Daily updates. As usual, weekly events first, followed by the daily calendar. Because we get some of this info weeks in advance, it’s always good to check with the club (see our venues page) to make sure the show you’re interested in seeing is still happening…check out the weekly shows too, lots of good stuff going on! Apologies for the occasional crazy spacing and fonts - Microsoft Word and WordPress still not speaking to each other…
Fans of surrealist art should check out Marzie Nejad’s site (she’s rocker Haale’s mom). No word on a show, but stay tuned.
Some amazing, brightly rendered images from now-nonagenarian painter Mayer Kirshenblatt: They Called Me Mayer July: Painted Memories of a Jewish Childhood in Poland Before the Holocaust is up at the Jewish Museum, Fifth Avenue at 92nd Street through 10/1. He’s 92 now, started painting from memory at 73. Some it a little schmaltzy but most of it is not, a sly, exuberant and triumphantly vital body of work.
Sundays there’s a klezmer brunch at City Winery, show starts round 11:30 AM – 2 PM, $10 cover, no minimum, lots of good bands.
Sundays from half past noon to 3:30 PM, bluegrass cats Freshly Baked (f.k.a. Graveyard Shift), featuring excellent, incisive fiddle player Diane Stockwell play Nolita House (upstairs over Botanica at 47 E Houston). Free drink with your entree.
Every Sunday the Ear-Regulars, led by trumpeter Jon Kellso and (frequently) guitarist Matt Munisteri play NYC’s only weekly hot jazz session starting around 8 PM at the Ear Inn on Spring St. Hard to believe, in the city that springboarded the careers of thousands of jazz legends, but true. This is by far the best value in town for marquee-caliber jazz: for the price of a drink and a tip for the band, you can see world-famous players (and brilliant obscure ones) you’d usually have to drop $100 for at some big-ticket room. The material is mostly old-time stuff from the 30s and 40s, but the players (especially Kellso and Munisteri, who have a chemistry that goes back several years) push it into some deliciously unexpected places.
Sundays at 8:30 PM Sasha Dobson plays Pete’s Candy Store. Jazz chanteuse on the serious Brazilian tip: musically, she’s where Snorah Jones should hope to be in five years.
Sundays July 5, 12 and 19 Stephane Wrembel plays Barbes, 9 PM. The guitarist has few if any equals as an interpreter of Django Reinhardt, but it’s where he takes the gypsy jazz influence in his own remarkably original, psychedelic writing – and what he brings to the Django stuff – that makes all the difference. One of the most interesting players in any style of music, anywhere in the world. He also plays Fridays at Bar Tabac on Smith St. in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn at 8.
Every Sunday, hip-hop MC Big Zoo hosts the long-running End of the Weak rap showcase at the Pyramid, 9 PM, admission $5 before 10, $7 afterward. This is one of the best places to discover some of the hottest under-the-radar hip-hop talent, both short cameos as well as longer sets from both newcomers and established vets.
Mondays at the Fat Cat the Heun Choi String Quartet play a wide repertoire of chamber music from Bach to Shostakovich starting at 7
Mondays at the Jazz Standard it’s all Mingus, whether with the Mingus Orchestra, Big Band or Mingus Dynasty: you know the material and the players are all first rate. Sets 7:30/9:30 PM, $25 (does that include tax? The club was doing that for awhile).
Mondays through the summer til September (when it moves back to Thursdays), at the Delancey on the main floor, 9 PMish Botanica frontman and master of menace Paul Wallfisch presents the edgiest weekly music series in town, playfully called Small Beast, an international mix of some of the most intelligent (and frequently darkest) performers passing through town. It’s free and there’s always some kind of drink special or freebee. If you wish Tonic was still open, Wallfisch is keeping the flame alive. He typically opens the night solo on piano, reason enough to put this on your calendar. July artists include Spottiswoode, Kerry Kennedy, Little Annie, Pete Galub and more.
Also Monday nights Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks, a boisterous horn-driven 11-piece 1920s/early 30’s band play Sofia’s Restaurant, downstairs at the Edison Hotel, 221 West 46th Street between Broadway & 8th Ave., 3 sets from 8 to 11, surprisingly cheap $15 cover plus $15 minimum considering what you’re getting. Even before the Flying Neutrinos or the Moonlighters, multi-instrumentalist Giordano was pioneering the oldtimey sound in New York; his long-running residency at the old Cajun on lower 8th Ave. is legendary. He also gets a ton of film work (Giordano wrote the satirical number that Willie Nelson famously sang in Wag the Dog).
Also Mondays the free reggae show that used to be held at Rehab has gravitated to SOB’s, 9ish, free w/rsvp to rsvp@jamrockmagazine.com, 21 and over.
Also Mondays in July Cumbiagra play classic Colombian cumbias at Barbes, starting around 9:30. The cumbia world takeover starts here!
Also Mondays in July Rev. Vince Anderson and his band play Union Pool in Williamsburg, two sets starting around 11 PM. The Rev. is one of the great keyboardists around, equally thrilling on organ or electric piano, an expert at Billy Preston style funk, honkytonk, gospel and blues. He writes very funny, very politically astute, frequently salacious original gospel songs and is one of the great live performers of our time. Moist Paula from Moisturizer is the lead soloist on baritone sax.
Tuesdays the boisterous and very popular brass-heavy gypsy jazz band Slavic Soul Party plays Barbes at 9. Get here as soon as you can as the opening act is usually popular as well.
Tuesdays in July the Dred Scott Trio play astonishingly smart, dark piano jazz at the Rockwood at midnight
Every Wednesday, Michael Arenella & the Dreamland Dance Band play sly yet boisterous oldtimey hot jazz during a brunch set at the Clover Club, 210 Smith St. (Butler/Baltic) in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, 7:30 -10:30 PM.
Every Wednesday in July, Will Scott and drummer Wylie Wirth play mesmerizing, hypnotic, completely authentic Mississippi hill country blues along with Scott’s own melodic, tuneful blues originals at 68 Jay St. Bar in Dumbo, starting around 8:30 PM. Junior Kimbrough, R.L. Burnside and Asie Payton are sadly gone but Scott continues their tradition of music that is as danceable as it is trance-inducing, and does his influences justice.
