Tour De Bronx
October 26th, 2015 by Mr. C
(Starting line for the 40 mile – Tour de Bronx ride)
You know if Halloween is nearing and the Chiller Theatre horror convention in NJ is fast approaching, you will also know that the Tour De Bronx annual bicycle ride is usually monster mashed somewhere in between these two festive occassions! This year was no exception as the 21st annual 2015 Tour de Bronx happened yesterday! The early rains and the gloominess in the morning did not stop this failed lab experiment, though I’m sure the weather did influence some weak neophytes from attending.
(This is what it looked like in my car when I parked on Arthur Ave before unloading the bicycle)
The morning hangover from the previous day/night excursion nerding out at the Chiller Theatre convention is always a concern before one of the best & free bicyling events NYC & the Bronx has to offer but we somehow always get the job done! Once again, the Tour De Bronx proved to be a another great outing with riding in the borough that is least explored by most. Besides the obvious of getting on two wheels which is great exercise, the tour gives a chance for us to see another side of the Bronx that is not part of the stereotype. Everytime I partake in this ride, I’m still amazed at some of the beautiful neighborhoods we whiz by and some of the great pathways/greenways along the river that we ride through! While riding on the Tour yesterday, we saw Bronx Borough President – Ruben Diaz Jr. pedaling along with us which was pretty amazing! Of course the Boro Prez has a method to the madness as he continues to try to encourage Citibike – NYCs bike sharing program to expand out to the Bronx to provide more Transportation alternatives while also paving the way for the City to mark more bike lanes in the future.
Getting back to the ride itself, it was great seeing folks roll with different styles of bikes! We saw plenty of foldups, recumbents, & tandem bicycles as well as the roadies, hybrids, BMX, lowriders, & mountain bike styles. We spotted more than a few urban assault type hybrid bicycles,too with the large tires ready to take on the marshes and meadowlands! I did not spot the unicyclist guy this year, though! The best thing about the ride besides the nice burn you get in the legs afterwards and a day of some great sightseeing – the appetite afterwards! This year, we ended up at Zero Otto Nove on Arthur Avenue to enjoy a nice Neapolitan style pizza! God willing, we’ll be back at the ride again next year! Don’t forget about the Bronx, y’all! Visiting NYC would not be authentic if you don’t get out to the Bx! You’ll be surprised with what you’ll find!
(I parked my car in front of Zero Otto Nove – a notable Italian Restaurant on Arthur Avenue. I parked here for strategic purposes of course as you will find out after the ride! I walked across the street to Madonia Bakery for some breakfast and goodies for the ride! Folks, trust me – stop here for your Italian pastries & bread! They even pipe your canolis to order! I pedaled towards Yankee Stadium via the GrandConcourse. Second stop, was the graffiti spot that Legendary hip hop pioneer – DJ Kool Herc resides over. The wall is diagonally across the street from the Bronx Museum of Arts.)
(BG183 – Tats Cru)
(Panmela Castro)
(Sonic)
(Here we go – the start of the 25 mile ride!)
(Unfortunately, I had a flat tire about a mile into the ride. I was on 144th street & third ave. Luckily, we flagged down a marshall from the event who helped me patch the tire. I was very grateful! Thank you sir! You’re a gentlemen and a real rider! Lesson learned, carry an extra tire tube or at the very least – a patch kit!)
(After the tire was repaired, we hunkered on down past the South Bronx through Mott Haven to the 1st rest stop at Crotona Park where we caught up with the rest of the stragglers that were left behind. Bagels,juice,power bars, & water were available! I demolished the cranberry scone I got at Madonia.)
(The next stop was at Castle Hill’s YMCA with a view of the Whitestone Bridge and Queens out yonder!)
(The 3rd and final rest stop was at Pelham Park Nature center. This stop was mile 18 of 25. I also happened to remember that the last leg of the tour contained that steady hill that kicks some peoples butt including mine. It’s not the steepest of hills that I have ever encountered but it’s still a drag! I powered through but at the lowest gear. Hey, by any means necessary I say!)
