Aug 21 – Aug 27 • Essential Weekly Concert Guide • NYC Edition

Joseph Baura

Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden Arena | Aug. 21
One of music’s most iconic piano men, Billy Joel has a track record virtually unmatched by any solo artist. With several Grammy awards, an induction into the rock and roll hall of fame, and a career that boasts several platinum albums and hit songs, Billy Joel is one of music’s living legends. Joel will be returning to New York for his residency at Madison Square Garden Arena to perform “NY State of Mind” and his many other hits.

Midnight Oil at Terminal 5 | Aug. 21
The Oils came out of Australia in the 1970s as one of the continent’s greatest musical acts. Known for their new wave sound that blends with hard rock, Midnight Oil has taken a stance on the world’s issues through their music and has been recognized in Australia for their efforts with the honor of being inducted into ARIA’s Hall of Fame.

Old Crow Medicine Show at Brooklyn Steel | Aug. 21
In folk music, there aren’t many acts out there that stay as grounded in the traditional sound of folk as the Old Crow Medicine Show. Coming from humble beginnings as buskers on street corners from New York to Canada, Old Crow Medicine Show has gone on to win best folk album in 2014 and have become honorary inductees. Along with their traditional folk sound, Old Crow Medicine Show takes inspiration from the blues that blossomed during the 1940s.

Dave Chappelle w/ Solange at Radio City Music Hall | Aug. 22 + w/ Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), Talib Kweli | Aug. 23 + Dave Chappelle’s Birthday Show w/ John Mayer, Ali Wong, Lil Jon | Aug. 24
With what has already been a stellar month at Radio City Music Hall, Dave Chappelle continues his residency at the famed venue with three more star-studded shows. Beginning the week will be r&b songstress Solange, followed by Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli, better known as the rap duo Blackstar, and Chris Tucker. To end Chappelle’s residency at Radio City Music Hall will be a special birthday show for Chappelle, featuring a standup set from Ali Wong and musical performances from Lil Jon and John Mayer.

Aesop Rock at Music Hall of Williamsburg | Aug. 23
Since his introduction into hip hop in the late 90s, Aesop Rock has been an outspoken piece in what is considered to be the “conscious rap” part of the genre. As both rapper and producer, Aesop Rock has worked with artists such as El-P of Run the Jewels, Slug, Kimya Dawson, and Homeboy Sandman. With his deep and well thought lyrics, Aesop Rock’s music has become the subject of music courses at universities and he has been labeled as one of the most verbose rappers today.

Azealia Banks at Highline Ballroom | Aug. 23
Azealia Banks is a figure in hip hop that is often polarizing for her outspoken voice about many things in pop culture. While that aspect may be controversial, her sharp tongue is what has made Banks’ music so addicting to listen to. With her quick-witted flows and bouncy, lighthearted to hard-hitting production, Azealia Banks will be resurging with the release of her next album, “Fantasea II: The Second Wave” which will be released very soon.

Bonobo at Brooklyn Steel | Aug. 23
Bonobo, also known as Simon Green, has been bringing solid production with his electronic music for nearly a decade. With his recent album, “Migration,” Bonobo brought more of his signature sound with a more poised structure and dreamy textures that have come out of his own personal strife. In all of the dreary situations that the world is currently finding itself in, Bonobo looks to turn all the negativity into a bright light of hope with his deeply emotional and intellectual tracks.

John Mayer at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater | Aug. 23
With the release of his latest album, “The Search For Everything,” John Mayer came back to the smooth, blues inspired sound that has made him one of rock’s best guitarists today. Mayer’s intoxicating songs about love, heartbreak, and bringing positivity to the world are just enhanced by his masterful manipulation of his guitar that is prone to bringing a heavy hit to the soul.

Madame Ghandi at MoMA | Aug. 24
Coming out of Los Angeles, Madame Ghandi is known for her music as well as her work in activism. Growing up in both New York and Bombay, Ghandi began to develop her love for drumming at a very young age and took her passion with her throughout her time at Georgetown University and Harvard. Ghandi has played the drums for bands such as Thievery Corporation, and after a chance meeting with M.I.A., Ghandi took to the road to be M.I.A.’s drummer on tour. Ghandi has since released her debut album, “Voices,” in 2016.

Mix Master Mike at Highline Ballroom | Aug. 24
Proclaimed as “the World’s Greatest DJ,” Mix Master Mike is truly one of hip hop’s living legends. For many years, Mix Master Mike has been the genius behind the boards for equally legendary Beastie Boys, whom he had been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with, and as a solo act, he has gone on to win consecutive titles in the DMC World Championships. Currently on tour with Metallica, Mix Master Mike continues to push the boundaries of turntablism with his iconic mixes.

