1st, you assume that there's just one kind of dancing, the sort that gets applause at the Apollo. What a stupid idea. JC's dancing fits his music perfectly. The 4 Tops would look like assholes if they did their moves at this show...it's about appropriateness to the music.
2nd, it's stupid to say that bad dancers shouldn't dance at all. Sort of like saying, if you can't play guitar like Eddie Van Halen, then don't bother. Everybody who wants to dance should dance.
I love the fact that there's still so much bilious dialog here... like... practically 30 years post hoc. Even more evidence to the greatness. A little hint to those who don't get it:
It wasn't the singing (although that was part of it)
It wasn't the clothing (although that was part of it; skinny ties)
It wasn't the dancing (thought that was part of it; contortions)
It wasn't the fist fights (though that was part of it; woohoo!)
It was THE FUCKING COOL. If you don't get that, you won't.
I'm white but I always wonder how white guys can get away with moving like this guy, when if someone tried to perform like this at the Apollo during amateur night they would be booed or laughed off the stage.
I can't tell if your comment was a negative statement on his stage movements or a compliment about them. To be honest, who cares about the Apollo? Are you referring to a primarily black audience's opinion without actually referring to the Apollo as a primarily black audience? "OH LOOK, THE WHITE GUY IS DANCING! LET'S LAUGH AT THIS CRACKA!" Who cares? Different music moves different people in different ways regardless of race. Enjoy yourself, who cares what other people think?
@BigTymerPimp - My comment was purely derogatory. The guy can't dance to save his life. Only whites can get away with looking like idiots on stage. Take Mick Jagger for an example. Can't dance to save his life lol but tried to (horribly) copy James Brown during the 1964 concert The TAMI Show and he got phenomenal applause. If a black did that they would be laughed off any stage, not just the Apollo.
Your comment and the one that followed is actually pretty lame. Who cares if James couldn't dance? He never said he could. The band's name says it all "James Chance and the CONTORTIONS". This is not The Flamenco Dancers. All I see is a person who does not have a boring stage presence. At least the music moves him. That's actually immature that you assume "only white people can get away with this". That's like assuming only black rappers can get away with walking around on stage.
@BigTymerPimp - My comment is not lame. It is a fact that whites with no dancing talent at all can get up there and try to dance and get applause, and if a black person did that they would be laughed off the stage. If you can't dance, don't dance. Simple. As for black (and other) rappers that walk around trhe stage with their pants below their knees and lumbering back and forth looking like some sort of promitive apes, don't get me started on them.
Continuing about rappers: What a far cry from the great James Brown and other soul acts to these no talented so-called poets who can't dance, and can't play any instruments.
@deichbeat - Drop dead fuckface. If you are a male and you were in front of me now I would kick the living shit out of you. If you're a female, I would just cuss you out because I don't hit women. In any case, I can't stand your pathetic fucking ass. Go swallow some broken glass why don't you?
@PaulDA2000 lol I really wanted to avoid this whole conversation but do you really think your racist diatribe has any weight at all to anyone? I bet you do this all the time, fighting with people over what they like, because you're so sullen in your own life. You must be to waste so much time on YouTube criticizing everyone when you can't possibly have half the talent as the ones you are so pointlessly berating. Grow up, live and let live, it will save you lots of stress.
@universalsingularity - Listen asshole, I'm not racists. James Brown is my favorite entertainer of all time. Just because I think rappers are low class talentless hacks who only know how to rhyme words together doesn't mean I'm racist you fucking dick.
@PaulDA2000 You obviously haven't listened to any intelligent artists in the genre but what does that have to do with this anyway? Race has nothing to do with James Chance being in a different scene than James Brown. He's erratic because it's performance art, if you don't get it that's fine but don't hate something just because you don't understand it.
The guitarist with dark hair is Jody Harris, played on a bill with his band the Raybeats in '84 in OKC, also saw Bush Tetras with other guitar player Pat around the same time...thanks for posting this, archival gold!
Come on fellas-it's just a video of music from a certain time and place-can't we all just listen to it and respect each others tastes? This is 'No Wave" music that was played on the lower east side of New York City in the early 80's.-that in itself is very interesting, don't you think?
He really could play the alto and had a very interesting take on the whole "punk" thing....I'm not in love with this stuff but the man did know what he was doing.....
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
How dare you compare this shit to JAMES BROWN! My hell this white trash is not jazz you people call it what ever you want but you start calling it like a white james brown makes me want to vomit. That guy can probably play the sax this kind of music really puts a shadowy doubt on it and if you want to see some real rip solos look up John Coltrane's Mr. P.C. I agree with JoF001 though anybody can make elk calls on a sax just bite the reed. that sounded like SHIT!
You're right, Shrmnatr. James Brown he's not. In the context of the punk era, though, Contortions were refreshing and imitated better bands than most of the garbage out there. I mean, who can listen to Teenage Jesus and the Jerks anymore. Who ever could? James Brown was one of a kind, and his bands were in a class by themselves. I love "Revenge". Coltrane was a real genius. Eventually Chance got out of doing J.B covers in his later releases and did more structured stuff with fewer elk calls.
