this week in music

BROOKLYN BEARDFEST AND STACHE BASH

The Bell House
149 Seventh St. between Second & Third Aves., Brooklyn
Monday, January 31, free, 7:30
718-643-6510
www.thebellhousenyc.com
www.facebook.com/event

It should be a hairy night at the Bell House on Monday as the Brooklyn Beardfest and Stache Bash celebrates facial hair with an evening of music, food and drink, and grooming presented by Russ Marshalek and the Wonder Twins. The free event includes performances by Neckbeard Telecaster, Los Encantados, Jon Mizrachi, and Beard-Lesque (with Magdalena Fox, Victoria Privates, Jenny C’est Quoi, and Rosey la Rouge), eats from Nachos NY, Kitchen 125, and Robicelli’s cupcakes, sets from DJ Russ and DJ Choyce Hacks, beard and mustache trims from the Parlour Brooklyn, jewelry and other accessories from Pink Baby Mouse, Maro Designs, Christine Domanic, Hot & Salty, Clark & Bettie, and Fred Flare, portraits taken by Heather Johnson, and a competition judged by beard lover Kari Ferrell, who recently tweeted, “Come and I will rub myself upon your face.” Don’t say you weren’t warned.

evanshinners and the SUITS!

Evan Shinners will lead the SUITS! at RocketHub record release party for Brian & Silbin at the Living Room tonight

The Living Room
154 Ludlow St. at Stanton St.
Saturday, January 29, free, 10:00
212-673-5179
www.evanshinners.com
www.livingroomny.com

The last time we saw Evan Shinners, he was inside a piano, blasting away at Beethoven backward as he moved the instrument-on-wheels across MoMA’s second-floor atrium as part of Allora & Calzadilla’s “Stop, Repair, Prepare” performance installation. Tonight Shinners and the SUITS!, a band of five Juilliard graduates, will be melding Bach, Liszt, Dylan, MIA, Eminem, and the blues at the Living Room in what Shinners calls the future of classical music. The gig is part of the first RocketHub showcase at the Lower East Side venue, celebrating the release of the crowdfunding label’s first album, by the music collective Brian & Silbin and Friends, who are also on the bill, along with Brooklyn singer-songwriter Jeannine Hebb, all of whom financed their latest recordings via RocketHub.

JULIA DARLING RECORD RELEASE PARTY

Julia Darling will celebrate her new album tonight at Rockwood Music Hall (photo by Jana Cruder Photography)

Rockwood Music Hall
184 Allen St. between Houston & Stanton Sts.
Friday, January 28, free, 9:30
212-477-4155
www.myspace.com/juliadarling
www.rockwoodmusichall.com

It’s been more than seven years since indie darling Julia Darling released her eponymous debut album, which included such charmers as “Let’s Do It Again,” “Photographs,” “Like Water, Like Rain,” and “Drunken Liar.” The Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter is now back with her highly anticipated follow-up, EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE, a delightful collection of twelve songs with a variety of instruments that expand her sound, from dobros and harmonicas to xylophones and Marxophones. She also gets help from a bevy of friends, ranging from singer and violinst Tracy Bonham and soul-jazz bassist Tim Luntzel to drummer Dan Rieser and guitarist John Andrews, in addition to her brother, Jon Darling. Early standouts include the horn-laden “Blow,” the far-from-ordinary “Ordinary,” and the nothing-less-than wonderful “A Wonderful Life.” The current psych major at Hunter, who also boasts her own Darling clothing line, will be celebrating the release of the record tonight at Rockwood Music Hall’s Stage 2, on a bill with Greg Holden (7:30), California (8:30), Dandelion Wine (10:30), Chappo (11:30), and Snarky Puppy’s Family Dinner (1:00).