Pepper w/ Tribal Seeds at The Paramount | Aug. 24
Since forming in 1997, Pepper has always stayed true to their Southern California and Hawaiian roots. Bred in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Pepper brings a relaxing island sound rich in elements of reggae, rock, and ska. Their latest offering, “Ohana,” continues to push forward with their signature sound and has put an emphasis on paying homage to their homeland by stripping things down and keeping their music simple and relatable.

The Temptations, The Four Tops, Mary Wilson at Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk | Aug. 24
The Temptations and The Four Tops came around during the boom of the Motown music era and suddenly became stars with their beautifully soulful sounds. As true pioneers of the r&b genre, The Temptations propelled the genre with hits such as “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” and “My Girl,” as The Four Tops did the same with their hits “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” and “Baby I Need Your Loving.”

UPF Benefit Show ft. Heems, Drop Electric, Small Leaks Sink Ships at Brooklyn Bazaar | Aug. 24
In celebration of the UPF, Brooklyn Bazaar will be holding a charity event featuring a plethora of artists. Headlining the events for the night will be Brooklyn based rappper, Heems.  As part of the rap group Das Racist, Heems became known as a slick tongued emcee with quick rhymes. After breaking out in 2012 with his mixtape, “Nehru Jackets,” following the break up of Das Racist, Heems continued to push on with his music career and released  his debut album, “Eat Pray Thug.” Known for his outspoken voice against social injustices, Heems is a bright spot in the area of conscious rap.

Bouncing Souls w/ Lucero + Menzingers at Stone Pony Summer Stage | Aug. 25
Hailing from New Brunswick, N.J.,, the Bouncing Souls  jumped into the punk scene and reinvigorated the “pogo” element of punk rock. With their light hearted and fast paced songs, the Souls have played a major piece in the East Coast punk scene.

Hank Williams Jr. w/ Lynyrd Skynyrd at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater | Aug. 25
With his blend of southern rock, blues, and classically traditional country, Hank Williams Jr. followed in the footsteps of his father and has since paved a way of his own. After a near death experience, Williams had an epiphany and was inspired to create the sound that he has made his own throughout his long career. With a perfect balance between rock and soul, Williams has become of country’s most iconic artists.

Jai Wolf at Brooklyn Steel | Aug. 25
Born in Bangladesh, Jai Wolf’s style of production in his mixes often shares glimpses of the culture that he grew up with. The sound of his childhood compliments the often hip hop style beats that he uses as samples while also giving tinges of trap and trance.

Jon B at B.B. King Blues Club | Aug. 25
During the surge of r&b artists in the 90s with artists such as Babyface, Brian McKnight and Keith Sweat taking over the airwaves, another powerhouse was Jon B. His soulful and seductive tracks such as “Are U Still Down,” and “Pretty Girl” were anthems for those looking to bring some romance to their evenings. As a songwriter, Jon B wrote for the likes of Luther Vandross, Toni Braxton, and rappers like Scarface and Ol Dirty Bastard.

Kendrick Lamar w/ Travis Scott at Prudential Center | Aug. 25
Kendrick Lamar has come from humble beginnings out of Compton, Calif. to selling out arenas around the world and is arguably hip hop’s biggest act around. With the release of his album, “DAMN,” Lamar released what is considered to be his most prolific and focused album yet with a balanced take on both conscious rap and heavy hitting club bangers. The self-proclaimed “Kung Fu Kenny,” has been knocking down the competition one by one and stands at the top as the lone king of rap.

Kitty w/ Teen Suicide at Baby’s All Right | Aug. 25
After breaking out in 2012 with her song “Okay Cupid” which ended up as a viral hit and also receiving a co-sign from rapper Riff Raff, Kitty broke out onto the music scene. With a laidback, monotone voice, Kitty brings a unique sound with her rhymes that makes her music sound personal and intimate. Her performance will be in celebration of the release of her debut album, “Miami Garden Club.”

Lil Yachty at Terminal 5 | Aug. 25
With his red braids and his great smile, Lil Yachty is beaming with positivity. Also known as Lil Boat, Lil Yachty is one of hip hop’s most promising young acts with a sound that is equal parts pop and rap. While his music isn’t exactly “bubblegum,” Yachty brings a bounce in his music that is highly infectious and uplifting, which makes his shining personality shine through each of his songs.

