From our mail bag. Why do we keep hearing about this shit happening at Union Pool?

We were in the back room at Union Pool on Wednesday night for an event. I'm not sure if you're familiar with the back room of Union Pool, but there's a bar, a stage, and a balcony with stairs leading up to it.The place was really crowded with spectators that night and there were roughly seven people on the stairs, including my girlfriend, J., and 2 other friends of ours. I was on stage.

My buddy J. was the only black guy in the whole place.

Early in the event this white guy, likely in his 40's—beard, darker hair, medium build, short hair, pretty non-descript—goes plowing up the stairs through the people to get to the balcony, muttering about people being on the stairs, but really shoves J. hard. J. says something to the effect of 'Stop pushing people dude' and the guy gets in his face with 'just get out of my way' and goes on up.

Soon after he comes plowing back down, but this time puts his hand on J.'s face and shoves him, very much singling him out. J., quite naturally says again 'Yo dude, stop pushing people' and the guy gets in his face again.

Then, he goes back down, gets the two bouncers, who come to the stairs, not even knowing who they're supposed to be looking for. The guy points to J., they put their hands on him, he says 'get your fucking hands off me.' One of the bouncers says something about J.'s 'attitude' and tells him he's got to go, which he does, with my other two friends following him out.

I'm on stage for all of this so I missed the whole thing. I got this story from my girlfriend and all three of the other guys, plus some girl who was standing on the stairs too. They were all saying how weird it was.

Important note: after the show, I'm telling this story to a friend of mine's boyfriend, who says to me 'oh yeah I used to work here I'm not surprised. They're totally racist here, this shit happens all the time'

I didn't get to talk to him long enough to find out who 'they' are. But wtf.

Later i found this:

http://gothamist.com/2007/06/26/union_pools_unc.php

and

http://gridskipper.com/57893/union-pool-in-williamsburg#c1413170

Bottom line: J. was the only black guy there, and it was packed. Even if this isn't a race thing, the guy was a prick regardless, and they seem to have a record of this kind of shit. J. did nothing wrong, nothing I wouldn't have done myself.

I'm particularly pissed since my band has played there many many times and brought them plenty of drink-buying people, we even had a record-release show there a couple years ago which sold out. This particular night brought a huge crowd too, and while i'm doing my monkey act on stage, they're throwing out my friend, who didn't even want to raise a stink over this. All three of them are like 'hey man it is what it is, don't sweat it'

An added sting is that these guys don't hang out in 'hipsterland'. I.e. they're the kinds of guys who use that word. Know what i mean? So I talk them into coming to this event my other friends and I put on, and they get kicked out inside of 20 minutes. Just fanning the flames of the 'fuck williamsburg' thing.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 02:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (27)

What are you dressing up as tonight, anyway? I’m going to be Edie Sedgwick – but Edie Sedgwick with a gash on her face, since I fell on the sidewalk Wednesday night.... best Halloween ever, people!

I know we’ve given you plenty of suggestions for this evening, but a few other things have blipped onto my radar - some Halloween-related, some not:

1. NITA NITA



I really love this place, and tonight they are doing a nice lil’ local Halloween bash. Stop by for lovely food, drinks, and hopefully some terrifying and/or ironic costumes.

2. ETM host Halloween @ Lit

c/o Going.com


I really HATE this place, but the party sounds like tons of fun tonight.

Per the folks at Lit:
"Electric Tickle Machine hosts Halloween 2008 @ Lit Lounge, NYC w/ Special Guests Dinowalrus, La Defens, & DJ Snacktown.
$6
OPEN BAR 9p-10p
Confetti, Costumes, Cartwheels and Commotion."

3. Danielson @ Knitting Factory

Now for the non-Halloweenish events. However I’m sure the Danielson show at The Knitting Factory will be festive in its own right. Afterall, who doesn't love oddball pop-gospel from NJ? And they wear fun costumes all the time too! Also playing are Cryptacize......

4. Jaguar Love @ Mercury Lounge



For those who want to sweat, spazz, and thrash about tonight, go see Jaguar Love at Mercury Lounge. The band is comprised of ex-members of Blood Brothers and Pretty Girls Make Graves, and the sound is on par with the previous projects. With special guests Polysics, Black Gold, DJ Oil!

