Category: Brooklyn

Bushwick Film Festival Returns for 14th Year

The Bushwick Film Festival (BFF) makes its return to Brooklyn at the end of October, holding virtual screenings and in-person events from October 20-24. The 14th annual festival will be kicking off with an opening night reception at lounge/ restaurant, Lot 45.

The indie film series will also feature a combination of virtual streaming events, live screenings, Q&A panels and hands-on workshops. The festival attracts over 3500 attendees annually, and more than 1500 film submissions from around the world. This year, BFF made changes to their standard submission guidelines by accepting both screenplays and Non-Fungible Token (NFT) videos.

Every year our program is dynamic, but what makes this year so special is the renewed enthusiasm and appreciation for personal interactions,
BFF founder and CEO Kweighbaye Kotee said in a press release.

Our hybrid model still has limitations, but gives us hope for the future. The stories we share always offer us the ability to see ourselves in ways we hadn’t imagined before, and we look forward to the incredible lineup this year.

That lineup consists of over 135 films from 27 different countries. Though all films will be available online, BFF partnered with Brooklyn’s Regal Cinemas for a full-day, in-person screening on October 23. The festival is dedicated to highlighting diverse stories and underrepresented storytellers, reflecting Brookyn’s cultural diversity and artistic vibrance.

The Films

Many films on this year’s schedule grapple with navigating poverty, oppression and identity. BFF will show the acclaimed Women is Losers, directed by Lissette Feliciano and starring Lorenza Izzo and the breakout star of Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Simu Liu. The film follows Izzo as a Catholic schoolgirl fighting poverty and working to build an unprecedented future for herself in 1960’s San-Francisco. Americanized, directed by Erica Eng, follows high school student Eng who, growing up immersed in Oakland’s hip-hop culture, struggles to understand her Chinese-American identity and “tries to find a sense of belonging within two worlds that don’t accept her.” And in Finesse, directed by Vincent Martell, three Chicago roommates “struggle to survive capitalism and find intimacy,” eventually questioning their relationships after a psychedelic experience.

The Documentaries

In addition to original screenplays, the festival will feature a selection of documentaries as well. Contributions include Bangla Surf Girls, a documentary directed by Elizabeth D. Costa following three Bangledashi girls as they join a surf club, navigate family pressure and ultimately come of age. The Last Out, directed by Michael Gassert and Sami Khan, tells a parallel story of seeking more from life. The film follows three Cuban baseball players risking everything to train for their Major League dreams. Released in 2020, the film won Gassert and Khan multiple awards and nominations. The Last Out also received a nomination for Best Documentary Feature at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival.

The Events

Though the official schedule has not been announced, BFF will host filmmaker Q&A’s every night at 7pm, beginning October 20. Festival attendees will also have opportunities to network with industry professionals at an event at Circa Brewing Co. on October 24. For those participating in the festival online, special events are still accessible. A Movie Industry Conference will be held virtually on October 24th,. Panelists include Emmy-nominated producer Mynette Louie and the editor of HBO’s Scenes from a Marriage, Yael Hersonski, among others..

To cap off the week of festivities, BFF will send approximately ten featured films home with awards. Categories include Best Feature (Narrative and Documentary), Best Series, and Best Short (Narrative or Documentary.)

Tickets to the Bushwick Film Festival, and a full list of films, are available here.

October 12, 2021
Spirit Of The Beehive Help Break in the Brand New Brooklyn Made
Spirit Of The Beehive made their way to Brooklyn’s newest live music venue, Brooklyn Made, on Thursday night in support of their outrageously creative 2021 LP ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH. The five-piece Philadelphia based band drew a sold out crowd to the week-old venue, stretching out the legs of the new PA with their heavily distorted and layered backing tracks.

Spirit Of The Beehive at Brooklyn Made, 10/7/21. Photo by BuscarPhoto

One can always expect growing pains in a new space, and Brooklyn Made was no exception. The group was forced into a brief delay after running through the opening track of ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH as the backing distortion tracks were not coming through the main speakers. The sound techs resolved the issue, and the band fell right back into step much to the delight of an extremely patient and understanding audience.

