What’s Going On?

Click on the turntable on the left to listen to a continuous stream of music featured on Pretty Much Amazing - updated every day. For more, you can check out the Best Songs of 2011, or our Best Albums of 2011.

In NYC:  The best bet of the week may just be tonight’s Frightened Rabbit acoustic, all-request show at le Poisson Rouge. Otherwise, Lykke Li is playing tonight (Webster Hall) and Tuesday (Music Hall of Williamsburg- which will from now on be abbreviated as MHoW). Up-and-comers Passion Pit are playing the Bowery on Wednesday night, while Beirut, promoting their new, promising double-album, will be playing the MHoW. But don’t worry if you miss Zach Condon and friends there, they’ll be at the BAM Opera House on Friday night.

But Beirut is far from your only Friday night option. Little Boots will be bopping heads at Studio B, and The Black Keys will rock out Terminal 5- although probably not as heavily as The Boss rocked it in his halftime show rehersal (speaking of which, if you haven’t bought your Bruce tickets yet, they’re probably all gone. But have no fear- more shows will likely be announced very soon). The Black Keys will be at the Terminal again on Saturday.

And don’t worry about missing Beirut for either Boots or the Keys on Friday either, because they’ll be playing the BAM again on Saturday. A busy week for them.

In LA: If you’re feeling left out of the Beirut party in Los Angeles, don’t worry- Devotchka may be able to satisfy your orchestral, haunting music taste at the Viper Room tonight. If you’re feeling left out of the Little Boots party, you’re just being silly- hit up Spaceland on Wednesday night and I think you’ll be very pleased.

“Run To Your Grave” with The Mae Shi and Matt & Kim at The Troubadour Wednesday night. Other than that, the week in LA is simply meh. If you know of any other bangin’ shows, post away in the comments.

In Chicago: Aside from Saturday night, Chicago’s week is pretty weak. But Saturday, it’s party time. Los Campesinos! and TITUS ANDRONICUS (an awesome punk/garage/Pitchfork-hyped band out of NJ, with instrumentals straight from Arcade Fire and Springsteen) will be jamming at the Logan Square Auditorium. And Lykke Li (who’s everywhere these days, no?) will be playing the Metro the same night.

In LONDON: Once again, I wish I lived overseas. Cobra Starship will be playing tonight at King’s College, they’re always a fun show.  If you’d rather feel a tad hipper, Lady GaGa and Lily Allen will be at Koko tonight as well.

Wednesday night at the 100 Club brings the Airborne Toxic Event, who released one of the best singles of ’08 (“Sometime Around Midnight”) and play a well-respected live show.

Thursday night, you have two options- crazy party (Friendly Fires at New Slang @ McCluskys) or chill time (The Boy Least Likely To at the Soho Revue Bar).

Sunday night, you should definitely be at the Shephards Bush Empire for what will most likely be an awesome show from NJ-based rockers The Gaslight Anthem. While Stereogum just joined the bandwagon today, most people have been onto this excellent group for a while now. Their fantastic album, The ’59 Sound, is worth a good listen.

In Sydney: Another good week for music in Oz. The Hold Steady will rock out at The Metro Theater on Wednesday night, but if you’re not in the mood for America’s “best bar band,” check out buzz-band Cut Off Your Hands at the Beach Road Hotel and make a verdict..Pitchfork’s latest review seems mixed.

Thursday night, definitely hit up the Oxford Art Factory and listen to the yelpy Born Ruffians, whose song “Barnacle Goose” has been in my head for days now. And Friday night, immerse yourself into Jose Gonzalez’s apparently fantastic live show at the City Recital Hall- Angel Place.

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by Adam Offitzer on February 2, 2009 ‡ 0 reactions