Bowery Presents

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311 / Snoop Dogg

Skip School! Ditch Work!

Spend the day in Coney Island!

311 / Snoop Dogg

Fiction Plane

Rain or Shine

Keyspan Park at Coney Island

Wed 7/16
Tickets
All Ages

Doors 6pm / Show 7pm

$42 adv / $45 day of

Coney Island

  • Major Amusement Areas
    Astroland and Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park are Coney Island’s two major amusement areas. Here are the highlights:

    The Cyclone
    The warning posted outside the Cyclone reads "DO NOT RIDE IF YOU ARE PREGNANT, WEAR A PACEMAKER OR SUFFER FROM OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS," and they mean it. This 100-second, 9-hill legendary roller coaster has no upside-down corkscrew loops, but will make you lose your lunch, nevertheless. Winding its way over rickety wooden planks at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour, the entire structure feels as if it could collapse at any moment. What’s even more terrifying after the initial 85 foot plunge, is the way this relic of a roller coaster violently jerks you about. Built in 1927, the Cyclone is now included in the National Register of Historic Places. 834 Surf Avenue and W. 10th Street.

    The Wonder Wheel
    At 150 feet, the Wonder Wheel is the world’s tallest Ferris wheel and the centerpiece of the Coney Island amusement area. Built in 1920, this one-of-a-kind ride includes 16 swinging and 8 stationary cars that provide a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean, the Jersey Shore and the NYC skyline. While the Wonder Wheel looks like harmless fun, in reality, the swinging cars are nasty nausea-inducing contraptions. In 1989, the structure was declared an official NYC landmark.

    The Hellhole
    You stand inside a circular chamber with a dozen other sadomasochists, when suddenly, the chamber starts spinning as the floor drops out. Before you know it, the centrifugal force has you pinned to the wall like a sock during the spin cycle of a washing machine. Dare to throw up and the centrifugal force glues your spew to your body. When the nightmare finally ends, you agree to the ride operator’s offer of a second ride at half price. 12th street between Bowery and the Boardwalk.

    El Dorado Disco Bumper Cars
    "Bump, bump, bump your ass off!!!" trumpets the recording over the PA system. Coney Island’s bumper cars are the perfect way to vent your frustrations. If you ever had the urge to ram your car into the jerk who just cut you off, here is your opportunity. And with blaring disco music shattering the decibel meter, your victim will never hear you coming. Surf Avenue and W. 12th Street.

    The Parachute Jump
    Built for the 1939 World’s Fair and dubbed the Eiffel Tower of Brooklyn, this designated national landmark has not been operational for years. In its day, the Parachute Jump hoisted riders to its summit, then dropped them into a free-fall before deploying a parachute. While some view the 262-foot tower as wrought-iron wreckage, others value the distinctive structure as a permanent fixture on the Brooklyn skyline.

    Nathan’s
    No visit to Coney Island would be complete without stopping off at the original Nathan’s Famous. Opened in 1916, some people swear Nathan’s makes the best damn hot dogs and French fries on the planet. And we agree. The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, held every July 4th, is a spectacle in gluttony not to be missed.

    Other Rides & Attractions
    Other rides and attractions, some of which operate independently of Coney’s two major amusement parks include carousels, a water flume, spook houses, go karts, batting ranges, BB gun shooting galleries and a variety of carnival games, like the watergun game where guys still win kewpie dolls for their sweethearts.

    The Boardwalk
    On sunny days, Coney Island’s 3-mile boardwalk brings out swells of joggers, bikers, leisurely strolling couples and mothers pushing strollers. Heading east, the boardwalk runs into Brighton Beach, nicknamed "Little Odessa" for the thousands of Russian immigrants who settled here in the 1980s. For a truly ethnic experience, enjoy a bite at one of the outdoor Russian cafes lining the boardwalk in Brighton.

    The Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation
    When you have had your fill of cotton candy and stomach-churning rides, get splashed by the dolphins (a "Saltwater Souvenir") at the Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation (formerly known as the New York Aquarium). Considered one of the top marine facilities in the country, the aquarium features 10,000 living specimens including beluga whales, sharks, octopuses, penguins, electric eels, walruses and seals. Catch a show at the new outdoor theater, or reach out to a horseshoe crab in the touch tank. Surf Avenue and W. 8th Street. (718) 265-FISH.

    How To Get There
    The heart of Coney Island is at Surf Avenue and the Boardwalk in Brooklyn. By Car: Take the Belt Parkway to exit 6. Go south on Cropsey Avenue to Surf Avenue. By Train: Take the B, D, N or F trains to Stillwell Avenue-Coney Island (the last stop), or take the D or F trains to West 8th Street.

