Upcoming Shows: AIDS Wolf, Sleigh Bells + more

Friday, September 17

AIDS Wolf, An Albatross, Sightings, Vaz @ Death by Audio * Williamsburg, Brooklyn
This should only be, like, the best, nastiest noise show of the year. Just go. [AIDS MySpace] [Albatross MySpace] [Sightings MySpace] [Vaz MySpace]


Saturday, September 18

Superchunk, Let's Wrestle @ Bowery Ballroom * LES, Manhattan * SOLD OUT
The quintessential 90's American indie band, leaders of the illustrious Chapel Hill scene and founders and flagship band of the indie great Merge, Superchunk are, if nothing else, a piece of history. Let's Wrestle are their okay-but-not-amazing signees from the U.K. [Superchunk MySpace] [Wrestle MySpace]

No Age, Small Black @ Music Hall of Williamsburg * Williamsburg, Brooklyn * $15
Noise-punk duo No Age combine contemporary punk and indie, catchy melodies and shoegaze noise. Go. And jump in the pit. Do it. Small Black is opening, they're a pretty good synth-based poppy, noisy band. Worth checking out. [NA MySpace] [SB MySpace]


Sunday, September 19

Superchunk @ Music Hall of Williamsburg * Williamsburg, Brooklyn * SOLD OUT
See above, minus Let's Wrestle.

Dinowalrus @ Union Pool * Williamsburg, Brooklyn
If you want to go to a show that's not sold out, go see drug experimental trio Dinowalrus. They are weird but you can dance to their music, especially if you do a lot of drugs. Even if you don't, it's got a brilliant, unpredictable pop edge. Plus, Pitchfork called the frontman a "heartthrob" and I can see it. [MySpace]


Monday, September 20

Sleigh Bells @ Webster Sudio * East Village, Manhattan * SOLD OUT
Sleigh Bells are the band of 2010. Their hip-hop beats, razor-edged hardcore-style guitar and saccharine, girlish vocals combine to make a sound fully the band's own, without ripping anyone off and without drenching themselves in nostalgia for one or another bygone decade. Why they're playing a leeeettle venue like this one instead of upstairs, I don't know. The show's sold out but maybe if you're clever you can find a way to get in. You should try, it will be worth it. [MySpace]


Tuesday, September 21

Wavves, Babies @ Music Hall of Williamsburg * Williamsburg, Brooklyn * $15
Oh Nathan Williams, our mullethawked, baby-faced, drug addict crash-and-burn SoCal lo-fi surf punk star, your detractors say you're passe, but that's simply wishful thinking. Guys, this kid isn't done yet. He's got real skill and he may not have handled his rise to fame with maturity, but cut him some slack, he's barely old enough to drink legally. His tunes are simple, raw, youthful punk gems drenched in noise. Babies is an NYC scene supergroup feature members of Vivian Girls, Woods, Stupid Party and Bossy (one apiece). Not a shabby roster. [Wavves MySpace] [Babies MySpace]


The long view...

September
25
Titus Andronicus, Screaming Females @ Webster Hall
PC Worship, MV+EE @ Death by Audio

26
Xiu Xiu, Merzbow, Ecstatic Sunshine @ Le Poisson Rouge

27
M.I.A. @ Terminal 5

28
Schonen Knife, Grooms @ Knitting Factory
Forgetters (album release) @ Death by Audio

30
Film School, Depreciation Guild, Home Video @ Glasslands

October
1
Foals @ Bowery Ballroom (SOLD OUT)

2
Foals @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (SOLD OUT)

3
Chapterhouse, Ulrich Schnauss, Mahogany @ Bell House
Efterklang, Xylos @ Glasslands

4
Chapterhouse, Ulrich Schnauss, Soundpool @ Le Poisson Rouge

5
Marnie Stern @ Rock Shop

8
Swans @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple

9
Swans @ Bowery Ballroom

13
Deerhoof @ Le Poisson Rouge

23
AIDS Wolf, Heavy Cream, Screens @ Knitting Factory

26
Japandroids, A Place to Bury Stranger @ Death by Audio

27
Jeff the Brotherhood, Ninja Sonik, Elks @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

November
7
Guided by Voices (original line-up) @ Terminal 5 (SOLD OUT)

Who to Watch in 2010: Part 4

PREVIOUS >>
Part 1 (reruns)
Part 2
Part 3

Small Black - This enthusiastic synth-based group made a short-lived splash this fall. Keep then on the radar. I have a feeling that their sincerity and their knack for writing great pop tunes will take them a long way yet. [MySpace]

Street Chant - I don't know if hailing from New Zealand will be an asset or a handicap for this band. All I know is that in a world saturated with DIY bands, this young punk outfit manages to stand out. The songs are just that good. [MySpace]

Trash Kit - I don't mean to play favorites, but one member of this band totally let me crash her night out last spring for no apparent reason. But as much as that may have endeared me to this new trio, they deserve to be on this list. With some of their circle getting love stateside (Wetdog, most recently), they might be able to get their foot in the door. And whether or not they manage that, their take-no-prisoners punk ain't nothing to fuck with. [MySpace]

Young Boys - New York's best kept secret for sure, Young Boys are what would be left if you set a pile of Jesus & Mary Chain records on fire. The duo's music is sparse and gritty but with dramatic, sweeping melodies and enough feedback to annihilate a small city. [MySpace]

The Zookeepers - Boston may have been disgraced this year in the world of baseball, but they do have one thing going for them - the Zookeepers. The band doesn't sound as if they've full come into their own quite yet. But there's a diamond in that rough - being amateur will pass. Being creative [hopefully!] won't. [MySpace]

That's it!

