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Posted in music | pictures on June 7, 2008
M.I.A. @ McCarren Pool, Brooklyn, NYC - pics
photos by Bao Nguyen
That's what the McCarren Pool crowd looked like between Holy Fuck and M.I.A. last night (June 6, 2008). Click HERE for a much bigger view. Click HERE to see what it looked like when that crowd later got on stage. Click "continue reading" to see the rest of the pictures (and stuff) from the show.....
At one point M.I.A. announced that this was her last show in support of the new album and that she just cancelled her European tour. Whether that is true or not or common knowledge, I have no idea, but she is playing again (a private show anyway) at MoMa this Tuesday. Here's a review I found on kaczurda's livejournal....
Last night, I went to an M.I.A concert and it was fucking amazing. I feel like it was my first "real" concert. I've been to another concert that I was too young to remember, another concert I only saw one opening act, and then I went to James Marsters which was more of a "gig" than a concert. But the M.I.A concert was amazing. It was in Brooklyn in McCarren Park. It was in a pool - well what used to be a pool. They took out all the water, it's all graffitied and very "urban" looking. The scene was - different. Very odd outfits, crazy hair, a lot of gay people. It was awesome. I can now officially say I have seen "indie" at it's finest. The opening act was a band called Holy F*ck. They were really cool. M.I.A. came on and just blew the place away. If you don't know, it is just one girl who is from Sri Lanka but moved to London when she was around 8 years old. She sings mostly about war/guns and the situations in Africa. Very alternative/indie, some hip-hop in there, too. But it was so much fun, I went with my two cousins Allyson (26) and Katie (29), and their friend Mark (26 I think) who is gay but he is soo funny and soo cute, he calls everyone his cousins lol. Some guy named Steven who was standing in front of us was smoking pot with his friends and then later on before the last 2 songs, he passed out (standing up) and his friends had to leave. There was a lot of people smoking weed, lol, you definately could smell it. M.I.A also let a bunch of girls up in the front on stage, it was so cool! And then we got to move up even closer, we were only about 30 feet away from the stage. Anyway, it was awesome and I had so much fun. :) If you like a lot of different kinds of music then I suggest checking M.I.A. out because she is really cool. [kaczurda]She closed out the night with 'Paper Planes'. The show was over by 10. What did you do afterwards?
More pics, and some video, HERE.
Posted on June 7, 2008 3:55 PM
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Comments (71)
Thats not david Cook, thats just a fangirl.
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 4:06 PM
"Thats not david Cook, thats just a fangirl."
oh yeah. didn't mean to imply it was the famous David Cook. I just thought that was the name of the livejournalist, but I guess it's the name of the post or something. changed. thanks!
Posted by brooklynvegan | June 7, 2008 4:20 PM
perfect start to this summer. the daft punk of '08 already
what time does mia go on tonight?
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 5:11 PM
"perfect start to this summer. the daft punk of '08 already
what time does mia go on tonight?
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 5:11 PM"
OHHHHHHH GOD here we go with the bullshit all over again. You wish this was the daft punk of '08 you fucking dipshit. I bet you were the same moron who i heard was holding up a sign saying "Obama where you at". And you are probably the same idiot who went to Santo's and told the door guy that Brooklyn Vegan sent you.
Heavens to Betsy she had people dance on the stage. My God i have not seen THAT done before. Killer I tell you Killer. Give me a break but good work BV on quoting a journal entry from someone who is like 13 and has only been to 3 concerts in her life. That should get you lots of comments.
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 5:21 PM
Wow in that picture i see like 4 chicks i fucked this year. Damn I got to start swimming in a different pool.
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 5:23 PM
Anon 5:23 is a virgin
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 5:37 PM
Wow Bao Wow!
Best pics yet.
Posted by Chase | June 7, 2008 5:46 PM
If Daft Punk was the best show of 2007 (it wasn't), then this can easily be the best show of 2008. I was at both shows. The energy last night was incredible. Maybe it did not match Daft Punk's, but it was an actual performance on M.I.A.'s part and I usually prefer that to "robots." This one will be remembered for a long time to come. Neither Daft Punk nor M.I.A. can even be in my top ten shows of any year, but as far as shows that lift up masses go, I doubt many will match the level of last night's this year.
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 5:51 PM
Bao! Thanks for putting the pics up of us with the horns!
