Punk Island music festival
Two Fisted Law returns to Staten Island to play this year's Punk Island music festival. Two Fisted Law played Punk Island Staten Island Advance/Tom Wright)
(Tom Wright)
Now that summer is upon us and music festival season is in full swing, the options are so overwhelming that it's easy to stay local and still hear top-notch performances.
For Staten Islanders who like their music rough and rowdy, this weekend is a no-brainer. While there are a number of free concerts happening this Saturday, June 21, locally, as part of Make Music New York (Over 1,300 taking place throughout the five boroughs), our soon-not-to-be-forgotten beloved borough will be come the punk capital of the world at Punk Island — for one day, anyway.
From 11 a.m. until 9 p.m., you can — if you have superhuman powers — check out more than 90 bands from every corner of the punk scene, performing for 10 hours on seven stages, on Staten Island's expansive "Coast Guard" pier, 100 yards south of the Ferry Terminal in St. George.
While most of the bands are obscure, known to only the most devoted denizens, it really doesn't matter, considering the quality of a good many. This is more about the excitement and energy of a still thriving scene, despite the lack of exposure and marketability.
And while a fair percentage of groups fall into the Southern California, melodic hardcore vein of artists like, Green Day,Bad Religion and Dropkick Murphys, one can clearly hear how many different shades there can be found under the proverbial punk umbrella — including horn-driven ska/reggae.
And having attended last years inaugural Punk Island by the ferry show (along with some previously held at Governor's Island) I can attest that the return appearance of Two Fisted Law, World War IX , The Jukebox Romantics and the great, recently united Reagan Youth are worth sticking around for.
Admittedly, it's a challenge to check out seven stages worth of overlapping acts and the security is strict but it's an invigorating, good time romp no matter how long one cares to indulge. Just stay hydrated and bring sunscreen and earplugs.
More good free shows happening later on, elsewhere
Ex-Cult
As a part of
Union Pool's Summer Thunder
series,
Ex-Cult, Liquor Store
and
Call Of The Wild
play an afternoon show in the club's outdoor courtyard.
Ex-Cult — slated for 5 p.m. — are currently touring behind its stellar second album,
"Midnight Passenger
" (Goner Records). But all three bands kick out the jams righteously and should make for quite a fine punky patio party.
Union Pool 484 Union Ave., Brooklyn
. This is a 21 and over event; showtime is usually sometime after 3 p.m., free.
Dee Dee Penny aka Dum Dum Girls
For those who prefer the music on poppier indie rock side, it will hard to beat this
Saturday's Celebrate Brooklyn
's show, boasting a stellar triple treat, with the winsome and melancholy girl-group sounds of
Dum Dum Girls, Hospitality
and
TEEN
. Both the Dum Dum Girls and Hospitality have fine new albums out ( Dum Dum Girls,
"Too True"
on Sub Pop records and Hospitality, with
"Trouble"
on Merge) and are delightful live. And from what I've sampled, TEEN should serve as a welcome warm up.
This free show starts at
6 p.m
. at the
Prospect Park Bandshell
.
Esoteric endeavors
If your predilection is more toward the refined, highbrow experience, this weekend is bookended by two notable events, as part of the 13th annual
River to River Festival (June 19 -29)
.
First, tonight, the music of the highly influential, iconic minimalist composer,
Terry Riley
will be performed at Federal Hall.
Composer
Paola Prestini
curates the second iteration of the Ex-Situ series and showcases work created and inspired by Riley — including his son
Gyan Riley, Tracy Silverman
and
the Young People's Chorus
, among others.
Federal Hall is located at 26 Wall St., Manhattan
. The show begins at 7 p.m. and is free.
Bang on a Can Marathon happens at Winter Garden at Brookfield Place.
In a similar adventurous spirit,
the Bang on a Can Marathon
— one of the years biggest and best events for experimental music — returns to the
Winter Garden at Brookfield Place
.
Beginning at
2 p.m., Sunday
, this expansive 8 hour genre busting music marathon mixes rare performances by some of the most innovative and venerable musicians around with some of today's most pioneering young artists.
Like obscurity of most of Punk Island's performers, you can rely on quality performances without knowing the artist, making for many pleasant surprises.
While there are too many to list, among the featured highlights are performances by
Meredith Monk, So Percussion
and
JG Thirlwel
l (also known as Clint Ruin, Frank Want, Foetus).
Winter Garden is located at 200 Vesey St
.
For more information, go to http://bangonacan.org/2014/june/bang_on_a_can_marathon_brookfield_place_winter_garden