Photos by Bill Shouldis

Although the lineup wasn’t the strongest and the heat was particularly brutal, hordes of people still made the trek out to Coney Island for the annual Siren Fest on Saturday. Broken Social Scene, Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks, Beach House, Islands, Ra Ra Riot and Jaguar Love were amongst the headliners this year.

One of the highlights included Ra Ra Riot’s inspired midday set. The only way I can think to describe them is Moz meets The Arcade Fire, done by a bunch of model-esque indie rockers. They have a new album out on Barsuk in August so be on the lookout for it.

Having Stephen Malkmus and Broken Social Scene on at the same time? Bummer. So I had to split my time between the two but they were both exceptional.

Another observation: There were some serious assholes in the press area this year. I really wonder how some of these people got in to the area. I’m not trying to sound like a pretentious prick but I don’t like getting pushed by drunk, Buckcherry-esque doucheholes.

Assholes aside, I had fun and my ginger ass didn’t get sunburn so cheers all around from me.

So, will this be the last Siren Fest? Personally, I doubt it.

Check out more pictures after the jump.

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Tags: Beach House, Broken Social Scene, Islands, Jaguar Love, Ra Ra Riot, Siren Fest, photos, show review by late night wallflower
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Islands and Ra Ra Riot have been added to The Siren Music Fest, which goes down on Saturday, July 19th at Coney Island. They join a lineup that includes Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks, Broken Social Scene, Annuals, Parts and Labor, Jaguar Love, among many others. 

Tags: Broken Social Scene, Islands, Jaguar Love, Ra Ra Riot, Siren Fest, Stephen Malkmus by Matthew
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Islands played their biggest NYC gig yet on Saturday at Webster Hall. The set list consisted mostly of songs off their new record Arms Way (Anti), including stand out tracks like “Creeper,” “J’aime Vous Voir Quitter” and “Pieces of You.” In fact the only song before the encore that came from Return to the Sea was “Don’t Call Me Whitney, Bobby,” which Diamonds prefaced by saying “this is what we used to sound like.”  When the crowd cheered he exclaimed “No, boo! Out with the old in with the new!”

While Return to the Sea was a very logical step from their previous band, The Unicorns, Arms Way is the band’s boldest statement to date. The difference in the sound between the two records is astounding and that was even more apparent at the show. Despite Diamonds’ distaste for the old songs, the encore consisted of two Return to the Sea songs; “Swans” and “Rough Gem.”  

Also of note, Man Man’s biggest fan Darren Mabee was in the crowd trying to perform some show stealing antics. Has he moved on to Islands?

Check out some more pictures after the jump.
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Tags: Islands, Man Man, photos, show review by bill
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