by BBG

Though they appeared at House of Vans over the summer, Pissed Jeans have kept a relatively low profile in 2011. They played very few shows and three were in Philadelphia. The new year is just around the corner though, and Pissed Jeans have already announced a pair of dates, both East Coast. Look for the band to play January 14th at Johnny Brenda's in Philadelphia and Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg on January 22nd. Tickets for MHoW go on sale at noon on Friday (12/2).

While we wait for those shows and hope for more, check out another set of Pissed Jeans pictures from House of Vans. They continue below...

Continue reading "Pissed Jeans schedule shows ------- dates & more pics from House of Vans"

My favorte part about these Toyota Antics events is the part where you have to decide if you want to "Check here if you would like to be contacted by a dealer."

words & photos by BBG

Changes in alcohol policy at House of Vans last night (8/24) kept the free suds (and liquor) barricaded and out of the show area, but it doesn't really matter when you have a band like Converge on stage; people tend to migrate their way. The highly influential live juggernaut headlined the seasonal (?) venue with help from California screamo-ers Touche Amore and NYC black metal giants Krallice. The sound is never ideal at the concrete and steel venue, but it kind of doesnt matter.

"Guys, we haven't even started yet!" Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou snickered moments after taking the stage, reacting to the moshing masses before a single note was played. The Massachusetts band then tore through material from their landmark Jane Doe, as well as faves from No Heroes, Axe to Fall, and even their recent split with Dropdead (out now on Deathwish).

Converge got the kids moving, but if there was a band that could prime them for the madness, it is Touche Amore. The band's heartfelt lyrics and post-hardcore spazz is highly energetic live and when vocalist Jeremy Bolm jumped into the photo pit to sing along with the audience, you could see the crowd get even more insane; the crowd surfing and climbing bodies increased tenfold.

Krallice opened the show at the XL venue, a stark contrast to recent experiences in intimate rooms like Union Pool (like they will play on 9/17), The Studio at Webster Hall, and many smaller rooms across the city. The four-piece adapted their pummeling live show appropriately despite any previously-mentioned sound issues.

Last night was the last of the six FYF-presented shows at House of Vans, capping off an excellent summer that ranged from the classic (Superchunk, Cro-Mags) to the cheeky (in the case of Big Freedia, literally). Free shows like these are exactly what makes summer in NYC great.

More pictures and video from the show, and Converge's setlist, below...

Continue reading "Converge, Touche Amore and Krallice played House of Vans (pics & video)"

Krallice at The Studio at Webster Hall (more by Greg Cristman)

After a ton of lineup shuffles, the final House of Vans lineup for 8/24 has been solidified with the addition of Krallice! The addition follows the loss of All Pigs Must Die, the loss of Cold Cave, and the addition of Touche Amore. RSVP is still open.

The show is one of two NYC dates scheduled for Krallice, as they'll also join Dutch band Urfaust, Black Anvil and Ruin Lust for a show at Union Pool on 9/17 (tickets) as part of their weekend outing with Urfaust and Black Anvil. Additional dates include 9/16 at Golden West in Baltimore with Oak and 9/18 at Kung Fu Necktie with Endless Humiliation (no Krallice).

The last House of Vans show featured sets by Big Freedia, and Tokyo Police Club, and Against Me, Japanther, and Team Robespierre.

photos by Andrew St. Clair, word by Andrew Frisicano

Against Me

Here's the rest of the pictures from the House of Vans show on Thursday, August 18th (you've already seen the ones from Big Freedia and Tokyo Police Club). Team Robespierre played the opening set followed by Japanther; the two-piece is currently on tour and they have a bunch more NYC shows in September; dates below.

I missed both those bands (these things start around 7pm), but did arrive in time to see Against Me!, who put on an intense, highly entertaining show. Though their past few CDs have been less than exciting, the band hasn't lost a bit of its energy live. Even songs like "White Crosses" and "I Was a Teenage Anarchist," which come off way too polished and poppy on record, sounded at home along the older cuts that made up about half the set. Playing the hits was definitely a good move: early on, the highly sing-along-able "Pints of Guinness Make You Strong" set the tone for the night.

