In and Out: "If You Miss These You Must Hate Music"

Le Loup looking coy

What's up, mothers, sisters, daughters and wives? Yeah, with CMJ just around the corner you'd think things would be cooling out around New York - everyone settling in before the storm of good and bad music that will descend on us in just three weeks. You'd think things would be weak. You'd think this city would shut down, prepare. And you would think wrong. This is another big week of shows (centering on Wednesday and Saturday where literally anything can happen) and you had better be ready. Swallow that or spit it out.

Tuesday, October 2

The Mountain Goats w/ The Bowerbirds @ Studio B: John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats was asked by a journalist if he felt his 2006 album Get Lonely was "approachable enough." Darnielle pointed to a woman who walked in with the writer and said, "is that your girlfriend?" The journalist replied that yes, in fact, she was his girlfriend. Darnielle then asked, "and do you love her?" The writer agreed that yes he did, in fact, love her. Darnielle said, "go over there, break up with her and break her heart. Then go home, listen to my album and see if you can relate to it." BAM! How cool is that? He just might be the most-emo, non-emo singer in history.

Wednesday, October 3

I'm not going to write up individual show previews because, frankly, there's just too much going on. I will say this: On Wednesday night in the New York metropolitan area, between the hours of 7pm and 12pm, the following bands are playing: Le Loup, Bowerbirds, Patrick Wolf, Tigercity, Secret Machines, Bloc Party and Tokyo Police Club. On the high end, you can pay a shitload of money to see Bloc Party with TPC opening and on the low end, you can pay nothing and catch Tigercity with Stylofone at Southpaw.

I'm putting a personal recommendation for Le Loup because 1) they've been getting written up in virtual every credible publication (P-fork, stereogum, blah, blah, blah) besides this one and 2) I went to college with the front-man Sam Simkoff. They are a knee-jerk comparison to the freak-folk movement (not an entirely bad thing) but sound more like an ethereal version of Wild Light, a band who has been opening for Arcade Fire on their recent tour. Yeah, Le Loup could be headed in directions like that too. The Washington, DC kids swear by these guys and apparently they killed Canal Room about a month ago. Check it out, Bowery Ballroom, inexplicably opening for the neo-emo Long Islanders, Nightmare of You.

Thursday, October 4

Head to the Hiro Ballroom for a DJ set from Simian Mobile Disco member, James Ford. Oh yeah, and this is also free with an RSVP. So between Wednesday and Thursday, you could catch Tigercity, Stylofone, and a member of Simian Mobile Disco all for ZERO dollars. And if you're working a job that doesn't pay, or doesn't pay a lot - this. is. your. week. Get after it.

Friday, October 5

Members of the Loose family are probably going to be rolling to Minus the Bear at Warsaw, if for no other reason than to have Chuck shut the fuck up about how amazing they are and how we have to see them. Fact is, he's probably right and this band could blow your doors off without even trying. Wamp. Wamp.

Saturday, October 6

Could the week end on any bigger of a note? The amazing, five-band show on Randall's Island kicks off around 4pm and you can catch Wild Light, Les Savy Fav, Blonde Redhead, LCD Soundsystem, and Arcade Fire - pretty much in that order. If you never got into Arcade Fire or LCD, seeing them live will change your mind (if not your life, Zach Braff). They are two of the best and biggest touring bands on the circuit right now and this show, should you make it all the way out there, will be epic in scope and execution. I cannot stress this enough. Find 40 dollars and go. Just go.

Now, if you can't make it, we recommend checking Caribou and Heavens over at the Bowery. Don't say we don't give you options. It's cheaper and while all the hipsters have fled Manhattan proper for god-knows-where Randall's Island, you might have the place to yourself. It'll be like the beginning of Vanilla Sky but with louder music and no Cameron Diaz.

Your body made a promise. BOOM.