Week in Rock: Auld Lang Edition

The Knit Comes to an End

Since 1994, the Knitting Factory has been one of the few independent music venues to survive in Manhattan. The TriBeCa location has always been able to draw impressive acts to the multi-staged, all ages club, but with the New Year will come some pretty major changes. Their show on Wednesday wasn't just their final show of the year, but their final show at 74 Leonard Street. The club is now packing up and moving to Williamsburg, a change that came to be due to rising rents in the neighborhood—one that's no longer as accommodating to a rock club. The move means one of the last remaining mid-sized Manhattan clubs not run by Bowery Presents or Live Nation will be pushed across the East River. As for that final show, Akron/Family (pictured), Deerhoof, Dirty Projectors were the highlights, and the night featured a mix of the type of folksy experimental bands that always made the club stand out. Next year the club will take the space formerly occupied by the Luna Lounge, another Manhattan club once forced off the island due to rising rents. Hopefully the new Knit fares a bit better. Sidenote: Greg from Deerhoof announced that this was the last show Dirty Projectors would be playing their Rise Above material from.