Written by Patrick McNamara

I am so glad you are here.

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

And then we can talk about whatever you want.

What are your other interests? Do you like to read? Maybe we should start a book club?

That settles it. Immediately following this dynamic digital content we’re starting a real life book club. Might I suggest we start with #HeavenIsForReal? I've been hearing good things.

But first. Concerts.

Monday - April 28th, 2014 A.D.

Usually Mondays are all about putting lipstick on pig stink. But not tonight. There are some real good shows happening tonight. You betcha.

Frankie Cosmos play Glasslands tonight. Led by Greta Kline and currently drummed by the Porches guy, this band plays sweet sweet double sweet indiepop that sublimely jingles and jangles. I invite you to read this recent profile on Frankie Cosmos for more information on why you should consider going to this show. But no worries either way.

Toronto’s Kevin Drew (of Broken Social Scene) plays Bowery Ballroom tonight. He was supposed to play there earlier this month. But that show was rescheduled due to Visa issues. Dude should’ve used Discover Card.

Seattle’s Say Hi play Rough Trade tonight (and Tuesday at Mercury Lounge). If you like good lo-fi pop - get into this goodness. And oh yeah nbd btw, but I’m so originally alt I used to listen to this band when they were known as Say Hi To Your Mom. It doesn’t get much more alt than that and I'll be remembered for it.

“Here lies Whoa My Blobness: the original alt listener of Say Hi….To Your Mom. Rest in Alt.”

Other notable shows tonight = Olga Bell at (le) poisson rouge + Mike Birbiglia “Working it Out” at Union Hall + Alden Penner (of The Unicorns) at The Studio at Webster Hall.

SEE ALL OF OUR MONDAY SHOW PICKS.

Tuesday - April 29th, 2014 A.D.

Let’s start with a conversation. David Lynch holds one at BAM tonight. I’m not exactly sure what he’ll be discussing. But whatever the subject matter - it will surely be David Lynch-ian. YES. NO. YES. NO. NO. NO. YES.

The Both is Aimee Mann (would you believe me if I told you I misspell her first name every time I type it and I have typed it a lot in my day?) and Ted Leo (the easiest name to spell ever) and they both play Bowery Ballroom tonight (and Music Hall of Williamsburg on Thursday). Nick Diamonds opens and I don’t really care if The Unicorns get back together or not.*

(*i’m attempting to do a slick reverse psychology move - like how Coach Norman Dale handled Jimmy Chitwood in the smash hit 1987 feel good sports film “Hoosiers”)

Nightbox are a bunch of Irish lads who live in Canada. They write pop songs that shoot for the stars and land where only eagles and angels dare to fly. Below is one of them. I sing it in the shower often. And now seeing them at Baby’s All Right tonight is the only way to erase that image from your mind.

Speaking of shooting for the stars, Southend-on-Sea’s* The Horrors play House of Vans. They too like to go big time. And this one is FREE. If you RSVP’d. If you did not, go do something else, man. It’s a big beautiful world and the alternative possibilities for tonight are bright.

(*notable Southend-on-Sea residents = actress Helen Mirren + concert organist Kevin Bowyer + John Heald, cruise director for Carnival Cruise Lines)

Other notable shows = Alden Penner (of The Unicorns...again) at Glasslands + Say Hi (To Your Mom = ALT) at Mercury Lounge + Nickel “Not Back” Creek at Beacon Theater + Jolie Holland at Union Pool + Timeflies at Terminal 5 (except when you're listening to this band....BUST).

SEE ALL OF OUR TUESDAY SHOW PICKS.

Wednesday - April 30th, 2014 A.D.

Might as well exclusively focus on three long since sold-out shows tonight. So if you don’t already have tickets and want to go to any of these concerts I’m about to tell you about, well, you can’t win ‘em all. But you’ll bounce back. I know you will. Because I believe in you.

Fact. The most original alt of all the original alts was actually not Whoa My Blobness. It was/is Slint. Fact. The Louisville sluggers played post-rock so original and alt that after 1990 their post-rock really turned out to be pre. Slint play the Stone Pony tonight. Yes. That’s in New Jersey. Hardly a Spiderland. Slint also play Bowery Ballroom on Sunday and two nights in Brooklyn next week. But this is the #time nor the #place to discuss that. If you’re a true original alt like me, you’ll wanna go to this show and pay your proper respects. Which, in this case, is $18.

