Hey there Brooklyn! Welcome to “Tits Up Brooklyn!”, the first column about the musical mayhem that is happenin’ in our borough. I am musical maven Medea Hoar, your local music slut. Why music slut you may ask? Well, because, musically speaking, I’ll try anything once, and if I like it, you betcha I’ll be back for more.
Summer in the city may be over but the music scene in Brooklyn is hot! hot! hot! This past weekend in a matter of a mere 24 hours this muse enjoyed everything from bluegrass to blues to rock n’ roll.
Saturday’s final bluegrass jam of the season at the East Street Community Garden was jammed packed with musicians and audience members alike, ages 2 – 92 yrs. young. Every seat was full, and the community garden organizers had to find more as the afternoon went on. It was literally standing room only by the end. I noticed some musicians were even standing up and playing, just happy to be part of experience. Speaking of musicians, at least 15 attended that day, including a woman with a bass ukulele, a cantor from LI, two bass players that swapped back and forth, fiddle player, guitars, mandos, a resonator (aka dobro) and banjos.
Sad to see this summer music series come to a close this season, but the folks in charge indicated it would be back next year. In the meantime, there are two indoor/outdoor Brooklyn bluegrass jams for your listening pleasure: Bluegrass by the Bridge at Delia’s in Bay Ridge on Wednesdays and Sunday Afternoon Bluegrass at Prospect Bar & Grill, S. Slope.
After my afternoon adventure I was off to Young Ethel’s for a night of rock, punk, and topless men on stage at the Brooklyn Beat – No Class Reunion – a fundraiser for the documentary on the local scene at Lauterbach’s titled “Before it was Cool, The Brooklyn Beat from Lauterback’s”. I caught two of the seven acts performing that night, Chemical Wedding and Franks Museum, enjoyed the very best cocktails and chatted up the Merch Girl. It was a lively party atmosphere and the music I did get to hear sounded f’ing AMAZING! Tits Up Brooklyn Approved (TUBA)! These men and women are the OG’s of the gritty, no frills, in your face decades old rock n’ roll scene in Brooklyn. The bands were tight and could adapt to situations at a moment’s notice. Such a sense of community – “What? A broken bass? No worries, take mine!”
I think the one and only issue during the time that I was able to attend was the sound. I think it could have been done better. No judgement, ‘cause this is a judgement free (and bra-free) zone, but it’s just my .02.
Sunday in Brooklyn wouldn’t be complete without block parties and bluegrass. Block Parties just seem to pop up when the air feels a bit chilled at night but the days are warm, and the leaves begin to turn. I was just taking a stroll on a Sunday afternoon and BAM! there it was on 13th street, easy peasy and music too! The first band scheduled that day was Gig Slut (luv the name) but due to some personnel and travel difficulty, it was more of a free form jam. Super fun and easy listening, with various moving parts. I quite enjoyed it. Though it was disorganized, no one outside of the musicians really knew it, as the performers meshed perfectly. This was followed by local rockers Blastocyte, who once the vocals could be heard, were very entertaining and obviously having fun rockin’ out on the asphalt.
Because I wanted to stick with the date I came with (musically speaking only) I ended my day with the folks at the weekly Sunday Bluegrass Jam at the Prospect Bar & Grill. I just love this jam hosted by Sean Kershaw. Weather be damned, this place is good all year long. Great food, beverages, staff and it’s become a very social gathering for those with instruments and without.
With that, I leave you, my lovelies. Until we meet again on the streets of NYC, I shall remain your wordsmith muse, Medea Hoar. #bkmuses
East Street Community Garden, 171 E. 4th St., Windsor Terrace/Brooklyn 11218
Prospect Bar & Grill, 545 5th Ave., South Slope/Brooklyn 11215
Young Ethels, 506 5th Ave., South Slope/Brooklyn 11215
Delia’s Lounge & Restaurant, 9224 3rd Ave., Bay Ridge/Brooklyn 11209
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