6.22 A wknd w/ Monograms
The artist on hammocks, hoops and his album-release show TONIGHT (THURSDAY!) at Sundown Bar
SURPRISE! It is but a Thursday, so consider this week’s SETLIST a signed/sealed/delivered (I’m youuuuuurs) permission slip that says THE WEEKEND IS HERE, BABY! And thus feel free to abandon any/all obligations. You’re welcome.
The reason for the disruption to this routine? Every once in a while we have no choice but to sliiiiiide into your inbox a day early because the show around which your social life should surely revolve occurs on a Thursday and we have no choice but to enter the internet and shout about it from the digital rooftops.
The event in question here is the Monograms release show featuring Big Bliss and Pamphlets TONIGHT at Sundown Bar! (Grab your tix here.) Last week, Ian Jacobs, the artist behind the NYC ~nuke wave~ project, dropped his new LP A Fine Commitment, which is named for the mission he had when making it—an official proclamation of his dedication to musical creation and a personal promise to persevere and produce something special. And, btw, super sick.
Spoiler alert: He succeeded.
“The world I tried to enter and create in making this album is getting an idea and seeing it all the way through,” Ian said of the album. “Committing to something fully, whether it's a sonic structure, a lyric or a color scheme for the artwork. I also just really tried to have fun making this record, which I think I accomplished. Those were my two main goals. Hopefully that all comes through in the songs, the fun and the commitment.”
Good news, reader! You only have to focus on one of those things, because if you commit to going to the show tonight… well, the fun is sure to follow.
And on the FUN note, read on for an itinerary crafted by Ian, featuring tonight’s show, followed by hoops, hammocks, ferries and more—aka all the ingredients for a successful (un)official 3.5-day weekend.
Go forth, be nice, be safe and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. We hope you have a really nice time <3
[BUT FIRST: PRESS PLAY]
THURSDAY
Let's play. On days I have a show I like to try to do a whole lot of nothing. lol. Sometimes that works out and sometimes it doesn't. I know that kinda goes against the grain of this exercise but it's the truth. However, I do need to eat though, so a good spot in my neighborhood (Bushwick/Ridgewood/Cypress Hills) to double down on some low-stakes planning and still be able to find some calories is Nowadays: huge outdoor space I go all the time when I wanna make plans without making plans. Lounge in a hammock for a few, eat when hungry, drink when thirsty. But beware, if you go on a weekend at night there will be a cover and you will be at a full-on dance rave (in which case definitely go on a weekend instead).
**Then about a 10-min walk from Nowadays is Sundown Bar (which is a venue but also a really great bar too) is the show. My show. Our show. TONIGHT. THURSDAY. And it's a stacked one. It's my LP release with Big Bliss and Pamphlets. My night will start and end here. They say Thursday is the new Saturday. (I hear The Cure are also playing this night at MSG... but I'll be at Sundown.)
[Editor’s note: IT’S THURSDAY WE’RE IN LOVE.]
FRIDAY
Brooklyn is Big: Trying to mix it up a little, I'd roll over to South Brooklyn. Go to Industry City. It's a huge industrial park that has an arcade, games, themes, restaurants and breweries. They always have cool, weird, awesome stuff going on. I just looked and one of the beer gardens there is having a double-feature pizza party playing Back To the Future Parts 1 AND 2 back to back, with Table 87 Pizza, which is maybe my fav in the city... So I think I might actually camp out there early and just stay there all day and night until they kick me out. If they do kick you out, roll over to Red Hook: Louis Valentino Jr. Park and Pier. Great views of the city and a killer key lime pie stand.
SATURDAY
Where I've always been: I've lived in Cypress Hills/Ridgewood for a long time (over ten years). I remember asking cabs to drive me home from The East Village or Bedford Ave. back in the day and having to legit beg them to take me home after they looked at me like I asked them to take me to Siberia. Things have really changed though, and it seems like this is everywhere everyone wants to be these days. I would go to Julia's for some late lunch-type thing. then maybe roll for a walk or a ride in the Ridgewood Reservoir/Park. This spot is kind of spectacular (imagine if Prospect Park was way, way, way, smaller and had 2 billion less strollers). Then at night I suggest hitting up TV Eye (there is almost always a great show here) but you can also just hit the bar, and then for something more low-key late night, Milo's Yard and Honore Club are also great. (I seem to unwittingly end up at one of these spots every time I go out.) Any of these spots though, you can't go wrong.
SUNDAY
Hoops and a Ferry: Pretty much every Sunday in the spring, summer or fall, for the last three years, I’ve played basketball fairly early in Bed-Stuy with a bunch of local musician friends (members from Bambara, Mary Shelley, Hnry Flwr, Consumables, many more). It's great. Plus NYC basketball courts/parks are quintessential. I think what I really like about it most is that it's so good to get away from the same venues and just do something fun, enjoying a totally different aspect of the city and a super solid sense of community from all the musicians involved.
In the later afternoon, I get myself over to Greenpoint (with friends or solo) and if the weather is nice, I always try to ride the ferry. The dock is at India St. (there's others in Williamsburg too) but the ferry honestly may be the goddam best-kept day-activity-secret in all of NYC. It's 4bux, got those open-air double-decker views, it goes under all three bridges and... yes... indeed there's a bar in the cabin. I usually ride it to The Seaport and grab tacos at Luchadores and then go right back to BK (bandsdoManhattan too -but only for a minute). But the ferry is really the best Sunday activity. I'm sure if I had my own boat, I'd choose that instead but unfortunately I don't think Monograms is on its way to making the millions I need to buy my own yacht, so for now I'll be riding that ferry. But I'm not giving up hope just yet.
Itinerary above written + submitted by Monograms. Follow the project at @monogramsmusic , buy music on Bandcamp and add the songs to your Spotify playlists!
Feature image (provided by the artist): Kevin Condon
MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Once again, NEW CLASSIFIEDS ARE UP! Drummers, bassists, guitarists and… xylophonists… wanted! Check out the listings here and JOIN A DAMN BAND, MAN!
Reminder that our PRIDE SHOW is SUNDAY at Arlene’s Grocery w/ QIRL, Tenderheart Bitches, Laura Danae, Strange Neighbors, Lily Mao! Grab your tix here.
RELEASE RADAR
New(ish) stuff from local (+ occasionally, once-local) artists we love, listed in no order whatsoever:
“Aussie Tender” // Uncle Skunk
“Transgender Dreams'“ // Max Talay
Destroy All Monsters //Joudy
“Cool for the Summer” (Demi Lovato cover) // Dead Tooth
“Radio” video // Bandits on the Run
'“Intergalactic” // Telescope Club
IT’S HAPPENIN’
Here’s a look at the events we’ve got coming up. Mark your calendars and come hang!
6/22 BdBK presents: Monograms (LP release), Pamphlets, Big Bliss @ Bar Sundown - tix here
6/25 BdBK presents PRIDE @ Arlene’s Grocery w/ QIRL, Tenderheart Bitches, Laura Danae, Strange Neighbors, Lily Mao - tix here
7/7 BdBK Presents: Yella Belly w/ High Waisted, Evan Charles and Joseph King @ Our Wicked Lady - tix here
7/11 BdBK Presents: wakelee, Marinara, Real Burn, BRODEO @ Our Wicked Lady - 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.