PHOTOS: Screaming Females Played White Eagle Hall with Mal Blum, Radioactivity, No Men, 2/22/20. On Tour Now with PUP.

Marissa Paternoster of Screaming Females by Rose Lamela

Garden Party

Most words and all pics by Rose Lamela

This is my fourth February seeing Screaming Females start the year off with a live show, and they always bring a good lineup along. The fact that they played one of my favorite venues, White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, made it even more special. They shared the stage with No Men, Radioactivity, and Mal Blum.

No Men

Radioactivity

Mal Blum

It was Screaming Females' Annual Garden Party and the show was sold out. I could hardly move from the spot I got in the front of the stage, but I managed to get some photos. The highlight of the night for me was my first time hearing Screaming Females play "Boyfriend" live. I've got to say that they are still my favorite band to see live. They always deliver to a full house of loyal fans, and it feels good to be a part of that.

Screaming Females

CoolDad Notes

I'll concur with Rosi on a few things:

• White Eagle Hall is great. I've said it before. They have been wonderful and accommodating to this site ever since they opened.
• Same goes for Screaming Females. We're coming up on 8 years since they first blew me away with their set at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park; and, ever since, they have been true friends to CoolDad Music.
• "Boyfriend" was a highlight for me as well. Marissa Paternoster handed her guitar to the crowd and threw the full force of her being into delivering the song. At one point, a helpful fan unplugged the guitar and set it gingerly on the stage only to have Paternoster walk back over, plug it back in, and send it back on its way into the hands of the audience.

Other stuff:

• I don't know. In my old age, I'm less about fighting for a spot up front and staying there all night to shoot shows. It's a good thing, I think, that I'm getting back to the point where I can enjoy shows without a camera in my hands.
• On that point, Rosi has been an invaluable contributor here. She's a fantastic photographer, and she always brings her unique voice to her posts.
• This was a typically solid line-up curated by Screaming Females. It was my first time seeing both No Men and Radioactivity, and both bands were great. Mal Blum is someone we've followed here for a long time, and they've just gotten more and more rocking with each passing year.
• State Champion Records put together an after-party at the tiny Wine Bar in the basement of Pet Shop JC just a few blocks away. That was packed to the gills for Vacation and Unclaimed Diamonds. People hanging from the pipes and lighting things on fire (I didn't find the fire thing particularly cool or intelligent if I'm being honest). Really dark in there, so no pics
• Check out all of Rosi's pics at Flickr.
• Screaming Females are currently on tour with PUP:

The New Alternative Music Festival at Asbury Park's Convention Hall, Night 2, 9/17/16

Downtown Boys closed out the New Alternative Music Festival at Convention Hall.

You Can't Start a Fire without a Spark

Strangely, given how much I enjoy eating, I usually forget to eat during shows. I get kind of wrapped up in what's going on, and I don't make time to have dinner or whatever. Friday night was no different; so, after Screaming Females' set, I made my way over to Cookman Avenue to get a Korean burrito.

Asbury Park is actually a pretty small community; and, on a busy Friday night, you're likely to run into someone you know. I bumped into Gentleman Jim Norton outside of House of Independents, and we ended up chatting for a while as we've been known to do. When I finally made it to Mogo for some food, Renee Maskin (more on Renee in the next post) walked in; and we lingered over burritos discussing all manner of things. All of this is to say that it was pretty frigging late (or early, depending on your perspective) when I got home. I woke up the next morning and squeezed in a little photo editing before heading back to Convention Hall for Day 2 of Don Giovanni Records' New Alternative Music Festival.

Vagabon were just finishing up as I walked inside, and Jamie Kilstein and The Agenda were up next. Kilstein made it a point to acknowledge the importance of what the festival represented while delivering a politically charged and hilariously funny set.