2011 NIGHTLIFE AWARDS

Colin Quinn is among the Nightlife Award winners who will perform January 31 at the Town Hall (photo by Carol Rosegg)

Town Hall
123 West 43rd St. between Sixth & Seventh Aves.
Monday, January 31, $25-$75, 7:00
www.siegelpresents.com
www.the-townhall-nyc.org

The Nightlife Awards don’t believe in any messing around. They get right to the point, announcing in advance the winners, who, instead of making boring thank-you speeches that drag on and on and on, actually show why they are honorees, performing in front of a live audience. The ninth annual Nightlife Awards, celebrating the best in cabaret, comedy, and jazz, takes place January 31 at the Town Hall, including the following lineup: Colin Quinn, Outstanding Comedian in a Major Engagement; Christine Ebersole, Outstanding Cabaret Vocalist in a Major Engagement; husband-and-wife-team John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey, Outstanding Cabaret Duo or Group in a Major Engagement; Liz Lark Brown, Outstanding Cabaret Vocalist; the Rescignos, Outstanding Cabaret Duo or Group; Mark McCombs, Outstanding Cabaret Comedy or Characterization; Karen Oberlin, Outstanding Jazz Vocalist; Harry Allen, Outstanding Jazz Soloist; Microscopic Septet, Outstanding Jazz Combo or Big Band; Hannibal Burress, Outstanding Comedian; Harvard Sailing Team, Outstanding Comedy Duo or Group; and Aaron Weinstein, Special Award for Outstanding Debut. The evening will be hosted by Hollywood awards show veteran Bruce Vilanch, with additional appearances by Nellie McKay, Charles Busch, Julie Halston, Kim Caruso, Karen Akers, Billy Stritch, and more to be announced. Tickets begin at only $25 for a wide-ranging, diverse group of entertainers from across the New York City spectrum.

LITURGY

Brooklyn’s own Liturgy will share the sacrament of pure transcendental black metal at several upcoming local shows

Thursday, January 27, Union Pool, 484 Union Ave. at Meeker, free, 9:00
Thursday, February 10, Glasslands, 289 Kent Ave., $8-$10, 8:00
Saturday, February 26, 285 Kent Ave, 285 Kent Ave. at South First St., 8:00
Thursday, March 10, (le) poisson rouge, 158 Bleecker St., $15, 7:00
www.myspace.com/liturgynybm

Spouting influences from Friedrich Nietzsche to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Angelo Badalamenti and Glenn Branca to William Blake and Alejandro Jodorowsky, Brooklyn foursome Liturgy lets loose a unique blast of pure transcendental black metal that rattles the eardrums and shakes the soul. Originally begun as a solo project by guitarist and songwriter Hunter Hunt-Hendrix back in 2004 with a homemade demo tape, the group has since expanded to include Bernard Gunn on guitar, Tyler Dusenberry on bass, and Greg Fox on drums, releasing the twelve-inch IMMORTAL LIFE in 2008 and their debut disc, RENIHILATION, in 2009. Not to be confused with a Chicago death metal band also called Liturgy — made only more confusing now that the Brooklyn quartet has signed on with Chicago-based label Thrill Jockey, for whom they’re currently recording their next album, AESTHETHICA — Liturgy mounts epic songs that strike fast and loud, melding Middle Ages elements with ear-melting hardcore and well-thought-out, literate lyrics (at least those you might be able to make out) on such tunes as “Pagan Dawn,” “Ecstatic Rite,” “Everquest,” and “Mysterium” (named after an unfinished work by Russian composer Alexander Scriabin). The songlist for AESTHETHICA, due in May, sounds promising, among them “Tragic Laurel,” “Helix Skull,” “Glory Bronze,” and “Veins of God.” Liturgy will continue to spread the word of ecstatic annihilation at Union Pool on January 27 as part of the Mike Bigel Thirtieth Birthday Bash-a-Thon with Naam, Arms, Your Youth, and a DJ set from Shy Child, at Glasslands on February 10 with Extra Life, Lichens, and Chaos Majik, at 285 Kent Ave on February 25 with Talk Normal, Nat Baldwin, and Cavex, and at (le) poisson rouge on March 10 with the Ex.