Spirit Of The Beehive at Brooklyn Made, 10/7/21. Photo by BuscarPhoto

Brooklyn Made is a sprawling space with several different areas, but the performance space is quite intimate and very unique in presentation. A super-wide, crescent shaped stage lines the back wall (similar in style to The Sultan Room) with a very shallow, sunken dance floor that allows for even late-comers in the back row to be rather close to the stage. Off the back doors is a separated bar area equipped with a pool table and direct sound feed from the live show. There is a courtyard, with a staircase up to a large rooftop space overlooking the many Bushwick Collective street murals and offering views of the Manhattan skyline.

Spirit Of The Beehive at Brooklyn Made, 10/7/21. Photo by BuscarPhoto

ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH is a continuous, artistic expression of the themes suggested in the title. Different songs cyclically build into ferocious rhythms and fade into distorted ambience over and over again across the 37 minute runtime. Motifs and instrumental pieces do not repeat themselves, even with the confines of a single track, and the listener reaches the end of the record with a strong desire to play the album back. On first listen, the record seems more of an unfinished collection of demos, but the more you listen, the more you discover a meticulously crafted artistic experience the delivers a new perspective with each listen.

Spirit Of The Beehive at Brooklyn Made, 10/7/21. Photo by BuscarPhoto

Spirit Of The Beehive have one more scheduled show on this run, which takes place Friday, October 8th in Washington DC. The band will also open for a couple shows on the Japanese Breakfast residency at Union Transfer in Philly next August. Check out a full concert calendar for the new venue Brooklyn Made HERE. More photos from the Brooklyn Made show below.
October 10, 2021
In Focus: Miles Francis at Baby’s All Right
Miles Francis captivated their late-night audience on Wednesday, October 6, at Baby’s All Right. Originally set to perform at 10 p.m., scheduling delays led to a slightly later start to the already late-night show. Despite the wait, the audience at Baby’s All Right was buzzing.

The New York City native lived up to their reputation as one of the best-kept secrets of the local music scene. The show began with Francis walking through the crowd and jumping on stage enveloped in a silver morph suit. An intrigued audience watched as Francis acted out hurriedly ending a phone call.
After quickly unzipping their morph suit, Francis and their supporting band jumped into an energetic opening number. Francis performed a carefully curated mix of their discography, making sure to perform their two latest releases, “Service” and “Popular.” With their effortless dancing and humorous stories rounding out the set, it’s clear that the stage is a second home for Francis.

Miles Francis is currently working on their debut album, set to release in late 2021. Listen to his latest single, “Popular” here.
October 9, 2021
Trombone Shorty celebrates Long Weekend at new Brooklyn Made Venue

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue put on two soul crushing shows at the brand new 500-person capacity Brooklyn Made stage to start this week. The club just opened on September 30 and this was the band’s third and most intimate New York show this year, having performed in Rochester at Manhattan Square Park in August and Brooklyn’s Prospect Park in September.

photo by Russell Mangicaro III

New Orleans legend Tony Hall told NYS Music in August about Troy Andrews. “We have known Shorty since he was young. Coming up he’s always been extremely bad ass. In the beginning he used to do some shows with us and then did his own shit. Then blew up. He’s the man and puts on a hell of a show. Phenomenal player on the trumpet and trombone. It’s like nobody can touch him. But he also plays everything else like drums, keyboards and sings.”

The Orleans Avenue Band – guitarists Pete Murano and Joshua Connelly, sax-men Dan Osteicher and BK Jackson, drummer Joey Peebles and bassist Mike Ballard, and vocalist Tracci Lee – all took center stage at Brooklyn Made on top of the speakers throughout the show. They made the new Bushwick club feel like the historic Tipitinas in New Orleans.

