Chic Fellows and Drug Trenches

Awesome show alert. Every now and then you see the lineup for a show and you think to yourself "there's not a single band on this that I only kinda want to see, cuz I wanna see them as much as I want to see Taco Bell Day become a nationally recognized holiday". I'm not alone on that Taco Bell Day thing, right? Anyway. This Friday we have one of those shows. Hop on the ol' reliable G train and come on out to Tommy's Tavern and catch Iron Chic, Fellow Project, Whiskey Trench and Go Sell Drugs. Cheap show, cheep beers, great bands. Win, win and win. Whiskey Trench is in town from Canada so best see em while they're stateside! Bring some dollas to snag some shwag from them too (its tough times for touring bands!) All bands also have amazing records available from the fine folks at Dead Broke Rekerds. Go buy the hell out of them, especially Iron Chic's new 'Shitty Rambo' 7 inch EP. It's good as hell.

Show details below...

Iron Chic
Fellow Project
Whiskey Trench
Go Sell Drugs
at...
Tommy's Tavern
1041 Manhattan Ave - Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Friday, December 4th - 9pm $5

train to Greenpoint Ave (use the India St exit)

B61 and B43 buses to India St

Farewell Cheeky - This Weekend in Brooklyn

Well Cheeky, you had a hell of a run. But as always, great bands usually break up with only a few releases out. They always have their reasons, and they're usually the right ones (or else they wouldn't be breaking up, right?) but ya never wanna see the really great ones go. Cheeky is one of those really great ones. They breathed a reviving breath into punk rock with straight forward, angsty and goddamn-catchy-as-hell songs that hadn't really been seen very often in recent years. Kate Eldridge belts out to the point choruses like "Get out of here! Leave me alone!" that need not go any further than that. Just get out of here, and leave her the hell alone. Simple. Far too many bands lately seem to try so hard to put more insightful or thoughtful meaning masked behind their lyrics, and it's getting fucking annoying (especially cause 90% of those bands are aweful). I think the chorus of that Cheeky song applies to those bands nicely.

Well now unfortunately, it's time to say goodbye to Cheeky. They've decided to wrap things up where they are and if that's the best thing for them, then so it is. That said, come say farewell to them this Saturday in Brooklyn at Death By Audio. Here's the show details:

Cheeky (last show ever!)
Slingshot Dakota
Zombie Dogs
Stupid Party
Shellshag

at Death By Audio
49 S. 2nd St - Brooklyn, NY
Saturday November 28th - $5 - 7pm - All Ages!

to Marcy Ave.

to Bedford Ave.

Leave Home ...and go to this

Who likes art, bands, booze and cheap good times? Yeah, just about anyone I guess... Well if that kinda stuff is your cup of tea, head over to Death By Audio in Williamsbur on Friday evening for Leave Home, an art installation by Kate Wadkins, Lauren Denitzio, Cristy Road and Tamara Waite-Santibanez. There's also booze, usually courtesy of the guy in the back room slingin' cans of Busch from a cooler. Hurray beer! (feel free to throw some tall boys or 40s in your bag as well before heading over). And as if that all wasn't good enough, you'll be fortunate enough to have your ears loved by the sounds of the lovely Laura Stevenson and your face rocked by Brooklyn/New Brunswick's Little Lungs. More artists TBA, who will more than probably be great as well (why ruin a good thing?) Full details and all the what not can be found below:




Leave Home
A Collaborate Art Installation

Artists:
Lauren Denitzio / Black And Red Eye
Cristy Road
Kate Wadkins
Tamara Waite-santibanez / No Guts No Glory

Bands:
Little Lungs
Laura Stevenson
+ More Tba

at Death By Audio
89 S 2nd St in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
8PM - $5 donation

Purchase Little Lungs' 7" Hoist Me Up from Salinas Records.
Download Laura Stevenson's album A Record for free from Quote Unquote Records.

7" Of The Week: Pregnant - Wanna See My Gun?

Pregnant - Wanna See My Gun?

Brooklyn's own Pregnant have been out and about for a while now hitting the NYC and NJ scenes with their Dischord-influenced brand of punk with all they got. They're currently working on a new LP that is due out this summer on Don Giovanni Records, but if you need some now (which you do) their 7" EP Wanna See My Gun? was released in February and is loaded with awesome. Get your hands on that shit from Don Giovanni Records mailorder. Expect a lot more great things from this band in the future.

Happy Record Store Day!

