May 29 – June 4 • Essential Weekly Concert Guide • NYC Edition

Jeff Nau

Holy Ghost! at Good Roof | May 29
Synth pop duo Holy Ghost! hails from the city of Brooklyn—a veritable beacon of great music on the east coast—and have continued to improve their chops doing remixes for the likes of MGMT and Moby. They’re touring in support of their latest EP, “Crime Cutz,” which was released late last year to critical acclaim.

Frightened Rabbit at Brooklyn Steel | May 30
Frightened Rabbit hail from Scotland and play an eccentric brand of folk-influenced, eclectic indie music. Rollicking guitar riffs and shoegaze-inspired bass meet catchy, pop-influenced rock and roll. They’re on tour in support of their latest, “Painting of a Panic Attack.”

Gavin James at HighLine Ballroom | May 30
Hailed as a cross between Adele and Ed Sheeran, Gavin James plays a light, acoustic-heavy kind of indie rock.  As a winner of the coveted Choice Music Prize in his home country of Ireland, his talent has helped him get pretty far—and keep the ladies’ hearts melting.

Brother Ali at Bowery Ballroom | May 31
Also known as Ali Douglas Newman, this American born-and-bred hip hop artist had his debut on “The Late Late Show” with Craig Ferguson a decade ago, and hasn’t looked back since. Fun fact: Ali has devoted himself to political and human rights activism, including protesting a house foreclosure on poverty-stricken residents in Minnesota.

Oddisee at HighLine Ballroom  | May 31
One of D.C.’s most coveted producers and rappers. Oddisee’s been at it for a decade now. His “Odd Spring” mixtape was all the rage a few years ago when it landed in the hands of a hometown paper’s music critic, from where it took off big time. Oddisee is here in support of his latest, “The Iceberg.”

Russ at Terminal 5 | May 31
Also known as Russ Vitale, the New Jersey-born rapper Russ had a couple big hits back in 2015 with “What They Want” and “Losin’ Control.” These were only teases, though, and Russ has finally released his debut album “There’s Really a Wolf” this year. He comes to New York as part of his “The Wake Up Tour.”

The 1975 at Madison Square Garden Arena | June 1
The Manchester, England-based group have garnered something like a billion hits with their YouTube videos. Songs like “Somebody Else” and “Robbers” are awash in ethereal synth alongside shimmering guitar riffs. Fun fact: The name “The 1975” came from a collection of author Jack Kerouac’s beat poetry.  

Beach Fossils at House of Vans | June 1
Beach Fossils play an exciting, hypnotic kind of indie rock, with guitar riffs that are laid back and easy to relate to, but bass riffs that recall the genius of shoegaze pioneers like Peter Hook of New Order and Simon Gallup of The Cure. This could be the next big indie-thing.

Charles Bradley and The Extraordinaires at Brooklyn Bowl | June 1
‘The Extraordinaires’ may be the most apt moniker for this soul band led by Charles Bradley. The man sure can sing his heart out. Fans of everything from funk to Motown will find it hard to resist his gravelly, soulful croon. Extraordinary indeed.

The Lemon Twigs at Music Hall of Williamsburg | June 1
One of American pop’s reigning kings, The Lemon Twigs look to 60s greats like The Beach Boys and The Zombies for inspiration. Just listen to tracks like “I Wanna Prove to You,” which isn’t just copying that sound—it’s channeling it. The closest thing we may have to a modern-day incarnation of The Fab Four.

Pink Martini at Brooklyn Academy of Music | June 1
A total throwback to the Martin Denny/lounge-esque music of the 1950s, Pink Martini isn’t just content enough to be a cute little nostalgia band. From the bizarrely-named “Hang On Little Tomato,” to “Sympathique,” sung completely in French by way of vaudeville, Pink Martini is nothing if not a solid channeling of 60’s-era, pseudo-easy listening music.

