A moment at the Bell House

The fast fingers of Art Gody of the Vibrators on bass guitar.

Michael Jackson Birthday in Prospect Park

You can't really tell but there was a group of completely random people doing the "Thriller" dance routine in this photo.Scene from the Michael Jackson birthday party in Prospect Park
F.I.B has been entertaining visitors from another continent for the past week. At first we went into Manhattan and did the usual touristy things but they were cool enough to realize that Brooklyn was way more interesting and man was I glad! Anyway, normally I would not of gone to this event, because I felt that Michael Jackson was such a tragic figure. Going to this event blew my mind cause it put everything into perspective.

We walked into the Nethermead Meadow when my favorite Jackson 5 song, "Stop (the life you save may be your own")was blasting over the excellent sound system and my cynicism left me immediately. As a child of the 70's I watched all the variety shows and especially the Jackson 5 cartoon every Saturday morning. My childhood memories and the brilliance of this song and then the thoughts about how tough is must of been for him to be a star from such a young age were swarming around in my brain.


To walk into a middle of one of the most beautiful parks in the world, amongst the most beautiful people in the world (Brooklynites!)on a picture perfect summer day was like a dream. My friend from the continent (OK, England.) was shocked that people were so high without alcohol...maybe that came later, I heard Snoop Dog showed up but the time we were there from about 1 to 3:30 was all peace, love and grooviness. Happiness and great dancers abounded.

You know, I don't have any money. I am not a brownstone brooklyner. I am unemployed at the moment without the benefit of unemployment insurance. I am selling things I find on the street on Etsy and ebay. I guess the best thing I have in my life right now is that I live in one of the greatest places in the world. This summer, one of the hottest I can remember since the 1980's has been really good. I did nothing but free things and have spent alot of time at the beaches. When I showed my friend around, I kept running into people I knew in random places and my friend kept saying that people seemed "free" here. Maybe she just had her vacation goggles on, but, I think she is probably right.

P.S- F.I.B just got her NY State Art Teaching certification (K-12)in the midst of a hiring freeze (no thanks to Bloomberg). If anyone has job leads at charter or private schools, please send them my way!

New Bomb Turks Blow Out the Bell House

Still recovering from the fantabulous New Bomb Turks reunion show at the Bell House last Saturday. The heat has F.I.B unable to describe the sheer magnitude of their amazingness, so watch the video below as words are really not necessary!


Also. Ever get your stomach bit after a show at a club? This fellow did. Read all about that and mo' here.

video by Fancy TV.

Crush Fest with Yes Giantess, Fang Island, Big Freedia at Public Assembly this Thursday

The producers of this event say that the bands playing at Public Assembly on Thursday night make them "feel like we’re bathing in champagne and skipping through meadows." Sounds good to me! Go here for the full run down on all the bands and dj's playing the two rooms at this monthly party called "Crush"!

WHEN: Thursday, June 24th
WHERE: Public Assembly // 70 North 6th St, Brooklyn NYC
DOOR: 9pm – 4am

Found on Third Street

Been finding loads of classical music albums on the streets these days...I am partial to Chopin myself.

X: THE HUMAN CONDITION perform this Thursday (answer trivia question for a free pair of tickets!)

Experience the feeling of "synesthesia" at the record release party and performace by X: THC when they perform at Clemente Soto Velez Center ’s Flamboyan Theater on Thursday, March 25th at 8:00pm.

From their press release:

"X: THC combines both music and film in this creative and unforgettable live experience taking on themes of isolation, loneliness, and detachment. By integrating different media forms through “synesthesia” (cross-sensory experience), X: THC extends their own experiences to the audience, including them and affirming the fact that each of us is not alone.

Musically, X: THC combines chilled, shattered beats, and edgy indie rock songwriting to create a lush, ambient soundscape. The songs conjure shades of post-punk, new wave, and electronica—yet they weave a seductive, hypnotic sound all their own.

The album is accompanied by X: THC’s original film, whose wistful and mysterious imagery creates an utterly unique and uplifting experience. Citing Tim Burton, Michel Gondry, Darren Aronofsky, Jean Cocteau, and The Brothers Grimm as major influences, X: THC’s visual companion to the performance is a surrealistic trip inside the human subconscious."


X: The Human Condition Record Release Party
March 25 at 8PM (Doors at 7pm)
Clemente Soto Velez Cultural & Educational Center’s Flamboyan Theater
107 Suffolk Street, (between Rivington and Delancey St .) New York , NY
$10 Admission (Purchased at door)

Giveaway Trivia Question!

