adams Transcript, February 9, 1967.
"In the freshman lounge on the main floor, Warhol will present Nico, female star of his latest underground movie, with a go-go chorus. Playing for dancing will be two bands, the Velvet Underground and the Exploding Plastic Inevitables." - Jazz, Rock, And Soul Ignite Winter Carnival 'Happening'
by Mike Himowitz
in The Williams Record, VOL. LXXXI, NO. 1, February 3, 1967 (p. 1)
archive.org - Muddy Waters Sits In For Butterfield Group
in The Williams Record, VOL. LXXXI, NO. 3, February 10, 1967 (p. 1)
archive.org - Eph Consciousness Expands: '67 Winter Carnival Begins
in The Williams Record, VOL. LXXXI, NO. 5, February 17, 1967 (p. 1)
archive.org - 'A Winter's Blast' | Skiers Set for Start Of Williams Carnival
by Gerry Finn
in Springfield Union, February 17, 1967.
"Then, there are distunctive combinations of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Andy Warhol's unerground movie cast, the Velvet Underground and the Exploding Plastic Inevitables. Sinatra would have take second-billing to such notables."
Review: Students Enjoy Wide Range Of Entertainment | Weekend Termed Successful by Kevan Hartshorn in the The Williams Record student newspaper, VOL. LXXXI, NO. 6, February 22, 1967. Reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 104).
archive.org
February 18, 1967
Filmmakers' Cinematheque, New York, New York
125 W 41st St, New York, NY 10036
Google Maps
NY Relief Fun Glitter Acidheadspeed Ball & Parade
Handbill: 8.5 x 11" program sheet for a mixed media show, writing in butterfly shape. The Velvet Underground (and Angus MacLise) are clearly listed but it's not clear whether the Velvet Underground actually played, or were just on the soundtrack of the films being shown. This psychedelic butterfly themed handbill also lists numerous other participants, including Andy Warhol, Harry Smith, Bobby Neuwirth, DA Pennebaker, Amy Taub and many, many more. Additional live music was provided by the Gato Barbieri Quintet and Larry Coryell's Free Spirits. Reproduced in Pop Goes Art - Andy Warhol & Velvet Underground (p. 9, b&w); in The Velvet Underground - An Illustrated History Of A Walk On The Wild Side (p. 72, b&w); in The Velvet Underground - New York Art (p. 134).
Ads: all (except the New York Times one) reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 100, 101, 109 & 110).
- in The Village Voice, February 9, 1967 (p. 28), same as handbill, no text below however.
Google News Archive - in The Village Voice, February 16, 1967 (p. 26), same as handbill.
Google News Archive - in The New York Times, February 19, 1967 (p. D9).
- in The Village Voice, February 23, 1967 (p. 26), same as handbill.
Google News Archive - in The East Village Other, March 1-15, 1967, same as handbill.
Single sheet Press Release: announcing a series of mixed media events presented at the Filmmakers' Cinematheque, NYC, Feb. 25th-March 2nd, 1967. 28x21.5cm. Prints two separate texts, the first beginning: "The Underground will present a festival of movies, slides, film loops, jazz, rock, et al. The artists, led by Barbara Rubin, plan to topple the current concept of theatre and movie house by placing the musicians in the middle of five screens". Musicians mentioned are The Free Spirits and Gato Barbieri, "plus films by leading underground movie-makers, among them Andy Warhol, Jack Smith, Ed Emshwiller, Jonas Mekas, and Miss Rubin". The second part begins: "..at the Cinematheque..we are having New York's first United Acidheadspeed Relief Fun Ball & Glitter Parade. In the Dental Destruction of the Chairs a Mass Mental Concentration Against Furniture Instigated by their Presence by Angus MacLise & The Velvet Underground with the Contributions of their movies, slides, loops, projectors, & Madness of Harry Smith Andy Warhol..Jonas Mekas..Jack Smith..Piero Heliczer..Gerard Malanga..Shirley Clarke..Pennebaker..Stan Vanderbeek..", ending "& just about anyone else you can think of for 12 days in the mass love contest 'Smother Me'". Reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 103).
March 24-26, 1967
The Gymnasium, New York, New York
424 E 71st St, New York, NY 10021
Google Maps
Ads:
- in The Village Voice, March 23, 1967 (p. 29):
"a new happening discotheque joins the ranks of Harlow's * The Dom * Cheetah * Maxwell's Plum * Friday's | OPENING FRIDAY MARCH 24th | THE GYMNASIUM | Andy Warhol presents THE VELVET UNDERGROUND".
Reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 115).
Google News Archive - in The New York Times, March 24, 1967 (p. 24).
March 31-April 1, 1967
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island
Exploding Plastic Inevitable
Sterling Morrison: "... once when we played the Rhode Island School of Design, where they were very eager for us, we were stiffed - we had no sound. So we did all our songs without the vocals. That upset me a whole. Those people were really fans."
[in Lou Reed & The Velvet Underground by Diana Clapton (p. 28)]
Posters: metallic ink on coloured acetate, 20 x 16" (50.8 x 40.6 cm). "2 shows nightly 7pm 9pm". Reproduced in Andy Warhol - 365 Takes (take #43); in Warhol Live catalogue (p. 152, cat. 70). Alternate green version also exists, reproduced in c/o The Velvet Underground catalogue (p. 3); in The Velvet Underground - An Illustrated History Of A Walk On The Wild Side (p. 74); in The Velvet Underground - New York Art (p. 188). Also in blue and red color, reproduced in The Velvet Underground - New York Art (p. 188 & 189).
Ticket: 3 7/8 x 2 1/2 inch.
Audio: "There is a tape of the Velvets playing at the RI School of Design in 1967. I have heard it, though that was approximately 30 years ago. The owner of the tape used to tape concerts that were held in the Providence are. It was on a 7" tape reel. I remember the tape well, it was from the White Light/White Heat period and was very clear with a great Sister Ray" [by bobbldr in The Velvet Forum, 2008]. Current status: uncirculated.
Photos:
- Bill Carner: in Up-tight - The Velvet Underground Story (p. 68, 70-71); in Pop Goes Art - Andy Warhol & Velvet Underground (p. 15); in The Velvet Underground - An Illustrated History Of A Walk On The Wild Side (p. 74, 75).
- Ron Spencer: in Up-tight - The Velvet Underground Story (p. 67, 69, 72); in White Light/White Heat - The Velvet Underground Day-By-Day (p. 138, 140-141).
Press article: BP Interviews Warhol in Blockprint (Rhode Island School of Design, Providence), Vol. 6, No. 21, April 10, 1967. Interview during Warhol's visit with the Velvets; issue includes photospread of the EPI and the Velvets. Reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 124-128).
TV: EPI at RISD on WJAR-TV, Rhode Island and Bristol County, Massachusetts, April 1, 1967.
John Cale: "We needed someone like Andy. He was a genius for getting publicity. Once we were in Providence to play at the Rhode Island School of Design and they sent a TV newsman to talk to us. Andy did the interview lying on the ground with his head propped up on one arm. There were some studded balls with lights shining on them and when the interviewer asked him why he was on the ground, Andy said, "So I can see the stars better." The interview ended with the TV guy lying flat on his back saying, "Yeah, I see what you mean"."
[in Shards of Velvet Afloat in London by Robert Greenfield in Rolling Stone magazine, February 18, 1971]
March 31 & April 2, 1967
The Gymnasium, New York, New York
424 E 71st St, New York, NY 10021
Google Maps
March 31 & April 1 dates overlap with the engagement at the Rhode Island School of Design.
Ads:
- in The Village Voice, March 30, 1967 (p. 39).
Reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 116).
Google News Archive - in The New York Times, March 31, 1967 (p. 32).
April 7-9, 1967
The Gymnasium, New York, New York
424 E 71st St, New York, NY 10021
Google Maps
Ads:
- in The Village Voice, April 6, 1967 (p. 37):
"NEW YORK's NEWEST HAPPENING DISCOTHEQUE - EVERY FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY FROM 9PM ON - THE GYMNASIUM - Andy Warhol presents The Complete Spectrum of Sound with the Velvet Underground, the Dick Hyman Trio & Tony Scott, 'one of the world's greatest Clarinetists'". Reproduced in Dispatches From The Dream Factory booklet (p. 14), in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 119).
Google News Archive - in The New York Times, April 7, 1967 (p. 28).
April 9, 1967
Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
1100 Baits Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Google Maps
A Night Of Andy Warhol
This date is documented by a letter from Paul Morrissey to Rick Aiere, reproduced in c/o The Velvet Underground catalogue (p. 16); in The Velvet Underground - New York Art (p. 190).
Ads: 5 different ads in Michigan Daily issues of April 1967 - two shows at 6:30 and 9:30. All reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 120 & 123).
