this week in music

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.)

ECSTATIC MUSIC FESTIVAL

Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center
129 West 67th St.
Monday, January 17, free, 2:00 – 9:00
Festival continues through March 12, $25 per concert, four-concert subscription $80
212-501-3330
www.ecstaticmusicfestival.com

Classical and pop combine in myriad ways during the Ecstatic Music Festival, which begins today with a seven-hour free marathon at Merkin Concert Hall, beginning at 2:00 and featuring performances by Buke and Gass with Victoire, Ne(x)tworks, Face the Music, So Percussion, the Chiara String Quartet, Missy Mazzoli, Gabriel Kahane, Hohn Matthias, NOW Ensemble, Julianna Barwick, Ashley Bathgate with Lisa Moore and Michael Gordon, Vicky Chow with Daniel Wohl, Nadia Sirota and Nico Muhly, and others. The festival continues January 19 with Chiara String Quartet, Nico Muhly, and Valgeir Sigurðsson, January 20 with So Percussion and Dan Deacon, January 22 with Craig Wedren, Jefferson Friedman, and ACME, January 30 with Alarm Will Sound and Face the Music, and February 19 with Roomful of Teeth with William Brittelle, Caleb Burhans, and Merrill Garbus before continuing into March.

MLK DAY 2011

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., would have turned eighty-one this month

In the aftermath of the assassination attempt on Arizona congresswoman Gabrilelle Giffords, today’s many tributes to the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., should take on added meaning. At BAM’s Howard Gilman Opera House, the twenty-fifth annual free event, beginning at 10:30 am, features a keynote address by writer Walter Mosley, live performances by the Persuasions and the Reverend Timothy Wright Memorial Choir of the Grace Tabernacle Christian Center, and a screening of NESHOBA: THE PRICE OF FREEDOM (Micki Dickoff & Tony Pagano, 2010). The Children’s Museum of Manhattan continues its Martin Luther King. Jr., Festival with “Raising Citizens: Make a Difference Medal” at 12 noon. At the newly reopened Museum of the Moving Image, associate producer Richard Kaplan will introduce a free screening of KING: A FILMED RECORD . . . MONTGOMERY TO MEMPHIS at 3:00. At Symphony Space, the fourth annual JCC in Manhattan program, “Artists Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” includes a keynote address by the Rev. Dr. Suzan D. Johnson Cook, live jazz from Craig Harris, Juel Lane performing choreographer Bridget Moore’s REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PAST, and singers Neshama Carlebach and Reverend Hambrick with members of the Green Pastures Baptist Church Choir, emceed by Ruth Messinger (free, 6:30). Tonight Jazz at Lincoln Center will present a Jazz Celebration featuring the Juilliard Jazz Ensemble, Cyrus Chestnut, and special guests ($20, 7:30 & 9:30).

CONTINENTAL REUNION SHOW

Murphy’s Law will be headlining early reunion show at the Continental Sunday night

Continental
25 Third Ave. between St. Marks Pl. & Ninth St.
Sunday, January 16, $10, 4:00, free after 7:00
212-529-6924
www.continentalnyc.com

After fifteen years of punk and hardcore shows, the Continental got rid of live music in September 2006, a sad thing especially in light of CBGB’s closing for good the next month. But last year Continental owner Trigger staged what was thought to be a one-time-only reunion of musicians who had played the club in the past. Fortunately, the gathering might become an annual event, as the second reunion show takes place Sunday, January 16, beginning at 4:00 with 2 Man Advantage and Murphy’s Law ($10), followed at 7:00 with a free show featuring Honor Among Thieves, CJ Ramone, Waldos, Sea Monster, Trigger’s Allstars, Bullys, the Bebe Buell Band, Threads, Charm School, Heap, Furious George, and Curtis Suburban.

MEET THE BEATLES

Saturday, January 15, Carnegie Hall, 881 Seventh Ave. at 57th St., $17.50-$80, 212-247-7800, 8:00
Saturday, January 15, 6:00, and Sunday, January 16, 12 noon, Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Ave. at North 11th St., $10
www.carnegiehall.org
www.1964thetribute.com
www.brooklynbowl.com

Back in May 1977, the Beatles took over Broadway. Well, not exactly. Actually, BEATLEMANIA opened at the Winter Garden, declaring itself to be “not the Beatles but an incredible simulation.” Beatlemania is back on the rise with the recent release of the Fab Four’s catalog on iTunes, and although a Beatles reunion is an impossibility, perhaps the closest you can come these days is “1964” . . . the Tribute. For nearly thirty years, “1964” has been re-creating every aspect of a Beatles concert, from the look and the sound to the feeling and the energy. The mop-topped quartet will be shaking it up, baby, at Carnegie Hall on Saturday night, but remember that this is 1964, so don’t go expecting to hear songs from SGT. PEPPER, ABBEY ROAD, the White Album, etc. For a very different kind of Beatles experience, Roger Greenawalt will be leading a host of musicians, including Nellie McKay, Danny Ross, the Ramblers, Thinking in Pictures, Nat & Alex Wolff, Julian Velard, Deni Bonet, Terry Radigan, and unannounced special guests, through the complete Beatles catalog on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at Brooklyn Bowl — with all songs played on ukulele. If you have a uke and want to participate, just show up an hour before showtime and you get in free as part of the uke mob.

ONE STEP BEYOND WITH MATT AND KIM

Matt and Kim will play a DJ set at the American Museum of Natural History’s Friday night One Step Beyond party (photo by twi-ny/mdr)

American Museum of Natural History
Rose Center for Earth and Space
Western Pavilion, Columbus Ave. at 79th St.
Friday, January 14, $25, 9:00
www.myspace.com/mattandkim
www.amnh.org

Technically, the Ecstatic Music Festival gets under way next week, but it’s going to be hard to find a more ecstatic event than the January edition of the monthly One Step Beyond dance party at the American Museum of Natural History. Held in the Rose Center for Earth and Space, the festivities include drinks, dancing, live bands, and DJs beginning at 9:00, twenty-one and over only, please. The stars underneath the stars for Friday’s gathering are Brooklyn darlings Matt and Kim, who generally have about as much fun in their public performances as is legally and humanly possible. Although Matthew Johnson will not be behind the keyboards and Kimberly Schifino will not be at or on top of her drum kit, the Pratt pair will be manning the DJ table, blasting out hot sounds on a cool night. Also on the bill are twenty-one-year-old Dipset producer and MPC master AraabMUZIK; Nacey, known for his Nouveau Riche parties in DC; and One Step Beyond faves Activaire DJs.