What's going on Friday? (M.I.A., Mogwai, Titus Andronicus, Liars, EMA, Pantha Du Prince, Dwight Twilley & more)
M.I.A. at Terminal 5 in 2012 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)
You can browse our full NYC show calendar for all of tonight’s shows, but here are some highlights…
M.I.A., A$AP Ferg @ Knockdown Center
What was originally supposed to be two shows at Queens’ Knockdown Center with M.I.A. has been reduced to this one show tonight. FYI if you’re going: the venue was denied their liquor license, so no bar tonight.
EMA, Downtown Boys, Owel @ Rough Trade
Tonight’s the last of three NYC appearances EMA is making on her current tour, which is in support of her great new album, The Future’s Void, a blend of folk, industrial, alternative rock and more. Opening is politically-charged punks Downtown Boys and atmospheric rockers Owel.
Titus Andronicus, The World is a Beautiful Place & I’m No Longer Afraid To Die, Rozwell Kid, For Everest @ NYU’s Strawberry Festival (12:30 PM)
NYU’s annual Strawberry Festival returns and if you can take off work or school (or are off today anyway), it sounds like a great way to spend your day (12:30 PM – 4:30 PM). It’s headlined by NJ punks Titus Andronicus and providing direct support is CT emo collective TWIABP, making for a very solid double bill.
Mogwai, Majeure @ Terminal 5
Post-rock giants Mogwai never stop evolving their sound. It’s hard to believe the band who made this year’s Rave Tapes is the same band who made 1997’s classic debut, Young Team. This of course means they’ll have a huge variety to pull from when they take on the huge Terminal 5 with their huge sound tonight. Zombi’s synthy side project Majeure opens.
Liars, Jana Hunter @ The Wick
With their industrial/EBM-influenced new album, Mess, Liars deliver their most accessible, danceable batch of tunes in ages. With Pit Er Pat’s Butchy Fuego currently on drums, Liars are a real force. Their second of two NYC shows this week and a good opportunity to check out this new BK venue.
Bombay Bicycle Club, Royal Canoe @ Webster Hall
UK indie pop band Bombay Bicycle Club put out their fourth album this year, So Long, See You Tomorrow, which is both different from all three of their other albums and a lot stronger than it seemed like BBC’s fourth album would be when they debuted as a post-Arctic Monkeys/Strokes band in ’09. Tonight’s their second of two sold out Webster Hall shows.
Matt Pryor, Bob Nanna, Blue of Colors, Mark Rose, Franz Nicolay, Josh Berwanger @ Knitting Factory
It’s a night of ’90s emo nostalgia in stripped-down mode with Get Up Kids frontman Matt Pryor (whose new solo album is very good), Braid co-frontman Bob Nanna, and The Anniversary singer Josh Berwanger. There’s also ’00s pop punk nostalgia from Blue of Colors (Steve of Punchline) and Mark Rose (of Spitalfield) if you’re into that sort of thing, plus ex-Hold Steady keyboard player Franz Nicolay.
Dwight Twilley, Pezband, 1-800-BAND @ The Bell House
It’s the first night of the Brooklyn Power Pop Fest with with great legendary acts (Twilley and Pezband), plus Brooklyn up-and-comers 1-800-Band.
Pantha Du Prince, Scott Mou, JDH & Dave P @ LPR
Berlin electronic musician Pantha Du Prince is currently on a North American tour playing new material with his new “Triad” lineup which features longtime collaborator Scott Mou (also a Panda Bear collaborator) and Bendik Hovik Kjeldsberg.
Just Blaze, Trouble & Bass, Que Bajo?!, Max Glazer + Kenny Meez of Federation Sound @ Baby’s All Right (Red Bull Music Academy)
It’s a multi-genre night as part of Red Bull Music Academy at Baby’s tonight with hip hop from Just Blaze, dance from Trouble & Base, “tropical bass” from Que Bajo?! and reggae from the people at Federation Sound.
Cretin Stompers, Habibi, Heaven’s Gate, Dances @ Brooklyn Night Bazaar
Featuring members of Wavves and the Reatards, scuzzy trio Cretin Stompers have some ultra-catchy songs underneath that low-fi noize. This is a record release show for their debut album that’s out next week. Solid bill all-around too, with the fun Habibi and rocking Heaven’s Gate. Like all BKNB shows, this is free.
‘We Are the Best’ screening @ IndieScreen
Lukas Moodysson, the director of Together and LILYA 4-EVER, made this coming-of-age comedy about an all-girl 13-year-old punk band in 1982 Sweden. A hit at Toronto, Sundance and other film festivals, tonight’s 7PM screening is FREE with RSVP (first come first served). And if you go you get free tickets to the Upset show at nearby Death by Audio.
Upset, Palehound, Aye Nako @ Death by Audio
It’s a good night for loud, catchy and scrappy indie rock at Death by Audio tonight with Upset (ex-Hole/Vivian Girls), solo-project-turned-band Palehound, and self-proclaimed homopop band Aye Nako. This show is cheap ($5) but it’s FREE if you also go to the free ‘We Are the Best’ screening. Sweet deal.
Har Mar Superstar, Cold Fronts @ Mercury Lounge
Entertaining goofball Har Mar Superstar can turn any place into a sweaty party, given his ability to mimic ’80s R&B and funk… he can breakdance too.
Purling Hiss, Lost Boy?, Vulture Shit, BBIGPIGG, Geronimo! @ Shea Stadium
Rage at Shea Stadium tonight with a handful of loud rock bands crammed into the DIY venue’s small space. There’s grunge worship from Purling Hiss, guitar-less punk from Vulture Shit, noise rock from Geronimo!, alt-pop from Lost Boy?, and more noise rock from BBIGPIGG.
Jenny Hval, Havard Volden, Okkyung Lee @ The Stone
NYC noise cellist Okkyung Lee continues her residency at The Stone, and tonight’s 10 PM show is especially cool with Norwegian art pop artist Jenny Hval on voice and keyboard, plus one of Jenny’s past collaborators, Havard Volden, on guitar. Okkyung’s 8 PM set tonight is her performing in a quartet called Perpetual Strangers (with Liberty Ellman, Ches Smith, and Tim Luntzel).
Frankie Cosmos, Alice Cohen, The BJ Rubin Show @ Brooklyn Rod & Gun
Generations of songwriters collide at the Rod & Gun tonight with twee pop newcomer Frankie Cosmos and art pop veteran Alice Cohen.
Mavis Staples, Amy Helm @ MHOW
Staple Singer Mavis Staples stays in great form and continues to tour pretty consistently. Catch a legend tonight.
Cher, Cyndi Lauper @ Barclays Center
Wu-Tang collaborator Cher will be in Brooklyn tonight, and helping her grace the stage with multiple decades of pop will be Cyndi Lauper.
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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