Essential Concert Guide • NYC Edition • Jan. 30 – Feb. 12

Jeff Moses

Mondo Cozmo at The Mercury Lounge | Jan. 31
Mondo Cozmo is still a new name as it pertains to the American musical landscape, but he is already piquing the interest of thousands of fans nationwide. His tunes are innovative while at the same time totally familiar. It certainly doesn’t hurt that he got movie star Anna Faris to star in his first big video. Mercury Lounge will definitely be a great environment to catch the young man, because given another year or two of growth, intimate venues like it will be a distant memory for him.

Isaiah Rashad at HighLine Ballroom | Jan. 31 – Feb. 1
Isaiah Rashad may only have one E.P. and one L.P. under his belt thus far, but he is making his presence felt in a huge way within hip-hop circles. He’s a young up and coming rapper, who by the sheer strength of his debut E.P. alone found himself named part of XXL’s Magazine’s 2014 Freshman Class. Since then, he has found nothing but wide critical acclaim for his unrelenting style of underground hip-hop.

Bear’s Den at Bowery Ballroom | Feb. 1
Since Mumford and Son’s struck it big, folk music has really been having a huge resurgence at a national and international level. There may be no better proof of that than the massive success of England’s Bear’s Den. With some prestigious awards and the respect of fans and critics nationwide, the limey folksters are preparing to sweep into one of New York City’s premiere midsize venues for an intimate evening with the Big Apple’s biggest folk fans.  

Austin Awake at Knitting Factory Brooklyn | Feb. 1
23-year-old YouTube sensation Austin Awake is trading in his vastly popular cover videos for a full live set of his original hip-hop music. With more than 90,000 followers on YouTube, his show at Brooklyn’s Knitting Factory will definitely be a hot ticket. The artist himself will surely want to show the live audience that he is about so much more than interesting covers of popular music.

Cloud Nothings w/ Lvl Up at Webster Hall | Feb. 1
On Jan. 27, Cleveland based Cloud Nothings released their fourth studio album “Life Without Sound”, so what else would they do to follow the release except hit the road for a lengthy tour? Naturally, like any other musicians looking to pump their new tunes, they are hitting New York City early and in one of the city’s most notable venues.

Maren Morris w/ Ryan Hurd at Bowery Ballroom | Feb. 2
Maren Morris released her first studio record at the tender age of 15 and hasn’t really spent much time looking back since then. With three more releases following her debut, the Austin born songstress has cornered the country market and found herself nominated for the Best New Artist Grammy at the upcoming 59th Annual award ceremony, just 10-days after her date at Bowery Ballroom.

Tokimonsta at Output | Feb. 2
Los Angeles based producer and DJ, Tokimonsta holds the distinction of being the first female artist ever signed to Flying Lotus’s Brainfeeder label back in 2010 and has done everything but rest on her laurels since then. She has produced remixes for some of the hottest artists including Justin Timberlake. She is also one of the most sought after club DJ’s in L.A.

White Lies at Music Hall of Williamsburg | Feb. 2
Ealing, London, England’s White Lies shed their former moniker Fear of Flying more than a decade ago and have been soaring higher and higher ever since. They are a five-piece post-punk outfit with a huge sound often compared to groups like The Killers and Joy Division. Their fourth studio album, “Friend’s”, is just starting to gain some steam after its October release.

The Lumineers at Madison Square Garden | Feb. 2 – Feb. 3
If any band in the country has been riding the wave of folk music’s resurgence harder than the Mumford’s, it would have to be The Lumineers. While their tunes may be a lot more minimalist than their indie folk revival counterparts, they are still producing very similar music at an extraordinarily high level. After letting their debut record “The Lumineers” carry them as far as it could, they finally followed it up with a sophomore record in 2016 entitled “Cleopatra”.

AFI w/ The Souvenirs at Terminal 5 | Feb. 3
When a lot of music fans hear that AFI is coming to town, their initial response is, “Wow I can’t believe those guys got back together.” But what they don’t realize is AFI never broke up. They never stopped making music. Hell, they haven’t even had a lineup shift since 1998. The emo four-piece is touring on the back of their brand spanking new self titled record. Just 14 days after its release, they are bringing their new tunes to midtown Manhattan’s Terminal 5.

Bear’s Den at Music Hall of Williamsburg | Feb. 3
Since Mumford and Son’s struck it big, folk music has really been having a huge resurgence at a national and international level, and there may be no better proof of that than the massive success of England’s Bear’s Den. With some prestigious awards and the respect of fans and critics nationwide, the limey folksters are preparing to sweep into one of New York City’s premiere midsize venues for an intimate evening with the Big Apple’s biggest folk fans.

The Chain Gang of 1974 at Rough Trade | Feb 3
It’s hard to know whether former 3OH!3 touring bassist Kamtin Mohager is better known by his indietronica nom de plume, The Chain Gang of 1974 or not. Either way, he is doing some really interesting things with experimental sound and gaining a lot of notoriety along the way. He will definitely be a sight to behold inside the cozy environs of Rough Trade.

