10.15 A wknd w/ Ok Cowgirl
The band on lost shoes, a secret listening party and their Sunday-night single-release show at Union Pool
!TGIF! DO THE DAMN THING WITH OK COWGIRL
Sometimes a band just has it.
What is it? Well, the thing about it is that it’s kinda impossible to define. How to recognize it, how to get it… what it, uh, even really is. But one thing’s for sure: You know it when you see it. Get it? (Ah, shit.)
VERY SPECIFIC, WE KNOW! The point here is that sometimes you just have *~*~*a feeling*~*~* about a band. There’s recognition of real magic at work. A sensation that you’re witnessing something truly special. A hunch that one day you’re going to tell your kids or grandkids (or at least some strangers at a bar) that, hey, you knew that band back when.
In this case, ~that band~ is Ok Cowgirl. As for the ~back when~… well, that’s right now.
After having “Get Gone” and “Don’t Go” on rotation + repeat since their release in 2020, when we finally caught the band live earlier this year, we were instantly hooked. We then proceeded to spend the entire summer and early fall bouncing around the borough, stalking the band from show to show—Our Wicked Lady, The Nest, 18th Ward Brewing, The Broadway… The Broadway—in order to get our OK Cowgirl live fix: an experience best described as the most magical kind of multi-tasking in which you dance and laugh and maybe kinda cry simultaneously—
In other words: IT’S A LOT OF FEELINGS. And, for the record, the nicest + best-smelling mosh pit in Brooklyn.
Haven’t made it to an Ok Cowgirl show yet? Good news! The dream-rock group dropped their gorgeous new single “Across the Room” TODAY and they’ll be celebrating the release at Union Pool THIS SUNDAY NIGHT! (Which is also Eminem’s birthday. As if you needed another reason to party.)
That said, Sunday is still two days away, so what’s an NYC-dwelling dude(tte) to do with the rest of their weekend?! WELL! That’s where the band’s recs come in. We asked Leah, Matt, Jake and Jase to serve up some suggestions for the next three days, and contrary to their band name, there’s nary a rodeo nor saloon nor remotely ranch-related anything to be found on this itinerary—
Which is def a good thing. After all, we do live in Brooklyn. And we’ll take live shows over livestock and bars over baked beans any day.
SO: Blast that new Ok Cowgirl and buckle up, partners! Your weekend starts now.
🤠 YEE-and we can not stress this enough-HAW! 🤠
We’ll catch ya out there—
[BUT FIRST: PRESS PLAY]
FRIDAY
1. Listen to “Across The Room”! We've been hard at work these last few months putting together our debut EP, and this is the first single! Watch out for the full EP and maybe another little teaser to come.
2. Drop off your laundry. You've worked all week, and you're here. It's Friday! Treat yourself and drop off your laundry. This is the top NY hack. It is rarely as expensive as you think, and your time is worth it! Just drop it off!
3. Go to Pet Rescue. You've settled from work. You've listened to your new favorite track. Now time for something cool. If you're reading this, you probably live in Brooklyn, or at least NYC. Congratulations. It's Friday and you've found yourself in a city where you can do just about WHATEVER you want. But, if you ask us, there's only one choice for this Friday: Pet Rescue. Some of you may know it well, and to you I say "see you there and please close the door behind you." To all you new-comers, Pet Rescue is a little slice of DIY heaven. Pet Rescue is one of Brooklyn's longest running underground music venues. Seven bucks for four rad bands? You can't beat that. Beer and booze are cheap, and you'll meet some of the coolest and weirdest north Brooklyn has to offer. This Friday's line up consists of Sweet Breads, Sweet Petunia, Qwam, and Super Blush. Pet Rescue's location is a well kept secret, but if you head over to the instagram page @petrescuebk, I'm sure you'll find your way to "the ole kozy kennel."
SATURDAY
1. Go outside, it's still warm. The blistering heat of summer is seemingly gone, but it isn't negative-something-awful outside, so: go to a park while you still can. Grab a few friends, and a blanket. Any awesome Brooklyn spot that features grass and trees will do but our favorite hidden gem is Cooper Park (which you may have drunkenly wandered through the night before if you've been following our directions so far). This is also a great setting in which to blow up your friend's fancy bluetooth speaker with our new single “Across The Room.'“ Many thanks and thank you kindly.
2. We're willing to put money on the odds that many of you will see J Brekkie at Brooklyn Steel sometime this weekend, but first: eat dinner at Not Today Maybe Tomorrow. You'll find this gem conveniently located just outside the Graham L stop. A small burger/ beer/ cocktail joint, Not Today Maybe Tomorrow serves up the best pre-show food and atmosphere in the area. The vibes here are warm and welcoming to all, and you can't go in without having a great time. It's the kind of place where complete strangers become best friends for their respective durations on the bar stool. When you go, ask for Bradley and tell him Jake sent you. If you get that far we guarantee a good time. However, we must warn you, you may find yourself three hours into a proper session, laughing hysterically, and wondering whatever happened to your shoes.
