The Best Shows in NYC This Week: Governors Ball (Future Islands + The War on Drugs + Hot Chip + Sharon Van Etten + Bjork + Tame Impala + DIIV) + Ride + Refused + Conor Oberst + Purity Ring + Wire + White Lung + Nothing + Flaming Lips + more! - Oh My Rockness

Rockness Recommends

The Best Shows in NYC This Week: Governors Ball (Future Islands + The War on Drugs + Hot Chip + Sharon Van Etten + Bjork + Tame Impala + DIIV) + Ride + Refused + Conor Oberst + Purity Ring + Wire + White Lung + Nothing + Flaming Lips + more!

May 29, 2015

Written by Patrick McNamara

Well, it's summer now. And that means lots of good shows (touring season!) and endless marketing copy about summer shows and shit.

Speaking of that, before we get into this week's goodness, might I be so bold as to suggest you check out The Rockness (that's us) Guide to Free Summer Shows? We have roughly 175 good free shows listed there now (give or take - I counted them really quickly).

And you perhaps might also be interested in perusing The Rockness (us again) Guide to Outdoor Concerts because how can one be expected to stay inside on beautiful days and nights like this?

Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't also mention our Summer Getaways Guide because sometimes good shows are worth traveling for (but not too far let's not get carried away) and we've got good shows listed for Long Island, New Jersey, and whatever is directly north of NYC.

OK. I'm really glad all that summer marketing bullshit is done. Now on to this week's good shows!

Welcome to Costco. I luv U.

Monday - June 1st, 2015 A.D.

The mighty British swirl gazers Ride have reunited after a decade plus hiatus and return to NYC for the first time in I don't know how long (I could research it, but nah) to play Music Hall of Williamsburg tonight (and Thursday at Terminal 5). Ride are an important band to many important people and I will now post the video to my personal favorite important Ride song. If you think another Ride song is better than “Twisterella" I wish you all the best posting it on your own music blob.

Other than a legendary swirl gaze reunion, it's just a bunch of regular old Monday night comedy tonight.

Wyatt Cenac does his weekly thing at Littlefield (please note: it's a very funny thing) and I've been posting this same Wyatt Cenac video the past five months. Get some new material, Blobness.

And Chris Gethard does Union Hall. TBS: very funny.

Other notable shows = HBOGO + Amazon Prime + Hulu Plus + Crackle + Netflix + Showtime Anytime + Save 15% or More on Your Boat Insurance

SEE ALL OF OUR MONDAY PICKS

Tuesday - June 2nd, 2015 A.D.

Oooh. Good one. Purity Ring (love) + Braids (heart) + Born Gold (yes) play Canadian pop anthems for the good old hard-working everyday ordinary tax paying folks of America at Terminal 5 tonight (and tomorrow too). I'll be there and you can totally come too if you want.

And let's take a few minutes to remember this Born Gold pop gem, for good measure (I even used it as the trailer music for my movie - Hollywood, please get in touch).

Swedish singer/songwriter superstar The Tallest Man on Earth (aka Kristian Matsson) play Music Hall of Williamsburg (and tomorrow at Beacon Theater) and it's a good thing they have extremely high ceilings at both of those venues.

Philly punks Restorations open the loud action at Bowery Ballroom and they make music for the small town every(wo)man who works his/her ass off at the downtrodden dead end job and at the end of a long ass day just wants to put his/her boots up somewhere, pop some tops, and listen to a band blast the fuck out.

Other notable shows = Heat at Elvis Guesthouse + Mumford & Sons at Coney Island + The Weeknd at MoMA (After Party in the Garden) + Doubting Thomas Cruise Control at Palisades + Tamaryn at Saint Vitus + Roman a Clef at Union Pool

SEE ALL OF OUR TUESDAY PICKS

Wednesday - June 3rd, 2015 A.D.

Legendary Swedish hardcore artists Refused correctly predicted the shape of punk to come back in 1998 after Ornette Coleman correctly predicted the shape of jazz to come in 1959. The musical wreckers of everything tried and true and safe and fake play Bowery Ballroom tonight and Thursday at Music Hall of Williamsburg. As of this writing (1:18 PM in The Year That I'm Writing This A.D.) there are still a few tickets left for both shows. But if you miss the boat, you can still see them in August open for Faith No More at a very intimate spot called Madison Square Garden, although that shit is probably already sold out too. Fuck. You just can't win.

Speaking of legendary, see seemingly forever-running British post punk band Wire at Music Hall of Williamsburg (and tomorrow at Bowery Ballroom) and please note that post punk no longer means anything. The following is my favorite Wire song. Please vehemently disagree with me, Wire enthusiasts, in the comment section our site has thankfully never had.

Rob Delaney (called “the funniest man on Twitter" by everyone promoting a Rob Delaney project and they just might be right) plays a special one-off comedy show at The Bell House for Christian dads who vape. Healthy childless heathens are (reluctantly) also invited to attend.

Other notable shows = Purity Ring at Terminal 5 + Florence and the Machine at iHeartRadio Theater + Heat at Union Pool + Mumford & Sons at Coney Island + Ash at Rough Trade + Eternal Summers at BSP (Kingston, NY)

SEE ALL OF OUR WEDNESDAY PICKS

Thursday - June 4th, 2015 A.D.