Tove Lo at Irving Plaza  | June 1
Pull back the curtain a little on pop hits like “Habits” and “Talking Body” and you’ll find that there’s a genuine heartache to a lot of Tove Lo’s songs. “Stay High,” for instance, about needing to continue that rush you get from a loved one after the romance has ended, obviously hit a nerve: it’s racked up some 300 million hits on YouTube alone.

Tuxedo at Webster Hall  | June 1
Comprised of Mayer Hawthorne and esteemed hip-hop record producer Jake One, Tuxedo is a perfect example of what two brilliant like-minded musicians put their heads together for a supergroup—or superduo, in this case. The end result—a surprisingly catchy blend of funk, electro, and groove-centric soul—may be better than anything either has done as a solo effort.

Bel Biv DeVoe at Kings Theatre | June 2
Despite their better attempts to disappear from the scene they helped birth, Bel Biv Devoe continue to churn out the occasional album and also tour with other seminal bands of the era. Their recently-released  LP is a total throwback to their early 90s sound, as fearless (and effortless) as ever.

Car Seat Headrest at Webster Hall  | June 2
Opting for a twangy, lo-fi indie sound,  Car Seat Headrest play a raucous brand of alt rock, the kind perfected from years of playing club rounds and dive bar gigs, which is something akin to what this band has done. “Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales” is a perfect example of the tender side of the group, capable of writing some heartfelt memorable songs.

6/2-6/4 “Governors Ball Music Festival” ft. Chance The Rapper, Lorde, Tool, Phoenix, Childish Gambino, Cage The Elephant and more  | June 2-4
Chance the Rapper is one of the biggest names in Chicago—or any kind of hip-hop, really. Tool is one of the biggest rock bands in the genre. Lorde is selling millions of her latest, this year’s “Melodrama”; and Phoenix and Childish Gambino are only two of the biggest names in music these days. This may be the can’t-miss festival of the year.

HO99O9 at The Brooklyn Bazaar  | June 2
A brainchild of hip-hop superstar TheOGM, HO99O9 hit it big time after getting noticed by a couple of big labels. The group modeled a great deal of their imagery after gangsta-influenced hip-hop and classic horror movies. “Blood Waves” and “Savage Heads” cleverly mix crashing snare drums and the ‘90s wave of hip-hop like DMX.

Mark Ronson at Output  | June 2
If you’ve never heard “Uptown Funk” with Bruno Mars, “24K Magic,” you’re missing one of the great musicians of contemporary times—don’t be surprised if you hear at least one of these songs and your booty starts to shake involuntarily. Ronson has proved himself to be one of the pre-eminent funk/dance DJs of our time. You don’t want to miss this.

Muna w/ Cloves at Brooklyn Bowl | June 2
Opting for a shimmering and bright brand of indie rock, peppered with occasional guitar arpeggios and the complimentary keyboard effects, Muna’s music ranges from thoughtful, soul-searching ballads to the utterly danceable “I Know a Place.” They bring their unique spin on alt rock to Brooklyn.

Prodigy at B.B. King’s Blues Club | June 2
Though he’s been a member of the much-heralded hip-hop outfit Mobb Deep, Prodigy struck out on his own early on to great success. Fun fact: In addition to coming from a rich hip-hop history, Prodigy also came from a musically gifted one: His mother, Fatima, was a member of The Crystals, and his great uncle Keg Johnson is still remembered for his contributions to jazz.

Real Friends at Irving Plaza | June 2
A pop punk fan’s dream, Real Friends have clearly been inspired by everyone from Pennywise to NOFX. They play a radio-accessible, millennial-friendly brand of punk the way predecessors did: lots of power chords + lots of teen angst = lots of girls swooning.

Rufus Du Sol at Schimanski  | June 2
Formerly known as Rüfüs, Rufus Du Sol bill themselves as an alternative dance group from Sydney, Austraila. They fuse infectious dance rhythms with melodic, jam-inspired riffs to great effect. Fun fact: Rufus formed originally during an impromptu jam session while its respective members happened to be on vacation together.   

