12.10 A wknd w/ Beeyotch
Jody of the band on record sales, a quick sojourn to the Garden State and the band's Saturday-night show at East Williamsburg Econo Lodge
Back off, Fat Joe. If there’s a musical act that makes it rain, we’re pretty sure that’d be Beeyotch.
We were set to see the NYC band at Ridgewood DIY spot Putnam Palace one Saturday a few months back, when massive thunderstorms transformed what was supposed to be a backyard show into a sweaty basement rager during which we danced and jumped around so much to the band’s rowdy performance that nothing but our own (wo)man buns saved us from being concussed by the def-under-six-foot-ceilings.
Speaking of basements, the next time we laid eyes on Beeyotch, it was at a Saturday-night Bands do BK show we were throwing at The Nest during the first of two insane hurricane weekends this past summer. By the middle of Gillian Visco of Shadow Monster’s emotional solo set, water had begun pooling on the floor, and by the last song, there was neither a dry eye… nor foot… in the house. And as we made our “EVERYTHING IS FINE!!!” on-stage announcement and instructed everyone to go upstairs briefly while we mopped, it was at that point when water from the monsoon happening outside started, uh, coming out of the walls. Casual.
Needless to say, neither Beeyotch nor Mary Shelley got the chance to actually take the stage that evening, which brings us to what might just be the most literal of rain checks: our show at BK DIY space East Williamsburg Econo Lodge TOMORROW NIGHT, where you have the opportunity to catch both these rad bands plus Tight Lips, whom we’ve been dying to see for pretty much ever. The evening kicks off at 8 with a happy hour featuring $1 drinks, and Beeyotch are up first at 9. In other words: get your shit together + show up early.
And while we don’t think any typhoons will be tearing their way through Brooklyn this weekend—and EWEL is not an indoor nor subterranean setting—should you not be able to make it to the show due to pre-existing plans or some unfortunate act of god (or more likely, MTA), you have ONE MORE opp to catch Beeyotch at Arlene’s Grocery on 12/28 before the band goes on a gig hiatus to write some new songs. And if you do come Saturday, well… we have a feeling you’ll be very stoked for a second round of insanity anyway.
SO! Now that we’ve covered both magical music memories and meteorology (the true hallmarks of this newsletter), that brings us to the end of our intro and your actual weekend itinerary, which Jody—Beeyotch’s stylin’ and wildin’ frontwoman and one of our all-time favorite humans—has oh-so-kindly crafted for your convenience.
Read on for three days of fun featuring music of the live, pressed and oh-so-festive variety. We’ll see you Saturday—
Maybe bring an umbrella… just in case.
[BUT FIRST: PRESS PLAY]
When Sam asked me to put together this itinerary, I was eager to decline—I’m embarrassed to say I’ve recently become something of a hermit. As the days get colder and darker, it’s getting harder to drag myself out of the house at all, except only for very important music reasons. But lucky for us, music reasons are in no short supply this weekend.
FRIDAY
Tonight, you’ll probably find me at Our Wicked Lady for hartstop presents: The Rizzos / Smiling Beth / War Violet / Alice Does Computer Music. I am THRILLED to see hartstop throwing shows again. They’re always beautifully curated and radiate a raw, joyous energy that is unmatched anywhere. Iykyk (if you’re reading this, chances are you do). But if you don’t, here’s your chance!
If you’re looking for something a little more lowkey, I cannot recommend Bar Lunatico enough. I moved to Bed Stuy a few months ago and fell in love with this place immediately. A very “intimate” (I prefer “small’) cocktail bar with delicious drinks and deliciouser music. They host live acts from all corners of the globe every single night, and there’s never a cover charge. I never look to see who’s playing before I go, and I’m always very happily surprised.
Also, I haven’t been yet, but a vetted source (someone I met at Lunatico) told me I should go to Cafe Erzulie, so I’m looking forward to catching a show there sometime soon. Looks like a good spot for coffee or lunch too, if you’re into that kind of thing.
SATURDAY
Living in a city of seemingly infinite things to do, it’s easy to become paralyzed by the choice, or to suddenly feel like there is nothing to do at all. When this happens, I like to go to New Jersey.
It’s the second Saturday of the month, which means WFMU will be having their Second Saturday Sidewalk Sale. Earlier this year, WFMU started selling records outside their HQ in Jersey City to raise money for the station after having to cancel their big record fair two years in a row. It’s a relatively small but nonetheless dazzling selection, and the records are almost insultingly affordable (lots of stuff $5 and under). The address is 43 Montgomery St, right off the first stop in NJ on the PATH.
If you get hungry, a few blocks away is an excellent taqueria called Taqueria. (236 Grove St!! Do NOT confuse this with their catering location, or with Tacoria, which are also a few blocks away.) My friend and I used to meet here frequently when she lived in Hoboken and I lived in Chelsea. By far my favorite place to drink Tecates and hatch elaborate plans. There’s also nice patio seating in the back, for you outdoorsy types.
