Fixtures at Mama Tried (photo by Brianna DiGioia)
Brooklyn mainstays Fixtures played the outdoor show at Mama Tried this past Saturday, closing out the summer with unapologetic indie rock.
Ben “Baby” Copperhead and the Horned Serpents opened the evening joined by Joseph Allan Johnson on sax, Emanuel Ruffler on keys and David Berger on drums. Copperhead played a grander set with a little extra grit than his usual banjo and guitar folk, occasionally adding a pedal laden growl to his vocals.
Two piece 999999999 (pronounced “All 9s”… we think) followed up, with Anthony Macbain on guitar and vocals and Ted McGrath on drums. Bringing some surfy skuzz pop to the backyard, 999999999 kept the energy building in a packed Mama Tried backyard.
Fixtures filled the stage on Saturday as a six piece: K Liakos on guitar and vocals, Jay McGuire on bass, Robin Fowler on drums, and new additions Riley Cooke on trumpet, Jules Block on baritone sax, and Don Meehleis on guitar. Self described as vampire elevator music, Fixtures brings frenetic energy and volume—and catchy as fuck riffs. “The Great Tequila Flood of 2000-2018” built the same kind of momentum you’d expect from the semi autobiographical content it’s named after. In addition to poignantly clever lyricism, Fixtures also has a knack for the deeply sad slipped into driving, upbeat melodies. “21/1” began with a gentle horn section that leads into a dedicated jam about driving around trying to find Love as Laughter/Lync frontman and friend to many, the late Sam Jayne, who had gone missing in December 2020. Their set was capped off with a new banger, “Rats on Broadway the Musical on Broadway” (not a typo). Got your next great New York anthem right here.
Grab a beer or six and go see all three of these bands—you won’t be sorry.
Fixtures’ new record Hollywood Dog is out next February.
Scroll down for pics of the show (photos by Brianna DiGioia with a few additions by Maksim Akelin)
BEN “BABY” COPPERHEAD
99999999
FIXTURES
(photo by Maksim Akelin)
(photo by Maksim Akelin)
