Siren Festival 2008

[xneverwherex]

i was there last year. the earlier you get there the better. by the time we are scientists came on the place was way too packed. it just seemed to get more and more unbearable.
 
 i saw a minor league baseball game later in the day which was pretty cool. esp when i got a call after entering some competition to be told i won White Stripes tix. That was pretty sweet!
 
 The sound was atrocious. The first band Twilight Sad spent more time dealing with sound problems more than anything. the noisettes sounded pretty good - and the chick was hanging out afterwards signing stuff for everyone and taking pics. she was quite cool.
 
 and if you can - take public transportation out there. i know the lots out there were charging exorbitant amounts and many lots were sold out. besides it only costs $2 on the subway - and is far cheaper than NYCs $5/gallon!

[sweetcell]

i have a few questions about time:
 
 1- when does the music start?
 
 2- when, more or less, does getting a spot with a some sort of view of the stage become unlikely?  i'm assuming that at some point, one needs to hold their position since leaving for food/bathroom/etc = not being able to make it back in.
 
 3- when does the show end?

[xneverwherex]

Originally posted by sweetcell:
  i have a few questions about time:
 
 1- when does the music start?
 
 2- when, more or less, does getting a spot with a some sort of view of the stage become unlikely?  i'm assuming that at some point, one needs to hold their position since leaving for food/bathroom/etc = not being able to make it back in.
 
 3- when does the show end?

New York, NY (June 18, 2008) The Village Voice, the nation's largest alternative weekly newspaper, is excited to announce the addition of ISLANDS and RA RA RIOT to the line-up for the 8th Annual Village Voice SIREN MUSIC FESTIVALâ?¢ at Coney Island on Saturday, July 19, 2008 from 12:00 noon - 9pm. ISLANDS and RA RA RIOT join scheduled performers STEPHEN MALKMUS AND THE JICKS, BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE, THE HELIO SEQUENCE, BEACH HOUSE, TIMES NEW VIKING, JAGUAR LOVE, THE DODOS, ANNUALS, FILM SCHOOL, PARTS & LABOR, DRAGONS OF ZYNTH, THESE ARE POWERS and DJs spinning throughout the day.
 
 This free, all day, all ages music festival will feature international, national and local bands and DJs performing on two outdoor stages in historic Coney Island. Now in its 8th year, the Village Voice SIREN MUSIC FESTIVALâ?¢ has solidified its status as a leading New York City outdoor music festival, drawing over 100,000 music fans by showcasing indie rock veterans and emerging artists.
 
 I got there around 11:30 or so - but i wanted to see twilight sad. it was pretty empty then and you could get up close. WAS I think were on around 4-5 (or maybe later)?? and it was a mob scene. no way to get back into the area. Depends on the band mostly but Id plan on getting there on the earlier side if you want to be up close.
 
 plan on pushing through tons and tons of people if you get there later and plan on going in/out. (its so not worth it - and let alone its impossible to move).

[sweetcell]

Originally posted by xneverwherex:
 from 12:00 noon - 9pm.

wow... although understandable, as there are apartments across the street.  still, you'd think they could go a little later like 10 pm.
 
 i hope there will be afterparties  

[K8teebug]

I went the first year (because I am old) and it was fun,but it was super crowded by 4pm or so.  Still, the Cyclone rules, and it's fun hanging out there for the day.

[Vas Deferens]

Just back at 3 am this morning...
 
 Best of the fest? Islands, Parts & Labor, The Dodos, Times New Viking.
 
 These Are Powers' female singer was fun to watch.
 
 Ra Ra Riot members move way too much while playing...
 
 My least favorite Broken Social Scene show.
 
 It was very crowded, but I got there pretty early and was in front 90% of the time (most of the bands I wanted to see were on the main stage...)

[sweetcell]

way too hot yesterday for this canuckistani, we aren't designed for those extremes.  so i showed up after 6 PM, in time to catch the two bands i most wanted to see: helio sequence and BSS.  i got a good spot, dead center about 40 feet away from the stage.  
 
 HS = a drummer and a guitarist/singer - and a very prominent tape that provided pre-recorded bass, synths, and additional guitars.  good music and a lively performance, but would have been better with some live musicians filling in the blanks.  i expect techno blips and beeps to come from a laptop, but hearing that many "real" instruments come outta nowhere leads to cognitive dissonance.
 
