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

Pinc Louds headlines a Mother's Day show in Tompkins Square Park

For an alternative Mother's Day celebration, consider the free show in Tompkins Square Park tomorrow afternoon (music scheduled for 1:45-6 p.m.). 

The lineup features headliners Pinc Louds as well as Shred Flintstone, Desert Sharks, Rat Motel, Big Girl and Dog Park (acoustic). 

Presented by Show Brain.

A memorial gig in Tompkins Square Park for Al 'Hammerbrain' Landess

There's a memorial show tomorrow (Saturday) in Tompkins Square Park for Al "Hammerbrain" Landess. 

The longtime local resident and veteran of the NYC hardcore scene died in February 2022 of cancer. 

The slate of bands scheduled from 2 to 6 p.m. includes Jennifer Blowdryer, Art Gray Trio does Crunt, Spike Polite & Sewage, RBNX, and Skum City.

Landess was the frontman, guitarist and songwriter of Hammerbrain (later Damn Kids). He also worked for years at Benny's Burritos on Avenue A and Sixth Street until it closed. He later managed Kelly's Sports Bar on Avenue A. 

About the Rock Against Racism show [Updated: Postponed]

Updated 5/5: Due to the rain, the show has been postponed...

EVG's Stacie Joy spotted longtime East Village resident Chris Flash the other day with flyers for the Rock Against Racism concert on Sunday (May 5).

The free show is now set for Washington Square Park (it was once slated for Tompkins).

From 2-6 p.m., the featured bands will be Lake Lanier... Butter Brain... Rebelmatic ... Paragnosis ... and a "special guest band"...

Brought to you by RAR NYC and The Shadow.

Pinc Louds and InCircles headline a Halloween afternoon show in Tompkins Square Park

A Halloween matinee is set for Tompkins Square Park tomorrow... featuring four bands: Tilt... Laurel Canyon ... InCircles ... and Pinc Louds. 

The free show is on from 2 to 6 p.m.

Tomorrow: Psycho Parkula and the Tompkins Square Book and Arts Fair

There's a psychobilly Halloween show (dubbed Psycho Parkula!) set for tomorrow afternoon in Tompkins Square Park. Catch the bill of bands from 2-6.

At the same time, the Tompkins Square Book and Arts Fair will be taking place.

Per the invite: "Come and get works of art, hand-made crafts, zines, books, clothing, records, videos, and more, including FREE stuff, all offered by members of your community on the Lower East Side."

About today's free concert — a Staten Island invasion! — in Tompkins Square Park

Six Staten Island-based bands are playing a free show this afternoon from 2-6 in Tompkins Square Park. 

Per the invite: 

This show was put together to try and bridge the gap between the forgotten borough of Staten Island and the rest of the boroughs in NYC. It seems that bands and fans will travel to Long Island, Connecticut, New Jersey and even Pennsylvania, but not to Staten Island for shows. 

Yeah, we know about the ridiculous toll, but there's also a FREE ferry that serves beer! To be honest, Staten Island does suck, but every borough has its areas that suck as well. But we have Mother Pugs Saloon, an awesome dive bar with an old-school vibe in an area that doesn't suck...

So I put together some bands to represent Staten Island and play a free show at Tompkins Square Park ... in hopes of bridging the gap and getting bands to possibly exchange shows with bands from other boroughs and for fans to see bands we have here.

Reminders: The Charlie Park Jazz Festival comes to Tompkins Square Park on Sunday

The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival will be in Tompkins Square Park this Sunday, Aug. 27. 

Here's what to expect via the City Parks Foundation website... 

This bill of all-star musicians is led by alto saxophonist and bandleader Charles McPherson, who famously performed with Charles Mingus in the '60s and recorded ensemble renditions of Charlie Parker works for the soundtrack to the 1988 Parker biopic "Bird." He performs here with Terell Stafford, a veteran of his quintet and a gifted, versatile trumpet player with an adventurous expression of lyricism.

Vincent Herring's Septet, Something Else!, a new group that draws its name from Cannonball Adderley's 1958 classic Blue Note LP. The portfolio of music played by "Something Else" includes some of the most iconic toe-tapping Soul Jazz Songs ever created from the books of Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Timmons, Horace Silver, Bob James, Pee Wee Ellis, Quincy Jones and many more. 

