BestNewBands.com’s Concert Picks for the Week of 10/18

rye-rye-remixes

Who: M.I.A. featuring Rye Rye
Where: Roseland Theater in Portland, OR
When: Monday, October 18th at 9 p.m.
Cost: $25 – purchase tickets here
Age Restrictions: All Ages


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the_morning_benders

Picked By: Kelly Montgomery
Who: The Morning Benders (with Twin Sister and Cults)
Where: The Doug Fir Lounge in Portland, OR
When: Tuesday, October 19th at 9 p.m.
Cost: $12 Adv, $15 Day of
Age Restrictions: 21+

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sleighbells

Picked By: Cervante Pope
Where: Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa, CA
When: Tuesday, October 19th at 9 p.m.
Cost: $15
Age Restrictions: 21+

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CMJ_logo

Picked By: Laurel Johnston

This week marks the beginning of the 2010 CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival in New York City, beginning Tuesday October 19th and ending Saturday October 23rd. The massive amount of bands playing a plethora of different venues is more than overwhelming, let alone the amazing films that will be featured. As I was perusing the lineup, I tried specifically to seek out bands that I had heard good things about but was not yet entirely familiar with, and strangely enough I found three venues whose lineups piqued my interest. If I was in NYC for CMJ, I’d stick with the three B’s: Bell House, Big Top, and Brooklyn Bowl

Some of the highlights at Brooklyn Bowl include a free performance on Tuesday evening by indie/alt group Yo La Tengo at 8pm. On Wednesday, four Brooklyn acts will rule the stage and compete for bragging rights for their hometown. First up is Oberhofer at 8pm, a group whose music will keep you guessing as to the artists’ intentions and influences. Pop/dub/experimental group Keepaway is on at 9pm, and BRAHMS will perform at 10. BRAHMS, though unrelated to the classical composer, creates layered indie dance tunes are sometimes off-kilter but irresistibly catchy. Headlining at Brooklyn Bowl that evening will be Bear Hands, an experimental indie rock group who’s heavy on the jam. 

On Saturday, Big Top will feature Devotchka at 10:15pm, a delightful group from Denver that romps through many styles, all of them extremely easy on the ears. One moment I was reminded of Gogol Bordello‘s haunting folk songs and in the next, a crooning melody like that of Roy Orbison. Opening for Devotchka that evening at 9:30 is the Australian duo Angus & Julia Stone, a group whose brand of breathy acoustic folk will also grace the stage at The Bell House on Friday at 9pm. 

The Bell House will feature music from 8pm until 2am on both Wednesday and Friday. Wednesday night I would be sure to catch female-led Sky Larkin performing at 9:50pm, a group from the UK whose unique take on indie and idol rock keeps them in your ears long after you’ve turned off their record. I was surprised to see them listed with the other groups on the bill, most of which are electronica, dub, or dance. Variety is the spice of life, and the group playing before Sky Larkin at 9:15 helps bridge the gap between indie, dance, and psychedelic. Their name is Sherlock’s Daughter, and their relatively relaxed, sometimes ambient sound is in delightful contrast to Parallels, a futuristic, energetic synth fantasy that will hit the stage at 11:45.  Also pumping up the volume is Canadian duo Woodhands and California’s crunkfunk group Hottub. Both groups will be hitting the audience hard with their unstoppable techno-pop beats when they perform on Friday at 12:30am and 1:30am respectively.  

If you’re in New York City this week, don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of this music, film, and cultural exchange!

Bell House is located at 149 7th Street, and Brooklyn Bowl is located at 61 Wythe Avenue. Both venues are located in Brooklyn, New York. Big Top is located at Damrosch Park, on the southwest corner of the Lincoln Center Plaza at 62nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues.Tickets vary in price by venue, and most shows are 18 and up or 21 plus. For more information on the venues or lineup, please click here.

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91-atlg

Picked By: Daniel Kohn
Where: The Troubadour in West Hollywood, CA
When: Thursday, October 21st at 8 p.m.
Cost: $12 Adv, $15 Day of
Age Restrictions: All Ages

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bio_bluescholars

Where: WOW Hall in Eugene, OR
When: Thursday, October 21st and Friday, October 22nd at 9 p.m.
Cost: $15
Age Restrictions: All Ages

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AlexDezen

Picked By: Lauren Novik

I’m going to chalk up my consistent indecision of picking just ONE show selection to satisfying my inner Gemini- because as you’ve all come to expect, this week is another double dose of music awesomeness in L.A.  Alex Dezen of The Damnwells begins his residency at Hotel Cafe this Thursday, October 21- and it’s NOT to be missed.  Tickets are 8 in advance, 10 at the door- and the show is strictly twenty-one and up, so grab your shoes and get to steppin’ because you need to be there.

MTB

In addition- because us L.A. kids are never satisfied, Minus The Bear will be rocking The Wiltern next Friday, October 22- and I don’t even need to tell you why you need to be there- the once under the radar Indie band is now a full fledged member of the music scene- and a force to be reckoned with at that!  Tickets start at $27.00 so make the investment and hook yourself up.  There’s a reason they’ve got your days.  And your nights.