Saturday in the Park

A four-band bill is slated for tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon in Tompkins Square Park... via Show Brain and starting at 2 p.m. 

The lineup features:

• Skortz (we wrote about them here) 

• Consumables — "Angular post-punk" 

• Aux Blood — "Brooklyn-based post-hardcore noize" 

• Clone — Their new album "embodies a raw and energetic punk ethos." 

Up next: Puke Island Part 12 from Iconicide on Sunday... and the 36th annual Tompkins Square Riot Reunion via The Shadow on Aug. 3.

Bands we like: Francie Moon

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Flashback to last Sunday in Tompkins Square Park, where we caught headliners Francie Moon (aka New Jersey-based musician Melissa Lucciola) in a show organized by Show Brain. 

We've heard Francie Moon's music, described as "garage psych & rock n roll," though never live until this day. We enjoyed the high-energy set and her appreciation of the opportunity to play in front of an audience.  

Lucciola also plays drums with Gustaf, another band we like. (Gustaf guitarist Vram Kherlopian and percussionist Tarra Thiessen joined this set. And if you're keeping track — they both also play in Tea Eater.)

You can find more from Francie Moon here and here.

The next show we're aware of is the 36th annual Tompkins Square Riot Reunion via The Shadow on Aug. 3.

About today's free show in Tompkins Square Park

Show Brain presents another solid slate of bands this afternoon (2-6) in Tompkins Square Park...

• Francie Moon, "garage psych & rock n roll," 5:20 

• Balaclava, NYC trash rock, 4:30 

• Chico Romano, bedroom pop meets '60s soul and R&B, 3:40 

• Draculas, "rock ‘n’ roll for the beach goth punks," 2:50 

• Teenage Halloween, power punk, 2 p.m.

 

Set times are approximate!

Upclose with Gustaf at Berlin

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Gustaf was set to headline Sunday's free show via Show Brain in Tompkins Square Park. 

After a galloping set by Shred Flintstone, the rain arrived... and we all left thinking we wouldn't get to see the last two bands — Miranda and the Beat and Gustaf. 

However, we received a message saying the two groups would each be playing sets for free at Berlin, the space under 2A at Avenue A and Second Street. 

We arrived in time to see the art-punk swagger of the Brooklyn-based Gustaf, a two-album quintet gaining momentum thanks to some unbridled live sets, both as headliners and supporting UK acts such as IDLES, Sleaford Mods, and Yard Act.

The last time we encountered Gustaf, they energized the vast outdoor stage with their performance at the Kilby Block Party in May, transforming a potentially dull early afternoon slot into a festival highlight.

Fast-forward to Sunday evening, and they seized every inch of Berlin's intimate venue with unrestrained energy, led by charismatic lead singer Lydia Gammill... (watch a live clip here)...

Gustaf headlines a free show in Tompkins Square Park TODAY

Show Brain presents a solid lineup of bands this afternoon (1:45- 6 p.m.) in Tompkins Square Park ... featuring the art-punk swagger of Brooklyn's Gustaf to end the afternoon. 

Here's the lineup (Skorts are taking over for Teenage Halloween): 

 • Gustaf • Shred Flintstone • Miranda and the Beat • Teenage Halloween  • Skorts • Abby Jeanne + the Shadowband 

And hopefully, the thunderstorms expected later today will hold off until late this evening...

At yesterday's hardcore matinee in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Tompkins Square Park played host to the "Back to the NYHC Roots" music series yesterday afternoon. 

The slate of bands, presented by The Shadow and New York Hardcore Chronicles, included Winter Wolf ...

... Kārtël ...

... and Non Residents...

...and scenes from the crowd...

... and there was a photogenic finale...

The afternoon also included sets from Redwoods and Incendiary Device.

Saturday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

At the end of the hardcore show today in Tompkins Square Park... more photos on the way tomorrow...

At the first Show Brain show of 2024 in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy 

The weather held out on Sunday afternoon for Mother's Day — and the season's first show by Show Brain, which has been bringing live music to city parks the past few years. 

Here is Ozzie Silva of Show Brain with East Village-based singer-songwriter-composer Franzi Szymkowiak of Lukka (her band was not on the bill this day)...

The lineup included the gloom punk of Desert Sharks...

... and the high-spirited eclectic punk fusion of headliners Pinc Louds...

And taking in the bands...

The next Show Brain production in Tompkins Square Park is on June 30. (Keep tabs via the SB Instagram account.) 

The next concert promoted by Chris Flash of The Shadow is on May 25. Follow these shows on Facebook.

Coming together in Tompkins Square Park to remember Al 'Hammerbrain' Landess

Photos by Stacie Joy

Friends and loved ones of Al "Hammerbrain" Landess came together yesterday afternoon in Tompkins Square Park for a memorial concert in honor of the local resident and veteran of the NYC hardcore who died in February 2022 of cancer. 

EVG's Stacie Joy stopped by as the show was getting underway (that's Skum City in the top pic). 

Among those in attendance were Al's longtime partner, Joanie Koveleskie, with their Siberian Husky Augustus Gloop...

Previously on EV Grieve:

• RIP Al Landess