THROWS A BIRTHDAY BASH

Andrew turns 24, His Blog Steps In The Future

Andrew Prieto and his excellent music blog Dingus ("international diy musicians discovered, discussed, & exposed") celebrated Andrew's 24th birthday and the imminent re-launch of the website. The new Dingus Media Empire will eventually include a print magazine, a record label, and promoting shows like the one at Free Candy in Crown Heights this past Friday. The bands included the evolving post-punk of The Gradients, the raunchy rap stylings of Li'l Kids, the flagship band of the Mama Coco's Funky Kitchen collective Ghost Pal, the shoegazey dance-rock combo Napoleon, and the electro/rock of Happy Lives.


The Gradients


The Gradients are one of the younger bands on the Brooklyn scene and they seem to be evolving every time I see them. This set featured mostly darker slower songs, but I hope they go back to some of their faster, catchier numbers that let's their energetic bassist Charlie DY do his punk-rock jumps and bounce around the stage. Li'l Kids is Adam Kane, a rotund (and very, um, mellow) rapper backed by a DJ (who had to play all the backing tracks from an iPod tonight because they had spilled beer on the laptop at their last gig.) Normally I'd find this kind of thing obnoxious but Adam has such an amazing flow and such a goofy, self-denegrating sense of humor that I found myself really enjoying him. (Think MC Chris without the helium vocals.)


Li'l Kids


Ghost Pal


Ghost Pal never disappoint, tonight running through a few old favorites like "Wildebeest Song" and a Little Richard cover that had the whole room dancing, as well as the entirety of their new EP, "God Save MCFK."



Napoleon


Napoleon, like Li'l Kids, is an act that I should technically hate; they epitomize everything I normally dislike about hipster Brooklyn rock - shoegazey, dancey, and male-model gorgeous. But damn if they aren't good. The melodies and rhythms sweep you up and Julian Roosevelt's vocals captivate; I just hope he wears a whole shirt next time he plays.



Happy Lives


I've written about Happy Lives before so I'm already on record as being a big fan: A live drummer, guitarist/vocalist , and a third member on samples and synth create a percussive and yet super catchy blend of electronic post-punk.

The night was a testament to Andrew Prieto's excellent taste in DIY music, and a harbinger of the success that I'm sure awaits the new Dingus.


Ghost Pals Henry Kandel and Oliver Ignatius, and the Harmonica Lewinskies Roberto Bettega (center)



Fabian, Sasha, and birthday boy Andrew Prieto


The Gradients


Li'l Kids


Napoleon


Ghost Pal
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Ghost Pal


Napoleon


Happy Lives