(We are at the Bronx Botanical Gardens now! Finished! It seems like an easy ride based on this photo blog but my body felt pretty stiff the whole night! Pretty much a walking corpse I would say or a walking viagra, perhaps a walking prick?! We picked up our orange Tour de Bronx t-shirts and off we went to Arthur Ave!)
(Now back to that strategic parking I had earlier in the morning which is about a mile away from the Bronx Botanical Garden – here we are at Zero Otto Nove enjoying a nice Linner – Lunch and dinner, fools! And no, that’s not my Fiat parked on the sidewalk! Maybe it was the Pope’s ride? We know his affinity with Fiats!!)
(a delicious Neapolitan pie of puffy & charred crust variety, tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, & spicy sopressato!)
(accompanied by antipasti of squash, gorgonzola, & sweet sausage! The combinations were great! Great together with the pizza crusts, too!)
(a look at the decor at Zero Otto Nove – quite the Italian Village and country inn!)
Posted in community, mr. c, photos | Comments (0)
Shepard Fairey Invades New Jersey
October 8th, 2015 by chocko
The Planet Chocko crew followed the progress of the 147 foot wide Shepard Fairey mural, “Natural Springs” located at Monmouth and 13th Streets in Jersey City, New Jersey. Just a quick note on Shepard if you don’t know who he is…his roots are in the skateboarding and punk scene and in the late 1980’s, he started the “Andre The Giant Has A Posse” sticker campaign. His street art and graffiti has made him internationally known and he is probably most famous for his Obama “Hope” poster. Make the trip out to Jersey City to see the finished piece. It is awesome and also check out the billboard next to the building for a huge Andre The Giant OBEY wheat paste. Fairey was also in town for the opening of his latest show titled “On Our Hands.” It’s his biggest show since he exhibited work at the Deitch Projects gallery in 2010. “On Our Hands” features Fairey’s recent paintings and collages that tackle subject matter such as corporate greed and power, political corruption and saving the environment. “On Our Hands” opened at Jacob Lewis Gallery (521 W 26th St) in mid September and can be viewed there until Oct. 24, 2015.
Tags: art, graffiti, Jacob Lewis Gallery, jersey city, Natural Springs, new jersey, On Our Hands, shepard fairey, street art
Posted in art, chocko, photos | Comments (0)
Back To The True School at Crotona Park: Bronx NYC
October 1st, 2015 by chocko
GrandMaster Caz Kool DJ Red Alert and DJ Jazzy Jay at Crotona Park
Tools Of War closed out their jams this year at Crotona Park in The Bronx last week with a classic Back To The True School lineup: Grandmaster Caz, Kool DJ Red Alert and DJ Jazzy Jay. The show was dedicated to hip hop warriors who recently passed away including Flyer King Buddy Esquire, Lucky Strike, B-Boy Zip & Take One and Kool DJ AJ Scratch. The show was hosted by GrandMaster Caz who did an excellent job keeping the show moving despite audio problems with the wireless microphone and the power which shut down in the middle of some sets. It was a great place to just sit back and chill with the sounds of classic soul and hip hop tracks playing but ultimately the music will make you get up and dance. Behind the turntables and DJs a circle of b-boys and b-girls formed in an endless flurry of spinning, popping and locking. A lot of hip hop luminaries showed up to check out the jam including Charlie Ahearn (director of Wild Style), Coke La Rock (the first MC in the history of hip hop), Eddie Cheeba (a founding father of rap music) and Lava 1&2 (legendary graffiti artist). Check out the photos below and see you next year at the park. Start practicing those fly dance moves and routines!
Forever Host: GrandMaster Caz of The Cold Crush Brothers
Coke La Rock
Lava 1&2 (Straightman)
Eddie Cheeba
DJ Kool Herc and Supreme of Blunt Squad TV
Peace to the Black Spades and La West Side Familia!
