12.30 A wknd w/ AVATAREDEN
The"Trans-Led Genre Expansive Experience" on sweets, shredding, a whole lotta weed and their Sunday-night show at Arlene's Grocery
New year, new you? HELL NAW.
As we close out 2022 and approach 2023, we give you official permission to abandon any and all aspirations to be anything other than WHO YOU ARE, MAN—which, we’re here to tell ya, is prettttaaaay great 🤗
After all, as a certain sage fellow (Dr. Seuss, duh) once said, “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
NOW! Onto more modern, local and what-else-but-musical muses. For further inspiration for originality, extra incentive to embrace your own individuality and a call to go forth and do your own damn thing, you need look no further than Queens-based band AVATAREDEN. The members of the self-described "Trans-Led Genre Expansive Experience" expertly weave together English and Spanish lyrics while surprisingly, and seamlessly, fusing elements of salsa, indie-rock, pop, RnB and Latinx jazz. The result? A sound, a show and an overall vibe that’s uniquely, unexpectedly and unmistakably theirs. And something, we hear, you simply have to experience for yourself.
As the band’s bio reads: “While AVATAREDEN is a band, they have proven time and time again that they’re more of an experience than anything else. The genre-benders give their listeners a whirlwind of styles and inspirations into each song, delivering a setlist of jaw-dropping surprises, and music that’s on the verge of breaking the box of structure and sound. They are on a mission to keep you surprised, moving and inspired!”
For a sample of their musical stylings, we’ll direct your attention to the band’s NPR Tiny Desk entry, a performance of their 2022 single “Fiti Too,” for which they transformed Ridgewood recording studio Livingrooms into an enchanted forest of a stage (desk?) complete with fairy lights and flowers perfectly complementing the musicians’ coordinating pink ensembles and Eden’s cotton-candy colored guitar.
Mentirosa, Mentirosa / Tu amor es venenosa / You keep spreading all your lies / And you keep poisoning my mind /Ay que bella, tan hermosa / Ta’ vacia, traeme otra /I keep dreaming when I’m drinking but / I keep on waking up
Or, should you prefer a less polished and more balls-to-the-wall (+ congas-to-the-ground) piece of performance, there’s also this clip from Instagram.
We’ll wait…
RIGHT?!
SO! Now that you’ve been briefed on the band, it’s time to GET SHREDDY FOR THE WKND, BABY!
Everyone knows NYE is overrated anyway, so take some advice from the AVATAREDEN-curated itinerary below—which, along with lots of music, largely features weed, pastry, pets and video games—and conserve your valuable energy for Sunday’s main event:
BDBK HAIR OF THE DOG! The Pons TOUR KICK OFF w/ Nara’s Room, QIRL and, of course, this weekend’s SETLIST stars. (Tix here.)
ALRIGHT! The sun is shining, the year is ending, and life is geeeewd.
No matter what you choose to do this weekend, may your trains come quick and/or your Lyfts cost less than 80 bucks.
Go on, have fun n be safe — we’ll see you on the other side <3
[BUT FIRST: PRESS PLAY]
FRIDAY
Eden: After a productive sleepover at Bree’s house, we like to grab some empanadas and pan de bonos for breakfast so we frequent this tiny Colombian Bakery called El Kambuche de Lola right on Roosevelt Ave and 54th st. Lowkey I’ve been eating there since I was like 16, they’ve saved me from a lot of intense munchies. Also honestly there’s no better way to start your day than with some Colombian baked goods. My day is 1000% better with a cheese empanada every time.
After grabbing our food (which normally takes no more than 2 minutes) we walk down to Doughboy Park where we talk shit, plan the day and stuff our faces. We also smoke a lot of weed so anything we do is absolutely weed related. By 5 p.m., we’ve already smoked 3 blunts (we’re taking it easy), run through any AVATAREDEN related talk, and planned something out.
I work at 7 so I immediately run my ass to the 7 and get to work in 30 mins. Shoutout Woodside for making it easy to go anywhere except Brooklyn haha. I work at Spot, this really cool dessert bar on St. Marks Place, which can get pretty crazy. I recently met an Avenger there which was actually super nuts (this is a secret but I accidentally sat them next to what I will describe as fangirls, super sorry about that bestie), also the desserts are dangerously good and so aesthetic! Before I clock in and deal with the enormous crowd of people that come by, I like to hang at this beautiful store called The Music Inn, which is in the lower west side of Manhattan (just a few blocks away from Washington Square Park) and jam with the locals and workers there! There’s literally always someone outside playing some kind of instrument! Also always someone (probs me) smoking weed that becomes a communal joint haha.