What is the first song that appears on the media player in the top right corner when you click here.
Tickets are still available!!!! (as of 10pm on monday)

A: Mr Happy
B: Don't Cry
C: A Human Flood

send answers to Lisannem(at)gmail(dot)net. The first correct answer gets the tickets.

Some Brooklyn Nightlife

They said they were on their way to the Gagalympics as they patriotically strut down Fourth Avenue at around 1 am.

F.I.B crossed paths with this crew on 4th Avenue and 8th Street after attending the Fixers Collective party, where extreme fashion was also all the rage.I think this guy said his name was Matthew and he said he crawled out of the Gowanus, apparantly he was "born in a parking lot, a xerox machine just spat him right out". Too Big to Fail. They had many members switching off instruments and all sung enthusiastically. I dug 'em. The fellow in the hat and glasses had a sort of Bill Gates gone wild vibe.

Happy Valentine's/Year of the Tiger everyone!

Celebrate the fall of Communism with some Eastern European Punk Rock this Weekend!

Wanna do something interesting and witness some historical legends? Show your solidarity! Dezerter are apparantly the Clash of eastern Europe, I have been listening to some of their tunes and I can feel the similarities except these guys REALLY were working for the Clampdown!

From the Rebel Waltz Festival's description:

Legendary Polish hardcore punks DEZERTER are coming to the United States for the 1st time in nearly three decades. The band - who began operations in 1981 as SS20 - remain one of Poland's most well-regarded underground punk bands and one of the few non-English-speaking groups to actually attain international notoriety outside of Eastern Europe. Their extensive catalogue shows the band only improving on their sound over the years, as clearly evidenced by 2004's politically-charged, pile-driving masterpiece, Nielegalna Zakojca Czasu (Illegal Time Killer, Metal Mind records). If you like bands like early-Killing Joke, Dead Kennedys, DOA, Subhumans (both, UK & Candian), The Clash, the Effigies and early No Means No, these guys are in THAT league.

This tour was organized by the Polish Cultural Institute and Polskie radio and are mainly being promoted to the Polish communities in the New York, New Jersey and Chicago areas. Please spread the word!

Please refer to the following information for more details:

Friday November 6, 2009
Europa Nightclub
98 Meserole Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11222
(718) 383-5723
Club Europa
$30.00 admission
www.ticketweb.com
w/Projektor Apteka, Prime Prophecy, Abstrakcja & DJ Bubell (Polskie Radio)

REBEL WALTZ FESTIVAL: UNDERGROUND MUSIC FROM BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN This event is jointly organized by the Polish Cultural Institute in New York)
Saturday November 7, 2009
Le Poisson Rouge
158 Bleeker Street
New York, NY 10013
Le Poisson Rouge
$15.00 admission
www.brownpapertickets.com
w/Kontroll Csoport (Hungarian 80s post punk) & Pankriti (77-era Yugo punk rock)Extremely Hungary

Found in Prospect Park

Beethoven looks slightly less intimidating with this amazing backdrop. The leaves are peaking! Get thee to thy park now!

Blondie & Pat Benatar in Brighton

To follow up on last night's show which was thankfully not rained out I have to take back my comments about what I heard was an underwhelming tour. If you blinked you missed the Donna's who only played three songs but Pat Benatar and Blondie did not disappoint and I went in with absolutely no expectations. I was thrilled that Blondie did "Atomic" and Pat did "Hell is for Children" (one of the strangest songs ever written). We were as far back as you could possibly be but I did worm my way up during Blondie's last number, that blurry picture shows their "Parallel Lines" influenced stage set, it the show sounded great from the back I can only imagine the experience from the front. Any reports?Far from the maddening crowds - the view from the back, very relaxing under the trees....And of course nothing that is good now is safe from "development" in NYC in 2009. There are plans to rip this free outdoor space down to put up an amphitheater that the public would have to pay to see events.

Blondie * Pat Benatar* The Donnas Thursday Free in Brighton Beach

Yeah, everyone and their mother will be there but it might be good for the spectacle. The tour has been getting mixed reviews, apparently Pat has been acting bored and the Donnas have been cancelling. Maybe performing for a Brooklyn crowd in the Brighton Beach breezes will wake them up a little.

Where?:

Asser Levy/Seaside Park at West 5th Street and Surf Avenue
Coney Island/Brighton Beach, across the street from the New York Aquarium.

