August 2004 Show and Tell Boogie on the Boardwalk, Shake it in the Sand Coney Island, Brooklyn, July 2004 A clothed Har Mar Superstar Every year it's the same: You show up to the Village Voice Siren Festival with a group of friends and rock out until someone wants to go to the Main Stage, someone wants to go to the Stillwell Stage, and someone else wants a hot dog. Five hours later, you finally find half your group and take off for the F train, sweaty, dehydrated, and happy. This year's festival was no different, and the lineup of indie rock young guns (TV on the Radio, the Constantines) and old pros (Death Cab for Cutie, Mission of Burma) kept the kids dancing long after the sunblock wore off. Mission of Burma's Clint Conley The biggest draw was critical darlings TV on the Radio, whose audience took up nearly the entire block. The biggest surprise was Electric Six, whose wry onstage posturing elevated them above one-hit wonder status. And the biggest smile was drawn from punk godfathers Mission of Burma, whose joy at playing the festival was evident even before they took out cameras and snapped pictures of their audience. "We're the oldest, most naïve tourists ever to come to Coney Island," Clint Conley told the crowd before launching into "Academy Fight Song" and "That's When I Reached for My Revolver." By the end of their set, they were considered native sons. Words and photos: Megan Gerrity (ScribbleFaster.com) Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio The Thermals' Hutch Harris Electric Six guitarist Johnny Na$hinal works the pinstripes Guitarist Sanchez Esquire gives you Fever <<< My Back Pages My Back Pages>>> you've got the look | stop, look, & listen| rock your hobby | sharp-dressed men who are you? | contact | my back pages