this week in music

WEEKLY LISTINGS: Oct. 21-28

Artistically redesigned bikes are on view at armory before going to auction (photo by twi-ny/mdr)

ARTS AT THE ARMORY: STAGES
Park Ave. Armory
643 Park Ave. between 66th & 67th Sts.
Admission: free
212-616-3930
http://www.armoryonpark.org
http://www.livestrong.org

Through Thursday, October 22 Exhibit of bicycles used by Lance Armstrong while training to return to competition, designed by Damien Hirst, Yoshitomo Nara, Kenny Scharf, KAWS, Shepard Fairey, and Marc Newson, which will be put up for auction at Sotheby’s November 1, along with a preview of painting and sculpture that will be part of an exhibition at Deitch later this month, including works by Cai Guo-Qiang, Raymond Pettibon, Richard Prince, Dustin Yellin, Os Gemeos, and a fab bike by Tom Sachs; all proceeds benefit the LiveStrong foundation

Vella Lovell (Andromache, seated) and Sol Marina Crespo (Hermione) star in new version of Euripides' ANDROMACHE

EURIPIDES’ ANDROMACHE
Workmen’s Circle
45 East 33rd St.
Tickets: $8-$20
http://www.fullofnoises.org

Through Sunday, October 25 Greek tragedy is staged in New York City is staged for the first time ever in a new version by Jesse Alexander Myerson

ANCIENT PATHS, MODERN VOICES
Carnegie Hall
57th St. at Seventh Ave.
212-247-7800
http://www.carnegiehall.org/chinafestival

Wednesday, October 21
through
Tuesday, November 10 Three weeks of special events and exhibitions celebrating Chinese culture

LOOKING FOR CALVIN AND HOBBES
Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art
594 Broadway, Suite 401
Admission: $5
212-354-3511
http://www.moccany.org

Thursday, October 22 Nevin Martell, author of LOOKING FOR CALVIN AND HOBBES, in conversation with cartoonist Ruben (“Tom the Dancing Bug”) Bolling, discuss the life and career of Bill Waterson, 7:00

SUSIE ESSMAN
Carolines on Broadway
1626 Broadway at 50th St.
Reservations required
212-757-4100
http://www.carolines.com

Thursday, October 22
through
Saturday, October 24 Comedian and actress Susie Essman returns to Carolines hot on the heels of the new season of CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM and the release of her new book, WHAT WOULD SUSIE SAY?

R. CRUMB IN CONVERSATION WITH FRANÇOIS MOULY
Barnes & Noble Union Square
33 East 17th St.
Admission: free
212-253-0810
http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Friday, October 23 R. Crumb and François Mouly team up in a discussion, visual presentation, and signing of THE BOOK OF GENESIS, 7:00

dangergiantess

GIRLS & BOYS PRESENTS THE AM ONLY CMJ SHOWCASE
Webster Hall
125 East Eleventh St. between Third & Fourth Aves.
Tickets: $15-$25 ($1 entry and $1 drinks with below link)
Girls get in free all night long
http://www.websterhall.com/dollardaze/friday
http://www.websterhall.com

Friday, October 23 Yes Giantess, Red Wire Black Wire, Vega, We Are Enfant Terrible, Body Language, Two Fresh, and Beast in the Studio (7:00 pm – 12 midnight), with Danger, Felix Cartal, Filthy Dukes, Bird Peterson, Mickey Factz, Wallpaper, 12th Planet, and Shout Out Out Out Out in the Main Room (11:00 pm – 5:00 am), resident DJs Alex English, Gavin Royce, Kids with Snakes, Gavin Royce, and Rekles, Trash! with DJ Jess & Alex Malfunction, and more, 10:00

John William Coddling adds a whole new level of fear to Christopher Walken

SUNDAYS WITH CHRIS
DVF Gallery
444 West 14th St. between Washington St. & the West Side Highway
Admission: free
http://www.sundayswithchris.com