The show was amazing. We got a surprise performance from DIPLO (who was rockin' elmo gear). End of story.
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 6:02 PM
Those pictures are amazing. They kinda make me wish I had been there, but not really.
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 6:02 PM
she played thursday at my school (drexel) in the old armory, but noone seemed to know it was happening.
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 6:09 PM
these are def bao's best pics to date... her composition is getting muchhh better and these are actualy sharp! hizah! (new lens??)
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 6:15 PM
Gotta say, as a big MIA fan, I was disappointed by this show. The sound was god-awful: you could barely hear her and the beats completely overpowered everything else. The visuals were cool, but they seemed to be completely out of sync with the music. Also, MIA seemed off her stride--she kept us waiting and then kept fiddling with her keyboard (or beat box, whichever). I left thinking she canceled Europe because she was sick of touring.
Posted by starbuckvenice | June 7, 2008 6:18 PM
Great show. Did anyone else notice Susan Sarandon watching from the wings on the left? Very random...
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 6:29 PM
"the daft punk of '08 already"
The show was okay, but let's not get carried away.
"OHHHHHHH GOD here we go with the bullshit all over again"
You sound like a serious docuchebag. I bet you respond to this comment with a similar holier than thou comment.
"Those pictures are amazing. They kinda make me wish I had been there, but not really."
fair
"I was disappointed by this show"
I'm not surprised. The show was decent, but not by any means lifechanging. The sound was pretty bad.
Posted by hoo ha | June 7, 2008 6:30 PM
also noticed a Beastie Boy
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 6:32 PM
The sound was mediocre, but the energy was amazing. I also laughed my ass off when M.I.A. nearly fell off the speaker when she was dancing on in the Hussel/Paper Planes encore.
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 6:36 PM
I was playing football in McCarren Park across the street during the M.I.A. concert and it was great to hear the beats whilst running up and down the pitch.
Brooklyn Vegan is great for of-the-moment entertainment in NYC, but quoting Elli's [kaczurda] entry is either brilliant or incredibly lazy. On the brilliant side Elli's sincere review replete with naiveté is appropriate in the way that it too "snaps its bubblegum" and "twirls its hair" like the throngs of young M.I.A. fans in attendance. On the lazy side, couldn't Brooklyn Vegan have written its own review of the show rather than subject Elli's review to whithering scrutiny? There's nothing wrong with Elli's review, but it would more fair to leave it on her site and not quote it here.
Posted by Damien | June 7, 2008 6:50 PM
I found Elli's review entertaining, hilarious and refreshing all at the same time. I give that review an A+
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 6:52 PM
I slept with 5 of the 'chicks' on stage, M.I.A., Susan Sarandon, Bao, AND Elli.
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 6:57 PM
Just to clear things up - I'm a dude but thanks for the kind words, Anonymous 6:15. To Anonymous 6:57, you never called me like you said you would.
Posted by Bao | June 7, 2008 7:01 PM
Can I get a Wa Wa!!
ayo NYC let's make this the best summer yet!
Peace my brothers and sisters.
Posted by N! | June 7, 2008 7:06 PM
Yo Yo YO! Don't forget about me my peoplez! that's right, it's tha letter M! I also think we should make this tha best summer yet! Let's fuckin do this.
Peace out.
Posted by M! | June 7, 2008 7:35 PM
as long as we're doing the alphabet backwards.. hi folks its me big L
Posted by L | June 7, 2008 7:41 PM
"OHHHHHHH GOD here we go with the bullshit all over again. You wish this was the daft punk of '08 you fucking dipshit. I bet you were the same moron who i heard was holding up a sign saying "Obama where you at". And you are probably the same idiot who went to Santo's and told the door guy that Brooklyn Vegan sent you."
this person is a fucking idiot douche.
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 8:16 PM
santagold will have a lot to live up to now.
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 8:58 PM
i saw john norris there banging one of the guys from vampire weekend.
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 9:06 PM
best review ever.
Posted by sarah | June 7, 2008 9:25 PM
i was there and i was dissapointed. honestly her mic was way too low and the horns were annoying. at least I got in for free.
i'll continue to get her records but no more MIA shows for me.