3. If you're the type that craves a more intimate and heartfelt experience, our dear friends Tenderheart Bitches are throwing a super secret listening party before the release of their EP at another favorite DIY space Wet Spot. Along with stripped-down live performances by Tenderheart Bitches, Media Queer, and Ash Blight, the "witchy" listening party is also said to include intention setting, activities, journaling, specialty Blood Orange cocktails and so, so many feelings. And if you like what you hear (which we know you will) be sure to mark your calendar for our show together at Trans Pecos on 11/11!
SUNDAY
1. Hurray, you made it. Sunday funday is going to be awesome this week. Ok Cowgirl is having a single release party at Union Pool. But that's all for later. First, sleep in. Maybe you went a little hard with Bradley and then danced/cried your face off at Brooklyn Steel. It's 2021. The land of self care. Sleep until two. No one is judging. When you're ready head over to the ultimate hangover saving spot: Tina's Diner. This Brooklyn mainstay has saved all of us cowpokes from the brink with their delicious and incredibly affordable breakfast meals served all-day. It's a rarity in NYC to find a place with free refills on coffee, and this small gesture of hospitality is just one of the reasons we love Tina's. If you go with a buddy get the Basic Meat and Waffle Deluxe. You'll both get 2 eggs, meat of your choice, hashbrowns, toast, and a large fluffy waffle to split. You'll be so full and satisfied, and happy you got to avoid the age-old breakfast dilemma of savory vs sweet.
2. Ok you're a functioning human again! Go pick up that laundry. It's folded so well. It smells amazing. It's so easy to put away because, somehow, now it all fits in your wardrobe! Put on our single while you pick out an outfit for the show. Invite a friend. Have your own personal fashion show. An Ok Cowgirl show is always a reason to dress to the nines.
3. It's showtime! Strut your stuff and come dance with us at Union Pool. Doors are at 7, we play at 10, but don't wait too long to arrive. Climates and Reclining Nude are awesome friends and a ton of fun. On top of that our producer and good friend DJ John Rolland Miller will be spinning at the top of the night, between sets, and after the show to keep the party rolling. It's going to be a blast so come out prepared to dance, and be sure to say hi! We can’t wait to see you!
Itinerary above written + submitted by OK Cowgirl. Follow the band at @okcowgirlband, buy music and merch on Bandcamp and add their music to your Spotify playlists!
Catch Ok Cowgirl this Sunday at Union Pool, 11/11 at Trans Pecos and 12/15 (EP Release!) at Knitting Factory.
Feature image provided by the band.
MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEXT SATURDAY NIGHT! (That’s 10/23!) Inclusive awards show The Wavy Awards, an awards show put on by our friends at Blonde Records and others (+ supported by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment), is going down at The Abrons Arts Center! Find all info on the event, which features lots of our local faves as nominees, here + tune into the live-stream here.
This month’s winner of The Deli’s Best Emerging Artist poll is Mary Shelley! Stream their debut single, “Bourgeois de Ville,” here, check out their second single when it drops on Monday and catch the punk trio LIVE that night at The Bowery Electric (deets + tix below).
ICYMI: Bands do BK is going to be a book! The announcement went out ~1 year ago, but it turns out the whole writing-a-book thing takes a hell of a lot longer than the writing-a-blog-post thing. (WHO WOULD’VE THOUGHT?!) Consider this the first in a series of reminders that there is, in fact, a real, tangible, 3D, made-primarily-of-paper piece of work en route featuring recommendations, reflections and stories from 100+++ of our favorite local artists. (Thx again to everyone who contributed!) Stay tuned for more updates // info // dates—coming soooooon.
RELEASE RADAR
New(ish) stuff from local artists we love:
Fix Your Hearts or Die // A Very Special Episode
Redeeming Features // Namesake
Stellar Vista // Ernesto Hex
“Ghosts & Angels” // Danielle Salomon
“Baby Don’t Cry” // Sunflower Bean
“See Me Naked” // Bentley Robles
IT’S HAPPENIN’
Here’s a look at the shows we’ve got coming up this month. Mark your calendars and come hang!
10.17 BDBK PRESENTS: Goings, Goldwoman, War Honey, Dontay Downer @ The Nest (details here!)
10.18 BDBK PRESENTS: Mary Shelley, Zoos, Golder @ The Bowery Electric (tix here!)
10.21 BDBK PRESENTS: Phranque, Project Diem, Nadir Bliss, Noverb @ The Nest (details here!)
10.23 BDBK PRESENTS: Sharkswimmer + TVOD @ FirstLive Studios (tix here!)
10.30 BDBK AND HOT KNIVES PRESENT: Halloween at the Footlight Underground w/ Hot Knives, Nevva, Nihiloceros and Mary Shelley @ Windjammer (tix here!)
+ ICYMI
Around the blog + on the radio + from the archives:
PREMIERE: “Two-Sided” from Gardenia
BEST OF BROOKLYN w/ Creek & Kills
WATCH: BdBK Presents The Down and Outs Live at Zoos Studio
Thx 4 reading! Find more fun stuff at bandsdobk.com and @bandsdobk. <3