The Knife play Terminal 5 tonight (and again on Thursday). The Swedish dance duo (well, dance music that needs a sweater) hasn’t played NYC in a while. It’s maybe even been a few years. I can’t say for certain, though. Because I’m not going to do the #stinking #research. I’m definitely sure this show is sold-out. So if you really want to go to this and you don’t have a ticket, #1) you should have added The Knife to your “My Rockness” account and you would have been alerted when the show was first listed and reminded to buy tickets and #2) I should mind my own business.

Future Islands play Webster Hall tonight. How many people will be at this sold-out show because of David Letterman? I hope a lot. Because people who go to shows based on what they see on late night talk shows deserve to experience good things too. And Future Islands is indeed a good thing. Hell. Don’t take my word for it. See for yourself.

Other notable shows tonight = Saint Rich at Baby’s All Right + These New Puritans at Bowery Ballroom + Kristeen Young at The Bowery Electric + Tei Shi and Rush Midnight at The Studio at Webster Hall.

SEE ALL OF OUR WEDNESDAY SHOW PICKS.

Thursday - May 1st, 2014 A.D.

The Red Bull Music Academy Festival starts today and runs all month at various venues. I just thought you should know.

Psych popster Connan Mockasin (New Zealand) and loveable eccentro-pop dream-doom-synth nut job Kirin J Callinan (Australia) play Bowery Ballroom tonight (and Friday at Music Hall of Williamsburg). That’s a good pairing of intoxicatingly strange musical transcendence right there. And considering they came from the OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD to play their songs for you - the least you could do is show up for it.

CHVRCHES do a DJ set at Output tonight. And while I’m not exactly entirely sure what that means (#research #stinks) I would assume it’s the members of CHVRCHES playing records. Why this activity would cost you $25 at the door, I do not know. Hold on. I begrudgingly just did some quick #research. It’s Kitsune Club Night. That’s why it's $25. Oh.

Things don’t always have to go so big time on this thing. Not everything has to be a sold-out show, son! Sometimes you just wanna go to a small show. A nice little small show with a good little band. And if that’s what you’re in the mood for - and you like lo-fi eccentro-pop - I suggest checking out The Hairs at Muchmore’s. They aren’t CHVRCHES but they manage just fine thank you very much.

Other notable shows tonight = The Both at Music Hall of Williamsburg (as mentioned) + Rodrigo y Gabriela at Beacon Theater + Empire and Monogold and The Teen Age at Cameo Gallery + Bad Girlfriend at Niagara.

SEE ALL OF OUR THURSDAY SHOW PICKS.

Friday - May 2nd, 2014 A.D.

OK. They have moved beyond the DJ thing. CHVRCHES play a proper show at Terminal 5 tonight (and again tomorrow….and Sunday). In keeping to the theme of the week, this show is sold-out. But CHVRCHES play NYC all the time. At least that’s the way it seems. I can’t give you the exact number of times this band has played here in the last year or two because #research #stinks. But here’s the best pop song ever written about half siblings.

London’s electronic punk party poppers NYPC play Glasslands tonight. And I’m such an original alt, I used to listen to them when they were known as New Young Pony Club. And then I promptly forgot about them. That’s how much of an original alt I am. Maybe I’ll try to have that added that to my tombstone too.

“Here lies Whoa My Blobness: the original alt listener of Say Hi….To Your Mom and NYPC aka New Young Pony Club. Rest in Alt.”

Think I can fit all that on my tombstone? Better look into mausoleums.

The beats and the booms will simmer down to something instrumentally chill at Baby’s All Right. Chrome Sparks and Infinity Shred play tonight. Ease into this melodic mellow goodness, now. Just ease into it. Groove on the good vibrations. Feel the transcendent tingles. Choose life. Forever and Ever. Amen.

I already mentioned the Red Bull Music Academy Festival happening all this month. But tonight’s show at BAM is a particularly good one (and it happens again on Saturday). The show celebrates the music of enigmatic Nigerian funk musician (and perhaps now a taxi driver living in Ireland?) William Onyeabor and features performances by David Byrne + The Rapture guy + the Bloc Party guy + the Blood Orange guy + a bunch of other good guys. So you might want to consider going to this one, guy.

