2012 CBGB Festival Day 3
July 19th, 2012 by chocko
CBGB Festival invaded Times Square on Saturday (July 7) with 2 stages featuring bands such as Duff McKagan’s Loaded and Superchunk. I might have caught those bands if the set times were posted on the internet, but no dice. A member of Superchunk sent out a cryptic tweet about when they would hit the stage and that was about it. I rolled in late and randomly caught The Holdsteady (pictured above) at the stage across from the Winter Garden Theatre on 51st and Broadway. I heard their signature classic rock sound blocks away as I huffed and puffed to the front of the stage…musty and sweaty. I saw them play a couple songs and after they kicked out the jams, Matt Pinfield introduced the next band, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, who were playing a couple blocks away.
While walking to the stage, there was a mini street fair set up which included food trucks (Marky Ramone’s Meatball Food Truck was in attendance!) and vendor tents where you could buy band merchandise. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah played on the stage at the bottom of the red steps, a popular tourist spot in Times Square. Music fans and camera-strapped tourists mixed and marinated in the sweltering heat while the band played mostly upbeat songs. Prior to the performance, keyboardist and guitarist Robbie Guertin and bassist Tyler Sargent announced that they were leaving the band. A lot of fans showed up to dance, sing along and see the band one more time before Robbie and Tyler fly the coop. They also played a “secret” show at Cake Shop later that night.
I also went to the festival screening of Dig! at The Magno Screening Room in Times Square. The 2004 documentary chronicles two American retro-psychedelic bands The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols during a seven year period where friendship unfortunately turns into bitter rivalry. The Brian Jonestown Massacre play cool, catchy retro music but founder Anton Newcombe’s violent and unpredictable behavior sabotages the band’s promising career, while their buddies Courtney Taylor and The Dandy Warhols seem to have it good while they rocket to fame. Music takes a backseat to this surreal pop music soap opera, as the camera documents band squabbles, fist fights, the effects of alcohol and drug addiction and the perils of the music industry. This is a fascinating rockumentary that I can’t wait to see again. Highly recommended!
The Dandy Warhols are playing festivals in Europe and Australia in the upcoming months. The Brian Jonestown Massacre have been playing Australian and European shows for the most part of the summer but come back to the East Coast for a bunch of dates in August. If you live in the NYC area, The BJM are scheduled to play Webster Hall on August 25.
Tags: 2012, cbgb festival, clap your hands say yeah, dig!, movie, review, the holdsteady, times square
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