Checking out just part of the ongoing New Colossus Festival

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Dream Pop was front and center last night at a showcase at Arlene's Grocery as part of the New Colossus Festival. 

We stopped by at the start of the bill for Phantom Handshakes, a local collaboration featuring the ethereal vocals of lead singer Federica Tassano ...

...and Matt Sklar (on the right in the striped shirt)...

Check out their music here. (This piece discusses how the two met during the pandemic and started the band.)

We also really liked the first band up, the timeless D.C.-based indie pop trio Flowers for the Dead...(they're playing at Arlene's again tomorrow at noon)...

The New Colossus Festival continues today and tomorrow at EV/Lower Side music venues. Find the schedule here.

Report: Arlene's Grocery asks artist to remove his 'Seven Deadly Sins' paintings

Arlene's Grocery told artist Robert Preston to remove his new collection of paintings one day after their debut at the Stanton Street music venue, the Daily News reported today.

The collection included Bloomberg as "wrath" and President Obama in an Egyptian headdress as "pride."

"It just wasn't our style," explained Julia Darling, Arlene's manager. "It sort of insults the viewer; it's really kind of beating us over the head with a message."

"I was pretty shocked. I didn't expect it," Preston told Rheana Murray. The paintings made their debut Monday night. Management asked him to remove the work on Tuesday.

"I lived on Christie and Rivington in the early '80s," he said. "It was a very different neighborhood. I don't think anyone would have had a problem with those paintings back then."

Find the article and photos of the paintings here.