The Best Concerts in NYC This Week: Mogwai + Liars + Foals + Slint + HAIM + tUnE-YaRds + Titus Andronicus + Kim Gordon + more musical goodness! - Oh My Rockness

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The Best Concerts in NYC This Week: Mogwai + Liars + Foals + Slint + HAIM + tUnE-YaRds + Titus Andronicus + Kim Gordon + more musical goodness!

May 5, 2014

Written by Patrick McNamara

YES! Thanks for visiting this Best Shows This Week thing again! I just knew you’d be back! I waited and waited - just a lonely music blob biding its time on the world lonely Intra Tube - while remaining hopeful and steadfast and true - that someday you’d click back to me again. And here you are. I never doubted you for a second. ‘Cause you be Whoa My Blobness’s boo.

And if this is your first time reading this The Best Shows This Week thing, oh you are in for a deliciously original treat. Because the digital web content tends to get real dynamic around here. Ask any of the #13 #regular #readers. They’ll tell you.

Let’s get this goodness started.

Monday - May 5th, 2014 A.D.

Hooray for Earth play Glasslands. And this excellent band (from the talented mind of singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Noel Heroux) will perform songs from their upcoming album “Racy” - (finally!) the follow-up to 2010’s mega sublime “True Loves.” Mark my words. This will be a good one. So sayeth this music blob. Forever and Ever. Amen.

Matt Pond PA play Bowery Ballroom tonight. Gotta give this guy his due. Because Mr. Pond and his crew have been at the indie pop game since 1998. That’s 8 LPs and 8 EPs, son! The following song is one of the older ones (what was 2002 even LIKE, Whoa My Blobness??). And it’s still one of my favorites.

Coldplay play two shows at Beacon Theatre tonight. And you know what? I’ve decided to “consciously uncouple” from my less than enthusiastic appreciation for this band. It’s high time I start letting Chris be Chris. If the dude likes vanilla that much, let the dude make songs that sound like vanilla.

(i'm not going to post a Coldplay song in this dynamic feature though - oooh snappp - big time BURN to Chris and the guys.)

Slint play The Wick. But I talked about Slint on this thing last week - how they were #original #alts and the godfathers of post-rock and such as and so forth. Let’s downplay it this time. Because the #13 #regular #readers of this thing demand dynamically original content at all times and always vote #recycled #content #NO.

Other notable shows = Mike Birbiglia “Working it Out” at Union Hall + Floor at Saint Vitus + James Blunt at Webster Hall.

SEE ALL OF OUR MONDAY SHOW PICKS.

Tuesday - May 6th, 2014 A.D.

So Slint play Music Hall of Williamsburg tonight. They are #original #alts and the godfathers of post-rock.

#recycled #content #YES

Oxford’s Foals play Terminal 5 tonight (and again on Wednesday). And if I were to open my bedroom window I bet I could could hear this band’s meandering guitar noodlings from here. Just kidding! I don’t live anywhere near 56th street and 11th avenue. Because I’m not a monster. As per our earlier conversation, though, one has to wonder if Foals would even be around if it wasn’t for Slint. They were the #original #alts after all.

Other notable shows tonight = Ben Kweller and Slothrust at Bowery Ballroom + Dead Stars at Cameo Gallery + Atmosphere at Highline Ballroom + Laurie Anderson at The Stone + Jolie Holland and Kyp Malone at Union Pool.

SEE ALL OF OUR TUESDAY SHOW PICKS.

Wednesday - May 7th, 2014 A.D.

tUnE-YaRds play Rough Trade tonight. And while I’m finally strong enough to lay down my arms and let Coldplay be Coldplay and Chris be Chris, I'm not sure I can ever forgive Merrill Garbus of tUnE-YaRds for spelling the name of her band tUnE-YaRds. But that inner animosity is going to hurt nobody but me. Because it will keep me from enjoying admittedly catchy songs like the one below. Please don’t give up on me, dear Rockness reader. I just need a little more time with this one. Don’t you give up on me!

ALERT! Good ambient eccentro-pop* tonight! (who would have that very specific alert setup, I do not know). Baltimore’s Wye Oak and Montreal’s Braids play Webster Hall. Sing along as best you can as both bands take you to melodic and exotic places.

