I’d like to think I’ve got a decent track record of recommending shows or bands that might normally fly under the radar, and that might still be somewhat true this week, but what you are getting are established, tried and tested greats, with a healthy dose of “wow, they’re still playing?”. As proved last week, nostalgia is no bad thing, and the older acts, more often than not, still teach everyone else a lesson.
5) David Gilmour at Radio City Music Hall
The Pink Floyd guitarist’s last album might be a bit of a snooze fest, but with inevitable classics like Comfortably Numb, Astronomy Domine, Run Like Hell and others to wow a crowd, Gilmour could basically fart into a microphone for 45 minutes without tarnishing his legacy. Sunday 8pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTGwB6CBuX0
4) The Avengers, Youthquake, Les Sans Culottes at The Grand Victory
The Grand Victory plays host to accidental punk fest this weekend and Friday sees San Francisco’s The Avengers headline. The band have had a spotty history to say the least, with their debut “album” being released in 1983, 4 years after breaking up, though they’ve been playing shows again since 2009 with original members Penelope Houston and Greg Ingraham. Friday 7pm
3) Zero Boys, Citizen Blast Kane at The Grand Victory
Another classic punk band graces the stage at Grand Victory on Saturday with Zero Boys (some might say, Indiana’s most important band). Vicious Circle undoubtedly deserves its place in the punk canon, the band have performed it at sporadic concerts in the last decade and seemed to be one of those acts who would just play the occasional gig, dusting off the hits, for want of a better word. That changed a couple of years ago as the latest incarnation recorded the first music under the name Zero Boys for over 20 years with the album Monkey. Saturday 11pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr7coemKgUc
2) Parquet Courts, RIPS at The Bell House
Brooklyn’s finest, Parquet Courts, will release their fifth studio album, Human Performance, this Friday, and are playing a record release show at The Bell House to celebrate. It’s another fine addition to their discography, and for those who weren’t on the ball quickly enough to buy tickets to this now sold-out show, you can fix that next month when they play at Webster Hall. Friday 8pm
1) Dwight Twilley at Berlin
The term power-pop-legend probably gets trotted out more than is deserved, but one can make a solid case for Dwight Twilley. Bright, sparkling tunes? Check. Vocal harmonies to die for? Check. Never sold enough records as deserved? Emphatic check. Though he only had a couple of minor hits since his debut album, Sincerely, was released 40 years ago, Twilley can still rightfully say “I’m on Fire”. Berlin is a pretty intimate setting for this solo acoustic show, but it’ll just make it more special for the lucky attendees. Friday 8pm
