Written by Milkomee Addisu | Photos by Sidney Kuri Poor
Nodding along the shores of Red Hook lies a stout tanker boat with a capacity of 100 bodies. This proved difficult for Jamie (Pec)ilunas and her three-part show series. Adding to the frenzy of this blazing summer, Pec brought a handful of New York’s beloved bands on The Mary Whalen. Her history with the boat dates back to last fall, when she brought together a Halloween show. A trail of whispers surrounding a retired 1938 coastal oil tanker got back to Pec; naturally, her interest was piqued. Carolina, the boat’s captain, agreed to hand off The Whalen for a free show that would also act as a fundraiser to help preserve the boat.
The adjacent neighborhoods of Red Hook had an easy commute to the boat. But for the other 99% of attendees, it was a pilgrimage.
Were you afraid that people wouldn’t come to the first boat show just because of the location or any other factor? It is so out of the way and very inconvenient.
Pec: Of course I tweak before every show; one of them is bound to be a flop. I know my crowd is far away, but also we’ve seen people go to freaking Rockaway for Bread and Roses Fest (an underground Indie-Punk festival). And when I saw the crowds of Freedom Attic, Diner Pets, and Nett roll in, I calmed down. But we don’t have the tenacity for DIY spaces, because these spaces can exist way further out of North Brooklyn. I think when shows are inconvenient, it makes it more worth it, because you get the heads who really want to be there, not people just stopping by to see some scene-y band, you know?
Unforeseen elements were in concurrence with Pec’s sentiments. The second show, originally scheduled on July 9th, was postponed by torrential downpour. Unbeknownst to Pec, Canada’s wildfires echoed her interest in weeding out a flippant crowd. The already postponed second show was muffled by heavy smoke blowing east. Nonetheless, Guyscrappers, Wesley Wolfee, and Plastic tore through the opaque air and delivered a show worth jeopardizing our respiratory health for.
The third show, featuring ideasforconversations, Holidays in United States, and Myra Lee, experienced light rain, but Pec was more concerned about the demanding crowd flooding the desolate parking lot next to the tanker. The combination of the three pulled in Pec’s largest crowd to date. The Whalen was already swaying left and right before it reached capacity. After the overflow came to terms with the fact that they would not leave the concrete beneath them, they found a seat to settle into. Other overflows pressed up against the transparent gate, poking their fingers through the holes that let the bands’ sound reach those on dry land.
Even with a great turnout and an approved liquor license to sell drinks, Pec never considered recouping her losses.
When did you come to terms with the fact you’d be hemorrhaging money?
Pec: Me? Always. Knew from the start. That’s the thing about this DIY: is it really DIY if I’m spending all this money to be able to put these shows on?
She claims before admitting she’s losing money by making it free, accessible, and essentially charging nothing for beer. She also alluded to the fact that sponsors weren’t a part of her ambiguous DIY ethos.
Pec: We’re not scamming anyone; it’s $2 for a beer, and I want the drunkies. That’s why all the shows are also parties. It guarantees a crowd. So, I’m not profiting anything. The surplus money that we do get goes to pay the bartender to be there and work. But sponsors change things. It feels less DUI and more like…DUI? I’m saying DUI…I mean DIY! I don’t know. DIY is a farce also. What does that mean? Like, at what point does it not become DIY? Is it just roughing it and having worse amenities, and not really getting paid; is that what DIY means?
Our self-effacing host, who had trouble verbally differentiating between DUI and DIY, was quick to dismiss her hand in contributing to the DIY circles of NYC. Though I beg to differ. I personally find a Pecilunus gig to be a staple within the grassroots orbit. On top of my own bias, Pec has streamed her own income to each of her gigs. Leading up to a show, she is the sole coordinator of every logistical note or nightmare. With the help of her friends on the day of the show working the door, bartending, or sourcing materials, she orchestrates a truly communal event. Her concerns about labeling her work seem to be put to bed by these factors alone. However, Pec continued with a critique that contextualizes her gigs under the spiteful regulations of New York.
Pec: Just…we saw a lot of these used to be DIY spaces where people were living under the floorboards, now become actual venues. So it’s rare, especially now that Brooklyn is such a gentrified area; permits come into play, you can’t play amplified sound like it used to be around those warehouses that no one lived near—that’s why you could play music at all hours of the day. New York doesn’t really have that anymore.
Consequently, Pec trudged south in hopes of finding solace at sea, where amplified sound and large gatherings are less prohibited. Pec has a fair point in acknowledging the rules that are encroaching on DIY efforts. Just a couple of months ago, Royal Beef Gallery, a cherished underground space that housed exhibitions and shows, was forced out of its makeshift bunker. A tragedy we’re all still mourning. The city’s infrastructure can be crippling, and its owners are a nuisance. Unlike other band-centered cities, we have limited access to personal property that can accommodate sizeable crowds, i.e, basements and backyards. But I would argue Pec is finding a way around the terror of NYC sanctions and real estate. In addition to her dabble in maritime fun, many local bands strive to find places to convene that are not in favor of larger powers, and they’re succeeding at such a task. The unorthodox will always seek to exist.
Now that the series has come to an end, we’re all in anticipation for the next gig. Luckily, Pec mentioned a completely female-fronted lineup scheduled for September 18th. Her Halloween show will also return on the boat, this time closer to the beginning of October. Pec’s usual outdoor events and house shows will also be announced as months go by.
You can follow all show-related updates on her Instagram @jamiepec.
