My shortest post ever.

Whooping Crane covers Sweet at Otto's this Wednesday.

Last week was crazy, next week is CMJ. In between... we're all sleeping in? This week is extra dead. Dead, buried, forgotten, disinterred and stood up in a museum. A good week to think about your Halloween costume.

If we hear about anything else, we will definitely update this blog post.

Tuesday

Hot Dog! is reliable once again, thank you. DJs spinning 50's and 60's R'n'B, Doowop, Gospel, Soul, Funk, Garage Rock and Punk at Bar Matchless. No cover, 2-for-1 drinks all night, from 8 'till late.

Wednesday

It's time once again for Copycat at Otto's Shrunken Head. This week, a tribute to The Sweet with Whooping Crane and The Vondelles. With DJ Xerox spinning the cover tunes. The show's free, but do bring a few bucks for the bands por favor.

Going a whole week without a show at Don Pedro? Inconceivable! About as likely as winning a land war in Asia. Sure enough they came through at the last minute: tonight they've got Boysen Girls, Georgiana Starlington, 7 Ton Hand, Black On Brown, and Ghost Dad. No cover!

Motor City Bar hosts New York Night Train Wednesdays, its regular punk/rock/hard stuff night. Botanica has Mr. Fine Wine's night of classic Soul grooves. Both are no cover.

Thursday

One more show... the The Raveonettes are at Webster Hall on Thursday.

That's all folks! Not much to this week, but come back next week for a much longer post about shows like this and this.

Marcus

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Welcome to the crater known as the end of the month

Not sure where all the live music got to this week, but it sure as hell ain't here (except for Thursday). At least there are some good dance parties goin' on this week (except for Monday) but if you hear about anything good happening this week, please send it in!

Monday

Nada. Shit, I wish we had sponsors so I could just tell you to go to their bar. Oh well, perhaps this is a good thing. It will give my bones time to heal after the pounding they got at the LiveFastDie/Golden Triangle show. RIP LFD.

Tuesday

Enjoy a night of Soul, Garage, R&B with Hot Dog! at Bar Matchless. No cover and 2-for-1 drinks all night. Thank you reliable Hot Dog!

Wednesday

The Wednesday trilogy plays once again this week. Surely you have yet to check out at least one of these fine events? Mr. Fine Wine spins Soul music downstairs at Botanica, New York Night Train hosts Garage and Punk night at Motor City Bar, and Swimsuit Edition returns to Savalas for an evening of Garage, Surf, and Rockabilly music. No cover for any of 'em.

Thursday

Okay pay attention now please. At Bowery Electric the Thursday night lineup this week is: Stalkers, Greatest Hits, Sorceress, Pretty Vanilla, and possibly the Tough Shits. How much would you pay? Actually, I don't know 'cause they're not telling, and there have been too many ten-dollar Thursday night shows lately (that's too much dammit!) but this is a really good lineup...

Also on the agenda for the evening: Boogaloo Shampoo at Beauty Bar NYC (Soul music in Brooklyn) and Thursday Thump at Enids (Punk, Glam, and Psych). Both FREE.

Last weekend was incredible (that sounds familiar..) so give 'yer liver a rest (getting less familiar...) and get ready for the second half of the week!

Marcus

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Ponderosa Stomp in NYC

Did you know they're doing a Ponderosa Stomp here in New York? Yup, and it's this week too. You might want to stop reading this and go buy tickets now. Then come back and read the rest of my post. Please? I put a lot of work into it (sob!)

Monday

What is up with Monday? You used to be so cool! Once again, nothing going on Monday. I guess we're all going to the BBQ at the Soft Spot?

Tuesday

Thank you reliable Hot Dog! (I predict that we will soon be the #1 hit on Google for that phrase.) Once again Bar Matchless hosts Hot Dog!, a weekly night of 50's and 60's R'n'B, Soul, Garage Rock and more. 2-for-1 drinks, no cover, and a rotating cast of DJs tag team style (sorry folks, we're still working on getting the steel cage for deathmatches).

Wednesday

Finally some options! In Manhattan, Mr. Fine Wine spins Soul Music downstairs at Botanica and New York Night Train does its Punk DJ night at Motor City Bar. Over in Brooklyn, Swimsuit Edition at Savalas features DJs spinning Garage, Surf, and Rockabilly music. There's gotta be something you like, right?

Note that despite what our calendar said previously, Copycat is not this week. Unfortunately, Google Calendar ain't all that bright. They'll be doing a Kinks tribute next week, so watch for it!

