Your weekend concert guide (Feb 6-9)
Be it '90s hip-hop, bluegrass, art pop, French house, Latin soul, or folk, there's something for everyone in this ecclectic group of acts performing in NYC this weekend
The world’s burning, so go see some music! This weekend, NYC hosts an eclectic bunch of acts. Prior to writing this, I was only familiar with a few of the artists listed. That said, there are a ton of musicians I discovered along the way. If you’re into bluegrass, art pop, house music, or Latin soul, I recommend stepping outside. Who knows? You might just find your next favorite band.
Thursday, February 6
Sicard Hollow, The Tumblers, 7 pm
The Sultan Room (234 Starr St, Bushwick)
Bluegrass! In NYC? Doesn’t happen every day. Also, I should clarify that this Nashville-based group calls themselves “psychedelic punk-grass rockers” so take that as you will. Sultan Room is a fantastic small-to-mid-sized venue.
Fievel is Glauque, 8 pm
Music Hall of Williamsburg (66 N 6th St, Williamsburg)
Jazzy art-pop. This group, composed of Brussels-based singer Ma Clément and New York-based pianist and bandleader Zach Phillips, released an album last October on Fat Possum Records. That’s the label that boasts an incredible roster featuring the likes of Armand Hammer, Courtney Marie Andrews, Dehd, and Joanna Sternberg. Lots of layers here, performed by an 8-piece band that performs the new album on a two-stop tour: tonight at Music Hall of Williamsburg and in LA two days later, so catch them while you can.
Friday, February 7
Bellaire, 8 pm
Warsaw (261 Driggs Ave, Greenpoint)
Funky house music from a French DJ. Bring cash for the perogies Warsaw sells throughout the night. I’ve seen a handful of European dance acts at this venue, and it’s always a great time.
GZA & Lettuce, 8 pm
Brooklyn Steel (319 Frost St, Greenpoint)
Not in the mood for dancing? Head down the street to Brooklyn Steel to see a 90s hip hop icon. GZA, founding member of the iconic Wu-Tang Clan, pairs up with funk/jam band Lettuce to perform his his 19995 classic album “Liquid Swords” in full.
Dua Saleh, 8:30 pm
Bowery Ballroom (6 Delancey St, Bowery)
You might recognize Sudanese-American actor and musician Dua Saleh from their role in the TV show Sex Education. Well, they recently released their debut album I SHOULD CALL THEM, a self-described “collection of R&B-infused electronic indie-pop songs,” and are on tour. That’s a mouthful of genres, but pretty accurately sums up the cohesive genre-bend you can expect to hear at Bowery Ballroom.
Karriem Riggins w/ J. Rocc, 10 pm
Nublu (151 Loisaida Ave, East Village)
Live drums + DJ set by two masters of their craft. Hip-hop/jazz producer & drummer Karriem Riggins is very much in the Robert Glasper school of music. He’s recorded and collaborated with Common, Slum Village, the Roots, Erykah Badu, Paul McCartney, Esperanza Spalding, and Madlib, to name a very select few. J. Rocc is one of the original turntablists, co-founder of the Beat Junkies, and also a close collaborator with producer Madlib. This is a late show, but sure to be a good one.
Saturday, February 8
Yasmin Williams, 6:30 pm
(le) Poisson Rouge (158 Bleecker St, Greenwich Village)
Yasmin Williams is a solo acoustic folk guitarist. The way she plays the guitar brings out so much from the instrument, you don’t miss lyrics or a band to be mesmerized.
Joe Bataan, 8 pm
Baby’s All Right (146 Broadway, Williamsburg)
Bataan’s nickname is “The King of Latin Soul.” He performed a few free shows over the summer, and in the tradition of continuing to give to this city, he headlines a 9-year anniversary show at Baby’s All Right.
Rubblebucket, 8 pm
Webster Hall (125 E 11th St, East Village)
Psychedelic pop. Rubblebucket has been around for quite some time, performing at Bonnaroo and Glastonbury festivals, collaborating with Arcade Fire, and making an appearance on Tiny Desk. Instagram clips of the tour have involved a lot of banana suits and flower costumes that sum up the feel good nature of this music.
Geordie Greep, 8 pm
Warsaw (261 Driggs Ave, Greenpoint)
I listed Geordie Greep a couple weeks ago, and he’s back (at a bigger venue too)! The former Black Midi frontman rocks. To repeat the quote my friend Newt gave me for the last time I mentioned him: “If you like: disgusting men, absurd metaphors, being annoyed at 25 year olds who are more talented than you, Brazilian sounds, Steely Dan’s Aja, shame, Japanese jazz funk and fusion… you'll probably find something in Geordie Greep’s music to enjoy.”
Sunday, February 9
Super Bowl Sunday! I don’t know much about football, apart from the Chiefs seem to be in the Super Bowl every year. What I do know is that Kendrick Lamar performs the half-time show this year, hot off winning two of the biggest awards at the Grammys last week: Record and Song of the Year.
Coming up later this month:
February 11: Jack White at King’s Theatre (Alternative Rock)
February 11: Joshua Crumbly at Bar LunÀtico (Indie)
February 13: Pedrito Martinez at BAM - for free! (Latin jazz)
February 16: Martha Wainwright at The Owl Music Parlor (Folk)
February 19: Bartees Strange at Bowery Ballroom (Indie Rock)
February 20: Willow Avalon at Bowery Ballroom (Americana)
February 20: MICHELLE at Music Hall of Williamsburg (Indie rock)
February 20: Bon Entendeur at Knockdown Center (French house)
February 20: Marc Ribo Quartet at Bar LunÀtico (Jazz)
February 21: Jason Isbell at Beacon Theatre (Americana)
February 22: Jordana at Bowery Ballroom (Indie)
February 22: Amanda Seales at Lincoln Center - for free! (Talk)
February 25: Bayker Blankenship at Mercury Lounge (Country)
February 26: Lesley Mok w/ Craig Taborn and Lester St. Louis at Bar Bayeux (Jazz)
February 27: Domino Kirke at The Owl Music Parlor (Indie)