Thepunkguy

Well I guess I can write about this summer even though, it’s still like 100 degrees out right now and my birthday is next week. Oh yeah my birthday is next week, please feel free to send me emails and texts and all that.

So I made a laundry list of all the shows I saw this summer for FREE. This has been one of those special NYC summers where the free shows were all really fun and great. So here are some pictures, quick reviews and grades for each show. Ill include some songs too, if I have..

How many bands I saw this summer (for free): 26 (27 counting a show two weeks ago)
How many actual free shows I went to: 16
How many of those bands were O’death: 2
How many of those bands were an acoustic Fugazi cover band from Austria: 1
How many times I saw James and Dan I’m On Fire sing National songs at the top of their lungs: at least 10
How many roasted corn I ate at McCarren Pool this summer: 4? Maybe 5.
Best venue to see a live free show while watching dodgeball: McCarren Pool
Best venue to see Tim from Les Savy Fav climb on a van: City Sol
Best venue to sit outside of and listen to bands without having to pay for shows: tie between summerstage in Central park and non Sunday McCarren Pool shows.
Strangest crowd always: Soundfix Records. (I don’t know why this place attracts such freaks but jesus!)

Grades of live shows.

Les Savy Fav at City Sol: B+
Land of Talk at City Sol: C+
Besnard lakes at City Sol: C
O’Death at City Sol: B
Vampire Weekend at East River Music Project: B
O’Death at SoundFix Records: B+
Celebration at McCarren Pool: C-
TV on the Radio at McCarren Pool: B -
Beastie Boys at McCarren Pool: B
Decemberists at Summerstage: A-
Grizzly Bear at Summerstage: A-
Band of Horses at McCarren Pool: C+
Annuals at McCarren Pool: C+
The Black Lips at Soundfix Records: D
Oxford Collapse at McCarren Pool: C+
Fujiya and Miyagi at South St: D
Black Moth Super Rainbow at South St: C+
Menomena at South St: A
Ficoustica at Don Pedros: B+
Pelican at Bowery Ballroom: A-
Preistbird at Bowery Ballroom: B+
Thermals at McCarren Pool: B
Ted Leo at McCarren Pool: A-
Birds of Avalon at McCarren Pool: C
The National at South St: A-
Battles at South St: A-
Beirut at Coco66: A+

What this summer looked like to me:

Flat Iron building.
Beirut at Coco.

Pelican at Bowery.

Milk Party.

Kid in Madison Square Park.

Three live songs from some of the “A” bands:

The National - Mistaken for Strangers (live on WOXY)

Beirut - Nantes (live on KEXP)

Menomena - Wet and Rusting (from the Take Away show)

some quick shout outs to some people who I spent the summer watching free shows with: SF CHRIS, James Huff, the Dan’s, Davey, Rita and Dan, Olivia and Becca, Randee, tall Luke, HTNRob, Alena, Cristina and Lauren. And everyone else that was there!

POLL: Best show you went to this summer?
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