Who says you have to wait until Friday to have fun? Not us!
As always, there’s a lot of rockin’ going on in the big city this week.
So, we’re breaking down this week’s top concert options based on some unique categories, including:
Best place to beg a bouncer to let you sneak in to see a panda
Best place to see a gal rock a harmonium
Best place to see the singer who wrote “I Kissed a Girl” 10 years before Katy Perry
Best place to see a band that might sue Coldplay
Best place to make un-funny gay jokes about the band’s name
Best place to find out if cupcakes, beer and pop mix
And more!
Plus: We’ve got free mp3s (Animal Collective, My Teenage Stride, more) and videos you can check out before you go to the shows.
So, what shows are on our list for this week? Let’s find out…
(Come back Friday for the Weekend List!).
1. Best place to rock out in and ’80s sweatshirt (puffypaint: optional):
Tue 5/12 @ Bowery Ballroom The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Suckers, Zaza $15
Above: Just as precious as their name: Pains of Being Pure at Heart serve ’80s-flavored pop. If you’re into that sort of thing…
FREE Mp3 download: Pains of Being Pure at Heart-”Come Saturday” Mp3
2. Best place to see an animal-named band, other than Animal Collective:
Tue 5/12 @ Joe’s Pub Horse Feathers, Joe Pug $15
3. Best place to see the singer who wrote “I Kissed a Girl” 10 years before Katy Perry:
Wed 5/13 @ Union Hall Jill Sobule, Matthew Barber $15
4. Best place to see a girl rock a harmonium:
Wed 5/13 @ Pianos Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers, Drink Up Buttercup, Wild Yaks, Soft Black $8
FREE: Drink Up Buttercup Mp3
5. Best place to wonder why Jimmy Fallon is still on TV:
Wed 5/13 @ Highline Ballroom The Roots All Ages $10 advance/$12 day of show
6. Best place to listen to electronica and think about anagrams:
Thu 5/14 @ (le) poisson rouge Mice Parade, Hauschka, Acme $12
Fact: Mice Parade is an anagram of leader/percussionist Adam Pierce’s name. Electronic geek-rock wackiness ensues.
7. Best place to find out if cupcakes, beer and pop (rock) mix:
Thu 5/14 @ Cake Shop (NYC Popfest) The Ballet, My Teenage Stride, Metric Mile, Dream Bitches, Soft City, Knight School $?
FREE Mp3 download: My Teenage Stride-”To Live and Die in the Airport Lounge” mp3
8. Best place to make un-funny gay jokes about the band’s name:
Thu 5/14 @ Europa Monotonix (from Tel Aviv), The Homosexuals, Rice $10
9. Best place to see a band that might sue Coldplay:
Thu 5/14 @ Joe’s Pub Paleface, Creaky Boards All Ages $12
Above: Creaky Boards accuse Coldplay of plagiarism. Get in line, fellas.
10. Best place to see a band named after a cool manga/Tomisaburo Wakayama movie:
Thu 5/14 @ Union Pool Womb Sharks, (Lone) Wolf and Cub $?
Sold Out: Best place to beg a bouncer to let you sneak in to see a “panda”:
Wed 5/13 @ Terminal 5 Animal Collective, Grouper SOLD OUT
Above: Animal Collective’s (Panda Bear, Geologist, Deakin and Avey Tare) show is sold out, but you can still check out the creepily titled “Flesh Canoe” video (from Planet Claire sessions)
FREE Mp3 Download: Animal Collective-”Forest Gospel” mp3
***Come back Friday for our Best Weekend Shows List, it’s going to be a good one!
Let us know if you check out any of these shows.
