7.22 A wknd w/ Calliope Musicals

The Austin band on $10 coffees, customizable sex chairs and their Saturday-night show at Berlin

Jul 22, 2022

Here at Bands do BK, we might be somewhat prone to exclamation points (!!!!!), ~*~*~emphatic swirlz~*~*~ and the OCCASIONAL USE OF CAPITAL LETTERS TO GET OUR POINT ACROSS—but plz don’t mistake our enthusiasm for exaggeration. Especially now, when we are about to introduce you to what is the most magical band in the whole goddamn universe.

Four score and six years ago, back before we were doing bands doing BK, we lived in Austin (the ~live music capital of the world~, mind you), where we were introduced via confetti cannon to a rainbow-in-a-bottle band by the name of Calliope Musicals, whose shows are not simply shows but full-on sensory (and emotional!) experiences.

When it comes to the sights, imagine the shimmery showmanship of The Flaming Lips meets of Montreal’s off-the-wall action—a performance packed with handmade props and costumes and lights and sound effects and strangely outfitted background dancers (we once joined them on stage at Piano’s to wiggle and wave in an inflatable bear costume — LIFE HIGHLIGHT!). Every performance is a dreamy DIY event, a visual feast and a total trip that, beyond being a very good time, serves as true evidence of the passion the band puts into every aspect of their art.

And on the feelings front, well. As we oh-so-scientifically described via Instagram caption earlier this week, a Calliope Musicals show is a straight shot of serotonin topped with a dollop of dopamine encased in a candy-coated oxytocin shell. (And while we’re not psychologists or neuroscientists or chemists—just bloggists—we’re prettayyy sure those are all the good ones.) Calliope frontwoman Carrie Fussell is the band’s self-described “head cheerleader,” and it’s an apt description. Because cheer she does, for you, as in the most sincere way—in between belting out songs, rolling around with a guitar and diving into the crowd to dance—she calls on you to love yourself and to follow your dreams. She reminds you that there’s only one of you. She tells you that you’re special and promises you that you matter.

That’s why we dance // That’s why we give peace a chance // That’s why we keep living in the romance

And miraculously, she manages to say all of that without making it corny at all.

As mentioned above, we’re not psychologists (!), but having seen this band 20+ times, we will def vouch for the fact that a Calliope Musicals show is a truly therapeutic, joyous and life-affirming experience. If any music has the power to heal, it’s theirs, so please: consider this your prescription.

The band is in town this weekend and playing Berlin with Sweet Baby Jesus and Tredici Bacci TOMORROW NIGHT (tix here) and we plan on being front row the entire time, smiling and singing and probably sweating and okay, maybe crying. (Plus, who knows, perhaps even boogying in a bear costume.)

As for the rest of the weekend, the band has played NYC plenty of times and is thus quite familiar with the city, so they did us the oh-so-kind favor of building out and sending over a sweet lil itinerary just 4 u.

Please go forth and have the glorious weekend you deserve. Love, love, love you all~

[BUT FIRST: PRESS PLAY]

FRIDAY

hit tinder and find a hot rich date for the evening. this is key bc today is the expensie day and you can’t be footing this bill alone. y’all goto beauty and essex where you drink champagne in the bathroom and eat street corn ravioli. then you celebrate your new found love at liberty inn, the hourly hotel on the highline. request the room with the ceiling on the mirror and the glittery lip headboard. you’re in luck it comes with customizable sex chair. at the end of the night ask if you can borrow $100 from your date and kiss them farewell.

SATURDAY

start with fancy cocktails at maison premiere~~my fave is the missionary’s downfall :) with a cute buzz, make your way to our show at BERLIN. this will be an eve of culture and delights both visual and sonic. all the bands have funny names. you give us $100 dollars after the show!!! essential to the perfect night out, and we know you got it bc you JUST borrowed $100 last night!!! you’ll want to end your evening at the nearest crown fried chicken living your best fried fantasy.

SUNDAY

pay $10 for coffee at a small coffee shop (doesn’t matter where as long as it is tiny small!!) with no room to stand where you aren’t in the way. head to BK bagels, and it is essential that on your way, you jaywalk and yell “i’m walkin heeeya” when someone honks and almost hits you. ah a perfect sunday in NY. ooo and don’t forget to get a swirly lil ice cream cone dipped in oreo crumbs

Itinerary above written + provided by Calliope Musicals. Follow the band at @calliopemusicals, buy merch on Bandcamp and add the songs to your Spotify playlists!

Feature image provided by the band.

MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS

While following a fire, Union Pool is still closed ( :-( ) , the venue says “we can always use more volunteers with our weekly Wednesday Food Pantry (now happening across the street in Macri Park). Show up at 9:30am to help out.” And damn, we love them for that.
A heads up for bands that want to apply to upcoming music fests. SXSW’s early application deadline is August 12th ($35) and Mondo.NYC—which takes place October 11-14—is accepting applications (free!) for live and virtual performances now.

RELEASE RADAR

New(ish) stuff from local (+ occasionally, once-local) artists we love, listed in no order whatsoever:

POST APOCALYPSE // Toska

“1978” // Cindy Cane

“Falling Up” video // Superbloom

“Belt” video // Fat Trout Trailer Park

“Go Outside” // Pan Arcadia

IT’S HAPPENIN’

Here’s a look at the shows we’ve got coming up. Mark your calendars and come hang!

7.26 BdBK Presents: Pamphlets + Two-Man Giant Squid + Church Crush + Aisle Knot @ Our Wicked Lady (tix here)

8.15 BdBK x New Colossus Summer Sunday w/ Elizabeth Wyld, Moonglow, Atlas Engine, Stranger Waves, Two-Man Giant Squid @ 18th Ward Brewing (FREE! Deets here.)

A LOOK INSIDE THE BOOK

Leading up to the 9/6 release of Bands do BK — THE BOOK (avail for pre-order here), we’ll be dropping in *short* snippets from the 18-chapter ~manifesto~ that’s equal parts Brooklyn guidebook (by bands), oral history and music-fan memoir.

Connor Jones: Reclamation Bar. Best bar in Brooklyn.
Jake Hiebert: That’s actually debatable whether we’re welcome there.
William Thompson: The only reason is like half the band used to work there, some still do.
Connor Jones: I still do. It’s the best bar in Brooklyn. Everyone should go every single night. Tip your bartenders.
Jake Hiebert: It is great. I don’t work there, and I agree.
William Thompson: It’s our after-party spot.
Connor Jones: That’s our real party bar, for sure.
Jake Hiebert: Connor doesn’t kick us out.
Connor Jones: I have kicked Will out.
Brett Moses: It reminds me of how some of the places that used to be in Williamsburg felt. It feels a little more—
Nicholas LaGrasta: Loose?
Brett Moses: Free and Wild West kind of feeling, an anything-goes-here kinda place. Some of our weirdest nights at some point stop by here.