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As New York’s finest junkies once sang, you better cool it down– and that’s exactly what we’ll do this weekend with a short break from the intolerable 90′s.  The hottest July on record has put a damper on a couple of shows this Summer– and ruined many a vintage t-shirt with unbelievably colorful pit stains.  Of course, last Summer at this time we were bitching about rain but suddenly all we hear is “God I wish it would just rain already.”

You can’t make all of the people happy all of the time, but this weekend’s mix of action comes pretty close, particularly with the serendipitously scheduled Ponderosa Stomp/Detroit Breakdown daytime action at Lincoln Center on Saturday.  Dig in!

TONIGHT (Friday):

Start your night off on an intellectual note (if that’s the right pun) with another reading from my personal book of the year, We Never Learn by author Eric Davidson.  It’s happening at a joint called Freebird Books (irony?) on Columbia Street in Brooklyn (not far from Norton HQ if I’ve got my maps straight) and is FREE (bird).

After that, options explode around 9 o’clock… one obvious event of note is the Gories at Bowery Ballroom, their first Manhattan performance in… 19 years? (too lazy to research exact date, I’m sure Blair will correct me).  Of course, the Detroit greats hit Maxwell’s last night and will be performing in the early evening at Lincoln Center tomorrow, but here’s an unadulterated SHOW to check them out at.  I saw this reunion last Summer in their hometown and I promise, worth every penny of the $20/25 you’ll have to fork over to see them.  Opening are the Revelons and Chicken Snake (I assume the Teels are back in town just for this!)

If FREE is more your price tonight, there’s more live action at Otto’s Shrunken Head with another edition of Real Gone! featuring the Solid Set, a super tight band of soulful players who’ve been spotted backing up legends at Dig Deepers in the past few months.  Also on the bill are the Improbables, who are probably pretty darn good.  That plus the usual brain trust of excellent DJs and you’ve got a pretty good ride for your money.

Maybe you’d prefer DJ action?  If so, many chances for dances:

• Totally Wired, a new wave/post punk/punk night, is happening at Macri Park (near Union Pool) in Williamsburg tonight. FREE
• Another Scorcher is at Huckleberry with reggae & ska (not 100% confirmed but we think it’s on) FREE
• Howie Pyro of Danzig/D-Generation is at Home Sweet Home with Jonathan Toubin for this week’s Shakin’ All Over Sideways Down $3
• Groovy Linda rolls on as Manhattan’s northernmost good DJ at the Ding Dong Lounge (Columbus Ave & 105th St) with her ‘Shinding” FREE

SATURDAY:

There’s probably no need to tell you about the wonder that is the Ponderosa Stomp, an annual festival based in New Orleans that’s featured some of the greatest underappreciated garage rock and soul artists over the years.  It’s a charity organization and while it may be dedicated to preserving ‘roots’ music, don’t let that easy-greasy moniker fool you: this weekend they’re bringing serious rock’n'roll to New York’s Lincoln Center with their one day ‘Detroit Breakdown’ show.  This FREE show is happening, bizarrely enough, at Lincoln Center, once only home to the snobbiest of snobs.  This weekend that rep will get a slap in the face with gutbucket rockers such as the Gories…

It all starts at 2PM in the first of two venues on the LC ‘campus’ — a new area called ‘Hearst Plaza’ apparently just north of the Metropolitan Opera House.  The entrance to this area should either be on W 62nd St (south side) or, my best guess, W 65th St (north side).  The area is a “raised seating area with a protective canopy of trees”.  No word yet on refreshments being served ($7 champagne? anyone’s guess).

Back to the music.  The day starts with a Motown revue, but filled with the sort of unappreciated but super-talented acts that don’t usually get the spotlight: Dennis Coffey, one of Detroit’s best ever guitar players, a wah-wah god you’ll know from the late 60′s Temptations recordings such as “Cloud Nine” will be leading a band backing Eddie Kirkland, Melvin Davis, Spyder Turner and the Velvelettes.

Around 5PM, part two kicks off in a separate space– the Damrosch park that’s definitely on the south side (by W 62nd St).  The lineup here is decidedly rockier, with Death, the Gories, ? and the Mysterians and Mitch ‘Devil in a Blue Dress’ Ryder on the bill.  This second part is also free and ends around 9:30.

If Manhattan just ain’t your style this weekend, head over to Brooklyn’s Beauty Bar for a happy hour happening with our own Captain Heartlock on the turntables and the lovely Anna Copa Cabanna pouring the drinks. (FREE)

Also, after the Detroit Breakdown is done, you can head over to Otto’s Shrunken Head where the Brimstones are headlining another Monster Hop, this time as a sort-of goodbye party for the Othermen’s original keyboard player, Derek, who is moving to the hills of East Tennesse to start his own White Lightning business (send us samples please).  The Othermen had to cancel their performance at this show due to a family emergency but it should still be a rager! FREE

Welp, that’s it kiddos– see you ’round town!

SHIMMY