Chelsea Baratz's HERA collective — named after the Olympian queen of the gods — is a unique group of groundbreaking female artists and bandleaders assembled to showcase original works. More than just an ensemble of talented players, each musician that performs with HERA has her own band, her own original music, and her own sound, like featured vocalist and Growing Up Jazz founder Andromeda Turre. 

Opener Michael Mayo, a student of jazz legends Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock, wields a commanding and otherworldly voice that’s taken him around the world and back again.

And because someone will ask: The city will be bringing in porta potties for the expected crowds, as they've done in the past (and because the field house is closed for renovations).

The festival started in Tompkins Square Park in 1993 ... taking place near or on Parker's birthday on Aug. 29. Additional dates were added in Harlem in 2000. 

Parker, who died in 1955 at age 34, lived at 151 Avenue B from 1950-1954. That residential building between Ninth Street and 10th Street is landmarked.   

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...

Saturday's parting shot

Photo by Daniel Efram 

The awesome JessX were among the bands playing in Tompkins Square Park this afternoon. 

There are more bands tomorrow afternoon via Show Brain, including Uncle Skunk, Pop Music Fever Dream, Tits Dick Ass, Shred Flintstone and headliner Dead Tooth.

The 35th annual Tompkins Square Park Riot reunion shows are happening this weekend

The free concerts commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Tompkins Square Police Riot of Aug. 6, 1988, are happening this weekend. 

Tomorrow's show will also serve as a tribute to Al Landess (aka Al Hammerbrain), a longtime local resident and veteran of the NYC hardcore scene who died in February 2022 of cancer.

Bands are set to play Saturday and Sunday from 2-6 p.m.

About tomorrow's free show in Tompkins Square Park

There's a free show in Tompkins Square Park tomorrow (Sunday!) afternoon. 

On the bill: 

• Tetchy

• InCircles 

• Frida Kill 

• Winterwolf 

• Wifeknife 

The show is also serving as a benefit to help Leesa Harrington-Squyres, the drummer for Lez Zeppelin and Sabbath Warlock, cover some medical expenses for an upcoming surgery.

Show Brain is the show's promoter. Show times: 1:30-6 p.m.

The annual Puke Island is upon us

If you looking for some melodic death metal and loud-ass punk today... Puke Island Part II is taking place today (Sunday) in Tompkins Square Park. 

On the bill: 

• Iconicide 
• Blackout Shoppers 
• Cash Bribe 
• Damn Your Eyes 
• Breath Of The Moor 

The free show is scheduled between 2-6 p.m.

Saturday afternoon with Tits Dick Ass

Photos by Stacie Joy

Local trio Tits Dick Ass were among the bands on the Show Brains-hosted concert lineup Saturday afternoon in Tompkins Square Park.

TDA are part of a newish wave of sex-positivity groups such as cumgirl8 and Girl Dick... and a band more and more people seem to be talking about. 

Here's a look at Julia (lead vocals/guitar), Seth (bass) and Nick (drums) making fans in Tompkins with their galloping anarchic art punk... 

Follow TDA on Instagram for more upcoming shows and details on their forthcoming debut record, Burn a Bitch. (You can read a Q&A with the band here.)

And in the TDA audience...

Sunday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

At the third annual WasteFest today in Tompkins Square Park...

The 3rd annual WasteFest is TODAY in Tompkins Square Park

Hardcore veterans Urban Waste are hosting their third annual WasteFest in Tompkins Square Park today. 

On the bill: 

• MDC 

• Urban Waste 

• Deathcycle 

• Ache 

• Action Park 

• Sewage 

• The Stress

The free show starts at 2.

Today's free concert in Tompkins Square Park

There's a free concert this afternoon in Tompkins Square Park featuring:

• Joudy

• Incircles (read our Q&A with the band here)

• Tits Dick Ass 

• Slashers

• Cult of Chunk

The music is said to start at 1:45.

And tomorrow (Sunday!) in the park: the third annual Wastefest... will share that info in a separate post.

Rebelmatic in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy 

The New York Hardcore Chronicles presented a slate of bands in Tompkins Square Park yesterday afternoon ... featuring Scott Helland (Guitarmy of One), Winterwolf, Butterbrain, Rebelmatic and Leeway.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy was there and caught the set by crowd-favorites Rebelmatic ...

... who were joined onstage by Winterwolf's Tony $ixx...