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The Joy Formidable, Martha Wainwright and Aimee Mann Play New York

By Daniel Jumpertz | April 17, 2013 7:52am

If you want to listen to the music while you read, click here for my Spotify playlist featuring the bands and artists mentioned in this article.

Wednesday, April 17
Since the release of Martha Wainwright's last studio album, 2008's "I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too", she has given birth to a son and lost her mother, the singer Kate McGarrigle. Her most recent album "Come Home To Mama", recorded at Sean Lennon's home studio in New York City, celebrates the cycle of life. Joining her tonight at City Winery are special guests Doveman (Thomas Bartlett), Lucy Wainwright Roche and Kate Pierson (B52's). Doors at 6 p.m.

Thursday, April 18
Phosphorescent is the project of Athens, Georgia's Matthew Houck. Houck's first release was in the Hipolit project, which toured Europe and earned him glowing comparisons to Bob Dylan and Will Oldham in the UK press. The first Phosphorescent release was 2003's "A Hundred Times or More". He released an acclaimed tribute to Willie Nelson — "To Willie," in 2009 — and has been garnering rave reviews for his most recent album "Muchacho," with the Consequence Of Sound music blog calling it "a well balanced listen, one that finds Houck adding new hues to old canvases and striking gold at every turn." At The Bowery Ballroom.

Also tonight: Talib Kweli stars in a very special edition of Bowl Train. Brooklyn-bred Kweli's music has been able to educate and entertain simultaneously, with both Jay-Z and 50 Cent naming Kweli as one of their favorite rappers. His next album "Prison Of Concious' is due next month, the 10th in a career that stretches back to the mid-'90s and his first group Black Star with Mos Def. At Brooklyn Bowl.

And: Welsh band The Joy Formidable bring their effervescent guitar indie rock to Webster Hall Thursday night.

Friday, April 19
Shuggie Otis is a gifted, reclusive musician who first hit the charts as a guitarist in his father's (Johnny Otis) band on the 1969 R&B hit "Country Girl." Signing with CBS records soon after, Otis released a string of soulful albums, most notably "Freedom Flight" in 1971. "Freedom Flight" contained the original version of "Strawberry Letter 23" — later a top-five pop hit for The Brothers Johnson. He continues to be revered through musical circles, as evidenced by his 2009 performance with Mos Def in Los Angeles At the Music Hall of Williamsburg, also Thursday at B.B. King Blues Club and Grill.

Also tonight: Kinski lays down dense waves of distortion and pummelling drums into a strangely ambient wall of sound. Their most recent album "Cosy Moments" is the result of guitarist Chris Martin, the band’s songwriter, spending the last few years figuring out where to go next musically. “We wanted to make something poppier and more direct,” Martin said. “That was the kind of music I wanted to hear then and that's what we tried to do. I was really sick of hearing people step on wah wah pedals and solo over psych rock. There were so many people doing that. Including us. We've always had more poppy, songish elements. But we just took it further this time.” With Ancient Sky and Landing at Death By Audio.

And: Influential UK post-punk veterans Killing Joke play Irving Plaza behind the release of their acclaimed 15th studio album "MMXII." Diana Krall plays the Beacon Theatre Friday night as part of her nostalgic "Glad Rag Doll" World tour.

Saturday, April 20
Today, independent record stores around the city are celebrating annual Record Store Day with special live music events and exclusive vinyl releases.

From her '80s hit “Voices Carry” (with Til Tuesday) to the Oscar-nominated “Save Me” (from the film Magnolia), L.A.-based singer and guitarist Aimee Mann has always been known for her clever takes on emotional sabotage and self-destruction. Her most recent album, 2012's "Charmer," featured a guest appearance by The Shins frontman James Mercer, who duets with Mann on the track "Living a Lie."  She's in town with Ted Leo in support. At Webster Hall.

Also tonight: The masked Liverpudlians that make up Clinic have crafted a sound that meshes rhythmic post-punk, jazz experimentalism and raw psych rock capped off by a sneering vocal. Doors at 7 p.m. Later catch Brazilian DJ Amon Tobin behind the decks. At Le Poisson Rouge. Doors 11 p.m.

Sunday, April 21
New York City metal legends Anthrax star in the Metal Alliance Tour tonight, performing their 1987 classic album "Among The Living" in it's entirety. Since their formation in 1981, Anthrax has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide. Jon Donais of the band Shadows Fall recently replaced lead guitarist Rob Caggiano in the band. At Irving Plaza (also Saturday).

Monday, April 22
Maceo Parker has graced the stage and studio with many legends. He's best known for his work with James Brown in the '60s, as well as Parliament-Funkadelic in the '70s. On the Blue Note Jazz Club website, Parker is described as the "the living, breathing pulse that connects the history of funk in one golden thread." At Blue Note.

Tuesday, April 23
L.A. band The Warlocks play acid-drenched rock-n-roll that incorporates long fuzzy jams and sweet melodies. They're road testing new tracks set to appear on their forthcoming (2014) sixth album. Late show at the Mercury Lounge.