The crowd was a combination of people psyched for the bands (and free beer) and people trying to figure out whether playing/attending a corporate sponsored show constituted "selling out." Still, for all the bitching I overheard, I suspect that Against Me! changed the minds of some people who had written them off.

More pictures, Japanther tour dates and Against Me set list below....

Continue reading "Against Me, Japanther & Team Robespierre also played House of Vans (pics, setlist, more dates)"

photos by Andrew St. Clair

Tokyo Police Club plan to cover and release 10 songs in 10 days next week as part of a Polaroid-sponsored project...

"We want to know which track YOU want us to cover for each day of our 10 days of covers from 2001 - 2010. Tweet your favorite song from the 3 options listed on our site Polaroid.com/TokyoPoliceClub, including #TPC10Covers and a hashtag for the year of the cover i.e. #TPCcovers2001. We'll choose a random tweeter each day through 9/2 to win a prize bundle including a copy of our 'Champ' CD, vinyl and a signed 7"" [TPC]

Coming up the band doesn't have many shows scheduled, but one is at the new AV Festival coming to Chicago on September 10th & 11th with HUM, Archers of Loaf, The Thermals and more. All TPC dates and more pics from House of Vans below...

Continue reading "Tokyo Police Club played House of Vans (pics), covering 10 songs in 10 days, playing AV Fest (dates)"

photos by Andrew St. Clair

Big Freedia, on tour now, was one of the many artists that played the free show at House of Vans last night (8/18). The dancer you see on stage in the red and white stripe shorts, was also later spotted on stage with the Handsome Furs at Bowery Ballroom. More pictures from Freedia's set (NSFW) below...

Continue reading "Big Freedia @ House of Vans (pics)"

Touche Amore at Santos Party House (more by Paul Birman)

Cold Cave regret to announce that due to an unforeseen illness they are unable to travel and thus not able to play their dates in the UK and Europe in August and September.
We hope they will be able to reschedule the shows in 2012.

House of Vans hosted an eclectic lineup last night with Tokyo Police Club, Against Me, Japanther, Big Freedia, and Team Robespierre. Pictures are on the way.

Converge play Richmond TONIGHT (8/19) as part of Best Friends Day with the reuniting pg.99. pg.99 will ALSO play a DC show at Black Cat next weekend (8/27) with Circle Takes The Square and Thou.

Big Freedia at Mercury Lounge in May (more by Chris La Putt)

Big Freedia plays a free House of Vans show tonight (8/18) with Tokyo Police Club, Against Me!, Japanther, and Team Robespierre. RSVP is still open. Email BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: Vans) right now for a chance to win pair of VIP tix to the show. Include your first and last name.

Freedia never comes to town and plays just once though! The unofficial afterparty (our name for it) is at new Brooklyn venue, The Morgan, which is located at the corner of Varet and Bogart. three blocks from the Morgan L train. The venue has two entrances, 258 Varet St and 25 Bogart St. For the Big Freedia show tonight, the 258 Varet entrance is the place to go. The Superchief-presented party also features special guests Rocky Business and DJs Ben Robey (Ninjasonik/Superchief), Roofeeo (Death Set/TV on the Radio), Poppa, and Drugmoney. Admission is $5 before midnight and $7 after midnight and beer is free from 10:30 - 11 PM. A flier for this show and all Big Freedia dates, below.

Continue reading "Big Freedia playing The Morgan after House of Vans (and other dates)"

"Brooklyn, due to scheduling errors we will no longer be playing the House of Vans show that was originally announced for Thurs August 25th and is now changed to a day earlier on Weds August 24th. We promise to make it up in the near future. See you soon." -[All Pigs Must Die]

All Pigs Must Die are welcoming their new LP God Is War via Southern Lord on August 16th. The band is playing Power of The Riff next week and was recently featured on the POTR mixtape.

APMD added a new show on Oct 1st in New London, Connecticut supporting Integrity with Salvation, Incendiary, Shoot to Kill & Revenge. All dates below...

Continue reading "All Pigs Must Die cancel House of Vans show, but are opening for Integrity in CT (dates)"

photos by Dominick Mastrangelo

Cold Cave @ Bowery Ballroom

After much speculation about who the "xxxx xxxx" was in the previously announced Converge/All Pigs Must Die House of Vans lineup, Converge has confirmed that the two word, eight letter mystery band is in fact Cold Cave (and strangely not Trap Them). What's more, according to Converge, the August 25th show has been moved to August 24th. The RSVP for the new date, unconfirmed by the Vans website at the moment, is still open.