Flyer: 11 x 8½ inc. Reproduced in The Velvet Underground - New York Art (p. 191).
Press articles:
- Warhol's Drugtime Phase Brings Exploding Plastic Inevitable
by Andrew Lugg in Michigan Daily, April 8, 1967 (preview). - Warhol Experiments: Invitation to Critical Analysis
in Michigan Daily, April 11, 1967 (2 reviews by Andrew Lugg and Larry Kasdan, and a photo titled "Gerard Malanga does a flag dance with the Velvet Underground")
reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 136). - Andy Warhol at the Plastic Quadrangle
by David Freedman in The Paper (East Lansing MI), April 18, 1967
reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 130).
Photos: 2 black and white photos in University of Michigan yearbook.
[Special thanks to Frank Uhle]
April 11, 1967
Cheetah, New York, New York
Broadway & W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019
Google Maps
An Imperial Happening
For this event at the Cheetah nightclub in midtown Manhattan, Andy Warhol and the Velvet Underground & Nico were booked with Tiny Tim for a benefit for radio station WBAI. Titled "An Imperial Happening", the event allegedly celebrated "the coronation of his Serene Highness, Prince Robert, first American Emperor of the Eastern Byzantine Roman Empire".
Handbills: one on white stock which lists the performers and one on pink stock which does not. 8.5 x 11".
Photos: by Billy Name. One available in Songs For Drella special edition CD, miscredited to Cafe Bizarre, November 1965.
April 11, 1967
Architecture School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
The Exploding Plastic Inevitable
Mentioned in Uptight - The Velvet Underground Story (p. 69) : "April 11th they returned to the scene of their first real triumph, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where they played for the Architecture School. At a party after the show a young man called Jim Osterberg a/k/a Iggy Pop, caught his first glimpse of The Velvets, Andy and Nico who was playing with them again."
It's 99.99% certain that this was an error in Uptight - The Velvet Underground Story. The show at the Architecture School was in '66 (March 12) - the writer probably got both the dates and locations confused. Frank Uhle looked at the microfilm of each day's University of Michigan college newspaper and they advertised the March 12 '66 and April 9 '67 shows heavily, and there would have been for sure an ad for an April 11 show if there was one.
April 13, 1967
The Gymnasium, New York, New York
424 E 71st St, New York, NY 10021
Google Maps
Invitation: reproduced in The Velvet Underground - New York Art (p. 193); in White Light/White Heat | 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition (p. 18-19).
April 14-16, 21-23 & 28-30, 1967
The Gymnasium, New York, New York
424 E 71st St, New York, NY 10021
Google Maps
The Exploding Plastic Inevitable
Ads:
- in The Village Voice, April 13 (p. 41) & April 20, 1967 (p. 21) issues.
Reproduced in All Yesterdays' Parties - The Velvet Underground In Print 1966-1971 book (advance copy only); in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 129 & 131).
Google News Archive 1 & 2 - in The New York Times, April 20, 1967 (p. 40).
- in The New York Times, April 27, 1967 (p. 40).
- in New York Guide To The Swinging Side Of Single New York, vol. 1, issue 18 (p. 3). For April 30 date, "A NEW HAPPENING DISCOTHEQUE JOINS THE SWINGING SIDE OF SINGLE NEW YORK".
Reproduced in c/o The Velvet Underground catalogue (p. 66); in The Velvet Underground - An Illustrated History Of A Walk On The Wild Side (p. 76); in The Velvet Underground - New York Art (p. 193); in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 134); in White Light/White Heat | 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition (p. 21). - in The Village Voice, April 27, 1967 (p. 19). Reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 133).
Google News Archive
Photos:
- uncredited photographer in Esquire, December 1967 (see below): 2 photos - one with part of the audience, the other one with dancers and Lou Reed & Sterling Morrison on stage in the background.
- by Billy Name: in Warhol Live catalogue (p. 155, cat. 433); in The Velvet Underground - An Illustrated History Of A Walk On The Wild Side (p. 6-7).
Press articles:
- Scenes
by Howard Smith, in The Village Voice, May 11, 1967 (p. 11)
reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 137).
Google News Archive - The Party's Over
by Gay Talese, in Esquire, Volume LXVIII No. 6 Whole No. 409, December 1967 (p. 168-172)
reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 210-211).