Vagabon

Jamie Kilstein and The Agenda

Upset were next. Founded by Ali Koehler, formerly of NJ's Vivian Girls, the band are based in LA and rarely make it out this way. The lineup has changed since I last saw them a couple of years ago, and the focus has shifted from Koehler to be more evenly distributed among the rest of the band. Upset still feature the legendary Patty Schemel (Hole, Death Valley Girls, Sharkmuffin [on Chartreuse], and more), and one of the big thrills of the festival for me was awkwardly saying hello to her over at the merch table. The new, more democratic Upset were great; and I look forward to their new music.

Upset

Other standout early sets for me were those turned in by Philadelphia duo Trophy Wife, San Jose's Try the Pie, Baltimore's Outer Spaces (whose A Shedding Snake will be very high on my personal year-end list for what that's worth), and Dyke Drama (the solo project of G.L.O.S.S.'s Sadie Switchblade). Anti-folk hero Jeffrey Lewis took us into what would have been the dinner break had I remembered to eat.

Outer Spaces

Throughout the day, I saw the members of P.S. Eliot and Screaming Females among the crowd enjoying all of the bands. It's a testament to the community that surrounds Don Giovanni Records that headliners from the previous day would clear their schedules to stick around for Day 2 of the festival.

Things then really ramped up with evening sets from Mal Blum, Aye Nako, Sex Stains, Rye Coalition, Laura Stevenson, Girlpool, and Downtown Boys. Mal Blum was as charming as ever, easily chatting with the crowd between their upbeat, singable songs about depression and self-doubt. Aye Nako, a band I've wanted to see for a while now, were worth the wait. They draw from a well of 90s influences and challenge listeners with songs about sexual and racial identity.

Mal Blum and The Blums

Aye Nako

I wasn't prepared for Sex Stains. Fronted by Allison Wolfe (Bratmobile, Partyline), the band gave us probably the wildest set of the entire festival. I couldn't stop snapping pictures as Wolfe and co-lead vocalist Mecca Vazie Andrews bounced, twirled, high-kicked, and rolled around on- and offstage. At one point, they invited audience members up to dance with them (No surprise, Ed the Punk was first to take them up on the offer.). Short, intense blasts of punk / post-punk. Beer raining on me from somewhere as I was taking pictures. Just amazing.

Sex Stains

Immediately following her band's set, Wolfe was right down front going wild for the reunion of Jersey City hard rock band, Rye Coalition. They played one of the longest sets of the night, and the Jersey crowd ate it up along with band-provided cupcakes.

Rye Coalition

Laura Stevenson. One of my favorites. She and the band took the stage after 9, and that's when I got this weird feeling -- after having spent about 7 hours in the windowless box of Convention Hall -- that I didn't really know whether it was day or night anymore. Anyway, Stevenson's set was wonderful, as expected, if a little too short for me. It was hard taking pictures as I just wanted to close my eyes and listen to the music, but I managed. Stevenson's last two records -- Wheel and Cocksure -- are stunning in different ways, and all of that came across during her set.

Laura Stevenson

Philly via LA duo, Girlpool, had the penultimate Convention Hall set. Harmony Tividad (bass, vocals) and Cleo Tucker (guitar, vocals) stood at either end of the stage right setup, their voices weaving around each other as they sang. The pair's friendship comes through on 2015's Before the World Was Big, and they brought the whole audience into that during their set.

Girlpool

Finally it was time for Providence, RI's Downtown Boys. I've written before here about the band's passion. Singer Victoria Ruiz delivers rousing calls to action as intros while the sounds of the sax and the rest of the band build up behind her. The tension rises until everything explodes into "Wave of History" or "Monstro." At times, Ruiz held the mic to members of the audience who shouted "She's brown! She's smart!" along with the band.

