The live music culture of the 1990s was forever marked by the existence of a still-revered New York City live music venue with its dual mission as a watering hole for environmental and social-justice activism. The production of this book was made possible by a 27 day KickStarter Project. 108% funded on March 11. 2014, it was proof that, though Wetlands Preserve may have closed its doors more than a decade ago, the nightlife spawned at Wetlands has NOT been forgotten. Backers for the book were from around the world. This was not just a New York City love affair. WETLANDS NYC HISTORY: A Visual Encore
The Complete and Updated Early Calendar Years plus Before and Beyond
by Laura Bloch Bourque
In February of 2014, the 25th Anniversary of Wetlands Preserve was celebrated with a packed house of thousands of moe. fans at the Capitol Theatre in NY. It was testament to lasting impressions. The venue they were honoring had not been in existence for the last half of those years. The Wetlands’ landmark 1966 VW microbus hitched a ride to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum as Wetlands was forced to close in 2001. The club’s independent, uniquely creative booking policies had proven to be history-making. In 2004, Dean Budnick’s 90-minute documentary, Wetlands Preserved, won Indie awards and then aired on the Sundance Channel for two and a half years and is still available on Netflix. The venue is legendary but with a playlist of over 3,700 bands and performers, most didn’t get their mention in the film. Original founder, Larry Bloch, always felt there should be a book to give credit to those who put their sweat onto the stage, as well as the talent that went into finding that talent; a way to thank those that tended the bars, worked the doors and cleaned the floors as well as the fans that made the dance come alive. Wetlands NYC History: A Visual Encore was made possible from Larry’s organized hoarding. Alongside the monthly calendars there is a mix of memorabilia, media and over 700 photos in a lasting, hand-held record of every night, every play. It’s a visual exploration that’s been accurately described as a “look book.” Attendance at the club is not required to appreciate the history. You can open to any page and become instantly immersed in stories gleaned from review of the complete, sequential record of original snail-mailed monthly calendars, updated for historical accuracy. The musical magic is entwined with the environmental and social justice activism of the decade. The greed -driven rise of gentrification, also a thread in the media coverage, would become the snag that brought an end to a very special time and space. The flow of this book is chronological, with a touch of time-travel. The reader is brought up to the year 2014 with updates on Peter Shapiro who became Wetlands second owner at the age of 23 and has been making quite a splash in the industry ever since.