The Gymnasium soundboard tape(s):
First track to surface from the Gymnasium tape(s) was Guess I'm Falling In Love (supposedly listed as Fever In My Pocket on the original tape box), broadcasted on WPIX FM by John Cale on June 3, 1979. After playing this version he clearly states that it is from a tape he stumbled across. He definitely says "Gymnasium, April 1967". Cale also said in some interviews he owns the tape of the entire Gymnasium show, including Walk It As You Talk It with a really good guitar sound.
- Guess I'm Falling In Love [version 1] (4:09)
Sources: And So On LP, Everything You've Ever Heard... 3LP, Collector's Dream CD, The Psychopath's Rolling Stones CD, A True Rock 'n Roller CD, Ultra Rare Trax Vol.3 CD, Caught Between The Twisted Stars 4CD, April Sounds CD.
Two others tracks surfaced in the 90s - Booker T. orginally appeared on the John Cale Paris S'Eveille CDEP in 1991 and was reissued (unfortunately with 8 seconds amputed at the beginning) on the Peel Slowly And See box set, along with an alternate version of Guess I'm Falling In Love. This version sounds clearly different as compared with the WPIX version and has some lyrics differences (the box set version begins with "I got fever..." while the 'old' version begins with "I got MY fever..."). The '45th Anniversary' version has a few seconds more of Booker T. at the beginning.
- Guess I'm Falling In Love [version 2] (4:10)
- Booker T. (6:38)
Sources: Paris S'Eveille CDEP (2), Peel Slowly And See 5CD (1, 2), A True Rock 'n Roller CD (2), April Sounds CD (1), Psychedelic Sounds From The Gymnasium CD (1, 2), White Light/White Heat | 45th Anniversary Deluxe Edition 2CD (1, 2), White Light/White Heat | 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition 3CD (1, 2).
More material from the Gymnasium recordings is issued in February 2008 on the bootleg LP Live At The Gymnasium. According to a source claiming to have a DAT copy of the original tape, it has an additional instrumental version of The Gift after Sister Ray - this will be confirmed when the complete tape is officially released as part of the '45th Anniversary Deluxe Edition' of White Light/White Heat in December 2013 (see below). According to Psychedelic Sounds From The Gymnasium liner notes, the reel-to-reel tape was recorded on the final night - Sunday April 30th.
- I'm Not A Young Man Anymore (7:17)
- Guess I'm Falling In Love [same as version 2] (4:18)
- I'm Waiting For The Man (5:24)
- Run Run Run (6:55)
- Sister Ray (18:55)
Source: Live At The Gymnasium LP (1-5), Dispatches From The Dream Factory 3CD Disc 2 (1, 3-5), Psychedelic Sounds From The Gymnasium CD & LP (1-5).
The complete tape is finally officially released in December 2013, as part of the 45th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of White Light/White Heat.
- Booker T. (6:46)
- I'm Not A Young Man Anymore (6:17)
- Guess I'm Falling In Love [same as version 2] (4:10)
- I'm Waiting For The Man (5:28)
- Run Run Run (6:58)
- Sister Ray (19:03)
- The Gift (10:25)
Sources: White Light/White Heat | 45th Anniversary Deluxe Edition 2CD (1-7), White Light/White Heat | 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition 3CD (1-7).
April 1967
Marwick Theater (?), Ann Arbor, Michigan
Tape: listed in What Goes On fanzine The Best of 1 & 2, 30 mins (incomplete), C+.
May 1967
Steve Paul's Scene, New York, New York
301 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036
Google Maps
Exploding Plastic Inevitable (last one)
Cutrone: The last time we played as The E.P.I. (without Nico, who had returned to Ibiza) was in May 1967 at the Steve Paul's Scene (...)
[in Uptight - The Velvet Underground Story (p. 78)]
May 26-27, 1967
The Boston Tea Party, Boston, Massachusetts
53 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116
Google Maps | Wikipedia
With: Ferris Wheel.
Last show with Nico.
Flyers: two different. Some copies of the first flyer have even Nico's name crossed out. The second flyer - 11 x 8.5" - seems to have been printed after she was out. Artist is D. Arthur Hahn for the first flyer and unknown for the other. Both flyers are repoduced in c/o The Velvet Underground catalogue (p. 60 & 79); in The Velvet Underground - An Illustrated History Of A Walk On The Wild Side (p. 76); in The Velvet Underground - New York Art (p. 194-7); in White Light/White Heat | 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition (p. 22-23).
