30 Comments
User's avatar
Deirdre Lewis's avatar

Sin-e wow! That's the place. You have to see my friend Amy Berg's documentary when it comes out. It's called It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley. all about that time (and with blessing from his mom who gave it to no one else). Loved this, Rob. You captured that time.

Expand full comment
Robert Burke Warren's avatar

Thank you so much. More to come.

Expand full comment
Alice Graves's avatar

I saw Tim Buckly perform in the mid-60s. He was totally amazing. He had one album out at the time, and I bought it.

Expand full comment
Robert Burke Warren's avatar

Lucky you!

Expand full comment
Adam Snyder's avatar

Great story, glad you got your capo back!

Expand full comment
Robert Burke Warren's avatar

Thank you!

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Grey's avatar

Oh, my heart. Not for Jeff Buckley but for that time, place, room. and Shane. Thank you. You evoked all of it so beautifully.

The ending to this is particularly brilliant.

Expand full comment
Robert Burke Warren's avatar

Thank you, my dear. We were lucky. So lucky.

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Grey's avatar

Ain’t that the truth.

Expand full comment
Kate Reuschel's avatar

Beautifully written, thank you for sharing.

Expand full comment
Robert Burke Warren's avatar

You’re welcome, and thank you so much. Raising a glass in appreciation. Cheers.

Expand full comment
George Pattison's avatar

Another polished gem from the vault. Thanks, Robert!

Expand full comment
Robert Burke Warren's avatar

Thank you brotherman!

Expand full comment
Joe Ivory Mattingly's avatar

Ah, the East Village and Saint Marks Place. Thanks for taking me back.

Expand full comment
Robert Burke Warren's avatar

My pleasure.

Expand full comment
Tamara Casey's avatar

Thank you!

Expand full comment
Robert Burke Warren's avatar

You’re very welcome. And thank YOU.

Expand full comment
Stacy Fine Hager's avatar

Great one RBW!

Expand full comment
Robert Burke Warren's avatar

Thank you, Stacy!

Expand full comment
Jennifer Barnabee's avatar

I am in awe of this piece. You so perfectly captured everything and took us there. Jeff Buckley is (was) astounding, and I feel lucky to see him as he was through your eyes. But this storytelling is astounding as well. Thank you for sharing it and telling it so well.

Expand full comment
Robert Burke Warren's avatar

Thank you so much, Jennifer. You really made my day.

Expand full comment
Erika Blumberg's avatar

This really hit me bc I hung out at Sin-E a lot just a few years later. We must have crossed paths at some point. Or you could have crossed paths with my friends who played there. I remember seeing Ginsburg there, and Jared Leto, when he was on "My So-Called Life". I also remember a Paula Cole show getting produced there, right before she made it big.

Expand full comment
Robert Burke Warren's avatar

Thank you so much, Erika. It was an amazing time. A fantastic place. I am so so glad the internet did not exist then.

Expand full comment
clarke's avatar

High Pockets!!!

Expand full comment
Robert Burke Warren's avatar

DUCK BUTTAH!

Expand full comment
clarke's avatar

new band name???

Expand full comment
MUTHR, FCKD's avatar

Such a great snapshot of you, Jeff, and that place and time. His voice was, indeed, so hauntingly intimate.

Expand full comment
Robert Burke Warren's avatar

Thank you so much. The older I get, the luckier I feel.

Expand full comment
Glenn Raucher's avatar

RBW, this is wonderful. I mean, you were THERE, and really take US there as well.

The word I've used when relating the experience of hearing JB for the first time (and many times after) is "startling." His voice (and as you astutely point out, guitar-playing) was so disorientating in its beauty and power and quality that it stopped anything else from penetrating when you were listening.

What a massive, massive loss; he could have done anything. He could have done everything.

Expand full comment
Robert Burke Warren's avatar

Thanks so much, Glenn. Indeed, the mind reels at what he could have done. Re-listening to his work while writing this, I was astonished anew.

Expand full comment