Wow guys, so I heard some of you actually subjected yourself to the Super Bowl and thus Katy Perry earlier this week. Personally, I’m ashamed. Even if you “just watched it for the ads,” like, gross– I’m still disappointed in you. Redeem thyself not with X number of Hail Marys, spellcasting, or prostration in front of candelabras, but by supporting what most humans would recognize as actual music. And, please, don’t think of this is as a chore, because this week there are two of us bringing you a bulletproof list of excellent music sound happenings.
Our Top Pick For The Week, Yep
Young Gutted, Show Me The Body, Mannequin Pussy, Heeney
Saturday February 7th, 8 pm @ Shea Stadium, tickets: $8 advance, $10 at the door
If you can only make it to one show this week– first of all, I pity you because this is New York City, baby– but secondly, you won’t be disappointed if you pick this one.
Featuring Show Me The Body, a surprisingly acoustic sludge band led by apparent badasses who ain’t got time for “transplants” and are politically astute to boot. All proceeds are going to the National Lawyer’s Guild. Why on earth would anyone want to give money to lawyers, you might ask? Well these lawyers are chillers because they provide free legal representation for protestors.
Yung Gutted (aka Antonio Hernandez) will tickle the opposite side of your auditory cortex with his deep, rich bass-heavy R&B beats. The Brooklyn-based producer released his first beat tape just two years ago– it’s available on Bandcamp for whatever price you feel is fair but, like, be nice– however he’s developed a pretty loyal following since then and has garnered the attention of big-deals like Ratking.
Joining the headliners are Mannequin Pussy, a Philly pussy punk outfit that is probably the most badass amongst the pack of pussy bands, and Heeney will bring home the good boy rock n’ roll. [ND]
Yearn For The Mud
Wolvves, Aeon Rings, We Are Temporary, Skeleton Head
Friday February 6th, 8 pm @ Trans Pecos, tickets: $8 advance, $10 at the door
Do not dismiss these party garage punks for their adult transplant probz: “I’m going home today/ I can’t think of what to say/ Coz my mom will see all my tattoos and I won’t know what to say.” Wolvves is so much more than that. Juvenile, perhaps, but who’s ever heard a good punk song replete with mature themes? Not me.
We’re not exactly sure what’s going on with the line up here, but lest we choose a slow death alone in the desert of NotCool, we won’t question the lovely people at Trans Pecos. I’m sure they knew what they were doing when the slapped a supremely cheesy goth band, Aeon Rings, on the bill along with another nostalgie de la boue-ish, ’80s outfit, Skeleton Head. Get this stuff while it’s hot because it won’t be around for long, we’re hoping. And that’s not necessarily because we don’t like it, we didn’t say that. It’s because we’ve got money on this. We’ve bet actual cash that this trend is nearing saturation. PM me if you wanna join the betting pool. [ND]
Act Now, Seriously
Screaming Females, Priests, Tenement, Vacation
Sunday February 28th, 10:30 pm @ Knitting Factory, tickets: $15
Hey! Just because there are like ten million bands participating in the Don Giovanni Records Showcase this weekend does not mean figuring out which show to attend should hurt your brain. We’ve subjected ourselves to brain pain for you. That’s what we’re here for, K?
If it weren’t for recent developments, we might have regretted to inform you that our pick– Screaming Females, Priests, Tenement, Vacation on Sunday night– was sold out. Dang! But something truly amazing has transpired: they’ve added a second show! A later one! So seriously make quick like jack rabbit and get your tickets now. Yeah, yeah we know this show is a couple of weeks off, but trust– we’re doing you a favor by giving you a heads up. If you’re seriously impatient, you can check out what’s happening this weekend instead.
If you’ve been living under a boulder (Or maybe in Boulder? Sorry, Colorado sucks) then maybe you haven’t heard of Screaming Females. This fantastic trio writes catchy indie diddies vaguely recalling 90’s rock, but really by now they are kind of their own institution. Also, the band juuuuust released a new album on Don Giovanni, Rose Mountain, and this show is the official party for that achievement. Priests will bring their fist-pumping sassy punk anthems from D.C., Tenement contributes their Midwest pop punk tunes, and last but not least is Vacation out of the Great State of Ohio, the land of a thousand disgusting punk bands. [ND]
Hopefully You Didn’t Sleep On This One
Parquet Courts, Future Punx, Eaters
Monday February 9th, 8 pm @ Palisades, tickets: SOLD OUT
Everyone is goo goo ga ga for Parquet Courts. Yeah, yeah they sound like Pavement blah, blah blah. But for reals, these guys put on a fun show. But we don’t have to tell you that, the fact that tickets usually sell out within a handful of minutes probably convinced you already. That’s why we’re hoping you were smart about this one and bought your tickets ahead of time, otherwise you’re plumb outta luck.