The Avalanches at Brooklyn Bowl | June 3
An electro indie music duo hailing from Australia, The Avalanches have only released two albums in 16 years. The reason for their slow output is warranted: The group hones their craft by performing tons of DJ sets in front of club and festival crowds throughout the year. But chances are they’ll be playing quite a few tracks off their latest (released last year) record, titled “Wildflower.”  

Gryffin at Webster Hall | June 3
The U.S.-based DJ and musician made a name for himself remixing artists as diverse as Tove Lo and Maroon 5, before releasing “Heading Home,” his debut single a little over a year ago. It peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Emerging Artists chart. That was all she wrote, and Gryffin has been successfully selling his brand of melodic house music ever since. `

James Blake (DJ Set) at Output | June 3
Known for his (successful) take on the dubstep genre, Blake is actually a very hands-on, synth/piano/guitar playing musical dynamo. For his evening at the Output, owever, Blake will be performing a DJ set—likely showcasing the records and tracks that made his self-titled debut and “The Color in anything” huge hits in his homeland of England.

Kool & the Gang at B.B. King’s Blues Club  | June 3
“Jungle Boogie.” “Summer Madness.” “Celebration.”  Kool & the Gang only had about a billion hits in the seventies, and they’re looking to bring back a little of that magic at B.B. King’s. They still play the uber-original brand of disco that made them famous, along with the aforementioned hits and a few surprises in there as well.

Lupe Fiasco at Highline Ballroom  | June 3
With the debut of “Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor,” the rapper’s 2006 debut, Lupe Fiasco’s career took off in a big way in the mid-aughts, and it shows with on the release of his latest, “Drogas Light.” This is an artist that has clearly matured in a big way—and partly because he’s managed to release 6 albums since.

The Orwells at Knitting Factory Brooklyn  | June 3
Critics might label The Orwells indie, alt-rock, etc.—but if you’re sick and tired of reading labels, all you should need to know is that the band’s roots are in rock n’ roll. With songs like “Black Francis” and “Who Needs You,” a crushing power chord or two reminds one more of Iggy Pop & the Stooges than anything else. Their “Disgraceland” may be the closest thing to Iggy’s “Raw Power” younger generations will get.

“Summerstage” ft. Mavis Staples at Rumsey Playfield  | June 3
Mavis Staples got her start at the young age of 11, when she joined her famous family gospel choir, The Staples Singers. From that age, Staples was not only singing, but actively participating in civil rights activism. She’s perhaps best known her biggest single “I’ll Take You There,” which, along with “Let’s Do It again” and a bunch of other hits, she’ll likely be performing.

Warpaint at Irving Plaza  | June 3
One of Los Angeles’s most beloved bands, Warpaint plays—yes, you guessed it—a kind of indie rock. Not just your regular, run-of-the-mill indie rock, mind you, but a kind that was so good, the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Jon Frusciante decided to pick them up and run with them. The end result is an ethereal, arpeggio-heavy kind of prog-influenced alt rock.

YG w/ Charli XCX, Anik Khan at Schimanski  | June 3
YG’s had a ton of hits like “Toot It and Boot It” and “My Nigga;” Charli XCX is a British-based singer and songwriter responsible for hits like “Boom Clap” and “Doing It” (not to mention having worked with everyone from Iggy Azalea to Icona Pop). Anik Khan is from Queens NY and has a gift for harmonies (just listen to tracks like “Shadows” and “Kites,” both of which feature a surprising number of them).

The Weeknd at Prudential Center | June 4
Outside of Drake, The Weeknd is perhaps the biggest rapper and producer to come out of Canada in quite some time. From his debut, “House of Balloons” to last year’s “Starboy,” he’s shot to the top of the Billboard chart and shows no signs of stopping. In the interim, he’s scored approximately nine Juno awards and a couple of American Music Awards to boot.