You can browse our full NYC show calendar for all of tonight’s shows, but here are some highlights…
Kvelertak, Torche, Wild Throne @ Irving Plaza
This is a killer metal/heavy rock show all around, with Norway’s black metal/hardcore/classic rock blenders Kvelertak, pop-sludgesters Torche, and the Mars Volta-ish Wild Throne. Our metal sister site Invisible Oranges is presenting this one.
Bernie Sanders rally w/ Vampire Weekend & more @ Washington Square Park
Several free (with RSVP) Bernie Sanders rallies are going down in NYC this week and next, with some of the city’s best rock bands playing at them. Tonight’s has Vampire Weekend, who go on at 7 PM.
The Kills, Kim and The Created @ Warsaw
We’re getting a new Kills album in June, and while we’ve yet to hear what it sounds like, perhaps they’ll debut some of it live this week. This is their second of two sold-out shows at Warsaw.
Mobb Deep & Phony PPL @ Blue Note
Queensbridge rap greats Mobb Deep are in the midst of a tour playing 1996’s Hell on Earth for its 20th anniversary, but this week they’re doing a two-night run in NYC backed by live band Phony PPL for a re-imagining of their most classic album, The Infamous. It’s being taped for a live recording. This is night 2.
Corrosion of Conformity, Mothership @ Saint Vitus
The recent CoC tours have been especially exciting because they’re back with Pepper Keenan on vocals these days. This is their first of two consecutive nights at Saint Vitus.
The Dandy Warhols, Seratones @ Bowery Ballroom
The Dandys’ new album, Distortland, is a nice return to form for the band, showing they’ve still got some catchy hooks up their sleeves. Tonight’s their second of two consecutive nights at Bowery.
David Cross @ Beacon Theatre
The Mr Show and Arrested Development star is currently “Making America Great Again!” on tour, his first stand-up tour in some time.
Ghost, The Shrine @ Wellmont Theatre
Ghost get lumped in with metal bands, but they’re more satanic in image than in music — kind of like a modern-day Blue Oyster Cult. Tonight’s their first of two NYC-area shows on this tour.
Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Saintseneca, Little Scream @ Webster Hall
It’s a good bill all around of sorta folky/sorta poppy indie, headlined by Thao & the Get Down Stay Down (who just released A Man Alive), and also featuring Saintseneca (whose latest LP came out last year on ANTI-) and Little Scream (whose long-awaited followup to her 2011 debut comes out soon on Merge).
Porches, Alex G, Your Friend @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
The all-Domino Records tour of chillwave revivalists Porches, slacker pop guy Alex G and dream pop band Your Friend hits NYC for their first of two shows tonight. Both are sold out.
Burn To Shine 6 Screening feat. Algiers, Savak @ Le Poisson Rouge
The sixth installment in Brendan Canty & Christoph Green’s “Burn to Shine” documentary series (bands from the same city play a house that’s about to be demolished) has been in the works for almost 10 years, and is finally seeing the light of day. Algiers (who curated the lineup of Atlanta bands featured in the film) and SAVAK play live sets in addition to the screening.
Weatherbox, Enemies, Vasudeva @ Aviv
The super underrated band Weatherbox makes rock music that’s arty and eccentric but also full of massive hooks and actually rocks. Their last album was 2014’s great Flies In All Directions on Triple Crown (also home to Foxing, Into It. Over It., etc).
Xander Duell, CF Watkins @ Manhattan Inn
Some of you may remember arty NYC band Inouk who were around in the early/mid ’00s and were fronted by brothers Alexander and Damon McMahon. When the band called it quits, Damon went solo as Amen Dunes and Alexander now makes arty music as Xander Duell.
Tacocat, Lisa Prank @ Palisades
Few bands manage to mix fun and topicality as successfully as Seattle’s Tacocat whose new album Lost Time is a serious good time. Don’t miss lo-fi pop punk opener Lisa Prank if you’re going.
Asaf Avidan @ Rough Trade
Israeli singer Asaf Avidan kinda sounds like a higher-pitched Leonard Cohen, and last year’s Gold Shadow is a very enjoyable record. His four-show run at Rough Trade continues tonight.
Audacity, Mannequin Pussy, Big Huge @ Shea Stadium
Cali garage rockers Audacity have a new album out on Suicide Squeeze, and tonight’s their first of two NYC shows in support of it. It’s always worth catching shoegazy punks Mannequin Pussy too.
Open Mike Eagle, Lushlife, Uncommon Nasa @ Baby’s All Right
If you’re into indie/alternative rap, Open Mike Eagle and Lushlife both recently released fantastic albums in that style.
Waco Brothers, Chris Mills and The Distant Stars @ Union Hall
The Waco Brothers, the raucous alt-country band fronted by John Langford of Mekons, just released Going Down in History, their first new album of original material in 10 years,
Steel Pulse, Organically Good Trio, DJ JAH Culture @ Brooklyn Bowl
UK reggae greats Steel Pulse have been going for over 40 years, still with core members David Hinds and Selwyn Brown.
Al Scorch, Miss Ida Blue, Feral Foster & more @ Jalopy Theater
It’s the free weekly ‘Roots n’ Ruckus’ show at Jalopy Theater. Of note is Chicago’s Al Scorch, who kind of sounds like a more bluegrass version of Neutral Milk Hotel.
Cameron Avery (of Tame Impala/Pond), Simon Doom @ Berlin
Having just opened for The Last Shadow Puppets at Webster Hall, Tame Impala/Pond member Cameron Avery plays a much smaller show tonight.
Har Mar Superstar @ Knitting Factory
Har Mar celebrated the release of this new album Best Summer Ever over two nights at Knitting Factory. Expect special guests and other party-forward shenanigans.
Journey, Santana @ Madison Square Garden
We’re not huge Journey fans (not to mention their current lead singer is some dude from a Journey cover band) and Santana have been on the cheesier side since at least the “Smooth” days, but tonight’s show is still a chance to see one of rock’s living guitar legends.
Mike Birbiglia @ The Lynn Redgrave Theater
Comedian Mike Birbiglia has been doing his show “Thank God for the Jokes” for nearly two years. He’s putting it to bed, but not before this run which was recently extended through May.
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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