Shorty opened the show asking for assistance in getting his heart back on “Where it At?” “I tried to find you, baby, did my best, But love don’t come with any GPS.” They brought it from the East River to the Mississippi with a Meters cover of “It Ain’t No Use” and Allen Toussaint’s “On Your Way Down.” Trust me when I tell you their approach on these tunes was truly an explosive expression on funk classics. The Shorty original “The Craziest Thing” is another call out to the lovers in the crowd. “Ask me to bring you the moon, I’ll put the sky in your room, I’ll die trying.” The highlight of the night occurred during the Ernie K. Doe New Orleans classic “Here Come the Girls.”

photo by Russell Mangicaro III

Mid-groove on “Uncle Potato Chip,” sax player Dan O took the song to another galaxy and back on baritone before the closing verse. “Fire on the Bayou” helped keep the Cajun sounds sizzling.

Trombone Shorty first took the stage at four years old with Bo Diddley at the 1990 New Orleans Jazzfest. 31 years later he was bouncing his solos off all the other band members like a true front man. It also came as no surprise that sax player BK Jackson used to play with Prince. Joey Peebles took his only break of neo soul drum beats for the night, with Mike Ballard and Shorty sharing syncopated bass and trumpet solos on stage that took you back to Birdland.

Vocalist Tracci Lee’s backing soul helped bring every song full circle exchanging tambourines throughout. Guitarists Joshua Connelly and Pete Murano electricity was directly plugged into your head on the Brooklyn Made stage. Tuesday night’s show had a Red Hot Chili Peppers musical intro as a nod to his tour with the group in 2016 opening for them at Madison Square Garden and Buffalo’s KeyBank Center. He brought the crowd back to his first record Backatown with the track “Suburbia.”

Ray Charles’ classic “I Got A Woman” on Tuesday night was a standout as well. In true New Orleans fashion, they closed both nights with Shorty’s “Hurricane Season” mixed with “When the Saints Go Marching In” that sent the crowd strutting back into the Bushwick scene.

A Monday and Tuesday night with Trombone Shorty at Brooklyn Made like this really made his tune “Long Weekend” resonate – “Cause you never know what could happen on a long weekеnd…” Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue head back to New Orleans on Monday, October 11 for his first ever “Shorty Fest.”

Photos by Russell Mangicaro III

October 8, 2021
Surfbort Out Release “FML” Music video Featuring Fred Armisen

Keep your calendars open for the new album from Brooklyn’s Surfbort, Keep On Truckin’, due out October 11. This release will be a little different from their others seeing as though now they have launched a partnership between legendary producer, composer and philanthropist, Linda Perry and SoundCloud/Repost. The band will be will be hosting a pre-save give away contest where three lucky fans who pre-save the album will be sent a care package.

If you have been following them, you’ll know that the band just released the music video for their latest single “FML” with someone you might know from Saturday Night Live. Aside form Fred Armisen’s glowing review he is also featured in their music video — just as how Fred Armisen in real life walks around doing good deeds, in the music video he then transforms into each member of the band, saving them from their extreme depression. Isn’t that what all comedians do?

Although Surfbort is a Brooklyn based punk band, their fan base rocks from coast to coast. Surfbort is accepting to all while radiating love and friendship. Their live concerts are incomparable, a punk environment with visceral guitar-shredding.

They are everything I want a band to be. I love their music, both on record and performed live. Just the right amount of chaos. And their sense of aesthetics is amazing to see. I am excited that they even exist. I love SURFBORT!

Fred Armisen

After speaking with lead singer Dani Miller, he comes to explain the “FML” single as an inside look on crippling depression. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in this country and often goes unnoticed. That is, suicide ideation is extremely common, even amongst the band members of Surfbort. This pandemic has severed many’s mental health leaving people suffering and feeling alone. Miller encourages people to hold on and preaches the importance of reaching out to loved ones. He opened up on being an artist and drug addict/alcoholic while being bipolar, his past was filled with suicidal ideation. Even his aunt fell victim of suicide and not a day passes where he wishes that he could go back in time.

Fred Armisen poses as a hero in the music video, changing band mates perspective on life which he wishes Fred could be for his aunt. Fred radiates electric positive healing energy that he even missed a premier, rather transforming into each band member and even becoming Miller’s twin, complete with classic makeup while learning all the lyrics and instruments acting as an understudy. We all need a super hero or a strong support system to get us through tough times like these and countless other obstacles we may face and Surfbort only hopes that they can provide the support or encouragement to lean on our loved ones in our times of need.

