Review: Joan Jett @ Coney Island

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts @ Coney Island - July 14th, 2011
Review: Francesca McCaffery; Photo: Jenny Belin

If there was ever an iconic performer that makes you want to pick up your old guitar, put an ad on Craigslist, and throw your very first band together, (even if you ain’t twenty-two no more!) Joan Jett is it. I mean it. Seriously, I went to this show with some good friends on July 14th for the free Seaside Summer Concert Series at Coney Island, looking to have a pretty good time. What I did NOT expect was to get fucking BLOWN-AWAY.

Holy cow, this show was beyond-belief. Jett, former founder of the Runaways and lead singer of her band Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, proves that she is still truly an icon, can absolutely rock you, and is so sexy, at 52, you will probably want to kill yourself. (And hit the gym extra hard, form a band, and buy a nice, tight black leather catsuit, all at once!)

Never have I seen a performer embrace a large audience right in the very palm of their little hands, even with the sort of smallish sound system and tiny stage at the Seaside Festival. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts overcame this, blasting out hit after hit, as well some very nice surprises (“Androgynous” by the Replacements! “I Wanna Be Your Dog” by the Stooges!). I swear to God, she is a genuinely hypnotizing performing, even glimpsed from yards and yards away, projected on large video screens so the worshipful audience could grab any glimpse that they possibly could.

This Week's Nostalgia (7/11-7/17)

Well, this past week was “slow” in the sense that we only had two major things to suggest in last week’s Nostalgia report, but this week is pretty much the busiest we’ve seen so far this year. We caught Ted Leo & the Pharmacists tear through The Tyranny of Distance for free at the South Street Seaport yesterday, and we’ll have a full set of photos, a review and some videos up shortly. For now, let’s take a look at what’s in store for us New Yorkers this week…

Cibo Matto @ Brooklyn Bowl
Tuesday, July 12th

Cibo Matto have been on indefinite hiatus for the past ten years or so, but made a very brief performance at Le Poisson Rouge earlier this year, which was some sort of prophetic hint that they were up to a full fledged reunion. And that certainly turned out to be the case when they announced a series of dates much to our excitement. The food-obsessed duo will play the very awesome Brooklyn Bowl on Tuesday, and tickets are still on sale. If you miss this show, may God have mercy on your soul, but tickets are also still available for their Bowery Ballroom performance on July 18th, so you still have the chance to fully redeem yourself. Get at it. And may God have mercy on your soul.

Animal Collective @ Prospect Park Bandshell
Tuesday, July 12th

Goofy bastards...

The last time I caught psychedelic pop act Animal Collective, it was at the very same venue--Prospect Park Bandshell, two summers ago. And I still rave about it to anyone who will listen. Considering how heavy their 2009 release Merriweather Post Pavillion is on the samples and electronic beats, their live performance came off surprisingly uncscripted. With Avey Tare playing electric guitar most of the time, and Panda Bear banging on a set of drums while Geologist manipulates various samplers, the trio (now a quartet again upon Deacon’s return) are sure to stun you with their chaotic live show. If I wasn’t already seeing Cibo Matto, this would surely be the show to see, and though tickets are sold out you should have no problem scooping one up on craigslist. Bring glow sticks and enhancements.

Superchunk @ House of Vans (25 Franklin St, Brooklyn)

Thursday, July 14th

More here

If you haven’t seen Superchunk live, you haven’t seen one of the greatest live bands ever. Never mind the fact these guys have been rocking out since 1989, Mac McCaughan still jumps around on stage like an absolute maniac. Last time I saw them, Todd Barry (who recently made an hilarious appearance on FX’s Louie) opened the show with standup, only to return on drums for the band’s encore; a cover of the Misfits’ "Horror Business." Yep, it was awesome. This show, part of the House of Vans concert series, is free with RSVP. The great OFF!, who we recently caught opening for Dinosaur Jr., will also open the show. A line for this will start at 5pm, and doors are at 7pm. Doooo it.

Patti Smith and Her Band @ Castle Clinton

Thursday, July 14th

Patti Smith in 1978

I've never seen Patti Smith live, but I was at Lollapalooza in '07 where I could hear her playing while we waited in the rain for Interpol. In retrospect, that's pretty lame, and now that I have the opportunity to see her again, I can't make it because I'm going to Superchunk. So why am I suggesting this show? To make up for my stupidity I suppose. Smith will be performing at Castle Clinton in Battery Park as part of the annual River to River Festival. According to their website, free tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis onsite at 5pm and doors open at 6pm. Patti plays at 7pm. So if you plan on going, get there early to ensure entry. And let me know how it is.

Joan Jett @ Coney Island (West 21st Street & Surf Avenue)

Thursday, July 14th

If you had to choose between Patti Smith and Joan Jett, who would you choose? Choose wisely, my friend, choose wisely. Both shows are free, and both will undoubtedly be packed. I personally would go with Patti Smith, but that's more due to the fact that the trek to Coney Island by subway is akin to traveling to Philadelphia or something. Joan will be performing as part of the Seaside Summer Concert Series, hosted by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, who I saw give an hilariously awkward introduction to Mission of Burma two years ago. I'm sure this show will be a great time, especially if you're a fan of the 52-year old rocker. Heads up: she's still pretty hot. Enjoy.

Paul McCartney @ Yankee Stadium

Friday, July 15th, Saturday, July 16th

As big of a Beatles fan as I am, I've yet to see Paul McCartney live. It probably has to do with the fact that getting tickets to his shows are either impossible to obtain, or ticket prices are extremely high, or that he's kinda sort of a douchebag now. My good friend Colin (also an obsessive Beatles fan) saw McCartney a few years back and said he played "Too Many People" off of his excellent solo album Ram, which is pretty awesome in of itself. But Paul's setlists are generally comprised of Beatles material, including many songs the Beatles never played live themselves. And as much as I wish Paul (a.k.a. one of the richest entertainers in the world) would just bite the bullet and play a few club dates like Paul Simon recently did, seeing him at the new Yankee Stadium should still be pretty great. Nosebleed tickets are available for both the Friday and Saturday show. Bring binoculars.

Notable mentions (a.k.a. I'm too tired to write up stuff on these shows, but they're still great):

7/12 - Slick Rick @ Crotona Park (Free)

7/13 - Urge Overkill @ Rocks Off Cruise (Tickets)

7/15 - Dwarves @ Knitting Factory (Tickets)

7/16 - Dwarves @ The Studio at Webster Hall (where Andy from L.E.S. Stiches and also the manager at Fontanas will open with his band the Threads) (Tickets)

Yeah, summer in New York City is amazing, especially if you're a gigantic music fan and have no money. Also be sure to check out Radiohead's recent performance of The King of Limbs: Live From The Basement if you haven't already. If there are any other shows we've missed, please let us know in the comments. Until next week...