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…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Hipstersby KlunkIt has been a real corker of a decade for concert-goers in the United States. The rise and fall then rise and fall of Lollapalooza has coincided with the ten years of success (sic) that the Warped Tour celebrates this summer. The industry complains that there is a ‘summer slump’ in concert ticket sales and many tours were canceled before the first show. With excuses ranging from the contrived (“Christina and Britney are sick. All summer.”) to the blunt (“Perry is sorry. What a bummer. Take your $150 back.”) I was curious to see how ump-teen bands would fare in the Coney Island sun at this year’s Siren Festival. And the free show was $60-75 cheaper than any other summer concert option. New York Times journalist Kelefa Sanneh accurately noted that the festival “reflected neither the diversity of New York City nor the eclecticism of its sponsor, The Village Voice.” This year’s festival was a bit of a bust, with no real stand out bands and the signs of uncontrollable growth that signal pending doom for music festivals, even free ones. The day is split like the original Warped Tours were; only two (official) stages where a different act went on every half hour or so. I knew that the festival was unique when I arrived during what was scheduled to be The Thermals’ set and it actually WAS The Thermals’ set. Since when does rock n’ roll keep accurate time? Since the most unobtrusive lineup ever conceived was confirmed for the 2004 Siren Festival. The Thermals were one of the most rocking of the day’s bands, and considering they went on at the early 2pm spot, the festival really blew its load early. The oceans of vintage t-shirts, trucker hats, and kitschy belt buckles swayed with the light breeze. Dreamy sets from bands like TV On The Radio and Electric Six did not do their part to fight the fatigue of a beer-soaked sun-stroked mob packed together on steaming tarmac. The difficulty of seeing the stage, let alone clearly hearing the music, reflected the ticket price (free) and is easily seen in the included photos. However it was hard not to feel a bit guilty complaining. Much like a friend who buys you your least favorite brand of beer, it’s the thought that counts, and the Village Voice certainly has not skimped on the sponsorship opportunities. Funny enough the beer your friend likely pushed on you, Budweiser, had logos more visible onstage than the acts themselves. Mission of Burma’s set was accented by bumper cars and carnie chants, and And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead did their best to raise energy levels after several sluggish acts. Unfortunately the commercial enterprises like the dive bar Puzzles’ open air concerts (two stages this year) prevented me from getting to the other stage in a timely fashion so I’ll leave it to Sugar’s Jen Brown to let you know about Death Cab For Cutie. And as usual the main attraction was the free Freak Show that is the audience. One audience member, John Schneider, even mentioned a mythical “Hipster Bingo” card sometimes seen at the festival. Star-shaped tattoos and sandwich shop t-shirts will lead you to victory in this game, and the prize is the crappiest pizza in New York (pick up your prize at any Coney Island boardwalk concession stand.) I saw no fights, no flying (full) beer cups, and apart from a stroll down the beach, no gratuitous showing of the tits. What kind of summer festival is this? -Klunk |
Music this month by Jennifer Brown Still, as you need your monthly dosage of what is hip and hot…and when I say HOT, I mean the temperature…read on: Good Food, Good Friends… Early in the day, battling a horrible hangover, the result of too many mysterious red drinks the night before, I set out to join the rest of the crazy kids in a day of musical merriment. Taking the main stage just as I staggered out of the Stillwell station stop was Chicago-based favorite, The Ponys. Despite their early billing, The Ponys delivered an energized set of post-punk garage rock. One corndog later, I headed over to the Stillwell Stage where the Thermals were just about to take the sage. Thank goodness for Sub-Pop, without whom, we would not have the “no-fi,” sounds of these three cute kids from Oregon. A termed coined by the members of the Thermals, “no-fi,” refers to their unique distorted sound. With an up-beat edge, the melodically poppy sounds of the Thermals may be distorted from their origins, but there is no denying the fact that they are truly original. After my partner in crime Mr. KU, finally arrived on the scene, spouting something about sleeping in, we decided it was after 3 and a few afternoon alcoholic beverages were in order. As we sipped on our refreshing Coronas, we debated what act to catch next. Eventually