5.20 A wknd w/ War Violet
The artist on sweaty yoga, movies and matcha lattes and her FREE Sunday-afternoon show at 18th Ward Brewing
Would a War Violet, on any stage, sound as sweet?
That’s a bittttt of a stretch of a Shakespeare rip-off, sure, but we’re here to say that the answer is simply, definitively yes.
Along with the artist having recently played local venues like Berlin, Our Wicked Lady, Rubulad and TV Eye (+ hopped on stage with Shilpa Ray at MHOW a few days ago), we’ve been extremely fortunate to enjoy the superb songwriting and true charm of Jummy Aremu in less unconventional and even more intimate settings. Last year, we booked a War Violet set at Bushwick production hub FirstLive Studios, just last month she hit BdBK HQ—aka Sam’s living room 💁—for our most recent Strong Little Sounds show (which raised $440+ for Razom for Ukraine — watch her set here!) and this Saturday she’ll be completing her BdBK hat trick when she hits the itty bitty outdoor stage at 18th Ward Brewing for the Bands do BK takeover of New Colossus Fest’s Summer Sundays! (Info here.)
Along with taking different venue stages, Jummy has also gone through different musical stages (see what we did there?!), employing a variety of styles and drawing on an array of influences. Of her 2018 album Getaway, she recently wrote “This EP was made during my ‘60s peace and love disillusionment phase,” while of her song “To Reach Someone,” included on Dim Things’ comp for Ridgewood Tenants Union, she shared, “I wanted gothic, I wanted dreamy. I wanted soft whispers in the night.” And when she’s not making music? According to her Instagram bio, she’s also working on a sci-fi horror feature film. You know, as one does.
So, back to Sunday! Beyond the opp to enjoy the ~musical stylings~ of War Violet and four other acts we love (Mary Shelley, Shred Flintstone, Marinara, Nevva), the beauty of NC Summer Sundays—which, by the way, take place every weekend of the season!—is that they’re not simply shows but more like block parties that serve as the perfect setting to bond with bands, make new friends (+ pet new dogs) andddd drink a bunch of beers before the sun goes down.
[Oh, and they’re 100% free (except for the tip bucket!) (which you should def contribute to!!), so whether you manage a hedge fund or a lemonade stand, it’s one NYC event that’s always 100% in your budget, baby.]
And before this special Summer Sunday—which is doing double duty as the birthday party of NC cofounder Lio Kanine—well! We’ve got more shows to see, more things to eat and drink and, of course, more content to consume, so allow us to pass the newsletter baton over to our wonderful and talented artist du jour.
Read on for the dreamiest of itineraries, courtesy of BdBK fave War Violet, and then go forth and have a truly lovely afternoon, evening, morning … another afternoon, another evening, another morning… annnnd then—THEN!—we’ll see you Sunday at noon.
It’s gonna be one beautiful, beautiful wknd. Plz enjoy.
[BUT FIRST: PRESS PLAY]
FRIDAY
I’m so exhausted and elated from seeing Amyl and the Sniffers the night before ( at Brooklyn Steel) and luckily I have the day off, so I’m waking up late, gonna work on some songs, practice my set and write poetry while listening to Sonic Youth (Evol is my latest obsession). Then I’m heading over to Arlene’s to see my friend’s band, Lovechild. They just came out with an amazing album and they are also playing with Little Hag, No Jersey and Nick Miller. After the show we will probably go to Sophies, Josie’s, or St. Dymphnas or something like that. In Manhattan I also tend to be at Berlin Under A a lot. I love playing there!
SATURDAY
I’m waking up late (I’m so sleep deprived), making a matcha, cleaning my room and probably going to Williamsburg for some strange errand. It's always Williamsburg.
I always make sure to walk through McCarren Park when I’m there, listening to one of my many playlists.
I love movies ( the more obscure the better) so If I have time I’ll catch a movie at the IFC Center, the Spectacle, Anthology Film Archives or Film Forum.
Then later I’ll be at Rubulad to see my friends, Birthday Girl and Omelas, play. Both bands have people in them that I adore, and I love playing shows with Birthday Girl.
Les Sans Culottes and Matthew Danger Lippman are also performing. I love the atmosphere at Rubalad, its so whimsical and fantastical and colorful. It’s a beautiful space and the people are so nice.
SUNDAY
If I can make the morning, I’m doing yoga at Y7 in Williamsburg. It’s candlelit, they play loud music and I enjoy it a lot. I sweat sooo much and always feel 100 times better.
Then I’m going to Little Choc Apothecary on the way to the J, probably to get a matcha. I love matcha lattes!
Sunday is my show (Summer Sundays) featuring myself at noon (along with Mary Shelley, Shred Flintstone, Marinara and Nevva). I’m so excited to play outside!
Then at night I’m heading to The Sultan Room to see Elephant Stone. My co-producer and drummer for my upcoming album (Miles) is currently on tour with his band from Montreal! I'm ready for some beautiful psychedelic sounds. After that I’ll probably go to TV Eye, eat tacos, dance to some music and have some mezcal. Or I’ll go to OWL and say hi to my friends that work there, and also dance and have mezcal. Either way I'm ending my night with tacos.
Itinerary above written + submitted by War Violet. Follow the artist at @war_violet, buy music on Bandcamp and add her songs to your Spotify playlists!
Feature image provided by the artist.
MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
If your armpits haven’t informed you, spring/summer (sprummer?) has arrived, and there’s no more official and joyous announcement of its arrival than the fact that RIPPERS IS OPEN TODAY! No word on when shows start yet at the beachside burger shack, but damn, you better believe we’ll be down there for every single one. #sunsoutactualbunsout
RELEASE RADAR
New(ish) stuff from local (+ occasionally, once-local) artists we love, listed in no order whatsoever:
eCOCOBOYS // Ecocoboys
Leavin’ This Place // Nuclear Family Fantasy
“IDC” video // QWAM
…is a Band from New York City // New Jersey
“Once Your Son” // Moon Hound
“For a Sunburn” video // Crashing Hotels
ABRA CaDaBRA // Jeremy & The Harlequins
“Let’s All Get Pessimistic” // O. Wake
Afterworld B/W Crazy // Dirty Fences
“Make Another Record 2” // JW Francis
Part 2…There Can Be No Regrets // Atlas Engine
“The River” // Arlo Indigo
See You Shine // Glassio
Everything That’s Wrong with You // Cade Hoppe
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!
5.22 BdBK x New Colossus Fest Summer Sunday @ 18th Ward Brewing w/ War Violet + NEVVA + Marinara + Shred Flintstone + Mary Shelley (FREE!)
5.25 BdBK Presents: Phranque (album release) + Nuclear Family Fantasy (album release) + Ouster Nash + Hot Knives at Our Wicked Lady (tix here)
5.28 BdBK Presents: Royal Blush + Baba Chevy + Le Big Zero + Mary Shelley @ Pet Rescue (DM 4 address)
6.4 BdBK Presents: No Kill [Synth Set] + Bill Waters + Appalling Use + La Di Das + The Planes @ Pet Rescue (DM 4 address)
6.9 BdBK Presents: The Thing + Cryspot + Dale Jr. and Bat Kid +. Uncle Pizza @ The Nest
6.16. BdBK Presents: Cowboy Boy + Long Neck + Bummer Camp @ Misfit Kava Bar
+ ICYMI
Around the blog + on the radio + from the archives:
Thx 4 reading! Find more fun stuff at bandsdobk.com and @bandsdobk. <3
Pre-order the Bands do BK BOOK (out 9/6) here.