Siren Music Festival

There comes a point in the summer where my friends and I get really excited for Siren Music Festival put together by one of my favorite reads The Village Voice. It’s held annually at Coney Island and this year it was extra special because supposedly they are tearing down the infamous historic New York City amusement park to put up condos, which makes New Yorkers quite sad. However, on this sunny day in July everyone was in a great mood and ready to listen to some amazing music and just have an all around good time.

Covering the event is such a pleasure because it allowed me to be up close and personal with my first love, music. The White Rabbits kicked off the festival and they were quite a band if I do say so myself - poppy, fun, rock n’ roll music without all the pretentious bull. I had an opportunity to hang out with the band and they were as sweet and charming as they are talented.

Other highlights for me was M.I.A. and the duo Matt and Kim. If you haven’t heard of Matt and Kim, I recommend their tunes if you want to jump up and down and have a good time. The main attraction was the New York Dolls, which was one of the bands I always wanted to see. They were so eccentric and amazing keeping me dancing from the first tune until the last and let me tell you, Mick Jagger or David Johansen (the lead singer)? I choose David Johansen.

Between bands I strolled along the boardwalk and drank beer with my friends while vendors screamed at us to buy sausages, funnel cakes, and shaved icies. After the Dolls, I sat on the beach to wind down and soak in Coney Island one last time. It was a surreal New York day.