9.17 A wknd w/ Nihiloceros
The band on dog walks, a pop-punk musical and Saturday's EP release show at EWEL
!TGIF! DO THE DAMN THING WITH NIHILOCEROS
Often, we kick off posts with “The last time we saw…” but that’s impossible to do with Mike Borchardt of Nihiloceros, simply because he’s everywhere, all of the time. (Or he has like 18 identical brothers we don’t know about… which just might be the most logical explanation.)
Since witnessing the trio tear it up on the OWL rooftop at the “iamananimal” single-release show in June—a rowdy evening during which we got rocked by wind + sideways rain while drinking The Cult of Chunk kool-aid and watching Fat Heaven’s shirtless frontman crush two beers simultaneously, Stone Cold Steve Austin-style—we’ve run into Mike in the crowd of nearly every show and music event we’ve attended, in Brooklyn and beyond. [Including, after this intro was already written, at The Broadway last night.]
This is all to say that if the Brooklyn music scene had a bingo card, in the middle would be Mike, who’s not only immensely skilled on stage, but probably the most supportive person in the community, IRL + online. For this reason, we’re especially stoked to turn the spotlight back on Nihiloceros and show one of our favorite humans the same kind of love. The reason for the celebration: The Nihiloceros EP Self Destroy is out TODAY on Totally Real Records! The killer new record explores “the unraveling of the human condition,” and Mike, German and Alex will be delivering it to your ears ~live~ TOMORROW NIGHT with a show at East Williamsburg Econo Lodge featuring a seriously sick assortment of BK bands.
So! There’s the official soundtrack for your Friday + a very solid plan for your Saturday night. As for the rest of the weekend, great news: Along with being omnipresent, Mike is also omniscient—at least when it comes to what’s going on in our beautiful music bubble—and thus there is no one better to plan a few days packed with live tunes, lots of coffee and dogs (duh), plus a pop-punk musical and more.
The weekend starts THIS VERY SECOND. Crank up Self Destroy and rage accordingly. We’ll catch ya out there—
[BUT FIRST: PRESS PLAY]
FRIDAY
We got a lot to cover, so let’s get right to it. The moment Thursday strikes midnight, the new Nihiloceros EP Self Destroy becomes available to stream everywhere. So if you’re still awake (and you know you are) crank that thing to 11 and give it a listen thru or two before hitting the bed.
Friday morning coffee soundtrack is still the new Nihiloceros record, because obviously you haven’t been able to stop listening to it since the night before. You probably also at this point are awake enough to have noticed the killer guest appearances by Gillian Visco (Shadow Monster), Stephanie Gunther (Desert Sharks, Murder Tag), and Carlo Minchillo (The Planes, Brooklyn Drum Collective, Murder Tag) and that’s awesome way to start out your day!
Friday night (like most Friday nights in NYC) presents us with too many options. We’ve narrowed it down a bit to these “can’t miss” shows, but honestly we cannot decide between them and (again like most Friday nights) aren’t sure exactly where we will end up after we get out of band practice (we gotta be tight for Saturday night’s record release show right? But now we’re getting ahead ourselves).
Back to Friday night, definitely go scratch all your punk rock itches at Bar Freda w/ our pals Fat Heaven, Noods, and Teenage Halloween, which will guarantee to get your body moving (probably into the person standing next to you).
But wait, Bands do BK (yes that Bands do BK) is also throwing quite the banger at Bowery Union w/ an equally killer lineup including Razor Braids, S.C.A.B., May Rio, and DJ [Cole Haden]. It’s a BYOB art gallery warehouse party tucked between the Lower East Side and Soho, nuff said.
Both are pretty damn solid options, so while you really can’t go wrong, no matter which way you choose, you’re missing a great show. But hey, you’ve been living in New York long enough to know that’s pretty much the deal pretty much every single night. And you you’ve probably also long resigned yourself to the fact that life in the city is one continuous state of FOMO. Just be sure to pace yourself… because we haven’t even made it yet to Saturday. I’ll try and make this next one a little easier.
SATURDAY
After shoving a gallon of strong black coffee into our faces, and taking the doggos on an early morning walk, we likely head over to Norma’s Corner Shoppe in Ridgewood for some additional coffee and a nice curbside breakfast sandwich. While we contemplate whether or not to grab a pastry for the road, we think to ourselves “we’re sure there’s other stuff going on tonight, but for some reason we are drawing a total blank” likely because we are laser focused on our record release show which just so happens to be later that very night.
Speaking of, Saturday night is the night we all (definitely us, but also hopefully you) have been waiting for since before the world came apart and time and existence stopped being a thing that made any sense. Nihiloceros Self Destroy Record Release Show (which just so happens to be all about how the world comes apart and time and existence stop making sense) takes place at 8pm at East Williamsburg Econolodge (who’s address is probably the most poorly kept secret in Brooklyn at this point). Just head toward the smell of pickles, and you know you’re close.
