TV on the Radio - July 29, 2007

McCarren Park Pool [6 pm - 7:20 pm] ~Free

Considering that we all woke up to a shitty day in NYC, I'm glad to say that I was one of the many (though not predicted "thousands") seeing TV on the Radio from the pool in McCarren Park. TVOTR took the stage at six PM and dove into "Wash the Day Away", and the rain was more or less finished from that point. The set was excellent and perfectly played. TVOTR played one perfect song after another, playing such songs as "Young Liars", "Hours" and "Let the Devil In" early in their set. Tunde Adebimpe did his strut and painted the soundscape, while Kyp Malone and the gang used their sounds (chimes, effects laden guitars, many percussive instruments) to whip the crowd into a frenzy. By the second half of the set guest musicians came on stage at different points to add vocals, percussion, etc. With the first song of the encore, the stage was full of the previous guests and additional hands, including Kyp's young daughter, to add to the percussive cacophony coming from the stage. Everyone around me was moving in some direction or another to the music and by the last song of the encore only "Staring at the Sun" could satisfy the expectations we all had. It must be said that, I go to many shows and I have had many different experiences at concerts, but I never experienced the chill that went through my body as Kip Malone hit the cord that launched "Staring at the Sun" from its atmospheric start to its frenzied climax. The show was excellent. I hope these Brooklynites continue to give us open access to them each summer. I'm looking forward to seeing them again next weekend in Chicago.


"I was a Lover" - McCarren Park Pool, July 29, 2007