Mon. 9/28:
- Nightclub 101: L’Rain, medium.
- fata morgana, the title of L’Rain’s new album, is named after an optical illusion that makes distant objects look like they are floating in the sky. Referential to the album’s title, fata morgana is spectral, a kaleidoscope of tape meditations, slow jams, gospel, and metal influences organized to answer the question: how do you grow in a world not meant for you to thrive in? In reflecting on the contemporary kosmos, fata morgana creates its own universe: one you do not want to leave. If you can’t make this show, L’Rain is also playing Nightclub 101 Tuesday night.
- Webster Hall: Public Image Ltd., Plague Vendor
- This is not a looooooveeeee song. Public Image Ltd. defined post punk in the 80’s and are still touring, even though John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) is the band’s last touring member. Don’t worry though, Public Image Ltd. isn’t going anywhere. In fact, their tour is called “This Is Not The Last Tour.”
- Bowery Ballroom: Florence Road
- Naming themselves after a street in their hometown of Bray in County Wicklow, Ireland, Florence Road is a full fledged all girl rock band. The band opened for Olivia Rodrigo on her 2025 tour and their new EP Spring Forward cements the band in the evolving alt pop canon. It’s a plaid mini skirt and studded leather cuffs vibe all the way.
- Public Records: Nobody Broke Your Heart: An Elliott Smith Benefit Concert
- It’s been nearly twenty-five years since Elliott Smith’s death. To mark this anniversary and celebrate the influential singer-songwriter’s legacy, Half Waif, Greg Mendez, Ida, Jenny Toomey [Tsunami], Maisy Owen, and Bill Santen [Birddog] will perform songs from Smith’s catalog and Franz Nicolay of The Hold Steady will also interview Jamie Fisher, author of the new Elliott Smith biography Nobody Broke Your Heart. All proceeds from the night will go to the SIMS Foundation and WIN, an organization that provides shelter and support to homeless families.
Tues. 9/29:
- Brooklyn Paramount: Audrey Hobart
- Audrey Hobart is my type of pop star. Masking her ironic lyrics that speak to the turbulent lived reality of a twenty year old in bubblegummy and catchy melodies, Hobart’s debut album Who’s The Clown? captures what pop should be in 2026. Last year, my band almost covered “Sex and the city.” I wish we did.
- Elsewhere: Squirrel Flower, Dari Bay
- Squirrel Flower, the project of singer songwriter Ella Williams’, new album Say a Prayer to the Gods of Getting Going is an indie rock ode to the road. Written while touring, Say A Prayer’s lyrics document the locations and people she met throughout her vagabond life. Rejecting stasis, Squirrel Flower is on tour again. I wonder if the cast of characters she’ll meet on the NJ Turnpike will inspire any new songs.
- Le Poisson Rogue: Spencer Krug, Christopher Emond
- Spencer Krug, of Wolf Parade’s, new album Same Fangs was born out of demos posted to Krug’s Patreon throughout 2024 and 2025, then re-recorded in a week on Gabriola Island. Reflecting on concepts like marriage, fatherhood, and political fatigue, Same Fangs is a sparse and contemplative album.
- Madison Square Garden: Gorillaz, Little Simz and Deltron 3030
- I saw Gorillaz at Primavera and my mind was blown. I seriously think Damon Alburn is a genius. I haven’t listened to the new Gorillaz album The Mountain in its entirety, but when I saw Gorillaz live they closed with “Feel Good Inc.” and “Dirty Harry.” Trust they will play some tracks off Demon Days.
- The Meadows: DIIV
- DIIV’s upcoming album ZIRP!, releasing October 30th, is different from the rest of their catalog. Why? It was produced by A.G. Cook. The renowned English producer added his signature touch to the album, all while working with the band’s overdriven shoegazey sound. Stuttering and swirling with tension, this is a collab we always needed.
- TV EYE: Fórn, otay:onii, Foreign Body, Cronies
- My good friends in noise rock/punk band Foreign Body recently put out their new album Libertine, which is described by their label as an “aural onslaught” that is “harsh, brutal, filthy, and vulgar” and “so dirty, so clean, so disgusting, so pure.” Hell yeah.
Weds. 9/30:
- Barclays Center: Weezer, The Shins, Silversun Pickups
- Weezer’s “The Gathering” tour is finally stopping in NYC. The band’s twentieth album Weezer (The Gold Album), is classic Weezer. Nothing out of character for the band, but like everything the band does, it’s incredibly solid.
- Nightclub 101: Maggie FM, Shearing, Raybody
- Maggie FM is the solo project of Maggie Geeslin from Lunar Vacation. Just like Lunar Vacation, Maggie FM’s album Candy, Light, Orchids is an intimate and sweet foray into bedroom pop. It sounds out of the 2010s Soccer Mommy, Snail Mail, Girlpool era.
- Knockdown Center: Cate Le Bon, Lucrecia Dalt, Dagmar Zuniga
- Heartbreak hurts. Cate Le Bon’s latest album Michelangelo Dying is the product of the artist’s all consuming heartache, and also in writing the LP, the antidote for mourning the end of her relationship. Songs like “Is it Worth It (Happy Birthday)?” are dreamy on the surface, but underpinned by a weighted sadness.
