You can browse our full NYC show calendar for all of tonight’s shows, but here are some highlights…
Governors Ball @ Randall’s Island
NYC music festival Governors Ball begins today, and there’s tons of good stuff wort catching on day 1. Hometown heroes The Strokes and Swedish pop great Robyn headline, plus there’s the always-interesting Beck, pop boundary-pushers Christine & the Queens, danceable sets from Jamie xx and Duke Dumont, Big Boi and Phantogram’s collaborative project Big Grams, rising rockers Bully, super-fun rapper Action Bronson, grand showman Father John Misty, the current version of Bloc Party, and more.
Thundercat @ Brooklyn Bowl
Thundercat has become the go-to bassist for anyone looking to combine hip hop and jazz in the 21st century (he’s worked with Kendrick Lamar, Kamasi Washingon, Flying Lotus and more), not to mention he has plenty of great solo releases and used to be in Suicidal Tendencies. This GovBall aftershow should be fun.
Against Me!, July Talk @ Webster Hall
Another GovBall aftershow that’s sure to be a good time: punk faves Against Me! are always ripping live, and their sets are packed with old faves plus plenty of their latest album, the excellent Transgender Dysphoria Blues.
Whitney EZTV, Hoops @ Baby’s All Right
Whitney (featuring Max Kakacek and Julien Ehrlich of Smith Westerns) release their debut album today, a breezy, summer record indebted to the ’70s Laurel Canyon sound with a nice dose of horns. This is their second of three celebratory NYC shows this week.
Chris Cohen, CE Schneider Topical, Anni Rossi @ Mercury Lounge
Chris Cohen’s new LP, As If Apart, is airy and baroque, recalling The Left Banke, The United States of America, and other similarly not-adverse-to-harpsichords ’60s pop.
Braids, Ginla @ Rough Trade
Montreal Braids made the transformation from ethereal rock band to electronic dreampop seamlessly a few years ago (those genres aren’t that far apart) and have just released a new EP.
Ende Tymes ft. Housefire, J-K-L-N-Z, Jason Soliday, Sharkiface, Andy Ortmann, Bigawatt, Retribution Body, Muyassar Kurdi, Copley Medal, Don & Camille Dietrich, Blankets, Pública @ Silent Barn (End Tymes IV)
Ende Tymes, the sixth-annual festival of “noise and experimental liberation” continues tonight.
The Woggles, WYLDLIFE, The Live Ones, The Sweet Things @ Bowery Electric
Georgia band The Woggles have have seen garage rock go in and out of style a few times since they formed, and they still do it better than most with a hyperactive live show that’s always worth seeing.
The Brand New Heavies, N’Dea Davenport @ BB King’s
Acid jazz pioneers The Brand New Heavies are still deep in the shag some 25 years after their debut album. Their chilled-out, groovy sound holds up well.
MS MR, Transviolet, Matt Mason @ Bowery Ballroom
Glam pop duo MS MR (Lizzy Plapinger and Max Hershenow) wrap up their tour with this hometown show.
Duke Dumont @ Output
Another GovBall aftershow tonight is beatmaker Duke Dumont, who should have the floors of Output moving.
Emily Wells, Live Footage @ Rough Trade
Violinist/vocalist Emily Wells has a sound that isn’t like much else, pulling equally from hip hop and indie pop.
For all of tonight’s shows, and tomorrow’s, check out our NYC concert calendar.
For laughs, check out the NYC Comedy calendar too.
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