Listen to the music while you read — click here for a Spotify playlist featuring my favorite tracks from the artists mentioned in this article.
Wednesday, 31 July 2013
English singer-songwriter Beth Orton debuted in 1993 as the singer of the duo Spill, a collaboration with English producer and DJ William Orbit. She has collaborated with many other electronic artists, lending her folky, ethereal vocals to excellent tracks by The Chemical Brothers ("Where Do I Begin", "Alive Alone") and Red Snapper. Her acclaimed second album "Trailer Park" (produced by Andrew Weatherall) in 1996 provided her with the breakthrough single "She Cries Your Name" and craftily blended '60s and '70s folk with electronica and trip-hop. Her sixth album "Sugaring Season" — her first in six years — was recorded in Portland, Oregon and released late 2012. According to Paste Magazine, the album "shows real artistic growth in every area and is destined to become a classic." At the Bellhouse.
Thursday, 1 August 2013
Relive the best of the '80s when two of the smartest ground-breaking bands from that decade, The Go-Go's and Tom Tom Club, play together. LA band The Go-Go's made history as the first all-female band that both played and wrote their own songs to top the Billboard album charts. The Tom Tom Club was founded in 1981 by husband-and-wife team Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz, both also known for being members of Talking Heads. Fresh from a European tour, their most recent album, the excellent "Downtown Rockers," was released just last year. At West 21st Street & Surf Avenue in Coney Island Beach & Boardwalk.
Soulful R&B singer and producer D'Angelo brings special guests Questlove and Thundercat to Williamsburg Park ($49.50) this evening. Both Questlove and Thundercat have collaborated with D'Angelo on his highly anticipated third album, which has been in production since 2001.
Friday, 2 August 2013
Jamie Lidell, Dan Deacon & the Stepkids round out another outstanding bill at Celebrate Brooklyn!'s Prospect Park Bandshell. The Stepkids, former backing musicians for Alicia Keys, 50 Cent and Lauren Hill, skilfully fuse psychedelic funk and indie grooves. Dan Deacon artfully blends experimental sounds with cutting edge electronic textures while British producer Jamie Lidell is a soulful vocalist whose latest self-titled album was recorded in his new adopted hometown of Nashville,Tennessee. Free. Jamie Lidell also plays (le) Poisson Rouge Thursday night.
Saturday, 3 August 2013
Beyoncé stars in The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour (referencing her marriage with Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter) tonight (also Sunday, Monday) at the Barclays Center. ($49.50-$254.50) The 104 date tour is Beyoncé's most ambitious undertaking to date and will run for the duration of 2013, taking her to Europe, North America, Latin America and Australasia. Las Vegas Weekly's Andrea Domanick commented, "The show’s production read like a formula for a Las Vegas hit: interactive LED screens... pyrotechnics, laser lights, Cirque-worthy choreography and costumes... and, of course, a headlining voice — all of which was executed with simplicity and elegance." Missed out on tickets for these shows? She's back on December 19, tickets are on sale now.
UK post-punk survivors The Psychedelic Furs are best known for the song that inspired the seminal 1986 film "Pretty In Pink." Originally released in 1981 as a single from the band's second album, "Talk Talk Talk," "Pretty in Pink" was re-recorded for the film. But they're no one trick ponies, although their last studio album was 1991's "World Outside," they released 7 albums between 1977 & 1991, four of which were top 20 UK hits. Check out "Love My Way," their 1982 hit on this Spotify playlist. At Irving Plaza. ($29.50)
Vince Clark's artistry has influenced a global generation of music lovers. A pioneer of electronic music, Clarke has been a member of Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Assembly and Erasure. After writing Depeche Mode's breakthrough hit single "Just Can't Get Enough" in 1981, he left the band and formed the duo Yazoo (known as Yaz Stateside) with Alison Moyet. In their two years together they enjoyed a string of influential dance pop hits including four U.S Dance chart toppers which included the infectious "Don't Go." His longest running project, with singer Andy Bell, is Erasure, which has enjoyed almost 30 years of hits including "Oh L'amour," "Sometimes" and "Chains of Love." Vince Clark's DJ set begins at 11pm tonight at (le) Poisson Rouge. ($15/$20)
Sunday, 4 August
While Beck's benefit show at Celebrate Brooklyn at the Prospect Park Bandshell is sold out (tickets are about $80 + on Stubhub), he has a couple of new 12" vinyl records available from his website, the singles “I Won’t Be Long” & "Defriended." Celebrate Brooklyn was acclaimed as the best free concert series in Village Voice's 2012 'Best Of' issue.
'70s chart-toppers Mungo Jerry — their only US hit is the 1970 classic "In the Summertime" - headline tonight with San Franciscan glam-punkers Apache & garage rockers White Mystery (aka sister and brother redheads Miss Alex White and Francis Scott Key White) round off another great bill at one of New York's finest live music venues, Brooklyn Bowl.
Monday, 5 August
Australian band Cloud Control's latest single "Dojo Rising" is a lovely slice of mid-tempo guitar rock with indie & ambient Americana overtones. The band formed in 2007 after meeting at the rehearsals for a local Pirates of the Penzance production and are set to release their second album, "Dream Cave" this week. At The Mercury Lounge, ($10) Sunday at Glasslands. ($10/$12)