Posted by Joe | June 7, 2008 9:29 PM
you got in for free?! i payed $600 for one ticket!
turned out to be the worst night of my life
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 10:30 PM
hipster heaven
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 10:41 PM
""OHHHHHHH GOD here we go with the bullshit all over again. You wish this was the daft punk of '08 you fucking dipshit. I bet you were the same moron who i heard was holding up a sign saying "Obama where you at". And you are probably the same idiot who went to Santo's and told the door guy that Brooklyn Vegan sent you."
this person is a fucking idiot douche.
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 8:16 PM"
Awww Anon 5:11 who is probably also Anon 5:51, dont get your little panties in a bunch. Im sorry people have shot down your "best show of '08" rant. It's ok ya little bitch. Get over it.
"Anon 5:23 is a virgin
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 5:37 PM"
Playa Hating on a blog? Wow you are giving 8:16pm a run for his money for loser of the year.
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 10:52 PM
" The scene was - different. Very odd outfits, crazy hair, a lot of gay people."
lol
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 11:02 PM
i'm sorry but M. I. A
suxxx
let's be real here
Posted by Anonymous | June 7, 2008 11:23 PM
"i'm sorry but M. I. A suxxx"
so true
Posted by Anonymous | June 8, 2008 12:11 AM
"these pictures are actually sharp" hahahahah
Posted by Anonymous | June 8, 2008 12:16 AM
man iwish i had sold my free ticket for 600 dollars. that show was nothin special
Posted by Anonymous | June 8, 2008 12:33 AM
bao! these look fucking fabulous. congrats, man. i can't keep up with you!
Posted by kyle | June 8, 2008 1:00 AM
She's Hanna Montana for hipster teens...
Posted by Anonymous | June 8, 2008 9:00 AM
vignetting gets me hard.
Posted by avedon | June 8, 2008 9:46 AM
Good show. I actually had no complains for the sound, but I wasn't paying much attention either. Man and Santogold has nothing to do next to M.I.A..
Posted by Eduardo | June 8, 2008 9:50 AM
Who the hell is M.I.A. ?
Posted by Anonymous | June 8, 2008 9:51 AM
That was an awesome show. 3 YEARS AGO. At Central Park. FOR FREE.
Posted by josef | June 8, 2008 11:04 AM
"She's Hanna Montana for hipster teens..."
EXACTLY!
Posted by Anonymous | June 8, 2008 11:37 AM
man i loved all that kala material at that central park show.....
oh wait.
idiot.
Posted by Anonymous | June 8, 2008 12:20 PM
Just wondering - anybody seeing Gnarls at Irving Plaza tonight? Think its worth going to? Think the crowds will be manageable?
Posted by restless | June 8, 2008 12:26 PM
I like her albums. I think she's an interesting pop star or whatever you wanna call her, but that Hannah Montana comment is kinda true. I think she's crappy live. There's always room for improvement in the future I guess, but she comes off as pretty... lazy and kind of Sineard O'Connor-esque with her politics "YEAH let's build some SCHOOLS *bird call noises*
Posted by Anonymous | June 8, 2008 1:57 PM
No the difference between MIA & Hannah Montana is HM may actually be around in 5 years -- but, right on the MIA is HM for hipsters teens -- make that 20 somethings... those same idiots who love, love, love Vampire Weekend...
Posted by Anonymous | June 8, 2008 2:29 PM
vampire weekend is a good band. obviously yeasayer is gonna be the better band in the long run but just b/c a band has buzz and isn't obscure animal collective type shit doesn't mean they suck. backlash is so dumb.
Posted by Anonymous | June 8, 2008 2:37 PM
this show was def overrated. but im def more excited for shadow/cut chemist and the free MGMT shows!!!
Posted by Anonymous | June 8, 2008 3:25 PM
"Just wondering - anybody seeing Gnarls at Irving Plaza tonight? Think its worth going to? Think the crowds will be manageable?"
It is always worth it to see Gnarls Barkley, especially for free. I don't know how early you'll have to get there. If you live close, might as well walk by.
"No the difference between MIA & Hannah Montana is HM may actually be around in 5 years -- but, right on the MIA is HM for hipsters teens -- make that 20 somethings... those same idiots who love, love, love Vampire Weekend..."
Hannah Montana will hit puberty and not be around in 5 years. MIA is not HM for hipster teens. MIA makes cutting edge amazing music. Hannah Montana sings simple songs for children written by a team of paid songwriters. Hannah Montana is more like Mickey Mouse than MIA. MIA is like nobody else. Vampire Weekend has nothing to do with MIA unless you count the fact that some of its members were in the audience at McCarren Pool Friday night.