       

Originally posted by wanderlust j. marshmallow:
  Ra Ra Riot members move way too much while playing...

interesting complaint.  i suppose you'd prefer them to stand in one spot and not move the entire show... sorta like you?       :p     j/k!  
 
       

Originally posted by wanderlust j. marshmallow:
 My least favorite Broken Social Scene show.

i thought BSS's show was great.  good energy, good set list, and the band was obviously having a great time.  did you think the performance was weak, or was it something else?
 
 i hope that next year's siren fest has more tolerable weather.  this was only my second or third time out to coney island, would have been nice to spend the day there, go on a ride while listening to a band play below, etc.  i'm now a tad concerned about lolla & how hot it might...

[sweetcell]

VV's siren festival slide show
 
 after siren fest, i headed over to the music hall of williamsburg to catch the after-party.  unfortunately by the time i made it there and got a bite to eat, i had missed marnie stern... i was sure it was doors at 10 when in fact that's when the show started, as if anyone could make it from Coney island to williamsburg in an hour.  dang.  i did see her hanging around - what a cutie.
 
 i walked in to the opening shrieks of APTBS.  good stuff, can't say i'm a converted fan but definitely enjoyable.  damn they are LOUD.  it wasn't a loudness that knocked you over immediately.  it took a while but eventually all that distorted high-end starts to wear you down.  i soooooo hearted my etymotics last night.  lots of people standing around with their fingers plugging their ears for the entire show.
 
 apes and androids were really, really good.  it was my first time seeing and hearing them, and they did convert me to their live show.  60's flavored psychedelic rock with a strong dose of glam, performed by really good musicians to boot.  looking forward to seeing them again.

[xneverwherex]

I knew I couldnt make it all day - especially as i had to be at summerstage all day - so i got there around 3:30. I headed over to the mainstage and caught times new viking. just didnt do it for me and i found some songs decent but most songs i was just waiting for them to end.
 
 i was in the very front for ra ra riot. i was hoping for a more energetic set - with the more upbeat stuff - but overall i thought it was a good set. ive never heard of moving around as a complaint, and i love it that theyre so engaged. and then wes jumping into the crowd was pretty cool.
 
 the helio sequence were great as always. i cant imagine them with a full band and ive seen them live a few times, but i think those guys work great together as the two-some.
 
 i was bummed to miss islands, but the set times were really f-ed up with the late start on ra ra riot and i knew i didnt wanna miss helio sequence.
 
 i cant say i was ever a huge broken social scene fan but after hearing the music they did on the soundtrack for tracey fragments i knew i had wanted to see them. and for free it was perfect. i thought it was a great set, energetic. for spending 5.5 hours in the sun they made me forget about it for the hour they played and everyone where i was - was dancing up a storm. it was a perfect way to end the night.
 
 i was tempted to go with sweetcell to MHOW but there was just no way I could do that along with todays show.
 
 and i would like to add Santogold was f'ing awesome. a 25 minute set that was just energetic, had the crowd dancing and singing along, and her dancers were great to watch. she played all of her songs and said shed be opening for coldplay with a full band. now that will be awesome to see! on that note - im comatose. prob have heat stroke from all the time in the sun!  

[Vas Deferens]

i'm used to seeing BSS play longer (their last 930 show was about 2.5 hours long). The horns sounded OK in the big setting, but in a small and closed setting...it's just hair raising  
 It's also unfortunate that none of the four lady singers they have made it to the show...
 
 Oh, but this wasn't my least favorite actually. They were beyond disappointing at the Merriweather show opening for Belle & Sebastian. That was my least favorite.
 
   

Originally posted by sweetcell:
  i thought BSS's show was great.  good energy, good set list, and the band was obviously having a great time.  did you think the performance was weak, or was it something else?
 
 

[you be betty]

the whole day was crazy cause i was shooting and running back and fourth between stages seeing little blips of all bands...
 
 loved film school, helio sequence, and BSS.  my first broken social scene show and they nearly brought tears to my eyes it was so good.
 
 photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/youbebetty/sets/72157606304280217/

[sweetcell]

great pix betty!  must have been nice to be that close, even if only for a few minutes.
 
 in attempts to complement the above photo set: my much lower-quality from-the-crowd shots available here.
 
   

Originally posted by wanderlust j. marshmallow:
  I went in 2006. Sound was bad on both stages but I'll be there this year!

Originally posted by xneverwherex:
 The sound was atrocious. The first band Twilight Sad spent more time dealing with sound problems more than anything.

i thought the sound was fine, looks like they got that taken care of this year.