(*been trying to get eccentro-pop as a genre off the ground and into the alt zeitgeist since 2004 - if I have to wait another 10 years for it to happen, so be it - but it WILL happen - and when it does - I’ll be there.)

Kim Gordon plays The Stone tonight as part of Okkyung Lee's residency. Who’s cooler than Kim Gordon? Nobody. And nobody includes one Mr. T. Moore too. You bet your ass it does.

The Aquabats play Irving Plaza. I know a certain 3-year-old that can tell you all about this band. But he’s napping right now. And probably having nightmares about the Floating Eye of Death. Thanks a million, Aquabats. If you don’t know what any of this means, you definitely don’t need to be at this show.

Other notable shows tonight = Adult. at Verboten + Cam’ron at The Wick + Shlomo at Music Hall of Williamsburg + A Minor Forest at Glasslands (IF YOU LIKE SLINT'S #ORIGINAL #ALT YOU SHOULD GO SEE A MINOR FOREST BECAUSE THEY ARE #ORIGINAL #ALTS TOO AND I SHOULD MIND MY OWN BLOB BUSINESS).

SEE ALL OF OUR WEDNESDAY SHOW PICKS.

Thursday - May 8th, 2014 A.D.

Spot the true statement. #1 Liars play (le) poisson rouge tonight and tomorrow at The Wick. #2 Liars are not a good band. #3 I once played point guard for the Chicago Bulls. #4 Macaulay Culkin is my cousin and I introduced him to pizza. #5 I was asked to be the 6th member of Slint but had to regretfully decline due to personal reasons (I wasn’t #original or #alt enough).

If you guessed #1 - you are right, but why you gotta dis my hoop skillz like that, tho?

Marnie Stern and Hunters play The Wick tonight. Both these shredders punk it up pretty good. But more importantly, do you think Marnie the dog will be there?!?!

("Year of the Glad" is a good song. Strange coincidence. I'm currently working a song called "Year of the Whisper-Quiet Maytag Dishwasher.")

M.I.A. and A$AP Ferg play Knockdown Center in Queens tonight (and tomorrow too). You know what would be super #punk #rock? If at some point at this show M.I.A. gave the crowd the middle finger. That would rule so hard. There’s nothing more #punk #rock than #flipping the #bird.

(she performed at the Super Bowl - because she "doesn't give a shit" - #punk #rock.)

Pharoahe Monch is at Littlefield tonight. I posted this same old song of his last week. Or maybe it was two weeks ago. Might have even been three. Whatever. There are no rear view mirrors here. I’m posting it again. Because it’s a classic. And the only thing more #punk #rock than flipping the #bird is #recycling #web #content.

Other notable shows = Peaking Lights at Glasslands + Prism House at Cameo Gallery + Shlomo at Bowery Ballroom + Heeney at Cake Shop + The Felice Brothers at Mercury Lounge + Palehound at Matchless + Bombay Bicycle Club at Webster Hall

SEE ALL OF OUR THURSDAY SHOW PICKS.

Friday - May 9th, 2014 A.D.

The mighty Titus Andronicus lead a good lineup at NYU’s annual Strawberry Festival. The FREE festivities start at 1:30 PM. See you there! I’ll be the one dressed as a giant lemon. Because I’m #punk #rock and don’t want to look like all the other fruit.

Glasgow’s Mogwai play Terminal 5 tonight. There will always be a special place in my heart for this band. I wonder if their quiet-loud-quiet melodic post-rock could have even existed if not for Slint? But that’s really a question best left for the #original #alts. I’m afraid I’m just not #original or #alt enough to answer.

L.A.’s Upset play Death by Audio tonight (and tomorrow at Baby’s All Right with the very fine Worriers). This super catchy pop punk band features members of Vivian Girls/Best Coast (same member) + Hole (not Courtney - phew) + La Sera. Click their clickable name to read more of my kind words regarding this musical matter.

Delightful indie poppers Frankie Cosmos play at some place called The Rod & Gun tonight. That’s in Williamsburg. But it sure sounds like Texas to me. I recently wrote kind words about this band. Which you can read. If you click right here. Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates might be there too. Who knows how supportive they are as parents.

