Music

I am currently in the process of assembling my summer concert wardrobe despite being ashamed of the blatant vanity inherent in producing a “summer concert wardrobe.” But come on, concerts are hard to dress for! You’ve got to take heat, dirt, sweat, and possible (read: probable) beer spills into consideration. And let’s be honest here, although culturally stimulating, a concert is still a social gathering. So, I’m expected to welcome grass stains on my ass, laugh when a clumsy friend douses me with her drink, and still look like a Park Slope Peach (let alone a presentable member of society)?

This is where festival shorts come in. You see, festival shorts are high-waisted little jean numbers that are gussied up by smatterings of metal studs and splashes of bleach or tie-dye. I can probably make these myself with a pair of scissors and a glue gun. The problem is, I’m not crafty enough to make “the perfect pair” myself, and apparently neither is anyone else on Etsy or Ebay, I tend to think to myself as I hunt through hundreds of search results for the pair of festival shorts that I know I am destined to wear this impending summer to Celebrate Brooklyn! at the Bandshell in Prospect Park. They are hot weather appropriate, comfortable enough to wear all day, and with their spunky accoutrements they seem to say “I am totally stoked on seeing this free show right now at the Bandshell in my rad outfit”. Plus, I don’t care if I get a pair of cut-off jean shorts a little dirty.

What I do care about is going to hear live music all summer long. I’m serious about this–more serious than I am about those shorts. Indoors, outdoors, free, small venue, massive festival, my favorite band, or even a loathsome Beach Boys cover band, I’m there. I would say, “I’m there, weather permitting,” but I am down to see a concert even if it’s pouring Park Slope cats and dogs because concerts define the sunny season for me. My muscles have been thawed out and then warmed up from spring and my body can move to the music with newly acquired fluidity; I feel more social in the sunshine (especially with a Brooklyn Summer Ale in my hand), and in some ways, I think the amplification of an electric guitar is delivered to my core faster in the estival months.

I’m sure you’re aching to hear live music this summer in Park Slope, too, seeing as there are oodles of musicians and bands set to perform in the neighborhood in the coming months. And while wearing festival shorts is optional, attending as many local concerts as possible is not! So, I will see you at all of the imminent Park Slope concerts worth note that I’ve outlined for y’all to jot down in your day planners and refrigerator calendars, okay? Okay!

CELEBRATE BROOKLYN! 2012
Prospect Park West & 9th Street
www.bricartsmedia.org

Let’s start with Celebrate Brooklyn!, one of New York’s longest running, free, outdoor concert series that attracts upwards of 250,000 people from all over the city each summer. I know, so many foreign bodies in our beloved park can make us feel all territorial, but let us all take a cue from my man Biggie: “spread love, it’s the Brooklyn way”. This year we’ve got a veritable rainbow of musicians coming to perform at the Prospect Park Bandshell for Celebrate Brooklyn! 2012, and all of the shows are free! Of course, you can still buy tickets to get seats at the benefit concerts (but you can also just hang out on a blanket behind the seating section and get the same, if not better, experience):

• On June 23, Ghostface Killah, as part of the Bud Light Music Series, is taking the stage. This is the hip-hop highlight of Celebrate Brooklyn!’s summer run and isn’t Ghostface Killah everyone’s favorite Wu-Tang Clan member?

• The first benefit concert will be held on June 26 and features Childish Gambino, Danny Brown, and Schoolboy Q. Childish Gambino has a viral cult following largely due to his impressive hip-hop and lyrical stylings. Alternatively, Danny Brown spews out raw, gritty rap and recently appeared on XXL’s 2012 “Top 10 Freshmen List”. He also has a song called “Blunt After Blunt”, so, you know, lighters up at this show.

• Dirty Projectors. Wye Oak. Purity Ring. Brooklyn-based indie rock band meets Baltimore indie folk band meets Canadian indie electronic band, respectively. Benefit show. I can’t say anything else except !!! and also inform you that you will absolutely see me at this show on July 10 in my festival shorts. Bet on it.

• Although Wilco will be playing two benefit shows at the Bandshell this summer (July 23&24), I suggest going to the one on the the 23rd, when Lee Fields and the Expressions will also perform. Wilco, possibly the coolest dad rock band there is, always brings out a full crowd of all ages. Alternatively, Lee Fields is so awesomely soulful and melodic in his deliverance that you could suddenly fall in love with the person standing next to you just listening to his music. I may or may not know this from experience.

