This Week's Music Picks

Do you truly appreciate this city?

Where else in the world does a random Monday in April present the option of Sonic Youth, the Eagles, Devotchka, The Locust, Blues Explosion, M. Ward, and the Kills? Is there anywhere 'hip'per than NYC?

This week, Widespread Panic will have the hippies dancin' in the streets before sittin' in their seats at Radio City Music Hall. Those unable to score a miracle should keep on truckin' to the Beacon Theater. Ex-Grateful Dead guitarist, Bob Weir, will be jammin' with his new band, Ratdog.

The hipsters, arms crossed, will discover Black Lipstick at Mercury Lounge. Despite their name, Black Lipstick are not a gothic electroclash group from Williamsburg. Listen here. Still cool enough to like, The Kills play Bowery Ballroom two days before M83 plays two shows on the same stage. M83 are an electronic/rock duo from France that the critics love. Decide for yourself.

Speaking of the French, lucky ticket holders will experience Nouvelle Vague recreate 80's new wave, bossa nova style, at Joe's Pub. Those wanting the real thing can catch Erasure at Irving Plaza, or opt for a stadium-style 'Rio' sing-along with Duran Duran at MSG. Did I mention Erasure are playing TEN shows?

The diversity doesn't end there. Headbangers get to mosh to Mudvayne and Life of Agony at Roseland. Martians can thrash to The Locust at Northsix. Folkies start the week with M. Ward and Norfolk & Western at Southpaw, and end it with Magnolia Electric Co. at Knitting Factory.

If you like 'Nigerian Afro-beat, American soul, and Latin dance grooves,' we have Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra at Tonic. If it's 'radical Jewish roots music' you prefer, don't miss the Klezmatics. Seventies Americana? The Eagles are playing MSG. Alternative Country? Tift Merritt at Bowery Ballroom.

Sick of traditional venues? New York City offers alt-country legend Jay Farrar in a bookstore for a good cause. The daughter of some real country legends, Roseanne Cash, plays in a museum. Sonic Youth check in to a hotel.

We even have our own bands to make us proud (or embarrassed, depending on your preference). Coolfer told us these guys were going to be big. Elkland is opening ALL ten Erasure shows. Here's our interview. The Bravery, love 'em or hate 'em, are playing Bowery Ballroom twice. Here's our CD review. Good luck getting tickets to any Bravery or Erasure shows. They're all sold out.

and now the day by day...

Monday

It's really hard picking winners with options like this, but I recommend you not miss M. Ward tonight. Norfolk & Western opens the show and plays as Ward's backing band. Sad Rachel Blumberg left the Decemberists? Then don't miss her as Ward's drummer, ukulele player, and backup singer.

Southpaw: M. Ward, Norfolk and Western
Hiro Ballroom (Maritime Hotel): Sonic Youth
Mercury Lounge: Devotchka, papercranes, One Star Hotel
Northsix: The Locust, Daughters, Chinese Stars, Houston McCoy
CBGB: Blues Explosion
Bowery Ballroom: The Kills, Scout Niblet, Group Sounds
Madison Square Garden: Eagles

Tuesday

I give up on putting an asterisk next to the recommended shows. Mike Patton (remember Faith No More?) sings for Fantomas, and I've only heard good things. Martha Wainwright, sister of Rufus, daughter of Loudon, plays Joe's Pub.

Joe's Pub (early): Nouvelle Vague
Joe's Pub (late): Martha Wainwright
CBGB: Blues Explosion
Irving Plaza: Fantomas, Trevor Dunn's Trio, Convulsant
Northsix: Sonic Youth, Big A little a
Knitting Factory: Castanets
Roseland: Mudvayne, Life of Agony, Blood Simple
Mercury Lounge: Pony Up!
Bowery Ballroom: Tift Merritt, Chatham County Line

Wednesday

Loudon, father of Martha and Rufus, plays Joe's Pub. Zap Mama is "one of the most successful world music groups of the past decade." Gore Gore Girls are a female rock n' roll trio from Detroit.

Knitting Factory: Tarantula
Bowery Ballroom: M83, Ulrich Schnauss
Northsix: Mono, Eluvium, The Winter Pageant
CBGB: Emok
SOB's: Zap Mama
Tonic: Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
Mercury Lounge: Black Lipstick
Joe's Pub: Loudon Wainwright III
Madison Square Garden: Duran Duran
Pianos: Gore Gore Girls

Thursday

The Giraffes call themselves Brooklyn's premier rock band. Check out Gothamist's interview with Asobi Seksu.

The Delancey: The Giraffes, The Witnesses, Americana, Commando, Pants
Mercury Lounge: Mono, Asobi Seksu, Eluvium
Bowery Ballroom: M83, Ulrich Schauss
Irving Plaza: Erasure, Elkland
Northsix: The Ex-Models, Kid Millions (of Oneida), Electroputas, Touchdown
SOB's: Zap Mama
Rothko: Vast Aire & Mighty Mi
Tonic: Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
Maxwell's: Citizen Cope
Radio City Music Hall: Widespread Panic

Friday

Brendan Benson's been getting a lot of buzz lately, due in part to his association with Jack White of the White Stripes.

Clap Your Hands and say "Which buzz band are we opening for this week?" The answer: Ambulance Ltd. at Northsix. From Brooklyn. In Brooklyn. Gaze at your shoes.

CBGB: Bishop Allen, Locksley, La Laque, We Are Scientists
Tommy's Tavern: The Natural History, The End of the World, The Narrator, The Pathways
Tonic: Ariel Pink, Excepter, A Soft Circle
Bowery Ballroom: Brendan Benson, The Stands, Charlie Mars
Irving Plaza: Erasure, Elkland
Northsix: Ambulance Ltd., Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The M's
Rubin Museum of Art: Roseanne Cash
Housing Works Used Book Cafe: Jay Farrar & Maria Taylor & Tracy Bonham
Maxwell's: The Undertones & the Kowalskis
Beacon Theater: Bob Weir and Ratdog
Radio City Music Hall: Widespread Panic

Saturday

"Jesse Sykes is an extraordinary singer and amazing songwriter whose dark songs of dislocation and reconciliation fall somewhere between the warm country-noir of Giant Sand, pour down like silver-era Richard/Linda Thompson, and the the elegant indie-rock of Cat Power."

Of Montreal's new album comes out on April 12th.

Irving Plaza: Erasure, Elkland
Maxwell's: Sonic Youth, Loren Connors
Northsix: Of Montreal, St. Thomas, The Bluffs
Knitting Factory: Magnolia Electric Co., Oneida, Oakley Hall
Mercury Lounge: Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter, Great Lake Swimmers, The M's, Jennifer O'Connor
Satalla: The Klezmatics
Tonic: Nina Nastasia
Beacon Theater: Bob Weir and Ratdog
Radio City Music Hall: Widespread Panic
Pianos: The GoStation
Southpaw: Hem

Sunday

If I don't hurry up, this post will miss its Monday deadline.

Bowery Ballroom: The Bravery, Ash, alaska
Knitting Factory: Damon & Naomi, Adrian Crowley, Rick Moody
Southpaw: The Undertones, The Trakes, The Baby Shakes
Tonic: French Toast

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