On an absolutely gorgeous Saturday night, New York City’s own Parquet Courts played the second show of the 2015 Almost Summer Concert Series taking place at The House of Vans in Brooklyn on May 23rd. It marked their first show back in New York City since this past February and along for the ride were openers Pill, Radioactivity and DJ sets by The Blackouts.
Before and in-between each opener was a DJ set provided by The Blackouts (twin brothers Atiba & Ako Jefferson). They are no strangers to Vans, as a while back they partnered up and collaborated with the brand with a few signature shoes as part of Vans’ ongoing OTW Collection.
First up were another New York band and fellow Dull Tools label mates, Pill. I didn’t know what to expect as this was my first time catching them live, but boy was it a treat. Their fun, saxophone infused punk may sound strange on paper but completely works and is something you need to experience for yourself.
By the time Radioactivity took the stage, the indoor portion of HOV began to really fill out. They wasted no time and powered through their set with ease while at the same time keeping the energy level high. I couldn’t of imagined a better opener for Parquet Courts, as they fit the bill perfectly.
After the final DJ set from The Blackouts, Parquet Courts promptly took the stage to an anxious and packed HOV crowd. “It’s like we’re playing a level of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater…” proclaimed guitarist Austin Brown, right before jumping into their 15 song set. Towards the end of their set, we all thought they were playing a joke on the crowd as they kept teasing everybody by saying, “This is our last song. Thank you very much everybody!” Well, that phrase was repeated right before the last 4 or 5 songs, which had the crowd begging for more. On the very last song, they hesitated as they began to walk off stage as if they were teasing us again, but it really was the end of their set. They thanked the crowd and not much longer after did the house lights come back on signifying the end of another amazing and memorable House Of Vans concert.
Below, find more photos of The Blackouts, Pill, Radioactivity and Parquet Courts:
The Blackouts:
Pill:
Radioactivity:
Parquet Courts:
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