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MUSIC ARCHIVES

Last Night: Beach Fossils Say Goodbye To Guitarist Chris Burke at the Mercury Lounge

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Beach Fossils' Dustin Payseur. All photos by Georgia Kral.
Beach Fossils’ Dustin Payseur. All photos by Georgia Kral.

Beach Fossils/Small Black
Mercury Lounge
Wednesday, July 14

These last two weeks have been pretty exciting for Brooklyn’s Beach Fossils: first, their bassist threw his low-end ax off a boat at the conclusion of a Fourth of July performance, inspiring a load of heated love/hate on blogs and in Brooklyn Vegan comments. (Later, we asked John Pena why he did that.) Then, just days later, guitarist Chris Burke announced he was leaving the band to pursue other interests, namely his solo project, Red Romans, who we happened to see just last week. (There were only five people at that show; we’re taking bets on how quickly that will change…) Last night at Mercury Lounge was Burke’s last show with the band, and their last night in New York before hitting the road for a month-long tour. No one threw or broke any instruments, though Burke did break a string.

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Dustin and Chris on their last night together as Beach Fossils.
Dustin and Chris on their last night together as Beach Fossils.
Tommy Lucas does not play cymbals.
Tommy Lucas does not play cymbals.
John Pena was barefoot! Drummer Tommy Lucas wore only socks.
John Pena was barefoot! Drummer Tommy Lucas wore only socks.
Put a ring on it.
Put a ring on it.
Fans were chill, too.
Fans were chill, too.
Burke's guitar playing is neat, shiny, and rhythmic.
Burke’s guitar playing is neat, shiny, and rhythmic.
Last summer's big thing, Small Black, headlined the show.
Last summer’s big thing, Small Black, headlined the show.
Their stage set-up included what can only be described as extra-large glowsticks.
Their stage set-up included what can only be described as extra-large glowsticks.
Bassist Juan Pieczanski feeling the light.
Bassist Juan Pieczanski feeling the light.
Feeling the Small Black haze.
Feeling the Small Black haze.