The Best Shows in NYC This Weekend: Wild Nothing + Lightning Bolt + Frankie Cosmos + FKA Twigs + Skaters + Doveman + Patti Smith + Matt Pond PA + A Place To Bury Strangers + Kishi Bashi + exkimeaux + more goodness - Oh My Rockness

Rockness Recommends

The Best Shows in NYC This Weekend: Wild Nothing + Lightning Bolt + Frankie Cosmos + FKA Twigs + Skaters + Doveman + Patti Smith + Matt Pond PA + A Place To Bury Strangers + Kishi Bashi + exkimeaux + more goodness

May 14, 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.

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

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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

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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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