What's going on Thursday?
You can browse our full NYC show calendar for all of tonight’s shows, but here are some highlights…
Yo La Tengo @ Bowery Ballroom
We’re past the halfway point of Yo La Tengo’s annual Hanukkah celebration, which has been held at Bowery Ballroom these last two years. We’ve had some amazing surprise guests already — Graham Nash, a Strangeloves reunion 53 years in the making — and who knows who’ll show up on stage tonight.
Matisyahu, The Soul Rebels, GRiZ @ Brooklyn Steel
Yo La Tengo isn’t the only Hanukkah tradition as far as NYC concerts go. Reggae rapper Matisyahu’s Festival of Light returns tonight, and this one’s made a little extra exciting thanks to the great New Orleans brass band The Soul Rebels.
Marissa Nadler, Johanna Warren @ Rough Trade
Dark folk singer Marissa Nadler’s albums are always great, but there’s something about this year’s For My Crimes that puts it just a notch above her other recent work. Everything really gels on this album, and it’s gonna be a real treat to see her play those songs live tonight. Johanna Warren makes for great, well-matched support.
Muse, Florence and the Machine, Death Cab For Cutie, AJR, Mike Shinoda, Foster The People, Bastille, CHVRCHES, lovelytheband @ Barclays Center (ALT 92.3 – Not So Silent Night)
New York has an alternative rock radio station again, ALT 92.3, and that station is getting in the holiday spirit with this show. There’s some real cringeworthy stuff on the lineup, but the ticket is worth it to see Muse, Florence, and Death Cab on the same bill.
Kid Cudi, Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, Pusha T, Lil Yachty, Cipha Sounds @ Hulu Theater at MSG
Streetwear brand BAPE is celebrating its 25th anniversary with this show, which is pretty stacked. Among the lineup are two rappers responsible for two of this year’s best rap albums, Kid Cudi (the Kids See Ghosts album) and Pusha T.
Soccer Mommy, Ratboys, Foxes in Fiction @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Soccer Mommy’s Clean is one of the most enjoyable indie pop breakthroughs of 2018, and it’s not surprisingly been landing on lots of year-end lists. Soccer Mommy’s been touring behind it all year, and she’s now back in NYC for a two-night stand at Music Hall of Williamsburg — this is night two. Well-matched direct support comes from Ratboys, who are not to miss.
Thurston Moore, White Out, Gene Moore @ The Stone
Thurston Moore continues his residency at the new location of The Stone tonight, and this one’s with White Out (who he and Jim O’Rourke have a collaborative album with) and Thurston’s brother Gene.
Priests, Empath, Nervous Dater @ Baby’s All Right
Priests laid somewhat low in 2018, with no new records, so maybe they’ll have some new songs for us tonight.
Ministry, Carpenter Brut, Alien Weaponry @ Irving Plaza
Industrial vets Ministry are still going strong (even if Al Jourgensen is the only original member). They released AmeriKKKant and they’ll probably play stuff off that tonight, but expect classics (which still sound great live) too. Opening is synthwaver Carpenter Brut, and New Zealand’s teenage metal-meets-Māori band Alien Weaponry.
Bernice, Erica Eso, Lilith Outcome @ Alphaville
Toronto art pop group Bernice have been getting some love for this year’s Arts & Crafts-released Puff: In the air without a shape (including from Torq of former Arts & Crafts band Stars who put it on his year-end list). They’re currently touring in support of it and hitting NYC tonight.
Pharoah Sanders @ Birdland
Free jazz saxophonist Pharoah Sanders was a key member of John Coltrane’s bands in the ’60s before becoming a legendary bandleader in his own right with classic albums like 1969’s Karma. He remains influential today (on Kamasi Washington and others), and this week he’s doing two shows a night at Birdland through Saturday.
Heron Oblivion, Garcia Peoples, Mountain Movers @ Monty Hall
Having reunited with Espers and released a collaborative album with Mary Lattimore this year, Meg Baird is now back fronting the great psych-rock supergroup Heron Oblivion, who play Jersey City tonight and Brooklyn on Sunday.
BillyBio, Thy Will Be Done, Mala Entrana, Save the Broken, Sickbay @ The Kingsland
BillyBio is Billy from Biohazard’s new thing, and after recently releasing his debut LP, he’s set to soon play NJ and Long Island shows with Sick Of It All and Life of Agony. First, he’ll headline a Brooklyn show tonight.
Killswitch Engage, Born of Osiris, Crowbar, Death Ray Vision @ Starland Ballroom
Killswitch Engage were one of the biggest bands of the early 2000s metalcore boom, and their live show is still tight as ever. Making this current run even more exciting is support from long-running sludge greats Crowbar, who are not to miss.
Marie Davidson, Sadaf, Barbie Bertisch, Paul Raffaele @ Elsewhere Zone One
One half of Montreal coldwave duo Essaie Pa, Marie Davidson just released a new solo LP, Working Class Woman, via Ninja Tune back in October. It’s got a bit of a lighter touch than Essaie Pas, with her sense of humor shining through the icy beats here and there.
CAVE, Sunwatchers, Macrodose @ Union Pool
Chicago’s riders on a groove, Cave, released new album Allways back in October on Drag City. Settle in and let their extended jams wash over you.
2 Dope Queens @ Kings Theatre
Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson’s hit podcast, 2 Dope Queens, may be done, but it lives on as an HBO series. Season 2 tapes this week at Kings Theatre.
Janelle James Comedy Festival @ The Bell House & Union Hall
Eugene Mirman had his own comedy festival in Brooklyn for 10 years but has passed the torch to Janelle James and the fun continues tonight at The Bell House and Union Hall.
Springsteen on Broadway
The Boss will soon wrap up his sold-out, year-long “Springsteen on Broadway” run at the Walter Kerr Theatre — the last show is next Saturday. For those who didn’t manage to score a ticket (or didn’t want to spring for pricey tickets) his intimate show is coming to Netflix this month as a concert special.
For all of tonight’s shows, and tomorrow’s, check out our NYC concert calendar.
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