MUSIC: TITS UP BROOKLYN by Medea Hoar

Happy Summertime everyone! It’s been a hot one, figuratively and literally speaking. Took a little vaca last month and put my musical musings on hold while I re-charged the proverbially batteries.

But now your lovely Medea is back with a vengeance! Vengeance is a word that may bring aggressive images to front of mind. That’s a bit of a preview into this month’s column on the more critical, yet thought provoking, heavy dark music that surrounds us in Brooklyn.

Some crave a Summer soundtrack for the chaos that has become our daily lives. People are stressed and the heat makes tempers short, and fuses get lit all too quickly. What better an outlet for angst than the thump of the percussion and guitars so loud your whole body vibrates with each chord?

“Are you gonna bark all day, little doggie or are you gonna bite?” (Micheal Madsen, Reservoir Dogs)

I went looking for music with a bit of bite this month.

In the dark depths of Brooklyn’s dive/metal bar scene we (the royal we) find ourselves leaving the heat of the blazing sun and entering a darker, doom metal world of Lucky 13 Saloon on Sackett Street, in an industrial area of Gowanus. On this particular Friday night, July 18th, there is a four-band line up: The Green Hog Band, Sonic Taboo, MZZTR and Sundrifter. All metal and doom bands, clad in black, but a friendly bunch of mensches you’d never meet. I arrive promptly at 7:30 for an 8 pm start time. The bar still has outdoor seating, which everyone was enjoying before the show begins.

As I enter the venue, after having to show ID at the door I am greeted with a wide variety of beverages, including quite a few non-alcoholic options and ear plugs! Making my way to the back, I part the curtains and enter the metal lair for the first band, The Green Hog Band. Green Hog Band is a Brooklyn based band founded in 2019 by father son duo Mike (guitar) and Ivan (bass/vocals)Antipov, which now includes long time friend Art (guitar) and keeping the beat heavy is Bill (drums). The band’s sound was tight, loud and they were smiling at each other most of the time, obviously enjoying every minute. Ivan was center stage, not the norm for the bass player but with his growling vocals, front and center was where he should be. Flanked by Mike stage left and Art stage right, these three guitarists brought the audience inside and house down. How Bill kept up on drums is beyond me, he was a blur of sticks, faster than the speed of sound.

Finally, I must give Lucky 13 Saloon mad props. They have a great stage and sound system, very professional. The venue offers Metal Karaoke nights, burlesque, original music, cover band nights, and film screenings. A little something to feed everyone’s dark soul.

Later in the month I ventured out to another new to me venue, Bridge and Tunnel Brewery, Decatur St., bordering Bushwick and Ridgewood, easy to get to from the L Train. I would describe the venue as a low-tech, microbrewery with high quality craft beers, kombuchas, etc… that supports local causes and indy hardcore punk bands.

As I was out on a school night, I could only stay for the first band in the lineup of the five amazing acts that were playing that night: A.P.E., Crowd the Airwaves, Cellophane Kiss, O’Laochra and Lost Dog. And what a treat it was as the band A.P.E. (Anti-People Entertainment) opened the show and came out swinging. The quartet is from Western Massachusetts and were super-stoked to be playing the Big City for the first time on their weekend mini-tour. The DIY Bridge & Tunnel Brewery also had a small DIY stage, so small that the lead singer/guitar player had to play on the floor in front of the rest of the band. But these young dudes were super professional, kept playing while dodging the dervish-like moshers that filled up the floor within minutes of their first song and navigated broken strings like it was nuthin’. This was punk, alive and well and in its purest form. Bring your earplugs!

Hot days and cool nights lay ahead, with the three-day Rockaway Beach Surf Music Festival from August 22-24 at The Rockaway Bazaar, Beach 97th St, on the Boardwalk. Nine bands from Maine to New Jersey over the three days and all for free! Get lei’ed on the boardwalk before the summer ends!

And with that, I must leave you my dear friends. The dog days of summer have surely descended upon us. Keep it sleazy and greasy and I’ll catch you on the flipside. As always, your musical muse holds you in my heart. Peace and love to all.
Lucky 13 Saloon, 644 Sackett Street, Gowanus
Bridge & Tunnel Brewery, 15-35 Decatur St., Ridgewood
Rockaway Bazaar, Beach 97th St., Rockaway Beach