Top 5 shows of the weekend

Good news everyone, NASA just discovered Keplar-452b, a bigger, older cousin to Earth, I can’t wait for the tripadvisor reviews. A little closer to home, so far this week we’ve talked craft beer pubs, smelly Greenpoint, and the Forecastle music festival, and some of the FW music team will be heading out to a ballgame. Well, it seems like a good excuse to drink outside. In any case, the weekend is going to be scorchio, so once again, stay hydrated, remember sunscreen, and avoid direct sunlight by drinking beer indoors when the opportunity presents itself. Here are the top 5 shows of the weekend…

5) EZTV, Nude Beach, Mercury Girls at Union Pool
Recently signed to Captured Tracks, EZTV celebrate the release of their album, Calling Out, with this show at Union Pool. It’s worth noting that Mercury Girls are not the band from Philadelphia who I have praised multiple times recently, but are a band of the same name from Toronto. A few things about this are not helpful – they both started around the same time, and are both actually good, so it’s hard to even take sides! Thursday 8pm

4) Titus Andronicus at Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium house band and recent signees to Merge Records, Titus Andronicus are finally releasing their rock opera, The Most Lamentable Tragedy, and are playing a 5-night stand at Shea Stadium to celebrate (which we announced at the time). All the shows are sold out, so hopefully you didn’t sleep on getting tickets. Friday through to Tuesday

3) Ed Schrader’s Music Beat, Washer, Macula Dog at Alphaville
After a glowing Northside review on this website recently, it would be rude not to feature the band’s latest show, which sees them playing at Alphaville in Bushwick. The bill is suitably eclectic as Macula Dog open proceedings with their clownish electro-pop, while Washer will bring some order to the night.  Friday 8pm

2) Dee Dee (of The Dum Dum Girls) at Moscot
This one is a freebie if you RSVP, and I’ll preface this by saying it’s a bit odd seeing a show in a shop for sunglasses (I saw Liam Finn play one of these), but there is often free beer to be had amongst the good tunes as well. Dee Dee has an underrated voice that will shine through in this more intimate setting. Seems like a good time to post this recently unearthed music video for Coming Down, from Dum Dum Girls’ 2011, Only In Dreams EP.  Thursday 7pm

1) Gigawatts Festival at The Wick, The Well and Our Wicked Lady
To be honest the Friday/Saturday/Sunday lineups for this show probably deserve the 1/2/3 spots in this column individually, but I thought that was cheating. The third Gigawatts Festival kicks off on Friday, when you can see the likes of The Black Lips, A Place to Bury Strangers, Journalism and Vulture Shit. Saturday doesn’t slow down with Pile, FW favourites Slonk Donkerson, who just released a new song which you can hear over at Stereogum, and a headline set from Anamanaguchi. Sunday doesn’t let up with Braid, Beach Slang, Guardian Alien and many more on all three days.  Friday through to Sunday