If you’re a true lush, then you’re likely familiar with the work of Frederick Exley, a daytime drinker/author of works like A Fan’s Notes. He was the prime chronicler of literary drinking in 1960s New York, and now there’s a bar named after him. The Exley, located near McCarren Park in Williamsburg, is owned by the former general manager of Tailor, and it’s being billed as a casual “third space” for neighborhood residents (aka those who can’t stomach another trip to nearby Union Pool). We suppose you can think of it as the boozy Starbucks – it’s housed in a former auto-body repair shop and features colorful murals by local artists.
It’s a small space, with seating for about 35 patrons. The cocktail list focuses on classic American libations and a menu of small bites like sea salt pretzels and a cheese plate will be served. The official opening date is tomorrow, get more information here (1 Jackson Street).
I swung by Union Pool recently to catch The Yes Way’s set. I got there early and got the pleasure of catching a few songs of The Midnight Hollow. These guys are pretty good. I didn’t catch the whole set but from what I heard I enjoyed them. If you like what you hear free to check out more of their music at soundcloud.com/themidnighthollow. Enjoy!
Literature lovers promise to pour out of WORD Bookstore next week, when award-winning British author Zadie Smith comes for a visit.
Smith, a prolific writer renowned for her best-selling book White Teeth, will present her new novel NW and speak along with author Hari Kunsru (who penned Gods Without Men and The Impressionist) at the cozy Franklin Avenue shop next Tuesday evening. Dozens of fans on Facebook have already confirmed their plans to attend the free event.
The recently released NW, following four characters in London and hailed as an “urban epic” by Joyce Carol Oates in The New York Review of Books, will be available for purchase at the store after Smith’s reading.
Zadie Smith’s reading and conversation with Hari Kunzru will be held at WORD Bookstore Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.
I swung by Union Pool recently to catch The Yes Way’s set. It’s been since Northside Festival last year since I’ve seen them perform. Immediately I noticed 3 new faces. But only the bassist and the dude on the keyboard were new band members. Their drummer grew some manly facial hair so I didn’t recognize him until after our hand shake. My apologies Jesse. I think the keyboard adds just a perfect pinch of depth to the band. As expected, like always, they kicked ass. Here’s a clip I captured. Enjoy!
On the surface, Tame Impala is another big, brash, psychedelic rock band, with lots of fussy studio tricks and grandiose solos — even on disc, a light show is implied. Kevin Parker’s vocals can seem almost secondary to guitars that buzz and fuzz compellingly, but his emotional distance serves a thematic purpose: For Tame Impala, Parker writes songs about solitude, and about maintaining distance from others that needn’t be literal.
Both of the Australian band’s album titles tell the same story: Innerspeaker. Lonerism. The latter’s songs, even when only fragments of a given lyric can be discerned, convey a sense of walls being built; of an arm’s length being extended. Not a collection of psychedelic freakouts so much as a collection of controlled psychedelic slow-burns — though the fat, swirling guitars in “Endors Toi” would make Swervedriver proud — Lonerism (out Oct. 9) makes alienation and introversion sound both alluring and, ironically, inviting.
A rapper from the Marcy Projects is playing eight nights at a professional sports arena on Atlantic Avenue. A North 11th street bowling alley and concert venue is opening a second location on the Vegas strip. This could be the lead for yet another “Brooklyn has arrived” piece for the NY Times. Instead, it’s a lead for a neighborhood blog whose weekly concert recommendation post is contextually two parts existential-crisis and one part bemused excitement.
I refuse to pen yet another “Brooklyn has arrived” hype piece, or conversely, a “Brooklyn is over” takedown; though it’s serendipitous that the most blogged about shows this week are the very same notions personified.
Animal Collective play our most blogged about show for the week, and they’re bringing their enigmatic live show to the very same stage Counting Crows played earlier this summer, on Friday night. Flying Lotus has become the standard-bearer of electronic music here in 2012, and he plays Bowery Presents’ grandest stage on Sunday.
