While Northside Music Festival is billed as a festival, it feels more like any weekend in Brooklyn – tons of bands play, except this time there seems to be more showcases and more people. Either way, last night was Day 1 of Northside and there were already too many too many bands to see and too many shows to go to. Since I can’t be in two places at once, I started the evening off at Spike Hill for the RethinkPopMusic showcase. After one look at the bill, the showcase had a decidedly local flavor, as most of the bands were from Brooklyn, but that didn’t detract from the music I saw one bit.
Snowmine
Ting Ting Guan, June 19th, 2011 It was a hot, humid day and the blaqbook crew had all been running on 3-4 hours of sleep since Thursday. Feeling crabby on the last day of Northside Fest, the only thing I wanted to do was lay in the grass and eat about a million ice cream cones. This did not happen. After seeing Infernal Devices kill it at Spike Hill, we trucked it over to Northside Open Studios in Greenpoint. I’m glad I did. From the beginning of their set, Snowmine brought me to a place of relaxation with their soft and, dare I say, pretty sounds. The band’s performance was tight and the guys seemed to be enjoying themselves despite the sweltering heat at the waterfront. By the end, I even started shaking my hips a little to the rhythm. After their set, girls flocked to them asking for autographs, and with good reason — good music (and not too shabby looking guys) will do that to a woman.
Infernal Devices
Aaron Miguel Santos, June 19th, 2011 Dance music never sounds appropriate during the day. Well, it might, but the way that Infernal Devices brings the noise should only be experienced at night. Either way, we made it over to Spike Hill for the final day of Northside Fest, kicking things off with one of Brooklyn’s finest, Infernal Devices. The guys of Infernal did what they do best, get booty’s shaking. Even though it was 2pm and 85 degrees outside, Infernal Devices made me feel like it was close to 4am and I was about to be stepping out of some crazy all night dance party. Unfortunately, we had to get to Northside Open Studios, so we had to step out early. No matter, Infernal Devices were great, as always, and I can only imagine the bad decisions I might’ve made if I stayed.
The Suzan
Ting Ting Guan, June 18th, 2011 While I was browsing through the different bands playing Crest Fest a few weeks ago, I found out about The Suzan. After listening to maybe two of their songs, I was a super fan, keeping the band in steady rotation on my iPod. The Suzan’s live performance yesterday lived up, way up, and beyond their CD. These girls are rockstars! The band had so much energy that I went from standing in the corner bobbing my head, to being front and center jumping around like a mad woman. Bonus points for their fashion selection, I definitely own about half the stuff they wore on stage (good taste girls). Check The Suzan out — it’ll be the best kind of yellow fever to get.
Gunfight!
Ting Ting Guan, June 18th, 2011 Gunfight! Gunfight! Gunfight! Where do I begin with these guys? Gunfight! didn’t just live up to expectations, they far superseded them. Seriously, these guys delivered one of the best shows of the weekend. From the opening notes of ‘Woof/Howl’, Gunfight! treated everyone one in the crowd to high-energy country/punk/awesome jams. Even slower numbers like a Hank Williams both felt perfectly at place and sounded great. So great in fact, that the line of girls dancing in the front row during their set didn’t just shake it for forty minutes, they attracted fellow booty shakers. This was the third time I’ve seen Gunfight! and they displayed all of the reasons why they are easily one of the best bands in Brooklyn right now.
Surfer Blood
Aaron Miguel Santos, June 17th, 2011 So this was what everyone was waiting for, and all I could think was — really? Let me be as honest as possible, I tried listening to Surfer Blood earlier in the day. I tried really hard. Except all I could do was think, this song’s alright, this song is okay. Through and through, I thought Surfer Blood could not be more underwhelming. If anything, they tried, as aggressively as possible, to get me to say ‘holy shit, this band fucking sucks.’ So let me say it again, holy shit Surfer Blood fucking sucks. It boggles my mind that they sold out Knitting Factory or that they are doing any of the things they are. Their set was boring, their stage presence was non-existant, their singer looks like he somehow figured out how to go from toolbag to toolbox, and their music is pretty fucking terrible. What a shitty way to end the night, Surfer Blood’s audio bullshit forced me to leave after only twenty minutes.
