The best part about going to a pop music festival is that, for the most part, pop is possibly the least pretentious genre of music. Other than the occasional singer who wears sunglasses inside, at night (I’m looking at you, My Teenage Stride), there’s very little posturing in pop rock. Folks just wanna bob their heads, clap their hands, and have a good time.  And across the board, the lineup at the Bell House on day 3 of NYC Popfest delivered.  The show was headlined by the venerable Scottish post-punk/pop band the Wake, playing their first ever show in the U.S. The lineup also included Seattle’s BOAT, their Magic Marker labelmates World Atlas, NYC’s My Teenage Stride, Bears, and Very Truly Yours.

The lineup lacked any huge names, and NYC Popfest itself flies a little under the radar, but that’s kind of what makes it a great event- there are few scenesters out to see the Next Big Thing, and not a ton of music industry people, as you would see at other festivals. Just a solid lineup of bands from start to finish, who all play insanely catchy tunes.

Also of note- My Teenage Stride’s bass player had one of the world’s longest rat tails.