Show Brain Sunday (part 1) with Diary, Tea Eater

Photos by Stacie Joy

We arrived at Sunday's free Show Brain show in Tompkins Square Park just as Tea Eater had audience members ducking under an oversized inflatable stick of butter during a limbo contest inspired by "Butter," a track from the art-punk band's LP, I Don't Believe in Bad Luck. 

We knew it was going to be a memorable afternoon.

Next up, NYC's Diary, which just released an infectious new single, "Keep Comin' Up," that we happily heard on the Morning Show with John Richards on KEXP several times last week. 

The band's first LP, Spiral Bound, is out in September.

Show Brains veterans Pons were next, and they never disappoint...

Then came the headliners — The First President of Japan, who provided 30 minutes of unbridled joy...

To be continued ...

Bands we like: Pop Music Fever Dream (PMFD)

Photos by Stacie Joy 

We’ve seen Pop Music Fever Dream (PMFD) several times, including last August as part of a Show Brain bill in Tompkins Square Park. 

And each time, we weren't sure what we might be in for. This held true again on April 25 at Night Club 101 on Avenue A, where PMFD opened the night as part of the record release show for Um, Jennifer? 

PMFD — vocalist-guitarist Tim Seeberger, guitarist Nicole Harwayne, bassist Carmen Castillo and drummer Violette Grim — took the stage in full clownface, a tribute to horrorcore rap duo Insane Clown Posse and Juggalo culture. The night was intended as an homage, complete with the spirit — if not the presence — of Faygo, the soda closely associated with ICP performances. 

When asked about the missing Faygo, the band explained they couldn't find any but assured that "the Faygo was there in spirit."

The sold-out crowd was then swept into PMFD's unrelenting punk fury and no-wave dissonance.

PMFD's last show until July is Saturday night at The Broadway as part of a 10-year-anniversary show for Radio Free Brooklyn. Find ticket info here. 

We'll leave you with the band's most recent video, "Elegy for a Memory."