Ads: in Voo Doo, JUNE 1967, VOL. 50, NO. 8 (p. 3), same ad in Voo Doo, September 1967, VOL. 50 NO. 9 (p. 17).
Audio: a BTP May '67 tape is listed in What Goes On fanzine Best of 1&2, 50 mins, B. It could come from these shows. Status: uncirculated.
Photo: by Billy Name. One available in The Velvet Underground | An Illustrated History Of A Walk On The Wild Side (p. 112-113).
Setlists: there is a sheet of paper from May 26-27, 1967 on which the band wrote a setlist for two shows. This sheet was part of the Andy Warhol Museum exhibition 'All Tomorrow's Parties: Remembering The Velvet Underground'. See also Peel Slowly And See box booklet (p. 56-57).
Show 1:
Run Run -- 10
Venus -- 5
White Heat -- 5
Venus -- 10
I heard etc. -- 5
Walk & talk
Searchin -- 15
Show 2:
Run Run -- 10
Venus -- 5
Waiting for the Man -- 5
Black Angel -- 5
Here She Comes Now (crossed out) -- 5
Heroin -- 10
Searchin' -- 20
______________
|Walk & talk |
|-------------
| |XXX| | I Heard Heard
|-------------
| White Heat |
--------------
Andrew Russ says in his review of the exhibition: "The numbers are approximate times. Venus twice in set 1 may be a mistake (or I wrote it down wrong). Searchin' is of course Sister Ray. I Heard Heard is probably I Heard Her Call My Name. The real surprise is Walk & Talk - did that song exist in 1967? Also somewhat funny is the placard next to the paper, which in that dry art museum formalism notes that this is work is executed in 'graphite on paper'."
Steve Nelson: "My personal favorite was The Velvet Underground. The Tea Party was essentially their home club from ‘67 to ’70, a period when they did not play in New York. People came up from the City to see the Velvets, and on stage at the Tea Party Lou Reed called it their favorite place to play."
[Berkshire Fine Arts | Steve Nelson on The Boston Tea Party | Reelin' and Rockin' (Part 1) by Steve Nelson and Charles Giuliano, Jan. 24, 2011]
Steve Nelson: "The big turning point for the club was the weekend of May 26 and 27, when The Velvet Underground first played there. This was really their first gig without Warhol and the Exploding Plastic Inevitable multimedia freak show that usually accompanied them. Nico was still supposed to be playing with the group, but when she showed up late the first night at the very end of the gig, Lou Reed wouldn't let her on stage.
That really marked the beginning of the Velvets career, if I can call it that, as a four-piece touring rock band, touring when they could get dates that is, and the start of their close relationship with the Tea Party. If you look at the back cover of their White Light / White Heat LP, there's a shot of the band sitting on the front steps of the club, with the letters "ARTY" from the Tea Party sign in the upper right hand corner of the photo. An appropriate comment by the photographer!
The May gig was a special one for me too, because I was turning 26, which meant I was no longer a candidate for the draft, this being the height of the Vietnam War. So to celebrate I went to the Tea Party to see the Velvets, whom I had first seen play a year earlier at a party for the Paris Review which George Plimpton threw at the Village Gate in New York. "
[Berkshire Fine Arts | Steve Nelson Music Museum Of New England | Two: Ray Riepen and The Boston Tea Party by Steve Nelson and Charles Giuliano, Feb. 5, 2011]
June 3, 1967
Philip Johnson Glass House, New Canaan, Connecticut
798 Ponus Ridge, New Canaan, CT 06840
Google Maps
Benefit for Merce Cunningham
Announcements:
- Glass House Will Be Scene Of Avant-Garde Benefit Party
in The Bridgeport Post, May 10, 1967
reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 137). - Avant-Garde Evening Planned Here
in Suburban News - New Canaan in The Norwalk Hour, May 12, 1967 (p. 30)
reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 146).
Google News Archive - Light Across The River
by Grace Glueck in The New York Times, May 26, 1967
reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 147). - Collage
in The New York Times, May 28, 1967 (p. 84). - Cunningham Dancers Will Gain on Saturday
in The New York Times, May 30, 1967.
Reviews:
- ... And Tons of Ostrich Feathers | Collage
by Grace Glueck, in The New York Times, June 11, 1967
reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 150). - Party scored for Cunningham, Cage, and Velvet Underground
in Vogue, August 1, 1967 (p. 40-41).