311

  • http://www.myspace.com/311
  • http://www.311.com
  • 311 was formed in 1990 in Omaha, Nebraska by five self-described "friends for life" (singer/guitarist Nick Hexum, singer S.A. Martinez, guitarist Tim Mahoney, drummer Chad Sexton and the bassist known only as P-Nut), whose common link was a passion for both music and life that eventually brought them together to make music with a positive message behind it. After gigging locally (and by all reports quickly conquering the local music scene there), the quintet moved to Los Angeles, where they signed with Capricorn Records in 1991.

    Since that time, 311 have released several albums, including 1992's Music, 1993's Grassroots, and 1995's 311 (aka the "Blue" album), the latter reaching number 12 on the album chart, selling three million copies worldwide, and sporting the tracks "All Mixed Up" and "Down."

    In 1996, following a non-stop year of touring, the band released Enlarged to Show Detail, a home video of live performances taken from amphitheater shows in Kansas City and Denver, as well behind-the-scenes looks at life on the road. That the video has been certified platinum in sales is strong testament to the unique relationship the band has with its fans. In 1997, Transistor, a double album of new songs on one CD, was released, and the group mounted its most ambitious tour yet, a worldwide stretch of concerts intended to enlarge the band's already large and loyal fan base. "When we first started the band, we were always sure something good was going to happen," says drummer Chad Sexton, "and we've never gone backwards in any way since." Live followed in 1998, and a year later, 311 returned with Soundsystem. The band jumped to Volcano for From Chaos, which appeared in summer 2001, and followed that with Evolver two years later. By now 311 had been together over ten years, and they celebrated with a Greatest Hits comp. Released in July 2004, it included all of their hit singles, a few new tracks, and the band's gracefully-reggaeing cover of the Cure's "Love Song," originally from the soundtrack to Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore's 50 First Dates. 311 came back with new material in August 2005 with the Don't Tread on Me LP.

Snoop Dogg

  • http://www.myspace.com/snoopdogg
  • http://www.snoopdogg.com
  • As the embodiment of '90s gangsta rap, Snoop Dogg blurred the lines between reality and fiction. Introduced to the world through Dr. Dre's The Chronic, Snoop quickly became the most famous star in rap, partially because of his drawled, laconic rhyming and partially because the violence that his lyrics implied seemed real, especially after he was arrested on charges of being a murder accomplice. The arrest certainly strengthened his myth, and it helped his debut album, 1993's Doggystyle, become the first debut album to enter the charts at number one, but in the long run, it hurt his career. Snoop had to fight charges throughout 1994 and 1995, and while he was eventually cleared, it hurt his momentum. The Doggfather, his second album, wasn't released until November 1996, and by that time, pop and hip-hop had burned itself out on gangsta rap. The Doggfather sold half as well as its predecessor, which meant that Snoop remained a star, but he no longer had the influence he had just two years before.

    Snoop began recording homemade tapes with his friend Warren G, who happened to be the stepbrother of N.W.A's Dr. Dre. Warren G gave a tape to Dre, who was considerably impressed with Snoop's style and began collaborating with the rapper.

    When Dre decided to make his tentative first stab at a solo career in 1992 with the theme song for the film Deep Cover, he had Snoop rap with him. "Deep Cover" started a buzz about Snoop that escalated into full-fledged mania when Dre released his own debut album, The Chronic, on Death Row Records late in 1992. Snoop rapped on The Chronic as much as Dre, and his drawled vocals were as important to the record's success as its P-Funk bass grooves. Dre's singles "Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang" and "Dre Day," which prominently featured Snoop, became Top Ten pop crossover hits in the spring of 1993, setting the stage for Snoop's much-anticipated debut album, Doggystyle.

    After many delays, Doggystyle was finally released on Death Row in November of 1993, and it became the first debut album to enter the charts at number one. Despite reviews that claimed the album was a carbon copy of The Chronic, the Top Ten singles "What's My Name?" and "Gin & Juice" kept Doggystyle at the top of the charts during early 1994, as did the considerable controversy over Snoop's arrest and his lyrics, which were accused of being exceedingly violent and sexist. During an English tour in the spring of 1994, tabloids and a Tory minister pleaded for the government to kick the rapper out of the country, largely based on his arrest. Snoop exploited his impending trial by shooting a short film based on the Doggystyle song "Murder Was the Case" and releasing an accompanying soundtrack, which debuted at number one in 1994. By that time, Doggystyle had gone quadruple platinum.

