You can browse our full NYC show calendar for all of tonight’s shows, but here are some highlights…
Donovan @ Carnegie Hall
Legendary singer/songwriter Donovan remains active, and he’s currently on a North American tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of his classic 1966 single “Sunshine Superman.” That single — and the album of the same name — marked the beginnings of his transition from Dylan-esque folk to psychedelic pop, and it remains a truly essential nugget from the original psych era.
Patti Smith @ Congregation Beth Elohim (book event)
New York’s literary punk legend Patti Smith is also an author of books, and she’ll do another event in support of M Train in Park Slope tonight. Sold out.
StarTalk Live! w/ Neil Degrasse Tyson, Eugene Mirman @ Beacon Theater
The Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival kicks off tonight with the fest’s annual live taping of Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s StarTalk podcast.
Car Seat Headrest, Lucy Dacus @ Bowery Ballroom
Car Seat Headrest’s new album, Teens of Denial, is one of 2016’s more acclaimed indie rock records, full of memorable hooks, and witty, self-depricating lyrics. This is their first of two nights at Bowery Ballroom, both with Matador labelmate Lucy Dacus.
P.S. Eliot, Ought, Aye Nako, Adult Mom @ Market Hotel
Before Katie and Allison Crutchfield got higher levels of fame with Waxahatchee and Swearin’, the sisters played together in raw pop punk band P.S. Eliot, who just put out an archival compilation on Don Giovanni and are now celebrating it on a reunion tour. The openers on this bill are great too.
Cymbals Eat Guitars, Field Mouse, Wildhoney @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Cymbals Eat Guitars’ fourth album comes out this week, and musically, it’s all over the place (In a good way). One song sounds like ’80s Springsteen, another sounds like real-deal punk. And so on. It’s a great album, and tonight’s bill is also great all around.
Tenement, DUSK, Kaleidoscope, Fur Helmet @ Saint Vitus
Last year, Tenement became one of the few DIY punk bands to release a double album, but this year they put out the much shorter self-titled LP, which is also their poppiest album yet.
Phil Lesh & Friends @ The Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk
Grateful Dead mania pretty much never ends, but it’s arguably never been as prevalent with indie rock audiences as it has been this year. As always, there are a handful of Dead-related tours going down, and Phil Lesh & Friends is a truly great one. Tonight’s their second of two shows at this Coney Island venue. The lineup includes Jackie Greene, Eric Krasno, Karl Denson, The Shady Horns, Jason Crosby, and Alan Evans.
Louis C.K. @ Madison Square Garden
This is the final of three Louis CK shows at MSG, though he’ll return as part of Stand Up for Heroes (in the Theatre at MSG) in November.
Jessica Pratt, Mega Bog, Cut Worms @ Trans-Pecos
Last year Jessica Pratt put out On Your Own Love Again, one of those hushed folk albums that sounds like it was recorded alone in a bedroom at 3 AM. It’s a great record. She just opened for Jenny Lewis at the Cap last night, and tonight she plays her own NYC show. It’s worth showing up in time for Cut Worms.
The Head and the Heart @ Rough Trade
Once signed to Sub Pop, folk rockers The Head and the Heart made their major label debut with Signs of Light last week.
Immortal Technique, Chino XL, Chris Rivers @ Highline Ballroom
Best known for the disturbing “Dance with the Devil,” Immortal Technique plays NYC again tonight.
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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