Some of you might be nerding out at Comic Con this weekend, but music nerds of all kinds have a veritable feast of options to rival those reaching a once-a-year climax. It was tough to narrow it down to only five options, so don your most obscure band shirt and take in the nods of appreciation like someone discussing a deleted scene that was only added to the Japanese betamax misprint.
5) Kaki King, Porta Girevole Chamber Orchestra at Littlefield
Having backed Littlefield’s kickstarter to help them relocate, I’m excited to be seeing the space for the first time (not to mention, eating tacos). However, the real excitement is watching Kaki King play guitar, and this is a record release show celebrating her first album in two years, Kaki King Live at Berklee. The album features new arrangements of solo guitar compositions backed by a 12-piece orchestra. Thursday 8:30pm
4) Sun Kil Moon at Town Hall
I’m a huge fan of just about anything Mark Kozelek has recorded, but even the staunchest fan must be getting fed up at his inability to just write a damn song these days, with 10-minute+ spoken word epics around repeated melodies among the best we can hope for at times. Live shows can be hit or miss depending on what mood he is in and you’re highly unlikely to get any discography classics. While there’s something to be said about watching an artist with the conviction of playing almost all new material, I have to admit to some level of Stockholm syndrome here. Shut up and take my money. Friday 7:30pm
3) WAND, Darto, Yonatan Gat at Bowery Ballroom
Of all the garage rock bands from the west coast in recent years, Wand can lay a solid claim to being the most underrated. Their fourth record, Plum, sees the band go further into a psych-rock direction than before, this is the show to see if you’re longing for some intricacy and melody in amongst the occasional battering ram. Friday 8pm
2) METZ, Uniform, Bambara at Bowery Ballroom
METZ are such a great live band that it’s easy to forget they actually record music too, and they’re currently on tour supporting third album Strange Peace, via Sub Pop. The record is different enough from the first two to stop them getting in somewhat of a rut (but those are truly fantastic records, it has to be said). Bowery will host a pretty intense evening with support from Uniform and Bambara and having see this same line-up last night at Music Hall of Williamsburg, can say they’re all as good as ever. Thursday 8pm
1) Daniel Johnston at Town Hall
Few artists are more deserving of the term cult favourite than Daniel Johnston. I was about to write “a career with ups and downs” but really it’s a life of ups and downs, which sees Johnston currently on his last ever tour for some select dates. Each city will feature a different backing band and New York will see members of Beirut, Cibo Matto and more. Each show will start with a screening of the excellent documentary, The Devil and Daniel Johnston, so don’t miss that either. Saturday 8pm