• The Head and the Heart and Lost in the Trees may seem like the titles of poems you wrote in high school, but seriously, these two indie bands are equal parts stunning and intellectual in terms of their music, and they will be performing on July 27. They have both garnered significant praise from outlets like NPR and the LA Times for their American roots revival efforts. I’m expecting a lot of ladies in long floral skirts to be at this one.

• August 3 brings Wild Flag and Mission of Burma to Prospect Park. First of all, are we all excited that Wild Flag front-woman Carrie Brownstein (of Portlandia fame) is performing in our fair borough? And are we stoked on seeing the seemingly resurrected Mission of Burma bring post-punk to the park? Yeah, me too.

• The last benefit concert of the summer is on August 7 and features M. Ward and Yo La Tengo. M. Ward is a member of Zooey Deschanel’s She & Him and also of Monsters of Folk, but I’m on the fence about him. I’m on the fence about anyone who associates with twee-queen Zooey Deschanel. However, I’m greatly awaiting a slew of Yo La Tengo cover songs to kiss my eardrums! YLT cover songs forever.

THE BELL HOUSE
149 7th Street
718.643.6510
www.thebellhouseny.com

Next let’s take a peek at The Bell House’s upcoming summer concerts. Well, what’s been listed so far. The Bell House is known around these parts as a lovely bar and intimate concert venue. Big names, niche musicians, and local bands have all had their time in the sun here. They also have quirky events at the bar pretty regularly:

• On June 24, The Bell House will see the likes of comedian Wyatt Cenac and the Brooklyn-based synthpop duo Chairlift. This event goes by the name of “King’s County” is being hosted by WNYC’s Kurt Andersen and performance artist Lucy Sexton. Essentially, this seems like it’s going to a Brooklyn-pride kind of show, so we should all probably go to this show and rep our bad-ass borough.

• Ted Leo and the Pharmacists have been kickin’ for over a decade now and on June 27, the seasoned punk-indie fusion band will be performing. Funny girl Julie Klausner is also recording her podcast “How Was Your Week?” during the TL/Rx show (clearly, “TL/Rx” is the “cool” way to say Ted Leo and the Pharmacists).

• Friday the 13th (of July) doesn’t have to be a creepy day for you if you head over to the Bell House to the first day of Laura Rebel Angel’s 6th annual Psychobilly Luau Weekender. The luau runs from the 13th through the 15th, and while Ms. Rebel Angel has not released the names of the bands performing at the event, she has assured us all that the weekend will be full of Psychobilly culture, fashion, music, and art. I am going to this thing and making a veteran Psychobilly teach me how to tie a bandana-bow around my head without looking like a goof.

• My little brother keeps telling me to listen to this brother-sister duo band “White Mystery” and I keep telling him I’ll get around to it. I’m sure he’ll be just thrilled to know that on July 21 White Mystery is playing with Shonen Knife and Flown. Oh, hey, Japanese female punk and the band my baby brother keeps nagging me to get into all in one show? Truly, this sounds like a dream situation.

THE WAY STATION
683 Washington Ave
347.627.4949
www.waystationbk.blogspot.com

And finally, let’s look at the Way Station, which may seem like an unassuming Prospect Heights bar from the outside, but the inside is buzzing with live music and a handsome crowd of young locals. If you’re not up for going to a proper concert, but still want to jam to some live tunes, go the way of the Way Station; they have live music performances almost every night of the week!

• On June 21, Ashley Boehm is throwing a nerd cabaret at the bar. She’s known as a jazz singer, but for the purposed of her cabaret she’ll be turning classic pop medleys to Harry Potter and Doctor Who worship songs. If you were waiting for the right time to wear your vanity, non-prescription, glasses in public….now is your chance!

• I have to include the Smith & 9th Ward event being held at the bar on June 30 at the bar due to its punny and perfect title. The Smith & 9th Ward performance showcases New Orleans styled grooves that have been reappropriated with a Brooklyn attitude. I didn’t know Brooklyn-New Orleans fusion was even a thing, so, I want to see how this pans out.

• “Severe”, “2Tens”, “High Definition” and “Hot Lunch” are performing on July 7 at the Way Station, and no, those are not the names of different bands—those are the names of the Hadron the Collider’s band members. Wacky. Hadron the Collider is a self-proclaimed science/art rock band who sound a little bit like Modest Mouse or Built to Spill. I hope they wear quirky outfits!

OTHER PARK SLOPE MUSIC VENUES

There are dozens of other venues in Park Slope to listen to live music or see concerts in the sunny season. Check them out!