TONIGHT! Wednesday, November 18
Big Star @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple | Fort Greene, Brooklyn | SOLD OUT!
If you don't already have tickets to this, you're unlikely to find anything. It looks like upwards of 95% of the posts are craigslist are "tickets wanted." So I put this here mostly to cheer you (ok, myself) up - Big Star, though one of the greatest bands of all time, is really just 60-year-old Alex Chilton. Co-leader Chris Bell died over three decades ago and bassist Andy Hummel (who wrote a song or two, I think) is not involved. Jody Stephens is still on drums, but frankly, who has even noticed him back there? On the other hand, if you have tickets, AWESOME. One of the best bands of ever.
Papa M @ Knitting Factory | Williamsburg, Brooklyn | $12
Papa M is David Pajo, who probably has the most impressive resume of anyone from the late 80's/early 90's hardcore/post-hardcore/math-rock/post-rock/experimental scene (tied with former classmate David Grubbs). A member of Slint, Tortoise, the For Carnation and Dead Child (and less impressively, Zwan), Pajo has also played with Stereolab, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Will Oldham (Bonnie "Prince" Billy) and others. I don't think any of that means anything to non-indie-geeks, or even indie geeks who aren't pretty old school. But what it all adds up to is that Pajo is one of the most highly respected and influential guitarists of American indie rock's golden age. His style of playing is eerie, dark and distant, with unsettling rhythmic irregularities. It's experimental and sometimes very minimal, but an educated listener will pick up on the sound's faraway roots in hardcore punk. You know what, forget all that, it's just fucking weird, good music. Go see it. [MySpace]
Thursday, November 19
True Womanhood @ Cameo Gallery | Williamsburg, Brooklyn
True Womanhood sound eerie and rhythmically complex like Radiohead. The bass is slammin, the drums are fascinating and the guitar is off in outerspace making noises that could give you bad dreams. [MySpace]
Saturday, November 21
The Beets, She Keeps Bees @ Death By Audio | Williamsburg, Brooklyn
The Beets are a much-beloved garage back band. She Keeps Bees are a blues band disguised as an indie rock band. They both write good songs. You will like both of them. [Beats MySpace] [SKB MySpace]
Sunday, November 22
Talib Kweli @ Brooklyn Bowl | Williamsburg, Brooklyn | $10
Talib Kweli is one of the most universally respected rappers on the planet. His music is smart and thoughtful, but hardhitting. This show costs $10. What's the catch?? [MySpace]
Monday, November 23
The Pixies @ Hammerstein Ballroom | Midtown, Manhattan | $48
The Pixies are performing their classic album Doolittle a bunch of nights in a row. Personally, I wouldn't pay $50 for this, but I've already heard them play all of Doolittle live (except for, by lucky chance, the few songs on the album I don't like), plus at least half of Surfer Rosa and the best from Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde, all on one glorious night at the Pixies birthplace, the University of Massachusetts. What I'm trying to say is, this is a lot of money, Doolittle is a short album, and you'll have other chances to hear the band. However, this is about the experience of hearing Doolittle live, so if you happen to have an extra $50 lying around, it would be well enough spent on this. If not, don't cry, the Pixies don't seem to be ending their reunion any time soon. Oh, if you don't know who the Pixies are, they are one of the most important indie rock bands of the late 80's and early 90's and influenced the hell out of everyone, like Nirvana and Weezer. They basically play the kind of pop songs you'd expect a mental patient to write. Which is pretty much what they are. HOTT.
Tuesday, November 24
Sonic Youth @ Music Hall of Williamsburg | Williamsburg, Broklyn | SOLD OUT!
I'm pretty sure Dino Jr and Cold Cave were on this bill when I bought my ticket, and now it's just Talk Normal, who are weird hyper-experimental stuff that's good but no Dino Jr. Anyway, the point is that it's Sonic Youth, the band that brought art rock and noise to millions. One of the most improbable stories in rock history, Sonic Youth's odd, discordant guitar noise and abrasive, abstract vocals got them signed to a major label for two decades of their three-decade career. After returning to the indie world earlier this year, Sonic Youth are still going strong, still pushing boundaries and rocking out hard on stage, just with grayer hair. Thurston Moore still seems like a lanky, hyperactive kid. Yeahhhh.
The Pixies at Hammerstein Ballroom | Midtown, Manhattan | $48
Same deal. (No pun intended!)
The long view...
November
25
Meat Puppets @ Bowery Ballroom
Screaming Females @ Bellhouse
The Pixies @ Hammerstein Ballroom
Sonic Youth @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
what a night!!!
27
Fuck Buttons + Growing @ Market Hotel
December
2
The Mountain Goats @ Bell House
3
Wye Oak @ Bell House
4
Radio Flyer Review presents Shellshag, Sisters, Big Troubles & the Sundelles @ Monster Island Basement!!!!!!
13
Blank Dogs + Silk Flowers @ Monster Island Basement
14
The Slits + Sisters @ Highline Ballroom
17
The For Carnation @ Knitting Factory
No comments:
Post a Comment