Mon. 7/20:
- Lena Horne Bandshell: Royel Otis, Ax and The Hatchetman
- Australian indie pop duo Royel Otis is playing at Prospect Park as part of their meet me in the car tour. The two’s lighthearted surfy sounds scream American Eagle shorts, White Claws, and a summer concert.
Tues. 7/21:
- Union Pool: Greg Freeman, Wendy Eisenberg
- Greg Freeman’s sophomore album Burnover came out a year ago and cemented the artist into the alt-country canon. Throughout Burnover, Freeman’s unique voice and use of twangy instrumentals make the album perfect for slow, humid summer days.
- Forest Hills Stadium: Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Jimmie Vaughan & The Tilt-A-Whirl Band
- Who doesn’t love Bob Dylan? The vanguard of folk rock is playing Forest Hills alongside Lucinda Williams. If you scored tickets, be prepared for Dylan to rearrange and abandon original melodies of his classic songs. Reddit (and some friends) vouch that he is an unpredictable performer.
Weds. 7/22:
- Basilica Hudson: Wednesday
- Elsewhere: Twen, Noods
- Twen defies convention. Naming themselves after an out of print post-war German magazine, the band is not signed to a label, lives out of a van to lower costs, and uses an astrologer to determine their releases dates. Still, without major industry support, the indie rock band’s shows sell out. Make sure to listen to Twen’s latest album Fate Euphoric before the show.
Thurs. 7/23:
- Knockdown Center: SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE, Choir Boy, Phantasia
- Grab some earplugs because SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE is coming to The Ruins. The Philly based band are born experimenters, and will no doubt keep the audience on their toes Thursday night. Let’s hope they play some songs off You Are Arrived (But You’ve Been Cheated).
- The Hancock Cafe: Scarlet Rae
- For those who don’t work a 9-5, Scarlet Rae is playing a free set at the Hancock Cafe at 1pm. A free set is always a great excuse for a long lunch break.
- Nightclub 101: Alex Lahey (solo)
- As I’m writing this, I put on Alex Lahey’s song “Wes Anderson” and returned to my high school psyche. Lahey recently rereleased her classic EP B-Grade University (Reunion Edition), featuring a collaboration with Tegan and Sarah on “You Don’t Think You Like People Like Me.” It’s time to relive 2016.
- Music Hall of Williamsburg: Monobloc, Torture and the Desert Spiders, For Opal, SHAGGO
- A few of Alt Citizen writer Marisa Whitaker’s favorite local NYC rock bands are playing the “Neighborhood Noise” event at Music Hall of Williamsburg. If you’ve ever been to “Torture Thursday,” you know this show will be legendary.
- Brooklyn Paramount: Kurt Vile and the Violaters
- Kurt Vile’s newest release is an ode to Philly and his family. A reflection on being both a professional musician and a father, Philadelphia’s been good to me expounds sweet sentimentality. It makes me miss my Dad.
- Relax Lounge: Shearing, Stoneyard, German Suplex, Different Plants
- Relax… everything will be okay if you see Shearing play at Ridgewood’s very own Relax Lounge. If you’re a fan of the Brian Jonestown Massacre (and you know I am) you’ll love Shearing’s instrumentation on Broadway Looks so Medieval. It broods.
Fri. 7/24:
- Baby’s All Right: Trophy Wife, meg elsier, Or Best Offer
- As lead singer McKenzie Iazzetta of Trophy Wife shared in our interview with the band, expect screaming, drinking, and tramp stamp temporary tattoos from the band’s release show for Pathetic. Some might say it will be a “Dirty Movie”…
- Bowery Ballroom: Eartheater
- Whenever I have a kid, I’ll play Eartheater and Oklou’s song “Fast Asleep” as their lullaby. As a new mother, Eartheater’s recent release Heavenly Body: If I’m The Bottle You’re The Message is a devotion to maternal sanctity. The last track off the album, “Nova,” is even named after her daughter. If you can’t make the Friday show, Eartheater is also playing Saturday night with Quiet Light.
- Elsewhere: Pearly Drops, RIP Swirl (DJ), DJ Thank You
- Pearly Drops new LP The Voices Became Louder features RIP Swirl on the track “Mermaid, Destroyed.” RIP Swirl brings ethereality to Pearly Drops synth pop, and on Friday, we’re lucky enough that the two are on the same bill.
- 99 Scott: Yaeji
- Yaeji is iconic. Expect a sick DJ set from the electronic music beast at 99 Scott. I do wish this was a live performance though. With A Hammer rips.
Sat. 7/25:
- Trans Pecos: Taraneh, Thoom, The Sound Chalk Makes, poc, Hopper1000, Harmless Light, My Transparent Eye, espurr, b7anket, DJ Thank You, océane
- I didn’t even know Trans Pecos has two rooms, but I guess they do. With this packed bill, both rooms will be filled all night with some of the best electronic musicians on the scene. If you like Worldpeace DMT, give b7anket’s new tweemo album Seven Ate Nine a listen before the show.
- Knockdown Center: Frost Children, Thrilliam Angels, DJH, ilykimchi, kuru, olswel, kimj, pinponpanpon
- It’s Frost Fest xD! Frost Children handpicked the lineup for their Knockdown Center blow out, bringing only the best of the best to the stage. Tickets are sold out: if you can’t get off the Dice waitlist, Frost Children is holding afters at SILO.
- Tompkins Square Park: Star’s Revenge, Dallas Wax, T!LT
- Show Brain is putting on another free show at Tompkins Square Park and you don’t want to miss Star’s Revenge. The band’s computerized indie rock is pure, coming straight from the heart. As a sucker for hypnagogic guitars and plug-ins, intro is my favorite track off their self-titled debut.
- Paragon: Boy Harsher, Chanel Beads (DJ Set), Dazegxd, Kassie Krut (DJ Set), Ivan Berko, Bapari, Lucy (Cooper B. Handy)
- My friend made a joke that every restaurant she’s worked at in Brooklyn has Boy Harsher on their playlist. She’s probably right. Saturday night, Boy Harsher won’t be on a playlist, but in the flesh, as they bring their “Nude Club” party series to NYC.
Sun. 7/26:
- The Broadway: warmachine, Sodaseas, Wince, Docents
- warmachine is Philly shoegaze through and through. A hallmark of most Julia’s War signed artists, the band moves between hardcore, experimental, and melancholic shoegaze on their new LP HELLPHONE 3D. Be sure to give “hypnagogia” a listen.