4th of July Weekend - 2017 NYC event guide
With the Fourth of July falling on a Tuesday this year, a lot of people also have Monday off, making for an extra long Independence Day Weekend. Holidays are never really known for being a busy concert time in NYC, and this year is particularly lacking in big ticket shows. This is New York, however, and there’s always something worth going to see or do. We rounded up some of the more notable atractions from Friday through Tuesday, below.
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FRIDAY, JUNE 30
Wreckless Eric, Joe Jack Talcum (of Dead Milkmen) @ The Safari Room at El Cortez
Best known for his New Wave classic “Whole Wide World,” Wreckless Eric has a whole lot more where that came from, and is a great storyteller to boot. Paired tonight with The Dead Milkmen’s Joe Jack Talcum (singer of “Punk Rock Girl”), and within easy access to Cadilac Nachos, this sounds like a fun Friday night.
Ginuwine, Boogie Blind @ Betsy Head Park
Maker of such hits as “Pony,” “Differences,” “Hell Yeah” and “In Those Genes,” R&B star Ginuwine plays this free show as part of of SummerStage 2017 that also includes a set from The X-Ecutioners’ DJ Boogie Blind.
Diarrhea Planet, Daddy Issues, Acid Dad @ Brooklyn Bowl
Nashville’s raucous Diarrhea Planet make the kind of punky, boozy guitar anthems that are perfect for sing-a-longs, fist-pumping, crowd surfing, beer chugging, beer throwing and other such behavior. Which is to say they’re a lot of fun. They’re on tour with fellow Nashvillians Daddy Issues and Brooklyn’s Acid Dad.
Flat Duo Jets, Daddy Long Legs @ Hill Country
Dexter Romweber has been making crazed rockabilly for 30 years now, and still puts on a wild show. With local outfit Daddy Long Legs this is fun night of roots sounds.
Shobaleader One, Daedelus @ Warsaw
Back in 2010, Squarepusher released Shobaleader One: d’Demonstrator, an album recorded with other musicians, and more recently he turned Shobaleader One into a fully-functioning live band. Squarepusher (aka Tom Jenkinson) plays bass in the band, and rest of the lineup includes Strobe Nazard on keys, Arg Nution on guitar, and Company Laser on drums. They made their NYC debut back in December at Le Poisson Rouge and they return for a larger show this Friday. With glitch hop wiz Daedelus opening, it should be an awesome show all around.
‘Art of Rap’ w/ Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, DJ Chuck Chillout, 050 Boyz, Harlem 6, Mysonne @ NJPAC
The Art of Rap tour rolls through the NY/NJ area tonight for a stop at Newark’s NJPAC. Wu-Tang members Raekwon and Ghostface Killah are among the lineup, which was supposed to have included Mobb Deep before Prodigy tragically passed away last week. Presumably there will be some type of tribute tonight. Rae and Ghost are both on Mobb Deep’s classic The Infamous and they’re both among the many artists to publicly pay their respects to Prodigy.
My Teenage Stride, My Favorite, The Mells, Big Quiet @ ALPHAVILLE
It’s been a long time since NYC indiepop cult heroes My Teenage Stride released anything new but they just put out a new tape, Living in the Straight World, and celebrate tonight with fellow vets My Favorite.
SATURDAY, JULY 1
Great Lake Swimmers, Mobina Galore, Kasador, Castlefield, Common Deer @ The Well (Canada D’EH 2017)
Sure, this weekend is all about the U-S of A, but July 1 is also Canada Day. You can celebrate our neighbors to the North’s 150th anniversary with FREE all-Canadian show featuring indie folk act Great Lake Swimmers, poutine and other food from Mile End Deli, over 150 varieties of Canadian whiskey, 40 beers, and more. Doors, food and drinks starting at noon, music starts at 6 PM.
Jesse (of Pure X), Olden Yolk, Mira Cook @ ALPHAVILLE
Much like the music he made with Pure X, main man Jesse’s new solo album, Hard Sky, is a mellow affair that gets some synth help via Kyle Dixon of S U R V I V E. Tonight is his first ever solo show, and plays with Olden Yolk (aka Shane Butler of Quilt).
Joe Bataan @ Union Pool (Summer Thunder)
There are few ways we’d rather spend a Saturday afternoon in July than hanging in Union Pool’s back patio for their free Summer Thunder series. Salsa soul legend Joe Bataan has played just about every year of Summer Thunder and is always a highlight.
RIPS, Poppies, Rat Columns @ Baby’s All Right
Brooklyn band RIPS will release their debut album this week via Faux Discsx. While it pulls inspiration from late ’70s NYC mutant pop (Feelies, Television), it’s wirey, snarling and hooky in a modern way and really bristles with energy. Tonight’s the release party which also inlcudes Rat Columns featuring David West of Total Control.
CFM, The Cairo Gang, Pink Mexico @ Knitting Factory Brooklyn
Do you like Ty Segall? You will probably enjoy this show, then, as two of the groups feature members of his band: CFM is the solo project of Charles Moothart who plays drums with Ty and guitar in Fuzz; The Cairo Gang, meanwhile, is led by Emmet Kelley who is one of the reasons why Ty’s current Freedom Band is so good.
