12.9 A wknd w/ Talon
The band on World Cup action, good gay fun and their Sunday-night show at Arlene's
HAPPY FRIDAY!
Hope your week has been full of “working” while mostly just watching the World Cup.
(And on that note, someone plz shoot us a reminder to cancel Fubo in 6 days and 22 hours so we’re not charged $80 when our free trial ends. Feel free to send over your personal password while you’re at.)
ANYWAYS! TGIF, viva la weekend and… whoops, BRB — extra time in the Brazil/Croatia game just started and we gotta go fullscreen for this.
😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
Whew. A beautiful game indeed. Now BACK TO THE MUSIC!
This week, we’re stoked to (re?)introduce you to Talon, whose debut single “Blondie” premiered on BdBK last month.
ICYMI, the band described the single as “a hopeful banger about yearning for someone who’s never gonna give you the time of day” [and]
”an anthem for simps everywhere.” In other words: a very new and very rad addition to what we’ve dubbed the ~crush-and-burn~ genre.
Whether the subject of your own unrequited adoration is your bandmate, barista or bodega dude, or maybe it’s your best friend, your flatmate or that flexible babe in yoga class who has ~warrior one~ your heart, you’re sure to appreciate this banger of a track from the self-proclaimed “girlfriend rockers” who find inspiration for their art and their attitude in acts ranging from No Doubt and Liz Phair to MUNA and Maggie Rogers.
The thing about a new band (Talon reached final form this year) with only one song out is that the single serves as the perfect bait to lure you to see them live. Once you’ve fallen in love with “Blondie”—and you will, btw, it’s very good—there’s only one way to score more Talon tunes, and that, of course, is at a Talon show. Fortunately, you have an opp to enjoy this very experience in the very near future—more specifically, THIS SUNDAY when the band hits the Arlene’s Grocery stage with Sandile, Junebug and Niamh. (Tix here!)
But before that, READ ON! Along with shows and soccer, there’s much more fun to be had this wknd, and you better believe MK of Talon’s here to tell ya bout it.
Now go forth, have fun… and hey, here’s hoping you score. (So sorry.)
[BUT FIRST: PRESS PLAY]
FRIDAY
This Friday morning I feel like treating myself, which usually means opting for an egg sando from Manny’s. There are 4 of them within a 5 block radius in Williamsburg. Any one will do.
I am going to enjoy this breakfast from my couch while watching Bad Sisters. Amazing Irish show–highly recommended. It is going to be a long night ahead, so I will probably just lay low and get some errands done today…
Tonight will be gay fun only– I am starting off with drinks at duckduck with some friends. Whiskey sours hit the spot. From there I’ll head to TV Eye in Ridgewood where some amazing musicians, artists and vendors will be putting on a punk show called Gender Injection. It’s an awesome party celebrating trans and nonbinary people and featuring some musicians we love.
After moshing for a while, my second wind will carry me to Rubulad where I am gonna catch our very own Hope 808 (aka our drummer Lauren) spin a DJ set. If you have never been to one of her sets, this Friday night is the one to meet me on the dancefloor.
SATURDAY
Since last night was long and sweaty, I like to recover in the morning with a fresh cup of coffee and the Wordle. We send results everyday in the band group chat. Mara always wins.
I plan on going to Banter to watch the England v France game. I am not a big soccer person but there is something about watching how much other people care about it that warms my heart.
I’ll make my way back to Sternberg park in the afternoon to meet up with MK and take my dog Bronte to run around. She has more dog friends than any of us have real human friends. Plus dog park gossip and politics is unbeaten.
Later we are meeting friends at Brooklyn Tree for dinner– it’s a low-key place with the most amazing food and great vibes. They also have frozen drinks. Nice and warm for the winter ;)
I think I will end up spending the night in since I went hard last night– also wanna save up my battery and my voice for the big show tomorrow night. Goodnight.