Caz getting the party rocking in The BX
Move Over and Let Me Dance!
DJ Red Alert signing Chocko’s copy of “Beats, Rhymes and Battles.”
DJ Jazzy Jay and The Captain of The Cold Crush
Check out Chocko (njchocko) and Mr. C (planetchocko) on instagram.
Follow @planetchocko on Twitter. LIKE us on Facebook too. Thanks!
Tags: Coke La Rock, crotona park, DJ Jazzy Jay, Eddie Cheeba, grandmaster caz, hip hop, Kool DJ Red Alert, rap, the bronx, Tools Of War
Posted in art, chocko, music, photos | Comments (0)
DMC Signed Comics at Forbidden Planet NYC
September 15th, 2015 by chocko
DMC arriving at Forbidden Planet
The legendary King Of Rock, DMC signed recent issues of his comic book DMC at Forbidden Planet in early September. DMC brought along a posse which included writer Amy Chu and DMC Comics’ Editor-in-Chief Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez. Darryl “DMC” McDaniels’ comic book company Darryl Makes Comics recently published issue #1.5 of DMC which introduces a new character to the storyline which has DMC as a superhero fighting crime while donning a black mask along with his signature Adidas sneakers and track suit. Leticia, is introduced in the newest issue as a young foster child who balances homework with fighting bullies and spray painting the walls. Her graffiti and super hero name is LAK6 and looks like DMC has a worthy sidekick which he’ll be sure to need if he’s gonna rid the world of all the bad guys. Great art by Allison M. Smith gets even kicked up a notch with Lady Pink doing the graffiti in the panels and on the cover of the book. DMC is one cool and friendly dude who signed just about anything you brought up to the table at Forbidden Planet including my Walk This Way 7″ and It’s Tricky 12″ vinyl. Enough of that, buy D’s latest book and pick up the last issue too at a comic book shop near you!
left to right DMC, Amy Chu and Edgardo Miranda Rodriguez
It’s Tricky 12″ SIGNED by DMC!
Tags: Amy Chu, art, comic books, Darryl Makes Comics, Darryl McDaniels, DMC, Edgardo Miranda Rodriguez, forbidden planet, hip hop, signing
Posted in art, chocko, comic books, photos | Comments (0)
Looking back at Riot Fest 2013
September 9th, 2015 by chocko
It’s a couple days away from Riot Fest 2015 in Chicago. Chocko’s all packed and ready to go and psyched to see a bunch of bands from different genres from punk rock, metal and hip hop. The first one I ever went to was in 2013 which was a multi-day, mind blowing mix of live music on several stages, amusement park, wrestling and food trucks galore. Here are some photos and videos from that trip out to Chi-Town.
Tags: chicago, riot fest, riot fest 2013, suicidal tendencies, the pixies, twin peaks
Posted in chocko, food, music, photos, travel | Comments (0)
Skuz + Led To The Grave + Ubasute played ABC No Rio
September 7th, 2015 by chocko
SKUZ at ABC No Rio
A couple days ago, New Jersey’s SKUZ and Ubasute played on the same bill as Boston thrashers Led To The Grave at the Hardcore Matinee at ABC No Rio. I missed the openers but made it just in time to see Ubasute ripping it up in the legendary venue situated in the Lower East Side of NYC. The triple threat from Jersey consisted of drums, bass and a maniacal dude, John Taddel on the vocals. If you’re curious about the origin of their bands name…Ubasute: “refers to the custom allegedly performed in Japan, whereby an infirm or elderly relative was carried to a mountain, or some other remote, desolate place, and left there to die, either by dehydration, starvation, or exposure” Lots of brutal heaviness and intense screaming. Thank goodness I didn’t forget the earplugs.
