Written by Patrick McNamara

Let's talk about some good shows happening this week.

I know you have a choice when you procrastinate and I thank you for choosing to waste your time with me. You won't regret it.

So help me blob.

Thursday - October 1, 2015 A.D.

I'm convinced that Bill Withers is the coolest living musician. I'm serious. Have you seen this documentary about him? It's fantastic and he seems like somebody I would want to hang with. And oh yeah, he's also written some timeless classics. Who hasn't heard "Lean on Me?" It's so ubiquitous in mainstream consciousness it would be tempting to take that jam for granted. Don't! And "Ain't No Sunshine?" Forget about! Such a good song. You don't have to agree with me. I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know it is. Go see a tribute to the coolest living cat tonight at Carnegie Hall. Anytime you've got D'Angelo sharing the stage with Michael McDonald you know something special's about to go down.

Twin Shadow will play their first NYC show since the band was in that terrible bus accident. Glad to see you back out there, George Lewis Jr. and crew. Consider going to Terminal 5 tonight and celebrating the existence of a good band.

Toro y Moi play Music Hall of Williamsburg (and tomorrow too) and you'd have to be a monster not to find this band pleasant. Chaz Bundick was there for the (re)birth of chill somewhere circa 2009 and he's just been straight chillin' ever since. Man, I hope Toro y Moi never lets go of the forever chill.

And Beirut play Radio City Music Hall. I know it's "old" (what was 2007 even LIKE, mannnn?) and even "pre-chill" but this is still my favorite Beirut song thanks for listening.

Other notable shows = Godspeed You! Black Emperor at Warsaw + Ought at Mercury Lounge + Autre Ne Veut at Rough Trade (free entry w/ purchase of the record) + Cuntz at Cake Shop + Superhumanoids and Rush Midnight at Baby's All Right

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Friday - October 2, 2015 A.D.

Wavves (they're dope) play Saint Vitus tonight w/ Twin Peaks (they're dope too) and Steep Leans (they're not NOT dope I don't know if they're dope I haven't heard them yet). This one is sold-out but if it makes you feel any more chill these same three bands are playing just four days later at Irving Plaza and Oh My Rockness (that's me and Claire) is presenting it! Tickets still available. DOPE.

Oberhofer play Rough Trade (late - Maritime play there early - but that's a discussion for another time). Great band. And what are the chances that singer Brad would have the same last name as his band? What are the fucking chances of that, man? That's almost as nuts as Lou Gehrig dying from a disease called Lou Gehrig's disease. Anyway, I'm off to go get struck by lightning now.

Montreal's Ought is a good band who just released a good new record. They play songs from it tonight at Secret Project Robot. LVL UP also plays. You should know by now how I feel about them. Rick from Pile opens. "Before anyone did anything Pile did everything." - a small section of the Internet

Other notable shows = Future Punx at Alphaville + eskimeaux at Baby's All Right + Toro y Moi at Music Hall of Williamsburg + Fiasco at Palisades + Dave Hill and funny friends at Union Hall + DJ Icona Pop at Webster Hall

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Saturday - October 3, 2015 A.D.

Makthaverskan is such a good band I don't mind that it takes me a few minutes to type their name correctly. The indie popsters (dreamy jingles meets razor edged jangles) from Gothenburg (straight outta Sweden) play Baby's All Right tonight and I want to ask you a question. Are you ready to listen to a JAM? If you are, please stream the following song. If not, I'll wait until you are. Copenhagen's Lower opens. They're affiliated with Iceage somehow I can never remember but I'm certainly not going to take the time to look it up.

Diet Cig (read that) + PWR BTTM + Air Waves (listen to their new album it's good!) + Haybaby play a solid show at Palisades. It's going to be a good one from first band to last….straight (snap) to the end of the line (snap).

Mitski plays Shea Stadium and we still blast that band's album all the time. It's in heavy rotation here at Rockness HQ. Consider going to this one if you're the type that likes going to see good bands.

Finally. Art Garfunkel plays Carnegie Hall. You're not going to go. Why would you? I'm just using this fact as an excuse to post one of my favorite movie sequences in cinematic history.

Other notable shows = Richard Lloyd (of Television) at The Bell House + Landlady at Union Pool + Autechre at Brooklyn Masonic Temple + Laurie Anderson at Park Avenue Armory

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Sunday - October 4, 2015 A.D.

Destroyer (aka Dan Bejar) plays a rare solo show at Webster Hall tonight. Why wouldn't you go to this? Why? You don't like Destroyer, you say? Oh, well. OK. That's a good reason. I don't agree but a good reason is a good reason is a good reason.

Yoko Ono and her Plastic Ono Band plays the Modern Sky Festival at Central Park Summerstage today. And oh yeah, Gang of Four too. And Mark Sultan. And some other peeps too. Are you going to go to this? Do you care? To be determined, dear Rockness reader. TBD.

Maybe you should just see HSY at Palisades. They're loud , they're sludge-y AND they're Canadian (!). Plus, tickets are only seven bones. What's not to love?

Other notable shows = Pure Bathing Culture at Baby's All Right + Laurie Anderson at Park Avenue Armory + Terry Riley at National Sawdust

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Hey, thanks for reading again this week! And remember….if I can blob...you can blob...everybody can blob!!!!!!