@pariahpete The Contortions "imitated" no one. They mixed in various influences into a fairly one of a kind sound. The direct James Brown comparisons here are obviously coming from knuckleheads who entirely miss the point of No Wave/Avant Garde/Post-punk music. Go piss off to your more conventional music in such a case. This isn't meant for everyone anyway.
@xreddragonx. You must have missed his version of "King Heroin". All bands are derivative at first. "Imitated" was the wrong word to use and your point is well taken. I thought James Chance was truly ground breaking and unique the further he moved away into his own sound. That's all. He was different then the "No Wave blah-blah -blah" bands that came and went. It was obvious that he loved Soul and Funk and drew on them. His music still holds up.
@EaterOfHumanFlesh hey stupid ass Blues is a form of Jazz and jazz is also the mother of funk and r&b which were his main types of music so get life or some form of education so you can know what the hell your talking about until then FUCK OFF!
@Shrmnatr actually, just for reference, this style of music is commonly referred to as "no wave." The sound was no accident either. Like pariah pete mentioned, you have to look at this through the lens of what was going on in the punk scene at the time. I personally love james chance, but it's not for everyone...it was a commentary more or less on what was going on during that time.
And btw...the blues definitely are NOT a form of jazz. James Brown was a Soul man.
you specifically said blues is a form of jazz. Here, I reposted your comment to @eaterofhumanflesh.
"hey stupid ass Blues is a form of Jazz and jazz is also the mother of funk and r&b which were his main types of music so get life or some form of education so you can know what the hell your talking about until then FUCK OFF!"
This def isn't acid jazz either . Punk Jazz as a term is new to me. You know nothing about this style of music. Why are you arguing?
@Shrmnatr - here's a second reply for you. I just checked out your profile. From what I gather, you're a kid in high school who's getting heavily into music. I think that's awesome.
You do not however know everything there is to know about music and have been arguing in true troll fashion out here...only i don't think yr trolling. You've been completely wrong on a few points. My advice...listen to what people have to say. It's the best way to expand your knowledge.
@MrNellonoma actually i posted that photo a couple of years ago im actually in a Julliard school in jazz and music studies your right i don't know all there is about music, but i do have grounds to state my opinion and to defend it when called out. And I am sure that my 2 private teachers and my Jazz professors would agree with me. Also in my opinion and many others as you can see my points are valid. And yes the blues is a form of jazz. and the blues brothers were jazz.
@MrNellonoma actually i posted that photo a couple of years ago im actually in a Julliard school in jazz and music studies your right i don't know all there is about music, but i do have grounds to state my opinion and to defend it when called out. And I am sure that my 2 private teachers and my Jazz professors would agree with me. Also in my opinion and many others as you can see my points are valid. And yes the blues is a form of jazz. and the blues brothers were jazz.
@Shrmnatr feel free to state your opinion as often as you like (though, given your comment regarding your jazz professors...i think you're regurgitating someone else's opinion). As for your teachers...means nothing. I'm sure they're good at what they do, but my point stands. Regarding James Chance...call it what you will. It was meant to challenge standard musical conventions. As for blues being jazz...no, it's not. That's why we call one thing "Blues" and another thing "Jazz."
@xreddragonx cause i was replying to a comment dumb ass dont just start a flame war beacase your so damn stupid you cant look at the entire conversation.
@Shrmnatr The point that YOU missed, fuckwit, that you didn't have to enter this video in the first place. Don't bother responding, don't come back to the video.
I know I'm going to get flamed/thumbs-down'd for this but... that guy really couldn't play the saxophone. You can tell when it's a skilled musician moving outside the box and when it's just some guy squeaking on 3 notes because he can't do much else =\
besides that it was an interesting song, the sax part just really ruined it for me.
These guys were the edge back then. If David Byrne had cojones and real talent, he would have been James Chance. The Talking Heads were bubblegum music by comparison. Unfortunately, Chance self-destructed. It was sad.
Cocaine is a hell of a drug. Ever see the hardest working man in showbusiness on Sonya? Aired back in '87. He was out of his gourd then; eerily similar to this, but less funky.
An absolutely great video of a great under-appreciated band. Thanks, imarobot7. At the time, David Byrne was getting a lot of attention and I remember wondering why after hearing Chance. A lot of his work, especially the later instrumental work, was very exciting. Contortions didn't belong on the same vinyl as Teenage Jesus and the Jerks. They really were avant-garde. I think they self-destructed.
In Mexico City on my honeymoon in '83. Just got to hotel, turned on TV while getting ready to go out, and bumped right into "Motown's 25th Anniv Show" Watched in utter awe the Jackson 5/MJ set, then went out and in 15 mins I bumped into the James Chance LP "Live Aux Bains Douche" in a nearby record store. It has a c-r-a-z-y cover of "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" (which was a monster hit for MJ at the time) as well as a couple of k-i-l-l-e-r covers of James Brown. The band was on fire!
This is just soooo good. What a true punk he is. Saw him in 1980 and 2005. He still had it. Thanks for posting and praise God somebody taped it in the first place.