97X….BAM….the future of rock ‘n roll.

Other notable shows = Connan and Kirin at Music Hall of Williamsburg (already mentioned) + Rodrigo y Gabriela at Beacon Theater + Suzanne Vega at The Bell House.

SEE ALL OF OUR FRIDAY SHOW PICKS.

Saturday - May 3rd, 2014 A.D.

Gainsville’s Against Me! (nope, not me) and San Francisco’s Tony Molina (i invite you to click his name) and Seattle’s Big Eyes play Webster Hall tonight. That’s a solid punker rocker situation right there. Involve yourself in that goodness. And how about this! As of this writing (4:07pm on April 25th in the Year of the Trial-Sized Dove Bar) there are still tickets available. Wow! Mint! Rare! The sold-out shows shall not be concerned with me!

Pictureplane leads a good lineup at Brooklyn Night Bazaar tonight. It’s this free bazaar. That is open for business at night. In Brooklyn. Montreal’s Ought also play. They play good stabby jabby punk. And I think this is the band’s first ever NYC show. So that’s something. And it may even be true. #research #stinks

Shorts (click that to see see a picture of John McEnroe’s shorts) is a new band that features the keyboardist from some band called Real Estate. They play Radio Bushwick tonight. And I really like this perfect little pop song. Do you? If so, wanna hang at Radio Bushwick and talk about all the other stuff we surely have in common and also cook up a plan for that book club?

Philadelphia’s Cheerleader is another good new easy breezy pop band you should get into it (and I should mind my own business). They play Glasslands tonight with Corbu and Computer Magic. Here is a very pleasing song. Let's agree to agree on that.

Berlin play Gramercy Theatre tonight. And I just want you to know that “Take My Breath Away” is one of my least favorite songs of all time. I get the howling fantods whenever that song comes on. Also, will somebody please tell USA and TNT and WGN and TBS that Top Gun sucks?

(I’m posting the video so I can smear depression all over myself. It’s fun to do that every now and then)

Other notable shows = Deerhoof at (le) poisson rouge (bunny! bunny!) + CHVRCHES at Terminal 5 (already mentioned like a million times) + Greg Proops at The Bell House (haha) + Mighty Mouse at Slake + Body Language at Irving Plaza + JD Samson at Brooklyn Museum (free) + DJ sets by The Juan Maclean and Nancy Wang at Brooklyn Bowl.

SEE ALL OF OUR SATURDAY SHOW PICKS.

Sunday - May 4th, 2014 A.D.

Like Mondays, Sunday nights are usually about putting lipstick on the pig stink. Not this time. This week don’t play like that. There is lots of goodness to choose from.

You could go see Matt Pond PA at Rough Trade. That guy’s been delivering the pop goods for over ten years and you should go and bring him a watch or gold pen or something special in honor of his sweetly melodic sustainability. This particular song reminds me of nice times.

Or, if you prefer to get your ears blasted by brutal goodness, you should consider going to see Sannhet at The Studio at Webster Hall. This new band is #good. Listen to this song right quick. Hear the noise? Sure you do. But can you also hear the pretty? I bet you can. Because I believe in you.

I already told you about Slint at Bowery Ballroom. FOABOA. For Original Alts By Original Alts.

And holy shit! I guess I’m going to end this thing by talking about CHVRCHES....AGAIN. Because they play Terminal 5 tonight. That makes a million times since last July.

I don't know if it's been a million times. #research #stinks

Other notable shows = Weekend at Glasslands + The So So Glos at Shea Stadium + Vulture Shit at Death by Audio.

SEE ALL OF OUR SUNDAY SHOW PICKS.

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Thanks a lot! That was The Best Shows This Week and you guys have been great! A boring work week is up next!

But first. I’ve taken the liberty of preparing some discussion questions for our first book club meeting while you were reading.

What do you think the title #HeavenisForReal means?

Did you like the characters in #HeavenisForReal?

How did #HeavenForReal make you feel?

Finally? Is #HeavenForReal?

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