Upcoming Shows: Deerhunter, O'Death, Mercury Rev and more!!!

There are so many amazing shows in NYC in the next week that if you don't live in New York, I don't recommend you read on, as it will be too depressing for you. And if you do live in New York, I recommend you sit down before reading this, as you might pass out.

The real party starts Friday, but first...

Tonight!!!
Gunfight! @ Rehab Fontana's, LES, Manhattan ($8)
Gunfight! is a great band I already told you about.

She Keeps Bees @ Zebulon, Williamsburg, Brooklyn ($?)
This band makes indie, bluesy, acoustic-ish, very very lovely music.

Blonde Acid Cult @ Mercury Lounge ($12)
Fans of Primal Scream, the Happy Mondays and the Stone Roses probably already know all about BAC. If you are into that kind of thing, they are pretty much the best thing since the early 90's in Manchester.

OK, take the next two nights off, because...

Friday, December 5
O'Death, Wye Oak, Titus Andronicus @ Bowery Ballroom, LES, Manhattan ($12 adv / $14 door)
THE CONCERT OF THE YEAR (MBV reunion excepted), this show is headlined by O'Death, folky, punky rockers that won our hearts a couple of years ago. But the real highlight is that O'Death have chosen as supporting acts two of the hottest bands of 2008 - Wye Oak, the lovely indie-folk sweethearts that dominated the blogs during CMJ and Titus Andronicus, modern indie-pop-inspired punks and darlings of Pitchfork Media. DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW.

Yeasayer, Chairlift @ Music Hall of Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Brooklyn ($15)
So if you aren't missing the show at Bowery, you'll have to miss this one. Which is fine, because both of these bands are overrated.

Saturday, December 6
A quiet day. You can catch Yeasayer (sans their more-popular-than-they-are supporting act Chairlift) at Music Hall of Williamsburg or Nada Surf (sans Bear Hands) at Bowery Ballroom, but I wouldn't bother. Instead, check out these smaller-scale events:

Bridges and Powerlines, Naked Hearts and more @ The Delancey, LES, Manhattan ($8)
Both Bridges and Powerlines and Naked Hearts are great up-and-coming New York City poppy, noisy indie rock bands. [Update: 1. I thought this was a show by Jezebel Music, but their schedule doesn't have it. 2. The Spanish Prisoners are on some schedules (e.g. the venue's) but not others (e.g. their own). Don't get your hopes up, but do check back for an update.]

Phonograph @ The Studio at Webster Hall, East Village, Manhattan ($8 adv / $10 door)
Phonograph is southern-country-tinted indie rock of the highest order. I highly recommend checking them out.

Sunday, December 7
This is one of those days where your heart is going to break because you are only one person and cannot be in more than one place at a time.

Love Is All, Crystal Stilts @ Bowery Ballroom, LES, Manhattan ($13 adv / $15 door)
Love Is All and Crystal Stilts are two of the very best bands to surface lately. Love Is All plays arty, energetic music and come all the way from Sweden. Crystal Stilts play arty, energetic music and come from Brooklyn, but they are getting really famous now so don't count on hearing them around town a lot in the future. For fans of Joy Division, Jesus & Mary Chain and the like, attendance is required.

Mercury Rev, Dean & Britta @ Highline Ballroom, Chelsea, Manhattan ($25)
I still maintain that Mercury Rev hasn't been as great since David Baker left the band (which was in the mid-90's, I know) but they are still amazing masters of neo-psychedelia, just a little less engaging. Dean & Britta is Dean Wareham (Galaxie 500, Luna) and Britta Phillips (Bell Tower, Luna). They make quiet and gentle but upbeat pop music that will melt your heart.

Nada Surf, Bear Hands @ Webster Hall, East Village, Manhattan ($25)
Nada Surf have been around forever. They will play again (and probably for under $25/ticket), so I wouldn't make this show a priority. Bear Hands are a promising new band to keep an eye on, but they aren't the most original group in the world. I wouldn't recommend this show because it means missing the above two.

Creaky Boards, Soft Black @ Union Pool ($8)
OK, if you really don't want to deal with a huge crowd and huge venue, you can go hear these guys. Indie pop with a 70's rock spin to it.

Monday, December 8
Deerhunter, Violens @ Music Hall of Williamsburg ($16 adv / $18 door)
One more jaw-droppingly-good line-up to round out the week. Deerhunter are hypnotic experimental rockers that are absolutely worshipped by fellow musicians and critics alike. Violens are one of the very best New Wave-revival bands, because their music is a unique and modern interpretation, not just a copy of early 80's sound. They are getting very popular very quickly, and for good reason!

Don Caballero @ Europa, Greenpoint, Brooklyn ($12)
If you can't stand experimental music like Deerhunter, unfortunately, I can't offer you an escape because the only other show that can compete with the show at Music Hall of Williamsburg is Don Caballero, improv-based post-rockers from the 1990's, second only to the legendary Slint in the early 90's math rock movement, featuring brilliantly and deliciously shifting time signatures and key signatures.

Yeah, I won't be sleeping this week. It's going to be worth it.