hooves on the turf

Download “Welfare Bread” | This being my first return to the pool parties since last summer, allow me to say: yes, the lines have become ridiculous. When I got there at around 1:46, today’s had already wrapped around the pool, extending to somewhere behind the stage. And it took less than 30 seconds for a large number of people to pile up behind us. One of the (young) girls who joined after us said to her friend, “I don’t think the lines matter. Last week, you just had to be close to the entrance and we all dashed inside.” Damn newbies. Listening to King Khan soundcheck, one of them worried that they were actually maybe missing the show already.

While people hate on beards, headbands and fancy guy shoes, let me tell you, the evil doesn’t lie in that batch of hipsters who no longer check the “25 and under” box, but in that other less tolerable batch of newbies who have turned 18 since last summer, and probably have moved into the Williamsburg vicinity because that is the thing that lies in their bright future. As for the 25+, apart from that actual plumage and hideously “ethnic” shirt one guy was wearing, which incidentally saved him from a fist fight with King Khan (read on for that), the only overkill seemed to be sunglasses with bright-colored rims; everything else they wore was forgivable and harmless, let’s stop talking about that already. 

All photos after the jump.

My main reason for going was King Khan and the Shrines, who I’d managed to miss so far. Mr. Khan is entertaining to say the least, and though his band rocked it hard, it seemed like they would definitely sound a lot more fantastic at some other venue (I’m going to suggest Le Poisson Rouge; why the hell not). But let’s not rob his “superfluous band member”, Japanese go-go dancer Bamboorella, the recognition she deserves for dancing it out in the heat.

Before the appropriate song, Khan asked for trash to be picked up and thrown on stage–here began the journey of water bottles and magazines through the air to the stage, an activity that lasted, in varying degrees, throughout the set. At one point, our South Asian reincarnation of James Brown threatened to beat up a guy if he threw any more things at the dancer: “There are all these guys here,” he said pointing to his fabulous band, “why do you have to throw it at her?” He let him go only because he was protected by the dude strangely attired in a brightly colored (mostly red and blue) flowing, ethnic-looking top, blue short shorts (not very different from Khan’s) and a plumage.

More King Khan stories continued below with accompanying pictures:

He asked for a dollar bill to be pulled out, and at the slow response, called the audience poor bastards. I believe these were then destroyed?

A middle finger through the cover of a Spin magazine that came flying to the stage. Khan said that he’d rather read Spin magazine than shoot heroine; that he’d rather drink Dewar’s (a sponsor at the event) than [insert drug activity]. Referring to the headliners, he added, “But I’m sure Black Lips would disagree. I’ve seen them do disgusting things”.

And then, eating the pages of Spin magazine. There was a piece he pulled out of his underwear. And yes he chewed that up, too.

I’ve no idea what he’s doing here to the hot key player.

I’ve no clue who this guy is, other than he risked his life to be there and didn’t speak English. And that he brought a bag full of bananas, which Khan threw to the audience one at a time, asking that the peels, but not the fruits, be thrown back to the stage. Balls of the fruit came flying first, and peels followed.

Back with a mask.

Water guns everywhere.

Dodgeball legacy continues.

New booth since last summer. Apparently you pose for a picture and you get something branded for free. It may have been tank tops, at least for women.

Solid moves and a pretty skirt.

I caught a little bit of Deerhunter, who managed to mention that they had “an actual girl band member” (burn!), but couldn’t stay for the rest.