Titus Andronicus @ McCarren Park Pool Party

Here, anotther set of photos from a Pool Party. Titus Andronicus, which is what I guess you’d call a punk band from New Jersey, rocked the stage at McCarren Park Pool before Yo La Tengo came on. It was an interesting pairing for several reasons, not the least being that these guys were all over the place, screaming into mikes and jumping up and down, stabbing beach balls and even… shaving?

Watching these five guys was a little like watching your friends band play the local church basement – except it was to a crowd of thousands, in an empty pool, and you actually wanted to be there because the music was worthwhile. (Come on, we all have those friend rock bands…)

Another surprise is that there didn’t seem to be any kind of “band uniform.” Usually, you may have noticed, either everyone dresses up the same way or at least similarly. It was refreshing to see that their lead singer was quite possibly the most bedraggled guy with a shaggy beard to front a band ever. It may have been a kind of “fuck you,” but I don’t think we’ll ever know.

But let’s not forget the other guys. The rest of the band was all over the place as well, switching instruments every now and then and often just plain multitasking. That always impresses me.

A few other interesting things happened during the show. For one thing, the audience. It attracts all kinds (let me know if you figure this out):

Next, we were treated to Patrick Stickles take on the ubiquitous beach balls.

And an impromptu cutting off of the beard. This guy knows how to keep things interesting.

Overall, these guys were thoroughly entertaining. They kept the audience interested and active in a way you wouldn’t expect to see at such a venerable indie-rock venue as the McCarren Park Pool Parties – which, alas, we will not see again.

These gents are playing a free show in New York City with No Age on Sunday night. You may still be able to get tickets. Stereogum has more information.