Late Saturday Afternoon in Rockaway Beach: Bikes in the Kitchen presents Friender Blender with Ninjasonik, The Death Set, The So So Glos, The Moon Dudes, Las Rosas, New Cross, and Greg Saunier of Deerhoof at Rippers

(Videos courtesy Sixdust | NYC Music)

Sunday Afternoon in East Williamsburg: JellyNYC Rock Yard presents The Growlers, Japanther, The Death Set, Cerebral Ballzy, The Soso Glows and CSC Funk Band at The Morgan

Videos courtesy Sixdust/NYC Music

Late Saturday Afternoon in Williamsburg: Bikes in the Kitchen show w/ Ninjasonik, Death Set, Snakes Say Hisss, Dope Body, Bloor, etc. at the Rock Yard

Today's Bikes in the Kitchen fifth anniversary show at the Rock Yardproved so dynamic that it made us recall the now-legendary McCarren Pool summer Sunday shows in a way that the current Pool Parties never have.

With a lineup that featured Ninjasonik,

The Death Set, Snakes Say Hisss, Dope Body, Bloor, DJ Sega, DJ Dirty Finger and more,

the Rock Yard seemed - even though we couldn't stay for more than about ninety minutes - far more energetic during that time than we'd seen during any similar period at the East River State Park concerts this summer or last.

Maybe it's being in a confined space, like the McCarren Pool.

The Rock Yard is relatively spacious,

but it's not a gigantic venue and it's got a big fence around it, and so the vibes from the crowd

don't dissipate the way they can on the Williamsburg waterfront, where even when there are lots of people, there are often huge expanses of empty space that can drain that high-octane feel from even the best crowd reaction to the dopest band.


Instead it's got more of a block-party feel.


Anyway, we had a good time and a lot of other people seemed to be having an even better time.

We got there in the middle of this band's set and really liked them, but can't figure out who they were. If anyone knows, please tell us.






We don't know if the Rock Yard shows will be back next summer, but 2011 in Williamsburg will be better if they are.