2.25 A wknd w/ Marinara
Nick Cortezi of the band on spicy sundries, Honore Club (x3) and making ice cream for friends
There are, of course, multiples ways to weekend. (Yes, that’s a valid verb.)
There’s the wake-up-at-7am-then-go-on-a-ten-mile-run-before-you-hit-the-farmers-market-then-idk-maybe-bake-some-bread-do-a-little-laundry-crochet-some-shit-volunteer-at-an-orphanage-read-a-novel-while-having-one-glass-of-natural-wine-paired-with-whatever-you-cooked-using-your-newly-purchased-organic-ingredients option.
OR, of course, the whoops-you-went-to-bed-at-7am-now-gotta-sleep-til-5pm-then-have-taco-bell-seamlessed-and-maybe-smoke-a-bowl-and-have-a-breakfast-beer-but-actually-it’s-nighttime-already-so-technically-it’s-just-a-regular-beer-then-meet-your-friends-at-the-bar-and-perhaps-enjoy-a-communal-bathroom-break-then-hit-a-show-and-end-up-on-a-stranger’s-boat-somewhere-then-uber-home-from-your-new-friends’-house-at-dawn-and-order-a-pizza-and-pass-out-naked-on-the-couch-and-fall-asleep-before-the-poor-delivery-dude-gets-there-then-wake-up-and-do-it-all-over-again option.
And then, we assume, there’s probably something between those equally insane alternatives. (Balance? Psh, NEVER HEARD OF HER.)
ANYWAY! It’s no secret we’re prone to exaggeration, but don’t worry—whether you’re more option A or option B, our pal Nick Cortezi of Marinara has you covered with a weekend itinerary that, while not swinging the party pendulum quite that hard in the degenerate direction, does offer lovely options for both ambitious types and rowdy revelers alike. (Note: It’s worth noting that his suggestions for the former are definitely satirical, but if your vibe is more Sweetgreen than bar scene, hey, feel free to take ‘em at face value.)
All that said, it’s not surprising that Nick delivered on not just the functional but the fun and v funny fronts with this assignment. The first time we caught Marinara, we were blown away not just by the band’s songs (2019’s I Feel Like Dog remains a favorite album, three years running) but also by what a seriously damn good time the dudes seemed to be having on stage. With kisses, teases, tickles, and all sorts of shenanigans on display during their performance, Nick, Quinn, Yuta and Jupie appeared to possess the kind of bandmate-meets-BFF bond that made us really, really wish they needed, like, a triangle player or something so we could try and join the group. Mostly just to hang out.
As it turns out though, there was (fortunately) no real percussion prowess needed to join this particular party, and we eventually got the glorious opp to kick it with 3/4 of the band during an interview over booze + free popcorn at Fine Time a few years back, when they shared their go-to spots for free food, home table advantage and bartenders so good they inspire song lyrics (“And I’ll say that I’m fine and get drunk at Divine…”).
Though a few of the places on their list have since closed, for bonus weekend recs, you can read our feature with the band here. BUT FIRST! Check out the brand-spankin’-new itinerary below, handcrafted by the frontman behind the sauciest band in BK. And while it’s not included in Nick’s provided list of plans (this SETLIST is allllll evergreen, baby!), don’t miss your chance to catch Marinara with Soft Yes, Monarch and Longfriend Timefriend at Footlight Presents at The Windjammer THIS SATURDAY (deetz avail via flyer here).
It’s going to be a lovely weekend, we’re sure of it, so have fun, be safe, and go out and live it upppp. Love you 4ever. We’ll see ya out there~
[BUT FIRST: PRESS PLAY]
FRIDAY
Friday morning is a deceptive and dishonest time slot where the aftersuck of Thursday’s premature celebrations conspires with my procrastinated busy work from the rest of the week. So I tend to bulldoze my system with Dunks and a breakfast sandwich from Bad Bagel. They have a great selection across the board, but my usual order is a salt bagel with olive cream cheese. Real freak shit, I know. Small miracle I haven’t had scurvy yet. TGIF.
That cruises me through the rest of the work day if I time my diet cokes right. Once the laptop shuts and the requisite thirty-minute post-work-stare-into-the-middle-distance period has passed, I’m ready to eat. Can’t top Gordo’s Cantina for their birria enchiladas & micheladas, and they are also the nicest folks around. If it's packed, I’ll wander over to Abe’s Pagoda for a drink and try to mingle with the cool kids
Stuffed and stinking of consomme, next & (hopefully) final stop is the gem of Bushwick, Honore Club. If Diana & Greg would let me pay rent and sleep in the booths I would. It’s the kind of spot where after one trip you wonder “why anywhere else”. It also appears another two times in this itinerary.
