Dehd, Deeper, Wild Pink, Mandy, Indiana, Strange Ranger, Mamalarky—the list of Fire Talk alumni and current signees goes on and on. Since 2009, the label founded by Trevor Peterson has been an incubator for cutting edge (if not downright weird) noise rock, post-punk, dream pop, and everything in between, with their newly minted Angel Tapes imprint helping to carry the torch for genre-blurring, under-the-radar acts. “This thing started from a band house where we threw shows and recorded records,” Peterson shares. “Ultimately, we built a small community of like-minded musicians pushing to present forward-thinking music of the ‘indie’ variety, and to see that same spirit continue over the years has been nothing short of a miracle, in my humble opinion.”
Last month, Fire Talk formally celebrated 15 years of existence with a label showcase at Brooklyn’s Baby’s All Right, with Cola, Wombo, and Why Bonnie taking the stage to perform new material released through their label home. “It felt like the perfect opportunity to showcase three current bands repping this moment of the label,” Peterson continues. “Cola, Wombo, and Why Bonnie all coming off recent records really brought it, and I think left a memorable impression for everyone lucky enough to attend. Cheers to 15 more years.”
While the photo diaries each band sent from the day of the show feature little of the sets themselves (“The better life gets, the more you forget to take photos,” Cola muses), get into the headspace of each band with their pre-show rituals, tourist activities, and more with their recaps of the day below.
WHY BONNIE
Pre-show relaxation time.
Always get your tra-la-las in before you sing!
On our way to le gig.
Post-show cool down before blast off.
The holy trinity for a Saturday night gig.
WOMBO
Enjoying a good first meal in NYC at The Fly in Brooklyn.
Halloween house on a walk with friends.
Dog costume contest led us to Fort Greene. Here is Rafa (left) with a new friend moments before adorning his Michael Jordan jersey.
Peeking out of the green room at Baby’s.
Sunset at LaGuardia, waiting for a plane to go home.
COLA
We started off our day at the SiriusXM studios in Midtown. We played some acoustic coffeehaus versions of our songs and, like the shameless buskers at heart that we are, laid down a cover. All told, this was a lovely experience. Everyone there is very good at what they do. Here’s a photo of the lounge that I sent to my in-laws to assure them that I’m not a failure.
Next up the lads hit the Paley Museum because we adore the Latin GRAMMYs. In truth, Evan’s girlfriend Jess works here and we popped in to say hey. But the Latin GRAMMYs do appear to be fire—much sexier than the other GRAMMYs.
Next up we visited the Tenement Museum in the Lower East Side. Giving this one an honest and a hearty recommendation. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and struck a compassionate (and correct) tone on the vitality and importance of immigration and the free movement of peoples. We attended the “After the Famine” tour in which they correctly identified the famine as “starvation amongst plenty” due to inhumane and extractive British colonial policies at the time. Nice bookshop, as well.
To get to Baby’s All Right in Williamsburg. As always, the better life gets, the more you forget to take photos and such. But here’s one gem of Ben chatting with Cameron from Wombo.
Showtime. Trevor from Fire Talk took this one, just so you know we didn’t use a selfie timer or something. Great sets from Why Bonnie and Wombo. Cheers to Fire Talk on 15 years, here’s to 15 more. See you next time, NYC.