Downtown Boys

Downtown Boys included their cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" towards the end of their set, and the line "You can't start a fire without a spark" seemed appropriate for the entire weekend. Yes, the festival ended up having to cancel its scheduled third day. No, there probably weren't as many people in attendance as Don Giovanni Records (or even I) would have liked. But something important happened over those two days. For a weekend, bands had the chance to play not to help sell beer or energy drinks or to up some corporation's street cred with millennials, but simply to share their art with people who cared about it. They got to play as part of a bill that included women's voices, LGBTQ voices, the voices of people of color -- voices that are often lost in the white, male-dominated bills of major "Indie" rock festivals.

Following the festival, bands went back out into the world of gigs sponsored by beer companies and huge music-industrial complex gatherings. But, for two days in Asbury Park, they got to see that an alternative is possible. The New Alternative Music Festival didn't burn the corporate music industry to the ground, but maybe it was a spark.

Pics are all done. I'll be uploading them to the Flickr galleries this afternoon.

CoolDad Does Austin: SXSW Day 3

James of Beach Slang tries his beer trick as Matt Pinfield looks on.

Hinds, Beach Slang, Don Giovanni Records

A slight drizzle on Thursday morning cooled things off a bit, but not much. I got up. Did my show listings and daily recap, then headed downtown.

I'd been shut out of the Hinds show on Tuesday night; so I decided to try and catch them at Frank, a small bar west of the downtown craziness, for their first of five shows of the day. The band's album Leave Me Alone is one I've been listening to quite a bit since it came out.

Getting in this time was no problem, and Hinds were great. They admitted that they'd just woken up; but for a band with 17 shows on the schedule for the week, they brought some really good, positive energy. Never stopped smiling.

Hinds from Madrid.

After their set, I walked over to Waterloo Records to catch Louisville's White Reaper. Once I arrived, I realized that the setup was kind of like the Stone Pony Summer stage -- a stage at one end of a giant parking lot. It was packed; and, while I think White Reaper are great, I was kind of surprised. Turns out that Joe Jonas and DNCE were next on the schedule, and their fans were already staking out real estate. White Reaper got to play to a large crowd holding up DNCE posters. I headed over to the flagship Whole Foods for a sandwich.

Then it was back to Frank for Philly's Creepoid, local kids Residual Kid (who were hosting the Frank party), Yuck, and Beach Slang. Oh. I didn't mention that Matt Pinfield was emceeing the Frank party! Anyway, Creepoid were fantastic. Don't miss them when they play Brighton Bar next week with The Dirty Nil and Restorations. Residual Kid surprised me. They were probably 17 years old, very good, and have obviously spent a lot of time with Nirvana and Pixies. Yuck were pretty laid back as they delivered songs from their latest album and mixed in a few that I remember from their marvelous debut.

Beach Slang were Beach Slang. Blood, guts, sweat, and drama all over a tiny stage late on a Thursday afternoon. I realized during their set that, as much as I enjoy discovering new stuff, I still just love what I love. Love them.

I headed back into the craziness of downtown for some beers with Dentist and to hit the Don Giovanni Records showcase at The Velveeta Room. I arrived as Mal Blum was setting up. Blum and the band turned in a pretty rocking set of Blum's soul-baring soungs. Following that, it was Philly's Pinkwash.

Sound guy: "That guitar's pretty loud. Can you turn it down?"

Guitarist Joey Doubek: "Um... No. I really can't."

Then he and drummer Ashley Arnwine absolutely pummeled the whole room.

Following Pinkwash, it was time for Vacation. They had about 1000 times the energy I did at that point and gave us a great set. When they were done, so was I. I could barely stand after going straight for about 13 hours. I headed back to the hotel, finally ate dinner (at the Waffle House next door), and crashed hard. It's back at it today when I'll try to catch some of the bands I missed yesterday.

Vacation

Stay tuned.

Mal Blum, You Look A Lot Like Me, 2015

Album Review

by Allyson Dwyer

I heard Mal Blum for the first time when Blum and the band were right in front of me, on stage at the Knitting Factory Brooklyn. It was February, at the annual Don Giovanni Showcase, and I knew I was going to love everything they did by the end of the first song. Beyond Mal Blum's charming and funny stage presence, I was taken aback by Blum's immediate honesty in just what these songs were: musings on recent bouts of depression and the struggles to get through the episodes. Stinging pretty close to the heart, these songs and Blum's lyrics really spoke to me. Blum mentioned that many of these songs were from an upcoming album about that very subject, and I've been waiting since.

