This Week In Music: Jan 29 - Feb 4

                                                                                    Paul Weller


Monday, January 29
Paul Weller
Irving Plaza
$39.50

"The Modfather" returns to NYC for this, the first of 3 shows at Irving Plaza. Weller, though reluctant over the years to delve too deeply into his vast catalogue has come to share a bounty of gems, in some cases not performed live for American audiences in years, nay decades. Let's not forget that as well as being a founding member of The Jam and The Style Council he's had phenomenal success in all three stages of his career making him very much a music icon. The shows have loosely been categorized into songs of The Jam (tonight), songs of The Style Council (tomorrow) and Weller's solo material (Wednesday). If you unwisely underestimate the sheer power of Weller's live show (his band includes members of Ocean Colour Scene) and consistently evocative songwriting, 10 minutes of the performance will have you stamped, stickered and sold.


Tuesday, January 30
Peter Bjorn and John
Bowery Ballroom
$15

Swedish 3-piece, Peter Bjorn and John are well on their way to becoming one of the break-through acts of 2007. Their third album, Writer's Block, which is released on Feb 6, combines 60's pop influences with a stripped back beatnik sensibility. Lovers of the monster single, Young Folk will not be disappointed by the burgeoning repertoire this act has created. Let's call them the other PB&J shall we?


Wednesday, January 31
Josh Ritter
Allen Room @ Lincoln Center For the Arts
$30 - $65

As commented in previous listings, The Allen Room at Lincoln Center could pretty much run consecutive nights of tapping a pencil on a glass bottle and Music Editor would be there because of the spectacular acoustics within the space and the visual backdrop of 59th street and Central Park through the massive glass windows behind the stage. Luckily though, singer-songwriter Josh Ritter will be performing instead so as not to test the theory. His intelligent folk-rock – in this case performed as a soloist - is reminiscent of some of the greats like Springsteen and Dylan.


Thursday, February 1
Nina Lotus and Dust of The Lotus
Pete's Candy Store, Brooklyn
$8

Influenced by sixties/seventies rock, folk, country, and mountain music the band blends rich vocal harmonies and poetic lyrics with a slightly different take on classic instruments.


Friday, February 2
Cat Power
MoMA
$10 (All ages)

Recent Brit Award nominee (along side the likes of Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Pink and Nelly Furtado) Chan Marshall is a rare creature. Though plagued at times by crippling shyness and in all-too-frequent cases will cease her song's performance midway, collect her thoughts and begin another, she is also wildly talented and possesses an endearingly relaxed vocal style all her own. In her audience's mind, she can do no wrong despite the erratic nature of her live show. If consistency is what you expect, stay in the warmth of your apartment and listen to her CD's. If you do take a punt and the sunshine of Chan's vocals is allowed to wash over you uninterrupted, you'll be basking in its glow for days.


Saturday, February 3
The Loved Ones
Rebel
$10

The Loved Ones have chosen to swing by from Philly with an armful of blistering punk-rock. Having cut their teeth opening for bands like NOFX, The Bouncing Souls and Bad Religion they're more than capable of slugging their audiences with tight, hard-hitting sonic punches.


Sunday, February 4
Jonathan Richman
Knitting Factory
$20 adv/ $23 door (All ages)

Former Modern Lovers frontman, Jonathan Richman is an American proto-punk icon and one of the progenitors of "Indie-rock." Known for his wide-eyed, near-childlike lyrical outlook, and music that, while rooted in 50's rock and roll structures, can be wildly eclectic. His anti-rock stance and lo-fi attitude has made him an unlikely punk hero.

Tags:   Bad Religion, Beyonce, Bob Dylan, Brit Awards, Britpop, Bruce Springsteen, Cat Power, Christina Aguilera, Indie Rock, Irving Plaza, Jonathan Richman, Josh Ritter, Knitting Factory, Lo Fi, Modern Lovers, MoMA, Nelly Furtado, New Music, NOFX, Ocean Colour Scene, Paul Weller, Peter Bjorn and John, Pink, Punk, Rebel, Scandinavian Bands, Style Council, The Allen Room at Lincoln Center, The Jam, The Loved Ones, UK Bands

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Posted on 1/29/2007 ( Permanent Link )
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