Double Double Whammy
It's a rare breed that can slay on both sides of music, putting out some of the best releases in town and writing songs as good as LVL UP does. I suppose that's unfairly specific - the only two guys who fit those criteria are of course Dave Benton & Mike Caridi of Double Double Whammy. Ridgewood NJ and Connecticut natives respectively, and Purchase alumns to boot, it's no surprise their fare is mostly comprised of excellently crafted bedroom pop. Their catalogue has been slowly grown somewhat exponentially as of late - they've put out the majority of their releases within the past 12 months and including such heavy hitters as Porches, Frankie Cosmos, & Lost Boy. The duo were kind enough to compile a playlist of DDW bands live at Shea - as long as they continue expand there'll always be a stage here for the gems they unearth.
-Luke Chiaruttini
Sean H. Guapo
UNCENSORED -- the word is defined in the dictionary as "not having been banned or edited". Next to that definition should be a picture of Shea Stadium's most infamous board member, co-founder Sean "H. Guapo". A man so fiercely committed to finding every loophole modern society has to offer, that even Cosmo Kramer could learn a thing or two from him about "getting by". His penchant for old-fashioned rock 'n' roll (both the music and the accompanying lifestyle) is certainly well documented within these four walls. And as the saying goes, if these walls could talk, they would probably deal more dirt on him than anyone else -- but it wouldn't matter much because with Sean, there are no secrets. In fact, it is his 100% transparent, unapologetic approach to debauchery that has elevated him to nearly cult-hero status in the years since Shea opened it's doors back in 2009. A self- proclaimed "acquired taste", those who have witnessed him in action (merely existing) are often left in disbelief that he is not a character actor.
Despite having no career aspirations in music or the arts, his antics alone have earned him a devoted following of his own. Last year a group of individuals, simultaneously enamored and mystified by the man himself, started a punk band that adopted his namesake; not only out of tribute, but as a reminder to themselves to approach their craft with the same kind of disregard for the status quo that governs his day to day life-- that group (who later chose the frenetic spelling, Heeney) is now one of the 10 most played artists in our archives, proving that Sean's "raw dog" (a metaphor he often uses for the highest level of praise) no fucks given attitude, if channeled correctly, can serve as inspiration for us all.
On the eve of Shea's birthday earlier this summer, he prepared this copious 30-track playlist, pulling 5 of his favorites out from each of the six years of the archive's existence. And while those who have logged considerable post show hours "making a mess" with the man himself would likely question his ability to recall much of anything, he shows here that he is perhaps Shea Stadium's most unlikely and underrated historian. Beginning with an excerpt from our first ever show, this is the chronology of Shea as told by it's most beloved black sheep. In closing, he would probably tell you that these tracks are being brought to you by "the realest players in the game today." He would also probably tell you that he coined that phrase. - Adam Reich
Dan Hempie
Say hello to Lansing, MI resident Daniel Hempie, the single most dedicated patron of the Shea Stadium Archives. Upon a comprehensive analysis done earlier this year, he has since been crowned the undisputed champion of listenership, clocking in nearly TWICE as many plays as the site's second most frequent user. With little or no ties to any band, label, or anything else that resembles the "industry", 38-year old Mr. Hempie is about as pure of a true music lover as they come.
Although he is a die hard fan of his native perennial division-winning Detroit Tigers, Dan is no stranger to the plight of the underdog. When asked to curate this list, the back story he shared with us about his ascent from depressed man in a even more depressed economy to a stable, happy, and productive member of society was a jaw-dropping inspiration to us all. The fact that these tracks aided in providing the soundtrack to his late-inning life comeback is both a humbling honor and privilege.
Hempie's participation in Shea is one of the most global aspects of our small universe. Without ever having seen a show or even having set foot in the venue, he is the personification of the concept constructed nearly five years ago, that could allow bands (and audiences alike) who may not even be able to afford to pay for live recordings an opportunity to be heard in the far reaches of internet-connected Earth.
If you believe that numbers are one of the few truly objective entities in this world, then you would also be forced to believe that no other playlist has been constructed with as much consideration and careful listening as this one. Thank you Dan for taking the time to explore the outer reaches of this vast musical ocean. - Adam Reich
Noah Klein
Our next playlist comes from one of Shea Stadium's earliest collaborators. In addition to being a resident in our own archives and a performer in his own right (see: Cuddle Formation) Noah is the chief organizer of the FMLY collective-- a multi-disciplinary organization with an ideology that is simultaneously loose yet firmly dedicated to spreading good vibes and free-form creativity to communities both large and small. You would have to search far and wide for someone who matches his devotion to positivity. His hand picked highlight reel not only includes a bundle of tracks pulled from shows that he helped organize throughout the years, but also two very memorable full performances from LA's Lucky Dragons and the Enchanted Armor. The latter of which, an improvisational collaboration between Prince Rama and Iceland's Kria Brekkan, is easily one of the greatest hidden gems that can be found in our vaults-- a perfect accompaniment for the transition we are currently experiencing, into those hazy spring and summer nights where the sun is out the longest. -AR