Posted by Elizabeth Brady at 01:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

And there's lots of shit going on. Here are our picks:

• Todd P + Panache Big Halloween Bash feat. Matt & Kim [From Flavorpill]

In honor of the year's scariest day, Brooklyn scene-maker Todd P and booking dynamo Panache have brought together a lineup of both frightening (AIDS Wolf) and not-so-frightening (Ponytail) bands. But whoever's on stage, don't expect a laid-back evening of apple-bobbing; everyone on the bill deals in intense live experiences. New York stalwarts Matt & Kim and Child Abuse are joined by the Japanese blues-via-noise freaks DMBQ and improbably resuscitated UK punks the Homosexuals, giving the proceedings an international flair. While the music is the main attraction, the show also serves as a chance to check out new venue Danbro Studios, housed in the 19th-century-era building which was formerly Goldenrod Brewery. [more information here]

• Ghostly International + Throne of Blood 2008 [From Paper]

Ghostly International and Throne of Blood team up for the second year, throwing one of the best all-out dance parties in town tonight. They're bringing in New York based electro/indie artist, Audition, synth-rock duo, Zombi, from Pittsburgh, and DJ sets from The Rapture, Daniel Wang, James F*cking Friedman, Dances with White Girls and Worst Friends. And get creative with your outfit, the late night costume contest hands out cold hard cash to winners.

• Bryan Scary's Glitter Odyssey (in Gowanus) [From MyOpenBar]

A Halloween fete to benefit the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, with burlesque dancers, body-painters, a Human Floor (oooh -- fetish-y), graffiti artists and more. We won't dis, since it's for cancer. Performances by Bryan Scary & The Shredding Tears, The Rosewood Thieves, Heloise & The Savoir Faire, Sam Champion, DJ Treetop Brann & Hotcoals. Your finest Halloween attire is mandated. Buy tickets here -- for these bands and the holiday, it's a steal. [more information and tickets here]

• Brahloween 4 feat. Oneida w/ Awesome Color at Secret Project Robot (210 Kent Ave)

• EVE meets ADAM on Halloween at Silent Barn

• And of course, the Halloween Parade begins at 7pm in Greenwich Village

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There is good news and bad news. First, the bad news…my camera was acting up, and I couldn't get a good angle to get any shots. Good news is that many of you Flickr obsessed took some great shots and now I have images to accompany my review. Yay for collective cloud computing!!!

So here we go.

I think the Social Registry is one of those labels that can truly lay claim to being a family --not just a business. Churning out some of the more interesting releases from bands like Blood on the Wall, Psychic Ills, Gang Gang Dance, Telepathe, and Growing, each band has a very individualized sound that seems to inform each other.

The showcase was by far one of my favorites in all my years of attending CMJ. Peppered between the bands were DJs Andrew Kou, Josh Wildman, Leo Fitzpatrick, and Dan Hougland, making for a jamming dance party between sets. Unfortunately, I didn't get to catch some of the newer signees Mike Bones or Sian Alice Group. However, having seen them before, I'm sure they gave great performances.

Psychic Ills keep getting better to me. What was once a combination of noise, psyche and chaotic elements has turned into a darker, more fully realized psyche band. They're one of the few bands of this kind that can hold my attention throughout the whole set. I hope you feel the same way next time you check them out.

Next up was Growing. I have been to more Growing shows than I can count since living in New York--and watched them mature into the band they are today. While previously they were more into a droney, nature aesthetic, now the music is slightly more abstract and beat driven while maintaining a loyalty to the affect guitar and samples; this makes for a more powerful, visceral sound experience that becomes more welcoming with every show. And, I was very psyched to see it with a sound system that could actually project the depth of their work.

The show culminated with arguably the crown jewel of the label Gang Gang Dance. Doubling as their record release show, Gang Gang Dance provided a very energetic set, including a very lively and charismatic version of their latest single House Jam.

My only complaint is that I wish there were less people at the show. It was very packed throughout most of the night and sometimes made it hard for short people like myself to see the set…and take pictures.

Growing

Image C/O ihateanarchists

Gang Gang Dance

Image C/O DLT XII

Posted by Lisa Baldini at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Watch the states turn blue on a big screen, surrounded by booze, music and food at Brooklyn's 3rd Ward. From 3rd Ward:

You voted, Now celebrate the end of an era with us! Expect live election coverage projected 10ft. x 10 ft., DJs, drinks and eats. Plus, compete to show your patriotism and be awarded, 3rd Ward style.

Nag says they'll have "pork barrels" too! For more info, email events@3rdward.com.