Oh, and if you do RSVP, you might notice that the confirmation email spits out the following lineup: "Converge, **** **** (SPECIAL GUEST), ***** (SPECIAL GUEST) and All Pigs Must Die". Is there one more five letter band still to be announced? .

RSVP is also still open for the previously discussed Tokyo Police Club / Against Me! / Big Freedia / Japanther / Team Robespierre show happening at House of Vans on 8/18.

Cold Cave played Bowery Ballroom over the weekend with Austra and Cult of Youth...

Before Cold Cave was ready to melt faces, Canadian new wavers Austra opened the show, pleasing the crowd with their stellar chops. Led by singer songwriter Katie Stelmanis, the band's sound could be described as beautifully haunting and catchy. We stood in awe as Stelmanis began to belt out the lyrics to "Lose It," the song that will end up being their break out hit....

When the clock struck the witching hour, Cold Cave took the stage to a massive roar of applause. The show started with Eisold tossing sunflowers into the crowd to the pleasure of fans of both sexes...

The capacity crowd hung on each note and each hardcore synth beat. The front of the house was literally shaking, as concert goers jumped in unison. The tight three piece, all dressed in black, flawlessly recreated songs like "Love Comes Close" and "Confetti" for a live audience, while at the same time extending them into danceable jams. Our only complaint about the show, was the duration of the set as it only clocked in at a touch over an hour. The next time the band returns, we need a two plus hour blistering set. -[Local Bozo]

The Bowery show, the end of a month-long tour for Cold Cave, was also Austra's second NYC show in a month after their appearance at Pier 54.

Cult of Youth plays NYC again on August 17th at Saint Vitus along with the NYC debut of Chelsea Wolfe, and Planning for Burial. Tickets are on sale.

More pictures from Bowery Ballroom and the Cold Cave set list, below...

Continue reading "Cold Cave played Bowery w/ Austra & Cult of Youth (pics), playing House of Vans w/ Converge (on a new date)"

by BBG

Glass Candy @ House of Vans

Man Man brought their own big top into town last night (8/4) at House of Vans, complete with balloons, neon, kazoos, $40 long-underwear, and over the top outfits as part of a one-off with Glass Candy and Crystal Antlers. Man Man's live show, which pretty much hasn't changed for as far back as I can remember, is basically a schtick-y circus on stage. And just like a five-year old coming off a cotton candy sugar-high at the circus, I was bored almost instantaneously. All of the members of Man Man are highly capable musicians (especially drummer Pow Pow), but their vaudevillian polka-funk is hardly enough to stick in the brain longer than the moment you walk out of the venue doors.

Supporting acts fared much better. Glass Candy, despite a live show that consisted of vocalist Ida No doing an impression that I'd equate with Karen O in a Jazzercise class, were definitely more interesting. The sugar-y electro-pop jems were fun and though the House of Vans sound system can be unforgiving, sounded great. First band Crystal Antlers' psych-pop was also rewarding, with the band performing their organ-heavy space-jams to a relatively modest crowd. Glass Candy was my favorite of the three, mostly due to my incoming familiarity with Crystal Antlers.

Catch Crystal Antlers at Glasslands on Saturday night (8/6), with Gary War, Team Robespierre, and Balkans. Tickets are still available. Tickets are also now on sale for the show Crystal Antlers are playing with WU LYF at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

More pictures from House of Vans are below.

Continue reading "Man Man, Glass Candy & Crystal Antlers played House of Vans (pics)"

photos by BBG

Screaming Females have announced plans to reissue vinyl of their first two albums, "which until now were only available at early shows." The new versions of Baby Teeth and What If Someone Is Watching Their T.V.? will be out out October 4 on Don Giovanni Records.

Screaming Females were just in NYC to play a free Seaport show and House of Vans. A second set of pics from the latter are in this post.

They've got one more upcoming US date before heading out on a European tour in September. After that tour, they'll tour North America again with The Underground Railroad to Candyland. Both bands will play NYC on October 8 at Bowery Ballroom with Shellshag. Tickets go on sale Friday (8/5) at noon.

