Enter the Psychobilly Luau - if you dare

By Meredith Deliso

Killer clowns. Go-go dancers. Rockin’ hot rods.

The third annual Psychobilly Luau will be taking over Gowanus in all its revved up, punk-rock glory on July 18, with a day of music, cars and more at The Bell House.

Headlining the affiar are San Diego-based psychobilly rockers Deadbolt (pictured), the self-proclaimed scariest band in the world, making their first New York City performance in a decade.

Also on the bill are creepy crypt rockers Memphis Morticians (based in, surprisingly, right here in New York City), Psychocharger, Tombstone Brawlers, The Arkhams, The Wanda Jackson 5, The Designer Drugs, and Soul Reapin’ 3.

Beyond music, the stage at the amped up luau will also be host to killer clowns, courtesy of Clown Kong, go-go and burlesque by Brooklyn Baby Doll, a fashion show by Enz’s, and DJ sets by Laura Rebel Angel, Jukebox Jodi, and The Dutchman.

A special “Psychobily Luau” comic book will also be on hand by artists Mort Todd (Back From The Grave, Ed “Big Daddy” Roth Comics) and Laura Rebel Angel), and anyone who arrives via hot rod will receive the edition for free.

While most of the action will take place indoors, the luau will also feature a sidewalk BBQ.

It all starts at 3 p.m. at The Bell House (149 7th St.). Tickets are $20 in advance, available for purchase at http://www.ticketweb.com/, or $25 at the door.

For more information, call 718-643-6510, or go to http://www.thebellhouseny.com/ or www.myspace.com/psychobillyluau.

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Beres Hammond at BAM

One of Jamaica’s biggest reggae legends is coming to Brooklyn.

On July 15 and 17, the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House will host Beres Hammond, who, in his more than 35-year career has produced such hits as “Tempted to Touch,” “Groovy Little Thing,” and the R&B flavored “No Disturb Sign.”

Hear him live, as the passionate songwriter and vibrant performer pulls from his latest, “A Moment in Time,” the artists’s 25th release, which finds him moving from reggae to R&B to avant-garde jazz, all in his signature, mellifluous voice.

Also joining Hammond on the bill are another long-running Jamaican act, the reggae roots band Culture, on both nights, and the “Queen of Reggae “herself, Marcia Griffiths, on July 17.

Tickets for the July 15, which starts at 8 p.m., show are $58, $78, $88 and $98. The July 17 show is at 9 p.m., with tickets costing $60, $85, $99, and $125. The bills are presented by Jammins Entertainment.

The good vibes continue into the weekend, when, on July 18, Jammins Entertainment also presents “Soul Music Legends Live.” The night features, as promised, such legendary acts as the Stylistics. The Manhattans, The Chi-Lites, Blue Magic, and the Charlie Thomas Drifters. This one’s for one night only.

The show starts at 8 p.m., with tickets costing $68, $88 and $98.

For more information, go to http://bam.org or call 718-636-4100.

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Faces of the Caribbean at Habana Outpost

By Junico Simino

Freelance photographer Stefano Giovannini is showcasing his photos through July 13 at the Habana Outpost in Fort Greene.

The exhibit will display Giovannini’s photos from his trips to Jacmel, Haiti and the west end of Jamaica. His work has been described as an impulsive, yet anthropological approach to photography.

The photos chronicle two weeks he spent in the southeast of Haiti, in the town of Jacmel, which been hit by four hurricanes, and a week spent in the west end of Jamaica in the town of Negril. His photos capture the daily struggles of different people who he met that shared food and stories.

Giovannini is a self-taught photographer from Milan, Italy, who relocated to New York City in 2000. His work has been included in major and independent publications in Europe and the U.S. including Nylon, Soma, Jane, Entertainment Weekly, TimeOut NY, and this paper. He is perhaps best known for his photographs of the musicians Sonic Youth, Cat Power, DJ Olive, Luna, Beck, Blonde Redhead, and others.

