From celebrating Passover to remembering that’s it’s Easter to rejoicing that spring has finally arrived and then having snow /hail/sleet in the middle of the week, we all need a little break this weekend. Luck for us, it’s the most important holiday of all: 4/20. And let’s not forget Record Store Day precedes it groovily on Saturday. Let’s wind down and start counting down to the top shows to catch this weekend!
#10 Riff Raff, Grandtheft Irving plaza (Mon @7PM , $20)
Man, I love RiFF Raff. From the time I saw him on MTV’s from G’s To Gents to when he performed at Mad Decent and was booed off stage a few years ago. I can’t get enough of him. His cornrows, the way he speaks, the fact that James Franco was inspired by him! If you’re into hip hop and need a touch of shock and awe and comedy, go see Houston’s very own Riff Raff.
# 9 BangOn!NYC presents: “Easter Island” @ Super Secret Ware house in E. Willybee ( Sat @ 11PM, $45)
BangOn! NYC is back. We’ve raved about their shows in the past. These raves have rides, acrobatics, and fantastic electronic music. So if you want to party until the sun comes up join us at BangOn! this weekend.
#8 UNICYCLE LOVES YOU / HIGH WAISTED / STEEL PHANTOMS / SANCTUARIES @ CAKE SHOP (Thurs @8PM, $8)
Dream pop with hints of noise Unicycle Loves You is playing this show at Cake shop and will be joined by lo fi, dreampsych High Waisted, Nu wave Steel Phantoms (we crushed on them!), and Sanctuaries. Come catch them tonight cake shop!
#7 Challenger @ Bowery Electric (SUN@8PM, $8)
https://soundcloud.com/challengerforever/back-to-bellevue#t=0:10
NYC’s pop band Challenger draws comparisons to Small Black, newly inducted Hall of Famer Peter Gabriel, and Tanlines. There’s a grandiosity in each tune. The band’s second full length album comes out on May 27th. Plus, great stoner music.
#6 TRANS-CULTURE PARTY : Future is Half Baked (☆v☆) Masterclass ★ Mouthguard88 ★ Drunken Foreigner ★ King Konqubine @ TRANS PECOS (Sat @8PM. $8)
Out in Ridgewood where most of you might live, there’s a dance party happening on Wyckoff ave. They’re celebrating one the most important holidays of the year – 4/20. It’s BYOB.
#5 Dances EP Release Party w/ Eastern Hollowss + Painted Zeros @The Flat (Fri, @8PM)
Brooklyn based magazine Gigawatts and record label Black Bell present Dances EP release party. Dances is a Bushwick based band who infuses 90s garage rock with psychedelia. They are playing with friends shoegzey/britpop Eastern Hollows and Painted Zeros.
#4 White Fang, Denny and the Jets , Hector Pets @Glasslands (Fri @8PM, $10)
Marijuana loving Portland based band White Fang is coming to Brooklyn Friday. If you like punky garager rockers West Coasters Ty Segall and Thee oh Sees this mellower version. Nothing wrong with mellow, man….The perfect band to catch at Glasslands this Friday.
#3 Betty Who @ Bowery Ballroom (Sat @8PM, $15)
We’ve all seen that cute video of the couple getting engaged at home Depot. Now it’s time to see the singer who sang the song during the flash mob dance. I saw this up and coming pop singer a few months ago, she covered the Spice Girls and brought a cute 7 year old to dance on stage with her and it was amazing! If you want to see an up and coming pop singer, Betty Who is your gal!
#2 Grass Is Green ~ The Gradients ~ Heeney ~ Tom Blacklung ~ Somewhere @ Emet (Fri, @8PM, $6)
Experimental punk rockers from Boston (and BD Friday First alumnis) Grass Is Green are coming to East Willybee on Friday. They’re playing with The Gradients, post punk Heeney. So trek to Emet and enjoy this amazing show and chill out.
For any one into their vinyl collection, like myself, this is the day is a national holiday, Several stores around the country are celebrating, selling records and limited edition copies. Record store Rough trade will be having performances all day long. I just named a few of the best!