Sound the Siren

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart perform at The Siren Music Festival in Coney Island.

CONEY ISLAND, NY - New York's The Pains of Being Pure at Heart gushed while taking the stage at Coney Island's Siren Music Festival a few weeks back.

That's probably because their old pros of the annual Coney Island summer event that's been known to feature top flight indie acts before they go pro with the mega festival circuit. Old pros, however, baking in the sun as fans with the only sigh of relief from the heat being the shadow offering of The Cyclone roller coaster.

"Being at Siren Fest ... we think that's so rad," said singer Peggy Wang. "I was at the very first Siren. Saw Rainer Maria and Superchunk and Guided By Voices."

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart's self-titled debut has been on heavy rotation at the On The Beat offices since January - a little late, yes, but so thankful they fell into our lives. The music's sort of synth-pop Morrissey, but cheerful with a sugar base.

Ted Leo and The Pharmacists and Matt & Kim headlined. Missed Matt & Kim, but Ted Leo - who we hadn't seen live in years - was totally explosive. An awesome, energetic set to say the least. The highlight however, was a special appearance by The Screaming Females' Marissa Patemoster. The New Brunswick, NJ, set screamer leapt from behind the scenes with a fury of vocal massacres that pierced ears.

The Screaming Females set for earlier in the day was certainly a highlight. Veterans of the New Brunswick basement scene that produced the likes The Gaslight Anthem, Lifetime and Let Me Run, this might be they band that'll emerge from this year's Sirefest and were already featured in Spin and Rolling Stone and on MTV. Go Jersey!

Surfer Blood was good, too. Also checked out Wye Oak and Apache Beat.