Concert Reviews

Only in its second year, the Village-Voice-sponsored free Siren Festival is quickly becoming one of the biggest annual concerts around the country. While last year’s lineup saw an array of artists ranging from the wild Peaches, to the spaced-out Man or Astro-Man? to the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, this year’s artists were the cream of the crop. Starting the day off was Bob Log III, a bluesman straight outta Tucson, Arizona. Folks really can’t imagine the one-man show that is Bob Log until they see it for themselves. Log dresses in a jumpsuit and motorcycle helmet, complete with an attached telephone receiver that acts as his microphone, and slides on his guitar while playing the bass drum all at the same time. Frantically, he ripped through new tracks and songs from his insane blues Trike and School Bus albums, such as "All Rockets Go Bang," "The Rattler," "Clap Your Tits," and the self-proclaimed fastest song in the world "Slide Guitar Ride." Log III’s set was indeed one of the highlights of the day. Next, Detroit’s Von Bondies, who rocked in the same Detroit scene as the White Stripes and Dirtbombs, overcame many technical problems to get the still-filing-in crowd warmed up. While the Von Bondies were finishing up, Seattle’s Pretty Girls Make Graves hit the second stage, performing in front of the day’s biggest crowd so far. Comprised of members from Murder City Devils, The Hookers and the Bee Hive Vaults, the quintet, now on Lookout! Records, PGMG put on the hardest hitting set of the day.

Around 4:00pm, one of the most hyped bands in the underground scene, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, came to conquer Coney Island. Leading lady Karen O seems to contain Joan Jett’s attitude and intensity, and also Cyndi Lauper’s fun-loving girliness. Starting off with "Black Tongue," O, along with guitarist Nicky Z and drummer Brian C, flew through the set, which included the songs on their five-song EP. Personally, "Art Star," the band’s tribute to the world’s gallery-set, was the highlight of the show. You just can’t go wrong with their catchy guitar licks and vocals, combined with hardcore screaming and distortion. Look out for this band, they’re only getting better. After a set by The Shins, it was finally time for The Donnas to light up the evening. Donna A, Donna C, Donna F and Donna R came out of their studio hibernation to play some of the finest Ramones inspired punk in recent memory (with the exception of all the lyrics about boys). Kicking the 13-song set off with "Are You Gonna Move it For Me," and "Do You Wanna Hit It," The Donnas mixed old song and previewed a healthy portion of new material, such as "On The Rocks," and "Take Me To The Backseat," from their upcoming major label debut. The band ripped through "Hyperactive," "You’ve Got a Crush On Me," and "I Didn’t Like You Anyway," with a few jokes by bassist Donna F mixed in, before ending with "Doin’ Donuts," and "Skintight." It was great to see the Donnas playing again as they set the stage for the day’s headliners, the almighty Sleater-Kinney. Also promoting an upcoming new album, Janet, Carrie and Corin (after an introduction from no other than Jon Spencer) opened with four new songs, including the title track "One Beat," and "OH!" before moving into All Hands On the Bad One’s "Ballad Of A Ladyman," and "Not What You Want," from Dig Me Out. Like their show in Williamsburg a couple of months ago, Portland’s punk darlings played mostly new material, but this time they were playing in front of what was easily the festival’s biggest crowd that packed 10^th Street between the famous Cyclone roller coaster and Wonder Wheel. Sleater-Kinney ended with "I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone," and "Dig Me Out," before performing a new song and finishing the day with "Call The Doctor." Overall, the Siren Festival was one of the most refreshing shows I’ve witnessed, and is destined to become a legendary New York City event after only its second year.

For me, the summer never really starts until I attend one of the great free shows at Summerstage in mid-Central Park. So on June 22, summer officially kicked off. Up first was New York’s own hip-hop Princess Superstar, supporting her recently released Princess Superstar Is. Backed by a DJ, bassist and rhyme partner/hype man, Princess put on her usual raunchy, humor-filled, costume-clad set. Perhaps the only Jewish-white-female MC around, Princess played an array of tunes from the aforementioned Is, Last of the Great 20th Century Composers, and her debut CEO. She was showered with dollar bills during "Super Fantasy," rapped about her sexual fantasies on her duet with Kool Keith (although Mr. Thornton wasn’t present) "Keith ‘N Me," sang her ode to robot acts in "Do It Like a Robot," and did her best naughty teenager performance on the hilarious "Bad Babysitter." Despite the sound system not doing justice to her set, and constant jeering from the crowd, Princess seemed to feed off these obstacles while showing her grit, and finished off by coming back onstage for an encore of "The Little Freakazoid That Could." Up next was DJ Z-Trip from California, who was simply dazzling. Throughout the set, Z-Trip mixed contrasting groups such as Jurassic 5 with AC/DC, Jane’s Addiction’s "Jane Says" over Jay-Z’s "Izzo," and Dead Prez’s "Hip-Hop," over Green Day’s "Brain Stew." "You’re at a hip-hop show and you’re listening to Green Day," Z-Trip proudly proclaimed to the now receptive audience. "How cool is that?"

After the set ended with Outkast’s "Bombs Over Baghdad" over "Sober," by Tool, N.E.RD’s backing band Spymob came out to play a few songs from its upcoming debut Sitting Around Keeping Score on the Neptunes’ Star Trak record label, before Pharrell and Shay took the stage to rock Central Park.

Once again, performing without partner in crime Chad Hugo, N.E.R.D, or No one Ever Really Dies, played a set that for the most part mirrored the one they did in Boston earlier in the month. However, everyone knows that New York City shows have the potential for being full of surprises, and this afternoon was no different. Setting it off with "Brain," and running through the In Search Of album staples like "Provider," "Baby Doll," the melancholy "Bobby James," and the wild "Lapdance," single, Pharrell and Shay had the ladies and their male counterparts moving in the sweltering sun in the Park. By now, everyone should know that the Neptunes have produced some of the most popular songs around, and some of these were showcased today. Protégé and all around incredible singer, Kelis, came onstage to perform "Popular Thug," and "Junkie," from her  Wanderland album (unreleased in the US), before diving into "Truth or Dare" with Pharrell and Shay. Then, almost on cue, out came Pusha T and Malice, also known as Clipse. Pusha did his piece on "Truth," and then the duo banged out one of the summer’s best songs "Grindin’," to the incredibly hyped reaction from the crowd and over Pharrell’s beat boxing. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day came during the encore, when the mighty infamous Busta Rhymes graced the stage to perform "Pass the Courvosier," minus Mr. Combs, and his duet with Kelis "What It Is." Not to be outdone by the guest appearances, the afternoon finished with N.E.R.D. playing "Run to the Sun," and "Stay Together," before leaving to the cheers of the sweaty and packed Central Park diehards.