If You Slap Me on Wednesday I'll Cry on Thursday

Yo, I heard they was givin' some free PBR's, Yo.

Hi. My name is Oweinama. You may know me as Captain Heartlock, DJ and multi-instrumentalist in some bands of some sorts. I like long walks on the beach, picking at my aching teeth, drag queen musicals, and being beaten about the head with rock-stale baguettes. But most of all I love 60’s flavored rock and soul, and going to events where such sounds thrive and fill me with feelings, feelings that make me want to dance and to live, as opposed to kill and destroy. I’ll be your man, your Wednesday man and your Thursday lover on this here GaragePunk NYC blog.

There’s something about going out in the middle of the week – often all the big heavies of event-hood save their mojo for the weekends, either because they’re day jobbers or damned traditionalists…but a lot of good stuff happens in the middle. It’s the cream filling in the Ding-Dong of nightlife. Not having to compete so much with the drooling troglodytes who crawl out from their rancid bogs at the Friday 5’o'clock whistle doesn’t hurt either.

WEDNESDAY

This Wednesday night, not a lot of options if it’s live music you’re after, but I’d recommend checking out The Bowery Boys at Public Assembly in Williamsburg. They play a literate yet pretty infectious style of melodic, jingle-jangle punk that reminds me of later period Kinks with a bit of The Raspberries/Big Star. They’re on at 10pm for an $8 cover. There’s TONS of DJ action tonight, though – Brooklyn babies can regale to Reverend Vince and his weekly spin at Savalas. His selections of soul and gospel tracks might be enough to wash the stain of sin off your pathetic backs. Then there’s Living For Kicks at The Satellite Lounge, where DJs Popwell and Bunny Punch spin a bunch of groovy garage, psych, soul & r&b in one of the newest and more understated joints in the hood. Both of these happenings are free and the drinks run cheap. Across the river is Mr. Fine Wine and his unbeatable collection of rare soul 45’s at Botanica on Houston Street, and "The Man Who Need Not Sleep", Mr. Jonathan Toubin for New York Night Train, playing crazy soul, garage and psych at the dangerous Motor City Bar down on old Ludlow Street.

THURSDAY

Thursday’s move for live music is THE RUNAWAY SUNS and their shimmery, pop-tastic psychedelia at CoCo 66 in Greenpoint. If you haven’t caught them yet, do it before everyone else starts telling you how they always thought they were the coolest. I’m pretty sure it’s a free Lady Bree production. Not too far away and also in Little Poland at relatively new joint The Blackout Bar you can check out the infamous Bushwick Ronnie Seward (Whooping Crane), Alex Moyer and Josh Styles (Smashed! Blocked! and The Stalkers) where they will be educating you kids on the finer points of the Jamaican soul and rocksteady scene of the mid-late 60’s. Or, get your soul saved again by Reverend Vince at Bushwick’s Beauty Bar. If you’re off the beaten path and in Manhattan check out one of the last of the real bars on the island (and you can tell it's alright if the neighbors are trying to shut it down), Heathers, where Mr. Robinson, Dos Platos and BamaLama Mike spin 50's and 60's era soul. All of these happenings are free to get in to.

Staying home, my agoraphobic / broke friends? I recommend prepping for this weekends reading and Smashed!Block! sessions by listening to Dave the Spazz’s show on WFMU tonight, as he’s joined by the legendary Andre Williams, who I hear is gonna be on for the full 3 hours.

BOFFO!

-Oweinama

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ACTION TIME VISION

Another Spring weekend, another round of higher temperatures... lotsa of youse ought to be out in the streets this weekend and by happy coincidence, there are many ways to get yourself into trouble too!

Tonight, FRIDAY:

First off, two Todd P shows: Pissed Jeans @ Market Hotel in Brooklyn (along with some indie bands) -- now listing their home town as Philadelphia?! Next, Ian Svenonius returns to the stage with new band Chain and the Gang... this one happening at "92YTribeca" which looks pretty swank, on the west Side of Tribeca... we dare you to look for cheap drinks at this place.

Next we've got a run of fun-sounding dj gigs:

Walkin' east from 92YTribeca, you'll happen upon Subway Soul Club as it hosts its last ever night at Fontana's (that is, last at Fontana's... party will return at venue TBA). Featuring hostess Dawn C, DJ Phast Phreddie plus special guests Bossy Boots and Josh Styles. FREE.

From Subway Soul Club you can stumble your way a couple of blocks over to Jonathan Toubin's Shakin' All Over Sideways Down 60's garage & soul night at Home Sweet Home on Chrystie or maybe walk a bit further over to Rebel Night, the 50's rockabilly dj club at Otto's on 14th. All FREE.

SATURDAY

Tomorrow we've got a couple of good sounding gigs:

As Blair mentioned, the Woggles, the Insomniacs & Muck & The Mires are at Maxwell's in Hoboken. That's a pretty darn solid garage - garage - garage bill, and I wish I had booked it. $8 if you grab tix online today, or $10 at the door.

Also happening are Italy's Movie Star Junkies, whose record is on the excellent Voodoo Rhythm label plus local rockers the Hydes at Don Pedro in Brooklyn. Cover $?

Then, if you're STILL looking for dj action, hop on over to Legion on Metropolitan in Williamsburg (a 15 min walk from Don Pedro) for another freebie featuring Mr Fine Wine spinning his amazing mix of old soul & r'n'b plus guest djs Billy & Miriam from Norton.

And, if you're looking for a good time Sunday afternoon, head over to Otto's in the city for the Spines who play at the schoolnight-friendly hour of 6PM.

See ya out and about!

SHIMMY

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Celebrating the End of February in New York!

I don't know about you, but February has been tough for me this year, so I'm more than glad to see it pass.

Lots of ways to celebrate the coming Spring (3 more weeks of Winter left?), starting tonight:
FRIDAY

DJ Gigs
Melissa-Anne returns to Legion in Williamsburg with her Chickaboom! DJ night. Special Guest this month are Jaime and Leah from the Nouvellas. Free.

Josh Styles is back in town and guest DJing with Jonathan Toubin for Shakin' All Over Sideways Down at Home Sweet Home on Chrystie St. Also free.

Live Gigs
Looks like a spate of psycho/rockabilly bands plus DJ Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus spinning soul records at the Bowery Poetry Club. Cover for the bands and then free after midnight I think.

At Otto's, Real Gone! night returns with a group of blues/60's rock bands and DJs Captain Heartlock, Miss Kitty Beat and Captain Jones as usual. Freebie.

SATURDAY
Tomorrow night we've got the annual installment of Dig Deeper! at the Five Spot Club in Brooklyn. This month the featured performer is Garland Green, a favorite amongst Northern Soul DJs for his smooth delivery on platters from labels such as Uni back in the late 60's. DJs will spin til late. Cover is $10advance/$15 at the door.

The Jadewalkers will be performing at their home base Lake Johnson in "East Williamsburg" near the Montrose L stop along with DJs to celebrate the end of a successful photo exhibit. Not sure on cover.

And Jonathan Toubin is back at Glasslands with his Soul Clap! soul dj dance party with cash prize contest. $3 cover.

SUNDAY
The Nouvellas will be performing at the Bell House in Gowanus/Brooklyn. Not sure of the other bands or cover.

This truly is the calm before the Storm-- next week begins the cavalcade of bands passing through town on their way to Austin's SXSW Festival and we'll have some big names to talk about.

See ya!
SHIMMY

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