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, 14 August 2013
Adventurous Brooklyn-based hip hop producer El-P (originally El Producto) plays Webster Hall. His most recent album and project is titled "Run the Jewels" is a collaboration with rapper Killer Mike. The acclaimed album has been described by Consequence Of Sound blog as "the very synthesis of El-P and Mike’s shared admiration and cohesive world views, an effort of the purest collaboration and mutual understanding. Now, let your heart fill with love and bang your damn head up and down."
"Start Livin", the follow-up to Donavon Frankenreiter's 2010 album "Glow", is a nine-track selection of folk-infused songs with all the intimacy of an impromptu back-porch performance. At Brooklyn Bowl.
Thursday, 15 August 2013
After the Go-Gos and Tom Tom Club washout, fans of 80s will have their fingers crossed when Huey Lewis And The News play the Seaside Summer Concert Series at Coney Island. Discover if it's still hip to be square.
Friday, 16 August 2013
Adam and the Ants, led by the dandy highwayman Stuart Goddard, were one of the first post punk bands to explode on the pop charts internationally. On their first big hit, 1980's "Antmusic" they implored us to "unplug the jukebox" and "try another flavor, Antmusic". It wasn't until 1982 that Adam Ant broke through in the US with the rollicking Goody Two Shoes - having by this time discarded his accomplished backing band The Ants. His latest album "Adam Ant Is the Blueblack Hussar in Marrying the Gunner's Daughter" has just been released, returning him to the charts in the UK, after many years in the wilderness. Also Saturday at Irving Plaza.
Best known for their appearance in the 1994 film "The Crow", LA shoe gaze pioneers Medicine have recently reformed following renewed interest in their shimmering, guitar heavy sounds. Their new album “To the Happy Few” is being released on Brooklyn label Captured Tracks, as are previously out-of-print albums, “Shot Forth Self Living” (1992) , “The Buried Life” (1993) and “Her Highness” (1995). At Music Hall Of Williamsburg.
Saturday, 17 August 2013
There's a big party to celebrate Madonna's 55th birthday at Brooklyn Bowl. If you love the Material Girl head for the house filled with die-hard, fun-loving Madonna fans. Participants are encouraged to dress up and there are prizes for crowd favorites. Featuring Tammy Faye Starlite, Amber Martin (Mattachine), Lena Hall (The Deafening, Kinky Boots), Brian Charles Rooney, Shannon Conley (Lez Zeppelin) and many more.
Summerstage presents a strong double bill starring Twin Shadow (George Lewis Jr) and Autre Ne Veut (Arthur Ashin). Both write and play alternative pop and R&B with a refreshingly heartfelt passion.
Sunday, 18 August
Described by his former bandmate Eric Clapton as the greatest guitarist in the world, English guitar legend Albert Lee plays the intimate Iridium in a run of shows beginning Friday through Monday. Lee has played with Emmylou Harris, Clapton, The Crickets, Rodney Crowell, The Everly Brothers, and is celebrating his 70th birthday next year with a big bash in London on March 1, 2014.
Tuesday, 20 August
Brooklyn-based ambient songstress Julianna Barwick is holding the release show for her new record "Nepenthe" at the beautiful Judson Memorial Church, Washington Square Park, Greenwich Village. "Nepenthe" was recorded in Iceland with Alex Somers (Sigur Ros) and was inspired by the majestic Icelandic landscape. Barwick's heavenly choral arrangements are influenced by her childhood singing in the churches of Missouri and Oklahoma.
