Popscene. 10 years. Damn. I don't know whether I should be happy for this long running Indie/Britpop venue or be absolutely sickened since I've been attending this thing for 10 years. Damn. I'm old (but not that old).
10 years. Many memories. I first went to Popscene back in 1996 (!) when it was at the Cat's Cradle (now called the Cat Club). It was so much fun! Listening to Pulp, Blur, Suede, Stone Roses and Oasis out loud and dancing with like minded kids. 10 years later, some things remain the same (music) while a hella lot changes (younger kids, a somewhat uglier clientele, different music). Popscene before attracted a little niche of the music population. Now, it attracts pretty much everyone.
To celebrate its 10th year, Popscene had a big bash with the Killers. An excellent choice, in my opinion. Of course, the reunion of Pulp, Suede or The Smiths would have been more fitting, but The Killers -- I like. The last time I saw the Killers, they were dodging seat cushions. No seat cushions here. Just 300+ people sweating it out.
Spin has photos. Such as this:
And interviews with some in attendance:
Name: Colette Blair
Age: 23
Hometown: Oakland, CA
Occupation: Student
"It's a good change, because they're less Duran Duran like."
Oh, she was referring to how The Killers look like now. Less Duran Duran:
More Bradley from Project Runway:
Of course, I'm in there in my usual pose -- text messaging in the wrong line (far right, look for the white truck and the guy with his head down):
I went hella early, so got in within a reasonable time after they let us common people in (ha!).
I was determined to have fun and nobody is going to get me down. So, I went as close as possible and waited out The Killers. In the meantime, my friends and I were dancing to pass the time.
The Killers came on and they opened up with a new song I think. I'm not sure. But they played "When You Were Young" off their new album Sam's Town. Brandon Flowers started off with come keys and thanking the crowd for coming to the show (this was part of the song I think) and then the guitars launched for that song. I really like the new single, and the live version didn't disappoint. The crowd was energized, and so was I.
Then the classics from Hot Fuss came on. "Somebody Told Me" energized the crowd even more, inciting some to dance and hop around. A rather bland "Smile Like You Mean It" came shortly thereafter. I don't like that song, per se, since it's...well...bland.
New songs galore. I think some song with "Bones" came on. A cover of a David Bowie tune was in there called "When You Rock N Roll With Me" was in there somewhere. Overall, the new songs were good, but it wasn't "Wow!" The new songs sounded like a refined Hot Fuss. One song sounded very much like "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine." Another sounded like a direct rip off of a New Order track.Then again, when I saw the Killers at Popscene eons ago, I hated them. But they were much better after listening to Hot Fuss more closely. I think the same will go for this album. I at least like 3 songs out of the 6 or 7 they played.
But the old stuff is what people wanted to hear. "Midnight Show" was played at 12:15am. "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine" was a little off. The guitars weren't as strong compared to when I heard it before. "All The Things That I've Done" was in there and it was just great to hear it. "I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier" was chanted. Yes, the lyric is just uber cheese, but I like it. And they ended their boisterous set with my personal favourite, "Mr. Brightside." Yes, the theme song to my life. Actually, everyone's life really.
I stayed a little longer post-show. Danced a bit. Then left at 2am. A fitting end and a fitting way to celebrate 10 years of Popscene. I don't know if I'll be there for the 20th anniversary (shoot me if I am), but for all the love/hate I have with Popscene, the venue always provides memories. Memories of great times with friends. Drunken moments where I would sing "Supersonic" with two random English kids and the Spaths. Some things I'd rather not remember. Lots of things I'd rather not remember. ;-) But I'll remember this one. That's for sure.
Beer Rating: 
Photo Credits: The Killers Photos: Dave Keuning for Spin; Bradley Photo: FourFour
I first heard of Oh No! Oh My! through Brooklyn Vegan and was immediately impressed with the sampling of MP3s they offered for download. I heard the rest of the album and I was pleased. So, what the hell I checked out their show.Shapes and Sizes opened up. I have never seen a bunch of fuck ups like these guys. Don't get me wrong, I like yelping and dissonance if artfully done. But these guys have no musical talents whatsoever. Finger picking guitars as if they just learned how to play two days ago. Playing the keys as if it was just there to bang on. Singing and harmonizing so off key that dogs will howl in disgust. At least the bass player and drummer had some skills, but the girl and the other guy? No way. And playing the banjo? Look, playing the banjo is all good if done right and in the right time. But, there was no right moment to play the fucking banjo in any of your songs. Alright? Geez. I was pissed that I had to sit through that crap.A friend said that I should harshly review Shapes and Sizes but make a disclaimer just in case they get better. That way I will save face. Fuck that. They're horrible and I will not change that stance. But, prove me wrong, you know?Oh No! Oh My!, thank God, finally came on. They started off with "Skip the Foreplay" from their self-titled album. I like that song, and glad they played it. They followed it with "I Have No Sister." After that, everything else was a wash. I think I was still pissed with Shapes and Sizes that I truly didn't appreciate Oh No! Oh My! I was literally falling asleep after the 3rd or 4th song. So, I left.Don't get me wrong, Oh No! Oh My! are pretty good. They don't have the stage presence that will keep your eyes focused on them. But, their music will keep your ears attentive. Beer Rating:
October: 8 & 9: The Killers @ The WarfieldNovember:11: Riott Festival @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium featuring:Metric
Explosions in the Sky
Asobi Seksu
The Wrens
Diplo
Girl Talk
Tokyo Police Club
Clipse
Sage Francis
SA-RA Creative Partners
Saul Williams
Breakestra
RX Bandits
Visionaries
The Presets
Weird Science
Showbread
Busdriver
Fall of Troy
August:22: The Mountain Goats @ Amoeba S.F.September:16: Ima Robot @ MezzanineOctober:7: Futureheads @ MezzanineNovember:18: The Slits @ Mezzanine
August:
24: The Killers @ Popscene
31: The Otherside @ Cafe du Nord
September:
20: Guns N Roses @ The Warfield
21: Guns N Roses @ The Warfield
29: Drunk Horse @ Rickshaw Stop
October:
5: The Stills @ The Independent
5: Billy Bragg @ GAMH (late show)
13: Kasabian @ The Independent
20: The Dresden Dolls @ Bimbo's
21: The Dresden Dolls @ Bimbo's
23: Cursive, The Thermals & Chin Up Chin Up @ The Fillmore
24: She Wants Revenge & Placebo @ The Warfield
November:
21: Mates of State @ GAMH
22: Mates of State @ GAMH
I think it's pretty damn obvious who Popscene's secret band is.
