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The Concerts to See This Weekend
Dead Kennedys, Dark Dark Dark and other “d”-named bands
Childish Gambino, a.k.a. Donald Glover (Photo: above-thefold.com)
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While you’re probably rightly excited for the beginning of CMJ Fest, from October 19-23, let’s not forget about all the bands performing before then. This weekend is particularly good, and below are just a few of the groups worth checking out:
Dead Kennedys
Friday, 10/15
Irving Plaza, 7 p.m.
The hardcore punk legends might not have lead singer Jello Biafra anymore, but they do still have East Bay Ray, who’s been with the group since the beginning, and D.H. Peligro, who’s been with the Kennedys since 1981. Ron “Skip Greer” has taken over for Jeff Penalty, who took over for Brandon Cruz, who took over for Biafra, and Greg Reeves now plays bass instead of Klaus Flouride. They’ve changed a lot over the years (although they’ve never bothered with a new album since 1986′s Bedtime for Democracy), but that doesn’t mean the Dead Kennedys still can’t play the hell out of “California Über Alles,” which oddly appeared in The Social Network. $30.49
Deerhunter
Friday, 10/15
Webster Hall, 6 p.m.
If hardcore punk isn’t your thing, how about fuzzy surfer rock? We’ve praised Deerhunter before, but now we praising them even further after the release of their latest album, Halcyon Digest. It’s bound to end up on Encore‘s albums of the year list, and I’m sure we’re not alone in that sentiment. If you missed their free show at Pier 54 in August, don’t make the same mistake tonight. Real Estate (read our interview with frontman Martin Courtney here) opens. $20
Dark Dark Dark
Saturday, 10/16
Glasslands, 8 p.m.
After attending either the Dead Kennedys or Deerhunter, you probably need something slightly more relaxed, although not Air Supply relaxed (who are also playing tonight, but don’t go to that). The name Dark Dark Dark (read our interview with band member Marshall LaCount here) may seem sinister, but it’s just the band name for a four piece chamber folk band who specialize in playing instruments like the accordion and clarinet, as heard on their latest album, Wild Go. They’re the band Tom Waits wishes he could have. They’re also becomingly increasingly popular, so see them now when you can still say, “I was there when…”.
Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan
Saturday, 10/16; Sunday, 10/17
Bowery Ballroom, 8:30 p.m.; Music Hall of Williamsburg, 7:30
She was the cellist and occasional vocalist for Belle & Sebastian, he was the vocalist for Screaming Trees. One’s from a Scottish indie pop band, the other a grunge group from Ellensburg, Washington. Why the hell are they recording together, you may ask. Good question. But they have been since 2004, beginning with the EP, Time Is Just the Same, and it’s all been inexplicably good. I’m still not sure how you get roots rock when you combine grunge and indie pop, as heard on the recently released Hawk, though. The duo recently played their first U.S. show in Boston, to positive reviews. $21.40/$21.40
The Heavy/Mayer Hawthorne & the County/Childish Gambino
Sunday, October 17
Bowery Ballroom, 7 p.m.
And the award for the oddest lineup of the weekend goes to this concert. Not odd in a bad way, because we like the Heavy’s mixture of soul, garage rock and even the occasional hip hop beat; Mayor Hawthorne’s old school Detroit vibe; and, well, we just like Childish Gambino, a.k.a. Community‘s Donald Glover. It might seem like a vanity project for an actor to release an album, but listen to The Culdesac, possibly the year’s most self-conscious and guilt-ridden album of the year, and you’ll end the David Hasselhoff comparisons there. $24.70