This Week In Music: April 23 - 29

Jarvis Cocker

Monday, April 23

Jarvis Cocker

Webster Hall

$32

Ex-Pulp front-man, Jacko-mooner, intellectual and all-round style icon, Jarvis Cocker carries within him the same subversive, humorous and at times saucy reflections he did when making plans to “meet up in the year 2000” but perhaps minus some of the razzmatazz of his earlier efforts. His gifted underdog scribblings, hip-shaking and carefree fringe tossing remain intact after all these years (was it really 1995 when he and his cohorts headlined Glastonbury and overnight became a household name in the UK?) and he’s breezed beyond the Britpop window with the same apathy for convention as when he was miscast as one of its royalty. Highlights of the Rough Trade released Jarvis (just Jarvis!) include the Crimson and Clover-injected, Black Magic, Heavy Weather, Fat Children and From Auschwitz to Ipswich.

Tuesday, April 24

Patti Smith

Bowery Ballroom

$17

Legendary veteran punk artist Patti Smith returns to the stage having recently entered her 60’s. Who says that youth is wasted on the young? Though not commercially successful, Smith's influence across many music genres is immense. She is truly an icon of New York's original punk scene but her talent as a singer-songwriter, poet, and human rights advocate has seen her transcend any genre or label.

Wednesday, April 25

Death Of Fashion

Club Midway

$8

Musicians and evidently urban philosophers, Death Of Fashion are a NYC (via Indiana) 4-piece dedicated to 70’s influenced punk-meets-art-rock. They’re reminiscent of bands such as The Birthday Party and perhaps vocally some traces of Jim Morrison. The path Death Of Fashion walk is a well trodden one, especially given the city in which they’re drawing their influences but this is not enough to dismiss them. Their music still balances itself well against some of their contemporaries and manages to incorporate both dark (Soldier Soldier, Porcelain Voice) and light (These Days, Come Alone) interpretations which make them all the more difficult to pigeon hole – that can’t be at all bad now can it.

Thursday, April 26

The Fratellis

Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza

$17.75

Yes, it’s that iPod song you can’t get out of your head. You know the one by those Scots who just nabbed themselves a Brit Award earlier this year for "Best British Breakthrough Act"? The Fratellis may have arrived at the "brandy in the den" portion of the whole cross-over indie-rock dinner party but don’t dismiss them unduly because these lads know their way around a song (complete with bah-da-bahs!).

Friday, April 27

Cary Brothers

Bowery Ballroom

$20 door/ $18 adv

NYC.com has had enough pseudo-epic pop-rockers who seem more concerned with imitation rather than imagination. Cary Brothers (his name!) is best recognized as lending his song, Blue Eyes to the indie touchstone soundtrack to Garden State but with his debut album slated for release through Bluhammock music (May 29^th) you’ll find captivating – dare I say it – U2esque offerings that manage to stay upright rather than twist and collapse under their own weight. Possibly a guilty pleasure but Brothers is one to keep an eye on. Check out the album’s title track, Who You Are.

Saturday, April 28

Dean & Britta

Maxwell’s

$15

New Zealand native and New York resident since 1977, Dean Wareham was an original member of the influential Indie outfit, Galaxie 500. He formed Luna in the early 90's who quietly achieved a solid fan base across the planet due to their breezy acoustic style that on occasion gestured in the direction of The Velvet Underground. It was in the latter stages of Luna (2000) that Britta Phillips joined the group and after seven albums, Luna broke up in 2005. Dean & Britta's sophomore album, Black Numbers is out now on Zoe/ Rounder Records.

Sunday, April 29

Modest Mouse

Union Palace Theatre

$37.50

Why be modest when you’ve stuck to your guns, evolved over more than a decade and come up with arguably the greatest record in your catalogue? Die-hards have spun on their heels and pushed their way through the Exit door with the release of the (always on point) Johnny Marr assisted, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank. The ex-Smiths guitarist must be pleased as punch that the new and improved Modest Mouse line-up has resulted in the first US Billboard #1 for either band. Let the champagne flow.

Tags:   Billboard, Club Midway, Dean And Britta, Death Of Fashion, Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza, Galaxie 500, Glastonbury Festival, Indie Rock, iPod, Jarvis Cocker, Johnny Marr, Luna, Maxwells, Modest Mouse, New Music, NYC Bands, Patti Smith, Pulp, Punk Rock, Rough Trade, The Fratellis, The Smiths, U2, Union Palace Theatre, Webster Hall

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Posted on 4/23/2007 ( Permanent Link )
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