PHOTO BY BOB KRASNER
From right, the Bush Tetras’ Cynthia Sley and Pat Place, with an audience member on percussion. Sley invited people to come up and
dance onstage. One woman danced. This guy played.
Bush Tetras and Co. get hot for Justice
BY BOB KRASNER
Dance beats, punk rock and
noise mingled in the heat in
Tompkins Square Park on
Friday in the interests of justice. Specifi
cally, Avenues For Justice, a nonprofi
t that was founded 41 years ago
on Avenue B.
The organization’s main focus is to
keep kids between the ages of 14 and
24 out of prison by fi nding alternatives
to incarceration and preventing
recidivism, according to Gamal Willis,
the group’s manager of outreach
and court advocacy.
Headliners Collapsing Scenery instigated
the show, suggesting to an
A.F.J. board member that they celebrate
their latest album’s release with
a benefi t gig.
The Bush Tetras, defi nitely the
crowd favorite, were also celebrating
a new release — a single on Third
Man Records. Their mix of old and
new tunes included the classic “Too
Many Creeps.” Lead singer Cynthia
Sley had some complaints about the
heat, but not after they hit the stage.
“Once we were onstage we were
happy,” she said.
Also appearing were the ambitiously
eclectic band Nymph and solo artist
Zah. An intriguing performer, Zah
mixed voice and electronics while
wearing an elaborate robe, horrormovie
contact lenses and a piece of
lingerie that is not normally found on
one’s head.
Weston Muench, A.F.J. social media
director, judged the event a success.
“It was our fi rst time doing this,”
he said. “We raised money, people
signed up for our newsletter and took
the pamphlets. We’re gauging the
possibility for future events — we
want to do it again.”
More information about Avenues
For Justice, including on their two
Manhattan community centers, can
be found at www.avenuesforjustice.
org .
The Bush Tetras will be at the Mercury
Lounge, at E. Houston St. near
Essex St., on Aug. 3.
PHOTO BY BOB KRASNER
Zah was a change of pace.
18 July 25, 2019 TVG Schneps Media
/www.avenuesforjustice
/www.avenuesforjustice