Posted by Brian Ries at 09:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

img via racked

Gothamist caught wind of a promotion going on at Park Slope's Babeland next week. By bringing in your voter registration card Tuesday through Nov. 11th, you're entitled to a free sex toy! For the ladies, Babeland will hook you up with a Silver Bullet, while for the dudes, you can pick up a Maverick!

From Gothamist:

All you have to do is "bring your voter registration card, ballot stub or your word of honor that you cast a ballot on November 4th" and they'll hook you up with the goods, which will probably help keep stress levels down until the election results are in.

So there you have it. Go vote on Tuesday, and whether or not you get laid for doing so, Babeland will make sure you go to bed happy.

In related news, does anybody have an extra McCain t-shirt lying around? I need it for my Halloween costume, and am not about to pay the McCain campaign 60 bucks to ship me one overnight. C'mon Brooklyn, there's got to be some former GOP supporters out there....right? If so, email me plz!

Posted by Brian Ries at 05:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Empire from Empire on Vimeo.

Posted by Brian Ries at 05:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

From Kayrock's website

Espeis archetype invited Kayrock Screenprinting to create a mural outside their gallery. With Halloween and the presidential election just around the bend, we created a wheat paste mural that combines 35 looming issues with 20 leering monster heads. All prints are 3 colors on text weight 19"x25" paper.

Monsters were drawn by Wolfy Part II, Karl "Kayrock" LaRocca, Zach Lehrhoff, Anna Haifisch, Christeen Francis and Brady Dollarhide. Looming issues were provided by the times, the media, the presidential candidates and you.

Barack Obama has a plan that addresses 25 pressing issues. McCain's plan only deals with three.

We will have monster head prints for sale at:
Prints Gone Wild
Supreme Trading
213 North 8th, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Saturday Nov 1 (6pm-midnight) and Sunday Nov 2 (12-6pm)

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 03:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This people are so creepy, it's hard to watch. [Thanks Rumproast]

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 02:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

If you've got an iPhone, Apple just announced that you can now get free WiFi in like, every Starbucks and McDonald's in the city. What they forgot to mention, is the majority of our coffee houses offer free WiFi anyways, so, suck it AT&T!

More info at MacRumors

Posted by Brian Ries at 02:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I told you about this back in September: Rogue Taxidermist To Unveil E.V.E. on Halloween. Friday, Halloween night, 7pm sharp. It's free, and there will be beers littered throughout the animal parts!

Posted by Brian Ries at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Guggenheim is finally free of all the crappy scaffolding and now you can see the Frank Lloyd Wright building in all its glory. Better yet, admission is free tomorrow. :) So if you are in the mood to get your art on, head on up to Museum Mile. Current shows include theanyspacewhatever, Catherine Opie, Rauschenberg Memorial, and Jenny Holzer's light projections on the building--I think it's only viewable at night.

Image c/o BlurA14

Hat tip Jaunted

Posted by Lisa Baldini at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

To the woman playing hard-core iPod porn on the L train this morning, thank you for such an entertaining journey under the East River. Seriously folks, from approximately Lorimer St. to 3rd Avenue, this woman was playing some serious, butt-humping porn and yelling at her iPod, giving some twisted commentary that could be heard from both sides of the train. "Oh, here we go, here we go, THERE YOU GO, GET IT, GET IT, OHhhhhhh Damn, let's get a close-up, zoom in, wake up New York check this shit out, close-up New York City!!!".

Passenger reactions varied. The woman closest to this iPod looked like she was about to throw up. Next to her, a 17-year old kid pretended to read his book, but he was really just staring over the pages, watching some 9-incher pound its way through the L-train walls. Behind me, some dude egged the whole thing on, and it made it all the more hilarious. "Thank you for playing that right now", he said with a laugh. She loved the encouragement, and at one point offered to act it out, even starting to straddle the dude next to her. And then, just like that, the scene ended. We hit 3rd avenue, and our friend announced, "That's it! Show's over New York!", packed her iPod away, and things returned to their normal, sleepy bubble a few yards under Manhattan.

I wish I had taken a picture to share with y'all. But then again, I'm glad I didn't. That poor, mid-level executive standing behind that glistening bare-ass would've seen herself later today in an e-mail from co-workers, and she would've cried. And now, now I can go get my coffee.

