words & photos by Shanda Boyett

"The @famousclass party was crazed. Amaxing sendoff to the 1 and only Ariel Panero. RIP homie." - markodude

"Tonight was amazing, Thank you to all the bands & @DeathbyAudio Ariel we miss you like crazy" - Famousclass

The Famous Class party at Death by Audio on Friday night (2/4) took its mission of celebrating the life of Ariel Panero seriously. Cyrus Lubin from Famous Class put together an amazing lineup for Day 1 that culminated in a sold-out, joyful mosh-ilicious event headlined by the boisterous Snakes Say Hiss. Also on the bill were Darlings, Grooms, Class Actress, and Tony Castles.

Ariel's name and birth and death date were spray painted on the wall behind the stage. Grooms played almost all new songs, save one oldie that was Ariel's favorite. Tony Castles also played a lot of their new tunes, sounding really tight.

There was a noticeable buildup to the Snakes Say Hiss set, with the crowd ready to live it up in a wild, human bumper car frenzy that sent more than a few people crashing into walls and dodging beer confetti.

It was beautiful in the way that an epic night always is - an organic outgrowth that can be neither planned nor tamed.

Rubin commented early in the evening that he thought it might be a rager, but I think for him, more than anyone else, it was about Ariel.

"Last year he began working with me at Famous Class, helping us take some big steps forward," he says on the Famous Class web site. "It breaks my heart that he isn't going to see the results of everything we worked on together."

Day 2 (Saturday) of the memorial featured Skeletons (string quartet), Sisters, Regal Degal, Tough Knuckles Band and Hubble. Proceeds from show helped raise money for for the release of the new Tough Knuckles album. Those who paid $15 at the door will get a limited edition copy of the LP on white vinyl.

A selection of pictures from Friday's show continues below...

Continue reading "Ariel Panero was remembered @ Death by Audio (pics)"

Famous Class Records, a label that Ariel Panero used to co-run, and the one his band Tough Knuckles was signed to, put together the shows happening tonight (2/4) and Saturday (2/5) at Death By Audio - both with killer lineups to help raise money to get the Tough Knuckles record released... though just in a small way. They've "decided to do limited run of 350 albums on white vinyl. Basically the show is 2 nights featuring all the bands that Ariel helped out and loved and there's gonna be a sliding scale at the door, $8 to get in or $15 and we'll mail you a limited edition copy of the record when its printed at the end of the month." Check out the poster and lineups below...

Continue reading "shows in memory of Ariel Panero in Brooklyn (tonight & Sat)"

photos by Andrew St. Clair

guys... hey guys... my head guys...

After playing a killer set at the BV/Converse Day Party at Public Assembly on Saturday, 10/23 (pics coming), and then another at Knitting Factory for the Panache showcase the same night, Heavy Cream (and Andrew St. Clair) headed over to Brooklyn warehouse space the Shank ("under new management and new and improved) for a Jelly-produced "Wig & Make Up Party" (3 shows in one day for Heavy Cream).

Other artists on the Shank bill were Jackie Chain, Mr. A*OK, Pujol, Turbo Fruits, Heavy Cream, Ghoul Poon, Snakes say Hisss, Circle Pit, Darlings, and Rusty Lazer (who also played our Saturday day party, with Big Freedia). The show, which went on until the wee hours of sunday morning, featured reduced admission for those wearing a wig.

More Shank party pictures, and the flyer for a Mischief Night party happening in the same space (at the very end of the post), below...

Continue reading "The Shank is back (CMJ week pics & an upcoming party) "

Previously unannounced, the lineup for today's free Rock Yard show is listed on the flyer below (it's going to be a party)....

Continue reading "Bikes in the Kitchen take over the Rock Yard today"

Details below...

Continue reading "Bikes in the Kitchen show Saturday (noon-??)"

Ninjasonik @ MHOW Jan 2009 (more by Zach Stern)

Just down the street from the Danbro Studios Warehouse in the Bushwick/East Williamsburg part of Brooklyn is a (new-ish?) loft space called The Jungle (286 Meserole St) which has hosted some events in the past, and which is scheduled to host a big show that caught our eye on Saturday, August 22nd. Bands listed (though not totally confirmed) include Ponytail, Japanther, The DeathSet, Double Dagger, Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik, Juiceboxxx, Cerebral Ballzy, Boogie Boarder and Snakes Say Hiss.

The most unconfirmed band on that bill is Ponytail, who are more-officially playing a summer show with Mission of Burma and Fucked Up at the Williamsburg Waterfront on July 12th (or are they?). The Waterfront show is a few days before Ponytail go out on tour with Yeasayer (dates below).

Many of those other bands have other NYC shows scheduled sooner too. On June 28th, Studio B will host a day party with Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik, Hearts Revolution, Anamanaguchi and others. Japanther, Ninjasonik and Deathset will be at Lit Fuse Cyclery (409 Willoughby, Brooklyn) for a show on July 4th. Then, Ninjasonik and Japanther team up again for a show at the Whitney on July 11th.

Ninjasonik is also playing with the newly reformed 2 Live Crew on July 25th at Studio B. Tickets are on sale. 2 Live's new record, Just Wanna Be Heard, is out now on iTunes.

Yeasayer is playing a free show in Manhattan over the summer. All/more tour dates for everyone, below...

Continue reading "Brooklyn venue The Jungle, Japanther, Ninjasonik, Team Robespierre, The DeathSet, Ponytail, Yeasayer, 2 Live Crew"