Live: Azealia Banks didn’t just win the Twitter wars, she won the rap wars, both at the same epochal gig last Monday at Irving Plaza. A steaming hot, insanely crowded, perfect evening of hip hop. If there was ever any doubt, forget it folks. Azealia rules. Meanwhile, Shelby Lynne thought I was rude because of my mostly positive review of her gig at the Concert Hall.
Dead: BB King, the top electric blues guitarist died at 89 years of age. When I was 25, 89 seemed like old age, at 58 I think, cmon, he had a few more years left in him.
Recorded: The best album came from left field, Buffy Sainte-Marie’s late career masterpiece gives Native Americans an even better name. It took me completely by surprise. Novellas came in second, like if Haim were my bloody valentine. So a surprising week.
Tickets: $20 to see Greg Allman at Jones Beach. I’m not promising I’ll make it but I am promising I’ll try and if I don’t, hey it’s twenty bucks.
Sports: OK, so the Rangers are on to yet another round. Are you kidding me? Another round before the finals. Well, at least they’ve won their first game. Meanwhile, the Mets Aand the Yanks fell to earth. And finally, Isiah Thomas hired to manage the Liberty? Hahahahahahahaaaaaaaa….
Television: Can you believe the last weeks of Letterman are not on VOD, you have to pay for it.
This Is The Week That Will Be: Tedeschi Trucks open Summerstage, Courtney Barnett at Webster Hall and my nephew getting married next Sunday. Oh, and I should be ready to write my review of Robert Christgau’s memoir