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This Week's Best Shows and a Spotify Playlist of the Bands

By Daniel Jumpertz | February 6, 2014 8:07am
 Twelve essential concert experiences in New York City between Feb. 6 and 12.
Gigs of the week Thursday, Feb. 6
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NEW YORK — After the madness of the Super Bowl, it feels like business as usual on the live music scene. This week, some of the best on offer include million-selling UK rockers Arctic Monkeys, original Boston post-punks Mission of Burma, Beatles revivalists Bambi Kino, soul queen Sharon Jones and electronic and DJ dance floor enchanters Skrillex.



Thursday, Feb. 6
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings perform to support the recent release of their fifth album since 2002. Originally scheduled for mid-2013, "Give the People What They Want" was delayed due to the cancer diagnosis of singer Jones. According to Under The Radar blog, the album is "as genuine, exciting and downright fun as their very best work… Jones solidifying her place in the pantheon of soul legends." At the Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side.

Friday, Feb. 7
+/- {PlusMinus} bring their harmony-laced indietronic grooves to the Lower East Side's Mercury Lounge tonight, celebrating the launch of their album "Jumping the Tracks." Formed in 2001 by Versus members James Baluyut and Patrick Ramos, "Jumping the Tracks" is PlusMinus's first album in more than five years.

Originally together just four years, from 1979-83, Mission of Burma re-formed in 2002 for a handful of shows and haven't been able to stop. Their fifth album "Unsound" is "as rough, ragged and wracked as they've ever been" (The Fly). At The Bell House in Gowanus.

Northampton, Massachusett's Speedy Ortiz are celebrating the release of a new EP "Real Hair" tonight at Greenpoint's Brooklyn Night Bazaar. Tomorrow night catch Brooklyn's Crystal Stilts.

Saturday, Feb. 8
Precocious chart toppers in the UK, indie rockers the Arctic Monkeys' most recent album "AM" has seen them break through in a huge way internationally — reaching the top 10 in Japan and US and No. 1 in the UK, Australia and across Europe. The album was acclaimed as a "masterpiece" by UK music magazine NME and it is certainly the finest record in their discography — deeper and grimier than anything else they've done, more groove orientated with better songs all round. Highlights include the slow glam jams of "Do I Wanna Know?" and "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?" while "I Wanna Be Yours" cleverly recycles poetry from UK's punk poet John Cooper Clarke into a touching rock-tinged ballad and perfect album closer. With Deerhunter at Midtown's Madison Square Garden.

Darkside is a collaboration between guitarist Dave Harrington and electronic producer Nicolas Jaar. Their debut album, 2013's "Psychic," featured in many year end best-ofs, lauded for it's "meticulous and luscious" (The Quietus) sound. At Midtown's Terminal 5.

Bambi Kino first got together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Beatles concerts in Hamburg, Germany. Named after the venue where The Beatles first played in Hamburg, the band capture the energy and sound of the fab four. Featuring members of Nada Surf, Cat Power, Maplewood and Guided By Voices. At Union Hall in Brooklyn.

Sunday, Feb. 9
This afternoon at MoMA PS1 in Long Island City, Queens, catch the book launch of "Genesis Breyer P. Orridge,"  who is a longtime proponent of merging of art and life, and fronted the pioneering industrial band Throbbing Gristle between 1975 and 1981. The event culminates with two live performances by Starred and Genesis' most current and legendary group Psychic TV / PTV3, accompanied by visuals from Jeanne Angel and Sam Zimmerman.

Monday, Feb. 10
Young digital dubstep legend Skrillex is touring the world, delivering a series of "Takeovers" in San Francisco, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Brooklyn. For his Brooklyn shows, this means five consecutive high energy performances beginning tonight at Brooklyn Bowl and ending on Valentine's Day at a secret warehouse location in Brooklyn. More details and tickets at www.skrillex.com.

Tuesday, Feb. 11
By combining Black Sabbath riffs, dreamy guitar fuzz and singer Jason Simon's high-pitched vocals, Dead Meadow have been able to unite psychedelic pop and stoner-rock fans. Their most recent album "Warble Womb" was described by All Music Guide as showing a "band growing into its sound and mellowing nicely without sacrificing any of its radiance by exploring less extreme territories." With The Black Cadillacs and Mike Wexler at the Lower East Side's Bowery Ballroom.

Wednesday, Feb. 12
Country, folk, blues — Steve Earle is influenced by most Americana. A noted live performer, he always delivers his performances with his gutsy interpretations. He continues his February residency (every Wednesday night) at City Winery in TriBeCa.