Wednesdays in July the Doc Marshalls play rousing original cajun and honkytonk songs at Hill Country, 9 PM
Fridays there’s live Mediterranean music – Greek- Arabic, Turkish Armenian, Israeli fusion with Mike Stoupakis, Christos Zavolas, Sofia on on vocals, Elias Sarkar-oud/vocals, Kostas Konstantinou – drums, plus bellydancers at Lafayette Grill & Bar, 54 Franklin St., downtown,$20 cover, 10ish, free after 1 AM.
Saturdays in July at Spikehill terse, imaginative jazz chanteuse Calley Bliss and her band at 3 PM.
Weds July 1 the Rocks Off Concert Cruise goes Balkan with Hungry March Band plus Veveritse Brass Band, boat boards 7 PM, departs 8 PM from the Skyport Marina at 23rd street & the FDR, tix $20 in advance at the box office or online for extra.
Also Weds July 1, 8ish Tift Merritt plays indoors at Stuyvesant High School auditorium due to threat of rain, to your right along Chambers St. as you walk toward Rockefeller Park in Battery Park City. Worth seeing if her writing has caught up with her absolutely spin-tingling, austere, Linda Thompson-inflected voice.
Thurs July 2 fiery clarinetist Margot Leverett and the Klezmer Mountain Boys at the Jewish Museum, 7:30 PM, free with $15 museum adm.
Also Thurs July 2 atmospheric, frequently haunting art-rock band the Quavers 8 PM at Barbes
Also Thurs July 2 the Mark Sherman Quintet featuring vibraphonist Mark Sherman with Joe Magnarelli, Allen Farnham, Dean Johnson and Tim Horner at Sweet Rhythm sets 8:30+10:30 PM
Also Thurs July 2 amazing Slovak cimbalom band Pajtasi, 9 PM at Radegast Hall & Biergarten on N 3rd in Wburg
Also Thurs July 2 anthemic psychedelic rockers Copesetic play the last show ever at the Goldhawk in Hoboken 10 PM
7/2 catchy, jangly southwestern gothic rocker Tom Shaner at Lakeside, 10 PM
Also Thurs July 2 ferocious all-female noise/punk rockers Beluga at Lit, 11 PM
Fri July 3 a free secret show featuring delta blues/ragtime guitar god Lenny Molotov at 8 PM plus the Oxygen Ponies at 9 warming up for their upcoming European tour, email for venue/time/password
Fri July 3 Erin & Her Cello doing funny smart songs at Joe’s Pub, 7 PM, $12
Also Fri July 3 tuneful fun reggae-rock with Three Legged Fox at Arlene’s, 8 PM
Also Fri July 3, 8 PM at the Stone a cool avant-North African night with Leni Stern (guitars, n’goni) Brahim Fribgane (oud, cahon, dumbek) Jacuba Sissoko (kora). Makan Kouyate (calabash, djembe, tama) Mamadou Ba (bass) Harvie Wirth (drums)
Also Fri July 3 the Grand Masters of Gypsy Music at Mehanata, 9ish
Also Fri July 3 bluegrass/roots night at Banjo Jim’s starting at 8 with fiddler Vincent Cross followed by Tommy Ramone’s bluegrass project Uncle Monk, haunting Mississippi hill country blues guitarist Pork Chop Willie and then one-man roots band Trainwreck Washington at midnight.
Also Fri July 3, 10 PM reggae/ska/dub expert King Django at Shrine uptown.
Also Fri July 3, 10 PM the Disclaimers at Spikehill. Two charismatic soul sirens fronting the band. Fiery lead guitar, eerie organ, jangly tunes and a mix of Elvis Costello intelligence and Radio Birdman fire. NYC’s best band? One of them, no doubt.
Also Fri July 3 the Xylopholks at the Rockwood, midnight. You may have done a doubletake running into this duo on the way to the train at Union Square: a bassist and vibraphonist in full-body, furry pink and blue monster outfits. The costumes are funny but they play old ragtime instrumentals really well!
Sat July 4 in the afternoon Sylvia Gordon of Kudu’s latest project Betty Black which sounds a lot like her other band: sort of a more metal, American Siouxsie with southwestern gothic tinges. At Rose Bar in Williamsburg, starting around 3, free.
Also Sat July 4, 3:30 PM Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley – the poor man’s Aimee Mann – in Battery Park, could be a nightmare since she’s opening for that Bright Eyes moron.
Also Sat July 4 Alex Battles & the Whisky Rebellion at the Brooklyn Museum, 5 PM, free
Also Sat July 4 a killer blues doublebill at Terra Blues starting with Bobby Radcliff at 7, probably playing acoustic, followed by soul singer/sizzling Chicago blues lead guitarist Johnny Allen at 10
Also Sat July 4, 9 PM at Otto’s Unsteady Freddie’s surf rock extravaganza with the Clams, the North Shore Troubadours and a now-rare show by NYC surf legends the Supertones.
Also Sat July 4 the Stagger Back Brass Band - one of the funnest groups in town, sort of the Spinal Tap of brass bands – at Barbes, 10 PM followed by sultry blues/oldtimey siren Mamie Minch at midnight.
Also Sat July 4, 10 PM GO Percussion Ensemble at the Stone
Also Sat July 4, 10 PM Brad Vickers and his Vestapolitans play country music at Hill Country
Also Sat July 4 moody, slinky, downtempo/shoegaze trio El Jezel at Cake Shop, 11 PM.
Also Sat July 4 tuneful, meaningful, hypnotic African roots reggae with Meta & the Cornerstones at Zebulon, 11 PM
Also Sat July 4 gypsy/goth rockers Nanuchka at the Mercury, midnight, $8
Sun July 5 trombonist J. Walter Hawkes and his hellraising oldtimey band at LIC Bar, 5 PM-ish, free
Sun July 5 a killer chicha/cumbia night starring Chicha Libre with Very Be Careful opening at the Bell House, 9ish, adv tix $10.
