I hearby challenge anyone to convince me of the usefulness of this borough -- seriously, is there any culture in S.I.? Everyone I met that grew up there left as fast as they could.

as far as I'm concerned, as a NYC resident that does not live in Staten Island, I consider SI part of New Jersey. And even at that there are parts of NJ that are much easier and quicker to get to than SI

Wow, so many relevant and exciting bands. I'm make sure to trek out to the largest toxic dump in the U.S.

Even said dude in the picture looks like he smelled a turd...

Way to go S.I!

Does everyone have to tan and work out before the show?

yo seriously.

paragraph and the delay are awesome. I'm going just for them.

Snug Harbor Cultural Center is a nice place to visit. This show may be worth a bicycle trip and free ferry ride.

Wahoo Skiffle Crazie

Wait, did you say Staten Island? STATEN ISLAND is not New York...it's a dump full of tape-ups, Jager bombs, and "FUCK, BRO!"

It's like the bastard child of Satan himself.

im going with all of my friends. we all have the same haircut and we all gonna grind on every peice of pussy that comes to this festival. i personally am gonna grind till my dick falls off. broski, lemme git some jagerbombs up in this peice! i drink that shit for breakfast lunch and dinner... yeah Statin!

As a New Jersey resident, we refuse to accept Staten Island as part of NJ. You have to keep it, so that whenever anyone mocks NJ, we can just mock SI.

How ironic that Ohio transplants living in Brooklyn and Manhattan are questioning Staten Island's history as a borough of NYC.

^^ I don't think has questioning history. I'm asking for relevance -- like, modern day kind. Signed, Not From Ohio.

Jersey Shore guidos > Staten Island guidos

i suppose the dude in the pic plays in The Great Unwashed...

the cream of the crap! check it out

myspace.com/thedelay

haha staten island sucks

Hello Wu Tang clan....

They are charging admission?!!!!! hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Julius C is the only band worth seeing on that line up

more hating, please.

OMG THIS LINEUP KILLS APW!

Grow up! S.I. hate is so pathetic. Snug Harbor is gorgeous and it's a great idea to do shows there. Drop the hipster bullshit and check out a show somewhere other than Williamsburg for once in your snobby life.

i agree 100% with 3:13

I disagree 100% with 3:29

You hipster douche bags would swim there if Daft Punk was playing & you know it. Hell, you'd probably go for Franz Ferdinand.

are any of you a-holes actually from NY? i mean, born here.
or, did you just move here with your trust fund 6 months ago??

i dont get the s.i. hate either. it's no better or worse than any other suburban neighborhood in the general new york area.

I have never heard of any of those bands.

People from SI are the worst types of people. That's all.

my recent encounter with one of those animals...

him: "hey, you know who i am?"

me: "no, should I?"

him: "i'm the guy thats gonna kick your ass!"

me: "oh well, nice to meet you."

he then punched me in my face while i ran away yelling witty retorts. I'm from Connecticut by the way, and yes I moved to Manhattan with my trust fund. And no, I don't talk like a baboon and I don't tan til I look orange either. I wish the earth would open up and swallow that pathetic place and all the monkeys that live there.

Ha, yeah everyone can talk shit about S.I. until all you wanna be artists and hipsters move here when u cant afford your bills and turn it into another played out part of NYC. Theres a great scene here, and we intend to keep it away from your beady little eyes and out of your greasy hands. Leave us the fuck alone and hate all u want, we want nothing!

I was born in Queens, grew up in Ohio, and moved to Brooklyn 8 years ago. Where does that leave me? I'm terribly confused.

Seriously though, Wu-Tang. You can't deny the slums of Shaolin.

wu tang actually come from one of SI's shittiest neighborhoods.

james 3:50 - stop spending money on shows and buy some testicles.

SI does mostly suck, with its b&t greasers and all. but. that does not give a bunch of 22-year-old "punks" the right to move to NYC just to ignore the entire fucking thing and only mingle with people who live in williamsburg/park slope/bushwick. coming here from the midwest, dressing like an 80s disaster and subscribing to The New Yorker does not make you better or smarter than everyone else.

As someone who grew up in Staten Island and has lived in Philly, London and Brooklyn (Clinton Hill style) I just don't understand why there is such an overwhelming amount of blind hate for Staten Island.

True, there are lots of italian people and lots of them can be goofy. But it is no exaggeration when I say that almost 98% of the people I meet in Brooklyn/Manhattan are transplants. Which means that you didn't like where you grew up and moved here. Probably because you didn't like the people you were surrounded by. Explain to me how that is any different than growing up listening to rock music on Staten Island surrounded by guidos?

The worst part is that growing up on Staten Island, regardless of what some anonymous BV comment poster would say, has some distinct advantages. While most of you were getting beat up by jocks (or were previously jocks who did the classic Williamsburg Reinvention) I got to hang out with lots of other kids who liked punk and hardcore and got to hang out at all the 90s NYC venues that closed after Guiliani cleaned things up so all the transplants could move here.