Matt Pryor (The Get Up Kids) and Bob Nanna (Braid) and other aging alts play Knitting Factory tonight. On a related topic, how about American Football and Mineral selling out all those shows last week? Crazy! It’s almost as if we’re all living in an #emo #revival or something. Hallelujah.

(I’m going to post one video by The Get Up Kids and also one by Braid because there are no rules on this blob and also because I am #punk #rock.)

Other notable shows = Liars at The Wick (as per our earlier convo) + M.I.A. at Knockdown Center (as per our earlier... oh nevermind) + Panthu Du Prince at (le) poisson rouge for FIXED + Har Mar Superstar at Mercury Lounge + EMA at Rough Trade + Night #1 of the Brooklyn Power Pop Festival at The Bell House.

SEE ALL OF OUR FRIDAY SHOW PICKS.

Saturday - May 10th, 2014 A.D.

Remember when I was talking about Upset and mentioned La Sera? If not, that’s OK. I scroll and skim too sometimes (you are dead to me). Well, La Sera also happens to be playing this week too. And by this week, I mean tonight at Baby’s All Right. This show is totally 100% not recommended for people who don’t like completely catchy sunshine melodies and unusually strong songwriting.

Ava Luna + Heliotropes + Le Rug + Eastern Hollows play Brooklyn Night Bazaar tonight. I would totally pay money to see this show. But I’m totally not going to. And neither will you. If you decide to go. Your call. Choose life.

Ovlov + Geronimo! + LVL UP + Geronimo! lead a super solid up-and-coming punker rocker situation at Death by Audio tonight. I have recently written kind words on all three of those bands. Go ahead. Click away on their names. Everybody who’s anybody is doing it! All the a-list alts click on my #original band profiles!

HAIM play Terminal 5 tonight (and there again on Sunday). For me it’s tricky times with this band, guys. Tricky tricky times. But I know you probably like them. Because they are really popular. I respect that. It’s your journey, man. So I thought you would want to know about this show. After all, this is a blob for the people.

The Brooklyn Flea Record Fair is today (starts at 11 AM) at 90 Kent (part of the Red Bull Music Academy Festival New York). Dig for the grooves that melt your eBay cheating heart while listening to DJs sets from members of bands you have probably heard of, including Autre Ne Veut + Tanlines + Optimo + Caroline Polachek of Chairlift.

Night #2 of the Brooklyn Power Pop Fest at The Bell House tonight with Shoes + Paul Collins Beat + Barreracudas. The song I have conveniently posted below was the closest Shoes had to a hit. It reached #75 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979. Hey. That’s higher than any of us ever charted.

(I’m assuming here that you are neither now nor have you ever been a member of the rock star party - but please contact me if I have got this one all wrong - it certainly wouldn’t be the first time.)

Other notable shows tonight = M.I.A.. + Solange at Webster Hall + The Men and Obits and Nude Beach at The Wick + Kindness at Verboten + Tennis and Ski Lodge at Music Hall of Williamsburg + Vito & Druzzi of The Rapture at Cameo Gallery.

SEE ALL OF OUR SATURDAY SHOW PICKS.

Sunday - May 11th, 2014 A.D.

Of Montreal play (le) poisson rouge tonight. And I’m calling bullshit on that. Because this band’s from Athens. And that's in GEORGIA.

#recycled #digital #jokes = #punk #rock because only you #13 #regular #readers would ever #know

Other notable shows tonight = Heathered Pearls at Glasslands + Mark Ribot’s Ceramic Dog at Rough Trade + R. Stevie Moore at Baby’s All Right + Silicon Valley at HBO (it’s funny, alright) + Mad Men at AMC (it’s still good - not as good as it used to be - but still pretty damn good).

SEE ALL OF OUR SUNDAY SHOW PICKS.

That’s it! Thanks for reading this Best Shows This Week thing again! You can leave now. I’ll just sit here and patiently wait for your return next week. And if, god forbid, you never come back to visit me in this space ever again - well - I guess I’ll have nobody but this old (born 2004) music blob to blame.

But you’ll come back next week. I believe in you. ‘Cause you be Whoa My Blobness’ boo.

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