We are here to invite you to a day of emotive psychedelia on the beach. Hell Gate is excited to be partnering with (defunct legendary Brooklyn venue-turned-show curator) Shea Stadium to present an evening of music at (active legendary Rockaway Beach venue and burger stand) Rippers this Saturday, July 26. It's free and open to all.
Doors will open at 5 p.m. (when I'll be "DJing"), and then the show will stretch from twilight to sunset. We agreed with the fine people at Shea that the most appropriate vibe would be hazy but also sneakily heartfelt. We figured there should be synthesizers, but also songs with hooks. We think we met the moment with a bill that includes Lukka, High., and PC Worship.
Lukka is the rock project of German musician Franzi Szymkowiak. If you're a fan of psych bops, or when the drummer sings background vocals, check this out:
And what about when the bass has a chorus pedal on it? What about when the vocals are "awash with reverb"? High. is from Boonton, New Jersey, but we're gonna have them doing shoegaze at Rockaway Beach. Are you going to tell me you're not into that?
And then to cap it all off, when the sun is down, PC Worship will take the stage—not only are they veterans of more than 15 years of New York's DIY scene, they also have an electric violin.
I'll see anyone who likes this sort of thing at the beach, where you'll also have your last chance to get a plush, union-made Hell Gate beach towel. If the house you grew up in is anything like mine, a beach towel is something that lasts decades, even generations. Make an investment in something that will last: the towel and the memories we will make at Rockaway Beach!