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.

Monday - September 28, 2015 A.D.

Before I talk shows, Silent Barn had a fire. Here's how you can help.

OK. Let's do this thing. Baltimore's Lower Dens play Bowery Ballroom. I recently saw them at FYF Fest and they were great. My kids saw them too... because I decided to take them to a music festival for some reason. Out of five stars I give Jana Hunter and crew seven thumbs up and hereby pronounce them to be worth more than all the tea in China.

You know who else I saw not too long ago? Bully. As good as this Nashville band is on disc (those lasers tho) they might be even better live. Singer/songwriter Alicia Bognanno can BELT with the best of them. If you don't want to go see Lower Dens might I instead suggest seeing Bully at Music Hall of Williamsburg?

If you hate live music but love comedy why are you even reading this and perhaps you'd be more comfortable at a Dave Chappelle show. He's starting a string of doubleheader shows tonight at Gramercy Theatre. If you go, don't be the guy (it's always some dumb guy) that shouts out bits from Chappelle's Show (this person probably also wears the shirt of the band at band's show).

Finally. Tears for Fears play The Capitol Theatre and I know this is one of their “later" jams and not necessarily one of the first you'd think of (although not exactly a “deep cut") but I think this might be the best Tears for Fears song. Yes. I think this just might be it.

Other notable shows tonight = Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls at Irving Plaza + David Cross at Littlefield + Soda Bomb at Saint Vitus

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Tuesday - September 29, 2015 A.D.

CHVRCHES play Central Park Summerstage. They just released a new album. It's good! And I'll tell you what, if that new anthem “Make Them Gold" is not the official theme song to the Rio Olympics next year, well, let's just call it a missed opportunity and leave it at that.

(Can't you totally see this song played over a montage of heroic athletic achievements? It's PERFECT!)

(sorry for the shitty quality of this video... it was all I could find... this future Olympics ripper is just too damn new.)

The FADER starts their #Uncapped fest tonight. It goes down on W. 14th Street and as of this writing you could still RSVP for these five free shows which include performances by Matt & Kim and Chance the Rapper and Will Smith's kid but not the karate one.

Montreal's Godspeed You! Black Emperor (exclamation point their own but I probably would've inserted one there regardless) play Terminal 5 tonight and I just hope that stage is big enough for all of them. I have no idea how many members are currently in this band but let's stay conservative and just say ten. How the hell are they gonna all fit on the stage at Music Hall of Williamsburg tomorrow night?? And Warsaw on Thursday???? Forget about it!

Other notable shows = Dave Chappelle at Gramercy Theatre + Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls at Irving Plaza + Tears for Fears at Mayo Performing Arts

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Wednesday - September 30, 2015 A.D.

Oops. I've already indirectly told you about all the best shows happening tonight.

Remember when I mentioned Tears for Fears? Yep, they're playing again tonight.

(here's my second favorite Tears for Fears song....probably....I don't think about Tears for Fears that often, to be honest)

Remember when I talked about Dave Chappelle playing a bunch of consecutive shows at Gramercy Theatre? You bet! And how!

How about The Fader's #Uncapped Fest? SAME.

And just a few short lines ago I was talking about Godspeed You! Black Emperor and I said they were playing Music Hall of Williamsburg tonight. Sure, you remember. You cherish every word of this thing every week.

So I guess my work here is done.

Other notable shows tonight = Reigning Sound at The Bell House + Bob Moses at Bowery Ballroom which is funny because I'm reading “The Power Broker" right now (true) but I don't think it's the same Robert “Bob" Moses

SEE ALL OF OUR WEDNESDAY PICKS

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!!!!!!