Phosphorescent will headline the first of three free RiverRocks shows at Pier 54 this summer (photo by Miss Martha Jewelle)
Hudson River Park, Pier 54
West 14th St. & the Hudson River
Thursday, July 8, free, doors at 6:00, concert at 7:00
212-627-2121
www.riverrocksnyc.com
www.myspace.com/phosphorescent
Based in New York City by way of Athens, Georgia, Phosphorescent will be kicking off the free summer season of live music at Pier 54 over the Hudson River on July 8, highlighting songs from the band’s latest album, HERE’S TO TAKING IT EASY (Dead Oceans, May 2010). Led by founder, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Matthew Houck, Phosphorescent plays heartfelt Americana roots rock, with Scott Stapleton on piano, Jeffrey Bailey on bass, Christopher Marine on drums, Jesse Anderson Ainslie on guitar, and Ricky Jay Jackson on pedal steel. The new record takes listeners across the country, from L.A. (“Los Angeles”) to the South (“It’s Hard to Be Humble [When You’re from Alabama])” up north to Coney Island (“The Mermaid Parade”). “I wound up walking out by the ocean today / And there were naked women dancing in the Mermaid Parade,” Houck sings on the latter ballad. “And O Amanda, did you see me today / Watchin’ those women dancing in the Mermaid Parade /And O Amanda, did you see me today / Watchin’ those women waltz by in the Mermaid Parade.” We can’t promise there will be naked dancing women on the pier, but there should be a lot of bare skin if the brutal heat wave continues. The more rural sounding California quartet Dawes will open the show, supporting their full-length debut, NORTH HILLS (Ato/Red, September 2009). The line can get rather long for Pier 54 concerts, so get there early — and if you don’t bring a bag (which would need to be searched by security), you can usually go straight to the front. The series continues July 22 with the Antlers and Dinosaur Feathers and August 12 with Deerhunter and Real Estate. If you visit here, you can download a free sampler with songs by all six groups scheduled to play Pier 54 this summer as part of RiverRocks.
Update: Following the show, the band’s van was stolen overnight in Greenpoint, along with all of their equipment, including irreplaceable instruments. A devastated Houck soon sent out the following message:
“So many people / Friends and strangers / Have stepped forward / So quickly and with such generosity / It has transformed this thing / Into a truly amazing and heartwarming / Affirmation of community and love and spirit; / Good vibes and support arriving from far and near / And I want to express how humbled and / Tremendously appreciative / We all are.”
For those who believe in karma, all of that good energy couldn’t have hurt, as the van has been recovered, complete with all of the gear, seemingly undamaged. “Speechless right now,” Houck said.