The New Brunswick band will end their tour with two hometown shows at Court Tavern on November 6th (early & late). All dates and House of Vans pics, below...

Continue reading "Screaming Females announce reissues & tour --- 2011 dates & more pics from House of Vans"

photos by Chris La Putt

The lineups have been (almost) completely revealed for the three remaining free House of Vans House Parties. The series continues this Thursday (8/4) with the previously revealed lineup of Man Man, Glass Candy, and Crystal Antlers.

As mentioned Tokyo Police Club are playing August 18 and Big Freedia is in fact on the bill along with Against Me!, Japanther, and Team Robespierre.

As predicted, Converge and All Pigs Must Die are the bands that play August 25, though there's also a secret guest on that show too ("xxxx xxxx").

RSVP is open for all of them.

Though Crystal Antlers and Team Robsepierre play separate House Parties, they'll share a bill at Glasslands on August 6 with Balkans. Tickets are still available for that.

Cro-Mags, Fucked Up, Screaming Females & Pissed Jeans played the last show. A second set of Fucked Up pics from that show continue below...

Continue reading "House of Vans announce more bands --- almost-final lineup (and more Fucked Up pics from last time)"

photos by Chris La Putt & Harriet Roberts & Andrew St. Clair, words by BBG

Cro-Mags headlined a hot, sweaty, and rain-drenched House of Vans with a supporting cast of Fucked Up, Screaming Females, and Pissed Jeans on Friday night (7/29). Doors to the venue opened at 7PM as the masses in line (the line touched the neighboring They Might Be Giants line down the block) were getting drenched in the downpour. Those entering were wringing out their shirts in the ultra-humid and wet warehouse.

Pissed Jeans opened the show with authority, pounding out favorites like "False Jesii pt 2" while the "moshing" crowd fell victim to the slick sheen of water on the venue floor; I saw my share of slips in mid-mosh. After a crew mopped the floors (seriously), Screaming Females followed with an energetic set that got the crowds back moving, though nothing comparable to what was to come.

There were a lot of discussion/rumors regarding who would be the headliner for the show, partially due to the crowd looking like they skewed on the Fucked Up side and partially due to the House of Vans site listing "Cro-Mags / Fucked Up" in the top billing spot. Ends up it was Fucked Up who supported. Damian & co riled up the sweat-drenched crowd indoors & outdoors, on stage & off, causing crowdsurfing and singalongs, though clearly confusing the security guards ("I'm OK, dont worry about it"). Excellent set.

Cro-Mags was the main event though, and the band covered material from their classic Age of Quarrel ("Show You No Mercy", 'We Gotta Know") in addition to covers by Bad Brains ("Attitude") while the crowd went apeshit. Stage dives off of the PA, crowdsurfing, floor-punching, and more were all in abundance, as the Cro-Mags gave an energetic set despite the barrier between the band and crowd (unfortunate for a Cro-Mags show in my opinion).

More pictures from show below...

Continue reading "Cro-Mags, Fucked Up, Screaming Females & Pissed Jeans played House of Vans (pics)"

by BBG

Tokyo Police Club (more by Andrew St Clair)

Get ready floorpunchers, Cro-Mags, Fucked Up, Screaming Females and Pissed Jeans are about to rough up House of Vans TONIGHT (7/29) starting at 7PM. RSVP for this jam while you still can (all our VIP tickets have been awarded, congrats to the winners). The show makes two NYC Cro-Mags dates this summer (they played Bowery Ballroom in early June) and three in the past two months for Fucked Up (285 Kent and Terminal 5).

For those of you counting at home, that leaves THREE House of Vans parties on the schedule... August 4th with Man Man, Glass Candy, and Crystal Antlers, as well as an August 18th and August 25th show which have no official lineups announced, but...

Tokyo Police Club has just confirmed their involvement in August 18th and we hypothesize that Converge and All Pigs Must Die will play the August 25th date. Word is that Big Freedia will play House of Vans too, so my money is that she won't be sandwiched in between two hardcore bands (aka on August 18th) but stranger things have happened. (meanwhile get your dose of Bounce this Saturday at PS1 courtesy of Vockah Redu.)

