preview: indie rock for a cause AT hart bar
Collective Scream and Tealeaf Collective are teaming up again for another bangerrr on Thursday, December 4th. Circle of Sevens, Granite Garden, Star Card and John Cunningham (of Soda Jerk) are taking the stage at Hart Bar to raise funds for Make The Road New York, who work to empower and bring dignity and justice to immigrant and working class communities.
Make the Road New York is a second home to tens of thousands of immigrant and working class people of color, offering programs spanning adult literacy, civic engagement, community organizing, leadership development, legal services, and the Youth Power Project / school programs. Each year, MTR reaches 3,000 immigrant youth and youth of color with peer-led college access support, creative arts and media programs, youth-focused political education and more.
“While he [Pres. Trump] chooses cruelty and chaos, we choose community. While he chooses hate, we choose love. While he chooses to separate families, remove teachers from their classrooms, and remove workers from their communities, we choose to protect all those people who make up the places we call home.”
Star Card are taking the stage hot off the release of their debut album, Trash World, out via Already Dead Tapes (Nov. 14, 2025). The indie four-piece make very clear their take on the world, with upbeat fuzzy slacker rock standouts like “One Hit Wonder” and “Even The Sun Can Hurt You” taking on themes of abandonment, love found and lost and uncertainty in turbulent times.
“Everyone, regardless of their immigration status, should have access to healthcare, legal services, quality education, and community support. Make the Road is maintaining crucial safe havens in our city. It’s important to support these spaces however we can.”
Sabrina Yanez
Michelle LoBianco
“Music, at its base, is a form of communication. It’s a vessel to talk about things that are taboo or hard to talk about in daily life, or it’s a way to uplift ourselves and others when life gets tough. Ideally, it’s both—for me, that’s my favorite kind of music.”
Six-piece alt rock/post-punk outfit Circle of Sevens bring their electric live show to the heart of Bushwick, after the release of their debut album, earlier this year.
Granite Garden, who blur the lines between gritty grunge and heartfelt soul will be sure to melt you away with their in-your-face theatrics, fronted by singer and former theater kid, Cameron Silliman.
“One of my favorite experiences being a performer in this current scene is when someone walks up to me and asks, “Did you study theatre?” It’s just very cool to see an artist that has decided to create something that gives them more control and freedom of expression, because in the commercial acting world, you are mostly waiting on someone else to give you an opportunity. It’s much easier to make your own opportunities when you form a band. ”
Over the course of the last year since launching as Collective Scream, the co-op has thrown nearly a dozen benefit shows with 30+ bands signing on to donate their time, in an era when any act of kindness or love feels like dissent. The scene is thriving with caring, hard-working bands!
“There are so many new bands and groups forming and ending all the time; it’s exciting, and there are a lot of bookers like Tealeaf Collective who want to support newcomers.”
On other local bands they’d love to play with:
“This has been directly shared with the band, so hopefully it’s just a matter of timing, but Go Home is #1 on the list of bands we want to share a bill with. Talk about theatre kids! They are just incredible. ”
Come hang at Hart Bar on 12/4 to see Circle of Sevens, Granite Garden, Star Card and John Cunningham from Soda Jerk throw down!
Calley said it best:
“There’s always going to be some weird shit going on in the basement. You never know what you’re in for.”