we found our way back to the Main Stage in time for TV on the Radio. Now, I realize TVOTR has received some well-deserved press over the past few months, however, I was less than impressed with their performance. Mid-day heat, a belly full of beer and corndogs, combined with trippy, looped soul, it was enough to make my hangover headache return. Several frosty beverages later Mr. KU and I decided to brave the throngs of sweaty hipsters once more in the hopes of hearing artfully crafted songs by those beautiful poets that are Blonde Redhead. Unfortunately, the masses overpowered, and we were forced to the rear of the crowd. Perhaps next year, the organizers of Siren will spend more time collaborating with the sound technician to ensure everyone in the crowd enjoys the same experience as those closer to the stage. Determined to push past the mid-crowd tech booth for Death Cab for Cutie’s set, I staked my ground carefully. (Yes, you may be asking yourself at this very moment, “Why did she not have a press pass??” Believe me, I asked myself that all day long. I suppose the PR guru over at the Voice, who shall remain nameless, does not have the same love for Sugarzine as you all do!) At any rate, DCfC’s set was, again, unfortunately less than mind-blowing. With a band such as DCfC, the uniqueness of their sound relies heavily on the clear reverberation of their distinctly multi-tonal sound, playing a venue such as the Main Stage at the Siren Festival was less than conducive to the band’s true musical talents. As the evening the day wound to a close, it became clear, no one attends the Siren Music Festival because they are die-hard fans of an artist, or artists on the billing. True, there may be at least one band on the bill for which you would travel to the ends of the earth for, and not just the end of the N,Q line, however cramming you neck, dodging the sweaty boy in front of you as he stumbles to the garbled sounds we all know were beautiful before a misguided sound tech had his way with wiring is not my ideal concert memory. No, we attend the Siren for the good food, good friends, and yes, the attempted good music. Returning to His Roots The evening’s storytelling session was accentuated by Christine Smith, whose sweet vocal and keyboard stylings perfectly complimented the Jesse’s stripped down, hard-rock sound. The two played Tupelo’s modest stage for several hours, showcasing material from Jesse’s debut album, The Fine Art of Self Destruction, as well as his recently released album, The Heat. Paying homage and giving thanks to the many people that helped and influenced him throughout his musical career, Jesse dedicated many songs throughout the evening. The unique aspect of material by Jesse Malin is that all of his songs tell a story, be it heartache, a life lesson, or a memory that needed to be captured. Jesse conveys his own experiences in the form of song. For me, the highlight was sitting next to an elderly Italian man as Jesse dedicated Brooklyn, off of The Fine Art of Self Destruction , and I watched the pride swell in the elders eyes as he stood to accept his honor, proving the impact one person can have on the life of another. In addition to playing a free show for his friends, family, and yes, his fans over the July 4th holiday weekend, Jesse was also in Queen on some “business.” Shooting of the video for his first single off of The Heat, Mona Lisa, Jesse took to the local streets and haunts of Astoria, Queens. Through this, director Jonathan Caouette was able to capture the true urban-ness of Jesse’s roots in his video. View the video here: http://www.jessemalin.com/freestuff.html Now, as Tupelo is the neighborhood hangout, and many of us Sugarziners frequent its dimly lit booths, obtaining an interview with Mr. Jesse Malin was something that should not have been difficult. Our friendly bartender and show-organizer, Dennis graciously set up a time for Jesse and me to meet—after the show, of course. Alas, however, Jesse is what we in the business like to call an elusive rock star. Agree to do the interview as a favor, duck out at the last second, but just to be nice, give the girl your number, tell her to call at a certain time. At set time, neglect to answer your phone. But who will have the last laugh?? I’ve still got your number… Your big sis promises to have more album reviews and recommendations next time around, she has just been too tired these past few weeks. On deck, Aquavibe, Lola Ray, The Killers, Mean Mercedes and more. Upcoming shows: Concert For a Change: 8/5 @ the Knitting Factory Sex Sells: 8/6 @ Plaid The Queers, 10 Foot Poll, The Gamits, UKUK: 8/14 @ the Knitting Factory As always, if you would like your band’s album reviewed, or an upcoming show included on the list, please email us at sugarzine.com.
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