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It’s really hard for me to write this today.  I haven’t been in the best of moods since Rick Santorum decided to drop out of the race.  It’s just so fresh.  The initial shock has worn off, yes, but it’s a pretty deep cut, and I’m just starting to feel it.  So yeah, I apologize in advance if I’m not my usual chipper self.  I’m sure most of you can relate.  Oh well.  Time to get a head start on #Santorum2016.  Maybe some shows will make me feel better until then…

This week’s MOST BUZZED SHOW is definitely Santorum-approved: Mastadon, Opeth and Ghost: TONIGHT at the Roseland Ballroom.  Apologies to all you Brooklyn metal-heads; this one is sold out.

The (recently) late great John Chamberlain’s abstract expressionist sculpture exhibit Choices has been on display since February at the Guggenheim.  I haven’t had the chance to check it out yet, but I’m kind of glad I haven’t because Friday night is going to be the best time to see it.  This week’s EDITOR’S PICK is the first night of a three-part live music and art series at the Guggenheim, Divine Ricochet, which is inspired by Chamberlain’s 1991 sculpture.  Nothing against Zola Jesus or Cold Cave, who play the other two nights of the series: this is the night to see this exhibit.  Grouper AND Juliana Barwick are on hand for what promises to be a pair of captivating sets that are well-suited for this kind of event.

“Divine Ricochet takes its thematic cue from the poetic fusion, chaotic riffing, explosive color and sublime assemblage that characterized Chamberlain’s work.”

I can think of few musicians whose work better accompanies the work of John Chamberlain than Grouper.  She’s no stranger to experimental performances; just last year she composed a live score for Weston Currie’s visually stunning feature film, The Perception of Moving Targets.   And hey, Barwick’s ambient folk is nothing to scoff at either.

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Osekre & the Lucky Bastards - Photo by Chris Mather

This past weekend was an absolutely unreal weekend for music, fueled by our very own Aputumpu music festival.  I just want to say thanks to everyone who was able to make it out.  If you did, maybe we got to chat for a bit in between sets; I was there three of the four nights.

I had to miss Japanther on Sunday.  Sorry guys.  Word to the wise… don’t ever eat a pancake wrap for brunch.  Sure, an omelet with sausage, ham, bacon and pepper jack cheese wrapped in a buttermilk pancake, doused in syrup SOUNDS awesome (and to be fair, it TASTED awesome), but it doesn’t mix too well with a stomach that just got done processing a lot of PBR and vodka clubs.  I’ll spare you guys the details.  But hey, I did manage to make it out to the other nights.  SOME HIGHLIGHTS:

Osekre and the Lucky Bastards, who booked Aputumpu, stole the show Thursday night at Shea. My man Osekre knows how to get a crowd pumped up, no doubt.

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The Black Keys

I gotta be honest.

The “Most Blogged About Shows” this week seems to be a bit… thin.  That doesn’t mean there aren’t some really good options for you, if you happen to be “hangin’ round these parts” this week.  But if you’re like a lot of the bands we normally feature here… you WON’T be “hangin’ round these parts” this week.  You’ll be down in Austin for SXSW.  Oh, and my usage of “hangin’ round these parts” in a paragraph about Austin, Texas, is purely coincidental.  I assure you.

Anyway, I digress.  I will be here for the week.  And I’ve got some shows that will make you and I both feel A LITTLE better about being in Brooklyn, while everyone else sweats their asses off at “south by.”

Our most blogged about show this week is SOLD OUT (as is GENERALLY the case), and it’s a big one – The Black Keys and Arctic Monkeys at Madison Square Garden.  It’s kind of crazy how HUGE The Black Keys have gotten, but I guess it makes sense; they’re talented and have a pretty “inoffensive” sound.  I gotta be honest.  Again.  I’ve never personally been able to get into either of these bands, but hey, if you got a ticket, enjoy.

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Aputumpu Flyer

Platinum Badge: $1395

Gold Badge: $1150

Interactive Badge: $950

Music Badge: $750

Aputumpu 4 Day Festival Pass… Priceless.

Alright.  Maybe not PRICELESS, but honestly, who has the money to burn on one of the above SXSW badges – and that’s not even accounting for travel and hotel?  Especially when you’ve got an amazing music festival going on in your own backyard, the following weekend, for the LOW COST of $30?  That’s right, THREE – ZERO DOLLARS for FOUR DAYS of music.

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The Roots

This week’s edition of “Most Blogged About Shows” falls on a leap day.  Much has changed since the last leap day.

On February 29, 2008:

-      George W. Bush was in the White House.

-      “Road margaritas” were readily available from Turkey’s Nest on Bedford Ave.

-      The domestication of dogs continued, unabated.

-      Zucotti Park was just some concrete slab.

-      Chillwave was nothing more than a twinkle in Ernest Greene’s eye

What was our MOST BUZZED artist, The Roots, doing in 2008?