‘Warm Up’ w/ Jackmaster, DJ EZ, Tiger & Woods, Shanti Celeste, VHVL @ MoMA PS1
It’s the opening weekend of Warm Up, the weekly dance party under the sun in MoMA PS1’s courtyard. The music starts at 3 PM and goes til 9, and given the hot temperatures we’re supposed to have this weekend, the party should live up to its name. This one’s headlined by Glasgow techno/house DJ Jackmaster, and also features UK garage vet DJ EZ, disco-loving dance duo Tiger & Woods, Chilean-born Bristol producer Shanti Celeste, and local representation from Harlem’s VHVL.
Kyp Malone (of TV on the Radio), Mega Bog, Mazz Swift @ The Met Breuer
This is part of The Met Breuer’s ‘Theater of the Resist” series, and this installment features a solo set from TV on the Radio’s Kyp Malone and terrific, jazzy art-pop purveyor Mega Bog.
Surfbort, Blackout, Foster Care, Emil Bognar Nasdor @ The Safari Room at El Cortez
Here’s a great lineup of Brooklyn riffage which is officially the release party for stoner rock band Blackout’s new album The Horse but also features the wild antics of Surfbort, and the criminally underrated Foster Care.
SUNDAY, JULY 2
Kid Congo Powers, Mystery Lights, Jonathan Toubin (DJ) @ Our Wicked Lady
This double bill of post-punk/garage legend Kid Congo Powers (The Cramps, Bad Seeds, Gun Club) and Mystery Lights (one of NYC’s best garage bands) is hard to pass up, especially when you add that it’s on Our Wicked Lady’s Roof, that Jonathan Toubin will be spinning records and that it’s a mere $10…or free if you show up after the bands play. Doors at 7 PM with the bands at 8:30.
DJ Premier & friends @ Betsy Head Park
As part of the Lyricist Lounge’s 25th anniversary celebration, the legendary DJ Premier (and friends) plays this free show in Brownsville’s Betsy Head Park. Boom bap as we know it wouldn’t exist without Premo, who helped invent the sound as a member of Gang Starr and on three songs on Nas’ Illmatic, Biggie’s “Unbelievable,” Jay-Z’s “D’Evils,” and much more. He stays active too: he executive-produced the new album by West Coast vet MC Eiht that’s out this week.
Bully @ The Surf Lodge (Montauk)
“Post-grunge” became a bad word in the ’90s when a handful of popular bands co-opted the mainstream appeal of the Seattle sound but lost sight of its punk roots. In more recent years, a new wave of bands surfaced that sound like they could’ve been on KROQ twenty years ago but remain firmly rooted in punk. One of the best is Bully, who play this free show at Montauk’s Surf Lodge. If you’re spending the long weekend in the Hamptons, maybe take the chance to see this cool show.
MONDAY, JULY 3
MAYBE GO SEE A MOVIE
There aren’t a whole lot of notable shows today so it might be a good day to head into the air conditioned comfort of your local theater to catch a movie and there are a bunch worth seeing right now: Edgar Wright’s wildly fun caper flick Baby Driver (the inspiration for which came from a Jon Spencer Blues Explosion song); Sofia Coppola’s acclaimed The Beguiled (starring Nicole Kidman, Colin Farrell, Kirstin Dunst, and Elle Fanning); and The Big Sick which stars and was written by Silicon Valley‘s Kumail Nanjiani. Both Alamo Drafthouse and Nitehawk Cinema are also showing classic summer flick Jaws all weekend.
TUESDAY, JULY 4
Watch the fireworks
The Fourth and fireworks go hand in hand. The big show is, of course, Macy’s annual extravaganza and the best place to see them is on a friend’s roof. But they’re not the only game in town. Coney Island is always a good Independence Day option with the uniquely American (and non-vegan) spectacle that is Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, the Cyclone and other rides, the beach, and they’ve got fireworks too. You can also see fireworks at the Rockaways, and Jersey City.
House of Yes Fourth of July @ The Vander-Ende Onderdonk House
Eli Escobar will be spinning at House of Yes’ all-day dance party and BBQ which takes place at Ridgewood’s historic Onderdonk House. It’s free with RSVP ($10 without).
M.A.K.U. Soundsystem, Marc Ribot (Songs of Resistance Project) @ Knockdown Center
Marc Ribot’s new project Songs of Resistance — which promises new and classic protest songs and some special guests — is the main event at this outdoor daytime concert that benefits Make the Road New York. Eight-piece afrobeat band M.A.K.U. Soundsystem also play. 3 – 9 PM.
David Sanborn, The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Maurice Brown @ South Street Seaport
We miss the Seaport Music Festival and other concerts they used to hold on the pier. The Seaport is always a good place to catch the fireworks, and this free concert — part of the Blue Note Jazz Festival — features great saxophonist David Sanborn. 5:30 PM start.
Need more options? Check out our daily What’s Going On? posts and our full NYC show calendar. Have a great long holiday weekend!