We are thrilled with this bill! Those of you familiar with Kissed by Animal and Desert Sharks know they’re some of the best rock bands Brooklyn has to offer. If you’re not familiar, even cooler, because you now get the opportunity to discover that firsthand. Gal Fieri, definitively the hottest new act to tear through our scene seemingly and suddenly out of nowhere, kicks the whole party off to start, so be sure you get there early.
We will be playing the entire new record live for the first time (much of which you’ve never heard and we’ve never even played) as well as ripping thru the Nihiloceros classics. Copies of Self Destroy will be available for sale. There’s some new merch and more special future bundles on the way and surprise announcements and some guest performances and I’m sorry what were we saying? We got distracted by all the awesomeness… so yeah we will see you all Saturday night, right?!!
SUNDAY
Good thing we don’t have to wake up too early on Sunday. Darnit, we have to walk the dogs. Ok coffee first. Dogs. Back to bed maybe?
If we can drag our old bones into the city by 3pm, Pom Pom Squad is playing a FREE show and signing records at the new Rough Trade. Might be the perfect excuse we’ve been waiting for to check out the record store’s new location. Maybe we detour first and go grab a late lunch at Urban Vegan Kitchen in the West Village on our way. Their whole menu is fire, and we basically make any trip into the city an excuse to go eat at Urban Vegan Kitchen.
If you can’t muster the energy to make it into Manhattan, no problem. Greenpoint might be a more desirable option. New Colossus Fest has been bringing us Summer Sundays every week all Summer at 18th Ward and they may be winding down soon, but they are still going strong. Grab a drink, sit outside, and take in some FREE music from Crowd the Airwaves, Nicole Yun, Mary Hood, Docents, and Soft Yes from 1pm-6pm. We’ve been to a whole bunch of these, and even played one earlier this summer, and it’s 100 percent a “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” guaranteed Sunday afternoon enjoyment.
Too much loud music for you this weekend? Your ears still ringing? Looking for a different option but still music-related? Well our friends have something perfect for you!! Blinky's Presents: A Midsummer Night's Dream (a pop punk musical). It’s a magical backyard experience like no other for only $10. All the fairies and lovers in the forest will be possessed by the pop punk gods of the early 2000's to sing verses of love and angst. Directed by Jillian Brocki and cast including Josh Brocki (Night Spins), Felicia Lobo (QWAM and Girly Gore) and musical arrangements by Travis Yablon (Fat Heaven) it promises to be a great night. It also runs again Monday night as well, in the event that your weekend gets away from you.
We hope you all had an amazing summer and that this gives you some cool ideas for the weekend. No matter where you end up, we hope you have a fun and stay safe doing stuff you love with people you love. And obviously we hope to see you at the Nihiloceros EP release show on Saturday night!!
Itinerary above written + submitted by Nihiloceros. Follow the band at @nihiloceros, buy music and merch on Bandcamp and add the songs to your Spotify playlists now!
Feature image (provided by the band): Jessica Gurewitz
MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
NYC artist, writer, DJ (and more) Howie Pyro is battling cirrhosis of the liver. There’s a Gofundme organized by local legend Jesse Malin, if you have the means to help.
The Footlight is hosting a clothing swap tonight at Windjammer: “Bring your gently used clean clothes, bring a tote and take some shit, donate to @safehorizon Have a rad time with cool folks.”
Our friends at Favorite Friend Records announced a 9/29 release show for their SAVE OUR WICKED LADY comp at OWL (obv) ft. Smock, Atlas Engine, Groupie, Safer and Matt Danger Lippman. See u there?!
+ A huge CONGRATS to our big fave, Dead Tooth, who announced this week that they’ve signed with Rough Trade Publishing! [Insert confetti emoji here.]
RELEASE RADAR
New(ish) stuff from local artists we love:
“Swallow” // Almost Sex
“Bethany” // My Son the Doctor
“Whales” // Heavenly Faded
IT’S HAPPENIN’
Here’s a look at the shows we’ve got coming up this month (and beyond). Mark your calendars and come hang!
9.17 BDBK PRESENTS: Razor Braids, S.C.A.B., May Rio @ The Bowery Union (Tix here!)
9.18 BDBK PRESENTS: Colatura + Di Ivories @ FirstLive Studios (IRL tix here; stream Di Ivories here; stream Colatura here)
9.30 BDBK PRESENTS: Birthday Girl, Marinara, Lazylazy, Soft Yes @ Bar Freda
10.5 BDBK PRESENTS: Forever Honey, Almost Sex, Otra Vez, Wetsuit @ Berlin
10.30 BDBK PRESENTS: Halloween at the Footlight Underground w/ Hot Knives, Nevva, Nihiloceros and Mary Shelley @ Windjammer
+ ICYMI
Around the blog + on the radio + from the archives:
Down and Outs Live Session @ Zoos Studio
WANTED: Artist/Band to Share Rehearsal Space
Drummer Available for Live Shows/Recording
Bands do BK x RFB Ep. 54 [PLAYLIST]
Thx 4 reading! Find more fun stuff at bandsdobk.com and @bandsdobk. <3