Photos: Stephen Shore, in Up-tight - The Velvet Underground Story (p. 82); in Feed-Back - The velvet Underground: legend, truth (p. 35).
Film: there is an obscure little film, 498 3rd Ave by Klaus Wildenhahn, which documents the John Cage/Merce Cunningham dance piece performed during this benefit. The soundtrack includes live versions of Venus In Furs and Waiting For The Man (both cut and overdubbed by Merce Cunningham talking about his dance troup) which were apparently performed by the band off camera during the filming.
Audio: film soundtrack, 3 mins, B.
- Waiting For The Man [cut] (1:20)
- Venus In Furs [cut] (1:00).
There's also another benefit for Merce Cunningham at the Brooklyn Academy of Music of New York [see: May 15, 1968] mentionned in Fusion magazine, March 6, 1970, near the end of the Robert Greenfield article:
"The chronology resumes.
The Velvets as society's darlings. Two benefits for Merce Cunningham, one at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music, one run by Mrs William Paley, known as "Babe" to her friends. A party for the fun couple Stavros Niarchos and Ann Ford..."
A Velvet Underground appearance at the BAM is also mentioned in the same issue at the end of the interview with Sterling Morrison.
June 9-10, 1967
The Boston Tea Party, Boston, Massachusetts
53 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116
Google Maps | Wikipedia
With: Beacon Street Union.
Poster: lithograph on paper, 11 x 8½" (27.9 x 21.6 cm). Artist is D. Arthur Hahn. Reproduced in c/o The Velvet Underground catalogue (p. 61); in Warhol Live catalogue (p.152, cat. 71); in The Velvet Underground - An Illustrated History Of A Walk On The Wild Side (p. 76); in The Velvet Underground - New York Art (p. 199).
Ad: in The Avatar, Vol.1, No. 1, June 9-22, 1967. Reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 149).
June 27-July 2, 1967
La Cave, Cleveland, Ohio
10615 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106
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Ads:
- in The Plain Dealer, June 16, 1967 (p. 16).
- in The Plain Dealer, June 23, 1967 (p. 18).
- in The Plain Dealer, June 30, 1967 (p. 11).
Press article: the Velvet Underground shows are mentioned in Things are swinging at Swingos' Keg and Quarter... in The Plain Dealer, June 30, 1967 (p. 14).
"The Velvet Underground & Nico are La Cave Cafe's current performers who specialize in weird way-out psychedelic music."
July 3-6, 1967
The A-Go-Go, West Yarmouth, Massachusetts
Higgins Crowell Rd, West Yarmouth, MA 02673
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A Happening Starring Andy Warhol's Velvet Underground
With: The Ones.
Posters:
- One reproduced in Peel Slowly And See booklet (p. 77).
- Another one, 11 x 8½ inch, printed on light stock. Artist: Bob Grande.
Handbill: artwork copied from Wes Wilson's Fillmore handbill.
July 14, 1967
VIP Club, Phoenix, Arizona
Review: Teen Clubs In Nationally, Out Locally by Jane Sims, in Arizona Republic, July 15, 1967.
July 19-22 & 26-29, 1967
The Trauma, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2121 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
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With: The Muffins, Beacon Street Union, The Wildflowers.
Handbill: by Karen Fritz, printed on textured paper, 8 x 6¼ inches.
Reproduced in Art Of Rock (plate 3.164, p. 305); in Pop Goes Art exhibition box; in Peel Slowly And See booklet (p. 78); in c/o The Velvet Underground catalogue (p. 68); in The Velvet Underground | An Illustrated History Of A Walk On The Wild Side (p. 79); in The Velvet Underground | New York Art (p. 203).
Ads:
- in The Drexel Triangle (student newspaper at Drexel University in Philadelphia), Volume XLIV, Number 18, July 14, 1967 (p. 2).
Drexel University Libraries | Archives & Special Collections - in Philadelphia Enquirer, July 20 & 27, 1967. Reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 154).
Photo: by Billy Name, available in Warhol Live catalogue (p. 22, fig. 4, cat. 434); in The Velvet Underground - An Illustrated History Of A Walk On The Wild Side (p. 79, 91); in The Velvet Underground - New York Art (p. 203); in The Velvet Underground & Nico | 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition 6CD (p. 78).
Review: My Encounter With The Velvet Underground on Great Spirits | Celebrating Life-Changing Music, October 31, 2011.
