Here is your Spotify playlist so you can check out the bands before plunking down your hard-earned dollars on a show.
Wednesday, Aug. 21
The Brooklyn Seaside Summer Concert Series wraps up for the season when Chicago brings their horn section to Coney Island. The band famously made the transition from progressive to soft rock in the '70s, so I would check out the show if you can enjoy "25 or 6 to 4" or "If You Leave Me Now" in equal measure.
Also playing: Monogold brings their dreamy, reverb-heavy indie pop sound to Pianos.
Thursday, Aug. 22
Legendary '80s band The Cult, which combines sounds like post-punk, Goth, metal and Jim Morrison-inspired vocals, are back in the studio recording a new album slated for release in 2014. Check them out at Roseland Ballroom where they will perform their 1987 album "Electric" in full.
Also playing: Parliament-Funkadelic is still going strong and bringing their wild costumes and funk-soul-rock sound to the Beekman Beer Garden Beach Club at the South Street Seaport.
Friday, Aug. 23
Black Kids garnered a lot of attention a few years back with the dancey, Cure-ish song "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance." They are currently working on their sophomore full-length album, which is expected to come out in the spring of 2014. They are at Mercury Lounge with Junior Prom. They are playing a second show at Glasslands in Williamsburg on Saturday.
Saturday, Aug. 24
The Afro Punk Festival returns to Fort Greene's Commodore Barry Park. This year's lineup includes Living Colour, ?uestlove, Mykki Blanco, Saul Williams, Theophilus London, Big Freedia and Death. The festival runs Saturday and Sunday.
Also playing: San Francisco-based indie dream pop band Geographer is at the Bowery Ballroom.
Sunday, Aug. 25
Goodie Mob was one of the original southern hip-hop groups to put the Atlanta music scene on the map, paving the way for Outkast, among others. The band, which also helped launch the career Cee Lo Green, has been recording its first album featuring Cee Lo in 14 years. Check them out at Brooklyn Bowl, where it is hard to imagine anyone will actually be bowling while they perform.
Also playing: Dan Bern combines an anti-folk sound with witty, intelligent lyrics and vocals that do not sound unlike Bob Dylan. Check him out at City Winery.
Monday, Aug. 26
Montreal's Braids creates atmospheric post-rock. Their new album "Flourish // Perish," which was released on Aug. 20, is more electronic-based, with complex tempos underlying layered soundscapes in the mix. If any of this sound intriguing, check them out at Glasslands.
Tuesday, Aug. 27
One of the original garage rock revivalists, The Detroit Cobras give an anarchic proto-punk sound to their rock 'n' roll covers. In other words, this is great music to listen to on a boat, when they play the Rocks Off Concert Cruise Series.
