Tuesday, April 27, 2021

[Updated] Questions arise after packed hardcore matinee Saturday in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Tompkins Square Park played host to a hardcore matinee on Saturday afternoon, and now the Parks Department is reportedly investigating the permit application.

The all-ages show featured five bands: the Capturers, Wisdom in Chains, BloodclotMurphy's Law and Madball. Organizer Black N' Blue Productions collected donations to cover expenses, with a portion designated for the New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation. 

The combination of the bands' large followings, ideal spring weather, and lack of live shows over the past year helped draw a large crowd on a day where a lot of people were already in the Park for the usual Saturday festivities on the lawn as well as an organized youth event on the basketball courts. 

While there isn't an official attendance tally, some estimates put the crowd size for the concert at more than 2,000 at its peak late in the afternoon. According to New York State, the maximum number of people attending outdoor events is currently capped at 500.

Photos from the show circulating on social media have drawn the ire of people who pointed out the limited mask-wearing and social distancing (particularly difficult in a moshpit). 

Some residents passing through also expressed concern about the size of the show and the lack of masks. In a tweet, local Assemblymember Harvey Epstein questioned why permits were issued while the city remains in recovery mode from COVID-19...
Not all local elected officials immediately questioned the decision. City Councilmember Keith Powers was in attendance... tweeting out a mask-wearing selfie...
"We're all excited about supporting our music scene, but we still need to remember that we're in a pandemic," Powers told Gothamist yesterday. 

And:
Asked about the safety of the event, he went on to reference a Gorilla Biscuits song: "I have reached out to organizers to remind them to 'start today' with better social distancing protocols."
However, it may be potentially too late. A Parks Department spokesperson told Gothamist: "This matter is actively being investigated as the permit application filed and agreement appear to have been violated — future permits are in jeopardy."

PIX 11 followed up, reporting that the event was "misrepresented" on the application.
The Parks Department was led to believe the event was a political rally with about 100 people expected to attend — not the estimated 2,000-person crowd that showed up for a hardcore concert, according to the spokesperson.

A copy of the permit obtained by PIX11 shows the name of the event was listed as "September 11 Memorial" and the description was a "political rally with music and speakers."

According to PIX 11, the Parks Department "moved to revoke all permits by the organizers," including the A7 "Back To The NYHC Roots" New York Hardcore Compilation Record Release show scheduled for May 8.

[Updated 5 p.m. Parks Department spokesperson Crystal Howard told Gothamist today, "We are moving to revoke all permits for this organizer and related future events." That equals seven total events.]

Chris Flash, the publisher of The Shadow, who has organized concerts in Tompkins Square Park since 2006, disputes PIX 11's coverage. He told EVG contributor Stacie Joy that he applied for the permit for a "rally/concert" for April 24. 

"Nowhere did it say anything about September 11. We did apply for a September 11 memorial event, but it was for September," Flash said. "Why would we apply for a September 11 memorial in April?"

Stacie viewed the permit, which was submitted to the city on Nov. 2, 2020. It does not mention a 9/11 memorial. The event name is titled "rally/concert." 

"We were given a 3-page list of things the Parks Department wanted us to comply with — we complied with all of the stipulations," Flash said. "We were required to provide gloves, masks, sanitizer and a clipboard if someone wanted to voluntarily provide contact tracing. We provided two tables with all the necessary supplies. We cannot enforce rules, we can't — we're not the police. Even the police said they can't enforce."

According to Flash, the application asked how many people were estimated to attend. 

"We put down 100-plus. The application is put in 6 to 12 months ahead of time," he said. "At the time we filed, we didn't know who was going to play.

"We have the total and utmost reverence for our beloved Tompkins Square Park," Flash said. "It is the last bastion against creeping gentrification. We fought for it: in the media, in the streets and in the courts. We will never trash the park, and we will do everything right and everything in compliance. We have a track record going back to 2006 — every show is without incident."

Meanwhile, Stacie was there Saturday and shared these photos...

17 comments:

Mykola Dementiuk said...

Seeing the pics of mobs of people simply beautiful, keep it up!

BAB1SU said...

What in the Johnson & Johnson???🙃

DrGecko said...

Chris Flash 1

WPIX 0


Possibly more a reflection on the latter than the former, but that is one seriously messed-up smear job.

Giovanni said...

The last time the park was this crowded and full of people wearing strange looking outfits was the Dog Parade.

DrGecko said...

On second thought - if anybody had the vision to schedule a September memorial in May, that would be Chris Flash.

Unknown said...

It was an awesome event, and all were peaceful, happy and cool. That's about 3000 ppl who don't care what Harvey thinks as well.

irishxhooligan said...

I could not attend but seeing this made me Proud to be a part of The Hardcore Community. The countless friends I seen at this was great we all needed to do some venting and come together. Hardcore gave me sense of belonging when I had none. Great Job BLACK & BLUE. WORLDWIDE HXC FOREVER.

m2ndSt said...

Please keep masking, we aren't out of the woods yet!

Karen Tighe said...

personally prefer chiller music for a saturday afternoon, so annoying and I agree.. WAY too many people COvid or not..

ed anger said...

It's a bunch of young punks, they dont care, obviously.

This will get the next shows this summer shut down, so gg.

John Penley said...

In order to legally do a concert in Tompkins Square Park you have to first apply and obtain approval from the Parks Dept. after that you have to apply with the NYPD 9th Pct. for the amplified sound permit. Any disputed info here could be confirmed or not by the 9Pct. sound permit info filed by Flash. John Penley

Giovanni said...

I was there when they announced to a packed crowd of a thousand plus people, all standing shoulder to shoulder with no room to move, that they should all remember to socially distance. I left right away. That was before the mosh pit and stage diving began.

They also had several high end professional camera crews all over the park and up on the stage, so watch for the bands to release a concert film or a music video on a cable channel soon. Working title: Coronastock.

La vie est belle said...

What's worse than young punks? Old has-been punks who have clearly smoked out their better judgement

Jennifer Barton said...

Excellent coverage! Thank you Stacie Joy! You are a great reporter with excellent vision and a huge heart.

probie said...

Saw some nazi tattoos mixed in with this crowd. Was the only bad point I saw

probie said...

Nazi tattoos is not punk

Unknown said...

Nazi Tattoos are indeed not punk but they always been around unfortunately. I can tell you the number of times my nose was broken fighting Nazi Skins in the pit over the years...