The Best Shows in NYC This Week: Wolf Parade, Parquet Courts, Mac DeMarco, Hop Along, Speedy Ortiz, The Kills, James Blake, Islands, Marissa Nadler, Anohni, Field Mouse, Car Seat Headrest, Sharon Van Etten, Louis C.K., Fred Armisen, Forth Wanderers! - Oh My Rockness

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The Best Shows in NYC This Week: Wolf Parade, Parquet Courts, Mac DeMarco, Hop Along, Speedy Ortiz, The Kills, James Blake, Islands, Marissa Nadler, Anohni, Field Mouse, Car Seat Headrest, Sharon Van Etten, Louis C.K., Fred Armisen, Forth Wanderers!

May 16, 2016

Written by Patrick McNamara

The following NYC shows (5/16 - 5/23 2016 A.D.) should be good.

So help me blob.

Monday - May 16, 2016 A.D.

Mac DeMarco plays Webster Hall (aka The Emmanuel Lewis) tonight. Even though he won't be in a tiny rowboat playing songs to puppets or anything wacky like that (although King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard are opening) this show should still be good.

Hop Along + Speedy Ortiz + Two Inch Astronaut play The Wonder Bar. That's in New Jersey. I've thought a lot about it and I've decided this should be a good show.

Three of No Wave icon Glenn Branca's Symphonies will be performed at Masonic Hall on 23rd street by an all-star cast of guitarists. Part of Red Bull Music Academy Festival New York. Should be good!

Other notable Monday shows = Cage the Elephant at Central Park Summerstage

Oh! Central Park reminds me! For a good time peep our Outdoor Concert Guide - best data entry of your life!

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SEE ALL OF OUR MONDAY PICKS

Tuesday - May 17, 2016 A.D.

Wolf Parade play the first of five straight shows at Bowery Ballroom (and their first NYC show since 2010 A.D.). Should be good. (I saw Wolf Parade at Pianos once. Please save your applause for me until the end of this sentence.)

***********Wolf Parade also play for free in McCarren Park for Northside Fest in June - for a different kind of good time peep our Free Summer Shows list *****************

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Mac DeMarco (with his roomie Tall Juan) plays a benefit for Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls at Market Hotel and it's sold-out. Maybe you can sneak in with the puppets. Should be good!

The Kills play a free show (w/ RSVP - which is now totally closed - you're so welcome!) at Music Hall of Williamsburg and even though it's no longer 2004 A.D. this show should still be good. It's free!

Other notable Tuesday shows = The Men at Palisades + Fraternal Twin at Alphaville + The Sword at Brooklyn Bowl + The 1975 at Barclays Center but just between us this blob never got that sound

SEE ALL OF OUR TUESDAY PICKS

Wednesday - May 18, 2016 A.D.

James Blake plays Webster Hall (aka The Emmanuel Lewis) and a bunch of you have saved this show on the blob so I guess that means this show should be good. I'm not so sure myself. though, as I'm really not that much of a tennis man.

Here's a new song featuring Bonny Bear.

Anohni (fka Antony Hegarty) plays the Park Avenue Armory (erected in 1880 A.D. and also known as the Seventh Regiment Armory thanks so much for your help with this, Wikipedia) for Red Bull Music Academy Festival New York. Anyway, the long and the short of it is that this should be a good show.

Marissa Nadler plays Union Pool. Should be good!

Other notable Wednesday shows = Wolf Parade at Bowery Ballroom

SEE ALL OF OUR WEDNESDAY PICKS

Thursday - May 19, 2016 A.D.

NYC POPFEST starts tonight (through Sunday) at various venues and if you like that sweet sweet #jingle #jangle I'm here to emphatically tell you that this fest should be good. Scotland's Trashcan Sinatras kicks it off at (le) poisson rouge. God, I love this band. I have 0.000000% doubt that this show will be good. Here's “Obscurity Knocks" from 1989. God, I love this song. #jingle #jangle

Thin Lips and Hurry lead a good lineup at Shea Stadium and after you listen to both of these good Philly bands below I think you'll strongly agree with me that this show should be good.

Louis C.K. plays Paramount Theatre (important note: that's in New Jersey). This should be a good show and if by some amazing chance he becomes famous I want you to tell everyone about the little local DIY music blob that made his comedy career.

Other notable Thursday shows = Wolf Parade at Bowery Ballroom + Joey Ramone Birthday Bash w/ Mike Watt at The Studio at Webster Hall + Sinkane at Union Pool + Digitalism at Music Hall of Williamsburg

SEE ALL OF OUR THURSDAY PICKS

Friday - May 20, 2016 A.D.

NYC POPFEST still going. Still should be good.

Parquet Courts play Webster Hall (cool kids say "I'll meet you at The EL") and even though this show is totally sold-out it still should be good.

Here's a video of the band performing at a show we did with WNYC's Soundcheck way back in 2014 A.D. before mass teleportation was even really a thing.

Forth Wanderers play Shea Stadium and I'm happy about this because their self-released album has been in heavy rotation for months here at Rockness HQ. Somebody sign this band already! (maybe they already have I don't know I just blob here). In summation, this should be a good show!

Other notable Friday shows = Wolf Parade at Bowery Ballroom + Patti Smith at (le) poisson rouge + Jawbreaker Reunion at Aviv + Memory Tapes at Palisades + Sam Beam and Jesca Hoop at Town Hall

SEE ALL OF OUR FRIDAY PICKS

Saturday - May 21, 2016 A.D.

NYC POPFEST…...still……..going…..still…...should….be…...good.

Car Seat Headrest plays Rough Trade. I'm pretty confident in my prediction that this show should be good.

Islands (that is what they are) play Music Hall of Williamsburg and even though it's no longer 2005 A.D. and this band has given up living in Canada for Los Angeles this still should be a good show. In closing, Michael J. Fox is Canadian as is the city of Toronto.

Lady Lamb and Allison Crutchfield and Field Mouse and Holly Miranda play Market Hotel and I've thought about it a lot and I'm now extra sure this show should be good.

Other notable Saturday shows = Wolf Parade at Bowery Ballroom + a screening of “Labyrinth" and some good bands at Shea Stadium + Dinowalrus at Sunnyvale + Gary Clark Jr. and Albert Hammond Jr. at Webster Hall ("see you at The EL!")

SEE ALL OF OUR SATURDAY PICKS

Sunday - May 22, 2016 A.D.

NYC POPFEST. Last night. Should be good.

Sharon Van Etten does a “jam session" (not familiar with this term - will ask Wikipedia later) with Fred Armisen at Milk Studios. It's probably sold-out. Or, not. I don't know. I didn't check. I also didn't check to see if this show should be good or not because I know it will be.

Or…..stay home! Do nothing! Relax! Enjoy yourself! Should be good!

Other notable Sunday shows = maybe your television knows?

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I hope you enjoyed reading this.

Go see one or two or three or more of these shows.

They should be good.

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