How much?: FREE or 5 bucks for a seat (get there early for that!)

* Please note that you will be subjected to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz rambling on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on before the music starts, so you may want to tranquilize yourself for that (just like the old days!). There are plenty places nearby to get some vodka on the boardwalk and if you have the munchies, plenty of excellent food sources.


Last year I was lucky enough to catch what I think was a rare performance by Beach Boy, Brian Wilson. Read about it here.

Leprechauns arrive in Brooklyn in July

You may or may not already know that the City won on the rezoning of Coney Island, too disheartening for me to even write anything about it. So click here to find out the details. Hopefully all the plans will fall through. Ya think it's possible? We still don't have a new World Trade Center right? Maybe they will RETHINK the idea of putting FOUR hotels or residential buildings smack DAB in the middle of where the amusement area as we know it. Maybe the realistic thought that Coney is still almost over an hour from LOWER part of Manhattan and what a pain in the ass to drive to from outlying areas. That it may be as DEAD as Atlantic City in the winter. One can only hope.

Anyway, the above leprechaun was spotted at Thursday night's Brooklyn Cyclones vs. Staten Island Yankees game at Keyspan Stadium in Coney Island. Twas' Irish night dontcha know....I was mesmerized by this leprechaun. He was an exact replica of a plastic pin I have since childhood but he was ALIVE. Alive and hanging out with the Cyclones cheerleaders, The Beach Bums whose wholesome uniforms were exactly what I wore in gym class in junior high school. One of the activities on Irish night was to bowl for prizes but the pins were beer bottles. There was also irish step dancing by the cutest little girls with wigs on - to some sort of metal ska jig music. A good time was had by all.I know this is blurry but this guy was hard to pin down. Wonder where he is spreading his magic tonight?

Upon leaving Coney, on my bike I might add (18 miles baby!), I heard the strains of familiar oldies music, upon closer arrival to Brighton Beach and the Asher Levy amphitheater, I said to my friend, "It sounds like Frankie Vali." and by god I was right! We rolled up when Frankie was crooning "You're a Native New Yorker". Too perfect.

P.S- Monday night is Darryl Strawberry bobble head night at Keyspan Stadium. Tickets still available.

New Orleans R&B Legend Allen Toussaint performs at Metrotech Thursday at Noon

New York City is a treasure trove of free music once summer begins. One of F.I.B's absolute favorite music festivals is the BAM Rhythm and Blues Festival at Metrotech in downtown Brooklyn. I will never EVER forget seeing Bo Diddley there a few years back! The only downside of this festival is that it occurs at noon on Thursdays which makes it difficult to get to but, if you are able, try and make it down.

This Thursday at noon, New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint performs. Toussaint has written, produced and performed on many a great hit which include Dr. John's ""Right Place, Wrong Time", "Working in a Coalmine" recorded by Ernie K-Doe,(later covered by DEVO) and "Mother-in-Law" recorded by Lee Dorsey to name but a few. A performer in his own right, Allen recently finished a week long stint at the Village Vanguard that drew rave reviews and has also recently collaborated with Elvis Costello.

To read about and to listen to Allen Toussaint's recent performance at the Village Vanguard click here.

"Cop Bar": A documentary music video set in Red Hook.

You never know what will land in the F.I.B inbox! Most of the time I don't post it unless I know you, I like what you are doing or you put me on the guest list but this one made me laugh. It will probrably offend most of you but I am out of my mind hence my last post and am abandoning any concept i ever had about F.I.B. If I want to be Perez Hilton, Dee Dee Ramone, Andy Warhol or Ruth Gordon so be it.

Enjoy and let me know what you think...did it make you laugh cause the casting was DEAD ON or are you offended and will never look at F.I.B again?

The press release about this masterpiece in music video making...

Acoustic rock artist Jimmy Lloyd recently teamed with director Josh Durham to shoot a full length music video for "Cop
Bar", the first single release from the singer/songwriter's self titled debut album. Shot at the Moonshine Bar in Red Hook, Brooklyn, Jimmy Lloyd called on cast members of the famous "Sopranos" series to make star cameos in the video. With appearances by Lou Martini Jr. ("Sopranos"character Anthony Infante), Danny Grimaldi ("Sopranos" character Patsy Parisi) and Louis Vanaria ("A Bronx Tale" character "Crazy Mario"), the "Cop Bar" video delivers a gritty, side-splitting punch as it introduces rock music¹s emerging star Jimmy Lloyd.

