Northside Festival Preview: June 11th & June 12th

Thursday / Friday

I'll be covering Brooklyn's Northside Festival as press again this year. The music portion of the festival goes Thursday through Sunday, June 11-14.

It's exciting because I saw a lot of really good bands and met some really cool people last year. It's a little scary because humping it back and forth to Brooklyn on a late spring weekend isn't the easiest thing in the world logistically when you're a suburban husband and father of two. We've got guitar lessons, bat mitzvah tutoring, birthday parties, and softball practice. And that's just Thursday and Friday nights. Saturday involves softball games, post-game ice cream, and a swim meet. On Sunday CoolMom leaves for a business trip. I'll make it all (well, some of it anyway) work somehow.

Anyway, today I present the first of probably two previews with what I hope to see on Thursday and Friday evenings, June 11th and 12th. Like last year, I'll probably generally shy away from the big headliners in order to focus on some of the smaller bands playing. There are some headliners I won't be able to bring myself to miss, though.

Thursday, June 11th

Luna at McCarren Park

Here's one headliner I probably won't be able to miss. 1990s dream pop band Luna have reunited for a few dates, and one of them is the Thursday night free show in McCarren Park. Dean Wareham's guitar and vocals will be a beautiful way to ease myself into the craziness to follow.



Expert Alterations / Beverly at Alphaville

The first thing I saw at last year's festival was the Kanine Records showcase at Cameo Gallery. This year, the Brooklyn dream pop / pop label will host their showcase, along with Culture Collide and Terrorbird, at Alphaville. I'm not sure when I'll be able to make it over there, but I hope to get there in time to catch the late sets from Expert Alterations and Beverly.

I just received my Expert Alterations 12-inch EP, and I've been loving their REM / Feelies-inspired jangle pop. I wasn't able to head up to Brooklyn for NYC Pop Fest a couple of weeks ago, so I'm happy to get another chance to catch this Baltimore trio.

Beverly, the project started by Drew Citron and Frankie Rose (since departed), was the secret headliner at last year's Kanine Records showcase. By the time I figured that out, I'd already made my way across the borough and missed them. In keeping with the overall Kanine aesthetic, Beverly are another group that trade in the sounds of dreamy garage pop.



The Muscadettes at Living Room

Another band that do the reverb-heavy, female-fronted, dreamy garage thing are Montreal's Muscadettes. Fronted by twin sisters Chantal and Kathleen Ambridge, The Muscadettes are a band that I stumbled on when they showed up as a last-minute opener for Dead Heavens at Wonder Bar.

They put out the 6-song Side A back in April, and I've listened to it pretty regularly since picking it up with the last few bucks I had on me at that Asbury Show.



Fort Lean at Echo

Fort Lean, who have made a couple of trips to Asbury Park, look poised to blow up at any second. Their debut LP, Quiet Day, just came out on June 2nd. On the singles I've heard so far, it sounds like the band have added a bit more of an electronic / synth-y sound to their jangly guitar pop. "Cut to the Chase" has worked especially well for me. I'll be interested to see how the band have evolved since I last saw them a little more than a year ago at APYC.



Ringo Deathstarr at Grand Victory

I haven't decided if this band have the worst or the best name in the world. It doesn't matter, though, because their combination of influences -- from My Bloody Valentine to Dinosaur Jr. -- make theirs a sound that I can't get out of my head.

They're kind of playing at prime time on Thursday, scheduled for 10:15; so I'll have to sacrifice something to check them out. It is their only scheduled show of the festival as far as I can tell, though.



Sharkmuffin at The Gutter

Sharkmuffin were one of the revelations for me at last year's Northside Festival. Their sound drenches short, catchy pop songs in a swirl of grungy, surfy dirt making the ferocious sweetness of their name wholly appropriate.

They've also just announced that they'll be working with our friends at Little Dickman Records for the release of their debut LP, Chartreuse. I've gotta make to one of their sets to say hi and congrats. Like Ringo Deathstarr, they've got a prime time slot on Thursday; but I believe I've got multiple chances.



