Hott Tickets! with Mike Conklin
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- Courtesy loosecharm.org
By the time you read this, you’ll be trying your best to settle into 2008, perhaps marking your new calendar with some of the shows you’re planning to attend in the coming months. But as I write this, it’s only December 21st, the day after The L’s Christmas Party. The office is eerily quiet, with the exception of my Best of 2007 mix, which is awesome, and to be honest I have not the slightest clue what shows are actually coming up. So we’re going to try something a little different here: My fantasy picks/predictions for the must-see shows of 2008. (Cut me some slack, please. My head hurts.)
4/25 Vampire Weekend at Nokia Theater
After owning this year’s SXSW and appearing on pretty much every late night talk show, Vampire Weekend (who we’re trying to get people to call the Vampires, like the Velvets, but tougher sounding) continue selling out bigger and bigger venues. Get in now: Next stop is Roseland, and no one wants to go there.
6/8 The Ballet at Mercury Lounge
After releasing a near perfect record in 2006, NYC’s premier twee-pop band sort of fell off the map, but they’re back now, and they’ll be playing songs from a new record scheduled for release this summer. We assume it will be wonderful.
7/24 Jawbreaker at the Music Hall of Williamsburg
After years of silence and quietly rumored documentaries, the best punk band of the mid-90s finally reunites for a handful of shows in New York and San Francisco. People everywhere briefly consider starting actual fanzines again.
9/22 Jeff Tweedy at Terminal 5
Why has it been so long since he played solo in NYC? If forced to rank the best shows I’ve ever seen, Jeff Tweedy solo at Irving Plaza back in 2000 or so would be right up there at the top.
4/25 Vampire Weekend at Nokia Theater
After owning this year’s SXSW and appearing on pretty much every late night talk show, Vampire Weekend (who we’re trying to get people to call the Vampires, like the Velvets, but tougher sounding) continue selling out bigger and bigger venues. Get in now: Next stop is Roseland, and no one wants to go there.
6/8 The Ballet at Mercury Lounge
After releasing a near perfect record in 2006, NYC’s premier twee-pop band sort of fell off the map, but they’re back now, and they’ll be playing songs from a new record scheduled for release this summer. We assume it will be wonderful.
7/24 Jawbreaker at the Music Hall of Williamsburg
After years of silence and quietly rumored documentaries, the best punk band of the mid-90s finally reunites for a handful of shows in New York and San Francisco. People everywhere briefly consider starting actual fanzines again.
9/22 Jeff Tweedy at Terminal 5
Why has it been so long since he played solo in NYC? If forced to rank the best shows I’ve ever seen, Jeff Tweedy solo at Irving Plaza back in 2000 or so would be right up there at the top.
