This Week's Nostalgia (7/3-7/9)

by Trista Hou (Bingshu Hou)

The last time we heard from The Virgins was around 4 years ago when they released their self-titled album. Donald Cumming has an extremely similar voice to Julian Casablancas, and they've opened for Iggy Pop, The Stooges, Lou Reed, Sonic Youth, Patti Smith, etc... which strongly proves that their show is a must see for you to check it out net week. They will be playing in Bowery Electric on July 6.

I don't have to introduce our NYC-based jazz sweetheart Norah Jones. But this time she will come take us to a murkier and darker mood, since her newly released album contains scenes of jealousy and heartbreak. At Central Park SummerStage on July 3 she will use her melting voice but with new expression to satisfy your curiosity of how a jazz sweetheart could sound like if she sings sorrow songs.

CBGB Festival begins this Thursday. We've listed a bunch of those shows below, but stay tuned for an extensive preview of the festival in the next day or two. We're running a little slower than usual lately, but things are about to pick up. Without further ado...

This Week's Nostalgia (6/11-6/16)

Kurt Vile @ Williamsburg Waterfront last year

by Trista Hou & Chris

It's one of those weeks where there are so many shows going on, it's inevitable that you're going to miss something really good. Of course, L Magazine's Northside Festival takes over pretty much every Williamsburg-area venue starting Thursday, but then there are also some really great non-Northside shows taking place. One of those will be Kurt Vile & The Violators at Central Park SummerStage, a free show that you won't want to miss on Saturday. It's been a year since I last saw Vile live, when he opened for Sonic Youth at Williamsburg Waterfront. His live show takes the form of long, ambient and droning jams; often hypnotizing, and always interesting. Alt-country act Dawes will open. Get there early.

Northside-wise, be sure to head to our friend NYCTaper's official Northside showcase on Thursday, at 285 Kent. Our friends EULA will open, so get there early, and then stick around to watch White Hills later on in the night. On Friday, your best bet will be to check out Caveman during BrookylnVegan's showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg. We caught Caveman during Crossing Brooklyn Ferry and were blown away. For Saturday, you may want to check out Olivia Tremor Control at Music Hall of Williamsburg for what is guaranteed to be a fun time. On Sunday, check out Future of the Left (their only US show on the horizon) at Europa, or you can watch old school hip-hop collective Ultramagnetic MC's at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Kool Keith will also be performing solo on Thursday at Brooklyn Bowl.

Don't forget that Mogwai finally plays NYC on Thursday and Friday, and tickets are still available for both. Check out the rest of the shows going on this week below, and try not to stroke out when you realize you can't be in two places at once...

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...

This Week's Nostalgia (5/21-5/27)

by Trista Hou (Bingshu Hou)

Whether you prefer the White Stripes or maybe just his art, Jack White's recent solo album Blunderbuss (stream it below) has received critical acclaim amongst the most prestigious of music sites. Though it is White's solo debut, the influence of his former bands White Stripes, Dead Weather and Raconteurs can still be found. Wanna reminiscence as well as explore his new material? Find him on Monday and Tuesday at Roseland Ballroom, especially for those who couldn't squeeze yourself into the packed show last month in Webster Hall.

Garbage. Haven't heard from this band in... seven years! Just a week ago, their latest album Not Your Kind of People had its worldwide release. The Guardian gave the album four out of a possible five stars, calling it "a beautiful, otherworldly cross between a John Barry Bond theme and a David Bowie outsider anthem." Tuesday at Webster Hall, get ready for a feast of seeing and hearing.

Check out the rest of this week's shows below...

This Week's Nostalgia (5/15-5/20)

Taken at the Bell House. Hall & Oates headline the Great Googa Mooga Festival on Sunday.

By Trista Hou (Binshu Hou) & Chris

Trista is being a good student and preparing for finals, so while she did send over her picks for This Week's Nostalgia, she didn't have time to write about any of them. That's why I'm chiming in to highlight what's going on this week in New York City because, holy shit, there are a lot of great shows to check out. 

EULA (who played FN's 1st Anniversary Concert) will be performing twice this week. Tonight you can catch them at The Studio at Webster Hall and then again on Thursday at Death By Audio. What's that? You haven't seen EULA yet? Well then you're slacking. Get out to one of these shows, because they're one hell of a live act. Other more intimate shows worth noting are instrumental psychedelic weirdos Delicate Steve, who will headline Mercury Lounge on Thursday and lo-fi connoisseur R. Stevie Moore, who will play 285 Kent on Friday.

On the bigger side of things, Beach House will be playing a small show at Bowery Ballroom before heading off on tour. They'll be back to play SummerStage on July 23. Their (very good) new album Bloom is out today.