Also Sun July 5, 8 PM innovative avant cellist/composer Jody Redhage & Fire in July at Barbes
Also Sun July 5 Senegalese reggae with Meta & the Cornerstones and oldschool Philly cult punks McRad at le Poisson Rouge, 6 PM, $7 gen adm
Also Sun July 5 dark melodic rockers Violet Hour at the Mercury 9 PM
Also Sun July 5, 11ish Bato The Yugo & Gypsy Boogie at Nublu
Mon July 6-7 goth legend and Bauhaus frontman Peter Murphy - whose more recent Middle eastern inflections border on transcendent – at Highline Ballroom, 9 PM adv tix $35
Also Mon July 6 fun, female-fronted early 80s new wave dance throwbacks Hank & Cupcakes downstairs at the Delancey, 8 PM, free
Also Mon July 6 tuneful, frequently funny keyboardist/songwriter Alec Berlin at Arlene’s 8 PM
Also Mon July 6, 9 PM fiery, melodic, fearless indie rock trio Cementhead at Trash
Also Mon July 6 the underrated, still-tuneful, anthemic Wallflowers at Irving Plaza, 10ish adv tix $30.
Also Mon July 6 Small Beast at the Delancey upstairs featuring Botanica master of menace Paul Wallfisch solo on the piano at 8:30 PM followed by guitar god Pete Galub, pensive European rocker Spottiswoode and then noir cabaret legend/personality Little Annie.
Also Mon July 6 clever, very smart Mostly Other People Do the Killing sax player Jon Irabagon plays a duo show with Mike Pride on drums at the Cornelia St. Cafe, worth checking out what kind of trouble he can get himself into, 8:30 PM, $10
Tues July 7 cantorial metal trio Sway Machinery in the parking lot at Spring and Varick, 5 PM, free.
Also Tues July 7-12 the Ron Carter Nonet - a favorite project of the iconic bassist/composer – at the Blue Note, bar seating $20, tables $35, shows at 8 and 10:30 PM.
Also Tues July 7, 8 and 10 PM at the Stone Myra Melford Happy Whistlings featuring brilliant avant jazz pianist Myra Melford, Mary Halvorson (guitar) Taylor Ho-Bynum (trumpet) Stomu Takeishi (bass)
Also Tues July 7, 9:30 PM at BAM the documentary film The Night James Brown Saved Boston which provides some backstory for James Brown’s free 1968 Boston concert the day after the MLK assassination. Includes performance footage of Brown, plus commentary by Cornel West and others.
Also Tues July 7 Andrew Vladeck’s cd release show at the Mercury 10 PM $7 – Americana/folk/blues, smartly lyrical
Also Tues July 7, 9ish Americana rock siren Karen Hudson at Indian Road Café & Market, 600 W 218 St. at Indian Road across from Inwood Park, uptown
Weds July 8, 7 PM well-liked alt-bluegrass hellraisers the Duhks at Madison Square Park.
Also Weds July 8 the wild Brazilian rainforest dance band Forro in the Dark at the Stuyvesant Town oval 7:30ish, enter at 16th St. and 1st Ave.
Also Weds July 8 amazingly retro, danceable British soul/funk/groove instrumentalists the New Master Sounds play the Rocks Off Concert Cruise, boarding at 8 PM at 41st St Pier on the westside, adv tix $25 highly recommended.
Also Weds July 8, 8ish at Drom tango nuevo with two of the best in the business, bassist Pablo Aslan & bandoneonist Raul Jaurena (who apparently won a grammy – not that it matters, but what the heck) with guests Juan Cruz Masotta and Pablo Pereyra, $12 adv tix available
Also Weds July 8 artsy, moody, soul/Americana band Heather & the Barbarians at Spikehill, 9 PM
Also Weds July 8, 10 PM at the Stone ferocious, atmospheric classical metal trio Blues In Space: Edison Woods cellist Rubin Kodheli (cellos/compositions) Garrett Brown (drums) Ben Zeff (guitars)
Also Weds July 8 the Church , legendary Australian art-rock geniuses at Irving Plaza 11ish, adv tix $30.
Thurs July 9, half past noon, amazing, haunting gypsy band Luminescent Orchestrii on the World Financial Center Plaza.
Also Thurs July 9 , 7 PM purist jazz guitarist Mark Whitfield and his trio at the Fat Cat
Also Thurs July 9 accordionist Will Holshouser and guitarist Matt Munisteri’s amazing 1930s style Belgian barroom instrumental band Musette Explosion at the Jewish Museum, 7:30 PM, free with $15 museum adm.
Also Thurs July 9-12 at the Jazz Standard the Generations Band: Frank Wess and Eric Alexander – tenor; Andrew Speight – alto; Jim Rotundi – trumpet; David Hazeltine – piano; Ray Drummond – bass; Kenny Washington – drums, shows 7:30/9:30
Also Thurs July 9, 8:30 PM the Brew at Union Hall. Artsy pop band, sometimes a little too top 40, but they have some good tunes and hooks
Also Thurs July 9 Heavy Trash (Jon Spencer & Matt Verta-Ray’s noirish lo-fi garage band) and then the fetchingly oldtimey, harmony-driven Those Darlins at the Mercury 9:30 PM $10 gen adm
Also Thurs July 9, 10 PM haunting, innovative gypsy-inflected chanteuse Sanda Weigl at Barbes.
Also Thurs July 9 Daniel Bernstein at Sidewalk, 11 PM. The former Larval Organ has run the gamut from punk/metal to lush chamber rock; any opportunity to hear the dark, bleak, brilliantly lyrical songwriter is worth it.
Also Thurs July 9 American Aquarium’s raucous electric country sounds at midnight at Arlene’s
Also Fri July 10, 7:30 PM at Prospect Park Bandshell rock en Espanol with Aterciopelados and Los Amigos Invisibles
Also Fri July 10, 7 PM jazz vibraphone innovators Das Vibenbass opening for fun, tuneful Friggs garage rock guitarist/frontwoman Palmyra Delran and her band who play 8 PM at Arlene’s.
Fri July 10 a free secret show featuring Randi Russo at 8 PM plus Don Piper at 9 and then the Oxygen Ponies at 10 warming up for their upcoming European tour, email for venue/password
Also Fri July 10 the A-Bones playing careening lo-fi retro 60s garage on the Rocks Off Concert Cruise, boarding at 8 at 23rd and the FDR, adv tix $20 highly recommended.
