Hip-Hop dominates this week with at least three recommended shows. Some of the best acts in indie hip-hop play Irving Plaza tonight (Monday). It’s one of the only stops on the Stone Throw Records Tour featuring Madlib, M.E.D, Peanut Butter Wolf, and J-Rocc. On Tuesday Madlib and M.E.D. will also perform for free at Fat Beats. [Listen to some music Madlib put out on Blue Note.] Last year Madlib joined MF DOOM to release a highly acclaimed album as Madvillain. MF DOOM joins the not-very-indie De La Soul and The Roots on Summerstage Tuesday night for a benefit to save the Rhinos. Alternatively, Jean Grae (another indie favorite) joins Killah Priest from Wu-Tang Tuesday night at SOB's. [Listen to Jean at her website.] Wednesday the "Best Damn Rap Tour" with J-Live, Vast Aire, and C-Rayz Walz are at Northsix. Thursday 50's enemy Ja Rule plays BB Kings.

In the big- outdoor-summer concert department, this week offers two shows no indie-yuppie can resist. The first one costs money (to sit on the inside) and features former Talking Head David Byrne. Somewhat of a father figure in the NYC indie rock scene, David has been seen recently on stage with the Arcade Fire, checking out M.I.A. at S.O.B.'s and paying respect to the Pixies at Hammerstein Ballroom. Show him we love him too at Summerstage Wednesday evening with The Tosca Strings, Pink Martini, and McCollough Sons of Thunder. The second show those left in the city won't be able to resist happens on Monday July 4th. (you won't be working. neither will we.) Before the fireworks in Battery Park Stephen Malkmus (Pavement), Yo La Tengo, and Laura Cantrell will entertain us at the second big-free-major-act-indie-rock concert of the summer (first was New Pornographers in Prospect Park). Stephen played Irving Plaza on June 7th. If you missed it, One Louder has a review. Yo La Tengo's audio page is full of good stuff including samples from the soundtrack they just played live at Lincoln Center. See you there.

And now the day by day...

Monday - 27th

Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan is back with a solo career. (Mon & Tues @ Webster Hall)
Ted Leo is playing with Radio 1, I mean Radio 4. (@ Maxwell's)
Love is a Battlefield. Pat Benatar plays BB Kings Monday and Tuesday.

BB Kings - Neil Giraldo, Oppera, Pat Benatar
Mercury Lounge - ZZZZ, Manishevitz, Shannon McNally, Alice Texas
Bowery Ballroom - Head Automatica, Nightmare of You, The Fury, DJ Crazy Glue
Webster Hall - Billy Corgan, The Crimea, Dorris Henson
Maxwell's - Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, Radio 4
Beacon Theatre - Robert Plant with The Soundtrack of Our Lives
Irving Plaza - STONE THROW RECORDS TOUR Featuring Madlib, M.E.D., Peanut Butter Wolf, J-Rocc
Tower Records (692 Broadway) - Leela James (free)
Pianos - Biirdie



Tuesday - 28th

Longwave is another popular band from Brooklyn. They just came out with their third album which you can listen to at Myspace. See them for free at the Virgin Megastore in Union Square today and not-for-free at Bowery Ballroom on Wednesday.

Annie from Norway is back in town to perform her hipster-approved pop songs at Hiro Ballroom tonight. Info on getting into this show at Vice Records. You can listen to her entire album too. Then see her again at Scenic on Wednesday.

BB Kings - Neil Giraldo, Oppera, Pat Benatar
Virgin Megastore Union Square - Longwave (free)
Webster Hall - Billy Corgan, Dorris Henson, The Crimea
Rothko - Kevin Devine w/ Jay Nash & Joe Purdy, Shelby, Split Over Drapes, Aeroplane Pageant
Sin-e - Dopo Yume, Fiaso, Group Sounds, Apocalypstik, PS
Tonic - Skeletons & The Girl-Faced Boys, M.V. Carbon (of Metalux)
Hiro Ballroom - Anniemix (Annie & Timo Kaukolampi)
Mercury Lounge - The Witnesses, 20 Miles, Matt Mays & El Torpedo
Central Park Summerstage - The Roots, De La Soul, MF Doom
Joe's Pub - Leslie Gore
Lambs Theatre - Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
World Financial Center Plaza - Richard Thompson (free)
SOB's - Killah Priest (Wu Tang), Jean Grae
Knitting Factory (main space) - THE KILLITH FAIR MOD, Crisis, Jacknife, Cortez, Dissassociate
Fat Beats (store) - Madlib & MED (free)

Wednesday - 29th

Trachtenburg Slideshow Players continue their run off-broadway at Lambs Theatre.

Central Park Summerstage - David Byrne, The Tosca Strings, Pink Martini, McCollough Sons of Thunder
Maxwell's - MC Chris (Adult Swim), Dirt Bike Annie, The Unloveables, The Ergs
Pianos - Fleschette, Bravo Silva, Solar Face, The Love Scene
Mercury Lounge - Lez Zeppelin, The Mercury Seed, Filomath
Bowery Ballroom - Longwave, Benzos, The Picture
Northsix - J Live, Vast Aire, C-Rayz Walz
Trash - AIREOKE, Deadkings, The Milwaukees
Scenic - Anniemix (Annie & Timo Kaukolampi)
Irving Plaza - COAST TO COAST ROAST TOUR - Reel Big Fish with El Pus and Punchline
Radio City Music Hall - Mark Knopfler
Lambs Theatre - Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
Rocks Off Boat Cruise - Cowboy Mouth
Knitting Factory (main space) - The Aquarian Presents Catch 22, Wakefield, High School Football Heroes, Protest The Hero

Thursday - 30th

Deli Magazine covers the NYC music scene both in print and on the web. Tonight they celebrate the printing of their third paper issue at Tonic with an impressive lineup that includes The Jealous Girlfriends, Sylvie Lewis, Langhorne Slim, Nicole Atkins, and Jaymay.