Don't you?
If you don't know....
....it's the Killers.
New Yorkers have this term called "summering." It's like "simmering", given that New York summers tend to be hot and humid, but there is also certain non-essential factors involved in that term. For Brooklynites living in Williamsburg, it involves wearing hipster clothes, a bottle of rosé, oversized sunglasses, shorts that are either (a) American Apparel or (b) altered from a pair of old jeans and, of course, either (a) cool hair or (b) one of those communist hats that Castro would wear.
In 2006, another factor was added to the term "summering" for Brooklynites: a concert at McCarren Pool.
McCarren Pool is, obviously, in McCarren Park. It's nothing but an abandoned pool that looks like shit. However, the place has a certain charm to it. Given the amount of people in there and the festive mood.
And it was fairly obvious that a majority of people there were "summering" even before the show. I know I was at P.S. 1.
The YYYs and Sonic Youth were the next installment in this summer concert series at said pool. Unlike the others this is a paying show, which makes sense because it subsidizes the free shows. There was a fair amount of people at McCarren today, basking in the warm NY sun. The temperature, atmosphere and the crowd couldn't have been better.
YYYs came on and they opened up with "Black Tongue." Karen O. was dressed up in her (un)usual dress. Nick is the same as always. And so is that other guy. Oh, and the second guitarist was there too. The YYYs didn't exactly move the crowd much other than getting them to stand up instead of sit down.
A plethora of new songs from the rather "okay" record Show Your Bones was played. My personal favourite, "Cheating Hearts" was great although it didn't quite move me as much as before. "Gold Lion" was also quite good, but it wasn't necessarily groundbreaking by any means.
I think the reason why the YYYs were so "ok" was: (1) I was summering way too long before the show and (2) the fact that they played when the sun was still out detracted from the usual panache that accompanies each YYYs show. I mean, how can one appreciate Karen O's dress and theatrics without the lights colorful lights shining on it? You can't. At least that much.
Beer Rating:
August:29: Cat Power @ GAMH (8:30 p.m.)29: Cat Power @ GAMH (10:30 p.m.)31: Razorlight @ PopsceneSeptember:22: DJ Shadow @ Greek Theatre28: Silversun Pickups @ Rickshaw Stop29: Scissor Sisters @ The Warfield30: Scissor Sisters @ The Warfield30: Supersystem @ Rickshaw StopOctober:5: The Dears @ Popscene12: Lily Allen @ Popscene16: Badly Drawn Boy @ GAMH20: Secret Machines @ The Grand21: Two Gallants @ Bottom of the Hill22: Two Gallants @ Bottom of the HIll26: The Kooks @ PopsceneNovember:1: MSTRKRFT @ Mezzanine3: The Knife @ Mezzanine10: The Beautiful South @ The Fillmore14: Lady Sovereign @ Mezzanine
Very excited for this one:November:3: The Knife @ MezzanineIt's on sale now. So, go buy it!---------------------Another addition:October:20: Secret Machines @ Grand Ballroom
August:4: Club Loaded @ Rickshaw Stop25: Fischerspooner @ MezzanineSeptember:6: Cocorosie @ GAMH8: Feist @ The Fillmore13: Adam Green @ The Independent28: Mojave 3 @ Slim'sOctober:2: We Are Scientists and Art Brut @ The Fillmore7: Magnolia Electric Co. @ GAMH8: Keane and Midlake @ Berkeley Greek Theatre10: Sufjan Stevens @ Zellerbach Hall13: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah @ The Warfield17: The Hold Steady @ GAMH18: Boris @ Slim's19: The Decemberists @ The Warfield19: Yo La Tengo @ The Fillmore20: Yo La Tengo @ The Fillmore21: Yo La Tengo @ The Fillmore30: Tricky @ The Independent31: Tricky @ The IndependentNovember:21: Hot Chip @ Mezzanine