Posted by Brian Ries at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 05:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We haven't seen anything this terrible/hilarious since the One Bank ballad hit the internets. A tribute to David Ogilvy:

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 02:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

At MTVMusic, you can watch like, literally every music video ever. Great job, MTV networks! I'm actually really proud of you for not holding on to this treasure trove of music history. At the site, you can watch and embed all the clips in really high quality, thereby guaranteeing an afternoon of wasted walks down memory lane. Check it:

Update: Lisa thinks i'm a sell-out. Thoughts?

Posted by Brian Ries at 01:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

img c/o joystiq

The video game company behind the hit franchise Street Fighter took over Bushwick's Bodega Friday night to let fans sample it's latest version. Gaming blog Joystiq was there, and posted a rundown of the event. Hilariously, the suits at Capcom were a bit uncomfortable with the location, saying the neighborhood wasn't "safe" nor "clean".

All they had to do was google "Is Bushwick Safe?", and they would've gotten a simple, straight up answer from our neighborly blog, BushwickBK. Regardless of their corporate fear, the event looked pretty cool, as Bodega brought in a few XBox 360's for people to play in the back. From Joystiq:

In spite of that ominous rule, we have no choice but to talk about Capcom's incredibly well-orchestrated community event last Friday night. It's rare to see a games company reach out to the fans with early access to its most anticipated games. It's even rarer to see a games company conduct a PR event in a location like this: a converted bodega in the middle of Brooklyn.

We were told that some of the higher-ups at Capcom were uncomfortable with the location, and for good reason too. The neighborhood wasn't "safe" nor "clean," being one of the few neighborhoods in NYC that hasn't been hit by rapidly spreading gentrification. Guys in suits would never come here. And that's exactly what this event was about: reaching out to real fans (who, as you know, don't wear suits).

Click on through for more pictures, or heck, I'll just post 'em here:

Posted by Brian Ries at 09:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jay Reatard

My ears are still ringing this afternoon (even though I was indeed wearing earplugs last night) because Jay Reatard, Vivian Girls, and Cola Freaks took FULL advantage of the hefty sound system at Santos Party House for their sets.

It was decidedly Mr. Reatard's night, as he drew a much denser crowd than his openers. Denmark's Cola Freaks had had a strong post-hardcore meets post-punk feel, with not a single audible word from their lead singer - who was full of hyperactivity and bulging neck veins. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for his more stoic bandmates.

The über-hyped Vivian Girls were also on the lackluster end of the spectrum, albeit sweet.

"I'm so tired from playing so many shows," admitted singer Cassie Ramone between songs. But as her redheaded bassist Frankie Rose quipped, "At least this show isn't CMJ!"

Jay, with his curly mop of hair, 2-minute long song catalogue, and his Flying V guitar upped the ante for sure. He drilled through tons of great material including "It's So Easy," "See/Saw," and "My Shadow," and rarely paused between songs as he whipped his head every 3-4 seconds. In his guitarwork, vocals, and stage presence he demonstrated the togetherness and tenacity that has accumulated lots of fans in the past year or two.

It was hard to get our asses off the couch after the lllooooonnnngggg week that was CMJ, but everyone that headed to Santos on Sunday night found it worth it - I just hope my eardrums stop pounding by Tuesday morning or so.



Jay Reatard



Vivian Girls



Cola Freaks

Photos c/o Mark Iantosca

Posted by Elizabeth Brady at 04:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

img via flavorwire

Orient Ave. is quickly becoming one of our favorite streets in the 'burg, as it features steak-knife stabbings, squatters, and Williamsburg's own Michel Gondry (who, it turns out, is no longer missing). The latter, Mr. Gondry, is apparently busy shooting some kind of top secret project outside his house today, which he kinda-sorta told a passerby is a music video. Flavorwire reports:

Last night I passed by two guarded, trash bag-covered cameras in front of his house that had been set up earlier that day. When I asked the guys watching the equipment if Gondry was involved, they smiled but would not confirm it. When I then asked if Michel Gondry was paying them well to stay up all night, they said yes.

She returned this morning to check back in and see what the deal is. "I returned at 7 a.m. this morning and spotted Gondry busy sweding with a group of lackeys. One of them joked that they were working on a student film; Gondry told me that he was shooting a music video but would not reveal the artist."

I'm betting its someone awesome, as Wikipedia lists Gondry as a director on videos for pretty much all of the world's biggest artists - from Beck to Kanye to the White Stripes, and everyone in between.

