Music

Seven Days, Seven Shows

The concerts to see from July 19-25

by Josh Kurp   |   Jul 19, 2010

Seven Days, Seven Shows

Photo: soulrush, via Flickr

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Monday, July 19
Deer Tick
Maxwell’s, 8 p.m.

Lead singer John McCauley and his gruff voice and folk/blues sound is from Rhode Island, so head to Maxwell’s and show him how us big city folk do it. Not sure what “it” is exactly, but I’m sure Rhode Island doesn’t have “it,” whatever “it” is. $12

Tuesday, July 20
Rufus Wainwright
Prospect Park Bandshell, 7 p.m.

Come “Celebrate Brooklyn” with Rufus and his father, Loudon Wainwright III. The Wainwrights are a talented family, but only Rufus has acted in an Academy Award-winning film (L’Âge des Ténèbres), written an opera (Prima Donna) and appeared on the Shrek soundtrack. Tonight’s performance will include a selection of Judy Garland songs. $56

Wednesday, July 21
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
Governors Island (Water Taxi Beach), 6 p.m.

Normally the idea of freak folk ensembles is nauseating, but there’s something endearing about Alex “Edward Sharpe” Ebert and his merry band of psychedelic bohemians. Sure, it’s all a façade and there’s a bit too much dancing around in a circle, but the music itself is what Arcade Fire would sound like if they worked with Phil Spector (and he wasn’t in jail).

Thursday, July 22
The Beach Boys
Asser Levy/Seaside Park, 7:30 p.m.

This free show is exactly what Coney Island sound like it if, y’know, it could sing and all. First, you’ve got the Beach Boys (well, Mike Love, Bruce Johnston and a bunch of other guys), but also the Turtles, the Monkees (featuring only Micky Dolenz) and Mark Lindsay, former lead singer of Paul Revere and the Raiders. It’s like the mid-’60s never ended. Free

Friday, July 23
Modest Mouse
Williamsburg Waterfront, 6:30 p.m.

I’m one of those jerks who often complains that a band’s older material is, obviously, their best, and that the recent stuff isn’t essential. I tried to make that case with Modest Mouse once, claiming The Moon and Antarctica is the group’s best (true) and last good (not true) album. Good News for People Who Love Bad News is very good (including “Float On”) and We Were Dead Even Before the Ship Sank ain’t too shabby, either. So, clearly I was wrong, and somehow, Modest Mouse keep releasing quality records—and, with all due respect to Explosions in the Sky, the longest album titles of any current band. $36

Saturday, July 24
Hard NYC, featuring M.I.A.
Governors Island (South Island Field), 4 p.m.

We told you about this last week, and we still recommend it. $55

Sunday, July 25
The Beets
Silent Barn, 8 p.m.

My favorite band named after a fictional Nickelodeon group who themselves were a fictional version of the Beatles. Two of the Beets are from Jackson Heights, Queens, and you know who else is from Jackson Heights: Helen Kane, the real-life Betty Boop. That has nothing to do with the Beets, but it’s pretty cool.