Ubasute
Next up was Led To The Grave from Boston who brought the brutality in the form of heavy death thrash that got the heads in the crowd snapping back and forth and bodies and carcasses moving and grooving. The double guitar attack provided more than enough metal riffs to satisfy the bloodthirsty punk crowd. A couple mini mosh pits broke out and by the time their set ended, I’m sure Led To The Grave won over some new fans. You best believe Chocko will be tracking down their self titled album and everything else they release. Catch them live…Led To Grave will be playing at Middle East in Cambridge, Massachusetts on September 28.
Led To The Grave
Chris Crobar – guitarist and lead vocalist for Led To The Grave
The other Jersey band on the bill and headliners SKUZ played a set of fast paced grindcore. SKUZ from the musty basements of Montclair, NJ consists of the tag team of Trevor Pason on guitar and Josh Walton on drums. Both members take turns on the microphone screaming, squawking and growling while the two piece from the Garden State bang out demon summoning tunes. SKUZ is straight up evil and not for the faint of heart and ear drums beware! Check out some videos from the recent heavy metal thrashing Saturday Matinee at ABC No Rio below!
Check out Chocko (njchocko) and Mr. C (planetchocko) on instagram.
Follow @planetchocko on Twitter. LIKE us on Facebook too. Thanks!
Tags: abc no rio, grindcore, hardcore punk, HC Matinee, Led To The Grave, live, lower east side, new york city, nyc, punk rock, shows, Skuz, thrash metal, Ubasute
Posted in music, photos | Comments (0)
From Chinatown with Love: Chinese American Arts Council at Lincoln Center Out of Doors
July 26th, 2015 by Mr. C
(Chinese Martial arts on display)
(Playing with the Lions)
The Lincoln Center Out of Doors free summer events boasts one of the most diverse menu of cultural offerings of Arts that NYC has to offer! Sunday was no different as the Chinese American Arts Council and their extraordinary players provided us with a dynamic performance which they named From Chinatown With Love which consisted of traditional chinese martial arts & dance, classical martial art inspired operas, & a touch of modern dance! The performance is best captured by watching it live. Stills, video, & words do it no justice at all but for archiving & journal purposes. The show was less than an hour long but was very breathtaking and awe-inspiring as the traditional arts are harmoniously melded with the modern. The Chinese martial arts demo in the show seemed to be a mix of modern wushu and traditional. Some portions of the performance seemed very wushu’ey while others seemed more traditional. It was good overall blend of Northern Chinese styles for miles & miles! For more on the Chinese American Arts Council go here. For more on excellent programs and events at the Lincoln Center Out of Doors click here.
(Kung Fu Demonstration)
(Traditional Chinese Opera)
(Modern)
(Water Margin)
Posted in art, community, mr. c, photos | Comments (0)
YMCA Block party – 5 Pointz Creates – Long Island City Food & Flea Market – John Brown Smokehouse
July 25th, 2015 by Mr. C
(One of the battle art aerosol pieces by Carlos Game)
(BREAK!)
The spirit of the urban collective once known as 5 Pointz (more than just graffiti) came back earlier today in another form. A block party celebrating the culture of 5 Pointz held around the perimeter of The Skyline Auto Group on Vernon Blvd and 45th ave in Long Island City was alive and well! DJs,bboys-bgirls,a car show,aerosol art battles, & just maxin-relaxin and getting the hustle on to support the LIC YMCA was the name of the game! The Long Island City YMCA and co-sponsors of the event – the creatives behind 5 Pointz most notably Meres-One, Marie Cecile Flageul, & Gianna Cerbone-Teoli were the ones to thank for this gathering to celebrate the importance of the YMCA and to bring back the spirit & karma of the 5 Pointz collective. The LIC-Y & 5 Pointz Creates wanted to award 3 legendary individuals with their excellence in sharing & teaching their skills to the community at large. Congratulations and a big thank you to Graffiti legend Lady Pink, Legendary Hip Hop producer/DJ/Artist – Marley Marl, & Master of the Arts – Danny Simmons! Unfortunately Lady Pink & Danny Simmons couldn’t make it to the event because of prior obligations but Marley Marl was live & direct to show his appreciation & offered his voice on WBLS to spread the cause!