On Thursday, Legendary reggae producer and dub master Lee "Scratch" Perry plays Gramercy Theatre. We also have the two-day Great Googa Mooga Festival this weekend at Prospect Park to look forward to, which will feature The Roots headlining on Saturday and then mother-fucking Hall & Oates on Sunday. Don't worry, they won't actually harm any of your mothers.

...or will they?

Check out the rest of the week's shows below...

This Week's Nostalgia (5/7-5/12)

by Trista Hou (Bingshu Hou)

[editor's note: Trista sent this to me on Sunday and I just couldn't get it posted in time. But sans Monday, here are the rest of this week's shows you should check out in New York City...]

Tuesday, May 8

Doe Paoro @ Glasslands in April (more here)

Doe Paoro @ Cameo
Florence and the Machine @ Radio City Music Hall
Bear in Heaven @ Bowery Ballroom
The Beach Boys @ Beacon Theatre
Dead Confederate+The Doorbells @The Mercury Lounge

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros+Fool's Gold @ Roseland Ballroom

Chairlift @ Webster Hall

Wednesday, May 9

Aaron Freeman @ Brooklyn Bowl in December (more here)

Aaron Freeman @ 92YTribeca

The Beach Boys @ Beacon Theatre
Awolnation @ Webster Hall
Bear in Heaven+Blouse+Doldrums @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Mike Wexler+Nymph+Future Shuttle @ The Glasslands Gallery
Horse Feathers @ Bowery Ballroom

Rufus Wainwright @ BAM

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros+Fool's Gold @ Roseland Ballroom

Thursday, May 10

Mark Lanegan @ Bowery Ballroom in February (more here)

Mark Lanegan Band@ Webster Hall
Medeski, Martin, & Wood@ Brooklyn Masonic Temple
Flux Pavilion @ Roseland Ballroom

M83 @ Terminal 5

Japanther @ Xpo 929

Friday, May 11

Lee Ranaldo w/ Sonic Youth @ Williamsburg Waterfront last August (more here)

M. Ward+Lee Ranaldo Band @ Webster Hall

Norah Jones @ The Bell House

Saturday, May 12

Neon Indian

Neon Indian @ Terminal 5
Steve Lawler @ Dekalb Market
Reckless Kelly+Gabriel Kelley @ Bowery Ballroom

Sunday, May 13

Patti Smith @ Webster Hall in September (more here)

Patti Smith (Special Mothers Day Acoustic show) @ City Winery
Diane Birch+Rewards+The Amendments @ The Glasslands Gallery

Fred Armisen (does his playlist) @ Union Pool

This Week's Nostalgia (4/30 - 5/6)

The Cranberries / Photo: Jess Baumung

By Trista Hou (Binshu Hou)

Do you still remember who the very first rock bands that enlightened you to start listening to indie music were? Do you still remember that once upon a time, there was an Irish frontwoman named Dolores, and her keening, powerful voice singing classics such as "Zombie,""Linger,"and"Dreams"? Yes, The Cranberries are back. The band even announced they would release their first new studio album, Roses, in over 10 years, which is due for release on May 5. Check them out at Terminal 5 on May 2 and 4 to reminisce, and let us know how many times your eyes well up with tears. 

Finishing her two-weekend journey in the Indio desert of California, Feist comes to town again touring in support of her album Metals, released in 2011. Considering its slow-to-bloom beauty, her live is still worth enjoyment. You can see her at Radio City Music Hall on May 5.

Xiu Xiu and Dirty Beaches are playing together and it only costs you $16 to $18? This is way too good a deal, alright? Xiu Xiu, a San Jose avant-garde group that has been active for the past 10 years, is the brainchild of vocalist Jamie Stewart--often earning a comparison to The Cure's Robert Smith. This is a band that you shouldn't neglect. As for Dirty Beaches, a band I am personally quite fond of, their lo-fi full-length album Badlands was released last year. With Suicide-like drum machines and hypnotic loops, Badlands conjures up images of surrealism, which could possibly drag you into an endless black hole.

Here are the rest of shows you should check out in New York City this week...

This Week's Nostalgia (4/23-4/29)

Ceremony @ Le Poisson Rouge

by Trista Hou (Bingshu Hou)

[editor's note: Trista is on the west coast for the second weekend of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, but she did send on her list of shows to check out this week in New York City... enjoy!]