August 11-12, 1967
The Boston Tea Party, Boston, Massachusetts
53 Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02116
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Be part of what's Happening
Flyer: "Be part of what's Happening. Andy Warhol Underground Filmmaker comes to the Boston Tea Party this weekend to capture the people on films they explode to the sights and sounds of The Velvet Underground. You are the star. You are what's Happening. Be part of Boston's first authentic underground movie". Art: F. Murphy. Reproduced in c/o The Velvet Underground catalogue (p. 53); in The Velvet Underground - New York Art (p. 202).
Poster: 17½ x 14 inch. The poster is silk-screened blue & red on yellowish cardboard. © LIGHTSHIP PROD 67, Dolphin Design. Reproduced in White Light/White Heat | 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition (p. 14).
Handbill: same design as the poster but it is red monochrome and there is no date of the venue mentioned.
Film: The Velvet Underground In Boston by Andy Warhol, color, sound, 16 mm, 34 minutes. Andy Warhol Museum film preserved through the Avant-Garde Masters Grants (2008). Andy Warhol filmed this weekend in Boston. According to The Andy Warhol Museum, there are some film canisters labled Boston Tea Party but the film has not been seen.
Audio: The Velvet Underground In Boston film soundtrack, 34 minutes.
- I'm Waiting For The Man
- Guess I'm Falling In Love
- Run Run Run
- Heroin
- Walk & Talk (?)
- I Heard Her Call My Name
- Venus In Furs
- Sister Ray
Ad: in The Avatar, Vol. 1 No. 5, August 14-17, 1967. Reproduced in Velvet Underground - An Illustrated Story of a Walk on the Wild Side (p. 112); in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 159).
August 24, 1967
The Boston Tea Party, Boston, Massachusetts
Tape: listed in What Goes On fanzine Best of 1&2 issue, 60 mins, B-.
Steve Nelson: "I think the 8/24/67 Tea Party date on the tape listed in WGO 1+2 is not correct. The tape referred to must have been mislabeled from the 8/11-12 gig. At that time the Tea Party was only open on Friday and Saturday nights, and the 24th was a Thursday. I remember the weekend of 8/25-26 vividly -- it was my very first weekend as manager of The Tea Party!"
There is a poster (reproduced in The Velvet Underground | New York Art book, p. 202) for concerts of the Velvet underground from 24 to 26 August 1967, with Hallucinations as support band, but it is most likely a fake. Indeed, there are several things wrong. First of all, at that time the Boston Tea Party was only open on Friday and Saturday nights, as confirmed by Steve Nelson. Also, in his book Gettin' Home he tells about his first weekend as manager of the Boston Tea Party and reports the presence of Country Joe & The Fish as headliners. In addition to the impossible dates, Berkeley Street is misspelled with a missing “e” as “Berkley Street,” and there’s no information about show times, price of tickets and where to buy them.
September 22-24, 1967
Savoy Theatre, Boston, Massachusetts
163 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02135
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Boston's biggest entertainment buy of the season / 4 performances / 3 days only!
Ad: in Sunday Herald Traveller, September 17, 1967. Reproduced in What Goes On fanzine No. 3, in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 174).
Announcements:
- in Boston Herald, September 22, 1967: "Tickets Available For 'Happening' | Tickets for the Savoy Theater's "total environment" entertainment package of the Velvet Underground rock group, backed by the visual effects of Great Eastern Lights and the film "The Happening," remain available for this weekend. The stage-and-film show will be presented at the Savoy Friday and Saturday nights at 8:30 and twice on Sunday at 3 and 7. tickets will remain on sale at the box effice until just prior to each performance."
- in Boston Herald, September 23, 1967: "SAVOY—On the Screen, "The Happening" 9:30, 11:10, 12:50, 2:30, 4:30, 6:25, 9:50. On the Stage: "The Velvet Underground" and "Great Eastern Psychedelic Light Show," Friday and Saturday evenings: one performance at 8:30 p.m. Sunday matinee at 3:00 p.m., evening at 7:00 p.m."