Great! Now you’ve pretty much seen all there is to see in the Garden State. Now run as fast as you can to the Grove Street station, take the PATH to 33rd St and transfer at 14th St for the L to Morgan Ave. When you get out of the train, ask a punk to point you in the direction of this weekend’s centerpiece.
Tonight, we play a very special show with Mary Shelley and Tight Lips at East Williamsburg Econo Lodge. (And yes, it IS Econo! Happy hour drinks are $1 from 8-9pm, so get there EARLY!) Beeyotch is on first at 9, after which I expect the night will kind of descend into general chaos to a soundtrack of gut-punching guitar and computer music. Sound like fun? Does this sound fun to you, sicko? Well then by all means come through! We’ll be selling some exclusive merch too. Please clap!
SUNDAY
There’s no better way to round off a weekend than drinking more beer and buying even more records, and no better place to do it than Ridgewood. For me, a good record store is one that is very close to me and has a sizeable enough supply of weirdo shit (avant-anything, bonus points if it borders on unlistenable). Both of these shops pass the test:
Scorpion Records - A year or two ago, Ridgewood bid farewell to Scorpion Cafe—a neighborhood institution of questionable repute, beloved by some, gone all too soon. But in a miraculous turn of events, a record store opened in its place, which is as far as I care a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon. The new tenants kept the bar and decked the place out in party lights, halloween decorations and other such regalia. There’s also a rack of very cool vintage and hand-made clothing for sale—a bit on the pricier side, but worth it if you have the cash.
Deep Cuts Record Store - Deep Cuts is just a few blocks away from Scorpion. It’s been around a while longer, is less flashy, and has a larger selection in both quantity and variety. (I think they’ve actually expanded the shop since the last time I was there.) I also found out like a week ago that the owner-curator is one of my favorite WFMU DJs, which bodes well and makes a lot of sense to me. Lots of rare treasures here, and the shop itself is one of them.
Last but not least: I love anything gaudy and maximalist, which is why The Keep is probably my favorite bar in Ridgewood. The interior decor appears to be the lifework of a very eccentric hoarder, and I do believe it really is. The owner is actually the mother of my best friend’s old babysitter, so I have it on passable authority that everything in there used to all be in her apartment. I met someone for a beer there once at 2pm—we were the only ones there, and the bartender was playing Christmas music so loud we couldn’t hear ourselves think. It was incredible.
Itinerary above written and submitted by Beeyotch. Follow the band at @beeyotch.nyc, buy their music on Bandcamp and add their songs to your Spotify playlists!
Feature image provided by the band.
MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Another reminder that Our Wicked Lady is still accepting submissions for WINTER MADNESS, their 8-night, 16-act Battle of the Bands in February. Enter your project here.
Speaking of OWL, this Sunday evening on the roof, Jonathan Toubin’s Soul Scream is a SOUP SCREAM ft. The Silk War and Evolfo. Bring a canned item for the NYC food bank and dance ‘til 4 am.
The second night of MOON KISSED’s residency at Trans-Pecos is TONIGHT, and after last Friday’s Sugar, this evening’s theme is Spice. Read up on the background event in last weeks’s newsletter here and prepare 2 spice up your lyfe accordingly.
RELEASE RADAR
New(ish) stuff from local artists we love, listed in no order whatsoever:
Not My First Rodeo // Ok Cowgirl
“New Coke” music video // A Very Special Episode
I Could Cry Right Now If You Wanted Me To // Razor Braids
“Backyard” // Tetchy
”Gently Towards The Light” // Beechwood
Let’s // Pleasure Island
IT’S HAPPENIN’
Here’s a look at the shows we’ve got coming up this month and beyond. Mark your calendars and come hang!
12.11 BDBK PRESENTS: Mary Shelley, Beeyotch, Tight Lips @ East Williamsburg Econo Lodge ($5 w/ $1 drinks from 8-9!) (info here)
12.14 BDBK PRESENTS: Strong Little Songs, a living-room show @ BdBK HQ (Sam’s apartment) and fundraiser for Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, ft. Arlo Indigo, Tenderheart Bitches, Little Sun, Omer Leibovitz, Caitlin Mahoney (BYOB; donation based; DM us @bandsdobk 4 address)
12.15 BDBK PRESENTS: HYPEMOM, Street Rules, Monarch, Slumberjack @ Gold Sounds (tickets here)
+ ICYMI
Around the blog + on the radio + from the archives:
WANTED: Lead Guitarist, Bassist and Drummer
PREMIERE: Let’s from Pleasure Island
SPOTLIGHT: ‘FUCKBOYS’ from Stefan Alexander
Thx 4 reading! Find more fun stuff at bandsdobk.com and @bandsdobk. <3