CD Review: 17 Hippies – El Dorado

To name your band 17 Hippies is at worst straight-up hubris – or else this sprawling, playful 13-piece German group have obviously never heard of adventurous California art-rock cult artists 17 Pygmies. And titling their latest album El Dorado is pretty much the equivalent of calling it Darkside of the Moon. So much for names and titles – this is a fun collection of quirky, imaginative, mostly Balkan-flavored songs and instrumentals. The band clearly has a good time messing around with various world music genres – as excellent as the musicianship is, it’s quickly apparent that much of what they do isn’t to be taken seriously. It’s party music in the best sense of the word.

The album opens with a slinky Levantine dance rolling along on a banjo groove with a lyric whose silliness transcends any language barrier. The second cut is sad; the third is a joke; the fourth, La Zona Drom (The Gypsy Area) welds Lebanese slink to a swaying, stately gypsy dance beat with a big clarinet crescendo. The next one features mandolin, horns and a muted trumpet solo like something quiet from the Gogol Bordello songbook.

Sung in French, Solitaire is a brooding after-hours lament, followed by a blithe German-language acoustic pop song, a children’s number, then an uproariously successful blend of bluegrass and dark Eastern European folk with a delicious string chart. They wind it up with a big Balkan brass band number spiced with banjo that builds to a haunting crescendo with the strings going full tilt. Memo to the head hippie – next time you’re planning on covering an English-language drinking song, you might want to do something other than a number that gradeschool kids sing on long bus rides. 17 Hippies play le Poisson Rouge on Sept 1 at 7 with Rob Curto’s Forro for All.

Advertisement

NYC Live Music Calendar Plus Other Events for September-October 2009

Hey, there’s part of a Oct/Nov 09 live calendar up here. Because of renovations at Lucid Culture HQ, we probably won’t be able to do much updating until about mid-October. In the meantime, there are plenty of other sites who do live music calendars: ohmyrockness for indie rock, NYC bluegrass for country, etc., scroll down a little and look to your right for the blogroll which has all the links.

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!

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.

The 2009-10 series of organ concerts at St. Thomas Church continues most every Sunday (holidays excepted) at 5:15 sharp, featuring an allstar cast of performers. Concerts continue through the end of May 2010.

Stephane Wrembel plays Sundays at Barbes at 9. 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.

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.

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 and worth it.

Mondays til the end of 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. September artists include Marianne Dissard, Norden Bombsight, Kerry Kennedy, Marni Rice 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 September the Barbes house band, Chicha Libre plays there starting around 9:30. They’ve singlehandedly resurrected an amazing subgenre, chicha, which was popular in the Peruvian Amazon in the late 60s and early 70s. With electric accordion, cuatro, surf guitar and a boisterous rhythm section, their mix of obscure classics and originals is one of the funnest, most danceable things you’ll witness this year. Perhaps not so strangely, they sound a lot like Finnish surf rockers Laika and the Cosmonauts in their most imaginative moments.

Also Mondays in September 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 September at Rose Bar, free,  trumpeter Avishai Cohen brings a different trio, sets 9/11 PM: September 1st: Matt Penman – Bass, Justin Brown – Drums; September 8th: Jason Lindner – Piano, Nasheet Waits – Drums; September 15th (midnight set only): w/Nasheet Waits – Drums; September 22nd: Matt Penman – Bass, Nasheet Waits – Drums

Tuesdays in  September the Dred Scott Trio play astonishingly smart, dark piano jazz at the Rockwood at midnight.

Wednesdays in  September at Puppets Jazz Bar in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, 7 PM superb latin jazz composer Arturo O’Farrill solo on piano ($10 cover) followed at 9 by trumpeter John McNeil’s group feat. Noah Preminger on tenor.

Every Wednesday, Michael Arenella & the Dreamland Dance Band play sly yet boisterous oldtimey hot jazz at the Clover Club, 210 Smith St. (Butler/Baltic) in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, 8:30 -10:30 PM.

Every Wednesday in September, 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.

Sonia’s Party, who blend a bewitching oldschool Motown sound with a vintage Memphis groove play a free show every Wednesday in November – not September -at 11 PM at Shrine uptown

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 September at Spikehill terse, imaginative jazz chanteuse Calley Bliss and her band at 3 PM.

Tues Sept 1 Michael Franti & Spearhead at Terminal 5, 8 PM adv tix $35 at the Mercury

Also Tues Sept 1, 10 PM Japanest pianist Satoko Fujii with her Min-Yoh Ensemble – Andrea Parkins on whatever, Curtis Hasselbring on trombone and husband Natsuki Tamura on trumpet at the Stone.

Also Tues Sept 1, Rob Curto’s Forro for All and playful German Balkan/Middle Eastern-gypsy mini-orchestra 17 Hippies at le Poisson Rouge, 7 PM, adv tix $15 rec.

Weds Sept 2 classy Americana chanteuse Rebecca Turner, Brooklyn’s man in black John Pinamonti and the Plunk Bros. – Bob Jones and Boo Reiners on dueling stringed instruments – at Banjo Jim’s, 8 PM.

Also Weds Sept 2, 7 PM Painted on Water with soaring, haunting Turkish chanteuse Sertab Erener and composer/guitarist Demir Demirkan at le Poisson Rouge, $15 gen adm

Also Weds Sept 2 the David Berkman piano trio at Smalls 9/10:30 PM

Also Weds Sept 2 ageless roots reggae legend Toots & the Maytals at the Brooklyn Bowl 9 PM $21

Also Weds Sept 2 and 9/9 multistylistic, dramatic chanteuse Sophie Auster – Paul’s kid – at Caffe Vivaldi 10ish

Also Weds Sept 2, 10 PM at 55 Bar saxophonist Michael Blake with the Dred Scott Trio

Thurs Sept 3 the Quavers and their loop-driven, hypnotic atmospheric art-rock at Barbes 8 PM followed at 10 by the absolutely brilliant Maybelles (Jan Bell – guitar, vocals, harmonica; Melissa Carper – upright bass, vocals and Katy Cox – fiddle, vocals) playing their unique take on rustic British and American folk and country.

Also Thurs Sept 3, 8 PM at Bowery Poetry Club book release party for actress/author Amber Tamblyn’s second book of poetry and prose, Bang Ditto out from Manic D Press. with special surprise guests plus Beau Sia, intriguing neoclassical composer Emily Wells and plus Amber’s 70s rockin’ mom Bonnie Tamblyn.

Also Thurs Sept 3 a good doublebill on tour from the south: banjoist Don Chambers & Goat play dark, smartly tuneful garage rockwith the expected country gothic touch. Ocha la Rocha do twangy retro garage psychedelia. The bill is at Union Hall 9/3 at 8 PM; they’re at Spikehill on 9/6 at 8 and at Bowery Electric at 10 on 9/7.

Also Thurs Sept 3 amazing, smartly literate psychedelic 60s pop throwbacks McGinty & White with Eddie Zweiback on drums and Claudia Chopek on violin at Pete’s 9 PM

Also Thurs Sept 3, 9 PM at Public Assembly a mixtape release show with members of the Tortoise-esque collective Smoothe Moose emceed by “Cogswell Gozeimas, acting head of Smoothe Moose Laboratories & Recordings. One of his colleagues recently brought to our attention a ‘dream machine,’ a frightening device that can tap into one’s brain and visualize the subconscious as if it were a movie. Cogswell will ask the first 30 attendees at this event to devise a counter-object to repel the dream machine, with ample prizes for the top model.”

Also Thurs Sept 3 noir Americana guitarist Jim Campilongo and his Superfine Band at Rodeo Bar 10:30 PM

Also Thurs Sept 3 Woman (there are 4 people in the band and they’re guys) plays the cd release show for their deliciously abrasive new one, a feedback-infested vintage LES 1993-style Martin Bisi-engineered noiserock mess at Union Pool, 11ish.

Fri Sept 4, 7:30 PM Ian Roure & Liza Garelik – brain trust of psychedelic/new wave innovators Liza & the Wonderwheels and the Larch play a rare duo set followed by a 8 PM show by the latter band at the Parkside

Also Fri Sept 4-6 the Dr. Lonnie Smith organ trio at the Jazz Standard shows 7:30/9:30 PM adv tix $30 very highly rec.

