this week in music

THE PENGUIN REVOLUTION

Long Island band will stage a revolution at the Gramercy Theatre on May 22

Gramercy Theatre
127 East 23rd St. at Lexington Ave.
Saturday, May 22, $20, 8:00
212-614-6932
www.myspace.com/thepenguinrevolution1
www.livenation.com

“Get funky,” Long Beach, Long Island’s Penguin Revolution declares on “Soul Brother,” and it’s hard not to comply. Named after Sakura Tsukuba’s popular young adult manga series, TPR knows how to throw a party. Mixing genres in clever ways, they tell the continuing story of penguin Oscar Hamilton, who is after nothing short of world domination. With Kevin McIntyre on vocals, rhythm guitar, and didgeridoo, Jim Willi on lead guitar, Scruff on bass, John Montoya on drums, and Dan Wagner, Andrew Hagerty, and Julie Gallo on various brass instruments, TPR is nonstop fun. Reggae beats and horns populate “Punky,” while the band goes psychedelic on the thirteen-minute epic “Lydibot.” And if “Rhombus on Parkside” doesn’t get your juices flowing, you better check your pulse. On “Coleman Parade,” they sing, “You think you know about energy”; there’ll be plenty to know on May 22 at the Gramercy Theatre, when the Penguin Revolution opens up for city boys the Energy.

NAT BALDWIN

Baldwin and his double bass will be at the Issue Project Room on May 22

Issue Project Room
232 Third St. between Sackett & Union Sts.
Saturday, May 22, $10, 8:00
718-330-0313
www.myspace.com/natbaldwin
www.issueprojectroom.org

Born in New Hampshire and now based in Brooklyn, Nat Baldwin mixes free jazz with experimental indie pop and classical elements to create a captivating hypnotic hybrid. Baldwin is able to get unusual sounds out of his double bass and voice on such songs as “Lake Eerie,” “Wounds,” and “Dome Branches” and such discs as 2006’s ENTER THE WINTER and LIGHTS OUT and 2007’s MOST VALUABLE PLAYER. Baldwin, who studied with master musician Anthony Braxton and is a member of the Dirty Projectors, will be playing the Issue Project Room in his adopted hometown on May 22, on a bill with Woody Sullender and peace, loving.

ASIA IN AMERICA

LAW & ORDER: SVU’s BD Wong will star in new musical as part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Asia Society (unless otherwise noted)
725 Park Ave. at 70th St.
May 21-29, $15-$30
212-517-asia
www.asiasociety.org

The Asia Society’s celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month continues on May 21 as the Balinese music and dance ensemble Gamelan Dharma Swara will present a preview of their fall tour, preceded by a lecture about the engaging art form ($20, 7:00). From May 24 to 26, BD Wong will star as a fortune hunter in the new musical HEADING EAST, with music by Leon Ko and lyrics by Robert Lee ($30, 8:00). On May 26, Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh, author of the new book DELIVERING HAPPINESS: A PATH TO PROFITS, PASSION, AND PURPOSE, will discuss his life and career ($15, 6:30). The inventive dance team of Eiko and Koma will perform “Retrospective Project I: Regeneration” May 27-29 at Danspace Project, with each evening followed by a Q&A with guest speakers ($18, 8:00). And today is the last day to check out the AsiaStore Asian American Designer Series, with special appearances by Rita Chung and Rose Ajmera.

LCD SOUNDSYSTEM

James Murphy will have LCD Soundsystem fans up and dancing madly at Terminal 5 gigs

Terminal 5
610 West 56th St. at Eleventh Ave.
May 20-23, $35-$40, 8:00
212-665-3832
www.lcdsoundsystem.com
www.terminal5nyc.com

He’s hip. He’s rad. He’s forty? Yes, James Murphy, lead singer and creator of dance-punk act LCD Soundsystem and founder of DFA Records, might be old enough to start experiencing a midlife crisis, but he’s having a huge upsurge of popularity instead. Whether he’s ranting about aging hipsters (“Losing My Edge,” from the band’s eponymously titled debut), developing a manifesto for reforming New York City (“New York, I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down,” from 2007’s SOUND OF SILVER), or tenderly singing a ballad about a dear friend passing (SILVER’s “Someone Great”), Murphy’s oddball approach to lyrics is intoxicating. “Drunk girls are like a night of simplicity / They need a lover who is smarter than me / Drunk boys, we walk like pedestrians / Drunk girls wait an hour to pee,” Murphy intones on “Drunk Girls,” the first single from LCD’s brilliant new album, THIS IS HAPPENING (DFA/Virgin, May 18, 2010). Murphy might sing, “You wanted a hit / But maybe we don’t do hits / I try and try / It ends up feeling kind of wrong” on “You Wanted a Hit,” but he’ll have a big hit on his hands as he leads the band through four crazy nights at Terminal 5 this week. One of the most exciting performers and producers in music today, Murphy may start slow but builds to wild, mystifying beauty, much like his songs. He loves the stage and holds nothing back, dancing madly and smashing around on Pat Mahoney’s drum kit, working up a good, hot sweat. Holy Ghost! opens all four nights.

