Date: Wednesday, July 30th Time: 6:30pm - 9:30pm (doors, 6:00pm) Location: Tobacco Warehouse, Brooklyn Bridge Park (1 Main St, DUMBO) map Cost: Free
DUMBO's Music At the Bridge series continues tonight curated by the Gowanus' own Issue Room who, for one night only, will make the Tobacco Warehouse their home. The show features John Zorn's "Cobra, The Theremin Society, and Jonathan Kale. More info on the artists below. All ages.
John Zorn's Cobra
Composer and saxophone player, John Zorn is hard to fit into just one genre. He blurs the lines between numerous influences of jazz ensembles, rock, and symphony orchestras, while creating a unique experimental sound all his own. Written and premiered in 1984, Cobra is a classic in the circles of new music, having been performed innumerable times. In fact, composer and "prompter" John Zorn says it is his most-often-performed composition -- no mean feat considering his prolific output. It is no wonder, though: There is a mischievous, cartoonish quality to the sound of Cobra that epitomizes Zorn's style but also makes for continually fascinating listening. Based on the composer's secretive "game pieces," Cobra is “a fun-filled, mystical, blindfolded ride down a dark alley that circles back every few yards.” – Steve Loewy, All Music Guide.
Theremin Society
For those of us left out in the dark, the theremin is one of the earliest electronic musical instrument and is played without being touched. The Theremin Society was founded in December 2005 by ISSUE Project Room's Artistic Director Suzanne Fiol and thereminist Dorit Chrysler. The project focuses on the contribution of the theremin to 21st century musical culture and to the musicians who have devoted their careers to this instrument. It is sure to be a night of abstract artists experimenting with a wide range of musical language.
Jonathan Kane's February
Jonathan Kane is a Downtown NYC legend -- as co-founder of the no-wave behemoth Swans, and the rhythmic thunder behind the massed-guitar armies of Rhys Chatham and the rock excursions of La Monte Young -- and one of the hardest-hitting drummers on the planet. With his solo work, Kane summons Swans' concussive wallop, Chatham's dense guitarstrata, and the perpetual propulsion of 70s krautrockers Neu, then steers it all head-on into... the blues. Make no mistake about it: Kane is a bluesman, and beneath the high-decible bombast, he's powering guitar-driven minimalism into the blues, and the blues into guitar-driven harmonic maximalism. So roll with Jonathan Kane down his Highway 61 of the mind -- it's the shape of blues to come.
Date: Wednesday, July 30th Time: 7:00pm Location: Socrates Sculpture Park (31-01 Vernon Blvd, LIC, Queens) - directions Cost: Free
Now in its 10th year, Socrates Sculpture Park's Outdoor Cinema series combines performance, film, and food into a weekly, internationally-influences, sunset event. Tonight's celebrates the South Korea with Bong Joon-ho's satirical monster movie (and Korea's biggest box-office hit to date, The Host. The Song Hee Lee Dance Company performs and Korean cuisine (not free) is provided by Go Wasabi. Trailer below... all ages.
Date: Wednesday, July 30th Time: 7:00pm Location: Rockefeller Park (River Terrace and Warren St) - directions Cost: Free
"Avant Gershwin is Patti Austin's 2008 Grammy-winning, shimmering hour-plus tour-de-force through both familiar and obscure selections from the catalog of George & Ira Gershwin. A staple of pop, R&B and jazz over the past thirty years, Austin's versatile 16-album career rolls like a fascinating journey through those genres while also drawing wisdom and inspiration from The Great American Songbook." All Ages.
Date: Wednesday, July 30th Time: Dusk (around 8 or 8:30) Location: Pier 54 (14th st and the Hudson River) Cost: Free
On top of getting to watch movies outside on beautiful summer nights on the Hudson River, the other thing I like about River Flicks is every year they pick a central theme for their screenings. This year they take on the world of music in movies. Tonight's film is Dream Girls, about a trio of black female soul singers cross over to the pop charts in the early 1960's. Stars Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson and Anika Noni Rose. Seating is first come, first served, and as always the popcorn is free!
Date: Wednesday, July 30th Time: 8:00pm Location: McCarren Park Pool (Lorimer Street and Bayard Street, W'burg) Cost: Free but tickets can be reserved here
The Brooklyn-based theater company, Woodshed Collective presents Caridad Svich's Twelve Ophelias for free at McCarren Park Pool. "Twelve Ophelias centers on Hamlet's Ophelia coming back to life, out of the water, to try to overcome her history and forge a new destiny for herself. She finds herself in an Appalachian Elsinore, Denmark by way of Deliverance—where Gertrude runs a brothel, Hamlet and Horatio slum it, and nothing is what it seems. In this squarely American and gritty interpretation of the Hamlet myth, Twelve Ophelias asks how it is possible to break old cycles and start afresh when the past so completely permeates your life." Shows continue into August.
Date: Wednesday, July 30th Time: 8:00pm Location: Under St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place bet. 1st and A) Cost: Free
"Fine and Dandy is back for it's second season, and it's back with a vengeance. Comics Jodie Wasserman, Rob Shapiro and Mo Diggs. Performance artist and Comic genius Mike Dobbins. Musical Guests Nadsat Fashion, Kangero and Kierstin Gray and the premiere of the new film series 'Sinister Dexterity'. Free admission. No Drink Minimum. Cheap beer and wine. Great Air conditioning. The second best way to spend a summer night in the Big Apple."
Date: Wednesday, July 30th Time: 10:00pm Location: Kush (191 Chrystie St btw Stanton & Rivington) Cost: Free
Who is Lena Lollipop? All I can tell you is she's a faithful FreeNYC reader and to day is her birthday. If you've got a "sweet tooth" and like to get down to house and reggae music with an international crowd of party-goers then maybe its time you crashed the party. $3 drink specials all night. 21+
Date: Wednesday, June 30th Time: 10:00pm Location: Santos' Party House (100 Lafayette) Cost: $5
Now that the hype (or PR buzz) about Santos Party House has died down a bit its back to business as usual in the Big Apple. But don't be mistaken, tonight's Special Disco Version, is one of the best DJ-driven monthlies the city has to offer. "The DFA label hosts it's first regularly scheduled party in eons every other week at SPH, with head honcho James Murphy, his LCD Soundsystem bandmate and frequent deejaying partner Pat Mahoney, and Beats in Space’s Tim Sweeney spinning space disco, left-of center house and electro, dance-oriented rock and the like for a scruffy crowd of ruffians." Tonight's edition features Tim Sweeney with special guest Juan MacLean (DFA) who's been writing some very exciting house-leaning tracks as of late. Sample sounds below. Goes late. 21+
and just for good measure... this is Juan (John at the time) MacLean's old post-punk band from Rhode Island, Six Finger Satellite produced by DFA's James Murphy. Fan's of Fugazi, Cop Shoot Cop, and 6L6 take notice...
