BrightestYoungThings: Underwater Peoples Showcase @ Market Hotel, Brooklyn NY

all words and photos: Patrick Kigongo

During the last three months Underwater Peoples, a DC-based boutique label, has managed to make a dent in the world of independent music. Their summer 2009 compilation managed to score a 7.6 from Pitchfork during a period when it seemed like that particular website was doling out nothing over a 5. More recently, singles by Real Estate and a full-length by Ducktails have gathered critical praise. But despite all the hype, the label remains a very fun and laid back affair. So you can only imagine how I excited I was to attend their showcase in Brooklyn this past weekend. No egos, no bullshit. Just good music, good buddies and a lot of beer.

Located on a busy street in Bushwick, Market Hotel is easy to miss. Thanks to the efforts of a vigilant bouncer, there was nobody loitering outside the unmarked entrance. I walked past the place at least twice before I spotted a couple of kids wearing flannels and cut off shorts step outside to cool off. For those of you who haven’t been keeping up with New York’s DIY scene, this former Dominican speakeasy hosts everything from hardcore shows to artsy-fartsy happenings like New York Night Train. The stairs are narrow, the ventilation is poor, and the bathrooms rarely have toilet paper. But what the Market Hotel lacks in convenience, it makes up in good vibes and friendly smiles. The front room was filled with folks who’d all driven up from Washington to help out with the show; they were taking tickets, selling merchandise and even manning the bar. This may not seem like much, but it takes an incredible amount of self-discipline to work while everyone else around you is partying.

After a little bit of schmoozing near the merch table, I walked into the main hall to find Ducktails (aka Matthew Mondanile from Real Estate) in the middle of a set. Most of the crowd was sitting quietly, so it felt a little bit strange tiptoeing to the front to get a closer look. But then I noticed a camera crew and a photographer lurking near the PA, so I didn’t feel so bad. I was, however, a bit worried that the crowd was going to be comatose for the rest of the evening. Thankfully, this was not the case. I mean, yes, some of the artists on Underwater Peoples are going for the bedroom-pop sound. But others wanted to do nothing more than to rock out and the crowd moving. When Frat Dad started playing around 7:30pm, people began to show signs of life. I know wasn't the only one tunelessly screaming along to the song “Brosef,” which I have declared to be the official summer jam for 2009. And Liam the Younger nearly incited a riot when his band launched into a surprisingly authentic cover of Nirvana’s “Territorial Pissings.”

Now it wouldn’t be a weekend in New York without appearances by a few DC heavy hitters. I spent much of the evening chilling with Kenny Brown, the man responsible for introducing me to the guys who run Underwater Peoples. He was busy hawking CD-Rs of his new demo, which had been completed earlier that day. During the half-hour intermission, I ran into the one and only Jesse Bishop. Clutching two PBRs in his right hand, he gave me a big hug and exclaimed, “Fuck yea dude, DC is really in the house. I need to get awesome.” And “get awesome” we did. The second half of the evening was dominated by serious heavy drinking. And while there was no City Punch™ available, there was enough beer to help us forget about the stifling heat in the main room.

People were definitely feeling good by the time Fluffy Lumbers took to the stage. But unfortunately, I missed most of theirs and Andrew Cedermark’s sets because I was down the street getting a very cheap and delicious chicken sandwich. But upon my return, I delighted to find Family Portrait tuning up. Unbeknownst to most of the crowd, Family Portrait is actually the artistic vehicle for the founders of the label. Due to their managerial duties and conflicting schedules, they almost never play live. Nonetheless, it was good to know that despite their responsibilities, the lads still know how to enjoy themselves.

Because the showcase had been running behind schedule, headliners Real Estate didn’t take to the stage until after well after 1am. Those who stuck it out were treated to one of the best performances of the evening. There’s this really wonderful “beachy” vibe to their songs; I can definitely picture posting up on the Jersey shore while listening to these guys. In fact, I kind of wanted to go the beach that night. If a hurricane wasn’t passing by, I would’ve done it. But instead, I ended up on a roof in the East Village listening to gunshots being exchanged in front of a bar a block away. But that is another story for another day…