Monday, April 23

The Vaccines @ Bowery Ballroom

The Vaccines @ Webster Hall

The Big Pink @ Bowery Ballroom
Washed Out+Memoryhouse @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Ceremony @ The Mercury Lounge (late show)

Ceremony+Refused @ Terminal 5
Raleigh Moncrief+Jonas Reinhardt @ The Glasslands Gallery

Tuesday, April 24

Miike Snow

Miike Snow @Terminal 5
Nite Jewel @ Bowery Ballroom
Gauntlet Hair+Field Mouse @ The Glasslands Gallery

Wednesday, April 25

Nick Lowe

Nick Lowe @ Town Hall
Good Old War @ Bowery Ballroom
Lissy Trullie @The Mercury Lounge

Miike Snow @Terminal 5

We Are Scientists+1,2,3 @ Brooklyn Bowl

The Weeknd @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

Thursday, April 26

Archers of Loaf @ Webster Hall

Archers of Loaf @ Bowery Ballroom
Twin Shadow @ The Glasslands Gallery
The Wombats @ Webster Hall

Miike Snow @Terminal 5

WU LYF @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

The Hives @ The Studio at Webster Hall

Friday, April 27

Ben Browning w/ Cut Copy @ Terminal 5

Ben Browning (of Cut Copy) @ The Glasslands Gallery

Death Cab for Cutie+Youth Lagoon @ Beacon Theatre

WU LYF @ Bowery Ballroom

Yan Tiersen @ Irving Plaza

The Feelies @ The Bell House

Jack White @ Webster Hall

Saturday, April 28

The English Beat @ Irving Plaza

'Mr. Saturday Night w/ Jacques Greene @ House of Yes
'Hi-Fi Cartel' w/ Addison Groove+Doc Daneeka+Jubilee @ The Glasslands Gallery
Squeeze+The English Beat @ Roseland Ballroom

Hanni El Khatib @ The Mercury Lounge

Death Cab for Cutie+Youth Lagoon @ Beacon Theatre

The Weeknd @ Bowery Ballroom

Sunday, April 29

Titus Andronicus @ Brooklyn Night Bazaar

Quintron and Miss Pussycat+The K-Holes @ The Mercury Lounge
La Dispute @ Bowery Ballroom

Archers of Loaf+Titus Andronicus @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Death Cab for Cutie+Youth Lagoon @ Beacon Theatre

The Shins @ Terminal 5

Melvins @ Webster Hall

This Week's Nostalgia (4/2-4/8)

by Trista Hou (Bingshu Hou)

[Editor's note: We've admittedly been pretty behind in keeping up with the insane amount of shows that have been going on lately. April also happens to look like it will be profoundly busy. Thankfully, longtime FN supporter Trista Hou has stepped in to let us know what shows are going on in New York City on a weekly basis. Without further ado, I present you Trista's first post for "This Week's Nostalgia." --Chris]

This week we are pleased to announce that "The Boss" will make his highly anticipated return to Madison Square Garden in support of his newest album Wrecking Ball. With loops, electronic percussion and hip-hop (gasp!) merged into the record, it seems like Bruce Springsteen always keeps pace with the tide of rock n' roll.  So are there any surprises he will bring to us on stage? You'll have to figure out a way to get into the sold out shows on April 6 and 9 to find out.

If you are a music trend-setter and feel that Springsteen is no longer an icon, then New Zealand synth-rock band The Naked and Famous on April 4 at Terminal 5 would probably be your best pick. Dance yourself recklessly with the effect of electronic synthesizers and beats, not mention they're a pretty band to look at.

Kind of the same with The Rapture. If you missed out on LCD Soundsystem before they officially split up last year, and want to hear a 21st-century version of Joy Division--but with a frontman's nasal falsetto reminiscent of Billy Corgan--then The Rapture will certainly provide you with any fancy illusion you might think of as a post-punk fan. They play Bowery Ballroom on Friday, April 6 and Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday, April 7.

Apart from above, there are also many other bands and singers ranging from indie, DJ, jazz to country to check out. See below for more shows in the New York City area that we're particularly excited about this week...

This Week's Nostalgia (12/12-12/18)

Apologies for the absence of this feature for the past few weeks, but after realizing that there are tons of great shows going on in the next few days it became abundantly clear that we need to keep up on this way more. Generally as the year winds down, shows become more and more scarse, so I'm not exactly sure what happened here. But let's not waste any time... here are shows in the New York City area that you need to be at:

!!! (chk-chk-chk) @ Maxwell's
Monday, December 12 (Tickets)

!!! @ SXSW '11 (more here)

Rocket From The Tombs 
@ The Bell House - Monday, December 12 (Tickets)
@ Maxwell's - Tuesday, December 13 (Tickets)

Devo @ Irving Plaza
Tuesday, December 13 (Tickets)

The National @ Beacon Theatre (Tickets)
Monday, December 12 - w/ The War on Drugs
Tuesday, December 13 - w/ Sharon Van Etten
Wednesday, December 14 - w/ So Percussion
Thursday, December 15 - w/ Wye Oak
Friday, December 16 - w/ My Brightest Diamond
Saturday, December 17 - w/ This is the Ticket

