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What's going on Friday? (Parquet Courts, Joanna Newsom, Kevin Devine, Teenage Jesus, Speedy Ortiz, MoBo & more)

photo: Parquet Courts (w/ Lee Ranaldo) at Webster last week (more by Amanda Hatfield)
Parquet Courts

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

Kevin Devine, Tigers Jaw, Matthew Caws (Nada Surf), Meredith Graves (Perfect Pussy), Cymbals Eat Guitars, Laura Stevenson, Owen @ Bell House
Everyone on this show (except Laura Stevenson) contributed to Kevin Devine’s split singles series that he gradually rolled out this year. We’re not sure what exactly to expect when they all come together tonight, but we’re excited (and proudly presenting this show).

Joanna Newsom, Alela Diane & Ryan Francesconi @ Apollo Theater
Joanna Newsom’s new album Divers is yet another winner, and the new songs fit in perfectly with the old favorites (which we got a lot of at her Kings Theatre show earlier this week). Ryan Francesconi pulls double duty tonight, as a member of Joanna’s band and also opening with Alela Diane. Their set is not to miss.

Parquet Courts, Pill @ Warsaw
Parquet Courts new EP, their first record for Rough Trade, has more in common with Metal Machine Music than the punky, jammy shout-a-longs on their more recent LPs, but you can expect a typically energetic show tonight. Go early for the skronky, in-you-face sax attack that is Pill.

Teenage Jesus & The Jerks, A Pleasure, Hollow Earth, Ancient Astronaut B2B (DJ Set) @ Trans Pecos
Nicolas Jaar’s label Other People wraps up its four-night Trans Pecos residency with a rare live appearance from Lydia Lunch’s iconic no wave band Teenage Jesus and the Jerks.

Speedy Ortiz, Downtown Boys, Eskimeax, Very Fresh @ Silent Barn
This is the first of two NYC shows on Speedy Ortiz’s tour benefitting the Girls Rock Camp FOundation. Both have different (and good openers), and this time it’s political punks Downtown Boys, Epoch member Eskimeaux, and Sadie Dupuis’ past collaborator Cindy Lou Gooden’s band Very Fresh.

Modern Baseball, Jeff Rosenstock, Tiny Moving Parts, Sorority Noise @ Webster Hall
Modern Baseball have been working on a new album, and early reports seem to indicate it’s a noticeable progression. We’re looking forward to hearing it, but in the meantime, tonight they’ll probably play all the ones we already know, and it’s gonna be a good time as alway. Jeff Rosenstock’s shows are also nothing but good times, and the two other openers are worth catching too.

Hamilton Leithauser, Jack and Eliza @ Baby’s All Right
With the Walkmen all but officially broken up, frontman Hamilton Leithauser took a slightly more adult turn on his old band’s signature sound with last year’s solo debut, Black Hours. We might get some new songs tonight. Sold out.

Patrick Watson, Timber Timbre (solo) @ Irving Plaza
With a distinctly Montreal blend of pop, classical and cabaret, Patrick Wilson’s music is as widescreen as it gets. The dark folk of fellow Canadian Timber Timbre makes this a good double bill.

Andrew W.K. (solo show), Darren Keen, Rats Mouth @ Knitting Factory
As you know, Andrew WK and Christmas go hand in hand, and this is the eighth year he’s done a solo holiday tour. This promises an AWK that is “up-close, intense, and partier than ever.”

The Figgs, Doug Gillard @ Bowery Electric
Saratoga Springs power pop trio The Figgs are one of the most underrated bands of the last 20 years, bringing tight musicianship, catchy songs and a genuine sense of fun to their shows. Tonight’s their annual holiday show which is one of the best times to see them. The great Doug Gillard opens.

Zomby, Vatican Shadow @ China Chalet
If you’re into dark electronic music, this is a pretty amazing double bill with UK bass/garage/etc producer Zomby and Dominick Fernow’s (also of Prurient) project Vatican Shadow.

milo, Hemlock Ernst (Samuel T Herring from Future Islands), Chris Misch Bloxdorf Dectet @ C’mon Everybody
milo released one of the year’s best indie-rap albums with so the flies don’t come, and tonight’s his very last 2015 show in support of it. Hemlock Ernst, Future Islands frontman Samuel T Herring’s rap alter-ego (who’s featured on milo’s album), makes this a very good double bill.

Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan; Michael Daves @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Sara Watkins has been busy lately, playing shows as a member of Nickel Creek and Watkins Family Hour (featuring Fiona Apple). Now she’s playing with yet another proejct, I’m With Her. For this one, she’s joined by singer/songwriter Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O’Donovan (Crooked Still, Sometymes Why). Tonight’s their second of two NYC shows this week.

Elvis Perkins @ Berlin
Elvis Perkins focused on his soft folky side for this year’s I Aubade. Tonight he kicks off a two-night run at Jesse Malin’s new-ish East Village club Berlin.

Yoshimo + Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe, Alex Macarte, Jeremy Hyman @ Trans Pecos
Boredoms’ Yoshimio is in the midst of her five-show NYC run that has her playing a different collaborative set each night. Tonight’s is with Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe, who’s a member of Om and plays solo as Lichens.

Nightmare of You, Brian Bonz @ Bowery Ballroom
After The Movielife broke up, guitarist Brandon Reilly embraced his love of The Smiths and wrote the self-titled debut album for this then-new band Nightmare of You, which turns 10 this year. To celebrate its anniversary, they’re playing the album in full tonight and original drummer Sammy Siegler (also of Judge, CIV, Youth of Today, etc) will be in tow for this show.

Foster Care, Running, Uniform @ Union Pool
Garage punk bruisers Foster Care are, along with Pampers, one of the best NYC bands in their field. This whole bill is pretty great if you like this kind of stuff, with Chicago’s Running playing as well.

Yellow Eyes, Anicon, Vilkacis, Ozama @ The Acheron
Black metal fans take note: Yellow Eyes, Anicon and Vilkacis are three of the better local BM bands around, and tonight they’re all on one bill.

Thievery Corporation, The Bins @ Terminal 5
Celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, DC’s dub/reggae/etc-infused electronica duo will celebrate tonight at this sold-out show.

Z100’s Jingle Ball feat. The Weeknd, Fetty Wap & more @ MSG
You probably want to avoid Z100’s annual super-lame Jingle Ball (especially with so many good shows tonight), but there is some cool stuff on the lineup like The Weeknd and Fetty Wap.

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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