As an alternative to listening to Christmas carols all week...

The Specific Heats bring their garage-psych sound and
their Thanksgiving dinner to Bruar Falls on Tuesday
because even poultry deserves its 15 minutes of fame.

Monday

Glad All Over! hosts a show at Bowery Electric featuring the (cheese-inspired?) heavy rock of Humboldt Fog and the crunchy-like-a-cracker psych-rock of Whooping Crane, with DJ Lupe Loop spinning the platters. Sounds delicious. Not sure how much it will cost, and no the show does not start at 6pm like it says on someone's MySpace calendar (more like 9pm, which is to say, 10pm).

Also on the agenda, DJ Knifefight spins all "pre-Beatles" rock-n-roll at Art Land Bar. Great music, convenient location, free pool all night, and no cover. It all starts at 10pm (which is to say, 9pm, at least the last time I was there).

I saw a webpage for a show this weekend which said that the show "starts at 9pm, doors at 12pm"*. Have we forgotten how time works, folks?

Tuesday

The Bowery Electric has another good show tonight featuring Organs, Love Pirates and Kelle Calco. Sorceress is probably not on the bill, unless perhaps the show was double-booked? That has been known to happen. Their show this weekend featured a comedian in between two of the bands Maybe this time there will be a contortionist or magician or human floor or something?

Did we mention that the Specific Heats are headlining at Bruar Falls? Not so sure about the other bands, but it's a free show, so check 'em out.

As always, Hot Dog! is at at Bar Matchless on Tuesdays. Featuring DJs spinning 50's and 60's R'n'B, Doowop, Gospel, Soul, Funk, Garage Rock, Punk, and more. No cover, 2-for-1 drinks all night, from 8 'till late. Oh, and it's our friend Tara's 30th birthday party, so you might be able to mooch some free cake.

Wednesday

Time once again for CopyCat at Otto's Shrunken Head. Not sure what they're covering this week, but for the low low price of $0 you get to catch The Bowery Boys and Sousalves. DJ Xerox spins cover songs all night. Oh, and there's free pumpkin pie "while supplies last" (you know it's the holidays when people start offering you dessert everywhere).

If you're looking for a DJ, have you ever come to the right night. DJ Reverend Vince spins Soul, Gospel and R&B at Savalas. Motor City Bar hosts its traditional Thanksgiving celebration called New York Night Train Wednesdays, a night of punk, rock, and other loud musical offerings. And of course there's Mr. Fine Wine at Botanica spinning his finest Soul grooves (you know, the ones on his records).

Thursday

It's Thanksgiving, so go hang with your family!

If your family happens to like going out and partying while listening to Punk Rock, Rockabilly and more (and that don't mean Christmas carols, folks) then may we suggest the No Thanks-Giving party at Bruar Falls with DJs Just Derek and Seanzi Dirtbag. That's where Mommy and I will be. As an alternative, Jonathan Toubin is DJing Thursday Night Thump this week at Enid's, where they have a wonderful apple pie (and some tasty beats no doubt).

Marcus

* By the way, 12pm is actually noon. Yeah, come on in nine hours early to have a "few" drinks before the show. Not sure if that was a little bit of stupidity or a huge heapin' pile of audacity...

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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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That Was The Month That Was: Marcus's Pick

The Brimstones @ Otto's
Photo by Christophe Lopez-Huici

In a month of raucous shows, the single craziest had to be the Midnight Monster Hop last Saturday at Otto's Shrunken Head. The back room of Otto's is neither spacious nor well ventilated, and the place was packed by the time The Othermen took the stage. The combination of their wild garage sound and onstage energy sucked the crowd right in. Then they took it to the next level: they brought out a pizza. You know how a baseball game gets a lot more interesting when there's a beach ball around? (Or anything else for that matter... "oh look, the moon!") Well, likewise. Any attitude which was left in the room vanished as the crowd passed a large cheese pizza overhead and gobbled up all thirty or so tiny slices (how thoughtful!) while the band played a song called... "Pizza". It was ridiculous, and that made it extra cheese. I mean extra fun.

So if you had to pick a band which could top those guys, The Brimstones would be a really, really good choice. They're known for their onstage antics, but if your band inspires a guy to show up in a gorilla suit then it will be a show for the true antic connoisseur. It got crazy fast, with people trying to swing dance in the crowd, a small mosh pit, and lots of species-baiting of the gorilla guy. Some of the audience couldn't take the heat (I cannot imagine how the gorilla guy managed) but those who remained got to watch a female audience member try to join the band by playing organ. Personally I couldn't hear it, but if a lovely lady wants to drape herself over a Farfisa and knock a glass right off of it and into the audience where it smashes on the floor (not the first one that night) then who am I to complain?

Oh, and the show was free. Fuck. Yeah.

Marcus

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You cannot read this blog.

