One Track Mind: Richard Barone, “All Tomorrow’s Parties” (2014)

Richard Barone, the ex-Bongos leader, imbues this Velvet Underground gem with a newfound sense of sad reverie. Whereas the nihilistic Nico, on the original 1967 version, stood apart from the conviviality, a distant observer, Barone finds the nostalgia, the very real need for attachment in the Lou Reed lyric.

Inspired, in its original form, by the whirl of activity that surrounded Velvets benefactor Andy Warhol, “All Tomorrow’s Parties” isn’t the brittle indictment of The Velvet Underground and Nico anymore. Instead, Barone uncovers a beautiful longing that simply wasn’t there before.

And this new song’s timing couldn’t be more appropriate: Barone plays a New Jersey show tonight before heading out to SXSW, where he will curate — along with Alejandro Escovedo — a tribute to Reed to be held at Austin’s Paramount Theatre on Friday, March 14, 2014. It’s being called the first full-scale appreciation concert for the late Reed, who died in October at age 71. Other featured artists include Lucinda Williams, Sean Lennon, Suzanne Vega, the Fleshtones and Spandau Ballet, among others.

Reed will also be the topic during a panel discussion at SXSW called “Lou Reed: A Rock and Roll Heart,” to be held on March 13. Among the featured speakers are Jerry Harrison, of the Talking Heads. Reed was the keynote speaker at SXSW 2008.

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Nick DeRiso

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