The National @ Milk Studio (more here)

Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings @ Bowery Ballroom

Tuesday, December 13 (Tickets)

Wednesday, December 14 (Tickets)

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings @ MHOW (more by Josh Kesner here)

Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog @ Brooklyn Bowl

Tuesday, December 13 (Tickets)

Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog @ ATP IBYM (more here)

My Morning Jacket @ Madison Square Garden

Wednesday, December 14 (Tickets)

James Murphy (DJ Set) @ Brooklyn Night Bazaar

Thursday, December 15 (Tickets)

James Murphy @ Hudson Hotel (more here)

Lee Renaldo @ Glasslands

Friday, December 16 (Tickets)

Lee Renaldo w/ Sonic Youth (more here)

The Hold Steady @ Brooklyn Night Bazaar

Saturday, December 17 (Tickets)

Craig Finn at the Our Band Could Be Your Life tribute show (more here)

Atlas Sound

@ The Bell House - Saturday, December 17 (Tickets)

@ Bowery Ballroom - Sunday, December 18 (Sold Out)

Atlas Sound @ SXSW '11 (more here)

Wu-Tang Clan @ Best Buy Theatre

Sunday, December 18 (Tickets)

Don't say I didn't warn you. Let us know if you make it into any of these shows and tell us how they were! If you feel there are any shows this week that we failed to write about, please let us know in the comments below. Until next week...

This Week's Nostalgia (11/14-11/20)

The holidays are rapidly approaching, the temperature is dropping, and I finally got over a cold that plagued my sinuses for nearly two weeks. What does that mean for you? Not much. So without further ado, here are some shows going on this week in the realm of nostalgia that you should definitely check out:

This Week's Nostalgia (10/31-11/6)

Even though things seem to be winding down as it gets colder and uglier out (yesterday was particularly bad), there are still plenty of reasons to make it out to some shows this fall. Personally, I've realized that I've been pushing myself a little too hard during the week, with the revelation that some scary incidents where my vision basically stopped working were the result of sleep deprivation and stress. So, a public service announcement: getting three hours of sleep and working a 9-5 job is not good for your health.

That said, here are some shows this week that I may or may not make it out to...

Ween @ Hammerstein Ballroom (Sold Out)
Monday, October 31

Battles @ Webster Hall (Tickets)
Tuesday, November 1

Battles @ ATP (more here)

Special Disco Version (James Murphy & Pat Mahoney of LCD Soundsystem) @ House of Vans (RSVP)
Tuesday, November 1

James Murphy @ Hudson Hotel (more here)

Bob Mould (reading & performance) @ The Bell House (Tickets)
Thursday, November 3

Bob Mould @ The Rock Shop (more here)

Meat Puppets @ Le Poisson Rouge (Tickets)
Friday, November 4

The Glands (w/ Condo Fucks, a.k.a. Yo La Tengo opening) (Tickets)
Friday, November 4

Be sure to check out our special Spotify playlist for This Week's Nostalgia (subscribe to it so you have a new playlist each week too!) If there are any shows you feel we missed, please let us know in the comments below. Until next week...

This Week's Nostalgia (10/17-10/23)

I don't know about you, but I'm still pretty broken up by the news of Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore splitting up. As selfish as it sounds, the idea of never seeing Sonic Youth live again is absolutely terrifying. We're going to have to go to a ton of shows this week to keep our minds off of it. CMJ is here starting Tuesday, and we'll be going into our CMJ picks in more detail tomorrow, but for now, here's everything that's going on this week...

Janes Addiction @ Irving Plaza
Monday, October 17 (Sold Out)
Tuesday, October 18 (Sold Out)

Smashing Pumpkins @ Terminal 5
Tuesday, October 18 (Sold Out)

Dear lord, he's such an ass.

Wild Flag @ Bowery Ballroom (CMJ)
Tuesday, October 18 (Sold Out)

Death @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (CMJ)
Tuesday, October 18 (Tickets)

J Mascis @ Mercury Lounge (CMJ)
Thursday, October 20 (Sold Out)

The Jayhawks @ Beacon Theatre
Friday, October 21 (Tickets)

Jonathan Richman @ The Bell House
Friday, October 21 (Tickets)

The Damned @ Irving Plaza
Saturday, October 22 (Tickets)

Shonen Knife @ Public Assembly (CMJ)
Saturday, October 22 (Tickets)

Spin Doctors @ Brooklyn Bowl
Sunday, October 23 (Tickets)

Again? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!?!?!

Okay, that's a shitload of shows right there. And if your top priority is the motherfucking Spin Doctors... I just don't know what to say. Check out our Spotify playlist for all the bands featured above, and be sure to check out our CMJ post tomorrow, with tons of photos and reviews to follow. Until next week...