Tokyo Police Club last played NYC at Terminal 5 with Two Door Cinema Club. Since that visit, TPC's keyboard player Graham Wright has released his own LP, Shirts & Skins. Pick that up on iTunes.

If you don't want to go all the way out to Long Island and spend 200 dollars in the process to see soulful R&B (Jill Scott at Jones Beach), you can get your fix for free right here in NYC. As mentioned in What's Going on Thursday, Chrisette Michele (who Jill Scott has interviewed) plays a free show tonight (7/28) in Springfield Park.

For some more venerable musicians, who may have very well influenced artists like Chrisette and Jill, blues guitarist/singer Taj Majal plays a free show tonight (7/28) at World Financial Center and Motown vets Mary Wilson of The Supremes and The Spinners play for free at Seaside Summer Concert Series in Coney Island tonight (7/28).

As mentioned multiple times, including This Week in Indie, Metronomy play Hudson River Rocks tonight (7/28) with Class Actress and American Royalty.

Some pretty major free shows are also happening on Friday (7/29). And I'm not even talking about the free 3 Doors Down show or Journey show. They Might Be Giants are playing a free Williamsburg Waterfront show with Eugene Mirman and Kristen Schaal. Their show is one of few this summer before they head out on tour in support of their recently released album Join Us. You can also head over to House of Vans for the unreal lineup of Fucked Up, Cro-Mags, Screaming Females, and Pissed Jeans. We're also giving away VIP tickets to the show. Contest details HERE.

If you're trying to see free music on Saturday (7/30), I can't imagine why you would want to be anywhere other than the Mad Decent Block Party at South Street Seaport. The party will be headlined by Gang Gang Dance and also feature Zeds Dead, Claude VonStroke, BAIO (Vampire Weekend DJ set), The Hood Internet, Bosco Delrey, and PO PO. If you're into the block party, and specifically Chris Baio of Vampire Weekend's DJ set, you've got time afterwards to head over to Brooklyn Bowl and see a DJ set by another NYC indie band member Albert Hammond Jr. (of The Strokes). Doors are at 11 PM.

On Sunday (7/31), head back to the Seaport for the great lineup of The Raveonettes and Eternal Summers at Beekman Beer Garden .

If you don't make it to that show, you could check out the equally great JEFF the Brotherhood, Kingdom, and Friends free show at Rockaway Beach Boardwalk. RSVP required.

On Monday (8/1) , Surfer Blood play a free late show at Mercury Lounge.

On Tuesday (8/2), you can check out the oldest of old school hip hop at Summerstage with Sugarhill Gang. If you prefer reggae over hip hop, you might be in luck by heading over to City Winery for the Hudson Square Music and Wine Festival with CCB Reggae All-Stars.

On Wednesday (8/3), The Budos Band plays a free Summerstage show in Staten Island. You can also catch them tonight (7/28) at a not-free Rocks Off Concert Cruise. A-Trak also DJs on Wednesday (8/3) at the new Fool's Gold Store in Brooklyn. Summerscreen in McCarren Park is screening Clueless, and Zambri is performing.

Things in the free concert world pick up again on Thursday (8/4). It's been revealed that Mystery Night at Seaside Summer Concert Series will be 'The Queen of Soul' Aretha Franklin who just played Jones Beach (and who cancelled last time she was scheduled to play Coney Island). As awesome as that show will probably be, if something modern is more your style, House of Vans, who continue to bang out killer lineups, has Man Man, Glass Candy, and Crystal Antlers on the bill for Thursday's (8/4) show.

Also, don't forget that Summerstage and Celebrate Brooklyn are continuing to present free shows throughout the summer, including many this week.

Screaming Females at SSSeaport earlier this month (more by Tamara Porras)

The free Vans House Parties continue this Friday (7/29) at House of Vans with the sick lineup of Cro-Mags, Fucked Up, Screaming Females, and Pissed Jeans. The shows are free but RSVP is required. There's also a VIP room at the space which basically means more free drinks than everyone else, and a shorter line to get in the venue. We're giving away 5 pairs of VIP tickets to Friday's show via this post. Details on how to enter below....

