The Best Shows in NYC This Week: Passion Pit + Tanlines + Faith No More + Jane's Addiction + Wild Nothing + Surfer Blood + Cults + We Are Scientists + Matt & Kim + Lightning Bolt + Matt Pond PA + Gates + Skaters + Patti Smith + Frankie Cosmos + FKA Twigs - Oh My Rockness

Rockness Recommends

The Best Shows in NYC This Week: Passion Pit + Tanlines + Faith No More + Jane's Addiction + Wild Nothing + Surfer Blood + Cults + We Are Scientists + Matt & Kim + Lightning Bolt + Matt Pond PA + Gates + Skaters + Patti Smith + Frankie Cosmos + FKA Twigs

May 11, 2015

Written by Patrick McNamara

I hope the following show recommendations are helpful for you as you begin your quest for Positive Sounds this week. Consider going to some of these good situations or go do something else. I don't really care what you do. I just want you to be happy. Make your own kind of music and sing your own kind of song. That's what me and Mama Cass always say. Because it's your journey, man.

Monday - May 11th, 2015 A.D.

Passion Pit play Kings Theatre and if you haven't been to this newly restored venue on Flatbush yet, it's simply majestic. Think heavy curtains, golden tassels, and mosaic carpeting. Be sure to allow yourself a few moments to stare at the ceiling in the lobby, too. There's all sorts of stories going on up there.

Surfer Blood play Music Hall of Williamsburg. More on them in a minute.

Quarterbacks play Palisades. I've posted their album right below these words. It's catchy and twee* and good.

(*I hear many twee bands don't like being described as twee and that's kind of twee if you ask me)

Other notable shows = Jessica Pratt at WFMU's Monty Hall + Azealia Banks at Irving Plaza

SEE ALL OF OUR MONDAY PICKS

Tuesday - May 12th, 2015 A.D.

Surfer Blood's Thomas Fekete is fighting cancer. Show your support for his speedy recovery by attending the Friends of Thomas Fekete Benefit at Bowery Ballroom tonight. There will be performances by Julianna Barwick + Cults + Kip from The Pains of Being Pure at Heart + We Are Scientists + Marnie Stern + Special Guests. Also, FUCK CANCER. Seriously. FUCK. CANCER.

Sam Prekop plays Trans-Pecos. He's also in Sea & Cake. So I thought now would be the perfect time to post my favorite Sea & Cake song. 21 years later and it still holds up. We are.....jacking the ball.

Ski Lodge play a free show at Elvis Guesthouse. If you like indiepop and/or not paying to go see good things I have to recommend this one.

Other notable shows = La-Bas (members of Shudder to Think) at Baby's All Right + Celestial Shore at Alphaville + George Clinton (a conversation) at Brooklyn Museum + Punk Rock Karaoke at Saint Vitus

SEE ALL OF OUR TUESDAY PICKS

Wednesday - May 13th, 2015 A.D.

San Francisco's Faith No More play Webster Hall tonight (and tomorrow too) and will play songs off their first new album in 18 (!) years. I don't know, but there's just something about this band that shreds so hard but I can't put my finger on it. WHAT IS IT?

Speaking of old ass bands (I kid -- don't kid), Jane's Addiction play Brooklyn Bowl (and a few more times at various places this week - click their name and you'll figure it out) and they haven't put out a new album in 4 years.... and that one was their first new album in 8 years.... and that one was their first new album in 13 years... and that was their first new album in 2 years.... which is the album they'll be playing in full this week. Nothing's Shocking.

Tanlines play Rough Trade (and tomorrow at Bowery Ballroom) and their new song (which you can stream below thanks to me and my familiarity with the World Wide Intrasphere) suggests they are still one of the illest chillest bands out there playing the game today.

Gates open for Pianos Become the Teeth at Saint Vitus and it's not secret that I'm a big time fan of this euphoric shimmering band. Would you even believe me if I told you that I'm wearing a Gates t-shirt right now as I write these very words? Believe it or not, but it's true. I won't describe the rest of my current outfit because it's good to leave a little to the imagination.

Other notable shows = Kaiser Chiefs at Irving Plaza + Air Waves at Palisades + Merzbow at Output (BRING EARPLUGS) + Tennis (anyone?) at Music Hall of Williamsburg + Yawn at Lucky 13 Saloon + Death Valley Girls at Elvis Guesthouse + Vetiver at Bowery Ballroom

SEE ALL OF OUR WEDNESDAY PICKS

Thursday - May 14th, 2015 A.D.

