Videos from all of the bands playing our killer FREE show in Miami on Sunday! RSVP by clicking here.

Surprise! There was more music on Sunday, and my god did Jelly NYC pull out all the stops to mark the end of their fifth season of throwing these Pool Parties. We walked into the East River Waterfront on Sunday afternoon knowing two acts that would be gracing the stage, sure there were rumors but no one would verify or deny any of those. By the time we left we would see some of the most unique, interesting, and bewildering music performances the Pool Parties have ever seen.

The day started with Dominique Young Unique, an up-and-coming female MC with a slammin’ presense and rhymes that are fierce. With the temperatures pushing three digits her outfit seemed to make the most sense. When we weren’t staring at her physical assets we were shaking to her beats and sweating straight through our clothes. It was only the start of the day, but we were off and running.

From there we were forced to shake it again when the sounds of Spain’s Delorean started filtering through the PA. Having already caught the band a couple of times in the past few months you might think we’d be bored by seeing the same act playing the same songs on stage, but quite the contrary we were excited to be able to live through it again. Their sound is propulsive and even in the sweltering heat it was impossible to not be moved by the beats and rhythms they were kicking out.

From there things got interesting, we were on the unannounced part of the schedule and few people truly knew what to expect. First up were Cool Kids, one of the few truly hip-hop acts to ever grace the stage at the Pool Parties and now here they were again putting on a set worthy of the final Pool Party. People were into it, but honestly the rest of the rumors were so much bigger than the Cool Kids that there had to be people disappointed to see them on stage instead of the other bigger, rumored names. But there was still plenty of time.

Next up was New Orleans rapper Big Freedia touting a style I had never heard of - the “sissy bounce” scene of gay rappers. At first it all seemed like a gimmick, a dude and a chick shaking it and one androgynous looking MC spouting out rhymes. But as you listen you realize there is no gimmick at play here, they are rad musicians and they are making awesome music. The crowd didn’t take much time at all to warm up to it, and by the time Big Freedia was done everyone would know the name.

As good as Big Freedia was the show was just starting to hit its pace. Between sets we got speeches from the Pool Party “saviors”, Senator Chuck Schumer and Assemblyman Joe Lentol who promised more free music next year in Brooklyn. And then it was time for a legend.

DMC of the legendary rap duo Run DMC took the stage with his DJ and proceeded to do a set of his rhymes from all of Run DMC’s biggest hits. Sure, his voice isn’t what it once was, broken down by years of yelling the same rhymes the same way night after night. But it doesn’t matter one bit, when you hear the lyrics from “Mary, Mary” being laid out in front of you and sung along to by anyone old enough to know it, you know you’re witnessing something special.

After a slight misstep, telling us about a weird dream about Kurt “Corbain” and then rapping over “Come As You Are”, DMC started to bring out some big guns to help get through the two most famous Run DMC songs. Andrew WK joined DMC to perform “It’s Tricky” followed by a rousing rendition of “Walk This Way” featuring Andrew WK and Tim Harrington of Les Savy Fav. It was a trip down memory lane and it was an awe inspiring way to end things, only that wasn’t the end.

Following a legend was Gucci Mane and his massive chain. Despite the lack of reverence to DMC, Gucci sure put on one hell of a show, blasting out five tracks and ripping up the stage.

So now the Pool Parties are done for the year (ever?) and we’re left with the memories of some great performances, and this week’s might just top them all.

- Pat Duffy of Poptarts Suck Toasted

More Jelly Pool Party pics available here

If you’re in Tampa you do not want to miss a chance to check out Golden Triangle. We’re really digging their classic jangly guitar punked out sound so we’re bringing them to you. All you need to do is RSVP and it’s free.

RSVP HERE

I just moved into a new apt recently and after pushing around boxes and putting away countless items this weekend, I opted to stay in a look up crap on youtube. For some reason (and maybe it’s my age) I hadn’t really seen too many videos of the early New Order stuff, so I decided to see what a quick search would yield. Below is the end result.

This video captures the band at an early stage, shortly after the passing of Ian Curtis and the transition from Joy Division to New Order. In fact, “Ceremony” (the band’s first single) was a song written a few weeks before their late singers untimely demise.

Sadness aside.. it’s an awesome example of what made this band so amazing.

When it comes to birds of prey, eagles take the cake. When it comes to tattoos, Sailor Jerry is king. Combine those two things and get this totally rad pique polo shirt. It’s got Sailor Jerry buttons, a red embroidered anchor and bowling style stripes on the front. It’s also printed with the iconic Sailor Jerry “Eagle Flag” image on the back.

Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins was an autodidact in every sense of the word. In a time when the average man barely finished grade school, Collins relished in the self-study of all things mechanical, philosophical, and hell, even religious. Yes, beyond the art of tattooing, Collins’ took interest in a wide variety of subjects; Eastern philosophy, jazz saxophone, riggings, radio and technology…you name it. As he got more involved in improving the practice of tattooing, he recognized the need for bettering the electric tattoo machines he was using. And so began his self taught foray into the world of electrical engineering.
Collins experimented with currents, coils and wires in an effort to build a better, smoother, and more consistently operating machine. He obsessed over the intricacies of the electric tools often filling his letters with observations from his experiments and questions for other artists about their “electric observations”. He read up on electrical engineering and used what he learned to improve the quality of his work and, in some degree, to reduce the pain of the process!  He also used his knowledge of the ac/dc to build his own radios and fix TVs…not to mention getting a few extra RPM’s on his bright yellow Thunderbird! Collin’s tinkering pushed the design and mechanics for tattoo equipment towards a more modern standard. The next time your wincing under the needle remember to thank him under your breath, cuz it could be a hella lot more painful!

Download a printable version here

- 1 part Sailor Jerry Rum
- 2 parts sour mix
- 1 part soda water

Serve in a highball or rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Thomas Function put out one of the best pop records of the past decade. And not pop as in Gaga… Somehow they can sound like the Buzzcocks, 60’s Motown, Neutral Milk Hotel all within one song.

They’re from Alabama and look relatively harmless enough, but can and will completely mess your world up. Check out the video of them below out in front of the SJ shop if you don’t believe me.

The band’s is taking off for tour early next week and the show in Chicago will be for Sailor Jerry Presents along with White Mystery / CoCoComa (all on the latest CD comp) and ENTIRELY FREE!

RSVP HERE

Sep 1 2010 Tres Hombres Carbondale, IL
Sep 2 2010 Black Sparrow Lafayette, IN
Sep 3 2010 Linneman’s     Milwaukee, WI
Sep 4 2010 Crown Liquors   Chicago, IL
Sep 6 2010 Louie’s     Kalamazoo, MI
Sep 7 2010 Garfield Artworks Pittsburgh, PA
Sep 8 2010 Kung Fu Necktie Philadelphia, PA
Sep 9 2010 Lit Lounge     New York, NY
Sep 10 2010 Monster Island Brooklyn, NY

Gorgeous Inked ladies dolled up on Sunday night and flocked to Bar Marmont to celebrate the wrap of the Sailor Jerry 2011 Calendar Casting Call. The lovely mixologist Colleen mixed up classic Mai Tais, Dark & Stormies and the Seven Seas Breeze all night long while Sailor Jerry Brand Ambassador Rachel Furman and Inked August Featured Bartender Vanessa LaRose held court in the lounge. A big Thank You to Todd Weinberger of Inked Magazine for bringing the casting call in LA… decisions will be made on the 12 lucky Pin-Ups and shooting for the calendar will begin this fall!