Upcoming Shows: Total Slacker, Ringo Deathstarr + more!

Tonight!! Friday, July 1

Dinowalrus, Total Slacker, Soft Black @ Monster Island Basement * Williamsburg, Brooklyn * $6
This sure is an odd bill - these bands have almost nothing in common.  Except that they're rad.  Dinowalrus play baggy psychedelic music that's equally experimental and danceable - like the mutant disco of early 80's New York but generally less angular and more lush.  Total Slacker play sloppy, offkey songs about tacos, except that they are secretly not sloppy at all and actually boast one of the greatest young guitarists out there, the wild, boyish, floppy-haired Tucker.  They destroy things and set them on fire (literally) and are generally the best live band on earth right now.  I haven't checked in with Soft Black in a long time, but last I heard them, they sounded more or less like a blend of all late 60's rock - that sort of country/folk/psychedelic stuff - but with occasional hints of post-punk influence.  It's not earth-shattering but they do it right. [dino video] [slacker video] [soft video]

Other Shows
Ceremony @ Death By Audio
Cro-Mags @ Bowery Ballroom
Nobunny, TV Ghost, Shellshag @ Knitting Factory ($12)
Thermals, Big Troubles @ Bell House ($15)


Tomorrow!! Saturday, July 2

Shellshag, Fiasco, Unstoppable Death Machines @ Silent Barn * Ridgewood, Queens
Shellshag are a duo who have a sort of maternal/paternal role in NYC punk.  Their music is simple and fun and the band is usually pretty drunk by the time they hit the stage.  Fiasco are some youngsters who play ridiculously complex math rock/hardcore.  Unstoppable Death Machines are a drummer and bassist who have about the same set up and the same volume as Lightning Bolt.  This show is gonna be rad. [shell video] [fiasco video] [unstoppable video]


Sunday, July 3

The Vandelles, Ringo Deathstarr, Dead Leaf Echo @ Shea Stadium * Bushwick, Brooklyn * $8
Three of the best shoegaze/psych bands around.  The Vandelles play 50's rock songs through sheets of white noise, while Austin's Ringo Deathstarr follow more in the pitchbending footsteps of My Blood Valentine.  Dead Leaf Echo feature lush, sparkling guitars but surprisingly punchy songs. [vandelles video] [ringo video] [dead video]

Other Shows
Panda Bear, Ducktails @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (sold out!)


Monday, July 4

Summer Jam III: Liturgy, Sightings, PC Worship and more @ Shea Stadium * Bushwick, Brooklyn * $10 (afternoon show!!)
This little festival should be pretty rad, starting at 3 PM and running into the evening.  There are loads of bands but the best ones (as far as I know) are the cross-over black metal Liturgy, the noise/no-wave Sightings and the lo-fi meets free-jazz PC Worship. It's a diverse bunch, but they're united by their noise and avant-garde sensibilities and the fact that your parents probably wouldn't like any of them. [liturgy video] [sightings video] [pc video]


Tuesday, July 5

Mazes, Hairs, Country Mice @ Glasslands * Williamsburg, Brooklyn * $10
Decent indie pop if you're into that kind of thing.


Wednesday, July 6

Zs @ Public Assembly * Williamsburg, Brooklyn * $10
Zs are an experimental noise band who play largely (but not exclusively) instrumental pieces that sound like a hybrid of Glenn Branca, Black Dice and DJ Shadow.  Or in other words, they write symphonic sonic collages of noise, a dissonant patchwork of free jazz, shimmering guitars and slick beats. [video]

The Ladybug Transistor, the Beets @ Knitting Factory * Williamsburg, Brooklyn * $12
The Ladybug Transistor are a seasoned indie pop band who have more than earned their stripes (err dots?). They've got a new record out this summer.  [video]


The long view...

July
7
Liquor Store, Ex-Humans, The Fucking Ocean @ Death By Audio ($7)

8
The Wake, Weekend @ South Street Seaport
10,000 Maniacs @ City Winery

9
Ted Leo @ South Street Seaport (free!)
Grooms, Pterodactyl @ Death By Audio ($7)
10,000 Maniacs @ City Winery

12
Animal Collective @ Prospect Park (sold out!)
Cold Cave @ Knitting Factory ($15)
Slick Rick @ Crotona Park (free!)

14
Tune-Yards @ River Rocks (free!)
Marly Marl @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Gary War, K-Holes, Pop. 1280 @ Union Hall ($8)

15
Radio Dept., Asobi Seksu (shoegaze/ambient pop) @ South Street Seaport

16
4 Knots Festival: Black Angels, Titus Andronicus, Obits, Eleanor Friedberger (Fiery Furnaces) + more
Pygmy Shrews @ Union Pool

19
Kool Moe Dee (one of the first and best rappers of all time) @ Queensbridge (free!)

20
Talk Normal @ Glasslands ($10)
Torche @ Music Hall of Williamsubrg

21
Funkmaster Flex, Nore(aga) @ Queensbridge (free!)
Gang Gang Dance @ Rocks Off Cruises

22
Death From Above 1979 @ Williamsburg Waterfront ($43)

23
The Feelies, Real Estate, Times New Viking @ Prospect Park (free!)
Heartless Bastards (acoustic) @ Mercury Lounge (sold out!)

24
Heartless Bastards (acoustic) @ Mercury Lounge

28
Walt Mink (great 90's indie band that split up over 10 years ago) @ Bell House

29
West Memphis Three Benefit with Dez Cadena @ Southpaw
Black Lips @ Bowery Ballroom


August
2
Sugarhill Gang @ Tappan Park (free!)
Sufjan Stevens @ Prospect Park

6
Cold Cave @ Bowery Ballroom
Crystal Antlers @ Glasslands ($10)

7
Friendly Fires, Cults @ Central Park (free!)

8
The Kills, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, A Place to Bury Strangers @ Terminal 5

9
The Kills, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, A Place to Bury Strangers @ Terminal 5

12
Sonic Youth @ Williamsburg Waterfront ($40)
*CANCELED* Streets, El-P @ Terminal 5

21
Rakim, EPMD @ Central Park (free!)

22
Deerhunter @ Webster Hall

23
Deerhunter @ Webster Hall

25
Wavves @ East River Park (free!)


September
8
TV on the Radio @ Williamsburg Waterfront ($48)

23
The Descendents @ Roseland Ballroom

27
Swans @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

30
X @ Irving Plaza


October
1
X @ Irving Plaza

4
The Horrors @ Webster Hall

15
Wild Flag (ex-Sleater-Kinney) @ Bell House

18
Wild Flag (ex-Sleater-Kinney) @ Bowery Ballroom

22
The Damned @ Irving Plaza

29
Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel) @ Town Hall (sold out!)