Happy Record Store Day to all! Every year this day comes around and to celebrate, bands and record stores around the country team up and offer exclusive vinyl releases and in store performances. It's a day to celebrate, and if there's one place with a plentiful amount of record stores taking part in the today, it's NYC. Here's a list of the stores I'll be definitely hitting up today.

Academy Records
96 N 6th St. Brooklyn, NY

Generation Records
210 Thompson St. New York, NY

Bleecker Street Records
239 Bleecker St. New York, NY

Earwax Records
218 Bedford Ave. Brooklyn, NY

SoundFix Records
110 Bedford Ave. Brooklyn, NY

To find stores in your area head to the Record Store Day's list of participating venues. Get out and support your local record. Fuck Best Buy, fuck Target, fuck Walmart, fuck Circuit City... oh wait. Independent records stores care about the music they sell, they do it because they love it. So whether you buy vinyl or CDs, go out and show your appreciation to your local record stores.

Papacito's garden opens May 5th!

Who likes Mexican street style food? You're a liar if you didn't raise your hand. Who likes beer? You fucking liars, get your hands up! Well good news for all, on May 5th Papacitos will open their beloved patio and beer garden! Along with the grand fiesta, Papacitos will be unveiling new nightly specials, a daily $1.50 taco special and $ Tecate special. Not to mention they also have a great new vegan menu! Yes, Papacitos caters to eaters of all walks, and everything is delicious.

Oh and did you know they deliver? Cause they do, TIL 5 AM starting May 5th! And they've just expanded their delivery zone to even include the lower parts of Long Island City. Check out their menu on their website, but honestly you're better off just stopping by, grabbing a 32oz Tecate and kickin back with a burrito that could beat up your dad. If your dad was also a burrito...

Papacitos Brooklyn
999 Manhattan Ave
Greenpoint - Brooklyn 11222

train to Greenpoint Ave

B43 and B61 buses to India St

Lucero - FINALLY returning to Brooklyn

Well it's finally fuckin' happening. After the last few laps through NYC saw Lucero playing on boats or opening for The Black Keys at Terminal 5 (I'm aware of the Mercury Lounge date that happened after but I had my own drunk punk-country band to tend to), Lucero is finally playing a normal club show. And I cannot really complain about the location. On April 18th they will take the stage at the North Si... err, Music Hall of Williamsburg.

It's a Saturday night, that could not have been more perfectly planned. Why? Because the only way to see Lucero is by trying to out drink them throughout their set. A feat very few can tackle (this is Lucero people). If you're not familiar with Lucero, there is something wrong with you first off. Secondly you need to aquaint yourself with them. I can cite no specific record to dig into first (ok maybe That Much Further West) as they're all whiskey and beer soaked masterpieces. You cannot listen to them and not be affected somehow.

I cannot lie, one of my goals in life is to one day get drunk with Ben Nichols and start playin' songs. Yeah it'll probably never happen, but a guy can dream yeah? Tickets go on sale Friday at noon. Do not miss this. Show details can be found below:

Lucero
w/ Titus Andronicus
Music Hall of Williamsburg
66 N 6th St - Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Saturday April 18th - 8pm doors 18+

train to Bedford Ave.

Lulu and Alligators

Lulu's changed to Lost & Found. No biggy. Lost & Found was an excellent neighborhood establishment in north Greenpoint. It offered a decent draft beer selection, cheap Black Label, PBR and High Life, Simpsons pinball, a photobooth, pool table, skeeball (yep, skeeball), free hot dogs and pretty much the coolest bartenders around. It was never packed unless there was a show going on upstairs. Which was fine because that's how I was introduced to one of my favorite bands right now (Bridge & Tunnel, dig em).

The one night, while severely drunk, they informed me that L&F would be closing soon for renovations due to new ownership. I was crushed. I was also shitfaced. So it wasn't too bad. Then they didn't close for a while, and I thought all was honky dory until the day I rode past on my bike, and saw the site we see documented to the left in that photo. There used to be a ferris wheel and it read "Lost & Found". Devistation.