Also Fri July 10 Jazz guitar great Gene Bertoncini performs with Ike Sturm, bass; Rich De Rosa, drums; and guest soloist, Sara Caswell, violin at the Kitano sushi bar 68 Park Ave. @ 38th Street sets: 8 & 10 PM $25.
Also Fri July 10 sprawling funk orchestra Turkuaz at Bowery Poetry Club 10 PM – cheaper than George Clinton
Also Fri July 10 at Banjo Jim’s bassist Carolyn Sills & the Poor Man’s Roses doing spot-on at 10 followed by Trainwreck Washington at midnight
Also Fri July 10 Those Darlins at Southpaw 10 PM $10.
Also Fri July 10 Moonlighters frontwoman Bliss Blood’s ecstatically fun barrelhouse blues band Delta Dreambox at Barbes 10 PM
Sat July 11 the Main Squeeze Accordion Festival at Pier One, 70th St. and the highway, 3 PM. This all-day festival is an A-list of accordion and accordion-fronted bands from all over the world. Bring a hat and shades because the sun over the river is intense!
Also Sat July 11 ska/punks los Fabulosos Cadillacs at Central Park Summerstage, doors at 3, free. Vamos bailar toda el dia.
Also Sat July 11 a great New Orleans doublebill with the Flying Neutrinos and Brother Joscephus and his big horn-driven band, 4 PM at the F train station at Riverwalk Commons, Roosevelt Island.
Also Sat July 11, 7 PM the Gregg August Trio at the Fat Cat. The bassist is fearlessly socially aware and has a great feel for latin rhythms and soaring melodies.
Also Sat July 11, 8 PM a killer garage rock doublebill at Union Hall with the frequently hilarious Jesse Bates’ Flying Guitars and the recently reunited and reinvigorated, all-female Friggs, $8 adv tix available
Also Sat July 11, 8 PM blue eyed soul siren/lyrical rocker Juliana Nash makes a welcome return trip to her old stomping ground, Pete’s Candy Store with Matt Kanelos on keys, followed at 9 by artsy keyboard pop/trip-hop trio Mattison
Also Sat July 11 fiery blues guitarist Bobby Radcliff plays electric at Lucille’s, 8 PM
Also Sat July 11, 8 PM a killer garage rock doublebill at Union Hall with the frequently hilarious Jesse Bates’ Flying Guitars and the recently reunited, reinvigorated, all-female Friggs, $8 adv tix available
Also Sat July 11 goth/art-rock pianist/chanteuse Kristin Hoffmann at Caffe Vivaldi 9ish
Also Sat July 11 impressively diverse, occasionally reggae-inflected punk vets the Subhumans at the Knit, 10 PM.
Also Sat July 11 surf/rockabilly/soul/punk guitar genius Simon & the Bar Sinisters at Lakeside 10:15ish
Also Sat July 11, 9:30 PM Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. followed eventually at midnight by another excellent, somewhat more serious country band, the Dixons at Southpaw.
Also Sat July 11, 10 PM at the Stone versatile ska/jazz/calypso trombonist Curtis Fowlkes’ band Catfish Corner
Also Sat July 11 this is so beyond barf we had to mention it: it’s Pretty in Pink prom night at the Bell House! $25 cover, music by a real live prom band phoning in all the cheesiest 80s hits ever! Dress as your favorite John Hughes high school stereotype and win an iPod shuffle loaded up with lame-ass John Hughes soundtracks! Somebody please take the band and the club employees outside, set off a stink bomb and lock the doors!
Sun July 12 no joke – at B.B. King’s you can go see the gospel brunch in the afternoon or show up a bit later for Atheist. Or hedge your bets and do both.
Also Sun July 12 bluegrass patriarch Dr. Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mtn. Boys at Highline Ballroom, 8 PM, adv tix $30
Also Sun July 12 Ninth House’s dark baritone frontman Mark Sinnis at Sidewalk 9 PM
Also Sun July 12 the Flying Neutrinos at Rodeo Bar, 10 PMish. They’re also here on 7/26
Mon July 13, 7:30 PM versatile, entertaining Americana guitarist/rocker Homeboy Steve Antonakos at Banjo Jim’s
Also Mon July 13, 8:30 PM Botanica’s Paul Wallfisch at the Delancey upstairs
7/13-15 Aimee Mann at City Winery is SOLD OUT
Tues July 14, 7 PM multistylistic jazz/Americana violinist/songwriter Jenny Scheinman at Barbes. She’s also here on 7/21 and 28
Also Tues July 14 popular 90s reggae crooner Barrington Levy at B.B. King’s 8 PM adv tix $22.
Also Tues July 14, 8 PM smart, pensive indie chanteuse Elisa Flynn – whose show last month at Small Beast absolutely kicked ass – is at Sidewalk
Also Tues July 14 at the Stone 8 PM Marika Hughes—The Picasso Commissions. Marika Hughes (solo cello) – a collection of new solo cello pieces written for Marika by composers Eyvind Kang, Charlie Burnham, Dina Maccabee, Nasheet Waits, Shahzad Ismaily, Abraham Burton, Jenny Scheinman and Todd Sickafoose.
Also Tues July 14 Bliss Blood of the Moonlighters solo at Pete’s with the Tavo Carbone band
Also Tues July 14-15 at the Jazz Standard Charlie Hunter/Doug Wamble/Tony Mason, sets at 7:30/9:30 PM
Also Tues July 14 fiery, relevant, fearlessly politically charged Radiohead-influenced art-rockers My Pet Dragon at Trash, 10 PM
Weds July 15, 5:30 PM Brother Joscephus and his 11-piece New Orleans funk/soul band play at Sequoia, 89 South Street, Pier 17 downtown.
Also Weds July 15, 7 PM, Luisito Rosario y Su Orquesta playing salsa at Wagner Park, Battery Place and West Street.
