A stellar summer gig on a brilliant summer evening. TMS Rating: 9/10.

More photos, the setlist & a TPOBPAH tune AFTER THE JUMP…

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Expect to enjoy the following free gigs:

July 3 Here We Go Magic & Bachelorette
July 10 The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart & Zaza & Ribbons
July 17 Superchunk
July 24 Black Moth Super Rainbow & Blank Dogs
July 31 Polvo & Obits
Aug 7 Casiokids & The Wave Pictures & Slow Club

For further info, head here.

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart recently debuted a new video.

MP3: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Everything With You

New Yorkers, be sure to catch:

February 6 - Project Jenny Project Jan
February 13 - The Kiss Off
February 20 - Heloise & The Savior Faire

For further info, head here.

Project Jenny Project Jan’s new EP is out in April.

MP3: Project Jenny Project Jan - 320

Describing an Animal Collective gig to a novice is equally as challenging as attempting to relive the experience with a devotee of the New York (via Baltimore) experimentalists. The band’s distinctive amalgamation of freak-folk, screamo, twisted & surreal pop, wizard-like electronic, post-rock and a slew of other genres makes for a one-of-a-kind aural journey. Last night’s show was of particular importance, as it served as the introductory concert of this year’s River To River festival.

The band’s 85-minute set was a non-stop tour de force. Highlighting a bulk of tunes to be featured on their upcoming release, Strawberry Jam (more info on that LP here), Animal Collective reinforced their title of New York’s most lovably bizarre musical troop. For good measure, the group also threw in a few old favorites towards the end of the show to a raucous reception. An undeniably fabulous way to start the summer concert season in NYC. See below for an MP3 of ‘Leaf House’, the opening track to their 2004 release, Sung Tongs.

MP3: Animal Collective - Leaf House

Hot time, summer in the city huh? Despite the heat Friday night, masses of hipsters filled out the South Street Seaport for a free show by new kids on the blog, Oppenheimer and buzz band Hot Chip. I sauntered into the Seaport a little after 7pm and caught most of Oppenheimer’s show. The band has a definite Air-esque quality to them. I liked it a lot. Being that they are Irish (even if it is Northern Irish), and the Irish love to talk, lead singer Shaun chatted up the audience and very endearingly told us all about each song. Like little children sitting down for story-time, from the front to the back, hipsters sat patiently Indian style and listened.

A friend of mine nudged me as a sweaty hipster equipped with a huge camera made his way damply through my group. “Why do all hipsters have to smell?”

Friday night was my first Hot Chip experience. If they cut out their slow songs (like ‘Colours’) this would have been a near perfect set. It was just too hot to stand there sweating through mundane tunes. And though Hot Chip may not have much variety, I thoroughly enjoyed their music. From the start, they had me dancing. Their songs are well crafted and fun. Perfect for djing, and I suppose that is where I heard the song ‘Over and Over’ because I could have swore before the show that I didn’t know any of their stuff.

A note on the River to River shows: They are great but I have a question, what’s up with the Brits? We all love Belle and Sebastian, Hot Chip are great, but would it not seem a bit more appropriate for the concert series to be filled with New Yorkers? Lord knows there are enough NYC bands knocking about that people would flock to see. Just a thought.

Hot Chip was phenomenal last night!

They sort of reminded me of Kraftwerk (perhaps it’s just the stage set-up) with a little LCD Soundsystem (which makes sense since one of the guys from the band was helping them out last night).

Is it just me or does the lead singer of Hot Chip resemble Stephin Merritt?

One of the best freebies of the summer!