Students for a Democratic Society: A Graphic History

New York, NY - December 5, 2007. The SDS Comic Show will be on display Monday, December 10th, 6:30 p.m. at the CUNY Recital Hall. The recital hall is located at the CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue (at 34th Street). The event is FREE but seating is limited. Admittance will be on a first come, first served basis, no reservations.

For more information: visit www.gothamcenter.org or call 212.817.8474.

The SDS Comic Show, a traveling exhibit drawing upon the book “Students for a Democratic Society: a Graphic History”, will be open at the CUNY Graduate Center in December. The exhibit kicks off December 10th and will include a panel discussion about the Graphic History, which was scripted by Harvey Pekar and others and edited by Paul Buhle, editor of the 1960s SDS magazine Radical America. Harvey Pekar, real-life star of the award-winning film and the book series American Splendor (and sometime Letterman Show guest), will deliver a talk on comics and politics, followed by a panel including Buhle, former SDS-NY regional officer, Weatherman Jeff Jones, and members of the New SDS.

Make plans to spend December 10th, International Human Rights Day, with SDSers, past and present!

Reverend Billy of the Church of Stop Shopping (Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)

New York, NY - July 14, 2007. Reverend Billy of the Church of Stop Shopping, who stated he was “glad to be out of jail”, rocked the Highline Ballroom Sunday in a “Hot and Holy Revival” on July 1, 2007. If you missed it, you’re in luck - two more shows are scheduled. The next two “revivals” will occur on consecutive Sundays - July 22 and July 29. See www.revbilly.com for the complete liturgical calendar.

The cozy Highline Ballroom offers “twelve dollar french fries” according to good pastor Bill but is a decent venue for what is an excellent show. As I sipped a bloody mary (seemed appropriate at the time) the horn section jammed. A lifelong Chicago fan (the “real” Chicago - i.e., the first five recordings) I enjoyed the prelude and found myself thankful that Protestants maintained the long standing practice of music before the service.

Entrance: the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir entered the room from the rear singing their anthemic - and infectious - “Stop Shopping”. Clad in green gowns they ascended the stage and lined the rear of the space, beneath a glistening disco ball. Reverend Billy, aka Bill Talen, entered the room a short time later, greeting members of his flock as he made his way to the stage. Wearing “the full chicken” (a white suit, black shirt and white collar) Rev Billy sported his familiar blonde (could it be dyed?) pompadour. He took the stage and warned the assembled sinners of the dangers of the Shopocalypse - in prayer and song.

The repertoire has gotten really strong over the years - these days high points include: Gina Figueroa singing “Lover Logo”; Reverend Bill offering a “Pushback” prayer and song; William Moses, composer/singer/guitarist, performing “Can I Shop Enough For Africa?”, and; Adetola Abiade singing about “Sidamo” (the Ethiopian coffee that Starbucks hawks for $26 a pound while paying the coffee growers just a tad less). The greatest rapture, however, is reserved for one Moment of true transcendence. Laura Newman, a spiritual soprano par excellence, provides a communion with the divine when she offers up “Back Away From The Walmart”.

View Photos/Videos from the performance…

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