I saw him in Amsterdam at the Paradiso around '80. He looked just as you see him here. A 6' dike jumped up on the stage, she had him pegged as a sexist; got him in a head-lock and jumped back into the crowd with him. Had him pinned to the floor and wouldn't let him up (he's kinda small). I grabbed her by the hair and punched her in the face a few times and he was able to get away. Still, that was the end of the set and the show. Don't think he ever came back to Amsterdam.
@abirdnamedcat JAJAJAJAJA hearing about dykes getting it in the face makes me happy. I have loads of male gay friends, but there's something about women batting for the other team that just makes it seem like they're taunting us...the cunts!
@abirdnamedcat yeah He's great! i was on that concert too. But i didn't get exactly what happened with that big punkgirl grabbing him. Because i was a bit confused. Before that he did his vampire act and i was his 'victim'........ i would love to see the video of that. I think the VPRO filmed that concert.
There was a strange atmosphere the whole concert i think. Too bad he never came back to Amsterdam.
I read about this band recently, and I have to say, it's more than I'd hoped for. No Wave was something I was born too late for, but can thankfully enjoy thanks to the intarwubs. Ass shakin' stuff
James Chance is fabulous in this recording made in 1979 by Paul Tschinkel at Max's Kansas City in New York. It was featured on his cable TV show 'Paul Tschinkel's Inner Tube' and represents a prime mover in the then new music scene that still has an impact today. For more on this period in art and music visit "Paul Tschinkel" on Youtube.
A BETTER VERSION IS POSTED NOW. DVD WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON.
Out of all scenes ive heard about, read about and seen, no wave is the best. No scene, no posers, no hypes, no sharkjumpers, no brands, just extremely diverse music.
Jimmy and his band were total avant guard in a music world dominated by trash music lawyers and pay for play radio. One of the greatest bands of all time. The Van Gough of punk rock.
I remember hearing "Contort Yourself" years ago from the "Buy" album, which is similiar to this tune. I thought it was one of the most bizarre and individual vocal performances I'd ever heard. But the groove they have going is so addictive I couldn't stop listening. "Take that, corporate bores!" I was heard to say.
Jesus Lord . . . I just found a copy of James Chance's debut album "Buy" and bought it on a whim . . . This stuff is absolutely amazing! It's like a punked up James Brown funk - but not, if you know what I mean. Anyway, this is a fantastic video of him and his band the Contortions in action back in the late '70s, when New York was the Capital of Music. Thanks for posting this!
whoever filmed this - thank fuck. i wish a greater effort had been made to document in film the bulk of the work done by all the genius bands between like, 1965 and 1979. 80% of my fave music comes from that period
James Chance is fabulous in this recording made in 1979 by Paul Tschinkel at Max's Kansas City in New York. It was featured on his cable TV show 'Paul Tschinkel's Inner Tube' and represents a prime mover in the then new music scene that still has an impact today. For more on this period in art and music visit "Paul Tschinkel" on Youtube.
A better version of this performance will be posted soon.
This is what a saxophone solo should sound like. 10,000 times better than the solos that appear in most Pap songs because "it's cool to have a sax in the middle!" To say that James "punked the funk" is a gross, gross understatement.
Does Pat Place look like she's about to toss her cookies here, or is it just me?
Shame Anya and George can't be here to see how many people love this.
fucking hot.
arwenestrellatarde 1 month ago
love it. art in the greatest form
deftones311100 2 months ago
does anyone know what sax hes using? thanx in advance
downer12256 3 months ago
Great! I love James Chance. The Contortions were and are awesome. I had a huge crush on Pat Place. Pat-if you read this, I love you!
ekolke 3 months ago
Love it, love it. Just discovered but already up there with Jesus, McDonalds and Tony Blair.
Lunarbs 5 months ago
white can play funk...
QZoja 6 months ago
mooga mooga if you were at his new years eve show at the Mudd Club
corkpopfrance 7 months ago
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Music was my first love.
getimo 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
if u like this be sure to check out the big boys 4rm austin tx.
rocknrollporn 8 months ago
one of the hardest fucking people to ever walk the earth. This performance tears you to shreds. Anybody who says otherwise is a liar
scarletcoffee 8 months ago
lol i like the argument thats taking place on this page.
Jewclops 8 months ago
An absolutely great band! Back then you either got them or you didn't. I used to have all of Chance's records. Thank you for posting.
pariahpete 8 months ago
@PaulDA2000,
1st, you assume that there's just one kind of dancing, the sort that gets applause at the Apollo. What a stupid idea. JC's dancing fits his music perfectly. The 4 Tops would look like assholes if they did their moves at this show...it's about appropriateness to the music.
2nd, it's stupid to say that bad dancers shouldn't dance at all. Sort of like saying, if you can't play guitar like Eddie Van Halen, then don't bother. Everybody who wants to dance should dance.
goc1973 9 months ago
Comment removed
goc1973 9 months ago
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great great GREAT!!!!
