And that was that. Yesterday was the last McCarren Pool Party. The city’s gone and had the bright idea to fill the pool with — get this — water instead of hipsters (imagine that), bringing a halt to what quickly became a favorite NYC venue for summer music. The Pool’s life as a staging ground for shows was short lived — we remember curating the very first Pool Party (with Les Savy Fav) like it was just three summers ago ago (mostly because it was). And it was nothing but fun from then on. Sad to see it go.
Somewhat poetically, McCarren Pool concludes its short-lived run of indie events with two of the longest running institutions in indie rock: the Pool Parties (always free) wound up with Yo La Tengo, while the AEG series (always not) will end with Sonic Youth this Saturday. Yesterday was fun in that too-much-Dewars-and-nostalgia-in-the-sun sorta way. We’ve got some photos of Yo La being great, along with openers Ebony Bones and Titus Andronicus, along with lots of shots of Williamsburgers running for the slip ‘n’ slide, taking it in, and showing their children a nice time for alt families.
EBONY BONES
TITUS ANDRONICUS
YO LA TENGO
WILLIAMSBURG
I would say “only in Brooklyn,” except that the Pool Parties are eyeing a future on tour. As for the McCarren Pool grounds, the plans certainly look interesting.
Anyway. Thnks fr th mmrs, McCrn.
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Some nice ones! Thanks STEREOGUM. I feel like I’m there…
Anyone got a list of every pool party ever?
July 2006 wasn’t three years ago despite your claim, though you could say it was three summers ago.
the McCarren pool parties became so cliche and played-out. it’s good to see it go away and have some normalcy return to that pool. I got so sick of all the hipster wanna-be’s and suburban long island and connecticut kids coming in for shows. it became a seen and be scene event and did not promote local music.
I completely agree with Playedout. Good riddance Pool Parties!
Dude that was an awesome time.
bojackson82@gmail.com
Saw lots of smiling faces on those crowd pics, try loosining up and try having a good time instead of judging people. Sounded like the lineups for those shows were pretty sweet to me. Sorry it is not indier than thou, sour grapes is no way to go through life Kemo Sabe…
I have to agree to with Playedout and MF McNutt. The Pool became too much of a scene, especially this year. Maybe it was BECAUSE it was the last year but there was too much advertisment, too many sponsors. Now I know they pay the bills to MAKE it a free show but does that justify all of the information overload? Ads in the weekly papers and magazines, flyers in almost every fuckin’ bar, lounge, club and clothing store below 14th St., Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Park Slope? Hell, even in Midtown and I remember seeing some flyers outside Maxwell’s in Hoboken. Not to mention here on web also with this very site, BV, P4K, and the social networks. It’s unfortunately the whole point of marketing and whoever JellyNYC hired will use this to fatten their resumes for the next cilent.
“indier than thou”? No, it just killed the experience. I mean you see “lots of smiling faces” and no doubt I agree with you, but I also see lots of poseurs who want to be “where its at” and be seen rather than just BE and experience it. For example, my last impression of The Pool Parties was seeing Deerhunter & The Black Lips and being distracted by the line and crowd at the TOPMAN / TOPSHOP Photo Booth and all the free t-shirts being handed out over there. WHAT?!!!! WHY?!!!! It also sounds like you weren’t there and to be honest neither was I and I LOVE Yo La Tengo but I’m glad I didn’t go and with my luck there probably wasn’t a photo booth there but it doesn’t matter.
I’ll be there for Sonic Youth though. With people who WANT to be there to SEE Sonic Youth. That’s what I love, or loved, about the free vs. pay shows @ McCarren. For the most part, it separated the poseurs and freeloaders from the REAL fans.
Damn SUBMIT button with the 5 second delay!
sigh.. 17 is a tough age.
Nah. When I was 17, it was all about Wu-Tung and I was too busy chasing tail. Plus, I no idea that Brooklyn even existed, but I’m sure Brooklyn felt the same way about The Bronx.
PS – thanx ‘gum deleting my mistake.
ha! too true.
Dude, who cares if they are “real” fans or not. It’s just a bunch of people hanging out in the sun, enjoying some free music and free games. Jesus Christ, only hipsters could find fault with that. Instead of worrying about other people and why they are there and whether or not they’re “real fans” or “posers”, why don’t you just relax and enjoy the music and play some four square or something.
Hey GB, I didn’t mean to sound self-righteous or anything. But it’s hard to enjoy and relax at any of the McCarren events because it became too popular and crowded. It’s hard to even get into the events. My general philosophy is that when events get too big for their own good, it’s time to shut down and start anew.
Sonic Youth is not live nation. get your facts straight, clueless.