Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Jam Bands to Invade McCarren, Battle Between Hipsters and Hippies Imminent

While scanning the 'net today, I came across this little gem. Look's like Bisco, as Disco Biscuits are known to fans, and Umphrey's McGee are going to be playing McCarren Pool this summer.

Now for those of you not down with the jam band scene, Bisco and Umphrey's are two of the bands jockeying to fill the vacuum created after the disbandment of Phish and save the scene from complete obscurity. After seeing both bands several times, which I am a bit ashamed to admit, I have to say not only do they both kind of suck, but also have incredibly annoying fans. The only saving grace of hippies is their drug induced haze enables them to dance at shows rather than stand there like statues, desperately trying to look cool (NY hipsters, cough). However, I usually found that most fans of these bands tended to be more into the drug aspect of the concert than the actual music, so I guess it's a trade off. In the end, the irritating fans and monotony of the music caused me to abandon jam bands for greener pastures.

SO, be sure to avoid McCarren Park and Bedford Ave on 8/15 if troves of Long Island hippy stoners and twenty-minute suck-fest songs scare you as much as they scare me.


17 comments:

Unknown said...

First of all, it is a Bowery Presents event, not Live Nation.

Second of all, these two bands will draw more than Cat Power.

Third of all, any real hipster would have noted that its Cat Power AND Built to Spill, and have been way more excited about BTS, because they kick ass live.

Oh and there are a ton of Biscuits fans in Brooklyn, some who even live in Williamsburg, and go to your precious little indie rock shows too.

Run and hide...people like more than just indie rock!

J Kov said...

I've been to over 10 Biscuits shows and they're fans actually get into the music, as opposed to stoic hipsters. Its not just about the drugs, but rather the kick ass music both bands play. Fans of both bands are intelligent and understand the layers of music played. This concert will rock and I hope "hippies" do invade the hipster infested Willyburg.

Mike Greenhaus said...

If 20 minute songs really scare you then why did you check out both those bands multiple times---and why is your dog named Reba and your screen name Golgi 420? And, and by the way, bashing jambands is soooooooo 2003. The new cool thing to do is bash Imus.

Alex said...

first off bashing jam bands will never be passe or old. and second as stoic as hipsters can be its better then wearing socks and sandals in the winter while "grooving" go take a bath in in the fountain at bonaroo and get out of williamsburg!

Unknown said...

you're an idiot. plain and simple. just because you dont understand decent music doent mean you have to be a dick about it. get a life loser.

Alex said...

i do have a life, thats what allows me to post response to your hot headed comments. I thought hippies were supposed to be all good and relaxed with all that air your toes are breathing.

Richard said...

The old Italian, Polish and Hasidic people who've lived in the neighborhood before you were born deserve music they love too, and we like jam bands! Fongool to you!

Unknown said...

that wasnt a hot headed comment. that was very tame in comparison to how i actually feel, mostly due to the fact that would probably just delete it. hippies are supposed to be chill? hippies are dead or too old to care about crap like this. theyre out hugging trees and selling heady crystal wraps and goo balls. if you don't like the music, don't go. no one wants you there anyway. why waste time hating on music? because you're a punk. rain on people's parades dude. i guess your life isnt filled with music decent enough to talk about, so you resort to hating on other bands. it's sad, pathetic, and tired. if you indeed do have a life, it must really suck or you just suck at it.

