Critical 5 concerts in NYC this week: summer concerts wind down, August 20-26
Being a frequent concert goer in the greater New York City area has its share of hassles: high priced tickets, quick sellouts, and even higher priced rates from scalpers after those sellouts. Fortunately, New York features a variety of free concerts and three of them made their way into our list this week -- just be sure to show up in a timely manner to beat the inevitable rush. And the two others, well, we promise they're worth the price of admission.
Araabmuzik, Flosstradamus, Teengirl Fantasy, Nick Hook, 8/20, 6 PM at Central Park Summerstage.
If you're the sort who gets antsy during a live DJ set where the DJ appears to be, well, not doing very much, Araabmuzik's live show should be a breath of fresh, post-dubsteppy air. Watching Abraham Orellana feverishly pound away at his MPC, slicing and dicing hip-hop beats every which way, can be a tantalizing experience. The electronic mixed bag of openers Flosstradamus, Teengirl Fantasy, and Nick Hook should only add to the jus-after-sundown Central Park fun. Admission is free.
The Drums, Chairlift, 8/22, 6 PM at Brooklyn Bowl
Here at Critical Mob, we were huge supporters of Chairlift's breakout sophomore effort, Something. Considering Caroline Polachek's masterful vocal performance on that record, fans at Wednesday's Broioklyn Bowl show should be in for a synthpoppy treat. NYC-based headliners The Drums have a handful of winsome singles ("Money", "Let's Go Surfing") to their name, as well. The show is free but be sure to get there early- Brooklyn Bowl is known to fill up quickly.
Nite Jewel, Peanut Butter Wolf, Chrome Canyon, 8/23, 10 PM at Le Poisson Rouge
Nite Jewel aka Ramona Gonzalez sat down for an interview with us earlier this year, though that's far from the only reason we're big supporters of her classy brand of R&B-tinged pop. Her 2012 effort, One Second of Love, is the sort of evergreen LP that sounds as if it could hold its own in almost any era of pop music -- including today's.
To add to the experience, both Peanut Butter Wolf and Nite Jewel will be covering Kraftwerk's seminal 1981 record, Computer World.
Just this Tuesday, the delightfully eccentric Action Bronson announced a fresh deal with Warner Brothers/Vice Records. But if you think that's going stop the gourmet Queens-based rapper from his usual exploits (delicious food, bangin' underground shows, more delicious food), think again. Get an early look at post-record deal Bronson at Music Hall of Williamsburg's free show this Thursday, along with Flatbush Zombies, Meyham Lauren, and Tanya Morgan.
Though last year's festivities were cancelled due to Hurricane Irene, Brooklyn's Afro-Punk Festival returns for an 8th year with an enticing, genre-blending two-day lineup. The acts that most caught our eye are listed above, though it's certainly the sort of fest where just about anyone with an open mind can find a set to get into. The Afro-Punk Festival also includes New York's largest street skate competition, food trucks from around the city, and a sizable DIY-minded thrift market. Did we mention it's free?
| ARAABMUZIK PERFORMS "STREETZ TONIGHT" | |
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