SIRIYSACMA 9 months ago
I love the fact that there's still so much bilious dialog here... like... practically 30 years post hoc. Even more evidence to the greatness. A little hint to those who don't get it:
It wasn't the singing (although that was part of it)
It wasn't the clothing (although that was part of it; skinny ties)
It wasn't the dancing (thought that was part of it; contortions)
It wasn't the fist fights (though that was part of it; woohoo!)
It was THE FUCKING COOL. If you don't get that, you won't.
sc0ner 10 months ago 12
@sc0ner it was the fist fights over THE FUCKING COOL.
scarletcoffee 8 months ago
I'm white but I always wonder how white guys can get away with moving like this guy, when if someone tried to perform like this at the Apollo during amateur night they would be booed or laughed off the stage.
PaulDA2000 1 year ago
@PaulDA2000
I can't tell if your comment was a negative statement on his stage movements or a compliment about them. To be honest, who cares about the Apollo? Are you referring to a primarily black audience's opinion without actually referring to the Apollo as a primarily black audience? "OH LOOK, THE WHITE GUY IS DANCING! LET'S LAUGH AT THIS CRACKA!" Who cares? Different music moves different people in different ways regardless of race. Enjoy yourself, who cares what other people think?
BigTymerPimp 10 months ago
@BigTymerPimp - My comment was purely derogatory. The guy can't dance to save his life. Only whites can get away with looking like idiots on stage. Take Mick Jagger for an example. Can't dance to save his life lol but tried to (horribly) copy James Brown during the 1964 concert The TAMI Show and he got phenomenal applause. If a black did that they would be laughed off any stage, not just the Apollo.
PaulDA2000 10 months ago
@PaulDA2000
Your comment and the one that followed is actually pretty lame. Who cares if James couldn't dance? He never said he could. The band's name says it all "James Chance and the CONTORTIONS". This is not The Flamenco Dancers. All I see is a person who does not have a boring stage presence. At least the music moves him. That's actually immature that you assume "only white people can get away with this". That's like assuming only black rappers can get away with walking around on stage.
BigTymerPimp 10 months ago 3
@BigTymerPimp - My comment is not lame. It is a fact that whites with no dancing talent at all can get up there and try to dance and get applause, and if a black person did that they would be laughed off the stage. If you can't dance, don't dance. Simple. As for black (and other) rappers that walk around trhe stage with their pants below their knees and lumbering back and forth looking like some sort of promitive apes, don't get me started on them.
PaulDA2000 10 months ago
Continuing about rappers: What a far cry from the great James Brown and other soul acts to these no talented so-called poets who can't dance, and can't play any instruments.
PaulDA2000 10 months ago
@PaulDA2000 hahahahaaaaaa...were are you from ?
deichbeat 8 months ago
@deichbeat - What the fuck does it matter where I'm from? I'm from Connecticut if you need to know.
PaulDA2000 8 months ago
@PaulDA2000 and which planet ?
deichbeat 8 months ago
@deichbeat Fuck you asshole. Kiss my white ass. How does that grab you fuck face?
PaulDA2000 8 months ago
@PaulDA2000 hahahaha
deichbeat 8 months ago
@deichbeat - Why don't you either jump off a bridge or drink arsenic and do us all a big favor you fucking dick.?
PaulDA2000 8 months ago
@PaulDA2000 you make it worse ,pathetic grandpa
deichbeat 8 months ago
@deichbeat - Drop dead fuckface. If you are a male and you were in front of me now I would kick the living shit out of you. If you're a female, I would just cuss you out because I don't hit women. In any case, I can't stand your pathetic fucking ass. Go swallow some broken glass why don't you?
PaulDA2000 8 months ago
@PaulDA2000 more !i want more of this excellent amusement ..
deichbeat 8 months ago
@PaulDA2000 Way to miss the point.
klangding 9 months ago
@PaulDA2000 lol I really wanted to avoid this whole conversation but do you really think your racist diatribe has any weight at all to anyone? I bet you do this all the time, fighting with people over what they like, because you're so sullen in your own life. You must be to waste so much time on YouTube criticizing everyone when you can't possibly have half the talent as the ones you are so pointlessly berating. Grow up, live and let live, it will save you lots of stress.
universalsingularity 6 months ago
@universalsingularity - Listen asshole, I'm not racists. James Brown is my favorite entertainer of all time. Just because I think rappers are low class talentless hacks who only know how to rhyme words together doesn't mean I'm racist you fucking dick.
PaulDA2000 6 months ago
@PaulDA2000 You obviously haven't listened to any intelligent artists in the genre but what does that have to do with this anyway? Race has nothing to do with James Chance being in a different scene than James Brown. He's erratic because it's performance art, if you don't get it that's fine but don't hate something just because you don't understand it.
universalsingularity 6 months ago
@BigTymerPimp I think his stage presence is quite hypnotic and cool.
Plasticsoul 1 week ago
@Plasticsoul As do I.
BigTymerPimp 1 week ago
Punk Jazz
thebigdiegowski 1 year ago
The guitarist with dark hair is Jody Harris, played on a bill with his band the Raybeats in '84 in OKC, also saw Bush Tetras with other guitar player Pat around the same time...thanks for posting this, archival gold!
