Remember being in Brooklyn last summer? If you do, you’ll remember the JellyNYC Pool Parties at McCarren. I can hear those pulsing bass beats pouring through the hot streets. It’s like social conditioning: as soon as the skinny little Brooklyn birds have slipped into their yellow jumpsuits, riding around on ten-speeds, it’s somehow become legal to strut the streets with giant Styrofoam cups o’ beer.
Those wild afternoons we arrived dry and ended up sweating and greased like swine—dodging big red balls, rushing to the Slip ’N Slide to cool off. Beer after beer after beer. Some saved room in their bellies for free ice cream, “slung” by the indie-rock, sweet-tooth Godfather, Matt Allen, the Ice Cream Man. We caught kickass bands like Band of Horses at twilight…just in time to allow last shreds of consciousness to take it all in, of course.
This year, the Pool Parties will be at McCarren for their third straight year. Of course, right? Not so fast, fuzzy little reader-peach: this is the very last year of the pool action; they’re moving to the BKLYN waterfront starting next year. The Landmark Preservation Committee has decided to make the big ol’ hole in the earth a landmark, with resolute plans to build a year-round multi-use structure.
We’re talking skating rink/concert arena/swimming pool. But before it all changes, people from all around will head to this empty pool to see the Breeders, the Hold Steady and Matt & Kim, among others, all for free.
Chatting with a couple of last year’s Pool Party faves—Chris “Arch” Archibald from the band Illinois, and the Ice Cream Man, Matt Allen—we were curious to hear their thoughts on all this.
What are your thoughts on this being the last year for the shows happening at the pool?
Arch: I’m psyched for the ice skating aspect. I’ve never experienced the waterfront…how’s that? Anywhere you bring music, booze and friends together equals a good time.
Ice Cream Man: I’m happy the pool parties are coming back for one more year because the rumor was they’d be done after 2008; I guess there are some good aspects of bureaucratic city stuff taking so long. I’m not sure where they’re moving, but if it’s where I think…the backdrop is the NYC skyline. I can’t think of a better place to relocate to. Maybe they could build a ramp and have a super-sized Slip ’N Slide that launched you into the East River. Definitely would have to get Les Savy Fav back if so.
How do you feel about the impending changes for the pool itself?
A: Ewwww, the world’s largest public pool? In Brooklyn? It sounds, no offense, disgusting! Can you imagine the kinda stuff that’s gonna be floatin’ around in that thing? Toxic.
ICM: I love the idea of it being a swimming pool; it’ll end up getting used by a lot more people that way. The timing is a bit weird though. It seems like the pool parties (and other concerts there) are what opened peoples eyes to the spot, and the success of those events has sorta lead to its downfall as a venue.
What have been some of your best memories at McCarren?
A: The Pool Party was my favorite show last year; it’s nice to play to a Slip ’N Slide and dodgeball court. I’m all about that shit…it was Disneyland for hipsters! I hear the Hold Steady is playing this year—I’ll be there with arm floaties on!
ICM: I’ve been a huge fan and supporter of the pool parties from the first time Sarah [Hooper, from JellyNYC] sent me info and pics on the venue. We helped curate the very first JellyNYC Pool Party with Les Savy Fav, Beans, Holy Fuck, Dragons of Zynth and Proton Proton.
The lineups have always been great. Some of my favorites were: Illinois, Superchunk, Dan Deacon and everyone who played the first one. After slinging [ice cream] the first year, I pulled my truck “Bessie” out of the pool area and was heading back to a friend’s house where I was staying. The local ice cream truck cut me off. Then, he hopped out and was yelling at me about being in his ’hood. I told him we didn’t have any ice cream, but he didn’t believe me. NYC is by far the most bizarre city for ice cream trucks; they are everywhere and their owners are very territorial. I’m sure there’re numerous horror stories out there.
The best day of my life was the day of the first pool party.
See you all at the Hold Steady show, “shivering and smashed”…
