Happy blah blah blah, consumerism be damned yada yada. It turns out that all the best shows happen to be on Valentine’s Day, who would have thought! Forget the roses and chocolates and maybe get your significant other a ticket to one of these shows, or not, what do we know.
5) Pecas, NOIA, Courtship Ritual at ALPHAVILLE
This might be the most valentines-y show in the list as Pecas bring their 80s-influenced electro-pop to Alphaville. The show is billed as a video release show, though the listing is unclear if this is for a new song or something from their most recent EP, After Dark. Support comes from NOIA and Courtship Ritual. Thursday 8pm
4) Current Joys, Gap Girls, Sean Henry at Market Hotel
If lo-fi tales of heartache are your idea of a great valentine’s day then boy is Market Hotel going to be a treat for you. A Different Age by Current Joys was a delectably downbeat triumph from last year and fellow Nevadan Gap Girls has been chugging from the John Maus fountain by the sounds of the excellent Street Desires. It’s not an entirely sombre event with the infectious bedroom pop of opener Sean Henry. Thursday 8pm
3) Erin Rae, Andrew Combs at Baby’s All Right
If you like the middle of a folk/country venn diagram then Erin Rae is the headliner for you tonight. Her second album, Putting on Airs, was released in June 2018 and is a breezy delight. Opening the show is fellow Nashville-based singer, Andrew Combs, who you should turn up early for. Thursday 7:30pm
2) Adrianne Lenker, Luke Temple at Music Hall of Williamsburg
Taking a break from Big Thief (Capacity was one of the best albums of 2017), singer Adrienne Lenker released her solo album, abysskiss in October last year, and it’s another wonderfully delicate collection of songs. At the time of writing, the show is sold out, but hopefully some tickets will be released nearer the showtime. Thursday 8pm
1) Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, The National Reserve at Knitting Factory Brooklyn
Sarah Shook & the Disarmers hail from Chapel Hill, North Carolina and released their second album in April 2018, and this time we’re taking that country venn diagram from earlier and putting in some gritty rock and roll and some beer swilling thrown in for good measure. Opening the show is Brooklyn’s own The National Reserve, who take their country twang down more of a classic rock path, both acts should be no nonsense fun. Thursday 7pm