Also Weds July 15 tango night at Drom 8ish with the Haffner Tango Trust (Juan Cruz Masotta – Ivan Barenboim – Emilio Teubal – Juan Pablo Jofre – Pablo Pereyra), adv tix $12
Also Weds July 15 Dagmar play the cd release show for their new cd – dark pop with guy-girl harmonies and relevant lyrics – at Caffe Vivaldi, 8:15 PM
Also Weds July 15, 9 PM 101 Crustaceans at Banjo Jim’s
Also Weds July 15 soul/funk siren Bethany Saint Smith & the Gun Show at Ace of Clubs 9 PM. They’re also at Arlene’s on 7/29 at 9.
Also Weds July 15 the Sweet Divines at Southpaw 10:30 PM $10
Thurs July 16, noon, Alicia Svigals’ Klezmer Express at St. Mark’s Park, 2nd Ave. and 10th St., outdoors
Also Thurs July 16, half past noon piano jazz with the Emmet Cohen Trio in the World Financial Center Winter Garden. They’ll also be at One New York Plaza, corner of Whitehall and Water Streets, same time the following day.
Also Thurs July 16, 7 PM at Otto’s ukelele night with Ellen & John Monten, Pride and Joy and Dad, Khabu Doug Young, the Ukemen, Bliss Blood, Os Suaverinhos, Lei Pacifica, Moose Karloff, Sean Harvey, Josh Bisker, David Barish, Newoxtica
Also Thurs July 16, 7 PM Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory Orchestra plays Sly & The Family Stone at Castle Clinton, tix available 2 per person, outside Castle Clinton, first-come, first-served basis starting at 5 PM day of show.
Also Thurs July 16 Slavic Soul Party at the Jewish Museum, 7:30 PM, free with $15 museum adm.
Also Thurs July 16 Greek-influenced blues guitarist Spiros Soukis at Lucille’s 8 PM
Also Thurs July 16 8:30 PM at Sycamore Bar in Crown Heights former Come and Steve Wynn lead guitar genius Chris Brokaw plus Geoff Farina and Pete Fitzpatrick
Also Thurs July 16, 9 PM Brad Vickers & His Vestapolitans at Banjo Jim’s
Also Thurs July 16, 9 PM ska/jazz sax legend Dave Hillyard in a rare trio show at Shrine uptown
Also Thurs July 16 Chicha Libre at le Poisson Rouge 10ish $25 adv tix available
Also Thurs July 16 10 PM Ansambl Mastika at Barbes
Fri July 17 The Sweet Divines and Robert Cray at Prospect Park Bandshell, 7:30 PM.
Fri July 17 a free secret show featuring Ed Rogers and Amanda Thorpe at 8 PM followed eventually by the Oxygen Ponies at 10 warming up for their upcoming European tour, email for venue/password
Also Fri July 17 Jeanne Marie Boes at Freddy’s 9 PM
Also Fri July 17 the Larch at Arlene’s 9 PM
Also Fri July 17 9ish authentically lo-fi garage rockers the Organs at Don Pedro’s
Also Fri July 17 Ninth House at Hank’s 11 PM
Also Fri July 17 Mr. Action & the Boss Guitars at Lakeside 11 PM
Also Fri July 17, 11 PM Finotee play sultry psychedelic oldschool soul at Shrine
Sat July 18, 1 PM a free concert at Bargemusic. There’s another at 1 on 7/25 and again at 1 on 8/1. Performers TBA but they all tend to be excellent. No reserved seating; matinee performances last about 1 hour with no intermission. Everyone is welcome, early arrival advised.
Also Sat July 18, starting at 2 PM the 7th annual NYC Musical Saw Festival at Trinity Church, 31-18 37th Street (corner of 31st Avenue), Astoria, Queens), $10, R/V to Steinway St.
Also Sat July 18, 3 PM at the Bell House, ghoulabilly/rockabilly bands in reverse order: Memphis Morticians, Psychocharger, Tombstone Brawlers, The Arkhams, The Wanda Jackson 5, The Designer Drugs, Soul Reapin’ 3, $20 adv tix
Also Sat July 18 Nation Beat playing Brazilian forro music, 4 PM at the F train station at Riverwalk Commons, Roosevelt Island
Also Sat July 18, 7 PM dark, pensive, smartly tuneful indie rockers Bern & the Brights at Spikehill
Also Sat July 18, 7 PM jazz-inflected piano siren Elaine Romanelli at Kenny’s Castaways
Also Sat July 18, 8 PM at Barbes Jim Campilongo’s Superfine Band followed at 10 by the Jug Addicts
Also Sat July 18 the boisterously oldtimey 2 Man Gentlemen Band at Public Assembly, time TBA
Also Sat July 18 Irish acoustic punk hellraisers Box of Crayons at the Parkside 10 PM
Also Sat July 18 Demolition String Band at Rodeo Bar 10:30 PM
Also Sat July 18 Spanking Charlene at Lakeside 11 PM
Sun July 19 at Central Park Summerstage, 3 PM doors, global roots reggae stars Alpha Blondy & The Solar System, Lee “Scratch” Perry & Dubblestandart Subatomic Sound System.
Also Sun July 19, 7 PM Frank London’s Klezmer Allstars at Pier One on the upper west.
Also Sun July 19 midnight-ish the Anti-Nowhere League at Europa $20 18+
Mon July 20 Kerry Kennedy at the Delancey upstairs at Small Beast
Also Mon July 20 Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, Jerry Butler, what’s left of the Stylistics and finally the O’Jays headlining at Wingate Field, Crown Heights, Brooklkyn, early arrival i.e. 7 PM at the latest highly advised
Tues July 21 newschool Cape Verde chanteuse Lura at City Winery,9 PM, bar seat $15, tables $20
Also Tues July 21 the JD Allen Trio at the Stone 8 PM
Also Tues July 21 Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara play desert blues at the Lincoln Center Festival 8 PM
Also Tues July 21 Copesetic at Lucky 7’s in Jersey City, time TBA
Also Tues July 21 Moonlighters frontwoman Bliss Blood playing a rare solo show followed by ferocious, intense art-rockers System Noise at the Delancey, 8ish
Also Tues July 21 8 PM two generations of reggae – dancehall pioneer Eek-a-Mouse and then the ageless, still charismatic Toots & the Maytals at B B King’s, 8 PM, $31 adv tix rec.
