March 20 – March 26 • Essential Weekly Concert Guide • NYC Edition

Aquilo at Bowery Ballroom | March 20
English alternative duo Aguillo have been dropping funky fresh singles since way back in 2013, but didn’t drop their debut album until just about 2 months ago. With an LP hot off the presses as of Jan. 27, these two Brits will no doubt want to knock New York City’s socks off with their first gig in the big apple since releasing the record.

Bring Me The Horizon w/ Underoath at Terminal 5 | March 20 + March 21
Bring Me the Horizon may have built their reputation as the quintessential metalcore band in the mid-2000s, but the English rockers are doing their best to change that. Their newest record has a much more subdued rock n’ roll sound than their previous work, and will be on display in live fashion for two nights in a row in midtown Manhattan.

Manu Delago at Le Poisson Rouge | March 21
Go ahead and google Manu Delago’s main instrument, “the hang,” to get acquainted with what this world-renowned Austrian percussionist is best known for. Even with one of the most unusual instruments around, Manu still finds a way to pack 700-person rooms in New York City … now that’s talent.

Tennis Rough Trade | March 20  + Bowery Ballroom | March 21 + 22
For all the pitfalls that making a career of playing music with your spouse is known for, there are just as many triumphs. Tennis can count themselves as one of those successes. After a stint on the road with Local Natives, the indie-pop duo is splitting off to headline some gigs of their own.  

At The Drive-In at Terminal 5 | March 22
At The Drive-In was on the cusp of immortality when they split for the first time back in 2001 –  and while they never blew up into the stratosphere the way they could have, they’re still a pretty big deal and a generation-wide influence on countless bands.

Nouvelle Vague at Webster Hall | March 22
It’s safe to say that there are not a ton of French new wave cover bands that have the juice to play in lower Manhattan’s Webster Hall. But Nouvelle Vague do, and it’s because they put on a spectacular live show.

DJ Esco w/ Just Blaze at Highline Ballroom | March 22
Any New York City hip-hop head knows there are two Big Apple producers who lord over the rest of the hip-hop community. They are, of course, Swizz Beats and former Roc-A-Fella in house beatmaking beast Just Blaze. Blaze is going to be in the intimate Highline Ballroom Wednesday night, cutting it up for the good folks of his home city.

Hey Violet at Gramercy Theatre | March 22
The name may have changed from Cherri Bomb to Hey Violet since this four-piece pop-punk band got started back in 2008 when they were still in middle school, but Hey Violet’s new record proves they’re still just as relevant as ever. They will be workshopping some of their new tunes up on stage for the NYC audience.

Norah Jones at The Bell House | March 22
Norah Jones has sold more than 50 million records in her highly-decorated career as a musician and on Wednesday night she is going to play to her hometown Brooklyn crowd at The Bell House. The 450-person venue that hosted The Slackers’ last album release party is going to host a bona-fide musical icon with nine Grammy awards … go to this.

Glasser w/ Underground System at Le Poisson Rouge | March 22
There are a few interesting facts about Boston born indie-pop musician Cameron Mesirow, better known as Glasser, but none more important than the fact that her father was a member of the Blue Man Group. Is this true? No idea. But it’s on her official Wikipedia page.

WRLD at Knitting Factory Brooklyn | March 22
Dutch DJ and producer WRLD was inspired to make music when he heard a song that was entirely composed of Windows system sounds. He downloaded the program used to make the song immediately, and was on his way to musical prominence. Now he’s going to be here halfway around the world from his home entertaining a live audience with his tunes.

Drake White and the Big Fire at The Gramercy Theatre | March 23
From being a general contractor in Nashville, Tennessee to touring the nation as a famous country star Drake White has gone from rags to riches. A native of Hoke Bluffs, Alabama he’s been making it work in the country world since 2011.

Jose James at Bowery Ballroom | March 23
New York based contemporary jazz vocalist Jose James is coming home to celebrate the release of his new record “Love in a Time of Madness” with his hometown crowd for the first time since releasing it. He’s a big time talent who has been bringing jazz music to the hip-hop generation for nearly 10-years.

Mandolin Orange at Music Hall of Williamsburg | March 23
Modern americana group Mandolin Orange have released five studio records in the last eight years, and every one of them has shown musical maturation. They have toured far and wide from their hope in Chapel HIll, North Carolina, impressing crowds all over the country.

FKJ at Webster Hall | March 23
French Kiwi Juice is pioneering his way through the Parisian EDM scene and rebuilding the sound as he sees fit. He’s going to be bringing his hip wave of house music to New York City’s oldest music venue Thursday night.

Talib Kweli (DJ Set) at Brooklyn Bowl | March 23
One of hip-hop’s most profound performers will be bringing out his vinyl collection to one of Brooklyn’s best dance floors – at Williamsburg’s Brooklyn Bowl. So if you’ve ever wondered what inspires this legendary MC or what he would listen to at a party, Thursday night in the BK is the best place to find out.

POWERS at Webster Hall | March 23
Mike Del Rio and Crista Ru are going to be tearing down the Webster Hall Marlin Room come Thursday Night with all the hits off “Legendary” and “POWERS.” They are a powerhouse sound on the rise, taking on one of New York’s launchpad stages.

