By Danny Jumpertz
Special to DNAinfo
This week, larger than life music legends hit the stage showcasing the enormous diversity of music on display across the city. Dub revolutionary Lee "Scratch" Perry is in town, electronica giant Moby is launching a book and playing in a bookstore, pop-punk legend Blondie is back and two jazz legends team up at the Iridium Jazz Club.
Tuesday is particularly busy with Secret Chiefs 3, Erasure, Steve Earle and the Dukes and Lady Antebellum all playing highly anticipated shows. Where else would you want to be?
Wednesday September 7
The acclaimed recording artist Moby sits down with filmmaker Lucy Walker to discuss "Destroyed," a behind-the-scenes look at his life on the road through his book of photographs. He'll also perform songs from his latest CD of the same title. Moby describes the album as "broken down melodic electronic music for empty cities at 2 a.m." Barnes & Noble Bookstore, 33 East 17th Street, 7pm. Event space opens at 5pm.
Thursday September 8
Punk hero, visual artist and author of her memoir "Just Kids," Patti Smith plays Webster Hall tonight.
Friday September 9
A night for the Brit legends tonight at City Winery. Ian Hunter headlines with former Sex Pistol bassist Glen Matlock and his band The Philistines. In the late '60s Ian Hunter joined Mott The Hoople, which fused metal and glam rock to become a brief but bright success, influencing a generation of bands like The Clash. Matlock is credited as a co-author on 10 of the 12 songs on "Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols", the punk band's barnstorming debut album. He left the band after that album, replaced by Sid Vicious. City Winery. Ian also plays Thursday, and Wednesday and Thursday next week.
Saturday September 10
Reggae legend Lee "Scratch" Perry is one figure who really has revolutionized sound and music culture. He recorded Bob Marley's earliest records and was hugely influential in the creation of dub — particularly from his Jamaican studio Black Ark. He has recorded more than fifty of his own albums, his latest from this year is "Rise Again". B.B. King Blues Club & Grill.
Also tonight; Gothic soft-metal by Within Temptation at Terminal 5
Sunday September 11
Two jazz legends share the stage tonight. Joey Defrancesco was 17 when he got the call from Miles Davis to join his band. He's in his early 40s now and is among the finest jazz organists on the planet. Pat Martino is revered by guitarists for his clean lines and amazing technique in the post bop and fusion idioms. Iridium Jazz Club, 1650 Broadway
Monday September 12 - GIG OF THE WEEK
Brooklyn rappers Das Racist are generating significant hype at present. Is it justified? Only time will tell. Their debut album, "Relax," is coming out this week after the band released two mixtape downloads (Shut Up, Dude & Sit Down, Man) to online acclaim last year. "Relax" includes production from Diplo, Rostam Batmanglij (of Vampire Weekend), and Anand Wilder (of Yeasayer), as well as guest appearances from El-P, Danny Brown, and Despot. At The Bowery Ballroom.
Also tonight: Recent Drag City signing Bachelorette is Annabelle Alpers, a one-woman synth popster from New Zealand. At the Cake Shop.
Gordon Lightfoot plays at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill; and Blondie is at the Highline Ballroom.
Tuesday September 13
Secret Chiefs 3 are a wildly eclectic project of Trey Spruance (formerly of Mr. Bungle and Faith No More). Their latest album is "Satellite Supersonic Vol. 1" which came out last year. Le Poisson Rouge.
Also tonight: Erasure with Frankmusik. Terminal 5 (also Wednesday); Steve Earle and the Dukes (and Duchesses) featuring Allison Moorer at The Town Hall; Lady Antebellum at Irving Plaza.