He'll be at Strand bookstore tonight promoting his latest book, You'll Like This Film Because You're In It, tonight, so hopefully someone will get the skinny and send it in.

Posted by Brian Ries at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

c/o Clarissa Roudabush

I spent the final two nights of CMJ in Brooklyn, and I'm feeling Negative Nancy-ish about the entire thing. As with any massive marathon like this, you can expect to sift through lots of shit to find the gold, but this week that felt particularly true.

Obvi there were sweet acts like An Albatross, Designer Drugs, The Teenagers, Cheeseburger, TK Webb & the Visions, and Pattern is Movement that played locally in our fair neighborhood Friday/Saturday, but I feel like we already know and love them. Isn't CMJ supposed to be about seeing new talent, and growing a big ole' semi over unheard-of bands, and getting all riled up about the next year or so and who is going to blow up? Was CMJ even fun? Am I the only person who found this week to be a heinous adventure into the depths of bad music and annoying people sporting colorful badges?

Although I did collect a handful of new favorites from CMJ, which made my suffering worth it:
-Starfucker
-The Physics of Meaning
-Bell
-Wild Sweet Orange
-Stars Like Fleas

And bands that I've already fallen in love with - like Monotonix, Au, Hot Lava, and The Ruby Suns - worked their usual magic yet again in NYC. But dang, I'm so happy it's OVER!

(I'd really love to hear some suggestions from you guys if you got to see any great bands during the marathon that other people should know about - post 'em below!)

c/o Maniac World

Posted by Elizabeth Brady at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Christ, we hated those "Whasssssssssupppppppppppp!!!" ads. This spoof makes them all worthwhile:

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 04:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If you’ve got some spare time during the afternoon tomorrow, you should certainly stop on over at Pianos. The generous crew from Bowery Presents is putting on a free showcase:

After that, you can easily stumble a few doors down to Cake Shop, for the Oh My Rockness Showcase. They know their shit, and it’s gonna be sweet stuff:

Yowzah!

Posted by Elizabeth Brady at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Physics of Meaning

Force Field PR took over Pianos last night, with superb acts playing in both main stage area and the upstairs lounge. Quite a few darlings of CMJ ’08 were on hand, including Tobacco, Bell, Stars Like Fleas, and PWRFL Power. More nostalgic and lesser-known groups like Donovan Quinn & the 13th Month added breadth to the sweetness of the lineup.

Fortunately the evening also gave us another chance to check out Au, with their rousing percussion, feline vocals, and experimental flair. We're still not over them after being blown away last month when they opened for The Dodos.

Particularly impressive was the set put on by The Physics of Meaning – it’s kind of a ridiculous name, but this foursome fronted by an intense violinist is destined for big things. They’ve got the same sort of integrity and gorgeousness that makes other North Carolina-bred bands (like Annuals) so loveable.

Good times!

The Physics of Meaning

Donovan Quinn & the 13th Month

Au

Photos c/o Mark Iantosca

Posted by Elizabeth Brady at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last night I was fortunate to make it out to the Carpark/Paw Tracks showcase. I think it goes without saying that bands like Ecstatic Sunshine and Beach House give pretty consistent stellar performances, so I would like to turn my attention to some of the lesser known acts.

I caught the tail end of Tickley Feather’s show, which was fairly melodic, lo-fi, and sometimes minimalist in all the good ways. I have seen her before and again she came through with a solid offering.

Next up was a personal favorite of mine. I will preface this and say that I understand that Excepter’s noisey/dancey/provoking aesthetic isn’t for everybody. However, they have provided me with some of the best dance shows I have ever seen/heard. Often, you can never predict what they will do. This time they leaned towards the noise, slightly performance art side of their performances—singer John Fell Ryan even wielded a knife throughout a good portion of the set. All I have to say is give Excepter a couple of chances before you make up your mind.

Adventure was an artist that I wasn’t familiar with until this show. His sound is in keeping with the Baltimore future shock sound. And, he was able to get a good portion of the crowd dancing by the end of his set.

Last but not least, the newest addition to Paw Tracks is native Mississippians Dent May and His Magnificent Ukelele. This was the most unusual band on the bill. The sound has elements of country and folk music (perhaps a nod to zydeco) straight from the backwoods of the Delta—sung by a younger indie rock kid. At first listen, it might be difficult to understand how this act fits with the Paw Tracks family. However, I kept thinking of how charming and familiar the music sounded and didn't really care if it fit with the overall Paw Tracks aesthetic. I will definitely catch him again when he comes around. Epic win.