Now it's autumn. Since time just seems to pass by so quickly and my identification with the topic at hand hasn't altered, the wait didn't feel so long. You Look A Lot Like Me is a little bit more upbeat in its formal, mastered form than I anticipated from the live versions, but -- with that adjustment -- it's an album of ten very precise, fully-formed songs that seem more sure of themselves than they let on. And with Marissa Paternoster involved (as co-producer with Kyle Gilbride, second guitar, and backing vocals), there is a hint of additional personality there that embellishes what I heard back in the cold of February.

The album opens with the fantastic “Archive,” which ends with the anxiety inducing: “We're gonna die / and maybe it's gonna be alone / we're gonna die and it's gonna be alone and no one is going to find the things we left behind / because we never thought to leave a fucking archive.” The track is like a self-deprecating prologue -- an announcement of Mal Blum's state of mind when this album came about -- indicating that perhaps this album is just that, an “archive” of this period in Blum's life. And Blum was wise enough to leave that information behind for us, to document this part of a personal story.

You Look A Lot Like Me is full of poppy, bittersweet musings that poke at not just Mal Blum's depressive episodes but also at Blum's personality in relation to others during this time. There's that frequent, underlying current of self-deprecation, such as on tracks like the catchy “Better Go.” In a way, Mal Blum's lyricism reminds me of the raw revelations Rivers Cuomo would share when admitting to his deepest embarrassments and insecurities way back when Weezer was about that. This play of self-doubt against the backdrop of pop continues on tracks such as “Robert Frost,” and “Cool Party.” They sound as though Mal Blum went through an experience, then immediately ran back to jam in the safety and comfort of a garage or bedroom.

“Reality TV” is a standout track, featuring the great mixture of Mal Blum's clever lyrics (“I watch reruns of the Jersey Shore / Snooki drank too much / Now she's on the floor / It's a feeling that I've felt before / But it wasn't televised”) and the strongest influence from Paternoster. Following is “Iowa,” one of my personal favorites. While the rest of the songs on this album feel like they're being sung while snug in Blum's bed, this one is like walking down a NYC street with no coat: “Blow like a blizzard / the wind in the trees / blow like blizzard / me and my needs / blow like a blizzard / and please, pass over me.”

Things take an almost spiritual turn with “Better Than I Was.” The Don Giovanni description of You Look A Lot Like Me states that the album was written during a low period for Blum but recorded during a high. With a line like, “something inside of me says / I'm better than I was,” it all comes into focus, at least for me as a listener. For all of Blum's blunt lyricism, there is a subtle journey on this record -- one that doesn't have a complete ending. But in its documentation, its archiving, this period in Blum's life has been given reason and purpose. By sharing those experiences, Mal Blum makes some of us feel a little less alone.

You Look A Lot Like Me is out now on Don Giovanni Records.

I Also Like This New Song By Mal Blum

Mal Blum in New Brunswick's Boyd Park last September.

"Better Go"

As I sit here at my keyboard and communicate with you over the Interwebs, as I prepare to head out for a weekend of taking pictures at shows and posting them to show you what a great time you're missing, I've been hitting replay on this new video from Mal Blum. I may still be in my pajamas right now. I may not. I think, on some level, we can all identify with the split screen shots of "Room-sitting Face-stuffing Mal" and "Champagne-swilling Social Media-ing Mal."

"Better Go" captures a lot of the warmth and sometimes self-deprecating / sometimes cutting humor that I've witnessed during Mal Blum's live performances. It also features Blum's new, more electrified, indie rock approach. "Better Go" appears on Mal Blum's You Look a Lot Like Me, which is due from Don Giovanni Records on October 2nd.

