Tonight was a special one. Glenn Branca’s Symphony No. 13 for 100 Guitars, also known as Hallucination City. Holy fuck, what an intense and cathartic piece, and loud as fuck. Taken to the great beyond in my brain in the beautiful Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center tonight. A pay what you want show, too. Best city ever, man.
I will never tire of seeing Kevin Morby play live. Probably my favorite songwriter of the past 10 years. Another great one at BK Steel.
Not sure how many "sets of the year" you're allowed to have in a single week, but this one's had quite a few of em, even given my "oh, he likes everything" proclivities. But tonight's Marc Ribot Ceramic Dog set was something especially fierce and may have trumped them all.
Great weekend of outdoor music in deep corners of the outer boroughs.
Saturday afternoon I finally caught Real Young and Lazy Horse at Industry City. They do a very good job of doing the Crazy Horse thing. Lots of deep cuts and long ragged guitar rock outs. Would see again.
Saturday night was Ghost Funk Orchestra playing at the New York Botanical Garden. I think it might be the first time I've seen music in the Bronx? Part of their "Flower Power" exhibition this summer. Excellent liquid light show, very chill vibe, lots of room, band sounded great. They've got three more great shows there this summer (including Woods!). Can recommend.
Sunday was a gorgeous afternoon in Red Hook for Freaks Day Out. Couldn't have asked for a better day/vibe/crowd. Both bands sounded great.
Huzzah!
If you get a chance to see the band Flea is currently touring with, do not, for one second, hesitate to go. Show of the year candidate. Wow!
Doesn't hurt that his band is fucking sick: Jeff Parker, Anna Butterss, Josh Johnson, Deantoni Parks. Killer set of ambient jazz and experimental funk and many points in between.
An absolutely lovely afternoon...
Got wise to an afternoon show happening in a parlor in Clinton Hill, my favorite Marta Sanchez in duo with Maria Grand. Felt like I was intruding on a secret gathering, but everyone was so kind and generous, plus cheese and wine. I should be so lucky to join the club.
The music matched the loveliness of the hosts and parlor, two sets of standards and originals that opened into conversant exploration. As I joked to the host, this is why you keep the piano tuned and ready in your Brooklyn brownstone.
Was such a pleasant afternoon, I scrapped the rest of my plans for the day and night. I mean, how lucky am I?
Yesterday: nice little day/night little/big Canada/Australia double-header with two longtime faves.
First: matinee performance from a stripped-down version of Broken Social Scene at Rough Trade. First time to the newish performance space there. I know exactly how long it's been since I first saw BSS because that night my son was there in vitro and he just turned 22. Man, they still got it, big time. New songs were fab, old ones were powerful, Kevin Drew sounded great.
Then: Courtney Barnett just blazing hot rock and roll at a sold out Kings Theater. Same as above, the mix of old and new was perfection. Her trio fucking rocked. Killer show.
Then finally over to Manhattan for Mark Guiliana at the Vanguard. The dude is just an inhuman drummer. Nothing more to be said. Played all new (unnamed) material with his stellar band, but really just comes down to trying to piece together what MG is doing on drums. I had to give up because it was breaking my brain. Thankfully he also writes a great song. Amazing stuff at the VV.
#nycfreaks #livemusic #nyc #jazz #villagevanguard #markguiliana
From there, a completely different kind of album release show with my favorite-of-the-moment Yvonne Rogers, playing solo at the intimate Seeds. She said it was only the second time playing solo and I am quite certain it won't be the last. Amazing, occasionally fully mind-boggling, beautiful, challenging... Just wow! all the way through. She seems to get more impressive each time she plays... And she plays a lot!
Can't wait to listen to the album (out today)
Killer threefer last night, each show was top-tier.
First: earlier in the week caught wind of a free Hiss Golden Messenger album release show happening at one of my favorite rooms in Brooklyn, thankfully early enough to RSVP and conveniently working from home that day so got there in time for a great spot.
Wasn't sure what to expect, could've been solo or just a few songs, but this was just an absolute monster set at Skinny Dennis. New songs, some jams, a very cool cover of Dixie Chicken sandwiched in one, special guest (the fab Stephanie Coleman on fiddle). MC was in high spirits, the band sounded so good. Can't say enough about this one, so glad I made it.
#nycfreaks #livemusic #brooklyn #williamsburg #hissgoldenmessenger
neddyo