Welcome to the NEW and IMPROVED NewYorkNightTrain.com UK 2001. Whereas I started this as an underground music oral history project, and it evolved it into a community building rag for uncommon music, after a nearly six-month hiatus, I’ve started whistling a different tune. Since the site average more and more hits each day, even when I don’t update it (thanks wikiPedia, google, etc…. suckas…), I’ve decided to create a mean-lean content machine for the throng of web “surfers.”

One might say that I haven’t exactly been a financial genius, or even a businessman, in the past. Last time around I never even made a decent attempt at getting ads – I just wanted to make something I believed in. Ah, folly of youth. Thank god the naïve days of a few months ago are long behind me. The mission of the new New York Night Train is simple: $$$!!! So now, when your crappy band comes to New York and I set up a show, no more Mr. indie scene helpin’-out kind o’dude who doesn’t take a cut – we’re both gonna make the money. When you DJ one of my parties, no more givin’ the guest a disproportionate chunk of the cabbage. And don’t even let me get started on the necessary operational changes in the white elephant of a record label that I helm. Last, and certainly as equally uninteresting as the previous discussion, in terms of the new web site, I like to view it site as a celebration of my new attitude.

A poor man who can’t afford to do the simple things like get his shoes re-soled, whose rats have to hang out in the kitchen/living room/common area ‘cause they can’t fit in my tiny room unless I’m away from home, I never really cared much about money as long as I could get by on pizza, free drinks,and guest lists, hang out with my friends, read, make art, go for walks, etc. I orignally approached New York Night Train with the money as a secondary concern at best.

I even noticed that I pronounced the word money with absolutely no enthusiasm: “Once I get the check for that article, I’ll have the money,” “I don’t have the rent money,” “Can I borrow some money,” etc. When really, I should’ve been more lively and enthusiastic: “Du Monet will roll right in for my scribbles!,” “I ain’t got the Benjamins, or even the Georges for the landlord” “Slide me some cabbage,” etc…

Anyway, with the new New York Night Train, I vow to approach the prospect of financial success with the annoying zeal of a 1990s dot-commer. I recently heard a rumor that, to succeed in a capitalist society, you must find a need and fulfill it… or have rich parents. So, until I can figure out a way to bestow enough wealth upon my folks to set up a trust fund for me, I’m pursuing the first option.

First I thought, “What are my assets? Other than the $36.23 and a few coins in the couch?” “What do I have of value to offer today’s American consumer?” I’ve quit an endless procession of jobs and never finished my grad school thesis. Is there a way I could turn my loser post-musician lifestyle into an asset? I have, after all, played hundreds of shows, seen thousands of bands, worked at record stores and music venues, DJ-ed both on college radio and in clubs, recorded on both indie and major labels, run a record label, and am a social fellow who knows a lot of peops from roughly twenty patchy years of service in the underground trenches. But, if hanging out and listening and playing could provide you with profitable expertise, every bum I know would be loaded. I also remembered that I am a half-assed professional journalist and once-published academic writer with a no shortage of experience working with music and culture. And I have no startup capital. I’m definitely suited for a web site – particularly since I already have one – but this time, how will we churn in the cheddar?

I next had to locate a need to fulfill. Blog? Showlist? Magazine? I can think of a few decent local music blogs – some of which make forays into similar underground-ish territories as myself. I can also name two adequate showlists that are very basic at best, and one more that’s actually quite elaborate and user-friendly – but it’s apparently written by a ninth-grade indie yuppie in training. And I can think of very few decent New York underground music rags. If I combined all three of these types of publications into one – the personal slant of a blog, a comprehensive show and club calendar complete with regular recommendations, and the organization, variety, and regularity of a zine, I could be the place where likeminded people go to see find out what’s good and what’s going on.

For the final step, the logistics of making my concept a reality, I had to look no further than the infinite technical wizardry of Marc from the S-S-S-Spectres. We were immediately aware of our impending wealth the minute we saw the show list streaming into the right toolbar and the mouse-overs on the show calendar. I also decided to add a few unique DJ and club events that’re a little bit rock’n’roll and not too clubby. Marc additionally wrote some catchy tongue-and-cheek reviews which’ve helped set a lighter, snappier, and more spirited tone for the previously dry but informative zine. And I’ve been throwing down at least one substantial peice a day.

And, “Advertisers?,” you ask…. We’ll see what we can do after our “soft launch” (techy mumbo jumbo for putting the site up and not going big time with it yet while you fix bugs, get feedback, etc.). If you want to take out an ad, remember that, like the government, every ioda of this thing has its price, including yours truly. Anyhow, I hope you enjoy this site as much as I enjoy thinking about how rich I will soon be.

Farewell my little music-thirsty munchkins. I must abandon you. Not to get too far ahead of myself, but I gotta get back to planning the life I’m gonna live with all that spinach I’ll rake in from selling the business….