What’s Going On? January 26-February 1

As Perez would say, Completely Gratuitous

Another week, another series of concerts across the globe.

In NYC: If you’re an Andrew Bird kind of guy (or girl), check him out at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Monday night, or, if you’d prefer, the Carnegie Hall on Wednesday!

Wednesday night, I highly recommend you snag some tickets, somehow, to catch the Cold War Kids at the intimate Mercury Lounge. If not, however, buy your tickets way in advance for their April Terminal 5 show- I’ll be at that one for sure.

N.A.S.A. IN N.Y.C.! Thursday night! At (le) Poisson Rouge!  Be there. And then stay there until Saturday, catching They Might Be Giants on Saturday for a kids show at 3:00,  and an 18+ show at 8:00!

Two more great concerts in the city- KINGS OF LEON AT MSG on Thursday. But that’s pretty pricey- for a lower dough show, check out my favorite piano-pop rockers at the Music Hall of Williamsburg Saturday night with Takka Takka. A great week for concerts in the big apple.

IN LA: His Orchestra plays Wednesday night at Bordello. They have a song that’s been on repeat in my head for days- “Black Coffin.” Check it out. Also Wednesday night, Brian Wilson plays The Wiltern.

Two more great shows in L.A. Friday night- Franz Ferdinand playing a FREE show at Amoeba Music in Hollywood, and Adele busting her pipes at Avalon Hollywood.

In Chicago: Schubas is the place to be on Tuesday and Thursday- “Jump In The Pool” with Friendly Fires on Tuesday, and rock with the Virgins on Thursday. Otherwise, even if you don’t like the music, Les Savy Fav’s energetic live show is worth checking out on Saturday night at Epiphany.

In London: Great concerts are abound in the U.K. this week. Kick it off on Monday with Franz Ferdinand at HMV Oxford Street. Their latest album warranted a respectable 7.3 from Pitchfork.

Pop fans can check out the Pussycat Dolls (hot!), Ne-Yo, and Lady Gaga at the O2 Arena. If you wanna go a little more indie, check out Let’s Wrestle at the Hoxton Bar And Kitchen. OR, Crystal Antlers and Delta Spirit at The Borderline.

Wednesday night, catch Lily Allen at Koko!

On Thursday night, you can choose between two kind of similar bands- All American Rejects (editor note: “Gives You Hell” is constantly in my head and stuck on repeat) playing Shepards Bush Empire, or Boys Like Girls at Astoria, with Metro Station. That’s about it for the week across the pond.

In Sydney: Quite a week again for the Aussies. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova from the beloved indie film Once, will play “Falling Slowly” beautifully, along with all their other magical songs at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall from Monday-Thursday.

If you’d prefer a legend, Leonard Cohen will be playing the Sydney Entertainment Centre on Wednesday and Thursday.

If you’d rather some intense noise-rock, Jay Reatard and No Age will double up to play The Gaelic Club on Thursday.

And if you just want to party to a modern legend, Girl Talk will be remixing and rethinking music Friday night at the Forum.

This Week’s Gig Playlist
N.A.S.A. – Whachadoin? (M.I.A., Santogold, Spank Rock)
Lykke Li – Knocked Up (Kings of Leon cover)
His Orchestra – Black Coffin
Franz Ferdinand – Bite Hard
All-American Rejects – Gives You Hell