This Week's Nostalgia (5/28-6/3)

tUnE-yArDs

by Trista Hou (Bingshu Hou)

You might not be familiar with tUnE-yArDs--but I want to seize my right of event listing to introduce her 2011 album w h o k i l l, which was named best new music by Pitchfork (and one of FN's favorite albums of '11). tUnE-yArDs is the music project of Merrill Garbus, and it is hard for me to define her music as a specific genre, mostly because it's a hectic mix of acoustic folk, R&B, funk and Latin-pop. She will be headlining Terminal 5 on June 2, for which tickets are still available.

With the annual Blue Note Jazz Festival approaching, I recently picked up some jazz albums to adjust myself in the mood of the jazz season. Ravi Coltrane, who unlike legendary saxophonist John Coltrane (Ravi's father), plays a style that focuses more on post-bop. Find him at Birdland tonight if you are curious about his sound, and whether or not it will reflect something of his iconic father.

"All the other kids with the pumped up kicks, you better run, better run, outrun my gun." You can't avoid hearing these lyrics everywhere -- be it at Starbucks, restaurants, clothing stores or even in Chinese supermarkets. Foster The People's "Pumped Up Kicks" has penetrated our lives without notice. I was at Lollapalooza last year and clearly remember they were just a small band playing at 3 p.m. on a small stage--but now tickets for their gigs sell out in a flash. They will play twice this week: Tuesday and Wednesday at Rumsey Playfield (both sold out), part of Central Park SummerStage. Openers The Kooks are also worth getting there early for. Alternatives to get into the venue? Please consult craigslist, stubhub or your dear scalper friends.

Here are the rest of the week's shows in New York City...

Monday, May 28

The Babies @ K&K Super Buffet in February

The Babies @ Brooklyn Bowl
Talib Kweli @ Le Poisson Rouge
Afrika Bambaataa @ Highline Ballroom
Matt Hartke @The Mercury Lounge

Tuesday, May 29

Off! @ Terminal 5 last year

Off!+Cerebral Ballzy+The Coathangers @Bowery Ballroom
Ravi Coltrane @Birdland
Dustin Wong @ Zebulon
Foster the People+The Kooks @Rumsey Playfield
Il Divo @Beacon Theatre
Velta+The Spanish Channel+Alexander Howard @The Mercury Lounge
No Glow+Night Shining+Gracie+Beca @The Glasslands Gallery

Wednesday, May 30

The Crystal Ark

The Crystal Ark+Avan Lava+Kim Ann Foxman @Music Hall of Williamsburg
Foster the People+The Kooks@Rumsey Playfield
Galactic @Brooklyn Bowl
Il Divo @Beacon Theatre
The City Streets+Ballroom Jacks @Knitting Factory Brooklyn
Parlovr+Mainland+We Run @The Glasslands Gallery
Great Lake Swimmers @Bowery Ballroom
I Break Horses+Field Mouse,The Orion Experience @The Mercury Lounge

Thursday, May 31

Thurston Moore @ ATP in March

Thurston Moore @ Roulette
Dopplereffeckt+Solvent+Basteroid @Santos' Party House
Lukas Ligeti @The Stone
Il Divo @Beacon Theatre
The Senate @Knitting Factory Brooklyn
Joe Pug+David Wax Museum @Bowery Ballroom
The Soft Moon+Cosmetics+Black Marble @Music Hall of Williamsburg
Regina Spektor @(Le) Poisson Rouge
The Sheepdogs+Young Rival @The Mercury Lounge
Galactic @Brooklyn Bowl

Friday, June 1

tUnE-yArDs @ Bowery Ballroom last year

tUnE-yArDs+Micachu and the Shapes @Terminal 5
The Parlotones @Highline Ballroom
Xylos+MS MR+Ninifabi @The Glasslands Gallery
Freelance Whales+Lucius @Bowery Ballroom
Porcelain Raft @The Mercury Lounge
Jokers of the Scene+JDH @The Glasslands Gallery
Galactic @Brooklyn Bowl

Saturday, June 2

The Barrens @ FN's 1st Anniversary Show at Fontanas in April

The Barrens @ Pianos
Gavin Degraw+Colbie Caillat @Central Park, SummerStage
Anders Osborne @Bowery Ballroom
Twin Tigers+HITS @The Glasslands Gallery
Lemonade+Teengirl Fantasy @Music Hall of Williamsburg
Teeth+French Horn Rebellion @The Glasslands Gallery
Galactic @Brooklyn Bowl
Ms. Lauryn Hill @ Highline Ballroom

Sunday, June 3

Azealia Banks

Azealia Banks @ Bowery Ballroom
Great Caesar+Art Decade @The Mercury Lounge
The Battle Begun+The Constant+Send the Wolf @Knitting Factory Brooklyn
Emily King @The Mercury Lounge