As an alternative to listening to Christmas carols all week...

The Specific Heats bring their garage-psych sound and
their Thanksgiving dinner to Bruar Falls on Tuesday
because even poultry deserves its 15 minutes of fame.

Monday

Glad All Over! hosts a show at Bowery Electric featuring the (cheese-inspired?) heavy rock of Humboldt Fog and the crunchy-like-a-cracker psych-rock of Whooping Crane, with DJ Lupe Loop spinning the platters. Sounds delicious. Not sure how much it will cost, and no the show does not start at 6pm like it says on someone's MySpace calendar (more like 9pm, which is to say, 10pm).

Also on the agenda, DJ Knifefight spins all "pre-Beatles" rock-n-roll at Art Land Bar. Great music, convenient location, free pool all night, and no cover. It all starts at 10pm (which is to say, 9pm, at least the last time I was there).

I saw a webpage for a show this weekend which said that the show "starts at 9pm, doors at 12pm"*. Have we forgotten how time works, folks?

Tuesday

The Bowery Electric has another good show tonight featuring Organs, Love Pirates and Kelle Calco. Sorceress is probably not on the bill, unless perhaps the show was double-booked? That has been known to happen. Their show this weekend featured a comedian in between two of the bands Maybe this time there will be a contortionist or magician or human floor or something?

Did we mention that the Specific Heats are headlining at Bruar Falls? Not so sure about the other bands, but it's a free show, so check 'em out.

As always, Hot Dog! is at at Bar Matchless on Tuesdays. Featuring DJs spinning 50's and 60's R'n'B, Doowop, Gospel, Soul, Funk, Garage Rock, Punk, and more. No cover, 2-for-1 drinks all night, from 8 'till late. Oh, and it's our friend Tara's 30th birthday party, so you might be able to mooch some free cake.

Wednesday

Time once again for CopyCat at Otto's Shrunken Head. Not sure what they're covering this week, but for the low low price of $0 you get to catch The Bowery Boys and Sousalves. DJ Xerox spins cover songs all night. Oh, and there's free pumpkin pie "while supplies last" (you know it's the holidays when people start offering you dessert everywhere).

If you're looking for a DJ, have you ever come to the right night. DJ Reverend Vince spins Soul, Gospel and R&B at Savalas. Motor City Bar hosts its traditional Thanksgiving celebration called New York Night Train Wednesdays, a night of punk, rock, and other loud musical offerings. And of course there's Mr. Fine Wine at Botanica spinning his finest Soul grooves (you know, the ones on his records).

Thursday

It's Thanksgiving, so go hang with your family!

If your family happens to like going out and partying while listening to Punk Rock, Rockabilly and more (and that don't mean Christmas carols, folks) then may we suggest the No Thanks-Giving party at Bruar Falls with DJs Just Derek and Seanzi Dirtbag. That's where Mommy and I will be. As an alternative, Jonathan Toubin is DJing Thursday Night Thump this week at Enid's, where they have a wonderful apple pie (and some tasty beats no doubt).

Marcus

* By the way, 12pm is actually noon. Yeah, come on in nine hours early to have a "few" drinks before the show. Not sure if that was a little bit of stupidity or a huge heapin' pile of audacity...

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It's time to find out what you're made of.

The Choke begin a cross-country tour on Thursday.
Photo by "ndinneen".

So, you gonna let a little rain stop you from having fun? Everything's indoors now, no more pool parties or any of that Summery crap. So get out there! But not on Monday...

Monday

Spend the evening shining your shoes, matching up your socks, polishing your cell phone, or whatever. Just don't go out, 'cause that will be really boring. We got nuthin' for Monday.

Tuesday

Bring your cold-weather duds and matching socks to a great Underclass Revue at Bowery Electric. This week The Othermen, GeTSeT, and the The Dirty Shames will rock the place to its foundations (which is roughly where the stage is). DJ Joe Western spins the tunes between sets from the fortress above the stage. No requests or he may pour boiling oil on you.

Hot Dog! lights up Bar Matchless once again. Lots of new records being played now that everyone is back from vacation. 2-for-1 drinks, good bar food, from 8 'till late, no cover.

Wednesday

Weird Atlanta punks The Coathangers share the stage at Cake Shop with somewhat normal ex-Atlanta punks Ex-Humans and somewhat pronounceable local punks PRSMS. Over in Brooklyn, garage-rockers Two Tears open for Jemina Pearl at Bruar Falls.

As always you can chill out with Mr. Fine Wine as he spins classic soul music at Botanica or fire it up at Motor City Bar as the guest DJs of New York Night Train Wednesdays spin punk, garage, and all things earsplitting. No cover for either.