TheRecyclist 1 year ago
punk rock!
Firstserger 1 year ago
Precious clip from a great band in the early period.... Thanks so much for uploading this!
cdyo 1 year ago
cool
when again
oddsdiner 1 year ago
kinda reminds me of Jagger
rockerr12595 1 year ago
Where is this video from? Sorry... too lazy to scroll through all the posts, but this is awesome! When and where is this from???
Enron79 1 year ago
Lot of blues in that guitar sound, picking and slide parts, more prominent in this version than on the records.
quintincollins 1 year ago
fuck the strokes!
madmountain17 1 year ago
Come on fellas-it's just a video of music from a certain time and place-can't we all just listen to it and respect each others tastes? This is 'No Wave" music that was played on the lower east side of New York City in the early 80's.-that in itself is very interesting, don't you think?
koreamy 1 year ago
He really could play the alto and had a very interesting take on the whole "punk" thing....I'm not in love with this stuff but the man did know what he was doing.....
MRK2342 1 year ago
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How dare you compare this shit to JAMES BROWN! My hell this white trash is not jazz you people call it what ever you want but you start calling it like a white james brown makes me want to vomit. That guy can probably play the sax this kind of music really puts a shadowy doubt on it and if you want to see some real rip solos look up John Coltrane's Mr. P.C. I agree with JoF001 though anybody can make elk calls on a sax just bite the reed. that sounded like SHIT!
Shrmnatr 1 year ago
You're right, Shrmnatr. James Brown he's not. In the context of the punk era, though, Contortions were refreshing and imitated better bands than most of the garbage out there. I mean, who can listen to Teenage Jesus and the Jerks anymore. Who ever could? James Brown was one of a kind, and his bands were in a class by themselves. I love "Revenge". Coltrane was a real genius. Eventually Chance got out of doing J.B covers in his later releases and did more structured stuff with fewer elk calls.
pariahpete 1 year ago
@pariahpete The Contortions "imitated" no one. They mixed in various influences into a fairly one of a kind sound. The direct James Brown comparisons here are obviously coming from knuckleheads who entirely miss the point of No Wave/Avant Garde/Post-punk music. Go piss off to your more conventional music in such a case. This isn't meant for everyone anyway.
xreddragonx 1 year ago
@xreddragonx. You must have missed his version of "King Heroin". All bands are derivative at first. "Imitated" was the wrong word to use and your point is well taken. I thought James Chance was truly ground breaking and unique the further he moved away into his own sound. That's all. He was different then the "No Wave blah-blah -blah" bands that came and went. It was obvious that he loved Soul and Funk and drew on them. His music still holds up.
pariahpete 1 year ago
@Shrmnatr - James Brown isn't jazz, you fucking idiot.
EaterOfHumanFlesh 1 year ago 2
@EaterOfHumanFlesh hey stupid ass Blues is a form of Jazz and jazz is also the mother of funk and r&b which were his main types of music so get life or some form of education so you can know what the hell your talking about until then FUCK OFF!
Shrmnatr 1 year ago
@EaterOfHumanFlesh and i never said he was if you are able to read you poor excuse for a human life check the comment!
Shrmnatr 1 year ago
@Shrmnatr actually, just for reference, this style of music is commonly referred to as "no wave." The sound was no accident either. Like pariah pete mentioned, you have to look at this through the lens of what was going on in the punk scene at the time. I personally love james chance, but it's not for everyone...it was a commentary more or less on what was going on during that time.
And btw...the blues definitely are NOT a form of jazz. James Brown was a Soul man.
MrNellonoma 1 year ago
@MrNellonoma I never said it was jazz and it is actualy also refered to as punk jazz or acid jazz. I was talking about james brown.
Shrmnatr 1 year ago
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@Shrmnatr
you specifically said blues is a form of jazz. Here, I reposted your comment to @eaterofhumanflesh.
"hey stupid ass Blues is a form of Jazz and jazz is also the mother of funk and r&b which were his main types of music so get life or some form of education so you can know what the hell your talking about until then FUCK OFF!"
This def isn't acid jazz either . Punk Jazz as a term is new to me. You know nothing about this style of music. Why are you arguing?
MrNellonoma 1 year ago
@Shrmnatr - here's a second reply for you. I just checked out your profile. From what I gather, you're a kid in high school who's getting heavily into music. I think that's awesome.
You do not however know everything there is to know about music and have been arguing in true troll fashion out here...only i don't think yr trolling. You've been completely wrong on a few points. My advice...listen to what people have to say. It's the best way to expand your knowledge.
MrNellonoma 1 year ago
@MrNellonoma actually i posted that photo a couple of years ago im actually in a Julliard school in jazz and music studies your right i don't know all there is about music, but i do have grounds to state my opinion and to defend it when called out. And I am sure that my 2 private teachers and my Jazz professors would agree with me. Also in my opinion and many others as you can see my points are valid. And yes the blues is a form of jazz. and the blues brothers were jazz.
