Queen V: Calendar

TAKE BACK NEW YORK – Thursday March 26th, Don Hill’s NYC

It was a night of circular forces. The rain and wind had been pounding the city all day long and well into the evening, giving no signs of letting up anytime soon. As the people filtered into the club, I for one was riddled with excitement but also concern. For the past 16 months, I was convinced that this city, our city, was in need of more live music, more spirit, more heart – hell, I was in need of it. And to some extent I was right; there was a core of people who came month after month for this ritual of Rock N Roll complete with live local bands and an All Star Jam Finale.

Violet Vier kicked off the night with their brand of punk-rock alt-metal. They popped their Don Hill’s cherry with style - you gotta love a band who covers “I Touch Myself” AND Sabbath’s “Paranoid.” I’d played acoustic with these girls at a show their guitarist Annie put on in an Elks Lodge or something in Staten Island, and playing with them reminded me of how I felt playing Continental or CBGB’s for the first time – like a whole other world had opened up and I belonged there.

The band Black & Blue followed, and their crowd and their music was like the roots classic rock that “you’d find somewhere out in the woods” as my friend Mike described. They were a blast and seemed to please the audience. DJ Bubba Guitar (the BK Firefighter) was spinning various types of rock in between sets getting the crowd more and more into the mood.

Then it was time for Queen V. Michael T introduced us and we ripped into our set with our anthem “Revolution Baby.” I knew from the first minute that this night was different – as my pal Bobby said the next day, it was the “loudest crowd he’d ever heard at Don Hill’s.” We blasted through “America,” “Extasy,” and “Continental,” followed by “Cry For A Minute” which got it’s NYC live debut with the band. Last came “Million To One,” a song about going for it no matter what the odds are. And man, not only does it feel GOOD to get the monkey off your back and kick ass in your own back yard, but to also have that evidence in hand – ROCKS LIVES in NYC. If the audience was any indication, we were on to something with this party.

And what an audience it was! There were kids of 70's rockers who came to represent... Robert Plant's son Logan who's band Sons of Albion just played SXSW had come over after their show at the Delancey, Steven Tyler's daughter Mia popped in with a crew, and Lisa Ronson, daughter of Mick Ronson, David Bowie's guitar player, not only showed up but sang with us in the finale! The circle effect was almost too much to bear - Lisa sang Bowie's "Jean Genie" with Michael T and me... Wow!! And what a lovely lass she is... true class and grace. (Pix on facebook!)

Also representing were the old-school NYC rockers from the days of Max’s Kansas City, CBGBs, The Cat Club & Limelight’s Rock N Roll Church. I met Dan Reeds and Danny Nova for the first time, and in fact Mr. Nova came up and sang "Rock N Roll" with me... what a voice! Check out myspace.com/queenv for the video!

Loads of folks from the London came as usual, hungry for a real meal of Rock N Roll (sorry Gordon!), as did a few guys I went to high school with who popped their Queen V cherry and witnessed who "little Veronica" became when she grew up. Talk about coming full circle!

DJ Dan Pyro took over the booth and kept us all dancing and drinking into the wee hours... My favorite and most asked question of the night: "What's up with the go-go dancers?"
To which I'd always ask, "well, don't u like 'em?" to which they'd ALL respond, "oh no, no they're great!! HOT! But when did Don Hills get stripper poles on the bar?" Ha! Apparently, they've never been to a Rated X Panty Party!!! The poles have always been there people, and the go-go dancers will be back next month!!

Thanks again to everyone who came out (in the rain!) and supported the night and the local live music. Looking forward to seeing you all again soon! Next party is Thurs April 23rd, 8pm at Don Hills as always. Til then, rock your ass off and TAKE BACK NEW YORK!

Xo,
V

show was great, best crowd we've had in a long time. Patty Rothberg and Michael T (Motherfucker) were guests at the jam. Lemmy's video guy couldn't get us the video message in time so no video but the logo projections were great.

Awesome time in the depths of the Island of Staten.. rocked solo acoustic in a basement "private venue" - reminiscent of the Elks Lodge in Hoboken! Great to rock with my sisters and our guy pals and many new friends. Thanks Annie for putting the night together!