Thursday

Nouvellas headline a show at Bowery Electric which also features psych-rockers Revival Times. Richard Lloyd (of the band Television) headlines at Maxwell's. The Choke and Images are in for a surprise at the Slipper Room. Based on the one previous occasion on which I saw a band there, the sound is actually pretty good but the pole in the middle of the stage is annoying. Anyway, this is the first of The Choke's three shows in New York before they head off to San Diego for six months.

Oh, and there's the Jay Reatard/NoBunny show at Le Poisson Rouge. Almost forgot about that...

Lots of shows tonight, and lots of DJ night options too. There's Boogaloo Shampoo, a night of Soul music at Beauty Bar Brooklyn. DJs Mr. Robinson and DosPlatos spin 50s, 60s, and Soul music at Heathers. For something a little more different there is Thursday Thump, an evening of Punk, Glam, Psych rock at Enids. All three are free, so go to as many as you can!

Marcus

Still your #1 source for "thank you reliable hot dog".

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This Week's Specials

It's the hottest month of the year. Hell, it's probably the hottest week of the year right now. Get the feeling there's somethin' cooking, and it's you?

Now, it's easy to get lazy and hang out at home when it's hot enough outside to make your flask boil over. Resist that temptation... and please enjoy these other temptations:

Monday

Closed on Monday. GaragePunk religious holiday (the "Feast of the Passouter").

Tuesday

The Bowery Electric is quickly becoming one of my favorite venues. Their daily special is a primo three-course meal featuring tasty garage-rockers The Dirty Shames, old-fashioned rock-n-rollers Charlie and the Crybabies, and the punk/garage/rockabilly brew of LoveStruck. Starts at 9, $5 cover.

On the budget menu for the evening (meaning no cover and 2-for-1 drinks) we've got Hot Dog! at Bar Matchless. Different DJs every week spinning Garage Rock, Soul and R&B. Starts at 8, goes till late. Oh, and they have good bar food there too.

Wednesday

More great rock-n-roll on tap for tonight. If you're over in New Jersey or know how to get there you can catch the Electric Six from Detroit at Maxwell's. They're backed by faux-French rockers Les Sans Culottes. If that's not your thing, maybe Atlanta's Gringo Star will satisfy your palate? They're at the Mercury Lounge, and will be backed by local rockers Des Roar among others. Both shows are a bit pricey ($10 for Gringo Star, $15 for Electric Six), but surely it is worth it for top-shelf stuff like this?

If you're looking for a nightcap (or just somewhere to hang) there are plenty of DJ night options tonight. Juke Joint Howl, an evening of 40s, 50s and R&B with DJs Mike Mortician and Mike Decay, kicks into gear at Otto's Shrunken Head. On a (much) louder note, Motor City Bar hosts New York Night Train Wednesdays, a night of Punk and Garage Rock featuring guest DJs every week. All of 'em start at 10pm, and they're all free. And for something with a subtler bouquet. Mr. Fine Wine will bring his classic Soul sounds to Botanica.

Thursday

Try our Boogaloo Shampoo, a night of Soul music and dancing at Beauty Bar Brooklyn! Also check out the link to Beauty Bar Brooklyn ('cause I got it right for once). If your tastes run towards Punk, Glam and Psych rock instead, then may we recommend Thursday Thump at Enids. They're both no cover, so feel free to sample.

Music. You can't live without it. Music. It's like food, only louder.

Marcus

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Let's be honest, sleep is fuckin' awesome.

The picture above is amazingly similar to what I actually look like most Sunday mornings.

Sometimes I wonder why I try so hard to pitch these shows. It's music, right? Who doesn't like that? And if you didn't like this particular type of music (or want to see your band's name mentioned outside of your own MySpace page) then you probably wouldn't be reading this blog in the first place.

The only thing I can figure is that I'm trying to convince you to stay up late instead of going to sleep. Now that's important, because sleep is really tempting, I know. You lie down and slip into dreamland and then hours later you wake up feeling really good. It's like getting wasted except you wake up feeling really good. Cheaper too.

You know what? I can't win. Just stay home and sleep. What's that you say? The A/C is broken and it's 120 degrees in your apartment? Well then, all of the venues below feature cold drinks and (in most cases) working A/C! Even if you do sweat it will be in the presence of cute sweaty people of the opposite sex and/or same sex (whatever floats 'yer boat). So c'mon out!