Thanks to the battle art painters – Meres One, Lexi Bella, Carlos Game, James Rocco, & Topaz. The dancers: Dynamic Rockers & DJ Gabriel Dredel. Also a big shoutout to those that drove their gorgeous cars to the event like the Lambos, Ferraris, Aston Martins, the 1925 Fords, the classic Mercedes & Porsches, the classic 500 Fiats, and of course those Ducati Motorcycles!
Before the main event at the block party, I gathered with some friends to take a peek into the Long Island City Food & Flea market on 46th Ave by the river – a hop, skip, & a trip away from Gantry Plaza State Park! After a bit of eye-candy, a thai iced tea, & some grilled skewered meats, we ventured into the sights at Gantry Plaza before the humpty dumpty shuffle into the block party. Enjoy the photo journal!
(Marley Marl being honored)
(Marley Marl’s speech at the award ceremony)
(Meres and Gianna – 5 Pointz creates with a speech about the event & programs)
(Before the jamz commenced, we ventured into the Long Island City Flea)
(Quiet before the LIC flea storm!)
(Some of us got recruited to play the Ultimate Battle)
(Table tennis anyone?)
(Thai eats at Khao)
(Seafood balls,Beef Balls, & Squid Yakitori)
(Gantry Plaza State Park just a few blocks away)
(View of the Manhattan skyline)
(Distant view of the Queensboro 59th St Bridge)
(YMCA block party on Vernon Boulevard at The Skyline Auto Group)
(Dance Dance Dance!)
(Puerto Rico HOooooo!)
(Uh Uh Uh!)
(Before the Art Battle)
(During the Art Battle)
(Lexi Bella touch ups on her portrait of Lady Pink)
(Meres-One with the finishing touches)
(Topaz)
(Carlos Game)
(At the car show inside the garage – Mustang)
(Classic Mercedes & Porsches)
(Ferraris)
(1925 Fords)
(1925 Ford tow truck!)
(Aston Martin)
(Volvo)
(Not part of the car show, but Mad Max badass for a mobile home – parked a block away from the party)
(We stepped away to the John Brown Smokehouse around the corner at 10-43 44th Dr, Long Island City, NY 11101)
(Chalkboard Menu)
(Smoked pecan wings/Smoked Sausage/Cole Slaw)
(Beef Brisket Burnt Ends on white bread)
(Shiro’s mural art in the dining area outside in the back of John Brown’s Smokehouse)
(Back to the Block party – YMCA spokesperson)
(L to R: Ricky,Director of Rubble Kings: Shan Nichols,Marley Marl)
(Shan Nichols/Director of Rubble Kings)
(Marley Marl chatting with Marie Cecile Flageul)
(Inside the garage of Skyline Auto Group)
(For the gearheads)
(Talk about a wall ornament for speedracers)
(Our favorite Taxi Cab company/depot – 55 Stan Operating Corporation from DRIVERS WANTED documentary)
(across the street from the block party on Vernon Boulevard)
Posted in community, mr. c, music, photos | Comments (0)
School 15 in Paterson,NJ – Graffiti Wall of Fame
July 13th, 2015 by Mr. C
Thanks to legendary local graff writer ZAR from Paterson, NJ for turning us onto these great old school Wildstyle pieces at School 15. We met ZAR a few years ago at the Hoboken Arts Festival at his table selling his aerosol art on canvas,T-shirts, & on spray paint cans! Only until recently did we finally make the hop, skip, & Psss.pssss.Psss over to School 15! What the hell took us so long? We love the large mural pieces that have been injected into everyday street life in NYC as of late but our admiration of the aerosol art form really takes us back to this complex form of lettering known as WildStyle! We like the burners, too! Anyway, enjoy the visuals!
