The fellas are streaming their new album, Stay Positive, over at Imeem and it’s sounding great so far, as I’m listening now.  It also has the band talking about the songs before each song starts too, if you dig that kinda thing.  I don’t really, to be honest.  I kind of like the idea of an album just dropping out of space somehow, with no dissertations about overdubs and how ‘we had to get a lot of writing done backstage on tour’.  But most people probably like that, so it’s there.

I recommend you go check it out though…it’s free!  And you know what the Focus Factor commercial lady says about free, right?

I noticed that the weather had broken and that it was nice and sunny again, so we booked it back over to McCarren Pool, where the first opener was just getting started.  They were J Roddy Walston and The Business and they totally rocked it, good-ol’ Southern boy classic rock style.  Check ‘em out.  After J Roddy and The Biz’s set, we hacky-sacked a bit…until it started drizzling again and more scary clouds rolled in.  That’s when Chip and I booked it back over to Warsaw for more beer and more shelter.

After clearing up again, we ventured back out for a slice and then headed straight back to the Pool, where The Hold Steady were a few songs in.  It was clear right away that The Hold Steady is its best as a live band.  They were rockin’ it, guitars turned up, vocals loud and clear, and lots of fun being had on stage.  I really liked seeing this band, and I’m now quite interested in checking out their sophomore album, Stay Positive, when it comes out in a couple weeks.  Their fans were going nuts too, with arms constantly in the air and kids singing along to every word…and there are a lot of words in The Hold Steady’s songs.  Check out awesome pics from the Pool on Brooklyn Vegan (picture courtesy of Kyle Dean Reinford)…

Paul met us in the middle of the Hold Steady show, and then we bowled a couple games and drank a couple pitchers over at The Gutter.  I had a pretty damn good second game…tied Chip for first!  After trying to hacky-sack under a street light at 10:00 pm and then watching a few minutes of a kickball game in McCarren Park, we called it a day…a great Brooklyn summer day, in my book!  As a matter of fact, the whole weekend was a fantastic Brooklyn summer weekend.  I don’t care how humid it gets…I love me some summer!

Did any of you’s guys go to McCarren or the Record Riot on Sunday?  Buy any records?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl8QcExWjfQ&hl=en]

At Warsaw, 261 Driggs Ave. Greenpoint/Williamsburg

Sunday June 29th, 2008 11am-8pm

$3.00 admission, over 40 dealers.

vinyl-cds-dvds-beer-kielbasa-four djs

The Brooklyn Record Riot will be the first ongoing, regularly scheduled record/cd show in recent Brooklyn history. There have been sporadic, excellent shows in Brooklyn, but nothing of this magnitude. Most events have been one-off events with somewhat limited scope in medium, genre or location. BRR will appeal to all stratas of record/cd consumers and also give local record stores the opportunity to advertise their products/stores at the show. Surely the record store is alive and well in the borough (Academy, Earwax, Permanent Records for starters) but when we (Irisrecs.com) sell at street fairs in Brooklyn, the first question that people often ask is “where is your store?” Well, we are going to provide the residents of Brooklyn with a BIG STORE in the form of BRR, held Sunday June 29th at the Polish National Home of Greenpoint, commonly known to the locals as WARSAW. This beautiful, spacious ballroom from the early 20th century was the original gathering place of Brooklyn’s Polish population. Thousands of Polish immigrants used “261 Driggs Avenue Brooklyn” as their first known address in America. The building has been cited by the Ellis Island Foundation as important and historic. These days WARSAW is home to over forty rock concerts a year (Patti Smith, The Misfits, The New Pornographers, amongst others) plus various Polish events, and is extremely well-known to the New York City music audience. Hours will be festive (unlike most record shows), from 11am to 8pm. There will be a full bar and lots of beer. Also, four different DJs with four totally different musical agendas will spin tunes. And of course Warsaw will be selling Polish food, kielbasa and perogies. What more can you ask for with your psych or soul 45s?

We have selected the best dealers from the tri-state area and beyond for this event. All genres of music will be represented, as well as great 45s, compact discs, DVDs, posters and t-shirts. We are also searching out local collectors who just want to sell parts or all of their collections. There will be over 30,000 records at this show, rare and not-so-rare. Most dealers will have budget sections and most will be looking to “wheel and deal.” BRR is also a good opportunity to chat with dealers about finding exactly what you are looking for, even if it’s not at the show.

Here is a partial list of dealers who will be selling at the Brooklyn Record Riot!!!

Denis from Le Pickup of Montreal
Josh Rock from Montreal
Bobby Soul from NYC
John from 21st Century Music
Billy and Miriam from Norton Records
Chris from Relative Action
Neil Drucker from Record Cellar of Philly
Marjorie from Permanent Records of Greenpoint
Malcolm from Trash American Style
Mike from Slipped Disc
John from Rockit Scientist NYC
Larry from ShoutShimmy Of Jersey City
Reggae Tim from Baltimore

This list will continue to grow. If you are interesting in selling (or buying) at BRR, please call Steve at 609-468-0885