Screaming Females' Marissa Paternoster produced and does some guest vocaling and guitaring, while Kyle Gilbride of Swearin' handled mixing duties. Gilbride worked on some of my favorite records of the last several years (both Swearin' albums, Waxahatchee's Cerulean Salt and Ivy Tripp, Upset's She's Gone, etc.), and it's a perfect combination for giving Blum's lyrics and hooks a poppy punky world to bounce around in on this track.

Mal Blum starts a tour on October 5th with an album release show at Knitting Factory Brooklyn that also features Adult Mom, Emilyn Brodsky, and Painted Zeros.

Mirah, Mal Blum, Worriers, Slothrust, and Aye Nako Played Knitting Factory Brooklyn, 4/3/15

Mal Blum played the She Shreds / Don Giovanni Showcase last Friday. Great photo by Mike Petzinger.

Words by Allyson Dwyer

Yesterday, I gave you Mike Petzinger's photo highlights of last Friday's She Shreds / Don Giovanni Showcase featuring Mirah, Mal Blum, Worriers, Slothrust, and Aye Nako at Knitting Factory Brooklyn. As promised, here's Allyson Dwyer's take on the event.

The same pair covered the Screaming Females show at Asbury Lanes for us, and I'll get you that tomorrow. For now, here's Allyson. Now, it's time for a limoncello with George.

She Shreds / Don Giovanni Showcase at Knitting Factory Brooklyn

by Allyson Dwyer

CoolDad is in Italy, probably on a yacht with George Clooney drinking fancy wine and wearing designer scarves; so I'm stepping up to do his dirty work. Usually the designated beer runner, I've finally graduated to covering shows while CoolDad HQ CEO laughs from a distant private yacht.

On Friday, I headed into Brooklyn by my lonesome to check out the She Shreds release showcase with Don Giovanni Records. In between sets, DJ SAD13 (aka Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz) spun tunes. As with the record label's previous three showcases this year, it was held at the Knitting Factory.

I arrived just in time for the beginning of Aye Nako's set. I had listened to Aye Nako, having come across them on a random Spotify playlist, and was excited to catch them live. The Brooklyn-based band had a wonderful dynamic on stage – lo-fi power pop-punk musings, with lead vocals traded off between guitarists Mars and Angie. Roommates, they shared that they have the best name for a dog ever...Broccolini. Holy shit! So cute.

I caught up with Mike Petzinger and other friends, and then got up front to check out Slothrust. I had never seen them before, and I was blown away. From Brooklyn via Boston, they are a band you have to experience live. Watching them play is like watching a perfectly edited, timed short movie. Leah Mallbaum's neurotic lyrics are made unique by her precise guitar playing and calculated-yet-warm voice. My clothes literally floated above my skin to Kyle Bann's basslines, and the hair on my neck rose to each soaring, rising crescendo of a song. Since, their album has not left my car stereo.

Next up was Lauren Measure's Worriers, a band I have seen quite a few times now. It felt like seeing old friends. Sadly, the night was going to be the last that guitarist Rachel Rubino would be playing with the band for some time. But they played their hearts out to an absolutely packed and enthusiastic room. The band are working on a new album. I'm excited to hear more and, of course, to see them again.

The fantastic Mal Blum and band took the stage to play tracks off her recent Tempest In A Teacup as well as new songs from her upcoming album that will be her first for Don Giovanni. Saying I'm excited for this new album is an understatement – and so hearing some of the songs again made me very happy. Plus, Mal Blum is just such a wonderful personality. Her stage presence is just another part of what makes her music so warmly inviting and familiar.

The night was building up for Mirah, an artist each band gushed about being excited to play with. It seems that everyone has a history with her music. I have a few of her albums, but I haven't yet made that deep connection with her in a way that others, like her peers, have. With a long drive ahead of me, I headed out for the night after just a few songs. I heard from Mike Petzinger that, for many in the audience, it was like a religious experience. I can certainly identify. I have a few artists who would, no doubt, do that for me (All Praise Queen Björk).