- in Boston Herald, September 24, 1967: "SAVOY—"The Happening" 1:15, 4:45, 8:20, 10:00. On the Stage: The Velvet Underground and Great Eastern Psychedelic Light Show. Sunday matinee 3:00, eve 7:00"
Press articles:
- Movie uses Underground
by Jack Donohue, in The Tech, September 15, 1967 (p. 9-10)
reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 173).
http://www-tech.mit.edu/archives/VOL_087/TECH_V087_S0296_P009.pdf
http://www-tech.mit.edu/archives/VOL_087/TECH_V087_S0297_P010.pdf - Boom, Boom, Boom Bores
by George MacKinnon, in Boston Globe, September 20, 1967
reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 174). - VU: a non linear road to conversion
by David DeTurk, in Boston After Dark, September 20, 1967 (p. 3)
reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 175). - Velvet Underground Do A Psychedelic Sound
in The Students Times, September 21, 1967
reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 176). - Live Happening Sparks 'The Happening'
in Boston Record American, September 22, 1967. - 'Underground' Hurls Electronic Bedlam
by Samuel Hirsch, in Boston Heral Traveler, September 22, 1967 - 'Happening' Keeps Its Cool Despite Stage Distractions
by Mary X. Sullivan, in Boston Record American, September 23, 1967.
October 21, 1967
Madison Art Center, Madison, Wisconsin
Actually not a Velvet Underground gig but Ron Nameth's Exploding Plastic Inevitable movie screening.
Poster: 17 x 11 inch. "This project is jointly supported by a grant from the WISCONSIN ARTS COUNCIL and the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, D.C., a federal agency created by Act of Congress in 1965 | "WARHOL'S EXPLODING PLASTIC INEVITABLE" by Ron Nameth | Jonas Mekas "Award Presentation to Andy Warhol" | Ron Rice "Chumlum" | James Broughton "Mothers Day" | The Madison Art Center | SAR., OCT. 21 | 720 E. Gorham | 7 & 9 p.m."
November 5-12, 1967
Aardvark, Chicago, Illinois
Actually not a Velvet Underground gig but Ron Nameth's Exploding Plastic Inevitable movie screening.
Ad: in The Chicago Seed, November 3-24, 1967, reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 186).
November 13, 1967
Lincoln Center, New York, New York
Channel 13 fifth birthday special
mentioned in Notes From The Underground by Susan Pile in Barnard Bulletin, November 29, 1967 (p. 5): "The public appearances of the Velvets are limited (they recently appeared at Lincoln Center for ten minutes)". Reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 191).
Digital Archives of the Barnard Bulletin
Review: Eye | Channel 13 Special in Women's Wear Daily, November 14, 1967. Reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 186).
Program: The Velvet Underground performs the 'intervals' at a fundraising benefit for the WNET Channel 13.
November 24, 1967
Peppermint Cave, Omaha, Nebraska
Ad: in Omaha World Herald, November 24, 1967: "PEPPERMINT | CAVE | 16th and Howard | Under Hill Hotel | PRESENTING: Friday, November 24th | THE VELVET | UNDERGROUND | Admission $1.25".
December 20, 1967
The Cinematheque Coffeehouse, San Francisco, California
Actually not a Velvet Underground gig but Ron Nameth's Exploding Plastic Inevitable movie screening, as stated in the Los Angeles Times article. There were possibly several screenings between December 1967 and January 1968.
Ads: for Andy Warhol's "EPI" with The Velvet Underground.
- in The San Francisco Oracle, issue 11, December 1967, 3 x 5½ inch.
- in Synapse (University of California, San Francisco student newspaper), Volume XII, Number 3, January 19, 1968.
Press article: 2 Experimental Films at Cinematheque 16 by Kevin Thomas in Los Angeles Times, December 29, 1967: "Peter Rowe and John Hofsess' "The Palace of Pleasure" and Ronald Nameth's "Andy Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable With the Velvet Underground," the current program at the Cinematheque...".
Late 1967
The Mad Hatter, New York, New York
21 7th Avenue South, New York, NY 10011
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The Nude Restaurant was shot by Andy Warhol at the Mad Hatter restaurant in October 1967.
Two ads (from unknown source, dated November and December 1967) mention The Velvet Underground among some other people. No evidence of actual Velvet Underground show however. Both ads reproduced in The Inevitable World of The Velvet Underground (p. 215 & 216).
Special thanks: Gordon Lyon & Aral Sezen. Thanks: Steven Beck for the Boston Tea Party flyer scans, Ondrej Klepsa for the Gymnasium ad, Steve Nelson for his Boston Tea Party recollections, Frank Uhle for Ann Arbor material, Chris Van Tuyll for Boston Tea Party August handbill, Mark Sturdy, Marc Skobac, Nick Blakey, Alfredo Garcia, Tom Z, Daniel Abraham, Ron Fritts, Alex Locchi.
by Olivier Landemaine
last modified: August 27, 2022
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