Also Fri Sept 4, 8 PM at the Stone a modern/baroque blend with Aya Nishina (piano, voice, electronics); Thierry Gomar (vibraphone); Christiana Little (soprano); Eileen Mack (clarinet) Jessie Marino (cello); John Popham (cello); Yegor Shevtov (piano) featuring graphically noted compositions by Toru Takemitsu and Scott Wollschleger and improvisations inspired by a new work for solo clarinet by Vincent Raikhel.

Also Fri Sept 4 the hysterically funny 70s parody band Mighty High (Brooklyn’s #1 regressive rock act) at the Charleston 9:30 PM

Also Fri Sept 4, 9 PM at Southpaw $10 honkytonk harmony with the Sweetback Sisters and then rockabilly tour vets Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys.

Also Fri Sept 4, 10 PM garage rock with the the Anabolics at Union Pool

Also Fri Sept 4, 10 PM Three Legged Fox’s fun, catchy reggae-rock at Arlene’s 10 PM.

Also Fri Sept 4, 9 PM smart oldtimey siren Robin Aigner at the Jalopy with the Water Tower Bucket Boys, a fun original bluegrass crew from Portland OR.

Also Fri Sept 4, the hysterically funny 70s parody band Mighty High (Brooklyn’s #1 regressive rock act) at the Charleston, 9:30 PM

Also Fri Sept 4, the reliably charming Moonlighters at Barbes 10 PM

Also Fri Sept 4, big funk band Turkuaz at the Cameo Gallery in Williamsburg, 10ish

Also Fri Sept 4 BBQ Bob & the Spareribs play dark swampy harmonica blues at Rodeo Bar 10:30 PM

Also Sat Sept 5, 7 PM dark garage rocker Lorraine Leckie and Her Demons at Banjo Jim’s

Also Sat Sept 5 fiery blues guitarist Bobby Radcliff at Terra Blues 7 PM

Also Sat Sept 5 at Barbes Jim Campilongo’s Superfine Band at 8 PM followed at 10 by Smokey Hormel’s Roundup playing western swing.

Also Sat Sept 5 at Mehanata a fiery horn-flavored bill with Veveritse Brass Band, gargantuan, careening big jazz band Killsonic and playful, shapeshifting latin/dub/funk group El-Haru Kuroi, show starts at 9 PM, $10, no idea what the order of bands is but they’re all good.

Also Sat Sept 5, 9 PM at Joe’s Pub a hypnotic night of Afro-Cuban drumming with the cd release show for Ekobio Enyenison feat. conch shell virtuoso Steve Turré, percussionist and vocalist Philbert Armenteros, drummer Rafael Monteagudo, pianist Axel Tosca, bassist Alvaro Benavides, trombonist/violinist Eddie Venegas, and saxophonist/flutist Onel Mulet. Inspired by Ivor Miller, author of Voice of The Leopard, primarily responsible for  reuniting the Ekpé (leopard society) of Calabar Nigeria with the Abakuá of Cuba after 200 years apart. $15

Also Sat Sept 5, 10 PM funny, theatrical, meticulously choreographed horror-rock superstars Witches In Bikinis play at Bowery Electric at 10 followed by growling, noirish, artsy rockers Mad Juana at 11.

Also Sat Sept 5 ska and rocksteady with the Bluebeats at Shrine 10 PM

Also Sat Sept 5, 10 PM John-Severin & the Quiet 1s – the Brooklyn What’s ferocious, smart lead guitarist doing his own lo-key stuff – at Fontana’s

Also Sat Sept 5 indie/altcountry supergroup the Yayhoos at the Mercury 11:30 PM

Also Sat Sept 5 the Supertones play surf music at midnight at Otto’s

Also Sat Sept 5 hip-hop star Talib Kweli w/DJ Premier of Gang Starr fame, midnight-ish at Sputnik in Ft. Greene, adv tix $18 at the club

Sun Sept 6 artsy, anthemic,  psychedelic rock band Copesetic at Sidewalk 10 PM

Also Sun Sept 6 the Jimmy Nations Combo play rockabilly at Rodeo Bar 10:30 PM

Mon Sept 7, 3 (three) PM Mark Sinnis of Ninth House does a rare electric band set of his solo Nashville gothic material at Cha Cha’s on the Coney Island boardwalk, to the left of the old Astroland as part of the Coney Island rockabilly festival

Also Mon Sept 7 quiet but ferociously lyrical and very catchy songwriter Linda Draper – sort of a more stylistically diverse Nina Nastasia – plays 7 PM at the Mercury

Also Mon Sept 7, 7 PM a  frequently sensational rock en Espanol bill at BB King’s, $20 including Punto G, Vinilo, Sonido Secreto, ska rockers Kofre, the artsy Mystic Union, the jangly Taxi Amarillo, the ferociously multistylistic New Madrid and the anthemic Una Via.

Also Mon Sept 7 innovative, often haunting Azeri/Dutch pianist/composer Amina Figarova at Dizzy’s Club $20

Also Mon Sept 7, 9 PM Botanica keyboardist/frontman Paul Wallfisch, brilliantly haunting, anthemic, noir art-rockers Norden Bombsight at 10 and eventually soul siren Dania Reid at 11ish at Small Beast at the Delancey

Also Mon Sept 7, 9:30ish blazing pan-Balkan rockers Ansambl Mastika with Killsonic and El-Haru Kuroi at Don Pedro’s, dunno who’s playing when but the bill is all good.

Tues Sept 8 the somewhat self-explanatory, hypnotic Electric Junkyard Gamelan at Drom 7 PM $10 adv tix rec

Also Tues Sept 8-13 powerhouse jazz pianist Kenny Barron at the Vanguard

Weds Sept 9, 9:30 PM oldtimey acoustic blues guy AA Bondy at the Mercury

Also Weds Sept 9 Americana jazz guitar genius Bill Frisell at City Winery with Eyvind Kang on viola plus powerhouse Rudy Royston on drums, could be amazing.

Also Weds Sept 9, 8 PM the great, anthemic Wisconsin highway rockers the BoDeans at the Highline Ballroom,$25 adv tix highly recommended

Also Weds Sept 9, 9 PM moody atmospheric groove rockers El Jezel at Trash.

Also Weds Sept 9, tango night at Drom with the cool tango nuevo sounds of Tango Fiaka at 10 and Dock Sud at 11, $12 tix highly rec.

Also Weds Sept 9 entertaining, subtly hilarious hillbilly trio Susquehanna Industrial Tool and Die Co. at Rodeo Bar 10:30 PM.

Thurs Sept 10, 7 PM oldtimey chanteuse Jolie Holland at Retrofret Vintage Guitars 233 Butler Street (between Bond and Nevins), Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, any train to Atlantic Ave.

Also Thurs Sept 10, 8 PM the deliriously fun, mulistylistic Metropolitan Klezmer feat. the sultry Melissa Fogarty on vocals plays a NYC classic, Eisenberg’s Back Room, 174 Fifth Ave off 22nd St., $10. at the door. Reputedly their tuna sandwich is NYC’s best and the veggie chopped liver is primo as well.

Also Thurs Sept 10 an allstar cast: Bridget Robbins – nay, flute; Louay Bishara – violin; Brian Prunka – oud; Dimitri Mikelis – oud; Tareq Abboushi – buzuq; Johnny Farraj – riq play classic early to mid-twentieth century instrumental music by composers including Mohammed Abdel Wahab, Riyad El Sunbati and Mohammad Al Qassabji at Alwan for the Arts, 8 PM, tix $10-15 All proceeds from the evening will go to a fund to buy musical instruments for Palestinian students.

Also Thurs Sept 10-13 Eldar – young, auspicious Kyrzyg-American hotshot jazz pianist who was the youngest guest ever to appear on Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz and has won Dave Brubeck as a fan – plays with a rhythm section at the Jazz Standard, sets 7:30/9:30.