Stay tuned for another takeover, in which I visit Saturday's Screaming Females show at the Lanes. I know, I'm hella interesting. Xoxo.

Photo Highlights of Mirah, Mal Blum, Worriers, Slothrust, Aye Nako at Knitting Factory Brooklyn, 4/3/15

Mirah headlined the She Shreds / Don Giovanni Showcase on Friday night at Knitting Factory Brooklyn.

She Shreds / Don Giovanni Showcase

So I told you I was lining up some quality substitutes while I was away on vacation. Well, I got talented photographer Mike Petzinger and voice of her generation Allyson Dwyer to cover the She Shreds Magazine / Don Giovanni Showcase on Friday night. The bill featured Mirah, Mal Blum, Worriers, Slothrust, and Aye Nako. I'm telling you. You will not do any better than the duo of Mike and Allyson when it comes to getting the feel of what it was like to be at any show.

In the interest of SEO and milking the event for all it's worth, I'm first sharing Mike's shots of the evening. Allyson will chime in with her take a little later.

These are just some highlights. For the rest, head over to Mike Petzinger Photography and give his page a like. You'll be treated to plenty of fantastic shots from shows around the NY / NJ area.

Don Giovanni Records Showcase at The Knitting Factory Brooklyn, 2/6/15 (PHOTO LINKS)

Black Wine as Devo

Night 1

What a weekend. I'm still recovering. Swim meets. Father / daughter dances. Birthdays. Lots and lots of driving (including a traffic ticket -- the first since my late teens -- in the wilds of Brooklyn). Here's some stuff that happened Friday.

Allyson Dwyer and I set off in the sub-freezing temperatures for Night 1 of the annual Don Giovanni Records label showcase and arrived in Brooklyn a little after 7pm. We parked the family truckster atop a glacier about a block away from The Knitting Factory. We got inside and settled in for a drink before the show.

The great thing about this showcase -- and the label, in general -- is the communal feel. I said hi to Shellshag and Black Wine before the show, and I saw several people with whom I've become friends as a result of attending last year's shows.

We made our way into the performance space, and I parked myself right up against the stage. Host and Don Giovanni artist Chris Gethard started things off talking about how weird and awkward it always is for a comedian to host a concert. I think his worries were unfounded. At least with this crowd. Gethard gave away some free stuff -- really undesirable free stuff that people jumped on because it was free -- like a broken USB wall charger. Allyson got the package of wet naps. He brought Don Giovanni "label honcho" Joe Steinhardt up on stage to preview one of the jokes that Steinhardt has available for sale. I won't print it here, since I didn't buy it.

Gethard then laid down a challenge for each of the bands to include a joke in their set. Each band would ultimately comply with varying degrees of success. As a show of solidarity, Gethard started off the evening with a song. He brought out John Driver of Shellshag to accompany him on his (and my) favorite song of all time, Billy Bragg's "A New England."

John Driver, Chris Gethard

The music from the bands started. It would end up being a night of surprises -- some for me,
some for everyone. My first surprise of the night was Crow Bait. I hadn't heard them before and loved their set. A great discovery.

Once the stage was set for Black Wine, Gethard came out saying that he'd been asked to stall for some time. After a few minutes, the band came out wearing yellow jumpsuits and launched into a full Devo cover set. The whole set. All Devo. Halfway through, the band stripped down to the all black t-shirt / shorts combo. The audience went kind of bananas. Joe Steinhardt later told me that it was a total surprise to everyone. So much fun.

