Holy hell, y’all! We made it. WE “MAY”ED IT! After a seemingly endless winter, the days have grown longer, the sun is shining brighter and the promise of patios, margaritas and outdoor music festivals is just on the horizon. THANK GAWD.
Let’s kick off the beginning of the season in style, with plenty of must see shows happening around the city this month. From free shows at Output to multi-day festivals like Mysteryland taking place just a couple of hours away upstate, there is something to get everyone excited about good times around the corner.
Hook N’ Sling at LAVO, Saturday, May 2nd, 39 E. 58th St., Doors at 11 PM, New York, NY 10022, $20-$30. Italian restaurant by day, one of the city’s hottest clubs by night LAVO (a Las Vegas transplant) will host one of my personal favorites, Hook N’ Sling for a night of top tunes from down under. This is a breakout tour for Hook N’ Sling, as it marks the beginning of his time with Interscope/Insomniac Records. You can get your tickets to see him at LAVO HERE, and be sure to check out his new single Break Yourself, featuring Far East Movement:
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Darius/T. Williams/Blacky II/Dan Wender at Output, Thursday, May 7th, 74 Wythe Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211, FREE before Midnight with RSVP. – Get your FREE dance on at Output’s weekly Input party. French House DJ Darius leads the lineup for a night that’s sure to get steamy. Bonus points to Output for having the best rooftop in the area. Now that it’s nice again, you can enjoy a drink with a view. RSVP for the show HERE.
Holy Ghost! All Vinyl Set at Verboten, Thursday, May 7th, 54 N. 11th St., Brooklyn, NY 11211, Doors at 11 PM, $20-$25. – The Brooklyn-based synthpop duo Holy Ghost! go back to their roots at this very special Zeitgeist party, also featuring Shadow Child and Paul Rafaelle. It’s a must for fans who want to know what happened BEFORE that fateful megahit, Hold On. Get tickets HERE.
Logan Takahashi/Surfing/Aquarian/Heathered Pearls at Output, Friday, May 8th, 74 Wythe Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211, FREE all night with RSVP. – Don’t miss Output’s FREE “In Real Life Party” featuring Logan Takahashi (of Teengirl Fantasy fame) playing a DJ set worth hitting the dance floor for. It’s FREE ALL NIGHT, so you’ve got nothing to lose. Make your reservations HERE.
Resolute Presents: Scissor and Thread Showcase with Desert Sound Colony on Circle Line Cruises, Saturday, May 16th, West 42nd St., New York, NY 10011, $40. – Resolute brings the first big boat party of the year to Circle Line Cruises one sunny Saturday in May. The Scissor and thread showcase will feature big names like Frank and Tony, as well as a US DEBUT performance from British electro-psych band Desert Sound Colony. Their new EP, which just came out at the end of April is carefully layered, creating a rather emotional listening experience. Their vast electronic sounds mixed with reverb and somber vocals is enticing and unique. You can buy tickets to see them HERE and check out their newest release below.
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Mastodon and Clutch at Central Park Summerstage, Tuesday, May 19th, Doors at 5 PM, Enter at 5th Ave. at 69th St., New York, NY, $35-$40. – Let’s get metal this month when shredders Mastodon and Clutch join the Summerstage lineup. A bit of a digression from the typical Summerstage lineup, these guys are sure to tear up the grounds and potentially scare a few tourists in the process. What sounds better? Get tickets HERE.
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TV on the Radio at Kings Theatre, Wednesday, May 20th, Doors at 8 PM, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11226, $50+. – After the tragic loss of a former member, TV on the Radio has had a triumphant return, with the 2014 release of their new album SEEDS and several festival performances, these guys are back full force. You can see them at the historic Kings Theatre later this month. Get tickets HERE.
Mysteryland USA, Friday May 22nd – Monday May 25th, Original 1969 Woodstock Grounds, Bethel Woods, NY, $109+. – Major acts spanning multiple dance genres, including Porter Robinson, A-Trak, Josh Wink, Diplo, Dillon Francis, Gramatik and Empire of the Sun , are all heading upstate for the second annual installment of Mysteryland USA, a three-day music and arts festival taking place on the original Woodstock Grounds. Single and multi-day camping tickets are still available HERE.