SATURDAY
Bree: I have just woken up from my late night slumber as per usual, my phone says 9 a.m. My first line of business is to nap a little more, drummers need a lot of rest moving all four limbs and all haha. OKOK after another three hours I wake up at noon FINALLY ready to start my day. First thing I do is get ready, shower, plan the fit, and eat. My first destination is Guitar Center by Northern Blvd, I need to practice somewhere, the electric kit I have at the apartment won’t cut it for me. I might even stop by Popeye’s nearby and refuel. Usually I stay at GC for a few hours at a time, I get lost in the sauce when I’m shedding stuff. BUT today is a special day. My aunt from my mom’s side likes to host this New Year’s / birthday party for my cousin the day before New Year’s so we can celebrate both at the same time!!! So I make my exit from GC.
By this time Eden has definitely called me during his break, doing his best to help me catch up with AvatarEden business. Walking through Sunnyside it occurs to me. Why don’t I just stop by Eden’s job, and grab me a few desserts to go for my cousin!!! I make my way to 7 trains and head Manhattan bound. One transfer and a few stops later I’m around the area and hastily make my way, trying to beat the line that forms quickly at his job. Eden always has a big smile on his face when he sees me, sometimes laughing too especially since I often show up unannounced.
I acquired my goods and, my mission complete, I make my last push for home and show my mom and sister what I got. While they dress for the party, I play on my electric kit and make sure I have everything ready and under my skin for our show tomorrow. With everything prepared and ready I walk back to Sunnyside by 48th St. and begin my night of festivities.
SUNDAY
Eden: Bree and I tend to play Fortnite at very unholy hours despite us knowing we have a show the next today, so first of you’ll catch us waking up around 2-3 p.m. depending. I personally like to wake up and decompress before I dare stand up, so that by the time I do, I have the energy to say good morning to my three cats, Kimba, Mosha and Juanita, then to my jealous old man, Tutu (he’s actually a 13-year-old dog).
Once all my check-ins are done, and pampering myself a little bit is done, I call Bree to make sure they’re up, and then I start getting ready to head to soundcheck! I tend to bring all the gear myself since I drive, so once my outfit has been picked, I head over to Bree’s, wake them up a few more times on the way there since there’s always an inhumane amount of traffic lol, and realize I have forgotten to eat (which happens every time). Most of the time, Bree also forgets, so by the time we get to soundcheck and load in we’re both ravenous and poor Dani (our beautiful bass player) has to deal with our hunger!
Since we’re playing Arlene’s for Pons’ Tour Kick-Off (WOOOOO I CANNOT FUCKING WAIT!!), $1 pizza seems like the wave for some quick food, though normally we both get another NYC staple… A baconeggandcheesewithsaltpepperketchupmayo. There’s nothing that satisfies me more, and gets me pumped before a show like a good old b.e.c.! The $1 pizza goes stupid hard though and is for the most part always super fresh. The $1 pizza and joint combo before setting up is essential to keep yourself zen before going bonkers on stage and in the crowd.
Itinerary above written + provided by AVATAREDEN .Follow the band at @avatareden, buy music on Bandcamp and add the songs to your Spotify playlists!
Feature image provided by the band.
MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEW CLASSIFIEDS ARE UP! The list has just been updated and one of the latest/greatest requests includes Couch Prints’ call for an “electric bass player with some guitar experience.” Find this (and 39 other ads) here.
SAVE THE DATE! Seems like just yesterday we were living, loving, laughing (or something like that) with Namesake, Tilden, My Son The Doctor and Wetsuit at this blog’s third birthday party last January, and now we’re getting properly stoked for the BDBK 4TH BDAY BASH—ft. a five-band bill of TBA faves—which is going down Friday 2/3/2023 at The Broadway! (They really do grow up so fast.) Mark that date down on your gcal pronto and plz, while you’re at it, do us a favor and cross fingers, toes and any/every other appendage that there won’t be a bomb cyclone this year.🤞🤞🤞tysm! 🤞🤞🤞
IT’S HAPPENIN’
Here’s a look at the events we’ve got coming up. Mark your calendars and come hang!
1.1 BdBK Presents: HAIR OF THE DOG! Pons tour kick-off w/ Nara’s Room, AVATAREDEN, qirl - tix here
1.8 BdBK Brunch w/ Uncle Skunk, Sue Your Landlord, Lily Mao @ Arlene’s Grocery - tix here
Thx 4 reading! Find more fun stuff at bandsdobk.com and @bandsdobk. <3
Order the Bands do BK BOOK (!) (out now via Lit Riot Press) here.