Shrmnatr 1 year ago
@MrNellonoma actually i posted that photo a couple of years ago im actually in a Julliard school in jazz and music studies your right i don't know all there is about music, but i do have grounds to state my opinion and to defend it when called out. And I am sure that my 2 private teachers and my Jazz professors would agree with me. Also in my opinion and many others as you can see my points are valid. And yes the blues is a form of jazz. and the blues brothers were jazz.
Shrmnatr 1 year ago
@Shrmnatr feel free to state your opinion as often as you like (though, given your comment regarding your jazz professors...i think you're regurgitating someone else's opinion). As for your teachers...means nothing. I'm sure they're good at what they do, but my point stands. Regarding James Chance...call it what you will. It was meant to challenge standard musical conventions. As for blues being jazz...no, it's not. That's why we call one thing "Blues" and another thing "Jazz."
MrNellonoma 1 year ago
@Shrmnatr Why aren't YOU at a James Brown video, dipshit?
xreddragonx 1 year ago
@xreddragonx cause i was replying to a comment dumb ass dont just start a flame war beacase your so damn stupid you cant look at the entire conversation.
Shrmnatr 1 year ago
@Shrmnatr The point that YOU missed, fuckwit, that you didn't have to enter this video in the first place. Don't bother responding, don't come back to the video.
xreddragonx 1 year ago
The white James Brown. JAMES BROWN? JAMES BROWN.
cm2dude 1 year ago 2
I know I'm going to get flamed/thumbs-down'd for this but... that guy really couldn't play the saxophone. You can tell when it's a skilled musician moving outside the box and when it's just some guy squeaking on 3 notes because he can't do much else =\
besides that it was an interesting song, the sax part just really ruined it for me.
JoF00l 1 year ago
lets you see rip that solo, its unbelievably hard to play like tat under control. this guy can rip
LiveLife2thefunnest 1 year ago
These guys were the edge back then. If David Byrne had cojones and real talent, he would have been James Chance. The Talking Heads were bubblegum music by comparison. Unfortunately, Chance self-destructed. It was sad.
pariahpete 1 year ago
groovy.
cubanzombie 1 year ago
no wawe grande
ero giovane quando ascoltavo questa musica
girmagaia 1 year ago
No Wave NYC great album.
jasonjarvis1988 1 year ago
I'd hire that camera operator for my movie.
XenOtai 2 years ago
only good no wave band
benusherr 2 years ago
@benusherr DNA! Mars! TJATJ!
ZRN959 2 years ago 3
No good no wave band. Only Great no wave bands.
cm2dude 2 years ago 17
that man could really move
L2daO2daZ 2 years ago
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JBrandonSummer 2 years ago
great!!!!!
MrRiksa1 2 years ago 2
james brownnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
dinosore9 2 years ago
I know the feeling. Can' t stand myself either. OR my baby, for that matter (hi there, The Rezillos!)
ZLUGGO 2 years ago
like a white james brown on speed! love it!
gayandblackin1985 2 years ago 27
@gayandblackin1985 thats exactly what he was going for
conall101 1 year ago
@gayandblackin1985
Cocaine is a hell of a drug. Ever see the hardest working man in showbusiness on Sonya? Aired back in '87. He was out of his gourd then; eerily similar to this, but less funky.
Rurne 3 months ago
@gayandblackin1985 James Brown too was a James Brown on speed. Heh!
hbscone 3 months ago
An absolutely great video of a great under-appreciated band. Thanks, imarobot7. At the time, David Byrne was getting a lot of attention and I remember wondering why after hearing Chance. A lot of his work, especially the later instrumental work, was very exciting. Contortions didn't belong on the same vinyl as Teenage Jesus and the Jerks. They really were avant-garde. I think they self-destructed.
pariahpete 2 years ago 3
hmmmmmm, yeah I can see that, and David seems to have grabbed a bit from David Thomas of Pere Ubu too.
zazeify 2 years ago
In Mexico City on my honeymoon in '83. Just got to hotel, turned on TV while getting ready to go out, and bumped right into "Motown's 25th Anniv Show" Watched in utter awe the Jackson 5/MJ set, then went out and in 15 mins I bumped into the James Chance LP "Live Aux Bains Douche" in a nearby record store. It has a c-r-a-z-y cover of "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" (which was a monster hit for MJ at the time) as well as a couple of k-i-l-l-e-r covers of James Brown. The band was on fire!
U2Boob 2 years ago
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thomastomaso 2 years ago
Great show! Plumers mrptvamp1? Watch him play with Blondie in 1999. Blondie - Boom Boom In The Zoom Zoom Room (Live 1999)
thomastomaso 2 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
this stuff had a shelf life of 6 months ,30 years ago...they are all plumbers now
mrptvamp1 2 years ago
yeah maybe,, but it's the spirit thats lacking now ,, this attitude aint there with westlife is it ??
spadge321 2 years ago
actuallytheyre all beloved musical artists and you're a huge loser on the internet who talks bad
telegramsiam2 2 years ago 2
this is cool
rudeboyjohn 2 years ago
fucking awesome!
jacobjacobbruce 2 years ago
these guys kickass.