Months go by, and finally it reopens with a new name. Now it's Alligator - Greenpoint. Owned by the same folks who own Crocodile Lounge in the city and Alligator Lounge in Williamsburg, the free hot dogs are gone, replaced by free pizza. Which I'm not against, cause its damn good. But there's so many places to get free pizza in north Brooklyn. I was drunk when I came in to check out the changes, but they were vast. All the cool stuff is gone from the walls. They cleaned off the graffiti in the bathroom. High Life prices went up, no more PBR/Black Label. All the games appear to be gone. New random seating areas. I dunno, it wasn't bad. But it wasn't great. Still the same bar staff though so I can/will enjoy that. I guess you'll just haveta see for yourself. If you're new to it, you'll probably like it. If you're used to Lulu's/Lost & Found, you'll be let down. But I'll give it a chance to grow on me.

Oh yea and they're still doing shows. Bridge & Tunnel on March 12th. Do it.

*Another notable change i realized: happy hour is now only $3 drafts from 3-6 when it used to be half priced til 8. Who the fuck can get there before 6 oclock? I do believe you've lost me now... RIP old friend.

113 Franklin St.
Greenpoint, Brooklyn
train to Greenpoint Ave

or just go somewhere better, like Tommy's or Goodman's ($1.50 Bud draft and nothin but metal).

Get Fucked Up in Brooklyn

Who wants to go see Fucked Up? You'll say yes if you know what's good for you. Anybody who's been to a Fucked Up show knows what I'm talking about. Anybody who hasn't been to a Fucked Up show? It's time you found out what I'm talking about. On Tuesday January 20th they'll be playing at the Inauguration Day Hardcore Show at Danbro Studios Warehouse in Bushwick with Vivian Girls and Pissed Jeans. Both bands you should get to know as well if you don't already. Now I know I know, it's inauguration night for our newly elected president Barack Obama. I'm looking into set times and inauguration schedules as much as I can. This would be an ideal strategy: Drinks and inauguration at Duck Duck or Kings County, pizza at Roberta's, then go see Fucked Up. Sounds like good times, right? Check out the details below.

Tuesday January 20th - 8pm
Fucked Up, Pissed Jeans, Vivian Girls + secret guests TBA
Danbro Studios Warehouse
260 Meserole St
Bushwick, Brooklyn

by subway:
train to Montrose Ave
train to Broadway
trains to Hewes St or Flushing Ave

Bridge & Tunnel @ Generation Records

The increasingly great (and my number 5 LP of the year!) Bridge & Tunnel will be making a special appearance at Generation Records in Greenwich Village next month. Generation shows are always awesome and special in some way, even when they get absurdly cramped and you can't see much (anybody catch the Fucked Up show there?). Cheeky will be opening the show which kicks off at 8pm on Wednesday Jan 28th. Free as long as you bring a can of food to donate (bring more than one if you're awesome).

Can't make this? Bridge & Tunnel will also be performing a month
later on Feb 28th at Matchless in scenic Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Cheap Pabst, Bridge & Tunnel and a 5 minute walk home? You bet I'll be there.

Details:
January 28th at Generation Records
210 Thompson Street
Greenwich Village, NYC
trains to West 4th St Station

February 28th at Bar Matchless
Manhattan Ave & Driggs Ave
Greenpoint, Brooklyn
train to Nassua Ave
train to Bedford Ave

I have returned

Well it's been a good three months or so since my last post. Sounds about right. Write for a few weeks, then disappear. Write another few weeks, disappear. Rinse, repeat. I'm going to try to stay more active here and also invite contributions from anyone else interested in yammering about things relating to non shitty music and cool stuff going on around Brooklyn.

I think to close out 2008 I'll opt for posting a top ten list of year. Maybe a few of them. Definitely a top 10 records of the year. Maybe top 10 bars? Top 10 shows? Did I even go to 1o shows this year? We'll see. You'll see.

NYC + Craft Beer = oh shit...

Beer. Anyone who knows a damn thing about me knows how much I like beer of all dimensions and qualities. I will spend $10+ on a single 120z bottle of Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA. I will also have no problem whatsoever riffling through all my pants for change to cough up $2.50 for a 40 of Colt 45.

It's NY Craft Beer Week and it couldn't have come at a better time of the year. Summer is ending. Fall is starting. The weather is becoming more and more bearable throughout the days and nights. So what better time to get some friends together for a good ol' fashion bar crawl?

It's a pretty simple idea. Purchase your $19 ticket for the night online (I assume you print it out?) and check out the event's website to see what bars in what neighborhoods are participating. Each bar has about 3 beers selected for the event week and will provide 8oz glasses (pictured above) to sample each one in. 8oz may seem small, but figure it's 3 beers per bar, and about 8 bars per neighborhood and you're not limited to just one neighborhood for the evening! Next weekend I'll be taking part in the Greenpoint bar crawl (excited to check out the Hop Obama from Sixpoint Brewery at Black Rabbit) which depending on how drunk we get, will trickle down to the Williamsburg bars participating as well. Check out the list of beers available at this week's celebration.