A friend of mine tells me that GaragePunkNYC is blocked by the web filtering software at his workplace due to "sexual content". Yes, really. Personally, I blame Shimmy's profile photo.

For those of you who have all of the necessary permissions and permits to read this blog, hello! I cannot tell you what the weather will be like this week, but I can tell you how to have a good time: write for a blog and make fun of your co-authors. Figure out their passwords and change their profile photos. Or you can just go to some of these excellent shows and DJ nights in the New York area.

Monday

For the last time, at least anytime soon, Emma Vikingskull (recently featured in SPIN by the way) will DJs night of pub rawk at Double Down Saloon, a dive bar in the LES. Afterwards she's heading back to Sweden, which as we all know is a nation composed entirely of sexual content, so if you haven't been there yet, go go go! (I mean Double Down)

Edit: Never mind, it's not happening this week.

Tuesday

Do I even have to tell you? Hot Dog! at Bar Matchless. Repeat after me: no cover, 2-for-1 drinks, and different DJs every week spinning Garage Rock, Soul and R&B (copy-and-paste magic right there). If you haven't been there yet, then I suck at this.

Wednesday

This could be a really long day for some of us. Kicking off the evening while it's still light out, Nouvellas bring their rockin' take on Soul music to McCarren Park for a free show. If you haven't been there yet, it's a park known for its sexual content. Anyway, weather permitting, the performance should start around 7pm since they're on before a free showing of the movie Fame which will start at "dusk" (8pm? 8:30?). I personally plan to skip this particular movie (though the SummerScreen series ain't half bad, check it out) and head on over to Otto's Shrunken Head to catch a night of punk and garage rock featuring The Jadewalkers, The Othermen and Atlas Punch. This'll be one of the last Jadewalkers shows for a while since Emma Vikingskull is the lead singer of that band, so catch 'em while you can. Oh, both of those shows are free by the way.

Edit: So now the Nouvellas/Fame show is canceled because of possible thunderstorms. The weather is engaging in censorship as well, it seems.

If you're in New Jersey and don't feel like leaving the state you might just head to Maxwell's instead to catch Love (with Johnny Echols), Baby Lemonade and Beretta. Note that the Electric Prunes are no longer on the bill for this show (due to a disagreement with the promoters?)

Your afterparty options include Living For Kicks, a night of Soul, Garage, R&B and Rocksteady (?!) at the new Satellite Lounge in Brooklyn, Mr. Fine Wine's classic Soul night downstairs at Botanica in Manhattan, and the New York Night Train Garage and Punk night at Motor City Bar in the LES. They're all free.

Thursday

No live music tonight which we know of, so I get to copy-and-paste again. If ya' want something to do check out Boogaloo Shampoo for a night of Soul music at Beauty Bar NYC, Thursday Thump and its gourmet blend of Punk, Glam and Psych at Enids, and/or DJs Mr. Robinson and DosPlatos spinning 50s, 60s, and Soul music at Heathers. It's like being a kid in a candy store, with a gun, which is why you don't have to pay for anything (all shows no cover).

Here's a way to have some fun: look back through the old posts on GaragePunkNYC and try to find all of the sexual content. It's like a scavenger hunt! Whoever sends us the longest list of sexual content on GPNYC wins free admission to all Hullabaloo shows for the rest of the year. Just think of it as our one-year anniversary contest (ha!) We'll announce the winner in September after we have thoroughly evaluated all of your submissions ;) .

Marcus

P.S. Just kidding about the contest! But do look through the old posts on GPNYC. There's some hot stuff in there.

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Time to kick back and/or let loose.

Doing both at the same time looks kind of stupid, however.

FRIDAY

If you're in the mood to let loose tonight, perhaps you should head on down to Don Pedro for a night of rowdy rock-n-roll. Featuring Lubricated Goat (punk with an experimental edge), Shining Path (garage-psych), and Love-Struck (garage, punk, and rockabilly smoothie). Edit: And now it looks like the Back CCs (crazy early-style punk) will be joining them too!

Also tonight, SuperModelDeathDive returns to Bar Matchless. Featuring performances by Love City (kickass rock-n-roll) and The Rats (high-energy garage rock), and "cheesecake videos". DJs Brenda Brand and Chris Prorock will spin rock-n-roll records so that you can dance off those calories, I guess?

2nite too, The Shaydes (garage with bits of punk, psych, metal, sprinkles, and a cherry on top) will be performing at Otto's Shrunken Head. The show will feature other "60's style live bands", DJs Heartlock, Miss January 1963 and Kittybeat. And it's free!

Oh, and exactly two more other things will also be happening this evening. Double Down Saloon hosts Satan's Got Soul, with DJs Emma Vikingskull and Kymber Lee NYC. Not sure which one is Satan or whose soul they got (just don't sign anything while you're there). DJ Josh Styles and Billy and Miriam from Norton Records are the guest DJs tonight at Shakin' All Over Sideways Down. Ya' think Billy and Miriam might just have some good stuff to spin for ya'?