Also Thurs Sept 10, 10 PM harmony-driven oldschool country band Reckon So at Banjo Jim’s

Also Thurs Sept 10 Raekwon‘s cd release show at SOB’s, 11ish, feat. Ghostface Killah, $15 – note that these Wu members’ shows tend to be blunt-fueled trainwrecks

9/11 much like Make Music NY, there’ll be a whole bunch of free outdoor 9/11 memorial shows around the 5 boroughs, the master list is here. With all the rain, expect a wash of cancellations.

9/11-13 the Gypsy Tabor Festival is at Floyd Bennett Field in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn. For a measly $10 you get admission to all three days and nights of this amazing outdoor festival (camping is $50 and not a bad idea considering that bus service after midnight in the area is iffy and it’s a 25-minute walk to the subway). Might be the best concerts of the year. Friday’s bill starts at 8 with hypnotic Italian folk siren/percussionist Alessandra Belloni at 8, Mambo Tango Tella at 9, the crazed, comedic Ivan Lenin at 10 and innovative Japanese gypsy band Kagero at 11. Scroll down for Saturday and Sunday’s bills.

9/11, 1 PM  the chamber orchestra Kokolo Ensemble plays a Dvorak’s String Serenade and Liszt’s Dante Sonata arranged for string orchestra by Leo Soeda – world premiere –  outdoors at the NYU Public Library main branch.

9/11, 1 PM the Bordeaux Strings at 211 East 70th St. in the public garden

9/11, 1 PM at Union Square Jody Redhage and Fire in July (look for the cello, follow your ears)

9/11 a free 8 PM show at Bargemusic, (6:30 PM arrival advised): selected works by Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Schumann and Scriabin, Bottoms’ Variations on a Theme in Memory of 9/11/2001: Mark Peskanov, violin; David Bottoms, piano; Rita Sloan, piano plus special guests.

9/11-18 the music documentary Gogol Bordello Non-Stop will have a run at at Cinema Village, 22 East 12th Street at 2nd Ave, (212) 924-3363

9/11, 8 PM first night of this year’s NY Gypsy Festival with Luminescent Orchestrii and Zlatne Uste at Hungarian House, 213 E 82nd St., $15 adv tix highly rec., dunno who’s playing first but both bands are excellent

9/11 blues guitar monster Bobby Radcliff at Lucille’s 8 PM

9/11 fiery, charismatic, lyrically brilliant banjo rocker Curtis Eller followed by the gorgeously orchestrated, historically aware Pinataland at Banjo Jim’s, 9 PM

9/11 roots reggae and hypnotic dub with John Brown’s Body at Bowery Ballroom, 9ish gen adm $15

9/11 Indian marching band Red Baraat Festival and psychedelic forro/ska/reggae band Nation Beat at the 92YTribeca, 9:30 PM $10

9/11 torchy Mexican jazz chanteuse Magos Herrera at Joe’s Pub 9:30 PM

9/11, 10 PM at Barbes Daniel Kahn & the Painted Birds. “Fronted by Detroit-born, Berlin-based Daniel Kahn the band plays ‘Verfremdungsklezmer’ – a mixture of Klezmer, radical Yiddish song, political cabaret and punk folk.”

9/11, 10 PM Steven Bernstein’s reliably fun, surprise-laden jazz crew Sex Mob at 55 Bar

9/11, 10ish haunting, anthemic, Radiohead-inspired art-rockers My Pet Dragon at the Cameo Gallery

9/11 innovative spoken word artist Dan Machlin and his irrepressible cello-playing partner in crime Serena Jost at Sidewalk 11:15 PM

9/11, midnight Meta & the Cornerstones play African roots reggae at Zebulon

9/11 (actually sometime in the wee hours of 9/12) Naughty by Nature at le Poisson Rouge, $20 adv tix rec. with some misgivings (Bleecker St. on a Friday night?)

Sat Sept 12, 2 (two) PM Radio Jarocho play Mexican folklorico music at the Museum of the American Indian at Bowling Green, free

Also Sat Sept 12, the best bill of the year, maybe the decade: Hungarian gypsy hellraisers Metrofolk Band at 3 PM; “gypsy shamans” the Kreptatka Bar Band at 4; the Balkan blare of Raya Brass Band at 5; Mehanata’s house band Grand Masters of Gypsy Music at 6; Alessandra Belloni at 7; the Russian Sasha Dreyshner & Khorosho at 8; the Middle Eastern-inflected 70s style fusion of Consider the Source at 9; out-of-control gypsy punks Panonian Wave at 10; and the gypsy punk/latin/ska/psychedelic madness of Escarioka, arguably New York’s funnest live band headlining at 11. At the Gypsy Tabor Festival at Gateway National Recreation Area, Floyd Bennett Field off Flatbush Ave in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, tix $10 at the gate for a 3 day pass (camping is $50)

Also Sat Sept 12,7:30 PM at Smalls the Fabio Morgera Quintet: Fabio Morgera – trumpet; Marcus Strickland – tenor; Gregg August – bass; Rudy Royston – drums

Also Sat Sept 12, 8 PM Microscopic Septet co-founder and devious jazz pianist Joel Forrester and the Truth at Barbes.

Also Sat Sept 12-13, free, the first annual Parachute Coney Island Performance Festival at the New York Aquarium Alien Stingers Exhibit (after hours) at Coney Island, Surf Avenue at W 8th St.; F/Q to W 8th St. or any train to Stillwell Ave. Saturday features Cara Benson; Charles Denson, author of Coney Island: Lost and Found; Jibade Khalil Huffman, author of 19 Names for our Band’ Dennis Nurkse, former Brooklyn Poet Laureate; Akilah Oliver; Patricia Spears Jones. Sunday’s bill includes Edmund Berrigan, poet and member of I Feel Tractor; Michael Cirelli, poet and founder of Urban Word; Eileen Myles;Edwin Torres; actor John Ventimiglia reading Henry Miller’s words on Coney Island.

Also Sat Sept 12 ferociously fun, anthemic Irish-American rockers  Black 47 – whose most recent cd  Iraq was Lucid Culture’s pick for best of 2008 – play the Rocks Off Concert Cruise aboard the Jewel, 6 PM boarding, 7 PM departure from 23rd and the FDR out behind the heliport,$25 adv tix at the Highline Ballroom box office highly recommended

Also Sat Sept 12, 8 PM haunting, atmospheric chanteuse Larkin Grimm at the new Knitting Factory in the old Luna space in Williamsburg, $10 adv tix rec.

Also Sat Sept 12, 8 PM, $35 Michael Bulychev-Okser plays the complete Beethoven piano sonatas at Bargemusic, in installments – check the website for programs. The series continues on 9/16, 9/25-27, all at 8 PM.

Also Sat Sept 12 at the Parkside starting at 9:30 a killer doublebill with 80s indie/shoegaze legends Certain General and the equally good, like-minded Band of Outsiders headlining.

Also Sat Sept 12, 9 PM hypnotic, virtuosic Mississippi hill country blues guitarist Will Scott followed by deservedly popular country juggernaut M Shanghai String Band at thir home base, M Shanghai Den, 129 Havemeyer (Grand/S 1st), S Williamsburg, J/M to Marcy Ave.

Also Sat Sept 12, “Brooklyn’s best regressive rock act,” the Spinal Tap-ish Mighty High opening for the Angry Samoans (now the Angry Old Samoans, basically) at Southpaw 9 PM

Also Sat Sept 12, 9:30 PM at the National Underground a good triple bill: M.G. Lederman, former Thalia Zedek pianist, the ferociously charismatic noir blues/rockabilly/punk Reid Paley Trio at 10:30 and the excellent, anthemically jangly Girl To Gorilla at 11:30 PM

Also Sat Sept 12, fiery terse, bluesy ex-Railroad Jerk lead guitarist Alec Stephen at Pete’s, 9 PM

Also Sat Sept 12, La Sovietika play reggae and Caribbean funk en Espanol, 9 PM at Don Pedro’s

Also Sat Sept 12, rousing country band Her & Kings County at Arlene’s 9 PM followed eventually at midnight by twangy Texas Americana rock semi-legends the Backsliders.

Also Sat Sept 12 Simon & the Bar Sinisters play punkish, virtuosic  rockabilly and surf at Lakeside 10:15ish

Also Sat Sept 12 Demolition String Band plays fun, X-ish country with guy/girl vox at Rodeo Bar 10:30 PM

Sun Sept 13 the Greta Gertler duo (keys/drums) at the Live in Your Living Room: Dutch House Concert Series.

