The Siren Music Festival, which started in 2001, is one of the ways the Village Voice has been giving back to the New York community. The free weekly paper, known for it’s edgy writing, and covering everything from underground stories to popular topics, has been throwing one of the best indie rock festivals on the East Coast for the last nine years.
First of all, the setting is cool. Don’t know what cool is? Blend old school Las Vegas and Hunter S. Thompson, and transplant them to a beach in Brooklyn, with amusement rides that are older than your grandfather. You haven’t lived until you’ve ridden the Cyclone, a landmark since 1927, and one of the oldest roller coasters that is still operating in the US. If you’ve never been to Coney Island, it’s like taking a trip back in time. The neighborhood, which has been somewhat seedy for the last thirty years, gives you a glimpse into the cool world of New York that existed before the gentrification of many neighborhoods. Throw in several thousand hipsters, some great rock bands and DJs, and you’ve got one hell of a party, with an eclectic backdrop of course.
It was only fitting that the Village Voice, purveyors of community coolness, would pick this spot to host a music festival each July. This year’s festival on Saturday, July 18th, included acts from Built To Spill, The Raveonettes, Spank Rock, Frightened Rabbit, Grand Duchy, and many more. There were two stages, with sixteen performances from bands and DJ’s, to keep you entertained from afternoon until well after sunset.
I chose to spend my afternoon at the Main Stage since there was a press pit that gave me a great view of the show, plus free beer. The sun was shining, and I thoroughly enjoyed the sets from Grand Duchy, The Raveonettes, and Built To Spill.
Grand Duchy, from Oregon, is the collaboration between Black Francis aka Frank Black, front man from the über-famous band the Pixies, and his wife Violet Clark. Violet on bass and Frank on guitar, both with soft vocals, were a nice mix of pop and good old rock. The crowd was packed to see them in the late afternoon, and hear tracks such as “Love Sick,” “Fort Wayne,” and “Vapors,” off of their recent album Petits Four from Cooking Vinyl Records. Their young son hung out stage-side, looking on proudly. He can really claim that his mom and dad rock!
The next set was taken by The Raveonettes, the Danish ex-pats composed of Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo. The band can only be described as laid back cool. They attribute their musical influences to 1950’s and 60’s bands, including The Velvet Underground, and their name is a combination of the The Ronettes, and Buddy Holly’s song “Rave On.” The drummer and bass player who joined them on stage were from the Danish band Mellemblond, and seemed to fit in naturally.
The Raveonettes, with punchy drum beats and guitar chords that pierced through the air, played a solid set that includes songs such as “Aly, Walk With Me,” and “Love In A Trashcan.” At one point I looked back to the crowd and saw most people bopping their heads to the mellow beats. Sune and Sharin are finishing up their upcoming album titled In and Out of Control, which will be available October 6th from Vice Records. They have a North American tour planned for October and November, so hopefully they will be coming to play your town.
The headlining act needed no introduction. Built To Spill, from Boise, Idaho, has been entertaining since 1992. Formed by front man guitarist/vocalist Doug Martsch, the band has had a rotating line up over the years, but now includes the permanent members of Scott Plouf, Jim Roth, Brett Nelson and Brett Netson, in addition to Martsch.
Built To Spill puts other touring bands to shame. They’ve racked up a good deal of miles over the years, playing a large number of shows since 2003. I was excited to hear that they were playing the Siren Music Festival, and I enjoyed my front row view as the sun set over Coney Island. The band rocked out tunes from their epic 2006 album You In Reverse, and I sang along to songs such as “Goin’ Against Your Mind,” Liar,” “Conventional Wisdom,” and “The Wait.” The band seemed like they were having fun, except for when Martsch’s guitar amp died in the middle of “Goin’ Against Your Mind.” Like pros, they carried on, and the crowed kept singing along. Built To Spill is touring the Western states over the next couple of months, so go check them out.