Knivesupthewall 2 years ago
Wauw! Eindelijk gevonden, dit is de echte punk van vroeger
Liezzz 2 years ago
One of the greats to come out of the no-wave scene. Also, check out James White and the Blacks.
seethemagmaflashing 2 years ago
james white and the blacks are the same a james chance and the contortitions
cabould 2 years ago
still love dish it out more
sisterray060 2 years ago
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avs002 2 years ago
This reminds me a lot of beefheart! In a good and awesome way, of course.
ruster2006 2 years ago
man I find some of the coolest stuff on youtube! Thx to the uploader
SiMoFkr 2 years ago
Ahcantstandmahself--forlovinthisdumassjunky
doezeedoats 2 years ago
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darwinator12932112 2 years ago
i've always loved this band, the bottleneck is fucking awesome!
marcspaceman 2 years ago
james brown; pretty fly for a white guy!
morphologies 2 years ago
Okay man thanks for showing what was really happening in the 80s outside of the crap.
maryshelleysman 2 years ago 3
He must have liked Tomata.
LeLimeLine 2 years ago
This is just soooo good. What a true punk he is. Saw him in 1980 and 2005. He still had it. Thanks for posting and praise God somebody taped it in the first place.
tony0000 2 years ago
Does anyone know if this song is on any of the Contortion's CDs? I don't know which one, and can't seem to find it.
ljh2000 2 years ago
its on the no new york cd
drewilson 2 years ago
he looks like Gary Numan's cooler younger brother.
this is cool shit.
xxtaxidermyxx 2 years ago 3
god i love this stuff
nateingrayscale 2 years ago
The girl guitar player is from bush tetras yeah?
totusdispute 2 years ago
Correct sir or ma'am.
imarobot7 2 years ago
I would have never guessed Ben Stiller played guitar for James Chance. Great tune anyways.
Leaveit2Bundy 2 years ago
I saw him in Amsterdam at the Paradiso around '80. He looked just as you see him here. A 6' dike jumped up on the stage, she had him pegged as a sexist; got him in a head-lock and jumped back into the crowd with him. Had him pinned to the floor and wouldn't let him up (he's kinda small). I grabbed her by the hair and punched her in the face a few times and he was able to get away. Still, that was the end of the set and the show. Don't think he ever came back to Amsterdam.
abirdnamedcat 3 years ago 58
I don't know why, but that story rules.
VyleKyleII 3 years ago 3
I love to see that posted on youtube hahaha
raindogred 2 years ago
YES!
thefanster87 2 years ago
@abirdnamedcat JAJAJAJAJA hearing about dykes getting it in the face makes me happy. I have loads of male gay friends, but there's something about women batting for the other team that just makes it seem like they're taunting us...the cunts!
cuntylishus 1 year ago
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momolunaschoice 1 year ago
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momolunaschoice 1 year ago
@abirdnamedcat yeah He's great! i was on that concert too. But i didn't get exactly what happened with that big punkgirl grabbing him. Because i was a bit confused. Before that he did his vampire act and i was his 'victim'........ i would love to see the video of that. I think the VPRO filmed that concert.
There was a strange atmosphere the whole concert i think. Too bad he never came back to Amsterdam.
momolunaschoice 1 year ago
I read about this band recently, and I have to say, it's more than I'd hoped for. No Wave was something I was born too late for, but can thankfully enjoy thanks to the intarwubs. Ass shakin' stuff
aeonautic 3 years ago 4
James Chance is fabulous in this recording made in 1979 by Paul Tschinkel at Max's Kansas City in New York. It was featured on his cable TV show 'Paul Tschinkel's Inner Tube' and represents a prime mover in the then new music scene that still has an impact today. For more on this period in art and music visit "Paul Tschinkel" on Youtube.
A BETTER VERSION IS POSTED NOW. DVD WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON.
innertubevideo 3 years ago
Thanks for the history behind this. Thanks to imarobot too. If it wasn't for YouTube I wouldn't even know that a lot of this kind of music existed.
Brock2097 2 years ago
Out of all scenes ive heard about, read about and seen, no wave is the best. No scene, no posers, no hypes, no sharkjumpers, no brands, just extremely diverse music.
God is well hidden.
kazinscky 3 years ago 3
I wish I grew up listening to this instead of the pop crap radio bullshit.
alistermbouvart 3 years ago 5
Jimmy and his band were total avant guard in a music world dominated by trash music lawyers and pay for play radio. One of the greatest bands of all time. The Van Gough of punk rock.
txmcxlx 3 years ago
Aww... I just saw pics of my boyfriend as a teen for the same time. He looked just like Jimmy White at that age!
bigstereo 3 years ago
you can bet you haven't seen nothin yet until you seen me do the james chance!!!!!!!
djmrbrown00 3 years ago
punk is atitude
shizzle160590 3 years ago
A mixed bag here, bit of funk, punk,jazz and alot of attitude.
Floorbird 3 years ago
This is video evidence that the existence or nonexistence of a god is unknowable.
haupper 3 years ago
This is video evidence that there is no god
itsthefnords 3 years ago
this is video evidence that there is a god.
youngloudandsnotty77 3 years ago 3
las KIERO ASH.