Adventure

Dent May and His Magnificent Ukelele

Posted by Lisa Baldini at 01:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 07:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is so spot on, right? From Arts Beat:

“Who’s playing? Crystal something?”

“Crystal Antlers?”

“No. Crystal Castles?”

“No. I think it’s Crystal Stilts.”

“Yeah, Crystal Stilts. ‘Crystal’ is the new ‘wolf.’”

Check 'em.

Posted by Brian Ries at 05:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

via gothamist: foliage in Prospect Park via hbomb1947's flickr; Gothamist House flyer; The Bell House lounge by Sam Horine.

Gothamist would like to remind you that they're pouring Bloody Mary juice all over their pickles today, or something like that, down at their CMJ Gothamist House, aka The Bell House, in Dumbo. Tomorrow...free beer! Open till 8 every day at 149 7th Street. In their own words:

It's your daily reminder: Come on over to Gothamist House! We're open and we've got delicious Bloody Mary's (2 for 1!) being poured with McClure's Pickles. Coming up next are sets by Reggie Watts, Fatula, Marnie Stern, Bad Veins and Twit the Humble Feather. There are still gift bags left as well, so come and get 'em! Tip for tomorrow: we'll have free PBR all day long.

The only thing better than free beer is free music, and they've got that too! For More...

Posted by Brian Ries at 04:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Billy Hot Chocolate is running a fantastic weekly movies series which has a hilarious premise, of which I wholly and unconditionally support. For the next three Fridays, including tomorrow, swing over to Cafe Grumpy (193 Meserole) in Greenpoint to catch Hoodies, Wheelies and Movies. There, you'll be treated to movies where characters wear hoodies and ride bikes, straight up!

Last week we missed ET (f**k!), but tomorrow it's The Goonies! Then, on Friday the 31st its Donnie Darko followed by Nov. 7th with Rad. For more info hit up Billy Hot Chocolate at BHCfun@gmail.com, or simply visit the event's facebook page.

Posted by Brian Ries at 01:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Chairlift @ Fader Fort

Starfucker @ Crash Mansion

Yesterday marked Day Two of CMJ, and we did a lot of skipping around to different venues and showcases, starting off with Starfucker at Crash Mansion. The Oregon-based trio played for a small crowd at about 4 pm with infectious synth-pop that's bound to catch on in the next year, so keep your ears peeled. We also got to check out Look Mexico who shined a bit less brightly than our new obsession, Starfucker.

Next on the list was the Fader party, set up in a gallery space off The Bowery. Chairlift played a brief and mellow set, building up to the other bands on hand (The Muslims, Crystal Stilts.) All I have to say about that whole affair is Blagh. We were instructed to leave our waterpark/hospital patient-esque Fader/Levi’s wristbands on for the next 3 days to (A) ensure re-entry to each day's sets, which DO have amazing lineups, but will still be annoyingly crowded and with shitty sound (B) advertise for Fader/Levi's. So we took the wristbands off afterwards. No ‘effin way.

After that, it was time to hit The Annex for the Bring on The Brits showcase, where people were clearly wasted (even at 8 pm the scent of Soco-breath lingered in the air.) Virgin Passages started off with a tepid reception to their male/female fronted indie-shoegaze amalgamated sound. Nothing new to report there..... and nothing new to report on Radio Luxembourg, who played cutesy yet ultra-rudimentary Britpop. As for Dirty Fuzz (“Rock’n’Roll’s not deeeadddd!!! Woooooooh!!!”) RIYL Duffy, Macy Gray, or other mom-rock/soul.

Everyone knew the main draw of the evening was Friendly Fires, who pulled through and managed to put on a great performance. Considering the teenie stage at The Annex results in severe space constraints for an active, dancing, thrashing band like Friendly Fires, the group still spazzed around and suited the soused and packed crowd quite well.

Phew, see you at Day Three -
À demain, mes chéries!

Look Mexico @ Crash Mansion

Radio Luxembourg @ The Annex

Friendly Fires @ The Annex

Free SoCo = Madness

Dirty Fuzz @ The Annex

Photos c/o Mark Iantosca and Clarissa Roudabush

Posted by Elizabeth Brady at 12:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Craft fairs were my mother's favorites and now they're definitely becoming mine. This Sunday marks the first ever Dead Herring craft fair. So, if you are in the market for something handmade, this might be your best bet.

