"No smoking at the Buzzcocks show, apparently there's a bomb scare outside. Fuckbeans..." - Joey Outten

Irving Plaza - 5/13/2010 (pics via tonearmmgmt & domifanotherkid)

"New York City police evacuated several floors of a building and several streets were blocked off near Manhattan's Union Square after a Thursday night report of a suspicious vehicle with two gas cans found in the back seat.

The bomb squad suited up and began an investigation of the 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera, which was found in front of the Con Edison utility building around 10 p.m.

Chief police spokesman Paul Browne said several floors of a high-rise residential building were evacuated and some streets in the area were blocked off as a precaution. It wasn't immediately clear if the vehicle was a threat.

Union Square, located on Manhattan's East Side, is a major pedestrian and tourist thoroughfare. New York University, Greenwich Village, and the landmark Flatiron building are nearby." [AP]

Also nearby: Irving Plaza where last night's Buzzcocks show was happening at the same time as the bomb scare. Mikey reports that "they stopped mid-song (E.S.P.) to say the police want the owner of a 91 blue cutlass to move his car. Then finished the song..." and that "The announcement was made around 1130 and they continued playing untli midnight." Rob confirms that "Brilliant Buzzcocks show goes on despite bomb scare right outside. Surreal coming out into the street jammed w/bomb squad, cops, fireman." And finally, Michaela reports:

Amazing show tonight, truly did both albums and long, long encore. (Irving Plaza's crappy sound system was just an insult!) And yes to Anon 2:25, no Howard Devoto, but Diggle did a rabid Harmony in My Head. Glorious, and they too seemed to have had a great time!

The albums they played were Another Music in a Different Kitchen and Love Bites, and if you missed it, they aren't going very far. The next two stops on their 22-date North American tour are Friday night in Philly and Saturday in Farmingdale, NY! Videos from Wednesday's Baltimore show below...

Continue reading "bomb scare in Union Square & at the NYC Buzzcocks show"

"bomb scare outside killfest 2010 at nokia theater in times square.. mayhem inside and out" - John

The Nissan Pathfinder that prompted police to close off parts of New York's Times Square contained bomb-making materials, the city's mayor said.

"There were gas cans and bomb making materials in the car," Mayor Michael Bloomberg told reporters early Sunday morning. "Who abandoned the car and why are under investigation."

Bloomberg said authorities found propane cylinders, fireworks and timing devices in the car.

The shutdown began late Saturday when a foot patrol officer saw smoke coming from a box inside the car with Connecticut plates on 45th Street between 7th and 8th avenues. [CNN]

Though some weren't able to get to the show due to Nokia Theatre's Times Square location (Broadway between 44th & 45th), Overkill, Vader and the other bands on the Saturday night metal bill, did play. John says, "yea the concert went uninterrupted just had to talk my way past police line. overkill, vader and god dethroned were on fire." BlueEyedDevil had less luck. He wrote that he "was enjoying a great afternoon in the city and walked to TQ to find it barracaded off. Just got home and what a f'n waste. Would have been a great time." Sucks, but at least nobody was hurt.