Tuesday's parting shot

Photo by Steven 

A pleasant surprise late this afternoon in Tompkins Square Park... with a set by Pinc Louds. 

BTW, the band is at Knitting Factory at Bakers Falls on Avenue A this coming Saturday...

What? Federico of Pinc Louds is doing a residency on Wednesdays this month at 96 Tears

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Every Wednesday night this month, Federico of Pinc Louds will be performing "immersive solo shows" in the Cabin Down Below space underneath 96 Tears. 

From 8-11 p.m., Federico will play three different sets a night ... and with some special guest performers. 

What to expect?

 

"It will be very interactive in nature. With dance contests, costume contests, etc. Every Wednesday will have a different W-word theme, such as Wedding or Wormholes." 

Wormholes! Woo!

96 Tears is at 110 Avenue A near Seventh Street (and next to Niagara!). Entry is free for this "Wednesdays With a W" series, though there is a suggested $15 donation.

Sunday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

It was a good weekend for live music... including (above) with Federico of Pinc Louds and singer-songwriter K. Porcelain playing a benefit for La Plaza Cultural's solar pavilion on Saturday evening...

A fundraiser for La Plaza Cultural, and a new era for Pinc Louds

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

You are invited to visit La Plaza Cultural late Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. for a fundraiser for the community garden's new solar pavilion. 

The event includes a solo set by the lead singer of Pinc Louds and singer-songwriter K. Porcelain. Attendees can donate to the pavilion. (Read more about the project here.) 

Meanwhile, in a Instagram post last weekend, the driving force behind Pinc Louds made a heartfelt announcement starting with "the wig is off..." 

Over seven years ago, I created a look and voice that allowed me to be more extroverted, vulnerable and honest while performing. It helped me be brave enough to go into the subway stations and wail my soul at millions of strangers every day.

I am so grateful that this side of me was able to blossom through this "persona," this extension of myself… It led me to so many magical adventures and to meet so many beautiful humans… But I was wearing an armor. I wasn't letting people in completely. I would see some of these same people on the street when I wasn't performing, and since they wouldn't recognize me, I would pretend not to know them either. 

One of these humans — a very beautiful bright light in Tompkins Square Park — died earlier this year, and I decided I don't want to keep wearing this armor anymore. In the beginning, it freed me, but recently it's just been crushing me. 

At shows, I've always urged the audience to be more human, to make true connections, "talk to your neighbors…" But you can’t make true connections when you're hiding behind a mask. It's easy to be honest and vulnerable when no one knows who you really are. I'm going to try and give it a shot, this time without the armor. Hopefully, I can. Hopefully, you'll accept that. 

I’m excited about this next chapter. It's going to be scary. And weird. And intense and fun. But above all, it's going to be true. 

My name is Federico… but you can still call me Claudi. Claudi was never a "character." She has always been a side of me. And this side of me is and will remain the essence of Pinc Louds. 

And here is Federico in East River Park on Saturday, photographed by EVG's Stacie Joy...

And you may have seen Federico in recent weeks as he has returned to busking, such as in Tompkins Square Park on July 31 (photo below by Derek Berg)...

While the band formed in 2015, Pinc Louds came to prominence during the pandemic summer of 2020, when its brand of quirky cheerfulness gave COVID-weary residents a much-needed dose of joyfulness with socially-distant live shows that could feature a hopscotch contest or a movement meditation trash outing by Dance to the People depending on the afternoon.

You never knew exactly what you might get with an impromptu show, but it was always a lot of fun. We know that spirit will continue on with the work Federico and Pinc Louds create. 

Sunday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Moments after the Pinc Louds show ended this afternoon in Tompkins Square Park... and happy trails to longtime drummer Raimundo (right), who's moving on to new "musical and creative adventures."

Pinc Louds headlines afternoon of bands today in Tompkins Square Park

There's a free slate of bands today (Sunday!) in Tompkins Square Park from 2-6. 