Also Sun Sept 13, noon-6 PM, free, the Queens County Folk Festival curated by Sami Abu Shumays feat. his amazing Egyptian film music orchestra Zikrayat, the fiery Zlatne Uste Brass Band, the even wilder Min Xiao-Fen’s Blue Pipa Trio, and more on the quad at Queens College, centrally located on the campus between the Kissena Boulevard and Melbourne Avenue Gates.  In case of rain, the concert will be held in Colden Auditorium.

Also Sun Sept 13, last night of the Gypsy Tabor Festival outdoors at Gateway National Recreation Area, Floyd Bennett Field off Flatbush Ave in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn with the Ameranouche Trio opening at 4:30 followed at 5:30 by deliriously fun Greek party rockers Magges and then Panonian Wave at 9 . Magges are also at Otto’s on 9/19, guessing at around 11.

Also Sun Sept 13, 7 PM haunting cello rockers Rasputina play a “fan request show” at the new Knitting Factory in the old Luna space in Williamsburg, $15 gen adm.

Also Sun Sept 13, 7 PM the amazing, charismatic garage/gospel band the Lost Crusaders play a final warmup show for their upcoming European tour at Bowery Electric.

Also Sun Sept 13, 7 PM the Afiara String Quartet at Barbes, program TBA followed at 9 by Stephane Wrembel.

Also Sun Sept 13 at the Mercury, Mucca Pazza – Chicago’s wild 20-piece marching band – with Luminescent Orchestrii frontman/showman Sxip Shirey and then the hilarious, brilliant Spinal Tap of brass bands, Stagger Back Brass Band, show starts at 8, $10 adv tix dirt cheap and highly recommended.

Also Sun Sept 13 the Dirty Three play haunting minimalist guitar/drums instrumentals 9ish at Bowery Ballroom adv tix $15

Also Sun Sept 13, 9 PM haunting, ethereal avant chanteuse Larkin Grimm at Glasslands.

Also Sun Sept 13, ferocious, uncompromising, darkly Middle Eastern tinged rocker Haale at Zebulon, 10 PM

Also Sun Sept 13, 10 PM soul/funk siren Bethany Saint Smith & the Gun Show at Banjo Jim’s

Mon Sept 14, 9 PM the master of menace, Paul Wallfisch of Botanica followed by hauntingly brilliant, understated noir chanteuse/paisley underground bandleader Kerry Kennedy and then her old bandmate, alt-country legend Greg Garing at Small Beast at the Delancey.

Also Mon Sept 14, 9 PM at Rose Bar the fascinating, artsy, multistylistic Kinoko Orchestra with violin, cello, guitar, vox and rhythm section.

Also Mon Sept 14, 9 PM at Goodbye Blue Monday Daniel Bernstein – who might be the most haunting, literate songwriter out there right now – playing with his co-conspirator, the equally dark and evocative Erin Regan.

Also Mon Sept 14 first-wave LA punk legends the Zeros (all orig. members) at Maxwell’s 10 PM $15, also at Southpaw on 9/15 at 10 for the same price.

Tues Sept 15, 8 PM at the 45 Bleecker Street Theater an allstar underground cast of punk survivors and like-minded luminaries performing songs by the Velvet Underground, Nico, Lou Reed, Patti Smith. Artists include Mandy Lemons, Sturgis Nikides, Carol Lipnik, Annie Golden, Tish & Snooky, David Ilku, Penny Arcade, John Kelly, Diana Berry, Brenda Bergman, Dan Bartfield, Bree Benton, Clark Render, Rose Wood, Edgar Oliver, Chris Tanner, Lance Cruce, Russell Wolinsky with the house band the Major Toms plus twisted films byNick Zedd, video by Charles Atlas & Joe E Jeffries Video Verite, 45 Bleecker at Lafayette, $15 advance / $20 door and worth it.

Also Tues Sept 15 Natalie John & the Fine Columbians play Spikehill, 8 PM. Up-and-coming jazz trumpeter/chanteuse. Prediction: she’ll be headlining Dizzy’s Club in five years. Click here for a picture of the following act which is LOL beyond words –  his music sounds exactly like he looks. The excellent artsy female-fronted For Feather headline around midnight.

Also Tues Sept 15 country siren Alana Amram and her big jangly band the Rough Gems at Trash 10 PM

Also Tues Sept 15 Matt Kanelos & the Smooth Maria play hypnotic but heartfelt chamber pop at 10 PM at Pete’s followed at 11 by the outside, fun jazz sounds of 101 Crustaceans. Bad segue, good bands.

Also Tues Sept 15, 10ish the Tim Kuhl Group play smart, tuneful guitar/horn jazz at Zebulon.

Also Tues Sept 15, 10-11 PM sweet-voiced country siren Drina and the Deep Blue Sea will be live on the air on Honky Tonkin’ on WKCR-FM,  89.9 FM

Also Tues Sept 15, 11ish intriguing indie experimental/soundtrack stuff with Deerhoof at le Poisson Rouge, $15

Weds Sept 16, spectacularly virtuosic, playful, often hilarious cabaret/art pop siren Grace McLean plays her demo release show at Joe’s Pub, 7 PM, $12

Also Weds Sept 16, 7 PM Jay Leonhart plays solo bass at Smalls

Also Weds Sept 16, 9 PM at Maxwell’s a killer rock/ska en Espanol doublebill with Outernational and Kofre, all ages $8

Also Weds Sept 16-19 the James Carter Group at Birdland $30 tix available

Also Weds Sept 16 smart, frequently haunting, jangly, tuneful southwestern gothic rocker Tom Shaner at Lakeside, 9 PM

Also Weds Sept 16 Rodrigo y Gabriela do their playful, somewhat tongue-in-cheek acoustic metal and flamenco stuff at Terminal 5, 9ish

Also Weds Sept 16-20 the Christian McBride Big Band at Iridium tix $35 shows 8:30/10:30 PM

Also Weds Sept 16, 9:30 PM dark moody smart shoegaze-inflectedrockers Her Vanished Grace at Trash.

Also Weds Sept 16, downstairs at Europa Damian Quinones y Su Nuevo Conjunto play his catchy, psychedelically inclined jangly retro 60s rock, 10 PM, free.

Also Weds Sept 16, 11 PM haunting, powerful, anthemic art-rockers Norden Bombsight play Coco 66

Thurs Sept 17, 7 PM at Alwan for the Arts a free exhibit, The Art of Palestinian Children opens.

Also Thurs Sept 17 haunting noir rockers the French Exit – simply one of the two or three best bands in NYC right now – at Local 269 (the old Meox Mix space), 8 PM

Also Thurs Sept 17, 8 PM the Kokolo Ensemble chamber orchestra plays Dvorak – Serenade for Strings; Haydn – Piano Concerto (with the amazing Karine Poghosyan at the keys) and Liszt – Dante Sonata at the Church of the Ascension, 221 W. 107th St. btwn Brdwy and Amsdm.

Also Thurs Sept 17, 9 PM deviously savage psychedelic 60s pop revivalists McGinty & White at Fontana’s.

Also Thurs Sept 17, 9 PM country singer Alana Amram and the Rough Gems open an excellent doublebill at Southpaw followed by the Coney Island Cowboy, Sean Kershaw & the New Jack Ramblers at 10.

Also Thurs Sept 17, 9PM at Bar 4 in Brooklyn alt-country siren Jan Bell accompanied by Philippa Thompson on violin and Hilary Hawke on banjo.

Also Thurs Sept 17, alt-country standard bearers Son Volt at Irving Plaza 10ish adv tix $22.50

Also Thurs Sept 17-19 plus 9/25-26 the New Languages Festival at McCarren Hall, Brooklyn, 98 Bayard St.  2 1/2 blocks from Pete’s Candy Store  feat. Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society 9/17, 11:30 PM; Nate Wooley & Joe Morris 9/18, 10 PM; the Bill McHenry Quintet  9/19, 10 PM; 9/25 the ElSaffar/Modirzadeh Duo 8:30 PM; Akoya Afrobeat Orchestra 9/26, 11:3o PM,  and other jazz adventurers on the bill.