It may also be time to make a little public confession. Here goes: (ahem) I personally have never been to any of these three DJ nights, just the Tuesday and Thursday ones. Yes, I admit it, I suck. So this week I promise (in public) to hit all three and see what they got goin' on. Who's with me?

Thursday

Did you know they're doing a Ponderosa Stomp here in New York? Yes, by the time you've read this far you probably know that. More info here. Thursday night is Soul and R&B night featuring William Bell, Harvey Scales, and The Bobettes, with The Bo-Keys.

Also on Thursday, the Magnetic Field Reunion Cruise featuring performances by Bunnie England & The New Originals ("The world's best karaoke band") and you.

If you're in more of a dancing mood, you might want to check out Boogaloo Shampoo at Beauty Bar NYC (Soul music at a great venue in Brooklyn for FREE) or Thursday Night Thump at Enids (Punk, Glam, and Psych Rock, also FREE).

I am very proud of the fact that I didn't mention Michael Jackson a single time at any point in the last few weeks, and now that his death is over, I finally feel that it is okay to say: dang.

Marcus

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Wet Tshirt Season Arrives in Subtropical New York

Happy Fourth of July! From now on, New York's Summers will be like South Texas' - sudden thundershowers in the middle of the day (every day) and the humidity will never go away!

Unlike South Texas however, we've got a fair amount to do at night (besides throwing molotov cocktails at oil refineries or putting the alligator clips on your neighbor's landline and calling other bored people in places like Moldova... anyone? no? ok...).

Kicking off the heavy weekend action, we've got the following juicy bits:

TONIGHT (Thursday):

Mr Robinson et al continue their monthly dj night at Heathers in Alphabet City. FREE.

Jonathan Toubin's got a rock'n'roll gig at Glasslands with excellent San Diegans Thee Oh Sees plus more, then an afterparty at Brooklyn's Beauty Bar (way out on Broadway). $? (Afterparty free)

Some pal of JT's named Ivan is DJing at Enid's in Greenpoint in case you live in the area and don't want to buy the necessary umbrella / take the car service to keep dry. FREE.

Mr. Jay Reatard is at Music Hall of Williamsburg (although we hear TV Smith of Adverts has cancelled) $15?

Psych Rockers Heavy Hands are at Union Pool... $?

and The Germs are at Mercury Lounge! $?

FRIDAY -- "Independence Day Eve"

Remarkably quiet on the Western Front-- Jonathan Toubin decided to capitalize and is putting on Soul Clap at Glasslands with Billy & Miriam of Norton Records plus a bevy of frankly too-indie-for-us judges. $3 cover includes part time open beer bar, plus you might win the dance contest (hint: practise to James Brown).

We assume Sr. Styles is at his usual Manhattan Beauty Bar perch for another Smashed Blocked as well. FREE

Also there are DJs at Legion including Ambassador Hazy (I'm guessing soul?) FREE.

SATURDAY -- "Fireworks Day" (on the Hudson river this year, so good luck seeing them from Brooklyn)

Sr. Toubin has his third day without sleep in a row, this time organizing the all day and night extravaganza at Union Pool featuring 24 bands supposedly playing 4 songs each (If I recall, Little steven tried this a few years ago and it didn't go so well!) Still, plenty of great Brooklyn garage-punkers including Stalkers, Jadewalkers, Love-Struck, Fresh Kills, K-Holes, and almost anyone who's played Glasslands in the past 6 months. $5 all day, Taco Truck a'cookin' outside. Bands outside (weather permitting) until 8 and then in the back room. Oh and tons of DJs of course.

DJs Jumpy & Mr Vacation try their hands at Bushwick Country Club's afternoon-night DJ gig on Grand St. FREE.

Unsteady Freddie braves douchey Manhattan crowds for his monthly Surf Nite gig with bands & DJs at Otto's. FREE.

Brooklyn's Beauty Bar hosts Professor Z & Captain Heartlock for Freedom Freakout! a night of 60's dance tunes. FREE.

SUNDAY -- "the day your head hurts because you drink wine AND whiskey the night before"

Cool off your hangover at Union Pool (where else?) with Andy Maltz & Dave the Spazz DJing the front room. FREE.

Stay dry (unless you've got two X chromosomes) -- see ya round!

SHIMMY

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At night there ain't no Sun, but surely there'll be some Fun.

What a week for dancing and, well, uh, mostly just dancing...