Santigold plays a FREE show (w/RSVP) at Music Hall of Williamsburg and this is one of the most popular upcoming shows on the site as determined by you wonderful, smart, and attractive "My Rockness" users.


Skaters and Team Spirit headline a fun FREE punk show at Brooklyn Night Bazaar. Speaking of FREE, 1.) I really need to get my ALL CAPS button serviced and 2.) check out The Rockness Guide to Free Summer Shows for more FREE shows this summer.

Doveman plays (le) poisson rouge with Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs (that's my CAPS LOCK button acting up again) + Martha Wainwright. Doveman has been writing sublime classical compositions for quite some time and was responsible for many pretty parts on Sufjan Steven's guaranteed classic "Carrie & Lowell" album. Just thought you should know.

Matt & Kim play Terminal 5 (and tomorrow too). It's been 11 years since these two smiled onto the scene. Is Matt still happy? Can Kim still feel the butterflies? It certainly seems so via the video below. But if you go to this show please be sure to let me know.

Other notable shows = Tanlines at Bowery Ballroom + Faith No More at Webster Hall + Mac McCaughan (of Superchunk) at WFMU's Monty Hall + Hayden at Mercury Lounge + Nicholas Nicholas at Aviv

SEE ALL OF OUR THURSDAY PICKS

Friday - May 15th, 2015 A.D.

Lightning Bolt play The Wick tonight (and tomorrow at (le) poisson rouge) and if you've never seen the legendary Providence noise duo live, you must! You absolutely must! Their floor show is something to behold, and then let go, because all great things are transitory and are never forever and are best when returned to the clouds from which they came.

eskimeaux and Free Cake For Every Creature are two good bands and both play Shea Stadium tonight (click their respective names for more kind words concerning their goodness). I won't call them twee because I hear some twee bands aren't into that so let's just stick with calling them good.

Matt Pond PA has been slinging the pop goodness since 19-Naughty-8, son. The band plays Bowery Ballroom and here's an oldie but a real goodie. 13 years later and I still play this jam often because it reminds me of good times.

Other notable shows = JD Samson at The Bell House + Yonatan Gat at Aviv + Chain and the Gang at Baby's All Right + Psychedelic Furs at The Paramount + Pill at Elvis Guesthouse + Crosby, Stills, and Nash at Kings Theatre + Red Baraat at Subrosa

SEE ALL OF OUR FRIDAY PICKS

Saturday - May 16th, 2015 A.D.

Wild Nothing play a FREE show at Music Hall of Williamsburg for Converse Rubber Tracks Live. But you needed to RSVP for this one. And if you didn't, sorry, but the RSVP list is already closed. I hate it when I have to be the bearer of such bittersweet news like this. Follow me on Twitter and I'll totally tell you the minute the RSVP for good shit like this opens and you'll get in on the next one, OK?

Skate and Surf Festival at Asbury Park happens today and tomorrow. A bunch of good bands are playing. Click the link and all secrets shall be revealed. But the video gives away the band I'm perhaps most excited to see. Also, the Cloud Nothings drummer is one of the best drummers in the game. INDISPUTABLE FACT.

A Place To Bury Strangers lead a good loud punk lineup at Brooklyn Night Bazaar. Yes. It's FREE. Yes. I still haven't taken my ALL CAPS button in to be checked out. I've been too busy writing this thing which you are enjoying for FREE.

Other notable shows = The Feelies at The Bell House + Psychedelic Furs at The Wellmont + Tennis at Mercury Lounge + Crosby, Stills, and Nash at Kings Theatre + Heavenly Beat at Cameo + Mac McCaughan of Superchunk at Baby's All Right + Vasudeva at Aviv

SEE ALL OF OUR SATURDAY PICKS

Sunday - May 17th, 2015 A.D.

Frankie Cosmos play Brooklyn Bow Wow. That's some dog daycare place in Bushwick. Seriously. So bring your dog. Because this evening is being described as "dogcore." Seriously.

Patti Smith plays City Winery. Please leave your dog at home.

FKA Twigs plays Brooklyn Hangar in Sunset Park tonight + Monday and Tuesday. This show is part of the Red Bull Music Academy Festival that's been going on all week but I forgot to mention it until now. Oh well. Better late than never. And I'm really good at music blobbing.

Other notable shows = Kish Bashi at (le) poisson rouge + Body Language at Mercury Lounge + Skate and Surf Fest at Asbury Park

SEE ALL OF OUR SUNDAY PICKS

Thanks for reading this thing again this week. Hope it helps you navigate all the goodness out there. See you soon. Let's tentatively say next week. And if you forget everything else I've told you please remember this. Make your own kind of music and sing your own special song.

And this song is currently mine.


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