- Music Hall of Williamsburg: Empress Of, Queenie
- Empress Of, the project of Honduran-American songwriter, musician and producer Lorely Rodriguez’s, new album Dream House is a continuation of the artist’s introspective pop music. Featuring a collaboration with Blood Orange, “Blue Light (feat. Blood Orange)” is a standout track off the album.
- Webster Hall: Frog, Woods, Lex Walton
- That’s right, Frog released another album. The New York band’s eighth studio album Frog For Sale is “about how money sometimes gets in the way of love,” Daniel Bateman told Sterogum. Bateman is married, so I’m wondering who provided the inspiration for the album’s concept.
Thurs. 10/1:
- Cassette: Palehound, Frankie Cosmos, thanks for coming, Beck Zegans
- Palehound’s month-long residency at Cassette begins this Thursday. Each week, the band is bringing their friends to perform and all proceeds will be donated to the Immigrant Defense Project. To mark the start of this series, Palehound is welcoming fellow indie rock groups Frankie Cosmos, thanks for coming, and Beck Zegans to the stage.
- Knockdown Center: Arlo Parks
- “Being in nocturnal spaces takes me out of my head and puts me in my body and my gut,” Arlo Parks told GlamCult. Clubs, nightlife, and smoking areas provided the inspiration for Ambiguous Desire, Park’s new album built on sun drenched dancehall beats and effervescent motion. Thursday, Parks will turn Knockdown into its full club space potential.
- Mercury Lounge: The Dutch Kills, Boxxer, Darla Dean
- Femme rock band The Dutch Kills’ is throwing a show at Mercury Lounge for the release of their new single “Boulder.” If you like bands like Firstsex, Diva Cup, or anything riotgrrrl, you’ll have a blast at this gig.
Fri. 10/2:
- Corona Park: The Strokes, Beach House, TV On the Radio, Fcukers
- The Strokes are returning to New York for one night only. NYC’s lovechild’s new album, Reality Awaits, doesn’t use autotune and effects selectively—they comprise the entirety of the album. Critics feel a certain way about it, but at the end of the day, Julian Casablancas is pretty crazy, and he’s just going to do what he wants to do. I respect that.
- Forest Hills Stadium: Geese, Leenalchi
- Geese has been shoved down my throat and I’m sick of it. I’ve had enough of Cameron Winter and the media telling me he is bringing back rock music. Anyways, I know my opinion is in the minority. If you love Geese, if you love Cameron Winter, go see the band play Forest Hills.
- Market Hotel: Loukeman, Dyltwosix
- Loukeman’s array of stitched together samples and pitch shifted vocals in his new album SD-3 bring twee elements into a sophisticated whole. If you’re into ear, Eera, or Sacred Holes, make sure to go to one of Loukeman’s two nights at Market Hotel.
Sat. 10/3:
- Brooklyn Steel: Ninajirachi, MGNA CrrrTA
- I <3 my computer and I <3 Ninajirachi. I’ve probably listened to “Fuck My Computer” upwards of one hundred times this year. If you can’t make Ninajirachi’s Saturday set, she is also playing Brooklyn Steel Sunday.
- Ruins at Knockdown Center: Russian Circles, Pelican
- Instrumental post metal band Russian Circles’ new album Nine is straight up dystopian. Texturized and eerie, Nine is a snapshot into heavy darkness. No doubt about it, this show will be cathartic.
- Terminal 5: Slayyyter
- A bunch of my friends saw Slayyyter in Boston this past weekend and said it was a movie. If Boston was a movie, I can’t even imagine how lit Slayyyter’s NYC show will be. Get ready to scream “BEAT UP CHANEL$” at the top of your lungs.
- Maria Hernandez Park: Balaclava, Chemical, Cherry Cheeks, Pyrex
- Like always, there will be some crazy shit going down in Maria Hernandez this weekend. Show Brain is bringing Balaclava, Chemical, Cherry Cheeks, and Pyrex to play the park Saturday and Noun, Dead Tooth, Francie Moon on Sunday. Afters are at ALPHAVILLE.
Sun. 10/4:
- Barclays Center: The Smashing Pumpkins
- Thirty years of Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness. To celebrate this anniversary, The Smashing Pumpkins are bringing their “Rats In A Cage” tour to NYC. No opener, just two back to back Smashing Pumpkins sets.
- Elsewhere: cootie catcher, Tal Castle
- cootie catcher’s twee pop is infectious. The Canadian band’s third album Something We All Got strays from the overwhelming direction the laptop twee movement is headed, going with a more K Records sound. Opening for the band is Tal Castle, one of my favorite NYC twee duos.
- Gold Sounds: Myra Lee, Queeblo, Populator
- Shout out Myra Lee for naming themselves after the first, and best, Cat Power record. Myra Lee’s sound does not directly resemble Cat Power, but the band’s laid back indie rock is still apt for staring out the window (the Cat Power effect).