What's going on Thursday? (Beirut, National Sawdust, Autre Ne Veut, Godspeed, Salad Boys, Bill Withers tribute & more)
photo: Beirut @ The Bell House in September (more by PSquared)
You can browse our full NYC show calendar for all of tonight’s shows, but here are some highlights…
Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Downtown Boys @ Warsaw
Post rock greats Godspeed You! Black Emperor returned in 2012 after a 10-year absence from releasing albums, and this year they dropped another one. The new stuff is no less colossal-sounding than their classic material, making this band as exciting as ever. Tonight they wrap up their three-night run in NYC, and this one’s with political punks Downtown Boys.
Beirut, Hailu Mergia @ Radio City Music Hall
Beirut released his fourth album, No No No, this year. It’s pretty much Beirut comfort food, which is not a bad thing at all. ’80s-era Ethiopian funk musician Hailu Mergia (who’s been having a resurgence lately) opens the show and he is not to be missed.
Autre Ne Veut @ Rough Trade
Autre Ne Veut continues to push the boundaries of R&B on his highly emotional new album, Age of Transparency. It’s good stuff, and tonight’s the release show.
Origin, Krislun, AEON, Alterbeast, Soreption, Ingested @ Saint Vitus Bar
This Metal Injection-presented tour has a pretty loaded bill, headlined by long-running death metal band Origin.
Superhumanoids, Rush Midnight, GGOOLLDD @ Baby’s All Right
Superhumanoids just put out a pretty cool synthpop album, Do You Feel OK?, that’s a bit more on the weirder side than the slicked-up water-down stuff coming out of this world lately (Chvrches, etc). The rest of the bill tonight is pretty likeminded too.
Lydia, Seahaven, Turnover, The Technicolors @ Gramercy Theatre
Most of this bill isn’t exactly our thing, but we do recommend catching Turnover’s jangly, dream pop if you’re going.
Lee Scratch Perry @ Brooklyn Bowl
Dub pioneer, a highly influential artist all and genuine eccentric, Lee “Scratch” Perry celebrates the 40th anniversary of his Super Ape album tonight.
Matt Kivel, Zachary Cale, Fraternal Twin @ Elvis Guesthouse
One half of brotherly pop duo Princeton, Matt Kivel also makes music on his own, having released two underheard/underrated solo albums — Double Exposure in 2013 (on Olde English Spelling Bee) and Days of Being Wild in 2014 (on Woodsist). His next album, titled Janus, was made with Scottish folk musician Alasdair Roberts.
Ought, Adult Moon @ Mercury Lounge
Montreal’s Ought get compared to Talking Heads a lot which comes across a lot more live than on record (such as their just-released Sun Coming Down). But live you also get why they’ve got such a fervent following — frontman Tim Darcy’s onstage charisma is hard to ignore.
Toro y Moi, Astronauts,etc. @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Chillwave survivor Toro Y Moi rediscovered the guitar on his enjoyable new album What For? but his funky, relaxed spirit remains.
ACME, Bryce Dessner, Nico Muhly, Jeffrey Zeigler,Paola Prestini, Tanya Tagaq @ National Sawdust
Three years and $16 million in the making, highbrow arts center National Sawdust opens tonight with two inaugural “Discover the Space” shows. This is the sold-out early show with more of a classical bent, including National Sawdust Executive Director and composer Paola Prestini.
Jeffrey Zeigler, Cibo Matto, Roger Bonair-Agard, James Murphy @ National Sawdust
The late show at National Sawdust loosens its tie a bit and is made for dancing, with the kitschy cool of Cibo Matto (playing tonight with Nels Cline), and a DJ set from James Murphy.
Holy Tunics, Salad Boys, The Britanys, Losing @ Palisades
New Zealand’s Salad Boys make the kind of fiercely strummed, jangly guitar pop that never really goes out of style (even if it’s never exactly in style, either). They just released their terrific new album, Metalmania, via Trouble in Mind.
Shilpa Ray, O’Death, Tarana @ Rough Trade
Shilpa Ray released her new album, Last Year’s Savage, earlier this year via Northern Spy. Her swaggering punk/blues/cabaret style is in full effect and lyrically sharp. She’s even more powerful live.
Twin Shadow, Wild Belle, Helado Negro @ Terminal 5
Having gotten his start during the chillwave days, Twin Shadow always had a outsized romantic persona which he fully embraced on this year’s Eclipse which borders on stadium rock.
Patty Griffin @ Town Hall
An undeniably talented singer-songwriter, Griffin remains in top form on her new album Servant of Love.
Cuntz, Wilful Boys, Foster Care @ Cake Shop
It’s a double dose of Aussie punk tonight with Melbourne’s delightfully named Cuntz and ex-pats Wilful Boys (who live here), but bruising garage punks Foster Care.
Steve Wynn @ The Bowery Electric
Here’s a chance to catch the Dream Syndicate, Baseball Project singer/guitarist in solo mode, playing songs from through his 30+ year career.
Q-Tip (DJ), JoJo, Ebro (host) @ FADER + vitaminwater #uncapped
Fetty Wap was supposed to headline this show but had to cancel due to his recent injuries. Q-Tip (DJ) was added as his replacement, and there’s always former child star JoJo if you’re into that sorta thing.
For all of tonight’s shows, and tomorrow’s, check out our NYC concert calendar.
For laughs, check out the NYC Comedy calendar too.
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