This Week's Music Picks

Last week I didn't tell you about the show Beck played at Hiro Ballroom Friday night (one night before his appearance on Saturday Night Live). That's because the "secret" show wasn't even announced until Thursday. Beck is known for playing last-minute small-venue shows, and I was lucky enough to score a ticket to this one. Here are the pictures.

In February, Beck played another secret show in Los Angeles. The opener was none other than, sex machine, Har Mar Superstar. He dances like Michael Jackson, sings like Prince, and looks like... well, he looks a little like Ron Jeremy. His shows are a blast. Find out for yourself at Southpaw tonight, or Tuesday at Knitting Factory. Har Mar recently collaborated with Australian singer-songwriter (and ex-boyfriend of Claire Danes) Ben Lee. Ben also plays both shows.

What do Har Mar, Ben Lee, Ash, Ivy, and Out Hud all have in common? Give up? If you said, "they're all three letter words," then you're correct! They're also all playing in NYC this week, and three of them are headlining Bowery Ballroom. British rockin' Ash (who just landed a spot in a Star Wars video game) co-headline with The Bravery tonight. Ivy play indie-pop on Friday. Out Hud will make you dance on Saturday.

It's almost summer, and that means summer concerts. The long-standing Ozzfest makes it to PNC Bank Arts Center in NJ on July 26th. For those who can't wait, stop by Sin-e Tuesday night for the Ozzfest Battle. Local bands compete for a spot in the festival. Faster Pussycat bring back the 80's glam to Continental Friday night, and the all mighty King Diamond spans two nights at BB Kings, with Nile.

It's been a while since we've heard from Garbage. Shirley Manson and gang sold out Hammerstein Ballroom in a few minutes when tickets first went on sale for Tuesday night's comeback show. Don't have a ticket? There's sure to be an abundance of scalpers outside Hammerstein. Get there early. Other big shows in town this week: Alicia Keys at Radio City, Lenny Kravitz at the Beacon Theater, and Elvis Costello - also at the Beacon. And there's always the continuing Erasure marathon.

and now the day by day breakdown...

Monday

Jana Hunter's name will soon be associated with Devendra Banhart, with whom she's releasing a split EP. Scary Manion make this an anti-freak-alt-other-folk show you don't want to miss.

Sin-e - Jana Hunter, My Other Face, Diego Perez, Looker, Scary Mansion
Bowery Ballroom - Ash, The Bravery, alaska!
Mercury Lounge - Hightower Smith, The Stands, Michael Flynn, Dreadnaught
Southpaw - Ben Lee, Har Mar Superstar, Maria Taylor (of Azure Ray)
Irving Plaza - Erasure, Elkland

Tuesday

Granola Funk Express, known as G-Funk to fans, bring hip-hop-rock-funk to the jam band scene at Lion's Den. Scary Mansion (see Monday night) join Hanna Marcus and Black Lights for a free show in Williamsburg.

Knitting Factory - Ben Lee, Har Mar Superstar, Maria Taylor of Azure Ray
Bowery Ballroom - Amy Ray (of Indigo Girls), Katz from Athen's Boys Choir, Snow Machine
Rothko - The Harlem Shakes, Benzos, The Hong Kong, Eugene (members of Soundtrack)
Irving Plaza - Erasure, Elkland
Knitting Factory - Castanets, Tigersaw
Hammerstein Ballroom - Garbage
New Jersey Performing Arts Center - Bob Dylan and His Band & Merle Haggard and The Strangers
Lion's Den - Granola Funk Express & Pens & Needles
Tribeca Rock Club - Adam Richman
Joe's Pub - Janis Ian
B.B. King Blues Club & Grill - King Diamond, Nile
Zebulon (Williamsburg) - Hannah Marcus, Scary Mansion, Black Lights (FREE)
Sin-e - Battle for Ozzfest w/ A Dozen Furies, Curse Your Name, Manntis, Sicks Deep

Wednesday

Fashion accessory and coffee table book author, Moby plays at, structurally safe, Webster Hall. Get there early to catch Buck 65's brand of hip-hop (and then leave. JUST KIDDING. I love Moby, no matter what they say.)

Listen to a live performance by singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur, and then decide if you'd like to see him tonight at Bowery Ballroom. Ed Harcourt can blay big venues. He's playing a small one.