Fri Sept 18-19, 7:30/10 PM at Monkey Town Classic film noir works of 40s & 50s with live soundtrack from the Freak Lip Kill Band $5 cover plus $10 minimum which probably means one PBR.

Also Fri Sept 18 Carol Lipnik and Spookarama at Avant Gard O Rama at PS 122 8 PM

Also Fri Sept 18, 8 PM at Barbes the Snow’s Pierre de Gaillande’s amazing English language  Georges Brassens Translation Project followed at 10 by the swoony, haunting pan-latin sounds of las Rubias del Norte ($10 cover for the headliners).

Also Fri Sept 18, 8 PM at Southpaw, $10, one of the year’s best Americana/country shows with the Woes, Jack Grace Band, M Shanghai String Band, Julia Haltigan & The Hooligans.

Also Fri Sept 18, 8 PM Jolie Holland at le Poisson Rouge adv tix $15 rec.

Also Fri Sept 18 an excellent country/Americana night at Public Assembly at 8ish with the Wanda Jackson 5, Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co., the Dixons, Wayne the Train Hancock, $15 adv tix highly recommended

Also Fri Sept 18, 8 PM at Bargemusic, $35 Stephen Beck plays the Bach French Suites, BWV 812-817

Also Fri Sept 18 Hanggai play original rock-oriented arrangements of traditional Mongolian songs at Symphony Space in their NYC debut, 8 PM, $30.

Also Fri Sept 18, 9 PM at Spikehill garage rock legends Johnny Chan & the New Dynasty 6 followed by equally legendary fake French garage rockers  les Sans Culottes.

Also Fri Sept 18 smart, hilarious, tuneful Canadian powerpopmeister Joel Plaskett at Union Hall, 9:30 PM.

Also Fri Sept 18, a killer oldtimey bill with the romantic Hawaiian/Americana harmonies of the Moonlighters and Balkan maniacs Veveritse Brass Band – dunno who’s playing first, but they’re both good – at the House of Yes, 342 Maujer St., Bushwick, L to Grand St., 10 PM-ish, $10.

Also Fri Sept 18 Turkuaz play their sprawling funk at Bowery Poetry Club, 10ish, 10 PM

Also Fri Sept 18, 10:30 sprawling pan-Balkan/New Orleans/klezmer/reggae improvisers Hazmat Modine and Romanian hellraisers Little Cow at City Winery $15 adv tix very highly rec.

Also Fri Sept 18 Electric Engine – indie rock kings of the killer chorus – play the Charleston at midnight preceded  by fiery fearless power jangle trio Cementhead at 11.

Also Fri Sept 18 the Boss Guitars play surf music at Lakeside 11 PM

Also Fri Sept 18 Groundation play roots reggae at BB King’s 11:30 PM adv tix $16

Sat Sept 19 Chicago expat blues guitarist Irving Louis Lattin at Lucille’s 8 PM

Also Sat Sept 19, 8 PM repeating on 9/20 at 3 PM at Bargemusic, Haydn Trio No. 39 in G, “Gypsy”; Shostakovich Piano Trio No. 2 in EM; Schubert Trio No. 2 in Eb Major for Piano, Violin and Cello; Mark Peskanov, Violin; Nicholas Cannelakis, Cello; Olga Vinokur, Piano

Also Sat Sept 19 another good country night at Southpaw,  $10 starting at 4 (four) PM with the Havens, followed by Dock Oscar & the Ambassadors Of Love, Jan Bell, the Lonesome Prairie Dogs, Milton, the Flanks, Jessica Rose, Alex Battles & The Whisky Rebellion.

Also Sat Sept 19, 9 PM at Spikehill the Bright Room play interesting minimalist Elliott Smith-influenced stuff with good lyrics when they have them.

Also Sat Sept 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.

Also Sat Sept 19 NYC’s answer to X,  Spanking Charlene are at Lakeside 11 PM.

Also Sat Sept 19 Magges at 1 AM (actually the morning of 9/20) at Otto’s

Sun Sept 20, 7 PM at Barbes Janine Nichols’ and Neill C. Furio’s Flutterbox, followed by Stephane Wrembel at 9.

Also Sun Sept 20, 8:30 PM at the Cornelia St. Cafe guitarist Andrew Green with Noah Preminger, Russ Johnson, JC Sanford, Kermit Driscoll & Mike Sarin playing the cd release show for Green’s awesome noir-inspired jazz cd Narrow Margin.

Also Sun Sept 20, bandleader/jazz percussion legend Chico Hamilton’s Euphoria at at le Poisson Rouge 8:30 PM $15, adv tix highly recommended.

Also Sun Sept 20, 9ish Izzy and the Kesstronics – which is Izzy from Uncle Fucker on guitar plus a sax and rhythm section playing weird funny surf/garage/roots stuff – at Beauty Bar, 921 Broadway, Bushwick. They’re also there on 9/27.

Also Sun Sept 20, up-and-coming jazz siren/trumpeter Natalie John and her Quartet at Rose Bar, 9 PM.

Also Sun Sept 20, 9ish Brooklyn’s own haunting, innovative Balkan a-capella quartet  Black Sea Hotel at Galapagos, adv tix $12 highly rec.

Also Sun Sept 20, the Wandering Bards – a funny, talented roots band doing blues and rustic oldtimey stuff at Spikehill, 11 PM.

Mon Sept 21, 8:30 PM fiery, Jarvis Cocker-esque noir guitarist/songwriter Nathan Halpern from Kerry Kennedy’s band followed by pantheonic dark gypsy-inflected art-rockers Botanica at Small Beast at the Delancey. Imagine – a Botanica show for free. Early arrival very highly advised, not only because Botanica is playing for free but also because Halpern is very good.

Tues Sept 22 this month’s Zeitgeist extravaganza at the Delancey starts with deliciously fun female-fronted ska band Across the Aisle at 7, Dolly Trolly – who’re still figuring out what’s north and what’s south (although their harmonies are really cool) – at 8, the ferociously noisy yet also ferociously tuneful and intense System Noise at 9 and then at 10 Wounded Buffalo Theory who sound kind of like My Morning Jacket but with way better songs.

Also Tues Sept 22 Slavic Soul Party on the Rocks Off Concert Cruise, boarding 7 PM at 23rd and the FDR out behind the heliport, adv tix $12.50 highly recommended.

Also Tues Sept 22 oldtime hokum blues and hillbilly music with the Second Fiddles at Rodeo Bar 10:30 PM

Weds Sept 23 Rosanne Cash at the Greene Space is SOLD OUT: there is a live webcast however.

Also Weds Sept 23, 10 PM James McMurtry at the Mercury adv tix $15 this will sell out

Also Weds Sept 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.

Also Weds Sept 23 Reckon So at Rodeo Bar 10:30 PM

Thurs Sept 24 James McMurtry at Southpaw, 8:30 PM $15. He’s also at Maxwell’s on 9/25 at 7:30 PM for $15

Also Thurs Sept 24, 8 PM Marianne Faithfull at the Town Hall $31 tix available

Also Thurs Sept 24, 8 PM Morocco’s Orchestra of Tetouan Performs the Classical Suites of Muslim Spain at Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South, $34 adv tix highly recommended.

Also Thurs Sept 24 at Puppets Jazz Bar, 9ish, Charles Sibirsky on piano with Dan Shuman – bass; Stefan Shatz-drums, playing standards, bebop, Monk, Tristano.

Also Thurs Sept 24, 9 PM at Smalls bandleader Tim Green on alto sax; Ambrose Akinmusire – trumpet; Gerald Clayton – piano; Joe Sanders – bass; Damion Reid – drums

Also Thurs Sept 24, 9 PM the Stagger Back Brass Band – the amazing, virtuosic, hilarious Spinal Tap of brass bands – at Zebulon.

Also Thurs Sept 24, 9:30ish 90s noise-rock legends Polvo at the Bell House adv tix $12

Also Thurs Sept 24 Abby Payne plays catchy jazzy Fiona Apple-inflected piano pop followed by the Thang, a decent funk band at Spikehill, 10 PM.