Josh Ritter at City Winery NYC | Feb. 3
There may not be a stronger milestone of success for a folk artist than having Joan Baez cover one of your tunes and that’s exactly what happened for Josh Ritter back in 2003. He’s an absurdly talented musician and songwriter who has been recognized by Paste Magazine as one of the 100 Greatest Songwriters alive. The question isn’t whether or not to catch him at the intimate City Winery, but which wine goes best with Americana?

LEON w/ Jacob Banks at Bowery Ballroom | Feb. 4
Judging by her 42 million and counting Spotify plays (and counting), it’s more or less safe to assume Stockholm Sweden’s LEON has come to make an impact on popular music. The enchanting indie pop upstart has only been making and performing her solo track’s since 2015, but with talent like her’s, two years is more than enough time to hop on the right track to global stardom.

Wyclef Jean at Terminal 5 | Feb. 4
Wyclef Jean may be one of the most underrated musical geniuses of our time. He posses an extremely rare combination of talents that include an apt ear for pop hits and a mind for socially conscious and relevant lyrics. Not everyone is able to split from as prolific as The Fugees and find even greater success, but Wyclef found a way. As influential and groundbreaking “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” is, it would be hard to understand why Wyclef Jean hasn’t had the greater solo career between himself, Ms. Hill and Pras.

LeAnn Rimes at Le Poisson Rouge | Feb. 4
When an artist who has sold more than 35 million records globally comes to town to play a venue that holds less than 500 people, you get off your butt and go! From the time she was a teenager, LeAnn Rimes has been poised to be a country icon and she has done nothing but deliver in her 20-year career. Catching an artist of this magnitude at a tiny venue like LPR is without a doubt, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. While it’s true that country music isn’t for everyone, anyone can appreciate that musical talent she possesses.

Dumbfounded w/ Year of the Ox at S.O.B.’s | Feb. 7
Even without his uncanny ability to rhyme, Los Angeles based M.C. Dumbfounded’s personal history may just leave you as just that. But mix in his mind blowing battle raps and even stronger studio recordings and it’s easy to see how the son of South Korean immigrants is making such a huge impact on the rap game today.

Birds of Chicago at The Mercury Lounge | Feb. 8
A lot of acts claim they are trying to bring music back to it’s roots and usually they mean the more classic sounds associated with each genre. When a group like Birds of Chicago say it, they mean music’s literal roots in human communication. Their approach is wildy different than just about every groupe going right now and that makes their sound quite different as well.

Dan Layus at Music Hall of Williamsburg | Feb. 9
It’s not exactly new for a rock ‘n roll lead singer to nix the band and head out solo to seek fortune and fame, but in the age of social media the act of going solo has changed just a tad. As of Aug. 3, 2016, SoCal based rock band Augustana changed all of the band’s social media to say Dan Layus, the name of the group’s lead singer and sole remaining original member. Two months later, Layus released his debut solo album “Dangerous Things” and is now readying himself for his first New York engagement since the change .

Ladies Night ft. Brian McKnight, Keith Sweat, Eric Benet, Jagged Edge, Dru Hill, Silk, Mario Winans, Big Daddy Kane at Barclays Center | Feb. 9
“Oh Yes, It’s Ladies Night” at The Barclay’s Center on Feb. 9, when some of R&B’s best known and most liked smooth mac daddies roll into Brooklyn to fog up the windows in the home of the Nets. The lineup is a who’s who of notorious ladies men and with that much suave in the house the big night is poised to be a great evening for lovers in Bed-Stuy.

LoCash w/ Michael Tyler at Irving Plaza | Feb. 9
Chris Lucas and Preston Brust are so good at what they do, that not only did they find the time in the 2010’s to release a barrage of their own hit songs, they helped Keith Urban and Tim McGraw pen a few as well. They are one of the hottest songwriting duos in country music today and even in the most urban of urban cities (New York), that still means something.

Flo Morrissey and Matthew E. White at Baby’s All Right | Feb. 9
12 years and 2,000 miles worth of ocean was not enough to keep 22-year-old English pop folk siren Flo Morrissey from finding her current dance partner, Matthew E. White of Virginia Beach, Va. The two highly touted artists came together to record a critically acclaimed album of covers called “Gentlewoman, Ruby Man” and are touring right into one of Brooklyn’s best midcard venues, Baby’s All Right.

Public Access T.V. w/ Splashh at Bowery Ballroom | Feb. 9
For a band that has recorded very little and have not really dropped their breakthrough album yet, Public Access T.V. has made a lot of noise internationally with their new wave revival. Without a debut album to stand on, the group managed to play some of the world’s biggest festivals and tour with some truly iconic acts including Weezer and The Strokes. Now, they are coming to headline in their hometown and with their debut album “Never Enough”. Finally in record stores, they might just be prepared to take that big step up from up and coming, to here and now.

Sampha at Terminal 5 |  Feb. 9
Not that his musical savvy needed a cosign from anyone, but Sampha got one from Kanye West and that says a lot, since Kanye helped launch the careers of contemporary superstars John Legend and Common, among many others, not to mention the huge role he played in the meteoric rise of Desiigner. If history tells us anything, it’s that Kanye knows how to pick them, so Sampha is definitely a show worth catching.