Friday, June 12th

Neko Case, Rhye, Magical Clouds at 50 Kent

I'd say Neko Case has a beautiful voice -- and she does. But I feel like that doesn't fully capture the way she puts it to use. It's almost like a weapon, like a superhero's special power. She plants her feet firmly on the stage and -- when she's not playing guitar -- tenses her arms at her sides and just unleashes it on you. All you can do is stand there with your mouth open as it washes over you and maybe even musses your hair a little bit.



Dentist, Vomitface, The Planes at Pet Rescue

Our friends over at Hearts Bleed Radio are holding their 2015 showcase at Pet Rescue on Friday. That show was the source of a lot of fun and new friendships for me last year, so I don't want to miss this one.

Stephen Perry's The Planes, whose single "Evacuation Route" we premiered here a while back, and Jersey City's Vomitface were both standouts for me at last year's festival. And Dentist make their way to Brooklyn for this one. I can't miss Dentist. I love them way too much.



Dead Stars, Slonk Donkerson at The Gutter

Will it finally happen? Will the stars finally align so that I can see noisy / fuzzy / Dino poppers Dead Stars? We'll see. If I miss out -- again -- I think I've got another chance on Sunday, but Sunday's iffy with the CoolMom trip and all. Ugh.

If I do make it to this one, I'm excited to catch Slonk Donkerson as well. Like Ringo Deathstarr, their so bad it's good name is just part of the appeal for me. Their loud, sludgy, guitar-based pop is the real draw.



The Meaning Of Life at Bar Matchless

Matchless. The Meaning Of Life. I could relive one of my favorite moments from last year's festival, Marta DeLeon's smoky vocals filling up the little cave of a performance space in the back of the bar. We'll have to see how geography, logistics, and set times play out for this one.



Mitski at St. Vitus

Unbelievably, I missed Mitski both times she came to Asbury Lanes this year. I've gotten reports from friends that the Don Giovanni artist's sets have been amazing and transformative. This is one I'd really like to make work.



Spider Bags, Ex Hex at MHOW

Spider Bags are heading out on tour with Titus Andronicus. They're also playing at Saturday's Asbury Park Night Bazaar at The Anchor's Bend. I saw them at The Saint last year; and their all-out, southern tinged garage punk blew me away.

I've been kicking myself for the last couple of months for missing Mary Timony's power trio, Ex Hex, when they played WFMU's Monty Hall. I'd love to see them, but it would mean giving up on a few sets I already listed. Decisions.



SLEEPiES at Aviv

SLEEPiES' Weird Wild World is pretty much a masterpiece of intelligent, quirky punk rock. They were one of the first bands to reach out to me in the early days of CoolDad Music, and I've never been able to catch one of their sets. This is a late one, so the only thing that could stand in my way this time is whether I can still stand. I'll make it.



OK. So this list is beyond aspirational. I'm sure that it's physically impossible to do all of this, but in an ideal world... Well, in an ideal world, there's even more stuff I'd like to see. There will be those surprises that happen too, bands I happen upon by accident that could end up as highlights of the weekend.

Back tomorrow with a list of stuff I'd like to see on Saturday and Sunday.

Fort Lean and Dentist at Asbury Park Yacht Club, 4/4/14 (PHOTOS)

Summer Is Coming

CoolMom and I went with some friends to Asbury Park Yacht Club last night to catch Fort Lean's return to Asbury Park and Dentist's final, local set before their record release show in May. It was chilly and rainy, and we're only now starting to feel the first little bits of spring; but something about last night made it feel like summer isn't too far away.

It was probably the combination of drinks with friends in a place like APYC with its big windows looking out at the ocean and all the single coil jangle and reverb being put out by the bands. And the dancing. The dancing definitely gave things a summertime vibe.

Both bands put on great sets. Dentist are readying their debut full-length which should get them some notice beyond Asbury Park, and Brooklyn's Fort Lean further stoked my hopes that they'll make us a regular stop.

Here are a few photos. As always, you can see full sets in the Flickr galleries.

What's Going On: April 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th, 2014

Brooklyn's Fort Lean return to Asbury Park on Friday night as part of SIMGE Presents at APYC.

Now With More Thursday!

