Active Viewin': rock nyc Concert Picks Week Of April 7th, 2014

Yusuf Islam

First, I couldn’t care less about the “Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame” and even if I did I would have my doubts here:  Peter Gabriel, Cat Stevens, Linda Ronstadt, Hall & Oates, Nirvana, the E Street Band, Brian Epstein and Andrew Loog Oldham. Particularly since Kurt is dead and Linda is ill. And I don’t really consider Cat Stevens rock and roll by any stretch of the lexicon. But the chance to see Cat perform? I couldn’t be more excited. Thursday at Barclay Center.

Monday – Lady Gaga – Roseland – And so everything dies and this is the end of Roseland.

Tuesday – Danny Brown – MHOW – Old is the best hip hop album in recent memory.

Wednesday – London Grammar – Irving Plaza – The best UK band in recent memory,new single “Devil Inside” is one of the best in the year.

Thursday – Pentatonix – Beacon Theatre – That “Daft Punk” song made me a believer of this A Cappella band

Friday – Valerie Simpson – BB Kings – So no, not Gospel but the hits of Ashford And Simpson

Friday – James Vincent McMorrow – MHOW – Hot electro folkie with a terrific new album under his belt.

Saturday – The Julie Ruin – Asbury Lanes -I don’t usually recommend a trip to the swamps of Jersey BUT Screaming Females and Shellshag are opening.

Saturday – Trixie Whitley – Mercury Lounge – Last summer, the blues great’s live shows were on a whole other level.

Sunday – Cloud Nothings – MHOW – The newbie is the best rock album of the year so far.