Celestial Shore (Photos: Lindsey-Paige McCloy)
Exploding in Sound Records can put on a show. Around Brooklyn, the perfunctory “thank you, Dan Goldin,” has evolved into a mantra of sorts, like the family prayer before a meal. Thankfully, this week is no exception, with EIS taking on CMJ in the label’s usual fashion: loud.
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Scherzo at Palisades. (Photo: Gustavo Ponce)
As DIY spots like 285 Kent and Steel Drums continue to disappear and our old party pads become high-rise condos, where do we turn? Enter Ariel Bitran and Leeor Waisbrod. Along with partner Rose Fathers, the musicians and friends recently opened Palisades, an intimate, welcoming dive with a generous stage.
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“Caught In Love” by Jackpot, Tiger is a humorous, if slightly cautionary, tale of lust gone wrong. Highlighted by a ’60s-style chorus, buoyant melodies, and a thoroughly desperate protagonist, the single fully represents what the band does so well: straight-up pop music.
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Habibi at Longbranch Inn (Photos: Ankita Mishra)
SXSW certainly isn’t for everyone– the crowds, the queues, the lack of available cabs, sure to leave any New Yorker squirming– but really, there’s no better place for discovering a whole lot of great music in not a whole lot of time. While the warm(ish) Texas weather was definitely a major selling point, the ultimate goal for yours truly (plus one talented photographer pal), was to catch as many bands as humanly possible. Despite the dark cloud of an early, unexpected tragedy (luckily, we were both fast asleep at the time of the accident), the festival re-gained its momentum. Over the course of four booze-and-BBQ fueled days, we criss-crossed Austin in search of some familiar faces. Here’s what we found.
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Photo courtesy of Toons’ Facebook page
In a world of much-too-serious video concepts and utterly ridiculous music trends, think of Toons as your classic Brooklyn party collective. At least, that’s what the band’s first video, “Bazooka Joe,” seems to suggest: a free, maybe even slightly volatile good time, where anything can, and probably does, happen. But aren’t those always the best stories?
On Toons’ self-titled debut, there’s no real agenda; just eleven quick, pop-inspired alternative tracks, perfect for blasting at the highest volume possible. Bedford + Bowery scored the “Bazooka Joe” premiere as well as an interview with Toons and video director Seamus McGuire, where topics like potential lawsuits were brought up and references to early-aughts action movies were made. If “Bazooka Joe” is your classic “happy nightmare” story, here are some thoughts from the morning after.
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Left to right: Carlos Salguero Jr, Joe Galarraga, Amar Lal, Brendan Finn (Courtesy of Big Ups)
Coathangers at 285 Kent. (Nate Dorr’s Flickr)
We knew it was coming, but that still didn’t make the news any easier to digest; after weeks of swirling rumors, cryptic tweets, and endless speculation, we have official word that 285 Kent will close its doors at the end of this month. After a string of four final shows, yet another beloved Brooklyn institution will bid its final adieu.
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Ava Luna (Photo: Gustavo Ponce)
CMJ seems to have been a success this year — or at least, that’s what a handful of Brooklyn club owners said when we spoke to them earlier this week. Peter Shapiro said Steven Spielberg dropped into Brooklyn Bowl, Jake Rosenthal said Glasslands was sold out every night, and Todd P seems to have come around to the fest.
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