Greenpoint Bars participating:
The Mark Bar
1025 Manhattan Ave
t.b.d.
224 Franklin St
Van Gogh's Radio Lounge
147 Franklin St
Black Rabbit
91 Greenpoint Ave
The Diamond
43 Franklin St
The Gutter Bar
200 N 14th St

Sonic Youth to close the show

Well we all knew it was coming. This summer is the last year for JellyNYC pool parties and other concerts at McCarren Park Pool in Greenpoint (that's right, it's in Greenpoint, sorry Williamsburg). The pool parties have been the apple of our summer eyes for the past few years. Bands you want to see, for free? Shit where do I sign up? Nowhere, just show up. But it must come to an end (maybe), and who better but to ring out the last note but Sonic Youth? OK it's not the final JellyNYC pool party, but it will be the official last concert at McCarren. The last JellyNYC party will be on August 24th and the lineup will be announced soon. This summer has seen some great shows, and more to come. The Loved Ones showed me that I'll stand in the rain if I really like a band that much. And though I can't say I was particularly impressed with anyone's performance at the MGMT show yesterday, the $2 Sixpoint Sweet Action in the VIP area treated me nicely. Seriously who doesn't like cheap beer? While you must purchase tickets for the Sonic Youth show, that's not such a bad thing. Think of all the shows you're seen for free, it can't kill ya to pay for ONE. And it's SONIC YOUTH. You've heard of them right? Ok cool.

Sonic Youth - FINAL CONCERT AT MCCARREN EVER
Sat. August 30th
4PM Doors
get tickets
McCarren Park Pool
780 Lorimer St. Brooklyn, NY
L train to Bedford Ave or Lorimer St
G train to Metropolitan Ave or Nassua Ave

back again

Well it seems I've once again taken a long absence from writing. Laziness? Maybe. Lack of events to write about? Hardly. Distraction from third parties? OK that's it. I wanted to write about Renegade Craft Fair, a review of The Loved Ones at McCarren Pool, NYC Bubble Battle and Brooklyn Kickball. But those things are long past. Well I suppose I can still do a overdue review of Renegade. And if you so please, here's some pictures from The Loved Ones at McCarren Pool. And I go to the kickball games every week so that's still fresh. Ok so I guess I was just lookin for an excuse there with that "long past" nonsense. But alas, ever onward. It's NYC, it's summer, things are happening and if I think it doesn't suck I'll have some words on it here. First thing's first...


Tomorrow night is indeed one of the most anticipated nights of this summer for myself and anyone else who knows a damn thing about good music. Hot Water Music, Thursday and Paint It Black (or as I like to call it, the Time Capsule Show) will be performing together at Terminal 5 in midtown Manhattan. Unusual location for a show of this type, but hey they have fresh (I wish free) empanadas on the third floor balcony and beers are actually sensibly priced for that part of the city. However also that night, Alkaline Trio is headlining Irving Plaza with American Steel and Dillinger 4 supporting. Now I used to love Alkaline Trio, I really did and still love all those records and have even found songs I can appreciate on Crimson and Good Mourning. But to say they're even a shadow of the band who released Goddamnit and Maybe I'll Catch Fire would be a goddamn lie. I propose Alkaline Trio's bus be stopped and searched at the Lincoln Tunnel. And held for several hours forcing them to miss load in and soundcheck. American Steel and Dillinger 4 will have no choice but to come up to Terminal 5 and join the Hot Water/Thursday/Paint It Black show. I think it's a great idea yes? No? Who wants to help make it happen? More importantly who else is gonna be Lost & Found in Greenpoint Bklyn before the show gettin the day started right?

