40th St Block Party 2019
I may have moved to New York, but I wouldn’t miss the best party in Oakland. The 40th St Block Party 2019 included performances by Destroy Boys and the Coverups.
Okay so I probably wouldn’t have gone had I not realized I had about a million Delta flight miles, so I was able to get a free flight from Philly to Oakland. I had to see the Coverups again. It had been a minute. Also it helps that the show was free too.
I of course stayed with Marnie. She was supposed to have like three people over that weekend too, but it ended up being just me, which was obviously better for me, and she was happy about it too.
I got into town late on Friday night and we didn’t do much until Saturday around noon, when we went to Taco Bell, pregamed at her house a little, and then walked to 40th St.
The party was two blocks long this time, so it had doubled in size since the last time I went (which was two years earlier). There were a LOT of food trucks, which was also new. Normally the Homeroom is the only option, which I’m also okay with, but we had already had Taco Bell so we were good.
Atomic Garden had a booth and Adrienne was there. She was selling tarot cards and palo santo which was very cool.
Oakland Coffee also had a table, so I talked to Kate and Katie for a while, and Michael came by for only a minute but he wasn’t feeling well.
Michelle Cruz Gonzales was selling Spitboy shirts at the PM Press table. We talked for a minute, I love her.
We got there just in time for Destroy Boys. I didn’t know Marnie liked them too, but that was good so we didn’t miss them, cuz I love them too. I was WAY impressed with their album Make Room.
I don’t know the setlist, but they played one new song and a few I didn’t recognize.
But also a lot from Make Room.
They had a decent pit up near the front. I dragged Marnie with me up toward the front for their set.
After Destroy Boys was a band called Whateverglades. I appreciated their name, but took their set as a reason to explore more of the block party.
The Coverups
A Million Miles — The Plimsouls
I Wanna Be Sedated — The Ramones
I Fought the Law — The Crickets
Where Eagles Dare — The Misfits
Born to Lose — The Heartbreakers
Bastards of Young — The Replacements
American Girl — Tom Petty
Walking Out on Love — Paul Collins Beat
All the Young Dudes — David Bowie
Should I Stay or Should I Go — The Clash
Sheena Is a Punk Rocker — The Ramones
Drain You — Nirvana
Dancing with Myself — Generation X
Suffragette City — David Bowie
Happy — The Rolling Stones
Surrender — Cheap Trick
Rebel Rebel — David Bowie
Jumpin Jack Flash — The Rolling Stones
Peace, Love, and Understanding — Brinsley Schwarz
There was a girl with a GIANT cardboard sign when they came out that said “Your 32 songs are the Green Day I listen to the most” as a reference to the Trilogy kinda bombing. Billie Joe smiled at it, and then we all yelled at her to put it down. It was WAY too huge for that crowd.
There was also a VERY OBNOXIOUS guy who kept yelling for Nirvana and I eventually yelled back “They are going to!”
Lots of jokes from Mike about rivalry with other streets and cities. Cute.
Kevin Preston from Prima Donna came out to sing “Where Eagles Dare” and “Born to Lose.”
V from Destroy Boys replaced Jason White on guitar for “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker.”
Jason White dancing during “Jumpin Jack Flash” was adorbs, as always.
Jason dedicated “Peace, Love, and Understanding” to Nia Wilson, who was murdered in cold blood at the MacArthur Bart station. Marnie thanked him for it, and told me they’ve only just now decided the guy is fit to stand trial.
Well there’s a depressing note to end on, but such is life I guess.
