Stark Goes Poolside

Ok, so it wasn't McCarren. We knew it was going to be different. Yesterday, Stark ventured to the Williamsburg Waterfront to the first "pool" party of the year hosted by Jelly NYC. Our outing served less as a concert experience and more as a referendum on the new operation in place after the unfortunate reclaiming of the original McCaren Pool site. For the most part, Jelly nailed it. There were familiar vestiges from McCarren (Dodgeball) and some unfortunate new additions (fenced in beer corral). While the drinking area was limited to the sidelines, the sight lines from the lower portion of the beer cage, and from the VIP area were clear. Coupled with the warm salt breeze off the river, the advent of large portions of grass and the NYC skyline as the backdrop of the stage, you really couldn't ask for a better place to spend an afternoon. Of course, the new location doesn't hold the same rustic charm of the old McCarren, yet it does well and provided us with a damn fine Sunday.

We weren't massive fans of the artists yesterday (Fucked Up, Mission of Burma, Ponytail and Jemina Pearl) but next week features the stacked line-up of Dirty Projectors, Magnolia Electric Co and Crystal Antlers (White Denim replacement). Out of the bunch, we GUESS Ponytail was the best. * We missed Jemina. Instrumentally Ponytail are a great band, and their songs are tight - but we're sorry, we know how much everyone loves her - Molly just gets annoying and always seems in the way of the songs. Sorry kids, it's just not our bag. Until next weekend, we sign off, sun-tinged, a little hungover and tired. Photos of the fun after the jump.

Williamsburg Waterfront Pool Parties Kick Off This Sunday!

Finally! Let the Sunday shenanigans begin. No longer will my god given day of rest be relegated to laundry, lounging, reading, whining, eating, copulating, procrastinating, paper mache-ing, croqueting...nevermind.

Jelly NYC presents the first Williamsburg Waterfront Pool Party concert of the series this Sunday at East River State Park. The line up: Mission of Burma, 
pitchfork Best New Music receiver Fucked Up, 
Ponytail
and Jemina Pearl formerly of every band in the Tennessee region. Just kidding. But, she was a former member of Be Your Own Pet (their split equals tear for some folks) and former (not sure if they are still dating) girlfriend of Jeff Novak, frontman in Cheap Time (Nashville post punkers) though. It's going to be an intense Sunday to say the least.

See the rest of the summer schedule after the jump.

July 19: 
Dirty Projectors
, Magnolia Electric Co., White Denim

July 26: ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, Black Lips
, HEALTH, 
Grupo Fantasmo

August 2: Deerhunter, No Age, Dan Deacon

 (Round Robin show)

August 9: 
Simian Mobile Disco (DJ set)
, Fiery Furnaces
, Dark Meat, 
The Netherlands

August 16: Del the Funky Homosapien, 
Gravy Train!!!
, DD/MM/YYYY, Kenan Bell



August 23: 
Girl Talk
, Max Tundra
, Wiz Khalifa

August 30: Grizzly Bear
, Beach House

McCarren Pool Party Thing on Waterfront Now

The beloved Sunday music festivals once held in Greenpoint/Williamsburg's one-time community pool, McCarren pool, are back! The concert series will still be hosted by Jelly NYC but transported to the East River State Park on the Williamsburg Waterfront. They keep the "pool" label even though the event will be devoid of any actual pools. Sorry. The time for drinking away Sunday hangovers amid indie-rock jams, sunshine and all while scoping walking American Apparel ads is upon us once again. Rock and or Roll. Give it up for Jelly though, they have managed to pack the bill with some of indie rocks biggest names, Grizzly Bear, Deerhunter, Girl Talk, No Age, Beach House, Dirty Projectors - I mean, these could be more of a gong show than that MGMT disaster last summer. Click the image for a larger view or after the jump for the full line up.

First line up -- July 12: 
Mission of Burma, 
Fucked Up, 
Ponytail
, Jemina Pearl

Check the full schedule after the jump...

