Gogol Bordello and Primus go together like a bonfire on the beach with a head full of mescaline (and a jug of cheap wine thrown in for good measure). Friday night, Eugene Hutz and his exuberant gypsy-punk all stars seized the stage early at the Williamsburg Waterfront, stirring up their signature sweaty frenzy in the early-evening air. After so many days of disgusting, sticky weather, it was certainly a welcome surprise to be standing outside in the sun without wilting, and Gogol Bordello seemed especially enlivened by the cool breeze and spectacular view. Their high-octane set of blistering Balkan beats served as an ideal warm-up for the somewhat downbeat Primus, who surfaced just as the day turned to dusk with Pudding Time, a sludgy creep-out off of their 1990 album Frizzle Fry. more ›

The Pool Parties officially kicked off their 5th annual free concert series yesterday—with Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof performing Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures following performances by openers Why?, Fang Island, and Pictureplane. The JellyNYC organizers got pushed out of their former home at the McCarren Park Pool after the summer of 2008, and last year wasn't looking too promising when they set up shop in Williamsburg's East River Police State Park. This year there are some differences worth noting, however: more ›

Earlier this month we looked at a whole bunch of state parks on the chopping block due to budget cuts, but we just got word that Williamsburg's East River State Park is safe... thanks to the hipsters. Or Senator Schumer. Or indie rock or something. more ›

Senator Schumer has saved the Brooklyn Pool Parties! We just received a press release announcing the news that will surely put a smile on disaffected hipster's faces borough-wide. more ›

After Senator Schumer spearheaded a movement to save JellyNYC's Pool Parties, word is that they will indeed keep their head above water this year. more ›

Senator Schumer sent out a press release today regarding the future of the Jelly Pool Parties, which has been looking pretty dark as of late. Over the summer Schumer attended two of the parties, which he totally happened upon by accident whilst riding his bike down Kent Avenue on a scorching hot day in pants, a long-sleeve button-up, and not a drop of sweat on him! Now he will attempt to bring that sort of magic to the parties. more ›

Last year around this time we got word that the East River State Park in Williamsburg would be shutting down for the winter months to save up some money. This year shows less signs of a stalled waterfront park, as the Daily News reports that a playground is being constructed and will open in Spring. more ›

The Wiliamsburg Pool Parties will wrap up next Sunday with Grizzly Bear and Beach House, but in many ways yesterday's blowout with Girl Talk felt like the real explosive climax to the summer. Fifteen minutes before Girl Talk went on, the line to get in stood still from the entrance at N 8th Street and ran well past the corner of N 11th. Parks officers seemed constantly on the run throughout the set as the hordes of people shut out of the fun became unruly and threatened to push through or turn over port-a-potties. One reader left a report of a chaotic scene from the front gates where allegedly hundreds of people cut the line and were allowed in by security just as the set was getting under way. more ›

Yesterday's free concert on the Waterfront (the third of the weekly Pool Parties this summer), was one of the many events that succombed to the weather gods. I'm Not Sayin speaks up and reports back from the frontline saying "the State Park management told the promoters to pull the plug—before headliners Trail of Dead could plug in and play a single power chord." Smart move, and the crowd made the best of it, running off to nearby bars, and snapping windblown shots for their Facebook pages. more ›

Yesterday afternoon the Pool Parties made their debut off the McCarren Pool grounds and on the Williamsburg waterfront, at East River State Park (Mission of Burma, Fucked Up, Ponytail and Jemina Pearl all played). This new home is even more temporary than the last—which is currently undergoing a $50 million makeover—only one summer of shows will be held here before it's time to find a new home. In the meantime, the crowds from yesterday were aTwitter with thoughts on the new space. Most of the reviews have been positive, and for the most part the same elements are there, with some slight changes. more ›

We were all warned, the East River State Park in Williamsburg has officially been closed for the winter months, leaving the hipster set nowhere to ironically off-season tan. Curbed reports from the frontlines, saying the gate was locked on January 1st "so the state could save money and it won't reopen until April 1." How much will the closure save? Forty thousand dollars. State Assemblyman Joe Lentol is still working on an alternate plan to keep the park open, involving the NYPD holding the keys to the gate. more ›