Yeah, it should finally be Summer this week, or at least that's what the weatherman says. But whatcha gonna do once you're done baking yourself? Unless you like to hit the beaches of New York while the Sun is busy lighting up Zimbabwe, you'd better have some other plans. Please allow us to assist you...

Monday

DJ Emma Vikingskull of The Jadewalkers is spinning tonight at Double Down Saloon. She'll be spinning punk, R&B, garage rock and everything in-between, and that there will be no cover.

Tuesday

Going dancing again tonight? Why not head on up to Greenpoint and check out Hot Dog! at Bar Matchless? DJs spinning R&B, Garage Rock, Soul and 60s sounds, no cover and 2-for-1 drinks all night. Or how about giving Lost & Found Soul DJ night at Savalas in Williamsburg a shot? Also no cover (we think).

Free your feet by freeing your wallet... to buy more drinks!

Wednesday

New York Night Train and their weekly guest DJs return to spin Punk, Garage Rock, and who knows what else at Motor City Bar. And once again, Mr. Fine Wine spins Soul music at his regular gig at Botanica. Both are in Manhattan, and admission to both is free.

News Flash - On Wednesday night Stalkers will be playing at the premiere of Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry at Tribeca Cinemas. They're on at 11pm, after the movie, which is about legendary tattoo artist Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins. AND this Wednesday night it's "The Pub" down at Otto's. Performances by Alana Amram and Aunt Fuzz from Sweden, with DJ Emma Vikingskull (who is having very a busy week).

Thursday

If your feet have Soul then head on over to Beauty Bar Brooklyn for Boogaloo Shampoo. The place is brand new and reel purdy. Or if you prefer a night of punk, glam, and psych rock then check out the Thursday Night Thump at Enids. This week featuring DJ Dave of the band Sorceress. Maybe he's also reel purdy, I dunno.

If you hear about any other good stuff drop us a line. Now go on and move those feet! Unless of course you are browsing our lovely website on your iPhone while already dancing, in which case... stop stepping on me!

Marcus

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A slow week a'comin.

Perhaps it had to be this way. This week had to be dead so that next week can be undead. That's right folks, The Mummies aren't playing for another week and a half but the whole garagepunk community already seems to be marking time. In fact we were going to put up a Mummies countdown clock on this very site, but we all have tickets to different shows...

Or maybe everyone's going to see Art Brut? They're playing five gigs, one each night Monday through Friday, all at the Mercury Lounge. They're doing five gigs and The Mummies are only doing three. Capitalism fucks up once again.

Monday

Captain Heartlock and Professor Z return to their usual Monday gig spinning Garage and Soul at the Monday Night Burlesque at Public Assembly. If you're not up for that on Monday, then we cannot help you.

Tuesday

All right folks, if you're a fan of Art Brut then this it the night to see them, unless of course you bought the $50 five-night passes (yes this is a real thing). Opening on Tuesday are faux French rockers Les Sans Culottes. Be sure to show up early 'cause this will be your best chance to dance.

If for whatever reason you feel like skipping that show, why not check out Hot Dog! at Bar Matchless? No cover, 2-for-1 drinks and R&B, Garage Rock, Soul and 60s sounds. Or how about dancin' to Soul, Funk and Latin music at Lost & Found at Savalas.

Wednesday

Check out New York Night Train and their weekly guest DJs spinning Punk and Garage rock at the Motor City Bar, or Mr. Fine Wine as he returns to spin Soul music at his weekly gig at Botanica. Or both. You can go after seeing Art Brut! Or before! Or during!

What's this, a last minute addition? All Hell will break loose as CopyCat throws a Misfits tribute night at Otto's Shrunken Head. Featuring all-girl Misfits cover band Ghouls Night Out and New Jersey "toilet rock" (word of the day material?) band Slaw.

Thursday

Do ya' like the Soul music kids? 'Cause tonight you have options! DJs Mr. Robinson and Dos Platos will be spinning 50s, 60s and Soul music at Heathers (winners of the "most confusing website" award), and the Soul dance galore called Boogaloo Shampoo will be at the new Beauty Bar Brooklyn (not the one in Manhattan). If you'd rather dance to garage, surf and rockabilly music then check out Swimsuit Edition at Savalas. Or hey, why not rock out to punk, glam and psych rock at the Thursday Night Thump at Enids? So many options, and they're all free.

Next week: The Mummies, the Northside Festival, the Detriot Cobras, and a Hullabaloo! at Don Pedro. Next week: actually worth writing about.