Monday

Head on over to Bowery Electric Monday night to catch psych-rockers Whooping Crane and the last performance (for a "long time") by The Jadewalkers. The Jadewalkers ripped it up at Otto's last week, so if you missed 'em, or if you will miss 'em, this is your last chance to see them anytime soon. Oh, and the show is FREE, so unless you really desperately need to spend the evening de-humidifying your underwear or whatever, go go go!

Tuesday

There's a bill at the Trash Bar which gets awfully indie near the end, but Buzzcocks/Stiff Little Fingers pop-punk sound of GeTSeT ("at 8pm") and/or the acoustic blues sound of Jack Buf ("at 9pm") might just be up your alley. And nobody's complaining about the open PBR and well drink bar from 8-9 with admission!

Just like every other Tuesday, you could also check out Hot Dog! at Bar Matchless (8pm to late). No cover, 2-for-1 drinks, good food, and different DJs every week spinning Garage Rock, Soul and R&B. Oh, and you can play chess in back too. Just don't make any bets (I hear that some of those guys are real chess sharks).

Wednesday

The week gets a little busier on Wednesday. We've got Copycat at Otto's Shrunken Head once again this week. Little Black Egg (feat. members of The Rats) are doing a tribute to The Damned, Action Camp will perform (but they don't sound like The Damned) and DJ Xerox will spin cover songs (including covers of Damned songs?) I'm not sure if there's a theme this time or not. It's FREE though, so you can't lose!

Back in Brooklyn, Your 33 Black Angels headline at Bruar Falls. The bill is a little folk-y overall, but when these guys pull out the heavy guitar riffs and organ sounds (performed on a synth, admittedly) they sure do rock.

Also tonight, Mr. Fine Wine spins classic Soul downstairs at Botanica in the City and Motor City Bar hosts New York Night Train Wednesdays with special guest DJs spinning garage rock, punk, and who knows what else.

Thursday

Come visit lovely Brooklyn, New York! Tour our historic apartments and ancient ruins (which are also apartments)! Enjoy the local nightlife! Mingle with the locals at Boogaloo Shampoo, a night of Soul music at Beauty Bar Brooklyn! Experience Thursday Thump, a night of Punk, Glam and Psych rock at Enids! It's the perfect vacation: a free one! (No cover for either DJ night).

So many ways to get censored on this theme. Notice that we are not going that way. All right?

Marcus

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News from Around Town

Sweden's Stupidity dumb down Brooklyn tonight
Market Hotel not shut down - Despite Friday's show of NYPD at ToddP-favored venue Market Hotel, the venue was not actually shut down (see Gothamist). That didn't stop the show on Friday from being cancelled, leaving Mississippi's Bass Drum of Death among others out of a gig.

Subway Surfers in today's AM New York -- Story in everyone's favorite News-Lite about Jersey City's outdoor music series (near a PATH entrance) has a pic of the Subway Surfers featuring Fuzzco. On Page 34! (PDF link at AM NY)

Biweekly "Swimsuit Edition" DJ night at Savalas with Andrea moves temporarily to every other Wednesday. Next "edition" - next week.

Action tonight--

Shows:
Sweden's Stupidity hit town supported by Jadewalkers & Siberians @ Don Pedro. $?

Daddy Long Legs w/ DJs Billy & Miriam of Norton @ Bowery Electric $8.

Heavier "psych" night at Glasslands with Heavy Hands and more. $?

Mr Fine Wine covers Toubin's regular Thursday night at the new Beauty Bar in Brooklyn. FREE.

DJ 'Fitz' plays weird psych-ish stuff at Enid's in Greenpoint. FREE.

Hunx & his Punx (featuring Justin "Nobunny") debut in NYC with a weird party at a Karaoke bar in Chinatown! Gig is on the 2nd floor at 59 Canal St so make sure to yell "hold that door" ! $5.

SHIMMY

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It's Memorial Day. Go dance with our troops.

Fleet week ends today. Last chance to join the mile deep club! Just find 'yerself a cute submarine commander and be sure to pack yer penicillin...

Monday

There's a free party tonight at The Bowery Electric featuring the The Choke's punked-up garage and soul and the ballsy rock-n-roll of Tall Black Girls. It looks like no-cover Mondays are gonna be a weekly thing at the Bowery Electric. Nice!

Over in Brooklyn, Captain Heartlock and Professor Z will be spinning Garage and Soul at the Monday Night Burlesque at Public Assembly. No cover. Admission is $5.

