681827918688
$40.00
Hard Cover, Over 200 black and white photographs
12.25" (L) x 8.25" (H) x 1" (W)
Introduction by Bill Pearis, Foreward by Mark Kleback
Exclusive Oral History of Death by Audio and its last days as told by Oliver Ackermann, Edan Wilbur, and other staff and residents.
Death By Audio was a beloved underground venue that occupied a large warehouse space on the waterfront of Williamsburg, Brooklyn from 2005 until 2014. Within its walls were a music venue, a guitar effects pedal company, a rehearsal space / recording studio, and the home of over 10 artists and musicians. Shortly after its founders moved into the space in 2005, Williamsburg was in full swing as a hub of DIY music, cultural, and artistic activity in NYC. In a rapidly changing neighborhood transforming from affordable artist haven to tourist/shopping/dining oasis, Death By Audio was the longest lasting DIY space in Williamsburg and its closing in November 2014 not only signaled the loss of a physical space; on a broader scale, it sounded the final death knell of the neighborhood as an epicenter of creativity. The music venue part of Death By Audio was the public face of the space and it hosted thousands of concerts, giving much-needed support to local and touring bands operating outside the structure of official NYC concert venues. The space developed a reputation for nurturing the underground music community and curating shows with the best emerging bands from around the country. Throughout the years, the venue hosted a multitude of bands that went on to enjoy international acclaim, including A Place To Bury Strangers, Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segall, Future Islands, Jeff the Brotherhood and Lightning Bolt, among so many more.
Upon learning the inevitable news that their lease would not be renewed in 2014, the creative forces behind Death By Audio - Oliver Ackermann, Edan Wilber and house residents - decided to turn a tragedy into a celebration and go out with a bang. They, along with the other residents of the space, began planning a 75-day long party that would celebrate everything that DBA had come to represent over the years. They made a point to reach out to all the bands they love that had played Death By Audio over the years, many of which had far outgrown the 100+ capacity of the small venue, inviting them to come back and play one final time. With an outpouring of support from virtually every band they invited to play, the lineup of shows for the last 75 days was a back-to-back, who’s-who of underground and independent music. In addition to the concerts, the residents of DBA opened areas of the warehouse never previously open to the public and invited them into their home. They converted the space into a living art gallery showcasing the work of over 70 local artists, they hosted a 24 hour drone concert, a halloween masquerade, an equipment sale, and a multitude of other parties and special events. The final concert at Death By Audio was held on November 22nd, 2014. Less than 24 hours later, a moving truck carried away the last load from the space they had called home for almost ten years.