Marcus

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Sweatin' never felt so cool.

We know very well that you'll all be going to see King Khan and Mark Sultan next weekend. Better get yer dancin' in early!

Additional note: no that's not them.

Monday

Where better to bust some moves than at the Monday Night Burlesque at Public Assembly? DJs Captain Heartlock and Professor Z spin Garage and Soul music for your pleasure.

Okay, there's something (what could it be?!) about this gig which always brings out the worst of my bad punmanship, but I have no doubt that it's a swell place to get down. And even if it isn't, it's the only place to go dance to Garage and Soul music on Monday night, so deal.

Tuesday

Once again Hot Dog! returns to Bar Matchless once again (I said it once again, you got a problem with that?) Once again featuring no cover, 2-for-1 drinks and the finest R&B, Garage Rock, Soul, and whatever else the DJs feel like spinning all night long. I know I'll be there (Ed: no, he won't! Really! We mean it!).

Savalas may be hosting Lost & Found, a night of Soul, Funk and Latin music. I cannot confirm that because once again our calendar says "Unconfirmed". It would be lovely if someone would head over there sometime, confirm that this thing is happening, and then tell us. You can leave feedback on our website, www.garagepunknyc.com.

Wednesday

This Wednesday look for New York Night Train Wednesday at Motor City Bar. This week featuring Micki Pellerano, who appears to be a visual artist of some sort. We're not sure exactly how that's gonna work, but sometimes predictability is overrated.

Also look for Mr Fine Wine at his usual (and we do mean usual: he's been doing it every Wednesday night since 1996 apparently) Soul DJ Night. Head to Botanica in the city and go on downstairs to the room containing the cage they've been keeping him in for the past 13 years and enjoy!

Thursday

If you happen to like live music, this really ain't the week for you. While our calendar mentions a show featuring Mondo Topless and The Anabolics at Crash Mansion, further research suggests that the show is on Friday somewhere in Philadelphia. Needless to say, "oops". The person in charge of our calendar will be sacked. Then we will tie up the sack with a nice sturdy rope and throw it into the East River. Then we will nuke the East River from orbit.

So anyway, if ya' wanna dance you can always head on over to Boogaloo Shampoo, a "soul dance galore" at the Beauty Bar. Or what about shakin' it to the sounds of punk, glam, and psych rock at Thursday Night Thump at Enid's? Oh yeah, no excuse to stay home that night.

(Note to FBI: that was a joke. Although GaragePunkNYC did not sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty we are not currently nuclear-capable. We also do not possess the technology to send a craft into orbit although admittedly DJ Shimmy is quite tall.)

First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. After that, apparently they dance with you.

Marcus

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Dance the Weekday Blues Away

Did you enjoy your weekend? You did? I'm so happy for you! Now get back to work!

Yeah, we all know Monday is a drag. Tuesday, Wednesday, and the rest of those weekdays too. But the weeknights are filled with musical pleasures, if only you dare to let yourself go...

MONDAY

What could possibly spice up a Monday night? How about the unique blend of soul, funk, Latin rhythms and rock-n-roll known as Garotas Suecas? All the way from Brazil, they will be joined by local blues-rockers New York Howl and DJ Jonathan Toubin. At Zebulon, at 9, cost unknown. My crystal ball says it could be free, but my crystal ball is a filthy liar and anyway it's just an old bowling ball which is why the answer is always something like "three".

TUESDAY

Hot Dog! returns to Bar Matchless on Tuesday night. Featuring some of our favorite local DJs, it starts at 8 and drinks are 2-for-1 all night. That's quality and quantity right there, folks! There are also unconfirmed speculative reports that I just made up right now which say that Lost & Found will be at Savalas. Those of you who want to get your funk on might just want to stop on by.

WEDNESDAY

In Manhattan, our old friend DJ Jonathan Toubin (remember him?) and some of his DJ associates will be at Motor City Bar for New York Night Train DJ Night. And how about this, Mr. Fine Wine of WMFU fame will be spinning soul music at Botanica.

Back here in Brooklyn we're looking forward to catching The Vondelles, The Demands and Casino Evil at Public Assembly. Also featuring DJ Chandler, it should be Mayhem. Chaos! The Rock-n-Roll Apocalypse! Hell, Manhattan's missin' out...

Hey there New Jersey, we didn't forget about you! Check out the garage-rock stylings of The Martinets. They'll be joining the New York Howl to rock Maxwell's starting right around 8:30 or so.

