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Gothamist returned to Coney Island on Saturday for the second time in two weekends to take in a show at Keyspan Park. While both had stellar bands playing, the mood this week was far different from the energetic evening the White Stripes gave us . Seven acts were set to take the stage between 1:30 and 10:00 this weekend: Nine Black Alps, Mando Diao, Death From Above 1979, Rilo Kiley, Built to Spill, Gang of Four and The Pixies. Out of all four of the Across the Narrows concerts this weekend, this seemed to be, all around, the strongest lineup. Despite this, the turnout on a beautiful fall day was miniscule. Maybe it was due to the fact that the bigger bands have all played New York rather frequently over the past year, but the park was notably empty up until the Pixies came on, and even then, the 8,500 seats remained almost completely empty and there was still plenty of space on the field. Very strange for the caliber of talent on the bill. It gave the whole festival a very amateurish feel.
One of the biggest highlights for us was The Nine Black Alps [pictured at right], who were making a second appearance opening a festival in Coney Island this summer (along with Siren Fest). While there were barely 300 people at there when they went on, they blew through a really strong set of grunge influenced brit-rock that undoubtedly impressed the few who made it out to the ballpark so early. It may be too soon to start talking about a full blown grunge revival, but were it to happen, these four young men would surely be near the forefront.
Following them was Mando Diao, who we were mostly unfamiliar with going into the show. While their set was competent, there was nothing that really stood out to us. Death From Above 1979 is a really impressive live band on a normal night, but at 3 in the afternoon in front of a near-empty ball field, they seemed to lack the edge and attitude to really let loose. The crowd grew slightly when Rilo Kiley came on. We loved them last year, but as they announced that this was the final show supporting their most recent album, the band seemed to about as sick of playing the material as we had gotten of hearing it.
Built to Spill have a couple of great albums, but their magic has never translated well for us live. The set started off tight and together, but by the end they began to drag out the songs, as they often do, into these meandering, mind-numbing jams. After a while we found ourselves sitting back in the bleachers patiently waiting for Gang of Four to come on.
Once they did, we were completely blown away with the level of energy and intensity they still had nearly 30 years after their first album came out. It’s refreshing for a band to get back together after all those years and still be able to put on the type of show that made them one of the most influential yet underappreciated bands of the last half-century. Following them to headline was The Pixies, who played a rather standard, sedated set. It was a very similar to the other times we’ve seen them since they got back together last year. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the whole day was that Frank Black has hair.
So, with the exception of the 2 openers, none of these bands have even released an album of new material this year. It really showed. Gang of Four and Nine Black Alps were clear highlights, but everyone else just seemed to be going through the motions of another New York show, playing the same songs they always do. Between the temperature and the talent, the whole show just felt about six months too late.
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Do you think some of these blog hyped bands from the "Music Blog Scene" just aren't very good and no one really cares except the 4 of you or ok maybe 300 people.
I don't think Nine Black Alps are really a "blog hyped band". I haven't read much about them at all.
Regardless, yes, I think they are actually very good.
Frank,
I agree with you. The bands that draw big crowds like Good Charlotte, Fall Out Boy or My Chemical Romance are really the good bands. It really isn't because of the vast corporate structure that's pushing them through payola or other shenanigans; it's because of the quality of their music.
indie/hipster music sucks.
Shenanigans!
Wow, the haters came out to play! I think bands like the aforementioned Good Charlotte, Fall Out Boy or My Chemical Romance might have fans and might have some good songs, but the crowds they draw are directly related to the marketing support they are getting from the labels... Thinking about Built to Spill, I found out about them from a friend who was intensely into indie rock in 1994 - and he'd been a fan for a while. This was a pre-blog era, so the fact that Built to Spill has been able to keep growing its fan base be the third act on this bill is nice to me.
But, anyway, Gang of Four was awesome.
The thing that kept me away from Across the Narrows was the high ticket prices, plus the fact that I have seen most of the bands before. Also, big outdoor concerts often have poor sound quality, in my experience. Jeff's review just confirmed what I thought the concert would be like.
I definitely wanted to see the shows, but didn't. I don't mind seeing bands that I like over and over and over, and I'm not ashamed of that. But $55? Maybe if I had been interested in every single band on one of the line-ups, I would have gone. But as it was, I looked 'em over, and for every couple of bands that I really wanted to see, there was one that I actively wanted to avoid. It just didn't seem worth it.
I definitely wanted to see the shows, but didn't. I don't mind seeing bands that I like over and over and over, and I'm not ashamed of that. But $55? Maybe if I had been interested in every single band on one of the line-ups, I would have gone. But as it was, I looked 'em over, and for every couple of bands that I really wanted to see, there was one that I actively wanted to avoid. It just didn't seem worth it.