Wetlands? Tramps? Coney Island High? Just a ferry ride away. I always felt lucky to be so close to the epicenter of the world. Thus, you can imagine how I feel when people move here and start making ridiculous comments about where I grew up.

I am pretty positive that none of you will read this and reconsider how you act or view Staten Island differently but just try to remember where you came from and how even though you don't think your hometown is as cool as Brooklyn or Manhattan you wouldn't wanna read anonymous people trashing it when they've had limited experiences with it.

I ain't a transplant, thankfully. Reppin' Sheepshead Bay, ya'll...OK, that's the last time I ever sound like I'm from the streetz.

Hey guys, I;m actually one of the promoters of Rock the Harbor, a life long Staten Islander, and the person that sent an e-mail to BV about the festival. We actually have a lot more to offer on Staten Island aside from what you may have seen on True Life: I'm a Staten Island Girl. Not all of us say "Bro", not all of us are mobbed up, and not all of us have no idea about the arts or culture. We actually have quite a few beautiful attractions, but I'll save the tourism chat for another time. The whole point of Rock the Harbor was to shine a light on a music scene that is slowly gaining some steam. I'm sure most of you have never heard of most of these bands, but almost all of them have been playing around the entire city for years, opening for other acts and playing some incredibly cool and creative tunes. Not all of them are great, not all of them will crack the elbo.ws lists, but all of them have a die hard appreciation of music. There's all sorts of bands on this lineup from straight up indie, to shoegaze, to punk, to pop, to bluegrass, we have a bit of everything and are planning on hosting this event with a completely open mind. If you guys have open minds we'd love to see you on our little Island for the event, we'll prove that we're not just about our closed garbage dump or the Wu-Tang Clan (although we did try to nab Wu-Tang who asked for a little too much money or something like that.). Come down, soak in the sun, listen to some new tunes, and open your minds!!!

I live in staten island. I love it out here. This festival is going to be amazing.

I moved out here a year ago and it is one of the best decisions I ever made.

the delay... all day.

The Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art is on Staten Island. Yes, that country that all you people say should be free, but you know nothing about it otherwise. Go learn something, hipster douchebags.

Overall, Staten Island has a lot of things that suck... greased up guidos, lack of really good food outside of pizza and bagels, the worlds largest landfill (now closed), etc...

But really, there is a LOT of good things going for it (especially on the North Shore). I moved to Manhattan as I could no longer deal with waiting an hour for the next ferry late at night and I could finally afford it. But if you could deal with that for the FREE 25 minute ride across NY Harbor with the best Happy Hour deal in town and the best view of the Statue of Liberty, you will find cheaper rent, larger apartments, beautiful neighborhoods with some great victorian architecture homes, a burgeoning art/music scene, the only authentic chinese scholars garden in the US, some really great ethnic restaurants (Polish, Sri Lankan, Jamaican, New Orleans), great views of the harbor and downtown NY, a beautiful minor league stadium, and some of the best vintage clothing/furniture/book stores around (albeit they are run by a kooky cult like organization).

So keep on hating hipster douchebags, while the North Shore of Staten Island continues to keep it real as they build up something on their own.

the delay..every day! swordfish! and a weird bass player.

Living on Staten Island is far better than living in the dumpster the Midwesterners have created in Williamsburg and all the other grimy places they've managed to infest all over the city. I've lived in New York City all of my life (and yes, as much as you may hate it Staten Island is a part of NYC). I've lived here, worked here, went to school here and have enjoyed every aspect of this great city my entire life. To make ridiculous claims about SI shows just how ignorant you really are. I'm sorry our festival doesn't have the newest hipster craze headlining (we can't all be Vampire Weekend, boy they're good and original). But what we do have is some of the best homegrown talent from people that were actually born and raised here and have built a scene from scratch and are actually making it work.

Most of you probably haven't spent more than a couple of hours on the island (if that) and have no clue as to the history and culture of music we've brought and have supported over the years (we've had our share of amazing hardcore, punk, etc acts while you were busy figuring out how to leave bumble fuck Michigan).

So please hipsters, do us all a favor and stay away, we don't want you ruining Staten Island too.

Pat, well-put, and good luck with the festival. To those that stooped to the whole 'hipster douchebag' tags following: you're not making a very passionate case. Your responses started out great, but dissolved to defensive statements. I've seen some amazing shows in Williamsburg, Manhattan and Queens but have been directed as such.

It would be much cooler to see some S.I.-centric bar and band recommendations so those of us that choose to check out the area might have some touch points.

Signed,
Not a Hipster Douchebag but Curious as to What You Offer on that Lil Isle

Actually, the guy in the pic plays in the Budos Band. A band who is keeping their afrobeat, funk and soul fresh and doing it right way with their Daptone label mates. In fact some of their members also play with the Dap Kings.

