08/16/08 Battles/Black Dice @ Central Park SummerStage, New York, NY

Unfortunately the bus back from Boston came in a little late and I missed Gang Gang Dance's opening set. But I still caught two of the best experimental noisemakers in music, while my girlfriend headed home to nap.

Black Dice was delightfully weird. Their nonsensical swirl of glitchy blurps and bleeps is an acquired taste, but this performance initiated me into their wonderful squelch and today they are one of my favorite groups.

Battles are possibly even weirder, but strangely melodic and certainly virtuosic. Since departed de facto leader Tyondai Braxton led the group through prog math metal arena rock with skillful aplomb against the syncopated symmetrical clatter of his cohorts.

06/13/08 Mavis Staples @ Central Park SummerStage, New York, NY

Mavis Staples is best known for "I'll Take You There" and her collaboration with The Band on "The Weight" at The Last Waltz.

Both songs were highlights of this free show in the park.

09/30/06 Tokyo New York Fest @ Central Park SummerStage, New York, NY

Unfortunately, I had previously signed up for a Sound Tribe Sector 9 show, so I only saw the Japanese jazz group Pe'z.

Had I known better, I would have stuck around for the incredible drum machine breakbeat duo Hifana. Luckily, I managed to snag a couple of their CD+DVD releases - Fresh Push Breakin' and Channel H. I still throw on the DVDs every now and again when minds need melting.

I also met up with my burger-flipping, beat-making buddy Tash and his fellow Japanese beat-making friend, which would eventually lead to the sole recording of my stagnant hip hop career.

Listen to my music HERE.

08/11/07 Galactic @ Central Park SummerStage, New York, NY

Galactic stepped up the New Orleans quotient by inviting the colorful Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and the Mardi Gras Indians on stage for a segment of the show.

06/16/07 Television/Apples in Stereo @ Central Park SummerStage, New York, NY

Sadly, original Television guitarist Richard Lloyd was hospitalized several days prior to this show, slightly negating their signature intertwined guitar line sound. They still pulled of a nice rendition of the lengthy title track on their seminal album Marquee Moon.

Apples in Stereo is an indie pop band affiliated with the Elephant 6 collective. I knew of them at the time solely for their tribute to Stephen Colbert.

07/20/06 Umphrey's McGee/Galactic/Grace Potter & The Nocturnals @ Central Park SummerStage, New York, NY

Umphrey's Mcgee
Set 1: Glory, Wife Soup > Anchor Drops, Got Your Milk (Right Here), #5 > Ringo, Intentions Clear, Der Bluten Kat > Words > Der Bluten Kat, Plunger, Baba O'Riley
Encore: Partyin' Peeps

This was a last minute decision on a show that I probably should have skipped. My internship left me with little disposable income and I didn't know anyone going. But the allure of Galactic funk and UM improg had me searching craigslist for a ticket that afternoon.

I secured my ticket and went on to rage solo, ensuring I would be sliqhtly devoid of energy for the night cap.

The highlight was unquestionably Baba O'Riley. Anthemic fist-pumping rock under the summer sun. Perfection.