Fri Sept 25, 7 PM at Smalls Russian saxophonist Oleg Kireyev joins the Keith Javors Trio in advance of their early 2010 release Rhyme and Reason, equal parts eerie Balkan and supple latin groove. Oleg Kireyev – saxophone; Keith Javors – piano; Boris Kozlov – bass; Quincy Davis – drums

Also Fri Sept 25, 9 PM a gypsy jazz summit with brilliant Turkish clarinetist Barbaros Erkose with the NY Gypsy All-Stars and special guests trumpeter Frank London & saxist Ilhan Ersahin at Lafayette Grill, 54 Franklin St., $15 adv tix highly rec.

Also Fri Sept 25 the Slackers play their inimitable mix of ska, soul and blues at Bowery Ballroom – the Forthrights open the show at 9ish followed by two other acts and then the headliners around midnight $16 adv tix.

Also Fri Sept 25 Sonia’s Party, who blend a bewitching oldschool Motown sound with a vintage Memphis groove at Shrine 10 PM, free

Also Fri Sept 25,vintage style piano R&B rockers the Brilliant Mistakes at Lakeside 11 PM.

Also Fri Sept 25 the scorching, fearlessly funny, Radio Birdman-inflected garage punks the Mess Around at Trash at midnight

Sat Sept 26, 5 PM $5 at the Bell House a big Bloodshot Records extravaganza including Exene Cervenka, Dex Romweber Duo, Cordero, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, the Silos, Rosie Flores and others.

Also Sat Sept 26, 7 PM at Spikehill the Parias Ensemble play Colombian-influenced jazz featuring both clarinet and accordion – hey call it “circular music”  – followed eventually at 9 by the MK Groove Orchestra, a big, excellent horn-heavy big jazz/funk unit.

Also Sat Sept 26, 8 PM Cudzoo & the Faggettes at Don Hill’s – as funny as their new album is, they’re probably even more of a XXX-rated riot live.

Also Sat Sept 26, 8 PM at Symphony Space Rhythm Of Rajasthan playing northwest Indian music with ecstatic Sufi songs, driving percussion and hypnotic sarangi (bowed lute) and algoza (double flute), adv tix $30 highly rec.

Also Sat Sept 26, the Brooklyn What at Mehanata, 9ish. New York’s best live band at the LES’ best bar. Good combo.

Also Sat Sept 26, 9 PM ferocious slide guitar blues and jazz with the Marvin Sewell Group featuring the incomparable Rachelle Garniez on accordion at the Jalopy Theatre, $15

Also Sat Sept 26, 10:30 PM amazing, smart, literate, surprising psychedelic throwbacks Love Camp 7 at the Parkside Lounge.

Also Sat Sept 26, British rockers the Rifles – who do ska as Interpol might, but wait, it’s actually good – at Union Hall 10:30 PM

Also Sat Sept 26 eerie, funny bluespunks the Five Points Band at Rodeo Bar 10:30 PM

Also Sat Sept 26, cowpunks I’ll Be John Brown at Ace of Clubs 11 PM

Also Sat Sept 26, tight funk band Baby Daddy at Hank’s 11 PM

Sun Sept 27 Canadian gypsy jazz trio the Lost Fingers playing with haunting French southwestern gothic chanteuse Marianne Dissard at Joe’s Pub, 7 PM, $10 adv tix highly recommended. She’s also playing Small Beast at the Delancey on 9/28.

Also Sun Sept 27 at 7 at Spikehill the Sunday Blues – who call themselves the alt-country Wings but are way better, with gorgeously anthemic songs and neat keyboards although the lyrics aren’t much.

Also Sun Sept 27 Magges‘ Chuck Metaxas’ ferocious Middle Eastern inflected punk band Roots Rock Rebel at Trash 11 PM.

Mon Sept 28, 9 PM Botanica pianist Paul Wallfisch, French southwestern gothic siren Marianne Dissard, New York noir cabaret chanteuse and Edith Piaf scholar Marni Rice and another amazing noir rocker, Ajda the Turkish Queen from the ferocious Boston art-rock/goth band Black Fortress of Opium at Small Beast at the Delancey

Also Mon Sept 28 charming 1920s hillbilly harmonies and blues with Daria Grace & the Prewar Ponies at Rodeo Bar 10:30 PM

Tues Sept 29 violinists Gil Shaham and Adele Anthony play Pablo de Sarasate at le Poisson Rouge, time TBA, adv tix $20.

Also Tues Sept 29 Julianna Barwick at Union Hall, 8:30 PM – she loops wordless vocals a million times over through guitar effects to create  hypnotic, sometimes icy, sometimes warm soundscapes. Trippy and totally original.

Also Tues Sept 29, 7 PM at Barbes jazz composer/violinist Jenny Scheinman followed at 9 by Slavic Soul Party

Also Tues Sept 29-30 the Cecil McBee Band plus special guest Eddie Henderson – bassist McBee’s first New York City engagement as a leader in 30 years – at the Jazz Standard, sets 7:30/9:30 PM.

Also Tues Sept 29 the Somebodies play Lakeside, 9 PM. Casually charismatic frontman and some strikingly lush, anthemic, catchy slightly 80s inflected rock anthems. They have keys as well as guitars and the Disclaimers’ excellent drummer. And they don’t play out a lot so you ought to see this if that kind of music is your thing.

Also Tues Sept 29, 9:30 PM a killer melodic jazz show at Joe’s Pub with Dred Scott Trio with special guest Kenny Brooks 9:30PM, the Jason Domnarski Trio 10:15PM and trombonist Reut Regev at 11, one assumes with her band

Also Tues Sept 29-10/4 at Dizzy’s Club Karrin Allyson feat. Peter Washington, bass; Lewis Nash, drums & Rod Fleeman, guitar

Weds Sept 30 soul/blues powerhouse Shemekia Copeland at BB King’s 8 PM adv tix $25

Also Weds Sept 30 soaring Americana rock quartet Whisperado at Kenny’s Castaways, 8 PM.

Also Weds Sept 30, 8:30 PM an excellent doublebill at Union Hall with dark low-key siren Essie Jain followed eventually at 9:30 PM by the haunting, somtimes subtly hilarious art-rockers the Snow and their cool guy/girl harmonies.

10/1 New Model Army at the Mercury $15 adv tix

10/1 Maynard & the Musties at Hank’s 8:30ish

10/1 this year’s trumpet festival kicks off at the Jazz Standard with the Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet plus special guest Avishai Cohen: Ambrose Akinmusire – trumpet;Vijay Iyer – piano;Chris Tordini – bass; Marcus Gilmore – drums, sets 7:30/9:30 $25

10/1, 9 PM at the Jalopy alternately haunting and lush Knoxville oldtimey swing blues/ragtime band Christabel & the Jons

10/1 El Pueblo play reggae en Espanol at Shrine 10 PM

10/2 at the Jazz Standard Jeremy Pelt with special guests Eddie Henderson and James Zollar: Jeremy Pelt – trumpet; Marc Cary – piano; Vicente Archer – bass; Gerald Cleaver – drums, sets 7:30/9:30, $30

10/2 Tom Shaner at Lakeside 11 PM

10/2, 11:30 PM  Watcha Clan followed by Slavic Soul Party’s cd release show  at Southpaw $12 adv tix rec.

10/3, 8 PM virtuoso Iranian kamancheh (spike fiddle) player/composer Kayhan Kalhor – founder of Masters of Persian Music – playing a rare solo show at Symphony Space, adv tix $30 highly recommended

10/3 at the new Knit in Williamsburg, a nightlong ska show featuring the Hub City Stompers,Void Union, Channel One, the Stress, the Hard Times, adv tix $12 highly rec.

10/3 the Fleshtones at Union Hall 10:30 PM $10 adv tix highly rec.

10/3 the Serena Jean Band at Lakeside 11 PM

10/4 11:30 AM-ish Isle of Klezbos at City Winery klezmer brunch

10/5, 9 PM Paul Wallfisch/Sally Norvell/Matt Kanelos/Pete Galub/Thomas Simon at Small Beast at the Delancey

10/6, 2 PM Daria Rabotkina, piano plays Bach, Feruccio Busoni and Sergei Prokofiev at Merkin Concert Hall $15.