Posted by Fred | June 8, 2008 4:25 PM
"this show was def overrated. but im def more excited for shadow/cut chemist and the free MGMT shows!!!"
MGMT are the Jonas Brothers for hipster teens.
Posted by Anonymous | June 8, 2008 4:27 PM
MIA is vampire weekend for MGMT fans of sinead o connor
Posted by Anonymous | June 8, 2008 4:40 PM
MIA gets jewelry in Fort Greene:
http://www.aroundthewaygirls.net/2008/06/as-luck-would-have-itmia-and-cubannie.html
Posted by Anonymous | June 8, 2008 5:28 PM
I saw MIA in Miami a while back, like 2-3 years, with a crowd of like 100, and can't believe she's playing to a crowd that big now! Her voice sucked, but I still enjoyed the performance. I'm sure "Jimmy" was not a pleasant vocal part for the crowd.
What do you guys think of Rihanna performing MIA's "Paper Planes" on the tour she's on with Kanye?
Posted by leo | June 8, 2008 5:41 PM
hannah montana is the daft punk of MIA haters
Posted by sam | June 8, 2008 7:43 PM
Bao, you are a golden god. These pictures are incredible.
Posted by Anonymous | June 8, 2008 9:54 PM
what was M.I.A. wearing under that dress?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/2559884404_86f3bce91c_b.jpg
Posted by upskirt | June 8, 2008 10:24 PM
Good to see M.I.A. bringing "the revolution" to a bunch of dipshits in Williamsburg. Shouldn't she be busting a cap in the ass of third world poverty or something?
Posted by Anonymous | June 8, 2008 10:24 PM
"MIA makes cutting edge amazing music"
..you need buy a few more records....
"MIA is like nobody else"
...see above comment...
Posted by Anonymous | June 8, 2008 10:27 PM
Welcome to my McCarren OOL
Notice there is no P in it
Please keep it that way...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/2558812775_33e4ca3381.jpg?v=0
Posted by Anonymous | June 8, 2008 10:30 PM
I like me some MIA once in a while but "cutting edge amazing music"? Give me a break. The show was ok at best. Let's just say I'm glad I got in for free!
Posted by Anonymous | June 8, 2008 10:53 PM
She kicks Daft Punk's ass. Daft Punk do what they did in 2001, and they still do it well...but they're no MIA.
I see five ladies I slept with in this comment thread. Sarandon call me!
Posted by Obama | June 8, 2008 10:58 PM
BV, I like the review you quoted. This was her FIRST real concert!
Posted by Sha-na-na-nonymous | June 8, 2008 11:18 PM
"What do you guys think of Rihanna performing MIA's "Paper Planes" on the tour she's on with Kanye?"
it's not a cover if she's just playing the track and singing along to m.i.a's song. karaoke in a stadium. hilarious concept.
Posted by Anonymous | June 9, 2008 1:20 AM
Let's face it kids. It does not matter whom you hate more, M.I.A., Daft Punk, Vampire Weekend, Yeasayer, MGMT, Sinead O'Connor. Most of you are losers that lack the talent of all these mentioned. There has to be some artists for people of your intelligence level to enjoy. Try recommending some of them to others for a change. Maybe you'll make some friends at their shows and you won't have to be bitter assholes forever.
Posted by Anonymous | June 9, 2008 2:02 AM
MIA concert was awesome. Perhaps, middle-aged "hipsters," who should have hung up the "hipster" label about five years ago, are intimidated by the youth of her fans. She has fantastic energy and fresh hip hop flavor.
Posted by Annie | June 9, 2008 10:37 AM
Annie, you misspelled 'flavor'.
Posted by Anonymous | June 9, 2008 10:44 AM
thats the guys first concert ever? ahhahah
bao is amazing. its like the competion among concert photogs is just raising the bar, jospe vs bao, just amazing. i hope they get a retrospective or something.
Posted by Anonymous | June 9, 2008 11:04 AM
everyone looks 15 and spent their allowance on MIA tickets
Posted by freddy mercury | June 9, 2008 11:24 AM
Hey Bao, what kind of Camera are you using?
Posted by Rae | June 9, 2008 1:37 PM