Ray Weiss
A fixture on the Shea stage since Year Zero, the infamous Ray Weiss has been a relentless force on NYC's all-ages circuit since the mid-00s. One of the more underrated songwriters from Brooklyn's "DIY-era", you can certainly hear his influence on a handful of bands in our own archives - many of who, as teens, attended dozens of sweaty basement/house shows during the heyday of Le Rug, Ray's songwriting project that performed hundreds of shows with a revolving door of musicians before disbanding officially in 2010. In the years following their demise, Ray has had a plethora of other musical endeavors - as the self-professed progenitor of "dick-wave" in Red Dwarf, as the drummer of squalling noise-rockers Sweet Bulbs, and even more recently as a founding member of both Butter The Children and Living Serious. Over the years no grass has grown under his feet, playing nearly 50 shows at Shea with these five bands combined since 2009!
A man of many musical talents, Ray's unmistakable style has put a stamp on all of these bands whether he is singing or shouting, weaving his trademark Johnny Marr-inspired guitar licks, or thrashing away on a stand-up drum kit. This signature style also manifests itself in this short-and-sweet serving of deep tracks, both figuratively and literally. Keep an eye out for some exceptionally brief "director's commentary" in the tracks explaining, in often as little as one word, why it has made his shortlist.
In addition to bumping this set of songs, you can also catch the man in action at Shea this week, as he resurrects the classic (albeit slightly revamped) lineup of the definitive era of Le Rug. -AR
Liam Betson
Our favorite American export, Liam Betson is a man of impeccable taste. A staple at DIY shows from a very young age, whether performing or spectating, this Toronto-via New Jersey songwriter was always wise beyond his years-- the archetype of the younger brother that will always be cooler than you without even trying to be. With two albums to his credit (under his former, aptly titled pen name Liam The Younger) and a terrific third record in the can to be released later this year, it's safe to say now that Liam Betson, the expatriate, is all grown up and living in Canada. And although he would attribute his relocation to the pursuit of a more domestic lifestyle, it appears that musically he shows no signs of wanting to settle down. Conversely, as a recent return performance (backed by his all-star NY pick-up band Bobby Pin) would indicate, it appears that his best work is still most definitely yet to come. Compiled on a "home for the holidays" trip back to the US, this one is a must-listen for any browser of the archives. Despite his decision to leave behind Chris Christie for Rob Ford, Liam still represents his native Jersey roots hard, while also managing to showcase some deeper cuts like only a true crate digger can. And while he may now pledge his allegiance to our neighbors to the north, Liam will remain a distinguished citizen of Shea Stadium for years to come. -AR
DJ Keili
This week's new guest tracks come to us from someone who's no stranger to neatly curated playlists: WFMU's own DJ Keili. A woman of great taste and equally great style, Keili's been with WFMU since 2008 when she became the station's youngest DJ at the tender age of 15. Since her auspicious start she's gone on to interview the likes of Kathleen Hanna, AdRock, and LaRonda Davis of the Black Rock Coalition - and to hone her craft at the boards. We've been lucky to have Keili's DJ services at a couple shows at Shea, and being a showgoing vet, her list includes some seriously deep cuts. Take a listen - her well rounded playlist has tracks from the halycon days of Shea (aka 2009) sitting next to some of the top shelf bangers of the past few years. -LC
Vin Cacchione
Our last playlist of the year is brought to you by the mastermind of one of Brooklyn's finest pop groups. A true connoisseur of all things catchy and perfectly crafted, his first-hand experience with penning the hits of tomorrow proves him a highly qualified observer of who around him that is doing the same. Having taken the stage at Shea an astounding 22 times since his debut in 2010, a high percentage of these tracks were selected from bills that were shared by either Vin's own Caged Animals, or his older more guitar-rock oriented project Soft Black. Comprised almost entirely of Brooklyn-based acts, enjoy this presentation of NYC's musical wildlife in its natural habitat, curated by the zookeeper himself. -AR