Webster Hall - Moby, Buck 65
Knitting Factory - Melt Banana, An Albatross, Genghis Tron
Pianos - Ed Harcourt, Sylvie Lewis
Tonic - PG Six, Currituck County, Naysayer
Tonic - Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
Mercury Lounge - Supersystem (formerly El Guapo), Man Man, Mary Timony, The Reputation (ex-Sarge)
Bowery Ballroom - Joseph Arthur, Tara Angel, Y
Irving Plaza - Handsome Boy Modeling School, K-OS, Rondo Brothers
Northsix - ASVA (mem. of Mr. Bungle), Unearthly Trance, Gospel
Radio City Music Hall - Alicia Keys
Sin-e - Roh Delikat, Morning Theft, Cholo, Shuttle Cock
B.B. King Blues Club & Grill - King Diamond, Nile

Thursday

Watch a Baby Dayliner video, and you'll know why the "21st Century Frank Sinatra" consistently sells out Merucry Lounge. I'd be there if I wasn't hitting one of the two Superwolf shows at Bowery Ballroom. Folk singer Bonnie "Prince" Billy aka Will Oldham teamed up with Matt Sweeney, and out came Superwolf. Reggae fans take note. John Browns Body is at S.O.B.'s.

Mercury Lounge - Baby Dayliner, The Picture, Coma, Neon
Bowery Ballroom - Superwolf (Bonnie "Prince" Billy & Matt Sweeney), amonoanon, Jodie Jean Marston (late and early shows)
Irving Plaza - Erasure, Elkland
Northsix - Shipping News, Pretendo, Minaret
S.O.B.'s - John Browns Body
Beacon Theater - Lenny Kravitz, Nikka Costa
Tonic - Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra

Friday

Lez Zeppelin is a group of lesbians playing Lez Zeppelin songs. Edie Sedgwick, not the Warhol movie star, is a drag queen singing songs about celebrities. Edie is actually Justin from the band El Guapo. I don't personally care for him, but some people like it. Marah will be playing in a larger venue soon. Tonight see her at the smaller Living Room. Benefit WBAI at Sidewalk Cafe.

Pianos - Edie Sedgwick (Justin from El Guapo), Echo Station, Dutchess, Trouble Everyday, Mike Previti
Mercury Lounge - Radar Brothers, Faun Fables, Baby Teeth, The Cuban Cowboys, Gran Bel Fisher
Bowery Ballroom - Ivy, The Natural History, Astaire
Irving Plaza - Erasure, Elkland
Northsix - Amon Tobin, Blockhead
Southpaw - Trashcan Sinatras, Cartel
Knitting Factory - The Fucking Champs, Parchman Farm, Black Taj (ex-Polvo)
Radio City Music Hall - Alicia Keys
Cutting Room - Lez Zeppelin
Sidewalk Cafe - Benefit for WBAI-FM - Tuli Kupferberg (of The Fugs!), Paula Valstein, Jeffrey Lewis, Don McCloskey (Plus special appearances by Bob Fass, Robert Knight, Steven Ben Israel, Lach and others through-out the evening)
Pianos - Edie Sedgwick, Echo Station, Dutchess, Trouble Everyday, Mike Previti
Living Room - Marah
Rothko - Pete Rock
Beacon Theater - Elvis Costello and the Imposters
Continental - Faster Pussycat
Roseland - Hydra w/ Mickey Hart & Particle

Saturday

Word on the street is that the $2.00 show at Magnetic Field in Brooklyn is hot. Indie rock superstars, The Shins, play their first of three nights at Webster Hall. Marah plays again. "Urban folk singer-songwriter," Damien Jurado plays Southpaw. From the UK, grime master, Dizzee Rascal plays Irving Plaza.

