S2. E 12. You Should Be Dancing

1976 marked a turning point in New York City history. It was arguably the city's lowest point since 1776, when much of lower Manhattan burned following the British occupation during the American Revolutionary War. Two centuries later, the city was burning again, this time in isolated pockets of the South Bronx and North Brooklyn, where years of disinvestment and the closure of firehouses left neighborhoods increasingly vulnerable. New York's fiscal crisis had reached a breaking point. At the same time, a new generation of musicians, artists, and nightlife entrepreneurs was reshaping the city's cultural landscape. From disco and punk to downtown art and underground music, New York became the center of a cultural moment whose influence continues to shape how we think about the city today. In this special episode, we look back at 1976 and the years that followed through the exhibition You Should Be Dancing: New York, 1976 and Beyond, exploring the music, personalities, and places that defined the era. Produced in collaboration with the New-York Historical Society, host Ryan Purcell sits down with historian Ted Widmer, guest curator of the exhibition. Widmer is a historian, author, and former presidential speechwriter whose work explores American politics, culture, and history. He also has a less conventional connection to the music world as a member of The Upper Crust, a Boston-based rock band known for performing in powdered wigs and eighteenth-century aristocratic dress. We talk about his experience in the band, the relationship between music and history, and what it takes to bring a complicated period of New York's cultural history into a museum exhibition. Purcell also reflects on his own work as a curatorial consultant on the project, collaborating with Widmer and New-York Historical Society curator Allison Robinson. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.