THURSDAY

What, you want more? How about Boogaloo Shampoo at Beauty Bar and Thursday Night Thump at Enid's? And let's not forget Swimsuit Edition at Savalas. That's right folks, if your legs are still working at this point then you will have further opportunities to use them. And that's how to dance the weekday blues away...

Marcus

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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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CRAZY, CRAZY, CRAZY!

Philadelphia's Tough Shits play Lit Lounge tonight with the Stalkers
After a couple of weeks of relative doldrums since New Years, New Yak is back in the swing of things with a ton of events this week. So much so, this post is only going to cover Tuesday through Thursday action!

First off tonight we have the long-running Hot Dog! DJ night at Matchless in Greenpoint. As always, multiple DJs will be on hand trading in soul, garage, punk & rnb, there will be 2 for 1 drinks all night long AND there's no cover... but there's also a great live act in the main room around 10 o'clock tonight, Dave "Uncle Heavy" Luther's 50's style yakety sax R'n'B band, the Stick-Ups. The action starts at 8 and will go late late, guaranteed.

Also tonight in Brooklyn we've got local avant punks Golden Error at Monster Island for a ToddP show.

And if you're jonesin' for some city action, the Stalkers top a triple threat bill at Lit Lounge with new bffs the Tough Shits from Philly and longtime bffs the Electric Shadows from right here in Brooklyn. I believe Josh Styles (and Jonathan Toubin?) are DJing this late too. Cover is $6 and the action starts around 9:30.

Tomorrow night Chapel Hill's Spider Bags play Maxwell's in Hoboken, WFMU's Mr Fine Wine is at his usual DJ spot at Botanica in the city and Jonathan Toubin is DJing at Motor City Bar. Not sure on the Maxwell's cover but the latter two are FREE all night.

Finally Thursday, a double dose of New York Night Train DJ action-- Boogaloo Shampoo (a soul night) at Beauty Bar featuring the ubiquitous Toubin and a satellite party at Enid's in Greenpoint called Thursday Thump (psych, glam, punk djing). Both are free. Also Brooklyn's Golden Triangle are live at Don Pedro.

That's it for today. Don't drink too much kiddies. And buckle up, it's the law.

SHIMMY

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LATE BREAKERS! NYC Weekend Action

OK there's still not much going on this week, especially compared with next week, but here are a few late suggestions for the weekend:

Tonight:

Jumpy & Mic-Lo spin 60's garage & stuff @ The Dressing Room in L.E.S. Also in the city is New York Night Train's Jonathan Toubin with his 60's night at Home Sweet Home, and finally Dylan "Otto" Bahn is back at K&M in Williamsburg with Barf-o-Rama (Soul, Garage, 70's night). All three events are FREE!

SATURDAY there's the aforementioned Gary Fury & Golden Triangle/K-Holes shows. There's also Goner Records' Box Elders and HoZac records' Medication @ Market Hotel in case you're inclined to trek into Bushwick in this damn snowy/icy cold for a ToddP show. If not, well then... stay home! (CORRECTION: Jumpy is only back at Huckleberry on January 31st!)Jumpy is back in Brooklyn with Girlsoul @ Soul-A-Go-Go, his great FREE 60's soul night at Huckleberry in Williamsburg.

Next week, we've got much to discuss...

KEEP WARM!

SHIMMY

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And now for something COMPLETELY different (this weekend)

OK here's a couple of other things to do this weekend in case you can't stand me (why?!) or Charles (OK, understandable).

At Lucky Cat, Jumpy and Dylan "Otto" Bahn are hosting what could be the last-ever "Greasy!" 60's DJ night if rumors about the venue's future are true. That one's free so wander by there early or late.

There's Eula Cooper, 60's soul doyenne at the "Dig Deeper" night happening in the 5 Spot Soul Supper Club in under-Brooklyn (my new name for the area south of Williamsburg and environs) backed by the Sweet Divines-- $15 at the door.

New York Night Train isn't taking the weekend off either-- Sr. Toubin and crew are putting on a mish-mash DJ night at Live with Animals/Secret Project Robot on the river side of the burg also tomorrow. There is a cover, not sure how much.

Also tomorrow the Rhodes, a band I've heard a lot about, are playing at Don Pedro. And, for Sunday hangover action, head over to Mercury Lounge for the Electric Mess and Your 33 Black Angels.

SHIMMY

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