Soundfix records (instore) - Trashcan Sinatras (2pm)
Webster Hall - The Shins, The Brunettes
Southpaw - Damien Jurado, Two Gallants, Sail on Sailor
Magnetic Field - The Little Killers, Human Eye, Tentacle Lizardo
Pianos - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Hopewell, Dr. Dog, The Teeth
Arlene's Grocery - Some Action, Heather (ex-Satanicide), Darediablo, Carla Ryder, Kelly Buchanan
Club Exit - Black Dice, Eric Gaffney & Jason Lowenstein (ex-Sebadoh), Blood on the Wall, Cause CoMotion
Mercury Lounge - Trashcan Sinatras, The Silent League, Elizabeth Harper
Irving Plaza - Dizzee Rascal, DJ Wonder
Northsix - The Fucking Champs, Parchman Farm, Black Taj (ex-Polvo), Vise Massacre
Bowery Ballroom - Out Hud, Hella, Shy Child
Radio City Music Hall - Alicia Keys
Sin-e - Heroine Sheiks, Gorch Fock, Trauma Queens, Awsta
Living Room - Marah
Tonic - Groove Collective

Sunday

I'll shut up now.

Webster Hall - The Shins, The Brunettes
Irving Plaza - Erasure, Elkland
Maxwell's - Trashcan Sinatras
Northsix - The Vanity Set, Ambitious Orchestra (featuring Melora from Rasputina), Nervous Cabaret, The Big Sleep

promote your event, fix spelling errors, add your 2 cents...

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By brooklyn vegan in Arts and Events on April 18, 2005 3:37 PM

Comments [rss]

K

Don't forget Trabant on Wednesday at Joe's Pub - Iceland represent.

Cindy

not a bad round up...i see these guys are playing Thursday....

http://www.rockandrollreport.com/the_rock_and_roll_report/2005/04/audio_fiction_s.html

beth

Catherine, you rock! Those commas were insistently nudging me as I read, and then there you were, commenting on them!

[signed]

One Who's Asked Way Too Many Authors How Many Brothers They Have

NCS

What did you mean by, "Word on the street is that the $2.00 show at Magnetic Field in Brooklyn is hot?"

brooklynvegan

"w. williams," I appreciate the show tip for tomorrow night. I am merely one person with a paying day job (which would make Gothamist my non-paying night job I guess), and I couldn't possibly know everything good going on. I'm learning though.

(obsessive compulsive I am...) The frustrating part of your comment is that I was THIS CLOSE to listing that show, but passed it over due to lack of experience with said bands, and lack of time (note my 4pm post time).

(sensitive me...) I don't care at all if you list a show in the comments. In fact, I/Gothamist encourage it (hence the comments functionality). BUT PLEASE don't accuse me of getting paid to promote a show. All hype (grammatically correct or not) comes directly from my layman brain (with a little help from google). thanks.

toyochin

J9, you didn't visit BV's site on Thursday or Friday, did you?

To be fair to BV, 'Gums and other bloggers who "leaked" the Beck show, it was more or less public knowledge by Friday morning. Once it was news, there was no real purpose in holding it back.

And any dedicated Beck fan could have simply walked up to Hiro and gotten in for about $10 less than what Ticketweb was charging. No harm done.

brooklynvegan

English was always my worst subject.

J9

I'm so sad that I didn't get beck tixx, even though I'm on his mailing list and knew about the show. Thank you for showing some restraint and not blogging about it beforehand, though - that was the right thing to do. I will console myself with the fact that I have seen Beck live about five times, each time an awesome show.

catherine

well, BV, since you asked, here's a little grammatical tip: the comma is not necessary with restrictive appositives. in english, that means the following:

wrong: "The opener was none other than, sex machine, Har Mar Superstar." [this conveys the impression that har mar is in fact the only sex machine on the planet, whereas there are at least a couple of other sex machines in the world of indie rock, though har mar is arguably the sexiest.]

right: "The opener was none other than sex machine Har Mar Superstar.

wrong: "Indie rock superstars, The Shins, play their first of three nights at Webster Hall." [i don't think isaac brock would appreciate the sentiment that the shins are the one and only indie-rock superstar group, and you know you don't want to get on his bad side.]

right: "Indie-rock superstars the Shins play their first of three nights at Webster Hall."

please forgive my geek-out, but it's what i do for a living. and frankly this drives me crazy.

short version: LAY OFF THE GODDAMN COMMAS.

as you were,

catherine

w. williams

the vegan may be spinning the indie labels' hype (for free?), but he missed tomorrow's big show at mercury: apothecary hymns and slavic soul party! get there before the spinsters cause this one to sell out, too.

http://www.locustmusic.com/apothecaryhymns.html

http://www.mattmoran.com/ssp.html