Tuesday

Got the "back to work" blues? A night of Soul, Funk and Latin music will cheer ya' up. It's called Lost & Found and it's at Savalas. Or burn off all those BBQ calories with Hot Dog! at Bar Matchless. No cover, 2-for-1 drinks and R&B, Garage Rock, Soul and 60s sounds. Both shows are in Brooklyn, both now 100% sailor-free!

Wednesday

Manhattan is the place to be on Wednesday. New York Night Train and their weekly guest DJs will spin Punk, Garage Rock, and who knows what else at Motor City Bar. Not to be outdone, Mr. Fine Wine of WMFU fame (see, he has fame!) will spin Soul music at his weekly gig at Botanica.

Thursday

If you're suffering from sailor withdrawl then have I got the thing for you: a Rocks Off Concert Cruise! This month featuring the sea-shakin' garage-pop of The Fleshtones and the boat-rockin' dance-soul of Nouvellas (which I believe is French for "there's no 'the' in our name dammit").

For land-based dancing fun check out Boogaloo Shampoo (the "Soul dance galore") at Beauty Bar NYC, or head on over to Thursday Night Thump at Enids for a night of punk, glam and psych rock. There may be something going on at the new Beauty Bar Brooklyn too...

Is it just me or does that "spinach" look more like something he should be putting in his pipe?

Marcus

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Don't be a chicken!

Everyone's talking about how much it sucks to be unemployed these days. Why doesn't anyone talk about how much it sucks to be employed? Cost-cutting is all the rage, so now if you have a job you're doing the work of two people, if you don't want to get splinters you have to bring your own pencils from home, and the water cooler takes VISA. But the worst part is that your co-workers are so boring! It's like they sit at home every night watching "Classic American Idol Redux: The Third Season". It is up to you to give your workplace a pulse, folks, so read on!

Oh, and for those of you who are unemployed, some of this shit is free, so you read on too.

Monday

So there's this new-ish place called Bowery Electric in Manhattan which has hosted some great shows lately, and they're doing it again tonight. The Johns weave their super-danceable sound from threads of pop, punk, garage, and indie rock, while the high-energy Philly soul of The Shalitas is as catchy as it comes. Orders from the CEO: you will dance.

If ya' just can't get to Manhattan tonight, then maybe you want to check out Captain Heartlock and Professor Z as they spin Garage and Soul at the Monday Night Burlesque at Public Assembly. Some tremendously interesting dancing will happen there too.

Tuesday

And now, a show for the connoisseurs of deep fried oreos and lard-fried tacos (Charles, I'm lookin' at you). Southern Culture on the Skids are the aural equivalent of chocolate-covered bacon, while the surf-rockin luchadores of Los Straightjackets rumble and roll with the best of 'em (check out their cover of "Smells Like Teen Spirit"). They'll be at the Bowery Ballroom which sure sounds like an awfully chic fancy-pants venue. Better wear yer church duds.

In Brooklyn on Tuesday there will be a very special Hot Dog! at Bar Matchless. It's our good friend DJ Jumpy's birthday, so he gets unpaid leave. Also features no cover, 2-for-1 drinks and special guest DJs (or so we hear). Or if you prefer Soul, Funk, and Latin music then check out Lost & Found at Savalas. Also no cover (we think).

Wednesday

Hey, ever heard of the Dead Boys or Rocket From The Tombs? 'Cause that Cheetah Chrome guy who played guitar for them is doin' a show at Maxwells tonight with the Blackhearts (yes, those Blackhearts), the soul-flavored rock and roll of Sister Anne, and the badass 60's rock sounds of Another Saturday Night. Rumor has it the show will rock.

For something a little more mellow, check out the show at K&M featuring the band still known as Daddy Long Legs, Alana Amram and the Rough Gems, and DJ Jungle Jim. That's a free show there, folks.

Also on the agenda this week, we've got Juke Joint Howl at Otto's Shrunken Head with DJs Mike Mortician and Mike Decay spinning Blues and 40s and 50s R&B, New York Night Train and their weekly guest DJs spinning Punk and Garage rock at the Motor City Bar, and Mr. Fine Wine returns to spin Soul music at his weekly gig at Botanica. All three are free.

Thursday

Are ya' tired yet? Well, there are no shows on the calendar for tonight but you can move your feet at the Soul dance galore called Boogaloo Shampoo at Beauty Bar, dance to garage, surf and rockabilly music at Swimsuit Edition at Savalas, or party with punk, glam and psych rock at the Thursday Night Thump at Enids. Dance smarter, not harder!

Edit: though it looks as though Mr. Chrome and the Blackhearts will be at Club Europa right here in Greenpoint. Nice!

I'd rather be employed! Please take a look at my resume.

Marcus

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