A weekend in the city
It was a happening weekend in the Big Apple. On Friday night, I went with a bunch of people to Prospect Park (which is Brooklyn’s version of Central Park) to see an evening of songs from three different bands. The concert was part of a program called Celebrate Brooklyn, a free event that promotes music and arts in Brooklyn.
Friday’s event was with Voxtrot, Matt Pond PA, and TV on the Radio. Voxtrot was pretty entertaining, although a little too mellow at times. Throughout their set it was just LG, my friend David, and myself at the concert, so the mellowness wasn’t a bad thing. It was very crowded at the bandshell, so we were stuck behind a tree. While our view wasn’t great, we could hear everything clearly. After Voxtrot did their thing, Matt Pond PA came on. Of the three bands on the bill, this was the only one that I had heard of before. They were very good, so much so that I am looking into buying one of their CDs. They were able to play a slightly longer set before ushering TV on the Radio out onto the stage. The bulk of the crowd (including most of the people who I was sitting with) seemed to be there to see TV on the Radio. When they came out on stage, the crowd cheered and stood up applauding. Throughout the entire concert I was trying to figure out what exactly deserved such adoration. I was not impressed with the band, although I could see how they might be better on CD than on stage. At one point it seemed that they were about to start jamming. David turned to me and said “If they turn into a fucking jam band, I’m outta here.” (or something to that effect). Needless to say, I will not be on the lookout for their CD the next time I’m in a record store. After the concert, our group went to the Commonwealth Bar in Park Slope and had a few drinks before heading home for the night.
The next night, Saturday, LG and I went back to the park for another concert in the series. There was a smaller group of us this time, and less people in the crowd in general, so we were able to get a better view of the show. That evening’s performance was a collection of South African musicians. The opening act was an African folksinger named Vusi Mahlasela who was on the stage all alone, just him and his guitar. He was very, very good. He reminded me of Ali Farka Toure, but more rockin’. After Vusi Mahlasela was done, an African rap quartet came on stage. They were also good, rapping in both English and French. In addition to being talented musically, these boys could dance. They were really pumping up the crowd and seemed really happy to be there. After they took a curtain call, Angelique Kidjo came out on stage. She was welcomed with great applause and, unlike TV on the Radio, lived up to the hearty reception. Her performance was very entertaining and political without being over-the-top. During the show she went into the crowd to sing and, on a later song, invited about 20 members of the audience up on stage to dance with her, Vusi Mahlasela, and the rap group. It was a good show.
Sunday and Monday were a little more low key, so there is not much to report. Tuesday night was the 4th (as you know) and we spent it at a friends’ apartment (with many of the same people who came to the TV on the Radio show). Their apartment is on the top floor of their building, located in northwest Brooklyn. Because of this, we were able to go up onto the roof to watch the fireworks from Manhattan. The fireworks were incredible. They were set off in front of, above, and on either side of the Empire State Building, which was lit up red, white, and blue. It was a very fun time and a great way to end a nice long weekend in the city. The whole weekend really made me appreciate living in NYC and made me realize that there is always something going on here, much of it free of charge or cheap.
Good times, good times.
Friday’s event was with Voxtrot, Matt Pond PA, and TV on the Radio. Voxtrot was pretty entertaining, although a little too mellow at times. Throughout their set it was just LG, my friend David, and myself at the concert, so the mellowness wasn’t a bad thing. It was very crowded at the bandshell, so we were stuck behind a tree. While our view wasn’t great, we could hear everything clearly. After Voxtrot did their thing, Matt Pond PA came on. Of the three bands on the bill, this was the only one that I had heard of before. They were very good, so much so that I am looking into buying one of their CDs. They were able to play a slightly longer set before ushering TV on the Radio out onto the stage. The bulk of the crowd (including most of the people who I was sitting with) seemed to be there to see TV on the Radio. When they came out on stage, the crowd cheered and stood up applauding. Throughout the entire concert I was trying to figure out what exactly deserved such adoration. I was not impressed with the band, although I could see how they might be better on CD than on stage. At one point it seemed that they were about to start jamming. David turned to me and said “If they turn into a fucking jam band, I’m outta here.” (or something to that effect). Needless to say, I will not be on the lookout for their CD the next time I’m in a record store. After the concert, our group went to the Commonwealth Bar in Park Slope and had a few drinks before heading home for the night.
The next night, Saturday, LG and I went back to the park for another concert in the series. There was a smaller group of us this time, and less people in the crowd in general, so we were able to get a better view of the show. That evening’s performance was a collection of South African musicians. The opening act was an African folksinger named Vusi Mahlasela who was on the stage all alone, just him and his guitar. He was very, very good. He reminded me of Ali Farka Toure, but more rockin’. After Vusi Mahlasela was done, an African rap quartet came on stage. They were also good, rapping in both English and French. In addition to being talented musically, these boys could dance. They were really pumping up the crowd and seemed really happy to be there. After they took a curtain call, Angelique Kidjo came out on stage. She was welcomed with great applause and, unlike TV on the Radio, lived up to the hearty reception. Her performance was very entertaining and political without being over-the-top. During the show she went into the crowd to sing and, on a later song, invited about 20 members of the audience up on stage to dance with her, Vusi Mahlasela, and the rap group. It was a good show.
Sunday and Monday were a little more low key, so there is not much to report. Tuesday night was the 4th (as you know) and we spent it at a friends’ apartment (with many of the same people who came to the TV on the Radio show). Their apartment is on the top floor of their building, located in northwest Brooklyn. Because of this, we were able to go up onto the roof to watch the fireworks from Manhattan. The fireworks were incredible. They were set off in front of, above, and on either side of the Empire State Building, which was lit up red, white, and blue. It was a very fun time and a great way to end a nice long weekend in the city. The whole weekend really made me appreciate living in NYC and made me realize that there is always something going on here, much of it free of charge or cheap.
Good times, good times.
posted by Spec at 11:52 AM
1 comments
1 Comments:
Really amazing! Useful information. All the best.
»
Post a Comment
<< Home