CMJ Day 2

Call it the Park Slope edition.

Here's a sampling of the CMJ showcases happening at Union Hall, Rock Shop, and Bell House (OK, that one's Gowanus),  to make your hopping around a little bit easier.

Union Hall
702 Union St. near Fifth Avenue, (718) 638-4400

Start the night off at Union Hall, where buzzed-about Ontario band brings their fuzzed out '90s throwback to the small stage, playing the venue's early show with Soft Reeds and Dear Comrade. Doors at 7 pm.

Rock Shop
249 Fourth Ave. between President and Carroll streets, (718) 230-5740

Then, head on over to the Rock Shop, where the lo-fi, Brooklyn-based act Beach Fossils headline the Forcefield showcase. Also on the bill are Cloud Nothings, Braids, Blair, Lesands, and Tape Deck Mountain.

The Bell House
149 Seventh St. between Second and Third avenues, (718) 643-6510

End your night at the Bell House, where UK tastemakers Popjustice have pulled together a lineup of pop, including Fenech Soler and their infectious synth-pop tunes. Special guests and DJs will also help you boogie late into the night.

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Laugh on with Eugene Mirman and friends

By Alex Rush

Eugene Mirman is all about the props.

And not just objects that he uses on stage during his act. The Park Slope comedian also gives props, as in pays homage, to his comedic influences, who include Steve Martin and Bill Cosby.

This month, his third annual self-named comedy festival will even host a 1986 tribute night at the Bell House on Sept. 16 that features old-school comedian Emo Philips, known for his childlike, somewhat idiotic persona.

“The year 1986 was the height of the stand-up comedy boom, and Emo Philips was the first comedian I’d ever heard I fell in love with,” Mirman said. “His stuff was so weird and smart.”

In addition to the stand-up bits, “An Evening of Comedy from 1986” will have hair stylists giving people ’80s hair makeovers and a Crocodile Dundee impersonator greeting people.

Mirman’s annual comedy festival, Sept. 16-19 at the Bell House, The Rock Shop and Union Hall, won’t shy away from new-school schticks, either. Case in point: Eugene’s World Class Masters of Comedy event on Sept. 18 at Union Hall, whose standout acts will surely be British comedian Daniel Kitson, Ron Lynch, and Marc Maron.

“They’re all very, very good,” Mirman said. “Each one is special in their own way: Marc wears glasses sometimes, Daniel has a beard and Ron is the oldest.”

Mirman, who made his own comedy major as a student at Hampshire College in Massachusetts, has his own ways of being a special Brooklyn comedian.

“I have a totally different face and name from everyone else, so that helps,” said Mirman. “Otherwise, I shop locally and never yell at a stranger’s baby.”

Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival at the Bell House [149 Seventh St. between Second and Third avenues in Gowanus, (718) 643-6510]; Union Hall [702 Union St. near Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, (718) 638-4400]; and Rock Shop [249 Fourth Ave. between Carroll and President streets in Park Slope, (718) 230-5740], Sept 16-19. For schedule, visit www.eugenemirman.com.

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Oktoberfest in Brooklyn

The main event may be in Germany, but over here, there's plenty of beer-related festivities going on in Brooklyn.

Get your drink on at some of these local Oktoberfests that caught our eye:

Roberta's

261 Moore St. between Bogart and White streets in Bushwick

Sept. 19, 1-8 pm

Featuring sausage and plenty of beer from Kelso of Brooklyn, as well as performances by Pass Kontrol, Lady Magma, Gunfight, Post-Magic, and Feral Foster.

Freaktoberfest Boutique Beer & Music Festival

Rock Shop

249 Fourth Ave. between President and Carroll streets in Park Slope,

Sept. 24, 7 pm

Shmaltz Brewing Company teams up with Bierkraft, Southpaw and BeertenderBrooklyn to throw Freaktoberfest, the kick-off party for NY Craft Beer Week. In addition to brews, take in bands, burlesque and, as the name promises, freakshow performances. Tickets $55.

Oktoberfest on Fifth

Park Slope

Sept. 30-Oct. 1

The Park Slope Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District is planning a two-day Fifth Avenue Oktoberfest, taking place at several locations along the avenue with music on Fourth Street near Fifth Avenue. Details are still coming through for this one, so check the website as more comes in.