SATURDAY

Lotsa good stuff this Saturday too. First up, a birthday party for Anna Anabolic at Don Pedro. Her band the Anabolics, The Bamboo Kids, The Lost Crusaders, Mondo Topless, and Reckless Hearts are all on the bill. Go rock out and be jealous of the fact that your birthday party ain't even this cool.

The Mess Around, Organs, and a mess of other bands will be rockin' Greenpoint with a show at Tommy's Tavern. That one's the only free show of the night. Ty Segall from San Fran joins Charlie & The Moonhearts from Orange County to teach Manhattan how they rock out West. This month's Dig Deeper NYC features legendary Southern soul man Lenis Guess. Then there's the Dream Syndicate show at the Bell House. They'll be playing "Medicine Show" and will be joined by Steve Wynn and Miracle 3.

Here's a new thing (so pay attention!): Popcorn Children at Beauty Bar Brooklyn. Our pals DJ Ambassador Hazy and Miss Mary Clancey will spin soul and R&B until late (think "after party").

SUNDAY

Hey, somethin's happening at Don Pedro! No, really! It's garage-rock nirvana (note the lower-case "n") when Pincho Gringo, Dirty Little Heaters and The Siberians join forces. Or if ya' missed them the night before, Ty Segall and Charlie & The Moonhearts are playing a gig at Death By Audio just so we Brooklynites don't feel left out (so sweet!) Oh, and don't forget about DJs Andy Maltz and Dave The Spazz at Union Pool. They'll be spinning 50's, 60's, garage rock and soul until late.

Way too much good stuff goin' on this weekend. Unless you're stuck at home with a sprained groin, don't miss it!

Marcus

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The end of the week.

Yep, it's Nobunny's.

Did ya' miss him on Friday? Well get happy boys and girls, 'cause Nobunny is playing one more show tonight at Death By Audio in Brooklyn. Yes, the show finally appeared on their MySpace page, so it is happening. Also on the bill: Uzi Rash, Prism, Extreme Violence, White Wire.

If you missed Stupidity on Thursday and Friday and Saturday this week then you're probably too lazy to go to Otto's Shrunken Head tonight to catch their last performance in the New York area for a while. What's wrong with you? They were awesome at Don Pedro! Okay, okay, maybe you're not lazy but cheap. In that case catch an instore performance at The Record Collector in Bordertown, NJ. These Swedish garage-rockers will be joined by Philly garage-rockers Mondo Topless. The show starts at 7pm.

If 7pm is your idea of a "late start", Rock Star Bar is having a BBQ starting at 4. That's an hour ago! Local lampshade-wearing misc-rockers The Shaydes and Brooklyn punks The Totallys are on the bill. The music should start around 6.

As an after-party suggestion, may we recommend catching DJs Dave The Spazz and Andy Maltz spin garage rock, soul, rarities, and the music of the 50s and 60s in the front room of Union Pool. They start at 10pm and go late.

I'll be real honest: tonight rocks and the next few days look a little slow, so get off your seat and GO GO GO!

Marcus

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It's finally time to see what your friends look like under their Winter outfits.

Nothing ends. Nothing ever ends. Not even weekends.

MONDAY

There won't be any Winter outfits on display when DJs Captain Heartlock and Professor Z spin Garage and Soul music at the Monday Night Burlesque at Public Assembly.

Still reading after that horrible joke, eh? Well good for you, because there's some really interesting stuff going on later this week, and I assure you that the writing gets much better after this...

TUESDAY

There are always places to go and move 'yer feet on a Tuesday night. Several fine DJs will take their record collection for a spin as Hot Dog! returns to Bar Matchless. 2-for-1 drinks and all the cutest folks in all of Greenpoint! DJ Phast Phreddie (aka the Boogaloo Omnibus) spins 60s Go-Go records at Barrette right on down there in Prospect Heights. We hear there will be go-go dancers (Go-Go music seems to attract those types). Oh, and let's not forget about Lost & Found Soul DJ Night at Savalas.

WEDNESDAY

I personally have heard at least two bands cover "TV Eye" this month alone. If I wanted to hear it a third time then I might just head on over to Otto's Shrunken Head on Wednesday for Copycat. This time around they're featuring the musical catalog of one Ignatious "Iggy" Pop. Live performances by Soldiers & Idiots and Bowery Boys (also idiots?), with DJs Xerox and Allen Dias (clearly idiots), and loads of drunken karaoke idiots all of whom probably sing better than Iggy nowadays.

