What's going on Friday? (Archers of Loaf, Rainer Maria, Fred Falke, World Party, Iron Chic, California X, Empress Of, more)

photo: Archers of Loaf at 4Knots 2012 (more by Chris La Putt)

You can browse our full NYC show calendar for all of tonight’s shows, but here are some highlights…

Archers of Loaf, Monsoon @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Hailing from the same North Carolina scene as Superchunk and Polvo, Archers of Loaf were probably the most “rock” of the bunch, with an arsenal of ’90s college radio fist-pumpers like “Web in Front,” “Wrong,” and “Plumb.”

Rainer Maria @ Saint Vitus
Rainer Maria put out a number of great emo/indie rock albums on Polyvinyl back in the late ’90s and early ’00s, but then broke up in 2006. Earlier this year they reunited at Bowery Ballroom, and this week they play two more hometown shows. Tonight at Vitus (which is sold out), and tomorrow at Shea.

World Party @ City Winery
Karl Wallinger’s psychedelic pop band World Party continues their four-night, full-band run at City Winery.

Fred Falke, Cut Snake, Eagles & Butterflies @ Output
French house producer Fred Falke has long been a go-to man for stylish remixes. He’s a killer DJ, too, and will tastefully displaying his turntable élan tonight.

Gin Blossoms, Iron Chic, Timeshares @ The Paramount
Gin Blossoms haven’t had their main songwriter in decades (he committed suicide in 1993), but their earlier material has proven influential on certain modern punk and indie bands. Two of the better ones happen to be the Long Island-based Iron Chic and Timeshares, who open for them tonight.

Empress Of, Buscabulla, Los Walters, Triangulo de Amor Bizarro @ Baby’s All Right
Empress Of, aka NYC art-pop musician Lorely Rodriguez, will soon have her debut album released via XL, so expect some new songs from her tonight. The night starts with a set from Spain’s Triangulo de Amor Bizarro who owe much of their sound to Creation Records-era shoegaze.

Total Slacker, California X, Hound, Melt @ Baby’s All Right
This bill pairs together two bands who aren’t afraid to show off their ’90s rock influences, Total Slacker and California X, with the None More Black/Ted Leo + the Pharmacists-related stoner/garage band Hound and Melt (which includes Cassie Ramone on bass).

Mates of State, Good Graeff, Hey Marseilles @ Bowery Ballroom
If you’re not going to that Rainer Maria show, but you want to see a different veteran Polyvinyl (and now Barsuk) band, Mates of State at Bowery Ballroom sounds like a good place to end up.

I.O.D., Show Me The Body, Salomon Faye, OSHUN @ Palisades
There are a few good artists on this bill, but one of particular note is hip hop/neo-soul duo OSHUN, whose new ASASE YAA mixtape has a strong political message, cultural pride, and great songs.

Ajax, Fatigue, Semper Eadem, Vanity, No Parole @ Acheron
Acheron hosts a good punk show tonight, featuring (among other things) the very catchy Oi!-inspired NYC band Vanity.

members of Dismemberment Plan, The Hold Steady & more covering albums @ Knitting Factory
This show features a bunch of musicians covering other musicians, including The Dismemberment Plan’s Travis Morrison covering Morphine’s “Cure For Pain,” The Hold Steady’s Dan Neustadt covering Neutral Milk Hotel’s “In The Aeroplane Over the Sea” and more.

Bridget Everett @ Joe’s Pub
Bridget Everett continues to perform her acclaimed show at Joe’s Pub. Shy folks might want to either a) not sit too close to the stage or b) not go at all. Everyone else: Bridget’s a riot.

For all of tonight’s shows, and tomorrow’s, check out our NYC concert calendar.

For laughs, check out the NYC Comedy calendar too.

————-
—

Follow @BrooklynVegan on Twitter.
Follow @bvChicago for just Chicago stuff.
Also follow @bvAustin for just Austin stuff.

Be our friend on Facebook too, and BV Austin’s friend on Facebook and BV Chicago’s friend on Facebook.

Follow BrooklynVegan on instagram.

What else?