July 12: 
Mission of Burma, 
Fucked Up, 
Ponytail
, Jemina Pearl

July 19: 
Dirty Projectors
, Magnolia Electric Co., White Denim

July 26: ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, Black Lips
, HEALTH, 
Grupo Fantasmo

August 2: Deerhunter, No Age, Dan Deacon

 (Round Robin show)

August 9: 
Simian Mobile Disco (DJ set)
, Fiery Furnaces
, Dark Meat, 
The Netherlands

August 16: Del the Funky Homosapien, 
Gravy Train!!!
, DD/MM/YYYY, Kenan Bell



August 23: 
Girl Talk
, Max Tundra
, Wiz Khalifa

August 30: Grizzly Bear
, Beach House

No Age Remix Holy Fuck

[mp3] Holy Fuck: "Lovely Allen" (No Age remix)

While there's not a ton going on here musically in No Age's brief remix of Holy Fuck's "Lovely Allen" this video is worth the view for its tripped out slow-mo shots of Holy Fuck playing at McCarren Pool. Like some sort of late summer's evening drug/booze haze the music here perfectly compliments the shimmering cymbal crashes and analog color flashes. Ahh summer. Via P4K

Give Me More McCarren Pool! Swim!

Watch the full concert at baeblemusic.com

Ask and you shall receive. NYT just reported that the Williamsburg waterfront will serve as the new, premiere, outdoor concert venue; it will be the new McCarren Pool. Hipsters rejoice! Hungover Sunday's can now be boozed away (again) while basking in the decadent sun and listening to the musical stylings of probably... Khan!!! So wrangle up your headbands, skinny jeans, don your best sleeveless shirt and St. Marks Ray Ban rip-offs and dance. Give me more cowbell...Give me more McCarren...Give me Williamsburg waterfront.

McCarren Pool Reprise - King Khan Live Video

Watch the full concert at baeblemusic.com

Look at Khan in all his glory. We had just seen him the night before McCarren at the Mercury Lounge -- a show which raged on past 3 am. Khan was burnt out, yet somehow he still managed to muster the ball-breaking vocal screams, softcore nudity and dirty sexual innuendos. Oh and yeah, that cheerleader is still rocking hard. Gotta love her. "Everyone get a dollar bill out. Don't be fucking assholes," Khan says. Well, sorry Khan, you made us burn all our money the night before. Yep, we thought that was against the law. Anyway, Baeble Music just released this live video so enjoy.

Black Lips - Full Concert Stream - McCarren Pool

The Black Lips
Live from McCarren Pool
NY, NEW YORK
8.3.2008

Oh McCarren. Has it really been that long? It seems like just yesterday we were suckling sweet ale in the warm Brooklyn sun while chillaxing in your lovely concrete belly. And so, as the chilly autumn air descends upon NY, we take you back to those glorious days at the pool with a full concert stream of the Black Lips' show from this past August (available HERE courtesy of Baebelmusic.com.) The highlight (posted below) is "Bad Kids" where hordes of artist pass wielding fans, musicians, and industry folk - lead by King Khan (of course) and Bradford Cox - proceed to toss numerous rolls of toilet paper in the audience and create general mayhem on stage and off. Not to mention "Bad Kids", along with "O Katrina" are the clear standout tracks on the Black Lips' amazing debut record from 2007. Each song is marked in the side bar so you can easily switch from track to track. So sit back, imbibe on a toasty fall beverage and relive the glory of summer.

Ebony Bones - Playing Santos Party House - McCarren Pool - Union Pool

Ebony Bones MYSPACE
Stark's British friends have been gettin' their knickers in a bunch after recently hearing that Ebony Bones will be playing at the last pool party of the year this Sunday in Brooklyn. Channeling influences as disparate as 80s disco, modern hip-hop and dance, Ebony Bones hits hard and has drawn the attention of everyone from Timbaland, to Massive Attack, Grace Jones and Basement Jaxx. With her high fashion sense and M.I.A grooves, she's a Fader magazine dream. Certainly a good reason to get to the pool early on Sunday. Oh yeah, not to mention the fact that Titus Andronicus and Yo La Tengo are also playing, and it's the last pool party ever. Ebony Bones will also be at Santos Party House on Friday and the official McCarren after party at Union Pool Sunday at 10.

“While her world town sounds sensationalize the ear, the effect surpasses her status as a future icon and takes her into the realm of intergalactic sonic champion..” - FADER (US)