Critical 5 concerts in NYC this week: take refuge, Nov. 6 - 10

As a reprieve from the onslaught of storms barraging our little Eastern city the past few weeks, including a noreastern looming in our direction threatening that most horrid of all weather phenomenos, cold rain, we all need refuge to hide our shivering forms in. This week we have plenty of opportunity to do just that... with an added bonus on the weekend with the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival who are set to dole out all sorts of treats.

Motion City Soundtrack, Juxebox The Ghost, Now Now, 11/6, 7pm at Irving Plaza

Sometimes there is no better way to start off your week than with a throwback. So, why not quit being über cool, toss your new-pop-dream-wave-dance-core-grind aside and give into the undeniably catch of Motion City’s pop-punk beats. This weekend you can put on your cool kid outfit again, but for now why not time-travel back to the early 2000’s? C'mon, doesn’t the future still freak you out?

Tame Impala, The Amazing 11/7, 7pm at Music Hall of Williamsburg or 11/10, 7pm at Webster Hall

Debuting in 2010, Tame Impala created a tremendous amount of enticement within the musical ears of critics, landing on multiple end-of-year “Best Of” lists — including ours. They make youthful surf rock with a '60s/'70s soul, essentially the result of brainchild and frontman Kevin Parker. They recently released their follow up album, Lonerism, and are already selling out shows, which tend to be as low key and introverted as their music making process itself. With vocals which mainly serve as an added musical layer rather than contributing copious amounts of philosophical depth, the sound rides the wave of the build-up, a technique which thrives in live performances.

The Joy Formidable, 11/8, 9pm at The Bowery Hotel (Free Show!)

This Welsh trio may ring a bell as being that suddenly madly popular band you’ve heard so much about but known quite so little of. The situation is this: they just somehow became wildly popular right after the release of their debut full-length, The Big Roar, you can’t always predict these things. However, they tend of offer a superbly enthusiastic show and create a remarkably energetic sound, and Ritzy Bryan’s high, clean vocals are fairly refreshing, but most importantly don’t grate the nerves with their pitch. There is also talk of a new album in the works for the band and a show may be just the place to catch any in-the-works material.

Kotorino, 11/9, 10pm at Barbes

Amongst cabaret, “parlor-rock” bands Kotorino is that shadowed figure in the corner that creates a magnetic allure with just the exhale of a cigarettes smoke or the twirl of a glass. Plus, they are simply gorgeous to hear, quirky with a ravenous appetite for varied instrumentation: guitar and violins, tubas to clarinets, with pianos and pump-organs aside the banjo or accordion, a musical saw making a stark and fleeting appearance, waltzes standing elegantly aside seductive southern twangs. They induce a haunting Americana-gypsy vibe and an addictive carnival-esque seduction that pairs quite nicely with a dark evening’s romp.

Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival, 11/9 and 11/10 at various Brooklyn locales

Produced by MeanRed and now in its 5th year, the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival is the place to head this weekend if you’re looking for a raucous scene filled with loud music and tasty treats (i.e. an Eddie’s personal bar pie pizza followed by an ice cream sandwich from CoolHaus made with a Hot Cake Cookie, aka a Maple Cookie, and some decadent Brown Butter Candied Bacon ice cream. Do we have your salivatory glands kicking?). Plus there are lots of psychedelic lights and plenty of body heat to fend off the coming winter. Sprawling over a few venues throughout the vicinity, including Brooklyn Bowl, Music Hall of Williamsburg, Public Assembly, Cameo, The Villain Space, and Glasslands you’ll have a couple of locales to hone in on, or hop around to depending on your style. The festival will feature over 40 artists including Nicholas Jaar, Gold Panda, Baths, XXYXX, Jackmaster, Photek, Onra, and Omar S to name a mere sampling. You can get a head start on the festivities by checking out BEMF’s Spotify playlist to get fully prepped.