Greg, I don't know as much since I no longer live there, but there would be some pretty cool stuff happening over at Martini Red, the Muddy Cup and the Everything Goes Bookstore. Of course, nothing on par with Manhattan or Brooklyn. But definitely homegrown and DIY in the truest sense.

www.myspace.com/budosband
www.myspace.com/thegreatunclean
www.myspace.com/brownwater
www.myspace.com/captainahabandtheseacrackens
www.myspace.com/theheavenlytenants
www.myspace.com/paragraphmusic
www.myspace.com/racingexit13
www.myspace.com/deadsetondestruction
www.myspace.com/xdenofthieves

Staten Island is home of close minded, wife beaters, hair gel, guido accents, tanning, republican loving, dolphin fixated... people.

I just moved back to Brooklyn after living there for 15 years. There is absolutley nothing happening there, nothing.

The only festivals those people go to are the Bamboozle Festival and Beatstock.

Dude the "Ohio transplants" complaints are getting old....

If you grew up here and still live here and haven't lived elsewhere,ever, I think YOU'RE the one who is worthy of being ostracized. Secondly, isn't this an entire nation of "transplants"?

Get over yourself, you're not as important as you think you are.

anyone with the time to write paragraphs in the comments of a blog is a loser. wherever your from or wherever you live now, your all losers that are wasting time. Sarcasim is for the insecure that know their really losers.

'he then punched me in my face while i ran away'

what a wuss. Take a beating and show some fight, it will build character. people like James have no backbone and will easily crumble.

Its sad, i grew up in this enviorment and parents, with best intentioins usually, ruined their children by giving them everything they wanted. This kids turn into the worst adults. Belevie me, their parents in Darian regret thier easy ways.

Sounds like fun, culturee at it's best. Do something other than smack talk... it's music, who gived a crap where it's being heard or who playing it. Boy there are a lot of haters, or it could be that these haters are in fact from Staten Island and just werent' able to get on the bill... Get over it. www.rocktheharbor.net

Not everyone in Staten Island is a Sopranos-wanna be with an orange tan.

Not everyone in Williamsburg is a hipster douchebag with a trust fund.

It's too easy derive a sense of superiority by painting the people of the world who are a bit different than you with broad strokes. At least half of the above commentators should be ashamed of themselves.

Staten Island may not have the grandeur or the concentrated young person populace of certain areas of Brooklyn. It does have some beautiful parks, cheap rents, a distinct lack of pretension and a whole lot of elbow room. It has it's flaws to be sure but I'm certain most of the elitist posturing is coming from those who have never stepped foot in the borough. Your cluelessness and need for acceptance is abundantly evident. Whomever you're trying to impress will see right through you.

Staten Island will be gentrified soon enough. Remember what Williamsburg was like 15 years ago? You don't? Oh that's because you've only been here for three. I hope your band/theater/art project works out and if not I hope you at least get laid a lot before you head back to your hometown. (Sorry. I couldn't resist.)

S.I.'s Rock The Harbor will be MUCHO fun!!!!
Good bands you haven't heard before either, bring a friend ... pretentiousness and undeserving sense of superiority optional ... bro.

You know, you're right.

The "From Ohio" bit is getting pretty fucking old ... almost as old as your "S.I. is full of nothing but muscleneck bros & orange mafia princesses" rap.

... and you call Islanders narrow-minded? Are all Williamsburgers smelly hipsters in handmade T-shirts? Are all Park Slopers baby-stroller-pushing dykes? Do only low-income African-Americans populate Bed-Stuy's MYST condos?

How about you try experiencing ALL of NYC before you start handing out advice on what this city IS or ISN'T.

I actually live in Williamsburg -- and I'm constantly amazed how many young Brooklynites consider themselves above an entire borough of human beings located less than 20 minutes from their bedbug-infested loft on McKibben Street.

I'm from Indiana for chrissakes -- my (and most of your) only experience of NYC comes post-Disneyfication. What the hell do any of us know about "New York"?

Why all the hating on S.I.?

None of you grew up in NYC, and most of you "trendy hipsters" are just gonna wind up on the rock when you get squeezed out of B'klyn anyway.

And get some fresh material. The dump closed almost a decade ago.

The fact is, Snug Harbor's trying to do something original for the borough with a ton of local talent.

Just cuz you haven't heard of these bands doesn't mean they're not good. So get your heads out of your arses and check 'em out.

Pere Ubu, The Pagans, Electric Eels, Great Plains, Guided By Voices, Prisonshake, Devo, New Bomb Turks, Bassholes

Ohio is pretty awesome if you ask me.

ummm...i like music. rock the harbor for music. i doubt the guidos with their pasted up hair and pussy-grinding ways will show up, so you and your girlfriends will be safe. si does suck, but so does everywhere else. i'm full of shit and so are you. music has nothing to do with borders, but scenes do, and scenes are bullshit no matter where you are. leave all the other nonsense behind.

rock the harbor!

cos it will be fun.

happyanarchy.com
myspace.com/happyanarchy

Wow, dump jokes and Wu-Tang comments.

Glad to see all you know about Staten Island you learned from Wikipedia.

But at least we have one thing in common: I know almost nothing about Brooklyn, other than the fact that you can't walk around there at night because you'll probably end up dead. That, and the fact that you're all a bunch of no-talent a-hole hipster artists who'll wind up moving home when you fail to make it here.

