Events: Now Through Saturday

First of all, I just want to mention that central Conn. or the area surrounding it is looking pretty good over the next few days. And with that, props to the Hartford Party Starters Union - they've got some parties planned that I am fully prepared to promote at least if not attend. (READ UP)

Tonight (Tuesday) we have 1) Tim Palmieri (vocals, lead guitar) of The Breakfast at The Space in Hamden, Conn. The Breakfast are a jam band...? Doors at 6 p.m., tickets are $8.

2) Manic is also putting on a show tonight at Cafe Nine in New Haven, Conn. with Tim Barry of Avail - doors at 8 p.m., $8 21+

For Wednesday, we've got a couple of options: 1) If you bought tickets to Vampire Weekend at Smith College, I'm assuming it's on the top of people's lists for a Wednesday night. According to Northampton Box Office, the show's not sold out yet. Even if it is come 7 or 8 p.m. the night of, there will most likely be scalpers. I'm not trying to call them out - I love the self-titled debut - but maybe they'll have new material by now?

2) We also have The Honors, along with a bunch of other names on the supporting bands list at The Space. The Honors are from Boston, Mass., have been touring the are for a while and will continue to do so well into the summer. They're an indie rock, alt band who The Space says sound like The Killers. Their frontmen even share the same name. Doors at 7 p.m., $10

Thursday will bring Kiss Kiss back to the area, hip-hop to CCSU and local VRSA into Cafe Nine.

1) WFCS 107.7 is hosting a hip-hop concert in Alumni Hall in the student center at CCSU at 11 p.m. - it's free! And they want you to know they have free food! Names like Milo Sheff, Kamoflauge, Grown Tone and QP as well as few CCSU student rappers are lined up for Thursday's show. Also, local DJs Wayne DeRoy and Earle Nelson will be spinning.

2) Kiss Kiss is always a good time. I've seen them once, but went with 2 people who have seen the band a few times before and keep coming back. More recently, they released their new record The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth. Plus, Kiss Kiss admittedly loves The Space and its crowd, so it looks to be good night. Doors at 7 p.m., $10

3) VRSA will be playing Cafe Nine with the Cloud Professors. Die Hipster Productions are putting on the show. Show at 9 p.m.

For Friday we have the Pains of Being Pure at Heart - I've been listening to their debut record for about 2 months and I've come to the conclusion that this show is probably too good to pass up for only $8. It's at the Wallingford American Legion - good times there, I hear. If you miss this show, however, the PoBPaH are playing the Iron Horse Music Hall on April 26 with Ponytail. 

2) Speaking of, Ponytail will be performing a free show at Wesleyan's Eclectic Society, a frat house-turned-venue. The shows always start way later, but the Web site says 9 p.m.

On Saturday, one of the Turkey's favs Bear Hands is making an appearance at Meriden's Daffodil Festival with Bottle Up and Go. 

2) Lastly, the Hartford Party Starters are putting on a show in Hartford, Conn. (yeah, Hartford) on Saturday with electronic/experimental band TheDeathSet and Ninjasonik.

Bear Hands, Kiss Kiss @ The Space, Jan. 8

We got photos from Thursday night's show at The Space in Hamden - it wasn't actually as dark in there as these photos would have you believe. Brooklyn, N.Y.'s Bear Hands headlined. 

While Ed probably disagreed, the performance by the four-piece kept on pace with the night's earlier Kiss Kiss. The band said they finished up two new songs that week - "Belongings" and "Life at the Impound" - which they were enthusiastic about trying out at this live performance. Bassist Val Loper quickly claimed that "Belongings", a tune that doesn't stray far from the quartet's catalogue and is slightly more upbeat than the latter, was more of a success.

I'd argue that both, spread between the likes of "Bad Blood" and "Long Lean Queen" off their Golden EP kept the energy high and the crowd enthralled. I'll look forward to seeing these guys again, hopefully in Brooklyn, though Thursday's performance in their native Connecticut was gratifying.

Kiss Kiss, the acoustic Brudher and the overwhlemed See/Saw rounded out the ticket. 

Kiss Kiss - from Thursday's performance, I now understand what they mean when they say that the band is like a black house cat. Stylistically, they produce an elegant and glossy sound. Their music is a degree of deeper-brooding than My Chemical Romance, but much more open to the Eastern European mystery and old-world fun. 

Sweat, Booze and Floating Drums (and people) at The Market Hotel

It is for shows like last night's that I realize I need a camera, also the skills to take worthy photos. The show at The Market Hotel in Brooklyn, N.Y. that lasted until the sun began to rise this morning is proof. 

Headliners Monotonix took the divide-and-conquer route for their third performance of the day at 3:30 a.m. or so with the lead singer working himself and the crowd into a frenzy while drummer, guitarist pair held it down in the middle of the room. As if the act of dancing(?) with people on the makeshift bandstand wasn't enough, this guy managed to run around shepherding the nervous/excited crowd throughout the venue - dragging the drums with him for a continuous procession of beats and undecipherable screaming. 

I'll admit it seemed a little dangerous while the lead singer was prancing around or into groups of people (also rubbing his wet self up against unsuspecting bystanders like the shirtless fat guy from Along Came Polly), but somewhere amid a flurry of bodies, drumsticks, a lot of chest hair and ridiculous fretwork, it was a fulfilling adrenaline rush. When I find the photos of this band hoisting the singer up onto a bass drum and shoving him out into the crowd for surfing, I will certainly post them up here. 

Monotonix's performance, along with the build up by Bear Hands, Cut Off Your Hands and Crystal Antlers (I won't forget "Totally Michael") was more than worth the $7 and whatever we paid for the warm beer. 

And Monotonix is coming to you, Connecticut. They'll be at the Heirloom Arts Theatre in Danbury, Conn. on July 18. 

Photos: thepiratehat on Flickr

Photos From Day 1 of Not Brooklyn Fest

I'm too tired to say anything about tonight, so here's the photos from Day 1. Video will probably be up tomorrow after Day 2 photos go up. You can view the whole gallery from Day 1 here.


Bear Hands


Appleseed Cast


Cursive

Not Brooklyn Fest Tomorrow!

I think we said all there is to be said about Not Brooklyn Fest, however, we just wanted to remind you that it is tomorrow and we will be there. If you see us fumbling around with our cameras like idiots don't be shy to come say hello. Maybe we'll even sucker Ed into buying you a drink (if you're 21).

We're going to be doing the typical photos of both days of the event, so look for those Friday and Saturday evening, but we're going to be doing video again. Expect two sit-down interviews with Cursive and Bear Hands. If you happen to have any questions you really want the bands to answer, leave them in the comments section.

We'll also be asking you (as well as the bands) about the Connecticut music scene and other such questions. So, you have been warned!

See you there.