Posted in art, community, mr. c, photos | Comments (0)
From 9 men to 4Knots – connect the dots from Chinatown to Hell’s Kitchen
July 12th, 2015 by Mr. C
(the NY Mini 9 man volleyball tournament at Seward Park)
(Marissa Paternoster/Screaming Females at the 4Knots music festival on Pier 84/Hudson River Park)
(The Screaming Fuckers)
Last Saturday, Joel NJ Dev and I braved the midday heat and caught a little bit of a 9 man volleyball tournament exclusive to teams/players with Chinese american heritage. The game was stemmed from 80 years of history with this variant form of volleyball made popular in the Southern Chinese city of Toisan which spilled over to Chinatowns throughout the U.S. and Canada. I actually should know more about this 9-man game since my family is from Toishan and my family laid their root’s in NYCs Chinatown in the 1960s. But since we moved to NJ in the early 80s, I didn’t mesh into the community of Chinatown on the everyday. My family continued to work in chinatown but I basically was a weekend warrior to C-town. Come High School and competitive volleyball was a big part in my life playing for my high school varsity team with none other than with my other brothers from another mother at Planet Chocko! We had short stints playing at beach volleyball tournaments at the Jersey shore which is a whole other game in itself. So, yeah, came and went this 9 man volleyball tournament called the NY Mini last Saturday which was held at the track/tennis courts at Seward Park in the lower east side of manhattan. We appreciated & enjoyed the intense nature and athletic ability of these 9 men to a team!
(9 man volleyball tournament at the Seward Park tennis courts on Essex Street)
From the lower east side of Manhattan, NJ devil & I dashed over to 44th Street & West Side Highway at Pier 84 for the 4Knots Music festival! We planned on catching the poppy alternative rock band from London – Happyness at 2:45 and then one of the hardest working DIY bands known to man & ladykind – Screaming Females – with their set at 3:45. With a little bit of parking karma and technical difficulties from the sound, we dipped into the Happyness set with plenty of time remaining to get a nasty farmers tan before the music commenced! I’ve been getting into Happyness with their electro fuzzed out catchy vocals and fiery chords blended in with the whispering vocals and fuzzed out guitars! Screaming Females came out with their no-nonsense form and blasted through a set of fiery, howling vocals from Marissa along with her intense guitar riffs and solos! Marissa has so much energy and passion playing that guitar that it really is intoxicating. Jarrett on drums and King Mike on the bass help orchestrate the Screaming Fuckers madness! I recorded a few songs (Rose Mountain and Sheep) from the Screaming Females set but the bass distorted a lot of the sound. It basically blew up my camera. The visuals & vibe still worth watching because of Marissa’s performance, though! See below! Also, check out Happyness’ performance of Montreal Rock Band Somewhere – good shit!
(Happyness at the 4knots music festival)
(Benji Compston/Happyness: Guitar-Vocals-keyboard)
(Screaming Females
)
Posted in community, mr. c, music, photos, sports | Comments (0)
A Look Back At Cosplay at Comic-Con International 2014
July 9th, 2015 by chocko
The San Diego Comic Con International is now in full swing. I’m not going there this year. I’ll be missing the Con for the first time since 1998. It’s been a good run, but it really has been a pain in the neck trying to get tickets and it’s very expensive and nearly impossible to get a hotel near the Convention Center. It’s also not fun waiting all day for a panel just to get rejected. The Con is just getting too big for it’s own good, but enough of my whining, here are some photos of the Cosplay action at last year’s Con. Hopefully I’ll be back at the San Diego Comic-Con soon!
Ok, one more…this guy was killing it as Ace Ventura!