At least the bands at Rock the Harbor are all local. Wish we could say the same for you.

Snug Harbor is a great venue, beautiful grounds with Chinese Gardens, a Childrens Museum and a British shrub maze and the $2 beers on the ferry is the best deal in NY.

Why not support local artists?

I was part of organizing Rock The Harbor (rocktheharbor.net), and I write about music for the Staten Island Advance Newspaper.

I've been amazed by two things since I started working for the Advance: the general ignorance of most New Yorkers about Staten Island, and the admittedly insular music and arts scene here.

Do some of the stereotypes and ugly comments directed at Staten Island ring true? Sure. All you have to do is see MTV's woefully superficial episode of "True Life: I'm a Staten Island Girl" to know that. But It's just as easy to prove that NYC residents are terrible drivers, that Williamsburg hipsters have stupid haircuts, and Carroll Gardens 30-somethings use their dogs as accessories. If you want to do nothing but scratch the surface, you can make a lot of generalizations about Staten Island.

What other New York City residents don't know about Staten Islanders really could fill our landfill though. Most don't know that Living Colour's Vernon Reid, New York Dolls David Johansen, and celebrated "Hair" composer Galt MacDermot all live and work here, as do many other famous and semi-famous musicians. The don't know that members of Rock The Harbor's headlining act Budos Band supported Amy Winehouse on her album and on tour, or that Raekwon, Redman, and Ghostface also still spend time on SI, growing the community so many of these self-described music fans posting comments like to deride.

The thing they really miss out on though, in my opinion, is the mutually-supportive music scene here. Unlike the cynical fans and safe fashion shows disguised as gritty rock performances in gentrified areas of Manhattan and Brooklyn, Staten Island's music scene is unpretentious, artistically risky, and holds very little talent that isn't legitimate and genuine. Thanks to the support of their fellow musicians and the community of Staten Islanders who make an effort to support local art rather than trying to shove off to Manhattan or elsewhere, these bands are growing in stature and skill. They are as good as any other local band I've seen playing elsewhere in the city, and they actually make an effort to reach out to other boroughs and play, unlike many bands they share stages with in Billysburg and the LES.

Brooklyn Vegan readers and New Yorkers in general would do well not to write off Staten Island. As other posts have already noted, 15 years ago, Manhattanites pooh-pooh'd Brooklyn with a vengeance. Now they're moving there en mass and loving it. I won't be surprised if soon artists will turn their eye on Staten Island in search of a reasonably-priced bohemian lifestyle. Of course, when they come here, they'll find that quality artists, musicians and bands are already here. It may come as a surprise to them, but not to us.

Ben Johnson
Music Writer
Staten Island Advance
Staten Island, NY

Some of the bands that came out of Staten Island:
The Realistics, Boris, Les Savy Fav, 1/4 of The New York Dolls, 3/4 of Mudhoney,

"...will turn their eye on Staten Island in search of a reasonably-priced bohemian lifestyle"

whaaaaat?

Les Savy Fav started in Providence, RI. Members are originally from NJ, DC, NC, and NY.

have any of the people on this blog who are sitting in their tiny little cramped apartments-apartments mommy and daddy are probably still helping them pay for- typing so furiosly about their hate for the forgotton borough ever actually been to the north shore on staten island? it's so sad when people have no sense of themselves individually and have to define themselves by where they live and who they live around.

Reading the above Posts; I was struck by the fact that most of the Guidos, and Wife beaters on S.I.......Came from Brooklyn. After 1964 Staten Island became the "Land of Opportunity" for Brooklynites. After that Date; Many long time Islanders started leaving the Island for other Places. They felt that not only was the quality of life on S.I. declining; but also the inflated prices for their Homes were to good to refuse...My point is the S.I. you are complaining about is of your own doing. Staten Island was once a beautiful place to live, and raise a Family.

Anyone who lives in Brooklyn has no right to talk. Slum city is what it should be called. There is bad people from all places. And Brooklyn has more than it's share. Idiots who come from cow dung country should go back and eat what they are use to. SHIT!!!!!!

Well said Ben Johnson! The Staten Island community is more than supportive of it's local bands and intends to continue in force. For all the morons that think they know EVERYTHING about our tiny little borough because they watch MTV and whatever garbage they can get their hands on have lots to learn. It's simple really ... if you don't like it, either get the f**k out, or stay the f**k out. =)
Have a wonderful day!

"Dude the "Ohio transplants" complaints are getting old...."

No it's not. If you are from here, and witnessed the cultural collapse after the unwashed masses from the midwest moved here, you will understand the frustration.

Well said Ben Johnson! The Staten Island community is more than supportive of it's local bands and intends to continue in force. The musician pictured is damn awesome and has been playing for years. For all the morons that think they know EVERYTHING about our tiny little borough because they watch MTV and whatever garbage they can get their hands on have lots to learn. It's simple really ... if you don't like it, either get the f**k out, or stay the f**k out. =)
Have a wonderful day!

