(Flyer via House of Vans/ Rooftop Films)
The great giver of free things, House of Vans, has announced they’re teaming up with Rooftop Films (the latter just dropped their 20th-anniversary summer programming) for two undeniably sick events happening next week. The super group of summertime chill times are calling the almost back-to-back affairs “cinematic music events,” and for the low, low price of $0 you too can see two music-centric documentaries followed by performances from Danny Brown, The Casualties, and more. It’s all happening at House of Vans. Read on for more deets.
To celebrate the New York City premiere of Danny Brown: Live at the Majestic, a concert film shot by Andrew Cohn at Detroit’s Majestic Theatre (which is, of course, a venue in the rapper’s hometown) Danny Brown will be on hand for a special performance following the screening on Tuesday May 24.
In case you’ve been living under a rock for the las several years, Brown is known for his absurdist humor and nasty-boy, freak-a-leek rhymes like, “If it’s smellin’ sweet I’ma lick it for an hour, and even if it’s sour I might lick it in the shower.” For this reason (and a few others) Brown regularly gets groped on stage, so at the very least expect to see some lacy numbers a’flyin. Maybe leave the strollers at home for this one (for everyone’s sake, please and thank you). RSVP here for free entry.
Don’t sleep a wink though, coz just 48 hours later, on Thursday May 26, House of Vans is hosting yet another unmissable screening event. First up is Angela Boatwright’s Los Punks, a portrait of two thriving punks scenes in South Central and East LA, where Latino kids are keeping the dream alive with a raw-as-hell backyard show. The kids leading this scene are from immigrant and working-class families, and they’re putting the rest of the country to shame with their incredible diversity of sound and passion. (Which reminds us– NYC Latino Punk Fest is coming up in June y’all.) The filmmaker is also known for her photographs of teen subcultures and underground movements (like this series on “Heavy Metal Kids”) so you know she’s got the right stuff to really “get” the punk scene.
(Flyer via House of Vans/ Rooftop Films)
The documentary gets behind the drum kit at shows, weaving in interviews with scene kids and musicians alike. But the filmmaker goes deep– showing where these punk kids come from, where they grew up, and how their values and goals are often drastically different from those of their parents. And yet, the punk scene is shown as a solid community of friends and bandmates willing to support one another through good times and shit times.
After the screening, The Casualties– yep, those latecomer dudes to the NYC punk scene with those mile-high Manic Panic mohawks who are stilllll playing music– will perform a set. The old timers will be joined by two bands from the “Los Punks” landscape, South Central Riot Squad (“hardcore skate punk”) and Age of Fear (LA punk stalwarts). RSVP here to get on that ultra FREE guest list.
House of Vans is located at 25 Franklin Street in Greenpoint.