Also Tues July 21-26 at the Jazz Standard Terence Blanchard – trumpet; Walter Smith III – tenor sax; Fabian Almazan – piano; Derrick Hodge – bass; Kendrick Scott – drums. sets 7:30/9:30 PM
Also Tues July 21 popular downtempo psychedelic instrumentalists Tortoise at le Poisson Rouge, time TBA, adv tix $20
Also Tues July 21 Kendra Smith at Lakeside, 10 PM - the Kendra Smith, legendary bassist from the Dream Syndicate who did the freak folk thing after that, 20 years before freak folk existed?!?
Weds July 22 psychedelic power trio Devi at Arlene’s 8 PM
Also Weds July 22 the sharp, literate duo Amy Rigby and Wreckless Eric at Lakeside 10 PM – get there early because he packed the place the last time he played there solo.
Thurs July 23, half past noon veteran jazz pianist Junior Mance in the World Financial Center Winter Garden. He’ll be at One New York Plaza, corner of Whitehall and Water Streets, same time the following day.
Also Thurs July 23, listed with some cynicism: 6 PM at Pier 54 on the west side, the fearlessly political punkish Ted Leo and the Pharmacists preceded by psychedelic afropop band Extra Golden and long-running Gang of 4 ripoffs Radio 4
Also Thurs July 23 sprawling, rustic Balkan/blues/reggae/klezmer improvisers Hazmat Modine, back from another ecstatic European tour play Wagner Park just north of Battery Park on the west side, 7 PM
Also Thurs July 23 fascinating multistylistic classical/Russian/tango string band Ljova and the Kontraband at the Jewish Museum, 7:30 PM, free with $15 museum adm.
Also Thurs July 23 ancient soul/gospel singer Gladys Knight aong with Philly soul pioneers the O’Jays at Asser Levy Park, Coney Island, 7:30 PM
Also Thurs July 23 grasscore with Slim Cessna’s Auto Club at the Bell House 7:30 PM adv tix $12
Also Thurs July 23 legendary dark rocker Ian Hunter – whose show in June at Rockefeller Park was absolutely killer – is at City Winery, bar seating $30, tables $35, 9 PM
Also Thurs July 23 Erin Regan – equally adept at jaunty ragtime as well as haunting, brooding tales from the dark side – is at the Jalopy Theatre 9 PM $10
Also Thurs July 23 wickedly sharp female-fronted janglerock,pop band Delusions of Grand St. at Lakeside 10 PM
Fri July 24, 7 PM at the Knitting Factory 3 floors of ska (plus hip-hop): King Django, the Jammyland All-Stars featuring Milton Henry, Nomadic Wax’s African Underground, the Bluebeats, Bigger Thomas, Hyphen One & Daylow, Cold Spot 8, Wareika Hill + others, adv tix $17
Also Fri July 24, 8 PM at the Stone it’s Brandon Ross night starting at 8 with his group For Living Lovers: Brandon Ross (acoustic guitars, banjo, voice) Stomu Takeishi (acoustic bass guitar) and then at 10 Brandon Ross—If God Has Planted This Love In My Heart with Brandon Ross (acoustic guitars, voice) Aaron Stewart (saxophone) Stomu Takeishi (acoustic bass guitar) Sadiq Bey (poetry) Rubin Kodheli (cello) Tyshawn Sorey (drums). Maybe if we’re lucky he’ll break out his invention the pencilina, a sort of cross hetween a dulcimer and lapsteel.
Also Fri July 24 Black Moth Super Rainbow – the Cocteau Twins meet Radiohead – at South St. Seaport, 8ish.
Also Fri July 24 at Ace of Clubs a country night starting at 8 with Dock Oscar & the Ambassadors Of Love, Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. Jessica Rose & The Highlife and headlining sometime around 11 Alex Battles & The Whisky Rebellion
Also Fri July 24 9 PM at the Jalopy Theatre eerie deadpan ragtime songwriter W.R. Draper followed at 10 by oldtimey swing chanteuse Miss Tess & the Bon Ton Parade, $10
Also Fri July 24 the Boss Tweed Band at Hill Country 10 PM
Also Fri July 24 10 PM Indian wedding marching band Red Baraat Festival at Barbes
Also Fri July 24 one of our favorite bands, the wickedly literate, counterintuitive, 90s Britrock-style Special Patrol Group at Lakeside 11 PM
Sat July 25 a punk show at Tompkins Square Park with Reagan Youth, others in the afternoon
Also Sat July 25 Satanicide at Bowery Ballroom 10ish adv tix $12 at the Mercury.
Also Sat July 25 Any Day Parade – who mix twangy electric country with a louder paisley underground guitar rock sound – play at Trash, 10 PM
Sun July 26 exciting new music from Asian underground pioneers Min Xiao-Fen on pipa, Samir Chatterjee on tabla and Masayo Ishigure playing the koto at the Queens Museum of Art, 7 train to Shea Stadium, time TBA.
Also Sun July 26 And You Will Know Us by the Trail of the Dead at the Williamsburg Waterfront, on the river between North 8th and 9th Sts., free, guessing around 6 PM. Since the space is considerably bigger than McCarren Pool, the likelihood of getting shut out of this seems pretty nonexistent. Here’s hoping they do more of the pensive noirish ballads than the blaring anthems that stop just this short of emo.
Also Sun July 26 the Be Lee Festival at Joe’s Pub, 7 PM: some of this era’s finest songwriters Amy Allison, Jim Allen, Dan Bryk, Kevin Corrigan, Pete Galub, Greta Gertler, Henry Hample, Carol Lipnik, Chris Moore, Alon Nechushtan and others play songs by the brilliant, subtle, multistylistic composer/songwriter/pianist and birthday boy Lee Feldman, adv tix $12 recommended
Also Sun July 26 bellydance goddess Nourhan Sharif presents a night of classic Middle Eastern music and dance with Mohamed El Hossein & Karim Nagi at Lafayette Grill & Bar, 8ish.
Also Sun July 26 uncompromising, eardrum-shattering, Radio Birdman-inspired garage punks the Mess Around at Cake Shop 8ish
Also Sun July 26 first wave oldtimey reivalists the Squirrel Nut Zippers at Highline Ballroom 9 PM $25 adv tix
Mon July 27 the deliriously fun Afro/Latin/Caribbean dance stylings of la Sovietika, 3 PM at Sudaca/Bronx at Haven Arts Gallery, 50 Bruckner Blvd, Building A, 6 Train to 138th St.
