Warm Wishes In Middle Island, NY (06/10/23)

Shots by Mia Baric

A staple part of Long Island’s music scene is its abundant basement shows, and just last Saturday, June 10th, an unassuming house in Middle Island hosted Georgie’s Birthday Bash for an overflowing basement. Together, The Cavaliers, Oolong (solo set), There Are No Tigers, and Warm Wishes played an unforgettable four-band gig in honor of Warm Wishes’ lead singer’s birthday.

The Cavaliers started the show with a loud, clever, and even funny at times, set of songs followed by a solo set by beloved Long Island emo band Oolong, stripping their usual full band to one guitar and a single mic. Shortly after DIY band, There Are No Tigers, filled the basement with energy, keeping the crowd excited for the headlining band Warm Wishes.

Finishing up the show, Warm Wishes played a sweet and fun set filled with old and new work, closing out the show with a lot of love for their singer’s birthday celebration and the crowd. With a warm sound, tambourines, and a little melodica keyboard, the band never fails to get the crowd dancing. In addition to the gig doubling as a birthday party, Warm Wishes and the other supporting bands used the entry fees as a donation to the LGBT network to protect transgender kids. The bands further encouraged those who popped in to watch the show to donate a little more if they could throughout their performances in support of pride month.

Long Island continuously offers a plethora of DIY music, whether you find it in someone’s basement or a local venue, it is always worth it to take a listen and support your local artists.

In case you missed the last gig, the LGBT Network is always taking donations and you can donate here.