What's going on Thursday?

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

Sturgill Simpson @ Radio City Music Hall
Sturgill Simpson’s had a helluva year, having taken home the grammy for Best Country Album for A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, and this show at one of NYC’s most prestigious venues is just gravy.

Father John Misty, Phosphorescent @ The Capitol Theatre
While you may or may not enjoy all aspects of Josh Tillman’s Father John Misty persona — and it’s very much a crafted persona — it’s hard to deny his showman abilities, especially in command of this big band, string section and all. His album is called Pure Comedy but his show is pure spectacle.

The Gotobeds, New Rose, Poppies, Brian Merrill @ Baby’s All Right
The Gotobeds were supposed to be opening for The Fall at Baby’s tonight, about as on-the-nose as you can get (along with Protormartyr who were supposed to be Tuesday’s secret openers). With Mark E Smith and crew’s shows postponed till 2018, The Gotobeds are headliners now. Maybe they’ll throw in a Fall cover (their own “Fucking Machine” is pretty close as it is).

Antibalas, The Shacks @ Gramercy Theatre (The Meadows Preshow)
Brooklyn’s venerable 12-piece Afrobeat ensemble Antibalas are coming up on their 20th anniversary and release their new album, Where The Gods Are In Peace, this week via Daptone. Though often political, Antibalas are first and foremost a joyous band, exuding positive vibes through their effortlessly danceable music. This is a pre-show for this weekend’s The Meadows fest (which they also play).

Norah Jones @ Le Poisson Rouge
Norah Jones, who released Day Breaks earlier this year, wraps up her five-night run at Le Poisson Rouge where she’s backed by drummer Brian Blade and bassist Chris Thomas.

Goldie @ Output
Grafiti artists, producer, Metalheadz label honcho, MBE recipient, and occasional actor, Goldie will go down in the history books for his groundbreaking 1995 album Timeless that really put drum n bass on the global map.

Antietam, 75 Dollar Bill, Spires That in the Sunset Rise @ Union Pool
Originally from Louisville, KY, indie rockers Anteitam have been NYC residence for longer than they weren’t.  Their sound works a droney-yet-melodic style that isn’t too far away from Yo La Tengo, and tonight celebrate the release of . They play tonight with excellent experimental duo 75 Dollar Bill.

Male Gaze, Birds, RIPS, Squad Car @ The Glove
San Francisco’s trio Male Gaze released their third album for Castle Face, Miss Takes, earlier this summer. If you like your punk (or post punk) with a wash of gothy glamour and just a touch of surf, you will most certainly dig this. (Think: early-’80s The Damned, Iceage or even Dan Boeckner’s many bands.) Openers RIPS are worth catching too.

Steve Earle and the Dukes, Los Lobos @ The Paramount
Steve Earle is a consummate singer-songwriter and storyteller and is always worth seeing, especially with Los Lobos on the bill as well.

Patti Smith & Her Band, Jackson Smith, Jesse Paris Smith @ Central Park SummerStage
Punk legend Patti Smith will pay tribute to her late husband, MC5 guitarist Fred “Sonic” Smith, at this show which also includes her and Fred’s children. Any chance to see Patti is worth taking, and this sounds like a very special one.

Lee Ranaldo @ Rough Trade (free, early show)
While nothing’s the same as Sonic Youth, the broken-up band’s members have all been leading very active, very great solo careers. Lee Ranaldo releases his new album Electric Trim this week on Mute, and celebrates with this free 6 PM show.

Less Art, Vattnet @ Mercury Lounge (BV Presents)
Less Art is the new post-hardcore supergroup of Curl Up and Die vocalist Mike Minnick, Kowloon Walled City members Ian Miller and Jon Howell, and Thrice members Riley and Ed Breckenridge. (All of them except Ed also play the baseball-themed grindcore band Puig Destroyer.) This is their first Northeast tour (presented by BrooklynVegan), and it also includes Vattnet, the new clean-vocal version of black metal band Vattnet Viskar.

Blanck Mass, Egyptrixx @ Rough Trade
Both members of Fuck Buttons are focusing on solo careers this year, including Benjamin John Power, who’s better known as Blanck Mass. Blanck Mass released World Eater on Sacred Bones back in March.

Matana Roberts @ Roulette
Jazz/experimental musician Matana Roberts presents her new work “breathe…,” which is “part of a conceptual sound cycle exploring rise of militarized police in American culture and beyond. The program will focus on alternative modes of composition, improvisation and moving image as part of a conceptual graphic score.”

Raven, Dead By Wednesday, Rebel Scum @ Saint Vitus
NWOBHM legends Raven have been at it consistently for decades, with their core of brothers John and Mark Gallagher still intact. Their latest release is 2015’s ExtermiNation.

Lomelda, Thelma, Emily Yacina, Your Dog @ Silent Barn
Texas bedroom folk project Lomelda have been touring with Pinegrove for much of this year (a good pairing), and tonight they celebrate their new album Thx in Brooklyn.

Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Toto @ Beacon Theatre
There are probably more appealing ways to see Pat Benatar than on tour with Toto, but still, tonight is a chance to hear “Heartbreaker,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “Love Is A Battlefield,” and other enduring Pat Benatar hits in person.

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

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