SATURDAY
I’m up at 5 AM for a seven to ten mile run, wearing my weighted Omorpho G-Vest, Vallon Heron Mountain sunglasses, and my Lululemon Pace Breaker Linerless Shorts****
After that, it’s smoothie + salad time so I hit Caviar for a Sweetgreen’s Miso Bowl (Sunchokes of course) and blend up a casual kale, b12, oat milk, magnesium, banana, cacao, metamucil, beet, apple, celery, bluechew, protein, aloe vera, hibiscus, egg yolk, lamictal, and blueberry blend to prep for an afternoon journaling & stretching***
Dinner is a quieter affair on Saturdays. I prefer a light refined broth with some ice water flavored with mint while I throw on a recording of a fireplace on Netflix. This time alone with my thoughts and my soup is when I do most of my writing**
In bed by 11PM to read. I’m working my way through the Decline of the Roman Empire. That Caligula was some piece of work!*
**** Sprint in my pajamas to make the brunch window at Forrest Point to soak and suds up. My order is always the breakfast burrito but their Short Rib Benedict is also aces. And if a bloody maria appears on the receipt, who cares?
*** Walk off said breakfast burrito in a post-carb daze to see what’s in stock at Vinyl Fantasy. If I'm feeling spicy, I’ll pop into Foster Sundry for their homeblend sausages & cheese selection. Head home and immediately fall asleep.
** Slouch my way to Anchored Inn for their excellent burger plus their tecate/tequila/sangrita combo. Get my ass handed to me in pool a few times. Scribble some lyrics on a napkin that will turn out to be nonsensical in the cold sober Sunday light.
* Back at Honore, only THIS time I’m sitting at the bar instead of in a booth. Variety is the spice of life after all. Same order though.
SUNDAY
Sundays are the most productive for me which isn’t saying much. Head to our guitarist Tommy’s studio Mousetown to twiddle knobs and continue demoing our next-next release. Order a gigantic hoagie from my favorite sandwich shop in Brooklyn, Anthony & Son Panini Shoppe. The band gets to order if they play well, but if they are off time I make them stop and watch me eat.
After locking up and heading out, I’ll stop by my favorite grocery store (lol) City Fresh to begin prepping whatever ice cream I’m making that evening for my dear friend Pat (the trailblazing influencer behind @nick_makes_pat_ice_cream)
Stop back in at Honore for one last High Life to toast another wasted weekend and then get to work bubbling cream & sugar and chopping up toppings
While the ice cream churns, I’ll place an order for pickup at Sally Roots that will be big & delicious enough for dinner and next day’s lunch. Their conch fritters & stewed goat are immaculate, just incredible stuff.
Once the ice cream maker pings, that’s the ending bell of the weekend. A coupla scoops, some TV, and then a good old-fashioned doom scroll before bed :)
Itinerary above written + provided by Marinara. Follow the band at @marinaraband, buy their music on Bandcamp and add their music to your Spotify playlists!
Feature image provided by the band.
MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
NO HAIR, DON’T CARE! NYC-based rapper Kosha Dillz—who recently rose to internet fame when he was rapping outside a Knicks game and Fat Joe joined in on the fun—is currently conducting a BALD TALENT SEARCH for hairless rappers, singers, artists, comedians etc. who want to play Bald Fest down at SXSW.
THIS WEEKEND! OWL’s Winter Madness continues with the Final Four: Mary Shelley, Dead Tooth, Shred Flintstone and The Cult of Chunk. The fun resumes TONIGHT, with the championship taking place on Saturday evening. Head out to the venue to participate in the inevitable insanity live, or stay home and tune into Our Wicked Lady’s YouTube channel to get in on that hot, hot 2D action from the comfort of your couch.
ICYMI, the New Colossus Festival schedule is OUT NOW (including our party :) ) ! Check out which bands from the US, Canada and beyond you can catch at venue across the LES, March 9-13th!
RELEASE RADAR
New(ish) stuff from local (+ once-local) artists we love, listed in no order whatsoever:
“Many Days” // Purr
Huerta // Proper.
“Beach Seance” video // Le Big Zero
“You Are Who You Remain” video // Pan Arcadia
“Riverboat” video // Dead Tooth
Vanderwoolf // Vanderwoolf
“Hard To See In NYC” // S.C.A.B.
IT’S HAPPENIN’
Here’s a look at the shows we’ve got coming up next month and beyond. Mark your calendars and come hang!
3.5 BdBK Presents: Safer, Persons, BenBen @ Econo Lodge (RSVP + find more details here)
3.9 BdBK Presents: Marathoner EP Release w/ America Jayne and Amelia Murray at Our Wicked Lady (tix here)
3.12 New Colossus Festival Showcase— BdBK Presents: Laura Lee & the Jettes, Paul Jacobs, Mary Shelley, Slow Fiction, Mary Shelley, TOFLANG @ Berlin ($15 or included w/ festival pass; schedule here)
4.1 BdBK Presents: Max Pain and the Groovies (single release) w/ TVOD and Nevva (+ some sweet, sweet Jonathan Toubin DJ action) @ TV Eye
+ ICYMI
Around the blog + on the radio + from the archives:
SPOTLIGHT: Milk.Blue.Kisses.And.Whalebone.Wishes from Dead Leaf Echo
WATCH: Bands do BK Presents Ok Cowgirl Live at Zoos Studio
SPOTLIGHT: “Three Thirds” from Kahuna
Thx 4 reading! Find more fun stuff at bandsdobk.com and @bandsdobk. <3