The first thing you need to know is that the Governors Ball Music Fest starts tonight. Well, certain shows associated with the festival, that is - the After Dark and After Parties and What Have You and What Not and So Forth and Such As. The actual three day festival blowout on Randall's Island is Friday/Saturday/Sunday. The second thing you need to know is let's move on to other shows now.

Supremely talented artist/composer/sound deconstructor (and former Battles man) Tyondai Braxton plays songs off his new album “HIVE1" (his first release in six years) at The Kitchen (and Friday + Saturday too) and it just might blow your mind. There will be visuals, man.

Hutch and Kathy of The Thermals play Mercury Lounge and I'm so in love with Hutch and Kathy in the purely platonic/appreciator of their art sense SO DON'T FREAK OUT.*

*where you at with that line, Thermals fans - where you at

Solid fuzzy swirl gaze Brooklyn band Dead Stars play Alphaville (and several more times this week - if you read each word of this article as precious like I trust you do you'll find out when/where). Here's a good Dead Stars song and a good Alphaville song (who aren't playing anywhere). Do you really want to live forever, dear Rockness reader? Do you?

Other notable shows = Ride at Terminal 5 + Refused at Music Hall of Williamsburg + Chromeo at Apollo Theater + Benjamin Booker at Irving Plaza + The Hood Internet at Baby's All Right + Weird Womb at Hank's Saloon + Noxious Foxes at Palisades + Grizzlor at The Acheron

SEE ALL OF OUR THURSDAY PICKS

Friday - June 5th, 2015 A.D.

The Governors Ball (proper) starts today on Randall's Island (through Sunday). I could tell you today's lineup but it would be more fun for all involved if you just clicked this link to see all twenty bands playing. Have fun out there. Stay hydrated. And by the way, everybody knows what you're really doing in that port-o-potty.

Melodic Vancouver punks White Lung play Knitting Factory (late - it's a Governors Ball After Dark thing) and White Lung are a very good band. I just thought you should know.

The free three day Color Me Bushwick Fest starts today on Wyckoff Ave in, you guessed it, Bushwick. Check out the full festival lineup here but please allow me to tease you with the following names: Sunflower Bean + Such Hounds + Acid Dad + a special guest or two. Oh, I'm such a tease.

Other notable shows = Atmosphere at Irving Plaza + Marina and the Diamonds at Webster Hall + DJ Chromeo at Output + The Hood Internet at Bowery Ballroom + Dead Stars at Cake Shop + BC Camplight at Rough Trade + Tyondai Braxton at The Kitchen + DJ SBTRKT at Verboten

SEE ALL OF OUR FRIDAY PICKS

Saturday - June 6th, 2015 A.D.

It's Governor's Ball Day #2. Again, I could tell you all the 20 (or so - I counted super quickly) bands playing today but just click this link to see. It's better for the both of us. Today might be the best day, though.

Philly's Nothing and Tampa's Merchandise are two good loud swirling melodic punk bands and they play two shows together tonight: an early show at Palisades and a late one at Baby's All Right. Maybe I'll go to both. You can't stop me.

Conor Oberst plays Music Hall of Williamsburg and that's all I got for this one. Feel free to add more descriptive text to this entry for your fan fiction book.

United Nations (File Under: good) and Frameworks (RIYL: good) lead a solid punk lineup at Webster Hall (Marlin Room). Well, I suppose Modern Life is War really leads this thing considering they're headlining but I'm not entirely familiar with their musical work. Tell me not my faults, dear Rockness reader, for I already know them.

Other notable shows = Bushwick Collective Block Party + DJ Hot Chip at Output + deadmau5 at Verboten + Obliterations at The Studio at Webster Hall + Hector's Pets at The Grand Victory + Dead Stars at Riis Park Beach Bazaar + Meshell Ndegeocello at Central Park Summerstage + Wild Yaks at Alphaville

SEE ALL OF OUR SATURDAY PICKS

Sunday - June 7th, 2015 A.D.

It's Governor's Ball Day #3. I like Day #2 better. But you're opinion is equally valid. You just don't get to blob about it on this space. Here's the full lineup and Lana Del Rey never meant a thing to me.

The Flaming Lips play a free show at The Surf Lodge. Please note: The Surf Lodge is in Montauk. Please also note: I have never been to Montauk. I'm sure it's lovely and I'd fit right in.

For more free summer shows check out our Free Summer Shows List and for more shows that are far - but not too far - check out our Summer Getaways Guide. But I already pimped this in the intro.

Speaking of free, middle (high?) school metal band Unlocking the Truth play a free show in Red Hook Park and for your sake I hope the food carts are out. Tacos + shreds = just delicious.

Other notable shows = Calexico at Bowery Ballroom + Color Me Bushwick Fest + Crocodiles at Mercury Lounge + Soda Bomb at Riis Park Beach Bazaar

SEE ALL OF OUR SUNDAY PICKS

That's it. See you on the flip side. Otherwise known as next week. Have a good summer. Stay funny.

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