The most anticipated concert of the year, even if, like me, you haven’t enjoyed much of anything U2 have recorded since 2000, even if that, seeing them in the relatively small confines of MSG is an honor. The last time I saw Bono and the boys at this venue,October 2001, the encore. “One” was accompanied by “a backdrop that scrolled the names of all the victims of the Sept 11 attacks, including lists of NYPD and NYFD casualties” (as Ben Walden put it).The show I saw was the one when members of the FDNY came on stage. I took this off their website: “During Walk On when Bono had the FDNY come on stage. They shook hands, the firefighters spoke, Bono sang with his firefighter hat and FDNY shirt on. After Walk On, the firefighters spoke and kept speaking after U2 left the stage. Then U2 came back out and played Out of Control with the firefighters on stage. It was an absolutely amazing experience. Absolutely moving!” No other band, except maybe Bruce, could have done it. Their first indoor arena shows since 2005, I am going on Sunday.
Monday – Floetry – BB Kings – The poets cum soul duo have come back off hiatus.
Tuesday – Neil Young – Jones Beach – The 28 song setlist from their Bethel Woods gig last night was very impressive and the new album is very impressive. So go be impressed.
Tuesday – Mekons – Bowery Ballroom – The last best punk rock band from the first wave of UK punk rock bands still standing, go pay your respects.
Wednesday – Courtney Barnett, Speedy Ortiz, Torres – Terminal 5 – For many people this is simply the state of the rock and roll art form.
Thursday – Steeleye Span – BB Kings – “ALL AROUND MY HAT”!!! English folkies from the early 1970s.
Thursday – Warren Haynes featuring Railroad Earth – Town Hall – I guess if you have a limitless supply of bands you can play New York 20 times a year!
Thursday – Tommy Stinson – Bowery Electric – The Replacements’ bassist has a pretty good new single “Can’t Be Bothered”.
Saturday – Trixie Whitley – Mercury Lounge – The superb blues scion, at a very intimate venue.
Saturday – Screeching Weasel, the Queers, the Mr. T Experience – Webster – A veritable feast of proto punk.
Saturday – Titus Andronicus – Shea Stadium -This is the second of a five night residency leading up to the release of The Most Lamentable Tragedy (on Merge by the way) on July 31st -all sold out and this is the one I’m going to. Should be outstanding.
Saturday – US Air Guitar : Eastern Conference Finals – Bowery Ballroom – I swear, if I wasn’t gonna be at Titus I would be here: no doubt.
Saturday – Zappa Plays Zappa – Beacon Theatre – Zappa fanatic Mark Reichenbach promises a really great show… we will see but I trust Mark in all things Zappa -hell, he even sent me a clip of Van Morrison and Frank recording together. On Foo Fighters, I am less certain.
Sunday – Nicki Minaj, Meek Mill, Rae Sremmurd, Tinashe, Dej Loaf – Barclay Center – The one time I saw her, opening for Britney Spears, she was awful but if I could be in two places at the same time, I would be here as well
A Sunday guest pick from Mark Reichenbach
“1 hour bus ride to a great event in NJ. The NJ Festival of Ballooning. Great line-up, bring your own seats and then enjoy the hot air balloons after you’ve been laid out by the Wheels of Soul Tour. Buy tickets here. And here’s the bus for the city folk.”
