NYC Scene Report – beccs, The Eighty Six Seas, & Homeboy Sandman

This week’s NYC Scene Report features beccs not having any fun, The Eighty Six Seas getting inspired by art heists, and Homeboy Sandman spittin’ truths that are “Banned in the USA.”

* Don’t be fooled by the titled of beccs’ latest single, “I Don’t Do Fun” is actually quite the good time.

Explaining the inspiration for the indie pop song in a statement, beccs said, “‘I Don’t Do Fun’ is a tale of hunger, obsession, lust, and the lengths we are willing to go to satiate that most primal, aching human desire – to feel the heat, and heartbeat of another. I love this song so much, and the space it gives my wit to bite, and my heart to bleed.”

Check out her wit, her heart, and a killer chorus that’s like an explosion of awesome, by clicking play on the video for “I Don’t Do Fun.” You’re gonna have a blast.

* You don’t often hear of songs being inspired by art heists, but that’s just one of the things that makes The Eighty Six Seas’ “Lonely Afternoon” unique.

Inspired by both the scene from The Thomas Crown Affair which features art being stolen, as well as the real life 1990 heist of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, “Lonely Afternoon” combines a variety of musical genres – including indie rock, indie pop, folk, and electronica – to have a sound all its own. Some have labeled it folktronica, but I think it’s easier to just call it dope.

“Lonely Afternoon” is off The Eighty Six Seas’ upcoming album Scenes from an Art Heist, which is due out February 23rd, 2024, and you can steal a listen to the song right here.

* Homeboy Sandman has always had an incredible ability to kick knowledge in a way that sounds conversational, rather than confrontational, and that ability is on display once again on the song “Banned in the USA.”

Calling it, “One of my top three favorite songs of my career,” “Banned in the USA” is off Homeboy Sandman’s recently released mixtape I Can’t Sell These Either. He explained the inspiration for the song in a statement, saying, “In 1990 The 2 Live Crew was banned for being too vulgar. Thirty three years later Boy Sand is banned for not being vulgar enough. Very bugged out.”

Coincidentally, “Banned in the USA” comes to us just as Homeboy Sandman is ready to to kick off his upcoming overseas tour, which begins December 9th. Don’t worry, he’ll return home, as he’s not actually banned in the States, and until then you can enjoy “Banned in the USA” right here.

For more of the best of NYC’s indie music scene, come back next Wednesday, and check out the archives for previous columns.