The Specials
The Specials at Terminal 5 in 2016 (more by Dana Distortion)

What's going on Friday?

The Specials
The Specials at Terminal 5 in 2016 (more by Dana Distortion)

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

The Specials, The Far East @ Brooklyn Steel
UK ska icons The Specials have inspired so much mediocre music you forget just how vital their brief career was. While their are less original members than there were a few years ago, classics like “Ghost Town,” “Little Bitch,” and “Night Club” still sound great.

Mary Timony (plays Helium), Noveller @ Mercury Lounge
With much of Helium’s classic ’90s catalog reissued recently, Mary Timony is playing it as part of a short tour. Tonight’s show is with ethereal guitarist Noveller.

Buzzcocks, The So So Glos, Stuyedeyed @ Webster Hall
The Buzzcocks early material, when Howard Devoto was in the band, was just reissued by Domino so expect to hear a little more of that stuff (like the Spiral Scratch EP) in tonight’s set.

Dillinger Four, Vanity, Dark Thoughts, Hatrabbits @ Sunnyvale
Melodic punk band Dillinger Four haven’t released an album since 2008 and their shows are few and far between, which makes any chance to see them one worth taking. They still rip as hard as ever.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Beverly, Ablebody @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
With a new album on the way The Pains of Being Pure at Heart play this show tonight with a bunch of very good friends: members of both Ablebody and Beverly have played in live incarnations of TPOBPAH.

Big Thief, Mega Bog, Really Big Pinecone @ Rough Trade
This is one of three upcoming Big Thief shows in NYC, two of which are this week (and part of Northside). Their new album Capacity is out today and it’s really good stuff.

Downtown Boys, Kelsey Lu, Flesh World, Field Agent @ Saint Vitus
Pitchfork’s Northside showcase has a great lineup as usual, with the powerful political punk band Downtown Boys, electronic pop artist Kelsey Lu, the killer Limp Wrist/Brilliant Colors offshoot Flesh World, and Deafheaven side project Field Agent.

Girlpool, Ian Sweet, Lexie @ Warsaw
Girlpool recently released their first album for ANTI-, Powerplant, which sees them expanding upon their earlier style and adding a drummer. It’s their best album yet, and their recent full-band live shows have been very solid too.

Giuda, Baby Shakes @ Brooklyn Night Bazaar
Italy’s Giuda makey glammy, punky rock, with a style ripped from a ’70s soccer magazine and have a high-energy show that is not to be missed.

Rodrigo y Gabriela, Ryan Sheridan @ Terminal 5
Rodrigo y Gabriela reissued their debut earlier this year for its 10th anniversary, and now they’re on tour playing sets that heavily focus on that album. This is their second of two NYC shows.

William Basinski, Julianna Barwick @ National Sawdust
Legendary ambient musician (and maker of The Disintegration Loops) returned this year with A Shadow in Time. Opening is the great ambient pop musician Julianna Barwick, who released Will last year.

Soulfrito Fest w/ Zion & Lennox, Fetty Wap, Cosculluela, Young M.A, Bad Bunny, Uncle Murda, Mozart La Para, Bryant Myers, El Mayor, Almighty, El Alfa, Rick Ross, Cardi B, Ivy Queen @ Barclays Center
Tonight Barclays Center hosts Soulfrito Fest. Among other things, the lineup has New York’s fast-rising Young M.A, addictive hitmaker Fetty Wap, and more.

Martin Rev, Craig Leon, Bush Tetras, Lydia Lunch @ The Hall at MP
“Downtown Trip” brings together a bunch of names from NYC’s legendary Downtown scene for a one-of-a-kind evening: Craig Leon (who made avant garde postpunk when not producing the likes of Blondie and Ramones) will play with Suicide’s Martin Rev, and Bush Tetras are paired with DNA’s Ikue Mori. The night is hosted by Lydia Lunch

Kristin Kontrol, GABI @ The Park Church Co-Op
Giving herself a dark, synthy makeover for her solo debut, Kristin Welchez (aka Dee Dee from Dum Dum Girls), lets her pop side shine.