Tags: 2014, california, comic books, comic convention, comic-con international, cosplay, costumes, geeks, nerds, photos, san diego, sdcc
Posted in art, chocko, comic books, movies, photos, toys, travel | Comments (0)
Brian Wilson and Rodriguez played PNC Bank Arts Center
July 8th, 2015 by chocko
Brian Wilson at PNC Bank Arts Center
Rodriguez
Rodriguez played an excellent set opening up for Brian Wilson at PNC Bank Arts Center at Holmdel, New Jersey last week. If you don’t know who Rodriguez is, stop what you’re doing right now and go see the documentary Searching For Sugar Man. You can thank me later. The seventy-something singer from Detroit found some new found appreciation for his music recently thanks to the documentary and Sixto Rodriguez did not disappoint at the NJ show. I’ve seen him over the last couple of years in different venues, from City Winery to Radio City Music Hall and it has always been a thrill to check him out. He always seems to sound better than the last time I saw him perform. Rodriguez started off the night with “Inner City Blues” and “Crucify Your Mind” both off his debut album Cold Fact. Rodriguez stayed humbled and interacted with the audience, often times shrugging off declarations of love with, “I know it’s the alcohol.” I heard some covers sprinkled in the set including “Fever” which I’ve heard him do before but also one I’ve never heard him perform, “Learnin’ The Blues” a 1955 song made famous by Frank Sinatra…I prefer the Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald version any day. I also heard some songs that I didn’t recognize. Hopefully they were new songs and yes, I would love to hear Rodriguez record more albums.
Brian Wilson (left) and Al Jardine (right)
Fresh off the release of both the amazing biopic Love And Mercy and his new album, No Pier Pressure, comes the brilliant mind behind some of The Beach Boys’ most loved songs…Brian Wilson was in the house and brought a killer band with him that included another founding member of the Beach Boys, Al Jardine. Al sang lead on a few songs including “Shut Down” and tag-teamed on the vocals of “Little Deuce Coupe” and “Sloop John B” with Brian. Al Jardine also sang a Crystals cover and a Leadbelly tune, “Cotton fields” accompanied by Lina D’Amico, the daughter of a percussionist in Brian’s band. Other members of the band took on lead vocals on a few songs such as “This Whole World” and “Darlin” which had long time band member Darian Sahanaja stepping up to the microphone. The impressive Matt Jardine took on songs that needed that higher octave such as “Don’t Worry Baby” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” Blondie Chaplin, best known for being in the Beach Boys in the early 1970’s and playing with The Rolling Stones in the late 90’s, also made an outstanding appearance for a bunch of songs including “Wild Honey” and “Sail On, Sailor.” My favorite moment in the show was Brian Wilson’s performance of what is arguably his best song ever, “God Only Knows” off the album Pet Sounds, which was beautiful and amazing to hear performed live by the person who wrote it. Pet Sounds celebrates its 50th Anniversary next year and it is probably one of most important and influential albums to ever come out. Definitely get it and give that record a spin if you don’t have it in your collection. Another highlight was when Brian started off a song and encouraged the audience to sing a long. That song was “Row Row Row Your Boat” and you haven’t lived until you’ve participated in an epic concert sing a long like that. I’m pretty sure every person in the house was smiling. The encore featured a special guest, Bruce Springsteen who came out of nowhere and joined the band for some “Barbara Ann” and stuck around for “Surfin’ U.S.A.” armed with his guitar. The Boss stood by Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin for a triple threat of guitar chords mixed with some Jersey bred vocals. The night ended with “Fun, Fun, Fun” and “Love And Mercy.” The U.K. Fall Tour is postponed until next year but there are 5 more performances of the Brian Wilson show here in the United States…be there! Check out some videos below.
Bruce Springsteen on stage at PNC Bank Arts Center
Check out Chocko (njchocko) and Mr. C (planetchocko) on instagram.
Follow @planetchocko on Twitter. LIKE us on Facebook too. Thanks!
Tags: Al Jardine, Blondie Chaplin, Brian Wilson, new jersey, nj, PNC Bank Arts Center, review, Rodriguez, show, Sixto Rodriguez, The Beach Boys
Posted in chocko, movies, music, photos | Comments (0)
