Breeders Divinely Hammer It Out of the Park

Leaving McCarren pool yesterday evening as the Breeders wrapped their set, JI felt like we were wading through a sea of angry jackals. The line to see the band stretched down the block even as the show was ending, and the security guards were repeating "we are at capacity" on an endless loop to hipsters who seemed not to understand.

Inside the dry pool, the party raged all afternoon. JI miscalculated the timing and missed Matt and Kim, the adorable pop-punk couple whose sets are intense, interactive affairs. We arrived and immediately hit up the free Dewars booth (being a jaded insider does have its perks), then hung stageside with some pals and waited for the Deal sisters to bring it.

And bring it they did. The band ripped thorough a set that seamlessly fused newer material with classics, including "Divine Hammer" and, of course, "Last Splash." The massive and fashionable crowd gleefully bounced along, waving their free Topshop yoga mats and Brooklyn Brewery cups in the air.

Possibly the best thing about the McCarren Pool Parties is that it, in the end, the band onstage doesn't matter that much. The show is almost ancillary to the real party -- slip and sliding, kickball, and watching the young and lovely of Brooklyn parade around. This is the first show of the summer JI has hit up, and we're excited to check out more as the weekends roll on.