Nicole Atkins & The East River

Nicole Atkins plays pop music. Really great pop music. Not of the radio variety and not of the super pretentious variety. Just really great pop music taking hints from the greatest of the 60s pop and R&B singers and crafting it into a contemporary sound which isn't quite her own, but who cares because she does it so well. Her new album "Neptune City" on Columbia Records explores her varied influences while showcasing a strong songwriter coming into her own in this world of often vapid and redundant pop music. Catchy, upbeats tunes ("Brooklyn's On Fire") twirl around with torchy ballads ("The Way It Is") on this record with theatrical balance. So with all this knowledge, doesn't she sound like someone you'd like to see perform live? Perhaps even... for FREE? Well New York City, you can. She will be playing a free show at Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, Queens on Tuesday June 17th at 7:30pm. Full details below.

Nicole Atkins (7:30)
Salt & Samovar (6:30)
Socrates Sculpture Park
32-01 Vernon Blvd (intersection of Vernon & Broadway)
Long Island City, NY 11106
N/W train to Broadway (in Queens, dur)

Just blow with a large group of strangers

Summer is upon us and the good folks at Newmindspace are ready again to satiate your hunger for something ridiculous and fun in large numbers. They give to us once again, the NYC Bubble Battle. It feels like just yesterday that the NYC Pillow Fight occurred in Union Square (yeah that was in March... oh, spring 08 where hath thee gone?). But this is surely not to disappoint. No location has been announced just yet, though previously it's been held at Astor Place and I think that is quite the suitable battle ground. I expect to see some double barrel bubble guns and semi automatic sub-bubble assault rifles here. Full details have yet to be announced including info on an after party, but I'll be sure to post as soon as it does. But for now, jot this down:

Newmindspace presents:
NYC Bubble Battle
Saturday, Jun 21st
6:15pm - 7:15pm
Somewhere in Manhattan?

Add the event to your Facebook.

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.

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