Mal Blum, whom I'd first seen at the Boyd Park show back in September, did another fun set including stuff from her upcoming Marissa Paternoster-produced record. Blum and the rest of her band have really relatable personalities onstage. Her sets are full of humor and warmth. When she and bassist Audrey Zee Whitesides stopped to give "a shoutout to CoolDad," I was floored. It kind of explained the surprising moment (one of the best moments to have ever happened since I started this thing, by the way) earlier in the evening when Chris Gethard said, "Is CoolDad here? There are rumors flying around backstage that CoolDad may be here tonight." I passed Blum and her band some stickers when they were done.

The Hamiltons

The Hamiltons, Canadian arch-rivals of The Ergs!, did an intense set of Ramones-inspired punk only after making sure that their nemeses weren't in the house. They rattled songs off one after another in a non-stop barrage. After their set, Gethard noted his surprise -- shared by me -- that several members of the audience knew every Hamiltons' lyric.

Shellshag were next and, as usual, turned the place into a crazy dancing love fest. The duo kind of epitomize the feel of the whole showcase weekend with their positivity. I don't know what more there is to say about their set other than everyone had their arms over their heads as they sang along.

Chuck Betz of Nude Beach

We were already almost an hour into the next morning by the time Nude Beach came out for the final set of the night. I loved their record from last year and had been looking forward to their set all evening. It looked like they'd grown the live band by a few members since I'd seen them in September, and the new set up did a great job of reproducing the sounds on 77. Guitarist Chuck Betz even broke out the double-necked guitar for a few songs.

Allyson and I headed out into the freezing temperatures for the long drive home. I had a swim meet to get to in the morning. I knew I'd be exhausted, but we'd be back for part 2.



I went a little crazy with pics both nights. Here's night 1.

Chris Gethard, Joe Steinhardt, John Driver
Crow Bait
Black Wine
Mal Blum
The Hamiltons
Shellshag
Nude Beach

Don Giovanni Records Put on a Free Show w/ Screaming Females, Shellshag, Nude Beach, Mal Blum, and More at New Brunswick's Boyd Park, 9/20/14

Saturday in the Park

I go to lots of shows by myself, obviously. Yesterday, though, presented a great opportunity to introduce the whole family to some really good bands. Don Giovanni hosted their annual, free, outdoor concert in New Brunswick's Boyd Park. Screaming Females, Shellshag, Nude Beach, and Mal Blum were all part of the bill that also included some bands from New Brunswick High School. I'm trying to coax CD1 to join me for the all ages PUJOL / Screaming Females show at Asbury Lanes, and CoolMom has never gotten the chance to see either Screaming Females or Shellshag live.

Well, CoolMom and I both really enjoyed Mal Blum's set. I hear that Screaming Females' Marissa Paternoster is producing Mal's next record, so that is definitely something I look forward to hearing. CoolMom also had a great time during Shellshag's "in the round" performance. The cooldaughters pretty much just played on their mobile devices. They didn't complain, and they assured me that they could hear -- and liked -- everything, but I think they may have been humoring me. It's nice to feel loved anyway.

There were birthday parties and movies to go see in the evening, so CoolMom headed home with the girls after Shellshag were done. I stuck around for Brooklyn's Nude Beach and New Brunswick hometown heroes Screaming Females.

Nude Beach's sound is heavily influenced by some of the stuff I spent a lot of time with in my youth -- Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Bruce Springsteen. They own it and do a great job with it, adding a rough, maybe Replacements-y edge and a DIY vibe that draws in the younger folks. They're recent Don Giovanni signees, and their LP, 77, is due on October 21st.

Screaming Females coaxed everybody up to the front and played an intimate outdoor set that covered some favorites as well as some new songs. They sounded just as good as they have the other times I've seen them; but, this time, it just looked like they were having a bit more fun. It was a beautiful early evening in their hometown.

Things were done by about 5:45, and I headed home to meet CoolMom for dinner while the cooldaughters were out doing their evening activities. It was a really nice Saturday. I wish that CoolDaughter 1, at least, had paid a bit more attention to the bands; but she and her sister came with me without complaint and were all smiles. Baby steps, I guess.

Here are some photo highlights. You can see the rest of the pics up at Flickr.