Not too cool for school?

The Velvet Underground have a (well-earned) reputation as being the epitome of cool - but previously unseen photos taken at a gig in April 1966 and published by the New York Times last year suggest that that wasn't always the case and that their beginnings, like those of most bands, were fairly humble. Sure enough, the group themselves (pre-Moe Tucker) look pretty darned cool - but the venue (the Dom in downtown New York), the folding chairs and the smartly attired attendees make the gig seem like a battle-of-the-bands show in a school hall.