Yes. Yes it does. But I say that with a hint of over-dramatics. The Siren Music Festival has gathered thousands of music fans to Coney Island every year for the last ten years, boasting free admission to see great veteran acts (New York Dolls, Broken Social Scene, Built To Spill, Ted Leo, etc.) and young… Continue reading Does the Siren Festival’s facelift really hurt anybody?
Tag: Siren
Harlem @ Siren
A lot of bands with complicated sounds like to take their act to the stage and put on a big, complicated show. Sometimes, this works very well (see Holy Fuck) and sometimes this falls short (see Cymbals Eat Guitars). But sometimes a band with a very simple sound and a very simple show to match… Continue reading Harlem @ Siren
Wye Oak @ Siren
Wye Oak is what happens if you take Matt and Kim, sap them of their top-40 savvy and say “Hey, this whole folk genre isn’t too bad.” What I’m trying to say is that the two bands are very much not alike, except they’re both guy/girl duos. What an awful introduction that was. During its… Continue reading Wye Oak @ Siren
Earl Greyhound @ Siren
By Brittany Borghi Rounding the corner of the Stillwell Stage for the 4:30 set, one thing became clear to me: Earl Greyhound is immediately awesome. Lithe lead guitarist Matt Whyte looked like Anthony Kiedis from the āUnder the Bridgeā video; long scraggly hair blowing in the beach breeze while he shredded the most delicious licks… Continue reading Earl Greyhound @ Siren
Surfer Blood @ Siren
By Brittany Borghi It was hotter than West Palm Beach balls underneath the Cyclone, but the crowd was still amped for Surfer Blood to take the stage. Sadly, their sweat was shed in vain. Surfer Blood may have spouted that they were āstokedā to be on Coney Island for the first time, but they couldnāt… Continue reading Surfer Blood @ Siren
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ Siren
I can totally see what The Pains of Being Pure at Heart is trying for with its music, and I don’t even mind listening to it that much, but something about their live set just sat wrong with it. It probably had something to do with the way their nostalgic, ’80s-tinged dream pop is constructed.… Continue reading The Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ Siren
Ted Leo and The Pharmacists @ Siren
By Brittany Borghi Siren veterans Ted Leo and the Pharmacists brought it big time to the Main Stage last Saturday, ready to prove that they can still shake up a crowd. No stranger to the free festival, they made their first appearance at Siren in 2003, and came back to show off to a new… Continue reading Ted Leo and The Pharmacists @ Siren
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Siren
Cymbals Eat Guitars played the penultimate set at the Stillwell Stage (the stage that isn’t the main one, derp) on Saturday, so I was surprised that the turnout wasn’t terribly big until they were nearly done. But, on the other end, there was a couple who looked to be in their 50s with cell phone… Continue reading Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Siren
Holy Fuck @ Siren
Holy Fuck didn’t turn heads at Siren, it threw them back in ecstasy. The experimental/psychedelic/dance band is known for their often-improvised instrumental jams, and they brought everything out in their festival-closing set Saturday that seemingly took the crowd by surprise. The thousands-deep slew of people moved like nobody was watching and like they themselves couldn’t… Continue reading Holy Fuck @ Siren
Matt and Kim @ Siren
A lot of good things have been said about Matt and Kim‘s live show, and their performance at Siren isn’t going to change that. The pair’s main stage-ending set at 7:30 p.m. attracted a massive crowd, which packed the long, narrow street serving as general admission space as well as the fenced-off kiddie park stage… Continue reading Matt and Kim @ Siren