New Pornographers Brighten Up a Rainy Day

It Happened Last Night

By Spin Staff on July 5, 2007 2:00 AM Comment

Mother nature may not have been in the mood to host an outdoor Fourth of July show, but that didn't matter much to the NYC concertgoers out to catch free sets from Midlake and the New Pornographers yesterday (July 4). A mish mash of people crowded into lower Manhattan's Battery Park -- parents with babies in tow; older couples out for a day in the park; and various clans of students, hippies, and city types.

Denton, Texas' ambient folk-rockers Midlake got things started around 3:30, and the soft drawl of lead singer Tim Smith perfectly matched the melancholy weather. Other than a dedicated crowd up front, most lounged on the grass, zoning out to the thick harmonies of "Van Occupanther," "Bandits" and "Roscoe." Carl Newman and co. arrived onstage at 5 P.M. Eternally sunny, even though the skies were not, the Vancouver-based collective ripped through cheery numbers such as "All the Things That Go to Make Heaven and Earth," "Use It" and "The Laws Have Changed." New album Challengers (out Aug. 21 via Matador) provided a good chunk of the setlist -- "Challengers" and "My Rights Versus Yours" demonstrated the toned down attitude of the new album, and beautifully showcased Case's voice.

Ever the jokester, Newman ribbed the audience when they sang along to newbie "All the Old Showstoppers." "How could you possibly know the words to this?" he bellowed. "Security!" It was drizzling by crowd favorite "Mass Romantic," but most stuck around for the encore. After professing his thanks to the more-than-a-little-damp folks sticking it out, Newman smiled, and ensured, "We'll be back, and we'll play inside, I promise." ROBIN MONHEIT / PHOTOS BY SHAWNA ADAMS

We asked: It's Independence Day. From what do you want to declare your independence?

Name: Sean Wheatley
Age: 26
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Occupation: Musician
"No smoking in bars. It sucks going outside in the rain and the cold and the heat. It's just not fair."

Name: Scott Lakso, Stephen Goldberger
Age: Both 23
Hometown: Geneva, NY, Astoria, NY
Occupation: Production coordinator, Study director
"President Bush," "Clothes. They're so restricting. So restraining."

Name: Anna Graizborg
Age: 24
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Occupation: Program assistant
"Men. 'Cause they suck. Not you though. (To the guy she was with)."

Name: Wendy Lee
Age: 29
Hometown: Bethesda, MD
Occupation: Dept. of education administrator
"My parents expectations."

Name: Joey Cannizzaro
Age: 18
Hometown: Millbrook, NY
Occupation: Student/lifeguard
"My indecisive nature. I just cannot decide."

Name: Tim Geier
Age: 22
Hometown: Madison, WI
Occupation: Research assistant
"Being dependent on others for happiness."

Name: Megan Buscho
Age: 23
Hometown: Portland, OR
Occupation: Non-profit
"I really want to be free from BS relationships."

Name: Melanie Edwards
Age: 27
Hometown: Wilmington, NC
Occupation: Performer
"I want to be free from men still ruling everything. I'm really sick of dudes, man."