When I used to commute into Manhattan every day, Thursday was like Commuter Friday. On Fridays, everybody wanted to head out early; so, if you wanted to spend an evening tossing a few back with your co-workers, Thursday was your night. Around here, we have Jeff Raspe's "Locals Live" every Thursday night at Langosta Lounge, and the guys from Sound Waves put something on at APYC every week as well. Then, there's The Saint which is always a reliable bet for pre-weekend action.

I took things easy show-wise last week in anticipation of the jam-packed few days ahead, starting tonight. "Locals Live" has The East Indies, Waiting For Henry, and Framing Dakota at Langosta. Arizona punks Authority Zero headline The Saint. In New Brunswick, Court Tavern has a bill that includes The Hsu-Nami, who mix Chinese traditional sounds with progressive and post rock and feature The Battery Electric's Brent Bergholm on guitar.

Friday night sees the return of Fort Lean to Asbury Park, who play a free show along with Dentist and The Drive Home at APYC for Speak Into My Good Eye. Happy Mondays mastermind, Christine Feola, holds the launch party for her new Dark City Entertainment at The Wonder Bar. And the CoolDaughters would be excited to know that Cher Lloyd headlines The Stone Pony.

On Saturday, our very good friends here at CoolDad Music, The Everymen, come back to The Saint with Richard Bacchus (formerly of D Generation), The Battery Electric, and Pour the Pirate Sherry; while New Brunswick's Court Tavern features an early show by Dave Hause and Night One of the Hub City Music Festival.

Finally, I had to throw in Sunday as The Saint will be helping to celebrate Jeff Crespi's birthday with a full lineup that features Hot Blood, Vextion, A Balance Between, End of an Era, and The Antics. Jeff is a tireless supporter of local bands through his photography, and you should definitely try to stop by to say thanks, wish him a happy birthday, and buy him a Coke.

THURSDAY (4/3)

Asbury Park Yacht Club (Asbury): Sound Waves Presents, 9pm, FREE

Court Tavern (New Brunswick): A Need For A Reason / The Hsu-Nami / Brittney On Fire / The Best Of The Worst / Franchise / Drowning Swans, 8pm, $6

Langosta Lounge (Asbury): Locals Live: The East Indies / Waiting For Henry / Framing Dakota, FREE (ALL AGES)

The Saint (Asbury): Authority Zero / Donald Spencer / Von Mons, $13 adv, $15 door, 6pm

FRIDAY (4/4)

Asbury Lanes (Asbury): JoyCut / Dinosaur Eyelids / Bradley Cooper, 8pm, $8 adv, $10 door (ALL AGES)

Asbury Park Yacht Club (Asbury): Speak Into My Good Eye Presents: Fort Lean / Dentist / The Drive Home, 9pm, FREE

The Brighton Bar (Long Branch): Starcazt / Mike D / Dubz / Premonisitions / The Gindi Brothers, 6:30pm, $10 adv, $12 door (ALL AGES)

Clash Bar (Clifton): Michael Greeley / King Dead / Industry, 9pm, $8

Court Tavern (New Brunswick): Owel / (Damn) This Desert Air / A Balance Between / Verses Narrow / Harvey Pekar, 8pm, $10

Langosta Lounge (Asbury): The F.L.O.W., 9pm, FREE (18+)

The Saint (Asbury): Passafire / Lullwater / From The Ground, 7:30pm, $13 adv, $15 door

The Stone Pony (Asbury): Cher Lloyd / Jackson Harris, 7pm, $26.50 adv, $30 door (ALL AGES)

The Wonder Bar (Asbury): Dark City Entertainment Launch Party: The Vansaders / Chemtrail / Amy Malkoff & The Moonshines / The Battery Electric / Incircles, 7pm, $7

SATURDAY (4/5)

Asbury Lanes (Asbury): Cavalcade Of The Odd's "Kisses and Concussions Rides Again," 7:30pm, $15 (18+)

Asbury Park Yacht Club (Asbury): Birthwater, 10pm, FREE

The Brighton Bar (Long Branch): Goat Rope / Microfossils / Love Kraft / BaBabes / Leeds, 7:30pm, 21 + FREE, 18-20 $5

Clash Bar (Clifton): Silence Equals Death / Tarpit Boogie / Faction Zero, 9pm, $8

