The Manhattan Beat: The Shadow Presents: Autumn in Tompkins Square Park

Despite numerous challenges, The Shadow Presents: Autumn in Tompkins Square Park on September 26 proved to be yet another success in the Shadow's years-long series of community-gathering events.

First challenge: early posters for the event advertised that the headliner would be hardcore band Leftover Crack. This was a misunderstanding between event organizer Chris Flash and the band's vocalist, Scott Sturgeon, a.k.a. Stza; Leftover Crack could not play because some members were in California. Nevertheless, Stza did join Rebelmatic on stage to play a couple of songs by his former band, Choking Victim. The flyer also announced that the concert would be from noon to 3 p.m., but the concert actually was from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Second challenge: Chris Flash secured an event permit from the New York City Parks Department but John Gabriele, the show's producer, was unable to secure a sound permit from the New York Police Department because Mayor DiBlasio several months ago froze all requests. The park permit was for a political event, however, so the police did not interfere with the organizer's First Amendment freedom of speech.

Third challenge: the public address system initially produced recurring feedback, whistles and cracking noises. As the program progressed, though, sound engineer Spike Polite of the band Sewage managed to reduce the sound issues.

Fourth challenge: the show schedule ran late and at least three bands with evening commitments had to either push to get moved up in the program or cancel.

In the end, 11 local acts, including singer-songwriters, rockers, hardcore punks and metal bands, helped instill a sense of park ownership among the audience. Musicians and audience enjoyed the performances, local entrepreneurs sold their wares, and Chris Flash promoted his anarchist newspaper, The Shadow.