Whiskey Myers at The Gramercy Theatre | Feb. 9
Red Dirt fans can rejoice, as one of the finest purveyors of the country subgenre prepare to storm New York City. Still touring on the Sept. 9th release of their fourth studio album “Mud” with Wiggy Thump Records, Cody Cannon and his gang of miscreants from Palestine, TX are reshaping outlaw country in their own image.

Marcos Valle at Birdland | Feb. 9 + Feb. 11
Marcos Valle’s name may not ring many bells here in the States, but that doesn’t make the incredible multi-instrumentalist any less of a virtuoso. The 73-year-old musician has released more than 20 albums in his 5 decade musical career and has featured on or helped write more songs than can be counted.

Hand Habits at Baby’s All Right | Feb. 10
Meg Duffy never stops working and whether that means touring almost non-stop for the last 3-years with her 3 other projects, working on her solo act, Hand Habits or waiting tables at a pizzeria in her home base of North L.A., all of that hard work is starting to pay off. Feb. 10 will be the release party for her heavily awaited debut solo album, “Wildly Idle” and will be a can’t miss for any musical hipster hoping to say “I knew her work before she was cool.”

Bob Mould at City Winery NYC | Feb.10
Husker Du and Sugar may be names from alternative rock’s past, but that doesn’t mean frontman Bob Mould can’t get out and about with his solo stuff. The frontman of a band that influenced the birth of grunge still has a lot to offer musically. His choice of venue has matured with his crowd and he prepares to play a candlelit wine party in lower Manhattan.

Talib Kweli w/ Styles P at HighLine Ballroom | Feb. 10
All those people who were so fond of saying, “Hip-hop is dead,” must have not been listening to classic M.C.’s like Talib Kweli and Styles P. While their form of street lyricism may be taking a backseat in popularity to fad rappers like Lil Yachty and Lil Uzi Vert, both of them are seen as legends in the industry and easily two of the best of their time. Catching them in the intimate confines of Highline Ballroom will no doubt be a great experience.

Shy Girls at Music Hall of Williamsburg | Feb. 10
Dan Vidmar is the PBR&B singer, songwriter, and producer behind Shy Girls. While his long awaited debut record was just dropped in January, he has already made quite a name for himself opening for the likes of Maxwell, Little Dragon and Haim. Vidmar’s alternative R&B style also caught the attention of Odesza, who let Shy Girl’s feature on one of their tracks in 2014.

The Steeldrivers at Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts | Feb. 10
2016’s Grammy Award winner for Best Bluegrass Album, The Steeldrivers, are going to bring home the gold and celebrate with their NYC faithful. Since their 2008 debut, there have been big things happening for this band and it’s all due to their relentless tour schedule and otherworldly power over their instruments.

The Wood Brothers w/ T Sisters at Webster Hall | Feb. 10
Though both had quite successful careers separately, Chris and Oliver Wood found that they had the most fulfilling experience playing music together. This prompted them to form The Wood Brothers in the early 2000’s. Since forming up in 2004, The Wood Brothers have released nine records and have toured extensively throughout the U.S.  

Drive-By Truckers at Webster Hall | Feb. 11
11 albums, 20 years and who could even count how many shows, has made Drive-By Truckers one of the most popular bands in the history of southern rock and a major music festival mainstay. Even though they play a style of music that is most popular in the southern states, they have found huge success playing for the crowds with more northern sensibilities.

Matoma at Terminal 5 | Feb. 11
A Norwegian tropical house producer walks into a bar in New York City may sound like the beginning of a bad joke, but it is going to be a very real occurrence on Feb.11, when Matoma takes the stage at Terminal 5. The 25-year-old DJ has been turning house music on its ear for the last three years and with some major remixes. Notched on to his ProTools, there is to be no denying he’s here for real.

VHS Collection at Bowery Ballroom | Feb. 11
VHS Collection has been selling out shows on both coasts, but nothing bodes so well for the three piece groupe as playing in their home city. Their headlining set at Bowery Ballroom will be an absolute can’t miss for any real fan of New York City Music. It will be their home kick off toward the homestretch leading up the release of their debut full length this spring.

Patti LABelle at Kings Theatre | Feb. 11
Whether she’s most known for her smash hits like “Lady Marmalade” and “R-E-S-P-E-C-T”, or for her appearances in iconic movies like “The Blues Brothers”, Patti LaBelle is without a doubt, one of the most talented and famous women in the world. She has sold millions of records world-wide and is still touring deep into her golden years. Catching her at King’s Theatre really could be a once in a lifetime experience.

Bad Bad Hats at Baby’s All Right | Feb. 12
Bad Bad Hats 2015 debut L.P. “Psychic Reader” was so good, that nearly two years later, they are still comfortable touring on it in hopes of getting out to more people. That’s in no way saying that the group has stopped working on new music as they debut new tunes in bars and clubs nationwide, but the record really is a doozy and will remain a big part of their repertoire for years to come.