The floodgates opened this week. Northside. Celebrate Brooklyn. South Street Seaport. CBGBs. All of these festivals announced varying portions of their lineups this week; and they’re pretty awesome thus far. There’s sets from everyone from indie vets like Guided By Voices and OLIVIA TREMOR CONTROL (!!!) to hip hop legends like Ghostface Killah, GZA and Kool Keith (Dr. Octagon tracks please), to some of the hottest “buzzbands” like Cloud Nothings, Frankie Rose and The Pains of Being Pure At Heart. I’m sure DIIV will play at least 74 times, as well.
“Festival season” is still about a month or so away, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait ‘til June to catch some “buzzworthy” shows. We’ve got you covered, and our MOST BLOGGED ABOUT SHOW this week should get you plenty excited. Beach House is back in town to support their rapidly forthcoming (and currently streaming) 4th record, Bloom. They play the sold out Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday with Zomes.
If you missed out on your chance to see Vicki Legrande’s hair up close and personal, and still want to catch a “big one,” you could do worse than snatching up a ticket to Neon Indian’s second post-Era Extrana go-around at Terminal 5 on Saturday. There are still some tickets left, despite what represents an absurdly stocked undercard, featuring Ducktails and Lemonade. Huh. Kinda surprised Neon Indian can’t sell out a Saturday night at T5, while M83 effortlessly sold out his T5 show tonight, a weeknight. IS CHILLWAVE DEAD?
Earlier this month, there was a post on Snowmine’s first headlining show and Conveyorwas briefly mentioned as one of the opening bands. After experiencing their lively act at Glasslands Gallery, I am compelled to properly introduce these men to you guys. Conveyor is a four men representation of sensational rock music with an experimental and at times, orchestral edge. Last year, they released an EP titled Sun Ray and this year, they have a new single called “Mukraker”. This track is a warm breeze with a bright radiance of the xylophone. Watch the music video of “Mukraker” below and get cozy with their versatile kitchen/loft/recording space.
You know what is so great about these local New York bands? They play local New York shows. This Saturday, Conveyor will be performing with Bryan Scary (another client of the lovable Paper Garden Records) at Le Poisson Rouge. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Get your tickets here! It’s an early show with doors opening at 7:30 so why not? Last time, a man in a rainbow jumpsuit came on stage during the set with a beautiful trumpet. Maybe this will happen again!
It seems as if “Witch House” is becoming the “Chillwave” of 2012. This eerie genre of music is pretty broad if you think of it. From compressed vocals to digital downbeats, Witch House has some kind of dark allurement that is seducing every listener. This Saturday, our own New York witch duo,White Ring will be performing at Glasslands Gallery with oOoOO headlining and Sibian & Faun as the night’s opening band. As a cherry on top, F∆I†H will be spinning a DJ set. The evening is promised to be atmospherically dusky with bodies swaying to the pulses of “IxC999″ and everything else White Ring feeds. Tickets are still available so get on it before they are magically gone, click here.
Happy New Year! If you missed a party on New Year’s Eve, we have something to make up for it. This Thursday, local acts are gathering at Glasslands Gallery for a Popgun celebration. The headlining band is Snowmine, one of my personal favorites from 2011. Snowmine consists of five handsome men with the talents of creating tribal nostalgia. Their music can be received as low waves of synthed indie rock mixed with splashes of orchestrated pop. Laminate Pet Animal (Snowmine’s album) is a collection of delightful body treatments.
The Seaport Music Festival will now rock you on Sundays with their new music series dubbed “Beach Party.” From July 10 through August 14, various bands will bring you some free end of the weekend delight at the Beekman Beer Garden. Shows begin at 3pm.
Current lineup…
July 10: Cheeseburger
July 17: Xray Eyeballs with Frankie and the Outs,The Babies
The signs are pointing towards this being the last summer for Jelly’s Pool Parties. It’s expensive to produce (~$500,000), takes too much time & effort, they’re not making any more money, and they’re no longer a monogamist beast — Jelly’s been refocusing efforts on the smaller and more DIY events they used to know and love (see Rock Yard).
But while Jelly’s profile in the community has risen along with the popularity of the concerts, they haven’t made more money. And Hooper says the process of booking and producing the free concerts has become more difficult. The move to East River State Park meant a doubling of the fees Jelly pays to rent the site, along with the loss of revenue from beer sales and increased security demands. “It’s been a tough year for everyone,” Hooper says. “This summer has been about digging ourselves out of the hole of last year’s Pool Parties.”
Then, there’s this quote, also from Sarah Hooper, a Jelly co-founder, given recently to NPR’s The Record: “I kind of hate the Pool Parties now. They make us all really sad when we go on site. And then I go to a Mad Decent block party or our things at Rock Yard, and it’s exactly how it used to be.”
Come to think of it, I get kinda sad too. The beer drinkers are locked in an alternate concert experience, the stage backdrop is all condos, and the magic is just…gone.
What do you think…is this it? Would you be happy to see Jelly let the Pool Parties die and re-focus on the Rock Yard and/or Mad Decent collaborations? Crystal Ball of the Internet! What does our future hold?!
We’re still not sure why singer Jamie Stewart was folding his left wrist like that for the entire set, but Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof’s full rendition of Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures was a pretty great way to start this summer’s Pool Parties. “She’s Lost Control” was the highlight (thanks for the video unartig) to a fun day in the sun. We were happy to see that Roberta’s and the Meat Hook were added as vendors. And left utterly perplexed by the fact that people seemed to enjoy the band Why? Why indeed! We’re already looking forward to next week’s lineup.
We’re still not sure why singer Jamie Stewart was folding his left wrist like that for the entire set, but Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof’s full rendition of Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures was a pretty great way to start this summer’s Pool Parties. “She’s Lost Control” was the highlight (thanks for the video unartig) to a fun day in the sun. We were happy to see that Roberta’s and the Meat Hook were added as vendors. And left utterly perplexed by the fact that people seemed to enjoy the band Why? Why indeed! We’re already looking forward to next week’s lineup.
I know I know, there are so many shows going on a the Northside festival it’s hard to catch all of them. I’ll just say: I caught Free Willy faveSteel Phantoms at Spike Hill for the Ear Farm showcase. And? I absolutely love the energy of these guys. Classically trained musicians, their punky pop tunes sound at times a little like Vampire Weekend got married to Joy Division and had a baby where the drummer could sing. Anyways, they’re playing Sunday night at Music Hall of Williamsburg (WHICH YOU CAN’T GO TO BECAUSE YOU’RE COMING TO OUR SHOWCASE, RIGHT?) or checkout their Myspace for upcoming shows.