Take a trip out to Staten Island - you might like it. Most places are not nearly as ugly looking as brooklyn and the people have entirely different kinds of personality defects than you can find in other boroughs.

It's good to see Staten Island having a music scene resurgence. There used to be shows at The Paramount Theater on Bay St. I remember seeing Johnny Lydon with Pil there. Hardcore shows at the WAVE and The Caves. Add Bowie guitarist Earl Slick as a Staten Islander. Also the metal band Great White. Kasim Sulton, Todd Rundgren's frequent bass player still lives on Staten Island.

Seems really stupid to knock this show based on stereotypes and ignorance. Funny that people use the SI Guido stereotype when there's more guidos scattered all over Brooklyn.

See youz at Sedutto's!!

I wasn't old enough back then. But I remember an old coworker telling me that the Paramount used to get some rather big names (Metallica, the Ramones, XTC).

I would be overjoyed if they could somehow get some decent shows in the renovated St. George theater, other than doo-wop night and other recycled has beens. It's a quick walk up the hill from the ferry terminal, and its ridiculously gorgeous on the inside... http://www.stgeorgetheatre.com/aboutus.htm#History

you can come to martini red on van duzer street saturday (5/31) for a sample of the atmosphere in staten island. paragraph, the great unwashed, the rabbits and some good music deejayed all night.

Typical Americans, never satisfied with what you have and unable to embrace the beauty that's on your doorstep.

Each borough adds something unique to New York, between them all you have everything you need without leaving the State.

I own three bars on Smith Street and one of a small chain of hipster friendly bakeries where I get to charge $5 bucks for a brownie. So to all of you Midwesterners, Hipsters and Fakers, thanks for furnishing my Staten Island home with wonderful flat screens, beautifu lmarble countertops, etc....

I moved to SI after growing up in Park Slope, it was definitely a little different but SI is growing on me. No alternate side, cool people, affordable, great pizza, great resturuants, and a twenty minute boat ride to the city, and you can drink. Sorry no jagerbombs, do people still do that?

So to the SI haters, guidos are definitely here, but they are everywhere. After the Sopranos it was kind of hard to get away from the guido stigma anywhere close to Northen NJ.

But as NY becomes more and more gentrified people will ccontinue to discover the perks of SI. A little removed from the rest of the city, but is that a bad thing?

It just goes to show how envious and bitter people are. No wonder todays youth are killing,stealing and disrespectful. You guys are a great role models.

"Dude the "Ohio transplants" complaints are getting old...."

no there not. there more apt then ever, u f'in wastes of resources.

Jesus Christ - what happened to grammar and spelling in this country?
"You guys are a great role models?"
"no there not?"
sheesh!

Take a trip with me to Stapleton Town.
Where all the musicians are gathered around.
They're bothered & brooding with eyes all ablaze.
They rather play here than Brooklyn these days.

Hey, hey-now Bobby, I wrote you a song.
'Bout that funny old Island that's coming along.
It's sick and it's hungry, it's tired and torn.
The South fights the North & it's hardly been born.

Call me a phony, call me what you will.
But I'm walkin' down roads you have gone down.
I'm seeing your world of people and things.
Your paupers, pirates, princes and kings.

Here's to Grinders,Tompkins, & Chester Place too.
And all the good people, and that includes you.
Here's to the blood and the mud of our land.
That smells like the swamp and broke up the band.

Hey, hey-now, Bobby, but I know that you know
All the things I'm a-sayin' an' many times more.
I’m looking for the man who points to what’s true
But Mr. Zimmerman called, he was looking for you.

I’m out here, just a few miles from my home.
Singing old songs, trying to make them my own.
But under a stone there’s a fountain of youth
Somewhere between 4th Street, Van Duzer, and Duluth.

"It has it's flaws to be sure but I'm certain most of the elitist posturing is coming from those who have never stepped foot in the borough."

Very true - if you have never even stepped foot in SI don't make assumptions.

Why don't all you transplants who just got off the boat to brooklyn go fuck off. You're just as bad as the guidos on staten island, why dont you move over there,

well at least the people on staten island are actually born in NY instead of coming from the mid-west living here for 6months calling themselves new yorkers and then taking pot-shots are other boroughs.

Grammar and spelling died out when people started communicating through posting and texting.

I'm a brooklyn trans from the south and haven't heard much from the Staten Island music scene (That I really like)except for the Budos Band and Dead Rabbit.

www.myspace.com/budosband
www.myspace.com/deadrabbitmusic

Staten Islands probably just like any local music scene...it has a few good bands and many bad ones.

All of NYC sucks, as does NJ, and all the people in each.

i'm feeling all the staten island love!

if you guys wanna give it a go, try downloading our ep for free right on our website. 7 songs, 20 minutes.

www.thedelaymusic.com

choke on a cock midwestern cornfield fags.

As a person who has lived in NYC all his life plus has spent time in many other major cities. this what i have to say on the topic.
I hate Staten Island, but i hate Brooklyn just as much!

