To Serve, Protect and Beat The Shit Out Of You If We Feel Like It

As a cyclist in this city, you put up with a lot. Joggers running against traffic in the BIKE lane, not many bike lanes to begin with, moronic and careless drivers who think bikes are supposed to ride on the sidewalk (it's ILLEGAL numbnuts) and occasionally yes, police officers with nothing better to do than give you a hard time (gawd forbid they go patrol some neighborhoods that need it). I've had my share of cops messing with me for stupid nonsense. But NOTHING I or anyone I know has ever experienced in NYC, Philly, Baltimore and wherever the hell else I or my friends have biked compares to what happened at Friday's Critical Mass in midtown Manhattan.



Nice little display of how much you care about serving and protecting there officer. And to top it off, the kid got arrested and the cop denied it all! Police drunk on power is a huge problem in this city and I really start to wonder what it's going to take before something is done about it. You'd think the Shawn Bell murder would have? But no, that just proved that you could blast 50+ rounds into an unarmed person and walk away if you have a badge. So really, what is it gonna take in this city?

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?

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.

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.