50 Super Good Shows To See In NYC In September
This month rules so hard.
Written by Patrick McNamara
Prepare for one of the greatest month of shows……. OF ALL TIME.
Choosing only fifty to feature is going to be tough.
Good thing it doesn't matter.
It's only rock 'n roll, yo.
50 Good Shows To See in NYC in September
1. Burgundy Stain Sessions at (le) poisson rouge on Tuesday, September 5th.
Thomas Bartlett (aka Doveman) is back with his Burgundy Stain Sessions.
Norah Jones and Joan As Police Woman are two of the announced artists playing this show.
And there will be some secret special guests too!
Yes, I know who they are. Yes, they rule. No, I'm not going to tell you.
2. Seaport Music Festival at South Street Seaport on Thursday, September 7th - Sunday, September 10th.
Seaport Music Fest is back at the Seaport.
A weekend of good free music outside.
Ted Leo * The Make-Up * James Chance * Martin Rev * many more excellent artists scheduled to play.
3. The National at Bowery Ballroom on Friday, September 8th.
The National play little old Bowery Ballroom in celebration of the release of their new album Sleep Well Beast.
Please note: this is a giveaway for select SiriusXM subscribers or something.
I don't know the details (other than you probably won't be getting in).
I just blob here.
4. Octfest at Brooklyn Hangar on Saturday, September 9th.
Guided By Voices.
Built to Spill.
Okkervil River.
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart.
Pitchfork.
Beer.
Lots and lots and lots of beer.
5. Thee Oh Sees at Warsaw on Saturday, September 9th / Sunday, September 10th.
Top 3 best bands ever.
1. OCS
2. Oh Sees
3. Thee Oh Sees
6. Swervedriver at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Sunday, September 10th.
Heavy sweet original shoegazers Swervedriver perform two of their classic albums (1991's Raise and 1993's Mezcal Head) in full at MHOW.
I saw them open for Smashing Pumpkins once.
Please note: Swervdriver rules.
7. Del the Funky Homosapien at Brooklyn Bowl on Tuesday, September 12th.
You know when that O.J. documentary Made in America was all the rage last summer?
This is the jam I couldn't get out of my head back then.
Damn, I ❤️ Del.
8. Arcade Fire at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, September 12th.
The fanciest band on earth plays DIY co-op art space Madison Square Garden.
No flip-flops.
No muscle tees.
No wine coolers.
No koozies.
No nothin'.
9. Patti Smith & her band at Central Park Summerstage on Thursday, September 14th.
Singer.
Writer.
Artist.
Poet.
Legend.
10. The Meadows at Citi Field on Friday, September 15th - Sunday, September 17th.
A bunch of bands and artists you've definitely heard of playing this big thing by the baseball field.
Yeah!
11. Paul McCartney at Prudential Center / Madison Square Garden / Barclays Center.
Read this delightful interview I did with my dad about seeing The Beatles.
12. Basilica Soundscape at Basilica Hudson on Friday, September 15th / Saturday, September 16th.
If you feel like getting out of the city for your live music this should be an pretty good weekend escape!
Zola Jesus * Priests * Protomartyr * John Maus * more playing Basilica Soundscape this year.
*Hudson from Brooklyn a mere 2 hours and 55 minutes in current traffic
13. The War on Drugs at Terminal 5 on Tuesday, September 19th / Central Park on Thursday, September 21st.
Just say no.
To NOT going to this show.
"No, I won't not go see The War on Drugs!"
D.A.R.E. you not to go.
14. Liars at Warsaw on Thursday, September 21st.
To be honest, this band still rules.
WEIRD ART PUNK FOREVER.
Here's an old Liars performance from 2000 A.D.
15. Mac DeMarco at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, September 22nd.
Watch Mac DeMarco Juggle Cigarettes And Eat Popcorn While Playing New Songs For Puppets And Children In A Tiny Rowboat
16. Cap'n Jazz at Brooklyn Steel on Saturday, September 23rd.
Fire is motion
Work is repetition
This is my document
We are all all we've done
We are all all we've done
We are all all defenses
Hey, Ma. There goes that band.
17. Interpol at Forest Hills Stadium on Saturday, September 23rd.
Hard to believe Turn on the Bright Lights came out 15 years ago. Seems like only yesterday I left my urge in the icebox.
See Interpol play that stone classic in full at Forest Hills Stadium.
On a related note, if you haven't read Lizzy Goodman's excellent book Meet Meet In The Bathroom you need to get on that.
18. Rainer Maria at Bowery Ballroom on Wednesday, September 27th.
My favorite Rainer Maria album.
19. Charly Bliss at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Thursday, September 28th.
Is there a more likable punk pop band right now than Charly Bliss?
Bliss sling the big time hits.
London post punk legends playing three shows at Baby's!
Here's my favorite Wire jam.
(circa 1977 A.D.)
Thanks for blasting.
Rounding Out The Top 50:
22. Father John Misty at The Capitol Theatre
23. Depeche Mode at Madison Square Garden
24. Crystal Castles at Brooklyn Steel
25. Yo La Tengo at Ukrainian National Home
26. Brian Jonestown Massacre at Brooklyn Steel
27. Queens of the Stone Age at The Capitol Theatre
28. The Tallest Man on Earth at Pioneer Works
29. James Blake (solo piano) at Lincoln Center
30. The Afghan Whigs at Brooklyn Steel
31. Quicksand at Irving Plaza / Warsaw
32. Of Montreal at The Bell House
33. Lee Ranaldo at Rough Trade (free show)
34. Big Thief at Music Hall of Williamsburg
36. Kevin Morby at Music Hall of Williamsburg
37. Jay Som at Bowery Ballroom
38. Rostam at Music Hall of Williamsburg
39. Protomartyr at Saint Vitus
40. Land of Talk at Baby's All Right
41. Brian Wilson at Radio City Music Hall
42. Diet Cig at Bowery Ballroom
43. Matt Pond PA at Brooklyn Night Bazaar
44. Seu Jorge at Beacon Theatre
45. Chance the Rapper at Forest Hills Stadium
46. Blonde Redhead at Pioneer Works
48. Laetitia Sadier Source Ensemble at Park Church Co-op
49. Aldous Harding at Bowery Ballroom