Attempting to place the creative spirit back into music videos, the screenplay for the video was completely created and written by Jimmy Lloyd."Cop Bar" is an uproarious look inside a gritty, tough NYC bar where a few "wise guys" (Jimmy Lloyd, Vanaria, and Grimaldi) find themselves as all hell breaks loose.

The Atlantic Antic.A good time was had by all! (I think!)

Sheik Eddie Kojak performing at the Atlantic Antic.
Well as said F.I.B was at the Atlantic Antic and I present to you the fabulous Eddie Kojak and orchestra who has been wowing the crowds for years at the corner of Clinton and Atlantic. This was an unexpected closing number where Eddie, as someone behind me said, “was rapping” in English. A fabulous performer and I love how relaxed his band is. Out of towners hang on till the end, Eddy has an authentic Brooklyn accent (and attitude) despite the Middle Eastern flava of his words. ( Laughter and commentary provided by FIB and friend K.) Earlier on stage and I regret not filming this was the first male belly dancer I ever saw perform. Ends up he came all the way from Pennsylvania. K thought he was a “burning man type” and I thought he was a drag queen that snuck on stage! I thinkit was the black eyeshadow and jewelry. Also note that they have seemed to use the same trailer for years as Independence Bank closed years ago! On the flip side of course F.I.B spent a significant amount of time in front of Last Exit. Missed Susquehanna Tool & Die Co. unfortunately but did catch 2 sets of Les Sans Culottes. Even this elegant lady with the balloon was diggin’ the scene, she was banging her head a little to the sounds of L.S.C! LOVED HER! She looks kind of french all put together and such. Is she someone in L.S.C's Granny?
Also was severely admiring Les Sans Cullotes keyboard players ensemble for the afternoon although the whole band looked fab as always.
See!

Filmed until heads got in the way!

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings TORE IT UP at Central Park Summerstage earlier today. Check out my video to see. I know it's Manhattan but they are out of Bushwick. Click here to go their website and BUY THEIR RECORDS!
F.I.B's got a crush on the guitar player left of the drummer btw....

Also found in my closet but I took this one!

Dating myself here as I tend to do but this was also recently unearthed in my closet. Johnny Lydon aka Rotten glaring at me at Danceteria when I went to see Brian Brain (Martin Atkins) in my early underage nightclubbing days. Martin Atkins was the drummer for Johnny's band P.I.L which had broken up by this time. This was probrably taken in 1983. Yeah F.I.B's no spring chicken (but how come I still feel like one?) Did you know that P.I.L played at the club The Brookyn Zoo (in Sheepshead Bay!) with JAMES BROWN?!! YES it's true! Music was so mixed up back then -such good times. I probably took this with a disc camera, anybody remember those?! He did ask me if "i had a fag?" later but I just giggled. Ah youth!

The World's Greatest Sinner?!

*"He's the world's greatest sinner. I said the world's greatest sinner. As a sinner he's a winner. Honey he is no beginner. He's rotten to the core. Daddy you can't say no more. He is the world's greatest sinner!"

Brian Berger, the editor over at that nutty, persnickety, non-blogading blog Who Walk in Brooklyn has thrown yet another B movie at me to review. B as in Brooklyn baby! This time it's "The World's Greatest Sinner" written, directed and starring Brooklyn native Timothy Carey in 1962.

Dig it here!

* Lyrics by a young Frank Zappa and brought out of obscurity and recorded by one of F.I.B's favorite Brooklyn rock & roll combos The A-Bones on their EPIC Daddy Wants a Cold Beer album! Curious?! Listen to it here!

Kill some time! Peruse some of F.I.B's other film reviews!
Teenage Gang Debs
The Gang Who Couldn't Shoot Straight
All Dolled Up

Brighton Beach Boy Brian Wilson

Two big free Brooklyn shows were going on last night. Brian Wilson or Deerhoof? Brian Wilson or Deerhoof? Brian Wilson BABY!!! A no brainer. I love summer in NYC, we are truly privileged to get to hear so much fantastic music, many from the originators, many for free. Although Brian Wilson (the mastermind behind the Beach Boys) was five bucks, it was priceless.