Friday, October 23
through
Sunday, November 1 Exhibition of John William Codling’s obsessive paintings of Christopher Walken

Maya Lin exhibit will continue through October 24 (photo by twi-ny/mdr)

MAYA LIN: THREE WAYS OF LOOKING AT THE EARTH
PaceWildenstein
545 West 22nd St. between Tenth & Eleventh Aves.
Through October 24
Admission: free
212-421-3292
http://pacewildenstein.com
http://www.salon94.com
When we saw Maya Lin’s “Systematic Landscapes” at the Corcoran earlier this year, each piece was squeezed into a different room, photographs were not allowed, and interaction with some of the works was not allowed. Things are very different at PaceWildenstein in Chelsea, where visitors can snap pictures, get up close and personal with the art, and even stick their heads through various openings. The three large-scale pieces offer environmentally friendly alternate takes on physical landscapes, from the ocean to mountains to a hill, and they are arranged so that all three can be seen at the same time, a boon for architecture lovers. While “Three Ways of Looking at the Earth” ends October 24, Lin’s “Recycled Landscapes,” consisting of colorful, smaller sculptures made out of plastic toys and other found objects, will continue at Salon 94 (12 East 94th St.) through November 13.

GREENPOINT OKTOBERFEST
Transmitter Park, Brooklyn waterfront
1 Greenpoint Ave. near West St.
Admission: free

Sunday, October 25 Beers and brauts, as well as root “bier” floats, pumpkin decorating, face painting, Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream, Hallo Berlin, Robicelli’s Cupcaes, live music by Michna and Cowboy Mark, DJ Synapse, and brews as Blue Point Old Howling Bastard, Nut Brown Ale, Hoptical Illusion, Black Chocolate Stout, Benegali Tiger, and more, 12 noon – 8:00 pm

GOODWILL NY/NJ COSTUME DESIGN CLOTHING SWAP
Boxcar Lounge
168 Ave. B between East Tenth & Eleventh Sts.
Admission: $5 Goodwill donation or one bag of lightly used, freshly laundered clothing
http://goodwillnynj.wordpress.com

Sunday, October 25 Crafters from I Love to Create will be on hand to help people make low-cost, environmentally friendly costumes for Halloween, with music, drink specials, 3:00 – 7:00

GRANA PADANO
Multiple locations
Admission: free
http://www.nycmarathon.org/schedule.htm

Tuesday, October 27
through
Sunday, November 1 In preparation for the New York City Marathon, Italian cheesemaker Grana Padano will be offering tastings and in-store promotions at BuonItalia in Chelsea Market, Di Palo’s Fine Foods in Little Italy, and Murray’s Cheese in Grand Central and on Bleecker St.

PORT O’BRIEN

Port O'Brien will be sailing into NYC behind brand-new album (photo by Joshua Caine)

PORT O’BRIEN

Wednesday, October 14, Mercury Lounge, 217 East Houston St., $12, 7:30
Friday, October 16, Union Hall, 702 Union St. at Fifth Ave., $12-$14, 8:00
http://www.myspace.com/portobrien
http://www.unionhallny.com
http://www.mercuryloungenyc.com
We don’t think it’s us, but too many of the indie bands we’ve been covering lately have suffered problems on the road. The latest is California band Port O’Brien, who recently noted on their blog that “our van was broken into in broad daylight in downtown portland. the thieving robber wasn’t very good, but still got some good stuff. there’s always more stuff, we’re getting over it.” They’ll be getting over it at two area shows, at Mercury Lounge on October 14 and Union Hall on October 16, playing with Sea Wolf and Sara Lov. Started in a bedroom in 2005 by salmon fisherman Van Pierszalowski and head baker Cambria Goodwin, Port O’Brien is touring behind their solid new CD, THREADBARE (TBD Records, October 6, 2009), which mixes their rollicking indie folk with harsh reality as Cambria deals with the tragic loss of her younger brother. The acoustic-based album features sweet hooks (“My Will Is Good,” “Sour Milk / Salt Water”), haunting ballads (“Threadbare”), gripping choruses (“In the Meantime”), pure pop (“Leap Year”), and at least one ode to Neil Young (“Calm Me Down”). Although the disc begins and ends with alternate versions of “High Without the Hope,” bright light does occasionally shine through, as on the sparkling, familiar-sounding “Oslo Campfire”: “Everything we have chalk it up to love,” Van sings, because after all, it all comes down to a matter of heart.