10/7–10/8 at the Jazz Standard the Joe Martin Quartet featuring Mark Turner, Brad Mehldau & Marcus Gilmore: Mark Turner – tenor; Brad Mehldau – piano; Joe Martin – bass; Marcus Gilmore – drums, sets 7:30/9:30, $25

10/8 8 PM the Asylum St. Spankers at the Highline Ballroom gen adm $25

10/9, 8 PM the Maeandros Ensemble, led by the brilliant oud player/vocalist Marvothi Kontanis with Lefteris Bournias, violinist Megan Gould, and percussionist Seido Salifoski., at Symphony Space $25

10/9 hilarious hip-hop party animals Chronikill at Bowery Poetry Club 10 PM.

10/9–10/11 at the Jazz Standard Dafnis Prieto’s “Si o Si” Quartet – who just recorded their live cd here – Peter Apfelbaum – tenor saxophone; Manuel Valera – piano; Charles Flores – bass; Dafnis Prieto – drums, sets 7:30/9:30, $30/$25 Sun.

10/10, time TBA, Steve Severin of Siouxsie & the Banshees in a rare solo show – probably his ambient electronic stuff – at le Poisson Rouge, $20.

10/10, 7 PM NYC noir rock legend LJ Murphy at Banjo Jim’s

10/10 multistylistic Cuban expat songwriter Alex Cuba at Highline Ballroom 8 PM $15

10/12, 9 PM violinist/composer Rebecca Cherry, Paul Wallfisch of Botanica, highly regarded former Rasputina cellist Julia Kent, and spectacular noir chanteuse Carol Lipnik at Small Beast at the Delancey

10/12 avant pianists Sarah Cahill and Rachel Grimes play le Poisson Rouge, time TBA $12

1o/12 the Republic Tigers at Union Hall 8:30 PM $8 adv tix rec.

10/12 Paul Wallfisch and Carol Lipnik at Small Beast at the Delancey 9 PM

10/12 9:30 PM at Joe’s Pub an alluring evening of non-traditional instruments with Kamikaze Ground Crew’s Gina Leishman performing glass and percussion duos with drummer Kenny Wollesen, followed by the literally entrancing Electric Junkyard Gamelan and their homemade instruments.

10/14 Frankenpine at Lakeside 9 PM

10/15 hilarious, tuneful Canadian powerpopmeister  Joel Plaskett at Union Hall

10/16 an intriguing doublebill at Union Hall, $12 adv tix: at 8 PM Sarah Lov plays dark poignant midtempo literate art-rock ballads – she sounds like someone who would like to be Aimee Mann but doesn’t know who Aimee Mann is because Mann was born before 1980. Is that too harsh? Followed by Port O’Brien who ruin some good tunes with a deliberately artless offkey indie vibe, and then at 10 the catchy, artsy, anthemic, Nick Cave-inflected Sea Wolf.

10/16, 8 PM Throat Songs & Drums: the Khoomei-Taiko Ensemble at Symphony Space $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, sets 7:30/9:30, $25 / $30 Friday & Saturday

10/17, 7:30 PM at the Third St. Music School Settlement: Alexis Sykes, violin and chamber ensemble playing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons plus Villa-Lobos: Piano Trio

10/17 11 PM the Bottle Rockets at the Mercury $15

10/18, 8 PM Bobtown followed by L’il Mo & the Monicats at Spikehill

10/19 7:30 PM jazzy guitarist/chanteuse Marta Topferova plays the cd release show for her new one Trova at Joe’s Pub, $15 gen adm, early arrival advised.

10/21–10/25 at the Jazz Standard Joshua Redman – tenor and soprano saxophones; Matt Penman – bass; Gregory Hutchinson – drums, sets 7:30/9:30, $35 / $37.50 Friday & Saturday

10/21-23 Richard Thompson plays all-request shows at City Winery $35 standing room tix available – this will sell out fast.

10/22, 10 PM Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory Orchestra at 55 Bar

10/22 Brooklyn’s own haunting, otherworldly Bulgarian vocal quartet Black Sea Hotel 11ish at Joe’s Pub adv tix $15 highly rec.

10/23, 8 PM Bassam Saba & The New York Arabic Orchestra at Symphony Space $25 – the best Arab orchestra in the US, with Naji Youssef and Salma Marjieh on guest vocals.

10/23 at the Gramercy Theatre Sxip Shirey and Adam Matta/Las Rubias Del Norte/the Wiyos playing their cd Broken Land Bell in its entirety 9 PM

10/27-11/1 the Ron Carter Trio featuring Mulgrew Miller & Russell Malone at the Blue Note $30 tables/$20 bar, sets 8/10:30 PM

10/28 Argentine tango/reggae/pop sensation Federico Aubele at SOB’s time TBA

10/28 the Newton Gang at Lakeside 9 PM

10/29-11/1 at the Jazz Standard: Go Home featuring Charlie Hunter – guitar; Curtis Fowlkes – trombone; Ben Goldberg – clarinet; Scott Amendola – drums,sets 7:30/9:30, $25 / $30 Friday & Saturday

10/30 oldtimey siren Kelli Rae Powell‘s cd release show at the Jalopy  Theatre

10/30 Cypress Hill’s annual Halloween concert at the Nokia Theatre, $36 adv tix recommended for all you weedheads.

10/30-31 at Smoke Jazz Club pianist David Berkman plays the cd release for his new live cd – which th NY Times raved about – with Antonio Hart – alto saxophone; Ed Howard – bass; Ted Poor drums.

10/31 World Inferno at the grand ballroom at Manhattan Center $25 all ages, adv tix available at the Mercury

11/6-8 the Extremely Hungary Samizdat Music Festival at le Poisson Rouge and La Mama

11/7 the Mess Around 9 PM at Don Pedro’s

11/14 Shonen Knife at Maxwell’s $12 adv tix very highly recommended; 11/17 at the Brooklyn Bowl

11/21  Black 47 at Connolly’s, also 11/28, 12/5, 12/12, and New Years Eve

Song of the Day 8/31/09

Every day, our top 666 songs of alltime countdown gets one step closer to #1. Monday’s song is #331:

Jello Biafra & Nomeansno – Chew

Nightmare wee-hours NYC subway platform scenario with one of the most guitarishly delicious, reverb-drenched intros ever. The rats are everywhere, and they’re on the attack. Finally the train comes, but in typical MTA fashion, it doesn’t stop! From The Sky Is Falling and I Want My Mommy, the Dead Kennedys’ frontman’s otherwise so-so 1989 collaboration with the dadaesque Canadian punk band. The link in the title above is a youtube clip of the full track.

Song of the Day 8/30/09

Every day, our top 666 songs of alltime countdown gets one step closer to #1. Sunday’s song is #332:

Midnight Oil – Blue Sky Mining

Janglerock heaven. This is a snarling tale about an Australian asbestos mine abandoned by its greedy corporate owners after they’d poisoned their employees along with the surrounding land and its inhabitants. Martin Rotsey’s all-too-brief, offhandedly vicious guitar solo after the bridge is exhilarating. “Nothing’s as precious as a hole in the ground.” Title track to the 1992 album, mp3s are everywhere.

Song of the Day 8/29/09

Every day, our top 666 songs of alltime countdown gets one step closer to #1. Today marks the halfway point, betcha the suspense is killing you. Saturday’s song is one you probably know:

333. Supertramp – The Logical Song

One of the great anticonformist anthems, Roger Hodgson’s corrosive lyrics over Rick Davies’ eerie Arp electric piano, a top ten hit in 1979 and surprisingly still a staple of classic rock radio. From the Breakfast in America lp; mp3s are everywhere

Song of the Day 8/28/09

Looks like where we’re going tomorrow there won’t be any internet access. So here’s Friday’s song, a day in advance, as our top 666 songs of alltime countdown continues all the way to #1:

334. Boris Grebenshikov – Real Slow Today

The legendary frontman of Aquarium – the courageous, pre-glasnost Russian Jethro Tull – released one English-language album, Radio Silence, in 1989. This lush janglefest is its centerpiece, a thoughtful reflection on how revolutions begin, from someone who knows a little something about that firsthand. The link above is a torrent of the whole album.

