Local Pride

Peggy Wang, keyboardist-vocalist, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart: “Polvo’s playing a free show at South Street Seaport [July 31] and I would totally go to that. I love Polvo. I had this pen pal when I was in high school—he was the awesomest pen pal; he made me Polvo mixtapes. So I have this sentimental reason for liking them, but I also think that they sound like no other band.” POBPAH plays South Street Seaport as part of the River to River Festival, July 10.

Frank Mullen, vocalist, Suffocation: “I would like to see the Rockstar Mayhem Festival [in Camden, New Jersey, August 7, and Hartford, August 8]. Slayer’s in it and I always love watching them. They’re a huge influence; they changed the way we looked at music back in the ’80s. As for local shows, a couple of bands here on [Long] Island: Doug Bohn used to play with Suffocation, and he has a new band called Tenpoint; it’s heavy rock stuff. There’s Without Remorse, Revenance, Suppressed Theory. They’ll be playing local shows over the summer.” Suffocation plays the Summer Slaughter Tour at Irving Plaza July 19, 20.

Rebecca Zeller, violinist, Ra Ra Riot: “I’m really, really excited about the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I think it’s great and inspiring. They’re playing All Points West the day we are. I’m not sure there’s a concert I could be more excited about. A close second would be TV on the Radio and Dirty Projectors at SummerStage [June 5]. I saw TV on the Radio four years ago at Siren when they were still touring the first record. I think I thought it was great, but I was really far back.” Ra Ra Riot plays All Points West July 31.

Darius Jones, saxist, Darius Jones Trio: “I am super psyched about seeing Joan Wasser play solo at the Stone on June 6. She is such a soulful and creative musician. Sexy, too! Plus, she was the soundtrack for my breakup with my true love after returning from Paris.” Darius Jones plays the Vision Festival June 11, 13.

Matt Johnson, vocalist-keyboardist, Matt and Kim: “Summer Jam ’09 [June 7 at Giants Stadium]! We listen to a ton of Top 40 hip-hop. I don’t know who’s playing, but I’m sure it will be killer. Even if the lineup doesn’t look too hot, they usually have enough cool surprise guests to make my mouth water…at least a little bit. Also, Todd P’s Acoustic BBQ [June 14 at Fort Tilden Beach]. For the past two or three years, Todd P­—the man who set up Kim and I’s first, like…50 shows?— has thrown an outdoor event where all your favorite Brooklyn acts figure out how to play unamplified—because there are no plugs—in a park. People hang, bands play, eat veggie BBQ…what more to ask for?” Matt and Kim play Pier 54 at Hudson River Park July 9.

Kip Berman, guitarist-vocalist, guitarist-vocalist, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart: “What looks really good is Dean & Britta playing with Crystal Stilts at Prospect Park [August 1]. That looks like something I’d like to see. Luna was one of the first indie bands I remember getting into. I was a big Dean Wareham  band, even after Galaxie 500, so I’m late to game. I remember getting Luna albums when I was a freshman in college and being really psyched. And I love Crystal Stilts—they’re one of my favorite local New York bands; it’d be fun to see them in a big outside show.” And also, Ted Leo [July 23 at Pier 54, Hudson River Park]. I was a big Chisel fan in high school, and they were so cool because they played in hard-core and punk shows pretty much exclusively. It was really cool of him to play shows that were DIY, all-ages shows at a time when his music probably didn’t sound like the other bands he was playing with, but his ethics and values were in line with that. I’ve always had a soft spot for Ted Leo and liked anything he’s done since then, so that’d be a good summertime show.  The Pains of Being Pure at Heart play “are playing” to “play” South Street Seaport July 10.

INDEX NYC summer concert guide
Your next three months—planned.

See more in Summer in NYC
See more in Music