Paramore at Good Morning America Central Park SummerStage | Aug. 25
After their breakout album, “All We Know is Falling” in 2005,  Paramore hit the alt rock/pop punk scene with a highly energetic bombshell all led by their frontwoman, Hayley Williams. Since then, the band has had successful singles such as “Misery Business,” “That’s What You Get,” “Aint It Fun,” and “Hard Times.” The band’s recent album, “After LAug.hter,” continues on with the band’s hot streak with another fun album surely inspired by Williams’ charisma and light hearted personality.

Brick + Mortar at Sunnyvale | Aug. 26
Before finding music, Brick +  Mortar’s Brandon Asraf and John Tacon were unsure of what their purpose in life would be. However after joining together and finding their sound in Indie Rock, Brick + Mortar have since released several EPs, including their most recent project, “Dropped EP.” Their take on indie rock is a combination of soul and rock that feels like it was pulled out from the 60s and inspired by bands such as the Rolling Stones and The Beatles.

Gary Clark Jr. w/ Michael Kiwanuka at Stone Pony Summer Stage | Aug. 26
As one of the most revered blues and soul guitarists of his generation, Gary Clark Jr. has become one of the biggest acts to come out of his hometown of Austin, Texas, as of late. His critically received debut album, “Blak and Blu,” skyrocketed the guitarist into the limelight, and Clark’s smooth guitar tunes have been used in countless films, commercials and television shows.  Clark Jr. will be joined with soul artist, Michael Kiwanuka, who has been slowly making his mark on the r&b landscape with his music that holds a light to artists like Marvin Gaye and Bill Withers.

Goldroom at Pier 40 | Aug. 26
After dabbling in music during his years in college at USC, Josh Legg found his way into producing music and decided to go under the name Goldroom, which was inspired by a favorite bar of his in Los Angeles. Goldroom has produced remixes of songs such as “Mother Protect” by Niki and the Dove and has gone on to release several EPs featuring his production which mixes sounds that are akin to artists like Daft Punk, LCD Soundsystem, and Nirvana.

Marc Anthony at Madison Square Garden Arena | Aug. 26
Marc Anthony is easily one of the biggest solo male acts to come out of South America with a career that boasts two Grammy Awards and 12 million albums sold worldwide, making him Salsa’s greatest selling artists of all time. Best known for his range from sultry, love ballads to dance inducing hits, Marc Anthony blends a pop, with a classical salsa sound that is sure to inspire anyone to dance.

Afropunk ft. Gary Clark Jr., Michael Kiwanuka, Dizzee Rascal, Sampha, Thundercat, Macy Gray, The Cool Kids, Anderson Paak, Kaytranada at Commodore Barry Park | Aug. 26 + 27
What is being described as “the most multicultural festival in the US,” Afropunk has expanded from its origins in Brooklyn to offering shows across the world from Paris to Johannesburg. The Brooklyn offering of the festival is where it all started however and this year boasts one of its most promising lineups yet. From blues rockers like Gary Clark Jr. and Thundercat to explosive acts such as Dizzee Rascal and Anderson Paak, this year’s offering of Afropunk is bringing music to appeal to all tastes and preferences.

Deep Purple w/ Alice Cooper at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater  | Aug. 26 + PNC Bank Arts Center | Aug. 28
With songs such as “Smoke on the Water” and “Strange Kind of Woman,” Deep Purple are easily one of hard rock’s most iconic acts. Hailing from Hertford, England, the band has been given the title of being one of the loudest bands alive and has sold over 100 million albums worldwide. Sharing the stage with Deep Purple will be shock rocker Alice Cooper, who is known for his hits such as “School’s Out.” From Deep Purple’s hypnotic tunes to Cooper’s ear ringing anthems, the one two punch is one that shouldn’t be missed.

Luke Bryan at Northwell Heath at Jones Beach Theater | Aug. 27
As one of country’s modern heartthrobs, Luke Bryan has been winning fans over both with his charm and stadium filling country tunes. Since breaking out with his debut album, “I’ll Stay Me,” in 2009, Bryan has gone on to release four more studio albums, including those three platinum albums. Influenced by traditional country artists such as George Strait, Alan Jackson, and Merle Haggard, Bryan brings in minor elements of genres such as hip hop to make a sound that is entirely his own.

Valerie June at Central Park SummerStage | Aug. 27
Coming out of Tennessee, there’s no doubt that Valerie June inherited a ton of soul from the soil that bred her. With the release of her album, “Pushin’ Against a Stone” in 2013, June has been regarded as one of music’s most intriguing artists of her generation. Spending many years crafting her sound, June followed up her first album with a project that put her sound and range to the test with, “The Order of Time.” With a sound that takes aspects of soul, country, blues, folk and r&b and puts it all into a beautiful package, June truly has a lot to offer music fans.