What's going on Friday? (Foals, Joey Bada$$, Mercury Girls, From Autumn to Ashes, Squeeze, HR, King Missile & more)
photo: Foals @ Sasquatch 2014 (more by Chris and Rae Graham)
You can browse our full NYC show calendar for all of tonight’s shows, but here are some highlights…
Foals, Circa Waves @ Terminal 5
Though they began as a quirky, twitching post-punk band, UK band Foals have gradually become more atmospheric and anthemic. Frontman Yannis Philippakis remains a wildman on stage, though.
Joey Bada$$, CJ Fly, Kirk Knight & Nyck Caution @ The Paramount
For those complaining that rap isn’t what it used to be, few new school rappers pay homage to the golden era as expertly as Joey Bada$$ does. He’s on Long Island tonight and plays NYC on Tuesday.
Expert Alterations, Mercury Girls, Gingerlys, Big Quiet, Kip Berman of The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (DJ Set) @ Alphaville
Here’s an excellent night of indie pop featuring Baltimore’s charmingly shambling Expert Alterations, Philly’s hyperactive Mercury Girls, and local acts Gingerlys and Big Quiet. Kip from Pains spins between bands.
From Autumn to Ashes, Fashion Week, Primitive Weapons @ Saint Vitus
Long Island post-hardcore band From Autumn to Ashes got back together earlier this year, and basically picked up where they left off in ’07. Though that also means their original lead vocalist is still gone (drummer/clean singer Francis Mark took over on lead) which may disappoint some older fans.
Squeeze (acoustic) @ Playstation Theater
One of the best songwriting teams of the last 40 years, Squeeze frontmen Chris Difford and Glen Tilbrook will mix favorites from throughout their career with stories about the songs.
Pepperoni, King Missle, Rachel Trachtenberg, The Icebergs @ Shea Stadium
NYC vets King Missile, fronted by the funny and abstract John S. Hall, come out of hibernation every once and while and are always worth catching.
deadmau5, Pusha T, Justine Skye, The Cold Seas, Slonk Donkerson @ Barclays Center
This is opening night of the new TIDAL Theater at Barclays Center (aka Barclays with part of it curtained off), and while there might be more miss than hit on this lineup, it’s a chance to see Pusha T who’s great new album just came out today.
Perfect Pussy, Big Ups, Guerilla Toss @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Perfect Pussy’s short blasts of noise punk are pretty much guaranteed to impact you in a live setting, and Big Ups’ confrontational performances make for a good match. Show up early for art punk weirdos Guerilla Toss, who recently signed to DFA.
Pete Tong, Chris Malinchak, Golf Clap @ Output
England’s Pete Tong has been DJing since the early ’80s (for the BBC and elsewhere). Tonight he teams up with a much newer (and very promising) artist, Chris Malinchak.
Taking Back Sunday, Beach Slang, Chemistry @ Starland Ballroom
Speaking of the early ’00s Long Island scene, Taking Back Sunday play their first of two holiday shows at Starland Ballroom tonight. This one’s especially exciting because there’s support from one of the best newer punk bands around, Beach Slang.
HR (Bad Brains) & Dub Agents, MC Jamalski, Skarroñeros, Banddroidz @ Bowery Electric
While we wish HR was still playing in Bad Brains, any chance to see him is still one worth taking. Tonight he plays with his dub/reggae band Dub Agents.
Gotham Holiday Swing w/ Buster Pointdexter, Mercury Rev, Lee Fields & more @ Town Hall
Butler, Bernstein, and the Hot 9 are throwing their third annual ‘Gotham Holiday Swing’ show tonight. Most exciting to us is that the lineup includes soul vet Lee Fields and back-in-action psych rockers Mercury Rev. Also, New York Dolls frontman David Johansen is hosting in his Buster Poindexter guise.
San Fermin, Holly Miranda, Alex Edelman @ Bowery Ballroom
Chamber pop ensemble San Fermin wrap up their tour with three consecutive nights at Bowery Ballroom. Night two has the terrific Holly Miranda opening.
Escort, Speakerbot @ Brooklyn Bowl
Love pure ’70s disco with sweeping strings? Escort play as a 15-piece disco orchestra. Leisure suit optional.
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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