THE RAVEONETTES / THE BLACK ANGELS

Sharin Foo will attack her bass at three area shows (photo by twi-ny/mdr)

THE RAVEONETTES / THE BLACK ANGELS

Tuesday, October 13, Maxwell’s, 1039 Washington St., Hoboken, $22, 11:00
Wednesday, October 14, Webster Hall, 125 East Eleventh St. between Third & Fourth Aves., $22, 8:00
Sunday, October 18, Music Hall of Williamsburg, 66 North Sixth St. , $22, 8:00
http://www.myspace.com/theraveonettes
http://www.myspace.com/theblackangels
Formed in Copenhagen and now based in L.A. and New York, the Raveonettes — Sune Rose Wagner, who loves goofy hats, and Sharin Foo, who could not look cooler hiding behind dark sunglasses and black outfits, her straight golden locks flowing — play an endearing brand of pure pop heavy on retro-1950s and 1960s rhythms; indeed, their name is a combination of Buddy Holly’s “Rave On” and the Ronettes. Their brand-new album, IN & OUT OF CONTROL (Vice, October 2009), is not a blast of Norwegian black metal, despite such song titles as “Bang!,” “Boys Who Rape (Should All Be Destroyed),” “Oh, I Buried You Today,” “Suicide,” “D.R.U.G.S.,” and “Wine.” Instead, it’s their most ambitious record to date and should sound great live; the band played a solid, groovy set, as always, at this past summer’s Siren Festival in Coney Island.

The Black Angels were named after Velvet Underground song (photo by twi-ny/mdr)

The Raveonettes are on tour with Austin band the Black Angels, whose name and look recall motorcycle gangs but play hard-edged psychedelic garage rock, as featured on such albums as last year’s DIRECTIONS TO SEE A GHOST and 2006’s PASSOVER. The Black Angels, named after the Velvet Underground tune “The Black Angel’s Death Song,” cite the Raveonettes as an influence on their MySpace page and will be opening up at the Webster Hall and Music Hall of Williamsburg shows.

NO AGE

L.A. punk band No Age will be playing several very offbeat shows in the city

Wednesday, October 14, (le) poisson rouge, $15, 10:00
Thursday, October 15, Museum of Modern Art, $15, 7:30
Friday, October 16, New Museum of Contemporary Art, $15-$20, 7:00
Saturday, October 17, Above the Auto Parts Store, 8:00
http://www.myspace.com/nonoage

No Age rocks out next to Rodin's Balzac statue at MoMA (photo by twi-ny/mdr)

LA experimental punksters Dean Spunt and Randy Randall are coming to NYC for an extremely ambitious four-night stand, doing something quite different for every show. “The music is an invitation and rallying call for individuals to get involved in a community which celebrates art and experimentation,” Randall notes on their Sub Pop page. “It’s DIY on a different scale, an attempt to reacquaint people with the notion that art is a crucial part of everyday life.” Their artistic sojourn begins on October 14 at (le) poisson rouge with Woods and Silk Flowers. The next night, they’ll be at MoMA’s PopRally! skateboard party that’s part of the Spike Jonze film exhibition. On October 16, they’ll play live accompaniment to Jean-Jacques Annaud’s film THE BEAR at the New Museum. And on October 17, they’ll be Above the Auto Parts Store with Male Bonding and Soft Circle.