The gudios there just listen to the rapture and wear womens jeans instead of bad techno and gold chains.

I do pray that one day somebody sets off a dirty bomb over williamsburg/greenpoint and the hipster death count is very high.

if you're gonna go... go to see paragraph. they're super funk ear candy.

the funny part is how much confidence anonymous commenting can give someone.

i'd like to see any of you haters say some of this to the face of a staten islander.

you wouldn't.

"Greg" states that "Everyone I met that grew up there [Staten Island] left as fast as they could." Hmmm. It seems to me that a majority of Brooklynites would leave Brooklyn as fast as the could, IF they could afford to or had the means to. But since most Brooklynites are too poor and/or uneducated to do so, they stay put. Hey, don't get me wrong, I love East New York as much as the next person, but I aint exactly anglin' to move there.

"Greg" states that "Everyone I met that grew up there [Staten Island] left as fast as they could." Hmmm. It seems to me that a majority of Brooklynites would leave Brooklyn as fast as the could, IF they could afford to or had the means to. But since most Brooklynites are too poor and/or uneducated to do so, they stay put. Hey, don't get me wrong, I love East New York as much as the next person, but I aint exactly anglin' to move there.

Staten Island has played host to SEVERAL important shows/bands throughout the years. For example:

Metallica in '83
Anti-Nowhere League in '83
Kraut, Dead Kennedys D.O.A. and SSD in '82

This is actually a picture of Springa and Al Barile of SSD at said show:

(The venue was The Paramount Theater)

I have fond memories of growing up on Staten Island. Summer evenings eating dinner at Denino's followed by a choclate/lemon ice combo at Ralph's (This intself is WELL worth the trip to Island!), playing hockey at the W.W.II Vet's ice rink, swimming lessons the old Y.M.C.A. on Broadway, etc.. Now that I'm 28 and living in Manhattan, I often find myself reflecting back on those times and wondering if there was any better place for a kid to live in the 1980's. Yeah, I may be a sentimental asshole, in love with my memories of a "garbage strewn, guido filled shithole", but you know what, I wouldn't have it any other way. Regardless of where I lay my head now, I will ALWAYS consider Staten Island my home

To the cunts who have never set foot on the Island and yet feel the need to badmouth it for it's lack of originality, it's ethnic make-up, etc., you can go fuck yourselves. You know NOTHING of the REAL City and the people who make it what it is. New York is more than your little world in Williamsburg. Get a fucking clue.

To those of you who are originally from Staten Island and are now "too cool" to admit where you're from and who you "are", your constant badmouthing of your hometown does nothing but fuel the ignorant babble of the mindless, unwashed, Mid-Western, hipster masses. Shame on you. I'm sure if you think back to your younger days, you too will realize that this little Island wasn't such a bad place to grow up.

I've worked in every borough of NYC and lived in 3. Worked for the music industry, television industry and print industry. I grew up on SI, and I've set my roots on here. Staten Island is that kid who everyone makes fun off in school but then that kid goes off to do great things. And everyone will be like oh, yeh we were pals. East Village, Alphabet City, Red Hook., Williamsburg. But you won't take the time to get to know him/her because your busy trying to prop up your insecure (conformist) ego.

But that kid (SI's North Shore) is independent and original and will go farther then you, with your narrow vision could ever see.

5 years from now Staten Island will be the music/arts center of NYC! So go ride the bandwagon of what is already cool and name brand. But if your interested in grassroots, from the heart development of a scene then you'll do no better then SI's North Shore. Vanduzer & Beach.
Keep you ears to the ground cuz something comes a rumbling.

You have been warned.

Yeah SI love!!!!

Id like to take a few moments to talk about the Island I love/Hate and will always defend till the day I die. For one, I think we could all stop calling Staten Island the "Tiny" Isle because its the third largest in the city, and we dwarf manhattan...as long as your looking at an actual map and not the Subway map. Although we are smaller then Brooklyn...weve got 10 times more heart and history here.

Over 40 years ago, Brooklynites, (including my grandparents and parents) drove over the newly built Verrazano Bridge and created a new home here because there borough was crowded and cramped and tapped out. Too bad after a while, they destroyed the natural farms, boardwalks and open air spaces to build cheap cookie cutter housing. Did you know that staten island had a boardwalk fully equipt with a roller coaster, and that Staten Island used to be a resort island? Probablly not since it was destroyed from years of neglect by the surrounding communites and even the cities under funding. Did you know that we have 3 0r 4 smaller islands of our shore line, and that one of them was and might still be a bird sanctuary? Didnt think so.

I see the same thing happening now. Artists (weather they are from Idaho, Conneticut, or NJ) are moving from their cramped, overpriced apartments to our nice "little" island for cheaper rent and a break from all the noise. I personally, would rather that not happen. If there are people out there that could unfairly judge me on where I grew up, even if that person has never stepped foot here, then I dont want you here. I used to work in the city, and I cant tell you how many times I would get smug remarks and comments when I said, "Im from Staten Island".

