There are so many good and bad things about the whole McCarren Pool concert series. The fact that Clear Channel is hosting the events and charging over $36 + $10 in fees is robbery. Reports coming out that a lot of the money (of course) is not going to the community to help rebuild the pool. However, the events have brought awareness to the dilapidated structure and there are several free shows on Sundays (but not even remotely close to the attraction of the paid shows).
I was amazed as soon as I entered the pool. It was much bigger than I imagined and it had a great vibe. Brooklyn beer and food provided by Sparky’s and Warsaw. Spacious, plenty of places to chill out or sit down, and everyplace has a great sight line (although that didn’t stop me from going to the front)
Awesome Color opened up on Saturday and chose this day over Friday as I had already seen Blood on the Wall. The band seemed awkward on such a large stage and being outside. They played some strange hard rock which doesn’t surprise me as they are on Thurston Moore’s Ecstatic Peace label. The lead singer had a lot of power in his voice and was very animated on stage as he yelled and grabbed at the sky with hands.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs were on next and it was awkward to see them in the daylight. Karen O came out wearing sunglasses and in an elaborate dress that shimmered in the setting sun. I was glad to see Imaad Wasif play with the trio again. They were predictably good and as always put on an entertaining show, however it can not even close to when I saw them at Maxwell’s. The crowd was very lame with no energy and even a fight broke out steps away from me.
I was mainly there to see Sonic Youth and when they started off their set with “Teenage Riot”, I knew it was going to be a great show. I love seeing this band live and they have been such a huge influence on my taste in music and life in general. And with their new album “Rather Ripped”, this band is not planning on slowing down. I felt their last 2 albums were incredible but the new one brings them back to their guitar driven power. They weer relaxed on stage and commanded the crowd with ease as they are music veterans by now. It was great to see Kim Gordon twirl around and Thurston Moore continue with the feedback compositions. The set was incredible and this girl in front of me was going completely ballistic. She was so young and it must have been her first time seeing them live, and it reminded me on how I must have acted the first time I saw them. This band is a legend. The only downside was the sound was so fucking low and many of us kept yelling to make it louder. Also ending the show with only 1 encore and exactly at 10 PM sucked.
Sonic Youth set list:
Teenage Riot, Reena, Incinerate, What a Waste, Eric’s Trip, Do You Believe in Rapture?, 100%, Turquoise Boy, Rats, Jams Run Free, Pink Steam, Or E: Shaking Hell
Links:
http://www.yeahyeahyeahs.com/
http://www.sonicyouth.com/