Wetlands Preserved
Wetlands Preserved
Wetlands. For many the name evokes a spirit, a community, an ethos. People still rave about the time they first encountered the Dave Matthews Band, Blues Traveler, Phish or Pearl Jam at the legendary New York City rock club. Others never visited, but have seen the signature Wetlands bus in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, or have listened to the celebrated live recordings that originated from the club’s intimate stage. Still others participated in Wetlands’ working groups for social and environmental advocacy and remain tethered to its influential Activism Center.
Yet while the Wetlands legend and legacy endures, a full account of its rich history remains untold. Even those who have a familiarity with the venue know only a fraction of the story. Prior to the opening of Wetlands Preserve in February 1989 as a self-styled “Eco-Saloon,” the nightclub was already an anomaly. By the time it had closed in September 2001, it had become an archetype as well.
On February 16, 1989 Larry Bloch and a team of novices achieved something unique in a former Chinese-food warehouse just south of the Holland Tunnel in Manhattan Not only did this inexperienced collective open a nightclub in the mostly-undeveloped Tribeca region but they created one that fused music with activism in an altogether distinctive manner. As part of the club’s monthly operating budget Bloch created and funded a not-for- profit Center for Social and Environmental Justice to a tune of $100,000+ per year. Wetlands Preserved traces the story of this venue (often described as “the Fillmore of the 90’s”) and its denizens as they find their way, ultimately thriving as an independent nightclub supporting new music scenes while also initiating successful activism campaigns.
Wetlands served as a proving ground and nurturing environment for numerous notable acts who built a fan base and gained renown at the club. Many of these riveting performances appear in the film, which exclusively incorporates music that originated at Wetlands. In addition to the Dave Matthews Band, Blues Traveler, Phish, and Pearl Jam, Wetlands Preserved also features songs from such artists as Ani DiFranco, Sublime, Ben Harper, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, 311, KRS-1, Joan Osborne, Agnostic Front, Fishbone, Spearhead and more.
The documentary is as novel and innovative as its subject matter. This is the first feature-length film produced in conjunction with the RES Media Group, which stands at the vanguard of digital filmmaking. Wetlands Preserved features the work of more than a dozen animators, selected by RES to breathe new life into still photography and recreate the essence of the Wetlands live music experience.
Wetlands Preserved shares the accounts of staffers, musicians and clubgoers in relating the venue’s development. Indeed, while there is no single story of Wetlands Preserve, the film presents many facets, many arcs, encompassing: a New York story, a diary of a rock club, an independent perspective of the concert industry, a look at social activism efforts and an account of grassroots music thriving in a supportive environment, as Wetlands became a true Preserve.
Yet while the Wetlands legend and legacy endures, a full account of its rich history remains untold. Even those who have a familiarity with the venue know only a fraction of the story. Prior to the opening of Wetlands Preserve in February 1989 as a self-styled “Eco-Saloon,” the nightclub was already an anomaly. By the time it had closed in September 2001, it had become an archetype as well.
On February 16, 1989 Larry Bloch and a team of novices achieved something unique in a former Chinese-food warehouse just south of the Holland Tunnel in Manhattan Not only did this inexperienced collective open a nightclub in the mostly-undeveloped Tribeca region but they created one that fused music with activism in an altogether distinctive manner. As part of the club’s monthly operating budget Bloch created and funded a not-for- profit Center for Social and Environmental Justice to a tune of $100,000+ per year. Wetlands Preserved traces the story of this venue (often described as “the Fillmore of the 90’s”) and its denizens as they find their way, ultimately thriving as an independent nightclub supporting new music scenes while also initiating successful activism campaigns.
Wetlands served as a proving ground and nurturing environment for numerous notable acts who built a fan base and gained renown at the club. Many of these riveting performances appear in the film, which exclusively incorporates music that originated at Wetlands. In addition to the Dave Matthews Band, Blues Traveler, Phish, and Pearl Jam, Wetlands Preserved also features songs from such artists as Ani DiFranco, Sublime, Ben Harper, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, 311, KRS-1, Joan Osborne, Agnostic Front, Fishbone, Spearhead and more.
The documentary is as novel and innovative as its subject matter. This is the first feature-length film produced in conjunction with the RES Media Group, which stands at the vanguard of digital filmmaking. Wetlands Preserved features the work of more than a dozen animators, selected by RES to breathe new life into still photography and recreate the essence of the Wetlands live music experience.
Wetlands Preserved shares the accounts of staffers, musicians and clubgoers in relating the venue’s development. Indeed, while there is no single story of Wetlands Preserve, the film presents many facets, many arcs, encompassing: a New York story, a diary of a rock club, an independent perspective of the concert industry, a look at social activism efforts and an account of grassroots music thriving in a supportive environment, as Wetlands became a true Preserve.
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