Surfbort will be playing new music from their forthcoming album at the below upcoming tour dates, as the band tours across the US in Fall 2021.

Upcoming Tour Dates w/ Starcrawler
Oct 17th                                Eugene, OR                           Sessions Music Hall
Oct 19th                                Sacramento, CA                    Harlow’s
Oct 20th                               Berkeley, CA                          The UC Theatre
Oct 21st                               Los Angeles, CA                     The Regent Theater
Oct 22nd                              San Diego, CA                        Brick By Brick
Oct 23rd                               Tucson, AZ                            191 Toole
Oct 25th                               Dallas, TX                              Granada Theater

Special Events
Oct 27th San Diego, CA Casbah event for DC Shoes

Upcoming Tour Date w/ The Garden
Nov 4th Santa Ana, CA Observatory
Nov 5th San Luis Obispo, CA Fremont Theater
Nov 6th                   Felton, CA Felton Music Hall
Nov 7th San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
Nov 9th Portland, Oregon Hawthorne Theater
Nov 10th Seattle, WA The Crocodile
Nov 11th Boise, ID The Shredder
Nov 12th Salt Lake City, UT The Loading Dock
Nov 14th Denver, CO Marquis Theater

Upcoming Solo Shows
Nov 15th Fort Collins, CO The Coast

October 7, 2021
Soulive return to Brooklyn Bowl this New Years Eve

After more than two years, Soulive will return to Brooklyn Bowl for their much-loved Bowlive concert series this December, From December 29-31, Soulive will be joined by bassist for The Meters, George Porter Jr. on the first night, and hold a special New Year’s Eve performance on Saturday, December 31.

Marking the ninth mini-residency for Soulive at Brooklyn Bowl, the trio of Eric Krasno, Neal Evans, and Alan Evans are fresh off a three-night run opening up the brand new Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia. Bowlive has a storied history at Brooklyn Bowl Williamsburg, dating back to 2010.

Doors open at 6 with show starting at 830pm. Tickets are $50 each and on sale now here.

October 7, 2021
The R Train Band Pull into Arlene’s Grocery on October 9

On October 9, the rock sounds of The R Train Band will perform at Arlene’s Grocery in Brooklyn. Guitarist Jeffery Black splits time between Brooklyn and Florida, with Mike Annese (drums) and Denny-Lee (bass) rounding out the power trio.

Their latest release, “Rock On” has elements of hard rock an an anthem for rock music lovers everywhere, with a message borrowed from Hendrix to simply to live your life the way you want to, go for the big brass ring, and never give up on having fun.

An Ozzy Osbourne-like lead vocalist is supported by a Led Zeppelin-infused guitar, bass and drum style making the ingredients for “Rock On.” The pulse and groove has a modern bullet train feel. The vocal clearly tells us to be ourselves and love who we are. Do it your way and go for it.

The R Train Band will celebrate John Lennon’s birthday on Saturday, October 9 as they make their way to Arlene’s Grocery in Brooklyn. The show will be hosted by Ace Annese of “Ace’s Space Radio & Reality Check TV.” Tickets and more info can be found here.

October 6, 2021
LCD Soundsystem announces 20-show Residency at Brooklyn Steel

LCD Soundsystem will return to Brooklyn Steel for a 20 show residency, starting November 23rd. Marking the groups first performances since 2018, the run will extend through December 21, for an unprecedented string of shows.

The residency comes on the July announcement from James Murphy that the group was on a ‘full hiatus,’ while on WTF with Marc Maron. At the time, Murphy said:

Right now, we’re on a full hiatus. Because of the nature of the band, when we’re not touring, we’re just, like, back to normal life completely… Everyone does other stuff. Everyone has their own things going on. So for us to put [a new record] together, we just kind of have to decide to do it.
James Murphy

LCD Soundsystem held their now-legendary farewell concert at Madison Square Garden on April 2, 2011, with a live album of the show, The Long Goodbye, being released shortly after.

