The regular concert tours in New York City this summer seemed a bit flat, but that slack was picked up by festivals like a rain-free Governors Ball (QRO recap) and a great series of free events throughout the season. There was your ‘standard’ big, higher-brow performances at Prospect Park Bandshell (QRO venue review) and Central Park SummerStage (QRO venue review), shows out on the river at RiverRocks on Pier 84 (QRO venue review), an extended (if also moved) season of Seaport Music Festival at South Street Seaport (QRO venue review), and a great line-up at a loose House of Vans (QRO venue review), which closed its season on Thursday, August 14th with Holy Ghost! and Kim Ann Foxman.
The turnout at House of Vans events has varied, with long lines or no lines to enter, but that’s probably had as much to do with the weather as anything else – but not in the way you think, as poor skies have actually meant longer lines. House of Vans is split between an indoor warehouse area and an outdoor space, but when it threatens to rain the official capacity at the place has shrunk (and thus a longer line to enter), because all the people who could be outside are inside. However it was a nice night on August 14th, so the line at doors disappeared fast, and people stayed in the outdoors early on while DJ Dave P and Kim Ann Foxman played indoors (outside also had free push-pops, though they weren’t as good as you might remember from your youth).
The really nice aspect of House of Vans this year was no specific beer area, which had previously been in the outdoor space and far from the stage (even the VIP space couldn’t see the stage). The indoor space did slowly fill as the night went on – and people began to dance. House of Vans has varied in its line-ups, though tended more towards the punk/mosh that you’d associate with the sneaker sponsors (the space also serves as a skate park), but for its final night it went disco-dance with Holy Ghost!. Once the group went on, the evening was actually more dedicated to the headliner than other shows there had been this summer. There was even a special encore dance party behind the soundboard – the official venue photographer (who had his own assistant carrying a giant flash) was very interested.
Labor Day has passed, school has started, sundresses and white pants have gone into the back of the closet, and New York is gearing up for another fall. But we’ll fondly remember the summer, especially House of Vans.
