January has finally relinquished its death-grip on the world. It has been a rough start to 2016, but hopefully less choppy waters lie ahead, to help facilitate this, I am mostly prescribing a weekend of music that won’t often get out of the middle lane. Sometimes we all need to admit defeat and just slow down a bit. I’m beat. Relax – it’s the weekend.
5) Shearwater, Jib Kidder at Mercury Lounge
Shearwater’s new album, Jetplane and Oxbow, was just released on Sub Pop, and sees the band going off on a more electronic tangent, it is also their first album of original content since 2012’s Animal Joy. For those lucky enough to already have a ticket, it should prove to be quite the intimate show, and for those that don’t, you can see them at The Bell House in March. Saturday 7:30pm
4) Dead Tenants, Axons, Death To Slater at The Gutter
I say this every time, but The Gutter just don’t host enough shows for my liking, it’s a good space and they actually sell really good beer. This is my “noisey” recommendation for the weekend, for those who have a bit more oomph about them. Queens-based Dead Tenants released their debut album, Void, in March last year, and I’d recommend it to anyone who still misses Fugazi. Friday 9pm
3) Beverly, WALL, MPHO, Annie Hart of Au Revoir Simone at Baby’s All Right
Beverly have just released a new video for the song Victoria, which you can watch below. The song will appear on their second album, The Blue Swell, which will be out in May via Kanine Records. The song features all the signature Beverly sugar-sweet fuzz one would expect, which bodes well, and the band usually turn up the amps a little extra when playing live. Friday 8pm
2) Wilco at Kings Theatre
You can make all the “dad-rock” jokes you want, Wilco’s live shows are always good, with rotating setlists meaning you’re never quite sure what you’re going to get either. While I haven’t loved a whole Wilco album since 2004’s A Ghost is Born, each record still has enough “hits” to be thankful they still do what they do. Kings Theatre is a spectacular venue and if you’re around early enough, maybe sample some of Flatbush’s culinary delights, like excellent patties from Jamaican Pride, or a jerk chicken meal from Pepper’s, which are all cheaper than a beer at the venue. Friday and Saturday 7pm
1) Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins, M. Ward at The Beacon Theater
The second of two-nights, I was fortunate to catch the show on Wednesday so can speak with some certainty that this will be a fantastic show. Rabbit Fur Coat is ten years old, and will be played in full to celebrate. The album has a very natural flow to it and translates particularly well live, and Jenny’s vocal performance was outstanding. Support comes from M Ward, whose set I found a little too pedestrian and distant, but he does sport the effortlessly Scott McCaughey in his band, who aside from Young Fresh Fellows and The Minus 5, has backed many fine bands and musicians over the years (REM, Robyn Hitchcock, etc). Thursday 7pm