Song of the Day 8/27/09

This hasn’t been a blow-off month for us – it’s been a fun month. We’ve been going out a fair amount, but not for the sake of creating content for Lucid Culture. Instead, this August has been a welcome chance to catch up with friends and to see some old favorites who’ve been reviewed ad infinitum. There’s still an ever-growing stack of cds here waiting to be reviewed and what looks like an amazing month of live music coming up in September, at least as far as NYC is concerned. Stay tuned and you’ll be able to find out about all that. In the meantime, as we do every day, our top 666 songs of alltime countdown gets one step closer to #1. Thursday’s song is #335:

LJ Murphy – Bovine Brothers

Like a lot of the NYC noir rock legend’s other songs, this scathing anti-fascist broadside’s been through a lot of incarnations. The latest is a slow, 6/8 blues ballad. But the fiery, Costelloesque version he was playing circa 2002 or so is the best, a nightmare urban tableau where “a sermon blares from the roof of a radio car.” Unreleased, but there are bootlegs out there.

Song of the Day 8/26/09

Every day, our top 666 songs of alltime countdown gets one step closer to #1. Wednesday’s song is #336:

The Doctors of Madness – Noises of the Evening

Scorching, angsted, guitar-and-violin-fueled druggy art-rock epic from these glam-ish mid 70s art-rockers, a UK sensation but virtually unknown here. The long crescendo at the end is amazing. From the band’s second album, a self-titled double lp, part rehab concept album – pretty ahead of its time for 1978, huh? Frontman/lyricist Richard Strange would subsequently pursue a solo career as a cult artist in the 80s.

Top Ten Songs of the Week 8/24/09

We do this every Tuesday. You’ll see this week’s #1 song on our Best 100 songs of 2009 list at the end of December, along with maybe some of the rest of these too. This is strictly for fun – it’s Lucid Culture’s tribute to Kasey Kasem and a way to spread the word about some of the great music out there that’s too edgy for the corporate media and their imitators in the blogosphere. Every link here except for #1 will take you to each individual song.

1. The Oxygen Ponies – Finger Trigger

Big scorching venomous rock anthem written at the nadir of the Bush regime. From their amazing new Randi Russo-designed cd Harmony Handgrenade

2. Sad Little Stars – I’m Going to Paris

Hilarious deadpan anti-trendoid broadside

3. Zebu – You Can’t Polish Shit

Noise rock. Self-explanatory. They’re at Mehanata on Aug 29 with the Brooklyn What and Escarioka.

4. Edward Rogers – You Haven’t Been Where I’ve Been

The expat Manchester rock crooner live at the NME awards doing the ELO thing – title track to his latest excellent album.

5. Basia Bulat – Snakes & Ladders

Orchestrated piano/orchestra ballad by this usually lo-fi Canadian songstress. Is this an anomaly? She’s at the Bell House on 10/7 at 8:30.

6. The French Exit – 3 & 12

We’re just going to hit you over the head again and again until everybody realizes what an amazing band these New York noir rockers are. They’re at Local 269 on 9/17 at 8.

7. Escarioka – Algun Dia Llegara

Every single song the Brooklyn What have ever played has probably been included in this list this year at some point, but we haven’t yet done the same with rock/ska en Espanol hellraisers Escarioka, who are also on the bill on 8/29 at Mehanata. This is a surprisingly gentle number but they’ll no doubt rip it to shreds live.

8. Her Vanished Grace – Sirens

They call what they play “power dreampop” which isn’t a bad way to describe it. They’re at Trash on 9/16 at 9:30.

9. The Anabolics – Je Ne Sais Quoi

Wicked garage punk. They’re at Union Pool on 10 on 9/4.

10. Rebecca Turner – Tough Crowd

Ridiculously catchy Americana rock song from the gorgeous-voiced chanteuse. She’s at Banjo Jim’s on 9/2 at 8.

Concert Review: Paul Wallfisch, Lillie Jayne, Alice Texas and We Intersect at the Delancey, NYC 8/24/09

Small Beast #31 (could that be?) was at least from this perspective a little sad yet ultimately optimistic, equal parts fond evocation of a lost time in New York music history and auspicious preview of the future. With the depression in full swing, many of the rock clubs here still prefer to book acts numbering among the idle rich. But with the market for “luxury” housing in freefall and the crowds of tourists who once swarmed like flies on the carcass of the Lower East Side largely absent, we’re getting our city back and with it the music of its dark underbelly. Last night was beautiful example.

Ten years ago, both Small Beast impresario Paul Wallfisch’s band Botanica and also Alice Texas made Tonic their home when they weren’t on the road. But Tonic closed in 2006, driven out by rising rents: the building site is now a shoddy, mostly vacant multimillion-dollar Legoland condo project. But with Small Beast on Monday nights (moving to Thursdays in September) upstairs at the Delancey, Tonic has been reborn. Once again, New York has a home for fearless, dark, adventurous rock and related styles. Wallfisch, with his blend of gypsy, Romantic, blues and gospel piano, gets a ton of ink here so suffice it to say that last night’s show was typical. His bad mood from the previous week hadn’t dissipated, and this was a solo show, without the ringer percussionist who’d stood in with him, representing the youngest generation of rock fans (who stand to inherit an impoverished, probably vastly more dangerous yet also probably vastly more fertile scene than has ever existed here). “Why do you want to fight when you can fuck all night? I cleared the room!” Wallfisch added gleefully, as the logic of one of the whores in the Botanica song Shira & Sofia sent a posse of overdressed, fake-tanned bridge-and-tunnel girls stumbling up the stairs on their once-a-week high heels to the rooftop barbecue. In a set that went on barely a half-hour, he veered from seduction to wrath to regret, covering Leonard Cohen,Marianne Faithfull and his longtime noir cabaret partner Little Annie.

He was followed by a brief set by actress and Glass Lamborghini frontwoman Lillie Jayne and her pianist “Fagen Beauregard” performing songs from her current Fringe Festival show A Night with Poppy Bulova. Channeling an obliviously self-obsessed Eastern European chanteuse, the obviousness of some of the comedy at least proved how well Jayne has assimilated the style. A living legend takes herself seriously, after all – except at the end, this one didn’t, which was the funniest part of the act. Her show runs through August 29 at the CSV Cultural and Educational Center at 107 Suffolk Street.

Alice Texas’ show here back in June was transcendent. This time out wasn’t bad either, especially considering that she was essentially backed by Botanica, or portions of various Botanicas: Dave Berger on drums, Wallfisch on piano and Christian Bongers on a gorgeous vintage 60s hollowbody bass. It was a considerably different set, more upbeat, giving the noir Americana chanteuse the chance to cut loose and really wail on a couple of numbers. She led the band into a long, mesmerizing Moonlight-mile style outro and kept going. It was obvious that the crew wasn’t particularly well-rehearsed, not because they made mistakes – these guys are pros, after all. But she made it clear that she was the only one who knew when it was going to stop, keeping the suspense on a knife’s edge. Then she did it again on one of the later numbers, giving Wallfisch another, welcome chance to get expansive. They closed with maybe the most hypnotic song of the night, Permission, a beautifully relentless post-Velvets dirge.

We Intersect is the side project of the Sad Little Stars‘ Rachel McIntosh and Max Low. With their insistent, pitch-perfect harmonies and Americana-inflected melodies, they played an hour of alternately warm and wary Pete’s Candy Store piano pop (to those outside New York, Pete’s Candy Store is the little Brooklyn bar that spawned a million country and bluegrass-inflected indie acts back in the 90s and early zeros). McIntosh added gently ambient layers of synth on occasion alongside Low’s smartly chordal piano work. They opened with a deadpan version of the Ramones’ The KKK Took My Baby Away, eventually did an impressive and understatedly fresh version of Big Star’s terminally overplayed 13 and at the end of the set, a suitably haunted take of the Smiths’ There Is a Light That Never Goes Out. But the originals were the best, one an upbeat 6/8 gospelish number, a couple of pensive ballads and a matter-of-factly delivered nocturne: “You dim the lights when you’ve arrived,” the two sang with a meticulous certainty.