Also Mon July 27 Botanica keyboardist Paul Wallfisch followed by excellent noir art-rocker Martin Bisi upstairs at Small Beast at the Delancey
Tues July 28 Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co at Rodeo Bar 10:30 PM
Weds July 29, 7 PM Cuban son jazz jams with Químbombó at Wagner Park.
Also Weds July 29 at the Jazz Standard exceptionally imaginative piano jazz with the Gerald Clayton Trio, sets 7:30/9:30
Also Weds July 29 at Drom, 8ish, tango night with Tango Fiaka, the Haffner Tango Trust and others, $12 adv tix rec.
Thurs July 30, half past noon Australian blueswoman Fiona Boyes on the World Financial Center Plaza, 220 Vesey Street, also at One New York Plaza, corner of Whitehall and Water Streets, same time the next day.
Also Thurs July 30, 7 PM Arlo Guthrie at Castle Clinton, tix available 2 per person, outside Castle Clinton, first-come, first-served starting 5 PM day of show.
Also Thurs July 30 Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens and Burning Spear at Prospect Park Bandshell, 7:30 PM.
Also Thurs July 30 – 8/2 at the Jazz Standard the Freddy Cole Quartet with special guest Harry Allen (7/31-8/2). Freddy Cole – piano and vocals; Harry Allen – tenor saxophone; Randy Napoleon – guitar; Elias Bailey – bass; Curtis Boyd -drums, sts 7:30/9:30 PM
Also Thurs July 30 8:30ish The Builders and the Butchers play mostly acoustic Nashville gothic at the Bell House, adv tix $10
Also Thurs July 30 Jarvis Cocker at Terminal 5, 9ish, adv tix $35 at the Mercury
Also Thurs July 30 9:30ish PM at the Nokia Theatre Method Man & Redman/Ghostface Killah, $35 adv tix at the box office
Sat July 31 legendary noise-rockers Polvo at South St. Seaport, 8ish
Also Sat July 31 compellingly jangly garage/shoegaze/surf rockers the Vivian Girls at the Whitney, 8 PM
Also Sat July 31 8 PM the Six Bach Suites for Solo Cello and Beyond, Part 1 – Bach Suite No. 1 for Unaccompanied Cello in G Major, BWV 1007; Suite No. 3 for Unaccompanied Cello in C Major, BWV 1009; Suite No. 5 for Unaccompanied Cello in c minor, BWV 1011; Yoed Nir – Improvisation for Electric Solo Cello (A fusion of Middle Eastern and Jewish flavors and influences combining classical and world music) – Yoed Nir, Cello and Electric Cello at Bargemusic, $35, part 2 continues on 8/7
Also Sat July 31, 8:30ish the Mekons mostly acoustic at the Bell House gen adm $15
Also Sat July 31, Rev Vince Anderson and band at 55 Bar 10 PM
Also Sat July 31 Band of Outsiders/Certain General at the Parkside, 10 PM – weren’t they the same band, anyway?
8/1 Hawke & Owl and the Flanks playing oldtime country and Americana, 4 PM at the F train station at Riverwalk Commons, Roosevelt Island.
8/1, 7 PM Brazz Tree play fiery acoustic soul/funk at Joe’s Pub $15
8/1 Jennifer O’Connor 7:30 PM at Union Hall $12 She’ also there again on 8/22 at 8 for the same price
8/1 funk band the Rozatones at Bowery Poetry Club, time TBA. Charismatic frontwoman with a powerful soul wail, an ornate art-rock sensibility and occasional Balkan overtones. Good stuff.
8/1, 8 PM Urban Sun play funk on the Rocks Off Concert Cruise, boarding at 7 at 23rd and the FDR, adv tix $20 highly recommended.
8/1, 10 PM, $10, fiery blues guitarist John D’Amato followed by New Orleans style soul belter Jordan Valentine & her band the Sunday Saints at midnight at the Cornelia St. Cafe
8/3, 7:30 PM, Toumani Diabate (Malian kora virtuoso) at Central Park Summerstage, free.
8/5-9 Asphalt Orchestra 7 PM at Lincoln Center Plaza, free
8/5 7:30 PM Amir ElSaffar’s Two Rivers Large Ensemble and the Dave Brubeck Quartet with special guest soloist Simon Shaheen at Damrosch Park
8/5 Julia Haltigan & the Hooligans at Lakeside 10 PM
8/5 10 PM the Noah Preminger Quartet with Rudy Royston on drums at 55 Bar
8/6 Malian desert blues guitar goddess Rokia Traore at Metrotech Park at noon
8/6 8:30ish Nicole Atkins & the Sea at the Bell House $15 gen adm
8/6 the Boss Tweed Band at Union Hall 8 PM $10 adv tix available
8/6 Tandy at Lakeside 10 PM
8/7 7:30 PM Raul Midon and Rokia Traore at Damrosch Park
8/7 best show of the year – the Brooklyn What at Trash Bar w/Escarioka, Palmyra Delran, Warm Hats and This Blue Heaven. Very cool, succinct Brooklyn What interview here,
8/8, 7 PM at Prospect Park Bandshell Big Daddy Kane (with special guests TBA), plus a screening of the documentary BDK: The Big Daddy Kane Story
8/9, 7 PM Romashka at Pier One on the upper west
8/9, 8 PM the Electric Prunes, a Love cover band and Sky Saxon of the Seeds at B.B. King’s, adv tix $30
8/11 the Budos Band in the parking lot at Spring and Varick, 5 PM
8/11-16 JD Allen Trio at the Vanguard, sets at 9 and 11
8/12, 7 PM golden age hip-hop with Black Moon and Smif n Wessun with a live band at Brower Park, Brooklyn Ave. & Park Pl. between Kingston & Brooklyn Aves., Bed-Stuy, 3 train to Kingston Ave.
8/12 7 PM Red Baraat Festival at Lincoln Center Plaza
8/12, 7 PM the Wu-tang’s’s Raekwon on his Shaolin home turf at Mahoney Playground, Beechwood Ave., Crescent Ave., Cleveland St. & Jersey St.