Apostle of Hustle share members with Broken Social Scene. Last time Apostle played Mercury Lounge, they opened for Arts & Crafts labelmate Stars. Stars were back to play the biggest show of their lives this past Saturday night in Prospect Park. Now it's Apostle of Hustle's turn to headline the Merc. Mobius Band open.

Eels put out what many people consider to be one of the greatest albums this year, not to mention a long line of good albums before it. "Sometimes eels music is simple and pretty (DAISIES OF THE GALAXY), other times grating and loud, even scary (SOULJACKER) -- according to Everett, that depends on how he feels the story is best served. If it sometimes resembles catchy, popular music on the surface, that's Everett's chosen mode of celebration." [Filter] (@ Town Hall)

Mercury Lounge - Apostle of Hustle, Dr. Dog, Mobius Band, Frank Bango
Knitting Factory (Main Space) - The Unreal Scarlet's Well, Crystal Stilts, Overlord
Knitting Factory (Tap Bar) - Bleu, The Animators, Yael Myer
Rothko - My Favorite, Mahogany, Favorite Sons, Andrew Kenny (American Analog Set)
Southpaw - Cut the Wire, The Beeps, Au Revoir Simone
Tonic (Deli Magazine 3rd Issue Launch Party) - The Jealous Girlfriends, Sylvie Lewis, Langhorne Slim, Nicole Atkins, Jaymay
Cake Shop - The Living Things, Bent Outta Shape
Irving Plaza - Meat Beat Manifesto, Ming & FS, Dub Trio
Maxwell's - Aqualung, Cary Brothers
Northsix - Five O'Clock Heroes, COMA., The End of the World, Four Volts
Sin-e - The Little Killers, Cheater Slicks, The Hunches, The Shop Fronts
The Delancey - Easy Killer, The Twelve, Cologne, The Art of Shooting
Pussycat Lounge - Superfortress, Echostream, A-UX
Town Hall - Eels
BB Kings - Ja Rule
South Street Seaport - Ollabelle, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion (free)
Rufus King Park - Charlie Chase, GrandMaster Caz, GrandWizzard Theodore, Egg Foo Young, DJ Big Wiz, DJ Boo, Marcus, Lord Finesse (free)
Prospect Park Bandshell - The Del Mccoury Band / Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez
Webster Hall - La Ley

Friday - 1st

Do something different. Go to Brooklyn and listen to R&B Funk under the stars for free with Bilal & Martha Redbone ($3.00 donation suggested). (@ Prospect Park Bandshell)

Pussycat Lounge - Fiend of a Fiend
Mercury Lounge - Home Video, Exit Clov, Luke Temple, The Savage Juliet
Maxwell's - Kevin Devine & His Damn Band, Kate Sikora
Knitting Factory (Main Space) - A Place to Bury Strangers, The Black Spoons, Morex Optimo
PNC Bank Arts Center (NJ) - Earth, Wind & Fire & Chicago
Bryant Park (Good Morning America) - Patti LaBelle (free)
Prospect Park Bandshell - Bilal and Martha Redbone

Team Sleep


Saturday - 2nd

It was just a few weeks ago that Chino Moreno from the Deftones debuted his new band Team Sleep for NYC at Knitting Factory. Tonight they're back at Northsix, and tomorrow at Maxwell's. Pitchfork doesn't like their album as much as Aversion. Watch a video.

Minibosses cover video game music rock style. (@ Knitting Factory)

Palace Tavern - Tomorrow's Friend, Cause for Applause, Inouk
Tonic - Dirty Projectors, Viking Moses, Feathers
Mercury Lounge - Tim Easton, Dusty Brown
The Hook - Ill Ease, The Notekillers, Lycaon Pictus
Cake Shop - Looker, For Real For Real
Northsix - Team Sleep, Idiot Pilot
Scenic - Scream and Scream Again, Ultrabunny (aka Bunnybrains 88), Blue Rider
Don Hill's - The GoStation, Explorer, December Sound
Central Park Summerstage - The Music of Nick Drake with The Maxes
Prospect Park Bandshell - Shadow, Trinidad Slam
Knitting Factory (main space) - A Solo Acoustic Evening with Ben Jelen, with Special Guest Edison Arthur (early show)
Knitting Factory (main space) - Minibosses, Repellent, Penny Winblood, Maniac Mansion (late show)

Sunday - 3rd

Arlene's Grocery - Grayson Capps, Gig Lizzy, John Law, Rock Rock Rebel, Limbs, Kinetic
Maxwell's - Team Sleep, Idiot Parade
Jones Beach - Earth, Wind & Fire / Chicago
Central Park Summerstage - Peace through Music, Love to the People Khaled & Friends Featuring Elan, KC Porter, Walfredo Reyes Jr., Luis Conte, Cheb i Sabbah and other special guests
Southpaw - Tracy Bonham

Monday - 4th

Happy America Day.

The Lawn of Battery Park - Yo La Tengo, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Laura Cantrell
Mercury Lounge - Jay Jay Johnson, Elkland

* This post certified Fois Gras free. ;)

What did we miss?