TALES FROM THE PARKSIDE PT 2: AN ACOUSTIC SONG SWAP

Carolyn AlRoy will host a night of indie folk rock from a group of close friends at the Parkside Lounge on January 27

Parkside Lounge
317 East Houston St. between Aves. B & C
Thursday, January 27, free, 7:30
212-673-6270
www.parksidelounge.net

In the spirit of radio great Vin Scelsa’s “A Bunch of Songwriters Sittin’ Around Singing” series, originally held way back when at the sadly defunct Bottom Line, local singer-songwriters Carolyn AlRoy, Paula Carino, Erica Smith, and Rebecca Turner will come together January 27 for “Tales from the Parkside Pt. 2.” In round-robin fashion, the women will share acoustic songs and stories, mixing music with interviews led by AlRoy, who is also a practicing psychologist. The four friends have dubbed the event “Carolyn AlRoy’s Rock ’n Roll Therapy Circus,” intimating that anything can happen — and probably will. It should all make for an exciting evening of excellent indie folk rock and juicy revelations.

THE DECEMBERISTS

Colin Meloy leads the Decemberists at the start of new tour at the Beacon on January 24 (photo by twi-ny/mdr)

Beacon Theatre
2124 Broadway at 74th St.
January 24-26, $39.50, 8:00
212-465-6500
www.beacontheatre.com
www.decemberists.com

“And if you ever make it to ten, you won’t make it again,” the Decemberists opine on “Rox in the Box,” one of seven songs they played from their latest release, THE KING IS DEAD, on January 24 as they kicked off the Popes of Pendarvia World Tour with the first of three shows at the Beacon Theatre. Bespectacled lead singer Colin Meloy pointed out early on that in addition to the new album and tour, the band was celebrating its tenth anniversary this month, and they’re still burning ten years down the road. The Portland, Oregon, band, featuring Chris Funk on lap steel guitar, mandolin, and keyboards, Jenny Conlee on accordion, keyboards, and harmonica, Nate Query on electric and stand-up bass, John Moen on drums, and Meloy on guitar and harmonica, with guest violinist and background vocalist Annalisa Tornfelt, mixed it up Monday night with a set that drew from the group’s diverse catalog, including “July, July!” from 2002’s CASTAWAYS & CUTOUTS, “The Soldiering Life” from 2003’s HER MAJESTY THE DECEMBERISTS, and “The Rake’s Song” from 2009’s HAZARDS OF LOVE. Meloy’s highly literate, poetic lyrics and the band’s alternative indie folk sound, melding old English balladry with R.E.M. and Americana roots rock, filled the ornate hall in majestic ways, as befitting a group that often references royalty. On record, the songs from the new album sound more rustic and folkie, but played live they gained a sparkling vitality, as the opening trio of “Down by the Water,” “Rox in the Box,” and “Calamity Song” flowed seamlessly into the PICARESQUE hat trick of “We Both Go Down Together,” “The Engine Driver,” and “The Bagman’s Gambit.” After a few songs, Meloy told the audience they could stand if they wanted, and they rose as one, not sitting down for the rest of the night. He also said at one point that they weren’t going to play any of their long tunes, but the first encore was a stellar version of the song suite “The Island” from 2006’s THE CRANE WIFE, comprising “Come and See,” “The Landlord’s Daughter,” and “You’ll Not Feel the Drowning.” It was a triumphant night for the band, who are also the subject of a photo exhibition at the Impossible Project Space in SoHo, where Autumn de Wilde’s Polaroids of the group making THE KING IS DEAD will be on view January 26 through February 28, with the artist and some band members present at the opening reception this Wednesday from 3:00 to 7:00. (By the way, if you’re going to the Beacon either of the next two nights, be sure to get there early to catch the Baltimore duo Wye Oak, who played a strong, well-received opening set on Monday, with singer-guitarist Jenn Wasner and drummer-keyboardist Andy Stack previewing songs from their upcoming release, CIVILIAN.)