I've lived in rode Island and I recently took a 2 week road trip across the US and back. I learned a few things. Firstly being that, this country is huge, It's beautiful and there are plenty of really ignorant people. I thrive on learning new things and digging deep trying to look at whats below the surface. Its pretty sad that someone could talk so much smack about something when then only know whats right there on the surface. If you would open your eyes and your minds and take a trip here...Ill personally give you a tour of the island and I'll gonna mentally beat it into your heads that we are worth more then all your smug and snobby comments.

Another thing, enough with the Dump comments. For one thing, it's been closed for about 8 years. Oh yeah and I hate to say it but...Brooklyn had a landfill too. It was closed in 1985 and sat Idle until about 2001. Guess where all the garbage went...Staten Island. Thanks brooklyn and queens, give your selves a big pat on the back for adding to the ultimate demise of my island, you did great!

Staten island has so much to offer, the sites (trees and parks, you still know what those look like right?) and a budding arts community. We have always had a strong arts community here, but it has failed to catch the eyes non staten islanders most likely due to the fact that you dont want to give it a chance.

That is why I hate close minded Hypster scum. Being Hypster isnt something you should be proud of. Be proud of who you are and where you came from first. Wu Tang for life!

Paperbombs
Great Unwashed
Paragraph
Dog and Pony Show
Budos
and everyone else who's a staten islander except Vito Fossela rules.

TConnors out

this is so sad to hear.
you people sound old.
dumb yourselves down and shut yourselves up.

you appreciate music for what it is..not where it comes from. staten island, brooklyn, L.A., Baltimore, Barcelona...its all music.

sorry that Battles, M.I.A, or Crystal Castles aren't playing this festival. sorry that nobody from Portland Oregon will be in the house. you probably will only find a couple pairs of retro Nike sneakers or thick, red 80s glasses. sorry.

this concert just may not be cool enough for all you blogsters and awesomes out there.

Staten Island is actually a pretty diverse place and it is getting better and better all the time.
it has its share of stereotypes, but so does your town.

go to Bay Street. visit a thrift store, eat a burger, see a band play and then talk.

US post office, son.

well I think all of the staten island bashers should consider that some of us have friends relatives and our kids performing in the show.Some of us have been here our whole lives and remember a staten island without the people who have moved here from somewhere else and changed our beautiful peaceful island. We still have many wonderful things to do and we are still fairly peaceful. We have the convenience of the big city without having to live there. we are just 30 minutes away. there is no place i would rather live. my children grew up playing in a yard of their own with their own pool and parks to go to anytime they wanted. I am proud to say that i am a native staten islander and i feel sorry for anyone who has not enjoyed our lovely island. why don't you go back to where you are from if you don't like it here. and if you never have been here and think you don't like it stay away.

Forget about local battle of the bands, how about the battle of the bouroughs?

i love ohio and brooklyn but i love staten island more.

it's a good opportunity to hang in a beautiful environment and see some really interesting and damned good bands. i swear if you come you will get your money's worth. also the ferry is free and you can still get a tall boy for $3 on there.

do something different. it will be fun. if you come and have a bad time i grant you the right to come and harass me about it.

Yes...I like it!!!!!!!!!!

Battle of the boroughs 2008! put it together!!!! It should be on a neutral ground like governors island!!!!!!!!!

Farthammer out
Future boy 3001 wheres big t-shirts

BK Vegans Bungholes

And once you'r here eating your words...save some room in that vegan belly for some grub:

Vida
The Bayoo
Aesops Tables
Cargo
Adobe Blues (300 or so beers)
Denninos
Brothers Pizza
Ralphs Ices
The Cup
The coffee and tea mart (for some Coffee and tea asshole)
etc

Then if you still have nothing but Diarrhea of the mouth to say, that gives me the right to stomp on your very full vegan belly until you throw up all the food you ate, which is mostly bark and Guy and Gallard. Then meet us back at martini red so we could all laugh at your brand new vintage "T" and beautifully teased hair.

Fart hammer

Did you know that:

A Bunghole is actually the name of the hole in a wooden barrel of wine. The hole is capped off by a cork called a bung. Its not so insulting now is it? I wood love to drink wine straight out of a bunghole!

Farthammer

I'm definitely moving OUT of Staten Island. You guys are embarrassing

The best thing this thread has produced is the Battle of The Boroughs, and I think BV should sponsor it -- and have it in Staten Island.

i would really like to know where all the people who are hating on SI were born and raised. i would guess the majority of them are transplants from outside of NYC who feel that because now they live in a cool neighborhood they can make fun of SI. SI has it's positives and negatives. Stereotyping an entire borough of 450k+ people is extremely extremely ignorant.

I've been a SI basher pretty much my whole life, and I'm born & raised in NJ, and have been here almost my entire life, except for college. Every weekend, it's as if the gates are opened, and the unwashed (and over-sprayed & cologned) masses flee via either the Goethals or Outerbridge Crossing, and invade my lovely state. It's particularly offensive during the summers, when our beaches are taken over by this invading horde. Some may feel that it may be ignorant and hateful to stereotype an entire borough, and they'd be right, except in the case of Staten Island.