Read the story behind LCD Soundsystem’s “New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down”

Murphy spoke to Pitchfork recently on how COVID-19 affected his music:

Not being able to play live was fine because we probably wouldn’t have been able to play live then. And I couldn’t make LCD music. It didn’t seem like the right thing to be doing at that moment for lots of reasons. You know, we’re kind of a party band about a grumpy old guy making songs about music and in the middle of a global pandemic of people dying, and in the middle of Black Lives Matter, it just didn’t seem like, “You know what everybody needs right now? Another snarky LCD Soundsystem record, that’s sort of what the world needs at this moment.”

Tickets for all 20 shows go on general sale Friday, October 8 at 10am ET here, while fan pre-sale will begin on Wednesday, October 6 at 10am ET – learn more here.

LCD Soundsystem 2021 Dates:

November 23-24, 29-30 – Brooklyn Steel

December 1, 3-5, 7-9, 11-13, 15-17, 19-21 – Brooklyn Steel

October 3, 2021
Big Freedia Brings High Energy to Brooklyn Steel
New Orleans bounce artist, Big Freedia, performed with her usual thunderous energy at Brooklyn Steel on Monday, September 27th. Bounce music is known to be raucous and high energy and Big Freedia did not disappoint, as she showed up with her signature aplomb.

As with my other musicians, Big Freedia’s touring schedule had been on hiatus for the better part of two years. Many in the crowd mentioned that they had been looking forward to this show for quite some time and it reflected in the crowd’s atmosphere, as their eagerness to witness the pioneer of bounce music was palpable.

A 20-year veteran of the bounce music scene in New Orleans, Big Freedia rose to mainstream prominence with vocal cameos on Beyonce’s “Formation” and Drake’s “Nice For What“, two massive hits that exposed her to a wider audience. But, unbeknownst to many is that Post-Hurricane Katrina, Freedia has been known as one of the biggest voices in the regional bounce music scene and maintains and extremely devoted fanbase.

Despite not performing regularly for almost two years, her stage presence has not waned. Right after getting on stage Freedia immediately began flying through several tracks across her several EPs & albums at bone-rattling volume, as she performed nonstop for several records. All the more astounding as she, along with five backup dancers, frenetically went though their choreography. It’s rare to see a performer with such intensity across any genre, but Big Freedia exemplified the spirit and movement of bounce music for a hungry audience. She didn’t let up and neither did the crowd.

Big Freedia is undoubtedly tied to her home state and her success only means more exposure for the region. What was once considered to be a niche regional sound is now being performed for large audiences in major markets. And Big Freedia displayed why it deserves its recognition, and why New Orleans is still a city to be reckoned with musically.

This was not a one-off show for Big Freedia, she will continue touring throughout United States, with more information on her upcoming tour dates available here. Be sure to take a look at the full photo gallery down below!
October 2, 2021
Freddie Gibbs Returns to Live Performances at Schimanski
In an exciting prelude to his performance on the first day of the Governors Ball, Freddie Gibbs made an appearance at Schimanski nightclub on Thursday, September 23rd for the “Gov Ball After Dark” series.

A veteran of the rap game, Gibbs has established himself as a strong force within hip-hop’s landscape, while enjoying a cult following since his days as a member of Young Jeezy’s camp. Always considered a strong lyricist with great street tales, Gibbs’ star trajectory began to shift after his first collaborative album, Piñata, alongside legendary hip hop producer Madlib.

After a string of quality projects (including another album with Madlib) and two projects with producer, The Alchemist, he broke into the mainstream consciousness with a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album in 2020 with, Alfredo. From there, it’s only been an upward trend in popularity.

Like many artists post-pandemic, Gibbs had taken a long hiatus from touring. Based on his performance, it looked like any rust was quickly shaken off. In front of an adoring crowd, he ran through his most popular records from recent projects in quick succession as he was all smiles during the entire performance, seemingly basking in the glory of being afforded a chance to once again entertain the fans.

While his performance was fairly brief, Freddie displayed his obvious mastery of live performance, as he’s a veteran of the hip-hop game. While Freddie does not have any upcoming tours or projects announced, whatever he does next will be eagerly anticipated by both his fanbase and the hip-hop community at large.

Check out the full photo gallery from the show below.
October 1, 2021