NEW YORK CITY — Some big names in rock 'n' roll are coming together over the holidays to aid the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
The Robin Hood Foundation, which has traditionally targeted poverty in New York City, is the main beneficiary of the star-studded 121212 Concert For Sandy Relief at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, December 12.
Also, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are putting on a show to remember at Union Pool in Brooklyn on Saturday, December 8, benefitting Waves For Water, whose mission is to address the initial survival needs on many levels, from first responder assistance to rubble removal and ultimately rebuilding efforts.
Wednesday, December 5
Since they formed in Baltimore in 1999, Animal Collective has followed its own unique musical path over 10 studio albums that has bought them great success in indie circles with their genre-hopping sounds and anarchic live shows. The band's latest album, "Centipede Hz," was recorded in Texas and marked the return of band member Deakin, who sat out of the recording and touring of the band's previous and most successful album, 2009's "Merriweather Post Pavilion." "Peacebone," the first single from 2007's "Strawberry Jam," is their biggest-selling single to date. Check out the video for a glimpse into the trippy Animal Collective conciousness. At Terminal 5.
Also tonight: R&B star Trey Songz serenades the crowd at Madison Square Garden. Songz was once praised by late Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun as "among the most promising R&B artists we have had on Atlantic since we started the company 60 years ago."
And: Pensylvania's Black Moth Super Rainbow will reveal tracks from its latest (crowd-funded) album "Cobra Juicy" at Bowery Ballroom. Expect soulful indie psychedelia.
Thursday, December 6
Loser's Lounge was started in 1993 by session keyboardist Joe McGinty (Psychedelic Furs, The Ramones, Ryan Adams) and psycho-cabaret singer Nick Danger. Originally a piano sing-along night at the Pink Pony Cafe on Ludlow Street, the Loser's Lounge debuted at the Fez nightclub with A Tribute To Burt Bacharach. Since 1993, the Loser's Lounge has performed nearly 300 shows honoring 50 different artists, from ABBA to The Zombies, sometimes with the honorees present. Lee Hazlewood, Paul Williams and Denny Doherty (of the Mamas and Papas) all enthusiastically attended their own tribute nights. After a 10 years of sold-out shows at Fez, Loser's Lounge now packs 'em in regularly at Joe's Pub. Tonight's tribute celebrates the musical genius of Stevie Wonder.
Also tonight: Marina Lambrini Diamandis, known by her stage name Marina and the Diamonds, plays tracks from her new electro-pop, Gaga-esque album "Electra Heart" at Terminal 5.
Friday, December 7
Z100's Jingle Ball a long-standing Manhattan tradition of holiday-season pop-music craziness, is happening at Madison Square Garden tonight. Featuring some of the brightest pop stars of 2012: Taylor Swift, Jason Mraz, Justin Bieber, B.o.B, Ne-Yo, Fun., Ed Sheeran, One Direction, and The Wanted.
Saturday, December 8
The Rolling Stones roadshow rolls into the Barclays Center as part of their 50th anniversary tour. Their latest album "Grrr!" (available in a dizzying array of formats) is a a career retrospective that begins with the single "Come On," a Chuck Berry cover from 1963, and ends with their new single "Doom And Gloom," which stars a risqué performance from actress Noomi Rapace ("Prometheus," "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo") in the video. "Doom And Gloom" marks the first time that Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood have been in the studio together for seven years. The single was recorded in Paris along with another new track (also on "Grrr"), "One More Shot." To celebrate the Stones' anniversary, the Spielberg Gallery at the Paley Center is showing an exhibition of classic band photos. Until January 6.
Also tonight: The second annual “Cyndi Lauper & Friends: Home for the Holidays” benefit concert will take place at the Beacon Theatre to help raise funds and awareness about gay and transgender youth homelessness for the Forty to None Project. Joining Lauper will be St. Vincent, Alexis Krauss of Sleigh Bells, Roberta Flack, Whoopi Goldberg, Sarah McLachlan and many more.
Also tonight: Yeah Yeah Yeahs play a rare gig, returning to raise money for Hurricane Sandy victims with a special show at Union Pool.
Sunday, December 9
Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats play Midtown jazz club Iridium tonight. Smith's best known for his work behind the kit with Red Hot Chili Peppers, but here he explores an energetic, funky fusion of progressive jazz and rock.
Also tonight: Influential 60's Brazilian psychedelic rockers Os Mutantes play (Le) Poisson Rouge (also Saturday).
Monday, December 10
Epic '90s alt-rockers Smashing Pumpkins called it a day in 2000, re-forming in 2005. In their heyday their success was global and their sonic palette ambitious. The 1995 album "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" — a double CD and triple vinyl album set — debuted atop the US charts. Band leader and songwriter Billy Corgan has defined the group's aim as "trying to find a synthesis of an alternative idealism combined with classic rock musical values, and then somehow take those things into the mainstream in a subversive way." In 2009 the group announced plans to release a 44-track concept album, "Teargarden by Kaleidyscope," and the next chapter in that project is the just released "album within an album" called "Oceania." The second single from the album "Panopticon" has just been released. At Barclays Center.
Also tonight: Andrew Bird's “Gezelligheid” show plays Uptown in the beautiful Riverside Church (also Tuesday). Appropriating a Dutch term that loosely translated means “cozy,” the performances concentrate mainly on instrumental violin pieces amplified only by Bird’s signature giant Victrola horns.
Tuesday, December 11
Master hip-hop producer DJ Shadow plays his "All Basses Covered" DJ Set at Brooklyn Bowl. Since his groundbreaking "Endtroducing…." debut album in 1996, Shadow has released three studio albums, the most recent 2011's "The Less You Know, the Better".
Also tonight: Soulful UK singer and pianist James Blake plays Music Hall of Williamsburg His most recent release is the EP "Enough Thunder," a spacious ambient-pop release that includes contemporary dubstep elements. It also includes a collaboration with Bon Iver on a strange folk-pop amalgam called "Fall Creek Boys Choir."