TRIBUTE SHOWS: LED ZEPPELIN AND PINK FLOYD

Kashmir will pay tribute to Led Zeppelin aboard concert cruise ship this summer

ROCKS OFF CONCERT CRUISES
Kashmir: Thursday, May 20, East 23rd St. & FDR Dr., $20-$25, 8:00 departure
The Machine: Saturday, June 19, West 41st St. & the Hudson River, $30-$40, 8:00 departure
www.rocksoff.com/concert-cruises

Cover band. The words conjure an image of musicians sufficiently talented for a paying gig but lacking the creativity, confidence, and commitment to write and perform their own material. Cover bands play bar mitzvahs and the senior prom; they don’t sell out the Garden. But even the most cynical among us must remember the Beatles began as a hardworking group enthusiastically belting out the songs of other artists. (Ironically, the ultimate Beatles cover band generated serious respect at the Winter Garden Theatre for the long-running, award-winning BEATLEMANIA.) We say it’s time to tip our hats and lend our ears to cover bands, particularly when they display the audacity to aim for a full-fledged tribute, focusing on singularly matching the sound and spirit of a beloved group. In pursuing this formidable sonic challenge, tribute bands have big guitar cases to fill, and if they’re your cup of tea, the Rocks Off Concert Cruises is the place to be this summer. Although the music series includes such performers as the Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Mr. Scruff, the Black Lips, and Jesse Malin, it also features tributes to Sublime (May 20, July 24), Bruce Springsteen (June 19), Talking Heads (August 19), and Tool (September 24) in addition to Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. On May 20, Kashmir will get the led out aboard the Jewel with what they call the Ultimate Led Zeppelin show, while on June 19 the Machine will welcome fans to the psychedelic sounds of Pink Floyd aboard the Temptress.  In the clean, salty air out on the water, enjoying some of the greatest rock songs of all time against the backdrop of the marvelous Gotham skyline, we’re hoping for Kashmir’s version of “The Ocean” and the Machine’s take on “Breathe.”  But then again, with rock giants Zep and Floyd, any cover will due.

JOEY RAMONE BIRTHDAY BASH 2010

Wednesday, May 19
Concert: Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Pl., $25, 8:00
After-party: Belmont Lounge, 117 East 15th St. between Irving Pl. & Park Ave., free, 10:00 pm – 4:00 am
www.joeyramone.com
www.livenation.com

It’s been nine years since Forest Hills native Jeffrey Hyman, better known as punk rock icon Joey Ramone, died of lymphoma. He would have turned fifty-nine tomorrow, so many of his friends will once again celebrate his life and career at the tenth annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash, being held this year at Irving Plaza. A benefit for the Lymphoma Research Foundation, the party is thrown by Joey’s brother, Mickey Leigh (who just published the excellent memoir I SLEPT WITH JOEY RAMONE), and features live performances by HR & Human Rights, Jesse Malin & the St. Marks Social, Morningwood, Sic Fucks, the Independents, Spanking Charlene, and Heap in addition to the Joey Ramone Birthday Bashers (which include Richie Ramone, Slipknot’s Clown, Holly Beth Vincent, Jean Beauvoir, and others). Little Steven and Matt Pinfield are among the emcees. The birthday bash will continue at the Belmont Lounge with an all-night after-party of Ramones covers (by Killcode, Panzie, Patti Rothberg, and Karen Curious), DJ Oki spinning punk classics, and a benefit silent auction of punk memorabilia and other items. Gabba gabba hey!

THEATRE FOR ONE

Artistic director Christine Jones welcomes adventurous theatergoers into brand-new Times Square venue (photo by twi-ny/mdr)

Duffy Square, 46th St. & Broadway
Through May 23, 1:00 – 3:00, 4:00 – 6:00, 7:00 – 9:00
Admission: free (donations accepted)
www.theatreforone.com
online slide show

Broadway still getting you down with all the crowds and soaring ticket prices? Christine Jones is offering a unique escape from the madness and maelstrom: Through May 23, the Tony-nominated set designer of such hits as AMERICAN IDIOT, EVERYDAY RAPTURE, and SPRING AWAKENING has brought Theatre for One to Duffy Square, a converted rock-and-roll road box that offers free, private performances that hearken back to Times Square’s days as peep show central while also calling to mind a confessional. Designed by Ada Tolla, Giuseppe Lignano, and Baptiste Thevenon of LOT-EK, the box has just enough room for one performer and one visitor, with no barrier between them. Every day from 1:00 to 3:00, 4:00 to 6:00, and 7:00 to 9:00, individuals can watch a private show just for them; performers include poets, puppeteers, singers, actors, dancers, magicians, comedians, and others, putting on a show that lasts between five and ten minutes. You don’t get to choose what you see; while some days might feature one type of performer, it’s usually a random, rotating collection, so be ready for anything. The wait has been reasonable so far, so get on line before everyone else finds out about this extremely creative, intimate experience.