Monday July 14th:
- Trans Pecos: Stalled, Plastic, Dream Network
- Drench Monday in a pool of distortion, reverb, and delay. Stalled’s shoegaze sounds similar to bdrmm’s Bedroom and early DIIV, remember Is the Is Are? Give the band’s newest release Dust Inside a Dream a listen before the show.
Tuesday July 15th:
- Brooklyn Paramount: Pixies, Kurt Vile
- My friend told me that Velouria is the only Pixies song worth listening to because it sounds like every Pixies song wrapped in one. I have to disagree. Hopefully, going to this show would change his mind. Tickets aren’t cheap, but any chance to see the Pixies is worth a price.
- Night Club 101: Rip Swirl, Umfang, and Quiet Light DJ sets
- Whenever I am in Night Club 101’s basement I feel like I am in the Black Lodge. Red lights, mist, indiscernible faces. A Lynchian aesthetic will emerge from the club’s velvety environment in the midst of Rip Swirl’s experimental dance music, Umfang’s minimal techno, and Quiet Light’s synth laden electronic folk. Relish in it.
Wednesday July 16th:
- Elsewhere: Cola, Starcleaner Reunion
- Montreal post-punk band Cola’s recent single Mendicant touts the band’s distinctive sound of jumpy guitars and conversational lyrics. Their new music may be playing it safe, but I do not take offense to consistency. Go post-punk it up at Elsewhere!
Thursday July 17th:
- Prospect Park: Dinosaur Jr., Snail Mail
- This show will be pure unadulterated summer fun. Dinosaur Jr. and Snail Mail are both masters of the light indie rock riff (my kryptonite). Thinning x Feel the Pain. That’s what my dreams are made of.
- Purgatory: Fraternal Twin, Hiding Places, Wesley Wolffe
- Fraternal Twin, Hiding Places, and Wolffe’s music are made for Variety Coffee. Specifically the Williamsburg location. It’s latte-sipping music; indie, digestible, with an occasional dash of distortion. If you’re into that, throw on your best dad hat and beeline for Purgatory.
Friday July 18th:
- Prospect Park: Men I Trust, strongboi
- BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn outdid themselves with their booking this summer. Still Woozy… Dinosaur Jr… Snail Mail… and now, Men I Trust. The indie pop band will take the Lena Horne Bandshell stage to play their new album Equus Caballus, and crossing my fingers, Show Me How.
- The Windjammer: Friendly Company, Mandy Valentine, The Victory Seeds
- It’s country rock night at the Windjammer. Imagine: humid venue, sweating beer in your palm, your baby hairs frizzing up, all to the sweet sound of a pedal steel. Country music in the summer hits different, go get your fix before fall rolls around.
Saturday July 19th:
- Knockdown Center: This is Lorelei, Greg Freeman, Dirt Buyer, Fear Dorian
- What makes Nate Amo’s project This is Lorelei special is its poignant lyricism intermixed with a melody of twangy guitars, synthesizers, and hyperpop melodies. Despite its playful nature, at its core, Amo’s music is honest. Take Perfect Hand’s romantic truth “I might crush in summer/but I love in fall,” or Dancing in the Club’s profound “I know it’s only cards, but love I feel your heart in spades.” These lyrics will fill Knockdown’s expansive hall.
Sunday July 20th:
- Trans Pecos: Draag, A Country Western, Bedridden
- LA based band Draag’s recent EP Actually, the quiet is nice released under They are Gutting a Body of Water’s record label Julia’s War is some of the most satisfying shoegaze I’ve heard in a long time. Take Microgravity Tank for example, the guitar entrances are numerous, yet the song feels infinite. That’s not all: A Country Western and Bedridden are also on this bill. Before the show, listen to Great is the Grip of the Hawk.
- Flushing Meadow Corona Park: The Roots, DJ Scratch
- Another free show, another park- I love summer! Head to Flushing Meadow Corona Park to see The Roots and DJ Scratch. Nothing beats a park day, especially if the Roots are playing.