Why, they embarrassingly cut a single with FALL OUT BOY lead singer Patrick Stump!  Sorry guys, we didn’t forget about that (even if you tried to make us by cutting it from the LP.)  Don’t let that dissuade you from seeing them on Tuesday at the Apollo Theater.  One thing has NOT changed; The Roots are an INCREDIBLE live act and one of the best hip-hop acts of all time.  Don’t miss out.

My personal CAN’T MISS shows this week are Cults, Writer and Mrs. Magician on Friday night over at Maxwell’s, and Tennis and Hospitality, Monday night at Music Hall of Williamsburg.  I’m all about the female-fronted acts this week.

If you can’t make it all the way out to Maxwell’s on Friday, Matthew Dear, Blondes and Helado Negro bring their electronic stylings to Bowery Ballroom.  Don’t end the night there – hop on the M for the after-party over at Glasslands, which features a DJ set by Dabrye.

Speaking of Glasslands, they have an absurdly good hip-hop show this weekend with Oakland’s own Main Attrakionz, with BBU, Greedhead’s Big Baby Gandhi and Beans of Antipop Consortium.  Also at Glasslands, shoegaze-revivalists Widowspeak front a Captured Tracks showcase Saturday night, with Mac DeMarco and Quilt supporting.

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Sharon Van Etten

It was the last day of the school year; third grade, I believe.  I sat at my desk chewing the eraser off of my No. 2 pencil in anticipation of the two months of freedom, which lay ahead.  I obsessively cleaned my over-sized tortoise shell glasses with the bottom of my t-shirt.  The clock ticked… slowly.  Finally,  the bell rang, and FLASH, I was off.  I sprinted down the hallway exuberantly.  The strobe LED lights from my LA Gears reflected off the waxed linoleum floor, until they hit the black tar pavement of my elementary school’s playground.

Before I could go home for a summer of splashing around in the town pool and watching marathons of The Adventures of Pete and Pete, all day, on Nickelodeon; I would hang around the playground for the school carnival.  It was an annual tradition on the final day of the year.  I would eat cotton candy.  I would ride the scrambler until I threw up.  I would play tilted carnival games, with dreams of shoving a giant stuffed neon animal into my mom’s station wagon in my head.

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Aputumpu Festival Poster

Freewilliamsburg is pleased to team with My Social List and Aputumpu to bring you the Aputumpu Festival.  The festival takes place from March 22-25 at Shea Stadium, Public Assembly, Cameo Gallery and (le) poisson rouge. (more…)

This week we’ve got another special edition of TMBASTW!  On Friday, My Social List, the guys behind this column, are holding our first show at Shea Stadium in Bushwick. The show is headlined by Freewilliamsburg favorite Ava Luna and supported by Total Slacker, Caged Animals & Osekre and the Lucky Bastards.   In addition to the great bands, we are sponsoring an open PBR bar from 8:30-9:30.  The whole thing will only set you back $8.

Ava Luna, Total Slacker, Caged Animals & Osekre and the Lucky Bastards

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Dive

The holidays are over, and so is the live-music dead zone that is the week between Christmas and New Year’s. It’s always nice to start these most-blogged-about-shows posts with something free, so it’s my pleasure to present to you “Live From Tribeca,” tomorrow night at the Tribeca Grand, with sets by Dive and DJs The Horrors and Ilirjana.

There are some other good opportunities to check out buzz bands in the next seven days, as well.  King Krule is playing Mercury Lounge next Wednesday.  The same night, Buraka Som Sistema and Brenmar are playing Bowery Ballroom.  Also, don’t miss Keepway’s record-release show at Glasslands Gallery on Tuesday with Lakutis, Big Baby Ghandi, Dracula’s Dick (great name!) and a Das Racist DJ set.

Finally, for those looking for something more tried and true, there’s the Indelible Festival at Highline Ballroom – a tribute to Gil Scott-Heron, Gordon Parks & Jimmy Scott.   The show is TONIGHT and has an all-star lineup with Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def), Jimmy Scott, Questlove, Robert Glasper, Bilal, Cecil Taylor, Gary Bartz and Derrick Hodge.

On to the top 9* shows for the next 7 days…

10. Steve Earle @ City Winery w/ Allison Moorer
Monday, January 9th at 8:00pm – 21+, $45 – $65 -> tickets

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Lee Fields

Next Saturday is New Years Eve and My Social List is happy to partner with Freewilliamsburg to bring you a full list of shows around the city. From Manhattan to Buswhick and house to punk if you can’t find something fun to do on this list, you are probably dead.

10PM:  Lee Fields & The Expressions and Sugar Pie DeSanto @ The Bell House -> $45, tickets

8PM:  Araabmuzik, Balam Acab, Light Asylum, Laurel Halo, Run DMT @ 285 Kent -> $20, tickets

9PM:  Nosaj Thing, EL TOPO, Archie Pelago, DJ Ilirjana @ Glasslangs Gallery -> $35, tickets

• One hour vodka open bar
• Champagne Toast at Midnight

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