Looks like we’re in for a mostly pleasant weekend weather-wise, and there might not be too many of those left for the next few months, so make the most of it. This week it’s all about tried-and-tested excellent acts.
5) Mudhoney, Kid Congo Powers & The Pink Monkey Birds at Market Hotel
Grunge pioneers Mudhoney released an EP last month, Morning in America, their first EP in fifteen years, which seems strange to type for a band who made their name from their debut EP. Anyway, nothing original can be written about this great band and they are still excellent live, Market Hotel seems a great place to see them. Saturday 7pm
4) Luna playing three shows…
I couldn’t narrow down which show to hightlight as Luna are playing shows Friday-Sunday playing their first three albums in full. On Friday night they’re playing Lunapark at Elsewhere (tickets are still available at time of writing), Saturday sees them at Bowery Ballroom playing Bewitched (currently sold out) and they’re back at Bowery on Sunday playing Penthouse (also sold out). Friday, Saturday and Sunday
3) Against Me!, Cursive, Dilly Dally at Starland Ballroom
Gainesville, Florida’s Against Me! are pitching up at Starland Ballroom for two nights (Friday and Saturday tickets are still available) playing two different albums in full each night. Friday will consist of Searching For A Former Clarity and New Wave, and they’ll perform White Crosses and Transgender Dysphoria Blues on Saturday. I know this is probably the furthest show from the city featured in the history of this column, but if I can get my way out there then so can you. While this is definitely something of a show for hardcore fans, having Cursive and Dilly Dally open each show is a major plus point too. Friday and Saturday 6:30pm
2) Parquet Courts, Mogwai, Screaming Females, METZ, Duster at Knockdown Center
As far as stacked events go, combining Parquet Courts, Mogwai, Screaming Females, Iceage, Lower Dens, METZ, Duster, Priests, Empath, and Control Top with a beer festival doesn’t really get a whole lot better. At least seven of those bands have featured in this column over the years and at least four have taken the #1 spot. Maybe the most recent news of all the bands listed is that Duster have just announced their first album in nineteen years, their self-titled album will be out on the 13th of December via Mudd Gutts. Your ticket even goes towards beer samples! Saturday 3pm
1) Vivian Girls, Empath, Young Guv, Honduras at Warsaw
Five years after they broke up, Vivian Girls are back with a new album, Memory, via Polyvinyl, and it might even be their best record. After seeing their “final” two shows at Death By Audio and Baby’s All Right, I hoped it wouldn’t really be the last we’d see of them, even if we’ve been blessed with some wonderful La Sera albums in the meantime. It’s amazing enough that they’re playing, but with a supporting roster of artists opening up the show that include Young Guv (who was #1 in this column a couple of months ago) just makes it that much sweeter. Thursday 7pm