If you want to RSVP, check it out here.

Posted by Lisa Baldini at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tonight at Don Pedro's there will be free SoCo and a slew of awesome bands! RSVP HERE.

According to the Myopenbar people:

"Ceci n'est pas une CMJ party. That means you don't need a badge, Frenchie. In fact, please don't come if you're wearing that hokey shit around your neck, because this party's basically in the projects, and wearing that thing is like wearing a sign that says, "I'm a douchebag – mug me!"....

Consider yourselves warned!

The fun starts at 9 pm, $5 cover, Don Pedro's is located at 90 Manhattan Ave (near the Lorimer J stop/Montrose L stop)

Posted by Elizabeth Brady at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

FREEwilliamsburg not-contributor and not-real-life-friend-but-we-wish-he-was comedian Zach Galifianiakis and Jason Schwartzman were seen filming in Fort Greene today for a new HBO show, Bored to Death. From Filming in Brooklyn:

Mr. Schwartzman arrived on the set, and hung out while the final preparations were being made to start filming (in the first picture, he’s chatting with director Alan Taylor). In the picture, to Jason Schwartzman’s left is Zach Galifianakis, who has a long conversation with Jason in the scene about to be shot

Posted by Brian Ries at 07:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Clever Idolator came up with a rad little Bingo Card for CMJ, with boxes to mark like "Trip to Brooklyn", "Meeting A Blogger" and "iPhone Blocking View". If you actually do it, send it back to 'em for a can of Sparks! Yea! The rulez:

Print it out and bring it with you! The first person to send a Bingo to tipsATidolatorDOTcom wins a free can of Sparks. (It may or may not be empty.)

You're looking at it below, but head over to Idolator for the full-sized version.

Posted by Brian Ries at 07:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

G'day folks!

Last night Crash Mansion hosted the DC Hardcore Records Showcase for CMJ, and the main draw was undeniably HR (he's in a lil' band called Bad Brains, for those of you who don't know his solo stuff.) The ever-smiley musician came out on stage clad in a golden helmet and played songs from his new album. We also got to check out The Arms, Goes Cube, and Team Robespierre before mister HR hit the stage, and before we scampered into the night...... here are some pictures:

HR



Team Robespierre



Goes Cube



The Arms


Photos c/o Mark Iantosca

Posted by Elizabeth Brady at 01:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We checked out the sold-out Brooklyn Vegan showcase at the Music Hall of Williamsburg last night, and it was a fantastic way to kick things off. I was a little late coming in, catching the last notes of Ponytail's set. Kate from Idolator has a whole review up of everything up to that point, when she left because "i was exhausted (it's midterms, people!), my lower back hurt, and the club was starting to get unbearably stuffy".

Kate, you freaking missed Passion Pit! I love 'em, they're a fun group with some hot beats and an awesome frontman in Michael Angelakos, who sings kinda like Wolfmother's Andrew Stockdale, in a weird happy hipster kinda way. They're based out Boston, with three keyboardists, one of whom doubles up with a guitar, then backed by a bassist and drummer.

I recommend you check them out this week if you get the chance, though go for a later show unless you expect dancing crowds at afternoon shows. Quiet Color lists their remaining shows at CMJ, and also notes "They’re pretty impressive so the show onslaught was inevitable. But this has all the makings of a Brooklyn blow up due to over hype. It’s still crazy that their music originally materialized as a musical Valentine’s day gift from Michael Angelakos to his girlfriend." I did not know that. How passionate! Also, the singing DJ was pretty cool, although the crowd wasn't really jamming out quite yet when I bailed outta there and retreated home. Maybe they warmed up? Check out these images of Passion Pit, and one of Ponytail by photographer georgia.kral on Flickr.

Posted by Brian Ries at 01:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Are you looking for an apartment in the heart of Williamsburg for New Jersey prices? Then look no further, because for $550 you can live one block from North 6th and Bedford! Just don't raise a fuss about living in someone's windowless kitchenless basement bathroom. But hey, look at the upside, utilities are included! Curbed notes, "It is a short trip to the toilet if you need to hurl after a long night at Supreme Trading, and if it's projectile and your aim is good, you might not even have to get out of bed." Looks like the original Craiglist post was removed.

Posted by Brian Ries at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Either Sarah is as dumb as a pile of hockey pucks or she's sending us a message to vote for Obama. We're guessin