Skott at The Mercury Lounge | March 23
A lot of people have been jumping on the Skott bandwagon since she released her debut record “Porcelain” back in 2016. One of those great Skott admirers is pop-music royalty Lorde.

They. at S.O.B.’s | March 23
Los Angeles based R&B duo they spent the end of 2016 touring with Bryson Tiller and have been busy releasing their new record “Nu Religion: Hyena” in early 2017. They are a band to watch in the coming years because all signs point to huge things for these Californians.

A Great Big World at Le Poisson Rouge | March 23
Le Poisson Rouge may just be the apex venue for the indie-pop duo A Great Big world. The way the venue is situated, and the room’s natural acoustics, will lend themselves spectacularly to their laid-back rock sound.  

Foxygen at Terminal 5 | March 24
Rock sensations Foxygen are fresh off releasing their third full-length studio album “Hang,” and they are ready to put a hurting on New York City. This is a band who started their days playing NYC in venues like Bowery Electric and Union Pool, and have exploded into Terminal 5-status with their signature sound.

Allah-Las at Webster Hall | March 24
The Allah-Las story is almost cinematic. Three employees of one of the best record stores in the country (Amoeba Records) decide to start a band with one of their friends, and a few years later they are touring nationally and selling out venues across the country.

Best Behavior at Mercury Lounge | March 24
Best Behavior is one of the best bands in New York City, and they are taking a rare trip into Manhattan for an engagement at The Mercury Lounge. They just had their tune “Bad Habit” run on a television show and they are doing their best to wow every audience they can.

Classixx (DJ Set) at American Museum of Natural History | March 24
One of the greatest museums in the world has been hosting DJ nights sporadically over the past few years, and next up they have Los Angeles-based DJ duo Classixx. It’ll be a whole different kind of night at the museum on Friday night in the Upper West.

Fishbone at Gramercy Theatre | March 24
Fishbone is one of the greatest ska/punk/funk bands of all time and they have been at it for quite a while. With their band mantra of “fuck racism” they have been touring internationally for decades spreading an anti-racist’s message of love.

Hannah Wants at Webster Hall | March 25
From professional English footballer to big-time internationally known DJ, Hannah Wants has been unfairly blessed in this life with a bevy of talents. Inspired by her grandfather – who was himself a DJ – and ignited by attendance at her first rave at the age of 16, Wants just wants to make people move.

Hayley Kiyoko at Rough Trade March 25
25-year-old dream pop songstress Hayley Kiyoko is just coming into her own as a solo artist, and a headlining night at Rough Trade should be a pretty good confidence-booster. She’s been wowing audiences for quite some time, but her later work is what’s going to propel her into the next level.

SOHN at Warsaw | March 25
Ambient R&B star SOHN dropped his latest record in January, and the critics say it is one of the first part of 2017’s top records. He is all ready to go at the Polish National Home in Greenpoint, with new tunes and great songs.

Trentemoller at Irving Plaza | March 25
Andrew Trentemoller is a Denmark-based DJ and producer who has remixed songs for just about every major artist out there, even finding the time to drop five studio records along the way. He’s coming to New York to headline Irving Plaza for one night only.

Shiny Toy Guns at Webster Hall | March 25
The Shiny Toy Guns have been recording music since 2002 but didn’t manage to release their first album until 2006. The record was worth the wait and work however, seeing as the debut “We Are Pilots” was nominated for a Grammy.

The Knocks w/ Bipolar Sunshine at Terminal 5 | March 25
The Knocks were more or less your “Rookies of the Year” for 2016 in the EDM world, and after a stellar freshman outing the New York City based duo is planning a huge follow-up. They are hitting the road hard on a headlining tour and there are grumblings of a new album in the making.

Ladies First Fest Part 1 (ABC No Rio in Exile) Silent Barn | March 25
ABC No Rio may be going through some much-decried renovations, but that doesn’t mean the legendary DIY spaces spirit of revolution is going with it. Silent Barn in Bushwick will be hosting an event in the name of ABC No Rio, putting female musicians and bands out front.

Simple Plan w/ Set It Off at PlayStation Theater | March 25
16-years removed from their breakout debut album “No Pads. No Helmets…Just Balls,” Simple Plan is still on the road and releasing records. Though nothing they have ever done has ever been as mega as their freshman release, their music has continued to progress and grow along with the band’s members.

Wolvves at The Meat Shop | March 25
After a late 2016 shift from Phoenix to New York City, Wolvves are finally out gigging again in the Big Apple. Frontman Aydin Immortal has really grown into his guitar, and he will be taking all his anger and angst out on a microphone come Saturday night.

Mykki Blanco at Bowery Ballroom | March 26
Mykki Blanco may be labeled as a “queercore” rapper, but she says her influences fall more in the genre of punk and riot grrrl than they do in the musical stylings of her musical inspiration Lil Kim. Blanco is a rapper with a radical message and sound who is going to ignite the Bowery Ballroom Sunday night.

Planned Parenthood Benefit w/ She Keeps Bees, New Myths, What Moon Things at Knitting Factory Brooklyn | March 26
With President 45 slashing every budget he can that will actually help the poor, it’s more important than ever to stand up for Planned Parenthood right now. This is going to be a great show at a great venue with all the money going to a great cause.