Draft:This Must Be the Place: Music, Community, and Vanished Spaces in New York City

This Must Be the Place: Music, Community, and Vanished Spaces in New York City is a 2023 book by Jesse Rifkin about music scenes and venues in New York City.

Background
Rifkin is a musician who is a cultural tour guide.

Synopsis
The acknowledgment pages of the book contain nearly 150 interviews including “loft jazz trumpeter Ahmed Abdullah through folk-pop singer Judy Collins, hardcore punk guitarist Denise Mercedes, and downtown turntablist and producer DJ Spooky to Williamsburg music promoter Erik Zajaceskowski.”

Reception
Rolling Stone called it one of the best music books of 2023.

Writing in DIY, Ben Hozie of the band BODEGA said the book “refreshingly emphasises the economics and real estate realities behind key musical movements instead of focusing on key heroic figures.”

Author essay