fourth-of-july

a 4th of July NYC event guide (The Feelies, Statue of Liberty, Shea Stadium Anniversary, Endless Boogie, INPUT BBQ, more)

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If you’re not getting out of the city for the long Independence Day Weekend, there are lots of options for those sticking around.

Like last year, the Macy’s Fireworks (“inspired and directed by Usher”) happen on the Hudson via four barges and you can see them (9:20 PM)  fine on the West Side Highway, in NJ or on your TV. Brooklyn gets the shaft again.

The Statue of Liberty also reopens after taking a beating from Hurricane Sandy last fall.

While on the subject of NYC Independence Day traditions, there’s always the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island. Noon.

For afternoon options, if you’re not invited to a friend’s backyard barbeque, you could head to Rockaway to Roberta’s-related Rippers where they’re hosting an afternoon of grilled food, surf and quality indie rock. You can catch Friend Roullette, Celestial Shore, pow wow!, Hippy and The Library is on Fire. The party is free but donations are suggested for still-needed Hurricane Sandy relief. 1 PM – 8 PM. Flyer is below.

Silent Barn, meanwhile, has an afternoon show with Thrill Jockey recording artist Glenn Jones, whose new album, My Garden State, was recently released on the label. The show also features D. Charles Speer & the Double Helix, and Pork Chop Willie. 3 PM, $10.

A nice late afternoon option is Ex Cops who will be playing the kickoff to the Museum of Modern Art’s “MoMA Nights” series. The event happens in the Sculpture Garden and goes from 5:30 PM to 8PM. Free with Museum admission.

Moving into the evening, Roberta’s Pizza will be throwing a nighttime bash at The Knockdown Center (where they just held a few Tiki Disco parties), with Endless Boogie, 1-800 Band and Dirty Fences playing live. Pizza, beer, rock music, what more do you need? 8PM, $5. Flyer is below.

The Fourth of July also means The Feelies, who start a three-night run at their hometown venue of choice, Hoboken’s Maxwell’s. These will surely be bittersweet, as the club is closing its doors at the end of the month. No surprise, all three shows are sold out. For those going, expect marathon sets and lot of covers. If you’re going on Thursday, the show doesn’t start till 10 PM, after the fireworks.

If there wasn’t enough explosions over Manhattan for ya, the boom will come to 285 Kent with shoegazey metal courtesy Deafheaven and Marriages which is being presented by InvisibleOranges. Aun and Theologian also play, and Shaun from Weekend is your evening’s DJ. Doors are at 10 PM and tickets are still available.

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Not only will Shea Stadium be celebrating our country’s birthday, but it’s their birthday too (yeah). The Bushwick venue turns five and the birthday bash is headlined by The Shea Stadium All-Stars, featuring members of So-So Glos, Guardian Alien and Titus Andronicus. You can stream them covering Bruce Springsteen’s “Glory Days” at Soundcloud and that probably gives you a good indication of what to expect. White Bike and Pregnant also play. $5 at the door, 6 PM.

Mike Simonetti (aka co-founder of Italians Do It Better with Johnny Jewel of Chromatics/Glass Candy/Desire) will be DJing Output’s weekly INPUT party that day, but in honor of the Fourth of July, it’s going to be a free BBQ on the roof (aka Canopy Bar) that starts at 3 PM. Also on the bill is Lamin Fofana and Max McFerren (who has releases on Lamin Fofana’s Sci-FI & Fantasy label). The party is rain or shine. Flyer below.

For a completely different kind of night, there’s Midsummer Night’s Swing in Damrosch Park, near Lincoln Center. Tonight’s event is billed as “Battle of the Bands,” pitting The George Gee Swing Orchestra against Mora’s Modern Rhythmists. If you don’t know how to swing, there are dance lessons (6:30 PM) before the concert begins (7:30 PM). Tickets are still available.

Not that far away in Philadelphia, The Roots are throwing their annual 4th of July Jam at Benjamin Franklin Parkway with J. Cole, Grace Potter, Jill Scott, Ne-Yo, and more.

Whatever you do, have a safe and happy Independence Day!

Did we miss anything big? Flyers below…

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