Continue reading "win VIP tix to the House of Vans show this Friday"

by BBG

OFF!, Lemuria

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when the idea of Superchunkplaying a song with Keith Morris or covering the Misfits would have been sneered at and scoffed upon as blasphemy. Though the North Carolina band has always been lumped in with an indie scene, Superchunk's power-pop has a definite bite to it, a fact that becomes much clearer on the live stage. Superchunk is a punk band and they ruled the FYF-presented show at House of Vans last night, tearing through fun covers of "Where Eagles Dare" and "Gimme Gimme Gimme" and bouncing like their shoes were spring-loaded.

Support for Superchunk was similarly strong. Lemuria opened the show, playing poppy punk-inflected ballads that owed debts to the headliner as well as other 90s greats like Velocity Girl and Breeders. OFF! know their way around a live show, and the band played a reliably raucous set that dipped into their split with Trash Talk and recent 4x7". Pitting was limited and though blood was shed on the floor of the mosh pit, it was reportedly nowhere near insanity that erupted during Ceremony. Cro-Mags/Fucked Up/Pissed Jeans? Wear a helmet.

Aside from the aforementioned covers that occupied 2/3 of their encore (the last 1/3 was "Hyper Enough" from Here's Where The Strings Come In), Superchunk's set touched on moments from their entire discography including their latest Majesty Shredding. It has been over a decade since I last saw this band and I am happy to say that besides some grey hair (a few lost ones), this indie mainstay is intact and as good as ever live.

We alrady posted one set of pictures. A second, along with the Lemuria & Superchunk setlists, is below....

Continue reading "more pics from Lemuria, OFF! & Superchunk in the Vans warehouse (review & setlists too)"

photos by Andrew St. Clair

Here's a set of pictures from last night's House of Vans show, Keith Morris on stage with Superchunk included. A full review and second set of pics is coming momentarily. Check out the rest of these below...

Continue reading "Superchunk, Off! & Lemuria @ House of Vans in pics (part 2)"

photos by Andrew St. Clair, words by BBG

Ceremony @ House of Vans

Cults @ House of Vans

To be clear, the below video is NOT the latest from Integrity. Actually, it is the latest video from the much more serene Cults, who uses "Go Outside" from their debut LP to soundtrack clips of the Jim Jones cult and the surrounding compound. Sick shit guys... thats a compliment.

"To tell the story of Cults' hauntingly beautiful track, "Go Outside", I was inspired to bring the band inside the world of Jim Jones' famous religious cult, Peoples Temple, and the eventual tragedy in Jonestown. Fortunately, when exploring the feasibility of this video I became acquainted with Fielding M. McGehee III, an expert on Peoples Temple history and the primary researcher for the Jonestown Archive. It is thanks to him and his encouragement that I was able to take on this project and through his support gained access to over two and half hours of home videos showing Peoples Temple in Jonestown." - [director Isaiah Seret]

House of Vans is basically this super large sweet warehouse that is sometimes used for skateboarding with a big stage for the bands. It sounded good and there was plenty of room for people to see, dance, mingle, and hang out in the courtyard outside which included a bar with FREE BEER, and portapotties. Food too (not sure if that was free).

House of Vans will host a similarly great party on Thursday (7/14, tomorrow), with Superchunk headlining and OFF!/Lemuria providing support. RSVP is still open.

OFF!, Superchunk, HEALTH and No Age all play the Pitchfork Fest in Chicago this weekend.

Off! also just released a new live video. The whole 37 seconds of it is also below...

Continue reading "new Cults video & pics from the No Age, HEALTH, Cults & Ceremony show @ House of Vans (which opens again Thursday)"

Man Man at Metro (more by Grant Macallister)

As promised the July 29th free House of Vans show will feature sets by Fucked Up & Cro-Mags (who just played Bowery), but that has also expanded to include both Screaming Females and Pissed Jeans. RSVP is open for this mindblowing FREE show. Screaming Females also play a FREE show with Ted Leo this weekend.

The August 4th lineup has also been revealed and it is Man Man, Glass Candy, and Crystal Antlers. RSVP is also open for that free Brooklyn show.

Details on the final two shows at House of Vans, August 18th and 25th, are still forthcoming, but we hear Big Freedia is a strong possibility for one of them. Meanwhile catch Superchunk, Off! and Lemuria there on Thursday, July 14.

The new flyer and more Man Man, Glass Candy & Screaming Females dates below...