TOKiMONSTA, Obey City, Photay @ American Museum of Natural History
The One Step Beyond series continues this month with headliner TOKiMONSTA. As always, it’s a night of electronic musician and guests can “take a walk up the Cosmic Pathway to the Hayden Big Bang Theater where acclaimed actor Liam Neeson narrates a dynamic flight through the virtual universe based on an accurate cosmic atlas.”

Mirah, TubaFresh, Holy Vine @ Baby’s All Right
Among the many Northside shows tonight is alternative singer/songwriter Mirah, whose shows are always a treat.

Flock of Dimes, Ancient Ocean @ Baby’s All Right
Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak performs solo as Flock of Dimes at this late-night Northside show. Door at midnight.

Meatbodies, Acid Dad, Sloppy Jane @ Berlin
Meatbodies frontman Chad Ubovich has played in Mikal Cronin’s band and is bassist in Ty Segall’s Fuzz, and brings a similar approach to his own music, that draws from catchy garage rock and doomy metal riffs.

Jlin, Container, Foodman @ Brooklyn Night Bazaar
Footwork producer Jlin continues to grow in popularity and acclaim, and released her second album Black Origami this year.

Ricky Eat Acid, Kate NV, Oracles @ Union Pool
Ricky Eat Acid is the electronic project of Sam Ray (who also leans the indie-punk band Teen Suicide). He plays this Northside show tonight.

Boys Noize, Lauren Flax, Gavin Russom @ Good Room
Boys Noize remains popular but he still likes to get the dancefloors moving in smaller rooms from time to time. He’ll do just that tonight.

U.S. Girls, Emily Reo, Tredici Bacci @ Knitting Factory
Meg Remy’s haunted pop pseudonym U.S. Girls made its boldest statement yet with 2015’s great Half Free. Hopefully we’ll get some new material at this Northside show tonight that also features Tredici Bacci, who make Morricone-style soundtrack music, and

The Range, Visuals, Dave Harrington ft. Jordan McLean & Brian Chase, projections by Wild Dogs @ Knockdown Center
This is the first night of Andrew Fox’s (aka Visuals) ‘VISUALS VISUALS’ residency, which has Fox performing with both musicians and video artists. Music tonight is provided by the great electronic musician The Range and former Darkside member Dave Harrington playing with Antibalas trumpeter Jordan McLean and Yeah Yeah Yeahs drummer Brian Chase.

Early Riser, Anika Pyle, Hard Pass, Good Looking Friends @ Muchmore’s
This is the Anchorless Records showcase, and among other things, it features a solo set by Anika Pyle (who used to front Chumped and now fronts Katie Ellen).

Yvette, Pop. 1280, Wildhoney, Grooms, Big Bliss, Monograms, Russian Baths, PC Worship (solo) @ Terra Firma
It’s a big night of noise and melody with many awesome bands, including Yvette, Pop. 1280, Grooms, PC Worship and more.

Conflict, The Dwarves, Stigma, Wydlife @ The Stone Pony (PRB night show)
The night shows for the Asbury Park edition of Punk Rock Bowling begin tonight. This one’s got UK anarcho-punk vets Conflict, garage punk staples the Dwarves, Agnostic Front guitarist Vinnie Stigma’s project Stigma, and Wyldlife.

Chuck Ragan, JJ Talcum, Jared Hart @ House of Independents (PRB night show)
Another Punk Rock Bowling night show: this one’s got solo sets from punk musicians, including Hot Water Music’s Chuck Ragan, Dead Milkmen’s JJ Talcum, and The Scandals’ Jared Hart.

Demetri Martin @ The Capitol Theatre
Brainy comedian Demetri Martin wrote, directed and stars in Dean, a new film that just opened last week. He’s promoting it on tour, playing Port Chester tonight.

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