BUILT TO SPILL

Built to Spill will be kicking out the jams at four area shows this week (photo by twi-ny/mdr)

Webster Hall, 125 East Eleventh St. between Third & Fourth Aves.
Monday, October 12, and Tuesday, October 13
Music Hall of Williamsburg, 66 North Sixth St.
Wednesday, October 14, and Thursday, October 15
Tickets: $30
http://www.myspace.com/builttospill

At this past summer’s Siren Festival on Coney Island, Doug Martsch, Scott Plouf, Jim Roth, Brett Netson, and Brett Nelson showed the youngsters – both onstage and in the audience – how it’s done. Idaho-based indie jam band Built to Spill, who formed back in 1992 (with a slightly different cast, led by Martsch), closed out the fest with an inspired set, letting the music take them away as they extended nearly every song, noodling in the shadow of the Cyclone. With his thick, graying, bushy beard, Martsch currently resembles one Bob Weir, and he cites J Mascis as a major influence, so expect plenty of guitar jams. Built to Spill is back for four hotly anticipated area shows in support of their brand-new disc, THERE IS NO ENEMY (October 6, WEA/Reprise), playing Webster Hall and the Music Hall of Williamsburg with Disco Doom and Violent Soho; believe it or not, there are still some tickets available for some nights, but you better hurry.

PONYTAIL

Molly Siegel holds nothing back at Brooklyn Ponytail show (photo by twi-ny/mdr)

The Bell House, 149 Seventh St., Gowanus
Saturday, October 10, $12, 7:30
http://www.myspace.com/ponytailtunes
http://www.thebellhouseny.com

We didn’t know quite what to expect when we headed out to Brooklyn this past summer to catch Ponytail in East River State Park, and after seeing them, we’re still not quite sure what we experienced. But it did make us feel good all over – and more than a little creeped out as well. The Baltimore-based quartet is led by the rather diminutive Molly Siegel, who was dressed sorta like a bumblebee and pranced across the stage making faces that had some people wondering if there was something not quite right about her. Her eyes would run back in her head, revealing nothing but white orbs, and her lips would curl and quiver in odd ways. Meanwhile, musicians Dustin Wong, Jeremy Hyman, and Ken Seeno keep things moving and grooving while Siegel belts out hums, shouts, shrieks, and other sounds and noises. But somehow, it all works for these art rockers. Ponytail will be at the Bell House on October 10, with local duo Javelin opening up, who will be bringing their boombaatas and encouraging plenty of audience participation.

TURBO FRUITS

Turbo Fruits will turn things upside down in area shows

Santos Party House, 96 Lafayette St.
Friday, October 9, $13, 7:00
Market Hotel, 1142 Myrtle Ave. at Broadway
Saturday, October 10, 8:00
http://www.myspace.com/turbofruits
http://www.myspace.com/markethotelnyc
http://santospartyhouse.com

The Turbo Fruits hit some trouble out on the road when their van window motor broke on the way to Detroit. Worried about someone breaking into the van and stealing their stuff, they pulled into a gas station to get it fixed. “Not cheap but at least we won’t get robbed in between freezing our balls off with the window down,” they noted on their blog. And that’s good for us, as former Be Your Own Pet Jonas Stein is leading the threesome to us, touring behind their awesomely freaky new album, ECHO KID (September 2009, Fat Possum), the soundtrack of a fun, raucous life.

Turbo Fruits play an infectious mix of psychedelic retro garage surf punk with a heavy dose of humor, as one can guess from such song titles as “Mama’s Mad Cos I Fried My Brain,” “Broadzilla,” and “Naked with You” (which could be a lost Ramones classic). Stein does a little Dylan on “Hold Me,” throws in a bit of the Troggs on “Get Up Get On Down (Tonite),” and really cuts loose on “Broadzilla.” It all makes for one hell of an impressive alterna-AMERICAN GRAFFITI meets QUADROPHENIA. The album is a nonstop party, one that should continue on October 9, when TF will be playing with Israeli sensation Monotonix and the Beets at Santos Party House and on October 10 at Brooklyn’s Market Hotel with Monotonix, Ill Ease, Static Static, Stalkers, and EMOK.