Saturday In New York: The Waste Of Paint Team Hits Up The 4Knots Music Festival

This weekend, Debbie and I turned our attentions inwards, to the Village Voice's own 4Knots Music Festival at South Street Seaport. As always, the Seaport was a strange but enjoyable place to take in some indie bands, what with the adjacent mall stores and Pizzeria Uno adding a bit of kitsch that made us feel like rock-and-roll tourists on staycation. (Have you ever smelled the air coming out of a Baby Gap? Pure heaven.)

Debbie Allen

Following strong showings from Mr. Dream and Eleanor Friedberger (the latter of whom has an excellent new album out), Oberhofer regaled us with a super-energetic set of melodic rock. In keeping with the fest's nautical theme, the second guitarist sported a sailor hat. Oberhofer's sound takes more than a few cues from the emotionally charged pop-punk I grew up with in the suburbs—the breakdowns, the falsetto, the sweet screams that emit from Brad Oberhofer's slight frame—which earns them a special place in my heart. Judging from the audience's willingness to clap along to their xylophone-assisted hooks, I was not the only one.