7.14 A wknd w/ wakelee

The band on breathing exercises, backyard sushi and their FREE Saturday show at Rock! Away! Music Fest

Jul 14, 2023

OMG WHAT’S GOIN ON WHAT’S NEW WHAT’RE YOU UP TO HOW HAVE YOU BEEEEN???

We have returned from vacation feeling refreshed and ready 2 ROCK—specifically AWAY—this weekend at where else but ROCK! AWAY! Music Festival!

While the fest is not just rockin’ but rollin’ all weekend, the ~official~ BdBK showcase is taking place on Saturday at Rockaway Bazaar (97th and the boardwalk), with a sweet-n-sure-to-be-sandy lineup featuring both new friends + BdBK faves.

Including, on the big fave front, the stars of this week’s SETLIST, wakelee!

So let’s back up. Specifically to April.

While rad new releases drop every week (we list lots of those below, as you know), every so often we find a new song or album that we fall instantly headphones-over-heels for. We’re talkin’ text-it-to-our-ex kinda love…listen-on-the-subway-and-in-the-shower sort of obsession… would-make-it-our-ringback-tone-if-it-was-still-like-2005 type of vibe. This year, our #1 so far is wakelee, the excellent, just-emo-enough debut record from the aforementioned BK trio.

wakelee consists of identical twins Alex (vocals/guitar) and David Bulmer (drums) plus Elliot Shiang (vocals/bass), who—as the story goes—”met at a friend's show in New York and immediately bonded over Halal food and music.” (Like 20-something years after David and Alex first made each other’s acquaintance way back in the womb that is.) As for their very good record, that was produced by Brian DiMeglio of BK band Superbloom—you can find Superbloom’s SETLIST here, btw—and the band of (2/3) brothers had the following to say about it:

“This album represents our best ideas at the time and indicates where we’re headed next. It was a truly collaborative process putting it all together. Some songs formed in days and others months, but we believe that they all have something to offer."

wakelee is supporting The Stews at Bowery Ballroom on June 21st (tix for that are here), but don’t miss your chance to catch them in a freeeee shoes/shirts-optional setting TOMORROW! We’ll be there, singing along, drinking a frozen and generally freaking out. Which, we’ve just decided, is our official Summer 2023 Mood.

NOW! Read on for a very wakelee weekend—

And plz don’t forget the sunscreen. We’ll see you out there~

[BUT FIRST: PRESS PLAY]

Here is how wakelee spends their weekend. AKA a "wakelee weekend"

FRIDAY

60 sit-ups. Immediately. Then, make your bed. You're a perfectionist, so make it again. The comforter shouldn't have a wrinkle. Then you go outside to do your grounding exercises to properly connect yourself with the Earth. Once connected, do repeated sessions of Wim Hof's box breathing exercise. After that is done, walk across the street to the bodega and get an iced coffee and a truck-delivered, factory-produced bagel and cream cheese. It's Friday, so you can sneak out of work earlyyyyyy. Meet your friends around 4 pm at McCarren Park followed by a backyard sushi dinner at AKO. Go to your friend's apartment and watch weird YouTube videos for 3 hours. We recommend "Herbs and Spices quiz", "Can I Beat Halo before my oven melts my TV?", or "GoPro inside dishwasher".

SATURDAY

The sun always shows on Saturday. So much so, that you go to Santa Fe BK for the best breakfast burrito in not just Brooklyn, but all of New York City. After the burrito and an overpriced iced coffee, head down to Rockaway Beach to jump into JFK-adjacent waters and soak in the rays. Lunchtime rolls around and you're craving fresh seafood so you walk to Rockaway Bazaar for a lobster roll. On your way back to the beach you hear the drum intro to "Cyclops Girlfriend" by Brooklyn's own SKORTS which turns your walk into a movie scene. You immediately turn around to catch the energetic set and follow them with a set of your own, and then thematically sing along to Mary Shelley's new single "Goin' to the Beach". After an evening of jamming and beach-side concession stands, you trek back to Williamsburg for a meal at Bernie's and drinks at The Levee. Get some rest, because you've got practice in the morning.

SUNDAY

Sunday is for recalibration. Take your time today! On your way to band practice, walk over to Think Coffee for a latte and a fresh blueberry muffin. Jam it up, wrap it up, and carry on with your day. I always like a light lunch on Sundays. Maybe a slice of pizza from the hidden gem known as Rome to Brooklyn or a fresh sandwich from Greenpoint's Compton's which you can eat in Transmitter Park; Brooklyn's most underappreciated park! While you're there, listen to some music and touch some grass. I like to stay in and cook or order in Samurai Miso ramen from Ryujin. That's it! Hit reset.

Itinerary above written + submitted by wakelee. Follow the band at @wakelee_, buy their music on Bandcamp and add the songs to your Spotify playlists!

Feature image provided by the band.

MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS

ICYMI our Anti Social Camp session with Mia Berrin of Pom Pom Squad dropped last week! Watch it here then grab your tix to the two-year Death of a Cheerleader anni show at Baby’s All Right on July 20th—an event compete with fashion show (+ contest) for which you’re encouraged to wear “whatever makes u feel hot and iconic.” A dress-code dream come true.
AND in case you ALSO missed it! Our Anti Social Camp session featuring the Grammy-nominated Ray Angry dropped TODAY—quite fittingly, the same day as his new single, “Beautiful Horizon.” Watch an interview with and performance by the pianist/producer/composer right here, and stay tuned for his album, Ray Angry Three, which drops August 18th.
THIS WEEKEND! Lest we forget, we’re GOIN’ TO THE BEACH WITH ALL OUR FRIENNNNNDS—