Also on Wednesday, Mr. Fine Wine returns to Botanica to spin Soul music for your dancing pleasure. New York Night Train will once again bring guest DJs to Motor City Bar

THURSDAY

It ain't cheap ($15 plus a two overpriced drink minimum), but if you can afford it Joe's Pub is hosting a rare(-ish) performance by The Mighty Hannibal. Backed by members of The Sweet Divines, the evening will also include a preview of the documentary "Showtime!" about the life and times of the Mighty One himself and Mr. Fine Wine spinning the Soul music for your pleasure.

If that's not up your alley, you can always check out Boogaloo Shampoo at Beauty Bar, Thursday Night Thump at Enids, and Swimsuit Edition at Savalas. There is plenty of fun to be had by the impoverished on Thursday!

Sleep is for the weak end.

Marcus (just be glad I didn't put a picture of Dr. Manhattan up there)

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CMJ Hell Week - The Conclusion!

LiveFastDie play a non-CMJ house party this weekend
It's ALMOST over.. the hordes of college kiddies let loose all over town, the iphones and porta-bloggers, stupid cover charges, douchy bouncers and badge whores. It's almost over. It's almost over. Just keep repeating...

Here's what there is this weekend. I recommend you steer clear of CMJ BS and hit some real shows that are probably more fun.

It should also be mentioned that the WFMU Record Fair begins today and runs through Saturday at 125 W. 18th St in Manhattan. If only I had more money...

all these shows plus directions & more info on the calendar: garage punk shows

NON-CMJ Shows: Friday
LiveFastDie & Liquor Store @ a House Party in Brooklyn. It'll be packed, it could get shut down but this sounds like the best bet this weekend.
The Electric Mess, GetSet, DJs @ Real Gone / Otto's in Manhattan. Long-running 60's garage night, never sure if there's a cover on this one, maybe not. Electric Mess are a new-ish garage punk band doing a lot of good covers from what I hear.
Jonathan Toubin & Josh Styles @ Home Sweet Home tonight- I think no cover. Good DJ night for dancin'.

CMJ Shows: Friday
Vancougar @ Fat Baby tonight at 8:30 (poor bastards, whatta lame venue/time). Never seen em but there are fans of their
country-ish pop amongst the Goner crowd.
Los Straitjackets/Laika & the Cosmonauts @ Maxwell's - rockabilly & (Finnish) surf.
Black Lips @ "Antics Warehouse" - this sounds really questionable, it's sponsored by Toyota. Still, it's free with RSVP. I'm betting the Lips won't go on until at least midnight, possibly later.
Vivian Girls @ Cake Shop - their billionth show this week.
Jay Reatard @ Bowery Ballroom - listed as "1AM". Good luck on this one.

Non-CMJ Shows: Saturday
Greasy! 60's DJ night w/ Jumpy & Dylan "Otto" Bahn @ Lucky Cat... this week with Whooping Crane (band). Cover charged only
during the band, afterwards it's free.
Jay Reatard, King Khan & BBQ Show? @ Glasslands - this one is confusing, it's not a CMJ show, the lineup isn't 100% confirmed.
Harvey Scales / Sweet Divines backup @ Dig Deeper! Five Spot Supper Club, Brooklyn - Milwaukee Funk legend backed up by local girl soul group the Sweet Divines. Should be killer. $10 advance, $15 at the door.

CMJ Shows: Saturday
Straitjackets, Laika... and Dexter Romweber @ Southpaw
DMZ (full original lineup), Back CCs, Ex-Humans @ Maxwell's - apparently a CMJ show although Tim Warren booked it. Should be classic.

Also note Ivan Julian (Voidoids), Lenny Kaye (Blondie/Nuggets), James Chance (Contortions) @ Cake Shop Sunday night for a benefit show.

SHIMMY

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Hump Day / Yom Kippur Eve Celebration!

Thee Yetis appear at Otto's at 9PM tonight.
Tonight, being Hump Day AND Yom Kippur Eve (fasting means no alcohol, so get it in tonight!), is a particularly good time to check out New York's midweek action... check out our garage punk shows calendar including these events:

First up is the happy hour DJing of Miss Christina Ginger (Anabolics) and Frank (of Brooklyn's Above) at The Creek in Long Island City. Starting at 5 and running 'til at least 8 (possibly later), you can grab some Mexican food and hang at this weird venue near the B61 bus, the G train, or the 7 train (if you're coming from Midtown, in which case I suggest you start with some tequila).

Next we've got Thee Yetis, a formerly DC-based and now NYC-resident garage/punk band playing what we believe to be a free set at Otto's around 9PM. These youngins' tunes vary between Pebbles-ish garage to 70's punk pop and now have demo CDs on offer (cheap).

Finally we've got ever-present DJ Jonathan Toubin at Motor City Bar at 10PM, where there will be the usual crowd downing 'em rapidly and listening to the punkier side of his collection.

SHIMMY

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