    Perhaps sensing something was wrong, Snoop began to revamp his public image, moving away from his gangsta roots toward a calmer lyrical aesthetic. He also began making gestures toward the rock community, signing up to tour with Lollapalooza 1997 and talking about two separate collaborations with Beck and Marilyn Manson. The solo Da Game Is to Be Sold Not to Be Told, Snoop's first effort for No Limit, followed in 1998; No Limit Top Dogg appeared a year later and Dead Man Walkin' the year after that. Tha Last Meal followed in December of that same year. The heavy release schedule resulted in varying musical quality from album to album, but by the turn of the century, Snoop had become such a cultural phenomenon that his albums almost became secondary to the personality behind them. An autobiography appeared in 2001, followed by a stream of movie roles in several high-profile pictures. Late in 2002, Snoop released his first album for Capitol, 613125Paid tha Cost to Be da Bo$$. He then switched to Geffen for 2004's R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece. The hit album was followed a year later by Welcome to tha Chuuch: Da Album, a collection of tracks from the Welcome to the Chuuch mixtape series.

    That same year he hosted a West Coast peace summit in hopes of squashing all beefs. In 2006, he appeared on Tha Dogg Pound's Cali Iz Active and Ice Cube's Laugh Now, Cry Later. Toward the end of the year the intentionally leaked "My Peoples" freestyle apppeared. The track paid tribute to many involved in Cali's Latin rap community, so it was no big surprise when "Vato" with Cypress Hill's B Real became his next album's leadoff single. The hard and very G-Funk Tha Blue Carpet Treatment triumphantly capped off a year of heavy West Coast activity. In late 2007 he recruited two hip-hop veterans -- New Jack Swing legend Teddy Riley and West Coast hero DJ Quik - and formed the production team QDT Muzic. The team oversaw Snoop's 2008 album Ego Trippin' which included the single "Sensual Seduction".

Fiction Plane

  • http://www.myspace.com/fictionplane
  • http://www.fictionplane.net/
  • Fronted by singer/songwriter Joe Sumner -- who is the adult son of pop/rock superstar and former Police vocalist Sting -- Fiction Plane is a mostly British alternative pop/rock outfit that started to acquire a U.K. following in the early 2000s. The fact that Sumner is Sting's son has inevitably been mentioned quite a bit in the British press, and yet, Fiction Plane's members have never gone out of their way to exploit the Sting connection. If anything, they have downplayed it; when MCA did a promotional mailing for Fiction Plane's debut album, Everything Will Never Be OK, in 2003, the official bio didn't even mention that Sting was Sumner's dad. Thus, no one can accuse Sumner of trying to ride his father's coattails. Nor can Fiction Plane be accused of going out of its way to emulate Sting or the Police; even if Sting has affected some of Sumner's singing and writing, U2 is actually a more noticeable influence. His voice, in fact, has a somewhat Bono-ish quality. But while the highly sociopolitical U2 can be very idealistic, the words that are typically used to describe Fiction Plane's lyrics include cynical, dark, melancholy, and world-weary -- and it should be noted that Sumner has cited '90s angst-rockers like Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins as influences.Born in England in the late '70s, Sumner was only a baby when the Police recorded their 1978 debut, Outlandos d'Amour. As a child, Sumner rebelled against music; he hated taking piano lessons and was more interested in video games. Nonetheless, he began studying the guitar at the age of ten and went on to learn the drums as well. It wasn't until 1991 -- when Sumner was 14 -- that he really became passionate about music. That year, Sumner heard Nirvana's amazingly influential Nevermind, which inspired him to start writing songs. A few years later, Sumner was jamming with his bass-playing friend Dan Brown, who shared his love of Nirvana and went on to become part of Fiction Plane. The start of Fiction Plane came in 1999, when the band was still called Santa's Boyfriend; subsequently, former art student Seton Daunt was hired to play lead guitar.

    In 2001, they recorded a demo called Swings and Roundabouts, but their first official album, Everything Will Never Be OK, wasn't recorded until after they had signed with MCA and changed their name from Santa's Boyfriend to Fiction Plane. When David Kahne (known for his work with everyone from Tony Bennett to Sublime, the Bangles, and Sugar Ray) produced Everything Will Never Be OK in 2002, Fiction Plane didn't have a full-time drummer -- and the person who ended up filling in on that album was session player Abe Laboriel Jr., who had been a member of Paul McCartney's band. After that, Sumner and Brown hired an American drummer, Paul Wilhoit, to go on tour with them. MCA released Everything Will Never Be OK in the United States in March 2003.
Box Office Info

Mercury Lounge

217 E. Houston St. (corner Ave A & Houston)

New York, NY map & directions

212–260–4700

Hours: Mon–Sat, Noon–7 pm

Music Hall of Williamsburg

66 N. 6th St. (b/w Wythe & Kent)

Brooklyn, NY map & directions

718–486–5400

Hours: Saturday 11am–6pm

Contact Info
General Info: info@bowerypresents.com
Room Rentals: privateevents@bowerypresents.com
Media Inquiries: bpmedia@bowerypresents.com
Bowery Presents

Manhattan — Brooklyn