There will be 16x20 copies of his pictures on sale for $120 each, and 8x10 copies for $40 each. Part of the profit will go to Guerline Laguerre, a struggling single mother Giovannini met in Jacmel.

Habana Outpost, which is the city’s first solar powered eco-eatery, features different artists every three weeks. Upcoming artists include: Joseph Madres, Dyad Photography, Anna Moller, and Sarah Hajjar.

To learn more about Giovannini’s work, log on to www.stefpix.com.

For more about the Habana Outpost, located at 757 Fulton Street, go to www.cafehabana.com.

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This week in 24/Seven

Each week we'll preview what you can expect in our 24/Seven print edition, out Thursday for you southern Brooklynites and Friday for the downtown neighborhoods.

Highlights include:

Siren Fest: We interview Tiny Masters of Today and Bear Hands, just some of the great acts taking to the stage at this year's Siren Festival on July 18, who also happen to be based out of Brooklyn.

Pool Parties: A look at who's playing the summer concert series at the East River State Park (formerly held at the McCarren Park Pool), kicking off July 19.

The Arts: The first ever BoCoCa Arts Festival comes to...BoCoCa (Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, and Carroll Gardens for all you saying, 'Wha???') on July 17, complete with music, theater and more.

Music: Peter Block of the band Porter Block is inspired by the Gowanus, and the local NYC songwriter scene, in his latest release, "The Gowanus Yacht Club." Hear it live July 12 at another club, the Bushwick Country Club.

Columns: Kitchen Klutz cooks up a fav, Chicken and Broccoli Stir-fry, The Reporter's Table grills up some veggies, and Pumps & Pleats hangs ten at the Coney Island Surf Shop.

For these stories and more, pick up a copy in your nabe or check back here later this week!

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Kitchen Klutz: Michèle’s Honey BBQ Hamburgers Recipe

Michèle’s Honey BBQ Hamburgers

Ingredients

1 -1/4 lb. ground beef

1/2 onion, chopped

1/2 red pepper, chopped

1/4 bottle Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey Barbecue Sauce

Directions

Combine ingredients in a mixing bowl. Form eight medium-sized patties. Store in refrigerator for a few hours. Grill on each side until well done.

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Tonight: Afro-Punk

The Afro-Punk Festival continues in and around BAM today, with tonight's highlights including the funky Janelle Monae (pictured), Saul Williams, and Dallas Austin, among others, performing live now until 10 p.m. at the GGMC Car Park (corner of Lafayette and Flatbush).

Also tonight, BAMcinematek screens "A Man Named Pearl," "Revolution 67," and "Afro-Punk" with "White Lies Black Sheep."

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Nazi zombies have the Reich stuff

Sveinung Svendsen / IFC Films

Two and one half stars

By Gary Buiso

If history teaches us anything, it’s that a policy of appeasement does not work against Nazis. As the Norwegian horror film “Dead Snow” shows us, the failed policy works even worse with Nazi zombies.

The film, written and directed by Tommy Wirkola, offers an anemic plot, rich visuals and outrageous puddles of gore. The Scandinavian filmmaker manages to charter new territory — using a zombie’s intestine as a rock climbing rope is just cool — while still paying homage to Sam Raimi and “The Evil Dead” series.

The story is standard fare: A group of Norwegian medical students are vacationing in the mountains on Easter break when their holiday is suddenly interrupted by an old man who warns of terrible events that, people prefer to keep quiet about. “There is an evil — an evil you don’t want to awake,” he says.

Since no one ever listens to old men who portend evil, in no time, a game of Twister is interrupted by the arrival of the undead fascists.

Of course, the audience must just accept the fact that, with little explanation, the Nazis who once terrorized the local town have somehow turned into zombies, in search of their ill-gotten gold.
It’s uber-silly, but “Dead Snow” offers a summertime catharsis for all the Nazi zombie haters among us.

Dead Snow. This film is not rated. Running time: 91 minutes. With Charlotte Frogner, Ørjan Gamst, Stig Frode Henriksen, Vegar Hoel, Jeppe Laursen, Evy Kasseth Røsten and Bjørn Sundquist.

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