Eternal Summers
Aaron Miguel Santos, June 17th, 2011 Alright so, I have to make one concession. Eternal Summers suffered from two things during their set. First, I had just seen Reading Rainbow destroy Death by Audio. Second, everyone in the sold out room was there to see Surfer Blood. On any other night I’d be gushing over how awesome Eternal Summers was, but due to the circumstances the audience really wasn’t that impressed and I was all kinds of hype. If there was one way I’d describe the bands performance though, it would be cool. Coming down from seeing such an energetic band though, Eternal Summers was the perfect soundtrack. If anything though, the audiences lack of engagement took things down a notch. Eternal Summers did everything right, but they got hit with a case of wrong place, wrong time.
Reading Rainbow
Aaron Miguel Santos, June 17th, 2011 Typically I’m not one to see the same band two nights in a row, but there was no way I was going to pass up another chance to see Reading Rainbow. After slaying Bruar Falls the night before, Reading Rainbow was downright nasty at Death by Audio. Everything felt right at Death by Audio, from the weirdo art plastering the walls to the weirdo haircuts plastering most people’s heads. Beginning with what I think was White Noise, Reading Rainbow started strong and really never lost any momentum. Even bits of respite like ‘Always on My Mind, played faster than normal, not really allowing you to catch your breath. Playing loose and with plenty of confidence, the packed room reacted to Reading Rainbow accordingly –by starting the most hipster mosh pit ever towards the end of the bands set. Be on the look out, Reading Rainbow fucking slays.
Wounded Buffalo Theory
Justin Little, June 17th, 2011 After The Yes Way we packed up shop and started heading out the door to Death by Audio for Reading Rainbow. But I was stopped dead in my tracks by Wounded Buffalo Theory. Even though they weren’t on our schedule they soothed my ears… I figured I’d sooth yours. Enjoy!
The Yes Way
Justin Little, June 17th, 2011 We kicked the night off at The Trash Bar so we could see The Yes Way. Ting Ting’ploads/2011/04/s been ranting and raving about these guys for a few weeks now. The band set was pretty fucking awesome! The lighting was perfect, the venue was packed, the music was awesome and they had an open bar… ALL the recipes to an amazing set. I agree with Ting 100%! This band is awesome!
Appomattox
Aaron Miguel Santos, June 16th, 2011 Next band up was Appomattox. As I wrote yesterday, I’m a huge fan of these guys. Luckily for everyone in attendance, everything that Appomattox does well was on display for the suddenly packed room at Spike Hill. With riffs that slice with surgical precision, and a rhythm section that’s either going to break it down funky fresh or provide airtight grooves, Appomattox got stronger as each song went on. The band played every song off of their excellent ‘Appomattox EP’, and did a little collaboration with Ryan from Me You Us Them during their last song, ‘Typical’. The crowd picked up whatever Appomattox put down, in what was a great set from a should-be-bigger band.
Courtesy Tier
Aaron Miguel Santos, June 16th, 2011 Beginning the evening were The Courtesy Tier, a two-piece from Brooklyn. While I feel like there have been two pieces popping up all over the place lately, I’d been hearing about The Courtesy Tier for sometime. Just ask my compatriot Ting Ting Guan, she’ll gush for hours about them. Anyway, for once the hype matched up to the bands performance. Decidedly groove oriented, The Courtesy Tier could best be described as a rock and roll band that loves R&B, except with a much different execution. The band rose higher than just being blues rock, they played blues rock that makes you want to shake, rattle, and roll. Adding to the band’s energy was the tight interplay between both members, both members of the band played off one another really well to the point where almost everyone in the audience was moving by the end of their set.
Lücius
Ting Ting Guan, June 16th, 2011 Walking into Spike Hill, I was instantly hypnotized by the addictive funky beats of Lücius. Two girls, three dudes wearing the best on stage outfits I have ever seen yet in a band. Adorably matched, they looked like a 70′s prom band, but cooler. The girls faced each other and had an awesome synchronized dance between them as they each played their own keyboards and shook their tambourines. The drummer only had a snare and 2 cymbals but kept it interesting by using a maraca instead of sticks adding to the grooviness. 