Get Loved at McCarren Pool this month

Usually when someone writes about an upcoming show, it's because of the killer headliner (see three posts down...). And it's not that I don't dig The Hold Steady, they're a solid band. But this is all about The Loved Ones. They first caught my attention in the summer of 06 while I was in Baltimore with my old band recording an album with Brian McTernan, who recorded their first EP and LP. They stopped by the studio while coming through town on tour and were really killer guys. So I checked their tunes out and was super into it. It was that solid, catchy punk rock that while many bands do well, they just do much better. Gritty yet melodic vocals, hook laden guitars and driving drum beats. Nothing outrageous, just something concrete and excellently executed. Their second LP "Build And Burn" brought more of a pop and at times folky element to the songwriting and they really started to shine through with their full potential without sacrificing anything fans of the first two records loved about them. So why did I mention The Hold Steady at first? Oh yeah. Well, The Loved Ones will be opening for them at McCarren Park Pool on June 29th. Like I said, it's not that I don't dig The Hold Steady. I just think The Loved Ones are far better. There will also be a special song performed during The Loved Ones' set. What is it? Well, you'll just have to go to the show (hint: Chuck will be proud!). Details are below.

JellyNYC Presents:
The Hold Steady
The Loved Ones
J Roddy & The Business
Sun June 29 at 2pm
McCarren Park Pool
780 Lorimer St.
Brooklyn, NY 11222

L train to Bedford Ave or Lorimer St.
G train to Nassau Ave or Metropolitan Ave
also accessible from B61, B48 and B43 bus lines.

Another place to dispose of your paychecks...

If there's one thing there will never be too many of in Brooklyn, or anywhere really, is record stores. Not CD stores, record stores where one can make purchases of the vinyl persuasion. While en route to Queens on Franklin Ave in Greenpoint the other week, a friend and I spotted this place, Permanent Records which we'd never noticed before (obviously cause it's pretty new). Immediately we spun our bikes around and popped in. And yes of course, we spent a good forty five minutes perusing through. I gotta say, impressive. Great selection of classic pop, rock and jazz records as well as more contemporary punk and indie stuff. And a great bin of seven inch records. It may not look like much at first glance, but you'll find yourself looking through every last record there and having to decide which ones to get and which to put back. Or maybe not? Everything is very modestly priced. I picked up 7"s from Minor Threat, The Cro(w)s and Wat Tyler and some new record cleaner for under $12. And did I mention that the guy working there (dunno if he was the owner?) was super nice and helpful? Yeah, I know. At a record store in Brooklyn, but believe me it happened. You could tell he really cares about and appreciates music. Give them a shot, you'll be happy. Then go celebrate your new favorite record shop and buy me drinks at Lost & Found as a token of thanks.

Permanent Records
181 Franklin St. (corner of Huron St.)
Brooklyn, NY 11222
718-383-4083

G train to Greenpoint Ave
B61, B43 buses to India St. & Manhattan Ave.

Death//Traitors doesnt wanna see you naked

The summer line from Brooklyn t-shirt company Death/Traitors is now available and waiting for you to buy it. It's about to get real hot out, might as well look hot as well. I'm particularly happy to see the Doomsday artwork now on a t-shirt (it was a sweatshirt in the winter line). Stay posted on their website about upcoming concerts and DJ party nights around Brooklyn. I'm sure I'll write about it here as well. Purchase your shiny new D/T swag from the website or at these retail locations:

KCDC
90 N. 11th St
Brooklyn, NY 11211

Autumn Skateboard Shop
436 E. 9th St
New York, NY 10009

Division East (exclusive D/T/DE collab shirt avail here)
460 Bloomfield Ave
Montclair, NJ 07042

Rumors
404 N. Harrison St.
Richmond, VA 23220

Delta Spirit is coming to Brooklyn

Well what good news that is. I was playing their album "Ode To Sunshine" this morning in the office and about halfway through the last song I started thinkin' "hmmm I wonder if they have new tour dates up?" Well sho' nuff, they do. And they're coming to Brooklyn. March 25th you can catch them at Union Hall in Park Slope. And three days after the pillow fight in Union Square? I gotta say I've really been crossing my fingers that Delta Spirit would be coming to New York City sooner than later. Much like Alberta Cross, they were recommended to me by my swell friend Meghan, and at first I was like "hmmm yea it's cool". A few months later I gave their EP another listen and while I was really enjoying it this time around, the song "People, Turn Around!" hit me in a way very songs have. You know the way I'm talking about. When you hear it you feel like this is the song you've been waiting to hear your whole life (until you hear the next song that does that to you, of course). But that's what this song did. So i got my hands on their full length album (they say a vinyl release is coming, where's the wax boys?) and there it was. I had fallen in love with this band. They'd redone "People, Turn Around!" and it sounds even better than before. Other songs like "Children" and "Trashcan" also quickly stole my soul and they can keep it. They deserve it. So I encourage all to venture to Union Hall that evening and grab a beer and sing along to one of the best bands making music right now.