New Pornographers @ Battery Park 7/4

The annual Matador bash at Batter Park has grown into quite the tradition in my house hold. For the few weeks leading up to the event we stake out the computer ritually checking to see when the tickets are going to be released. When we learn of it we send out mass e-mails and text messages telling people to scoop up the coveted duckets and the celebrate with the appropriate beer and shot combination. For the day tickets are actually given out we host a large line-o-thon that is usually complete with bitching about corporate sponsors, long lines, and other people's inane conversations though ours are certainly inane in and of themselves. This all just precursory work of course for the day of the actual show, its kind of like what shoppinig season is to Christmas.

On the day of the actual event wardrobes are selected, "is this the right t-shirt", do you think anyone will get the 0bscure band referenced on this t-shirt", "is it okay to wear a t-shirt of a band you hate if it make you look so good" and on and on. There is the packing of the cooler, and then the realization that if you're caught drinking you'll be kicked out and subjected to a stupid fine by the gestapo, er NYPD, and of course the re-packing of the cooler contents into the fridge. Then there is the ferry ride (which I skipped this year thanks to my hot British girlfirend living in the lower east side, sweet!) which is usually complemented by $2.50 tall boys of Bud and chats of past Fourth of July glories, "Remember when we scored tickets to the Malkmus show, that was sweet dude!".

And then we are there sitting on a green sheet, no alcohol in sight and having our VIP friend (once again my hot British girlfriend who apparently does everything!) grab us free cokes and finger foods. We discuss at great lengths the choies of fashion certain folk make, build huts made of twigs and rocks, and smoke way too many cigarettes all while hoping, very loudly, that we don't get rained on. Our group swells before the bands come on, other bloggers make there way over and chat politely for a minute or two before realizing that good pictures will not be possible from where we are seated, other friends and family stop by, sit for a bit and then venture off to lands unknown. And then just when you think you can't take all this ennui a band starts up.

First up this year was Midlake, a rocking American band from Texas who's second album, The Trials of Van Occupanther, struck indie gold last year. I wasn't too fond of the band's album, but the song "Roscoe" is killer and I was pretty much up for anything this afternoon. So the band played their set and I enjoyed it. It was your standard fair indie rock, very straight forward, not a lot of bullshit, certainly no gimmicks, and their set made me think I should re-visit their album which I may or may not do. In short they didn't make me want to kill myself and they didn't bore me, so I'm pretty sure that means they were good.

But the real reason we were all there today, other than the fact that we were all off from work and they were having a free concert in the park, was to see The New Pornographers. Yeah that's right, if you are indie in New York you will undoubtedly spend your 4th of July with a foreign band that is signed to Matador. There are certainly worse ways to spend your 4th, so I don't wanna hear any bullshit about how I'm not patriotic and I date a British girl. Ahead of today's show we had heard word that both Neko Case and Dan Bejar would be in attendance for today's show, well Neko showed up but Dan was no where to be seen which would be the only disappointment from their entire show. The band opened up with a new tune off their forth coming album Challengers which I have heard but don't remember the name of. It was a good start but paled in comparisson to "Use It" which followed it and got the crowd really going for the day.

From there Carl and company wowed the crowd with a mix of tunes from all four albums that were intersperesed with some witty banter and the like. Carl made reference to last year's Fourth of July show, Simpsons jokes were told, and all was going swimmingly as a light rain began to fall on us for the second year in a row. The band pushed on, though their keyboardist needed a person to hold an umbrella (ella ella) over him for the rest of the show. Playing songs like "Jackie Dressed in Cobras", "Mass Romantic", and "Sing Me Spanish Techno" had the crowd in a tizzy with sing alongs and some semblance of dancing going on. The finished with a three song encore that included my personal favorite New Pornographers song "The Slow Decent into Alcoholism". Overall it was an excellent show, nothing mind blowing as my brother said, but certainly worth every penny spent going to the show (which totaled 0 pennies!). I'm looking forward to their new album, and hopefully the next time they are around Bejar will be with them!

Anyway, I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July!