8/12 8 PM what’s left of the Wailers at BB King’s $25 adv tix, note that Family Man Barrett is not on bass, but they still have Al Anderson on guitar.
8/12 9 PM Stumblebum Brass Band at Coco 66 in Greenpoint
8/13 the Donnas, Pat Benatar and Blondie at Asser Levy Park, Coney Island, 7:30 PM
8/13 Robert Gordon + Chris Spedding + Slim Jim Phantom + Glen Matlock 8 PM at B.B.King’s adv tix $25
8/14 7 PM Slavic Soul Party at Lincoln Center North Plaza
8/14 at Ace of Clubs a country/cowpunk night starting at 8 with Jason Wilder Evans, Sterling Peirce, the Dirt Luck Outlaws and I’ll Be John Brown around 11.
8/14 9 PM Pearl & the Beard at Union Pool
8/15 surf bands on the Coney Island Boardwalk including Reverb Galaxy at 4 PM
8/15 8 PM at Bargemusic the Amernet String Quartet play the Haydn String Quartet No. 14 in E-Flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2, Mendelssohn String Quartet No. 4 in e minor, Op. 44, No. 2. Tchaikovsky String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11, $35
8/17 Tim Eriksen, pioneering string player and blender of oldtimey Americana with the avante-garde plays the Blue Note, sets 8 and 10:30 PM, tix only $10 or $5 at the bar
8/18 Chico Hamilton’s Euphoria at Dizzy’s Club, 7:30/9:30 PM. $30, adv tix highly recommended.
8/18 the Breeders at Bowery Ballroom 9ish adv tix $25
8/18 Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson at Joe’s Pub – shows 9:30/11:30 $25
8/19, 7 PM Naughty by Nature on Shaolin at Mahoney Playground, Beechwood Ave., Crescent Ave., Cleveland St. & Jersey St
8/20 intriguingly psychedelic funksters Buzz Universe aboard the Rocks Off Concert Cruise, boarding at 8 at 23rd and the FDR, adv tix $20 highly recommended.
8/20 8 PM the Moody Blues at the Beacon Theatre $39.50 no svce charge if purchased at the Beacon box office
8/20 Gregory Isaacs at BB King’s 8 PM adv tix $22.50
8/20 the Silos at Lakeside 10 PM
8/21 Mystic Dub play hypnotic oldschool roots reggae/dub at Shrine, 10 PM. Theyr’e also at Sidewalk on midnight on 8/27!?!
8/22 Chicha Libre at the F train station at Riverwalk Commons, Roosevelt Island, 4 PM.
8/22 Jennifer O’Connor 8 PM at Union Hall
8/22 Burnt Sugar’s 10th anniversary show at Joe’s Pub 9:30 PM $15
8/22 the New Collisions at the Bitter End 11 PM
8/23 los Straitjackets at Maxwell’s $13 adv tix
8/25-30 widely sampled 70s jazz vibraphonist Roy Ayers at the Blue Note, bar seating $20, tables $30, sets at 8/10:30 PM
8/27 Jessica Valiente’s excellent latin jazz band las Mas Valientes play outdoors at 24 State St just east of the Shaolin Ferry terminal, half past noon.
8/27 pianist Simone Dinnerstein and cellist Zuill Bailey play the cd release show for their new collaboration Beethoven’s Complete Works for Piano and Cello playing Sonatas Nos. 3, 4, and 5, time tba, adv tix $20
8/27 surf rock legend Dick Dale and his 17-year-old kid Jimmy do an acoustic/electric duo show at City Winery, bar seats $20, tables $30, 9 PM
8/28-29 a killer two day soul summit at the Bell House starting around 8 PM , $25 2-day passes available otherwise $15 adv tix per night. 8/28 is the more retro with Barbara Lynn (”The Soul Queen of the Gulf Coast”); Roscoe Robinson (”The Baron Of Birmingham, Alabama”); Hermon Hitson (”The Georgia Grinder”). All acts backed by Eli Paperboy Reed’s band. Reed also is supposedly on the bill at some point. 8/29 features Chicago blues crooner Otis Clay, Maxine Brown (”The Lovely Lady of New York Uptown Soul”) and NYC’s own retro soul harmony sirens the Sweet Divines
8/28, midnight the Live Ones at Union Pool
8/31 Anguila roots reggae/rock star Bankie Banx plays a free show at BB King’s 8 PM
9/1 Michael Franti & Spearhead at Terminal 5, 8 PM adv tix $35 at the Mercury
9/4 9 PM at Southpaw $10 the Sweetback Sisters and Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys
9/9 Bill Frisell at City Winery
9/11 John Brown’s Body at Bowery Ballroom 9ish gen adm $15
9/13 the Dirty Three 9ish at Bowery Ballroom adv tix $15
9/15 8 PM Deerhoof at le Poisson Rouge, $15
9/17 Son Volt at Irving Plaza adv tix $22.50
9/18 Groundation play roots reggae at BB King’s 11:30 PM adv tix $16
9/19 And You Will Know Us by the Trail of the Dead 10 PM at the Music Hall of Williamsburg $20 adv tix available at the Mercury
9/23 8:30ish at Bowery Ballroom the Minus 5, the Baseball Project, and the Steve Wynn IV feat. Scott McCaughey, Peter Buck, Steve Wynn and Linda Pitmon, adv tix onsale 7/10 at noon at the Mercury box office
9/30 Shemekia Copeland at BB King’s 8 PM adv tix $25
10/16-18 at the Jazz Standard the Ben Allison Band: Jenny Scheinman – violin; Shane Endsley – trumpet; Steve Cardenas – guitar; Ben Allison – bass; Rudy Royston – drums
10/21-23 Richard Thompson plays all-request shows at City Winery $35 standing room tix available – this will sell out fast
10/29-11/1 at the Jazz Standard: Go Home featuring Charlie Hunter – guitar; Curtis Fowlkes – trombone; Ben Goldberg – clarinet; Scott Amendola – drums
11/6-8 the Extremely Hungary Samizdat Music Festival at le Poisson Rouge and La Mama