10.25 A wknd w/ Arlo Indigo
The artist on Big Buck, Berliner-quality kebab and his cover set (The Sopranos doing the Ramones, duh) at Halloween at Arlene's THIS SATURDAY NIGHT
Oh heyyyy, boo. HAPPY HALLOWEEK! What better way to celebrate than with:
Members of ARLO INDIGO + COUVO + GOLD CASIO + LOLA LIAR….
Dressed up as THE SOPRANOS…
Playing songs by THE RAMONES?!
Which isn’t just a weird-ass game of mad libs but *exactly* what you’ll get TOMORROW NIGHT when THE TONY RAMONES hit the stage for HALLOWEEN AT ARLENE’S (also featuring Joudy as Nirvana // Charmaine & Friends as It’s Britney, Bitch // Di Ivories as Vampire Weekend // Wetsuit and Hot Tea as The B-52s) —
All at Arlene’s Grocery!
GRAB YOUR TIX HERE! (+ Save $5 if you buy yours before midnight!)
In honor of this once-a-year (once-in-a-lifetime?!) sonic event, we invited Tony Ramone himself to do THE SETLIST—but we’d be remiss if we didn’t take the opp to shoutout some original Arlo Indigo action as well.
Arlo Indigo is the moniker used by our pal Jeremiah, an Alaskan-raised, BK-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who is also the originator and co-host of our charity living-room series STRONG LITTLE SONGS. In other words, a true BdBK BFF — and honestly one of the most original and talented songwriters we know. (And trust us, we know. We’ve had the privilege of experiencing sweet stripped-down versions of old, new, unfinished and unreleased songs at nearly 20 SLS shows at this point.)
Arlo Indigo describes his most recent single “Digital Slum” as “a commentary put to song on the never-ending barrage of screens, memes and bad news that shapes our reality and asks the question, 'Where's this all going?'“ — and his next album, Normalized Cringe, is set for release in the spring.
As for upcoming ~original~ shows, you can catch him 11/21 at Gold Sounds w/ Fixations, Omar Urena and The LVP and then 12/10 (dm 4 address!) at Strong Little Songs 18.
Now READ ON for your weekend plan.
We—and, more importantly, The Tony Ramones™—will see you tomorrow at Arlene’s. 👻👻👻👻👻
[BUT FIRST: PRESS PLAY]
& what the heck
FRIDAY
(If I didn't have Tony Ramones rehearsal and a sweet birthday house party to hit) I'd clone myself and catch Ok Cowgirl at Casette, MJ Lenderman at Music Hall of Williamsburg and Hut opening for up-and-coming out-of-towners Chaparelle at Sultan Room all at the same time. Also, if you're ever seeing a show at Sultan Room and your diet is chill with it, be sure to get a Doner Kebab at their walk-up next door. As a nerd who misses touring around Germany, Turk's Inn Doner Kebab is the closest thing I've found in the city to true Berliner-quality Kebab.
SATURDAY
Obviously a great show is going to be THE TONY RAMONES at Arlene's (*yadda yadda). It’s going to be a good time but also if I could clone myself I'd be at Econoween just to see Debbie Dopamine play System of a Down songs. (Toxicity was a big record back when I was learning how to write songs.) Looks like Andre 3000 is at BAM which would also be a great time, and another night of MJ Lenderman could be fun for the super fan (we love our country-grunge).
I never sit down and eat near Arlene's or in LES, but in true rocker/Sopranos/Ramones style, the move is get yourself a slice or a beef patty or two at a walk-up spot nearby that Google will never know about, use your drink tickets and schmooze the bartender at Arlene's, then see which of your buddies says "let me buy you a drink" first and stick with them all night because they probably need someone to hang with so it's a win-win.
SUNDAY
Now my Pacific Northwest heritage says it's time to wake up at the crack of noon and hit your favorite brunch spot that has an affordability-to-distance ratio that works for you. My go-to spot for that is Cafe Luluc or, if there's no room for food, a quick coffee and a special treat from The Chocolate Room, which is world-renowned. Somehow Tommy Stinson, a founding member of the Replacements, is playing Bowery Electric (I have to be in the studio that day and if we end early I may pull up), so that would be a good show. Or, TOPS is playing at Racket—that band rules. If you're all showed -ut too, it may be a great time to catch the ferry to Governors Island and stroll around one last time before the weather turns Dickensian or bop around the Jefferson L stop and spend an afternoon at The Cobra Club playing Big Buck, pool and kicking it with the homies to alleviate the Sunday Scaries. Since we have a studio out there, it's kind of our go-to if you're searching for a good place for the sauce.
Itinerary above written + submitted by Arlo Indigo. Follow the artist at @arloindigo, buy music at arloindigo.bandcamp.com and add songs to your Spotify playlists now!
Feature image provided by the artist.
MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Stoked to share that we raised $580 (!!!) for The Bail Project at the last Strong Little Songs living-room show! Huge thanks to Lucky, Sarah Katherine Lawless and our cohost/SETLIST star Arlo Indigo for playing and to everyone who came out, tuned in and donated. Mark your cals for the next one — December 10th!
WEDNESDAY! IT’S (FINALLY) HAPPENING! Meet us at Union Pool to celebrate ~Halloween Eve~ with none other than Richard Lloyd (of Television!!!) Group + Short Porch + Kristin Flammio & the Pretty Bitchin. Costumes optional…. like, this isn’t necessarily a costume thing… but def not frowned upon! Grab those tix right here.
The first wave of the 2025 NEW COLOSSUS FESTIVAL has been announced! (Check out the post here.) Congrats to our pals Lio, Mike and Steve on what’s destined to be yet another stellar lineup and a truly amazing event. Passes for our favorite fest are on sale now.
If you’re still looking for Halloween plans (there’s def no shortage of options, which kinda makes it harder??), why not have fun while raising funds at the HALLOWEEN BENEFIT FOR PALESTINE at Main Drag, where proceeds are going to The Sameer Project, “a donations based aid initiative, led by Palestinians in the diaspora, working to supply emergency shelter and aid to displaced families in Gaza.” Grab your tix here.
RELEASE RADAR
New(ish) stuff from local (+ occasionally, once-local) artists we love… listed in no particular order whatsoever — & now embedded 4 extra watching/listening ease.
“Take Me Down” // Caitlin Starr
“Catcher” // High.
Raizorbraids // Nara’s Room
Smoke Break // Smoke Break
“Hank Williams (50k followers)” // HNRY FLWR
THE SETLIST by Bands do BK is a reader-supported publication that’s freeeee. BUT! If you want to become a paid subscriber to show some love and support the work BdBK is doing… well, hey. That’d be pretty rad of you. <3