Court Tavern (New Brunswick): Dave Hause / Northcote / Rocky Cantanese, 4pm, $12

Court Tavern (New Brunswick): Hub City Music Festival: Roadside Graves / Wreaths / The Junk Rumblers / Chris Harford and the Band of Changes / The Stuntcocks, 9pm, $10-$20 Suggested Donation

Langosta Lounge (Asbury): Broken Gold / Seaside Caves, 10pm, FREE (18+)

Lot 13 Longbar (Bayonne): Cicada Radio / The Cartwheelers / Ravens Ballroom / Japanda, 7pm, $5

The Saint (Asbury): The Everymen / Richard Bacchus and The Luckiest Girls / The Battery Electric / Pour The Pirate Sherry, 7:30pm, $10

The Stone Pony (Asbury): CSN Songs / The Unknowns / The Shadows, 7pm, $15 adv, $18 door (ALL AGES)

The Wonder Bar (Asbury): Marc Ribler and Friends / Lance Larsen / Heaven, 8pm, $10 adv, $12 door

SUNDAY (4/6)

The Saint (Asbury): Jeff Crespi's Birthday Bash: Hot Blood / Vextion / A Balance Between / End of an Era / The Antics, 6:30pm, $10 adv, $12 door

Surfer Blood Played The Saint with Fort Lean and Wake Up, 2/27/14 (PHOTOS)

Close to Home

It seems kind of late in the year for it to be this cold. I bundled up last night, though, and headed out to The Saint in Asbury Park to catch Surfer Blood. Surfer Blood have two solid albums and an EP under their belt, and Astro Coast was a standout for me in 2010. I'll admit, though, that the weather factored into my decision to renounce my Stephen Malkmus tickets and to stay close to home rather than make the drive into Brooklyn. Joining Surfer Blood on the bill were fellow Floridians Wake Up and Brooklyn's Fort Lean.

The music started with Lake Worth, Florida's Wake Up. The quartet provided me with a bit of my Malkmus fix for the evening, their sound heavily rooted in classic indie rock like Pavement, Modest Mouse, or Built to Spill. They impressed me, and it's nice to see them getting some exposure by touring with the much more well-known Surfer Blood in advance of the release of their debut EP.

Greenpoint's Fort Lean followed. The Saint was really starting to fill up at this point, and the band's combination of garage rock and power pop got a nice response from the crowd. Frontman Keenan Mitchell mentioned that they'd been touring some of the "hippie hinterlands" for the last week or so and that, despite the cold, it was nice to be "back in the neighborhood. It's nice to see some leather jackets again." 

Despite being based about 1200 miles up the Atlantic Coast from Surfer Blood, Fort Lean revealed a philosophical and aesthetic connection to the headliner with songs like "Beach Holiday" and "Sunsick."

The Saint felt pretty packed as Surfer Blood took the stage. Frontman John Paul Pitts looked young and unassuming in his button-down shirt, but he and the rest of the band turned in an energetic set that pulled from all of the band's recorded material. The biggest responses, of course, came for hits "Swim," "Floating Vibes," "Demon Dance," and "Weird Shapes." During "Floating Vibes," Pitts put his guitar aside and made his way down into the crowd, eventually emerging atop The Saint's bar somewhere between the paper lanterns and the purple "Sean Ono Lennon" guitar. I think he got himself a beer while he was up there.

After closing the main set with "Catholic Pagans," the band climbed down from the stage and -- rather than heading out to the cold street via the door at the rear -- just kind of waited alongside for a bit until they jumped back up for a two-song encore. It had me thinking of the end of the Nicole Atkins concert, when she and the band stepped out into a snowstorm before the encore. When they came back, Atkins commented on what a bad idea that was. The boys from Florida didn't make the same mistake.

At the end of the show, Pitts was back in the crowd, this time letting them strum his guitar and take pictures. He left his Stratocaster at the edge of the stage as the final song ended, audience-members fiddling with the knobs and plucking the strings.

I got to see three, really good out of town bands last night -- two of which, I'd never heard before. I didn't have to go out of town to do it, and I was home by 12:30. Gave me kind of a warm feeling inside.