Double Trouble With Shows: the Presets and Bunny Rabbit

Friday night was the perfect Springtime NYC evening jaunt, with two shows, free pizza, lots of dancing, and a free street poem written just for me. Oh, NYC in the Spring, I love you.

The Presets at Webster Hall this past Friday night actually went on at the given showtime, 8 pm, apparently! My friend and I arrived around 9, to a packed (though fast-moving) line to Webster Hall, and were promptly greeted by the Presets already playing mid-set.



While the Presets were enjoyable, the oppressive heat and crowds of Webster Hall detracted a bit from the show. I found myself fluctuating between thoroughly enjoying their industrial pop sound, the pulsating light show, and the very charismatic audience, to mellowly reflecting on how one's experience of a show's quality so subjectively depends on our own individual states at the time. Of course, the presence of someone in front of me checking his e-mail during the show didn't help matters, either...





Overall, the Presets were a fun time; but it was only setting the stage for the fun of the evening to come. After a stop at the Crocodile Lounge for free pizza, my friend and I proceeded to Glasslands in Williamsburg for another show.


The "Secret Faggot" party at Glasslands featured Bunny Rabbit, a Peaches-esque singer with a
wonderfully fun dance-arty vibe.

Post-Labor Day Fun

I have taken a brief hiatus from blogging the past week, as I wound down the month of August and my final hurrah of vacation time with a sojourn to the Adirondacks. From Friday afternoon until late Monday night, I had a respite from urban NYC life and camped and hiked in the Adirondacks, happily spending a few rare days away from cell phone and internet connectivity. The trip, organized by Outdoor Bound, was the perfect departure from city life: a camping and hiking whirlwhind with fresh air, friendly faces and wilderness to be travailed over for breathtaking views.

Now, having scaled Mt. Marcy and Mt. Algonquin, I am left with pleasant memories, stunning pictures, sore legs, and a newfond appreciation for my bed and a hot shower.

(above: my friend and me at the top of Mt. Marcy)

Now back in NYC: With the gorgeous weather that prevails, I am not yet read to call summertime quits. Upcoming notable events I am considering:

Friday, September 5th: Bunny Rabbit performing live at GlassLands Gallery. 11pm-4am.
Saturday, September 6th:
-- Monster Island Arts & Music Block Party, Williamsburg, 2-10pm.
-- Circus Amok, Riverside Park. Performances start at 2pm and 5pm.
-- Art Parade, West Broadway at Houston St, starts at 4pm.

Friday, September 5th. GlassLands Gallery, located in Williamsburg at 289 Kent Ave. between S. 1st and S. 2nd St. Bunny Rabbit - visit her Myspace page if you aren't familiar with this chick rapper reminiscent of Peaches. And her Youtube page, a conglomeration of Bunny Rabbit and Black Cracker, called Bunnycrack.Saturday, September 6th: Monster Island Arts & Music Festival. 2-10pm, Third Annual Block Party. Located in Williamsburg, at Kent Ave. and Metropolitan Ave. FREE. See Secret Project Robot for more on its mission statement, which "stress[es] the importance of the art party as a way to create an inclusive and tangible environment" and "... push[es] every event beyond the norm..."

Circus Amok is "a New York City based circus-theater company whose mission is to provide free public art addressing contemporary issues of social justice to the people of New York City." (see website for further info). Click here to see video clips of the circus, featuring the woman dubbed the Bearded Lady. Click here for the schedule. Circus Amok plays regularly!

Art Parade 2008, at West Broadway and Houston. The event is organized and sponsored by PAPER Magazine, Creative Time and Deitch Projects. This year, the fourth annual art parade will feature over 900 participants!