New York’s Alright If You Like Saxophones. 2.0

If you read this blog, then you know that I gushed and gushed and gushed and gushed about the second week of July in New York City this summer. Well, I’m back to gush again about the third week of October this Autumn. (If you’ve really been paying attention, I actually asked for one of these tours way back in March).

 

That being said, if all of my paychecks come in on time (freelancing is a pain), then I’ll be at least three. The first one would be the most exciting if Webster Hall wasn’t such a shithole. I’ve never been a big Thrice fan, and Rise Against and AK3 haven’t really held my attention over the past four or five years, but that’s a really solid lineup for younger kids. I’ll be at the Revival Tour that night though with my fellow neck-bearded whiskey drinkers. And yeah, I haven’t seen NOFX since maybe ’99 so I’m excited for that too. 

October 11: Webster Hall; Against Me!, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Future of the Left

 

October 13: Roseland Ballroom: Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, Thrice, The Gaslight Anthem

 

October 13; Blender Theater at Grammercy: Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music), Tim Barry (Avail), Ben Nichols (Lucero)

 

Ocotber 15, 16: Irving Plaza: NOFX, Dillinger Four

 

New York’s Alright, If You Like Saxophones

It’s funny, for all the shows that come through New York, especially Williamsburg and Green Point, I feel like there’s never anything I really want to go to. Maybe its because some of the bands that I really like don’t play NYC because its too big of a market, and the bands that are big enough to play here play really big venues so that’s not fun either. Then, all of a sudden, there’s  a weekend like this that just can’t be denied. I’ve counted 9 shows this weekend that I’d like to be at. I’ll probably make 3, maybe 4, but 9 shows. 

This is the weekend I’ve been waiting for. Beautiful summer weather. Long days. Enough money in my bank account that I can afford to spend like $25 on drinking.   I’ve got one of my favorite bands playing a reunion show that I haven’t seen in almost 5 years (Hot Water Music). I’ve got a couple bands that I’m really stoked on right now (No Age, Crystal Antlers) coming through. I’ve got some old favorites (Dillinger Four, Alkaline Trio, Circle Jerks) coming through. I’ve got my buddies Phil and Sean in town for the F Yeah Fest. I’ve got two amazing free, outdoor shows (No Age at Southstreet Seaport and The Breeders at McCarren Pool). 

Needless to say, I’m amped. So amped that I made a spreadsheet schedule and a playlist to get everybody stoked on this weekend. 

If you’re wondering where I’ll be…

Friday night I’m going to try and make the No Age show, but we’ll see what happens. Saturday I’ll be at F Yeah Fest until 945 then I’m going over to Terminal 5 to catch Hot Water Music, then its down to Pianos for the F Yeah Fest after party. Sunday I’ll probably catch the F Yeah Fest in Brooklyn. Chances are I’ll be too hungover for anything else. 

Click on the image below to open a big fancy one…

You can check out the schedule I’ve put together below, and click here to listen to the playlist. 

Have a stellar weekend.

Dear New Yorkers

Shut Up. Seriously, for like 10 minutes. Stop yelling. Go stand in front of your own window, on your own stoop, on your own street. Nobody wants to hear your phone coversation, nobody wants to hear anything you have to say. Nobody is impressed. You’re loud, obnoxious, and childish. 

Welcome Back, Welcome Back, Welcome Back

If you were paying attention. And you should’ve been. Something happened with my old blog where you couldn’t access it for the past week. I then got a message today saying that starting April 10th, they were stripping everything down and then re-starting. I was luckily able to export my old posts to this new blog, but everything else is perpetually fucked. I’m going to work on it when I get a chance.

For now, enjoy this live video my Jackson Knife. Watch, listen, love.

Jackson Knife

Dear Abba

That’s what I’m calling my upstairs neighbor. Why? Because he’s a 6’3” blond Swedish guy? No. Because he’s a 6’3″ blond Swedish guy that listens to Abba. Without the slightest bit of irony. Would that make it more acceptable? No. But still.

His bass shakes shit off of our walls. Have I asked him to turn it down? Yes. At least ten times. Does he listen? No. Because he’s a douchey hipster. “It’s Villiamsburg. Yah? Everybody party.”

Yes. Everybody parties. At the fucking bar. Not at 3 in the morning on a Tuesday night in their apartment. The bars are open until 4am. The subway or a cab will get you home safely.

A Punk Rock Show in Brooklyn?

I know, I know. The hipsters will be so confused. Real instruments. Structured songs. A complete lack of irony. I don’t normally post about shows (unless its a review) but I’m extra excited about this one. On Satuday May 3rd, Greenpoint will be blessed with a three-prong punk-rock attack in the form of The Gaslight Anthem, Tim Barry (Avail), and The Bouncing Souls.

MP3s are below, see you at the show!

Download Tim Barry – “Church of Level Track”

Download The Gaslight Anthem – “We Came to Dance”

Download The Bouncing Souls – “The Freaks, Nerds, and Romantics”