What's going on Wednesday? (OMD, Specials, Mobb Deep, Summerscreen, Freddie Gibbs, Blake Schwarzenbach & more)
OMD @ T5, 2011 (more by Chris La Putt)
The Specials at SXSW 2013 (more by Greg Cristman)
Browse our full NYC show calendar for all of tonight’s shows. Here are some highlights…
The Specials, Little Hurricane @ Pier 26
These Two Tone vets inspired so much mediocre music, it’s sometimes easy to forget that The Specials’ debut album is just about perfect, and still sounds great today. The only thing unappealing about tonight’s outdoor show is the 90° temperatures we’ve been having, though when they play “Too Hot” everyone will commiserate.
OMD, Diamond Rings @ Terminal 5
’80s synthpop legends are supporting their not-bad-at-all new album, English Electric, but they won’t be skimping on the classics. Expect much Molly-Ringwald-style dancing. Diamond Rings, who probably owes a bit of his sound to OMD, opens the night and he always puts on a fun show too.
Summerscreen w/ Oberhofer, Lodro, Bueno @ McCarren Park (FREE)
Tonight’s “Summerscreen” will be a good one, as they’re showing one of the ’80s funniest movies, Pee Wee’s Big Adventures, plus live sets from Oberhofer, LODRO and Bueno. Bands start at 6 PM with the movie at sunset. Free. Tell ’em Large Marge sent ya.
Blake Schwarzenbach, Red Dons, Nuclear Spring, Ylajali @ Death By Audio
There’s a great punk bill at Death by Audio tonight with sets from Jawbreaker/Jets to Brazil/Forgetters frontman Blake Schwarzenbach, Red Dons (who do justice to the late ’70s/early ’80s classic punk sound), Nuclear Spring (who do menacing, super-fast melodic hardcore), and Ylajali.
Holly Miranda @ Rockwood Music Hall Stage Two
Taking time out from recording her new album (and playing in ScarJo’s new new wave band), Holly Miranda tests out new material tonight at Rockwood Music Hall. She’ll probably play a few you know, too. Tickets are still available.
Mobb Deep @ Stage 48
The Infamous LP is some of the greatest hip hop of the mid-90s, and the Queensbridge duo of Havoc and Prodigy have a slew of other favorites in their deep deep catalog. Crime rhyme aficionados, I’ll see you there.
Freddie Gibbs, Lil Debbie, DJ Getlive @ Knitting Factory
Freddie Gibbs, who’s not letting up on his goal of keeping gangsta rap alive, is playing a free Scion A/V show (you had to enter their contest to get in) show tonight at Knitting Factory with Lil Debbie.
Nothing Changes w/ Bestial Mouths, Bootblacks @ Home Sweet Home
Bestial Mouths conclude their NYC stay in the fog-dense atmosphere of the Nothing Changes party at Home Sweet Home. Get their early to catch Bootblacks and stay late for killer goth jams.
The Monkees @ Count Basie Theatre
Though minus Davy Jones (who died last year), the rest of The Monkees — Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith and Mickey Dolenz, who all wrote and sang too, y’know — will take a tour through their ’60s career in chronological order tonight.
Monkey: Journey to the West @ Lincoln Center
More simian options: Damon Albarn, Chen Shi-Zheng, and Jamie Hewlett’s musical take on one of China’s most famous tales is part opera, part Cirque du Soleil.
San Fermin, Wilsen, Belle Mare @ Glasslands
If spooky folk with a touch of classically-trained skill is your bag, head to Glasslands tonight for this hat-trick of groups that all fall somewhere on that spectrum.
Another free outdoor movie option: Ghostbusters is showing at the Seaport’s Front/Row Cinemas.
Q-Tip @ Output
The abstract poetic is truly a renaissance man, and the MC/producer/vocalist will show off yet another skill at Output when he rocks the crowd with a DJ set. Dude knows his shit, so make sure you wear comfortable shoes… sexy and comfortable that is.
Other Colors, Weyes Blood @ Union Pool
Drone folk artist Weyes Blood plays around NYC a lot, and is always worth catching. She plays Union Pool tonight with Other Colors.
Big Terrific @ Cameo (FREE)
Even though his Big Terrific cohorts Jenny Slate and Gabe Liedman spend most of their time on the West Coast these days, Max Silvestri holds down the fort and continues gets great guests for this. You never know who will show up… unless you check Max’s twitter about two hours before the show.
Uptown Showdown: Books vs Movies @ Symphony Space
This bi-monthly, funny-oriented debate series aims to finally determine which is better: books or movies. Helping sort it out are Janeane Garofalo, Brooke Van Poppelen, James Adomian David Rees and host, Adam Goldman. Sold out.
Big Long Sets with Paul Oddo & Myq Kaplan @ UCB East
Big Long Sets at UCBeast is always a good way to see your favorite comedians for $5. This month, the show features Boston Comedy Festival winner Paul Oddo and Myq Kaplan (who maybe you’ve seen on Conan).
Week At The Creek with Christian Finnegan and Nick Turner @ Creek Cave (FREE)
The Creek & the Cave hosts “Week At The Creek,” a standup series where one comedian performs at the Long Island City venue every night for a week. This week, hilarious standups Christian Finnegan and Nick Turner are stepping up to the plate. And it’s FREE.
For more laughs, check out the NYC Comedy calendar too.
For all of tonight’s shows, and tomorrow’s, check out our full NYC show calendar.
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