I definitely wanted to see the shows, but didn't. I don't mind seeing bands that I like over and over and over, and I'm not ashamed of that. But $55? Maybe if I had been interested in every single band on one of the line-ups, I would have gone. But as it was, I looked 'em over, and for every couple of bands that I really wanted to see, there was one that I actively wanted to avoid. It just didn't seem worth it.
A friend who went to the show also said that it was surprisingly empty. We felt that it had a lot to do with the fact that it was not advertised very well... For example, I noticed a Time Out ad only about 2 weeks ago, and normally these things are hyped way in advance.
Ticket prices were high, but the lineup was strong and bands didn't disappoint. Weather was phenomenal and weak attendance left bathrooms empty and vendor lines short. Standing front row for Built to Spill was as easy as a stroll down the bleacher stairs.
Why, then, am I a little bitter about the shows? Worst crowd ever. Did anyone else notice this?
How is it that I, oldest thirtysomething alive (think knee pain & seeing cardiologist), found myself moving and clapping more than orthodontia-rich teens and mommy-does-my-laundry-and-I-don't-work twentysomethings?
This isn't generational and I don't mean to hate the youngsters, but it made no sense that people paid all that money to stand in the sun and not even bounce their heads. Give some love to the musicians, man.
How do you explain it? Death from Above, Built to Spill, the Pixies, Raveonettes, Polyphonic Spree (couldn't even make you move with euphoric, cult-ish mind control???), B&S, and Beck -- you know in advance who you're going to see. Why go to stand around self-consciously glancing at your peers and blocking the view of people who enjoy music?
They didn't even stay in the bleachers. They stood around at the stage with expressionless faces. It was a sea of milquetoast zombies wearing ear plugs. Did this disappoint no one else?
Great performances, lifeless crowd. I thought the comments would be about nothing but this topic...
OK, now the apathetic, tri-state youth can spend the afternoon flaming me for being grumpy. Would love it if one person who cares about music could actually second this opinion.
"...directly related to the marketing support they are getting from the labels"?
Why don't you just say you think the music isn't as good as The Pixies and Built to Spill -- two bands, by the way, that got a lot of major label marketing support in their prime. Remember when "120 Minutes" or "Post Modern MTV" or whatever it was back then turned The Pixies "Here Comes Your Man" into a minor hit? If Doolittle started to take off and break into the mainstream Elektra may have loosened the purse strings in a way that would have put Fallout Boy's budget to shame. Because bands draw to their shows a lot of teenagers who bought the CD at Target doesn't necessarily take anything away from them or their music.
To comment on Yeah Right's comment, it *is* a vast corporate structure that has made them so popular. No doubt about it. Being good isn't enough to become popular. It takes money.
narrows minded, i couldn't agree more! i couldn't believe no one was moving.... the lack of jumping, pushing, head bopping, general concert behavior and demonstration of music appreciation/enjoyment was amazing! i mean, folks didn't even look excited to see beck or humored by the various stage antics. zombies, indeed! i mean, i know it's cool to be bored when you're a teenager or whatever, but this was a bit excessive. you're also supposed to have FUN at concerts, especially if you're paying $55 for it. the only real excitement i witnessed from the crowd (besides my own...) was from a really fucked up 15-year-old, who wouldn't stop commenting, "i fucking looooove the polyphonic spree" every 5 seconds before and after falling on me because she couldn't stand up. but at least that was something!!
this was the first indie rock show i'd been to in years, so i thought maybe this is what the scene's like.... but if you want a GREAT live show with an amazing crowd always, check out Cafe Tacvba next time they're in town.
indie rock show? yeah.. put on by clearchannel.
aha! there's the problem!
stadium indie -- an unholy mix? maybe that's it.
good call on cafe tacuba, claire. i'd love to see them in nyc.
saw them open for beck on the midnite vultures tour in 2000 (they played a couple together that night) and remember first seeing their "ingrata" video in 1995 (when that "fucked up fifteen-year-old" was busy rocking a preschool somewhere...).
OK, Glenn; then how do you explain the Clap Your Hands phenomenon? Didn't take them much money to promote themselves to the top (of the indie world). You should know this being a blogger yourself. The power of MEDIA is what can bring up a rising act (and this can certainly be done cheaply - Pitchfork doesn't charge much for their reviews); not necessarily loads of cash.
I can't believe it, my co-worker just bought a car for $53528. Isn't that crazy!