As NY1 reports, "Investigators have determined that Saturday's three-alarm fire at the South Street Seaport was caused by electrical wiring catching fire underneath Pier 17. Fire officials say the wires supply power to vending machines and lighting along the pier." They are going to have to answer to the Coca-Cola company.
This day will be remember for a long time. Just chaos, uncertainty and plumes of smoke became the main act of the second year of the Village Voice's 4Knots Music Festival. There were no injuries and maybe some frazzled people, but the great people of the FDNY took care of everyone at the South Street Seaport. You see, there's a reason for a fire lane set-up on the pier for situations just like this. Since no one was hurt, we can crack jokes about the 100 fake-vintage instagram photos you can now see online.
I was enjoying a nice-alcohol induced buzz provided by Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum and Barefoot Wine and Bubbly (feel free to send some to MS.com HQ, thank you) when I saw everyone looking over towards the pier to the left and behind the stage while Hospitality was playing. Gradually people were calmly walking away from the mall. I left the stage and went around to the side where the small Skipper stage was set-up to see smoke coming from that vending machine. Then the FDNY boat show up and the water works started. Hospitality continued to play. That's tenacity right there, you can't stop the indie rock.
While security and the organizers were trying to determine what to do, I vacated to get some foos and more booze. When things get out of hand, it's best to get drinkin'. Crocodiles' set was delayed for about 15 minutes until the situation was sorted and they got the go ahead that everyone is safe. When they kicked off, they were intense. They definitely were energized by the situation. They were the band of the afternoon.
The craziness didn't stop there. The afterparty at Beekman's Beer Garden with the Black Lips was all sorts of out of hand. Their set was their usual Black Lips event -- bodies flying, disorder, sweat and saliva everywhere, speakers knocking around, security tossing people, barricades broken down and crazy garage rock at its finest. I walked aways with a lovely gash on my ankle. The things I do for you people.
Getting in was an event onto itself with the uncertainly if Beekman's was stable after the fire, since it's was so close. There was a mob of people to the entrance to get in, then a clusterfuck of checking IDs, collecting tickers, selling tickets, will-call, guest list, and yadda yadda yadda. Typical first world problems.
Unfortunately, all of this hi-jinks was secondary to the fine music. Again, Crocodiles killed it. They are so good that it makes me angry that other bands can't sound that raw and unhinged. Headliners Archers of Load were load. The Drums are just a bunch of dinks. Loved, loved, loved Bleached. Nick Waterhouse was a little more mellow than I expected, but he does have a smooth, retro soul style.
More photo and thoughts from the day this week. Here's a sample of some photos, starting with my new hero, this long haired guy who became a folk hero for the day for this rocking out the whole time.
Archers of Loaf
Black Lips
The Drums
Crocodiles
Team Spirit
Hospitality
Nick Waterhouse
Bleached
Devin
Doldrums
that is not Celebration, it's Hospitality.
Posted by: no | July 16, 2012 at 12:42 PM