There are a handful of people I disrupt my important restful Sundays -- and they are pictured above. I had never been to the frugal hipster standard, the JellyNYC Pool Parties, just for the fact that even I need a break from the music thing on Sundays afternoons. In any event, by far, it was the best I've ever seen Katie and Jules. They are just an unstoppable musical force and just to think that they are still a year into their existence.
I figured I have exhausted my thoughts on The Tings Tings, but sincerely, it just gets better and better seeing them live. If you notice in my interviews, I usually ask people if they prefer playing large venues or the more small intimate venues. I can tell Katie relishes the large stage, playing in front of thousands of rain soaked New Yorkers. She's knocking over mic stands, pacing the stage and going ballistic on the bass drum for "Shut Up and Let Me Go". The added bonus for this performance was a double dutch dance crew doing their thing during the song.
I'm a small venue type of guy, but damn -- between this and the Popped! Festival, The Tings thrive on the large stage. Sometimes, you got to put the camera down and just freak along with the beat. With that, the band have embraced their success and performed like they are the most beloved new act from the U.K. They stretch out the silences in "Shut Up" and "Fruit Machine" and "That's Not My Name" is cranked up to become a dance and shout out loud anthem.
Up next for K & J is a few dates on the road to Lollapalooza, then a big trip over to Japan for the SummerSonic Festival.
As a side note, I'll talk more about the Pool Party experience at the end, and this day was special because the weather was pretty terrible. I was chitchatting with Jules and the lightening was rolling in behind him. So I said to him, "This might be your last performance ever, so enjoy it. Hope you did everything you wanted to do in life" Then bad-hair TV personality John Norris, grabbed them for MTV News. The wind was gusting, turning their umbrellas inside out. Comedy ensued.
The storms varied from intense to calm. On the way home, I heard there had been dozens of reports of people getting struck by lightening in the Tri-State area. Imagine if that happened at the pool. Ahhh, it's rock 'n' roll.
The rain and heavy winds subsided a bit for Black Moth Super Rainbow, the five piece electro-psych jam band from Pittsburgh. They remind me of a more freaky version of Air circa Moon Safari mixed with Holy Fuck if they were a 60s psych-mod jam band. I took to their up-tempo songs, because they have a good vibe, and it's eccentric without being too inaccessible. The slower songs didn't do much for me.
My criticism with them is they rely way too much on the vocal distortion. It's as if Peter Frampton hypnotized them into using the talk box effect on every song. We get it gang, now try something new.
I liked how the lead singer wore the clear mask guard that basketball players use when they break their face. Anyway, they definitely fit into the Pool Party vibe of relaxing and embracing your hedonistic side. Plenty of drugs could be sniffed in the air during their set.
I left after they were done, skipping out on main act MGMT. I've seen them enough and the drizzle was getting to me. Plus, I was seeing Todd Barry and Eugene Mirman at Maxwell's.
The McCarren Pool Party experience is perfect for people who love to stand in endless lines that don't move. As I was leaving, I saw the line to get in and it just about stretched to past Warsaw and possibility ended on the BQE. The lines for beer and food always seemed to be 100 people deep. I can't imagine what the port-o-johns must be like. With the rain fall, this is as close as I will get to the Glastonbury experience.
There are plenty of activities around the area to please locals and make them feel like a kid again, in an ironic sort of way -- dodgeball, sleep and slide. All you needed was a tetherball. It's very much a scene atthe pool and people probably just go just to be there.
In comparison with the other free shows in New York, the Pool Parties aren't any different. You have to get in line at Central Park SummerStage about 3 hours in advance if you want to get a decent place against the railing, just like at the pool.
I was saying the other day that New York, while getting more expensive by the minute, still has the greatest number of quality free concerts in America. That's awesome. Obviously, these things live or die on sponsorship. With that said, I'm looking forward to drinking Dewers and Fuse at the TopShop opening in Fall 2008 in Soho.
What I've been noticing with these big all day music festivals and free outdoor indie rock concerts, the "green" aspect is pretty much lost. The whole pool look like one big garbage heap by the time Black Mouth Super Rainbow was done. There wasn't a carbon footprint, it was more like a carbon boot stomp.
So this is the last year for these pool parties because it's going to be turned into a real public pool. I say still have them. Give everybody floaties or drain the sucker overnight. If it's filled with water, that eliminates mosh pits. I guess the drawback is the peeing in the pool aspect. Yuck.
My hats off to the organizers for putting this thing together. The logistics must be intense.
Now, here are some pictures of wet hipsters wearing skinny black jeans in the rain on a hot, humid day.
I wussed out and left missed a great show i guess =/
Posted by: Noel | July 28, 2008 at 10:10 AM
pretty good review here --
http://www.imposemagazine.com/mag/index.php/2008/07/29/mgmt-ting-tings-black-moth-super-rainbow-mccarren-pool-williamsburg-bk/
Posted by: jeremy | July 29, 2008 at 01:20 PM
You live in New York and you love music.
This Thursday 7/31 at 10pm Pale Nimbus plays Southpaw.
My name is Matt and I manage the band. I want you at the show.
If you come and don’t dig it, I will refund you the cover. Stay the entire set and if you still aren’t a fan, you can get your money from me: I’m easy to spot and the band will introduce me during the set.
This is a new Brooklyn based band. They are my favorite in NYC and there isn’t anyone like them in the world. I told you first.
With love,
Matt
Pale Nimbus/Werewolves/The Meltdowns @ Southpaw
Thursday, July 31 / 8:30PM
$8 / 18+
125 Fifth Ave. (Park Slope), Brooklyn
R train to Union St.
Facebook Invite: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=30201260489
Pale Nimbus: http://www.thepalenimbus.com
Posted by: Matt | July 29, 2008 at 06:08 PM