Upcoming Shows: The For Carnation, Fiasco + more

[Upcoming Shows Playlist]
TONIGHT!!! Tuesday, December 15

The Antlers + Sharon van Etten @ Bowery Ballroom | LES, Manhattan | SOLD OUT!
The Antlers are a very sad trio who make very noisy ambient songs about abuse and loss. Their 2009 album is easily one of the best of the decade. Comparisons to Radiohead, Arcade Fire and Neutral Milk Hotel are in order. [MySpace]

Cold Cave, Small Black @ Music Hall of Williamsburg | Williamsburg, Brooklyn | FREE!
Since the above show is sold out, try this one. It's free with RSVP, which it's apparently not too late to do (click here). All they ask is your e-mail address so they can stalk you and bombard you with liquor adverts for the rest of your life. But, um, it's free! Cold Cave is awesome, playing despondent electronic music really loudly. Small Black is pretty good too, also using the synthesizers. Check it! [CC MySpace] [SB MySpace]


TOMORROW! Wednesday, December 16

Raekwon @ The Fillmore | Union Square-ish, Manhattan | $23 adv. / $27 dos.
Raekwon is one of the best MCs of the Wu Tang Clan. His long-awaited album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II is one of the best hip-hop albums of the year. His cool delivery sets him apart from most hardcore rappers, but he's as hardcore as any of them.


Thursday, December 17

The For Carnation @ Knitting Factory | Williamsburg, Brooklyn | $15
I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS SHOW!!! The For Carnation is the band of Brian McMahon, ex-Slint and Squirrel Bait. McMahon brought us two of the most original and important bands of the late 80's/early 90's and you should go see him play (even though it's a little expensive).

Big Troubles @ Cake Shop | LES, Manhattan | $7
Big Troubles just played my showcase on December 4. They are a newish band from New Jersey who aren't too cool to admit they like the Smashing Pumpkins and who play REALLY REALLY LOUDLY. Highly recommended, but for that it means missing The For Carnation. [MySpace]

Pterodactyl @ Cameo | Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Pterodactyl are one of the most innovative bands in the NYC scene right now. Their music is fast and complex but melodic, and their live show is outstanding. But you should still go see The For Carnation instead. [MySpace]


Friday, December 18

Fiasco @ Death By Audio | Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Fiasco are an awesome hardcore/post-hardcore band. They are really young, but they are really great at their instruments and perhaps it's their youth that prevents their punk/speed metal from getting to big a metal:punk ratio. They are one of the best bands I've heard live recently. [MySpace]


Saturday, December 19

False Prophets @ ABC No Rio | LES, Manhattan
MATINEE! Classic hardcore punk.

Eric Bachmann (ex-Archers of Loaf) @ Mercury Lounge | LES, Manhattan | $12
Eric Bachmann was in Archers of Loaf, which means he's a hero to everyone who ever loved 90's indie rock.


Monday, December 21

Nymphets @ Mercury Lounge | LES, Manhattan | $8
The Nyphets are a minimal poppy DIY punk lo-fi garage [insert adjectives and genres here] band. They are a good time. [MySpace]


Tuesday, December 22

Whatever... Holiday Party: True Womanhood, Drink Up Buttercup + more @ Glasslands | Williamsburg, Brooklyn
My new friends at the "Whatever..." blog are having a little party with - of course - awesome bands playing. True Womanhood are creepy, experimental, ambient-inspired rock and Drink Up Buttercup are more straight-forward indie rock. Both are good! [TW MySpace] [DUB MySpace]

[Upcoming Shows Playlist]
The long view...

December
23
Fiasco, Shapes @ Shea Stadium

29-30
Patti Smith @ Bowery Ballroom (Sold Out)

31
Titus Andronicus + So So Glos @ Mercury Lounge
Patti Smith @ Bowery Ballroom(Sold Out)

January 2010
2
Mattress @ Death By Audio

13
The Drums + Surfer Blood, Depreciation Guild @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

15
Gang Gang Dance, DJ/Rupture @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

16
Dinosaur Jr @ Bowery Ballroom (Sold Out)

17
Dinosaur Jr @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

25
Cheap Trick @ The Fillmore

29
Sounds Like Brooklyn: Les Savy Fav, Vivian Girls (yick) @ Brooklyn Academy of Music
Mission of Burma @ Bowery Ballroom

30
Mission of Burma @ Bowery Ballroom

February
3
Atlas Sound @ Bell House

4
Cold Cave @ Mercury Lounge

5
Sounds Like Brooklyn: Ra Ra Riot, the Antlers @ Brooklyn Academy of Music

6
Don Giovanni showcase: Shellshag, Screaming Females, Jeff the Brotherhood + more @ Bowery Ballroom

9
The Residents @ Webster Hall

13
The Magnetic Fields @ Brooklyn Academy of Music

19
Fucked Up @ Europa
Andrew W-K @ Santos Party House

March
5
Muse, the Silversun Pickups @ Madison Square Garden

12-13
Henry Rollins @ The Fillmore

[Upcoming Shows Playlist]