SUNDAY
Rise and shine it’s show day! The first thing I do is text in the Talon group chat “IT’S SHOW DAY” to get us in the mood. We have a tradition of giving gifts right before our set starts and we always pick our recipient secret-santa style. This week I have ****** (I can’t say cuz they will read this and its a surprise) so I am heading to Max Deals next to the Broadway G to find little tchotchkes to give them. Some examples of past gifts include a mini portrait of Lady Gaga, a plastic toy guitar, and a custom made “swear on ur mom” rag– it’s a lyric from one of our songs.
I like to walk one big loop through Williamsburg and Greenpoint that hits a bunch of parks–Domino Park, then Marsha P Johnson, McCarren, and McGolrick. Sometimes I listen to music but often just headphones off, watching all the things happening around me. Walking is how I clear my mind and ground myself for the night ahead.
Before heading to Arlene’s, I’ll head to Cheese City (our practice space in the basement of an abandoned realtor’s office) to pick up any gear we need for the show. Mara or Zena will pick up Turkey Clubs, Chopped Cheeses, and BLTs for the rest of the band. It is important to not be hangry at load-in.
We then schlep said shit to Arlene’s and get the party started! We’ll catch up with the other incredible artists of the night–Sandile, Junebug, and Niamh–and kick the show off at 7. We are competing with the White Lotus finale on Sunday night, so we have to really bring it. (Don’t worry, we will.)
Itinerary above written + provided by Talon. Follow the band at @talon_forever and add their music to your Spotify playlists!
Feature image provided by the artist.
MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Stoked to be DJing the FREE Alphaville holiday cocktail party next Wednesday along with DJ TJ of GIFT. Formal attire requested. Dress up, come out, get down <3
We’re officially ONE WEEK OUT from the BdBK holiday bash at Our Wicked Lady! ICYMI, we’re also hosting a sock drive for Knock Knock Give A Sock, an organization dedicated to providing socks for those in need. Socks are the most needed but least donated item of clothing, so we’re asking that you please join us in bringing a NEW and UNWORN pair of socks to contribute to the cause. Thank you in advance for your generosity. See you on the roof!
Annnnd speaking of OWL, a reminder that applications are Winter Madness are still open! If you’re an artist, don’t miss your opp to win a $5K prize + much more sweet stuff.
If you’re looking for more weekend plans, alt/indie rock/queer mini fest Loser Con is going down THIS WEEKEND at The Nest. As we mentioned in previous newsletters, this venue is sadly shutting down later this month due to the building being torn down, so come out to pay your respects before we lose another spot we love 💔. As a bonus, Sam (I) is (am?) working the door Friday and Saturday night—and much looking forward to poorly applying your wristband.
There are NEW CLASSIFIEDS up! Check out ads for bands seeking bassists, guitarists, drummers and more here.
RELEASE RADAR
New(ish) stuff from local (+ occasionally, once-local) artists we love, listed in no order whatsoever:
“Shark Island“ // Church Crush
When It All Comes Crashing Down // Sabrina Song
“Too Much” video // Strange Neighbors
“Gumball Garden" (Glove remix) // GIFT
IT’S HAPPENIN’
Here’s a look at the events we’ve got coming up. Mark your calendars and come hang!
12.13 Strong Little Songs 6 (our one-year anniversary!) w/ Yellow Birch Road, Sam Pinson (of Mary Shelley), Dumb Girl, co-host Arlo Indigo for Art Start @ BdBK HQ aka Sam’s apt. - donation based // BYOB // dm 4 address
12.16 BdBK Holiday Party and Sock Drive for the Homeless w/ The Thing, TV Moms, Debbie Dopamine, HYPEMOM, Candy Ambulance, Buff Ginger @ Our Wicked Lady - tix here
1.8.2023 (AH!) BdBK Brunch w/ Uncle Skunk, Sue Your Landlord, Lily Mao @ Arlene’s Grocery - tix here
+ ICYMI
Around the blog + on the radio + from the archives:
Video Premiere: “El Despertar” from Joudy
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.