Siren Festival!

This Saturday I headed to Coney Island for what could quite possibly be the last ever Village Voice Siren Festival. PAPER chum Alexis Swerdloff joined me for what was a delightful variety of bands. My favorites were Scotland's The Twilight Sad, Atlanta's The Black Lips, and Brooklyn's very own Matt and Kim.

Alexis here: I joined MY PAPER chum Shanon Kelley on Saturday for a lovely day on Coney Island for the Siren Fest... while we weren't able to finagle our way in to see MIA (they weren't letting press people in after a certain point cause it was so crowded -- boooooo), there were other bands that were wonderful. Notably The Noisettes, Lavender Diamond and Matt and Kim. The Noisettes' lead vocalist Shingai Shoniwa is the hottest thing I've seen recently. She jumped around the stage like a crazy person, which was refreshing. Becky Stark (of Lavender Diamond)'s cooing didn't quite translate to the big outdoor Siren setting, but she still managed to put on a good show, and she didn't let the bad sound interfere with her trademark inter-song banter. During this show, she went on and on about starting an eco-friendly amusement park. The Matt and Kim show was insane, with rabid fans jumping the barriers and getting shaken up by security. It was pretty rock 'n' rollin. There is something just so picturesque and soothing about watching a good show as the Cyclone looms overhead. I've been to the Siren Fest every year since 2002, and it's always such a wonderful way to spend a Saturday in mid-July!

The Twilight Sad

Matt and Kim

The Black Lips