On Thursday, a stage in Coney Island will
transform into the "Love Shack": a little old place
where we can get together and rock out with the B-52’s.
The legendary B-52’s performance at Asser Levy Park – part of
the 28th annual Seaside Concert Series – should be a scene right
out of their hit song "Rock Lobster": "Boys and
bikinis, girls and surfboards, everybody’s rockin.’ "
B-52 Cindy Wilson told GO Brooklyn in a phone interview on Monday
that she is excited to return to Brooklyn.
"This is definitely going to be a classic show and a lot
of fun," said Wilson. "Coney Island is real Americana.
It’s got a good sense of humor and great energy. It’s a good
place for the show. I love combining the beach and the tunes."
The pop gods have answered the prayers of nostalgic fans: Wilson
says the performance will be filled with the B-52’s timeless
hits.
"I love the old songs," said Wilson. "I love singing
’Roam’ with Kate [Pierson], ’Love Shack,’ ’Channel Z,’ and Fred
[Schneider] doing ’Quiche Lorraine.’ "
After three decades of performing together, Wilson said, "We
still have a wide variety of fans, starting out from the punk
days to kids with their parents. I love seeing them all from
the stage."
Although she is a Georgia-native, Wilson is no stranger to the
boroughs. The B-52’s debuted almost three decades ago in Manhattan’s
Lower East Side punk club scene before their explosion into worldwide
pop punk party-music success.
"We’ve played New York for so many years. I lived in the
West Village for 12 years," Wilson remembers. "I loved
living in New York, and we went into Brooklyn a lot."
Wilson said that her brother Ricky Wilson, the B-52’s original
guitarist, has a memorial tree in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s
Cherry Esplanade in remembrance of the musician after his AIDS-related
death in 1985.
Wilson and the rest of the band – including Keith Strickland,
Kate Pierson and Fred Schneider – are returning to the studio
in September to record a new album after three years of writing
fresh material.
"It’s been intense, but we’re really happy with the songs
that we’ve written and with our producer, Steve Osborne,"
Wilson said. "If all goes well, the album will release next
spring and we’ll have a summer tour. It’s a whole new energy.
The new material is so much fun. It’s dance music, a little bit
more modern with rock and roll and a few club songs, but it’s
no doubt us. I think it’s our strongest since the ’Cosmic Thing’
album. I’m really excited for it. Great things are going to happen."
Roam if you want – but how could you not? – to Coney Island on
Aug. 10 to see one of the world’s ultimate summer party bands.
"Everyone should relax and let loose and have lots of fun.
It’s a rockin’ good time," said Wilson. "We still kick
butt and we want everybody to dance!"
The B-52’s will perform on Aug. 10 at
7:30 pm at Asser Levy Park (West Fifth Street and Surf Avenue
in Coney Island). This Seaside Concert Series event, hosted by
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, is free and open
to the public. For more information, call (718) 469-1912 or visit
www.brooklynconcerts.com.