Continue reading "House of Vans announces more lineups (Man Man, Screaming Females, Pissed Jeans & Glass Candy included)"

photos by Deneka Peniston, words by BBG

Cro-Mags @ Bowery Ballroom

The venue was packed and it was a tattoo convention of NYC born and bred punks. You could tell the band was beloved by the hometown crowd and John Joseph's patter with the crowd was on cue. He got a message across (it's the food not the pharmaceuticals that can save us) along with some humor "you need to watch some soul train clips before you come back up here with that stuff" to one rhythmically challanged stage diver...

NYHC is a genre unto itself, with bands like Agnostic Front, Murphy's Law, Madball and of course the Cro-Mags doing the heavy lifting to get it where it is today, which is, I assure you from my travels abroad, very international and still growing. -[Punk Outlaw]

If, like me, you spent your July 4th weekend out of town and half-wishing you didn't miss the show, you're in luck: Cro-Mags will play a FREE show at House of Vans on July 29th and with Fucked Up! (thanks Sean). The Friday night date is one of the four unannounced House of Vans lineups. NO RSVP yet, but RSVP is still open for the next House of Vans event on July 14th with Superchunk, OFF! and Lemuria.

Meanwhile find Jon Joseph on one of his historic Rocks Off walking tours. He and Jake Szufnarowski (whose band 'Tragedy' is in residency at Brooklyn Bowl this month) take groups out every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Fucked Up and Cro-Mags also both recently played Chaos in Tejas. Fucked Up was also just in NYC to play Terminal 5 and 285 Kent.

More pictures of Cro-Mags (none of the support) and a video from Bowery, below...

Continue reading "Cro-Mags played Bowery Ballroom (pics), playing free show at House of Vans with Fucked Up"

photos by Natasha Ryan

Cults @ NXNE

If you RSVP'd for the House of Vans show happening TONIGHT (6/30), you should have gotten this letter:

Hey All-

Just wanted to remind you that tonight is the first show in our series at the House Of Vans featuring No Age, Health, Cults and Ceremony. The address for House of Vans is 25 Franklin St. in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY. Doors are at 7:00pm. This is a free all ages show and the will be no line ups prior to 5:00pm.

The reason that you are receiving this is that you rsvped for the event. Entry is first come first serve. RSVP does not guarantee you entry.

Basic rules for the event... No outside food or beverage. And please don't bring your skateboard or ask us to check in your skateboard.

Set times.
Doors: 7:00pm
Ceremony: 7:45pm
Cults: 8:30pm
Health: 9:20pm
No Age: 10:30pm

And Sean Agnew will be playing records inbetween bands.

And last.....

There are two businesses next to the House of Vans that we care about and support on a regular basis. Pops Popular Clothing, which is next door and Cookie Road, a great café and bakery a block up.

They are both giving away a limited amount of passes (that guarantee you entry) with a purchase of $5 or more ending at 3:00pm. Every event we will be supporting two different local businesses.

Hope to see you tonight.
FYF Fest

Continue reading "House of Vans tonight (a chance for guaranteed entry), Cults also playing Montauk, played NXNE (pics & more dates)"

photos from a House of Vans show in March (more by Andrew St. Clair)

As promised, House of Vans, which is located at 25 Franklin St in Brooklyn, is hosting free shows this summer. Stepping in just at the right moment to possibly fill the gap left by the loss of the Pool Parties, there will be six free-with-RSVP Vans House Parties between June 30th and August 25th.

The lineups for the first two FYF-presented, all-ages shows have been revealed, as have all six dates to hold (all of which are weekdays). No Age, HEALTH, Cults, and Ceremony play the Greenpoint venue on Thursday, June 30. Superchunk, Off!, and Lemuria will play on Thursday, July 14. The other dates, with lineups still TBA, are July 29 (a Friday), August 4 (a Thursday), August 18 (a Thursday), and August 25 (a Thursday). RSVP links are at their site, and note:

"In order to gain access to the free shows at the House of Vans this summer, you must RSVP to reserve a place on the list. RSVP links are listed under each show on this site.

Due to capacity restraints each event will be first come, first serve. A line will form in front of the building at 5pm, no line ups are allowed prior to that. There will be food and drinks inside, no outside food and drinks will be allowed in."