Awesome — Although Sadly Beerless — 4th of July

After an insane scramble to get a coveted pair of tickets for this free event, involving the temporary meltdown of the River to River server, the lucky ones and I headed to Battery Park on this fine Wednesday off of work only to find that they were letting anyone in anyway.  This included a surly old man all dressed up in a ragged, outdated formal suit who sat down among afternoon picnickers and promptly pulled out a pint of Popov. I suppose folks must have been turned off by the idea of large crowds and the looming threat of rain. If you ask me, I’d say these factors made it into a right nice afternoon — no throngs of people to weave through, and no beating sun to burn my skin off and make my brain too delirious to enjoy the music. When openers Midlake began their set, everyone pretty much kept lounging on their blankets (or in my case right on the grass, as nature intended), and swayed nonchalantly to the mellow tunes. These B-minor loving softies from Denton, TX played a passionate, yet casual set that went nicely with the summer afternoon that it was. However, their mood and sound did not quite fit with the pop-driven jumping around my body was ready to do a bit later.

The dancy fun indeed began when The New Pornographers took the stage shortly thereafter. Fans were lucky in that Neko Case had made it out for this gig, for although I’ve heard tell that her touring replacement ain’t too shabby, her distinct vocals are definitely something to look forward to. A few songs into the set it appeared that all the members were animated and pleased to be there — Neko and Carl Newman were joking around like schoolchildren and engaging the others in witty banter — but as a whole the music came across as a jarring blast of sound which made it difficult to detect individual efforts. Certainly this could have to do with the fact that I was right in front (something that lazy Laura sitting in the back could confirm), and in the end they gave the audience a very pleasing set despite the jumbled sound. Their enthusiasm and stage presence made up for the sound quality as they presented the audience with favorites mostly off of Mass Romantic and Twin Cinema (including both titular hits), with a sprinkling of new material from the upcoming Challengers. The new songs seemed to take a step down from the pop-attack that is The New Pornographer’s signature sound, in favor of a more mellow, expressive feel.

Additional fun was had during the encore, which included the song “The Bleeding Heart Show,” recently of car commercial fame. The drummer really shone during these last numbers, for while he had been quietly entertaining there in the back this whole time, here he showed how hardcore he was by completing his vocal parts with a cigarette in his mouth. Not only can this guy drum like a maniac and flip his sticks high into the air mid-smash, but there he was fervently singing while somehow managing not to get smoke into his eyes. Oh America, how we love you and the musicians you bring us.  Oh wait, they’re Canadian.

And another thing: why the hell don’t they sell beer at these functions? I think in the end, the abovementioned old man must have had the greatest time of anyone.