Local faves Pinc Louds headline (set time for the band's quirky cheerfulness: 4 more like 4:50 p.m.) ... it also marks the last full-band show with Raimundo, the oringal drummer for Pinc Louds. (He is moving on to "new musical and creative adventures.") 

It's a good bill that features the high-energy rock of InCircles ... the gloom punk of Desert Sharks ... and singer-songwriter Marley.

Wednesday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

A sign of spring ... Claudi from Pinc Louds playing a few songs in Tompkins Square Park today... this link has info about upcoming show dates. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• An end-of-summer appreciation: Pinc Louds

A farewell, for now, as Pinc Louds hit the road

Late Saturday afternoon, local favorites Pinc Louds played a farewell (of sorts!) show at La Plaza Cultural, the community garden and open-air theater on the southwest corner of Ninth Street and Avenue C.

In support of La Atómica, the band's second full-length release,  Claudi, RaiMundo and Marc Mosteirin are embarking on a 10-city tour starting tomorrow night in Chicago. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by La Plaza for the concert...

... which included a performance by Maira Duarte of Dance to the People...

... in what was truly an all-ages show... 

And Claudi's fans got the chance to say goodbye as well...

Pinc Louds release La Atómica, prepare for tour

The second full-length record by local favorites Pinc Louds dropped yesterday... you can check out La Atómica right here. 

The band — Claudi, RaiMundo and Marc Mosteirin — will be embarking on a 10-city tour next month starting with a date in Chicago. 

WFUV's Delphine Blue interviewed Claudi last night on her "Whole Wide World" program. (It starts at the two-hour mark.)

Top photo in Tompkins Square Park by Stacie Joy

Previously on EV Grieve:

• At the first Pinc Louds show of 2021 in Tompkins Square Park

• An end-of-summer appreciation: Pinc Louds  

Catch the latest video premiere from Pinc Louds tonight at La Plaza Cultural

Pinc Louds, fresh off a rousing set at La Plaza Cultural on Saturday evening, returns to the community garden on the southwest corner of Avenue C and Ninth Street for a video-viewing party tonight of the band's new single.

"Aire Acondicionado" officially drops tomorrow, but you can check it out tonight. The screening starts at sundown, though the gates will be open earlier.  

Photo Saturday by Stacie Joy!

Updated 6/11:

Check out the new video below...

 

Hot in the city: Pinc Louds bring the (pre) summertime fun to La Plaza Cultural

Picking up from the previous post ... currently in a crackdown mode (to say the least), the NYPD would not let the Pinc Louds set move forward in Tompkins Square Park on Saturday evening. (No amplified music without a permit...)

However, the show was able to go on at a new location — La Plaza Cultural on Ninth Street at Avenue C, where attendees were treated to another euphoric performance on this hot (not-officially-summer-yet) night. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy took these photos... 

In other Pinc Louds news, the band's new single, "Aire Acondicionado," drops on Friday.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• At the first Pinc Louds show of 2021 in Tompkins Square Park

• An end-of-summer appreciation: Pinc Louds  

Sweetness and light

 

The video for the new tropical-punk single by Pinc Louds is now available ... in the clip for "Tamarindo," Claudi returns to her Puerto Rican homeland where she chases chickens, serenades horses, meets a miniature version of herself and learns the secret to never growing up: tamarind syrup. The song bursts with the unbridled joy that you'd expect from anything related to Pinc Louds. 

The single, from the band's forthcoming release, officially drops on April 9. And you can see Claudi perform tomorrow afternoon at the East Village Flea... and the full band will be in Tompkins Square Park on April 10 at 2 p.m.

At the first Pinc Louds show of 2021 in Tompkins Square Park

Saturday saw the return of Pinc Louds to Tompkins Square Park.

The band's eclectic, freewheeling live shows in the Park were a bright spot during the pandemic summer of 2020. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared these shots from the crowd...

Also on the bill Saturday: Local talent Dirty Circuit and Ayla.