Joining The Parkays are their label mates Future Punx, another band with a bunch of good shows under their belts. They seriously tore shit down at Aviv several weeks back, amirite? And the addition of Eaters– experimental minimal electronic meets catchy rawk riffs– to the bill really just emphasizes the need to get to this show at all costs. [ND]
New Ambience
Stage Hands, Tallesen, Jono Mi Lo, Middle Grey, Dean Cercone
Monday February 9th, 8 pm @ Silent Barn, tickets: $8 at the door
What happens when you combine soothing New Age vibes with a Netcentric outlook? This show, that’s what. You may remember our profile of Jono Milo over at Brooklyn Magazine– we spoke with the current artist-in-residence at Silent Barn about his experiments with algorithmic sampling. Chances are he’ll be breaking that program out at this show, and if you’re curious about what the hell he’s on to, we’re positive he’ll give you a rundown if you ask nicely.
Joining him is ambient act Stage Hands from um wtf where, Pennsylvania, and three local acts on a similar experimental electronic tip– Tallesen, Middle Grey, and Dean Cercone. [ND]
Noize Boyz & Girlz
The Tinnitus Music Series with Vessel, Container and Noveller
Wednesday February 4, 8pm @ The Wick, tickets: $15
YAY. It’s that time again for the down right flawlessly curated Tinnitus Music Series (dedicated to the forefront of extreme noise). Thanks to Blackened Music and Pitchfork’s Show No Mercy we are reminded of at least one reason we continue to live in New York. This week’s pairing of Vessel and Container is about exploring the stomping grounds between techno and noise. Both projects make incredibly human rhythms by pushing their instruments to lumber, crack, and pound forward.
Container’s Ren Scholfield leads you around in ferocious patterns that never settle anywhere long enough for you to stop moving. Sebastian Gainsborough (aka Vessel) comes out of the Bristol techno scene, but has baffled categorization with wandering melodies and grinding drums. Opening act Noveller may not be as pummeling as her bill mates, but the soundscape she builds will sharpen your senses and transport you to a celestial atmosphere, right before you dance your ass off. [Sarah Lutkenhaus]
Forget It’s Winter
Human Resources, Train Trash, Plebian, Negative Gemini
Saturday February 7th, 9pm @ Bohemian Grove, tickets: $ a few
Jeremy Krinsley, member of Alan Watts, also plays solo as Human Resources. He’s been on the low as of late but for good reason– Krinsley is at work on a new Human Resources release for Godmode, which will be out sometime this year, hopefully soon. His last solo release, Oxyc Woody II (2012), is a collage of sweeping cinematic sounds and fractured melodies which are endlessly listenable. Building on the vocabulary of his previous releases, we can expect something at once modern and nostalgic. You can come see what he’s been up to in this tropical basement, and all but forget that it’s winter. Additionally, Train Trash has spent years hoarding gear and learning to make it work together in unlikely ways. The set will undoubtedly take you through many different dimensions. [Sarah Lutkenhaus]
Come Get Lost
Hubble, Nick Klein, die Reihe
Sunday February 8th, 9 pm @ Silent Barn, tickets: $8
This is truly a night to indulge in sound. Ben Greenberg (Pygmy Shrews, Zs, The Men, Uniform) is the kind of guy you want to strangle and say:“STOP doing so many awesome things!” Of course, then you would be deprived of a lot of awesome things, so instead we get to wait and see what he’s gonna do next.
Hubble is the culmination of Greenberg playing guitar for hours upon hours on his roof in the summers. He summons a flood of tones and patterns by tapping his guitar at light speed. This time he is even one-upping himself with a 1-2 hour-long piece with quadraphonic sound. Hear it, and believe.
Nick Klein, too, are you kidding me? So good! His music manages to create rhythmic pulses that are urban and simultaneously isolating. He bends the notes to the edge of comfort and has mastered the use of silence to build tension. Not to be missed. Die Reihe should more than satisfy your appetite for modular synth exploration and insane sounds. [Sarah Lutkenhaus]
Nicole Disser is tweetin’ away on Twitter @mlledisser
