on to something they were; in 1999 "libération" compared certain general to the u-boat in the 1981 film "das boot", calling them "insubmersible." the landscape that simultaneously served as their living room and the ultimate party venue, new york's east village and downtown, have not been so durable. replacing the artist's lofts, dives, and backrooms that were their laboratory are the all-too typical earmarks of any modern gentrified locale: the nine wests, the starbucks, the gaps "et al.". fortunately, in spite of these less-than-inspiring surroundings and unlike most of their peers, the band carries on: parker dulany, phil gammage and kevin tooley continue to perform and record as certain general.