Fourth of July

Entries tagged with: Fourth of July

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Earth, Wind & Fire help Philly celebrate Independence Day
The Roots 4th of July Summer Jam - Philadelphia

A little after 1 p.m., the Parkway was already jammed with people who had come from near and far for the Fourth of July celebration in Philadelphia - and it stayed that way well into the night as the Roots repeatedly rocked the stage, and Earth, Wind & Fire's Philip Bailey hit some stratospheric high notes.

Many came in red, white, and blue attire, with their children, their spouses, and their dogs.

Courtney Beckett, 22, a medical assistant from West Chester, even brought her six-foot boa constrictor, Sampson.

"They're cold-blooded, so they need heat," she explained as her cousin, Zhabree Jacobs, 8, let the reptile curl around her shoulders.

And, boy, did that snake get grilled.

Temperatures pushed 90 most of the day at the Wawa Welcome America celebration Monday, as people ate gyros and cheesesteaks, swayed to music, and reunited with friends and family to party Philadelphia-style.

Organizers had no official crowd count, although Mayor Nutter said, "This might be the largest Fourth of July event ever." The event has been known to draw a million or more people.

With a pink-and-orange sunset in the background and Sara Bareilles and the Roots performing. [Philly.com]

The Roots hosted and performed at their Fourth of July Jam in Philly with Earth Wind and Fire, Michael McDonald, Estelle, Sara Bareilles, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Boyz II Men and others. The concert, which was billed as "the largest free concert in America," lived up to its title, though as expected at a concert that big, not everyone has a positive experience. According to Anthony Sbarro, "Way too many people at the Roots Fourth Of July on the Parkway concert. Good luck to whomever is going! I'd recommend against it." Tamika Chandler posted a video to her YouTube account of what she dubbed the "4th of July Jam Fiasco." The video description and tags read:

People arguing & fighting. I wanted to enjoy the concert but because so many people were trying to budge in front of those who were smart enough to be early and sitting down in their own seats, I ended up filming the entertaining arguments/fights that arose from this.

Parkway, Philadelphia, Philly, Jam, Concert, Fourth, 4th, of, July, Fireworks, Fights, Beer, Drunk, Arguing, Arguments, yelling, crowded, crowds, kids, pot, marijuana, smoking, wild, fiasco, rude, the roots, earth, wind, fire, &, and, PA, pennsylvania, city, mayor, nutter, police, popo, smh, penn's landing, downtown, city, delaware river, wawa, michael mcdonald, sarah bareilles

Check out her video work, and a video of Estelle and Michael McDonald performing "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" together, below.

In other Roots news, Black Thought plays Brooklyn Bowl tonight (7/5) with J. Period, Mr. Mecca, Skotch Davis, Boogie Blind and DJ Suga Ray. Questlove DJs the same venue every Thursday. This Thursday is a "special free edition".

More pictures and videos from the 4th of July Jam below...

Continue reading "The Roots celebrated 4th of July in Philly w/ Earth, Wind & Fire, Estelle, Michael McDonald & more (pics & video)"

posted at 12:52 PM on July 5, 2011 in music | pictures | Comments (23)

Redman buying fireworks (as seen on the cover of the NYTimes)

"The fireworks industry generated $952 million in sales in 2010, a record, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association, and all signs point to big numbers in 2011 as well. Sales to consumers account for roughly two-thirds of the total.

Only four states continue to ban firework sales: New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Delaware. Julie L. Heckman, executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association, a trade group, said that a decade ago, sales were permitted in only about half the states. Several, including New Hampshire and Kentucky, have loosened restrictions to allow merchants to sell a wider variety, she said.

One of the main reasons bans are being lifted is that residents can simply drive to the next town, or state, to buy fireworks." [NY Times]

today in NYC
* Fireworks
* Spanglish Fly @ Barbes
* Pablo Malaurie @ Barbes
* Zoogma, Horizon Wireless @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Baye Kouyate and the Tougarake @ Zebulon
* Summerjam III with Extreme Animals, Sightings, Liturgy, PC Worship, Hubble, La Otracina, Fuckton, In Buenos Aires, Dubknowdub, Black Ribbons, Future Shuttle, and more @ Shea Stadium

Happy 4th. More about today HERE.

What else?

posted at 2:09 AM on July 4, 2011 in music | To Do | Comments (49)

All Winners

The 2010 Macy's fireworks show will feature more than 40,000 shells exploding at a rate of more than 1,500 per minute and fireworks reaching heights of 1,000 feet in the air. At approximately 9:20 pm on July 4th, the 26-minute display will be set off from six barges positioned between 24th and 50th Streets on the Hudson River. This year, Macy's has increased the amount of shells that can reach heights of 1,000 feet in the sky, providing for greater visibility of the show for millions more spectators.

The trademark Macy's "Golden Mile" fireworks effect, featuring a shower of golden sparks stretching a mile across the river, will be enhanced this year with additional mile-long showers of sparkling red and green.

"American Harmony" is the theme of the 2010 fireworks spectacular and the musical score will feature vocal harmony in styles uniquely American -- from a capella and gospel to barbershop quartets and choral ensembles. The score will feature The New York Pops orchestra, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and some of America's top vocal groups.

tonight in NYC
* fireworks!
* Jazz @ The Stone
* Dan Zanes @ Battery Park
* The Beets in Montauk
* The Feelies @ Maxwell's
* Old 97s @ South Street Seaport
* Rosanne Cash @ Governors Island
* She & Him, Oakley Hall @ The Beach at Governors Island
* Your 33 Black Angels, The Hoa Hoa's, Vicious/Delicious @ Zebulon
* Mishka BBQ w/ Suckers, Beach Fossils, The Death Set, more @ Watertaxi Beach
* Future Islands, CSC Funk Band, Child Abuse, Naam, Liturgy, PC Worship, The So So Glos, Hard Nips, La Otracina, Tinsel Teeth, Telecult Powers, Guardian Alien @ Shea Stadium

Sunday, July 4th, 2010
She & Him with Oakley Hall @ Governors Island
Updated Ferry Information

We encourage everyone to come early and enjoy the beach. Governors Island ferries will run from the Battery Maritime Building until 5:30PM. If you are on the island early, please make sure to get yourself to the Beach venue by 3:30PM, at which time concert wristbands will be distributed.

THERE WILL BE NO BOATS TO THE CONCERT DEPARTING FROM THE BATTERY MARITIME BUILDING AFTER 5:30PM.

Doors open at 10:00AM. Show time is 4:00PM.

Wristbands will be distributed at the Beach @ Governors Island on a first-come, first-serve basis, starting after 3:30PM.

A really good reason to get to Governors Island way before 4pm is to see Rosanne Cash who plays there at 2pm. A Victor Calderone event happens on the Beach immediately after She and Him and goes until 2am.

Sleigh Bells and Glass Candy are playing in Philly.

Scream play in Washington DC.

Faith No More plays their 2nd of two Brooklyn shows at the Williamsburg Waterfront on Monday.

Bjork "Declare Independence" below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Sunday? (Independence Day) "

posted at 2:32 AM on July 4, 2010 in music | To Do | Comments (14)