NO SEAN MALAS CONMIGO BUBU
NO PUSE NADA DE PETIZO PELOTUDO 11.
NADA NADITA 11.
LE DOY ALIENTO AL PETIZO ASH.
VEO EL VIDEO!
ESO CUENTA .L
lucylovebeatles 3 years ago
AHY PETIZO TE AGARRO UN CALAMBRE xD
QUE RISA COMO BAILA,NO PUEDO PARAR DE VER ESA PARTE xd
asi despues lo imito 11.
y la gente me tira monedas 11.
me hago las monedas washo
es el unico video que hay de chikitin??
ah! tien que haber otro maszz
despues le pregunto ala gemela ash.
lucylovebeatles 3 years ago
james is like mick jagger but wayyy better !
weaselidiotu 3 years ago 4
I remember hearing "Contort Yourself" years ago from the "Buy" album, which is similiar to this tune. I thought it was one of the most bizarre and individual vocal performances I'd ever heard. But the groove they have going is so addictive I couldn't stop listening. "Take that, corporate bores!" I was heard to say.
bandcouver 3 years ago
Genius
EGOSOUP 3 years ago
Pure genius
EGOSOUP 3 years ago
amazing
fredjhenzel 3 years ago
grandiosiii
pollastraro 3 years ago
Jesus Lord . . . I just found a copy of James Chance's debut album "Buy" and bought it on a whim . . . This stuff is absolutely amazing! It's like a punked up James Brown funk - but not, if you know what I mean. Anyway, this is a fantastic video of him and his band the Contortions in action back in the late '70s, when New York was the Capital of Music. Thanks for posting this!
howmer001 3 years ago
James Chances sounds like a freaky version of James Brown.
fROMIOWA 3 years ago
whoever filmed this - thank fuck. i wish a greater effort had been made to document in film the bulk of the work done by all the genius bands between like, 1965 and 1979. 80% of my fave music comes from that period
S7rangl3r 3 years ago 4
HONESTLY!
all the good music is from that period.
from psychedelic rock, to funk, to this motherfucker here, to reggae, to hard rock. its just a beautiful period.
Jalkotsu 2 years ago 2
the dude moves.
eltonmesquita 3 years ago
this wype is hype.
redshaftedflicker 3 years ago
fucking gooood!
1978lucas 3 years ago 2
I feel so damn lame....I just got turned on to this, and Im FULLY diggin it! James Chance gets down man!
circlzero 3 years ago 3
James Chance is fabulous in this recording made in 1979 by Paul Tschinkel at Max's Kansas City in New York. It was featured on his cable TV show 'Paul Tschinkel's Inner Tube' and represents a prime mover in the then new music scene that still has an impact today. For more on this period in art and music visit "Paul Tschinkel" on Youtube.
A better version of this performance will be posted soon.
innertubevideo 3 years ago
Wow!
James BrownWhite..
That shrieking Sax...
Good Droogs
JAHXBEAM 3 years ago 2
I'm diggin it.
castingtherunes 3 years ago
Hell yeah ! One one of most bad ass bands ever.
Thanks for posting. Big ups.
zintar3000 3 years ago 4
I can't the contortions songs anywhere! WTF?
agoranobophobe 3 years ago
James Chance from Milwaukee!
Heraldblog 3 years ago
I, too, can't stand myself.
entiremenu 3 years ago 3
this.....is............shvexy
maddmannlee 3 years ago
heroine jazz fabulous!
audiotrauma 3 years ago
Dish it out, james
doezeedoats 3 years ago
most cool music
bwv639echo 3 years ago
Ever so catchy. Thin white noise. Ahhhhhh.
theogore 3 years ago
best band ever
dialectic76 3 years ago 2
haha, please.
poshbird65 3 years ago
oh yes it is man
macmule 3 years ago
I felt in love with this music at the first listen. I know him since only a few days and he's already a god for me.
macmule 3 years ago 2
NO NEW YORK
Album Produced by ENO
JXDirectorReels 4 years ago 3
if i could play sax, i'd play like this.
eeelectricboogaloo 4 years ago
This is what a saxophone solo should sound like. 10,000 times better than the solos that appear in most Pap songs because "it's cool to have a sax in the middle!" To say that James "punked the funk" is a gross, gross understatement.
Does Pat Place look like she's about to toss her cookies here, or is it just me?
Shame Anya and George can't be here to see how many people love this.
NewWaver80014 4 years ago 2
yeah, Pat always looked that way- pale, gaunt, egg beater hairdo- part of her punky charm!
the ties were skinny the shoes were pointy...the music: obnoxious (i loved the 80's!)
raku217 4 years ago
Yes, after watching the Bush Tetras clip I see what you mean. They were all surly! But in the best possible way.
NewWaver80014 4 years ago
speaking of no way bands, has anyone found any Mars music anywhere on
SprPwdSxMch 4 years ago
I wish. Some Theoretical Girls would be nice too (although that Glenn Branca clip does help somewhat).
NewWaver80014 4 years ago