AND NEVER TRAVEL BACK

Jim Avignon “Jukebox” (NYC/Berlin)

hello jukebox play me a song
a dark and gloomy one
that fits into my mood

hello phonebox tell me a lie
that she would call me back
i know she never will

na na na na

hello nightbar give me a drink
that makes me want to fuck
and not with everyone

hello sailor show me a land
where i can travel to
and never travel back

na na na na

play me a song
then tell me a lie
give me a drink
show me a land

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omg jim avignon (aka neoangin) paintings…

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sever years ago, i responded to an ad on craigslist looking for band to book for a new local indie rock showcase night. i sent a message saying ‘i’m not a band. i’m a dj that play 80’s nostalgia stuff…but heavy metal and deathrock nostalgia.

i was spinning hardcore and thrash at molotov’s at that time for guiness and jager shots and recently found my sister’s old record stack that i hid a long time ago. i hated her music then but i got a real good kick listening to blondie, missing persons, adam ant, billy idol, and shit like this time around. i wanted to play a set and dedicate it to her for introducing me to motorhead when she did back in our pre-adolescence.

a girl by the name of tin fan (pronounced TEEN FAN) was the one putting it together and she responded with ‘huh? i was looking for bands. (idiot!)’ but i wrote her back saying ‘let me spin in between the bands so the energy keeps going and going’ and i proceeded to butter her up about how i’ve played in bands locally for years and that i’m so down for the underground and don’t expect money or glory just drinks and tips. she took a liking to me and said ‘can you come on time?’

i started doing the ant show with her on a great start and had lots of fun times with local bands coming together comprising most of the crowd. all the hardcore party people were down the street at Butter where all the old school rocker/jipsters would hang and all the upstart rockers were playing the ant show. twas fun times for sure.

i think it was the following year or two, i took a gig to shoot a music video in bali (HD underwater, yo!) and put together a send-off party for myself called FANTASTIC VOYAGE and invited my favorite rock’n'roll djs to all play. there was one conflict…they were sort of ‘rival’ djs playing parties that happen on the same night. but, for that one night, they all played my party to say ‘thank you for your patronage’ and i thanked them for always giving me and the rest of us misfits a good night for drinking and debauchery.

JEFRODISIAC, RICHIE PANIC, JENNY YOUNG, OMAR, JET SET JAMES, KID JAGGER, and JOELNESS (Club ID) plus a live performance by SF underground sensation NO CONDOM? WHATEVER!

ltr: liza, kimi, and courtney (photo by parker day)

it was a fun night! the dancefloor boasted of all the finest skunkheads the city (and san jose) had to offer. all the trucker hats and the sideways haircuts got along and even my metalhead buddies showed up to stay outside and look tough! it was great. camel cigarettes paid the dj’s, keystone beer and some vodka company gave out drinks and midnight shots. the girl i really liked was there with her bandmates and danced all night. and i was given pocket money at the end of the night by the bar which proved to be helpful when i found myself living on a cargo boat hopping between islands alone deep in the philippines.

before i left, i didn’t leave tin fan hanging. she hooked up with another dj that fit the bill and she’s also a girl, STEENA LYNN. she would go on to carve out her own with West Add Radio and parties with her blonde friends.

when i got back, i moved on. now, 3 years later, The Ant Show is having a 3 year anniversary party and i’ve been invited to come and play for old times sake. i look forward to playing my older sister’s records.