Alex said...

dear kevin,
I would never delete a comment that is not our policy here. Although I do find your comments to be quite low brow as you result to personal attacks on someone you have never met . I point you to these examples "you're an idiot." "get a life loser." "because you're a punk." "if you indeed do have a life, it must really suck or you just suck at it." Now these seem like some pretty loaded statements and I feel my calling you hot headed is justifiable. the other question I pose is why would you, someone who is obviously so above me and my "hating" spend so much time and effort on my website? I will also let you know that I was subjected to jam band music for most of my high school career, and my dislike for it genuinely comes from the music itself. The scene and the people are really just a red herring that in truth are too easy to make fun of. The other question i have (i know i have a lot) is why am I not allowed to hate on those bands or that type of music? Do I have to like everything? Am i not allowed to be critical? I mean i like a lot of bands from Art Brut and Pavement (i'm sure you got the pavement reference in the title of this blog since you seem to know so much about music), to the clash and portishead. I'd be willing to discuss any of their merits with you. In closing Kevin i think you need to take a look at yourself and ask why are you being so judgmental of someone's views when you yourself are just as judgmental, plus you make the debate personal by making libelous remarks. I would like to give you the chance to respond to this post personally and it will be posted here on this site (with credit to you) with the caveats that you simply write an article about why you think these bands or jam bands in general would be good for the McCarren Park pool. Anything resembling a cheap shot back at myself or Crooked Rain will not be posted. The ball is in your granola grabbing (sorry) hands. can you make a touchdown? you can email it to us at kingsboro@gmail.com

Chilly Jackwater said...

Yikes. The "ENTER" button is your friend. Get to know her. Take her out for coffee. Fall in love with her.

"I mean i like a lot of bands from Art Brut and Pavement (i'm sure you got the pavement reference in the title of this blog since you seem to know so much about music), to the clash and portishead."

Wait, you forgot to say that you're so over Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!

Alex said...

i like to make my paragraphs long winded and boring just like my men. your right (clap) is so over. they are almost as lame as starting a blog 2 weeks ago. Whoops

Unknown said...

" The scene and the people are really just a red herring that in truth are too easy to make fun of. "

that goes for EVERY scene. I got a kick out the article overall, but did you actually tell people not to go to the show?? that's hilarious.

Unknown said...

Alex,
i don't really think the bisco scene is hippy. its more of an urban crowd. additionally, the scene is more of an in your face, we are here to party type of group as opposed to peace and love hippies. regarding the music being monotonous... if you actually listen to the layers and complexities, you will find that the compositions are far more interesting than most other music out there. sure there are trance jams that ride the same bass line for a while, but thats not the bulk of the music. this is especially true with Umphrey's... they are the opposite of monotonous. also, you said that people are more in to the drugs than the music... this may be true of some people, but i dont think its fair to generalize... even if people enjoy doing drugs at the shows, so what? the drugs that people do at these shows are better for you than alcohol, which is a drug that people consume at most shows and social situations.. stop hating on our scene. and if you do hate on it, get your facts straight.

Andy Bernstein said...

I think it should be noted that Curbed's founder is also one of the founding fathers of Jam Band media, and therefore anything on this site is suspect.

Unknown said...

the jam band community long ago opened its arms to the indie scene. we all share the festivals now. to completely denounce any genre of music is to truely show your ignorance.

look at this though:

http://www.glidemagazine.com/hiddentrack/?p=532


hipster bingo!!! HA!

Dave Hahn said...

"Bisco and Umphrey's are two of the bands jockeying to fill the vacuum created after the disbandment of Phish and save the scene from complete obscurity."

Complete obscurity? The reality is the jam band scene is probably the most diehard live music loving community of fans around. So its no wonder that countless bands from all different genres have spent the last few years jockeying for a piece of this pie. Alternative rockers like Les Claypool, jazzers like John Scofield, even hipster rockers Mars Volta have all been playing on these festivals and making inroads into this world in an attempt to lure these diehard music lovers to their fanbase. To say this scene is dying is to ignore the reality that these artists who are trying to make a living have obviously noticed.

If you want to diss on this scene, it's really a shame. What should be important is that both hipsters and hippies alike support the bands they love. The music business is a rough place...the musicians out there really need your support. And now more then ever, live performances are the main source of income of these artists. So stop hating, and please KEEP going to see live music you love!

Unknown said...

I can't wait for the UM-Disco B. show! Please don't come if you don't like the music! Please get your face rocked off at the show if you do!