Kelso Oktoberfest

529 Waverly Ave. between Atlantic and Fulton avenues in Fort Greene

Oct. 2, 1-5 pm

Enjoy seasonal beers by Kelso, Heartland and Captain Lawrence breweries, as well as grilled sausage and music at this outdoor festival. All proceeds benefit the local Brown Memorial Community Development and Food Pantry. Tickets $40.

Any you'd like to add? Let us know in the comments section.

Photo: Liquor Snob

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The Mommyheads are back!

Twelve years after calling it quits, The Mommyheads are back at it, rocking out like it’s 1992.

The 1980s and ’90s saw the mellow rock band rise on indie labels such as Simple Machines, and, after years of critical success and stellar live shows, sign to Geffen (ooh, big time) in 1997. But, one album and one year later, they were dropped and unplugged their amps — seemingly for good.

But two years ago, the band reunited to play a series of memorial shows for its deceased drummer put out a new album, “You’re Not A Dream.”

Then they went back to their day jobs, thinking they were really done this time. But Sweden just wouldn’t stop calling. “They were like, we’re going to make sure you get back together and come here,” said singer Adam Elk. “It was like getting the guys out of the old-age home — let’s get the band back together!”

For a modest band with largely a cult following, the trip this past spring was a nice ego-boost. Since coming back to New York, Elk has been writing, and the foursome will be at Rock Shop on Aug. 19, where you can expect the group’s tight musicianship and XTC-like sound. This fall, the band will also release a compilation, “Finest Specimens.”

It looks like the Mommyheads aren’t cutting the cord again anytime soon.

The Mommyheads at Rock Shop [249 Fourth Ave. between President and Carroll streets in Park Slope, (718) 230-5740], Aug. 19 at 8 pm. Tickets $8. For info, visit www.therockshopny.com.

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Rock slope

Get ready to rock.

The newest addition to the booming Park Slope nightlife scene, Rock Shop, celebrates its grand opening on Aug. 2.

The space, in the former Cattyshack and spearheaded by Bowery Ballroom and Mercury Lounge owner Michael Winsch, has been open for a few weeks, but the managers waited to get settled and tweak the sound before “officially” opening.

“I’ve been very surprised with the local support,” said Brian Harkenrider, an operating partner of Rock Shop, which boasts a stage on the first floor, an upstairs bar and outdoor roof patio. “The response has been, ‘Oh my god, this is what the neighborhood has needed for a long time — a sports bar with live music and an outdoor deck.”

For the grand opening, Rock Shop booker Jack “Skippy” McFadden, whom music fans will recognize as the former booker for the Bell House and Union Hall, has pulled together a “sentimental” lineup, with songstress Sharon Van Etten, the quirky Lady Lamb The Beekeeper, and a special female headlining act that’s hush-hush until the day of the show on the bill. (UPDATE: That mystery guest has been revealed to be tUnE-YaRdS).

“All three acts are perfect examples of how an artist can be successful if given the right room in which to blossom,” said McFadden. “The club is responsible for nurturing these artists instead of seeing them as just ‘bands.’ ”

Between sets, you can imbibe in local brews including Six Point, Blue Moon, Brooklyn Lager. The only thing missing from the equation is food, which the venue will have from a local restaurant for the grand opening. By September, Harkenrider looks to start offering typical bar food like wings and burgers from its own kitchen, which will call for another party of its own.

Grand opening of the Rock Shop [249 Fourth Ave. near Carroll Street in Park Slope, (718) 230-5740], Aug. 2 at 8 pm. Tickets $15. For info, visit www.therockshopny.com.

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Rock Shop's first show tonight

Buzz has been steadily building for Rock Shop, Brooklyn's newest bar/music venue.

Tonight, the Fourth Avenue space has its first show, with a performance by The Rondelles, who play a sold-out show at the Bell House this Friday. Oh yeah, and it's free.

Rock Shop is on the small size, with capacity for about 120, so you might want to get their early. Show starts at 8 pm, with The Love Loves opening.

For further updates on shows at the space, which are being booked by Skippy, formerly of the Bell House, and is associated with Bowery Presents, check their Twitter and Facebook.

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