Ok, for all of you SI haters, let me ask you this question, have any of you bothered to actually step off the ferry, and explore Staten Island, outside the terminal? Have you come here and taken a look at all of the great things we have, or did you just make assumptions based on what every other idiot is saying , again without ever having been here and taken a look around and judged for themselves.

If you have- O.K., then even if I don't agree with you, you're still entitled to your opinion, and at least you took the time to get all the facts before you judged, if you haven't well then I suggest you put one foot in front of another and come explore the island, and all we have to offer.

Chances are this, any mis-conceptions you may have had about us, are going to be quickly put to rest.

We have a strong arts community here, brimming with talent- and if you had taken the time to actually listen to the groups playing at "Rock the Harbor" ,you would have figured that out.

Also to the mis-begotten soul who thinks we are part of NJ. Honey, go back and study NYC Geography. Staten Island is one of the five boroughs that make up NYC.

I want a newark/elizabeth music festival

ok I was skimming through here and noticed all the hate on staten island.

I live here. It sucks hate away.
And to all those who are in the bands that are playing (or are loving fans of) at this retarded festival well fuck you.. you pretentious fucks. Ya'll dream of being in williamsburg.Its just that you can't quite afford living there yet.I always wonder why you stay at "your" two bars (that being Martini Red and Cargo)in which you maintain your high schoolesq bullshit cliques.You dress and act like the hipster yuppie "faggots" that you speak of. You think you know everything about music... I'm sorry you don't.

Oh and to the individual that said that mudhoney and Boris were from staten island... I don't know whats wrong with you or if you even like those bands... but mudhoney is from seattle and BORIS IS A JAPANESE band so your info is WRONG.

fuck the festival. I say visit snug harbor when all these lame ass uptight fucks won't be there.. because it is rather nice :)

I could keep going but I won't...

We could rename it 'Satin Island' and give every one some sexy clothes.

Word SIYMD. Very Cliquettish, and uptight. I'd say... Approval-seekers? All these bands are stuck in 2nd gear. SI is the worst. But I heard one can find a reasonably-priced bohemian lifestyle here

SUCK IT,
BROOKLYN!

YOUR ARTISTIC HEGEMONY IS OVER!

SINY RULES!

ROCK THE HARBOR!

Fuck You S.I.!!

I heard you guys have a real nasty strain of HIV there.

Keep that shit out of Brooklyn!

you people are fucking sad..i can only say thank god you hate us cause the last thing i would want to see when walking to the store is some douchbag hipster with ironic facial hair wearing a coon skin cap on my corner, so hate away.

Um... I guess G.A. but its really only within that small handful of hopeful "artists".

and to whoever talked about the The beaches here. I must let outsides know that they are not beaches just mere extentions of the dump. Trails of beer bottles, used needles and condoms cover (or are within) the sand. The water looks like shit.
Then there is the crappy mall in which they hope to make more "elite" HA!
what else should we touch upon on staten island...
well theres always the south shore *which I would like to make clear is where MOST of the orange colored "guidos" reside. As they drive around with their little italian flag decals on their cars or OVERSIZED suvs. (i bet if you ask them to name a place in italy other than sicily they'd be stummped. They made a fuckin country into a novelty (dumb fucks!). There is nothing here. It is a wasteland of liars and pathetic people that think they live valuable lives. (STUCK ON YOURSELVES YOU ARE)

but again don't subject yourself to this festival. If these bands are that important for you to go see. You can always see them at their beloved bar Martini Red (vanduzer st) for less or free even.
(LAME!)

soon I will escape... soon

BROOKLYN WILL NOT RECOGNIZE SI BECAUSE THEY SEE THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL.

BILLYBURG IS DEAD.

AND FUCK YOUR APPROVAL.
THE SINY INVASION HAS BEGUN!

SIYMD, I have to disagree with you about the beaches here, they're just fine. The water's getting better. I should know, I fish them almost every day. In fact I eat fresh-caught SI fish probably 4 times a week.
Oh and I'm pretty sure that at least two members of Mudhoney are from Staten Island.

Dear Staten Island Yuppies Must Die,
What are you, a disgruntled band member of some crappy band that didn't get on the bill for Rock The Harbor? Sure sounds like it. Either that or you have no life. Maybe both. P.S.--pretty sure you can't see Budos Band for free anytime soon, not at Martini Red at least. But hey, you don't sound smart enough to figure it out. I'm surprised you know about the internets.

I’m not really sure what is worse, the empty, loud cries for “respect” from Staten Islanders, or the idiotic, jackass banter from these people who are criticizing a portion of land. The truth of the matter is, you’re all wrong. Staten Island clearly isn’t comprised of ONLY guidos and the dump. In fact, these days, it’s comprised mostly by Russians, Sri Lankans and Mexicans. And it is not gentrifying or “getting there” as far as culture goes. In reality, Staten Island is only going to become arts-oriented if local organizations and politicians put their money where their mouth is, and