Here’s an old response of mine to the events of 11/17/07, which I wanted to remove from the main page. I’m keeping it as a blog because it may have some details left out of what is now on the page.





No more events will be happening at 8-63. I got arrested at the last party, for completely bullshit reasons. I was totally legit, I had beer permits allowing me to sell and permission from my landlord to throw the party. America is not a free country. If a fascist asshole of a police sergeant decides that he doesn’t want you having parties in your loft space, then he will bend the law and find a way to make it so that you cannot have parties. Any aims you have of re-energizing the nearly dead New York music scene with monthly parties don’t mean a thing, despite how important live music has been historically to the culture and allure of this city. What matters is that a fat police sergeant should not have to leave the station on a quiet Saturday night in Astoria. He should not have to respectfully tell you to either quiet down your guests or stop your party. How dare you throw parties? How dare you question the authority of the police to put you in jail for throwing a party? New York’s finest - doing their best to serve our community and keep criminals behind bars.


This is not the end. I go to court in February - wish me luck. Meanwhile, I am looking for warehouse space. Preferably a place without neighbors who might make a noise complaint, thus bringing the cops.



The owner of the property needs to be willing to sign my application for a beer permit. NY State Law says 20 or more people gathered in an area where alcohol is present constitutes an illegal liquor "sale" if there is no permit or license, whether or not alcohol is actually being sold. Thus, I must have at least a permit for all my parties. The problem last time was a typo on the permit that the cops took advantage of to mess with me. That won’t happen again, now I know to look for it when I get the permit. I will get everything squared away so that next time, even if the cops come, their only concern will be not letting the door hit them in the ass on the way out. Or better yet, wishing they weren’t on duty so they could come join the party. I’ve heard that nice, normal cops exist in NYC, this is not just a dream - eyewitnesses have told me they have met such rare personages. I hope some day to meet them too.



I want the space for a night or two. I’ll carry my PA, speakers, mics and stuff down there and the bands will be responsible for bringing amps and drums. I may have to shut the parties down at 1 am now, but that’s plenty of time for several bands to play. I’ll clean up the mess that night or the next day.



Anyone who wants to volunteer to help keep the Last Resort parties going please let me know. I’ll need door people, bar people and clean up crew. Door people and bar people actually made decent money last time from splitting the bar tips. Clean up is something I think everyone should help out on a little if you enjoy attending these parties. Anyone who wants practice doing live sound can let me know, and I’ll show you what to do to make the bands sound great.



Once I find a good space and get my court stuff squared away, I’ll set up another event.



Thank you every one for making this as fun as it’s been (despite the hassles, that you are not responsible for).



Love,



Derek