I didn't know what to expect. I heard the stories about Brian Wilson. His mental instabilities, his years under a Doctor's care where he took too many anti-psychotic medicines, his stage fright, y'know all that bad stuff that helps create a legend. The crowd at the show was decidedly BROOKLYN. As in Sheepshead Bay, Brighton Beach, Midwood, Flatbush. Marty Markowitz was babbling on stage for at least 45 minutes listing off EVERY SINGLE musical act that ever played at Asser Levy Park and even some that never did, it was unbelievable how he just rattled on and on. Exactly at 8pm the band took the stage and Brian was front and center behind a keyboard. The music is really beautiful and so complex but as I sat there looking at the old greasers going wild, I distinctly heard the doo-wop influence. Just think about "Help Me Rhonda" (which was their final Beach Boy song of the evening.) Brian was a bit stiff in the beginning and seemed cranky but a funny kind of cranky. It was a bit surreal to hear him sing "When I grow up to be a man" but he was a lot more loosened up toward the end, I actually saw him crack a smile during "Good Vibrations". Maybe being beachside under a full moon was the right vibe for Brian because he came out for a second encore and did a number from his upcoming album, a ballad called "Southern California". I'd say they played for about 90 minutes, which from what I understand is a long set for him. Below is my cheap camera video, it's more for the sound than the visuals and the song is "Heroes and Villians". Just hit play and stare at that ship photo I found in my closet! I ALMOST made it to the end of the song but security made me put my camera away.(please sing that last sentence to "Fun Fun Fun"!)


And tomorrow night ANOTHER fantastic free show. By another originator.

Mary Weiss of the Shangri-las!
The Nouvellas
The Lost Crusaders
6:30pm at South Street Seaport

Bastille Day in Brooklyn & Beyond!

Ooh la la! Fishnets are just sooooo french!

Lots of places to celebrate the storming of the Bastille and the end of the French Revolution, I will give you two suggestions....the first one is 7th Annual BASTILLE DAY ON SMITH STREET!

Here's the details as per an email from the S.B.D.L.C:
"The Seventh Annual Bastille Day Party and Petanque Tournament on Smith Street in Brownstone Brooklyn's "BOCOCA" (BOerum Hill, Cobble Hill, CArroll Gardens ) Neighborhood welcomes you to enjoy a great New York experience with us. For some unknown reason our part of Brooklyn became home to the third largest French Expat population in the U.S. And of course, Smith Street being a street that "Loves To Party!", when they came to us seven years ago asking for a Bastille Day Party, we said -- "Pourquoi pas?" "Voila!" a tradition began.

This is truly a neighborhood affair -- beginning with the arrival of the sand in the morning, brought and donated by local resident and city-wide business owner John Quadrozzi (of the Concrete Mix Trucks Company). It is quite a scene to see it’s arrival on the street via a big yellow redi-mix truck ambling down Smith Street and “feathering out” spurts of sand along two blocks, followed by spreading and smoothing, then separating into 14 playing courts. The Petanque Contest is organized by Bar Tabac, using the expertise of fellow Frenchman Bernard DeCanali (Robin des Bois). Tournament Competition is limited to 80 Teams. There will be trophies, T shirts, baseball caps and more as prizes. As the field narrows in the afternoon non-competition courts will be available for families and friends to play and practice. "
When: Sunday July 13th, 2008 -- 12Noon to 8PM
Where: Along Smith Street from Bergen to Pacific Streets, centering on Dean
F or G Train to Bergen Street

Les Sans Cullotes at Freddy's at the F.I.B Birthday Party.

Then on the ACTUAL day which is Monday, it's my fave group of french ex-pats living in Brooklyn, Les Sans Cullotes! They are crossing the river and playing at new hotspot Santos Party House. Dig the email from zee band for zee details!


"Citizens! Les Sans Culottes, the proud disposers of the House of Bourbons and the jeroboam of Armagnac are making a special Bastille Day show in New York City's Tribeca District (triangle below Chanel), Monday July 14th @ 10 pm at the Santo's Party House, 100 Lafayette St, near Walker.

Also, dj's spinning French musique w/ Jaiko Suzuki, Time Warren (Crypt Records) and Jonathon & go go dancing w/ Anna Copacabana, Hula Hoop Harlot Melissa Anne, etc. "

Tres Bien!!! All that and Anna Copacabana too?!!!

That's at Santo's Party House, 100 Lafayette Street. They seem to be doing a regular Monday night garagey rock happening there.....

For MORE Bastille Day celebration events around town click here!

ALSO! Unrelated to Bastille Day, there are tons of bands playing for free as well as movie screenings and a skatepark at the Afro-Punk Festival.

FIB faves The Dirtbombs are playing at 6pm at Fort Greene Park on Saturday!!!